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January 24, 2007 |
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Reformation or Desecration?
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A weary and fearful world is crying out for solutions to the plethora of problems that plague mankind and seem to escalate every day. From AIDS to bird flu, terrorism, war and threats of nuclear annihilation, the world is filled with anxiety and looking for answers. Pastor Rick Warren believes that his P.E.A.C.E. plan is the answer and will bring about a "New Reformation" when in fact he is dismantling the true Reformation with a compromised, inclusive social gospel. Ecumenical Dominionists weigh in with their false prophetic utterances predicting everything from disaster to revival despite their history of inaccurate prognostications. The emergent church continues its mystical march away from orthodoxy. More and more major denominations break down barriers to unity after years of "dialog" with Rome. Doctrinal purity is being sacrificed on the altar of unity. This should concern every believer who values and honors the Word of God. I hope that you will take the time to follow me through the maze of connections and threads. You may be surprised and shocked at the inroads the social gospel has made, just like termites silently eating away at a structure and then all that is left is a pile of sawdust. Gigantic Marian Arch to be Constructed in New York – World’s Tallest
A dedication ceremony was held in October 2002 and fund-raising continues for the $100 million project called the Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is expected to be the world’s tallest monument, 70 stories high, (The St. Louis Gateway Arch is 63 stories) standing on the waterfront of Lake Erie in Buffalo, New York. It will overarch a shrine for the Holy Innocents, affirming the sanctity of human life. (See an artist’s rendering here) Greg Prince of WLOF-FM, interviewed Laurence Behr and he described his vision of the arch: "Well, we expect that this will be even more impressive than the Gateway Arch. In the Arch of Triumph, there will be sacred music playing, there will be beautiful sacred art. We expect to have three chapels in the Arch. In the northern base, a Chapel of the Sacred Heart; in the southern base, a Chapel of the Immaculate Heart; and in the peak, above a public observation area, a Chapel of the Triumph, representing the triumphal union of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. It will be an uplifting spiritual experience, that even "unspiritual" people will find inspiring." At the dedication ceremony in October, Buffalo attorney and project visionary, Laurence Behr, quoted a statement reported to have been given by an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. "In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world." Behr believes the arch project is Mary’s further revelation that "Our Lord wishes to establish in the world, devotion to my Immaculate Heart." Supporters see the arch "as a means of broadcasting this message to the entire world, of greatly promoting this crucial devotion." Behr goes on to say: It is beyond question for any Christian, that the violence and wars of the last century, and violent start of the new millennium, are intimately intertwined with the impurity and lust so rampant in our day, for impurity and hatred are mates, just as are purity and love. But Mary promised at Fatima that in the end, her Immaculate Heart will triumph, and the world will know peace. She made this prediction and all her appearances at the Cova da Iria, the Hollow of Irene---a name that means Queen of Peace—and a sign that proves wrong those who dismiss Fatima as the product of over-imaginative children’s minds." You may be surprised at the frequency of appearances by "Mary" currently on a worldwide basis. http://members.aol.com/bjw1106/marian.htm The Web of Connections The project has not been without its critics and detractors, but according to Behr, is moving along nicely. According to an article by Rick Kern in the July 30, 2001 edition of The Word, An Evangelical Christian Newspaper for Buffalo and Western New York, "Behr and company have their work cut out for them, but the project's national support is growing on a grand scale. It is a venture that continues to capture the imagination of a broadening constituency, Catholic and Protestant alike and, according to Behr, has won the support of local pro-life activists, Reverends Bob Behr and Johnny Hunter." The Reverend Behr is an anti-abortion activist at Last Call Ministries and works with Operation Save America/Operation Rescue. Their site says that "Jesus is the Standard" but their alliances say differently. By the way, it was reported last year that Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue abandoned evangelicalism for Roman Catholicism. The Rev. Hunter, now of Fayetteville, N.C., is an ordained minister. He was a founding co-pastor of the National Community Church on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. Dr. Hunter is the Pastor Emeritus of Church of The Living Water, Buffalo, NY. An honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree was bestowed upon him by the Methodist-Episcopal Church USA. He is also the National Director of Life Education And Resource Network (LEARN, Inc.), a consortium of Christian pro-life, pro-family advocates. LEARN, Inc. is the largest African-American evangelical pro-life organization in the United States. He is on the National Clergy Council, a sister organization of Faith in Action based in Washington D.C. According to their website, "The National Clergy Council is an informal network of conservative and traditional Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant clergy, members of religious orders and societies, religious educators, journalists, and heads of para-church organizations who share a common concern about the moral integrity of our American culture. The National Clergy Council is a network of church leaders from Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant traditions. The NCC uses their voices, pens and pulpits to address the critical issues of the day and bring to them a proper perspective, informed by the Word of God and classical Christian moral instruction. Members, both clergy and lay, subscribe to a strict interpretation of the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. The NCC is not a lobbying group or partisan political organization, but rather a prophetic witness to Biblical Truth in the public arena." Among those listed as affiliated denominations: Assemblies of God Baptist (Independent, Southern, American) Brethren Christian Church Church of Christ Episcopal Church USA Evangelical Church Alliance Full Gospel Baptist International Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod, Conservative Association) Methodist Episcopal Nazarene Orthodox Church in America Pentecostal Presbyterian (USA, PCA, Reformed) Reformed Church Roman Catholic United Methodist Wesleyan More Connections One of the advocates of the Arch is Fr. Frank A Pavone of Priests for Life. The aforementioned group Faith in Action based in Washington D.C. reports on the 2006 " 13th Annual National Memorial for the Pre-born and Their Mothers and Fathers" with Fr. Pavone pictured at the podium. It might shock Christian supporters of Dr. James Dobson and Focus on the Family that according to Pavone’s resume, he serves on the Focus on the Family Institute. Dobson has built his ministry upon conservative causes as the common denominator rendering sound doctrine irrelevant. As horrible as abortion is, pragmatism only compounds the problem.Another endorser of the monument is Peter J. Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College. He spoke this month at Chuck Colson’s "Wilberforce Conference on Critical Thinking." Prof. Kreeft originally a Calvinist, is now a Catholic apologist. That should raise the eyebrows of not a few evangelicals who support Prison Fellowship and its ministries and listen eagerly to Colson’s "Breakpoint" broadcasts. This will come as no surprise to those who know Colson was the driving force behind the Evangelicals and Catholics Together documents that sent ecumenism into hyper speed, declaring that Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ and are not to be the object of any evangelistic endeavors. How ironic that Colson touts Wilberforce, the great British statesmen, abolitionist and champion of human rights. Wilberforce stood just as strongly for doctrinal purity as for social justice. Ironically, all of his sons except one became Roman Catholics. It is not clear if he lived to see this, but we can be certain of one thing -it would have grieved him deeply. And I am sure that it would disturb him to see his name used in the context Colson is using it with no regard for the doctrine that was the bedrock of his belief. Well-Meaning Wolves Leading Sheep Astray These leaders, though well-meaning, draw believers, and get them
mobilized to take up moral causes with no consideration for biblical
truth. Otherwise these organizations would implode and those who do not
subscribe to the basics of the faith would go away. Their silence on these
major differences constitutes at the most endorsement and at the least
that the differences are of no importance. Defending moral values and
correcting injustices is certainly noble and as believers we should do
so by voice and example, but never at the expense of God’s holy Word and
His precious Gospel. Our first and foremost responsibility as
believers is given to us by our Lord: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 These men would do well to remember this admonition from God’s Word: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 Another endorser of the Marian Arch is Ralph Martin of Renewal Ministries, a Catholic charismatic group. They have a very active missions program. A recognizable member of their board is Dion Dimucci, better known as "Dion" a popular singer in the 60’s, who had several hits including golden oldies such as "The Wanderer" and "Run Around Sue." He describes his "conversion" – "There was a lot going on in me then, a mid-life crisis, or something. My emotions were everywhere. In the middle of that confusion, all I could pray was ‘God, it would be nice to be closer to you.’ That’s all it took. I was flooded with white light. It was everywhere, inside me, outside me-everywhere. At that moment, things were different between me and God. ..God changed my life that morning and things have never been the same." Dion made the rounds of various churches, even went to Israel with Greg Laurie and Calvary Chapel in 1981. He attended Jack Hayford’s Church on the Way. But he states in his account of his "spiritual journey," "there was always something missing and incomplete. Now I know it was the Eucharist……I discovered Jesus is present in the Eucharist. Not symbolically present…it seems to me that each individual believer has to acquire enough knowledge on his own in order to know which church can bring him to eternal life. Instead of accepting the Church on God’s terms, I’d have to choose a church of my liking………..Dion’s deceptive and confused spiritual journey took him right back to the church of his youth, the Roman Catholic Church. Mary As Co-Redemptrix – The Peace Solution There is a concerted effort to declare Mary to be on equal footing with Christ in the Catholic Church. Many devoted Catholics believe there is an urgency to do this to bring about Christian unity and world peace to quote the site dedicated to this cause. "Many believe this Marian Dogma will initiate the Triumph of our Blessed Mother over Satan, as foretold in Genesis and at Fatima. It is the key that unlocks the graces of the Triumph. Her titles are her works, her titles are her functions, and the solemn proclamation of our Mother’s titles will lead to the full release of her most powerful sanctifying functions of grace and peace for the many crises experienced in the contemporary Church and world. It will allow her to intercede with the fullest possible mediation given to her by God for this Triumph, for the Church and for humanity.2007 The Rosary Bowl – Prayer for World Peace No, this is not a new football playoff. The event scheduled for May 19, 2007, is being held in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and is free and open to the public. It follows the Eucharistic Family Rosary Crusade scheduled for May 13th at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima. According to a release by Religion Press Release Services, Bishop Oscar Solis of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles states, "The Blessed Mother is the special patroness of the City of Los Angeles and the object of special veneration…this Rosary celebration in Mary’s honor will enhance the prayer lives of our families, strength family unity and rely on Mary as an intercessor for world peace." Eucharistic Adoration – A Growing Phenomenon The practice of Eucharist Adoration is growing, especially perpetual adoration which occurs around the clock. Roman Catholics believe that Christ is physically present in the communion wafer displayed in a receptacle called a monstrance. The faithful come to the church and spend time engrossed in worship of the wafer, some having ecstatic experiences. The experiences only serve to deepen their faith that Christ is truly present in the wafer and they are worshiping Him, but they are in fact worshiping a false Christ and any "miracles" associated with it are demonic in nature. Interested in seeing sites in your community? Back to Chuck Colson’s friend, Peter Kreeft, a firm believer in Eucharistic Adoration. He states:" The central problem of the church today is that most of the generation now becoming adults simply do not know Jesus Christ. They are not merely unaware of right doctrine about Him (though that’s tragically missing too) but of Christ Himself, His real presence." Of course he is speaking of the false Christ of the Eucharist and the "right doctrine" is the catechism of the Catholic Church. http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0016.html Every serious Berean should purchase a copy of the catechism and read it for themselves. It is an eye opener. It is bound to give one a burden for Catholics and a realization of how much they need to hear the true Gospel. Contrary to popular belief, the Catholic church has not changed their doctrine.What of the Future? Only the Lord knows what 2007 will bring and how many more will heed the siren call down the road to Rome. With the momentum of the emergent church, contemplative prayer and ecumenism, combined with the quest for world peace, the apostasy is bound to deepen. Doctrine and discernment have fallen by the wayside. Watchmen who love the Church and are sounding the alarm are for the most part shouting to the wind. But they cannot and will not stop because there are still those who will listen and it is a sacred calling. What Are We To Do? The apostasy is no surprise to God and it should be no surprise to Bereans. He predicted it in His Word as one of the signs of the end times. As individuals we each have a choice to stand for truth and defend the faith or follow the crowd and take the road of least resistance. Quite frankly, I don’t expect this report to have a huge impact. But if it wakes up only a few to join the discerning remnant, it is more than enough payment for this labor of love. Every effort has been made to be fair and accurate. Bolding and underlining of text is added. God help us to persevere to speak the truth in love and earnestly contend for the faith until our last breath. May the Holy Spirit empower us to defend the purity of the Gospel message and share it with all who will listen. May we be found faithful when we hear that trumpet sound! ♥♥♥♥ "No end is right accomplished wrongly; For truth is not a thing of season, ---Douglas Malloch-- From The Daily Sacrifice |
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| Sherry Neese can be reached at Truth_and_grace@yahoo.com | ||
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