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SRN Resources

—A Directory of Authors: Three NOT Recommended Lists
—How to Know if You Are Being Spiritually Abused or Deceived—A Spiritual Abuse Questionnaire
—The Alpha Course: An Evangelical Contradiction
—Yoga and Christianity: Are They Compatible?
—Taizé—A Community and Worship: Ecumenical Reconciliation or an Interfaith Delusion?
—Jesus Calling Sarah Young Exposé​ Archive—A closer look at Sarah Young's dangerous occult (hidden) teachings

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See also


Friday, May 19, 2006

Is There a New "Evangelicalism"?

Is There a New "Evangelicalism"?


Jan Markell, in her E-Update posted below my comments, has made an excellent observation - The word Evangelical has a whole new meaning today.

We too have been seeing that the word 'Evangelical' has a whole new meaning today. It is very sad indeed! An 'Evangelical' nowadays can even be a heretic. Furthermore, in many Christian 'camps' it is not even clear what an 'Evangelical' is, what it really means.

All too often today people say they are 'Evangelical' but they deny the sufficiency of Scripture, cannot cleary explain the Gospel, do not have clue what Justification means, deny the existence of hell [Jesus preached on it and believe it was real], etc.

Also, countless preachers who would say they are 'Evangelicals' are letting all manner of heresy blow through their congregations. Many preachers are afraid to warn the sheep because the preacher is more concerned about their own reputation than God's reputation.

Didn't Jesus 'make Himself of no reputation? Should not an Evangelical make a stand for truth like they used to in the old days, even if it means dying to our 'reputation'? Aren't we 'Evangelicals' supposed to die to ourselves ["...let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me" ~ Jesus]

Consider what our Lord did as He humbled Himself and 'died' to His 'reputation':

"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." (Philippians 2:6-8)

If 'Evangelicals' [ministers included] died to their 'reputation' and believed and did what 'Evangelicals' ought to believe and do [abide in the doctrine of Christ], I believe we would have a lot less heretics and false converts in the church today. We would also see much more true and lasting repentance amongst believers.

When 'Evangelicals' 'accept' and flock to see and here halse teaching and full blown heretics preach, than truly 'Evangelicals' are no longer truly 'Evangelical'; they are misguided, carnal, professores of faith who do not understand Biblical Christianity. This is truly sad and this is exactly what we are seeing in the church today.

~ We commend Jan in here article here as she has made a very imnportant observation that most 'Evangelicals' are not seeing.

Please take the time to read Jan's article below.

~ Chris at SRN
---------------------



Is There a New "Evangelicalism"?
Source - Jan Markell, Olive Tree Ministries - May 18, 2006 www.olivetreeviews.org

- When I first filtered into an evangelical church at the age of 14, defining the term "evangelical" was simple, even for a kid my age. Without having to be told I concluded evangelicals preached a solid gospel, emphasized evangelism and missions, majored in soul-winning and minored in social issues, abstained from some worldly values (and occasionally went too far in this department coming close to legalism), were faithful in church attendance, Bible reading, and generally had a biblical worldview. Sure, we were often called "legalistic fundamentalists" but better to lean right than left. I was never and never will be ashamed of the old definition of "evangelicalism."

Those churches are still around, but something has happened in the last twenty years. New leaders are rising and some do NOT preach a solid gospel yet are called evangelicals. It is not possible to talk about "evangelicals" with any unity? Many call themselves evangelicals when they are not and a new term has sprung up: Evangelical centrist. That means there is compromise somewhere.

To me, this says today no one is really sure what "evangelicalism" means. When those leaning left such as Tony Campolo and Jim Wallis are called evangelicals, and the magazine known as "Sojourners," I can tell we have a new day. When "Emergent Church" leader Brian McClaren is called an evangelical when he lumps the "Left Behind" books in the same category as "The DaVinci Code," something is amiss. This is false labeling. When Richard Foster and Brennan Manning, revered by many evangelicals, never met a mystical practice they didn't endorse, today's evangelicalism has a problem.

At one time "Christianity Today" was the house organ of evangelicalism. Over the last twenty years, that has changed, for now C.T. calls the "Harry Potter" book series, "A wonderful Christmas gift for all."

Many evangelicals have embraced mysticism and have the audacity to call it "Christian mysticism," an oxymoron if there ever was one. Evangelical churches are now proudly announcing to all that they offer classes in "Christian Yoga" which is "just stretching" to them, but in reality, calls down Hindu gods to their Yoga mat.

"The New York Times" states, "A tug of war is unfolding behind the scenes over theology--should evangelicalism be a big tent open to divergent views, or a smaller movement with more pure theology?"

Theology isn't the only issue. Some of today's evangelicals are into man-made global warming with the new "Evangelical Environmental Network," immigration issues, anti-war movements, and other issues that were once found only in churches a part of the World and National Council of Churches. They are involved in ridding the world of AIDS, an impossibility but a noble cause--but is it the cause of evangelicals? Or is it just the old social gospel from which evangelicals fled in the 1940's to focus on soul-winning? It is fine that those who embrace the cause of Christ--who reached out to the poor and needy--will today reach out to the masses that are hurting. That is not the issue. The issue is, "are these issues the cause of evangelicalism" and if they are, then I stand corrected. But can you ever err by having an emphasis on solid gospel preaching and saving lost souls?

So what's a new term for evangelical, or maybe there needn't be one? Is it fundamentalist which has negative overtones? How about "historical orthodox Christian"? How about "Bible-believing Christian"? Are we sliding into a pit that says, "Anything is OK as long as we love one another? We just have to all get along."

The lines are blurred right now and I am troubled by it. If you have a comment or suggestion, reply to this and I will turn it into a radio show. Any emails used will be anonymous but understand we cannot reply to all emails due to volume. All will be read carefully.

Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell

Brian Houston, Rick Warren, Darlene Zschech - Hills Christian Life Centre

2 Timothy 4:3
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;..."

Itching...???

"When asked by a Sydney Morning Herald reporter why the church is so successful, Brian Houston, the male side of the team, replied, "We are scratching people where they are itching."

Here is the article,

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RICK WARREN SPEAKING AT CHARISMATIC CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA
-Friday Church News Notes, May 19, 2006, www.wayoflife.org)

- Rick Warren of Purpose Driven Life fame and pastor of a Southern Baptist Church is scheduled to speak at the Hillsong Conference in Sydney, Australia, in July. The conference is hosted by the Hills Christian Life Centre, the headquarters for Hillsong Music which is led by the church's worship leader Darlene Zschech. The church has a husband-wife pastor team.

When asked by a Sydney Morning Herald reporter why the church is so successful, Brian Houston, the male side of the team, replied, "We are scratching people where they are itching." That is right out of 2 Timothy 4:3, which is a warning of apostasy, of people who itch for a new kind of Christianity and of preachers will scratch this illicit itch. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears."

In an interview with Christianity Today Darlene Zschech expressed her radical ecumenical philosophy: "I've been in the Catholic Church, in the United Church, the Anglican Church, and in many other churches, and when worship is offered in truth, this sound emerges regardless of the style. It's the sound of the human heart connecting with its Maker" (quoted by Michael Herman, "Zschech, Please," christianitytoday.com, June 4, 2004). She doesn't explain how worship can be in truth in the context of denominations that teach grievous doctrinal error and false gospels.

Interfaith Code of Religious Conversion???

Code of Religious Conversion???

This article below our comment here came from the www.wayoflife.org - Church News Notes. How in the world are we going to evangelize the lost like Jesus said if we have to follow a strict COD EOF CONVERSION. Will it be so strict that we cannot say 'Jesus is the ONLY WAY'? For that is what Jesus Himself believed and said...

"I AM the way, the truth, and the life: and no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 16:6)

~SRN

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WORLD COUNCIL AND VATICAN TO AGREE ON CODE ON RELIGIOUS CONVERSION

Friday Church News Notes, May 19, 2006
- The World Council of Churches and the Vatican have announced that they are conducting a joint study aimed at developing a shared code of conduct on religious conversion (Ekklesia.co.uk, May 10). The project is named "Interreligious reflection on conversion from controversy to shared code of conduct" and will involve representatives of non-Christian religions, including Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim. Hans Ucko of the World Council said, "The issue of religious conversion remains a controversial dimension in many interconfessional and interreligious relations." In October 2003 the World Council of Churches joined the Conference of European Churches to denounce "proselytism" and to urge Christians not to try to convert members of other churches and denominations. The joint declaration stated: "We should never try to encourage Christians who belong to a church to change their allegiance by ways and means that contradict the spirit of Christian love, violate the freedom of the human person and diminish trust in the Christian witness of the church" ("Eastern European Churches Denounce Proselytism," Ecumenical News International, Oct. 21, 2003).

While we do not believe in pressuring anyone to convert to the truth, it is a fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded that we preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15), and that certainly includes nominal Christians who have merely a form of godliness, and we are further responsible to rebuke error and to try to convert those who are in error. "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh" (Jude 23).

The Caliphate: One nation, under Allah, with 1.5 billion Muslims

This is very interesting indeed!

------

from the May 10, 2006 edition - http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0510/p01s04-wome.html

The Caliphate: One nation, under Allah, with 1.5 billion Muslims
By James Brandon | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
AMMAN, JORDAN - The three middle-aged men sitting in an Indian restaurant in Jordan's capital scarcely look like Islamic revolutionaries. They are smartly dressed in Western-style suits and sip thoughtfully from cans of Pepsi as they share their plan to reshape the Muslim world.

"[President] Bush says that we want to enslave people and oppress their freedom of speech," says Abu Abdullah, a senior member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, the Party of Liberation. "But we want to free all people from being slaves of men and make them slaves of Allah."

Hizb ut-Tahrir says that Muslims should abolish national boundaries within the Islamic world and return to a single Islamic state, known as "the Caliphate," that would stretch from Indonesia to Morocco and contain more than 1.5 billion people.

It's a simple and seductive idea that analysts believe may someday allow the group to rival existing Islamic movements, topple the rulers of Middle Eastern nations, and undermine those seeking to reconcile democracy and Islam and build bridges between East and West.

"A few years ago people laughed at them," says Zeyno Baran, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and the leading expert on Hizb ut-Tahrir. "But now that [Osama] bin Laden, [Abu Musab al-] Zarqawi, and other Islamic groups are saying they want to recreate the Caliphate, people are taking them seriously."
Read Full Article...

Thursday, May 18, 2006

PARENT ALERT! - Porn Stars Preying Upon Kids at 'My-Space'

Romans 1:28
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,..


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PARENT ALERT! - Porn Stars Preying Upon Kids at My-Space

Kids endangered at Murdoch-owned MySpace
Media mogul hails website linked to assaults of teenage members

Posted: February 18, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Ron Strom - WorldNetDaily.com
- A website that encourages young people to post personal information about themselves and has been linked to a series of rapes and other crimes by sexual predators is wholly owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which also owns the Fox News Channel.

Murdoch sealed the deal for MySpace.com and its parent, Intermix Media, for $580 million in July. When the deal was announced, Murdoch said in a statement: "Intermix's brands, such as MySpace.com, are some of the Web's hottest properties and resonate with the same audiences that are most attracted to Fox's news, sports and entertainment offerings."
Read Full Article...

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

World Churches Affirm Freedom Of Religion, But Warn On Converting

Regarding the following statement that was posted today on Ecumenical News International News Highlights [17 May 2006]

...which do you want to believe, the World Council of Churches...or the Person of the Risen LORD Jesus Christ - the Savior of the world?


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World churches affirm freedom of religion, but warn on converting

Geneva (ENI). A joint effort by the Vatican and the World Council of Churches (WCC) to seek a common code for religious conversions has begun by affirming the freedom of religion as a "non-negotiable" human right while stressing that the "obsession of converting others" needs to be cured. "Freedom of religion is a fundamental, inviolable and non-negotiable right of every human being in every country in the world," states the report of the
12-16 May meeting in Velletri, near Rome, that launched the cooperative study.
[409 words, ENI-06-0407]
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If we do not seek to evangelize the lost, including those who are 'professing' to know Christ but are not truly saved, than we are not being faithful to Jesus Christ who said to go and preach the Gospel.

And if we reject Christ's command to 'preach the Gospel to every creature' than we are no better than soul murderers who care less about seeing the unsaved 'converted' - delivered from sin, Satan, God's wrath and eternal torment; by being BORN-AGAIN by His Holy Spirit [spiritually regenerated].

It is a Biblical command to preach the Gospel! It is Christ alone who converts sinners - by grace alone, through faoth alone in Jesus Christ alone.

CONSIDER THE WORDS OF OUR LORD...

The LORD Jesus Christ concering allegiance to Himself AND Believing WHO HE IS:

John 8:21-23

21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” 23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

AND

The LORD Jesus Christ Concering The Truth [Jesus Christ] Shall Make You Free:

John 8:31-36

31Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Choose this day whom you will serve, Rome and the [WCC] wisdom of this world, or The LORD Jesus Christ!

Acts 26;15-18

"Then I [Paul the Apostle] asked, 'Who are you, Lord?'

" 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

Gimmie Yoga, a Burger and Fries

Gimmie Yoga, a Burger and Fries


-------
Hello again Friends,

This recent article by Ray Gano (Prophezine)
hits the nail on the head !

Most people don't know that Yoga is an occult-driven technique that has been packaged for Westerners as a sweet sugar-daddy lie for the masses. Even McDonalds is now promoting Yoga? Yes, in their Adult Happy Meal!

Ray Gano does a fine job of speaking the truth like it is. What he has stated in his article is in reality - the straight facts. And most importantly, as Ray states, people need Jesus Christ, not yoga.

We also fully agree with Ray that Yoga cannot be integrated into the Christian worship experience. Christian yoga is an oxymoron to the exteme, and it is a big giant lie. Christians...wake up!!!

It is past high-time for people in the West to see that they are being slowly lulled further into darkness by Eastern Mysticism. Yoga is promoted as a good and healthful experience, but is this really the truth? [See more at our Hazards of the Occult page at the Spiritul Research Network website (SRN) - scroll to bottom of page to Yoga articles].

Little do Westerners realize that the foundations of occultism are rooted and established in mystical EXPERIENCE - and Yoga provides just that. Yoga is just another doorway into the world of occult based New Age philosophy. Read on and understand the facts...

~ Chris at SRN
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Gimmie Yoga, a Burger and Fries
By Ray Gano

This week I had yet another new shock to the system. While standing in line to order a Number 3 meal at the local McDonalds®, I noticed an interesting new promotion that is taking place. They now have Adult Happy Meal. This is pretty cool because the kids always got some pretty neat toys. The adult meal also comes with a prize, but I was kind of shocked when I found out what it is… a DVD on Yoga.

Well on my bag for my Big Mac®, I found a handy URL telling me more about this and I checked it out.

Here is what they say…

15 Minutes of Sane

Feeling stressed? Try Yoga. It helps relax the mind and rejuvenate the body and spirit. Plus, it's great for improving flexibility.

Your exclusive McDonald's® Yourself!Fitness® Yoga DVD offers four different 15 minute workouts to help improve your mood and your energy level. You can customize your Yoga workout by choosing a language, difficulty level and your area of focus – flexibility, stress relief, balance or strength. (1)

The eastern thought of New Age mentality is not only entering the burger joints of America, but it has made a strong entrenchment in a place not as suspecting… our churches today.

Christian yoga - the marriage of the ancient practice of exercise, breathing techniques and meditation with Christian spirituality - is exploding in popularity. Organizations that certify Christian yoga instructors are seeing an increase in enrollment, and classes with an openly Christian focus are popping up in churches and studios across the country.

Christian yoga is also a thriving business. Boon will release a Holy Yoga DVD set later this year that has already been picked up for distribution by the Home Shopping Network and QVC. Yahweh Yoga plans to franchise throughout the Valley, co-founder DeAnna Smothers said. (2)

It amazes me today that so many New Age / eastern occultist practices are entering the church today under so many guises, and you know what; it isn’t very hard either. All you have to do is slap the word “Christian” on it and WHAMMO, its gotta be good and right with God, because it’s “CHRISTIAN”

I have been reading many of the sites that promote Christian yoga and they fight tooth and nail to make yoga seem ok.

The Outstretched philosophy is simple: we believe God will bless our sincere efforts at deepening a relationship with Him. He wants our fellowship and appreciates creative approaches to seeking His face. This is why Outstretched is dedicated to a Christ-centered pursuit of physical healing and spiritual growth through a practice of yoga.

This Christian approach to yoga simply allows us to combine these two essential goals: becoming physically healthy and spiritually healthy. We become more spiritually healthy through the yoga practice by calming our minds and quieting ourselves to the point that we can tune out the world's frequency and tune into God's frequency. (3)
Read Full Article at Prophezine...
http://www.prophezine.com/Articles/ProphezineArticles2006/GimmieYogaaBurgerandFries/tabid/288/Default.aspx

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

DaVinci Code Lies - Wake Up People!!!



CLICK HERE FOR FREE TRACTS


People it is time to wake up and read your Bibles. Dan Brown's book and movie need to be dealt with in a Biblical manner as they are blatant attacks against the Jesus of Scripture and the historic Christian faith.

In order to effectively do what the Scripture says and deal with this heresy properly, we must

"15 [But] ...sanctify the Lord God[d] in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil" (1 Peter 3:15-17)

Let's contend for the faith with grace and wisdom instead of being contentious Christians who are ignorant of the real FACTS!

Here are some more resources from our Spiritual Research Network (SRN) DaVinci Code Page.

Da Vinci Code articles from the Ankerberg Institute Website

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Five Key Questions From The Da Vinci Code

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Crash Goes The DaVinci Code - Ron Rhodes

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Is it True that Everything We Have Been Taught About Jesus is False? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
What Makes the Bible Unique? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Is it True that Jesus’ Divinity was Invented by Constantine at the Council of Nicea? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Just How Unique is Jesus When Compared to Other Religious Leaders? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Is it True that Constantine Determined What Books Were Included in the Bible? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
The Canonicity of the Bible - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Should Additional Gospels Have Been Included in our Bibles? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
What is The Gospel of Thomas? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Did the Church Recast Sex as a “Shameful Act”? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Is Christmas Purely a Pagan Holiday? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Did Christianity Arise Out of the Mystery Religions? - ATRI

Da Vinci Code Lies or Truth - Find out Here...
Was Jesus Married? Who Was Mary Magdalene? - ATRI

Monday, May 15, 2006

'Da Vinci Code' Now a Tool to Win Christian Converts???

We agree with many of the other discernment ministries out there, including Moriel, and most importantly the BIBLE - God's own Word on discernment, that the Da Vinci Code is a blasphemous work of fiction.

The DaVinci Code attempts to redefine Jesus Christ, rewrite Church history and destroy the purpose of Christ's mission on earth which is to save sinners. No doubt the DaVinci Code will be absorbed by millions of readers, viewers and hearers. Countless people will be misled as to the true meaning of Christ purpose, Christ's true nature as Eternal God, and Christ's own word's of truth found in Scripture. The message of the cross will be rejected for Dan Brown's Gnostic lie.

Sadly, even undiscerning Christians are buying into the DaVinci Code lie. Some even doubting the Bibloe and their own faith in Christ. No doubt many will pay the movie fee and run headlong to go see another movie that the God of heaven hates. This is a tradgedy indeed!

Yes Dan Brown has written a fiction book, but in it he systematically attempts to destroy the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. He also attempts to undermine and reject the Word of God. He perverts the Gospel and creates a cleverly invented story. People, according to the BIBLE, this is Satanic - it is inspired by Satan. Remember in John 8 where Jesus says that Satan-the Devil is the "Father of Lies"? Satan's two weapons through time have always been, lies and murder, and here in the DaVinci Code, we have lie upon lie in order to decieve and ultimately murder humans spiritually.

Galatians 1:6-9

"6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."

My remarks about the DaVinci Code are based upon Scripture and much of the in-depth articles at the DaVinci Deception Resource Page that I have put together on our Spiritual Research Network website.
http://www.spiritual-research-network.com/apologetics_daVinci.asp

~SRN~


Proverbs 29:18a
Where there is no vision, the people perish:...

Jeremiah 10:21
For the shepherds have become stupid
And have not sought the LORD;
Therefore they have not prospered,
And all their flock is scattered.


---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------

Here is the article that was in the LOS ANGELES TIMES and posted on Be Alert!


'Da Vinci Code' Now a Tool to Win Christian Converts

LOS ANGELES TIMES - By Stephanie Simon, Times Staff Writer - May 11, 2006 - LITTLETON, Colo. — Evangelical churches across the nation are launching an aggressive effort to save souls by talking about a fictional murder mystery that many regard as blasphemous.

Pastors are setting out doughnuts and sandwiches and inviting non-Christians to come discuss "The Da Vinci Code" bestseller. They're creating hip marketing campaigns to draw nonbelievers to sermons about the thriller. They're even giving away free iPods loaded with their commentary on the novel.

The goal is to instill trust in the Bible and faith in Jesus' divinity — principles that many Christian leaders believe are threatened by "The Da Vinci Code," which opens in movie theaters May 19 as a film starring Tom Hanks.

A poll by Outreach Inc., a church marketing firm, found 68% of its customers, mostly Protestant churches, planned to respond to "The Da Vinci Code" with some form of evangelism.

The Catholic response has been ambivalent. Some Catholic groups and a few Vatican officials have urged the faithful to shun Dan Brown's book and the movie, directed by Ron Howard. But priests expect that many Catholics will see the movie anyway. So hundreds of parishes have set up study groups to pick apart the film's historical and theological claims...

"The Da Vinci Code," which has sold 40 million copies, opens with the murder of a curator at the Louvre Museum. A professor of religious symbology called in to consult discovers clues hidden in the art of Leonardo da Vinci. Racing to unravel the puzzles, he learns that Christianity is built on falsehood: Jesus was not divine; he left an heir by his wife, Mary Magdalene; and the Bible as we know it was pieced together by a 4th century Roman emperor intent on suppressing the role of women in the Catholic Church.

If those claims are true, "the Christian faith is a sham," according to a Catholic website that offers priests tips on how to respond to the movie.

Though angry, Christian leaders say they have nothing to gain by organizing pickets outside movie theaters. That would make them look closed-minded and defensive, when what they really need to counter the power of the film is "a very positive, wholesome, winsome" response, said Josh McDowell, a Christian writer and evangelist in Richardson, Texas.

Besides, "it's probably going to be an awesome movie," said Garry Poole, a pastor at Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago.

Poole drew 22,000 to a sermon about "The Da Vinci Code" last month. He hopes that those who came for the sport of hearing a minister take on a bestseller will return this Sunday for another round. Over time, he hopes they will find truth and comfort in the church and develop an abiding faith.

Moved by a similar vision, California pastor Ken Baugh plans to hand out free tickets to "The Da Vinci Code."

Other Christian leaders think that's going too far: "I don't have to watch pornography in order to be able to dialogue about it," said Matthew Pinto, president of Ascension Press, a Catholic publisher.

But Baugh wants to encourage members of his congregation to see the film with non-Christian friends. He plans to give them Starbucks gift cards along with the tickets so they can sit down over coffee when the movie ends and offer their perspective on Jesus.

Baugh has already distributed 325 iPod Shuffles loaded with his "Da Vinci" sermons to young members of his congregation so they can give them to friends who do not come to church.

"I think the Lord is going to use this film to bring more people to Christ, absolutely," said Baugh, senior pastor of Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo.

At the very least, it has given churches a potent marketing tool. In Littleton, a suburb south of Denver, more than 50 first-time visitors joined 530 regulars at Valley View Christian Church last month when Pastor Gene Barron launched five weeks of sermons on "The Da Vinci Code." (He advertised the series by mailing out 15,000 postcards with an image of the Mona Lisa on one side and a map to Valley View on the other.)

Barron opened the first service by quoting an e-mail he had received from someone who had read Brown's book: "Is the last 25 years I've been a Christian all a lie? Is everything I was raised to believe just made up for the money? … Please help me … I'm brokenhearted."

"You need to know about this story and the potential damage it could do," Barron told his congregation.

His sermon, like many on "The Da Vinci Code," was no fast-paced romp through the novel's intrigues. It presented historical, archeological and theological evidence about key elements of Brown's conspiracy theory: The Gnostic gospels, the Council of Nicea, the Roman Emperor Constantine, the Priory of Sion.

In recent years, evangelical pastors have shied away from such dense sermons, preferring to preach practical self-help messages instead. "The Da Vinci Code" has prompted a renewed interest in basic theology — to many scholars' delight.

"When I go around the country lecturing on New Testament history, I'm pretty excited if I get an audience of 15. But if I say I'm speaking on 'The Da Vinci Code,' I can almost guarantee an audience of 600. And it's basically the same lecture," said Darrell L. Brock, who teaches New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary...

Movies challenging Christianity have been greeted with far more hostility. In 1988, for instance, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ tried to buy — and destroy — every copy of the Martin Scorsese film "The Last Temptation of Christ,"...

Mike Licona was among those urging a boycott of "Last Temptation." Looking back, he regrets it as an "immature" response...

"The Da Vinci Code" gives Christians an opportunity to build a new image as being open-minded and willing to listen respectfully to skeptics, said Michael Buckingham, who runs Holy Cow Creative, a church marketing firm in Midland, Mich. Not only that, he said, the film gives churches a chance to look hip, relevant and attuned to pop culture, instead of stiff, stuffy and dull.

"People are looking for answers," Buckingham said. "We're saying, 'Let's dig into God's word and find out the truth.' "

Sony Pictures has encouraged precisely that response. The studio invited dozens of Christian scholars to post essays challenging the film at http://www.TheDaVinciDialogue.com .

Brown himself writes on his website that he hopes readers will "use the book as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration."

"The truth is, Dan Brown gave us a great opportunity," said Steve Clifford, pastor of WestGate Church in San Jose. "People everywhere will be gathering around water coolers to talk about the reality of Christ. Maybe not in the exact manner we'd like, but I'll take advantage of it."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-davinci11may11,0,5907831,full.story?coll=la-home-nation

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

New Website Launched - Spiritual Research Network

New Website Launched - Spiritual Research Network


Hello folks,

We finally have the Spiritual Research Network website launched. The website actually took much longer than anticipated but we are very happy that people can now use it.

Jenn and I want to our SRN Web Team who has helped immensely with our websites.

Aside from the immense help with uploads, IT issues, and many other things, you have all done a great job!!! Thanks everyone!!!

We also want to thank Kristen over in the U.S.A. who designed the first site and got the whole Spiritual Research Network up and running on the Internet. You have all done so much to get this ministry started; and many have been blessed with it so far. May the LORD bless you immensely in many ways as you have provided a place for people to find truth and deliverance from spiritual bondage.

NOTE: When you use the new search engine on the homepage - you may find our old SRN site (Green pages). The new SRN search engine is still waiting as Google caches the pages, etc. Should be working properly soon.

For God's glory!

Enjoy!

Chris
Philippians 1:8-11

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

TheBeastMovie - Anti-Christian film to be released on 06-06-06

Anti-Christian Film ‘The Beast’ To Be Released On 06-06-06
by Deborah Menelaws of Bethel Cmmunications

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The makers of a virulently anti‑Christian film The Beast have deliberately chosen to release it on 6th June 2006 (06‑06‑06).


The film is being made in the US by VIVID films, and has a powerfully anti‑Christian plot line. A publicity blurb claims that there is ‘increasing historical proof that Christ never existed,’ a theory which they add is ‘gaining popularity’.


The plot involves a fundamentalist Christian pastor who disappears after he ‘stumbles across incontrovertible factual evidence that Christ never existed’. In searching for him, the films shows his daughter Danielle ‘struggling with her own need to believe that Christ existed’ and also combating ‘a band of fundamentalist Christians who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth’. In the film, they are portrayed as ‘trying to cover up Christianity’s best‑kept secret’.


HIDDEN


The film, it is said by its makers, is founded on ‘factual material normally hidden from public view by the efforts of Bible‑believing Christians’. It adds ‑ conveniently ignoring the historical testimony of Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonus, Phlegon and many other historians and writers ‑ that ‘there is no non‑Christian confirmation that Jesus Christ ever existed’.


The cast and film crew, have been ‘legally sworn to secrecy’ about other aspects of the film, which will be released on Tuesday 6th June in the US and will then come to Britain. See The Beast at www.thebeastmovie.com ( click here )for a horrible advert to buy your own 'Mark of the Beast' to stamp your friends - showing a child with it on his head. If you double click the child's face you will get into the website but it's all pretty awful...

The website has a forum for public comment which has been swamped by the most vile abusive references to Christ and to Christians. However, one Christian, Austin Smith, wrote in to say: “This website and movie is nothing but a work of Satan. The release date is 6/6/06 and I know it was put like that on purpose. But it may work against you, considering that 666 is the devils’ number. It’s no surprise to me that Satan himself inspired this movie to lie and deceive others. Whoever made this movie is my enemy. But I love them all the same because I learned to love my enemies”.


The film’s Director, Brian Flemming’s previous work has been called ‘jaggedly imaginative’ by the New York Times, ‘a parallel universe’ by the BBC and ‘immensely satisfying’ by USA Today. His films are said to have “a unique ability to spark cult‑like devotion in his fans”. He wrote and produced a popular musical, Bat Boy, featuring a creature that was half bat and half man. That has since been staged thousands of times throughout the world, in several languages. The musical has been called ‘a self‑contained religion’, and does indeed have thousands of cult adherents. He followed this up with a film about the murder of Bill Gates, the founder of the computer firm Microsoft. Gates had said through a spokesman: “I am very disappointed that a movie maker would do something like this”.


The Beast was supposedly carefully timed so that it took exactly 666 days to make. One prominent Wiccan high priestess in the US recently said: “Finally, a film that proves Jesus Christ never existed. I can’t wait”.


“…the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” – Rev 12:12

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Gadhafi: Islam taking over Europe

Islam In Europe? - What is Happening?
Check this out folks!



1 John 2:22
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.


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Gadhafi: Islam taking over Europe


WORLDNETDAILY - May 3, 2006

- Islam will take over Europe without violent force within a few decades, said Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi in a speech aired on the Arab satellite network Al Jazeera.

"We have 50 million Muslims in Europe," Gadhafi said. "There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe – without swords, without guns, without conquests. The 50 million Muslims of Europe will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades."

If Turkey is added to the European Union, the Libyan leader said, Europe will have another 50 million Muslims.

Albania, a Muslim-majority country, and Bosnia, which is half Muslim, also appear to be on their way to EU membership.

"Europe is in a predicament, and so is America," Gadhafi said. "They should agree to become Islamic in the course of time, or else declare war on the Muslims."

Excerpts of Gadhafi's speech, broadcast April 10, were translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute, or MEMRI. A video clip of the speech can by viewed online.

Gadhafi emphasized Muslims view Muhammad the prophet not only of the Arabs or Muslims but "of all people."

"He superseded all previous religions," Gadhafi said. "If Jesus were alive when Muhammad was sent, he would have followed him. All people must be Muslims."

He said Christians believe Muhammad is not their prophet because their holy texts "are forged and call for hatred."

"The so-called Old Testament and New Testament are neither Old Testament nor New Testament – because both testaments were superseded, and they are forged," he said. "They were written by hand hundreds of years after Jesus."

Gadhafi continued: "In the Bible there are things that are inappropriate for both Jesus and Moses. If we want to mend the state of humanity, and live in a global village, because of the globalization, we must search for the true Bible, because the Bible that exists today is a forgery. Today's Bible does not mention Muhammad, whereas our Lord's Bible mentions Muhammad repeatedly."

Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin reported in December 2003 Gadhafi provided al-Qaida with chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction before changing heart and agreeing to destroy his arms program.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50020

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

An Invitation To R T Kendall

The following article is very 'to the point'... but it is true and the followers of R.T. Kendall need to know about it.

If you are a follower of R.T. Kendall and have been spiritually damaged and need help, please let us know.

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An Invitation To R T Kendall


MORIEL MINISTRIES - by James Jacob Prasch - May 3, 2006

- I recall R T Kendall publicly endorsed The Kansas City Prophets, and aligned himself closely with Paul Cain, (a confessed devotee of William Branham who opposed The Trinity). At the London Docklands Paul Cain & The Kansas City Prophets in August of 1990 prophetically predicted a ‘Great Latter Day Rain Revival’ for the UK to explode in October of 1990. Since that time no revival has come, but far mosques have been built in London than churches. Bob Jones (about to remarry) was found in serious sexual immorality and Paul Cain was to be and have been a homosexual and an alcoholic.

R T Kendall then endorsed the Toronto Experience, despite the clowning in tongues video of money preacher Kenneth Copeland (who says Satan got the victory on the cross) and Rodney Howard Brown. The bible says The Fruit of The Spirit is ‘ekreitei’ that is self control, not the lack of it. Biblically and historically revivals come from people weeping, not from people laughing in drunken hysterics. Predictably, R T Kendall was proven wrong again. No revival came from Toronto as he misled people to believe.

Now he is coming to London with Morris Cerullo. He is joining Trinity denier Tommy Tenney (who teaches the epistles of Paul are ‘dusty old letters’ of where was, not where He is now). He is joining Mahesh Chavada (‘going to Toronto is ‘following the yellow brick road, the Holy Spirit is Toto the dog, and those opposed to Toronto are ‘wicked witches’). He is joining Morris Cerullo

(indicted for fraud and tax fraud) who appeared on UK TV saying “send 10 pounds and see 2 Jews saved as an added bonus 2 members of your family will be born again. As broadcasted on national TV news, Cerullo was faulted in a coroner’s report by the crown Pathologist, Sir Montague Levine for the death of a young woman who ceased taking vital medication on Cerullo’s false pronouncement and assurance she was miraculously healed, followed by the death of a 4 year old child. Cerullo also market ed 25 pound sterling ($45) ‘Holy Ghost Miracle Cloths’ to take away debt to poor Afro-Caribbean immigrants.

Instead of weeping over the death of his unrepentant terrorist murderer friend Yassir Arafat as he expresses on his web site, one might suggest Mr. Kendall rather weep over Arafat’s victims (Jew & Arab, including the children he sent as suicide bombers to murder other children) and the saved Christians the Crown coroner say that his colleague Morris Cerullo got killed (the exact words are that “she would still be alive if she had not become involved with a Cerullo mission at Earls Court”).

As a moderate Pentecostal/Charismatic it is my conviction that this wicked religious con-artistry that R T Kendall gave himself over to has nothing to do with Jesus (and nothing to do with the legacy of Martin Lloyd Jones). It is rather about the band of proven false prophets, heretics, and drunken sex perverts like Paul Cain that R T Kendall has joined forces with.

Given his disgusting and shameful track record of failure, it is my contention that there exists no biblical or logical reason for anyone in their right mind to pay any further attention to R T Kendall . His undeniable record speaks for itself.

I would like to invite R T Kendall to debate me on the issues in public in front of a video camera in the UK and the USA.

I doubt he will, but my challenge is sincere and I will bring documented facts, TV news footage, videos of the Docklands, videos of Toronto meetings, and verified news reports.

I maintain that R T Kendall by biblical definition has plainly and irrefutably become a deceiver of The Last Days (2 Timothy 3:13).

http://www.moriel.org/articles/notice_board/invitation_to_rt_kendall.htm