June 1997 News Archives
Distributed by Christian News & Views. These articles may be used in any manner to the glory of God, and as an aid in the discernment of the times. June 1997
[Andy Neckar PO Box J, Hico, TX 76457]
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Apparations of Mary or the Beast?
Christian gays & lesbians?
Churches who use copyrighted songs had better pay.
John 3:16 Controversy
False Teachings condones Diverse False Teachings
----------------------------------------------------------Apparations of Mary or the Beast?
Pope John Paul II, in consecrating the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Zakopane, Poland, which was built by its citizens in thanksgiving to the Virgin for having saved the pontiff in the attempt made on his life in 1981, recalled that the message of Fatima "consists in an exhortation to conversion, prayer, especially the rosary, and reparation for one's own sins and for those of all mankind." (June 7, 1997 VIS)[Editor] The claim one can make reparation (atonement) for one’s own sin, is the sin of blasphemy. Who is this woman? We believers know it is not Mary the mother of Jesus. It can only be an apparition of the beast itself whom the woman is riding.
Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (KJV)
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Christian gays & lesbians?
Ten United Methodists were among the signers of a recent statement on homosexuality issued by clergy in Madison, Wis.The "Madison Affirmation: On Homosexuality and Christian Faith," calls for the elimination of all policies and practices "which create barriers and restrictions to the full participation of gay and lesbian Christians in all of the privileges and responsibilities of church membership."
Refusing to condemn homosexuals, the statement says "From our reading of scripture and from our pastoral experiences, we believe there is sufficient evidence to conclude that homosexuality is neither sickness nor sin."
Religious affiliations of the clergy signers include American Baptist, Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Society of Friends, Moravian Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, Unitarian-Universalist and Reform Judaism.(United Methodist News Service. May 30, 1997)
[Editor] The "Madison Affirmation" calls gays and lesbians Christians. But God says;
1 Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (KJV)
1 Cor 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)
1 Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (KJV)
The churches say such "are" some Christians. God says such "were" some Christians. The churches that are going home to Rome to ride the blasphemous beast with her (Rev 17:3) will suffer the wrath of God with her.(Rev 16:19)
Ecumenicism is good for "One Thing". We can all go to hell "together" or go to heaven "separate".
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Churches Who Use Copyrighted Songs Better Pay.
The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ascap) decided this past year to send a strong message to youth camps singing around the campfire: those who use copyrighted songs had better pay.What ascap wants for its 68,000 members are fees for using any of their 4 million copyrighted songs. And it's threatened to sue for fees to typical camp songs such as "This Land Is Your Land" and "God Bless America." Even "Happy Birthday" is off limits.
The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. has so far ignored the demands, while a Girl Scout Council in Oakland, California, unable to afford the extra costs, eliminated copyrighted songs from its programs. The American Camping Association in Martinsville, Indiana, however, is attempting to comply. (Christianity Today. January/February 1997)
[Editor] How long before these hard line demands are required of church fellowships singing copyrighted songs in church hymnals?Top of page
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John 3:16 Controversy
United Methodist Reporter reports that we trip over the first six words of John 3:16. -- "For God so loved the world" --.
They say, " In this short introductory phrase, we hear proclaimed that God loves the world (in Greek, the cosmos). Therein lies the theological truth of why people of faith need to care for the earth -- God loves it just as God loves us, even to the point that Christ died not only for our redemption, but that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19)."It goes on to say that in response to this spirit of God's love for creation, some 250 ecumenical and interfaith workers concerned with environmental justice recently met in Estes Park, Colo., for a four-day conference titled "God's Earth -- Our Home"(UMR Communications] 5/29/97)
[Editor] Whose home? Not mine-- or yours-- if you are a Bible Believer. (John 17:1-16) Christ died for me. I will not suffer the wrath of God, (Rom 5:9) but God will destroy the World. (2 Peter 3:10-12)
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)
2 Cor 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (KJV)
2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (KJV)
Bible Believers have the Spirit of discernment to know that the above verses pertain to "people in the world". The Jesus Christ I know did not die for the environment. He died FOR ME.
We are to care for the earth, but Christ did not die for it.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------False Teachings condones Diverse False Teachings
Islam will be given favorable status ahead of Judaism and non-Orthodox Christian groups in Russia's proposed religion law, according to news reports. In order to garner Muslim support for the bill's third reading before the Duma June 23, language has been added that says the parliament respects Islam equally with Orthodoxy, the Keston News Service said. The language was added with the approval of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, Alexy II.
The Russian Orthodox Church has long opposed the influence of other Christian groups in the country. At a recent ecumenical conference in Austria, Alexy II protested proselytism within Christian faithsThe bill is oppressive and places severe restrictions on "non-official" religions that have not been active in the country for at least 15 years. It is almost certain to pass. The mood of the country is against foreign religions and the parliament would vote for a bill that expelled all non-Muslims and non-Orthodox from the country, said Mikhail Men, the son of Orthodox priest Aleksandr Men.
[Editor] I guess this tells us that "False Teachings"( Orthodox Church) condones "Diverse False Teachings" (Islam) In this case because of the need of numbers. It is sad to think that the "open door" to the Gospel of Christ may soon be closed to the people of the former Soviet Union. It is also sad to know that the Christian churches are respecting "False Teachings" (Roman Catholicism ect., in the ecumenical movement) as equal with Christianity.
The need of numbers must be very important. But for who, though? The evangelists must team with false religions, and the churches must entertain the lost unchurched with the "Gospel of Sports", and the "Ministry of Secular Music", tanning salons ect.
Vast numbers for who, then.? The Lord will get His remnant.(Rom 11:5) There are few that find the straight and narrow way.(Matt 7:14) For who, then? Satan?
Matt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (KJV)
Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (KJV)
Matt 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (KJV)
Matt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (KJV)
Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (KJV)
CHRISTIANS NEED THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT TO JUDGE THESE PEOPLE. (Matt 16:3) We need more teachers. (Heb 5:12-14)
The prostitution of the professing church (turning to the gods of other faiths) and the rejection of God’s Word (spurious Bible versions) has gone on long enough. WE NEED MORE TEACHERS OF SOUND DOCTRINE. (Titus 1:1-16 and Titus 2:1)
If we have the gift of discernment. we must share it with others.
1 Pet 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (KJV)