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Tremendous change in the Evangelical Church
Nov 1st, 2007
Main StoriesA Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

All across Canada and America Churches are being radically changed. Quietly, almost imperceptibly change has been taking place in the Evangelical church. The groundwork for this change has been laid down in the last four or five decades, slow change that was almost imperceptible.

A gradual weaning away from the Word of God, from meaningful music filled with theological truth, from the blueprint for the Church as found in God’s Word. There has been a gradual subtle learning to compromise with the world, a gradual introduction of programs and practices of the world. There has been a gradual shift to the business practices of the world and a gradual reliance on big buildings and big budget, not wrong in themselves, until they become the focus.

There has been a gradual dumbing down of the Word of God and a gradual transition, almost unawares, to remove the offense of the gospel and replace it with easy believism.

There is a tendency, if challenged, to look at the church of yesterday and declare that not much has changed. The challenge should be to look at the church of 50 to 60 years ago and see how great the change has been. When you do that, the apostasy of our day is obvious. The real challenge is to study what Christ designed and called the church to be and do.

In recent years, all of the gradual change has given way to a flood of apostasy in the Evangelical church. First the Seeker Friendly Church which opened the door for the Purpose Driven Church and now the Emerging Church which will bridge the gap between Evangelicals and the Church of Rome.

All around the world there are troubled Christians, who have watched as the focus of their Churches has shifted from Bible based teaching to Purpose Driven experiences. Many have sensed something is wrong but cannot put their finger on the problem. Some have wondered how God’s guidance fits into this tightly controlled man-made system. They have asked questions but no one has the answers to their concerns and the program isolates those who question the process.

They have tried to warn Pastors and friends but have been rebuffed, some have even been told to find another Church. All have shared the pain of rejection.

The following letter, I picked up from Berit Kjos, illustrates the struggle faced by those who cannot, with a clear conscience, go along with a Church that embraces the world’s transformative marketing and management methods.

The writer says, “I just read ‘Small Groups and the Dialectic Process’: at the end of it, I read this paragraph which took my breath away! In today’s Church Growth Movement, resisters are usually sifted out fairly early in the process. In the next installment, we will look at some of the ways non-conformists are assessed, exposed, vilified and dismissed from the Church families they have loved, served and supported.”

It seems that many Evangelical Pastors have been deceived and are leading their people into deception.

The Lights Are Going Out!
Nov 1st, 2007
Main StoriesA Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

Paul tells us that there will come a day when the Church will be taken out of the world. When that happens the ministry of the Holy Spirit regarding the restraining of sin, will cease. “Only He who now letteth (hinders) will continue to let (hinder), until He be taken out of the way.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7

That will be a day of darkness, when sin will reign totally unrestrained. That day has not yet come, but it appears to be drawing near. Today the night of sin is descending upon our world in an unprecedented way.

The following article appeared in the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, Oct 16, 2007. It is a quote from a leading pre-school educator and supported by a leading child psychologist. “(Kindergarten) Children should be able to look at each other and examine each others bodies. They can play Doctor, play Mother and Father, dance naked and masturbate.” The moral lights are going out!

A middle school in Maine is now dispensing birth control pills to children in grades 3 to 6. This is the deliberate cultivation of immorality among children.

In California, Governor Schwarznegger has signed a law banning anything perceived as negative to gays in California schools. The terms “Mom” and “Dad” as well as “Husband” and “Wife” have been banned from use in California schools.

Bill SB777, also orders public schools to allow boys to use the girls restrooms and locker rooms, and vice versa for the girls.

Concerned parents have no choice but to pull their children out of public schools which have now become sexual indoctrination centres.

The Lights are going out in our world!

We are living in a sensual society which has plunged into immorality, both heterosexual and homosexual.

Divorce rates are falling because fewer and fewer people are marrying.

Large numbers of our people take mind numbing and soul destroying drugs.

Materialism is the god of our society and is worshipped with great fervor.

In our world, in the last fifty years, almost one billion babies have been murdered in their mother’s wombs, while animal abuse will not be tolerated.

The Lord said to Cain, after he had murdered his brother Abel, “the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground”. The voices of a billion babies cry out to God for vengeance against a world in rebellion against God.

The Lights are going out in our world!

The Lord said to a world that had plunged into sin and rebellion against God, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man”. The flood which destroyed the world and its inhabitants followed soon after that, the lights had gone out in the world of Noah’s day.

Our society has, through the teaching of evolution, denied the existence of the God who created the heavens and the earth.

Every claim of God and His Word on the lives of men and women has been thrown off. David, in Psalm 2, described our world today, “let us break their bands asunder, and cast their cords from us”. David is referring to the claims of God and His Word on the lives of those whom He has created.

If only men and women would respond to the love of God. God loves every man and woman alive on earth. He greatly desires to redeem and provide His righteousness to all men and women everywhere, if only they will respond in true repentance and true faith. He has promised to infinitely bless those who will.

As the lights are going out in the world, there grows an even more troubling situation. The lights are going out in the Church. Our hearts are greatly troubled by the religious deception that is sweeping over the Evangelical Church in this very hour. If you are truly God’s child, please do not write me off as an old crank! Open your heart, not to me, but to God’s Spirit and to the teaching of His Word concerning the Church.

The User Friendly, Purpose Driven, Emerging Church has corrupted the Church from that which the Lord clearly teaches the Church is to be. They have conformed the Church to the world and brought the world into the Church. The ship is to be in the sea, not the sea in the ship, it’s a disaster when the sea is in the ship.

It seems that some evangelical Pastors are leading God’s blood bought Saints into Apostasy. They are deceived and are deceiving others.

There are great buildings, great crowds, great music, great organization and great programs but nothing to feed the souls of God’s people. They have entertaining music, electronics, proven business principles, but the preaching is dumbed down and God’s people are starved in their souls, while the gospel of easy believism is preached.

The whole thing is a masterpiece of deception. Jesus said, in Matthew 24, that religious deception would be the great problem in the last days. We are now there.

During the first half of the tribulation period when the Apostate, Harlot Church is at its peak, the Scripture teaches that this Church will be so deceptive that some of God’s saved children will be caught up in it. I believe we are seeing the beginning of this today.

Listen to the Lord speaking to that deceptive Church, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye be not partakers of her plagues”. Rev. 18:4

To you who are truly saved and in such a Church, if God is speaking to your heart, come out of the deception in which you are caught up.

“Thus saith the Lord, stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, wherein is the good way, and walk in it, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk in it.” Jeremiah 6: 16

As I look at evangelicals today I am haunted by the Words of Jesus in Matthew 7: 22, 23, “Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied (preached) in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity”. Totally deceived! They never came out!

But God’s people will come out. See Matthew 24:24 “If it were possible, (and it is not possible, clearly implied) they shall deceive the very elect.” Come out! Don’t be deceived!

The Emerging Church
Nov 1st, 2007
Main StoriesRoger Oakland
Categories: Printed Newsletter;The Church;Contemporary Issues

In the not to distant future, most evangelical pastors will have to decide whether to support or reject the spirituality behind the emerging church. If this movement continues unfolding at the present pace, mainstream christianity will be completely restructured, and the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ will be considered obsolete.

The emerging church is far more than a fleeting fad and much more than the complaints of a group of young leaders. It is indeed a new way of being Christian and its objective is to usher in a new reformation throughout the world.

Those who refuse to embrace this direction will be considered spiritual oddballs that are hindering a unified one world spirituality that is promoted as the answer for peace and that is prophesied about in the Bible. I know these sound like preposterous concerns. How could a movement that seems so unorganized and mismanaged do so much damage? The answer to that is the reason I wrote the book, "FAITH UNDONE". Behind this new kind of worship, this new kind of church is a strategic apostasy and manuever by the prince of this world, the enemy of our souls, to literally take apart the faith of millions-- it will be nothing less than faith undone.

Leaders of the emerging church say drastic changes must take place because the church can no longer be effective with old ways and an old church. We need a new kind of 'Chriatianity' if we are going to make a difference in peoples lives and the world around us. But what is this new kind of 'Christianity'?

Contrary to what many believe, the current emerging church movement was not initiated by group of disillusioned young people. In reality, the movement was largely the inspiration of a successful business guru whose ideas on an emerging church were catapulted into existence by other successful businessmen, and thus it became the influential religious force it is today. Backed by multi-million dollar corporations and entitis, its very core has been influenced dramatically by those with mysgical affinities.

The Word of God is under attack. According to emerging church leaders, the Bible is not so much for truth and doctrine as it is for hopes, ideas, and participation. In other words, don't use the Bibles as a means of theology or absolute truth and standards by which to live, rather than the Bible molding the Christian's life, let the Christian's life mold the Bible.

How far is this new kind of church willing to go to reach its objective? Emerging church proponents say there is a new wave taking place and we have to hop on. The wave is a Vintage Christianity, which in reality is an experience-based religion. Experiences must be implemented in order to attract both Christians and non-Christians alike, we must appeal to this postmodern generation with its hunger for experience, rituals, and mysticism.

The emerging church embraces multi-sensory worship. While many are bewildered why their churches are darkening their sanctuaries, setting up prayer stations with candles, incense and icons, the promoters of the emerging church movement say they know exactly what they are doing by practicing mysticism through music, rituals, and worship and early church fathers (100 AD to 600 AD) are important and these teachings from the past will bring spiritual transformation and success to churches in the 21st century.

Contemplative spirituality (i.e. mysticism) is to the emerging church what the wind is to a sail boat. Without it there is no momentum, and it is woven into the very fabric of the emerging church's ambience. In order to understand why this is so important, we must first understand the dynamics of contemplative spirituality.

The emerging church is embracing contemplative spirituality and what is called the ancient wisdom. While appearing to be Christian because of the altered terminology, in actuality, it is occult based and New Age.

The Roman Catholic Church has a plan to establish the Kingdom of God here on Earth and win the world to the Roman Catholic Jesus - the Eucharistic Christ. It is believed the "triumph of the Eucharist" will be accomplished when the world (including the separated brethren) come under the rule and reign of Rome and the Eucharistic Jesus. The presence of "Christ" in the Eucharist is the second coming, Roman Catholic style The emerging church is a bridge to Rome.

The Bible says that Jesus Christ will establish His kingdom when He returns to Earth. But today a theology called Kingdom Now or Dominionism is permeating the walls of Christianity, and the emerging church movement is taking this heretical belief full speed into the next generation. With the idea that the church can establish the Kingdom of God before Christ returns and essentially turn our world into a Christian world, this belief system has literally changed the way countless Christians view the world and go about their Christian living. What most of them don't realize is this Kingdom of God on Earth mindset is an all out effort by Satan to merge together the religions of the world and thus negate the gospel message.

The fruit of the emerging church includes: changes in views on sexuality (homosexuality acceptance and tantra, a mixture of mysticism and sex). the desire by emerging leaders to stop identifying with Christianity, eradicating the gap between good and evil (the very goal of Satan's religion, the New Age), and developing a new missiology which says keep your own religion, just add Jesus. This truly is the undoing of Christian faith.

If someone said that emerging church leaders don't like the Cross, many would cry out, "Yes they do, I've heard them talk about Jesus and the Cross." But while this may be true, there is an underlying theme building momentum in the emerging church that says, Jesus going to the Cross was an example of sacrifice and service that we should follow. But the idea that God would send His Son to a violent death for the sins of mankind - well that is not who God is. He would never do that! This mindset negates the very atonement on which biblical Christianity rests.

The nature of the emerging church's new reformation is anything but new, and when it comes to pass could bear violence and persecution on those who defend the Bible as the true and literal Word of God.

The Bible says that in the last days Satan will deceive the whole world with doctrines of demons and seducing spirits. The question must be asked, is the emerging church spirituality part of this great falling away? And just what are the earmarks of a church that has become part of this end-time deception?

The above article by Roger Oakland is a review of his new book, "Faith Undone".

The Declining US Dollar
Nov 1st, 2007
Main StoriesA Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

The end time prophetic scenario indicates that America will not be a significant player in the events of the Last Days. She will not be a powerful military force nor an influential economic power. We say that because the whole economic and military scenario of the Last Days is laid out in Scripture and America is nowhere to be found.

Scripture indicates that Europe will be the dominant force in the world, both militarily and economically. So it seems there must come a transition from American Economic Superiority to European Dominance.

If the events of the Last Days are soon to play out a sudden decline in US power must be near at hand. A total economic collapse would eliminate US military and economic influence.

During recent weeks the US dollar has experienced a steady decline against all foreign currencies.

The dollar is dropping because there is lack of confidence in it. The US Federal Debt is now 9 Trillion dollars. The US must borrow 70 billion dollars a month to service the debt. Most of that money comes from other countries, but the source of these finances is drying up, due to a loss of confidence in the US dollar. Who wants to hold US dollars that could collapse?

There are ominous signs of a possible dollar collapse. Let me give you a few news items which indicate a serious situation:

· China threatens the “Nuclear Option” of dollar sales. The Chinese government has begun a concerted campaign of economic threats against the US hinting that it may liquidate its vast holdings of US Treasuries.

“Nuclear Option” is a term used by China to describe the devastating effect on the US economy if China sold of the $1.33 Trillion dollars of US funds it now holds. It could trigger a dollar collapse!

· Japan and China led a record withdrawal of Foreign Funds from the US in August, heightening fresh fears of a slide in the dollar and a spike in US Bond yields.

Asian investors recently dumped $52 Billion worth of Treasury bonds.

I understand that no one wants to trigger a collapse of a currency in which they have large holdings, but neither would they want to be the last one out. They are now apparently quietly trying to reduce their holdings in US funds, the danger is that the plug will be pulled and the dollar will collapse.

· Under the heading: Good Bye US Dollar – Hello Global Currency; the Director of Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations, launched a scathing attack on national currencies. The article was entitled “The End of National Currencies”.

· Iran and Venezuela are working hard to bring down the US Dollar by selling oil in currencies other than the US dollar.

· Along with these threats we are hearing repeated rumours of a new currency to replace the dollar – the “Amero”. Vincinte Fox, former president of Mexico, confirmed on Larry King Live that President Bush had committed to the “Amero”. What does Mr. Bush know about the future of the US dollar that others do not seem to know?

I am not an economist, and certainly not qualified to speak with authority on financial matters, but there is mounting evidence that the dollar is in serious trouble.

I can read my Bible and the newspaper and recognize that what God has said in His Word will happen – and actually is happening!

Consider four things:

1. America is facing the judgment of God for turning away from God, turning to wickedness and for forcing Israel to give up her land.

2. America will not be involved in End Time Events; therefore her mighty economic and military power must be negated if we are close to the unfolding of End Time Events.

3.What is a more fitting judgment on a materialistic society than an economic collapse? A society that has worshipped the god of things!

4. Where there is smoke there is fire. We are seeing a mounting and escalating threat against the US dollar.

I am not Anti-American, but the very Blessings of God upon America make her more responsible to God. I remind you that God is going to judge ALL of the Nations in the Great Day of His wrath. We are just talking about chronology when we talk about judgment on America.

The signs of the coming Judgment of God upon a rebellious world are everywhere. Let me ask you “Are you ready for the cataclysmic events that lie ahead? God has provided a way for you to be ready. That way is salvation involving Repentance from sin and Faith in Christ, the only way to be ready.

Moral Determination
Nov 1st, 2007
Main StoriesA W Tozer
Categories: Printed Newsletter

“He was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”

Acts 11:23

Though we do not have much of it in this age of spineless religion, there is nevertheless much in the Bible about the place of moral determination in the service of the Lord.

The Old Testament tells us that “Jacob vowed a vow,” and Daniel “purposed in his heart.” Paul determined “not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” Above all, we have the example of the Lord Jesus “setting His face like a flint” and walking straight toward the Cross. These and many others have left us a record of spiritual greatness born out of a will firmly set to do the will of God!

They did not try to float to heaven on a perfumed cloud, but cheerfully accepted the fact that “with purpose of heart they must cleave to the Lord.”

We must surrender – and in that terrible, wonderful moment we may feel that our will has been forever broken, but such is not the case. In His conquest of the soul, God purges the will and brings it into union with His own, but He never breaks it!

How to Know When the Emerging Church Shows Signs of Emerging in Your Church
Nov 1st, 2007
Main StoriesRoger Oakland
Categories: Printed Newsletter

The world is changing. So is the Christian evangelical church. There was a time— not that long ago—when the Bible was considered to be the Word of God by the majority of evangelical Christians. Now that we are well into the third millennium and the post-modern, post-Christian era, the term evangelical can mean almost anything. What has happened? Why is this happening and what is the future for mainstream Christianity?

For the past several years, I have been speaking around the world on current trends that are impacting Christianity. After these presentations, I am approached by Christians who come from many different church backgrounds. Many are expressing their concerns about what is happening in their churches, troubled by the new direction they see their church going. While they may not always be able to discern what is wrong, they know something is wrong and that it needs to be addressed.

Further, many have told me they have attempted to express their concerns with their pastors or church elders. In almost every case, they were told they had a choice to make—get with the new program or get out of the church.

This move towards a reinvented Christianity (one designed to “reach people”) seems to be here for the long haul. It is not just a passing fad. I am often asked by concerned brothers and sisters in Christ to provide an explanation in order to help them understand what they have encountered. They want to know why these changes are underway and what to expect in the future. As well, they want to know what, if anything can be done, to stem this tide. It is for this reason I am writing this commentary—to provide biblical insight regarding the Emerging Church and where it is heading in the future.

The Gospel According to the Scriptures

Throughout church history, various trends have come and gone. While culture changes from place to place, biblical Christianity has always been based upon the central message of the Bible which is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the message never changes.

This gospel message is about who Jesus Christ is, and what He has done. A child can understand the gospel message. This message proclaims that life here on planet earth is finite and that life after death is eternal. The good news is that we can be saved from our sins if we will repent and simply ask for forgiveness and follow Him.

How we respond to the gospel message during the time we have on earth determines where we spend eternity—heaven or hell. Jesus, the Creator of the universe, provided a way and the only way we can spend eternity with Him. It is a matter of making a personal decision whether or not we will accept the plan He has provided.

God’s adversary does not want mankind to understand the simple message. His plan is to deceive the world. If he can blind people from the gospel or convince them that they believe the gospel when indeed they do not, his plan has been successful. Throughout the ages, countless billions have been duped, either rejecting the truth, or believing that they had believed the truth when instead they had been deceived.

The Gospel According to Postmoderism

Times change! However, the gospel must remain the same no matter what else changes. We are now living in the postmodern era. In a sincere attempt to reach the postmodern generation with the gospel, it seems many Christians have become postmodern in their thinking.

Perhaps the term postmodern is new to you. Let’s examine what it means.

First, the modern era was characterized by a time of rational thinking based on factual observation. Many claim the modern era ended in the mid 1900s.

The postmodern mindset moves beyond the rational and the factual to the experiential and the mystical. In other words, in the past it was possible to know right from wrong and black from white. In the postmodern era all things are relative to the beholder. What may be right for you may be wrong for someone else. There is no such thing as absolute truth. The only thing that is absolute is that there is no absolute.

We now live in a time in history that is characterized as postmodern. Professors at universities teach students there is no right or wrong. All things are relative. The gospel message to the postmodern mindset is far too dogmatic and arrogant. They say it is necessary to find a more moderate gospel that can be accepted by the masses.

Many church leaders are now looking for ways to reach the postmodern generation. They believe they can find the appropriate methods to do so without changing the message. However, in their attempt to reach this postmodern generation, they have become postmodern themselves and have changed the message. As the gospel is fixed upon the Scriptures, the gospel cannot change, unless of course it becomes another gospel. I believe this is what is happening in the Emerging Church.

He Didn’t Come

Many have noticed that since the turn of the millennium, their churches have changed positions on Bible prophecy and the Second Coming of Jesus. Many have given up on the return of Jesus. From the ‘60s on there was an excitement about the imminent return of Jesus. The Jesus People were excited about Bible prophecy and could see signs that Jesus would descend from the heavens for His Bride at any moment.

The year 2000 was of particular importance. When Jesus didn’t show up, it seems many were apparently disappointed. “Perhaps Jesus has delayed His coming,” some have said. Others are even taking the position that He may not be coming at all, at least not in the manner we have been taught. They are now convinced that we need to be busy about “building His Kingdom” here on earth by “whatever human effort is required.”

The Gospel of the Kingdom

One of the main indicators that something has changed can be seen in the way the future is perceived. Rather than urgently proclaiming the gospel according to the Scriptures and believing the time to do so is short, the emphasis has now shifted. No longer are “signs of the times” significant. The battle cry is very different. A major emphasis among evangelicals is the idea that the world can be radically improved through social programs.

This concept, while on the surface may sound very good, has some serious biblical implications. According to the Scriptures, there will be no kingdom of God until the King arrives. All the human effort man can muster up will fall short of bringing utopia. In fact, according to the Scriptures, fallen man will lead us further down the road to a society of despair and lawlessness just like it was in the days of Noah.

Thus, this purpose-driven view of establishing global utopia may be a plan, but it is “driven” by humanistic reasoning and not led by the Holy Spirit. While it is of course good to do good unto others, all the goodness that we can do will not be good enough. Pastors and church leaders who get involved in such man-driven programs can usually be identified by certain characteristics:

• Sound biblical doctrine is dangerous and divisive, and the experiential (i.e.,mystical) is given a greater role than doctrine.
• Bible prophecy is no longer taught and is considered a waste of time
• Israel becomes less and less important and has no biblical significance
• Eventually the promises for Israel are applied to the church and not Israel (Replacement Theology).
• Bible study is replaced by studying someone’s book and his methods
• Church health is evaluated on the quantity of people who attend.
• The truth of God’s Word becomes less and less important
• God’s Word, especially concepts like hell, sin and repentance, is eventually downplayed so the unbeliever is not offended.

Spiritual Formation and Transformation

Much of what I have described provides the formula for a dumbing-down of Christianity that paves the way for an apostasy that will only intensify in the future. This trend away from the authority of God’s Word to the reinvented form of Christianity has overcome all evangelical denominations like an avalanche. Few Bible teachers saw this avalanche coming. Now that it is underway, few realize it has even happened.

However, there is another big piece to the puzzle that must be identified in order to understand what is emerging in the Emerging Church. While biblical Christianity has been dumbed-down and the light of God’s Word diminished, another avalanche of deception is underway that is equally devastating.

This is best described by the Word of God giving way to experiences that God’s Word forbids. The best way to understand this process is to recall what happened during the Dark Ages when the Bible became the “forbidden book.” Until the Reformers translated the Bible into the language of the common person, the people were in darkness. When the light of God’s Word became available, the gospel according to the Scriptures was once again understood.

This trend, which is underway today, shows us that history is in the process of repeating itself. As the Word of God becomes less and less important, the rise of mystical experiences is alarming and these experiences are being presented to convince the unsuspecting that Christianity is about feeling, touching, smelling and seeing God. The postmodern mindset is the perfect environment for the fostering of what is called “spiritual formation.” This teaching suggests there are various ways and means to get closer to God. Proponents of spiritual formation erroneously teach that anyone can practice these mystical rituals and find God within. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is not a prerequisite.

These teachings, while actually rooted in ancient wisdom (the occult), were presented to Christendom post-New Testament and not found in the Word of God. The spiritual formation movement is based upon experiences promoted by desert monks and Roman Catholic mystics – these mystics encouraged the use of rituals and practices, that if performed would bring the practitioner closer to God (or come into God’s presence). The premise was that if one went into the silence or sacred space, then the mind was emptied of distractions and the voice of God could be heard. In truth, these hypnotic, mantric style practices were leading these monks into altered states of consciousness. The methods they used are the same that Buddhists and the Hindus use as a means of encountering the spiritual realm

Such methods are dangerous, and are not sanctioned in the Bible – God gives no instruction for this. On the contrary, he warns severely against divination, which is practicing a ritual or method in order to obtain information from a spiritual source. While proponents of spiritual formation (like Richard Foster) say these methods show that the Holy Spirit is doing something new to refresh Christianity, I would suggest that what is happening is not new and is not the Holy Spirit.

The spiritual formation movement is being widely promoted at colleges and seminaries as the latest and the greatest way to become a spiritual leader in these days. These ideas are then being exported from seminaries to churches by graduates who have been primed to take Christianity to a new level of enlightenment.

As well, these contemplative practices are being promoted by emergent leaders such as Brian McLaren, Robert Webber, Dallas Willard and others. Publishers like NavPress, InterVarsity and Zondervan are flooding the market with books promoting contemplative practices based on Eastern mysticism. Pastors and church leaders read these books and then promote the ideas as if they were the scriptural answer to drawing close to God.

Signs the Emerging Church is Emerging

There are specific warning signs that are symptomatic that a church may be headed down the emergent/contemplative road. In some cases a pastor may not be aware that he is on this road nor understand where the road ends up.

Here are some of the warning signs:

• Scripture is no longer the ultimate authority as the basis for the Christian faith.
• The centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ is being replaced by humanistic methods promoting church growth and a social gospel.
• More and more emphasis is being placed on building the kingdom of God now and less and less on the warnings of Scripture about the imminent return of Jesus Christ and a coming judgment in the future.
• The teaching that Jesus Christ will rule and reign in a literal millennial period is considered unbiblical and heretical.
• The teaching that the church has taken the place of Israel and Israel has no prophetic significance is often embraced.
• The teaching that the Book of Revelation does not refer to the future, but instead has been already fulfilled in the past
• An experiential mystical form of Christianity begins to be promoted as a method to reach the postmodern generation.
• Ideas are promoted teaching that Christianity needs to be reinvented in order to provide meaning for this generation.
• The pastor may implement an idea called “ancient-future” or “vintage Christianity” claiming that in order to take the church forward, we need to go back in church history and find out what experiences were effective to get people to embrace Christianity.
• While the authority of the Word of God is undermined, images and sensual experiences are promoted as the key to experiencing and knowing God.
• These experiences include icons, candles, incense, liturgy, labyrinths, prayer stations, contemplative prayer, experiencing the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of the Eucharist.
• There seems to be a strong emphasis on ecumenism indicating that a bridge is being established that leads in the direction of unity with the Roman Catholic Church.
• Some evangelical Protestant leaders are saying that the Reformation went too far. They are reexamining the claims of the “church fathers” saying that communion is more than a symbol and that Jesus actually becomes present in the wafer at communion.
• There will be a growing trend towards an ecumenical unity for the cause of world peace claiming the validity of other religions and that there are many ways to God.
• Members of churches who question or resist the new changes that the pastor is implementing are reprimanded and usually asked to leave.

What does the Future Hold?

If the Emerging Church continues unfolding at the present pace, mainstream evangelical Christianity will be reinvented and the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures will be considered too narrow and too restrictive. In other words, the narrow way to heaven that Jesus proclaimed will eventually be abandoned for a wider way that embraces pagan experiential practices. I call this reinvented, re-imagined form of Christianity that is unfolding—“Christian Babylonianism”.

This new form of Christianity will replace biblical faith with a faith that says man can establish the kingdom of God here on earth. The Word will continue to become secondary to a system of works driven by experiences.

An ecumenical pattern towards unity with Rome will become more apparent. Those who refuse to embrace this direction will be considered spiritual oddballs that need to be reprimanded. Those who stand up for biblical faith will be considered the obstructions to the one world spirituality that is promoted as the answer for peace.

The best way to be prepared for what is coming is to gain an understanding of what is happening now. While there are not many who seem to discern the trend underway, there are some. Without the Bible and the Holy Spirit as our guide, the darkness that is coming would be overwhelming. However, the light of God’s Word penetrates the darkness and there are those who are being delivered from deception and see what is taking place.

I am convinced we are seeing apostasy underway, exactly as the Scriptures have forewarned. This means that this current trend is not likely to disappear. We must continue to proclaim the truth in the midst of deception with love. As Paul instructed Timothy:

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2 Timothy 2: 24-26).

There are still pastors and churches who are dedicated to proclaiming the truth. Find out where they are and support them. If you are in a location where this does not seem to be possible, seek out materials that are available from solid Bible-based Christian ministries and hold Bible studies in your own home.

And keep looking up! Jesus is coming soon.

God's promise to Israel will not fail
Nov 1st, 2007
Main StoriesA Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

“For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.” Genesis 13: 15. This promise to Abraham and to Israel is repeated many times in the Old Testament.

Because of Israel’s unbelief and rebellion against God, they were dispersed among the nations of the world as a judgment upon them. Hosea prophesied this in the 8th century B.C. “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a King, and without a Prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without a teraphim:” Hosea 3: 4. That dire prophesy has been fulfilled during the last 1900 years.

Along with the warning came a promise, “Afterward shall the children of Israel return,” this began in the 20th century and Israel became a nation once again in 1948.

The promises of God to Israel went much further. In Luke 1: 31-33, the Old Testament promises were in view, the reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem, over a redeemed nation of Israel. (Zechariah 13:9)

Satan also seeks the throne of this world (see Isaiah 14: 13, 14), to rule in the place of God.

That is where we are today, Satan knows that he must prevent Israel from possessing the temple mount, prevent them from possessing the land God promised to them. He knows that if he can destroy Israel, then Christ cannot come and reign over this world as He promised.

This is Satan’s hope for defeating God’s purposes. This is the centre of the mid-east conflict today.

Daniel, in his prophecy, foretold that in the last days men would seek to divide the land of Israel for false peace (Daniel 11: 39).

God’s Word says that the land belongs to Israel and that it is not to be sold (for peace) or given away; it is Israel’s promised possession.

Today, and for the last 20 years, the whole world has been determined to divide the land of Israel, to rob Israel of her God given heritage. The Lord has warned that He would judge the nations for this particular disobedience.

A news item on Oct. 26, 2007 indicated that Washington is planning to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities and in order to pay for Arab support they are committing to establishing a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank by next summer.

President Bush has, for some time now, put pressure on Israel to allow a Palestinian State on Israel’s God given land. America is inviting the judgment of God upon them through this disobedience to God’s Word.

God promised Abraham, “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee,” Genesis 12: 3. America has been a great blessing to Israel and America has been greatly blessed of God, even in recent years. However, the promise also involves a curse (judgment) on those who curse Israel. When America pressures Israel and leads Israel to violate God’s Word in this matter, America is cursing Israel, leading Israel toward the judgment of God upon her. (Zech. 13:8, cp. Num 14:23, 29)

It is my personal opinion that God has been warning America not to cause Israel to give up her land. I believe that in recent years those warnings have been numerous.

Let me just list a few of these warnings: the recent hurricanes which have been unprecedented in their severity and damage done i.e. hurricane Katrina and the flood which followed, the raging wildfires in California and now the looming threat of a dollar collapse.

I believe God is warning America, the other nations of the world will not escape the judgment of God either. Russia, Iran and her Arab neighbours will be judged as we see in Ezekiel 38: 18-22, that will happen early in the tribulation period. Then all of the nations will be judged at Armageddon, at the close of the tribulation period. (Joel 3: 2)

It is my understanding from Scripture, that America’s judgment will come prior to the appearance of Anti-christ. Anti-christ will not have the great power required to bring a false peace as long as America remains as a super-power. Whether the judgment upon America will come before or after the Rapture is not clear.

Thinking people everywhere realize we are living in unprecedented days of impending disaster. The present troubles of the world are terminal. Only God’s Word puts all of the pieces together and gives the answers.

My friend, are you ready for the “Day of the Lord”, the coming tribulation period? Salvation involving Repentance from sin and Faith in Christ is the only way to be ready.