IS YOUR CHURCH A PART OF "THE TANGIBLE KINGDOM"?

"The Tangible Kingdom" is book written by Matt Smay and Hugh Halter and published by Jossey-Bass Leadership Network, and it's creation, like so many other books published by the Jossey-Bass Leadership Network, is intended to move the church into the 21st century via the emerging church movement. Sadly, however, its methods are anything but biblical (I will say more about that later in this post). The emerging church has received the backing of the Leadership Network managerially and the Eli Lilly Corporation (drug manufacturer of Prozac) financially, and it appears to be a success due to their help, rather than a true move of God. 1.

To discover the answer to the question, "What is The Tangible Kingdom movement?" please click HERE.

What most people are not told about The Leadership Network and its baby, the Emerging/Emergent church movement* (see notes at the bottom of this post) is that it is based on both human and occult philosophy, not on Scripture. It is what is not being said about it that is so dangerous to the spiritual health of the churches which are looking to these church growth/missions methods as part of their program for spiritual development. That being said, however, the emerging church is showing its true colors, for those who are truly willing to see them; and although the rumor last year was that the emerging church movement is dead, it is anything but. It may have morphed or matured or changed its name, but the underlying philosophy is alive and well and continues to penetrate churches around the globe.

The authors of "The Tangible Kingdom" use the method of deconstructionism** in order to introduce their version of the kingdom of God (which according to Scripture is spiritual, not physical, as in the sense that it is a material kingdom in the present age). Although Christ and His church will one day rule this earth in a both a physical and spiritual sense in the Millennial Age, that is not presently happening. In this sense, the emerging church movement of the tangible kingdom fits more closely with Kingdom Now/Dominion/Theonomy/Reconstruction theology, which is preterist in nature.

"The Tangible Kingdom" also uses terminology typical to the emerging church , words such as tranformational, missional, and incarnational community. Which brings me to my next thought - the communitarianism*** inherent within the movement. The emerging church promotes communitarianism as a replacement for biblical unity (which is always based on the truth), as compared to the man-made false unity created by a common goal to use the church as a humanitarian organization which will eventually, and finally, compromise the truth of God's Word to achieve it. The purpose of this goal is to make the church fit in with the globalist/socialist agenda, a "three-legged stool" comprised of government, the business sector, and the social sector (which includes the church). It is blatant social engineering. The plan for socialism to infiltrate the church has been known for quite some time now, and has been purposely hidden from the church in order to deceive it. Please read the evidence HERE. It is time for the church to get its head out of the sand now!

"...we have seen how Dr. Walter Rauschenbusch... and the leaders of the social-action movements in the churches decided to do away with Christian individualism and turn to outright collectivism, using the church as their instrument.... Religion was only a means toward achieving socialism. And, like all other false prophets who have infiltrated religion through he centuries, [Rauschenbusch] used a 'front' or disguise. This disguise, as we have seen, was 'The Kingdom of God.' The Kingdom was not pictured as a spiritual society into which men and women had to be born as individuals through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior, but as a collectivist society which would be brought about by... eradication of poverty, redistribution of wealth... and 'economic justice.'" 2. (Edgar Bundy, Collectivism in the Churches.)

The words of Jesus:
"My Kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36)

Notes:

* (from "Emerging Towards Convergence" by Sarah Leslie at http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/009/discernment/7-emerging-5.htm)

"We know that the current Emergent Church is a marketing phenomenon, set up as an official movement by Bob Buford’s Leadership Network, a historical fact which we documented in a series of Herescope posts in 2005 and 2006.[2] From its very inception in the 1980s Leadership Network imported a number of leading New Age business “gurus” as “experts” – holding nebulous (if any!) Christian credentials. They trained an entire generation of evangelical “leaders” on the latest tactics of psycho-social change theory, substituting it for genuine Holy Spirit revival. These business “gurus,” some of whom had open New Age beliefs, included such notables as Margaret Wheatley, Peter Drucker, Jim Collins, and Ken Blanchard. Many spoke at a 2000 Leadership Network conference “Exploring Off the Map” which launched the Emergent Church movement.[3]

From our research we also know that the Emergent Church was set up to be a vanguard, a forerunner, to propel the postmodern evangelical church towards a paradigm shift in theology, structure, methodology, and purpose. As such, it has been rushing headlong towards an open convergence with the New Age movement. Emergent leader Phyllis Tickle has termed this “The Great Emergence,” which is the title of her 2008 book announcing the “birthing” of a “brand-new expression of… faith and praxis” (p. 17) which will ultimately “rewrite Christian theology” (p. 162). Important details about both the history and theology of the modern Emergent movement can be found in Pastor Bob DeWaay’s recently published book The Emergent Church: Undefining Christianity (2009). This book summarizes the basic doctrines and practices of the movement, and gives an account of a few key leaders."

** (from "Envisioning Emergence"" by Sarah Leslie at http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/009/discernment/7-emerging-6.htm)

"Pastor DeWaay does an excellent job of scouring the Emergent chronicles for evidences of “deconstruction.” “Deconstruction” is a philosophy that de-emphasizes the Word of God, and claims that no one can really know the Truth. It fits hand-in-glove with mysticism.

An excellent analysis of “deconstruction” was written by Samuel Blumenfeld in 1995, as part of his scholarly refutation of the “whole language” style of teaching reading that resulted in illiteracy. Blumenfeld explained how “deconstruction” obliterates the fact that words have meaning, de-emphasizes written language by claiming that there is no “truth” in it, and declares “the impossibility of determining absolute meaning”[15] in a text. He wrote:

"But not only do the whole-language deconstructionists reject the concept of the absolute word—the logos—but they reject the very system of logical thinking that made Western civilization possible. They not only reject the Bible, they reject Aristotle’s A is A. Their new formula is A can be anything you want it to be, which can only be the basis of a pre-literate or non-literate culture in which subjectivism, emotion and superstition prevail as the means of knowing. That, of course, is simply a form of insanity—the inability not only to deal with objective reality but to recognize and admit that it exists. A mind so inclined is a mind that will lead its owner to destruction."[16]

The Emergent Church is at the vanguard of this type of deconstructionism. It discounts the Word of God, mocks exegetical preaching and teaching, and emphasizes dialogue (“conversation”), mysticism, symbology, community (“relationships”), and various “spiritual disciplines.” A recent, related fad in the evangelical mission world is “orality,” which is telling stories about the Bible instead of teaching Scripture itself. This cheats the listener out of the precious ability to hear or read God’s Word."

*** (From http://www.thirdgreatawakening.org/communitarianism.htm)

"Communitarians refer to the creation of a world government as the effort to create a “healthy society.” The goal of the church growth movement (CGM) is to manipulate Christians and churches into this healthy society. “Health-based” language is sometimes used in the CGM. Some church growth leaders desire “healthy churches” and “healthy congregations” made up of “healthy Christians.” A healthy church would be one in which all members are willing to compromise the Word of God for the common good. Communitarians believe that attaining a healthy society involves the successful merger of the 3 sectors of society. It requires a merger of the government sector, the private sector (business) and the social sector (which includes the churches). This merger is also known as “Drucker’s 3-legged stool,” named after its main proponent, Peter Drucker, who is considered to be the “father of modern management.” Peter Drucker, like Amitai Etzioni, was a Communitarian and was also a student of the Kabbalah. According to Roger Oakland’s “Bob Buford, Peter Drucker, and the Emerging Church,” Peter Drucker, like Amitai Etzioni, shared a bond with the Kabbalist, Martin Buber. Roger Oakland stated, “Drucker felt a strong bond…with a panentheist/ mystic named Martin Buber (1878-1965), who embraced the teachings of Hasidism (Jewish mysticism).” In his book, “Between Man and Man” (New York, NY: Routledge Classics, 2002, first published in 1947), p. 219, Buber states, ‘Since 1900 I had first been under the influence of German mysticism from Meister Eckhart [a mystic] ... then I had been under the influence of the later Kabalah [Jewish mysticism] and of Hasidism.’” 32.

Peter Drucker was very interested in getting churches involved in the implementation of the world government. Drucker, who once lamented that there were “still many unhealthy churches,” 35. was not only an occultist, but an organizational guru. It was his involvement in the Jewish Kabbalah that inspired him to create an organizational model that would transform churches into agents of Satan. This organizational model today is called Total Quality Management (TQM). “Total” stands for “totalitarian.” It was Drucker’s vision that all organizations, including church organizations, within the 3-legged stool (Communitarian system) be run on TQM. He considered churches not conformed to this TQM model to be “still unhealthy.”

For further reading: 1. " 'Undefining' God's Mission - The Emerging Church on a 'Mission from God' " by Bob DeWaay 2. "What's Wrong With the 21st Century Church? by Dr. Robert Klenck
3. "Treason in the Church: Trading Truth for a 'Social Gospel'" by Berit Kjos 4. "Transforming the World by Subverting the Church" by Berit Kjos

End Notes: 1. http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=1585 2. Edgar C Bundy, Collectivism in the Churches: A documented account of the political activities of the Federal, National, and World Councils of Churches (Wheaton, Illinois: Church League of America, 1957), page 101

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

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.

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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.

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

DR. RIDDLEBARGER'S LECTURES ON THE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL

This evening I have been listening to the first lecture on the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) by Dr. Kim Riddlebarger entitled, Why a New Perspective on Paul? What's Wrong With the Old One? which strips the movement down to its bare bones. I highly recommend that anyone interested in the NPP and its implications for the evangelical church take the time to listen to at least some of these lectures. They can be accessed HERE. I have just placed a new category on my sidebar entitled New Perspective on Paul so that this resource and others in this category can be easily found at a later date. I believe this is an issue that is not going to go unfelt in a very broad sense in the evangelical church, and that it is here long-term.

Below are some of the things he said that really caught my attention.

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Riddlebarger, in criticism of the NPP, says:

...according to "The Paul Page" (which is pro-NPP) the New Perspective on Paul will help us do the following

1.Better understand Paul and the early church
2.Reconcile contemporary biblical scholarship with theology
3.Build common ground between Catholics and Protestants
4.Improve dialogue between Christians and Jews
5.Flesh out a theological foundation for social justice.

Riddlebarger repeats the first two and says:

Then...Look at 3, 4, and 5 - Build common ground between Catholics and Protestants. That's not on my agenda. I don't know if it's on yours, but it's not on mine, and the reason is because until Rome repents of the decrees and canons and the Counsel of Trent I view Rome as a false church...Improve dialogue between the Christians and Jews which is very important in the ecumenical climate of today because the surest way to lose your job today as an evangelical Bible scholar is to be at a university and say Jews aren't going to heaven, you're gone...and so there's a real pressure here to establish ecumenical ties and to speak of evangelical Christianity in a way that does not offend Jews...and that's part of the problem. And then fifth, this is where the New Perspective is going, and the latest writings of N.T. Wright are headed in this direction: to flesh out a theological foundation for social justice. So where is New Perspective going to ultimately take us? To ethics. And N.T. Wright, in his latest stuff, ...has come out and ripped the Bush administration, ripped the United States for it's Iraq policy, which is fine with me - fair enough, it's fair game for discussion, but he does it in the name of Paul. Why? Because Jesus came to conquer principalities and powers. He didn't come to save us from sin, he came to triumph over the forces of paganism, and to truimph over the pricipalities and powers and what's the greatest manifestation of these principalities and powers in the world today? - Don Rumsfeld and George Bush and the United States military in Iraq. So that's where this is going to go. It's going to have a conservative political/theological sound to it, but at the end of the day it's now being enlisted to serve the left-wing political position. Whether that's right or wrong is irrelevent, the fact that it's being enlisted for that end ought to tell something about its true nature."

It is interesting that this really ends up with a political agenda and has strong implications politically. The proponents of the NPP are social activists above all in their theology. This is where their theology takes them. He mentions that it becomes about ethics. It really comes down to focusing on doing good works and leaves the message of the cross out of the picture or minimizes it. They want to make Christ Lord, but not Savior. They want to reform society so that they can build a physical kingdom of God on earth, because they don't believe in a literal second coming of Christ, or believe that He will only return when Christians "possess the land".

Riddlebarger later says this about their erroneous views on Judaism and justification ~

...the revision of Second Temple Judaism and New Perspective folks argue that Judaism is not legalistic. That's the work of E.P. Sanders. That Israel practiced a religion of what was called "covenental nomism", that we are in by grace, we stay in by obedience, and that God has provided means of atonement, and so on, for the people in the (Jewish) covenant. And so New Perspective is saying that we get in by grace, we stay in by obedience...and so justification gets completely redefined. Instead of there being a right standing before a holy God, justification is the identification of who's in the church. It doesn't have anything to do with individual salvation. It has to do with who is in the convenantal community and who's not.

Justification essentially becomes a process rather than a one-time legal declaration and imputation of the righteousness of Christ (in NPP theology). It becomes something that must be maintained by the believer rather than by Christ. There is a confusion between justification, and sanctification, which is progressive. According to Scripture, justification happens once, sanctification is ongoing, and both happen through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is one of the main theological corrections of the Reformation, and now the NPP attempts to undo that correction by saying that Martin Luther was culturally biased and misunderstood Paul. As I have examined this issue it is abundantly clear that Luther got this one right, even though he made other errors (baptismal regeneration, for instance), that he understood Paul correctly. It is Wright and his contemporaries who get it wrong on this one, when you examine the entirety of what Scripture says on this topic and when you examine the New Covenant in His blood and who it applies to ~ all people, not just the Gentiles. Salvation, Old Testament and New Testament, for Jews and Gentiles, was salvation by grace through faith. There was never salvation in law-keeping, which is the religion of the Pharisees. The law had its purpose - the law was a tutor or schoolmaster lead us to Christ. Abraham had faith in the promised One before the law was even given, and so it is with all who have faith in Him and are received by Him. See Galatians, the entire third chapter.

In answer to a question later on, he talks about the NPP's problem with their understanding of salvation, how they believe in corporate salvation rather than individual salvation, and that they have trouble explaining the atonement and the purpose of Christ's death (as in Colossians 2). They have trouble understanding that Christ's righteousness is imputed to those who accept it by faith, contrary to the Jews of Christ's day who thought they were righteous because they kept the law.

In answer to a question about the NPP being a threat against the gospel ~

New Perspective is a real challenge because it argues that justification is not about the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the sinner, but justification is about God's actions being righteous. God has acted righteously, and you believe in God, therefore, you are righteous. That just guts all those passages in Romans 3 and 4 and Galatians 3 and 4...it just empties them of any meaning, so that's one place that the gospel is under direct assault.

Riddlebarger says:

"New Perspective's here to stay."

He closes in prayer:

Our gracious God and Father we are thankful for the gospel that you have revealed in the New Testament. That gospel with great power and clarity reminds us that your gospel is about our individual salvation and it is about the salvation of your people , that it is about Christ's triumph over the principalities and powers, that it's all of these things, not just one. So Father, we're thankful for that reminder that Jesus Christ has indeed done for us what we could not do for ourselves, that He has taken people from every race and tribe and tongue under heaven and made them one because He has died for them, because He has borne Your wrath and punishment in His own body, because He fulfilled all righteousness and that righteousness is imputed to us. So Father we're thankful for the gospel and for its great clarity and we pray that as we work through these matters our understanding of that gospel would grow and we would come to greater and greater clarity of your Word. So Father we're thankful for this and we ask and pray this in Christ's name. Amen.

PURPOSE-DRIVEN UNVEILED

Roger Oakland, author of Faith Undone, has written an article which is complementary to my previous post, RICK WARREN ON "CAT-TECH-ISM", and so I direct you to his website.

His commentary begins:

The concept of Purpose Driven people and churches has become a phenomenon that is sweeping the world. Since the publication and promotion of the idea by Rupert Murdoch-owned Zondervan, the name of Pastor Rick Warren has become synonymous with a man who has a plan to bring hope for planet earth.

When I say the planet, that is exactly what I mean. Over the past five years I have spoken to pastors and church leaders in over twenty-five countries. Where ever I have gone, the message of purpose driven has proceeded me.

I have just completed two conferences for pastors and church leaders, one at the city of Antipolo near Manila and the other at Bageo. Because The Purpose Driven Life has been widely distributed throughout the Philippines (either for free or very little cost), the concept of the purpose driven Christian has reshaped the minds and the motives of Christian leaders who now desire to have mega-churches, just like Pastor Rick.

While it is true, that the purpose driven movement encourages all to become purpose driven for the cause of good over bad, somewhere along the line, the social gospel that is being promoted has set the gospel according to the Scriptures aside, or at least, caused it to be lost in the zeal to eradicate AIDS, poverty and illiteracy.

Click HERE to go to understandthetimes.org and read the rest of the article.

RICK WARREN ON "CAT - TECH - ISM"

This is the first time I have written anything specifically about Rick Warren, but I have been following him and his Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan with interest and suspicion ever since it was announced. I definitely do not agree with how he is 'doing church", as he has borrowed his methods from people involved in the New Age and the occult. Today I am posting some video footage featuring Warren, because it is very recent and also clearly illustrates what he is up to these days.

The video below is taken by Robert Scoble, a blogger, tech-media evangelist, and co-author of the book Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers.1. The videos were recorded at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2008. While there, Scoble bumped into Rick Warren, author of The Purpose -Driven Life and had a short conversation with him, which is the content of the videos. Now why would a pastor be at the World Economic Forum? Well, on this video Warren says , "This is my favorite phrase as a pastor: 'You can't spell catechism without tech.' It's cat-tech-ism. And so we use technology to help people grow spiritually around the world. I have about a half-million people who get my daily inspiration thing around the world, and I have over 5000 pastors in 162 countries, and I keep in touch with them by the push of a button."2.

So technology is big business, and since it is playing a big part in Warren's Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan, I suppose it explains why he would show up at an economic forum. It would have to, of course, if it were to be global, as it is. Now why does the word antichrist keep ringing in my ears? I don't really think he is the antichrist, but he appears to be one of the teamplayers, promoting the social gospel and it's claim to be able to build the kingdom of God on earth. Utopia all over again. When will Christians ever learn? It is JESUS CHRIST who said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it". Not Rick Warren or any other pastor. Where is the credit given to God? The glory belongs to Him alone. Where is the acknowledgement of the Holy Spirit's power? It is Christ who will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords when He returns in power and glory to defeat Satan and the world's system, not some human being who created a network of worldly churches based on worldly principles.

On the video watch Rick Warren answer the question: "Just how big is your purpose-driven ego?", name-drop and tell you how to save the world. It comes "straight from the horse's mouth". Please forgive me for being a little sarcastic here. Sometime I have a hard time believing a pastor could actually say the things he says and do the things he does. Listen and decide for yourself.

Part 1



Part 2



1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Scoble
2. http://www.qik.com/video/11472

THE POWER OF THE CROSS

Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.Photographer Ian Britton.

For Christ died for sins
once for all,
the righteous for the unrighteous,
to bring you to God.
He was put to death in the body
but made alive by the Spirit

1 Peter 3:18

The message of the cross is so powerful, that if accepted. it will revolutionize your life. It is no wonder that it has been under attack from the day this world was faced with the dilemma of who Christ was and what He came to do. His sole purpose was to give His life as an offering for sin, to pay the price we could not. The Old Testament is a record preparing the world for His coming; the New Testament is the record of His life, death and resurrection, and His impact on the world. He turned the world upside down, claiming to be God dwelling with man. He was was hated by those who rejected His claims. He saw what was in their hearts and revealed it. He threatened their thinking and their lust for power, their agenda. They had a Christ of their own conception who was to be Messiah, and Jesus didn't fit the bill. In effect, they tried to strong-arm God into accepting their god. And the ages roll on...and the scenario continues...

Today I would like to point you to some posts on other blogs that have been discussing the atonement. The doctrine of the atonement is so vital to our salvation, that if you get this one wrong, you really miss the whole point. You miss the plan and purpose of God for your life completely. We dare not get it wrong for the future of our souls is at stake!

There are many ways the cross is being undermined these days ~ liberal theology (the "social gospel"), mysticism, and interfaith alliances ~ are the ones that come to my mind as being the prevalent ones creeping into the evangelical church these days. They are like parasites, devouring it from the inside out, robbing it of life and power. I may elaborate on how these do that on another day.

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For now please read the postings at the Living Journey Blog:

An excerpt:

"We should all be very wary that there will be those who will preach another Jesus in the last days and because of this you will have to judge which Jesus it is that you are going to follow. Is it the one that is found in the Word of God, the one who is the Word of God in the flesh? Or is it the one that has become nothing more than a political leader fighting against the religious and political domination of his time."

Read the entire post... IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ATONEMENT, AGAIN!


Also from Living Journey~

"Recently there has been a bit of a buzz around the blogosphere concerning the ‘Atonement’, I have even posted a few things on this very subject. And in doing some research on it I have come across certain theories called the “Eucharistic praxis” and the “Atonement Imagery”.

As I understand it, “Atonement Imagery” is not so much about the suffering of the Son but more about understanding the passion and injustice done to a man. It becomes less about the divinity of Christ, as they often refer to that as a mythical story – and more about the historical man Jesus. To understand the crucifixion primarily in this way you may fail to see the whole of Jesus, the God/man.

If the atonement is brought down to the level of praxis and community only, then the divinity of Christ could very well be lost. As a result, the injustice of the cross against a man is exalted above the Penal Substitution act and this is because the emphasis is the man being punished by God the so called ‘child abuser’. If the divinity of Him is neglected, this could ultimately result in an unbalance in the understanding of the triune nature of God because man is amplified."

Keep reading... ATONEMENT PRAXIS

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Book reviews about Stricken By God? (the book questions and attempts to redefine the atonement, and implies that the evangelical view of the atonement amounts to "cosmic child abuse"). Read the book reviews at the More Books and Things Blog:

BOOK ALERT!!! - STRICKEN BY GOD?
SBG PARTS 1-5

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This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins,
led away with divers lusts,

Ever learning, and never able
to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses,
so do these also resist the truth:
men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

But they shall proceed no further:
for their folly shall be manifest unto all men,
as their's also was.

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured:
but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived.

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned
and hast been assured of,
knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

And that from a child
thou hast known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3

THE "SOCIAL" GOSPEL

This posting is a response to a comment made by Dan regarding the previous posting, "MYSTICISM AND THIS GENERATION". I felt it was appropriate to respond in this manner so that I could add relevant links, and because it was originally my plan to further explain some of these "other gospels" I had mentioned in that post in greater detail at a later date. So here it is...

It is important at the outset to accurately define what I mean when I use the label "social gospel". For a good definition of it, read the definition at The Canadian Dictionary website (you can link directly to it by clicking on the underlined words above). According to this definition, the purpose of the social gospel is to create social change, reforming the world's social programs by aligning them with scripture (their rather thin view of scripture) or inventing new ones. Please keep in mind, that by and large, the proponents of the social gospel hold a liberal view of scripture, not believing it to be the inspired, inerrant Word of God, but rather a historical book written by men and containing error.

In the social gospel, salvation is collective rather than individual. They also do not believe in the literal return of Christ to the earth at a future date, but rather that we have been left on earth to build the kingdom of God here and now, and that's all there is. No new heaven and no new earth. It is basically a works-based gospel rather than a grace-based one and it teaches that we can follow Jesus without being born again. Their definitions of biblical terms are very different from the biblically-based definitions of them. Instead of reading scripture to understand what it says and means, they enforce their pet belief onto scripture, twisting it to align it with their own theology; therefore, their theology is not biblical. To them, the cross was a senseless act of violence against an innocent man who died a premature death at the hands of the Romans; Christ did not die to make atonement for our sins; and He did not lay down His life by His own will, rather His life was taken from Him. This is contrary to Scripture and this is what happens when you proof-text. The cross does not have the same meaning to them as it does to conservative evangelicals; their teaching makes the cross of no effect.The Christ they present was a good man who came to teach us how to live life better and make the world a better place to live, rather than a Saviour who would completely reform us as individuals.

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

In a practical sense, is it really possible to reform society and align it with biblical values? (Because this is what proponents of the social gospel want to do). In reality, this is not possible. The social gospel denies the presence and power of sin and our fallen human nature. They have completely erased sin from the equation. Now if you believe that we aren't sinners, you can buy into the social gospel, because that is what it does. If you deny that the inhabitants of earth are under the curse of sin, why would you need a saviour to die to pay the price for sin? It would be unnecessary. Then Christ becomes just another prophet, another good man, another great leader, but not the Saviour.

Now, to move on...

Should the cross change how we treat people?
Absolutely. We are to love justice, to have mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). This should be the outcome of a redeemed life. But those who adhere to a social gospel will not first come to the cross for cleansing. The works that they do are works of the flesh, not of the Spirit. This gospel misses a key ingredient. They attempt to make Jesus Lord, but refuse to accept Him as saviour and redeemer. This gospel attempts to save by good works, placing man in the position of redeemer. The Christ of the social gospel is not the Christ of the Bible, just as their cross is not the cross of the Bible. Yes, they use the Bible to validate what they teach, but they are using it incorrectly. They want to throw solid biblical doctrine to the wind.

Romans16:16-18 says:
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

In order to become a true servant of righteousness, according scripture, we must first be made free from sin through the atoning blood (according to the doctrine which was delivered). Until then we are servants of sin, which leads to death.

Christ and His disciples fed those who had come to hear what they were teaching when they became hungry. They met people's needs as they were going about preaching the gospel. They didn't go preaching in the villages and around the countryside with the purpose of solving a hunger problem in the physical sense. They didn't set out to abolish slavery or close down houses of prostitution. Christ did not come to correct societal problems, but to reach individuals. I believe Christ wants followers who come to Him with pure motives, not just for the food or for healing...but because they want HIM, the bread of life. He was always pointing to Himself as the ultimate fulfillment of their deepest need. When Jesus walked on the earth, did He heal every sick person on the earth? It sure doesn't say so. He may have even healed some who were not interested in the salvation He came to offer. But this was definitely not His primary objective. He did not come to establish an earthly kingdom, but a spiritual one; so His primary objective was spiritual rather than physical. But obviously that doesn't mean that he ignored the physical needs of those around Him. This is where we have to carefully examine our own hearts. Are the good deeds we do for others just a way of excusing ourselves from offering others the gift of salvation? Have they become a substitute? It's always so much easier to just offer somebody a cup of coffee and walk away feeling good about ourselves, rather than being willing to step out in faith and share the gospel with them. But if that person does not know Christ, we will have loved them straight into the pit of hell. Left them without even trying to meet their primary need. We need to examine our motives for helping others. Is it with a sincere heart? Because true love always seeks to meet man's deepest need, his spiritual need.

If you see a man dying on the side of the road, should you rush over and preach to him? Well, I think trying to save his life first by getting him medical help would be a good idea if it looked as if he were going to survive, and then later go back and witness to him. But what if he is in the process of dying in your arms? Would you not help him know the way to eternal life? When it comes down to the crunch, it becomes obvious what is more important in the eternal realm of things.

When my daughter was in Brazil on a missions trip this summer she was deeply impacted by the poverty she saw all around her. She told me that she realized there was no way either she, nor the group she was with, nor the church in the area, and not even the denomination she represented could solve the hunger problem there. She understood that the best thing she could do for the people there was give them the gospel.

I believe it is a fallacy to think that we can solve the world's problems, and also the height of arrogance. This, however, is the social gospel's objective. We will not save and change the world. Just look at what Scripture says about how it's all going to end. It has a different ending than the social gospel.

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"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

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If you would like to read some comprehensive articles about what the social gospel is, I suggest you start with the following links in the order given:

A Brief History of the Social Gospel by John A. Battle
(this article also explains what the true gospel is)

The Impact Of The "Social Gospel" On The Church by Sewell Hall

Treason in the Church: Trading Truth for a "Social Gospel" by Berit Kjos

It always pays to do your homework! :)

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Some current promoters of the social gospel are Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, Rick Warren, N.T. Wright (see my November 24th post entitled DO YOU NEED A NEW PERSPECTIVE? by clicking on his name), and Bono of U2. Check out the links provided here to see how this is so.

If you are interested in hearing an example of solid biblical doctrine on this matter, putting faith and good works in perspective, go here to listen to a song by Robert Evans entitled "Make Me Want You Want Me To Be", found in "Other Songs #1"~at the bottom of the page~at his website called Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs.

DO YOU NEED A NEW PERSPECTIVE?

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

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

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

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

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

A few of my observations regarding the NPP:

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

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

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

• It denies the fallen sinful nature of man

• It's agenda is ecumenical in nature.

• It panders to liberals and reconstructionists.

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

• It twists the meaning of Scripture.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Beneath the Cross of Jesus

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

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

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

Lyrics: Elizabeth Cecelia Douglas Clephane