Worldviews
The Newsletter of the Apologetics Resource Center
April/May 2005
For Such a Time as This
Permit me to share my heart and mind with you concerning reasons why we believe
God has called us at this time in the life of the Church. The Apologetics Resource
Center has several roles in the Body of Christ. We are in the ministry of discernment
as well as evangelism. We are also an exhortation ministry. Many Christian
leaders have been sounding the alarm and issuing challenges to the Church,
that she is adrift in the shoals of mediocrity, heresies, and irrelevance.
This is due in large part to an accommodation of a self-absorbed, therapeutic-driven,
materialistic culture. Add to that a devaluing of the priority of sound doctrine
as well as a lack of commitment to the means of grace—the study of God’s
Word, prayer, fasting, and a generous giving of one’s resources and time.
In the place of sound doctrine is an emphasis on pragmatism and experience
(the calling card of postmodernism). The result is a church that is losing
its saltiness and hiding her light under a basket. Moreover, she is being more
influenced by the impulses of that self-centered, therapeutic-driven, materialistic,
and relativistic culture.
Here are some examples.
John Armstrong, editor of Reformation and Revival Journal,
and others (including a few pastors in the
Presbyterian Churches of America)
have begun to embrace what is being called “covenantal nomism,” a “new” perspective
on justification. This view, championed by a well-known theologian, N.T. Wright,
is much more akin to Roman Catholicism’s progressive justification than
the Protestant view.
Also, a deeper look
at the most successful or popular books and programs in
the Christian community is quite revealing. Rick Warren’s
The Purpose Driven Life has recently come under significant criticism, especially
from those in
the Reformed theological community (articles available upon request). Warren’s
forty-day journey describes five sound biblical goals or purposes: We are
planned for God’s pleasure (worship); formed for God’s family
(fellowship); created to become Christ-like (spiritual growth); shaped for
serving (spiritual
service); and made for a mission (evangelism). Yet Warren often utilized
a defective approach of proof-texting Scripture. He may cite a valid biblical
principle but
then cites a passage out of context to validate it. He even draws upon fifteen
different Bible translations to find one that most seems to convey his meaning
of the text. This is an irresponsible practice and constructs a slippery
slope
that could instruct others to do the same.
Warren’s content
is too heavily weighted toward what God/Christ/the Christian
life can do for us—reinforcing
a self-centered, therapeutic model of Christian life. Even his gospel explanations
lack clarity or emphasis on repentance, eternal
consequences of sin, and the holiness/wrath of God. Also the book quotes
a number of heretics in a positive light such as Catholic monks and new
age leader Bernie
Siegel.
At the close of 2004,
a Barna research poll revealed that of the top ten major
influences on churches, number two was Rick
Warren, and the list
included Bill
Hybels (Willow Creek), T.D. Jakes (a oneness Pentecostal), and John Maxwell.
All of these men misuse Scripture (except maybe Hybels) and reflect the
same philosophy noted above. Yet Scripture warns us in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting
to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers
in accordance
to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and
will turn aside to myths.”
John MacArthur has just
edited a provocative new book titled Fool’s
God: Discerning Truth in an Age of Error. The title refers to people’s
reactions when gold was discovered in California in the late 1840’s.
By 1850, 115,000 “treasure
seekers” flocked to California to seek “instant riches, early
retirement, and a life of carefree ease.” But all that glittered
was not gold. They soon discovered a counterfeit “fool’s
gold” which was a worthless
imitation. MacArthur noted that today’s church tends to recreate
this scenario: incorrect notions of the real thing, lots of broken teeth
chomping on fool’s
gold, many families left behind, and much time wasted.
MacArthur and
staff then respond to some “fool’s gold” issues
of Christianity including Rick Warren’s movement, John Eldridge’s
Wild at Heart, The Resolve New Testament, and combating consumerism.
It is somewhat provocative as he is also critical of much contemporary
music and old fashioned
alter calls. MacArthur correctly points out our God-given responsibility
for being grounded and rooted in sound doctrine so that we may grow
in life-giving
discernment (Hebrews 5:12-14; 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21; 2 Thessalonians
2:15; Colossians 2:6-7) and therefore in grace.
At the same time, we
must always be aware of the potential pitfall of focusing on doctrine
and theology, which is just adopting a set
of biblical
principles
and trying to live our life by them in order to gain God’s
favor. That is legalism and dead orthodoxy. The authentic Christian
faith
is that which is
lived in or by the Spirit—the Spirit of truth and power and
life. That is, a life that is scripturally anchored and navigated
and is
Spirit fueled and
propelled. Let’s get out of the shallows and dangerous shoals
of mediocrity and move out into the deeper waters with God.
Dick
Keyes, director of L’Abri in Massachusetts, recently wrote
an article in the Areopagus Proclamation focusing on the situation
in which the church finds
herself, and the value of apologetics as part of the remedy. He
begins with our call to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) but
points out
how we have become
so diluted, “blending into, accommodating, and compromising” with
the fallen elements in our culture. He also notes that our “lamp” is
hidden under a box through isolation and “tribalizing” instead
of “ being
in the world” while “not of it.”
But it need not
be that way. Be encouraged. In the past, Christians have made
a real difference. We still can! Check out Alvin Schmidt’s
book, How Christianity Changed the World (2004). Schmidt documents
how Christianity had a controlling
role in the development of hospitals, education, science (order
our recent journal on the subject), music literature, family and
cultural values, women’s
rights and much more. How do we turn the culture around? First,
make a real commitment to know Him and the power of His resurrection
in you (Phil. 3:10), to die to
self and pursue Him and His kingdom as the highest priority (Matthew
6:33-34) by faith. Check how you are spending your time, which
will reveal your true goals
in life. Check your level of possessions to see if they are idols,
substitutes of trust, or are for God’s use and His glory.
Intentionally develop a biblical worldview and an apologetic knowledge
and intentionally find ways to make redemptive
contact and relationships with unbelievers (Colossians 4:2-6, 1
Corinthians 9:16-24). Joel Osteen
Another example of the significant drift of the evangelical Church today is
the attention and attraction to the now largest church in America, Lakewood
Church in Houston, pastored by Joel Osteen. The church just purchased the
old Houston Rockets basketball arena, which holds 18,000 and Lakewood had
30,000 attending each Sunday (after a 70 million dollar renovation). Osteen
is making the cover of Charisma, a Christianity Today publication, and was
a guest on Larry King Live, to name a few media spots.
Joel’s father,
John, was a prominent Word-Faith teacher and false prophet. He died of
kidney and heart failure after a prolonged illness. Joel
attended
Oral Roberts University but dropped out after two years. He didn’t
study theology. Instead, his focus was television production and advertising.
Very
telling.
In fact, like too many
in the Word-Faith, experiential, charismatic, high-energy
churches, Osteen has a low view of theology. In Charisma
he states, “Make
church relevant. Give them something to…take away. I find today people
aren’t looking for theology.” But Osteen has picked up the
Word-Faith baton. He has joined the new rising breed who count on style
and emotion
rather than substance. People find him “simple, down to earth, practical,
relatable, easy, folksy, and humble.” He is cheerful and optimistic.
Osteen
reveals his focus in his book, Your Best Life Now, where he writes, “We’re
all about helping people reach their full potential…that’s
the message this generation needs to hear.” Sin is bad because it
interferes with your happiness but following God will help you reach your
full potential.
As one critic puts it, “Jesus didn’t come to give you a backrub.”
Help ARC
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You can invest in the
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Target a special donation
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on subscriptions, we will be able to fund our ministry at
its current
level for a year! Cults and New Age
They’re Everywhere
Most Christians think of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses when the subject
of cults comes up and there are many “traditional” cults around
(Christian Science, Unity, Moonies/Unification Church, Bahai, The Way, etc.).
And there is much information out there to warn people—books, videos,
articles and much more.
But because Christians
have traditionally understood cultism as purely doctrinal
deviations, (and even then, Christians generally
are not even well equipped
in doctrine) cults continue to develop and harm people spiritually and emotionally.
Methods of manipulation, exploitation, undue influence, control, fear, and
guilt are used and inflicted upon an unsuspecting population. These are all
devices of cults as well.
Recent news stories continue
to demonstrate this fact. A South African couple report their
18-year-old daughter
has been brainwashed over the internet
and has run away to marry a 58 year old American cult leader of a new age
group,
Amadon. She began to have contact with him when she was 15.
Mormonism
Locally we are beginning to see some Christians being motivated to redemptively
engage Mormon missionaries. A group of young singles have had numerous
meetings with several LDS (Latter Day-Saints) missionaries. The Christians
began in
faith at first reluctantly, but have grown to understand more than ever
what we have in Christ, and how so many millions are deceived by this cult.
In
the process they have gained knowledge, faith in Christ and His power,
and learned to truly love and care for those captured and blinded by
the deceiver.
Some sow, some water, and some reap that we all enter into harvest together.
For our free packet on Mormonism that will prepare you to redemptively
engage Mormon neighbors or even missionaries, indicate it on the form
at the end
of the newsletter. Jehovah’s
Witnesses
With the dubious distinction of being either the largest or next to largest
cult in America (along with Mormonism), the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW)
are a missionary field on your doorstep. My next door neighbors have been
meeting with a few JWs weekly for several months now. With some coaching
they have been able to plant seed after seed in the minds and hearts of these
desperate people. Pray for them and for opportunities to share with JWs yourself.
Ask for our free packet on JWs.
When one thinks “cult”,
one typically pictures Jonestown, Waco, Satanism, etc. We tend to
think of death, deception,
danger, delusion, and
deprivation. Yet the benign-looking JWs have been responsible for many deaths
this year due to their doctrine of no blood transfusions.
Recently (April
11) a story in the Canadian Press reported a scene all too typical
in the U.S. A fourteen-year-old JW girl refused a much-needed blood
transfusion. J.W.’s believe that the “life force” of humans
exists in a person’s blood. Fortunately, the Canadian Supreme Court
weighed in, ruling that freedom of religion was not absolute. This opened
the door
to take a fresh long look at the deathly practice of refusing transfusions. The
Media, Michael Jackson & JWs
Do you realize just how much the media affects us personally
and collectively in our culture? I believe there is a direct
causal relation between the saturation of sex, materialism,
self-gratification, rebellion against tradition, disrespect
for and independence from parents on TV and movies, and
the decline of our souls and culture. “Reality” TV
becomes the reality often more than reflecting it.
The media
often chooses stories with the greatest “glamour
factor” to focus on and spend many days, even months
covering. Hundreds of murders happen every year, and while
they are all tragic, the ones that will spark the most
fear, outrage and sensitivity are much more widely covered.
Who
made the decision that Laci and Scott Peterson was the
story we had to focus on? O.J. Simpson? The kidnapping
of Elizabeth
Smart? Perhaps the Terri Schiavo story is different because
it rejuvenated discussion of ethical issues. But even then
our conclusions were colored by media-biased perspectives
on “facts” we heard or read. Now we have the
newest designated “soap opera” – Michael
Jackson’s trial. To watch his spellbound fans respond
to him with adulation in view of the mounting evidence
is a discouraging sight.
Here is another apologetics perspective
regarding Michael
Jackson. Jackson was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness,
but as he got older, he (and his sister Janet) chose a
lifestyle that was in gross conflict with the JW requirements.
We understand
they were disfellowshiped many years ago. But in a recent
Associated Press interview with Jackson and the “Reverend” Jesse
Jackson, Michael said, “I gain strength from God.
I believe in Jehovah God very much.” The report also
stated that Michael Jackson is a Jehovah’s Witness.
Yet we have a copy of an official letter from the Watchman
Society acknowledging that Michael Jackson disassociated
himself in 1987. On top of that, if Jackson is currently
a member again (which I doubt), this trial is a major
problem for them and he must be disfellowshiped again.
And on top
of that, it would be totally disallowed for him to pray
with Jessie Jackson, who is outside their faith. The
interview stated that Jesse Jackson frequently contacts
Michael and
prays with him.
Yet the JWs have on recent occasions
come under both legal and press scrutiny over numerous charges
of sexual
abuse
by elders and others. There are eleven lawsuits in
Napa Valley, California, charging that two elders repeatedly
molested
children and the governing officials continually failed
to take action. One of the elders ran a JW daycare
center.
Scientology
One
of the most bizarre and dangerous cults in existence today is the “Church
of Scientology.” Even
their window dressing movie stars (Tom Cruise, John
Travolta, and
Kelly Preston) can’t change that reality. Well,
they are actors. The bizarre behavior of Kirsty Alley
is a better
example of how Scientology just doesn’t work.
The
Buffalo News produced a major multi-part series
over 4 days (Jan. 30 – Feb. 2), exposing Scientology.
The series revealed how “Scientology can
tear families apart, uses deceptive practices,
practices
intimidation and
harassment, and how costly it is to advance along
the Scientology bridge.” View the series
at www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050130/1056567.asp.
Because
of Scientology’s ruthless and relentless
campaign against psychiatry (either too much competition
or Scientology’s
founder, L. Ron. Hubbard, could have been diagnosed
as mentally ill), they are attempting to pass legislation
to prevent
students from ever getting psychiatric treatment,
that any treatment become part of the child’s
permanent record, and that parents be informed
that mental
illness must be
diagnosed through a medical field. This is the
same cult that took a psychiatric member through
this
procedure and
she died (Lisa McPherson). Caritas Settlement (For Now)
The wheels of justice often grind slowly and even then things are not always
really resolved. Such may be the case with Caritas, an unofficial Roman Catholic
commune outside of Birmingham.
Five years
ago we were called upon by former members to
help them recover from the deception, explanation,
and abuse
they claim occurred to them while
living
at Caritas. They eventually filed a major lawsuit against the cult’s
leader, Terry Colafrancesco. One of the plaintiffs was the treasurer for
Caritas who also alleged money laundering was done by Colafrancesco.
The cult
formed around the Medjagore (Yugoslavia) “May” visitations
as one of the women who claims to receive daily visitations and messages
from Mary, visited the Caritas location on several occasions. A cult following
ensued
and continues to be there today.
The lawsuit resulted in a confidential settlement earlier this month. Caritas’ lawyers
settled other lawsuits of former members in Florida and California. The suits
accused Colafrancesco of fraud, undue influence, intentional infliction of
emotional distress, and false imprisonment. Unfortunately, the Roman Catholic
church would not get involved in the affair as it is not an officially recognized
entity. Also unfortunate is that the “visionary”, Maria Lunetti,
is scheduled to return to Caritas in August. More people are sure to be exploited
by the deception. University Bible Fellowship
The University Bible Fellowship is another fairly large Bible-based cult on
some college campuses. After the controversy at Wheaton College last year
(Wheaton allowed them to rent their facility for a conference), the National
Association of Evangelicals removed UBF from membership, as the facts were
presented about their abusive methodology. Yet they are still active. Beware.
Harmful Cult Movement
Similar to the International Church of Christ (ICC) movement, another smaller
movement continues to harm its followers - a group that goes by many names
but originally were the Freemans, named after their leader. Sometimes they
use the name of the city they are in or have also used names like, The Church
is Rome or The Church in Corinth. The ICC often uses the name of the city they
are in as well - the church in / of Birmingham, etc.
The Living Church of God
A recent news story that received national attention revealed that a member
of a church in Milwaukee appeared at a service killing 7 and himself on a shooting
rampage. What the media did not bring out was the church, Living Church of
God, was in fact a legalistic cult, an offshoot of the former cult, Herbert
Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God. According to witnesses, the killer had
seen a sermon televised on DVD and stormed out of the service. Later he returned
and started shooting. One of the victims was the minister.
The Living Church
of God is led by Roderick Meredith, one of Armstrong's original leaders who,
following Armstrong's death, along with dozens of other splinter
groups, could not accept the Worldwide Church of God's movement toward Orthodox
Christianity. I was in a quick-shop the other day and saw a rack at the checkout
counter full of some of the splinter group's magazines to lure people into
their fold. They are following the style of Armstrong who published the Plain
Truth magazine. Some of the magazine titles are The Good News - A Magazine
of Understanding, Forerunner - Preparing Christians for the Kingdom of God,
Signs of the Times, and Prove All Things. Transformational Technologies
There are many new age beliefs and practices that are still around and are
growing into the mainstream of a culture shifting to postmodern relativism.
Among the most popular are T.M. (transcendental Meditation) and Yoga. A lesser
known but popular program is Tony Robbins' human potential seminars and his
techniques of "firewalking."
The media continues to give coverage
and credibility to T.M.'s efforts to gain respectability and therefore
adherents. The cult leaders' Maharishi
University
in Iowa, continues to release quasi-scientific "academic" studies
and pronouncements which the press picks up on.
For example, recently the
university's Center for Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition, promoted an
upcoming conference which claimed to provide a corrective
for a major problem for college students, supposedly resulting in major
cultural maladies.
They claim that college life "takes a terrible toll on a student's
brain." The
effects of academic pressures, binge drinking, poor diet, sleep deprivation,
and stress of the brain, damages the student's frontal lobe which controls
decision-making, thought and planning.
Their "research" claims
that the student's brain shifts into "survival mode rather than
careful contemplation." They
claim that it is then a short leap to graduating shallow people who become "duplications
of government officials and cheating Enron executives." The solution
- at Maharishi, the students eat an all organic menu and practice T.M.,
which
will achieve world peace.
A news story also printed a comment
from a non-T.M. academic who argued that stress relievers help the brain
and personalities.
At the University
of Minnesota,
they offer yoga, Tai Chi, and "mindfulness meditation" to
students. But, he said, college students just do risky things in their
immaturity,
but data shows overall that college-educated people live longer.
Of
course, the solution is not these artificial placebos like yoga and
T.M., which I call "drugless drugs." The solution is Christ,
who brings transformation of the mind, will and emotions, through
the spiritual growth
process, through the Word, in community, in mindful contemplation
(not altered states), in prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Actually
there are real
scientific studies that demonstrate negative affects of T.M. Ask
ARC for a free information packet on T.M. and/or yoga, or Tony Robbins.
Also, pray with
us as we challenge the new use of yoga in a local fitness center
run
by the Baptist Health Systems.
Waldorf Schools
Waldorf finally goes to trial. Many cities have private schools that
are part of the Waldorf system of education, but some states which
utilize charter schools
(public educators partnered with private "alternative" educational
groups) employ Waldorf.
The problem is that Waldorf is fundamentally
religious and occultic at that, and offer some substandard educational
approaches. A cobelligerent
coalition
of secular humanists and Christians have teamed up to fight the
Waldorf charter schools legally in California. Our ministry has
been involved
as we have
provided documentation from its founder, Rudolf Steiner, whose
occultic anthroposophy is the foundation and guiding principle
in the Waldorf
system. The trial
is
set for September and we hope to be involved in this challenge.
Birmingham,
our home town, even has a Waldorf school, although it is private and
not a public school here. Pray with us that
another stronghold
of the
enemy is exposed for what it is. Marks of Abusive Religious Groups
by Keith Gibson
Often in cult ministry we focus on groups that deny central
aspects of the Christian faith such as the Trinity, deity
of Christ, salvation by grace etc. Many Christians believe
that if they simply look at a doctrinal statement, they will
be able to spot potentially harmful organizations. Such may
not be the case. There are many groups, such as University
Bible Fellowship and International Church of Christ which
look very good on paper but are involved in practices that
can prove spiritually damaging. Our Kansas City office has
recently become involved with one such group. It is important
that believers are able to move beyond the doctrinal statements
to recognize other telltale signs of danger.
Elitism. Abusive
religious groups see themselves as a cut above all others.
Whether this manifests in a belief that
they are the only true church or merely that they are the
most dynamic and committed, other churches are viewed with
suspicion and disdain.
Manipulation. Following
closely on the heels of elitism are subtle practices of
manipulation.
Most of the time,
this
is accomplished by limiting options. An easy way to understand
this concept is to picture a rat in a maze. Though no
one physically touches the rat to move it in a particular
direction,
the choices the rat is given are so limited that its
course is essentially predetermined. Similarly, alternatives
are
presented to the member in such a way that only one choice
is really possible. For instance, “Do you want
to be wholehearted for Jesus or continue to love the
world
and
run track?” Obviously no one wants to be thought
of as loving the world. But the thought is never allowed
that
the member might be able to glorify God by using God-given
athletic abilities. By presenting the alternatives in
this way, the leader of the group is able to conform
the behavior
of the members into his/her ideal. At the same time,
the member feels like he/she is the one who made the
decision.
Thus it is not uncommon for members to protest that they
are not being coerced. “I chose to quit track.
No one made me do it.” Technically, they are right.
However, the pressure applied made conformity inevitable,
especially
if one has already bought the message that this is the
only true church.
Commitment to God =
Commitment to Group. In abusive groups, a subtle switch
is made that causes
commitment to the
activities and beliefs of the group to equal commitment
to God. This
may be extremely difficult to spot at first because
most of us express our commitment to God through faithfulness
and ministry in our local church. The difference is
one
of degree. Imagine a student in college. Abusive groups
may
ask the student to lead small-group studies on multiple
nights of the week. Other nights may be consumed with
gatherings of the entire group and leadership training.
On weekends
the group has evangelistic outreach activities and
of course there are regular special emphasis weeks. The
student may
find that his class work or family life is suffering
under the burden. However, if he questions the amount
the group
is requiring he will be told he needs to stop loving
the world and go wholeheartedly after God. Never is
the
thought
allowed that God may actually want him to study or
spend time with his family.
Rigidity. In abusive
groups everything is black and white. It is taught that
there
are few areas of conscience
in
which Christians can legitimately disagree. Related
to this is
a heavy emphasis on works. These groups rob members
of intimacy with God for one can never do enough,
sacrifice enough, follow
the rules close enough to be sure that God has been
satisfied.
Many of the members of these groups live in a morbid
self-reflection, consumed with worry over whether
or not God can accept
them today. Some members of the group, especially
those who are
new or close to the leadership, may actually feel
that they ARE keeping all the rules. These members tend
to become very
judgmental of others in the group they perceive to
be weaker. One young man, when I questioned why he
had pressured
another
member to cut his hair a particular way, responded
coldly, “Well
I was worried about “_____” because it
didn’t
look like he had left enough behind to me.”
Much
more could be said including the use of guilt,
milieu control and a host of other characteristics
but the sample
above should give the discerning Christian a foundation
for recognizing the practices of spiritually abusive
groups. Paul Martin has called these signs “the
footprints of the wolf”. In order for us to
protect ourselves and our families one thing is certain,
we must look deeper
than the doctrinal statement. The Pope
There are lots of news stories focusing on the departed Pope and the new Pope
of the Roman Catholic church. Some of the stories are confusing to the average
evangelical. For example, the May 2005 issues of Christianity Today as well
as two major articles found on their website, Pope John Paul II is depicted
as a friend of evangelicals and “the most significant Pope since the
Reformation.” Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School, believes
that the Pope “provided the moral impetus that we [Protestants] didn’t
have internally within our community,” regarding issues of life and
death (abortion and euthanasia). This Pope “gave the moral rationale
and leadership role that galvanized Catholics and evangelicals together on
issues of life in their culture.”
George points
out that the Pope’s
condemnation helped to put a check on the focus of liberalism (they like
the word “progressivism”),
especially in the West and USA. The Christianity Today article focused on “the
surprising story of the late Pope’s personal involvement with American
evangelicals.” He was Cardinal Wojtyla in Poland in 1975 when he paved
the way for Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) to partner with a conservative,
energized and outreach oriented Catholic group called Oasis. Oasis’ fervor
was fueled and guided by CCC, and even adopted Crusade’s 10 Basic Steps
to Christian Maturity discipleship book. Even when the traditionalist and
growing liberal Catholic priests challenged this synergy, Wojtyla overruled
them to
allow it. He also teamed with evangelicals against Communism.
Yet, the
Pope was paradoxical. He was such a traditionalist
that he sought, pampered, and
gained support of some controversial subgroups (sometimes called
cults) such as Opus Dei and Legion of Christ (we have an information packet
available on Opus Dei). Now the paradox continues. The College of Cardinals
just elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI. Ratzinger
was the past Pope’s go-to guy on theology
and doctrine. He headed up the Vatican’s
office of doctrine. He continues even stronger
the commitment to Roman Catholic dogma. So
no loosening on issues like contraception,
abortion,
or celibate priesthood.
One of the
continuing paradoxes is the relationship of
evangelicals with these two popes. Ratzinger
guided the Vatican involvement with the World
Lutheran
Federation in their Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
(JD). This agreement, in essence, nullified at least six anathemas (condemnations/excommunications)
of Protestants which were proclaimed at the Council of Trent. This unprecedented
agreement indicates that the Reformation doctrine of justification by
grace
alone through faith alone in the imputed righteousness of Christ is no
longer
condemned. Ratzinger navigated this agreement. Hardly a traditional hard-core
conservative Catholic position! Read all about this document, Ratzinger,
and what still separates Roman Catholics from Protestantism by ordering
a back
issue of our Areopagus Journal titled “The Reformation Was NOT a
Mistake!” (Vol
4:3).
Another interesting perspective regarding the parting Pope is the fact
that four million people came to Rome, hundreds of thousands came to
the service,
and multimillions watched on television. Yet there was no contemporary
service; it was even in Latin! So do we still evaluate effective ministries
by numbers
and pastors with celebrity status?
Sadly, when the Latin was translated into English, listeners heard prayers
begging God to let John Paul II into heaven, calling on Mary and the
saints to intercede for him. To the thief on the cross, Jesus said, “Truly I
say to you, today you shall be with my in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Letters
The part you and your friends played in opening our eyes
to the individual humanity of those in the cults was effective.
Last week in the session, the members were talking about
sharing with cult devotees instead of running from them.
Thank you for all you do. Birmingham, AL
I want to thank you
again for speaking to Dawson’s
youth on Wednesday night. You did a wonderful job! I wish
we had scheduled you for more time. I hope that we can have
you come back and speak again. Thanks again for a great presentation.
Birmingham, AL
Thanks for providing
me with the report. It was an extraordinary piece of work.
I can’t imagine how you could have done
this most difficult task any better. You firmly and consistently
cite biblical and doctrinal error with both grace and sincere
sensitivity. I promise I will thoroughly and prayerfully
read and study the paper so I will not be guilty of what
some of our spiritually lazy brothers and sisters will certainly
do. This matter deserves serious reflection. By God’s
grace I pray that this effort will serve to be constructive
rather than divisive, but even if it does not, your work
honors God and His word and I am sure He is pleased. Thanks
again for your faithful and diligent work.
Birmingham, AL
I have recently received
a copy of your report. The report was a tremendous help
for me
in evaluating this church. I
have several friends who are members of the church and seem
to have little knowledge or concern of the church’s
problematic beliefs. I wanted to thank you for your work
that was clearly written in the love of Christ.
Birmingham, AL
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