Worldviews
The Newsletter of the Apologetics Resource Center
November 2005

Why Support ARC?
The Apologetics Resource Center is a "faith" ministry, which means we trust God to supply the resources for us to minister and to expand our work. God normally works through His people - the Church to accomplish this. It is through your sharing your financial resources and prayers and personal applications that sustain us.

God in His wisdom, blesses both us and you the giver in this process. Read I Corinthians 8-9 and Phil. 4:15-20 to be edified and encouraged regarding this fact. ARC has a significant need at this time. We currently are experiencing a $50,000 deficit for 2005. In order to function and to grow we must make up that deficit, increase our budget, and purchase larger office space.

We have six local staff (and need to expand to eight) with four offices, a workroom and a library area that is less that half the space we need. One-half of one of the best apologetics libraries is still packed in boxes because of lack of room! We have an office in Kansas City manned by Keith Gibson who is still raising support to be full time. Sounds and looks impossible but we believe with God, all things are possible. Prayerfully consider investing your times of prayer and your treasures in things eternal, including ARC.

ARC is a unique kind of ministry and is very strategic. The West, especially the U.S. is experiencing a cultural crisis with the advance of humanism, modernism, and post-modern relativism. The Church, because of too much accommodation and complacency and a loss of doctrinal focus, is not being effective to its calling to be salt and light, and there are consequences, including a general anemia of faith. ARC serves a prophetic voice to this crisis and also serves as an equipper for the church to redemptively engage people, ideas and institutions. We produce solid, relevant journals (have you subscribed yet?) newsletters (Worldviews), and books for that purpose. We appear on radio and television programs. We conduct seminars and conferences in churches. We send out hundreds of free information packets, including a growing number to Christians in prison. We frequently coach and come alongside Christians to engage non-believers and cultists.

We have programs for high school and college students. We offer seminary and college degrees and certificates in apologetics. We opened another office in Kansas City and plan to open other offices around the country. We have been on mission trips to South America, Mexico, Australia, and soon to China. We perform interventions on people in destructive cults and guide their rehabilitation. We train Christians to redemptively respond to Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ, Scientologists, Muslims, Roman Catholics, and many other religious groups.

We used to refer to cults as "the largest yet least evangelized people group." I say "used to" because I believe that now high school and college students may be a larger group with reference to the stats that 2/3 of them leave the church while in college. Also the postmodern relativist/skeptics may be as numerous as those involved in cults. And even within the Church itself we have a major movement taking place toward "feel good," name-it, claim-it heresies, as well as something called "the emerging church movement," which all need major responses.

We equip Christians to engage the culture on issues like homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, stem cell research, genetic engineering, cloning, euthanasia, church-state relations, just war doctrine, etc. We provide expertise in all areas of the New Age Movement's manifestations including many of the modalities in alternative "medicine." We have been instrumental in stopping new age products and curriculum in public schools.
We teach, train, and coach Christians how to share the faith and answer objections or barriers to faith. For example, we are now continually bombarded through the liberal media's attacks on the reliability of the Bible. We regularly hear postmodern relativism's mantra "that's your truth and this is my truth," and any claim of Christianity's exclusiveness is called "intolerant" or "bigoted."

And finally there are the insidious perversions of Christianity seducing more and more into their clutches - the "feel good Christianity" of people like Joel Osteen, and the Word-Faith (name-it, claim-it) teachers like Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, and the hosts of performers on TBN's network.

Visit our website and see what we offer to the Church and the public (www.arcapologetics.org). Please consider regular support to this unique and strategic ministry. We at ARC are involved in "preventative medicine" for spiritually sick viruses, which are often fatal. And we provide the curative vaccine of the real gospel and the real God. Call us to discuss scheduling a conference or seminar in your church or area. Partner with us!

More On Narnia
As we promoted in an earlier newsletter, Disney's production of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe is set to open December 9th, 2005. ARC's SNEAK PREVIEW is on December 8th at the Summit theatres at 6:30pm. Dr. Ted Baehr has reviewed it and says "Neither the fans of the book, nor the fans of the story behind the story will be disappointed."

Even so, many will miss Lewis' intention of retelling the true story and meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, unless we take this wonderful opportunity to tell them--before or after they see it. The production was overseen by Lewis' stepson, Douglas Gresham, a "Narnia guru," who stated "the team that we've had on this film has been so good that there's been very little that I've had to complain about."

Everyone says the production, acting, and special effects are wonderful, deserving "high praise." Come join us!

ARC in China, Australia & Romania
ARC's Associate Director, Dr. Steve Cowan, has been invited to China to lecture at Xiamen University, on Philosophy of Religion. This is an obvious move of God, a wonderful strategic opportunity. As many know, the underground church in China is the fastest growing in the world with estimates of over 50 million Christians.

China is the largest communist country left, making the free practice of Christianity illegal. For example, according to a Washington Post story (11/08/2005), a prominent pastor was just sentenced to three years in prison for illegally printing and distributing Bibles. In China, you must have special permission to print certain literature, including Bibles. Chinese police seized 237,000 Bibles from the warehouse where the pastor was storing them for distribution. China does allow worship in state controlled "Christian" churches, but not "underground" (evangelical) ones. This is a rare opportunity to have a direct witness to the philosophical leadership in China. Please pray for Steve. We need to raise $2,000 for his travel expenses.

Steve is also one of 24 scholars who contributed to a new philosophical apologetic book, The Big Argument: 24 Scholars Explore Why Science, Archaeology and Philosophy Haven't Disproved God. Steve's contribution is a chapter titled, "The Question of Moral Values." The book is published in Australia (and will be available here), which has one of the smallest percentages of Christians of any country in the world.

ARC just opened an office in Romania. Tatiana Mihailuc has been a translator of Christian materials for many years and has recently joined ARC to translate our apologetics materials into Romanian and to circulate them in the churches there. The Romanian Church was underground for an entire generation, under the suppression of Communist dictator Ceausecu for 24 years (and under communism for 41 years). About 15 years ago he was assassinated and the Church was then made free. But they were unprepared for the surge of cults and the effects of humanistic skepticism left in the wake of the many years of communist control. This will be one of the first major developments of full apologetics resources. God is using ARC well beyond our local borders in significant places and we are so pleased and grateful.

Cults and Culture
Mormonism
Newsweek recently ran a story (10/17) featuring Mormonism, written by an active Mormon. Even though the story largely glossed over the facts and more controversial issues, it surprisingly admitted that Mormonism's founder and "prophet," Joseph Smith had 30 wives and did briefly note the controversy of a Mormon molecular biologist disputing the basis of the Book of Mormon (see below).

Recently, I responded to the Mormon church's latest PR and outreach TV offer to receive their new DVD/VHS tape on Jesus. The missionary responding told me how wonderful the tape was because it gives you this wonderful "feeling" about the Savior and His message, and invited me to their church.

They also asked if two "representatives" could come to deliver the DVD. I told them that I was very involved and committed to my church, but I didn't mind having a visit at all. Pray for these two young men, that planting and harvesting will occur. I encourage you to do the same. The number is 1-800-453-4949. Order the back issue of our journal on Mormonism and effectively communicate with them.

A Mormon Talking Point
An Australian Mormon geneticist faces excommunication after he published his scientific findings that DNA evidence disproves the Mormon so-called "historical" claims that the "Lost Tribes of Israel" were the American Indians depicted in the Book of Mormon. The findings were published by Signature Books, a publishing house for Mormon studies.
There have been many scientists who have demonstrated this but he is the first Mormon scientist to do so. Simon Southerton could be the seventh author to be removed from church rolls.

But the LDS church is also having trouble getting and keeping members for other reasons. According to LDS published statistics, the annual number of LDS converts declined from a high of 321,385 in 1996 to 241,239 in 2004. The church's growth rate went from 5%/year to 3%/year. Only about one third of their claimed membership (4 of the 12 million) are actually active church goers.

But is Mormonism thought well of or considered a cult by a significant portion of the U.S. electorate? A good question considering there's a chance that Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, a Mormon, might run for President in 2008. Many are surprised to learn, including me, that Harry Reed, the Democratic leader in the Senate, is a Mormon. The Democratic Party, by and large, supports issues quite in opposition to Mormon theology.
But there are many contradictions within Mormonism.

"Christian" Radio & TV
Even though one could argue that Christian television and radio should be held to strong accountability because of its role (functionally) as a teaching office, the reality in our free market republic and economy is that it is not accountable - nor is it very responsible. It is often a vehicle for heresy and is driven by commercialism.

I have mentioned before the prolific exposure of the heretical name-it and claim-it promoters on "Christian" networks and stations, especially Paul & Jan Crouch's Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). We saw the demise of Jim & Tammy Baker's PTL. But we still have the programming of Kenneth Hagin (deceased), Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Jerry Savelle, Joel Osteen, Freddie Price, Rod Parsley, Maurice Cerullo, Benny Hinn, Charles Capps, Marilyn Hickey, Robert Tilton, and their many disciples.

But Christians can pray and step out and "not participate in the evil deeds of darkness but instead even expose them" (Ephesians 5:11). One of our friends in Dallas, James Kieferdorf did so. He saw that the Inspiration Network, run by David Cerullo, was regularly airing Amazing Facts, a Seventh day Adventist program (SDA) and Armor of God, a Church of God International (CGI - a heretical splinter group from the old Herbert Armstrong Worldwide Church of God). The SDA teaches salvation by obedience to commandments - the law, and the CGI does as well, plus denying the Trinity.

After many calls, letters, documentation, and pressure, the network finally removed the programs "after it conducted an extensive review of the program in response to concerns."
Another program to watch out for and to respond to locally is Ron Dart's "Born to Win" radio show produced by Dart's ministry, Christian Educational Ministries (CEM). Dart too is a splinter from the old Worldwide Church of God. Calls and letters work, especially if they receive a lot.

If money is more important than sound doctrine, a loss of viewers or listeners gets their attention. Ask for our free information packet on any of Armstrong's splinter groups (Sabbatarians) and order our two journals on the Word-Faith movement.

Redeeming the Occult
Two recent cultural mediums, promise to stir up some controversy but are actually opportunities to engage an audience with the gospel. These two mediums are "former" occult novelist (vampires & witchcraft) Anne Rice's new book Out of Egypt, and a movie release, The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

World magazine presents a review of The Exorcism of Emily Rose, writing, "In Christian circles, films are often defended as good 'conversation starters.' Such movies may not espouse a Christian worldview, but their content either identifies something true about the world or raises key issues that naturally lead to further discussion."

The review goes on to note that the movie is directed by a professed Christian and horror movie veteran Scott Derrickson, and is "a surprisingly serious attempt at blending horror with extended theological debate."

What kind of debate should it generate? The film appears to be an adaptation of the story of a troubled 20 year old German who died right after a series of church-sanctioned exorcisms in the mid 70's. So the first debate might be are demon possessions real? How does one distinguish between mental illness and demonic possession, or is there a difference?

My friend, Dr. Sam Storms, a charismatic Calvinist, has written a series of articles discussing spiritual/theological issues and controversies by the movie. These are:

1. Can a Christian be demonized?
2. Can a Christian be possessed by a demon or Satan?
3. What kind of sin would open a believer up to demonic intrusion?
4. What kind of behavior reflects the probability of demonic control or significant oppression?
5. Can the use of medication anesthetize or hinder deliverance?
6. If after a long process of prayer deliverance and nothing happens, is it because the problem was not demonic, the deliverance wasn't done correctly, or that the Christian involved in the deliverance wasn't strong enough spiritually?

Of course, one of the answers given by we evangelicals is that a Roman Catholic priest probably had no real power nor did Emily Rose as she was also Catholic. But true as that is, the issues are still raised as professing believers are demonized more than we realize or care to admit.

Spiritual warfare confuses, intimidates, and frightens most evangelicals. It is too often a neglected aspect of our sanctification, mission, and calling. On the other hand, there are some in the Christian community that go to the other extreme and either exaggerate it way out of proportion or make an industry out of it, inventing often bizarre and counterproductive approaches. A couple of examples of this are the beliefs in generational curses and a preoccupation with territorial spirits.

Visit Sam Storm's website for his perspective on these issues:
www.enjoyinggodministries.com and get the book Territorial Spirits and World Evangelisation by Chuck Lowe and Spiritual Warfare by Timothy Warner for a biblical, balanced and informed perspective on these issues (Ephesians 6:10-18).

The second cultural medium is the surprising novel by Anne Rice. Rice, who is known for her best selling ten volume Vampire/witchcraft series had become somewhat of a sickly recluse after her 10th volume in 2003. Suddenly, she's releasing a novel about a seven year old Jesus, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, who is intermittently aware that while human, He is God almighty. She also has now promised that from now on she will only write for the Lord.

Rice left the Catholic church when she was 18. Now she is 64 and has returned to that faith, saturating herself with Scripture, Christian histories and scholarship, and movies. Reflecting on her old books, she says the characters were "compulsive, conscience-stricken evildoers, reflecting her own long spiritual unease." Pray with us that Anne Rice will come to understand the gospel through the reading of the Scriptures.

Same Sex Marriage & Polygamy
As the moral bar continues to slide south, issues that the older generations thought unthinkable are now pushing their way into the legal establishment. After that it is only a matter of time before the minority view becomes majority.

For example, abortion before Roe v. Wade was considered immoral and clearly illegal. But now, years after Roe v. Wade, the majority now believes it is morally permissible. Now we have same-sex couples pushing for a redefinition of marriage. The homosexual marriage issue is being framed as a civil rights issue, the freedom of choice for mature consenting individuals. We often hear the refrain, "You can't legislate morality." Irrational. All legislation is based on some ethical or moral structure. The only real question is whose or what moral structure/system is utilized. They are echoing the old southern comedian Dave Gardner's not so funny line, "Hey, let's make everything legal and then we won't have any crime."

Defenders of keeping the legal definition of marriage to one man and one woman raise the issue that a change to same-sex marriage being allowed would naturally and logically open the door to polygamy being legalized (some even argue "consensual" pedophilia should be allowed). Do you think polygamy is too extreme to be accepted? On what basis? Even the ACLU has weighed in saying that polygamy "between consenting individuals" [not even the term "adults" is used] is a "fundamental right of choice" which they will defend.

Polygamy can be defended by civil libertarians and by religious people (Muslims and fundamentalist Mormons) as a Constitutional right. So is it time for a Constitutional Marriage Amendment? Is it time to take seriously our responsibility to share the love and truth of the gospel with our neighbor, whoever that may be? Is it time to be informed, persuasive and to be engaging our neighbor and political leaders with our apologetic? Let's go!

Alternative Medicine
America's #1 obsession is health and personal fitness. It is natural and right to want good health and we have a stewardship responsibility with our body's fitness. But just as people can have a sin problem with gluttony, people can also err on the other end of the spectrum by believing our value and significance is in our appearance.

The fact is that so many people, even inside the church, are very weak in worldview knowledge and discernment. They are therefore very vulnerable to deception. This is very much applicable in the area of what's called alternative "medicine."

Satan, sometimes appearing as "an angel of light," is taking full advantage of this opportunity for deception. Not only do so many waste time and money on these new age quack therapies, too many also are naively drawn into new age beliefs and practices.

Some of the new age occultic practices are tai chi, therapeutic touch, reiki, applied kinesiology, some natural herbal "remedies," aroma therapy, crystal power, transcendental meditation, and reflexology. These are all based primarily on an unfounded energy meridian (chi, chakras) alignment theory in Hinduism.

A couple of techniques which have true (although limited) therapeutic value are chiropractics and acupuncture. Yet many beliefs in these fields are also based on quack "science" and new age foundations. Ask for our free information packet on practices you may have tried or know someone who is involved.

A November story in the St. Louis Dispatch featured Reiki. In it a reiki master said, "Basically, you're asking God...to use yourself as a vessel for energy...so you can promote peace and healing." The story reveals that many massage therapists and even hospice workers are seriously involved in reiki.

Other examples are yoga, pilates, and the hybrid, yogalaties. All three focus on strength, flexibility, and spirituality. They all claim the exercise brings about "well being," which has varying degrees of medical health claims.

One may practice these techniques without the spiritual components but if you do so, you are not practicing the true essence of the exercise.

Islam & French Riots
All religions are not created equal. Freedom of religion stops when life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is threatened. The rioting by the Muslim youth that began October 27 may serve as a wake up call to the cultural innocence and naivete of the French government and people.

A multiplicity of issues have precipitated this: the decline of the Christian faith, a cradle to grave welfare system which lures immigrants and creates an entitlement mentality, a relativism which offers no real moral or social restrictions to multiculturalism, and an inability or indifference to border control and a subsequent major surge of Islam and radical Muslims bent on dawah and Jihad.

Perhaps it will take an even more violent wake up call to stir France from "the sweet dream of universal cultural compatibility which has been replaced by the nightmare of permanent conflict."
The earthly phase of kingdom of God is brought about by conversions and discipleship, not by a theocracy. Order a copy of our Areopagus Journal back issue on Islam. We must be informed and engage people with the truth.

New Age in Public Schools
In addition to yoga, transcendental meditation (TM) continues to make a push into public schools. When I was pulled into this issue about 14 years ago, the infiltration of new age spiritual practices was becoming widespread. We developed an action plan that resulted in a statewide policy prohibiting them in Alabama, and was utilized in other local school districts around the country.

After a six part John Ankerberg cable series, we wrote a book together detailing the problems, identifying the strategy, program & practices, and demonstrating the legal, educational, moral, and health problems with these techniques. The book was formerly published as Thieves of Innocence but has been republished as Public Schools: The Sorcerer's New Apprentice? But the problem never went away around the nation where there are no parentally initiated policies to stop it.

I remember the first time I challenged the Community Education program here in Birmingham. The director said "Yours is the first complaint we've had in two years." Order my book and be proactive and carry out our mission as salt & light.

Even Scientology is active in this area. Their front organization, Applied Scholastics International "has made numerous overtures to the school district" in St. Louis. Scientology is trying to piggyback on President Bush's faith based initiatives in the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Be aware that Scientology often covertly organizes events & programs to infiltrate schools. For example, an AP story (10/01/05) reported that a 3-day event drawing teenagers from 25 countries, Youth for Human Rights International, was scheduled at a local high school in Los Angeles. School officials found out and were concerned over church-state violations.
Additional news stories reveal that Scientology curriculum has surfaced in school and after-school tutoring programs (tax funded) in Tampa and San Antonio.

For a schocking, in depth understanding of one of the most destructive cults ever, go to our website (www.arcapologetics.org) and click on the link "Tom Cruise's Real Life Science Fiction."

A Gift that TRULY Keeps on Giving!
Want to give an especially meaningful Christmas gift that is guaranteed to keep on giving? Consider a subscription to Areopagus Journal ($25 annual, bimonthly subscription). It offers spiritual maturity and life-giving truth to share with others, hopefully leading to more conversions.

Our November/December issue covers the question of canonization. With the popularity of the Da Vinci Code, and the constant liberal media's publishing of the propaganda of the Jesus Seminar, more and more people question the authority of the Bible, which inevitably negates the unique message of Christianity.

Do you know who declared the 39 books of the Old Testament to be inspired and infallible? What about the 27 books of the New Testament?

When were they declared to be so? On what basis were they selected over the many other books claiming inspiration? The 2006 Areopagus issues include: hermeneutics, logic, three scholars every Christian should know, the new age movement, alternative medicine, and Christian ecology. Order a subscription for yourself and for others as well. This is a way of loving God with all your mind...and your neighbor!

Upcoming Local Events
1. Wednesday nights at Briarwood beginning January 25, from 6:30-8:00pm.
Topics include Is There a God?, Attacks on the Authenticity of Scripture, Why is Christ the Only Way?, Christians are Intolerant, Creation and Evolution, Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage, Christianity vs. Science, Christians and Politics, Genetic Engineering, Islam, Roman Catholicism, cults and more.

2. Special weekly training in apologetics begins in January. If you are interested in being equipped in an apologetics ministry either personally or to be part of our large ministry team, this is your opportunity. Details on time, days and location will come to you next month.

Important Article Coming
I am in the midst of processing important issues in the Church and will present an overview of these issues in our December newsletter. It started with a local phenomenon of an independent charismatic church growing very rapidly by both many new professions of faith and by many transfers of membership from other evangelical churches in our area.

But the issues are more complex and are of a much larger scope. The issues are surfacing as a convergence of elements of the "Emerging Church Movement," and a rapidly growing charismatic fed movement of what's known as the 5-Fold Ministry (the active recovery of the offices or functions of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers), and especially the recovery of the miraculous spiritual gifts.

George Barna's newly released book, Revolution, says the following about this perspective, "It is about a single trend that is already redefining faith and the church in our community."
Is this movement important? Yes, very. Are there serious areas of concern about this movement? Yes. Does the movement have something to say to us? Absolutely.

Letters
We are thrilled to find out about this local resource. Please send us the back issues of Areopagus Journal and put us on your mailing list. I saw your ad in World magazine in June and brought it to my husband's attention. We look forward to the seminar series SMI Church. Bless you for your work on behalf of the gospel.
Hoover, AL

My husband and I are the only believers in our family...we are constantly "attacked" with a wide range of objections and belittlement as well as "its ok for you" statements. Our family and the area in which we live is deep into eastern type ideas. Anything I can get my hands on is great. Thank you for offering free resources!
Newport, NH

I am an inmate at Three Rivers FCI. I am writing to ask for your help in a situation. There is a book that has been circulating around the compound here by the name of the Da Vinci Code, and this book is a cancer here. It eats away at the souls of these who are lost and ignorant of the truth. When given the opportunity I try my best to present a clear argument against that conspiracy theory, in hopes of saving any chances of these men coming to know the real Jesus. I need your help. If you can please send me a few leaflets on this topic, I can run off copies and pass them out here. This is such a serious matter and I know that men's souls are at stake.
Three Rivers, TX

I want to thank you all for taking the time to talk with us. I learned so much and was amazed at the precise, intelligible answers that were given in such a calm and humble way. My family and I would like to subscribe to your journal and give you an extra donation to help support your ministry.
Moody, AL

Thank you so much for being light in a very dark work. I immensely enjoy your writings. They enlighten my feeble mind!
Weatherford, OK

May all your needs be met and may you continue His work in His power and strength. My wife bought me a subscription to the Areopagus Journal (she found the advertisement for it in World magazine). I have truly enjoyed the journal - it's doctrine is true to the Word of God and your articles are a blessing and full of information need in today's slipshod Christianity.
Eastern Montana

Warmest Christian greetings to you from India! I am the founder and Director of "Indian Mission's For Christ." We have been involved in evangelism, church planting and humanitarian outreaches in our areas. This is an entirely faith-based Mission. India is not a Christian nation, which is full of dumb idols and idolaters. We find millions of pagan and Hindu temples in our territories. The information you share will be more blessing to us. Thank you for your materials.
Andhra Pradesh, India

I am the Science Chair at a large Christian school where the subject of "origins" can be adequately addressed. I value your input.
Sherwood, AR

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