Hot off the Press

This is hot off the press from my dear brother in the Lord -Bud Press

Source: Media Matters For America, Thursday, May 18, 2006, http://mediamatters.org/items/200605180016. This article includes a video clip of Pat Robertson and Lee Webb. See also the CNN.com article, "2006 hurricane season bows out quietly," which states in part that, "Defying predictions, the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season ended with a whimper rather than a bang on Thursday, without a single hurricane hitting U.S. shores" ( http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/11/30/hurricanes/index.html ).

"It is obvious that Pat Robertson did not hear from the Lord. Since he used his disclaimer- prophecy to solicit donations, one wonders if he would be willing to give a refund to those who contributed money? Thanks to Barry Bowen for the heads-up. Bold print is theirs]

Robertson: "[I]f I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms"

Summary: On May 17, Pat Robertson once again warned 700 Club viewers of "vicious hurricanes" and a possible tsunami after saying on May 8: "I go away at the end of each year to pray, and if I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms."
On May 17, 700 Club host Pat Robertson once again warned viewers of "vicious hurricanes" and a possible tsunami after announcing on May 8: "I go away at the end of each year to pray, and if I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms." On the May 17 edition of the Christian Broadcasting Network show, Robertson said, "Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have felt strongly that the coasts are going to be lashed by vicious hurricanes this year. Also, there may well be something as bad as a tsunami up in the Pacific Northwest." Robertson then told viewers that "we're positioning supplies in California. We've got supplies positioned in Florida. We'll have others, and, of course, we have a major presence in the Gulf right now." He added, "[W]hen you contribute $20 a month to The 700 Club, you are saying, 'I care about people. I care about my neighbors, I care about my friends, I care about those who are suffering.' "

Robertson's comments were documented by the Associated Press in a May 17 article.

From the May 8 edition of the Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club:
LEE WEBB (anchor): Scientists warn that a Katrina-size hurricane would have a devastating impact on south Florida. Hurricane season, of course, begins June 1, and storm simulations from the National Hurricane Center suggest south Florida's location would make it hard to weather a monstrous storm. That's according to Knight Ridder newspapers. A Katrina-like storm could surge the deep swamps along the coastline through Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and beyond. Scientists also warn such a hurricane would shut off power for months in that region, and the winds could crush roofs, office buildings, and kill residents who refuse to evacuate high-rise condominiums. Hate to hear that. I was born and raised in that area, Pat, and I'm afraid they're right. The population there has grown dramatically in the last decade alone.

ROBERTSON: It has. And, you know, I go away at the end of each year to pray, and if I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms. I think we're going to see some really serious storms. And this warning from the storm center, one of the experts in Miami is just one of them. They're talking about storms up the East Coast, and there is a very real possibility of a tsunami or serious flooding and storming in the West Coast, as well. I am sure those in New Orleans are praying that such a thing has happened to them won't happen again. But one more hard hit without those levees being set up, and New Orleans may be part of history.

From the May 17 edition of The 700 Club:
ROBERTSON: Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have felt strongly that the coasts are going to be lashed by vicious hurricanes this year. Also, there may well be something as bad as a tsunami up in the Pacific Northwest. Certainly the eastern -- or, excuse me, the Pacific plates are -- looks like they're tearing apart. There are all kinds of evidences of earthquakes, volcanoes, et cetera, going on in the Pacific. Now, if that comes our way, it's going to be devastating. So we're positioning supplies in California. We've got supplies positioned in Florida. We'll have others, and, of course, we have a major presence in the Gulf right now. We're there because we feel the Lord wants us to help people. We feel it's our duty to help the poor and the needy. And so when you contribute $20 a month to The 700 Club, you are saying, "I care about people. I care about my neighbors, I care about my friends, I care about those who are suffering." We're sending out -- we have 60 or 70 trailers right now, which is a small fleet, but we've got a number. And we're delivering 2 million pounds of food into the inner cities of America every single week. So we're looking after the poor. And some of that fleet could either be expanded or diverted so that when we get into the Gulf area or someplace else that's hurt -- we have been in Florida helping those people that last round of hurricanes. We helped those -- major, major relief effort in the Gulf. Well, that's what you do when you join The 700 Club. And we're just asking people to help, to say, "Help us to help those less fortunate."
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Warren Think's He's Got the Whole World in "his" Hands

When ministers get too big for their spiritual britches, as Rick Warren has done, they begin to do bizarre things. Warren now promotes his Purpose Driven series more than he does the Bible. He touts Syria as being user friendly to Christian churches. Ask some defecting Iraq citizens that question now, Rick? What Warren has done is not unique because so many ministries are now doing it, but he has catered to a soft gospel being flanked side by side with entertainment. From hula to special effects, Warren's church will stop at literally nothing to coax unbelievers in and then feed them on an inoffensive gospel message.

He is also ready, willing, and able to appear with people like Barak Obama who favors abortion. He has become the minister of compromise. He doesn't care who he shares a stage with and the best thing for him to do is stay on that stage as he rides out of town into the sunset. The sad thing is that he'll always come back.

In truth he is a very dangerous pastor because of how he compromises the gospel to justify his behavior. He is a man favoring unity over that of truth. Even his planned trip to an enemy of the United States, North Korea, would be propoganda ridden for that country. It would also expose the Christians in that country to torture after he left.

There are two sides to Warren. In private interviews he sounds like a biblical Christian but then he goes off on one of his many tangents and his works betray his words. He has become Mr. Ecumenical and he seems proud of it. What he really needs is a Purpose Driven plan to abandon that dubious work and replace it with sound Bible study and expository preaching. Pray for that to happen!

But they have a good doctrinal statement

I get this a lot. People who complain when I expose the false teachings of guys like Rick Warren and Saddleback they many times state "But they have a solid doctrinal statement of beliefs etc.."
Here is a great article by my friend and brother in the Lord- Sandy Simpson.

But they have a good doctrinal statement!"
by Sandy Simpson, 2/26/05
Many "Christians", in attempting to defend their favorite heretical teacher, use the argument "But they have a good doctrinal statement." This would seem to be a strong defense for any organization or individual teacher. The fact that their doctrinal statement is, by in large, based on the core doctrines of the Faith should put the matter to rest as to the biblical nature of their ministry. Let's examine what constitutes a biblical statement of Faith. Five of the most important core doctrines of Christianity are:
1. Theology - The Trinity: God is one "What" and three "Whos" with each "Who" possessing all the attributes of Deity and personality. 2. Christology - The Person of Jesus Christ: Jesus is 100% God and 100% man for all eternity. 3. Eschatology - The Second Coming: Jesus Christ is coming bodily to earth to rule and judge. 4. Soteriology - Salvation: It is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. 5. Bibliology - The Scripture: It is entirely inerrant and sufficient for all Christian life.
Christians must also subscribe to the teaching of the Word of God in issues concerning the theological areas of Ecclesiology (Church), Anthropology (Man), Pneumatology (Holy Spirit), Hamartiology (Sin) and Satanology/Demonology (Our Adversary the Devil). But the above are five have been recognized by Christians from the first century as the most important "essentials" according to the teaching of the sixty six books of the Bible.
The Problem
As long as doctrinal statements proclaim the biblical facts as stated above, they can be regarded as orthodox biblical doctrinal position papers. But there is more to a ministry or belief system than a doctrinal statement. That statement must be upheld by both the teachings and the actions of those adhering to them.
Let me explain. If a person or organization is consistently teaching ideas that undermine or destroy any ONE of the core doctrines of the Faith, it doesn't matter what their doctrinal statement says. If a person or organization is doing anything that undermines or destroys any ONE of the core doctrines of the Faith, it doesn't matter what their doctrinal statement says. The bottom line is that if they are not teaching and doing what is in line with what they say they believe, their doctrinal statement is made null and void.
But you say: "How can a person teach something consistently that undermines or destroys a core doctrine they claim to believe?" Example: If a person claims to believe in the sovereignty of the Triune God yet teaches that we can declare anything with our mouths and God will have to rush to fulfill it ... that person is teaching a concept that denies the sovereignty of God, the Triune nature of God.
But you say: "How can a person do something that undermines what they claim to believe in a doctrinal statement?" Example: If people claim to believe in the biblical description of the Trinity yet do slain in the Spirit, pressing the Holy Spirit into people's foreheads, throwing Him across rooms, by virtue of their will (the transferable impartation), they are denying both the Deity and personality of the Holy Spirit. They deny the Deity by claiming they can pass the Holy Spirit to another by virtue of a choice of will they make when laying on of hands, and they deny the personality of the Holy Spirit by demonstrating Him as an "it", a pantheistic imminent "force" instead of the Third Person of the Triune God.
Let me give an admittedly somewhat flawed analogy that can only be taken so far before it breaks down. But I believe that it will illustrate this problem adequately so that you can better understand what it means to have a doctrinal statement that you do not teach and promote by actions.
Let's say there are two egg salesmen. Both subscribe to the facts about eggs as follows:
(1) There are three main parts of an egg that make up the whole egg, namely the shell, the white and the yolk. (2) The egg yolk contains the main source of the egg's vitamins and minerals. (3) You can hard boil an egg on a medium boil in about 10 minutes. (4) Eggs contain all the nine essential amino acids making them a complete protein food. (5) Eggs contain 13 vitamins (except vitamin C) and are one of the few food that naturally contain vitamin D.
The first egg salesman sticks to the facts when selling his eggs, and any other facts he gets come from reliable source materials. The second egg salesman states on his web site the correct facts about eggs, but when he is selling eggs to customers he adds the following facts:
(1) Eggs are all yolk. (2) The the egg white is really the source of vitamins and minerals so we should be paying more attention to the white than to the yolk. (3) No one knows the time it takes to boil an egg, so we should not worry about the end but focus on other things. (4) Eggs contain all the amino acids we need, but there are other amino acids not listed that you also need to have a complete diet. (5) There are many more amino acids that you cannot get from eggs and need from other sources, especially from him.
In addition to the above, in obvious opposition to egg facts the second salesman says he subscribes to, he adds the following:
--When you have an egg you need to declare that the egg has all the vitamins you need for it to meet your "felt needs" of health and wealth. --Eggs make you fall down backwards laughing, screaming, barking, and vomiting. This is all the work of the the egg. --There is a time coming when the whole earth everyone will eat eggs, but it doesn't matter if they believe they are eating eggs or not. --If you say you are eating eggs but really eating maggots, you are simply making a "mistake" and it is only human to make mistakes. --If we all just get together and eat eggs we will cause everyone else to eat eggs and bind all the maggots. --Eggs cause people to come together in ecumenical unity, which is the highest purpose of eggs. --Eggs will give you visions, dreams and prophetic insight. Just go with the flow and realize that every dream is a true dream that comes from the egg. --The more people you get to eat eggs together, they more success you will have.
Analysis
Let's take the first five point by point.
(1) There are three main parts of an egg that make up the whole egg, namely the shell, the white and the yolk.
The facts are that there are three main parts to an egg. We will use this to represent the doctrine of the Trinity, though it is not a perfect analogy. Let's say the protective shell is the Father, the white is the Holy Spirit, and the yolk, the center, is Jesus Christ. All are separate parts that make up One egg. But notice what the second salesman adds:
(1) Eggs are all yolk.
So even though the second salesman says he subscribes to the Trinity, he is actually teaching Jesus Only Oneness. I have seen many Oneness doctrinal statements that were pretty close to the truth, but when you question them or listen to their teachings you find out they are teaching Jesus Only. This teaching denies the FACTS about eggs.
The second egg fact is this:
(2) The egg yolk contains the main source of the egg's vitamins and minerals.
This could be a picture of the fact that the main focus of the Bible, and especially of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, is on Jesus Christ. He is the centerpoint, the central focus of the Bible, the fulfillment of all biblical prophecy. He is also to be the center of our Christian lives for through Him we have salvation and everything we need to come to maturity in Christ. But notice the emphasis of the second salesman:
(2) The egg white is really the source of vitamins and minerals so we should be paying more attention to the white than to the yolk.
The white, representing the Holy Spirit, becomes the central focus. This is what we see in many churches that claim to be focused on Jesus Christ. But the Holy Spirit Himself has as His primary work to focus our entire attention on Jesus Christ (John 15:26; 16:13-14) . So this is a denial of the FACTS about egg yolks.
The third egg fact is:
(3) You can hard boil an egg on a medium boil in about 10 minutes.
Let's use this to illustrate the return of Christ. Obviously hard boiling an egg depends on its size, but generally we can be aware of the "signs" of a hard boiled egg and know when it is done. The rapture of the Church cannot be known as to time and date (Matt. 25:13), but we know that it will be soon because of the signs of the times (Matt. 16:3; 24:37), and because we know He will return to earth bodily to rule and judge. But the second salesman adds this:
(3) No one knows the time it takes to boil and egg, so we should not worry about the end but focus on other things.
Postmillenialists, Preterists and Dominionists have taken away the expectation of a rapture of Christ at any time and have substituted it with an agenda for the Church to rise up and take leadership over the governments of the world in order to bring the return of Christ ushering in the new heavens and new earth immediately. But this is not the agenda of the Church, for our agenda is to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20), not to take over systems of government, or to even take control over the demonic realm. This second salesman has added to the FACTS about boiling eggs.
The fourth egg fact states:
(4) Eggs contain all the nine essential amino acids making them a complete protein food.
Salvation that we have been afforded through the substitutionary atonement of Christ has given us everything we need to be saved. There is no essential salvation in any other person or any other thing. Yet the second salesman adds:
(4) Eggs contain all the amino acids we need, but there are other amino acids not listed that you also need to have a complete diet.
Works are added to salvation such as water baptism, a subsequent Spirit baptism apart from salvation, slain in the spirit, legalistic clothing and lifestyle requirements, speaking in tongues, modern foundational apostolic heavy shepherding authority, false prophecy, etc. Yet the egg facts are that they contain ALL essential amino acids and are a complete protein food. The second salesman has added to the FACTS about eggs.
Lastly,
(5) Eggs contain 13 vitamins (except vitamin C) and are one of the few food that naturally contain vitamin D.
The Scriptures contain all that we need to grow to maturity in Christ. They contain the words of the prophets, Jesus Christ and the Apostles as they were guided by the Holy Spirit. These are all contingent on the fact of a personal relationship with Christ. But the second salesman adds this:
(5) There are many more amino acids that you cannot get from eggs and need from other sources, especially from him.
The other sources added to the absolute authority of Scripture by false teachers are things like apostolic edicts, false prophetic prophecy and visions, intuitions, signs and portents, books and materials by false teachers. Yet this takes away from the absolute authority of the Word of God. The second salesman has added to the FACTS about eggs again.
Further adding to the confusing of the essentials of the Faith in orthodox doctrinal statements, the second salesman adds MORE:
--When you have an egg you need to declare that the egg has all the vitamins you need for it to meet your "felt needs" of health and wealth. (Word-Faith)
--Eggs make you fall down backwards laughing, screaming, barking, and vomiting. This is all the work of the the egg. (Slain in the spirit falsely attributed to the Holy Spirit.)
--There is a time coming when the whole earth everyone will eat eggs, but it doesn't matter if they believe they are eating eggs or not. (Universalism)
--If you say you are eating eggs but really eating maggots, you are simply making a "mistake" and it is only human to make mistakes. (Degradation of the concept of sin in favor of "mistakes". But sin is a giving over to evil at the prompting of the evil one.)
--If we all just get together and eat eggs we will cause everyone else to eat eggs and bind all the maggots. (False spiritual warfare techniques)
--Eggs cause people to come together in ecumenical unity, which is the highest purpose of eggs. (Unity for unity's sake instead of unity in the Faith.)
--Eggs will give you visions, dreams and prophetic insight. Just go with the flow and realize that every dream is a true dream that comes from the egg. (No one can be deceived, stop judging, don't use discernment, believe everything you hear in a Christian context.)
--The more people you get to eat eggs together, the more success you will have. (Church growth false ideas.)
I could go on and on ...
Conclusion
Those who would buy an egg from the second egg salesman should have their heads examined, don't you think? Their expectations of what they are getting will be dashed when the reality hits home. Yet millions of Christians are willing to "buy" Christianity from people who claim to subscribe to the FACTS about the Lord, yet deny them by what they teach and do.
Why do people have discernment about the FACT of eggs, yet apparently so few have discernment about the FACTS of the Bible?

More observations of Rick Warren

Looking Behind The 'Purpose Driven' Sheep’s ClothingBy Christopher G. Adamo, 12/28/2006 2:27:12 PM
The facade is beginning to peel back from the so-called ministry of Southern California Pastor Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Church” and “The Purpose Driven Life.” Unfortunately, many among his ample flock have far too much invested in him, both emotionally and otherwise, to admit their mistakes and cut their losses.
Moreover, he certainly faces no possibility of in-depth scrutiny from the “mainstream media,” as his brand of “Christianity” poses little or no threat to their liberal social agenda. Yet to the degree that anyone at all questions Warren as anything less than authentic, his response is thoroughly telling as to his true character, as well as the nature of his “ministry.”
Joseph Farah, editor in chief of the premiere Internet news site, “World Net Daily,” opened a can of worms by calling Warren to account over his fawning praise of the terrorist stronghold of Syria. While there, Warren lauded the brutish dictatorship as “peaceful,” claiming that the Islamist government does not officially sanction “extremism of any kind.”
When confronted by Farah, an American of middle-eastern decent who knows too well the history of horror and tragedy faced by persecuted Christians in that region of the world, Warren immediately denied ever making such statements.
Subsequently, Farah offered as evidence a “YouTube” video from Saddleback Church, where Warren is pastor, inarguably proving Farah’s statement. So Warren’s Church simply pulled the video from circulation and continued the denial, being unaware that a copy of the video file had been downloaded and is still in circulation. Warren’s follow up to this inconvenient circumstance is perhaps most telling of all.
In a concurrent set of moves, Warren sent a seemingly conciliatory e-mail to Farah, while distributing another to his “flock,” in which he characterized Farah’s pursuit of the incident as nothing less than “doing Satan’s job for him.” Throughout this sorry episode, Farah’s only error has been to suggest that Warren’s disturbing behavior represents some new departure from consistency.
In fact, Warren is actually being entirely consistent. Whether his audience might be Farah himself, Syrian Despot Bashar Assad, or the Saddleback congregation, Warren tells each exactly what he believes they want to hear. This pattern is the essence of what Warren is, and what has made him so “successful” from a worldly perspective.
For those among his congregation who sincerely want to know the truth, the evidence is ample. Unfortunately, it always has been available, and any present “confusion” merely results from past decisions to ignore that evidence.
For example, his letter to the congregation decrying the “attack” and making his defense by invoking Scripture is barely four paragraphs long. Yet in those four paragraphs, he employs three different “translations” of the Bible. Why, it must be asked, does he not trust any single translation to convey God’s message to humanity?
Could it be that he has his own message and agenda to advance, and that he has found it very convenient to utilize different wordings of different passages, not because they better convey God’s purpose, but rather his own? It would be better to ask, could his motivation possibly be anything else?
As Farah has refused to let this indefensible situation simply drop, Warren has responded by taking it to another realm, making personal attacks against Farah in an interview with the magazine, “Christianity Today.” But once again, by so doing Warren succeeds in revealing much more about himself than about his adversary.
Warren, who has not to date been known as any sort of standard bearer for Christian principle in the political arena, decries Farah (whose societal and moral views fall unambiguously on the right) and his ideological allies as part of a wrongful “political” encroachment on the faith.
In contrast, Warren’s forays into the political realm prove, not surprisingly, to be decidedly leftist. At a recent conference on the African AIDS epidemic, Warren invited the very liberal Senator Barak Obama (D.-IL) as a keynote speaker. He justified the inclusion of Obama, who avidly supports abortion and same-sex “marriage,” on the grounds that Obama offered a worldly solution to ostensibly curb the spread of the disease through condom usage.
The morally ambiguous message conveyed by the advocacy of condoms, along with their inherent unreliability, make them nothing less than iconic to the abortion industry, which fully understands how much new business they generate. In the face of such pragmatism, one has to wonder what will be next. Perhaps Warren’s Church will sponsor a “designated drivers ministry” at every bar in its locale.
Appalling though Obama’s inclusion in the conference may be, it is nonetheless entirely consistent with Warren’s behavior from the beginning. Leading a megachurch in the culturally disintegrating landscape of Southern California, Warren certainly knows that his prospects of maximizing the “flock” will be greatly enhanced as long as he shows proper deference to the real religion of the area, “political correctness.”
In this, his Christian populism movement has proven to be far more palatable to the God-hating secularists of the surrounding communities than such stodgy, old-fashioned, and “intolerant” notions as “Thou Shalt Not.” And the Warren influence has been predictable wherever it can be found.
If other Churches that abide in the Warren philosophy, such as Chicago’s gargantuan “Willow Creek,” were to truly uphold Christian values among their enormous congregations, they would certainly be a constant “thorn in the side” of their surrounding populace, acculturated into the modernism as those communities certainly are. Yet an amazing degree of compatibility and congeniality exists between the Warren Church model and the social structures of Chicago and Southern California.
The tradeoff between true Christian principle and acceptability to the locals is apparently worth the spiritual sacrifice it entails, with expanding parking lots, increasingly lavish facilities, and of course, fuller collection plates bearing witness. Meanwhile, such Churches offer ever less of a worthwhile and much needed alternative to the ailing world around them.
Ultimately, Warren gives conformist Christians, wearied from their ongoing battle with a world that is increasingly hostile to true Christian faith, an apparent “out” by offering a version that the modern world can find more acceptable while remaining in its present spiritual darkness.
Many among Warren’s vast following have made the mistake, in light of his “purpose driven” ministering, of presuming, at the heart of the movement, a Christ-driven purpose. Yet as Warren’s real character continues to be revealed, it is becoming apparent that members of that following are presuming too much.

Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer and staff writer for the New Media Alliance. He lives in southeastern Wyoming with his wife and sons. He has been active in local and state politics for many years.
© 2006 Hawaii Reporter, Inc.

Did God really say that?

One of the first red flags I got about Rick Warrenwas when I looked at the back of PDL to take a look at sources and why Rick used so many translations.
On page 325 we find Rick saying "Second and even more important, is the fact that we often miss the full impact of familiar Bible verses, not because of poor translating, but simply because they have become so familar! We think we know what a verse says because we have read it or heard it so many times. Then we find it quoted in a book, we skim over it and miss the full meaning." end quote
This is Rick Warren trying to deceive us on purpose quoting the line satan used on Eve in the Garden of Eden "Did God really say that?
The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth so dont let this liar fool you into thinking you dont understand a verse because you have read it many time.
The burden to lead into all truth is on the Holy Spirit not Rick Warren.
Rick Warren either does not know the truth.
or refuses to listen to the truth.

Here is a excert from a very good article from Moriel Ministries on Ricks style of hermeneutics.

YAKITY YAK, DONT TALK BACK
The Coasters (1958) Rick Warren (2006)
Sheep are led, not driven. Rick Warrens followers however call those unwilling to be driven Resisters. His use of Jungian psychological profiling and mishandling of scripture are not to be challenged or resisted Dont Talk Back.
That Warrens unbiblical ideas rooted in seeker sensitivity (a euphemism for consumer psychology and not warning against sin or preaching repentance), like those of Bill Hybels, Robert Schuller, and C. Peter Wagner produce more transfer growth and false conversions than actual salvations and have no model for biblical discipleship is irrelevant Dont Talk Back! But the core issue is Warren and The Bible.
Biblically exegesis is drawing out of Gods Word what The Holy Spirit inspired to be into it. Eisegesis is reading into Gods Word things not in it. The worst form of this is of course Gnosticism. But it is not the only form. Essentially, a text out of context in isolation from its co-text is always a pretext. This perversion of Gods Words out of context date back to Satans spiritual seduction of Eve, Rabshekas distortion of Isaiah 30 in Isaiah 36, and Satans temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4.
Others under demonic inspiration have gone further. The ancient Samaritans changed the text of the Torah to make Mt. Gerezim not Mt. Zion the true Temple Mount. The Jehovahs Witness cult invented a future imperfect in the Greek language and inserted a non existing indefinite article into the text of John 1 The Word was a God. Rodney Howard Brown on his clowning in tongues video with Kenneth Copeland changed the word manto mind in 1 Corinthians 2: 14 trying to circumvent the fact that Gods Word twice defines self control (ekreitei) as the fruit of The Spirit, not the lack of it.
Rick Warren however, has gone beyond all of them with his hermeneutics (biblical interpretation). His approach only begins with something academics call conscienceicization; an approach to the bible where instead of interpreting a situation in light of scripture you reinterpret scripture in light of the situation. It was invented by left wing Roman Catholic liberation theologians such as Sobrino and Bonino in the 1960s.
Warren pursues this with a device common among those who pervert the Word of God called Proof Texting where you already by presupposition have your conclusions and Then hunt for verses or passages to prove your point, which often means distorting the texts out of context to create a pretext, and in Warrens case usually means finding a paraphrased bible like The Message to quote from because any priority of the original languages from a literalist translation undermines your case. This dangerous game however is not wholly unique to Rick Warren, although Warren has certainly honed it to a very fine art. It is troubling that so few pastors can see or are even willing to see what he is doing.
What is unique to Warren however is his HIGHLIGHT & DELETE , CUT & PASTE butchering of Gods Word. The hermeneutics of Brian Maclaren and Peter Tsukahira are Gnostic. The unbelievable hermeneutic of Rick Warren do not have a proper term as yet, so we simply describe it by its action Cut & Paste.
In The Olivet Discourse in Matthew 23 & 24 Jesus was asked what will the signs of His coming and the end of the age be (Matthew 24:3). He gave an extended discourse followed by illustrative parables plainly warning us to be alert for the listed signs (Matthew 24: 42) and telling us to preach The Gospel of The Kingdom (using end time prophecy about His coming soon coming when we witness these signs) as an evangelistic strategy (Matthew 24:14). This is reiterated in the synoptic accounts of Mark 13 and Luke 21 where the return of The Jews to Jerusalem is predicted by Jesus.
Recurrently Jesus warns of deception perpetrated against the elect. Jesus commands us WATCH!
Instead of doing as Jesus commands us however, Rick Warren teaches that end time prophecy is a diversion. Forget God Word we have Ricks word.
What is most staggering however is the atrocious manner in which he propagates this lie.
It is Satan who does not want the church to be ready for the return of Christ, or to recognize the signs of His coming, or to evangelize in an effective way in the last days, so as Paul the Apostle explains, Satan as usual, always finds one who comes in the character of Lucifer as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Today this man is Rick Warren, an adulterator of The Word of God extraordinaire, of such a magnitude the likes of which the Christian church has very rarely seen it in its post Reformation history.
Let us view how Warren argues from scripture that eschatology is a diversion.
On postulating this argument, Warren cites the text of Acts 1: 6-7 stating that when Jesus was asked about His coming He said It is not for you to know the times and seasons the Father has fixed, but you shall be my witnesses.
In fact in verse 6, the Apostles asked Jesus when He would restore the kingdom to Israel fulfilling the prophecies of Davidic restoration in keeping Gods Promise to King David.
In short, the were asking Jesus about the Millennial Reign, not about the parousia itself, that is His return. That question was again asked in Matthew 24:3, when He warned us what to look out for in His imperative to be vigilant of those signs of His return that Warren in effect says to ignore as a diversion. This is serious, and seriously wicked.
What Rick Warren actually does is highlight and delete verse 6 of Acts 1 and cut and paste verse 3 of Matthew 24 in its place! He rearranged the order of verses from one book to another so instead of doing what Jesus said, we will not do as He commanded and be caught off guard regarding His return. Warren actually gives the answer to the another question by deleting the question and pasting in another before Jesus answer.
Not even a Jehovahs Witness has done anything as renegade and wicked as this. I know of no other man who has so adulterated the Word of God in this way or to this degree.
Yet tens of thousands of pastors instead of shepherding their sheep feed them to a wolf, how be it a wolf in sheeps clothing.
Rick Joyner may call the rapture a lie of Satan, and Gerald Coates may deny the rapture as a fantasy and a myth. Rick Warren may call it a diversion. God however in Daniel 12:1 calls it a rescue from the wrath to come. Let us not be diverted with Purpose Driven delusion, or deluded with the Gnosticism of those twisting Gods Word
JESUS IS INDEED COMING SOON

More comments on Rick Warrens service on Fox News

I will be posting comments on Ricks services on Fox News as I find them from others in disernement ministries.
These comments are from Ray and Tracye Gano at Prophezine-

I do not know if you got a chance to watch Rick Warren last night on Fox News. It was pretty sad. Thing that was really sad is that he said just enough “Christ-o-babble” aka Christ-speak that to the undiscerning ear it sounded good. He left the people with a watered down, false gospel of false peace. It is not so much what he said; it is what he left out. He made God out to be your best buddy, and Jesus to be your fix it, go to guy. No mention of sin, just those pesky problems of independence, no blood of Christ to wash the sins away, just “a christ” that came to cure you of your selfishness and teach you how to have your best life now. It was really disheartening, because those who do not know the Lord were certainly not introduced to Him on the stage at Saddleback.

The Social Gospel 7.0

Another post from my brothers and sisters in the Lord at Herescope-


The Social Gospel 7.0
“I’m always willing to be a back channel for peace.”[Rick Warren, CNN, 12/15/06)
“International peace must become an aspiration, a religion, before it will become a reality.”[Samuel Z. Batten, The New World Order (1919)]
The CFR and the Social Gospel: Part 4
The concept of “peace” was re-defined so that it contained the added meaning of an international new world order by the architects of the United Nations, many of whom were leaders in the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). John Foster Dulles led the way in this effort, writing a concept paper entitled “The Problem of Peace in a Dynamic World” presented to the World Conference of Life and Work at Oxford in 1937.
According to historian and theologian Dr. Martin Erdmann in his landmark book Building the Kingdom of God on Earth (Wipf & Stock, 2005), Dulles foresaw the pivotal role that churches could play in creating a spiritual ethic of world peace. And the Oxford Conference would be a watershed event:
“…[T]he meeting which ensued marked the beginning of a remarkable collaboration in the ecumenical movement. [John Foster Dulles] aspired to capture the imagination of the Christian public with a grand ideal, transcending narrow-minded national self-interest, the ideal of a unified world society living in peace and justice. To educate the churches, and through them society at large, about international co-operation was seen… as the primary antidote of war.
“…Dulles idealized the Christian Church as an exemplary community which had demonstrated the ability to transcend the limitations of the nation state….” (p. 84-85
“…Dulles… stated that he looked to Church leaders in particular to guide the world into a peaceful future.” (p. 86)
“…[H]e challenged a new generation of pastors to guide their future congregations into the unfamiliar terrain of a new world order as the only sure hope of peace.” (p. 88) [emphases added]
These CFR leaders contrived to manipulate a new Christian ethic and era of “peace” by creating a new doctrinal ideal – that of building the kingdom of God on earth. This doctrine would serve as the foundation upon which international peace could be built.
Philip Kerr (Lord Lothian), one of the original Round Table Group (from which emanated the Council on Foreign Relations), also presented a paper at the Oxford Conference – “The Demonic Influence of National Sovereignty and the World of Nations” - which called for the creation of a world federation for peace. Dr. Erdmann observed:
“In the final section of his paper, Kerr outlined the specific role of the churches in facilitating the ‘federation of nations into a single world commonwealth’.… Christianity would provide humankind with a common loyalty, not to a political entity, but to God.… In conclusion, Kerr encouraged the Christian churches to build the Kingdom of God on earth.” (p. 111) [emphasis added]
40 Days of P.E.A.C.E.
The new Social Gospel of P.E.A.C.E. is set to go into high gear in the coming year. In an interview with CNN, “The Situation Room,” which aired on December 15, 2006, Rick Warren stated that he was a “back channel for peace.” The context of these remarks was international relations.
“MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as you said Rick Warren wrote ‘The Purpose-Driven Life,’ and his messages from that book are part of his ministry teachings around the globe. Some say Warren’s influence is not only growing, but changing the relationship between evangelicals and the right.…
“SNOW (voice over): Pastor Rick Warren’s latest mission brought him to Washington for the White House summit on malaria. Wiping out pandemic diseases has become one of the cornerstones of the lessons he preaches. Lessons that have made him one of the most influential pastors in America.
“E.J. DIONNE, THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: I think what you're seeing with Rick Warren is almost a new version, a 2006 version, of Billy Graham.
"SNOW: But unlike Graham, who's always seen in suits, Warren is often dressed in Hawaiian shirts ….
“He's taken his message around the globe, even traveling to controversial countries like Syria. This past summer he tried unsuccessfully to enter North Korea.
“PASTOR RICK WARREN, AUTHOR, 'THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE': I'm always happy to be a back channel for peace.” [emphasis added]
Rick Warren's Social Gospel of P.E.A.C.E. is elaborated on in a Christianity Today article, "Rick Warren to Share Meaning of Christmas with 800,000 US Troops Worldwide: Pastor Rick Warren of 'Purpose Driven' fame is to broadcast his Christmas message with 800,000 US troops stationed across 177 countries with the help of the Armed Services Television Network," by Maria Mackay. In this article, Rick Warren unveils a new rendition of an old Bible verse:
"Christmas is the celebration of an invasion when God came to earth 2,000 years ago, and the world has never been the same since," said Pastor Warren. "It is a time for celebration – 'don't be afraid for I bring you good news of great joy;' salvation – 'for unto you is born a Saviour;' and reconciliation – ‘peace on earth, good will toward men.'
“‘Christmas is also a time of coming together, and we need reconciliation in so many areas – in families, in communities and between nations,’ added Pastor Warren. ‘Many times when families get together over the holidays, there is a lot of brokenness, dysfunction, hurt and heartache. That's why this message of reconciliation, – peace with God, of God and with each other – is one that will ring true in a lot of hearts.’”
This is a new twist to the old Social Gospel message of “peace on earth.” In this new version is included the psychobabble element of “reconciliation” which is applied not only interpersonally but to the concept of international peace.
A generation ago in the evangelical churches a bad memory lingered of the old mainline demoninational churches and the Social Gospel. In fact, many evangelicals left these churches because the Bible was no longer being taught. But the Social Gospel of neo-evangelicalism today is an updated version. This new Social Gospel is more sophisticated. It includes more biblical-sounding terminology, a nod to evangelism (albeit an incomplete Gospel message), and a warm-fuzzy approach using the latest tricks of marketing and psycho-social methodologies. It sounds kinder/gentler -- more compassionate.
The new Social Gospel also includes all the elements of the old Social Gospel, many of which are mentioned in parts 1-3 of this series. And it particularly contains elements of dominionism the same old CFR-inspired idea that the church can build the Kingdom of God on earth.
This new/old Social Gospel concept of “peace” isn’t going to go away. In fact, the evangelical push for a new Social Gospel of peace is only beginning. In an article posted today at Christianity Today article, entitled “Three Purposes of Christmas: Saddleback's Warren to address global audience over holiday weekend,” Timothy C. Morgan asked Rick Warren the following question: “What is on your ministry horizon?" to which Warren responded:
“Saddleback is going to be doing this fall: 40 Days of Vision. I'm taking The Purpose-Driven Church, and I'm going back into writing mode on January 1. I'm going to revise that book, including what have I learned in the past 11 years. I wrote that in 1995. I wrote the first book for pastors. This one I'm going to write for every Christian. What is my role in the church, because I'm committed to the local church. What is my role, and what is God's purpose for me in my local church? I'm going to put it in the 40-day format. The next wave is going to be huge, and it's going to be next fall. The fourth one is 40 Days of Peace. That's moving people into the last campaign, which is deployment.” [emphasis added]
The Truth:
The only way to counter the Social Gospel message of peace/P.E.A.C.E. is to become familiar with what the Word of God says about peace. Using a concordance look up the biblical meanings of this word, particularly in the New Testament. You may appreciate the Old Gospel meaning of “peace” in the words to the hymn “Peace, Perfect Peace.”"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." (Isaiah 26:3)"To give knowledge of Salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender Mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high has visited us, To give light to them who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:77-79)"Therefore being Justified by Faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5:1)"And, having made peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven. And you, who were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has He reconciled In the body of His flesh through death, to present you Holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight." (Colossians 2:20-22)

The CFR and The Social Gospel: Part 3

from my brothers and sisters in the Lord at Herescope-


Collectively Bearing the Sins of the World
The CFR and the Social Gospel: Part 3
“We may legitimately expect that the collective mind of the nation will be equal to the intellectual and administrative tasks involved, especially under the stress of critical social conditions, if the moral qualities required are in sufficient power. What our people lack is neither material resources nor technical skills – these we have in abundance – but a dedication to the common good, a courage and an unselfishness greater than are now manifest in American life. The tasks are beyond us and their accomplishment will be indefinitely delayed or frustrated, unless there be a nationwide spiritual awakening which has social gains. Our supreme social need is spiritual awakening. In our extremity arising out of harrowing social conditions throughout the world, we therefore turn anew to Christ; for the faith of great endeavour, for an overwhelming disclosure of God in the life of humanity, for the dedication of innumerable individuals to the creation of a more Christian social order, and for the assurance that what needs to be done, with God’s help can be done.”
[The Social Creed of 1932, Federal Council of Churches, Federal Council Bulletin 16, No. 1 (January 1933), New York, 9. Emphases added. Cited in Building the Kingdom of God on Earth, Martin Erdmann (Wipf & Stock, 2005), p. 182]
“We believe that we see the goal and we believe that men can get hold of that power to move on to that goal. That goal is the Kingdom of God on earth. The Kingdom of God is a new order standing at the door of the lower order. The higher order, founded on love, justice, goodwill, brotherhood and redemption, stands confronting this lower order founded on selfishness, exploitation, unbrotherliness, with its resultant clash and conclusions… it [the higher order] will finally replace this lower order, for it is God’s order. We shall present Christ as the open door to that era. We shall unfold the possibilities of that era both within the individual and the collective will."[E. Stanley Jones, Federal Council of Churches, Federal Council Bulletin 19, No. 8 (October 1936), New York, 5. Emphases added. Cited in Erdmann, ibid, p. 183)The leaders of the original Social Gospel movement realized that several things were important to pull off the “building the kingdom of God on earth” scam. They recognized that they needed to create a sense of corporate guilt – a collective sense of responsibility for the ills of mankind. This often had a strong emotive component designed to tug at heart strings. They also borrowed from the politico-socio-psycho techniques of collectivism, substituting a group conscience for individual conviction. As much as it was important to turn on the heart, it was also equally necessary to turn off the brain. Serious thinking was substituted by slogans, formulas and social action. Raising penetrating questions about the nature of this collective guilt and/or the proposed solutions was viewed with suspicion – it was seen as a hallmark of selfishness and separateness. Redemption was accomplished by fixing the sins of Society.Writing about Walter Rauschenbusch, considered by many to be the father of the Social Gospel movement, one historian remarked:“In writing his last book [A Theology for The Social Gospel in 1917, ed.] Professor Rauschenbusch made a final effort to commit Christians to the social gospel.… Yet the social gospel… was not…secure…. Rauschenbusch, however, was no more of an optimist than he was a millenarian; nor was he even remotely a pessimist. Rather he was a man of sufficient faith to have hope – faith in the religious power of man, hope for his social redemption. What was needed, he declared, was a theology which would advance beyond the old doctrine of the sin of Adam’s fall and of individual men to encourage a recognition of and repentance for the sins of society.” [emphasis added]CFR leader John Foster Dulles argued in his book War, Peace and Change (1939) that there was a need to overcome man’s basic human selfishness. His proposed solution was sociological, not theological. He suggested an ethical transformation that could take place on the small-group level that would emphasize interrelatedness and interdependence. He believed this process would eventually destroy isolationism and extreme nationalism and create an international mindset. According to historian and theologian Dr. Erdmann, who chronicled the role of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in setting up the original Social Gospel movement, John Foster Dulles had observed how easily humans could be psychologically manipulated by groups into receptivity to new ethical solutions:“In only a small segment of our lives are our acts dictated by reason. In the main we act unthinkingly under the impulses of emotional and physical desires or in accordance with tradition or the customs of the social group of which we happen to form a part.” (War, Peace and Change, p. 52, cited in Erdmann, Building the Kingdom of God on Earth, p. 202 [emphasis added])How to Enhance Collective BlameThe current AIDS push by Rick Warren, through the vehicle of his Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan is an example of the New Social Gospel. It includes the same ingredients as the original Social Gospel movement – corporate blame, collective guilt, communal responsibility and redemption via social action. And it is built upon an updated, more sophisticated edifice of small group dynamics. What follows are some key examples of how this process works:1. TAKE THE TEST: To break down natural barriers of inhibitions, everyone is being asked to take an HIV/AIDS test. In fact, it may be a “rite of passage” – a requirement before any volunteer work can begin. This is a cognitive dissonance-producing, “guilty until proven innocent” exercise which may trouble faithful and pure Christians. But one of its purposes is so that everyone can personally experience the collective shame and guilt.“Rick Warren welcomes Obama, Brownback to Saddleback’s AIDS summit By Kelli Cottrell, 12/4/06“Kay Warren explained the steps that churches and other organizations can take to crawl, walk and run in their ministry to HIV victims.“A crawl step would be to send cards to HIV patients, she explained. A walk step would be to start an HIV/AIDS support group and a run step would be to have testing on your campus or go as a group together and take the test.“’When the church is involved, we have hope,’ Kay Warren said. ‘We grieve for those who have died, but we have hope.’” [emphasis added]2. EMPHASIZE COMPASSION: A kinder-gentler aura is produced by propping up sweet-sounding women like Kay Warren, or in the case of the recent White House Summit On Malaria, Laura Bush. Emphasizing compassion also acts as a decoy, helping to ensure that nobody asks the hard questions about money streams, power structures, partnerships, hidden agendas, etc. An interview with the Rick and Kay Warren from Family Life Today exemplifies this tactic:“Seeing the AIDS Crisis Through God's Eyes,” 12/07/06“Kay: Oh, at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto this year, the closing session had a very dynamic speaker who went through and listed all the different takeaways of this five-day conference, and as he was listing them, people were standing up and cheering and shouting as their different ones that they really related to, and it was interesting to me – it caught my attention really early on, is he had these 15 things he was listing. So I started keeping score, if you will, on my piece of paper, an applause meter. I wanted to see what people were reacting to the most enthusiastically.“And so issues about women and gender violence and how that was affecting the AIDS pandemic – people were standing up and cheering, and women having rights over their bodies, people standing up and cheering, and then the next one of the points was, "and children with HIV," and the applause kind of got to a medium level, and he talked about orphans that were left abandoned and alone, and there was silence in the room – silence.“Rick: Nobody clapped.“Kay: Nobody clapped. And then he moved on to other things, and the applause built again to this thunderous applause at the end where he again spoke about women.“And my friend and I who were there, looked at each other. She broke into tears, and I sat there with my mouth open, stunned, and we just looked at each other and said, ‘They don't care. They don't care. How can they not care?’“It's shocking, it's stunning, when children and orphans are on your radar screen. They truly are the most vulnerable – the most vulnerable person on the planet – it is a girl child. Children, as a class, are the most vulnerable, and then you move it to girl children – they are the most vulnerable to abuse, to exploitation, and to HIV.“Dennis: And the thing that excites me about what you two are doing is – and we're doing the same thing – is you're calling the church to step up and do something that is so clear biblically.” [emphasis added]3. CREATE A FALSE DICHOTOMY: In the quote below one can read that “mission-minded disciples” are becoming “world-class Christians.” Any opposition to this is portrayed as “selfishness.” This approach is virtually a re-hash of the Social Gospel tactics described in the quotes at the beginning of today’s post."Purpose Driven in Rwanda: Rick Warren’s sweeping plan to defeat poverty” by Timothy C. Morgan in Kigali, Rwanda 09/23/05“Warren hopes to enlist 1 billion individuals through their congregations and small groups for mission projects. This mobilization of church and small-group members will walk them through three steps: personal PEACE, local PEACE, and global PEACE.…“Once an individual church adopts the Purpose Driven model, there are many more moves to make. They describe those steps as moving around a baseball diamond. The goal is mission-minded disciples. Warren says, ‘You can't get the church to jump from total selfishness, where they want all the sermons about 'How do I avoid stress,' to caring about Angola.’“’How do you get them to become a world-class Christian?’” [emphasis added]4. EMPHASIZE THE COLLECTIVE: Peter Drucker, Rick Warren’s business-guru mentor, discussed his 3-legged stool concept of Society at a Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Non-Profit Management conference held in 2000. In Drucker’s model, “separateness” is the sin which must be repented of for the sake of community and partnerships.“WISDOM FROM PETER DRUCKER...his four greatest lessons and going beyond the walls,” EXPLORER...field notes for the emerging church, Leadership Network No. 23, 11/6/06"Another thing I heard is a way to talk to church people. They still see themselves as a separate island, and so do the universities. Only now are they beginning to say, 'We are a part of the community.' We are all elements of society beyond the walls. We are doing the social job and everyone has a stake...the government and the individual. We need partnerships and they are a two way street.’"The last thing was nothing new but also overwhelming. Despite the diversity of values and purpose, we have something in common. The nonprofit is not what we have in common, but that we lead with community and that is foundational to society. This is different from ten years ago and accepted not only on the nonprofit side but the profit side as well."5. RESTRUCTURE THE CHURCH: The early Social Gospel proponents had strong ties with Communism and Socialism and they emphasized restructuring Society into a collective model (see previous post). The New Social Gospel proponents also borrow from the communist cell model, revamping it into modern small groups. But the purposes remain the same. The following article is very illuminating on this topic.“The Cellular Church: Letter From Saddleback: How Rick Warren built his ministry,” by Malcolm Gladwell, New Yorker, 9/12/05“Churches, like any large voluntary organization, have at their core a contradiction. In order to attract newcomers, they must have low barriers to entry. They must be unintimidating, friendly, and compatible with the culture they are a part of. In order to retain their membership, however, they need to have an identity distinct from that culture. They need to give their followers a sense of community—and community, exclusivity, a distinct identity are all, inevitably, casualties of growth. As an economist would say, the bigger an organization becomes, the greater a free-rider problem it has. If I go to a church with five hundred members, in a magnificent cathedral, with spectacular services and music, why should I volunteer or donate any substantial share of my money? What kind of peer pressure is there in a congregation that large? If the barriers to entry become too low—and the ties among members become increasingly tenuous—then a church as it grows bigger becomes weaker.“One solution to the problem is simply not to grow, and, historically, churches have sacrificed size for community. But there is another approach: to create a church out of a network of lots of little church cells—exclusive, tightly knit groups of six or seven who meet in one another's homes during the week to worship and pray. The small group as an instrument of community is initially how Communism spread, and in the postwar years Alcoholics Anonymous and its twelve-step progeny perfected the small-group technique. The small group did not have a designated leader who stood at the front of the room. Members sat in a circle. The focus was on discussion and interaction—not one person teaching and the others listening—and the remarkable thing about these groups was their power. An alcoholic could lose his job and his family, he could be hospitalized, he could be warned by half a dozen doctors—and go on drinking. But put him in a room of his peers once a week—make him share the burdens of others and have his burdens shared by others—and he could do something that once seemed impossible.“When churches—in particular, the megachurches that became the engine of the evangelical movement, in the nineteen-seventies and eighties—began to adopt the cellular model, they found out the same thing. The small group was an extraordinary vehicle of commitment. It was personal and flexible. It cost nothing. It was convenient, and every worshipper was able to find a small group that precisely matched his or her interests. Today, at least forty million Americans are in a religiously based small group, and the growing ranks of small-group membership have caused a profound shift in the nature of the American religious experience.…“In the past twenty years, as the enthusiasm for publicly supported welfare has waned, churches have quietly and steadily stepped in to fill the gaps. And who are the churchgoers donating all that time and money? People in small groups. Membership in a small group is a better predictor of whether people volunteer or give money than how often they attend church, whether they pray, whether they've had a deep religious experience, or whether they were raised in a Christian home. Social action is not a consequence of belief, in other words. I don't give because I believe in religious charity. I give because I belong to a social structure that enforces an ethic of giving. ‘Small groups are networks,’ the Princeton sociologist Robert Wuthnow, who has studied the phenomenon closely, says. ‘They create bonds among people. Expose people to needs, provide opportunities for volunteering, and put people in harm's way of being asked to volunteer. That's not to say that being there for worship is not important. But, even in earlier research, I was finding that if people say all the right things about being a believer but aren't involved in some kind of physical social setting that generates interaction, they are just not as likely to volunteer.’ [emphasis added]The Truth:The Social Gospel always seeks to replace the biblical Gospel message. It de-emphasizes God’s Word. And, as has been shown in the past three posts, the Social Gospel has an insidious agenda that runs contrary to biblical Christianity.When you oppose the Social Gospel you will be attacked with the “false dichotomy” tactic for supposedly lacking compassion or charity. You will be told that you are selfish.But true Christian acts of charity and compassion are always accompanied by the saving Gospel message. And the Gospel message is a proclamation of liberty from sin and guilt. It gives light to those in spiritual darkness.“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” (Luke 4:18)

Apology To Rich Muchow

Its no mystery that I dont care for the new religion Rick Warren has founded or anything PDL. In my review of Rick Warrens service at his church Saddleback I took some shots at their worship leader. That was wrong here is what I said
"Ive always thought that Rich Muchow was overrated as a worship leader.Rich just gets publicity because of who he works for.Not because of his talent which again is mediocre at best.His voice showed this on the show.Rich is just not very good. as a vocalist."

Im stating it here because Im removing it from my post. The comment was mean and unkind to Rich and I repent of it. And Im really sorry I said it. This was not a Christlike statement.
At my best I could not sing as good as Rich and he could have been sick or nervous or whatever.
This again a wrong statement that I said to a brother musician and I really regret saying it.

In pointing out error in the church I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that we need to show people the same grace and mercy God shows us.
I did not do that for Rich and I really am sorry for my statments.

And for the record no but the conviction of the Holy Spirit prompted me to repent.
And I am reminded that Rich is not my enemy but false teaching and the works of the enemy is.
Tim Wirth
And with that I am editing and retracting my remarks against Rich.

Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats

This is what Spurgeon had to say about speakers like Rick Warren, Bill Hybels and Robert Schuller even before they were born. Maybe we should listen to what Spurgeon had to say about seeker sensitive.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon(1834-1892)

An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few years. It has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them.
From speaking out as the Puritans did, the church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.
My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church. If it is a Christian work, why did not Christ speak of it? "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). That is clear enough. So it would have been if He had added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel." No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to him.
Then again, "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers .., for the work of the ministry" (Eph. 4:11-12). Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people or because they refused? The concert has no martyr roll.
Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all his apostles. What was the attitude of the church to the world? Ye are the salt" (Matt. 5:13), not the sugar candy---something the world will spit out not swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance, "Let the dead bury their dead" (Matt. 8:22) He was in awful earnestness.
Had Christ introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into his mission, he would have been more popular when they went back, because of the searching nature of His teaching. I do not hear him say, "Run after these people Peter and tell them we will have a different style of service tomorrow, something short and attractive with little preaching. We will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it. Be quick Peter, we must get the people somehow." Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them.
In vain will the Epistles be searched to find any trace of this gospel of amusement! Their message is, "Come out, keep out, keep clean out!" Anything approaching fooling is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon.
After Peter and John were locked up for preaching, the church had a prayer meeting but they did not pray, "Lord grant unto thy servants that by a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show these people how happy we are." If they ceased not from preaching Christ, they had not time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution, they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). That is the only difference! Lord, clear the church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her, and bring us back to apostolic methods.Lastly, the mission of amusement fails to effect the end desired. It works havoc among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who thank God because the church met them halfway, speak and testify. Let the heavy laden who found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic entertainment has been God's link in the chain of the conversion, stand up! There are none to answer. The mission of amusement produces no converts. The need of the hour for today's ministry is believing scholarship joined with earnest spirituality, the one springing from the other as fruit from the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire.

Follow-up to my review of Rick Warrens service on Fox news.

Its amazing to me how Rick Warren seems to think that no in Christianity besides him that is out there clothing the naked and feeding the poor. Rick almost makes you want to think that feeding the naked and clothing the poor is some new idea (based on scripture of course) that he has cooked up and its up to him to carry it out.
What a insult to the many churches throughout history that have been doing this.
The reason you may not have heard about what a church is doing if you are not a member of that particular church is they stick and adhere to this biblical principle.

Matt 6:3

"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

This is just one verse out of many that Rick Warren ignores.
His deeds are pasted all over the TV and news articles by Rick Warren himself.
This is of course good for Ricks business of bringing people to his new religion.

Rick Warren stated in Christianity Today "I will go anywhere in the world if I'm allowed to preach the gospel without hindrance. I'd go to Iran; I'd go to Syria; I'd go to North Korea." end of quote

Think of how many Christian throughout history including the apostles who went and preached the gospel with boldness when they came up against fierce opposition and often lost their lives for preaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Did Rick Warren preach the gospel to the leaders in Syria?
I havent heard one report on that.
Did Rick preach the gospel to the jews when letting them know how to let their churches become purpose driven?
Here is that answer.
from the Jewish Journel referring to Rick Warrens speech to them
"Warren managed to speak for the entire evening without once mentioning Jesus — a testament to his savvy message-tailoring."
The biggest problem is if Rick wont even preach the true message of salvation, the true message of Jesus Christ in his own church where he is perfectly safe.
Do you think he will preach something based on scripture to the very powerful leaders he comes in contact with?
Probably not in seeing what gospel he preaches at Saddleback when he knows he will get press all over the world.

Also Rick Warrens often uses quotes by both Francis Schaffer and Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
The ironic thing is that both Spurgeon and Schaffer warned us of guys like Rick Warren in their writings.
Francis Schaffer in "The Great Evangelical Disaster" which Rick is helping to fulfill (not alone of course though).
And Spurgeon warned us of guys like Rick in sermons like "Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats."
Listen to the very first paragraph of this prophetic sermon.

"An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few years. It has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them."

That pretty much sums up seeker sensitive which Rick Warren is a big part of.
No Rick Warrens preaching sounds more like Robert Schuller than Spurgeon or Schaffer (who's quotes Rick throws into his sermons at a attempt to give credence to his preaching , when in fact its just contradiction).

Is the problem Rick Warren really?
No.
The problem is the masses of his followers.
This again is a fulfillment of scripture which states.
"2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."

So in summation we can point out error in teaching, such as Rick Warren, Benny Hinn, Ken Copeland, Paul Yonggi Cho etc..
We can point out that Rick promotes contemplative spirituality, occult teachers like Paul Yonggi Cho, and Rick Warren is in fact starting a new religion.

But the problem is not so much the teachers but the people who have discarded being faithful Bereans and now just want their ears tickled.
The real problem lies with thecongregations and followers.

2 Thess 2:10-11
"and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

Double articles

Sorry about this. I edited the article after watching Rick on Meet the Press late at night. I did not want to delete the other duplicate because there are worth while comments on it.
Merry Christmas
Tim

Review of Rick Warrens Christmas Eve Service on Fox news.

Well Ive got to say I had a little time on my hands waiting for my four kids to arrive back from their grandmas.

I just watched Rick Warren on Fox.

This will be a short review.
I want to premise this by saying Ive never seen Rick Warren preach before and just heard bits and pieces of sermons. I have read Purpose Driven Life and Church. And many Rick Warren articles.
Rick Warren stated in the second program "Can Rick Warren change the world" when asked about his illness when he starts to preach Rick commented "he did not like to preach."
Rick it shows.

Lets start with the music.
I liked the orchestra even though the mix was not very good, thought the harp player was a great touch even though her parts were sometime way to busy.
The singers who sang the solos were pretty good.
The band also played well even though I thought the arrangements played were weak.

Now back to Rick Warren.
Ricks is not a very good speaker and took pauses between songs (and thank God for that and the commercials).
Thats the least of Ricks problems here is just a short brief comments on some quotes I took.
Rick stated sin was being saved from negative emotions. This shows Robert Schullers influence on Rick.
Rick Warren The first purpose of Christmas is celebration-God likes to party.

And if I have to please spare us both and dont read my blog anymore.
Rick said,
"Jesus stretched out his hands on the cross and said I love you this much."
I couldnt find that in the Bible not even in The Message.

Rick Warren "It doesnt matter who you are" Rick then went on to list many religions Buddhists, Mormons, Catholics, Jews , Protestants etc.. And then said "this is not about religion but relationship."
That must really put a Buddhist at ease that they dont have to be a Christian to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus founded the church as a place for believers to part of once saved.
Ricks prayer of salvation was not based on the Bible and would not save anyone.
Matter of fact Rick never once presented the gospel in a biblically, scripturally based way.
Not once.
Rick did speak about sin.
The same way Robert Schuller speaks about sin.
Rick reffered to sin as negative emotions.
David Asner of Fox News stated Rick as having faith in business principles.
I believe this was a true statement.
Ricks followers were also referred to as his followers.
I believe that is also true.
They follow Rick Warren not Jesus Christ.
Because Warren has created a new religion.
Jesus is mentioned.
But Jesus is also mentioned in many other religions.
These two Fox programs were made to turn people toward Purpose Driven not to Gods Word because that is where the emphasize was put.
Now Jesus is mentioned in the deal but we will see what happens as time goes by.
Everyday Ricks new religion includes less and less emphasize on the Bible and more on Purpose Driven.
Im sure in time (and we may be at that point already) it will be only Purpose Driven that saves.
Its a fact that instead of bibles Ricks followers pass out copies of Purpose Driven Life and Church.
because PDL is where their loyalty lies.
Not to God.
But to Rick Warren.
Ive got to say I was surprised at how bad of a preacher Rick Warren really is.
He does not rightly divide the word of God at all.
He bends it to say what he wants it to say.
It was just really bad preaching if it can even really be called that.
Also watch as Rick Warren continuely lies and contridicts his own statement.
Warren states he is not a politician.
What.
Thats just crazy. Warren is knee deep involved in politics.
And notice how Rick Warren is 10 times more comfortable on shows like "Meet the Press" rather than preaching to a congregation.
Thats because Rick Warren is not a pastor or a preacher but a businessman and politician.
With a big agenda.
Ricks not Gods.
It is not important to Rick to preach the gospel, his recent comment in Christianity Today expose this.
And you know what, this shows.
Im not sure that Rick really knows what the gospel is.
I have still not heard Rick Warren preach the gospel according to the Bible.
Not once.

And this went to our Armed Forces?
Wow we really need to pray for our troops.
I have a comment of this as well.
I do not want this to be perceived as jealousy.
I speak of this to make a point.
The Simply Agape Project recorded 2 CD's to be sent to the troops and those who serve and protect our country.
These are free to the troops.
When I was in communication with The Pentegon and Armed Forces Entertainment the CD's were not allowed to be sent through these channels because they considered this proselytizing.
We did send hundreds of free CD's to boots on the ground who then passed them out to their fellow soldiers.
The CD's were recorded using some home grown music but the majority was recorded using the very best Christian musicians including Steve Camp, Alex Acuna, and Abe Laboriels SR.
Steve Camp's song 'Cornerstone" presents the gospel in a biblically grounded fashion.
Now we did get hundreds of copies to places like Fallujah, Iraq to boots on the ground who passed the CD's out.

Now Rick Warrens telecast is allowed because it is not proselytizing in any way.
Really think about that.

Its a all inclusive message that even a Buddist or Muslim could relate to.
Remember though that sound doctrine will divide.
Rick Warrens doctrine does not divide because it is not sound or biblically based.
Thats why Rick has made such headway into the Armed Forces and many major companies and why so many companies use PDL.
Purpose Driven is not a Christian message.
If it was it would not be used or accepted by the world or secular companies.
Because it would be considered proselytizing.
This is not Gods blessing on Rick Warrens life.
It has to do with someone else.
You followers of Warren should really wake up.
Its a Christian flavored message only (at this point in time).

Im taking a week off to enjoy my family.
In the future I will be speaking less and less of Warren.
Im sure some better articles will be written on this debacle.
And I will post them here.
But if this is the way Rick Warren always preaches and you dont get it.
You have the problem and I dont think I can help you.
All you need to do is check the Bible as Rick Warren talks and acts.
And you will find it does not add up.
Now people are sending Purpose Driven Life instead of Bibles to foreign countries.
If you also dont get that this is actually a new religion you are very deceived.

Again the Bible speaks about a great falling away and being deceived.
2Thess 2:3
"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,"

2 Thess 2:10-12
"and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness"
Let this verse sink deep into all who follow this false teacher.


Maybe you should go read your Bibles instead of Purpose Driven.
God Bless our troops as they spend time away from their families and protect our country.
Please God protect them all from the evil one.

On that note have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Tim Wirth and family

Review of Rick Warrens Christmas Eve Service on Fox news.

Well Ive got to say I had a little time on my hands this Christmas Eve waiting for my four kids to arrive back from their grandmas.

I watched Rick Warren on Fox.

This will be a short review.

I want to premise this by saying Ive never seen Rick Warren preach before and just heard bits and pieces of sermons. I have read Purpose Driven Life and Church. And many Rick Warren articles.
Rick Warren stated in the second program "Can Rick Warren change the world" when asked about his illness when he starts to preach Rick commented "he did not like to preach."

Rick it shows.

Lets start with the music.

I liked the orchestra even though the mix was not very good for television.
Thought the harp player was a great touch even though her parts were sometime way to busy.
The singers who sang the specials were pretty good.
The band was talented even though I though the arrangement's were weak.

Now back to Rick Warren.
Ricks is just not a very good speaker and took pauses between songs (and thank God for the commercials).
Thats the least of Ricks problems here is just a short brief comments on some quotes I took.
Rick stated sin was being saved from negative emotions. This shows Robert Schullers influence on Rick.
Rick Warren The first purpose of Christmas is celebration-God likes to party.
Im not even going to comment on that one.

And if I have to please spare us both and dont read my blog anymore.
"Jesus stretched out his hands on the cross and said I love you this much."
I couldnt find that in the Bible not even in The Message.
Rick Warren continues to lie and decieve people.
He states he is a preacher not a politician.
Rick Warren is much more comfortable on "Meet the Press" than he is preaching to a congregation.
And his real ambition shows where his loyalty lies.
And its not with Jesus Christ.
Even though Rick states he is with Christ.
Ricks actions and ulterior motives show who his loyalty really lies with.
Ricks loyalty lies with Rick and his purposes.
If you think Rick Warren is not a politician you have not been watching closely.
So let me make it clear to you.
Rick Warren is not a preacher but a businessman and a politician.
And this is not just because I say so.
Ricks actions make this quite clear.

Rick Warren "It doesnt matter who you are" Rick then went on to list many religions Buddhists, Mormons, Catholics, Jews , Protestants etc.. And then said "this is not about religion but relationship."

That must really put a Buddhist at ease that they dont have to be a Christian or be saved to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus founded the church as a place for believers to part of once saved.
Ricks prayer of salvation was not based on the Bible and would not save anyone.
Matter of fact Rick never once presented the gospel in a biblically, scripturally based way.

Not once.

Rick did speak about sin.
The same way Robert Schuller speaks about sin.

David Asner of Fox News stated Rick as having faith in business principles.

I believe this was a true statement.

Ricks followers were also referred to as his followers.
I believe that is also true.
They follow Rick Warren not Jesus Christ.
Because Warren has created a new religion.
Jesus is mentioned.
But Jesus is also mentioned in many other religions.
Think about that.
These two programs were made to turn people toward Purpose Driven not to Gods Word because that is where the emphasize was put.
Now Jesus is included in the deal but we will see what happens as time goes by.
Everyday Ricks new religion includes less and less emphasize on the Bible and more on Purpose Driven.
Im sure in time (and we may be at that point already) it will be only Purpose Driven that saves.
Ive got to say I was surprised at how bad of a preacher Rick Warren really is.
He does not rightly divide the word of God at all.
He bends it to say what he wants it to say.
It was just really bad preaching if it can even really be called that.

And this went to our Armed Forces?
Wow we really need to pray for our troops.
And I want to add Im not jealous here but I want to make a comment.

The Simply Agape Project has recorded 2 CD's that are given out to the troops and those who serve and protect our country.
Some of the music is home grown but most of it was recorded using the very best Christian musicians including Steve Camp, Alex Acuna, and Abe Laboriel SR.
When I was trying to get this free CD's to the troops through Armed Forces Entertainment and the USO and The Pentegon I was flatly turned down because they considered it proselytizing because of the Christian content in the songs.
Most of all in Steve Camps song" Cornerstone" which presents the gospel.
We still sent hundreds of free CD's to the troops through boots on the ground who would pass them out to their fellow soldiers.
Many CD's went to the front lines in Fallujah, Iraq.

But yet Rick Warren is telecasted to the troops.

God help our troops to not be deceived by this false teacher.

Im sure the Armed Forces does not consider Rick Warrens message proselytizing because Rick does not know how to present the gospel.
Or Rick refuses to present the true gospel because it gets in the way of his Purpose Driven agenda.
Thats why his message is allowed.
I know also thats why the world so readily uses Rick Warrens PDL and materials in their big companies.
There is no way this would be done if the message was Christian.
When are people going to wake up and see Rick Warren for who he is.
Ricks headway into the Armed Forces and business is not because of Gods favor in Ricks life.
Because Rick does not preach Jesus Christ.
Rick preaches Purpose Driven.
And there is a difference.
The same way Christians are different from Mormons and Jehovah Witness's.


Im taking a week off to enjoy my family.
In the future I will be speaking less and less of Warren.
Im sure some better articles will be written on this debacle.
And I will post them here.
But if this is the way Rick Warren always preaches and you dont get it.
You have the problem and I dont think I can help you.

All you need to do is check the Bible as Rick Warren talks and acts.
And you will find it does not add up.

Now Rick Warrens followers are sending Purpose Driven Life instead of Bibles to foreign countries.
If you also dont get that this is actually a new religion you are very deceived.
And about Ricks generosity and his 90% tithing back to the church.
Notice that Rick stated he set up the foundations and charities he tithes to.
Come on folks think really hard about that.

Again the Bible speaks about a great falling away and being deceived.

2 Thess 2:3
"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.
2 Thess 2:10-11
"and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

Maybe you should go read your Bibles instead of Purpose Driven.

On that note have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
God Bless All our wonderful men and women in the Armed Forces and all those who serve and protect this country.
Tim Wirth and family

The Travesty of Tolerance by Paul Proctor

THE TRAVESTY OF TOLERANCE
Paul Proctor
November 25, 2002
NewsWithViews.com
There is a sobering question that now begs an answer from the 21st century church. Was the cross of Christ simply a lesson in tolerance? Was that a big wooden T that Jesus hung from two thousand years ago, illustrating a "higher power's" message to: "Go ye into all the world and be tolerant"? Did Jesus say: "For God so tolerated the world, that he gave his only begotten Son"? And did He tell His followers: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have tolerance one for another"?
This is a crude example of equating God's love with today's tolerance... mixing and mingling traditional words and phrases with new age meanings and dialectic slogans like "Our strength is our diversity" in order to synthesize values and advance alternative agendas. Because of the ever-increasing perversion of our language by globalists it is necessary to qualify words like "love" and" tolerance" to avoid confusing them with biblical directives. Just as the love of a father toward his son is different from the love of a husband toward his wife or a boy's love for his dog or a dog's love for bones, tolerance too can have many different meanings and applications.
When modern definitions are mischievously applied to ancient principles for living, the outcome can be more than just confusing. It can be downright disastrous. Just such a travesty is unfolding before us in the church today through the ongoing amalgamation of lifestyles, beliefs, interpretations, principles, practices, definitions, rituals, religions, cultures and worldviews all for the purpose of forwarding the global gospel of "tolerance diversity and unity".
It may surprise many of you to learn that the word "tolerance" never even appeared in scripture until the 60's and 70's when the NEW American Standard and NEW International versions of the bible came into being. In the King James and original American Standard versions the word used was "forbearance" which itself could imply something altogether different. It should also be noted that at the time the NEW versions of the bible were printed, Marxist liberals were tenaciously teaching tolerance as the NEW measure of morality in America from kindergarten through seminary.
One would think, as much as that word is used today with respect to Christians, it would be found repeatedly throughout scripture. However, the reality is, it appears only once in the NIV and twice in the NASV as a brief encouragement for believers to put aside *personal differences and sufferings* for the sake of the Gospel. IT DOES NOT MEAN we are all to piously sit silent while the world's humanists, heretics and homosexuals twist and trash the Word of God to satisfy their own appetites and ambitions.
"Tolerance", as it is most commonly used today, is nothing more than a warm and fuzzy buzzword that was shrewdly employed by globalists to confuse and disarm believers, undermine the Church and contradict everything the Bible teaches about sin from Genesis to Revelation. "Tolerance" was never meant to replace love, righteousness, forgiveness or redemption. It is STILL the will of God that sin be exposed, confessed, repented-of, forgiven or judged...not tolerated for the sake of peace and unity. (Ephesians 5:11) "Tolerance" is not the Gospel of Christ but rather the tactical tool of ambitious men who dream of separating us from our Anchor Stone so we will drift away from "the peace of God which passeth all understanding" into a camouflaged chaos called Globalism.
Below are a few definitions for the word "tolerance" followed by a couple of scriptures that can help you determine for yourself which are new age and which are biblical. The biblical definition is really not that hard to see as long as your choice is consistent with the entirety of scripture.
TOLERANCE:
1. The capacity to endure hardship or pain. (1st Peter 2:19) (Galatians2:20)
2. The endurance of the presence or actions of objectionable persons, or of the expression of offensive opinions. (Proverbs 14:17) (Matthew 18:15-17)
3. The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others. (2nd Corinthians 6:14-18) (James 4:4)
Now simply apply the biblical definition you chose to the only two verses in scripture where the word tolerance appears.
(Ephesians 4:1-2) "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love" (The Apostle Paul is addressing Christians here, not the various cultures and religions of the world.)
(Romans 2:4) "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance" (Once again, Paul is referring to the tolerance of God toward His redeemed, not the enemies of the cross.)
Another relatively simple way of determining where tolerance is appropriate is by knowing at whose expense the offense comes...yours or God's? Tolerance would probably be in order if say someone called you a liar. Lashing back at your accuser with an equally harsh attack wouldn't glorify God in the least or accomplish anything of eternal value. However, tolerance would most definitely NOT be appropriate if that same person, Christian or not, willfully misrepresented, misquoted or in some way impugned the character or integrity of the Almighty with lies and distortions. In this situation a firm rebuke of some sort using scripture would be proper to defend the faith. As Christians, that is what we are called to do. (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
This takes courage and a self-sacrificing kind of love. Silence in the name of tolerance, in such situations, would only demonstrate cowardice and indifference to the One we call Lord; the very opposite of the love He teaches and not unlike what we see in the church today. Even then, rebukes should be carried out with God's interest in mind, not our own. We tend to defend most fervently that which we love and are the most proud of. If it is God and His Word that we defend then we are being Christ-like. If it is ourselves we so passionately defend then we are probably, self-centered, pride-driven and carnal.
Even though many of our Christian institutions have been swept clean of these tolerance teachers, the counterfeit communion they served for so many years is still being passed down the aisles in many churches today. Is it any wonder that practicing homosexuals are now "married" and "ordained" by a clergy who publicly question the very deity of Christ and casually bring His claim of being "The Way, The Truth and The Life" up for a congregational vote? This, my friends, is the filthy fruit of tolerance and an undeniable sign of the desperate times we are now entering. If this isn't the Apostasy then I don't know what is.
The cross is a lot of things to a lot of people but it IS NOT a lesson in tolerance. If God were tolerant of sin He never would have sacrificed His "Only Begotten" to suffer and die so horrendously for the likes of you and me. He would have simply winked at Him and said, "Ah...That's OK...Just stay here. They'll clean up their act sooner or later". But that never happened because the Bible says:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Yes, the cross of Christ was an act of divine love but it was also a vivid demonstration of God's absolute intolerance for sin."
"Beware lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

© 2002 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved

New article from Paul Proctor

This is one Pauls best articles. And it really address's what many of us go through to warn others of apostacy. Whether its Emergent Church or Rick Warrens new religion. Its always the same rehtoric. People calling us unloving. Its because of my love for the Body of Christ and the true church of Jesus Christ that I do what I do. It takes a lot of time and research.
Here is Pauls article. Which I will follow up with one of Pauls older articles because it applies to what is going on.

HONEST SINNERS AND PHONY CHRISTIANS



By Paul Proctor
December 20, 2006
NewsWithViews.com
I don't know about you but I'd rather be around an honest sinner than a phony Christian any day. I don't like faux anything. I have almost no tolerance for liars in general and even less for lying Christians. And much to the chagrin of my critics, I unashamedly accept the fact that my writings echo that, week in and week out. Lies are not compassionate - they are cowardly, crooked and void of any confidence in God and have been at the heart of every wicked act since Eve took of the forbidden fruit.
A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a lady in Australia who, after thanking me for my latest article on Rick Warren - a piece in which I pointed out his "penchant for duplicity and doubletalk" - she chided me for my "condemning words:"
"Paul, don't you see that your 'tongue' has an unchristian sting? I can accept that you want to have your opinion to be heard on top of the truthful warnings you express in your letters. But why, oh why, do you use condemning words such as 'escapades, infatuated flock, wily ways, wink and wiggle tactics, calamitous, fake humility, egocentric nature, penchant for duplicity and doubletalk, shameless and self-absorbed behavior'…I do like your letters and they are important but I want to share them with others also. Some of my friends, though interested in your reports of dangers, are put off by your throwing of condemning words."
Well, I responded with the following:
"Did Jesus' words have an 'unchristian sting,' as well?
'Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.' - Matthew 23:27
'Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?' - Matthew 23:33
'O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?' - Matthew 3:7b
'O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.' - Matthew 12:34
And how about Stephen's words in Acts before they stoned him to death?
'Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.' - Acts 7:51-53
The point is this: Jesus had zero tolerance for liars and phonies Himself - and His language reflected that. In fact, His harshest words were always directed toward the devoutly disingenuous - religious rogues and professional pretenders who empowered and esteemed themselves by misleading the masses and keeping them in the dark and out of the Kingdom of God for the bounty and benefits of an earthy kingdom over which they, in some degree, reigned.
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully…" - Jeremiah 48:10
If I've learned anything over the years about our fallen nature, it's that truth is almost always considered harsh to the unrepentant, regardless of the words that are used to convey it. I dare say the impenitent are more afraid of truth than anything in this life; and more often than not, will accuse their accuser as a diversionary tactic by charging them with being "unloving" and "unchristian," when in reality, they mean intolerant.
You see, after the dialectic church successfully redefined "love" as "tolerance," it became evil to criticize any brother or sister in Christ for their sinful behavior - especially an errant pastor, preacher or church leader - which is precisely why the church is in the sorry state it's in. But as I've said many times before, telling someone the truth is the most loving thing you can do for them, even when they end up scolding you, shunning you, slandering you and turning others against you for doing so. That's why sinners nailed Jesus to a cross, stoned Stephen to death and beheaded John the Baptist - for telling the truth.
Sadly, few Christians today would dare risk their ministry, career, finances, family or friendships, much less their lives, to tell the truth. In fact, I would go so far as to say pastors and preachers are among the worst. Of course many will talk among themselves about another errant clergy member, but typically in private and always off the record. It's like they were required to swear a secret oath back in Seminary to never challenge or criticize a fellow minister publicly for his erroneous teachings or shameful conduct. Instead of making our pulpits profound places of proclamation and poignancy, pastors hide behind them now in a perceived piety that makes the word "Christian" appear synonymous with coward.
"Speaking the truth in love," from Ephesians 4:15, means your remarks are fair and accurate with a dedicated desire to not only warn the unwary of danger and deception but also to see repentance and righteousness from its perpetrators. In spite of the disgraceful example being set by many of those pastoring churches today, love does not answer evil with false flattery and flowery fluff in hopes of being rewarded later with cooperation and camaraderie. (Results & Relationship)
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."- Proverbs 27:6
Unfortunately, the church has been beguiled into believing that withholding the truth is "love," which is why the vast majority of faith-based news agencies, magazines, articles and editorials, both in print and online, are much like today's seeker sermons - little more than cotton candy commentary designed to keep Christians congenially compliant to the corrupt collective by unseen hands that steer society's religious rudder toward a one world religion of peace and unity. (Results & Relationships)

Oh, they delight in chiding the non-compliant for their brazen behavior from the safety of the high-minded herd, especially when it garners them praise and profits from followers; but rarely will today's laodicean leaders or laymen risk anything dear to them by stepping out of the "Christian" crowd to rebuke one of their own for blatant and unrepentant sin, because peace and unity always trumps truth in the business of ministry. You see, it's not about purity anymore - it's about progress and personalities. (Results & Relationships)

And so I conclude another year and another column citing the same quotes I ended my response to the lady from Australia with, in hopes that all of us - sinners on both sides of God's grace - will be more honest in the coming year about ourselves and others and less phony about our faith in Jesus Christ:
"One cannot be the 'salt of the earth' without occasionally stinging the open sores of sin."
"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." - Matthew 5:13

© 2006 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved


Paul Proctor, a rural resident of the Volunteer state and seasoned veteran of the country music industry, retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance writer and regular columnist for NewsWithViews.com, he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print.
E-Mail: watchman@usa.com