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"Take
Heed" Ministries
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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 |
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NEWS
FROM THE FRONT
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SEPTEMBER 2004
"Be not afraid or dismayed by reason of this great multitude for the battle is not yours but God's" (2nd Chronicles 20v15)
I am very grateful to those who prayed faithfully
for the ministry visit to
www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=pastorgene
‘The Da Vinci Code’ - give it - ‘The Brush-Off’
Whilst visiting the
I made a point of calling at a
Christian bookstore whilst in the
The
‘truth’ apparently is that Jesus made no claims of divinity; That He was
married to Mary Magdalene, who readers are told had to flee Jerusalem after
Christ’s crucifixion because Peter was angered by her leadership role; That
Mary survived and found refuge in France where she gave birth to Jesus’
daughter; That the history of Mary and her daughter and their descendant’s was
chronicled by those who protected them; That in the fifth century this line of
Jesus intermarried with French royal blood;
That
documents detailing this secret history were hidden in Jerusalem and then
recovered by an order of warriors – The Knights Templar – who, despite being
almost annihilated by Pope Clement V, entrusted the safekeeping of the
documents to a group called The Priory of Sion; That this secret knowledge was
subsequently passed on through codes and symbols; That Leonardo da Vinci was at
one time a Grand Master of The Priory of Sion and that many of his famous
paintings contain numerous symbols and codes’.
On the back cover of the book that
I purchased there is a quote from the first page of Dan Brown’s 454-page
book that states ‘All
descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret
rituals in this novel are accurate’. Having read the
well-researched book that I bought in
The very helpful book that I
purchased is called ‘The Truth Behind The Da Vinci Code’. It is written
by Richard Abanes who according to the back cover is ‘a nationally
recognised authority on cults and religions [who] has spent more than
ten years in the field as an author and journalist…Among his dozen-plus books
is best-selling Harry Potter and the Bible’.
‘The Truth
Behind The Da Vinci Code’ -
This book may be purchased from us:
Price - £4.80 [includes p&p]
On a regular basis I would
receive inquiries asking for my assessment of the ‘ministries’ of
a number of ‘tele-evangelists’ who are beaming into homes in
PHILIP YANCEY [PART ONE]
“turning
the grace of God into lasciviousness” Jude 4
When you go into any modern ‘Christian’ bookstore it
will be virtually impossible not to be confronted at some point by books
written by Philip Yancey. He is without doubt one of the best selling
‘Christian’ authors of this age and some of his best known works include ‘What’s
So amazing About Grace’, ‘Where Is God When It Hurts’ and
‘Soul Survivor’. In March 2002 he was the Banquet Speaker at
the Christian Booksellers Convention held in
In recent days I was sent the transcript of an
interview with Philip Yancey that is posted on the website of a
‘ministry’ called ‘WHOSOEVER’ [http://www.whosoever.org/index.shtml].
‘WHOSOEVER’ is subtitled ‘An online magazine for Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and transgender Christians’. From the ‘What We
Believe’ section of the website much can be learned of how this
‘Ministry’ views the teaching, authority and relevance of the Word of God and
as you read some extracts of their statement [with my own comments
added] perhaps, like me, you will be reminded of how Peter warned of people
who being “unlearned and unstable, wrest [twist] as they do also the other
scriptures, unto their own destruction” [2 Peter 3:16].
Point 3 states ‘we are called
by God to never return evil for evil, and to turn the other cheek. We can
expect persecution as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered Christians. But
we are warned not to stoop to the level of our persecutors’ Luke
Comments The
Scriptures quoted here are the Lord’s instructions to true disciples as to how
they should behave when they suffer for living a Holy, Faithful, Godly, and
Christian life. Paul states that “all
that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” [2 Timothy
Point 4 of the statement declares ‘We
believe that salvation is between God and the individual and is not open to
criticism, question or judgment by others. We believe faith in Jesus Christ is
the only justification needed’. Philippians 2:12 - "Wherefore,
my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"; Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."; Galatians 2:21 - "I do
not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain"
.
Comments It is
true that ‘salvation’ is not based on ‘human works’ but the ‘human works’ of
those professing to be Christians will evidence true ‘salvation’. God’s word
encourages Christians to “test the spirits whether they are of God” [1 John
4:1]. The validity of someone’s
profession of being a Christian can be tested by “their fruits” [Matthew
7:20] so God’s Word not only sanctions ‘criticism, question and
judgment’ but commends it “Brethren, if any one of you do err from
the truth and one convert him, Let him know that he who converteth the sinner
from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a
multitude of sins’ [James 5:19-20]. Paul didn’t hold back from telling
professing Christians in Ephesus how they should live in the light of their
claimed conversion as we read in Ephesians 4:17-24. In verses 17
& 19 he says “walk not as other gentiles walk…who being past feeling
[having no conscience] have given themselves over unto lasciviousness and
in verse 24 he says “put on the new man, which after God is created
in righteousness and true holiness” – Paul expected to see the “fruits” of
genuine conversion to Christ in the lives of these professing Christians.
Point 5 states ‘We believe
that we are all equal in the eyes of God, regardless of sexual orientation’. Galatians
Comments Galatians
3:28 teaches the ‘equal standing’ before God of all true believers,
irrespective of their racial background, their social background or their
God-given gender. It does not teach an ‘equal standing’ before God for all,
irrespective of their moral life style. The Apostle Paul, writing to the
Point 6 states ‘We believe
God made us as gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons and has
opened God's realm to us without reservation’. John 15:16-17 -
"You
did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the
Father (Heavenly Parent) in my name, God may give it to you. This I command
you, to love one another".’
Point 7 states ‘We believe
the Bible is the inspired word of God that must be read in the context it was
written. Many of its truths are universal and can be directly applied to modern
times. But a majority of canonical scripture is situation and time specific to
the culture of its time. Therefore, one must use exegesis and prayerful
communion with the Holy Spirit before applying canonical scripture to today's
culture’. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 –
"God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the
Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what person knows
another person's thoughts except the spirit of the person which is in them? So
also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the spirit of God. Now we
have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, that we might
understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we impart this in words not
taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths
to those who possess the Spirit."
Comments The
ongoing authority and application of God’s Word is taught in the Scriptures
themselves. The Apostle Paul wrote in his last letter before being martyred for
the Gospel “All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works” [2 Timothy
Point 8 states ‘We believe God
is alive and is speaking to God's children even today. God's words are found in
the Bible but God continues to reveal truths not found in scripture through the
Holy Spirit’. Hebrews
Comments The Word
of God teaches that Christians are not to seek ‘truths not found in
scripture’. The Apostle Paul instructed believers “not to think
above that which is written” [1 Corinthians 4:6] and there is another clear
warning to God’s people that teaches “Add thou not unto his words, lest he
reprove thee and thou be found a liar” [Proverbs 30:6]. The same book of Hebrews
quoted in this point 8 of the statement also teaches how God spoke in Old
Testament times but how He has now finally spoken to the world through His Son
– “God, who at
sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son” [Hebrews 1:1-2]. Bible
commentator, F B Hole wrote ‘We are at once brought face to face with
the tremendous fact that God, who had spoken to the fathers of
Moving on from the ‘What We Believe’ section
I want to comment upon the interviewer who is referred to on the website as the
‘Rev.’ Candace Chellew-Hodge. Her personal details, beside her
photo [in clerical robes] include -
Candace is the
last of five kids of a Southern Baptist minister, and is herself ordained
through Gentle Spirit Christian Church of
At
the conclusion of the interview posted to the website we read the following
Candace Chellew–Hodge is a
recovering Southern Baptist and founder/editor of ‘Whosoever: An Online
Magazine for GLBT Christians’. She is an ordained minister and holds a
master's in theological studies from the Candler School of Theology at
The
fact that this lady styles herself as ‘Rev’ shows her
disobedience to the prohibitions of the Bible concerning women and teaching
[see 1 Timothy
From two entirely different sources it was recently
mentioned to me that the teachings of ‘Theosophy’ were making inroads
into sections of the professing ‘Christian’ world. The term comes from two
Greek words – ‘Theos’ meaning God and ‘Sophia’ meaning wisdom so
this term of ‘Theosophy’, meaning Divine Wisdom has been adopted
by a cult that has been described as ‘the apostate child of Spiritism mixed
with Buddhism’ [J K Van Baalen] (Source:
‘Dictionary of Theological Terms’ by Alan Cairns p 409: Published by Ambassador
Productions Ltd). The ‘Theosophical Society’ was founded in New
York in 1875 by ‘Madame’ Helena P Blavatsky, a Russian spiritist medium
and a Colonel Olcott with whom she developed a ‘platonic’ friendship
after her 2nd marriage collapsed and he left his wife and children
to be with her. In his youth A W Pink rejected Christianity and for a period embraced
‘Theosophy’ but through the faithful witness of his father and the
impact of Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but
the end therefore are the ways of death” A W Pink was delivered from this
deception and went on to be a faithful proclaimer of the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. (Source: ‘Truth Under Attack’ by Eryl Davies p
221-223: Published by Evangelical Press). Eryl Davies, in his book ‘Truth
Under Attack’ analyses the teachings of ‘Theosophy’ under several
headings and set out following are some of the sections that will demonstrate
very clearly the false and aberrant teachings of this heretical cult known as ‘Theosophy’.
‘When asked, “Do you believe
in God, the God of a Christian?” Madame
Blavatsky replied in her Key
to Theosophy “In such a God we do not believe”. In
Theosophy, God is regarded
as everything and everything is regarded as God;
in this pantheistic teaching
there is no difference between the world and God. God is all that exists and we
are God, but we must delve deep into ourselves to find the God within us. They
also speak of a trinity, which is only
“a threefold manifestation
of Power, Wisdom and Activity”’.
The Bible is just one of
many revelations, the
superior revelation being
the Hindu scriptures.
Christ was born in 105BC and
became a monk; later some distinguished people from
We can all become ‘Christs’
eventually.
The biblical doctrine of
atonement “is entirely repudiated”. The only significance in Christ’s death was
the identification of nature between the divine man and men who are gradually
becoming divine.
Man has a pre-existent
spirit, Atma, which provides permanence and
individuality, but which is reincarnated many
times. Man also has three
souls, Buddhai, Manas and
Kamamepha, with a life principle called Prana.
In addition to his physical
being man also has an astral body.
There are no moral laws
sanctioned by God.
Through numerous
incarnations, man must achieve his own salvation.
Sin does not exist and
forgiveness by any God is impossible.
It is unimportant whether
one prays to Buddha, to Christ, to Vishnu or the Father.
There is no personal devil
DEATH
The soul evolves and purges
itself by regular incarnations, with the ultimate goal of communing with and
being welcomed by the Mahatmas or Brotherhood of Teachers, who have evolved to
the highest point of human attainment. After a suitable medium is found, the
Great World Teacher, who is supreme over the Mahatmas, will provide the world
with a fuller revelation.
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
The eternal punishment of
unbelievers in hell
is regarded by them as an
offensive doctrine.
GOD’S TRUTH
“For it is
written I will destroy the wisdom of the wise…
Hath not
God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” 1 Corinthians 1:19&20.
At the end of May I posted an
8-page article with the above title to our ministry web site. I contrasted the
very sound biblical assessment of Roman Catholicism by the Youth Board
of the Irish Presbyterian Church in a little catechism-type booklet that
was probably published by them in the early 1950’s. In my article I quoted a
number of the question and answer contents of the booklet. I then contrasted
their approach with that adopted by the then, about to be appointed Moderator
of the Irish Presbyterian Church, Ken Newell and focussed on his
invitation to the Roman Catholic Archbishop Sean Brady to be among his personal
guests at his installation as Moderator – an invitation that quite rightly
attracted strong criticism from a number of his fellow Presbyterian ministers.
Presbyterianism and ‘State-Sponsored Peace’
In July I posted a 12-page article
to our ministry website in which I identified the inherent dangers [spiritually
speaking] contained in an initiative being promoted by the current Youth
Board of the Irish Presbyterian Church. It is known as PYP, which
stands for Preparing Youth for Peace. The reality is that this is
yet another further attempt by the pro-ecumenical forces within Irish Presbyterianism,
with funding provided by various home and foreign government agencies, to
encourage the false notion that in reality Roman Catholicism is a viable form
of Christianity. The chief ‘weapons’ in their armoury include a DVD
and a misleadingly titled so-called Roman Catholicism Fact Sheet.
In my report I detail the ecumenical individuals and groupings linked to this
initiative and also analyse the so-called Roman Catholicism Fact Sheet.
These 2
reports contain information that every concerned Irish Presbyterian should be
in possession of and I will gladly send copies
of them to
all who request them.
PROPOSED PAPAL VISIT TO
The week following his
controversial ‘guest appearance’ at the installation of the
ultra-ecumenical Moderator of the Irish Presbyterian Church, Ken Newell, Roman
Catholic Primate of Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady met
with his fellow Bishops at Maynooth in the Republic of Ireland. From that
meeting emerged the news that the Bishops had issued an invitation to Pope
John Paul II to make a return visit to
Since the news of the invitation
became public, readers of the Belfast Telegraph have once more
been subjected to a whole series of articles written by Religious Affairs
correspondent, Alf McCreary. As might be expected Mr
McCreary is totally in favour of such a visit by the Pope and he is
once more using his journalistic office to publicly express his preference in
this area with the same zeal that he expressed journalistically when he was
lobbying publicly through the columns of the Belfast Telegraph for the election
of Ken Newell as Moderator of the Irish Presbyterian Church.
If such a Papal visit does take
place, the big difference this time round is that both the ‘Catholic Hierarchy’
and the ‘Protestant Ecumenists’ would hope and indeed expect that the Pope
would include a visit to Northern Ireland – something that was deemed unwise
back in 1979. Naturally journalistic ‘spin’ will be a powerful
weapon in convincing the people of Northern Ireland that this time round the
Pope should include such a visit in his itinerary and certainly Mr
McCreary is doing his bit in just such a campaign. The following are
just a few excerpts from his various articles in the Belfast Telegraph–
‘What do you make of the
recent speculation that Pope John Paul II might accept an invitation from the
Catholic Bishops to visit Ireland provided his health permits him to do so…If he
did come to Ireland again there is no reason why he should not visit
Armagh…whatever certain politicians or church groups might think of such a
visit, most people in the Province have a respect for the Pope as one of the
most significant figures of recent history’ [Belfast Telegraph: 3 July 2004]
‘Senior figures in the
Protestant churches have indicated a broad welcome for Pope John Paul II if his
suggested visit to Ireland takes place…In such an event it is thought highly
likely that he would visit Armagh. He was unable to come to
In no less than two article in the
same edition [
Then readers were ‘treated’ to no
less than three articles plus a picture of the Pope on holiday in
Dear Editor,
Alf McCreary [Perspectives 17 July] expresses surprise that
anyone would object on political grounds to a possible Papal visit that he
would personally welcome. He likens the Pope to other political leaders who
have visited the Province in the past, citing amongst them Bill Clinton and he
poses the question - "Have I missed the point?" The short answer to
his question is "Yes". When Bill Clinton was inaugurated, he was
installed as the President of the
Pope Boniface VIII in a Papal Bull pronounced 'There is one
fold and one shepherd. The authority of that shepherd includes two swords - the
spiritual and the temporal...Both therefore belong to the jurisdiction of the
[Roman Catholic] Church - the spiritual sword and the secular. The one is to be
wielded for the Church - the other by the Church; the one is the sword of the
priest - the other is in the hand of the monarch but at the command and
sufferance of the priest. It behoves the one sword to be under the other - the
temporal authority to be subject to the spiritual power'. This power is
affirmed when the Pope receives his triple tiara crown and the
officiating Cardinal declares 'Receive the tiara, adorned with three
crowns and know that thou art the Father of Princes and Kings, Ruler of the
World, the Vicar of our Saviour, Jesus Christ'.
Pope Pius V attempted to exercise this power against Queen
Elizabeth I when in his Papal Bull he pronounced 'We deprive the Queen of
her pretended right to the kingdom and of all dominion and dignity...and
absolve all the nobles, subjects and people of the kingdom and whoever else
have sworn to her, from their oath, and all duty whatsoever in regard of
dominion, fidelity and obedience'. Perhaps Mr McCreary may think that
today's Papacy doesn't hold to such brazen political pretence. If so, let me
finish by quoting words from Rev Wylie's book 'The Papacy' in
which he wisely warns 'though the Church of Rome is silent on her claims
meanwhile, we are not warranted to take that silence for surrender. They are
not claims renounced; they are simply claims not asserted'. For Christians
to acquiesce to such a proposed Papal visit would in effect be for them to
sinfully insult the One who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, even our Lord
Jesus Christ, who is the only truly enthroned 'Ruler of the World' [Philippians
2:9-11: Hebrews 10:12-13].
Cecil Andrews - 'Take
Heed’ Ministries – Ballynahinch
In June of this year, former Roman Catholic priest, Richard
Bennett wrote a very timely article entitled ‘A Perilous Fondness for
the Papacy’ and I will gladly send a copy to any who request it. For those
with Internet access it can be viewed on http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles/perilous_fondness_for_papacy.htm
Then also with ‘uncanny’
timing Our Inheritance Bible Ministries published a booklet that is a
reprint of Rev J A Wylie’s article ‘The Papacy Is The Antichrist – A
Demonstration’. In the “Publishers Comment”, Our Inheritance wrote
‘The publishers believe that the material contained in this little booklet
is of such importance that it should once again be made available to all
thinking Christians. We make no apologies for what may be seen as political
incorrectness. We believe that had the Church and politicians of the recent
past and present, taken heed of the material contained herein, both Church and
nation would be in a far better moral, social, spiritual and indeed political
situation than it is’. The Rev Wylie wrote in his “Preface”
‘The same line of proof which establishes that Christ is the promised Messiah,
conversely applied, establishes that the Roman system is the predicted
Apostasy…We conclude, therefore, that if Jesus of Nazareth be the Christ, the
Roman Papacy is the Antichrist’
This
booklet can be purchased from us – PRICE £3.00 [includes
p&p]
We will automatically include a copy of Richard Bennett’s article
‘A Perilous Fondness for the Papacy’ with each booklet purchased.