King James only and Gail Riplinger’s “New Age Bible Versions” has more than once been brought up on this Blog and elsewhere. I find it incredible that a woman with degrees in Interior design, with no formal training on the Bible, a woman that cannot even read Hebrew or Greek can set herself up as some authority over the best trained Bible translators in the world. I find it dumbfounding that Christians and even some “discernment ministries” would actually take what she says seriously without even reading what the experts say about her bazaar claims.

I can only surmise that her distortions of the truth appeal to those with a wooden head that somehow became a treasure chest full of conspiracy theories. They want to believe  conspiracy theories so bad that they grasp at anything at all if it seems to support their conspiracy concepts. Nevermind, that Gail Riplinger’s sad works have divided Christians and churches for no reason and discredited good Bible translations and translators. Nevermind, that she would not be allowed to teach a Sunday school to the men in most of the churches where she is held in highest esteem. However, in their wooden minds her books support their King James Only beliefs, so she gets a free pass from them to twist the truth in front of the whole world. 

I think all that are promoting Gail Riplingers books should take what James White said below very seriously. It is understandable that certain people like Riplinger would write books on topics that they really do not have the qualification to write, but why are some Christians, churches and forums promoting her? Where is is the discernment that many doing this claim to have??

I think James White says it best in this summery from his review and his debates on Riplinger’s book and claims. If you want to know why Gail Riplinger views are deceptive, silly and lack discernment read the full article.

Why Respond to Gail Riplinger? | Bible.org | Home of NET Bible on-line, Bible Study tools, Free Bible

Gail Riplinger’s works have been reviewed, and rejected, by numerous Christian leaders and scholars. For most, it’s a waste of time to even discuss the issue, since it’s so obvious that she is a troubler of the brethren, a woman who is out of control, setting herself up as an expert on topics about which she knows nothing at all. Her inability to function as a scholar is plain to anyone who wishes to see. The impact she has had in disrupting churches, damaging missions work, and in generally causing trouble, is hers to answer for.

In closing, though, we should actually be more troubled about what Gail Riplinger’s work says about the church as a whole. Where has discernment gone? Why didn’t someone sit her down a long time ago and try to straighten her out? And what is worse, why are men to this day letting her go on her merry way, spreading falsehoods, and even encouraging her in such activities? I have been informed (but have not taken the time to verify) that Mrs. Riplinger was recently granted an honorary doctorate by Jack Hyles for her work, New Age Bible Versions. Can someone explain how a person who doesn’t even have the first bit of undergraduate training in any of the fields relating to Bible translation can be given an honorary doctorate for having produced the most error-filled volume on the topic ever to grace the planet? Is “acrostic algebra” the stuff of doctorates? One may well forgive Gail, for she is obviously deceived; but what of the many others who encourage her to continue on in her path of disturbing the work of the Church? Might not they be even more liable? It would seem so.

Full article

I really love these people who tell me that they really believe the world is coming to an end in 2012, or they are certain that the Rapture has to happen within a year or two, or that they have the date of the second coming all figured out, or that Jesus has to come before 2019 because of their interpretation of the “Fig Tree Parable”, or based on some pagan prophecy, or the sayings of  Jack Van Impe, etc., etc., but they continue to retain all their wealth like they are going to live here forever or take it with them.

If you really believe what you say you believe on the Internet and in your emails, what need will you have for all your money? Give it to someone who will use it for Christian ministry in the couple of years that you are certain that we only have left.

I certainly could use a million bucks to hire a staff and to set up a modern office and expand this ministry. I would use your money to help get the message out that Jesus is coming soon and warn Christians about all the latest heresies, and warn about the wolves in sheep’s clothing running around seeking wheat to sell baloney to, so the wolves can devour them (with mustard) before Jesus even gets here for supper.

Not to mention, that the average attender in most congregations today is brain dead when it comes to biblical knowledge and understanding, and they really needs to read my shock courses on basic Christian doctrine so they don’t get Jesus mixed up with the Mahdi or some stain on a coffee table.

Others just need to hear what I want to ramble on about (like here) but I can’t be doing much rambling on if I am busy with other tasks that go along with keeping up a website and Blog and also keeping an abode in the deepest darkest jungles of the Ozark wilderness. (We still have to appease and fight off leprechauns and trolls here, not to mention, the government wilderness control freaks).

So if you are so certain that Jesus must return before 2012 or thereabouts just send me one of those spare millions that you know you won’t ever be needing and help expand this ministry. You will not get a tax deduction because I am not on the list of IRS approved charities and probably never will be with my constitution. But what do you need a tax deduction for anyway?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not asking for small donations from anyone reading this or from those who have any doubts about the Lord coming before 2019. I can’t expand a ministry on a thousand bucks here and there, and certainly can’t on your spare change. Send your seed faith change to the TV hucksters. I need really big bucks, like a million or so from the faithful that have no doubt in their mind that Jesus must return before 2019 and so are certain they will not ever need the million bucks. I give no refunds, if you change your mind or Jesus does not return before your date, your just out a million bucks and probably used it for a better cause than you would have. You probably would have just bought more gadgets like one that will allow you to text with your toes while driving  (now don’t ask me where to buy it).

If you do not want to send the million to me then give it to the ministry of your choice or the poor. So, as the saying goes, put up or shut up!

People spouting this stuff about Jesus coming in 2012 etc., really need to put their money where there mouth is and not be hypocrites or else they should tone down their date speculations. That includes the authors that are banking money from selling 2012 new aged baloney.
You can send those million dollar donations to Don Koenig, PO Box 234, Summersville Mo, 65571.

In return I will send you a semiannual picture of my well fed (thanks to you) six dogs and six cats. Sorry, they cannot write you letters. As a bonus you will receive a envelope of fairy dust from the local leprechauns. I think if you sprinkle the dirt… er…I mean dust.. on your upside down St Joseph statue your multi-million dollar mansion will be the first one to sell on your block (not valid in California, Nevada, Arizona, or Florida).

Polls indicate that many that call themselves Christians today do not even believe the essential fundamental foundational truths of Christianity.

Can anyone be a Christian and not believe in the foundational truths of Christianity? That is not for me to judge but if you have doubts about believing these things you might judge yourself. Do you just not understand basic Christian truths because you were never taught them or do you deny them and thus deny the Christian faith?

I do not think that the fundamental foundational truths of Christianity are optional or that they can be explained away by those trying to redefine Christianity to fit their own belief system. These foundational truths of Christianity are absolute truths from God and if you deny it, what does that say about your claim to be a Christian?

Foundational truths of the Christian faith

• Salvation comes by God’s Grace through faith (belief in God promises) in Jesus Christ. Your own good works cannot earn you salvation.
• There is only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ. Other religions are not alternate paths to God.
• Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, the only visible image of God, and is the Creator of everything seen and unseen.
• Jesus lived a sinless life and was the innocent Lamb sacrifice of God whose blood was shed to take away sin.
• Jesus was both fully God and fully human.
• All Humankind is sinful and therefore all must come to Jesus Christ to be cleansed of their sin or they will be eternally separated from a Holy God.
• Those that deny the Son of God also deny the Father because they are one God (they are unified).
• Jesus died and death could not hold Him.  God rose the Body of Jesus from the dead and Jesus ascended to the throne of God in heaven.
• All in  Christ have the Holy Spirit as a witnesses and a helper, all members of the Body of Christ are new spiritual creations.
• Those that trust in Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation can never be lost.
• Satan also known as the Devil is real and is a powerful spiritual adversary. (A Christian’s defense from Satan is putting on the whole armor of God – Eph 6:7)
• Jesus authenticated the Old Testament scriptures as coming from God. The New Testament scriptures are authenticated by the eye witnesses of Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ. The Christian Bible is the very word of God when transcribed and translated accurately. Therefore. all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Ti 3:16).
• There is a Lake of Fire reserved for those who oppose or reject Jesus Christ.
• Jesus is coming again in Glory and every eye will see Him when He comes. He will judge the living and the dead and God will  then create a new heaven and a new earth where there is no more sin, sickness, death or sorrow.

I might have missed some foundational truths of the faith.  If so you are free to add them.

I think the ELCA vote to allow active homosexuals to become ministers was finally the straw that broke the camel’s back  for me. I will no longer identify with what is today called the Evangelical movement.

Lets face it Satan first came in with his wolves in sheep’s clothing and so corrupted the mainline denominations with the doctrines of humanism that most true Christian left. Now Satan is well on his way of accomplishing the very same thing with those that identified with the evangelicals  that came out of those near dead Sardis mainline churches.

In reality I think over half of people who call themselves evangelicals today have gone off track and are now running on the road to Laodicea. Their worldviews are not from biblical doctrine because they are playing down Bible doctrine. They love to buy into the psychologies and philosophies of the age and more and more are going off into spiritualism influenced by leaders who knowingly or unknowingly are  in the occult. It is getting so bad that you often cannot tell the difference between the teachings and practices of post-modern evangelicals, World Faith heretics and certain demonic cults.

Even many churches that were once well known as Bible churches have drunk the post-modern Kool-Aid. Are you aware of the conflicts within the Nazarene’s, Baptists, EFree’s, etc. on this issues? It seems to me that many leaders have totally lost their Christian minds or at least their Christian worldview reflects that they do not have the mind of Christ.

Christians that believe the Bible is the only infallible reliable guide for Christian faith and practice and believe that truths taught in the Bible are absolute and that they cannot be twisted so they can be politically correct with the world, cannot continue to identify with these leaders calling themselves “evangelicals”.

So here is my quandary. What do we whom once called ourselves evangelicals now call ourselves? The post-modern evangelicals have split the movement and have now made the term “evangelical” meaningless. Worse yet, these people are now becoming the majority among those who call themselves “Evangelicals.

I have not yet heard a good title to identify those you cannot abide the redefining of Christianity from evangelicals. Some might say just call yourself a Bible believing Christian but that really does not work because they also claim to be be Bible believing Christians even though they twist the words to mean what they want or they pick and chose what part of the Bible they want to believe to support humanistic wordviews.

• Calling oneself a Christian is not the answer since 90 percent of people that identify with Christianity seem to be Christians in name only.
• Saying you believe in Christ does not mean much these days since many believe in some concept of Christ make in their own image.
• Saying your a born again Christian has lost its meaning since most who claim to be born again Christians can not even explain the spiritual concept. Some just think being born again just means they were once baptized in a church.  There is no spiritual change in most to indicate that were ever born again in a spiritual rebirth or that the Holy Spirit indwells them.
• If you call yourself one who believes in the absolute fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith you will be labeled a  fundamentalist and you mightl also be labeled  a simpleton who checks your brain at the door. Of course that is not true at all but it might not be wise to try to revive a vehicle that Christians already allowed the world to crash and burn.
• We could call ourselves “the elect” but many that are baptized as infants in liberal churches also claim they are the elect.
• We can say we are Wheaties, breakfast of champions, but the tares will claim we had a false start.

I know that if we do come up with a new name that Satan will soon try to ruin it. However, I think he may run out of time this time around. I see churches of many different denomination splitting into two camps. I think it will break down this way. There will be those that stay on solid biblical ground and there will be those who stand on the shaky ground of  humanism, spiritualism, subjective theories of men and emotionalism.

So what do we call the people who stand on solid biblical doctrine and truth compared to the others? As far as I am concerned they can keep their “Evangelical” title if they want because they already corrupted that word. We know the correct name for these would be more like “Laodicean Harlot’s for Jesus” but if they are the Harlots for Jesus who are we? I might suggest that we are the Bride and Body of Christ through bethrothal to the King (The two will become one flesh – This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.)

I guess we could call ourselves the Body of Christ but pseudo Christians today also claim to be part of the Body of Christ although they have no blood relationship with Jesus. So I guess that title is not exclusive enough.

What to do? Who knows? I am waiting for someone like you to come up with something. We need a one or two word description that fits and that will catch on with true faithful Christians. Like perhaps “Latter Day Philadelphians“.

What say you?

An interesting article was written by Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries. She talks about the 2009 leadership conference or summit lead by Bill Hybel’s Willow Creek Association. Two of the guest speakers for this “leadership” conference will be Tony Blair and Rock Star Bono.

Why would any Christian go to a Christian leadership conference to hear from Tony Blair and Bono? They both are all-paths pseudo Christian heretics. Seems to me that Bill Hybels job was to first dumb down Christianity with his seeker friendly program and then steer the pseudo Christians under his influence into the end time one world religion Harlot of Bible prophecy described in Revelation chapter 17.

Notice that Rick Warren is a board member of the Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation. Warren is even more influential than Hybels in the seeker movement. Also be aware that Tony Blair’s recent conversion to Catholicism was not just some coincidence it was for darn good reason. At some point that church will head this world harlot religion.  With Tony Blair and Bono as speakers this Willow Creek leadership conference ought to be named “The making of a Harlot.

If you count all the churches under the influence of Hybels Creeker Network and Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Movement we are talking about half of the so called evangelical churches in America!  So, in just two decades these two people destroyed the meaning of the term “evangelical Christian”.

So go ahead and continue to tell me that God is behind Rick Warren and Bill Hybels but anyone with an ounce of Christian discernment can see that these men are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

The article clearly points out the issues and gives links where you can get additional information. I hope you will read it.

When Evangelicals Dine with the Wicked

Here is a good follow-up article on Hybels and Warren’s agenda to sell religion as the hope of the world.

The gospel according to Rick Warren is to establish a coalition of faith with unbelievers. That is what I read according to what he said to the Muslims. Actually the gospel coming from Rick Warren does not even exist, at least for the people who really need to hear the gospel.

Read what Jan Markell thinks about the latest from Rick Warren and his Islamic Society of North America appearance. I am to the point where I do not not think the guy has anything to offer the Church or anyone else. I simply do not know why Christians call him their pastor, buy his sermons or read his incredible line of baloney. Rick Warren is a creation of the media because he rubs elbows with billionaires and CFR people. It is perhaps time that serious Christians take Rick Warren out of their vocabulary. It seems to me and Jan that Rick Warren is only going to lead people into the harlot one world religion described in Revelation.

An Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren

Rick Warren told his Islamic audience, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA,) that he envisions “a coalition of faith.” Whether Pastor Warren knows this or not, this is just another term for the coming one-world religion outlined in Revelation 13. It is further outlined in Revelation 17.

Full article

If you are one of those pastors who willfully allow yourself to be used as an agent by some hypothetical tyrannical government to enable an illegal government to carry out their tyranny against the American people you will be guilty of treason. If you take part in the subversion of the rights guaranteed to Americans under the second Amendment to our Constitution or any of the other rights guaranteed by our Constitution given to us for the protection of “We the People” of the United States of America from such tyranny, you might rightfully be tried for treason during or after the second American Revolution.

That might seem like a harsh statement to those who think Romans 13 tells us to obey government without question. Tell that to the Christian leaders in Germany who told Germans to submit to the Nazis or the Christian leaders in Russia and China who obeyed the Communists.

Romans 13 does not tell us to obey unlawful orders of government and if the orders are against the law of our land (the Constitution) they are unlawful. The whole Bible tells us to obey God first. After we do that we obey lawful orders of God given government. We do not obey unlawful orders of tyrants any more than we would obey the orders of murders and thieves and enable them to continue their murders and thief’s on others.

Dr. David Berman explains what Romans 13 really means to Christians in this article. But I warn you, if you read the full article you can no longer use ignorance as an excuse. If you take part in a government clergy response team you better be on the right side of the Constitution.

Can A Christian Righteously Rebel against Government? (Romans 13)

Dr. David M. Berman www.wakeupandsmellthetruth.com

Let me start by saying that you must read this entire article to understand my position on this question. The following passage has been used by many to teach that Christians must submit to all government. In fact during the Katrina disaster many Pastors worked with FEMA in what they call “Clergy Response Teams.” If Marshall law is declared, this team is to be used by government to keep the people from rebellion (Source K.S.L.A news). It is interesting how the government decries Christian involvement in public policy while at the same time they want to use pastors to facilitate tyranny. I would take time to write about these pastors who would cooperate with government tyranny but that is for another article.

The question is; “Can a Christian righteously rebel?” The answer is no! It is never acceptable for a Christian to rebel. First Samuel chapter fifteen says “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.”Having said that, in order to really answer this question we must first define rebellion. What is Rebellion? Is it simply disobedience of an authority? The answer is this; Rebellion is the disobedience of a lawful order and a lawful authority. That is what rebellion is. Two examples would be:

1) Refusing to stop when a police car is behind you with lights on.

2) Refusing to answer a question when testifying in court (not including 5th amendment).

What is rebellion not? Rebellion is not disobedience of an unlawful authority or an unlawful order. No government has the right to give unlawful or ungodly orders. Those who believe that Romans 13 somehow gives a right to government to give ungodly and unlawful orders to its citizens are terribly mistaken. Pastors that help the government disarm the citizenry, are acting against the Constitution and the natural law of self defense. Government is not given a right to tyrannical despotic rule.

It is impossible to be in rebellion against an unlawful or ungodly order. If the order is ungodly we are obligated to disobey it. We are only in rebellion if the order is lawful and comes from proper authority. God does not contradict himself. He did not command us to obey him and at the same time command us to obey things that men tell us to do which oppose his moral law. For example we are given the right and responsibility to raise our own children in the Lord. We have every right to disobey any action of government that seeks to indoctrinate our children with ungodly teachings!

Our founders realized the people have rights and that government can’t use Romans 13 as an excuse for despotism. Christians must:

1) Resist tyranny

2) Not allow the government to indoctrinate our children.

3) Stand against any attempt to infringe of the second amendment.

4) Work to establish a government of the people for the people by the people.

5) Disobey any law that is ungodly.

6) Preach the gospel and all Biblical truth no matter what the law says.

7) Uphold the covenant of the Constitution above all attempts to make it relative to modern liberal/socialist/statist thinking.

Never put personal money gain above the principles of Constitutional government.

9) Be willing to speak out in the face of persecution.

10) Be able to articulate the Christian world view.

11) Protect babies from the slaughter of abortion.

12) Stand for what marriage is; a man and a woman.

Remember this; The Constitution is a covenant. The states were set up under this covenant. The rules of the covenant are what we agreed to. When the federal government violates the covenant, they have no right to expect to be obeyed and we must not obey them. There is no difference between the federal government violating the lawful contract (Constitution) and a common thief who commits fraud and breach of contract.

I have said this before and now I will say it again:

“One must never put his trust in the government for his own safety, nor the safety of his family. It is not in the nature of government to regard its citizens as more important that itself. Government when limited by the original Constitution of the United States of American can be a blessing. However, without the principled citizenry taking responsibility for itself all government leads to tyranny!”

What Obama, the Democrats, and the willing weak Republicans are doing is the same as many of the things the King of England was doing. They are enemies of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A final word – Resistance against tyranny is not rebellion. It is righteous!

Full article

Jim Elliff hits the nail on the head in this article about Southern Baptist churches. Most Southern Baptist members do not attend more than once or twice a month if at all. I cannot do the article justice by the few quotes of his that I quoted below so you will have to read the full article below.

First, I will make my own observations and comments on this subject. They probably will not totally agree with Elliff’s observations and conclusions.

The issue in this article is why Southern Baptists do not faithfully attend their gathering and what should be done about it? For that matter we could be be talking about every other evangelical denomination or church in America. I have been a member of several denominations and I have attended many different churches for extended periods of time. They all have the same problem. Only about a third of those on the membership role show up on any given Sunday if they show up at all. For Sunday night and Wednesday services your lucky if 15 percent attend if they even have such a service. In church business meetings you see the same ten percent show up each month or quarter and most of them are on the board or some committee and have to be there. The rest of the membership apparently could care less about the affairs of their church.

I have been saying all along that over half of the people in evangelical denominations are not Christians at all, nothing I read or observe leads me to think I am wrong about that. When I attend Sunday school and observe that most of the few members that actually do attend do not read or know their Bible it is apparent to me that they are not serious about learning about the things of God. The churches and denominations do not encourage real Bible study either by having magazine studies about the Bible (often Lifeway Bible study material).

First lets take a look at the Membership roles and numbers. Pastors and church boards l o v e  N u m b e r s. It gives them bragging rights. I would not be in error to say that I am still an active member of some churches that I have not attended for years. Many churches simply do not remove inactive members from their roles. So, I would say Jim Elliff is underestimating that factor. The truth is that many churches are only half of the size that they like to advertise.

Next, we have to look at the purpose of the Church. Some in leadership seem to think the purpose of their church is to meet for Sunday ritual and worship. Actually you can worship at home in spirit and truth. The main purpose for the assembly of the Church is for Christian fellowship and for the members in the Body to use their God given spiritual gifts for others in the Body. The main reasons why members do not like to attend the Sunday ritual services is that they often find no fellowship and they just leave empty. Another purpose for the assembly of the Church is for teaching and the building up of each other in the faith. One of the main reasons why members do not attend is that they are not getting biblical teaching and Christian instruction at church. They go to church but hear a seeker friendly gospel lite service or in the Charismatics churches they have an emotional trip but learn nothing. If I joined a food coop to get nourishing food and they only had sweets I am ether going to go somewhere else to get real food or I am only going to get real fat and lazy. Many that attend some churches faithfully are spiritual diabetics or emotional speed junkies it is the healthy people that are long gone. So I am not sure you can even say that the people who attend the services faithfully are the Christians. The Christians might be the healthy ones who got tired of junk food or charismatic amphetamine and left.

Many unstable postmodern teachers teach that Christian doctrine divides and keep us from unity but these people are the real problem in the churches because you cannot have true Christianity unity without agreement on the essentials doctrines of the Christian faith. Here is a fine article  on this doctrine debate. There are many fine points within this article. One section is where Dr. Norman Geisler points out 14 essential Christian doctrines that all Christians have to stand firm on. There can be no unity with those who claim to be Christians but oppose these essential doctrines. The doctrine debate article also points out that those who do not understand Christian doctrine will not have a Christian worldview and that means that God will not a major factor in the choices they make in their everyday life choices. The Bara Group survey claims that where Christians do not believe the Bible is the moral standard of absolute truth only 9 percent of born-again adults and 2 percent of born-again youth have a biblical worldview (two percent of born again Christian youth!!). Here is another article that will give you even more excellent perspectives on what is going on in our chuches. If you wonder why the country is a mess, query the believes of those that attend and lead your own congregations and you will know why.

Lets face it many that are on the church membership roles are only there because someone pressured them into it. Perhaps they had to become a member to get married in that church. Perhaps they joined to please their parents, their family members, or their spouse or even their pastor. Perhaps it was to enhance their standing in the community. Perhaps it was a response to an altar call where peer pressure mind control methods were used. How many churches have you been in where almost everyone is coerced to come to the altar to get saved or rededicate their lives? You feel like the social leaper if you are one of the few people left in the pews that do not respond to such coercion. So when mind control techniques like these are used, and they are used more than you think, don’t expect it to produce genuine conversion. Chances are once these “new converts” see how they were manipulated they will avoid your church like a plague. This is what cults do to build membership. Pastors need to teach the good news for those with ears to hear but only the Holy Spirit can bring people to repentance and true conversion.

So what are the answers? Some of the answers are what Jim Eliiff gives in this articles but that is only part of it. The whole Western Christian mindset has to change. Christianity is not weekly meetings and percentage in attendance. It is a way of community life for believers. I think someone should develop a teaching series that should be mandatory before anyone becomes a member of any Western evangelical church. The series would be based on the daily life of Christians where Christians are persecuted and not allowed to assemble in buildings but nevertheless they find a way to assemble and fellowship with each other daily. The leadership of our Churches need to go back to the ways of Christianity and stop learning the techniques of the world to grow a church and produce worldly feigned success. When the church is filled with true believing Christians, where Christian doctrine is taught the Holy Spirit will lead the people there to learn about salvation but the Holy Spirit is not going to lead people to a sugar shack of diabetic sheep.

What reward will you get from God if you lead a church filled with 10,000 people but the works of the Holy Spirit are absent? It would be better for you that you led a small church where the Holy Spirit was working because then you will certainly receive a reward from God.

Southern Baptists, An Unregenerate Denomination

Like the unfortunate person above, the Southern Baptist Convention has a name that it is alive, but is in fact, mostly dead (Rev. 3:1). Regardless of the wonderful advances in our commitment to the Bible and the recovery of our seminaries, a closer look reveals a denomination that is more like a corpse than a fit athlete. In an unusual way, our understanding of this awful reality provides the most exciting prospects for the future-if we will act decisively.

Although the Southern Baptists claim 16,287,494 members, on average only 6,024,289 people (guests and non-member children included), a number equal to only 37% of the membership number, show up for their church’s primary worship meeting (usually Sunday morning). This is according to the Strategic Information and Planning department of the Sunday School Board (2004 statistics). If your church is anything like normal, and is not brand new, your statistics are probably similar. In other words, if you have 200 in attendance on Sunday morning, you likely have 500-600 or even more on your roll. Many churches have an even worse record.

Discerning who among us is regenerate is not an exact science, but a closer look at these numbers will at least alert us to the fact that most Southern Baptists must certainly be dead spiritually. That is so, unless, of course, you claim that there is no difference between a believer and a non-believer.

We don’t need better methods to get people down to the front. What we need is more biblical content and more unction in our preaching. You cannot beat sinners away from Christ when God is bringing them in (see Jn. 6:37, 44-45). When as many as 70-90% of “converts” are giving little, if any, evidence of being saved after their first weeks or months of emotional excitement, questions should be asked, both about our understanding of the gospel and about our methods. Forget the fact, if you must, that there is no clear biblical precedent for the altar call. Even considering the matter pragmatically ought to make us quit. Though prevalent in our churches for decades, it has not helped us.

The dangerous practice of receiving new members immediately after they walk the aisle must finally be abandoned. Also, more careful counsel should be taken with those entering in as members from other churches. And add to this a need for much deeper thinking concerning childhood conversion. An alarming percentage of childhood professions wash out later in the teen and college years. For unconverted yet baptized church kids, the more independence they are granted, the more they live out their true nature.

4. We must stop giving immediate verbal assurance to people who make professions of faith or who respond to our invitations. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to give assurance. We are to give the basis upon which assurance can be had, not the assurance itself. Study 1 John in this respect. What things were written so that they might know they have eternal life? (1 Jn. 5:13). Answer: The tests given in the book. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).

5. We must restore sound doctrine. Revival, I am finding as I study its history, is largely about the recovery of the true gospel. The three great doctrines which have so often shown up in true revival are: 1) God’s sovereignty in salvation, 2) justification by grace through faith alone, and 3) regeneration with discernible fruit. Revival is God showing up, but the blessing of the presence of God is directly affected by our beliefs. God most often comes in the context of these and other great doctrines, preached penetratingly and faithfully, and with the unction of the Holy Spirit.

Which army would you rather have? Gideon’s first army or his last? No church, and no denomination, should call itself healthy unless more people attend than are on the roll.

Today, in rough numbers, it takes 300 people on our rolls to have 100 attenders. In the 1790s, it took only 33. Or, to put it in larger figures, it now takes nearly 3000 people, supposedly won to Christ and baptized, to result in a church attendance of 1000. Then, it took only 333. Our potency has diminished to such an extent that we must “win” and “baptize” over 2,000 more people to get to the same 1000 to attend.

Full article

While some Christians still get upset enough with government to contract their congressmen and talk about throwing the bums out of office, it seems that many Christians do nothing about the wolves in sheep’s clothing that have infiltrated their own churches.

The threat comes from postmodern leaders with its redefining of Christianity and the Bible. The threat is also known as the Emergent Church. The Emergent Movement now threatens to subvert once evangelical denominations. The Emergent movement is now a major emerging threat in the Nazarene denomination and is also a big threat in Baptists churches and others.

If you do not know what the big deal is about from this Emergent threat click on the link above and read the articles from Eric Bager and find out. Here is also a fair article that generally explains the Emergent Church movement. Not everything about being relevant with the postmodern people of our culture is bad but we must never compromise on the essentials. The Bible must be the final authority for our faith and practice.

Just to point out one example how postmodernism subtly infects the church, I read an article today by Dave Welch on a conservative Christian website about how the Church should hate. The article was talking about the Church hating the same things that God hates. I agree with what Welch said in the article and I am sure Welch does not believe in emergent teaching at all. However, in the article where it quotes what God hates instead of using the Bible, Welch quotes from “The Message”. The Message might be the most postmodern relevant bad paraphrase of the Bible in existence today but it certainly is not the Bible. Are not the six things that God hates clear enough in a real translation that one has to resort to quoting from bad paraphrases of the Bible? Why would an astute Christian even quote from “The Message” anyway? Eugene Peterson the author of “The Message” has no discernment to interpret the Bible because if he had any biblical discernment he would not have endorsed the cover of the heretical postmodern book called “The Shack” ?

Seems to me that the great apostasy is well underway in our church buildings. The wolves in sheep’s clothing are standing in the pulpits and the sheep sitting in the pews do not have enough biblical knowledge to discern the difference between the true gospel and what these men preach. They just follow and approve of everything their pastors do.  After all, these are men of G–O–D.

One example of postmodernism in the seeker movement is Saddleback’s Rick Warren.  I guess he has not been wishy washy enough on all his national platform opportunities already, now he is now going to speak at a Muslim convention to forty thousand Muslims. Now, that would be a great opportunity for a real Christian to give the gospel of Jesus Christ but if Rick Warren gives the gospel at that Muslim convention I will repent and send his church a large donation. I wish he would do that but you know that he won’t, so why is he called America’s pastor? Does he reflect the American Church? Why are Christians even following him? What is our great commission? Seems that most Christians no longer know. What would Paul do (WWPD)? If Paul got the opportunity to speak to Muslims and the world would he talk about what Warren will?  Warren will probably speak on interfaith cooperation and how we all worship the same God. If that is true then why did millions of Christians die for the  gospel of Christ?

If the salt has lost its savior it is good for nothing but to be trampled down and that is why hate speech laws will be passed that will trample down the church in America. “Christians” can only blame themselves.

We need to throw the bums out of our churches and Christian leadership first. Then maybe we will deserve a better government. Don’t expect any grass roots movement to change America if we cannot even get the pew sitters in our churches to install biblical pastors that will preach the gospel of Christ.

One might wonder how this Emergent Church is reaching postmodern young people that they say their programs are designed for? It is not! Churches have lost their youth even with all their postmodern youth pastors and programs. Two thirds of teenagers in Britian now say they do not believe in God. What does that say about how the Church is reaching people with the gospel and the future of Christianity?

It is not that bad in America yet but all polls say it is rapidly heading in that direction. In fact, the majority of church youth that claim to be born again Christians lose their faith by the time they graduate from college. Any astute Christian should know that it is a sin for parents to willing send their kids to our government run schools where they will certainly be brainwashed with godless philosophies of humanistic and demonically inspired men. So why do most pastors not even realize this and teach this to their congregations and suggest alternatives? Could it be because they have become part of the problem with their own emerging postmodern moral relativism?

I cannot make this stuff up. Can you believe this survey of Christians? It points out to me that most American “Christians” are not Christians at all.

You cannot even be a Christian without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit so these people who call themselves Christians but deny the living entity of the Holy Spirit cannot be Christians. Likewise, you cannot believe the Bible and believe that Satan is not real. Furthermore, you cannot be a Christian if you believe that Jesus sinned. Therefore the only conclusion can be:

At least sixty percent of “Christians” in America have no Holy Spirit and therefore could not be Christians
At least sixty percent of “Christians” do not believe what the Bible teaches about Satan and therefore are total idiots or more likely not Christians
Thirty-nine percent of “Christians” believe Jesus sinned or probably sinned that rules them out of the Christian faith

Now lets talk about the illogical stupidity of those “Christians” who responded to this survey.

They say the Holy Spirit and Satan are just symbols not living entities but the same people say they believe people can be under the influence of spiritual forces like demons or evil spirits?

Half of those who agreed that the Holy Spirit is just a symbol believed that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches?? That can only  mean one thing. A large percentage that claim they believe the Bible have never read or comprehended it. They are only repeating what some preacher told them.

So is it any wonder that there are so many “Christian” heretics leading “Christians” in America when two-thirds of “Christians” in this survey make it clear that they are not Christian?

This survey just brings up a few reasons why many of those who call themselves “Christians” today are not Christian. There are many other reasons that would eliminate many more. I doubt if much more than ten percent of those calling themselves “Christians” in America are really Christians. After the Rapture of the Church the removal of true Christians will hardly put a dent in the population of “Christians” in America.

That is why I disagree with those who think the Rapture is the reason why America is not in Bible prophecy. America is  in collapse right now because “Christians” in America are not Christians.

Most U.S. Christians don’t believe Satan, Holy Spirit exist

The majority of American Christians do not believe that Satan is a real being or that the Holy Spirit is a living entity, the latest Barna survey found.

Nearly six out of ten Christians either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with the statement that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil,” the survey found.

Forty percent strongly agreed with the statement while 19 percent of American Christians somewhat agreed.

In contrast, about 35 percent of American Christians believe Satan is real.

interestingly, the majority of Christians believe a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces, such as demons or evil spirits, even though many of these same people believe Satan is merely a symbol of evil.

Likewise, most Christians in the United States do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a living force. Fifty-eight percent strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement that the Holy Spirit is “a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.”

Interestingly, about half (49 percent) of those who agreed that the Holy Spirit is only a symbol but not a living entity, agreed that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches. The Bible states that the Holy Spirit is God’s power or presence, not just symbolic.

More than one-fifth (22 percent) strongly agreed that Jesus Christ sinned when He lived on earth, with an additional 17 percent agreeing somewhat.

Full Article

I received this email today and thought I would ask permission from this woman to post it on my Blog because so many Christians today are trapped in similar churches and have similar struggles.

I do not know how many Catholics fall away from the Catholic faith only to end up in churches that establish their own “self appointed anointed priesthood”. They then preach that their church has the only doctrine that brings salvation and all others that do not interpret certain passages their narrow minded way are not even Christians. Many people escape the bondage of Catholic legalism but then they put themselves under total control of  this self anointed appointed priesthood of control freaks.

If you think keeping the rules of your church brings you salvation you have not yet heard the Gospel of salvation. Also, if you believe you are now enlightened and above sin you probably just opened the door for Satan to sift you like wheat. If you really believe salvation depends on your own performance I can assure you that your performance will fall short. Jesus said to take my yoke upon you for my burden is light. The Lord’s burden is light because Jesus is carrying all of your load.

This lady found out the truth but not before she had to attend the school of hard knocks. Unfortunately some never learn and they keep themselves and everyone around them in legalistic bondage. This post and this woman’s email is presented for those who are bound in legalism with the hope that a few will have ears to hear and will depart from this bondage.

After you read this email please take a minute and Pray for Ruby and her son Gabriel.

If you are in a controlling church like this please read my article on legalism

Hi Don,  name is Ruby. I will start first of all by giving our Lord Jesus Christ all the honor and glory because he is God and worthy to be praised. I thank God for you, and the (thepropheticyears.com) website  that you have created. I thank God he has

appointed you to be a watchman. Don, I stumbled across you’re website almost a year ago I was surfing the Internet was curious about the end times something I saw on the History channel on what I think might of been about the Mayan calendar which I don’t agree with I do believe it is paganism.  Don, I want you to know first of all that I don’t know why I feel compelled to write to you.  Maybe it’s gratitude for all the information you put forth on the website all of that research and work that you have done to help others like myself.  Don, I

believe you’re reward is in heaven.  I want to write to you about my life experience as a Christian. I know you are a busy man of God, and probably have better things to do but I pray you read this message.

Don, as a child I was raised a Catholic I remember going to Catechism on Sundays. Then in my early teens I married, but in order to get married through the Catholic Church I had to make my First Holy Communion and I did and had a Church wedding.  I was never a devout Catholic I believed in God, but did not know God as my personal Lord and Savour.

Then in my early Twenties, a young mother of two sons my daughter was not born at that time. My now ex-husband, and I were invited to attend a Church service at a little Church where you could count the Church members.

It was very exciting for me because I had never heard anyone preach the word of God from the Bible in such a way it touched my heart. I can still to this day remember hearing about Gods Salvation Plan and how Jesus Christ our Lord came and died for our sins. The word of God was foreign to me but at the same time beautiful and inspiring.

I was baptized in the name of Jesus the Church I attended was a non-denominational church In Jesus only name or the oneness Church. They strongly believe in (Act 2:38)  repent be baptized submerged in water in the name of Jesus only to be saved. They believe that speaking in tongues is a sign of being sealed with or receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. This religion denies the (Holy Trinity) and preach against it, they really believe that if you are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit you are not saved.  I myself believed that once, that’s what I was taught to believe.  Don, I spoke in tongues many years ago I believe it was God’s gift to me, there was no interpreters there so I don’t know what I said God knows, I do know however I was praising God. They also taught that once baptized if you commit sin you forfeit your salvation never again to be forgiven but lose your soul forever because our Lord Jesus Christ died for us only once on the cross for forgiveness of sins. Looking back all of those years I now know that there was one thing missing in that religion probably one of the most important commandments.  Love and charity. (1 Cor 13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity. There was almost a mean streak about them it’s sad but true, I really believe they meant well but they can’t see it’s like they are in darkness just like I was. Don, I believe now that you receive the Spirit of God when you become a believer in Jesus Christ our Lord. It’s God’s free gift to us. (Eph 4:30) And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

I was a member of that religion for ten years, I wore dresses I was not allowed to wear pants or shorts just dresses. The sleeves had be a certain length and I wore flat shoes, I used a hair covering, could not cut my hair, style, curl or color my hair use makeup or jewelry. We were not allowed to watch TV, listen to radio, go to the movies, parks, entertainment of any kind was considered worldly and not acceptable.  Did not celebrate Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving any kind of holy days or holidays were not allowed not even birthdays. The one thing that was preached against the most was the (Holy Trinity) they really believe that the Triune of God does not exist.  However I don’t believe that way anymore this religion believes if you are not baptized in the name of Jesus you are lost, and you are not going to heaven they really believe you  be baptized in the name of Jesus in order to be saved.  Don, I know because I believed that way once myself.  How could I possibly think that only people in Jesus name are safe is beyond me who was I to judge others.

My ex-husband and I were to be relocated to another state he’s  job took us there. I can’t say I was not looking forward to it I was tired of all the hypocrisy and the lack of support and love from the Church members.  Although the transition was hard I remember  we could not find a Church to attend that we liked.

And so we just stop going and then the unthinkable happened.  I put my guard down and gave place to the devil.( Eph 4:27) Neither give place to the devil.  And Don, we sinned against God and my world changed forever.  Here I was this Women who thought she was so rooted in the Lord that nothing could possibly happen to her.  I was prideful in what I believed to be the truth. I thought I was right and everyone else was wrong in their believes.  I believed that you had to be baptized in Jesus name only for forgiveness of sins.  And that all those baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were not saved.  I believed you had to speak in tongues to receive the Holy Spirit.  I believed that everyone else had to be wrong and I had to be right because of my outward appearance I thought I was more righteous then others because I did what I was told to do according to the Church I attend.  I thought I was holier than thou because I was a submissive wife, and good mother I went to Church 3 times a week, I prayed and read my Bible and looked different than anyone else who said were a Christian.  How could I have possibly fallen from Grace!  how could I sin so greatly against my God that I love so very much.

Don, I have no one to blame but myself I take full responsibility for mine own actions.  I was not any better than the Church members I attended Church with.  I was prideful in my heart I was not humble I was blind and in darkness.  I had no more Love, compassion, charity then they did. I was like them but yet I thought I was better than anyone else in the world who did not agree with me.

And so I sinned and I knew my life had changed forever. My world literally came down on me like a ton of bricks, I could feel the weight of my sins on my shoulders and I was devastated.  And all I could think about was that I had fallen from Grace and that God would never ever forgive me again.  My spirit was crushed and the pain was unbearable everything I had work so hard for all those years was now gone. So I thought.

Don, I was angry how could this happen to me! I thought way did it happen to me, I was angry at myself, my husband everyone.  I knew the Church members would ridiculed me and say I was a backslider and no longer to be considered a sister in the Lord.

Don, I lost everything when I sinned against God or so I thought.  The one thing that I regret the most is that I thought I had lost God’s love forever and his forgiveness for what I had done I could not bear the thought it was too much for me to handle I did not want to think about it I just wanted to forget but I couldn’t.  I lost everything that ever mattered to me at that time in my life.  First I thought I had lost God in my life forever, I lost all hope where did my faith go I thought, I had none only the consent reminder of what I had done.  I lost my husband, and my home. My husband and I divorced and my family was split what a price to pay, it was horrible! I don’t wish this on anybody.

Don, it’s been years sense all of this happened but I never forgot about that little Church where I first heard the word of God. I thought about our Lord Jesus Christ and prayed and sang hymns once in a while.  I stopped going to Church because it was too painful, I could not bear the grieve and sorrow that I felt, the shame of it all and the guilt was overwhelming and the tears I have wept many times when thinking back on my past so much so, I could fill the ocean with my tears. I believe Jesus wept for me as well on Calvary tears of love and compassion and mercy for me and all humanity.

Don, I have faced the demons that taunt me for a long time it has been one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. I have taken every emotion I have ever felt, every sin, guilt, shame, anger, sadness every lie that Satan whispered in my ear for years, everything bad that has happened to be in my life and I have taken it to the foot of the cross at Calvary.  Never to look back but forward with the Faith God instilled in me years ago.

Don, It has been almost a year sense I started going back to Church, I like the Church I attend although I must admit I I’m more careful and do a lot of more research on every subject and I’m not easily persuaded anymore. God has been good to me, I believe he has had Compassion and mercy on me. I like that verse in (Rom 9:15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have Mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. I know God has had mercy and compassion on me if it weren’t so I would not be writing this letter or I would of never returned to church. I believe in God’s great mercy I know he forgives us for sins of our past, present and future.

I have learned a lot by my mistakes, I have learned not to judge others.

(Rom 2:1)

I was not a humble person I was prideful but God has shown me how to be a

humble person.

( 2 Chr. 7:14 )

I have learned to forgive others and forgive myself.

(Eph 4:32)

And I I’m still learning to Love more and try to me more like Christ.

( 1 Cor.13 )

I believe that we are saved by grace through faith.

(Eph 2:18

Don, God blessed me with a Bible verse that I love, when I most needed help God blessed me with this Bible verse.

(Psalms 27:14)  Wait on the Lord be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.

Don,  I have one request to make will you please pray for my son Gabriel. He has gone missing for a few years I have not heard from him or seen him.  I had a really good relationship with my son I don’t know why he wants nothing to do with the family. Don, I love my son very much and forgive him, I just want him to come home to his family we miss him and love him very much.  Don, I know God loves us and does not disown his children anymore then I have disowned my child.  God loves me and his children he paid the price for us at Calvary on that cross with his precious blood we’ve been bought.

Don,  thank you so very much, for making a difference in my life. I pray that one day I too will be able to make a difference in someone else life. God bless you and you’re family and your website thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you,

Ruby

Dan Brown, Christopher Hitchens and Ron Howard (of Happy Days are here again) have teamed up once again on their continuing agenda to attack Christianity through presenting demonic half truths and outright lies in their books and movies.

“Angels and Demons” is a book and a movie designed to mislead our postmodern generation that is dumbed down on history and on Christianity.

Hitler and his propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels basically said if big lies are told often enough people will come to believe them. Satan was a liar from the beginning and he continues to tell big lies through people who love his lying message. All Christians can do is to continue to expose the demonic lies and liars and give people the truth that they are increasingly denied through the world’s educational systems.

The irrational lies behind ‘Angels And Demons’

Reading Dan Brown’s “Angels And Demons” in preparation for the May release of the movie by the same name is an excruciating task. Not just because page after page wrongfully attacks the church, but more so because he gets his history and his facts wrong, yet pretends to be intellectually astute.

G.K. Chesterton once said that, if a man doesn’t reason from first principles, he will go mad. Dan Brown’s “Angels And Demons” lacks a principled approach to history, science and religion, and therefore spreads lies and half-truths that have been circulating in the occult world for the last hundred years.

Almost daily you read of some Christian who has fallen for the lies about the Muslims and the Crusades. Brown spreads other lies, such as: the Founding Fathers being occult Freemasons, the church being a conspiratorial institution, the Christian Coalition being wickedly opposed to real science, or the Christian faith being built on irrational superstitions rather than the objective, transcendent logic rooted in God’s Divine Character, and the historical facts and reliable eyewitness testimony that withstood and overcame hostile prosecution and persecution.

None of the facts support any of Dan Brown’s views about Jesus Christ and Christianity, but we live in an age gone mad where people have forgotten first principles.

There is a principle that can help us out of this madness. Trust the ancient sources of Christendom much more than the modern pundits and scriveners. William Tyndale is a much more reliable source about the Bible, or Martin Luther (who did a German translation of the Bible), than the modern heretics running our “schools” these days – and he is certainly a far more reliable source than ignorant fools like Dan Brown or contemporary atheists like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens.

The traditional doctrines of Christianity are worthy of your faith and trust. Please warn your relatives, neighbors and friends about the lies coming from such anti-Christian bigots like Dan Brown and Christopher Hitchens. There are much better, much more accurate books and novels to read than “Angels And Demons.” And, there will be much better movies to see this summer than director Ron Howard’s version of Dan Brown’s occult madness.

Full article

Seems Rick Warren was not against California’s Proposition 8 and homosexual marriage after all. Quoted below is the exact words Rick Warren made on “Larry King Live”. Also in the article that I have a link to is Joseph Farah’s appropriate view of this wishy-washy pastor.

Why is Rick Warren always in the news? If he was actually preaching the gospel of Christ he would not get on the worldly media. He is CFR for a reason and he has a Global Peace Plan because it conforms with the CFR globalist socialistic agenda. Rick Warren is yoked together with very powerful globalists unbelievers for the purpose of global governance. What he preaches to the world is a form of Universalism that includes aspects of religious dominionism.

Everything Rick Warren says is a compromise with the world instead of presenting the gospel of salvation to the world. I find this to be true ranging across the spectrum from Rick Warren’s purpose driven seeker friendly gospel lite movement to his many media opportunities that never clearly presents the gospel of Christ and never speaks of man’s, sin or need of repentance.

If a Christian pastor cannot stand up for clear teachings of their faith he certainly should not be standing in your church pulpit. The only reason I think Rich Warren is standing at Saddleback church is that the church membership has been made in his image. By the way, while I am at it, here is an example of how Rick Warren grows his Church.

It is amazing to me that a “Evangelical” Christian leader would actually apologize to homosexual leaders because some of them might think he took the biblical stand against homosexual perversion and marriage perversion. Also read this article that quotes what Rick Warren actually said to his church on Proposition 8. Apparently Rick Warren was even spining the truth to Larry King about his position.

After getting all the facts here is Dr. Norman L. Geisler’s postion on Rick Warren and the Gay Marriage issue.

The real problem in America is reflected in the choice of leaders that people put into power and that is doubly true in its churches.

America’s wishy-washy pastors

“You know, Larry, there was a story within a story that never got told,” he said. “In the first place, I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist. I never have been, never will be. During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never – never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going. The week before the – the vote, somebody in my church said, Pastor Rick, what – what do you think about this? And I sent a note to my own members that said, I actually believe that marriage is – really should be defined, that that definition should be – say between a man and a woman.

“And then all of a sudden out of it, they made me, you know, something that I really wasn’t,” Warren continued. “And I actually – there were a number of things that were put out. I wrote to all my gay friends – the leaders that I knew – and actually apologized to them. That never got out. There were some things said that – you know, everybody should have 10 percent grace when they say public statements. And I was asked a question that made it sound like I equated gay marriage with pedophilia or incest, which I absolutely do not believe. And I actually announced that. All of the criticism came from people that didn’t know me. Not a single criticism came from any gay leader who knows me and knows that for years, we’ve been working together on AIDS issues and all these other things.”

What are we to make of such mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy, namby-pamby hokum?

It’s a great illustration of America’s most prominent church leader equivocating and backtracking and saying almost nothing coherent so that he will offend no one.

Full article

I quote below some snippets of what Marsha West had to say about what you will find in protestant Christian bookstores. You really need to read the full article to get the true drift into apostasy. Christian bookstores are a good reflection of Christianity in America today. So obviously we can see by what is selling that Christianity in America is becoming increasingly apostate. Is it any wonder then that our nation is also in great decline both morally and economically?

The Christian bookstores and airwaves are full of deception and the people of this nation cannot discern truth because they have become biblically illiterate. It is really getting hard to find churches that have not bought into one of the latest heresies. These are not minor secondary issues either because they address the very fundamentals of the Christian faith. If “Christians” do not believe the fundamental teaching of Christianity how can they even claim that they are Christians? They certainly have a different gospel and a different Jesus then the one found in the Bible.

Another point I think this article makes clear is that many of the books now found in “Christian” bookstores contain heresy. So do not just pick up any book and believe that because it came from a “Christian” bookstore that it is teaching Christian doctrine or concepts. Christians have to be very discerning about who they learn from because we live in very deceptive times.

Marsha West — Be Careful What You Buy in Christian Bookstores

False teachers and charlatans persist solely because Christian’s have become biblically illiterate. Many believers think studying the Bible is so dull and boring that they can’t be bothered anymore. So they’re ripe for the picking. And this is not the exception but the rule!

If it’s true that the Bible is God’s Word, shouldn’t what He says matter to those who believe in Him? Evidently not because many people who say they “love the Lord” have no clue what’s in the Bible – and clearly they don’t care to find out!

Let’s say the Gospels were made up, as the unbeliever claims, how, then, will the person who has given his or her life to Christ know anything at all about Him? Moreover, if the Bible is merely a book of fables, when Jesus was tested by the devil, why did He quote from Deuteronomy 6:6, 6:13, 8:3 and 10:20?

counterfeit Christians are relentless in their plan to deconstruct historical, orthodox Christianity. They want to mold Christianity into a one size fits all religion that appeals to everyone. To be successful they must refashion the Jesus of the Bible into a tolerant, all-inclusive Savior who condemns no one. Sound familiar?

Books that put a positive spin on the cults, the occult, New Age spirituality, Eastern mysticism, homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals transgenders, and what not are available through online Christian outlets as well as in walk-in stores. Here’s a point to ponder: So-called Christian publishing houses are the largest suppliers of outright heresy. Oddly, Christian publishers and outlets are responsible (or should I say irresponsible) for much of the apostasy because they give false teachers a platform for what simply equates to heresy!

It is amazing to see how these once faithful publishers of evangelical orthodoxy are now consistently and deliberately launching a massive but subtle attack against the “Fundamentals” for which Evangelicalism stood courageously against liberalism in the past.”

Visit just about any Christian bookstore (CB) and you’ll see display cases and shelves stocked with spiritual merchandise, including jewelry, figurines, framed pictures, greeting cards, calendars, posters, music – you name it they stock it. But what’s disconcerting about these stores is that they also stock books that not only attack the fundamentals of the faith, some of the books contain out and out heresy! Christian publishers and storeowners have a responsibility to examine the material they sell!

One of the most popular prosperity preachers is Joel Osteen. If you’re a fan of Joel’s, please don‘t stop reading — just hear me out. I realize that it’s hard to believe that Rev. Osteen would steer you wrong. But don’t be fooled by his humble demeanor, his neatly coiffed hair and dazzling smile. Listen to what he says about faith in his best-selling book, “Your Best Life Now”:

“You have to begin speaking words of faith over your life. Your words have enormous creative power. The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it. This is a spiritual principle, and it works whether what you’re saying is good or bad, positive or negative.” [1]

This so-called spiritual principle is “the law of attraction.” New Age guru, Rhonda Byrnes, author of “The Secret” believes “you create your life through your thoughts.” Joel believes the same thing! Those who choose to read his books, attend or watch his church service on TV are sitting under a false teacher!

Joel Osteen is not alone. The Rev. T. D. Jakes is a spiritual advisor to President Obama. He has been labeled a “black Billy Graham.” Yet Rev. Jakes teaches something Billy never taught:

“Jesus was a rich man. He had to have been, in order to have supported his disciples and their families during his ministry.”[2]

In her book “The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make” Joyce Meyer writes this heresy:

“During that time He [Jesus] entered hell, where you and I deserved to go (legally) because of our sin. He paid the price there. …no plan was too extreme. … Jesus said on the cross and in hell.” she continues…. God rose up from His throne and said to demon powers tormenting the sinless Son of God, ‘Let Him go.’ Then the resurrection power of Almighty God went through hell and filled Jesus. …He was resurrected from the dead – the first born-again man. [5]

Admittedly some of Joyce’s teaching is biblical, however her teaching on the Atonement, which is a central doctrine of the faith, is heretical. Why would Jesus Christ, who is God, need to be born again in hell?

Here is a partial list of other word-faith apostates:

Kenneth Hagin, Charles Capps, Oral Roberts, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Paul and Jan Crouch, John Hagee, Rod Parsley, Todd Bentley, Paula White, Fred Price, Jerry Savelle, Robert Tilton, Marilyn Hickey, Morris Cerullo, Miles Munroe, Jesse Duplantis, Steve Munsey, Ken Clement and Ed Young

I would be remiss if I failed to mention William P. Young’s mega-selling book “The Shack.” Like ACIM, some church groups use it as a “Bible” study. But is “The Shack” based on sound biblical principles? I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but the answer is a resounding No!

Now, if the anti-Shack folks are right in their assessment of the book’s contents, wouldn’t it be prudent for CBs that choose to sell the controversial book to at least post a disclaimer?

A disclaimer should also be posted next to books by Emerging/Emergent Church (ECM) proponents as these men and women have been roundly criticized for their unorthodox views.

ECM does not hold to the authority of Scripture, hence they are careless in their handling of it. They’re all about political liberalism with a social gospel, pluralism, and universalism. As I pointed out in my article, “Emergent Church Spreading Spiritual Cancer”

Here’s a partial list of prominent voices in ECM:

N.T. Wright, John Howard Yoder, Stanley Hauerwas, Ryan Bolger, Wilbert Shenk, Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Erwin McManus, Dan Kimball, Scot McKnight, Elizabeth O’Connor, Nancey Murphy, Leonard Sweet, Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Donald Miller and Phyllis Tickle.

What I’ve covered here is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more to be said about all the garbage sold by so-called Christian publishing companies and bookstores. My desire is not to condemn them; only to bring to light some disturbing trends and to expose a few apostates.

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Often people ask how many Americans will be taken when the Rapture occurs. If this biblical wordview survey is any indication of true believers in America it is not as many as most think.

“A biblical worldview, as defined by the Barna study, is believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.”

So what does this survey really tell us? It indicates that only one in 200 young people believe in the essentials of the faith. Less than one in ten adults believe in the essentials. Less than one out of five that claim to be born again Christians believe in the essentials of the faith. Even one half of the “born again Christians” think they can earn their way into heaven.

What can we deduct from this? The main thing I can deduct is that most who claim to be “Christians” are Christians in name only, they are not really Christians at all. The survey also makes it clear that America and Christians have totally lost the next generation thanks to public school and media indoctrination and parents and churches not teaching their children in the way they should go.

I also find it ironic that most Americans consider themselves to be Christian and say they know the contents of the Bible but the survey claims that less than one out of ten Americans demonstrate such knowledge through their actions. I would go even further and say most of those who claim they know the Bible are liars. They do not know the Bible. Anyone who knows the Bible and attends church Bible studies knows that most who consider themselves Christians haven’t a clue about the contents of the Bible. But most “Christians” do not even attend Bible studies and in more and more churches any meaningful teaching is not taught from the pulpits either. Christianity in general is biblically illiterate and that is why they do not have a Christian worldview. Therefore, not understanding the fundamental truths of Christian belief they also cannot be true Christians.

Survey: Less Than 1 Percent of Young Adults Hold Biblical Worldview| Christianpost.com

Less than one percent of the youngest adult generation in America has a biblical worldview, found a new study examining the changes in worldview among Christians and the overall U.S. population.

The Mosaic generation, those between the ages of 18 and 23, “rarely” have a biblical worldview as defined by The Barna Group. The research data found that less than one-half of one percent of Mosaics have a biblical worldview.

A biblical worldview, as defined by the Barna study, is believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.

The research shows that only nine percent of all American adults have a biblical worldview, which although significantly higher than that of the Mosaic generation is still a small proportion of the total population.

Among “born again Christians,” the study found that they are twice as likely as the average adult to have a biblical worldview. However, that still amounted to no more than about one out of five (19 percent) born again Christians, a small minority, the study pointed out.

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