Dear Friends,

I have appreciated that many of you have allowed me to keep sending you my posts, even if you have not agreed with everything I have written.  For those who have remained open to what I write, I thank you for keeping an open mind to the information I send you every week.  I felt compelled to write this note to you, in reaction to what is perhaps my most controversial article to date, which will be posted on Tuesday or Wednesday night.  It will also be online at The Good News Today website.  As some of you know, the print version of the article was distributed this past weekend to over 400 churches and 200 businesses in the Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts area.  It is sure to reach many more people who have not heard of the emergent church movement before.

Already, since the paper came out Sunday, I have received some very disapproving comments regarding my article, including the suggestion that I should never have printed it in the first place.  The title itself is not a “warm and fuzzy” kind of title: “Nazarene Denomination Losing It’s Way?”  Some folks are clearly not happy.  That was to be expected, and I respect the fact that many have and will disagree with what I have been saying for over a year now.  A few have made it clear to me that they believe I am trying to ruin the Nazarene denomination.  Some have told that me that what I am doing is going against scripture, and that I am leading people away from Christ.  Others perhaps just think I’ve lost my mind.  Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, and please remember, I am not forcing anyone to read what I write.

Let me be clear as to what my intentions have been since 13 months ago.  I did not start my emails and my blog to win any popularity contest, that’s very evident now.  It was also not my intention to write in such a way as to make you think I am intellectually and spiritually superior to any of you.  I’m simply laying out the facts, with my opinion as to what I believe those facts mean, based on scripture only.   The only reason for me to do what I have been doing for over a year now, along with many other Nazarenes doing the same thing, is for one thing only: to obey the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles, to “contend for the faith once delivered to the saints”. That is all.

The new article was written in a way that will give a clear summary of what has been happening, to anyone who has never heard of this problem before.  Some of you will already know what is in there, and it won’t be new to you.  This was primarily intended to expand awareness amongst unaware Nazarenes, and other Christians, of what I and many others believe to be a serious threat to the body of Christ.

This is a serious time in the history of the Nazarene denomination.  As I said, I am doing this out of love for our denomination.  For those of you who disagree and think I am doing harm, I am sorry that you feel that way.  Regardless, please try not to judge my heart- only God can do that.  But I tell you honestly, that my motives are with the intention of warning fellow Christians of false teachings. I have clearly written many times with scriptural authority, explaining the duty of Christians to defend the faith and warn others of false teaching, so I will not rehash that lesson all over again.  However, if you insist that I am wrong as a Christian to do this, send me a private message, and I will be glad to send you a scriptural lesson not only on why we need to warn others of false teachings, but also on our Christian obligation to judge others appropriately.  You may not agree with the lesson, but it will be Bible based.  It is a common misconception by so many Christians, that we cannot ever judge, at any time!  How then can we “beware” of false prophets, as Christ commanded, if we cannot judge!  That does not make sense, does it?

Finally, I would ask that if you still strongly feel that I and many others are totally wrong in what we are doing, then I invite you to do the following, in order to help correct me:

1. Send a private message to me, laying out the scriptural reasons that exposing and naming false teachers, or judging others, is unscriptural.  I would ask that you try to stay in context with whatever passages you use, and not to, as many do, “prooftext” and use one verse to negate what is being taught clearly in other areas of scripture.  I will keep this completely between you and me.
2. Or send me the same kind of message, but which you have no problem in allowing me to post it publicly, BUT without using your name.
3. Finally, post the same message here publicly.  Please understand that I will reserve the right to refute what you write, but I will give you the opportunity for any rebuttals needed.

The emergent church movement is real, and I believe it is a false movement in almost all that it asserts or teaches.  There may be some good in it, but as the scriptures say, “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”  It is our duty as Christians to expose false teachings.  I pray that this upcoming article will help make many more aware of this danger.  It is absolutely unfair that so many Nazarenes are being kept in the dark about this problem, and all Nazarenes have a right to know the facts, and make up their minds as to whether this movement is of God, or if it is of Satan.  It cannot be both.

As Paul wrote in Romans 16:17-18: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

And in Ephesians 5:11, he wrote, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Sincerely in Christ,

Manny
reformednazarene@hotmail.com

Click on following for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 Part 4 and Part 5.

And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority…(Mark 6:7)

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples…(Matthew 28:18-19)

When Jesus sends His apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, He gives them authority. But what can this authority be used for?

In the New American Standard Bible,  the English word authority appears in 75 verses of the New Testament. Fifty-nine times, the word is translated from the Greek word exousia (Strongs’ #1849).

Behold, I have given you authority [exousia] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. (Luke 10:19)

For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority [exousia], which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame. (2 Corinthians 10:8)

Never once in the fifty-nine verses where the Greek word exousia is translated into the English word authority does the context of the verse imply that a person can wield authority over a believer’s life. Not once!

But rather the authority in these fifty-nine verses  is limited to being used against demons, sickness, disease, all the power of the enemy and to build up or encourage believers. That’s it!

Now, if you’ve done your math, there are sixteen other verses not covered in the above explanation, right?

For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is witness – nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority [baros, Strongs' #922]. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. (2 Thessalonians 2:5- 7)

If you lift verse 6 out of context in the above scriptures, it looks like the apostle has authority to impose a burden on believers. But if you read all three verses, you see that Paul is making the point of why he can’t impose a burden. He is a nursing mother to his children.  The Amplified Bible states it this way:

…though we might have asserted our authority [stood on our dignity and claimed honor] as apostles (special missionaries) of Christ (the Messiah). (2 Thessalonians 2:6)

Here is another often-quoted authority verse:

These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority [epitage  Strong's #2003]. Let no one disregard you. (Titus 2: 15)

The Greek word epitage is translated authority in this verse, but it really means commandment or mandate; and it may or may not be backed by the power of the Lord.

Almost all of the other verses where the word authority appears in the New Testament, refer to a nation’s government exercising authority and wielding power over its citizens. The major exception is the following:

For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority [kyrios, Strong's #2962] of the Lord Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:2)

Thus, scripture states that the authority of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher is not to be wielded against a believer. But instead, the authority is to be used against Satan and to encourage believers. And also, at times, the Lord may give special authority to people for carrying out a task.

So, how was I set free from the prison with a steeple on the roof?

(Continued in Part 7)

Check her blog out: http://queermergent.wordpress.com/

In pondering the contrast between modern ministry methodologies and the actual Word of God:

1. Would God have preserved Sodom, if only they had a “be a better you” book?

2. Was Nineveh spared, because Jonah preached, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life?”

3. Were the early churches in shambles, at Paul’s death, because he was not purpose-driven?

4. Was God threatening the churches of Asia Minor, because their leadership principles were lacking?

Asinine! The depth of meaning from each of the above reveals weightier matters nearly lost in preaching today. The lessons contain not the accomplishments made by the schemes of man, but by the Hand of the Lord.

“…’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’, says the LORD Almighty.” Zec 4:6

1. God knew Sodom as a city of brazen wickedness (Gen 13:13). “The people were guilty of the most notorious crimes and addicted to the most scandalous and unnatural lusts” (John Gill). Their sin was most glaring and grievous before the Lord God (Gen 18:20). No matter the greatness of the city’s sin, God was still willing to spare it with as little as 10 righteous God-fearing citizens. The city failed to produce even 10. God did not grant them principles to better their life or a means to improve their nature. Though he spared Lot’s family, God simply destroyed the city with no message, no hope, and no warning.

Lost Message – God abhors sin and will destroy, without mercy, all that violate their conscience by ardently persisting in it (Rom 1:16-32). In the same way, the earth, and all creation, will be one day violently destroyed with fire and therefore by, through, and because of the Grace of God Christians should love holy and godly in this present evil age (2 Pet 3:10-11, Titus 2:11-12).

2. God told Jonah go to Nineveh and “cry against the city” for “their wickedness has come up before me” (Jon 1:2). The city was a violent place. Jonah’s message, “Because of your great wickedness, you have 40 days until your great city will be overthrown” (Jon 3:4). Though His mercy is clearly seen, there was no message of His love. God did not comfort or encourage the Ninevites nor did He articulate their worth, but His anger. They were struck by the blunt edge of a solemn admonition. The God of all creation was personally displeased (Jon 3:9). They repented and turned to God in humility. God spared the city from His judgment by granting them a warning against their great sin, which they heeded (Jon 3:10).

Lost Message – God will speak strong words of correction and rebuke when he is displeased (Heb 12:5-6). These reprimands are intended to bring repentance, a turning or returning to Him (2 Cor 7:10-11, 2 Tim 3:16) and correction for our souls (Prov 3:11, Heb 12:9). God rebukes those He loves (Rev 3:19).

3. Paul preached an offensive (Gal 5:11) and illogical message (1 Cor 1:18) that stirred disdain from his culture and violent anger from the religious community (Acts 13:50). God established his purpose with the revelation he received from no man (Gal 1:11-16). In addition, the fledgling church struggled to survive as Christians were attacked with gruesome Roman persecution. That which remained, in times of peace, was picked over by false ministers (2 Cor 11:13) who crept in to subvert the Truth (2 Pet 2:1).

Lost Message – All who live Godly will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12). There is no escaping the true costly selfless Biblical Christianity seen in the lives of Stephen, Peter, James, Paul and all others “who loved not their lives unto death” (John 12:25, Rev 12:11).

4. The churches of Asia Minor were strongly chastised by the Lord for forsaking their first love (Rev 2:4-5), possessing a lax attitude that tolerated preaching that led His people into sexual sin and idolatry (Rev 2:14 & 20) and maintaining religious practice, but remaining indifferent to it (Rev 3:15-16).

Lost Lesson – The Lord Jesus was not impressed or concerned with the organizational savvy of church leadership. He was not aroused to remove the source of spiritual light from their midst (Rev 2:5), because of a lack of influence. He was sovereignly disturbed by the passivity; which allowed the teaching that led His people into whoredom with the world (Rev 2:14, 15 & 20). He becomes fiercely displeased with the general unfaithfulness of His bride and will repay all according to their deeds (Rev 2:23).

God is a jealous God (2 Cor 11:2) for we are his purchased possession (Eph 1:14) and therefore tempting the Lord God ultimately brings strong retribution (1 Cor 10:9).

The absence of these pivotal and basic doctrinal messages has left Christ’s church impotent against the devastation of sin and the spirit of the world. The incessant and unbalanced heralding of God’s love has created a society of rebels with no fear of God. The profuse delivery of self-centered, man-centered, non-challenging, flesh-friendly, superficial and baseless lectures lay partially to blame for the masses of religious consumers possessing “itchy-ears” (2 Tim 4:3).

In coping with the loss of Divine power, the carnal and apostate have developed clever devices to overcome the lack of Christian influence in the post-modern world. While one may argue, “Observe our numbers, see our leadership and judge our success”, the proper defense should rather be, “Observe our devotion, see our passion and judge our fruit.”

Those who will not heed these warnings will grow weary of this Cry For Repentance, but there is only one answer for the gross error of this Laodicean age:

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chron 7:14

Katy and I drove from Washington D.C. to Indianapolis and back this Thanksgiving. This morning as we drove through central Ohio on way back to Indy we listened to This American Life’s Poultry Slam 2008; their tribute to all things fowl as Americans prepare their holiday meals.

It was a great way to spend an hour and the stories, or acts in This American Life parlance, all centered around birds and God.

The story that stuck out to me most was the act called “A Pastor and his flock.”  I’m a sucker for stories about the intersection of the labor movement and church and this was a powerful story.  Rector Bruce Walker at Grace Episcopal Church in Morganton, North Carolina, was asked by organizers at the Western Carolina Worker’s Center to get involved in a struggle between workers and management at nearby Case Farms.  The workers at Case Farms, a gigantic chicken processing facility, were organizing a union and Ken Wilson, the head of public relations and mouth piece for the vicious antiunion campaign for Case Farms, was a member at Grace.

(For more information about the struggle, check out Barry Yeoman’s Spiritual Union or read The Maya of Morganton, written by UNC Labor professor Leon Fink.)

Even though Walker was relatively new to town, none of the workers at Case Farms (mostly Guatamalan immigrants) worshipped at Grace and that Walker was part of the solidly middle-class congregation, the rector sided with the workers.  He tried to get his congregant to start rethinking his stance and role.  Wilson was a little angry when his pastor showed up on the day of the union election and he soon quit the church and moved out of town.

Though the church lost a tither that day, the low wage poultry workers of Morganton gained a friend and ally.  When asked if he had any regrets, Rector Walker only regretted that he hadn’t done more.

Its a story every pastor  and his or her flock should here.  Hopefully, the members at Grace are proud of their pastor who knows the difference between cheap and costly grace.

Since I started this blog I noticed a very strange temptation to look back and evaluate my past to death. I even scrapped a very tough article entitled ‘Fundamentalists Anonymous’ after working on it for several hours. It comes a time, I think, when you have let go of the past, get over it, and look into the future.

I admit that I’m a bit troubled by the temptations which this blog are springing on me, especially when it is so widely accessible, and people from my past are constantly shocked by how far I moved on in my thinking from a fundamentalist position to a progressive and inquisitive one. To be dragged into endless discussions about what made me move on is very unattractive to me, not to mention painful because of memories I’d rather leave behind.

After six months of my ‘probationary year’, the last stage in the training for the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament, I find myself compelled to look into the future and to try to anticipate as best I can where the church will be, or rather where it should move. More and more I become convinced that the traditional vision of formal Sunday worship is painfully foreign to non-church people, and that there is little which could attract them to it. I read recently that where the church experiences growth in the world, this is on the basis of a 95% rate of transfers from other denominations. There are very few non-church people being attracted into the church.

One reason for this, I believe, is that church is very scary for many people on the outside. We acknowledge that theologically the church is supposed to be about grace and compassion, thus offering the best solution to the biggest problem people seem to be experiencing – that of guilt. And yet, people are not rushing in to get their problem solved, possibly because we operate with a strangely contradictory theology of ‘graceful God – vengeful God’. As far as the people outside are concerned, the church hasn’t made up its mind about that. And so people ask: “What’s the use of going to church?” That is true especially since the church is seen as a place where they will be made to feel even more guilty than they already feel. Granted, this is only one of the problems, of course, and an oversimplification it may be, but it is one of the biggest ones I think.

But I also think we suffer from too much formalism. I see the future of the church in new and emerging expressions centered around conversation and interaction. I believe in a few decades we will see the church moving towards alternative expressions to Sunday morning formal services. They will remain more or less as they are for another hundred or so years, but the focus of the church will have to be on a more organic, missional and conversational expression of community life.

I’m not talking about reinventing Sunday services, or repackaging them with contemporary music and multi-media gimmicks. Oh no. I’ve been down that road before. It’s nice, but it ultimately misses the mark. Theology and worship focuses too much on a top-down model. The expert prepares worship and the amateurs endure it. That model will have to go soon, or the church will fail to experience growth from outside of its present constituency.

What we will see in the near future, I think, is that many churches will experiment with emerging ministries alongside Sunday worship services, focusing more and more resources on these ministries. I’m so glad I’m involved in parish ministry, which is the best environment to attempt such exciting ministries in the future. There is a lot of great stuff going on in many churches today, which gives me a reason to be hopeful, and fills me with a sense of excitement and sweet anxiety…

by Kjos Ministries

Twelve Early Martyrs in ancient Carthage †  180 AD

Their crime? They were Christians who refused to compromise or recant. They would rather die than deny their faith and betray the Lord they loved!

The seven men and five women were brought before the Roman proconsul Saturninus in Carthage, North Africa (Tunisia) on July 17, 180AD. He gave them an opportunity to recant:
“You can win the indulgence of our lord the Emperor, if you return to a sound mind.”[1]
[See The UN Plan for your mental health]

Speratus, the apparent leader of the small group of faithful disciples, answered,

‘We have never done ill, we have not lent ourselves to wrong, we have never spoken ill, but when ill-treated we have given thanks….”

“We too are religious,” answered the proconsul, “and our religion is simple, and we swear by the genius of our lord the Emperor, and pray for his welfare, as you also ought to do.”

“The empire of this world I know not,” explained Speratus, “but rather I serve that God, whom no man has seen, nor with these eyes can see. I have committed no theft; but if I have bought anything, I pay the tax; because I know my Lord, the King of kings and Emperor of all nations.”

“Be not partakers of this folly,” said the proconsul.

Cittinus, one of the faithful, said, “We have none other to fear, save only our Lord God, who is in heaven.”…

“Do you persist in being a Christian?” asked the proconsul.

“I am a Christian,” he answered. All the others agreed….

The proconsul Saturninus then read the decree [their sentence] from a tablet:

“Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Vestia, Secunda and the rest having confessed that they live according to the Christian rite, since after opportunity offered them of returning to the custom of the Romans they have obstinately persisted, it is determined that they be put to the sword.”

“We give thanks to God,” said Speratus.
“Today we are martyrs in heaven; thanks be to God,” added Nartzalus.

The proconsul then gave the order that their sentence be publicly announced by the herald: “Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Lætantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata and Secunda, I have ordered to be executed.”

They all said: “Thanks be to God.“

“And so they all together were crowned with martyrdom; and they reign with the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen.“

“The account of these martyrs from Scilli, a village near Carthage, is the earliest document demonstrating the existence of Christianity in North Africa. It shows what was at stake between Rome and the church: two opposing ways of life. When these African Christians refused to return to ‘the usage [custom] of the Romans,’ the Roman authorities recognized there was a profound danger to the Empire.

“The story of these seven men and five women is also important for the development of the canon of Scripture. When the Christians were arrested, they were carrying ‘the sacred books, and the letters of Paul, a just man.’ ‘The sacred books’ may mean the Hebrew Scriptures, thus making this an early indication that Paul’s letters were treated as Scripture. Or ‘the books’ may refer to the Gospels, which would likewise give insight into the history of the New Testament’s formation.”[2]

The intensity of persecution in the Roman Empire rose and fell with the temperaments and circumstances of the various emperors. Of course, that’s not unique in the historical record. Through the centuries of time, everything keeps changing – including churches and values — except God and His eternal Kingdom. In the last few decades, we have seen masses of so-called Christians ready and willing to compromise Truth and conform to an increasingly corrupt world.  Like in Old Testament days, it no longer seems wrong to “love evil more than good.” (Psalm 52:3) Almost “anything goes” except “intolerance” toward popular evil.

Genuine, uncompromising Christians will be despised by tomorrow’s leaders and global managers. We don’t fit their vision of unity, solidarity and upside-down tolerance. Like the ancient rulers who demanded conformity with “the custom of the Romans,” a new breed of rulers — like those in ancient Rome — are beginning to trumpet the “profound danger” of Christian resistance to their rising global empire. (See The emerging New World Order ) [2]

The times ahead will surely bring a time of purification to the Church – a separation of what the Bible calls wheat and tares: a division between those who truly belong to God and those who prefer to identify with today’s adaptable, emerging church.

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you…. If they persecuted Me they will persecute you… for they do not know the One who sent Me.” John 15:19-21

2. Christian History Magazine, Issue 27: Persecution in the Early Church (Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, 1990)

Further Thoughts on the Manhattan Declaration and a Response to Frank Beckwith

11/25/2009 – James White

I returned from a very enjoyable jaunt up and down South Mountain with my wife (on bicycles, of course) to discover that Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler had tweeted a link to my comments on the Manhattan Declaration. I am very thankful Dr. Mohler felt them worthy of notice. I said recently Dr. Mohler is the smartest Southern Baptist alive, and I gain much from listening to his podcasts (again while slowly cranking along on my quest to finish my second trip around the earth at the equator—only 2800 miles away now!).

Of course, one of the main questions I have received since posting my thoughts (and referring to those of John MacArthur) has to do with Dr. Mohler’s defense of his signing the document. It has never been my intention to excite that spectrum of folks who exist on the fringes of meaningful apologetics who are constantly looking for a new conflict, a new battle. Yes, I had read Dr. Mohler’s comments on why he signed the document prior to writing my article. I appreciate his position, but I beg to differ. I am thankful Dr. Mohler does not view the document as a theological manifesto requiring him to abandon a biblical view of the gospel. But as I and others have pointed out, it is difficult, if not impossible, to speak of what Christians should do, and in fact, must do, in the face of an ever increasingly hostile secularism, without doing so in the context of the gospel itself. In other words, a Christian who believes in the God-centeredness of the gospel of grace will respond differently to secularism than one who embraces a much more man-centered, works-oriented “gospel.” And given the long history of Rome’s violation of biblical teachings regarding the gospel (not just on the matter of sola fide, but the entire complex of doctrines that forms Rome’s sacramental system, including its rejection of sola scriptura, its sacerdotal priesthood, and its perfection-denying doctrine of the Mass as a propitiatory sacrifice), I, and others, find it impossible to speak in unison with a Church that claims to define “Church,” embody “Church,” all the while perverting the gospel of Christ. Our social duties are not separate from the gospel. They are defined by it. Now I accept that Dr. Mohler honestly believes the following words are true, and as a result, signed the document:
 

To Cont. Reading

The Troubling Aspects of the Manhattan Declaration

11/23/2009 – James White

Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.

These words conclude the Manhattan Declaration, promulgated November 20, 2009. There is much in this document that any serious-minded Christian not only can agree with, but simply must agree with. There is no question that the forces of secularism are moving quickly, under the guise of “social advancement” and “equal rights,” to attack, denigrate, and, in their highest hopes and aspirations, relegate the Christian worldview to the trash heap of history. Evil men, and women, hold positions of power in Western societies, and since it is inevitably true that the Christian witness enrages those who love the darkness (John 7:7), they are doing all they can to subvert and silence that witness which so exposes their consciences. The general statements of the document relating to life, abortion, marriage, sexuality, and religious liberty, are well stated and timely. There is something reassuring in realizing that the concerns we have had are shared across a broad spectrum.

But there are a number of troubling things that I cannot get past in examining this document and considering its implications. When I see some of the leading ecumenists in the forefront of the documents’ production, I am made uneasy, and for good reason. Great damage has been done to the cause of Christ by those who have sought to promote the Kingdom by compromising the gospel, the only power given to the church that can change hearts, and hence change societies. By relegating the gospel to a matter of opinion and difference, but not something that defines the Christian faith, these ecumenists have left their followers with a cause without power, a quest without a solution. And though their open-mindedness fits better with our current post-modern culture, from a biblical perspective, they have truly betrayed the apostolic example.

This document presents a Christianity ostensibly based upon bare Trinitarianism. I listened to Chuck Colson speak on the Hugh Hewitt program this afternoon. He made it very clear that this is, in fact, a theological document, despite the assertions of others that it is not. He was asked why Jews, Mormons, and others, were not invited to sign the document. He said they were not asked because this is a specifically Christian statement, quoting from the Christian scriptures. Once again we are led to the inevitable conclusion that “Christian” then is “Trinitarianism plus agreed upon historical truths such as the crucifixion and resurrection, but, most importantly, without any gospel content.” It does no good to muddle this discussion with “Well, what about the medieval church” questions, since we are talking about a day and age when the issues are well known. We are not talking about a dark period of biblical ignorance. There is more light available today than ever before. And for many, the gospel is simply no longer part of the “non-negotiables.”

But I am left confused by the inconsistency of the document. Mormons are not invited. Understandable, given that the LDS faith is the most polytheistic faith I’ve ever encountered. Trinitarians only need apply. I can fully understand that. So…why are we told toward the end of this Declaration that Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote from an explicitly Christian perspective? A brief visit to Martin Luther King’s writings will reveal he was hardly orthodox even using the limited definition utilized by this Declaration. For example, writing in a paper while in seminary, Martin Luther King, Jr. said:

The orthodox attempt to explain the divinity of Jesus in terms of an inherent metaphysical substance within him seems to me quite inadaquate. To say that the Christ, whose example of living we are bid to follow, is divine in an ontological sense is actually harmful and detrimental. To invest this Christ with such supernatural qualities makes the rejoinder: “Oh, well, he had a better chance for that kind of life than we can possible have.” In other words, one could easily use this as a means to hide behind behind his failures. So that the orthodox view of the divinity of Christ is in my mind quite readily denied.

So why put forth King as explicitly Christian, but not invite the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who would “quite readily deny” the deity of Christ as well? Perhaps a document that identifies Papal actions as explicitly Christian actions can be excused for its inherent self-contradiction.

There is no question that all believers need to think seriously about the issues raised by this declaration. But what is the only solution to these issues? Is the solution to be found in presenting a unified front that implicitly says “the gospel does not unite us, but that is not important enough to divide us”? I do not think so. What is the only power given to the church to change hearts and minds? United political power? Or the gospel that is trampled under foot by every Roman Catholic priest when he “re-presents” the sacrifice of Christ upon the Roman altar, pretending to be a priest, an “alter Christus”? Am I glad when a Roman clergyman calls abortion murder? Of course. But it exhibits a real confusion, and not a small amount of cowardice, it seems, to stop identifying the man’s false gospel and false teaching simply because you are glad to have a few more on the “right” side of a vitally important social issue.

This takes me back to my original response to the ECT document. I have seen so many re-organize their priorities in light of having made “common cause” with those who have a false gospel all in the name of doing social good. I am glad Rome retains elements of God’s truth and morality. But when did being good or moral bring one salvation, as if anyone is ever truly good, or truly moral?

These are the matters that truly concern me about the Manhattan Declaration. Why does God have the right to determine human sexuality, marriage, and to define life itself? It all goes back to the gospel, does it not? If we are going to give a consistent, clear answer to our culture, we dare not find our power in a false unity that overshadows the gospel and cripples our witness.

I really like this…

Scripture is not meant for private interpretation but it is to over rule them! Sounds kinda scriptural to me…

2Pe 1:20  knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.

2Ti 2:15  Give diligence to present yourself approved to God, a workman unashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

I remember someone had once said to me that you could interpret the bible individually, meaning privately. But scripture says that you can’t!

Another thing that hit me after reading these verses was that ‘post-modern, relativism’ is made up of personal opinion; what’s true for you isn’t true for me’. When one counters that with what God actually says on any given subject then critique can often be felt as a personal attack. So is it any wonder why people cry out… “you’re intolerant, you are not speaking in love”.

The other point is that tolerance is raised to a higher virtue than truth today. The word tolerance has changed to mean something more than respecting differing opinions, it now means ‘not believing in anything for sure’.

As I have come across people who have embraced certain teachings that are not scriptural I am reminded of these verses:

Eph 4:14-16  that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;  but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

Charles Spurgeon said:

The glorious charity of the present day is such, that it believes lies to be as good as truth; and lies and truth have met together and kissed each other; and he that telleth truth is called a bigot, and truth has ceased to be honourable in the world! Ah! beloved, we know better than to profess such unlimited, but false charity; the truth is, we know how to "hold fast the form of sounds words," which has been given to us, because in this way we grow. Changeable people cannot grow much.

Joh 8:31  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
Joh 8:32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Just my thoughts for the day

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” – Matthew 24:11

Click on following for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

You put up with it when they make you their slaves, take everything you have, take advantage of you, put on airs, and slap you in the face. (2 Corinthians 11:20 NLT)

It’s one thing for pastors to misuse their authority, and thereby, try to control believers. But it can become devastating when a person with an apostolic or prophetic anointing misuses his authority – knowingly or unknowingly – to control Christians.

One of the most  extreme examples of a person misusing a prophetic anointing is Jim Jones. His name is forever linked to the words: Jonestown Massacre.

In my case, the prophetic bondage I suffered was certainly not on the scale of a Jim Jones, but still, it was devastating enough for me.

As I wrote in Part 4, I attended a little church for four years. A husband and wife were the pastors. One had a prophetic anointing and the other an apostolic one; both had strong gifts.

But the problem was that they had control issues, especially over people with callings. They saw us as gems for their personal ministry which they envisioned as being national in scope.

For me, they believed I would be their Silas, a prophet who would minister in the churches they hoped to plant. (Later, I discovered this important point: they were even praying and prophesying this vision over my life in their personal prayer times. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!)

When they would talk about their vision for me, I’d say, “I don’t think that’s what the Lord has in mind for me. But of course, if it is, I’d certainly be open to it.”

All of this came to a head one day when I had a disagreement with them. We agreed on a meeting for that evening.  To prepare myself,  I spent the afternoon praying and fasting, and had a strong prophetic word for them, especially the husband.

They asked me to speak first. As I finished reading a verse of scripture and was ready to give the prophetic word, one of them interrupted me by speaking in tongues. And then, the other interpreted it.

The tongues and interpretation felt like machine-gun bullets, ripping through my guts. Whatever anointing I had for the meeting with them was blown apart. I was destroyed.

As I limped home that evening, I cried out to the Lord. “Lord, You have to help me. I want to obey the rulers You have placed over me, but right now,  I’m confused. And I don’t understand what’s going on.”

So, how was I set free from this prison with a steeple on its roof?

(Continued in Part 6.)

The Manhattan Declaration

From my friend and brother in the Lord the ever biblically solid Gary Gilley

Emergent Books.

Great article from my friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord at Herescope

Meditation that is not founded upon the Word of God, like alabyrinth, is a maze that ultimately ends up in futility, going nowhere but endless spirals.

Those who have practiced Eastern-style meditation, with its emptying of the mind and/or visualization (imagery), often do so because they desire to acquire peace, or because they are hurting and desire their inner psycho-spiritual needs to be met. Yet they will eventually find that their needs are not met, and they are more empty than ever. Further, this type of meditation opens one’s mind to occult spirituality – even if it is done under the aura of being “Christian.”

Those who engage in the pantheon of contemplative practices need to beware that it is described as “two intentions that are the foundation of all contemplative practices: cultivating awareness and developing a stronger connection to God, the divine, or inner wisdom.”[1] See “The Tree of Contemplative Practices” posted HERE. This is a graphic representation of how the “roots of the tree encompass and transcend differences in the religious traditions from which many of the practices originated, and allow room for the inclusion of new practices that are being created in secular contexts.”[2]

Looking at this tree, it is obvious that what passes for “Christian” meditation in our modern era springs from the Gnostic roots of this occult tree. Is it any wonder that this tree then bears corresponding occult fruit? Note that this contemplative tree does not promise life, only “wisdom,” which just happens to be what the serpent promised Eve if she ate of the fruit of the tree in the Garden of Eden.

But what about the person who is truly needy? One who is experiencing a crisis of faith? Who is being persecuted? The fragile believer who feels that their faith is floundering or drying up? These struggling believers are being encouraged to run to this “contemplative tree” of eclectic spiritual practices to find refuge, solace and comfort. After all, it istrendy to run to this contemporary contemplative tree, despite its antiquated roots buried in the deep strata of occultism.

This alluring multifaceted tree promises healing, renewal, insight, rest, wisdom and access to God. But, warning! Eating its fruit results in spiritual blindness and deafness, bondage and emptiness.

The Tree of Life

There is another tree, which is found in Scripture. It is based on the Word of God. Psalm 1 describes the believer who finds his ”delight in the the law of the LORD” and says that in this law (God’s Word) ”doth he meditate day and night.” If a believer does this he is promised that he shall ”be like atree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (verses 2-3, emphases added). What a promise!

Meditating on the Word of God produces beautiful fruit in the lives of Christian believers. There are many other promises in Scripture for the believer who meditates upon God’s Word. These are personal promises that apply not only to daily living, but also to a wide variety of life crises, feelings, situations, hurts, pains, persecutions, trials, trouble and dangers. Here is just a brief sampling, starting at Psalm 119, which is a treasure trove of promises to those who meditate on God’s Word; i.e. His precepts, commandments, judgments, law and testimonies:

• vs. 25 - My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy Word.
• vs. 28 - My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthenthou me according unto thy Word.
• vs. 97 - O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
• vs. 104 - Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
• vs. 105 - Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a lightunto my path.
• vs. 130 - The entrance of thy Words giveth light; itgiveth understanding unto the simple.
• vs. 133 - Order my steps in thy Word: and let not anyiniquity have dominion over me.
• vs. 134 - Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
• vs. 161 - Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word.
• vs. 162 - I rejoice at thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Proverbs 30:5 further promises that ”Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.”

Isaiah 29 warns about idolatrous hearts (vs. 13) and says that the ”wisdom of their wise men shall perish” (vs. 14). Then Isaiah 30 speaks to those who ”despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon” (vs. 12), but promises that ”in returning [i.e., repentance] and rest shall ye be saved.” This same verse promises the very thing that contemplative practices claim to accomplish -rest! And it further promises that ”in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” But, sadly, the verse concludes with the tragic statement: ”and ye would not.”

God’s ways are not hidden like the obscure “wisdom” of the occult that must be meditated upon in endless ways that never satisfy. He has given us His Word openly. Twice in Isaiah God says, ”I have not spoken in secret” (Isaiah 45:19 and 48:16). God’s Word does satisfy, and we are promised in Isaiah 55:11 that: ”So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

The New Testament, particularly in the book of Acts, records the power of the Word of God to change human lives. The backdrop to the events in Acts is strikingly similar to our modern era with its rapidly rising idolatry and occult spirituality. God’s Word alone has the miraculous power to change lives. Paul told King Agrippa that the purpose of preaching the Gospel (i.e., God’s Word) was ”To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18). And in Romans Paul states that the Gospel of Christ ”is the power of God unto salvation”(vs. 16).

Many today avoid God’s Word. They do not run to it as a source of strength and sustenance. They will do anything butread God’s Word! In Jeremiah 2:13 we read how readily people will substitute an inferior man-made product for The Way: ”For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Perhaps the reason for avoidance of God’s Word is because His Word is uncomfortable – it is ”quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The Word provokes believers to have their conscience quickened to sin in their hearts and lives, and it encourages them to ”Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:8)!

Many Scriptures warn about hardening of the heart, which is the consequence of not obeying the Word. These are not popular verses in our era, particularly the ones that refer to hardness of heart being wicked!

• John 12:40 - ”He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”
• Romans 2:4-5 - ”Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”
• Proverbs 21:29 - ”A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.”
• Proverbs 28:14 - ”Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
• Proverbs 29:1 - ”He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Hebrews 3:8 warns particularly, ”Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness,” which is followed by verse 11, ”So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.” This is that true rest which can only be found in obedience to God’s Word. It cannot be obtained through the pursuing of meditative mechanisms.

Eating the fruit of “The Tree of Contemplative Practices”cannot result in either repentance nor rest, but rather in an increasing tolerance for doctrinal ambiguity, sinful living, ecumenism, and mysticism. Romans 1 describes the downhill progression that begins with being ”vain” in one’s”imaginations.” This vanity seems an apt description of all entry-level contemplative practices. It quickly degenerates into one’s ”foolish heart” becoming ”darkened.” Romans 1 indicates that this downward spiral becomes outright idolatry, vile affections, a reprobate mind, and a long list of evil practices.

Where is God’s sovereignty and majesty? Job was chastised by God for his inadequate and inferior view of Him. Couldn’t the same thing be said today to those who worship at “The Tree of Contemplative Practices”? While they pursue their various pilgrimages, meditations, chantings, journalings, sweatlodges and visionquests, God is saying to them:”Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding?” (vs. 4).

Likewise, Isaiah 66:5a cries out: ”Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word.” Does anyone tremble at His Word anymore? Jeremiah Burroughs, in his classic workGospel Fear: Developing a Tender Hart that Trembles at the Word of God (1647)[3], describes the effects of having a”fear of the Lord” which is the ”instruction of wisdom,” as stated in Proverbs 15:33, and notes that those who tremble at the Word must have a “teachable disposition.”[4]. Citing Proverbs 17:10 (“A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool”), Burroughs asks: “Do you find your heart so tender that a word works upon you? This is a sign of the wisdom of God that is in your soul.”[5]

Once again, ironically, the very thing that those who pursue after contemplative mysticism desire - wisdom - is there all along for those who immerse themselves in God’s Word! It is interesting that Proverbs 3, especially verses 13 and 18, promises wisdom, saying that it is a ”tree of life” - ”Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding… She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”[emphasis added]

The Truth:

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)

Endnotes:
1. “The Tree of Contemplative Practices,” the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree.html
2. Ibid.
3. Jeremiah Burroughs, Gospel Fear: Developing a Tender Hart that Trembles at the Word of God (Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2001), www.SDGbooks.com.
4. p. 46.
5. p. 86, emphasis added.

The New [Age] Spirituality: The Folly of the Ages.

Click on following for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give an account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable to you. (Hebrews 13:17)

In 1987, I really thought the Lord was promoting me when He directed me to leave a large liturgical church and attend a small Charismatic one. Ouch! How naive I was!

At the first church service, I thought, freedom at last. Now, my calling will come forth as it should, amongst people who understand prophetic callings and the gifts of the Spirit.

The following four years of my life were spent at this small church,  giving hundreds of prophetic words and praying hours upon hours at the altar. That’s the good part.

But the ugly side is I took so much correction and so many rebukes that after a while I could no longer discern what was from the Lord and what was not. I was confused.

Once, a prophet noticed my attire. “You are called to be a man of God; and a man of God needs to always wear a suit or sport coat every time he comes to church,” he said, pointing his finger at me.

Clothing pleases the Lord?

Another respected prophet lambasted me during a special meeting. “You are not called to be a prophet, but instead, you are called to just give the oracles of God,” he said.

Talk about adding confusion to my life, this prophetic word certainly did!

A prophetess said, ” Larry used to be a good prophet, but he doesn’t pray enough anymore.”

At the time, I was getting up at 3:50 AM, praying for two hours and then heading over to the church for another hour of prayer. All of this took place before I went to work, laboring at maintenance and construction for 8 hours. Then, I came home and studied.

Not praying enough?

An elder with his nine-year old daughter stopped at the one-room apartment I was renting because of my marital separation. He looked at the shabby, 10′ x 7′ room, and then said to his daughter, “This is what happens when you disobey God!”

Disobeying God?

I received corrections on my clothing. On my prophetic style. On my teachings. On my preachings. On my finances. On what books and teaching tapes I listened to. On whether I should submit every teaching I gave outside the church to the leadership beforehand for their approval or not. On this and on that. On everything.

Can you guess what scripture was always used to validate my corrections? Good old Hebrews 13:17.

Now, none of these people were mean spirited. They actually believed they were doing the will of the Lord for my life. Plus, they were victims of bondage, too.

And it was the worst type of bondage.

Prophetic bondage!

(Continued in Part 5)

It has been over a week now since EmergingUMC2: Restoring Missional Methodism finished up.  At  high noon, Saturday, November 14, our gathering headed back into the world.  Some having a 700 mile ride back home on a minibus. 

Where do we go from here?  That was the big question for me. 

We spent Thursday night watching and discussing The Ordinary Radicals, a beautiful film about what Christians are doing across the country to reclaim the faith from both apathy and the dark years of the Christian right era.  On Friday morning we walked through downtown Indianapolis and met  with arts leaders, janitors, and hotel workers, and got some context for how Lockerbie Central UMC developed and is developing its missional focus.   We spent Friday afternoon thinking about Methodist history and the current story of the United Methodist Church, especially the history of class and society meetings and their relationship to congregations.  

On Friday night some of us went to nearby Englewood Christian Church and saw Shane Claiborne speak as part of another conference going on that week, Through the Consuming Fire.

So, where do we go from here? 

A week out, that Saturday- morning seems like a blur.  I am sure I am leaving some things out.  

First off, we talked about our experience Friday night watching Shane Claiborne speak.  I showed up late Friday night  and just in time to hear Shane speak. For those who haven’t seen Shane speak before, the guy is a rock star.  When he spoke at our church, we had nearly as 1,000 people show up–the biggest crowd we probably have ever had in the 125 year history of the church. 

I know our group wa s a bit annoyed because the music prior to Shane went on and on and on and on.  And on. It went so long that the scheduled Q and A session had to be cancelled.  The thing that stuck out to me though was the power of Shane’s story–even though I had already read his books and have seen him speak before.   Here, a small group of people dedicated themselves to living out the Gospels and they launched a movement.  Nine people living together in community and in friendship and solidarity with the broader community.  That’s it.  And they are changing the world through their witness, activism, and Christian discipline.  Last year, UMC youth in Carmel, IN–the wealthiest city in the state were so moved by Shane’s Irresistable Revolution that they begged the church’s leadership to invite Shane to lead worship on a Sunday morning.  (He accepted their invite.)

Still, I feel that for some of us Methodists, Shane’s  Irresistable Revolution gets lost in translation. It might be called the Impossible Revolution for us United Methodists.  But for me, that was the great hope of EmergingUMC2.  In our own ways, given our deep traditions, we United Methodists could begin to restore missional Methodism. 

As the conference concluded and before our final worship gathering together, we broke up into small groups to talk about how we might begin to work together.  I talked with two UMC clergy from central Indiana.  It was exciting  to begin to dream about how local congregations and individual Methodists could work together in real ways. 

We finished up with a powerful  worship service that sent us back into our communities  hopefully ready to restore missional methodism.

I have mentioned before in an earlier post, Three Universes, there are essentially three levels of reality in our world.  God, who is not confined within his own creation, exists outside of the physical universe.  This makes him his own universe.  Within his domain, there exists our physical universe, which can be affected from without.  It is a lesser reality, being less absolute, not existing forever, and depending upon God for its existence.

Within the physical universe is another, lesser reality, called the mind.  That’s where we actually live.  The mind is even less absolute than the physical world, capable of spontaneous change, inconsistency and a certain degree of incongruity.  Yet, when we experience the physical universe, we do so indirectly, through reconstruction within our brains.  If any of the processes between the actual sensation and the final experience goes awry, then we do not experience the physical universe accurately.  Nerve damage or brain damage disrupt the transfer of information, and what we see no longer resembles reality.  We do not really have a complete grasp on the physical world.  What we really hold, completely, is the image in our minds.  What we experience is all that the universe of the mind contains.  Nothing can exist within the mind except that we are aware of it.  Similarly, nothing can exist within the physical world, except that God is aware of it.  Hence, God is omniscient.

The physical world is not a piece of God.  Nor is the mind a piece of the physical world.  The physical world is corrupt, but that doesn’t make God corrupt.  Similarly, anything can happen in the mind, but it does not escape the mind and infiltrate the physical world.  In fact, nothing in the physical world explains the mind.  Cognitive processes might be explained in physical terms, but not the mind, itself.  A computer thinks, but it does not have a mind.  The mind is as much its own universe as the one we live in, but in a lower fashion.

Now, I’ve said all of this before, but there’s something more to consider.  Before the industrial revolution, humans were grossly subject to the whims of nature.  We had not developed technologically enough to conquer our world.  In that era, through most of our history, we looked to God for the answers to our problems.  That meant that we looked outside of our minds, through and beyond the physical world to God for truth.  With increasing understanding, we became confident in our own power and began to look no further than the physical world for answers.  This was the advent of modernism.  This was also the birth of naturalism, the belief that all things could be explained through the physical universe alone, with no need of God.  We had conquered the world, and we became our own gods.  Technology was the answer for everything that ailed us.

When we sought understanding from God, we attempted to live our lives and order our world in his likeness.  That is, we strove to be godly.  It is no different than the mind attempting to resemble the physical world.  If the lesser world fails to resemble the greater one, then it becomes detached, and its survival becomes imperiled in the one that gets rejected.  If a man goes insane, he no longer sees the world as it is.  Functionally, he imperils himself in the physical world, because he is not firmly grounded in it.  The same is true for our relationship with God.  If we reject God and the supernatural, then we become imperiled in the supernatural.  That is to say that we risk death, spiritually.  For those who still don’t get it, that means Hell.

Modernism was madness.  We might think that what followed, the rejection of modernism, would be the cure to this problem, but it wasn’t.  Rejection of a lie is not necessarily the embracing of truth.  Postmodernism was a flight in the opposite direction from God.  Today’s movement is to seek truth no further than the mind.  Postmodernists don’t even look to the physical world for answers.  For them, there is no absolute truth, because the world that they draw truth from is a world lacking in absolutes.  The mind is not subject to such things.  You have your own truth, and I have mine.  The idea of God is not even on the table.  They’re two steps removed from the truth of God.  They worship whatever their mind creates.

Pre-modernists prayed for rain.  Modernists attempted to make rain.  Postmodernists criticized the modernists for causing climate change.  Where the modernists attempted to improve life through their own hands, postmodernists attempt to improve life by undoing everything that the modernists did.

Pre-modernists believed in the immortal human soul, absolutes and God.  Modernists believed that nothing would last forever, and there was no God, but at least there were absolutes.  Postmodernists believe in no God, no absolutes and nothing eternal, but they play with fantasies in their own heads.

Pre-modernists used the physical world to understand God beyond it.  They worshiped him physically, and they prayed aloud.  Modernists used their minds to understand the physical world.  Postmodernists are primarily concerned with finding themselves.

Now, this postmodern revolution is a religious one, also.  Modernists sought out the “God particle,” reducing God to physical circumstances.  However, postmodernists are a little peculiar, in that they can be just about anything that they want to be at any time.  One could easily attend church one hour and a Buddhist temple the next.  Some of them do exactly that.  Their belief system is not absolute, because the universe of the mind is not absolute.  In Christianity, we know them as the Emergent Church.  In reality, they have even less of a grasp on God than a materialist, who at least recognizes the value of the world that God created.  Had they at least grasped the physical world, they would have held to some concept of an absolute.  In truth, the Emergent church is less of a  Christian than a Darwinist.  They are even further from God.

Now, consider what I said before about sanity.  When a man’s mind ceases to relate intelligibly to the world around him, he is considered insane.  When we, with our lives, ceased to relate meaningfully to the God beyond this world, we took the first step toward our own insane demise.  Postmodernism was the second step, detaching us even from the physical world.  Society is gradually slipping into a state of insanity.  Perhaps this is irreversible.  Perhaps this is the end.  The real travesty is that the Church, which was meant to be the salt and the light of the world, has developed its own form of postmodernism, the Emergent movement.  The real blasted shame is that our own fellow “Christians” have betrayed us and the world to this madness.  They were supposed to be there with us to help stem the tide of this sickness, but they have stabbed us in the back.  The Emergent Church has chosen the same fate as the world.

Therefore, they are also condemned to a world separated from God, a place where he never goes.

 Deception Driven Church? You decide…

 Stuart L Brogden Home

Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren Purpose Driven Rick Warren

For the past week or two, through out conversation about bridging the gap between emergents and traditionalists there has been a lot of talk of understanding orthodoxy. Orthodoxy is simply right belief. We are orthodox in the church if we believe the right things. The question of course is what are the right things and how do we determine them. Much of our conversation has revealed differing ideas of what is required to be orthodox and how it is determined. Well thankfully I just read one of the best blog posts I have ever encountered over at Parchment and Pent. Here is the link.

The content of the post is on the way orthodoxy develops as our understanding of God’s revelation matures and how we naturally divide ourselves through our different sources of orthodoxy. Very timely post for our conversation.

For some time I’ve noticed a disturbing tend with some of these Purpose Driven and Emergent guys substituting the phrase Christ Follower in the place of Christian. Chris of Fighting of the Faith does excellent job picking part this methodology in the sermon review here.

November 19, 2009

No Christians Allowed??

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      • • Seeker Driven Pastor Answers the Question, “Are Mormons Christians?”
        • Archbishop of Canterbury Claims Higher Taxes Would Be Good for Society
        • The Parable of the Talents is NOT About Time Management
        • Sermon Review, “No Christians Allowed” by Bill Maye of Brick City Community Church, Sanford, NC

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