EVANGELICAL COLLEGE NAMES CATHOLIC PRESIDENT, CHRISTIAN ATHLETE REFUSES TO WRESTLE FEMALE OPPONENT, EVOLUTION AT “EVANGELICAL” CALVIN COLLEGE & More

Friday Church News Notes

February 25, 2011 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org)

FRIDAY CHURCH NEWS NOTES
February 25, 2011 Volume 12, Issue 08

The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this does not imply an endorsement. For instructions on how to unsubscribe to this list or to change mailing addresses, please consult the information paragraph at the end.


EVANGELICAL COLLEGE NAMES CATHOLIC PRESIDENT (Friday Church News Notes, February 25, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

The following is from Proclaiming the Gospel, February 2011: “The evangelical world was taken by surprise [WHY?? I am not surprised!! Adding LEAVEN has become a trait of the "evangelical world!"] when the Board of Trustees of the King’s College, in New York City, announced that it had unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Dinesh D’Souza to serve as the school’s fifth president. ‘D’Souza is a model of the ideal King’s College graduate,’ states the college website. [See?! "the ideal!"] D’Souza’s own website states that he is ‘a believing Catholic but a poorly practicing one.’ On December 2, 2010, a special inauguration ceremony for President D’Souza took place at New York’s Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. [The same church that has LESBIANS preaching! A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump!]

This is a very liberal church pastored for many years by the late Dr. John Sutherland Bonnell, an apostate known for his work to break down the walls between Catholicism and Protestantism. In 1966 he received a silver medal for his ecumenical [BINGO! The magic word!] accomplishments by Pope Paul VI, during a private audience. Billy Graham was famously criticized by the late Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones for having Bonnell on the platform of one of his Crusades in Great Britain.”


CHRISTIAN ATHLETE REFUSES TO WRESTLE FEMALE OPPONENT (Friday Church News Notes, February 25, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

The following is excerpted from Religion.blogs.cnn.com, Feb. 17, 2011: “A high school wrestler in wrestling-crazy Iowa forfeited a tournament match Thursday after refusing to grapple with a female opponent. ‘As a matter of conscience and my faith, I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner,’ Joel Northrup said in a written statement, according to the Des Moines Register. [WOW! Praise God they still raise them with principles!]

Northrup is home-schooled but wrestles as a 112-pound sophomore for Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa. He was a state title contender with a 35-4 record, CNN affiliate KCRG-TV reported. His erstwhile opponent, Cassy Herkelman of Cedar Falls, advanced by default at Des Moines’ Wells Fargo Arena. Herkelman (20-13), a freshman, and Ottumwa, Iowa sophomore Megan Black (25-13) are the first two girls ever to qualify for the state individual tournament, which goes back to 1926. ...

Northrup, the son of a minister, had indicated after the first pairings were announced Sunday that he might take the forfeit. ‘My understanding is that they’ve got strict convictions (as a family), and I respect them,’ Herkelman's father, Bill, told the Register at the time. ‘I don’t have any ill will toward them and I don’t think it's any kind of boycott about her being a girl.’

Northrup said as much in his statement: ‘I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times. ... It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most of the high school sports in Iowa.’” [Concluding Note: After winning by default on February 17, Cassy Herkelman lost to Jordan Jones and Matt Victor and was out of the tournament on February 18. Joel Northrup was also eliminated when he lost to Tyler Willers (Des Moines Register, Feb. 18, 2011).]

EVOLUTION AT “EVANGELICAL” CALVIN COLLEGE (Friday Church News Notes, February 25, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

The following is excerpted from “False Teaching Rife at Calvin College,” Around the World with Ken Ham, Feb. 17, 2011: “More and more people are finding out what is really being taught at Calvin College in Michigan. For instance, Dan Harlow is professor of biblical and early Jewish studies in the Department of Religion at Calvin College. In a recent paper, he stated the following: ‘Recent research in molecular biology, primatology, sociobiology, and phylogenetics indicates that the species Homo sapiens cannot be traced back to a single pair of individuals, and that the earliest human beings did not come on the scene in anything like paradisal physical or moral conditions. It is therefore difficult to read Genesis 1-3 as a factual account of human origins. In current Christian thinking about Adam and Eve, several scenarios are on offer. The most compelling one regards Adam and Eve as strictly literary figures--characters in a divinely inspired story about the imagined past that intends to teach theological, not historical, truths about God, creation, and humanity...’ (Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, Vol. 62, No. 3, Sept. 2010).

In response to feedback the college has received about what this professor believes and teaches (and he is just one of many with compromising beliefs at this ‘Christian’ college), the office of the President of Calvin College stated the following: ‘What does Calvin College teach about evolutionary biology? Calvin affirms that the one true God is the creator and designer of the universe. ... the department also accepts the biological theory of evolution (descent with modification over time) to be the best explanation for understanding the commonality and diversity seen among all living creatures on earth...’ [Indeed! Here is where they supposedly "worship" God but really it is MAMMON who wins!]

If there is no literal Adam and Eve, no literal Fall, then there is no origin of sin and no need of a Savior. The false teaching of Calvin is destructive to biblical authority and the gospel.”

FIVE WESTERN LEADERS SAY MULTICULTURALISM HAS FAILED (Friday Church News Notes, February 25, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

The following is from Agence France-Presse, Feb. 11, 2011: “French President Nicolas Sarkozy declared Thursday that multiculturalism had failed, [NO KIDDING! But a bit too late for Europe! Let's pray we in the USA learn something from this!] joining a growing number of world leaders or ex-leaders who have condemned it. ‘My answer is clearly yes, it is a failure,’ he said in a television interview when asked about the policy which advocates that host societies welcome and foster distinct cultural and religious immigrant groups. ‘Of course we must all respect differences, but we do not want... a society where communities coexist side by side. If you come to France, you accept to melt into a single community, which is the national community, and if you do not want to accept that, you cannot be welcome in France,’ the right-wing president said. ‘The French national community cannot accept a change in its lifestyle, equality between men and women... freedom for little girls to go to school,’ he said. ‘We have been too concerned about the identity of the person who was arriving and not enough about the identity of the country that was receiving him,’ Sarkozy said in the TFI channel show.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Australia's ex-prime minister John Howard and Spanish ex-premier Jose Maria Aznar have also recently said multicultural policies have not successfully integrated immigrants. Merkel in October said efforts towards multiculturalism in Germany had ‘failed, totally.’ The comment followed weeks of anguished debate sparked by the huge popularity of a book by a central banker saying that immigrants, in particular Muslims, were making Germany ‘more stupid. Britain's Cameron last week pronounced his country's long-standing policy of multiculturalism a failure, calling for better integration of young Muslims to combat home-grown extremism.”


BIBLE DISTRIBUTORS KILLED BY PIRATES (Friday Church News Notes, February 25, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

The following is excerpted from “Four Americans Killed,” FoxNews, Feb. 22, 2011: “Four Americans aboard a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates have been killed, Fox News has confirmed. U.S. forces responded to gunfire aboard the yacht Quest at approximately 1 a.m. Tuesday, but discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors. Despite attempts to save their lives, all four hostages died of their wounds. ‘We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest,’ said Gen. James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command Commander in a news release.

Two pirates died during the confrontation and U.S. forces found the remains of two other pirates already dead aboard the vessel. Thirteen pirates were captured and detained, along with two already in custody. A total of 19 pirates were involved in the hijacking.

The yacht Quest was hijacked on Friday off the coast of Oman and U.S. forces had been closely monitoring the vessel. ... The Adams have been sailing the world with a yacht full of Bibles since 2004.” [I believe these were Roman Catholic. I pray they were saved! Their's was a valiant quest!] According to an Associated Press report for Feb. 20, 2011, the Adams had been distributing Bibles to schools and churches in remote villages in areas including the Fiji Islands, Alaska, New Zealand, Central America and French Polynesia.


A “CRITICAL EYE” (Friday Church News Notes, February 25, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

Recently a graduate of a fundamental Baptist Bible college told me that he had learned at school not to have a “critical eye.” He learned that he shouldn’t be critical of the music that was played, because the important thing is to “have a heart for God” and to be “edified” even if the music is questionable. [Ha Ha!! This is funny! Yet they have nothing but CRITICISM through their supposed "critical thinking" for the King James Bible!]

I believe this gets at the heart of the philosophy that is taught in many IB churches and schools which is helping break down the walls of spiritual discernment and open people to wrong influences. A critical eye can be good or bad, depending on how it is defined. A critical eye is wrong if it is a product of a carnal attitude and a bad spirit. It is wrong if it is judging according to personal opinion and feeling rather than the clear teaching of God’s Word.

To judge things in the churches by one’s opinion and tradition and background and feelings and to set my conscience up as a law for others is the sin that is condemned in Romans 14. Paul said, “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” (Rom. 14:4). He was talking about judging others in matters in which the Bible is silent. This is clear from the context, which is diet and holy days (Rom. 14:1-6). The New Testament sets up no laws about diet and holy days, so it is wrong to judge other brethren in such things. There is personal liberty here. To set my conscience up as a law for others, when I do not have clear Scripture to back me up, is legalism.

In those two ways, it is wrong to have a “critical eye” (judging with a bad attitude and judging on my own opinions). But to judge godly judgment is not wrong. In fact, we are commanded to “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). We are to “prove all things” (1 Thess. 5:21). We are to imitate the Bereans who tested everything by Scripture (Acts 17:11).

We are to love God’s Word and hate every false way (Psalm 119:128). The Scripture is given for reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Paul had a critical eye toward false teachers and worldlings like Demas. I remember when I went to Bible School at Tennessee Temple in the mid-1970s. I was only one year old in the Lord, but I had a powerful dose of salvation and I had devoured the Bible during that year and I knew that God wanted me to test everything by it. Psalm 119:128; Acts 17:11; and 1 Thessalonians 5:21 were as precious and real to me then as today. I began to see things that I felt were wrong, particularly the shallow, unscriptural soul winning (I have since labeled it Quick Prayerism), the man-centeredness, the carnal over exaltation of man, the big numbers big church bragadociousness, and the refusal on the part of the leaders and visiting speakers to speak out plainly on some important issues (and men).

I had a “critical eye,” and insofar as I had an ungodly attitude and lack of mercy and compassion and “balance” I was wrong, but insofar as I was identifying things that were unscriptural and wrong, I was right. By God's grace, I have grown in the depth of my spiritual life over these past four decades and I believe and hope that I am much more merciful and compassionate and gracious than I was when I was a new Christian, but I also thank the Lord that I have not given up my “critical eye” in a biblical sense. I still reject the things I rejected 35 years ago, because they are still unscriptural.

If ever there were a time to have a critical eye in a right sense it is today. It will keep you protected spiritually. It is the devil who wants everyone to give up all criticism. If we do that, we have no shield. I am concerned that many IB churches and schools are putting humanistic eye wash in the biblical critical eye. At the same time, I have often emphasized the importance of not having a carnal critical spirit, of always giving the church leaders the benefit of the doubt, etc. Consider, for example, the sermons “Keys to Fruitful Church Membership” and “I Am Not Your Pastor,” which can be found with the search engine at the Way of Life web site.


FELLOWSHIP (Friday Church News Notes, February 25, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

The following by Buddy Smith is from his e-mail post Heads Up! for February 16, 2011, smiletex@bigpond.net.au:

“Fellowship is a word often used and seldom understood. It only truly exists between people who actively contribute to their relationship. It is a two way street. It must be so in order to be true fellowship. Many mistakenly call it fellowship when they receive multiplied kindnesses from others, but contribute nothing to the relationship. They are mistaken. That's not fellowship.

"That is ‘religious welfare.’ That’s being ‘on the dole’ in church. They are addicted to the ‘ministry of mooch.’ Others think it is fellowship when they are always the giver. They contribute the lion’s share to the relationship, but receive nothing in return. We commend them for their gracious generosity, for their longsuffering, for their perseverance. These are the ‘parents’ of fellowship. These are ‘striking the match’ they hope will ignite a kindred spirit in the other person's heart. But the truth is, one-sided generosity is not true fellowship. It could be called evangelism or compassion or mercy, but it should not be called fellowship.

"Fellowship is that blessed sharing, that sweet partnership of hearts in which each person is always investing in the other person. [Awesome description for any true relationship!] It is one of the purest expressions of love.

"The story of the blind man and the cripple is an old one, but so illustrative of Christian fellowship. I saw it firsthand at our local nursing home not long ago. Two old men, one blind and the other crippled, demonstrated to me what fellowship is. The blind man donated his feet and the crippled man donated his eyes. Dave, the blind man, pushed Tom, his crippled friend, in his wheelchair, around and around the exercise area. Each contributed something to the friendship and both were enriched by the experience. They enjoyed a simple, primitive fellowship.

"In essence, that’s what true fellowship is. It is me and you each contributing something to our relationship. It means we are too mature to be sponges. It means we are too wise to be welfare providers for the slothful. Modern churches are full of ‘welfare’ recipients, always sitting around, hoping for a hand out, but never contributing anything. These churches always have a few ‘welfare providers’ who contribute almost everything, and do almost everything that is done in the churches, and receive virtually nothing back from the ‘welfare recipients.’ Fellowship involves sharing. It is that unique relationship enjoyed by Heaven’s cripples who help each other along the way to the Father's house.”


ROBOT WITHOUT A BRAIN (Friday Church News Notes, February 25, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -

The following is from Creation Moments, February 17, 2011:

“A robot that can move about on its own must be programmed in great detail. Instructions must be given to each moving part. These instructions must also be able to direct the robot under all anticipated conditions. If there is any error in the instructions or an encounter with unexpected conditions, the robot will probably just freeze in place.

"Even slime mold can do better than this. Even though slime mold cells are not connected to each other by nerves, when the cells join together, the resulting organism is able to move. It is able to deal with unexpected circumstances moving about by shifting liquid to change their collective bag-shaped body.

"Taking their cue from slime mold, a research group from Tohoku University in Japan has used the same principle to make a mobile robot. The robot is able to move across any flat surface by shifting liquid around, which changes pressure on different parts of the robot. It is made of 14 interconnected syringes, each with a motor to move the water. It moves around randomly until it is given a direction. Then the motors synchronize, and the robot begins to move in the commanded direction. This slime-mold type arrangement adjusts to changes in environment just like the real thing. Leave it to God to accomplish a complicated task with a simple design.” [AWESOME!]


CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. 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. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “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). This material is sent only to those who personally subscribe to the Fundamental Baptist Information Service mailing list. To SUBSCRIBE, go to http://www.wayoflife.org/wayoflife/subscribe.html. TO UNSUBSCRIBE OR CHANGE ADDRESSES, go to the very bottom of any email received from us and click "Manage My Subscription." Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org.

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