"ROGUE" MB BLOGGERS

Okay, I really had not planned on posting another commentary this soon, but after rolling on over to Roll Over Menno and reading one of their latest postings, entitled Barefoot Mennonites, I decided it was necessary. Necessary, because this article mentions that one of the workshops that took place at the Going Barefoot conference held at Canadian Mennonite University in October was sponsored by MCC and The Canadian Conference of Mennonite Churches (amongst others). The workshop was presented to tackle the issue of with how to deal with people who create blogs which may be construed as negative (or as I like to think, warn others of false doctrine). I will freely admit that I have been examining the direction the MB Conference has been taking with a sense of dread and profound sadness for the past year or so already, and that IS partly why I have started this blog. I have felt that I needed to have a voice. Letters to the MB Herald only allow 150-200 words. That is not enough to discuss a topic like this. Those who are openly and publicly promoting questionable practices need to be rebuked openly and publicly. This is no personal private matter that requires the use of the Matthew 18:15-17 principle. Paul publicly rebuked those who were teaching false doctrine and named the offenders.

About 18 months ago I took part in a required seminary course (at a non-MB seminary) called Spiritual Formation. At this time I did not have any type of understanding about contemplative spirituality or the "spiritual disciplines", and was quite taken with what I had learned there. It just seemed so "spiritual". It was not long after that I came across a number of materials addressing these issues, and I realized that all was not as it seemed. The experience of taking the class also taught me how easily I had been and could be deceived by these things if I was not going back to the Scriptures "to see if these things were so". Something was coming into the seminary I attended, as well as many other Christian institutions (including the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary) under the radar so to speak, that was deceptive and led down a dangerous path spiritually. It was a form of godliness, but denied the power. It was something called contemplative spirituality that was coming through the Spiritual Formation classes. You can see for yourself here some unbiblical forms of prayer being taught, such as apophatic prayer, the prayer of examen, labyrinth prayer and body prayer, amongst other practices that need to be seriously examined, at MBBS. This is definitely not exclusive to the MB Conference however. This is showing up in every denomination. I just happen to be more concerned about the MB Conference because I have been a member of an MB Church for nearly 30 years.

Here is a quote from the ROLL OVER MENNO article mentioned in the first paragraph:
"Some of the things going on within some Mennonite organizations are being exposed by blogs like Roll Over Menno. These organizations many not like it and see it as a negative problem, but as long as these Mennonites continue to promote contemplative spirituality, labyrinths, Spiritual Direction International, and the green gospel, while chumming with our modern day Haman on the bridge to Rome, there will continue to be blogs and websites like this that tell the truth. Maybe it’s time for these organizations to truly go barefoot and remove the steel toed boots that are covering up the bare facts."

ROLL OVER MENNO is just one such blog. Mine is another, and I have found others who are exposing this trend. I am not necessarily picking on the MBs. But I will point out that this trend IS happening in the Conference. I have said very little about the situation for over a year already, but as I see it continuing with fervor down this path, I decided it was time for me to warn others. I do not want to take the time on this post to get into all the workings of the contemplative spirituality movement, because I don't believe I need to reinvent the wheel. There are other blogs (morebooksandthings) who have examined this issue carefully, and other websites too. Carla, from morebooksandthings, has an extensive collection of articles which expose the emerging church and contemplative spirituality movement. The discernment websites I have included on the sidebar also tackle this issue. You really need to take the time to examine this issue for yourself. It can be overwhelming and sometimes almost unbelievable that something like this can be happening with so few people understanding what lies beneath it, but that is precisely why I've decided to speak out. Will the MB Conference try to silence or discredit me? Will they dislike what I have to say? Possibly. But that's okay. If I'm wrong about this all I ask is that you try to show me how and why. For the past year I have been gathering a binder full of articles from past MB publications and articles which expose this movement as spiritually suspect and downright dangerous. Based on my findings and hundreds of hours of studying the movement has led me to believe that it is a path which eventually leads its practitioners to a spiritual unity with ALL religions and into apostasy. Dare we ignore such an issue?

Now let's get something straight here. I do not believe for one minute that the professors and promoters of this in the MB Conference are not sincere Christians. I do believe they love the Lord and want to know Him better. (I think that is why this movement appeals to them; it claims to help you do just that - incorrectly claims to). And I do not think that they set out to deceive others, but rather have been deceived themselves by pseudo-evangelicals (false teachers) who have crept into the system, largely through textbooks and study materials. False teachers are what Paul and other apostles warn about repeatedly. The way is NARROW, not wide. Apostasy is one of the signs that Scripture teaches will take place as this present age comes to an end.

If you are the member of a Mennonite Brethren Church, it is your responsibility to look at what is happening here. We are exhorted in Scripture to examine, teach, warn and rebuke. If the MB Conference has a problem with anyone who is doing this, those in leadership need to examine themselves. Openness to correction is an important trait in a believer's life, and those in leadersip at the MB Conference ARE NOT EXEMPT.

IS GOD'S ALARM CLOCK RINGING?

Romans 13:11
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

I ended up burning the candle at both ends yesterday. Last night was one of those nights when I was not one bit sleepy, even at 4 am. But that's okay because I was able to accomplish some important things that had been on my mind, and my husband gave me the opportunity to sleep in a bit by getting up to make a school lunch for our son. So with about 4 hours of sleep last night, I sense an urgency to get back at this blog with an important alert.

Evangelical churches are once again making spiritual alliances with those who have vowed to annihilate her. It happened first of all with the Roman Catholic Church, and just recently with The Royal Aal al-Baut Institute for Islamic Thought.

On the institute's website, acommonword, they had this to say about interfaith unity in their declaration entitled A Common Word Between Us and You:

"On October 13^th 2006, one month to the day after Pope Benedict XVI’s Regensburg address of September 13^th 2006, 38 Islamic authorities and scholars from around the world, representing all denominations and schools of thought, joined together to deliver an answer to the Pope in the spirit of open intellectual exchange and mutual understanding. In their Open Letter to the Pope (see english.pdf), for the first time in recent history, Muslim scholars from every branch of Islam spoke with one voice about the true teachings of Islam."

"It is hoped that this document will provide a common constitution for the many worthy organizations and individuals who are carrying out interfaith dialogue all over the world. Often these groups are unaware of each other, and duplicate each other’s efforts. Not only can A Common Word Between Us give them a starting point for cooperation and worldwide co-ordination, but it does so on the most solid theological ground possible: the teachings of the Qu’ran and the Prophet r, and the commandments described by Jesus Christ u in the Bible. Thus despite their differences, Islam and Christianity not only share the same Divine Origin and the same Abrahamic heritage, but the same two greatest commandments."

This document was presented at a conference by the Islamic Royal Academy in September 2007. Please notice that they have put Islam on an equal footing with Christianity theologically, and the prophet Allah on the same footing as Jesus Christ.

Among over a hundred others, those who have signed this document are Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church and Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. The Yale Center for Faith and Culture has posted its response to the Islamic document as well as the entire list of those who have signed it so far. Most of those who have signed it are walking down the contemplative/emerging church pathway which is heading toward a one world form of spirituality.

Deuteronomy 6:13-15 says:
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you:(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

Isaiah 2
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me

Take the time, if you can, to check out the links provided in this post to see the documents for yourself. My daughter has also posted her interesting comments on her new blog ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST regarding this development, which are well worth the read.

And if you're in need of some encouragement right about now, head on over to igrace and listen to that great hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God".

ANNAPOLIS CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY

For those of you have been keeping up with news around the world, you are probably aware that President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will be putting Israel's future on the chopping block on Tuesday, November 27th.

Please go to Bob Michell's site, SHOFAR MINISTRIES, and read his latest post on the Annapolis Conference and what it could mean for God's chosen nation. And remember to pray for fellow-believers in the region, that God would grant them protection and the courage to remain faithful. It really looks like we are in the last stages of the last days.

For more news analysis with a biblical perspective, read what Adam and Holly Pivec have to say about Annapolis at their prophecy website FULFILLED PROPHECY.



WATCH AND PRAY...

DO YOU NEED A NEW PERSPECTIVE?

Let's talk a bit about perspective. It can be good from time to time to get a new perspective. As believers we need to be willing to allow God to realign our priorities when our lives become imbalanced. Living in obedience to God's Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to give us direction is essential to living a balanced life with proper perspective. In the same way that the tires on our cars need a realignment from time to time due to the rigors of the road, we need to have our priorities and our thinking corrected and put into alignment with His Word as we go through the rigors of this life and deal with our sinful nature. This is what gives us a proper biblical perspective, and allows us to live godly lives in a day and age of godlessmess and immorality. (I realize I misspelled "godlessness", but I decided to leave it that way because without a biblical perspective, that is what lives become - a godless mess).

I have been noticing lately that many Bible Schools, Seminaries and Christian publications have been promoting something called the New Perspective on Paul. It got me curious since I had never heard of it before. I read the articles promoting it with great interest; however, it did not sit well with me. Something about it didn't quite ring true. I wondered why we all of a sudden needed a new perspective on the Apostle Paul and his writings as found in the New Testament, and what was wrong with the old one. Due to my investigative nature I decided I needed to find out what this was all about and what was behind it. For the past six months I have dedicated many hours to studying NPP theology. And what I found did not please me. This post contains some of my findings. I hope you will find them helpful to your own investigation.

The most prominent promoter of the NPP is N. T. Wright, Bishop of Durham for the Church of England. He is a technically brilliant author and a scholar, and therefore appealing to other scholars. Two other proponents of the NPP are James Dunn and E. P. Sanders, but it is Wright who has come to the forefront of the movement to promote it and who has been accepted by other evangelicals. Wright himself appears to be an evangelical, but upon careful examination of his doctrine I have come to believe he is a pseudo-evangelical who has crept into our Christian educational institutions with an agenda - redefining Christianity according to his own terms and promoting a social, liberal gospel, a different gospel.

Most evangelical scholars will acknowledge that they do not agree with everything the NPP is teaching, and then ignore the things they don't agree with. What I believe they fail to recognize or acknowledge is that the things they disagree with are FOUNDATIONAL doctrines which taint all of his writings on the NPP. Some may think that I am being unduly harsh and critical, but:

It is important that Christian lovers of the truth understand the roots of the NPP and its implications for all believers, because one day, if the trend continues (and I believe it is going to because it has been getting more and more attention as the years go by), it will challenge their doctrine, and it may change the way they read their Bibles, see the world and live their lives. This can only be a good thing if it is based on the inerrant and inspired Word of God, and from what I have been able to ascertain, the NPP is not.

A few of my observations regarding the NPP:

• It redefines the important doctrines of justification, faith, and righteousness, altering the gospel and perverting it into "another gospel". Redefining Biblical terms is a favorite tool of Satan to deceive those who are not strong in the faith and firmly grounded in God's Word or are blinded by the sins of pride and arrogance.
  

• It's origins are suspect. The Church of England is a "state church", which is a compromising church.

• It misconstrues both Paul's and Christ's teaching on soteriology (salvation), and makes the cross of no effect and minor importance.

• It denies the fallen sinful nature of man

• It's agenda is ecumenical in nature.

• It panders to liberals and reconstructionists.

• It bases its teachings on a misrepresentation of Second Temple Judaism. Their claims about it have been refuted by other scholars, yet they cling to their misunderstandings. They teach that Judaism (per the Pharisees) in Christ's day was grace-based, contrary to what Paul and Christ taught. Read for yourselves what Christ said about the doctrine of the Pharisees in Matthew 16:11-12, John 5:16-40 and Luke 18:9-14.
  

• It twists the meaning of Scripture.

• It waffles on the issues of the Bible's inerrancy and inspiration.

• It is essentially a works-based, "social gospel".
  

Are we to extend the hand of fellowship to one who would promote false doctrine and uphold him as a fine teacher? Should we consider him an authority on the life of Paul and his teachings? I would suggest that it is Wright who needs a new perspective, and that many of our Christian institutions have lost sight of the simple gospel message as found in the Bible in a effort to expand their "intellectualosity" and come up with ever more new and profound things to write about.

I challenge all readers to study one or several of the comprehensive articles which can be found online which refute the NPP and warn of its dangers:
The New Perspective of N. T. Wright on the Doctrine of Justification by David H. Linden
The New Perspective on Paul by Louis DeBoer
The New Perspective on Paul by Gary E. Gilley

The thing that hath been, is that which shall be: and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 KJV

Satan is a master of disguise whose greatest aim is to destroy the work of the cross which Christ came to earth to accomplish. His tactics take on many faces, but his goal NEVER changes.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
I Peter 5:8 KJV

More on the NPP to come at a later date...

---

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

1. Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.

2. Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart with tears
Two wonders I confess
The wonders of redeeming love
And my unworthiness.

3. I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.

Lyrics: Elizabeth Cecelia Douglas Clephane

CHECK OUT MY FAVORITE WEBSITES

What a glorious evening we had today and yesterday. So clear and cold and BRIGHT you could drive without headlights if you wanted to (not that I'm suggesting you do that!!). It seems as though you could see every star in the universe. It reminded me of Psalm 8, which says:

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

I've spent considerable time setting up this blog this evening, so I'm not going to give any great diatribe today :-}

I have however updated the links on the sidebar. These are websites and blogs that I have visited many times in the past few months and years, and I highly recommend them. I hope you benefit from them as much as I have.

Until next time...

NON-FUNCTIONAL LINKS

Sorry folks, it looks like my links for the previous post don't work. I did some homework and found out that this is a common problem for newbies. I may not be able to correct it for a few days until I figure it out. For now you'll have to copy and paste them into your URL if you want to view them. Anybody willing to give me some tips?

HEADS UP OPRAH FANS!

Oprah recently announced that she would be hosting New Age guru Marianne Williamson exclusively on Oprah & Friends Radio for a daily show, covering 365 lessons from "A Course in Miracles" beginning January 1, 2008. The announcement can be seen by going to www.themiracletimes.com/

and clicking on "Daily Lessons on Oprah & Friends”, or you can try linking on it directly at
www.themiracletimes.com/A-Course-In-Miracles/Marianne-Williamson-Oprah-Winfrey-Radio-Show.htm

Here are some articles of note exposing the false Christ of “A Course in Miracles”
www.eternalpath.com/jesusofnewage.html
www.apologeticsindex.org/c08.html

This is what Scripture has to say about “another gospel”:
Galatians 1: 6-9
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

I stopped watching Oprah about a year ago when I realized she was a pseudo-Christian. I do however check her out once in a while to see what she’s up to. You cannot be both a Christian and a New Age believer as Oprah is. Here is what God’s Word has to say about that:

2 Corinthians 6:14-17
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.


I would challenge all Oprah fans who profess to be believers to examine themselves in this regard. The lines are quickly being drawn between true followers of Christ who cling tenaciously to His Word and those who pattern themselves after the world.

Which side are YOU on?

WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

Greetings in Christ's name to all who have come across my blog!!

I have decided to try my hand at blogging once again (It was an abysmal failure the first time. Oh well, try, try again). The issues to appear on this blog are dear to my heart and I feel compelled to share them with friends and family. Please feel free to forward any you wish to others you think would be interested or could benefit from them. This blog has come about as a result of some changes that have occurred in my life in the last year, and it will be addressing the things I have been studying during this time as well as any topics that may come up during this venture.

I am a researcher and investigator at heart and love to study. This blog is the fruit of this compulsion. I do not pretend to know everything, and am sure I will make some errors in judgment within some of my posts. If and when you find any, I am open to be examined and corrected. It is my aim to be be consistent with the whole counsel of God according to the Scriptures. I will try to be as accurate as possible and document any ideas I present, or link you directly to the article (once I learn how!). Please be patient as I try once again to figure all this "blogging business" out. I'm fairly new at this, but hope to learn as I go.

The majority of my posts will deal with prophecy, current events, the New Age, exposing false teachers and false doctrine, and theological issues. These are a few of my current interests. I urge you to be a "Berean" and examine the Scriptures carefully as you consider my musings.

Thanks for tuning in. May God richly bless and reward all those who have a sincere love of the truth. I look forward to hearing from you!