Friday Church News Notes
March 18, 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
March 18, 2011 Volume 12, Issue 11
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.
EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES (Friday Church News Notes, March 18, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - One of the many infallible proofs that the Bible is what it claims to be, which is the divinely inspired Word of God, is fulfilled prophecy. Two thousand years ago the Lord Jesus Christ gave many detailed prophecies of the future. One was the prophecy of the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, which was fulfilled 40 years later in A.D. 70 at the hands of the Roman Tenth Legion under general Titus. Jesus prophesied that “there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Mark 13:2). Some of the stones that were pulled down were thrown off the Temple Mount and were unearthed in recent times along the Western Wall where they can still be seen today as mute witness to the fact that Jesus knows the future. In another prophecy, Jesus said that one of the signs of the end of the age will be “earthquakes in divers places” (Matthew 24:7). The most recent fulfillment of that prophecy was the earthquake that devastated northern Japan last weekend and brought this economic powerhouse nation to its knees in a matter of moments. Many thousands are dead; a modern port city was washed out to sea; four nuclear reactors were damaged, and one has exploded. The nation has been reduced to rolling blackouts to conserve power. Its powerful train system is at a standstill. Its leaders have stated that they are facing the worse crisis since World War II. The Japan earthquake is only the latest in a series of “earthquakes in divers places.” Some 40,000 died in in South Asia in October 2005; 220,000 in Indonesia in 2004; 31,000 in Iran in 2003; 13,000 in India in January 2001; 17,000 in western Turkey in August 1999; 10,000 in Latur, India, in September 1993; 50,000 in northwest Iran in June 1990. According to Bible prophecy, all of these are mere previews of what is coming. A future earthquake will cause every island to sink and the mountains to fall (Revelation 13:11-18). The good news is that no person living today has to go through the terrible future judgments. We are still living in the era of “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10), which is the gospel that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose the third day to offer eternal salvation to whosoever will repent and receive Him as Lord and Saviour. The Bible says God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11). It is His gracious will, rather, that all men be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9).
EVANGELICALS AND MORMONS TOGETHER (Friday Church News Notes, March 18, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -
Prominent “evangelical” leaders are meeting with Mormons in Salt Lake City for a “dialogue” in search of better understanding. The evangelicals include Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals; Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary; and David Neff, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today. Anderson said, “We hope this time of dialogue with LDS leaders will deepen our understanding of the Mormon faith and contribute to the ongoing work of evangelicals in Utah” (“Evangelicals, Mormon,” Christian Post, March 10, 2011). This is a continuation of something that began several years ago. In November 2004, an “Evening of Friendship” at the Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle featured some evangelicals seeking a better understanding of and relationship with Mormons [who, by the way, ARE NOT CHRISTIANS! This is where 2 Corinthians 6:14 comes in!].
Ravi Zacharias, the main speaker, was joined by Richard Mouw, Craig Hazen (a professor at Biola), Joseph Tkach, Jr., head of the World Wide Church of God, and CCM musician Michael Card. In the Deseret Morning News, Card was quoted as saying that “he doesn’t see Mormonism and evangelical Christianity as opposed to each other; they are more like the two ends of a long thread -- part of the same thing.” Mouthing the CCM ecumenical philosophy he said, “The older I get, I guess the more I want to integrate everything. I think it’s more important to be faithful than right” (Nov. 16, 2004) [FAITHFUL TO WHOM?? CERTAINLY NOT GOD! 2 Corinthians 6:14].
The 2004 event and the most recently dialogue were sponsored by Standing Together Ministries, which was formed in 2001 by “evangelical” preacher Greg Johnson, who has conducted “dialogues” with Mormon professor Robert Millet. Johnson is a radical ecumenist. His web site says, “We affirm that there is one Church in Utah that meets in various locations,” and, “Unprecedented unity will contribute to healthier local churches and transformed lives by the thousands.” The first “ministry focus” listed is “Uniting the Body.” Johnson was instrumental in getting Craig Blomberg of Denver Seminary and Steve Robinson of Brigham Young University together to “dialogue” and to produce a book entitled How Wide the Divide, which concludes that the divide between Mormons and Bible-believing Christians is not as wide as formerly thought. We wonder what it is about Mormonism and its false gospel and false christ that these evangelicals don’t understand. We are also puzzled at why they are dialoguing with heretics when the Bible states that we are to mark and avoid them, turn away from them, and reject them (Romans 16:17-18; 2 Timothy 3:5; Titus 3:10-11). The apostle Paul wasn’t much of a dialoguer. He called false teachers “dogs” and “evil workers” (Phil. 3:2). Of those who pervert the gospel he said, “Let them be accursed” (Gal. 1:8, 9). He called them “evil men and seducers” (2 Tim. 3:13), “men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Tim. 3:8), “false apostles, deceitful workers” (2 Cor. 11:13) Beware of modern “evangelicalism.”
BROTHER CLOUD IS THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN SHOT IN THE WEST COAST MUSIC AFFAIR (Friday Church News Notes, March 18, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -
Not only do I have the right Scripturally [as does anyone who aims to abide by the word of God! These are commanded to do so by the word of God! 2 Tim. 3:16] to give a warning about the promotion of “adapted” CCM music at an IB school that is influencing people all over the world, I have a responsibility before God to do so. The only authority I need is 2 Timothy 4:1-2. “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
There is no limit placed on my preaching, except that it be done in the Spirit of God by the Word of God. I can reprove and rebuke wherever and whoever and whatever and whenever, in season and out of season. So can Paul Chappell and every other God-called preacher.
Take my preaching ministry, for example. I have a very public ministry that influences many people (a half million downloads of my sermons and videos, for example, and many tens of thousands of unique visits to our web site every month), and I am critiqued publicly all of the time by countless men. I can’t recall ever being contacted first, and I have never written to any of those men and reproved them for not coming to me, and I have never wanted my “supporters” to reprove them.
If I publish a book or a sermon series or a video presentation that influences people, other preachers have a right and responsibility to warn about my teaching if they think it is in error, and they don’t have to come to me first. I would certainly prefer that they critique me honestly and in a gracious, Christ-honoring way, but at the end of the day, that is not my business. Their critiques of my public preaching ministry are between them and God. I can respond to their warnings by repenting of error if I believe they are right or I can challenge the accuracy of their critique, but I am not going to say they have no right to do warn about me publicly if they think they have a Scriptural basis.
Likewise, when a man builds an institution and draws students into his school from many other churches so that he can train and influence them and when he publishes material that is distributed around the world and when he conducts large conferences attended by people from many other churches and when he preaches at conferences in many places, his doctrine and practice is NOT a private matter. I have every right to issue godly, scriptural warnings in a gracious manner in regard to public preaching and practice, which is what I do, and Pastor Chappell and their supporters and students have every right to reply to my warnings. But they have no scriptural right to mock and ridicule me, yet this is exactly what has happened. I’ve been called every name in the book. I’ve been treated like a fool. [Absolutely not!! I cannot understand this! It would be so if you were to retract what you said, or "take down" sermons the hearing of which would ASSERT that you were PERVERTING THE WORD OF GOD, PURPOSELY, and thus, EMBARRASSED AND AFRAID you take them down, just like Matthew Furan has done on "his" site of Calvary Baptist Church of Niagara!!] I’ve been bossed around like some silly puppy.
Consider the following choice words from a West Coast senior: “I strongly suspect ... that you are nothing more than a self-proclaimed, unbiblical, [this coming from someone, I am willing to bet, doesn't know what to be "biblical" means! I am willing to bet KJB is not the version by which he makes such an assertion!] loud-mouthed, arrogant false prophet that attacks others to try to gain influence and respect for yourself. [Indeed! Hilarious!! David Cloud does seem to need to gain influence, now, doesn't he?!] ... You are a vicious, raucous, poisoned, ignorant complainer. ... Your hypocrisy and misinterpretation and out-of-context use of the Bible sickens me. [Ah! Taking Bible verses out of context IS Matthew Furan's expertise, especially when the "Statement of Faith on Grace and Giving" PERVERSELY QUOTES OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE VERSES WHEN IT WAS GOD'S PEOPLE WERE UNDER THE LAW, AND IN A DIFFERENT DISPENSATION! THERE IS NO "We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. 1Corinthians 16:2" THIS WAS TO BE A ONE-TIME EVENT, because Paul did not care to have anyone compelled to give when it was he would have arrived later on in the city! Listen to What About Tithing?Jessie Delewski | Is it REQUIRED?Bible Believers Fellowship SUN 08/01/2010 to learn the TRUTH! Unlike Matthew Furan, WHO IS A THIEF AND A LIAR, the likes of these need not take down what they have preached previously, for they preached the truth! Check out "his" site at Calvary Baptist Church of Niagara, and you will not find many sermons on it, he weeding out ALL OF 2010 AFTER HAVING BEEN EXPOSED FOR FALSE SCRIPTURAL TEACHING!!] May God have mercy on your soul you arrogant, raunchy man. I cannot help but wonder if those who call you ‘brother’ are sadly mistaken. ... you’re full of holes, arrogance and grotesque pride.”
How is that for a piece of godly communication from a mere kid to a grandfather preacher who has been in the battle for Christ in this dark world for a long, long time? But as he said, he is defending the “man of God” and I guess anything is allowed when you are so highly motivated. [Funny! I guess NO ONE THINKS of Matthew Furan in the same manner! NOT ONE COMMENT/MESSAGE have I received, not even from his "Home Church" to which I reported him three days ago, after which HE WIPED OUT HIS SERMONS for the entire year of 2010!! ALL GONE! WERE THEY TO HAVE HELD UP TO THE WORD OF GOD, HE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO DO SO! Yesterday I further wrote Pastor Davison, and I see another site in which the fool was advertised as a "missionary" that has been taken down! Can anyone imagine NOT A SINGLE PERSON this viper has met through the dozen years he has been in the "ministry" to have a good word to say in defense about this thief and liar"! Perhaps because only now have they VERIFICATION he to be just this! Know that I know many have been the searches just under his name! It all shows in the stats! He does not stand up to scrutiny!]
THE DANGER OF “ADAPTING” CCM - VICTOR SEARS’ WARNING (Friday Church News Notes, March 18, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -
Many independent Baptist churches that still have a conviction against CCM are “adapting” it by using the words while toning down the rhythm. They are trying to take the “rock” out of Christian rock. They think they can tame the beast and turn charismatic praise music into fundamentalist praise music. This results in the gradual acceptance of and increasing use of CCM, the gradual allowance for sensual rhythms, a continual pushing of the boundaries.
Many discerning men have issued warnings about this slippery slope, including Victor Sears. “Good fundamental Baptists and others that refuse the teachings of the charismatic crowd concerning tongues, signs, miracles, and so forth are NOW SINGING THEIR MUSIC in our churches and preparing our people for the world, the flesh and the Devil. It is the new Trojan Horse move ... to deaden our churches to spiritual truth” (Sears, Baptist Bible Tribune, 1981).
Victor Sears was a old-fashioned, down-to-earth, no-nonsense, “let’s not beat around the bush” Baptist preacher. I never met the man or heard him preach in person that I can recall, but I thank God for the few things I have read from his pen. One is the the previous statement about the Trojan Horse character of CCM. Sears issued this warning 30 years ago. He was definitely a prophet, because that was before CCM began to sweep into IB churches. But courageous old Victor Sears saw it as “the new Trojan Horse move ... to deaden our churches to spiritual truth.” He recognized that CCM comes predominantly from the charismatic movement with its heretically bogus, demon-inspired tongues, signs and miracles. He warned about fundamentalist churches that “SING THEIR MUSIC.”
Observe that he didn’t say that a church has to sing charismatic music in exactly the same way that they sing it. They just have to sing it to whatever tune they want, toned down as much as they want, and that CCM music becomes a trojan horse to deaden the church to the truth. Sears knew that the contemporary music brings a foreign philosophy, and he was deeply concerned about what was already beginning to happen in some IB churches. He was a leader in the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, and this was the first group of Independent Baptists that accepted the Trojan Horse. It first entered through the use of contemporary background tapes for singing specials. I recall attending a BBFI preachers conference in the 1980s. The music was CCM even then. The congregational singing was still very traditional and sacred, but when the special singers got up and they cranked up the background tape the atmosphere changed instantly from church to nightclub. The Trojan Horse also entered through the “adaption” of CCM by using the songs but toning down the rhythm. In light of these warnings, it is not surprising that the BBFI today has capitulated to the New Evangelical philosophy. The men of real conviction and moral courage left long ago.
BEWARE OF THE SCOOPING/SLIDING VOCAL STYLE (Friday Church News Notes, March 18, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -
It is common to hear the world’s scooping/sliding vocal technique in specials sung in Bible-believing churches. The reason is not that the singers are trying to be worldly, but they are simply imitating the style of music that is heard everywhere in the pop culture and which predominates in Southern Gospel today. In his book How to Sing for Money, Charles Henderson defined scooping as “sliding up to a note from an attack below its true pitch,” and he identified it as a “common practice as a swing effect” (1940, p. 36). Note that the scooping technique was created as a part of the modern dance music scene, which is all about sexual license. The technique is a fitting accompaniment to the sensual backbeat rhythm.
In a secular book The Foundations of Rock, Walter Everett says, “Many rock vocalists reach out to their audience largely through the PHYSICALITY of their singing.” Scooping has even been described as “sexual utterances” (Charles Brown, The Art of Rock & Roll, p. 68). Everett observes, “Classical singers traditionally strive for constant beauty of tone, but this is rarely of interest to rock vocalists, who reject the dogma of there being one ‘right’ way to do anything.” This is a telling statement.
Note that rock vocalists don’t care about beauty of tone, but God’s people should strive for beauty in singing style because we are serving the God of beauty and order and are singing about His lovely truth. Further, rock singers contort their voices and slip and slide around the notes because they have rejected absolute truth [OR SIMPLY LACK TALENT! DOING THE GUTTURAL SOUNDS DOES NOT REQUIRE MUCH TALENT! In such a way that they cannot even recall the lyrics of the National Anthem when proposing to exhibit their "craft" at an event!]. Their singing style reflects their philosophy of moral relativism.
Decades ago Dr. Frank Garlock issued the following warning. “The identical methods employed by the world to make the sound sensual are now being used by many popular contemporary Christian music vocalists. THE STYLE ITSELF REFLECTS AND PROJECTS A PHILOSOPHY. These techniques include swaying and dancing, scooping (sliding up to a note from an attack below its true pitch), vocal sliding, flipping below and above the actual written melody, whispery, breathy voice, and delayed vibrato” (Garlock). These are not things that God’s people should imitate. We would also observe that the scooping style of singing is not only sensual and worldly, but it also draws attention to the singer. In contrast, when we sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, the attention should be fully upon the Lord and upon the message of the lyrics. [Singing praises to God moves and elevates your soul, not your body!]
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 fulfill 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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