"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

 

 

March 2008

 
"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,

In Pharaoh’s Egypt false ‘fertility gods’ were worshipped, and God’s people were oppressed. God revealed His anger through plagues that impacted adversely upon the environment, upon animal life, upon the food-chain, upon people’s health, upon climatic conditions and upon family life. In our day western ‘Christian’ nations are feeding the world’s lust for all manner of gut-wrenching pornographic material with Hollywood, USA being a leading player. These nations are also warmly welcoming false gods. In Iowa USA, at the end of January, Mohammed Khan, the imam of the Islamic Centre of Des Moines, led the opening prayer in the Iowa legislature at the request of Iowa State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad, who has questionable associations with Islamic extremists. In his four-minute prayer before the Iowa legislative session, Khan made a plea for “victory over those who disbelieve” and “protection from the Great Satan”. Reflecting on the plagues of Egypt can we not see similar ‘plagues’ being visited on the world of our day. In Egypt these were a precursor to the great deliverance and exodus of God’s people. God answered the prayers of His people [see Exodus 3:7-8]. We thank you for your continuing love and support and ask you to join with us in the prayer of Revelation 22:20 “Even so, come Lord Jesus”.

Your servant for Christ

CECIL ANDREWS

 

 

 

 

Tony Blair: Whose ‘poodle’ is he now?

During his last years as Prime Minister, Tony Blair was often characterised by the media and press as being George Bush’s ‘poodle’ because of his slavish support of the American-led war against Iraq.

On the BBC website, part of an article there,

dated 3rd February 2003, reads as follows -

‘He did not say so out loud - but Tony Blair wanted his backbenchers to believe he spent last weekend once again using his influence on George Bush not to rush into war….Some of his rebel backbenchers appeared to believe it and were reassured. Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, amongst others, was not so sure…Mr Kennedy, who likes to think he is speaking for the majority of the electorate on this issue, was touching on the jibe which falls readily to so many lips. "Tony Blair is no more than George Bush's poodle." It is a jibe that stings the prime minister and which he is desperate to nail. But he is fighting an uphill battle.

 

The opening lines of a Daily Mail article,

dated 22nd July 2006, read as follows -

‘No one knows for sure if George W. Bush regards Tony Blair as his poodle - but he certainly addresses him as one. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the President has greeted him with a cry of "Blair!" and told him: "You’re my boy."

 

Just hours after Tony Blair stood down as Prime Minister on

27th June 2007 the following was reported on the BBC website -

‘Tony Blair is to become a Middle East envoy working on behalf of the US, Russia, the UN and the EU. The announcement came just hours after he stood down as UK prime minister and shortly before it was announced he was to quit as a member of parliament…Mr Blair replaces the Quartet's previous envoy, former World Bank president James Wolfensohn who last year resigned in frustration at the lack of progress…Mr Blair's appointment comes at a time of heightened tension in the region’. 

As he embarks on this daunting task of attempting to bring peace to the Middle East, will Tony Blair bring fresh, unbiased thinking to this role? In the months that have unfolded following his appointment the answer to that question has become quite evident and it is – ‘No’. It has become crystal clear the Tony Blair is pursuing and promoting the aims and objectives of The Vatican. Prior to his standing down as British Prime Minister it was widely speculated that Tony Blair would, once he left office, convert to Roman Catholicism, the faith of his wife, Cherie. Whilst in office he regularly accompanied her to Mass and one of the last engagements he undertook, as Prime Minister, was to visit Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. This is how the Roman Catholic Zenit news agency reported his visit of 5th June 2007 – just 3 weeks before he resigned as prime Minister –

 

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 5, 2006 (Zenit.org).

The role of religion, dialogue with Islam and aid to Africa were among the issues addressed during Benedict XVI's audience with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The "cordial" meeting, as it was later described by Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro Valls, was held Saturday morning in the Pope's private library and lasted about 35 minutes. According to a note issued by Navarro Valls, the principal subject of the meeting was "the role of religion in politics and society." In particular, "attention was given to the contribution that the shared values of religion can make to dialogue, especially with moderate Islam, and above all in the areas of solidarity and peace," according to the Vatican statement. This was the first meeting between Blair, an Anglican, and Benedict XVI since his election to the papacy. The prime minister arrived in the Vatican accompanied by his wife Cherie and their children. Cherie Blair, a Catholic, had been received in a private audience by the Pope on April 28.

 

A report in the Guardian on the funeral of Benedict’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II stated – ‘The prime minister, Tony Blair, arrived in the sun-filled square along with his wife, Cherie. They were joined by the heads of state from more than 80 countries, including leaders as diverse as the US president, George Bush, and the Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami. Prince Charles is attending the funeral in place of the Queen’.

After resigning as Prime Minister in June 2007 there was a brief ‘honeymoon period’ before predictions about an imminent conversion to Roman Catholicism once more began to appear in print. On the AOL news section for Friday, 9th November 2007 it was reported – ‘Tony Blair is to convert to Roman Catholicism within weeks, it has been claimed. The former prime minister, whose wife Cherie and four children are Catholic, has long been expected to join the church after quitting Downing Street. According to The Tablet, a Catholic magazine, he is to be received into the church shortly by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster’. A similar report also appeared in the Daily Mail of the same date but also included ‘Tony Blair is preparing to convert to Roman Catholicism within weeks…Mr Blair has received instruction from 2 priests, RAF chaplain, John Walsh and Father Mark O’Toole, the cardinal’s secretary. A candidate for reception into the Catholic Church is usually received by their parish priest. The cardinal’s involvement, as Archbishop of Westminster, would suggest Mr Blair’s process of conversion began while he was in Downing Street’. In addition to the priestly names mentioned, other ‘spiritual’ influences have also been brought to bear upon Tony Blair. On 8th December 2007 the Irish Times carried an article titled ‘The Converter’ and it began with these words ‘If Tony Blair becomes a Catholic this month, he will be the latest high-profile convert to have Father Michael Seed as his spiritual adviser. Ben Quinn meets the “Scarlet Pimpernel” priest in Westminster Cathedral’. Other extracts from the article read –

 

‘While no serving British Prime Minister has ever been a Catholic, the nearest thing was Blair’s attendance, with his Catholic wife and children. At Masses said at Downing Street by Father Michael Seed. When that highly symbolic conversion eventually takes place – and most commentators think it will – the special role of the London-based priest with an Irish connection [according to the article he was given up for adoption by a 16-year-old Irish girl, Marie, 6 months after his birth in Manchester in 1957…Father Seed later found himself living briefly in Cork while studying for the priesthood] will be remembered along with that of a small coterie of other clergy. “We call him the Scarlet Pimpernel” chuckles one of the nuns who helps to run the beating heart of British Catholicism, Westminster Cathedral, as I wait to meet the 50-year-old Franciscan friar and unofficial Catholic chaplain to the House of Commons… The tag…is a world away from his role as ecumenical adviser to the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor. Still, Father Seed’s “string of celebrity scalps”…is impressive. The Conservative MPs John Gummer and Ann Widdecombe are among those he prepared to become Catholics and he is reported to have converted the former MP, Alan Clark [he of the infamous ‘Diaries’] on his deathbed…the list of famous names who have contributed to his books…includes Hillary Clinton, the Duchess of Kent [a Royal convert to Roman Catholicism] Jilly Cooper, Sean Connery, John le Carre´ and the Dalai Lama…Unsurprisingly Father Seed remains tight-lipped on the subject of Blair…Father Seed laughs fondly as he recounts how [Ann] Widdecombe was received into the church. “She is known as ‘the Popessa’ he says affectionately. “When she became a Catholic she added things to the ceremony. You are only meant to say one sentence…But Ann then went on to say more, such as she believes in the Magisterium, the teachings of the Pope and all his successors.’

Clearly this Roman Catholic priest has been spectacularly successful in sowing ‘the seeds’ of Roman Catholicism in the corridors of political power at Westminster. The predicted conversion of Tony Blair to Roman Catholicism officially occurred on Friday evening, 21st December 2007.  This was how the AOL news section reported the event on Sunday 23rd December – ‘Tony Blair has converted to Roman Catholicism, the former PM's official spokesman has confirmed. Mr Blair was received into the Catholic Church by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, in the chapel of the Archbishop's House in Westminster on Friday night. Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said: "I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church. "For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he has been following a programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion." Monsignor Mark O'Toole, the cardinal's private secretary, led Mr Blair through his period of spiritual preparation before Friday night's ceremony. The cardinal added: "My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together." The move comes after years of speculation that Mr Blair, whose wife Cherie and four children are Catholic, would convert from Anglicanism after he resigned from Number 10 in June’. The RC Zenit new agency made a brief reference to Mr Blair’s conversion on Monday 24th December 2007  -

Holy See Welcomes Blair's Decision to Convert

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).-

‘Tony Blair's decision to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church has been welcomed "with respect" by the Holy See, according to a Vatican spokesman. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi… This is "good news that we welcome with respect," he said. "Catholics are glad to welcome into their community those who, through a serious and reflective journey, convert to Catholicism"… For his part, Archbishop Rowan Williams, the leader of the Anglican Communion, to which Blair had belonged, wished the convert every good in his spiritual journey.’

Having ‘slipped the lead’ of being known as ‘Bush’s poodle’ by resigning as British Prime Minister Mr Blair appears now to have transferred his loyalties to a new master. No longer is he ‘the President’s poodle’ – he appears to be content now to be ‘the Pope’s poodle’. On what grounds do I affix this appellation to Mr Blair? The following are extracts from a 22nd October 2007 article by Daniel Blake, a Christian Post correspondent

 

‘LONDON – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has held closed meetings with a number of religious leaders to lay down plans for an international interfaith foundation designed to combat religious extremism. The foundation is being set up with the hope that it will help ease tensions between the world’s major religions and help them to overcome common misunderstandings and misconceptions held against one another. Reports about the new initiative came as Blair prepared to speak to some of America’s leading Roman Catholic bishops in New York – an event that has reignited rumours of his impending conversion from Anglicanism to Catholicism. “The tragedy is that Christians, Jews and Muslims are all Abrahamic religions,” Blair has said. “We regard ourselves as children of Abraham but we have fought for so long.” Blair's advisers have also recently held talks with the office of Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and representatives of the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Muslim Council of Britain has also given its full support to the initiative.’

So, in what was virtually his first public pronouncement following his appointment as ‘a Middle East envoy working on behalf of the US, Russia, the UN and the EU’ does Tony Blair come up with some new and original thinking on the problems of the Middle East – in a word - ‘no’. He has simply parroted the thinking of his new spiritual masters housed in The Vatican. Where did this focus on the ‘Abrahamic faiths/religions’ first find expression in modern times? On the website of the BNET research centre we find some very interesting information published ‘Winter 2003’ on this link http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2751/is_74/ai_112411725

‘The end is near. Before long, the College of Cardinals will have to elect a successor to Pope John Paul II. His will be a tough act to follow….Arguably, John Paul II has so far played a pivotal role in preventing the current conflict between radical Islamists and the West from degenerating into a global fracas between Islam and Christianity more generally. One of his pontificate's accomplishments has been the maintenance of relatively harmonious relations with most Muslim nations and moderate Islamic thinkers without jeopardizing Israel's existence. This topic merits a separate study; suffice it for now to point to a few remarkable events…It was John Paul II who introduced the concept of the "Abrahamic religions" as a family of faiths, sometimes courting the accusation that he blurred the uniqueness of Christ, truth incarnate. However, all major Christian denominations acknowledge the presence of elements--if not the fullness--of revealed truth in other religions, particularly in Islam. The underlying principle here is the Christian dictum, "God never leaves himself without witness", meaning in the present context that He has left His traces in other faiths as well. How the next pope handles this issue can be of vast geopolitical consequence.’

So, credit for this expression is given to the late John Paul II and the writer made reference to the importance of how his successor would deal with this issue. Let’s see how Pope Benedict XVI has ‘handled this issue’. In December 2006 the current Pope made a rather controversial 4-day visit to Turkey. On an Islamic Internet Newspaper called ‘Pakistan Link’ the Editorial of 15 December 2006 on http://www.pakistanlink.com/Editor/12152006.htm included this -

‘The pontiff, who returned on Friday from a four-day visit to Turkey that included an unscheduled stopover at Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, discussed his trip during his weekly audience at the Vatican…The Pope described his visit to the mosque as “a gesture that was not initially planned but that turned out to have great significance. During a few minutes of reflection in that place of worship I turned to the only God of Heaven and earth,” Benedict said. “May all believers see themselves as his creatures and bear witness of true brotherhood”… The Pope’s visit and observations should prompt the moderate-majority among the Muslims and the Christians to be seized of their responsibility – to be conscious of religious affinities and to shun age-old animosities… Viewed in the same vein, the visit of the late Pope John Paul to the Ommayad Mosque in Damascus on May 6, 2001, was an event of singular importance. He was the first Pope to set foot on a mosque and his message on the momentous day was truly befitting for the occasion. The Pope’s 2001 initiative could not have been better timed and gave a boost to the inter-faith dialogue that had been bringing Christians, Muslims and other believers closer, particularly in the United States. Indeed, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are three Abrahamic religions whose followers have a lot in common and they ought to work for a common cause rather than be launched on a collision course.’

In the same article, some remarks of the President whose ‘poodle’ Tony Blair was labelled, George W Bush are also quoted – these remarks were made at one of the ‘Iftar parties’ given for Muslim leaders in America to mark the end of Ramadan

‘In one of his Iftar parties address at the White House, President Bush rightly remarked: “Islam is a religion that brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people around the world. It has made brothers and sisters of every race. It has given birth to a rich culture of learning and literature and science. Tonight we honour the traditions of a great faith by hosting this Iftar at the White House…We see in Islam a religion that traces its origins back to God’s call on Abraham… Muslims, Christians, Jews and followers of other faiths, have to act in unison to arrest the current decline of civilization so as to make the world a more liveable place. Let’s be seized of our religious affinities and spurn unwarranted animosities.’

 

This spurious common ‘Abrahamic’ identity is being pushed in both secular and spiritual situations. The Pope and The President are clearly ‘singing from the same hymn-sheet’ and both have a willing ‘poodle’ in Tony Blair. Faithful believers need to be alerted to the fact that other so-called ‘evangelical’ leaders are following the same ‘sell-out’ line in an attempt to find common ‘faith-ground’ between the monotheistic religions, in particular Islam and Christianity. In response to a letter issued in October 2007 by leading Muslim clerics, so-called ‘evangelical’ Christians responded with their own letter inviting ‘inter-faith dialogue’ on the common basis of ‘love for God and love for neighbour’ – as if that were the central tenet of Christianity rather than “repent and believe the gospel” [Mark 1:15]. This issue has been aired in an article on the Christian Post website. The Christian Post article starts with these words – ‘Christian leaders across denominational lines responded to the unprecedented open letter signed last month by 138 representative Muslim leaders with their own letter, calling on the two Abrahamic faiths to love God and neighbours together.’

I want to draw special attention to a number of the so-called prominent ‘evangelicals’ who like Tony Blair are in effect part of the ‘presidential and papal pack of poodles’ responsible for this ‘sell-out’ of the gospel in the name of ‘peace’ and ‘expediency’. They are Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Robert Schuller, Brian McLaren, Jim Wallis, David [Paul] Yonggi Cho, Richard Mouw and very sadly John Stott.

 

The Apostle Paul never shunned any opportunity to declare the uniqueness of Christ and His gospel, even when entering into multi-faith situations such as those in Corinth - “I declared not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified” [1st Corinthians 2:2] and in Athens - “Ye men of Athens I perceive that in all things ye are very religious…God who made the world and all things…dwelleth not in temples made with hands…now commandeth all men everywhere to repent because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained concerning which he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead” [ Acts 17:22, 24, 30-31].

 

That is the witness of a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ – an example to follow! The world of ‘professing Christianity’ is in a very sad state – one only has to read the so-called ‘Christmas’ messages of people like Pope Benedict XVI, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams to see that – no wonder there’s global warming when you add all the ‘hot air’ these human prelates are emitting to the divine control of solar activity. The addition of Tony Blair to the ranks of Roman Catholicism has increased by one the number of those making up the ‘papal pack of poodles’ and many will view him as ‘the leader of the pack’ – perhaps I can close with a scripture quote, taken somewhat out of context, but rather apt in the circumstances – “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers” [Philippians 3:2]

 

Joel Osteen and Rick Warren

‘The heretics are pastoring the church’

The subtitle of this article ‘The heretics are pastoring the church’ is really a parody on another well-known expression, namely ‘the lunatics are running the asylum’. Asylums were built to protect the general public from those who were mentally disturbed and so posed a threat to them but the public at large often think that those running such regimes, by their actions and attitudes, pose just as much, if not an even greater danger to the public they are supposed to be protecting. God has ordained that His people gather themselves together in local churches and to such assemblies He gifts men who are skilled in “rightly dividing the word of truth” – this expression “rightly dividing the word of truth” according to Vine’s expository dictionary means “teaching Scripture accurately”. Pastor John MacArthur in his bible study notes on this verse from 2nd Timothy 2:15 explains it in these terms - ‘Literally “cutting it straight” – a reference to the exactness demanded by such trades as carpentry and masonry…Precision and accuracy are required in biblical interpretation’. If someone claiming to be called to teach and expound God’s Word is slightly ‘off-line’ then they will very quickly veer off into heresy taking others with them. In relation to JOEL OSTEEN I previously identified his lack of ‘scriptural prowess and backbone’ in an article in our June 2007 newsletter. In recent weeks he has once more demonstrated his complete unworthiness to be pastoring any part of God’s flock. A faithful pastor must not only ‘feed’ God’s sheep but he must also ‘fence’ the flock to protect them from predators. Paul made this very plain to the elders at Ephesus when he was saying his farewells to them. Having reminded them of their responsibility to ‘feed’ the flock in Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood” he then warned them of their responsibility to also ‘fence’ the flock in verses 29-31 “For I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember”. It was in this second area of responsibility, ‘fencing’, that publicly Joel Osteen showed himself to be totally ill equipped for such a vital charge. America is currently going through the political process to select candidates to contest the next Presidential election.  One of the main contenders on the Republican side was Mitt Romney, Governor of Massachusetts. On Sunday 23rd December 2007, Chris Wallace interviewed Joel Osteen in America on Fox News. What follows is a short but very significant transcript of part of that interview –

WALLACE: And what about Mitt Romney? And I’ve got to ask you the question, because it is a question whether it should be or not in this campaign, is a Mormon a true Christian?

OSTEEN: Well, in my mind they are. Mitt Romney has said that he believes in Christ as his saviour, and that's what I believe, so, you know, I'm not the one to judge the little details of it. So I believe they are. And so, you know, Mitt Romney seems like a man of character and integrity to me, and I don't think he would — anything would stop me from voting for him if that's what I felt like.

WALLACE: So, for instance, when people start talking about Joseph Smith, the founder of the [Mormon] church, and the golden tablets in upstate New York, and God assumes the shape of a man, do you not get hung up in those theological issues?

OSTEEN: I probably don’t get hung up in them because I haven’t really studied them or thought about them. And you know, I just try to let God be the judge of that. I mean, I don’t know. I certainly can’t say that I agree with everything that I’ve heard about it, but from what I’ve heard from Mitt, when he says that Christ is his saviour, to me that’s a common bond.

Having admitted that when it comes to the history and doctrines of Mormonism [something that Chris Wallace the interviewer is clearly well versed in] Joel Osteen states ‘I haven’t really studied them or thought about them’ – that however apparently doesn’t stop him from answering the question ‘is a Mormon a true Christian’ by saying ‘in my mind they are…I believe they are’. Joel Osteen has singularly and spectacularly failed to ‘fence’ his flock against the, spiritually speaking, grievous and ravening wolves of Mormonism. He has failed to ‘take heed’ of one very important command in God’s Word as recorded in 1st John 4:1 “Beloved believe not every spirit but test the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets [like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young] are gone out into the world”. This is a clear example of a ‘heretic pastoring the church’ and so posing eternally great danger to those he is supposed to protect and also to those he is supposed to witness to. Turning now to Rick Warren I want to mention another Christian Post report, part of which reads as follows –

 

 ‘Megachurch pastor Rick Warren attended a large Reform Jewish gathering last week to share tips on how to build a community. Warren - who saw his church expand from seven people meeting in his house to 22,000 people worshipping in an expansive treasure island-like campus – said the key to holding onto visitors is involving them in a small group… “We don’t really feel like people are in the congregation until they’re in small groups.” The “Purpose-Driven” pastor spoke to thousands of Jewish leaders Thursday night at the Union for Reform Judaism’s biennial convention in San Diego… “There are some principles that apply regardless of our faith, if it’s Jewish or Christian,” he said at the convention. One of his principles: “Just be nice to people. Smile.” After Warren spoke a few minutes at the podium, he sat alongside two popular Southern California rabbis for a casual talk about strengthening congregational life. Other advice given by Warren included looking at everything from an outsider’s viewpoint, such as simplifying worship terms, making strangers feel welcome, and encouraging interaction… The biennial meeting of the largest Jewish denomination in North America began Dec. 12 and concluded on Sunday. Other guests at the conference included the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners and Dr. Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America’.

This is not the first time that Rick Warren has spoken to Jewish, non-Christian gatherings, in an attempt to assist them with growth. On 4th October 2005 Spero News reported

‘Some Jewish synagogues are taking their lead from a mover behind the Protestant phenomena of mega-churches. According to Synagogue 3000, an umbrella organization pushing for synagogue transformation, there was “a pathbreaking meeting with Rick Warren ("The Purpose-Driven Life"), founding pastor of Saddleback Church" – an evangelical Christian church that average over 30,000 worshippers each weekend - to explore what synagogues can learn from mega-churches and small groups... Synagogue 3000 says its objective is to encourage Jews to recommit to Jewish tradition and “synagogue life by creating new 21st century spiritual arenas where relationships with God and with each other define everything the synagogue does.”

 

Rick Warren seems to have overlooked one very basic but fundamental point in all of this. If the Lord Jesus Christ is not recognised by religious groups such as the Union for Reform Judaism or Synagogue 3000 as ‘God’s Messiah’ [John 4:25-26], as “Emmanuel…God with us” [Matthew 1:23] then GOD is not present in all of their ‘Jewish tradition and synagogue life’ no matter how fervently they seek to ape the methods employed by Rick Warren at his Saddleback church. The Lord Jesus Christ stated in Matthew 18:20 “where two or three are gathered together, IN MY NAME, there am I in the midst of them”. I wonder what the Apostle Paul would have thought of all this advice being imparted by Rick Warren, a supposed Christian pastor, to those who have firmly rejected the truth of “Jesus Christ and him crucified” [1st Corinthians 2:2]. That was Paul’s singular message to the multi-faith and pagan city of Corinth.

 

Again, when speaking to the followers of many faiths in Athens, Paul didn’t say to his listeners,  “There are some principles that apply regardless of our faith”. He took the opportunity to set before them the truth of the ONLY true God and how all will one day be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ – Paul said unashamedly [see Romans 1:16] “He [GOD] hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, concerning which he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead”. Paul had a very specific concern for the spiritual and eternal well being of those of the Jewish faith and he pours out his anguish and concern in Romans 10:1-4 “Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer unto God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear witness that they have a zeal for God, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness (by Jewish tradition and “synagogue life) have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For CHRIST is the end of the law for righteousness TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH”.

This is another clear example of a ‘heretic pastoring the church’ and not only that but directly failing to witness to those on the brink of eternally great danger. I think Rick Warren should consider carefully the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as found in Matthew 10:32-33 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my father who is in heaven”.

In closing let me continue with the next verses in Matthew 10:34-35 where the Lord says, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword [This of course refers to the spiritual battle for ‘truth’ and involves “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God…which is truth” (Ephesians 6:17 and John 17:17). The Lord clearly rejects the notion that His cause and gospel should be advanced by use of a literal sword as we learn in Matthew 26:52] For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in –law”.

Despite this clear teaching, Rick Warren and other so-called ‘evangelicals’ have issued a letter to leading Muslim clerics in which they express their hopes in these words “Peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians stand as one of the central challenges of this century, and perhaps of the whole present epoch. If we can achieve religious peace between these two religious communities, peace in the world will clearly be easier to attain.”

A Christian Post report on this letter and reaction to it [including some comments by a certain ‘takeheed’ contributor] can be viewed on this link http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071123/30194_Christian_Leaders_Invite_Muslims_to_Love_God,_Neighbors_Together.htm

Earlier in this report I highlighted this from the San Diego meeting - Other guests at the conference included the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners and Dr. Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America’ – Jim Wallis was another of those who signed the letter to Muslim clerics. It is very clear that politicians and supposed ‘evangelicals’ like Rick Warren, Jim Wallis and Bill Hybels of Willow Creek are pushing an agenda for ‘social cohesion’ between differing religious groups rather than seeking ‘soul conversion’ through faith in the only Saviour of men, The Lord Jesus Christ.

When you examine closely the words and actions of influential ‘pastors’ it is clear that the professing church is in the hands of heretics who are not as Paul said to Timothy in 2nd Timothy 2:2 “faithful men who shall be able to teach others”. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul instructed him to remain at Ephesus where false teachers had appeared on the scene and he told him in 1st Timothy 1:3 to “charge them that they teach no other [false] doctrine”. He wrote in similar fashion to Titus who likewise was confronted by false teachers and Paul’s instruction in Titus 1:11 was that their “mouths should be stopped” – literally that they should be muzzled.

May God in His mercy be pleased to raise up faithful men, like Timothy and Titus who will confront and silence ‘the heretics who are pastoring the church’.