Check out this profoundly disturbing post over at WhatIfTexas…
Posts Tagged ‘emergent church’
What is being taught Down the Hall?
February 13, 2010Emerging from Emergents!!
February 8, 2010
I feel as though I have spent a fair amount of time lately posting warnings concerning the Emergent movement. These warnings to the flock of God are absolutely necessary, but at the same time I feel it is not healthy to focus on false teaching for too long. I don’t know how to explain quite why, but it begins to feel “dirty” to study such heresy at length. In re-focusing once again on the pursuit of Christ and His holiness, I thought it fitting to post one more link concerning Emergent activity because the subject matter seems fitting. Apparently, an insider has left the Emergent Church and has begun to openly question what they are teaching, and what the end result of their teachings really is (click HERE for the article). I pray that God would lead more people away from this heresy and to the Cross of the one true God. Christ died for the sins of all, including Emergent’s, and forgiveness is offered to them through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Pray that more would see the truth!
The key to it all, Origins of the Emergent church
February 7, 2010
Click HERE to listen to a terrific interview with Doug Pagitt describing the beginnings of the Emergent Church movement. Like so many things, once you know how something started, and why, it becomes much easier to understand how and why operations are carried out today. Whether you are of Emergent persuasion, are trying to combat Emergent doctrine, you should listen to this interview. Don’t know what the Emergent movement is yet? Well, the youth group leader in your Church does, and statistically speaking, he probably embraces it. Bottom line… Don’t miss this interview.
On the same topic, a good article to read on the basics of Emergent doctrine is found HERE. It is actually a review of Brian McLaren’s newest book, “A New Kind of Christianity” but it is also a terrific 101 class on how Emergent teachers think and what they teach.
The Jesus who isn’t Good enough… Emergents.
February 6, 2010In a recent broadcast, Doug Pagitt, a well known spokesperson for the Emergent Church had something interesting to say. His guest on the show was Chris Rosebrough (from Pirate Christian Radio) and the topic was the Gospel message. Commenting on Rosebrough’s definition of the Gospel (which Rosebrough summarized as repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus name), Pagitt’s response was this: “I will narrate it (the Gospel) on this radio show, it is a much better story than that!” Wow. God humbles Himself and comes to Earth in the form of one of His creatures, allows Himself to be tortured and slaughtered thereby paying for the horrible things we have done (and are doing) to fill the justice mandated by His Holy righteousness and…..it isn’t good enough for the Emergent Church? They have a better Gospel? Jesus work as explained in Scripture isn’t good enough? So now you may ask “So what is that to me??”
Many folks reading this will be shocked at Pagitt’s statement but will think, “So what? I don’t go to an Emergent church!” And may I reply with the question, “Are you sure?” The Emergent teachings have crept in unnoticed to an incredible number of Churches throughout North America and Europe, and are being adopted by more every day. (more…)
Love God & Love others…Seriously??
January 22, 2010
“Love God and love others.” It is a modern english summary of the greatest commandment found in Mark Chapter 12. But let’s take a quick look at exactly what the Scripture really says: “One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” When Jesus taught we should love God and love others, it was in response to the question “What is the greatest commandment?” So in Jesus own words, this is a summary of the commandments, or the moral law of Moses. So now the puzzling part; Why are so many American churches telling us that the Gospel message is “Love God and love others”? Paul made it very clear in Romans Chapter 3 that ”No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are” So if following the law doesn’t save us, why is it being taught as the Gospel that brings salvation? It may sound good, it may sound loving, but all this message really teaches is salvation comes through your obedience to the law, and that is NOT the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ suffered in our place on the Cross and lived the perfect life that we are unable to live ourselves. Go ahead and try to fulfill the “Love God, love others” commandment. You will fail, and fail big. The law was designed by God to expose your sin and drive you to Christ. To try earning salvation on your own is to rebel against God’s call of repentance, and to spit in the face of Jesus, the one who cared enough to die for you. The only way to actually fill the commandment of “Love God, love others” is to be made into a new creature with a new heart and the indwelling spirit of Christ. This comes only through the salvation offered by our savior. Think about it.
Some thoughts on the Modern Church
January 16, 2010The folks over at 9 Marks have some interesting articles posted right now on how many American Churches have allowed themselves to be influenced by liberal heresies because of their zeal to reach out to the culture. Read the intro below, and if you want some good browsing, go check it out.
In general, the danger of liberalism, which we define broadly as gospel-denial within the church, occurs when we allow the world’s demands to ring a little too loudly in our ears. It occurs when we let the world dictate the terms of our beliefs or practices. Or when we let the world determine, “These things are good and worthy, not those things,” or, “This is the salvation we are looking for.” As soon as we let the world influence the terms of the church’s life and mission, we have let another authority enter the house and tie up the king of the church, Christ.
A question for evangelicals to ask themselves is, has the way we think about church prepared us for compromise? The challenge for churches, we’re told, is striking the balance between isolation and assimilation. Usually, this translates into, “Change your church structures and the way you talk, but not your doctrine.” The trouble is, changing our structures and the way we talk changes the way we think, because words and structures shape thinking. For instance, change how you talk about the gospel and your congregation will think differently about the gospel. Change what membership means, to use another example, and your congregation will begin to understand the inclusiveness and exclusiveness of God’s love–and so God himself–differently. (more…)
Emergent Church, Rob Bell and the nooma videos
January 3, 2010If you are not familiar with the Emergent Church, you need to be. This movement is an outright attack on the Bible and Jesus Christ. It is usually presented very artistically with real life issues being addressed. The NOOMA videos produced by Rob Bell (one of the leaders of this movement) is one of their most popular methods of teaching. Many, many (I mean a lot) of youth groups and college groups are showing these videos in their meetings. These videos are in virtually every American town in one or more youth groups (maybe yours). They are so artistic that it is difficult to find clarity on exactly what they are teaching. But, Rob Bell has now published several books (one of which is entitled “Velvet Elvis”), and they state what his positions are a little more clearly. These teachings flat-out deny the authority and inspiration of the Bible. They deny the clearly taught Biblical doctrine of Heaven and Hell stating that there are no such places. They accept all lifestyles, sexualities, and religions as having great merit. Their teachings have much, much more in common with humanism and universalism then any teachings in the Bible. But be warned: If you call out your Pastor for allowing these teachings there is a great possibility that it will be you that is asked to leave rather than the videos. They are usually violently defended. Why? As with all liberalism, all viewpoints are welcome except that of true Biblical Christianity. Watch this video below for a short teaching on some of Rob Bell’s teachings (the same teachings cleverly disguised in the NOOMA videos.)
“That Doctrine is just a Reaction…”
January 3, 2010When they say “That Doctrine is just a Reaction…” you should have a reaction…you should run! What could I possibly mean by that? Well, let me share with you something I have noticed. This is not Scripture, so please do not take it as such. It is just a common trend I see happening in local Churches. When a Church begins to drift into “liberal” theology, often times there will be good, solid believers who will start to have some concerns. They will raise these concerns through quiet meetings with the Pastor, emails or letters sent to the board. They will be questioning as to why the new teachings don’t seem to be in line with what they know to be sound Biblical doctrine. And what is the response? Very often it is something along the lines of the following: “Where did you learn that doctrine? Oh…. from John MacArthur (or Piper, or the Puritans, or Paul Washer, or whoever). Well that whole doctrine is just a reaction (implying over-reaction) to some extremely liberal teachings that were gaining popularity at that time. It really isn’t biblical. They took things too far. You should probably shy away from that guy.” Folks, I am not saying people don’t react and I am definitely not saying people don’t take things too far. But God doesn’t, and neither does His Word. If a doctrine is based solidly on God’s Word, then don’t tell me it is an over-reaction by John MacArthur (or whoever)!!! Truth is truth! I have found this type of attack to be a very common method of misdirection used by “liberal Christians” trying to influence a Church. When you question why Rob Bell’s “nooma” video’s are being used in the Church, or why the women’s retreat has pamphlets about meditation in the greeting bags and receive this response, I have one word of advice. Run the other way from everything they try to teach you. Run, baby, run!
