|
"Take
Heed" Ministries
|
|
Cecil Andrews, PO BOX 13, Ballynahinch, BT24 8AL, Northern Ireland. Telephone/Fax 028 9756 5511. E-MAIL - takeheed@aol.com WEBSITE - http://www.takeheed.net |
|
NEWS
FROM THE FRONT
|
June 2007
"Be not afraid or dismayed by reason of this great multitude for the battle is not yours but God's" (2nd Chronicles 20v15)
Dear praying friends,
It seems that
Your servant for Christ
CECIL ANDREWS
The ‘testimony’ of Tony Campolo
I am indebted to my good friend, Roger Oakland, of
‘Understand the Times’ for the following very illuminating commentary on
portions of a book authored by Tony Campolo entitled
‘Letters
to a young evangelical’. Herewith is Roger’s commentary
and I will add some final comments at its conclusion.
Tony Campolo is professor emeritus
of sociology of Eastern University in St. David’s,
With his trademark shoot-from-the-heart style, Tony Campolo shatters the stereotype of evangelical Christians as a monolithic mass of social conservatives. In ‘Speaking My Mind’, this prolific author and university professor takes issue with the public image of evangelicals as right-wing hardliners and claims a place at the table for socially liberal viewpoints. [1]
Brian McLaren is also a well known
author and speaker. Many agree McLaren is the leading proponent for a rapidly
developing trend within Christianity called the Emerging Church. Campolo’s
publisher, W. Publishing Group (a branch of Thomas Nelson Publishing), chose
McLaren to write the only endorsement on the back cover of the book. McLaren,
who has authored books such as A New Kind of Christian, The Church on the
Other Side, More Ready Than You Realized, and The Secret Message of
Jesus, states the following:
If you paid the full price for this book and only got chapter 8, you’d be getting a good bargain. The same is true for chapters 4, 6, 9, 10 and 11. At a time when the term “evangelical” is up for grabs, Tony’s voice needs to be heard. [2]
Please notice Brian McLaren’s reference to “a
time when the term ‘evangelical’ is up for grabs” and the proclamation that
“his voice needs to be heard.” For those of us interested in Bible
prophecy, such a statement causes us to pay attention. You see, there once was
a time when an evangelical was a person who had a deep reverence and trust for
the Scriptures. Further, that person had to believe the only way to heaven was
by accepting the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross for our sins,
and that hell was a literal place where the lost would spend eternity. Not so today! As McLaren so clearly states,
the definition of what it means to be an evangelical is now “up for grabs.”
I have read a number of Campolo’s
books and listened to his messages. Yes, Campolo is a perfect example of
someone who is influencing minds and producing “a new kind of Christian.”
I will quote Campolo on a number of issues so that you will be able to examine
his ideas in comparison with what the Bible teaches. As we will see, the words of Isaiah
will be very appropriate when we compare what Campolo says with what God has
said in His Word:
“For My thoughts
are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
and My thoughts than your thoughts”. [3]
Tony Campolo has written a new book
titled ‘Letters to a Young Evangelical’. Campolo equates the letters he
wrote for this book with the letters written to Timothy that are recorded in
the Bible. Paul’s letters were inspired by the Holy Spirit. What about
Campolo’s letters? Were they inspired? Campolo introduces ‘Letters to a
Young Evangelical’ the following way:
Writing letters to young Christians is nothing new. Almost twenty centuries ago, the apostle Paul did it. He wrote to Timothy, his protégé, with the hope that his letters would guide this fledgling Christian missionary and inspire him to realize his potential as an evangelist and a church leader. Paul’s epistles have come down to us as part of the New Testament, and they are jam-packed with good theology and wise council. [4]
Certainly, what Campolo has stated
is true. The books of First and Second Timothy are packed full of truth and
insight. Paul’s inspired letters have provided divine guidelines for living
ever since the words were written down. However, Campolo seems to suggest the
time has come for the Bible to be revised and additional words need to be
written to update the youth of our day. As he states:
Paul wanted Timothy to develop the kind of spiritual disciplines that would nurture him into Christian maturity. Imitating Paul, I will address letters in this book to an imagined young Evangelical named Timothy. [5]
Campolo’s statement that he will “imitate”
Paul by writing letters to “an imagined young Evangelical named Timothy”
should be examined carefully. What if Campolo were to promote ideas and beliefs
that he claims will build spiritual discipline but these ideas and beliefs are
foreign to the Scriptures? What if young people read the letters written by
Campolo and consider his words equal to Paul’s words.
Do you remember what the Bible tells
us about true faith? Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If an unsuspecting
young person were to take Campolo’s words and equate them with God’s Word,
wouldn’t there be a potential for this young person to be deceived? The apostle
Paul wrote his letters under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. These letters
are part of the canon of Scripture. Paul’s words are accurate, true, and
sanctioned by the God of the Universe. Shouldn’t the words written by a man who
has an agenda to liberalize Christianity cause some concern?
Further, the words written by Paul
to Timothy warn us about individuals who would come along—especially in the
last days—and reject sound doctrine, presenting ideas that would lead people
astray. Note carefully what Paul says:
“Preach the word;
be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned unto fables”. [6]
Most Christians can tell you the
very moment when they first encountered Jesus Christ in a personal way. Being
‘born again’ is an event that can be vividly remembered. Tony Campolo says his
personal encounter began when he discovered Christ through a practice known as “centering
prayer.” Though not found in the Bible, the ritual of “centering prayer”
is a pillar of Eastern mysticism. In his book ‘Letters to a Young
Evangelical’, Campolo shares his own personal testimony in a chapter called
“The Gospel According to Us.” He begins the chapter the following
way:
As you may know, most Evangelicals at some point make a decision to trust in Jesus for salvation and commit to becoming the kind of people he wants us to be. [7]
A few pages later in this chapter, Campolo
presents the details of his conversion experience. He begins by stating:
When I was a boy growing up in a lower-middle-class neighbourhood in West Philadelphia, my mother, a convert to Evangelical Christianity from a Catholic immigrant family, hoped I would have one of those dramatic “born again” experiences. That was the way she had come into a personal relationship with Christ. She took me to hear one evangelist after another, praying that I would go to the altar and come away “converted.” But it never worked for me. I would go down the aisle as the people around me sang “the invitation hymn,” but I just didn’t feel that anything happened to me. For a while I despaired wondering if I would ever get “saved.” It took me quite some time to realize that entering into a personal relationship with Christ does not always happen that way. [8]
Now, it is certainly true that not
all conversions are experienced by coming to Christ at an evangelistic crusade.
However, it’s important to carefully consider how Campolo describes his
personal conversion experience, especially in light of the Scriptures. Later in
the same chapter, he wrote:
In my case intimacy with Christ had developed gradually over the years, primarily through what Catholics call “centering prayer.” Each morning, as soon as I wake up, I take time—sometimes as much as a half hour—to center myself on Jesus. I say his name over and over again to drive back the 101 things that begin to clutter my mind the minute I open my eyes. Jesus is my mantra, as some would say. [9]
I have searched the Scriptures! You can do
the same. “Centering prayer” and using the name of Jesus as a “mantra”
is just not there. In fact the idea of using a “mantra” (that is
mindlessly repeating a word over and over again) is used by the Buddhists and
the Hindus in their attempts to focus on the spiritual realm and contact higher
beings that the Bible calls demons.
Tony Campolo claims he became born
again through this practice called “centering prayer”. He encourages his
young readers to get closer to Christ by embracing this ritual. Centering
prayer is becoming very popular within the Emerging Church Movement. Is it
biblical? Tony Campolo says he uses “Jesus” as a “mantra” to
clear his mind and to get himself into an altered state of consciousness. This
mystical experience, he calls the “thin place.” Quoting from his book:
The constant repetition
of his name clears my head of everything but the awareness of his presence. By
driving back all other concerns I am able to create what the ancient Celtic
Christians called “the thin place.” The thin place is that spiritual condition
wherein separation between self and God becomes so thin that God is able to
break through and envelop the soul. [10]
Remember that Campolo explained that
‘Letters to a Young Evangelical’ was an attempt to imitate the apostle
Paul in offering advice to a young evangelical Christian named Timothy.
However, it is obvious that Campolo’s ideas are not grounded on Paul’s teachings.
In fact they contradict what Paul wrote.
In another letter written by Campolo
titled “Becoming Actualized Christians,” further instructions are given
regarding how to have a ‘born again’ experience by practicing “centering
prayer”. He states:
I learned about this way
of having a born-again experience from reading Catholic mystics, especially ‘The Spiritual Exercises
of Ignatius Loyola’. Ignatius, a founder of the Jesuit order, was once a
soldier and it was only when he spent a long time in a hospital bed recovering
from a battle wound that his heart and mind focused on God. Like most Catholic
mystics he developed an intense desire to experience a “oneness” with God.
Gradually, he came to feel an intense yearning for the kind of spiritual purity
that he believed would enable him to experience the fullness of God’s presence
within. [11]
Campolo’s belief that you can be
‘born again’ by experiencing a “oneness with God” while embracing the
teachings of Ignatius Loyola the founder of the Jesuits, is preposterous. As
can be documented, the very reason the Jesuits were founded by Loyola was for
the purpose of bringing the ‘Separated Brethren’ (those who departed from
Catholicism) back to the Roman Catholic Church, by whatever devious means it
would take. How could Campolo, who claims he is an evangelical Christian, make
such a statement? But there is more! Campolo continues by praising the
Roman Catholic Church and its teachings:
After the Reformation, we
Protestants left behind much that was troubling about Roman Catholicism of the
fifteenth century. I am convinced we left too much behind. The methods of
praying employed by the likes of Ignatius have become precious to me. With the
help of some Catholic saints, my prayer life has deepened. [12]
My case is closed. Tony Campolo may
claim he is an evangelical Christian, but the facts speak loud and clear. The
mystical New Age practices he promotes are more closely tied to Buddhism,
Hinduism, and Catholicism than to biblical Christianity. The Bible makes it clear
the only way to be born again is to repent of your sins and acknowledge Jesus
Christ. The doctrines of demons that Paul warned Timothy would be promoted in
the name of Christianity in the last days are underway.
[1]
Tony Campolo ‘Speaking my mind’: Back cover
[2]
Ibid
[3]
Isaiah 55:8-9
[4]
Tony Campolo ‘Letters to a young Evangelical’ page 1
[5]
Ibid page 2
[6]
2 Timothy 4:2-4
[7]
Tony Campolo ‘Letters to a young Evangelical’ page 20
[8]
Ibid page 25
[9]
Ibid page 26
[10]
Ibid
[11]
Ibid page 30
[12]
Ibid page 31
Cecil’s comments
Tony Campolo has
‘testified’ that when he was listening to the Word of God being preached at
evangelistic meetings that ‘it
never worked for me’. He then goes on to explain what he believes ‘did work for
him’ – ‘In my case intimacy
with Christ had developed gradually over the years, primarily through what
Catholics call “centering prayer”… . I say his name over and over again to
drive back the 101 things that begin to clutter my mind the minute I open my
eyes. Jesus is my mantra, as some would say.’
In the
‘Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs’ by John Ankerberg and John Weldon we read
this ‘The word “spell” is perhaps the
nearest approach to the Sanskrit word mantra. It is a form of words or
sounds which are believed to have a magical effect when uttered with
intent…Sound is the foundation of all magic and an armoury of mantras forms
part of the equipment of the magician in all countries…A mantra repeated often
enough can penetrate the dense barrier of the material sphere and draw power
from the occult planes…The power of the mantra also functions to facilitate
“altered states of consciousness” [that] lead to a kind of intoxication which
results in trance…mantras are integrally related to occult practice and
philosophy [pages 244-346].
In contrast to this ‘Word of God-free testimony’ by Tony Campolo, the Apostle Peter reminded true
converts to Christ of how they were living testimonies to “being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever…and
this is the word by which the gospel is preached unto you” [1 Peter
1:23&25]
and in Romans 1:16 the Apostle Paul
declared that “the gospel of
Christ…is the power of God unto salvation” and not some mind-emptying,
occult-empowering mantra.
When it comes to Tony
Campolo “Beloved, believe not
every spirit but test the spirits whether they be of God because many false
prophets are gone out into the world” [1 John 4:1]. Mr Campolo seems to be living,
breathing, ‘teaching’ proof of those mentioned by Paul in his first letter to
Timothy 4:1, people who would “depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons’. ‘Demonic’
teachings
are further exemplified when it comes to
Tony Campolo and ISLAM [1]
Earlier on page 2 Roger
Oakland made reference to Tony Campolo’s book ‘Speaking my Mind’. In my own December
2006 newsletter I made reference to an article that I had posted to our website
warning people about the upcoming ‘Summer Madness’ gathering in Belfast where ‘Emergent Church’ “guru” Brian McLaren will sadly be the headline
speaker. In that website article I likewise made reference to McLaren’s
endorsement of Campolo’s book and I went on to analyse a number of ‘teachings’
put forth by Tony Campolo. I want to set out now part of what I wrote in
relation to what Tony Campolo said about ISLAM in chapter
9 of his
book called ‘Is Islam really
an evil religion?’ [I hope to comment further on his views on ISLAM in my next newsletter
(DV)] I wrote –
On pages 138-139 Tony
Campolo wrote
‘Hosts on a variety of talk shows on
Christian radio have stirred up negative reactions against Islam by citing a
verse in the Koran in which Mohammed called for the death of “infidels” [unbelievers/non-Muslims]. The text they
usually cite to justify such violent retaliation is this – ‘Fight in the
cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah
loves not transgressors. And kill them whenever ye catch them, and turn them
out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse
than slaughter; but fight them not at the sacred Mosque, unless they (first)
fight you there; but if they fight you, kill them’ [The Koran: Sura 2 (Al
–Baqarah) 190-194].
When asked about this passage from the Koran,
a Muslim scholar contended that this passage must be read in context. Those in
(a) non-Muslim tribe were staging regular terrorist attacks on the Muslims in
Medina. These verses were not permission for terrorism. Instead they were a
warning against terrorists…
It is completely unfair to
judge Islam by this verse when the overwhelming emphasis of the Koran
is to treat Jews and Christians with reverence and respect, to provide freedom
for them to worship (but not to proselytise) in accord with their faith and to
protect them against harm [The Koran: Sura 29:46]…It is…wrong for us to
take an isolated passage out of the Koran to demonise Mohammed or to
define Allah as a God who wills the annihilation of non-Muslims’.
Cecil’s Comments
Anyone reading what Tony Campolo
has written would, I believe, come to the conclusion that the passage he quoted
is the only passage in the whole of the Koran that is used by Muslims to
justify the killing of ‘infidels’ including Jews and Christians. This is one of
the ‘misleading’ and ‘incorrect’ statements by Tony Campolo that I referred to
earlier [in the website article]. So what are the TRUE facts about the
verses/passages in the Koran that are used by Muslims to justify the killing of
‘infidels’? A very helpful web page that I accessed gave details
of no less than 164 Jihad verses that are often used by
Muslims to justify the killing of ‘infidels’. On this web page they are listed
in the order that they appear in the Koran but people must understand that
the Suras in the Koran are not listed chronologically
[in the order the ‘revelations’ were given to Mohammed]
but the Suras in the Koran are listed according to
length [shortest first and so on].
‘Revelations’ in Islam are
subject to the law of ‘abrogation’ – in other words, if a later ‘revelation’
contradicts or cancels a previous ‘revelation’, then the latest ‘revelation’
over-rides the previous. This is very important when comparing/contrasting the
verses that enjoin a peaceful approach to ‘infidels’ [early ‘revelations’] with
the much more militant verses [later ‘revelations’] that sanction extreme
violence against ‘infidels’. Here is one short quote from this web page –
‘Abrogation is a reoccurring
topic whenever verses of the Koran are discussed. As a rule, later verses counselling
Holy War, such as the Sword Verse (Sura 9:5), abrogate earlier verses
counselling tolerance and peace, such as Sura 2:256. The Sword Verse is just
one of the 164 Jihad verses listed below. It follows that not many, if any,
of the Holy War verses in this list are abrogated’.
From that quote we learn
that the verses cited by Tony Campolo, from Sura 2, are actually part of a Sura
containing ‘earlier verses
counselling tolerance and peace’. The ‘Sword Verse’
[Sura 9:5] is viewed as ‘abrogating’ the
earlier peaceful approach. So what is this ‘Sword Verse’
and have we examples of it being used by Muslims to justify
the killing of ‘infidels’? The verse reads ‘slay the
idolaters wherever you find them...take them captives and besiege them and lie
in wait for them in every ambush’.
Robert Spencer, in his
book ‘The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam’ writes on
page 31 ‘Osama bin Laden…in his “Declaration of War” against the Americans
quotes Suras 3:145; 47:4-6; 2:154; 9:14; 47:19; 8:72 and of course the…‘Verse
of the Sword’ Sura 9:5 [whatever happened to Tony
Campolo’s claim for ‘an isolated passage’?] …In 2003 on the
first day of the Muslim holy celebrations Eid-al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice,
he began a sermon “Praise be to Allah who revealed the Verse of the Sword to
his servant and messenger [the Prophet Mohammed] in order to establish truth
and abolish falsehood”…Osama’s use of these and other passages in his
messages is consistent with traditional
Islamic understanding of the Koran…The jihad passages in the Koran are
anything but a dead letter’. To understand the chronological
progression, as ‘revelations’ unfolded, from being a position of ‘no
retaliation’ to being ‘defensively permitted’ to being ‘defensively commanded’
to eventually becoming ‘aggressively commanded’, a visit to this web page will
prove very instructive
The following quote from
this web page should cause Tony Campolo to revisit this whole subject in much
greater depth and detail and hopefully cause him to retract what he has
misleadingly written in this chapter –
‘Although
all Muslim scholars believe that God replaced some earlier verses by
substituting later verses, there is a great difference of opinion among them as
to which verses supersede which verses. Nevertheless, most are agreed that
Sura 9:5, (called "the verse of the sword") supersedes most of the
previous verses regarding jihad. Some believe it supersedes as many as 111
previous verses. In spite of this general agreement, many today quote the
previous replaced verses in order to validate their perception of Islam being a
peaceful religion. Thus modern, liberal Muslim leaders, especially here in the
west, are teaching what could be called "the Islam of Mecca" with its
emphasis on non-violence and tolerance. At the same time, "the Islam of
Medina," with its more aggressive, totalitarian nature is what is being
practiced and taught by orthodox, fundamentalist Muslims in most parts of the
Muslim world’.
“Be thou faithful unto death”
Shortly after 18th
April I received an Internet link that posted a report under the heading – “A letter to the Global Church from the
Protestant Church of Smyrna”. This report gave the horrific details of how 3 Christian
leaders in the area of Smyrna in Turkey had been savagely butchered to death by
members of a Muslim ‘tarikat’ – a group of Islamic ‘faithful
believers’. These 3 brothers in Christ, missionary and father of 3, Tilman
Geske, pastor and father of 2, Necati Aydin, and former Muslim [like
Pastor Aydin] Ugur
Yuksel had all been involved in both printing and proclaiming God’s TRUTH and
had arranged to meet with these Muslim men to give them a Bible study.
Tragically this was merely a ruse to lure God’s servants to a meeting where
they would be martyred for seeking to spread God’s TRUTH. This is but one of
many equally horrendous instances in recent years where God’s faithful servants
have paid the ultimate price in the cause of God’s TRUTH. All these brutal
slayings give the lie to Tony Campolo’s devilish statement quoted earlier that ‘It is… wrong for us… to define Allah as a
god who wills the annihilation of non-Muslims’. As I write this article I have just
started to read Pastor John MacArthur’s latest book ‘The TRUTH War’ and I want to quote some extracts
from his introduction. On page XV he starts a section headed ‘What is truth’ and writes [pages XV-XVIII] ‘God and truth are inseparable…to reject
God is to reject the Giver of all truth, the final Judge of what really is
true, and the very essence and embodiment of truth itself…The contemporary
aversion to truth is simply a natural expression of fallen humanity’s innate
hostility towards God [“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither, indeed, can be” Romans 8:7]. It is exactly the same attitude with
which Pilate summarily dismissed Christ [“What is truth?” John 18:38]…the contemporary refusal to regard any
truth as sure and certain is the worst kind of infidelity…We have been given a
clear message for the purpose of confronting the world’s unbelief…Faithfulness
to Christ demands it. The honour of God requires it…the ages-old conflict over
truth is spiritual warfare, a cosmic battle between God and the powers
of darkness [Ephesians
6:12]…it has become a very
serious problem in the current generation…The Church has grown lazy, worldly,
and self-satisfied. Church leaders are obsessed with style and methodology,
losing interest in the glory of God and becoming grossly apathetic about TRUTH
and sound doctrine…it is every believer’s solemn duty to resist every attack on
the TRUTH…The TRUTH War is, after all, war. Warfare is always serious,
but this is the battle of the ages for the highest of prizes, and therefore it
requires of us the utmost diligence’. Our 3 brothers in Christ gave their lives in this
warfare to proclaim God’s TRUTH. Earlier in his introduction in a section
headed ‘The Eternal Value Of
The Truth’ Pastor
MacArthur wrote [pages XII-XV] ‘the
church is supposed to be “the pillar and ground of the truth” [1st
Timothy 3:15]…Much of the visible church nowadays seems to think Christians are
supposed to be at play rather than at war…Contemporary Christians are
determined to get the world to like them…the thought of even identifying
someone else’s teaching as false (much less “contending earnestly” for the
faith) is a distasteful and dangerously counter cultural suggestion…But
Christians of all people ought to be most willing to live and die for
the TRUTH…And if called upon to sacrifice for the TRUTH’S sake, we need to be
willing and prepared to give our lives…that is exactly what Jesus was speaking
about when He called His disciples to take up a cross [Matthew 16:24]. In the light of these
terrible events in Turkey and also faced today as we are with a seemingly
never-ending flood of ‘purpose driven’, ‘seeker sensitive’ ‘health and wealth,’
‘inspiration-only’, ‘non-offensive’ “gospel” messages and movements, these next
words by Pastor MacArthur on page XIV should come as a sombre challenge in
particular to all who identify with these branches of ‘Contemporary
Christianity’ – ‘Does anyone
really imagine that many of the entertainment-hungry churchgoers who pack
today’s megachurches would be willing to give their lives for the TRUTH?’ Let me close this item,
in memory of our late brothers, with these words from Christ Himself to the
Church at Smyrna almost two thousand years ago “I know thy works and tribulation…and I know the blasphemy
of them who…are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things, which thou
shalt suffer…be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life”
Revelation 2: 9-10.
In the UK, to inquire about obtaining a copy
of Pastor MacArthur’s book,
“The TRUTH War” you can phone ‘Grace to You’
on 01233 662262
Belfast Bible College responds
On page 16 of my
March newsletter I quoted an email that I had sent to Belfast Bible College on
2nd February asking for clarification on a point in their ‘Doctrinal
Basis’ and I mentioned that at the time of ‘going to press’ for my
newsletter I had not received a reply from them. A couple of days after [2nd
April] my newsletter was posted to our ministry website I received the
following email from the Principal, David Shepherd and also responded to him as
below
Dear Cecil, I trust all is well with you. Please see…my
response - Our doctrinal basis is as clear as a statement of such brevity may
be and allows for the breadth of evangelical thought on 'The Fall'.
While some evangelical thought (including my own) tends toward a more literal
reading of Genesis, it is possible along with R. Niebuhr, J. Ellul, C.S.
Lewis, H.M. Kuitert, James Orr, Donald Bloesch and others to insist on a
historical fall without insisting on a rigidly literal interpretation of
Genesis 1-3.This is made possible by the range of thinking on key passages such
as Romans 5...Where Paul refers to death in verse 12, he may well be referring
to physical death only since that's what thanatos seems to mean in verse
14...Then again the passage appears to draw a contrast between death and
'eternal life' in v.21 and in vv 16 and 18 Paul seems to use condemnation in a
similar way to death in v.12...which may suggest a 'spiritual death' was
intended...Or does he mean death in its physical and spiritual aspects...?
While I myself would defend a more traditional evangelical position on the
'Fall'...I would acknowledge the possibility that others (including Dr.
Keay) who I would consider to be evangelical might read Genesis in a
different way than I might. While I hope that the above answer might satisfy
you, I am not confident that it will do so, nor do I anticipate that
further exchanges on the issue will be of particular assistance. Let me
therefore thank you again for your concern for the ministry of
Belfast Bible College and wish you every blessing in yours.
Dear David, Many thanks for your response just received and
likewise I have no desire to prolong this issue. I have read your comments
and in the light of Ephesians 2:1 I think it's very obvious that Paul viewed
mankind from Adam as being spiritually dead as well as being subject to
physical death and all because of 'the fall'. Sadly Dr Keay, according to his
contribution to the 'evolution v creation ' debate on Sunday Sequence, clearly
doesn't believe this truth. I am your servant for Christ, Cecil Andrews
PS When it comes to C S
Lewis I would simply say 'Take Heed' and direct you to [‘Take
Heed’ ministry website link to article on C S Lewis then quoted]
The Belfast Odyssey
arena currently has this advert on its ‘What’s on’ page –
An
Evening with Joel Osteen is a chance for you to be encouraged by one of
America's leading pastors. You will be able to celebrate God's goodness through
worship and praise music…, you'll learn more about Joel's ministry and family,
and Joel will have an inspirational message from God's Word. At the end of the
event, Joel will proclaim a special blessing over everyone in attendance… You
don't have to be a Christian or a member of any particular church. The only
requirement is a ticket. [Cost £11.50].
So, who is Joel Osteen? A few brief extracts from a report compiled by
another faithful ‘watchman’ may serve to sufficiently alert people not to even
consider paying £11.50 to hear ‘an inspirational message’ and to receive
a ‘special blessing’. In June 2005 Joel Osteen was interviewed on the ‘Larry
King live’ programme and a Dial-The–Truth
Ministries report states -
After Larry King opened
the phone lines, a concerned Christian asks Joel to clarify a previous
statement…Osteen could easily clear this up.
CALLER: Hello, Larry. You're the
best, and thank you, Joe -- Joel -- for your positive messages and your book. I'm
wondering, though, why you sidestepped Larry's earlier question about how we
get to heaven? The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus is the way, the truth and
the light and the only way to the father is through him. That's not really a
message of condemnation but of truth. OSTEEN: Yes, I would agree
with her. I believe that…KING: So then a Jew is not going to
heaven? OSTEEN: No. Here's my thing, Larry, is I can't judge
somebody's heart. You know? Only God can look at somebody's heart, and so -- I
don't know. To me, it's not my business to say, you know, this one is or
this one isn't. I just say, here's what the Bible teaches and I'm going to put
my faith in Christ. And I just I think it's wrong when you go around saying,
you're saying you're not going, you're not going, you're not going, because
it's not exactly my way. I'm just...
KING: But you believe your
way. OSTEEN: I believe my way. I believe my way with all my
heart. KING: But for someone who doesn't share it, is wrong,
isn't he? OSTEEN: Well, yes. Well, I don't know if I look at
it like that. I would present my way, but I'm just going to let God be the
judge of that. I don't know. KING: So you make no judgment on
anyone? OSTEEN: No. But I...
Larry really tosses Joel
a softball. How about a God-defying atheist? Again, Osteen will not confess
that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way of salvation.
KING: What about atheists?
OSTEEN: You know what, I'm
going to let someone -- I'm going to let God be the judge of who goes to heaven
and hell. I just -- again, I present the truth, and I say it every week.
You know, I believe it's a relationship with Jesus. But you know what? I'm
not going to go around telling everybody else if they don't want to believe
that that's going to be their choice. God's got to look at your own
heart…and only God knows that.
KING: But you're not fire and
brimstone, right…not…hell and damnation? OSTEEN: No. That's
not me. It's never been me. I've always been an encourager at heart. And
when I took over from my father he came from the Southern Baptist background
and back 40, 50 years ago there was a lot more of that. But, you know, I
just -- I don't believe in that. I don't believe -- maybe it was for a
time. But I don't have it in my heart to condemn people. I'm there
to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them
experience the life God has for us.
Friend, the greatest "fire
and brimstone" preacher that ever lived was the Lord Jesus! He
preached about hell more than any other subject. If you don’t believe in
proclaiming "fire and brimstone”, as Osteen openly confesses, you
do not believe the Bible! It’s that simple… Stay away from Joel Osteen and
his no condemnation, self-esteem, false-gospel. Warn others.
This August
ecumenical ‘public relations’ event in Ballymena will include full Roman
Catholic participation. Some misguided ‘Protestants’ may view this as an
opportunity to witness to the participating Catholics. Others looking on will
simply view it as ‘Christians together’. God’s glory and truth are never
advanced by ‘unholy alliances’. Spurgeon wrote “The secret cause of
Jehosaphat’s loss was his alliance, his fellowship with sinners. Would that
Jehosaphat’s experience might be a warning to avoid being unequally yoked
together with unbelievers! May we be separate from sinners”.
‘Sunday Worship’ – BBC Radio
4: 29th April 2007
Jesuit-led ‘service’ for
mostly ‘gay’ congregation
Cecil Andrews – ‘Take Heed’ Ministries – 4
May 2007
Edited version of this article included as an
insert with the
JUNE 2007
NEWS
FROM THE FRONT
Full article can be viewed on
http://www.takeheed.net/Radio_4_gay_mass.htm