December 1999 -January 2000 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. "News Item headings and Editor comments are mine" [Andy Neckar, Christian News & Views, PO Box J, Hico, TX 76457]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. SYMBOLISM
2. BIG-BIG-TO BIG TO STOP
3. JEZEBEL HAS SPOKEN
4. SYNAGOGUES OF SATAN
5. SLOW IT DOWN? MAYBE --STOP IT? NO!
6. CHURCHES CARRYING OUT GREAT COMMISSION
7. HOLY MACKEREL-The golden spirit.
8. HOLY TOLEDO-the Great Spirit.
9. VEGGY TALES
10. CUSTOMIZED PC.-no, not personal computer. PERSONAL CHURCHES
**********************************************SYMBOLISM
The traditional fish symbol of Christianity has become the center of religious bumper wars. Nearly every faith--and non-faith--has adopted a fish as its own. An atheistic organization fired the first shot a few years ago, designing a fish with budding feet and emblazoned with the word Darwin. Recent images include a Hindu fish with cow udders, a fattened Buddha, and a Gay-Pride fish that sports a pink triangle. "As far as we can tell, no other religious symbols are perverted for fun and profit," says a report in Focus on the Family Citizen (10/99).[Editor] About all companies, corporations, clubs and lodges have a symbol of some sort. This goes on from way back when. But the "symbol of Christianity" is a recent copy cat of the world. Modern Christianity lives and acts and identifies itself with the world. It clothes itself in the worlds tapestry and joins in fellowship with the enemies of God.
If I just "had" to have a symbol of my religion it would have to be the "Cross of Christ" and an "Empty Grave".
****************************************BIG-BIG-TO BIG TO STOP
The Lighthouse Movement, which seeks to reach every person in America with the gospel by the end of the year 2000, is a coalition of more than 70 diverse denominations and 300 ministry organizations. Any person, family, or group can become a Lighthouse by committing to (1) pray for, (2) care for, and (3) share Christ with others.
"The Lighthouse Movement of Mission America has brought the body of Christ together in a way that is unique in American history," claims Billy Graham, an honorary co-chairman. Another honorary co-chairman is Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade.
A 30-member "honorary advisory committee" includes ecumenicists such as Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral; Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity; and Charles Colson, who is noted for his part in Evangelicals and Catholics Together. A "facilitation committee" includes the executive secretary of the American Baptist Churches, an apostate denomination affiliated with the World Council of Churches (Focus on the Family, 12/99; Fundamentalist Digest, 11-12/99).[Editor] Folks, this is just one of many para-church organizations that is leading the way to unity of the churches. How else can there be a "one world church" without church unity? To unify there must be "tolerance" and "compromise", two 'key words" that open the gates of hell. There are too many movements to list and to expose. This thing is BIG. Please study to show yourself approved unto God and to rightly discern the Word of Truth. (2 Tim 2:15)
********************************************JEZEBEL HAS SPOKEN
"We must renounce old religious ideas and embrace the Holy Spirit's new strategies," claims Charisma's feature article in its December issue. Necessary changes for the new millennium include replacing the old teaching "that God does not speak anymore--except through the pages of the Bible" with a new sensitivity to the audible voice of God. Another old teaching is that God will no longer be looking for a specific gender when filling leadership positions; in the new millennium "He'll be looking for anyone who is available," female pastor Juanita Bynum is quoted as saying.[Editor] What can I say? How about repeating this?
Heb 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
*****************************************SYNAGOGUES OF SATAN
More Christians are divorced than non-Christians, concludes Barna Research Group. A survey of nearly 4,000 adults found that 27 percent of born-again Christians have been divorced--compared to 24 percent of others. Within the denominations surveyed, Baptists had the highest divorce rate (29 percent) and Catholics had the lowest (21 percent). The rate for nondenominational Christians was 34 percent, while for atheists and agnostics it was 21 percent. George Barna said that the statistics follow a pattern that has existed for some time (Charisma News Service, 12/23/99).[Editor] What does one have to do to find obedience to God's Word? Where does one have to go? Surely not in the organized churches. They have become, or either they are fast becoming the synagogues of Satan.
*****************************************SLOW IT DOWN? MAYBE --STOP IT? NO!
Two Southern Baptist congressmen have demanded the resignation of presidential press secretary Joe Lockhart. Reps. J.C. Watts and J.D. Hayworth were incensed by Lockhart's suggestion that Southern Baptist efforts to reach Hindus, Jews, and Muslims "perpetuate religious hatred."
During a White House press briefing on December 16, Lockhart said of the SBC's efforts: "I think the president has made very clear . . . his views on religious tolerance, and how one of the greatest challenges going into the next century is dealing with intolerance, dealing with ethnic and religious hatred, and coming to grips with the long-held resentments between religions," Lockhart said.
"So I think he's been very clear in his opposition to whatever organization, including the Southern Baptists, that perpetuate ancient religious hatred," the press secretary added. Lockhart later apologized for his remarks, according to the Associated Press (Baptist Press, 12/22/99 & 12/27/99).[Editor] He apologized because of political pressure, but this favorable pressure will soon became a thing of the past. We may can slow it down some but we cannot stop it.
*****************************************CHURCHES CARRYING OUT GREAT COMMISSION
The National Partnership for the Environment has announced a $16 million campaign to make environmentalism a "fundamental focus of religious life for every denomination in America." Partners include the U.S. Catholic Conference, the National Council of Churches, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and the Evangelical Environmental Network.The Partnership, founded in 1993 with help from scientist Carl Sagan and Vice President Al Gore, seeks to make environmental activism a central element of local church and synagogue life, potentially displacing a traditional emphasis on worship, prayer, evangelism, and charity (National Liberty Journal, 10/99).
[Editor] The modern organized churches of these "latter days" are carrying out the "great commission" of their father the devil. Preach environmentalism, love, unity and tolerance, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever the devil and his demons have given to these evil hearts which he possess.
These ministers of the synagogues of Satan and forerunners of the anti-christ are to do this beginning in America and even unto the end of the world, because, lo, he is with them until Christ destroys him with the brightness of His coming.
You see, I can't "bind" Satan, for I am weak and he is powerful. But I CAN say, "The Lord Rebuke Thee." AMEN?
*****************************************************HOLY MACKEREL-The golden spirit.
[Excerpted and adapted from an article in the Detroit News-1/30/99]In the heart of the Sacramento Valley, where 49ers flocked to mine a mother lode of riches 150 years ago, Christian believers are proclaiming a new and godly gold rush: The Holy Spirit, they claim, is miraculously transforming porcelain crowns and silver fillings into gold.
Never mind that they can't seem to prove it. Disregard the dental records that contradict some of their claims. The reports of divine dentistry have taken on a life of their own as they rapidly spread on the Internet and in evangelical media, stirring up a frenzy of excitement through revival churches in California and worldwide.
Believers are hailing transformed teeth, the appearance of gold dust and a host of other claimed miracles as proof of a powerful "move of God," bringing renewal to Christian churches at the start of the millennium.
Ministries stressing the miraculous have taken off among the estimated 500 million charismatic and Pentecostal believers worldwide who make up Christianity's fastest-growing segment.
Here in Orangevale, at the Family Christian Center, Pastor Rich Oliver draws back his lip and displays a glittering gold crown he says God gave him in March. Actually, dental records show his previous dentist put the crown in on April 29, 1991. When confronted with those records, Oliver says, "I'd have to say I was absolutely wrong ... (but) none of it distracts from the fact that I know God is a healer."
Nonetheless, Oliver touts his congregation's "gold rush" on the Internet and lines up church members to witness about how God changed their teeth -- and lives.[Editor] This "holy spirit" is a poor excuse for an imitator. I am sorely disappointed, as I though Satan could do much better than that. What a farce!
That's all this spirit has to do is attempt to engage in cheap magic, and it even fails at this. It has to induce the heathen to lie- a blatant lie at that. Hey-where is the spirit of deception? Well- it isn't needed any more, as the church has fallen to such lows that even the cheapest "attempt" at magic is enough to fool imbeciles.
These people believe a lie, KNOWING it's a lie. Satan just sits back on his hunches and let the people deceive "themselves". I mean, "he's got it made in the shade". He's HOT. He's the IN THING, and he don't even have to use any smarts.
But one day--one day he's gonna "get his" and the fools are gonna get theirs too. AMEN?
****************************************************HOLY TOLEDO-the Great Spirit.
[Excerpted and adapted from an article in the Detroit News]
Over the past decade, religion and environmentalism have quietly discovered each other and the planet may never be the same.
"Episcopal Power and Light" is electrifying churches with renewable energy. "Redwood Rabbis" are preserving old growth forests. Evangelical "Noah congregations" are saving endangered species. Catholic bishops are coming to the aid of the Columbia River.
Sometimes called "creation care," "earth stewardship" or "green spirituality" the new religious environmentalism has taken hold with surprising swiftness, catching both traditional environmentalists and their political adversaries off-guard.Not everyone believes it's a movement made in heaven. Some critics see it as a threat to free market economics and technological progress, while others suspect it's a cover for pagan earth-worship.
[Editor] I most heartily agree with the "others". Get ready for when the "golden spirit" teams up the "green spirit". It's gonna rain golden "penny's from heaven".
**************************************VEGGY TALES
[Excerpts from some of my thoughts]People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is asking Christians to forgo that lamp chop, chicken wing and hamburger. Even fish sticks should be skipped, it says.
PETA quotes from Genesis as proof that man should be a vegetarian.
Genesis 1:29 states, "God said, 'See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the Earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food."'
Those who oppose PETA quote Genesis also.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Gen 1:28 does not "prove" that man can eat animals. But when God started all over again, I can offer a "proof verse" from Gen. that man can eat "meat & fish".
Gen 9:1-4 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
Now we got down to the "meat" of the matter. AMEN?
**************************************
CUSTOMIZED PC.-no, not personal computer. PERSONAL CHURCHES.
[Excerpted and adapted from an article in the Detroit News]
Americans are increasingly feasting on faith through a combination of religious ideas. They are mixing parts of Buddhism with parts of Christianity and Judaism and creating a grafting of doctrine.People are seeking spiritual guidance outside the field of mainstream religion and are dabbling in Eastern philosophy and New Age belief systems.
"I see a resurgence of faith," says Miguel Ceja, pastor of Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church in Palm Springs, Calif. "Humanity has tried for hundreds of years to achieve happiness and completeness. It hasn't worked, therefore we're turning more toward religion."
Ceja believes American society is "lost, looking for a sense of belonging." Religion in the coming century, he says, will help provide that belonging.
Donald Miller, a professor of religion at the University of Southern California, says, "There's a very, very strong desire for community now. If anything, religion will grow in importance."
Structured services with evangelical messages are on the way out, says Florence Phillips, minister of the United Church of Religious Science in Palm Springs. "Church as we know it today is not going to be anymore," she says. "People want more than someone preaching to them (about) how to live."
Where is this grafting of doctrine leading? They say as long as you believe in something then you're OK. But that's the great deception.
Religion and spirituality are distinctly separate, say scholars who predict the two will most likely grow further apart in the next century. Spirituality can be very individualized, based on a number of different philosophies, belief systems and experiences. Religion, in the traditional sense, typically requires a more dogmatic allegiance to one system of beliefs constant throughout history.
Many churches seem to be straying from spiritual topics and moving into moral grounds, pushing parishioners away in search of something more meaningful.
Today's religions devote far more energy to social-political and moral issues.Contemporary established religions are not addressing their needs, and spiritually starved masses are looking elsewhere for fulfillment and direction. People are combining elements from the East and traditional religions of the West and aboriginal traditions from all over.
Out of this melting pot several religious forms are establishing themselves. These new religions will be mainly concerned with developing and raising consciousness rather than just faith and devotion.
In describing this state of religion, professor Phillip Hammond of the University of California at Santa Barbara says, "We're living in an extraordinarily ambiguous time," he says. "But what this does is free us to find our own pathways through life."[Editor] A church for every need, and a church for every budget. They advertise and offer differing needs and wants of the flesh. They hold marketing surveys and then they "customize church services" to appeal to a select clientele. The church that can best customize services according to demographic surveys are the big winners. Hey-corporate advertisers have nothing on the modern organized churches of today.
Of course all this corporate leadership cost money you know, and the more amenities offered the bigger the price tag. The "little wheel" churches beg for "God's tithes" and your "due offerings", while the mega-churches are out for mega-bucks. Send them your "love offerings", they would "love to receive it". Give 'em a few thousand dollars "seed money" even if you have to borrow it. "God will repay", they say, and this I KNOW, but I would hate to be on the receiving end of the stick.
[Now that I have your curiosity up, ask for my article, "The Truth About Tithing- Giving in Grace]
These folks are out to find their own pathway but little do they realize the "end of that path". POOR SOULS, the devil has taken the Word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved (Luke 8:12)
If ONLY they would listen to reason.
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
AMEN.