-WEEKLY CHURCH NEWS NOTES
Pastor Dale Morgan
November 25, 2007.
The Weekly Church News Notes is designed for use in churches.
*
THE BEATLES AS A CHRISTMAS THEME *
Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana, is featuring Beatles Music
as their 2007 Christmas theme. Pastor Tim Stevens says: "With Across the
Universe currently in the theaters and the new Beatles-themed Cirque du
Soleil show in Vegas called Love, the Beatles are as hot as ever. Using
the music of the Beatles we will be telling the Christmas story all
December. And we've been getting great feedback from music lovers of all
generations"
(http://www.leadingsmart.com/leadingsmart/2007/11/let-it-bechrist.html).
They are advertising it as "Let it Be...Christmas -- A Story Told by
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo." Earlier this year
The Church Report listed Granger Community as one of the 50 most
influential churches in America. "Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what
concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth
with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2
Corinthians 6:14-17).
*
MENNONITES DIALOGUE WITH ROME *
Mennonites from 10 countries spent nearly a week dialoguing with
Catholic leaders in Rome October 18-23, 2007. The event was hosted by
the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Nancy Heisey,
president of the Mennonite World Conference, said, "We were so warmly
welcomed that it was almost overwhelming" ("Mennonite Delegation Visits
Catholic Leaders in Rome," The Mennonite, Nov. 5, 2007). The Mennonites
had a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI, who twisted Christ's
words in John 17 out of context with his claim that "it is Christ
Himself who calls us to seek Christian unity." Heisey told the pope that
they shared a "great common heritage of faith" as well as "the
challenges of being God's people in this time." She called the meeting
with the pope "overwhelming" and "a very intense kind of experience"
("EMU Professor Meets Pope," Daily News-Record, Harrisburg, Virginia,
Nov. 20, 2007). The give and take ecumenical aspect of theological
dialogue was emphasized in comments made by Mennonite delegate Mulugeta
Zewdie of Ethiopia: "As Mennonites, we have something to share and to
learn at the same time. The dialogue and this visit can help [us]
fellowship with Catholics at the local level." The Mennonites were
introduced to worshippers at the Santa Maria Maggiore [St. Mary Major]
basilica. This blasphemous church features a large crucifix depicting
Mary hanging on the cross with Jesus, a painting of Mary's alleged
bodily assumption into heaven, a statue of Mary as the Queen of Peace,
and a painting of Jesus crowning Mary Queen of Heaven. The Mennonites
trace their origin to the European Anabaptist movement of the 16th
century, but few Mennonites today preach the new birth in a scriptural
fashion. Mennonite Christianity has largely deteriorated into a form of
godliness without the power thereof (2 Tim. 3:5). Once upon a time
Mennonites boldly and unequivocally rejected Rome's false gospel, but
today they seek unity with Rome. It is not the Roman Catholic Church
that has changed.
*
LAUSANNE III TO FORM "NEW WORLD EVANGELISM STRATEGY" *
The third international Lausanne gathering is scheduled to be held in
Cape Town in October 2010. The objective is to form new strategies for
world missions and to "serve to unite and energize the Church"
("Lausanne III," Christian Post, May 7, 2007). The first gathering was
held in Lausanne in 1974 under the direction of Billy Graham. The second
was held in Manila in 1989 and brought together 3,600 participants from
190 countries. We don't need a new strategy for missionary work; we have
a divinely given one in the New Testament and it works just fine! The
Lord Jesus Christ gave the churches their marching orders in Matthew 28;
Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20; and Acts 1, and the book of Acts and the New
Testament Epistles show us how to carry out these orders. A large
percentage of those who participate in these conferences are
"professional missionary strategists" who are armchair theologians
rather than actual church planting missionaries. They are busybodies in
other men's affairs, with their man-made ecumenical "unity" and their
criticism of biblical separatists and their gross worldliness. Lausanne
is an unscriptural hodge-podge of Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists,
Presbyterians, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Charismatics, and you name it.
*
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AMERICA SETTLES ANOTHER BATCH OF SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS *
The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) has agreed to pay $50 million to 110
people in Alaska who claim to have been sexually abused by priests in
childhood when they were altar boys and altar girls ("Jesuits to Pay
$50M," AP, Nov. 18, 2007). The priests have been shielded by the
Catholic Church and were never criminally charged. They worked in rural
Alaskan villages.
*ATHEISTIC BABBLING*
A recent conference sponsored by the Atheist Alliance International
claimed that "science must ultimately destroy organized religion."
Speakers included Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens.
The conference, held in Crystal City, Virginia, drew hundreds of
spectators, but it was an exercise in complete nonsense. If this world
is the product of mere chance and there is no divine Creator to whom man
is accountable, no life after death, life is utterly meaningless and it
matters not what you believe or what you do. "The fool hath said in his
heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable
works, there is none that doeth good" (Psalm 14:1).
*
IAN PAISLEY COMMENDS FAITH OF CATHOLIC SINGER *
The following is excerpted from "The Faith of Dana--Not to be Commended"
by Ivan Foster, pastor of Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church in Northern
Ireland, November 10, 2007: "It has been widely reported that at a
reception to launch a new book by the singer Dana, Dr Ian Paisley spoke
of her as a 'a woman of great faith and steel who had stood up for what
she believed in,' and added, 'I'm glad to stand with her' (Belfast
Telegraph, Nov. 7, 2007). He is also quoted in the same article as
saying: 'I hope that when everyone on this island reads this book I hope
they ponder what it says.' The article began with the words: 'It was all
smiles last night as the Reverend Ian Paisley praised Eurovision
singer-turned-politician, Dana Rosemary Scallon, on her new book.' That
makes very sad reading for all faithful Christians. ... The faith of
Dana is that of a faithful Roman Catholic and doubtless her book will be
commending the teaching of that religious body to its readers. ... On
his own website Dr Paisley rightly refutes the teachings of Rome as
unscriptural (http://www.ianpaisley.org/toc.asp?loc=rome). He is
therefore at variance with his own teachings when he commends the faith
of Dana. ... That such a statement should have been made by Dr Paisley
and the necessity for such a statement as this to be issued is but
further evidence of the alarming and sad changes that the emergence of
the Stormont coalition has initiated." CONCLUDING NOTE: The Bible warns,
"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Cor.
15:33), and politics definitely puts one into intimate communication
with evil. When I visited Northern Ireland in the early 1990s Baptist
preachers told me that they did not respect Dr. Paisley for his
politics, and their concern was well founded. Dana performed for Pope
John Paul II on his visit to Ireland in 1979 and composed a special song
just for him entitled "Totus Tuus" after his personal papal motto,
referring to his total dedication to Mary. She also performed for the
pope in 1987 in New Orleans, in 1993 at Denver, and in 1995 in New York
City. Her album "The Rosary" is about praying to Mary as the Queen of
Heaven, and her album "We Are One Body" is a call for ecumenical unity.
*FOLLOW-UP ON BOB GRAY AFFAIR IN JACKSONVILLE*
The following is excerpted from "Preacher Helps" #93 by Evangelist Don
Boys <DBoy...@aol.com>: "A November 11 report on First Coast News in
Jacksonville revealed that an audio recording has been discovered that
supports the molested victims of Dr. Bob Gray who died recently of a
heart attack! The husband of one of the victims made the recording a
couple of weeks before Gray was arrested in May of 2006. Both the
husband and his wife attended Trinity Christian Academy and they are not
part of the civil suit or demanding money from the church. The husband
said, 'I want people to understand we're not out to take a ministry
down.' Present at the meeting were some of his family members, Trinity
pastor Tom Messer, and two Trinity leaders, including a deacon. All knew
that the meeting was recorded. Ann Steward, now a North Carolina
pastor's wife, and former member of Trinity was featured on the newscast
and repeated what she told me and my wife: She was molested by Gray many
times while a young child, and at age 21, went to Tom Messer, hoping to
expose the truth. She told him about the incidents, but her words were
twisted to 'lie to the congregation.' Ann told me that on the Sunday
night following her meeting with Messer, the church was told that Gray
had committed an 'indiscretion that was neither sexual nor immoral,'
suggesting to gullible members that nothing serious happened. And that
is the mantra that has been shouted (or whispered) at Trinity since
1992. Ann told Jeannie Blaylock (who has been incredibly fair) of First
Coast News, 'It was just a cover-up.' It was supposed to be church
discipline, but it was a farce and fraud. Dennis and Pat Cassell, former
longtime Trinity members and employees at Trinity Academy, were also
featured on the newscast. The Cassells told me that they resigned from
Trinity and walked out when it was obvious that Pastor Messer was
manipulating the events to cover up 'Gray's sin and to mitigate the
church's legal exposure.' Pat Cassell, told First Coast News, 'The
victims are vindicated. The kids are vindicated. Tom [Messer] knew and
covered it up for years.' Dennis Cassell says, 'The truth is finally out
and that's what we've been praying for many years.' He was Trinity's coach."
*EVANGELICALS AND MORMONS CONTINUE TO DIALOGUE *
A "National Student Dialogue Conference" was held October 19-20 in Salt
Lake City to facilitate communication between evangelicals and Mormons.
Students and teachers from Biola, Wheaton College, Denver Seminary,
Fuller Seminary, and other deeply compromised "evangelical" institutions
participated. Jerry Root, a professor at Wheaton College, said, "...
truth is not reality, but truth is what I think about reality ... I must
not be afraid of honest doubt that accompanies debate and discussion"
("Students Aim to Bridge Theological Gap," Deseret Morning News, Oct.
27, 2007). In fact, the truth is the Bible and it does not change and to
entertain doubts about its reality and finality is sin. Without faith
"it is impossible to please [God]," and, "faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). We are not called to dialogue
with those of other faiths; we are called to go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every person (Mark 16:15), because all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God and there is only one true gospel of
salvation (Rom. 1:16; Gal. 1:6-7). This is exactly what the early
churches did as recorded in the book of Acts, and there is to be a sense
of constant urgency to this work. "Therefore be ye also ready: for in
such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Mat. 24:44).
CONCLUSION: Friends in Christ, do not be discouraged by any of this. It
is God's will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3) and that
we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. These things remind us
that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the coming of
the Lord. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for
Christ day by day? "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time
to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we
believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not
in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil
the lusts thereof" (Rom. 13:11-14).