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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Mormons Applaud Glenn Beck for Acheiving 200 Year Goal and the "I AM" Blasphemy


By Justin Edwards

Yet another must-read by Brannon Howse on the prophetic implications of this past weekend's spiritual faith rally hosted by Glenn Beck. According to Mormon tradition, they have long sought to be considered Christians, and the endorsement by evangelical leaders and lay Christians at the 8/27-8/28 rally has achieved a victory for them. Incredible is the deception that is taking place from both the left and the right. On the one hand, we have liberal "Christianity" embracing New Age thought in order to bring global unity to a dying world; and on the other hand we have conservatism being the vessel to inject paganism into mainline Christianity. What's worse, potentially millions of evangelical Christians have yet to see this undercurrent of deception that will surely usher in the end-times global religion.

You must share this article with all of your Christian friends. Pay special attention to the references to "I AM", which should be reserved exclusively to the Alpha and Omega - the Lord Jesus Christ! Yet, Glenn Beck, along with practitioners of the New Age, are using this designation to elevate themselves to a god - which Mormonism happens to teach one should aspire to be!

Without further delay, please take the time to read this ever-so-important article by Brannon Howse (apologies in advance for the bold-type and highlights - there is just too much not to miss in this article):


Glenn Beck Rally Set Stage for "Christians" to Accept Paganism, and Mormons Say Beck Achieved 200 Year Goal of Getting Evangelicals to Declare That Mormons Are Christians

by Brannon S. Howse

I tried to warn evangelical leaders about Glenn Beck's rallies but most of them laughed at me. Now Satan is the one laughing at them as "Christians" run head-long into embracing non-Biblical theology and call it "Christian".

Greg West in the Mormon LDS Examiner validates my pre-Beck rally warnings to Evangelical leaders on my radio program, columns, e-mails, and phone conversations. I told them that partnering with Beck in a spiritual enterprise would send the message that Mormons are Christians.

Greg West writes:

As a Mormon, I have to consider an unintended message throughout Beck's work, which has culminated in this event. That message is: "Mormons are Christian believers." Despite nearly two centuries of misrepresentation and religious envy by sectarian Christianity, Beck has achieved the visibility, prominence, and has had the time day after day, week after week, to speak openly and truly about his core beliefs. Those statements of faith have disoriented and confused those who had previously believed the lies about Mormons.

Jim Garlow, a popular and influential pastor who partnered with the Mormon faithful in California to defend traditional marriage was quoted recently in CNN's Belief Blog, saying, "I have interviewed persons who have talked specifically with Glenn about his personal salvation - persons extremely well known in Christianity - and they have affirmed (using language evangelicals understand), 'Glenn is saved...' He understands receiving Christ as Savior."

Hallelujah! The light bulb has been switched on after nearly two centuries! Every single member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that a person must be "born again" and receive Jesus Christ as his Savior and Redeemer. Our holy books teach that salvation comes only in and through the atonement of Christ and that there is no other way a person can be saved…Glenn Beck's beliefs are mainstream Mormon beliefs. Joseph Smith, the Church's founder, was a Christian prophet. He was an apostolic witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. [(Source: Examiner)]
Notice that West admits that what Beck has said on his broadcasts about his faith has "disoriented and confused" people who thought that Mormonism was not consistent with Christianity. However, Beck has now convinced them that Mormonism and Christianity are compatible with the help of America's Christian leaders.

The actor Kirk Cameron is the only one I personally know of that took to heart my pre-Beck rally warnings and reversed himself. Kirk really encouraged me when I needed it by calling to thank me for the column and sharing with me how it helped him understand why he must not take part in Beck's 8-27 event. Kirk even had the courage to come on my national radio program and speak about this issue publically.

The irony is rather thick. Kirk played "Buck Williams" in the Left Behind Movies. Buck was a famous secular journalist who became a believer and then set out to warn Christians not to accept the demonic spirituality of a one-world religion that was unfolding through national and international figures.

I believe what happen over the weekend was a seismic shift within evangelicalism; an historic event that will go unnoticed by most Christian leaders. A few leaders may eventually understand the nature of what happen but it will be weeks if not months before they respond. Many of these leaders waited years to provide the defense against Oprah's pagan spirituality and when they did it was too late for many of the goats within their flock of sheep that had already consumed Oprah's spiritual poison.

Sadly, most Christian leaders and pastors are completely deficient in understanding the ideas and philosophies that have, and continue, to be the force behind the rushing cultural stream. As a result; the members of their own congregation hear no advanced warning of the coming spiritual undertow nor do they acquire the needed Biblical knowledge that keeps them from being children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, (Ephesians 4:14).

The compromise by evangelical leaders and pastors by spiritually uniting with "all faiths" with the theme of "looking to the one god", as described by Beck, has laid the foundation for untold numbers of self-professing Christians to now embrace pluralism and pagan spirituality. Pastors and evangelical leaders literally locked arms with all faiths, including Imams, in a spiritual endeavor despite the clear Biblical warnings of II Corinthians 6:14.

The Mormon Church is now rejoicing over the public relations success that these undiscerning evangelical leaders have handed the Mormon Church by uniting with Glenn Beck in the two events that were promoted as spiritual.

I believe that Beck does not only embrace the pagan spirituality of Mormonism but also Cosmic Humanism. Cosmic Humanism is known by most as the New Age Movement. Cosmic Humanism says that man is god. Mormonism says that man can become god. See the similarities? Before you react listen to what Glenn Beck said on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace on the Fox News Channel. Glenn Beck said that his rally was not political and the reason for his rally was because "there's nothing that we can do that will solve the problems that we have and keep the peace unless we solve it through God, unless we solve it in being our highest self. Be your higher-self."

Beck used the phrase "higher self" three times in the interview with Chris Wallace. No one talks that way unless they know exactly what they are saying. One New Age website says:

There are many great words to describe Who or What your highest identity or Self truly is. Below are just a few: Higher Self, I am Presence, I Am That I Am…Cosmic Consciousness, God, Christ, Holy Spirit And the list goes on…

Notice that "I AM that I AM" is another word for "higher self". Last week on his radio program Beck said, "I Am That I Am is the most powerful phrase in any language as it is the name of god, never use it in vain; use it to create who you want to be. I AM blank."

I AM is a title that is to be reserved for God Himself. In Exodus 3:13 God told Moses that when the people of Israel ask for My name tell them, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" In John 8:58 we read, "Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'"

"I AM" is to be reserved as a title for God yet it is being blasphemed in the pagan practice of what is called "the law of attraction." In the book The Secret, that was promoted by none other than Oprah Winfrey, Rhonda Byrne wrote:

· The law of attraction is the law of creation….You create your life through your thoughts." [p. 15.]

· There isn't a single thing that you cannot do with this knowledge. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are, The Secret can give you whatever you want. [P. xi]

· With this powerful knowledge, you can completely change every circumstance and event in your entire life…" [p. 17]

The fact that people like Beck on the right and Oprah on the left are proclaiming the "I AM" message is a sign that we are living in the last days according to Jesus Himself in Luke 21:7-8:

And they asked Him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, "Take heed that yet be not deceived: for many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near; go ye not therefore after them."

Former New Ager, now Biblical Christian, Ray Yungen writes:

Notice, "Christ" is italicized in verse 8, meaning that it was not in the original manuscript. The translators of the King James Bible probably thought it awkward that it said "Many shall come saying, I am." Probably for the sake of clarity and to be consistent with Mathew 24, the translators added the word "Christ."

Did you catch that? Jesus was saying that when people say they are god by using the title "I AM" it is a sign that we are living in the end times. We are also told to run away from the people saying "I AM". Sadly, many of our nation's pastor's and Christian leaders did not run from Glenn Beck but ran to join him in a spiritual service and enterprise.

Beck on his radio program last week also declared, "Hell is an eternity of regret not being able to forgive yourself." This is a completely unbiblical statement. Nowhere in the Bible do we see instruction to "forgive yourself" because it is impossible. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, "He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." Verse 17 is what brings me peace since I have repented of my sins and placed by faith and trust in the Jesus of the Bible. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Grace and forgiveness is provided to those who repent and therefore there is no need to believe the lie that you can "forgive yourself" of your sins.

Glenn Beck has accomplished what neither Oprah Winfrey nor Shirley McClain could. I believe that Beck used his conservative veneer and doublespeak to co-opt leaders of the religious right. Beck and these evangelical leaders have sent the message that it is acceptable for millions of "Christians" to embrace humanistic spirituality and paganism for the purpose of social activism and social change. These pastors should re-read Luke 17:2 where we read; "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

Beck has set the stage for "conservatives" to accept a one-world religion and numerous leaders of the religious right pulled the ropes that raised the curtain on this ecumenical stage. Christian leaders that should have known better nodded in agreement and provided the backdrop as Beck preached his sermon of pluralism and universalism on 8-27 and 8-28.

Perhaps sooner, rather than latter, the world will be in massive economic, political, and spiritual chaos and a leader will step on to the world stage and this anti-Christ will call for the religions of the world to unite and embrace spirituality. He will declare that he is not about politics but about bringing peace, unity, faith, hope, charity, stability, freedom, and prosperity under the common god of all religions. This world leader will perform counterfeit miracles signs and wonders and those who reject Biblical truth will follow him [2 Thessalonians 2:9-12] and embrace his plan for restoring honor.

If I had told you five years ago that a "conservative" radio and TV personality would have millions of viewers, would talk about the spiritual battle being waged in America, would be a self-confessed member of a cult, would quote New Age phrases, would call for Christians and conservatives to look to the "one god", would seek to unite all faiths and would convince dozens of evangelical pastors and leaders to support him in a spiritual service-you would say I was writing fiction and that this would never happen.

Do you now understand the magnitude of the spiritual shift that occurred this past weekend? The millions that see nothing wrong with the messages of Beck's 8-27 and 8-28 rallies reveal that the religious left and the religious right will be easily merged together in the coming one world religion under the coming one-world spiritual leader as prophesied in Revelation 17:8.

Ephesians 5:11 commands all Christians to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do in spite of e-mails and voice messages that are filled with cursing and insults. Our response must simply be, "Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" [Galatians 4:16]

Monday, August 30, 2010

Free Hot Dogs, Drinks, and the Gospel!


By Justin Edwards

Free hot dogs, free snacks, free drinks, and free trillion dollar bills! That's right, every person who received free food and free drinks this past Saturday afternoon at the Carolina Panthers tailgate also received the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! An event organized by a local baptist church to share the Gospel with the lost, we were able to bring the Good News to hundreds, if not thousands, of football fans attending the NFL game.


The plan Saturday was to give out 400 free hot dogs and several hundred cold beverages. We were in a perfect location being only 2 or 3 blocks from the stadium along a primary pedestrian route where everyone tailgating on that side of the stadium had to pass by us. It was amazing to see the look on people's faces when we told them free food. Some knew there had to be a catch, and the only thing we required of them was to receive a Gospel tract. But this gave many opportunities to get into spiritual conversations and share Jesus Christ. We also ran into lots of believers, many of which actually helped us in our mission by "recruiting" people to come check us out. I must have seen one female security guard return 4 or 5 times to get more food and some of the resources we were distributing. It was such an awesome site to see!

Only God knows how many lives were touched on Saturday and I could spend a long time sharing conversations I had and witnessed of others. Suffice it to say, it was truly a blessing to be used by Him in this way, and this event is only the beginning of many more to come. A fire was lit in me several months ago to be bold in sharing my faith in public, and I pray that I can only live a life worthy of the calling.

I have been so blessed over these last several months to come in contact with some great brothers and awesome resources to be equipped with sharing the Gospel. One brother shared Mark Cahill with me back in April and it has proved to be a great encouragement to me in learning how to adequately share the unadulterated gospel. Common fears in witnessing are being overcome and the more opportunities I have, the more confidence and trust I have in knowing God will not charge us with any work He has not sufficiently equipped us for. 


So I want to take this opportunity to encourage you to begin praying and thinking of ways you can organize and take the Gospel to the streets in your area. The internet has been so beneficial in equipping me to have face to face encounters with the lost, but there is so much more out there than from behind the keyboard. We have started a facebook page titled The Speak:Truth Project and I invite you to join the group. This page will be a platform for organizing our local events but also to share ideas and to encourage and equip other believers to fulfill the Great Commission in their own towns.

There are untold opportunities for you to engage in. Rock concerts, bar alleys, club scenes, sporting events, malls, piers, amusement parks - anywhere! All it takes is 1 or 2 believers to trust God to work through them as they obey the command of Jesus Christ to spread His salvation to all people. If you have the same fears I had, then you must get a copy of Mark Cahill's book, One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven.  This is the book that "started it all" for me, and I believe it's potentially the most important book a born again believer will ever read. What else are we here for other than to glorify God through salvation and taking this message to the lost? For additional resources, check out airō's page, Evangelism - Equip Yourself.


Bride of Christ, the hour is getting late. Current global events are screaming of the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is time to get out of our comfort zones, evaluate our priorities, and do absolutely everything necessary to get the Gospel out. God is very patient so that none should perish, but His patience has an expiration.

The question must be asked: how many people do you know on their way to hell because they don't know Jesus, or rather, Jesus doesn't know them? How many people in your local towns are headed to the same place?

And now a more important question must be asked: what are you going to do about?


Jesus is coming soon - let us be faithful to the end!

And [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. - Mark 16:15

An Open Letter Concerning Glenn Beck


By Nathan Jones

Americans are abuzz over noted author and broadcast personality Glenn Beck. Beck is nationally known by his supporters as a defender of American liberties and by his enemies as an outspoken critic of the current political establishment. Both sides, though, are confused over just what Glenn Beck believes concerning his claim to Christianity and Jesus Christ.

On Saturday, August 28, Beck held a Restoring Honor Rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., presenting such famous speakers as Sarah Palin, Dr. Alveda King and Marcus Luttrell. The purpose of the event, as Beck's website describes, is to "celebrate America by honoring our heroes, our heritage and our future" and remind Americans that "our freedom is possible only if we remain virtuous," calling all patriots to help him "restore the values that founded this great nation."

Just what "values" does Beck see America returning to, though, and where does he derive those values from? Are they from the Bible, or from something else?

Eric BargerThese questions were taken to one of today's foremost defenders of the faith, Eric Barger, the founder and director of Take a Stand! Ministries headquartered in the Dallas area. Eric is an authority on the cults, the New Age, and rock music today. He's generated a letter called "An Open Letter Concerning Glenn Beck" that gives great insight into Glenn Beck's belief system.

An Open Letter Concerning Glenn Beck

Over the last few months there have been many questions and much conversation about the popular broadcaster Glenn Beck and his professed Mormon faith. This letter seeks to identify and clear up the confusion concerning both Beck's stand and about the marked differences between Mormonism and historic, biblical Christianity. Please understand that we do not write these words in an effort to simply be "right" or to win an argument. The purpose of the letter is to determine the truth — something that Glenn Beck himself constantly lauds.

Let us begin by saying that we appreciate the stand Glenn Beck has made concerning our country, its foundation, and the great need for America to come back to God. Many of us have no doubt learned and gleaned information from Beck's thorough research and many fine, conservative guests. In fact, as he has stated many times on his national television program on the Fox News Channel and on his much-listened to radio program, the only hope America, indeed any person or nation, has is to return to and surrender to God. However, therein lies the problem. When Beck speaks of God, informed Christians must immediately question "which God?"

The unsuspecting or those less informed are given the perception that, when Beck mentions God, it must be the same deity that is spoken of as the Creator in the Holy Bible. To what extent Glenn Beck is grounded in Mormon doctrine or understanding may be debatable. However, he indeed presents himself in much the same manner as that of an "evangelical" Christian and also consistently states that he is indeed a Mormon. Let us be clear. Each person reading this must be warned that Glenn Beck's spirituality — which he claims to be the only solution — is not orthodox, historical Christianity in doctrine, beliefs, or practice.

Put bluntly, the basis of Mormonism exists in the idea of godhood for mankind in a doctrine called "The Law of Eternal Progression." This cultic belief states that God was a man as we are now and (through Mormonism and its erroneous teachings) we humans can become "gods" as well. Mormonism's founder, Joseph Smith, wrote, "... You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you..." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 348). Though the modern Mormon Church has tried to appear to be "Christian," this belief is the very core teaching of Mormonism.

On the "Mormon Jesus," Mormon apostle Bruce R. Hunter, a member of Mormonism's "First Council of the Seventy," emphatically wrote, "The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer, son of the morning. Haughty, ambitious, and covetous of power and glory, this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind" (The Gospel Through the Ages, Milton R. Hunter, p. 15). Though the evidence that separates Mormonism from authentic Christianity is overwhelming, just these two examples should give one pause to question whether the Mormon god and Mormonism's unbiblical Jesus could in any way be construed to be the same as that portrayed in God's holy word, the Bible.
In conclusion...

No matter how good the fruit may appear, no matter how much we may agree with his stand on America or politics, no matter how sincere or passionate he may be, we feel it is incumbent on those in apologetics ministry to point out that, if indeed Glenn Beck is a Mormon, he is advocating a religion that is not Christianity in any fashion but instead a false religion responsible for damning the souls of all who follow it. Being close or just using similar terms or phrases do not constitute sound doctrine. These things matter and each of us — Glenn Beck included — need to examine whether we have placed our faith, hope, and trust in the real Jesus who is able to redeem and save a sinner or in one of the many worthless counterfeits such as the "Jesus" of the Mormon Church.


Joining Glenn Beck, Potentially Millions of Evangelicals Compromising the Gospel


By Justin Edwards

Brannon Howse delivers another excellent piece on the evangelical compromise of the Gospel while joining forces with Glenn Beck. In the name of patriotism and social justice, biblical Christianity is being attacked from both the right and the left.

Let it be known: Glenn Beck is a false teacher. At one time he was a great stalwart in defending freedoms and our U.S. Constitution, but his mask is finally coming off to show his agenda in promoting Mormon doctrine. Evangelical leaders compromised the Gospel this weekend when joining hands at Beck's "revival" rally, and many Christians followed suit, some in ignorance, some in defiance.

The push for ecumenicism is blatantly clear to discerning Christians - if you have yet to understand where this is all headed, then I urge you to read the following and begin to diligently study where this is all rooted.

As one facebook friend said to me over the weekend, we must not compromise the Gospel on the alter of ecumenical patriotism!

The line is being drawn in the sand - on which side will you stand?

Glenn Beck and Jim Wallis Are Both Pushing Social Justice and an Earthly Kingdom

by Brannon S. Howse

Am I on the only one that watched Glenn Beck's 8-28 rally with red flags going up non-stop? The mixture of Glenn's Mormon theology wrapped in Christian terms, combined with some of the Christian speakers made me very uncomfortable. The patriotic ecumenicalism was very unbiblical.

The dominion theology of some Christians, combined with the "Kingdom of God" theology of Mormonism, combined with all faiths uniting and wrapped in the flag reveals that a one-world religion and a one-world leader will be easily accepted even by people calling themselves Christians.

Mormon Theology at Beck's 8-28 rally came out within the first few minutes that Glenn stepped on to the stage. Beck proclaims; "God's chosen people, the Native Americans and the Pilgrims." Mormon theology says that Native Americans are a lost tribe of Israel that came to America and that Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection in the Americas in the Western Hemisphere. The teachings that "Jesus" gave them are what Joseph Smith claimed to have found on the gold tablets when he was a teenager. Smith was directed to the golden plates by an angle of light. (Quote by Beck on the Native Americans can be found at the 4:30 mark on this clip)

I believe the 8-27 and 8-28 rallies have greatly furthered the acceptance of ecumenicalism by even those who call themselves evangelicals. The pastors and Christian leaders (including women pastors) standing behind Glenn Beck at the end of the rally with their arms locked together looked silly and not at all like Christian statesmen. I truly believe they sold out. I do not think even one of them realizes how they compromised the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and have damaged their testimony and added massively to the acceptance of pluralism and ecumenicalism.

Whether they know it or not; those Christians that took part in these two rallies have endorsed an overwhelmingly humanistic message that was wrapped in patriotic and Christians terms. While a few speakers tried to give a true Biblical message; I believe it was so diluted in a soup of unbiblical messages that their presence only gave credibility in the minds of non-believers and non-discerning Christians that the "God talk" was all good.

Unless Biblical repentance, the exclusivity of the Jesus Christ of the Bible (not the cults) and the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was proclaimed, the entire message was one of "we must save ourselves" and as Beck said "man can make a difference". The Bible says even my righteous deeds look like wickedness to God. It makes no difference that many of the speakers used the name of God over and over because for most of them it was not the God of the Bible but a god of their own making just as if they had crafted an idol with wood or wax.

Glenn Beck, on his TV program on August 27, 2010, affirmed that he is a Mormon. Thus his god was a man like you and I that evolved and Mormons believe they can be as god.

Glenn slipped what many experts believe is fraudulent archeology into his program. Glenn was not forthright with his audience as to why the highly suspect Bat Creek Stone is important to Mormon theology and history.

These next few statements will be shocking to some and many will not have the Biblical knowledge and discernment to accept the truth of what I am about to present. Social justice is a man-centered attempt to create heaven on earth.

Reverend Jim Wallis is pushing a liberal, leftist, man- centered, Godless, good works, social justice and Beck is pushing a conservative, right-wing, Godless, man-centered, good works, social justice. Both Wallis and Beck want a revolution in America and they both are basing their revolution on humanistic thinking. One is coming from the left and one is coming from the right. Both Wallis and Beck are both pushing for an earthly kingdom based on humanism and paganism mixed with their individual versions of social justice. I believe that Wallis and Beck both reject the God of the Bible and the salvation that is only found through the Jesus Christ of the Bible. In the end Beck and Wallis are on the same team as Jesus Christ Himself declared in John 8:42-47:


"If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God." In verse 44 He continues, "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." Then in verse 47: "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."


Listen up members of the true Bride of Christ, the perilous times warned about in II Timothy 3:1-5 are here and many within our own families and churches are being deceived. Verse 5 says "having a form of godliness but denying its power, and from such persons turn away."

Man serves either God or Satan, and thus every issue at its very foundation is theological and spiritual.

I began the week on my radio program and in my columns stating that I could join Glenn Beck on non-spiritual issues but not theological ones. I believe I must now change my position based on all the research I have done this week on Mormonism and based on Glenn's own words from the past few months. To me it is clear that Glenn is not even attempting to separate his defense of the U.S. Constitution from his radical and pagan religious beliefs.

I believe that Glenn Beck's spirituality, theology, and doctrine cannot be separated from his public policy. I truly believe Glenn Beck, through his Mormonism, is seeking to build a "kingdom" that Biblically committed Christians must take no part in helping him build.

Many years ago LDS President John Taylor boasted of this goal of building a Mormon Kingdom on earth:


Let us now notice our political positions in the world. What are we going to do? We are going to possess the earth and reign over it for ever and ever. Now, ye Kings and Emperors help yourselves if you can. This is the truth and it may as well be told at this time as at any other. There's a good time coming, Saints, a good time coming.[1]


Former Mormon Ed Decker reveals that this Mormon "Kingdom of God" is really based on a socialistic theocracy:

Joseph Smith implemented a program called the United Order in the church. It was a plan of sharing everything in common, all properties and wealth turned over and owned by the church and dispersed by the Brethren to the people on an as needed basis with a requirement for good stewardship or loss of use. It was later determined that it could only work when both the secular and ecclesiastic functions operated under one authority. An LDS prophet ruling over a theocratic government where eternal commandments like the United Order would function within the "Kingdom of God."[2]


The Mormon view of the U.S. Constitution is that it is god-breathed by the Mormon god and that America's Founding Fathers were specially chosen spirit babies sent by the Mormon god to grow up and write the U.S. Constitution and found "America, the land of liberty to be the Lord's latter-day base of operations for His restored [Mormon] church."[3] How can committed Christians even now join Glenn Beck in a common goal around defending the U.S. Constitution when we know what his religion teaches lest we be partakers in the works of darkness?

Defend the U.S. Constitution and original intent but not in a shared endeavor with Beck unless you embrace the ultimate goals and objectives of his Mormon religion. God's church is not so weak that we have to partner with the theocratic agenda of a cult in order to accomplish God's will-if indeed it is even God's will that we reclaim America. Based on Biblical descriptions, I believe God is even now beginning to judge America because of our national rebellion that includes pastors compromising on the supremacy of Scripture for political and social gain.

The pastors that were at Beck's rally today would have been far better off if they were back at home studying their Bibles and preparing a Sunday sermon that called for the members of their congregations to reject the pagan spirituality and pluralism they endorsed today by standing behind Glenn Beck. A June 26, 2008 article in the Denver Post revealed that pagan spirituality is doubling in America every eighteen months. That number is sure to increase as "evangelical" leaders give it credibility as they did today.

Please pray for Glenn Beck's Biblical salvation. However, unless, and until that happens, I now believe that I must warn you that Glenn Beck is a false teacher that is teaching another Jesus, another god and another gospel. The headlines will read that Glenn is calling America back to God but it is NOT the God of the Bible since Glenn admits to being a Mormon.

I have warned you about Jim Wallis, Oprah Winfrey and many other such false teachers; shall I not warn you of Glenn Beck simply because he can draw a crowd of 500,000 on the mall of our nation's capitol.


Many of you are losing friends over your Biblical stance for Truth. Some of your own family members are opposed to your defense of Biblical truth. Jesus Himself said it would be this way in Matthew 10:34-26 when he said, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be those of his own household."

I close with a quote I gave you earlier in the week from the late Dr. Vance Havner:

The devil is not fighting religion; he is too smart for that. He is producing a counterfeit Christianity so much like the real one that good Christians are afraid to speak out against it.

Amen!


Past articles for review:

Following Glenn Beck's Divine Destiny or God's Word

Can We Better Understand Glenn Beck's Divine Destiny By Understanding What the Mormon Church Says About The Constitution, America, and the Last Days?



An excellent resource for your family on Mormonism, the cults, and false religions would be the book, Fast Facts on False Teaching by Dr. Ron Carlson and Ed Decker. This book is available at the website of Ron Carlson:

Past Radio Programs on this topic:

8-27-10

8-26-10

8-24-10

Saturday, August 28, 2010

The "Jesus" of Glenn Beck


By Ken Silva

Being an online apologetics and discernment work Apprising Ministries does not involve itself in politics per se; however, there are times when those issues will cross, as is the case with popular conservative talk show host Glenn Beck with his Divine Destiny event. Lately it’s becoming more apparent that Beck, who is a baptized member in good standing with the non-Christian cult of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), has been trying to portray himself as a Christian.

When you meet people from the LDS faith, they will often say to you: “We’re Christians too, because we believe in the Savior Jesus Christ.” However, the defining area concerning whether one is a Christian or not is what they teach concerning the historic Person Jesus of Nazareth, Whom the Bible teaches is the Christ—God Himself in human flesh.

Using the old TV show To Tell The Truth as a backdrop in Will The Real Jesus Please Stand Up? I used the benefit of my 23+ years in the study of Comparative Religion to “personalize” various Jesuses one is likely to encounter.

Following is the Mormon “Jesus” as he might introduce himself:

I am the Jesus Christ of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). My original Church went through a total apostasy and I took the Priesthood from the earth. In 1820 by one account—as there are nine different accounts—I appeared, with Heavenly Father, to Joseph Smith who would be the prophet to restore my Church. I told him that everything the historic Christian Church had taught was an abomination in my sight and that all who believe in those doctrines are corrupt. I am the spirit child who was born first to Heavenly Father, whose name is Elohim, and who has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.
Elohim was once a man who lived on the planet Kolob. He died and was resurrected by his father—after earning his way to godhood—as did his father before him, and so on back. Heavenly Father pro-created all of us through sexual relations with one of his celestial wives, and we are all his spirit children. I was born first; next was Lucifer, and then on down the line comes you. When the head of the gods—of which there are countless numbers—called a council of the gods I came up with a better plan of salvation than my brother Lucifer did. So I became the Savior for Heavenly Father’s children on earth. I was conceived for my earthly mission when Heavenly Father came down and had sexual relations with his daughter the Virgin Mary.
I sweat great drops of blood for your sins in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then on the cross I finished my work; and because of that atonement, all persons on this earth are going to be resurrected. And so now you have a chance to earn your way to becoming a god, just like me, by working the Gospel Principles taught by the Mormon Church. But be careful because my blood was not sufficient to cover some of your sins as my prophet Brigham Young once taught for me. He said, “There’s not a man or woman who violates the covenant made with their God that will not be required to pay that debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out. [And y]our own blood must atone for it.”

So the question we need to ask Glenn Beck is: Which Jesus Christ do you believe in; Jesus Christ of Nazareth—of the historic biblical record—or one of the myriad impostors; to further answer this question, below you can see for yourself what the Mormon Church, to which Glenn Beck belongs, actually teaches about Christ Jesus. Let us first consider this from Gospel Principles, which is an official publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The following comes from chapter 2:

God is not only our ruler and creator; he is also our Heavenly Father. “All men and women are . . . literally the sons and daughters of Deity. . . . Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal [physical] body.” (Joseph F. Smith, “The Origin of Man,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1909, 78, 80)
Every person who was ever born on earth was our spirit brother or sister in heaven. The first spirit born to our heavenly parents was Jesus Christ (see D&C 93:21), so he is literally our elder brother (see Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 26). Because we are the spiritual children of our heavenly parents, we have inherited the potential to develop their divine qualities. If we choose to do so, we can become perfect, just as they are.
(Online source, emphasis mine)

And then in the next chapter we read:

We needed a Savior to pay for our sins and teach us how to return to our Heavenly Father. Our Father said, “Whom shall I send?” (Abraham 3:27). Two of our brothers offered to help. Our oldest brother, Jesus Christ, who was then called Jehovah, said, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27)… Satan, who was called Lucifer, also came, saying, “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor” (Moses 4:1).” (Online source, emphasis mine)

How about this from the book Our Search For Happiness–An Invitation To Understand The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—written by Mormon Apostle M. Russell Ballard:

our spiritual selves, if you will — existed along with the rest of our Heavenly Father’s spirit children. Jesus was the greatest of these spirits. He was the first-[one]-born…and He held a special place of honor with the Father “before the world was”… In that capacity He helped implement the plan that would bring us all to earth to obtain physical bodies and experience the vicissitudes of mortality so we could grow in our ability to obey God’s commandments once we heard and understood them. (9, emphasis mine)

In the LDS book of “Scripture,” known as The Doctrine And Covenants, Jesus is alleged to have spoken this to the so-called prophet Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church:

And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn; And all those through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are of the church of the Firstborn. Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;… (93:21-23).

This is from the official website of the Mormon Church where we read:

Jess L. Christensen, Institute of Religion director at Utah State University, Logan, Utah. On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some—especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers. (Online source, emphasis mine)

And then finally Dr. Walter Martin (1928-1989) sums this post up well for us in the following from his classic textbook The Kingdom of the Cults when he points out that the “Jesus” of the LDS Church is clearly not the Christ of Biblical revelation:

The Savior of Mormonism, however, is an entirely different person, as their official publications clearly reveal. The Mormon “Savior” is not the second person of the Christian Trinity,… Mormons reject the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, and he is not even a careful replica of the New Testament Redeemer.
In Mormon theology, Christ as a preexistent spirit was not only the spirit brother of the devil (as alluded to in The Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:1-4, and later reaffirmed by Brigham Young in the Journal of Discourses, 13:282), but celebrated his own marriage to “Mary and Martha, and the other Mary,” at Cana of Galilee, “whereby he could see his seed, before he was crucified” (Apostle Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses, 4:259; 2:82)…[and] the Mormon concept of the Virgin Birth alone distinguishes their “Christ” from the Christ of the Bible. (252, emphasis mine)

(HT: Apprising Ministries)

The Happiness Dilemma - Part 4


By Justin Edwards

We conclude chapter 3 of Ray Comfort's God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life: The Myth of the Modern Message as Ray contrasts the modern message's "wonderful plan for your life" and Jesus' offering of an abundant life through the denial of self and submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. Pay close attention to the detail given on the suffering of the Apostle Paul in prison, which illustrates anything but your "best life now", but rather a joy of affliction that can only come by drawing from the strength of Christ, who paid the ultimate price in laying His life down for each of us.

I encourage you to pick up a copy of Ray's book so you can be sure the message you share with the lost is one that can actually save them. Jesus Christ chose us to bear fruit, fruit that will last - and that means the Gospel we spread must be the Gospel according to Jesus, not the gospel according to a compromised visible church.

The Abundant Life 

Still, the question may arise, why not use the fact that Jesus said He had come to bring us an abundant life (John 10:10) to draw unregenerate sinners to the Savior? True, the Christian life is full. Consider the full life of Paul. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 and see if you think he was bored while being stoned (once), shipwrecked  (three times), beaten (three times ), and whipped (five times). His life was full. There were also times when he wasn't happy. In fact, at one point he was in such despair that he wanted to die (see 2 Corinthians 1:8).

The apostle gives the carnal-minded Corinthians a glimpse of the abundant life. He told them that he had been condemned to death. He was beaten and had nowhere to live. He was reviled, persecuted, slandered and treated as the filth of the world. What a terrible, uninviting path Paul walked down. If happiness were the goal, one would think that he would put up a sign saying "Don't enter here." However, he did the opposite. He told the Corinthians to imitate him (see 1 Corinthians 4:9-16). He considered that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared to life in eternity (see Romans 8:18).

Like Jesus, the apostle Paul taught that the Christian life is one of self-denial - that we are to crucify the flesh, daily take up the cross, deny ourselves, and follow Jesus. However, the "wonderful plan" message,with its promise of earthly happiness, appeals solely to the hearer's selfishness. By offering a problem-free life, it encourages continued love of self rather than God, and paints Him as a divine butler.

Where Is God's Love?

If we cannot give sinners the message that God has a wonderful plan for their lives, how do we tell them about God's love? As we have seen, the apostle Paul faced countless trials and tribulations, was mocked and hated, imprisoned for years, and finally martyred. What did he look to for assurance of God's love for Him?

He did not look to his lifestyle, because to the untrained eye, it did not exactly speak of God's caring hand for him. His "abundant" life was certainly full, but it was not full of what we might expect if God loved him.

Picture Paul, lying half-naked on a cold dungeon floor, chained to hardened Roman guards. You look at his bloody back and his bruised, swollen face and you say, "Paul, you've been beaten again. Where are your friends? Demas and the others have forsaken you. Where is your expensive chariot and your successful building program? Where is the evidence of God's blessing, Paul? What's that? What did you say? Did I hear you mumble through swollen lips that God loves you?

Now picture Paul slowly lifting his head. His blackened, bruised eyes look deeply into yours. They sparkle as he says two words: "The cross!" He painfully reaches into his blood-soaked tunic and carefully pulls out a letter he had been writing. His trembling and bloodstained finger points to one sentence. You strain your eyes in the dim light and read,

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20)

Christ's sacrifice was the source of Paul's joy and thus his strength: "God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14). If you study the New Testament you will see that God's love is almost always given in direct correlation to the cross: "In this is love...,""For God so loved...,""God demonstrated His love...," etc. (See John 3:16; Romans 5:5, 6, 8; Ephesians 2:4,5; 5:2, 25; 1 John 3:16; 4:10; and Revelation 1:5, among others.)

To those who look to the cross as a token of God's love will never doubt His steadfast devotion to them, regardless of their circumstances. But those who come to Christ seeking a wonderful life will think that their happiness is evidence of God's love, and therefore when trials come and their happiness leaves they may think that God has forsaken them - or worse, that He doesn't exist.

For example, consider this excerpt from an article titled "Is There Happiness without Jesus?" by Merle Hertzler. This article reveals the common and bitter fruit of preaching the "happiness" gospel:

Much of the Bible is false. God never visited this world as a man. We are on our own in this world, without direct intervention from God. So it would seem to me. 
How do you react to those statements? Does it make you feel sad to think that someone would write them? Perhaps to you, Christ is the only hope in this world. Your life is centered on him. He is your purpose in life. He is your Lord and your Redeemer. I understand. I have been there. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior many years ago. I have read the Bible from cover to cover six times - every chapter, every verse, and every line...I have been there and done that...I know the excitement of doing God's work all day Sunday. And I also know the emptiness that would come on Monday. 
I am no longer a Christian. I am no longer marching in the Christian army, for I have found something different...Life without Christianity can be far more fulfilling than anything that I had ever found inside of Christianity. And there are hundreds of others who testify to the same thing. I am not a Christian, and I am happy...
Perhaps you have indeed found genuine happiness in Christianity. I am glad for you. I hope you understand that others have found happiness elsewhere. You may not need what I have to be happy, and I may not need what you have.

What a tragedy that he thought the precious blood of the Savior was shed simply to make him happy in this life, rather than to make him prepared for the next one. It does not appear this man was told about his real need - to repent or he would perish (see Luke 13:3).

If the "happy" life is different from the "abundant" life Jesus offers, who is going to listen if we are blatantly honest about the persecution promised for "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:12)? Certainly not as many as are attracted by the talk of a wonderful plan. What, then, is the answer to this dilemma? How are we to bring sinners to the Savior? We will address this in the next chapter.

[So to not leave you hanging in case you do not obtain a copy of God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life - I leave you with this easily understood presentation of the biblical Gospel. If you watch to the end, your eyes just might get wet :)]



Friday, August 27, 2010

Glenn Beck's Divine [Mormon] Destiny


So many Christians are being deceived into thinking that it is perfectly acceptable to join with other faiths in spiritual matters as long as it's for the "good of the country". That by pledging to "God" or country, no matter the religious affiliation, we can join hands together to get the country back "on the right track". 

I challenge you to read this excellent article by Brannon House that explains why uniting together with other religions in the name of Patriotism is so dangerous. A precedent is being set here, one that confirms the direction the visible church has been headed over the last century. Ecumenism is the order of the day, and it's flinging us deeper into apostasy just as Scripture prophesies.
 
Following Glenn Beck’s Divine Destiny or God’s Word

By Brannon S. Howse

Would you approve or disapprove if some of America’s evangelical pastors and religious leaders announced they were going to show up at “Oprah’s Divine Destiny” meeting at the Kennedy Center for an evening that would include uplifting music and nationally-known religious figures from all faiths as they unite in prayer and recite historical speeches? Would it concern you if you knew that on her radio program Oprah has taught the book called A Course in Miracles written by Helen Schucman?

This book and the workbook include such quotes as:

“A slain Christ has no meaning.”

“The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself.”

“Do not make the pathetic error of ‘clinging to the old rugged cross’.”

“My salvation comes from me.”

True Bible-believing Christians would not approve of evangelical pastors and leaders uniting with Oprah in a self-described, religious and spiritual meeting. Why? Because most Biblically thinking Christians do not agree with Oprah’s liberal politics and they know that the truth of God’s Word and Oprah’s pagan spirituality do not mix.

However, many of these same Christians will have no problem when some of America’s evangelical pastors join radio personality and television host Glenn Beck for a spiritual program, because unlike Oprah, they share Beck’s conservative, political views. To many it makes no matter that Beck is a self-described Mormon because his political views trump his religious views and for this reason many will justify taking part in “Glenn Becks Divine Destiny” program at the Kennedy Center on August 27th.


The Apostle Paul warns Christians against uniting with unbelievers in spiritual endeavors in 2 Corinthians 6:14 where we read, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” In verse 16 Paul declares that Christians must be spiritually separate from non-believers. Remember Paul is talking about being spiritually separate. “Glenn Beck’s Divine Destiny” program at the Kennedy Center on Friday evening August 27, 2010 has been specifically described by organizers as “a unique spiritual event.”

While I applaud and agree with many of Glenn Beck’s conservative and constitutional views, that does not give me or any other Bible-believing Christian justification to compromise Biblical truth by spiritually joining Beck in an event, that according this his own website, will include an evening in which “nationally-known religious figures from all faiths will unite…”. The website continues “The audience for the event will be overwhelmingly made up of pastors, ministers and clergy…” The event is also described as an evening “that will help heal your soul.” This event is clearly a spiritual event with Glenn declaring on a video on his website that the hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save “is the message of 8/27″.  The problem is that as a Mormon, Glenn’s definition of God the Father is not the same as that described by Jesus Christ Himself in the Bible. Glenn says, “I have been reaching out to the biggest names in faith for the last year…I have met with the biggest leaders of faith in the country privately and I have asked them to help me put differences aside and to reach out with one another so we can remind people to get down on their knees for our brethren’s shield in our dangerous hour.”

Christians that want to be committed to Biblical truth cannot “put aside” the cross and Gospel of Jesus Christ nor the supremacy of Scripture by spiritually uniting with those that proclaim another Jesus, another gospel and declare the cross foolishness.

Many  American Christians will allow their commitment to reclaiming the country, reclaiming Congress, lowering taxes, and defeating the progressives trump their commitment to the Biblical mandate declared in 2 Corinthians 6 as well as the mandate of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 which commands Christians to expose every high and lofty thing lifted up against the principles of the Lord.

American Christians should not and cannot rate our success on whether or not we return our country and culture to its Christian roots. Our success or failure must be based on whether or not we have been faithful servants of the one and only true God and have earnestly contended for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

We appreciate the strong and courageous stands that Glenn has taken but Christians must understand that Glenn is now, by his own choice, promoting something that is not compatible with Biblical Christian doctrines. While Christians can join Glenn in opposing tyranny, socialism, cultural Marxism, and the like; we cannot join him spiritually. We can be co-belligerents on many moral issues with non-Christians but we cannot find common ground theologically, doctrinally, and spiritually. This is not according to me, Brannon Howse, but according to the Word of God. Christians must understand that the Jesus of the cults is not the Jesus of the Bible.

Please remember that I started the website www.keepglennbeck.com to support Glenn when the radicals wanted his advertisers to stop advertising in his program because at the time he was not promoting spirituality but simply providing excellent information about what was happening in the arena of civil government and law. However, Glenn has now moved into an area where we must draw a clear line theologically, doctrinally and spiritually.

I have yet to see anything that would cause me to have a problem with the 8-28 event at the Lincoln Memorial because I have not seen that event described as a “spiritual event” or a “uniting of all faiths” for the purpose of “healing your soul.” If that is what it becomes then I will be equally opposed to the 8-28 event. My concern is really focused on the 8/27 event for the reasons I have articulated.

Some misinformed Christians have e-mailed me Mark 9:38-41 to try and convince me that partnering with Glenn Beck for a “unique spiritual event” is acceptable Biblically even if Glenn Beck is not a Christian, but indeed a Mormon by his own admission. Verse 40 says “For he who is not against us is on our side.” There is just one big problem; the people emailing me this verse are taking this scripture completely out of context. Mark 9 is not speaking of a non-Christian that is doing something good but it is clearly speaking of a true follower of Jesus Christ that was successful in casting out a demon.

If you do not think it is Biblically acceptable for a Biblically committed Christian to be united in a spiritual event with Oprah Winfrey then why is it not also unacceptable to unite spiritually in the 8/27 event with Glenn Beck or any other religious leaders that do not adhere to Biblical orthodoxy? How much different are the religious beliefs of Oprah and the beliefs of Mormons?  Christian author Ed Decker who was a Mormon for 20 years of his adult life and was a member of the Melchizedek priesthood, a Temple Mormon and active in many church positions before becoming a Christian has revealed to me such facts as:

  • Mormons believe the cross of Christ is foolishness and thus you will not find a cross in or on top of a Mormon temple.  Thus a Mormon could say “Do not make the pathetic error of ‘clinging to the old rugged cross’.”

  • Mormons believe the blood Jesus Christ shed on the cross is not what saves and thus Mormons will not use red wine or red juice for communion but they use water. Thus a Mormon could say “A slain Christ has no meaning.”
  • Mormons believe that salvation is not found in placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone but in good works.  Thus a Mormon could say “My salvation comes from me.”
  • Mormons believe that God is one of many Gods and that every good Mormon man can become a God himself. This belief is called the law of eternal progression and is best described in this popular Mormon saying, “As man is, God once was, and as God is, man may become.” Thus a Mormon could say that “The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself.”
Do these pastors and Christian leaders not understand that by appearing on stage at this “unique spiritual event” they are sending the message that Biblical Christianity and Mormonism (and any other unbiblical worldview represented) can indeed find spiritual common ground? This is not only a public relations victory for Mormonism but also for universalism.

According to the LDS General Authority and President of the Council of the Twelve, Ezra Taft Benson, the LDS doctrine is that the living prophet is above the scripture.[1]  I would humbly plead with those Christians taking part in this spiritual event to not put their own personal desires and agenda above the scripture.

Christians e-mail me to tell me that Glenn Beck uses Christian terms and thus he must be a Christian. Indeed Mormons, as well as New Agers, use many of the same terms that Bible believing Christians use but their definitions of those terms are in direct opposition to the Biblical definitions.

Christians also e-mail me to tell me that they heard Glenn Beck give the gospel on his television program one night. I watched that program and Glenn clearly stated that he had called Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention to have Land explain to Glenn the gospel message according to evangelicals so Glenn could contrast it with the collective salvation of President Obama. Glenn provided this contrast; he did not state that he had rejected Mormonism for the truth of the Biblical gospel.

It is not Biblically acceptable for Christians to join Oprah for “a unique spiritual event” and it is equally not Biblical for Christians to join Glenn Beck for “a unique spiritual event.” I do however urge all Christians to pray for Oprah and Glenn that they may indeed come to know the Jesus Christ of the Bible as their personal Lord and Savior. (John 14:6)
 
Millions of Christian families are watching to see who will have the Biblical discernment and courage to be obedient to God and His Word in which He has clearly revealed His will for us concerning this matter. My heart grieves for the teenagers, college students, and spiritually immature Christians that will be confused and even led astray by this co-mingling of spiritual worldviews.

Do not be shocked, pastors and Christian leaders, when your personal appearance and endorsement of this spiritually pluralistic event increase the already rising numbers of young people leaving evangelical churches to join the Mormon Church. Neither be surprised, my friends, when discerning Christians are leery of your future work because of your betrayal of clear Biblical instruction on this very issue. I want your testimony and credibility preserved and beg you to graciously cancel your participation in this “spiritual event”.

I have received numerous e-mails from former Mormons who understand the seriousness of this issue. Here is one such e-mail:

I was a tenured professor at Brigham Young University from 1999-2008, a dug-in Mormon for 30 years. Christ drew me and I went face down in surrender to the Biblical Christ, now a strong Christian. As former Mormon leaders, my husband and I have been speaking to Christians about Glenn Beck for some time and are shocked at the resistance we hear from Christians who don’t seem to understand the gravity of this false and slippery “christ” of Mormonism.

The late Vance Havner was correct when he declared:

The devil is not fighting religion; he is too smart for that. He is producing a counterfeit Christianity so much like the real one that good Christians are afraid to speak out against it.

As long ago as 1898, Abraham Kuyper warned in the Stone Lectures at Princeton:

Do not forget that the fundamental contrast has always been, is still and always will be until the end; Christianity and Paganism, the idols and the living God.

I pray that America’s Christians and pastors will understand that there is an unbiblical and dangerous spiritual convergence taking place throughout the nation and the world and today is the day to choose whether you will uncompromisingly stand for the living God or give creditability to pagan spirituality.

In I Kings 18:20-21 Elijah declared to the Children of Israel, who were seeking to follow God while also mixing their worship of God with pagan spirituality, that they must choose to whom they would pledge their allegiance. Elijah asked the Israelites “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”

Yes, I would like to see the progressives defeated and the original intent of America’s Founding Fathers restored, but that certainly will not happen if the true Bride of Christ compromises on Biblical truth. This is no time to be committed to pragmatism because the end does not justify the means. The means simply declares our priorities and Whom we really serve.

(HT: Defending Contending)

The Happiness Dilemma - Part 3


By Justin Edwards

We continue in Chapter 3 of Ray Comfort's God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life: The Myth of the Modern Message  where he explains the competition associated with the modern message that seeks to bring self-improvement and life-enhancement to its hearers. In Parts 1 and 2, Ray explained how "problem" people are the target of the modern gospel, which essentially leaves out those who are already content or happy with their "wonderful life" now. He also explained that the brokenhearted, the poor, the captives, the blind, and oppressed spoken of by Jesus are not specifically referring to temporal needs, but rather to the spiritual needs of sinners. Jesus came to save sinners, and as such, He came for the broken and contrite hearts of the humble.

Let's continue in the chapter:

The Competition

Another dilemma with the life-enhancement message is this: If you search the Internet using the keywords "true happiness," you will find many websites offering Jesus as a solution. However, the ideas that "Jesus gives true happiness" has some competition. There are more than 100,000,000 other results to the keywords "true happiness," many of which refer to self-help strategies, such as that proposed by author Martin E.P. Seligman in Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment.

The Jehovah's Witnesses believe they have the answer for happiness. Their Watchtower magazine states, "Through a study of the Bible, you can find true happiness despite your problems...Jehovah's Witnesses will be pleased to show you the Scriptural answers that you need to know if you are to be truly happy."

Buddhism likewise claims to be the path to true happiness, as the Basic Buddhism Guide assures us: "Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice and inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice or way of life that leads to true happiness."

Hinduism offers the same thing: "Without remembering the name of God, even the sovereign King of the world, would be unhappy...By dwelling on the Name of God, he can obtain true happiness. Hence, realization of God is the key that unlocks the doors to unending happiness, eternal peace of mind and unimaginable bliss."

So does Islam. In a lecture delivered in Washington, Maulana Shah Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqui al Qaderi expounded on "The Quest for True Happiness." He said, "Here I shall state some basic facts, and the principles pertaining thereto, so that if anyone practices them, he or she may attain peace of mind, comfort of the soul and true happiness."

In December 2007, a Gallup poll asked Americans how satisfied they were with their personal lives. Fifty-two percent responded that they were "very happ," and another 40 percent said that they were "fairly happy." So the modern gospel has some stiff competition - the vast majority of people in the United States are already enjoying a wonderful plan for their lives, and they are quite happy as they are. For any who do feel something is missing and look to religion for happiness, they will find a smorgasbord of choices all offering to improve their life on earth.

If only Jesus gives true happiness, as the modern message maintains, then it follows that the happiness the world gives must be false - or at the very least, shallow. Consequently, the Christian sees his job as one of unmasking the world's promise of happiness and contrasting it with the true and lasting happiness that Jesus gives. From there arises the "Jesus is better than beer" mentality. This is demeaning to the name of Jesus, and completely unnecessary. There is no contest between Jesus and beer, because happiness isn't the issue.

[to be continued]

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Word of Faith Damnable Heresies - A Call for Discernment


By Justin Edwards

In speaking the truth in love, I would like to direct you to the following videos from Justin Peters. The first video with Todd Friel is an introduction of sorts that I hope will encourage you to watch the four followup videos. The Word of Faith movement is one of the great apostate movements in the visible church and is leading so many astray with its compromised teachings and outright heresies. The savage wolves in this prosperity gospel include (just to name a few):

  • Benny Hinn
  • Kennith Copeland
  • Gloria Copeland
  • The late Kenneth Hagin, Sr.
  • The late William Branham
  • Creflo Dollar
  • Jesse Duplantis

Some of the destructive doctrines espoused by these false teachers include:

  • Metaphysical cultic origins
  • Positive confession
  • Substance of faith
  • Little gods 
  • WoF view of the Fall
  • The person of Jesus Christ
    Other topics include:

    • Abuse of tongues
    • Heavenly encounters
    • Slaying in the spirit
    • Revelation knowledge
    • False prophecies
    • Hurt of healing
      My dear friends, if you or you know someone who is caught up in this heretical movement or follows any of these false teachers, then I implore you to watch these videos and share them with loved ones. These "faith healers" who claim promises the Bible does not make have great potential to harm weaker, less-discerning Christians and lead countless others down the path of destruction.

      By mixing just enough truth in with poison, they are able to convince many to rely on their spoken words rather than the solid foundation of the Word of God. Benny Hinn has even said one cannot separate healing from salvation. Oh the damage that can do to someone's faith! That their continued ailment is a result of their not being saved!

      The 4-part video is an introduction to the full seminar offered by Justin Peters. For an outline of Justin's seminar on A Call to Discernment and scheduling and booking information, please visit Justin Peters Ministries.

      Todd Friel and Justin Peters on the Word of Faith Movement


      A Call to Discernment












      The Happiness Dilemma - Part 2


      By Justin Edwards

      We continue in Chapter 3 of Ray Comfort's God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life: The Myth of the Modern Message with the question "Who is the gospel for?" In Part 1, Ray introduced the tragedy of the modern message that seeks to bring the Gospel, an inadequate one at that, to the the broken and despaired alone. With a focus on these "problem" people, others that are otherwise happy with their "wonderful life" would have no use for the modern gospel. They might be perfectly content and have no need for this other jesus who only wants to "fix them" apart from addressing the sin problem.

      So with that background, let's continue in the chapter:

      Who Is the Gospel For?

      We limit our evangelistic outreaches when we bill them as "taking the Good News to the hurting and the needy." Let me further illustrate this common misunderstanding by quoting from another modern publication:

      You will desire to be where the Lord is. And He spends His time with those who hurt. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus quoted Isaiah to describe the work He was called to do: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18,19)...Thus the more you go after God, the deeper you will move into a world filled with hurting people.

       I am in no way questioning the sincerity of the author, but I believe he perpetuates a common misunderstanding of what Jesus intended to communicate when he quoted from Isaiah 61:1,2. We live in a "therapeutic" culture that places a high value on feeling good, self-esteem, and self-actualization. Consequently, when we see words like "poor," "brokenhearted," and "oppressed," we think of people who are beset by life's circumstances, whether it's poverty, divorce, addiction, or disease. Jesus, however, is speaking primarily in spiritual terms.

      From Luke 4:18,19, here is Jesus' summation of who the gospel if for:

      • The poor
      • The brokenhearted
      • The captives
      • The blind
      • The oppressed
      When Jesus speaks of the poor, He is not necessarily referring to those who lack financial resources. Instead, He is referring to the "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3) - those who are meek, humble, lowly. These are the blessed ones to whom the kingdom of God belongs: those who know that they are destitute of righteousness. In his commentary on Luke 4:14-30, Matthew Henry writes:

      Observe...to whom He was to preach: to the poor, to those that were poor in the world; whom the Jewish doctors disdained to undertake the teaching of and spoke of with contempt; to those that were poor in spirit, to the meek and humble, and to those that were truly sorrowful for sin. (emphasis in the original)

      When Jesus speaks of the brokenhearted, He doesn't mean those unhappy people whose hearts are aching because they have been jilted by a sweetheart, but those who, like Peter and Isaiah, are contrite and sorrowing for their sin. In David's great prayer of confession, he realized that the sacrifices God desires are "a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart" (Psalm 51:17). In the words of Matthew Henry, "[Christ] was sent to heal the brokenhearted,...to give peace to those that were troubled and humbled for sins,...and to bring them to rest who were weary and heavy-laden, under the burden of guilt and corruption."

      The  captives are those "taken captive by [the devil] to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:26).

      The blind are those whom "the god of this age has blinded...[to] the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

      The oppressed are those who are "oppressed by the devil" (Acts 10:38).

      In other words, Jesus came to preach the Good News of God's forgiveness to those who recognize their spiritual poverty and are broken by the realization that they have sinned against a just and holy God. That isn't to say that Jesus did not minister to those who were beset by life's circumstances - but His message was not only for those people, and the freedom He offered was not freedom from the hardships of life. Again, the gospel is not confined to the hurting people with ruined lives and heartaches. Both hurting and happy people need to be shown their sinful state before God so they will seek after the righteousness that is in Christ.

      One atheist, understandably confused by the life-enhancement message, observed: "At one church I visited, some people were asked to write down how they felt before and after becoming Christian. They said things like 'dark and light,' 'lonely and befriended,' which got me wondering: Was being down or lonely or desperate a prerequisite to finding God? Did these people think that others who had not yet found God were lost, scared or miserable? Do I have to go through some sort of trauma or crisis before finding some ultimate meaning?"

      [to be continued]

      Wednesday, August 25, 2010

      Sacrifice and Friends


      I have called you friends . . . —John 15:15

      We will never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we surrender in every detail of our lives. Yet self-surrender is the most difficult thing for us to do. We make it conditional by saying, “I’ll surrender if . . . !” Or we approach it by saying, “I suppose I have to devote my life to God.” We will never find the joy of self-sacrifice in either of these ways.

      But as soon as we do totally surrender, abandoning ourselves to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of His joy. The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14 ). When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, our greatest desire is to lay down our lives for Jesus. Yet the thought of self-sacrifice never even crosses our minds, because sacrifice is the Holy Spirit’s ultimate expression of love.

      Our Lord is our example of a life of self-sacrifice, and He perfectly exemplifiedPsalm 40:8, “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . . .” He endured tremendous personal sacrifice, yet with overflowing joy. Have I ever yielded myself in absolute submission to Jesus Christ? If He is not the One to whom I am looking for direction and guidance, then there is no benefit in my sacrifice. But when my sacrifice is made with my eyes focused on Him, slowly but surely His molding influence becomes evident in my life (see Hebrews 12:1-2 ).

      Beware of letting your natural desires hinder your walk in love before God. One of the cruelest ways to kill natural love is through the rejection that results from having built the love on natural desires. But the one true desire of a saint is the Lord Jesus. Love for God is not something sentimental or emotional— for a saint to love as God loves is the most practical thing imaginable.

      “I have called you friends. . . .” Our friendship with Jesus is based on the new life He created in us, which has no resemblance or attraction to our old life but only to the life of God. It is a life that is completely humble, pure, and devoted to God. - Oswald Chambers

      (HT: My Utmost for His Highest)

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