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 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.

Full article

I guess we have all heard about the terms “New World Order” and “New Age”. But have you every wondered what the elite of the world really think about when they use these terms? This article will give you some views of where the elite think mankind is heading in the very near future.

As you watch current events and the actions of world leaders unfold in the next two decades just remember that the crises and transitions that the world will be going through is not a human conspiracy because there is no cabal of illuminated men in some back room planning this all out. At best the elitist think tanks only have bits and pieces of satanic inspiration for this unfolding master plan that is designed to deceive humans to believe they can evolve to be like gods. Not until the Antichrist is revealed will Satan’s “New Age” “New World Order” plan even be allowed to be fully implemented.

The elite have many ideas but they do not really know how the plan will evolve to bring mankind to their imaginary evolutionary leap forward into a new world. In the time ahead the fear generated by each real or imaginary crises will be used to brainwash man to give up traditional religious beliefs and nationalism for “New Age” global governance concepts. It will get so deceptive that even killing Christians and Jews will be thought to be a good service since people will be taught to believe that we are hindering mankind’s evolution.

The elite of the world really do not have a clue where they are taking the world because although they like to think they are enlightened  they are quite often blinded by Satan. The one thing they will all have in common in the end is the belief that man must have universal positive thinking so that mankind by his own united efforts can evolve to become like god. They do not accept the truth of God intervening in His creation and providing salvation for man. Therefore, the only savior of the world and the only hope for the world that is left for them is man.

Notice in the article that by 2035 some see an implantable information chip that will have direct access to the brain allowing over the air communications between everyone and everything. I suppose when we get to that point we will finally understand how this all fits in with the meaning of the “Mark of the Beast” spoken about in Revelation.

The Great “Global Crisis of Maturity” and the New World Order

“Although technological powers will be vast and progress will likely be made, the normal level of social resistance and political stalemate is likely to oppose change. Thus, it may take an occasional environmental collapse, global wars and terrorism, or yet unknown calamities to force the move to global consciousness.” — William E. Halal, Emerging Technologies and the Global Crisis of Maturity

The technological revolution that will re-shape humanity and our world is well underway. A cacophony of crises, both real and manufactured, are being heralded as birth pangs of a new global order. Some analysts say that we can no more fathom the political, technological, and social world that will emerge as “…chimpanzees in the forest can comprehend what goes on among humans in a nearby village.” [1]

The current and ongoing technological revolution has – as shown with the above example – a whole array of implications attached to it. Advancements in brain-machine interfaces provide one of the most startling examples. Fred C. Ikle, former undersecretary of defense for policy under the Reagan administration, and author of The Ultimate Threat to Nations: Annihilation from Within, is anticipating the development of advanced brain-machine interfaces. It is this development that Ikle sees as the most revolutionary. He writes,

“In my judgment, the greatest, most profound transformation of the human condition will not derive from the prolongation of life, or from the anxiously debated – and probably vastly overrated – possibilities of human cloning and “designer babies.” Instead, I see an effective synthesis of the computer with living human brains as the agent that will lead to a truly revolutionary upheaval for the human race.”[5]

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense report DCDC Global Strategic Trends Programme 2007-2036 is also anticipating the use of this technology.

“By 2035, an implantable information chip could be developed and wired directly to the user’s brain. Information and entertainment choices would be accessible through cognition and might include synthetic sensory perception beamed direct to the user’s senses. Wider related ICT developments might include the invention of synthetic telepathy, including mind-to-mind or telepathic dialogue. This type of development would have obvious military and security, as well as control, legal and ethical, implications.”[9]

“Man’s conquest of Nature, if the dreams of some scientific planners are realized, means the rule of a few hundreds of men over billions upon billions of men. There neither is nor can be any simple increase of power on Man’s side. Each new power won by man is a power over man as well.” — CS Lewis, The Abolition of Man

The influence of wealthy and important interests in shaping current and past events cannot be ignored when studying what the future may hold. Elites have always sought to project their dominance into the future, and this modern world is no different. Trends can either be products of an organic process or a deliberate method.

As we progress into the future, prominent analysts see a trend toward global government and a “global consciousness” as a natural, logical, and organic process of evolution. What these experts often fail to mention is the fact that it has been a prime directive of institutional schooling to prepare and condition youth to accept world governance for decades.

Futurists and government analysts often point to global warming and terrorism as defining crises of our time, as a natural part of the “global crisis of maturity.” Today, these issues are often presented as a justification for a system of world governance. William E. Halal writes,

“Intercultural conflict, weapons of mass destruction, and threats of environmental collapse are likely to force the move to some form of global community as the best means for managing such nagging problems.” [2]

Again, what we are not being told is that these issues were identified by powerful interests many years ago to serve as a pretext to prepare the way for “global solutions.” In a 1991 report titled “The First Global Revolution”, published by the Club of Rome, we find the following statement:

“In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill…. All these dangers are caused by human intervention… The real enemy, then, is humanity itself.” [3]

Halal continues in his Futurist article, praising the Club of Rome for its anticipation of these events,

“The major conclusion from this analysis is that the world is facing a global crisis of maturity, the most salient example being the near-collapse of the global banking system in October 2008. Warnings of massive transformations have been anticipated for decades by the Club of Rome and many others. Today, however, the acceleration of change seems to be producing a mounting series of severe global disruptions – energy shortages as oil supplies peak, impending climate change and environmental decline in general… continuing terrorism… as globalization inexorably strains old systems to the breaking point.”[5]

As these crises develop amidst the rising technological revolution, we are entering an “Age of Transitions” in which the elite of society – who have foreseen, and in many cases manufactured these crises – hope to emerge on top.

“It will be necessary to replace today’s cumbersome social systems, religious dogmas, heated emotions, partisan ideologies, and other commonly outmoded forms of thought and consciousness that now form the major obstacles to progress.” — William E. Halal, Emerging Technologies and the Global Crisis of Maturity

There are several futurists, think tanks and high level government analysts that are both eagerly anticipating and warning that there will be great social conflict during this “great transition”. They are nearly uniform in calling for a casting aside of “outmoded forms of thought” to pave the way for a new era. By holding on to “ancient ideas” of government and religion, people are holding back the progress of the great technological revolution and a resulting “planetary civilization”. Some have compared the potential impact of this transition to the social and political impact of the Industrial Revolution. This new revolution, however, is on a much grander scale.

Some call it the “Age of Transitions”, others the “Global Crisis of Maturity”. Zbigniew Brzezinski called it the “Technectronic Era”. However it is labeled, it brings with it major change and upheaval to humanity.

William E. Halal stated in the March-April 2009 edition of The Futurist that, “Some new form of global order is needed to avert disaster.” He continues, “The transition could happen anytime, but it is hard to conceive of a future in which today’s systems could survive much beyond 2020, let alone 2030.” Halal writes,

“It will be necessary to replace today’s cumbersome social systems, religious dogmas, heated emotions, partisan ideologies, and other commonly outmoded forms of thought and consciousness that now form the major obstacles to progress.”[2]

Halal cites prominent pollster John Zogby’s new book The Way We’ll Be as he discusses the rise of a new “global generation.” His description of this generation fits current economic trends that point to dramatically lower standards of living, but frames this as a “sustainable” lifestyle. The “First Globals” as he calls them will be “…intent on living sustainable lives in a unified world.” Zogby writes,

“…we are in the midst of a fundamental reorientation of the American character… away from wanton consumption and toward a new global citizenry in an age of limited resources.” [3]

In an earlier 2005 BBC interview Kaku said,

“…look at the economies. NAFTA, European Union, Trading blocks, the birth of a new economy is taking place.

Now there are people who don’t like this transition, who feel in their gut feel more comfortable being in a Type minus 1. They’re the terrorists. They in their gut realize that a Type 1 civilization has flowing ideas, challenging orthodoxies, new bigger, wondrous ideas popping forth. That’s Type 1.” [5]

It is vitally important that everyone, especially young people, gain their own understanding of what we are facing. The school system may prepare you for the future, but only in a manner that is self-serving to the establishment and kept within safe confines to prevent organic change. This study must involve not just a study of potential technological developments, but an understanding of the nature of power and the elites that wield it. Social engineers and opinion molders will be working overtime to shape society during this “Age of Transitions” as societal norms are broken and reshaped, and the political battlefield is thrown into chaos.

Full article

Tony Jones and many other Emergent Church Movement leaders continue to conform to the thinking of an increasingly demented world. If these ECM leaders cannot accept or understand the doctrines the Bible clearly teaches why should anyone in true Christianity even regard them as Christians? They are corrupting the youth of Christians but apparently some Christians think we should just accommodate them and allow them to continue. What would Paul say? It is time for Christian Church leaders to totally separate from these heretical leaders and to regard them as pagans.

1 Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Christian Worldview Network – Brannon Howse – Tony Jones’ continuous leftward slide into apostasy

Evidently Tony Jones doesn’t believe in God’s transforming power as he has now
concluded that Christians must embrace homosexuality:

“I now believe that GLBTQ can live lives in accord with biblical
Christianity (at least as much as any of us can!) and that their
monogamy can and should be sanctioned and blessed by church and state.”

“Liberalism…is not Christianity at all, or, at best, a corrupt version. As J. Gresham Machen argued so eloquently in the last century, liberal Christianity has many appealing features, and much to commend it. In many ways it is a quite fascinating and alluring religion. It even uses all the language of Christianity and holds Jesus in high esteem. But for all that, liberal Christianity just isn’t Christianity. Indeed, Machen argued, it’s not even close.” [4]

Tony Jones’ version of Christianity is corrupt. What he professes is not the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, the ECM has all the earmarks of a cult – what Dr. Walter Martin called the “cult of liberal theology.”

should conservative Christians worry about the ECM’s unorthodox teaching and their continual attacks against the historic fundamentals of the faith? Would it be better to just ignore these people and pray that the movement will soon fade away? Or should we fight it tooth and nail?

“Let’s not be confused here nor be too hasty to dismiss Tony Jones’ influence not only within the emergent church, but within the broader professing church itself. It’s easy to think; “Well, he’s only one guy and there is a lot of bad teaching out there”, but if you’re a discerning Christian you will have noticed by now that the post-modern vain philosophies of the emergent/emerging church are deeply infecting the Biblically illiterate youth of our day who are being fed a steady diet of spiritual poison while sitting under the teaching of hirelings. Men like Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Rob Bell, Dan Kimball and Brian McLaren are influencing an entire generation to embrace vain traditions and a re-imagined theology that runs contrary to the historic, orthodox tenets which are fundamental to the Christian faith itself! This is nothing less than a Counter-Reformation!” [8]

I’ll close with a quote from renowned theologian, Dr. R.C. Sproul:

In every age the church is threatened by heresy, and heresy is bound up in false doctrine. It is the desire of all heretics to minimize the importance of doctrine. When doctrine is minimized, heresy can exercise itself without restraint.

Full article

I ran across a couple of good articles on the postmodern emergent church movement. First Norman L. Geisler wrote a really brilliant article on this movement. This is probably the most informative article about the emergent movement that I have ever seen

Below is just the first paragraph of the article but the whole article is packed with Geisler’s brilliant logical way of presenting information

There is one key influence on the Emergent Church movement—postmodernism. While not all Emegents accept all premises of post-modernism, nonetheless, they all breathe the same air. Post modernism embraces the following characteristics: 1) The “Death of God”—Atheism; 2) The death of objective truth—Relativism; 3) The death of exclusive truth—Pluralism; 4) Death of objective meaning—Conventionalism; 5) The death of thinking (logic)—Anti-Foundationalism; 6) The death of objective interpretation—Deconstructionism, and 7) the death of objective values—Subjectivism.
From post-modernism Emergents devise the following key ideas: They consider themselves: 1)Post-Protestant; 2)Post-Orthodox; 3)Post-Denominational; 4)Post-Doctrinal; 5) Post-Individual; 6) Post-Foundational; 7) Post-Creedal; 8 )
Post-Rational, and 8)Post-Absolute. It is noteworthy that “post” is a euphemism for “anti.” So, in reality they are against all these things and more.
Full article

Next Jan Markel wrote an article Will the Emergent Church submerge yours. Jan’s article puts together some bullet statements on the warning signs of a church that is buying into the Emergent movement. If your seeing them you need to do what you can to change the postmodern thinking and if you cannot get leaders in your church to stay on solid ground you may have to relocate.

I think one key point is what they believe about Bible prophecy if they think it all happened in the past and the Church is Israel and that you need to help bring in a socialistic kingdom on earth here and now, you probably are in a very liberal mainline Church or your in a postmodern emergent church or both.

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.

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?

Due to overwhelming interest on my Oprah and Tolle Blog post I am posting another opinion of Tolle’s “A New Earth” book.
The teaser quotes that I am putting below is just a small sample of the articles. I cannot do justice to Debra Rae’s article here you have to read the full articles.

I just want to make it clear to everyone that Tolle’s teaching in ” A New Earth” is totally contrary to the fundamental truths of Christianity and Christian Orthodoxy. It is Old Age and New Age paganism originated with the lie of the Serpent and man’s rebellion. It first reared its ugly head in force at Babylon. Those that embrace and promote Tolle’s satanic views are certainly in danger of eternal damnation.

If you have a problem with my statement read this article because Debra Rae will clearly tell you what is wrong with Tolle’s message so there is no need for me to repeat it.

If you actually read the article and you still have a problem with what I said. It just shows that you are still dead in your sins, not knowing Christ. You therefore need to get saved. Here is everything you need to know about how to be saved.  So there is no need for me to repeat the salvation message to any Tolle supporters who read this post either. Just read my article.

If you respond making it clear to me they you did not even read Debra Ray’s articles (or my article if you support Tolle) your comment will be deleted.

If you respond by attacking me for presenting this article or for what I said in this comment. I now give you fair warning that your comment will be deleted and you will be banned from this Blog. If you have a problem with what Ray said contact Debra Ray. If you have a problem with what I said even after you read my salvation article. Tough!

This post is here for Christian eduction purposes. It is not to start a debate with every New Age believer in the Internet Universe. That will also shortly stop on other such posts.

Debra Rae — Only Imagine Tolle’s New Earth, Part 1
Debra Rae — Only Imagine Tolle’s New Earth, Part 2

In A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle contends that “no situation or event is ever really finished,” and the “only place of power” is the present moment. By avowing “no heaven, no hell, just now,” purportedly enlightened folks, as he, presume to wriggle free from accountability to a righteous God. In effect, these become self-proclaimed laws unto themselves.

This mindset is not new. Humanist Manifestos assert that false hope of “heaven hereafter” is unreasonable and, therefore, harmful.

Notwithstanding, secular and cosmic humanists alike actively reject and attempt to eradicate traditional theism. To Tolle, the sacred Name of God is attributed to a company of highly evolved masters (Jesus among them), each of whom claims transcendent consciousness and common divinity with all life—in Motulsky’s words, “fallible humans with total power.”

To dispute this fallacy, one need only recall the burning bush, through which YHWH revealed to Moses His Name, I AM that I AM. When Jesus ascribed to himself equal I-AM status, his captors fell backward under its power. It stands to reason that Jesus was either God Incarnate—the way, truth and life, as he claimed to be—or he was an unsurpassed liar. In either case, Jesus was not merely “a good man” or, as the case may be, “an ascended master” (Tolle’s assertion).

Not only does he demote the one whose name is above all names, Tolle promotes Self to “Godhood”—namely, the Source, Divine Life Essence, “formlessness” (or spirit). Unbeknownst to many New-Earth enthusiasts, his creed rehashes a spirit-channeled revelation of Theosophist-medium Alice Bailey, probably the most notable founder of contemporary New Age mysticism.

In Tolle’s misguided view, Christ is every man and woman. True, he references “universal law,” but Tolle ascribes the Ten Commandments as necessary only for those cut off from their own “I AM”-ness. Note that it was not Tolle, but rather co-Masonic Hierarch Alice Bailey who conceptualized and coined the term for this—namely, “Christhood.” This, my friend, exceeds folly. It is blasphemy. For such arrogance, even the angel Lucifer was cast in shame from heaven!

The Gospel according to Tolle further asserts that belief in Christianity as ultimate Truth serves ego by creating “an illusory sense of superiority.” Never mind that self-proclaimed “spiritual leader” Eckhart Tolle boasts his own pantheistic Self-deification! Although both opposing worldviews presuppose “union with the divine,” Christians alone bow the knee, acknowledge their sin and accept unmerited favor from a merciful, personal God to whom they remain accountable. In contrast, Tolle and followers grasp for themselves Godhood itself.

One of these two mindsets most certainly creates the “illusory sense of superiority,” but it’s plainly not the way of the Cross.

In Tolle’s world, when advanced, highly evolved humans seize “Presence power,” their consciousness shifts from the illusory “sweet by and by” to power-packed Presence. No longer are they hindered by the “mental idolatry” of blissful eternity with “our God.” They have instead come to accept their common divinity with all of Life. Having triumphed over matter by self-mastery, the fully “conscious” trade their tradition-bound “phantom selves” for their purported “I AM”-ness.

Achieving mastery qualifies awakened adepts to act as “Custodians of the Plan” and to watch over and even guide all of humanity’s spiritual progress. In so doing, these work hard to extinguish forces of darkness/evil—i.e., Jews and Christians. The desired outcome is for the old “Piscean Age” with its obsolete traditionalism to give way to an anticipated “Age of Aquarius,” marked by promises of peace, harmony and brotherhood.

Debra Rae — Only Imagine Tolle’s New Earth, Part 2
Regretfully, “A New Earth” à la Tolle counterfeits the “real deal”—that being, the impending Millennial Rule of Christ on earth. In effect, Tolle’s “New Earth” exchanges the closest thing to utopia since the Garden of Eden for what the apostle Paul has aptly labeled an outright lie.

Then again, Tolle has his own take on sanity and wellness: To resist evolutionary emerging consciousness is plain-and-simple insanity, and to embrace traditional belief systems is to be unwell. Proclaiming “My God” or “our God” is what he demeans as “a mental idol,” thus making oneself “right” and others “wrong.”

In fact, Tolle predicts that rigid belief structures like biblical Christianity are destined to collapse.

In Tolle’s world, global unity is perceived as imperative to proper flow of the god-force. Once humanity takes a “quantum leap” to its higher destiny, mystical powers and psychic ability will flourish; however, the reluctant may need to be removed to a nonphysical dimension, where their karma can catch up before they are allowed back to the physical plane!

Tolle characterizes Christianity as divisive and prohibitive. This, he claims, creates “an illusory sense of superiority” not to be found in New-Earth consciousness, but then Tolle clearly distinguishes between the “conscious” and the “unconscious,” “the perfect” and the “not-so-perfect.”

Bottom line: There’s no need for pie-in-the-sky imaginings when biblical Christianity outright delivers in the here-and-now and also throughout eternity. The redeemed in Christ can bank on it, and “whosoever will” are invited

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.

Well this article is Dave Daubenmire at his best. Believe me I hear similar things from the people who email me. Pastors in many churches don’t lead people to Christ anymore they just follow popular Guru’s and teach their congregations new ways to have a more sensitive and girlie Church service. Did Peter and Paul do that or did they boldly tell the world the salvation message at every opportunity even though it cost them their lives? Did Peter, Paul and John speak correction and instruction to the Church at every opportunity or did they just tap dance around the issues like many popular pastors of today?

Dave Daubenmire — Thumb Suckers

So, how is your team doing, Pastor? Are you committed to fighting for Truth or are you trying to be nicer than Jesus? At least he upset some tables…in the church I might add.

Tired of the stress? Tell the sheep to grow up. It’s Scriptural, you know? Sorry, I have no sympathy for men who want to wipe noses for a living. That’s what women are for. (Sorry, had to say it!) You won’t be nearly as stressed if you fight over Truth rather than over the color of the carpet in the sanctuary. The enemies of Christianity are training their sons to be warriors while Christians teach our sons how to get in touch with their feelings. They are learning to cut our throat as we learn to turn our cheek.

Look folks, God is a man. Sorry if this doesn’t fit your emerging theology but God is the Father, NOT our mother. He is masculine. (My dad can beat up your dad!)

Whatever happened to men in the pulpits? Where did we get this current batch of nurses? (Now, now…if the shoe fits…) “Oh, Coach, you are sooo mean.”

Here is what I don’t get. Where did it become off limits to challenge a pastor? Oh, I know the Scripture “Saying, Touch not mine anointed,” but that begs a different question. How do we know who is anointed and who is not? I promise you there are many pastors who are not anointed of God. Jesus called them hirelings, those who are just in it for the paycheck.

I think it is time we called them out. What if I told them I was anointed to rebuke them?

So, I wrote a commentary challenging the “shepherds” and you would have thought I committed blasphemy. Where do these guys get off? Darkness is swallowing up this nation and the “shepherds” get mad at me because I spoke some “harsh” words about their performance. Put your armor on, Brother, there is a war a-raging for the souls of men. You are supposed to be on the front lines. Suck it up!

Buck up, Pastor. Tighten your belt and earn your meal money. You are a servant of the Lord, a General in the Army of God, God’s ambassador here on the earth. Get your thumb out of your mouth and pick up a few stones

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 . . .