Michelle Malkin comments on the yoga craze at one school. Under the guise of “stress reduction”, yoga and meditation are increasingly being used in government schools. These are the same public schools that outlaw any mention of God or Christian spirituality. Eastern Hindu spirituality? Not a problem.

I sat in a restaurant this evening with my husband while a man across the aisle who looked like a prize fighter boasted loudly of how yoga had changed his life. I didn’t have to strain to hear as he enumerated the health benefits and the spiritual change it had brought about for him. He spoke of how much his mind was better focused and he felt he was figuring out the “dark places” of his soul through yoga. A more unlikely figure to be involved in yoga, I couldn’t have imagined as he slammed his ham fist down on the table in enthusiasm while he praised the virtues of yoga. It’s everywhere today, and the children are being taught that yoga is what they need to cope with the challenges of modern life.

Watcher’s Lamp has a very important post about the upcoming 2008 “Shift” conference at Willow Creek for young people. Bill Hybels is featuring apostate Brian McLaren as keynote speaker, a man who does not even believe in a literal hell nor the substitutionary atonement of Christ. Talk about causing little ones to stumble. Please help spread the word about this frontal assault on evangelical young people with the help of Willow Creek.

Herescope is reporting on the changes to the ReThink Conference Website.  What they have uncovered points yet again to the efforts these people are making to mask their real agenda and the New Spirituality they are promoting. Don’t miss this one and the earlier posts they have on the ReThink Conference at the Crystal Cathedral.

Please note the similarities between Emerging author/speaker Brian McLaren’s campaign and message and that of this cadre of outspoken New Spiritual/New Age teachers and leaders. Such New Age luminaries as Marianne Williamson, Dennis Kucinich and Deepak Chopra are featured on this short film, The Shift. (Note the title.) Brian McLaren’s site is called DeepShift.org. They’re all about a shift into a new paradigm. Here’s a quote from the Shift movie website.

We are in the middle of the biggest social transformation in human history, The SHIFT. At this critical point, it is imperative we make the masses aware of this global movement quickly. This evolutionary phenomenon is broader and deeper than the most visible SHIFT, the environmental movement. It involves our very understanding of who we are as human beings, and our responsibility to the world and to life itself.

Now let’s shift to McLaren’s website where he says the following:

We Are in Deep Shift.

A time of transition
rethinking
re-imagining
and re-envisioning

A time for asking new questions
and seeking answers
that are both new and old
fresh and seasoned
surprising and familiar…

Brian McLaren, Marianne Williamson and company sound alike because they’re working on the same team. They are the heralds of the coming cosmic christ, a christ alien to the Scriptures and one who is at war with the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are wise will see this and help warn others of these prophets of anti-Christ.

When the atheists sing your praises, you know you must have crossed a line somewhere. Emerging church author and guru, Brian McLaren, sent out an e-alert and linked to this atheist’s review of his book, Everything Must Change. (The atheist’s site links to religious sites because her blog is a spinoff of the “Ebay Atheist” blog conversation between those who have faith and those who don’t.) The review of McLaren’s book really says it all. McLaren has a new and different “good news” from Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to save us from our sins, he came to make the planet a better, jollier place. Yes, that definitely sounds like McLaren. The reviewer also likes McLaren’s definition of Jesus.

Brian is a follower of Jesus so there’s no need or reason for him to take Jesus out of his own framing story. Here’s a description of Jesus Brian gives in the book which I really like:

He simply let the people know he liked them – and so did God, that he was interested in them, that they didn’t have to be ashamed of who they were. He came close to them in their illnesses, wept with them at the graves of their loved ones, ate at their tables, drank their wine, listened to their words, let himself be injured by their pain—and, although it isn’t recorded in any of the Gospels (canonical or otherwise), I imagine he laughed at some of their jokes too.

That’s what the incarnation of God was all about? For Jesus to say that he liked us? Brian, that’s some theology. No wonder the atheists are impressed. These verses come to mind from Holy Scripture:

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

–I Corinthians 2:14

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

–I Corinthians 3:18-20

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness..

–I Corinthians 1:23

To the atheist, the preaching of the true Christ is foolishness. But if Christ is portrayed as little more than an environmental, social justice activist, even the atheists can like Him.

Author Warren Smith called me yesterday to discuss our upcoming radio program on Robert Schuller’s Rethink Conference. He didn’t mention he had done an interview with WorldnetDaily so I was surprised and glad to see this excellent article today on their news site.

Why would big name evangelicals like Lee Strobel and Chuck Colson legitimize and endorse a heretic like Robert Schuller who preaches a false gospel? Anyone who doesn’t believe that Robert Schuller is a false teacher needs to read his book, Self-Esteem–The New Reformation. It is a direct assault on the truth of the Bible. Here are some quotes:

“What do I mean by sin? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of His children of their right to divine dignity. … I can offer still another answer: ‘Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem‘” (p. 14).

“Classical theology defines sin as ‘rebellion against God.’ The answer is not incorrect as much as it is shallow and insulting to the human being. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity even if he or she is a ‘rebellious sinner” (p. 65).

“The core of original sin, then is LOT — Lack of Trust. Or, it could be considered an innate inability to adequately value ourselves. Label it a ‘negative self-image,’ but do not say that the central core of the human soul is wickedness. … positive Christianity does not hold to human depravity, but to human inability” (p. 67).

“Any analysis of ’sin’ or ‘evil’ or ‘demonic influence’ or ‘negative thinking’ or ’systemic evil’ or ‘antisocial behavior’ that fails to see the lack of self-dignity as the core of the problem will prove to be too shallow” (p. 68).

“… the core of sin is a lack of self-esteem. … Sin is psychological self-abuse. … the most serious sin is one that causes me to say, ‘I am unworthy. I may have no claim to divine sonship if you examine me at my worst.’ For once a person believes he is an ‘unworthy sinner,’ it is doubtful if he can really honestly accept the saving grace God offers in Jesus Christ” (pp. 98-99)

“And what is ‘hell’? It is the loss of pride that naturally follows separation from God – the ultimate and unfailing source of our soul’s sense of self-respect. ‘My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?’ was Christ’s encounter with hell. In that ‘hellish’ death our Lord experienced the ultimate horror-humiliation, shame, and loss of pride as a human being. A person is in hell when he has lost his self-esteem. Can you imagine any condition more tragic than to live life and eternity in shame?” (pp. 14-15, 93).

Have you read enough? Does Chuck Colson believe the above? Does Lee Strobel? Does Kay Warren? They’re all going to the Crystal Cathedral for the ReThink Conference. It looks like they have no problem with this false teaching. Thank you, Warren Smith, for shining the spotlight on the truth here. In reality, these big names in evangelicalism are flattered to be invited to a conference with names like Larry King, and Rupert Murdoch. That’s what is behind this. They are flattered. Their egos like this very, very much. But they are endorsing a heretic false prophet by doing so. God help them.

The Christian Post reports that a megachurch is sponsoring a letter writing campaign to Britney Spears to tell her that Jesus loves her. No preaching or criticisms are allowed in these letters just, “Jesus loves you.”

What Britney Spears needs to hear is the message Christ spoke in Mark 1:15; “Repent and believe the Gospel.” Speaking only of God’s love without even mentioning the corollary of God’s wrath against sin is an unbalanced message that ultimately does not present the true Gospel. Britney Spears has destroyed her life because she has denied the truths of the Bible and lived life on her own terms. Scripture tells us that a woman (or man) who lives for pleasure is dead while she lives. Spears’ sad life of brokenness and destruction is testimony to the truth of the Bible. She needs to hear the same message that we all need to hear. Only Jesus can save us from our sins. We are under the wrath and curse of God. We must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, deny ourselves and follow Him. That is the way of true life and that is what Britney Spears and so many others need.

On the Crosstalk Show today, I’ll be talking about The Golden Compass movie that is scheduled to open just before Christmas. This children’s fantasy movie is being dubbed the “Atheist’s answer to Narnia” because it is based on the atheist trilogy of books called His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. God is evil and bad and gets killed off in the books. Such clever children, to kill off God. Unbelievable.

The hatred for God is getting louder in our culture, and countless evangelical children with their clueless parents will undoubtedly help make Philip Pullman an even richer man. The movie is based on the first and reportedly least offensive of the books and has removed some of the most despicable portions. Marketers are hoping that the movie, however, spawns huge interest in the book series which presents hardcore atheism for children. The Catholic League is so alarmed over the movie that they have produced a 25-page book warning parents about the agenda of the atheist behind the project.

Christian parents need to stop running to the theaters with their children to catch every latest offering. The world has always hated Christ and now that it’s socially accepted to say so, the moral squalor of our popular culture worsens hourly. Christian children need to be given books and materials that are based on truth. We have a standard for truth found in God’s Word. To keep running to the world that is in rebellion to God in order to entertain ourselves and our children is sin. There are wonderful Christian alternatives in books and movies and wise parents will look for them.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

–Matthew 18:6

Way of Life’s Church News Notes reports that Focus on the Family is scheduled to join the apostasy party at the Crystal Cathedral in January.

“H. B. London of Focus on the Family is scheduled to join hands with heretic Robert Schuller in a “Rethink” conference at the Crystal Cathedral in January 2008. The
conference will bring together “30 influential thinkers” to “deliver cutting edge ideas about the ever-changing world.” The 2,500 conference attendees are expected to be joined by tens of thousands of simulcast viewers. Speakers include Robert Schuller; who has
redefined the gospel according to his heretical self-esteem theology; Chuck Colson one of the founders of Evangelicals and Catholics Together; Dan Kimball and Erwin McManus of the deeply unscriptural Emerging Church movement; H.B. London, Jr. of Focus on the Family; Kay Warren, wife the Purpose Driven Life guru; Rupert Murdoch,
chairman of News Corporation and purveyor of pornography; Larry King, an agnostic; Lee Strobel, George Barna, John Townsend, Gary Smalley, Jay Sekulow, and Henry Cloud. Rethink conference speaker McManus says, “We need to know where things are going so we can get there first” (www.rethinkconference.com). In fact, the Bible believer knows
exactly where things are going and how things will turn out, and he is not dependent upon the “insights” of the unregenerate and of false teachers. Beware, friends, these are the blind leading the blind.”

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

(Friday News News, www.wayoflife.org, Friday, October 26, 2007)

Here’s a column regarding the recent signing of SB777 signed by California’s Gov. Schwarzenegger that will allow the indoctrination of school children as young as kindergarten about homosexuality. Christians leaders are rightly calling for the removal of children from Babylonian American public schools and for parents to educate their children according to God’s clear commands in Scripture. (See Deuteronomy 6.) Sending our Christian children to the atheists, the evolutionists, the activists who seek acceptance of sexual perversity is simply wrong. The idiotic idea that our kindergarteners will go off and be “salt and light” to their lesbian teachers is finally being exposed for what it is. No Israelite general in his right mind would have sent off a regiment of little children to face the Assyrian army. For that matter, last time I checked, 5-year-olds aren’t being sent to Iraq to battle the terrorists even today. There’s a reason for that. The battle that Satan is waging against our children is fierce and we as adults need to be the ones in the fray. Meanwhile, our children need to be growing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, not the nurture and admonition of those who hate Christ and who actively teach lies like evolution.

For parents who cannot afford Christian school and doubt their ability to home educate, I want to testify to the fact that there are methods that make educating at home very simple, and your children can receive everything they need academically. I have used with great success Abeka Academy’s DVD homeschool program. My son has delightful, master teachers and a rigorous curriculum, and I don’t have to do the teaching. He has a laptop where he watches his DVD teacher, and then he does his homework for the subject. The laptop keeps things portable, as well, when necessary. All in all. we’ve spent a fraction of the cost of a Christian school, he’s been able to have Bible class with me and I have oversight as to what he is learning each day. With his multiple friends in the neighborhood, his nearby cousins and his swimming classes, chess club and piano lessons, he’s one busy 6th grader. Best of all, he is being taught from a Christian worldview by Christian teachers.

There are many options besides Abeka, including Alpha Omega’s online schooling which is done on computer. This program even keeps computerized records of your children’s grades and test scores, etc. You can check them out here.

With technology what it is today, bricks and mortar schools no longer have a lock on education. In fact, home education can often offer a more efficient and in depth opportunity for learning. Technology has opened up exciting new opportunities for Christian parents who do not want their children in government schools, but don’t feel they are qualified to teach every subject. There is a new book out called, You’ve Decided to Homeschool, Now What? The author, Marsha Hubler, lists various homeschool options and lets readers know how to get started. The key thing is for both parents to be committed to educating at home before you begin. Another great resource online is The Old School House. Look down the left hand column and see all the options available for teaching at home. It’s mind boggling!

I can tell you that there is great joy in seeing your children grow in the Lord and put their roots down into his Word. The enemy wants our children because they are the future of the church. We need to understand the spiritual battle we are in and do what we can to nourish and strengthen the faith, the hearts and the minds of those children entrusted to us. We don’t have them very long.

A Catholic school has decided that the witchcraft in the Harry Potter books makes them inappropriate for Catholic schools, Fox News reports.

The following commentary was sent in to Slice by Jill Martin Rische. Christianity Today has been promoting Harry Potter for years now. Christian pastors have written position papers in defense of the books. It is ironic that while witchcraft was not offensive to these Christians, a gay character probably is. It’s all the same thing. Scripture tells us that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. The rebellion of homosexuality is the ultimate revolt against God and his design and order in creation. Male and female created He them. It makes complete sense that witchcraft, which draws a sacred circle in the dirt and claims that everything is one and that there is no vertical relationship needed with God, also defiantly rejects God’s plan for human sexuality. When you consider that marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with His bride, there is no greater rebellion than to reject God’s plan and defile that holy picture with homosexuality. That so many evangelicals have been willing to defend the Potter books testifies to the blindness born of rebellion in the church today. By striking a blow for the acceptance of homosexuality, Rowling is only being consistent within her worldview. If only Christians would be as consistent within theirs!

Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story

By Jill Martin Rische

What a difference a day makes. Jo Rowling came out of the closet this week—or at least her creation, Albus Dumbledore, did. Take note, Potter fans everywhere, that Rowling—in her great wisdom—has revealed to the world that the wisest, kindest, most powerful (and famous) senior wizard in literary history is gay. The Headmaster of Hogwarts prefers men. According to Rowling, “I always thought of Dumbledore as gay. . . . Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald [a bad wizard he defeated long ago], and that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was.” [1] Exactly why homosexuality is vital to her story, Rowling never reveals. She never explains her need to address sexual preference in a book aimed at children.

So what was the purpose of the bombshell Rowling dropped during her interview at Carnegie Hall? Why did she out the beloved Dumbledore? The single answer is that Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard publicly throws all the weight of Rowling’s influence (not to mention her millions) behind the cause of Gay Rights . . . a cause we now know she proudly champions.

What a stand for diversity! What a triumph for gay people everywhere!

What egg on the face of supporters like Christianity Today, a publisher of feel-good articles like, “Why We Like Harry Potter” (2000). Christianity Today recommended Potter because “Rowling’s series is a Book of Virtues with a preadolescent funny bone. Amid the laugh-out-loud scenes are wonderful examples of compassion, loyalty, courage, friendship, and even self-sacrifice. No wonder young readers want to be like these believable characters. That is a Christmas present we can be grateful for.” [2]

Harry Potter as a “Book of Virtues?” In what reality?

Rowling’s agenda has always been clear: she sees nothing wrong with Witchcraft; in fact, she glorifies all of its dark details by wrapping them up in the shiny tissue paper of fantasy. The occult is a lucrative business, and Rowling knows this better than anyone else. She’s made hundreds of millions of dollars working and playing in the wonderful world of the occult.

Here’s my take on Harry Potter: Over the years I read the books to see what all the fuss was about, and at first I thought they were entertaining. Offensive in nature, yes (and I said so publicly) but I had to give Rowling her due when it came to storytelling

Today, after intense research into the world of the occult, I would never read another Potter book or waste my time on a Potter movie again. Sure, the adventure part is great, and it’s true that you can teach your kids what not to believe, simply by analyzing a Rowling book, but God hates evil, right? He hates it no matter how fun, exciting or educational it is, and if we love Him, shouldn’t we hate it, too?

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 18: 10-13). God takes a very dim view of all forms of Witchcraft, including the entertainment kind. Witchcraft is not cute, funny or inspiring. It is not virtuous, although it often wears the mask of virtue. God calls it an abomination, and I don’t know about you, but that’s enough for me.

As for Potter’s Evangelical supporters like Christianity Today, I can only say what I said to myself, “Shame on you.” Whenever we assess a threat to the Church, compromise is never an option; nothing should outweigh God’s opinion.

I’d be willing to bet a giant box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans that Jo Rowling planned this Dumbledore announcement a very long time ago. I personally think that one of the reasons she did it was to keep Christianity from staking even the tiniest claim on Harry Potter . . . ever. It’s interesting how she conveniently revealed this final, explosive detail long after everyone bought her last book, which proves that even Rowling, a woman richer than the Queen of England, can’t bear to lose a buck (or a pound). Just wait until the Harry Potter theme park opens in Florida . . . the money she makes will be mindboggling. Evil, like crime, pays well.

Albus Dumbledore is gay, and he has been and will continue to be a tremendous influence on millions of children. “One blogger wrote on a fansite: ‘My head is spinning. Wow. One more reason to love gay men.’” [3] Strange logic, but all too true on an international scale. Now more than ever, the Church must confront the specter of Potter and take a stand for biblical truth.

Witchcraft is the heart and soul of Harry Potter; it always has been and it always will be. But like any other deception fostered by Satan, it is beautifully dressed in the biblical virtues admired by so many.

At long last, Rowling revealed a bit of the truth behind her billion dollar creation, and surprisingly, she did the Christian world an enormous favor by her perverse revelation: she settled the Harry Potter debate once and for all.

[1] Observer, http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2196020,00.html (accessed October 19, 2007).

[2] Christianity Today, http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2000/january10/29.37.html (accessed October 19, 2007).

[3] Observer, http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2196020,00.html (accessed October 19, 2007).

I spoke this morning with the head of a youth ministry division of a major conservative denomination. Or so they claim to be. I am alarmed to the core at what has happened and what is happening to the minds of Christian leaders. I mulled over my conversation for several hours this morning, and what it really comes down to is this: because God is no longer present in many of America’s churches today, the leaders are desperately seeking for a way to stop the spiritual death around them as manifested by the departure of the young. Some are turning to cultural relevance and entertainment. Other churches and denominations are now openly asking emerging church leaders how to grow their churches because they don’t believe that the Gospel, preached and lived out, is enough. Choreography suddenly becomes important. Randomly grabbing rituals and liturgical devices out of their original contexts is seen as a way to draw a generation burned out on Six Flags Over Jesus.

It is significant that never once in my conversation this morning did the youth leader reference the Gospel as the greatest need of postmodern young people. He was urgently seeking advice from emerging church gurus, the pied pipers of the re-imagined, reinvented, redefined church, in order to attract kids. Jesus got lost somewhere along the way. There is virtually no confidence left in some quarters in the power of the Holy Ghost. The living Spirit of God who brooded over the darkness and then created the earth and the universe is now apparently impotent. He is reduced to a dove symbol on a baptismal font. Jesus is the bronze figure on a crucifix or in a painting in the narthex. No wonder these men are engaging in all kinds of CPR methods on their dead churches. The Missouri Synod’s invitation to Dan Kimball to tell them how to attract youth is an act of synodical CPR. It won’t work. Oh yes, Kimball and his emerging church ideas may attract youth, maybe a whole lot as the old confessional types die off and the faithful pastors depart. But will dragging in the emerging church leaders create churches once again where the Gospel is preached with power and authority and where the whole counsel of God is expounded? No. I don’t think that’s even their goal. Most denominations today are moving at a breathtaking pace into the orbit of the apostate spirituality that poses today as Christianity. Their leaders are weak men, compromised, with no heart for the Lord Jesus Christ and the integrity of the Gospel. They are men in skirts, effeminised, carnal, passionless, save their passion to retain their ecclesio-crat jobs.

I came across The Present Crisis, written by James Russell Lowell. He wrote it as some sort of political protest in his day. But the words ultimately became part of a hymn. That’s because the struggle he describes is a timeless one, and it applies to the struggle in our time for biblical truth. One generation slays a prophet, and the fires have barely died out before the ashes are scooped up into an urn to memorialize the great man. We horde old documents from the spiritual battles of the past and somehow think that the battle was once-for-all decided back in the 16th century or whenever. Everyone marches duly around the icons of the valiant men of old and salutes them once a year. But nobody asks where such men are today. Apparently courage, integrity, faithfulness in the face of persecution belongs only to the past. In reality, every generation has its own battle for truth. The victories of the past will never allow us to rest in complacency in the present on spiritual matters. How we are in need of “stubborn, old iconoclasts, unconvinced by axe or gibbet, that all virtue was the past’s!” (I started the poem a few stanzas down.)

Careless seems the great Avenger; history’s page but record
One death- grapple in the darkness ‘twist old system and the Word;
Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne, –
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.

We see dimly in the Present what is small and what is great,
Slow of faith how weak an arm may turn the iron helm of fate,
But the soul is still oracular; amid the market’s din,
List the ominous stern whisper from the Delphic cave within, –
“They enslave their children’s children who make compromise with sin.”

Then to side with Truth is noble when we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and ’tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses, while the coward stands aside,
Doubting in his abject spirit, till his Lord is crucified,
And the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied…

Count me o’er earth’s chosen heroes, — they were souls that stood alone,
While the men they agonized for hurled the contumelious stone,
Stood serene, and down the future saw the golden beam incline
To the side of perfect justice, mastered by their faith divine,
By one man’s plain truth to manhood and to God’s supreme design.

By the light of burning heretics Christ’s bleeding feet I track,
Toiling up new Calvaries ever with the cross that turns not back,
And these mounts of anguish number how each generation learned
One new word of that grand Credo which in prophet-hearts hath burned
Since the first man stood God-conquered with his face to heaven upturned.

For humanity sweeps onward: where today the martyr stands,
On the morrow crouches Judas with the silver in his hands;
Far in front the cross stands ready and the crackling fagots burn,
While the hooting mob of yesterday in silent awe return
To glean up the scattered ashes into History’s golden urn.

‘Tis as easy to be heroes as to sit the idle slaves
Of a legendary virtue carved upon our father’s graves,
Worshippers of light ancestral make the present light a crime;
Was the Mayflower launched by cowards, steered by men behind their time?
Turn those tracks toward Past or Future, that make Plymouth Rock sublime?

They were men of present valor, stalwart old iconoclasts,
Unconvinced by axe or gibbet that all virtue was the Past’s;
But we make their truth our falsehood thinking that hath made us free,
Hoarding it in mouldy parchments, while our tender spirits flee
The rude grasp of that great Impulse which drove them across the sea.

They have rights who dare maintain them; we are traitors to our sires,
Smothering in their holy ashes Freedom’s new-lit altar-fires;
Shall we make their creed our jailor? Shall we, in our haste to slay,
From the tombs of the old prophets steal the funeral lamps away
To light up the martyr-fagots round the prophets of today?

New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth;
Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! we ourselves must Pilgrims be,
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the Future’s portal with the Past’s blood-rusted key.

–James Russell Lowell

Heresies in the Christian church come never from the city missionary, never from the faithful pastor, never from the intense evangelist; but always from gentlemen at ease who take no actual part in our holy war.

–C.H. Spurgeon

My Comment: The heretics of today who undermine the authority of Scripture drift from conference to conference to book signing to yet another conference. They fly first class or in their own jets, they have huge advances from their publishers and they live very, very comfortable lives. It isn’t difficult being a false teacher. Satan always makes sure that there is plenty of money and that there are plenty of followers to reward such men and women. But their final reward is what matters, and I tremble to think about it. How much better to soldier on here, to take the incoming missiles and the affliction and yet to do it with our Savior by our side. We have all eternity to rest.

Here’s the link to the Crosstalk Show from yesterday. Pastor Bob DeWaay was my guest and we discussed the emerging church movement and what some of its leaders and authors are teaching. You can listen to the mp3 here. I am delighted that Pastor DeWaay is writing a book on this subject. His book on the Purpose Driven movement was one of the finest I’ve read.

Circus Church is not limited to the Purpose Driven variety. KJV-only, fundamental Baptist churches can also be guilty of using carnival methods to draw a crowd. I recall one independent Baptist church in our area that featured a karate guy on the platform during the morning service. I won’t call it a worship service. I remember watching the story on the news as the guy sliced open a watermelon with a machete on the pastor’s chest as he lay on the floor. Onward Christian Soldiers. A reader sent in this tidbit from the Chico California paper, the Chico Enterprise. The reader writes:

“I have seen (the church’s) bus fleet many a time while passing Pleasant Valley Baptist Church on Highway 99 in Chico, CA. Today (Sunday), Pleasant Valley Baptist Church put their bus fleet to use by having a motorcycle jump after their 11 AM service. What a way to spend the Lord’s Day…

The newspaper featured a photo of the motorcycle jumping over the buses with this caption:

“Motocross rider Todd Bennick jumps over Pastor Cory Bauder and seven buses at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church Saturday. The event was sponsored by the church to give children and teens “community helps” aimed to keep youth out of trouble. Bennick, from North Carolina, jumped the church’s fleet of buses that was a distance of 70 feet and 30 feet high. Bennick has been a professional motocross racer and now jumps for churches in the East Coast. This is his first visit to the West. Bennick also plans to jump the buses again after today’s 11 a.m. service.”

Did you catch that? He now jumps for churches on the East AND West coasts. I’ll bet he’s a busy guy.

Apparently finding God in His Word is no longer enough. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is inviting emerging church guru Dan Kimball to address a youth ministry conference. This is the same Kimball who had his book, The Emerging Church, forwarded by neo-liberal heretic Brian McLaren. Brian McLaren does not believe in a literal hell or the substitutionary atonement of Christ and believes that monogamous homosexual relationships are A-Ok. (See McLaren featured at the “gay” Open Door Community Church in Arkansas. Scroll down on the last link to see “Pastors” Randy and Gary snuggling up together.) Does the LCMS feel any longer that spiritual affiliations are important? They would not allow a conservative Baptist or Reformed pastor in the door to preach, but they are allowing Dan Kimball who asks gay-supportive, substitutionary atonement denying Brian McLaren to write a forward for his book, to tell them how to reach youth? Is the Holy Spirit so absent in church now that they are reduced to asking men like Kimball how to conduct ministry?

Kimball supports the stampede back to mysticism with labyrinths, eastern-style meditation and Lectio Divina. He leapfrogs the Reformation and tells us we need to go back to the Desert Fathers to learn how to experience God. I somewhere missed that section of the Book of Concord where it tells us that we meet God in the silence and our imaginations. Emerging church authors and leaders routinely dismiss the Reformation and its biblical Solas as irrelevant. “We are in postmodern times now. That’s outmoded modernity. Everything must change now. Re-imagine church. Redefine the Scriptures as narrative instead of Divine fiat. Who ever said Scripture Alone was true anyway?” Having researched the emerging church for years now, I can say authoritatively that they are waging the biggest assault on Scriptural authority than we’ve seen in the last 100 years.

The thought of bringing emerging church guru, Dan Kimball, into the LCMS to teach ought to be ringing alarms bells at the headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Oh, wait a minute. Those are the same people bringing Dan Kimball in. Looks like it’s time for another Reformation, this time in the Lutheran church.

**I interviewed Pastor Bob DeWaay on Crosstalk today regarding the emerging church. The interview should be up shortly at the Crosstalk website. Dan Kimball claims that he, unlike some other emergents, is orthodox and doesn’t reject the substitutionary atonement, the doctrine of hell, etc. Can you explain why he would have McLaren then forward his book? McLaren believes in neither hell nor the substitutionary atonement. Further, Kimball allows his essay to sit alongside 24 others in Emerging Manifesto of Hope where Samir Salmonovic calls for inclusiveness with other faiths and claims that we can find the gospel in other world religions. Dan, either rebuke these heretics and get out of there or admit you are one of them. You can’t have it both ways. Regarding the LCMS, I am personally calling on Dr. Jerry Kieschnik to withdraw his synod’s invitation to Dan Kimball or admit to having a man keynote an LCMS symposium who is yoked to heretical teachers. Don’t talk about Reformation Day this October 31 unless you are prepared to fight for truth in your own time and denomination.

I had to read that post header twice to make sure I actually typed it.  Harry Potter and Bible study, all in the same sentence. Nothing is stranger than reality today. Fiction really has its limits. High Priestess of Pottermania, J.K. Rowling, has now “outed” one of her characters as being gay. I’ll have to email the news article to a pastor I know who took time to write a position paper on why Harry Potter is fine for Christians. I’m sure the makers of the Harry Potter Bible Study will just incorporate the gay character into their question section. “So how do you feel about one of the Potter characters being gay?” “How can the church stop showing homophobia?” I can see the questions already.

Nearly 500 years after Dr. Martin Luther nailed up the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, followers who are known by his name are about to observe Reformation Day. Today I received a Reformation themed catalog from Concordia Publishing House that demonstrates with great clarity just why another Reformation is needed. I believe Luther would be lose his lunch, to put it bluntly, if he could see what his followers are doing in his name. Not only are they engaging in these things but they are doing so at a time of growing spiritual darkness when the light of the Gospel is desperately needed. So what is Concordia Publishing House doing? I’m not talking about the apostate ELCA with its she-male pastors and their lesbian “partners”. This is Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri, and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, once the home to powerful preachers like Walter A. Maier and Oswald Hoffman. Concordia is selling the following in their full color catalog, and this is far from an exhaustive list.

Martin Luther bobbleheads
Luther’s Rose golf balls
Luther’s Rose necklaces (guaranteed to turn your neck green in one week or less…)
Luther’s Rose locket
Luther’s Rose pin
“Old Lutheran” sweatshirts
Here I Stand socks featuring Luther’s Rose
Luther’s Rose key chains
Luther’s Rose duffel bags
Luther’s Rose ties
Luther’s Rose (this is a quote) trinket boxes
Luther’s Rose baseball caps
Luther’s Rose coffee mugs
Luther’s Rose mobile
Martin Luther busts, bronze or white bisque

The remainder of the catalog is filled with bracelets, contemporary cross jewelry, crucifix necklaces in sterling silver or gold, cross-shaped wristwatches and bracelets featuring the fruits of the spirit. There’s the “Lord is my Light” candle stand, picture frames with religious slogans, wood carvings, pens and a stainless steal travel mug. There are angel figurines, cross candle holders, praying hand bookends and even a “Crown of Thorns” pendant you can wear. There’s a “disciple watch” you can wear and an NFL Football Bible cover. Best of all, there’s a “Fruit of the Spirit” manicure set. Teen girls will really go for the “Clever Sweatshirt journals” made to look like fur lined sweatshirts. Girls are encouraged to “write special thoughts” in these cute spiritual journals and the publisher assures us that “Scripture appears every few pages for contemplation.”

In all my years of collecting catalogs from Christian publishers, this one takes the cake. I have never seen more trashy religious paraphernalia in all my life. Concordia long ago ceased to be known for its deep theological works. Nobody appears to be able to read anymore. That’s why they are selling candle holders and manicure sets. Ask your average layperson about “Bondage of the Will” and they’ll think you’re into porn flicks. The meaty, mighty legacy of Dr. Martin Luther has been traded for Jesus junk jewelry and plastic bobbleheads. Luther’s great statement of faith before the Diet of Worms in Germany, “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me, Amen” is now a cute slogan for a pair of socks. God help us.

Ironically, at a time when some publishers claiming to be heirs of the Reformation are selling Fruit of the Spirit manicure sets, other publishers have not squandered the Reformation legacy. I just interviewed Steve Renkema from Reformation Heritage Books. This little publishing group is putting out spiritual meat, republishing the grand books of the past and introducing them to a new generation that is desperately in need of spiritual substance. The winds of postmodernism are blowing down institutions that have stood for centuries. Entire denominations have fallen after rejecting the authority of Scripture. I am broken hearted at the shameful hawking of junk that is being done in Jesus name by Concordia Publishing House. The leadership needs to repent and believe the Gospel. When they do, they will not try to make money by selling religious trinkets, just like the medieval Roman Catholic church. God give us another Luther in this hour.

Apparently Joel Osteen is taking some heat for his new book, Become a Better You. A Christian author who recently wrote about Osteen’s rise to glory sent out a press release nationwide yesterday with the headline, “Christian Author Defends Joel Osteen”. Here’s what the author had to say.

As critics and bloggers take shots at Joel Osteen and his new book this week, Richard Young, who wrote “The Rise of Lakewood Church and Joel Osteen,” came to his defense on Wednesday.

“Critics say Osteen lacks biblical references in his books and claim that he preaches prosperity gospel,” said Young. “However, I found nearly 130 scriptural references in ‘Become a Better You,’ Osteen’s newest book.”

Young, who studied Osteen extensively while writing his book about the megachurch pastor, disagrees with individuals who say Osteen isn’t preaching the word of God and that his ministry isn’t orthodox.

“Joel uses the Scriptures as a path to Godly living just like pastors have for centuries. He encourages people to live better lives through faith in God and following Biblical principles,” said Young. “Although not everyone may agree with his style, he has successfully brought God’s presence into the lives of thousands of people through his ministry and books. Few individuals have been as successful as Joel in spreading God’s word.”

Young uses Sunday’s interview on “60 Minutes” as an example of how the mainstream media and some theologians ridicule Osteen.

“Journalist Bryan Pitts asked every possible question he could to trick Osteen into saying something that would discredit him as a man of God. Pitts repeatedly pointed to the lack of crosses and religious symbols inside Lakewood Church and questioned why Osteen called himself a life coach and motivator,” commented Young. “In addition, ‘60 Minutes’ interviewed Dr. Michael Horton. Horton, a professor at Westminster Seminary California, called Osteen a heretic and ridiculed his ministry. I don’t understand what Joel Osteen does that is so bad that a seminary professor has to condemn him on national television.”

Osteen’s first book, “Your Best Life Now,” was a New York Times bestseller. Young believes “Become a Better You” will be equally successful despite Osteen detractors.

“Joel understands today’s culture and that messages of damnation and of a vengeful God no longer resonate with an overstressed society that already believes they are living in Hell daily,” said Young. “Instead, Joel tells people that if they draw closer to God that thier lives will be better. This is a message that our society is eager to embrace. Who doesn’t seek a fuller life on earth?”

About Richard Young
Richard Young, a Christian author, church consultant and speaker, has spent close to 20 years researching various churches across the country, including some of the most prominent megachurches in America.

His research and travels inspired him to write the recently released “Rise of Lakewood and Joel Osteen.” Young’s next book, which examines the life and ministry of T.D. Jakes, will be released in early 2008. Jakes is the pastor of The Potter’s House, a primarily African-American non-denominational megachurch in Dallas.

My response: Mr. Young, Osteen’s using 130 Scriptures doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to biblical orthodoxy. Satan’s greatest successes have involved the rise of leaders who copiously quote the Scriptures to make their own heretical points. Scripture is not to be treated as a source for proof texts for false teaching. Osteen has no biblical defense for his ‘best life now’, ‘God wants you to be a success’ message. In fact, Osteen’s message runs counter to Christ’s clear command that we deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Him. There is no personal cross in Osteen’s message to the world, only a better, more effective ME. He has people raise a Bible over their heads at the start of his messages to assure everyone that he believes the Word of God. Then he proceeds to completely contradict the very Word he claims to follow. We are here on this planet for God’s glory, not our own. God does not want us on a journey of deeper “self-discovery” as Osteen claims in his new book. He wants us to go deeper and deeper into the knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are to decrease and Christ must increase in our lives. This biblical framework runs counter to everything that Osteen represents. Your press release only confirms in my mind, Mr. Young, that Joel Osteen needs to repent of his false teaching and his man-centered gospel and stop misleading the millions of people who follow his ministry. He is a false teacher and the consequences are eternal.