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The Trumpet Call
A ministry of Orlando Bible Church Volume XIV Issue II Brent Wigginton
– Editor February 2009 A ministry of Orlando Bible Church Volume XIV Issue II
Brent Wigginton – Editor February 2009
Disclaimer: The Trumpet Call cites many different sources. This is not necessarily an endorsement of the publication or
ministry. All Bold, Italicized comments at the end of articles are Editor commentary
Bold, Italicized comments at the end of articles are Editor commentary
Rick Warren Prays in the Name of a False Christ --- The following is
excerpted from Daniel Cordell, "Praying in the Name of Isa," Loveforthetruth.com, Jan. 20, 2009: "Today, in
his Presidential Inauguration prayer, Rick Warren prayed in the name of „Yeshua, Isa, and Jesus.‟ It seems the
three names Warren used were to imply the three „Abrahamic Faiths‟ (as they are so-called), Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam. What‟s significant is the name „Isa‟ being prayed by the „evangelical‟ Warren. „Isa‟
is strictly Koranic and used by Arab Muslims. Even Arab Christians don‟t refer to „Isa,‟ but to „Yesua.‟
I‟ve lived and studied Arabic in one of the same Muslim countries that Warren has visited, and I think he probably knows
that the Arab Christian communities only refer to Jesus as „Yesua‟ and not „Isa‟ as the Muslims. „Isa‟
was not Jewish, but Palestinian. „Isa‟ did not die on the cross but instead had someone die in his place. „Isa‟
is a Muslim prophet. „Isa‟ is only found in the Koran. The name „Isa‟ doesn‟t have any Biblical
support or any meaning found in Biblical scholarship. Yet, Rick prayed in the name of „Isa.‟" Friday Church News Notes, January 23, 2009, www.wayoflife.org
fbns@wayoflife.org
--- The following is excerpted from Daniel Cordell, "Praying
in the Name of Isa," Loveforthetruth.com, Jan. 20, 2009: "Today, in his Presidential Inauguration prayer, Rick Warren
prayed in the name of „Yeshua, Isa, and Jesus.‟ It seems the three names Warren used were to imply the three „Abrahamic
Faiths‟ (as they are so-called), Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. What‟s significant is the name „Isa‟
being prayed by the „evangelical‟ Warren. „Isa‟ is strictly Koranic and used by Arab Muslims. Even
Arab Christians don‟t refer to „Isa,‟ but to „Yesua.‟ I‟ve lived and studied Arabic in
one of the same Muslim countries that Warren has visited, and I think he probably knows that the Arab Christian communities
only refer to Jesus as „Yesua‟ and not „Isa‟ as the Muslims. „Isa‟ was not Jewish, but
Palestinian. „Isa‟ did not die on the cross but instead had someone die in his place. „Isa‟ is a Muslim
prophet. „Isa‟ is only found in the Koran. The name „Isa‟ doesn‟t have any Biblical support
or any meaning found in Biblical scholarship. Yet, Rick prayed in the name of „Isa.‟" Friday Church News Notes, January 23, 2009, www.wayoflife.org
fbns@wayoflife.org
Oprah Ministers
Claim that "Gay is a Gift from God" --
Two "ministers" who appeared
on the Oprah Winfrey Show earlier this month claimed that homosexuality is God‟s gift. Ed Bacon of All Saints Episcopal
Church in Pasadena, California, declared, "Being gay is a gift from God" ("Oprah Tackles New Issue," WorldNetDaily,
Jan. 19, 2009). Michael Beckwith, founder of Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, enthusiastically agreed,
giving Bacon a high-five. Bacon said that his mail ran 30-1 in favor of his position, and he characterized the protests as
"mean-spirited." To the unrepentant rebel, it is mean-spirited and unloving to preach the Bible literally and to
"reprove, rebuke, exhort" as God commands (2 Timothy 4:2). The Pharisees doubtless thought Jesus was mean-spirited
when He rebuked them for their errors as recorded in Matthew 23. The rebel mistakes correction for persecution. "The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). In fact, preaching
the truth of God‟s Word in this dark world is a most compassionate thing. Friday Church News Notes, January 30, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org,
-- Two "ministers" who appeared on the Oprah Winfrey
Show earlier this month claimed that homosexuality is God‟s gift. Ed Bacon of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena,
California, declared, "Being gay is a gift from God" ("Oprah Tackles New Issue," WorldNetDaily, Jan. 19,
2009). Michael Beckwith, founder of Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, enthusiastically agreed, giving Bacon
a high-five. Bacon said that his mail ran 30-1 in favor of his position, and he characterized the protests as "mean-spirited."
To the unrepentant rebel, it is mean-spirited and unloving to preach the Bible literally and to "reprove, rebuke, exhort"
as God commands (2 Timothy 4:2). The Pharisees doubtless thought Jesus was mean-spirited when He rebuked them for their errors
as recorded in Matthew 23. The rebel mistakes correction for persecution. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). In fact, preaching the truth of God‟s Word in this dark
world is a most compassionate thing. Friday
Church News Notes, January 30, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org,
Cowboy Churches Attract Larger Crowds -- The
movement is about 40 years old but has grown rapidly in recent years, especially among Baptists. The Midland, N.C.-based Cowboy
Church Network of North America, supported by the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Missions Board, has started
dozens of churches in 12 states and Canada since 2003. The Baptist General Convention of Texas has launched about 140 cowboy
churches since 2000. The congregations now perform about 10 percent of all baptisms among the group's 5,700 churches statewide,
officials said. "It appeals to you because it's 'come as you are,'" said Chris Maddox, who attends the
Cowboy Church of Ellis County. "You don't feel judged based on how you're dressed, how you talk, how you look.
We're not asking somebody to be something they're not." Churchgoers wear cowboy hats and jeans, sing hymns accompanied
by a country band and get baptized in horse troughs. Churches vary. Some have Western-theme sanctuaries; others meet in barns
or on rodeo grounds, some on weeknights. A few months ago the Cowboy Church of Mobile, Ala., started meeting at a nightclub
called The Whiskey on one Sunday each month — when the bar is normally closed for business. On summer Sundays in Jackson
Hole, Wyo., horse whisperer Grant Golliher leads cowboy church services at the Diamond Cross Ranch. As he works with an abused
or unbroken horse in the arena, he talks to the crowd about biblical parallels, and about an hour later he is able to ride
the animal. "We use an out-of-the-box method to get people to come, because people have so many walls up with church,"
said Golliher. He's not ordained but calls himself a "horse trainer with a message." Organizers say the churches
attract everyone from rodeo participants and farmers to country music lovers and people who embrace the western lifestyle.
Some don't fall into any of those categories, but say they just haven't felt comfortable in traditional churches.
Larger cowboy churches have arenas and offer rodeo events, mainly to attract new members. They have brief devotions and
sometimes baptize new believers in an outdoor trough. "What a family life center is to a traditional church, an arena
is to a cowboy church," said the Rev. Charles Higgs, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Western
Heritage Ministries. Some Baptist leaders say their cowboy churches have grown so quickly because they offer an alternative
for those who associate churches with long sermons and pressure to donate or accept Jesus as their Savior. Many cowboy churches
never mention tithing and don't have offering plates; they tuck envelopes into the service programs or put boots out for
those who want to give. Also, some pastors don't have "altar calls" but encourage folks who want to follow Christ
to see a minister privately. "People think we've hung boots and hats on traditional Baptist churches, but we found
a plan that was radically different," said the Rev. Ron Nolen, executive director of the American Fellowship of Cowboy
Churches and its Texas counterpart. The Texas Fellowship of Cowboy Churches, which supports the Baptist General Convention
of Texas, and the Cowboy Church Network of North America each have "schools" in which they teach people how to start
cowboy churches. The new congregations are being formed at a time when attendance and baptism rates have stagnated in a large
number of traditional churches, including many in the Southern Baptist Convention. By Angela K. Brown Associated Press Writer Thu, Jan. 08 2009 http://christianpost.com/church/General/2009/01/cowboy-churches-attracting-larger-crowds-08/index.html
-- The movement is about
40 years old but has grown rapidly in recent years, especially among Baptists. The Midland, N.C.-based Cowboy Church Network
of North America, supported by the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Missions Board, has started dozens of
churches in 12 states and Canada since 2003. The Baptist General Convention of Texas has launched about 140 cowboy churches
since 2000. The congregations now perform about 10 percent of all baptisms among the group's 5,700 churches statewide,
officials said. "It appeals to you because it's 'come as you are,'" said Chris Maddox, who attends the
Cowboy Church of Ellis County. "You don't feel judged based on how you're dressed, how you talk, how you look.
We're not asking somebody to be something they're not." Churchgoers wear cowboy hats and jeans, sing hymns accompanied
by a country band and get baptized in horse troughs. Churches vary. Some have Western-theme sanctuaries; others meet in barns
or on rodeo grounds, some on weeknights. A few months ago the Cowboy Church of Mobile, Ala., started meeting at a nightclub
called The Whiskey on one Sunday each month — when the bar is normally closed for business. On summer Sundays in Jackson
Hole, Wyo., horse whisperer Grant Golliher leads cowboy church services at the Diamond Cross Ranch. As he works with an abused
or unbroken horse in the arena, he talks to the crowd about biblical parallels, and about an hour later he is able to ride
the animal. "We use an out-of-the-box method to get people to come, because people have so many walls up with church,"
said Golliher. He's not ordained but calls himself a "horse trainer with a message." Organizers say the churches
attract everyone from rodeo participants and farmers to country music lovers and people who embrace the western lifestyle.
Some don't fall into any of those categories, but say they just haven't felt comfortable in traditional churches.
Larger cowboy churches have arenas and offer rodeo events, mainly to attract new members. They have brief devotions and
sometimes baptize new believers in an outdoor trough. "What a family life center is to a traditional church, an arena
is to a cowboy church," said the Rev. Charles Higgs, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Western
Heritage Ministries. Some Baptist leaders say their cowboy churches have grown so quickly because they offer an alternative
for those who associate churches with long sermons and pressure to donate or accept Jesus as their Savior. Many cowboy churches
never mention tithing and don't have offering plates; they tuck envelopes into the service programs or put boots out for
those who want to give. Also, some pastors don't have "altar calls" but encourage folks who want to follow Christ
to see a minister privately. "People think we've hung boots and hats on traditional Baptist churches, but we found
a plan that was radically different," said the Rev. Ron Nolen, executive director of the American Fellowship of Cowboy
Churches and its Texas counterpart. The Texas Fellowship of Cowboy Churches, which supports the Baptist General Convention
of Texas, and the Cowboy Church Network of North America each have "schools" in which they teach people how to start
cowboy churches. The new congregations are being formed at a time when attendance and baptism rates have stagnated in a large
number of traditional churches, including many in the Southern Baptist Convention. By Angela K. Brown Associated Press Writer Thu, Jan. 08 2009 http://christianpost.com/church/General/2009/01/cowboy-churches-attracting-larger-crowds-08/index.html
By Angela K.
Brown Associated Press Writer Thu, Jan. 08 2009 http://christianpost.com/church/General/2009/01/cowboy-churches-attracting-larger-crowds-08/index.html
Campus Crusade Launches HIV/AIDS
Outreach with Campus Gay-lesbian Group.-- Josh Spavin
knows the stereotypes about evangelical Christians: judgmental, sanctimonious, narrow-minded. He may not buy into the image,
but at the same time, he knows how real — and damaging — it can be. So that's why Spavin, a recent graduate
of the University of Central Florida and an intern with the UCF chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ International, wants
to launch an HIV/AIDS outreach with a campus gay-lesbian group. "Because of the way they perceive us," said Spavin,
25. "What we wanted to do is find common ground where we can serve along side with them. … We don't necessarily
agree with their choices, because that's not part of our faith, but we still love them." Campus Crusade — an
organization that once denounced rock music only to later embrace it — is once again changing with the times, engaging
potential new Christians through social issues that perhaps seemed taboo in the past. Unofficially nicknamed "Good News,
Good Deeds," the initiative at UCF, and others like it, is a ground-up effort by one of the nation's largest evangelical
groups. It also provides a peek at what issues young evangelicals see as important, and how they are changing a faith
they inherited from their parents, but sometimes chafe against. Campus Crusade officials say they detect a new desire among
young evangelicals to live out Christian concepts such as compassion and understanding, and to imitate Jesus' welcome
be engaging in broad-based social issues. "Students today realize that connecting to other people, that just to tell
the story or talk about Christianity doesn't seem to completely connect," said Chip Scivicque, a 30-year Campus Crusade
veteran who's now based at Auburn University in Alabama. "There's this desire to live out the Christian life
and live out gospel truth so that when those truths are explained they make more sense." Spavin attributes the new interest
in social justice issues to a more global world. Internet-savvy young adults read about AIDS and poverty afflicting the world
— and they want to do something, Spavin said. Just before Christmas, Spavin's group joined with a gay student group,
a pro-marijuana group and fraternities and sororities to gather gifts for underprivileged children. Some 400 shoeboxes of
gifts were collected for Samaritan's Purse for distribution worldwide. "It's not just Christians but young people
now — it's almost like they're waking up to the world," Spavin said. "In general, Christianity has,
like, a negative connotation to it. People feel like we are putting ourselves on a pedestal and condescending to people, and
that's not the love of Christ." Amy Green,
Religion News Service | posted 1/13/2009 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/januaryweb-only/102-22.0.html?start=2
Josh Spavin knows the stereotypes about evangelical Christians:
judgmental, sanctimonious, narrow-minded. He may not buy into the image, but at the same time, he knows how real — and
damaging — it can be. So that's why Spavin, a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida and an intern
with the UCF chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ International, wants to launch an HIV/AIDS outreach with a campus gay-lesbian
group. "Because of the way they perceive us," said Spavin, 25. "What we wanted to do is find common ground
where we can serve along side with them. … We don't necessarily agree with their choices, because that's not
part of our faith, but we still love them." Campus Crusade — an organization that once denounced rock music only
to later embrace it — is once again changing with the times, engaging potential new Christians through social issues
that perhaps seemed taboo in the past. Unofficially nicknamed "Good News, Good Deeds," the initiative at UCF, and
others like it, is a ground-up effort by one of the nation's largest evangelical groups. It also provides a peek
at what issues young evangelicals see as important, and how they are changing a faith they inherited from their parents, but
sometimes chafe against. Campus Crusade officials say they detect a new desire among young evangelicals to live out Christian
concepts such as compassion and understanding, and to imitate Jesus' welcome be engaging in broad-based social issues.
"Students today realize that connecting to other people, that just to tell the story or talk about Christianity doesn't
seem to completely connect," said Chip Scivicque, a 30-year Campus Crusade veteran who's now based at Auburn University
in Alabama. "There's this desire to live out the Christian life and live out gospel truth so that when those truths
are explained they make more sense." Spavin attributes the new interest in social justice issues to a more global world.
Internet-savvy young adults read about AIDS and poverty afflicting the world — and they want to do something, Spavin
said. Just before Christmas, Spavin's group joined with a gay student group, a pro-marijuana group and fraternities and
sororities to gather gifts for underprivileged children. Some 400 shoeboxes of gifts were collected for Samaritan's Purse
for distribution worldwide. "It's not just Christians but young people now — it's almost like they're
waking up to the world," Spavin said. "In general, Christianity has, like, a negative connotation to it. People
feel like we are putting ourselves on a pedestal and condescending to people, and that's not the love of Christ."
Amy Green, Religion News Service | posted 1/13/2009
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/januaryweb-only/102-22.0.html?start=2 Amy Green, Religion News Service | posted 1/13/2009 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/januaryweb-only/102-22.0.html?start=2
"Cry aloud, spare
not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions." Isa. 58:1
The Trumpet Call
A ministry of Orlando Bible Church Volume XIV Issue
I Brent Wigginton – Editor January 2009
Volume XIV Issue I Brent Wigginton – Editor January
2009
A ministry of Orlando Bible Church Volume XIV Issue I Brent Wigginton – Editor
January 2009
Disclaimer: The
Trumpet Call cites many different sources. This is not necessarily an endorsement of the publication or ministry. All Bold, Italicized comments at the end of articles are Editor commentary
Bold, Italicized comments at the end of articles are Editor commentary
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY SAYS ANTI-CATHOLIC SPEECH IS UNCHARITABLE AND HARMFUL
TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST --- The spiritually-dangerous nature of Focus on the Family (FOF) was evident in a reply that was
given to a Christian who wrote to them about having Anne Rice, the Roman Catholic author of occultic horror novels, on the
Focus radio program. In a reply dated December 3, 2008, Timothy Masters wrote the following for Focus on the Family: ―Your
quotations from the canons of the Council of Trent, though perfectly legitimate as regards the theological aspects of this
issue, fail to take account of the fact that, from a strictly evangelical perspective, a saving relationship with Jesus Christ
is an intensely personal and individual matter. In the final analysis, it‘s not a question of church membership or doctrinal
orientation. ... It‘s arguable that many individual Roman Catholics--Anne Rice included--have a very real and lively
faith in the Lord Jesus. ... It‘s worth adding that anti-Catholic sentiments like those you‘ve expressed are more
than just uncharitable and un-Christlike. They‘re also harmful to the richness of your own Christian experience. To
dismiss the Roman Catholic Church wholesale is to obliterate the first fifteen centuries of Christian history. It‘s
to deprive ourselves of the contributions of such great leaders and thinkers as ... Francis of Assisi, and Thomas Aquinas.
You may be willing to throw treasures like these out the window, but we aren‘t. Friday Church News Notes, December 12, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org,
866-295-4143
--- The spiritually-dangerous nature of Focus on the Family (FOF)
was evident in a reply that was given to a Christian who wrote to them about having Anne Rice, the Roman Catholic author of
occultic horror novels, on the Focus radio program. In a reply dated December 3, 2008, Timothy Masters wrote the following
for Focus on the Family: ―Your quotations from the canons of the Council of Trent, though perfectly legitimate as regards
the theological aspects of this issue, fail to take account of the fact that, from a strictly evangelical perspective, a saving
relationship with Jesus Christ is an intensely personal and individual matter. In the final analysis, it‘s not a question
of church membership or doctrinal orientation. ... It‘s arguable that many individual Roman Catholics--Anne Rice included--have
a very real and lively faith in the Lord Jesus. ... It‘s worth adding that anti-Catholic sentiments like those you‘ve
expressed are more than just uncharitable and un-Christlike. They‘re also harmful to the richness of your own Christian
experience. To dismiss the Roman Catholic Church wholesale is to obliterate the first fifteen centuries of Christian history.
It‘s to deprive ourselves of the contributions of such great leaders and thinkers as ... Francis of Assisi, and Thomas
Aquinas. You may be willing to throw treasures like these out the window, but we aren‘t. Friday Church News Notes, December 12, 2008, www.wayoflife.org
fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143
What is Contemplative Prayer? -- It is important to first clearly define what "contemplative
prayer" is. For the purposes of this article, contemplative prayer is not just "contemplating while you pray."
The Bible instructs us to "pray with our minds" (1 Corinthians 14:15), so, clearly, prayer does involve contemplation.
However, praying with your mind is not what "contemplative prayer" has come to mean. Contemplative prayer has slowly
increased in practice and popularity each year since the mid-1990s, along with the rise of the Emerging Church Movement—a
movement which embraces many unscriptural ideas and practices. Contemplative prayer is one such practice. Contemplative prayer,
also known as ―centering prayer,‖ is a meditative practice where the practitioner focuses on a word and repeats
that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. According to Catholic priest Thomas Keating, this is how it is done:
"Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within. Sitting comfortably
and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God's presence
and action within. When you become aware of thoughts, return ever so gently to the sacred word. At the end of the prayer period,
remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes." Although this might sound like an innocent exercise, this
type of "prayer" has no scriptural support whatsoever. In fact, it is just the opposite of how prayer is defined
in the Bible. Philippians 4:6 – Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, let your requests
be made known unto God. (See also John 16:23-24) These verses, and others, clearly portray prayer as being comprehensible
communication with God, not an esoteric, mystical meditation. Contemplative prayer, by design, focuses on having a mystical
experience with God. Mysticism, however, is purely subjective and doesn't rely upon truth or fact. Yet the Word of God
has been given to us for the very purpose of basing our faith, and our lives, on Truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17). What we know about
God is based on fact; trusting in experiential knowledge over the biblical record takes a person outside of the standard that
is the Bible. Contemplative prayer is no different than the meditative exercises used in Eastern religions and New Age cults.
Its most vocal supporters embrace an open spirituality among adherents of all religions, promoting the idea that salvation
is gained by many paths, even though Christ Himself stated that salvation comes only through Him (John 14:6). Contemplative
prayer, as it has come to mean in the modern prayer movement, is in opposition to biblical Christianity and should definitely
be avoided. http://www.gotquestions.org/contemplative-prayer.html
--
It is important to first clearly
define what "contemplative prayer" is. For the purposes of this article, contemplative prayer is not just "contemplating
while you pray." The Bible instructs us to "pray with our minds" (1 Corinthians 14:15), so, clearly, prayer
does involve contemplation. However, praying with your mind is not what "contemplative prayer" has come to mean.
Contemplative prayer has slowly increased in practice and popularity each year since the mid-1990s, along with the rise of
the Emerging Church Movement—a movement which embraces many unscriptural ideas and practices. Contemplative prayer is
one such practice. Contemplative prayer, also known as ―centering prayer,‖ is a meditative practice where the
practitioner focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. According to Catholic
priest Thomas Keating, this is how it is done: "Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's
presence and action within. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word
as the symbol of your consent to God's presence and action within. When you become aware of thoughts, return ever so gently
to the sacred word. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes." Although
this might sound like an innocent exercise, this type of "prayer" has no scriptural support whatsoever. In fact,
it is just the opposite of how prayer is defined in the Bible. Philippians 4:6 – Be careful for nothing; but in everything
by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known unto God. (See also John 16:23-24) These verses, and others, clearly
portray prayer as being comprehensible communication with God, not an esoteric, mystical meditation. Contemplative prayer,
by design, focuses on having a mystical experience with God. Mysticism, however, is purely subjective and doesn't rely
upon truth or fact. Yet the Word of God has been given to us for the very purpose of basing our faith, and our lives, on Truth
(2 Timothy 3:16-17). What we know about God is based on fact; trusting in experiential knowledge over the biblical record
takes a person outside of the standard that is the Bible. Contemplative prayer is no different than the meditative exercises
used in Eastern religions and New Age cults. Its most vocal supporters embrace an open spirituality among adherents of all
religions, promoting the idea that salvation is gained by many paths, even though Christ Himself stated that salvation comes
only through Him (John 14:6). Contemplative prayer, as it has come to mean in the modern prayer movement, is in opposition
to biblical Christianity and should definitely be avoided. http://www.gotquestions.org/contemplative-prayer.html
Swindoll Endorses Contemplative Theologian Dallas Willard
in Book -- In a piece from "Apologetics in Action" From Dallas Willard.org, Willard
writes: I would take her to Romans
2:6-10: ‗God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek
glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and
follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.‘ What Paul is clearly saying is that if anyone is worthy of being saved,
they will be saved. At that point many Christians get very anxious, saying that absolutely no one is worthy of being saved.
The implication of that is that a person can be almost totally good, but miss the message about Jesus, and be sent to hell.
What kind of a God would do that? I am not going to stand in the way of anyone whom God wants to save. I am not going to say
―he can‘t save them.‖ I am happy for God to save anyone he wants in any way he can. It is possible for someone who does not know Jesus to be saved.
But anyone who is going to be saved
is going to be saved by Jesus: ―There is no other name given under heaven by which men can be saved.‖ On page
13 of his book So, You Want
To Be Like Christ? Eight Essentials to Get You There (SYW) Chuck Swindoll, the chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary,
heartily endorses the work of Dallas Willard. In SYW Swindoll informs us: ―While rummaging through an old bookstore
some time ago, I came across Dallas Willard‘s excellent work The Spirit of the Disciplines. Bedside reading, it is not. This convicting piece of literature is not something you plop down on the sofa and
read alongside People magazine. Willard‘s words require you think like him.‖
Dallas Willard bases his entire spiritual disciplines book on his understanding of Matthew 11:29, 30, which says, ―Take
My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke
is easy, and My load is light‖… Willard is very critical of traditional Protestant doctrine and practice, declaring
it a massive failure. His remedy for this failure is to see the body and certain ascetic practices using the body as the means
of change… our conclusion is that in Matthew 11 Jesus was offering salvation to all who come to Him. Now let us examine
Willard‘s claim that Jesus was telling people to try to emulate His life-style. Willard claims that we are failing to
practice the disciplines that would make us able to live better lives and that most Christians are failing to live lives pleasing
to God. He further states that the solution is that we practice spiritual disciplines that are based on Jesus‘ lifestyle
and supplemented by practices of the Medieval Catholic Church. Dallas Willard, who personally practices these alleged spiritual
disciplines of Contemplative Spirituality/Mysiticism, and Nouwen who did as well, both end up saying virtually the same anti-biblical
things regarding the salvation of mankind. Guilt by association, or the broad contemplative road of apostasy? Well, I‘ll
let you decide; but, if I were you Charles Swindoll I‘d get myself off the path you‘re on post haste! http://apprising.org/2008/10/so-you-want-to-be-like-christ-ditch-the-disciplines-of-dallas-willard/
-- In a piece from "Apologetics in Action" From Dallas
Willard.org, Willard writes: I would
take her to Romans 2:6-10: ‗God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence
in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject
the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.‘ What Paul is clearly saying is that if anyone is worthy of
being saved, they will be saved. At that point many Christians get very anxious, saying that absolutely no one is worthy of
being saved. The implication of that is that a person can be almost totally good, but miss the message about Jesus, and be
sent to hell. What kind of a God would do that? I am not going to stand in the way of anyone whom God wants to save. I am
not going to say ―he can‘t save them.‖ I am happy for God to save anyone he wants in any way he can. It is possible for someone who does not know Jesus to be saved.
But anyone who is going to be saved
is going to be saved by Jesus: ―There is no other name given under heaven by which men can be saved.‖ On page
13 of his book So, You Want
To Be Like Christ? Eight Essentials to Get You There (SYW) Chuck Swindoll, the chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary,
heartily endorses the work of Dallas Willard. In SYW Swindoll informs us: ―While rummaging through an old bookstore
some time ago, I came across Dallas Willard‘s excellent work The Spirit of the Disciplines. Bedside reading, it is not. This convicting piece of literature is not something you plop down on the sofa and
read alongside People magazine. Willard‘s words require you think like him.‖
Dallas Willard bases his entire spiritual disciplines book on his understanding of Matthew 11:29, 30, which says, ―Take
My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke
is easy, and My load is light‖… Willard is very critical of traditional Protestant doctrine and practice, declaring
it a massive failure. His remedy for this failure is to see the body and certain ascetic practices using the body as the means
of change… our conclusion is that in Matthew 11 Jesus was offering salvation to all who come to Him. Now let us examine
Willard‘s claim that Jesus was telling people to try to emulate His life-style. Willard claims that we are failing to
practice the disciplines that would make us able to live better lives and that most Christians are failing to live lives pleasing
to God. He further states that the solution is that we practice spiritual disciplines that are based on Jesus‘ lifestyle
and supplemented by practices of the Medieval Catholic Church. Dallas Willard, who personally practices these alleged spiritual
disciplines of Contemplative Spirituality/Mysiticism, and Nouwen who did as well, both end up saying virtually the same anti-biblical
things regarding the salvation of mankind. Guilt by association, or the broad contemplative road of apostasy? Well, I‘ll
let you decide; but, if I were you Charles Swindoll I‘d get myself off the path you‘re on post haste! http://apprising.org/2008/10/so-you-want-to-be-like-christ-ditch-the-disciplines-of-dallas-willard/
Rick Warren Says ―Try
Jesus for 60 Days -- Rick Warren's December 3rd, 2008,
appearance on Hannity and Colmes was a mixed bag. We'll give Warren props for not caving
in on the issue of Jesus being the only way. But, once again Warren stoops to new lows in his quest to remove the offense
of the cross by asking Alan Colmes to give Jesus a 60 day trial and "see if he won't change your life". Warren,
like a bad used car salesman, is trying to sell the gospel via bullet point benefits. Once again Warren skirts the issue of
man's sin and rebellion against God and he doesn't call men to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ but instead asks
non-believers to "give Jesus a 60 day trial" claiming that "if Jesus doesn't change your life then you
can get your money back". Is there a way for us to have a recall on Rick Warren? We don't want him representing us
Christians anymore on Television. We want a different representative. We want one who is not ashamed of the Gospel and will
boldly condemn men's sins, call men to repentance and placard Jesus Christ's death on the cross for the forgiveness
of sins. Warren's seeker-sensitive mushy non-offensive approach to "selling" Christianity is truly embarrassing.
http://www.alittleleaven.com/2008/12/rick-warren-give-jesus-a-60-day-trial.html
(Editor-I’m not sure
we should give Rick Warren "props" for anything in this show. He continues to take an ecumenical stand in both his
associations and speech.)
"Cry
aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions." Isa. 58:1
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions." Isa. 58:1
-- Rick Warren's December 3rd, 2008, appearance on Hannity and Colmes was a mixed bag. We'll give Warren props for not caving in on the issue of
Jesus being the only way. But, once again Warren stoops to new lows in his quest to remove the offense of the cross by asking
Alan Colmes to give Jesus a 60 day trial and "see if he won't change your life". Warren, like a bad used car
salesman, is trying to sell the gospel via bullet point benefits. Once again Warren skirts the issue of man's sin and
rebellion against God and he doesn't call men to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ but instead asks non-believers to
"give Jesus a 60 day trial" claiming that "if Jesus doesn't change your life then you can get your money
back". Is there a way for us to have a recall on Rick Warren? We don't want him representing us Christians anymore
on Television. We want a different representative. We want one who is not ashamed of the Gospel and will boldly condemn men's
sins, call men to repentance and placard Jesus Christ's death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. Warren's seeker-sensitive
mushy non-offensive approach to "selling" Christianity is truly embarrassing. http://www.alittleleaven.com/2008/12/rick-warren-give-jesus-a-60-day-trial.html
(Editor-I’m not sure
we should give Rick Warren "props" for anything in this show. He continues to take an ecumenical stand in both his
associations and speech.)
"Cry
aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions." Isa. 58:1
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