Posts Tagged ‘Eradicate: Blotting out God in America’

New Age gurus

Oprah Winfrey has become more influential than most of America’s pastors and religious leaders. Too many people today follow pop-culture icons and celebrities and even many Christians end up believing their teachings. Oprah has launched book sales and resuscitated careers for many authors and spiritual gurus while giving proponents of higher spirituality a platform, particularly those who promote a New Age philosophy.

In one interview on her network, OWN, she asked Deepak Chopra and other leading spiritual thinkers about God; remember, she promotes these folks and their teachings as truth. It went like this:

Oprah: What is your definition of God?

Deepak Chopra: God is the evolutionary impulse of the universe…

Debbie Ford: A spiritual energy. It has no denomination, it has no judgment…

Wayne Dyer: God is the highest place within each and every one of us. It’s our divine self.

Gary Zukav: I don’t have a definition of God, because I’ve never really understood that word…

Marianne Williamson: An all-encompassing love that is the source of all, the reality of all, and the being through which I am.

Eckhart Tolle: God is beyond all the forms of life, but also indwells every form of life as their essence. God is both beyond and within.

Remember this: Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), and in these last days, false prophets and teachers will deceive many professing Christians. Jesus warned true believers many times to be watchful and to “be not deceived.”

Jesus clearly stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me (John 14:6).” He is the Alpha and the Omega, was with God in the beginning, and became flesh (Rev. 22:13, John 1:1-2). Moreover, Jesus created all things and sustains all things (Colossians 1:15-17).

Oprah has made many confusing claims in the past including:

I am a Christian who believes that there are certainly many more paths to God other than Christianity. I’m a free-thinking Christian who believes in my way, but I don’t believe it’s the only way.

(The following is an excerpt from my first book, Eradicate: Blotting Out God in America, from the chapter, “Emerging Into Confusion.”)

In his book, For Many Shall Come in My Name, Ray Yungen describes the term “New Age” as based on astrology. Some believe there are cosmic cycles in which the Earth passes through a time period when it falls “under the influence of a certain sign of the zodiac.” This is a belief system stating that everything exists and revolves around energy containing tiny particles: atoms, molecules, protons, etc.

All is energy. That energy, they believe, is God, and therefore, all is God. They believe that since we are all part of this ‘God-energy’, then we,too, are God. God is not seen as a Being that dwells in heaven, but as the universe itself.

Many New Age proponents strive for a “Christ consciousness” or a “higher consciousness” in an effort to become more aware of these spiritual realms; the most direct way to achieve this is through meditation, “a primary source of spiritual direction of the New Age person.”

There are great resources available on the occult practices and history. It is so important to immerse ourselves into the Word of God and study to show ourselves approved by Him. We must be discerning about things such as: contemplative prayer, “centering prayer” and mantras, the law of attraction, witchcraft and Harry Potter, the Kabbala, spiritual formation, Labyrinth walking, and Wicca.

Teachings promoted by well-known celebrities (or best-selling authors) are dangerous because people tend to believe and follow those they idolize.

How can there be only one way to heaven or to God? – Oprah Winfrey

You may have heard about A Course in Miracles, written by well-known New Age representative Helen Schucman, who claims the book came directly from her inner voice. In the course, the listener is taught there is no sin, they are told not to make the “mistake” of “clinging to the old rugged cross,” and that the name of “Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol.”

Oprah has done many good things to help people, but does that mean we should trust her theology and religious beliefs? I’m not judging her heart because we are all wicked without the atonement of Jesus Christ. [Some] Christian pastors have warned about the teachings promoted by Oprah. A Course in Miracles teaches that God is in everyone and everything and that “the oneness of the Creator and the creation is your wholeness, your sanity, and your limitless power.” Wow.

Maybe you’re an Oprah fan and have always defended her, or maybe you had no idea what she believes. In an interview with Oprah, New Age author and mystic Eckhart Tolle criticized Christianity and also took live calls from viewers. Tolle stated:

The moment you say ‘only me belief’ or ‘our belief’ is true, and you deny other people’s beliefs, then you’ve adopted an ideology… and then religion becomes a closed door.

Oprah told the caller to simply realize Christianity is but one of many ways to achieve the higher consciousness, and the belief that one must follow a set of doctrines is a consequence of “ego consciousness.” [Always the opportunist, she should talk about ego?]

She holds that while Christianity is a valid way to achieve high states of spirituality, it must not be considered a unique way, or a “correct way.” Oprah believes God is all love, and she does not subscribe to the teaching that He is also a holy, jealous, just, and vengeful God. She told her audience:

The new spirituality is that you are your own best authority as you work to know and love yourself, you discover how to live a more spiritual life.

Sadly, millions of spiritual seekers have been led astray; and due to Oprah’s popularity, people have opened themselves up to all kinds of practices, religions, and teachings contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ and biblical Christianity.

We need to pray for her and for those who may blindly hang on her every word, or the words of any secular celebrity.  Oprah is not the enemy – she is deceived – but she obviously believes she has the answers regarding God, spirituality, and eternity. People need to be warned; countless unsuspecting souls following her and those like her are being led away from the One true God and down a path of destruction… (end of excerpt)

Why is this important? A majority of young people today identify as being spiritual, not religious, and they trust their celebrity role models, even when it comes to bad theology. Some have already fallen for New Age teachings and tragically, many within our church denominations have been influenced by New Age authors and gurus. Sure, Oprah has done some good things with her massive wealth, but countless unsuspecting souls following her and those like her are being led away from the One true God down a path of destruction. Do we care enough to warn them?

More on the New Age or “new spirituality” movement:

Deceived by Higher, “Christ Consciousness,” & the New Age

The New Age Paganism: Infecting the Church like Cancer by Bob DeWaay

Many Shall Come In My Name – author and former New Ager, Warren Smith on Understanding the Times
radio (interview)

The Daniel Plan and a Heaping Cup of New Age

Oprah’s at it again, declaring she’s a Christian

Video: Audience interaction on her show and Oprah denying Jesus Christ and the Bible on live TV

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Graphic courtesy of Biblical Worldview Institute – a division of Cascade Christian schools

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. …And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth – (John 1:1-3, 14).

What we believe about truth affects everything we do in this life. How we view God, people, and how we understand the world – past, present, and future – depends on what we believe about absolute truth. If there are no absolutes, then anything goes! As Christians, what we believe about absolute truth depends on what we believe about Jesus Christ and the Bible. The Old Testament refers to God as the God of truth (Isaiah 65:16). The Word of God is perfect. From indisputable historical facts to archeological evidence, the Bible has yet to be proven inaccurate or wrong.

Enemies of truth can make up stuff about the Bible, write their books attempting to debunk Scripture, and create their own documentaries with lies and fabrications, but it won’t change the fact that God’s Word is eternal. Does truth depend on where we were raised, what church we attended, what a teacher taught us, or what the media says is true? Does truth change with the times, technology or circumstances? What is truth?

Jesus prayed to the Father in the presence of His disciples and said:

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth (John 17:17).

According to the Bible, truth is the self-expression of God. Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, and being of God. There is complete unity between the written Word of God and the perfect expression of God in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us Jesus existed in the beginning. In the New Testament, Scripture is called the Word of Christ (Colossians 3:16). The person of Jesus Christ and the Holy Word of the living God then are in full agreement. This is the basis from which we must discern, perceive, and reason. There is no ambiguity whatsoever!

Try defining truth apart from God or without universal absolutes and see where that gets you. Apparently, there is plenty of confusion not only in the world, but also in the church regarding how truth is defined and understood. There are professing Christians who say they believe in “most” of the Bible. Really? We don’t have the option to pick and choose only those Scriptures that suit us or the verses we agree with. The entire Bible is true or our faith is a lie.

The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting (Psalm 119:160).

Furthermore, in the book of Revelation, Jesus is called Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11) when He returns to conquer and reign. Here’s where our worldview starts, and it takes faith: Either God is or God is not. This is something many grapple with. God created all things, but how did He come into existence?

Before the mountains were born, Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God (Psalm 90:2).

God existed in the beginning, before anything and everything. All we need to know is that when Moses asked, God said to him, I AM WHO I AM in Exodus 3:14. We get Lord from the original name of God, YHWH, which is derived from the verb HAYAH, meaning “to be.” Our faith also holds that Jesus is God.

For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Truth has been under attack from the very beginning of time, and in America, opposition to Jesus Christ has intensified. People are avoiding, denying, and suppressing the truth more than ever. They can ignore it, they can mock it, and they can pretend it does not exist, but that changes nothing. The sad thing is there is some debate about what is true even among Christians!

In 1995, approximately fifty percent of Christians said there are moral truths which are unchanging, and that truth is absolute, not relative to the circumstances. Not surprisingly, ten years later in 2005, The Barna Group conducted a poll revealing only 35% of Americans believe in absolute standards of morality, that right and wrong do not change with time or circumstances.1 (33% didn’t even know how to respond!)

ESTABLISHING A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW

A person’s worldview is a significant step toward self-awareness, self-knowledge and self-understanding. Your worldview as a Christian needs to be based on a foundation of God’s Word. Our sovereign God is not surprised, but it must grieve His heart to see the condition of our country, the world, and the church today. Holiness and righteousness are practically meaningless to some religious folks. The Word of God is being watered down, truth is being diluted, and this has led to moral and cultural confusion.

Here’s a quick example: I’m pro-life and sure hope you are as well. I have learned that even in the church, believers have different views on abortion and when life begins. This proves either we don’t read our Bibles as much anymore, or we believe the talking heads. Especially in the church, building on a foundational worldview of biblical truth is paramount.

In a Crosswalk.com article, Michael Foust wrote:

“Barna defines a biblical worldview as believing that: moral absolutes exist; the source of truth is the Bible; the Bible is “accurate in all of the principles it teaches,” salvation is by grace alone; Jesus lived a sinless life; believers have a duty to witness; Satan is real and not just a symbol; God is the “all-knowing, all-powerful maker of the universe who still rules that creation today.”

This worldview is the foundation for every decision you make in life. I don’t care who you are, how old you are, where you live, or what kind of family you grew up in; if you have not considered exactly how your personal beliefs, philosophy, and worldview were formed, it is time to take a serious look at what you believe and why.

We must be undaunted in establishing God’s Word as the basis of our thinking, our faith, and our lives. If we don’t make this critically important decision, we’ll be in danger of seeing the world through our own feelings, personal experiences, opinions, Hollywood, media, and what others have told us, instead of through God’s eyes. Some of us have lived much of our lives believing what we have heard or read at one time, instead of believing what God says. May the Lord have mercy on our biblical illiteracy!

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teach­ing, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness – (2 Timothy 3:16).

Is it possible to live authentically and effectively as a Christian and not believe the entire Bible word for word? If you do not believe in parts of the Bible, then how can you trust God’s Word in its entirety? Is Jesus a liar? Did he only really mean most of the things He said? This is where people living on a spiritual fault line panic at the first sign of a life-shaking trial, revealing their foundation wasn’t very solid.

You may be reading this right now and God is nudging you to evalu­ate what you think about truth. Jesus promised his followers the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth (John 16:13). If you think the Bible is a history book or a moral guide, then you are missing out on knowing Jesus. Evangelical Christian theologian, author, and pastor, Francis Schaeffer stated:

“Truth always carries with it confrontation. Truth demands confrontation; loving confrontation nevertheless. If our reflex action is always accommodation regardless of the centrality of the truth involved, there is something wrong.”

The battle over what is true divides people. This is the state of America today because if opponents of truth can convince people to believe that God doesn’t exist, then there are no moral restraints and anything goes. In his book, 78 – How Christians Can Save America, author and radio talk show host, Peter Heck, included a fascinating interaction with a caller to his program. Here’s a portion:

James: “…There are different ways of looking at the world, and there are different perspectives people have, and …saying that this is a concrete right, and this is a concrete wrong may be true given your perspective, but it’s not maybe true given mine….”

Peter: “…do you realize that Hitler was doing what he thought was right? He was merely speeding up the evolutionary process. He was attempting to bring about a master race and extermi­nate all the riff-raff. It’s the same thing Planned Parenthood was founded to do. Get rid of all the lesser folks. Now, maybe you don’t agree with his strategy, but he just had a different per­spective on how to improve the lives of humanity than Mother Theresa, but ultimately they both wanted the same thing, right?

“What if I said that it would have been better for Mother The­resa to kill all those impoverished people she lived with? Take them out of their misery! Why is this perspective wrong? …There has to be a truth that is fixed, that is right for all men, or we’re in a lot of trouble.”

The truth established from the beginning is God. He is eternal. Though humanists have made progress in their goal to blot out God, ultimately it will be impossible. Even if they could eradicate Christianity from America one day, we know He is everlasting; He is the beginning and the end, and He holds the universe in his hands.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T BELIEVE, START WITH THE TRUTH

In my personal conversations with people who do not believe the Bible is the Word of God, my intention is never to try to force them to believe or to convince them about Jesus; that’s the job of the Holy Spirit. My job is to speak honestly to whoever will listen and allow God to work through me. Some people simply don’t want to believe, and that is the beauty of free will. We serve a loving God who refuses to force His creation to worship Him.

The road to life is a narrow one, but whoever believes in Jesus can have everlasting life because God is no respecter of persons. Take the necessary time to thoroughly examine the Scriptures. Even though God knows some will refuse to believe no matter what, He desires all people to know the truth and be saved through Jesus Christ because there is only one God (1 Timothy 2:3-5), and Christ is the only Media­tor between God and man.

If someone gave you this book, and you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, it’s not too late to be saved unless you are simply unwilling to ask. Please search your heart right now and see if you honestly want to know the one true God personally. He loves you and He is waiting for you with open arms. He is the only God who is alive! It’s not wrong to have doubts, but those doubts need to be dealt with – and He’s knock­ing right now.

If you are sincerely ready to accept God’s will for your life, here’s a prayer God always answers: “Father in heaven, please show me the truth about who Jesus Christ is.” He wants to reveal His love and truth to you and show you His plan for your life. God never promises an easy life, but He does promise us a better life. Our part is the faith, His part is the fulfillment.

Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3).

It is easy for people to criticize what they do not understand. The Bible tells us the message of the cross is foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18) to unbelievers because God frustrates those who think they are intelligent or wise. Proverbs 3:7 warns us to not be wise in our own eyes. After all, who can fully comprehend a perfect God?

Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels, announced to the nations; He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory (1 Timothy 3:16). 

Jesus is the cornerstone, which is one reason why there is so much division over him. Everything written in the Bible concerning Him is true. On the other hand, some think Jesus was simply a persuasive teacher, the leader of a rebellion, or even a lunatic because of the claims He made. According to Jesus, He is the bread of life, the door, the gate, the light, the truth, and the way. Jesus said He was not of this world and that He overcame the world.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples He was going back to heaven to prepare a place for them and then return for them because He wanted His followers to be with Him in God’s glory. He also told them they should know where He was going and how to get there. Thomas said to Him, Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered:

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him (John 14:6-7).

This statement by Jesus Christ must be dealt with, because it does not allow for wiggle room. The Bible is the God-breathed, Holy Spirit-inspired Word of life. If you doubt the Bible can be infallible, since it was written by men, then you are putting God in a box.

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Is anything too hard for the Lord? God’s ways are higher than ours, and if we believe in the Creator then we must believe He gives us our intellect. Without a creator, without a design, and without a plan, you and I are just cosmic accidents living a purposeless, random existence.

After all, without God, our lives are based on ourselves (we’re number one!) and on living for today. But if God’s Word is true, and we really are sinners in need of rescue, then there must be right and wrong, true and false, good and bad, light and darkness, and moral absolutes.

Our godless society has been heading full speed away from Christ, and many people seem to hate the very truth that could save them! As a whole, our secular progressive culture has denied the truth of God and the authority of the Bible, in order to defend and justify their unholy living. The result is chaos, confusion, moral relativism, self-exaltation, and countless forms of spirituality apart from Christianity. It is dif­ficult for the natural man to grasp the sovereignty, omniscience, and omnipotence of a perfect God. Even in the church, doctrine divides denominations and the best of Christians. Riding the fence with a foot in two different worldviews is not an option.

CHRIST BEFORE ALL THINGS

John [the Baptist] testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me (John 1:15).

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule… (Genesis 1:26).

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spo­ken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radi­ance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power… (Hebrews 1:1-3)

These verses confirm and bear witness to the fact Christ existed before He came to live on earth for 33 years. This can be hard to grasp with our human minds, but it is essential to understanding the truth. It also reinforces the Trinity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Believers don’t consider the creation account often enough. All things were created by Him and for Him. Colossians 1:17 tells us He [Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

In addition, Jesus said the following in John 5:39, 40, and 46:

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life…. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.

The religious leaders flipped out when they heard Jesus say this, and then they blew a gasket when Jesus told them He existed before Abra­ham (John 8:56). This challenges us to dig deeper into our faith. John R.W. Stott was an English Christian leader and was very influential in the worldwide evangelical movement. He said it is the uniqueness of Christ that we defend:

“So, because in no other person but Jesus of Nazareth did God first become human (in his birth), then bear our sins (in his death), then conquer death (in his resurrection) and then enter his people (by his Spirit), he is uniquely able to save sinners. Nobody else has his qualifications.”

Most Christians don’t have a problem with the above assertions or Scriptures, but some have a hard time with being saved by grace alone. A few religions overemphasize good works – doing as much as you can to be accepted by God or to get to heaven – which is not what the Bible teaches. In Ephesians 2, Paul writes that we are saved only through faith because of God’s grace. Grace is undeserved favor. Grace has nothing to do with our efforts.

However, it is also important to balance out our faith and good deeds because faith without actions is useless. We are to live what we believe in full expression and demonstration of our faith. The Bible also teaches faith works through love (Gal. 5:6). But please do not miss the point that there is absolutely nothing you or I can do to get God to love us more or accept us more. Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:38-39).

Then there are others who don’t think they need to put their trust in Jesus to go to heaven. They might say, “I am a good person. I have never murdered or raped anybody. I try to follow the Golden Rule. I love the planet and recycle, and I even volunteer.” I would ask them if they think Jesus was a good person.

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone (Mark 10:17-18).

No one is good enough on their own to approach a holy God. He also made the point that we are incapable of keeping the command­ments, so how can anyone be saved by trying to be good through their own efforts?

Have you ever lied, stolen anything, coveted something someone else had, hated someone in your heart (murder), or lusted after another person (adultery)? Have you always honored your mother and father? Have you ever idolized a person or a thing over God? (Like a Hollywood actor, rock star, sports team, athlete, celebrity, bike, car, boat, house, etc.) Have you ever taken the Lord’s name in vain? Not one of us is good, and it’s impossible for us to keep the laws and commandments of God on our own. That’s why the gospel truly is very good news. Those of us who confess Jesus is our Lord and Savior, believing in our hearts, are forgiven, saved, set free, redeemed, restored, sanctified, and blessed. We have a bright future and an eternal hope!

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO REFUSE TO BELIEVE

I recently had a good conversation with a very liberal guy who is not a Christian. Though he didn’t believe the Bible is God’s Word or that Christ alone is Lord, he listened to what I shared. Sadly, the conversa­tion left his heart unchanged. He complimented me on being a person of conviction even though he disagreed with me.

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The natural man may be wise according to the world’s wisdom and intellect, but that won’t get him very far when it comes to discerning spiritual things. His pride, earthly success, degrees and worldly educa­tion prevent him from admitting he needs God. Though this person I talked with hasn’t read much of the Bible, he had formed strong beliefs and negative opinions about Christianity and religion in general. Not only that, but he also taught this worldview to his children, and they now take bits and pieces from many religions.

I call it cafeteria Christianity. They choose what they want, when they want it, and avoid what they don’t like in the Bible. It is being dangerously mired in the mucky middle. But if you have an unwaver­ing faith in Jesus Christ built on the solid foundation of God’s Word, your beliefs will not be shaken. Your faith will withstand the debates, opinions, talking points, arguments, and attacks of opponents. We don’t have all the answers, so we don’t need to pretend we do.

I love the Lord because He changed my heart. I am convinced about the truth of Jesus Christ because of massive evidence – archeological, biblical, and historical – and years of personal research and study. This other person was just as convinced in his views by his upbringing, by liberal friends, and higher education. We both believe our convictions are right and true. So what is the lesson? Don’t get discouraged when you talk to someone who simply doesn’t want to believe. Pray for them. The results are in God’s hands.

The more I study the Bible, the more I realize I need to learn. Our responsibility is to always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15). Are you prepared to explain the reason for your faith in Christ? The Holy Spirit will instruct us and teach us. People may not know exactly what they’re looking for, but they are searching. Everyone has a void only Christ can fill. We are ambassadors for Christ commissioned to share the truth, so speak it with boldness.

Biblical truth has been forced out of the public square, followed by a purposeful shift away from Christianity in America to the point where we are confused about church and state issues. Since truth matters, we need to look at what our founders believed and how this country was established. While doing this, we must understand the founder’s intent and the connection between God and government in the United States. We’ll tackle this in chapter two…

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is jus­tified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved… For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9-10, 13 ESV).

This is an excerpt (Chapter 1 in its entirety) from the book, ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA, by David Fiorazo. “Why Truth Matters.”

How then should we live?

Worldview Culture Circles

Graphic courtesy of Biblical Worldview Institute – a division of Cascade Christian schools

daniel plan docs and rick warren

Rick Warren’s book, The Daniel Plan, was inspired by the original 2011 health seminar held at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, at which three experts came together to teach the world how to be healthy. There is nothing wrong with taking care of our bodies while we work toward making disciples of Jesus Christ, but let’s look at this approach strictly from a Christian perspective. One doctor is Muslim, one Jewish, and one a proponent of New Age mysticism: What could go wrong?

Warren said in an interview the book is far more than a diet; “it is about living a healthier life based on biblical principles,” however, the yeast being added to this recipe includes the doctor’s beliefs and practices that fall under the category of false teachings or another gospel. This is not a concern about associating with unbelievers; Jesus obviously spent time with sinners. However, He did not give unbelievers a platform with which to promote their religion or teachings that do not line up with the Bible.

The Daniel Plan landed in the No. 1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list in the “Advice, How To and Miscellaneous” list, and churches all across America are eating it up. Romans 14:13 warns us to be careful not to put a stumbling block in our brother’s way. I agree with writer, Marsha West, that there’s nothing wrong with losing weight; wanting to feel better, look better, be stronger, and think sharper. West stated:

The problem lies with the witch’s brew cooked up by Rick Warren and his team of doctors. As I’ve demonstrated, doctors Amen, Hyman and Oz are steeped in Eastern mysticism and the occult. A large number of Christians trust Rick Warren and will purchase their books — and a lot of them will be influenced by a worldview that is incompatible with Christianity, namely New Age Spirituality. Again, more than 5,000 small groups will go through TDP. God help them!

The following is an excerpt from ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA

In 2011, Warren and Saddleback hosted the kick-off for the 52-week health program called The Daniel Plan. The problem is not with doing these things, it is with how they are done as well as who implements them. The “experts” called in to head the program go way beyond promoting physical health and are absolute advocates and proponents of eastern-style meditation.

Dr. Daniel Amen teaches techniques such as a twelve-minute form of meditation, Kriya Kirtan which includes chants and mantras for various purposes such as health and wealth. The promoted benefit of Kriya Kirtan is connecting with your inner divinity. This is a form of kundalini yoga (see Amen’s book, The Brain in Love, p. 146). Those who have researched and understand New Age mysticism know that kundalini (or serpent power) is the spiritual “energy” behind meditation.

Another form of meditation that Dr. Amen advocates is called “Tantra” or tantric sex which is the use of Hinduistic-type mysticism during sexual intercourse. Tantra is the name of the ancient Hindu sacred texts that contain certain rituals and secrets. Some deal with taking the energies brought forth in meditation through the chakras and combining them with love-making to enhance sexual experiences. Rick Warren clearly stated Dr. Amen’s resources would be available for those who attended the seminar and, of course, available on line. In almost all of Dr. Amen’s resources, he advocates eastern meditation.

Dr. Mark Hyman is a nominee to President Obama’s advisory group on prevention, health promotion, and public health. In his book The Ultramind Solution, Dr. Hyman emphasizes mystical meditation, say­ing it doesn’t matter what religion one has in order to benefit from it (p. 322). Dr. Hyman suggests that “Mindful meditation is a powerful, well-researched tool, developed by Buddhists” (p. 384). On Dr. Hyman’s website you can read the article, “How the Dalai Lama Can Help You Live to 120.” On the book’s front cover sits an endorsement by Dr. Mehmet Oz, the third Daniel Plan doctor.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, a highly renowned cardiovascular surgeon was catapulted into American living rooms thanks to Oprah Winfrey who featured him on her show for five years, making him a household name. That eventually led to him getting his own television show, currently one of the more popular shows on TV. Like it or not, Oprah has influenced perhaps millions to at least check out the New Age movement and calls Oz her favorite doctor. Influenced by the mysticism of Sufi Muslims, Oz was raised as a Muslim and wrote an article called “Mehmet Oz Finds His Teacher” in which he shares his spiritual awakening.

According to one of Oz’s mentors, mystic Emanuel Swedenborg, “heaven and hell are not merely places but spiritual states. We do not ‘go there’ when we die. We are already there.” Dr. Oz is also a propo­nent of transcendental meditation and Reiki meditation, and his wife is a Reiki Master. Reiki is a type of “energy healing” based on the New Age chakra system and puts those practicing it into contact with the realm of familiar spirits.

These three doctors worked with Warren to create a health plan that may already have been implemented by Purpose Driven Churches world­wide, and tragically, millions of people could possibly be introduced to their New Age influences. If he doesn’t support their teachings, he sure gave them a big platform with which to promote them.

There’s a reason Christians are warned to “test all spirits,” be discerning, and do not believe every one. (1 Thess. 5:21, 1 John 4:1) Are book sales a confirmation that the contents are biblical?

…“But wait,” one might argue, “look at the size and growth of our church buildings and marketing campaigns and fundraisers! Look at how hip and relevant we are! We even serve cappuccino and lattes! We host Yoga classes and support environmentalism. Our sermons are catchy, our services are attractive, the kids are having fun, and we’ve blended in with culture!” This is my point exactly about conforming to the world’s ways in order to draw people to church. Let’s stick to teaching the simple, eternal truth of the gospel.

The danger of compromise is always on Christians who, while giving others the benefit of the doubt, partner with other [individuals and] organizations that have fundamentally contrasting beliefs and doctrines.

For more:

Print Booklet Tract: Rick Warren’s Daniel Plan – The New Age/Eastern Meditation Doctors Behind the Saddleback Health

Rick Warren’s Daniel Plan Embraces New Age Spirituality

The Unfolding of a Global New Age Plan

“Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life” awash with doctrines of demons

The Daniel Plan and its New Age Ingredients

*To read complete excerpts from chapters 12 and 13 from ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA, please click this link:

Pastor Rick Warren and Emerging Mega Churches

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What did the media know and when did they know it?

Since 2010, guns linked to Obama’s Fast and Furious have turned up at crime scenes in Mexico and the United States and we’ve barely heard a peep in the news. The latest gun traced back to the operation was found after a shootout between authorities and Mexican drug cartel thugs in late December 2013.

Erik Holder was right. Though he refuses to take any responsibility for the tragic Fast and Furious operation,  he did admit we’re going to see even more deaths in Mexico for years to come as a result of the Obama administration’s operation.

How is this not a major story?

Holder’s DOJ is still under investigation, but since there has been so little coverage from the beginning, there is no pressure on the administration, which means Americans may never know the truth.

The Bureau of Alco­hol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said in a statement:

“ATF has accepted responsibility for the mistakes made in the Fast and Furious investigation and at the attorney general’s direction we have taken appropriate and decisive action to ensure that these errors will not be repeated. And we acknowledge that, regrettably, firearms related to the Fast and Furious investigation will likely continue to be recovered at future crime scenes.”

Let’s review the facts from the Fast and Furious scandal and you can decide whether the media should have reported this all along.

Eric Holder’s chief of staff, deputy attorney general, Gary Grindler, oversaw the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which led the failed “gun-walking” operation. He was another member of the Justice Department that resigned a year ago.

A report at the time from House Oversight Committee chairman Darryl Issa recommended disciplinary action against Grindler and 13 other officials; Grindler was accused of “passing the buck” and failing to take charge of the department.

In June 2012, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was voted in con­tempt of Congress by 259 members of the House of Representatives for stonewalling the investigation into the Operation Fast and Furious scandal.

In all of American history, no sitting Cabinet member had been held in contempt of Congress. President Obama even stepped in and used his “executive privilege” to protect Eric Holder. If Holder did nothing wrong, why did he need protection and why not cooperate with the investigation? What are they hiding?

In this case, American guns were used in the deaths of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, Immigra­tion and Customs Enforcement Agent Jaime Zapata, and at least 210 Mexican citizens so far. The gun used in Terry’s death was purchased in Arizona, and the gun used in Zapata’s death was purchased in Texas. Both were “Fast and Furious” guns.

From 2009 to 2011, Obama administration ATF ran Operation Fast and Furious (a.k.a. Project Gunrunner), a program to track U.S.-purchased firearms headed to Mexican drug cartels in order to get to cartel heads.

Critics believe the real purpose of the operation was to undermine the Second Amendment by vilifying gun owners and sellers so the govern­ment could enforce stricter gun laws in America. Either way, it went terribly wrong.

One problem with the plan was that our DOJ didn’t even notify Mexican authorities that thousands of semi-automatic firearms were being sold to people in Arizona thought to have links to Mexican drug cartels. ATF agents were ordered not to intercept the smugglers, but rather to let the guns ‘walk’ across the U.S.-Mexican border and into the hands of Mexican drug-trafficking organizations.

Fast and Furious was botched when over 1,400 guns, including AK-47’s, were lost. The operation was halted in December 2010 after two weapons the department lost track of were found at the murder scene of Brian Terry. His family filed a lawsuit charging that the top federal prosecutor in Phoenix lied to them about the guns found at the crime scene in an attempt to hide the weapons’ connection to the ATF’s operation.

Rather than report the facts, the media made this a political issue, and Holder has even accused Republicans of racism.

Rep. Issa and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) requested the Justice Department release thousands of documents related to the inner workings of Fast and Furious. The Justice Department then delivered less than ten percent of the 80,000 documents. Issa also released a report suggesting top DOJ officials had extensive knowledge of and involvement in Fast and Furious than previously acknowledged.

In February 2011, the Justice Department sent a letter to Congress denying the operation even existed! Ten months later, the Department retracted the letter. Then, Eric Holder insisted he did not even know about the program until early 2011.

After months of inves­tigation, the Justice Department finally acknowledged the allegations were true. Why did it take nearly nine months for the Department to acknowledge Holder’s earlier denials were false? Did they need ‘cover-up’ time knowing the media would give them a pass?

In other words; people died, Holder lied, and the media glossed over the corruption. Why did senior Justice Department officials who knew about and received briefings on the operation fail to stop it?

By the way, Gary Grindler isn’t the only personnel change in the DOJ. Former ATF Director Kenneth Melson began talking to inves­tigators and pointed to a cover up. Melson was moved to a new position with the ATF. At least four more ATF officials were also reassigned or promoted by the Obama administration to other positions in Washington D.C. This is how the Left rolls.

Naturally, Holder has not only received continued support from President Obama, but White House spokesman Jay Carney said at the time, “He absolutely stands by the Attorney General, thinks he is doing an excellent job.”

ATF is not down in Mexico trying to track down the lost weapons. In a recent article, John Hayward said,

“The tracking system for the Fast and Furious guns involves waiting for them to turn up at crime scenes and stepping gingerly around the chalk outlines to retrieve them.”

With so little accountability, is the Obama administration simply above the law?

Tragically, the DOJ has yet to publicly hold anyone accountable for this disastrous operation, and the bottom line is Americans are no longer getting the truth from a free press once established to keep government in check.

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If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you (John 15:17-19).

Sarah Palin’s new book, “Good Tidings and Great Joy: Protecting the Heart of Christmas,” is “about Christ and our ability to worship Him freely. It’s about America and what liberty truly means…” In an interview with The Brody File for CBN News, she stated what most of us already know:  those who are offended by public expressions of our Christian faith or by religious displays during Christmas season are really offended by Jesus himself. Sarah Palin stated:

“People who would be offended that we celebrate the Prince of Peace because it is called Christmas, it’s because the name Christ is in the title that they would be offended. So that tells you this war on Christmas is really the tip of the spear when it comes to a greater battle that’s brewing and that battle that’s brewing is those who would want to take God out of our society, out of our culture which will lead to ruin as history has proven. Any country, any government society that has kicked God out of the public square completely, it leads to ruin. Why would we go down that path when we know what would happen?”

Our country IS going down that path. Within a week, liberals such as Cher and MSNBC’s Martin Bashir viciously attacked Palin with words and hate too vile for me to type out here. Again, the Left shows their true colors when it comes to Christian conservatives.

THIS is just one reason why I was compelled to write ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA. The following is an excerpt from chapter 7, ”They Love to Hate Sarah Palin,” which highlights some of the worst journalism and liberal hypocrisy in our nation’s history.

Not everyone in the media is evil. Many have been brainwashed at some point in their education or in their careers. We may not be able to turn back the tide of bias, but let’s raise more awareness by sharing the truth. We may not be able to hold the media accountable, but we can expose their hypocrisy. Plenty of Americans still do care.

FLASHBACK: HOW THE MEDIA HELPED ELECT BARACK OBAMA

People tend to believe half-truths or lies, if they are repeated often enough. What happened in 2008 should be taught in journalism classes and should go down as the final nail in the coffin of media objectiv­ity. The character assassination, personal attacks, and brutal political assault on former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin should never have been allowed to happen. I’ve never seen so much hatred toward one person trumpeted by the media. It should be something fair-minded Ameri­cans won’t soon forget.

I discuss truth quite a bit in this book, and though we know the Bible is the ultimate truth, we should be no less concerned about truth in our country, culture, and media. They don’t even try hiding their bias anymore. The fact that the Christian worldview is not popular in today’s society shouldn’t be surprising to us, but we are American citizens, and we deserve to know the facts and the truth about issues affecting America.

Front Page Magazine’s John Perazzo has monitored years of media bias and said he had never seen it more pronounced than in the 2008 election cycle:

“The professionals who constitute America’s mainstream news media – the reporters, editors, anchors, publishers, correspondents, bureau chiefs, and executives at the nation’s major newspapers, magazines, radio networks, and television networks – are leftists and Democrats in far greater numbers than they are conservatives or Republicans… they have been transformed – by virtue of the one-sided, passionately partisan worldview shared by editors and reporters alike – into mouthpieces of the political Left.”

Sarah Palin is hated, not for what she has done, but for who she is – a pro-life Christian conservative. She is also hated because she is a strong, family-oriented, successful career woman. Liberal Feminists can’t stand her because she accomplished so much in public office while raising five children. She seems genuinely happy with her life and that bugs them too. The foundational reason they hate her, however, may be that her joy comes from an authentic faith in Jesus Christ. Palin promotes a passion for life. She loves her God, her family, and her country.

Furthermore, she is attractive, she brings ratings to every program she appears on, and has authored two best-selling books. Her eight-part documentary, Sarah Palin’s Alaska on TLC broke ratings records with nearly 5 million tuning in for the premiere.  Though she had to develop a thick skin, she is sensitive, vulnerable and, of course, human. This is a point we often miss about famous public figures. She is like you and me, and many of us are like her.

What do I mean by that? Tens of millions of patriotic Americans identify with her in some way. She gained popularity for being herself and by representing traditional values.

When we live to glorify Jesus, some people will feel guilty. Moreover, darkness does not like being exposed and will lash out at any sign of a serious threat. It is important to recognize the spiritual undercurrent to this reaction, and it comes from a dark, evil place. The lesson is this: when we choose to live as a committed Christian, it shines light on sin and on the way others have chosen to live.

A living, glaring, obvious reminder that Sarah Palin is seeking God’s heart is the fact she and her husband Todd gave birth to a child with Down syndrome. The Palins welcomed their son, Trig, as the special gift from God that he is. [They are walking the pro-life talk.] By choosing life and being in the public eye, they showed a watching world in 2008 that every human life is to be valued instead of a “problem” to be dealt with as the pro-abortion crowd believes. That alone makes the mob furious.

The irrational hatred toward Sarah Palin cannot be explained in the usual terms of politics and ideology. The traditional divide of ‘liberal versus conservative’ or “Democrat versus Republican” cannot explain such dark, almost other-worldly expressions as ‘I hope she dies gnashing her teeth’ or death threats against the Palins’ children such as when Bristol appeared on Dancing With The Stars.

It’s clear most elites, progressives, liberals, and socialists have con­tempt for Sarah Palin because of her faith in God. They are their own gods, and Christianity is a threat to them. As a result, they treat Palin with hostility, vitriol, disdain, nastiness, sarcasm, maliciousness, and hate. These are symptoms of the overall war against Jesus Christ in America.

The root cause is always spiritual, and it begins in the human heart. Many have given their take on this phenomenon. In his outstand­ing book, How Evil Works, author David Kupelian brilliantly explained:

“Haven’t you ever wondered why, when someone on the public stage radiates noble character, common sense and natural grace – like Ronald Reagan did, or more recently Sarah Palin – he or she is regarded by the ‘big media’ with an inexplicable revulsion? Hatred is almost too soft a word. It’s because Reagan and Palin manifest the very qualities of character that the jaded media elite lost long ago, and since being thus reminded of their lost innocence is painful and unwelcome, they feel compelled to attack the ‘reminder.’”

TWEETING HATE

In 2011, Sarah Palin’s political action website had targets on congressional districts across the country where Republicans needed to win. Democrats have done the exact same thing on their strategy maps! Some in the media and many on the Left actually blamed Palin for the January shooting in Arizona that injured more than a dozen people, killed six, and severely injured Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Proclaimers of civility and tolerance want to take away our guns, but they want Sarah Palin shot. I share the following, especially for those who say there is hatred on both sides. Here are a fraction of the “Tweets” that blasted across the Internet:

“My hatred for Palin continues to grow. I think this woman should be assassinated.”

“Can somebody please shoot Sarah Palin?”

“I hope Sarah Palin dies an ugly death and takes her moronic hate with her.”

“I am very nonviolent, but somebody needs to shoot Palin’s toes off.”

“Save a wolf – shoot Sarah Palin: just saw that on a bumper sticker, ha ha”

“I may hate Sarah Palin, but I wish no real violence upon her. Just an inoperable tumor is all.”

“Sarah Palin is the single most dangerous threat to the future of the human race. Somebody should shoot her.”

“Join us in praying to God that Sarah Palin contracts cancer and dies.”

“I hope Sarah Palin dies a slow and painful death.”

The Left can be quite hypocritical, and media will not hold them accountable for their actions. They demand respect for every religion except Christianity… If a Dem­ocrat is even mildly insulted, the media is sure to report it.

The Bible warns about calling evil good, and calling good evil (Isaiah 5:20); those who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness.’ If people simply disagree with Sarah Palin or anyone else on policies or politics, that’s fine.  The problem is that their disagreement with her worldview evolves into an irrational hatred of her as a person. Michelle Malkin stated:

“Hollywood savaged Palin. Journalists mocked her. Liberal blogs slimed her. Opponents cursed her, Photoshopped her, hacked her e-mail, hanged her in effigy, called her bigot, Bible-thumper and bimbo, and attacked her husband and children…”

What the mainstream media did during the presidential campaigns and election of 2008 was not only embarrassing, it was glaring evidence of their overt allegiance to the Democratic Party. There were journalists who left the profession because of their association with blatant bias and corruption, and Americans lost complete trust in the media’s ability to deliver an unfiltered story. The good news is millions of truth seek­ers now get news from alternative sources, and this is creating a new wave of citizen journalism: concerned individuals sharing important factual information.

The debate in 2008 began with John McCain’s age (which I agree was an issue) and with Sarah Palin’s experience (which shouldn’t have been an issue). First, a quote from a young, green, liberal Senator:

“You know, I am a believer in knowing what you’re doing when you apply for a job. And I think that if I were to seriously consider running on a national ticket, I would essentially have to start now, before having served a day in the Senate. Now, there are some people who might be comfortable doing that, but I’m not one of those people.” – Senator Barack Obama, 11/08/2004

Hollywood and media elites believe experience only matters if a can­didate is a Republican. Though I was not sure John McCain could win in 2008, (an old white-haired moderate Republican and Veteran run­ning against a young, black, charismatic, liberal Democrat and smooth orator) McCain’s four years as a member of Congress and twenty-five years in the United States Senate did not seem to be important to the media. Tragically, it was not important to many Americans either. The media did, however, point out McCain’s age, his past bout with skin cancer, and the fact he couldn’t raise his arms over his head (due to the torture he endured as a POW). It was a brilliant strategy: ‘he’s old, look at his white hair!’

Since John McCain was not a conservative, he was easily cast aside as not being a threat to Barack Obama. There was, however, a very real and present danger to Democrats in Sarah Palin: a popular, attractive, and charismatic, walk-the-talk conservative. She represented practi­cally everything liberal elites and socialists oppose. So they hated her.

THE CONTRAST

Sarah Palin began her career in public service back in 1992, and by the time she was Alaska’s Governor, Barack Obama was well-known in Chicago as a community organizer. Unbelievably, the national media tried – with straight faces – to suggest Sarah Palin’s seventeen years in public office, including six as mayor, did not give her the experience necessary to be a vice presidential candidate. Obama’s total of less than two years of experience in politics as a new senator was not an issue. Obama was running for president, not vice president! Columnist Noel Sheppard did a piece for Newsbusters in 2008 and made an excellent argument:

“After all, just days after winning his U.S. Senate seat in 2004, Barack Obama said he didn’t have enough experience to sit in the White House. As he basically threw his hat in the presi­dential ring during an October 22, 2006, appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, it means that less than twenty-two months in the Senate is all he needed to be more qualified than he felt he was roughly two years prior.”

Plenty of Obama’s time in the Senate was spent traveling and cam­paigning, which is one thing he does very well. What executive experi­ence did he have? During his on the job training in the Illinois Senate, he voted “present” 129 times while representing his constituents. Vot­ing “present” was one of three options in the Illinois Legislature, along with “yes” and “no.” The primary job responsibility of a United States Senator is to review bills and vote on legislation passed by committee. At least he showed up physically.

In contrast, Sarah Palin had many years of executive experience in both the public and private sectors. As Governor of Alaska, she man­aged a $14 billion budget. As President of the United States, Obama failed to pass a budget in his first three years, so it is doubtful he knows how to manage one. As a young lawyer, Obama represented ACORN and was a successful community organizer and activist in Chicago. As Alaska’s Governor, Palin fought government waste and won. Her finan­cial administration was over a state whose revenue fluctuates widely, entirely dependent on the price of a barrel of oil.

Obama worked with liberal non-profit groups and big labor unions, wrote a book, made friends with Oprah and Bruce Springsteen, and lobbied for Hollywood support. Barely half of Illinois residents (51.8%) approved of the job Obama was doing in office as a senator.

Palin challenged both political parties in Alaska while cleaning up years of corruption. Her average job approval rating was in the 80’s, and she had the highest voter-approval ratings of any governor in the United States (93% in May 2007). I’m sure the media simply overlooked these facts or didn’t know where to find them.

SOME KNOW NOT WHY THEY HATE

We’ve all been there – and it’s flabbergasting. We get into a con­versation with a person who firmly believes something without much knowledge or understanding to back up their view. When you ask for factual examples or question them at all, their reply is often irratio­nal. In an article for Front Page Magazine,Why the Left Hates Sarah Palin,writer and producer Evan Sayet wrote about hanging out at his favorite coffee shop in the hopes of doing his writing and converting a few liberals. Because encounters such as this are common, you might relate. Describing an interaction at the coffee shop, Sayet wrote:

“Today, the conversation turned to Sarah Palin and my latest acquaintance blurted out: ‘Oh I hate her.’ Since she did not yet know my politics, and since we were in Los Angeles, it is clear that she expected to hear back what you usually hear back in this city: ‘Yeah, I hate her, too.’ Instead, I asked her why.

“At this point I could have predicted her response because it’s the same response you get from liberals no matter who on the Right you’re talking about: ‘Because she’s stupid.’

“I replied: ‘Being stupid is no reason to hate someone, but tell me, which one of her policies do you disagree with?’ It wasn’t hard to predict her response: ‘All of them!’

“I continued to push. ‘Well, then, if it’s all of them, it should be easy for you to name one.’ Her reply? ‘They’re too many to list.’ ‘So don’t list them, just give me one,’ I said.

“This went on for a while until my new acquaintance finally admitted that she didn’t know any of Ms. Palin’s policies. Before she ran off… I looked her in the eyes and said, ‘If you don’t know any of her policies, perhaps you should look into them.’ She promised she would. She won’t.”

THE QUOTES: ABOUT BARACK OBAMA

“Barack Obama has prospered in this presidential campaign because of the steadiness of his temperament and the judicious quality of his decision-making. They are his best-known quali­ties. The most important decision he has made – the selection of a running mate – was done carefully, with an exhaustive attention to detail and contemplation of all the possible angles. Two months later, John McCain’s peremptory selection of Gov­ernor Sarah Palin has come to seem a liability…” –Joe Klein, Time magazine

“I see he is getting a standing ovation from all of the journalists who have come there [to hear the speech]….” – Wolf Blitzer, CNN

“Take pride that this nation can produce men and speakers such as that.” – Keith Olberman, MSNBC, following an Obama speech

“It’s part of reporting this…election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama’s speech. My – I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don’t have that too often.” – MSNBC host Chris Matthews

“It’s like running against God; you know the media has anointed him.” – Female CNN host

“People have called you the savior, the messiah, the messenger of change….” – Matt Lauer, interviewing Senator Obama

“…we’re [media] all just – on board – we’re not embarrassed when we get together. We just talk about how much we love Obama.” – Joel Stein, Los Angeles Times

“I’ve been criticized for saying that he inspires me and the hell with my critics … his speech was worthy of Abraham Lincoln.” – Chris Matthews, MSNBC

“I keep hearing that we have our JFK…Lee [Cowan] says to me, ‘it’s hard to stay objective covering this guy.’” – Brian Wil­liams, NBC

“and rally after rally, people literally faint” – ABC news reporter

“Maybe we should ask Barrack if he’s comfortable and needs another pillow.” – Hillary Clinton

“I haven’t been actively engaged before because there hasn’t been anything to be actively engaged in. But I am engaged now to make Barack Obama the next President of the United States.” – Oprah Winfrey

“And let me tell you something – for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment.” – Michelle Obama, 2008 campaign speech

This list could go on for pages so let’s advance the story that made history. Upon winning the nomination for the 2008 Democratic Pri­mary, Barack Obama stated:

“America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love…. I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth. This was the moment – this was the time – when we came together to remake this great nation….” Barack Obama, June 2008

THE QUOTES: ABOUT SARAH PALIN

“After McCain announced his VP candidate, and she gave her [record TV audience] lightning bolt convention speech, and when the polls reflected her high likability…the media was petrified of Sarah Palin.” – Radio talk show host and docu­mentary film director John Zeigler

“This woman is trouble.” – Karen Dunn, strategic campaign assistant to David Axelrod

“You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” – Barrack Obama

“We still don’t have the date of first issuance of her passport.” – Washington Post journalist Carl Bernstein

“Is she indeed incompetent as even some conservatives would say?” – CNN male host

“There’s also this issue that on April 18th, she gave birth to a baby with Down’s Syndrome…. Children with Down’s syndrome require an awful lot of attention.” – CNN anchor John Roberts

“The fact of the matter is the comparison between her [Sarah Palin] and Hillary Clinton is the comparison between an igloo and the Empire State Building!” – MSNBC host Chris Matthews

“The broader question is if Sarah Palin becomes Vice President, will she be shortchanging her kids or will she be shortchanging the country?” – NBC reporter Amy Robach

“Palin would be a backward step for women.” – Joe Biden

“And I can see Russia from my house.” –Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live (86.9 % of those who voted for Obama thought this was a direct Palin quote even though it was Fey who said it.)

“You’re up there in Alaska sneaking around doing anything you want and nobody cares.” – David Letterman

“Palin will be gang-raped by my big black brothers if she enters Manhattan…. It’s about the extreme views of Gov. Sarah Palin – a woman who doesn’t believe that other women should have the right to choose…. I certainly wish Gov. Palin no harm – I’d just like her to explain to me how she can hold such outrageous views … and then go back to Alaska.” – Sandra Bernhard

“She said that small towns, that’s the part of the country she really likes going to because that’s the pro-America part of the country. You know, I just want to say to her, just very quickly: F_ck you.” –Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart

“Bad Mother Palin is blabbing about how her pregnant teen­age daughter has made the right CHOICE!!! Well, first of all, Ms. Palin, I mean MRS. Palin, your slutty daughter wouldn’t have a CHOICE to make at all, if you had your way! …I can see that she gets off talking badly to Barack, and I am sure the “N” word is rollin’ around that empty head of hers somewhere.” –Rosanne Barr

“If John McCain wins, this woman [Sarah Palin] will be one seventy-two-year-old man’s heartbeat away from being presi­dent of the United States, and if that doesn’t scare the hell out of you, it should.” – Jack Cafferty, CNN host

“They shouldn’t have the right to call themselves Christian, for they have no Christ-like attributes. I am a feminist and a Christian – and when I see Sarah Palin – I see neither. And it is official. She is evil.” – Margaret Cho, Comedienne

“There’s a one out of three chance, if not more, that McCain doesn’t survive his first term, and it’ll be President Palin! It’s like a really bad Disney movie, ‘The Hockey Mom.’ Oh, I’m just a hockey mom from Alaska, and she’s president. She’s facing down Vladimir Putin and using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It’s absurd.” –Actor Matt Damon

*This list of quotes is by NO means close to exhaustive.

THE JOKES (a small sampling)

Because some people form political opinions based on comedy, we should look at some late night humor that influenced people’s opinions. Below is a small sampling – there are literally hundreds available – from TV’s entertainers. A study by the Center for Media and Public Affairs actually counted the number of jokes which Jay Leno and David Let­terman told about the four major candidates.

Immediately following McCain’s announcement that Palin would be his VP running mate, there were 180 jokes about Palin and 106 about McCain, compared to sixteen jokes about Biden and twenty-six about Obama in a five week period. That totaled 286 jokes about Republi­cans and 42 jokes about Democrats.

“Sarah Palin and McCain are a good pair. She’s pro-life, and he’s clinging to life…Actually, it was kind of a smart choice. McCain went with a woman because he didn’t want to have to be in a position to have to get CPR from Mitt Romney.” – Tonight Show’s Jay Leno

One of the “Highlights of Sarah Palin’s trip to New York” was that she “Bought makeup from Bloomingdale’s to update her ‘slutty flight attendant’ look.” – David Letterman

Sarah Palin is so dumb; she thinks the capital of China is China­town… Palin thinks there are twenty-two letters in the alphabet.” – The Daily Show

“The Republican Convention is under way. The theme for tonight’s Republican Convention is, ‘Who is John McCain?’ Tomorrow night’s theme is, ‘Who forgot to check if the Vice President’s daughter is pregnant?’” – Conan O’Brien

“What about the husband? You know he’s doing those daughters. I mean, come on. It’s Alaska,” (NY Times assignment editor, portrayed by actor James Franco, responded): “He very well could be. Admittedly, there is no evidence of that, but on the other hand, there is no convincing evidence to the contrary. And these are just some of the lingering questions about Gov­ernor Palin.” – SNL skit about Todd Palin and incest

“It could be her baby, but it is a little suspicious if what I read in US magazine has any weight.” – Bill Maher, on Palin’s son Trig (US magazine cover featured Sarah Palin and the title, “Babies, Lies & Scandal”)

“She looks like one of those women in the Van Halen videos who takes off her glasses, shakes out her hair, and then all of a sudden, she’s in high heels and a bikini. All of a sudden, I am FOR drilling in Alaska.” – Jimmy Kimmel

“One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game, during the seventh inning, her daughter [14-year-old Wil­low] was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez.” – David Letterman, monologue – joking about the rape of a minor

The scales were tilted seven to one with jokes about Republican candidates. Christians shouldn’t expect different behavior from unbe­lievers. Hollywood and the media teamed up and the 2008 popular vote favored Obama/Biden approximately 69 million to 60 million for McCain/Palin. Remove Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago and Obama would have lost the people’s vote.

Americans knew (and still know) less about Barack Obama than any other presidential candidate in United States history and voted him into the most important office in the land. Many people – not just Christians – saw the nonstop hatred toward Sarah Palin and kept quiet. People knew there was bias and tragically accepted it as normal. Post-election, people were surveyed, and the media was questioned.

Here are a few post-election headlines and poll results:

  • Rasmussen: By 10-to-1 Public Says Reporters ‘Tried to Hurt Palin’
  • By Nearly 8-to-1, Voters Say Journalists Wanted Obama to Win
  • By 5-to-1 Public Thinks Most Journalists Tried to Elect Obama
  • Pew Poll Finds Media Credibility Plummets to All-Time Lows
  • Rasmussen: ‘55% Say Media Bias Bigger Problem than Cam­paign Cash’
  • Fox News Poll: Two-Thirds Think Most Journalists Wanted Obama to Win
  • Pew: Many Recognize Media’s Pro-Obama Bias, Democrats Prefer CNN
  • Rasmussen: 63% of ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC View­ers Back Obama

An Investor’s Business Daily study exposed the lopsided ratio of campaign donations as journalists contributed to Democrats 11.5-to-1. Get this, in terms of dollars given, the ratio was 15-to-1.  If you look at those outside the news room, the industry standard is almost purely Democratic. Big media company employees were analyzed revealing shocking results: the ratio in campaign donations is 100-to-1 in favor of the Democrats.

Ratings are crashing, and the public has turned against the media, but they’re too into denial to notice. Almost 70 percent of Americans thought there was a clear media bias favoring Obama, and a majority wanted to hear more reports on the issues instead of the candidates. Despite reader complaints, the elite media put out more favorable sto­ries (73%) about Obama. Journalism is the only profession I know that ignores the wishes of its customers.

Another question that hasn’t been answered is how could the AP, CNN, and other national outlets send over 100 reporters to Alaska to investigate Sarah Palin while sending no one to Chicago – the home of political corruption – to look into Barrack Obama’s background? CNN’s John King admitted that the media assumed Hillary Clinton was going to win the nomination because in Democratic politics “the Clinton name is the gold standard.” King admitted the media didn’t vet Obama, and they “need to learn that lesson.” The criticism of the media is legitimate.

The next year, [2009] within a matter of weeks, the mainstream media ran thirty-seven negative reports on Sarah Palin and only two positive sto­ries. Tina Fey even got an Emmy nomination for mocking Sarah Palin on SNL and believe it or not, Katie Couric received a journalism award for her infamous interviews with VP candidate Palin. Couric’s CBS crew edited hours of interview footage and aired only selected segments. Do you think they told the public the whole story?

CONCLUSION

America is a free country, and we have a free press, but the media fails to live up to their responsibility to bring factual information to the people. This is beyond conclusive when it comes to Sarah Palin, and it is a serious issue. We may not be able to change what they believe or how they present the news, but we can pray for their salvation and for more citizens to wake up and see the corruption. A remnant of truth seekers and defenders is stepping up. Will you join the ranks?

In this age of the 24/7 news cycle, the blogosphere, and very little media accountability, we know the attacks, distortions, and misin­formation will continue to be aimed at Christians and conservatives. Let’s not stoop to their level. Call attention to their hypocrisy, but don’t lose focus. Having the freedom to speak about the Bible and share the Gospel is our priority before party, policy or politics.

The media is part of the culture to blot out God in America. Chris­tians in the public eye, especially those as popular as Sarah Palin, are a threat to the progressive, socialist agenda to normalize and rationalize sinful behavior and destroy the moral fabric in America. If they had their way, we’d be prevented from talking about our faith. We’d stay home, we’d stop quoting the Bible or talking about Jesus Christ on the Internet.

If they had their wish and we kept quiet, the hopeless, lost, and the hurting would not be reached with the good news of Jesus Christ.

We know God works all things together for good (Romans 8:28), and reflecting on this from a biblical viewpoint, I can’t help but think of the story of Joseph. He went from the pit to the prison to the palace. Like Sarah Palin, some of us need to remember these Scriptures when discrimination against Christians increases in America.

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive (Genesis 50:20).

You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved (Matthew 10:22).

*This is an excerpt, not the entire chapter. To read more or to order ERADICATE, click on ‘Purchase’ above. Also available through the WND Superstore, ChristianBook.com, select stores as well as Amazon.com.

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US Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) makes rem

Friends that love God and America:  IF we don’t learn from the past, share the TRUTH, and take action today, we are in danger of continuing down this current path of moral, fiscal, and spiritual decline which will lead to the destruction of the United States. For Christians and others who still care about our faith, freedoms, and the future of this great country, I offer the following excerpts from selected chapters in my book, ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA.

First, some quotes from a 2006 interview:

“Jesus is an historical figure… I want my govern­ment to be operating for all faiths and all peoples, including atheists and agnostics… I find it hard to believe that my God would consign four-fifths of the world to hell… What I believe in is that if I live my life as well as I can, that I will be rewarded. [‘Sin’ means] being out of alignment with my values; I think religion at its best comes with a big dose of doubt… I don’t presume to have knowledge of what happens after I die…”  Barack Obama

If we say we are Christian, do our lives reflect the teach­ings of Jesus Christ and the Word of God? In the chapter about truth, we established the fact that a person’s faith and worldview affects every decision he or she makes. It is ludicrous to ignore the religious back­ground of the President of the United States, the most powerful public office in our country. The problem is most Americans ignored Barack Obama’s background and history before he was elected president.

If we listen to what President Obama says regarding Christianity and then observe what he does, it can be confusing; things don’t add up. The Bible is not ambiguous.

“So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:20)

In 2008, American citizens, Christians included, refused to judge Barack Obama by his own words, his membership of Jeremiah Wright’s controversial church, his stance on abortion, gay marriage, and by his big-government philosophy, his questionable Chicago history and radical activism. Let’s examine some facts.

In October 2009, President Obama gave the keynote address at the annual Human Rights Campaign dinner in Washington, D.C. Among those joining the president were Lady Gaga, Tipper Gore, and the cast of Fox comedy Glee.

The Human Rights Campaign is dedicated to pro­moting homosexual issues education and changing legislation to favor gay rights. President Obama began by praising the gay community for making strides in equal rights and he pledged to deliver on major campaign promises.

He said heterosexuals still “hold fast to outworn arguments and old attitudes” and that we “deny you [gays] the rights most Americans take for granted.” In his speech, the president boldly proclaimed what no other president in American history had articulated regarding the institution of traditional marriage. Here are some direct quotes from the transcript of President Obama’s 25-minute speech:

“I want to thank the Human Rights Campaign for inviting me to speak and for the work you do every day in pursuit of equal­ity on behalf of the millions of people in this country who work hard in their jobs and care deeply about their families – and who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.” (Applause)
“Now, I’ve said this before, I’ll repeat it again – it’s not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans petitioning for equal rights half a century ago.” (Applause) *[a Civil Rights comparison, slavery…REALLY?!]
“My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians – whether in the office or on the battlefield. (Applause) …I am committed to these goals. And my admin­istration will continue fighting to achieve them…. “I support ensuring that committed gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country. (Applause) …
I’ve required all agencies in the federal government to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT families as the current law allows.“And I’ve called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act. (Applause) And we must all stand together against divisive and deceptive efforts to feed people’s lingering fears for political and ideological gain.“

…Day by day, law by law, changing mind by mind, that is the promise we are fulfilling.”

Read more here… NORMALIZING HOMOSEXUALITY

On January 22, 2012, President Obama put in place a new mandate forcing religious employers to pay for birth control and drugs that may cause abortions. Then after the backlash, his administration revised the birth control mandate to require insurance companies to make this provision. Obama has also mandated and then provided for additional embryonic stem cell research with taxpayer funds. During his first term as president, he nominated pro-abortion activists to fed­eral appeals court positions and made pro-abortion judicial picks.

His administration is full of [progressives and] leftist, pro-abortion advocates whose past records should be alarming to Christians. President Obama cut funding for abstinence education. Conversely, he announced $50 million in funding for the UNFPA, the UN population agency that has been criticized for promoting abortion and working closely with Chinese population control officials who use forced abortions and invol­untary sterilizations!  The Obama administration also shut out pro-life groups from attending a White House-sponsored health care summit, but Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups were invited.

NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WRIGHT AND WRONG

If you make a decision to attend a church and become a member, can we assume you believe in their doctrines and agree with the theology of that church? If you were going to the same church for over twenty years, if the pastor performed your wedding and you considered him a good friend, would his teachings become part of your worldview? 

In 2008, the media did their best to avoid mentioning Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama’s mentor. The few times their relationship was brought up the media completely downplayed it. Why?

Wright’s church in Chicago, Trinity United Church, believes and teaches Black Liberation Theology – a theology rooted in Marxism. Obama was given a pass in 2008 when he said the anti-American, racist, socialist views of his pastor were not his views. Yet in his book, Obama refers to his Caucasian grandmother as ”a typical white person.” During his first presidential campaign, he was unwilling to wear an American flag lapel pin. Michelle Obama said she was never proud of her country until her hubby won the Democratic nomination for president.

Here’s a quote by Jeremiah Wright from a 2003 sermon:

“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing God Bless America. No, no, no, God damn America! That’s in the Bible – for killing innocent people … God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme.”

What did candidate Obama say when he was asked about the sermon? He wasn’t there, of course. Was this a one-time outburst by Wright? An ABC News review of dozens of Rev. Wright’s sermons, offered for sale by the church, found repeated denunciations of the United States and the treatment of black Americans. One member of the congregation told ABC, “I wouldn’t call it radical. I call it being black in America.”

Day Gardner, president of the National Black Pro-Life Union com­mented on Wright:

“There are many black people who were offended by his anti-American slurs, because we, as black people have a vested inter­est in this great country… I’m tired of being made to feel – by our own people sometimes, such as Rev. Wright – that we are disconnected from what we are. I am an American.”

The Obama campaign tried to downplay the friendship between Wright and Obama. Rev. Wright baptized their daughters and is cred­ited by Obama for the title of his book, The Audacity of Hope. In the interview cited earlier, Obama was asked where he went for guidance.

“Well, my pastor [Jeremiah Wright] is certainly someone who I have an enormous amount of respect for…Father Michael Pfleger [radical liberal priest] is a dear friend, and somebody I interact with closely.”

During the period of Obama’s attendance at Wright’s Trinity United Church, the Chicago church was openly allied with Louis Farrakhan (Nation of Islam leader, renowned for his hatred of Whites and Jews).

Wright gave Farrakhan his 2007 Empowerment Award! Farrakhan delivered multiple guest lectures at the church and sources confirm Wright and Farrakhan have known each other for over twenty-four years. Farrakhan has called the real evil in America “the idea that undergirds the setup of the Western world, and that idea is called white supremacy.” Al Sharpton, Jeremiah Wright, and Barrack Obama each helped Farrakhan organize his Million Man March event. Do these “connections” matter?

“God will destroy America by the hands of the Muslims. … God will not give Japan or Europe the honor of bringing down the United States; this is an honor God will bestow upon Mus­lims.” Louis Farrakhan, 1996

“Nothing is more powerful than the black church experience.” – Barrack Obama, 2004

“Fact number one: We’ve got more black men in prison than there are in college. … Fact number two: Racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run…Barack knows what it means living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich, white people. Hillary would never know that.” – Jeremiah Wright, 2007

BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY

Twenty years in the same church means nothing according to the progressive Democrats in the media. Let’s start with defining Liberation The­ology: it is a political movement and Christian theology which inter­prets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions. Liberation theology teaches the New Testament gospels can be understood only as calls for social activism, class struggle, and revolution aimed at overturning the exist­ing capitalist order and installing, in its place, a socialist utopia where today’s poor will unseat their “oppressors.”

The movement began in Latin America in the 1950’s – 60’s and teaches that God is the liberator of those oppressed by ruling classes. It came to America through theology professor James Cone, who was influenced by Malcolm X and the Black Power movement. So, where President Obama and Wright are concerned, Black Liberation Theology teaches all Scripture must be interpreted through the black experience.

The chief architect of black liberation theology, James Cone was Professor of Systematic Theology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City and author of several books including Black Theol­ogy and Black Power. Cone views America as a racist nation with no hope of redemption. One of the tasks of this movement, according to Cone, is to analyze the nature of the gospel in light of the experience of blacks victimized by white oppressors. In A Black Theology of Lib­eration, Cone stated:

“What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of Black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject His love.”

Implying that America was founded for white people, Cone calls for “the destruction of whiteness, which is the source of human misery in the world.” He advocates the use of Marxism as a tool of social analysis to help Christians to see “how things really are.”

“Cone believed that Jesus was black and that everyone must ‘become black’ to be saved … When you join the side of the oppressed, you become black,” said Bishop Van B. Gayton of the International Community of Christian Churches as he pointed out the ideology’s shortcomings. “Cone denies the fact that God is for all people.”

The Marxist roots of this theology are evident, and obviously, not all black churches support this theology. Black religious leaders in Wright’s generation are burdened by Cone’s teachings which helped lay a foundation that enables many to embrace Marxism. There is also an emphasis on collective salvation when the black ”community” over­comes oppression. Sadly, this theology encourages a victim mentality and government dependency.

Trinity Church’s promotion of its 12-point Black Value System asks members to measure the worth of all activity in terms of “posi­tive contributions to the general welfare of the Black Community and the Advancement of Black People toward freedom,” while pledging adherence to the Black Worth Ethic and “Allegiance to All Black Lead­ership Who Espouse and Embrace the Black Value System.”

Those who adhere to biblical Christianity honor, revere, and give allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ alone. The notion of “blackness” is not merely a reference to skin color, but rather is a symbol of oppression. When Jeremiah Wright says, “Jesus was a poor black man,” it is because he lived in oppression at the hands of “rich white people.”

“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” – Karl Marx

American Thinker’s Kyle-Anne Shiver visited Obama’s church in early 2008. She described Jeremiah Wright’s sermon as fiery, but not overly controversial, and seemed basically to be a “call for all good con­gregants to support Barack Obama for President.” Shiver explained she had spent months trying to fathom how “Marxist philosophy wound up emblazoned with a cross and a pulpit” while pretending to rely on the authority of the Bible. She came away with far more questions than answers.

What was revealing to Shiver was her visit to the church bookstore following the service. The books were much more political than reli­gious in nature including numerous books prominently displayed by Wright’s mentor, James H. Cone. Shiver’s warnings are clearly pointed:

“Now that I have read a number of the books that presumably Wright’s congregants (including Barack Obama) have also read, I can only conclude that the thing tying these volumes together is not Christianity, nor any real religion, but the political phi­losophy of Karl Marx.”

Books referring to the oppressor and oppressed, freeman and slave, class struggles, and societal revolutions may be fine for a library or his­tory collection, but these and many others were in the Chicago church’s store. These aren’t ideas from the Holy Bible, but the Communist Mani­festo. The danger of Cone and Wright’s teachings is that their claim to a new theology unites the black power of Muslims and Malcolm X with the Christianity of Martin Luther King Jr.

Just the fact Cone is a hero of today’s black power preachers should be telling enough. This is the emphasis of the teachings from Obama’s church. Kyle-Anne Shiver added:

“Understanding that black liberation theology is Marxism dressed up to look like Christianity helps explain why there is no conflict between Cone’s ‘Christianity’ and Farrakhan’s ‘Nation of Islam.’ They are two prophets in the same philosophi­cal (Marxist) pod, merely using different religions as backdrops for their black-power aims.”

On June 8, 2006, Barack Obama was the keynote speaker at Jim Wallis Call to Renewal conference, “Building a Covenant for a New America.” Following his address, in an interview by the United Church News, he cited “the teachings of the UCC (United Church of Christ) as foundation stones for his political work.”

“Religious thinkers and activists like my friend Jim Wallis and Tony Campolo are lifting up the Biblical injunction to help the poor as a means of mobilizing Christians against budget cuts to social programs and growing inequality.”

“Moreover, given the increasing diversity of America’s popu­lation, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Bud­dhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers. …And even if we did have only Christians within our borders, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools, James Dob­son’s or Al Sharpton’s?”

Many of us tried sharing our concerns about Barack Obama before the 2008 election. In his May 2008 article “The Marxist Roots of Black Liberation Theology,” author Anthony Bradley warned about then Senator Obama, asking if Black Liberation Theology is helping unite the country. He concluded “preaching to a congregation of middle class blacks about their victim identity” divides people and fosters a distorted view of reality. Bradley wrote that Wright and Obama’s theology has stirred up resentment and separatism:

“‘Economic parity’ and ‘distribution’ language implies things like government-coerced wealth redistribution, perpetual minimum wage increases, government subsidized health care for all….

“Black Liberation Theology, originally intended to help the black community, may have actually hurt many blacks by promoting racial tension…. As the failed ‘War on Poverty’ has exposed, the best way to keep the blacks enslaved to government as ‘daddy’ is to … seduce blacks into thinking that upward mobility is someone else’s responsibility.”

Hundreds of conservative authors, bloggers, and columnists wrote about these issues prior to the 2008 elections. We must learn from recent history, even if it hurts. American citizens were warned (just not by the media) time and time again that if elected, Obama would push the most leftist, radical policies in American history. But millions voted for charisma and eloquence rather than character and experience, and many citizens didn’t pay attention to the issues.

Aside from his controversial church, it surprised me Americans didn’t have reservations about Obama’s stance on key biblical issues. In addi­tion to what we’ve already covered, another goal of his administration has been to expand “gay adoption,” which would create intentionally motherless and fatherless homes. When asked whether being “gay” was a choice, he responded, “I don’t think it’s a choice. I think that people are born with a certain makeup.”

We must be more active in electing godly leaders. Christian Coali­tion’s Chuck Colson implied that no matter who runs the country, laws will be passed that promote someone’s morals and values. He wrote:

“The popular notion that ‘you can’t legislate morality’ is a myth. Morality is legislated every day from the vantage point of one value system being chosen over another. The question is not whether we will legislate morality, but whose morality gets legislated. Laws establish, from the view of the state, the rightness or wrongness of human behavior.”

THE VERDICT

Let’s not be afraid to say it: President Obama may agree with parts of the Bible, but his policies reveal a different view of Jesus and Christianity than many of us understand. By his own admission, he does not believe the Word of God is inerrant and God-breathed. Barack Obama seems to have built his own brand of faith on a foundation of liberalism and post-modernism. He confuses people by declaring he is a Christian, and as Franklin Graham clearly stated, his actions and policies do not line up with biblical principles.

He has continually shown he does not support Christianity’s most essential truths and traditional morality. 

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved dark­ness instead of light because their deeds were evil (John 3:19).

President Obama needs the forgiveness of Jesus Christ just as you and I do, and if he is a backslidden Christian, he needs to return to the Lord and humbly repent. If, however, he is sincerely living out a differ­ent gospel than what the Bible teaches, then someone must reach him with the truth. He’s the President of the United States, but he is just an imperfect man of flesh and blood. Though he is the product of his past, his associations, and his environment, no one is without hope.

It’s been said that Americans vote with their wallets, that the econ­omy, jobs, and taxes trump all other issues in an election. Too many people continue pulling the voting booth lever for anti-life, progressive Democrats. Abortion is the measure for judging a society’s righteous­ness. What does it say of a people, regardless of the economy, when we allow more than one million unborn babies to be murdered every year in the name of choice?

God will have His way in the end. He governs over dictators, kings and presi­dents. But until Christ returns, we are called to hold candidates up to the highest of standards. They must be scrutinized with the Truth and the light of Scripture. As long as we still have a free country, America deserves nothing less. Christianity is the foundation upon which this nation was established.

“The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the Divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made Bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (Isaiah 52:10) – President John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)

How does a president with such an anti-Christian administration continue to get away with promoting sin, expanding the size and power of government, signing [record numbers of] executive orders, appointing unaccountable czars, and enacting policies that most Americans disagree with? He is protected by the media.

It appears there are times when President Obama interprets Scrip­ture as he sees fit, and he ignores the Bible when it doesn’t conform to his view. This president has been a master at double speak. When he criticizes the free markets and complains that capitalism is unfair, yet at the same time grants waivers and bailouts to favored organizations that support his Party, he’s not fooling us anymore. Ultimately, what he does and says is between him and the God he will give an account to one Day.

SPREADING THE WEALTH AND CHICAGO POLITICS

We now know that after college, for three of his Chicago years Barack Obama did plenty of community organizing and was associated with a religious group called the Gamaliel Foundation. One reporter, David Freddoso, researched Obama’s involvement in 2008 and concluded, “the proposed solution to every problem on the South Side was a distribution of government funds….”

Thanks to Breitbart TV, a 2009 video surfaced of the Gamaliel Foundation leading community organizers in prayer, not to God, but to President Obama. In the video they are seen lobbying for health care and social justice while repeating “Hear our cry, Obama” and “Deliver us, Obama.” Why did they worship him before he was president? As a trainer for Gamaliel and ACORN, Obama used his influence to secure a major increase in funding for both groups. They in turn supported him politically. Do you think the money has helped Chicago?

Because an enemy exists that must be eliminated, they have long ago declared war. Many radicals want not only to reform the system; they hope to destroy it completely.

Know this: there are enemies within. Anita Dunn, President Obama’s former communications director, went on record and said that Mao Tse-tung – who murdered 60 to 70 million people – was one of her two favorite philosophers. Second, John Holdren, the Obama administration Science and Technology Czar is a huge promoter of population control. He believes that for us to enjoy a higher quality of life there must be fewer people. He has written about and considered forced abortions and sterilization as population control options.

AN ACORN DOESN’T FALL TOO FAR FROM THE TREE

Former ACORN chief executive Bertha Lewis has a new organiza­tion, The Black Institute (TBI), one of many ACORN reincarnations, dubs its protests “Occupy Black America” and “Occupy The Hood.” During a March 2010 speech to the Young Democratic Socialists, Lewis told the audience, “First of all let me just say any group that says, ‘I’m young, I’m democratic, and I’m a socialist,’ is alright with me.” In that speech, Bertha Lewis talked about immigration being America’s “next big battle” and said the following:

“And the reason this is so important is, you know, here’s the secret [whispers]: We’re getting ready to be a majority, minority country. Shhhh. [applause] We’ll be like South Africa. More black people than white people. [laughter] Don’t tell anybody….”

Just two years prior to making this speech, Lewis had focused her attention on organizing ACORN’s national get-out-the-vote campaign for Barrack Obama. By October 2008, Lewis was facing widespread charges of voter fraud. ACORN has been called “the largest radical organization in America.”

In a May 2008 article in National Review, Stanley Kurtz, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, asked the question, “What if Barack Obama’s most important radical connection has been hiding in plain sight all along?” Madeleine Talbot was the woman at ACORN who invited Obama to train organizers. Acorn was devious in its use of banking regulations to pressure financial institutions into massive “donations” that ACORN used to finance supposedly non-partisan voter turn-out drives. Kurtz reports:

“Talbot turns out to have been a key leader of that attempt by Acorn to storm the Chicago City Council (during a living-wage debate)…. On July 31, 1997, six people were arrested as 200 Acorn protesters tried to storm the Chicago City Council session. According to the Chicago Daily Herald, Acorn dem­onstrators pushed over the metal detector and table used to screen visitors, backed police against the doors to the council chamber, and blocked late-arriving aldermen and city staff from entering the session.”

ACORN has a long history of voter fraud. Newsbusters reported:

“Seventy ACORN staffers in 12 states have been convicted of voter registration fraud by adding such notables as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck to the voter rolls … ACORN is in fact the political dirty tricks muscle of liberal Democrats.”

In 2011, “Las Vegas Judge Donald Mosley fumed at his inability to impose a harsher punishment on the radical advocacy group….” Despite their bankruptcy filing, ACORN continues to operate. They just use different names. Project Vote and ACORN Housing, renamed Affordable Housing Centers of America, are still in business.

ACORN officials openly acknowledge the network is currently restructuring and will help re-elect President Obama, so they can have the money and power to allocate more funds to Left-wing causes. Benjamin Franklin once said,


“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.”


ACORN had succeeded in duping Americans for years, and too many citizens still remain in the dark regarding Obama’s work with Saul Alinsky-influenced ACORN.


Former 1960’s Left-wing radical David Horowitz converted to conservatism in the late 1970s and knows the inside of the socialist movement extremely well. Raised by parents who were both members of the Communist Party USA, Horowitz created Students for Academic Freedom, whose self-stated goal is combatting leftist indoctrination in academia.


In a booklet called Barrack Obama’s Rules for Revolution, Horowitz wrote about the Alinsky strategy which includes the military tactic of deception in what radicals see as a real war to eliminate the enemy. In contrast, conservatives think of war as a metaphor which puts them at a disadvantage against those who are out to destroy America. One method of attack is the name calling and labeling of conservatives as “racists,” “homophobes,” “Islamophobes,” and sometimes “sexists.”

Deception is the radical’s primary weapon. This Alinsky principle is about disarming the opponent by lying and pretending to be moderate. Horowitz explains:

“Racial arsonists such as Al Sharpton and Jeremiah Wright pose as civil rights activists; anti-American radicals such as Bill Ayers pose as patriotic progressives….

“Barack Obama is an enigma. He won the 2008 presidential election claiming to be a moderate and wanting to bring Americans together and govern from the center. But since he took office, his actions have been far from moderate…. He has used the economic crisis to take over whole industries and has attempted to nationalize the health care system. …these actions had already made his presidency one of the most polarizing in history.”

There were die-hard socialists in America in the early 1900s who didn’t hide their ideas. They wanted to abolish the U.S. military, state police forces, the Senate, and the presidency for starters. They have since become more subtle because they realized they wouldn’t get very far if they continued to be that open about their agenda. Their strategy may have changed, but their agenda has not.

When Barack Obama boldly stated they were five days away from “fundamentally transforming the United States,” most of us know he wasn’t exaggerating. Some thought he sounded grandiose, and others assumed it was just campaign rhetoric, but an underground army of radicals was preparing to mobilize in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Obama’s election appeared to be the perfect storm for those who believe Christianity is oppressive, and America is unjust.

Let’s dig deeper: Barack Obama served on the boards of two chari­table foundations, including the Woods Fund of Chicago from 1993 to 2002. The Woods Fund supported the concept of an expanding welfare state allocating ever-increasing amounts of money to the public school system and the redistribution of wealth via taxes. During that time, the tax exempt foundation made some interesting grants, including one to Obama’s church, Trinity United Church of Christ, headed by Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Annual grants of around $70,000 were also made to ACORN from 2001-2005 for a total of $355,000 – courtesy of the Woods Fund. There were a few honest journalists who reported on the money trail, but the media gatekeepers prevented the stories from making prime time news. In addition to the reservoir of political support that came to Obama through his close ties with Jeremiah Wright, Father Michael Pfleger, and other Chicago churches, ACORN appears to have played a major role in Obama’s political advance.

At one time, the board of directors included Obama, Bill Ayers, and Chairman Howard J. Stanback. Stanback headed New Kenwood LLC, a limited liability company founded by Obama’s close friend and convicted felon, Tony Rezko. The fund provided a combined total of over $1 million to the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. Obama was its chief executive officer, and Ayers authored the $50 million grant that gave life to the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.

The Woods Fund also used Northern Trust for financial services, which is the same company that provided Obama his 2005 mortgage. The Obamas financed their upscale Hyde Park home in 2005 through Northern Trust and obtained an outstanding mortgage rate. Obama’s memberships on foundation boards “allowed him to help direct tens of millions of dollars in grants” to various liberal organizations, includ­ing Chicago Acorn, “whose endorsement Obama sought and won in his State Senate race.”

Ten years prior, Obama joined the Board of Directors for the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation in 1994 and served on its board until 2002. The Joyce Foundation targets its grants toward organizations through agendas of social justice, prison reform, increased government spend­ing for social services and radical environmentalism. Many of those recipient groups are hostile to the capitalist model. In 2003, Obama’s close leftist friend and campaign adviser, Valerie Jarrett, also joined the Joyce Foundation board. In a World Net Daily exclusive, The groups Obama kept off his resume,” Brad O’Leary noted:
“Between 1998 and 2001, the Obama and Ayers-led Woods Fund also gave nearly $300,000 to Northwestern University, where Bill Ayers and his wife, Castro-trained Bernadine Dohrn Ayers, had secured teaching jobs. Bill Ayers’ father, Tom Ayers, also sat on the Board of Trustees for Northwestern.

“If the funding and the relationships sound all too cozy, that’s because they are. Joyce Foundation President Deborah Leff and Barack Obama served together on the Foundation’s Board as late as 1999, and they also served together on the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.”

ATTENTION CHRISTIANS: There are too many professing Christians that refuse to acknowledge the truth. There are others that will read this overwhelming evidence and continue to defend Obama and the Democratic Party, regardless of the fact they cannot provide biblical support for placing their politics above their faith. This is foolish, irresponsible, and reckless.

THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG: JUST SOME OF THE PRESIDENT’S FRUIT

Examples of President Obama’s policies that reflect his and his administration’s views of Christianity – or lack thereof:

1.  Speaking to a friendly audience of campaign donors in April 2008 in San Francisco, Barrack Obama talked about average Americans saying, “And it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
2.  Obama ends National Prayer Day services at White House: President Truman signed the first National Prayer Day proclamation; President Reagan made it permanent. For years, it was a staple on the WH calendar – but not in May 2009, President Obama’s first year in office.
3.  President Obama is the first president in America’s history to mention non-believers in an inaugural address when he said, “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers.”
4.  Obama nominated three pro-abortion US ambassadors to the Vatican; The Vatican vetoed all three amid a grow­ing dispute between the White House and the Roman Catholic Church over the new administration’s support for abortion rights.
5.  President Obama continues to omit ‘Creator’ From Dec­laration of Independence: During a speech in Rockville, Maryland on October 18, 2010, he once again omitted the mention of man’s Creator as the source of his unalienable rights. This isn’t the first time.
6.  President Obama misquotes the National Motto, saying it is “E pluribus Unum” rather than “In God We Trust” as established by federal law. [November 10, 2010]
7.  Although he filled posts in the State Department, for more than two years Obama did not fill the post of religious free­dom ambassador, an official who works against religious persecution across the world; he filled it only after heavy pressure from the public and from Congress.
8.  The Department of Veterans Affairs was consistently cen­soring Veteran’s prayers by banning them from saying the words “God” and “Jesus” during funeral services at Houston National Cemetery.
9.  The Obama administration released its new health care rules in 2011 that override religious conscience protections for medical workers in the areas of abortion and contra­ception. Forcing private insurance plans to pay for morally controversial offerings such as contraception, sterilization, and abortifacients raises obvious questions regarding free­dom of conscience.
10.  Unlike previous presidents, Obama avoided any religious references in his Thanksgiving speech. “The president said his family was ‘reflecting on how truly lucky we are.’”
11.  Obama lifts restrictions on U.S. government funding for groups that provide abortion services or counseling abroad, forcing taxpayers to fund pro-abortion groups that either promote or perform abortions in other nations. He signed the order just three days into his presidency. [Jan. 20, 2009]
12.  The Obama administration requires rewriting of govern­ment documents and a change in administration vocabulary to remove terms deemed offensive to Muslims including jihad, jihadists, terrorists, radical Islamic, etc. [April 7, 2010]
13.  President Obama directs the Justice Department to stop defending the federal Defense of Marriage Act. 2/23/1117
14.  The Obama administration refuses to investigate videos showing Planned Parenthood helping alleged sex traffickers get abortions for victimized underage girls.
15.  Obama allows homosexuals to serve openly in the military, reversing a policy originally instituted by George Wash­ington in 1778.
16.  While every White House traditionally issues hundreds of official proclamations and statements on numerous occa­sions, this White House avoids traditional biblical holidays and events, but regularly recognizes major Muslim holidays, as evidenced by its 2010 statements on Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, Hajj, and Eid-ul-Adha.
17.  Obama’s Muslim advisers block Middle Eastern Christians’ access to the White House.

18.  The Obama administration makes apologies for Korans being burned by the U. S. military, but when Bibles were burned by the military, numerous reasons were offered why it was the right thing to do.

AMERICA’S MOST BIBLICALLY-HOSTILE U.S. PRESIDENT

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Mr. Obama is against any kind of restriction on abortion and one of his first acts as president was to sign a bill (Mexico City Policy) allowing federal money to be spent on overseas abortions.

Moreover, in 2012, Newt Gingrich responded to a question on birth control from John King at the CNN presidential primary debate by saying:

“I just want to point out – in the 2008 campaign, not once did anybody in the elite media ask why Barrack Obama voted in favor of legalizing infanticide. So let’s be clear here. If we’re going to have a debate about who is the extremist is on these issues, it is President Obama, who as a State Senator voted to protect doctors who killed babies that survived an abortion. It is not the Republicans.”

President George W. Bush signed the federal version of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. The bill allowed nurses to give aid to babies who survive abortions instead of having to leave them to die before of disposing them. Gingrich was referring to Obama’s votes as a state senator opposing the Illinois Born Alive Infant Protection Act in 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Jill Stanek, a nurse at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois, helped expose abortionists’ practice of abandoning babies (born alive) after failed abortions, leaving them to die in a hospital utility room.14 Ulti­mately, Obama gave ten different reasons for voting against the infant protection bill – from protests that it would undercut Roe v. Wade to allegations that Stanek and others lied under oath.

Regarding Obama’s radical views, Rush Limbaugh said the president’s vote against the Illinois version of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act amounted to “the most shocking and underreported significant story I can ever remember.”

IT COULD NEVER HAPPEN IN AMERICA

Some believe God is already judging America, and others say His final judgment is right around the corner. With the massive increase in corruption and deception in government, we often forget it all results from sin and our sin nature. Perhaps God is allowing Christians to suffer the consequences of the politicians we have elected to represent us. America must turn back to God!

Laws continue to be passed, bills signed, and policies implemented that either go against our biblical values or threaten another one of our freedoms. This is not what our Founding Fathers intended.

Our founders understood the ways of man, the dangers of too much power, and the potential for tyranny so they established a Constitution to protect the people. They created checks and balances in an attempt to hold government accountable, while providing for individual freedoms at the same time. They placed the highest of values on religious freedom.

We’ve strayed dramatically away from their vision to the point of electing a president who does not seem to respect America. Why does he insist on radically transforming the United States? President Obama downplays America’s greatness, disrespects the Constitution, seems embarrassed of our history, and enacts policies against the Word of God. It is our job to put faith, character, and integrity back on the priority list of who we elect, not how well someone speaks in public or reads a teleprompter.

And in 2012, Americans voted – again.

Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them (Proverbs 1:29-32).

Has America chosen to hate knowledge and to not fear the Lord? Is our complacency beyond cure? Are we at the point where God will not answer our cries? The Lord is a patient and compassionate God, but His anger won’t be held back forever. We must choose this day whether we will serve our culture or Christ. America once had God’s blessing and covering; His protection and His provision, but God is being blotted out of America. 

Christians are being silenced by accusations of hate and intolerance; and our very freedoms are being threatened. The government, liberal media, Hollywood, the abortion industry, academia, and the Obama administration are not going to defend biblical values—it’s up to you and me.

*ERADICATE: Blotting Out God in America will help you ‘Understand, Combat, and Overcome the anti-Christian agendas, apathy in the Church, and the rapid cultural decline in America. See the TABLE OF CONTENTS including brief chapter descriptions. Eradicate is 370 pages; hundreds of end notes and references; encouraging the faithful & impacting Christians with Truth.

court marshall for sharing faith in militarymuslims-for-obamafirst gay presidentBarack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid

 red letter bible

When someone believes social justice is more of a biblical priority than social issues, chances are their faith is based on the politics of man rather than the inspiration of God’s Word. Founded by Jim Wallis and Tony Campolo, Red Letter Christians are one such group of liberal progressives whose purpose is to counter the influences of the conservative Christian movement and traditional evangelicals.

Another founder, Catholic writer Richard Rohr, believes we need to earn our way to heaven. Still another, homosexual advocate Brian MacLaren, refutes the inerrancy of Scriptures. Trying to appear apolitical, these opportunistic ideologues criticize Republicans and conservative Christians while pushing their own political agendas.

According to apologist, Richard Haas

Another major problem with the Red Letter Christian movement is its cherry picking approach to the use of Scripture. This group will concentrate on certain parts of the Bible that promote their agenda while excluding other parts of the Bible that are either contradict or do not fit the Red Letter Christians agenda… Groups like the Red Letter Christians while seeming tolerable and peaceful in their purpose are actually undermining and dishonoring Christ and His kingdom.

The following is an excerpt from the book, ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA:

Every word in the Bible is written exactly as God wants it to be. Our faith in the integrity of Scripture begins with permanence:

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

Bible publishers probably had good intentions when they highlighted the teachings of Jesus by printing them in red letters, but this has helped some emergent church leaders find another way to cast doubt on the entire Bible. Jesus Christ is the Truth and He is the Word – the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Jesus came to fulfill the law, the Old Testament. Every letter the apostle Paul wrote points to the perfect person of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament, the Gospels, and the New Testament are all in complete agreement and harmony.

Red Letter Christians teach that the sayings of Jesus are somehow more holy, sacred, or inspired than the rest of Scripture, but we know the whole counsel of God is perfect.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teach­ing, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

One obvious agenda for this false teaching is to justify homosexual­ity [and minimize abortion].

These popular evangelical authors pit God and the apostle Paul against Jesus by telling their followers Jesus didn’t specifically address homosexuality. By this they imply Jesus must approve of that which He did not address directly. This is ludicrous and would also lead to the false conclusion that Jesus also approves of cannibalism, rape, or vampires since He didn’t specifically mention them. This is their logic.

These leaders argue that since Jesus taught about loving “the least of these,” how can we call someone that Christ commands us to love, sinful? Jim Wallis notes that the early church shared everything when he said,  

“In those red letters, Jesus calls us away from the consumerist values that dominate contemporary American consciousness.”

Wal­lis and Campolo have gained cult-like followings by speaking against the Christian establishment and against Republicans as they make the rounds on the college circuit. They can disagree with parts of the Bible if they’d like, but what amazes me is that people fall for it.

For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished (Matthew 5:18).

Red Letter Christians advocate unrestricted big government, often equating the welfare state with the Kingdom of God.

Jan Markel of Olive Tree Views believes they are practicing a form of Neo-Marxism. Markel points out these leaders promote tolerance and mercy while claiming conservative evangelicals spend too much time worrying about abortion and homosexuality. Markell stated:

“Red-letter Christians champion ‘social justice’, the cause of illegal immigrants, environmentalism, high taxes, discrimina­tion issues, socialized medicine, and getting rid of the death penalty. …This crowd loves to spend other people’s money. They put down conservative Christianity when, in fact, it is conservative Christians who are first to step up to the plate whenever there is a disaster at home or abroad!”

Red Letter Christians profess to hate religion and love Jesus. Though there is not a clear statement of faith on their website, they do list the Apostle’s Creed and give a charge to follow the words of Jesus (not the entire Bible). Their list of contributors and recommended authors is a roll call of the progressive evangelical hall of shame.

When someone’s theology seems to be driven by a desire to justify and promote a political agenda or a sinful lifestyle rather than honestly interpret what Scripture teaches, that’s called handling the Word of God deceitfully. We must confront that which comes against truth.

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV).

beware_of_false_teachers

osteen and crowd

The following is an excerpt from the book, ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA, chapter 13 – Counterfeit Christianity:

Author, televangelist, and senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen seems like a very likeable and well-meaning Christian man. His ministry reaches about seven million people every week in countries around the world through radio and television. Prior to October 3, 1999, Osteen produced the church’s television program for seventeen years. With no biblical education or experience, Joel Osteen succeeded his father. Prior to his father’s death, Joel had only preached once in his entire life and had no theological training.

Today, he is one of the most popular, well-known Christian leaders in America. Barbara Walters named Osteen one of the year’s “Ten Most Fascinating People,” and his popularity earned him some attention at ABC News as one of the “10 Most Fascinating People of 2006.” His church rakes in approximately $70 million every year.

Televi­sion news anchor Chris Wallace interviewed Joel Osteen on Fox News Channel and began the segment by saying Osteen “offers a message about personal growth and positive thinking, which may explain why he’s now pastor of America’s largest congregation.” Wallace asked him what Osteen thought it was about his message that people want to hear. Osteen replied:

“I don’t know if I know exactly, but I think the fact that it’s positive, it’s hopeful, and I talk about everyday life…. And, too, I think, Chris, there’s a lot of negative things trying to pull people down, and I think people respond when you tell them that, hey, there are good things up ahead.”

What Osteen just described sounds like a motivational pep talk. Apparently, others notice how seldom Osteen dis­cusses what the Bible teaches on issues such as abortion, homosexuality, pornography, marriage, and other religions. Chris Wallace also asked why Osteen doesn’t get involved in politics or talk much about “abor­tion and gays and the social issues.” Joel Osteen explained:

“Well, it started back with my father. He never did. And I just don’t feel comfortable as well. I don’t feel like that’s my main gifting. And I feel like when I stay focused on encouraging people, and giving them hope, and helping them live their everyday life, I think that’s where I can have the most impact.”

He’s in good company. Non-views have become the evangelical norm, and Osteen takes the neutral route. Critics say Osteen preaches a word-faith prosperity gospel lite, which I like to call ‘Cotton Candy Christianity’. He can be overly positive and at times out of touch with human suffering. One popular quote by Joel Osteen is, “When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.” So all we need to do is focus on being good and doing good? Tell someone who is confined to a bed with an incurable disease, or someone who lost their home, job, or lost a loved one that they’ll always be blessed in abundance.

In a 2011 interview with the Washington Times, Osteen told editors that he saw faith in America at an all-time high. He said that yes, people are struggling, but “our message is so much about hope.” He naturally evaded most political questions saying, “I don’t really take sides,” as it divides the people, adding that he prefers to “stay in my own lane.”

Many of us would like to hear Joel Osteen dig into the Bible and give a bold presentation of the gospel of Christ without apology. When Mitt Romney ran for president of the United States, Osteen received a few questions from people about Romney’s religion. From the Wash­ington Times interview:

“I believe that [Mormons] are Christians,” Mr. Osteen said. “I don’t know if it’s the purest form of Christianity, like I grew up with. But you know what, I know Mormons. I hear Mitt Rom­ney – and I’ve never met him – but I hear him say, ‘I believe Jesus is the son of God,’ ‘I believe he’s my savior,’ and that’s one of the core issues.

“I’m sure there are other issues that we don’t agree on. But you know, I can say that the Baptists and the Methodists and the Catholics don’t all agree on everything. So that would be my take.”

Even though denominations may not agree on a few nonessential doctrines, they all base their faith on Christ and the Bible, not the Book of Mormon. Osteen has stated on several other occasions that Mitt Romney, a Mor­mon, “believes in his savior just like I do.” What does that even mean?

Joseph Smith founded Mormonism and Latter Day Saints (LDS) less than 200 years ago. Mormonism teaches God was once a man who progressed to Godhood, there is no Trinity, Jesus was not born of a vir­gin, and he is not eternal. We can safely say this is another gospel which is cautioned against in the New Testament. Smith also taught all other religions are of the devil and according to Mormon teachings, Joseph Smith “received visitations from Moroni, an angel of light.”

Mormon leaders have also taught that Jesus’ incarnation was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary. They believe Jesus is a god (small “g”), but humans can also become gods and salvation can be earned by a combination of faith and good works. Osteen must be careful because God will scrutinize his state­ments as leaders have the power and responsibility to influence many lives. In Joel’s case, it’s millions of lives.

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. (James 3:1) Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16)

Did you ever wonder why there is so much opposition or resistance to Christians? The God of all creation is our help and strength. We pray to a living God while the bones of the gods (or founders) of other religions can be found at their tomb or burial site. We have a Savior who overcame death and the grave leaving an empty tomb that shouts to the world that Jesus is alive.

During interviews on his book promotion tours, Joel Osteen often gives similar responses about being positive, changing your life, devel­oping better habits, not being stuck in the past, doing the best you can, and [claiming] abundance. Osteen claims Jesus wanted us to live a “great life.” What about orphans? Street kids. Prison inmates. What about the handicapped, shut-ins, dis­abled Veterans, or the persecuted church? How [exactly] is a great life defined?

Jesus said that in this life we can expect trouble, but to take heart because He has overcome this temporary world. (John 16:33). Jesus also talked about His kingdom in heaven and never mentioned visualizing a nicer house, car, boat or financial blessing. Christ came to give us life, to destroy the devil’s work, to preach the good news to the afflicted and brokenhearted (Is. 61:1). He set us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

Osteen says that talking about sin isn’t his main calling and that he’s “trying to make God more relevant” in our society. Let’s look at how Joel Osteen responded to a few more direct questions from Chris Wal­lace about Mormonism, from the 2007 interview on Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace:

WALLACE: “Is a Mormon a true Christian?”

OSTEEN: “Well, in my mind they are. Mitt Romney has said that he believes in Christ as his Savior, and that’s what I believe, so, you know, I’m not the one to judge the little details of it. So I believe they are. And so, you know, Mitt Romney seems like a man of character and integrity to me….”

WALLACE: “So, for instance, when people start talking about Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, and the golden tablets in upstate New York, and God assumes the shape of a man, do you not get hung up in those theological issues?”

OSTEEN: “I probably don’t get hung up in them because I haven’t really studied them or thought about them. And you know, I just try to let God be the judge of that. I mean, I don’t know. I certainly can’t say that I agree with everything that I’ve heard about it, but from what I’ve heard from Mitt, when he says that Christ is his savior, to me that’s a common bond.” (Emphasis mine)

So let’s clarify here: Pastor Joel Osteen feels it is not his calling to get deeply into the Bible or to talk about sin. He also prefers not to think too much about other religions, but he believes Mormons are Christians. He focuses on the positive and promotes a word-faith the­ology that the more you do or say something the more you will get as a result. I know this teaching well because I followed it for several years in my early Christian days. It is both addictive and deceptive. Who doesn’t want to be happy and “up” all the time? Most of us realize that not only is this unbiblical, it is not realistic.

osteen's book covers

The tragic thing is hoards of people are being influenced by Osteen’s limited theology, and they end up looking at God as some kind of genie. On page 306 of Your Best Life Now, Joel claims, “It’s our faith that activates the power of God.” When the emphasis is on the power of our own words instead of the power of the resurrec­tion, something’s wrong. He goes so far as to say it’s more important to speak to your problem than pray about it (pg. 124).

The following quotes are from Your Best Life Now by Pastor Joel Osteen:

“The first step to living at your full potential is to enlarge your vision. To live your best life now, you must start looking at life through eyes of faith, seeing yourself rising to new levels. See your business taking off. See your marriage restored. See your family prospering. See your dreams coming to pass. You must conceive it and believe it is possible if you ever hope to experi­ence it” (p. 4, emphasis his).

“You will produce what you’re continually seeing in your mind…. If you develop an image of victory, success, health, abundance, joy, peace, and happiness, nothing on earth will be able to hold those things from you … God wants to increase you financially, by giving you promotions, fresh ideas and cre­ativity” (p. 5).

“God wants you to live an overcoming life of victory. He doesn’t want you to barely get by. He’s called El Shaddai, ‘the God of more than enough’” (p. 33).

“You will often receive preferential treatment simply because your Father is the King of kings, and His glory and honor spill over onto you” (p. 40).

“Our words have tremendous power, and whether we want to or not, we will give life to what we’re saying, either good or bad…. Words are similar to seeds, by speaking them aloud, they are planted in our subconscious minds, and they take on a life of their own…. Get up each morning and look in the mirror and say, ‘I am valuable. I am loved. God has a great plan for my life. I have favor wherever I go. God’s blessings are chasing me down and overtaking me. Everything I touch prospers and succeeds!’ (p. 122-123)

“It’s going to happen…. Suddenly, your situation will change for the better … He will bring your dreams to pass” (pp. 196-198).

There’s nothing wrong with trying to be positive, but where is this found in the Bible?

Maybe you’re a fan of Joel Osteen. You may have read his books and have watched him on TV and are having a tough time accepting this. I strongly encourage you to pray about everything he or anyone teaches. If you sincerely seek God’s truth, He will reveal it to you. Osteen pres­ents a kind of self-help program under the guise of Bible instruction. There’s nothing wrong with optimism, but pastors [and teachers] need to stick with the Word of God.

People who follow Osteen’s happy formula and then fail to get the positive results he promises end up disillusioned and worse, get mad at God and fall away from him. Don’t you think Christians are responsible for telling people what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear? You won’t get that from Mr. Happy. Smooth talk. Positive vibes. Prosperity and abundance. Flattering speech. Deceptive doctrine with a smile…. Cotton Candy Christianity.

Osteen and oprah

Not convinced? More overwhelming facts and info. on Joel Osteen:

‘Staying in his Lane’ – Joel Osteen’s Gospel of Affirmation Without Salvation

Where Has the Passion for Doctrine Gone?

Truth Source on Joel Osteen, False Teachers

Joel Osteen Rebukes Apostles Paul, Peter, and John

Fire Behind the Smile: Joel Osteen and the Bible

False Promise of the Prosperity Gospel

Joel Osteen and Jesus are Mutually Exclusive

school buses 

“The battle for mankind’s future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as proselytizers of a new faith…. The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new – the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism.” (John Dunphy, 1983)

The Sheboygan, WisconsinSchool District backed up a February 2012 decision by James Madison Elementary School Principal, Matthew Driscoll, deciding that a Bible verse is “questionable material.” The result was the confiscation of a second grader’s valentines.It all started when a second grader added the wrong message to the candy he wanted to give out for Valentine’s Day: John 3:16, a Bible verse.

Dexter Thielhelm wanted to put the verse with the candy and give them to his JamesMadisonElementary school friends. Another offending message, “Jesus loves you,” was written on the rolled up Bible verse. His siblings helped Dexter put all the valentines together. Apparently, the problem in public schools is you can use the word “love” but you can’t use any reference to religion.

According to the Wausau Herald, Dexter’s mother, Melissa Wolf, said she didn’t know the Christian message, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life, would be objectionable by the school and was unhappy with the way principal Matthew Driscoll handled the situation.

Even though the School District’s assistant superintendent of student and instructional services said there is not a “specific district policy dealing with the distribution of religious verses on Valentine’s Day,” the reason they gave for confiscating the boy’s valentines was that other second graders expected to receive a valentine, not a “religious verse.” It must be noted that Wolf has a son who attends a private school in the same school district, Lake Country Academy. He had no problems sharing the identical Christian valentines at his charter school.

FREE SPEECH FOR ALMOST EVERYONE

Again in Wisconsin, in January 2012 at ShawanoHigh School, Brandon Wegner, a fifteen-year-old student wrote an editorial column in the school paper in support of children being raised in a home by a mother and a father. He cited Scriptures and other sources to back up his point, including verses opposing homosexuality because it is considered a sin.

Both sides of the debate were printed in the school paper as Weg­ner’s article was “released in conjunction with an opposing viewpoint provided by another student, Maddie Marquardt,” the copy editor for the paper. In her article, Marquardt countered by arguing that “gay couples should be able to adopt because the foster system is broken, and children need a two-parent home.”

A homosexual parent wrote a formal complaint to the school that Wegner’s opinion was “constituted as hate speech,” and some kids might commit suicide because he voiced his Christian beliefs. The School Dis­trict issued an immediate written statement calling the article “offen­sive” and saying it “cultivated a negative environment.” Superintendent Todd Carlson went so far as to call Wegner’s opinion piece “bullying.”

Maddie Marquardt was never questioned about promoting homo­sexual adoption in the same paper. Brandon Wegner’s article was wrong because he used the Bible as a reference, and he supported a traditional family view. This is today’s NEA. In a meeting following the incident, Superintendent Todd Carlson asked Wegner if he regretted writing the column, and Wegner said no. Carlson then allegedly told Wegner he had to be “one of the most ignorant kids to try to argue with him on this topic,” and threatened to suspend him.

Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit public interest law firm and ministry, took Wegner’s case and called the situation “shocking” and “outra­geous.” Liberty Counsel’s Matthew Staver sent a letter to the school stating: “The [District] humiliated Brandon in front of everyone, pre­vented him from his exams, and jeopardized his academic progress.” According to the lawyer, Wegner’s parents were never notified about his meetings with the school district…

Conservative Christian teachers currently in the public school sys­tem find themselves in a quagmire of sorts. They have invested time and treasure in their college education and ongoing training. Some of their families could not make it without their salary. Others have been teaching for years and had no idea about the deeper agendas of their mother ship, the NEA, and the U.S. Dept. of Education. We need to pray for them to stand strong in the faith and be the salt and light Jesus Christ commanded us all to be wherever we work. They may not be able to change the union, but they sure can impact the formation of a young child’s worldview.

There is no easy answer and no quick fix, but getting back to America’s founding ethics, principles, and values would be a good start.

In 1788, Noah Webster said:

“Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country.”

Yes, my friend – let’s rehearse America’s true history, not what has been rewritten.

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).

*This is  an excerpt from the chapter, “The NEA Agenda” – from Eradicate – Blotting Out God in America. For more, please go to www.blottingoutgod.com

dear God