Worldviews
The Newsletter of the Apologetics Resource Center
June 2005
Praise Report!
Thank the Lord with us! Because of your generous donations we were able to take
out a 4-ad campaign with World magazine and have had an encouraging response.
We have hundreds of NEW subscriptions to Areopagus Journal from all over the
country. We have also made new contacts with hundreds of people who have either
subscribed to Worldviews, our free newsletter you are holding right now, or
that wanted one of the free information packets we offer on a wide variety
of topics. Hopefully this is only the beginning! With the launch of our new
website at www.arcapologetics.org, we hope to continue to see a steady increase
in subscriptions for the purpose of aiding and equipping the church to give
an answer and make a real difference in the kingdom. We are now just 300 subscriptions
short of the needed amount to break even on the printing costs. Please pray
with us that the subscriptions will continue to increase as Christians realize
more and more the need for apologetics in our culture.
We encourage you to
take a look at the new website if you haven’t already.
With the help of Seth Wallace at Web
Renown, we have a professional site with
lots of great features. You can order a subscription online securely with a
credit card, purchase books, order free information packets
or request other information
or help. You can also check out our upcoming events and stay current with the
work that ARC is doing all over the country. If you didn’t notice it,
please take a look at our ad that ran in the May editions of World and see
what we were
able to accomplish because of your generosity. Thank you so much for partnering
with us!
Now pray for our ability
to purchase or otherwise procure a more adequate office
building for the significant increased need for our ministry.
We need
3-4 additional
offices for new staff and a much larger room for our research library (half
of our library is still unpacked). Want Help?
How can the Apologetics Resource Center be of service to you? Some of our resources
are as follows:
1. Areopagus Journal-a bi-monthly
journal which provides a thorough understanding of what the Bible teaches
on a variety of important
subjects. It deepens and
broadens your faith and provides answers to help overcome skeptics’ or
unbelievers’ barriers to the lifegiving faith in Jesus and His truth.
Subscribe today! You can review our back issues by visiting the website at
www.arcapologetics.org.
2. Visit the website and read our
articles online, or go to our resource section and peruse our free information
packets on
a large variety of subjects.
Again,
these articles not only are powerful to respond to unbelievers but also
help Christians overcome doubts and deepen their faith.
3. If you want
to go even deeper, visit our recommended reading section where you
can view and purchase a wide variety of books online at www.arcapologetics.org/reading.htm.
4. Explore the possibility of us coming
to your church to educate and equip the body there in apologetics. We
have conducted major 4-day
conferences
in larger churches as well as single-evening programs at small or
large churches. This brings access and resources to individual members
in your
entire congregation
on an ongoing basis. Call us toll free 866-403-0102.
5. Individual
coaching on witnessing to loved ones, neighbors or friends is available
and fruitful. Also, we are here to help with intervention
with general
cult situations, or with “mind control” cults. We can
also help with rehabilitation issues.
6. If you are local we provide
training seminars for regular church members, apprentice and
intern programs, and a seminary and Bible
college degree
in apologetics.
7. Another goal is to train “professionals” to
establish other ARCs in other cities across America. In addition
to Birmingham,
we have an
office in Kansas City, MO.
ARC is a non-profit mission agency which exists solely on the
financial and prayer support of the body of Christ. Help us
protect and feed
the Church
as well as advance the kingdom of light over the kingdom of
darkness. The Problem of Evil
With events in our state’s, nation’s, and world’s recent
history, many people have been left wondering, “Why Lord?” Locally,
a recent high school graduate has become missing in Aruba, and while her family
is struggling to make sense of a situation of intense personal suffering, the
rest of the world looks on and wonders why such atrocities occur. How can a
good God allow bad things to happen?
A plane hits the Twin
Towers, killing thousands. A tsunami strikes killing tens
of thousands and leaving thousands
of orphans and estranged families.
Famine, pestilence, disease and human inflicted pain occur daily all over
the globe. If there is a God, and He truly is all-powerful,
why doesn’t He
put an end to the evil and suffering?
Christians need to be
equipped to answer such questions from unbelievers. Many
Christians themselves
don’t know how to reconcile an omni-benevolent
God with an evil world. However, searching the Scriptures gives us insight
into why God not only allows evil to occur, but actually uses it for the
greater good of those who love Him. Romans 8:28 tells
us that God causes all things
to work for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to
His purpose. Truly, nothing can separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ,
and we are told that we are “more than conquerors” in tribulation
through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
One classic example
of this principle is seen in Genesis 45, in the story of
Joseph. His own brothers sold him
into slavery, an unthinkable act of
wicked
cruelty. How Joseph must have felt, so intimately betrayed by his own
flesh and blood! Years later, however, when Joseph was
the prime minister of
Egypt, God used him to save His people from famine. Joseph’s words
to his brothers ring with a truth that is good for every believer today, “You
meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).
Indeed,
God did use Joseph’s situation for good, and not only that, we
are told in Genesis 45:8 that it wasn’t Joseph’s brothers
who sent him to Egypt, but God Himself! In this particular incident,
God used Joseph’s
temporary suffering to bring about a greater good: to preserve the life
of His chosen people who were experiencing a famine. There are many other
incidents
in Scripture that outline other reasons for suffering, including bringing
unbelievers to repentance (Jonah 1:13-16), to sanctify believers (Philippians
3:10), to
equip us to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4) and to bring glory to
His own name (Job).
For a more in depth look at the problem of evil and suffering and for
a deeper apologetic, order a copy of our latest edition of Areopagus
Journal,
'Why
Lord”,
by filling out the form at the end of the newsletter. For Such a Time as This
The Apologetics Resource Center is one of the few apologetics ministries that
provide a wholistic approach to a serious need in the world today. Our vision
is to plant other resource centers in the U.S. and beyond.
We provide research,
analysis, training/equipping, educational products, seminars, and conferences,
consultation and interventions on worldview issues, cultural
issues, philosophy, common objections and barriers to the faith, attacks
on Christian truth claims, cults and new religious movements, world
religions,
and we challenge the Church herself to better understand her collective and
individual calling - to love God with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength;
to seek first His kingdom and righteousness; and to be salt and light.
Why
do I say “serious need?” It is not just me. Christian
leader after leader have been sounding the alarm and concern
for years. For example
in a new book by IVP, The Truth about Tolerance, Brad Stetson and Joseph
Conti write, “But certainly the most urgent question facing
Evangelical Christianity in America today is not just its social
or intellectual dysfunctions, but rather
the presumption against Christianity’s very legitimacy as a religious
orientation in a pluralistic culture” (p. 103).
In other words, Christianity
has either neglected and retreated too often from our calling to be redemptively
engaged as salt and light in our culture
and
its institutions, or has inappropriately (unbiblically) engaged the few
times it did. But the problem now is that the culture has deteriorated
to the level
that there is an overt hostility toward any exclusive truth claim in
a “tolerant” relativistic
culture.
And unfortunately, the Church
has accommodated and compromised so much (like the frog in the
kettle syndrome) to this seduction,
contrary to
our instructions
in Romans 12:1-2. Will You Help?
We are all called to be the “light on a hill,” and the “salt
of the earth,” providing life giving, preserving truth to the nations
(Mat. 5:13-16; 28:18-20). You individually and people in your church collectively
can become engaged intellectually, emotionally, and volitionally.
Begin by subscribing to the Areopagus Journal and select certain helpful back
issues to order. Begin reading our recommended books - transform your mind.
Begin
praying, allowing the Holy Spirit to defeat whatever barriers of unbelief
you have in your own life. Pray Col. 4:2-6 for you and others in
the church
to seek out and have open doors for ministry and evangelism. Pray for God’s
kingdom to advance against the “gates of Hell” in our culture.
Pray for us regularly. Transform your heart and soul.
Step out. Review and
analyze your schedule to see what your true goals and values are and invest
in things with eternal significance and value. Help
us with financial support. We desperately need expanded office facilities
and
even staff increases. Regular support would directly expand our work effectiveness.
Because of our direct ministry involvement we have seen many come to Christ
including Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, atheists, agnostics, skeptics,
Satanist, New Agers, The Way, Christian Scientist, Church of Christ, Roman
Catholics. We challenged state and local school boards on incorporating
new age curricula and have had regulations and laws passed to prohibit
it. We
have had major department stores withdraw exploitative and destructive
occult products
and practices. We have seen many Christians sidelined with doubts and unbelief
be revived and become more fruitful. We have seen young people’s
faith deepened and widened, even rehabilitated as they faced these influences
and
challenges.
Indeed, there are many serious
issues and trends that bring death to people and cultures. Christians
must “not be ignorant of
Satan’s schemes” (2
Corinthians 2:11), and must “destroy speculations and every lofty
thought raised up against the knowledge of God and take every thought
captive to the
obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
If not, Christians
will be seduced or inoculated and will not have the will nor the knowledge
to engage people, ideas, and institutions with
the truth
in the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you like Paul whose spirit was
exasperated within himself when he beheld “a city full of idols”? Are
we like Paul when he experienced this and became motivated to engage
(Acts 17:17-18)? ARC Is Expanding
We are establishing a beachhead in Romania. A colleague and staff member of
my former ministry has joined ARC staff. Tatiana Mihailuc has been a translator
of ministry materials for many years. She will now work for us full time
as we produce probably the first significant apologetics materials for the
Romanian Church. If you don’t know the history, the Romanian Church
was forced underground by the abusive Communist rule for over an entire generation.
Before that, they were oppressed by the Orthodox Church. But now they are
free and are experiencing cults, Islam, new age alternative “medicine”,
legalism, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox hardliners, common objections
like evolution, relativism, hedonism, and secularism. Other issues like homosexuality,
inerrancy and things that the West is encountering are just around the corner.
Tatiana
is married to Johnny and has a seven year old daughter, Dorothy. Pray with
us for her work there. Culture Wars
What are the most important issues facing us today? Unfortunately, the popular
media tells us what is relevant and important. Surely the Michael Jackson
trial and the runaway bride must be, right? Or is it the five reported instances
of the “mistreatment” of the Koran? Or maybe the difficult environment
of captured terrorists who do not even fall under the auspices of the Geneva
Convention?
May I suggest responsible debate
and coverage on issues like same-sex marriage and adoption, responsible
marriage and parenthood, the effects of
promiscuity
and divorce, the effects of junk culture, the effects of postmodernism, pornography,
Christianity in the public square, abortion or euthanasia, the power and
shape of the arts, materialism and greed, and social responsibility?
May
I recommend a new book, Lies That Go Unchallenged in Popular Culture,
by Charles Colson? Colson introduces the book, “Contemporary American
culture has drifted far from its Judeo-Christian moorings...Over the past
generation,
the ideas and values of the liberal elite have permeated popular culture.
Scientific and technological advances have improved our quality of life
in some respects,
but our sense of the sanctity of life, the traditional family, and the
moral standards of society have all suffered greatly. As Christians, we
have a
hard time responding adequately as various laws, events, and people affect
popular
culture and challenge what we believe and how we live. Thus we often fail
to challenge [or even engage in discussion relationally or otherwise] the
implicit
lies that drive the changes in our culture. These lies are thus found in
our churches, families, media, politics, art, and education. They affect
us and
our families and how we relate to each other at all levels of society.”
The
book is divided into seven sections with many dimensions addressed in
3-4 page chapters. Each chapter contains a short study guide for individual
and
group use. The only weakness is that it delivers a succinct overview
and
not an in-depth exposition. But it does have a recommended book section
on
each
topic.
Star Wars
A good example of art being used to powerfully promote an ideology are the
Star Wars movies. The popular release of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,
and the overall box office promotional merchandise makes the series the most
financially successful and popular film franchise ever.
Many movie buffs
enjoy the artistry and story without understanding the worldview it
promotes. There is an overt Buddhist, new-age philosophy taught in
the series.
The suggestion is made that “absolutes” are intrinsically evil.
How is a Christian to respond? Request our free information packet on Star
Wars and be prepared for discussions.
Engaging Homosexuality--Right & Wrong
Remember the rhetoric of the homosexual activists ten years ago,
citing the Kinsey prison study that 10% of the population were
homosexual? Liberal
activism
influenced a category change in the American Psychological Association’s
Diagnostic Manual (DSM), removing homosexuality as an abnormal behavioral
category.
Then came the French and Scandinavian
studies both putting the number at 3-4%. Even so, the movement has
continued to evolve--or mutate.
Now
the
issue is
same-sex marriage, based on equal rights for genetic orientation minorities.
So
how do Christians respond and on what basis? Recently a self-proclaimed
Christian “leader” demonstrated the wrong way. Televangelist
Jimmy Swaggart spewed out vindictive comments over the airwaves saying
that if a
homosexual ever looked at him romantically, “I’m going
to kill him and tell God he died.” Swaggart also said that
any lawmakers who are undecided about same-sex marriage “oughta
have to marry a pig and live with him forever.” This is from
a fallen leader who was caught cheating on his wife with a prostitute.
Another
approach is being initiated by Bruce Shortt and Dr. Voddie
Bauchman in a proposed resolution on homosexuality in public schools
before the
Southern Baptist Convention. The resolution calls for Baptist churches
to check if their
public schools promote curricula or programs which treat homosexuality
as an acceptable lifestyle. If so, remove their children and provide
affordable alternatives
(home-school or private Christian schools).
Do you know someone
struggling with homosexuality? Where do your local and state legislators
stand on the issue? Is homosexuality
genetic?
Normal genetic
or abnormal genetic? Can homosexuals change their choices, their
orientation? What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Is
it the unforgivable
sin?
Order our back issue of the Areopagus
Journal, “Calling
Evil Good” and
get an annual subscription to be sure to receive the upcoming
issue, “Abandoning
Nature.” You can order our free information packet on
homosexuality by using the form at the end of the newsletter.
Also, be aware
of the following
websites, www.crossministry.org and www.exodusglobalalliance.org.
Evolution
or Creation?
This issue has been a continuous battle since the Scopes
Monkey Trial in Tennessee in 1925. A recent Gallup Poll (2004)
revealed
that still
48%
of Americans believe
in creationism while only 28% believe in evolution. That
means 24% are neutral or ambivalent and are not likely to
become
activists on either
side.
Even though the sides seem disproportionate,
the creationists numbers have whittled away over the last few decades.
And,
the liberal
academic community
has gained control over the schools with the rhetoric that
science and religion don’t mix. One is factual and
scientific, while the existence of God is a faith issue.
There
are two major factions in the Christian community. One
group is the literal six-day creation proponents and
the other
is what
is called
old
earth progressive
creationists or intelligent design (ID) proponents.
Six-day
creationists have historically demonstrated the fallacies of “scientific” evolutionary
theory and usually appeal straight to the Bible to support
the six day creation. ID proponents also point out the flaws of evolutionary
theory but then utilize
good science to demonstrate the strength of the proposition
of intelligent design and thus a Designer.
All Christians involved point to the fact that this is
no mere ivory tower, inconsequential debate. Evolution
is based
on
a philosophy of naturalistic
materialism which has very real and destructive applications
in many
aspects of our culture. Knowledgeable Christians are
now organizing. The ID proponents,
which include many well-educated scientists, are gaining
ground and momentum.
Intelligent Design campaigns are
being pursued in nearly two dozen states through school boards,
courts, and
legislatures. The U.S.
District Court
in California
is about to hear a case filed by parents demanding
that schools be required to also teach the purported
flaws
of evolution.
In Kansas, the Science Hearings
Committee of the Kansas State Board of Education recently held hearings
on
teaching alternatives
to
evolutionary theory. Interestingly,
rather than stand up and argue their case, the
Darwinian
defenders instead
decided to boycott the hearings so as to not give
the ID crowd “any legitimacy.”
In a
Christian Science Monitor article reprinted in
a pro-evolutionary site, technewsworld.com (talk
about
ironic), evolution
educators bemoan the fact
that more and more students themselves are bringing
arguments
challenging evolution into the classroom--arguments
drawn out by creationist/ID
proponents.
The National Science Teachers Association
survey found that 31% of science teachers in public
schools are
feeling pressure
from
students
and parents
to include “creationism, intelligent
design, or other nonscientific alternatives
to evolution
in their classrooms.” Notice again the
prejudicial language “other
nonscientific alternatives.”
Join in this
ministry front. Get informed. Get involved
in your student’s
studies, the classrom, the PTA, and the school
boards. Order our two journal issues, “Science
vs. Christianity”, and “Creation
or Evolution?” Or
get a free information packet on this topic.
Don’t delay. Schools will
be starting in less than two months. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Television evangelists (and popular “Christian” radio personalities
as well) are being exposed or are exposing themselves for what they really
are. But sadly, they also expose an ugly side of what Christians or professing
Christians are as well.
Joel
Osteen-- Osteen pastors Lakewood Church
in Houston, which has been noted as the
largest and fastest growing church in
the U.S. They have 30,000 in attendance
at five services on the weekend. He is on most cable and satellite networks.
He took over the reigns from his father, John Osteen, a teacher of the sometimes
fatal word-faith heresy who died of cancer.
Osteen
was interviewed this week on Larry King
Live, and revealed his
shallow,
one-sided, and sometimes heretical theology, his pragmatism driven strategy,
and his deceptions.
For example, King asked him if he believed like other ministers who said
it’s
not by your works that you’re saved and if one, like a Jew or a Muslim,
doesn’t believe in Christ, they aren’t going to heaven. Does
one get to heaven only by believing in Christ, to which Osteen replied, “I
don’t know. I’m very careful about saying who would and who
wouldn’t
go to heaven.” [Speaking of Jews, atheists, and Muslims] Osteen replied, “Well,
I don’t know if I believe they are wrong...only God will judge a
person’s
heart. I’ve spent a lot of time with my dad in India. I don’t
know all about their religion [Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism]. But I do know
they
love God. I’ve seen their sincerity, so I don’t know.” Deplorable!
King
asked him about his allegiance to the “prosperity gospel” to
which Osteen deceptively replied, “I think the prosperity gospel
in general is--well, I don’t know.” He goes on to say that
he doesn’t
believe its all about money, but he does believe “God wants us
to be blessed” monetarily “but prosperity to me is not just
money, its having health.”
When
asked about the dilemma of an all powerful,
all good God allowing evil and suffering
in the world, Osteen
claimed ignorance again but gave
the one-dimensional
answer of man having a free will. King then asked him, “How about
issues that the church has feelings about? Abortion? Same-sex marriages?” Osteen
replied, “You know what, I don’t go there...I don’t
think abortion is the best, I think there is a better way to live your
life.” King
responded, “You don’t call them sinners?” Osteen
answered, “I
don’t.” King said, “Is that a word you don’t
use?” Osteen
replied, “I don’t use it. I never thought about it.”
King
went on, “What do you wonder about most...what boggles your mind
about this world?” Osteen replied, “I don’t know.
Nothing comes to mind.” King asked, “What about depression,
which affects over 20 million people here?” After stumbling around
nonsensibly, Osteen finally said, “I don’t know Larry.
I don’t have any great
wonderment.”
Joyce
Meyer--Meyer is an effective communicator
stylistically and often her content is
strongly
exhortative. But too often
she espouses a word-faith theology and “makes merchandise” of
her work. Unless you live in St. Louis, her headquarters,
you probably won’t read the exposes regarding her lack
of accountability and extravagant lifestyle which is consistent
with her theology.
The
St. Louis Dispatch has done investigative
reports of her financial holdings, board make-up, and probable
illegal
tax exemptions. Ministry Watch, a Christian
financial and ethical watchdog group issued this month a recommendation that
donors “withhold contributions to Joyce Meyer/Life in This World, Inc.” in
reponse to lavish lifestyles, extravagant salaries, and other benefits in
light of the charges by the local tax assessor and that her ministry is not
a church,
but a business.
Her
board, run by her and her husband and
children, agreed to pay Meyer $900,000
annually, her husband $450,000, provide
a $2 million
home, $1.475 million
for three of her children’s homes on the compound, a separate $50,000
housing allowance, free use of a corporate jet, $80,000 annually to a retirement
fund,
and a $790,000 fund to be used at the Meyer’s discretion for bonuses.
She also receives the royalties (approximately $3 million annually) from
her book sales.
Federal
law prohibits founders of tax-exempt
religious organizations from reaping
huge personal benefits from their ministry,
and a ministry
that
doesn’t
conduct church services cannot qualify for a church tax-exemption. This
aspect will be challenged in court. When interviewed on Larry King Live,
Meyer was
asked about the detrimental effect of Jim and Tammy Baker. Meyer said that,
yes, they hurt the cause--Christians must have credibility.
Joyce Meyer is scheduled to perform here in Birmingham in September at
the Convention Complex. There will be ample opportunities to buy her
books, and
make pledges and donations as her messages will certainly include an
incentive to do so.
Order our free packet on Joyce Meyer and inform your friends!
Benny
Hinn--Another “Christian” celebrity
who has been exposed many times for his
extravagant lifestyle,
false healing claims and heretical teachings is at it again.
At the end of April, Hinn came away from one of his “crusades” in
Nigeria angrily shouting “Four million dollars down
the drain!” at the three-day event. That’s how
much Hinn claimed was spent in hotels, transportation, ads
and facilities for the conference, but with inadequate financial
return.
So
that’s what it is all about? Surprise, surprise.
We have found that too many African Christians here in America
have been influenced by the many
word-faith preachers that regularly go to Africa. Order our two editions of
Areopagus Journal that deal with the word-faith heresy, copy the articles and
distribute them to these people. We have done so and seen many restored to
biblical faith.
Rod
Parsley--One of the newer wannabes in
the increasing line of word-faith teachers
(Hagin, Copeland, Saville, Capps,
Cerullo, Dollar, etc) is Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church,
outside Columbus, Ohio. A recent Cleveland Plain Dealer news
story revealed Parsley’s new phase is to focus on the
Christian’s role in politics and government, taking
an extreme dominionist position. The focus happens to coincide
with his new book, Silent No More, on that very subject.
Parsley
too operates an extravagant $40 million
ministry on 1400 TV and cable networks,
and is a regular on the mostly
heretical TBN network. He too preaches
the prosperity message justifying a $1 million home with pool, a $63,000
Cadillac ESV, a $68,000 Lexus, a Polaris
all terrain vehicle, a 21 acre compound
with
his parents who are provided with a $940,000 home and a $450,000 vacation
home. In addition, Parsley naturally
defends this by saing he wants “to create
a culture where people enjoy the prosperity God has given us...It’s time
we said, ‘Satan, you didn’t give it to me and you’re not
going to take it away.”
As Pogo once said, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” In Our July Worldviews
We will address news and issues regarding the Mormons new strategy for all
their door to door witnessing, the Jehovah’s Witnesses continued saga
of killing by no blood transfusions, the complex issue of Contemplative prayer
in churches, the truth about Scientology and the celebrity craze, the other
celebrity craze--Kabbalah, astrology, new age alternative medicines and eastern
meditation advances. Be prepared to give an answer to all (1 Peter 3:15)!
Letters
Dear ARC,
A friend had me read your current newsletter and I was so excited to find such
good information by some group to keep us informed and address some of the
apologetic problems or lack thereof in the church. Please send me the current
issue as I have just studied some of the information in it. I will use it to
help others understand the problems in the church today. Great work! Clarkesville,
GA
Dear ARC,
I saw your ad in World Magazine right at a time when
I was searching for a good site on apologetics. The
Lord is good! Royersford, PA
Dear ARC
I enjoyed the introduction to your report. I will read
the rest later today. You have always done such good
work and your maturity in your calling is
evident in this intro. Could you send me a copy of this report and the
subsequent theological
review?
Anyway, it was good to just hear about how God is using you, brother. Those
training classes you held in your home in Homewood in the 80’s were foundational
to my theological training and helped me think and pray through all the winds
of doctrine and praxis that seem to come at us daily. Alabaster, AL
Order
Back Issues of Areopagus Journal and be ready to give
an answer for the hope that you have... Back issues are only
$4.00 each. Or buy all 22 for $70.00 plus $5 shipping!
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