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New Evagelicalism
Jul 1st, 2008
Main StoriesJohn E. Ashbrook - New Neutralism
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Contemporary Issues;The Church

"Bible-believing Christians would do well to beware of the New Evangelicalism for four valid reasons.

• First, it is a movement born of compromise.
• Second, it is a movement nurtured in pride of intellect.
• Third, it is a movement growing on appeasement of evil; and
• Finally it is a movement doomed by the judgment of God's Holy Word.

I believe that the mainspring of new evangelicalism is found in three determinations of its founder which may be clearly traced in the state of things today.

• First, new evangelicalism determined to reject Biblical separation.
• Secondly, new evangelicalism determined to find acceptance by the world.
• Thirdly, new evangelicalism determined to add the social gospel to the Scriptural gospel....

REJECTION OF BIBLE SEPARATION

New evangelicalism determined to reject Biblical separation. Dr. Ockenga wrote the foreword to Dr. Harold Lindsell's book The Battle for the Bible, published in 1976. In that foreword he said:

"Neo-evangelicalism was born in 1948 in connection with a convocation address which I gave in the Civil Auditorium in Pasadena. While reaffirming the theological view of fundamentalism, this address repudiated its ecclesiology and its social theory. The ringing call for a repudiation of separatism and the summons to social involvement received a hearty response from many evangelicals. ... It differed from fundamentalism in its repudiation of separatism and its determination to engage itself in the theological dialogue of the day. It had a new emphasis upon the application of the gospel to the sociological, political, and economic areas of life."

[W]hat new evangelicalism has determined to repudiate is Biblical separatism. Separation is God's prescription for treating the disease of apostasy. It is not ours to repudiate, for it is a divine command, not a human idea....

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." [ 2 Corinthians 6:17,18]

The same doctrine is taught in passages such as Ephesians 5:11 which says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." It is the theme of 2 John, culminating in verses 10 and 11: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." ...

In a much earlier press release dated December 8, 1957, Dr. Ockenga made the following statements:

"The New Evangelicalism has changed its strategy from one of separation to one of infiltration. Instead of static front battles, the new theological war is one of movement. Instead of attack upon error, the New Evangelicals proclaim the great historic doctrines of Christianity ... The strategy of the New Evangelicalism is the positive proclamation of truth in distinction from all errors without delving in personalities which embrace error."

In a war, generals may change strategy, but that is not the prerogative of the Christian when God has given a command. Obviously separation is God's command, and infiltration is man's idea. The irenic statement above sounds rather noble in man's eyes.... But how does that square with Jude 3 and 4?

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

What do you think of the new evangelical suggestion that we can proclaim truth "without delving in personalities which embrace error?" Throughout church history, heresies have always been identified with the men who perpetrated them. Almost every heresy of the past has been associated with a personality. You cannot erase nineteen centuries of church history with a cute phrase. Certainly Dr. Ockenga was aware that the battle for the faith in the 1920's was between a Baptist unbeliever, Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, and Presbyterian believers.... The idea of preaching positively without contending for the faith is a compromise of Biblical truth

SEEKING ACCEPTANCE BY THE WORLD

Secondly, new evangelicalism determined to find acceptance by the world. I have seen boys and girls feverishly seek the acceptance of their peers. A new child comes to visit, and they rush to show him every toy in the effort to be accepted. [See also Isaiah 39:1-5]This is a note not to be ignored in the new evangelical profile. It shows itself in the desire to be accepted in the world of academia, and it also shows in the desire to make the gospel more palatable to the natural man. Let me begin by going back to Dr. Ockenga's foreword to The Battle for the Bible:

"It differed from fundamentalism in its repudiation of separation and its determination to engage itself in the theological dialogue of the day."

Reentering the theological dialogue with modernism was an important cause to new evangelicalism. Notice that it is described as "dialogue," not debate. A debate is a conflict which clarifies a position. A dialogue is a conversation which compromises a position. (That may not be correct according to Webster, but it comes from observing theological dialogue.) Lest you think I am being picky with this matter, let me go further in the quotation from the foreword of The Battle for the Bible to show the specific items about which Dr. Ockenga desired to dialogue:

"Neo-evangelicals emphasized the restatement of Christian theology in accordance with the need of the time, the reengagement in the theological debate, the recapture of denominational leadership, and the reexamination of theological problems such as the antiquity of man, the universality of the flood, God's method of creation, and others."

From its inception new evangelicalism has been determined to impress the world with its intellect. It has craved the respect of academia. It has determined to earn plaudits at the fountainheads of secular learning. Why should this be a goal for the Christian? Paul spelled out for the believer the vanity of this world's wisdom in 1 Cor. 1:20,21: "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of the world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

Make Thee An Ark of Gopher Wood....and Shalt Pitch It Within and Without With Pitch - Gen. 6:14
Jul 1st, 2008
UncategorizedMORNING MEDITATION
Categories: Today's Headlines

In the ark, built according to divine direction, we have a beauitiful type of Christ. Pitched within and without, it went through the flood carrying its passengers safely over to the renewed earth - a picture of Christ bearing the judgment of God against sin and saving all who trust in Him. Note that Noah and his family did not have to hang onto spikes or some similar arrangement outside the ark. They were safe inside where the waters of judgment could not reach them. Blessed it is to be thus "in Christ Jesus," where there is no condemnation(Rom. 8:1). - H. A. Ironside

Israel's Return to the Land in Unbelief
Jul 1st, 2008
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter

God promised the land of Canaan to Israel. Later the Romans renamed it Palestine. Those who call themselves Palestinians today have no claim to the land of Israel. There never has been in all of history a Palestinian People, Nation, Government, Language, Culture or Economy.

As late as the 1950’s Arabs refused to be called Palestinians. During WW11 there was a Palestinian brigade which was all Jewish; there was a Palestinian symphony orchestra which was all Jewish.

Palestinians claim to be descended from a Palestinian people, who lived for thousands of years in a land called Palestine, that claim is a hoax! Yet the world accepts this lie as the basis of a false peace that they have attempted to force on Israel. The purpose of it all is to force Israel off the land God promised to her.

A travel guide to Palestine and Syria published in 1906 illustrates the fact that when the Islamic Ottoman Empire ruled the region, the population of Jerusalem was about 60,000 consisting of 7,000 Muslims, 13,000 Christians and 40,000 Jews.

The Land Promised

God said in Gen. 12:1 “Get thee out of thy country…unto a land that I will shew thee”. God decided that through one man, Abraham and his descendants, that He would bring salvation and blessing to the world. Verse 7 ”Unto thy seed will give this land:” The land in which the Canaanites once dwelt in was given to Israel.

The Lord said to Abraham in Gen. 13:14-15, “…look from the place where art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.”

Notice three words, “ALL” – the Land. “THY SEED” – the Jews. “FOREVER” – including our own day.

The land of Canaan belongs to Israel forever, that’s the major issue in our world today. God gave it to them.

Gen. 17:8 “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession;” God cannot lie, God cannot break His covenant. The promise is crystal clear! Abraham’s seed is identified!

In Gen. 26:3, the promise is repeated to Isaac and in Gen. 35:12, it is repeated to Jacob, the promise is not through Ishmael.

Loss of Possession of the Land

The Lord said to Israel that if they would not trust Him and obey Him, “Ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it” Deut. 28:63. There would be temporary loss of possession of the land; they would wander throughout the world with troubles and tribulations. But there was also a promise of ultimate restoration and blessing.

Despite this chastening God said, He would preserve Israel and ultimately restore her to the Promised Land and to the promised blessing.

The Lord said in Jer. 30:11, “For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all the nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee unpunished”. The Old Testament is filled with this promise!

God’s promises cannot be broken, see Jer. 31:35-37

There is a struggle going on today, between God and Satan involving Israel and the land.

How to Give Assurance of Salvation Without Conversion
Jul 1st, 2008
Main StoriesUnknown
Categories: Printed Newsletter;False Doctrine

1. Focus on the "decision," not conversion. Then they'll remember their own "wise" choice, not Christ's work on the cross.

2. Skim over the gospel and push the prayer. The actual gospel is simply too offensive.

3. Please your listeners with positive assurances; don't confuse them with the whole truth. Tell them what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.

4. Emphasize God's goodness, not His justice or holiness. Talk about his love, not His legal requirement that demands sacrifice for sin. Let them think they are headed for heaven no matter what!

5. Describe Jesus as Savior, not Lord of our lives. Promise His blessing but, by all means, ignore His warning about "counting the cost!"

6. Don’t mention sin, guilt, hell or wrath. No need to offend them with the whole dreadful reason why they need the Savior.

7. Whatever you do, never mention Judgment Day. Too distasteful! You could lose both friends and financial supporters.

8. Add some humor or rousing music. Lighten things up. Don't sound too sober or serious.

9. Don’t mention repentance until they’ve repeated a "sinner’s prayer." Then your project won't be aborted by sudden doubts or reservations.

10. After they pray "the prayer," celebrate "their" achievement, not God's grace. Be sure to praise the deceived sinner, not the God they don't know that they don't yet know.

Jul 1st, 2008
Main Stories
Categories: Printed Newsletter

Famine

Art Sadlier

In Matthew 24, Jesus gave some signs that would occur prior to His second coming. In verse 8, He called the signs that were given in the preceding verse, the beginning signs. He said “all these are the beginning of sorrows".

Among the signs Jesus gave was the sign of "famines". Prior to His return to the earth there would be devastating famines. In Revelation 6, John tells us about the tribulation famines. In verse 6, he says, "a measure of wheat for a penny", a penny was a day’s wage in our Lord's Day and a measure of wheat would feed one person for one day. That would leave nothing for the rest of the family and nothing for other needs such as fuel for heat. That is obviously a starvation situation.

In verse 8, John tells us that these famines, combined with war, will result in the deaths of one quarter of the world's population.

Today we are convinced that the stage is being set for the tribulation scenario to unfold. In recent weeks we have been surprised to discover that the world is suddenly on the threshold of famine. We are seeing the foreshadowing of the tribulation signs.

Listen to just some of the recent headlines:

Food Price “Catastrophe” feared on Eve of Summit / 2008: The Year of Global food crisis / UN Warns of Food Shortages and Unrest urges world leaders to work to control food prices / If prices keep rising, more and more people around the globe will be unable to afford the food they need to stay alive

Now this week, word comes to us from the U.S. mid-west, of devastating crop losses in the area which is the world's top grain exporter. Up to 5 million acres of corn is either under water or cannot be planted.

The most severe drought for 100 years in Australia is getting worse. Farmers warn that this winter’s wheat crop could be even smaller than last year’s if rain does not come soon. Most Australian grain is exported and empty Outback grain silos have contributed to shortages and rising global prices. Australia is the third biggest wheat exporter behind the US and Canada.

The drought – known here as the “Big Dry” – has forced more than 10,000 Australian farming families off the land over the past five years.

Listen to the words of Jesus, "Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of times?"

Believer, The Lord is at hand, are you ready or will you be ashamed before Him at His coming?

Unbeliever, The time is short; you need to come to Christ in repentance and faith today before it is forever too late.

Jul 1st, 2008
Main Stories
Categories: Printed Newsletter

NEW MOVE TO UNITE WORLD RELIGIONS

By Art Sadlier

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced a new foundation dedicated to interfaith understanding. He said that leaders in an interdependent world must work to end religious conflict or face catastrophe.

Mr. Blair went on to say that religion is as important in this century as political ideology was in the last century. In other words Mr. Blair is saying that the need of the hour is to bring all religions together. Mr. Blair went on to say, "There is a new reality. We have to come to terms with it. And it implies at its fundamentals, peaceful coexistence or catastrophe." Mr. Blair is saying that a unification of religions is essential to the world's survival. He emphasized this by saying, "If faith becomes a countervailing force, pulling people apart, then it becomes destructive and indeed dangerous."

This sounds like a call for a World Church to work with governments to solve the world's problems.

Mr. Blair said, "The Tony Blair Faith Foundation will fight extremism, organize faith groups against poverty and illness, and educate people worldwide about religions other than their own."

The preparations are being made for the Woman to ride the Beast; he that readeth let him understand. (Rev. 17)

An advisory council has been formed for this new foundation, that council includes evangelical mega pastor Rick Warren and his wife Kay. Also included on the council are Muslims, Baptists, Jewish leaders and a Catholic Cardinal.

Why is it that evangelicals cannot see that Rick Warren is a pied piper leading them into the coming world church? Why is it that evangelicals will not contend for the faith as Jude commanded? Why is it that evangelicals cannot understand that there is a transition going on, a transition from Philadelphia to Laodicea, from fundamentalism to new evangelicalism? Why is it that evangelicals fail to understand that the scriptures teach that Laodicea is to be cast into the Tribulation period as a part of the Harlot church? (Rev. 3:16) Why is it that those who ought to know better refuse to draw any lines?

The answer is found in Matthew 24:4-5; 11; 24; "being deceived", is a characteristic of Laodicea, see Revelation 3:16-17.

In 1 Chron. 12:32 it says that, "the children of Issachar...were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do," Where are the men today that have an understanding of the times? There are some, May their tribe increase.

Jul 1st, 2008
Main Stories
Categories: Printed Newsletter

THE EUROPEAN UNION

By Art Sadlier

There has been a lot of activity in the EU of late. There is a steady drum beat of preparation for the role that the Revived Roman Empire will play in the biblical end time scenario.

The Irish seemed to have scuttled the new EU treaty; however it is now obvious that a way will be found to circumvent the Irish vote. Word now comes of a new vote being scheduled. Britain has ratified the new treaty, the 19th country to do so.

In another move toward the preparation for the prophetic scenario, the EU agreed last Monday to upgrade ties with Israel. A statement was issued that said, “The European Union is determined to develop a closer partnership with Israel”. The statement went on to say that the process should take place in the context of a resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Those who understand Bible prophecy realize that this scenario is leading to the peace treaty of Daniel 9:27, which will be signed by a roman ruler.

In a similar manner, Nicolas Sarkozy of France said that France will confront those who call for the destruction of Israel. This seems to be the forerunner of the protection the leader of the RRE will promise.

In another development, Sarkozy called for a European Union Naval fleet, asking Britain to contribute an aircraft carrier and Germany to contribute some frigates. Few people realize that if the armies of the 27 countries of the EU were placed under one central command, it would be the world's largest army. The drum beat of the preparation of a kingdom for anti-Christ continues Mr. Sarkozy is to assume the temporary presidency of the EU in July; with his aggressive style he will continue the process of the development of the Revived Roman Empire.

Early in 2009 the EU will elect a permanent president who will be given wide sweeping powers. This man may or may not be anti-Christ, but the office of anti-Christ is certainly being prepared so that the Roman ruler of Daniel 9:27 may assume his role.