WEEKLY CHURCH NEWS NOTES
Pastor Dale Morgan
October 01, 2006.
By David Cloud [FBIS]
The Weekly Church News Notes is designed for use
in churches
*CALVINISM ON THE MARCH AMONG EVANGELICALS *
A report in Christianity Today
for September 2006 was entitled "Young, Restless,
Reformed: Calvinism Is Making a Comeback--And
Shaking up the Church." It documents the rapid
spread of Calvinism in Evangelical circles, and I
am seeing the same thing among Fundamentalists.
The report cites John Piper, R.C. Sproul, R.
Albert Mohler, Louie Giglio, Joshua Harris, J.I.
Packer, and the Puritans as among the chief
influences responsible for the upsurge in
Calvinism. Piper's book "Desiring God" has sold
more than 275,000 copies. The trend toward the
acceptance of Calvinism is evident at leading
evangelical seminaries such as Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School, Gordon-Conwell
Theological Seminary, and Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary. Under the direction of Al
Mohler, Southern Seminary has become "a Reformed
hotbed" and is turning out "a steady flow of
young Reformed pastors." Writing in SBC Life,
Malcolm Yarnell, associate professor of
systematic theology at Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary, observed that TULIP
theology is causing division in churches. Steve
Lemke, provost of New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary, warns: "I believe that [Calvinism] is
potentially the most explosive and divisive issue
facing us in the near future. It has already been
an issue that has split literally dozens of
churches, and it holds the potential to split the
entire convention" ("The Future of Southern
Baptists as Evangelicals," April 2005). Lemke
says that "the newest generation of Southern
Baptist ministers" is "the most Calvinist we have
had in several generations." He warns that
Calvinism can result in a lowered commitment to
evangelism, saying: "For many people, if they're
convinced that God has already elected those who
will be elect Š I don't see how humanly speaking
that can't temper your passion, because you know
you're not that crucial to the process." There
are exceptions to this, but in my estimation
there can be no doubt that Calvinism tends to
cool evangelistic fervor. Among Calvinists,
evangelism is done IN SPITE OF Calvinism, not
because of it. Those who protest that it doesn't
hinder evangelism point to EXCEPTIONS rather than
to the rule. While Charles Spurgeon was an
evangelistic Calvinist, for example, a large
number of Calvinists of his day opposed him and
denounced his broad, indiscriminate invitations
for sinners to come to Christ. One Calvinist
publication warned in Spurgeon's day, "... to
preach that it is man's duty to believe savingly
in Christ is ABSURD" (Earthen Vessel, 1857; cited
in Spurgeon vs. the Hyper Calvinists by Iain
Murray). Calvinism almost killed the evangelistic
zeal of the Baptist churches of England in the
18th century. Baptist historian Thomas Armitage
wrote: "William Carey's 'Inquiry into the
Obligations of Christians to use means for the
Conversion of the Heathen' was published in 1792,
but it found few readers and produced little
effect. To most of the Baptists Carey's views
were visionary and even wild, in open conflict
with God's sovereignty. At a meeting of
ministers, where the senior Ryland presided,
Carey proposed that at the next meeting they
discuss the duty of attempting to spread the
Gospel amongst the heathen. Š Ryland, shocked,
sprang to his feet and ordered Carey to sit down,
saying: 'When God pleases to convert the heathen,
he will do it without your aid or mine!'"
*
FUNDAMENTALISTS ALSO TURNING TO CALVINISM*
A few years ago I visited the Bob
Jones University bookstore and was amazed at the
large number of volumes that were available on
Puritanism. I thought to myself at the time that
this probably signifies that many BJU teachers
and graduates are being influenced by
Puritanism's Reformed theology. Since then I have
seen growing evidence of this. I know of formerly
non-Calvinist Baptist churches that have become
Calvinistic after BJU graduates were called to
the pastorate. On a recent trip to Australia I
was shown a publication ("Why Read the Puritans
Today") that was sent out to an independent
Baptist mailing list by a BJ graduate. The
booklet lists 10 reasons for the renewed interest
in Puritanism. The recommendation was not
accompanied by any warning about Reformed
theology and its attendant Calvinism and
Amillennialism. I don't know if this BJ grad is a
Calvinist, but he is certainly helping to promote
Calvinism with this type of thing. And this is
not something limited to those associated with
Bob Jones. In 2005 an extensive survey was done
of "young fundamentalists." Entitled "Young
Fundamentalists' Beliefs and Personal Life," the
survey results are available online at
http://www.sharperiron.org/downloads/2005%20Young%20Fundamentalists%20Survey%20Results.pdf.
For the purposes of the survey, a "young
fundamentalist" is one who is under 35 years old.
The survey contained 135 questions pertaining to
life and doctrine, and roughly 1,100 surveys were
completed. The vast majority of respondents
identified themselves with three fundamentalist
schools: Bob Jones University (29%), Maranatha
Baptist Bible College (22%), and Northland
Baptist Bible College (21%). When it comes to
Calvinist views, an amazing 58% of the
respondents hold a Calvinist view of sovereign
election, with another 8% unsure. THUS ONLY ABOUT
35% OF THE RESPONDENTS TO THE FUNDAMENTALIST
SURVEY REJECT CALVINISM. Some 14% of the
respondents hold to either amillennial (8%) or
postmillennial (5%) views, which goes hand in
hand with Reformed theology. I believe we will
see this percentage increase in coming days, with
a growing rejection of the pre-millennial,
pre-tribulation position. The chief culprit in
the growth of Calvinism is literature. John Piper
and John MacArthur are popular among
fundamentalists. The Puritan literature is also
increasing dramatically, as previously noted. On
a recent trip to England I had a nice visit with
Dr. Peter Masters at Metropolitan Tabernacle. He
graciously showed me the various artifacts
associated with previous esteemed pastors,
particularly Charles Spurgeon and John Gill. Dr.
Masters told me that visiting preachers often
like to sit in Gill's chair, which is located in
a hallway outside of Masters' office; but I told
him that I would be afraid that I might catch
Gill's Calvinism! I admire a great many things
about Spurgeon and the Puritans and many
modern-day Calvinists, as well, but I vehemently
disagree with Reformed theology. (I reject the
Quick Prayerism scheme that is so prevalent among
independent Baptists just as vehemently. In fact,
I have no doubt that the unscripturalness of this
popular evangelistic program and the doctrinal
shallowness of many independent Baptist churches
and schools has caused some to fall into the arms
of Calvinism and its more intellectual approach.)
Having studied the Bible earnestly and
prayerfully for 33 years and having studied both
sides of this issue, I am convinced that neither
Calvinism nor Quick Prayerism is Scriptural. I
have no ill will toward those who differ, but
here I must stand, and I believe it is an issue
worth standing for.
*PASTOR OF AMERICA'S LARGEST CHURCH SAYS HIS
CALLING IS NOT TO CONDEMN HOMOSEXUALITY *
At a recent book signing in
Boston, Joel Osteen, pastor of America's largest
church, said he doesn't believe it is his calling
to condemn homosexuality and homosexual marriage.
When Osteen, the pastor of Lakewood Church in
Houston, Texas, was asked his opinion about "gay
marriage," he gave the following vapid reply: "I
never feel like homosexuality is God's best. I
don't feel like that's my thrust ... you know,
some of the issues that divide us, and I'm here
to let people know that God is for them and He's
on their side" ("Osteen's Answer to 'Gay
Marriage' Question Less Than Direct," Baptist
Press, Sept. 22, 2006). Osteen's Christianity is
a fulfillment of 2 Timothy 4:3-4 -- "For the time
will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
and they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned unto fables." He is
the king of positivism. His Christ wears a smiley
face. His God never judges sin. His gospel has no
repentance, but he is wrong. God, in fact, is
only on the side of the sinner who repents.
*
POPE MAKES JOURNEY TO VIRGIN MARY SHRINE *
On his recent trip to Germany Pope Benedict XVI visited a
popular Mary shrine at Altoetting. Thousands of
people lined the roads leading to the town and
jammed the town square. Altoetting's Black
Madonna is a popular destination for Catholic
pilgrims. In his sermon the Pope said: "This is
the mother that generations have come to
Altoetting to visit. To her we entrust our cares,
our needs and our troubles" (The Bangkok Post,
Sept. 12, 2006). Rome's dogma pertaining to Mary
(e.g., Immaculate, Mother of God, Queen of
Heaven, Co-Redemptress, Intercessor) destroys
Christ's sole Mediatorship and is not only
wretchedly heretical but truly blasphemous.
*
MORE TRASH FROM NASHVILLE *
I have often warned about the spiritual and moral danger of
America's country music. It is as vile and wicked
as rock & roll or rap, but it is often considered
safer, because of its thin veneer of God and
country, and it is therefore not uncommon for
professing Christians, even those who claim to
take the Bible seriously, to listen to it. But it
has the same addictive sensual back beat as rock
& roll (a back beat that the rock & rollers
themselves call "sexy") and the lyrics are just
as godless. The themes of country music are
drinking, complaining, drinking, quitting your
job, drinking, quitting your marriage, drinking,
dancing, drinking, loneliness, drinking..... I
think you get the idea. Only the Lord knows the
true extent of the evil fruit of country music,
how many men and women have become alcoholics,
how many marriages broken, how many babies born
out of wedlock, how many fights, how many
terrible accidents caused by drinking and
driving, how many suicides, not to speak of the
eternal consequences. Consider just two of the
country songs playing on mainstream radio. The
first one, which is number seven on the country
charts, is "If You're Going Through Hell" sung by
Rodney Atkins. Typically, it is about someone who
steps "off the straight an' narrow" and ends up
drunk and debauched. The singer's advice contains
not a hint of repentance or the new birth. He
mentions prayer, but only in passing. His main
advice is to "keep on going'; don't slow down; if
you're scared don't show it; you might get out
'fore the devil even knows you're there." The
second example is "The Bad in Me" by Owen Jakes.
It is a filthy song about an immoral woman.
Beware of country music and its damnable
philosophy that you can have the world and
Christ, too, and that immorality and
rebel-rousing are things that God winks at. "But
fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you,
as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor
foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this
ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for
because of these things cometh the wrath of God
upon the children of disobedience" (Ephesians.
5:3-6). Music is a powerful thing, and it
behooves God's people to be exceedingly careful
about the music in their homes, cars, personal
music players, and churches.
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).
Pastor Dale Morgan
October 8, 2006.
By David Cloud [FBIS]
The Weekly Church News Notes is designed for use in churches.
*!HERO ROCK OPERA RETURNING FOR 2006 RUN*
- The contemporary Christian rock opera called "!Hero" is returning
for a 2006 run ("!Hero Returns," CCMMagazine.com, Sept. 18, 2006).
Written by Eddie DeGarmo and Bob Farrell, the opera has been called
the "Jesus Christ Superstar for the MTV generation." It depicts
"Christ" transplanted to New York City and facing issues such as gang
warfare, HIV, and dirty cops. !Hero features blaring rock & roll,
breakdancing, and "wide screens constantly flashing a litany of high
tech images and pulsating graphics." !Hero's "Jesus" sports long
dreadlocks. The Last Supper is a barbeque party and "Jesus" is
crucified on a city street sign. Its decidedly unscriptural character
is doubtless the reason why "every show in every city has met with
rave reviews [even by secular publications], as well as standing
ovations" (Rick Welke, R&R Magazine). The Christ figure is played by
Michael Tait, of dc Talk, a black man who demonstrates his spiritual
ignorance when he says, "Jesus had to be born somewhere; he had to be
a color; it doesn't matter" (Star-Telegraph, Dallas, Texas, Nov. 20).
It makes all of the difference in the world where Jesus was born and
what "color" He was. Had he been born into any family other than one
tracing a direct lineage from Adam through Abraham and David, He
could not have been the Messiah. Does DeGarmo, Tait, and company
think that the genealogies of the Bible are just boring fillers?
Jesus Christ was not an African or an Asian or a European; He was
Jewish! It DOES matter, unless you care nothing whatsoever for the
Word of God and have gone so far down the "contemporary" road that
you are apostate! Jesus Christ is not merely some do-gooder who could
have been born anywhere. He is the eternal Son of God and His birth,
life, preaching, miracles, rejection, death, and resurrection were
the precise fulfillment of Bible prophecy. We do not have the right
to change one iota of it in an attempt to make it "culturally
relevant." In one scene, Tait sings the song "Take My Hand" to an
AIDS patient: "I'm not here to condemn you/ I'd never want to damn
you..." The fact is that though the Lord Jesus came into the world to
save sinners and He has great compassion for the lost, He preached
often on eternal Hell and divine judgment. It is Jesus Christ who
twice said in one sermon, "... except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish" (Lk. 13:3, 5) and thrice warned in another sermon
that hell is "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched" (Mk. 9:44, 46, 48). If men do not acknowledge their
wickedness before God, they cannot be saved. You can't "reach the MTV
generation" for Jesus Christ with a twisted message and a confused
gospel. The Bible warns repeatedly of false gospels, and that is what
we have in !Hero (e.g., 2 Cor. 11:1-4; Gal. 1:6-8). In addition to
Michael Tait, those who have been involved with !Hero include Rebecca
St. James, John Cooper of Skillet, Grits, Nirva, rapper T-Bone, Matt
Hammitt of Sanctus Real, and Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline. The
Jesus depicted in !Hero is a false christ. Friends, I warn you in the
strongest of terms to beware of Contemporary Christian Music.
*
LAUSANNE LEADERS EMPHASIZE UNITY
*
Unity was one of the watchwords at the recent "Younger Leaders Gathering"
in Malaysia, sponsored by the Lausanne Committee for World
Evangelization (LCWE). Phil Butler, senior associate with the LCWE,
claimed that we are in the middle of a revolution with the rapid
spread of Christianity, and said that the reason why hundreds of
millions more aren't "coming into the kingdom" is that "credibility
has been destroyed by divisions in the body of Christ" ("Lausanne
Leaders Emphasize Christian Unity," Christian Post, Sept. 29, 2006).
Mario Cappello, head of the Institute for World Evangelization, also
spoke about the need for unity in "the global world Church." He has
trained more than 200,000 Roman Catholics by using the JESUS Film,
and this is the type of heresy that is considered genuine missionary
work among large numbers of evangelicals today. Those who hold Rome's
sacramental gospel and honor the pope and pray to Mary are not proper
candidates for discipleship and missionary training; they are
candidates, rather, for hearing the true gospel so that they can be
saved and turn from their apostate religion. As for the lack of unity
between Christian denominations destroying the credibility of the
gospel, that is not possible for the simple reason that it is God who
has commanded His people to be strict in doctrinal purity (e.g., 1
Tim. 1:3; 6:13-14; 2 Tim. 3:16 - 4:4) and to separate from those who
are not sound in doctrine (e.g., Rom. 16:17; 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Tim.
6:3-5; 2 Tim. 3:5). The Lausanne Younger Leaders meeting was held in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September 24-30. The Lausanne movement itself
was formed in 1974 after a meeting of evangelical leaders in
Lausanne, Switzerland, and Billy Graham was one of the chief movers
and shakers in its formation. Its objective is to encourage "world
evangelization" and "to map a strategy to achieve it." During its
history, the LCWE has grown increasingly radical in its emphasis on
ecumenical unity and has broadened the definition of world
evangelization to include social-political, social justice endeavors,
in direct contrast to the simplicity of Christ's Great Commission
(Mat. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:44-48; Acts 1:8). According to
reports I am getting, the so-called "Younger Fundamentalists" don't
seem to be too far behind the "Younger Evangelicals" in their dislike
for strictness in doctrinal purity and biblical separation and their
mislabeling of stringent biblical holiness as "legalism" and
"moralism."
*CANADIAN SHAI MUSIC AWARDS TO BE HELD IN JANUARY 2007 *
The SHAI Gospel Music awards convention is scheduled
to be held in Alberta in January 2007, and over 100 "artists" and
3,000 spectators and guests are expected. The convention will feature
"networking and sharing" and awards. Contemporary Christian Music
exists in open and clear disobedience to God's Word, which requires
separation from the world. "And be not conformed to this world"
(Romans 12:2); "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will
be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4); "Love not
the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love
the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in
the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John
2:15-16). In spite of these warnings, Contemporary Christian Music,
as a rule, imitates the world's look, sound, promotion, and awards.
Can you imagine for a moment the apostles holding an awards ceremony
after a contemporary fashion? Can you imagine John announcing the
award for Paul's "new hit song"? Or Peter praising the latest batch
of "powerful artists"? Whatever the world has, there is a
Contemporary Christian "alternative" of it, but a Christianized form
of the world does not have God's blessing or power. God's program is
holiness, and holy means set apart to a holy God; it describes
something that is entirely different from the world, something
heavenly and otherworldly in origin, and it cannot be conformed to
the world's patterns and ways without destroying it. Beware friends;
CCM is the devil's chum to entice professing Christians to the world.
And with its "unity" theme song, it is also one of the glues of the
ecumenical movement and is being used by the devil to create an
end-times "world church."
*BRITISH MUSLIMS REFUSE TO OBEY CHRIST'S COMMAND TO LOVE ONE'S
NEIGHBORS *
On September 14 John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, suggested in a
sermon that
Muslims should do more to integrate into British society and should
follow Christ's teaching to "love thy neighbour" ("Muslims Must Do
More to Integrate," Daily Mail, Sept. 15, 2006). Sentamu condemned
Islamic terrorists as murderers who pervert their faith and observed
that those who speak out on this subject are accused of being
Islamaphobic. He said: "My plea to all Muslims in this country is the
words of Jesus Christ, who to you is a prophet and to me a saviour.
'You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbour and
hate your enemy. I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you. If you love those who love you, what reward do you
have?'" (Note that the liberal Anglican Archbishop did not say that
Jesus Christ is THE Saviour but merely A saviour.) The Muslim Council
of Britain responded to Sentamu's reasonable suggestion by saying
that it could not accept the plea for Muslims to love their enemies.
The Council's spokesman said, "[W]e cannot just turn the other
cheek." Instead of crying out fervently and continually and
effectually against every form of Islamic terrorism, British Muslim
leaders spend more time and energy condemning police raids and
security techniques such as profiling and complaining about alleged
discrimination.
*
ESSAY CRITICAL OF ISLAM LEAVES TEACHER ON THE RUN FOR HIS LIFE *
The following is an excerpt from a Reuters News Service report dated
October 1, 2006: "A French
teacher hiding from Islamist death threats says he has been abandoned
by the Education Ministry and has to arrange for his own safe houses
when police bodyguards move him every two days. Robert Redeker went
underground after publishing an attack on Islam on Sept. 19, in which
he called the Koran 'a book of incredible violence' and Islam's
prophet Muhammad 'a merciless warlord, a looter, a butcher of Jews
and a polygamist.' Islam, Mr. Redeker said, 'exalts violence and
hate.' Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said the threats against
Mr. Redeker, who teaches philosophy in a suburban Toulouse high
school, were intolerable and showed that 'we live in a dangerous
world that is often marked by intolerance.' ... Mr. Redeker said his
wife was living in hiding with him under protection by police and the
DST domestic intelligence agency."
*
ALLEGED REVIVAL IN INDIA CHARACTERIZED BY MYSTIC "MIRACLES" *
In a recent report BBC News quotes Presbyterians in
northeast India who claim that a "Holy Spirit awakening" has broken
out accompanied by mystic "miracles." The leaders claim that "similar
religious experiences proclaimed the beginning of a reawakening in
the region in 1906, just two years after the last great revival in
Wales" ("'Miracles' Boost Indian Christians," BBC News, Oct. 1,
2006). The alleged miracles feature students "convulsing, behaving
abnormally and even fainting." In one church in the state of
Meghalaya a cross has allegedly been glowing and radiating the image
of Jesus. Of course, the image just happens to look like the popular
but deluded artistic conceptions of a longhaired male. My friends,
students fainting and acting strange is no more a miracle than
falling on the floor! Since when did students not act strange! And as
for fainting, there have been several reports over the past several
months of Hindu students in Nepal fainting for no apparent reason.
What an ignorant, foolish, shallow age we live in! If it were not for
the many prophecies that describe end-times apostasy, such things
would be impossible to understand. As it is, we can look at these
things and say, "Praise the Lord, the time of His return draws near!"
*A RIGHTEOUS WORLD IS COMING *
The following is by Harry Ironside from his commentary on Revelation:
"What a long, dreary night with what frightful disturbing nightmares,
if I may so speak, has this world known since sin, with all of its
attendant evils, came in to wreck man's hopes of joy and gladness!
But how precious to know that evil shall not always have the upper
hand; that a time is coming, aye, and is very near, when the curse
will be lifted, the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the rose;
even the lower creation will be changed and revert to former habits
before sin entered, 'the lion shall eat straw like the ox' (Isa.
11:7); the little child need not fear the most savage of beasts
because they shall not hurt nor destroy in that day. Then government
will be righteously regulated; abuses of every kind will be stopped,
and for a thousand glorious years our Lord Himself shall reign in
righteousness."