Former Megachurch Minister Refuses to Exclude Profanity From Social Media Post: ‘I Will Not Sanitize This’

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Christian News reports on disgraced pastor Perry Nobel’s latest attempt to draw attention to himself:

A former megachurch pastor who says he has been struggling with guilt since being fired last year due to problems with alcohol abuse recently refused to exclude profanity from a social media post that transparently expressed how badly he feels about his sins and the consequences of his choices. His language has generated a variety of reactions, including concern from those who note that profanity is not to proceed from the mouths of those who profess Christ.

“I know it’s harsh, but I will not sanitize this article to appease those who may be offended at the language and want a scrubbed and safe version of Christianity that simply doesn’t work for the world!” Perry Noble of NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina recently wrote on social media.

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These things I have spoken to you that you not be caused to stumble

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 “These things I have spoken to you that you not be caused to stumble.” John 16:1 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

In John 16:1 (above) when our Lord spoke of the “things” He spoke of in order that believers “not be caused to stumble,” He was referring to John 15:18-25, which is the fact that those who are truly in Christ will be hated by the world just as our Lord was. Our Lord made it an imperative that we understand that this is true, but also that we do not have to contend with this alone. In John 15:26-27, the promise of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, is given again. Those who have the Holy Spirit are genuine believers and they bear witness about Christ because that is what the Holy Spirit does. In this post we will look at John 16:1-15 and the truths about the promise in v1 as well as the difference between Kingdom fruit and worldly fruit. View article →

Pastor as Overseer of Worship Music

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙

According to Joshua Jenkins, the pastor’s role is to be an overseer.  One of the areas he’s responsible to oversee is the worship music of the church, says Jenkins. Why? Because the songs we sing during worship “are of utmost theological importance, second only to the ministry of the Word from the pulpit.” Therefore, “It is unbiblical and ecclesiastically illegal for a congregation, committee, or other party to strip the pastor of this responsibility, since it is God who gave it to him.”

In a piece over at For the Church, Joshua Jenkins lays out what the pastor’s responsibility is when it comes to overseeing worship music. He writes:

Most people would typically understand and agree that one of the pastor’s main responsibilities is the weekly preaching and teaching from the pulpit. Further, most would agree that the pastor is the overseer of the doctrine that is taught in the church, although it is most likely within the bounds of the confession or doctrinal statements already laid out by the church.

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Is Christianity on a ‘great spiritual migration’ to a new religion?

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From Berean Research:

In a piece entitled The Great Migration, Dr. Peter Jones warns us that Progressive Christians see Christianity as “malfunctioning” and are hell bent on “saving” that “old time religion.” And Emergent Church guru Brian McLaren (who we thought had slithered into obscurity) thinks he’s the guy who’s destined to save us from the “Supreme Being of violent and dominating power.”

In his piece over at truthXchange, Dr. Jones presents McLaren’s grand scheme to oust the Trinity and “embrace a grander, inclusive God who demonstrates solidarity with all.” Sadly, we must take Brian McLaren’s attempt to revise Christianity seriously. Dr. Jones explains why:

Berlin is a very different city today than the Berlin my daughter Eowyn and her husband David met when they moved there as church planters. They now find themselves preoccupied daily with a large immigrant population. Eowyn writes of her contact with a woman who said: “’I want to change religions. Mine leads to death and destruction. The God you describe is so lovely!”

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Roman Catholic Dioceses Nationwide Being ‘Consecrated’ to ‘Immaculate Heart of Mary’

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According to Christian News:

A number of Roman Catholic dioceses nationwide—and also globally—have been consecrating themselves to the “immaculate heart of Mary” throughout 2017, a practice that evangelicals say is unbiblical and gives to the earthly mother of Jesus the devotion that should be bestowed to Christ alone.

“We are uniting ourselves to her who opens up the way for God to enter, and we are uniting our hearts to her immaculate heart, the one heart that is perfectly united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” James Johnston Jr. of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri told the National Catholic Register.

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See our Research Paper on the Roman Catholic Church

You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Revelation 3:1 (NASB)

My brethren, the message from Revelation 3:1-6 goes contrary to most of what is taught in Evangelicalism today. The church at Sardis had a name that it was alive yet our Lord bluntly said that even so, they were spiritually dead. Since 2006 when I became involved in this ministry, I have seen good friends like the late Ken Silva, along with all of those associated with him, denigrated because we stood firm with what God’s Word says about what constitutes real Christianity and what doesn’t. When we point out that certain ministries do not measure up, we are called divisive, haters–and many other ugly things–and then some of our critics resort to worldly things such as lawsuits and even denial of service. Excuse me, but how can anyone justify this and call it Christian behavior? View article →

Mike Huckabee brings star power and a shot of news to TBN’s Christian lineup

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Mike Huckabee has a long list of accomplishments. For one thing he was the governor of Arkansas. Before he became governor he was a SBC pastor. Huckabee also hosted his own show on the Fox News channel, now he’s a Fox commentator. You may remember him as one of many GOP candidates in the 2008 and 2016 primaries. Huckabee’s newest venture is to host a TV show on TBN, the “world’s largest religious network.”

According to pastor-teacher John MacArthur “TBN has been dominated by faith-healers, full-time fund-raisers, and self-proclaimed prophets spewing heresy.” In other words, TBN is dominated by heretics. Heresy spewers include Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Benny Hinn, TD Jakes, Creflo Dollar, Paula White and Joyce Meyer. Faith teachers such as these are notorious for fleecing the Christian flock. TBN is rightly referred to by some as Trinity Blasphemy Network.

This begs the question. Why does it not bother Mike Huckabee that he’s linking arms with a “religious network” that shamelessly airs programs hosted by wolves in sheep’s clothing who prey on Christ’s sheep?

Tennessean has the story:

Mike Huckabee’s weekly talk show premieres Saturday on Trinity Broadcasting Network, representing a programming shift for the Christian television giant.

Hosted by the two-time Republican presidential candidate and taped just outside of Nashville, “Huckabee” will offer news commentary and feature political, musical and religious guests. Its look at current events from a practical and Biblical world view is a departure from TBN’s typical lineup flush with well-known Christian ministers, like Joel Osteen.

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Oprah Magazine: God’s ‘in’ Abortions?

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From Berean Research:

Here’s a cold hard fact. Close to sixty million innocent babies have been butchered in the one place they should be safest — their mother’s womb. In this piece over at Herescope,Pastor Larry DeBruyn and Sarah Leslie shred the new counternarrative to the abortion debate embraced by the Oprah Winfrey establishment as well as “Christian” celebrities like The Shack author William P. Young: abortion is a sacred and divine right. Yes, you heard me correctly. Professing Christians, with Oprah’s help, are putting forth the narrative that abortion is a sacred and divine right. Let that sink in, brethren.

“Sacred Oneness”—a Deadly Counternarrative! 

Humane theology was the foundation of Dr. George Tiller’s practice. It dictates that alleviating suffering is a Christian’s sacred responsibility. If God is in everything, and in everyone, then God is as much in the woman making a decision to terminate a pregnancy as in her Bible. —Dr. Willie Parker, MD, Life’s Work: A Moral Argument for Choice[1]

Because of his “oneness” worldview that God is “in” everyone and everything is “in” God, Dr. Willie Parker believes that God sanctions aborting-killing of babies. The Oprah Magazine quotes him as having written in his book,

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Presbyterian Megachurch ‘Pastor’ Says God Isn’t Male, Denies Exclusivity of Christ

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According to Pulpit & Pen News:

Shannon Johnson Kershner is the impastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, a 5,500  member megachurch. The church just happens to be the second-largest church belonging to the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA). In a podcast with the Chicago Sun, she recently denied that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.

Known as the “Exclusivity of Christ,” this doctrine teachers that the only means of salvation is through Christ. This is a benchmark doctrine of virtually all Protestant Christian thought, and is enshrined in Reformation theology as Sola Christus. Denying the Exclusivity of Christ is tacitly a form of Universalism or pseudo-Universalism, which teaches that ultimately, everyone (or most) will be saved whether or not they come to Christ for their salvation.

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He laid down His life for us so what should we be doing?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16 (NASB) 

What differentiates a genuine Christian from one whose religion is only skin-deep? Jesus said that He knows those who are His. He calls them His sheep who hear His voice and follow Him. (John 10:27) He also called them His disciples. He gave us the requirements for being His disciple in Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:23 where he said that if anyone desires to follow Him they must deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him. If we combine these two views then we learn that our Lord’s sheep, His disciples, are those who hear His voice, deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him. This is telling us that genuine Christians are those who humble themselves before their Lord, die to self, submit to Him as Lord, obey Him, and emulate Him as He leads. View article →

Abide in Me, and I in you

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4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. John 15:4-10 (NASB) 

For the first 20 or so years of this walk I was in a very immature spiritual state. I was utterly convinced during that time that my worth as a disciple depended upon my performance, my learning, my obedience, et cetera. With that mind-set it was a very horrible experience at times since I was on a roller coaster ride of obedience and backsliding. What amazed me during that period was that I was looked at as one of the more mature believers at our church. I knew better. That all changed in 2004 and 2005 as God drew me into the light and drastically changed that ‘mind-set.’ It was as I learned and held to the truth that our salvation is all according to God’s will not ours that I began to have peace and freedom. He chose us according to the good pleasure of His will, not according to our abilities or any other inherent attribute we may have. With this remaking of my mind-set came the ending of that cycle of obedience and backsliding. It was as if it had been put to death. View article →

Forty percent of cancers linked to obesity, overweight

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Following is the correct link to the article:

According to Fox News:

An unhealthy diet may affect more than just your waistband, a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ‘Vital Signs’ report shows. In a press release on Tuesday, the CDC stated that 40 percent of all U.S. cancer diagnoses can now be linked to overweight and obesity.

The study presents daunting results, as nearly two-thirds of American adults are currently defined as overweight or obese.

“A majority of American adults weigh more than recommended – and being overweight or obese puts people at higher risk for a number of cancers – so these findings are a cause for concern,” said Brenda Fitzgerald, CDC director. “By getting to and keeping a healthy weight, we all can play a role in cancer prevention.”

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Up to 50 witnesses for Cardinal Pell sex abuse hearing

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The Local reports:

The 76-year-old, a top adviser to Pope Francis, is accused of multiple historical sexual offences relating to incidents that allegedly occurred long ago.

He is the most senior Catholic cleric to be charged with criminal offences linked to the church’s long-running sexual abuse scandal.

The exact details and nature of the allegations against Pell have not been made public, other than they involve “multiple complainants”.

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See our Research Paper on Roman Catholicism

Hollywood Producer Hides Lewd Behavior Behind Liberal Politics

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According to Zachery Lehman, “Charges against Harvey Weinstein and his own admissions reveal the man to be anything but the liberal feminist he’s claimed to be.”

LifeZette has the story:

Sixty-five-year-old Harvey Weinstein co-founded the successful studios Miramax and The Weinstein Company, and jump-started the careers of such filmmakers as Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith. He has arguably been Hollywood’s biggest producer for decades.

The mega-producer has also been an outspoken liberal over the years. He’s long been a critic of the National Rifle Association, and he was a major donor to Hillary Clinton’s 2016  presidential campaign. He even participated in the Women’s March in January of this year.

A new report from The New York Times reveals that, aside from his professional accomplishments and political advocacy over the past decades, Weinstein has also been leading a secret life.

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Light and Truth

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙
Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God (Psalm 43:3-4). 
What a word of triumph! Now the psalmist understands what God is doing; He is driving him step by step to the ultimate refuge of any believer in any time of testing: the Word of God, which is the truth of God coupled with the light. The truth is God’s Word; the light is your understanding of it. The psalmist cries out for an understanding of the Word as he reads it and for light, which breaks out of these marvelous promises to encourage and strengthen his heart. He says, If you will do that, God, then my heart will be filled with joy and gladness, and I will praise you with the harp; for you, O God, are my God, my personal God. What a revelation that is!   View article →

The New Taboo: More People Regret Sex Change and Want to ‘Detransition’, Surgeon Says

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The National Post reports that following surgery some transgenders. particularly women, experience crippling levels of depression and in some contemplate suicide.  Joe Shute has the story:

Five years ago, Professor Miroslav Djordjevic, the world-leading genital reconstructive surgeon, received a patient at his Belgrade clinic. It was a transgender patient who had surgery at a different clinic to remove male genitalia—and had since changed their mind.

That was the first time Djordjevic had ever been contacted to perform a so-called “reversal” surgery. Over the next six months, another six people also approached him, similarly wanting to reverse their procedures. They came from countries all over the Western world, Britain included, united by an acute sense of regret. At present, Djordjevic has a further six prospective people in discussions with his clinic about reversals and two currently undergoing the process itself; reattaching the male genitalia is a complex procedure and takes several operations over the course of a year to fully complete, at a cost of some euros 18,000 (pounds 16,000).

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Anal Cancer: The New Gay Epidemic the Media Won’t Talk About

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So, if the liberal media has chosen to keep a deadly cancer epidemic from the public, what else are they hiding from us? If we can’t trust the press to report the CDC’s latest findings, then many young people will be kept in the dark about all the ugly diseases, including cancer, associated with having multiple sex partners. The CDC reports that there’s an epidemic of STD’s among teens. Is the public aware of this? Don’t take our word for it. According to Meg Meeker, MD:

Social and media maneuvers encouraging teens to have sex whenever they want with whomever they want may seem reasonable to many parents, but we have one serious issue that no one — including the press, media outlets, Planned Parenthood, and school sex ed teachers — will face the ugly truth: There is an epidemic of STDs among teens in the U.S. And according to the CDC, the numbers are rising fast. (Source)

As if this isn’t bad enough, we now learn from reporter Megan Fox that anal cancer is epidemic among gay men — and no one’s talking about it. Why?  Here’s another question. If sodomy causes cancer (there’s plenty of evidence that it does) why is Teen Vogue writing “how to” guides about anal sex for teenage girls? (More on this here)

PJ Media has the graphic details: 

On the Center for Disease Control’s website it says, “Receptive anal intercourse also increases the risk of anal cancer in both men and women, particularly in those younger than 30. Because of this, men who have sex with men have a high risk of this cancer.” (Source)

The Los Angeles Times calls anal cancer “the next big crisis” for the gay community. According to the American Cancer Society, the future looks grim.

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Church of England Head Denies Sodomy is Sin

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According to Pulpit & Pen News:

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the Church of England’s equivalent to the Bishop of Rome. This archbishop is the head of the Church of England and the Anglican Church, worldwide. Augustine was the first Archbishop of Canterbury, and since then, 104 bishops have followed in that role and been given that title. In the 1600s, the Archbishop of Canterbury affiliated with the newly Protestant Church of England rather than the Roman Catholic Church. With the role of Archbishop comes the presidency of the ecumenical groups, Churches Together in England. Moves to ecumenism have grown rapidly in recent years, with the Archbishop of Canterbury beginning to meet with the Roman Popes and attend significant events like funerals and inaugurations of Popes since at least 1997.

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Where is your treasure my brethren?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB) 

The doctrine of imputation is under severe attack in our day. Those who have made the mistake of seeking a peace with those who desire to change or do away with this doctrine have erred egregiously. This doctrine must never be negotiated. Why? The changes certain people desire to make to this doctrine would change our justification from being according to faith alone to a combination of faith and works. According to Galatians 5:3, this would make us obligated to keep the whole law, which none of us can do. Only our Lord Jesus Christ kept the commandments perfectly, therefore, His righteousness is imputed to those who trust in His obedience to be justified. View article →

Awaken the Dawn! What’s Behind the ‘Holy Spirit Woodstock’ Coming to DC

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The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) cult is behind the October 6 gathering on the National Mall where thousands upon thousands will go to pray for revival in America. So, will there actually be a “Holy Spirit Woodstock” those who attend Awaken the Dawn are going to pray for? Without getting too far afield, for a revival to take place the true Gospel of Jesus Christ must be preached. That won’t happen. It never happens at NAR assemblies.

See True Revival and False Revival

As a side note, when NAR false prophet Lou Engle is  even remotely associated with any so-called Christian event, we can assure you that what’s going on is not biblical. And those who attend these events should not be referred to as evangelicals. Why? Because NAR/Latter Rain/Dominionism, which Engle is a part of, is not authentic evangelical Christianity. NAR is a well-organized, well-funded counterfeit. Those who are a part of this movement lack spiritual discernment; sadly, many of the folks are deceived. Even worse, they’re false converts.

Now back to the subject at hand, revival. CBN reporter Paul Strand informs us that, “Only God Himself can bring about such a revival and answer such a prayer.” Here’s the kicker: “But those behind Awaken the Dawn feel they know how to partner with Him.” Partnering with God to bring about revival is taught in the Bible…..where, exactly?

Strand’s piece can be found over at CBN News, a site we do not endorse.  Be sure to watch the video.

This vast expanse of public land stretching from Capitol Hill to the Lincoln Memorial has seen many mass gatherings across the decades. But never one aimed simply at worshipping the Savior of mankind around-the-clock for days in a row. Yet that’s what’s coming October 6th-9th.

Tens of thousands of Christians praising and praying will fill some 57 tents, taking up much of that vast space running through the heart of the nation’s capital.

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See also TOGETHER 2016: Unbiblical Unity on the National Mall

 

Pro-life congressman reportedly asked girlfriend to get an abortion

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Fox News reports:

An anti-abortion congressman asked his mistress to have an abortion when he thought she might be pregnant, according to a report this week.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said it obtained text messages between  Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., and Shannon Edwards, the woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair.

In a Jan. 25 text message, Edwards said Murphy had “zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options,” according to the paper.

“I’ve never written them. Staff does them. I read them and winced,” Murphy’s number replied, blaming his staff for his anti-abortion messages. “I told staff don’t write any more.”

Ultimately, Edwards was not pregnant.

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The exclusivity of Jesus

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Does the Bible really teach that there is only one way to God, one road to heaven, and that’s through believing in Jesus Christ? Or are there many roads we can take to get to heaven when we die? Elizabeth Prata of The End Time reveals the biblical teaching on this contentions issue. She writes:

One of the most hated, if not THE most hated doctrine of Christianity, is the exclusivity of Jesus. This doctrine is the one that states Jesus is the only way to heaven. You cannot get to heaven by your own works, family relations, church attendance, other god, other religion, or any other method except to repent of your sins and believe in the resurrected Jesus by faith alone through grace alone.

I receive some arched eyebrows, heated responses, and hate mail for saying so, some from my own family. “Away with dogma!” my aunt grandly proclaimed, right before she blocked me. Same with other family members. But these responses are no worse than anybody else’s experiences and a great deal less hurtful than what others have endured, I’m sure.

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Indeed, has God said?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NASB) 

Sola Scriptura is under heavy attack in the visible Church. Some of those who are leading this battle against it are already predicting victory. The central theme of Phyllis Tickle’s book The Great Emergence is, “Where is our authority?” This question is asked in order to stress the need to do away with Sola Scriptura in order to make way for “the step and subsequent journey out of traditional church expressions and into new ones.” She also said that there are forty-four specific events that underline the move away from Sola Scriptura and that it’s not if Sola Scriptura ends, but when…  View article →

Matt Chandler Praying ‘Jesus Culture’ Over Us All Last Sunday

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Pulpit & Pen News has the story:

Matt Chandler just made an excellent move. As we explained in this post, Matt Chandler announced that Village Church was leaving behind the unbiblical multi-site church model. Of course, he didn’t call the model unbiblical and he explained that making the churches autonomous was a part of a “vision,” but still, it’s an improvement. It’s unfortunate that Chandler’s charismaticism and New Calvinist tendencies so often plagues the brilliant and dynamic ministry of such an outstanding leader.

Chandler has taught the charismatic notion of “binding and losing spirits.” He has endorsed Lent, which has been a recent trend in New Calvinism. He wrote the forward for Sam Storm’s book, promoting the growth of charismania in churches. Chandler’s social-justice bent (again, typical among New Calvinists) had his Village Church partnering with radical Islamic groups. He claimed that theoerotic Ann Voskamp was becoming his favorite author.

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