Friday Church News Notes
April 22, 2011 Volume 12, Issue 16
David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting , fbns@wayoflife.org
April 22, 2011 Volume 12, Issue 16
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.
TURNING CHURCH INTO A CIRCUS AND PASTORS INTO CLOWNS (Friday Church News Notes, April 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) -
Shawnee Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, has a Marvel Comics superhero theme for its August 2011 youth conference. They even have a Scripture to back it up -- “Declare his glory among the heathen, his MARVELlous works among all nations” (1 Chronicles 16:24). The photos of the six visiting preachers are graphically altered to make them look like Marvel superheros. Forget the fact that many of the so-called superheros operate in occultic powers and modern comic books are often lewd. This type of thing is not glorifying to God. It turns the church into a worldly circus and pastors into clowns. It cheapens the preaching of God’s holy Word. It is like trying to preach the gospel in a clown’s suit. The message is right but the context weakens its effectiveness and confuses the hearers. In my wildest imagination I cannot imagine Paul or John dressing up as Marvel Superheros. The Shawnee Baptist Youth Conference ad ran in The Sword of the Lord (April 1, 2011, pages 12), and I pray they will repent of this type of thing.
CALIFORNIA BILL WOULD PROHIBIT ANY ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL MATERIAL (Friday Church News Notes, April 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) -
A bill recently passed by the California Senate would mandate the teaching of “gay history” in California public schools as well as prohibit any instructional materials “that reflect adversely on gay, bisexual and transgender Americans” (“CA Senate Bill,” AP, April 14, 2011). That would rule out the Bible, of course, and it might even rule out any book that presents traditional husband-wife marriage in a good light. The bill must be approved by the state Assembly and signed by the governor, which is very possible in light of the fact that Democrats hold power and homosexuals have great political clout.
BOLIVIA’S MINISTRY OF MOTHER EARTH (Friday Church News Notes, April 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) -
Bolivia is preparing a United Nations treaty that would give “Mother Earth” the same rights as humans. This would mirror the nation’s Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, which was enacted in January. It grants the Earth “a series of specific rights that include rights to life, water and clean air; the right to repair livelihoods affected by human activities; and the right to be free from pollution” (“UN Document,” Canada.com, April 13, 2011). The law will be enacted through a Ministry of Mother Earth. Ecuador has a similar law. Debate on the new UN treaty proposal will begin two days before the second international Mother Earth Day. Environmentalists are supporting the treaty with the publication of a book entitled Nature Has Rights. The United Nations is New Age to the core, as we have documented in the book The New Age Tower of Babel.
COURT THROWS OUT LAWSUIT AGAINST NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER (Friday Church News Notes, April 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) -
The following is excerpted from The Christian Post, April 14, 2011: “A federal appeals court overturned on thursday a ruling that found the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. NDOP spokesman Michael Calhoun said he was not surprised by the court’s decision because prayer is ‘so entrenched in our history and tradition.’ ‘It is definitely a victory for the free exercise of religion that our founding father sought to ensure and we are very thankful for the outcome,’ said Calhoun, director of communications for the National Day of Prayer, to The Christian Post. ‘I can’t think of a time in recent memory where it has been more important that we call upon all mighty God for wisdom and direction for our country and its leaders.” In a 3-0 ruling, the 7th U.S. Court of Appeals, located in Chicago, decided that Wisconsin-based atheist and agnostic group Freedom from Religion Foundation lacked the legal standing to challenge the National Day of Prayer. It said the plaintiff’s ‘feeling of alienation’ was not sufficient legal grounds for it to file suit. ‘Hurt feelings differ from legal injury,’ the court concluded. As a result, the court overturned last April’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb who determined that the day of prayer was in violation of the separation of church and state. The court also said that the president’s annual proclamation of the NDOP does not mandate anyone to pray or equal a religious call to action, and therefore does not violate separation of church and state.”
JAMES DOBSON AND SELF-ESTEEM (Friday Church News Notes, April 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) -
The self-esteem doctrine, which was borrowed from humanistic God haters like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, has been promoted far and wide in Christian circles by a slew of Christian psychologists, with James Dobson leading the way. Dobson claims that “lack of self-esteem produces more symptoms of psychiatric disorders than any other factor yet identified” (Confident Healthy Families, 1987, pp. 73-74). His 1974 book Hide and Seek was designed “to formulate a well-defined philosophy--and approach to child rearing--that will contribute to self-esteem from infancy onwards.” He says, “If I could write a prescription for the women of the world, I would provide each one of them with a healthy dose of self-esteem and personal worth (taken three times a day until the symptoms disappear). I have no doubt that this is their greatest need” (What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew about Women, p. 35). He says, “... lack of self-esteem is a threat to the entire human family, affecting children, adolescents, the elderly, all socioeconomic levels of society, and each race and ethic culture” (What Wives Wish, p. 24). Dobson believes that lack of self-esteem is the cause of every social ill. “Thus, whenever the keys to self-esteem are seemingly out of reach for a large percentage of the people, as in twentieth-century America, then widespread mental illness, neuroticism, hatred, alcoholism, drug abuse, violence, and social disorder will certainly occur. Personal worth is not something humans are free to take or leave. We must have it, and when it is unattainable, everybody suffers” (Confident, Healthy Families, p. 67). To the contrary, the Bible lays the ills of society at the feet of fallen man and his rebellion against God. Jesus taught that murder, adultery, fornication, covetousness, deceit, theft, and such come from man’s wicked heart (Mark 7:21-23). Other prominent Christian counselors who promote the heresy of self-esteem are Larry Crabb, Selwyn Hughes, Frank Minirth, Paul Meier, David Seamands, and Gary Collins.
TWO BOOKS EXPOSING THE CHRISTIAN COUNSELING MOVEMENT (Friday Church News Notes, April 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) -
E.S. Williams, a medical doctor and a member of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England, has authored two important books: The Dark Side of Christian Counselling and Christ or Therapy? These document the danger of the Christian psychology movement that has permeated evangelicalism and spread even to many fundamentalist churches and homes. Dr. Williams examines the lives and teaching of the secular fathers of this movement: Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Albert Ellis, as well as examining the Christian counselors who have borrowed from them, particularly James Dobson, Larry Crabb, Clyde Narramore, Selwyn Hughes, Frank Minirth, Paul Meier, David Seamands, and Gary Collins. Among other things, Dr. Williams refutes the psychological counseling approach to self-esteem, unconditional love, and unconditional forgiveness. The books can be purchased through Amazon.com and elsewhere.
ROCK & ROLL AND END-TIMES MYSTICISM (Friday Church News Notes, April 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) -
Rock & roll is the most effective form of mysticism operating in modern society. It is the sound track for end-times apostasy and Mystery Babylon. Rock & roll is all about being “hooked on a feeling.” The lyrics have never been the most important element. The music is experienced more with the body than the mind. As Ozzy Osbourne recently said, “If it tickles my spine, I listen. When I’m writing, if the hair on my arm stands up, I think, oh, it’s good. I don’t work it out mathematically” (“Osbourne Spins a Case for Vinyl on Record Store Day,” USA Today, April 15, 2011, p. 6D). It is not surprising that rock & roll has been adapted for contemporary Christian worship because it has the power that contemporary worshippers are looking for: the power to create strong emotional experiences, the power literally to take control of you and to carry you into spiritual realms. Rock & rollers have long described their music in glowing spiritual and religious terms, but the spiritual fervor described in the following quotes does not pertain to the Spirit of God; it pertains to the “god of this world” who masquerades as an angel of light (2 Cor. 4:4; 11:14). Jimi Hendrix understood the power of rock & roll as mysticism. He said, “We’re making the music into electric church music, a kind of new Bible you can carry in your hearts” (Crosstown Traffic by Charles Murray, p. 161). Robbie Kreiger, guitarist for the Doors, said the band members were “revivalists and wanted our audience to undergo a religious experience” (Break on Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison, p. 190). Michael Jackson said, “On many an occasion when I am dancing, I have felt touched by something sacred” (Steve Turner, Hungry for Heaven, p. 12). Brian Eno said that when he discovered rock and roll, it was “a spiritual experience” (Turner, p. 150). What is it about rock & roll that has produced such spiritual fervor? What is the mysticism in rock? It is a combination of the heavy sensual syncopation and the “me first” philosophy. The most mystical element of rock, though, is not the lyrics; it is the music itself. As LSD guru Timothy Leary said, “Don’t listen to the words, it’s the music that has its own message. ... I’ve been stoned on the music many times” (Politics of Ecstasy). Janis Joplin, who died young from the rock & roll lifestyle, said, “I got stoned just feeling it, like IT WAS THE BEST DOPE IN THE WORLD” (Joel Dreyfuss, “Janis Joplin Followed the Script,” Wichita Eagle, Oct. 6, 1970, p. 7A).
A WORD OF WARNING ABOUT LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN STORES (Friday Church News Notes, April 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) -
In light of the material they carry, it is not surprising that the Southern Baptist-owned Baptist Book Stores dropped the name Baptist and switched to LifeWay Christian Stores. A few years ago I visited the LifeWay store in north Oklahoma City in search of biographies of Baptists. There was a paucity of Baptist biographies but many of Protestants, Modernists, New Evangelicals, and Romanists. The Lifeway bookstores are filled to the brim with psychology, self-help, self-esteem, romance novels, mysticism, ecumenical and charismatic literature, undependable Bible versions, and all sorts of “Christian” rock music. On a visit to a Lifeway store in Huntsville, Alabama, a year ago I found that they had many titles by emerging church authors, including Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis), John Eldredge (Wild at Heart), Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy), Brennan Manning (The Ragamuffin Gospel), Erwin McManus (The Barbarian Way), Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz), and Shane Claiborne (The Irresistible Revolution). Lifeway will stand accountable before God for polluting the minds and hearts of their customers with unscriptural material and for refusing to carry sound material from fundamentalist Bible-believing publishers that they could and should be stocking but which they refuse to stock because it is “controversial.” (For information on the danger of the Emerging Church see What Is the Emerging Church, available from Way of Life Literature.)
THE MIRACLE OF CORN (Friday Church News Notes, April 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ) -
One corn seed typically produces a stalk bearing two cobs, each with 400 to 600 kernels per cob. Thus, it multiplies itself 1,000 fold or more in one generation. If you replant the 1,000 seeds from one corn stalk and each grows to maturity--each stalk bearing two cobs with an average of 500 kernels per cob (2,000 X 500)--you get one million kernels of corn. That’s just the second generation. And if you plant those one million kernels and each stalk grows to maturity, you get a billion corn seeds in just three generations! This is an example of the bounty with which God has filled the world for man’s benefit. “Such is the tremendous reproductive power of DNA, especially in primary producer plants that must generate sufficient food-web biomass so all consumers--including we humans--can survive” (Kenneth Poppe, Exposing Darwinism’s Weakest Link, p. 33). Corn is self-pollinating, in that each stalk has both male and female flowers. The females are the ears that send out strands of silk that grow out of the top of the ear. (The flower is actually composed of the kernel, which is the ovule, and the silk, which is the stigma.) Each kernel of corn is individually pollinated by a strand of silk, which is covered with fine, sticky hairs that catch the pollen. The male flowers on the tassels release their pollen into the air. The pollen is held in anthers which contain large numbers of pollen grains, and when released the grains usually settle within 20 to 50 feet of the stalk. Thus it is advised to plant corn in blocks rather than in long rows. Each tassel contains from 2 to 5 million pollen grains, which translates to 2,000 to 5,000 pollen grains for each silk of the ear shoot. The emergence of the silk and the release of the pollen must be precisely timed. The pollen shed usually begins two or three days prior to silk emergence and continues for five to eight days, and it is shed in late morning after the dew has dried off the tassels (Ohio State University Agronomy Facts). The pollen shed is intelligent, responding to climatic conditions, stopping when the tassel is too wet or too dry and beginning again when temperature conditions are favorable. By this means the pollen is rarely washed off the silk by rain since it doesn’t release during wet conditions. When the pollen comes into contact with the silk, it starts the growth of a pollen tube down the length of the silk and enters the female flower in 12 to 28 hours.
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 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-295-4143 end_of_the_skype_highlighting , fbns@wayoflife.org.
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