Commentary, analysis and opinion.

Most Charismatics Are Closet Cessationists

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According to Eternity Matters (EM), charismatics have redefined healings, tongues and fallability of prophets from the original biblical definitions and even the nature of what a gift is. Adding to the problem, says EM, we have evangelical leaders like Dr. John Piper allow the charismatics’ redefinition of a prophet to stand; thus, “they can’t be dismissed even when they get loads of prophesies wrong.”

EM contends that both sides are cessationists…with one side being less so than the other. Here’s how they reached this conclusion:

Until recently I was a fence-sitter on the continuation/cessation of spiritual gifts debate topic, never really researching it enough to pick a side.  My position was that while the gifts could continue, I’d never seen them done properly (e.g., those enamored with the gift of tongues never obeyed the handful of verses governing their use).  Other than some “sloppy God talk” that I’ve addressed many times, I never went to a church where leaders took things too far (e.g., the Benny Hinn / Bill Johnson – Bethel / etc. nonsense).

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Believers Are Not Out On Bail

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Dr. R. Scott Clark explains the rudiments of the justice system “in order to appreciate what God’s Word means when it says that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have been ‘justified.’” Dr. Clark’s piece is published on The Heidelblog:

In the American criminal justice system, for many charges, after one has been arrested and booked (photographed for a “mug shot,” fingerprinted, and paperwork completed) one goes to jail to await a preliminary hearing and after that a trial of the charge. The only way to be released from jail is to “post bond.” That is the process of paying a percentage of a substantial sum of money to the court as a guarantee that the person charged will appear as needed for hearings and especially for the trial.

A person out of jail on bail, who has been charged with a crime, is in a legal limbo. Legall is still innocent but a cloud hangs over his head. He has been charged but he has not been either convicted or cleared. He is waiting for a future adjudication of his case. He is still subject to criminal penalties (e.g., fines) and punishment e.g., prison or even death).

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The difference between apostolic gift vs apostolic office and how to recognize NAR apostles

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From Churchwatch Central:

When starting to examine cults, one quickly realizes that their nature is to mainstream their teachings and leaders. Most importantly, their drive is to be accepted and affirmed as a legitimate Christian group.

This quest for affirmation can be seen in the New Order of the Latter Rain cult.

The NOLR were thrilled to be embraced as a legitimate group through their Charismatic Movement in the early 1960s. In 1967 and later again in 1977, they were also happy to be affirmed by Roman Catholics .

C. Peter Wagner has often written about the rise of the New Apostolic Reformation that was emerging from the Charismatic Movement, he himself acknowledging the roots stemming back to the NOLR. Below, we have a quote from a section of his book ‘Apostles Today’ that has him teaching on the difference between the ‘apostolic gift and the apostolic office’ then proceeds to teach people how to recognize NAR apostles.

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Check out Berean Research’s White Paper on the New Apostolic Reformation/NAR

Does Jesus love you more if you send your pastor a thousand bucks?

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In an interview on CNN, Costi Hinn, nephew of televangelist Benny Hinn, explains what changed his mind about heretical Word of Faith/prosperity/health & wealth teaching and why he now believes that, as a child, he was introduced to false teaching. Costi is now an outspoken critic of the prosperity gospel and speaks out against it. As a result, he is estranged from his family. The video is followed by an exposé on the Hinn family empire written by liberal CNN news anchor Carol Costello who also conducted the interview:

Head of the Hinn Family Empire, Benny Hinn

We use Jesus’s name in twisted — and often awful — ways to make points that are more about us and less about Jesus and his teachings. Pro-life and want to pack heat? Numerous articles are dedicated to which gun Jesus would carry to protect the “weak and defenseless.”

Certain leaders, who claim to be religious, are dedicated to a greedy notion of Jesus who just wants one thing for his loyal followers: money, money and more money.
My interest in this exploitation of Jesus deepened after I met Costi Hinn. His uncle, Pastor Benny Hinn, claims God uses him as a conduit to cure disease: He simply “lays hands,” Jesus-like, on a chronically ill person, pushes them to the ground and — bam! — the person bounces back to health.

Christians, We Need To Talk About Hollywood

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From Berean Research:

Tim Challies addresses the Hollywood crisis. He reminds us that there is a lack of godly character in the entertainment industry. In light of the serious allegations, Christians must consider our relationship to Tinseltown, says Challies. “I think we as believers need to think seriously at this juncture about our participation in this world, this world which is proving itself to be absolutely vile, absolutely full of the worst kind of sin and depravity.”  Tim has done a short video and includes a transcript. So you can watch or read — or both!

These have been some dark days for Hollywood. I’m not talking about box office receipts. I’m not talking about Rotten Tomatoes reviews. I’m talking about scandal. A few weeks ago, a scandal erupted in Hollywood. Since then, it’s risen, it’s grown, and it’s threatened to become a full-blown crisis that might disrupt the whole industry there in Hollywood. I think it’s important that we as Christian at a place like this start to think about our relationship to Hollywood. Christians, I think we need to talk about Tinseltown.

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Who Will Go Into the ‘Furnace of Fire’ Jesus warned about? – Part 2

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Following is part 2 of a series we published entitled “Hell Interrupted” by Tim Barnett and Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason. Barnett and Koukl go to the scriptures to answer the burning question: Is the future punishment of the wicked a place of eternal fire?

Hell is not a pleasant topic. It’s an ugly, unsettling, dangerous reality—expedient to dismiss, easy to avoid serious discussion about, convenient to disregard by joking about in a way that trivializes it.

This will not do, though, because the sobering certainty about Hell is this: One day every person who has ever lived will stand in judgment for their conduct in this life. For multitudes, that will not go well because for them, when the final gavel falls, Hell will be their sentence.

The nature of that sentence is our concern here. However, regardless of how one construes what happens in Hell, one point is clear: Hell is the end of the line. It is the final state. It is the ultimate destination for the damned. Hell’s door is shut forever, and its sentence can never be undone, revoked, or reversed. Ever.

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Read part 1 here

‘Should we take our kids to see “The Star” film?’

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Berean Research reviews the Sony Pictures animated film that’s “for the whole family.”:

I recently received a letter from a woman whose church’s children’s ministry was wondering if the new Christmas film, “The Star,” is worth seeing.

There are no reviews yet, but there is a considerable amount of promotion. What most see when Googling this movie is a Shrek-like retelling of “the Christmas story” through the eyes of the animals. But it is only loosely based on the real biblical account of Christ’s birth, with a whole lot of made-up fantasy backstory.

From the trailer and press release, I caught a couple of details that you might want to consider. First, the soundtrack by Mariah Carey plays in the background with the lyrics, “that’s what Christmas means to me,” which is subtly pushing the idea of relativism – instead of truth, it’s whatever truth is true in your own heart.

Perry Noble Announces That He and His Wife Are Divorcing

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Last year we learned that Perry Noble was removed as senior pastor of the church he founded. The NewSpring Board of Directors announced that it was “a difficult and painful decision” to remove Noble, adding that he was “no longer qualified to serve as pastor.” Shane Duffy announced to the church that Noble “had made unfortunate choices and decisions that have caused much concern.” Duffy said the directors had confronted Noble about his alcohol use and his “posture toward marriage.” Founder or not, the board felt they had no choice but to fire him.

Sixteen months later Noble announced that he and his wife are divorcing. Since they’re both professing Christians we can only assume that the reason for the divorce is biblical. There are two clear grounds for divorce: (1) sexual immorality (Matthew 5:32; 19:9) and (2) abandonment by an unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:15).  But Bible believing Christians must keep in mind that “I hate divorce, says the Lord God.” (Malachi 2:16)

Now to The Wartburg Watch’s story on the disgraced former pastor’s divorce announcement:

Perry Noble, former senior pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina, has announced via Faithwire that after 17 years of marriage, he and his wife Lucretia are calling it quits. See screen shot below.

“This is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever communicated, and I understand it will be even more difficult for many of you to read. After being married for 17 years I have found myself in a place I never imagined I would be — as no one who has ever been married ever dreams in a million years that their marriage will one day end in divorce.

“However, that is where I find myself at this point in time.

“I am doing my best to walk through this deeply personal and painful process with as much grace as possible. I would ask for your prayers in this season as well as humbly ask for privacy for my family in this matter as we work through this deeply personal situation.”

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Related:

Perry Noble Files Paperwork for New Church: NewSpring Says He’s Not Qualified to Pastor

Perry Noble’s Ended Preaching Career Revived at Elevation Church 

Perry Noble Says Churches Are Businesses, Offers to Help The Grow

Alcoholic Pastor, Perry Noble, Says He Will Not Return to Ministry

Perry Noble Removed As Pastor At NewSpring for Personal Behavior Related to Alcohol

Voice of the Apostles: Deceiving Apostles Spirits and Demonic Transference

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EmergentWatch reminds us that “there are multiple verses in the Gospels showing demons manifesting similar symptoms [that occur at the conference] – being seized by evil spirits, falling to the ground and convulsing (twitching and jerking, etc.).”

EW has produced a video of a Voice of The Apostles conference that was held Oct. 17-20 in Lancaster, PA. Watch the video and you will witness what happens when NAR wolves lay their hands on people. It’s not a pretty sight.

Is the Holy Spirit really responsible for this sort of bizarre behavior? No. Why? Because it doesn’t glorify God.

False teachers Benny Hinn, Randy Clark & Bill Johnson

This event is where top false prophets of the NAR ordain and “anoint” their disciples. The EmergentWatch documentary video is a composite of over 8 hours of video taken during the 3 day event. In this video one can witness the demonic transference from these false “apostles”, and the demonic spiritual effect this has on their followers. These effects have been compared to those seen in occultic Kundalini awakening and the uncontrollable movements known as “Kriyas”.

MUST WATCH video  View article →

Related: Angels, Demons & Spiritual Warfare

‘God’s Dream’ – From the ‘Jesus’ of Jesus Calling – A Deceptive Scheme

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“Sarah Young’s ‘Jesus’ plays right into this clever conditioning when he introduces the concept of God’s Dream in Jesus Calling and in no less than three of Sarah Young’s other books,” says Warren B. Smith. Young’s not alone. There are others such as Rick Warren, Joel Osteen and Richard Foster who proclaim the unbiblical notion that God has a dream for your life. Learn more about the blending of Christianity with New Age spirituality over at Lighthouse Trails:

Consistent with many other New Age implications contained in her channeled messages, Sarah Young’s “Jesus” introduces the New Age idea of “God’s Dream” in Jesus Calling when he states:

I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach.

In Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids, the January 6th message/devotion is titled—and has “Jesus” telling the children—“Dare to Dream My Dream.”

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The Boys Are Back In Town

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They’re baaack!

Carl Trueman, Todd Pruitt and Aimee Byrd, hosts of Mortification of Spin, discuss why disgraced pastors Mark Driscoll and Tullian Tchividjian remain disqualified from ministry.

What does it take to disqualify a man from ministry? Adultery? Emotional and spiritual abuse? Manipulation? According to cultural Christianity, none of these!

If God’s Word is not the rule of faith and life, the moral compass is lost and anything goes! We’re talking about the “come-back” of Mark Driscoll and Tullian Tchividjian to the public life, and worse, to the pulpit after serious public scandals.

The gang opens up the issues and answers some of the questions that many of us are asking. What are the qualifications of an office bearer? How seriously should the church and the office bearer take the standards laid out in the pastoral epistles? Are there warning signs one should watch for? Does repentance mean full restoration to ministry?

Listen to the podcast  View article →

Basketball coaching hopeful was denied a job. She says it’s because she’s no longer gay

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According to Rick Maese “Camille LeNoir was prepared to close her business in the Los Angeles area, where she trains young basketball players, in order to accept a coaching position at New Mexico State. But two days before boarding an airplane, the job offer was withdrawn.” Washington Post has the story:

Camille LeNoir thought she’d landed a dream job last year, an entryway into the competitive world of coaching college basketball.

She was a former player herself, having starred at the University of Southern California. The WNBA’s Washington Mystics made her a second-round draft pick and she played the game professionally overseas. But since her playing days ended, LeNoir had focused on working with young players. She was excited when her former college coach offered her an assistant position on his staff at New Mexico State University.

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‘God Is the Judge,’ Hillsong’s Carl Lentz Tells ‘The View’ When Asked Whether or Not Abortion Is Sin

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“We believe that God is good, that God loves everybody, that Jesus was here to set people free, and that’s still the good news of the gospel.” This may be the gospel according to Hillsong pastor Carl Lenz, but it’s not the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The Bible tells us what the gospel is in 1 Cor. 15:1-4:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…

Christian News has the story:

Carl Lenz and pal Justin Bieber

Carl Lentz of Hillsong New York recently appeared on ABC’s “The View,” where he was asked whether or not abortion is considered a sin at his church. While the answer was unclear, Lentz said that “God is the judge” and that he would prefer to know a person’s name and beliefs before making a determination as to whether or not they have sinned.

“Hillsong is seen as this hip, progressive church that’s drawn huge millennial crowds, but it’s still evangelical,” co-host Sara Haines stated to Lentz during the Oct. 30 broadcast. “So, where do you stand on social issues that young people are particularly passionate about, like gay marriage [and] abortion? Like, how do you address those types of things?”

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Alt-Left Insanity: The Resistance Is Satanic. No, We’re Not Kidding!

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“Notice how quickly we have moved in American society?” observes Dan Gainor. “We’ve gone from being a Christian nation that the left resented but played along to a major alt-left site celebrating satanists.” Gainor really isn’t kidding around, just as the title indicates. In his piece over at News Busters he demonstrates how unhinged the far left has become. And then he deals with the LGBTQIA’s reaction when one of their own, disgraced actor Kevin Spacey, is accused of pedophilia. He writes:

Halloween might be over, but its impact is still being felt. I’m not talking about our added pounds from leftover candy. (In my case, every single piece as trick-or-treaters avoided my tiny cul de sac.) I’m talking about what the holiday revealed.

In the case of Ezra Klein’s Vox (Motto: We write boring think pieces liberals can then pretend to read.) showed just how correct I was with last week’s column showing the connection between the left and the occult. Just days later, Vox writes this, “Take religion. Remove God. Add #resistance. Meet the Satanic Temple.”

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That’s scary, Part 2: The spookier reason for the Passion Translation New Testament’s Oct. 31 release date

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From Berean Research:

Many believers are unaware that the The Passion Translation (PT) is not a translation of Scripture at all. Holly Pivec of Spirit of Error points out that New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) “apostle” Brian Simmons’ “translation” is simply him “imposing his own fanciful interpretations on the text.” What Simmons does is change the original meaning of verses so that they appear to support NAR teachings. This is known as “Scripture twisting.”

In part one Pivec reveals that Simmons claims that Jesus visited him personally for the purpose of commissioning him to produce this new translation. She has warned that PT is one of the most dangerous developments in the NAR to date.

So now PT’s complete New Testament is available to purchase — but don’t waste your money.  Here’s why:

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Hollywood Scandals Prove Celebs Are False Idols

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In his piece over at LifeZette, Tom Joyce declares: “Eyes have been opened, and the public can now see the Hollywood industry for what it is — a flawed place, where predators have been protected for a very long time.”

Now that Tinseltown’s dirty laundry has been aired, will professing Christians continue supporting the industry with their hard earned money?

Joyce make it clear in his piece that Hellywood is not just a “flawed place.” He writes:

Moral grandstanding and political preaching from the glitterati are even more ludicrous in the face of sexual harassment cases, says Joyce.

Back in 2009, producer Harvey Weinstein told the Los Angeles Times that Hollywood had “the best moral compass,” citing fundraising efforts that celebrities had undertaken after national tragedies such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

It’s a quote that now looks completely ridiculous in light of the sexual assault and harassment allegations against the disgraced Weinstein and a growing number of other Hollywood players such as actors Jeremy Piven and Kevin Spacey.

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Related: Hollywood’s Plunge Into the Bottomless Pit

More students, young Americans turn to paganism

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From Berean Research:

The following blog post is a response to Kari Paul’s “Why millennials are ditching religion for witchcraft and astrology” (here). In his piece, John Paul Ferguson specifically addresses the move away from traditional religion to an interest in paganism on college campuses. According to Ferguson “a number of universities around the country have officially recognized Pagan or Wicca student groups, usually housed under their respective religious student activities departments.” There is little doubt that the increased interest in pagan spirituality can be traced to people’s obsession with the environment.

To shed light on what Wiccans believe, Ferguson quotes author Catherine Edwards Sanders who says that those who practice witchcraft (Wicca) have “monistic and pantheistic beliefs that all living things are of equal value. … Humans have no special place, nor are they made in God’s image. … Wiccans believe that they possess divine power within themselves and that they are gods and goddesses. …Consciousness can and should be altered through rite and ritual.” (emphasis added)

John Paul Ferguson’s piece is over at The College Fix. He writes:

As millennials continue to leave traditional Christian religions, interest in Wiccan and pagan practices have seen increased interest in recent years, a trend also spotted among young people and on college campuses.

Pagan or Wiccan student groups are present on a number of college campuses — both secular and religious — across the nation. The growing normalization of such practices, albeit still a minority, corresponds with the decline in Christian believers, some observers note.  View article →

Related: Taylor Swift’s Video: Newest Example of Demonic Symbolism? 

Happy Reformation Day – Still Protesting: Top 20 dangerous heretics to be marked & avoided

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From Churchwatch Central:

For Reformation Day, we want Christians around the world to consider who they think are the most dangerous heretics in the world today undermining Christianity. The Pope will always be the most serious threat to Christianity since at the Council of Trent, the Roman Catholic Church anathematized the gospel.

In this article, we list our top 20 most dangerous heretics that Christians world-wide must mark and avoid (Romans 16:17) for the sake of Christ’s people and Christ’s gospel. We have also color-coded the heretics so people can identify what modern-day cult they represent.

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Taylor Swift’s Video: Newest Example of Demonic Symbolism?

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According to Katie Nations, the pop star’s girl-next-door persona is gone. Nations finds the dark undertones of her latest production troubling. Swift’s new video has a bit of a demonic edge to it, says Nations. Nations’ is concerned that our society has embraced what was once considered taboo. “It is the normalization of evil.” LifeZette has the story:

Taylor Swift as we knew her is dead — at least that’s the marketing message Swift has built her music and her videos around this past year.

Just in time for Halloween, Swift dropped her new music video “…Ready for It” at the stroke of midnight this past Friday. Depending on one’s interpretation, the production is either a trick or a treat.

There’s an interesting compilation of various themes throughout the video. Swift struts through a line of masked guards in a dominatrix-like ensemble that is topped off with a hooded Jedi robe. She then meets her own nude image, which appears to be a cyborg or robot Taylor.

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Jonathan Cahn Sends Lamest Cease and Desist Letter EVER; Contends He Never Gave False Prophecy

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Is it true that best selling author Jonathan Cahn has made no predictions in his books The Harbinger or Mystery of the Shemitah, as he claims? Pulpit & Pen News effortlessly dismantles Cahn’s assertion that he never gave a false prophecy:

Pulpit & Pen has been in this business for a while now.  We’re in the business of speaking freely and we speak freely as an exercise of our religion, while also speaking (or writing) under the protection of the First Amendment.  Federal Courts have ruled that bloggers have the same rights as all journalists, and the rights afforded to all the press are afforded to those not writing for “institutional press outlets” (Obsidian Finance Group v. Crystal Cox, 2011, 2014).  Occasionally, we get ominous-sounding Cease and Desist letters from megachurch pastors or religious charlatans who don’t understand that we can speak our religious opinion freely.  We ignore those letters, and never have we suffered any legal consequence for responding with a formal letter that says, “LOL.”

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See Berean Research’s White Paper on the New Apostolic Reformation

Should our church sing Bethel Music worship songs?

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New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) false prophet Bill Johnson is the senior pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA. Jesus Culture (JC) bills itself as not “just a band, but…a ministry of Bethel Church.” JC has had a huge impact on Christian youth who flock to their international conferences. Holly Pevic of Spirit of Error offers her advice to those who wonder if it’s okay to sing JC’s so-called worship songs in a church service:

Jesus Culture’s “Show Me Your Glory” sung by Kim Walker-Smith

A frequent question I hear has to do with the music being made by groups coming out of Bethel Redding and other churches that have New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) beliefs. The question is, is it OK to sing their songs as long as the lyrics don’t contain any error?

By way of background, Bethel Music, a popular record label, is known for producing high quality music, and their songs are sung in churches across America on Sunday mornings–not just in NAR churches, but even in many mainstream evangelical and non-denominational churches. And the truth is that many of the people in these churches sing along, having no idea that these songs come from a leading church in an aberrant movement. I, myself, have sung along with songs in church or on the radio, only later to discover that those songs came from Bethel Music.

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See also Jesus Culture: The next generation of heretics

Reformation 500: Can Roman Catholicism be Considered Christianity?

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From Berean Research:

Eric Davis of The Cripplegate looks at ten doctrines which render Rome outside of Christ. After reading his exposé you’ll understand the reasons Protestants believe that the RCC stands in stark opposition to biblical Christianity, thus it is apostate.

Sadly, a vast number of Roman Catholics cannot be considered authentic Christians.  In other words, Catholics aren’t born again (regenerate) believers. And because our Catholic friends are unsaved, we must share the true Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

Pastor Davis concludes with this reminder:

The Reformers were forced to depart from Roman Catholicism in order to unite with Christ. Five hundred years later, evangelicals still cannot come together with Catholics. Those who desire true salvation in Jesus Christ must break from Roman Catholicism. This 500th anniversary, may we pray to that end.

Now to his excellent exposé:

It’s that time of year again when we remember the Protestant Reformation. But this year, it’s really something special: 500 years have passed since the greatest movement of God in church history next to the birth of the church at Pentecost.

But was the Reformation really necessary? Were the Reformers merely a pack of spiritual naysayers looking to rain on Rome’s innocent parade? Were they not looking to take their ball and mitt to start their own game?

The Reformers were not moved by preferences to seek and start another denomination. They were moved by Scripture to break from something that could not be considered Christian. Five centuries have not improved Rome’s doctrine. The need for her reform could not be greater.

Tragically, several reasons remain why Roman Catholicism still is not Christian. At this 500th year anniversary, it’s worth taking a thorough look at ten doctrines which render Rome outside of Christ. Many of these are sufficient on their own.

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The New Calvinism: Areas of Weakness

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Popular blogger and pastor Tim Challies examines the New Calvinism — watch or read:

The New Calvinism has become a worldwide movement of Christians who are looking to the past to recover and live out the precious truths of Reformed theology. Having introduced the movement and having identified some ways in which we see evidences of God’s grace in and through it, I am now suggesting some weaknesses it may do well to address. Here’s that video in Facebook and YouTube formats, followed by a transcript for those who prefer to read.

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2 States Ravaged by Opioids Show Difference Faith Makes

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A new study reveals that “A large and growing body of evidence shows that not only can religion help prevent people from using illicit drugs, but it also plays a strong role in effective treatment programs.” Fred Lucas of The Daily Signal has the report:

There is a strong correlation between lack of religious attendance and illicit drug use, research shows in contrasting two states hit hard by the opioid crisis.

The parallels are demonstrated by two comparative studies of New Hampshire and West Virginia.

West Virginia suffers from an ailing economy, while New Hampshire has a strong economy, noted J. Scott Moody, CEO of the Granite Institute, a conservative think tank. The institute takes its name from the fact that New Hampshire is known as the Granite State.

“It’s not just economics causing the overdose problems. There are other factors,” Moody told The Daily Signal.

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Joseph Farah – Ignorance, Pandering or Deception?

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Steve Lumbley of Apostasy Watch begins with a quote from a piece Joseph Farah wrote. And then he takes WND’s publisher to task for what, in his view, is a misinterpretation of Isaiah 49. Is Joe Farah simply deceived, or what? Let’s find out what Steve Lumbley has to say. After that read Isaiah 49 in context to determine the author’s purpose. Lumbley writes:

Joseph Farah is the publisher of the popular news website World Net Daily. He is also as you might guess an ardent Zionist. After reading this recent column I have to wonder – is he ignorant, is he pandering to his Jewish friends or is he purposely deceiving gullible Christians?

Isaiah 49 is universally understood to be a Messianic prophecy. It is about the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. It is about a spiritual light, a spiritual restoration and a spiritual salvation. One thing that Isaiah 49 is NOT about is the modern geopolitical state of Israel.

In changing the meaning of Isaiah 49, Joseph Farah follows the lead of Jewish Rabbi’s who deny the Lordship of Christ. In order to deceive the people into rejecting Jesus they change the subject of these prophecies from Christ to the nation of Israel. Thus in this case the ‘light to the gentiles and salvation to the whole earth’ become the duty and purpose of the modern Zionist state, not Christ who they insist has not yet come.

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See also:

Beware of Joseph Farah and Joe Kovacs of WND 

Armstrong Splinter Group Uses World Net Daily Editor Joe Kovacs’ Book in Seminar