Posts Tagged ‘humanism’

Liberal Christianity is an Oxymoron

Posted: June 26, 2019 by David Fiorazo in Christianity in America, David's Blog, liberalism, political correctness, Progressive Christianity
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Modern Liberalism cannot coexist with biblical Christianity. Another example of placing social justice above Scripture emerged last week, this time from a Baptist church leader in Texas. In a commencement benediction at Baylor University in Waco, left-wing pastor, Dan Freemyer denounced “straight white men” and lobbied for the environment – during a prayer.

Fine. If you disagree with certain aspects of God’s Word and dislike Christian conservatives, this is a free country. But stop being a progressive pretender and admit you’re either following the crowd or creating a god in your own likeness.

Calling evil good, conforming to secular culture, and reinterpreting Christian teachings to fit an agenda is part of the cult of modern Liberalism which masquerades as Christianity.  In their rebellion against God, their values might include hyper-grace, political idolatry, boycotting Israel, feminism, socialism, sexual confusion, environmentalism, and of course, abortion.

In these last days, the Holy Scriptures too often take a back seat to pleasing man. In this case, it’s Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, which proudly states they are: “fully affirming of women in lay and professional ministry roles, and fully inclusive of LGBTQ+ persons.” One Baylor alumnus proudly stated that Broadway Baptist cut ties with the Baptist General Convention of Texas long ago over homosexuality.

Affirming, inclusive. Friends in Christ, don’t be deceived by the modern use of these words. I wrote an entire book about man “Redefining Truth.”

So a few of the remarks from Dan Freemyer at the Baylor University commencement went like this:

“God, give them the moral imagination to reject the old keys that we’re trying to give them to a planet that we’re poisoning by running it on fossil fuels and misplaced priorities — a planet with too many straight, white men like me behind the steering wheel while others have been expected to sit quietly at the back of the bus,”

Misplaced priorities is right, but look in the mirror, Dan. In your rant about poisoning the planet, you missed an opportunity to honor Jesus Christ and the true gospel by encouraging the college grads to seek first the kingdom of God. You could have reminded them about the need for repentance and to walk closely with the Lord every day as they enter a very dark and worldly culture.

By alluding to environmental activism, climate change, and by subtly dissing God-ordained natural marriage, you were exposed as just another religious liberal, also known as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Using your platform and position as cover for a secular, social justice agenda is apostasy.

By appealing to people’s love of this world and taking advantage of their ignorance, plenty of false Christian leaders are deceiving multitudes while true believers in Christ have been placed on the defensive today. The octopus of liberalism now dominates virtually every aspect of culture.

The Left practically controls education, organizations, publications, the entertainment industry, government, and especially the media. The tragedy however, is that liberalism has gained power and influence in seminaries as well as in church pulpits across the country.

The notion too many pastors have today is we must become like the world in order to reach the worldly. Wrong. Where is this in Scripture? Think about it; do unbelievers and liberals ever compromise and become more holy, or do conservatives typically give in, compromise and become more worldly?

One result is Americans are more divided over moral and political issues than ever before, but our greater concern should be Christians are divided as well. Research shows that fewer believe in absolute truth which tells us we aren’t much different from the world after all.

How could this be since God never changes and His Word is eternal? They do a good job of changing public opinion by emotion-driven marketing.

Some call it a revival of post modernism, liberation theology, progressivism, or social justice. Many of these leaders hold to a form of godliness but they deny the power of God (2 Tim. 3:5) and attack those who stand on the inerrancy of Scripture.

So why does all this matter and why is it dangerous? Political liberals are one thing; we know exactly where they stand; radicals on the left like Pelosi, Booker, Beto, Buttigieg, AOC, and Sanders.

But religious liberals have infiltrated churches across America and have deceived many. These men (and women) generally believe many of the same things as extremists on the left, and yet claim to be “Christian.” You will know them by the fruit they produce and by their doctrine. They are masters at twisting Scriptures.

This is nothing new and the emerging church has been gaining converts for decades. Until we acknowledge the enemy within, know God’s Word and combat lies with the truth, people will just keep on buying what liberalism has been selling. Because after all, they have a degree or a title; he’s a pastor, priest, or reverend.

The Bible is full of warnings to discern false teachings, call out deceivers, expose the darkness, and contend for the faith handed down through the ages. Put on the armor of God! The main obstacles to the left’s takeover of America are strong, biblical churches and mature, informed Christian citizens who refuse to be silent.

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Entertaining Churches Gone Wild

Posted: September 12, 2018 by David Fiorazo in apostasy, Christianity in America, David's Blog, entertainment, liberalism, Progressive Christianity
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There are some bizarre, outrageous, and flat-out unbiblical things going on in lots of churches. One so-called church sells beer, another worships Mother Earth, others use secular music during worship, others ordain gay leaders, and still others offer yoga. People are free to do whatever they want to try and make God fit their ideas and to offer services that cater to the desires of their congregations, but is this what church is supposed to be? 

What happened to the emphasis on teaching God’s word of truth including sin and repentance, justification, God’s wrath, prophecy, future judgment, and sanctification?

Last week I reported on one of the most heart-wrenching stories I’ve tackled in quite some time. The Roman Catholic Church is reeling from the massive scandal involving homosexuality among priests and the rampant cover-up of sexual abuse that has continued for many decades.

But many Evangelical and Protestant churches have leadership problems of their own. This includes the progressive, seeker-sensitive Willow Creek Church in Chicago whose lead pastors and elders resigned in light of the Bill Hybels allegations of sexual harassment.

Countless churches seem to have lost focus and have gotten off track. We have lost our reverence for a holy God, and practically abandoned the once-solid foundation of the teaching of Scripture which is the primary purpose of the church.

Many conferences and church services today barely resemble the early church and what the Bible teaches, let alone point to Jesus Christ. Some people create gods and church services to suit their own interests while others rewrite Scriptures to justify their lifestyles.

Last month in St. Louis, a controversial conference took place called “Revoice,” apparently aiming to normalize homosexuality and affirm those claiming to be “LGBTQ Christians.” Can you say, oxymoron?

Christian talk show host, Janet Mefferd called for the unbiblical movement to be repudiated, saying:

“Revoice is incremental gay activism, designed to eventually lure conservative evangelicals into accepting ‘gay Christianity,’” 

Next, there’s a progressive church in Santa Cruz, California that not only sells beer, but plans to donate proceeds to big abortion business, Planned Parenthood. Maybe the consumption of alcohol helps the pastor’s sermons sound better. This is a guy who preaches that Jesus was a Palestinian “killed by white supremacy.”

And who can forget our expose back in May on the San Francisco church that hosted what they called a “Beyoncé Mass?” It was quite an interesting take on worshiping, “Our Mother who is in heaven,” and endorsing Beyonce as a role model for young girls.

Then there’s a church in Atlanta that put a new twist in their Sunday morning worship show by adding scantily-clad aerialists as a regular part of their services. ‘Why in the world?’ you may ask. Self-appointed “Apostle” Bryan Meadows actually said:

“Because they shouldn’t have to go to the circus to use the gifts that God gave them!”

Just one more or we’d be here all day. Serita Jakes, wife of controversial, megachurch minister, T.D. Jakes, gleefully posted photos on social media of women doing yoga at the church during a women’s event on wellness.

Never mind the practice of yoga is a rooted in Hinduism, a 5,000-year old polytheistic religious system. Its purpose is to bypass the mind and yoke or “unite” a person’s spirit with the Hindu god, Brahman.

Heather Clark at Christian News Network reminds us:

 “… Even the traditional Hindu greeting, Namasté, that is said at the end of yoga classes, is spiritual. When translated, it means, ‘The god in me bows down to (or salutes) the god in you.’”

The Spirit of Christ bows down to no one; He alone is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the only true, living God who is worthy of our true worship.

Romans 8:9 states:

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

And Exodus 20:3 states:

You shall have no other gods before Me.

Prior to building one of America’s first mega-churches, author, pastor, and motivational speaker, Robert Scheuller literally went door to door in the 1970s in Orange County, California, and asked people what they wanted in a church. Not what lost, hurting sinners need, but what they ‘want.’ This of course, has led to the “mega-church” and emergent church movement.

Men focused on church growth took a cue from Schueller and the rest is history. This has been a recipe for disaster in the American church, and it has led to well-deserved comparisons with the lukewarm church of Laodicea in Revelation chapter 3, and a better understanding of why Paul wrote a second letter to Timothy. In the last days, men would be:

“treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…” (2 Timothy 4:4-5)

Rather than be active participants in learning and sharing God’s Word, too many church members have been conditioned to sit back and listen to a program or presentation, and perhaps to a bunch of funny stories or analogies instead of being challenged by sound doctrine and the harder teachings of the Bible. Then there’s the music. Lots of talented praise teams are themselves being praised for performing entertaining, although often heartfelt music rather than leading the people to the Throne in the worship of a holy God.

A.W. Tozer once said:

“The church that can’t worship must be entertained. And men who can’t lead a church to worship must provide the entertainment. That is why we have the great evangelical heresy here today–the heresy of religious entertainment.”

We need to get back to the basics.

True disciples of Jesus Christ in the early church focused on four primary things: teaching the word of God with a focus on Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection, prayer, communion, and fellowship with other Christians (Acts 2:42). They made disciples and they went out and shared the good news. They didn’t care about the approval of people – they sought to obey God. Their faith in Christ cost most of them their lives.

Today, too many churches use entertaining concepts and gimmicks to attract people, but then a new problem arises: in order to keep them in the comfy seats (and giving their tithes), you need to avoid controversial issues and often dilute the gospel so they won’t be offended.

What happens when you give people what they want instead of what they need which is Christ and His truth? Rather than being fed and equipped, countless hungry souls are walking out of many American churches feeling empty and unprepared to do God’s work. This must change.

Christianity Expelled, Islam Explored in Public Schools

Posted: May 23, 2018 by David Fiorazo in Christianity in America, David's Blog, Education, Government Schools, Islam, religious freedom
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Don’t think this is just another isolated incident where Islam is being favored in public schools. The point here is simple: either teach on all religions equally or don’t teach on any of them.

Since God, the Bible, the name of Jesus, and the Ten Commandments have been expelled from government-run schools in America, mounting evidence proves – decade after decade – every other belief system including atheism, humanism, secular progressivism, and Islam have been allowed.

A new report out of West Virginia says Mountain Ridge middle school students in Gerrardstown were asked to practice writing the Islamic declaration of faith known as the “shahada” in Arabic calligraphy. Translated into English, the statement claims, “There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”

As part of the world religions unit of the class, the lesson plan leads students to profess the socio-political religion of Islam as true and to lead them to think Allah is God, the Creator.

Apparently, the 30-page section “Islam in the World Today” contains anti-Christian sentiment and required seventh graders to read segments of the Qur’an, learn Muslim prayer poses, and understand the Five Pillars of Islam.

The Muslim faith is both controversial and in direct contradiction to Christianity, so parents were outraged, especially after hearing students would be given a detention slip if they didn’t do the assignment, according to reports. The teacher now claims the assignment was optional.

Both Christianity and Islam promote a standard of morality and doing good deeds, but the god of Islam is not the same as the living God of the Holy Bible. The Muslim holy book, the Qur’an, considers Jesus a prophet, but not Lord or the Savior. There is also no Trinity in Islam so the Holy Spirit is irrelevant to them.

Allah had no son, but the Bible teaches Jesus is God’s Son. He was “with God in the beginning (John 1:1),” the Word who became flesh (John 1:14). Muslims deny that Jesus died on the cross to sacrifice Himself for our sins – a foundation of the Christian faith – as is His resurrection from the dead after three days in a tomb.

Packets were previously handed out to students on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism, but one parent pointed out that the Islam packet contained passages from the Qur’an. Not surprisingly, no Bible verses were included in the packet on Christianity.

More parents across the country have also objected to a Department of Education program called “Access Islam.” According to the Clarion Project, the federally-funded program is directed at children from grades 5-12 and is also featured on various websites, including PBS Learning Media. The Smithsonian also promotes the course as does the United Nations.

A video from the course prominently features a Christian convert to Islam, who declares emotionally how he found the true religion without any “intermediaries.” Concerned parents have noted the U.S. Department of Education provides no comparable study or promotion of any other religion.

One high school homework assignment obtained by a news outlet revealed the question: “How did Muslim conquerors treat those they conquered?” The correct answer was, “With tolerance, kindness and respect.” So, invading armies annihilated their enemies with tolerance, kindness, and respect? Wow.

The prophet Muhammad was a violent warrior who led the slaughter of many people. Islam means “submission” and many were executed because they did not submit to Allah. For those open to truth, just do a little research.

In a breaking story out of New York City, parents are outraged after a public school held a moment of silence last Tuesday for the people killed in Gaza. A Beacon High School public address announcement urged students to pause and honor those who died in the clash at the Israeli border during protest of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. The terrorist organization, Hamas publicly confirmed 50 of the 62 people who dies were members of their militant Islamic group.

What about statements about peace in the Qur’an? “Abrogation” is a recurring theme whenever conflicting verses of the Quran are discussed. It means to cancel, repeal, or officially revoke something. In this context, the later or more recent verses calling for jihad and Holy War override earlier verses counseling tolerance or peace.

A few years ago in Olmstead Falls, Ohio, parents tried for years to raise awareness and get the school board to change some lessons and history textbooks that stated Muslims historically “practiced religious tolerance” by requiring Christians and Jews to pay extra taxes. There was no mention that the alternative was often death. They conveniently left those facts out.

Jenny McKeigue was notified by her oldest son that during class his teacher played a reality TV episode of “30 Days: Muslims and America” about converting to Islam.

Author and executive editor of The Federalist, Joy Pullman reported in 2016:

In “30 Days: Muslims and America,” an imam tells a Christian man attempting to live as a Muslim for 30 days that Muslims and Christians worship the same god. The Christian struggles with that idea but ultimately accepts it.

And in Maryland, La Plata High School was also accused of favoring Islam by forcing children to profess the Muslim statement of faith and requiring them to memorize the Five Pillars of Islam, according to a 2015 federal lawsuit filed by the Thomas Moore Law Center. In this case, John and Melissa Wood accused the school of Islamic indoctrination and propaganda, and when Mr. Wood complained, the school banned him from campus! 

There have also been similar stories in California, New York, Texas, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Virginia, and others – all receiving extremely little attention in the politically-correct, progressive media.

Discriminating against those holding to the Christian worldview while promoting other religious views is unconstitutional. So where is the Freedom from Religion foundation when it comes to Islam being taught in government schools?

There should be no confusion over the stark contrasts between the worldviews of Christianity and Islam. It is misguided to focus on a few common teachings without acknowledging major doctrines that are diametrically opposed to one another.

Open Doors reports on persecution worldwide  and the following are monthly averages: 255 Christians are killed, 104 Christians are abducted, and 180 Christian women are raped, sexually harassed or forced into marriage. 

I am not suggesting the Christian faith should be the only one allowed in public schools – although that is what took place for over a hundred years in America when our country was very different morally and spiritually. I am asking for fairness and justice.

If schools discuss one religion, then others should be allowed as well.

But the left won’t go for that because they believe in the total separation of Christianity and state. Keep Jesus out, and anything else goes. Maybe they know if the Bible is allowed back in schools, more children will end up believing it. Why? Because it’s true.

*Originally published at Freedom Project Media

Berkeley Reflects America as Chaos Drives Politics

Posted: February 4, 2017 by David Fiorazo in Abortion, David's Blog, Government Schools, Hollywood, LGBT agenda, liberalism
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this-is-war-berkeley-riot-signCan you really call it a war when only one side seems to be doing all the fighting? The left are aggressively pushing their agenda across America – immorality, lawlessness, and anything opposed to biblical Christianity – and the troops are advancing through every major institution. This obviously includes academia.

They’ve taken control of the media, corporate America, the entertainment industry, the education system, the culture, the courts, and government. But wait, Donald Trump just became president of the United States and it is nearly driving some of them insane. Hollywood in particular is becoming unhinged.

Madonna publicly admits she has thought about “blowing up the White House.” Actress Lea DeLaria (Orange is the New Black) said she wanted to “pick up a baseball bat and take out every [expletive] Republican and Independent I see.” Bruce Springsteen told an Australian audience he is now embarrassed to be an American. Nordstrom stores drop Ivanka Trump’s clothing line, and the list goes on.

Just days ago on The View, Whoopi Goldberg lamented America’s new president and criticized the administration’s policies on women, Planned Parenthood, the media, and refugees, and asked the audience, “are these values really much different than the Taliban’s?” Oh, and Robert De Niro said about Trump, “We have to bully him back.”

And decades ago, the left conquered higher education by gaining control of most every college and university. Tragically, too many of us are just now seeing the rotten fruit academia has been producing for years.

Cue the snowflakes at California University in Berkeley, CA.

Milo Yiannopoulos, an editor for Breitbart News, was scheduled to speak to conservative students at Cal Berkeley Wednesday night when radical left wing students and George Soros-funded groups organized a protest including hateful rhetoric, rioting, setting vehicles on fire, and throwing paint and Molotov cocktails at the building the speaker was in.

Cal students along with paid protesters carried signs against homophobic attitudes toward gays and against Trump’s refugee policies and get this: telling an open homosexual and legal immigrant he is not welcome at their university! Some shouted he has no right to speak here, and hatred is not welcome, blah, blah, blah.

Here are just a few of the protest signs:

  • Kill Trump
  • Become Ungovernable
  • Shut it down
  • Out of Berkeley, Nazi Scum
  • No Facist USA
  • I Love what Trump Hates

Leftists and progressives claim to be beacons of reason, tolerance, and “love,” but their actions prove they are hypocritical liars. The public only buys it because Hollywood and the media are on their side and have cornered the propaganda market. They defend the blatant Saul Alinsky tactics implemented by these agitators.

Alinksy dedicated his book, Rules for Radicals, to Satan (“…the very first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom — Lucifer.”), and it has been the playbook for the Left. He provided marching orders that decades of loyal disciples across the country as well as in the Democratic Party today have used to gain power. A few goals are to destroy the American system of government, free markets, and the Judeo-Christian ethic the nation was established upon.

  • They only tolerate people who believe exactly what they believe.
  • They are some of the most hate-filled, violent, intolerant people anywhere.
  • And they are so depraved in their thinking and so immersed in contradictions that they turn against the very people they claim to represent if that person doesn’t tow the entire liberal line.

I co-host a radio program called Stand Up for the Truth, and host Mike LeMay shared his concerns on Thursday’s program:

We must fact this fact. American public education has become a breeding ground for Marxist Humanism. Today’s youth have been programmed to hate God, the Bible, truth, and anyone who thinks differently than they do.

Has one Democratic politician spoken up and condemned this violence?  No, and in fact, Obama has encouraged it, even up through yesterday saying he is “heartened” by the pushback against Trump. Have they condemned this treatment of a homosexual and an immigrant at Berkeley?  No. Because the progressive left in this nation is the greatest example of bigotry and hypocrisy you will find anywhere.

Remember all the protests and arrests and riots and police activity and violence right after Obama was elected? I don’t either.

At Cal however, the crowd even threw rocks and fireworks at police officers and damaged several buildings in downtown Berkeley. Ironically, they threw stuff and smashed windows of the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building. (Can’t snowflakes be called ‘racists’ for doing that?)

The mob also attacked various Trump supporters who were there including:

  • One young lady wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat was attacked during a television interview. An unknown man sprayed some sort of liquid in her face.
  • The Daily Californian reports another Trump supporter was grabbed by a crowd of agitators and thrown to the ground. He escaped, but they grabbed his red hat and set it on fire. And police had to rescue another man who was bloodied and beaten.

What did the university do? They blamed the violence on outsiders and due to their policy, no arrests were made and campus security stood back and watched.

America is reaping the seeds we have sown in public education and pop culture for the past fifty years. And to be honest, I don’t blame the kids. (How about parents, pastors, teachers, coaches, and youth leaders over the last fifty years?) This is the fruit of our silence as well as the extreme lack of resistance to the immoral, hostile takeover of our culture and country.

Milo Yiannopoulos told Tucker Carlson on FOX News,

“No one’s safety is at risk from different opinions; No one’s physical safety is endangered by political ideas from a speaker on campus, but universities have sort of allowed this stuff to happen, and even in some cases, encouraged it.”

There are those on both the left and right who call for civility and unity in America. I get it. But these calls are either naive or disingenuous. It is almost always conservatives, Republicans, and Christians who end up compromising in our society. The parallel is not unlike those who are committed practitioners of radical Islam; you cannot coexist with those whose goal is to either force you into submission, make you pay high taxes and fines, or to kill you.

Liberals have been emboldened and would rather shut down the conversation – or shut you down – than allow conservative or Christian values and ideas to be considered and promoted.

It was Joseph Stalin who reportedly once stated, “Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not allow our enemies to have guns, why should we let them have ideas.”

Former Obama administration official, Rosa Brooks, recently wrote about four ways to “get rid” of President Trump, including a military coup or declaring him mentally unfit for command. (Foreign Policy magazine posting here)

Brooks is a Schwartz senior fellow at the New America Foundation, which is funded by billionaire George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. She served from 2009-2011 as Counselor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and served as a senior adviser at Obama’s State Department. In an apparent effort to make a case against Trump, Brooks questions his mental stability saying, “has made it all too clear: Yes, he is as crazy as everyone feared.”

Militant liberal, actress Sarah Silverman also called for a military coup against the president, tweeting a list of moves Trump made in his first days in office to 9.8 million followers:

WAKE UP & JOIN THE RESISTANCE. ONCE THE MILITARY IS W US, FASCISTS GET OVERTHROWN. MAD KING & HIS HANDLERS GO BYE BYE

At the leftist-funded “Women’s March” a few weeks back, professing Christian, Ashley Judd went on a profanity-laced feminist rant on behalf of the new “nasty woman” movement. She likened Trump to Hitler a few times, ranted about women’s menstrual cycles, and raved about how women’s private parts are for pleasure rather than babies. Scarlet Johansson complained about having to use Planned Parenthood with when she was 15 years old.

Finally, the media would never mention this, but a main organizer of the event, Linda Sarsour, is a Muslim who wants Sharia Law in America. She is a Palestinian-American activist, executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, and an Obama White House “Champion of Change.”

These protests stem from people’s warped worldview and rebellion against God the Creator of all life, also known as God the Father. Many on the left have an insatiable disdain for Christianity, America, capitalism, conservatives, patriotism, Republicans, Israel, and most recently, Donald Trump.

In her article, “The War On Sanity,” Jennifer Hartline describes the dilemma well:

In the new civil war… There is no objective reality based on observable, physical or natural law. There’s only the tyranny of feelings. And you are not permitted to disagree.

The world is not ending because Trump is president, and every citizen has the freedom to speak up, vote, and resist peacefully and politically without it leading to violence. I’m just not so sure the far left can restrain themselves any longer, but I could be wrong.

Many on the far left believe we’re in a new civil war, and they’re taking it seriously. 

Most of these poor souls don’t realize it yet, but they need the hope, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. Pray for them, they’re lost; and pray for the new administration.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

 

David Fiorazo’s latest book can be found here: The Cost of Our Silence: Consequences of Christians Taking the Path of Least Resistance

*Photos from this site: Breitbart News

Worldview from Inside the Elite Bubble

Posted: December 14, 2016 by David Fiorazo in David's Blog, Education, liberalism
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college-girl-with-megaphoneThey declare diversity and insist they are inclusive. They tout tolerance and yet, they often refuse to put up with anyone who thinks differently than them. They raise their collective hands to silence opposing views rather than listen or participate in respectful debate. You know exactly where they stand on ‘religion and politics.’

They cannot comprehend how some folks can actually have a biblical Christian worldview. Rather than dialogue, theirs is often a monologue, having already concluded they are right about everything, others are wrong, and there is no sense in allowing diverse ideas and opposing opinions about life and the world.

‘They’ are the liberal elites and their disciples. Though we cannot place all liberals in this category, many are furious about the recent election results in which the coronation of their progressive presidential candidate was thwarted. Millions of American citizens want a much different country because we believe and think differently than they do.

And herein lies the problem. We think differently.

Even the casual observer has most likely noticed the deep divide in our culture that has been exacerbated over the last eight years by the Obama administration. And if you ask liberals and progressives the cause of the divide they’ll probably point to [practicing] Christians, Fox News, Republicans, or Donald Trump.

It could not possibly be them or the policies on their side; it has to be those who oppose the godless liberal worldview. We’ve seen it play out in the mainstream media and cable news as well as on social media.

One recent, jaw-dropping example from academia helps make the case: the Left is generally intolerant of opposing thought. A California college professor went on a rant during her class calling Trump a “white supremacist,” Mike Pence “one of the most anti-gay humans in this country,” and declared their election “an act of terrorism.”

The video clip has gone viral and the student who recorded it is being threatened with legal action by a teachers union.

This reminds me of the WikiLeaks revelations through which Hillary Clinton’s emails were exposed. Why do they seem more concerned that the truth was exposed than they are about the controversial content?

The professor, Olga Perez Stable Cox told her class:

“Our nation is divided. We have been assaulted, and it’s an act of terrorism.”

Wait. What exactly does she mean by that? Who is “we”?

Hypocritical people like this call for unity, but promote division and hatred, going so far as to claim, “we are back to being at civil war.” She continued, saying,

“One of the most frightening things for me, and most people in my life, is that the people who are leading the assault are among us.”

We may be able to get away with thinking differently as long as we keep it to ourselves, but apparently we are assaulting them by not voting for their candidate.

Many in liberal circles, particularly the mainstream media, have little or no respect for others outside their bubble. In this case it happens to be educators wherein approximately 92 percent are liberal or Democrat.

Then there’s Hollywood.

Like many in the entertainment industry, a friend of mine who works in Hollywood shared some honest and revealing thoughts after the election results came in. This person truly believes there is a sudden resurgence of racism, bigotry, homophobia, and (gasp!) pro-lifers in America.

I looked up ‘bigotry’ which simply means: “complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one’s own.”

Ready for the irony?

My friend is not at all an agenda-driven, mean-spirited person, but is heartbroken over the election and said it revealed the large number of people in the country who believe differently than the self-professed “enlightened” ones.

They actually believe that those of us who trust Christ and His Word are backwards and need therapy. My friend said in order to change, the first thing needed in therapy is to acknowledge there is a problem.

America, we have a problem – and it’s a big one.

Yes, they need the hope and salvation only Jesus provides, but here’s one key point: most of us believe they are wrong; they however, believe we are evil.

Big difference.

To them, we are looked down upon as uneducated, uninformed, narrow-minded, bigoted, intolerant fascists. And those are our good qualities!

It was inconceivable half the country could vote for someone other than their candidate. My friend admitted to being “surrounded by a bubble of intelligent people that are for social change,” and could not understand why so many Americans voted to reverse the [false] hope and [radical] “change.”

If you’re like me, you believe these last eight years have plunged us into even deeper darkness via the advancement of open immorality which has driven America down into the gutter. Following the 2016 election on the other hand, here’s how my friend now sees it:

“Sometimes we need to hit bottom and descend into darkness, before we can see the light.”

 

This is not entirely incorrect in terms of eternity. Oftentimes, before we can be saved, we must come to the end of ourselves, repent, and admit there is a higher authority to whom we must give account.

The only light that ultimately matters is the light of the world, Jesus Christ. Tired of doing things in your own strength? No sin is too great; turn to Him and surrender.

In dealing with those who cannot relate to us, always remember our (and their) struggle is first a spiritual one and those who are lost need the forgiveness Christ offers. Whatever sheltered environment they happen to be living in, the truth must be proclaimed to them regardless of how we, messengers of the gospel, are perceived.

It doesn’t matter what people think of us. Are you and I seeking the approval of God or man? Obedience to His Word, seeking eternal things first, and pleasing Him is what’s important. You never know who God is preparing for you to love them enough to tell them the truth.

(Christmas season is here and books make great gifts! DID YOU KNOW David Fiorazo’s book, Eradicate: Blotting Out God in America is at its lowest price of just $10 bucks? Or check out The Cost of Our Silence: Consequences of Christians Taking the Path of Least Resistance)

*Photo credit: Christianity Malaysia

The ‘Church’ Infecting Christianity: Where Did the Emergent Church Emerge From?

Posted: September 9, 2016 by David Fiorazo in Christianity in America, David's Blog, False Teachings
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false-teachers“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Jude 1:3-4

It has crept and slithered through America infecting countless victims. Its goals are compromise, ambiguity, tolerance, globalism, mysticism, and in some cases, universalism. Its path is destruction and its foundation is sinking sand.

The ‘Emergent Church’ is a movement of the late 20th and early 21st century that crosses a number of theological boundaries. Followers, participants, and those who identify can be described as evangelical, post-evangelical, liberal or post-liberal, reformed, neo-charismatic, and post-charismatic. It is part of the Cult of Liberalism.

They seek to live their faith in what they believe to be a “Postmodern” society. It is an untraditional network of individual believers and churches that prefer to be understood as a “conversation” or a friendship rather than an organization. What those involved mostly agree on is their disdain for fundamental Christianity and disillusionment with the organized, traditional, and institutional church.

The emergent, or emegring church favors the use of simple story and narrative in preaching style. Adherents often place a high value on good works or social activism. The hallmark of the emergent church is the liberal, new age aspect including the practice of contemplative monastic meditation and prayers. While some do emphasize eternal salvation, many in the emerging church emphasize the here and now (taking care of the earth, etc.) and reject the inerrancy of Scripture.

Regarding doctrine, these folks generally reject systematic Christian theology, the integrity of Scripture, and gospel exclusivity. They don’t believe Christianity is the one true religion and many associated with the emergent church promote homosexuality. Some deny the deity of Jesus Christ; they call for diversity, “unity,” and camaraderie among all religions, and they modify and expand their teachings. It is quite clearly and simply a war against the Truth.

At an emergent church workshop in San Diego about ten years ago, former national coordinator of the Emergent Village, Tony Jones stated:

“This is about our belief that theology changes. The message of the gospel changes. It’s not just the method that changes.”

What? I submit to you that Jesus never changed his message to fit the times! Sadly, too many believers are uninterested, uninformed, or just plain apathetic about the Bible and understanding the times we live in where relevance is emphasized more than repentance.

In a revealing comment about why Jones departed from the traditional Bible church, he described his younger days in a Protestant church like this:

“I’d say there was one word that summed up my religious life: obligation.”

Rather than seek Christ’s kingdom first and dig into Scripture, Jones decided to travel the world and see how other religions and worshippers found peace through prayer and meditation and he adopted other forms of spirituality in his pursuit of religion.

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1

Jones is not alone. These influential men are best-selling authors in Christian stores, speakers at entertaining music festivals, popular on the political Christian Left, and well-known leaders in religious circles. They and their dangerous doctrines have invaded the true body of Christ. The goal in this expose is to provide a basic understanding as well as direct quotes from those who have done great damage to the Church, not to explain or refute each one in detail.

[BREAK] …

Spurgeon once said, “Discernment is not a matter of knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is the difference between right and almost right.”

How did we get to the point where many of these liberal, emergent ideas and teachings have blended in with truth and sound doctrine? How have they slithered their way into modern Christianity? The answer goes back to the book of Genesis and the original sin of Adam and Eve. Remember how the serpent deceived Eve by questioning God? (“Did God really say…”) He then encouraged them to disobey God as he declared, “You will not surely die…” (Genesis 3:1-4)

All it takes is a seed of doubt and invitation to sin. Many progressive leaders and deceivers question absolute truth and promote ambiguity and confusion. No wonder these men are so popular – they’re going with the flow of pop culture. Paul warned about conforming to this world (Romans 12:2).

False teachers have been around since the early church days. The major issue with the emergent church is that they reject the authority of Scripture. These teachings were not accepted by evangelical Christians overnight. We can trace the rapid advancement of the emergent church to the late 80’s and 90’s, when people began talking about how to modernize and re-create church to be more attractive to the unchurched.

…Many churches in America now have beautiful buildings, sports facilities, coffee shops, bookstores, great music and sound systems, state of the art lighting, and good drama or video presentations, but how much of their service time is spent preaching the solid truth of Scripture? Many seem to put more of an emphasis on programs keeping people within their own walls or on entertaining the flock rather than feeding them God’s Word. Well, at least the youth are kept happy and occupied.

Young people like to take action for a cause, and many works-based efforts call for organizing, social or environmental action and partnership with government agencies and other religions/leaders. This is a clever way to lure those who are not as mature in the faith.

Another controversial message being promoted is that of social justice, which in its modern use is apostasy. Apostasy means a departure from the faith or one who denies the fundamental doctrines concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ. (Wallis’ Sojourners mag for example, puts more emphasis on the environment, immigration, “income inequality,” and poverty than on the Gospel, salvation, repentance, and sin.) The Bible does not teach that the church must work with government or world leaders to implement man’s solutions to our deepest needs and problems. We can no longer deny the fact that humanism, liberalism and secular-progressive influence is alive and well -not only in government, education, media, corporations, and the entertainment industry – but in the Church…

Since not enough Christians know the dangers and the extent of the emergent church movement and their radical teachings, we need to promote awareness starting with what is true. We need to dig deeper in to the Word of God than ever before and know it so well that if we hear a counterfeit message, we’ll recognize it immediately! We need to talk to our pastors and Christian friends. Liberalism, humanism, and secularism are growing cancers in both church and culture so let’s not ignore the causes.

Let’s get out of our comfort zones and take a stand for Christ. The spiritual battle rages all around us and the enemy is on our doorstep. Satan has been at work at a church near you spreading his deceptions. The good news is that we are on to his schemes. Mature believers know that the emergent church teachings are contrary to the gospel of Christ.

Read the full, comprehensive expose on the emergent church here including direct quotes and many resource links: