Nov.-Dec. 1998 News Archives
Distributed via e-mail by CNV News Service. 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, CNV News Service, PO Box J, Hico, TX 76457
********************************************************************1. Christianity without Christ ?
2. Christmas Christian Liberty.
3. Father Christmas?
4. Many ways to ‘look" at the Nativity?
5. Take My Word For It.
6. Synagogues of Satan.
7. They All Fall Down.
8. World Embracing & Marketing Religion.
9. SINGING THE PRAISES OF BILLY.
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Christianity without Christ ?
LORD, JUDGE THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.A Jewish-Christian Thanksgiving service is growing. About 1,400 Jews and Christians from 11 congregations in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul, Minn., are expected to attend the third annual joint worship service the evening before Thanksgiving, news reports said. The service, called Companions in Reverence, will take place at the Temple of Aaron, which has one of only a few worship spaces big enough to hold the crowd. The event drew 1,200 last year.
The hour-long service will include music by a 300-voice choir composed of members from the churches and synagogues. A children's choir from Temple of Aaron will sing a Jewish song and the congregation will sing three hymns that make no references to Christ so as not to make Jews uncomfortable. "There was a lot of talk about how to respect boundaries and yet make everyone feel welcome," Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg said.
...The service gets people talking with each other, and is "a wonderful model for the community," said Susan Peterson, pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, who will preach. (Religion News Today 11/10/98)[Editor] The "Special Events" below was taken by me from the Temple of Aaron Web Site http://www.uscj.org/central/stpaulaaron/calendars.html
[Special Events]
Interfaith ServiceWe are hosting the annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service on Wednesday, November 25th at 7:30 P.M. While each congregation contributes funds, our congregation is responsible for $2000. We're looking for an angel to support this program. You will be listed in the program with special thanks. We also need many volunteers willing to help in the capacity of planning, ushering and baking. Please contact Rabbi Ginsburg if you can help in any way.
[EDITOR AGAIN] HEY--any ecumenists out there? If there be any, please explain to me how a Christian can PURPOSELY make no mention of Christ so as not to offend an unbeliever. If this fits YOU—then YOU are a CHRIST REJECTER as well as the Jews.
The ecumenists CRUCIFY CHRIST and have NO SALVATION because they desire not to offend CHRIST REJECTORS at the expense of OFFENDING CHRIST. YES! Let the ecumenists make them feel welcome-- as the both of them enter the fires of HELL.
Matt 10:33-35 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Do these Words of Christ say; "I am come to send peace to all religions so that they may feel welcome"? Does He say; "I am come to set a man at variance with his family unless they be CHRIST REJECTERS"?
Well—I blew off my steam—I feel better. Now it’s your turn.
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BIRMINGHAM, England -- In most of Britain, people are getting ready for Christmas. But in Birmingham, England's second-largest city, they're preparing to celebrate "Winterval." The city council chose the name to apply to its 42-day celebration of winter festivities in December and the New Year. A spokesman for the council said the group intended "no slur on anyone or any religious faith. "But church leaders are less than enthused with the dethroning of Christmas. "It is a totally unnecessary example of political correctness to avoid sensitivities people simply do not have," insisted John Barton, archdeacon of Ashton. Bishop of Birmingham Mark Santer agreed, saying, "I think it is really rather dreary and flat-footed inventing a silly name like 'Winterval' that nobody can even remember." It's not the first time this issue has been raised in Birmingham. Five years ago city leaders planned to call its Christmas lights "festive lights," but relented after local protests. (IBNS 11/98)[Editor] Let’s face the "facts" folks. Christmas IS a "festival of festivity", no two ways about it. Do you really think the WORLD will celebrate the birth of CHRIST? Would YOU celebrate the birth of someone you don’t know and don’t believe in? Why is it that "church people" want to FORCE CHRIST on the WORLD. What good will that do?
Many Christians clamor for the dethroning of Halloween, but become "alarmed" about the possible dethroning of Christmas. Both of these holidays came from pagan roots and were "christianized" by the Roman Catholic Church. The "religious" aspect of Halloween (The Roman Catholic "All Hallows Eve/All Souls Day"-Oct 30th-a prelude to "All Saints Day" -Nov 1st ) didn’t appeal to the "world". It appealed only to the Catholics in the world, so the "world" took up the pagan form of this holiday.
However, Christmas was an entirely different story. The idea of a beautifully decorated tree loaded with gifts, along with holiday meals and family visits was "too much". The "world" eventually made a "public (national) holiday" of this "religious holiday". Folks-nations do not keep religious holidays. They "decree holidays" to honor a "man", but they will not do so to honor Christ.
What’s silly about the whole thing is the argument that 'Winterval' is hard to remember. Come on church leaders, dispense with the "silly notions" and get on with the "defense".
Christmas ( Christ’s Mass) is really a Roman Catholic holiday. It has never been a "New Testament Church" holiday until recently. We are told we have the liberty to esteem one day above another or every day alike. (Rom 14:5) We shouldn’t try and push OUR estimation on anyone else. This includes other Christians and the WORLD. Folks-believers are in LIBERTY IN CHRIST. Let us not PUSH OUR LIBERTY on others, because in doing so we TAKE AWAY THEIR LIBERTY.
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Some British parents are angry with an American minister. Youngsters left a Sunday school class at Gabalfa Baptist Church in Cardiff in tears after Wade McLennan told them there is no such thing as Father Christmas. Parents are demanding that McLennan apologize for his sermon on the true meaning of Christmas, the Daily Telegraph said. "It is not up to the pastor to tell the children that Father Christmas does not exist. That's a job for parents...I know the pastor was trying to teach the children the true meaning of Christmas, but there are different ways to do that," said Rob Hurley, whose 8-year-old daughter was in the class. "We were trying to make a distinction between what is real and what is fantasy," McLennan said. "The reason for the Christmas season is Jesus." (Religion Today 12/24/98)[Editor] If parents don’t make a distinction between truth and fantasy for their children, who will? They refuse to do so and demand that others "leave it to them". How absurd!
I am assuming these folks are Christians, and it appears to me that they need spiritual guidance much more that their children.
Now whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I believe you have to agree that telling Christian children "Father Christmas" does not exist, is theologically sound.
--------------------------------------------------------------Many ways to ‘look" at the Nativity?
Harmony Baptist Church, 1814 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington, Texas will host this holiday event:Tomorrow: The teens will present a drama, `The Play,' which tells the story of Christmas as seen through the eyes of a teen-age angel, at 6 p.m. `The Play' was written by J.B. Baldridge, youth choir director. Admission is free, but donated coats and warm clothing for the needy will be collected at the door. (Ft. Worth Star Telegram 12/24/98)
[Editor] I wonder if they will sing the 50’s beep-bop song, Teen Angel, at this drama. Do angels age? Is this gonna be a boy or a girl? I wonder what Christmas looks like through the eyes of adult angels, or shepherds? I know what God wants it to look like to Christians. He wrote about it so we could understand. There is only ONE WAY to look at the story of Christ’s birth, and that is AS GOD REVEALED IT.
Fantasy does NOT belong in Christian churches.
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SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Church members who say their pastor convinced them to mortgage their homes for church improvements -- then stole the money -- have filed a lawsuit. The Rev. Thomas McCall reportedly used the funds, more than $850,000, to buy real estate in San Francisco and southern California. The members of Concord Missionary Baptist Church are suing for breech of contract and fraud. McCall also faces four counts of grand theft for allegedly taking $2.5 million in church funds, and an arson charge for allegedly setting his apartment on fire in an effort to destroy financial records. (IBNS 10/30/98)MACON, Ga. -- The Rev. Felton York was indicted in early October for allegedly setting his own church on fire. A Jan. 8 fire caused $100,000 in damages to Hartford Baptist Church in Macon. The fire was ruled arson, but investigators have declined to discuss specifics of the case or to say why York is suspected of setting the fire. (IBNS 10/30/98)
[Editor] You notice the words, "reportedly", "allegedly" and "suspected"? You ever hear of many of these "alleged suspects" being "wrongly accused"? Do you think these ministers are beyond reproach?
1 Tim 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Do you think those "without" are impressed with "Christianity"? They have to stay out of many (christian??) churches to keep from being robbed.
Hey, folks. These are NOT isolated cases. This happens ALL the time, somewhere, in MANY churches.
Is ecumenism of "any sort" in YOUR church? Is ministerial reproach behind YOUR church’s pulpit? Is there any LEAVEN in YOUR church?
It will LEVEN YOUR church before long. Maybe you should obey God while you are still an unleavened piece of the lump. (1 Cor 5:1-8)
Truth mixed with even a "little" error will not win out. Error will win out "every" time. You must PURGE the error or SEPATATE from it. TRUTH and ERROR will NOT mix. One will win out over the other. God says error will win out unless we PURGE or SEPARATE from it.
You know why there is so much error in the churches today? Because God’s people refuse to obey God in this respect, that’s why. They cling to this foolish notion that they can work ALONGSIDE error and WIN OUT eventually.
If you too, believe this, why TAKE THEIR WORD for it, when they won’t TAKE GOD’S WORD for it.
I know what I’m talking about. Be a Berean (Acts 17:11) then TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
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The United Church of Christ should support homosexual rights, its leader says. Paul Sherry is urging pastors of the denomination's 6,000 churches to read a letter from their pulpits supporting gay rights, United Press International said. The Bible has been used to justify prejudice and violence against homosexuals, and UCC congregations should be places of sanctuary for all people, Sherry said. "The campaign against homosexuals by many conservative politicians and religious leaders this summer convinced me that another Christian voice needed to be heard." Defending homosexuals demonstrates "fidelity to the prophetic voice of the Bible and the gospel's embrace for those who, with Christ, have been despised," he said. (Religion News Today-11/23/98){Editor} You don’t hear me say much about this church, because it is so far gone I think most Christians can "easily" see that there is "nothing" Christian "at all" about this church.
Take heed though! The "head" of the United Church of Christ, Paul Sherry says, "who,(homosexuals) with Christ, have been despised," BLASPHEMY! He is equating our LORD and SAVIOR with homosexuals.
The mainstream churches are becoming a sanctuary for the world instead of a place to worship and fellowship with other "believers of the gospel of Christ". Oh-there are believers in these churches all right, but "not" in CHRIST
The United Church of Christ is a sanctuary for the enemies of Christ because it is a synagogue of Satan.
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Georgia Baptists will allow charismatic practices. The state's Baptist association, the largest group of Southern Baptist churches outside of Texas, considered banning practices such as speaking in tongues and "being slain in the spirit," the Associated Press said. Most of the 2,400 representatives at a meeting voted to ban such practices, but the tally fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. (Religion News Today-11/23/98)[Editor] What can I say that I haven’t already said in this newsletter? THE MAINSTREAM CHURCHES ARE FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH (once delivered to the saints) ONE LOCAL CHURCH AT A TIME.
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World Embracing Religion. Businesses and Churches Market Religion.
Rio de Janeiro (ENI). Evangelical Christians in Brazil - who make up about 12 per cent of the country's population - are divided over a recent trend by some companies to target consumer products specifically at Evangelicals. In recent months there has been a poster campaign for Hosanna sweets featuring a well-known model, Aline Barros, and the slogan, "The Word of God in every mouth", a reference to the fact that there are biblical texts on the wrappers of the sweets.Other products aimed at Evangelicals include Freegels Gospel sweets, in cherry, grape, strawberry and mint flavours, which depict biblical figures. Even cosmetics, traditionally seen by many Evangelicals as sinful, are being sold by Christian companies and are on the shopping lists of many Evangelical consumers, while one company is now offering perfumed oils for unction. (anointing).[ENI-99-0002, 469 words]
[Editor] When the world embraces and markets religion there is something wrong with that religion. Jesus Christ is not in that religion. Christ said the world would hate and persecute Him, not embrace him and market his gospel. (John 15:18-20)
(ENI News Highlights contain summaries of ENI articles published today. This summary may be copied or re-posted in total provided the information listed below is retained. Individual paragraphs may be reproduced provided ENI is acknowledged as the source. For details of the full ENI News Service, which contains full text articles, contact ENI at the address below. Ecumenical News International. ENI on the World Wide Web - http://www.eni.ch
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------SINGING THE PRAISES OF BILLY GRAHAM.
A documentary about the influence of Billy Graham will begin airing on ABC affiliates on Dec. 27th. 1998. The documentary, , "Common Ground" produced by the North American Mission Board will air testimonies of White House dignitaries, political office holders, athletes and screen stars.Below are some of the testimonies of some of these people as posted by "Religion Today".
"He [Graham] is the person who introduced me to Jesus Christ." "He is the person who gave the introduction, who extended the invitation, who offered the challenge that has completely changed my life."
"I'm just one of millions that have been affected, but I am so glad that I am one that was affected through his ministry and his dedication and commitment,"
Notice any sign of repentance included in these brief testimonies? Being affected-influenced-moved-touched-impressed, by Graham's ministry and his dedication and commitment is NOT the power of God unto salvation. It is the power of righteous behavior, (morality) and the creation of a desire to "change society".
On the last night of a Boston crusade in 1964, a woman had decided she would ask Jesus Christ to be her Savior. However, she arrived at Boston Garden late, and security guards were turning people away because there was no more room. Panicked, but undaunted, she climbed a fire escape, lowered herself through a skylight and landed next to a security guard.
"The guard said to me, 'Honey, if you want to hear Billy Graham, then go sit down on the stairs and listen to what he has to say,'" the woman recounted. "When the invitation came, I walked down the aisle."
Notice PLEASE-This woman thinks she cannot "get saved" unless she is inside where Graham is preaching. In her mind, AND HEART she believes that she must WALK THE ISLE at Graham's INVITATION. Walking an isle at the invitation of man is NOT the power of God unto salvation.
It is reported that over the last 50 years, his message, and his testimony have remained constant.
"I would describe his message as being an old, old story and he doesn't ever veer from it," said daughter Anne Graham Lotz.
On the contrary-his message HAS CHANGED. When he burst upon the national scene in the late 1940's he held positions which would have been shared by Bible believers in every denomination. He believed in an inerrant Scripture, the lost condition of all men, the necessity of salvation through the blood of Christ and the eternal destiny of man in either heaven or hell. He would have shared a desire to be separate from the world, a hatred for the liberalism which had robbed modernistic churches of the gospel, a clear perception of Roman Catholicism as a false religious system, a non-charismatic orientation and a recognition of atheistic communism as one of the shrewdest works of the devil.
However, Billy Graham has CHANGED HIS TUNE. (message). Now he says, "I used to believe that pagans in far-off countries were lost--were going to hell--if they did not have the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them. I no longer believe that." (McCall's - January 1978)
Graham once believed that Jews, too, were lost if they did not convert to Christianity. Today Graham is willing to leave that up to God. Billy is particularly opposed to evangelical groups such as `Jews for Jesus' who have made Jews the special target of their proselytizing efforts. Bill declares, "If a person wants to convert to Christianity, that is his own freewill decision," He says, "I would never go after someone just because he is a Jew, which is why I have never supported the Jewish missions."
The Gastonian Gazette of November 22, 1967, reported on Graham when he went to Belmont Abbey Roman Catholic College in NC. Eo accept an When asked, 'what gospel do you preach, he answered, "The gospel that built this school and the gospel that brings me here tonight is still the way of salvation."
Graham says,"Many of the people who reach a decision for Christ at our meetings have joined the Catholic church." (Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph of September 6, 1952)
He says, "Even if the penitents are non-Protestant they are referred to the church of their choice. "Anyone who makes a decision at our meeting is seen later and referred to a local clergyman--Protestant, Catholic or Jewish." (San Francisco News, November 11 1957)
Billy Graham on the Romeward road
1963: "I admire Pope John [XXIII] tremendously. I felt he brought a new era to the world" Chicago Tribune, June 8, 1963).1966: "I find myself closer to Catholics than the radical Protestants. I think the Roman Catholic Church today is going through a second Reformation" (Evening Bulletin, Philadelphia, May 24, 1966).
1977: In Manila, the Philippines, Graham said, "We have received wondrous support from the Catholic Church" (Christianity Today, Dec. 30, 1977).
1978: "I found that my beliefs are essentially the same as those of orthodox Catholics." What do you think of that? He says, "We only differ on some matters of later church tradition. I find that my beliefs are essentially the same as those of orthodox Roman Catholics" (McCall's, Jan. 1978).
In Poland in 1978 Graham praised the greatness of Pope John the XXIII's successor, Pope Paul VI, and he said, "I praise the greatness of the present Pope Paul VI."
In 1980 he wrote an article which appeared in the Saturday Evening Post (Jan.-Feb. 1980). He said: "Pope John Paul II is one of the greatest moral and spiritual leaders of this century. He is an evangelist." You did not know the Pope was an evangelist. Well, Billy Graham tells you he is an evangelist. He says: "He has sought to speak to the spiritual hunger of our age in the same way Christians throughout the centuries have spoken to the spiritual yearning of every age." And how has he done it? Billy Graham says he has done it by pointing people to Christ. The Pope is a great evangelist who points people to Christ!
In 1981 Billy Graham had a long meeting with the Pope. He said: "It was very private. It was very intimate." He said, "The Pope was extremely warm and interested in our work."
The Pope's brother
In 1989 Graham spoke further in the Today newspaper of June 8, and he said this about the Pope: "There was a pause in the conversation, suddenly the Pope's arm shot out and he grabbed the lapels of my coat, he pulled me forward within inches of his own face. He fixed his eye on me and said, `Listen, Graham, we are brothers.'" We are brothers! Graham said that was a great happening in his life, when the Pope took him by the lapels, pulled him into his cheek and said, "We are brothers."
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