Because of his near cult level status among younger evangelicals Apprising Ministries really wishes this was satire, but tragically, it’s not.
Is Rick Warren On A Quest To Appear Foolish?
John MacArthur: Seeker Driven/Attractional Movement Is The New Liberalism
Latest On Creflo Dollar’s Alleged Assault Upon His Daughter
Apprising Ministries has been pointing out that one of the fruits of the Seeker Driven movement gaining a stranglehold upon contemporary evangelicalism is the growing influence of Word Faith prosperity preachers so many attractional megachurch pastors so fancy.
Yet another reason this sad story should not be allowed to be swept under the rug.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part 19
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14 “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matt. 24:4–14, NASB
When I encounter those whose theology and eschatology has been colored by presuppositions, philosophies, and the teachings of some theologians that the Church’s main function is to establish and prepare God’s Kingdom here on this Earth so the Lord will return and claim it, I wonder how seriously these people take Scripture passages such as Matthew 24:4–14 (above). These same people are all about making secular culture conform to Christianity. I find it very difficult to line that up with what our Lord said in Matthew 24 about what things would be like before he actually did return. What is the reality? Will the Church totally take over the world in this age? From what I have studied in the New Testament, the Church is a called out “congregation” of people that are despised, persecuted, and put to death for their faith as they live for the glory of their Lord in this life. The point of that is to attain a greater resurrection in the next age. Let’s see what our Lord said about the reality of what we have to deal with in this age as the Church.
Emergent Monastic Communities, Apprising Ministries, and a Wild Goose Chase
“Rev.” Dr. Elizabeth Kaeton, who’s even “worked closely with Bishop Jack Spong,” decided to take a swipe at my work at Apprising Ministries.
It provides a good teaching moment concerning the counterfeit spirituality of her postmodern liberalism, the cult within the Emerging Church, and its spiritually bankrupt non-gospel.
How Shall I Go To God?
At a Glance: Contemplative Prayer
CRN research articles give a concise overview of a specific topic and provide links to resources for further study. The most recently published research article examines contemplative prayer, discussing some of the dangers of this practice and contrasting it with what the Bible teaches about prayer.
The Gospel According to Tim Keller
By Toni S. Brown
What is the Gospel?
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4
And this is the gospel, nothing else. But not according to many prominent leaders and teachers in the visible church, namely the influential Dr. Tim Keller, whose “gospel” needs to be examined in light of the scriptures.
The below video link was posted in my last article and I post it again here to illustrate the desperate need of the Lord’s church to heed the warnings of scripture and examine what is being said by prominent, professing pastors in the church:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrB0GpfyHEw
According to Dr. Keller, the gospel is not “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow” Hebrews 4:12. Keller refers to the Hebrews 4:12 gospel as “a magic bullet that doesn’t work anymore.” So we must ask: What is the gospel according to Dr. Tim Keller?
The below excerpt from a speech given by Keller at an “Entrepreneurs’ Forum” held at his main downtown campus of the Redeemer Network illustrates his understanding of why Christ died:
“Conservative churches say ‘this world is not our home and it’s gonna burn up eventually and what really matters is saving souls so evangelism and discipleship and saving souls are what is important’. And we try to say that it’s the other way around almost. That the purpose of salvation is to renew creation. That this world is good and if you see it that way, then the old paradigm- if you’re going to put your money and your time and your effort as a Christian into doing God’s work in the world, you wanna save souls which means the only purpose of your ministry and your effort is to increase the tribe, increase the number of Christians. In the past Christians have tended to do things that only Christians would be interested in and only Christians would give to. I mean who else besides a Christian would give money to get something started that’s going to win many, many people to Christ? Just pretty much only Christians. BUT, when you have something that’s going to improve the schools in a particular city for everybody; when you have a venture that’s going to reweave creation physically, that’s going to deal with health problems, that’s going to deal with poverty. When Christians do that – out of their theology – they do that effectively because they’re dealing with the common good and you’re going to find that all kinds of non-Christians are not only going to invest in that and want to partner with you in that but a lot of them are also going to be attracted to the gospel because of that.” (excerpt source: Jonathan Cousar, member of Redeemer NYC 19 yrs.)
According to Tim Keller, Christ died to make the world a better place. But this is false, as Paul makes clear the true and sole purpose of the birth, death and resurrection of Christ:
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15
Keller exalts and clearly serves the world, admonishing all Christians to do the same; but Jesus said:
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me first. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19
Keller goes even further to pervert the true gospel when he tells his audience churches that focus on “soul winning” just want to “increase their tribe.” This is blasphemy, plain and simple, as scripture proclaims:
“I say unto you, that likewise the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner that repents.” Luke 15:6
Tim Keller teaches that the church’s mission is to reweave creation physically by way of social action that promotes the common good, but Christ said:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16
It is extremely important to take note of Dr. Keller’s proclamation that the world is good; of course, as anyone who has ever opened a Bible will tell you, that is patently false: Again, thus saith the Lord:
“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17
“Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4
Keller teaches that social action for the common good will attract unbelievers to the gospel, but scripture says otherwise:
“But the natural man receiveth not the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are only spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 2:15
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4: 1-4
“They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:5-6
In his essay titled “Leading the Secular to Christ”, Keller makes this statement:
“I couldn’t agree more that post-modern people come to Christ through processes, through relationships, through mini-decisions, through ‘trying Christianity on.’ Christianity must be attractive to people before they will sit still for a presentation of intellectual credibility.”
No. There are no “mini-decisions” and certainly no dressing rooms for “trying Christianity on:”
“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you, your children and all who are far off-for all whom the LORD our God will call.” Acts 2:37-39
Keller teaches that the gospel preached must be “attractive” and must be appealing to the unbelieving world……
“Now great crowds accompanied Him, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me is not worthy to be my disciple.” Luke 14:25-27
“When many of his followers heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that they were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? And he said, This is why I told you that “no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his followers turned back and no longer walked with him.” John 6:60,65,66
And what are we to make of Keller’s insistence on an intellectually credible message?
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should lose its power. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, and it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-21
“It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is no help at all: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63
One thing is abundantly clear, Tim Keller does not preach the gospel of Christ, and has little interest is “saving souls”, as demonstrated above in his own words! The below excerpt from an email I received after the first two articles were published with the BTWN network perfectly illustrates this, as well as the dire need to confront and expose men who have “crept in unawares”:
“I am very interested in this topic because I have a Christian friend whose family member attends Redeemer in NYC. This family member found out that they have a terminal illness and their Christian family was very concerned and started talking to them about the Lord and the gospel just to make sure they were saved. This person had no clue what they were talking about! They did not understand biblical truth having been steeped in Keller’s teachings.”
So… what is the point and purpose of his “ministry”?
He is a change agent.
Related
The Gospel According to Tim Keller: The Marxist
Research:
More on Tim Keller here
Published with permission www.judeonefour.com
Rick Warren Mentor Peter Drucker: “I am not a born again Christian”
Apprising Ministries brings you an exclusive video clip where you’ll hear the late business guru say this on his own.
You’ll also hear him tell you that his interest in megachurches was not from a religious standpoint, but one of social phenomenon “period.”
Now stop and think about how much influence his admitted secular business practices have had upon the huge Seeker Driven sectors of contemporary evangelicalism.
Video: Creflo Dollar Speaks of his Arrest from Pulpit
Apprising Ministries is doing what we can to help you see that, as silly as it sounds, Word Faith prosperity preachers are slithering closer to acceptance within contemporary evangelicalism.
This story involving one of the popular of them has taken an important turn. As such, I bring you this important follow up containing the video of Creflo Dollar addressing his arrest with his congregation from his pulpit yesterday morning.
You’ll see that he does present an alternate story from what his daughters testified to in the police report and says it was “appalling” how law enforcement handled this incident.
Word Faith Preacher Creflo Dollar: “I shouldn’t have been arrested”
Contemplative Deeper Life Pietism
Apprising Ministries has been talking for the past year or so about the syncretism being ushered in by contemplative mysticism as it slithers deep into evangelicalism.
In this piece, with an assist from Christian apologist Bob DeWaay you’ll see that at its root is the false teaching of those who practice it are the elite “enlightened” class of Christians.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part 18
1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:1–4, NASB
In the passage above (2 Timothy 4:1-4) the word “myths” translates the Greek noun μύθους (mythous), the Accusative, Plural of μῦθος (mythos). It is where we get the English words myth and mythology. In Classical Greek, this is a tale or fable that is “fabricated by the mind in contrast to reality.” In the New Testament, μύθους is always used to denote a cunning fable full of falsehoods and pretenses for the purpose of deceiving others. Those who willingly turn from God’s truth will unwillingly be deceived. Is this happening in our day? Yes it is. Why? It is because most of the visible church won’t tolerate true preaching, which proclaims truth and confronts sin; doctrinal error is everywhere: God’s sovereignty has been redefined in the “Open Theism” movement; Christians seek extra-biblical revelation through mysticism and so-called prophecies; hell is denied as a reality; the roles of men and women are blurred or destroyed altogether; homosexuality, fornication, abortion, and other immorality is condoned and even defended; et cetera. This deception has resulted in most of what we call the “visible church” having zero discernment. Error is rampant because they have willingly turned from God’s truth. In this they have proved that they have not entered by the narrow gate.
Rick Warren, Manny Pacquiao and the Influence of Peter Drucker
Apprising Ministries walks you through a recent Rick Warren public relations event, billed by him as a Bible study, and explains that quoting Bible verses doesn’t make Roman Catholics Christians.
If Pacquiao has really come to Christ as Warren alleges, then he needs to leave the apostate Roman Catholic Church, which has anathematized the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Interview With Brittany Koper, Granddaughter Of TBN’S Paul And Jan Crouch
With the Elephant Room 2 mainstreaming T.D. Jakes, not to mention CGM megastar Bill Hybels’ own promotion of the heretical Word Faith preacher, WF mythology slithers deeper into the mainstream of Christendom.
Therefore, Apprising Ministries believes this interview with Koper, which you listen to at AM, is now quite relevant as it concerns Trinity Broadcasting Network, a home to T.D. Jakes, and a haven for heretics of the WF movement.
Ed Young, Jr. With Elephant Room 2’s T.D. Jakes On TBN’s Praise The Lord
The Sermon on the Mount, Part 17
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:14–16, NASB
Even as we exercise discernment, withstand wolves in sheep’s clothing, false professors, false teachers, apostates, and even those who would slander us for standing firm in our obedience, in these things we are not to respond to them the way the world does. I listened to a sound clip from Chris Matthews’ show the other day in which he used his usual ambush tactics in having a Christian leader there who had gone on record saying that his children were not going to be homosexuals because of the way he and his wife were raising them. Matthews had Barney Frank on the show who is a homosexual and “gay rights” advocate as well as a legislator from Massachusetts. Both he and Matthews jumped all over this man for daring to state that children are not born with a certain sexual orientation, but instead, it is something that is a learned behavior that is exacerbated as the sin nature takes over. Of course, this really set them off. They even kept replaying his words trying to get him confused and, of course, to court outrage in the listening audience. What was this man’s response? He remained calm in demeanor. He never lashed out. He never went on the offensive. He simply remained Christlike in telling the truth and never backing down, but also, never allowed these men to cause him to lose his cool. I’m not so sure I could have handled it that well.
The Colossians Heresy—Part 3
Oral Roberts’ Homosexual Grandson Randy Roberts Potts Marries Former Mormon Keaton Johnson
While on one level this might not be important, in this piece Apprising Ministries details my past history with Potts and shows why you need to be aware that his prominence is rapidly growing.
Randy Roberts Potts finds his late grandfather’s name opens doors into Christendom for his pro-homosexual agenda, and his friendship with Emerging Church “pastor” Jay Bakker will even usher Potts into more mainstream evangelicalism.
The Demonic Vision of Beth Moore
The Budding Femance Between Word Faith Pastrix Christine Caine And Kay Warren
The Southern Baptist Convention finds itself chasing the wind as, yet again, an attack has been launched within it upon Calvinist brothers in Christ.
Apprising Ministries show you here that, instead of attacking the Biblical doctrines of grace, the wise SBC leaders will encourage people to focus on real problems such as major SBC figures—like Kay Warren and Beth Moore—embracing people who’re in open rebellion against the Word of God.
Wretched: Our Wicked Sin Problem
Joel Osteen Set As Executive Producer For Movie “Mary, Mother Of Christ”
Apprising Ministries says, you really can’t make this stuff up anymore. The bad news is we’ll likely see Seeker Driven pastors enter this arena as well.
Of course, they aren’t millionaire business moguls like Joel Osteen…yet. Well, the good news is, maybe Mary will be in a better mood and stop holding the Holy Spirit hostage.
The Sermon on the Mount, Part 16
14 And having come to the crowd, a man came to him kneeling down before him 15 saying, “Lord have mercy on my son for he is an epileptic and suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples and they were not able to heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered saying, “O faithless and depraved generation, how long with you will I be? How long will I endure you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out from him and the child was healed that hour. 19 Then the disciples approaching Jesus privately asked, “Why were we not able to cast it out?” 20 And he said to them, “On account of your little faith. Amen I say to you, ‘If you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain move from there and it will be moved and nothing will be impossible for you.’” Matt. 17:14–20, Possessing the Treasure New Testament v1
We have reached that part of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:7-11) that has been used by the Word of Faith preachers and the Health, Wealth and Prosperity hucksters as a “proof-text” of sorts for their agenda. In fact, in some study bibles with outline headers, this section is often labeled with something like “Ask and it will be given…” All through this sermon we have seen how our Lord has drawn the distinction between those truly in his Kingdom from those who are not. Some of those who are not may very well believe they are and may even look like it to most of us, but these distinctives do indeed mark the genuine one who is of the Kingdom of heaven from those who are not.