END-TIME
CHURCH / PLURALISM
- GREETINGS
- -----
- QUICK VIEW OF UPDATED INDEXES
http://cephas-updates.cephasministry.com
- -----
- WHY REPROVE IS REQUIRED BY THOSE WHO TEACH THE GOSPEL: "Even
him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power
and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness
in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that
they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who
believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren
beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen
you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief
of the truth:" (2 Thessalonians
2:9-13)
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there
come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive
him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker
of his evil deeds." (2 John 1:9-11)
"But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be
not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among
them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his
blood will I require at the watchman's hand." (Ezekiel 33:6)
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove
them." (Ephesians
5:11 KJV)
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- :::GREETINGS to all and the newcomers to this list. We'd
like to introduce ourselves. George and Rita Williams, who founded
this ministry, were Mormons (Temple Mormons part of the time)
for 20 years. We prayed to God in 1992 to allow us to do a ministry
speaking out against Scientology. Six months later God led us
to the truth: out of the cult of Mormonism. We did not know at
the time we were in a cult. No-one had witnessed to us in 20
years.
- The Holy Spirit brought us to information about all the cults
and the present development of the New World Order. We began
bringing our research to you. Because all the research was already
done, we decided to build a library within Cephas Ministry.
- We are fundamental Bible students and have left all worldly
organizations.
- The focus of these newsletters is to prove why we had
to leave the world system. We are called 'Watchmen on the
Wall' which God always had during the Old / New Testament Times.
- To understand what is happening, one has to know the Bible
to compare notes.
- The first section is about the church.
The news about churches is unedited unless indicated by Ednotes.
The church as we knew it, is undergoing disintegration. This
began on a fast track in the early nineteen sixties when the
Catholic Church produced liberal Vatican II to replace Vatican
I.
- The trend since then has been ecumenical which is truly what
the word 'Catholicism' means: a universal religion all
inclusive and multicultural. The Bible calls for a final church
which doesn't resemble what Jesus taught. The Word of God has
undergone many changes to fit the present mode. The Bible calls
for a falling away from the truth before Jesus
comes back for His Bride, the true believers called 'Ekklesia.'
Our newsletters prove this fact and prove that the Bible is true
from beginning to end.
- The second section is about globalism
where we bring your attention to the social, political and global
trend to prove that we are moving to closure of the times of
the Gentiles.
- The third section compliments End Time
teachings with what is happening in Israel. We describe and watch
for signs of the coming Tribulation to confirm that we are moving
into that space and time.
- Watchmen on the wall do not solicit memberships. We have
an email group that gets information when we upload new information
and a newsletter whenever it is possible time wise. We love the
Lord with all our hearts and minds and we love all people God
has created but especially those who love our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. Our Statement of Faith is at http://www.cephasministry.com/statement_of_faith.html
-
- ::We believe every word in the KJV Bible and believe it is
the Word of God and that Jesus is the Christ, God Himself, who
spilled His blood on the cross for our sins and rose again to
prepare a place for those who accept 'His' righteousness as their
righteousness. They are those who accept Jesus Christ as their
Lord and Savior, Jews first and then Gentiles. We expect to be
raptured in a pretribulation Rapture to live with God the Father,
God His Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit, who are ONE
GOD in three persons, forever.
We pray the Lord will bless you with a thirst for truth and a
desire to serve Him exclusively, in Christ Jesus, Nicholas A.
Stivers, NicholasScrolls and Rita Williams, Cephas Ministry /
Cephas Library.
- For the updated (red sparkles) main index go to http://www.cephasministry.com/index2.html
- -----
- Cephas Ministry cordially invites you to sign up for
safe fellowship with our VP Nicholas Stivers at his website:
http://nicholasscrolls.cephasministry.com
- You may interact with him on his discussion board and or join
his e-mail group to receive his frequent exhortations. Of course,
all are invited. Nicholas is offering a free Video for Bible
studies V 243 CMI "Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name of
the Lord" - by Nicholas Stivers(60+ minutes) Hear what
Nicholas has to share about the present spiritual condition in
today's churches.
- To simply subscribe to the e-mail group click on this link:
http://www.cephasministry.com/subscribe.html
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- LSD GURU, SATAN'S DISCIPLE?
- Timothy Leary (1920-1996) was a Harvard University
professor of psychotherapy who became the LSD high priest
of the rock & roll movement. Leary's father was an alcoholic
who abandoned the family when Timothy was 13. His Roman Catholic
mother was described as a "dour" woman, but she tried
to get her son to go in an upstanding path in life, at least
from a human perspective... The next year Leary was kicked out
of another school when he was found in the girl's dormitory.
In the mid-1950s Leary worked as director of Psychological Research
at the Kaiser Foundation and taught at Berkeley University. Harvard
allowed him to devise and administer the "Harvard Drug Research
Program." Leary's research with psychedelic drugs led him
into occultic eastern religions and the study of the Tibetan
Book of the Dead, the Bhagavad-Gita, and Zen Buddhist writings.
- Leary led 10 theology students at Harvard to take psilocybin
in an attempt to test whether it would produce religious experiences...
Leary's homosexual research co-worker, Richard Alpert, traveled
to India for spiritual enlightenment and returned as Baba Ram
Dass... Harvard authorities feared that Leary and his companions
were going too far in their drug research and he left Harvard
in 1963 when his colleague, Richard Alpert, was fired for giving
hallucinogenic drugs to a student. By then, Leary had tried the
psychedelic drug lysergic acid diathylamid (called LSD or acid,
for short), which was first synthesized in the 1940s by Albert
Hofmann in a laboratory in Switzerland. Hofmann describes his
first experiment with it: "At home I lay down and sank into
a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition, characterized by
an extremely stimulated imagination. Š I perceived an uninterrupted
stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense
kaleidoscopic play of colours." Timothy Leary was mightily
affected by LSD. He described his first LSD high as "the
most shattering experience of my life" and "the deepest
religious experience of my life" and became a passionate
advocate of the drug.
- He became the LSD high priest of the rock & roll movement
and founded the League of Spiritual Discovery, pushing for LSD
to be legalized as a religious sacrament. Leary called hallucinogenic
drugs "the religion of the twenty-first century." He
urged people to "discover your own Christhood" and
develop "your own moral code." Leary's 1964 book The
Psychedelic Experience (co written with Ralph Metzner and
Richard Alpert) was intended to assist novices to take LSD as
a tool of spiritual enlightenment. Leary cited passages
from The Tibetan Book of the Dead. The introduction urged: "Whenever
in doubt, turn off your mind, relax, float downstream."
Leary said rock musicians are "the philosopher-poets of
the new religion." He called the Beatles
the "four Evangelists" and "rock stars
become holy men" and their Sergeant Pepper album, "the
sermon from Liverpool." He urged parents to learn from the
Beatles the message of "love and peace and laughter."
His slogan was "Turn on, tune in, drop out" (turn on
to LSD, tune in to the new consciousness, drop out of 'straight'
society). Leary believed that LSD could enable children to mutate
"up to a higher level of existence." http://www.wayoflife.org
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- ANGLICANS WARN OF A SPLIT IF GAY MAN IS CONSECRATED
- LONDON, Oct. 16, 2003 — After a tense two-day emergency
summit, Anglican leaders on Thursday sidestepped an immediate
schism over homosexuality but warned that if the American church
proceeds to consecrate a gay bishop in New Hampshire next month,
the global Anglican Communion could eventually crack apart.
- "If his consecration proceeds," said a statement
signed by all 37 clergymen attending the meeting, "we recognize
that we have reached a crucial and critical point in the life
of the Anglican Communion and we have had to conclude that the
future of the communion itself will be put in jeopardy."
- The primates' statement put the onus on leaders of the Episcopal
Church USA, the American wing of Anglicanism, not to go ahead
with the final consecration ceremony for Bishop-elect V. Gene
Robinson, scheduled for Nov. 2.
- Leaders of the New Hampshire diocese quickly responded by
saying that they did not intend to back down. They said that
Bishop-elect Robinson had been overwhelmingly elected after nearly
three decades of ministry in New Hampshire and confirmed at a
church convention in Minneapolis this summer.
- The Rev. Michael W. Hopkins, past-president of Integrity,
an advocacy group for lesbian and gay Episcopalians, said he
had exchanged e-mail messages with the bishop-elect yesterday
and concluded: "He's not going to back down. He knows too
much is on the line."
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- THE SPIRIT OF MANIPULATION
- Apostle John, the Apostle of love, complained that he was
not received in a church because Diotrephes, who loves to have
the preeminence among them, does not receive the brethren, and
puts them out of the church. It’s a fact that many dead
churches are nothing but social clubs where people are made to
adhere to a specific set of doctrines which is the first step
of manipulation and control. One they have their fingers in you
they can manipulate you anyway they want especially to take or
use your money, talents and resources in the name of the Lord.
It’s still thievery and witchcraft no matters who does it
because they don’t have your best interests and don’t
do everything in their power to see you healed, delivered, blessed,
prospered and made whole. God’s word is unchanging:
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man,
prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to
them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to
the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds
feed the flocks? "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves
with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed
the flock. "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have
you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor
brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost;
but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. "So they
were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became
food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
"My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every
high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of
the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them."
Ezekiel 34:1-6
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast
out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8.
For the whole article go to: http://www.cephasministry.com/water/bible_the_spirit_of_manipulation.html
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- BATHING IN DROPLETS OF GOLDEN LIGHT ANSWER FROM GOD?
- Suddenly, the roof of her new gold Chevette becomes transparent,
and she is bathed in droplets of golden light. Amid laughter
and tears, she has her answer: God is real.
- And so at age 42, she says goodbye to the life of travel
and ease she was expecting with her soon-to-be- retired husband
and embarks on an arduous, emotionally draining, often painful
journey into ministry in the United Methodist Church.
- Come, let us reason together says the Lord. (Isa 1:18) STUDY
to show yourself approved unto God, the Lord says. (2 Tim 2:15)
- Editor of Cnview.com tells to read Jude: 1:1-3: "Jude,
the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that
are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ,
and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common
salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort
you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which
was once delivered unto the saints." http://cnview.com/monthly_newsletter.htm
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- TODAY'S EVANGELICALS EMBRACING THE WORLD'S DEADLIEST CULT
- http://www.cephas-library.com/catholic/catholic_todays_evangelicals_embracing_deadliest_cult.html
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- DATELINE'S EXPOSING BENNY HINN COSTS HIM 30% IN INCOME
- I just found out that the Dateline Special on Benny
Hinn has resulted in a 30% drop in income - wow - that means
many millions of dollars. Hinn in the last few days is begging,
pleading almost groveling asking people to please send money
in - he has serious bags under his eyes and the enthusiasm and
lightness is all gone. There is a real change that is noticeable
- I wonder if it is signaling a real crisis in the organization
- it may very well be - The LA Times is going to unleash a negative
article on Hinn and Crouch in the next month. Hinn and Crouch
are under serious fire - we'll see. Pastor Fisher - Personal
Freedom Outreach.
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- THE WORLD RELIGION
Millions of Americans were justifiably shocked and outraged over
the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ notorious ruling
on the Pledge of Allegiance. "Can our courts really have
sunk this low?" people asked. "How can little Johnny
and Suzie violate the Constitution by uttering the words ‘under
God’ while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in a public
school?"...
"My hope is that this charter [UN Charter] will be a kind
of Ten Commandments, a "Sermon on the Mount," that
provides a guide for human behavior toward the environment in
the next century and beyond." Mikhail Gorbachev
The Preamble of the Earth Charter states:
- " we are one human family and one Earth community with
a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable
global society founded on respect for nature.... Towards this
end, it is imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare
our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of
life, and to future generations.
- According to the Charter, humanity must undergo a global
"change of mind and heart." And the UN’s all-wise
seers visualize themselves as the lead change agents for this
global undertaking. The Earth Charter Initiative, however, candidly
admits that it intends to recruit your children as change agents,
as well. "We seek to increase the participation of young
people in utilizing the Earth Charter as a guideline in their
work as active agents of change," says the Earth Charter
Initiative website. They have been doing precisely that, and
will be accelerating their program throughout the world "
including in schools in your neighborhood...
- For the whole article go to: http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2002/09-23-2002/vo18no19_religion.htm
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- "ARK OF HOPE" COMES TO ROCKFORD
- Profane ritual: In ancient Israel, consecrated Levite priests
bore the Ark of the Covenant, the vessel containing the Ten Commandments
etched on Mt. Sinai by the finger of God. At a November 1st "Ceremony
of Hope" at a Lutheran Church in Rockford,
Illinois, self-appointed new age "Levites" carry the "Ark of
Hope" containing the UN’s Earth Charter as part
of a "Ceremony of Hope."
- The ceremony began with the singing of "Peace, Peace,
Peace, Peace on Earth...," which later led to the singing
of "Let Peace Fill the Earth." Neither song mentioned
the Prince of Peace. The service reminded us of the ’60s
hippie culture, with its calls for peace but no reference to
the God who alone can bring peace. The rest of the story: http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2002/12-16-2002/vo18no25_ark.htm
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- SYNERGY
- Synergy is the name of this game, among other names. This
New Age term aptly defines what these New Age Christians mean
by this kind of "prayer." It has nothing to do with
the Biblical examples of corporate prayer. Researcher Sarah Leslie
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- SOME ANGLICANS SEE DANGER, OTHERS HOPE IN MONTHS AHEAD
The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has admitted a
"huge crisis" is looming
in the worldwide Anglican Communion over the scheduled consecration
in November of an openly gay priest
as a bishop in the United States. The archbishop was making his
own response after a summit of 37 Anglican primates (heads of
provinces or member churches of the communion) held in London
last week to discuss the issue. [ENI-10-20-2003]
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FEATURE: ROME AND CALCUTTA PAY TRIBUTE TO THE 'SAINT OF THE GUTTERS'
An estimated 300 000 people crowded into St Peter's Square at
the Vatican where Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa,
describing her as a "little woman enamoured of God, a humble
messenger of the Gospel and tireless benefactor of humanity".
The ceremony was followed live on television in
Calcutta, the city where half a century ago Mother Teresa began
the work with the starving that made her famous. [ENI-10-20-2003]
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- REV. MOON CLAIMS TO BE THE MESSIAH
April 27,2002 in Washington he married 144,000 religious leaders
who he wants to be part of a THEOCRACY government in the U.S.A.
from 2004 first in Hawaii and the world by 2012.
UNIFICATION NEWS 2002 May, pictures of 144,000 clergy blessing.
Type in the search box, True Family Tree, Rev.moon claims to
have married in the spirit world, Jesus, Hitler, Stalin, Mohammed,
Nixon and other famous people. http://www.tparents.org
- On this website go to Rev. and Mrs Moon,then go to the bottom,On
August 24,1992 Rev.moon declared
that he is the MESSIAH. Proclamation of the Messiah, Rev.moon
said he should of been excepted as
the MESSIAH in 1945 after the second world war, but it was postponed
for 40 years because of failures until 1992. http://unification.org
/ http://www.tparents.org / http://www.MessagesfromSpiritWorld.info
Lucifer, who Rev.moon says surrendered in 1999 Buddha,Confucious,
Jesus, Mohammed claiming
Rev.moon is the MESSIAH . New Age people have been asked from
all around the world who are
in contact with Ascended Masters and they said this information
is not true. Gordon Muir. mooniesmess2002@yahoo.co.uk - http://familyfed.org
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POPE ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF PHILIPPINE 'PEOPLE POWER'
- Manila (ENI). Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation
of an ailing cardinal who helped inspire two "People Power"
revolts in the Philippines, but the country's president said
she would still look to him for advice. "His Holiness Pope
John Paul II has accepted the resignation of His Eminence Jaime
Cardinal Sin from the pastoral governance of the archdiocese
of Manila," the Rev. James Reuter, spokesperson of the Apostolic
Nuncio Antonio Franco, the Pope's representative in the country,
announced. [ENI-19 September 2003]
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- CATHOLIC POLITICIANS MUST OPPOSE LAWS ON GAY MARRIAGE, SAYS
VATICAN
- Rome (ENI). The Vatican has condemned laws that recognise
same-sex partnerships saying that they are contrary to the Bible
and has told Roman Catholic politicians that they have a "clear
and emphatic duty" to oppose such legislation. "There
are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to
be in any way or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage
and family," the Vatican said in a document. [ENI-08-04-03]
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- LUTHERANS SAY POOR WORLD'S DEBT IS ILLEGIMATE, WANT OPEN
CHURCH
- Winnipeg, Canada (ENI). Lutherans from around the world ended
a 10-day assembly with a wide-ranging message that described
international debt as an instrument of domination, while also
highlighting "systemic barriers" that exclude people
because of gender, race, nationality age, sexual orientation,
or physical or mental condition. The meeting, the 10th assembly
of the Lutheran World Federation had 800 participants and visitors
from more than 70 countries, but its 21 July opening was marred
by the non-arrival of more than 50 participants from developing
countries, denied visas by the Canadian government. [ENI-08-04-2003]
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- LUTHERAN LEADER ENTHUSES AT ECUMENICAL SIGNPOSTS DURING ASSEMBLY
- Winnipeg (ENI), Canada. For many of the more than 800 participants
at the 10th assembly of the Lutheran World Federation the ecumenical
nature of the 10-day event in Winnipeg, Canada, was a highlight
and a pointer to inter-church relations in the 21st century.
The federation's general secretary, the Rev. Ishmael Noko, singled
out the visible signs of progress in ecumenical
relations during the 21-31 July assembly, the first
in the new century noting that "For the first time in our
56-year history, we [assembly participants] have worshiped in
non-Lutheran churches." [ENI-08-04-2003]
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- EASTERN EUROPEAN CHURCHES DENOUNCE PROSELYTISM
- Warsaw (ENI). Representatives of churches from Eastern Europe
meeting in Poland have condemned the practice
of proselytism - enticing Christians who belong to
one church to convert to another - and have pledged to work together
in evangelization and mission. "We should never try to encourage
Christians who belong to a church to change their allegiance
by ways and means that contradict the spirit of Christian love,
violate the freedom of the human
person and diminish trust in the Christian witness of the church,"
the 25 church representatives said in a joint
declaration. [382 words, ENI-03-0561]
- -----
- SCIENTOLOGY TO 'DETOX' 9-11 WORKERS
MSNBC: Ashley Pearson - July 17 — First Tom Cruise tells
People magazine how Scientology cured his dyslexia. Now those
amazing Scientology healing powers are being directed at the
9/11 rescue workers. A center has been set up in Lower Manhattan
to “detoxify” Ground Zero workers with techniques developed
by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
‘And the firefighters may get more than they bargained for
since Scientology often recruits new members from Hubbard inspired
programs.’ http://www.cultnews.com/archives/week_2003_07_13.html
Cultnews.com -Rick Ross - “The Tragedy of 9/11 left hundreds
of members of the New York Fire Department (FDNY) and other rescue
workers at the World Trade Center site, severely debilitated
from the toxins they were exposed to during the tragedy,”
notes an article on a Scientology Web site. “To get rid
of the toxins a group of the rescue personnel recently began
L. Ron Hubbard’s Purification detoxification program at
Health Med, a medical clinic that delivers the program.”
But critics of the group say that Hubbard’s “detoxification”
process has been called into question, and may even present health
risks. “And the firefighters may get more than they bargained
for since Scientology often recruits new members from Hubbard-inspired
programs,” says Rick Ross, who wrote about it on his Web
site.
Nevertheless, the program seems to have found favor among at
least some 9/11 rescuers. The Scientology article quotes one
firefighter as saying: “From the very first day on the program,
I had three times more energy and felt so great.” http://www.cultnews.com/archives/000619.html
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- HAS A NEW "MESSIAH" COME TO THE UNITED STATES FROM
SOUTH KOREA?
- http://www.cultnews.com/archives/000627.html
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- 25,000 SOUTHERN BAPTIST MISSIONARIES READY FOR IRAQ SOJOURN
- Toronto Globe and Mail - Thousands of U.S. evangelical missionaries
are about to travel to Iraq, saying they are bent on a "spiritual
warfare" campaign to convert the country's Muslims to Christianity.Among
the largest aid groups preparing to provide humanitarian assistance
to Iraqs ravaged by the war are Christian charities based in
the southern United States that make no secret of their desire
to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and win over Muslim souls.
The largest of these is the Southern Baptist Convention, an ardent
supporter of the war as an opportunity to bring Christianity
to the Middle East. It says it has 25,000 trained evangelists
ready to enter Iraq.
- http://www.cephas-library.com/baptists/baptist_missionaries_ready_for_iraq.html
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- AN ALLEGORICAL APPROACH TO THE GOSPEL
- This perversion of Scripture's true meaning was vividly seen
in the allegorists' interpretation of the Old Testament. They
rarely, if ever, took into account the progressive nature of
divine revelation and would often read New Testament truth into
the Old Testament.
- The same error has been resurrected in post-modern Christendom
today. Numerous preachers and teachers do violence to the Old
Testament by interpreting it outside of its historical and grammatical
context. They use a newer and more acceptable brand of allegorism.
- Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have developed a whole system,
entitled the Laws of Prosperity, built on an allegorical approach
to the Old Covenant. They consider a literal interpretation of
the Abrahamic Covenant as "limited" revelation. A "fuller"
or more "complete" revelation has instructed them that
it has been God's will throughout the ages for all of his children
to be materially prosperous. They write,
- God promised Abraham to establish His covenant with you and
me in our generation. We have God's promise as surely as Isaac
did. God has obligated Himself to bless you as He blessed Abraham.
He has given His Word to prosper you.
- The Copeland's approach to the Old Covenant is classic allegorism.
To them there are two interpretations, one that is directed to
Abraham in his day, and one to the Church in this age. Like their
allegorical parents from the Alexandrian school, they have failed
to respect the essential rule of orthodox hermeneutics regarding
the nature of progressive revelation, not to mention a complete
disenfranchising from the historical-grammatical import of the
passage.
- The same hermeneutical deviance is made with the interpretation
of Genesis 1:27, 28. Copeland explains, "As born-again believers
we have the same authority over the earth that Adam had in the
Garden of Eden."
- Unfortunately, the Copelands who represent an extreme form
of Charismatic theology, are not the only teachers guilty of
using allegorical elitism to awe audiences with alluring messages.
Taking the necessary care of cautious hermeneutics in the Old
Testament is especially important for the body of Christ, but
is rarely respected. The only time the student has the freedom
to interpret Scripture from an allegorical perspective is when
the passage itself gives clear, internal directive to do so.
That has long been considered an orthodox principle of hermeneutics.
- http://www.conservativeonline.org/journals/2_4_journal/scandal_reason_part_2.htm
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- GNOSTICISM / MYSTICISM
- Of particular concern to the Biblical exegete is the recent
trend towards special "extra-biblical" revelation.
C. Peter Wagner typifies a new brand of evangelicals
who make regular claim to receiving "words" from God
which are equal in authority to the Bible. He enthusiastically
declares that which should have a sobering effect on any who
consider the doctrine of sola scriptura to be essential:
- Jack Deere and myself are just two traditional evangelicals
and former cessationalists among rapidly increasing numbers of
others who believe that a valid source of divine knowledge comes
through what some would call "extra-biblical revelation."
I dare say that the standard-brand evangelical doctrine of "logos
only" that we were taught might now find a place on an "endangered
doctrines" list, about to become extinct.
- In typical Gnostic fashion, Wagner's disdain
for sola scriptura drives him to develop a three-tiered
structure of hermeneutics. Following the lead of Charles Kraft
he teaches that knowledge is intellectual, observational, and
experiential, which is not in itself bad, until he defines truth
by the same terms. Sick people are healed, Wagner claims, only as the pastor-healer arrives at that third level
of knowledge.
- His bold disdain of orthodox Christian doctrine and his glee
that the Church is distancing itself from her historical roots
leads him to make a classic mystical/gnostic statement: "One
fundamental thesis will control this discussion—the thesis
that ministry precedes and produces theology, not the reverse."
(italics added) In other words, theology (the truth about God)
is defined not as an absolute, external emanation of God's very
character (as Christian orthodoxy asserts), but is validated
by ministry or activity, human work! For Wagner, God and man
have evidently changed seats. Man's ministry on this earth according
to Wagner, "produces theology."
- He defends his thesis upon one basis—personal
experience. He writes: Where do I get the information
that Christians can be demonized (his book is about demonism)
and that we should cast demons out of Christians when they are
present? 1) Personal experience has led me to believe that Christians
can be invaded by demons. 2) I have arrived at a consensus that
this is true from many others who have ministered in the area
of deliverance. 3) I have seen many positive, even dramatic,
results in the lives of those Christians who have been delivered
by demons.
- http://www.conservativeonline.org/journals/2_4_journal/scandal_reason_part_2.htm
- -----
- ECFA INVESTIGATES CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE FINDS IRREGULARITIES
- ECFA Christian Sentinel Advises Christians not to give money
to CRI. By William Alnor - 2003 Christian Sentinel. In light
of the clear breaches of ECFA Standards, as outlined in the group's
March 20 public statement, The Christian Sentinel is continuing
to call for Christians NOT to contribute any money to CRI, and
we are continuing a call for Hanegraaff to resign, along with
his wife, Kathy, and others associated with that ministry, including
Paul Young, Elliot Miller and Bob and Gretchen Passantino.
Further, we believe readers should contact their pastors and
all Christian leaders worldwide to ask them not to give money
to CRI. Further, if anyone would like an E-mail copy of ECFA's
two public statements outlining problems at CRI, click here,
and we will provide you with copies.
These ECFA revelations are coming during the same time frame
as The Christian Sentinel's June E-update in which we exposed
some of the ongoing problems at CRI, including the fact that
Hanegraaff's salary has zoomed to more than $250,000 a year (not
counting book royalties and other funds he receives partly due
to his position at CRI), while his wife's salary is near the
six figure level. Paul Young, the CRI vice president who abandoned
his wife in Canada, has a salary of $130,000 a year.
http://www.cultlink.com/news/ECFA-CRI.htm
- -----
- AFRICA LIKELY TO BE CENTRE OF CHRISTIANITY SAYS INCOMING
WCC LEADER
- Geneva (ENI). Africa is likely to be "the centre of
Christianity in terms of numbers" in the 21st century, the
newly elected World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary
the Rev Sam Kobia has said. Kobia, a Kenyan Methodist will be
the first African to head the 55-year-old ecumenical organization
and was elected at the 53rd meeting of the WCC main governing
body, its central committee. [ENI-08-29-03 ]
- -----
- US TO BE FOCUS OF WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ANTI-VIOLENCE
CAMPAIGN
- Geneva (ENI). The United States is to be the focus of an
ecumenical church campaign against violence, the main governing
body of the World Council of Churches has decided. The WCC's
central committee has approved the US as the focus of its Decade
to Overcome Violence campaign for the year 2004. Its choice moves
the focus from war-torn places such as the Middle East (the focus
in 2001) and Sudan (the 2003 focus) to the nation viewed as the
world's only super power. [ENI-08-29-03]
- -----
- WCC CALLS FOR UN-LED IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION, END US OCCUPATION
- Geneva (ENI). The main governing body of the World Council
of Churches (WCC) on Monday called for the replacement of United
States-led coalition forces in Iraq with United Nations personnel.
In a statement, the central committee of the world's largest
grouping of churches also implied that the prosecution of President
George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair for war
crimes could be an appropriate result of what it called the "illegal
resort to war" on Iraq, but council officials said such
action was unlikely to happen. [ENI September 1, 2003]
- -----
- CENTRAL ROLE OF CHRISTIANITY MUST BE IN EU CONSTITUTION SAYS
WCC
- ENI, by Stephen Brown Geneva. The World Council of Churches
has called for the "central role of Christianity and the
contributions of other religions" in European history and
civilization to be reflected in a constitution for the European
Union being drawn up by EU leaders. The call came in a statement
issued by the WCC's central committee, the main governing body
of the grouping of 342 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches.
[ENI September 1, 2003]
- -----
- WCC AGAIN HAS 342 MEMBER CHURCH AFTER ERITREAN CHURCH JOINS
- Geneva (ENI). The main governing body of the World Council
of Churches has accepted an application for membership from the
Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, which had formerly belonged
to the council as part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church.
The Eritrean church became self-governing after Eritrea, which
had been annexed by Ethiopia in 1963, gained independence in
1993. It has been accepted as a new WCC member, now that it is
an important institution in its own right for the new nation.
[ENI September 1, 2003]
- -----
- VATICAN PAPER ON EUROPE IGNORES INTER-CHURCH LINKS SAYS ECUMENICAL
LEADER
- Geneva (ENI). The general secretary of the Conference of
European Churches, the Rev. Keith Clements, has warned that a
recent Vatican document about the Roman Catholic Church in Europe
could prove a setback to ecumenism. Clements was responding to
the Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Europa" (the
Church in Europe), an authoritative statement issued by Pope
John Paul II in June. [ENI-09-05-03]
- -----
- FOUNDATION SEEKS TO STEM FLOOD OF CHRISTIANS LEAVING HOLY
LAND
- Jerusalem (ENI). People in churches around the world are
pessimistic about the mass exodus of Christians from the Holy
Land and have been pondering how to get them to stay. The impact
of three years of unremitting conflict in the region was noted
by Christian leaders at this year's Easter celebrations, which
were attended by shrinking numbers of local Christians and also
by only a handful of pilgrims from abroad. A new foundation,
however, believes the mass migration of Christians can be stemmed.
[ENI-05-01-03]
- -----
- CHURCH BLOWS UP [WITH AIR] FOR THE WORSHIPERS
- London (ENI). If you can't get people to come to church you
can take the church to the people, believes Michael Gill, a British
events organizer, who sees his inflatable church that can be
put up anywhere as a fun way to draw worshipers. The air-filled
structure is made of fire-retardant PVC, and its steeple stretches
to 14 metres (47 feet). It has "stained glass" windows
and even an inflatable altar. [ ENI-05-02-03]
- -----
- 400-YEAR-OLD BREW OFFERS POLISH MONKS SECRET OF MAKING REAL
ALE
- Warsaw (ENI). Cistercian monks in southern Poland hope to
become the country's first distributors of real ale, brewed according
to a recipe said to date from the 17th century. "This beer
is dark and distinctive - it has a great bitter taste,"
says Eugeniusz Wlodarczyk, abbot of the monastery at Szczyrzyc
in the Beskidy Mountains. "We won't be producing a huge
amount so as not to compete with the big breweries. But it'll
be quite different from other beers now on the market."
[ENI-May 08.03]
- -----
- MIDDLE EAST ROAD MAP OFFERS 'WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY' SAYS
WCC'S RAISER
- Geneva (ENI). The general secretary of the World Council
of Churches, the Rev. Konrad Raiser, said on Wednesday that a
US-backed "road map" for Middle East peace was not
ideal but provided a "new - albeit very small - window of
opportunity". Raiser's comments came in a WCC news release
from Geneva as US President George Bush was discussing the peace
plan at a meeting in Jordan with the Israeli and Palestinian
prime ministers. [June 4, 2003 ]
- -----
- US BISHOP ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF LUTHERAN WORLD BODY
- Winnipeg (ENI). The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was on
Saturday elected president of the Lutheran World Federation,
which accounts for about 62 million Lutherans worldwide. Hanson
replaces Dr Christian Krause, the 63-year-old bishop emeritus
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick, Germany, who
has served as LWF president since 1997 and whose term of office
expires on 31 July, the last day of the federation's 10-day assembly
in Winnipeg. [ENI-07-28-03]
- -----
- LUTHER: REFORMER, POET, WRITER, RELIGIOUS LEADER - AND NOW
A BRAND
- Winnipeg (ENI). A man in a dark cassock looking remarkably
like the 16th-century Protestant reformer Martin Luther is not
the sort of character you expect to see crossing a broad car-lined
street in a North American city. But "Martin Luther"
is in Winnipeg as part of a traveling exhibition from the Luther
Centre in Wittenberg, where in 1517 Luther nailed his 95 theses
to the door of the town's Castle Church, setting in train the
Protestant Reformation. Like many towns in the former Communist-ruled
part of Germany, Wittenberg has been afflicted with high unemployment
and shrinking job opportunities, and some see the name of Martin
Luther as a brand to bring the city to life through tourism and
products named after the reformer. [ENI-07-28-03 ]
- -----
- CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF LUTHERAN-MANAGED JERUSALEM HOSPITAL
UNDER THREAT
- Winnipeg (ENI). The continued existence of East Jerusalem's
Augusta Victoria Hospital, the only hospital offering some critical
services to people living in the Palestinian territories, is
still under threat because of a tax the Israeli authorities want
to impose, world Lutherans have heard. "This is a political
action," said Jerusalem's Lutheran bishop, Munib A. Younan,
referring to Israeli government plans to impose an employer's
tax on the hospital. [ENI-07-30-03]
- -----
- LUTHERANS PROTEST NEAR CANADIAN IMMIGRATION OFFICE OVER VISA
REFUSALS
- Winnipeg (ENI). Hundreds of delegates attending the 10th
assembly of the Lutheran World Federation filed through the streets
of Winnipeg on Tuesday in a silent protest against the refusal
of the Canadian government to grant visas to more than 50 of
their fellow participants, all from developing nations. The procession
was led by the Rev. Raymond Schultz, the national bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, LWF President Dr Christian
Krause, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko and several
other clergy dressed in robes, some carrying candles and preceded
by a cross-bearer. The marchers had a police escort and passed
in front of the offices of the Canadian immigration authorities.
[ENI-07-30-03]
- -----
- ROW SEETHES IN BETHLEHEM OVER KEYS
- (ENI) The Greek Orthodox Church in Bethlehem has angered
the Roman Catholic and Armenian churches in the Holy Land by
asserting sole control over the "locks and keys"
to the Church of the Nativity, revered by many as marking the
birthplace of Jesus. "We claim we are the possessors
of the keys, we are the guardians of the door [at the Church
of the Nativity]," Archbishop Aristarchos, of the Greek
Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem told ENI. He said that the
decision was triggered after the door was opened, by either (Catholic)
Franciscan or Armenian monks, without the permission of the Greek
Orthodox Church. [ENI-13 August 2003]
- -----
- RAISER CALLS FOR ECUMENICAL SHAKE-UP TO OVERCOME 'INSTUTIONALISM'
GENEVA (ENI). The ecumenical movement has been "overcome
by institutionalism" says the outgoing general secretary
of the World Council of Churches and he has called a top-level
meeting for November that could result in a radical shake-up
of the way in which Christian churches work together. "We
need to envisage a new configuration [for the ecumenical movement]
that is more flexible and responsive," said the Rev.
Konrad Raiser, who retires as WCC general secretary at the end
of the year, in a statement. [ENI-13 August 2003]
- -----
- COLUMBIA'S SMALL PROTESTANT COMMUNITIES TARGETED SAYS REPORT
- New York (ENI). Members of Colombia's small Protestant communities
continue to be targets in Colombia's ongoing civil war, a new
report shows. At least 38 Protestant clergy, lay leaders or church
members have been killed in the first half of 2003, according
to the report, addressed to the "global family of faith,"
and issued to coincide this month with the completion of Alvaro
Uribe's first year as president of Colombia. The report was written
by Ricardo Esquivia, a prominent Mennonite peace activist in
Colombia, who is a well-known official of the Evangelical Council
of Colombian Churches, a coalition of Protestant churches working
in an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country. [ ENI-08-22-03]
- -----
- WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES TO ELECT NEW GENERAL SECRETARY
- Geneva (ENI). The main governing body of the World Council
of Churches on Tuesday starts an 8-day meeting in Geneva at which
the world's biggest church grouping is scheduled to elect a new
general secretary. The 158-member central committee, which is
the WCC's highest governing body between assemblies, will hear
a report from a search committee, set up a year ago to find a
successor to the Rev. Konrad Raiser who has been general secretary
since 1993 and who will retire at the end of this year. [ ENI-08-22-03]
- -----
- PASTORS FROM NORWAY AND KENYA VIE FOR WCC'S TOP POST
- Geneva (ENI). Two candidates have been formally nominated
to succeed the Rev. Konrad Raiser as general secretary of the
World Council of Churches, the world's biggest church grouping.
The names of Canon Trond Bakkevig of the (Lutheran) Church of
Norway and the Rev. Samuel Kobia of the Methodist Church in Kenya
were presented to the WCC's central committee meeting in Geneva.
The committee will elect the new general secretary on Thursday.
[ENI-08-27-03]
- -----
- PHILIPPINE 'PEOPLE POWER' CARDINAL TURNS 75 AND IS STAYING
ON
- Manila (ENI). Jaime Cardinal Sin, the Manila archbishop who
has inspired two bloodless "people power" revolts,
has turned 75, but will stay on as the head of the Roman Catholic
Church in the largest city of the Philippines, until the Vatican
names his successor. Sin celebrated his 75th birthday, assisted
by six priests at a celebratory service where newspaper reports
described him as looking weak. "If the Pope tells me to
go, I go," said Sin, who was ordained a priest in 1954.
"If he tells me to stay, I will stay. I have always been
an obedient son of the Church." [ENI-9.3.2003]
- -----
- ARROYO'S 'DIRECT LINE TO HEAVEN' NOT APPROVED BY SOME PHILIPPINE
CLERICS Manila (ENI). Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's
decision to seek "divine guidance" on whether or not
she will run in May's presidential election has triggered criticism
from both clergy and politicians. Before Arroyo embarked on a
trip to the United States and Europe, her spokesperson said the
president was awaiting divine guidance on whether she should
reverse a pledge announced on 30 December not to run in the 2004
election. Oscar Cruz, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Lingayen-
Dagupan said he was not comfortable with the way Arroyo mentioned
God whenever she made a major political decision. "My only
regret is that God is being abused," said the bishop. "God
is not that fickle-minded." [ENI-09-29-03]
- -----
- 'LUTHER', LAVISH FILM OF REFORMER'S LIFE, OPENS IN US TO
MOSTLY PLUS REVIEWS New York (ENI). "Luther", a new
US$40 million film epic depicting the life of Reformation leader
Martin Luther, is garnering mixed reviews following its weekend
release in the United States. The film, which stars British actor
Joseph Fiennes in the title role of the 16th-century German religious
leader and reformer, opened in 300 theatres in 45 major US cities.
[ENI-09-29-03]
- -----
- JAN CROUCH UPDATE - LETTERS FROM PAUL CROUCH JR.
- May 28, 2003 - Mom is home and doing great! She's recovering
well from surgery and is already up and around. She wanted again
to thank everyone for all of the cards and letters. I've literally
taken over hundreds if not thousands of them and she reads every
one. As many of you are aware, dealing with a medical issue like
this is very much a roller coaster ride. It tends to be a series
of "Good News / Bad News" scenarios, but always knowing
that the Lord is in control.
- May 20, 2003 - After running a battery of tests, the bad
news is Mom has colon cancer. This is obviously why she was losing
blood from her system. The good news is, it was VERY localized
and easily operable. She will be going into surgery either tomorrow
or Thursday and probably be home later next week. Mom wanted
everyone to know that she is at PERFECT peace. She is happy knowing
that thousands of people are praying for her and that God is
walking with her every step of the way. We also joked around
about this being a heck of a way to finally take a vacation!
We are still consulting with the best doctors available on the
next avenue of treatment, so pray that the Lord continues to
guide our family in the right direction. No word when she'll
be back in the office, but simply know all is well.
- Jan Crouch made an appearance in October 2003 on TBN and
looks fine. We were told that the cancer was in the lymph nodes
but according to her own letters she is healed. [www.tbn.org
]
- -----
- PROSPERITY GOSPEL ICON MARRIES IN LAVISH SPLENDOR
- Juanita Bynum was married in New York (her second). She is
cover girl on Charisma this month. The hyper Charismatics love
assertive, celebrity woman from Kuhlman to Mac Pherson. . Her
train was 50 feet long and she had 900 guests including John
Hagee. A conservative estimate for the Hyatt Regency would be
no less than $100,000 for a wedding that size. [ Charisma Magazine,
October 2003 ]
- -----
- CHURCH SCAM 'EXPLOITED RELIGIOUS FAITH'
A Georgia businessman has been charged with scamming millions
from churches. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently
accused Wildwood resident Abraham Kennard of borrowing nearly
$3 million from at least 1,000 small, mostly black congregations
on a false promise that the money would be invested in a chain
of Christian-themed vacation resorts, the Associated Press (AP)
reported.
A federal lawsuit filed by the SEC earlier this month charged
Kennard and his firm, Network International Investment Corp.,
with promising pastors nationwide a return of $500,000 for every
$3,000 they invested. Instead, the suit alleges, at least $2
million of that money wound up in the bank account of one of
the company's officers, and no resorts were ever built.
"This was a fraud that was designed to exploit the religious
faith and ethnic pride of African-Americans, and the defendants
here really played upon that trust and violated it," SEC
lawyer Merri Jo Gillette said, the AP reported.
A federal judge has issued an injunction ordering Kennard and
the company to cease fraudulent activity. He also froze the company's
assets and ordered Kennard and other officers not to destroy
documents. Many of the churches that invested were new congregations
with fewer than 50 parishioners, often housed in rented meeting
halls and storefronts, authorities said. Most had little money
and were looking for ways to finance the construction of larger
churches. [Source:Wally Duncaster]
- -----
- SODOMITE LEADERSHIP IS COMING.
- A pastor in North Carolina preached a message in September
entitled "Homosexuality Is Not a Sin: The Christian Education
of a Baptist Minister." The pastor, Chris Ayers, explained
that he once opposed homosexuality, but that he has reached his
current stance "by talking to homosexual Christians, not
by studying scripture." He says, "I used to think homosexuality
was wrong because the Bible said it was wrong. But I had a vision."
He adds, "Because of some wonderful Christians who just
happen to be gay and lesbian, I learned homosexuality is not
a sin." (AgapePress, 10/9/02)
- [Editor] Dan 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his
fathers, NOR THE DESIRE OF WOMEN, nor regard any god: for he
shall magnify himself above all. The above folks, are the characteristics
of the antichrist. And the world will ACCEPT him. So the
world must be taught to accept THEM. [Source: CNVIEW.com ]
- -----
- ALL ARE SAVED?
- Americans hold a bewildering variety of contradictory religious
views, according to a new survey by George Barna. Among the results
of the survey are these: The religious group identified as most
likely to believe that "the Bible can only be correctly
interpreted by people who have years of intense training in theology"
was the nation's Roman Catholics. Fifty percent of American adults
believe that anyone who "is generally good or does enough
good things for others during life will earn a place in Heaven."
Forty-four percent of those polled agreed "the Bible, the
Koran and the Book of Mormon are all different expressions of
the same spiritual truths." [Barna Research Online, 10/8/02]
[ Source: Cnview.com ]
- -----
CHURCHES WITHOUT A DOCTRINE.
- "A church in the nation's capital is welcoming local
Muslims who have volunteered to help feed the poor. . . . Rev.
John Mack, pastor of Washington's First Congregational Church,
says the Muslims are also saying their evening prayers at the
church. Mack says that is not a problem because 'In the United
Church of Christ, we don't have any doctrine." (Agape-Press,
11/19/02) [ Source: Cnview.com ]
- -----
COMPROMISE OF TRUTH FOR "UNITY"
- Charisma News January 31, 2003 edition Lead Story - "I
don't think there has ever been anything like this attempted
before in this country," said Orange, Calif., Catholic Bishop
Tod Brown, who along with Baltimore's Cardinal William Keeler
was among the 55 participants who met at Fuller Theological Seminary
in Pasadena, Calif.
- Wesley Granberg- Michaelson, steering committee chair and
chief executive of the Reformed Church in America, called the
meeting "a remarkable breakthrough. We gathered a wide representation
of the Christian churches in the U.S.A. and were able to inspire
them into making a deep commitment together." (Note from
Susan: The Reformed Church in America (RCA) was one of the founding
members of the National Council of Churches (NCC), which is mentioned
below. However, you will note the RCA is NOT mentioned in the
following paragraph for their role in establishing the National
Council of Churches!)
- Granberg-Michaelson said there were representatives from
the Pentecostal/ Charismatic Churches in North America, Missionary
Pentecostal Churches of God, International Pentecostal Holiness
Church, Church of God based in Cleveland, Tenn., and the Foursquare
Church.
- The Catholic church and most evangelicals and Pentecostals
do not belong to the liberal National Council of Churches (NCC),
which is currently America's largest ecumenical group, the AP
observed...
- "If Christian Churches Together moves toward becoming
primarily a political or issue-driven organization, it will fail,"
Mannoia, dean and CEO of the Haggard School of Theology at Azuza
Pacific University in Azusa, Calif., told Charisma News. "That's
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