Having been mentored at “the world’s first Church Growth Institute” by Robert Schuller we knew Bill Hybels’ discernment was off.
Apprising Ministries now shows you just how far off the rails Hybels has become in this well documented piece.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part 4
13 “You shall not murder. Exodus 2:13, NASB
As I have been studying our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, I have come under deep conviction of my extreme need of grace. Oh, I’ve always known since God saved me that I was saved by grace not according to my merits or works, but as the working of the Word of God on my heart does what it is supposed to do, that is, the Law kills any bit of self-righteousness I have, stripping it away, leaving me with only the grace and mercy of God, anything else is to end up with my clothes torn, lying and weeping in dust and ashes rather than joyfully resting in my Lord.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part 3
12 Πάντα οὖν ὅσα ἐὰν θέλητε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς· οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται. Matthew 7:12, NA27
12 Therefore, everything that you wish men would for you, thus also you do for them for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12, Possessing the Treasure New Testament v1
At least a couple of times a month, sometimes a couple of times a week, I am contacted either through comments or via email from persons who at the heart are some form of “Antinomian.” No matter what flavor, they all want to say that the Christian is in no way accountable to obey the Law of God or that the Old Testament is of no value to us. Let’s see what our Lord says about that.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part 2
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16, ESV
I finished translating Matthew 5 last night. I must say that going verse-by-verse, word-by-word through this part of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount this way has got to be one of the most humbling and heart-rending exercises I have ever gone through. Why? Our Lord was proclaiming that his kingdom had come and that those in it would have certain characteristics and those who did not were not part of his kingdom. In other words, these verses he proclaims about us being salt and light are not parts of a sermon on how to become salt and light, but indicative statements of fact about those already part of his kingdom. Of course, there are later statements of rebuke in which he preaches about our behavior of what we are to do and not do as those in his kingdom. However, as I translated chapter 5 I did a huge self-checkup and realized how my flesh rather than my Lord rules far too much of my character.
Kay Warren Preaches at Controversial Crystal Cathedral
The Christian Post reports that Kay Warren recently delivered a sermon at the Crystal Cathedral at two Sunday Services.
Until his retirement in 2010 after 55 years in the pulpit, controversial preacher Dr. Robert Schuller held the prestigious position of Founding Pastor of the famed Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA. Schuller was also the host of the Hour of Power televangelism broadcast with a worldwide audience of over 20 million viewers.
Robert Schuller is known for his positive, uplifting message. The late Christian apologist Dr. Walter Martin coined the phrase “gospel of self-esteem” to describe Schuller’s teaching. Schuller’s message conveniently left out man’s sinful nature and need for a Savior and instead focused on man’s need for “self-dignity.” Indeed, Schuller’s overarching message could be viewed as a type of “new liberalism.”
In his piece, “The Root of This New Downgrade No-Controversy,” Pastor Ken Silva quotes Dr. John MacArthur as saying just that:
And I’ll tell you, how do you know it’s the new liberalism? Because you can’t stop a seeker-friendly movement, because it’s going to be redefined, it’s going to be redefined, it’s going to be redefined… It’s relentlessly being redefined because the culture changes so fast in a media-driven society. It changes so fast!…
You know, Schuller is the architect of this. Robert Schuller is the absolute father. The grandfather of the movement, who was a little bit below the radar, was Norman Vincent Peale. Norman Vincent Peale is a classic liberal. The primary impact that Norman Vincent Peale has had on the world is through his leading disciple, Robert Schuller, who said to me, “I can sign the confession of my denomination and makes the words mean anything I want them to mean.” Well, that’s classic neo-orthodoxy—or liberalism (whichever).
Robert Schuller claims to have launched the megachurch movement through his Church Growth Institute, and his website has included Rick Warren at the top of the list of pastors who were mentored there:
We are the home of the world’s first Church Growth Institute, launching the mega-church movement in the 20th century. Tens of thousands of pastors, including famous graduates Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Bishop Blake, Walt Kallestad, and Sundo Kim of Korea, were mentored here. Source
Interestingly, in a 2002 Christianity Today article, Kay Warren acknowledged the influence that Robert Schuller had on both her and her husband:
During his last year in seminary, he and Kay drove west to visit Robert Schuller’s Institute for Church Growth. “We had a very stony ride out to the conference,” she says, because such nontraditional ministry scared her to death. Schuller, though, won them over. “He had a profound influence on Rick,” Kay says. “We were captivated by his positive appeal to nonbelievers. I never looked back.” Source
One may wonder why, as part of the Southern Baptist Convention, Kay Warren would be found preaching in a church that has long propagated false teaching. Yet, the above evidence seems to offer a more than adequate explanation.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part 1
23 And he went about in all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every illness among the people. 24 And the report of him went out into all Syria and they brought to him all those having illnesses, various diseases, suffering from torments, being demon possessed, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And many crowds followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. 1 And having seen the crowds, he went up to the mountain. And when he sat down his disciples came to him. Matthew 4:23-5:1, Possessing the Treasure New Testament v1
The Jewish religious system that our Lord confronted head-on when he began his earthly ministry was one based upon the Mosaic Law, but the keepers of that Law had created oral traditions for the people to keep that were not part of the Law at all. The purpose of God’s Law was intended to show the people their inability to be what God commanded and, therefore, their need for a Saviour outside of themselves so that they would come to God. The oral traditions and the legalistic religious system, a system of works righteousness, kept that from happening because it actually created a system of works that people could actually “keep,” even though they were burdensome, but it deceived them into believing they were actually keeping the Law. We have flavors of this in our time in those religious systems that are all about “works righteousness” or “deeds not creeds.” Any religious system calling itself “Christian” that bases justification upon “works” rather than justification by God’s grace through faith is false.
The Power To Sympathize
Now Joel Osteen says Mormonism itself is Christian
Jesus’ Equality with God in Power and Authority, Part 1
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now and I am working. 18 Because of this, therefore, the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him not only because he was breaking the Sabbath, but also he was calling God his own Father making himself equal with God. John 5:17, 18, Possessing the Treasure New Testament V1
In this day of man-centered religiosity that has largely supplanted much of Evangelicalism, a study on Jesus Christ as Sovereign Lord, as Messiah, as God with full authority awaiting the trumpet call for judgment to begin is not only seldom preached and taught, but would seem so out of step with the post-modern, politically-correct version of the visible church all around us. The problem is not with the truth of that message, but with the fact that much of what calls itself “Christian” in our time is not. No, these religious groups may have a “god” named “jesus,” but he is anything but the one we are reading of in the Gospel of John. No, the real Jesus deliberately confronted false religious leaders and bluntly told them the truth about himself in contrast to their apostasy.
The Mixed Legacy of Charles Colson
Since his recent passing evangelical leaders like Ravi Zacharias are touting Chuck Colson as a great man of God.
Certainly Chuck Colson did do some admirable things as a Christian. However Apprising Ministries, courtesy of CRN Associate Editor Erin Benziger, also reminds you of his sinful ecumenicism in this new piece.
The ‘Jesus’ of Mormonism à la Glenn beck
Influential evangelical within the religious right James Robison says Jesus is in the heart of devout Mormon Glenn Beck. Leading SBC spokesman Richard Land says that he hears Beck clearly preach the Gospel on TV.
Well, here’s the heart of the matter, if Glenn Beck’s ever to be considered a Christian, then let him publicly repent of and repudiate the Mormon theology in this heavily documented article you can examine for yourself over at Apprising Ministries.
Christian, You Are Known By Name
Is Transhumanism 'Inevitable'?
David Yonke, religion editor of The Toledo Blade, reports on a lecture that outlined the subject of transhumanism, the use of technological means to modify the human species with the intention of improving the human condition. The lecture was given by Rev. Mark Douglas, a Presbyterian minister, theologian, ethicist, and professor at Columbia Theological Seminary. It pointed out that transhumanism raises many religious, ethical and practical concerns.
Dr. Martin Erdmann offers a more orthodox view on the subject in his 2011 article, “Creating a Posthuman New Breed.”
All For Gaia: Earth Day and Total Transformation for a Post-Christian World
On Sunday, 22 April, millions of Americans celebrated the environmental holiday Earth Day. But what exactly is being celebrated on Earth Day? It is not a stretch to say that most Americans are unaware of its pagan roots. The truth is, Earth Day isn’t so much about saving the planet from the “ravages of mankind” as it is a day to worship Gaia, also known as the Universal Mother. Carl Teichrib of Forcing Change uproots what Earth Day really represents and why Christians should think twice before they join in the festivities and “offer sacrifices of ‘good works’ to the planet.”
Anyone Who Thinks Mormon Church Moving Toward Orthodoxy Misinformed
The Beginning of Opposition to the Son of God
18 διὰ τοῦτο οὖν μᾶλλον ἐζήτουν αὐτὸν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἀποκτεῖναι, ὅτι οὐ μόνον ἔλυεν τὸ σάββατον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πατέρα ἴδιον ἔλεγεν τὸν θεὸν ἴσον ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν τῷ θεῷ. John 5:18, NA27
18 Because of this, therefore, the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him not only because he breaking the Sabbath, but also he was calling God his own Father making himself equal with God. John 5:18, Possessing the Treasure New Testament V1
In our study of the Lord’s ministry from John 1 through John 4 the response from the Jewish religious leaders has been one of reservation and hesitation as Jesus as Messiah. Most of the Jews and Galileans had a mixed response as well. However, the Apostle John records for us in John 5 the controversial incidents that caused the shift from reservation and hesitation to outright opposition. This section of our Lord’s ministry is recorded by John for us in John 5:1 through John 12:50. In this post we look at John 5:1-18.
The Natural Set of the Sails
Glenn-vangelicals? Should Christians partner with Glenn Beck?
What Does It Mean to be "Unequally Yoked?"
Mormonism Declared War on Christianity
Apprising Ministries reminds you there’s appears to be a real push in the evangelical community to accept high profile practicing Mormons as Christian brothers.
In this new article you’ll see the, from official LDS sources, that the Church of Jesus Christian of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) first attacked the Christian faith.
Definition of a Non-Christian Cult
Sadly, evangelicalism is becoming more and more squishy in doctrine in its desire to please men and its lust for their acceptance.
With Mormon Mitt Romney growing in prominence due to the presidential race Apprising Ministries now gives you this succinct definition by the late cult expert Dr. Walter Martin.
Desire, The Root Sin Of Apostasy
What's Up With Liberty University
Al Mohler on the Challenge of Same-Sex Unions
Dr. Al Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, offers the Church an important teaching. He writes:
In the world but not of the world? From the very beginning, the church has faced the challenge of responding to external events, trends, ideologies, and controversies. By definition, the church does not get to choose these challenges, but they have been thrust upon Christians by the world. The question always comes down to this: What now?
An Invasion of Error: A Review of Bill Johnson's "When Heaven Invades Earth"
In a recent article and interview, Bob DeWaay offers a detailed review of Bill Johnson’s book, When Heaven Invades Earth. DeWaay demonstrates that Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA, and a key figure in the movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation, “has departed from orthodox Christian teaching in many serious ways.” DeWaay illustrates how Bill Johnson pushes spiritual experiences, special knowledge (not found in Scripture), and points out that Johnson offers detailed formulas for performing miracles.