Jack Van Impe ministry abandons TBN in clash over Chrislam
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Pastor Dale Morgan
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Jun 16, 2011, 2:18:19 AM6/16/11
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Perilous
Times
Jack Van Impe ministry abandons TBN in clash over Chrislam
Network turned back episode that challenged leaders over
'apostasy'
Posted: June 16, 2011
1:00 am Eastern
By Bob Unruh
A Christian ministry's decision to expose as "false teachers"
several celebrity ministers it believes are corrupting biblical
teachings has prompted a rift, with Jack Van Impe Ministries
dropping plans to work in the future with Trinity Broadcasting
Network, where it has broadcast for more than two decades.
"I Will Not Be Silenced! I will not allow anyone to tell me what I
can and cannot preach," Van Impe said in a statement when TBN
would not allow his program to air.
"When I see heretical teaching leading to apostasy, I will speak
out," he said. "The Bible says 'All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness:' (II Timothy
3:16). The Apostle Paul also gives instructions in Titus 1:9-11,
13 'Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he
may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the
gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and
deceivers … Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's
sake…Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the
faith.'"
Van Impe said he immediately called his media agents and told
them, "I no longer wanted to air my program on Trinity
Broadcasting Network; we will take the tremendous amount of money
that we were spending there to obtain new stations that will allow
us to continue to reach every square mile of America with the
truths of the Bible without this network."
The dispute arose over the issue of advocating for "Chrislam" and
other efforts that are designed to find "common ground" between
Christians and Muslims. TBN declined to air one of Van Impe's
programs that contained sharp criticisms of leaders such as Rick
Warren of "The Purpose Driven Life" fame and Robert Schuller.
In a statement from Van Impe Ministries today, Executive Director
Ken Vancil said his organization rejected an effort by TBN to
reinstate the programming and would work to develop alternative
broadcast outlets where they were needed.
"We would not be able to minister effectively if we had to look
over our shoulder wondering if a program was going to be censored
because of mentioning a name," Vancil said. "While there is hurt
over this incident, we hold no animosity towards TBN. Dr. Van Impe
has often expressed his appreciate to Paul and Jan (Crouch, of
TBN) and all that they have accomplished."
But he confirmed that Paul Crouch Sr. "cautioned" him as recently
as Monday "regarding Dr. Van Impe's naming of names and publicly
rebuking ministers and their teachings."
The dispute erupted just last week, when Van Impe's ministry
planned to air sharp criticism of Christians who say they want to
"reach out" by incorporating beliefs or practices of Islam into
their Christian organizations.
The program specifically mentioned Warren and Schuller, prompting
TBN to prevent the broadcast.
"We received a call from Matt Crouch of TBN informing us that they
would not run that program. … The reason he gave was that we
specifically mentioned Rick Warren and Robert Schuller and that it
is TBN's policy that broadcasters are not allowed to rebuke other
ministries," Van Impe said.
"This is a rather hypocritical statement in light of the fact that
they have never said anything in the past when we have rebuked
others such as Bishop Spong, Bishop Pike, and in the past few
months Harold Camping and Rob Bell," he continued. "They also
stated that they would not run any future program where we offered
our DVD Reclaiming & Restoring Biblical Christianity as a
premium for a donation to our ministry. A DVD that exposes false
teachers and the heresies that they proclaim."
TBN did not respond to WND's request for comment on the dispute.
Vancil said after TBN's decision not to air the program that there
was no future between the two groups.
"This was not an easy decision; we have had a relationship with
TBN for 23 years. … But at this point we feel it is time to part
ways," he said. "We have been able to over the years develop an
independent network of broadcast stations all across America as
well as broadcasting on TBN and Daystar. Our media agents have
worked diligently and determined that we need to add 14 stations
to be able to continue fully covering every mile of America.
"Praise God I am pleased to announce that negotiations have
progressed in these 14 markets and that contracts will be
presented to the Van Impes for approval in a matter of days," he
said.
In the program that was cut, which remains available on the Jack
Van Impe Ministries website, the ministry launches its campaign
regarding "apostate ministers."
Van Impe explains that the Bible prophesies a one-world government
and a one-world religion during the end times, and his concern
focuses on the move among some Christian organizations to adopt
some Islamic thought and incorporate elements of Islam into their
worship.
"We've got too many of these mush-mouth preachers. All they're
doing is two stories and a movie review," he said. But the Bible
actually outlines that its messages also are to "reprove and
rebuke" Christians for failing to live for God.
According to the broadcast, "Chrislam is a term that may be used
more often among apostate churches."
Such Islamic and evangelical Christian leaders, the report
explained, are working to find a way to promote "common beliefs
the two religions supposedly share."
Specifically cited were Warren and Schuller.
During a subsequent broadcast, also available on the ministry's
website, the advance of "Chrislam" thoughts and practices into
Christian churches was described as a "tsunami of compromise."
"This compromise is going to permeate Christianity," Van Impe
said. "I'm calling for the old-time religion to be restored.
"God called me to preach. And I will not stand down for any man,
for any church, for any Christian organization," he said.
The report noted that there are some Christian missionaries
overseas who have "eliminated 91 verses in God's Holy Word because
they wanted to please Islam and the Muslims."
Those references identify Jesus as the Son of God.
Other developments include moves by some Christian churches to
remove clear Christian emblems such as crosses.
He said what churches need today is that "old time religion" and
less "self-esteem psycho-babble."
Criticized on the program were recommendations attributed to
Warren that churches change music to a contemporary rock style,
eliminate hymnbooks and the choir, eliminate the Sunday evening or
Wednesday prayer services, remove the word "church" and refer to
it as a "campus," and reduce the use of the words "unsaved,"
"lost," "hell" and "heaven."
Other ministries have voiced criticism similar to Van Impe's.
Joe Schimmel, senior pastor of Blessed Hope Chapel in Southern
California and chief of the Good Fight Ministries, openly has
questioned whether church leaders are affirming Allah.
Schimmel, who is best known for "They Sold Their Souls for Rock n
Roll," which exposes satanic influences behind much of yesterday
and today's popular music and how it negatively influences youth,
suggested in a WND column, "Could it be that we are witnessing the
formation of the prophesied one-world religion under the
Antichrist? (Revelation 13:1-18) "
He cited Brian McLaren of the emerging church movement, who
planned for an Islamic Ramadan celebration. And he mentioned
Warren's agreement to address the Islamic Society of North
America, which "the Department of Justice categorized two years
ago as a co-conspirator in financing a foreign terrorist group!"
Another church leader, Tony Campolo, "a proponent of the so-called
'evangelical left' claimed that 'even if' Muslims 'don't convert,
they are God's people,'" Schimmel wrote.
"Even more chilling is the fact that over 300 prominent Christian
leaders signed a letter issued by the Yale Center for Faith and
Culture claiming that world peace is dependent on Muslims and
Christians recognizing 'Allah' and 'Yahweh' as the same God. This
letter, titled 'Loving God and Neighbor Together,' was written in
response to a signed document by 138 Muslim leaders titled 'A
Common Word Between Us and You.' McLaren, Warren, Robert Schuller
and Bill Hybels were just several of the signatories to this
outright betrayal of Christ!" he said.
TBN previously had a conflict over its intolerance for criticism
of Islam. It was in 2006 when Hal Lindsey, WND columnist and one
of the world's most popular non-fiction authors, clashed with the
network because TBN wanted him to soften his views on Muslims.
Lindsey refused.