FOR THE AUTHOR

TAKING THE TIME TO REMEMBER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST AND THE REASON FOR HIS COMING

2009-12-25T09:45:00.004-06:00

May God bless you as you seek to honor Christ in your and hearts and homes during this season and may He enrich you with all the spiritual blessings that belong to those who belong to Him.

Here are a couple of passages of Scripture which have been on my mind as I have been thinking about the birth of Christ and its meaning to me in the last few weeks:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man,
he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,
that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Philippians 2:5-16

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In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him;
and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness;
and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
The same came for a witness,
to bear witness of the Light,
that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light,
but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light,
which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him,
and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him,
to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-14

LETTER OF REBUTTAL TO THE ANTI-ZIONIST THINKTANK, THE INFORMATION UNDERGROUND, REGARDING MY THESIS ON APOSTASY IN THE MB CONFERENCE

2009-12-11T19:10:00.015-06:00

This posting is a copy of the email I sent to the moderator of a website entitled The Information Underground, an anti-Israel, anti-Zionist ThinkTank. It has been posted here because this website decided to post my thesis on Apostasy in the MB Conference on their website on May 10, 2009 without my permission. A private email I sent this individual, when I found out about it five months later, was also posted there without my permission. For this reason I want my readers to understand that I do not endorse this website in any way, and I do not agree with the position it has taken on the state of Israel. In a second email I challenged this individual again for the reason he posted my thesis without my permission and on his anti-Israel cause. Since I have not heard from this individual since then, and disagree with much of his theology I decided it was necessary for me to post the following information here so that anyone who should come across it on The Information Underground would understand where I stand on some of the issues raised in it. Once again, my thesis was used without my permission on the website, and I do not agree with its position on Israel or on eschatology (anti-rapture).

******************************

Below is a copy of the first private email I sent this individual (which he published without my permission) and his reply to me which he published on The Information Underground in October 2009. Following that is my second request to this individual and my challenge to his stand on Israel and his eschatology.

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October 2, 2009

From: "Bonnie Klaassen"

To: joeblow@umunu.com

I became aware some time ago that you have posted my thesis in "The Information Underground" following an article entitled "The Long Silence: Mennonites and Freemasonry". I made the express request at the top of my blog article that permission be requested to link to it or post, copy or print any part of it since I did not want it used for the wrong reasons. I am curious as to why you did not do me the courtesy of doing so. I understand that you may not be under any legal obligation to do so under the freedom of information act, and yet I am curious as to why you would have it follow the article you did (regarding Freemasonry). Do you believe there is a link between my article and the previous one? If so, would you be willing to share what that would be with me? I understand that Freemasonry practices a mystical spirituality, but wonder why you would choose my article, in particular, to follow it. Are there no other articles available which would expose a Freemasonry-type mysticism in the Mennonite community? (I also read the article you included from the "Good Information Advocates" website.)

I have read a few posts from "The Information Underground" and do understand (apart from your website) that there is a "synagogue of Satan", a group of people who claim to be Jews, who may even actually be Jews (although it is more likely that they are impostors), who will have no part in the kingdom of God, a mystical faction who practice Babylonian mysticism through the cabala, and likely still in existence today.

Because you have posted my article, I would appreciate also if you would help me to understand the purpose of "The Information Underground". It is my personal belief that the nation of Israel was chosen by God apart from all the other nations of the world, and is the nation from which the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, came. I believe that God will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse them, and that Israel will repent and turn from their wicked ways when they see Him who they have pierced return in the flesh to the earth. If your website exists for the purpose of cursing Israel I would be very disturbed if people found my article on your website.

Would you please clarify for me the purpose of the website and the reason you chose to post my article, as well as the reason you did not ask my permission to use it?

Sincerely, Bonnie Klaassen

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October 3, 2009
Here is "joeblow's" reply:

Bonnie, I fully agree with you about the dark, apostate conspiracy that has taken over most, if not all, organised Christian churches and which has lead their congregations away from the true path of righteousness embodied in the life and works of Jesus Christ; we must fight this corrupting influence by all means at our disposal lest our future generations be forever lost in a tyrannical, zio-nazi world;

you said:
'the nation of Israel was chosen by God apart from all the other nations of the world, and is the nation from which the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, came. I believe that God will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse them, and that Israel will repent and turn from their wicked ways when they see Him who they have pierced return in the flesh to the earth'

but you must understand that your esteem for the present, artificially, corruptly and cruelly established nation of Israel is entirely misplaced; you are confusing Jesus's origins and roots with the present, predominantly Khazars, Ashkenazi 'jews who call themselves jews but are not and are of the Synagogue of Satan' [as you have acknowledged] who have no blood ties whatsoever to the semites of Jesus's people and place: so, 'anti-semitism' should really mean anti-Palestinian!

firstly, Jesus was not Jewish as we know the term, a citizen of a nation state called Israel with defined national borders and all the establishments of society as we know it;
any casual web search can reveal the truth that he was a Judean; just see Benjamin H Freedman's authorititative historical study for confirmation:
http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/jesusjew.htm

this was the first result from this random search:
http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search?rd=r1 ... =yfp-t-710

Judaism as it is taught in the 'holiest' Jewish book, 'The Talmud', is the most hateful of faiths and is diametrically opposed to Christianity;

So, please do not persist in your pro-zionist views as they are the same mistaken 'Judeo-Christian' beliefs, about 'rapture' and so on, fostered and promoted by the current anti-Christian crime gang that has usurped and twisted Christian teaching by having their agent Schofield alter the Holy Bible and by infiltrating their operatives and unwitting sympathisers at all levels of organised Christendom, including the Holy See; I beg you to study the relevant posts here on this and other sites such as

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4669499 ... _02_09_MP3

http://www.iamthewitness.com/

http://www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/

http://www.christusrex.org/www3/talmud- ... talmud.htm
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And below is my December 9, 2009 email to "joeblow":
To "joeblow":

I was rather disappointed that you posted my last email online and failed to send me a direct reply to which I could respond. I only became aware yesterday that you had posted my private email to you on your website when I was informed about it by a third party. Also, you did not answer my question as to why you posted my thesis without my permission when that was expressly stated on my blog posting above the thesis, and when that was the reason I emailed you in the first place. I had a very particular purpose for posting that thesis on my blog, and did not want it out there on websites that I did not know about being used for purposes other than what it was intended for. And yes, I understand that you can probably do so legally without my permission, but if you are a Christian brother, I would hope you would at least would have done me the courtesy of asking, since that was what was requested.

At this point, since you chose to publish both my thesis and my private email to you on your public website, I ask you to also post this one there on the same page so that the people reading the previous things I have written will know where I stand on some of the issues you have addressed. At this point I am not interested in creating a username and password for the IU, otherwise I would have posted it there myself.

You said, in your reply to my last email to you, "but you must understand that your esteem for the present, artificially, corruptly and cruelly established nation of Israel is entirely misplaced; you are confusing Jesus's origins and roots with the present, predominantly Khazars, Ashkenazi 'jews who call themselves jews but are not and are of the Synagogue of Satan' [as you have acknowledged] who have no blood ties whatsoever to the semites of Jesus's people and place: so, 'anti-semitism' should really mean anti-Palestinian!"

"joeblow", I disagree with you that I do not understand what is happening in the nation of Israel. I am fully aware that those who are responsible for the recreation of the state of Israel, which was created with the approval of the United Nations (and yes, I know that the UN is a corrupt organization) are not who many people think they are. I also understand that the words "Jew" and "Zion" are not always used in a manner that is technically correct, but in the language of today, they are used in a number of different ways. The term "Mennonite" is similar, and if you asked me if I was a Mennonite I would have to ask you what you mean by that since many people used it as an ethnic (or maybe rather, a cultural) term, while others understand it to be a religious identification. It is my understanding that the term "Jew" is used in a similar manner, both ways, although it may not be the technically or academically correct way of using it. I read most of the links you provided. Here is one for you: "What is a Jew?". This is how the majority of people understand the word today. It may not be correct by your standards, but that is how it is used by the general public! (And yes, I agree, Jesus is incorrectly labeled a Jew in the technical sense).

From my understanding, there are still prophecies regarding the nation of Israel which have not yet been fulfilled, (but which I believe will be in the near future and in the coming Millennium). I do not believe that God is finished with the nation of Israel or with the land being occupied there in the Middle East. Theologically, it appears that you and I have very different views about eschatology (and I know enough about it to understand your viewpoint, I just don't agree with it. I believe what I believe, not out of ignorance, but because of my studies of the issues, which are quite rounded, by the way). I also believe that the piece of land they are occupying belongs to God, not to them. It is similar to the parents who are the owner of a car who purchased it for the use of a teen child and have given him his own set of keys to it. As long as that child is using the car on the parents terms, the teen is able to use it, but if he abuses the privilege, the keys are taken away or the car only allowed to be used in a limited manner. In the same way, I believe God is not pleased with the "Jewish" people inhabiting the present, world-recognized state of Israel, and for that reason they are not able to live in peace in the land. As long as they continue to reject Yeshuah HaMashiach, the Redeemer sent by God, they are going to only have limited privileges at best. I also believe that God even uses evil people in positions of power for His own purposes, just as He has throughout the Old and New Testament and more recent history. I believe He will use the synagogue of Satan to accomplish some of His purposes for the nation of Israel. God's purposes and His will are never frustrated by evil men, rather it is He who turns the hearts of the kings of the earth, whether they be good or evil. God has not lost control over the nation of Israel and does need to wrestle it back from those who call themselves Jews but are not, but will rather use them in the grand scheme to bring about His will as stated and promised in His Word. I believe the state of Israel has a right to exist today. The fact of the matter is, whether it is legitimate or not in your eyes or anybody's, it does exist, it is legally a country in the present time, and it is recognized as such by the world, apart from the jealous Arab nations who would like to obliterate them from the face of the earth (but that fight has been going on ever since Jacob and Esau wrestled in the womb of Rebeka, and it's not going to end until God makes all things right at the end of the age), and God is completely aware of the whole situation within that nation. And...I do not believe every single "Jew" is evil, as you claim (even though I agree that there are many impostors both in Israel and throughout the world), and that there are many others in the land of Israel whom God is preparing for salvation in the end of the age, many who belong to the other tribes of Israel.

I am wondering if you would be willing to give me your interpretation of Zechariah 12-14. My understanding is that only 1/3 of the people in the land of Israel will survive God's wrath because they have repented. There is a description of what happens to some of the 2/3s which are destroyed which sound an awful lot like death by a nuclear device, with their flesh, their eyes and tongues being consumed while they are still standing. Has this type of death ever in the history of mankind yet happened to the nation of Israel? If not, when is it going to happen?

Also, do you believe that there will ever be a "legitimate" state of Israel again, or is God completely finished with them? In that case, how can so many of the yet unfulfilled prophecies be fulfilled in the future? I would suggest to you that you take the time to do a 2-3 year study of Bible prophecy, if you have not done so, because I think you are misinformed regarding the nation of Israel and its role in prophecy. At any rate, whether you are misinformed or not, you and I will continue to disagree, not based on ignorance on my part though, as you have implied. Maybe it is you who need to take the time to research and examine what I believe, so that you can give an intelligent answer to the questions I am asking you. I'm sorry if you find what I just said insulting, as I don't really know you and the extent of your knowledge on these things, but you seem to have made some assumptions on my account in that regard as well. So if you can dish it out in such a manner, I hope you can take it when it's handed back to you too!

Next, you said, "So, please do not persist in your pro-zionist views as they are the same mistaken 'Judeo-Christian' beliefs, about 'rapture' and so on, fostered and promoted by the current anti-Christian crime gang that has usurped and twisted Christian teaching by having their agent Schofield alter the Holy Bible and by infiltrating their operatives and unwitting sympathisers at all levels of organised Christendom, including the Holy See; I beg you to study the relevant posts here on this and other sites such as..."

I am not necessarily a pro-Zionist, just because I believe that God says He will bless those that bless Israel and curse those who curse it. Here is a fairly good explanation of that I found on the web (the author of the site uses the term "Jew" here in the current sense of the word, I believe. I don't agree with the symbol on the flag of Israel, the "magen David" either. I believe the true symbol should and eventually will be the menorah, after the physical return of Christ to the earth). Please especially note Paul's statement which occurred after the death of Christ regarding the nation of Israel. According to this, God has not cast them away forever, and He will deal with them again when the "fullness of the Gentiles has come in" at the end of the age:

God Stands Behind Israel Even When He Disagrees with Them
We may not agree with everything the Nation of Israel does today, but if we believe the Bible is true, then we must understand that the Jews are God’s chosen people. So how do we reconcile the conflict between Israel sometimes making mistakes, and them being God’s chosen people? I believe the answer is simple. We must understand that God will stand behind Israel and protect them, even if he disagrees with them. Let’s look at a couple of verses from the Bible which show us this principle:
In the Old Testament, we find the prophet Isaiah saying the following about the Jews:
“For this the Lord shall not rejoice over their young men, nor shall He have mercy on their orphans and widows; for everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks foolishness. In all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.”
And in the Book of Romans, Chapter 11, verses 1-5, the apostle Paul explains it this way:
“I say then, Did not God put away His people? Let it not be said! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God did not thrust out His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture said in Elijah, how he pleaded with God against Israel, saying, ‘Lord, they killed Your prophets and dug down Your altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life.’ But what does the Divine answer say to him? ‘I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ Even so then, also in this present time a remnant according to the election of grace has come into being.” We can see in the Bible that even when the Nation of Israel sins against the Supreme God, his hand is still outstretched to them! (from: http://weblessisrael.org/God_stands_behind_Israel.html)

Maybe you need to update yourself on some of the research done regarding the teaching of the rapture as well. It is not such a new teaching as you believe it to be. And I believe it is Darby that was saddled with being the first one to teach about the rapture, not Scofield. Scofield included Darby's notes, not the other way around. There are a number of examples given in Scripture of "rapture-type" events, which prefigure the rapture of the church, the Bride of Christ (for example, Enoch being taken away in a chariot of fire in a whirlwind, and Noah's family escaping the Flood). The very picture of the ancient traditional "Jewish" wedding is also contains a figure of the rapture (and yes, I know the word is not found in the Bible, but the concept is - the word is a modern description of the concept). There are a number of references in the New Testament regarding Christ and the Church as His Bride, and the references are nearly identical to the older traditional Jewish wedding. (Just so you know, I am not particularly set on a pre-tribulational rapture, although I think the evidence leans that way. And I am perfectly willing to face the Great Tribulation if that is what God requires, so I am not an "escapist" and I won't be deceived into receiving the "mark",as so many who don't believe in the rapture claim, because I have a sincere love of the truth and believe that God protects those who fear Him). I have read most of the arguments against the rapture, so please understand that I am not an ignorant schoolgirl who knows nothing about the opposite view.

Here are some link for you and your readers on the topic of the rapture:

Rapture: Three Fascinating Discoveries!
Examining An Ancient Pre-Trib Statement
The Rapture and the Jewish Wedding (The Bridal Covenant)

In conclusion, I am really not all that happy with you posting my thesis on your website because of some of these other issues you deal with there. You and I do not view some of these issues through the same lens. Also, because you did not pay me the common courtesy of asking me for my permission to post my thesis, when I made a point of requesting that on my blog, I am not convinced you are a person of integrity because of your actions, including the fact that you posted my private email to you on a public site. Have you no scruples at all? Have a little common decency, man. At this point you have not convinced me that you have a good reason for posting anything I have written, and I want to make it clear to your readers that there is much that I disagree with regarding your beliefs. I will make it clear that I believe no man enters the kingdom of God unless they are born again by the Holy Spirit, and that repentance is a vital element in one's salvation which is entirely by faith. I hope we at least have that in common.

Once again, I kindly ask you to post this email in its entirety on the same page as you have posted my thesis on apostasy and my previous email, so that your readers understand my position. I think that is only fair since you posted them without my permission. If you don't do that, then please do me the courtesy of removing ALL of the above mentioned items from The Information Underground.

Sincerely, Bonnie Klaassen

THE REASONS WE WITHDREW OUR MEMBERSHIP FROM OUR LOCAL MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH: APOSTASY IN THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CONFERENCE VIA MYSTICISM

2009-04-23T21:07:00.011-06:00

Please note: If you desire to link to this article in particular or copy, print or publish any part of it I request that you ask my permission by contacting me at fortheauthor@gmail.com.

Also note: It has come to my attention that this thesis has been posted on another website, The Information Underground (Anti-Zionist ThinkTank), without my permission to do so. I desire my readers to know that this website does not have my approval to do so, and in fact, as of today (December 11, 2009) they have refused to remove it as I have requested. This is a website I do not have any affiliation with, nor do I sympathize with their cause in any way. Because I am not interested in any legal recourse at this time, I will let the matter rest with this statement; however this does not mean the individual(s) who operate The Information Underground have received my endorsement in any way. I have sent them several letters, one of which was published. The second one I sent has not yet been posted. It is a rebuttal and a challenge to their anti-Israel position. Let it be known that I am not responsible for the way this group is using my thesis, and should any other individuals or groups use it without my consent, you will be hearing from me and asked to remove it if you are using it in a manner for other than what it is intended. I will post your name on this note as well, stating such. The letter of my rebuttal to the moderator of the Information Underground can be read HERE.

I have decided to publish the contents of a self-styled thesis I completed on April 7th of this year. It was written at the request of the pastor of our local MB church in order to help him and others in our church understand the rationale behind our actions when we requested the withdrawal of our membership from it. It is the fruit of nearly three years of research and deliberation regarding a trend I began to notice in the MB Conference after I encountered it in the Spiritual Formation course while I was taking several classes at Briercrest Seminary in Caronport, Saskatchewan (not an MB school), during which I became completely enthralled with the concept of contemplative spirituality. (You can read my personal testimony about this HERE). Through a series of circumstances which I believe were directed by the Holy Spirit, I began to see this movement towards mysticism in the church at large, as something completely different from what is was purported to be by its proponents. I have since repented of my involvement with these things and have renounced them publicly at every opportunity although many people still do not understand what the real problems are with this movement. This thesis is an attempt to clarify my position in an abbreviated manner.

Although I will not name those who have published helpful articles on these issues and given me personal support along this journey (you know who you are, and I will likely forget someone if I attempt to make a list since there are so many), I once again thank you all for the help you have given along the way. Above all, I thank my God for sending Jesus Christ ~ the Way, the Truth, and the Life ~ and for the Holy Spirit who convicts and warns, comforts and directs us.

I appeal to all who come across this article to carefully examine the issues before you accept or reject what I have to say. May you carefully measure my words by the yardstick of Scripture. It is God's Word that is the final authority on all things. This thesis is merely my statement of what I see happening, a warning to those involved in the Mennonite Brethren Conference, and a call to examine the issue in light of God's Word. It is also a call to repentance from "fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph. 5:11). Before reading it I request that you ask God to open your spiritual eyes and heart, to reveal to you whether or not I speak the truth. God is not the author of confusion, and He will reveal the truth to those who truly and honestly seek it without attempting to defend their preconceived notions before Him. If what I have written is not in accordance with the truth, it is my prayer that God will reveal that to me, and that you will not be led astray by it. God is ultimately my Witness and my Judge, although those who are spiritual are to judge all things. So now, if you consider yourself qualified (spiritual), judge for yourself whether what I have to say is right or not. May God guide and direct you.

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THESIS: APOSTASY
IN THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CONFERENCE
VIA MYSTICISM

Bonnie Klaassen, April 7, 2009

Revised April 21, 2009

1. There is an apostate form of Christianity sweeping the church that is uniting the greater part of professing Christians into a global spirituality (whose basis is mysticism - Mystery Babylon) and drawing many unsuspecting Christians into its wake. Those who do not understand and resist it will likely succumb to its deception. Time is of the essence in getting the word out.

2. It is flourishing in an atmosphere where most Christian young people are biblically and doctrinally illiterate, Christian institutes of higher learning are becoming increasingly liberal while maintaining a conservative statement of faith, and in a culture that exalts experience over faith in an era of tolerance. This is the perfect environment for mass spiritual deception to enter the church. Although it purports to be otherwise, it is man-centered rather than God-centered. It is a counterfeit spirituality, the spirit of anti-christ.

3. It appeals to scholars by playing upon their desire to appear respectable and contemporary to the more liberal Christian institutions of higher learning and to the world. In this way it seduces older, trusted sources. Its teachings are introduced by those who appear to be Christian, but if their theology is carefully examined, would deviate from the major biblical doctrines. It is endorsed by these institutions and there is a trickle-down effect into all sectors of the church with time.

4. It is part of a greater movement that has a tolerant spiritual mindset, is liberal in its theology, and is the result of a lack of a militant defence of the authority of Scripture and a simple walk of faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross. This larger movement also includes both the secular and Christian environmental and social justice movements (MCC is one of the groups involved). They are intertwined and cooperative with secular groups in the agenda to create a one-world spirituality and a global government. Many in these movements, especially Christians, are unaware or in denial of the agenda underlying these movements in the secular world. A mystical spirituality under girds and rounds out these secular movements; they go hand in hand. (2 Cor. 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
1 Cor. 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”)

5. It is entering in through the avenues of Christian seminaries and Bible Schools, Christian publishing houses, ministries, conferences, and teaching materials, especially for our youth.

6. Some of the movements involved are the emergent church, the purpose-driven model, charismatic, ancient-future, post-modernist liberal churches, and the mystical faction of the Roman Catholic church. The infiltration into the Christian church was planned by the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue in the 1970s which was formed for this express purpose. Although it is Satan who is behind the deception, the Roman Catholic church is a major player in this movement. Their method is to introduce the practices (of which mysticism is only one area) of Roman Catholicism into the Christian church. The Christian church then becomes “romanized” without changing the formal doctrine, until such a time when it willingly and outwardly submits. In this way the Christian church harbours “closet Catholics” who influence the church from the inside out. Where in times past the Roman Catholic church used threats and coercion, it now uses deceit and seduction to draw men away from the faith once delivered to the saints. Since the Roman Catholic church has historically syncretised the Christian faith with paganism, and is actively continuing to do so to this day, this will serve to unite those who are drawn into its net to do the same. Essentially, the Harlot is attempting to persuade the Bride to join her in her spiritual harlotry.

7. It is entering in the form of contemplative prayer, “Christian yoga”, breath prayers, the “Jesus Prayer”, imaginative prayer, Ignatian spiritual exercises (based on the teachings of Ignatius of Loyola), centering prayer, quietism, lectio divinia, taize, labyrinths, Christianized tantric sex, drumming circles and other mystical and spiritual practices which have no legitimate basis in Scripture. In its least threatening form it is commonly referred to as “Spiritual Formation”, the “spiritual disciplines” (both of which would include some biblical practices alongside), or contemplative spirituality. By using cunning words and altering the meanings of familiar terms, those who are attracted to an experience-based spirituality are drawn into its snare. The true Christian faith is faith-based, and that faith is to be lived out or experienced on the basis of this faith, not the other way around. (“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38). Those in the contemplative movement allow their experiences to shape their theology, and this it most certainly does. This movement towards mysticism is more than just a trend. It is very broad in its scope, and has spiritually devastating consequences which I believe will contribute to the apostasy of the church, the “falling away” foretold in scripture. I believe this apostasy will include a return to many of the practices of the Roman Catholic church, contemplative and otherwise (the introduction of “Lent”, for example). It is a move towards corrupting what is simple (the gospel according to Scripture alone) and materializing the spiritual (appealing to the flesh).

8. It is cloaked in familiar Christian terminology at its outset to lead its potential Christian practitioners into its spirituality, accompanied by Scripture taken out of context or given a broader interpretation than is allowable in proper exegesis. Those who follow this path to its logical conclusion will probably come to accept that all religions worship the same god by different names and in different forms. They believe that “all is one” and that in that unity is god. The outcome is a spiritual unity in diversity, whereby people can continue in the religion of their choice while they are united in the spiritual practice of mysticism. In this situation, no one tries to convert another to their religion. Beyond mere tolerance, there is complete acceptance of all religions as equal and valid. “Christian mysticism” has Buddhism, Hinduism, Gnosticism and other false religions and their practices as its counterpart. True practitioners of “Christian mysticism” have no problem learning from their practices and soon accept their spirituality as valid.

9. Those who promote its practices are enemies of the cross, in that they promise intimacy with God apart from the blood of Christ, or as an addition to it, thereby nullifying its efficacy. In reality, it is pagan and its practitioners will eventually encounter an “angel of light” and be introduced to doctrines of demons. They are encountering a god of their own imagination, not the God of the Bible. It is a practice which changes what people believe about who God is and how He interacts with mankind. Many of the proponents of contemplative mysticism who claim to be Christian now openly deny the atoning aspect of Christ’s work on the cross and have “alternative” understandings of what Christ’s death means. Brian McLaren, speaker and author, whom the MB Conference is promoting, is one of these people. Another who has recently come to light is the author of the best-selling book, The Shack which has been promoted in the MB Herald. Many in the emergent church, a primary avenue for mysticism in evangelical circles, are either undermining the purpose of the cross or altering its meaning. It also works the other way around, in that those who accept alternative meanings eventually turn to mysticism in an attempt to draw near to God, as the cross no longer holds the power for them that it used to.

10. The Mennonite Brethren Conference and MBBS are promoting authors and speakers who are engaged in this mystical spirituality. Classes in “Spiritual Formation” are required courses for all students at nearly all Mennonite Bible Schools and seminaries. Kindred Press, the publishing arm of the MB Conference, promotes authors who are engaged in its practices, and the MB Conference promotes speakers who do the same. The Mennonites are listed among denominations which are rapidly and willingly becoming infiltrated by this movement by discernment ministries who have been following it for years. I believe many who are promoting it are misguided shepherds themselves. Most of them have failed to see the history, falsely so-called “Christian”, of this movement, and the role it will play in the final deception of the world as they believe the lie that “ye shall be as gods” and seek a spiritual unity as the world once did at the tower of Babel in rebellion to the only true God. In reading this thesis, please understand one thing clearly: it is not those who point out these errors that cause division in the body of Christ, but those who teach false doctrine and pagan practices or are in collusion with those who do. Furthermore, I believe it is already too late to change the direction of the MB Conference in this matter. Its tentacles have already reached into most churches in one way or another, of which we see evidence in nearly every MB Herald that comes through our door. It is for this reason that we withdrew our membership. As a matter of conscience, we could no longer support an organization clearly headed in a spiritual direction we were not.

11. This is the crux of the matter: either I am on a spiritual tangent leading down a rabbit trail on this issue, or the MB Conference is heading into spiritual apostasy as it continues down this pathway. I am calling all local church bodies, and my own body of believers in particular, to examine the issue carefully and prayerfully, as I believe the implications are too great to ignore.

12. Two quotes follow by Brian McLaren and Leonard Sweet which reveal the mindset of “Christian” authors who are promoting mystical spirituality (Leonard Sweet and Brian McLaren teamed up in 2003 to write A is for Abductive: The Language of the Emerging Church. Rick Warren has also promoted Leonard Sweet, as recently as 2008):

A quote from Lighthouse Trails, in a book review of Brian McLaren’sFinding our Way Again: The Return of Ancient Practices published in 2008 (Brian McLaren is a prolific author and a popular speaker in Christian institutions and conferences):

“In the last chapter of McLaren's book, "Theosis (via Unitiva)," he sums up his calling by stating that "The purpose of the via purgativa [the practices] is to prepare us for the via illuminativa [the awakening], and the purpose of the via illuminativa is to prepare us for the via unitiva [all is one], the union of our nature with the nature of God" (pp. 171-172). He calls God "fire" and says, "We join God in being fire ... Before the beginning ... God was All, and All was God" (p. 175). This is the exact same message that Eckhart Tolle and Oprah are propagating. But while many Christians are now condemning Tolle's message, they don't realize that the very same message is permeating their very own churches. For those readers who care about the spiritual future of their children and grandchildren, it is vital they understand the meaning of McLaren's spirituality in particular and the emerging/contemplative movement in general. We believe this is an extremely compelling motivation and should prompt us as believers to defend the faith and the gospel message of Jesus Christ.”1.

Several years ago Leonard Sweet wrote a book called Quantum Spirituality in which he quotes Karl Rahner, a Jesuit priest. Sweet is a rather prolific author and his books can be found in most Christian bookstores. This is what Sweet says in Quantum Spirituality on page 68:

“Mysticism, once cast to the sidelines of the Christian tradition, is now situated in postmodernist culture near the center.... In the words of one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century, Jesuit philosopher of religion/dogmatist Karl Rahner, "The Christian of tomorrow will be a mystic, one who has experienced something, or he will be nothing." [Mysticism] is metaphysics arrived at through mindbody experiences. Mysticism begins in experience; it ends in theology.”2.

IN CONCLUSION:
In the last decade there has been a dramatic rise in the practice of mysticism both inside and outside of the church. If you have not encountered it yet, you or your children or grandchildren will in time. They will encounter it at school, in medical or counselling clinics, at their place of business, in a leadership workshop, at the shopping mall, in a sports setting, or in their church or youth group or in a book. It is a practice which will fit within any system and goes by many names depending on the setting.

It has already made vast inroads into the MB Conference through the Seminary, Bible schools, books offered, speakers promoted and conferences for pastors and youth workers. I have been noting its promotion in MB circles for a number of years already, almost without any opposition from any person in a position of leadership. It is gradually making its way into the smaller, more isolated churches, especially as our children and grandchildren make their way out into the world and as people have greater access to information. Only those who understand the terminology, the names of false teachers and the adaptive nature of this movement, and are firmly grounded in their faith and in biblical doctrines, and are committed to abiding in the simple practice of their faith according to the teachings of Scripture alone will be spared the coming delusion that is to come upon the world in the last days.

It is time to get your spiritual house in order, for Christ will soon call His own away from this world before He will judge the earth with holy wrath upon all those who do not belong to Him in the final years of this era. The delusion is coming. Walk as children of light.

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
but rather reprove them.”
Ephesians 5:11

Footnotes:
1. http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?p=1093&more=1&c=1 (Book Review: Brian McLaren's New Book Finding our Way Again. Source: the Editors at Lighthouse Trails)
2. http://www.leonardsweet.com/Quantum/quantum-ebook.pdf (the online link is now broken. Sweet's website appears to be under construction at present)

THE RUSH TO RELEVANCE IS THE ROAD TO RUIN by Paul Proctor

2009-12-07T22:46:00.001-06:00

THE RUSH TO RELEVANCE IS THE ROAD TO RUIN

By Paul Proctor
July 22, 2009
NewsWithViews.com

I’d love to know who sold Christians and clergy the bogus notion that the church somehow needs to be more “relevant” to the culture in order to win it for Christ. You can hardly escape the word in Christian circles today. It’s absolutely everywhere believers are, and is used incessantly alongside other trendy terms like “connect,” “passion,” “purpose,” “awesome” and “tolerance” – flying out the mouths of church leaders as if it were some sacred biblical principle that should be worn like a phylactery on our foreheads and proclaimed from the rooftops lest we forget and, Heaven forbid, be a contrast to the culture in which we live.

The word “relevant” is not even in the Bible – except in one so-called bible version and verse – if you can bear to call The Message a Bible. But, the amazing irony of its brief appearance there, is that it points out perfectly why Christians should avoid being relevant:

"Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege.” – Matthew 7:6

Does that not accurately describe the relevant church today: cute, flippant, silly and full of slogans and sacrilege? Sounds just like the seeker-sensitive, purpose driven and emerging church to me!

Throughout scripture, in both the Old and New Testament, God’s own are repeatedly referred to as a “peculiar people.” (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 14:2, 26:18, Titus 2:14 & 1st Peter 2:9) I’ve written about this many times over the years.

That means we ought to be viewed by the world around us as distinctive. But how can Christians be both distinctive and relevant? And just how does one “connect” with a culture and not be “unequally yoked” to it?

Being distinctive is what being sanctified and set apart for God is all about. We’re not suppose to look and act like the rest of the world. We’re not called to blend in.

We’re called to “come out from among them” and stand out as a testimony to God’s power and presence in a corrupt kingdom! You see, if we don’t look or act any different from the world around us, then we’re probably not any different.

But the church isn’t teaching sanctification anymore because it’s an unfashionable, unpopular and outdated word that scares sinners and separates Christians from the culture of cool. No, today’s church has, instead, set its heart on being more relevant to the culture than righteous before God in a prideful and egregious effort to help Jesus get the numbers up.

“Go ye into all the world and be relevant?”

I don’t think so.

In my estimation, the word “relevant” was simply another devilishly dialectic term marketed to the church as a clever way to help Christians appeal to the flesh of the lost and buddy-up to the Beelzebub Club without appearing to compromise one’s Christian faith. But, that’s exactly what it does. And the more relevant one becomes to the enemies of Christ, the more irrelevant they become to God.

A preacher at a local megachurch my wife and I recently visited proudly told me a few days ago that he’s known as the pastor of the “coolest church in town” – using the word “cool” in various forms repeatedly in his email message, as if that would somehow impress me and make membership there more attractive. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize that it would actually have the opposite effect. So, he was a little surprised and offended when I told him that “cool is not a fruit of the Spirit.”

If Christians have any relevance to this world, it is that we currently share it with unbelievers, who, like us, have a sinful nature. That’s all the relevance to this world Christians need in order to bear witness of the saving grace that came by Jesus Christ. It certainly isn’t necessary that we seek out more relevance than we already have.

Shall we now imitate more perfectly the hell-bound culture we were saved from as a means to win its favor, cooperation and participation? That’s not evangelism – that’s capitulation.

Being sanctified means we belong to Someone else now – Someone Who has forgiven our trespasses and sins and called us out of our old lives of depravity and rebellion to be “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.”

Suffice it to say, our time as Christians would be better spent swimming upstream against the currents of compromise and corruption than finding some fashionable flotilla with which to comfortably fit in and ride the rapids of relevancy over the falls to our spiritual demise.

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” – 1st Kings 18:21 1.

1. http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor184.htm

MY RESPONSE TO THE USMB "Emerging Church Debate Casualties" ARTICLE

2009-09-22T17:17:00.011-06:00

The USMB article, Emerging Church Debate Casualties, criticizes authors Roger Oakland and Ray Yungen on their books warning about the emergent church, and specifically regarding their warnings against popular authors and speakers such as Rick Warren, Max Lucado, Chuck Swindoll and Mother Teresa who have promoted or endorsed either the emergent/emerging church or contemplative spirituality. Click HERE to read the USMB article, Emerging Church Debate Casualties. My response to the article appears below it on their website. It is also found here:

You make this statement, "Many of the people mentioned by these writers are familiar to me as writers, speakers and ministers whose works I have read, messages I have listened to and ministries I thought were good. Youngen’s (sic) list includes Rick Warren, Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll and Mother Teresa, and Oakland adds Roman Catholicism. Am I so blind to the deception of these people that I could not recognize apostasy right in front of my eyes? There are too many enemies!"

My question is this: What if you have not taken the time to do the hours of research that authors like Oakland and Yungen have? I have been studying the "emerging/emergent" movement for almost three years and have come to many of the same conclusions they have. Oakland and Yungen understand that authors, speakers, etc. who endorse those in the emerging/emergent church movement and its proponents are unwittingly leading their readers and listeners into contemplative spirituality (CS), the Trojan Horse of Eastern spirituality. The introduction of CS into the evangelical church was PLANNED by the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) in the 1970's. If you are willing to do your homework you can find statements verifying this information online on MID's own website. The emerging church is the primary conduit of this mystical spirituality in the evangelical churches. This doesn't mean that everyone reading/listening to them will take the bait, but doesn't it behoove those who have studied the movement to warn believers about the dangers of this movement? We are to have no fellowship with darkness; witness to them, yes, but not fellowship. The associations and promotions of those you have mentioned (Warren, Lucado, etc.)result in spiritually dangerous, and I believe, illegitimate liaisons. This also doesn't mean that these men have erred in other areas of their teaching ministries (most of their teaching is fine, but it only takes a little leaven to leaven the whole lump!.

The emerging/emergent movement has many subgroups or roads, including the theologically conservative but culturally liberal groups. What many fail to recognize is that these roads, if they once were divided, are now once again converging into one. At the least, the thing they all end up having in common is contemplative spirituality or mysticism, since they all promote authors who are contemplative, even those who claim to be theologically conservative (Mark Driscoll, for example).

A return to plain Scripture and the simple way of the cross is a fine antidote to these obscure and nefarious movements. We are commanded in Scripture to test all things. Paul warned the churches over and over again in order to protect them from error. If the emerging/emergent movement is promoting practices that come from outside of Scripture, why are we not examining them more carefully? And why aren't people being warned about the errors in these groups. Have we become spiritual pacifists?

I put forth the challenge to you and all those in positions of spiritual leadership to take your responsibility to protect the flock from wolves and from doctrinal and practical errors (such as contemplative prayer) of the faith seriously. Much of the New Testament is written to warn and protect the flock in order to preserve "the faith once delivered". In our desire to be considered relevant and world-friendly we have failed to do so, putting the flock in grave spiritual danger.
September 22, 2009 @ 6:15 PM

*****************************

I felt it was important to expand on my response as above to give concrete evidence that the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue planned an inflitration of Contemplative Spirituality into the Roman Catholic monastic communities and the Christian church at large with the purpose of spreading its interfaith message. Please note that this organization comes straight out of the bowels of the Roman Catholic "church" at the behest of Vatican II. The emerging church is enamored with the Roman Catholic practices of all forms of contemplative prayer, their love of mysticism and the practice of sharing the Eucharist, and this has led them straight into the arms of the Roman Catholic "church" and its love for exalting experience over the Word of God.

Please also read The Mystic Plague - Catholicism Sets a Spiritualist Agenda by former Roman Catholic priest Richard Bennett, describing the links between Contemplative Spirituality, Roman Catholicism, false religions and the new age.

**********************************

Evidence regarding the agenda to spread mysticism and promote Eastern religions from the MID website- a report on the October 1977 Monastic Meeting at Petersham: Opening Session with Abbot Cornelius Tholens:

This conference has the very practical aim of helping monks and nuns, as representatives of the monastic world, make better known the Oriental renaissance, the discovery of mankind’s inexhaustible riches in Asian cultures and religions, of promoting a more universal humanism and establishing communion which will result in the using of each one’s characteristic heritage for the benefit of all.

In the quest for ultimate meaning in human existence, there is a monk in every man, and each one faces the task of integrating this dimension of himself. The monastic experience can be a bond of unity transcending dividing lines between religions. Merton pointed out that common contemplative experience must precede the dialogue and theology. The study of Hinduism, it has been said, is gaining popularity in the West partly in reaction against materialism. We are living at a moment in history when the Church is for the first time beginning a serious encounter with the Oriental tradition.1.

~~~and~~~

How can we help the West open out to the East? The East around us. How can we help others share in this task? How make Christian monasticism known in the East?

Some suggestions: we need a list of experts, East and West; of monasteries; of useful publications. We need exchange of persons between East and West; visits to ashrams. How can we instruct our Christian monks in techniques and methods of Asian meditation? Yoga, etc.

In answer to questions, Abbot Tholens pointed to some texts to be found in the New Testament which can serve as links to Yogic doctrines. Contact is most possible at the highest point of each religious tradition: this contact may be made in silence, but very really. In this way the East-West dialogue differs from ecumenical reflections among Christians. We need to start where we are one, in the Spirit of God. Even as Christians we must go beyond all thought. One is first a human being, then a Christian, then a monk. Christians are always “on the way” to God. The monk, as homo religiosis, is a point of reference for all men; each of us has a point of reference to the infinite.2.

~~~and~~~

The evening concluded, as did each subsequent evening, with a short prayer service led by Father Basil. The following day’s work began, as did that of each day of the meeting, with a meditation period of an hour guided by Abbot Tholens or by another Master making use of the Asian insights into the divine nature available also to Christians. “These prayer services, as well as the daily liturgies at 5 p.m., were held in a room adjoining the main meeting room. The prayer room was furnished with cushions for those who preferred to pray seated in the Eastern postures. The adornment of the altar (quite empty on a day of discussion of Zen; adorned with flowers situated at eight points of the compass when the emphasis was Hindu) and the style of the meditation carried out the Eastern themes. A short prayer service drawing from the Chinese tradition, prepared by Sister Helen Wang, concluded each morning session.3.

************************

A list of quotes from the mouths and pens of emergent church leaders themselves revealing their false gospel, false doctrine and unbiblical practices, many of them adopted from the Roman Catholic cult, from calvaryadvisor.org:
"The church has been preoccupied with the question, "What happens to your soul after you die?" As if the reason for Jesus coming can be summed up in, "Jesus is trying to help get more souls into heaven, as opposed to hell, after they die." I just think a fair reading of the Gospels blows that out of the water. I don't think that the entire message and life of Jesus can be boiled down to that bottom line." —Brian McLaren, (from the PBS special on the Emerging Church)

"Emergent doesn't have a position on absolute truth, or on anything for that matter. Do you show up at a dinner party with your neighbors and ask, 'What's this dinner party's position on absolute truth?' No, you don't, because it's a non-sensical question." - Tony Jones (at the 2005 National Youth Workers Convention)

"Meditative prayer like that we experienced in the labyrinth resonates with hearts of emerging generations."—Dan Kimball, (from the Vintage Faith)

"My goal is to destroy Christianity as a world religion and be a recatalyst for the movement of Jesus Christ," McManus, author of a new book called The Barbarian Way, said in a telephone interview.

"Some people are upset with me because it sounds like I'm anti-Christian. I think they might be right."—Erwin McManus (from The Barbarian Way)

"Many Christians use "Breath Prayers" throughout their day. You choose a brief sentence or a simple phrase that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath." —Rick Warren

"The fact is that contemplative spiritualitywill play a huge part in the Church of the future, and candles are just the beginning." - Duane Cottrell

"He [Brian McLaren] cites Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, with their emphasis on spiritual disciplines, as key mentors for the emerging church."—The Emergent Mystique, Christianity Today, 11/04

"We should stop to reflect and to treasure the words, to turn them over and over in our minds, repeating them ..."—Richard Foster, (Renovare)

"Some of the values of the emerging church are an emphasis on emotions, global outlook, a rise in the use of arts, and a rise in mysticism and spirituality."—Josh Reich (Creating Worship Gatherings for the Emerging Church )

"Church Should Be Like a Dance Club" —Josh Reich (Creating Worship Gatherings for the Emerging Church)"I stopped reading from the approved evangelical reading list and began to distance myself from the evangelical agenda. I discovered new authors and new voices at the bookstore." -Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen

Contemplative spirituality seemed to open up a whole new way for me to understand and experience God. I was deeply moved by works like The Cloud of Unknowing, The Dark Night of the Soul and the Early Writings of the Desert Fathers." —Spencer Burke, (The Ooze)
***********************

Serious-minded Christians have every reason to be alarmed by what is going on in the emerging/emergent church movement, its fuzzy theology and its mystical practices, and every reason to sound the warning loud and clear. Preachers, teachers and authors, who have widespread influence need to be warning the flock, not endorsing these false teachers who are spreading this error. On this website I have provided as much information as I can to help you understand why the church is in the process of apostasizing. The problem is that many people do not want to accept the facts even when the evidence is staring them in the face. This indicates that there is a spiritual blindness in place. Scripture warns of the falling away in the last days, that the love of many will grow cold. It is happening faster than you think.

Examine your hearts!
********************************

1.http://monasticdialog.com/a.php?id=648
2. ibid
3. ibid

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW AND THERE'S STILL SOME PEOPLE IN THIS NEST!

2009-09-21T23:08:00.009-06:00

**This post was originally written some time ago, but I was not at liberty to publish it at the time. The first part of the post was revised and updated to reflect the changes that have taken place since then, namely the arrival of our precious granddaughter. The second part remains unaltered. It was written on August 20th.**

Well, summer is officially over. Our first grandbaby has arrived and our daughter and her husband are busy feathering their nest. Our two youngest children have headed off to Bible School emptying ours, so we are officially EmptyNesters now that they are gone. That title always sounds so funny to me, a misnomer really, since we as parents are still in the nest. What are we, chopped liver?!

Here's a joke for all you new fellow "EmptyNesters":

Soon after our last child left home for college, my husband was resting next to me on the couch with his head in my lap. I carefully removed his glasses. “You know, Honey,” I said sweetly, “without your glasses, you look like the same handsome, young man I married.”

“Honey,” he replied with a grin, “without my glasses, you still look pretty good, too!”

Joking aside, I thank God that my husband and I have maintained our relationship throughout those child rearing years. God has been so good to us. We have chosen to be honest with our children about our failures and asked God for wisdom, of which we have required a very liberal dose. His grace has carried us through the good times and the difficult ones. I've been telling people that if we could be perfect parents, who would need grace anyways (and boy, have we ever!). We entrusted our children to Him before they were ever born and we will not stop now that they are old enough to spread their wings. We thank God for the privilege of allowing us to be parents and look forward to what He has in store in the coming years, especially now that we have become grandparents. With all the ups and downs the years bring, we know He will be there waiting for us when we get there.

Click HERE to read a really great poem called Empty Nest by Mandy Baldwin.

**********************************

August 20th:

Speaking of ups and downs, at this time I would like to ask for prayer. Although I have had physical problems for more than twenty years, this last year and a half, and particularly the last four months, have been especially difficult for me. At this time it looks like I am facing the possibility that I will have to stop blogging altogether. I am writing this post at around 3:30 AM because I cannot sleep, not because I have no peace, but because I am living with chronic pain. Many of the ordinary things many people do every day and take for granted are becoming either difficult or impossible for me to do. For me this means that I have to decide what my priorities will be in a very big way. I read a really great illustration about this the other day at a website called But You Don't Look Sick, an article called The Spoon Theory, that may help you understand. For any of you interested, September 14 - 20, 2009 is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (what a mouthful, eh?), called Invisible Illness Week for short, something I only recently became aware of through the devotional ministry blog of Rest Ministries.

I will be seeing a rheumatologist in the near future (I hope), a doctor who I saw a number of years ago who did not give an accurate diagnosis at the time, partly because my GP believes I have a rare illness called Adiposis Dolorosa or Dercum's Disease, and only very specific lab tests will be of any help in a diagnosis. Just letting you know that this is a tentative diagnosis, as he wants a specialist to confirm or deny it of course, but I have all of the classic symptoms. I have previously been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, which is really a spectrum covering many diseases, some of them not well understood. (People with Dercum's may also have Fibromyalgia as a secondary condition but/and are also frequently misdiagnosed with it). Dercum's causes chronic pain , and may gradually or rapidly (particularly for women in their 40's) become very debilitating. At this point I am having difficulty walking some days, my right side being particularly affected. I am experiencing pain, weakness and a loss of balance and co-ordination. The more activity I do the worse it gets because activity causes the lipomas to irritate the nerves, so I am trying to keep occupied by reading, taking short walks around the yard and doing some light housekeeping as I am able. When I am in severe pain I am basically unable to do anything, not even read or watch TV. During this time I simply rest and do a lot of praying. (The disease also causes chronic fatigue, which may be the result of chronic pain).

Update: September 21/09:

I have been placed on some new and experimental medications and pain relievers and am receiving some relief from the pain (praise God!) but not from the chronic fatigue and weakness. I have begun to realize that I may never return to my previous physical condition. Although I have made adjustments in my lifestyle over the years to accommodate my health problems, the past few months have meant some drastic changes for me. Although I have experienced my "down times" emotionally, God continues to give me the strength, courage and hope I need one day at a time. I can still say with conviction that God is good to us, understanding that having received the earnest of the Spirit here and now, and that one day in the presence of Christ I will be made completely whole. For now, the spiritual blessings God has given me are enough, and His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Regarding this blog, I still have hope that I will gain enough strength one day to carry on with this since I know that there are people who have come across it and found it to be a source of information and encouragement. It is God who receives all the glory for that - I am only His channel, and I thank Him for choosing to use me. To this day I don't understand why that is, and yet I praise Him for giving me the privilege of serving Him in this way. I have made some of the most incredible friends, people whom I have met or become reacquainted with when they discovered this blog. God bless every one of you. Please continue to pray for me, it means so much.

A Bible passage which has come to mean a lot to me lately is the entire 26th chapter of Isaiah, and especially the highlighted verses. I believe this chapter is a prophecy referring to the "catching away" of the bride of Christ, a day which I look forward to with great anticipation.

Isaiah 26

¹In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.

²Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

³Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

⁴Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

⁵For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.

⁶The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.

⁷The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

⁸Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

⁹With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

¹⁰Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

¹¹LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

¹²LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

¹³O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

¹⁴They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

¹⁵Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.

¹⁶LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.

¹⁷Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

¹⁸We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

¹⁹Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

²⁰Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

²¹For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

TOO MUCH JUNK IN "THE SHACK" TO BE TRUSTED THEOLOGICALLY

2009-06-18T11:59:00.015-06:00

I am hearing over and over that many solid Christians are recommending The Shack, by William P. Young, to others in very glowing terms and without qualification. I find this rather troubling because, especially for immature believers and unbelievers, it has problems theologically which can skew their perception of who God is and how He relates to mankind. It is one thing for a mature Christian who is doctrinally solid to read and critique such a book, but to give it an unqualified recommendation to anybody and everybody is to promote theological error.

Having been the librarian of our local church for the last 10 years or so, I have come to understand that works of fiction have a purpose beyond mere entertainment. They exist for the purpose of explaining certain "truths". With this in mind, we must always be cautious about what we recommend and to whom. Below is a quote from Old and Sold Antiques Digest ~ A Manual of the Art of Fiction which confirms the idea that the fiction's purpose is to teach truth:

Fiction a Means of Telling Truth.—Before we set out upon a study of the materials and methods of fiction, we must be certain that we appreciate the purpose of the art and understand its relation to the other arts and sciences. The purpose of fiction is to embody certain truths of human life in a series of imagined facts. The importance of this purpose is scarcely ever appreciated by the casual careless reader of the novels of a season. Although it is commonly believed that such a reader overestimates the weight of works of fiction, the opposite is true—he underestimates it. Every novelist of genuine importance seeks not merely to divert but also to instruct—to instruct, not abstractly, like the essayist, but concretely, by presenting to the reader characters and actions which are true. For the best fiction, although it deals with the lives of imaginary people, is no less true than the best history and biography, which record actual facts of human life; and it is more true than such careless reports of actual occurrences as are published in the daily newspapers. The truth of worthy fiction is evidenced by the honor in which it has been held in all ages among all races. "You can't fool all the people all the time"; and if the drama and the epic and the novel were not true, the human race would have rejected them many centuries ago. Fiction has survived, and flourishes today, because it is a means of telling truth. 1.

Below are several links which contain examinations of the theological and doctrinal errors in The Shack. I urge you to listen to the interview and read the articles before giving the book an unqualified recommendation, because from what I understand, some of the "truths" its teaches are contrary to God's Word.

But I fear, lest by any means,
as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus,
whom we have not preached,
or if ye receive another spirit,
which ye have not received,
or another gospel, which ye have not accepted,
ye might well bear with him.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4

And he said unto them,

These are the words which I spake unto you,
while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled,
which were written in the law of Moses,
and in the prophets,
and in the psalms, concerning me.
Then opened he their understanding,
that they might understand the scriptures,
And said unto them, Thus it is written,

and thus it behooved Christ to suffer,
and to rise from the dead the third day:
And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:44-48

1. http://www.oldandsold.com/articles18/fiction-1.shtml

FORMULA ZERO: RACING TOWARDS OBLIVION ~ BRIAN MCLAREN AND THE EMERGENT CHURCH

2009-03-14T21:22:00.013-06:00

I saw something this week that has about made my blood boil a few times as I was thinking about it: a poster promoting Brian McLaren at Eastern Mennonite University on April 1, 2009 on the wall of the church I attend; this shouldn't really come as a surprise since this is a Mennnonite Brethren church. What really bothers me though is that ignorance of McLaren's theology is so prevalent, and that people blindly endorse a speaker because they are promoted by a trusted source. (I, however, no longer consider the MB Conference to be on that list). I would no more send one of my children to hear McLaren speak than I would throw them into a den of ravenous hyenas. (The lecture at EMU is being promoted as for Senior High youth).

These thoughts prompted me to do an internet search to see if I could find a comprehensive article on McLaren's theology in case anybody would ask me for more information about what he believes. The best article I could find is entitled Formula Zero: Racing Towards Oblivion ~ Brian McLaren and the Emergent Church in the July 2007 issue of Vanguard Magazine by Neil Richardson. Using quotes from McLaren's own books, (especially A Generous Orthodoxy, which begins with chapter "0", hence "Formula Zero") Richardson reveals the aberrant theology held by McLaren.

Here is Richardson's fine conclusion to the article:

Brian McLaren’s brand new formula of Christianity when tested by the Word of God proves to be, like the first chapter of A Generous Orthodoxy, nothing but a big zero. He dismantles every single major doctrine of the Bible: the authority of Scripture, the nature of God and Creation, the nature of Man and Sin, who the Lord Jesus is, why He died, who the Holy Spirit is, what His work is in converting unbelievers, what the unchanging Gospel is that we proclaim, what being part of the Body of Christ means, how truth and unity must connect, the doctrines of hell and the devil.

The Emergent Church, like a souped-up theological race-car, makes a lot of noise, has a lot of va-va-voom, has every possible denomination label stuck on the side (each cancelling the rest out). McLaren goes round and round in circles, leading his followers, not to the finish line of a Christ-filled eternity, but to the hellbound pit-stop of a Christless social gospelism. 1.

I hope you will find his article as helpful as I have.

***************************

Additional articles revealing McLaren's theology:

The Coming Kingdom: Evolution or Revolution by Pastor Larry DeBruyn
Who Defines the Kingdom of God by Berit Kjos
Brian McLaren Quotes: "Ignorance is Bliss" to "Theology" by Matthew J. Slick
A Review of Brian McLaren's "Everything Must Change" by Chris Curry
Book Review of McLaren's "Secret Message of Jesus" by Randy Brandt
Book Review of McLaren's "Finding our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices" by Lighthouse Trails

Quote from the Lighthouse Trails review of 'Finding our Way Again", McLaren's latest book, the first in a series of seven:

In the last chapter of McLaren's book, "Theosis (via Unitiva)," he sums up his calling by stating that "The purpose of the via purgativa [the practices] is to prepare us for the via illuminativa [the awakening], and the purpose of the via illuminativa is to prepare us for the via unitiva [all is one], the union of our nature with the nature of God" (pp. 171-172). He calls God "fire" and says, "We join God in being fire ... Before the beginning ... God was All, and All was God" (p. 175). This is the exact same message that Eckhart Tolle and Oprah are propagating. But while many Christians are now condemning Tolle's message, they don't realize that the very same message is permeating their very own churches. For those readers who care about the spiritual future of their children and grandchildren, it is vital they understand the meaning of McLaren's spirituality in particular and the emerging/contemplative movement in general. We believe this is an extremely compelling motivation and should prompt us as believers to defend the faith and the gospel message of Jesus Christ. 2.

**************************

1. http://www.vanguardmagazine.info/vanguard/Vanguard23.pdf
2. http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?c=1&more=1&p=1093

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO DO THE POLL AT THE TOP OF MY SIDEBAR

2009-06-18T13:00:00.006-06:00

I have decided to take the summer off from blogging, but have added a poll to my sidebar to gauge the effect the Contemplative Spirituality movement is having on people while I am away. If you don't have any knowledge about the movement, you can read more about it HERE (be sure to read the other parts of this 5-part article, listed at the bottom of the website's page). Although it doesn't show up very well at the bottom of the poll, please note that multiple answers are allowed. Thank you for participating. God Bless and have a great summer!

JIM HOLM RESIGNS AS PRESIDENT OF MBBS: MENNO SIMONS ON DEALING WITH UNFAITHFUL BRETHREN

2008-11-25T22:30:00.008-06:00

UPDATE (June 18, 2009): Please read the follow-up to this article HERE.

According to the September issue of the Mennonite Weekly Review and the November 2008 MB Herald , Jim Holm has resigned as president of the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary due to his involvement in an extramarital relationship. The article in the MWR did not give the details of the resignation, other than for personal reasons. It was not until this month (two months later) that the MB Herald disclosed the details of his resignation. While I do not believe we should be "throwing stones", as Ed Boschman, U.S. conference executive director admonishes, this is an event that should cause all of us to examine our own standing in the area of sexual faithfulness before God. I don't think it helps to whitewash the issue by calling it an "extramarital relationship". God calls marital unfaithfulness sin, and it troubles me that this word is not used in any of the news articles published by any of the Mennonite Brethren publications. Let us not minimize the seriousness of such things. The body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit, to be used for His glory. When man or woman fails to do so, he has set up an idol in his heart replacing Christ. Any man or woman who wants to please Christ denies himself and his flesh, and takes up his cross to follow after Him. It also troubles me that there is no mention of calling for his repentance. I hope that this is the goal of all those dealing with the situation. Clearly Scripture teaches that this is how an erring believer is to be dealt with. The article says that the board has "expressed assurance of forgiveness" and "that the Pacific District Conference will oversee his restoration and care". I hope that this means that repentance has already taken place, and I hope to see a statement by Jim Holm published in this regard in the future.

Speaking from personal experience before my own marriage, I understand that these things don't "just happen". There is a gradual spiritual erosion that takes place. It is "the little foxes that spoil the vine". It is placing yourself in the path of temptation, and refusing to deny the flesh. It is placing the temporal before the eternal. Also speaking from personal experience, as a married woman, I now know that it is possible to resist such temptation by asking for help from a fellow-believer who will pray for you to resist, by refusing to put yourself in that place of temptation, and by walking in utter dependence upon God regardless of the circumstances within the marriage relationship. North America trivializes the marriage covenant, but as Christians we must uphold marriage as a holy institution created by God, to be guarded carefully, weathering the storms of life, even if it includes a troubled relationship with our spouse. As believers we must hold ourselves and each other to a high standard regarding our marriage relationships. At one point in my own marriage, when faced with the decision to either pick up the phone and ask for spiritual help, or to turn my back on the marriage and walk out the door, the Holy Spirit confronted me, asking what was more important, my marriage or my pride. I have to admit that I struggled with the decision, but finally realized that if I resisted the Holy Spirit I would fall and have to live with consequences too great to bear, above all a hardening of my heart to the things concerning God and to His Spirit. Praise God who gives us the victory.

I should also like to point out (with reference to the article below), that there is another area in which I believe repentance needs to be called for. It is the area of teaching erroneous doctrine, specifically the teaching of unbiblical methods as a means to gain a closer relationship to God. Jim Holm has been teaching the Spiritual Formation course at MBBS, which promotes forms of prayer which are believed to be derived from the Roman Catholic church and eastern religions, and ultimately the occult, if you examine the origins. They were brought into the church not from the Word of God, but have their source outside the Christian church (** see end note for documentation of this). I can't help wondering if Jim Holm's teachings and his possible reliance on these things rather than the power of the Holy Spirit may have contributed to his falling into sin. We cannot baptize such man-made forms of prayer with Christian terminology and call them our own. The Bible alone must be our guide in these things. Having some previous involvement with such things and following some very intense study of the matter, it has become clear to me that they are "a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof". These are dangerous, unbiblical practices that do not have their origins in the Word of God, and they are highly deceptive. (Read my personal testimony about my own involvement with Spiritual Formation while in seminary).

It is high time those in leadership take a close look at what is being taught in the seminary and that those who are teaching such things be held accountable. How about rather than using what I have just stated as an opportunity to jump all over me because you don't want to believe that such things are possible within the MB Conference, you use this as an opportunity to examine the issues carefully for yourself. Are you so sure that those who are debating such things have unfounded concerns? At best, these practices are suspect, and on that basis should be avoided as teaching material. Is it not better to be absolutely certain that such things are biblical before presenting them to students? All Christian organizations must guard against the slippery slope of falling away from the truth. Where is the MB Conference on the scale: is it proclaiming, assuming or denying the gospel? (Please read David Gibson's article, Assumed Evangelicalism: Some reflections en route to denying the gospel). There are other doctrinal errors which I believe are being taught at the seminary, but I will not get into those in this post. However, they are equally important. The December 1859 Weblog is dealing with these issues. They involve teachings about the cross and the deity of Christ, serious matters both, which should not be allowed to go on unchecked. The seminary website denies that they have strayed from their Confession of Faith, but there are credible witnesses who would disagree and have nothing to gain by doing so, and everything to lose.

Below are some excerpts from an article I have found written by Menno Simons. Please note that while I attend a Mennonite Brethren Church, I am first and foremost a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is with some reluctance that I refer to myself as Mennonite Brethren, based on 1 Corinthians 1:12-17; in fact I try not to do so although it is a habit difficult to break. I daresay that Menno Simons would likely be embarrassed to find out that people call themselves after his name. At the same time, I believe he played an important leadership role in preserving and promoting the truth of God's Word and the supremacy of Scripture in the life of the individual believer and the church at large at a time when it was dangerous but imperitive to do so. It is for this reason that I use his writings as an appeal to the MB Conference. I believe the article below is an appeal by Scripture to defend against false teaching and erring brethren, and the purpose of separation, which is restoration. May we carefully heed this admonition from a brother in Christ. It is lengthy, but well worth reading. Its message is as relevent today as when it was written. Below are the excerpts, whose source is e-menno.org:

AN ADMONITION OR INSTRUCTION FROM THE WORD OF GOD, HOW A CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE DISPOSED; AND CONCERNING THE SHUNNING AND SEPARATION OF THE UNFAITHFUL BRETHREN AND SISTERS, EITHER DECEIVED BY HERETICAL DOCTRINE, OR LEADING A CARNAL, SHAMEFUL LIFE.

BY
MENNO SIMON.

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ," 1 Cor. 8:11.

ELKHART, INDIANA:
PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. FUNK AND BROTHER.

1871. (Book 2) Page 441 blank page (Book 2) Page 442

A KIND ADMONITION.

Menno Simon wishes all true brethren and sisters in Jesus Christ the grace and peace of God our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ his Son, our Lord, who loved us, and cleansed gas (sic) of our sins by his blood. To him be glory, now and forever, Amen.

Hear, believe, and fulfill God's word, and you shall have everlasting life. Do not judge until you have perused and well understood this.

SINCERLY beloved children in Christ Jesus, you are aware with what diligence, nay, how sincerely I have of late admonished most of you, according to the word of the Lord, by many Scriptures, flowing from a loving, inclined and moved Spirit, as you yourselves have witnessed, I, who seek nothing (of which God is my witness) but alone the salvation of your souls; teaching nothing, desiring nothing, admonishing you to nothing but alone that your most holy faith and works may be powerful and fruitful before God; and that your life and walk may be found before God, before his angels, and before all the world, holy, pure, sober, chaste, temperate, humble, gentle, kind, mild, merciful, righteous, unblamable, in conformity with, and obedient to the gospel of Christ, a shining light, that in all your doings you may express Christ Jesus whom you have put on, if you have rightly put him on, as I trust; and thus show in your life his divine and heavenly image after which you are created, Col. 3; Eph. 4.

You know that I do not desire your money, silver, and carnal gifts, although I may be blamed of it by the infamous, lying world. I beseech all of you, and would with much solicitation, anxiety, tribulation, sighing, weeping, and pains, teach you such faith, love, spirit, conscience and walk that you can stand before the righteous judgment of God, and that in Christ Jesus.

I do not doubt, most beloved brethren, that you well know (if you be born with Christ, of God the Father of the heavenly seed of the divine word), that you must be conformed unto Christ in mind, spirit, courage and will, both in doctrine and life, as Christ Jesus is conformed unto the nature and image of his blessed, heavenly Father, to which he was so conformed that he did nothing but that his Father did, Jn. 5; that he taught nothing but the word of his Father. Jn. 7. In the same manner with those who are begotten of the living, saving word of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ; they are, by virtue of their new birth, so conformed unto Christ, so like unto him, so really implanted into him, so converted into his heavenly nature, that they do not teach nor believe any doctrine but that which conforms unto the doctrine of Christ; do not make use of any religious ceremonies but Christ's ceremonies, which he has taught and commanded in his holy gospel; for how can the natural branches bear fruit different from that of the vine itself of which they budded forth H Jn. 15.

As there is nothing found in Christ Jesus but solely the holiness, wisdom, brightness, righteousness, power, love, peace, mercy, and truth of the Almighty Father, thus you have in the same manner partaken of his being and goodness, because you with him are regenerated and renewed of the same Father.

Behold, brethren, such regenerated and godly minded, live unblamably, even according to the measure of the rule of the holy gospel of Jesus Christ and his apostles. Therefore he kisses them as his beloved, chosen ones, with the mouth of his peace, Cant. 1, and calls them his church, his bride, flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone, of which he begets, with inexpressible pleasure, by his powerful seed, his holy word, the children of God, the children of the promise, the children of righteousness, the children of truth, and the children of life eternal. But of the Babylonian, Sodomitic, whoring, adulterous, idolatrous, bloody, unbelieving, blind and unclean whore with which they have, for centuries, lived in adultery by the use of wood, stone, gold, silver, bread, wine, false doctrine, and of the very vain, ac

(Book 2) Page 443

cursed works of their own hands, contrary to Jesus Christ and his holy word, he will never beget them, Rev. 17; 18.

Therefore I admonish all our beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, so precious as is Christ Jesus to you, never to let it go out of your mind, but ever to remember for what purpose you are called, taught, and baptized. Remember the covenant of the most high God, that into which you voluntarily entered; into which you have voluntarily desired and accepted; being taught by the word of God, and operated upon by the Holy Spirit; and remember that according to the doctrine of Paul, you have voluntarily buried in baptism, all your avarice, uncleanness, pride, hatred, envy, abuse of the sacramental signs, idolatry, gluttony, drunkenness, sensuality, falsehood, deceit, &c., and that you are arisen with Christ Jesus, into newness of life, Rom. 6, if you are rightly arisen with him; which new life is nothing else but righteousness, unblamableness, love, mercifulness, humility, longsuffering, peace, truth, yea, the whole, gentle life which is taught by the gospel, and was found in Christ Jesus.

O, brethren, how far are some of us, alas, yet distant from the evangelical life which is of God! Notwithstanding that they stay out of the other churches, and are outwardly baptized in water, they yet are carnal and devilish minded in all things, thinking perhaps, that christianity consists of outward baptism and the non attendance of the church. No, beloved, no! I tell you, as truly as the Lord lives, before God avails no outward baptism, nor staying away from the churches, nor supper, nor being persecuted, if we do not obey the commandments of God, 1 Cor. 7; if our faith does not manifest itself in love, and the new creature, as also Christ Jesus says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a inan (sic) be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God," Jn. 3:3. At another place he says, " Verily; I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven," Matt. 18:3. But the regenerated and converted, that is the believing, are rightly baptized in accordance with God's word; for they bury their sins in baptism, and arise with Christ into newness of life, Rom. 6; they are spiritually circumcised with the circumcision of Christ, Col. 2; they put on Christ Jesus; they show by the washing of regeneration that they are born again; for it is a washing of the new birth, Tit. 3.

These regenerated ones use the true Supper; for they proclaim the death of Christ until his coming again, 1 Cor. 11; their pleasure is in the church of the righteous, their works are nothing but brotherly love, one heart, one soul, one spirit. Yea, one undivided body, fruitful, serving, and common in Christ Jesus, which are symbolized by the outward cup, and the outward bread, 1 Cor. 10. These regenerated ones shun all false doctrine, all idolatry, all improper usage of the sacramental signs in the church or out of the church; they seek only the true teachers who are unblamable both in doctrine and in life; the true religion, as taught and expressed in Christ's word, namely, the dying unto the flesh, Rom. 12; Gal. 6; the service of the afflicted, Matt. ls; the visiting of the widows and orphans; as James says, They seek to keep themselves unblemished and unspotted from the world, Jas. 1. These regenerated ones bear the cross of Christ with gladness of heart, so established in Christ Jesus that they can not be separated from the eternal truth and love of God, by false doctrine, nor by horrible torments, ever remembering their Lord's word, where he says, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven," Matt. 10:32.

All their thoughts are chaste, gentle, peaceful, heavenly and of the Holy Spirit; all their words are wisdom, truth, doctrine, admonition in grace, well seasoned, the words of God and words spoken at the right time. They are spirit, and they are life. In short, all their works are love, mercifulness, righteousness, piety, and are done in the fear of the Lord. Behold, brethren, this is the true nature and mind of the children of God, who are by grace converted in their hearts and with Christ born of God the Father. Therefore I beseech you as my sincerely beloved brethren, by the grace of God, nay I com

(Book 2) Page 444

mand you with holy Paul, by the Lord Jesus Christ, who at his coming will judge the living and the dead, diligently to observe each other unto salvation, in all becoming ways teaching, instructing, admonishing, reproving, threatening and consoling each other as occasion requires, not otherwise than in accordance with the word of God, and in unfeigned love, that we may all grow up in God, and become united in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, into one perfect man, and according to the measure of the gift of Jesus Christ, Eph. 4:7.

Therefore take heed. If you see your brother sin, then pass not by him, as one that does not prize his soul; but if his fall be curable, from that moment endeavor to raise him up by gentle admonition and brotherly instruction, before you eat, drink, sleep or do any thing else, as one who ardently desires his salvation, lest your poor, erring brother harden and corrupt in his fall, and perish in his sin.

Do not act so unfaithfully as you have hitherto done, as not to make the transgressions of your dying brother or sister known to those within the church before those without; but rather exhort them, and seek by prayer, by words, and by actions to convert him from the error of his way, to save his soul and thus to stop the multiplying of his transgressions, Jas. G. Take heed, brethren, take heed I that you allow no defamer among you, as Moses taught, Lev. 19, no double, lying, roguish, nor backbiting tongue; and do not consent, lest you fall into the wrath of God. Let every one take heed, how, where, when and what he speaks, lest his tongue blaspheme his God and his neighbor; but always remember the words of Ecclesiasticus, "Honor and shame is in talk, and the tongue of man is his fall," Eccl. 5:13.

But brethren, if those of years of understanding who were with us, by the urging. of the Spirit, baptized in the most holy body of Jesus Christ, which is the church, again withdraw themselves from the body or church of Christ, actuated either by false doctrine or vain, carnal life, no matter whether it be father or mother, sister or brother, husband or wife, son or daughter, or any one else, for God's word applies to all flesh, without respect of person, Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2; Eph. 8; Col. 3, if he or she do not heed the admonitions of the brethren, which is given with sorrow, tears and a compassionate spirit of love, but continue in their Jewish doctrine, namely, of sword, kingdom, polygamy or the like deceit; again, in the doctrine of the infamous confession, of shamelessness in exposing their persons, and the like unnatural, inhuman actions; again in the doctrine which is opposed to the cross of Christ, such as that uncleanness is pure to the pure, and thus having communion in fruitless works, as the hearing of the preachers of the world, infant baptism, the worldly supper, and the like abominations. Again, continue in drunkenness, avarice, adultery, fornication, unbecoming words, &c., with such have nothing to do, nor eat with them, as Paul has taught and commanded us in plain words, 1 Cor. 5.

But if he affectionately receive the admonitions of his faithful brethren, if he confess his fall, if he be sorry, promise reformation, show signs of penitence, and acknowledge his transgression, then, no matter how he has transgressed, receive him as a returning, beloved brother or sister, but beware, lest he mock his God; for the acceptation of brethren does not avail if we be not accepted of God. Beware, I say, lest his hearing the admonitions, his sorrow, his promise of reformation, and his penitence be not sincere before God; for he searches the hearts and reins, and he knows all inward feignedness and thoughts of men, Jer. 17; Jn. 2; Rom. 8.

If his hearing the admonitions, his sorrow, promise and penitence are not sincere and from his heart, but merely indifferent, feigned, spiritless, hypocritical, just because he does not want to be outwardly thrown out of the communion of the brethren, he is still cut off by Christ, and is a hypocrite in the sight of God. Nor will he be looked upon nor judged by God as being any thing else. For God the righteous Judge does not judge according to the outward appearance, but solely according to the inward intentions of the heart.

Say, beloved, inasmuch as this is the

(Book 2) Page 445

case, what does it avail to go by the mere name of a christian brother if he have not the inward, evangelical faith, love, and unblamable life of a true brother of Jesus Christ.

Or what does it avail to partake of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ with the brethren if we have not the true symbolized fruits of this Supper, namely, the love of the brethren, and the peaceable unity of faith in Christ Jesus? Or does it avail anything outwardly to converse in the communion of the brethren, if we are not inwardly in the communion of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ?

Therefore, brethren, none is cut off by us, or ejected from the communion of the brethren (judge rightly) but those who have already ejected themselves either by false doctrine, or by a blamable life, from Christ and his communion. For we do not wish to eject any, but to accept them; not to cut them off, but to restore them; not to reject, but to win them back; not to afflict, but to console them; not to condemn, but to save them. For this is the true nature of a christian brother. Whosoever renounces evil, be it false doctrine or; vain life, and conforms himself to the gospel of Jesus Christ, unto which he is baptized neither shall nor can be ejected or cut off by any of the brethren.

But those whom we cannot raise up and admonish unto repentance by tears, threatening, reproving, or. by any other christian services and divine means, we should reluctantly separate from us, sincerely deploring the fall and damnation of such erring brethren, lest we also be deceived and led astray by such false doctrine which eats about itself like a cancer, 2 Tim. 2; lest we corrupt our flesh which is inclined to evil, by the contagion; and that we may thus obey the word of God which commands us to do so; and that thus the separated brother or sister, whom we can not convert by gentle services, may, by means of the separation, be shamed unto repentance, 2 Thess. 2, and acknowledge to what he has come and from what he is fallen. Thus the ban is a great work of love, notwithstanding it is looked upon by the unintelligent as an act of hatred.

Brethren and sisters this separation or ban, so earnestly taught and commanded in the Scriptures by Christ Jesus and his holy apostles was instituted to be practiced for these causes and reasons, first: For false doctrine, Matt. 7; 18; Rom. lE; 2 Tim. 2; 1 Tim. e; Tit. 3; Phil. 3; 2 Jn.1; again, for sinful, carnal life, Matt. 18; 1 Cor. G; 2 Thess. 3; 2 Tim. 3; again, that we should admonish them (understand, those that will be admonished), Matt. ~18; Tit. 3. Therefore take heed, and watch your own soul, lest you despise the word of God in this necessary matter of separation, and transgress his ordinances; but that you in every respect practice upon and uphold it with divine wisdom, discretion, gentleness and prudence, in the case of those who have gone aside from the evangelical doctrine or life; not with austerity, nor with cruelty, but rather with gentleness, reluctance, and with sorrow and pity for the diseased members who are not cured, in whose case pains and labor avail nothing, who should be cut off with the knife of the divine word, lest the others be corrupted, and lest the abominable scurvy is imparted to the other sheep. Yea it should be done in such a manner that the erring sister or brother may be made ashamed at heart, and thus be won, as was said above. And in case there be any moving of the Spirit, any spark of life; or any fear of God in such sister or brother, their heart will surely quake and tremble; for by the admonition of the word of God, and by the testimony of his own conscience he will acknowledge that he has cut himself off from the communion of Jesus Christ, by his vain, carnal life, and that he has again entered into the communion of the devil; and that therefore his lot and part shall not be with theblessed souls in heaven, but with the damned in hell unto eternity, unless he convert himself.

May God, the merciful Father, save all his chosen children who have entered into his holy covenant and communion, from such a fearful fall, obduracy, and separation, Amen.

All the apostate sisters and brethren who are offended at and angry with us on account of this open doctrine and practice of the Christian ban or separation, will be of

(Book 2) Page 446

fended more and more; for whosoever is impure will be rendered still more impure, as the Holy Spirit of the prophecies teaches, Rev. 22. For the word of God is unto the reformation, righteousness, and life of the pious and godly; but unto the lost it is unto offense, unrighteousness and death. Whatl be angry with us because we obey Scripture in this respect? Let them rather be angry with themselves; for they dare teach and live contrary to the commandment of God. If they want to renounce their heresy, and reform their ungodly life, the heavenly doctrine of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ will not offend them nor make them worse, but rather urge, affright and convert them.

If they, by their apostatic, refractory and carnal hatred, are so deprived of grace and the knowledge of God, and become worse and worse, so that they see death in the eternal life, and darkness in the heavenly light of divine truth, then we can claim to be clear before God and his holy angels, from their sins, obduracy, and eternal death if we do toward them that which the Lord's word has commanded us in regard to this matter. Therefore we desire not to have communion with them, nor lot nor part, unto eternity, so long as they do not sincerely renounce their false doctrine and reform their miserable, accursed, earthly, carnal, and devilish life, to the praise of the Lord. But in case true penitence is found in them, in good faith, as before God who sees all things, then we say, welcome beloved brethren, welcome, beloved sisters, and we sincerely rejoice at the sincere conversion of such brethren and sisters. Yea, we rejoice as one is rejoiced at the restoration of an only Son who was dangerously ill as at the restoration of a lost sheep or penny; and as at the reappearance of a son who was given up as lost, Matt. 18; Luke 15.

Behold, brethren, therefore I will leave every apostate brother to consider why, and wherefore, with what kind of spirit, and with what intention this separation or ban was so diligently practiced, first by Christ Jesus and his apostles and afterward by us who are again placed in their doctrine and practice of all christian doings, as may be easily deduced from the alleged Scriptures. Well, dear brethren in the Lord, you who are baptized by one Spirit into one body, and have voluntarily entered into the communion of Jesus Christ, and also you who are of a good mind, inasmuch as you must shun the apostatic in accordance with the word of God, therefore, take heed, that while you shun them as diseased, foul and useless members, unfit for the body of Christ, you yourselves may be found to be sound, fit, and fruitful members in Christ Jesus; and that while you shun them as children of darkness and of death, you yourselves may be children of the light and of eternal life, that the righteous sentence of God may not be pronounced against you; take heed, lest you who shun others on account of their evil doing, secretly commit worse things in the sight of God. Take heed, lest you adjudge others of what you yourselves are guilty, Rom. 2. Behold, brethren, thus the ban or separation should be practiced in the house of the Lord, that is, in God's church; nor have they any other weapon unto eternity. Of this I would have written more but defer it to some other time, if it please God.

Now, beloved brethren, take heed, take heed, brethren, this I advise you that there may never be any thoughts in your hearts otherwise than such as are pure, holy, chaste, heavenly, and of the Holy Spirit. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God," Matt. G:8. "The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom and his tongue talketh of judgment," Ps. 37:3o. Let all thy words be as a sworn oath before God and before the world, Matt. S; Jas. G. Let all your actions be wrought of God by God, and in God, Jn. 3. Measure all your thoughts, words and actions by the rule of the divine word, that the ungodly defamer who so diligently watches all your words and actions may find nothing which he can truly cast up to you, whereby he can accuse or blame you, as Paul taught and requested the church, in some instances, Eph. 4; 1 Tim. 3; Tit. 2. ....."

0, beloved brethren, fulfill my desire, and finish, as obedient children of God that which I have faithfully taught, admonished and written unto you from the word of God, to your eternal salvation, that you may also be partakers of the glorious crown, hope and joy, in the day of the coming of Christ, 1 Thess. 2. "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit," Rom. 12:11. Bless God in all his works toward us, and pray him to guide your way,. and let all your counsel be in him, Tob. 4. Walk fearlessly in the commandments of the Lord. Go not in any manner beyond the gospel of Christ, Gal. 1. Be firm in the way of the Lord. Overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil by the most holy faith which is in you, 1 Jn. 5. Joyfully serve each other, "In patience possess ye your souls," Luke 21:13.

"Be patient in tribulation," Rom. 12:12. Prepare your hearts for the cross of Christ, so that when it comes you may not be terrified with the cowardly.

No more at present, but watch closely all the days of your lives, the unexpected coming of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, who has made us such dear creatures, bought us with his precious blood, graciously called, enlightened and regenerated us, and who will crown us with the crown of glory, array us in the garment of unblamableness, and give us the gift of eternal life. To him be eternal praise and glory, now and forever, Amen.

Ponder, holy brethren, upon every word which I have written unto you; read it attentively; reflect upon it diligently, understand it rightly, judge spiritually, and live up to it divinely. 0, brethren, then my admonition and writing, and your perusal and hearing shall be fruitful.

I pray you with holy Paul, by the grace of God, not to suppress this admonition, nor to lay it away, but to read it to all faithful brethren and sisters in the Lord; as also to all the apostates who are not entirely given up, that they may be won back. Yea, not alone to these, but to all men in or out of the church, who may desire to hear it. The grace of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ be with all true brethren and sisters, Amen.

Again, pray for me and far all your servants in the Lord. Beware of all doctrine and works which are not conformable to the gospel of Christ.

Beware.

May grace and peace remain with all the true children of God, and fellow laborers of the promise, in the kingdom of Christ.

MENNO SIMON 1.

**End note: for documentation on this please go to http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?p=1038&more=1&c=1
(In the article, look for the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID) forming for the purpose of promoting Eastern-style meditation into the Christian community and occultist Alice Bailey foretelling the use of the Christian church to bring about "worldwide illumination").

1. http://e-menno.org/menno/menno134.htm

INTERESTING NEWS ITEM OF THE DAY

2009-06-18T11:00:00.000-06:00

From YNET News, an Israeli online newspaper, yesterday:

Sheikh Salah: Netanyahu wants to rebuild Temple

Contrary to those who believe in Replacement Theology (the church has replaced Israel), there is still unfulfilled prophecy in the Bible regarding the nation of Israel, including the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, in which the Anti-Christ himself (not one of his precursors, one of the many anti-christs) will appear and declare himself to be God. As Jerusalem, "the Cup of Trembling", has become the center of controversy worldwide, may this be a wake-up call to those who say "where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Peter 3:4), and recommend that "End Time Believing Christians" be "Robustly Confronted".

A FOLLOW-UP TO "JIM HOLM RESIGNS AS PRESIDENT"

2009-06-18T11:08:00.000-06:00

This post is a follow-up to an earlier post, JIM HOLM RESIGNS AS PRESIDENT OF MBBS: MENNO SIMONS ON DEALING WITH UNFAITHFUL BRETHREN.

I am pleased to have read a "Request for Forgiveness" by past-President of MBBS, Jim Holm, published in the June 2009 Mennonite Brethren Herald (bottom of the page). I wish Jim and his family continued healing by the power of God, and continue to pray that those in leadership at MBBS carefully study the roots and fruits of the mystical elements of the "Spiritual Formation" movement and do everything it can to remove its grip from the school.

A PERSONAL UPDATE

2009-03-10T20:24:00.006-06:00

Since my last blog posting on January 13th I have received a number of inquiries from interested readers regarding my absence over the last two months or so, so here is a personal update. Please use the information to pray for me. Some of my readers have also wondered if I have given in to pressure from those I am writing about in a way that challenges them to examine themselves and their teachings who have been publishing warnings to the public about blogs who are exposing their unbiblical theological errors in recent days. I will assure you this is not the case.

On January 17th my husband and I went to Saskatoon to help my oldest daughter and her husband move closer to home, where he is presently doing his practicum, the final three months of the program he is in before graduating from the College of Pharmacy. At the end of December they excitedly informed us that they are expecting a baby this summer, so we are really looking forward to becoming grandparents for the first time! Jenna has not been feeling well at all so far, so we hope that the last half of the pregnancy will be better for her than the first. Their move from Saskatoon also meant that our jointly owned property there would be for sale, as they had been renting it from us and the other owner, so some of our time has been taken up with the phone calls and paperwork necessary for the sale, which we hope will be completed by the end of this month.

Our other daughter, our second-born, also made the decision to quit her job in Saskatoon and move back in with us at around the same time, until such time as she makes a decision about the direction in life she next wants to take. She has been planning on working as full-time staff at a nearby Bible Camp this summer, and is presently looking for part-time work until then. Please pray for her as she make decisions regarding her future plans. In the meantime she has been helping me at home, and we have been able to get some painting done around the house that I have been unable to do by myself in the last two and a half years since we undertook some major house renovations. This included painting the ceilings and walls in our dining room, kitchen and entryway which we had redone at the time (we still have to sheet-rock and paint the entryway walls and recarpet it and the basement). I had already painted the cupboards earlier but since a fall down the stairs last April I have not been able to tackle this job by myself. It has been a great relief to finally get a good portion of the work completed, and I am very grateful for the help she gave me. I couldn't have done it without you, Andrea!

Part of the time I have been away from the blog has simply been spent on the couch reading through a number of the last shipment of books I ordered for the church library, listening to online radio (lots of Brannon Howse of "Worldview Network" on the economic situation and the political machinations behind it) or watching "Little House on the Prairie" (I've gotten through almost eight of nine seasons!). Late last Fall my doctor came to the conclusion that I fractured my tailbone when I fell down the stairs, which is now almost a year ago. I have had a terrible time sitting for any length of time and some times I can not sit at all. Some of the trips in the vehicle we have taken in the last few months have meant 3 or 4 days which I was flat on my back in recovery. Along with recurrent flareups of fibromyalgia, I have to admit that many of my days are not nearly as productive as I would like them to be. The extra time it takes me to keep caught up with things around the house has meant time away from the computer.

During this time I have also had time to think through my role and involvement in this whole movement which is exposing some of the errors which are continuing to make their way into the Mennonite Brethren Conference. I will continue to expose the errors online here as much as I am able and will provide a supportive role only, if asked to and if it should ever become organized. I see my role as primarily being a warning voice to all those who will listen, while continuing to gather as much information about it as I can. I had some very wise advice from an aunt regarding this. She reminded me several years ago that my first ministry is my husband and my children, with my local church being next, and I have chosen my blog to follow that since it reaches a larger audience beyond any scope I could ever imagine. Beyond that, I will only do as I am able but without obligation. There are many people of greater influence I would love to have discussions with about some of the issues my blog covers, including some of the professors at the Seminary where I took several classes in 2006/07. Maybe that will happen some day. Or maybe some of those people will come across my blog and take the time to do some reading. In the meantime I have come to accept my limitations and be at peace.

This blog has been, and continues to be, a wonderful format to record my personal spiritual journey and write articles on topics which concern me. I have found many new friends and allies since I began doing this. It has been a real joy to find camaraderie all across the continent, and even around the globe. Thank you to all of those who have expressed an interest in my absence and have upheld me in prayer during this time. I hope to be back here at the blog on a fairly regular basis, the Lord willing. I would appreciate continued prayers for my health (I am presently awaiting an appointment with a neurologist to see if they can do anything with this nasty tailbone of mine).

Blessings to you all, Bonnie

ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH GOD

2008-11-10T22:15:00.018-06:00

I like what Don Koenig of The Prophetic Years blog wrote about the coming global spiritual, economic and political unity. Regarding an article by Brannon Howse, Koenig says:

Brannon House gives a very good explanation of how three different demonically inspired worldviews have merged to create what he calls “One-World Spirituality”. After you read this article you will have a much better understanding of where Oprah, Obama, Al Gore, Tolle are leading the world via the lies from Media, Educational systems, Radical Environmentalism, Emergent Church, WCC, CFR, UN etc.

Over half of America now is under the influence of this new worldview and that includes most of those who call themselves Christians. All of the three worldviews are incompatible with Christianity and when combined they are not only hostile toward Bible believers they also have the power to carry out hostility and persecution on those who oppose them. The root teaching of all of the worldviews can be traced back to people influenced by paganism and the occult.1.

Click here to read the Howse article, One World Spirituality: Three Worldviews Emerge.

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On a related note, Slice of Laodicea reports that spiritual leaders of many faiths gathered at the Aspen Institute in Colorado (a New Age interfaith organization) this month to discuss the "healing of the nation" (USA). The article in the Aspen Times said that it was deliberately scheduled two days after the presidential election. Here are a few quotes from the Aspen Times article, Spiritual leaders gather in Aspen: group hopes to discover collective voice:

Included among the group are Father Thomas Keating, senior monastic, St. Benedict’s Monastery in Old Snowmass; Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of the Jewish Renewal Movement; Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, chairman of the American Buddhist Association; Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, former general secretary of the National Council of Churches; Swami Atmarupananda, senior monastic of the Ramakrishna Mission; Imam Mohamed Bashar Arafat, founder and president of Civilizations Exchange & Cooperation Foundation, and Brother Achalananda, senior monastic of the Self-Realization Fellowship, among many others.

The premise of the gathering is that the spiritual landscape of America is changing.

Organizers said that the religious voice of the Fundamental Christian Right has dominated the country for several years and it represents a minority of Americans.
That’s why the initiative conducted an extensive search to find respected leaders from the Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, contemplative Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths — who aren’t advocating for the superiority of one faith, themselves or their churches. (emphasis mine)

“We have come together across spiritual lines, because that is where the great mystical energy resides,” said Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW). “There is a type of activism that comes out of contemplation, anything else is social action.”

“Our new president, Barack Obama, said there will be some changes and that is happening now, right here,” said a participant during Friday’s summit. “I hope that we can all get together, live a good life and be kind to each other.”

The summit wraps up today, starting with meditation and yoga at the Aspen Meadows Gym. Discussions begin 9 a.m. The day’s activities close at 4 p.m. with an inter-spiritual ceremony.

Merriam said she hopes the spiritual coalition will gain momentum in the coming months and contribute to the nation’s most pressing challenges, and ultimately lead to a paradigm shift in the world’s leadership.

“A new spiritual energy is emerging in the country,” she said. “Just as the political landscape is changing, so too is the spiritual landscape. We must tap this new energy to gain a forward looking vision of how to advance our national well being.” 2.

Please note the list that includes "contemplative Christian" as a faith that is not advocating the superiority of one faith over another. This contradicts Jesus words stating that He is the only way to the Father. "Contemplative Christians" try to wiggle around this by using verbal gymnastics, twisting His words and their meaning to include all people of all faiths. To those who have had doubts that the emerging church and its contemplative leanings are a danger to those who uphold the Word of God, this should make it clear where the contemplative spirituality movement is moving. It is in step with a one-world spirituality, fitting right in with Obama-style Christianity, and Oprah's and Eckhart Tolle's ("A New Earth" author) New Age christ. It leaves little to wonder about who and what the "paradigm shift in the world's leadership" (as stated in the above quote) may be referring to.

In order for many Christians to fall away in the last days they must be decieved into accepting a counterfeit christ within the framework of a counterfeit Christianity. Those who are following the "Christian" contemplative pathway are flirting with the devil who is appearing as an angel of light. Beware: the contemplative christ is the counterfeit christ. If you are following the contemplative pathway you are on a collision course with the Creator of the Universe, Jesus Christ himself (John 1).

Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way,which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:13-15

1.http://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/2008/10/29/three-demonically-inspired-worldviews-merge-to-oppose-the-christian-worldview.html

2.http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20081109/NEWS/811089983/1077&ParentProfile=1058&title=Spiritual%20leaders%20gather%20in%20Aspen,%20hope%20to%20discover%20collective%20voice

TWENTY LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT PENTECOST by THE ROSE OF SHARON IS JESUS

2009-05-23T09:00:00.002-06:00

I see by my Jewish calender that Pentecost falls on May 29th and 30th this year. The birthday of the church occurred during this Jewish Feast. This is one of those feasts that falls on two days, making it a possible time in which Christ could call the Church away during a season which is obvious, and yet prevent us from knowing the exact day or hour of his return.

I have a "Google Alert" set up in my email account that relayed an interesting article to me by The Rose of Sharon is Jesus. I like the balanced view this blog gives of the possibility of the rapture occurring during Pentecost, one of the Old Testament Feasts of the Lord which foreshadowed Christ and His work. As we appear to be ever closer to the last days, and the rapture of the church may take place at any time, even possibly at Pentecost, I urge you to prepare for this possibility by reading the following articles from this blog:

Twenty Little Known Facts About Pentecost
The Partial Fulfillment of Pentecost?

Watch therefore,
for ye know neither the day nor the hour
wherein the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:13

HERE COMES THE FLOOD by Stan Goodenough, the "JERUSALEM WATCHMAN"

2009-05-18T18:04:00.004-06:00

I had been working on a blog posting entitled "Satan's Spiritual Tsunami" today when an I received an email with a link to the "Jerusalem Watchman", Stan Goodenough. I would like to pass this article on so that you may know how to pray for the nation of Israel as it is facing possibly the biggest threat to its existence yet. This is just another example of how Satan is deceiving the world and preparing to set up his kingdom on earth. The May 5th article is entitled Here Comes the Flood. Below is an excerpt from that article:

As 2009 gets seriously underway, the world is ganging up on Israel more than ever before.

Like a flood foaming furiously behind a massive logjam, the river of “new” antisemitism that expresses itself in anti-Israel enmity has been gathering strength for years.

Unleashed, it has the potential to pulverize the “pestilence” that is the Jewish state.

Until just a few months ago one “key log” – the United States of America – had been holding it back.

Wielding its veto in the Security Council, the US repeatedly resisted the relentless campaign that for years demonized and sought to delegitimize Israel.

But now, 100 plus days into Barack Obama’s presidency, numerous reports and leaks assessing his planned approach to the Middle East indicate the blockage is to be removed.

There is mounting evidence that the new administration has resolved to see the biblical and historical Land of Israel divided between Jew and Arab on its watch.

It has made this decision knowing full well the unjustness of it (these are Jewish lands); the peril of it (to Israel’s existence); the bankruptcy of it (from Madrid to Annapolis, 18 years of the land-for-peace process have been 18 years of failure).

Israel will not be allowed to stand in the way; her concerns will not be given the time of day.

“The two state solution is the only solution,” emphatically stated Jewish turncoat and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel Sunday.

“Israel has to back the two state solution,” said Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday.

A few days earlier Obama’s national security adviser, General James Jones, told a European foreign minister a week ago Obama plans to be “forceful” with Israel.

“The new administration will convince Israel to compromise on the Palestinian question … we will be more forceful toward Israel than we have been under Bush.” 1.

Read the rest of this article HERE.

A follow-up article is entitled Unleash Heaven! posted today. From that article:

The US believes it has Israel over a barrel. Netanyahu must either endorse the “two-state-solution” or be seen to be resisting the will of the whole world.

What the prime minister is being asked to do is without precedent: Never has a national leader been ordered to surrender for all time his people’s claim to their costliest and most strategic national assets. On top of this, Netanyahu knows too well the bankruptcy of “land-for-peace” – how every effort to proceed with this American-led program has painfully backfired, costing thousands more Jewish lives and increasingly endangering the security of their state.

The “two-state solution” requires the ethnic cleansing of 300,000 Jews from their biblical heartland, the cradle of their nationhood. It calls for the destruction of all their homes and communities. It will add insurmountably to Israel’s already desperate water crisis. And it will leave Israel too small, too truncated, to properly defend – and this in a neighborhood that positively churns with hatred for the Jews.

In the words of Hebron resident Gary Cooperberg: For Israel, the two-state solution is another version of The Final Solution. 2.

Read the full article HERE.

1. http://www.stangoodenough.com/?p=256
2. http://www.stangoodenough.com/?p=261

RUTH'S BLESSING: AN ARTICLE ON HOW WE TREAT OUR MOTHER'S

2009-05-09T19:01:00.009-06:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
to each and every mother who visits my blog today.
May God richly bless and reward you
as you seek to honor Him.

I was looking for a book review on Scot McKnight's book The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible (the review addresses McKnight's erroneous views on a woman's role in the church in the book) when I came across another article on the same site, The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, entitled Ruth's Blessing: A Look at Titus 2:3-5 for Single Women. Although the article speaks about how a single woman views her mother, it really applies to all women, single or married. Being a middle-aged woman and mother myself, I was really touched by this article and the author's personal story of her relationship with her own mother. My mother passed away ten years ago this July and although I miss her terribly, I would never wish her back. I thank God for the time we had together and rejoice that she is in God's presence. My father has since remarried and I truly appreciate the mothering I have received from his current wife. I even call her "Mom", since that is currently the role she plays in my life. She has given me wise counsel, comfort, and the assurance of her prayers many times. She recently had a hip replacement and has been the recipient of my own prayers during this time as well as others. I consider myself honored and blessed to have not one, but two caring mothers, one in heaven, and one on earth.

I hope you will read this article and reminded of the special role your mother has to play in your life. If you have a troubled relationship with your mother, I pray that you will take the time to do everything you can to restore it. Time is so short. Mothers aren't perfect, but then again neither are their children. Do all you can to imitate the character of Christ in your relationship with her and honor her with a special blessing this Mother's Day.

TWO WELL-RECOMMENDED READS

2009-04-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

Here are the links to an article from The Berean Call and several from the Lighthouse Trails Newsletter which came through my email account recently that I found particularly interesting:

From the Berean Call: Would Paul Answer the Call to Christian Patriotism? by Mark Dinsmore

Here is an excerpt to whet your appetite:

A number of respected Christian columnists and pastors across our nation are rightly sounding an alarm at the thickening shroud of global governance descending upon our nation. With the presidentially promised "change" now being delivered, the spectre of a militarized one-world spirituality is darkening the horizon of earth under the guise of "hope" and "peace."
I understand—and share—the righteous anger over the sorry state of the church and its lackadaisical response to the evils of our time. Serious students of God's Word, however, have been long alerted to these signs: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come..." (1 Tim 4:1; see also 2 Tim 4:3-4). Though we take some comfort that our Lord could return at any time for His Bride, it appears that even those whose blessed hope is in a pre-tribulation rapture should take heed and prepare for precipitous times ahead (1 Pt 4:12-16).1

From Lighthouse Trails: "From the Lighthouse" Newsletter April 13, 2009

Lighthouse Trails continue to do an excellent job reporting on the spiritual trends happening in the church and the world. They also publish a number of books I highly recommend. If you have not yet done so, I would encourage you to sign up for their newsletter. You can do so by clicking HERE.

I found this newsletter particularly interesting as it included an article entitled Eastern Meditation: Pope's Way of the Cross Adopts an Eastern Viewpoint (the original article is from the Catholic News Service) in which it reports the Pope's use of Hindu scriptures during the Good Friday service, once again demonstrating the ongoing syncretism of Roman Catholicism and pagan religions.

Footnote:
1. http://www.thebereancall.org/files/09%20April%20TBC%20Extra.pdf

MY RESPONSE TO "THE TROUBLE WITH BLOGS: HOW SHOULD MBBS RESPOND TO ANONYMOUS ATTACKS?"

2008-12-16T07:00:00.005-06:00

USMB has posted an article addressing the topic of bloggers who anonymously "attack" the MB Conference and MBBS. Click HERE to read it. In case my response to this article is removed from their site, I have placed it here as well. It is as follows:

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As a blogger, I would like to respond to this article. My blog may or may not be one of those referred to.

One of the reasons I created my blog, at www.fortheauthor.blogspot.com (just over a year ago) is that I wanted to have a record of the things I was seeing in “Christendom” in general, and the MB Conference in particular. (A broader statement of the purpose for my blog can be found on my website.) The other reason is that I wanted to have a voice in the Christian community. The MB Herald provides a space for this voice in its letters section, but only 200-300 words are allowed. This simply is not enough space to say what I want to say. I highly doubt if the Herald would welcome me as a contributing author as I am rather an unknown in the MB circles and in the literary world. I also believe that my voice would be considered unwelcome there because I am speaking out about things I see which are construed to be controversial in nature. My voice is one calling out for discernment in a day and age where false doctrine and false teachers abound. It seems there are many who are willing to sacrifice truth on the altar of unity.

Regarding anonymity, I originally chose to remain anonymous for several reasons. The primary one is that of personal privacy, because I am a woman online which makes me vulnerable to those who may wish to harm me. It is also for the protection of my husband and children. My message on my blog is evangelical in nature and one that espouses the exclusivity of the gospel message, a message which could be construed as hate in a world where truth is relative, and proselytizing an act of hatred. Those who claim to be tolerant will not tolerate those who claim the Jesus is God in the flesh and the only way to a restored relationship with God by His substitutionary and efficacious death on the cross. Some of the evangelistic blog postings and links that are found on my blog could be reason for those who espouse “political correctness” to have my blog removed from the blogosphere, which would also mean that my witness would also be lost to those who find my blog while searching for the truth. I could be legally charged for “inciting hatred” according to those who think this way. (There has already been once case where that has happened.) I have an email address on my blog by which people can contact me. This way it is at my discretion to decide whether this person is an honest enquirer or a malicious person wishing to cause me trouble. At one time, not long ago, I did reveal my last name, and it was in regard to an article for which I knew it was vitally important to be accountable. Since reading the above article, I have decided that I would take the risk and leave my full name permanently on my blog. It may lead to persecution, and I need to be willing to face it if I want to speak the truth. So be it. If anonymity is the problem to those in the MB Conference, I willingly place my full name on my blog.

I really have nothing to hide. On my blog, I state that I am capable of error and open to correction. That doesn’t mean I won’t defend the truth when I think it is being undermined. I am not going to roll over and play dead just because somebody doesn’t like what I have to say. I would hope that any person who may read and/or comment on my blog would also be open to correction; however, I will not engage in arguments with people who already have their mind made up, being convinced that I am wrong, and also that I am being malicious and hateful. Anybody who really knows me knows that I am not that kind of person.

I have spent a full two years researching two of the main topics of my blog, the spiritual formation movement and the emergent church. My blog is the fruit of that research. I really wish that what I know about these things were not true. It would sure make my life a lot less complicated. For a long time I tried to convince myself that I was wrong about these things, but I have come to the conclusion that I can no longer deny the conclusions I have come to. The purpose for my blogging is not to be malicious or slanderous. Some people think what I am saying is an “attack”, but if that is the case, what is being said in the above article is also an attack on bloggers. And now that you know my name you can even “attack” me personally. Anyone who is willing to take the time to carefully examine my blog will soon see that I have a deep love for both the Living Word and the written Word.

Very rarely do I post anything without first giving it very serious thought and careful research into the matter, especially if it is something serious in nature. It seems many would like to forget the warnings in Scripture that we are to give attendance to doctrine, to watch out for false teachers and false teaching, even to the point of naming names and warning others to stay away from such. Jude especially wrote with a sense of urgency to warn believers about such things. Are we to neglect doing this? I fear that this is what is happening. By the tone of the above article, it seems that its author believes that the MB institutions are incapable of teaching error, and do not want to deal with the possibility that some of their leaders could be in error. We must be careful not to idolize people and institutions. We are to follow Christ and Christ alone. I’m happy that the Board of Faith and Life affirms their adherence to their statement of faith. I wonder, however, what action they would take if they found out someone is teaching error, whether they care to admit it or not. I think those in leadership are too quick to accept people just because they have a few initials behind their name. And I think they have forgotten just how devious Satan is.

Most people do not want to talk to me face to face about the issues I tackle. They are afraid that it might upset their applecart. Some are even completely ignorant about the issues I am tackling. My blog is a place where I am free to express my opinion to the full extent, and where people who are afraid to tackle certain topics in a face-to-face encounter can ask questions and find information. I think that Christian bloggers have an important place in this world. It is not difficult to discern what a blogger’s intent is with a careful examination of all of the contents of their site. Don’t be so quick to judge a blogger’s intent as malicious just because they don’t agree with everything you say and do. As always, I encourage people to examine what I have to say carefully, and to use Scripture as their guide and measuring stick. God’s Word is always to be our final authority in all matters of faith and life. I want people to check out what I have written, to judge for themselves whether it is true or not. I do not claim to be the last word on anything. I am not trying to mislead people, and I tell them not to take what I say as gospel truth, although I love the truth and want it to be known. I want people to diligently seek the truth, not just take my word for it, or anybody else’s for that matter, whether they be in leadership or not. People are not perfect, but those who have a sincere love the truth know when something rings true and will vigorously defend it, especially if they love God’s Word and are knowledgeable about it. We must examine our hearts, whether we love the truth more than we love the praise of man. The human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and our minds in need of transformation. We must allow the light of God’s Word to shine on our hearts and minds, to discern our thoughts and the intents of our hearts.

As both a blogger, a Mennonite, and a Christian, by sticking my neck out and challenging people by what I write, I actually stand to lose a lot. I was a fifth generation member of my local MB church (a member for 35 years). Two of my children are sixth generation members there. My family has very strong ties to the MB denomination and to the people in our local church in particular. However, I chose to withdraw my membership from this church this April because it is an MB church. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. I did not do this without a lot of very serious thought. It was a heart-wrenching experience; it did not give me any pleasure to do so. I still love this little church and still attend there. I refuse to run away from any who wish to question what I have done. I have been open and upfront in my handling of the matter. I have been under the scrutiny of our church ever since by those who still do not understand my reasons for doing so, partly because they don’t want to know the reasons for fear of the consequences. They risk the loss of family support and fellow-member’s understanding and the ensuing alienation, the same risk that I took by doing what I did. I would have preferred actually not to have withdrawn my membership, but was compelled to do so by some of the things being taught through some of the MB publications and educational institutes. Please understand this: it has given me no pleasure to do so, and it gives me no pleasure to write what I write about on my blog. I am compelled to speak out to defend the truth and to warn my fellow-believers about what I see happening because I love them and am concerned for their spiritual well-being. My blog is both my personal testimony and my voice, and I refuse to keep silent. The things that are happening with the Spiritual Formation movement and the emerging church are promoting a form of godliness that is without the power to transform lives in a positive and biblical way. I stand behind that statement 100%, and have the personal experience to prove it.

So, what to do about us “bloggers”? If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. If everything the seminary is teaching and the MB Conference is promoting is biblical, once again, you have nothing to fear. I, for one, only desire to have the truth be known. If you have the same goal, you have nothing to fear. I have basically put everything on the line by speaking out. I may suffer some dire consequences by being upfront with you in this comment I am writing. I may come under attack. I may even be charged with libel (although I don’t think I have said nothing libellous). A lot of people may not like me, they may even be told to stay away from me. Judge this matter for yourself. Do I speak the truth on my blog or not? If I do, once again, you have nothing to fear, unless of course you fear man rather than God. But then you seriously need to examine yourself, to see if you are in the faith.

For the record, I have never attended any Bible School or Seminary within the MB Conference. I do however have one year of Bible School at a non-denominational school and have taken several seminary courses at a non-denominational seminary, one of them being Spiritual Formation. I have never made any claims to the contrary. However, I have examined the MBBS syllabus on Spiritual Formation and found it to be very "contemplative" in the monastic sense of the word. The authors recommended on the syllabus are also pro-contemplative. Also for the record, regarding my "anonymity" nobody from MBBS has ever emailed me at the address listed on my blog to ask who I am. If they had done so, I would have had no problem telling them my name.

Jesus, if I have said anything here that brings you shame or is a blot on the garment of your Bride, the church, I pray that you will reveal it to me by your Spirit, and correct me as soon as possible. It is my desire to be an open book before you and my fellow-believers.

Purchased by His blood and kept by His grace,

~Bonnie Klaassen

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Added later:

Oh, and by the way, I am one of those who have been praying for those in positions of leadership within the MB Conference and at MBBS for several years already, and I will continue to do so, as you are asking for prayer.

So whether you consider me an enemy, a mischief-maker (as stated in the article) or just a plain nuisance, I AM a fellow-believer in Christ and a fellow-Mennonite, one who is willing to sound a voice of warning when it is unpopular to do so. Before you make a judgment about me and what I say, I will ask you to carefully check out everything I have to say for yourself. I do not believe it is my job to convince anybody about anything one way or another. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. It is only my job to speak out about what I see. What I ask is that you be willing to examine the issues carefully from both sides as I have, and then make your own decision, being led by the Holy Spirit and open to His correction where necessary.

I have never intentionally misrepresented any educational institute. I take what I do as a blogger very seriously and provide as much documentation as possible. If I have ever said anything that could be construed as libelous, I would appreciate you letting me know, as that is not my intent. I am not interested in getting involved in any legal suits with any Christian brethren. There have been times when I have even asked others to proof-read my work to make sure that I was not doing or saying anything out of a malicious spirit, or that was immoral or illegal. If there has ever been a doubt in my mind as to whether I should post an article or not, it remained as a draft only until I was sure about what I had written, and had prayed about the matter. These are safeguards I have put in place, and yet I know I am still fully capable of error. Although I am speaking out, I hope you will see that it is with discretion.

I am just one small voice in a vast sea of Mennonites. I have come to see things differently than most and I am not like most people you know. I am not the least bit concerned with other people's opinion about me, although I don't set out to deliberately offend others. I have a deep-seated reverential fear of God. I read and study all day long most days even though I am not in a formal educational institute. Although I have taken classes in a seminary, I have concluded that the best textbook is the Bible and the best teacher the Holy Spirit; that God's Word alone contains everything we need to know about life and godliness. I take offense to those who uphold the words of a "Bible scholar" above the words of the Bible itself. I am only 45 years old, and yet I am not interested in the latest and greatest craze regarding personal spiritual growth or church growth. I am interested in the knowledge God has provided in His Word about such things. I still think the proclamation of truth and the personal testimony of believers are the most powerful tools for growth that exist, and I believe these are the tools God gives us for church growth. You cannot improve on God's Word or His methods; and, we don't need to make God's Word relevant: It IS relevant, period! So many have come to the conclusion that we need to adopt the world's ways of doing things to win the world, but God calls us OUT of the world, to be separate, to make a difference between what is profane and holy.

Let it be known that I am a firm believer that those who are concerned for their character care not a whit for their reputation. Those who think they have anything to fear by me are more concerned about appearances than character, more concerned about money than about truth.

I challenge those in leadership to carefully examine their teachings before God and His Word, and continue to allow themselves to be conformed to His image. Christ's last message to the churches called for repentance. I urge you all, dear brothers and sisters, in light of His imminent return, to carefully examine yourselves in all things. May God bless you as you respond to Him with humility and obedience. I also ask for your prayers for me, that God will continue His work in and through me as I walk the narrow way. I am "looking unto Jesus the AUTHOR and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God the Father."

I am "For the Author",
~Bonnie Klaassen

BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD!

2009-04-09T07:00:00.016-06:00

Purge out therefore the old leaven,
that ye may be a new lump,
as ye are unleavened.
For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness;
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5: 7-8

Today is the first day of the Feast of Passover on the Jewish calendar. In the last two years I have come to reject the Christian celebration of Easter as I have come to understand that it is a leftover from the Roman Catholic church which was carried over following the Reformation. Unfortunately the Reformation did not go far enough in some of its changes, and some of the traditions of the Roman Catholic church have been brought over into Christian churches.

Easter has its origins in the ancient Babylonian religions, with much of its symbolism having to do with the worship of the goddess Ishtar (from which we get our word "Easter") and her fertility cult (the rabbits and the eggs). The Roman Catholic church syncretized much of this with true Christianity and then claimed Easter for her own, which it has famously done with many pagan traditions. As I have come to understand how Easter came to us it has become one of those traditions that has more negative connotations than positive ones. The Christian life is to be characterized by a life that denies self and takes up the cross daily, not just one weekend a year or for 40 days preceding it in the practice of Lent. (I could say a lot more about that, but maybe I will try to do that on another post, Lord willing).

In the meantime I have been exploring the biblical Feast of Passover and discovering the rich symbolism in it which points us to Christ, the Lamb of God, God's perfect sacrifice for sins slain from the foundation of the world. As a Gentile Christian I don't really think it is necessary for us to practice the Passover the way Jewish believers do, but I do think it is an important part of understanding God's plan for mankind and for our salvation. I have come to appreciate how perfectly the Old and New Testaments fit together, and of God's sovereignty and faithfulness to His own in Christ's perfect fulfillment of this feast. It is for this reason that I would like to share a couple of videos I have found on the web that I have found that explain its significance. The one I have embedded below is rather short, but very good for those who do not want to take a lot of time to examine this. The other one I have linked to because it is 40 minutes long and would cause my blog to take a lot longer to load. It goes into much more detail about the significance of each part of the Passover Feast and Christ's fulfillment of each symbol . It is presented by Jews for Jesus, a Christian organization with a heart for evangelizing its own people group.

I want to make one qualification regarding this video and that is regarding the Jewish symbol of the Star of David used at the beginning of it. Through my research I have come to understand that this symbol is a carryover the Jews brought with them following their Babylonian captivity and is actually occultic in nature and is a cultural symbol. It is mentioned in the mystical Jewish Babylonian Talmud in connection with star worship as the Magen David. It is the menorah that is the true symbol of Israel. The "mystery of iniquity" has tried to mark as his own everything he can, and I believe this just another example of Satan's desire to deceive (add leaven) in every area possible. (If you would like to read more about the origin of the Star of David, click HERE and HERE).

I highly recommend this second video, by Jews for Jesus. Click on the following title to view it: Christ in the Passover

Click on the title to read the words and listen to the hymns When I See the Blood (I Will Pass Over You) and Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!, and HERE to read Psalm 113 - 118, which is traditionally read at the end of the Passover meal in praise and gratitude to God for His provision of the sacrificial Lamb.

ISRAEL ~ THE NEWS YOU'RE NOT HEARING ABOUT ITS WAR ON TERROR

2009-01-13T09:24:00.013-06:00

On Sunday evening my husband and I listened to an enlightening radio broadcast from Worldview Radio with Brannon Howse. The description from the website is as follows:

Live From Israel. Brannon interviews Avi Lipkin live from Israel. Topics Include: Why we really went to war in Iraq; Why do America's top politicians ignore the terrorist state of Saudi Arabia?; Why has Secretary of State Condi Rice not looked out for Israel?; What will Hillary Clinton's main goal be as Secretary of State?; Why are so many Jews in America unconcerned with Israel?; Will Israel attack Iran? and much more.

Click HERE to listen to the broadcast.

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From Joel Rosenberg's Weblog, in an article entitled NOTES FROM CONFERENCE CALL WITH BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Warns of Iran's "nightmare scenario":

(Jerusalem, Israel) — Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a 25 minute conference call today with conservative bloggers in which I had the opportunity to participate, made it clear that he sees Israel’s current war against Hamas in Gaza as a “just war,” as a proxy war with Radical Muslim leaders in Iran, and very possibly as a prelude to a future war to stop Radicals in Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, an event he described as a “nightmare scenario.”

Click HERE to read the rest of the Rosenberg article.

THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL:THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS

2008-12-26T23:11:00.021-06:00

John MacArthur on "The Ugliness of Christmas"

I don't agree with MacArthur, that there is any spiritual beauty in Christmas, because Christ-mass is the invention of the Roman Catholic church in its attempt to gain converts by syncretizing paganism with their dead orthodoxy. I cringe when I hear the story of Christ's birth referred to as "The Christmas Story", because the Christmas Story is the story of the history of the Roman Catholic church and its attempt to entice the whole world into a spiritually dead entity by creating a "holyday" (holiday) for some very unholy, and spiritually dead people.

The early church did not celebrate Christ's birth. Their focus was on His death and what it meant to them: new life in Christ and the death of their sinful flesh. But what MacArthur says about Christ's purpose for coming to earth is right on: Jesus Christ came into this world to save us from our sin. If you miss this truth, you miss everything. All four of the gospels mention Christ's death, but only two of them His birth. I think that says something about how we should spend our time. In our culture, the whole month of December , and sometimes even most of November is spent preparing for and joining in various Christmas festivities. I believe it is high time true followers of Christ take a careful look at their involvement in these activities, and ask themselves if it is a true reflection of their faith, if the time spent is a true reflection of their love for Christ. I can't help but believe that it detracts from the message of the cross, or rather eclipses it. Some will say that we have Easter for that. But once again, Easter (Astarte/Ishtar) is the syncretization of paganism and dead orthodoxy, and then it is only for the span of three days. How disproportionate compared to the time we focus on His birth each year. The true Christian church has been duped into following in the footsteps of the Roman Catholic church once again.

I was having a conversation with my husband today about how we and other Christians have allowed ourselves to be swallowed up by our culture. It is a very gradual process, being barely perceptible. It has been rather interesting for me to note that since I have abandoned the celebrations of Christmas and Easter in our home, that living the crucified life has become much more important; or maybe it is the other way around, that learning the significance of Christ's death for me, and the necessity of living a crucified life myself, that the attractions of these two seasons has been lost to me. I have actually experienced a real freedom in this; and not only that, I have found I have many more opportunities to witness to people I see everyday when they ask me if I am ready for Christmas (or Easter, if that is the time of year). The question we need to be asking people is whether or not they have dealt with their sin, and whether or not they are ready to face Christ. I see the majority of Christians these days la-de-da-ing through life as if there is no eternity, so caught up with this world that they have become ineffective in their ability to witness the truth to those around them. We are kidding ourselves if we think we can follow in the pattern of the world and have any true impact. I hate that phrase, "He (or she) is so heavenly minded he is of no earthly good". That is a phrase that contradicts Scripture. We are supposed to set our minds , hearts and affections on things above, not on things of the earth.

As this season is coming to a close, let us examine whether or not we are truly focusing on what is important about the Christian life. I have come to learn that the Christian life is first and foremost a cross-centered life. We must first of all come to the cross, and then we must stay there until Christ calls us home. We cannot lead others to the cross if we have wandered away from it ourselves. If you have found yourself in this situation, I call you to ask God to give you a fresh view of your soul. Look intently into the Word, let it be your mirror, and agree with God about what He says about your condition. Remember that apart from Christ there is no good thing that dwells within you.

There is a beauty in the cross, in that it deals thoroughly with our sin, the very ugliness of our own souls. When you understand this, you will cling to the cross, carrying it with you wherever you go. As we enter a new year, it is my prayer that you will carry the cross as your standard; that you will experience the true freedom and joy that comes from living the crucified life so that you can look forward to seeing Christ face to face with great anticipation, and upon seeing Him hear those wonderful words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant".

For further reading: THE FOOT OF THE CROSS
by Octavius Winslow, 1864.

From the preface ~

"It is finished!" -but what mortal dare
In that triumph hope to share?
Savior, to Your cross I flee;
Say, It is finished! and for me.

"Then will I sing, The cross! the cross!
And count all other gain but loss;
I'll sing the cross, and to Your tree
Cling evermore, blessed Calvary!

A FAVORITE NEW HYMN: THE POWER OF THE CROSS

2008-11-23T10:00:00.003-06:00

Over the past several years the team of Paul & Krystyn Getty have written a number of new hymns about the Christian faith. Many of them have become favorites of mine. I will likely share others on this site in the coming weeks and months. For now, enjoy Krystyn Getty singing The Power of the Cross.

TEN REASONS TO BELIEVE JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD

2008-12-18T16:30:00.000-06:00

From www.rbc.org

WHY THE TWO GENEALOGIES?

2008-12-18T17:00:00.000-06:00

Until I read the following article, I never really understood the purpose of the two genealogies given in Scripture as they related to the birth of Jesus Christ, even though I did know that one was the genealogy of Joseph (Matthew's gospel) and the other the genealogy of Mary/Miriam (Luke's gospel).

What I discovered was that Matthew's gospel was written from Joseph's perspective with him playing the active role, and Mary playing the passive. The genealogy of Joseph was included in Scripture to show that his natural offspring are excluded from from the royal line of David for three reasons, which are as follows: it includes four women, all of these women are Gentiles, and it includes the line of Jeconiah who was cursed from ever providing an heir to the throne. Anyone who is a Jew would automatically understand by this that none of Joseph's natural offspring could ever sit on David's throne. Immediately following this genealogy we are told that what was conceived within her was of the Holy Ghost before Joseph and Mary came together. The picture is clear: Jesus is not the natural offspring of Joseph.

Read The Genealogy of the Messiah by Arnold J. Fruchtenbaum.

Another article of note: Response to "The Fabulous Prophecies of the Messiah"