The Church Today – Page 4 – The Welcome Home

Watch and Listen

Sisters… I pray you will set about to redeem the time and walk circumspectly. Study the Bible – and then as you go about your life… be very careful to take what you hear and read and line it up against the Word of God. You will hear many doctrines, many traditions of men, many wonderful – unbelievable, delightful stories that will warm your heart and make you feel so good and happy. Be very careful to not get caught up in the snares of deception. The enemy is subtle – so subtle that you might begin to believe things you never thought you’d believe but the enemy has made them so sweet and sincere and familiar that it’s hard to distinguish real truth from real lies.

Numbers 23.19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

Be sure. Be very sure. There is only one place you will find the Truth or the basis of what you believe. You’re not going to find it in a message somewhere (though a message might be proclaiming the truth: be sure to prove all things and hold fast that which is good). You’re not going to find the Truth in traditions of men. You’re not going to find the Truth based on your feelings – or, rather, how you feel about what you hear somewhere. The Truth is in the Bible. And the Bible is very clear. And the Spirit of God is very clear. Be very careful what you read – where you read it and what you do with what you read.

Weigh everything in the balance of God’s Word. Read it. Know it. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Live it.

1John 2.27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. “

Be very careful about the big tents. There are some very big shows going on around the world in some pretty big tents. And in the big tents there are a lot of messages being shared. Andthe big tents are attractive and attracting lots and lots of people. Don’t be deceived by numbers of people. Test what you hear. Listen and compare what you hear with what you read in God’s Word.

Watch.
Watch and wait.
Watch and wait and listen.

Read in 1 Kings, the story of Elijah. This portion is key: (1Kings 19.11-12)
“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. “

“…A still small voice.” Listen for it. Listen for the Voice of the Lord.

There are many things changing day by day… you will be amazed if you simply watch. If you watch and listen.

2Peter 3.2-18
“That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

You’re here… you’re other places on the ‘net. Be careful… be careful to not be lulled into thinking or ways that are contrary to the Word of God – the Truth of God. Be careful to not be enticed to believe things that are inconsistent with the Truth of God and the finished work of redemption. Be sure to study to show yourself approved.

1Corinthians 2.9-16
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. “

Listen to what’s being taught (and heard and believed!)
Here’s one; a talk by Rick Warren.
And then think for a moment… are you being mislead by sweet, seductiv, enticing or convincing works and words? Here’s an article on “The Most Dangerous Thing in the World.” I’ll likely add some more… but this is enough for now.

Re-imaging God

You may be saying… wha…? I know. Incredible. I almost hesitate to write about this bcz of the blasphemous nature of the topic, but I share this, in part, to urge awareness… to urge believers to pray and to urge believers to “wake up” and see the turns of events in the world around us.

The more time goes by we’re seeing incredible leaps and departures from the Truth. As if the ‘seeker felt-needs-meet-my-wants’ trend wasn’t extreme enough, and as if the contemplative, mysticism wasn’t enough of a departure, now we have yet another perversion of Truth: the heretical, “re-imaging” of God – “the re-imaging of God by [this, from the “herchurch” website] by claiming her [sic] feminine persona in thealogy [~~sick~~ sic], liturgy, church structure, art, language, practices, leadership, and acts of justice. Challenging the church’s restricted language of the past, we pay special attention to images and metaphors that attempt to embrace divine fullness and that offer a witness of holy nurture and inclusive justice, both to the church and to the world.”

I see a bit of where the departure might have begun (well… in addition to that incident in the garden) – at least, in part, it may have begun with the stretching of the meaning of one of the names of God: El Shaddai. El Shaddai means God Almighty – God All Sufficient. Further, Shad means breastinHebrew; thus, the stretch that God is female – the sustainer, the life-giver as women are and then the broad (pun unintended) assumption that God is actually female — you may sometimes hear: mother God. Or, in a stretch Father-Mother God. The “re-imaging” of God is not new… but it is grievous nonetheless.

In the make-me-feel-good-tell-me-what-I-want-to-hear “church” today, it’s no wonder the “re-imaging” can be taking place. And it may be embraced in surprising places… for, consider that even hairy potter books (misspelling intentional) are tolerated – even lauded by *christians* around the world. Each has a place in the hall of shame. It’s a pathetic situation when “theologians” teachers – preachers – miss the dark side or the forbidden in Scripture: dabbling in occultic practices. Recommending those books is akin to recommending yoga or any other eastern meditation / spiritual formation and /or the new favourite : contemplative or contemplative spirituality.

The re-imaging of God is happening everywhere… consider that pastors are attempting to see how the church can fit into the homosexual “lifestyle.” Consider that pastors are grappling with attempting to make smooth paths for such “alternative” lifestyles. Can you, for even a moment, consider or imagine a pastor attempting to make way or provision for pedophiles or practicing thieves, murderers, liars, adulterers… on and on. See? See the shift in thinking… we’re slowly being trained, ingrained, and indoctrinated to believe the dialectic… that it’s simply a gentle lifestyle choice, not a sin – not an abomination – to ~~be homosexual~~ live a life of a sodomite. See… pedophilia grosses us out, makes us angry, boils our core. But shouldn’t other abominations? Shouldn’t we take a stand against that which stands against God’s natural plan, purpose and design? I take a stand against what violates God’s design. That’s why I say what I say and that’s why all these “lifestyles” that are contrary to God’s design are so grievous. Are the *people* themselves to be condemned? No—the people themselves need salvation (just like me) to know the LORD (as I do) and to serve Him (as I also need/desire/want to/would/should serve Him). The church… following after all the new seductive conversations, drunk on it’s own sensual revelations needs to turn to the God of the Bible, not the godS of this world — and not the godS of other “religions” and not a re-imaged god… but God – the Creator of all things, the Sustainer of all things, our Provider, our LORD and Saviour: God.

Don’t think the slide into the abyss is all that big a deal? Don’t think that all the repackaging of distorted truths is just a bunch of hype? Consider the enormity of the impact these lies are having on “the church” today. I write about this from time to time… not so much to sound an alarm but to say… the alarm is already blaring but the ‘church’ seems so mesmerized and enthralled with itself and is swaying to the beat of repetitive sensual tunes and seems deaf to the alarm and blind to the warning signs.

The “church” today

You can just pass over this entry if you’re not interested in reading more about the course of “the church” in America/the world today.

I received a newsletter from this morning from Sojourners – I read for info. I had just been reading a couple of articles at Slice of Laodicea and some by Ken Silva regarding the most recent from Rick Warren and, among other things, his relationship with Rupert Murdock (now there’s a purpose driven guy! and it’s not church, believe me. It’s spiritual, though, of the darkest kind: money/porn/power).

But back to that Sojourners letter. It reminds me of another vending machine church life/growth formula that I wrote about a year or so ago (March 2 entry in that blog).

So you can become a member of the congregational network. All ya gotta do is pop down $69.95 (slick, no?) and get yourself a membership that entitles you to the tools you’ve been missing all this time in order to be-all_______, do-all_______, end-all_______. If your “pastor” (or church) gets one of these memberships, he can just download Sunday’s sermon on his way to the building and present a message that’s TNT for the congregation. I’m guessing that it’ll either be tnt: dynamite or tried ‘n true.

Social Justice. Sounds biblical… right? O c’mon, it’s gotta be in there somewhere… well, if you don’t find Social Justice in your Bible, wait a little bit and maybe one of them will write you up a Bible to fit their cause. Bibles written to fit the culture? truly it’s already happening. Pick up “The Message” or “The New Living…”and then compare them (pick a verse, pick a passage) to the NEB or the KJV and you’ll see it.

Sojourners/Call to Renewal is excited to announce a BRAND-NEW congregational network to help local churches move faith into action.

[*] Because you’ve been a friend and supporter, we’re inviting you to become a charter member of Faith & Justice Churches: A Congregational Network.

Faith & Justice Churches equips leaders with resources and offers a gathering place for sharing ideas and organizing on social justice issues.

An annual charter membership in Faith & Justice Churches includes:

Weekly sermon prep materials

Sermons on social justice themes

Ready-to-use, small-group study resources

Organizing toolkits

Downloadable bulletin inserts on current issues

Subscription to Sojourners magazine, including 15 years of archived content

Discussion boards

Exclusive commentary from Jim Wallis and Sojourners/Call to Renewal staff

And much more …

Faith & Justice Churches provides local church leaders – pastors, lay leaders, church officers, and Sunday school teachers – with resources for prophetic advocacy.

* – I am not, btw.
So… now, your church can be a Follow the Leader Faith & Justice New Age Purpose Driven Conversational Church. Or… you could just follow the LORD, read the Bible and obey it.

Another hmmmmmm…

You know… you go along and think that perhaps it’s not all going south. Maybe you’ve overreacted or have been a bit too critical. You think maybe you ought to just sit back, take a deep breath and study the matter a bit longer before making a judgment call on the matter. In yet another “Hmmmmmm….” moment and another shaking of the head and aching in the heart moment I sort of cannot believe a video clip I just watched. No it wasn’t at all akin to the American Family Association’s mail and video clip sent out yesterday… (the vulgar “Gay Pride” parade clip and plea by the AFA to contact reps. regarding the new hate crimes legislation) though that was more than a hmmmmmmmmmm moment – this clip is really perhaps more sickening bcz, while the footage of the pride parade was truly unsettling, it was, after all, clearly a secular event.

What’s grievous about this link/clip is that it was a “church service” and the excuse made by the pastor several minutes into the clip is probably very telling of the state of the church in America. The subtle nuances, the blending of secular and sacred – or worse: a very low view of the holiness of God and honour due Him. So here’s the clip… and maybe coming soon to a church near you: church Springcreek style.

the illusive secret

What’s the going phrase? What’s the best read? What’s the best thing to be doing, seeing, saying, wearing, thinking? You’ll find out about it on Oprah. Everybody loves… Oprah. So… what’s the big deal about that? I’m treading perhaps into fiery territory, but I’ll tread… I know, I know… I don’t even watch TV.
Today on Oprah, more of The Secret. You can take a look at the content by clicking the different links. If you look into The Secret, you’ll see that author of the book and creator of the DVD, The Secret, Rhonda Byrne, is a follower of Abraham… if you track that a bit, you’ll see that the Abraham she follows is from the creation of Esther Hicks. She and her husband have a huge following and have authored many books, etc., (The Law of Attraction and others) I’m not linking either one here, but a google turns up more links than you have time to see. The Secret is not to be confused with Brian McLaren’s book, “The Secret Message of Jesus – Uncovering the Truth That Could Change Everything.” Though you have to wonder…
Why am I writing about this and why does it matter? Because the world seeks answers. The church is seeking answers. And, sadly, the “contemporary church” is seeking contemporary answers. The contemporary church, the post-modern church, the purpose driven church is seeking answers and… is content to seek them outside the Word in the world. Outside the Way… on the broad path instead of through the narrow gate. Still… why does this matter to us? Why should it matter?

1Timothy 4.1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

1Timothy 4.6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

If you take a look at the dictionary… you’ll see that the word occult means: hidden, secret, underneath… Consider the teachings of The Secret, and you’ll see why this is so significant. For we know that there is salvation and life in no other— for there is no “salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4.12)

So, still… why does all this matter? Because the wheels that move “the church” around are on a cart that has this sort of teaching strapped on. Prominent leaders are promoting the seductive, the neo-church, the church that “gets it,” the emergent church, contemplative worship, mysticism, meditation, etc., etc. It’s the church of now and the ways of the occult are infiltrating the whole way things are done. It’s not surprising… the enemy arrogantly attempted to temp the LORD — to challenge and mock Him; to offer Him what was already His.
So, ~~attacking~~ attracting The church with devious subtleties, with signs and wonders and with sensual attractions is not surprising. Especially not in regards to this or the previous generation reared on the mystical and with supernatural preoccupation. While the enemy’s using the high profile people and performances, he’s also going for the Word—the Bible, a great target and tool that satan can use to attempt to alter the message of the Cross or water it down or to make sin not exceedingly sinful… more attempts to question God as he did in the beginning: Yea, hath God said…? Consider attempts to make the Bible more palatable, easier to read, understand and apply to today’s culture. It’s going on all around us. Just consider The Message or The Voice and others.

Consider that old “outdated” ways of thinking are being mocked and called dead—replaced with the nouveau Christian: what-I-feel-feels-good-now trends. And if you’re not following along then you’re stiff, stodgy, out-of-it, behind the times.

Consider that pastors can, without even consulting the Bible for accuracy (or for conscience’ sake), download sermons and preach them across the nation for a more “uniform message” and to build mega “churches” after the established church-growth paradigm, system and pattern. Consider that the Word of God is being added to… that the message of the Cross and Salvation through faith in Jesus is relegated to becoming part of a different message. Sort of part of whatever man decides ought to be in the package. Or, no, wait. Sort of how man doesn’t want to live in a package and wants to choose his own way and attempt to answer his own why’s.

Galatians 1.6-9
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

And finally, really… why does this matter? Because that’s the why of Jesus. That’s why Jesus came, that’s why He died on that cross and why He rose from the dead and why He ascended on High and why He sent the Holy Spirit. Because man was seeking his own way and was lost—because of sin and the consequence of sin: the eternal separation from God.

It’s not Jesus and ____. It’s just Jesus.

“The Message,” “The Voice” and The Truth.

Even so, Come LORD Jesus.

Those who’ve followed the PDC or the PDL and are, were or have been interested in the “new conversation” of the quote, post-modern church, probably read from, or read in part, The Message. Now there’s another “project” in the works: The Voice.

No conspiracy theories, no alarmist voices here… just read a few quotes from The Voice site and draw your own conclusions from what you read:

A NEW WAY TO PROCESS IDEAS
THE VOICE: A SCRIPTURE PROJECT TO REDISCOVER THE STORY OF THE BIBLE

Chris Seay’s vision for The Voice goes back 15 years to his early attempts to celebrate the beauty and truth of the biblical narrative. As western culture moved into what is now referred to as postmodernism, Chris struggled with a deep desire to preach the whole story of God. Much like the Hebrews at the time of the New Testament, emerging generations today connect with story rather than isolated facts. Too often, preaching is reduced to articulating truth statements somehow hidden in a complex, powerful, and redemptive story. Jesus taught through parables and metaphors; modern Christians have attempted to translate His teaching into a system of irrefutable fact statements and something seems to be getting lost in the translation.”

Hence, a group of writers, poets, scholars, pastors, and storytellers have committed to work together to bring the Scriptures to life in a way that celebrates both beauty and truth. The result is a retelling of the Scriptures: The Voice, not of words, but of meaning and experience.”

Then, you might want to go and see the cast of characters in the presentation. You won’t find names with whom you might have been familiar regarding works in translation, Bible commentary and standard Bible dictionaries.

Putting the Bible into the language of modern readers has too often been a painstaking process of correlating the biblical languages to the English vernacular. The Bible is filled with passages intended to inspire, captivate, and depict beauty. The old school of translation most often fails at attempts to communicate beauty, poetry, and story. The Voice is a collage of compelling narratives, poetry, song, truth, and wisdom. The Voice will call you to enter into the whole story of God with your heart, soul, and mind.”

Our family is continuing on in the book of Galatians for our morning Bible study at the Breakfast table. Wes read a couple of passages a few times over and engaged the children in conversation regarding The Gospel – The Gospel and what Paul was saying and reemphasizing Galatians 1.6-10:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

There are so many changes, so many small additions, deletions, redefinitions of truths that one must be very wary, at least, and careful to study the Scriptures—to carefully guard against the subtlety of the enemy and the ever present assault on the Word. I’ve often thought it’s not so much that the devil wants you to follow him, but that you take your eyes off Jesus, that you question His Word, that you stop seeking the LORD fully and completely. That you accept “another” gospel.

There is no other gospel. There is only one Gospel. Only one way. Only Jesus. There are not many roads to heaven, not many ways to God. Acts 4.12

Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Stand up for Jesus… ye soldiers of the Cross.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2Timothy 3.12-17

the peculiar path

And it has been sort of a peculiar path we’ve traveled over the last few years – one, that for a variety of reasons, I’m not sure I’d ever have chosen early on in our life, but one I’m thankful to be traveling now.

And this morning I read an article that resonates well with our experience. I haven’t talked a lot about “home-churching” bcz it tends to be one of those sort of “volatile” subjects – you know, the home birth vs. hospital, or unmedicated brith vs. medicated, home-school vs. public school and on and on. Also, when sort of boasting of great experiences or results or reading an article that touts the benefits of an particular common experience, it might tend to offend those who don’t share that experience or methodology. It’s like touting the benefits of one diet regimen or car or daily schedule: “your results may vary.” So, identifying with the results of the Barna research article might be sort of like homeschoolers identifying with, say, the winner of a national spelling competition and saying: “See, homeschooling works!” And so, just bcz something works for one individual, that same thing won’t work for all.

And just as soon as I say that, I want to defend my reservation and maybe even deny it. For, as with most things I do, I wouldn’t do them unless I thought they were the best or right thing to do. I might even go so far as to say: the best or right thing for all people in all places for all time. But then, that might just be too radical… the statement of a “peculiar people.” That might be no dating, distinctive masculine and feminine dress, home-birthing, divine birth ordering, home-schooling, home-making, submission and headship, home-industry and on and on. So, it’s no surprise, then, that strong conviction might be present concerning the home, or non institutionalized, church.

Here’s the Barna link. My strong disclaimer or addendum here would be that I have *no* animosity toward the those who see thing differently regarding the institutional church per se. It’s the program driven, prescription for growth, dialectic or commercialized stuff that really has nothing to do with the Way and Word. At all. Those are the grievous things to me.

Speaking of house church, and I guess I was, it was sure a great blessing to have as our guests yesterday, Jason and Sharon Nightingale, with Wordsower ministries. Sharon’s living example and Jason’s commanding presence in stature and deep base voice only increases the benefit of his teaching and recitation of the Word of God. Generally, when he visits churches [ in buildings or houses 😉 ] he proclaims or speaks the Revelation. I think the first time I heard him quote the whole book of the Revelation, I was so wowed that he was actually reciting the whole thing I kept thinking of that over and over. But, as with all things, the hearing of God’s Word never returns void and now, many years later, I read the Word and often hear the tremendous inflection of that deep voice resonating in the back of my mind: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches…”

A letter from LightHouse Trails

I received this letter from Lighthouse Trails today. Interesting.

—-ps

This story is a follow up to our previous AFA articles that you may view here.

American Family Association’s Resource Center is now including categories in their Spiritual Growth section (*see note below) titled: “Mysticism,” “Contemplative Life,” and “Spiritual Formation.” As we have reported in the past, AFA has been aware that many of the books they sell on their site promote pantheism, altered states of consciousness (i.e., the silence), Eastern mysticism, etc. Emails to numerous customers from AFA staff, as well as AFA president Tim Wildmon, indicated that these books were removed. On the contrary, AFA now has categories specifically for these titles.

Under Mysticism, authors include mystics Jean-Pierre De Caussade, St. John of the Cross, Evelyn Underhill, Calvin Miller, and many, many others with panentheistic persuasions. In Miller’s book, Into the Depths of God, he states:

Centering is the merger of two “selves” – ours and his [God’s]. Centering is union with Christ. It is not a union that eradicates either self but one that heightens both.” (A Time of Departing, p. 185)

On AFA’s category Contemplative Life, they sell books by Phyllis Tickle (who recently said Brian McLaren was like another Luther), pantheist William Shannon (Thomas Merton’s biography and author of Silence on Fire),Brother Roger of Taize, and titles such as The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, Silence and Stillness in Every Season by John Main, and the list is lengthy.

On the Spiritual Formation category, AFA lists emerging church leaders and writers like Rob Bell and Don Miller as well as C. Peter Wagner, Dallas Willard, Richard Rohr, Jim Wallis, and over 700 other titles in this category.

Other authors the AFA store includes are Henri Nouwen, Larry Crabb, Brian McLaren, Ruth Haley Barton, Brennan Manning, Thomas Merton, Rick Warren and countless others who promote contemplative spirituality.

AFA has made a bold statement by adding these categories. And just what does this statement tell us? Three things. First, AFA misled people, and quite frankly they seem indifferent to the consequences of that. Secondly, AFA is absolutely promoting heretical books and authors, and it doesn’t look like they are going to stop. Thirdly, this illustrates very well that the concerns, which compel Lighthouse Trails and its authors, are not something obscure, on the fringe, or faddish. Christendom is without a doubt immersed in contemplative spirituality so much so that those who oppose it are standing on the outside of this mystical, contemplative church and being labeled divisive, false converts, resisters, leaders from hell and just plain old—standing in the way of progress. With that in mind, each of us must decide to which church we belong … a church where the biblical Jesus Christ is the head or a mystical contemplative church that ultimately denies the Cross and replaces it with a pantheistic universal spirituality.

*Note: To find these categories on AFA Resource Center site, 1. Go to AFA main website. 2. Scroll down to bottom of left column and under AFA Support, click on AFA Products 3. Then at top of page, click on Resource Center 4. Then at top left of page, click on BOOKS. 5. Then see right hand column, Browse by Category, and scroll down to “Spiritual Growth,” then open up “+” sign.)

Lighthouse Trails Research Project

P.O. Box 958

Silverton, Oregon 97381

Phone: 503/873-9092

Fax: 503/873-3879

editors@lighthousetrails.com

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

Please feel free to distribute this important press release.

more hmmmm….

Some are watching and some simply pass on and follow. www.christianitytoday.com/

more stunners

You know… you just couldn’t make this stuff up.

Could this scenario be coming soon to a church near you?

Incredible. Really, incredible. Here’s one… the Granger Community Church event. How about a U2charist ?
Really, I couldn’t make this up.

You’ve heard me say many times, if I keep shaking my head like this, it’s going to come clean off. And, there are some who probably wish that would happen and I’d stop talking about all the incredible, blasphemous things going on.

Turning to the local Christian music station this afternoon and hearing a song about the grinch, “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.” One of my daughters commented, did they run out of meaningful Christmas carols?