June-July 1999 News Archives
Distributed via e-mail 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. [Andy Neckar, Christian News & Views, PO Box J, Hico, TX 76457]
1. Bookstores change name to reflect ecumenical aim
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2. BAPTIST VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS BECOMES THEME PARKS
3. THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THERE CHURCHES!
4. UN HELPS KOSOVO REFUGEES KILL
5. LITTLETON FUNERAL SERVICES PROTESTED BY THOSE TO BE ENTOMBED IN HELL.
7. THE WALLS COME TUMBLING DOWN
8. HELL IS ONLY A STATE OF MIND?
9. MORE ON THE RCC POPE'S "NEW REVELATION".
10. We Cannot Come to Christ JUST AS WE ARE.**********************************************
Bookstores change name to reflect ecumenical aim
(Taken from the Ft. Worth Star Telegram-7-23-99)Your neighborhood Baptist Book Store has a new look.
In the past week, old signs on area stores have come down and new "LifeWay Christian Stores" signs have gone up.
The stores have not been sold and management has not changed. The Southern Baptist Convention approved changing the name of the bookstore's parent company, the Sunday School Board, to LifeWay Christian Resources in June 1998.
The motive for the change was biblical, said Gary McClure, manager of marketing strategy for LifeWay Christian Stores.
"The parent company wanted a name to better reflect what they do," he said. "It's based on John 14:6, `I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father, but by me.' "
McClure said the change will be gradual, and all 82 stores nationwide will have the new name by October.
"We will reach more people who may not necessarily come into a Baptist Book Store," said Matt Jaggers, manager of the North Richland Hills store at 7580 N.E. Loop 820. The location changed its name July 15.
"It opens more doors for more people. We just want to reach people for Christ," he said.
The Dallas store, at 8021 R.L. Thorton Freeway, and the Arlington store, 4211 S. Cooper St., changed names last weekend. The Fort Worth store, on the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary campus at 4540 James Ave., will be called LifeWay Christian Campus Stores starting Aug. 31.
Jaggers said merchandise will not change very much, and the stores will continue to offer Bible-based materials, including some Catholic and Jewish materials.
"But we're keeping our Baptist roots," he said.[Editor] I am sorry to say that the "Baptist roots" died out a long time ago. I guess the Southern Baptist Convention thinks that Jewish Synagogues and the Roman Catholic Vatican teaches that Christ is "the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father, but by me.' "
"The parent company wanted a name to better reflect what they (the SBC) do,". And what is this they do? Do they teach a "different gospel" (Gal 1:8-9) like the Jewish Synagogues and the Roman Catholic Church does?
Is it biblical for a "supposed" Christian bookstore to offer Jewish literature? Remember that the Jews do not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. They are Christ rejecters. No man comes to the father, but by Christ, and if the SBC really believes this, why do they offer an alternate, or Jewish way to salvation? Are they that great a hypocrite or could it be that they are going "completely apostate"?
If they "really" teach that no man comes to the father, but by Christ, why do they offer Roman Catholic literature. Why is prayers and devotion to Mary "another" way to salvation? If ANYONE wishes to know "exactly" what the RCC teaches, write and let me know and this FORMER RC will explain the "difference" between the gospel of Christ and the gospel of the RCC.
The SBC members are a stiff-necked people. They are headstrong and "loyal to the SBC". Why do they not have enough sense (discernment) to "come out from among them"? (2 Cor 6:17) They not only want to touch the unclean thing but they want to give service to it in God's Name.
The SBC does not want to "come out from among them", they want to "go home to them", and they are taking the "loyal members" with them. Most will stay with them to the end. HOW SAD. Folks, we are looking at the spiritual darkness of the world's largest "Protestant" denomination. But "the bigger they are the harder they fall", into apostasy.
********************************************BAPTIST VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS BECOMES THEME PARKS
(excerpted from an artyicle from Baptist Press)
"Richard Kirk has a suggestion for a course offering at Southern Baptist seminaries: Vacation Bible School Survival 101.""Kirk, minister of education at First Baptist Church, Bothell, Wash., literally went "above and beyond" the call of duty recently to add excitement to his congregation's VBS. The church used materials published by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention which were built around a mountain climbing/adventure theme."
[Editor] I believe this was above and beyond, (way beyond) obedience to biblical teachings.
"A member of Kirk's church works for the rescue unit of the Seattle Fire Department. He rigged cables from a tent hanging in the air at the top of the church's balcony to the front of the auditorium. When it came time for the VBS pledges, Kirk came out of the tent yelling, "Don't start without me; I'm coming down from the mountain," and was lowered to the floor."
"I led the pledges in the harness and helmet," Kirk said in an e-mail to a LifeWay consultant. "It was a riot. Then our music minister came down the same way, playing the theme song on his guitar. ... I think they should offer VBS survival classes in seminary."
"That's just one example of the creative ways Southern Baptist churches are carrying out LifeWay's 1999 VBS theme, "Mt. Extreme: The Ultimate Good News Challenge" this summer. Many are reporting record numbers in both enrollment and professions of faith."
"Linda Hall, director of Bear Creek's VBS, got the leaders and kids "totally immersed in the Mt. Extreme experience," Garcia recounted. "We had rooms decorated from floor to ceiling and stations with everything from a mountain biking area to a snow scene where kids had to wear snowshoes and 'ski' across a floor of white packing 'peanuts.' "
"It was a lot of fun, but it had a serious point, too. Everything reinforced the Bible stories." Garcia said 89 professions of faith were recorded during Bear Creek's VBS, adding contact was made with 200 unchurched families in the community. The church delivers a follow-up package to each family, including information about its children's ministry, a needs survey and fun stuff for the kids.
[Editor] These "unchurched" families. What sort of a "follow-up" is a "needs" survey package? Do you think these "unchurched" (lost) folks know that they "must needs" to be saved? Information about a children's "theme park" ministry has no spiritual benefits and neither does "fun stuff".
"For families that are concerned about having a quality experience for their children, there's nothing better than VBS," Garcia said. "And it's an incredible evangelistic tool, too. We've found it's a great vehicle for getting the gospel into the homes of unchurched boomers and busters in our community."
[Editor] How do these Southern Baptists get this "gospel" into the homes of the unchurched with a "needs survey" and "fun stuff". There is nothing "fun" about the cross of Christ, much less taking it up and following Him. The cross is a rock of "offence" (1 Peter 2:8) and the preaching of it is "foolishness" to the unchurched. (1 Cor 1:18) ONE MORE TIME--A "needs survey" and "fun stuff" IS NOT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST!
"VBS director Becky Richardson of First Baptist Church of McAllen, Texas said the church had good luck with a van route which picked up kids from several nearby elementary schools. Other vehicles used to attract children included a 25-foot high inflatable (and climbable) mountain, an obstacle course and moon walk".
"The church also gave away mountain bikes to the boy and girl who brought the most friends with them to VBS. Members at Park Place Baptist, an inner-city church in Houston, used scaffolding and paper to create a 35-foot peak in its sanctuary. "Houston isn't exactly known for mountains, so we built our own,"
"First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, GA buildings were transformed into mountainsides and streams and campsites," Debra Neyland, minister to children, said. "The theme created so much excitement and enthusiasm in our children and staff. Our attendance went up every day."
[Editor] What does the GOSPEL OF CHRIST create? Number 1, the GOSPEL is no theme. It is the power of God unto salvation unto everyone that believes.(Rom 1:16)
NOW- what does it create? In Acts chapter two it pricked the peoples hearts and "great fear" came over them. A little different from " excitement and enthusiasm", don't you think? ****************************************
THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THERE CHURCHES!
Amalgam tooth fillings have miraculously turned into gold, claims John Arnott, pastor of Toronto Airport church. Reports of this unusual manifestation exceed 300, Arnott said, and more reports are coming in from across the country and around the world. Arnott has encouraged congregants to obtain dental verification but admitted the church has yet to document any cases.
Toronto Airport church is famous for "holy laughter" and other unusual signs. In addition to gold fillings and caps, people have been reporting gold dust falling from the ceiling during services and oil miraculously appearing on people's hands (Charisma, 6/99; Christianity Today, 5/24/99).[Editor] Reports are coming in that Satan and his demons are at work in the world's churches. What the world conceives as "Christian churches) are actually Pagan Temples seeking signs & wonders, and the devil is full of them.
II Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Dust may be falling from the ceiling but it ain't gold. Most probably the "paid custodian" missed a paycheck in his service to the "angel of light" (2 Cor 11:14).
****************************************UN HELPS KOSOVO REFUGEES KILL
The United Nations Population Fund announced last April an effort to make sure Kosovar refugees have access to abortion equipment. It sent 36,000 "Emergency Reproductive Health Kits" to the region, including morning-after pills and suction equipment for abortions. The Albanian Family Planning Association is opening up "reproductive health clinics" and offering transportation to help women obtain abortions. Critics point out that abortion equipment is taking up valuable room needed for food and medicine (World, 5/22/99).[Editor] The Kosovo refugees (ethnic Albanians) are offered encouragement by the United Nations. Need to vent frustration, honorable Kosovar? Having difficulty killing Serbs in revenge? THEN KILL YOUR CHILDREN.
*******************************************LITTLETON FUNERAL SERVICES PROTESTED BY THOSE TO BE ENTOMBED IN HELL.
The memorial service held for those killed in the Columbine High School massacre was too Christian, religious leaders are complaining. One rabbi from Littleton, Colorado, told the Washington Times that it reflected an "ignorant, narrow-minded faith." A Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister complained that it "was not inclusive to all faith communities." Liberals complained that the services focused too much on the slain victims' faith and that those attending were encouraged to follow Christ (World, 5/15/99).[Editor] God so loved the world that he decided to save all faith communities. (Perversion 3:16) Is that how it goes in your Bible?
Who was it that said, "you can please all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time? Is that how it goes? Wasn't that uttered by some man that freed some folks from bondage?
This man was very popular in some circles, and so is God. God is gaining popularity in the spiritual awakening of America. God "minus" His Son of course But God ALONE does not free anyone from the bondage of sin. God so loved the world, that He offered salvation THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.
God is good. God is powerful. But God's power of salvation in ONLY THROUGH HIS SON (Rom 1:16) and JESUS CHRIST is His Name. (Acts 4:12)
You see, Abraham Lincoln decreed that the Negro slaves be freed, but "he sent his army to do the job". God, through His foreknowledge, decreed, or predestined that the elect be freed from the bondage of sin and it's consequences, and HE SENT HIS SON TO DO THE JOB. Make sense?
******************************************************THE WALLS COME TUMBLING DOWN
(excerpts from an article in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram "Religion" section. 7/29/00)"Did you happen to hear that strange noise? It was the sound of theological walls starting to tumble to the ground".
"Last month, officials of the Roman Catholic Church and 124 Lutheran church bodies in 69 countries announced they had reached a common understanding on a key Christian teaching (salvation by grace) that was at the heart of the Roman Catholic-Protestant split in the 16th century. Officials also agreed that condemnations issued five centuries ago by one side against the other no longer apply".
"Also in June, 129 evangelical and fundamentalist leaders in the United States signed a document stating their agreement on a common understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the first time independent-minded evangelicals and fundamentalists have drawn up such a defining document".
"Those rumbling sounds follow another historic announcement last summer by four major Protestant denominations -- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ and Reformed Church -- that they've agreed on "full communion" among their respective churches".
"Next month, the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States will consider for a second time full communion with the Episcopal Church".
"And it only took 480 years to make a significant breach in these particular walls that have separated Christian from Christian".[Editor] The walls that are tumbling down are what was once separating "truth" from "error".
"By uniting, denominations break down walls that separate one from another not only theologically, but racially and culturally as well".
[Editor] The separation in Theology was once separation by a "true" church from a "false" church. A "sound" church from a church in "error. A "true" church in "obedience" to God's Word was NEVER separate "racially and culturally".
"And by coming together, denominations proclaim a common message that shows the world their faithfulness to the biblical mandate that "they may be one" (John 17) -- the ultimate reason for Christian unity".[Editor] That "they may be one" was NOT meant by God to "agree to disagree". This was NOT meant by God to "compromise" His Holy Word.
"Thankfully, walls are coming down, at least, in part, for several denominations. And the result could signal the beginning of the end of nearly 500 years of division within certain branches of Christianity".[Editor] The result is signaling the end of the end times within ALL branches of the organized church.
"The challenge for church leaders is to show the faithful why these agreements will make a difference in their lives and to show a world skeptical of ecclesiastical claims and counterclaims that the sniping that has gone on for centuries among separated churches will finally cease".[Editor] The sniping (warnings) that have gone on for centuries, even millenniums, will continue coming from the remnant-separated churches until Jesus comes again. That is--until the Holy Spirit and the CHURCH be taken out of the way. (2 Thess 2:7; 1 Thess 4:17)
*********************************HELL IS ONLY A STATE OF MIND?
(Detroit News 7/28/99)VATICAN CITY - "Forget the flames and the devils with pitchforks. A week after telling the Roman Catholic faithful that heaven was not up in the clouds, Pope John Paul II said Wednesday that hell was not a physical place either".
"Lest sinners think they can get off lightly, though, the pontiff said hell was for real and, rather than being inflicted by God, it was something sinners bring on themselves"
"Hell is not a punishment imposed externally by God, but the condition resulting from attitudes and actions which people adopt in this life," he said."
"More than a physical place, hell is the state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy," the pontiff said in a weekly audience.
"So eternal damnation is not God's work but is actually our own doing."
"Churches around the world are filled with frescoes depicting tormented souls denied access to heaven populating a hideous wasteland to be tortured and suffer for all eternity.
The pope described hell instead as "the pain, frustration and emptiness of life without God."[Editor] You heard what the Roman Catholic Pope has to say about hell. Let's see-what saith the Bible?
The gospel of Mark says five times that hell is a "fire" that "never shall be quenched". {extinguished- put out) Mark 9:43-48
Matt 18:8 speaks of "everlasting fire".
Jude 1:7 speaks of "eternal fire".
Rev 20:10 speaks of a lake of fire into which hell was cast, as lasting "for ever and ever".
'nough said. AMEN
******************************************MORE ON THE RCC POPE'S "NEW REVELATION".
VATICAN CITY, JUL 28, 1999 (VIS) - "Hell, as the definitive rejection of God" was the theme of the catechesis of the Holy Father's general audience, held this morning in the Paul VI Hall.The Pope recalled that "God is the Father, infinitely good and merciful. But man, called in freedom to respond to God, can unfortunately choose to definitively reject His love and His pardon, thus removing himself forever from joyous communion with Him. It is to precisely this tragic situation that Christian doctrine refers when it speaks of hell or damnation. ... Nonetheless, in a theological sense, hell is something else: It is the ultimate consequence of sin itself."
"The images with which hell is presented to us by Sacred Scripture must be correctly interpreted. They demonstrate the complete frustration and emptiness of a life without God. More than a physical place, hell is the state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God."
*********************************************We Cannot Come to Christ JUST AS WE ARE.
Billy Graham implored people to come to Christ, as he has done for more than a half-century, June 3-6 during a crusade in Indianapolis.More than 15,300 people came forward at the evangelist’s invitation as the choir softly sang Just As I Am. About 8,400 of those made first-time commitments to Jesus Christ, Edwin Simcox, chairman of the crusade, told Religion Today.
Many people today are dissatisfied with "the pleasures of the culture," Simcox said. "When they heard the message of Christ preached by Graham in his distinct way they saw a void in their lives that needed to be filled."
The crusade drew near-capacity crowds totaling 193,000 at the RCA Dome football arena. Nine hundred churches representing 60 denominations participated in the year-long preparations, which mobilized more than 20,000 volunteers.
[Editor] Billy Graham preaching to the choir. Divide the 93,000 attendants between the 900 churches involved. Folks, that comes to an average of 214 people per church. How many of these were people not currently attending church? How many of these were lost sinners?
If these people were invited to come by these 900 various churches, why couldn’t "they" present the gospel to them? Why do the churches need a "big name" drawing card? Why does Billy Graham need "worldly music" as a drawing card.
When Graham preaches a gospel that the Roman Catholic can embrace, and the baptismal regeneration believers and the Protestant infant sprinklers and the other apostate religious denomination are in agreement with—well folks—THIS IS NOT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. THIS IS A GENERIC GOSPEL. When a gospel appeals to "folks in general" what other gospel could it be?
More than 15,300 people came forward at the evangelist’s invitation as the choir softly sang Just As I Am
Folks, people CANNOT come to Christ, JUST AS THEY ARE. The ONLY way to come to Christ is as a REGENERATED PERSON.
Yes, Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.(Rom 5:8) He died for the "whole world" that way. (John 3:16) God is not willing that "any" should perish. (2 Peter 3:9) But we CANNOT COME TO CHRIST unless we FIRST come to repentance before God and Faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21) NO ONE can come to Christ JUST AS THEY ARE. The sin issue MUST be dealt with FIRST.
We cannot come to Christ unless the Father DRAW US. (John 6:44) To be drawn we must hear the gospel of Christ FIRST. Then we must BELIEVE what we heard. If we BELIEVE what we heard the Holy Spirit will lead us to repentance before God and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ. By then we are already saved as we come to Christ.
The writer of the hymn "I know Whom I Have Believed" knows what I'm talking about. He speaks of the SPIRIT convincing men of sin and creating faith in Christ. WE don't do this. Our "commitments" are worthless. It is the SPIRIT working in us and through us that saves us.
Most of these "decision makers" come "just as they were" before the crusade. They come as unrepentant sinners, "walking the isle" to make a "commitment". Who has EVER kept a commitment to Christ? Unrepentant sinners cannot come to Christ without FIRST coming to REPENTANCE before God and FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ.
About 8,400 of those made first-time commitments to Jesus Christ? Folks, "commitments do not offer salvation. Repentance AND Faith does though. THIS is NOT preached by Billy Graham and by MOST ministers of religion.
ONE MORE THING. The people seeing a "void" in there lives that needed to be fill is NOT salvation. I may be depressed in life and that void may need to be filled. Coming to Christ to FILL A VOID whatever that void may be IS NOT SALVATION.