Jesus’ Equality with God in Power and Authority, Part 1

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙ ,

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. View article →

The Mixed Legacy of Charles Colson

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

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. View article →

The ‘Jesus’ of Mormonism à la Glenn beck

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

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. View article →

Is Transhumanism 'Inevitable'?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion

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. View article →

Dr. Martin Erdmann offers a more orthodox view on the subject in his 2011 article, “Creating a Posthuman New Breed.” View article →

All For Gaia: Earth Day and Total Transformation for a Post-Christian World

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙

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.” View article →

The Beginning of Opposition to the Son of God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

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. View article →

Mormonism Declared War on Christianity

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

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. View article →

Definition of a Non-Christian Cult

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

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.  View article →

Al Mohler on the Challenge of Same-Sex Unions

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙

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?

View article →

An Invasion of Error: A Review of Bill Johnson's "When Heaven Invades Earth"

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙

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. View article →

SBC's Richard Land Issues Apology for Plagiarism

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙

Baptist Press reports:

Richard Land, recently in the news for comments about the Trayvon Martin killing, has responded to charges that he failed to attribute the comments on air to a Washington Times columnist.

In a statement to Baptist Press April 16, Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, expressed regret for the way he handled remarks on his March 31 radio broadcast.

Source

The official statement has been posted on the Richard Land Live! website, and reads in part:

“On occasion I have failed to provide appropriate verbal attributions on my radio broadcast, Richard Land Live!, and for that I sincerely apologize. I regret if anyone feels they were deceived or misled. That was not my intent nor has it ever been. Clearly there has been no attempt to deceive the public or we would not have posted the articles that are used on the air. Source

In the statement, Land also noted that he was “grateful this oversight was brought to my attention.”

On 18 April, an additional announcement was made regarding the availability of archived episodes of Land’s radio show:

We, the Executive Committee of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, have decided, with Dr. Land’s encouragement, to remove the links to past shows for the reason set forth below.

We recently became aware of instances in which Dr. Richard Land read from materials written by others during his radio show without clear and proper attribution to the authors of those materials on the program. We have also learned that news agencies occasionally access this website and use clips from Dr. Land’s past broadcasts without prior notice or permission. Due to the danger that such unauthorized use by news agencies or others might include quoted material used by Dr. Land without clear and proper credit being given to the author or source of the quoted material, we have removed links to prior radio broadcasts. Richard Land Live! will continue to post links to broadcasts from this date forward, with careful attribution given to the authors of any material quoted on air.

Source

For Shame—Speech Crimes and Ideology

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙

Dr. Peter Jones, Director of truthXchange and Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Westminster Seminary, examines the new character of shame. In today’s culture, shaming is used to “punish speech against the new reigning orthodoxy of politically correct relativism, rather than to condemn personally reprehensible moral acts.” He writes,

Fifteen years ago James Twitchel’s For Shame: The Loss of Common Decency in American Culture argued for the socially redeeming character of shame: “Shame is the basis of individual responsibility… It is where decency comes from… shame inhibits behavior — that’s the point. It retards action, it increases reticence, it invokes self censorship. Its final object is not banishment, but reintegration.”

View article →

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”  Genesis 2:16-17, NASB

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.  Genesis 3:1-6, NASB

19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19, NASB

The doctrine of original sin is a vital part of genuine Christian orthodoxy. For a long time I didn’t really appreciate how important it is in our concept of the depths of our guilt before our sovereign and thrice Holy God. However, as I have become involved in ‘discussions’ with those who reject this doctrine, God has revealed to me, through my studying his Word in order to answer certain ‘arguments,’ that when this doctrine is not part of one’s theology then their concept of their salvation is more self-centered and, in some cases, is understood that one is a Christian based solely on religious acts they have done. Let’s look again at the Apostle Paul’s thesis on our salvation, which none of us deserve. View article →

May 2012 Conference To Indoctrinate Children Into Brian McLaren Mythology

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

Apprising Ministries goes over important background information concerning the methodology used by the Emerging Church to infiltrate and capture younger sectors of evangelicalism.

You’ll also see in this new article that the Emergent Church is now even set to begin indoctrinating helpless little children into the psuedo-Christian fables of one of its most notorious leaders. View article →