August 1997 News Archives
Distributed via e-mail by Christian News & Re-Views.. These articles may be used in any manner to the glory of God, and as an aid in the discernment of the times August 1997 [Andy Neckar PO Box J, Hico, TX 76457]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. LARGE PAY-OUT APPROVED IN NEW ERA FRAUD CASE
2. Two Churches Boost Sunday School Via 'No-Animosity' Competition
3. United Methodist Speaker Says God Is Not Fit For Christian Worship.
4. More Theme Parks Launch Homosexual Weekends.
5. Evangelists Reflects On Career As Failure, Sees Hope In Political Activism.
6. Catholic Bishop Encourages Homosexual Priests To "Come Out".
7. Truth And Legitimacy Of Other Religions Requires Deep Study
8. Leader Of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Say They Administer Grace.
9. Can The Churches Buy Morality?
10. Dutch Church To Sell Heroin.
11. University Allows Homosexuals To Hold Marriage Ceremony In Chapel
12. New Interpreter's Bible
13. Police Chief Forces Suspects To Admit They Need God.
14. UM Theologian says Youth (unsaved) Can Tell Churches What Works
15. Catholic Cardinal Says Adam & Eve May Not Have Been Human
16. Catholic Cardinal Leads Drive to Elevate Mary to Deity.
17. Preachers Re-entering Ministry In Reproach
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LARGE PAY-OUT APPROVED IN NEW ERA FRAUD CASE PHILADELPHIA, Pa. --Agreements that will return about $61million to religious organizations and other non-profit groups victimized by the 1995 collapse of the Foundation for New Era Philanthropy were approved July 24 by a federal bankruptcy court judge.
New Era founder John G. Bennett, Jr. , 59, attracted more than $354 million in investments from around the world by promising to double deposits by matching them with gifts from secretive benefactors.
A total of $105 million was lost in the scheme, which promised to double funds from participating groups by matching them with anonymous donors. The donors turned out to be fictional, and the organizer of the foundation was arrested for running a pyramid scheme, in which deposits from later participants were used to pay off obligations to earlier participants
Bennett was indicted last year on 82 counts of fraud, money laundering, and tax violations. In March he pleaded no contest to the indictment, and he is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 15. He faces a probable prison term of 21-27 years. Bennett is appealing a pretrial ruling that kept him from arguing that his religious motivation resulted in a kind of temporary insanity.
[Editor] Donors do not give money to non-profit organizations for "investment" purposes. Investing God’s money in order to try and double that money is not God’s will. His money should be put to use for His purposes and glory. Non-profit organizations that have money to "invest" have to much money. Those that invest the Lord’s money in double your money schemes are not worth the contributions that God’s people give to them.
Think about that. Does your favorite organization have an ongoing financial crisis? Is it because they have "invested" the Lord’s money you contributed in a losing scheme contrived by a common criminal claiming religious insanity?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Two Churches Boost Sunday School Via 'No-Animosity' Competition
John Smith, pastor of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Salem, Mo., approached First Baptist pastor Mike O'Guin with the idea last November.
The plan was simple: Invite people to Sunday school. The church with the higher Sunday school attendance at the end of a three-month period would be treated to a homemade dinner by the other church.
Smith noted that 33 percent of Dent County residents are members of Southern Baptist churches. Thirteen churches with a Salem mailing address are affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention. But it was obvious that not all were attending church, he said. "It was time to do something to blossom the growth in Sunday school."
Because the churches were free to promote Sunday school attendance any way they wished, Oak Grove members dressed as clowns one Saturday and went door to door all over town, distributing balloons, candy and invitations to Sunday school.
First Baptist designated special-event Sundays, such as "Old-fashioned Day," with O'Guin showing up behind the pulpit in bib overalls and boots, "Mend Your Heart Day" and "Crazy Tie and Earring Day."
First Baptist Sunday school teacher Wayne Gott, who sported a Dr Pepper tie for Crazy Tie and Earring Day, said the contest "has caused some of our members who had not been attending regularly to start coming again, and now they're inviting other people to come."
When the contest ended, First Baptist had the higher numbers. That meant Oak Grove members prepared the meal for a combined service of celebration June 22 at Oak Grove.
"There's no animosity between the two churches," Smith said. "The idea is to benefit both churches. ... It does my heart good to see all these people here for fellowship. I wasn't in competition with Mike; I was in competition with the devil." (Baptist Press)
[Editor] In "competition" or "cooperation" with the devil It doesn’t take wild, hilarious, unusual, and I might add "stupid" stunts to present the gospel of Christ to people. If it takes these tactics to draw "professing Christians" back into the fold there is something dreadfully wrong. If the pastor is preaching "Sound Words" and this is not what the people want, then maybe these people are just "professing" to be Christians.
But—as the pastors of these churches are willing to give these people what they want, it is very likely that "Sound Words" are a strange doctrine in these churches to begin with.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (KJV)
These pastors think that they are excused to go to any means to attract lost, or non attending "professing Christians" into their churches. In both cases these pastors are dead wrong.. One does not entice the "lost" to hear the gospel of Christ by worldly attractions. One does not attract "backsliders" back into spiritual submission by the things of this world.
THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD CANNOT LEAD ANYONE TO CHRIST
Anyway--Christ does not expect sinners to "come to church" to hear the gospel. He expects the church to "go to them" wherever they may be. Church is for fellowship and instruction of believers. "Apostasy in the churches" today is because of the "mixed multitude in the churches".
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------United Methodist Speaker Says God Is Not Fit For Christian Worship.
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ revealed an abusive heavenly Father Who is not fit for Christian worship, declared a speaker at the recent Global Gathering III, sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. The speaker urged that the church revere the baby Jesus along with all the world's children as equally little messiahs. Speaker Nancy Periera, a Methodist theologian from Brazil, said, "We have to stop praising Jesus' cross. . . . We have to look at Jesus's cross as a tragedy, a human episode without any meaning." Around 4,000 Methodists from around the world attended the event, which focused on the welfare of today's children (AFA Journal ,( 6/97).
[Editor] What can I say? Believing the message of Global Gathering III allows sole worship of a pagan god found to be fit according to Methodist standards. If one is taught to worship a god fitting the standards of man, and to live a life befitting of those standards, who needs salvation? Man will be his own god, and his own judge.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------More Theme Parks Launch Homosexual Weekends.
An estimated 60,000 homosexuals participated in the annual Gay Days at Disney World. The homosexual weekend has become so popular that Universal Studios Florida and Sea World have launched their own homosexual weekends (National Liberty Journal ,( 7/97).
[Editor] The world continues it’s downward spiral away from God. The "really" sad part though is, so are the organized churches
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Evangelists Reflects On Career As Failure, Sees Hope In Political Activism.
In a new book Enough Is Enough, published by Jerry Falwell's Liberty Press, Rick Scarborough says he grew discouraged at his work as an evangelist and now sees more hope for America in his political activism. According to a book review in Baptists Today (3/6/97), "the pastor now reflects on his fourteen years as an evangelist as virtually futile."
[Editor] A man called by "God" to do "His" work will not experience a virtually futile ministry for fourteen years A politically active one will though. The reason is that he was called by "man" to do the work of the "world".
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Catholic Bishop Encourages Homosexual Priests To "Come Out".
A Roman Catholic bishop is encouraging homosexual priests and bishops to "come out" to help the church change. Thomas Gumbleton, auxiliary bishop of Detroit, was among 650 participants at a symposium for homosexual Catholics (Christian News, 3/24/97).
[Editor] Help the church change to what? The acknowledgment of gays along with the apostate United Methodist, United Church of Christ and others who acknowledge them as "Alternate Lifestyle Christians" and not as "abominate lost sinners", as Christ acknowledges them?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Truth And Legitimacy Of Other Religions Requires Deep Study
Two religious thinkers--one Christian, another Jewish--spoke at Fuller Theological Seminary about America's need for a new "theology of pluralism." They said they are talking about more than simple tolerance, but deep study to discover theological grounds for acknowledging "the truth and legitimacy of other religions." Ronald F. Thiemann, dean of the divinity school of Harvard University, and Rabbi A. James Rudin, national director of inter-religious affairs for the American Jewish Committee in New York, made the proposal during a two-day seminar (Christian News, 2/19/97).
[Editor] "Deep" study is what is affirmed as needed for acknowledging the "truth" of false religions. Christians cannot find this truth in God’s Word. Professing Christians must study so "deep" as to fabricate a "false truth".
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Leader Of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Say They Administer Grace To The Lost.
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a moderate organization of Southern Baptists based in Atlanta, held their annual convocation of Texas Baptists Committed, Aug. 2 in Austin
Daniel Vestal, head of the organization says missions is at the core of the Christian faith. "Missions is its life. ... Our mission is a continuation of the mission of Jesus."
"Our mission is a mission of both word and deed," Vestal insisted. He quoted St. Francis of Assisi, who said, "Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words."This ministry calls for putting the needs of people ahead of the aims of the church, he said.
Vestal advocates preaching the gospel through relationships. He says, "...the church must reach people through relationships".
The gospel is best communicated when it's done one-on-one through ongoing relationships, he said. "You love them, become friends with them, give your life to them and leave the results to God."
"We become involved in people's lives," Vestal explained. "We become Jesus to some people. We're not seeking glory. We're not coercive." "But in real flesh-and-blood ways, we administer grace to them."
(Excerpted from the Associated Baptist Press)[Editor] Maybe people can be taught to love Jesus through a relationship of godly exemplification, but that will not "save" them. The gospel of Christ must be "foremost" delivered in "words" not as a "last resort" as stated by Vestal.
The aim of the church should be the salvation of souls, as that is the "real" need of the people whether they know it or not. The aim of the church is to tell the people they are in need of salvation, and why. The aim of the church is to tell them the "good news" of the gospel of Christ.
It’s funny. Vestal says, "You love them, (the lost) become friends with them, give your life to them and leave the results to God."
But God says:
Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. (KJV)
Matt 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (KJV)
One more thing. It seems this organization is joining the Roman Catholic Church as administers of God’s grace. Does the Roman Pope have competition in his claim to "Vicar of Christ" on earth?
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Can The Churches Buy Morality?
A Baptist pastor is offering strippers new jobs, medical insurance and child care if they are willing to quit their jobs at a neighboring strip club. A meeting held July 20 by the Rev. Gerry White, pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church, raised $3,000 for a fund to help the employees of Lady Godiva's find new work. Manpower Inc., an employment agency, has offered computer and secretarial training, while the Putnam County Vocational Technical Center has offered free job training to help women find jobs in the construction trades. The meeting included an appearance by Richard Kiel, the 7-foot 2-inchChristian actor best known as Jaws in the James Bond films. Kiel, who is a friend of White's, blamed society for the increased acceptance of strip clubs. "We can't blame the girls alone for doing this. It's the fault of society," Kiel said, urging listeners to befriend the dancers. The strippers seemed unimpressed with the plan, rejecting notions that they are doing something wrong and insisting that they are happy with their lucrative jobs. (IBNS-8/8/97)
[Editor] Was that a brainstorm, or a display of "brain deficiency syndrome"? (a storm, "commotion or convolution" on the brain) Notice White’s friend blames society for the sins of these women. But when the world’s society is made up of sinners, yes, society is to blame. And these women strippers are part of that society. What a waste of the Lord’s money. Do "your tithes" go to hare-brained schemes contrived by "your church"?
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (Reuter) - A Dutch church will begin selling cut-price heroin this autumn under a scheme organized by a Rotterdam cleric, local media reported Wednesday.
Hans Visser, a Protestant minister in the port city, will work with local doctors and social workers to implement the project.
Initially his Pauluskerk church will supply a test group of 10 heroin addicts, judged to have no hope of kicking their habit. "It is the best (heroin) that's for sale, abroad as well,'' Visser said,, emphasizing the project's health advantage. He added he had already found several dealers who were willing to deliver heroin to the church at cost price. Visser said he had decided to go it alone after a proposal for a similar national scheme became bogged down in party politics.
[Editor] I thought the last News Service item was hare-brained, but this "takes the cake". Ministers of God emphasize on the gospel of Christ. Ministers of the Prince of the World emphasize on the things of the world. Seriously—all sinners, regardless of who they are or what they do, have hope in Jesus Christ.]
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------University Allows Homosexuals To Hold Marriage Ceremony In Chapel
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Harvard University will allow homosexual couples to hold "marriage" ceremonies in its main chapel, Memorial Church. .Harvard is believed to be the first major university in the U.S. to offer this kind of endorsement of homosexual "marriage." The new policy applies to Harvard students, employees and alumni, but does not apply to the general public. The pastor of Memorial Church, the Rev. Peter Gomes, is a homosexual. ( IBNS 7/25/97)
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The United Methodist Publishing House launched a project to print a new 12 volume bible in 1990. The "New Interpreter’s Bible" involves the work of 97 authors from 21 Christian communities, including 16 United Methodist, 17 Roman Catholic, 15 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist.
The project, with 6 volumes completed, has a diverse roster of writers which includes 21 women, 6 African Americans, 5 Hispanic Americans, 1 Native American and 3 Asian Americans.
Each volume contains general articles, the New International Version of the Scripture, the New Revised Standard Version, "Commentary" on the Scripture and "Reflections" on the Scripture.
In a review for Christian Century magazine, Presbyterian pastor Patrick Willson of Fort Worth, Texas, wrote, "The editors and contributors of the NIB have made a particularly strong and brave attempt to interpret scriptures for our time. The initial offerings suggest that the NIB is the commentary preachers and teachers need for years ahead." (United Methodist News Service-8/21/97)
[Editor} I wonder if a "child of God" can even contemplate what the "Commentary" reflects on. I guess that’s what one would call "unity" (cooperation between different religions) in "diversity" ( utilizing a variety of different races.
By the way, can one interpret Scripture "for our time" written by the Holy Spirit of God that never changes. (Heb 13:8)
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Police Chief Forces Suspects To Admit They Need God.
An Oregon police chief who prayed for suspects and required them to confess their faith in God has been fired. The Gold Hill City Council voted 5-0 to fire Katie Holmboe because she prayed for a prisoner whom she believed was possessed by the devil. Holmboe, the only paid police officer in the town of 1,000 people, also made suspects admit their need for God before releasing them and sold cosmetics from her police cruiser, according to news reports.(Religion Today 8/28/97)
[Editor] This woman did not get the suspects to "admit" their need for God. All she did was get them to "voice" a need. Besides, believing in God and admitting a need for God carries no offer of salvation. The power of God offers salvation, but only by way of the "gospel of Jesus Christ".
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------UM Theologian says Youth (unsaved) Can Tell Churches What Works
United Methodist theologian and evangelist George Hunter, dean and professor of evangelism and church growth at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. told church leaders in Nashville Aug. 25-27 that most traditional churches don't interest non-Christians, he said. "Their main business is to perpetuate the forms of the past and to enculturate their children. But all across this land, virtually all traditional churches cannot retain even a bare majority of their own children into adult discipleship." Churches must concentrate on their young people because they "are immersed in the culture," he said. "Our youth can tell us what works and what doesn't." (Religion Today 8/28/97)
[Editor] This is exactly what I have been talking about. Church leaders don’t understand why the lost are not interested in Christianity. They cannot understand why the children of the Devil (John 8: 42-44) are not interested in fellowship with the children of God. (Gal 3:26)
So—what do the leaders do—they try and make the churches attractive to the non-believers. They must transform the "spiritual" church into a "worldly" church to get "all" people into the church. They must weaken the gospel of Christ to the extent that the gospel preached no longer has power to save in many cases. In almost all cases, any saved will be weak and worldly, carnal Christians who bring ridicule rather than glory to God.
These church leaders are in such spiritual darkness that many lost people have more discernment in these matters. Those that claim that the youth can tell us what works and what doesn’t –well—their salvation is highly suspect in my eyes. Does the wolf tell the shepherd how to guard the sheep?
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Catholic Cardinal Says Adam & Eve May Not Have Been Human
Catholic Cardinal John O’Connor told his audience at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NY City on Sun. Nov. 24 that Adam & Eve "may have been some other form than human…" and "It is possible that when the two persons we speak of as Adam & Eve were created, it was some other form…Perhaps Adam was a lower animal".(Associated Press, Nov. 25, 1996) This statement comes one month after John Paul II said the theory of evolution is "more than just a hypothesis". O’Connor is the head of the NY archdiocese and is one of the most influential Catholic leaders in America.
[Editor] Such is typical of Roman Catholicism. Her apostasy increases as the world follows her to judgment.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Catholic Cardinal Leads Drive to Elevate Mary to Deity.
A movement within the Catholic Church to elevate the Virgin Mary to the status of deity has gained the quiet support of New York's Cardinal John O'Connor. The proposal calls for expanding the Trinity to form a new "Holy Quartet" in which Mary would be recognized as the daughter of God the Father and spouse of the Holy Spirit, as well as the mother of Jesus. Advocates have collected 4.3million signatures in support of the plan. A spokesman for O'Connor told the New York Daily News that the Cardinal believes the idea is "theologically sound," but opponents dismiss it as heresy. ( IBNS 8/22/97)
[Editor] Well-what do you think of Cardinal John O’Connor now? Again I say: The apostasy of the Roman church is GREATLY increasing. Last days are upon us folks.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Preachers Re-entering Ministry In Reproach
(Adapted from an article by the Associated Baptist Press 7/31/97)
Two men, Glenn Booth and James Cooper have coordinated a ministry counseling service for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
The service offers help to ministers to have more fulfilling and intimate relationships with their own families. It also offers limited financial assistance during transition and career assessment to help the out-of-work minister discover strengths, develop a ministry profile and set goals for self-fulfillment. All of the work is aimed at helping the individual re-enter the ministry.
"I would say that 99 and 44/100 percent of those who go through the process of career assessment revalidate their calling," Booth said.In the last six years, Booth has also launched a "restoration" program for ministers whose lives have been shattered by immoral or unethical behavior.
The two-year program begins with personal and family counseling. The minister develops a personal code of ethics and gradually enters volunteer, then professional, ministry.
"The two years offers an opportunity for the fallen minister to learn humility, to better evaluate where he has been, and to determine where he is going," Booth said. "Most have to get a secular job simply to feed their family, and that can be a humbling learning experience. And I really believe their marriage needs that much time to heal."
Eight ministers have completed the restoration program. Only one has not successfully re-entered ministry, Booth said.[Editor] The "restoration program" is what bothers me about this article. If a minister has been involved in immoral or unethical problems, he is no longer fit to be a minister of God. I never have read where the Apostle Paul, (who, by the way, was a tentmaker) apologized because he was wrong in His instructions to Timothy. (1 Timothy Chapter 3)