I always said wait until the counterculture hippies grew up and they got into positions of power. Well that day has arrived and they have taken control of the education system, political system, national media, and the religious systems of America. They also produced postmodern brainwashed children who now believe themselves to be the norm. So unless real Christians and real conservatives win this cultural war it is the end of this nation. When the far left hippies and their offspring gain total control they will embrace a totally pagan fascist world system. Woe to any who oppose them.

Had anyone said that America would decline this rapidly fifty years ago people would have thought you were smoking dope. Now half of our society is smoking dope or worse and they all think that they are perfectly sane. The Democrat running for President even claimed to be a crack user himself but does anyone care? The Democrat running for President never distinguished himself in any position he ever held but does anyone care? The hippies and their offspring just want change toward a secular idealism that is not possible with man’s evil nature. They like murder of the unborn being their own choice, so they all hail the Obamanation. They like it that homosexuality is destroying morality in America so they will have no moral restraints, so they all hail the Obamanation. They think Christianity is creating a world utopia on earth for people to continue in their abominations, so they all hail the Obamanation. All the idol worshipers now worship the Obamanation because he has the same demented values of the old hippies and their young offspring.

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - Jezebel and the Cultural Creatives

The Emergent Village and “progressive” Christian liberalism are but a drop in the progressive bucket. To their left, “cultural creatives” or “new progressives” are brimming over with an optimistic vision for taking political power.

Who are the “cultural creatives”? They define themselves as the “organic food-buying, national-health-care-supporting, yoga-practicing, misunderstood counter-culturalists.” According to the high-end spirituality magazine, What Is Enlightenment? (August/October, 2008), their ranks continue to swell, thanks to Al Gore’s movie, Barack Obama’s “change”, and Eckhardt Tolle and Oprah Winfrey’s “New Earth” webinar (see NC #47). This movement favors “ecological sustainability (read: green collectivism), non-traditional spirituality (neo-pagan religion), civil rights (rights for all sexual expressions) and grassroots politics (non-democratic, non-governmental organizations working under the geo-political umbrella of the United Nations). They also distinguish themselves from “modernism” (secular humanism) and “traditionalism” (Christianity).

Their appearance is of immense historical and religious significance. They explicitly identify themselves as inheritors of the “values revolution [of] the Sixties [that] is still developing and maturing.”

They are the maturing fruit of a development that no one expected. We all thought the Sixties was an ephemeral social event driven by marginal drop-out hippies. Whoops, they dropped back in! In the Left Coast New Age spirituality we witnessed the first signs of a major religious and social revolution. Its conquering march through the institutions has established as normative a worldview of drug-aided mystical, neo-pagan spirituality, radical egalitarianism and total sexual license. The marginal cult has now morphed into a master plan, a full-blown all-inclusive spiritual worldview to transform every aspect of life on the planet. The bizarre views of the Sixties counter-culturalists, though few knew it, signaled the disturbing germination, in “Christian” America, of the age-old alternative to biblical theism, namely spiritual paganism.

Full article

“The Shack”, by William P. Young is still a hugely popular and very deceptive book that is likely to become a movie. Those that believe there is a Christian message or theme in this book are totally deceived and must not believe biblical doctrine themselves at all. The book presents another God, another Christ, and another path to salvation. “The Shack” really promotes “New Age” all paths Universalism much like A.A. which itself was founded by a man who got messages from the occult. The book is blasphemous toward God presuming to speak for God while actually promoting a “Queen of Heaven” type God that does not exist.

This pluralistic theme where many paths lead to the same God is now being promoted everywhere thanks to A.A., other 12 step programs, and the postmodern redefining of Christianity by high profile religious and secular media figures. Nevertheless, no true Christian should be sucked into such an unbiblical “New Age” postmodern concept. There is only one way to the Father (not the mother) according to the teaching of the only God/Man that ever walked the earth. That way is only through Jesus Christ as He is defined in the Bible and not as Jesus is redefined in the light of “New Age” demonic darkness.

Any Christian leader promoting “The Shack” should be immediately removed from their position because they are promoting doctrines of demons and the lie of the adversary that leads people to Hell.

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - The Shack is A.A.’s higher power.

According to the author, the god of The Shack dwells in everybody, and apparently does not condemn any to eternal punishment—or, as The Shack would address this, “She does not punish anyone.” The novel’s “christ” is the “best way” to salvation, but apparently not the only way.

What about Alcoholics Anonymous? The A.A. Big Book states, “We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men. When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God.”[19] According to the A.A. Big Book, God is “deep down within us.”

Thus are the seeds of the New Age planted in the soil of both The Shack and Alcoholics Anonymous. The tentacles of various heresies are reaching out and linking. The false “christ” of The Shack seems poised to be welcomed into, or serve as a catalyst for, emergent/contemplative/12 Step Spirituality.

Many Christians have superimposed their beliefs upon The Shack, supposing it a novel written by a Biblical Christian. As James De Young and others have pointed out, this is not necessarily the case. Over the decades, many Christians have also jackhammered their God into AA’s anti-Biblical system

Full article

The article I link to in this post says a lot and not just about contemplative prayer. It explains the demonic deceptions that are going on in many churches today in the name of being relevant to our postmodern society. I doubt that there are many large evangelical churches that are not to some extent being negatively influenced by this by either the pastor, some assistant pastor or one or more lay leaders. Certain influential national leaders are mixing various amounts of poison wrapped in Christian speak and Christian sounding programs and many are buying into their deadly deceptions because they never hear any biblical counter argument.

Someone needs to form an expense paid national conference for top pastors and evangelical leaders where they would hear the arguments of authors like John MacArthur, Roger Oakland, Dave Hunt, Bob DeWaay etc. to educate the church leadership on the doctrines of demons now being introduced in most large churches. Then the conference should be put on a internet site and on DVD and a copy should be given to all lay leaders in the church. We need some some Christian foundation or a group of discerning churches to fund this. If certain churches can put together postmodern rethinking and shifting conferences you would think that someone could also put together a biblical thinking conference to counter them.

Beware of This Doctrine of Demons

It’s called “contemplative” or “centering” prayer and if you haven’t heard about it yet, chances are unfortunately good that you will soon. It’s invading churches like a virus in which submicroscopic pathogens contaminate the body many hours or days before the victim is aware of its presence.
Contemplative prayer is one of a number of ancient mystical practices or spiritual disciplines, as their proponents refer to them, which are being encouraged at an alarming rate by evangelical churches. It is all part of something called Spiritual Formation and the Emergent Church, a movement that as John MacArthur states in his book, The Truth war, is subtly changing the beliefs and doctrines of the evangelical church as we know it.

In its pure form, contemplative prayer is practiced by sitting still, quieting, and concentrating on your breathing and repeating a word of choice (maybe the name Jesus, for instance) over and over again. You’re to concentrate on that word and your breathing, and work to eliminate all thoughts from your mind. Over a period of maybe 20 minutes — and with practice — you can enter into “the silence.” Your mind is blank. You have, in fact, hypnotized yourself. And it is in “the silence” where “God” allegedly speaks to you.

According to the testimony of one former, now-redeemed New Ager I recently read this is the exact method used by New Agers and Eastern mystics to enter an altered state of consciousness that opens a person up to demonic influence. Ray Yungen, author of the book, A Time of Departing, confirms this and says, “Unknown to most people, a blank mind in a meditative state is all that is necessary for contact with a spirit guide.” He also points out, “Those who lack discernment are at great risk.”

Read full article

Brian McLaren is just another sign that we are in the end times. All he cares about it getting everyone to sing “We are the people, we are the world” together and establishing his postmodern religious kingdom of everyone gets along pluralism.

He obviously could care less about the salvation of peoples souls or he would teach them the gospel (if he even even knew it). I do not know why he is still regarded as a “Christian” by Christians when he clearly denies the faith.

He claims he knows what matters to the heart of God but he does not have any clue about what matters to the heart of God. What matters to the heart of God are those that find Christ. The heart of God does not want those who love their made up religions to remain deceived but Brian McLaren encourages this.

McLaren says the future of Christianity will require Christians to join with unbelievers. No it will not. It will require an apostate harlot religion called “Christianity” to join with other religions.

People of a feather flock together, so it is not surprising that McLaren would promote the postmodern Obama who also redefines Christianity to be secular humanism and universalism.

Emerging Church leader promotes lifestyle rather than faith (OneNewsNow.com)

A Christian broadcaster claims that Emerging Church leader Brian McLaren is fulfilling the biblical prophecy that in the latter days men will not put up with sound doctrine – according to II Timothy 4:3.

McLaren also tells ChristianityToday.com the future of Christianity will also require Christians to “join humbly and charitably with people of other faiths — Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, secularists and others — in pursuit of peace, environmental stewardship,” and other things that quote “matter greatly to the heart of God.” But McMahon argues that what matters most to the heart of God is that individuals receive salvation on “his terms…through his gospel.”

McLaren has joined the Matthew 25 Network, a liberal political action group of Catholics, Protestants, Pentecostals and Evangelicals seeking to get Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) elected president.

What Rick Warren, the New Evangelicals and friends are doing is thinking that if religious people of the world come together they can solve the social problems of the world. There is no such concept in the scriptures. In fact scripture warns against uniting in common purpose with unbelievers.

There would be no issue at all if along with the aid Warren was actually giving the gospel of salvation to the world. However, he cannot do that and be part of an interfaith effort. They will not let him. By joining with all these antichirst religious he in effect gives them validity and is saying that it does not matter what you believe as long as we all do “good” social works. These people are under the delusion that they will make a better world together through the good works of man’s religions. No you will not!

The problem is sin. We are in a dead world alienated from God and until you deal with that issue and give the remedy for world sin, the best P.E.A.C.E. effort of man will just prop up the living dead. Meanwhile, you may have done a great social effort in the eyes of the fallen world but you did nothing to fulfill the great commission that the Lord gave you. In fact you just confused the issue and presented a false gospel by validating other religions that have no solution to the sin problem. It is amazing how anti christian concepts can now be subtly packaged in popular socialism so that few Christian’s will dare oppose it.

Is Rick Warren ignoring sin in search for ‘peace’? (OneNewsNow.com)

Pastor Warren will be hosting an interfaith meeting next month with 30 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders “to discuss cooperation for the common good of all Americans.” Warren’s P.E.A.C.E. plan mobilizes churches to address global problems. But McMahon, president of The Berean Call ministry, says the popular Christian author is introducing evangelical Christianity to the social gospel that he learned from his mentor, social scientist Peter Drucker.

he’s working on the symptoms and avoiding the root cause, which is the sin nature of humanity. So how can you work with all kinds of people [who are] called ‘people of faith,’ but it’s not biblical faith?”

McMahon contends that only the biblical gospel can change the heart of man, and that Warren is compromising that by working with people who reject the gospel of Christ.

Peter Jones has it right in this article. Pseudo Christianity will again be going to war again against those true Christians who actually believe the Bible. When the youth of those going to the churches of today grow up (many of them already have) will those four percent that still believe the Bible actually be tolerated by Christianity? Of course not. Pseudo Christianity has persecuted the Church before in history and it will do it again. Christianity is now progressing to enable the coming postmodern inquisitions.

The persecution at the fifth seal of Revelation comes from the religious Harlot not the Antichrist because at this point he has not even arrived on the scene. I believe the Trumpet Judgments are the Lamb’s response to a world that persecuted His Saints. Then the religious Harlot in turn will be destroyed by the Beast she rode.

The ostracizing of Bible believing Christians has already started with “Christian” leaders calling believers that hold to the fundamentals of the faith dangerous and biblical doctrine divisive. In the “tolerant” “politically correct” world of the next decade the Bible will be rewritten, and redefined to accommodate sinful lifestyles. They will outlaw uncensored literal interpretations of the Bible that might offend anyone.

At that point those who speak against politically correct sins of society will be charged with hate speech. The truths of the Bible and true Christianity will be replaced with a world harlot religion where everyone is free do what is right in their own eyes as long as they do not offend or proselytize someone else. All world beliefs including paganism will have equal standing but any religion that claims some exclusive way to God or that offends someone’s self esteem will be called intolerant and will be outlawed.

At that point, which is not that far off, there will be no more reason for the true Church to be here on earth.

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - New “Progressive Christianity”: An Old Liberal Swindle

Much of what Progressive Christians believe fits with the principles of the radical Emergent Village, emerging from Evangelicalism. Indeed, Liberal Progressives intentionally include “the more progressive evangelicals” in their ranks. In their descriptions of a “generous way” of “following Jesus” (not Christ, for Christ is far too “Christian”), the “progressives” echo Brian McLaren’s A Generous Orthodoxy, in which he calls himself “a Jesus follower.” They focus on Jesus as a mystical human being for all the religions. This is not Jesus, the God/man and Savior, for their “progressive” religion denies sin, claims no unique means of salvation, and, like McLaren, accepts all: “believers, agnostics, atheists and all sexual orientations and gender identities.”

Though “all-inclusive,” Progressives abhor the “modern heresy of fundamentalist Christianity.” Though rejecting absolute truth, they define their “god” as “absolute love, justice, and peace,” rejoicing to find their new absolutism in the “godless European Union with its insistence on equal justice for women and gay people.” The absolute mess which is present-day Europe, held up as the ideal for the future of America and the planet, ought to fill us with despair!

Progressives are euphoric as they ride a new social wave of all-inclusive social justice globalism, for it provides a timely pretext to justify their basic unbelief about the Christian Gospel. With undisguised optimism they believe their time has come, in two ways:

1. they rejoice in the theological implosion of historic Christianity, and, for the good of the planet, you understand, salivate over the fact that only “four percent of Bible believing teenagers will be Bible-believing Christians as adults”;

2. they are eager to capitalize on, and I quote, “a historic opportunity to seize the country’s foundational narratives about itself, and recast them in a way that opens doors to the [global] future we seek.” Is this what the political Left, which also now describes itself as “progressive” and claims to be “Christian,” really means by “change”?

As the third millennium began, Frederic Baue (The Spiritual Society) predicted the coming of “a phase of Western or world civilization that is innately religious but hostile to Christianity…or worse, a dominant but false church that brings all of its forces to bear against the truth of God’s Word.”

Is “Christian” liberalism beginning to join with spiritual pagans and activist courts, to demonize, marginalize, and ultimately silence the biblical message by defining the Gospel as a global hate crime?

Jan Markell put a nice article together on the “Shack”. Popular Book’s like the Shack with a very twisted Christian theme is how Satan is subtly working in the Church today to redefining Christianity to an all inclusive all ways to God world religion. So you can see why most who call themselves Christians in the U.S. today do not believe that Jesus is the only way to God. And all of God’s people are just saying…Amen!

The Seductive and Subversive “Shack” - CWN

The Seductive and Subversive “Shack”
By Jan Markell

Many have asked me to comment on William P. Young’s ragingly popular book The Shack. Is this work of fiction really Christian? It is called by some as one of Christianity’s most influential books. One prominent endorser says it will “leave you craving for God.”

Yet people I respect highly, including Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Seminary, calls it “undiluted heresy.” He maintains there is no way it can seriously address the issues of Christian faith.

The Shack is intended to bring about a new definition of the Christian faith. As Albert Mohler says, “This is totally seductive and subversive, but readers, even believers, don’t seem to mind.”

As writer and researcher Berit Kjos concludes, “Yet countless pastors and church leaders are delighting in its message. By ignoring (or redefining) sin and guilt, they embrace an inclusive but counterfeit ‘Christianity’ that draws crowds but distorts the Bible. Discounting Satan as well, they weaken God’s warnings about deception. No wonder His armor for today’s spiritual war became an early victim of this spreading assault on truth.”

This is a good article on the Emergent Movement that sums up things quite accurately. They are a bunch of heretics that the Bible clearly warned us would come in these last days to tickle the ears.

A Christian & Missionary Alliance Preacher Speaks Against Emergent Movement Heresy - CWN

To the Emergent Movement there is no systematic theology. The questioning of the absolute truth of the central doctrines of Christian teaching is sinful. Why you ask? Because it is not that they ask questions in order to gain greater understanding that would be fine. They ask for the purpose of calling into question the need to hold to the sacred teachings of the central doctrines of Christianity.

We are now told that unity and inclusiveness matters more than anything. Unity at the expense of truth is not something any true Christian is willing to give in to. When people who call themselves Christians begin to question the truth of the virgin Birth, the bodily resurrection, the inerrancy of the Bible, the substitutionary sacrifice, the Deity of Christ, man’s need of Christ for Salvation, and salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, there is a problem.

There is a word for this. It is not a politically correct word. It is the word “heresy.” We no longer have the right to use this word in a world that holds a relativistic world-view. It is pathetic what the Church has come to

The main principles of the Reformation are:

Solo Scriptura – The Scripture alone.
Solo Fide – By Faith alone.
Solo Christo – In Christ alone.
Sole Deo Gloria – To God alone be the glory.

This is too black and white for the Emergent Movement. These are being replaced by a relativistic world-view that places experience and human wisdom above the central doctrines of the Bible. The idea is not that the Bible is true and we come under its authority. The Emergent Movement is more of a “what does it mean to you?” Open interpretation is the view since Rob Bell says that all theological positions are only “opinion.”

So I ask the question; If you do not break fellowship with women who call themselves “Pastors” while at the same time are practicing Lesbians who not only practice homosexuality, but embrace it as “God given,” just when do you break fellowship? Since there is no absolute truth with these Emergent heretics, there is no belief that is absolutely wrong and thus never a doctrinal reason to break fellowship. Just put the name Jesus on it and your good to go. Furthermore, even if you do not put the name Jesus on it you are probably ok as well. What is going on?!!!!

Post modern Emergent Movement teachers are appeasing the human lusts with teaching that tickles the ears of those who do not want repentance as part of their religion.

Wake up and smell the truth! The Emergent movement is bad news. It is heresy pure and simple. I want to warn you though. If you take a stand you will be ostracized by many in your own church for not going along with this ungodly movement. I am sure I will be attacked by those in The C&MA who do not want me to call them out on this. Let them do what they will, and say what they will. I stand for the Bible.

Here is the take from the Lighthouse on Brian Mclaren’s newest book “Finding Our Way Again” Brian Mclaren is obviously a blind soul who could not even find his way with his seeing eye dog. What Mclaren teaches is not Christianity and I wish that Bible colleges and book stores would quit peddling his pagan delusions as something the church needs to learn about. We do not need to know these things any more then we need to know what was in the books that the early Church burned.

There is a common thread in all these emerging teachers. These are nothing but wolves dressed in old gnostic wolves sheep’s clothing. These religious perverts want us to believe that religion will unite on some higher plain where all paths lead to God through everyone looking inside themselves for some self deception. They think satanic illumination will bring peace and brotherhood to the planet. Oh brother! How demented can these people get and why is the church contemplating their teachings? Has the Christian church also gone nuts?

They believe the world is going to become united on mystical religion and they are right. Who do you think the Women that rides the Beast is? She is Mystery Babylon the harlot religion. So please understand that their purpose driven life is to merge Oprahitis with Mclarenstupiditis and come up with the Bell Tolled for all those that Foster this mother of all harlots.

From the Lighthouse

Brian McLaren’s newest book, Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices, is the first in a series of eight books by Thomas Nelson publishers. The General Editor of the series, which is titled The Ancient Practices Series, is emerging church proponent Phyllis Tickle. Other authors in the series include Dan Allender, Scot McKnight, Diana Butler Bass and Joan Chittister.

In Finding Our Way Again, McLaren thanks several contemplatives like Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and Joan Chittister. He also says he is “indebted” to Tony Campolo and Jim Wallis and recognizes Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones for teaching him contemplative practices. It is not surprising that McLaren thanks these listed teachers - McLaren has been in the emergent camp from the beginning of its inception, and where there is emerging, there is contemplative.

The interfaith theme is threaded through Finding Our Way Again. In one section, McLaren says that even Christian communion is something to be shared with people of all faiths (in particularly with the Jewish faith and Islam); he states that this “sacred meal” is a celebration of “inclusion” and “reconciliation” (p. 26). This makes a mockery of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who told believers to do this in remembrance of Him, acknowledging His atonement for sin - a mockery because the beliefs of other religions reject Christ as being God and the slain Lamb who could take away sin.

As do other emerging/contemplative teachers, McLaren believes in a literal global kingdom of God on earth before Christ returns that will incorporate all the world’s religions and all creation, a “world yet to be born” that “desperately” needs “these spiritual practices.” He also relates: “[T]hese practices” have “enlivened the three Abrahamic faiths” (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) and should not be “allowed to go extinct” (p. 29).

Finding Our Way Again emulates McLaren’s previous writings on atonement, on Jesus being the only way to God and salvation, on the return of Christ and on the last days. The difference with this book is that the emphasis is on how we can attain to this awakened state - through mystical practices. One chapter is devoted primarily to these contemplative exercises, but the entire book is seeping with its core message - “reconciliation with God, one another, and all creation in a global community” (p. 42).

In the last chapter of McLaren’s book, “Theosis (via Unitiva),” he sums up his calling by stating that “The purpose of the via purgativa [the practices] is to prepare us for the via illuminativa [the awakening], and the purpose of the via illuminativa is to prepare us for the via unitiva [all is one], the union of our nature with the nature of God” (pp. 171-172). He calls God “fire” and says, “We join God in being fire … Before the beginning … God was All, and All was God” (p. 175). This is the exact same message that Eckhart Tolle and Oprah are propagating. But while many Christians are now condemning Tolle’s message, they don’t realize that the very same message is permeating their very own churches. For those readers who care about the spiritual future of their children and grandchildren, it is vital they understand the meaning of McLaren’s spirituality in particular and the emerging/contemplative movement in general. We believe this is an extremely compelling motivation and should prompt us as believers to defend the faith and the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries has written a really good article about Richard Foster and how he is connected with the Emergent Church movement and the Contemplative/Centering Prayer that is now being taught to future pastors in many seminars and Bible colleges. Below are a few excerpts from this article but read the entire article there is much good information here. But while your at it don’t stop at this article on Richard Foster. Apprising Ministries www.apprising.org has many well documented articles on the emergent/emerging church heresies which are leading institutional “Christianity” into latter day apostasy. It is this emerging harlot woman that will ride the Beast Antichrist into power in these last days.

All leaders in Christianity need to be able to discuss these issues because people in your congregations are buying their popular books and they are being heavily influenced by these emerging Gnostic teachers. In the final analysis, these doctrines are repackaged “New Age” thinking. They all dance around a pluralist all-ways to God paganism even if they happen to mention the name of Jesus.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

WHO IS RICHARD FOSTER?

WHO IS RICHARD FOSTER?

Due to the importance of this topic of Contemplative/Centering Prayer, which is the primary source for a reemergence of Gnostic neo-pagan “Christian” mysticism in new evangelicalism, I began this series as quickly as I could. I am asking the interested reader to please keep an eye out for this work to be ongoing to cover various mystics who are influential in the new spirituality that is now infecting the evangelical community of our Lord’s Church. Let me also point out that each of these pieces will continue to be expanded as well when new information is forthcoming.

We will begin now with Richard Foster who is arguably the leading proponent of this so-called contemplative spirituality rooted in Rome. Undoubtedly however, he is certainly its most recognized teacher. Foster is also very highly respected in the marred and mystical Emergent Church as evidenced in an article in Christianity Today called “The Emergent Mystique.” None other than Brian McLaren, the prominent theologian in “Emergent, the emerging church network that he and several other church planters and pastors lead,” points to “Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, with their emphasis on spiritual disciplines, as key mentors for the emerging church.”

I cover Teresa of Avila in more depth elsewhere, but here you can clearly see that her mystic musings have undoubtedly impacted Foster. In fact in COD he includes this troubled Roman Catholic nun among “the great writers of the devotional life,” which he says goes “from St. Augustine to St. Francis, from John Calvin to John Wesley, from Teresa of Avila to Juliana of Norwich” (5, emphasis mine). You might make note here that the highly ecumenical Foster is undoubtedly influenced in his own aberrant mystic views by the apostate Church of Rome and in opposition to the theology of the Reformers the Guru of Contemplation obviously considers the Roman Catholic Church a part of the true Body of Christ.

This now brings us to another critical issue that has not been thoroughly explored in the study of this invasion of contemplative spirituality into the evangelical camp. The fact is that Guru Foster is himself a Quaker, or a member of The Religious Society of Friends, as they are also known. Therefore if someone wants to better understand how Foster’s own teachings about this supposed “inward life” were themselves shaped then it becomes necessary to have a working background of the theology inherent in this group he has been raised within. As a matter of fact Quakerinfo.com enlightens us that Richard Foster is “[p]erhaps the best known Quaker in the world today.”

This idea in Quaker theology that every man has this alleged “Inner Light” is further corroborated in GREAT RELIGIONS of the World which tells us that Fox “insisted that the ‘light of Christ’ glimmered in all men” (375, emphasis mine) We’ll be coming back to this “inner light” that is supposed to glimmer “in every human heart,” but first, in his classic two volume set A History Of Christianity (AHOC) the great historian Kenneth Scott Latourette adds a bit more background information about the person through whom the Quakers originated:

And here we have uncovered the reason why so many professing Christians today can believe that all religions should be friends now and seek our common ground as we work together to usher in “the kingdom” of God’s Global Peace. Take an honest look at the warped and toxic theology of men like Richard Foster, Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Alan Jones, Steve Chalke and even the Pied Piper of Purpose Driven Rick Warren–all men involved to one degree or another in the practice of contemplative spirituality. You see no bold stance on their part that the only way any human being anywhere upon God’s planet can ever be saved from an eternity of conscious torment in a literal place our Creator called Hell is personal faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth and His vicarious penal substitutionary atonement on the Cross. In fact, you will see quite the contrary.

Doug Giles has it right. We need a Detergent Church like Spic-and-Span or Mister Clean and not the wimpy postmodern Emergent Church with their wimpy Loving Bubbles that claim to clean without any personal effort and that does not even work. The postmodern church programs have become much like a Laurence Welk rerun where everyone-is-going-to have-good-time waltzing around Christian doctrines.

AD: The Detergent Church (c) - Guest - May 27, 08

I went on to edumicate my inquirer that I prefer a Detergent Church to an emergent church. Yes sir, I think what we need is a “movement” that would purge the skid mark that sin has left on man’s soul and our society rather than a group of nerdy Christians trying to be Ryan Seacrest.

Yep, a Detergent Church is the type of church that flicks my switch. As far as I’m concerned, a “church” that does not alter culture in a weighty way isn’t worth its salt-no matter how “successful” it may be momentarily. And seeing that our culture is getting more bizarre by the flippin’ day I’d say that whatever the church is doing to be au courant just ain’t cutting it.
Here’s my laundry list (to become a book) regarding how the “called out ones” can be the holy hellfire Detergent Church they’re ’spose to be. You might want to put on a cup . . .

1. Get men who dig being rowdy back in the pulpit.
2. Could we have some sound doctrine, por favor?
3. Preach scary sermons (at least every fourth one).
4. Get rid of 99.9% of “Christian” TV and sappy Christian music.
5. Quit trying to be relevant and instead become prophetic contrarians, I’m talking contra mundus, mama!
6. Put a 10-year moratorium on “God wants you rich” sermons (yeah, that’s what we need to hear nowadays, you morons, more sermons about money, money, money!).
7. Embrace apologetics and shun shallow faith.
8. Evangelize like it’s 1999.
9. Push lazy Christians to get a life or join a Satanic Church.
10. Demand that if a Christian gets involved in the arts that their “craft” must scream excellence and not excrement.

Allow me to elaborate, my little ones . . .

Bono, Rick warren, Schuller, Bill Hybells, George Bush, Obama, and many others and most of the Emerging Church movement shape shifters all believe in pluralism and universalism while claiming to be Christians. Their Christianity is really religious dominionism. They want to use religion, government, media and the power elite to bring in total world governance and establishment of their idealist earthly utopia in the name of their higher power. What they will actually bring in will be the Antichrist figure who will claim to fulfill all the expectations of religions. The harlot woman is about to ride the Beast.

Bono, Universalism, and the Emerging Church? - CWN

On Relevant Magazine’s website, Tara Leigh Cobble gives an interesting report of what she says she witnessed at a Bono concert:

About five songs into their set, Bono stopped the show and strapped on a headband with writing on it. I stared up at the JumboTron to see that the handwritten lettering said: COEXIST.

Coexisting sounds like a great idea. I fully support the peaceful philanthropy that Bono has encouraged, and this seemed like another way that he was trying to spread the message.

Except, it started to feel like more than a political message. The “C” in “coexist” was the Islamic crescent moon, the “X” was the Star of David, and the “T” was the cross of Christ. Bono pointed at the symbols on his headband—first to the cross, then to the star, then to the crescent moon—and he began to repeat:

“Jesus, Jew, Mohammed—all true. Jesus, Jew, Mohammed—all true.”

He repeated the words like a mantra, and some people even began to repeat it with him. I suddenly wanted to crawl out of my skin.

While some at the concert dispute exactly what Bono said, media outlets have reported Bono wearing the Coexist logo.

http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/379359.html

The Coexist logo is certainly about promoting the worldview of pluralism and universalism. Pluralism is the belief that all religions are equal, and universalism is the belief that all religions are true and everyone will be saved because all roads lead to God.

The worldwide acceptance of pluralism and universalism will eventually lead to a one-world religion as discussed in the Bible. However, it appears that not everyone is opposed to the Coexist message. Who am I talking about? Well, it happens to be the Emerging Church. In the words of Gomer Pile I say, “Surprise! Surprise!”

Carla at “More Books and Things” put together some good information and links on modern day false prophets such as Rick Joyner, Bob Jones, Mike Bickle, Paul Cain, and Benny Hinn. She also mentions and has links on Todd Bentley’s book “The Journey into the Miraculous” and Carla lets us find out what Jim Goll is saying. This is really pretty twisted stuff.

Like I have indicated before, the spiritual deception is not just coming from New Age teachers like Oprah. It is coming from the Emergent leaders and Word-Faith. You need to read the article and follow the links to begin to understand how fast this end time deception is taking shape. The intention is a religious paradigm shift toward a pantheistic spirituality to deceive the world. These movements use the name of Christ but they all reinvent Jesus Christ.

More Books and Things…: Bentley Book

Don’t know if anyone has been watching some of those crazy clips from the big new revival down in Florida. They say it’s another Toronto Blessing thing. And that’s a big deal…just look at the effects of the last one. Well, I have been quite horrified with some of the things I’ve been seeing

So it looks like it IS all converging…contemplative prayer, mysticism, different streams, New Age, and now the signs and wonders movement is converging into this same stream, with Bentley and his out of body experiences, angelic visitations, manifestations of kundalini serpent power symptoms, third heaven visions and visits with “jesus” with the Bambi eyes. Give me a break! Who would have ever thought that the Silence and the old “Be Still” thing was going to connect them all together?

This article does a real good job putting Oprah’s New Age promotions, Word-Faith and postmodern “Christianity” in the same boat. Essentially they all are saying that we can create our own reality through our own thoughts, words or deeds because we are all part of the force. There is way too much good information in this article to just read my snippet of it so if you want to know all about this paradigm shift to the dark side, read Marsha West’s article.

Marsha West — Oprah Shifts to the Dark Side

Rhonda Byrne and Joel Osteen may have significant differences, but the one thing they agree on is that “You are the Master of the Universe, and the Genie is there to serve you.” For Byrne the Genie is the Law of Attraction. For Osteen the Genie is God.

My reason for bringing up Word-Faith teaching is to show its similarities to the New Age movement. Actually, New Age movement is a tired old term. Devotees prefer “New Spirituality” or just plain “Spirituality.” Another term is Cosmic Humanism. No matter how you couch it, it’s Eastern mysticism.

New Agers outright reject the Jesus of the Bible and have adopted a Cosmic Christ. Who is this Christ? “In esoteric schools of thought, the Christ is considered to be a universal spirit or a cosmic force. The primary goal of this impersonal spirit or force is to guide the spiritual evolution of mankind.”[10]

As I brought to light in my article on ECM, New Agers are not the only ones who believe there is a paradigm shift taking place. Some Christians believe it, too. As a consequence “everything must change.”

“There is a growing movement afoot in the postmodern Church that does not abide in God’s Word…The movement calls itself ‘Emergent’ or ‘Emerging Church’ (ECM

If you are buying into a “Emergent” or “Emerging Church” you are going to be led into pantheistic monism and universalism. Everyone in the Church needs to know about this rapidly growing movement because this is the apostasy that we were told would come in the last days.

Are You a “Shifter”? Does the Historic Gospel Message Need to be Repackaged? - CWN

Are you a “SHIFTER”? Do you follow Oprah Winfrey in her swooning free-fall into “planetary consciousness”? Do you “feel” the Christian message and belief system must be “repackaged” in order to be “relevant”, especially to the youth?

If you have answered “Yes” to any of the above, then you may be a candidate for the pantheistic and neo-pagan “Emerging Church” being promoted by authors like Tony Campolo, Jim Wallis and Brian McLaren – all of them extreme political liberals.

And since this group has redefined Jesus as a social activist, you may be on your way to HELL, which incidentally is a subject this “church” believes needs to be rethought and, probably eliminated from discussion.

Now a similar assault on historic orthodox Christianity is underway that’s gaining momentum. Some Christians believe a paradigm shift is taking place in the Church and as a consequence ‘everything must change.’…Professor Peter Jones of Westminster Seminary warned listeners that the Christian theistic West has been turning back to pagan, pantheistic monism. Many in contemporary western culture now hold to a pantheistic belief in the unity of nature and God, of body and spirit — all is One… The movement is largely eclectic with inspiration drawn from all the major world religions, which include Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Shamanism, Wicca, the metaphysical New Thought movement, and Neo-Paganism, to name a few. The goal of NSM is a shift in ‘planetary consciousness.’ Their focus is not only on the West but also on the entire planet!…We are in the middle of the biggest social transformation in history, THE SHIFT.’”

The main problem with the Southern Baptists (I have been a member) is that most members no longer read their Bibles they read Lifeway articles about the Bible. They do not do Bible studies they do Lifeway magazine studies or studies based on the latest book of some popular Christian self help Guru. They do not have Bible teachers they have facilitators of Lifeway products. Don’t believe me? Take a show of hands at your Southern Baptist Church, Bible study or group and ask how many have ever read through the Bible even once in their lives. You might be surprised. Better yet, since “Christians lie through their teeth give your membership a quiz on the Bible and make them hand it in. I dare you! See if your congregation can even be called quasi biblically literate.

So is it any wonder why they buy fluff at Christian book stores and love self help books and the gnosticism written by postmodern heretics. How would they know any better? The owners of the book stores are just selling what people want in a very difficult business to survive in.

Half of the Southern Baptist membership are now given a watered down seeker sensitive sermon on Sunday so they do not even hear any biblical truth from their pastors. In churches with younger pastors many are now hearing a postmodern emergent church message that questions all biblical truth and replaces truth with post modern relativism and universalism. Why are Southern Baptist’s not questioning their teachers? Mainly because they never read or at least never understood their Bible.

The decline of the Southern Baptists is now inevitable. The question is, who will be taking their place? The answer in the South right now is probably no one. Less and less people are showing up regularly, the South is becoming full of cultural Christians.

I think the South is ripe for a major invasion of Calvary chapels. They should consider the south a major mission field. I just read a report that said the FBI reports that crime is higher in the Bible Belt then in most other areas in the nation” Is it any wonder?

Paul Proctor — Southern Baptists now in decline

And what about the books LifeWay offers on Contemplative Spirituality, aka, Spiritual Formation, from Emerging Church authors and leaders, many of whom reject absolute truth, downplay doctrine and encourage their readers to incorporate mantras and mysticism into their Christian walk?

One of the foremost authors and leaders of the Emergent movement, Brian McLaren, recently spoke at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois at the annual Shift student ministries conference. Here’s what the SBC’s own Baptist Press had to say about him:

McLaren’s views break harshly from traditional Christian theology that Jesus died on the cross as substitute for sinful humanity, taking the punishment that men and women deserved for their sin.

Yet, at this writing, his books are available for purchase at LifeWay Christian Stores.

I’m just scratching the surface here folks

Much of the church is missing Dr. Dobson’s mixed message because he tells them what they want to hear on issues of the family and morality but Dr. Dobson seems to be confused on many theological issues - from the evil of psychology in the Church, to soft dominionism to his confusion on Robert Schuller’s universalism.

I wrote an article that includes information on Dr. Dobson if anyone cares to read it. The major segment on Dobson is about half way down the article in the psychobabble section, also check the excellent link within for much more information.

Do The Dobsons and Focus on the Family Agree with the Emergent Church? - CWN

If Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family are NOT in agreement with the Emergent Church then Dr. Dobson should release a letter stating that he does not agree with Emergent church leaders such as Dr. Robert Schuller and apologize for his wife’s appearance with Dr. Schuller on The Hour of Power and his VP’s appearance at Schuller’s conference.

Dr. Dobson should commit to hosting a series of programs on this fast growing cancer inside the church. Dr. Dobson could invite former Emergent Church pioneer, Jason Carlson on his program to expose the heresy of this Trojan horse in our camp.

I really wish that Dr. Dobson and Mrs. Dobson would join me in my opposition of the Emergent Church theology and not be praising one of its biggest leaders and promoters. At the conclusion of her interview with Dr. Robert Schuller, Mrs. Dobson says, “Thank you, thank you, thank you Dr. Schuller. God bless you and the good work you are doing here”

What? “God bless the good work you are doing here”? What good work is that, leading millions of people to hell with a false gospel? Really, I would like to know what good work she is talking about. Dr. Schuller promotes Universalism and I know the Dobsons do not agree with Universalism.

Why on earth would Mrs. Dobson appear on The Hour of Power and then ask God to bless “the good work” Schuller is doing? FOTF and the Dobson’s have nothing to gain by cooperating with Schuller, but they do have their credibility to lose with discerning, conservative, Bible-Believing Christians.

Many Christian leaders understand that moral relativism is a plague on society but for some reason they do not understand that this thinking originated from theories of psychology.

It also is no accident that psychology is now a major part of the education offered in many Bible colleges and seminaries. Is it any wonder then that leaders with majors and minors in psychology are now emerging out of these schools and are creating the Emergent Church movement.

They teach people to question and redefine what were once Christian absolutes. So now we have the emerging blind leading the blind that have already been brainwashed to accept moral relativism by their secular educators. Unless the church rejects these theories of psychology and the philosophies of the pagan world it will continue to slide into apostasy.

Many Christian leaders today use theories of psychology in their sermons, seminars and counseling sessions as if it were truth. No it is not! These so called truths originated from satanic men and are doctrines of demons.

For a good perspective on this read this excellent article.

American Thinker: Psychology: The Hard Truth about a Soft Science

Yet the problem with psychology is not just that those within the field may be peddling a relativistic creed, but that it has provided a specious scientific basis for relativism’s wider embrace. We now live in the age of “If it feels good, do it,” a maxim that is eminently logical if morals are really values and values are determined by man. Because of this, it is also the age of no accountability; after all, if right and wrong are merely opinion and thus don’t truly exist, how can anything I’ve done be wrong? Haven’t you heard, you provincial thinker, that you aren’t supposed to impose your values on me? Don’t you know I have my own “truth”? And, if nothing can be truly wrong, there is nothing to be accountable for.

For this reason, I might call psychology the science of why we not accountable. Think about it: Everything formerly labeled a sin is now diagnosed as a disease or condition of the brain. If you drink too much, it is simply because of your genetics or chemistry; if you’re an ill-behaved child, it may be ADHD; if you murdered your husband, you perhaps were in the grip of PMS; and the list goes on.

And even if, by chance, the accident that is you wound up with a well-functioning organic CPU, you’re still at the mercy of your environment (although the nurture argument seems to have lost weight in recent times). Sure, you robbed the convenience store, but you were simply programmed incorrectly by mommy, or perhaps daddy wasn’t there to provide the data that only XY org-robs can. It’s a variation on the “The Devil made me do it argument,

I also might say that mental health professionals have become the new priesthood. After all, whereas years ago people might have gone to a man of the cloth for guidance, now they are likely to lie on a therapist’s couch. The prescriptions they get are far different, too. A priest, minister or rabbi would usually render advice steeped in tradition and God-centered, but the psychologist is most likely to offer relativistic counsel, where the focus is on feelings and is thus self-centered.

And what happens when the matter of religion is raised? If you’re like many, including someone I know of, you may be told you’re taking your faith too seriously, that such devotion is akin to a mental illness. This isn’t surprising, I suppose. What future could a person have with an “illusion,” even the very attractive one that Freud seemed to believe was the opiate of the masses? Yet, with over 20 million Americans, 40 percent of college students and 1 out of 9 schoolchildren on psychiatrist-prescribed psychoactive drugs, one is left to wonder what realm is truly most deserving of that title.

I do not know why Willow Creek would allow this heretic to speak at their church. I take that back I think I do known why.

I challenge anyone who reads the Bible as written to tell me that this man has not redefined the scriptures to take away absolutes truths and replace them with stupid rationalizations. Tell me that he is not corrupting Christian youth with his heretical teaching. It is time that Christians quit making apogees for this very destructive heretic. His teachings are doing great harm to Christianity especially to the youth of the church.

So why is it that Christians in your church are mislead from his books and there is no warning about this wolf in sheep’s clothing and others emergent leaders like him coming from your pastor? If heretics are not refuted with sound doctrine why will the next generation in your church believe in any Christian absolutes?

There are so many warped views in this article about Brian Mclaren statements that It would take a small book to refute the nonsense. I will just say his views on the second coming must come from heretical dominionism or some social gospel because they sure are not founded on any truth taught in the scriptures.

Mclaren redefines scripture to conform to what he wants to believe. We were warned that these people would come in the last days and the warning was given for darn good reason. Have nothing to do with these emerging heretics lest you find yourself misled.

Baptist Press - Lessen focus on eternity, McLaren says at Willow Creek student ministries conference - News with a Christian Perspective

SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (BP)–The emphasis Christians place on the traditional Christian doctrines of hell and the second coming of Jesus inhibits believers from living effective lives of service in this world, according to speaker and author Brian McLaren

McLaren explained his views April 9-10 at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., as a featured speaker during the Willow Creek Association’s annual Shift student ministries conference

The orthodox understanding that Jesus will return at a future date and forcefully conquer all His enemies also needs rethinking, according to McLaren.

“This eschatological understanding of a violent second coming leads us to believe (as we’ve said before) that in the end, even God finds it impossible to fix the world apart from violence and coercion; no one should be surprised when those shaped by this theology behave accordingly,” McLaren wrote.

The book of Revelation does not actually teach that there will be a new heaven and a new earth, he wrote, but that a new way of living is possible within this universe if humans will follow Jesus’ example.

This article will give you a good perspective of how the Emergent Church is sliding into unity with New Age and Eastern paganism and pantheistic universalism. It will tell you who the leaders in this religious paradigm shift are and some of what they teach.

Emergent Church Spreading Spiritual Cancer - CWN

Now a similar assault on historic orthodox Christianity is underway that’s gaining momentum. Some Christians believe a paradigm shift is taking place in the Church and as a consequence “everything must change.” This is anything but good news for Christendom, my friends. In a radio interview with Worldview Network’s Brannon Howse, Professor Peter Jones of Westminster Seminary warned listeners that the Christian theistic West has been turning back to pagan, pantheistic monism. Many in contemporary western culture now hold to a pantheistic belief in the unity of nature and God, of body and spirit — all is One.

n order to move the West away from theism, the shifters must first reinvent biblical Christianity. Enter Oprah Winfrey. It would seem Oprah has been planning The Shift for many years. In 1987 she read the late Eric Butterworth’s book “Discover the Power Within You.” His book changed how Oprah looked at life and religion. She was convinced that Jesus didn’t come to teach us about His divinity, as the Bible teaches, but to teach us about our divinity! (Oprah’s code word is “Christ consciousness.”) She recommended Butterworth’s book to her audience and sales soon skyrocketed.

Maharishi McLaren’s re-imaging of the modern Church is on it’s way — whether evangelicals want re-imaging or not. The transformation, he boasts, “is for the good of the world.”

You may not have heard about The Shift yet, but you will – soon! Shifters, like pod people, are in our midst. Some of your friends and acquaintances could be shifters, only you don’t know it yet. Shifters have wormed their way into church leadership (pastors deacons, elders), worship services, Bible studies, Sunday school, seminaries, Christian schools, youth groups, camps. They lecture, write for Christian news sources and they’re all over the Internet. Now they’re touring the country. Many shifters are familiar faces on TV and have become media darlings. Browse through your local Christian bookstore and you’ll find their names lined up on shelves. Brian McLaren, Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, Marcus Borg, Dallas Willard, Leonard Sweet, Erwin McManus, Phyllis Tickle, Rob Bell, Dan Kimball, Doug Pagitt, Tony Jones, Scot McKnight, Eddie Gibbs, Ryan Bolger, Jeff & Sherry Maddock, Peter Rollins, to name a few. Every one of them are theological liberals!

Now what view would that be that Bell and Pagitt need? Your satanic view out of hell?

‘InterSpiritual Day’ to feature panel of religious leaders (OneNewsNow.com)

The head of a spiritual discernment ministry says two prominent emergent church leaders are participating in an ecumenical forum today in Seattle because they believe dialogue with Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims will not only enrich their fellowship, but give them another view of Jesus the Bible doesn’t give.

Today marks the final day of the “Seeds of Compassion” gathering in Seattle. “InterSpiritual Day” will feature a panel of religious leaders discussing how to “nurture youth with spirituality.” The panel includes the Dalai Lama, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Muslim and Sikh scholars, as well as emergent church leaders Rob Bell and Doug Pagitt.

One thing in common with the New Age/Ne