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There’s a new podcast coming, but I need your help to name it. There’s a new Christless Christianity DVD in it for whosoever’s suggestion I choose to use. (Please note that it’s only one person who’s going to get the DVD. “Whosoever” used in this sentence does not mean that everyone in the entire world is getting the DVD.) Find out more details by clicking the picture below. Thanks!
- Lane Chaplin
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All the sad details, complete with links within, at Apprising Ministries.
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Over at Wired4Truth Douglas K. Abu-Boahen begins this latest post concerning Rob Bell, the Elvis of the Emerging rebellion against Sola Scriptura:
In my last post, I posted Rob Bell’s words defending himself from those who he thinks do not like him. I don’t know Bell, so I can’t say I don’t like him – I don’t like the tripe coming out of his mouth, and that is my problem. So I’m gonna re-post those three videos, one at a time and look at what he is saying here in comparison with his material in books, those NOOMA videos and his messages…
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All the sad details, complete with links within, at Apprising Ministries.
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Saddleback Church Pastors Using Rob Bell Teachings here at Apprising Ministries clearly showed that Emerging Church icon and teacher of corrupt Contemplative Sprituality/Mysticism (CSM) Rob Bell has penetrated deeply into the mainstream of the evangelical community. So far so that Bell’s weekly sermons are recommended, and his Nooma DVDs sold, by pastors of the highly influential Saddleback Church (SC) of Rick Warren, which is aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention.
Here you’ll find out that it’s really not all that surprising because we’ve already pointed out in Rick Warren and Saddleback Church: Prayer Is Not For The Novice one can purchase books e.g. by Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker “Roshi” Richard Foster, as well as titles by Roman Catholic universalist Henri Nouwen, right in the SC bookstore itself. Little wonder because these books are themselves featured in “The Spiritual Growth Center” online at the Saddleback Family (SF) website and, in fact, Nouwen’s Seeds of Hope is even recommended in the ”Spiritual Formation” section (Online source).
Well, below follows some of the false hope in the rancid seeds of universalism that Nouwen offered readers foolish enough to grab his non-existent lifeline made of contemplative myth. Nouwen said:
Today I personally believe that Jesus came to open the door to God’s house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her way to God. (Sabbatical Journey, 51)
In addition there’s also a ”Must Read Books” section at SF. As expected from Warren’s Saddleback we first see his The Purpose Driven Life; but here we wish to bring to your attention among these “must read” recommendations from SF we see what they call the “now-classic meditation on grace” Ragamuffin Gospel by teacher of Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP) mystic Brennan Manning (Online source). For those who don’t know about Brennan Manning Christian researcher Ray Yungen tells us:
In The Signature of Jesus, Manning teaches how to suspend thought. He instructs his readers methodically:
[T]he first step in faith is to stop thinking about God at the time of prayer. [C]ontemplative spirituality tends to emphasize the need for a change in consciousness � we must come to see reality differently. Choose a single, sacred word - repeat the sacred word inwardly, slowly, and often. [E]nter into the great silence of God. Alone in that silence, the noise within will subside and the Voice of Love will be heard.
If one could draw a spiritual tree of both Manning’s and Foster’s mystical heritage it would look like this: from India, to Alexandria, to the Desert Fathers, to Thomas Merton, to them; and now, through them and others like them, to you. (Online source)
So far Saddleback is very SBC alright; Slowly Becoming Catholic. As I mentioned above the SF website even has ”The Spiritual Growth Center” (SGC); If there was any doubt left that Saddleback Church, aligned with the largest allegedly ”Protestant” denomination in the country, is seriously off the rails having fallen deeply into the spurious spirituality of the Counter Reformation of apostate Roman Catholicism then the following ought to drive away the murky mystic fog from your eyes. The second book we find in the SGC is by Richard Foster’s spiritual twin and SBC minister Dallas Willard, whom SF says is:
one of today’s most brilliant Christian thinkers and author of The Divine Conspiracy (Christianity Today’s 1999 Book of the Year), presents a way of living that enables ordinary men and women to enjoy the fruit of the Christian life. He reveals how the key to self-transformation resides in the practice of the spiritual disciplines, and how their practice affirms human life to the fullest. The Spirit of the Disciplines is for everyone who strives to be a disciple of Jesus in thought and action as well as intention. (Online source)
You can read more concerning Willard in the AM piece Delusions of Dallas Willard so here I will simply point you to an excellent review and refutation of Willard’s book of begging the question by Bob DeWaay who is dead on target when he says:
The spiritual disciplines that are supposedly necessary for spiritual formation are not defined in the Bible. If they were, there would be a clear description of them and concrete list. But since spiritual disciplines vary, and have been invented by spiritual pioneers in church history, no one can be sure which ones are valid. Willard says, [W]e need not try to come up with a complete list of disciplines. Nor should we assume that our particular list will be right for others.” The practices are gleaned from various sources and the individual has to decide which ones work the best…
Willard offers a discussion of each of these, citing people like Thomas Merton, Thomas a Kempis, Henri Nouwen, and other mystics. We are told that practices like solitude and silence are going to change us, even though the Bible does not prescribe them… Willard had admitted that there is no clear list of the disciplines and that each person might choose different practices through pragmatic means… Had he been willing to submit to the authority of Scripture, Willard could have refuted these practices based on Colossians 2:21-23. (Online source)
But of course wise advice never stops disobedient children bent of having their own way now, does it. Our SCG also recommends Celebration of Discipline (CoD) by Richard Foster. As I stated previously, in my estimation, CoD is the textbook for a growing Cult of Richard Foster within evangelicalism as it continues its repudiation of Sola Scripture in favor of highly subjective experience; i.e. a spiritual “buzz.” And the truth is Dr. Gary Gilley was dead on target when he said of Foster’s magnum opus:
Celebration of Discipline alone, not even referencing Foster’s other writings and teachings and ministries, is a virtual encyclopedia of theological error. We would be hard pressed to find in one so-called evangelical volume such a composite of false teaching. These include faulty views on the subjective leading of God (pp. 10, 16-17, 18, 50, 95, 98, 108-109, 128, 139-140, 149-150, 162, 167, 182); approval of New Age teachers (see Thomas Merton below); occultic use of imagination (pp. 25-26, 40-43, 163, 198); open theism (p. 35); misunderstanding of the will of God in prayer (p. 37); promotion of visions, revelations and charismatic gifts (pp. 108, 165, 168-169, 171, 193); endorsement of rosary and prayer wheel use (p. 64); misunderstanding of the Old Testament Law for today (pp. 82, 87); mystical journaling (p. 108); embracing pop-psychology (pp. 113-120); promoting Roman Catholic practices such as use of “spiritual directors,” confession and penance (pp. 146-150, 156, 185); and affirming of aberrant charismatic practices (pp. 158-174, 198). (Online source)
Finally, there’s the Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (SDH) by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun:
currently copastor, with her husband, Doug, of Redeemer Community in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She was formerly pastor of spiritual formation at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois. A trained spiritual director, she has taught courses at Wheaton College and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. (Online source)
Interesting that in violation of God’s Word Calhoun is allegedly a pastor but fortunate for Rick Warren that with the Idol of Autonomy in the SBC he and his church can basically do and recommend whatever they jolly well wish to. Right on the backcover Calhoun tells us this handbook of heresy features how to information on CCP and Lectio Divina. O yes, as I peruse my personal copy of SDH I’m told I can learn to “open myself to God” through the Examen of Counter Reformation figure Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the spiritual Gestapo Unit aka the Jesuits.
I’m also told I will learn the ways I can “reliquish the false self” through mantric meditation ala John Main that originated in pagan Eastern religions:
Go into silence, placing yourself in the presence of God with the words “Here I am.” As distractions come to mind, let them go by imagining they are boats floating down a river. Let the current take the distractions away. Don’t follow the distractions. Gently return to God repeating “Here I am.” Let the current of God’s Spirit carry you. What is this like for you? (110)
Big surprise; one of the “Resources on Silence” Calhoun recommends is another book on CCP by Ruth Haley Barton. Actually the list of “Pastor” Calhoun’s acknowledgements is a veritable who’s who of spurious spirituality including Ignatius of Loyola, Willard, Foster, Phyllis Tickle, Richard Rohr, Teresa of Avila “and many more.” Calhoun then informs us that, “Their ideas, voices and examples have shaped my own words and experiences of the disciplines” (10). A sad roll call indeed.
And the evangelical drift right back into the spiritual bondage which brought the Protestant Reformation to begin with continues its accelerating into apostasy.
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Things have gone from bad to worse for Todd Bentley, ring leader of the so-called “Lakeland Revival / Florida Outpouring”. The Board of Directors for Fresh Fire Ministries has issued another statement regarding Bentley and this time they claim that nature of the current relationship that he has with his mistress is “adultery”.
According to Fresh Fire Ministries:
It also needs to be clarified that Shonnah (Bentley’s Wife) has in no way initiated this divorce and has no present intention to do so at any time in the future. She is understandably hurt by Todd’s infidelity, but is not asking or pressing for a divorce. The legal separation from Shonnah was initiated completely by Todd and he has not seen her or the children since the last week in July. To our knowledge, Todd’s relationship with the female staff-member, who was a former intern and also, at his initiative, a live-in nanny in his house for over a year, is still ongoing. We believe that there are currently no biblical grounds for Todd to leave his wife and children. While it has been maintained that no physical contact happened between Todd and the former female intern until after he filed for legal separation from Shonnah, in the Boards’ eyes, the nature of the present relationship between Todd and his former staff member is that of adultery.
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By Joni Earekson Tada
Bureaucracies aren’t programmed to be compassionate. It’s not in the nature of the thing. Take my friend, David Bowie, in his big, bulky wheelchair. After he became a quadriplegic in a care accident and his wife left him, he moved into a cramped one-room apartment and learned to rely on three or four part-time attendants to get him up and put him to bed. Life’s not easy.
(click here to read this post)
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By Joni Earekson Tada
Bureaucracies aren’t programmed to be compassionate. It’s not in the nature of the thing. Take my friend, David Bowie, in his big, bulky wheelchair. After he became a quadriplegic in a care accident and his wife left him, he moved into a cramped one-room apartment and learned to rely on three or four part-time attendants to get him up and put him to bed. Life’s not easy.
(click here to read this post)
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This one takes the cake. Topeka Bible Church has decided to stop using the term “Christmas” for their annual light show and use the term “holiday” instead so as to draw unbelievers. Let’s just take Christ out of Christianity then to win and keep the unregenerate. Nice job, people. Have fun at the “holiday” light show.
P.S. Come to think of it, what would a “Christmas” light show be anyway? Whatever happened to the proclamation of the Gospel? Churches are sponsoring light shows to “reach” people. They are “reaching” people, all right, who are then reaching for the cotton candy and peanuts.
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Recently in Emergent Church Theologian Tony Jones and his Unrepentant Homosexual Christians here at Apprising Ministries we covered the story of the coming out of a very influential leader and theologian in the Emerging Church who declared his belief that unrepentant practicing homosexuals can be Christians. And even though I vigorously disagree with him I [...]
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Recently in Emergent Church Theologian Tony Jones and his Unrepentant Homosexual Christians here at Apprising Ministries we covered the story of the coming out of a very influential leader and theologian in the Emerging Church who declared his belief that unrepentant practicing homosexuals can be Christians. And even though I vigorously disagree with him I [...]
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Below is an article written this week by Topeka Bible Church’s Worship Arts Director, Bryan Nelson. So, Bryan, is this your own human reasoning or a Bible based technique?
HERE is the article…
Yes, I did it. And I did it on purpose. And I’m glad I did it. I thought about it long and hard, but I took Christ out of Christmas. Allow me to explain.
Our church is putting together an event that synchronizes lights on a 3-story building with live musicians in 11 different windows and it’s all broadcast via a low-power FM radio station. Last year was the first year, and there were 4,000+ people who came. It was great. Last year we called it the “Christmas Light Show.”
This year on the promotional information the word ‘Christmas’ is substituted by the word ‘Holiday.’ Why did I do that? Because I really enjoy offending Christians. Seriously, it’s because of speaking the language of our target audience. Our target crowd are those who don’t celebration Christmas or fully embrace the Christmas story. These are people who don’t typically attend to church, want to go to a Christmas Eve service, or maybe don’t believe or know the biblical Christmas story at all. That being the case, I’ve thought hard about what we call this event to connect with this crowd.
Let’s say I recieved an invitation to a Hanukkah Light Show by a friend. And let’s say I also recieved an invitation to a Holiday Light Show by another friend. If they were held at the same time, which would I attend? Well, if I was selecting simply on the title – the Holiday Light Show. Why? I don’t know much about Hanukkah. What’s the story behind Hanukkah? I think it’s for Jewish people, but am I allowed to go? Are they gonna do something freaky that I’m not going to understand? Do I want my kids to ask me a bizzillion questions about the manaora and what are the caps for? Maybe. Maybe not. Frankly, I would tend to steer clear because it’s the unknown-ness of Hanukkah. The word Holiday tends to resonate with the general public. They know what the word holiday means. It’s universal.
Let me be clear on two reasons that I didn’t substitute the word. First, substituting the word ‘Christmas’ was NOT an attempt to avoid offending people with the truth. The light show at TBC has the potential to offend some with the truth of the biblical story of Christmas. I understand that – am I’m OK with that. Why? Because I believe it’s the truth – and the greatest story ever told.
Secondly, substituting the word ‘Christmas’ is not an attempt to take Christ out of Christmas, but to put Christ into people’s holiday. On the contrary, the purpose of the light show is to attract those that don’t know about Christ in an attempt to INJECT Christ INTO their Christmas (or their holiday season as they call it). If you come in your vehicle and listen to the narration, Christ is the centerpiece. He will always be the centerpiece. But when we are attempting to connect with a crowd that doesn’t know Christ is the centerpiece to begin with – we gotta speak their language so they understand.
I wonder if the angels said to God – “No, no, no…You can’t become like one of them…You can’t go in the form of a human baby!” I can almost hear God’s reply, “Yes I do. I need to become like them of them so they can understand my purpose for coming.” God not only used a language we would understand, He did it to INJECT Himself into this world!
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Todd Friel discusses emergent confusion on the last ten minutes or so of his program (an episode from last November). If you thought Todd was all wet then, present happenings in emerging circles have vindicated his opinions.
Note: the research Todd used in the last 10 minutes of his program was given him by a CRN contributor:)
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“Thou, Lord, bruisest me, but I am abundantly satisfied, since it is from Thy hand.”
- John Calvin
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Todd Friel discusses emergent confusion on the last ten minutes or so of his program (an episode from last November). If you thought Todd was all wet then, present happenings in emerging circles have vindicated his opinions.
Note: the research Todd used in the last 10 minutes of his program was given him by a CRN contributor:)
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Ok, this isn’t really a game show per say ala “Name that Tune!”, but here’s the deal. After much consideration, I’ve decided to start a podcast. I’m going to address different issues on there with guests including Moral Government/Open Theism theology, “Is the Emergent Church a Cult?”, Reformed Theology, etc. I thought it would be a great addition to the Blogosphere© to have an audio show that is addressing certain aspects of theology that might not get much discussion otherwise. I’ll be addressing certain issues that do get some recognition, too, though. For each of these, I’ll have different guests. One of my first guests will be Pastor Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries. I have several others already lined up as well.
It seems that everything is now in place for it to happen, but there’s one thing I’m lacking…
…A NAME!
That’s where you come in. For the next 7 days, I’ll leave this post up and use the comment section to hear from you suggestions on what a good name for it would be. If I decide to go with yours, I’m going to send you Michael Horton’s new DVD Christless Christianity free of charge. You won’t even have to pay shipping. The more original, the better. I believe I must say first, though, that Susan Yenser has already suggested “Rightly Divided”. I like it, but I want to hear from you. What’s your suggestion? Just leave it in the comment section, and, if I pick yours, I’ll contact you for mailing information. The end date is Saturday, Dec. 6 at 11:59pm. Now…
…you have 7 days…
Name… That… PODCAST!
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Recently in Emergent Church Theologian Tony Jones and his Unrepentant Homosexual Christians here at Apprising Ministries we covered the story of the coming out of a very influential leader and theologian in the Emerging Church who declared his belief that unrepentant practicing homosexuals can be Christians. And even though I vigorously disagree with him I do commend Tony Jones for caring enough, and being man enough, to clearly state what he believes on this issue.
Well, in this clip below from Way of the Master Radio Todd Friel discusses the hermeneutics used by Rob Bell, essentially the Elvis of the Emergent rebellion against Sola Scriptura, and predicts it won’t be long before the answer will be yes to the question asked here at AM: Will Rob Bell Now Follow Tony Jones Out of the Closet? Earlier we showed you in Saddleback Church Pastors Using Rob Bell Teachings that Bell has indeed gained a strong foothold within youth groups of mainstream evangelical churches like Saddleback.
Men and women, don’t you think it’s well past time conservative Christians begin to demand that Rob Bell state, publicly and clearly, where he stands on this criticial issue? And do you not have a right to be told what your kids are being taught about homosexuality from one of the most popular names in the visible church? Perhaps the time is now to begin writing Mars Hill Bible Church to ask its teaching pastor Rob Bell where exactly it is he stands as to whether an unrepentant practicing homosexual can be a Christian.
I also know that if I was one who believed God fully accepted me as a Christ-follower in my homosexual lifestyle it would sure mean an awful lot to have men like Bell and his friend Doug Pagitt, who is also Tony Jones’ pastor, to go on the record in support. So, will Rob and Doug now also finally follow suit and stand up and be counted; or instead, will their seemingly caring posture be just that, a posture…
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Christian Research Network has a video of someone you may recognize.
