Matt Chandler Endorsing Lent, Acknowledges Mysticism

Evangelical hipster, and the go-to boy when it comes to building the bridge between pop-culture and mainstream evangelicalism, Matt Chandler, is at it once again. While he is well known for dabbling in questionable theology, and promoting mysticism within the church without pushing the envelope far enough to make the good-ole-boys too uncomfortable, he's not stopping short of once again encouraging his followers to slip into a state of mindless buff. In a recent Village Church podcast he discussed with the host, Josh Patterson, the applicability of the season of Lent in his congregation. While he says his church is not officially observing Lent, he does speak very positively of it, while putting out an official church publication guiding his congregation in the observance of the Catholic tradition. This is the typical double speak we've come to expect from Chandler, practicing and promoting questionable things while standing on his "safe place" of "not officially endorsing."

While promoting on the podcast that Lent is a good way to think about laying some things aside, and focusing on the sacrifice and salvation of our Lord, Jesus, he fails to understand the true history of Lent, and larger ramifications of observing an unbiblical tradition in unison with a religion that is the enemy of the Gospel. He acknowledges the arguments against the practice, and states that the arguments just aren't convincing enough for him to condemn the practice. According to Catholicism, Lent is observed in respect to the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting, however, there is no observance of Lent for several centuries after the crucifixion. Usually the observance of Lent is connected with giving up some kind of food, a television show, or some other bad habit for the 40 days before the Easter holiday. It is alleged that Lent is a form of self-denial, and a way to connect with the experience of self-denial that Jesus went through.

But there is absolutely no mention of a season of Lent in Scripture, and never were Christians or Jews commissioned to observe such a tradition. The true history of Lent can actually be traced back to the worship of the Babylonian goddess Ashtoreth, or Ishtar. Alexander Hislop, in his classic work, The Two Babylons, in the section entitled, Easter, explains the origin of the Lenten fast:

The forty days' abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess. Such a Lent of forty days, "in the spring of the year," is still observed by the Yezidis or Pagan Devil-worshippers of Koordistan, who have inherited it from their early masters, the Babylonians. Such a Lent of forty days was held in spring by the Pagan Mexicans, for thus we read in Humboldt, where he gives account of Mexican observances: "Three days after the vernal equinox...began a solemn fast of forty days in honour of the sun." Such a Lent of forty days was observed in Egypt, as may be seen on consulting Wilkinson's Egyptians. This Egyptian Lent of forty days, we are informed by Landseer, in his Sabean Researches, was held expressly in commemoration of Adonis or Osiris, the great mediatorial god.

Hislop also states:

Among the Pagans this Lent seems to have been an indispensible preliminary to the great annual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz, which was celebrated by alternate weeping and rejoicing, and which, in many countries, was considerably later than the Christian festival, being observed in Palestine and Assyria in June, therefore called the 'month of Tammuz;' in Egypt, about the middle of May, and in Britain, some time in April. To conciliate the Pagans to nominal Christianity, Rome, pursuing its usual policy, took measures to get the Christian and Pagan festivals amalgamated, and, by a complicated but skillful adjustment of the calendar, it was found no difficult matter, in general, to get Paganism and Christianity -- now far sunk in idolatry -- in this as in so many other things, to shake hands. 

It is no doubt that Rome is a melting pot for world religions, and still is today. It is well known for mixing Pagan idolatry, observed through the veneration of the saints and Mary, with a Christian theme. However, there is no saving Gospel within the doctrines of Romanism. Rome, since ancient times has been nothing more than a religio-political system with the aim of world domination through whatever means necessary, be it politics, violence, or total control of your soul through religion. It is no different now, and Rome's agents are working hard to blur the lines of mainstream Evangelicalism with Catholicism.

While listening to Chandler's podcast, and his reasoning on the subject, on the surface it seems that his motives for doing so are benign. He takes the stance that the observance of Lent can be good if done so with Scriptural motives, and prayer and fasting are almost always considered worthy undertakings in Scripture. However, Scripture never calls for a public or corporate form of fasting, and those who fast are supposed to look and act as though they are not (Matthew 16:16-18). However, this observance of fasting during the season of Lent has become a commercialized mockery of biblical fasting, with people plastering advertisements all over social media of what they are "giving up for Lent," and "how hard it is" to do so.

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Traditionally, the celebration of Lent is more than just fasting and prayer. In Catholicism, there are a number of mystical aspects that also are at play. During this Catholic season, a mystical custom known as The Stations of the Cross are practiced. It's a method of going through a series of artistic representations of the steps Jesus took while carrying his cross to his crucifixion. The idea behind the practice is that through these artistic representations, often un-biblical, one's emotions are supposed to be evoked to the point of sorrow, and identification with Christ. However, this practice is condemned in Scripture. Sadly, many Evangelical churches, including Rick Warren's Saddleback, are adopting a form of this practice today, further muddying the waters between Catholicism and Christianity.

I also find it rather interesting that Chandler's Lent guide put out by his church is filled with Puritan prayers from the Valley of Vision. Considering it was the Puritans stance to abstain from man-made traditions such as Lent, I find it highly suspect that Chandler would use these as a means to observe. It's not that the substance of the guide itself is merely unscriptural, in many ways it is perfectly fine, and would otherwise be a great devotional, but the bigger issue here is the attempt to connect Catholicism with Biblical Christianity through this tradition. The Protestant reformation was based on the view that the Roman Catholic church was apostate, and that Biblical Christianity should stand apart from, and distinct from the Pagan traditions of Rome. However, Chandler, (and he's not the only one) seem to have lost their grasp on this highly important historical concept, and without second thought, are helping to reverse the Reformation.

For more information on why Protestants shouldn't observe Lent, see Entreating Favor's article: Five Reasons Not To Observe Lent


**UPDATE**
For those of you who are having a hard time grasping the point of this posting, many of you are emailing, tweeting, commenting, etc asking my what my problem is with how the nature of how Chandler or Protestants in general are observing Lent. Please do not email me with this question, as I have already addressed, it isn't necessarily the substance of Chandler's guide, or the nature of how someone who is Biblically focused "might" observe the Lenten season as much as it is the ecumenical nature of promoting the event. The problem herein lies that by publicly condoning a traditionally Catholic event, especially one that has no Biblical basis for observing, puts out the perception that Evangelicals and Catholics are growing closer, coming together, and joining together in the same types of worship. But this is far from the truth. As subtle as it may be, it's just another example of Evangelicals capitulating to Rome. Soon, it will be okay for Protestants to have statues of Mary around their campuses, "so long as they don't bow down or worship it." Protestants and Evangelicals are slowly moving away from, and beginning to defy "Sola Scriptura," and this is a serious problem. People will come up with any excuse that they can to defend something that pleases them, rather than stand on the Word of God as their absolute authority. I don't have a problem with the substance of Chandler's guide, I have a problem with what it represents.

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Addressing Critics of the Discerning - Part 1

Once in a while, I'll have a conversation with a pastor, usually a Southern Baptist pastor, who has read some of my articles, and find it puzzling that I would be calling out such leaders as Russell Moore or Ronnie Floyd. What I often notice however, is that while most of the time this pastor will be a very Gospel-focused pastor, and has no interest in leading their flock astray, is that many times they either have no idea what our leaders are involved in, or they have a weak or soft view on troubling issues such as ecumenism or heresies in the church, or an improper understanding of the purpose of the Protestant Reformation. I would like to address some of these misconceptions here that I am often faced with by critics of my point of view. In this article, I will be addressing some of the misconceptions as it applies to our leaders cozy-ing up with the papacy. I may address some other misconceptions in other articles, concerning other errors, such as mysticism, charismania, and word-faith heresies entering the SBC unchecked. This is in no way meant to be an offense against such pastors who are truly dedicated to God's work, it is only meant to address criticisms that I regularly receive from those who may not have a full understanding of what's at stake.

Misconception # 1: Russell Moore, Rick Warren, etc, going to the Vatican could be a good thing because they "may" be taking the Gospel to those who need it, and agreement on moral issues is a plus for the work of Christ. Agreement on moral issues doesn't necessarily constitute endorsement.

Response # 1: The problem isn't with our agreement on a moral truth, it's with the fellowship aspect of our actions. Ephesians 5:11 says "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." The word translated as "fellowship" here in this context is the Greek word "sugkoinoneo." According to Thayer, it primarly means "to become a partaker together with others," and according to Strongs, "to share in company," or "to co-participate."

This is exactly what our leaders are doing. They are "co-participating" with a false church on spiritual endeavors. They are becoming "partakers" with the RC on moral issues, and the reason we are commanded NOT to do so is because it's damaging to the Gospel. While we can stand on one side of the aisle, and say "I agree with the pope on the sanctity of marriage, I cannot stand with you on spiritual endeavors because we do not agree on the essentials." We cannot be willing to compromise the Gospel by publicly taking a stance in which it seems we are in full communion with an apostate church. Being "salt and light" entails standing apart from the darkness, and exposing the darkness, not joining in, co-mingling with, having fellowship with, and praying darkness.

We should be evangelizing all Roman Catholics, and calling them to repentance, and to leave the RC church, yet instead, we have leaders of the SBC doing the following:

• Al Mohler declaring "there are millions of Christians in the Catholic church." - source
• Russell Moore blogging: "I disagree with the primacy of the papacy, however, I agree with the pope on the Gospel, and other issues..." (paraphrased) - source
• Russell Moore - "I'm unsure of the differences between my and the pope's gospel focus." - more info
• Russell Moore tweets: "@pontifex is a very good choice for @Time person of the year." - view tweet here
• Then we have Rick Warren tweeting:

This is not being salt and light, and standing apart from darkness, preserving the truth and exposing the error. This is ecumenism at it's best. Ecumenism is today what the inquisition used to be. It's an effort to unify the world's religions under the authority of the pope, and unfortunately the SBC's leadership is slowly taking us in that direction.

Misconception # 2: While I disagree with many of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, I also disagree that the whole church is Apostate, and that there are many who are saved in the Catholic church.

Response # 2: The official doctrines of Rome are designed, by nature, to FORBID you from believing the true Gospel. Take for example the following quotes from the official doctrines of the Catholic Church:

"If anyone says the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, let him be anathema." -Canon 9, Sixth Session, Council of Trent

The Catholic Church, "condemns with anathema those who say that indulgences are useless or that the Church does not have the power to grant them." - Sacred Liturgy, Chapter IV, paragraph 8, Vatican Council II

By believing these doctrines, one cannot be saved, as they are diametrically opposed to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Other damnable heresies of the Catholic church include, but are not limited to:
• The Catholic church is the one true church - CCC 2105
• Infallibility of the Catholic Church - CCC 2035
• Only the Roman Catholic Church has authority to interpret Scripture - CCC 100
• The Pope is the head of the church and has the authority of Christ - CCC 2034
• The Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation - CCC 846
• Sacred Tradition equal to scripture - CCC 82
• Forgiveness of sins, salvation, is by faith and works - CCC 2036
• "Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods." - CCC 2027
• Penance is necessary for salvation - CCC 980
• Purgatory a necessity for cleansing our sins - CCC 1031, CCC 1475
• The Communion elements become the actual body and blood of Christ - CCC 1374, CCC 1376

If someone is Roman Catholic, and they do end up coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, they will ultimately have no choice but to leave the Roman Catholic church, once they realize that what their church is teaching is contrary to the truth.

Misconception # 3: Luther and the reformers really didn't believe that the Roman Catholic Church was a "false church." They only sought to correct some of the errors that they saw in the church. They did not believe the RCC was apostate, and neither should we.

Response # 3: It is true, that Luther, who is widely held (yet debatable for another time) to be the originator of the "Protestant" Reformation originally only sought to bring to light what he viewed as error in his church. However, Luther is not the be-all-end-all of the reformation. He may not have used the exact term "false church," but the sentiments were certainly there. Consider the following quotes from Luther and the reformers:

"We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist...personally I declare that I owe the Pope no other obedience than that to Antichrist." - Martin Luther

"The oracles of God foretold the rising of an Antichrist in the Christian Church: and in the Pope of Rome, all the characteristics of that Antichrist are so marvelously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see it, there is a marvelous blindness upon them." - Cotton Mather

"that tyranny which the pope himself has for so many ages exercised over the church" and that the pope should be recognized as "the very antichrist, and son of perdition, of whom Paul speaks." (Taken from The Zurich Letters, pg. 199 by John Knox.)

John Wesley said of the papacy,

"He[the pope] is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers... He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone." -Antichrist and His Ten Kingdoms by John Wesley, pg. 110.

and consider the Westminster confession of faith:

CHAPTER XXV PARAGRAPH VI. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the Church against Christ, and all that is called God.

One thing we have to remember is that the reformers were undoing thousands of years of false doctrine. Most had been raised and trained in the Catholic church, and it was a major deal for them to stand up against the pope, and the doctrines of Rome. Although most of the reformers were still flawed in much of their doctrine, the fact that they took a bold stance to seek the truth, and expose the error says much of them, and their character. They did not have several hundred years of expositional preaching, and biblical commentary, and established doctrine to help shape their understanding of biblical truths. They, for the most part, started from scratch, and even started with the process of translation. We owe it to these brave men, and to Jesus Christ who is in control of all things, not to work against the reformation, and concede to Rome, but to continue to stand against it, and expose their error. We should not tolerate our leaders today holding hands with the mother of apostates, we should be holding them accountable for doing so.

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Ronnie Floyd and Life Action Ministries - Mystics in Disguise

President of Southern Baptist Convention, Ronnie Floyd, has for some time been known to dabble with questionable theology. He endorses the First Fruits tithing heresy of Robert Morris, and also endorses the contemplative mystic, Mark Batterson and his new age book, the Circle Maker. But another troubling partnership between Floyd and New Age mysticism exists—between him and Life Action Ministries.

Life Action claims to be a ministry that holds "revival" conferences at different churches. According their schedule, it appears to be all Southern Baptist churches. From their website page, "Awaken your heart," they say:

As a ministry, our desire is to see the hearts of God's people awakened and revived! Incredibly, God wants us to experience revival even more than we desire it for ourselves. He has even given us a road map to follow. We pray that these resources will help you discover and travel the pathways that lead to God's heart.

Now, who wouldn't want to discover the "pathways" that lead to God's heart. First and foremost, besides the entire new age theme of their website, the plural word "pathways" insinuates that there is more than one way to God. Do you see the problem here? Is there another pathway to God apart from Jesus Christ? They also teach a method of contemplative prayer, involving being quiet, waiting, sitting still, and listening for that "still quiet voice" of God to give you a specific revelation. They also teach that forgiving someone entails no longer desiring righteous justice or discipline against that person. Another workbook on their website, entitled Draw a Circle, is strikingly similar to Mark Batterson's Circle Maker witchcraft heresy that Floyd endorses. Their promo video for this prayer teaching involves a young man, who has a piece of chalk that keeps "magically" appearing on his Bible. He ultimately ends up reading Hosea 10:12-13 and somehow he gets the idea from these verses that he should be drawing circles around himself, and praying. In this workbook, they say:

It’s a challenge OneCry is issuing to men, women, teens, and even children...It involves a simple piece of chalk. With this piece of chalk, we kneel to draw a circle around ourselves and then look to heaven expectantly, praying, “Lord God, send revival, and begin it right here in this circle!”

Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Radio Host of Revive Our Hearts women's outreach ministry of Life Action, also endorses these chalk circles. She is known for associating with other contemplative mystics, including Richard Foster and Dallas Willard.

Ronnie Floyd has worked extensively with this ministry in the past. At the 2013 Annual SBC Conference, he partnered with them at a lunch meeting to discuss the subject of "spiritual revival." He asked his audience on his blog before the meeting:

Tuesday at noon: Life Action Ministries has asked me to join three other spiritual leaders over a major lunch meeting to talk about the subject of Spiritual Revival. I look forward to this engaging luncheon as hundreds of Pastors will gather for discussion around this theme. Pray for a mighty visitation from God.

Notice, he didn't say he was joining three other "Christian" leaders, he said "spiritual" leaders. Life Action Ministries' theme appears to be this "spiritual" awakening, a new age, contemplative type of awakening, or a mystic type of relationship with God. They also endorse a type of theology, known as Keswick theology, in which they believe that there are two types of Christians, carnal and sanctified. They believe that the "carnal Christian" needs to be spiritually awakened, and work themselves into a sanctified state. This is remarkably similar to the new age though of awakening your "inner-self" to a higher state of consciousness, and becoming "one with God." LAM also stands on the notion that somehow Satan can takeover the hearts and minds of those who are saved.

The first and worst cause of error that prevails in our day is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of Christ. It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit to darken the mind and mislead the judgment, and the main handle by which Satan takes hold of Christians to hinder a work of God. Until this disease is cured, medicines are applied in vain to heal all other diseases.

Ronnie Floyd's way of thinking appears to be very similar to this group. He believes that churches are filled with lukewarm, complacent "Christians," who are more interested in being promoted in the workplace than evangelizing the lost. While this is very true that our churches are filled with these types of people, the truth of the matter is that these people filling the pews aren't Christians. Carnal Christianity is not Christianity, it's false conversion. Generally speaking, people who have been influenced by Keswick theology may have a testimony like, "I was saved when I was 15, but I surrendered my life to Christ when I was 23." They tend to believe that human free-will is ultimately and separately responsible for starting and stopping the sanctification process. In an interview with Randy Hekman of Life Action, Ronnie Floyd was asked:

You have put out a clarion call to Southern Baptist pastors and members around the nation for a Great Awakening. How are people responding to this call?

And he responded:

...there was real resolve and commitment and understanding that our greatest need is a mighty move of God in this country...We need to strategize and get after reaching the world. The reason we want revival to come to the church, and for the country to be awakened spiritually, is so we can complete the Great Commission...We need fresh power to do that. We need American Christianity to wake up from sleep and get with it to reach the world with the gospel...[we must be committed to] the revival of religion and the advancement of Christ’s kingdom on this earth.

There is no mention of purifying the church of false converts or bad theology, or exposing the evil within the church. As most new-agers, Floyd doesn't believe this exists. What the Bible would describe as a false convert, it appears Floyd would just rationalize them as "less sanctified," and that they would need to become "more sanctified" by making a decision to wake up spiritually.

OneCry, a branch of Life Action ministries regularly praises Floyd for his advancement of "Spiritual Awakening." On January 19, they tweeted:

Every Christian, Pastor, & leader in all denominations should read this bold manifesto from SBC Pres. @ronniefloyd http://t.co/Lrr77WD6mZ
— OneCry (@OneCry) January 19, 2015

I believe that the SBC's association with this group is spiritually dangerous, but it appears to be the direction that this once great denomination is now heading. This slide toward the New Age is nothing new. Ronnie Floyd has prophesied a "Great Awakening," but the Bible predicts a "Great Apostasy." Who are we supposed to stand behind? We should always be praying for the salvation of souls, but should we be praying for something unbiblical? Should we be praying for something to happen when what the Bible predicts will happen, and must happen for the return of Christ, is already happening? Shouldn't we be praying for purification of the Church, salvation for the lost, and Christ's return to be quickened? Instead, it seems that the SBC wants to delve deeper into contemplative prayer, witchcraft and ecumenism.

More Information

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• Will the SBC officially announce their Apostasy at the 2015 Annual Conference?
• Apprising Ministries - Nancy DeMoss turns listeners to Richard Foster
• Sola Sisters - Nancy DeMoss endorcing Chalk Circles? Mercy!
• The Velvet Covered Brick - Prayer Circles

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Evangelicals: Fornicating with the Harlot

There is no doubt that the word "evangelical" doesn't mean the same thing it used to mean. The word is used to describe almost anyone who says the name "Jesus" these days. Mormons are referred to as Evangelicals, as are Jehova's Witnesses, and other unBiblical sects like the New Apostolic Reformation. There is even a growing movement within the Roman Catholic church today calling themselves evangelicals. But I believe this to be a deceitful tactic of Rome to continue in their centuries long war against the Word of God, and the Protestant Reformation.

Evangelicals used to be a small minority. They were the ones who preached the Word of God from the Bible, and took that truth to all the nations, standing against the enemies of the Gospel. Now that the word "evangelical" encompasses a multitude of religious sects and cults, evangelicals can be considered the majority among the visible church. When I say "visible church," I'm not referring to born again believers, who proclaim their salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. I'm referring to anyone who claims to be Christian, including Roman Catholics. Sadly, the true Evangelical church are embracing many of these others as brothers in Christ. I'm beginning to believe that they are no longer doing this inadvertently, and that they know exactly what they are doing. I believe they are holding hands with the Beast of Revelation, and that they are helping to build the Harlot Church as described in Revelation 17.

Described in Revelation 17 is a great harlot, who makes war with the lamb (Rev 17:15). Lets break down this chapter and see if we can identify who this whore is.

• She sits on many waters—that is, many multitudes of peoples, nations and tongues. She has power and influence over these people (Rev 17:1,150.
• She fornicates with the kings and leaders of the nations of the world (Rev 17:2). This figuratively means that this woman "cheats" on the true God, and worships false Gods, not necessarily literal sexual fornication.
• She sits upon a scarlet-colored beast (Rev 17:3). This is representative of the blood of the saints (Rev 17:6). She sits on top of this, and prides herself over it.
• Full of names of blasphemy (Rev 17:3). She has given herself a multitude of blasphemous titles. Titles that should belong to God, or that she is not worthy of holding. (e.g. His Holiness, and Vicar of Christ)
• Has seven heads and ten horns (Rev 17:3). This represents the ten individual kingdoms (European nations) of the empire in which she controls from atop the seven hills she sits upon. Rome, since ancient times, has been known as the "City of Seven Hills."
• She is adorned in purple and scarlet, gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls (Rev 17:4). What religious entity can you think of that decks itself out with these priceless things?
• She holds in her hand a golden cup, full of abominations of uncleanness and of her whoredom (Rev 17:4). She carries with her, and proclaims daily, in the name of Christ, these abominations and blasphemous rituals.
• Written upon her forehead was a name written: "Secret, Babylon the Great, the Mother of the Whores, and the Abominations of the earth" (Rev 17:5). In other words, all of the other whores, false churches and religious cults, and blasphemous entities are spawned by this mother-whore, and ultimately, they all answer to her.

What can we conclude from this? All roads lead to Rome, right? Well, unfortunately, many of our so-called evangelicals are assimilating with this image. Rome has been the ancient enemy of the Gospel, since it's inception. It started with Pagan Rome, to what we have now, "Christian" Rome. But I argue that it's still Pagan Rome, only disguised as Christian. For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light, right? (2 Cor 11:14). Rome has been working to discredit and counter the Protestant reformation for centuries. But many evangelicals either don't understand this and are deceived themselves, or they are actively working with the mother whore to deceive people. There are quite a few on both sides of this aisle, but they are both flirting with this whore. 

The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the world, and once the strongest and soundest to Biblical doctrine, has now become apostate. The sad state of the SBC is appalling to many, yet those who are in charge are lending a deaf ear. We have the president of the SBC, Dr. Ronnie Floyd, leading us into a New Age way of thinking about the future of the church, and promoting New Age materials on his blog while preaching false doctrine from his pulpit.  We have the president of the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission as well as well known "pastor" of Saddleback Social Club, Rick Warren, watering down the Gospel and fellowshipping with Catholics at the Vatican. Russell Moore parading down the street with unbelievers, pretending they are brothers and sisters in Christ, giving them a false sense of hope, all for political and social gain. Russell Moore even thinks it's okay for Christians to celebrate homosexuality at the reception of a gay wedding, as long as we don't attend the gay wedding itself. Lifeway Bookstores, the publishing branch of the Southern Baptist Convention, is peddling more heresy now than almost any other bookstore, secular or Christian in nature, all for monetary gain.

Other so-called mega-church pastors, like Joel Osteen, are now the face of the Evangelical church. Joel Osteen has been preaching damnable heresies for years, never once calling his millions of fans to repentance, which is required for salvation. The 700-club with Pat Robertson and Cindy Jacobs promotes the false teachings and lies of the New Apostolic Reformation. Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC has spent multi-millions upon millions of dollars to build state of the art social clubs all around the area, leading hundreds of thousands, if not millions, into apostasy. Heretic James Robison, (who hosts SBC's vision-from-God-receiving and ecumenical Beth Moore's weekly program), claims he was "so moved by the Gospel message of the pope, that he asked the translator for a high five."

What does this say to these people? It says, "don't worry, the sin you're caught up in is okay, God loves you anyways, you don't need to turn away from it.... we're brothers and sisters in Christ anyways." There is no clear biblical truth being taught in our churches anymore, as once was the stronghold of the Evangelical Church. We used to stand on this Biblical truth, and proclaim it without shame. When our leadership is too weak to call false religions to repentance, and decide to stand with them instead, they are by default working to build the harlot church. They are working to fill the golden cup of abominations. They are serving their idols and worshiping their gods. God tells us in Revelations 18:4-5 "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities." If we are participating in these activities with false churches, we are partaking in their sins. 

We are called to stand apart from this sin, calling sinners to repentance, not indulge in it. Why don't these mainstream "evangelical" figures understand this? I think they do. I think they are knowingly, and purposely working against the Gospel. If you believe and fear the Word of God, you must be obedient to it. But they are not. They openly reject the commands of God, giving him the finger, and saying "I'll do this my way." Sadly, man's way leads to Hell (Prov. 14:12). Russell Moore must know this. Joel Osteen must know this. Beth Moore, James Robison, Cindy Jacobs, and all of these other false teachers out in Evangeland... they MUST know this, yet they continue to flip God off, never facing their criticism. They one one hand speak truth, perhaps occasionally preaching sound doctrine, and then on the other hand mix in error, teaching lies, and living in ungodly ways, which is the tactic of Satan to lead people astray. I hate to say it, but these are the people that are working in the spirit of Antichrist, fornicating with the mother of harlots, and building the one world religion of the Beast. They need to be tested

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." - 1 John 4:1-6

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Why 'Racial Justice' is NOT a Gospel Demand

The proponents of racial reconciliation within the Church, especially the Southern Baptist Church, continue to propagate this idea that we need to set aside our differences and reconcile our racial divide. Racial tensions in the US are mostly a fabrication of mainstream media anyways, and aren't nearly as bad as they would have you believe.  However, it is unfortunate that many of our conservative, Bible-believing leaders in the Evangelical church have bought into this notion of white-privelege, and are using it as a means to further this "racial reconcilation" idea.

It all began with the Nov. 24 grand jury decision that police officer, Darren Wilson, would not be indicted on criminal charges for shooting a black teenager, Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri. And, in the footsteps of Rahm Emmanuel, and just like any neo-Marxist Democrat, "not letting a crisis go to waste," Russell Moore jumped right in to begin his new order of business. It wasn't long before the rest of the cohorts jumped on the bandwagon, and made this the topic of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission's 2015 Leadership Summit. Some of the more well known proponents of this cause, and speakers at the event are, Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Pastor Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, pastor, author and hip-hop artist out of Washington, D.C., Trip Lee, and former SBC president, Pastor Fred Luter.

Who you won't find speaking at this event are critics of this unbiblical cause, such as Dr. Randy White, Pastor, J.D. Hall, Pastor Ken Fryer, or even Pastor Voddie Baucham, who sees this issue completely differently than the mainstream leaders of Evangelicalism. While I don't want to speak for any of these critics, I do want to point out that if you disagree with Russell Moore on this issue, chances are you will be repudiated for it. But is "racial reconcilation," as presented by Moore and his companions actually Biblical?

First off, I want to make it absolutely clear that from a Biblical worldview, racism is absolutely unacceptable. The Bible is absolutely clear that holding hate in our hearts towards our brother is no different than murder (Matthew 5:21-26). That being said, hate is a sin, and confronting sin IS a Gospel demand. But this isn't how Russell Moore and Co. are touting it. Moore's solution to racial tensions in the US begin in the church—by integrating them racially. Then we also have Rev. Dwight McKissic, a black Southern Baptist pastor in Arlington, Texas saying, "The church lacks the moral authority to address the world about race before we set our own house in order."  Pastor Tony Evans says we need to grieve and repent over racism in America. And Danny Akin is making it his personal conviction to see to it that a more diverse group of pastors are recruited and educated within his seminary. Translation, we need to hire more black pastors so we can look better to the black community. But do we really have a problem in the Church? All this does is sugar coat the issue, and doesn't get at the heart of it. It's absolutely no different than the social programs our governments have put in place for blacks, such as affirmative action. It gives blacks a priority advantage simply because of the color of their skin, and not because of ability or commitment. It also makes blacks dependent on a system that doesn't address the root cause of the problems—sin.

Recently I posted a tweet, in response to another article pushing reconciliation, posing the question, "Who are these 'racist' SBC churches that these people keep referring to? I've yet to see one." Almost immediately I got a response from another tweeter saying that in Mississippi, he was aware of quite a few of them. My question back to him was, are they actually Christians in these churches. Agreeably with me, he said "probably not." So I ask then, if they aren't Christians, how are they a church. The point I was making is that we don't have a racism problem within the church. If there are racists, sitting in the pews of a church building on Sunday mornings, and acting hateful or intolerant of other races, their problem is not with disunity, non-integration or any other Russell Moore concept. An unrepentant, self-serving, sin-rationalizing racist CANNOT be any more of a Christian than an unrepentant, self-serving, sin-rationalizing homosexual, drunkard, adulterer or anything else. Being a Christian requires repentance of sin (Luke 13:3-5).

Integrating blacks and whites together in our churches is not going to solve any problem (be it perceived or actual) of racial tension in our country. Making this a "Gospel Demand," as presented by Moore and Co. is a fallacious implication that the Bible requires us to do this—it does not. What the Bible requires us to do is to take the Gospel to those who are unbelievers. Man cannot solve the problem of sin, it's why Jesus came to die on the cross for us.  The Gospel, by it's very nature, is going to produce integration among those who believe. I am a member of a very well integrated Southern Baptist church in Charlotte, NC, and I really don't know anyone, personally, who is racist. Are we sinners, yes, and do we need a savior, yes. But there is nobody, who is a professed, true, baptized believer that's walking around in my church spouting any kind of racism.

So who are these "racist" churches that Russell Moore, Darryl Aaron, and Tony Lankford keep referring to?  Are they referring to their own churches? Show us these churches that you're referring to and I would wager that they aren't true Christian churches. In other words, I would bet that the Gospel isn't being presented regularly, and the Bible isn't being exposited, and Jesus Christ isn't the central focus of these "member's" daily lives. Church integration isn't a Gospel demand, the Gospel is a Gospel demand.

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Russell Moore ''Doesn't Want to See Any Fewer Rosary Beads'' at the March For Life.

In 1973, in the wake of Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that invalidated abortion laws in 50 states, there was a small pro-life uprising. It began as a small demonstration and quickly became the largest pro-life event in the US, known as the March for Life. It's an annual event, that was just held two days ago, on Thursday, Jan 22. Now, the ecumenical sham organization Focus on the Family, and Evangelical Archbishop Russell Moore have teamed up to "initiate a massive movement of evangelicals present at the March for Life," in 2016.

Apparently, among the multitudes of religious organizations represented at the now ecumenical, unChristian, and unBiblical event yoking believers and unbelievers together for a political cause, there just aren't enough evangelicals setting aside the Gospel for his cause. Moore states:

Evangelicals are deeply involved in a variety of pro-life efforts in the United States, but they have been significantly underrepresented at the March for Life. That needs to change.

Now, don't get me wrong, being pro-life is a great cause, and working for a pro-life cause is definitely Biblical in and of itself, but as usual, Russell Moore takes it beyond doing the work of God, and uses it to press on for his ecumenical, "Social Gospel"-oriented agenda. Russell Moore never says that he wants to see more evangelicals at the event to call unbelievers to repentance--and unbelief is the real reason behind abortion. Russell Moore says he wants to continue to see plenty of Rosary beads and "Ave Maria" at the event, and please, don't let the Gospel stand in your way. In fact, his exact words were:

I don't want to see any fewer rosary beads at the March for Life, but I want to see more evangelicals here also at the March for Life, Our absence is a shame. And so we don't need any less 'Ave Maria,' but we need some more 'Amazing Grace' in the mix as well.

In other words, what he's essentially saying is, Catholics,  your belief system is no different than ours, and it's just as valid. Moore has already stated, when he went to the Vatican last year and compromised the Gospel in the name of Ecumenism, that he doesn't know the difference between the Pope's Gospel, and his own, yet this is the man that's in charge of one of the most well known offices of the largest Protestant denomination in the world, the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission. I don't argue that Evangelicals should be involved in the fight against abortion, but there is no rhyme or reason that we should be following Russell Moore in his fight against the Protestant Reformation and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in order to do so. We do not have compromise God's Word to fulfill his Great Commission, and that is what we are called to do first.

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Lifeway Promoting False Teacher Priscilla Shirer Experiential Event

We all know how critical many have been of Lifeway "Christian" Stores lately, and for good reason. Lifeway, as an extension of the Southern Baptist Convention, and representing the larger section of conservative Evangelical Christianity, seems to have a knack for peddling heresy for profit. First, there was the uprising against well known heresy such as heaven tourism, modalism and Word of Faith, then there was a public retraction by Alex Malarkey that his story in his book, The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven, was false, which finally prompted Lifeway to acknowledge years worth of criticism by pulling it from the shelf. And now, for 39 bucks, you can purchase tickets from Lifeway to another False Prophet event, Priscilla Shirer Live.

Priscilla Shirer is a good friend, and a disciple of well known prophet-preacher Beth Moore. Besides the fact that women preaching and teaching men in the church is unbiblical, these two women regularly claim to receive extra-biblical revelation from God, and promote other unbiblical practices such as mysticism, and contemplative prayer. However, the first red flag I see that goes up in the promotion of this event is on the flyer it states. "You know her studies. It's Time To Experience Her Event." The word, "experience," is a buzz word in Charismatic Christendom that usually entails some type of extra-biblical engagement with God through emotions, visions, signs and wonders, and unorthodox practices of mystical prayer. This is no different with Priscilla Shirer. Priscilla Shirer was a participant in the heretical DVD on contemplative prayer, Be Still, and she even addresses this criticism on her web page. Though at first glance it may sound like she supports a biblical view of prayer, looking deeper into what she is saying, it becomes clear that she doesn't understand what biblical prayer and meditation means. In her FAQ she says, "By participating in the Be Still project, we by no means meant to convey our agreement with the theological viewpoints and positions of other participants yet we did believe (and still do) in the over-arching theme of the resource and that is why I agreed to do it." This is a contradictory statement. The theological viewpoints and positions of the participants IS the over-arching theme of the DVD, and she says she supports it. She then goes on to say
 "The Psalmist himself said that not only would he bring his requests to God in prayer but then 'wait expectantly' (Psalm 5:3) for God’s response. The prophet Habakkuk mirrors this philosophy of prayer when he says that after speaking to God he would then “climb up on the watchtower and wait to see what the Lord will say to me.”

The Psalmist himself said that not only would he bring his requests to God in prayer but then “wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3) for God’s response. The prophet Habakkuk mirrors this philosophy of prayer when he says that after speaking to God he would then “climb up on the watchtower and wait to see what the Lord will say to me.” (Habakkuk 2:1). We are a proponent of the Christian encountering God in a fresh way that is relevant to his or her life, and we believe this can occur when we wait for God quietly with our Bibles outspread before us. As we ponder His Word, the Holy Spirit applies it to the circumstances of our lives.

Here, she seems to be equating the way Old Testament prophets received revelation from God to how Christians are meant to study God's Word--by being still and waiting. The fact that she goes on to say that we do this with our Bibles open before us doesn't change anything. Yes, it is true that we receive our revelation from God ONLY through Scripture, if you look closely, this is not what she's saying. We don't study God's word by opening it and pondering a piece of Scripture, and sitting silently waiting for God to speak to us, we study Scripture through vigorous intellectual reading, one-way prayer as taught in Scripture, and application of his Word in our daily lives. Meditating on God's Word, by Biblical definition, means to fill our minds with it, memorize it, and study and practice it regularly so that it becomes ingrained in who you are. A golf player does not become a better golf player by sitting down in front of a ball, meditating over it and contemplating it. He becomes better by actively practicing it, and applying his knowledge daily.
Despite her attempt to brush off the accusations of promoting and practicing mysticism, this isn't the only time she's been involved in this activity. She has written at least two booklets in which she claims that mature Christians should be able to hear audible voices from God. In her booklet, Is That You God, she writes:

Before you read any further, let me assure you of an important point. To not speak contradicts God's nature. The second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, is called the Word (see John 1:1). That designation stands at odds with silence. God loved you enough to die for you; He loves you enough to communicate with you. The Lord can and will speak to you if you've placed your faith in Jesus. First, however, you must expect and anticipate that the divine voice of God can ring in your ears and heart. 

Nowhere in Scripture am I aware of does it teach that we must expect and anticipate the divine voice of God ringing in our ears and heart. Scripture is clear that the Word of God, as once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3), in sufficient for our salvation and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). But apparently that's not enough for Priscilla. In Day 4 of Week 2 in her Bible study on her Book, He Speaks To Me, she writes:

How can we consistently hear God’s voice? We must take the focus off ourselves, looking instead to His glory and priorities, meditating on His attributes. To worship God appropriately, we also need to grasp His acceptance. As long as we feel condemned, we will have difficulty hearing God speak. 

Again, she seems to believe that God speaks to our hearts in other ways besides Scripture. The Bible doesn't teach us that we can hear God speak to us as long as we don't feel condemned, and focus on his priorities and attributes. Paul says in Hebrews 1:1-2 "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." The key here is the past tense, "has spoken." God has already spoken to us through the revelation of Jesus Christ, and his revelation has been recorded by the writers of the New Testament canon. Though God uses the Holy Spirit to illumine the Word of God for us today, and interpret it for us, he does not speak directly to us through any other means than the closed canon of Scripture.
 
Shirer also regularly travels and speaks at events with other well known false teaches, like Christine Caine, Beth Moore, Sheila Walsh and Lisa Harper. It's no doubt that she is a disciple of these women, as she speaks so highly of them. She says of Christine Caine in an interview with the Christian Post, (where she also seems to believe that women speakers are persecuted in the Church), "Christine Caine would be at the top of my list [most influential and unique voices in Christianity]. She is a brilliant communicator of God's word, but not only that, this is a woman who's on a mission to see His kingdom come on earth," and of Beth Moore, "Then also Beth Moore. Beth Moore is a fantastic communicator of God's word. I have the utmost respect for her. She's a friend and mentor, a woman of integrity. I have rarely heard someone teach the Scriptures the way Beth Moore can." She also tweets about Caine,

So grateful for the powerhouse, phenomenon that is....Christine Caine. http://t.co/1Aml7f1O
— Priscilla Shirer (@PriscillaShirer) April 28, 2012

Yet, despite the fact that these "teachers" are unsound, Lifeway continues to promote their events, and sell their literature. If Lifeway is going to continue in this practice, is it really necessary for them to be a part of the Church? Should the SBC continue in ownership of a company that does not represent the Biblical standards mandated in Scripture, and ascribed to by the Church? What is it going to take to get this garbage out of our bookstores and out of our churches?

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Pastor Tony Evans Says Americans Need to Grieve and Repent Over Slavery and Jim Crow

Many are aware of the ongoing debate over "racial reconciliation" going on in the Southern Baptist Convention, but few are aware of what it really entails. In fact, the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission will be hosting The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation Summit in March of 2015. Most of the Southern Baptist's proponents of "Racial Reconciliation," such as Russell Moore and Ronnie Floyd are in favor of labeling race problems as a Gospel Mandate, and require us to accept the Marxist idea of "White Privelege." Take for example what Moore had to say in his August 14 post:

Moreover, we know that the the myth of a “post-racial” America is contradicted by a criminal justice system in which young African-American men are, by almost any measure, disproportionately more likely to be arrested, sentenced, or even killed when compared to white peers.

Moore wants us to believe that blacks are arrested, sentenced or even killed more often by our police and criminal justice system because white Americans are racist. Moreover, he wants us to believe that white Americans are privileged in American society over blacks, simply because of our skin color, despite African-American-only programs such as the United Negro College Fund, Affirmative Action, etc, black housing incentives, Equal Opportunity employment programs, etc. Perhaps the problem isn't that whites are more privileged than blacks, but the problem is sin, especially within the black community. I would argue that the number one reason for higher arrests and convictions among blacks is that they are far more likely to be born out of wedlock, and be raised with without a father figure. This, I would argue according to MY Bible, is the "Gospel Mandate." That we take the Gospel to those who need it, and live in a culture and lifestyle of unrepentant sin, and no understanding of the Grace of God, is the Gospel's mandate (Mark 16:15). It is NOT a Gospel mandate that whites bend over backward, and accept responsibility for the sin in the African American culture.

Furthermore, Dr. Ronnie Floyd, president of the SBC writes:

The time is now for us to rise up together and cry out against the racism that still exists in our nation and our churches, and the subsequent injustices....Pastors, churches, leaders, and laypeople of the Southern Baptist Convention, the time is now for us to repent personally and collectively of all racism and injustice...We need to repent of our racism and injustice and return to the first commandment of loving our Lord Jesus Christ.

Is racism a problem in his church? I, for one, am a member of a Southern Baptist church of about 18,000 members, and I don't know a single racist. Though we are a predominately white church, there are a number of black members, as well as pastors, leaders, and teachers. Yet, Floyd wants us to believe that the problems in the black community are due to racism running rampant in our churches. I'm not arguing that racism doesn't exist in America, but racists are not Christians, and if a "church" is corporately racist in any way, it's NOT a Christian church. Yet, the latest in this craze of racial reconciliation in the Southern Baptist Church comes from none other than Pastor Tony Evans, of Oak Cliff Bible Church in Dallas. During an interview with the Christian Post on January 14, Evans was asked:

CP: The suggestion has been made that society as a whole, American Christians as a whole, need to acknowledge and grieve over past corporate sins like slavery and Jim Crow before trying to move forward on reconciliation. What are you thoughts?

And his response was:

Evans: Absolutely, that's what the solemn assembly is all about. Solemn assembly is recognizing where we failed and repenting of it. Repentance means to turn the other way. So that means, where those failures are clearly seen, have we turned, are we doing the opposite to what we did when those failures or when our current failures [are] the continuation of those historical failures? You repent of those, that is you turn the other way. When you've done that, now you've begun to operate on God's standards. And when you repent and operate on God's standards, now you have restoration and reconciliation.

Here in lies the problem, though; While racism does exist to some small degree in America, it does not exist on the scales that the news media would have you believe, and that the leaders. What is it that Evans, and the others like Moore and Floyd want us to do? The SBC has already publicly repented of it's racist past. Americans have already repented of slavery and Jim Crow. But our SBC leaders want us as a whole in the church, and as a whole as white Americans, to accept that whites have it easy, repent of that, and stop holding black criminals responsible for their misdeeds and failures. This is diametrically opposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which teaches us to take the message of personal responsibility of our sin to sinners, along with the word of grace and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Only then can we see healing among our fellow Americans.

While there are exceptions, the vast majority of white Americans would whole-heartedly disavow slavery or any of these racist events in our history, ESPECIALLY Christians. But unfortunately, our Southern Baptist leaders have bought into the white privilege hype promoted by left leaning propagandists, and this is where our denomination is heading full speed. I would urge SBC members to speak out against this agenda in our churches. Bring it up to your pastors, and make them aware of what's going on. If there is any hope for the SBC in the future, we MUST stay Gospel focused...that is, the True Gospel, not the Social Gospel. The Gospel is about man's sin, and God's power to save us from it, not man's inequality and man's ability to save eachother from it.

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Related Video: Pastor Voddie Bauchum sees right through Black Liberation Theology:

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Will the SBC Officially Announce Their Apostasy at the 2015 Annual Meeting?

Every year, right before the SBC Annual Meeting, a two day Pastors' Conference is held with various Southern Baptist preachers speaking at the event.  This year, the 2015 conference will be held June 14th and 15th in Toledo Ohio, and will be immediately followed by the SBC Annual meeting on the 16th and 17th.   The purpose of the event is to teach and encourage other preachers and pastors. Dr. Willy Rice of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, FL, and president of the 2015 Conference, writes on the website:

We have assembled a stellar lineup of leaders and speakers whom God is using and blessing. There will be passionate worship, great music, and inspiring stories. This will be the very time you need to refresh your soul and renew your walk with God and friendship with fellow leaders. I believe this is going to be a special convention and our Pastor’s Conference is going to set the stage for a true work of God.

We shall see.

The Great Awakening

As with every event in the SBC, the Pastors' Conference, historically speaking, isn't without it's problems.  It appears it will be no different this year.  The first problem of the 2015 conference is it's theme. It is officially being promoted as the Great Awakening. This appears to be a theme based on the convention's president, Dr. Ronnie Floyd's ebook, "PLEADING WITH SOUTHERN BAPTISTS To Humbly Come Together Before God in Clear Agreement,Visible Union, and in Extraordinary Prayer for the Next Great Awakening and for the World to Be Reached for Christ." Take a look at the logo from the Conference's website. The logo states that the theme will be "Clear Agreement," "Visible Union," and "Extraordinary Prayer."  Let's dissect what exactly this New Age, ecumenical and contemplative sounding language means. On page 1 of Floyd's book, he writes:

For the sake of our nation and the spiritually lost around the world, it is time to humble ourselves before God. For this, I plead with all Southern Baptist pastors, missionaries, laypersons, denominational leaders, churches, denominational entities, conventions, colleges and universities; from student to adult, regardless of age, vocation, or status.

As we come to God in humility and repentance, entering into this special season of extraordinary prayer, we plead with God for spiritual revival personally, revival in the church, and the next Great Awakening in the United States.

First of all, "The Great Awakening" is an idea that has been pushed by New Agers and the mystic religions for ages. Ashok Gangadean, professor of philosophy at Haverford College, founder of the Logos Institute, and co-convener of the World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality, and well known New Age proponent states:

Perhaps the single most powerful event facing humanity today is a great awakening on a planetary scale that has been millennia in the making. We humans are in the midst of a profound advance as a species to a higher form of global consciousness that has been emerging across cultures, religions and worldviews through the centuries. This awakening of global consciousness is nothing less than a shift, a maturation, from more egocentric patterns of life to a higher form of integral and dialogic patterns of life. [Emphasis mine]

So how does this relate the visible Church?  Well, the ideas are the same.  In effect, what Floyd is saying in his ebook, is that we need to tear down our denominational walls, doctrinal boundaries, and biblical divisions. Well known ecumenical Southern Baptist "pastor," and keynote speaker at the 2014 conference, Rick Warren prophesies "A great spirit awakening is on the horizon." Warren vaguely defines the "Great Awakening" as it relates to the Church.

In the last three years, I’ve told you this several times: I believe God is preparing the church for another reformation. The first reformation focused on what the church believed; this one will focus on what it does.

For too long we’ve separated the Word of God from the work of God. As the church, we’re called to be the body of Christ – the whole body.

It isn't exactly clear where how he received this revelation, but we can be sure that it didn't come from God.  His prophecy basically outlines five man centered steps to "renew" the Church, water down doctrinal and denominational lines (including those of Roman Catholicism) and join together and unite under this new form of Emergent Christianity. The Emerging Church can be summed up by a few characteristics, including: tearing down down doctrinal divisions, a greater emphasis on sensory worship using candles, icons, images, incenses, etc. to bring about a feeling of "experiencing God," and a reexamination of Scripture and the purpose of the Church in society.  A lot of what we see in these Emerging churches are the acceptance of mystic practices such as Yoga and contemplative prayer, and a deterioration of a clear presentation of the true Gospel as portrayed in Scripture.  There becomes less of an emphasis on God's truth, and a greater emphasis on man's feelings.  In a sense, it's idolatry disguised as Christianity.

Clear Agreement

The next idea in the 2015 conference's motto is "Clear Agreement."  But Floyd never really defines in his book exactly how he wants us to come to this "clear agreement."  He only states "Surely we can embrace with clear agreement that spiritual revival personally, spiritual revival in the church, and spiritual awakening in the nation are all needed so we can accelerate our pace in reaching the world for Christ." Does he mean for us to set aside Biblical doctrine, hold hands, and unite in the name of Jesus for a man centered means of a better world?  I don't know, but based on his history, he has already set aside Biblical doctrine for man-made theology.

President of the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission, and prominent speaker at this event, Dr. Russell Moore has demonstrated this time and time again.  In December of 2013, Moore sent out a tweet praising the pope of Rome for being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year.  He has also openly praised Democratic, pro-life congressman Gene Taylor, calling him "the greatest public servant I've ever known."  Really?  Moore, along with Rick Warren, recently visited the Vatican, setting aside the Gospel, to hold hands with unbelieving Catholics in the name of uniting on the issue of marriage.  Being salt and light, by taking them the Gospel is one thing, but rejecting the Gospel in order to have fellowship, is completely different thing.  The Bible tells us that we are not to have fellowship with unbelievers (2nd Cor. 6:14), nor are we to have anything to do with the unfruitful works of darkness, rather expose them (Eph. 5:11).

So is this what Floyd, and the SBC want us to "clearly agree" on?  This leads us to the next point in the motto, "Visible Union."

Visible Union

So Floyd is pleading for the visible Church to "unite" in these ideas, visibly.  In other words, he wants the world to see what he thinks is the Church standing together regardless of important differences.  It seems that Floyd, and many others in the SBC are already doing this.  Take for example Lifeway Christian Stores. Recently, Lifeway's Research Committe President, Ed Stetzer was confronted about heretical books being peddled in the store.  Instead of addressing the issue, Stetzer, and his companions first chose to ignore their critics.  But when pressure started to build, they began to marginalize the critics by saying that there were only a few of the same "angry Calvinists," are always complaining.  After this comment sparked an uproar against Stetzer and Lifeway's Gospel compromising practices, they began attacking the critics, however, still not addressing the issue.  The point is that these types of pastors dominate the SBC, and they all think alike.  Ronnie Floyd, Russell Moore, Ed Stetzer, Rick Warren...they all are willing to compromise the Gospel in some way in order to avoid offending other religions, and stand united in the name of man centered ideologies.

The Bible warns us of these unholy alliances, and predicts that these unions will happen more and more in the end times.

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (1st Timothy 4:1-5)

Notice verse 3 above, and what Ronnie Floyd is asking the Church to publicly do on page 10 of his ebook.  He is asking the pastors to lead their churches in a "corporate fast."  I'm not aware of anywhere in Scripture that the church is called to fast corporately.  This is a practice of the Roman Catholic church, and is actually condemned in Scripture.  Fasting is something that should not be taken lightly by any means, and should never be done to draw attention under any circumstances. (Matthew 6:16)

Extraordinary Prayer

The last point in the motto is "Extraordinary Prayer."  He doesn't give a real description of what exactly he means by "Extraordinary Prayer," however, he does have this to say about it:

Challenge your church to pause at either sunset on Saturday evening or sunrise on Sunday morning, to pray for three minutes for the anointing of God to come on their pastor as he preaches God’s Word and the anointing of God’s power to come upon the worship services of their church. Prayerfully, these 180 seconds of focused prayer will soon begin a true 180-degree change in our churches. While God creates the change within our churches spiritually, He will also lead us to strategic change in our churches in order to rise up like never before to do whatever it takes to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Who's church gathers at sunset on Saturday evening?  I don't know many Protestant churches that do, but I know one well known apostate church that does.  Does Floyd want believers to unite with unbelieving Roman Catholics in prayer?  It appears that Floyd believes that by all of these churches, with their congregations, all at the same time, for exactly 3 minutes, petitioning God to do something, is going to make a difference.  Now, I am certainly a proponent of prayer, both private and corporate, but it appears Dr. Floyd has a misunderstanding of the purpose of prayer.  Prayer is not a petition for a man centered desire, but a means to have a relationship with God on His terms.  First and foremost, we must be praying for God's will to be done, and I've yet to see Floyd, or the SBC defend their agenda with Scripture.

Sure, there may be some positive aspects to this, but as a whole, it doesn't appear that they are appealing to the will of God for their purposes.  I agree with them that we should be praying for a revival in the Church, but it appears the revival that they want is un-scriptural. They want us to set aside good doctrine, and take a watered down message to the world.  Rather than addressing the issues of man's sinfulness and need for repentance and a Savior, they want to take the message of pro-life and traditional marriage, and stand in unity with unbelievers proclaiming these good works as a means to a better world.  There will, however, be a few excellent preachers at this conference. Namely, Clint Pressley and David Platt.  Both of them are great men of integrity, and excellent expositors of the Word of God.  Lets pray that the good, humble, believing pastors like these can have a positive impact on the SBC.   However, the Bible predicts that the visible Church in the end times will turn away from the truth, and start following doctrines of demons.  It looks like the SBC is falling away at a faster pace, and (God willing, unknowingly) helping to build the harlot church described in Revelation 17.

It also looks like God's plan is completely different than the plan put forth by the SBC 2015 conference.  God's plan never calls for a "Spiritual Awakening" in the end times, on the contrary, it says this will happen:

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. [2nd Thes. 2:1-12]

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