tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99074482023-07-17T23:13:23.854-06:00"Elder" LeviElder Levi in Wiesbaden, Germany where he served an LDS mission. He later graduated from BYU. Read how he came to saving faith in the Jesus of the Bible and his comments on Mormonism and ChristianityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-42267511459909855162013-11-12T18:39:00.001-07:002013-11-12T18:55:18.809-07:00Does "all" Always Mean "all" in the Bible?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b>The question is, does ALL always mean
ALL in the bible or is it qualified by the context? Does ALL always mean every
single person without exception, or is what it covers defined by the Bible's
context and references? The truth is that the word "ALL" is usually qualified
in the scriptures. For example:</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Mark 1:5</b> "And there went out to him ALL the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem and were ALL baptized in the river Jordan"<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b>{Certainly not every single man, woman, and
child (bar none) in the Land of Judea went to get baptized that day,
correct? The "ALL" there is qualified.}</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>John 8:2</b> "And early in the
morning he came again into the temple, and ALL the people came unto
him; and he sat down and taught them."<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b>{Again, the "ALL" is qualified. Even though it
says "ALL" it doesn't mean that every single person on earth came to
listen to Jesus.}</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Romans 5:17-18</b> For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more <u>those who receive</u>
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life
through the One, Jesus Christ.) (18) Therefore, as through one man's
offense judgment came to <u>all men</u>, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to <u>all men</u>, resulting in justification of life.
<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b>{The first underlined "all men" in verse 18
does mean every individual, because there is no qualifier in the
context. The second underlined "all men" in verse 18 is qualified by the
phrase "those who receive" in verse 17. The second ALL here clearly
means "all of a group" rather than "every individual".}</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b> </b></span>
<br />
<b>Acts 22:15</b> "For thou (Paul) shalt be a witness unto ALL men of what thou hast seen or heard."<br />
<b>Matthew 10:22</b> "And ye shall be hated of ALL men for my name's sake."<br />
<b>John 3:26</b>
"And they came unto John and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with
thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the same
baptizeth, and ALL men came to him."<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"> <b>{In these verses we see clearly that
the word "ALL" does not in these instances mean every person without
exception, but, rather, it means "all types of men". To say "ALL" always means all or should be
understood to mean every individual in scripture is a misnomer. The context should always to be checked out for a qualifier.}</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b>If there are some of you who are still not convinced, here's one "all" you'll have to deal with:</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 23:18-19</b> And they <b><u>all</u></b>
cried out at once, saying, "Away with this [Man], and release to us
Barabbas" (19) who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion
made in the city, and for murder.<br />
<b>Luke 23:24-25</b> So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. (25) And <u>he released to them the one they requested</u>, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; <u>but he delivered Jesus to <b>their will</b></u>.<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b>{This "all" shows man's will rejecting God and choosing Barabbas (sin). They ALL rejected Christ.}</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b>Also, the word "world" does not necessarily mean every individual on the planet:</b></span>
<br />
<b>John 12:19</b> The Pharisees therefore said among
themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the
world has gone after Him!"
<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b>{If "world" meant every individual, then that would include the Pharisees who are complaining in this verse.}</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6a00d5;"><b>The following verses illustrate that the meaning of "world" can mean certain individuals from the entirety of the world:</b></span>
<br />
<b>John 17:9</b> "I pray for them. <u>I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me</u>, for they are Yours.
<br />
<b>Revelation 5:9</b> And they sang a new song,
saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For
You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood <u><b>Out of</b> every tribe and tongue and people and nation</u>,
<br />
<b>Acts 10:34-35</b> Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In
truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. (35) But in every
nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.<br />
<br />
This is a reposting of: http://scripturetruths5.tripod.com/all.html<br />
<br />
<br />
For further reading by the author of the above, link to: http://www.reformationstudycenter.com/AllAlwaysMeansAllRight.html<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-64061245766408155392012-12-20T17:08:00.002-07:002012-12-20T18:34:55.812-07:00ICARE urges Christians to<b> flee from the ungodly "Biblical Counseling Movement</b>." It is a misnamed and misleading "Trojan Horse" of false teachings that has infiltrated the Church. To John MacArthur, staff and students at Master's College and Seminary, attendees at Grace Community Church, and the leaders of local churches that are affiliated with MacArthur, we say: <b>repent of your unbiblical mixing of false doctrine into the Church! </b>The following is a re-posting of the first in a series of three article on the unbiblical nature of the Psychology-based counseling program at Master's College and Seminary. The Bobgan's are who exposed the <b>ungodly situation at Master's</b> when false teacher Larry Crabb was on staff. <br />
<br />
<b>A Critical Review of The Master’s College Seminary Biblical Counseling Program Part One </b><br />
<br />
by Martin & Deidre Bobgan<br />
<br />
The Master’s College & Seminary is touted as "one of the leading schools for undergrad and graduate level training in biblical counseling." In fact, The Master’s College and Seminary (TMC&S) conducted a survey of "all the Christian counseling programs that are accredited graduate level throughout the United States" and found that, as far as could be determined from the research, TMC&S "had the largest graduate program in the country." They also reported that, whereas "the average Christian counseling accredited graduate programs has about 40 to 50 students in it," TMC&S has 270 students.1 In addition to having a very large biblical counseling program, TMC&S, with its association with Grace Community Church, wields a tremendous influence in the biblical counseling movement (BMC) nationally and internationally, especially because of the leadership of Dr. John MacArthur. <b>Because of its popularity and great world-wide influence, we will be answering this critical question: Is the highly touted, popular, and widely influential biblical counseling program at The Master’s College and Seminary truly biblical? </b><br />
<br />
In this series of articles we will demonstrate that the head of the biblical counseling program at TMC&S models sinful speaking, eisegetes Scripture to justify his counseling, and teaches two egregious ideas. All of this is not only taught to the students at TMC&S, but also spread worldwide. We conclude the series with recommendations for correction. <b>To determine whether or not the programs at TMC&S are biblical, it is necessary to put to the test primarily what they do and say during counseling, not just what they say about counseling.</b> We all know the saying, "What you do speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you say." We have often said that one must evaluate biblical counselors by what they do in the counseling room, rather than by what they hope to do based upon what they say and write.<br />
<br />
In order to find out what they do, it is necessary to find actual live counseling sessions on video, audio, or print and compare what is seen and heard with the Bible. Compared to the plethora of counseling materials that merely talk about the various facets of counseling, there are very few that present literal live counseling. The ones we have examined demonstrate very clearly that the most popular approaches <b>are actually unbiblical.</b> This includes the approaches promoted by the National Association of Biblical Counselors (NANC), the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF), and the Biblical Counseling Foundation (BCF).2<br />
<br />
We have said for years that the major error of the biblical counseling movement is that they are <b>problem-centered, just like the psychological counseling movement. We have proved repeatedly in our writings that problem-centered counseling inevitably leads to sinful communication.</b> Some time back, to expose this issue in the biblical counseling movement (BCM), we presented the following challenge:
With the thousands of individuals claiming to do biblical counseling and the Bible colleges and seminaries that teach it, one should be able to find a biblical counseling session (or a series of sessions) in writing or on audio or video that is truly biblical and therefore having no sinful speaking. <b>We challenge biblical counselors to provide a word-for-word counseling session or a detailed description of one to demonstrate that they are truly biblical. </b><br />
<br />
<b>To date no one in the BCM has answered that challenge. </b><br />
<br />
Until recently we have had no literal counseling sessions to evaluate the counseling program at TMC&S. However, we found a web site that does have two audios, which include live biblical counseling sessions in addition to a number of lectures by biblical counselors about biblical counseling.3 The actual counseling is conducted by Dr. John Street, who chairs the graduate program in Biblical Counseling (MABC) at TMC&S.4 Obviously what Street does in his biblical counseling is what he teaches his students and what he promotes through his numerous contacts worldwide and through NANC, of which he serves as president.<br />
<br />
<b>Street’s Videos and Audios </b><br />
<br />
We have now listened to all of Street’s audios and videos available from the Biblical Counseling and Discipleship Association, So. Cal. (BCDASoCal), Fall 2011 Training Conference.5 We also read the PDFs of his talks. Using Street’s videos, audios, and PDFs, we will now evaluate what Street does in his biblical counseling and demonstrate that he, like other biblical counselors, is contrary to the Bible, because in the context of problem-centered counseling he expects and encourages responses that necessarily involve sinful speaking.<br />
<br />
<b>Joe and Julie </b><br />
<br />
There are two audio sessions that include Street counseling Joe and Julie, a married couple.6 We learned that there were three DVDs with parts of ten counseling sessions on them. We attempted to obtain the three DVDs but were prevented from doing so even by a web site that at first sold us the three DVDs, but then, prior to filling the order, returned our payment and removed the three DVDs from the site.<br />
<br />
The couple used their first names and identified the husband, Joe, as being a pastor at Faith Community Church. We wanted to contact them for an interview, because, as reported in a professional journal, "Controlled outcome studies show that only about half of couples improve with treatment. And even among those who do make progress a disheartening chunk, 30 to 50 percent, relapse within two years."7<br />
<br />
Therefore, we contacted Pastor Bruce Groves, Vice President of BCDASoCal, and after several email exchanges learned that the Joe and Julie counseling sessions were actually re-enactments, meaning that <b>these were not truly original live counseling , but re-enactments of what was supposed to have happened in the counseling sessions.</b> We asked Groves if the Joe and Julie in the ten counseling sessions were the original counselees. He said that the Joe and Julie in the DVD counseling sessions <b>"were re-enacting the counseling scenario of another couple.</b>"8 (Bold Added.)<br />
<br />
Think about it! The real Joe and Julie are not available for us to contact and confirm what happened; the Joe and Julie actors were apparently following a made-up script; the dialog leads to a fabulously successful tenth meeting conclusion; and none of this is verifiable! We all know the old adage: "If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is." We suspect that this Joe and Julie scenario is tailored to a fabulous conclusion that might be discredited by the original Joe and Julie if we were to contact them. As we add up all the concerns we have about this wonderfully successful ten sessions of counseling by Street with the faux Joe and Julie, we conclude that there would likely be a great discrepancy between what originally happened and the acted out "re-enactment."<br />
<br />
Next, let us look at the apparent success of the counseling sessions. We say "apparent" because, as we said, there is no way to follow up with Joe and Julie to see if the happy ending continued on or deteriorated after the final session. In other words, were the weeks and months after the counseling ended as successful as it seemed in the last session of the re-enacted counseling.<br />
<br />
The outstandingly successful Joe and Julie counseling touted by Street could unfortunately be the very reason for the popularity and interest in the TMC&S biblical counseling major. However, our past research has revealed that counselors regularly use successful counseling stories to promote their approaches.9 Providing literal counseling sessions in biblical counseling not only shows people how to do it, but provides a platform to promote the methodology by showing how well that approach works. Do not be intimidated by such demonstrations of biblical counseling that appear to prove an approach or point of view of the biblical counselor or are used to demonstrate how to counsel, whether presented in writing or given verbally at conferences.<br />
<br />
Observing demonstrations of counseling can actually get in the way of personally ministering to fellow believers. Two people could have exactly the same external problem, but only God knows the specifics of what and how for a particular person. This is why we say that those who minister to one another need to get in the way and out of the way. They need to be available, but they need to let God work rather than push their own agenda.
We have never seen a literal failed counseling approach revealed in all the biblical counseling writings we have examined.<br />
<br />
We have seen biblical counselors blame their counselees for failures or give examples of poor counseling on the part of others, but none that have displayed their own failures. Revealing only the successes gives the false impression that if you follow the method displayed, you too will find success.<br />
<br />
The truth is that counselors and especially counselors with an agenda (their particular approach) too often take credit for successes and attribute failures to the counselees. The trumping truth is that success is primarily in the hands of the counselees,10 and those who counsel must not take credit for success or use the success to promote their point of view as a result. <b>Otherwise, they are bound in fairness to take the blame for their failures and to reveal their methodology that failed. </b><br />
<br />
<b>Counseling Session </b><br />
<br />
As we asked at the beginning, "Is the biblical counseling program at TMC&S truly biblical?" It is not even how successful it may appear to be, but rather how biblical it is that counts. Street begins the counseling session in a manner quite similar to other nouthetic counselors when he says, "I want to be able to <b>address everything</b> that we can in order to be of help to you." (Bold added.) Street elsewhere refers to Proverbs 18:13: "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."11 This verse sets the stage for Street to ask Joe and Julie personal questions and to encourage them to hold nothing back that may be helpful, thereby <b>pressing them beyond biblical limitations to sinful speaking.
</b>In what follows it appears that some of the information was gleaned from Joe and Julie each completing the Personal Data Inventory (PDI). The PDI requires one to list "Identification Data (Personal), "Health Information," and "Marriage and Family Information." At the end of the PDI are the following six questions:<br />
<br />
1. What is the main problem, as you see it? (Why are you here?) <br />
2. What have you done about it?<br />
3. What can we do?<br />
4. Describe your spouse’s personality in a few words (selfish, loving, etc.)<br />
5. As you see yourself, what kind of person are you? Describe yourself.<br />
6. Is there any other information we should know?12<br />
<br />
The use of the PDI amplifies the problem centeredness of the counseling because many more problem are brought up than necessary with more to talk about unnecessarily. The PDI also opens many doors to sinful, unbiblical speaking, which is amplified by putting such thoughts in writing.<br />
<br />
Those who minister must bring the ones in need of help into a daily walk with God, in which they will seek Him in His Word, pray, and open themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit. Then, as they respond to God they will know what to do by trusting and obeying Him. As God does the inner work and they respond, the glory goes to God and not to man. Personal ministry must be done without sinful, unbiblical conversations that regularly occur through the use of the PDI and other means of digging deeper into the lives of those in need.<br />
<br />
Many problem-centered counselors consider the PDI, which only recently arrived in the history of the church, and other such inventories to be valuable, but they are often a detriment when ministering biblically. The PDI is just one more look-alike from the psychological counseling movement. Also, using the PDI is entirely unnecessary as thousands of individuals who call themselves biblical counselors and others who minister biblically have never used one and could claim equally successful cases as the one presented by Street. Prior to the creation and use of the PDI Christians throughout the history of the church ministered to one another and they were in no way hampered or restricted by the absence of anything like the PDI. Actually the PDI with its possible long list of problems could focus on the flesh and divert the counseling away from what the person truly needs: a growing daily spiritual walk with God.<br />
<br />
<b>Biblical Standards of Communication </b><br />
<br />
The bottom line is whether or not the words spoken by Street, Joe, and Julie meet the biblical standards. The counseling stands or falls on whether or not they meet biblical standards in practice. Joe and Julie are members at Faith Community Church and Joe is a pastor there. Julie teaches school and is pregnant. They are in counseling because they are having marital problems.<br />
<br />
In this counseling session Joe does most of the talking, which is unusual for most marital counseling.13 Although Joe makes some self-effacing comments, he primarily complains about his wife, is highly critical of her, and exposes what he considers to be her faults to a third party, who is probably only an acquaintance or a stranger, all of which are expected as part of the usual biblical counseling process, with Street encouraging unbiblical remarks along the way.<br />
<br />
The following are <b>a few of the many questions</b> Street asks in the process of digging for problems and their details:<br />
<br />
Can you tell me a little more about that?<br />
Are there any other areas?<br />
Is there anything you want to add to that to help me understand it?<br />
So what else would you like to add to that?<br />
How are you dealing with that?<br />
<br />
Street further advances openness and exposure of the couple by saying, "But what you’re sharing with me is helpful." With Street’s encouragement, support, and expectation, <b>Joe makes a number of clearly unkind, unbiblical remarks. </b><br />
<br />
Street asks Joe, "Can you tell me a little more about that? What do you mean by anxiety?" Joe’s answers:<br />
<br />
I have expectations of her and <b>she seems to always fail</b> at meeting those expectations as far as being the pastor’s wife that I think she should be in the local church where we’re serving. We have wonderful opportunities for ladies ministries and whether it be calling on the phone or sending little notes of encouragement or sharing with the ladies in Bible studies—are things that—she’s just not rising up to meet those expectations at all, or even the responsibilities that some of the other ladies think she should be involved in. (Bold added.)<br />
<br />
There is no cautioning Joe with such passages of Scripture as in Ephesians 5:22-33, James 5:20, and 1 Peter 3:7 about how he is to love his wife by not complaining about her or giving a bad impression of her to others. Instead, Street asks, "Are there any other areas that you believe are kind of a source of your anxiety?"<br />
<br />
In response to Street, Joe continues to<b> spiritually slander his wife</b> by saying:<br />
<br />
Maybe some of my background growing up in a pastor’s home I saw things one particular way as a pastor’s wife should handle things and she doesn’t live up to that right now and I want to get her there as fast as I can. And she’s slow and hasn’t had that same background and so part of it is just impatience I think.<br />
<br />
After assuring Joe that they will work together on this problem, Street broaches another subject by saying, "Now, you also mark down here ‘communication,’" and then asking, "What do you mean by communication? What’s going on there?"<br />
<br />
Joe explains and then says, "Her life is not participating in the life of the ministry in the church where I am." While Joe takes some of the blame, he nonetheless says of Julie:<br />
<br />
She doesn’t feel like I care or understand about where she is in the home. And at the same time I feel like she has no idea of what I’m experiencing in the church. And so we communicate in different terms, and there’s times where I just come home and don’t even want to say anything to her because she won’t understand. And she’s thinking so much about the home front and her needs and I think there’s just a lot of selfishness there and maybe even some blindness on my part of failing to understand the different trials and the different circumstances that are troubling her. (Bold added.)<br />
<br />
<b>Full Exposure Required </b><br />
<br />
While Street makes a few brief remarks after each exposure, these problems are not addressed beyond asking for more details. The NANC process calls for every problem to be laid out on the table and described in as much detail as possible during the sessions. As Randy Patten, the executive director of NANC, says, it is necessary to <b>"understand completely </b>what is going on" before giving any advice so that the counselor won’t be "a fool in God’s eyes" or give "lousy advice."14 (Bold added.)<br />
<br />
Street then continues to probe into another subject. Evidently in reference to Joe’s answers on the PDI, Street says, "You also talk about your physical relationship in marriage—your sexual relationship." (Bold added.) He then ventures into this highly sensitive area by asking, "And why did you mark that as part of the problem here?" Street is obviously fishing for details about their sex life. We cover this same subject elsewhere in which Patten pursues a couple whose husband says, "I’m very dissatisfied with our sex life."15 We mention this to show that such excursions into this sensitive and biblically sacred area of marriage by biblical counselors are not unusual. Street is only doing what is standard for many and what he teaches others to do.<br />
<br />
As we say about such needless excursions: This reveals how deeply worldly this counseling is and the extent to which psychological problem-centered counseling has been emulated and embraced by the church. As much as prying for details is expected and practiced in biblical counseling, details about a couple’s intimacy should not be shared with a third party in counseling. Nevertheless problem-centered counseling depends on such details even in these intimate areas. There are ways to minister to couples without invading their bedrooms and physical intimacy through unnecessary sinful communication.<br />
<br />
In response to Street’s question about the lack of sexual intimacy, Joe describes his frustration, which includes the following words:<br />
<br />
Well, I think just a desire that obviously it’s probably more apparent in the man versus a woman as far as for that sexual need to be met. Where there’s that desire to be met even on a weekly basis at times, or a couple times a week.<br />
<br />
Joe criticizes Julie, who is <b>pregnant and teaches school all day,</b> for not being available for sexual intimacy! He then says, "I want to enjoy her," and, "She’s too tired to really enjoy any times like that." Joe "generously" confesses that he doesn’t "have to have this all the time."! Then he uses the Bible to justify his complaint:<br />
<br />
It’s a biblical desire that God has given to both of us to love to have, and we want to meet that in one another, but I think just the way our lives are going in two different directions, it’s just hard to meet at that time to where this can happen on a consistent basis. And, because of that, I have a hard time getting to sleep. Sometimes we’ll just go to bed and I can’t get to sleep because I know I’ve been denied the satisfaction and she’s just gone to sleep on me.<br />
<br />
Joe then says that, as a result, "Anger sets in and just frustration at why she is unwilling to do this."<br />
<br />
Street responds by affirming, "Okay, what you’re saying is really helpful." Helpful? Perhaps as far as getting as much information as possible, which is the NANC method. However, the marriage bed is holy and for Joe to expose his wife in the way he does is sinful! This kind of talk in real counseling would surely make a woman feel she has been betrayed both by her husband and their counselor. This excursion by Street into the privacy of Joe and Julie’s sexual intimacy is a reflection of worldly counseling rather than a biblical need.<br />
<br />
While the topic of sex is clearly dealt with in Scripture, Paul was no doubt answering general questions in 1 Corinthians 7 rather than having private sessions with couples during which they expose one another! One does not need to hear the complaints or the details to teach about marriage. Biblical counselors would do well to skip the preliminaries (the digging and prying) and teach the doctrines and principles from Scripture, thereby <b>trusting the Holy Spirit to do the convicting and the inner work for outer obedience. </b><br />
<br />
The very fact that a couple would return for the next session after the counselor has usurped the spiritual headship of the husband and led him into betraying his wife shows how the ways of the world have deceived even those who think they are being biblical into making such a mockery of the biblical one-flesh principle.<br />
<br />
The next subject Joe brings up at the prompting of Street is "the importance of spending devotional time together." Joe says of Julie:<br />
<br />
She doesn’t want to wake up in the morning. She doesn’t want to give me that time. She would much rather have her own time in bed and she wakes up just—and even kind of angry as far as why I would want to insist this upon her this early. So it’s kind of like duplicitous of her to be saying that and then to not have any desire for that when it’s something that we like to develop in our lives. (Bold added.)<br />
<br />
Because they are not spending prayer time together, Joe concludes that this lack has "affected her personal devotional life with the Lord." Joe continues his complaint:<br />
<br />
…<b>she talks to me like she has never even studied the Bible recently. Just the way she acts and behaves, there doesn’t seem to be any connection there of Biblical truth and how she’s living her life. </b>(Bold added.)<br />
<br />
Joe reveals elsewhere that "within a couple years or so things have slowly started to digress." In describing their relationship Joe says, "There haven’t seemed to be any real substantial change that has been continuous." With Street being an elder at Grace Community Church and with Joe already having had two years of marital troubles, one would believe that, if Joe were a pastor there, John MacArthur would at least have called a time-out on his ministry, but Street says nothing about this.<br />
<br />
<b>A Few Simple Questions </b><br />
<br />
We have commented on only the re-enacted part of one counseling session conducted by Street with Joe and Julie and used examples from Joe’s remarks to reveal the extent of the unbiblical sinful speaking that occurs in his biblical counseling. <b>Imagine having all ten counseling sessions and how greatly compounded the sinful speaking would be, as encouraged by Street</b> and followed by Joe and Julie. Add to that the important fact that Street is training students at The Master’s College and Seminary along with others world-wide in this sinful speaking, unbiblical approach offered as biblical help. They will surely desire to replicate what he does, especially with such a positive ten-session ending.<br />
<br />
Now that we have revealed Street’s counseling we ask a simple question: What would you think of a man or a woman who would personally say to you the things that are revealed in Street’s counseling of the couple? Wouldn’t you think it was rude, unkind, and unloving to speak about a spouse that way? Also, what would you think of Street setting such unbiblical standards for others to follow as he does in his position as head of the MABC at TMC&S? And, what would you think of broadcasting it to the whole world as Street does?<br />
<br />
We asked at the beginning: Is the highly touted, popular, and influential biblical counseling program at The Master’s College and Seminary truly biblical? Our answer is an emphatic No! for the reasons listed in this article and the ones that follow as well as elsewhere.16<br />
<br />
To Be Continued in the Next Issue<br />
<br />
Endnotes<br />
<br />
1 "Ministry Highlights: Biblical Counseling Programs @ The Master’s College," Biblical Counseling & Discipleship Association Southern California (BCDASoCal) Training Conference, Fall 2011, http://bcdasocal.org.<br />
2 Martin and Deidre Bobgan. Person to Person Ministry. Santa Barbara, CA: EastGate Publishers, 2009, Part Two; Martin and Deidre Bobgan. Stop Counseling! Start Ministering! Santa Barbara, CA: EastGate Publishers, 2011, Chapter<br />
3.
3 http://bcdasocal.org.<br />
4 http://www.masters.edu.<br />
5 Biblical Counseling & Discipleship Association Training Conference, Fall 2011, op. cit.<br />
6 John Street, "Actual Counseling Session: Clinical Depression," Audio #17, and "Clinical Depression Counseling Case, Part 2," Audio #27, BCDASoCal Training Conference, Fall 2011, op. cit. The quoted dialog from the counseling session with Joe and Julie is primarily from audio #17.<br />
7 Brent Atkinson, "Brain to Brain," Psychotherapy Networker, Vol. 26, No. 5, p. 10.<br />
8 Email.<br />
9 Martin and Deidre Bobgan. Christ-Centered Ministry. Santa Barbara, CA: EastGate Publishers, 2004, pp. 42-43.<br />
10 Bobgan. Stop Counseling! Start Ministering! op cit., pp. 160-162.<br />
11 John Street, "Gathering Data/Discerning the Problems Biblically," Video Session Four, BCDASoCal Training Conference, op. cit.<br />
12 Jay E. Adams. Competent to Minister. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1970, p. 274.<br />
13 Bobgan. Person to Person Ministry, op. cit., pp. 66-68.<br />
14 Randy Patten, "Biblical Counseling Observations," Faith Biblical Counseling, Faith Baptist church, Lafayette, Indiana, Session One.<br />
15 Bobgan. Stop Counseling! Start Ministering! op cit., p. 77.<br />
16 Bobgan, Person to Person Ministry, op cit.; Bobgan, Stop Counseling! Start Ministering! op cit.
(PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter, July-August 2012, Vol. 20, No. 4)
Article Topics | Titles | Top
PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries
4137 Primavera Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
www.pamweb.org
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-74279326759534463042012-11-13T21:11:00.001-07:002012-11-13T21:11:22.495-07:00
<h2 align="CENTER">
Free Will Synergism Vs. Free Grace Monergism</h2>
<div align="CENTER">
by John Hendryx </div>
<blockquote>
<strong>Synergists teach</strong> '... and as many as
believed were ordained to eternal life.' but <strong>The Bible
teaches</strong> 'AND AS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE
BELIEVED.' (Acts 13:48)</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<strong>Synergists teach</strong> that 'salvation depends
on human will', but <strong>the Bible teaches</strong> that 'it
depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy."
(Rom 9:16)</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<strong>Synergists teach</strong> '...'no one knows the
Father except those who choose the Son.' But <strong>the Bible
teaches</strong> that 'no one knows the Father except the Son and
anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him' (Matt 11:27) They are
the ones who 'choose' the Son.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<strong>Synergists teach</strong> that 'All can come to
Christ of their own free will', but <strong>Jesus teaches</strong>
that 'no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.'
(John 6:65) and all whom He grants will come (John 6:37) Free Will
Synergism Vs. Free Grace Monergism</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<strong>Synergists teach</strong> that 'you are not
Christ's sheep because you do not believe', but <strong>Jesus teaches</strong>
that 'you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.' (John
10:26)</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<strong>Synergists teach</strong> that 'the reason you
are not of God is because you are unwilling to hear and believe God's
words.' <strong>Jesus, on the other hand, taught</strong>, 'The
reason why you do not hear [God's words] is that you are not of God."
(John 8:47)</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<strong>Synergists teach</strong> that 'salvation is so
easy a cave man can do it" but<strong> the Bible teaches</strong>
that "What is impossible with man is possible with God."
(Luke 18:27)</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In the Divine economy men are responsible to believe the
gospel, but are morally impotent to do so (when drawing from their
own native resources). This inability (due to our intimate solidarity
with Adam's sin) is something we are culpable for, much like owing a
debt we cannot repay. So God has every right to call us all to
account to 'repay our debt', so to speak, even though fallen man does
not have the resources to do so. The Church has a privilege and an
obligation to call all men to repent and believe the gospel (an
imperative) but, left to themselves, no one believes. But God, in his
great mercy, still has mercy on many, opening their hearts to the
gospel that that might believe.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
To this sometimes a synergist often quotes "whosoever
will may come" to which we reply that this quote does not teach
an indicative of what we are able to do, but rather, teaches what we
'ought' to do. As Martin Luther said, "Does it follow from:
'turn ye' that therefore you can turn? Does it follow from "'Love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart' (Deut 6.5) that therefore you
can love with all your heart? What do arguments of this kind prove,
but the 'free-will' does not need the grace of God, but can do all
things by its own power...But it does not follow from this that man
is converted by his own power, nor do the words say so; they simply
say: "if thou wilt turn, telling man what he should do. When he
knows it, and sees that he cannot do it, he will ask whence he may
find ability to do it..." Luther BW,164</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-20622068532261328312011-12-09T06:37:00.001-07:002011-12-09T06:39:36.099-07:00More Warnings About John MacArthur's Doctrines<h1 align="CENTER">This is a re-posting of an excellent article by Miles J. Stanford</h1><h1 align="CENTER"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#006000;">INCOMPETENT TO COUNSEL</span></h1> <p align="CENTER"><a href="mailto:mjstanford@webtv.net"><em><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Miles J. Stanford</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The purpose of this paper is to look further into the Nouthetic (pronounced newthetic) technique of <strong>Dr. Jay E. Adams</strong>, and to bring out its similarity to the teaching of <strong><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/">Dr. John F. MacArthur</a></strong>. [Since the National Association of Nouthetic Councelors (<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/nanc/index.htm">NANC</a>), the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccef/">CCEF</a>), and the Biblical Counseling Foundation (<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/bcf/index.htm">BCF</a>) all employ the counseling teachings and methodologies of Dr. Adams, the comments made herein also apply to these organizations.]</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The counseling program of The Master's College and The Master's Seminary has been formulated and is directed by <strong>Dr. Wayne A. Mack</strong>, longtime associate of Dr. Adams. The title of the textbook for the MacArthur counseling program is <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/counsel.htm"><em>Introduction to Biblical Counseling</em></a> (Word 1994, 408 pages), and was primarily edited and written by the Covenant theologian, Dr. Mack.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">We will look at some of Dr. Adams' nouthetic teaching, upon which the MacArthur program is built. Probably the best known and most widely used book on Biblical Counseling is Dr. Adams' <em>Competent to Counsel</em> (Baker 1970, 278 pages). The following should make its error and danger quite clear, as something to be assiduously avoided.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Covenantism erroneously applies to the Church that which belongs primarily to Israel. All that they [Adams and MacArthur] touch becomes law-bound, under the name of Covenant grace. Dr. Adams leaves no question as to that:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Moral judgment is the essence of counsel in the book of Proverbs. The unique element in the wisdom of that counsel is its moral orientation. These are commands for the covenant people which enable them to live in proper <u>covenant</u> relationship to God (p. 85).</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Nouthetic counselors frequently hand out individual portions of the book of Proverbs. One reason why they have found Proverbs so useful in counseling is that essentially it is a book of good counsel given to covenant youth. Proverbs was written primarily to promote divine wisdom among God's <u>covenant</u> people (pp. 97,98) [emphases ours].</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In nouthetic counseling the book of Proverbs play a very significant part because these proverbs give instruction. The system of counseling advocated in Proverbs is plainly nouthetic. Proverbs assumes the need for divine wisdom imparted by verbal means: by instruction, by reproof, by rebuke, by correction, and by applying God's commandments in order to change behavior for one's benefit (p. 99).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">As the neophyte tends to exceed the bounds of his new theological sphere, Dr. MacArthur often out-covenants Covenantism. In the Introduction of his non-dispensational book <em>The Gospel According to Jesus</em> (p. 15), he goes so far as to establish the Church upon Judaism:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Several years ago I began to study and preach through the gospel of Matthew. As I worked through the life and ministry of our Lord, a clear understanding of the message He proclaimed and the evangelistic method He used crystallized in my thinking. I came to see Jesus' gospel as the <u>foundation</u> upon which all NT doctrine stands. Many difficult passages in the Epistles became clearer when I understood them in that light.</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Have you ever known a dispensationalist to make such a bizarre claim as that? Or any other doctrinally sound believer, for that matter! Dr. MacArthur interprets Paul in the light of Jesus' Kingdom Gospel to Israel. He fails to read Paul in light of the glorified Lord Jesus Christ's exclusive doctrine for His heavenly Body.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The way of life that Dr. MacArthur points to via Jesus' Kingdom Gospel results in "the law as the rule of life," whereas the ascended Lord Jesus' present "Gospel of the grace of God" results in "the law of the Spirit of <u>life</u> in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:3).</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#800000;">MOSAIC LAW</span></strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> -- Similarly, Dr. Adams leaves no question as to the orientation of his counseling:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Structure is the means of moral living. Lives structured according to the Ten Commandments are by the very nature of the case also structured to the principles upon which God structured the world.</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The life which disciplined disciples endeavor to live is the same life of discipline and training for eternal holiness that Christ, the Son, perfectly lived. The disciplined life (a life lived according to God's commandments) therefore grows out of the same kind of training to which Christ subjected Himself (p. 190).</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Structured, or disciplined living is living that conforms to God's commandments. Clients and counselors alike should be satisfied with nothing less than the goal of total structuring according to God's law (p. 155).</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The Bible teaches [to whom?] that a peace of mind which leads to longer and happier living comes from keeping God's commandments. Thus the goal of nouthetic counseling is set forth plainly in the Scriptures: to bring men into loving conformity to the law of God (pp. 113,55).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The Covenantists' lust for law blinds them to Pauline grace for the Christian life. They stop short of heavenly position and grace for sanctification; hence they are blinded by the very law they would have as their "rule of life."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The law is a <u>rule of death</u> (2 Cor. 3:7). It is meant to bring one to Christ--Christ glorified, as Saviour and heavenly Head of the heavenly Body--rather than to Jesus and His pre-Cross Kingdom Gospel to Israel. On <u>that</u> basis the law blinds and binds the members of the Body of Christ.</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">"But now we are delivered from the law, having died to that in which we were held, that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter." "For the law killeth, but the Spirit giveth life (Rom. 7:6; 2 Cor. 3:6).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Dr. MacArthur is not to be outdone law-wise when it comes to Dr. Adams' legality:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The law is pertinent for those who believe in Christ because of its own character, and because of the consequences of obeying and disobeying, and because its demands are clarified and enforced throughout the rest of the NT. Its commands are not suggestions to be considered but requirements to be followed. Those in Christ are no longer under the ultimate penalty, but are not free of its requirements of righteousness.</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The second principle is that the law is positive as well as negative. Its purpose not only is to prevent both inward and outward sin, but to promote both inward and outward righteousness (pp. 268,272,287).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Dr. MacArthur promotes the precept rather than the Person, for the Christian life. The Christian has died to the precept in order that he may live in, and to, the Person.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>"The strength of sin is the law" (1 Cor. 15:56)</em>, hence it is not meant to prevent either inward or outward sin. That is the exclusive work of the Spirit of Christ. Hear Paul: <em>"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under law but under grace" (Gal. 5:16; Rom. 6:14).</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><u>Christ</u> is both our inward and outward righteousness! <em>"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us ... righteousness." " ... that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21).</em> For the Covenant victim, law precepts dominate over the new-creation Person.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#800000;">HABITUATION</span></strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> -- When it comes to the Christian life, all Covenant theology has to offer is common ever-day <strong>behaviorism</strong>, <u>Do</u>, in order to <u>be</u>, i.e., <u>law</u>. Covenantism seems to miss or avoid the <u>source</u> (two Adams) factor. Righteousness for them is developed via good behavior, good habits, by means of keeping the law. All to them is <u>outside in</u>!</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Concerning the importance of habits in his nouthetic counseling, Dr. Adams writes:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">One client spoke of having only "reservoirs of inadequacy." He was correct, because he has been living inadequately. His past provided little more than a record of inadequate solutions to fall back upon and draw upon. But the solution to his problem was to begin drawing upon God's resources of grace.</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In this way alone could he begin to fill his own reservoirs with adequate living. Action based upon faith was his need. As he begins to live adequately, i.e., according to the commands and promises of God, he would begin to fill his own reservoirs with adequacy and a sense of humble confidence would grow (p.134).</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">By its very nature most discipline is unpleasant. The chipping away of imperfections is a painful process. "All discipline for a moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who are trained by it..." (Heb. 12:11).</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The word translated "trained" comes from the same root as our English term "gymnastics." The Greek, like the English, means to practice regular, systematic, habitual practice which makes the work of the Lord natural.</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Just as the athlete practices until his training makes him expert and his athletic accomplishments are "second nature" to him, so the Christian by practice must become expert in holiness, so expert that his "second nature" (wrought by the work of the Holy Spirit) is dominant, natural, easy. As he continues to practice, the habit is etched in more permanently, holiness becomes easier and he becomes more naturally a Christian (pp. 164,165).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Dr. MacArthur works on the same nouthetic habituation principle:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Since you are a new man--act like it. Leave the old habits and old selfishness that belonged [sic] to the old man, and take on the new man's new habits of selflessness (Tape GC 2146).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Being alive unto God in Christ, we are not to attempt to "act like it." The Christian life is <em>"for me to live is Christ." "... for we who live are always bearing about in the body the dying [not habits] of the Lord Jesus, that the <u>life</u> [not habits] of Jesus might be made manifest in our body" (Phil. 1:21; 2 Cor. 4: 10).</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Nor is it a matter of leaving "the old habits" and "the old selfishness that belonged to the old man." We are, by faith, to put off the <u>source</u>, the old Adamic man, not simply his activities. This is based upon the fact that we <u>died</u> positionally to the old man. And of course we are not to take on the "new habits of selflessness which belong to the new man." Christ, our life, is selfless because that is His life and nature--hence our new-creation life and nature is the same.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#800000;">PATTERNS</span></strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> -- "Manufactured in U.S.A!" Dr. Adams' nouthetic counseling would construct the Christian life via Israel's law. This is attempted by means of diligently working and practicing until habits are formed into patterns. The following statement by Dr. Adams is especially saddening:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Holy living involves habit. Patterns of holiness can be established only by regular, constant practice. Just as Christ learned obedience, we too must learn obedience by actual practice (p. 162).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Dr. Wm. R. Newell made a statement concerning Christ's obedience:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Though being a Son, He learned from the things He suffered, obedience" (Heb. 5:8). As the Eternal Son, the Second Person of the Deity, One in the counsels of creation itself, the Executor thereof, He needed not to learn anything!</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">"He counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, yea, even the death of the Cross!" (Phil. 2:6-8) (Hebrews, Verse by Verse, p. 162).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">As Eternal Son in the Godhead, there was no need for obedience. As the Son of <u>Man</u> He learned obedience in that it was an altogether new issue. <strong>But He did not have to learn to obey!</strong> "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O God" (Heb. 10:7).</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">That was but a hint in comparison to <u>this</u>:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Jesus learned God's will from God's Word which He applied to life. He had to learn how to develop biblical patterns by actual practice in responding to life's problems (p. 162).</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">One must <u>learn</u> to do God's will which he has discovered in Scripture. He must practice the good so faithfully that whenever the occasion to sin arises, naturally, and without deliberation, he knows what to do and does it with ease and expertise (p. 163).</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The image in man was <u>distorted</u> by the fall. Believers are being renewed in the spirit of their minds. The mind because of sin had become futile, the understanding had been darkened, the heart had become hard and callous.</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">All of these conditions, now, are in the process of being changed by the Spirit of God. He renews the spirit of the believer's mind so that the former <u>manner</u> of life, with all its corrupt habits, patterns, and <u>ways</u> of living, "the old self" or "the old man," may be shed like a tattered, worn, filthy old garment that one throws away. Christians are called upon to "put on" instead the new biblical patterns, new ways that truly reflect the God who created them (P. 218). [Emphases ours].</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Sin is pictured as a cruel master who rules over the sinner. Proverbs says "he died," destroyed by his own sin. He dies for lack of discipline, because he does not have the kind of structure that only God's commandments provide. Your only hope is to rule over sin by breaking out of the pattern that is developed through repentance and a subsequent change of behavior (p. 147).</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The client must be shown the need to replace the old by new patterns. He must be shown that God speaks of sanctification not only in terms of being "separated from" but also "separated unto." The old man is "put off," partly, by establishing the "new man." Old habit patterns are crowded out by new ones (p. 151).</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Though habit patterns are hard to change, change is not impossible. Nouthetic counselors regularly see patterns of 30-40 years' duration altered. What was learned can be unlearned. An old dog can learn new tricks (p.75).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">But, the issue is concerned with the old Adamic life and nature, not animals. And Dr. MacArthur is not better off in the Christian growth realm than Dr. Adams:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">So, Christians are new creations, but sin is still a problem because of the old coat of humanness [!]. Ephesians 4:24 tells us to "put on the new man." The "new man" is a new kind of human <u>behavior</u>, a new humanness which we must put on to accommodate and fit our new nature. We must put off our old patterns and practices--all the things of our old life that hang on us--and put on the clothes of the new man (Tape GC 1928) [Emphasis ours].</span></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The new man is not a "new kind of behavior"; rather, it is our new-creation <u>life</u>, that naturally manifests a new kind of behavior. All behavior has a life-source: the indwelling first Adam for that which is sinful, the Last Adam for that which is righteous.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">By <u>reckoning</u> upon our death to the old, and our life in the New (Rom. 6:11), the old man is practically "put off," and the new Man is practically "put on''--both, as we "walk in the Spirit."</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#800000;">NOUTHETIC CHILD-TRAINING</span></strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> -- It would seem that Dr. Adams is no more competent at counseling children than he is adults:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">What must be done when a child lies, talks back, or fails to come home on time? One good way to determine fair consistent answers to such questions is to draw up a code of conduct. On a sheet, consisting of four columns, each column is headed by the words "Crime," Punishment," By whom", "When."</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Each box in the code of conduct chart may be filled in according to the specific problem of individual situations. For example, lying is a crime that can be punished by washing the mouth out with soap, apologizing, and rectifying the situation by telling the truth! (When soap is used, if the child is old enough, he is first required to do research on soaps by writing to the manufacturing company to make sure that the use of the chosen soap is harmless [even Lifebuoy?!] (p. 188,189).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#800000;">SEXUAL IMMORALITY</span></strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> -- Nor does Dr. Adams do any better counseling in the realm of sexual sin:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In all Scripture there is only one God-given solution to the problem of sexual desire: "It is better to marry than to burn" (1 Cor. 7:9). Marriage is God's answer to immorality: "because of immoralities let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband" (1 Cor. 7:2). The old sinful pattern must be broken and replaced by the new godly one (p. 35).</span></em></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The good doctor should heed the context, instead of forcing his point. Heed Paul: <em>"Now I say unto the unmarried and to the widows, it is good for them that they remain as I. <u>But if they have not control over themselves</u> let them marry ..." (1 Cor. 7:8).</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">God's answer to sin, whether sexual or otherwise, as a single or otherwise, is to reckon oneself to have died unto sin, and to be alive unto God in Christ. On that basis one is to <em>"walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).</em></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#800000;">PSEUDO COUNSELING</span></strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> -- There are a number of predominant types of Christian counseling today, none of which deal with the true source of sin in the believer's life. They are subjective, seeking to work from the outside in--and hence are ineffective.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">1 -- </span><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#ff0000;">Psychotherapy</span></strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> -- This method mixes three parts secular psychology with one part Scripture, seeking to "adjust" and Christianize the old Adamic life.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">2 -- </span><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#ff0000;">12-STEP</span></strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> -- This extensive and never-ending program centers upon the Adamic life, i.e., self dealing with self.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">3 -- </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Biblical Counseling</strong> </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">-- This counseling seeks to center in the Scriptures, but is primarily non-dispensational, and Covenant-oriented. It "legalizes" the client, and does not deal with the Adamic life, which Covenantism "eradicates."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">4 -- </span><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#ff0000;">Charismatic</span></strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> -- This mode is totally subjective. It deals with Satan and alleged indwelling "demons," instead of the old Adamic man--the true source of sin in the counselee.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">None of the above function on the basis of the believer's <u>position</u>--that of being dead to sin and alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Be warned, all ye Biblical counselors: to minister other than the truth of one's <u>position</u> in the glorified Lord Jesus Christ, is to be </span><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#ff0000;">incompetent to counsel!</span></strong></p> <h3><em><b>Biblical Discernment Ministries</b> - 1/99<b> </b></em></h3> <p align="center"><img src="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/images/eye_bar.gif" width="560" align="bottom" height="11" /> </p> <div align="center"><center> <table> <tbody><tr> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/"><img src="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/images/home.gif" width="64" align="bottom" border="0" height="62" /></a> </p></td> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/notebook.html"><img src="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/images/notebook.gif" width="64" align="bottom" border="0" height="62" /></a> </p></td> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/mail.html"><img src="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/images/mail.gif" width="64" align="bottom" border="0" height="62" /></a> </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/">HOME </a></p></td> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/notebook.html">NOTEBOOK </a></p></td> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/mail.html">MAIL</a> </p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center></div> <hr />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-89824266024225434232011-11-25T11:55:00.003-07:002011-11-25T12:01:37.003-07:00Warnings About John MacArthur<h1><span style="font-size:100%;">As a result of encounters with two churches whose leadership are followers of John MacArthur, I strongly urge caution about associating with churches affiliated with John MacArthur. Here is a re-posting of an article from Biblical Discernment Ministries that provides an introduction to some of the serious problems...</span><br /></h1><h1>John MacArthur</h1> <h2><i>General Teachings/Activities</i></h2> <p>- Dr. John F. MacArthur, Jr., (born 1940) is the pastor of Grace Community Church (GCC) in Sun Valley, California, as well as the president of both The Master's College and The Master's Seminary. His first two years of college were spent at <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/bju/">Bob Jones University</a>. His undergraduate work was completed at Los Angeles Pacific College, followed by seminary training at Talbot Theological Seminary. Grace Church has grown from 450 members when MacArthur accepted the pastorate in 1969, to over 12,000 today. Much of MacArthur's influence is derived from his sermons that are edited and aired over more than 700 stations daily across the U.S. and Canada on the "Grace to You" (GTY) radio program. First aired in 1977, GTY now has a full-time U.S. staff of approximately 45, and has produced and distributed more than ten million audio cassette lessons. In addition, the "Grace to You Weekend" broadcast now airs on almost 100 outlets. MacArthur is also a prolific "writer," authoring a New Testament Commentary series, various issue-oriented books, and most recently, a study Bible. (Many of MacArthur's most recent works are merely re-edited sermon messages.)</p> <p>For many, John MacArthur is a champion of the faith whose voice is correcting many of the ills of Christianity. For others, his teachings border on heresy, if not blasphemy (see below). Nevertheless, MacArthur's charm, charisma, and abilities have combined to make him very appealing, even to those who should otherwise know better. MacArthur's proclamation of much truth can also create in one's mind a delusion. In the following quotes, MacArthur rightly reveals the deceptive ways of false teachers, yet in the process, he unwittingly describes himself:</p> <blockquote> <p>"... they are dangerous when they tell truth because often they cannot be distinguished from true teachers. The key to being a successful false teacher is to tell as much of the truth as possible" (MacArthur's Bible Study Guide, <i>Joy And Godliness</i>, p. 17); and<br /> <br /> "The subtlety of false teaching is that it uses the Word of God but misrepresents its teaching. Those who teach something explicitly and overtly anti-biblical, anti-Christ, and anti-God pose no real threat to the Christian church. But subtle teaching that appears to be biblical yet pulls unwary souls away from the faith is a great danger to the church" (MacArthur's Bible Study Guide, <i>Avoiding Spiritual Counterfeiters</i>, p. 17).</p> </blockquote> <p>We will focus primarily on Dr. MacArthur's psychological teachings and his neo-evangelical associations, and leave most of the other theological issues to others (e.g., a works-oriented approach to the concept of Lordship Salvation; dispensational inconsistencies; confusion concerning the two natures of the believer; confusing statements on the "blood of Christ"; denial of Eternal Sonship (since recanted); confusion concerning unlimited atonement; and the use of contemporary Christian music). (Portions of the above were adapted from a 1988<i> OBF Visitor</i> Feature Article by Pastor Peter Foxx.)<br /><br />- Through books and in various sermons (heard via The Master's Fellowship tape ministry -- over 11 million produced), MacArthur has continually claimed (since at least 1985) to be adamantly opposed to psychology and its message of "self." Yet at the same time these anti-psychology books and messages were published and recorded, respectively, MacArthur was fully employing the teachings of "Christian" psychologist Dr. <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a> (see details below). Likewise, in direct contradiction of this claim of being against psychology, MacArthur has preached other sermons teaching various psychological, and thereby, non-Biblical concepts and dogma, such as self-esteem, self-image, self-worth, self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, etc., all clothed in deceptive Christian garb. (See the "<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/self.htm">Radio Tape Index</a>" for details. It should be noted that many of the exact statements in this radio log can be found in anywhere from two to four written sources, authored by MacArthur, and still being sold in the GCC bookstore!)</p> <p>For example, check out the following blasphemous psychobabble from the man who not only claims to understand the psychological seduction of Christianity, but also claims to be solidly in the camp of those of us actively opposing it:</p> <blockquote> <p>"<u>A true sense of self-worth comes from understanding our position in Christ</u>. We have been chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world. Knowing <u>this gives us a sense of our significance and value to God. <b>We were so important to God that He gave up His Son to die on our behalf</b></u>. ... <u>Thank God for considering you valuable</u> enough to bestow such riches upon you. ... <u>If you're struggling with a lack of self-worth</u>, remember that <u>you were important enough for God</u> <u>to give you to Jesus as an inheritance</u>" (<i>The Believer's Life in Christ</i>, MacArthur Bible Study Guide, Eph. 1:1-2:10 [Word of Grace Communications:1989/1995], pp. 27, 36, & 69-70). (Emphases added.) [Tape series also offered in GTY's 51-page, 1996 tape and book resource catalogue.]</p> </blockquote> <p>God died for us because we were "important enough"?! This is a tragedy of immeasurable magnitude that we have people who claim to belong to the living God, and churches that claim to be Bible-believing churches, that are robbing God of that which belongs to Him and Him alone -- <i>all</i> the esteem, <i>all</i> the honor, is <u>His</u> for the work of salvation -- and directing it back to themselves. What blasphemy is being promoted from within the church today! -- that pastors like John MacArthur can find a way to say, "You want to know how valuable I am? You want to know how much worth I have? You want to know what gives me self-esteem? God thought I was valuable enough to die for." <u>That's blasphemy</u>. That's robbing God of that which is His alone. God did not die for us because of our great worth, but because of our great sin! He died because of who He is, and in spite of what we are (cf. Rom. 5:8). He died to demonstrate His righteousness and His divine justice (Rom. 3:23-26). There is no mercy if it had to do with my worth. It is not of grace if it had to do with my value. <u>Anyone</u> who would try to divert some of that glory, honor, and esteem to man is robbing God of the worship due Him and Him alone.</p> <p>[Elaborating on MacArthur's erroneous interpretation, he is clearly saying that we should feel good about ourselves because God was enriched through gaining us as His children! The context of Eph. 1:18, however, is all about the <i>blessings <u>we receive</u> from God</i>, <b>not</b> the blessings He receives from us. Clearly, the "riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" refers to what God has given the saints, not, as MacArthur teaches, to an inheritance they have bequeathed Him. Nowhere in the Bible is God enriched by man. It is man who is always benefited by God. Common sense also makes that clear. God, being infinitely rich and needing nothing, cannot be enriched by anyone or anything. (Adapted from the 9/93 <i>TBC</i>.)]</p> <p>- An elder of Grace Church once said the above <i>self-worth/significance to God </i>quote from MacArthur was "admittedly a poor way for John to state his point" (September 1994 letter on file). Well, MacArthur's point was -- what the fact that God the Father sent his Son into the world, says about man's value. And it is the <b>opposite</b> of what the Scriptures teach! It's like saying that since a person claims to be an ardent capitalist and then states, "hence I believe there should be no private ownership of property," is choosing a poor way to make his point. His statement <b>proves</b> the exact opposite of what he <b>said</b> he believed. [For clarification on this issue, see "The Parable of Heathen," which is a section in Jim Owen's book <a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/warbk.html"><i>Christian Psychology's War on</i> <i>God's Word</i> </a>(pp. 62-64). Owen is an associate professor of history at The Master's College.]</p> <p>In further contradiction to what MacArthur teaches, Dr. Trevor Craigen, also of The Master's Seminary, questions the doctrine of redemption being used "to proclaim that man is something worth dying for, and that one may now attribute to himself dignity, worth and significance or may see himself as something worthwhile." Yet, this is the exact concept that his employer, John MacArthur, is teaching! Craigen says:</p> <blockquote> <p>"In Scripture no context presenting the wonder and grandeur of salvation even remotely suggests or attempts to apply the doctrine in such a way so that anyone may now validly conclude himself to be worth dying for, or himself to be worthwhile and significant. ... Salvation is, in all of its aspects, a testimony of the grace of God toward those who were unworthy of eternal life and of His love. Salvation signifies, not the worth of man, but the sinfulness of man" (T. Craigen<i>, An Exegetical Foundation for a Biblical Approach to Thinking of Oneself</i>, doctoral dissertation for Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, IN, 1984, p. 43).</p> </blockquote> <p>MacArthur would be wise to run his writings by Dr. Craigen before publishing. It would save him considerable embarrassment and perhaps even help him to straighten out his theology on this crucial matter.<br /><br />- In the mid-1980s, Grace Community Church, with MacArthur's full knowledge and approval, and at the same time MacArthur was claiming to be adamantly opposed to the psychological teachings that have invaded the church, <u>was</u> deeply involved with the teaching and counseling ministries of so-called Christian psychologist Dr. <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>. (Crabb's model of counseling is primarily a psychological system of unconscious needs that supposedly motivate human behavior, which system is derived from Freudian and humanistic/Maslowian psychology with its hierarchy of needs, with greatest emphasis on so-called emotional needs, the fulfillment of which supposedly result in a sense of personal worth and psychological healthiness. Counseling under Crabb's model takes the form of delving into the unconscious by peeling away the "self-protective layers" [i.e., defense mechanisms] and getting at the "real pain and sorrow of unmet needs.") MacArthur had endorsed Crabb's film series, <i>Inside Out</i>; allowed Crabb to hold seminars on the Grace Church campus on at least two different occasions (while having Crabb as a co-speaker/teacher on at least two different "Christian cruises"); allowed his church counseling staff to use Crabb's model in-house, as well as recommended Crabb's materials to radio listeners who would call in for counseling; carried multiple copies of each of Crabb's books in The Master's College and Seminary and Grace Church bookstores, while, at the same time, refusing to carry books critical of Crabb's teachings; and had staffed the College and Seminary with a considerable number of pro-Crabb supporters (as well as having had Dr. Crabb as an adjunct professor on the Seminary faculty).</p> <p>Between August 1988 and July 1989, MacArthur's official policy regarding Larry Crabb was changing from one of active support to one of declaring Dr. Crabb "<i>persona-non-grata</i>" Along with this policy change, MacArthur claimed to have retracted the above "endorsements" of Crabb's teachings, and to have removed all identification with Crabb's name and materials. Nevertheless, an attendee at MacArthur's March 1990 Shepherd's Conference reported the following:</p> <blockquote> <p>(1) many of Crabb's books were recommended as "helpful resources" in the Conference Notebook's annotated bibliography; and</p> <p>(2) Crabb's materials and/or teaching concepts were still being used extensively at Grace Church, particularly in the adult Sunday School classes (one of which, "Marriage Builders," appeared to be named after a Crabb book title,<i> The Marriage Builder</i>), and was being taught by a Grace Church staff member and Crabb follower, John Zimmer. (Zimmer has since left Grace Church.)</p> </blockquote> <p>Later on in the 1990s, MacArthur employed even more men teaching Crabb-like concepts and/or trained at Crabb-influenced/-led institutions (see sections on <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/">Gary Ezzo</a>, Wayne Mack, and David Harrell). Therefore, regardless of his claims to the contrary, it is doubtful that MacArthur has ever abandoned his fondness for the psychological teachings of Larry Crabb.</p> <p>- In 1985, MacArthur's tape ministry produced a two-tape audio series, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/trial.htm"><i>The Day God</i>'<i>s Word Went on Trial</i></a>, describing the public court trial of Grace Church relating to the Church's counseling relationship with a Talbot Seminary Extension student who had committed suicide. The tape is not only replete with favorable references to psychology and psychiatry, but at the same time, it makes derogatory comments concerning those who might desire to counsel using only the Bible.</p> <p>- MacArthur's Grace Community Church owns and operates a bookstore (the Book Shack) on the Church's Sun Valley campus. Over the August 1989-1993 period, even though the books of some of the most psychologically-oriented authors (e.g., <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/dobson/">James Dobson</a>, Dennis Rainey, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/pleasure.htm">Ed Wheat</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/m&m/">Minirth & Meier</a>) were removed from the store, books still being offered for sale were those by pantheistic New Ager <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/campolo/">Tony Campolo</a>; financial psychologizers <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/burkett/">Larry Burkett</a> and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/blue/">Ron Blue</a>; psychological "Christian Marriage Enrichment" counselor H. Norman Wright; self-love advocates <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/mcdowell/">Josh McDowell</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/swindoll/">Chuck Swindoll</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/sproul/">R.C. Sproul</a>; four temperaments guru <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lahaye/">Tim LaHaye</a>; right-brain/left-brain mentor Donald Joy; religious humanist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/matzat/">Don Matzat</a>; ecumenical Catholicism promoter and psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a>; New Age Roman Catholic psychologist, mystic, and universalist Henri Nouwen; Arminian revivalist Charles Finney; womens' ministries psychologizers <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/arthur/">Kay Arthur</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/creative.htm">Linda Dillow</a>, and Carol Mayhall; and other lesser known psychologically-oriented authors. [Correspondence with the Book Shack manager in November of 1990 revealed that MacArthur's main reason for selling psychologically-oriented books was to teach his people discernment skills, and according to the manager, not to stock such books would be to adopt a "head in the sand" mentality! (To the contrary, the Bible teaches that the shepherd's role is to warn and protect the flock, <b>not </b>to expose them to dangerous heresies!]</p> <p>The GCC bookstore also publishes a mail-order book catalogue, the "Grace Book Service" (GBS). Along with some acceptable titles, the 31-page, 1996 GBS edition included a significant number of books and commentaries by covenant theologians, plus a few books by some of the usual neo-evangelical, psychoheretical suspects -- Elisabeth Elliot, Tony Evans, Josh McDowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/hour.htm">Dick Eastman</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lucado/">Max Lucado</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hendricks/">Howard Hendricks</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/packer/">J.I. Packer</a>, R.C. Sproul, Walter Kaiser, Joseph Stowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/trustpsych/">Ed Bulkley</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/lovelife.htm">Ed Wheat</a>, Wayne Mack, etc.</p> <p>- On a visit to the Grace Church campus on Sunday, 7/25/93, I came across an official Grace Church "tract rack" outside the main entrance to the Grace Church auditorium. All the tracts available were published by Good News Publishers of Wheaton, Illinois. One of the free tracts was titled "You're Special," written by Ted Griffin. Note the psychological concepts of self in this excerpt from the tract:</p> <blockquote> <p>"... <u>we are precious to God</u>, for He continues to love us even when we pay Him no mind. He still sees us as <u>individuals with great value</u>. ... He considers each of us <u>important enough to love</u>. ... Because <u>you and I are special to God</u>, He wants to forgive us and give us a full, meaningful life. When we trust in Jesus Christ and let Him put our lives together, the Bible says that <u>we become 'God's masterpieces</u>, created in Christ Jesus.' <u>Can anyone be more special than that?</u>" (Emphasis added.)</p> </blockquote> <p>Can John MacArthur really believe this psychobabble? Apparently so, or why else would such a tract be made available free of charge to the thousands of people who pass through the Grace Church doors each Sunday? (There is little doubt that MacArthur <b>does</b> believe this. The above quote reads like a paraphrase of the MacArthur quote cited previously in this report from<i> The Believer's Life in Christ</i> series.)</p> <p>- In September/October of 1989, MacArthur's radio tape ministry re-aired a 1979 series, <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/ffamily.htm">The Fulfilled Family</a></i>, in which MacArthur spends considerable time quoting from and recommending the works of so-called Christian psychiatrist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/m&m/">Paul Meier</a>, with whom MacArthur now claims to disagree (see below). When asked in August of 1989 why the Meier references (as well as the other considerable psychological material in the series; i.e., favorable quotes from Carl Rogers, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/dobson/">James Dobson,</a> <i>Psychology Today</i>, and various other "human behavior experts") were not being edited-out of the radio messages nor the Bible Study Guide, MacArthur's top assistant at the time (who claimed to speak with "the full authority of John MacArthur") replied, "It would cost too much; maybe we'll catch it next time." The "next time(s)" occurred in March/April of 1991; February/March of 1993, and again in March/ April of 1995, again with <u>no</u> editing-out of the psychological teachings. [<i>The Fulfilled Family</i> was also offered in GTY's 51-page, 1996 tape and book resource catalogue. Although <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Letter/v8n3.htm#John%20MacArthur%27s">a new <i>Fulfilled Family </i>9-tape audio cassette series</a> was recorded in 1996 and aired on Grace To You (GTY) radio in 20 segments in early-1999 (2/8/99-3/5/99), MacArthur still refers to the 1979-series as "the biblical model for family life," and claims the new series "includes principles from the original ... plus new information and insight -- some gained through the successes and failures of a whole generation of American families since then" (4/18/96, GTY ministry letter).]</p> <p>- In the late-1980s, with the financing of a "ministry friend," MacArthur even sent <i>The Fulfilled Family</i> 8-tape cassette album and Bible Study Guide to every U.S. Senator, Congressman, and Supreme Court Justice, and to every state governor and every "special person in the [Bush] White House" (Source: <a href="http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/50-45.HTM">GC50-45</a> -- "The Secret of Contentment -- Part 3" [Phil. 4:14-19]). MacArthur is apparently convinced that unbelievers can benefit from "the truth that God has designed for marriage and the family" (cf. 1 Cor. 2:1) and/or he believes (like James Dobson) that we can reform the heathen's behavior without God first regenerating the heart.</p> <p>- On <u>5/21/91</u>, MacArthur debated "Christian" psychiatrist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/m&m/">Paul Meier</a> on John Stewart's Los Angeles radio program (KKLA), rightly portraying Meier as a psychiatrist/psychologist with whom he [MacArthur] had serious disagreement. Yet <u>at the same time this debate took place</u>, MacArthur was in the process of distributing a free tape in the mail (<a href="http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/80-69.HTM">GC80-69</a>: "Shade for Our Children") that was recorded on <u>Mother's Day, 1990</u>. On that tape, MacArthur again quoted <u>favorably</u>, and at great length, from Paul Meier's book, <i>Christian Child-Rearing</i> <i>and Personality Development</i>, much of which was taken directly from the transcript of MacArthur's 1979<i> The Fulfilled Family</i> series! If this wasn't bad enough, MacArthur even added more psychological references that are in direct contradiction with some of what he says he believes in his <u>April 1991 book</u>, <i>Our Sufficiency In Christ</i> (see the attached notes on the "Shade for Our Children" message). [Tape GC80-69 was redistributed (@$4.75/each) and aired again on GTY radio in May of 1997; <b>none</b> of the psychological references were edited out. In June of 1997, MacArthur distributed another free tape titled "A Crash Course in Christian Parenting" (no tape number). MacArthur begins the message by affirming that Christian parents need to turn to God's Word for parenting instructions, not the world. Ignoring his own advice, he then goes on to cite many of the same psychological sources as in "Shade for Our Children." One of MacArthur's psychological platitudes was "If you want an accident prone child, ignore him and fight with each other so that he hurts himself to get your attention." Where is this psychological nonsense in the Bible?!]</p> <p>- In August of 1989, MacArthur's top assistant at the time (again, the same man who claimed to speak with the <u>full authority</u> of John MacArthur) privately stated that the psychology curriculum at The Master's College was going to be eliminated as early as the Fall 1990 semester, and that MacArthur was in the process of informing concerned parties at the College of this decision. In November 1989, however, the top administrator of the Master's College was questioned concerning the completion of this notification process, to which he replied, "To answer your question concerning the elimination of our course offerings in Behavior Sciences, the answer is no." (As an indication of the highly psychological content of the College's Behavioral Sciences curriculum at the time, the following concepts were routinely taught: "coping mechanisms of human emotions"; "identity formation"; "adaptive techniques"; "<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/midlife.htm">mid-life crisis</a>"; "treatment of abnormal behavior and personality disorders"; "group counseling"; "psychological motivation"; "the psychology of human potential"; etc.; etc.)</p> <p>The psychology curriculum was significantly altered for the Fall 1991 semester, but <u>not</u> eliminated entirely -- a new program in so-called "Biblical counseling" is now being offered, but MacArthur announced at the time that the new courses, "will be <u>supported by</u> courses in the social sciences" (July/August 1991, <i>Masterpiece</i>, p. 28). In fact, the 1996-1998 The Master's College Catalog still indicates that <u>every</u> Master's College degree-program student must successfully complete an introductory social science course (p. 46), which includes course offerings in Psychology and Sociology (pp. 158-159). In addition, students in the Liberal Studies and Teacher Education programs <i>must</i> take <b>both</b> of the psychology courses offered in the Behavioral Studies department -- "Introduction to Psychology" and "Child Development" (pp. 163, 207). (As of the Fall 1995 semester, the Biblical counseling program at The Master's College had 80 students and two full-time faculty members.)</p> <p>[One still needs to ask the question, "Why is the answer to 'getting rid of psychology courses in the curriculum' to replace them with 'Biblical counseling' courses?" Shouldn't the answer be to teach the Bible? What goes on in The Master's College theology and Bible classes if its graduates won't be able to care for their sheep without taking special classes in psychology or Biblical counseling? The message being communicated by The Master's College is this: Studying theology and the Bible does not adequately prepare pastors, teachers, and missionaries "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12). (The Master's College continued reliance on "counseling" rather than the Bible to solve problems of living can bee seen from the following statement on page 244 of The Master's College 1996-1998 Catalog -- "The college reserves the right to require a student to seek a medical examination or counseling assessment and treatments or ongoing counseling to maintain student status.")]</p> <p>- Wayne Mack was hired in 1993 to head up the Biblical counseling program at The Master's College and to train Grace Church staff members in Biblical counseling methodologies. (Mack is now Chairman of the Biblical Counseling Department and Professor of Biblical Counseling at The Master's College and an elder of Grace Community Church.) Mack was formerly employed as a counselor/instructor by the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccef/">CCEF</a>), an institution with a highly compromised Biblical stand (i.e., psychological integrationism). (See Bobgan: <i><a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/againstbk.html">Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible</a></i> for an excellent critique of the "Biblical counseling" movement in general and CCEF in particular.) Evidence of Mack's psychological leanings can be gleaned from his 1991 book, <i>Your Family, God</i>'<i>s Way</i>. The book is loaded down with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>-taught concepts and terminology such as: touchy-feely child rearing methods; "significance" and "security" needs; "self-image" and "self-worth"; "dysfunctional families"; "unconscious habits"; feelings of "rejection"; "listen to your inner-man"; "give yourself permission to feel and think"; "homophobia"; "inferiority feelings"; etc.; etc.</p> <p>Another book by Mack, <i>Preparing for Marriage God's Way</i>, is also used as a text at Grace Church. (The book is subtitled <i>A Step-By-Step Guide for Marriage Readiness and After the Wedding Conflicts</i>; it is designed to be used as a premarital counseling manual.) One only need look at Mack's "Resource List of Helpful Books and Tapes for Marriage and Family Counseling/Teaching" listed on page 153 of <i>Preparing for Marriage God's Way </i>to understand the extent of this man's psychological bent -- Mack recommends books and tapes by Adlerean psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccef/bettler.htm">John Bettler</a> (the director of CCEF); Freudian/Adlerean/Maslowian psychologist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>; four-temperaments gurus <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lahaye">Tim and Beverly LaHaye</a>; right-brain/left-brain psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/smalley/">Gary Smalley</a>, Christian "sexologists" <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/lovelife.htm">Ed and Gay Wheat</a>; and psychologizer and admitted adulterer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macdonald/">Gordon MacDonald</a>.</p> <p>The book is also replete with self-centered tests no different than the personality/temperament tests used by secular psychologists. In fact, on one of the "worksheets" (p. 15), the reader is asked to fill in the blank for: "What I like best about myself is:" (cf. 2 Tim. 3:2). The book also teaches the pagan idea that it is "essential" to "know yourself" and your partner "in a deep and accurate way" in order to have a successful marriage. ("Pagan" because on the walls of the Temple of Delphi "... was inscribed the most famous of all Greek precepts -- 'Know thyself!' Man has been preoccupied with such admonitions, and his partially successful response is reflected in the discipline of contemporary psychology" -- <i>Encyclopedia Britannica</i>, Vol. 15, 1978, p. 149.)</p> <p>[It appears that the CCEF influence (i.e., a psychological integrationist influence) is becoming dominant at Grace Church and The Master's College and Seminary. This was reconfirmed in July of 1994 when Word Publishing brought out a 21-chapter, 407-page book co-authored by MacArthur and Mack -- <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/counsel.htm">Introduction to Biblical Counseling</a></i>. The back cover proclaims that the book presents "an alternative to secular psychology" -- certainly a bad beginning to a well-intended book. (Since when is the Bible an alternative to anything, especially an "alternative to secular psychology"?) The book includes five chapters by John MacArthur, seven by Wayne Mack, and six by various other then-current MacArthur employees. In addition, one of the chapters was written by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccef/bibor.htm">David Powlison</a> (as well as a portion of the Q&A chapter), another psychological integrationist also employed at CCEF. Again, those interested should obtain the Bobgan's 1994 book, <i>Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible</i> and/or BDM's report on CCEF.]</p> <p>- The basically flawed, psychologically-oriented counseling program at The Master's College took a turn for the worse in 1995. (See <i>PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter</i>, Jan-Feb 1996, "<a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/masters.html">The Master's College: On the Downgrade?</a>," pp. 1,4.) Not only are the College's Biblical counseling courses not Biblical, its rush to develop and expand programs led to the employment of another psychologizer, David Harrell, as a faculty member in the expanding Department of Biblical Studies. According to Dr. John Stead, who was Vice President of Academic Affairs at the time of Harrell's hiring, Harrell was hired at the recommendation of Dr. Wayne Mack.</p> <p>Harrell has a B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Biblical Counseling. He earned the M.A. under the leadership of clinical psychologist Dr. <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a> at Grace Theological Seminary (GTS). This is a one-year degree program compared with an M.Div., which usually takes three years. At one time, Harrell attended Tennessee State University and was majoring in Psychology. Harrell also has a D.Phil. degree from Oxford Graduate School, which sounds rather prestigious until one learns that this Oxford is unaccredited and is essentially a correspondence school in Tennessee.</p> <p>Harrell was also co-founder and Executive Vice President of Buyer's Healthcare Cooperative, Inc. (BHC) from 1989 through 1995 until he left for The Master's College. The health care services provided by BHC include the usual psychiatric and mental health services that similar plans offer. The fact that Harrell's business, BHC, negotiates mental health care services for employees seems a bit contradictory if one supposedly stands for the Bible as the source for dealing with problems of living. It is understandable how this would occur if one were merely an employee, but legitimate questions arise when a professing Christian, who is an owner, is doing it. One wonders how many Christian employees have used so-called mental health services as a result of Harrell's company's negotiations.</p> <p>Harrell also lacked the educational and experiential background requirements for teaching in a Biblical Studies department at an accredited Christian college. What little teaching experience Harrell does have occurred as a part-time hourly instructor under Crabb at GTS during 1984-85, which actually required very little teaching. Moreover, with a B.A. in Psychology, an attempt at a doctorate in Psychology, and an M.A. in an integrationist Biblical counseling program under Crabb, there is a definite incongruity between Harrell's educational interests and his hiring at The Master's College.</p> <p>The question is: Why would Wayne Mack recommend someone as a faculty member to teach classes in Biblical counseling when Harrell's counseling experience is so limited and the majority of his prior counseling was Crabb-inspired? With all of the deficiencies discussed above, it is startling that Harrell was employed at The Master's College in the first place, and as an Associate Professor, when the usual entry level is that of an Assistant Professor. This unusual hiring of Harrell and his immediate elevation to Associate Professor causes one to wonder why he was chosen over others. [While earlier Biblical Counseling department materials did show Harrell as an Associate Professor, the 1996-1998 Master's College Catalog shows Harrell as an Assistant Professor. We have no idea which is correct.] Why were the usual hiring standards set aside? Why wasn't someone with a better academic and experiential background employed? Our guess is that Dr. Wayne Mack, who has more than a taint of integrationism about him, selected someone who would be compatible with his own position on recycling of psychological teachings ("recycling" is CCEF's euphemism for the integration of psychology with the Bible). Considering Harrell's interest in psychology, with a B.A. and attempted doctorate augmented with an integrationist M.A. under Larry Crabb, this surely makes sense.</p> <p>[Harrell left the employ of The Master's College in 1996; Dr. Timothy Turner took his place. Turner died in May of 1998.]</p> <p>- <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/">Gary Ezzo</a> held the position of "Pastor, Family Ministries" at Grace Community Church from early-1985 until mid-1993, and taught the "young families and single parents" Sunday School class ("Joint Heirs"). (Ezzo also heads up "Growing Families International," a Chatsworth, California-based firm, founded by Ezzo in 1989, that distributes the materials of Gary and his wife, Anne Marie Ezzo.) Despite no longer being on the Grace Church staff, Ezzo remained a "lay elder" at Grace Church until July of 1995, and as of November of 1995, the church was still teaching his materials in church classes and selling his materials in its bookstore (11/19/95, <i>Grace Today</i>). In June of 1996, the Ezzos resigned their membership at Grace Church.</p> <p>Evident from Ezzo's teachings is that he is a Freudian/Maslowian/Adlerean psychologizer, promoting many of the same concepts taught by Dr. <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>. It is not clear whether MacArthur's tape ministry still distributes the 1985 four-part video series, <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/rfamily.htm">How To Raise Your Family: Biblical Essentials for No-Regret Parenting</a></i>, a series featuring John MacArthur and Gary Ezzo. [At our most recent visit to the Grace Church Book Shack (7/25/93), this video series could not be found. However, the same series was available on four audio cassettes (GTY34-37) through the 1993 "Grace to You Catalog."] This series is highly psychological in nature, teaching various principles of humanistic and Freudian psychology, specifically Larry Crabb's "need theology." (See the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/rfamily.htm">sub-report</a> summarizing the first two tapes in this series.)</p> <p>Psychological materials by Ezzo that were available in the Book Shack (as of 11/19/95) were<i> <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/godworth.htm">Godworth and the Self-Worth Crisis</a></i> (12-message audio series); <i>Reflections of Moral Innocence</i> (8-tape audio series); <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/ezzopar2.htm">Preparation for Parenting</a></i> (loose-leaf notebook); <i>The Bible and Common Sense Parenting</i> (booklet); and <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/godsway.htm">Growing Kids God's Way</a></i> (19-message audio cassette series and workbook). Moreover (and contrary to the rumor at the time that "Ezzo is on his way out"), Ezzo's highly psychological "Growing Kids God's Way" (GKGW) classes were scheduled to be taught again at Grace Church in the fall of 1993 (as advertised in the 7/25/93 <i>Grace Today</i>, p. 3).</p> <p>Besides the psychological content problems with <u>all</u> of Ezzo's materials, Ezzo has run into problems with some in the medical profession concerning his <i>Preparation for Parenting</i> series -- "Some physicians and nurses are concerned that the rigidity of the feeding program the Ezzo's advocate may put some newborn infants at risk of inadequate weight gain, especially in the first weeks after birth" (8/16/93, <i>Christianity Today</i>, "The Brave New Baby," p. 34). This "program" (six/60-minute videos or 7-message/4-tape audio cassette series, and a student workbook), was created in 1987 under the auspices of MacArthur's Grace Community Church, and is now in its fifth edition, being used in about 3,500 churches is the U.S. The Ezzos claim that about 600,000 parents have gone through <i>Preparation for Parenting</i>; and that all their materials in total are being used by one million parents in some 95 countries throughout the world. Strange in all this is John MacArthur's response to <i>Christianity Today</i>'s editors when asked his opinion of <i>Preparation for Parenting</i> -- "no comment."</p> <p><b>[Ezzo/MacArthur Update: </b>On 8/15/96, BDM received an e-mail from John MacArthur's daughter, Melinda (with a "Grace To You" e-mail address), stating that "Gary Ezzo and John MacArthur are not associated in any way ... John does not agree at all with his [Ezzo's] methods." She provided no specifics as to when or why this separation occurred, nor what steps John MacArthur had taken to publicly advise his and Ezzo's supporters of the decision. A friend of BDM called the Grace Church Book Shack on 8/16/96 and asked if the bookstore still offered any Ezzo materials. The employee said they did not, but eagerly volunteered the toll free number of Ezzo's Growing Families International in case the caller wanted to place an order! (Does this sound like a "disagreement with Ezzo's methods"? Is it not appalling that there was such a lack of concern -- or just plain incompetent leadership -- for the spiritual well-being of those wanting to purchase Ezzo's materials that there was no communication with bookstore employees concerning the Church's policy?) A few days later, a designated spokesperson of Grace To You e-mailed me on the Ezzo matter, but refused to answer any of the above questions.</p> <p>John MacArthur's Grace Community Church <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/gccstmt.htm">Board of Elders finally published a statement (dated 10/16/97) detailing the reasons for their mid-1996 split with Gary Ezzo</a>. The four areas of "more serious concerns" to the elders were: (1) Throughout GFI's material there is a blurring of the line between that which is truly biblical, and simple matters of preference; (2) GFI materials tend to be unclear on certain fundamental doctrinal issues -- particularly the issues of original sin and human depravity; (3) The GFI curriculum gives insufficient attention to the child's need for regeneration; and (4) There is a tendency on the part of some GFI-trained parents to isolate their children from others not involved in the program. My concerns with Ezzo are primarily his psychological teachings, but since these teachings were <b>not </b>addressed at all in the Grace Church statement, one can only assume that John MacArthur and his elders were not concerned about Ezzo in this area. That is <b>not </b>to say that the four areas of disagreement the elders have with Ezzo are not important, but what about all the psychological heresies Ezzo taught for more than ten years under the protection of the MacArthur umbrella? -- Ezzo's psychological teachings don't even get a mention on the list of "serious concerns"! I think the obvious answer is that John MacArthur does not oppose these psychoheresies. [In fact, in an 11/97 statement posted to the GFI website by Gary Ezzo, Ezzo provided evidence that MacArthur (in a letter from MacArthur to Ezzo dated 7/18/95) did not question his (Ezzo's) theology -- in MacArthur's own words: "... in my mind we're not dealing with issues of foundational doctrine. <u>I don't question your theology</u>."]</p> <p>At the end of the GCC Elders' statement, the elders profess their desire to handle things "privately," but that it was now "profoundly unfortunate" to have to issue a public statement. But Ezzo's teachings were <b>not</b> private sins, requiring private consultation. His teachings were not only public, they were publicly endorsed and supported by Grace Church and John MacArthur for over ten years! It is "profoundly unfortunate" that a public statement was withheld for over two years after Ezzo's resignation from the elder board. In my opinion, it all goes back to MacArthur's incompetent leadership, which manifests itself in his reluctance to expose and expel grossly unbiblical individuals such as Ezzo.</p> <p>In March of 1998, Grace Church and Gary Ezzo made a truce of sorts. In exchange for Ezzo removing his detailed response from the GFI website, Grace Church withdrew its 10/97 Statement and replaced it with a new statement (sans the Ezzo character assassination and much of the detail of the 10/97 statement). The new GCC Elders' Board Statement (dated 3/21/98) is very brief (only four short paragraphs totaling about 175 words), and covers only three areas of disagreement with Ezzo's teachings (infant feeding methods, insufficient evidence on the doctrine of depravity, and GFI-parent group isolationism); again, Ezzo's psychoheretical teachings are not mentioned as an area that concerns the GCC elders.<b>]</b></p> <p>- Hired to fill the position of GCC's Pastor of Family Ministries after Gary Ezzo's resignation in 1993 was Associate Pastor Stuart Scott. Scott has the title of "Pastor of Biblical Counseling and Family Ministries" at GCC. Scott is an avid promoter of the MacArthur/Mack/<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/nanc/">NANC</a> philosophy of so-called Biblical counseling. In early-1998, a man from Ohio received a letter signed by Stuart Scott; it was in response to a copy of the Bobgans' book (<i>Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible</i>)<i> </i>with a letter sent to John MacArthur. In his reply to the man from Ohio, Scott said, "John MacArthur wishes to thank you for your letter. He asked if I would respond since I am the pastor of the Biblical Counseling and Family Ministries at Grace Community Church." The remainder of the letter was a severe critique of the Bobgans' book.</p> <p>Martin Bobgan then sent two letters to Scott requesting information about his letter and the critique. Scott did not answer either letter. Bobgan then wrote a response to Scott's letter and sent it to him, with a copy to MacArthur and one to the man from Ohio. Scott then responded with a two-hour phone call and a subsequent letter, along with a written summary of his phone-call admonishment of the Bobgans, regarding what he considers to be the Bobgans' sinful attitudes, arrogance, etc. It was also learned that Scott claims NOT to have written the letter quoted above nor to have written the critique. In Martin Bobgan's letter to Scott, Bobgan says, "Throughout your letter ... you use the first person pronoun 'I' referring to yourself. The fact that you signed a letter you did not write, which is a criticism of a book you did not critique, is more than problematic. ..." [It is patently dishonest!] (Source: July-August 1998, <i>PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter</i>.) [Since Scott has not responded to Martin Bobgan's latest letter, Bobgan has posted (to the PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries website) his <a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/scottgcc.html">response to Scott's so-called critique</a> of <i>Against Biblical Counseling</i>:]</p> <p>- It appears that MacArthur employs typical <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/codep/">Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)/12-step recovery "Support Fellowships"</a> at Grace Church. In an 8/11/91 worship service handout, under the heading of "Special Ministries," two support groups are listed -- one for people experiencing "Drug and Alcohol Problems" [not "sins"?], and another titled, "Empowered Family Support Groups," for those apparently in so-called codependent relationships. (See the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/support.htm">sub-report summary</a> taken from the 8/11/91,<i> Grace Today</i>.)</p> <p>In addition, both Grace Church and The Master's Seminary have recommended and used a book by Dick Eastman, <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/hour.htm">The Hour That Changes The World</a></i>, which offers a "12-step prayer program," complete with a call to pray that the lost will "contemplate the possibility of a <b>Higher Power</b>" [sounds like <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/codep/aa.htm">AA-talk</a> to us]. The book also encourages believers to listen to their "inner voice" within, in order to ascertain God's will for their lives, and encourages "<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/journal.htm">journaling</a>" to record God's <u>audible</u> instructions! The book is loaded with other New Age references, is heavy in charismatic pseudomysticism, and is highly ecumenical in its approach. (MacArthur's top assistant at the time even favorably quoted from this book in one of his 1993 speaking engagements, plus the book is offered in the 1996 edition of the Grace Book Service.) [Must reading for anyone desiring a fuller understanding of the "codependent"/12-step recovery heresy sweeping the church today would be <i><a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/12stepbk.html">12 Steps to Destruction: Codependency/Recovery Heresies</a></i>, by Martin and Deidre Bobgan, EastGate Publishers, 4137 Primavera Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, 1991, 247 pages.]</p> <p>- Charles M. Sheldon's classic <i>In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?</i> is believed to have sold about 30 million copies in over 15 languages in the past 100 years. One publication warned: "... <i>In His Steps</i> may be a great novel, [but it] promotes a social gospel rather than the Saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Walking in the steps of Jesus [as if an unregenerate man could!] is not sufficient. One must trust in His saving merits and vicarious satisfaction to get to Heaven." Sheldon, a Congregational minister, followed the liberal teaching of his day that Christ was merely an example. In the past, this book has been heavily promoted by John MacArthur and Grace Church.</p> <p>- MacArthur's April 1991 book, <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/sufficiency.htm">Our Sufficiency In Christ</a></i>, has an entire section devoted to the <b>errors</b> of psychology. Nevertheless, MacArthur not only accepts many psychological tenets and is quite psychological in his terminology, but he also reveals numerous contradictions between the realities of his ministry (past and present) and his recollection of the facts pertaining thereto.</p> <p>-<b> </b>Bob Vernon was Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department and one of the leading candidates to become the next Chief-of-Police when Darryl Gates was forced to "retire" over his handling of the 1991 L.A. riots and other matters. Instead, Vernon was also politically pressured to "retire" on the pretense that his religious views were too extreme. Vernon was, and is now, an elder at Grace Community Church. Vernon is also the author of a book being sold in the Grace Church bookstore, <i>L.A. Justice</i>. The book is published by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/dobson/">James Dobson</a>'s Focus on the Family Publishing, and is full of the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/self-est/">false gospel of self-esteem</a> so prevalent in Dobson's teachings. (See specifically Cha. 17 of the book -- "Root Causes: The Abandonment Of Our Children"; Vernon is also an occasional guest on Dobson's radio program.) Vernon claims his teachings are not contrary to Scripture on the self-esteem issue. John MacArthur apparently agrees, or why would Vernon continue to be on the Grace Church Elder Board, his book available in the Book Shack, and MacArthur favorably quote from it in his (MacArthur's) 1994 book, <i>The Vanishing Conscience</i> (pp. 56-58)?</p> <p>- In a 1991 interview with <i>Los Angeles Times</i> religious reporter, John Dart, MacArthur sheds some light on perhaps why he carries so many books of psychologically-oriented authors in the Grace Church bookstore: "MacArthur said he respects Christian psychologist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/dobson/">James Dobson</a>," and that "he is not critical of Dobson because he [Dobson] is <u>not</u> a purveyor of psychotherapy." (Incredible statement! -- Dobson is <b><i>the</i></b> purveyor of psychotherapy in the church today.) Also quoted is Focus on the Family spokesman Paul Hetrick, who states that "MacArthur and Dobson are friends and 'do <u>not</u> disagree on primary issues'" (9/6/91, <i>Los Angeles Times</i>). (Emphases added.) [MacArthur later confirmed, in his answer to a Master's Seminary chapel question, that he had <u>not</u> been misquoted by Dart, and that he indeed did <u>not</u> have a problem with James Dobson's teachings!]</p> <p>- In the same <i>Los Angeles Times</i> article cited above, MacArthur is also quoted as saying that he has "a lot in common" with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a>, the ecumenical, hyper-charismatic, psychologically-oriented pastor of the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. (Hayford has not only appeared at conferences with "signs & wonders" charismatics John Wimber and C. Peter Wagner, but also claims to have once had a vision of Jesus seated in heaven at the right hand of God, and then rise up in preparation for His Second Coming, promising to give a "double portion of anointing to those who rise up with Him.") MacArthur also stated that he and Hayford "get together and talk about ministry, agreeing to disagree." (Reported in the 9/6/91,<i> Los Angeles Times </i>and the 9/15/91, <i><a href="http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Econtendr/">Calvary Contender</a></i>.)</p> <p>We do not find the Apostle Paul suggesting a get-together to "talk about ministry" with Hymenaeus and Alexander -- on the contrary, they were delivered to Satan in order that they might "learn not to blaspheme" (1 Timothy 1:20). [One would think that, at a minimum, MacArthur should apply 2 John 7-11 here somewhere?] We think that Miles Stanford's 3/93 open-letter warning to MacArthur is appropriate in this instance:</p> <blockquote> <p>"Your association with Jack Hayford may seem ever so innocent and interesting, but you have a responsibility to a tongue-vulnerable Church. You certainly should back up the stand of your <i>Charismatic Chaos</i>. I would think by now you have received an inscribed copy of Hayford's latest book, <i>The Beauty of Spiritual Language</i>. As you may have noted, it is a strong pitch for 'pseudo-tongues,' and certainly has the potential for enticing many more into the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/char/">present-day charismatic chaos</a> that has long plagued and devastated the Body."</p> </blockquote> <p>- In <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a>'s 1997 book, <i>Pastors of Promise: A Practical and Passionate Call for Faithful Shepherds</i>, MacArthur is found praising Hayford along with 29 other so-called "Christian" leaders (among whom are <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/anderson/">Neil Anderson</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/schuller/">Robert Schuller</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hybels/">Bill Hybels</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccc/">Bill Bright</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/pk/">James Ryle</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/laurie/">Greg Laurie</a>, and the late <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/wimber/">John Wimber</a>). At the beginning of Hayford's book, under "Praise for <i>Pastors of Promise</i>" (six pages of praise for Hayford and his book) MacArthur's "praise" reads (on the fourth page of quotes):</p> <blockquote> <p>"Jack Hayford is a model of diligence, faithfulness to the Lord and enduring loyalty to a local church. It's the long haul that manifests integrity and proven character. Many have fallen in the battle. Hayford is still standing-a tribute to God's marvelous grace."</p> </blockquote> <p>Yet, five years prior (1992), MacArthur wrote in his book <i>Charismatic Chaos</i> the following:</p> <blockquote> <p>"Lest you think cranks, obscure eccentrics, or naive charismatic believers are the only ones who would make such claims, listen to Jack Hayford, internationally known author, media minister, and pastor of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. Hayford told the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America that God has told him a new era is coming:</p> <blockquote> <p>'Hayford ... related a vision in which he had seen Jesus seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father. In Hayford's vision, Jesus began to lean forward and rise from his seat. As the anointing caught in the folds of His garments, it began to splash out and fall over the church. Jesus said, "I am beginning to rise now in preparation for my second coming. Those who will rise with Me will share in this double portion of anointing."'" [<i>Charismatic Chaos</i>, pp. 48-49; footnote on Hayford, "Pentecostals Set Priorities," <i>Charisma</i> (January 1991), p. 44.]</p> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p>MacArthur says Hayford is a man of "integrity" and "a model of diligence, faithfulness to the Lord ..." yet Hayford claims to have seen Christ and received a revelatory message from Him! Not only is Hayford's claim contrary to 1 Peter 1:8 ("though now ye see Him not"), it is also contrary to MacArthur's own words (i.e., "Scripture is a closed system of truth, complete, sufficient, and not to be added to (Jude 3; Rev. 22:18-19). It contains all the spiritual truth God intended to reveal [<i>Charismatic Chaos</i>, p. 51]). Proverbs 30:5-6 says, "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar." Even though Hayford has added to "His words" (Proverbs 30:6) and claimed to have received a vision of Christ, MacArthur says Hayford is "a model of diligence" and "faithfulness to the Lord"!</p> <p>On page 50 of <i>Charismatic Chaos</i>, MacArthur asks, "Did Jack Hayford actually see Christ rise from his seat next to God?" The obvious answer to that question (in the context of MacArthur's book) is "NO!" Jack Hayford lies about seeing Christ (the true Christ), yet MacArthur says, "Jack Hayford is a model of diligence" and "faithfulness to the Lord"! It took only <i>one</i> false prophesy in the Old Testament for a man to be found to be a false prophet (Deut. 18:20-22). Hayford is a model of a false prophet! He is NOT a man of "integrity and proven character" as MacArthur says. He is a false teacher who is leading thousands down the broad road to hell! This should be obvious to even those who follow MacArthur.</p> <p>- As detailed elsewhere in this report, MacArthur claims to be against psychology and its message of self, yet he himself proclaims it. For example, in his Commentary on Ephesians MacArthur writes:</p> <blockquote> <p>"The only way a person can achieve a true sense of self-worth, meaning and significance is to have a right relationship to his Creator" (p. 6).</p> </blockquote> <p>Moreover, in MacArthur's daily devotional, <i>Drawing Near</i>, he perverts the fall of man into a self-focused "identity crisis." At the head of the page in bold print he writes (for January 7):</p> <blockquote> <p>"A true sense of identity comes from knowing that God himself personally selected you to be His child."</p> </blockquote> <p>Then, speaking about the fall of man (i.e. when Adam and Eve disobeyed God) he writes:</p> <blockquote> <p>"That created within man a spiritual void and an identity crisis of unimaginable proportions."</p> </blockquote> <p>This is what MacArthur thinks (and his friend Greg Laurie also teaches), not what God thinks. Such "identity crisis" teaching is devoid from Genesis to Revelation.</p> <p>- <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/laurie/">Greg Laurie</a> is an author, crusade evangelist, and charismatic pastor of the 12,000-plus member Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. Laurie is an ecumenical psychologizer and speaker for and endorser of the unbiblical <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/pk/">Promise Keepers</a> movement. Laurie conducts 5-6 evangelistic crusades every year (Harvest Crusades) that draw about 50,000 people each. Laurie's gospel is a man-centered psychological gospel; his message is one of finding a "deeper meaning in life," with Jesus as the One who came to "fill the void."</p> <p>Since it has been documented that John MacArthur teaches that Christ came to die for us because "we were so important to God," it should not be surprising that MacArthur also endorses Laurie's man-centered gospel and the ecumenical Harvest Crusades:</p> <blockquote> <p>"I want to invite you to be a part of the Harvest Crusades -- a wonderful opportunity for you to bring friends who will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ presented by Pastor Greg Laurie. I believe God has His hand on this man, and I believe that the Word of God which he preaches is clear and penetrating. I want to encourage you that this is an opportunity for you to touch the life of someone for eternity. Bring them, and let them sit under the anointed preaching of God's Word and the gospel of Christ." (Source: 8/96 Harvest Crusade brochure on the Harvest Crusade Internet web site.)</p> </blockquote> <p>Along with MacArthur, other endorsers of the Los Angeles Crusade held 11/17/96-11/20/96 at Universal Studio's Universal Amphitheater were hyper-charismatic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/falwell/">Jerry Falwell</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/graham/">Billy Graham</a>.</p> <p>[Another Laurie Harvest Crusade set for Sept. 20-22, 1999 includes as speakers: John MacArthur, Franklin Graham, Joe Stowell, Tony Evans, Anne Graham Lotz, and Alistair Begg. MacArthur and Begg also spoke at last year's Crusade (which had the usual <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/rockm/">"Christian" rock music</a>), along with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/swindoll/">Chuck Swindoll</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/smith/">Chuck Smith</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/jeremiah/">David Jeremiah</a>. (Source: 6/15/99, <i>Calvary Contender</i>.)]</p> <p>[<b>MacArthur/Laurie Update:</b> In late-January, 1997, a friend faxed me a copy of a letter sent him by a MacArthur spokesperson (Grace Church's Associate Pastor of Community Evangelism, Stephen Lonetti, dtd. 1/15/97), which was an attempt to justify MacArthur's involvement with and support of Greg Laurie and his Harvest Crusades. Before quoting directly from MacArthur's correspondence with others who had also expressed concerns over the MacArthur-Laurie association, Lonetti reveals that not only did MacArthur and Grace Church <u>endorse</u> the November 1996 Los Angeles Harvest Crusade, but <u>Grace Church provided and trained crusade counselors to work the event</u>! Lonetti defines this as involvement on a "limited basis," and thereby, acceptable.</p> <p>Apparently, it doesn't matter to MacArthur that at Laurie's Harvest Crusades between 500 and 800 churches are involved in providing various forms of support. The Harvest web site states that: "The type of support would range from financial support to providing volunteer workers to promoting attendance at the crusades. Many denominations and associations are involved, including Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/efca.htm">Evangelical Free</a>, Church of Christ, Assembly of God, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/smith/">Calvary Chapels</a>, and independent churches." Typically, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/vine/">Vineyard</a> and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Cults/Catholicism/">Roman Catholic churches</a> also participate.</p> <p>In the letter, MacArthur admits to having developed a close relationship with Laurie over the years, and to "have had the privilege of helping him [Laurie] in the areas of doctrine and practical theology." (Could this be where Laurie got his man-centered gospel -- from MacArthur?). More recently, MacArthur has allowed Laurie to videotape him and use the tapes "as an endorsement" for Harvest Crusades! MacArthur admits to having "kept in touch" with Laurie and to "have been encouraged by his [Laurie's] heart for the lost and his desire to present a clear gospel message." So, according to MacArthur, Laurie's charismatic, feelings-oriented, man-centered, psychological gospel is a "clear gospel message"! Absolutely incredible!</p> <p>MacArthur goes on to justify Grace Church's involvement in the L.A. Harvest Crusade on the basis that Laurie allowed Grace Church to train its own counselors and to provide "overall direction for the follow-up process. ... [giving] us the freedom to use our own 'ground rules' for follow up ..." In other words, MacArthur says it's okay to involve your church with a false psychological gospel and a myriad of false churches, as long as the false teacher lets you play by your rules instead of his! Finally, all is well in this relationship because, according to MacArthur, "God has placed [Laurie] within our sphere of influence" making it crucial that they (MacArthur and Grace Church) "do all that we can to build a relationship ..." Where in the Bible do we find anything that would justify evil associations in order to do some perceived good? In fact, just the opposite is taught (1 Cor. 15:33).]</p> <p>- Greg Laurie has also concocted a new "ministry," PREACH THE WORD. Its first event was held August 26-29, 1998, titled "Leader's Training Seminar." Laurie states the purpose of the Leader's Training Seminar is to bring in "some of America's most powerful communicators to spend three days teaching on the topic of how to effectively bring God's Word to our generation." (Source: Greg Laurie/Harvest Crusade Internet web site, 4/98.) (The event was held concurrent with a Laurie' Harvest Crusade.)</p> <p>Besides Laurie speaking at the Leader's Training Seminar, four other neo-evangelical psychologizers agreed to participate: <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/jeremiah/">David Jeremiah</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/smith/">Chuck Smith</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/swindoll/">Chuck Swindoll</a>, and <b>John MacArthur</b>. It should be emphasized here, this event was not been touted as a debate. These were five men speaking on the same platform in supposed agreement. This would seem to be a problem only for John MacArthur, since the others have never spoken out against psychology, but instead have taught many psychological concepts openly. Or, perhaps MacArthur has abandoned his hypocrisy on the psychology issue and now openly wishes to identify with it and its infamous teachers?</p> <p>- MacArthur has also taken-up with Chuck Smith in a political activism event. Smith and MacArthur joined with pastors in the state of California at the 1999 "Pastor's Day at the Capitol" gathering on May 18 and 19, 1999. Capitol Ministries, which organized the event, believes pastors can influence the lives of legislators by either sharing the Gospel with those who are unsaved or worshipping with those who profess to know Christ. An invitation to the event, mailed to over 16,000 California pastors, says:</p> <blockquote> <p>"We are asking you, the men of God in our state, to come to the Capitol ... for a time of relationship building and outreach to our elected officials. We plan to unite in a special time of fellowship, worship and prayer all centered on the clear proclamation of God's holy Word by two of our State's leading pastors, Chuck Smith and John MacArthur Jr."</p> </blockquote> <p>While MacArthur speaks out against the Charismatic Movement and even many church growth programs, it is evident that he certainly has no reservation about joining with those who believe otherwise. (Source: May-June 1999, <i>Foundation</i>.)</p> <p>- Besides taking nontraditional/unorthodox theological positions on the blood of Christ (that the "blood" is only "symbolic" for death) and the eternal sonship of Christ (an eternal Jesus, but a "non-eternal" Son of God ["incarnational sonship"] -- since recanted), MacArthur's contribution to <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/neoe.htm">neo-evangelicalism</a> is to cross all barriers and bridge all gaps in diverse fellowship. In fact, MacArthur has stated, concerning himself and his Grace Community Church staff, that they consider themselves evangelicals, <u>not</u> fundamentalists. A glance at MacArthur's itineraries demonstrates that he is indeed "evangelical" -- <u>neo</u>-evangelical, that is.</p> <p>MacArthur's speaking engagements range from supposed fundamentalists to confessed new evangelicals. He has spoken in <a href="http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/fbns-index/sbcfbns.htm">Southern Baptist</a> circles at such places as Memphis' Bellevue Baptist Church with Adrian Rogers, at the First Baptist Church of Atlanta with psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/stanley/">Charles Stanley</a>, and at a Medical Ethics conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission at the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville. He has been an SBC Pastor's Conference speaker prior to annual Southern Baptist Conventions (once with pro-Catholic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a> from 6/18/95-6/19/95), and addressed an <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/efca.htm">Evangelical Free Church of America</a> Pastor's Conference. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the new evangelical, psychologized Moody Bible Institute, and has been a frequent speaker at Moody Founder's Week and Pastor's Conferences (taking the platform with psychologizers such as <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hendricks/">Howard Hendricks</a>, E.V. Hill, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hybels/">Bill Hybels</a>, Billy Graham's daughter, Joni Tada, and Tony Evans). He has spoken for and endorsed the ministries of psychologizers <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/sproul/">R.C. Sproul</a> and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/falwell/">Jerry Falwell</a>, and at various churches and institutions affiliated with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/garbc/">GARBC</a>). He has been a featured speaker at Wheaton College (on the same platform with a Catholic speaker), Cedarville College, Dallas Theological Seminary, California Graduate School of Theology, Word of Life, Tennessee Temple University, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/nae/">National Religious Broadcasters</a> Convention (with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/robertson/">Pat Robertson</a> and Rex Humbard), and the National Fellowship of Conservative Baptists. (Reported in part in <i>New Neutralism II</i>, pp. 66-67.) MacArthur (via the radio program <i>Grace To You</i>) is also a member of the highly ecumenical National Religious Broadcasters (MacArthur spoke at the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/nae/nrb.htm">1/97 NRB Convention</a>), which is an arm of the neo-evangelical (and increasingly charismatic) National Association of Evangelicals.</p> <p>[MacArthur has even taken to quoting sympathetically from German neo-orthodox theologian <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/bonhoeffer/">Dietrich Bonhoeffer</a>! MacArthur favorably quotes from Bonhoeffer four times in a half-page article in the Winter 1994, <i>The Master's Current</i>. This in spite of the fact that Bonhoeffer was a rank apostate who denied or questioned nearly every major doctrine of the historic Christian faith! He was also one of the fathers of the "Death of God" theology. (See "The Riches and Responsibilities of Fellowship," <i>The Master's Current</i>, Winter 1994, p. 2.) In the past, MacArthur has also quoted favorably from neo-orthodox theologian Soren Kierkegaard ("Praying for the Right Things -- Part 2," Grace To You audio cassette, <a href="http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/53-6.HTM">GC53-6</a>, 1992 -- redistributed 2/95), and from mystic <a href="http://withchrist.org/MJS/neelee.htm">Watchman Nee</a> ("The Path to Pleasing God," Grace To You audio cassette, GC45-89, 1992 -- redistributed 5/95).]</p> <p>To top all this off, Billy Kim was a Missions Conference speaker in 1986 at John MacArthur's Master's College! Billy Kim speaks and travels with hyper-charismatic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/cho/">Paul (David) Yonggi Cho</a>, and is vice president of the apostate Baptist World Alliance, an organization which has conducted on at least three occasions "theological dialogue" with the Vatican Secretariat for promoting Christian unity (5/1/93, <i>Calvary Contender</i>).</p> <p>- The lead article in the Spring 1995 <i>The Master's Current</i> details how the Political Studies major at The Master's College is one of the newest and fastest growing on campus ("Christian Perspective Lights Up Legal Careers," p. 1). The first seniors majoring in Political Studies graduated in the Spring of 1991. The College states that two of its 1992 graduates work in Washington, D.C., one on the staff of a congressman and the other for an interest group (euphemism for "lobbyist"), while a 1993 graduate works for a California State Legislator.</p> <p>The Political Studies Department is apparently proud of the fact that they present a "non-theological" analysis of issues, and that the course list "is very similar to that of a major university." But never fear, "the courses are taught by committed Christians with a Christian perspective and world view. So while factual information remains the same, The Master's College courses are value-oriented." The College also works with the politically active Christian College Coalition in order to allow students to participate in an internship/study program in Washington, D.C.</p> <p>So here we have a so-called Christian college training its students in the ways of a godless nation's political system, then actively working to place them in employment in the system, all the while convinced that the College faculty's so-called Christian world view, as well as a little Bible training thrown in along the way, will protect them against the wickedness of their worldly walk. The fact that the Bible knows nothing of the acceptability of this type of worldly employment for Christians seems not to phase MacArthur. Doesn't this approach represent a detour from the straight path Christians are to walk <i>before</i> the world, not <i>with</i> the world (cf. James 4:4)?</p> <p>[In the same<i> Master's Current</i> issue, the College points out proudly that The Master's is "listed in the 1993-94 Templeton Foundation for Character Building Colleges. The honor roll recognizes these colleges and universities which presently teach character development and value building. Across the U.S., 111 colleges and universities were chosen for <u>this special honor</u>." (Emphasis added.) A "special honor"?? From the Templeton Foundation? -- founded by New Age pantheist/science-of-mind universalist/investment guru John Marks Templeton! The same John Marks Templeton who funds the yearly $1 million Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion!]</p> <p>- Each year in January, MacArthur's Master's College usually holds a five-day Bible conference with various neo-evangelical and/or psychological speakers. Two of 1995's most notable were <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/jeremiah">David Jeremiah</a> and Russ Moir. At the time, Jeremiah was president of <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/icr.htm">Christian Heritage College</a> and Bible teacher on the "Turning Point" radio and television programs. His orientation is thoroughly psychological, and in recent years he has started speaking at charismatic men's conferences as well as hosting blasphemous "Christian" rap groups at the church he pastors. Moir pastors the psychologically-oriented Blackhawk Baptist Church (<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/garbc/">GARBC</a>) in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is a supporter of the psychological, ecumenical, charismatic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/pk/">Promise Keepers</a> organization (personal letter on file); Moir also has AA-type <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/codep/12step.htm">12-Step programs</a> in his church. Also performing at the 1/95 Conference was CCM star Steve Camp. (See the Winter 1994, <i>The Master's Current</i>.)</p> <p>[In March of 1998, the psychologizer and ecumenical president of Moody Bible Institute, Joseph Stowell spoke at MacArthur's International Conference on the Bible. (MacArthur returned the favor and spoke at MBI on 5/20/98.) Other speakers included Tony Evans, Stephen Olford, Adrian Rogers (SBC), and David Jeremiah.]</p> <p>- Announced at a press conference on 3/29/94 was an ecumenical declaration titled "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium" (<a href="http://incolor.inetnebr.com/mdavis/evandcat.shtml">ECT</a>). The negotiations toward the declaration were initiated in 9/92 by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a> and Richard Neuhaus (former liberal Lutheran clergyman [ELCA] turned Catholic priest) under the auspices of the ecumenical and theologically liberal Institute on Religion and Public Life (headed by Neuhaus). The declaration starts with "We are Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics who have been led through prayer, study, and discussion to common convictions about Christian faith and mission." It goes downhill from there. The coalition specifically called for an end to aggressive proselytizing of each other's flocks (in effect, a mutual non-aggression pact). The signers of the Accord also confessed their past sins against Catholic/Protestant unity.<br /><br />The declaration said: "All who accept Christ as Lord and Savior are brothers and sisters in Christ." This conveniently ignores the fact that Catholics espouse a works-salvation false gospel! In a revealing admission of what brought these groups together, some signers said it was the experiences of worshiping together in the charismatic movement and working together in political causes such as anti-abortion [Moral Majority for example]. In fact, one writer correctly assessed that the declaration "amounts to a truce on theological issues so that the parties can continue to cooperate on political issues."</p> <p>Forty people signed or endorsed the document (20 Catholics and 20 so-called evangelicals), including Protestants <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/packer/">J.I. Packer</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/robertson/">Pat Robertson</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccc/">Bill Bright</a>, Os Guinness, and Mark Noll (a historian at Wheaton College who said, "Evangelicals can no longer consider Catholics as ogres or anti-Christs"). Catholic endorsers included six priests, three bishops, one Archbishop, and one Cardinal. By joint declaration, then, J.I. Packer and friends have, in effect, declared the Protestant Reformation a tragic mistake!</p> <p>In the summer of 1994, MacArthur preached a message warning of the dangers of the ECT Accord. He also distributed free to anyone requesting it an audio cassette tape of the message. We, therefore, found it strange when the neo-evangelical host of the John Ankerberg Show announced in January of 1995 that MacArthur would be part of a 2/8/95 seminar to be held at Catholic-sympathizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/kennedy/">D. James Kennedy</a>'s church (Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida). Other participants in the seminar (to supposedly <i>expose</i> the errors in the ECT document) were Ankerberg and Kennedy along with psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/sproul/">R.C. Sproul</a>. [Ankerberg produced a 6-part video series of this seminar (titled "Protestants and Catholics: Do They Now Agree?"), and aired it on six consecutive Sunday evenings beginning 3/5/95. MacArthur was seated on the grandiose stage in between Kennedy and Sproul, while Ankerberg stood at a table in the audience, serving as host-moderator.]</p> <p>The ECT Accord generated so much heat in Protestant ranks, that Colson found it necessary to call a meeting in January of 1995 to try "to achieve a measure of understanding, clarification, and harmony around the truth recognized by historic orthodoxy" (1/25/95 Prison Fellowship News Release -- "Evangelical Leaders Resolve Differences On Evangelical-Catholic Paper"). Attending the 1/19/95 peace meeting (also held at Kennedy's Coral Ridge facility) were ECT signers Colson, Packer, Bright, and Kent Hill, along with a group of so-called evangelicals critical of the ECT (i.e., the "anti-ECT group") -- John Ankerberg, <b>John MacArthur</b>, R.C. Sproul, D. James Kennedy, Joseph Stowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/Horton/">Michael Horton</a>, and John Woodbridge.</p> <p>After the meeting, Colson, Bright, Packer, and Hill issued a joint doctrinal statement supposedly <i>clarifying</i> their position on the ECT. However, <u>no changes to the ECT were recommended, nor would any of the original ECT signators remove their names from it</u>. Ankerberg, MacArthur, Kennedy, Sproul, et al., did not sign this <i>clarification agreement</i>, but <u>they</u> <u>did help write it</u>, and the clear implication was that they agreed that this new statement satisfactorily answered any concern one might have over the content of the original ECT! [See Colson's 1/25/95 news release; the 3/6/95 <i>Christianity Today</i>, "Evangelicals Clarify Accord with Catholics," pp. 52-53; and the 6-part John Ankerberg Show video series (titled "Protestants and Catholics: Do They Now Agree?"). Concerning the latter, <u>Ankerberg states eight</u> <u>different times over the course of the six programs that he and the others in the anti-ECT</u> <u>group [which included <b>John MacArthur</b></u>]<u> helped write the so-called "<i>clarification agreement</i></u>."]</p> <p>On Ankerberg's second program, the program's participants agreed that it was possible to have "parachurch cooperation with evangelically committed Roman Catholics for the pursuit of agreed objectives" without implying "acceptance of Roman Catholic doctrinal distinctives or endorsement of the Roman Catholic church system"! (1/19/95 "Statement By Protestant Signers To ECT," paragraph #1). It didn't seem to bother them that this <u>statement, which, by their own admission, they helped write</u>, does <u>not</u> agree with what God's Word says! (Amos 3:3 states: <i>Can two walk together except they be agreed?</i>) MacArthur and his neo-evangelical brethren have now, in effect, stipulated to words that are in direct conflict with the Word of God! God says if you fellowship with unbelievers in joint projects, you have identified with the doctrine of the co-participants (see also 2 John 9-11)! [At one point on this program, MacArthur boldly stated that Roman Catholicism is a false religion with which no fellowship is possible. Yet when Ankerberg replied, "That's why we put paragraph #1 in this new doctrinal statement" (which permits and encourages ecumenical fellowship for worthy objectives), MacArthur did not object! Nor did he object to any of the outrageous statements made by Kennedy or Sproul throughout the series. (MacArthur has endorsed Sproul's teachings thusly: "R.C.'s teaching brought me face-to-face with the awful splendor of God's majestic holiness in a new and fresh way" -- Ligonier Ministries Internet home page.)</p> <blockquote> <p>"MacArthur and the others thus lend credence to, serve as 'bridges' to, and refuse to separate from, those who promote ecumenical endeavors with Roman Catholics. The 'clarified' ECT Doctrinal Statement changed nothing" (5/1/95, <i>Calvary Contender</i>).</p> </blockquote> <p>- Dr. Bill Jackson, president of the Association of Fundamentalists Evangelizing Catholics (AFEC), prepared a 6/18/99 statement on "The Gospel of Jesus Christ -- An Evangelical Celebration" (EC) (see the 6/14/99 <i>Christianity Today</i> for the full text of the EC). This document has been endorsed by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Charles Colson</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccc/">Bill Bright</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/packer/">J.I. Packer</a>, all of whom also signed the controversial ECT documents of 1994 and 1997; as well as endorsed by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/sproul/">R.C. Sproul</a>, <b>John MacArthur</b> and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/kennedy/">D. James Kennedy</a>, all of whom publicly [albeit weakly] challenged and criticized them for signing the ECT documents (see above). There are a number of helpful statements in this latest document which deal with areas which were not fully dealt with in the ECT documents (e.g., imputation is now dealt with favorably, but has been consistently opposed by Roman Catholic Councils and Catechisms). EC says, "We cannot embrace any form of doctrinal indifferentism by which God's truth is sacrificed for a false peace." But there is certainly no better example of "doctrinal indifferentism" than the ECT documents themselves (James 1:8)! Because ECT I stated that "Evangelicals and Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ," in order to be relevant the new EC document should be submitted to the Roman Catholics who signed ECT I and II. It is difficult to see how a person could subscribe to both ECT and EC. The only logical conclusion is for all who signed EC to remove their names from ECT. It also appears that the so-called "evangelical" ECT endorsers have been "let off the hook" by former critics such as MacArthur. We believe EC will be used to rehabilitate those who erred in 1994 and 1997, without their having to admit or ask forgiveness for their error. (Source: 7/15/99, <i>Calvary Contender</i>.) [Other "evangelical" endorsers of EC among the 15 members of the Drafting Committee and 114 members of the Endorsing Committee include John Ankerberg, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/arthur/">Kay Arthur</a>, Tony Evans, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/falwell/">Jerry Falwell</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hybels/">Bill Hybels</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/jeremiah/">David Jeremiah</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lucado/">Max Lucado</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/back.htm">Woodrow Kroll</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lahaye/">Tim & Beverly LaHaye</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/canad/myst.htm">Erwin Lutzer</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/pk/">Bill McCartney</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/palau/">Luis Palau</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/robertson/">Pat Robertson</a>, Ronald Sider, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/stanley/">Charles Stanley</a>, John Stott, Joseph Stowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/swindoll/">Chuck Swindoll</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/jabez.htm"> Bruce Wilkinson</a>, and Ravi Zacharias; also endorsing EC were hyper-charismatics <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a> and Steven Strang.]</p> <p>However ignorant MacArthur and fellow endorsers may be of all this, his participation in EC makes him a party to its consequences. It is also important to note that the EC document (which is supposed to be a definitive and comprehensive statement of the true saving Gospel of Christ), never mentions <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Introduction/repent.htm"> repentance for salvation</a>, and never mentions the total depravity of man (thereby leaning towards a decisional regeneration). Moreover, the EC promotes an ecumenical unity (via "trans-denominational cooperative enterprises") with all professing believers who attest to the EC's "essentials" of the faith. But this is not the unity of the faith taught in Ephesians. While we are instructed by Scripture to be of one mind, the evangelical today scoffs at the idea of true Biblical unity based on complete agreement with, and submission to, God's holy Word. The only use of the word "unity" in the New Testament is found in Ephesians chapter four. It is a "unity of the Spirit" (v. 3), not of men. It is a "unity of faith" (v. 13) based on sound doctrine for which believers are to contend, not water down nor reclassify into essentials and non-essentials (Jude 3). No real spiritual unity can exist apart from doctrinal unity, and we are to "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17).</p> <p>- MacArthur, in his 1994 book <i>The Vanishing Conscience</i>, continues to teach various "psychological truths," while at the same time claiming to be opposed to psychology and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/self-est/">self-esteem</a>. For example, in the context of total depravity and <u>condemning</u> self-esteem, he writes:</p> <blockquote> <p>"How does one feel good about himself [as if this is a legitimate concern or need] when God Himself declares us worthy of His wrath? There is an answer to this dilemma [p. 94]. ... The liberation from sin those verses describe [Rom. 8:1-2] is the only basis on which we can really feel good about ourselves" (p. 104).</p> </blockquote> <p>MacArthur obviously still believes that man has a "dilemma"/need to "feel good about" himself. But where in God's Word are we ever encouraged or exhorted to feel good about ourselves, either before one comes to Christ or after? (There is nothing really new here for MacArthur. What is new is the long list of book jacket endorsements [hard-back copy] by a bevy of psychologizers and neo-evangelicals: glowing endorsements from the likes of hyper-charismatic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a>, Adrian Rogers, Joseph Stowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/arthur/">Kay Arthur</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/burkett/">Larry Burkett</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/packer/">J.I. Packer</a>, James Montgomery Boice, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/laurie/">Greg Laurie</a>, Joni Eareckson Tada, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hybels/">Bill Hybels</a>, and Elisabeth Elliot!)</p> <p>[See the following sampling of pages from <i>The Vanishing Conscience</i> for more of MacArthur's psychological teachings: (1) p. 32 -- "healthy self-image" and "true self-respect"; (2) p. 33 -- Karl Menninger's concept of good "mental health"; (3) p. 37 -- following one's conscience brings "self-respect"; (4) p. 90 -- here MacArthur even seems to outdo himself and take leave of his senses by stating that the Publican left the temple with "a new sense of self-worth" [Luke 18:10-13]. All this in a book with a chapter in which he claims to be against self-esteem!!]</p> <p>- Another humanistic psychological concept of which MacArthur is quite fond is that of self-forgiveness. In his Bible Study Guide, <i>Alive in Christ</i>, he exhorts in bold print, <b>"Do you have a problem forgiving yourself?"</b> Then he states:</p> <blockquote> <p>"In Christ, we're all beloved sons ... totally forgiven. Therefore, if you can't forgive yourself, you've got a God complex ... God has already accepted you -- so <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Introduction/uncondit.htm">accept yourself</a>!" ... So, if God can accept us, we can accept ourselves. Our sense of worth comes from knowing that we matter to God. And if we matter to God, we should matter to ourselves ... Self-worth and a firm self-image ... come from a knowledge of what God has done for you in Christ" (pp. 66-67).</p> </blockquote> <p>What is so damning about this self-focused doctrine is that it not only flows from the well of godless humanistic psychology, but it is subtle and deceptive. Those who believe and follow these selfism concepts are deceitfully diverted from a simple (2 Corinthians 11:3) focus on Christ (Hebrews 12:2) to a focus on self -- the exact opposite of Christ's exhortation to "deny" self.</p> <p>- Word Publishers (now a Thomas Nelson division) released in late-1997 <i>The</i> <i>MacArthur Study Bible</i>, a 2,200-page, New King James version of the Bible with John MacArthur's personal study notes explaining key words and verses. Besides choosing a publisher well-known for the publishing of psychoheretical authors and their books, MacArthur chose a bevy of neo-evangelicals, ecumenists, and psychologizers to endorse his <i>Study Bible</i>. Among the endorsers were Adrian Rogers (former SBC president), Joseph Stowell (president of Moody Bible Institute) <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lucado/">Max Lucado</a> (psychospiritual author and Church of Christ pastor), Franklin Graham, Tony Evans, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/canad/myst.htm">Erwin Lutzer</a> (pastor of Moody Bible Church and teacher of charismatic spiritual warfare methodologies), and self-love teacher <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/mcdowell/">Josh McDowell</a>. Obviously, MacArthur wants to be identified with this hodge-podge of heresy, or why else would he have chosen them to endorse this extensive theological work?</p> <p>- In an advertisement in the Christian Booksellers Association trade magazine, <i>Marketplace</i>, <i>The MacArthur Study Bible</i> is described as follows:</p> <blockquote> <p>"Unlike past 'classics' burdened by outdated theological systems, <i>The MacArthur Study Bible </i>strives to let the systems go, and let the Word of God speak. And day after day, year after year, you can always count on hearing something new."</p> </blockquote> <p>On the historic, orthodox, creedal view that the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is immanent and eternal, this new Bible did indeed "let the systems go." The notations on Hebrews 1:5 and 7:3 demolished the historic creedal view that Christ is the Eternal Son of God, hence there is no eternal and immanent Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is not "new," but compared to the view of Bible doctrine expressed in the Creeds, Confessions, and Theological "standards," it is heterodox. In other writings, MacArthur has also expressed the view which makes the Trinity a "nameless" unity, as he believes the "Son" is a "role" assumed by the "second person" in the flesh, which also implies the "Father" is a "role" assumed by the "first person."</p> <p>MacArthur contends in his <i>Study Bible</i> that "Sonship" refers to Christ in the "role" of "Son" which supposedly began in a "point of time" when He was incarnated via the virgin birth. This birth constituted Him as the "Son." This is sometimes called "incarnational sonship." MacArthur uses the Syriac Pershitta translation on Hebrews 7:3 to bring the reading of the passage more in line with his theory. We view Hebrews 7:3 as one of the strongest Biblical affirmations of the Eternal Sonship of the "Son," and the MacArthur note demolishes this great truth from that passage. (Excerpted from a 7/21/97 e-mail from Bob Ross of Pilgrim Publications.)</p> <p>In contrast, the Bible teaches the Eternal Sonship of Christ -- that He was the Son in eternity past. To deny that the attribute of eternality is inherent in Sonship (rather than conferred by incarnation), is, in effect, a denial of the "equality" of the "Son" with God -- a very serious heresy!</p> <p>To make matters worse, MacArthur branded as "heretics" those who held to the historical, orthodox, Biblical view of Eternal Sonship -- he labeled the Biblical view as a "heretical idea" and he associated it with "cultists who deny Christ's deity." Based on his concept of "Sonship," MacArthur specifically denounced the Eternal Sonship of Christ as follows:</p> <blockquote> <p>"He [Christ] is no 'eternal son' always subservient to God, always less than God, always under God. ... It [Son] is his human title, and we should never get trapped in the heretical idea that Jesus Christ is eternally subservient to God" (<i>Commentary on Hebrews</i>, 1983, pp. 28-29).</p> </blockquote> <p>In that same Commentary, MacArthur associated Eternal Sonship with "cultists" who imply that eternality of the Son means "inferiority" to God. Also, in his <i>The Sonship of Christ</i> booklet (published by the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ifca/">IFCA</a>), MacArthur so defined and distorted the "eternal generation" of the Son that he felt justified in branding it as being "meaningless and confusing" (p. 9). He alleged that "orthodox teachers" who hold to "eternal generation" "echo an element" of the "false belief" of "cultists who deny Christ's deity." He equated this with the idea that Christ was "created." [Excerpted and/or adapted from a 11/17/97 e-mail from Bob Ross of Pilgrim Publications.]</p> <p><b>[12/99 Update:</b> In late-August of 1999, MacArthur released an extensive statement <b><i>recanting</i></b> his position of Incarnational Sonship. A key portion of that statement read as follows:</p> <blockquote> <p>"I want to state publicly that I have abandoned the doctrine of 'incarnational sonship.' Careful study and reflection have brought me to understand that Scripture does indeed present the relationship between God the Father and Christ the Son as an <i>eternal</i> Father-Son relationship. I no longer regard Christ's sonship as a role He assumed in His incarnation."</p> </blockquote> <p>Sadly, MacArthur's statement gave no indication how widely he planed to publish this doctrinal change, if at all.<b><i> </i></b>Moreover, MacArthur showed no remorse or regret or repentance for the many he has misled on this vital doctrine over the years, including, but not limited to, the damage that took place in the IFCA. (It was the same story when MacArthur broke off with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a> and then <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/">Gary Ezzo</a> -- absolutely no repentance for the many thousands led into the clutches of these two psychoheretics.)</p> <p>Reading the entire August, 1999 statement, MacArthur compared his theological review process to that of Augustine's before his death. But MacArthur's words come off more as a trivialization of a crucial doctrine than genuine remorse for teaching falsely; MacArthur's "repentance" reads more like: "Me and Augustine -- just doing a little theological review before we die." In his statement, MacArthur even said it's no big deal for others to hold to a mere Incarnational Sonship -- NOT "rank heresy" or anything like that -- and still falling within the boundaries of orthodoxy. As if the doctrine of Eternal Sonship is some insignificant gray area that believers have the liberty to accept or reject!</p> <p>It would have also been helpful if MacArthur had given his followers a little of his thought process in coming to this change in theology to which he had held so adamantly for so many years, in speaking and in writing. Should we now expect a recall of MacArthur's <i>Hebrews</i> <i>Commentary</i>, his 1991 booklet <i>The Sonship of Christ</i>, and <i>The MacArthur Study Bible</i>? Don't hold your breath.<b>]</b></p> <p>- After John MacArthur changed his position on the doctrine of the Eternal Sonship of Christ, he wrote a letter in which he explained how he could sign the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ifca/">Independent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA)</a> doctrinal statement even during all those years when he strongly denied the Eternal Sonship of Christ. These are his words (in a letter to a Pennsylvania pastor dated 9/30/99):</p> <blockquote> <p>"Frankly, I don't think the breach in the IFCA is merely a matter of the incarnational sonship. That's such an isolated issue. It seems to me that the people who created the rift are, by disposition, divisive. Also, the statement on sonship in the IFCA doctrine is simply that Christ is the eternal Son of God without any explanation. Even people who believe in an incarnational sonship, such as I used to, could affirm the statement that He is the eternal Son of God with qualification."</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="mailto:georgezeller@juno.com">Pastor George Zeller</a> (Middletown Bible Church, Middletown, CT) makes the following observations concerning MacArthur's statement of recantation:</p> <blockquote> <p>(1) I know the men MacArthur is referring to, and these men are not divisive. It was never their desire to bring about a division in the IFCA. Their only desire was to defend and uphold the IFCA doctrinal statement and not to broaden its meaning so as to allow for contrary views. Also these men were not the ones who caused the rift. It was MacArthur's "Incarnational Sonship" teachings that triggered the controversy and the whole problem could have been easily solved from the beginning if the IFCA leadership had simply enforced its own doctrinal statement;</p> <p>(2) The IFCA doctrinal statement simply says "that Christ is the eternal Son of God without any explanation," because we believe exactly what these words mean. We take these words at face value. Such a clear statement of doctrine does not need any explanation. The words mean what they say. MacArthur once taught the following: "The Bible nowhere says that Christ is the eternal Son." This denial of eternal Sonship is also very clear and needs no explanation;</p> <p>(3) The problem that we have had with MacArthur is his affirmation of our [the IFCA] doctrinal statement "with qualification." -- "I affirm the Christ is the eternal Son of God with the qualification that He did not become the Son of God until Bethlehem." What if someone said, "I affirm the full deity of Christ with the qualification that I don't really believe He is God!" Or, "I affirm the eternal security of the believer with the qualification that those who depart from the faith will be lost and lost forever." Or, "I affirm the Pre-Tribulation rapture of the church with the qualification that I really hold to the Pre-Wrath view." Or, "I believe that Christ died as a Substitute for all mankind with the qualification that He died as a Substitute only for the elect." Or, "I believe that the believer has two natures with the qualification that the believer really only has one nature, the new nature in Christ." If the IFCA allowed for such qualifications, as MacArthur contends, then any person holding to any deviant or heretical view could sign the IFCA statement!</p> </blockquote> <p>- MacArthur (who is a "member in good standing" of the increasingly neo-evangelical/ecumenical <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ifca/">IFCA</a>), when speaking to a gathering of Indiana <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/garbc/">GARBC</a> churches (also now highly inclusivistic) in January of 1991, commented on his then recent trip to the Soviet Union. While in Russia, MacArthur preached in the "registered" church. Since a registered church is one that has already agreed to compromise the Scriptures by allowing itself to be controlled by an atheistic government, MacArthur has apparently accepted the Communist propaganda concerning "freedom of religion," and in effect, has stabbed the persecuted church in the back (much as <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/graham">Billy Graham</a> did during his trip to Russia in the early-1980s). (See the 6/15/91 <i>Calvary Contender</i> for Georgi Vins' accurate analysis of the Russian "registered" church. Vins had refused to speak in the pulpits of Russia's registered church "where liberals have also spoken," because his conscience would not permit him to do so. Apparently MacArthur's conscience is not as sensitive to error as is Vins'.)</p> <p>- John MacArthur continues to sign the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ifca/">IFCA International</a>'s (formerly Independent Fundamental Churches of America) doctrinal statement, even though he contradicts it in his public tapes and writings. Three examples:</p> <blockquote> <p>(1) The Two Natures of the Believer -- IFCA Statement: "We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit." MacArthur: "I believe it is a serious misunderstanding to think of the believer as having both an old and new nature ... there is no such thing as an old nature in the believer" (<i>Freedom from Sin: Rom. 6-7</i>, pp. 31-32);</p> <p>(2) The Extent of the Atonement -- IFCA Statement: "We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all mankind as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice." MacArthur: "He is the Substitute only for those who believe. ... In the substitutionary sense He bore only the sins of those who ultimately would put their faith in Him" (Tape GC47-36);</p> <p>(3) The Eternal Sonship of Christ -- IFCA Statement: "We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God." MacArthur: "The Bible nowhere speaks of the eternal Sonship of Christ ... only from His incarnation has He been Son. He was not a son until He was born into this world" (<i>MacArthur Commentary Series: Hebrews</i> [1:4-5]). [Recanted 8/99 -- see above.]</p> </blockquote> <p>Can the IFCA leadership ignore such glaring contradictions? Apparently so. The 6/97 IFCA national convention was held at the Word of Life facilities (NY), with John MacArthur as main speaker! (1/15/97, <i>Calvary Contender</i>). So the issue with MacArthur continues to be not whether one agrees with the IFCA Doctrinal Statement, but the hypocrisy of John MacArthur in signing the IFCA's Statement of Faith, thereby attesting to the doctrines therein, and then teaching what amounts to an outright denial of those very doctrines!</p> <p>- MacArthur's top assistant at the time (who, you must remember, claimed to "speak with the full authority of John MacArthur" and was an elder at Grace Church) was preaching at a large Midwestern "evangelical" church on 7/25/93. One of his messages was titled "Learn to Discern," in which he lamented the failure of today's spiritual leaders:</p> <blockquote> <p>"[Where is the] spiritual discernment to successfully evaluate and distinguish the wisdom of the world from the wisdom of God? ... The church is in such a paltry state because they ape the things of the world ... just like the issue of psychology ... [The world] is jumping off the bandwagon of psychology just at the time when the church is running toward it full bore. [Yet] spiritual discernment says that you're able to distinguish between ... that which is right from that which is wrong ... that which is true from that which is false. ... Biblical separation is the process by which you say, 'This is what God says and all others are false, not true.' ... The discernment of evil is a byproduct of learning to identify truth."</p> </blockquote> <p>One only has to browse around the Grace Church campus and/or listen to tapes or read the various publications emanating from The Master's Fellowship complex of ministries to come to the conclusion that spiritual discernment there is a commodity in extremely short supply. (For example, in MacArthur's 1994 book, <i>The Vanishing Conscience</i>, he begins chapter 3 by quoting favorably from <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a>'s acceptance speech for the 1993 "Templeton Progress in Religion Prize," delivered at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago!) By applying MacArthur's own definition of discernment, MacArthur and staff need to spend a great deal more time learning to identify truth. Perhaps then they will be able to discern what is evil.</p> <hr align="left"> <p><b><span style="font-size:+1;">Personal Note</span></b><br /><br />In John MacArthur's (<i>et al.</i>) 1994 book from Word Publishing titled <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/counsel.htm">Introduction to Biblical Counseling</a></i>, MacArthur says on p. 378:</p> <blockquote> <p>"Is it inherently unkind or condemnatory to say someone else's view is errant? Not if one has biblical authority for saying so. In fact, to remain silent and allow error to go unexposed and uncorrected is an abdication of the elder's role (Titus 1:9). The apostle Paul publicly called Peter a hypocrite for compromising biblical principles (Gal. 2:11-15). Peter had been publicly hypocritical; it was right that he be rebuked publicly (cf. 1 Tim. 5:20). To disagree with or critique someone's published views does not constitute a personal attack. If the Church cannot tolerate polemic dialogue between opposing views -- especially if Christian leaders cannot be held accountable for whether their teaching is biblical -- then error will have free reign."</p> </blockquote> <p>(This same teaching on public criticism can be found in MacArthur's 1994 book <i>Reckless Faith</i>, pp. 20-21, 40, 44, 47, 81.) From the following account, it is obvious that MacArthur means this public criticism is for <b><i>others</i></b> and <u>not</u> for himself. This is gross hypocrisy:<br /><br />In February and March of 1994, a pastor of a small house church in Southern California (herein referred to as HCSC) confronted John MacArthur, both publicly (via three warning messages preached to HCSC's congregation) and privately (the tapes of the messages were personally handed to MacArthur as well as personal letters sent him), concerning his (MacArthur's) erroneous teachings on psychology. MacArthur's response (via official action of the Elder Board of Grace Community Church) was to label HCSC's pastor a "factious" man (i.e., a "heretic" -- Titus 3:9-10 [KJV]), to deem him unqualified to teach or preach the Word of God, and to tell him he was on his way to hell. Moreover, in a private meeting with three members of the Grace Church Elder Board (in which two other men from HCSC were refused admission), they completely refused to discuss with or correct HCSC's pastor in regards to what he taught in his exposition of MacArthur's teachings. Moreover, in a subsequent scurrilous letter to HCSC's pastor from one of these elders ("scurrilous" because of the elder's unfounded charges that HCSC's pastor was a child-beater, was sponging off other people, had never held a steady job, and was a cult leader much like David Koresh and Jim Jones), it was specifically contended that the Scripture forbid the elders from engaging the pastor in a doctrinal dispute over the specifics of MacArthur's teachings until he (HCSC's pastor) would admit and repent of being "factious"! In other words, HCSC's pastor had to first admit he was a heretic before MacArthur would defend his own heretical teachings!<b>*</b></p> <p>Similarly, since 1988, Biblical Discernment Ministries privately contacted Dr. MacArthur by personal letter on three different occasions, each time asking him to justify his various psychological teachings in light of his professed belief that psychology is not of God. On each occasion, I have received only generic responses from various designated spokespersons in his ministry, never from Dr. MacArthur himself. Nor have I ever received a public or private response "correcting" me, <u>from the Word of God</u>, of any erroneous reporting or improper interpretation or analysis of Dr. MacArthur's teachings.</p> <p><b><u>11/97 Update</u>: </b>There has been some recent "contact" with MacArthur's people. An elder at Grace Church has posted to an Internet web site personal attacks against both the pastor mentioned above and against BDM's editor. (See <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/macarthu.htm">BDM response</a>.) Yet, the question still remains to be answered -- "Are MacArthur's teachings true to Scripture?" I contend that they are not. I have documented my contentions is <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/">this report and the posted sub-reports</a>. Other than these personal attacks leveled by the leadership of Grace Community Church, MacArthur's defenders remain silent.</p> <p><b>*</b> The pastor's name has been withheld from this "Note" beginning with the 8/96 revision to this report in an attempt to nullify MacArthur's continued use of a <i>red herring</i> argument. "The <i>fallacy of red herring</i> gets its name from the practice of using a herring, a particularly smelly fish when cooked, to divert hunting dogs from the scent of a fox. To commit the fallacy of red herring in an argument is to draw attention away from an issue by raising some other, seemingly related issue. In so doing, the arguer attempts to sidetrack the opponent's argument. (Source: Robert M. Johnson, <i>A Logic Book</i>, 2nd Edition, [Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1992], p. 262.) MacArthur seems to think that if he can discredit those who challenge his teachings (i.e., making the issue the person challenging him rather than the specifics of the challenge), then that makes his teachings immune from scrutiny. In today's neo-evangelical environment, he has thus far been successful.</p> <hr align="left"> <h3><i>Biblical Discernment Ministries</i> - Revised 12/99</h3> <p align="center"><img src="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/images/eye_bar.gif" height="11" width="560" /> </p> <div align="center"><center> <table border="0"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/"><img src="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/images/home.gif" height="62" width="64" border="0" /></a> </p></td> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/notebook.html"><img src="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/images/notebook.gif" height="62" width="64" border="0" /></a> </p></td> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/mail.html"><img src="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/images/mail.gif" height="62" width="64" border="0" /></a> </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/">HOME </a></p></td> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/notebook.html">NOTEBOOK </a></p></td> <td align="center"><p align="center"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/mail.html">MAIL</a> </p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center></div> <hr />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-41829632229029987472011-11-06T19:22:00.001-07:002011-11-06T19:26:28.172-07:00MacArthur...just what is he all about?<blockquote style="text-align: center"><a name="anchor319119"></a>A reposting from Cephasministry.com<br /><br />PART I</blockquote><blockquote><span style="color:#000000;"><b><span style="font-size:7;">Dr. John MacArthur<br /></span></b>Taken from Chapter Nine of the book "New Neutralism II: Exposing The Gray Of Compromise". by John E. Ashbrook<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color:#000000;">In this chapter I am making no effort to rank these popularizers in order of importance. However, I will admit that Dr. John MacArthur would be number one on my list,</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color:#000000;">MacArthur's schooling was at Bob Jones University, Los Angeles Pacific College and Talbot Theological Seminary. He is senior pastor of the large Grace Community Church of Panorama City, California and is speaker on the popular "Grace to You' broadcast, He has stirred controversy and gained fame by taking nontraditional positions on the blood of Christ, lordship salvation and the eternal sonship of Christ. He appears to delight in purporting to know more than the historic theologians on these questions. It is not my purpose to analyze these positions. I will leave that to others.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color:#000000;">John MacArthur’s contribution to new evangelicalism is to cross all barriers and bridge all gaps in diverse fellowship. He has spoken in Southern Baptist circles at such places as Memphis’ Bellevue Baptist Church with Dr. Adrian Rogers and in the First Baptist Church of Atlanta with Dr. Charles Stanley, He was a Pastors' Conference speaker prior to the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans, He serves on the Board of Moody Bible Institute and has been a frequent speaker at Moody Founder's Week and Pastors' Conference. He has spoken for R.C. Sproul, Jerry Falwell and various General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. He has been a featured speaker at Wheaton College, Cedarville College, Dallas Theological Seminary, California Graduate School of Theology, Word of Life, Tennessee Temple University and the National Fellowship of Conservative Baptists. I list these names to show that his speaking engagements range from supposed fundamentalists to confessed new evangelicals,</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color:#000000;">MacArthur has stated, concerning himself and his Grace Community Church staff, that they consider themselves evangelicals, not fundamentalists. In this light, it is rather strange that MacArthur is a member of the Independent Fundamental Churches of America. Grace Community Church was host to the 1990 National Convention of this group. The prospect of this invitation caused some stir among the more fundamental brethren of that fellowship. Consequently, at the group's 1989 convention in Limerick, Pennsylvania, a question and answer session was held with Dr. MacArthur. The panel members quizzed him about the blood of Christ, lordship salvation and Christ's eternal sonship. The group decided that he was not heretical. Sad to say he was not quizzed about his new evangelical connections and engagements. I have not studied MacArthur's writings enough to call him heretical, but a glance at his itineraries demonstrates that he is by all means new evangelical.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color:#000000;">I was a member of the Independent Fundamental Churches of America in 1963 and contended on the convention floor that to eliminate criticism of ecumenism and new evangelicalism from the Voice magazine, the group's organ, would open the door for independent men who had no conviction of separation to enter the group and hold ministerial credentials there. In Dr. John MacArthur I offer you Exhibit A.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color:#000000;">[See "Selected Resources for Sale" on the left side of the Front Page of this web site, or "Discernment Resources" on the right side, to order this book.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color:#000000;">You can order this book direct from John Ashbrook if you wish.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color:#000000;">Order from:<br />"Here I Stand" Books<br />536 Greenside Drive<br />Painsville, Ohio 4407</span></blockquote> <hr align="CENTER" width="627"> <blockquote style="text-align: center">PART II</blockquote> <blockquote style="text-align: center"><u>MacARTHUR LEAVES 'INCARNATIONAL SONSHIP</u></blockquote> <blockquote>Popular Bible teacher Dr. John MacArthur now says: "I want to state publicly that I have abandoned the doctrine of 'incarnational sonship.' Careful study and reflection have brought me to understand that Scripture does indeed present the relationship between God the Father and Christ the Son as an <u>eternal</u> Father-Son relationship. I no longer regard Christ's sonship as a role He assumed in His incarnation." We applaud his willingness to reverse himself and acknowledge that his earlier teaching did not square with Scripture, though he still denies that it is "rank heresy." Will "fundamentalists" who have defended his "serious error" teachings now do a sudden reversal? Will MacArthur now recant his teaching on the blood of Christ which many fundamentalists regard as heresy? His incarnational Sonship (and other) teaching caused a schism in the IFCA a decade ago (see 2/1/90 & 11/15/95 <i>CC</i>s). How now will IFCA leaders, who continued to promote him, and other MacArthur defenders react to his reversal? IFCA's <i>Voice</i> magazine for many years has kept right on promoting MacArthur ministries in full-page ads. Should MacArthur and IFCA leaders who sided with him now apologize to the IFCA for the great harm the "Sonship" error has caused to that fellowship?</blockquote> <hr align="CENTER" width="627"> <blockquote style="text-align: center">PART III</blockquote> <blockquote style="text-align: center"><u>MacARTHUR'S CONFUSING TEACHINGS ON 'LORDSHIP' & BLOOD</u></blockquote> <blockquote>—The following is taken from <i>Preaching to a Dying Nation</i>, a new 250-page book by Drs. R.L. Hymers and Christopher Cagan, available <u>free</u> to preachers, $7 to others, by phone 818/352-0452. Popular teacher Dr. John MacArthur is quoted: "Saving faith is a commitment to leave sin and follow Jesus at all costs." "Salvation is for those who are willing to forsake everything." Hymers says this is "pure Romanism" and concludes: "Much of today's preaching does not emphasize the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4) simply because the gospel is <i>not needed</i> if man can save himself by making a Lordship decision, as advocated by MacArthur and his followers." [We have found that MacArthur confuses justification and sanctification, and salvation and discipleship (see 1/15/89 <i>CC</i>) –ed.]. MacArthur has said "The blood of Jesus could not save" and "the blood of Christ is a metonym for His death." In his <i>Study Bible</i> he wrote: "Blood is used as a substitute for death." But Cagan uses Rev. 1:5, "He has washed us from our sins in His own <i>blood</i>," and says we could not have been washed in His <i>death</i>. He uses the Lord's Supper as proof that MacArthur is wrong on the Blood, and says: "Why not just take the bread, if the Blood is nothing more than a metonym for the death? Why do we need two separate elements?"</blockquote> <blockquote>______________________________________________________________________________</blockquote> <blockquote style="text-align: center">PART IV</blockquote> <blockquote style="text-align: center"><u>HOW COULD MacARTHUR SIGN IFCA DOCTRINAL STATEMENT?</u></blockquote> <blockquote>—Since Dr. John MacArthur recently changed his position on the eternal Sonship of Christ [see 10/1/99 <i>CC</i>], the <i>CC</i> editor called his office and asked how he could sign the IFCA's "eternal Sonship" doctrinal statement all those years when he strongly denied this doctrine. We received a helpful reply (12/1/99 e-mail) from his personal secretary who pointed out that IFCA Executive Board president Richard Gregory was aware of the difference in view and allowed him to sign it. She added: "John has mentioned in a letter to someone else that the statement on sonship in the IFCA doctrine is simply that Christ is the eternal Son of God without any explanation." She said: "Even people who believe in an incarnational sonship, such as he used to, could affirm the statement that He is the eternal Son of God [with] qualification. Therefore, signing it was not a problem for the board or for John." MacArthur doesn't think his teaching created the rift in the IFCA but blames it on "divisive" people. George Zeller observes: "1) I know the men MacArthur is referring to, and these men are not divisive. It was never their desire to bring about a division in the IFCA. Their only desire was to defend and uphold the IFCA doctrinal statement and not to broaden its meaning so as to allow for contrary views. These men were not the ones who caused the rift. It was MacArthur's "incarnational Sonship" teachings that triggered the controversy and the whole problem could have been easily solved from the beginning if the IFCA leadership had simply enforced its own doctrinal statement. 2) The IFCA doctrinal statement simply says Christ is the eternal Son of God without any explanation because we believe exactly what these words mean….Such a clear statement of doctrine does not need explanation. The words mean what they say. MacArthur once taught the following: 'The Bible nowhere says that Christ is the eternal Son.' This denial of eternal Sonship is also very clear and needs no explanation. 3) The problem that we have had with MacArthur is his affirmation of our doctrinal statement 'with qualification.' [In essence he said:] 'I affirm that Christ is the eternal Son of God with the qualification that He did not become the Son of God until Bethlehem.' But what if someone said, e.g., 'I affirm the full deity of Christ with the qualification that I don't really believe He is God!' If the IFCA allows for such qualifications, then any person holding any deviant or heretical view could sign the IFCA statement!"</blockquote> <blockquote style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.cephasministry.com/evangelists.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">back</span></a></blockquote> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="CENTER">Thank you for visiting Cephas Ministry Inc. (www.cephasministry.com)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-52692463162432898882011-11-03T16:58:00.002-06:002011-11-03T17:01:38.260-06:00A look at "John MacArthur IncorporatedThis is a re-posting of an interesting expose' of John MacArthur.....<br /><br /><div class="navbar section" id="navbar"><div class="widget Navbar" id="Navbar1"> </div></div> <div id="outer-wrapper"> <div id="wrap2"><div id="wrap3"> <div class="header section" id="header"><div class="widget Header" id="Header1"> <div id="header-inner"> <div class="titlewrapper"> <h1 class="title"> John Macarthur Exposed </h1> </div> <div class="descriptionwrapper"> <p class="description"><span> </span></p> </div> </div> </div></div> <div id="crosscol-wrapper" style="text-align:center"> </div> <div id="sidebar-wrapper"> </div> <div class="main section" id="main"><div class="widget Blog" id="Blog1"> <div class="blog-posts hfeed"> <div class="date-outer"> <h2 class="date-header"><span>Sunday, October 11, 2009</span></h2> <div class="date-posts"> <div class="post-outer"> <div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template"> <a name="4852506515764889016"></a> <div class="post-header"> </div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4852506515764889016"> <div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">The Transformation of John Macarthur’s Grace Community Church--</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;">How Change Agents are Transitioning GCC into the New World Order<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span><br />“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2Cor 11:13-15<br /><br />“But there were false apostles also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2Pet 2:1-3<br /><br />“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Col 2:8<br /><br />By Bob Johnson</div><div align="left"><a href="mailto:user8521@sbcglobal.net">user8521@sbcglobal.net</a></div><div align="left">March 9, 2009<br /><br /><strong>Contents </strong></div><div align="left">Introduction<br /><strong>Part I</strong></div><div align="left">What is the Church Growth Movement?<br />How the Church Growth Movement Manifests Itself at GCC (The Guild and The Foundry)</div><div align="left"><strong>Part II<br /></strong>The Master's Academy International (TMAI) Leadership<br />TMAI Leader's Transformational Language </div><div align="left"><strong>Part III</strong><br />TMAI Training Centers<br />TMAI Brazil<br />TMAI Honduras<br />TMAI South Africa<br />TMAI New Zealand<br />TMAI Mexico<br />TMAI Russia<br />TMAI-Philippines<br />The TMAI Leadership Community<br /><strong>Part IV</strong></div><div align="left">The Money Trail—Who Finances TMAI<br />How the Church Growth Movement Infiltrated GCC<br />John Macarthur's Ecumenical Roots<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Introduction </strong><br /></span><br />On January 2, 2005, John Macarthur gave a sermon to his congregation in which he described the state of his church. In that sermon John Macarthur stated, “I feel like part of the ministry I must discharge before the Lord and you is a ministry of warning about danger. Our church is not in particular danger from some dominating iniquity. It is not in particular danger from some infiltrating heresy. It is not in danger from some loss of resources financially or human. Everything you can see on the surface looks to be good. And we would have every reason to think we stand, and still be on the brink of a fall.”<br /><br />John Macarthur said that his church was not in particular danger from infiltrating heresy. This paper will show that a dangerous heresy has infiltrated his church; a heresy known generally as the church growth movement. And this paper will show that this movement, being backed by globalists and being used to fulfill their one-world agenda, is now manipulating GCC into that same agenda.<br /><br />John Macarthur said that his church is not in danger from some dominating iniquity. This paper will show that John Macarthur, being the dominant figure in his church, by disobeying the doctrine of separation, has allowed men to speak at his church and has allowed men to occupy leadership positions in his church, who, professing to be Christians, are actually dedicated to this one-world agenda.<br /><br />John Macarthur said that everything you can see on the surface of his church looks to be good. I have been to his church, and I have attended his ministries, and I didn’t have to look beyond the surface to see that everything there is not good. I didn’t have to look beyond the surface of his church in order to see the presence of the Purpose Driven Church (PDC) model or the dialectic sessions employed by that model. Nor did I have to look beyond the surface to see that John Macarthur’s international ministry, a ministry dedicated to “training church leaders worldwide,” is a church growth organization now partnering with foreign governments.<br /><br />In his “state of the church” sermon, John Macarthur said that GCC could be on the brink of a fall. GCC has gone beyond that brink and has now fallen. GCC is not holy, peculiar, sanctified and set apart, but rather, is a church that has now found common ground with Satanic agents pushing the one-world agenda via the church growth movement.<br /><br />Allow me, by way of introduction, to say how I became interested in the goings on at GCC. My interest in GCC began in March 2005 when a local pastor invited me to accompany him to the GCC Pastor’s Conference being held that same month. Wanting to get information about the conference, I went to the GCC website where I noticed that Dr. Albert Mohler was to be a keynote speaker. I’d never heard of Dr. Mohler. When curiosity pressed and an internet search ended, I had discovered information about Dr. Mohler that was not in accord with his Christian profession.<br /><br />I had discovered that Dr. Mohler was a Founding Fellow of the “think tank” of a UN-NGO. I had discovered that a UN-NGO is a non-governmental organization that is listed with the UN and that serves the UN and its one-world agenda. And therefore, I concluded that it must necessarily follow, that Dr. Mohler, being a Founding Fellow of this UN-NGO’s “think tank” which serves the UN and its agenda, must also serve the UN agenda. (It has since been confirmed to me by a colleague of Dr. Mohler’s that all the Fellows of the “think tank” of this UN-NGO are dedicated to the principles of the charter of the UN).<br /><br />Knowing that the UN agenda is satanic and knowing that this agenda includes the destruction of Biblical Christianity, I wondered why John Macarthur would invite a man dedicated to this agenda into his church and into his pulpit. Was John Macarthur aware of Dr. Mohler’s UN affiliation? (I have since learned that Dr. Mohler holds leadership positions in at least two organizations that serve the UN globalist agenda as NGO’s.)<br /><br />I proceeded to write a letter to each of the members of the GCC elder board. I warned them all of Dr. Mohler’s associations. I received a reply from elder, Phil Johnson, dated March 23, 2005. Regarding Dr. Mohler’s associations, Mr. Johnson wrote, “We may not agree with all his associations, but nothing in Scripture demands that we separate from a true brother in Christ just because we may disagree with him on where he draws the circle of his own fellowship.” Is this a true statement? Is there nothing in Scripture that demands separation from a professed Christian who is affiliated with satanic evil (the UN)?<br /><br />Many verses in Scripture demand that Christians separate from evil and 2 Thess. 3:14 demands separation from professed Christians who are disobedient: “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him that he may be ashamed.” Scripture does demand separation from Dr. Mohler.<br /><br />Why didn’t the GCC elders seem to be alarmed by Dr. Mohler’s affiliations? Why were they willing to ignore Biblical commands in order to continue a relationship with Dr. Mohler?<br /><br />Being dissatisfied with the reply I’d received from the GCC elder board, I then decided to make phone calls to several other GCC pastors in order to inform them of Dr. Mohler’s UN connection. Surely, they would all be concerned. I told them all that Dr. Mohler was a Fellow of a UN-NGO. What was their response? The pastors all angrily denied this easily verifiable fact.<br /><br />I then decided to write letters to about ten more GCC pastors. I expressed to them my concern that Dr. Mohler was a Fellow of a UN-NGO. I received a reply from one pastor, Rick Mclean, responding for all, who, putting himself in the position of God, told me that the information I’d given them regarding Dr. Mohler’s associations “was of no eternal consequence.” This pastor also told me to never contact them again regarding this matter.<br /><br />In November 2005, a member of GCC agreed to meet me for a discussion. His name was George. I had asked George during a phone conversation if he’d be willing to have a discussion with me concerning some things at GCC that I had found troubling. Two days after agreeing to meet with me, I received an email from George informing me that our meeting couldn’t take place. He told me that after checking with his church’s authorities, those authorities had decided not to allow our meeting to take place. George also informed me that only one man at GCC would meet with me. This was the same pastor who had already written to tell me to never contact them again. The email that George sent me was cc’d or copied to this same pastor and George informed me that any future correspondence I might have with him would also be cc’d to this pastor. The GCC authorities were exercising strict control over this situation. If Dr. Mohler’s UN affiliation was “of no eternal consequence” according to pastors at GCC, then why were they taking such extraordinary measures in order to prevent the exposure of that affiliation? Why were they willing to go to such lengths in order to keep knowledge of that affiliation hidden from their church membership?<br /><br />George was not allowed to meet me for a discussion in a local coffee shop. In not allowing one Christian to meet another, the GCC authorities had taken authority not given them in the Word of God. In not allowing one Christian to meet another, the GCC authorities were exercising a type of control that is cult-like.<br /><br />Believing the GCC authority’s behavior to be deceitful, and knowing they didn’t want Dr. Mohler’s UN affiliation exposed, I decided to do just that at their March 2006 Pastor’s Conference. With Dr. Mohler again invited to be a keynote speaker, I stood outside their church and handed out flyers to the arriving pastors.<br /><br />The flyer was titled “Al Mohler and the United Nations.” The flyer basically contained 2 facts: Al Mohler was a Founding Fellow of the Research Institute (think tank) of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and that the ERLC was a UN-NGO.<br /><br />How did the GCC officials respond to these flyers being handed out on the public sidewalk outside their church? A GCC pastor, Eric Bancroft, with the head of security in tow, approached me and angrily told me that my flyer contained “all lies”; he then warned me that if I was to set foot on GCC property, I’d be arrested. When I left GCC that evening, some GCC officials followed me and with the head of security present, they photographed my car and wrote down my license plate number.<br /><br />What began as an effort to warn the saints at GCC about Dr. Mohler’s UN affiliation didn’t end with my threatened arrest. The GCC authorities had tried to keep Dr. Mohler’s UN affiliation hidden from their membership. I couldn’t help but wonder what else they may be hiding. “Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.” So, I decided to take a closer look into their ministries.<br /><br />GCC has eight subministries listed on their website. Two of these subministries are singles ministries. In looking through these two ministry’s web pages, I began to notice the presence of certain “buzzwords” common to the Purpose Driven Church (PDC) model. I noticed that much of the language used to describe the activities of these ministries was identical to the language used in the PDC model. Being very familiar with both the “buzzwords” and structure of the PDC, I strongly suspected that these two ministries were run on that model. My suspicions were confirmed after I attended both of these ministry’s Friday night “Bible studies.” It was then that I realized that the church growth movement (CGM)/PDC model had infiltrated GCC in at least their two singles ministries.<br /><br />Knowing that the PDC movement had already spread like wildfire across America’s churches and knowing that once this movement gets a foothold in a church it will spread like cancer throughout the entire church body, I knew that it was my Christian duty to warn the saints at GCC about this real danger within.<br /><br />In the summer of 2006, I wrote a letter intended for the Christian remnant at GCC in which I warned them of this dangerous church growth infiltration. It was titled “A Wake Up Call to the Saints at Grace Community Church.” While standing on the sidewalk across the street, I handed out copies to the congregants as they left the church. I handed out this letter of warning for three consecutive Sundays.<br /><br />On the second Sunday, as I handed out the “Wake-up Call,” the police were called. A black and white unit stopped and an officer approached me and told me that they had received a call claiming that I was harassing the congregation. I was handing out my letter to Christians as they left the church. I never harassed anyone and no one had complained to me.<br /><br />Why were the police called? On that same day, in what could be construed as another act of intimidation, a GCC official approached me and told me that the GCC authorities were considering a lawsuit against me.<br /><br />Since handing out this letter of warning, I have continued to look into the activities of various ministries at GCC and I have continued to find activity indicating the presence of the church growth movement. For example, I have seen that a GCC ministry called The Master’s Academy International (TMAI), which states that its mission is to “train church leaders worldwide,” is actually a church growth organization that is now partnering with foreign governments. (A goal of the church growth movement is to merge the church into a partnership with business and government. This is called Communitarianism.) Later, I will describe both the leadership and the activities of TMAI in detail.<br /><br />Grace Community Church (GCC) [www.gracechurch.org], pastored by John Macarthur is being subverted and transformed by the church growth movement (CGM). This paper will give a description of the CGM, how it manifests itself at GCC, and how it has infiltrated GCC.<br /><a name="what"></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">What is the Church Growth Movement (CGM)?<br /></span></strong><br />Some Christians know that Satan is forming a world government (New World Order) which he plans to rule from modern Israel through the coming false Jewish Messiah (the anti-Christ). What most Christians don’t know is that the apostate Church will not only be a partner in this New World Order, but is even now working toward its creation. “Evangelical churches will be the chief instrument to bring the New World Order to birth.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#r1#r1" target="_self">1.</a><a style="mso-endnote-id: edn1" title="" href="post-create.g?blogID=3618046124060378663#_edn1" name="_ednref1"> </a><br /><br />The purpose of the church growth movement is to facilitate the transition of Christians and churches into the New World Order. The starting point for the New World Order is a political ideology known as Communitarianism.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Communitarianism, Amitai Etzioni, and the Kabbalah</strong><br /></span><br />Communitarianism is a “Third Way” compromise between Capitalism and Communism. Communitarianism is not Fascism nor is it Communism, but a synthesis of these opposing ideologies which preceded it. It draws government-business partnerships from Fascism and employs group decision-making from Communism. Communitarianism will resemble a corporate state (Fascism) in which the elite will work under capitalist rules to continue generating wealth while the working class will be controlled by Communist model laws. The Communitarian synthesis incorporates not only elements of Fascism and Communism, but also Globalism.<br /><br />The impending economic collapse of the United States along with the financial markets of the world will create the conditions necessary for a global Communitarian society. U.S. President Barack Obama is a Communitarian whose Cabinet and staff will function as a Third Way governing board. It is significant that Barack Obama’s base as a “community organizer” was Chicago’s churches: “President Obama began his career on the South Side of Chicago, working with a coalition of churches to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods. During the election, people all across the country talked about feeling a new sense of civic engagement and got involved in politics for the first time. Now, President Obama and Vice President Biden are counting on Americans from all walks of life to serve the nation and help address the problems we face—and they're committed to building the infrastructure and providing the resources that will make it possible.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#r2#r2" target="_self">2.</a><br /><br />Shortly after he took office, President Obama signed an Executive Order establishing the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/ObamaAnnouncesWhiteHouseOfficeofFaith-basedandNeighborhoodPartnerships" target="_blank">White House Office for Faith-Based and Community Partnerships</a>. Churches who sign on with this faith-based initiative will be required to compromise in many ways, such as refraining from sharing the Gospel and employing non-believers in their programs. It appears there will be serious legal consequences for refusal to employ whomever may apply, even Muslims, Satanists, homosexuals and pedophiles:<br /><br />“On February 5, 2009, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the new White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (‘Faith-Based office’) which is intended to ‘work on behalf of Americans committed to improving their communities, no matter their religious or political beliefs.’ Per President Obama, ‘the White House Office for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will be a resource for nonprofits and community organizations, both secular and faith based: looking for ways to make a bigger impact in their communities, learn their obligations under the law, cut through red tape, and make the most of what the federal government has to offer.’<br />“Obama’s overriding reason for establishing this office is because he believes that ‘our problems require an ‘all hands on deck’ approach, and that the federal government should enlist effective faith-based and community groups to help solve them.’ Of course, Obama’s strong support of faith-based and community partnership initiatives stems from his early years as a hands-on community organizer on Chicago’s South Side...<br /><br />“The President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships...will be overseen by a 25-member advisory board of ‘religious and secular leaders and scholars from different backgrounds’ appointed to one-year terms. The Faith-Based Advisory Council will be headed by Rev. Joshua DuBois, the 26-year-old Pentecostal pastor who served as director of religious affairs for Obama’s Presidential campaign. Included on the influential Council are [Evangelical and Baptist ministers including]... Rev. Jim Wallis, President & Executive Director, Sojourners..., Dr. Frank S. Page, President emeritus, Southern Baptist Convention...” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#r3#r3" target="_self">3.</a><br /><br />The following description of Communitarianism from the Rockefeller expose, Thy Will Be Done; The Conquest of the Amazon, shows how central the apostate church will be in the coming Communitarian global government: “…communitarianism, a system of church-centered community ownership of property that vaguely would include private ownership of homes and land.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#r4#r4" target="_self">4.</a> Authors Gerard Colby and Charlotte Dennett documented the tragic outcome of communitarianism in Latin America — a genocidal campaign conducted by death squads that were funded by Evangelical churches in the United States. (“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/antipas.html#rios-montt" target="_blank">Antipas: CIA Connections</a>”)<br /><br />According to Niki Raapana, co-founder of the Anti-Communitarian League, “The leader of the unheralded transition to a communitarian system in the U.S. is the Israeli Zionist founder of the Communitarian Network, Dr. Amitai Etzioni.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#r5#r5" target="_self">5.</a> Amitai Etzioni, born a German Jew named Werner Falk, is a former member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the founder of American Communitarianism, the founder and director of the Communitarian Network, and possibly the most influential man in American politics today.<br /><br />According to Amitai Etzioni, “Nationalism must be ended. It is a creed that has come to burden the expansion of globalism.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#r6#r6">6.</a> “The communitarian agenda is to eliminate all nations and establish an all-powerful, central global government.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#r7#r7">7.</a><br /><br />Amitai Etzioni was a student of Martin Buber at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#r8#r8" target="_self">8.</a> Martin Buber was a German Zionist Jew and a Kabbalist who embraced the teachings of Hasidism. “In addition to studying Kabbalah with Gershom Scholem, Etzioni worked with Buber himself…” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#9#9" target="_self">9.</a> “…he [Amitai Etzioni] studied the Kabbalah and the Hegelian dialectic.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#10#10" target="_self">10.</a><br /><br />Why did Werner Falk change his name to Amitai Etzioni? Niki Raapana explains: “The Kabbalah is often described as The Truth Tree or The Tree of Knowledge (Amitai Etzioni means Tree of Knowledge from Zion).” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#11#11" target="_self">11.</a> “Communitarian legal theory is based in part in the Kabbalah.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#12#12" target="_self">12.</a><br /><br />“Etzioni's new communitarian idea of ‘community spirit’ is based in the Talmud, Hegel, and the theosophical ideas expressed by Madame Blavatsky and Aleister Crowley. They, along with many other gurus, introduced Americans to the worship of Lucifer as the ultimate ‘light being.’ One Thousand Points of Light is a whole program based on Satanic ‘community oriented’ principles.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#13#13" target="_self">13.</a> The Talmud is the textbook of Jewish Rabbis and the basis of Judaism. The Kabbalah is the “blood and bone” of the Talmud.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">The Talmud and the Noahide Laws<br /></span></strong><br />Niki Raapana wrote in “The Role of Religion in the Communitarian Synthesis”: “The theory of Communitarianism has its own Law, its own guru, its own theoretical basis, and another set of laws based in the Talmud, which is being taught to American lawyers and judges at the Judaic Law Institute in Washington D.C. Communitarian and Talmudic Law supersedes all other national and religious laws.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#14#14" target="_self">14.</a><br /><br />“…in a communitarianized Amerika, we'll all be required to bow before a court enforcing Talmudic, communitarian laws.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#15#15" target="_self">15.</a> “U.S. lawyers and judges are being retrained to base decisions on Talmudic Law.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#16#16" target="_self">16.</a><br /><br />“Israeli Jews claim to have developed ‘a system of courts for non-Jews adhering to the Seven Laws of Noah…’” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#17#17" target="_self">17.</a> The Noahide Laws correspond with the Sephirot or path of initiation taught in the Kabbalah. “…the seven Noahide commandments …are arranged in the sefirotic structure familiar to students of Kabbalah. . ." <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#18#18" target="_self">18.</a> The sefirotic structure is called the Kabbalist “Tree of Life,” which is the meaning of Amitai Etzioni’s first name.<br /><br />The Noahide Laws will be administered by a restored Sanhedrin. “[Archaeologist Dr. Vendyl Jones] is working with the Sanhedrin to establish a system of courts for non-Jews adhering to the Seven Laws of Noah, which the Torah obligates all of humanity to follow.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#19#19" target="_self">19.</a> “One of those laws is to establish courts of justice. A high court has been established by the Sanhedrin for such purposes, and a subsidiary of that court will soon be established in the United States as well.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#20#20" target="_self">20.</a> In 1991, Chabad-Lubavitch in cooperation with President Bush established the observance of Education Day, USA [Public Law 102—14 (H..J. Res. 104]: March 20, 1991), “to return the world to the moral and ethical values contained in the Seven Noahide Laws.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#21#21">21.</a><br /><br />According to the Talmud, “One additional element of greater severity is that violation of any one of the seven laws subjects the Noahide to capital punishment by decapitation. (Sanh. 57A)” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#22#22" target="_self">22.</a> One of the 7 Noahide Laws prohibits idolatry. True Christians, under these Noahide Laws, will be considered idolaters for their faith in Jesus Christ and will be beheaded.<br />In the model communitarian villages of Guatemala established and supported by American Evangelicals in the 1980s, the World Zionist Organization conducted espionage, interrogation by torture and genocide which involved beheadings. (“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/antipas.html#rios-montt" target="_blank">Antipas: CIA Connections</a>”)<br /><br />“But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before the rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.” Mark 13: 9<br /><br />“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Rev. 20:4<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Judeo-Freemasonry & The Kabbalah</span><br /></strong><br />The Kabbalah is the “blood and bone” of Talmudic Judaism, which is Babylonian Pharisaism, and its Gentile front, Freemasonry.<br /><br />The chief Rabbi of Great Britain, J. H. Hertz, wrote in the Forward to the first English translation of the Babylonian Talmud: “The beginnings of Talmudic literature date back to the time of the Babylonian exile in the Sixth pre-Christian Century.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#23#23" target="_self">23.</a> Rabbi Louis Finklestein, former head of Jewish Theological Seminary of America, wrote of the “The Pharisees”: “Pharasaism became Talmudism…But the spirit of the ancient Pharisee survives unaltered.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#24#24">24.</a><br /><br />The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia of 1943 states: “The Jewish religion as it is today traces its decent, without a break, through all the centuries, from the Pharisees...The Talmud…is essential for any real understanding of Pharisaism.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#25#25">25.</a> The Lord Jesus Christ called Pharisaism the “Synagogue of Satan” (Rev 2:9, 3:9). (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/mystery-babylon.html" target="_blank">Mystery Babylon: Catholic or Jewish?</a>)<br /><br />Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, a major figure and pioneer of Reform Judaism in America, stated in 1855: “Freemasonry is a Jewish establishment, whose history, grades, official appointments, passwords, and explanations are Jewish from beginning to end.” (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/new-israel.html" target="_blank">Heeding Bible Prophecy: New Israel</a>) The Jewish Tribune stated in 1927, “Freemasonry is based on Judaism. Eliminate the teachings of Judaism from the Masonic ritual and what is left?”<br /><br />Albert Pike stated in Morals and Dogma, “The Kabalah is the key of all Masonry and the occult sciences…” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#26#26">26.</a> “It is, in fact, the Cabalistic elements in Freemasonry that act as the main driving force in the envenomed and aggressive opposition of the later to Christianity, and its never-flagging efforts for the undermining and destruction of the Christian organization of society.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#27#27" target="_self">27.</a><br /><br />Edith Starr Miller wrote in Occult Theocrasy, “The Kabbalah teaches magic or the art of intercourse with spirits and supernatural beings” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#28#28" target="_self">28.</a> Elizabeth Dilling wrote in The Jewish Religion: Its Influence Today, “Kabbalah, means ‘tradition,’ and it is the tradition of the paganisms of Babylon, Egypt, and the pagan philosophers, enshrined in the Jewish religion.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#29#29" target="_self">29.</a> “The Jewish Cabala is a library of literature, all on magic and spiritism, and based on sheer pantheism.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#30#30" target="_self">30.</a> “The Hasidist branch of Judaism specializes in the Cabala.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#31#31" target="_self">31.</a> Recall that Martin Buber, who taught Amitai Etzioni, embraced Hasidic Judaism and became a practitioner of Kabbalah.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Peter Drucker, the Kabbalah, and Total Quality Management (TQM)</strong><br /></span><br /></span>Communitarians refer to the creation of a world government as the effort to create a “healthy society.” The goal of the church growth movement (CGM) is to manipulate Christians and churches into this healthy society. “Health-based” language is sometimes used in the CGM. Some church growth leaders desire “healthy churches” and “healthy congregations” made up of “healthy Christians.” A healthy church would be one in which all members are willing to compromise the Word of God for the common good.<br /><br />Communitarians believe that attaining a healthy society involves the successful merger of the 3 sectors of society. It requires a merger of the government sector, the private sector (business) and the social sector (which includes the churches). This merger is also known as “Drucker’s 3-legged stool,” named after its main proponent, Peter Drucker, who is considered to be the “father of modern management.” Peter Drucker, like Amitai Etzioni, was a Communitarian and was also a student of the Kabbalah.<br /><br />According to Roger Oakland’s “Bob Buford, Peter Drucker, and the Emerging Church,” Peter Drucker, like Amitai Etzioni, shared a bond with the Kabbalist, Martin Buber. Roger Oakland stated, “Drucker felt a strong bond…with a panentheist/ mystic named Martin Buber (1878-1965), who embraced the teachings of Hasidism (Jewish mysticism).” In his book, “Between Man and Man” (New York, NY: Routledge Classics, 2002, first published in 1947), p. 219, Buber states, ‘Since 1900 I had first been under the influence of German mysticism from Meister Eckhart [a mystic] ... then I had been under the influence of the later Kabalah [Jewish mysticism] and of Hasidism.’” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#32#32" target="_self">32.</a><br /><br />Drucker, who developed the community-based global management system, was under the influence of the Kabbalist Martin Buber, who also taught Amitai Etzioni, the Israeli Zionist Communitarian leader in the U.S. and founder of the Communitarian Network. Roger Oakland, quoting Michael Schwarz’s “Early Influences upon Peter Drucker’s Perception of ‘the Public Interest,’ stated, “Drucker was a student of Buber’s at the University of Frankfurt.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#33#33" target="_self">33.</a> John E. Flaherty, author of Peter Drucker: Shaping the Managerial Mind, wrote that Drucker “[drew] upon the wisdom of the philosopher Martin Buber.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#34#34" target="_self">34.</a><br /><br />Peter Drucker was very interested in getting churches involved in the implementation of the world government. Drucker, who once lamented that there were “still many unhealthy churches,” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#35#35" target="_self">35.</a> was not only an occultist, but an organizational guru. It was his involvement in the Jewish Kabbalah that inspired him to create an organizational model that would transform churches into agents of Satan. This organizational model today is called Total Quality Management (TQM). “Total” stands for “totalitarian.” It was Drucker’s vision that all organizations, including church organizations, within the 3-legged stool (Communitarian system) be run on TQM. He considered churches not conformed to this TQM model to be “still unhealthy.”<br /><br />Today, Drucker’s vision has become reality as organizations across all 3 sectors of society have been conformed to a TQM-style organizational model. This organizational model is called Total Quality Leadership in the military, Community Oriented Policing (COPS) or DARE in civilian law enforcement, Outcome-Based Education (OBE), and School to Work (STW) in politics.<br /><br />Perhaps the main organization manipulating the churches into this Communitarian partnership (New World Order) is the Leadership Network (www.leadnet.org). The Leadership Network was founded by an entrepreneur named Bob Buford. Buford also founded the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management (now called The Leader to Leader Institute). In the dedication to his book, “Halftime”, Buford referred to Drucker as “the man who formed my mind.” 36. The Leadership Network is in the business of marketing and promoting church growth. The Leadership Network trains church leaders how to implement congregational transformation. “The Mission of the Leadership Network is to ‘Accelerate the emergence of the 21st-century church,’ and that the (emerging) ‘paradigm (of the 21st century church) is not centered in theology, but rather it is focused on structure, organization, and the transition from an institutionally based church to a mission-driven church.’” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#37#37" target="_self">37.</a> Listed among the recent contributors to The Leadership Network is the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#38#38" target="_self">38.</a><br /><br />The TQM-style model has been adopted in varying degrees by all churches that have been infiltrated by the church growth movement. This is a major step toward conforming the churches to the standards required by the “Healthy Society.” For example, the First Korean United Methodist Church of Kentucky’s (FKUMC) website states, “FKUMC is dedicated to maximizing the growth of its members through productivity, training, teamwork and total quality management.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#39#39" target="_self">39.</a><br /><br />The TQM organizational model in the churches is a transformational process or change process which utilizes group peer pressure to conform the church members to the goals (purpose, mission, vision) of the church leadership.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Church Transformation and the Dialectic Process</span><br /><br /></strong>Churches on board with the church growth movement are known by different names. Some are called the purpose or mission driven church. They are also called the church of the 21st century, the disciple-making church, the meta-church, and the cell church. Churches that have been subverted by stealth may not be called by any of these names. They may simply be called “community” churches.<br /><br />Those who are calling for church “transformation” use a variety of terms to make their case. Some claim there is a “need for a second reformation.” Others say that the church “needs to return to the first century church model.” Still others may refer to this church transformation as a needed “paradigm shift” for the church.<br /><br />In order for the church to merge into Satan’s new world order, agents of transformation must “facilitate” a total transformation of the church. This total church transformation incorporates three general levels of transformation. Change agents working within the churches desire to facilitate a personal transformation of individual church members. They desire a transformation of the church structure away from its traditional biblical model toward a cell or small group church model. And they desire to transform the church’s function so that it will be suited for service within the 3-legged stool (getting the churches to “partner” with the government and business sectors).<br /><br />How will the transformation of individual church members be accomplished? Change agents within the church have laid a transformational trap for the membership. The plan calls for Christians, as well as community members (diversity), to be seduced into this trap by appealing to their “felt” needs (their “social needs” and not their “spiritual needs”). The plan also calls for creating an “environment” that will enable or “facilitate” the satisfaction of those needs.<br /><br />The transformational trap laid by change agents is called the dialectic process. The environment created to facilitate the satisfaction of those “felt” needs centers on the dynamic of the small group or team, each lead by a leader/change agent. This change agent-led small group or team functions within an environment of “team-building” and TQM. The dialectic process is the basis of TQM.<br /><br />The purpose of the group dialectic process is to change the minds and behavior of the participating group members to an outcome pre-determined by the group leader/facilitator. Group members will arrive at this pre-determined outcome (group consensus) through dialogue and by peer pressure facilitated by the group leader. Fearing alienation from the group will cause group members to compromise their position (standards, beliefs) for social harmony. A seeker friendly “ministry” insures that these groups will be diverse (having a mixture of believer and unbeliever). As believers are pressured to reach consensus with unbelievers for relationship building, then God’s Word will be increasingly compromised as the group process repeats itself. When the believer (thesis) reaches consensus with the unbeliever (anti-thesis), then the resulting compromise (synthesis) will be the new thesis for the next group meeting. The end result of this facilitator-led group consensus process will be group member behavioral change and transformation. As group members are transformed and become change agents, they will repeat the process by forming and leading their own groups to compromise and consensus. In this manner, the group members will have “reproduced” themselves.<br /><br />In church growth infiltrated churches, the leaders/change agents often require, by covenant (forbidden by God), that all members participate in the dialectic process as manifested in small groups. (It should be noted that many “Christians” who are church members have already been through this transformation process by their exposure to change agents, small groups, and the dialectic process at their work [TQM] or at school [OBE] or somewhere else.)<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Facilitators, Small Groups, and Brainwashing</span><br /><br /></strong>If the Christian is to be transformed, then he must participate in the dialectic process or a change agent-led small group. This personal transformation process is continuous (continuous change) and without end. The global planners call the personal transformation process “life-long learning” (cradle to grave transformation and control).<br /><br />What does God have to say about change agents and a process of continuous change in His Church? “For I am the Lord, I change not…” Mal. 3:6. “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change. For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?” Prov. 24:21-2<br /><br />In churches infiltrated by the church growth movement, each small group leader/change agent (also called a facilitator) is Satan’s agent in the group. And the small group he is leading or facilitating is actually functioning as a dialectic brainwashing session. The reason for the term “brainwashing” is because it is the goal of the facilitator to remove from the minds of all the individuals in the group those things that are hindering the individual’s ability to reach group consensus, group harmony, and a collective group mind. It is the job of the facilitator to remove an individual’s standards and beliefs and morals and anything else that he or she may be holding on to (like God’s Word) that prevents that person from agreeing with the feelings of others in the group. This is called “reaching consensus.” The facilitator wants everyone to be unified with one mind.<br /><br />The small church group leader/facilitator is a highly skilled seducer and manipulator who manipulates the group members by employing the weapon of fear. (All Christians know that God doesn’t give the spirit of fear). To manipulate the group members, the facilitator utilizes the fear of social rejection. This fear or trauma makes the group member feel uncomfortable because he or she experiences the fear of social rejection and alienation that comes from holding to his position against the majority of the group. Social rejection is a trauma that often creates a desire for performance, and this desire is a trap that holds people in bondage. It is during this time of trauma that the change agent will seduce and manipulate with the lie that the truth is to be found in the group consensus. The weak Christian, fearing man more than God, will then compromise the Truth for the group consensus. His trauma will be gone, albeit temporarily; he will be accepted again by the group, but his conscience will be seared. The fear of social rejection and alienation is the fear that the change agent uses to manipulate Christians into ultimately losing their faith. The change agent wants the fear of man to override the fear of God. For many, holding to God’s Word isn’t worth the pain of social rejection and so they compromise. Fear of social rejection keeps them loyal to the group, but what the Christian doesn’t know is that this loyalty to the group and its change agent will one day be transferred to the anti-Christ.<br /><br />Because group members have willingly sacrificed the truth for the lie in their need for relief from trauma, they have chosen to be deceived. They are no longer lovers of truth. They have been transformed.<br /><br />Church change agents may admit the purpose of their small group meeting is “for relationship building and bonding.” Does Jesus Christ want His bride seduced into a facilitated bondage through the utilization of fear tactics? “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption…” Rom: 8:15. The change agent and his group members have received the “spirit of bondage.” (I will explain later how this spirit is invoked.)<br /><br />In the article, “What Exactly is a Cell Church?” written on a Catholic website, the American psychologist, Carl Rogers is quoted regarding small groups: “The power of the ‘small group’ was addressed by a comrade of Maslow, Dr. Carl Rogers, as he saw that moving from traditional religion to the small fellowshipping groups would culminate in ‘God will be dead and buried.’” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#40#40" target="_self">40.</a> If the Word of God is compromised by group members through peer pressure tactics (fear of man), then God’s influence over the group members will have been negated.<br /><br />Change agents in the church intend for everyone, in all situations, to be willing to compromise the Word of God. The transformed Christian has learned that compromise is the way to social harmony. The transformed Christian will turn others on to compromised thinking. This is what the church growth change agents refer to when they say, “we want to train leaders who will reproduce themselves.” They mean “we want to train change agents who will transform others into change agents, repeating the process.”<br /><br />The true Christian will align himself to facts, truth and God’s Word. The transformed Christian will align himself to his group’s consensus (what they can all agree upon and feel good about). The obedient Christian will be accountable to God and His Word. The transformed Christian will have had his accountability shifted to man (his group members, his group leader and the church leaders).<br /><br />Pastors and group leaders in church growth churches also act as agents of transformation by the way they have been trained to pick and choose from Scripture. The pastor or group leader, acting as change agent, will emphasize Scripture that promotes human relationship building, and he will deemphasize or omit Scripture that obstructs human relationship building. It’s all about promoting human relations, unity, and a collective group mind. The agenda of “not forsaking the assembling of yourselves” must be emphasized, while the true agenda that Christianity means standing alone for Christ must be deemphasized.<br /><br />The group leader/facilitator, disguised as a Bible teacher, won’t teach the Bible in a traditional fashion. He won’t preach God’s Word. He won’t use language like “it is written.” The facilitator has no interest in meeting the spiritual needs of the group members. Instead, the change agent will employ language which questions God and his Word. He will create a permissive atmosphere with no boundaries—an atmosphere in which God’s Word can be questioned. This is called critical thinking. This is how the serpent deceived Eve: “Hath God said…?”<br /><br />Small group change agents will ask the group participants questions like “What do you want?” or “How do you feel?” or “What do you think?” These kinds of questions, which have no place in a didactic Bible study, serve the purpose of identifying the “felt” needs of the group members so that they can be manipulated. Change agents don’t want group members going outside their group for the fulfillment of their social needs. This would place individual needs in competition with the group goals. Ultimately, the change agent has no interest in meeting individual needs; he wants to set aside individual needs for group goals, which are Satan’s goals.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Rick Warren and the CFR<br /></span></strong><br />Rick Warren, a prominent church growth leader, stated on pp. 69, 70 of The Purpose Driven Church that “Healthy churches are built on a process, not on personalities.” Rick Warren was referring to the Hegelian dialectical process.<br /><br />A Fortune Magazine article written on Oct. 31, 2005, “Will Success Spoil Rick Warren?”, stated that Warren is “a protégé of management thinker Peter Drucker.” Warren, who is now working to draw churches into their proper place within Drucker’s Communitarian system, is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).<br /><br />“In fact, as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations… I might know as much about the Middle East as you.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#41#41" target="_self">41.</a> (Rick Warren to WorldNetDaily columnist, Joseph Farah, after Warren’s trip to Syria in 2006)<br /><br />“Every man in the Council on Foreign Relations believes that Lucifer is God supreme, has declared it, has taken a vow of secrecy and has dedicated his life to seeing that Adam [anti-Christ] gains the world.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#42#42" target="_self">42.</a> (John Todd, Christian and ex member of the Grand Druid Council of 13 of the Illuminati.)<br /><br />Is Rick Warren also Jewish? He opened the Inaugural prayer with the Shema: “Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is one...” Warren also invites <a href="http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/03/20/synagogue-3000-the-future-of-judaism-to-be-found-in-churches" target="_blank">Jewish musicians</a> to lead the worship at Saddleback Church and shares with leaders of Reform Judaism, not the Gospel, but ways to increase the membership of their synagogues.<br /><br />“The ‘Purpose-Driven’ pastor spoke to thousands of Jewish leaders Thursday night at the Union for Reform Judaism’s biennial convention in San Diego. With the holiday season in mind, Warren urged clergy to take advantage of crowded events to publicize other programs so people can get involved in the community through smaller groups. ‘There are some principles that apply regardless of our faith, if it’s Jewish or Christian,’ he said at the convention. One of his principles: ‘Just be nice to people. Smile.’ After Warren spoke a few minutes at the podium, he sat alongside two popular Southern California rabbis for a casual talk about strengthening congregational life.” (“<a href="http://www.christianpost.com/Ministries/Figures/2007/12/rick-warren-counsels-jews-on-recruiting-congregants-17/index.html" target="_blank">Rick Warren Counsels Jews on Recruiting Congregants</a>”)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Hegel, Alchemy, and the Kabbalist “Tree of Life”<br /></strong><br /></span>In the essay “On Hegel: A Study in Sorcery,” by Eric Voegelin, Hegel’s best-known work, “The Phenomenology of Spirit,” is referred to “as a ‘grimoire’ which ‘must be recognized as a work of magic—indeed, it is one of the great magic performances.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#43#43" target="_self">43.</a><br /><br />Glenn Alexander Magee wrote in Hegel and the Hermetic Tradition, “If Eric Voegelin could describe ‘The Phenomenology of Spirit’ as a Grimoire, one could equally well describe the ‘scientific’ portions of the Encyclopedia [by Hegel]—the ‘Philosophy of Nature’ and ‘Philosophy of Subjective Spirit’—as an alchemical manual, an Emerald Tablet for the modern age.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#44#44" target="_self">44.</a><br /><br />The structure of the dialectic process, as we know it today, was developed by Hegel. Hegel was an occultist who studied alchemy and the Kabbalah. The Jewish Encyclopedia states, “The real and ideal is taught in the same way in the Cabala as in Hegel." <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#45#45" target="_self">45.</a><br /><br />According to the Lurianic Kabbalah—Hegel: “Luria’s dynamic of Sefirot (original idea), Shevirah (shattering of that idea) and Tikkun (restoration of the original idea on a higher level) can be readily understood as a symbolic representation of the very dialectical reasoning which is later given conceptual form in Hegel.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#46#46" target="_self">46.</a><br /><br />Albert Mackey wrote in his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, “This division of the ten Sephiroth into three triads was arranged into a form called by the Cabalists the Cabalistic Tree, or the ‘Tree of Life.’” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#47#47" target="_self">47.</a><br /><br />Is the Kabbalist “Tree of Life” the basis for the group dialectic process now employed by church growth leaders? An Introduction to Kabbalah states: “For the Kabbalistic Tree of Life should play a vital role in the training and initiation of any Magician…By this means the practicing Magician will organize his mind and strengthen his magical knowledge, and he will inevitably be able to unify that knowledge and transmute the Many into the One.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#48#48" target="_self">48.</a> The group dialectic process also purposes to “transmute the many into the one.” Change agents call this “unity in diversity.”<br /><br />Transmutation is the goal of alchemy and it’s an alchemical process that church leader/change agents are performing in the small groups. Alchemy involves a “death” of the base metal in order for it to be transmuted into gold (divinity, perfection). Transformation of the church and its membership requires a death of the old ways of thinking (doctrinally) and acceptance of the new paradigm. In church growth terminology, “transformation” may be a Biblical substitute for alchemical “transmutation.”<br /><br />According to Manley P. Hall’s volume, The Secret Teaching of the Ages, “Alchemy is a threefold art, its mystery well symbolized by a triangle. Its symbol is 3 times 3—three elements or processes in three worlds or spheres [3 triads]. The 3 times 3 is part of the mystery of the 33rd degree of Freemasonry, for 33 is 3 times 3, which is 9, the number of esoteric man and the number of emanations from the root of the Divine Tree [Kabbalist Tree of Life].” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#49#49" target="_self">49.</a><br /><br />The Sephirot (intelligences or emanations) in the Kabbalist “Tree of Life” also form three triads. Each triad “consisting of two opposites (flowing or emanating from a superior triad until the divine unity is reached), and being reconciled in a middle point of connection.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#50#50">50.</a> “Thus each triad is compounded of force, counter-force, and their connecting link: namely active and passive agents and combination.” (Jewish Encyclopedia, “Sefirot, Ten”) <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#51#51" target="_self">51.</a><br /><br />Just as alchemy and the Sephirot of the Kabbalist “Tree of Life” function within three triads (nine total), in which “opposites are reconciled until divine unity is reached,” the dialectic process also purposes to reconcile opposites to unity and it also functions within three triads in which opposites emanate from a superior triad. In the group dialectic process there are the thesis, antithesis and synthesis phases with each phase having three sub-phases of thesis, antithesis and synthesis for a total of nine phases in all.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Leadership Training</span><br /></strong><br />How did TQM and the group dialectic process get into the churches? It entered from “leaders” who had already been transformed and trained as change agents during “leadership training” and “leadership development” as taught by universities, seminaries and organizations like the Peter Drucker inspired Leadership Network.<br /><br />In church growth organizations, the terms “leader,” “leadership,” “leadership training” and “leadership development” are often used. The Leadership Network trains leaders to transform churches. The Peter F. Drucker Foundation is now called the Leader to Leader Institute. Peter Drucker envisioned the church as the main provider of “Leadership Training” (which is change agent training) for the social sector of his 3-legged stool.<br /><br />Sometimes a leader/change agent in church growth organizations will be referred to as a “servant leader.” A “servant leader” isn’t called this name because he serves Christ. The term “servant leader” is a business organizational term. On one website, it states, “One of our reasons for being at facilitatoru.com is to assist the transition in Leadership from Command and Control to Servant Leadership.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#52#52" target="_self">52.</a> To “equip” a “servant leader” is to train him in “leadership training.”<br /><br />The following examples show that leadership training can be change agent/facilitator training. A church website states, “…we the leadership team would be the first Learning Community facilitators.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#53#53" target="_self">53.</a> Another website says that their “Personal Transformation Leadership Training” leads you to become a “Personal Transformation Intensive Facilitator.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#54#54" target="_self">54.</a> An education website describes “The ‘Leadership training’ weekend, in which educators are certified as volunteer facilitators…” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#55#55" target="_self">55.</a> The same website states, “Facilitator training is also known as leadership training…Leadership training is a weekend training program that certifies participants to become Project WILD facilitators.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#56#56" target="_self">56.</a> Another webpage states, “Leadership training consists of learning from the best-experienced, seasoned facilitators.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#57#57" target="_self">57.</a> A future change agent may want to enroll in “101 Leadership Training for Facilitators at Yale.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#58#58" target="_self">58.</a><br /><br />In church growth organizations, leadership training means change agent training. Men are “transformed” into change agents through the process called “leadership training.” “Leadership development” refers to the process of learning the skills of a group change agent. Leadership development is change agent training which takes place in small groups.<br /><br />The following example from an internet site illustrates the deceptive nature and purpose of leadership development. The following quote is from a report titled, Leadership Development Program Serves As a Change Agent in Community Development: “Although community residents MAY NOT REALIZE IT [emphasis added], individuals participating in the BOLD Leadership Development Program became change agents and they are on a journey that many others have traveled to improve their community.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#59#59" target="_self">59.</a> Just as these community residents may not have realized that this leadership development program was change agent training (brainwashing), Christians participating in leadership development and leadership training also may not be aware that they are being brainwashed and transformed for “community service” (to affect social change in the community).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Vision Casting</span></strong><br /></span><br />Church change agents work to create dissatisfaction with the old traditional ways. When people become dissatisfied with the present situation, will they be open to change.<br /><br />One method used by church change agents to sow seeds of dissatisfaction is to “cast a vision” for the membership of a better future. By casting their visions of “what can be” (which is a fantasy or an illusion), the change agent is able to “unfreeze” the group from the old way and move them toward a new way as they all now focus on this new vision. Vision statements are an important part of the church transformation process. As the congregation focuses on a man-made vision or purpose, an organizational collective “group mind” is created.<br /><br />To “catch the vision” or “vision casting” are New Age terms. According to the TQM model, successful leadership begins with a vision which reflects the shared purpose. This is also called a transformational vision. “Vision” or “what can be” results from a dissatisfaction with God and His Word, and is antithetical to biblical Christianity. “What can be’ or ‘vision’ is the end result of the Hegelian dialectic process or transformational thinking. It is the direct opposite of moral absolutism-‘what is’ [God’s Word]. In order to move a person into this transformational mode of thinking, ‘what is’ must be questioned and challenged. The dialectic process-‘constant change’- requires one to let go of ‘what is’, in order to strive toward potential-‘what can be’ [vision]. You have to leave your moral absolutes behind [God’s Word], or else you will remain resistant to change…” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#60#60" target="_self">60.</a><br /><br />In the Church Growth Movement, many pastors “cast a vision.” Church growth leader, Rick Warren, sees himself as a “vision casting leader.” On an internet website Rick Warren is quoted: “I know my leadership style. I am a big-picture, vision casting leader… there is nothing inherently right or wrong about being a vision casting leader. It is simply the way God wired me.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#61#61" target="_self">61.</a> Another church growth leader, Bill Hybels, advertises a CD of a summit meeting at his church. It is titled “Vision Casting: The Road of Leadership, the Summit at Willow Creek (Audio CD).” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#62#62" target="_self">62.</a> According to Warren Smith, Robert Schuller’s leadership methods also involve vision casting as he encouraged the use of guided visualization (vision casting) so that people could gain whatever they want.<br /><br />Those in the CGM who advocate casting and catching visions are tapping into the occult world. One website defines sorcery as the “Manipulation of energy or forces to bring about a desired end through visualization; invocation or summoning of powers/spirits…” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#63#63" target="_self">63.</a> This tells us that sorcery can involve visualization. An occult website defines guided visualization as “Ancient shamanism; induced trance like states, or altered states of consciousness, where one is led to visualize the desired goal; making contact with ‘spirit guide’ or ‘demonic being’...” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#64#64" target="_self">64.</a> This definition says that guided visualization can involve contact with demonic beings. Another website states that “creative visualization can easily introduce the practitioner to spirit guides.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#65#65" target="_self">65.</a> An article about basic shamanism states, “The journey into non-ordinary reality is most frequently accomplished by what many would term visualization.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#66#66" target="_self">66.</a><br /><br />Does God want Christians taking a journey into non-ordinary reality? An article titled “How to Start a Coven” refers to guided visualization as a “magickal skill.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#67#67" target="_self">67.</a> “Through the act of visualization you will get the cooperation of the higher powers of the universe who will work to bring this vision into manifestation.” What kind of “higher powers” cooperate with church growth vision casters?<br /><br />What does the Word of God say about contact with “higher powers?” “There shall not be found among you…a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD...” Deut. 18:10-12<br /><br />The Word of God calls vision-casting “divination” and “false visions”: “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” Jer. 14:14<br /><br />Jeremiah 23:28 states, “The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? Saith the Lord.” When a Christian has God’s Word which is truth, why would he want to catch a deceitful man-made vision?<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">How the Church Growth Movement Invokes Demons<br /></span></strong><br />The church growth movement is mind control and magic cloaked as Christianity. Its purpose is to transform Christians and churches from serving God to serving Satan. The purpose of the church growth movement is to bring the entire church community under demonic control.<br /><br />The church growth movement transforms the churches from within. Its agents (leaders, change agents and facilitators), who are Satan’s agents, have already transformed themselves “into the apostles of Christ” and “ministers of righteousness” (2Cor 11:13-15).<br /><br />Once within church walls, these change agents will establish an environment and conditions favorable to demons and, as a result, demonic influence over the membership will be maximized. Demonic influence over the church membership will be maximized when change agents have succeeded in manipulating the membership into a collective group mind.<br /><br />A collective group mind is created when the members of the group set aside their differences and agree to and focus on a common man-made purpose, mission or vision. Church change agents often exhort their membership to unify and to catch their vision.<br /><br />In order to maximize demonic influence over the church membership, change agents divide the membership into small groups and teams. Each team and small group is led and controlled by a change agent who keeps the group and team members, through manipulative dialogue, unified in purpose. Thus, each group and team will have formed their own collective group mind.<br /><br />Many Christians recognize these change agent or facilitator-led small groups to be dialectic sessions. Most, however, don’t recognize that the true purpose of the group dialectic process is to invoke demons and to strengthen, sustain and align demonic influence over the participating group members. Change agents desiring to create and sustain a collective group mind, won’t say, and in most cases, don’t know, that a collective group mind summons a demon which will control the minds of those participating in the small group.<br /><br />The dialectic process in the church, directed or “facilitated” by Satan’s agents (change agents), is a manipulative process whereby Christians will be transformed from obeying God to obeying Satan through the wiles of his covert agents: the group facilitator and the group demon.<br /><br />Change agents want to remove from the environment or “synthesize” all “divisive” elements that hinder the creation of a collective group mind. True Christians unwilling to compromise Christ for group consensus must be removed from this environment because the presence of the Holy Spirit hinders both the formation of a group mind and the resulting demonic influence over the group.<br /><br />When two or more people come together for a man-made purpose that contradicts God’s Word, a demon is invoked. When change agents get church members unified in agreement with a common purpose opposed to the Word of God, a demon is invoked. (All groups in a Christian church filled with true Christians are controlled by the Holy Spirit.)<br /><br />The small group change agent is an alchemist and a magician. The small group is an alchemical laboratory and a magic circle. The magician, by his manipulative facilitation skills, creates the conditions whereby the members of his magic circle will come under the influence of the invoked demon.<br /><br />In change agent-led small groups, a demon is invoked, strengthened and sustained by the group/team member’s interaction; it is able to further influence and direct the minds and behavior of the group members. The group demon is able to align the group members’ thinking and behavior in accord with the original group/team purpose and vision as cast by the change agent.<br /><br />Group member interaction (also known as group dynamics) in churches infiltrated by the church growth movement is often referred to by church growth change agents as “synergy” or “synergy of energy.” The meaning or definition of group synergy is that the “group mind,” taken as an entity, is something different and greater than the sum of the minds of the individual group members. Its formation is often depicted by the equation, 2+2=5. What church growth change agents don’t explain is where the extra “one” in this equation comes from. It comes from the influence of the group demon which has been invoked. This group/team demon is called an “egregore.”<br /><br />The term “egregore” derives from the Greek word “egeiro” which means “to be awake, to watch” and the Hebrew word “ (Hebrew letters, ‘ayin’, ‘yod’, ‘reish’)…pronounced IR or ER…n. m. waking, or wakeful one, i.e. angel.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#68#68" target="_self">68.</a><br /><br />Egregores have a purpose. Egregores can be invoked either intentionally or unintentionally. All group structures have their own egregores and the egregore is invoked by group members as they join the group and agree with its purpose or “catch its vision.” Each individual in the group receives the influence of the egregore. As individuals add to the group and agree with the group purpose, the egregore is strengthened. The strength of the egregore grows or is recharged as the group renews a unity of emotion or focus. Egregores are capable of influencing each group member in a manner that they would be incapable of being influenced apart from the group. Egregores can interact; they can have dominion over each other, and they can move across different languages and become adaptable across cultures.<br /><br />“An egregor is an angel, sometimes called watcher; in Hebrew the word is ir, and the concept appears in The Book of Enoch....” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#69#69" target="_self">69.</a><br /><br />“The Kabbalah names 72...national angelic regents, which the Hebrews call Elohim; the metaphysical technical term Egregors is also used for them. Derived from the Greek word egreoros, it means ‘watcher’ or ‘guardian.’” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#70#70">70.</a><br /><br />According to the Kabbalist, Eliphaz Levi, “The egregors are the Anakim of the Bible or, rather, according to the book of Enoch, they are the patriarchs. They are the fabled Titans and are found in all religious traditions.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#71#71">71.</a><br /><br />The Anakim and Titans are the fallen angels or Nephilim who mated with human women in Genesis 6: "Sumerian texts repeatedly state that the Anunnaki came to Earth… They are spoken of in the Bible as the ‘Anakim’ and ‘Anak’ or ‘Nefilim’ (nephilum). ‘Nefilim’ (nephilum) in Hebrew means ‘giants’ or ‘those who have fallen’.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#72#72" target="_self">72.</a> (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/new-government.html#10.D" target="_blank">Mount Hermon/Sion</a>)<br /><br />The following statements from various sources describe the influence of egregores or demons on a collective group mind, the creation of which is the goal of church growth change agents.<br /><br />“An egregore has the characteristic of having an effectiveness greater than the mere sum of its individual members. It continuously interacts with its members, influencing them and being influenced by them. The interaction works positively by stimulating and assisting its members but only as long as they behave and act in line with its original aim. It will stimulate both individually and collectively all those faculties in the group which will permit the realization of the objectives of its original program. If this process is continued a long time the egregore will take on a kind of life of its own…” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#73#73" target="_self">73.</a><br /><br />“…each individual who is involved in a group receives the influences of the egregores…An egregore actually grows by drawing support from the members which constitute it who, in turn, through their repeated actions vivify it, somehow helping it to maintain its power.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#74#74" target="_self">74.</a><br /><br />“…an egregore is created - whether intentionally or otherwise - by people…an egregore is shared by more than one person, and its power increases as it is invoked…Modern group structures…have their own egregores…A magickal group ritual repeated many times [feeds into an egregore].” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#75#75" target="_self">75.</a> Note that church growth small groups, in an effort to create a unified group mind, meet repeatedly.<br /><br />“The egregor is always an invisible and spiritual being…When several people on the earth unite around a common idea, they give birth to an egregora... this being is then going to become independent and have its own life which will be capable of influencing human beings and history. This is a terrifying secret which was carefully hidden inside the ancient mysteries. They called it: “The art of creating Gods.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#76#76" target="_self">76.</a><br /><br />“The egregore is a group spirit that serves to remind the initiate of his or her goals [or purposes]…” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#77#77" target="_self">77.</a><br /><br />“As sentient beings created by a collaborative choice, egregores can be considered ‘team spirit’, in a very literal sense.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#78#78" target="_self">78.</a><br /><br />“It [an egregore] may best be defined as a ‘collective group mind,’ in both its conscious and sub-conscious aspects, which is formed by the united thinking and feeling of a number of like-minded people…and as the numbers [of people] admitted increase, so the power and range of the Egregore increases, and a peculiar reciprocal action takes place. Each member of the group pours energy into the collective thought-form but, equally, into each member there also passes the influence of the group as a whole.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#79#79" target="_self">79.</a><br /><br />An occult website explains how a “mage” invokes an egregore, and not unlike church growth change agents, envisions its pre-defined purpose: “The mage is striving to better align the egregore more fully with its own inherent benevolent Purpose, whatever the mage who initially created it envisioned its Purpose to be.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#80#80" target="_self">80.</a> Notice in referring to the egregore’s purpose, the word “purpose,” which has occult meaning, is placed in capitals. This example refers to an egregore that has been intentionally invoked.<br /><br />“Konstantinos, in his book Summoning Spirits… warns his readers that, in order to evoke entities from the Necronomicon, they will probably have to create them themselves, as they would any egregore (An egregore is a thought-form created by the magician by means of his/her will and visualization).” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#81#81" target="_self">81.</a><br /><br />The Necronomicon is a “Book of Dead Names” about the ancient demi-gods of “Atlantis,” that is, the offspring of fallen angels who were drowned in the Great Deluge.<br /><br />“For as Abdul writes of The Necronomicon ‘civilizations were destroyed because of the knowledge contained in this book.’ This is the deed that must be avenged, the memory of which slumbers in the blood of their human offspring – just as they slumber beneath the Earth, waiting for the day that the stars will be right again, and their descendants will perform the rites which will bring them up from the depths to reclaim their kingdom, and the Age of the Gods will begin anew: The New Atlantis, the New Jerusalem, the New World Order.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#82#82" target="_self">82.</a> (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/new-earth.html#6.G" target="_blank">Atlantis</a>; “<a href="http://watch.pair.com/atlantis-rising.html" target="_blank">Atlantis Rising</a>”)<br /><br />These offspring of the fallen angels can be invoked by a magician’s will through visualization, i.e., the church growth change agent’s “vision casting.”<br />“But it certainly demonstrates the power of egregores, and why magickal societies were so hush-hush about them in the early 1900's.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#83#83" target="_self">83.</a><br /><br />The church growth movement and its leadership are also “hush-hush” about these demons and the fact that they are clandestinely being summoned by the small groups they lead to “consensus.”<br /><br /><strong>Kurt Lewin and the National Training Labs</strong><br /><br />Facilitator-led small groups are the basis of the church growth movement and church transformation. Facilitator-led small groups, having their origin in the occult, have been refined by decades of social laboratory experimentation. Some of these labs were the National Training Labs started by Kurt Lewin. According to the <a href="http://www.ntl.org/" target="_blank">National Training Labs</a> website, “In 1946, while serving as director of MIT's new Research Center for GroupDynamics, a group he helped found, Lewin was contacted by the American Jewish Congress Committee on Community Interrelations and the Connecticut Interracial Commission to assist in the training of leaders who would deal with intergroup tensions in their home communities.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#84#84" target="_self">84.</a><br />Kurt Lewin taught that "It is easier to change individuals formed into a group than to change any one of them separately." Lewin is known for a 3 stage change or brainwashing method he developed in which group members were first “unfrozen” from their existing mindset, then, with their defenses down, moved or transitioned in a second stage and then “refrozen” into a new mindset. This process would repeat until the pre-determined mindset was reached.<br /><br />Kurt Lewin became the director of the Tavistock Institute in 1932. According to Tavistock: The Best Kept Secret in America, “One of the key institutions established for this purpose [brainwashing] in the United States was the National Training Laboratories (NTL). Founded in 1947 by members of the Tavistock network in the United States and located originally on an estate in Bethel, Maine, NTL had as its explicit purpose the brainwashing of leaders of the government, educational institutions, and corporate bureaucracies in the Tavistock method, and then using these ‘leaders’ to either themselves run Tavistock group sessions in their organizations or to hire other similarly trained group leaders to do the job. The ‘nuts and bolts’ of the NTL operation revolves around the particular form of Tavistock degenerate psychology known as ‘group dynamics,’ developed by German Tavistock operative Kurt Lewin, who emigrated to the United States in the 1930s and whose students founded NTL.<br /><br />In a Lewinite brainwashing group, a number of individuals from varying backgrounds and personalities, are manipulated by a ‘group leader’ to form a ‘consensus’ of opinion, achieving a new ‘group identity.’ The key to the process is the creation of a controlled environment, in which stress is introduced (sometimes called dissonance) to crack an individual's belief structure. Using the peer pressure of other group members, the individual is ‘cracked,’ and a new personality emerges with new values. The degrading experience causes the person to deny that any change has taken place. In that way, an individual is brainwashed without the victim knowing what has taken place.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#85#85" target="_self">85.</a> Several millions of Americans have been through NTL brainwashing programs.<br /><br />“One of the groups that went through the NTL mill in the 1950s was the leadership of the National Education Association, the largest organization of teachers in the United States. Thus, the NEA's outlook has been ‘shaped’ by Tavistock, through the NTL. In 1964, the NTL Institute became a direct part of the NEA, with the NTL setting up ‘group sessions’ for all its affiliates. With funding from the Department of Education, the NTL Institute drafted the programs for the training of the nation's primary and secondary schoolteachers, and has a hand as well in developing the content of educational ‘reforms,’ including OBE [outcome-based education].” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#86#86" target="_self">86.</a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Transformation to a Cell Group Structure</span></strong><br /><br />Change agents want to transform the traditional churches into a network of facilitator-led small groups (cell churches). In this new paradigm, the cell groups will be structured into a networking hierarchy not unlike a multi-level marketing structure. In this structure, all church members will be closely monitored, manipulated and databased by a top-down control. In the New Age book, The Aquarian Conspiracy, these networks were called SPIN’s or Segmented Polycentric Integrated Networks.<br /><br />Five hundred traditionally minded Christians in a traditional church structure can’t be controlled. Five hundred Christians can be controlled and manipulated if they are divided into fifty small groups with each group under the control of a group leader transformed through leadership training. This small group leader can then “reproduce himself” as other group members realize their felt needs and find common ground and become transformed and form their own small groups.<br /><br />It may also be important to note that the cell network structure is a military structure. It is similar to a militia structure and it is a structure that can easily infiltrate and subvert traditional government hierarchies as it has subverted traditional churches.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Transformation of Church Function</span><br /></strong><br />The goal of church change agents is to also transform the church into service within Drucker’s 3–legged stool. These change agents aspire to change the church’s traditional function. They intend for the churches to partner with the business and government sectors of the envisioned Communitarian society.<br /><br />Rick Warren and other church growth change agents are leading the churches to take their proper place within this world government by enticing the churches with the gospel of good works or the social gospel. Warren has been able to bring churches and their members into this system by casting his vision for world peace. Warren calls this vision his PEACE Plan. The PEACE plan calls for humanitarian works like the curing of diseases and assisting the poor. Many church members may not realize, however, that this PEACE plan is similar to the UN development goals. Christians who believe they will be serving Jesus Christ when they catch this PEACE vision don’t realize they will be working for Satan’s goals. Ultimately, globalists don’t care about world sickness or poverty. The PEACE plan is just an instrument to bring the churches into the Communitarian system (business-government-social sector partnership) where “Christians” will be relegated to social work.<br /><br />There is a Lutheran church in my neighborhood. The Lutheran denomination is a UN-NGO. This particular Lutheran church has a computer lab available to the public. They have a nurse’s station where vaccinations could be given. When I walked through their halls I noticed “community development offices” and the sign on one door read “cluster network office.” Perhaps one day they will be distributing free cheese to help meet the needs of the community. This is the church of the future. It’s basically a welfare distribution center.<br /><br />According to the Leadership Network, “The Church of the 21st Century is reforming itself into a multi-faceted service operation.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#87#87" target="_self">87.</a> Regarding the church, Peter Drucker stated, “The community … needs a community center… I'm not talking religion now, I'm talking society. There is no other institution on the American community that could be the center.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#88#88" target="_self">88.</a><br /><br />Rick Warren told TIME Magazine: "Well, as I said, I could take you to villages that don’t have a clinic... But they’ve got a church. In fact, in many countries the only infrastructure that is there is religion... What if in this 21st century we were able to network these churches providing the...manpower in local congregations. Let’s just take my religion by itself. Christianity... The church is bigger than any government in the world. Then you add in Muslims, you add in Hindus, you add in all the different religions, and you use those houses of worship as distribution centers, not just for spiritual care but for health care. What could be done? Government has a role and business has a role and churches, house of worship have a role. I think it’s time to go to the moon, and I invite you to go with us." <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#89#89" target="_self">89.</a><br /><a name="how"></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">How the Church Growth Movement Manifests Itself at GCC</span><br /><br /></strong>This section will show that the church growth movement has infiltrated the two singles ministries at GCC and it will show that The Master’s Academy International (TMAI) is a church growth org. This section will briefly expose the 2 singles ministries (which were exposed 2 years ago) and then it will expose in detail the church growth org, TMAI.<br /><br />Two ministries at GCC that adopted the TQM/PDC model are the singles ministries called The Foundry and The Guild. These ministries, as of 2 years ago (2006), had both the structure and the language (buzzwords) of the TQM/PDC model. Soon after these ministries were exposed, The Foundry removed 15-20 pages (I counted 19 pages removed) from their website. These pages weren’t changed; they were removed. The pages removed were the pages that contained the language which indicated the presence of the PDC model. In similar fashion, The Guild also removed many pages from their website. In removing pages from their websites, I firmly believe that those who oversee The Foundry (Mr. Rob Iverson, Kurt Gebhards) and The Guild (Tom Patton) were engaging in an effort to further conceal the presence of this model within these ministries. Due to these changes and deletions, much of the evidence in this paper regarding the Guild and the Foundry has been deleted from their websites. Since these ministries were exposed, the Guild has changed its pastor. For these reasons I will refer to these ministries in the past tense.<br /><br />The information given in the section about TMAI is all new and up to date. Most members of GCC may not know anything about TMAI. I will show conclusively that TMAI is a church growth org run by men with church growth backgrounds. The expose on TMAI is lengthy and so I beg for the reader’s indulgence.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>THE GUILD</strong></span> --“Catch the Vision at the Guild”<br /><br />The opening page of The Guild website stated: “We purpose to dramatically impact GCC, our workplace, and the world around us with unrestrained expressions of the love of Jesus Christ through worship, evangelism, service and discipleship…” Worship, evangelism, service and discipleship are four of Rick Warren’s five purposes (ministry being the fifth). Although these purposes are all biblical, these Christian terms take on new meaning when used in the context of church growth. Terms are redefined in the church growth movement (CGM) as a deceptive ploy. Notice that the Guild statement mentions only the “love of Jesus Christ” and not His judgment or wrath. Utilizing a non-offensive type of evangelism is a common mark of the CGM.<br /><br />On the right column of the Guild website was a section called “Tom Talk.” This section contained a weekly letter written by Tom Patton, the then pastor of the Guild. These letters, which were often, if not always, about “relationship issues,” were closed or signed off with the phrase “catch the vision at the Guild” or a slight variation thereof. Tom Patton closed his letters to the Guild with the following: “Catching the vision is clear communication to all at the Guild,” “Initiate catching the vision for yourself at the Guild,” “Catch the vision of love at the Guild,” “Catch the vision with us from the mountain peak…at the Guild” and “Catching the vision at the Guild is always the right response.”<br /><br />Recently, I spoke on the phone with a pastor who was working as the “pastor of the day” at GCC. I asked him if the GCC pastors were engaged in vision casting and if he believed it was biblical. This pastor confirmed to me that some pastors at GCC engage in vision casting, and he defended the practice to me as being biblical.<br /><br />On the wall of the Guild meeting room was a banner which emphasized unity. The “u” in “Guild” stands for unity. Organizational unity is the goal of the CGM. Are the Guild members unified by God’s Spirit or are they (were they) unified in a man-made vision?<br /><br />The members of the Guild were divided into many teams and small groups. Some ministries at GCC call their small groups “core groups.” Core group isn’t a biblical term. It may be of interest that on the opening page of the <a href="http://coregroups.org/home.html" target="_blank">Core Discipleship Ministry</a> website is the satanic symbol 666 (a triquetra). This site also instructs small group leaders in the art of vision casting. If one studies “core group theory,” then one will be studying the group dialectic process.<br /><br />Two years ago, the Guild had 12 teams listed on its website. Each team had a purpose. For example, the “Helping Hands” team “purposes to plan, coordinate and, when necessary, facilitate the needs of the Guild…”<br /><br />One Friday evening I attended the Guild Bible study at GCC. There were about 100 people in attendance and after a short sermon on relationships, Tom Patton told us to divide into small groups. We divided into 5 groups of about 10 men each and 5 groups of about 10 women each. Each group met in a circle and each group had a leader. Tom Patton gave the topics that were to be discussed by the groups. The men and women were given different topics for discussion. The topic for the men to discuss was a social topic that involved relationships.<br /><br />The leader in my group proceeded to start and direct a dialogue on the topic that Tom Patton had given. Some men in my group were talking about the troubles they had in past relationships (with women) and one man was spilling his guts to the group as he recalled his past relationships. I had gone to the Guild expecting a Bible study. There were no Bibles open in my group and I didn’t see a Bible open in the entire room. After much more dialogue, my group leader stated, “So we can all then agree that trust is important in relationships?” Clearly, my group leader was trying to reach a consensus.<br /><br />What was going on at the Guild this Friday night? Why did Tom Patton divide those present into 10 small groups? Why were we dialoging a topic on relationships? Clearly, these weren't Bible study groups; as no Bibles were open. What was the purpose of these small groups? There can be no doubt that these group meetings were dialectic sessions where diversity gathered in a facilitator-led meeting, utilizing peer pressure, to dialogue a social issue to a pre-determined consensus.<br /><br />During this dialectic session, I asked my group leader why we were meeting in groups. He told me, in the presence of the others, that the purpose of these groups was for "relationship building and bonding." He didn't say that the purpose of these group meetings was to study the Bible; nor did he say that the purpose was to build a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He said the purpose of the group meeting was for "relationship building and bonding" (with others in the group). That the groups stated purpose was for "relationship building and bonding" further shows that these groups were dialectic (brainwashing) sessions.<br /><br />"Relationship building" is a necessary component of the dialectic process used in the TQM model and used at GCC. A church whose primary focus is on human relationship building is a church that has ceased to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.<br /><br />At this Friday night Guild meeting, regarding those who study the Bible, Tom Patton stated, “They will study information without seeking transformation.” To what kind of transformation was Mr. Patton referring given that he was “casting his vision” to a congregation participating in dialectic (brainwashing) sessions.<br /><br />Diversity is a necessary component of the CGM because it is needed for the dialectic process to work (diversity in unity). Was there diversity (mixture of believer and unbeliever) at the Guild? I’ll answer this by saying that when I arrived at the Guild, I was greeted at the door and later ushered into a small group; no one at any time ever asked me if I was a Christian.<br /><br />The “Guild Single Parents Service Event” was organized by the Guild “Activities Team.” In this event, each Guild single parent who so desired had a “team” assigned to them. The team is “designated to serve the parent.” Nine teams were listed to serve nine different parents. Let me give a few examples from the Guild website. Team 2: “This parent would love it if some Guild guys would spend a day in the park with him playing football and then enjoy fellowship over dinner at an area restaurant.” Team 3: “This parent would love it if Guilders would take him and his child to the Will Rogers Museum, then to Mom’s Kitchen (restaurant), at the corner of Van Owen and Coldwater Canyon!” Team 4: “This parent would love it if Guilders would come to the house and help get rid of weeds and other unsightly things in the yard that are preventing fun summer BBQ’s and green grass! Let’s have pizza and wonderful fellowship!” Team 8: “This parent seems to never get time to herself and would love a ‘day away’ from the home. Ideal would be a pedicure or manicure and then a movie. What a blessing that would be.”<br /><br />Christians are called to love the brethren. We should help each other. But do Christians need to be organized in teams to help a single parent in need? Should single parents depend on a team or on God for their needs? Christians are placed in numerous teams in the CGM so that they will become accustomed to think in a group and to think for the collective. As I have shown, this collective group mind will also maximize demonic influence over the group members.<br /><br />The Guild website encouraged the Guild members to support several “Guild Friendly Businesses.” The businesses mentioned included Starbucks and AMC Theatres.<br /><br />Starbucks is anti-Christian to an extreme, but “Guild friendly.” They sponsor gay pride parades, homosexual organizations, and they have sponsored the GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards. They are also pro-abortion as Starbucks financially supports Planned Parenthood as a “matching gift company” (One can see this on the <a href="http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppcw/files/ColumbiaWillamette/Matching_gift_companies.pdf" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood</a> website). Starbucks also places pro-homosexual quotes on their cups. Oddly enough, according to one website, the only “Christian” quoted on their cups has been Rick Warren. It appears that the Guild and Starbucks have found common ground in Warren. One is quoting him while the other is/was embracing his ministry model. AMC Theatres, another “Guild friendly” business, distributes anti-Christian, anti-American propaganda.<br /><br />Was the Guild a seeker friendly ministry? When a visitor went to the Guild, he would be "meeted and greeted" at the door (meeters and greeters are used in the PDC model); food and drink would be offered; there would be guitar music and announcements would be accompanied by a big screen video display. Attendance would be taken and a short sermon would be given (on the night I went the sermon was about relationships) and then small groups would be formed for the purpose of relationship building and bonding. I have been told that these small groups are still being formed at The Guild. On the night I was there they were all planning to go to the movies together. They were planning to see the movie, “Chronicles of Narnia,” which is occult entertainment based on the book written by CS Lewis. They were also planning a trip to Big Bear, a local resort.<br /><br />Many at Grace Church believe CS Lewis was a great Christian apologist. I have heard at least one leader at Grace Church state that the works of JRR Tolkien are “Christian.” JRR Tolkien was a Roman Catholic and a close friend of CS Lewis, who was Lutheran. According to “Hermetic Imagination: The Effect of the Golden Dawn on Fantasy Literature,” the works of Lewis and Tolkein were strongly influenced by their friendship with the English novelist, Charles Williams, who joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1917. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#90#90" target="_self">90.</a> The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was a magical order in late 19th and early 20th century England to which many prominent figures belonged. This secret order, along with the Theosophical Society and the Rosicrucian Order, was one of the principle influences on 20th century occultism.<br /><br />Is "The Guild" at GCC named after the medieval guilds that were infiltrated by Rosicrucianism and evolved into Masonic lodges. "By James I's time,…a lodge system had already been established within the guilds of 'operative' stonemasonry and had begun to proliferate across Scotland. By the end of the Thirty Years War, a system had filtered down to England. In its general structure, it seems to have coincided most felicitously with that of Andrea's Christian Unions; and it proved more than ready to accommodate the influx of 'Rosicrucian' thought. German refugees thus found a spiritual home in English masonry; and their input of 'Rosicrucian ideas' was the final ingredient necessary for the emergence of modern 'speculative' Freemasonry." <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#91#91" target="_self">91.</a><br /><br />The Guild website also displayed photos from trips to Catalina Island, the Hollywood Bowl, cruises, museums, chili cookoffs, miniature golf, ice skating, Medieval Times Outing, Mountain-day trip, Speed Zone Outing, and beach parties. At one time, the Guild website announced the “Guild 2006 Winter Games Day” on their events page. These activities shouldn’t come as a surprise given that the Guild Activities Team “purposes to provide a fun, comfortable, and dynamic atmosphere for fellowship...” One would have a hard time finding a more seeker friendly ministry than the Guild, unless one goes to the Foundry.<br /><br /><strong>THE FOUNDRY-- </strong>(Visions—Core Groups—Ice-breakers—Relationship Building—Leadership Development—Radical Transformation)<br /><br />The Foundry ministry also contained both the structure and the language (buzzwords) of the PDC model. This ministry was divided into many “core groups” and ministry teams. On the Foundry website is a page titled “core groups” which gives a definition of core groups. It states, “Core groups are gender specific groups of 4-10 designed to provide all members of The Foundry with an opportunity to build deep and abiding relationships.” This proves that the stated definition of the Foundry “core groups” matches the stated purpose of the Guild small groups: relationship building. Notice that the stated “core groups” definition did not say that the “core groups” were for Bible study; nor did it state that the “core groups” were for building a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is clear, that through their “core groups,” the Foundry, like the Guild, has enabled the dialectic process by creating an “environment” for the purpose of relationship building. This is antithetical to Biblical Christianity because faith in and obedience to God hinders relationship building.<br /><br />Let me provide examples of some of the language of the change process (PDC) at the Foundry. Every team in the Foundry had a “purpose.” The Foundry website stated that “there are nineteen ministry teams that are divided into four ministry groups.” For example, the Integration Team “purposes to be an instrument used to encourage and facilitate active involvement from every member of The Foundry by planting them in Coregroups and Ministry Teams. We work together with the Visitor Team to welcome new visitors and pursue their involvement within the Foundry.” This is the same language as Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Model. This is where the pastor will plant you in ministry; tell you where you will serve; and tell you how you will serve. The Integration Team went on to say: “Team member responsibilities include...pursuing relationships and encouraging involvement. It is also expected that every member of the Integration team would be an active and faithful participant in a Coregroup.” This is what is required of the members of Saddleback Church (Warren’s church) and all PDC’s. At Saddleback, all members are required to sign a covenant agreeing to participate in a small group (core group). In TQM, all must participate (no child left behind).<br /><br />The Killer V’s (New Visitors Team) “exists for the purpose of serving new visitors. This includes meeting and greeting...” “Greeters” are at Saddleback Church and the PDC’s. “Meeters” and “greeters” are part of the “seeker friendly” CGM. The Killer V’s go on to say: “at its core, we are a Care team...” What is a Care team? In some church growth orgs, a CARE team is an acronym that stands for “Create A Relational Environment.” In Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Church”, CARE ministries are described. “Mission of CARE Groups To connect and grow people in Christ through relational environments.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#92#92" target="_self">92.</a><br /><br />The Killer V’s then state: “We want to meet the needs of all visitors, provide them with information, and ultimately get them involved in Core Groups and Ministry Teams.” This is the language of Rick Warren’s PDC. Meet the “felt needs” of the new visitors and then plant them in ministry. This type of approach to ministry denies the power of God because only He can place one within the body of Christ. Also, these teams at the Foundry, busy shuttling people through to leadership positions in ministry, directly violate the Word of God; for as James 3:1 states: “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”<br /><br />Another ministry in the Foundry which was violating James 3:1 is called “The Leadership Group.” A team within this group is called “LIT.” “LIT purposes to develop leaders who will influence the body of Christ by reproducing themselves.” Although this purpose is not given in God’s Word, it is from the TQM/PDC model. In TQM, a leader/change agent is to recruit others into the dialectic process, and then “transform” them so that they are now leader/change agents bringing others into the process, and thus, “reproducing themselves.” The term “Leadership” is used quite often in the CGM as it is in the world. In the CGM, the term “leader” refers to being a “change agent” who leads others to change (transformation).<br /></div><div align="left">Let me provide more examples of the transformational language of the CGM (TQM/PDC) within the Foundry. “Local Outreach” stated, “Our vision is to make radical followers of Jesus Christ.” “Radical followers” is new paradigm language. The Global Outreach team “purposes... that sinners everywhere may come to radically transforming, saving faith in Jesus Christ.” In the PDC model, “radically transforming” is language that refers to the effects of the dialectic process and does not refer to the transforming power of God’s Word and God’s Spirit. They also wanted to “evangelize cross-culturally” (multi-culturalism/bringing diversity in unity).<br /><br />The Graphics Team “never allows a design to go out until it has a majority consensus within the team.” The synthesis phase of the dialectic process is when consensus is reached in the group. In TQM and the dialectic process, truth is arrived at via consensus (what all in the group can agree upon and feel good about). The Logos Team “purposes to serve GCC by facilitating and growing the capacity of the Logos Bible Institute.” The Service Team said, “We need people on this team who are self-starters. To get this team functioning to its full capacity we need people who will head up different ministries and run with it.” Where is God and His sovereignty? This team also mentions “the facilitation of service opportunities.” The Foundry also had teams with psycho-social names like its “corebuilder team.” Lastly, in the “New Visitor Welcome CD”, Kurt Gebhards, the Foundry pastor, mentions the “purpose” and “vision” of the Foundry.<br /><br />One particular core group in the Foundry, the only one that provided a description of itself, stated, “What is core group about? Core group is about God, people and relationships.” The description went on to say: “Our core group is about flexibility and meeting one anothers needs... Our preliminary list of core group activities includes small things everyday like eating at fun (and good) restaurants, playing tennis or golf to bigger things like going to Dodger games! Core group should be profitable and enjoyable!” These activities were meant to reinforce bonding, to facilitate relationship building, and to create a dependence on the group. Each event this core group took part in becoming another session in group dialogue.<br /><br />One Friday night I attended a “Bible study” at the Foundry ministry called “310.” After about a half-hour of refreshments and socializing, we sat down for announcements and the new visitors were introduced. I was asked to stand, and with Bible in hand, the leader proceeded to ask me several “ice-breaker” questions. In a group of about 35 people, I was asked the following: “How did you find out about us?” “Where do you live?” “Do you know any good restaurants?” “What do you do for a living?” “When is your birthday?” “Can you tell us about a particularly memorable birthday you’ve had?” There were 4 visitors that evening who were asked to stand and submit to these ice-breakers. After the ice-breakers ended we took a break so that people in the group could meet and greet the new visitors. By the way, I was told by the Foundry leader that these questions were ice-breakers (he used that term). Later, when I asked this same pastor/leader if he believed R Warren was a Christian, he responded, “I have no idea.” Why don’t all of John Macarthur’s pastors know that Rick Warren is not a Christian?<br /><br />Group leader/change agents often use exercises at the beginning of each group session called “ice-breakers.” These ice-breakers may involve funny stories or some kind of light conversation designed to shift the group participant’s paradigm or way of thinking. The change agent wants the group members to begin “thinking with their feelings.” The change agent, through these exercises, is attempting to “unfreeze” the group members from their traditional position so that they can be “moved” and “refrozen” into a compromised state. Group members who see ice-breakers as being harmless or enjoyable fail to understand that they serve Satan’s purpose of shifting ones “mode of thinking” from “facts-based” to “feelings-based.”<br /><br />“Ice-breaker exercises” facilitate the dialectic process and are used in the PDC model. “Ice-breakers” were developed by Kurt Lewin. As Kurt Lewin stated in “Human Relations”, p. 34, “A successful change includes, therefore, three aspects: unfreezing (if necessary) the present level, moving to the new level, and freezing group life on the new level.” It shouldn’t be surprising that “ice-breakers” are used at GCC because John Macarthur has advocated their use (I will show this later).<br /><br />As stated, “transformation” in the CGM corresponds to “transmutation” in traditional alchemy, the term used for transforming base metals into gold. In manufacturing, a foundry is a factory where metal is melted and poured into molds. In The Foundry at GCC, Christians are “melted” (unfrozen) and recast (refrozen) in a new mold. In ancient Qumran, there was an alchemical foundry operated by the Essenes, a Gnostic community. The Qumran “foundry” converted precious metals – gold, silver, platinum and palladium – into a substance called “white powered gold.” This white powder of gold was believed to contain properties which, when ingested, transformed the human subject into a “light being” possessing divine powers and immortality. Alchemical guru, David Hudson, maintains that this lost art is now being restored for the “transformation” of the human race:<br /><br />"...The Bible says that Moses told the Hebrew people that they had not kept the Covenant, so the Manna was to be taken from them, but it will come back in the end times when we would be a nation of high priests, not an elect high priesthood. This is the food, this is the light, that you take in your body. In fact, if you ask a Rabbi if he ever heard of the white powder of gold, he says, yes, we know of the white powder of gold, but to our knowledge No one knows how to make it since the destruction of the first Temple, the Temple of Solomon… This knowledge was not completely lost, the high priests who left the temple when it was destroyed went out on the desert and organized the community known as Qumran, they were the Essenes. As you read in the Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered, not only did the Qumran community have a metallurgical foundry in the center of the city, you also find out that…this thing that they were totally preoccupied with, wasn't Moses or Christ. It says the high priest swallowed the…Holy Spirit, it is the light, the zero point light that is not measurable. But it is in fact, the light or god force within us. It is the teacher that shows us how to know all things, we don't have to read or study, we just know...” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur.html#93#93" target="_self">93.</a><br /><br />Gnostics believe they are above reading God’s Word because they have been transformed into gods, having “gnosis” (knowledge), also called the “logos” (word) or the “light” (enlightenment) within themselves. They are believing Satan’s lie: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5<br /><br />In the two hours I spent at the Foundry “Bible study,” the Bible was preached for about 20 minutes. In the 4 hours I spent at the Guild and Foundry “Bible studies”, the Bible was preached for about 45 minutes. Most of the time was spent in socializing and relationship building. Conformity to the new paradigm is attained through “consensus building” as opposed to Bible study. It seems that alchemical transformation of a spiritual nature is taking place at The Foundry.<br /><br />One should also take a close look at the Logos Equipping Ministries at GCC. Their website stated, “The new identity of Logos Pillars features 3 levels of classes. 100 Bible Foundations, 200 Growth Electives, and 300 Discipleship Counseling.” These 3 levels seem to be similar to Rick Warren’s 101, 201 and 301 courses. Within this ministry is something called “Life Application Logos.” In the CGM, the teaching of Bible doctrine is watered down to “Life Application.”<br /><br />Have the Guild and the Foundry pastors (Tom Patton and Kurt Gebhards) been kicked out of Grace Church since the true nature of their ministries has been made manifest? No, they have both been promoted by Grace Church leaders!</div><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></strong> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Important Update</span></strong>: Kurt Gebhards is no longer the pastor of The Foundry. He is now the head pastor of Hickory Community Chapel in North Carolina. <span style="color:#3366ff;">93a.</span> Hickory Chapel is an affiliate of Harvest Bible Fellowship. <span style="color:#3366ff;">93b</span>. There are more than 40 Harvest Bible Fellowship affiliate churches. Having been to several of their websites, I would describe these affiliates as church growth churches and as hybrids of the PDC model. Harvest Bible Fellowship is the church planting arm of Harvest Bible Chapel. The director of operations of Harvest Bible Fellowship is Mr. Bill Molinari. Mr. Molinari is a board member of John Macarthur's Grace To You and The Master's Academy International. </div><div align="left">Kurt Gebhards is now the head pastor at Harvest Bible Fellowship affiliate, Hickory Chapel, in North Carolina. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I would describe Hickory Chapel as being a hybrid of the Purpose Driven model. Their congregation is formed into "cell groups" "for relationships to be developed." They have both a mission and vision statement. Their mission includes "building a community..." Their vision includes "...becoming a community..." and "change [ing] the people within our community." Within their vision statement they exhort Christians to "JUST IMAGINE..." followed by a list of church goals. Hickory Chapel's god, according to their website, is "a God of laughter, fun and joy." </div><div align="left">Kurt Gebhards' assistant pastor at Hickory Chapel and the only other pastor I see mentioned on their website is Scott Jablonski. Pastor Joblonski is fully on board with Rick Warren's Purpose Driven agenda. He sent me the following email:</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">"I do know about Kurt’s [Gebhards] ministry at Grace, as well as Rick Warren. I have been a fan and proponent of Purpose Driven Life and Purpose Driven Church, two books which Warren has written. I also follow much of the wisdom of Doug Fields, his [Warren's] youth pastor. I believe small groups is the best place “to do life” together with other believers. It is a great way to connect and be held accountable, both of which God commands for believers to do. Anyway I hope you have a great week. In Christ, Scott Jablonski--Hickory Community Chapel--Pastor of Student Ministry."</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">This is an amazing revelation from Kurt Gebhards' assistant pastor. He sees no problem with Warren's books. Any true believer has great difficulty with them. He is a fan of Warren - fan is short for fanatic - "fans" do not base their actions on facts - they are fans regardless of the facts - it is all based upon emotion. He follows "the wisdom" of Warren's pastor, Doug Fields. What about the wisdom of God? Doing life together in small groups. God calls each of us individually. Pastor Jablonski doesn't understand the shift that he has accepted - he has become accountable to his group, rather than to the Lord. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">After warning Pastor Jablonski about the dangers of the Purpose Driven movement, I received the following reply:</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">"Since you were frank with me, I am going to be frank with you as well. I totally disagree with you! However I do need to address one issue from your email. You stated that you wanted 'help in warning others in our church.' As one of the pastors and overseers of the church, I am demanding that you not contact anyone in our body. Jesus spoke of false teachers in Matthew 7:15 and I believe you to be one of those. As a false teacher, who tries to lead someone astray, I will deal harshly. I don’t mind discussing theology and methodology with you. However I am called to protect our flock from heresy. If anyone has been duped, it has been you. I have studied PDC for over 15 years, even before it became a movement. So if you want to sit and argue sometime, great. However if you choose to continue “to warn” our body and cause factions, I will come against you with all authority that God has given me. The apostle Paul spoke against such false teachers throughout his letters. Philippians 1:3-7, he spoke to church leaders to command men not to teach false doctrines or devoting themselves to myths. So again, I am not asking you, but telling you not to contact anyone in our body. Needless to say, my communication after this email will stop. However I will be involving our church elders. In Christ, Scott Jablonski--Hickory Community Chapel--Pastor to Students."</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I love the fact that Pastor Jablonski insists that I not speak to anybody - not a request, but a demand. Totally communistic, with thinly-veiled threats - "I will deal harshly," and demands that I not exercise my right of free speech. A little Hitler! If he was teaching truth, then he would have the confidence in it that it could withstand, and prevail over false teaching. Pastor Jablonski doesn't know Christ. Christ says in Romans 12:19 -"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."<br />God has given him no such authority. It's amazing that this supposed Christian pastor has been studying the PDC for 15 years without discerning its heresy. The last thing that is most telling is that he is insisting that I not speak to anybody in "our body." The church is Christ's, not his. The arrogance is amazing, and the fact that he can never dispute any of my findings with the Word of God, but just resorts to threats proves that he does not know God. His so-called "power" comes from Satan, not from God.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Kurt Gebhards' resume in online <span style="color:#3366ff;">93c.</span> The cover letter dated June 2009 was written by Bill Molinari. It's a letter recommending Gebhards to his Harvest Bible fellowship affiliate in North Carolina, Hickory Chapel. In this letter Mr. Molinari describes Gebhards as having a "godly character" and as being "a passionate theologian." </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Within his resume, Kurt Gebhards stated that he pastored The Foundry<br />ministry from 2002 to present. Where he was "casting [a] vision for a brand new ministry." Regarding another ministry he pastored at GCC Gebhards stated that he "steer[ed] cautiously a large ministry through a season of philosophical change." Under the heading, "Ministry Passions," Gebhards states, "...to implement new concepts is an ongoing pattern of my ministry." (All the buzzwords for the Church Growth Movement in his lengthy resume are too numerous to mention.) </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Also stated in Kurt Gebhards' resume under "Ministry Passions" is the following most remarkable admission: "I HAVE BEEN ASKED ON THREE OCCASIONS <span style="color:#ff6600;">BY THE LEADERS OF GCC</span> TO COME INTO A MINISTRY AND <span style="color:#ff6600;">BE AN</span> <span style="color:#ff6600;">AGENT OF CHANGE</span>...IN EACH OF THESE CASES THAT CHANGE HAS INCLUDED CASTING A FRESH VISION, DEFINING A NEW MINISTRY CULTURE AND PROMOTE [SIC] POSITIVE CHANGE."</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">This amazingly candid admission by Gebhards finally dispels the notion that the Purpose Driven model and Rick Warren's anti-Christ agenda entered GCC "by men who crept in unawares." In his resume, Gebhards is proudly revealing the awful truth: THE GCC LEADERS [JOHN MACARTHUR] ASKED GEBHARDS TO ENTER MINISTRIES AT GCC TO "BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE." This proves that these same GCC leaders are agents for Satan and enemies of God and Christ. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">After successfully implementing "change programs" within ministries at GCC, it became time for Kurt Gebhards to move on. Naturally, John Macarthur obliged by writing Pastor Gebhards a letter of recommendation which is attached to the back of his resume. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">John Macarthur asked Kurt Gebhards to enter ministries within GCC to be a vision casting agent of change, and then Macarthur turns around and recommends him to the "Harvest Hickory Family," to whom his recommendation is addressed. Did John Macarthur recommend Gebhards to Hickory Chapel for who he really is: "An agent of change?" On the contrary, in a display of incredible hypocrisy, John Macarthur describes Gebhards to Hickory Chapel with the following: "[he's] a faithful and gifted man of God" [but Macarthur KNOWS that as a change agent he is an enemy of God], "he has served the Lord well in his various ministries at GCC for several years", "He loves Christ, has a passion for God's word, and is fully committed to biblical ministry." [Macarthur asks him to enter GCC as an "agent of change" (Satan's agent--to change ministries from a biblical model to a Purpose Driven model) and then Macarthur recommends him to Hickory Harvest by stating the lie that he is "fully committed to Biblical ministry."] Macarthur's double-talking hypocritical letter of recommendation continues: "Kurt is an exemplary Christian in every respect of his life," "I believe that Kurt's life and priorities are such that bring honor to the Lord", "His eagerness to be a faithful servant of the Lord is a quality that I am confident will result in much fruit in service of the King." In giving Gebhards this recommendation, John Macarthur is showing himself to be, without doubt, a liar and the enemy of Christ and His Church. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">ENDNOTES<br />1. New Age author, Jeremy Rifkin, “The Emerging Order,” p. x-xi<a name="r2"></a></div><div align="left">2. The White House: The Agenda: Service: <a href="http://change.gov/agenda/service_agenda/">http://change.gov/agenda/service_agenda/</a><br /><a name="r3"></a>3. Obama's Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships, <a href="http://usliberals.about.com/od/faithinpubliclife/a/ObamaFaithBased.htm" target="_blank">http://usliberals.about.com/od/faithinpubliclife/a/ObamaFaithBased.htm</a> 4. Gerard Colby and Charlotte Dennett, Thy Will Be Done: The Conquest of the Amazon: Nelson Rockefeller and Evangelism in the Age of Oil, HarperCollins Publisher, 1995, p. 816.<br /><a name="r5"></a>5. Promoting global government: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/standfor.html">The Communitarians</a>, <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html</a><br /><a name="r6"></a>6. The Historical Evolution of Communitarian Thinking, <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/evolution.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/evolution.html</a><br /><a name="r7"></a>7. Promoting global government: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/standfor.html">The Communitarians</a>, <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html</a><br /><a name="r8"></a>8. Promoting global government: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/standfor.html">The Communitarians</a>, <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html</a><br /><a name="9"></a>9. Promoting global government: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/standfor.html">The Communitarians</a>, <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html</a><br /><a name="10"></a>10. Promoting global government: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/standfor.html">The Communitarians</a>, <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html</a><br /><a name="11"></a>11. Promoting global government: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/standfor.html">The Communitarians</a>, <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html</a><br /><a name="12"></a>12. The Anti-Communitarian League (ACL): Talmudic Law: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/talmudiclaw.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/talmudiclaw.html</a><br /><a name="13"></a>13. The Anti-Communitarian League (ACL): Talmudic Law: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/talmudiclaw.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/talmudiclaw.html</a><br /><a name="14"></a>14. “The Role of Religion in the Communitarian Synthesis” by Niki Raapana<br /><a name="15"></a>15. The Anti-Communitarian League (ACL): Talmudic Law: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/talmudiclaw.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/talmudiclaw.html</a><br /><a name="16"></a>16. Promoting global government: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/standfor.html">The Communitarians</a>, <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html</a><br /><a name="17"></a>17. Promoting global government: <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/standfor.html">The Communitarians</a>, <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html</a><br /><a name="18"></a>18. "Under the Noahide Laws," <a href="http://watch.pair.com/law.html#noahide">http://watch.pair.com/law.html#noahide</a><br /><a name="19"></a>19. "Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Elected to Head Sanhedrin," Israel National News: <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/83438">http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/83438</a><br /><a name="20"></a>20. "Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Elected to Head Sanhedrin," Israel National News: <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/83438">http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/83438</a><br /><a name="21"></a>21. "Under the Noahide Laws," <a href="http://watch.pair.com/law.html#noahide">http://watch.pair.com/law.html#noahide</a><br /><a name="22"></a>22. "The House of God on Trial," <a href="http://watch.pair.com/church-on-trial-intro.html">http://watch.pair.com/church-on-trial-intro.html</a><br /><a name="23"></a>23. Forward to the first English translation of the Babylonian Talmud by the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, J. H. Hertz<br /><a name="24"></a>24. “The Pharisees” by Rabbi Louis Finklestein, former head of Jewish Theological Seminary of America<br /><a name="25"></a>25. Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, 1943<br /><a name="26"></a>26. Morals and Dogma, Albert Pike, p. 626.<br /><a name="27"></a>27. Mgr. Dillon, The War of Anti-Christ with the Church, p. 20<br /><a name="28"></a>28. Occult Theocracy, Edith Starr Miller<br /><a name="29"></a>29. The Jewish Religion: Its Influence Today, Ch 6, by Elizabeth Dilling, <a href="http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html">http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html</a><br /><a name="30"></a>30. The Jewish Religion: Its Influence Today, Ch 6, by Elizabeth Dilling, <a href="http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html">http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html</a><br /><a name="31"></a>31. The Jewish Religion: Its Influence Today, Ch 6, by Elizabeth Dilling, <a href="http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html">http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html</a><br /><a name="32"></a>32. "Bob Buford, Peter Drucker, and the Emerging Church," Roger Oakland, <a href="http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?p=1128&c=1">http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?p=1128&c=1</a><br /><a name="33"></a>33. Michael Schwarz, “Early Influences upon Peter Drucker's Perception of 'the Public Interest’” (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, 2002)<br /><a name="34"></a>34. John E. Flaherty, Peter Drucker: Shaping the Managerial Mind (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1999), p. 258<br /><a name="35"></a>35. "Peter Drucker on the Church and Denominations," <a href="http://www.leadnet.org/archives/netfax/1.pdf">http://www.leadnet.org/archives/netfax/1.pdf</a><br /><a name="36"></a>36. Bob Buford, "Halftime," Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994], dedication page.<br /><a name="37"></a>37. What’s wrong with the 21st Century Church by Dr. Robert Klenck<br /><a name="38"></a>38. Leadership Network 2006 IRS Return, p. 15, <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/752/208/2006-752208735-037d4203-F.pdf">http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/752/208/2006-752208735-037d4203-F.pdf</a><br /><a name="39"></a>39. <a href="http://www.gbgm-umc.org/fkumc/page2.htm">http://www.gbgm-umc.org/fkumc/page2.htm</a> (page removed, ask author for paperwork)<br /><a name="40"></a>40. <a href="http://www.catholicthought.com/new_page_6.htm">http://www.catholicthought.com/new_page_6.htm</a><br /><a name="41"></a>41, <a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53030">http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53030</a><br /><a name="42"></a>42. Heard on tape 3a here: <a href="http://www.kt70.com/%7Ejamesjpn/articles/john_todd_and_the_illuminati.htm">http://www.kt70.com/~jamesjpn/articles/john_todd_and_the_illuminati.htm</a> 43. Glenn Alexander Magee, Hegel and the Hermetic Tradition, Cornell University Press, 2001, p. 6.<br /><a name="44"></a>44. Glenn Alexander Magee, Hegel and the Hermetic Tradition, Chapter 6, “The Alchemist’s Laboratory: The Philosophy of Nature and Philosophy of Subjective Spirit,” p. 187.<br /><a name="45"></a>45. Jewish Encyclopedia, p. 474. <a href="http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html">http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html</a><br /><a name="46"></a>46. <a href="http://www.newkabbalah.com/hegel.html">http://www.newkabbalah.com/hegel.html</a>.<br /><a name="47"></a>47. Albert Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, pp.166-168.<br /><a name="48"></a>48. <a href="http://www.servantsofthelight.org/QBL/Books/Introduction.html">http://www.servantsofthelight.org/QBL/Books/Introduction.html</a><br /><a name="49"></a>49. Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, 1928, p. 154.<br /><a name="50"></a>50. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, “The Kabbalah,” p. 692.<br /><a name="51"></a>51. The Jewish Religion: Its Influence Today, Elizabeth Dilling, Ch. IV, "Judaism Not Monotheistic," <a href="http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html">http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling/chapt06.html</a><br /><a name="52"></a>52. Facilitator U: Inspiring leadership for unlimited possibilities: <a href="http://www.facilitatoru.com/">http://www.facilitatoru.com/</a><br /><a name="53"></a>53. Next Wave Church & Culture: <a href="http://www.next-wave.org/">http://www.next-wave.org/</a><br /><a name="54"></a>54. The Wellness Institute, The Personal Transformation Leadership Training: <a href="http://www.wellness-institute.org/Advanced_Training/PTI_Leadership.htm">http://www.wellness-institute.org/Advanced_Training/PTI_Leadership.htm</a><br /><a name="55"></a>55. <a href="http://myfwc.com/EDUCATOR/volunteer.htm">http://myfwc.com/EDUCATOR/volunteer.htm</a><br /><a name="56"></a>56. <a href="http://myfwc.com/EDUCATOR/volunteer.htm">http://myfwc.com/EDUCATOR/volunteer.htm</a><br /><a name="57"></a>57. <a href="http://www.floridaconservation.org/educatOR/volunteer.htm">http://www.floridaconservation.org/educatOR/volunteer.htm</a><br /><a name="58"></a>58. <a href="http://www.med.yale.edu/comer/programs_services/profdevcenters.html">http://www.med.yale.edu/comer/programs_services/profdevcenters.html</a><br /><a name="59"></a>59. <a href="http://www.joe.org/joe/1998april/iw2.html">http://www.joe.org/joe/1998april/iw2.html</a><br /><a name="60"></a>60. “What’s wrong with the 21st Century Church” by Dr. Robert Klenck<br /><a name="61"></a>61. <a href="http://justthebook.wordpress.com/category/kingdom-now/">http://justthebook.wordpress.com/category/kingdom-now/</a><br /><a name="62"></a>62. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vision-Casting-Leadership-Summit-Willow/dp/1598591266">http://www.amazon.com/Vision-Casting-Leadership-Summit-Willow/dp/1598591266</a><br /><a name="63"></a>63. <a href="http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_OccultTerms4.html">http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_OccultTerms4.html</a><br /><a name="64"></a>64. <a href="http://www.bloomington.in.us/%7Elgthscac/occultism-nam.htm">http://www.bloomington.in.us/~lgthscac/occultism-nam.htm</a><br /><a name="65"></a>65. <a href="http://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2007/07/04/crisis-in-the-church-part-3-the-new-age-contemplative-spirituality/">http://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2007/07/04/crisis-in-the-church-part-3-the-new-age-contemplative-spirituality/</a><br /><a name="66"></a>66. <a href="http://www.eaglespiritministry.com/teaching/sc/sc1.htm">http://www.eaglespiritministry.com/teaching/sc/sc1.htm</a><br /><a name="67"></a>67. <a href="http://www.ecauldron.net/groupleader.php">http://www.ecauldron.net/groupleader.php</a><br /><a name="68"></a>68. “Egregor (Egregore),” L. S. Bernstein, 1998: <a href="http://www.mystae.com/streams/scripts/egregor.html">http://www.mystae.com/streams/scripts/egregor.html</a><br /><a name="69"></a>69. L.S. Bernstein, from “Egregor”— <a href="http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html">http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html</a><br /><a name="70"></a>70. Willy Schrodter, from: Commentaries on The Occult Philosophy of Agrippa <a href="http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html">http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html</a><br /><a name="71"></a>71. The Great Secret: Occultism Unveiled, Eliphaz Levi (p.127) <a href="http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html">http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html</a><br /><a name="72"></a>72. The Watchers: <a href="http://www.fabrisia.com/thewinds.htm">http://www.fabrisia.com/thewinds.htm</a><br /><a name="73"></a>73. Wikipedia<a name="74"></a>74. “The Philosophers of Nature, Inc.” from “Fundamentals of Esoteric Knowledge: Lesson.<br /><a name="75"></a>75. <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-an-egregore">http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-an-egregore</a><br /><a name="76"></a>76. <a href="http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html">http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html</a><br /><a name="77"></a>77. Sir Ormsond IV°, from: “Saturnian Principles”— <a href="http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html">http://www.lkwdpl.org/wildideas/archegre.html</a><br /><a name="78"></a>78. <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-an-egregore">http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-an-egregore</a><br /><a name="79"></a>79. “The Egregore of a School” by Walter Ernest Butler— <a href="http://www.servantsofthelight.org/knowledge/butler-egregore.html">http://www.servantsofthelight.org/knowledge/butler-egregore.html</a><br /><a name="80"></a>80. <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-an-egregore">http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-an-egregore</a><br /><a name="81"></a>81. John Wisdom Gonce III, “A Plague of Necronomicons” in Daniel Harms & John Wisdom Gonce III, The Necronomicon Files: The Truth Behind Lovecraft's Legend.<br /><a name="82"></a>82. "Prieure de Sion", <a href="http://www.crystalinks.com/templars5.html">http://www.crystalinks.com/templars5.html</a> (Page removed)<br /><a name="83"></a>83. <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-an-egregore">http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-an-egregore</a><br /><a name="84"></a>84. http://www.ntl.org/about-history.html (Page removed)<br /><a name="85"></a>85. <a href="http://www.barefootsworld.net/tavistok.html">http://www.barefootsworld.net/tavistok.html</a><br /><a name="86"></a>86. <a href="http://www.barefootsworld.net/tavistok.html">http://www.barefootsworld.net/tavistok.html</a><br /><a name="87"></a>87. Leadership Network, NEXT Dec. 1997.<br /><a name="88"></a>88. The Business of the Kingdom, Christianity Today. Volume 43, No. 13, November 15, 1999.<br /><a name="89"></a>89. TIME Magazine, November 1, 2005<br /><a name="90"></a>90. “Hermetic Imagination: The Effect of the Golden Dawn on Fantasy Literature, Charles A. Coulombe, <a href="http://www.cheetah.net/%7Eccoulomb/hermeticimagination.html">http://www.cheetah.net/~ccoulomb/hermeticimagination.html</a><br /><a name="91"></a>91. (Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, The Temple & The Lodge, NY: Touchstone, Rockefeller Center, 1998, pp. 144-45.<br /><a name="92"></a>92. <a href="http://www.summitview.net/caregroup">http://www.summitview.net/caregroup</a><br /><a name="93"></a>93. David Hudson Lecture, Part II, <a href="http://www.lyghtforce.com/WhiteGold/hudson2.html">http://www.lyghtforce.com/WhiteGold/hudson2.html</a><br /><a name="r1"></a></div><div align="left">93a. <a href="http://www.hickorychapel.org/DesktopDefault.aspx">http://www.hickorychapel.org/DesktopDefault.aspx</a></div><div align="left">93b. <a href="http://www.harvestbiblefellowship.us/">http://www.harvestbiblefellowship.us/</a></div><div align="left">93c. <a href="http://www.harvestbiblefellowship.org/Content/10295/156611.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.harvestbiblefellowship.org/Content/10295/156611.pdf</a></div><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>PART II<br /></strong><br /><strong>THE MASTER’S ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL (TMAI)<br /></strong><br />The Masters Academy International (TMAI), along with the Master’s College, The Master’s Seminary (TMS), and Grace To You, is a GCC “associated ministry” operating under the GCC umbrella. TMAI (originally named Strategic Training Resources) was formed in 2002. TMAI is John Macarthur’s international ministry.<br /><br />The headline on the TMAI website, as well as on TMAI literature reads, “Training Church Leaders Worldwide.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2.html#94#94" target="_self">94.</a> In order to understand TMAI and what its “leaders training” involves, it might be helpful to take a very close look at the TMAI leadership itself.<br /><br /><br /><strong>TMAI LEADERSHIP</strong><br /><br /><strong>Mr. Rob Iverson—Nestle and TQM<br /></strong><br />The President and Chairman of the Board of TMAI is Mr. Rob Iverson. He’s also the Chairman of the GCC elder board, Senior VP of Grace To You and serves on the board of the Masters College. As of two years ago, Mr. Iverson was the elder in charge of overseeing the Purpose Driven GCC singles ministry called The Foundry. Not included in his TMAI bio is that Mr. Iverson is a Director of Leadership Resources International, a church growth org. (See page 19 of LRI’s <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/362/972/2007-362972097-0447fce2-9.pdf" target="_blank">2007 IRS 990 Form</a>)<br /><br />It’s not uncommon for church leaders to bring business organizational models into the churches from their workplace. As of two years ago, The Foundry ministry, which Mr. Iverson oversaw, was Purpose Driven. One can assume, therefore, that Mr. Iverson is acquainted with the organizational model, TQM. According to the TMAI website, Mr. Iverson was a senior VP for Nestle. “He was responsible for supply chain activities for more than 30 years.” Is Nestle run on TQM?<br /><br />According to the book, “The yellow brick road: Total Quality Management and the restructuring of organizational culture”: “By 1988, a group of European multinationals established the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). The 14 original members included Nestle.” The reason for this alliance (EFQM) was to promote and accelerate the usage of TQM. Nestle is the largest food company in the world. According to “Controlling the sustainability of food supply chains” by J Hambrecht, D Corsten, M Noll, and E Meier, “At Nestle, we selected an existing TQM framework as the basis for integrating supply chain controls.” Mr. Iverson was “responsible for supply chain activities” at Nestle for more than 30 years.<br /><br />It may be of interest to note that at the 2003 Shepherd’s Conference at GCC, Mr. Iverson gave a talk titled “Leadership 101.” In the Handout-Study notes for this talk, Mr. Iverson not only mentions Mother Theresa, M L King Jr., and Gandhi as leadership models, but he made the following statements: “The Bible always sees men as leaders.” And “Leadership is all about relationships.” These statements he made are slogans for the church growth movement and its leadership. At that Shepherd’s Conference, Mr. Iverson gave another talk titled “Dealing with Disunity.” In the study notes for the talk, Mr. Iverson stated another church growth adage, “God hates disunity.” On the contrary, God hates church unity facilitated by man at the expense of truth.<br /><br /><strong>Jay Letey—World Partners USA and The Center for Church-Based Training<br /></strong><br />For more than 3 years (until Jan. 2008), the Executive Director of TMAI was Mr. Jay Letey. For at least the last 2 years and while serving as Executive Director of TMAI, Mr. Letey has been a “ministry representative” for the <a href="http://www.ccbt.org/" target="_blank">Center for Church-Based Training</a>. In the 1990’s, he served as Chairman of World Partners USA. In the Dec 2007 TMAI newsletter, Mr. Iverson stated that Mr. Letey is leaving TMAI to work as a church consultant for the CCBT. Mr. Iverson said, “God is moving him along and Jay, as always, is faithful to follow.” Before we take a look at where he’s going, (CCBT), let’s take a look at where Mr. Letey has been, (World Partners USA).<br /><br />World Partners USA is the mission sending arm of <a href="http://www.mcusa.org/" target="_blank">Missionary Church</a>. Mr. Letey was its Chairman. Mr. Letey also pastored a Mission Church in the 1990’s. Missionary Church was formed by a merger of The Mennonite Brethren in Christ and the Missionary Church Association. The Missionary Church newsletter is called “Priority Newsletter.” In the Feb 2006 edition (the only edition I looked at), their president, Dr. Bill Hossler, advocated Peter Drucker’s approach to reaching the lost for Christ. He states, “Peter Drucker asked 3 significant questions: Who are our customers? What do they need? Therefore, what business are we in?”<br /><br />One ministry of Missionary Church is called the “Healthy Church Initiative (HCI).” The HCI “seeks to multiply healthy congregations through multiplying healthy disciples of Christ. By following the strategy of Jesus, churches develop a balanced, biblical model of ministry that transforms lives and empowers people to walk as Jesus walked. Assessment tools, coaching, awareness building seminars and other resources are available to help take the necessary steps toward health.” The website goes on to say, “multiplication will increase as churches catch the vision…” “Ongoing support comes through coaching and participation in incubators [small groups].” Where does Christ tell His Bride to participate in incubators? Mission Church International ministries’ “efforts focus on launching sustainable disciple-making movements that result in the development of new communities of believers.” Mission Church also has a “servant leadership initiative” and a “Global Prayer Network” to develop a network of ‘Prayer Warriors.’”<br /><br />Bethel College is the Missionary Church liberal arts college. When I clicked on the <a href="http://www.bethelcollege.edu/" target="_blank">Bethel College</a> website, one headline said, “Bethel College Community build kickoff with Habitat for Humanity.” Habitat for Humanity is an NGO of the UN.<br /><br />World Partners USA, the mission sending arm of Missionary Church, lists several organizations on its website (no longer online) that it has “enjoyed working in partnership with.” World Partners USA “recommends them.” Of the 16 organizations listed, 5 are “associate members” of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA). The WEA is a UN-NGO dedicated to the one-world agenda. The WEA’s roots are in Freemasonry.<br /><br />The World Evangelical Alliance was, until recently, named the World Evangelical Fellowship which, until 1951, was named the Evangelical Alliance. The Evangelical Alliance was founded at a missionary conference in 1846 at Freemason's Hall, Great Queen Street, London. David M. Howard, Director of the 1980 Lausanne Consultation on World Evangelism, wrote in “The Dream That Would Not Die: The birth and growth of the World Evangelical Fellowship 1846-1986”:<br /><br />“It was an impressive sight. 800 Christians, who had gathered in Freemason's Hall, Great Queen Street, London, in August, 1846, were standing to shake hands and sing the Doxology. They had just voted to establish what has been called "a new thing in Church history—a definite organization for the expression of unity amongst Christian individuals belonging to different churches… They called it ‘The Evangelical Alliance…’” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2.html#95#95" target="_self">95.</a><br /><br />The venue of the 1846 conference which founded the Evangelical Alliance is momentous. The Grand Lodge of England at Freemason Hall is the mother of all Masonic lodges, the headquarters of International Freemasonry. It was the United Grand Lodge of England that directed our Masonic Founding Fathers in the American Revolution and establishment of the U.S. government. (“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/gpm-ugle.html" target="_blank">Global Prayer & Missions Movement</a>”; “<a href="http://watch.pair.com/mason.html" target="_blank">Masonic Origins of the USA</a>”)<br /><br />In order to qualify, a WEA associate member must be “in accord with the purpose and program of WEA” and “contribute annually to it.” One WEA associate member listed on the World Partners USA site is “International Teams.” On their website (www.iteams.org) it states, “The call to ‘follow me’ means transformed people building transforming communities.” For several years the Chairman of the Board of ITeams was Brian McLaren, the cult leader of the Emergent Church.<br /><br />Another WEA associate member listed is <a href="http://www.send.org/" target="_blank">SEND International</a>. SEND is an acronym. The “D” stands for “developing leaders from among the national people.” SEND values “unity in diversity.” SEND missionaries “strive to disciple new believers into responsible, reproducing Christians who will form reproducing churches.” In the former Soviet Union “SEND was privileged to be invited by the established national church there to work UNDER (emphasis added) their authority.”<br /><br />Other World Partners USA listed WEA associated ministries include OMS International, Serving In Mission (SIM) and US Center for World Mission. These are all church growth orgs dedicated to the one-world, globalist agenda.<br /><br />Another organization that Worldpartners USA has listed as having enjoyed a partnership with is EFMA (Evangelical Foreign Mission Association). It is now called <a href="http://themissionexchange.org/index.php" target="_blank">The Mission Exchange</a>. The Mission Exchange is an affiliate of the NAE (National Association of Evangelicals). Their “core values” include Synergy, Diversity, Crossing Cultures and Relationships. The mission of the Mission Exchange “is to facilitate relational and developmental initiatives that increase the effectiveness of the Great Commission community.” Its president, Steve Moore, has an MA in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has “more than a decade of experience developing young leaders in a global context.” Their third president and current “Ambassador at Large” is Paul McKaughan. McKaughan served as COO for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism. He directed Billy Graham’s crusades in Brazil (1962) and in Rio de Janeiro (1975). He served on the executive committee of the World Evangelical Alliance. He attended Fuller Seminary Institute of Church Growth (1966-67) and he is/was a member of the <a href="http://www.wfs.org/" target="_blank">World Future Society</a>. Directors of the World Future Society include the New Age leader Barbara Marx Hubbard and Maurice Strong, former Under Secretary General of the UN and Secretary General of the UN Earth Summit. The World Future Society is in partnership with <a href="http://www.millennium-project.org/favicon.ico" target="_blank">The Millenium Project</a>, World Federation of UN Associations.<br /><br />Mr. Jay Letey was the Executive Director of Grace Church’s TMAI for more than 3 years; prior to that, he was Chairman of World Partners USA. It’s clear that World Partners USA is a globalist church growth org that has working connections with many other church growth orgs dedicated to the one-world agenda. Mr. Letey has been a ministry representative for the Center for Church-Based Training (CCBT) for at least 2 years (since I’ve seen the evidence) and, according to Mr. Iverson, he’ll be leaving TMAI to work as a church consultant for the CCBT. Let’s now take a look at the CCBT.<br /><br />The CCBT’s motto is “bring all to maturity and many to leadership.” They seek to “develop leaders in the local church.” They (CCBT) are “developing leaders…for the sake of multiplying churches around the world.” Their “people development…includes life on life mentoring in the context of authentic community.” Their website states that “this kind of leadership development involves much more than just offering courses. It is a process…” They are “thrilled to hear that their church-based training has transformed lives.”<br /><br />The CCBT offers seminars for “discipleship training and leadership development.” One seminar they offer is “to make Leadership Development a core ministry value…” These seminars “will move your people beyond information toward transformation.” They offer a seminar track called “leaders training leaders.” The CCBT wants to disciple the nations “through healthy churches.” The CCBT has designed an elder retreat which initiates “learning in community.” This retreat will “help your board be revitalized with unity, vision and purpose.” The CCBT states, “In our leadership teams, we need to plan for things that facilitate community.”<br /><br />The CCBT offers a resource called “The Leadership Baton” which “provides a solution, a comprehensive approach to helping churches facilitate the emergence of a leadership development ‘culture’ within their church.” The CCBT lists people on its website who have praised “The Leadership Baton.” Most notable on the list is Bob Buford, Chairman of the Leadership Network. Mr. Buford states, “The Leadership Baton describes a coherent, sustainable strategy for success in this critical area.”<br /><br />How does the CCBT intend to “transform lives,” “develop leaders” and “facilitate authentic community?” One resource they are offering is called “The Discovery Series—a discipleship series for small groups.” The series costs $140. If one follows this series, in 48 weeks “spiritual maturity” will be achieved. The ad states, “The CCBT Six Step Wisdom Process and the facilitator-led, interactive small group studies open the way for life transformation…” Facilitator-led interactive small groups!?! Need I remind the reader that these groups are not only the basis for church growth, but are also the basis for mind control, demonic control and worldwide satanic transformation?<br /><br />From the CCBT one can purchase a 4 course series called “The Church Leadership Series.” It costs $240. This series “is designed to train and unify your emerging and existing leaders.” The CCBT offers a book called “Elders and Leaders.” The book’s description says, “You’ll be introduced to our basic research paradigm…and the way we ‘defined our terms.’” Terms take on new meaning in the transformation process. For instance, in the new paradigm, “spiritual maturity” no longer means being steadfast in the faith; it now means having a “willingness to compromise.”<br /><br />One course in the CCBT’s Leadership Development series is called “The Word.” It costs $60. The ad states, “This course will result in life transformation and life-long learning.” Life transformation and life-long learning are Communitarian goals. Life-long learning was promoted by UNESCO and later was incorporated in America’s Goals 2000 Plan. There exists a UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL). Life-long learning means being a life-long change agent. It means being subjected to life-long social engineering from which there will be no escape. The church growth movement has now brought this same social engineering into the churches. Notice as well that the CCBT doesn’t say that their Leadership Development series results in Christian sanctification. “Leadership Development” is a vehicle with which to propagate Communitarian transformational goals.<br /><br />Does the evidence, thus far, show that Mr. Letey, the former Chairman of World Partners USA and the consultant for the CCBT, has been “faithful to God” as Mr. Iverson stated in his farewell letter? Or does the evidence show that Mr. Letey has been faithful to the globalist, transformational goals of the church growth movement? Regarding both Mr. Letey and Mr. Iverson: “Can two walk together, lest they be agreed?” Amos 3:3.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr. Bill Molinari—the Chairman of Leadership Resources International</span></strong><br /><br />Another member of the TMAI board of directors is Mr. Bill Molinari. According to his TMAI bio, “Mr. Molinari worked for 21 years for Van Kampen Funds, a Morgan Stanley company, where he served as President.” Van Kampen Funds is a mutual fund company. His bio goes on to say that “previously he served as Executive Director for <a href="http://www.leadershipresources.org/" target="_blank">Leadership Resources International</a> (LRI), an organization focused on training pastors oversees.” TMAI states that Mr. Molinari previously served as Executive Director for LRI with the implication that he no longer works there. Mr. Molinari, the TMAI board member, is not only currently listed on the LRI website as being their Executive Director, but he is also currently the Chairman of their Board of Directors. This information is significant because LRI is a church growth org. (See page 19 of LRI’s <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/362/972/2007-362972097-0447fce2-9.pdf" target="_blank">2007 IRS 990 Form</a>) As stated previously, Mr. Rob Iverson, President and Chairman of the Board of TMAI, as well as Chairman of the GCC elder board, is a Director of LRI.<br /><br />LRI’s motto is “Launching Pastoral Training Movements Worldwide.” LRI states that “the numerical growth of the evangelical Church around the world greatly exceeds the number of trained pastors available to lead these churches.” It’s remarkable that according to church growth leaders, God can quicken dead men for Christ, but He apparently is unable to raise up pastors and teachers among them in adequate supply. LRI also wants to train pastors who will reproduce. They say, “We must accelerate pastoral training if large numbers of pastors are going to be equipped. Our TNT (Training National Trainers) ministry is a multiplication model in which we invest our lives in a small group of godly, gifted pastor-trainers and then resource them to invest their lives in many other pastors. We make a 3-4 yr. commitment to a given group of TNTers. Then, every 3-6 months, our team spends a full week with these TNTers for in-depth training, extensive debriefing, feedback and assessment.”<br /><br />LRI’s International Ministry Overview gives more insight into this pastoral training: “Our training is highly relational and learner-centered, focusing on high levels of learner engagement, participation and dialogue, small group work, feedback, and accountability.” This description of “pastoral training” sounds exactly like the rules for facilitating small groups. LRI does offer a course that “will help you train your small groups and cell church leaders.” LRI believes “servant leadership should be modeled.” Their pastoral training in Latin America “has workshops which focus on Sunday school teachers and cell group leaders.” Pastors are encouraged to join with the LRI staff to participate in their training ministries. For those who participate, they add, “We can almost guarantee a life-changing, vision-impacting experience.” For those who would want to partner with LRI, “For $4800, you or your church could fund an entire life-changing regional workshop.” Another resource offered by LRI is a book by President Bill Mills, “Changed: Experiencing God’s Transforming Power.” “You will learn how to build and maintain healthy relationships” describes the contents of another book offered by Mr. Mills.<br /><br />Five men are listed on LRI’s “Leadership Profile.” In addition to Bill Molinari and Bill Mills, there is Americo Saavedra. His bio states, “His passion to see healthy churches reproducing healthy disciples led him to develop TNT (Training National Trainers), a non-formal model of pastoral training now being implemented worldwide.”<br /><br />Another LRI leader profiled is Mr. Craig Parro, the Director of LRI’s international ministry. Mr. Parro also sits on the board of directors of <a href="http://www.topic.us/" target="_blank">TOPIC</a> (Training of Pastors International Coalition). His LRI bio describes TOPIC as “an association of pastoral training organizations focused on accelerating pastoral training worldwide.”<br /><br />TOPIC is another <a href="http://www.worldevangelicals.org/members/globalpartners.htm" target="_blank">World Evangelical Alliance</a> (WEA) associate member as well as a WEA Global Partner. TOPIC’s vision wants “every church with equipped and maturing pastoral leadership by the year 2010.” I have often seen the year 2010 mentioned in church growth orgs and I believe that this is because big changes are planned for the world by this date. TOPIC is a major church growth org that much could be written about. They have leaders and ambassadors working for them from orgs like Willow Creek, DAWN Ministries, World Vision International (a WEA Global Partner) and the Church Growth Association of India just to name a few. TOPIC has a list of partners that includes Purpose Driven International, Campus Crusade for Christ, and orgs with names like Church Leadership Development International and Church Planting International. TOPIC also partners with <a href="http://www.tnetwork.com/" target="_blank">T-Net International</a>, “a worldwide training network for disciplemaking churches.”<br /><br />The front page of the T-NET website features a quote from R Warren: “Bill (Hull, founder T-Net International) understands that the way to grow healthy, balanced churches is through a people-building process, rather than church programs. Listen and learn from him.” What is this people-building process that Warren is referring to? It’s the dialectic process and “team-building” exercises as manifested in TQM and change agent-led small groups. The T-Net website front page states, “For over a decade T-Net has been guiding churches in developing their own definition of a disciple. We help them equip a team of change-agents who will reshape their church to make it happen.” T-Net comes right out and admits it: “We equip change-agents.”<br /><br />TOPIC also partners with <a href="http://www.equippingpastors.com/" target="_blank">Equipping Pastors International</a> (EPI) . EPI is another church growth org and RC Sproul is listed on their Board of Reference.<br /><br />“Popular author and teacher R.C. Sproul, president of Ligonier Ministries, has spoken at Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral on numerous occasions. He spoke at Schuller's church in September 21, 1984, then at John MacArthur's church three days later. Again Sproul spoke at Schuller's church in October 26, 1986, and then at MacArthur's church on October 29. This reveals the importance of practicing biblical separation. To our knowledge, John MacArthur has not personally promoted Schuller, but he has men in to speak at his church who are so spiritually blind that they work hand-in-hand with a heretic like Robert Schuller. This is a great confusion. Some would label this “second degree separation,” but that is nonsense. To separate from a man such as Sproul who is disobeying the clear commands of the Word of God to mark and avoid false teaching is not some kind of secondary separation. It is wisdom and it is obedience.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2.html#96#96" target="_self">96.</a><br /><br />In addition to being the Chairman of the Board of Leadership Resources International, Mr. Molinari, according to his TMAI bio “served on the board of Grace To You and Pioneers Mission.” Grace To You is another GCC ministry and Pioneers International is listed as another WEA associate member. His TMAI bio also states that “he [Mr. Molinari] is a member of the <a href="http://www.harvestbible.org/" target="_blank">Harvest Bible Chapel</a> in Elgin, Illinois.” According to the Harvest Bible Chapel website, Mr. Molinari serves as the Director of Operations at Harvest Bible Fellowship. <span style="color:#3366ff;">96a </span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">Harvest Bible Fellowship is the church planting arm of Harvest Bible Chapel. There are more than 40 Harvest Bible Chapel affiliates. Having been to many of their websites, I would describe them as church growth churches and hybrids of the PDC model. Kurt Gebhards, the pastor who ran the Purpose Driven Foundry ministry at GCC, is now the head pastor of Hickory Community Chapel in North Carolina. <span style="color:#3366ff;">96b. </span>Hickory Chapel is a Harvest Bible Chapel affiliate. In June 2009, Bill Molinari sent a letter to Hickory Chapel recommending Kurt Gebhards to be their pastor. He described Gebhards as a "passionate theologian" with a proven "godly character." <span style="color:#3366ff;">96c.</span> </span></div><p>The front page of the Harvest Bible Chapel website has two headlines: “Walk with Christ in a small group.” And “get plugged into a small group today.” Their website states, “Harvest is a church of Small Groups.” The website goes on to say, “Small Groups are not ‘another thing’ at Harvest, they are the main channel for discipleship and care for each person who is a part of the Harvest Family.” The website states, “Each small group is lead by a trained Small Group leader.” The “small groups are designed to help you develop significant relationships with others.” Some “small groups at Harvest are called F.O.C.I.S. Groups.” A “focus group” could be another term for a dialectic session. Each Harvest Small Group “is committed to both ‘Mutual Ministry’ and ‘Multiplication.’ Multiplication means eventually forming 2 or more groups.” Once group members are transformed, then they will naturally want to form other groups to transform others.<br /><br />One resource at Harvest Bible Chapel is called the “Leaders toolbox.” This resource is “to equip our leaders.” It appears that the Harvest small groups or cells are also arranged for top-down control because their website states, “Small Group leaders must receive approval of their Flock Leader prior to beginning a Curriculum option.” I have noticed that some other churches call their small groups “flocks.” It looks like Harvest Bible Chapel is conformed to the cell church model which means that it will be easy to transition this “church of small groups” into the networks which will constitute the world government. This congregation’s loyalty and accountability to their Flock Leaders will be transferred to the anti-Christ.<br /><br />Bill Molinari, TMAI board member, has been a member of the <a href="http://www.sga.org/" target="_blank">Slavic Gospel Association</a> (SGA) board according to his TMAI bio. According to the SGA website, SGA is an international ministry that operates “an office staffed by nationals at the headquarters of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia in Moscow (UECB).” The SGA website goes on to say, “Since 1997, SGA has been privileged to serve as the official representative of the Russian UECB in North America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.” The UECB is a member of the World Baptist Alliance, a UN-NGO.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Dr. Irv Busenitz—served as a representative for Evangelism-In-Depth, a church growth org<br /></span></strong><br />The TMAI website lists 6 men on their Board of Directors. One of them is Dr. Irv Busenitz. According to “<a href="http://www.hamaderabible.jp/rj-e/rj_2007">Reformation Japan</a>,” the name of the first pastors’ conference hosted by the TMAI center in Japan, “Dr. Busenitz is an administrative VP of the Master’s Seminary and has been involved in leadership/pastoral training for many years.” The website goes on to say, “He (Busenitz)…served for 2 years as a representative for <a href="http://www.eidministry.org/" target="_blank">Evangelism-In-Depth</a>, a ministry involving leadership in church growth seminars in the South West.”<br /><br />On the Evangelism-In-Depth (EID) website it states, “EID promotes the concept of Total Mobilization of the believer to give verbal testimony of their faith in Christ. To accomplish the mobilization of the believer, EID assists the local church in establishing a New Attitude About Evangelism.” Christians should beware of anything promoted by the church growth orgs as being “new.” The result of EID’s instructive 10 hr. seminar will be “a multiplication of Christian communicators.” Would they approve of the multiplication of true Christian communicators who communicated truth boldly and without compromise? EID has a vision statement which states that “EID is a centrifugal movement…” On the top of the page with the vision statement is the quote from Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Church growth orgs often use this verse to justify their vision statements and vision casting. This verse, however, refers to God’s prophetic vision and not to some man-made organizational vision. EID “is directed by an International Board with the vision of seeing the Total Mobilization of all believers…with global objectives.” EID “wants to establish a National Headquarters in every nation.”<br /><br />Often the best indicator of the biblical quality of a ministry is the quality of those endorsing it. Who has endorsed EID? On the EID “Testimonies” page, a testimony is given by Luis Palau. He states, “I believe EID was born in the heart of God, and for that reason, I recommend it.” It is generally known among Christians that Luis Palau is a false Christian. The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association is also a <a href="http://www.worldevangelicals.org/members/associates.htm" target="_blank">WEA</a> associate ministry. Palau, who is highly ecumenical, had an 8-week “Say yes, Chicago” crusade in 1996. One of the sponsoring churches was the church growth org., Willowcreek CC. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2.html#97#97" target="_self">97.</a> Another EID testimony exhorts pastors “to ‘catch the vision’ of EID.” EID offers a seminar which includes topics like “Dynamic growth in the Early Church” and “Church Growth in the book of Acts.”<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Mr. David Deuel and Joni and Friends Ministry<br /></strong><br /></span>Another member of the TMAI board of directors is Mr. David Deuel. Mr. Deuel “has served as board secretary to The Master’s Academy International since its inception.” He served on a “governor’s advisory committee for former California Governor, Pete Wilson.” And according to his TMAI bio, he served as a regional director for Joni and Friends Ministry.<br /><br />Joni Eareckson Tada is the founder and CEO of Joni and Friends Ministry. According to the <a href="http://www.joniandfriends.org/" target="_blank">Joni and Friends</a> website, her role “as a disability advocate led to a presidential appointment to the National Council on Disability for 3 1/2 years, during which time the Americans with Disability Act became law.” Many believe “The Americans with Disability Act” to be unconstitutional.<br /><br />Joni and Friends is an international ministry that has both a vision and mission statement. Their mission: “We train, disciple, and mentor people affected by disability to exercise their gifts of leadership and service in the church and their communities.” They want “to equip and train leaders in carrying out disability ministry.” Through their ‘Church Relations Team’ and their Church training programs..: “your church will catch the vision, have life changing opportunities to serve…”<br /><br />Joni and Friends lists a number of their “International Initiatives.” The first is called “Total Access Outreach.” Total Access Outreach is for “empowering the national church to be a change agent in society through training members to make schools, home hospitals, etc. accessible.” Joni and Friends wants to manipulate church members into affecting social change in society. Beware of those, like Joni and her friends, who would wish to “empower” you in some way. “To be empowered” is transformational language that means “to be deceived.”<br /><br />Joni and Friends lists several affiliates. One is called “Global Transformation Network” (GTN). This network claims to be “dedicated to demonstrating the love of Christ.” They “demonstrate God’s love by empowering the at risk to free themselves from poverty and discrimination.” Their mission statement sums up their goals: “To be a catalytic change agent networking, informing, mobilizing and equipping advocates in government, non-government organizations, educational and medical institutions, church and media to cause spiritual, physical and economic transformation…” “The Global Transformation Network partners with other organizations around the world to implement sustainable projects and affect positive change among the at risk (poor, disabled and disadvantaged) through capacity building, leadership training…” One of the “partner links” at GTN is to www.purposedrivenlife.com.<br /><br />Another Joni and Friends affiliate is called “<a href="http://www.provisionasia.com/" target="_blank">Pro-Vision Asia</a>”. Their vision statement: “We want to see people holistically transformed and empowered to lead abundant lives.” Their mission statement: “To inspire hope to provide an environment that fosters transformation, and to share our vision with those who seek a positive future.”<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Mr. Ken Fuller<br /></strong><br /></span>Ken Fuller is the Vice Chairman of the TMAI board of directors. According to his TMAI bio, “He serves as the Executive Director of the Believer’s Foundation, which is dedicated to the training of pastors worldwide.” Mr. Fuller also sits on the board of directors of Ministerios Evangelicos de las Americas (MEDA, the TMAI center in Honduras) and “teaches at the Grace Bible Training Center in Brandon, FL.” Let’s now focus on one mission org listed on the Grace Bible Church in Brandon website.<br /><br />Grace Bible Church (www.gbcb.org) in Brandon, Fl. lists 3 missions organizations on their website. One of them is TMAI and another is <a href="http://www.mastersmission.org/" target="_blank">The Masters Mission</a> (TMM). TMM has a Missionary Preparation Extension Program with GCC’s The Master’s College. Studying for a semester at TMM can earn one credit toward a Biblical Studies degree at The Masters College. TMM is a 501(c)(3) organization.<br /><br />TMM “is a training and sending organization for ministries wanting to start new work in relatively unreached areas.” The training base is on 1500 acres in North Carolina. Spring Break at TMM “is students coming from various colleges and universities during their break to work on projects that help the development of the base.” It appears from a photo on the TMM website that several students from the Masters College have been sent there to work during Spring Break. What kinds of projects might the Masters College students be working on at the TMM training base during their break?<br /><br />The projects include: “Clearing mountain ridge for an airstrip. Radio tower maintenance. Mechanical shop maintenance. Auto mechanical and body works projects. Welding Projects. Painting and staining boat docks and buildings. Digging and pouring foundations. Building retaining walls, seeding, fertilizing, road work…” How much will a student on break get paid for this work? It’s volunteer work. It costs the student round trip air fare and $25/day for meals and housing.<br /><br />TMM believes that “missionaries should be willing to do hard work side by side with the people they are ministering to.” A Christian who aspires to be a TMM missionary will be required to attend classes at the training base in North Carolina where they will learn, among other things, “technical skills,” before being sent into the mission field. Some of the skills they will learn include “timber harvesting, heavy construction, mechanics, station planning and water systems.” The TMM website states, “Join the Masters Mission family in…planting churches that meet both physical and spiritual needs by establishing children’s homes, medical clinics, water systems, community development projects, and theological training for pastors.” This year-long missionary training program costs $13,110 for tuition and fees.<br /><br />One leader of TMM attempts to justify this works ministry/social gospel by stating, “As a missionary, you validate yourself only if you’re useful. Practical service creates a platform for spiritual ministry. And that process takes time; on the mission field I have never seen a person come to Christ with an intelligent decision in less than 2 years.” By this missionary’s standards, a Christian preaching the “pearl of great price” on foreign soil would be deemed invalid and useless unless he was willing to pick up a trowel and work. This missionary also holds to the false belief that one needs to first establish a relationship before the gospel can be preached.<br /><br />Another TMM missionary explains the true nature of their “missionary work” in Kenya: “We moved into Gatab, Kenya,” Jim says, “where senior missionaries had located a healthful place with a good water supply for a mission station. Then we built roads, a water system, and an airstrip for medical emergencies. We built a church building and simple houses for us and the pastors. We worked with the people to get veterinary help for their livestock. We worked with them as they grew corn they could store for the dry season.” If missionaries came to my impoverished country and did all this work for me, gratis, then I think I may, in time, oblige them with a decision for their “Christ.” (Keep in mind that The Master’s College is supporting TMM with volunteer labor.) Why are missionaries laboring like this? Is this the kind of laboring Apostle Paul had in mind when he said he labored above all else?<br /><br />The goal of the church growth movement is to transition the churches into an “equal partnership” with business and government: Drucker’s 3 legged stool. The plan basically calls for the “Christian” church workers to be the welfare workers for this envisioned Communitarian system. The deceived Christian, digging water wells somewhere in the third world, thinking he’s serving God, will actually be working toward the fulfillment of the global Communitarian goals. These “missionary” activities described by the TMM missionary are in accord with the New World Order standards for “Christian” world missions: be social workers, and keep the “new converts” controlled in small groups. These activities are also in accord with the UN development goals (sustainable development). </p><br /><div align="left">R Warren, the CFR member and Southern Baptist, has cast his vision toward the fulfillment of this globalist agenda which he call his PEACE plan. PEACE being an acronym (P=planting churches (since changed to “promote reconciliation), E=equipping servant leaders, A=assisting the poor, C=curing the sick, E=educating the next generation). Warren’s vision calls for “one billion foot soldiers” to solve the world’s problems—apart from God. These foot soldiers will include Christian volunteers serving in their place within the church-state alliance.<br /><br />Is it believable that world leaders want to help the world’s poor and cure the sick? Or are these idealistic goals, like PEACE, just a lure intended to bring the churches into their proper alignment within the 3-legged stool (Communitarian system)? How else could the church be drawn into this Communitarian partnership without appeals being made to a social gospel of PEACE devoid of the true gospel message?<br /><br />Church growth orgs, being dedicated to this Communitarian agenda, are now entering partnerships with business and foreign governments. R Warren plans to transform Rwanda into the first Purpose Driven nation. Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, spoke at Saddleback Church on April 15, 2005. He said, “Rwanda is interested in forming business relationships with people in this country and we will be more than happy to tell you about the investment opportunities that are available.” Kagame, speaking at a “church,” is inviting business to partner with his government. Since business is one leg of Drucker’s stool, when Warren’s small groups go to Rwanda, they may also be working toward the fulfillment of business interests.<br /><br />Bruce Wilkinson, author of The Prayer of Jabez, is a leader in the effort to transform Africa (He partners with World Vision [UN-NGO]). Wilkinson was the keynote speaker for the “Transformation Namibia” celebration held on May 1, 2003 (May Day is a major Satanic holiday, Beltaine). The “<a href="http://www.thenamibiandream.info/" target="_blank">Transformation Namibia</a>” website states that their “ambition is all about government, business and church leaders joining hands to address the real needs of our country.” This means their ambition is to implement Communitarianism in Namibia. What kind of gospel do government and business leaders join hands with? Their mission is “transforming Africa through unity and prayer, as we mobilize the body of Christ, and all spheres of society, community by community, nation by nation, with the full gospel of Jesus Christ.” “Transformation Namibia’s” strategy is “to facilitate a national leadership strategy.” And “to formalize measurable targets per main focus areas for March 2010 and March 2030.” “Measurable targets” may refer to the measurable goals demanded by the global communitarian system. Church growth leaders are pragmatists who validate efforts by measurable results. Men like Noah would have been kicked off his church growth leadership team.<br /><br />Church growth leaders desire much more than to transform Christians and their churches. Church growth leaders will say they desire to transform communities, nations and even entire continents. What do they mean? I believe these transformational goals refer to the subversion and transformation of national governments by Communitarian partnerships. Of course, all this transformation will occur “in the name of Christ.” But are church growth leaders transforming the world for Jesus Christ, who said His Kingdom is not of this world? Or are they transforming the world for Satan and his leadership?<br /><br />[The following information is for those interested in the TMM money trail: Mr. Ken Fuller is the Executive Director of The Believers Foundation. Robert and Lorena Jaeb funded the Believer’s Foundation. Stephen Jaeb, their son, is a “servant-leader (Elder)” at Grace Bible Church in Brandon and he also sits on the board of directors of TMM. According to the <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/363/056/2007-363056074-044b71df-9.pdf" target="_blank">2007 IRS form 990</a>, from 2003-2006, Stephen Jaeb gave $201,685 to TMM and his parents gave $593,000.<br /><br />According to the 2007 IRS form 990, Grace Foundation from 2003-2006 gave $2,146,759 to TMM. Grace Foundation also contributed to Bill Molinari’s church of small groups, Harvest Bible Fellowship. Bill Molinari was the President of Van Kampen Funds. From 2003-2006, Judith Van Kampen, who is listed as a Director of Grace Foundation, contributed $384,320 to TMM. The last of TMM’s 5 major contributors listed on the IRS form is <a href="http://www.gracechurchofdupage.org/" target="_blank">Grace Church of Dupage</a>. From 2003-2006, TMM received $284,589 from Grace Church of Dupage.<br /><br />Grace Church of Dupage is another transformational ministry. It has both a purpose and vision statement. It has “cell groups” that meet in various homes and “small groups” “for relationship building.” In one place its website states that because “The method Christ used focused on relationship building. We desire to be a relational student ministry with a purpose.” (Did Christ focus on building human relationships?) Men at Dupage are encouraged to “join an accountability group.” And they are reminded “the Christian life is a battle that cannot be fought alone.” Grace Church of Dupage wants to “facilitate” relationships among their women in various ways. Genesis, their middle school ministry, “comes together every Wednesday night in the cry room for a time of group activities, ice-breakers, interactive small groups and lots of fun. On the 4th Wednesday Genesis will participate in some kind of relationship building event such as rock climbing, laser tag, pizza party, etc.” Grace Church of Dupage also has FLOCKS, an organized small groups ministry, for, among other things, leadership training, and to “serve one another’s needs.” Grace Church of Dupage is clearly a transformational ministry built on a human relationship paradigm.]<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr. Len Crowley—the Managing Director for Counsel & Capital</span></strong><br />Another man who could be considered an important TMAI leader is Mr. Len Crowley. Mr. Crowley was once a pastor at Grace Community Church and in addition to teaching at TMAI centers, is the Managing Director for <a href="http://www.counselandcapital.org/" target="_blank">Counsel&Capital</a> (C&C). C&C is in the business of “bridging the gap between ministries and their prospective donors.” C&C provides ministries with counsel that will enable the ministry to obtain more capital. TMAI is a “client ministry” of C&C. According to the TMAI prospectus, Len Crowley “was trained for ministry under the teaching of John Macarthur and GCC.”<br /><br />The C&C vision statement: “To inspire ministries to effectively connect with left-brain, major donors, igniting increased impact, thus transforming “the matter of giving and receiving (Phil 4:15).” Their mission: “To build bridges of accountability and trust between left-brain, major donors and ministries by transplanting functions of the investment banker into the Christian non-profit community.” C&C believes a problem is that “all too often a gulf exists between donors and ministries.” They call the solution to this problem “the paradigm addition-communication tools that connect and create confidence with major donors.”<br /><br />Among the board members of C&C are Jack Modesett Jr., a Board Member of Christianity Today and its Chairman as of 2006, and Fred Smith Sr. [now deceased] who “was a contributing editor to ‘Leadership’ and a past director of Christianity Today, Youth for Christ and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2.html#98#98" target="_self">98.</a> Christianity Today, founded by Billy Graham in 1956, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association are completely dedicated to the globalist goals of the church growth movement.<br /><br />“In Billy Graham and His Friends (which came out November 2001) I mention (and fully document) a number of Masons who have close ties to Billy Graham. Several of Graham's staff have been Masons such as William M. Watson who was the director of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Corporation (BGEA), David M. McConnell, also a director of the BGEA, and Arthur Lee Malory who was the co-chairman of the Billy Graham Crusade Advisory Committee for the St. Louis Crusade in 1973.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2.html#99#99" target="_self">99.</a><br /><br />The C&C website lists resources they recommend for our reading. One article is called “Principled Governance” by Len Crowley. Under the headline, “Forging Unity,” and the sub-headline, “Making decisions by genuine consensus,” Mr. Crowley, advising church boards, admits “genuine consensus building in board decision making is hard work.” Consensus building is another term for the group dialectic process. Should church boards make decisions based on consensus (what they can all agree upon and feel good about), or should they make decisions based on obedience to God’s Word? Traditional governance makes decisions by obedience to higher authority or by adhering to truth or by debate or by majority vote. A transformational governance makes decisions based on consensus.<br /><br />Under the headline, “Yoking Vision with Plan,” Mr. Crowley states that every organization needs a vision which is “motivating and unifying.” He goes on to say that any plan should include “measurable goals.” Under the headline “Cultivating Transparency,” Mr. Crowley states, “Transparency means cultivating an environment of honest, open communication within an organization. It is vital to its health.” “Transparency,” another transformational term, facilitates team building. Transparency in the environment, I believe, implies a kind of vulnerable openness where organization members have a willingness to confess their thoughts and feelings so that they can be synthesized to consensus through dialogue.<br /><br />Another C&C recommended resource is an article written by the C&C President called “Reaching the left-brain donor.” The article states, “John D Rockefeller, patriarch of the Rockefeller family, may have been such a donor [left brain]…Historians suggest that the nervous breakdown Rockefeller suffered was due to the difficulties he faced trying to accomplish his philanthropic responsibility. While token givers may be labeled selfish, many, like Rockefeller, desperately want to give generously to humanity.”<br /><br />Rockefeller’s agenda for the Christian Church was its transformation. “In the fostering of Marxism in the churches through such agencies as the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, by the Rockefeller Foundation, there emerges the idea that the real intent and purpose is the destruction of religion as we know it and its replacement by ancient concepts of religion…” “The mask of religiosity, combined with the sham of pseudo-philanthropy, was invaluable in blinding the public to the true nature of the activities of the Rockefeller interests.” “The clear-cut statement of Rockefeller’s purpose in his ‘philanthropies’ has never been lost to sight by the Rockefellers or their agents. That purpose from the start, was, and still is, a ‘new social order,’ the establishment of a dictatorship in the United States.” (Emanuel Josephson’s “Rockefeller ‘Internationalist’”, NY: Chedney Press, 1952)<br /><br />Counsel & Capital lists on their website 14 of their “client ministries.” Several, if not all of them, are new paradigm Communitarian orgs. In addition to TMAI, their clients include Joni and Friends, SEND International and <a href="http://www.helpcurenow.org/site/c.nvI1IeNYJyE/b.3389445/k.B837/Non_Profit_Charity_Help_for_Physically_Disabled_Children.htm" target="_blank">Cure International</a> (<a href="http://www.helpcurenow.org/">http://www.helpcurenow.org/</a>).<br /><br />The motto on the Cure International website is “healing changes everything.” Under “get involved” it states, “being a part of something much bigger than yourself has a way of transforming your life.” This is General Systems Theory (GST), the theory behind the practice of TQM. In GST, we must all see ourselves as part of the greater whole. We are all interdependent. A butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon can cause an avalanche in Alaska. We are useless without relationships. There are no lone saints! The Cure website states, “450,000 children have already had their lives transformed by CURE…and their families have experienced equally miraculous transformation.” If a child is cured, why does that transform all other family members? “CURE’s” operational model is designed “to ultimately increase the healthy capacity of the indigenous people…” To increase the “healthy capacity” of the people could mean to increase a capacity for openness and compromise within the people. “Components of our faith ministry include ‘Leadership Development.’” In addition to being cured, they’ll be made “leaders” (change-agents).<br /><br />Another C&C “client ministry” is <a href="http://www.ibsstl.org/index.php" target="_blank">International Bible Society</a> (IBS). IBS is a <a href="http://www.worldevangelicals.org/members/associates.htm" target="_blank">World Evangelical Alliance</a> associated ministry. IBS is “the translation sponsor of the NIV.” Their vision: “What we do each year must be in concert with the vision of the future.” Not in concert with God’s Word?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chfus.org/" target="_blank">Children’s Hunger Fund</a> (CHF) is another C&C client ministry. Their website states, “CHF builds strong relationships with indigenous leaders.” In “about us,” CHF wants “to meet thousands of needs that exist in the world today…help transform children’s lives from hunger to hope.”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.biola.edu/" target="_blank">Biola University</a> is another C&C client ministry. Their front webpage has a headline: “Biola Goes Green.” It goes on to say, “In honor of Earth Day, Biola University celebrates its efforts across campus to “Go Green.” A “Christian University” is honoring the pagan Earth Day? On May 24, 2008, Rick Warren gave the undergraduate commencement address at Biola. John Macarthur graduated from Biola University's seminary.<br /><br />Another C&C client ministry is <a href="http://www.crown.org/" target="_blank">Crown Financial Ministries</a> (CFM). CFM offers a “Life Group Study” called “Biblical Financial Study.” To prepare to lead this study CFM offers “Life Group Leader Training.” This Study is designed to last 10 weeks. In the sample Crown Biblical Financial Study Leaders Guide, concerning “group size” the leaders guide states, “We limit the size of the group because the group dynamic is damaged if the group is too large.” Why are they concerned with group size and dynamic? In a didactic financial study, just like a didactic Bible study, the size of the group would only be limited by the size of the room. CFM is concerned with group size and dynamic because this isn’t a didactic study where the leader will “teach to facts.” The study says that for 10 minutes each group member “shares creative ideas on how to save money.” Then for 70 min. they have a “group discussion.” This conforms to dialectical guidelines where each group member opens up and shares and then a leader facilitates a discussion (dialogue) to consensus.<br /><br />It matters little to change agents whether the diverse group is meeting to talk about financial matters, world hunger, curing the sick, the Bible, or whether they are going to a restaurant, or enjoying fun summer BBQ’s, or playing miniature golf. All that matters is that they are together, that they are sharing, that they are open to seeing matters from each other’s viewpoint, that they are experiencing compromise, finding common ground, and are being transformed into group thinkers who will always have a willingness to compromise Truth for group consensus.<br /><br />Another C&C client ministry is The Seed Company (www.theseedcompany.org). Their vision statement is “Creatively networking God's people around the world to translate the Bible into every language for his glory.” Networking God’s people? “Partnerships are an integral part of The Seed Company vision.”<br /><br />Len Crowley has also served on the International Executive Committee of SEND International (WEA associate member). And Mr. Crowley, like Mr. Jay Letey, is also a ministry representative for the Center for Church-Based Training (CCBT). Mr. Crowley is also a teaching pastor for <a href="http://www.northword.org/" target="_blank">Northword Church</a>.<br /><br />Northword has both a purpose and vision statement. Their vision “is to know and love the Lord Jesus transformed by His power.” On the Northword website in “our values” under the subtitle “giving ourselves” the first sentence reads, “Transformation occurs in community.” If Jesus has the ability to transform us, as the Northword website states, then why do they emphasize that “transformation occurs in community?” Because the transformation they are referring to is facilitated by man and is not a work of God.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Dr. David A. Wismer</span></strong><br /><br />The only TMAI board member I have yet to mention is Dr. David A Wismer. He is the treasurer for TMAI and according to his TMAI bio, “Following his graduation from UCLA with a Ph.D. in Control Systems Engineering, David joined the UCLA faculty and rose to the tenured rank of Associate Professor.” According to an article by J Douglas Birdwell, the President of the IEEE Control Systems Society, “I have always believed there are strong connections between the theory and applications of systems and control and the problems of everyday life. These connections exist with management of human organizations, too. An example is financial management…” TQM, general systems theory and control systems, I believe, are similar. They depend on accurate assessments and feedback. As of 11/06, Dr. Wismer was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Institute for Creation Research. Tim LaHaye is also on the board. Dr. Wismer, the treasurer of TMAI, as of 2007, was the director of The Believers Foundation. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2.html#100#100" target="_self">100.</a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Dr. Steve Lawson, Southern Baptist—“God is the Architect…radically transforming our lives”<br /></span></strong><br />Though he isn’t on the board or the staff, Dr Steve Lawson also could be considered another leader at TMAI. In addition to sitting on the board of The Masters College and Seminary, he teaches at several TMAI training centers and serves on the Advisory Council for Samara Preachers’ Institute and Theological Seminary in Samara, Russia, a TMAI center in Russia. Dr. Lawson is the Senior Pastor at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church (CFBC) in Mobile, Alabama. CFBC is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, a UN-NGO. The teaching ministry of Dr. Lawson is called “New Reformation Ministries (NRM).” On the NRM website, the first sentence of their purpose statement states, “The unique focus of New Reformation is to recover and reclaim in the church a high view of God, a vision of Him…” Under “Our Passion” it states, “Moreover, we must know that God is the Architect of an eternal plan for us, and that He is ushering in His sovereign purposes on a grand scale, there by building up our faith and radically transforming our lives.” “Radically transforming” is new paradigm, church growth language.<br /><br />According to The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, the word “architect” is not in the Bible. In his “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” John Calvin, <a href="http://watch.pair.com/reformation.html#calvin" target="_blank">a crypto-Jew</a>, referred to God as “the Architect of the Universe” as does Freemasonry. Freemasons refer to their God, Lucifer, as the Grand Architect. The first sentence of a Masonic sermon on a Masonic website states, “Masonic conduct is to adore the Grand Architect of the Universe.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2.html#101#101" target="_self">101.</a> Dr. Lawson states that “God is the ARCHITECT… ushering in His sovereign purposes on a GRAND scale.”<br /><br />It has been documented that the Southern Baptist Convention is controlled by Free Masonry, that more than 1 million Free Masons are members of the SBC and that more than 1000 pastors in the SBC are Free Masons. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2.html#102#102" target="_self">102.</a> Incredibly, the publication of these statistics hasn’t prevented John Macarthur from fellowshipping with and bringing SBC pastors and leaders into GCC.<br /><a name="transformational"></a><br /><strong>TMAI LEADER’S TRANSFORMATIONAL LANGUAGE</strong><br /><br />I’ve taken a close look at the TMAI leadership and their church growth backgrounds and connections. TMAI has 16 training centers. They are all in foreign countries. I was able to attend a small group session at the Guild and experience an ice-breaker exercise at the Foundry. I’m unable to attend a TMAI training center. Nevertheless, the presence of the church growth movement can be detected by its transformational language.<br /><br />Because the GCC membership is more biblically savvy than, let’s say, the Saddleback membership, Satan’s agents (change agents) working within the GCC walls must, therefore, be more subtle in their use of transformational language. For example, Grace Church change agents probably can’t, at this time, use terms like “facilitator” or “paradigm shift” or other terms that might be common at Saddleback or at other church growth orgs. Language employed at the Center for Church Based Training or at World Partners USA couldn’t be used at TMAI. Language used at Leadership Resources International or TOPIC can’t be used at TMAI; for to use this more blatant language now would risk waking up the sleeping Grace Church congregation. “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.” Genesis 3:1.<br /><br />TMAI has 16 centers worldwide dedicated to the training of local church pastor/leaders. In the TMAI “Overview” under the headline, “The Right Vision,” is the statement, “Training Indigenous Church Leaders.” The TMAI centers are staffed by graduates of The Master’s Seminary. The centers have established partnerships with local churches that send some of their congregants to the local TMAI center for training. The centers have also established partnerships with churches in the US. These US churches have also sent their leaders to TMAI centers to assist with the local pastoral training.<br /><br />In the TMAI “Overview” under the headline, “The Right Strategy,” TMAI explains the urgent need to train church leaders: “Presently among the nations approximately 4,000 new churches are born each week. That number is projected to reach 12,000 per week, within three years. Well trained leaders are drastically needed in order to establish these new churches in the Word of God.” (I have seen similar projections on other church growth sites).<br /><br />John Macarthur preaches the sovereignty of God with regard to the salvation of the elect. Yet, in putting forth church growth statistics to justify the urgent need for worldwide leadership training programs, the TMAI leadership is clearly embracing an unbiblical, Arminian theology as must all church growth leaders. For if God is sovereign, as John Macarthur preaches, and if men come to Christ only by God’s sovereign will, as John Macarthur preaches, then how could the TMAI leadership possibly project that God will quicken enough dead men 3 years from now at a rate sufficient to fill 12,000 churches per week? “For who hath known the mind of the Lord?” Romans 11: 34<br /><br />TMAI projects that within 3 years (perhaps by 2010) there will be a drastic increase in the number of new churches “born” each week with the implication that these new churches will be filled with new Christian converts. But their church growth vision is clearly refuted by the Bible which states that in the last days, and preceding the coming of Christ and the rise of anti-Christ, there will be a “falling away” or apostasy (2 Thess. 2:3). In fact, the explosion of church growth orgs and the infiltration of their subversive transformational leadership into nearly all the churches in the last 20 years is solid proof of the “falling away” foretold in Bible prophecy.<br /><br />Church growth leaders have cast their transformational visions which project the need for a drastic increase in church plants. Why? Planting churches is the “P” in R Warren’s global PEACE plan. According to the plan, the poor can’t be aided, nor can the sick be healed, nor can water wells be dug, nor can educational goals and business interests be met without first planting churches.<br /><br />It could be true that in 3 years, 12,000 churches will be planted worldwide per week. And these churches may have many members. But how many in their membership will be true converts? How many of their membership will have ever even heard the true gospel? If the churches planted are all in the process of becoming “healthy” with their membership all participating in facilitated small groups and teams, then any true convert, being resistant to this PEACE plan process will either leave or will be kicked out. As time goes on, these “healthy” church plants will have no true Christians in their membership.<br /><br />One way to know if the transformation process has infiltrated an organization is if its leadership is using transformational language. Is there more evidence that the TMAI leadership is employing this transformational language? In the TMAI literature there is little, if any, mention of the need for repentance, forgiveness of sins, picking up your cross, etc., but many references to the need for transformation and change. Allow me to give, in no particular order, some examples of this language from their website.<br /><br />TMAI publishes a small, 4 page long, monthly newsletter. The headline of the TMAI newsletter (3/07) reads, “Transforming Africa.” The first sentence asks, “How do you transform a continent?”<br /><br />The TMAI newsletter (7/06) says that Pastor Len Crowley went to speak at the first-ever TMAI Croatian Pastor’s Conference. The first 3 sentences of the article: “Courage. What does it produce in the life of the believer? What kinds of transformation can it bring to a church?” During his speech Pastor Crowley said, “We want to train expositors so that we can see a transformation in the pulpits of Croatia.” The article goes on to say, “This isn’t just transformation for transformation sake, either. By making an impact on the pulpits, Crowley and the rest of the TBA team are looking to transform congregations.”<br /><br />The TMAI newsletter (9/06) talks about the Impact Bible Conference in New Zealand. The first sentence states, “What can you say about the 2006 Impact Bible Conference that isn’t summed up by the phrase printed across the front of its guide booklet? It reads, ‘Transforming Lives with Truth,’ and that’s precisely what took place last month.”<br /><br />In the TMAI newsletter (9/05), the first sentence of the opening article reads, “For 4 days in August, the neighborhood that serves as home to the Shepherd’s Bible College was transformed as church leaders from across New Zealand and parts of Australia flocked to the 2005 Impact Bible Conference.” All the TMAI centers have pastors’ conferences at least annually as does GCC. These conferences are interdenominational. They give diversity an opportunity to come together, build relationships, and unify. Men can be transformed as they learn to set aside their differences, find common ground and reach consensus.<br /><br />Regarding these TMAI conferences, the TMAI newsletter (5/07) states, “In essence, the conferences generate momentum. They build relationships and lay the groundwork for a broader scope and a new level of cooperation. They glorify God by bearing powerful witness to the power of His Word to transform churches…and to transform lives.” Are churches and lives being transformed by the “power of His Word”, or are churches and lives being transformed by the wiles of change agents facilitating “relationship building” and “new levels of cooperation?”<br /><br />The first TMAI newsletter (4/05) under the title, “The Right Results,” is the subtitle, “Transformed Lives and Churches.” In the article under the subtitle it states, “Consider the results in the life of a transformed individual.” The article goes on to explained how a woman has been “transformed by the Lord.” One pastor in the TMAI Samara (Russia) said that “the training…has completely transformed me as a preacher.” (7/05) “…they believe in the power of Scripture to transform lives and save souls.” (9/05) And “to know God’s transforming Grace.”<br /><br />Mr. Jay Letey, the Executive Director of TMAI until Jan 2008, often talked about change. He wrote a very brief article for each newsletter. The following are several quotes he’s made. “Together, we’re fostering the kinds of deep changes that reshape families and communities for generations. We’re helping create changes that extend into eternity.” (9/06) “Your sacrifices are shaping churches and changing communities around the world.” (8/06) “[Numbers] are a yardstick we use to measure our steps toward our ultimate goal, which is to see God change lives.” (9/06) “[After your pastor says something that really pierces your heart] Slowly (and sometimes not so slowly) you begin to change. Like clay on the potter’s wheel, you take on a new shape.” (9/06) “Those kinds of changes are our goal.” “Thanks to friends like you, we’re changing lives.” (9/06) “They are prepared to Shepherd God’s flock—to lead believing men and women toward the kind of change we all crave when we go to church.” (9/06) “And that’s what we’re after—changed lives by exposure to sound systematic Bible teaching.” (9/06) “…turning that support into powerful, life changing ministry…” (7/05) “We (at TMAI) know that the only avenue to true change in people’s lives is to expose them to solid biblical teaching.” (9/06) (Notice that solid biblical teaching doesn’t result in saved souls or repentance, but “true change.”)<br /><br />The following are random quotes taken from the TMAI website regarding some of their references to change. “How long does it take to change a person’s life? An hour? A day? How long to change 300 lives? If what happened in May at the Pastors’ Conference in Ukraine is any indication, even sweeping change like that can happen in an instant.” (7/06) (If those attending this conference were already Christian pastors, then how did they change “in an instant?”) “…and that attention is planting the seeds of change in both nations.” (6/06) (Not planting the gospel, but “seeds of change.”) “That’s the power of the right message—the power to shape churches and change lives.” (7/06) “If you want to change Africa, change the pulpits.” (11/05) (Get the true preachers out and the transformational preachers in?) “But the schools impact is anything but small. Measured by changed lives, its impact is immeasurable.” (11/05) “But one thing is certain. Lives will be changed and communities will be bolstered in Krasnodar because churches will grow there.” (4/06) “The results are palpable. You can see it in the changed lives of the people in the churches.” (12/05). “You’re giving us the ultimate gift by helping us change lives.” (12/05) “3-day conference in Samara changes lives, ministries.” (8/05) “…listen to the heart of a ‘changed pastor.’” (4/05) “You can see it in the changed lives of the people.” (12/05) “Your year-end gift can change lives.” (12/05) “A team from Coast Community Church in So. Cal….there to change lives.” (12/06) “My life was totally changed.” (3/07) “each one demonstrating the life changing power of God’s work.” (3/07) “in churches…lives are being changed for the glory of God.” (10/07)<br /><br />From these quotes listed above, one can see that the TMAI leaders want to transform or change the following: lives, pastors, pulpits, families, ministries, congregations, communities, nations and continents.<br /><br />Do TMAI leaders also have transformational visions and are they casting visions? The following quotes are from Mr. Letey: “I saw church leaders catch the Master’s Academy vision.” (3/06) “To me, little is as exciting as when a church body here in the US catches our vision for God’s church around the world.” (8/06) “The conference…provided us with a platform to share our vision with hundreds of pastors and church leaders.” (3/06) “The country’s Baptist Union is enthusiastic to promote the same vision as we are trying to accomplish…” (10/06) “We want you to make one of these training centers an extension of your church’s missions outreach. That is our vision.” (3/06)<br /><br />Are other leaders at TMAI using this language? The first headline of the first TMAI newsletter, April 2005, is “The Right Vision.” The article under the subtitle, “Historic Gathering,” states, “For the first time in TMAI history…representatives from all the training centers gathered…for 2 days of meetings...exciting reports were given by each training center as they shared their approach to fulfilling the common vision of training church leaders…” The first TMAI newsletter has a headline which reads, “Your vision and strategy—participating in training church leaders worldwide.” “We think locally, then expand that vision around the globe.” (2/06) “Central Baptist Church (TMAI partner), has helped spearhead the institute’s vision country wide.” (1/06) A pastor who visited a TMAI center to teach reflected on his experience: “It definitely renewed and deepened a vision for me…” (4/06) Regarding one TMAI team, “Their vision, meanwhile, remains the greatest source of encouragement to everyone who hears it…” (6/06) “They reflect the academic and theological unity he has always envisioned for Academy [TMAI] sponsored schools.” (6/06) The leaders of the German TMAI center “are fulfilling a vision for their homeland.” “The Pastoral Training Institute (PTI) of Pune, India is the fulfillment of Pastor Chris Williams’ vision.” “PTI’s vision is to strengthen the church in India by equipping hundreds of men who are committed to ministry as pastors and church planters.” “…the dream and vision for the founding of the TBA (TMAI Croatia) in our territory became an historical reality…” Regarding the TMAI training process, “In order to fulfill our vision…the training must be reproducible in others.” “…it is our prayer and vision.” “Christian’s (the last name of a leader in TMAI Germany) vision for Europe, her pastors, and her people was exemplary.” “The hunger for the word is growing tremendously here,” Andreson says. “The vision is for the extension to last…” (11/07) “They have a real vision for reaching the German speaking people.” (1/07) “…it also helps…create a world-wide vision back home.” (1/07) “Biedebach’s (missionary partnering with TMAI-South Africa) vision is to settle in the Malawi capitol…” (6/07) TMAI missionaries “after spending a week overseas as a guest teacher, return with a deeper vision and a greater sense of worldwide outreach.” (10/07)<br /><br />Is John Macarthur also using this language? On Feb. 27, 2006, representatives from all the TMAI centers gathered in a room for a symposium at GCC. John Macarthur addressed the group: “To see this expand is a great thing,” Macarthur said. “To see you reproducing (the biblical model for the church) for another generation is a great thing…I want to make sure we continue to be committed to this vision you’re living out for us, and that it grows and flourishes and expands.” Macarthur is using the church growth terms “vision” and “reproducing.” It looks like the person who wrote this newsletter account edited Macarthur’s speech by qualifying “reproducing” as “the biblical model for the church.” If Macarthur had said “the biblical model for the church,” then it wouldn’t have been placed in parentheses.<br /><br />I know a Christian who attended Grace Church for years. He told me, though he could be wrong, that he has never heard Macarthur use terms like “vision” and “reproducing” from his pulpit. Does Macarthur employ traditional, biblical language when preaching to his congregation and then use transformational language when talking to the TMAI leaders? Are the TMAI leaders obeying Jesus Christ or are they “living out” the GCC leader’s “vision” as Macarthur said?<br /><br />An excerpt from John Macarthur’s book, “The Truth War,” does show that Macarthur uses “health” language as well: “…we need to notice carefully that a polemic defense of the faith by no means guarantees a healthy church, much less a healthy individual Christian.” Quoting further from this 3 paragraph excerpt: “Churches have a clear duty to guard the faith against false teachers who infiltrate,” says John Macarthur.<br /><br />The excerpt goes on to say, “Truth is under heavy attack, and there are too few courageous warriors who are willing to fight. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, believers from this generation will not be able to justify their apathy by complaining that the strife of conflict over truth just seemed ‘too negative’ for the kind of culture we lived in—or that the issues were ‘merely doctrinal’ and therefore not worth the effort.” I fully agree. I’ve experienced the “strife of conflict” for attempting to tell the truth to Macarthur’s pastors at GCC.<br /><br />Macarthur also said, “Remember, Christ rebuked the churches in Rev 2-3 who had tolerated false teachers in their midst (2:14; 20-23). He expressly commended the Ephesian church for examining the claims of certain false apostles and exposing them as liars.” Macarthur’s truthful statement here shows that he will be rebuked by Christ for tolerating several false teachers in his church. I know from experience that one will be called a liar by Macarthur’s pastors if one dares expose truths that they would rather have kept hidden.<br /><br />John Macarthur offers a 4-part series called “The Character of a Healthy Church” which has been taken from his sermons. He states in this series that “a healthy church will be healthy internally and healthy in regard to its witness.” Christians “are to be healthy in faith.” “…so a healthy church with healthy Christians is going to have a witness in the world.” I’m not saying this series is biblical or unbiblical. What I find concerning is his use and promotion of “health” language.<br /><br />Not long ago, John Macarthur wrote a book titled “The Book on Leadership” (2004). Today, the world (change agents, facilitators, Marxists, Fascists, Communitarians, church growth leaders) is busy talking about leaders and leadership. And if the church is supposed to be set apart from the world, then why is John Macarthur also talking about leadership?<br /><br />In the 12/06 TMAI newsletter, Jay Letey said, “By helping establish churches that are committed to proclaiming God’s Word, we are carrying on the mission Christ gave us when he said, ‘Make disciples of all nations.’” There is some dispute as to whether Jesus Christ said “make disciples of all nations” (NASB) or “teach all nations” (KJV). Nevertheless, church growth orgs love this verse in the modern versions because it allows them to justify “discipleship making” which means “leadership development.” Church growth churches are also called “disciplemaking churches.” The commission in modern Bible versions “to make disciples” allows church growth leaders to justify all their church plants and their training and mentoring programs. Here’s an example from TMAI: “Pray for the National Expositors Conference on Jan. 8-12, 2007 sponsored by the Pastoral Training Institute (TMAI India). The theme of the conference is “The Pastor as Disciple Maker. (2 Tim 2:2).”<br /><br />I’ve shown numerous quotes from TMAI leaders related to change, transformation, and visions. Is there evidence of more transformational language in the TMAI literature? Regarding TMAI’s efforts in Mexico to create partnerships, the TMAI newsletter says, “According to Rob Iverson, President of The Master’s Academy, synergy is the key.” (11/05)<br /><br />Synergy is a word used in TQM and in church growth. One of Saddleback Church’s pastors is Eric Rees. He wrote an article called “Seven Principles of Transformational Leadership—Creating a Synergy of Energy.” In that article posted on R Warren’s website, Rees claims that Peter Drucker in “The Age of Transformation” called for a critical mass of transformational leaders who will commit to creating a “synergy of energy.”<br /><br />There is an <a href="http://theleadership.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Islamic website</a> that is entitled: “Leadership in Perspective—What I Understand about Leadership Principles in the Light of Islam.” The title of the opening article on the website is “Seven Principles of Transformational Leadership.” Under this title is the subtitle, “Creating a Synergy of Energy.” The article has a section called “Principles of facilitation” in which they discuss “transformational leaders.” In the section, “Principles of Preparation,” Rick Warren is quoted: “Leaders are learners.” The first sentence of the first part, “Principle of Simplification,” states, “Successful leadership begins with a vision.” The article mentions a “visionary leader among Da’is” named Khurram Murad. The article talks about unified team members “impacting their local mosque, their community, their nation and the world.” In another section of the website they discuss the need for “modeling,” a new paradigm, transformational term frequently used in church growth. But who is their model? Jesus Christ? A local pastor? No, it is Muhammad, “who was commanded by Allah to lead by example.” This website says that “synergy means 2+2=5. Together you can accomplish great things.” The website mentions Islamics by name who “must establish common ground.” The website says, “Retreats, seminars, conferences are great for sharing common experiences and discovering more about people under your leadership.” The Islamic leader must also be “transparent and accountable.” AbuBakr Korolia wrote an article about leadership which asks, “What constitutes a leader in Islam?” And the answer: “Leadership involves individual and collective transformation.” He further states, “The process of individual transformation…has potential for leadership quality when an individual gains knowledge of the Qur’an and lives according to the way of the prophet of Islam.” According to this site, Muslims are also lacking in leadership and they are praying to Allah to fill these leadership positions. This site also quotes from John Maxwell who has written a “Leadership Study Bible.”<br /><br />Just as Saddleback and other church growth orgs are Communitarianism in Christian garb, this website is Communitarianism in Islamic garb. Just replace “church” with “mosque;” and replace “Christ” with “Muhammad;” and tell the Muslims that they need transformational leadership, visions, training and they need to be in small groups for relationship building, etc. All organizations and religions must be transformed into their proper place within the New World Order.<br /><br />TMAI is about equipping leaders/pastors. Though references to equipping leaders are too numerous to list, I will mention just some examples from the TMAI literature. John Macarthur took part in the “2005 Mexico Leadership Conference” (TMAI Mexico). Notice that this isn’t called a “Christian conference.” At the Albanian Shepherd’s Conference, “70 Albanian church leaders and their wives gathered for Bible teaching, leadership training, encouragement…” (5/06) Regarding a trip TMAI New Zealand leaders made to TMAI South Africa, “They saw firsthand how another training center is preparing men for leadership.” “The new wing will also provide more space for leadership conferences.” “…a church committed to biblical exposition and leadership development.” “Equipping national leaders for local churches.” “Our primary focus is on training national church leadership.” “…training center is preparing men for leadership.” Regarding TMAI Brazil, “At that time, Baptista may become a full time missionary in this church planting/leadership training enterprise.”<br /><br />TMAI Mexico sent a team to San Salvador to hold a pastors’ conference called “Leadership Basics.” Regarding the 2006 TMAI New Zealand Conference, Jerry Wragg, a leader at the conference, stated, “Churches are bringing groups (to the conference), whole leadership teams.” Just like GCC’s Foundry ministry, church growth orgs have “leadership teams.” Mr. Wragg has given a sermon one can download on his church’s website (Grace Immanuel Bible Church) called “Training Leaders: the mandate of the church.”<br /><br />Grace Church puts out a weekly publication called Grace Today that sometimes highlights a missionary family on one of its pages. The issue I’m now looking at highlights the Glass Family in France with the heading above their picture: “Church Planting and Leadership Development.” Each issue lists “Other Grace Church missionaries Involved in Church Planting and Leadership Development.” This is the “P” and first “E” (equipping leaders) of R Warren’s PEACE plan, which is an acronym. (In 2007, R Warren changed the meaning of the “P” in his PEACE plan from “planting churches” to “promoting reconciliation.”)<br /><br />The current Grace Today advertises a Chapel Electives course at GCC called “God’s vision for the world.” The issue I have has a headline called “Recognizing Our Servant Leaders.” The same issue advertises a Chapel Elective called “Lessons on Leadership: Learning from a Layman.” Who was scheduled to teach? Joe Weller, retired Chairman of Nestle. Rob Iverson, the 30 year Nestle VP, taught another day. The title of Mr. Iverson’s talk was “How to Survive and Thrive in All Circumstances.” Are Christians called to “survive and thrive?” “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” The last “lesson on leadership” was by the managing partner of Vintage Sotheby’s International Reality. Why are corporate leaders speaking at Grace Church? The global Communitarian system into which the church is being now transitioned must include the business sector.<br /><br />This same Grace Today issue contains an article about the Grace Special Ministries for the disabled. This ministry is run by Rick Mclean. Within this ministry is “Grace Club.” This meets every Tuesday night. Regarding Grace Club, the article states, “More than 140 staff and club members come to participate in sports activities in the gymnasium followed by a chapel time and small group interaction.” According to this Grace Today issue, even the disabled have now been placed in small groups at GCC for “interaction.” If these Grace Club “small group interactions” are leader-led dialectic sessions, then Rick Mclean, who runs this ministry, is another change agent within GCC.<br /><br />From the TMAI literature, Mr. Letey stated, “The ministry model we follow basically sells itself.” He also said, “This is what we want to foster—a sense of community is one of the things that helps TMAI work so well.” “The need is extremely great; the readiness to learn is high and your participation in the process is vital.” “Everything is already in place for them to grow exponentially.” Rob Iverson said, “Certainly, the scope of our outreach has grown exponentially…” “The Academy… sponsors annual FOCUS conferences.” Regarding TMAI Samara Conference, “The weekend offered everyone in attendance the unique opportunity to bond with fellow pastors…” “SETS (TMAI Albania) was able to present its program and ministerial emphasis to local and national church leaders in what its leaders deemed ‘a strategic marketing event.’”<br /><br />Carey Hardy, the then Senior Executive Pastor at GCC, visited TMAI South Africa. He said, “One of the things you’re impressed with when you go to a culture so diverse from your own is that biblical truth doesn’t change. The needs of the human heart are the same around the world, throughout time.” I didn’t know Christians were called to meet the “needs of the human heart.”<br /><br />Christ Seminary (TMAI South Africa) “realizes our students needs for ‘living models.” “the training must be reproducible in others.” “…praise for God’s grace and leading in the whole process.” “We…in equipping others who are capable of repeating the process.” Steve Lawson said, “I believe what needs to take place in Germany is nothing short of a new reformation.”<br /><br />Jay Letey said, “EBTC Zurich is following the very successful model of EBTC Germany.” But are either of them following Jesus Christ? Modeling is a transformational tool used by the church growth movement. “…a local church all over the globe.” (2/06) “Praise for God’s grace and leading in the whole process.” (Zurich) “This church-based training provides an important<br />laboratory.”<br /><br />Mr. Letey said, “I saw men brim with emotion as they described the impact their training center is having in their community.” “How do we impact a continent as large as Africa?” (4/07) “How do we transform a continent?” (3/07)<br /><br />True Christian missionaries have spent years in African countries engaged in zealous preaching and prayer before they could convert a single soul. But in a time when all African nations are embracing Communitarianism and when many African nations have a Muslim majority (there are more than 400 million African Muslims representing 45% of the total African population), TMAI wants to “impact” and “transform” the entire African continent. Impact it how and transform it for whom?<br /><br />GCC is about a half hour drive from downtown Los Angeles. One would be hard-pressed to find a biblical church anywhere near downtown Los Angeles. I would say that GCC has made essentially zero “impact” in Los Angeles, a city of 10 million people ½ hour away. Yet, GCC, through TMAI, expects to somehow impact a largely Muslim, Communitarian continent? Impact it how? By “modeling” their role in the global Communitarian system?<br /><br />ENDNOTES<br /><br /><a name="94"></a>94. <a href="http://www.tmainternational.org/">http://www.tmainternational.org/</a><br /><a name="95"></a>95. David, M. Howard, The Dream That Would Not Die: The birth and growth of the World Evangelical Fellowship 1846-1986, The Paternoster Press, 1986, p. 7.<br /><a name="96"></a>96. Way of Life Literature: <a href="http://www.wayoflife.org/files/category-self-esteem.html">http://www.wayoflife.org/files/category-self-esteem.html</a></div><div align="left">96a. <a href="http://www.harvestbiblefellowship.us/Staff.aspx?site_id=10295&category_id=1247&ref_object=children_rep&referrer=%2fStaff.aspx">http://www.harvestbiblefellowship.us/Staff.aspx?site_id=10295&category_id=1247&ref_object=children_rep&referrer=%2fStaff.aspx</a></div><div align="left">96b. <a href="http://www.hickorychapel.org/DesktopDefault.aspx">http://www.hickorychapel.org/DesktopDefault.aspx</a></div><div align="left">96c. <a href="http://www.harvestbiblefellowship.org/Content/10295/156611.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.harvestbiblefellowship.org/Content/10295/156611.pdf</a></div><div align="left"><a name="97"></a>97. Biblical Discernment Ministries: <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/palau/general.htm">http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/palau/general.htm</a><br /><a name="98"></a>98. <a href="http://www.counselandcapital.org/team.shtml">http://www.counselandcapital.org/team.shtml</a><br /><a name="99"></a>99. “Masons Pay Tribute to Billy Graham,” Cathy Burns: <a href="http://www.jesus-is-lord.co.za/Lifeline/masons_billy_graham.htm">http://www.jesus-is-lord.co.za/Lifeline/masons_billy_graham.htm</a><br /><a name="100"></a>100. <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/592/851/2007-592851282-04375f84-F.pdf">http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/592/851/2007-592851282-04375f84-F.pdf</a><br /><a name="101"></a>101. The Masonic Trowel: <a href="http://www.themasonictrowel.com/Poetry/poems/masonic_sermon.htm">http://www.themasonictrowel.com/Poetry/poems/masonic_sermon.htm</a><br /><a name="102"></a>102. Biblical Discernment Ministries: <a href="http://rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Cults/masons.htm">http://rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/masons.htm</a><br /></div><br /><div align="left"><strong>PART III<br /></strong><br /><strong>TMAI TRAINING CENTERS<br /></strong><br />TMAI has 16 training centers world-wide. I’ve taken a close look into the church growth backgrounds of the TMAI leadership and I’ve cited examples of their transformational language. Let’s now take a look at some of the activities of some of these TMAI centers.<br /><a name="brazil"></a><br /><strong>TMAI BRAZIL--</strong>TMAI Brazil Partners with Mozambican Government<br /><br />The TMAI training center in Brazil is called the Ekklesia Institute (IE). EI partners with Central Baptist Church of Fortaleza, Brazil, “which has helped spearhead the institute’s vision country-wide.” The leader of EI is Tyler Hopkins, a Master’s Seminary graduate. “Over the next 25 years, the Ekklesia Institute seeks to train 100 pastors and church leaders in each of the Portuguese speaking nations of the world.” So “training Brazilians makes sense—not just for making disciples in South America, but for theologically equipped Brazilians to go out into other nations of the world as disciplemakers.”<br /><br />The headline of the June 2006 TMAI newsletter reads, “Focus: Project Maputo.” What is Project Maputo? Project Maputo is “a church planting and leadership training enterprise and I.E.’s pilot project in Mozambique.” According to the June 2006 TMAI newsletter, “Brazil and Mozambique share the Portuguese language…and they also share I.E.’s attention, and that attention is planting the seeds of change in both nations.” Notice they are planting “seeds of change.” The Maputo Project “is a plan to plant an urban church in the Mozambican capitol, Maputo, that will serve as a leadership training base in the country.” “…there is not one church (in Maputo) that is effective in making disciples.” So E.I. will “equip African pastors to multiply the disciple making efforts…” Four churches in Fortaleza, Brazil are partnering with I.E. in the Maputo Project.<br /><br />How and why did Ekklesia Institute (TMAI Brazil) go to Maputo, the capitol of Mozambique? “In early March (2006), the President of the Baptist Convention of Mozambique, Isaias Uaene, invited the Ekklesia Institute to organize a pastor’s conference in Maputo.” The Baptist Convention of Mozambique is a member of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). The BWA is a UN-NGO dedicated to the one-world agenda. According to the TMAI website, in Dec. 2005, Mozambique’s Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Massingue, also met briefly with I.E. leaders “when he visited Fortaleza (Brazil).”<br /><br />When I.E. leaders went to Maputo they were to lead a pastor’s conference there. The President of the Mozambique Baptist Convention “asked I.E.’s leaders to speak on “Understanding a Biblical Philosophy of Ministry and Pastoral Integrity.” The conference attracted “150 African church leaders.” According to the TMAI website, “The teaching (at the conference) was excellent, yet it is clear that without an existing example of a progressive, biblical ministry in the city, most of what is taught at the conference remains theoretical to most of the listeners. Maputo needs a thoroughly biblical and progressive evangelical church that will serve as an exemplary ministry. This is why the Maputo Project embraces church planting as well as leadership training.” What is a “progressive evangelical church?” The Maputo Project embraces church planting and leadership training. Church planting and leadership training are the “P” (plant churches) and the first “E” (equip leaders) in R Warren’s PEACE plan.<br /><br />What else did the I.E’s leaders do during their stay in Maputo? “In Maputo, Mr. Massingue [Mozambique’s Minister of Science and Technology] invited Pastor Armando (IBC Fortaleza’s [I.E. partner] senior pastor) to a meeting of his national secretaries. Armando was given a full hour with these officials in order to address HOW CHRISTIANITY IS CONCERNED WITH DEVELOPMENT (emphasis added). Armando is a master at seizing a good opportunity and the Mozambican officials responded enthusiastically. They even extended his time and asked another Brazilian on our team, Amarilio Fontenele, a civil engineer, to present his suggestion on how to develop a standardized public housing dwelling. Now, back in Brazil, Amarilio is assisting the Mozambican government to develop a standardized design.” Armando told these Mozambican government officials how “Christianity is concerned with development!” What kind of Christianity is practiced by TMAI Brazil?<br /><br />So, at the behest of a UN-NGO member org, TMAI Brazil is now partnering with a foreign government in what appears to be a housing development project. This church-state development partnership sounds similar to what Habitat for Humanity (UN) does when it comes to town and partners with churches. In partnering with a foreign government in a housing development project, John Macarthur’s Grace Church, through TMAI Brazil, is finding its proper place and function within Peter Drucker’s Communitarian partnership (New World Order).<br /><br />In another article on the TMAI website, I.E.’s leader’s meetings with Mozambican government officials are described “as a series of providential encounters” as “the team ‘crossed paths’ with an official within the country’s Ministry of Labor.” But doubt is cast on just how “providential” these encounters really were since another article on the Maputo Project states that the Minister of Science and Technology for Mozambique, Mr. Massingue, had already met with I.E.’s leaders months prior in Brazil.<br /><br />Is TMAI Brazil interested in training pastors to preach the true gospel in Mozambique? Or is TMAI Brazil interested in fulfilling R Warren’s PEACE plan? TMAI Brazil is “P”lanting churches, “E”quipping leaders and “A”ssisting the poor (building housing). Through their leadership development they are “E”ducating the next generation. Are they “C”uring the sick? “When IBC’s senior pastor, Armando Bispo, was invited to speak to students at the Medical School at Mendlane University (in Maputo),” others from I.E. joined him. Why were I.E.’s team invited to a medical school to speak to students?<br /><br />Regarding the state of Christianity in Mozambique, a senior pastor in Maputo stated, “When the Marxists ruled Mozambique, we weren’t supposed to believe in God anymore; now that we are free to believe again, most well-educated people don’t remember God even exists.” This pastor fails to understand that the Communitarians now rule Mozambique. And they are very happy to allow the type of “Christianity” that TMAI is bringing there: “Christianity” that’s engaged in leadership training and construction projects. The Mozambican government is now being transformed into a Communitarian partnership with the social sector (church) and business sector. This transformation is being facilitated by change agents dedicated to the one-world agenda.<br /><br />Regarding the church’s needs in Maputo, Mozambique, the TMAI website states, “Her leaders need training, boldness and a vision to reform the church so it may meet the challenges of a city that is rapidly becoming part of a global economy and culture.” That TMAI quote sums up TMAI’s goals pretty well: Train leaders by casting them a vision to “reform” the church “so it may meet the challenges” of a rapidly changing, global society. Change agents are asking: “What is the role of the church in our rapidly changing society?” As Communitarian partners? As social workers? As a one-stop welfare distribution center? Is the Church called to “reform” and to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing global economy as the TMAI transformational leaders desire? God forbid!<br /><a name="honduras"></a><br /><br /><strong>TMAI HONDURAS--</strong>Training Leaders for Cuban “Cell” Churches<br /><br />The TMAI training center in Honduras is called Ministerios Evangelicos de las Americas (MEDA) or the Evangelical Ministries of the Americas. MEDA has “a conference program, and now an established seminary, MEDA is equipping Bible teachers and church leaders in Honduras, as well as the rest of Central America.” “In 2005, MEDA ministered to 1400 different pastors and lay leaders through its 23 conferences and it ministered to 30 men at the seminary level.” Having a seminary with a 4 year curriculum, is MEDA a biblical training center? Is there evidence that MEDA, like TMAI BRAZIL, is also partnering with the government?<br /><br />In the March, 2007 TMAI newsletter, a headline reads, “A Visit from the Vice President.” The article gives an account of a visit the Vice President of Honduras, Elvin Santos, made to the MEDA facilities in Jan 2007. The following quote is from the article written by Pastor Adrian Donato of MEDA, a graduate of the Master’s College and the Master’s Seminary. “The secret police came about an hour before the Vice President was to arrive…” “Eventually, the Vice President came over the mountains in his thunderous, blasting helicopter. He touched down on the MEDA soccer field and was surrounded by military and secret service as he came over to shake hands and greet our families, and the MEDA personnel.”<br /><br />The Vice President then hopped aboard one of a caravan of cars that headed to the local “municipality where every mayor in Honduras was present.” Pastor Adrian Donato was asked to drive his car in the middle of the caravan from MEDA to the municipality. Due to the presence of the Vice President, security was on high alert during the trip, and Pastor Donato, feeling like a part of the security team exclaimed, “It was at that point that I realized I was really honoring the King in a very practical way out of love for Christ!” This MEDA pastor was honoring the King (in caps), referring to the VP of Honduras, “out of love for Christ!”<br /><br />When they arrived at the municipality, Pastor Donato preached to all the mayors of Honduras. He read from John 19:7-11 and he “asked that each one of these mayors would carry out their duties and functions with the consciousness that they are accountable to God the Father.” Have any of these mayors heard the gospel and are any of them saved? “At the end of the ceremony, the Vice President specifically thanked MEDA for its hospitality AND ITS WILLINGNESS TO SERVE (emphasis added).” Willingness to serve? To serve whom? Is the Vice President of Honduras thanking MEDA (TMAI Honduras) for its willingness to serve the Lord Jesus Christ? This is most unlikely given that Pastor Donato later states, “We don’t think the President, nor the Vice President are Christians…” “After the ceremony, the train [caravan of cars] returned to MEDA, we enjoyed lunch at one of the MEDA homes with the Vice President and other dignitaries.” It appears that MEDA was used by the VP as his base during this stay. “At that time, Carlos Nunez (MEDA’s Executive Director) shared what we do at MEDA [to the dignitaries] and how the changed lives of people who submit to Christ is what will transform the culture. It was great!” The MEDA leadership also intends “to transform the culture” supposedly by “the changed lives of those who submit to Christ.” Will the Honduran culture be “transformed” by Christians submitting to Jesus Christ, or by community members submitting to MEDA’s leadership training program?<br /><br />Pastor Donato ends by stating, “We have just been approached by the Colonel of the military base here in town to pray with them and to offer them biblical counseling!” “…the Lord has…given testimony of Him before kings and governors!”<br /><br />The article also stated regarding this Vice Presidential visit: “The whole thing came about just by being neighborly and modeling Christ to our city mayor.” Are we, as Christians, called to obey Christ or to “model” Christ? “Modeling Christ” is not didactic teaching, it is transformational language and behavior employed by the church growth movement. To “model” Christ is like an actor playing a role. “When an actor takes on an archetypal role through method acting by implanting an aspect of that archetype into their psyche, essentially becoming a gateway for an egregore [a demon].” (The Art of Memetics, p. 74.) To “model” Christ is not to be born again, but to take on a role that would only change one’s outward behavior.<br /><br />Another TMAI newsletter (8/07) stated that MEDA received another visit from the Vice President of Honduras in June, 2007. Why the second visit? To ask Bible questions? Or to help facilitate MEDA’s “willingness to serve?”<br /><br />Does MEDA have connections with any other governments? To quote from the Jan, 2007 TMAI newsletter: In 2001, Carlos Montoya, a Master’s Seminary graduate, “moved with his family to Honduras to serve the Lord at MEDA.” “In April of 2006, Carlos received an email from Len Crowley with Counsel & Capital, offering an opportunity to extend MEDA’s ministry beyond the borders of Central America—to train key evangelical leaders from Cuba.” The plan called for bringing 10 men from Cuba to a pastor’s conference at MEDA. There was the matter of “obtaining permission from the Cuban government.”<br /><br />Bringing the Cubans to the conference “involved a pair of calls to the Chief of Staff to the Honduran President, one of which resulted in intervention from the President himself.” (One of the men organizing the conference was the cousin of this Chief of Staff.)<br /><br />The Cuban government allowed 3 men to attend the conference at MEDA. One of these Cubans explained “that the Cuban church is experiencing an unprecedented growth in the form of ‘cell’ churches throughout the country. Because of this, there are not enough leaders to lead those churches.” (“So many churches with so few leaders” ought to be the motto for the church growth movement.)<br /><br />Notice that this Cuban didn’t say there was unprecedented growth in Christianity in Cuba; rather, he said there was unprecedented church growth in the form of “cell” churches. Cuba is a communist nation where true Christianity isn’t allowed. According to a U.S. Department of State warning in 2004 regarding Cuba: “Cuba is a totalitarian police state, which relies on repressive methods to maintain control.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-3.html#103#103" target="_self">103.</a> But now that Cuba, like the rest of the world, is being transformed by Communitarianism, a cell church led by “Christian” leaders is allowed; a cell church, being essentially a network of facilitator-led small groups or home groups. These “Christian” cells will be led by men transformed through leadership development.<br /><br />Keep in mind that the man who brought this Cuban venture to the attention of MEDA, Len Crowley, the managing director of Counsel & Capital, is a ministry representative for the Center for Church-Based Training (CCBT). The CCBT is a ministry that offers “facilitator-led small group studies” for sale under the guise of “discipleship for small groups.” Has the CCBT found a market for their “facilitator-led small group studies” in Cuba since their “explosion in cell churches” has occurred?<br /><br />If anyone thinks the Vice President of Honduras is visiting and thanking MEDA for its “willingness to serve” the Lord Jesus Christ or if anyone thinks there is an explosion in true Christianity in Cuba that’s taking the form of “cell” churches, then they are greatly deceived.<br /><br />Global Ministries (www.ubmissions.com) is the “worldwide outreach of the United Brethren in Christ.” It appears to me that Global Ministries is mostly involved in construction projects. The Global Ministries Leadership Team “is asking leaders in our overseas churches to develop well-defined project proposals.” According to the Global Ministries website, Evangelical Ministries of the Americas (MEDA) is partnering with their subsidiary in Honduras. They are partnering in a “leadership development” project.<br /><br />According to the TMAI newsletter (5/06), <a href="http://www.wellingtonchurch.org/" target="_blank">Wellington Christian Church</a> in Kentucky partners with MEDA. This church’s head pastor is Wayne Holcomb. “His church is extending the scope of its outreach by partnering with the MEDA training center in Honduras.” Pastor Holcomb stated that he wanted to “extend the Wellington ministry.” “We have a number of doctors who want to provide medical assistance to the poor,” said Holcomb.<br /><br />The Wellington Church website describes their ministry at MEDA: “Wellington took a team of 13 members to Honduras in September 2006 to assist local pastors in teaching God’s word, providing VBS outreach, and conducting several medical clinics. Our pastor, Wayne Holcomb, taught a Bible Survey class in a local church, while other members of the team worked with nearly 2,000 children and provided medical care to 475. Wellington plans to send another team to Honduras in July 2007.”<br /><br />Wellington Church’s newsletter cites one missionary qualification as “a willingness to serve as a cross-cultural disciple-maker.” And “missions are exciting, spiritually life-changing…” Regarding their 2006 mission trip to Honduras, a missionary said, “…I knew from the beginning my life would be forever changed.” “My life has changed since Honduras.”<br /><br />Wellington Church offers 100, 200, 300, 400 level courses. Their last course, Christianity 406, is called Financial Peace University which is “a life-changing program that teaches you how to make the right decisions with your money. You’ll be empowered…” One of their Bible series courses “will emphasize the life-changing content of the gospel…”<br /><br />Wellington Church has a small group ministry. Among other reasons for this ministry: “Wellington’s small group ministry” exists “to pursue our joy in the Lord through the multiplication of worshippers…” How do these small groups function? “Small groups are the basic units for Christian Community at Wellington. These groups are made up of 8-15 people in which the body-life of the church is lived out through the development of intimate relationships; through the discovery and use of spiritual gifts; through the discipline of discipleship; through going "outside the camp" (Heb. 13:13) to bring others to Christ…” But Heb 13:13 doesn’t imply that unbelievers should be brought into the groups. “It is within a small group such as this that the ministry of Wellington and the Body of Christ becomes most effective in our lives.” “The groups are led by gifted and trained leaders.”<br /><br />The Wellington website states that the reason for small groups is to “help meet the needs of others.” It states, “Our prayer is that virtually every member and regular visitor of Wellington will view participation in a small group as an integral part of their privilege and responsibility that comes with being a part of the Body of Christ. The Lord wills to satisfy our deepest need which flows through us as we help meet the needs of others.” Change agents are able to manipulate and transform by appealing to people’s “felt needs.”<br /><a name="africa"></a><br /><strong>TMAI SOUTH AFRICA--</strong>Pastor Coertze is a leader of a Baptist World Alliance (UN-NGO) member organization<br /><br />The TMAI center in South Africa is called Christ Baptist Church Seminary or Christ Seminary. The Christ Baptist Church website states that “Christ Baptist Church has 3 basic arms, one being the congregation reflected through its membership, the other being our seminary called Christ Seminary and then our mission arm called Samaria Mission.”<br /><br />The senior pastor of Christ Baptist Church since 1989 has been Nicki Coertze. According to the TMAI website, Pastor Coertze has served on the National Executive Committee of the Baptist Union of Southern Africa for 14 years. He has also lead the denomination “on both associational and national levels as President.” The Baptist Union of Southern Africa is a member of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). The BWA is an NGO in consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council.<br /><br />Christ Seminary trains men who they have “already identified as faithful and capable” through “an in-service, church-based program which combines rigorous studies with local church involvement.” Their “modular program is nine days in class, and 21 days back in the village.” While the students are in the village, the seminary teachers “can provide an accurate assessment of their progress.” According to a TMAI newsletter, these students will be filling “the many empty pulpits in South Africa.” These students will be interns in the churches to which the seminary sends them.<br /><br />One church leader who takes in Christ Seminary interns has labeled his church as “essentially a live lab for them.” His church, Grace Christian Church, “has become a lab in which Christ Seminary’s students prove what they are learning in class.” With the help of Christ Seminary grads, this pastor hopes to establish “a model church” or “a training church.” He says, “It’s very much the strategy in Africa—to replicate working churches.” This is about the establishment of a “teaching church” which replicates the TQM process elsewhere. It’s similar to McDonalds franchising their original store. Did Spurgeon get his start by being “supervised, “mentored,” and “assessed,” in the “live labs” of a “church-based modular program?”<br /><br />The TMAI website has asked for prayer that Christ Seminary will get through the registration process with the Higher Education Qualification Council. Their status as a seminary was being decided by the Department of Education. It looks like Christ Seminary did receive government accreditation because the website states, “Due to its accreditation, two of the professors at Christ Seminary, Steve Plodinec and Dave Beakley, are required to have a PhD.” It’s clear that Christ Seminary is conforming to government standards.<br /><br />Christ Baptist Church (CBC) is pastored by Nicki Coertze. Their website states that CBC “has a host of ministries to various age groups…” The website says, “Cell groups form a crucial aspect of encouraging closer fellowship and relationships in the body…” The CBC website lists several “growth groups” along with their meeting times. The CBC “Youth Ministry” is called “Rattpack” which is an acronym. Regarding Rattpack: “Discipleship is an integral part of the group, and to accommodate this we have many small groups that meet throughout the week…”<br /><br />The CBC “Junior Youth Ministry” is called “The Core” which is another acronym. Their symbol is the triquetra overlapping the sign for radioactivity. A triquetra is actually a satanic symbol that means 666. The mission of “The Core” is “to find your identity.” The Core website asks, “Are you going to be part of this vision?” The Core site says that “God is shining down and we need to reflect him.” “We have a purpose; we need a vision; we are more than Junior Youth.”<br /><br />In March 2007, Grace Community Church hosted a TMAI Advisory Council luncheon. Directors from TMAI’s worldwide centers were present as was John Macarthur who spoke to the TMAI leaders. At this Advisory Council meeting Nicki Coertze asked, “How do we impact a continent as large as Africa which has 53 countries? The only way to change is to fill the pulpits of Africa with men to teach, train and live the Bible.” He went on to say, “We have ships without pilots at this point. But the ships are there. The gospel has been part of Africa for 2000 years.” Mr. Coertze, a leader of a UN-NGO member org, wants to “impact” and “change” Africa. The impression is given that Africa is filled with Christian congregations patiently waiting and praying for an organization like TMAI to come along and fill their empty pulpits. What kind of trained leaders will TMAI South Africa send to fill these pulpits? Will they be traditional Christians or transformational leaders sent to “impact” and “change?”<br /><br />Samaria Mission is the missions arm of Christ Baptist Church (TMAI South Africa). It has both a mission and vision statement. Its mission: “…to be obedient to the great commission by effectively becoming involved in the process of church planting through evangelism, discipleship, church development and social upliftment.” Its vision: “…to be faithful to the command of Christ…through the efforts of evangelism, discipleship and development of strong local churches that in turn can reproduce. To train nationals to reach nationals is a top priority.” “Our vision is to see the world saved.”<br /><br />To achieve their goals, they first send “a team who evangelizes an area.” Then, “a second team follows up with an in depth discipleship of these new believers.” This team also “identifies leaders.” And “a third group then constructs the physical building for the church to gather in. Thereafter we need to train leaders to pastor these churches.” A “further goal is to assist these people by helping them to raise aid in the form of wells, clothes, medical clinics, etc.”<br /><br />Samaria Mission wants to “present the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to unreached people groups.” Reaching “people groups” is a strategy employed by the church growth movement. World Partners USA also wants to “reach people groups.” The rationale behind this is the notion that if you can get a leader of a “people group” or “tribe” to believe in Christ, then the others in that particular people group will follow the leader and also believe in Christ.<br /><br />Many church growth orgs will state that they want to train indigenous church leaders. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) is organizing the Earth into bioregions ruled by their indigenous pagan tribes. These pagan tribes will eventually oversee all religious institutions within their respective bioregions. This Satanic agenda originated from a report called “Rethinking Missions” issued in 1932 by the John D Rockefeller Jr. financed Layman’s Foreign Missions Inquiry. “Rethinking Missions” recommended a gradual transfer of power to indigenous churches. (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/new-earth.html#6.C" target="_blank">Heeding Bible Prophecy: New Earth: Bioregions</a>)<br /><br />Samaria Mission is also in Mozambique. According to their website, “There are many areas in the country where there are un-reached and least reached people groups.” “We desire to reach the people of Mozambique by evangelizing them and by planting churches. Our focus is to develop these new churches with discipleship of the new converts and in leadership training.” “Church growth is taking place [in Mozambique] but…there is little or no infrastructure.” Their “teams assist us in: Preaching the Gospel, men’s and women’s ministry through bible teaching, children’s ministry through bible teaching and crafts, medical ministry, orphan feeding, well drilling, and construction projects.”<br /><br />As of 2006, Samaria Mission offered a “Train & Multiply Leadership Course” which was presented to churches in Mozambique. Under the headline “Church and Leadership Development” it said, “The goal of our discipleship ministry is to reach the world for Jesus Christ by producing reproducing Christian leaders through the ministry of disciple making, thus fully obeying the great commission.” In church growth orgs, “disciple making” is leadership training which is change agent training. These change agents then reproduce themselves as they transform others.<br /><br />As of 2 years ago, Samaria Mission ran the “Missions Leadership Development School (MLDS).” (The school no longer exists as this entity.) The “purpose of the MLDS is [was] to train and equip…new staff, in order to bond them to the Mission staff…” The MLDS emphasized that learning shouldn’t be only theoretical. Regarding this learning MLDS stated, “It is the difference between leadership training which imparts knowledge and leadership development which develops the person.” MLDS is saying that though there may be a leadership training which employs didactic teaching and just “imparts knowledge,” their “leadership development develops the person.” It changes the person. R Warren and other church growth change agents often promote a “people building process” for the church.<br /><br />I have read the Samaria Mission orientation manual for would be missionaries to places like Mozambique. The orientation manual makes it clear that any would be missionary will have almost no freedom and will be completely subordinate to his team leader. You will “work as a team” as “training teams will consist of an overall group leader and smaller team leaders…” Under the headline “Standards and Practical Information” is a rule for missionaries which states, “Avoid any political or religious arguments.” In going on these missionary trips, ones schedule and nearly everything one does will be closely controlled and pre-determined.<br /><br />Samaria Mission, the mission arm of GCC’s TMAI South Africa, lists several “partner churches” that support their missions. Let’s take a very brief look at some of these partner churches that have websites. Will these partners be Christian churches or will they all be transformational, Communitarian churches?<br /><br />One Samaria Mission partner is called <a href="http://www.fbc-orangepark.org/" target="_blank">The First Baptist Church of Orange Park</a> in Florida. The First Baptist Church of Orange Park is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention (UN-NGO). Under the headline, “connect in a small group,” their website states, “We believe the small group is a key to growing healthy as a believer in Christ. It's within the small group that relationships develop and honest answers can be found.” “We encourage all believers to be part of one small group meeting each week.” This church also encourages volunteer community involvement. “We encourage you to find a place to serve within our community. This may be volunteering at the hospital, visiting local nursing homes, being a homeroom mom or dad at your child's school, coaching youth sports at the YMCA or OPAA, or many other ways. It may just be helping out your neighbor. Whatever you discover, find a way to show Christ in your community.” They want you to “show Christ” through volunteer work (social gospel). “Preaching Christ” would be divisive and anti-Communitarian. The First Baptist Church of Orange Park is also encouraging involvement in a 2-day “Just Give Me Jesus” event with Anne Graham Lotz, Billy Graham’s daughter.<br /><br />The First Baptist Church of Orange Park has an “Upward” sports ministry for children. Its symbol is a 5-pointed star. Their motto is “Every Child is a Winner.” The unique rules to Upward Basketball “promote character and self-esteem.” In an attempt to eliminate “negative feedback” given to an official, “Coaches, referees, and parents work together as a unified team to stop the Circle of Criticism by implementing the Circle of Affirmation instead.” “Following each game, teams and parents gather together as each player is awarded an iron-on star, which is intended to build the player’s self-esteem and team spirit.” What kind of “team spirit” is being built? How does this 5-pointed “iron-on star” build “team spirit?” A 5-pointed star is a pentagram. A pentagram is a symbol for Masonry, Satanism and Witchcraft. A pentagram attracts demons and can be used to invoke demons.<br /><br />The First Baptist Church of Orange Park explains that “it’s time for a makeover…for our women’s ministry.” So, they are “introducing ‘Girlfriends Unlimited.’” “Women today are looking for fresh and fun ways to connect with other women and with Jesus. They want something new and different. Something relevant and relational that meets them where they are. Girlfriends Unlimited centers on bringing women together in casual, fun settings so that they can meet new friends or are comfortable bringing old friends. It offers over-the-top themed events called G! Events where women might play games, experience pampering, or find entertainment. Or they may engage in helpful demonstrations (maybe the three top self-defense techniques) or create crafts. No matter what, it’s good ol’ fashioned fun! Girlfriends Unlimited also offers smaller, monthly “Girlfriends' Night Out” experiences that gather the women in your group together to connect with one another. We’ll provide the how-to guides with themes like spa, fitness, creative expression, and more.”<br /><br />Another Samaria Mission partner is <a href="http://www.bethanycentral.org/" target="_blank">Bethany Baptist Church</a> in Illinois. They link to Promise Keepers, they have a partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ, and they have several small groups called “Adult Bible Communities (ABC).” ABC’s provide “a small church within a big church community.” Some are “care groups” to provide “a quick connection with a smaller group of believers.” (In church growth, a “CARE” group can stand for “create a relational environment.”) Bethany offers a class called “Discovering Spiritual Shape.” A member of Bethany may serve there “as a disciple-maker.” “The goal of all discipleship is to produce mature men and women who eventually become disciple-makers themselves.” I wonder if the reader has ever made a disciple. Have you ever “reproduced?”<br /><br />How can one serve as a disciple-maker at Bethany Baptist? “The normal process of becoming a Bethany Disciple-Maker is to 1) go through Bethany’s process of discipleship (a process where you will be personally discipled with Bethany Discipleship resources. This process ranges from 1 ½ - 2 ½ years); 2) obtain the recommendation of your Disciple-Maker to serve as a Disciple-Maker; 3) be willing to serve as a spiritual mentor to other Christians; 4) attend our Annual Disciple-Maker orientation and training meeting; 5) Next you will be placed in our pool of qualified Bethany Disciple-Makers and assigned a Discipleship Committee Member as your point-of-contact (POC) to encourage & help you in your future ministry of discipleship.”<br /><br />Under “Bethany’s Discipleship Strategy” it states that “discipleship is a life-impartation process.” “Discipleship is a relationship between a growing believer and a growing mature believer in which the discipler imparts his/her life with a goal of progressively reproducing Christlikeness through the process of the study of the Word and service to God.”<br /><br />One ministry of Bethany Baptist Church is called Evangelism Explosion (EE). EE is a ministry founded by the late D James Kennedy. Kennedy was a prominent change agent, member of the Council for National Policy, and a false teacher who promoted astrology. (“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/zodiac.html" target="_blank">The False Gospel in the Stars</a>.”) EE equips pastors and laypeople in “Leadership Training Clinics.” The language used in this ministry is blatantly transformational.<br /><br />Another Samaria Mission (TMAI South Africa) partner is <a href="http://www.denverbaptist.org/" target="_blank">Denver Baptist Church</a> in North Carolina. Denver Baptist Church is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention (UN-NGO) and they link to Focus on the Family (UN-NGO). The Denver Church motto is “a place to connect.” Sounds more like the motto for a coffee shop. They have a small group ministry called “Life Groups.” What is a life group? “A LIFE group is a small group of people at the same stage in life. Each week your group will be talking about different biblical truths. But it isn’t a lecture, it is a group talking about life and how the Bible speaks to us. But it is more than a Bible study. It is a time to enjoy spending time with other people, to eat together, to laugh together, and to build strong relationships with others in our family of faith.” When they say, “It isn’t a lecture,” they mean it isn’t a didactic (traditional) bible study. The groups are for human relationship building. Their “discipleship ministry” is called “core training.”<br /><br />Denver Baptist’s “Community Impact” hosts a Community Golf League. Denver Baptist Church has a kids sports ministry called “Upward.” “The primary focus of Upward is to develop the Winner in EVERY child, not just a few…we are able to build a league that promotes salvation, character, and self-esteem…” “Upward” looks like a ministry that James Dobson would endorse. One event at Denver Baptist is NASCAR night. “…join us for an evening of NASCAR.” “There will be Pit Crew demonstrations, food and door prizes.” They are planning a Hawaii mission trip. At the Baptist Conference Center in Hawaii they will be working at “landscaping, light construction, painting, mowing grass, weedeating,” and other projects.<br /><br />Denver Baptist provides a Spiritual Gifts Test for its members. The answers are “seldom,” “sometimes,” “often” or “always.” Here are just a few questions: “I have put effective plans into place to meet group goals.” “If a group doesn’t have a leader, I will lead it.” “I tend to see the potential in people.” “I regularly need to get alone to reflect and develop my imagination.” “I can visualize a coming event, anticipate potential problems, and develop backup plans.”<br /><br />Another Samaria Mission partner listed is <a href="http://www.fielder.org:88/" target="_blank">Fielder Road Baptist Church</a> in Texas. Fielder Road is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention (UN-NGO). Fielder Road also wants you to “get connected.” Under the headline, “Get Connected,” it states, “…most of the action around our church won’t happen in any of our services—it will happen in the context of you building relationships with other people.” Fielder Road “offers an ever expanding continuum of relational connection.” Their Fielder Road “GroupLife” page gives info on many different small groups to connect with. One headline on the Fielder Road site states, “It’s about life change.” Not about Jesus Christ? Fielder Road invites you “to join us for a life long journey of personal growth and purposeful living.” On the Fielder Road site under “about us” it states, “Our desire is to show you Jesus Christ like you have never seen Him before.” It goes on: “You’ll find in many ways we are small. In fact, we’re actually a network of small groups.” What’s the Fielder Road (FR) vision? “Fielder Road exists to do whatever it takes to reach people and build a community of fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.” Community building is a goal of church growth and Communitarianism. Get everyone synthesized in small groups. They have ministries “meeting the diverse needs of both our church family and the surrounding community.” The transformational language at Fielder Road is blatant, but obviously many with itching ears have been fooled into believing that the Fielder Road leaders are really showing Jesus Christ “like you have never seen Him before.” The Fielder Road “Christ” is the relationship building Christ of diversity, tolerance, compromise and unity.<br /><br />Fielder Road Baptist Church runs “<a href="http://media.fielder.org:88/pdf/connect_grow_2009.pdf" target="_blank">Life Change University</a>.” On the Life Change University page under “Get Connected,” it states, “…GroupLife offers everyone a place to connect… At Fielder, we value GroupLife because life-change happens best in a smaller, more intimate, relational setting.” “GroupLife is your key to community at Fielder Road.” “Neighborhood small groups are specifically designed to foster meaningful relationships and life-change…” If one takes courses at Life Change University, then, naturally, one can “expect a Life Change.” Keep in mind that this “church” is partnering with John Macarthur’s GCC ministry, TMAI South Africa<br /><br />Another TMAI South Africa partner listed is <a href="http://www.paulann.org/Home.php" target="_blank">PaulAnn Baptist Church</a> in Texas. PaulAnn Baptist Church is another transformational ministry and another member of the Southern Baptist Convention (UN-NGO). According to their website, “We believe that Christian growth happens best in a small group setting. That is why we are a church of small groups. We believe that small groups are the place where sustained life change occurs. We call our small groups Community Life Groups (CLG’s).” “CLG’s build authentic relationships with other PaulAnn members in small group gatherings.” A CLG will “help [you] meet the needs of others in the group.” The PaulAnn Baptist Church Purpose statement is “To provide an environment where people can develop authentic lasting relationships…” Under “About Us,” the website states, “Why not try out one of our high-energy, life-changing services this weekend and see what God might have in store for you here at PaulAnn.” The childrens’ ministry at PaulAnn is called The Kids’ Korner. Within this ministry is the following ministry description: “Kidstuf is not a children’s program but a family ministry for all. We are here to help you transform your child into a spiritual champion!” Their Men’s Ministry coordinates Promise Keeper conferences.<br /><br />PaulAnn Baptist Church, through their “Project IMPACT,” has found their place and function within the Communitarian system. “Project IMPACT exists to impact the Concho Valley in a positive way by providing services to meet needs and serve as a connection point between schools, churches, and social organizations. Project IMPACT believes that these institutions share common ground (i.e. to impact the lives of people) and therefore should form a strategic alliance to have a positive impact on people and families living in the community. Project IMPACT exists to facilitate such alliances and offer individualized services in order to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs within our community.”<br /><br />Another Samaria Mission partner is <a href="http://www.westmorelandbaptist.com/" target="_blank">Westmoreland Baptist Church</a> in North Carolina. Westmoreland Baptist Church is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. They have the cross and crown symbol on a couple pages of their website. One example is in the middle of the webpage <a href="http://www.westmorelandbaptist.com/index_files/Page2344.htm" target="_blank">here.</a> The cross and crown is a Masonic symbol. It can be seen here as the symbol for the <a href="http://www.grandcommanderyktny.org/" target="_blank">Grand Commandery Knights Templar New York</a>. In addition to the Knights Templar, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Science (both having Masonic connections) have used the cross and crown.<br /><br />“The Cross and Crown may be said to be confined almost exclusively to the historical degrees in Masonry as exemplified in the various orders of knighthood of York and Scottish rites. In Gaul we find the cross to have been a solar symbol when it had equal arms and angles; to the Phoenicians it was an instrument of sacrifice to their God, Baal; and to the Egyptians, the crux ansata was his symbol of eternal life.” (Ray V. Denslow, Masonic Portraits, Transactions of the Missouri Lodge of Research, vol. #29, p.7—-emphasis in the original) (“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/lahaye.html" target="_blank">LaHaye's Masonic Connections</a>”)<br /><br />There was a link on the Westmoreland Baptist Church website [their new website has no links] to “<a href="http://www.world-changers.net/site/c.jjJVJ6MNIwE/b.4119665/k.E3E3/Students.htm" target="_blank">World Changers</a>.” This is a ministry of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention. It looks like World Changers gets Christians engaged in volunteer construction projects.<br /><br />One link on the Westmoreland Baptist Church website was to “<a href="http://www.neighborhoodconnections.org/" target="_blank">Neighborhood Connections</a>.” This website states, “Imagine the impact if members of your church increased the number of meaningful relationships right in their own neighborhoods by ten-fold.” It goes on to say, “Imagine the effect on both church and community when your people actually build and maintain multiple lasting, meaningful relationships within strolling distance of their own front doors (and feel deeply satisfied doing it).” Neighborhood Connections has come up with a strategy to help churches build these relationships. They say, “We came upon just such an idea, a transformational strategy any-sized, one that costs little and dramatically leverages resources, and that works naturally and seamlessly within 21st-Century American culture.” They go on to offer a strategy: “First identify a purpose shared by the church, by the neighbors, by the community, and by God.” They want diversity to focus on one issue they find in common and then set aside their differences and unify around that issue. This is the synthesis phase of the dialectic process. The issue they chose was world hunger.<br /><br />This last example from their site shows the true intent Neighborhood Connections has for the churches and the community: “Once friendships have formed, once people begin to talk with neighbors at a truly meaningful level about their dreams and needs, once Christians are praying about what really matters to each neighbor (and some answers to prayer appear), once enough time has elapsed that neighbors can tell the interest is sincere and lasting rather than some quick outreach campaign, then any number of doors can – and do – open wide.<br />Neighborhood Bible studies form, or grow.Mothers’ prayer groups appear.Neighborhood fellowship groups proliferate.Small group ministry is empowered.New neighborhood-based small groups form.Existing small groups gain new members naturally.Neighborhood-based Angel Tree ministry can develop.Neighborhood Christmas gatherings become more widespread.God-given dreams for family and community begin to be fulfilled.Neighborhood self-help ministries emerge.De-churched Christians find connections.Unchurched neighbors know where to turn in a crisis.Churches uncover ministry opportunities previously unknown.Church and community support develops for specific needs.Ministry becomes driven by neighborhood-based Christians, instead of church staff.Community and neighborhood improvement projects evolve.Cooperation, partnerships among area churches develop.City-reaching strategies are empowered.Community transformation dreams begin to get legs.”<br /><br />Will any in this transformed community be saved? True Christians in this community will be deemed “inadaptable to change” and will be made unwelcome in the “neighborhood-based small groups.” The true Christian will be incapable of taking part in this community transformation. The true authors of this “community transformation dream” are Communitarian change agents.<br /><a name="newzealand"></a><br /><br /><strong>TMAI NEW ZEALAND--</strong>Shepherd’s Bible College Offers Course to Learn “Dialogue Teaching Technique” for “Facilitating Group Health”<br /><br />TMAI New Zealand is called The Shepherd’s Bible College. The Shepherd’s Bible College was founded in 2000 by two churches: church@riverbend and Hastings Bible Church. In 2006, “The New Zealand Qualifications Authority extended registration and accreditation to The Shepherd’s Bible College.” In 2007, church@riverbend and Hastings Bible Church “amalgamated into one congregation of approximately 600 people” that is now called Riverbend Bible Church. The Academic Dean of The Shepherd’s Bible College is Nigel Shailer who graduated from the Master’s College and the Master’s Seminary. Four of the six members of The Shepherd’s Bible College faculty have been trained at GCC.<br /><br />The Shepherd’s Bible College (TMAI New Zealand) was founded by church@riverbend and Hastings Bible Church and these two churches have now been joined into <a href="http://www.riverbend.org.nz/" target="_blank">Riverbend Bible Church</a>. Let’s take a look at the TMAI New Zealand founding churches.<br /><br />Hastings Bible Church has an online ministry at <a href="http://www.hbchurch.co.nz/" target="_blank">http://www.hbchurch.co.nz/</a>. They have a “small home group” ministry. The website states that these small groups are to “create an environment where believers can practice the ‘one anothers’ of Scripture.” I have seen this reference to “one anothers of Scripture” on other church growth websites.<br /><br />One of the Riverbend Bible Church elders is Phil Henderson. He has a ministry to teens which “is to equip them in the word to be reproducers.” This is church growth language. Hastings Bible Church has an Awana ministry for children with “leadership training which is second to none.” Riverbend Bible Church has a ministry called Sports Camp. Nathan Potts, who has been active in this ministry for 15 years, “has a passion to…provide leadership development for pastors and elders.”<br /><br />Hastings Bible Church has a missions partnership with Samfya Bible School in Zambia. The ministry of Samfya Bible School is “the training of leaders who will make a difference in their communities as they teach God’s Word…” Hastings Bible Church wants to raise money “to support leadership development initiatives in rural areas (of Zambia)…” Hastings Bible Church is seeking funds for their Zambia mission for “leadership training,” to maintain buildings, “investigate a medical clinic,” and the caring for orphans and widows. “As little as NZ$1500 per year can make a big difference to these people in blessing their communities.”<br /><br />Hastings Bible Church, as of 12/07, partnered with <a href="http://www.brighthope.org/" target="_blank">Bright Hope International</a> (BHI) in Zambia. BHI has both a vision and mission statement. Their vision is “to bring hope to those earning less than $1/day.” What kind of hope? Their mission is to provide for the needs of the poorest of the poor “through personal, empowering, holistic, local church partnerships.” Their website states, “Bright Hope is not your traditional ministry. We are needs-driven.” Not driven by the Holy Spirit? The website states, “We believe the best models of international service are indigenous and holistic.” Bright Hope “partners with indigenous Christian leaders and churches who understand their community and are working to change lives in a holistic manner…” One of their ministries is called “changing kids’ lives.” A headline on their website reads, “Inspire and mobilize your congregation to serve the poor.” Bright Hope also provides “Church Leadership Development.”<br /><br />One of Bright Hope’s projects is in India. The project description states, “We believe that thousands of new Christian leaders will be trained and developed over the next few decades. These leaders will return to their villages to plant local churches. They will carry out relief and development projects to help the neediest people in their communities. They will help the people of Uttar Pradesh to come to know Christ and help meet the needs of the poorest, most overlooked people in their villages. Their goal will be to help these people experience the love of Christ firsthand.” This is the social gospel. How many of these “new Christian leaders” will be saved?<br /><br />On June 24, 2007 Riverbend Bible Church made an “Amalgamation Announcement” on their website regarding the merger of church@riverbend and Hastings Bible Church. Since these churches founded The Shepherd’s Bible College (TMAI New Zealand), let’s take a close look at this announcement.<br /><br />One reason given by church leaders to form this “new entity” is for “leadership development.” According to the Riverbend website, “before the ‘new church’ begins, the elders plan to meet with all ministry leaders to facilitate discussions, bringing people together from both churches for dialogue concerning the future make-up of each ministry.” The article goes on to say that “everyone serving in team leadership capacities will be included in this process.” A process where elders bring diverse team leaders together to facilitate a dialogue [to consensus] refers to the dialectic process. These leaders are governing by consensus. Several times in this article the merging of these churches is referred to as a process. The article goes on to say, “the new church and vision will allow better utilization of giftedness, fellowship to flourish, leadership development to happen within the context of the small church groups that will be started.” Their vision is for leadership development to happen within the small groups that will be started. This leadership development in small groups sounds like change agent training. The article goes on to say that “the process has given us vision and hope” and they want everyone to get behind this for “the unity of the body.” The church leaders planned to “give clear vision for what the new church will look like and we are confidant that you will catch the vision with enthusiasm…” This language used by Riverbend Church leaders is transformational.<br /><br />Several places on the TMAI New Zealand website state that The Shepherd’s Bible College has sought and received accreditation from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. What does the government require for this Bible College to get this accreditation? One place on the website lists “Diploma of Biblical Studies Programme Outcomes.” “Programme Outcomes” grabbed my attention since TQM in education is called outcome-based education (OBE). (Two plus two equals four, unless it’s OBE, in which case it equals whatever they can all agree upon and feel good about.)<br /><br />The TMAI New Zealand literature states that character development plays an important part in the “maturing process” at The Shepherd’s Bible College. “Personal mentors” discuss this aspect of their training with students. “These relationships will be developed in part during discipleship labs where evaluation and feedback will be offered.” According to The Shepherd’s Bible College website, “Discipleship labs are required of all Diploma of Biblical Studies students. They focus on discussions relating to the development of Christian living skills and character qualities. Students meet in small groups for 2 hours weekly with a faculty member or church leader…particular emphasis is devoted to the evaluation of relationship styles…” Why must the student meet in groups and not meet alone with the Bible College leader? These “discipleship labs” don’t sound like they employ traditional teaching techniques.<br /><br />The Shepherd’s Bible College (TMAI New Zealand) offers a course called “Teaching and Shepherding Small Groups” (PS603.5). The course description: “A focus on the birth, care and nurture of Christian small groups, particularly as they function in the life of the local church. Philosophy of the dynamics of small group interaction will point to the primary means of facilitating home group health: instruction in dialogue teaching. Students will be taught the dialogue teaching technique, with a view to avoid relativism given the dialogue format.”<br /><br />In this course, the student will learn the primary means of “facilitating home group health” which they call “dialogue teaching technique.” This course is facilitator training. A group dialoguing to “health” in a facilitated meeting is a dialectic session. “Facilitating home group health” involves synthesizing diverse positions to a pre-determined consensus through dialogue. A “healthy group” would be a group in which all the members, being “adaptable to change,” have a willingness to compromise their standards and find common ground. An “unhealthy group” would be a group whose members hold strongly to their positions and are unwilling to compromise. These unhealthy group members would be considered divisive, intolerant and “inadaptable to change.” A “dialogue teaching technique” is dialectic or transformational teaching as opposed to a didactic or traditional teaching technique. They say this course employs this teaching technique “to avoid relativism,” but if they wanted to avoid relativism, they would employ a didactic teaching technique or a lecture technique and not a dialogue technique. As students learn to “facilitate home group health through dialogue,” they will be learning to create conditions that maximize demonic influence over the group members.<br /><br />TMAI New Zealand hosts an annual “Impact Bible Conference.” The motto for this conference is “transforming lives with truth.” Notice that the motto isn’t “saving souls with truth.” Regarding this conference the TMAI website states, “Those who attend Impact” have an “amazing dynamic of time together” and are “building life-long ministry friendships.” The “leadership team behind the conference has designed it to foster mutual encouragement and like-mindedness.” The “genius of Impact is its emphasis on building mentoring relationships for lasting ministry unity.” This conference is about diversity forming relationships and unifying. It’s common for church growth orgs to say that they are out to “impact” the community. Nigel Shailer prays that “God will use The Shepherd’s Bible College to greatly impact our nation…” The Shepherd’s Bible College which has conformed to government standards through the accreditation process wants to impact the nation.<br /><br />According to a TMAI newsletter (9/06), Jerry Wragg of Grace Immanuel Bible Church led the 2006 Impact Conference along with Chris Mueller of East Valley Bible Training Center. Wragg said, “Churches are bringing groups—whole leadership teams (to the conference). According to TMAI newsletter (9/05), the Impact Conference neighborhood “was transformed” as church leaders flocked to the conference. Chris Mueller taught at the 2005 conference where he brought his team and he also led the 2006 conference. Since Mr. Mueller was leading the major conference at TMAI New Zealand, let’s take a look at the church he pastored in Gilbert, Arizona (I was told he left this church in 2007).<br /><br />According to the TMAI website, as of 2006, Chris Mueller was a pastor at <a href="http://www.evbc.org/" target="_blank">East Valley Bible Church</a> (EVBC) in Gilbert, Arizona. I have copies of the EVBC web pages from 2006 and it looks similar to their web pages today. Let’s take a look at EVBC.<br /><br />EVBC is a large ministry and it is definitely a new paradigm, Communitarian ministry built on human relationships. They have ministries in several different areas in Arizona. They all use very similar language. For instance, “The Chandler area ministry exists to equip the believer of EVBC to minister to one another and relationally reach out to those who do not yet love Jesus Christ.” Their pastor is Jim Harper. He “deeply believes one of the key ways that God grows His Church is through the power of relationships.” “These convictions have led Jim to a highly relational approach to ministry…” All of the EVBC area ministries have home groups. Under the heading, “home groups,” it says, “Community: we need one another for growth and encouragement. People experience authentic community in many different environments and ministries at evbc. Home groups provide one place where you can begin to connect in relationships.”<br /><br />EVBC has a ministry called “Band of Brothers” which “is designed to aid men in forming the dynamic relationship needed to live for the glory of God.” There is a ministry called “Women’s Circle” which is “to help you have deeper relationships, provide a place to share your life…” “Sisterhood Groups” are “small clusters of women…” The Gilbert “Women’s Circle Group” will “give women a place to relationally connect with other women in their community.” “Home groups are a great place…to work to make a difference in your community.” EVBC is clearly built on a human relationship paradigm.<br /><br />An EVBC ministry called “Crosswork, meets in 3 groups during the week in a small group setting that we refer to as Discipleship. The purpose of these small group meetings is to facilitate more acute spiritual growth in each individual life, and in the group as a whole.” Notice that they only “refer” to their small groups as “discipleship.” They also have “newly married life groups.” Under the heading, “Worship Principles,” it says, “Those leading in worship are facilitators of worship, not performers.” They are saying that those who lead worship are agents of change or agents of transformation.<br /><br />The EVBC children’s ministry called “Blast Xtreme” states, “Our desire is to make the invisible God, visible through volunteers who demonstrate a Christ honoring life.” EVBC has an annual event called “Heatstroke Open” where “Once a year each summer, we give men the opportunity to sweat, play golf, enjoy food, sweat, get to know other men, and sweat.”<br /><br />EVBC often refers to their desire to meet the needs of the community. They have “community ministries and service projects.” EVBC “has a vision for serving their neighbors in need.” This service includes “refurbishing homes, food and clothing distribution and collection, medical/dental services and care for aliens in our community.” During their “make-a-difference day, more than 600 volunteers participated.” Among the projects accomplished that day: “More than 15 acres of desert and residential property cleaned up at Sunshine Acres.” Another of their community ministries is called “M25 Project.” Concerning this project: “We need more food to provide food boxes to those that we are interacting with and building relationships with in the community.” Under the headline, “Community Ministries,” it states, “We are learning from and modeling other CM ministries around the country who are sharing the gospel through evangelism, social action, economic development, and working for social justice. These believers are starting both churches and community development programs…” It’s clear that the EVBC Communitarian change agents are busy affecting social change in the community and that EVBC is built on a human relationship paradigm.<br /><br />On a final note, EVBC uses Crown Financial Ministries (CFM) “that uses a remarkably effective ‘Small Group Bible Study’” as “an educational part of the financial ministry.” As already stated, CFM is, along with TMAI, a Counsel&Capital client. I have shown that those “Small Group Bible Studies” at CFM are dialectic sessions.<br /><br />According to the EVBC office, for the last 1½ years Chris Mueller has been the senior pastor at Faith Bible Church (www.faith-bible.net) in Murietta, CA. Faith Bible Church has a webpage called “A Vision for the Future of FBC.” They also have home Bible study groups for developing relationships: “Home-based Bible Studies are one of the central, core ministries of our church. They are the primary means by which we shepherd people in our church and attending one is probably the best way to get plugged in at FBC and develop relationships with others.”<br /><br />Chris Mueller, who leads conferences at TMAI New Zealand, pastors church growth, Communitarian churches built on a human relationship paradigm.<br /><br />It doesn’t matter how biblical the preaching is from the pulpit or how biblical the teaching is in the TMAI centers; for if the congregation is participating in leader-led small groups and teams, where the leader is acting as a change agent, then the good seeds sown from the pulpit or from the classroom will be negated by the wiles of the leader/change agent. It won’t matter if the Apostle Paul is preaching from the pulpit if his congregation is participating in facilitator-led small groups. Those participating have learned to justify compromising sound doctrine for relationship building.<br /><br />I have shown that several of the TMAI centers have a transformational, Communitarian ministry; and for the reason stated above, there is no need to look at all the TMAI centers because I will show later that ALL of the TMAI center leaders are participating in small groups in what I believe is the formation of a “Leadership Community.” Nevertheless, I would like to give just a few more brief examples of compromise at John Macarthur’s GCC TMAI centers.<br /><a name="mexico"></a><br /><br /><strong>TMAI MEXICO--</strong>TMAI Mexico Partners with a member of the World Council of Churches<br /><br />The TMAI Mexico center is called Word of Grace Biblical Seminary. If one goes to the TMAI Mexico webpage then one will see that a pastors’ conference in El Salvador is highlighted. On Sept. 6-7, 2007, Word of Grace Biblical Seminary led a conference in El Salvador called Basics of Leadership (This conference has also been called “Basics of Biblical Leadership” and “Leadership Basics”). According to the TMAI website, “This conference was organized by the Baptist Association of El Salvador and the Word of Grace Biblical Seminary…” This means that TMAI Mexico was working in partnership or in cooperation with the Baptist Association of El Salvador. Why is this noteworthy?<br /><br />The Baptist Association of El Salvador is not only a member of the Baptist World Alliance, a UN-NGO, but it is also a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The Baptist Association of El Salvador’s WCC membership can be seen <a href="http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/latin-america/el-salvador.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />In 1993, Joseph A. Harriss wrote an article, “<a href="http://www.pravoslavieto.com/docs/eng/gospel_accord_marx.htm" target="_blank">The Gospel According to Marx</a>.” Within this article, Rachel Tingle, Director of London’s Christian Studies Centre, states regarding the WCC: “The council has jettisoned traditional Christian missionary activity and substituted political action designed to establish a new kind of world order.”<br /><br />According to another article titled, Baptists and Liberation Theology, “In 1975, the Baptist Association of El Salvador founded a theological school in Santa Ana…which created…an openness to both sides of the war and to cooperation with Catholics for the public good.” Three decades ago, the Baptist Association of El Salvador was finding common ground with Catholics for the public good. True Christians are to separate from evil. They are not to cooperate with evil for the “public good.”<br /><a name="russia"></a><br /><strong>TMAI RUSSIA--</strong>TMAI Russia is a Ministry of Globeworks International’s “Globeworks in Russia”<br /><br />TMAI has 3 training centers in Russia. One is called Word of Grace Bible Institute (WGBI). WGBI was founded in 1998 by Alexey Kolomiytsev. According to the TMAI website, “Third-generation Russian pastor and graduate of The Masters Seminary, Alexey Kolomiytsev began Word of Grace Bible Institute (WGBI) in 1998 in Novorossiysk, Russia.” He founded WGBI before TMAI was started.<br /><br />According to <a href="http://web.mac.com/globeworks/globeworks.org/Home.html" target="_blank">Globeworks International Ministries</a>, Word of Grace Bible School, which I believe is Word of Grace Bible Institute, is a ministry of “Globeworks in Russia.” Regarding Alexey Kolomiytsev, Globeworks International Ministries website states, “Alexey is currently GlobeWorks' Russian Field Director supervising a growing group of national pastors and missionaries.” And according to the Globeworks website, “GlobeWorks partners with U.S. seminaries (such as Luther Rice Seminary or The Master's Seminary) to conduct two-year Bible Training Institutes.”<br /><br />Based on this information from Globeworks International Ministries (GWIM), GWIM has a partnership with the Master’s Seminary and Word of Grace Bible Institute is a Globeworks ministry and its founder, Alexey Kolomiytsev, is a Globeworks Russian Field Director. Given this partnership between Globeworks and TMAI and The Master’s Seminary, let’s take a closer look into Globeworks International.<br /><br />On the Globeworks International website in “who we are” it states that “we are an international, interdenominational Christian mission.” Globeworks is a 501(c) (3) org based in Birmingham, Alabama. Under the heading, “Globeworks Strategy,” it states, “GlobeWorks is building a network of experienced, effective national leaders.” Under the heading, “Globeworks Vision,” it states, “The VISION for Globeworks is, in a word: partnering.”<br /><br />On the Globeworks website under the heading, “meeting the needs,” it lists the categories of Evangelism, Discipleship and Development. Under “Development” it includes: funding for orphanages and food relief as well as “free medical and dental clinics for the poor.” Globeworks takes “medical teams into the most impoverished areas of the third world.” “We also sponsor free medical and dental clinics in impoverished cities and villages throughout Africa. In partnership with American pharmaceutical companies, we are able to take tons of free medicine to the Third World.”<br /><br />Let’s now take a brief look into their international ministries. Globeworks operates in 5 different “theaters.” The “Slavic theater” is “Globeworks in Russia” and Alexey Kolomiytsev is their “Russian Field Director.” Their “Caribbean theater” is “Globeworks in Haiti.” Regarding Haiti, the website states, “GlobeWorks began to work with national pastors there in early 1999, and has continued to build up national leaders and offer help to the many poor and sick of that island nation.” They go on to say, “GlobeWorks ministry in Haiti is two-pronged: Immediate help for those at the bottom of a seemingly hopeless society in the form of orphanages and medical missions. Secondly, working for long-term change in the form of leadership training via week-long Pastor's Training Conferences and two-year Bible degree programs. We believe the only true hope for Haiti is the preaching of the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ.” They also state regarding Haiti: “There are few countries in the world more in need of radical social, economic and spiritual transformation.”<br /><br />Their “African theater” is “Globeworks in Kenya.” Their church planter in Kenya is Dr. Steven Kabacia. “In addition to working with GWIM [Globeworks], he is also regional director for DAWN Ministries (Discipling A Whole Nation) based in Colorado.”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dawnministries.org/" target="_blank">DAWN Ministries</a> is a blatantly new paradigm, transformational, Communitarian org. that is listed as a Global Partner of the <a href="http://www.worldevangelicals.org/members/globalpartners.htm" target="_blank">World Evangelical Alliance</a> (WEA). Global partners of the WEA “contribute to achieve WEA’s objective.” DAWN stands for “Discipling a Whole Nation.” The DAWN vision: “Our vision is to mobilize twenty thousand apostolic leaders who will train and release an army of two million church planters to see twenty million churches planted by the year 2020.” How many will be saved in these 20 million churches? In order to accomplish this “saturation church planting,” “DAWN identifies and works with national leaders to develop a vision for discipling whole nations through whole church networks.”<br />DAWN has a “Leadership Development Department.” The first 3 purposes of this department are:<br /><br />1. To train church leaders worldwide to be holistic and transformational in ministry<br />2. To develop the needed leadership competency in acting out vision<br />3. To foster partnership among Christian Organizations engaged in leadership or holistic ministry to work together in enabling the churches to be transformational in impact.<br /><br />This leadership training involves training transformational leaders (change agents) who will catch their vision to impact the community (affect social change).<br /><br />The DAWN leadership development goals are societal transformation. Their Leadership Team seeks to answer the following question: “What is the impact of churches in transforming communities?” The DAWN Latin America Leadership Development page states, “The harsh reality that challenges us is the urgent need for the integral transformation of our society.”<br /><br />“The DAWN European Network (DEN) is an unusual brotherhood of leaders, based on vision, values, synergy and friendship. They are united by a common vision expressed in the DAWN strategy. We are excited at hundreds of House Churches emerging everywhere in Western Europe and long to see them welcomed as valid old-new expressions of Church. We see strategic city networks emerging - Christians of a city or region taking responsibility together for the discipling of their city - with a transforming effect on society.” A European network of leaders experiencing synergy, sharing the same vision, forming strategic networks of “House Churches” to effect transformation of society. This is transformational Communitarianism and is NOT Christianity.<br /><br />The “DAWN African Team”… “is represented regionally by 4 dynamic leaders working in 36 African countries.” One of these “dynamic leaders” is Dr. Steve Kabachia—East Africa Regional Coordinator.” This is the same man who represents Globeworks International, the TMAI and Master’s Seminary partner, in Kenya. One can assume that TMAI and Master’s Seminary partner, Globeworks International, approves of DAWN Ministries since Dr. Kabachia holds ministry positions in both Globeworks International and DAWN ministry.<br /><br />Globeworks International’s “Globeworks in Russia” is essentially the TMAI center in Russia called Word of Grace Bible Institute.<br /><br />One of the members of the Board of Directors of Globeworks International is the Rev. Howard (Mickey) Park. He is the Emeritus Pastor of <a href="http://www.shadesmountain.org/" target="_blank">The Shades Mountain Bible Church</a> (SMBC).<br /><br />SMBC is another transformational church whose focus is on relationship building. They have a series on their “sermon audio” called “40 Days of Purpose.” This is from R Warren. The 40 days of purpose is an initial step in community transformation. SMBC has a small groups ministry for 4-12 people called Grace groups. They aren’t didactic Bible study groups. SMBC uses the term “Partnershifts” to describe the training in these Grace groups. Under “Leadership Resources,” 8 “partnershift sessions” are listed for the Grace Group members to go through. They define Partnershift: “We will be using the word partnershift to reflect the changes which must occur to have a bond [in the group] that goes beyond normal friendships.” Grace Group Session 1 asks, “What ‘shifts’ would need to take place in our group to develop a partnership that makes a difference.” Another question posed to the Grace Group members in session 1: “If you could just dream or think outside of the box for a moment, what things could you envision our group doing as partners together to have a mission that makes a difference.” To think outside the box is transformational terminology. It means to think outside of traditional ways or to think outside of God’s Word.<br /><br />It looks like these “partnershift sessions” are psyco-social sessions meant to “shift” the paradigm of the group members from a traditional, obedience to authority paradigm to a transformational, “thinking outside the box” paradigm (compromising authority for relationship building and bonding). This notion of “partnershifts” is antithetical to biblical Christianity because if all group members are true Christians (without diversity) within a true Christian church, then why would anyone need to be changed or shifted?<br /><br />I mention the transformational ministry, Shades Mountain Bible Church, because their pastor emeritus sits on the board of TMAI and Master’s Seminary partner, Globeworks International.<br /><br /><strong>TMAI RUSSIA--</strong>TMAI Russia’s Head Pastor and Host Church are Connected to the Baptist World Alliance, a UN-NGO<br /><br />Another TMAI training center in Russia is called Samara Preacher’s Institute and Theological Seminary. Samara Preacher’s Institute operates under the umbrella of Transfiguration Baptist Church. The rector of Transfiguration Church is Victor Ryaguzov. Pastor Ryaguzov is a Vice-President of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB). According to the Academic Dean of Samara Preacher’s Institute, Brad Klassen, “the church that hosts Samara Preachers’ Institute and Theological Seminary is a Baptist Union church (Transfiguration Baptist in Samara.)” The Baptist Union referred to is UECB. Brad Klassen goes on to state that Transfiguration Baptist Church “is registered [with the Russian government] to provide training seminars, conferences, etc.” According to Brad Klassen, “our rector [Victor Ryaguzov] (the man who had the initial vision, and who invited us to help train pastors) is part of the Baptist Union leadership.”<br /><br />What we learn from the information above is that the TMAI Russia center’s host church, Transfiguration Baptist Church, is registered with the Russian government and is a member of the UECB and the church’s head, Victor Ryaguzov, is a Vice-President of UECB. Why is this noteworthy? It’s noteworthy because the UECB (Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists) is a member of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) which is a UN-NGO dedicated to the one-world, globalist, anti-Christ agenda.<br /><br />Samara Preacher’s Institute (TMAI Russia) has extended its training to include an area in Russia called the city of Krasnodar. Samara Preacher’s Institute was invited to train pastors in this region in 2005 by Nicolai Sobolev who already pastored a church in that region. Pastor Sobolev is also a Vice-President of UECB, the BWA member org.<br /><br />According to the TMAI website, the Slavic Gospel Association (www.sga.org) has donated books to TMAI Russia. Bill Molinari, TMAI board member, has been a member of the SGA board according to his TMAI bio. According to the SGA website, SGA is an international ministry that operates “an office staffed by nationals at the headquarters of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia in Moscow.” The SGA website goes on to state, “Since 1997, SGA has been privileged to serve as the official representative of the Russian UECB in North America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand<br /><br />The title of the TMAI 12/07 newsletter is called “A Whirlwind Tour.” This tour refers to an American pastor and his 6 team members who were invited by Samara Preacher’s Institute and Theological Seminary to spend 3 weeks in Russia. The article states that Pastor Paul Tautges and his team from Immanuel Bible Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin spent 3 weeks in Russia traveling and teaching at several different locations. Their team was allowed into an English class within the Russian school system. Since the article heaps much praise on Pastor Tautges and his church, let’s take a look into <a href="http://www.delightintheword.org/" target="_blank">Immanuel Bible Church</a>.<br /><br />Immanuel Church has divided their congregation into many teams. I count at least 9 teams. To give just a couple examples: The “Jehu Team” exists for “automobile maintenance and repair for church family.” The “Samson Team” arranges “athletic events for fellowship/evangelism, relationship building.”<br /><br />Immanuel Church has a small groups fellowship called “Men of Iron.” Their purpose is to “provide small group fellowship and accountability toward the goal of spiritual growth.” Immanuel Church also links to Crown Financial Ministries, the Counsel & Capital Client. “They [Immanuel Church] have a team of Crown Ministries-trained financial counselors to help you apply stewardship principles,” says the Immanuel Church website. I have previously shown that this Crown Ministries training involves training in dialectic sessions.<br /><br />Immanuel Church has a ministry called “Dinner for Six.” This ministry “is a unique fellowship open to all adults in the church for the purpose of developing closer relationships within this Christian family.” The “Dinner for Six” ministry is described as a “group of 6 people, once a month meet for a time of food, fun, and fellowship—alternating hostesses each time.” The groups “are encouraged to invite new people to join them.” Are the new people Christians? “Those who are involved [in Dinner for Six] continue to comment on how nice it is to know others in this fun and informal atmosphere.”<br /><br />Another Immanuel Church ministry is called “Family Fun Nite.” This ministry is “to encourage family togetherness, Family Fun Nites are planned approximately 4x a year…activities range from bowling and gym nights to sledding and nature walks…”<br /><a name="philippines"></a><br /><strong>TMAI-PHILIPPINES--</strong>TMAI Philippine’s Leader is a Missionary with Reach Global<br /><br />TMAI-Philippines is the 16th and the latest TMAI training center. TMAI Philippines training center was established by a Master’s Seminary graduate named Sean Ransom. This training center partners with local churches.<br /><br />I’ve contacted Sean Ransom and I recall being concerned that he was using church growth terminology and that he was in favor of Rick Warren’s SHAPE process. The SHAPE process is a psycho-social assessment process for determining someone’s “spiritual gifts” so that the pastor will know where to place him in ministry. Saddleback will ask regarding prospective members: what is your SHAPE for ministry? Many Christians have noted a close connection between Rick Warren's SHAPE teaching on personality and the psychological theories of Carl Jung. (<a href="http://www.sacredsandwich.com/warren_jung_chart.htm" target="_blank">Warren-Jung Chart</a>) <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-3.html#104#104" target="_self">104.</a> It’s my understanding that ministries are also utilizing assessment tests, like SHAPE, for personality profiling and for membership databasing to be shared later with the government in order to maintain their 501c3 tax exempt status.<br /><br />According to his blogsite, Sean Ransom is “a missionary [in the Philippines] with Reach Global, formerly called the Evangelical Free Church of America International Mission.” He states that “his vision is to establish a training center that will specialize in expository preaching and church planting.” Let’s take a look at <a href="http://www.efca.org/" target="_blank">Reach Global</a>.<br /><br />Reach Global’s mission statement displayed at the top of their website is “Multiplying healthy churches among all people.” In church growth, a healthy church would be a church in which there are no true Christians. It would be a church where everyone is willing to compromise God for human relationships. Under the headline, “Reach Global,” are the words “Develop. Empower. Release.” Much of their first web page describes their “National Leadership Conference.” Reach Global has an “ENHANCE” division whose services designed to “make healthy missionaries” include “training,” “debriefings,” and “team building.” Under “EFCA Connect” they ask, “Do you want people to catch a vision for missions that’s contagious?” They offer a resource similar to Warren’s SHAPE process called “Strength Finder…to discover your personal strengths and those of your team.” Reach Global offers a training ministry for churches called the Global Outreach Summit. The first topic mentioned for this training conference is called “Holistic Mission Partnerships.” In Communitarian orgs, a missionary’s value doesn’t lie in what he knows, but in how he relates to others or relates to the whole. This is similar to Eastern philosophy. It’s called General Systems Theory which is a basis for the church growth movement.<br /><br />Several steps must be completed before one can become a LT missionary with Reach Global. One of the steps is called the Readiness Event. “The readiness event is a week-long experience that includes psychological assessments, interviews with the ReachGlobal leadership, team dynamics exercises, self-evaluation exercises, and more.” Reach Global has a ministry called TouchGlobal. One ministry of TouchGlobal is Katrina Relief. For Katrina Relief, Touch Global is partnering with other churches “to restore the church bodies and to mobilize people from around the country to transform the communities of Southern LA and beyond.” Reach Global is not a Christian org. Its goal is community transformation. Does it surprise the reader that a Master’s Seminary graduate and a TMAI leader is a missionary for an org like Reach Global?<br />On Sean Ransom’s blogsite dated 7/8/06 is the headline “Master’s Men in Manila.” The blog reads, “On July 4-6 a team of men from the Master’s Seminary joined me (Sean Ransom) in Manila to teach a three day conference on expository preaching…In partnership with Greenhills Christian Fellowship’s Petra foundation…”<br /><br />A team of men from the Master’s Seminary partnered with Greenhills Christian Fellowship to teach a three day conference. Is Greenhills Christian Fellowship a Christian org? No, it is another transformational, Communitarian org. Let’s take a look at <a href="http://www.gcf.org.ph/" target="_blank">Greenhills Christian Fellowship</a> (GCF) since the “team” from The Master’s Seminary partnered with them.<br /><br />Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF), “with over 7000 worshippers,” is in Pasig City, Philippines. It has both a mission and vision statement. Their vision: “GCF is one church reaching influencers through satellites in strategic areas worldwide.” The GCF “Edifying Ministry aims to serve and equip believers in the task of ministering to one another toward spiritual transformation and maturity.” The GCF “Crossover Ministry is an authentic community of singles who are developing into purposeful leaders and catalysts of change through a progressive ministry. We envision singles who will be changed by Christ and influence others to live transformed lives for Him.” Having a vision for developing authentic community leaders who will be catalysts of change (change agents) to transform others through a “progressive ministry” is Communitarianism and is not Christianity.<br /><br />The GCF “Crossover Ministry” goes on to say, “We gather singles into one caring community, usher them into small groups for relationship-building, accountability and mentoring. We develop passionate servant-leaders who stir and move people towards spiritual maturity.” Ushering singles into small groups for relationship building and accountability is the same as Grace Church’s The Foundry and The Guild. The GCF “Equipping Ministry” aspires “to train leaders in areas of doctrine, skills and character that will prepare them to disciple people in growth groups with the intention of developing new leaders.” This “equipping ministry” sounds like it equips leaders in facilitation skills.<br /><br />GCF has an “Equipping Ministry” called “Growth Groups.” The description begins: “To be big, we have to become small.” “By observation and research, big churches today have one common ministry – the ministry of small groups. As we look forward to growing a healthy congregation, we have to properly manage what we have in our groups. The GCF design for small group is the Growth Group. A Growth Group is a voluntary and intentional gathering of five to fifteen people…” The term “intentional” is a term often used in church growth ministries. “The one key ingredient we would like to nurture in our Growth Group is aggressive multiplication and discipleship.” This is about change agents transforming others to become change agents. The GCF “Equipping Ministry” aspires “to train leaders in areas of doctrine, skills, and character that will prepare them to disciple people in growth groups with the intention of developing new leaders.” This is equipping leaders in facilitation skills. One final quote: “The Makati District [ministry] is geared towards spiritually-transforming the Makati business community, nurtured by the GCF Workplace Ministry…” This is an example of how the communitarian church growth movement wants to penetrate and transform all “spheres” of society including the workplace. GCF is a large and sophisticated church growth operation. Too bad the deceived Philippinos think it’s a Christian church.<br /><a name="leadership"></a><br /><strong>THE TMAI LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY<br /></strong><br />What does the future hold for the worldwide TMAI centers? I have reason to believe the centers are now being formed into a Leadership Community. The formation of Leadership Communities is part of the global transformation process promoted by the Leadership Network, a primary organization manipulating the churches into the communitarian partnership (Drucker’s 3-legged stool). What is a <a href="http://www.leadnet.org/LC_faq.asp" target="_blank">Leadership Community</a>?<br /><br />According to the <a href="http://www.leadnet.org/" target="_blank">Leadership Network</a>, under the heading, “What is a Leadership Community,” it states, “The Leadership Community employs a process where peers work interactively through a series of gatherings, conference calls, web dialogues and planning tools to accomplish a significant leap in their personal and organizational performance.” Is there evidence that the TMAI centers have employed a process where peers work interactively to enhance their organizational performance? There is. Does this process involve a series of gatherings or conference calls? Yes, it does.<br /><br />The Leadership Network (LN) is encouraging churches that have a common area of ministry to form what they call a “Leadership Community.” According to the LN, they prefer that this initial Leadership Community be comprised of about 15 churches that share a common area of ministry. For example, 15 churches that are focused on church planting may form a Church Planting Leadership Community, but a church whose focus is in the area of “healthcare ministry” wouldn’t be allowed in that community and would have to join a community of other churches focused on healthcare.<br /><br />The LN states that part of the process of forming Leadership Communities involves bringing leaders from each of the churches that constitute a particular Leadership Community together for “gatherings.” The LN website states, in one particular instance (for the Church Planting Leadership Community), that the process involves 3 church leaders from each of 15 churches “gathering” 4 times over what they call an 18-month learning cycle. It looks like the number of gatherings and the length of the learning cycle may vary depending on the type of Leadership Community formed.<br /><br />By the way, it may be of interest that the LN website highlights the fact that Tim Dammon, a researcher for the LN in the area of healthcare ministry, came to the LN from the Seed Company, “a collaborative partnership of several mission agencies.” It would appear, therefore, that TMAI and the Leadership Network have common ground in Len Crowley’s Counsel & Capital. Both TMAI and the LN approved Seed Company are client ministries of Counsel & Capital. Len Crowley, who was once a pastor at Grace Church and who, I recall reading, considers John Macarthur to be his pastor, and who teaches at TMAI training centers, as Managing Director of Counsel & Capital, advises both TMAI and The SEED Company, a ministry that seems to have earned the approval of the LN and whose former employee now works for the LN. Do you think there is a chance Len Crowley opposes the agenda of the LN? Do you think John Macarthur opposes the agenda of the LN?<br /><br />In the jargon of the Leadership Network, TMAI might be called Training Church Leaders Leadership Community comprised of 16 participating centers. Is there evidence that leaders from each of the TMAI centers are in a process of working interactively through periodic gatherings to enhance organizational performance? There is solid proof for this.<br /><br />The church growth movement wants to transform individual thinking into collective thinking and to build within all a sense of interdependence, oneness and community. By having leaders from all the TMAI centers come together periodically, these church growth goals are furthered as diversity unifies and as a collective group mind is created.<br /><br />Based on the TMAI literature (newsletters going back to 2005), it looks like at least one or more leaders from each of the worldwide TMAI centers gather at least twice a year. A gathering takes place in October in New York and a gathering takes place around March of each year at the GCC Pastor’s Conference. These twice a year gatherings give the leaders of each of the TMAI centers a chance to work interactively to enhance performance.<br /><br />Let me give some examples from the TMAI literature that describe these gatherings. From the 8/05 newsletter regarding the NY gathering: “This October in New York, the Academy will pursue that mission [equipping churches with godly leaders] in a unique way, by holding a special conference that will bring together one representative from all 15 of its training centers around the globe for 5 days of teaching and fellowship.” The article goes on to say, “The men will spend most of their time in small groups...becoming more dynamic instructors and learning to raise up even more effective church leaders. ‘We’re creating a network of friends,’ says Academic Director David Deuel.” Leaders gathering in small groups being formed into networks of dynamic instructors sounds like the church growth agenda. “Dynamic” is a word frequently used in church growth because it means change.<br /><br />Regarding this October 2005 conference in New York, Jay Letey commenting in the 11/05 newsletter about the center’s leaders stated, “How encouraging it was for everyone to see themselves as part of a larger whole.” This is General Systems Theory (GST), the theory behind Total Quality Management. According to GST, one only has meaning as part of the collective, as just a cog in a machine. Man is complete only when part of an organization. It’s not what you know, but how you relate that matters in community building.<br /><br />The TMAI March 2006 newsletter has a brief article regarding the TMAI Leadership Community’s meeting at Grace Church. The article states, “All day long, Feb. 27th, men representing the 15 Academy supported training centers gathered in one room for a unique event.” The article goes on to say, “For those 10-plus hours, more than 50 men from different hemispheres and varied cultures, found the common ground that makes TMAI so special.” Men from different hemispheres and varied cultures found common ground. This means diversity finding common ground or diversity in unity. This is the synthesis phase of the dialectic process. TMAI is using transformational language in this newsletter to describe this ministry. We also learn from this newsletter that if more than 50 men were present representing the centers, then perhaps 3 or more men from each center participated in the gathering. Clearly, these centers aren’t independent entities serving God. They must all together experience community.<br /><br />Regarding this particular gathering at Grace Church, Jay Letey, employing more church growth language, said that it “provided us with a platform to share our vision…” He also said regarding this gathering, “I saw church leaders catch the Master’s Academy Vision.” As stated earlier, it was also at this Feb. 2006 gathering that John Macarthur displayed his use of transformational language.<br /><br />In October 2007, the TMAI center’s leaders met again in NY (I believe they meet at an upstate NY retreat house). Regarding this meeting: “For several days, the faithful men who labor so diligently throughout the year to equip church leaders across 5 continents put their collective heads together.” “Each training center is separate, but joined through TMAI and through a common purpose.” The leaders, joined in common purpose, put their heads together in a collective manner. This implies they shared and dialogued to consensus. Submission to God seems to be out; dialogue, finding common ground within a small group, and networking seems to be in.<br /><br />In October 2006, the TMAI center’s leaders met at Grace Church. Regarding this gathering Jay Letey said, “Whenever we can bring teachers from all over the world together, it becomes a melting pot of ideas. This is what we want to foster. A sense of community is one of the things that helps TMAI work so well.” Why foster (facilitate?) a melting pot of ideas or a sense of community? Why not foster faith in and dependence on God? Because to foster dependence on God would break up relationships and a sense of community?<br /><br />The first headline of the first TMAI newsletter, April 2005, was “The Right Vision.” The article under the subtitle, “Historic Gathering,” states, “For the first time in the young history of TMAI, this past month there were representatives from all the training centers gathered together for 2 days of meetings. Exciting reports were given by each training center as they shared their approach to fulfilling the common vision of training church leaders to effectively and passionately teach the Word of God.”<br /><br />It must be very costly for TMAI to fly their center’s leaders from around the world to NY or to Grace Church for special gatherings. How do they justify the expense? Why are they gathering? If the TMAI leadership wanted to impart teaching or knowledge to these center’s leaders (traditional teaching), then couldn’t they easily be instructed by mail or by phone? The fact that TMAI is willing to bear the expense of flying these leaders in for special gatherings where they will spend time in small groups, putting collective heads together, finding common ground, fulfilling the common vision, and building community tells me these leaders are receiving transformational teaching meant to destroy individuality and ultimately their faith in God.<br /><br />ENDNOTES<br /><br />103.<a name="103"></a> <a href="http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html">http://nord.twu.net/acl/etzioni.html</a><br />104.<a name="104"></a> <a href="http://www.sacredsandwich.com/warren_jung_chart.htm">http://www.sacredsandwich.com/warren_jung_chart.htm</a><br />105.<a name="105"></a> <a href="http://inetresults.com/impeach/memo.html">http://inetresults.com/impeach/memo.html</a><br />106.<a name="106"></a> CNP Database: <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#phillips">http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#phillips</a><br />107.<a name="107"></a> <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/22/155525/061">http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/22/155525/061</a><br />108.<a name="108"></a> <a href="http://www.publiceye.org/ifas/fw/9601/rules.html">http://www.publiceye.org/ifas/fw/9601/rules.html</a><br />109.<a name="109"></a> <a href="http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/john-macarthur-newevang.html">http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/john-macarthur-newevang.html</a><br />110.<a name="110"></a> Biblical Discernment Ministries, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lahaye/general.htm">http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/lahaye/general.htm</a><br />111.<a name="111"></a> The John Birch Society: <a href="http://watch-unto-prayer.org/jbs-cnp.html">http://watch-unto-prayer.org/jbs-cnp.html</a><br /><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>PART IV<br /></strong><br /><strong>THE MONEY TRAIL—WHO FINANCES TMAI?</strong><br /><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>The Believers Foundation</strong><br /><br />According to their March 2006 Prospectus, the TMAI operating budget was underwritten by The Believers Foundation “for the next 3 years.” After viewing the 2006 IRS Form 990-PF “Return of Private Foundation” for The Believers Foundation, Inc for the calendar year beginning 9/1/05 to 8/31/06, I would estimate that the Believers Foundation gave approximately $650,000 to TMAI and their related ministries that year. According to 2006 IRS Form 990-PF, The Believers Foundation held $33,571,009 and disbursed $3,774,085 during that year. Disbursements to TMAI represented about 17% of the 2006 total. The Believers Foundation also gave $1,025,000 to The Master’s College, $840,000 to Grace Community Church (GCC), and $254,000 to The Master’s Seminary. I estimate that The Believers Foundation gave approximately 73% of their disbursements to GCC related ministries in 2006. This is just an estimate and probably a low estimate because some other ministries The Believers Foundation funded are also connected in some way to GCC and their leaders. This 2006 IRS Form 990-PF can be seen <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/592/851/2006-592851282-03399e9b-F.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />According to the 2006 IRS Form 990-PF, The Believers Foundation gave $233,706 to Christ Seminary (TMAI South Africa). It gave $132,729 to MEDA (TMAI Honduras) [“The Believers Foundation is directly involved in the day to day operations of MEDA and directly incurs expenses”], and The Believers Foundation gave $36,500 to Shepherd’s Bible College (TMAI New Zealand) among others. They also gave $10,000 to Counsel&Capital.<br /><br />According to 2006 IRS Form 990-PF, I would estimate that The Believers Foundation gave approximately $1,000,000 to ministries not directly tied to GCC. Did this $1,000,000 go to fund ministries that are biblical? Or was the money used to fund more church growth orgs like TMAI? Let’s take a look at some of these other ministries funded by The Believers Foundation in 2006.<br /><br />Of the $1,000,000, $325,000 was given to the Slavic Gospel Association. This was the largest disbursement to a ministry “unrelated” to GCC. Bill Molinari, TMAI board member, has been a member of the Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) board according to his TMAI bio. And according to the <a href="http://www.sga.org/" target="_blank">SGA website</a>, SGA is an international ministry that operates “an office staffed by nationals at the headquarters of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia in Moscow (UECB).” The SGA website goes on to say, “Since 1997, SGA has been privileged to serve as the official representative of the Russian UECB in North America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.” The UECB is a member of the World Baptist Alliance, a UN-NGO. (According to their 990 forms, from 2002-2007, The Believers Foundation disbursed $1,284,000 to the Slavic Gospel Foundation.)<br /><br />One of the larger Believers Foundation disbursements for that calendar year was for $109,000 to an organization called <a href="http://www.biblicalministries.org/" target="_blank">Biblical Ministries Worldwide</a> (BMW). Is BMW a biblical ministry as their name implies? No, BMW is a large, international, blatantly transformational, “new paradigm” church growth organization. Let me quote just enough from their large website to allow the reader to see the true nature BMW.<br /><br />“Biblical Ministries Worldwide is a mission agency whose passion is to help churches plant reproducing churches through evangelism, discipleship and leadership development.” Regarding their South African church: BMW has “20-20 teams” and “BMW has established its 20-20 vision for southern Africa.” “It would be optimal if team members ‘had a synergy of ministry already developed between them.’” “BMW has been shifting over time from a primary leadership role in church planting to a “facilitating” role…”<br /><br />Under the title, “Leaders Training Leaders” the BMW website states, “We strive to teach leaders how to think, not just what to think. In this way, we reproduce ourselves in a South African leader.” Transformational ministries want to transform the people. They want to change their minds. The way one thinks is called one’s paradigm. The goal of church growth is to shift one’s paradigm from traditional (obedience to authority) to transformational (compromising authority for group goals). They want to shift one’s paradigm from individual thinking to group thinking. Changing “how one thinks” (brainwashing) is referred to as a “paradigm shift” by church growth leaders. This paradigm shift usually takes place in change agent-led small groups and teams. Changing “how one thinks” is the goal of training change agents who can then go out and reproduce by changing how others think.<br /><br />An important part of BMW’s ministry is called BMW’s “Change Workshops.” Change Workshop #2 “enables church leaders to develop biblically dynamic core values and purpose statements…and vision statement[s].” These statements are an essential part of the church growth transformation process.<br /><br />Change Workshop #3: “This workshop endeavors to give some practical tips on how church leaders should handle proposing and implementing major changes in the church with maximum consensus and minimal dissent.” No mention of obedience to God here—just get as many as possible on board with the change program with “minimal dissent.”<br /><br />Change Workshop #4 is called “Fostering the Harvest.” The description states, “Unlike the other workshops in the Companion Church Connection in which a trained facilitator is needed…” Apparently trained facilitators are needed for some of these workshops. A facilitator is Satan’s agent who plays a crucial role in TQM and in church growth.<br /><br />“BMW operates an email forum to facilitate discussion of issues related to missions called Thinkspots.” To facilitate discussion is to bring diverse opinions to consensus (group harmony/group think). “Each year we facilitate a conference on the field…”<br /><br />One of the “Core Values” at BMW is “Life-Long Learning.” The website states, “Life-Long Learning is a necessity in ministry…” Life-Long Learning comes from UNESCO and it is all about utilizing the dialectic process to achieve life-long transformation away from God.<br /><br />Another of their core values is relationships. “We function as teams, embracing interdependence and accountability.” No mention here of dependence on God.<br /><br />Another of BMW’s core values is “servant leadership.” “We measure leadership by whether we produce successors; therefore, we are committed to reproducing servant leaders.” As stated before, a servant leader is a business organizational term.<br /><br />Under “Leadership Development” it states, “Mentoring is molding people, not simply imparting information.” This “mentoring” involves personal transformation that usually takes place in facilitator-led small group dialectic sessions.<br /><br />The vision for BMW Fiji: “In the next decade, 20 cell churches that are continuing to multiply themselves.” The fourth stage of this vision: “To group believers and help them begin functioning together as a cell group.”<br /><br />I’ve just scratched the surface of this large “ministry” called BMW which received disbursements from The Believers Foundation from 2004-2007 and was given $109,000 in 2006. Though it’s not necessary that other ministries funded by The Believers Foundation be exposed in order to show that The Believers Foundation funds church growth orgs, let me just very briefly mention a bit more about some of these GCC unrelated ministries.<br /><br />The Believers Foundation funded ministries that are members of the Southern Baptist Convention (UN-NGO). Two of those SBC ministries are Founders Ministries and New Berean Baptist Church of Brandon, Fl. The Believers Foundation funded several ministries whose emphasis is on small groups to “build relationships,” “to fulfill the ‘one another’s of scripture’”, “to encourage accountability,” and for “transforming people into Spirit-filled people.” The Believers Foundation also gave $57,000 to The Institute for Creation Research (ICR). ICR was founded by Dr. Henry M. Morris in 1970. Dr. Morris endorsed the false teaching of “The Gospel in the Stars” in his book, The Long War against God (pp. 265-269), and Dr. Morris was a member of the <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#morris" target="_blank">Council for National Policy.</a> As of 11/06, Dr. Wismer, the treasurer of TMAI and an officer of The Believers Foundation, was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Institute for Creation Research (ICR). The false prophecy teacher and first president of the Council for National Policy, Dr. Tim LaHaye, also sat on the board of ICR.<br /><br />The Believers Foundation gave $5,000 to Mike Gendron’s “Proclaiming the Gospel.” Mike Gendron speaks at The Master’s Seminary and MEDA (TMAI Honduras) and he is a regular speaker at the Steeling the Mind Conferences. Members of the anti-Christian Council for National Policy frequently speak at these conferences. Mike Gendron’s ministry exposes Roman Catholicism as a false religion.<br /><br />The Believers Foundation also gave $20,000 to <a href="http://www.gbctampa.org/" target="_blank">Grace Bible Church of Tampa</a> (GBCT). In August, 2008, a group from GBCT went to MEDA (TMAI Honduras) for a week to work on maintenance. They were assigned the following tasks: Building bunkbeds, cleaning and painting the water tower, cleaning and varnishing the bricks and stone walkways, cleaning and painting the playground, building the retention wall at front gate, painting inside of administration office, staining new ceiling wood boards, weeding out and planting gardens, trimming bushes, and cutting wood. Regarding their experience in Honduras the church group stated, “We worked hard, but we rejoiced in the Lord every moment we spent scrubbing, scraping or lifting.” But were they serving the Lord at MEDA? Or were they playing their role in the Communitarian transformational agenda?<br /><br />It’s clear that The Believers Foundation finances church growth orgs. Its day to day operations are run by Executive Director, Ken Fuller, who sits on the board of TMAI. Two members of the TMAI board, Ken Fuller and their treasurer, David Wismer, were listed as being officers of The Believers Foundation as of 2007. The Believers Foundation was incorporated many years before TMAI was started in 2002.<br /><br />[The examples above pertained to The Believers Foundation disbursements for 2006. According to their 990 forms, from 2002-2007, The Believers Foundation disbursed approximately $12,000,000 to ministries under the GCC umbrella with TMAI ministries receiving approximately $3,200,000 during that time. Christ Seminary (TMAI South Africa) received more money than the other TMAI centers. From 2003-2007 Christ Seminary received $1,200,000 directly from The Believers Foundation.]<br /><br /><strong>Mr. Robert Jaeb and The Conservative Caucus<br /></strong><br />According to <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/592/851/2007-592851282-04375f84-F.pdf" target="_blank">IRS Form 990-PF</a>, in 2007, the 4 officers of The Believers Foundation were Lorena Jaeb, Steven Jaeb, Ken Fuller, and David Wismer. Lorena and Steven are the wife and son of the late Robert Jaeb.<br /><br />Mr. Robert Jaeb started a convenience store chain called Shop & Go. In 1985, according to <a href="http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Circle_K_Corp_launches_a_tender_offer_for_Stop_Go_Inc-97570020" target="_blank">Thomson Financial Mergers & Acquisitions</a>, when Shop & Go, Inc was tendered to Circle K Corp for $166,000,000 in cash and stock, Robert and Lorena Jaeb owned 52% of its stock.<br /><br />The Jaebs funded the Believers Foundation. According to <a href="http://www.tmai.org/site/default.asp?sec_id=1" target="_blank">TMAI Newsletter (2/06)</a>, “In 1987, the Jaeb family set up The Believers Foundation…to help spread God’s word around the world.” Through The Believers Foundation, Mr. Jaeb established a special program in partnership with The Master’s Seminary (TMS) and GCC to fund TMS graduates who went out as missionaries. “It was the seed for what has grown into The Master’s Academy International.” “His [Mr. Jaeb’s] vision and sacrifice planted the seeds of The Master’s Academy.” “Through TMAI, Mr. Jaeb’s vision is being realized in ways no one could have imagined.” According to the TMAI website, “The Believers Foundation has supported TMAI since its inception in 2002.” “The Believers Foundation wholeheartedly recommends TMAI as one ministry that you or your foundation should consider supporting.” At Mr. Jaeb’s memorial service, John Macarthur cited the Bible to frame what he called “the divine biography of Robert Jaeb.” At the memorial service, Ken Fuller stated, “I suspect…there’s a long line of saints in Heaven…waiting their turn to greet him [Mr. Jaeb].”<br /><br />Mr. Robert Jaeb had a strong interest in politics. An article in the St. Petersburg Times (9/10/05) described him as being “a political enthusiast.” Former Florida Governor Bob Martinez stated that Mr. Jaeb “gave generously to local and national political orgs.” And according to the <a href="http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/10/Hillsborough/Robert_Jaeb__entrepre.shtml" target="_blank">St. Petersburg Times</a>, “Politically, Mr. Jaeb is remembered as not only a great financial supporter of various Republican political organizations, but also as a quiet yet influential political thinker.” Mr. Jaeb was a member of the Leadership Council of The Conservative Caucus chaired by Howard Phillips. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#105#105" target="_self">105.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#phillips">Howard Phillips</a> founded The Conservative Caucus (TCC). “In 1975, at the direction of 33º Mason <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#helms" target="_blank">Jesse Helms</a> on whose staff he served, Phillips founded The Conservative Caucus.” “Phillips founded TCC, a leading right-wing lobby group. TCC has an interlocking directorate (Phillips served on advisory board) with the United States Council for World Freedom (USCWF) of the <a href="http://watch.pair.com/jbs-cnp.html#wacl" target="_blank">World Anti-Communist League</a> [headed by John Singlaub (CIA)], a multinational network of Nazi war criminals, Latin American death squad leaders and North American neo-fascists.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#106#106" target="_self">106.</a> “As TCC national director, Phillips boasted, ‘we organize discontent’ and ‘must prove our ability to get revenge on people who go against us.’”<br /><br />Howard Phillips also helped Paul Weyrich and Jerry Falwell establish the Moral Majority in 1979. “We are no longer working to preserve the status quo. We are radicals working to overturn the present power structure in this country.” (Paul Weyrich) <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#107#107" target="_self">107.</a> As founder of the very influential Heritage Foundation, Paul Weyrich was one of the most powerful men in American politics. The Heritage Foundation, which has connections to Sun Myung Moon, Fascists and Communists, was almost a shadow government during the Reagan administration. Click <a href="http://watch.pair.com/heritage.html" target="_blank">here</a> to learn more about Heritage.<br /><br />In 1992, Howard Phillips founded the U.S. Taxpayer Party (USTP) which is now the Constitution Party. Larry Pratt of Gun Owners of America served as an executive of Howard Phillips U.S. Taxpayers Party. Phillips and Pratt are members of the CNP and both are involved with the neo-Nazi militia movement. “At its 1994 convention, USTP sold a paramilitary manual entitled '<a href="http://www.publiceye.org/ifas/library/militia/index.html" target="_blank">Principles Justifying the Arming and Organizing of a Militia</a>'... In short, it is a manual that prepares the recruit for underground war.” Imagine the irony of Howard Phillips, who is Jewish, handing out warfare manuals to the anti-Semitic militias. Furthermore, “It was at Estes Park, that Pratt spoke to the assembled fanatics and convinced them that the armed vigilante death squads that had worked their poison in Central America and in the Philippines, could become the model for an armed militia movement within the United States.” (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#phillips" target="_blank">CNP Database</a>)<br /><br />Howard Phillips, John Singlaub, Jesse Helms, Jerry Falwell, Paul Weyrich and Robert Jaeb found common ground in an organization called the Council for National Policy (CNP). Howard Phillips was a founding member of the CNP. Major General John K Singlaub was a member of the CNP Board of Governors in 1981. Jesse Helms and Jerry Falwell served on the CNP Board of Governors in 1982. Paul Weyrich served on the CNP Board of Governors in 1982, 1996. And Robert Jaeb’s wife, Lorena, also served on the CNP Board of Governors in 1996 (and 1997, 1998 according to available membership lists). (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#jaeb" target="_blank">CNP Database</a>)<br /><br /><strong>Lorena Jaeb and The Council for National Policy (CNP)<br /></strong><br />The Jaeb’s funded The Believers Foundation. Lorena Jaeb and Steven Jaeb are officers of The Believers Foundation. Lorena Jaeb served on the CNP Board of Governors in 1996 and, according to available membership lists, in 1997 and 1998 as well.<br /><br />The suppression of information regarding the existence and membership of the CNP has been a major factor in deceiving Christians. Being a secretive org, the CNP doesn’t publish their membership lists. “Our membership list is strictly confidential and should not be shared outside the Council.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#108#108" target="_self">108.</a> However, a few past membership lists have been obtained by Christian researchers. Let’s now take a look into the CNP since Lorena Jaeb has served on the CNP Board of Governors and since the Jaeb’s, through The Believers Foundation, finance TMAI, The Master’s Seminary, and GCC.<br /><br />The Council for National Policy evolved from the John Birch Society (JBS). The JBS was founded by Robert Welch, a 32nd degree Mason, and an agent for Nelson Rockefeller. According to James E Braddock, “Welch, being a well proven 32nd degree Mason, jumped at the chance to aide and abet in the furtherance of the destruction of Christianity.” (The John Birch Society an Enigma, p.13.) The JBS was an intelligence operation with its roots in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) which became the CIA. Its domestic surveillance arm, Western Goals Foundation, worked with Reinhard Gehlen, one of Hitler’s top intelligence officers. The JBS, which presented itself as a right-wing patriotic org fighting communist infiltration in America, was eventually exposed for being a “controlled opposition front” once it was known that its leadership consisted of CFR members and leaders of the Federal Reserve—the same members of the liberal establishment that the JBS had pretended to oppose. The JBS was exposed in 1977 in a report titled <a href="http://watch.pair.com/belmont.html" target="_blank">The Belmont Brotherhood</a>. “This 12-page report concluded with the perceptive observation that the John Birch Society represents the most diabolical form of the Illuminati conspiracy.” (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/jbs-cnp.html" target="_blank">The John Birch Society</a>) Once exposed, the JBS morphed into the CNP.<br /><br />The CNP was formed in 1981. Nelson Bunker Hunt, who was a member of the JBS and who provided funding for the Western Goals Foundation, provided the start-up money for the CNP, “a highly secretive coalition which represents the entire spectrum of New Right corporate executives, TV preachers and former high ranking government and military leaders. The Council for National Policy is considered the primary coordinating body—and funding conduit—for Christian Right projects.” (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/jbs-cnp.html">JBS</a>) “Nelson Bunker Hunt, who was president of the CNP in 1982-83, is among several of the John Birch Society/Western Goals Foundation principals and associates who also served on the newly-formed CNP Board of Governors.”<br /><br />“Early CNP membership directories were obtained by enterprising researchers…and these revealed that the early leadership of the CNP was, in fact, also represented in the Council on Foreign Relations — the very organization of globalists to which the CNP was to be the conservative alternative! On the first CNP Governing Board there were no less than three, and possibly more, members of the CFR: <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#gilder">George F. Gilder</a> - CNP Board of Governors (1982) ; <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#teller">Dr. Edward Teller</a> - CNP Board of Governors (1982); and <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#vanderjagt">Guy Vander Jagt </a>- CNP Board of Governors (1982).”<br /><br />“Later CNP directories list CFR members <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#grace">J. Peter Grace</a> (CNP, 1984-85; 1988) and <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#deborchgrave">Arnaud deBorchgrave</a> (CNP, 1988)” (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/cnp.html" target="_blank">The Council for National Policy</a>) William Simon and George Gilder are also listed as being members of the CFR and CNP.<br /><br />“Besides CFR and Religious Roundtable members, the upper echelon of the Council for National Policy were basically refugees from the defunct <a href="http://watch.pair.com/jbs-cnp.html#wgf" target="_blank">Western Goals Foundation</a>, the domestic surveillance outfit of the John Birch Society which included high-ranking members of the fascist World Anti-Communist League, Knights of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon and Freemasonry. There is some overlapping of Western Goals operatives who formed the early CNP Governing Board who were also CFR and/or Religious Roundtable members [Note that one was a member of Hitler’s Luftwaffe]:<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#singlaub" target="_blank">John Singlaub</a> [CNP Board of Governors 1982-83]. Member of national policy board of the American Freedom Coalition [AFC], a front for Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#graham" target="_blank">Daniel O. Graham</a> [CNP Board of Governors 1982-83]. Member of national policy board of AFC.<br />· Mildred Faye Jefferson [CNP Board of Governors 1982-83]. Member of national policy board of AFC.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#unkefer" target="_blank">Sherman Unkefer</a> [CNP Board of Governors 1982-83]. Served as an adviser to Chile's regime under Augusto Pinochet and reportedly worked closely with Chile's secret police organization, DINA.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#sennholz" target="_blank">Hans Sennholz</a> [CNP Board of Governors 1982-83]. A decorated pilot in the Luftwaffe, Adolf Hitler's elite air corps.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#stoddard" target="_blank">Robert Stoddard</a> [CNP Board of Governors 1982-83]. Listed in <a href="http://watch.pair.com/belmont.html" target="_blank">The Belmont Brotherhood</a>, as Chairman of the Board of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, whose editors belonged to the local Committee of the CFR. Board of Directors of Willard Garvey's National Center for Privatization.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#mcdonald" target="_blank">Larry McDonald</a> [CNP Board of Governors 1982-83]. President of the John Birch Society; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Western Goals Foundation, and served on the Congressional Board of Christian Voice, a front for the Unification Church.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#nbhunt" target="_blank">Nelson Bunker Hunt</a> [CNP President 1982-83, Executive Committee 1984-85, 1988]. Knight of the Order of Malta. Member of a racial eugenics organization, the International Association for the Advancement of Eugenics and Ethnology, that was headquartered in Scotland. IAAEE was established in the U.S. by Lord Malcolm Douglas, a member of the British Cliveden Set which supported Hitler during World War II.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#onorth" target="_blank">Oliver North</a> [CNP Governing Board 1984-85] Formed the Military Assistance Group-Special Operations Group (MAG-SOG), a political murder unit, and participated in Operation Phoenix which killed about 100,000 civilians in Southeast Asia. North received aid from the Unification Church and Knights of Malta for Contra operations in Latin America.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#phillips" target="_blank">Howard Phillips</a> [CNP Executive Committee 1984-85, 1988] Director of The Conservative Caucus, served on advisory board of the United States Council for World Freedom (USCWF) of the <a href="http://watch.pair.com/jbs-cnp.html#wacl" target="_blank">World Anti-Communist League</a>, a multinational network of Nazi war criminals, Latin American death squad leaders and North American neo-fascists. Conservative Caucus board member and funder, <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#shoff" target="_blank">Richard Shoff</a>, is a former Grand Kilgrapp of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#messing" target="_blank">Major F. Andy Messing, Jr.</a> USAR (Ret.). Former chairman of The Conservative Caucus; Board of USWCF; Director of the National Defense Council Foundation. Collaborated with Linda Guell of CAUSA (a political arm of the Unification Church) and its head, Bo Hi Pak. to provide funds for Oliver North's operation in Latin America.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#grace" target="_blank">J. Peter Grace</a> [CNP Board of Governors 1986] Council on Foreign Relations; Head of Order of Knights of Malta in the U.S.; Chairman of W.R. Grace Co which focuses its business activities in Latin America and assisted the Contra operation in Latin America.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/jbs-cnp.html#simon" target="_blank">William E. Simon</a> [CFR; Knight of Malta]. Secretary of the Treasury under Richard Nixon; Chairman of the Nicaraguan Freedom Fund (NFF), a fundraising organization set up in l985 by the Washington Times, a newspaper owned by the Unification Church. Trustee of the Heritage Foundation. According to Sidney Blumenthal, Simon is or was a member of the CNP.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#shakespeare" target="_blank">Frank Shakespeare</a>, [Knight of Malta]. Council U.S. Information Agency director and director of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, a Nazi front established by Hitler's espionage officer, Reinhard Gehlen. Trustee of the Heritage Foundation.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#teller" target="_blank">Dr. Edward Teller</a> [CNP Board of Governors 1982] Council on Foreign Relations. Hungarian-born American physicist who became the architect of the hydrogen bomb. During World War II he was a member of the Manhattan Project for the development of the atomic bomb. Teller was a member of the Citizens Legal Defense Fund for the FBI, Ad Hoc, and advisor to the Western Goals Foundation.”<br />Members of the CNP can be categorized as being members of or representing the following: Freemasonry, The Knights of Malta, the KKK, Nazi Fascism, Mormonism, the U.S. government, the U.S. military, the CFR, the CIA, globalism and pseudo-Christian leadership. In order to view a larger, and much more detailed list of past/present and prominent members of the CNP, including Lorena Jaeb, see the <a href="http://watch.pair.com/cnpdbase.html" target="_blank">CNP Database</a>. Many CNP members, including several professed Christians such as Jerry Falwell, have connections to Sun Myung Moon, who considers himself to be the Messiah and who openly blasphemes Jesus Christ (John Macarthur has participated in Falwell’s conferences.) <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#109#109" target="_self">109.</a> Moon, who has Korean CIA ties, wields much power in the CNP. Click <a href="http://watch.pair.com/moon.html" target="_blank">here</a> to read more about the CNP-Moon connection.<br /><br />According to CNP membership lists, Lorena Jaeb served on the CNP Board of Governors in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Let’s take a look at the CNP board members with whom she served in 1996 (click on the links for greater detail):<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#ahmanson" target="_blank">Howard Ahmanson</a> (Ahmanson Foundation/Chalcedon/Rushdooney/Reconstructionism; The Ahmanson Foundation was a contributor to the Council on Foreign Relations, according to 1990-1993 Annual Reports.<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#anderson">Thomas R. Anderson</a> (Board of Directors, Family Research Council (FRC); FRC is a UN-NGO with special consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council.)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#atsinger">Ed Atsinger</a> (Salem Communications Corporation; Public, NASDAQ:SALM)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#jcoors">Jeff Coors</a> (Coors Brewery/Heritage Foundation/Free Congress Foundation/Moon)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#rdevos">Richard DeVos</a> (33º Freemason/Amway/Templeton Foundation)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#epperson">Stuart Epperson</a> (Salem Communications Corporation; Public, NASDAQ:SALM)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#feulner">Ed Feulner</a> (President Heritage Foundation/Free Congress Foundation/Moon)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#friess">Foster Friess</a> (Templeton Foundation Board of Advisors)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#mrhunt">Mary Reilly Hunt</a> (Order of Malta) [She can be seen on the <a href="http://www.maltausa.org/american_leadership_committees.php">Order of Malta</a> website. There is a Thomas F. Schlafly on various boards of this American branch of the Knights of Malta. Phyllis Schlafly, prominent CNP member, is reportedly a Dame of the Knights of Malta.]<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#jenkins">Woody Jenkins</a> (Nat. Chmn. ALEC/Founder, Chairman—Friends of the Americas/assisted Nicaraguan Contras)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#tlahaye">Tim La Haye</a> (1st CNP President/Moon associate; “LaHaye held the position of paid chairman with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/moon/">Sun Myung Moon</a>'s now defunct Coalition for Religious Freedom.” “LaHaye's involvement with Moon is particularly vile. In 1985, Carolyn Weaver, writing for Mother Jones Magazine, exposed the fact that LaHaye had received substantial funds from Moon's aid Bo Hi Park. This was discovered in a tape of a dictated thank you letter from LaHaye, thanking Park for a contribution in excess of $500,000. LaHaye would not admit or deny the receipt of the contribution, instead he attacked the source of the information. [Reported in the 1Q96, Religion in Politics.]” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#111#111" target="_self">110. </a><br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#blahaye">Beverly La Haye</a> (founder of Concerned Women for America [UN-NGO]; speaker at Moon convention in Washington, DC)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database1.html#smoore">Sam Moore</a> (Thomas Nelson Publisher; Thomas Nelson publisher of corrupt modern Bible versions.)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#onorth">Oliver North</a> (Iran Contra Affair; Robert and Lorena Jaeb contributed to the '<a href="http://www.city-data.com/elec2/elec-MANGO-FL.html" target="_blank">Oliver North for U S Senate Committee Inc.</a>' in 1994.)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#vollmer">Christine Vollmer</a> (Opus Dei)<br />· <a href="http://watch.pair.com/database2.html#weyrich">Paul Weyrich</a> (Founder/President, Free Congress Foundation/Heritage Foundation)<br />“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/belmont.html">The Belmont Brotherhood</a> documents that the founding JBS National Council was entrenched in the Eastern Establishment it purported to despise. Nor is its progeny, the Council for National Policy, a conservative, anti-Communist organization, but rather a globalist organization, anti-American and unpatriotic in the extreme.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#111#111" target="_self">111.</a> And John Macarthur's principal source of funding, The Believers Foundation, is funded and directed by Lorena Jaeb, who was and may still be a Governor of the CNP.<br /><a name="infiltrated"></a><br /><strong>How the Church Growth Movement Infiltrated GCC<br /></strong><br />In his January 2005 “State of the Church” sermon, John Macarthur stated regarding GCC: “It is not in particular danger from some infiltrating heresy…everything you can see on the surface looks to be good.” Was John Macarthur telling the truth in that sermon?<br /><br />Several Christians living in the Los Angeles area are aware that the church growth movement has infiltrated GCC. They have seen the evidence. But these Christians are divided in opinion as to whether this infiltration has the approval of John Macarthur. Does John Macarthur approve of this infiltration? Or has his church just gotten too big for him to exercise proper pastoral oversight? (I was once told by John Macarthur’s secretary that his own church members couldn’t make an appointment to speak with him. He didn’t have the time.)<br /><br />Has the church growth movement infiltrated GCC by “men who have crept in unawares?” Or has the CGM been brought in with the approval of one or more members of the GCC elder board?<br /><br />GCC is governed by a board of elders. Mr. Rob Iverson is the Chairman of the GCC elder board. Not only is Mr. Iverson a Director of the church growth org, Leadership Resources International, but as of 3 years ago, Mr. Iverson was the elder who oversaw the Purpose Driven Foundry ministry and Mr. Iverson is currently the President and Chairman of the Board of TMAI.<br /><br />When the Foundry and Guild were exposed 3 years ago as being Purpose Driven, their websites were changed, but their pastors, Tom Patton and Kurt Gebhards, weren’t kicked out of the church. Instead, they have both been promoted.<br /><br />Very often whoever pays the piper calls the tunes. The Believers Foundation finances church growth orgs (like Biblical Ministries Worldwide). In a recent calendar year, The Believers Foundation disbursed nearly $3,000,000 to ministries under the GCC umbrella. From 2002-2007, The Believers Foundation disbursed approximately $12,000,000 to ministries under the GCC umbrella. Two men who were officers of The Believers Foundation as of 2007, Ken Fuller and David Wismer, also sit on the board of TMAI. David Wismer is the treasurer of TMAI. (D Wismer is no longer an officer of the Believers Foundation.)<br /><br />Pastors at GCC will emphasize that John Macarthur “has taken a strong stance against the church growth movement.” Is this true? John Macarthur has advocated the use of “ice-breakers” exercises. He has also advocated dialectic-type rules for Bible studies. This can be seen in his book, “Saved Without A Doubt.” On pp.155-157, under the heading “Personal and Group Study Guide,” ice-breaker exercises are advocated. As stated earlier, ice-breakers are to change ones thinking mode from facts-based to feelings-based in order to further the dialectic process. These ice-breaker exercises play into Satan's hand; as he wants Christians to approach a study of God’s Word with feelings.<br /><br />It says on p. 156 of “Saved Without A Doubt”: “Pray for each group member, asking the Lord to help you create an open atmosphere where everyone will feel free to share with one another and you.” Advocating the creation of an open atmosphere is also a condition for the dialectic process. An open atmosphere, where everyone feels free to share, is not a component of a didactic Bible study. An open atmosphere implies one in which standards are set aside so that everyone will feel free to experience new things together.<br /><br />In these group study guidelines, John Macarthur goes on to encourage the use of multiple Bible versions “for the purposes of comparison.” This is what Rick Warren and the PDC's also advocate. Multiple Bible versions tempt group members to compromise the Word of God. Are Christians to find the true meaning of God’s Word by comparing translations and reaching consensus? Or by comparing translations with the Greek Textus Receptus? John Macarthur also encourages everyone's involvement (necessary for TQM), “sharing oneself,” and “arranging chairs in a circle or semicircle” for “dynamic discussion.” These are required for dialectic sessions. In this book, John Macarthur has given rules for group Bible studies which resemble the rules for a group dialectic process.<br /><br /><strong>John Macarthur preaches with Greg Laurie, a supporter of the Purpose Driven Movement<br /></strong><br />In November 2008, John Macarthur participated in a “Conference for Pastors and Leaders” at Greg Laurie’s church, <a href="http://www.harvest.org/ptw/">Harvest Christian Fellowship</a>. Two former Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), UN-NGO, also spoke at this conference.<br /><br />John Macarthur’s host, Greg Laurie, who sits on the board of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, is a big supporter of the Purpose Driven movement. Greg Laurie believes the Purpose Driven movement is of God.<br /><br />In a May 2008 letter to pastors and leaders, Laurie talks about his upcoming crusade in New York City, stating, “God is on the move.” He then states, “this move is also seen in the formation of the New York City Leadership group. Under their direction, a community-wide 40 Days of Purpose campaign with Pastor Rick Warren has been launched, and the significant services of Bill Hybels' Leadership Summit conferences are also being organized to strengthen the local church.”<a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#112#112" target="_self">112.</a><br /><br />Greg Laurie is sponsoring, through financial support, The New York City Leadership Center’s Sept. 2008 “Launch Event.” Scroll down to the bottom of the page <a href="http://copgny.org/316776.ihtml">here</a> and read the two listed “Event Sponsors.” On <a href="http://www.nycleadership.com/">The New York City Leadership Center</a>’s website, their “Leadership Team” members are listed. Among those listed are Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Bob Buford, Ken Blanchard and Frances Hesselbein, the Chairman of the Leader to Leader Institute (Warren’s name has recently been removed). These team members are church growth kingpins and yet Laurie states that the organization they lead, The New York City Leadership Center, has been formed as a “move of God,” and Laurie approves of the 40 Days of Purpose campaign which these leaders will direct.<br /><br />How can John Macarthur’s pastors claim that he has taken a strong stance against the church growth movement when he preaches with and fellowships with and endorses those who advocate this movement? John Macarthur “has taken a strong stance against the CGM” as it enters GCC along with men from the Southern Baptist Convention (UN-NGO).<br /><br />Chuck Smith also spoke with John Macarthur at Greg Laurie’s conference. A Calvary Chapel head pastor once told me that Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie’s pastor and the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, considered Peter Drucker to be his good friend and a fellow Christian! This pastor told me that Smith met with Drucker to discuss matters concerning “the transitioning of his church.” I was able to confirm with Smith’s secretary that, indeed, Smith and Drucker had met for lunch. If he sought Drucker’s counsel, then Chuck Smith was seeking the counsel of an occultist, a humanist, and a globalist whose objective was to destroy Christianity.<br /><br />A true Christian enters the straight gate and stays on the narrow path. Does God’s narrow path lead to communion with church growth advocates at Greg Laurie’s church? John Macarthur is on the wide ecumenical road that leads to destruction.<br /><a name="roots"></a><br /><strong>John Macarthur’s Ecumenical Roots</strong><br /><br />Articles have been written on the subject of John Macarthur's “new evangelical ecumenism.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#113#113" target="_self">113.</a> And I have been told by one GCC pastor that John Macarthur believes the biblical “doctrine of separation” to be “too negative” with the implication that he won’t obey it. John Macarthur disobeys God’s Word regarding separation for the purpose of relationship building (ecumenism). At GCC, the “doctrine of separation” has been replaced by the “dialectical process.”<br /><br />The goal of the ecumenical movement is to create a one-world religion for the worship of Lucifer. Ecumenists (bridge-builders) in the leadership of the various denominations direct the churches to set aside their differences, find common ground, and unify. John Macarthur preaches against ecumenism, however, his family and ministry are firmly rooted in the ecumenical movement.<br /><br />In “The Voice of Calvary Legacy,” John Macarthur paid tribute to his father, Dr. John “Jack” Macarthur. “He served on the Extension Staff of Moody Bible Institute and later became the director of Charles E. Fuller Evangelistic Foundation.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#114#114" target="_self">114.</a> In 1968, the Fuller Evangelistic Foundation changed its name to the Fuller Evangelistic Association.<br /><br />According to Charles Fuller’s son, Daniel Fuller, the Fuller Evangelistic Foundation was established in 1942 and started Fuller Theological Seminary in 1947. (<a href="http://www.ccel.us/fuller.ch8.html">Give the Winds a Mighty Voice</a>) Fuller Seminary has played a strategic role in the global ecumenical movement and has launched numerous apostate organizations and movements such as the Vineyard (John Wimber), Renovare (Richard Foster), AD2000 United Prayer Track (C Peter Wagner), Coalition on Revival (Jay Grimstead), the US Center for World Mission (Ralph Winter) and others. The article, “<a href="http://watch.pair.com/fuller.html">Filling the Blanks with Fuller</a>,” describes Fuller Seminary as “an ecumenical ‘think tank’ seminary” which “has fostered, nurtured, and promoted the apostasy globally…” The global ecumenical movement is “a political movement of the highest order and must not be confused with anything even remotely resembling Christianity.” (“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/fuller.html">Filling the Blanks with Fuller</a>”)<br /><br />Out of Fuller Theological Seminary came the US Center for World Mission (Ralph Winter) and their “Perspectives Course” which was “a prototype course of ecumenical study…and aberrant theology,” The US Center for World Mission “is an ‘umbrella’ organization for nearly every major missions organization in the world.” Under their umbrella is the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (Greg Laurie is a board member). (“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/fuller.html">Filling the Blanks with Fuller</a>”) Billy Graham was on the Board of Trustees at Fuller Seminary and Rick Warren received his Doctorate in Ministry from Fuller Seminary.<br /><br />John Macarthur’s father was the Director of Fuller Evangelistic Foundation. Charles Fuller, the founder of the Fuller Evangelistic Foundation, also cofounded Fuller Theological Seminary and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Charles Fuller co-founded the NAE with J Edwin Orr and Harold Ockenga, the first President of the NAE (1942-44), and the first President of Fuller Seminary in 1947.<br /><br />In 1951, the NAE revived the World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) from the “dying embers” of the former World Evangelical Alliance (Evangelical Alliance of 1846) which became the NAE’s international umbrella. As previously stated, the Evangelical Alliance, now called the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), was formed in 1846 in a conference held at Freemason’s Hall, United Grand Lodge of England, the mother of all Masonic lodges. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#115#115" target="_self">115.</a><br /><br />The WEA is the shadow government to the Lausanne Movement which is the umbrella over the global ecumenical movement. John Stott, whom John Macarthur likes to quote, “is the framer of the Lausanne Covenant” and “oversaw the formation of the WEF and formulated its purposes. Also former chaplain to the Queen of England and a leader in the Anglican Church, John Stott was not above participating in ‘a Christian-Druid dialogue and reconciliation meeting for the new Millennium’. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#116#116" target="_self">116</a> The Druids are the present-day Freemasons. “Albert Churchward...writes about the Masons as ‘our present Druids.’”<br /><br />In essence, Lausanne and the ecumenical movement are a Masonic enterprise. Alice Bailey wrote, “Very definitely may the assurance be given here that, prior to the coming of the Christ, adjustments will be made so that at the head of all great organizations will be found either a Master, or an initiate who has taken the third initiation. At the head of certain of the great occult groups, of the Freemasons of the world, and of the various great divisions of the church, and resident in many of the great nations will be found initiates or Masters.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#117#117">117.</a><br /><br />In “The Voice of Calvary Legacy,” John Macarthur stated that his father, in addition to being the Director of the Fuller Evangelistic Foundation, “served on the Extension Staff of Moody Bible Institute.” In 1941, The Moody Bible Institute played a key role in the formation of the NAE. According to Rick Meisel, John Macarthur has served on the Board of Trustees of the Moody Bible Institute. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#118#118" target="_self">118.</a><br /><br />In “The Voice of Calvary Legacy,” John Macarthur also stated that his father “helped establish the Hollywood Christian group, an outreach to people in the film and television industries. Jack Macarthur counted Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who came to Christ under his preaching, as close personal friends.” Since Henrietta Mears is credited with founding The Hollywood Christian Group, one can assume that John Macarthur’s father, Jack Macarthur, “who helped establish the Hollywood Christian Group,” was her friend and co-worker.<br /><br />Henrietta Mears’ ecumenical influence was widespread. She was a close friend and coworker of Charles Fuller who promoted her on his radio broadcasts. Fuller, Ockenga, and Orr all taught at the Forest Home Christian Conference Center which she founded to “train the next generation of world leaders.” With Fuller, Ockenga, and Orr, Henrietta Mears established the campus ecumenical movement. For eleven years Mears groomed Bill Bright for leadership and Campus Crusade for Christ was founded in her living room. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#119#119">119.</a> (Bill Bright was a member of the Council for National Policy Board of Governors in 1982.) According to Christianity Today, Henrietta Mears is the “grandmother of modern evangelicalism.” (“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/antipas.html#rios-montt">Antipas: CIA Connections</a>”)<br /><br />According to Grace Community Church elder, Phil Johnson, “In the 1940’s, Dr. Jack [Macarthur] served as an Extension speaker for the Moody Bible Institute. Later, while pastoring in Southern California, he and Edwin Orr founded an outreach ministry to people in the film and television industry.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#120#120">120.</a> That outreach ministry would be The Hollywood Christian Group. Phil Johnson’s statement is a tacit endorsement of J. Edwin Orr and provides more evidence that John Macarthur’s father, Jack Macarthur, was in Mears’ inner circle.<br /><br />In his tribute to his father, John Macarthur didn’t mention “J. Edwin Orr” or “Henrietta Mears” as cofounding the “Hollywood Christian Group” with his father, which is odd considering that Orr and Mears were prominent figures and closely associated with Charles Fuller. Why didn’t he mention them? Had John Macarthur mentioned J. Edwin Orr and Henrietta Mears along with the Hollywood Christian Group, his readers would likely connect Jack Macarthur with the Mears’ group which pioneered the ecumenical movement in the U.S. and globally.<br /><br />According to “<a href="http://watch.pair.com/fuller.html">Filling the Blanks with Fuller</a>,” “In a nutshell, here is the lineage of the monstrous apostasy we are researching… Five people (during the 30’s) paved the way to change the orthodox and historic biblical ‘worldview’ of evangelical Christianity to a…recontructionist agenda. They are: J. Edwin Orr, Armin Gesswein, C.E. Fuller, Henrietta Mears, Harold Ockenga. These five (who were friends and co-workers) laid the groundwork for the ‘world changers,’ ‘expendables for Christ,’ or ‘workers’ they prepared to follow them.” It seems that John Macarthur is one of these “world changers.”<br /><br />What is known about Jack Macarthur’s co-founder of the Hollywood Christian Group? “J. Edwin Orr — Oxford seminarian, traveled as a historian and theologian to major cities and universities globally to prepare the way for ecumenism on college campuses. The ecumenical groups on campus who were pre-conditioned by Orr to look for a ‘great end-time harvest’, and sweeping ‘revival’ movement, or ‘awakening’ prepared the way for Bill Bright's ecumenical ministry. The success of Campus Crusade for Christ was a direct result of the groundwork laid by Orr. Orr’s vouching for Billy Grahams ‘new understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit’, which he conveyed in letters to key workers paved the way for his success in ministry as well.” (“<a href="http://watch.pair.com/fuller.html">Filling the Blanks with Fuller</a>”)<br /><br />J. Edwin Orr spoke at Mears’ Christian conference center. “It was his rule that he would only speak where there was an ecumenical representative—a diversity of youth from all denominations.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#121#121">121.</a> J. Edwin Orr was an original Board Member of Campus Crusade for Christ in 1951. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Edwin_Orr">Wikipedia: J Edwin Orr</a>) From 1966-1981, J Edwin Orr was a professor at Fuller Seminary’s School of World Mission. Moreover, “He [Orr] was an advisor of Billy Graham's from the start of that evangelist's career, a friend of Abraham Vereide and helped shape the prayer breakfast movement that grew out of Vereide's International Christian Leadership…” (<a href="http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/GUIDES/355.htm#3">Billy Graham Archives</a>)<br /><br />George Marsden’s book, Reforming Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New Evangelicalism, offers further evidence that the global ecumenical movement is a Masonic enterprise: “In April [1951, Harold] Ockenga had attended a highly publicized ‘Communion breakfast’ sponsored by a number of Protestant Churches in Boston. At the head table with Ockenga was a Unitarian pastor and a representative of the Masonic Knights Temple.” Marsden goes on to say that Ockenga did not participate in the actual communion service — he only sat at the “head table” with the Unitarian and Freemason! <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#122#122">122.</a><br /><br />Billy Graham, who with Fuller, Ockenga, and Orr, taught at Mears’ Christian conference center, said that she had a great impact on his ministry. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#123#123">123.</a> Graham, considered an “accepted evangelist” by Mears, was among those trained and “anointed” at her conference center. It’s important to note that many witnesses have testified that Billy Graham is a 33rd degree Mason. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#124#124">124.</a><br /><br />John Macarthur stated that Roy Rogers and Dale Evans “came to Christ” under his father’s preaching and that Jack Macarthur counted them his “close personal friends.” Roy Rogers, born Leonard Slye, was a 33rd degree Mason and his wife, Dale Evans, on the TBN A-list, was, according to Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, State of New York, a member of the Eastern Star, a Masonic organization for women. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#125#125">125.</a> Lucifer is the god of Masonry.<br /><br />Roy Rogers was a life-long highly decorated Mason according to the account of W. Bob Turner, Ph.D., a 32nd degree Mason, who referred to Roy Rogers as “Illustrious Brother Roy Rogers”: “Brother Roy was raised a Master Mason in 1946 in Hollywood Lodge No. 355, F. & A.M., Hollywood, California. He became a member of Long Beach Valley of Scottish Rite in 1950 and AI Malaikah Shrine Temple, Los Angeles, also in 1950. He received the K.C.C.H. of the Scottish Rite in 1975 and was coroneted a 33 in 1979. He also became a member of the York Rite, Harbor Council No. 45, Royal and Select Masters, and San Pedro Commandery No. 60, Knights Templar of California. Created a DeMolay at sight by Frank S. Land, the founder of the Order of DeMolay, Roy received the DeMolay Legion of Honor. He also received the California Grand Lodge's Golden Veterans Award for 50 years of continuous membership in Masonry.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#126#126">126.</a><br /><br />Roy Rogers and Dale Evans appeared many times with Billy Graham at his Crusades, where Graham was willing to give his “Illustrious Brother” Rogers a platform for his “Christian” testimony.<br /><br />Jack Macarthur had a close friendship with Freemasons Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. His son, John Macarthur, has a close relationship with the Masonic controlled <a href="http://watch.pair.com/sbc.html">Southern Baptist Convention</a> and its leaders. (As stated, two former Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention also spoke at Greg Laurie’s conference with John Macarthur.) And John Macarthur endorses and fellowships with the Charismatic, Greg Laurie, a Board Member of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA). There are other Masons holding high positions within the Billy Graham organization:<br /><br />“In Billy Graham and His Friends (which came out November 2001) I mention (and fully document) a number of Masons who have close ties to Billy Graham. Several of Graham's staff have been Masons such as William M. Watson who was the director of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Corporation (BGEA), David M. McConnell, also a director of the BGEA, and Arthur Lee Malory who was the co-chairman of the Billy Graham Crusade Advisory Committee for the St. Louis Crusade in 1973.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#127#127">127.</a><br /><br />The Board of Counsel&Capital, which advises John Macarthur’s international ministry, TMAI, had one member of the BGEA (Fred Smith) and another (Jack Modesett Jr.), who was Chairman of the Board of Christianity Today, founded by Billy Graham. Fred Smith was also a director of Christianity Today. It’s also noteworthy that John Macarthur had Franklin Graham endorse his Study Bible. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#128#128">128.</a><br /><br />(Examples of John Macarthur fellowshipping with false Christians are too numerous to mention. A forward to his book, “The Gospel According to Jesus,” was written by J.I. Packer, Senior Editor of Christianity Today, and a signer of the Evangelical and Catholics Together Documents I and co-author of ECT II. The other forward was written by James Montgomery Boice, who was chairman of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy from the time of its founding by Jay Grimstead (COR).<br />Considering the Masonic origins of the global evangelical network “revived” by Henrietta Mears, Charles Fuller, J Edwin Orr, Harold Ockenga and Armin Gesswein, is there any evidence of Masonic involvement at Fuller Seminary today? Situated on the eastern border of Fuller Seminary is a large Masonic Temple called the “<a href="http://www.you-are-here.com/building/rite.html" target="_blank">Scottish Rite Cathedral</a>” which towers over the campus. The entrance to the Scottish Rite Cathedral is flanked by <a href="http://pasadenadailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/02/ancient-and-accepted-riddle.html" target="_blank">two Sphinxes</a> each having an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh" target="_blank">Egyptian ankh</a> on its chest.<br /><br />This Scottish Rite Cathedral was built in 1924, before Fuller Seminary was established. Its address, 150 N Madison Ave in Pasadena, CA., is across the street from the Fuller Seminary Graduate School of Psychology and just down the street from the Fuller Student Center and the Horner Center for Life Long Learning located at 250 N Madison Ave. <a href="http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Pasadena&state=CA&address=150+N+Madison+Ave&zipcode=91101-1710&country=US&latitude=34.148438&longitude=-118.138419&geocode=ADDRESS" target="_blank">Mapquest</a> shows the location of the Scottish Rite Cathedral in relation to the Fuller Campus (zoom in for a better perspective).<br /><br />Are Freemasons employed by Fuller Seminary? A Visiting Professor at Fuller Theological Seminary is a 33rd degree Prince Hall Mason. Dr. J. Alfred Smith teaches a course on African American Spirituality in the School of Theology. The course description can been seen <a href="http://documents.fuller.edu/sot/ecds/973/GM559_Smith.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Dr. J. Alfred Smith is the Senior Pastor of <a href="http://www.allen-temple.org/pastor/drjassr.html" target="_blank">Allen Temple Baptist Church</a>. According to his church’s website, “He [Dr. J. Alfred Smith] has been elevated to the 33rd Degree of Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons.”<br /><br />According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Hall_Freemasonry" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>, Prince Hall Masonry “obtained a Warrant for Charter from the <a title="United Grand Lodge of England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Grand_Lodge_of_England">Grand Lodge of England</a> in 1784.” Today, “Prince Hall Lodges are recognized by the Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) as well as the great majority of state Grand Lodges and international Grand Lodges.” In addition to being a Visiting Professor at Fuller Seminary, J. Alfred Smith is a member of the Executive Board of the National Council of Churches (NCC). He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary—a graduate theological school of the Southern Baptist Convention (UN-NGO), and he has addressed both the Baptist World Alliance (UN-NGO) and the United Nations. His work has been featured in Christianity Today (Billy Graham), and in May 2007, he was appointed a Board Member to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. J. Alfred Smith has earned over 125 awards including at least one from the US Congress. According to a tribute given to J. Alfred Smith in the <a href="http://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/record/1995/1995_E02154.pdf" target="_blank">Congressional Record</a> of November 9, 1995, “He has been elevated to the 33rd Degree of Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons.”<br /><br />Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr., President Barack Obama’s former pastor, wrote the Forward to one of J. Alfred Smith’s books, and Smith edited one of Rev. Wright’s books. (<a href="http://www.corinthianbaptistchurch.org/favicon.ico" target="_blank">Corinthian Baptist Church</a>) Six of J. Alfred Smith’s books and sermons are now being sold in the Fuller Seminary bookstore.<br /><br />J. Alfred Smith has been described as an “illustrious senior pastor” and a “bridge-builder.” And it appears that this high ranking Mason also leads a transformational ministry. According to the <a href="http://www.allen-temple.org/history/index.html" target="_blank">Allen Temple Baptist Church</a> website, “During the dynamic, visionary leadership of Doctor J. Alfred Smith, Senior, Allen Temple has grown to a membership of 5,500 and has developed a large array of holistic community ministries focussed [sic] on redeeming and transforming the whole person and the whole community.” This ministry description sounds exactly like the agenda of many ministries associated with John Macarthur’s Grace Community Church. Is it believable that J. Alfred Smith, 33rd degree Mason, is transforming communities for Jesus Christ? Or is he, like other church growth leaders, transforming communities for Satan?<br /><br />J. Alfred Smith is a Prince Hall Mason. Located only 4 blocks (.64 mile) from Fuller Seminary is the <a href="http://www.pasadenamasonic.org/" target="_blank">Pasadena Masonic Temple</a> located at 200 S. Euclid Ave. The Pasadena Masonic Temple houses several lodges. (<a href="http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Pasadena&1s=CA&1a=135+N.+Oakland+Ave&2c=Pasadena&2s=CA&2a=200+South+Euclid+Avenue" target="_blank">Mapquest</a>) One of these is the Prince Hall Lodge. A list of “Constituent Lodges Of The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F & AM State of California, Inc.,” states that the Prince Hall lodge in Pasadena, Hiram #12, is located at 200 S. Euclid Ave., Pasadena, CA. This is the address of the Pasadena Masonic Temple. Listed under “Tenants” of this temple is “Hiram Lodge #12 F.&A.M.”<br /><br />When Dr. J. Alfred Smith, 33rd Degree of Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masonry, teaches at Fuller Seminary, he doesn’t have far to walk to a Prince Hall lodge.<br /><br />At least one Freemason in the Scottish Rite Cathedral bordering Fuller Seminary poses as Christian. According to the <a href="http://www.pasadenascottishrite.org/publications/march08web.pdf" target="_blank">Pasadena Scottish Rite Bulletin</a>, “James F Halladay, 33 degree, has been appointed and elected Almoner for the Valley of Pasadena. Jim's background as a Pastor of the Baptist Church in Glendale well qualifies him for his new post.” Notice that, like J. Alfred Smith, this Freemason is also a Baptist.<br /><br />Of interest, Grace Community Church elder and executive director of Grace to You, Phil Johnson, is a Baptistic Calvinist. This statement appears on his website: “Theologically, Phil is a committed Calvinist—with a decidedly Baptistic bent.” (<a href="http://www.spurgeon.org/%7Ephil/bio.htm" target="_blank">Who is Phillip R. Johnson?</a>) Even more interesting is this statement: “He...is a member of the <a href="http://www.firefellowship.org/about.shtml" target="_blank">Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals</a> (FIRE).” The slogan of FIRE is “In essentials Unity, In non-essentials Liberty, in all things Charity.” (<a href="http://www.firefellowship.org/">FIRE</a>) Why is this interesting? FIRE’s slogan is nearly identical to the slogan of <a href="http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/brothers_and_builders/chapter_2.htm" target="_blank">Phoenix Freemasonry</a>! “It is the glory of Masonry to teach Unity in essentials, Liberty in details, Charity in all things; and by this sign its spirit must at last prevail.”<br /></div><div align="left">Sold at the Fuller Seminary bookstore is “The Complete Idiots Guide to Freemasonry.” The book description states that this book, written by a member of a Masonic Lodge, “offers a guide…that is intended to dispel much of the mythology that surrounds the secretive and often controversial movement.” Sounds like one would have to be an “idiot” to believe a “Guide to Masonry” written by a Mason who has taken oaths not to reveal Masonic secrets.<br /><br />The Fuller bookstore sells numerous books about the Talmud and the Kabbalah. For example, “The Beliefnet Guide to Kabbalah” by Arthur Goldwag is in the Fuller bookstore. Does this book reveal the truth about the Kabbalah? The book’s description states, “The aim of this guide is to provide an informative and reader-friendly overview of Kabbalah, whose messages Moses is said to have received from God on Mount Sinai.” Moses received the Kabbalah from God on Mount Sinai!?! How perverse!<br /><br />May I remind the reader that Freemasonry is based on Talmudic Judaism, and that the Kabbalah is the blood and bone of Talmudic Judaism. According to Manly P. Hall, 32nd degree Freemasonry is typified by the Kabbalist Tree of Life:<br /><br />“When the ten numbers which pertain to the globes (Sephiroth) are combined with the 22 letters relating to the channels [pathways between the sephiroth], the resultant sum is 32…which is analogous to the first 32 degrees of Freemasonry, which elevate the candidate to the dignity of a Prince of the Royal Secret.” (The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P Hall, 1928)<br /><br />Manly P Hall was honored in Sept, 1990 by The Scottish Rite Journal, who called him “The Illustrious Manly P. Hall” and “Masonry's Greatest Philosopher.”<br /><br />In 1866, Dr. Isaac M. Wise wrote in The Israelite of America, “Masonry is a Jewish institution, whose history, degrees, charges, passwords and explanations are Jewish from end to end.”<br /><br />A Masonic website states, “The philosophy or religion of esoteric Freemasonry (that understood only by the inner circle) is practically identical to that of the Jewish Cabala.” (<a href="http://www.themasonictrowel.com/books/the_hidden_powe_behind_freemasonry/files/chapter_09.htm" target="_blank">The Masonic Trowel</a>)<br /><br />The president of Fuller Seminary, Richard Mouw, is a columnist at Beliefnet, a comparative religion website. An article by Mouw at Beliefnet states, “Since I am a seminary president…I have a vested interest in what goes on in contemporary Catholicism, having devoted considerable energy in recent years to evangelical-Catholic dialogue…” At Beliefnet, all world religions are promoted. Another Beliefnet columnist is Starhawk, a witch. (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/toc-ct.html" target="_blank">Christianity Today: Richard Mouw</a>)<br /><br />Dr. Richard Mouw is a Calvinist. “Mouw was Professor of Christian philosophy at Calvin College for seventeen years. He has also served as a visiting professor to the Free University of Amsterdam.” (<a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Mouw" target="_blank">Wikipedia: Richard Mouw</a>) “Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism. Calvin College is named after John Calvin, the 16th century Protestant Reformer.” (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_College" target="_blank">Wikipedia: Calvin College</a>)<br /><br />According to B’nai B’rith, “Calvinism is of Jewish origin. It was deliberately conceived to split the adherents of the Christian religions and divide the people. Calvin’s real name was Cohen! ... Calvin was one of our children; he was of Jewish descent, and was entrusted by Jewish authority and encouraged with Jewish finance to draft his scheme in the reformation.” (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/reformation.html#calvin" target="_blank">The Reformation: Rosicrucian Connections</a>)<br /><br />Dr. Mouw engages in dialogue with Jewish rabbis. “The University of Judaism and its Sigi Ziering Institute are hosting a conversation between Dr. Richard Mouw, President of the Fuller Theological Seminary, and Dr. Elliot Dorff [a rabbi], Rector of the University of Judaism.” (<a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.ajula.edu/Content/favicon.ico" target="_blank">American Jewish University</a>)<br /><br />Dr. Richard Mouw is also an apologist for Mormonism. (“<a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://watch.pair.com/cult-emnr3.html#enroth" target="_blank">Mainstreaming Mormonism</a>”) In November 2004, he spoke at a Mormon Tabernacle in Temple Square, Salt Lake City. “He offered a stunningly candid apology to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and [noted] that ‘friendship has not come easily between our communities.’ He dubbed the evening ‘historic’ and apologized that evangelicals ‘have often misrepresented the faith and beliefs of the Latter-day Saints.’” (<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/novemberweb-only/11-15-11.0.html" target="_blank">Christianity Today</a>)<br />At the Mormon Tabernacle Dr. Mouw stated, “I know that I have learned much in this continuing dialogue, and I am now convinced that we evangelicals have often seriously misrepresented the beliefs and practices of the Mormon community. Indeed, let me state it bluntly to the LDS folks here this evening: we have sinned against you. The God of the Scriptures makes it clear that it is a terrible thing to bear false witness against our neighbors, and we have been guilty of that sort of transgression in things we have said about you. We have told you what you believe without making a sincere effort first of all to ask you what you believe.” (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Mouw" target="_blank">Wikipedia) </a><br />Bear false witness? Guilty of transgression? Do Evangelicals “seriously misrepresent” the beliefs and practices of Mormonism?<br /><br />Mormon doctrine teaches that Lucifer is not the devil, Satan, but Venus, the Morning Star. (<a href="http://www.lds-mormon.com/lucifer.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.lds-mormon.com/lucifer.shtml</a>) Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is not God but a “lesser god” and the older brother of Lucifer. (<a href="http://www.lifeafter.org/jesuslucifer.asp" target="_blank">Jesus & Lucifer Brothers?</a>) Mormons believe that they are becoming “gods. They also believe that they descended from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/eth-s.html" target="_blank">The Mormon Teachings of Gwen Shaw</a>) Imitating Moses, Mormon founder and prophet, Joseph Smith, received the Golden Tablets from the Angel Moroni. Imitating Jesus Christ, Smith surrounded himself with twelve Apostles; however, his innermost circle were Kabbalists. (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/mystery-babylon-2.html" target="_blank">Crypto-Jewry</a>) The Mormon obsession with bloodlines is identical to the Merovingian bloodline conspiracy. The fact is that Mormonism is a front for Merovingian Jewry and its international network of Freemasonry. “Mormonism and Freemasonry are so intimately interwoven and interrelated that the two can never be dissociated.” (<a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.freemasonrywatch.org/moroni.html" target="_blank">Freemasonry Watch</a>)<br /><br />With Dr. Mouw as Fuller Seminary president, it's not surprising that the Fuller bookstore sells numerous books on the Kabbalah and Talmudic Judaism. For example, “Kabbalah—A Brief Introduction for Christians.” Does this book warn Christians about the Kabbalah? To the contrary, the description states, “By learning something about Kabbalah, Christians can deepen their insight into the highest teachings of their own tradition. The resonance between the two traditions is profound.” (<a href="http://www.fullerseminarybookstore.com/prod_lst.php?pageID=15&id_cat=66" target="_blank">Fuller Bookstore</a>) What resonance hath light with darkness? How can Christians deepen their insight into Christ’s teaching by studying paganism, magic and witchcraft?<br /><br />Most of the books available in the Fuller bookstore don’t have descriptions. Other books on Kabbalah available in the bookstore include: “Connecting to God—Ancient Kabbalah & Modern Psychology,” “Absorbing Perfections—Kabbalah,” “Enneagram & Kabbalah—Reading Your Soul (2nd Ed),” “Essential Kabbalah,” “Kabbalah & The Art of Being,” “Kabbalah—New Perspectives,” “Meditation & Kabbalah,” “Power of Kabbalah,” “Seeing God—Lessons Of The Kabbalah,” “Wisdom Of The Kabbalah,” “Way—Using The Wisdom Of The Kabbalah,” among others.<br /><br />What kind of ministers are produced by Fuller Seminary? The following is a profile of a Fuller Seminary graduate who is now on the Board of Directors of the International Kabbalah Society:<br /><br />“Rev. Megan Wagner, M.A., is Director of Spiritual Psychology at ChI. She is a therapist, spiritual director, artist, Kabbalah teacher, interfaith minister, drummer, ritual leader and author. She is the author of The Sapphire Staff: Walking the Western Mystical Way, a guide to the 7 stages of psycho-spiritual awakening from Kabbalah and the Tree of Life. (See: <a title="www.TreeofLifeTeachings.com" href="http://www.treeoflifeteachings.com/" target="_blank">Tree Of Life Teachings - Home</a>.) Rev. Wagner is founding director of Tree of Life Teachings International, where she runs Tree of Life Training, a Kabbalah School, and leads sacred journeys to Crete, Europe, Mexico and Africa. Her healing work integrates Psychology, Mysticism, Shamanism, Astrology, Alchemy and the sacred arts of drumming, chanting, storytelling and ritual. She trained in Family Systems and Jungian Psychology and has 25 years of counseling experience, including 12 years of supervision in psychodynamic counseling and personal analysis in analytic depth psychology. She also trained extensively in London with Kabbalah Master Z’ev ben Shimon Halevi and now lectures on Kabbalah internationally and in the USA. She is on the Board of Directors of the International Kabbalah Society. In addition to her work in Therapy and Spiritual Guidance, Rev. Wagner offers a certificate course in Spiritual Psychology. She also holds The Feminine Path of Power Retreats (see <a href="http://www.thefemininepathofpower.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thefemininepathofpower.com/</a>), where she performs women’s initiation stories and leads rituals designed to help women feel more embodied, empowered and connected to spirit. An interfaith minister, Rev. Wagner earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, and a Masters of Metaphysics from the University of Sedona, Sedona, Arizona. (SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY)” (<a href="http://www.chaplaincyinstitute.org/core-faculty-administration-and-board" target="_blank">Chaplaincy Institute for Arts & Interfaith Ministries</a>)<br /><br />Megan Wagner, along with Jim Larkin, are the Founding Directors of Tree of Life Teachings International. Tree of Life Teachings International runs a “Kabbalistic School of the Soul.” Jim Larkin, a “facilitator” at Tree of Life Teachings, received his Mdiv at Fuller Seminary, PhD pending in Comparative Religions. (<a href="http://www.treeoflifeteachings.com/training/tree_of_life_training_details.htm" target="_blank">Tree of Life Teachings International</a>)<br /><br />The “tree” symbol for the Kabbalist Tree of Life Teachings as seen on Wagner and Larkin’s <a href="http://www.treeoflifeteachings.com/about" target="_blank">About Us</a> page looks nearly identical to the tree on the cover of Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, seen <a href="http://images.contentreserve.com/ImageType-100/0354-1/%7bA99CA90A-0792-4728-BAAD-6464155BE083%7dImg100.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>. Notice that the symbol for American Jewish University (formerly University of Judaism), where Fuller president Richard Mouw spoke, is a <a href="http://www.ajula.edu/Content/ContentUnit.asp?CID=1576&u=5455&t=0" target="_blank">similar tree</a>.<br /><br />A Hollywood filmmaker is a professor at Fuller. Craig Detweiler who received a MDiv and a PhD at Fuller Seminary is now an Associate Professor of Theology and Culture and Co-director of the Reel Spiritual Institute School of Theology, the area of Fuller’s Brehm Center focused on theology and film. “Detweiler is a filmmaker who has written scripts for numerous Hollywood films…He leads a coalition of schools and educators to the Sundance Film Festival each year for Fuller’s WindRider Forum in Park City, Utah.” (<a href="http://www.fuller.edu/faculty.aspx?id=5966" target="_blank">Fuller Faculty</a>) The <a href="http://www.windridercolorado.com/" target="_blank">WindRider Forum</a> partners with Fuller Theological Seminary to provide “an opportunity for conversations at the intersection of faith and film.” This past year, the theme of the Windrider Forum was “Filmmaking for Social Change.”<br /><br />“He [Detweiler] has often been featured in the media, including the <a title="The New York Times" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times">New York Times</a>, <a title="CNN" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN">CNN</a>, <a title="NPR" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPR">NPR</a>, and <a title="American Broadcasting Company" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company">ABC</a>… In 2007, Detweiler completed production on a documentary investigating the clash between the secular and the Christian world entitled <a title="Purple State of Mind (page does not exist)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Purple_State_of_Mind&action=edit&redlink=1">Purple State of Mind</a>.” Craig Detweiler wrote the book, “A Purple State of Mind: Finding Middle Ground in a Divided Culture.” In the movie, Detweiler claims to be a Christian, and John Marks is an unbeliever. Detweiler and Marks co-produced this movie as a conversation between a believer and an unbeliever to “find common ground.” “A Purple State” refers to a Third Way compromise between liberal and conservative political views, and also between liberal and fundamental Christianity.<br /><br />“Our culture is reeling from divisiveness and strife. People are divided politically (into red and blue states), morally, and spiritually. Successful author and Hollywood filmmaker Craig Detweiler reveals how to be a ‘purple’ Christian—a follower of Christ who finds middle ground, not to compromise but to converse. He empowers readers to build relationships rather than erect barriers so they can more effectively communicate and live out the good news. This relevant and practical guide reveals ways to... *communicate the gospel with humility* promote prolife and pro–family positions in a pluralistic society *love members of the gay community* relate to people in other faith traditions. The Christian community has become known for what it opposes rather than what it proposes—faith, hope, and love. A Purple State of Mind dismantles unhelpful misrepresentations of Jesus’ life–giving message and presents it in a fresh, contemporary way.” (<a href="http://www.purplestateofmind.com/home.php" target="_blank">A Purple State of Mind: </a><a href="http://www.purplestateofmind.com/home.php" target="_blank">Finding Middle Ground in a Divided Culture</a>)<br />Fuller Seminary offers many books promoting pagan religions that may be required reading in their apologetics and comparative religions courses. The following are just some of the titles available in the Fuller bookstore: “Drawing Down the Moon—Witches Druids Goddess-Worshippers & Other Pagans in America” by Margot Adler, “Magic Witchcraft &Religion- An Anthropological Study of the Supernatural (7th Ed),” “Shaminism,” “Witchcraft & Sorcery,” “Pagan Christianity—Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices,” “Oedipus & The Devil—Witchcraft Sexual,” “Magic & Witchcraft,” “Demon Lovers—Witchcraft Sex & Crisis,” “Entertaining Satan—Witchcraft,” “Ancient Christian Magic—Coptic Texts,” “Ancient Magic & Ritual Power,” “Ancient Philosophy Mystery & Magic,” “Black Magic—Religion & The African,” “Byzantine Magic,” “Earthly Bodies Magical Selves,” “Magic & Paganism in Early Christianity,” “Magic Faith & Healing,” “Magic Kingdom of God,” “Magic Mystery & Science—Occult in West,” “Prayer Magic & The Stars in The Ancient,” “Tales of a Magic Monastery,” “Magic Mountain (a novel),” “Real Magic—Creating Miracles,” “Greek Magical Papyri in Translation,” “Magic & Magicians in The Greco-roman,” “Magic in The Ancient Greek World,” “Magic in The Middle Ages,” “Magic & Paganism—Acts,” and “Ephesians—Power & Magic,” among others.<br /><br />Also available in the Fuller Seminary bookstore is “Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen—Rock & Redemption from Asbury Park to Magic.” The author of this book is Jeffrey Symynkywicz. The book description states, “Symynkywicz, a Unitarian Universalist minister, reflects on important themes about life found in the music of Bruce Springsteen.”<br /><br />The curriculum of Fuller Seminary does not instruct ministerial students in the narrow way of salvation through Jesus Christ alone but introduces them to the broad way which leads to destruction. Rather than teaching and preaching the Word of God, Fuller Seminary has freely acknowledged that it is an interfaith agency promoting the Communitarian Third Way agenda:<br /><br />“Fuller is welcoming both to the evangelical conservative and the theologically liberal. The faculty consists of a variety of Christian scholars with equally diverse backgrounds. Students and professors often hold diametrically opposing views and vehemently debate a wide range of religious and ethical issues, yet remain committed to their Christian camaraderie. Fuller's diverse student body and ecumenical persuasion are among its chief strengths. It is also frequently at the center of debate among religious and secular intellectuals on issues ranging from politics, religion, science and culture. Fuller instructors have been cited as seeking ways out of the conservative/liberal debate: ‘We need to be the voice of a third way that flows out of biblical values, instead of buying into the political ideology of either the right or the left.’ Currently, Fuller reports that faculty and students come from over 150 <a title="Christian" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian">Christian</a> denominations representing a wide variety of theological viewpoints.” (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuller_Theological_Seminary" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)<br /><br />Let me reiterate that John Macarthur’s father, Jack Macarthur, was Director of the Fuller Evangelistic Foundation which established Fuller Seminary as well as co-founder of the Hollywood Christian Group with J. Edwin Orr — which places him firmly within Henrietta Mears’ inner circle and in “the lineage of the monstrous apostasy.” It may be noted that John Macarthur graduated from Talbot Theological Seminary, the seminary for Biola University (formerly Biola College). The chairman of the board of Biola from 1928-1932 was none other than Charles Fuller. (By 1928, Biola had apostatized, according to Charles Trumbull, the editor of the most influential periodical of the fundamentalist movement, The Sunday School Times.) (<a href="http://www.ccel.us/fuller.ch5.html" target="_blank">Give the Wind a Mighty Voice</a>)<br /><br />The following sections provide two more examples of John Macarthur’s support for Southern Baptist Convention leaders and church growth advocates:<br /><br /><strong>Dr. R Albert Mohler<br /></strong><br />Every year John Macarthur invites Dr. R. Albert Mohler to be a keynote speaker at the GCC Pastors’ Conference. Dr. Mohler is greatly respected and sometimes quoted by GCC pastors in their sermons. Since John Macarthur invites Dr. Mohler to speak at his church, most Christians would assume he’s a true Christian. Let me give some information regarding Dr. Mohler.<br /><br />Dr. Mohler is the President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; he is a member of the Board of Directors of “Focus on the Family;” and he has served as the chairman of the Billy Graham Crusades. According to his website bio, Dr. Mohler hosts a national radio program, “The Albert Mohler Program,” and has been listed in a Time magazine cover story as one of its “50 for the Future” evangelicals. Widely sought as a columnist and commentator, Dr. Mohler has been quoted by the N.Y. Times, The Wall St. Journal, USA Today and the Washington Post, among others. He's appeared on many national news programs such as the “Today Show”, “Dateline NBC” and “The News Hour with Jim Leher.” Clearly, he has a close relationship with the Satanic press.<br /><br />Let's now focus on another of Dr. Mohler's associations; an association that has been left out of his website bio. Dr. Mohler is a Founding Fellow of the Research Institute (think tank) of The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). The ERLC is the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Why is this information noteworthy? Because the ERLC is a non-governmental organization (NGO) listed with the UN's Department of Public Information (DPI).<br /><br />It can be seen that Dr. Mohler is a Founding Fellow of the ERLC by going to <a href="http://www.erlc.com/">http://www.erlc.com/</a> and by clicking on “The Institute” at the top, then clicking on “Research Institute Fellows” near the bottom left of the page. One can see that the ERLC is a UN-NGO on the UNESCO website (<a href="http://www.un.org/ecosoc/">www.un.org/ecosoc/</a>). Click on "NGO Participation" and type in ERLC.<br /><br />The ERLC of the SBC is a UN-NGO. What does it mean that the ERLC partners with the UN as an NGO? What are the criteria for NGO’s to be granted this status? The following are just a few of the criteria taken from UN Resolution 1996/31: “The NGO must support the principles of the Charter of the UN.” “The NGO must have a clear mission statement that is consistent with those principles.” “The NGO must have a satisfactory record of collaboration with the UN prior to association.” “The NGO must promote the initiatives and programmes, disseminate information and mobilize public opinion in support of the UN.” “The NGO must provide the UN with an audited annual financial statement.” And “the NGO must promote knowledge of the principles and activities of the UN.” ("<a href="http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/Resolution_1996_31/Part_1.htm" target="_blank">Arrangements for Consultation with Non-Governmental Organizations</a>") This document makes it clear that no organization can be granted this status by the UN by accident. To be granted this status, an organization must agree with the UN and its one-world agenda.<br /><br />Since all NGO’s must be in agreement with the UN agenda, and since that agenda includes the destruction of biblical Christianity and the creation of Satan’s one-world government with the emergence of the anti-Christ, one wouldn’t expect to find any church denominations with NGO status. But expectations can be wrong. The amazing fact is that many, if not all, of the major church denominations have been granted NGO status by the UN, and therefore, are all on board with the UN anti-Christ agenda. To give one example of this, years ago, I was urged to “trick or treat for UNICEF” (United Nations Children’s Fund) by the local United Methodist Church. The UMC serves the UN agenda as an NGO. This church/NGO encouraged “trick or treating” because it helped finance UNICEF.<br /><br />The president of the ERLC and Dr. Mohler’s superior at the ERLC is Dr. Richard Land. Dr. Land is also a Founding Fellow of the Research Institute of the ERLC. Dr. Land was recently appointed to a second term on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom by President Bush. In 2005, Dr. Land was featured in Time magazine as one of “The 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America.” According to the ERLC website, more than 1.5 million people tune in weekly for the “For Faith and Family” broadcast ministry to hear Dr. Land speak on the social, ethical, and public policy issues facing our country. Dr. Land once told the SBC trustees that “there is nothing being done in the SBC that is more important than what is being done at the ERLC.”<br /><br />Two years ago, it was stated on the ERLC's “For Faith and Family” website [it’s since been changed] under "about us" that the Research Institute “brings together some of the brightest minds in the country to develop strategies for transforming the culture.” At the top of the opening page of the ERLC's website under the “For Faith and Family” logo, it stated, “Transforming America.”<br /><br />The ERLC publishes a magazine called “Faith & Family Values.” On the back cover of the July-August 2005 issue is an advertisement for Dr. Land's book, “Imagine a God blessed America” (2006). The ad states, “Imagine an America...Where more Christians are radical change agents. Where people are liberated from the cult of self, and instead committed to the common good.” The ad goes on to say, “Dr. Richard Land, named one of 'The Top 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America' by Time magazine in 2005, boldly casts this compelling and inspiring vision, declaring that real change is possible...”<br /><br />Dr. Land wants Christians to be “radical change agents committed to the common good.” This is clearly the language of Communitarianism and the dialectic process. A change agent's purpose is to get others to compromise their Biblically-held truths for the “common good.” Like Tom Patton, the former Guild pastor, Dr. Land also “boldly casts” this “vision.”<br /><br />According to the article, “Southern Baptist Leaders Claim Ties to Council on Foreign Relations,” by Bob Allen, written 11-30-06, Richard Land is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#129#129">129.</a> “Richard Land, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and Rick Warren, a mega-church pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life, are on record as belonging to the Council on Foreign Relations.” This very disturbing fact, if true, hasn’t prevented John Macarthur from inviting Richard Land’s close associate, Al Mohler, into his church every year. Recall that John Todd stated that all members of the CFR believe that Lucifer is god supreme.<br /><br />According to an article written by the Baptist Press 10-01-08, Richard Land is calling for “bridges of understanding” to solve the conflicts between the U.S. and Muslim communities. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#130#130">130.</a> To facilitate these bridges of understanding, Land, along with Madeleine Albright, are listed among members of the U.S. Muslim Engagement Project’s 33-member leadership group (33 is an important number in Free Masonry). This group “was supported in its work by Search for Common Ground and the Consensus Building Institute.” Are Christians called to find common ground and to reach consensus with Muslims? According to the article, the leadership group's plans were lauded by Stephen Heintz, president of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.<br /><br />The Research Institute of the ERLC is located at Leland House on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. The Institute's director is Dr. Barrett Duke, Jr. During a phone conversation with a gentleman at Leland House, I was told that ALL the Research Institute Fellows (Dr. Mohler included) were dedicated to fulfilling the principles of the Charter of the UN. This fact can be assumed because, naturally, a fellow of a UN-NGO would be dedicated to the UN Charter.<br /><br />The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC is a front organization for the UN. This fact raises the following question: how can the SBC leaders claim to be opposed to the “globalist/one-world agenda" when they are, as a UN-NGO, dedicated to fulfilling this agenda? This right-wing, conservative Christian image that is put forth by the SBC/ERLC is clearly contradicted by solid evidence that the SBC/ERLC is working with the UN. “How can an organization advocate for the right, when they're connected to the UN? Why do organizations which seem in opposition to each other have secret connections? The answer is to be found in the dialectical process; for those who would be enemies have now found ‘common ground.’ This is about synthesizing the far right with the far left into a ‘third way.’” (<a href="http://watch.pair.com/thirdway.html" target="_blank">The Third Way: Politics of the Radical Center</a>) It appears that John Macarthur has also now found common ground with Christ's enemies.<br /><br />Those who cite Dr. Mohler's firing of liberals at Southern Seminary as evidence that he must be a “true brother in Christ” fail to understand that in creating a “conservative renaissance at the SBC,” they have created a successful “front” organization; for a successful front organization will have a label or an appearance that is to the far extreme of what the organization really does. This is why Communist front organizations are called “People for the American Way” or “Students for a Democratic Society.” If the SBC had a "left-wing" label or appearance, then it couldn't draw the Christian, right-wing community into globalism.<br /><br />This type of deception is called a “controlled opposition.” According to Barbara Aho, “In this deception, the perception is created that someone is out there fighting for conservative Christianity. This person gains the trust of Christians and then diverts their energy in another direction. Christians may think that someone is fighting their fight when, in fact, no conservative Christian agenda is being advanced. Because right wing front groups are created to deceive and to manipulate conservative Christianity, it's important that Christians look beyond the outward appearance of organizations that profess to be Christian in order to evaluate their true agenda; for it is the goal of change agents within pseudo-Christian organizations to synthesize Christians with the world.”<br /><br />Dr. Mohler is also a board member of “Focus on the Family.” FOTF is a highly ecumenical organization led by the psychologist, James Dobson. FOTF is also a UN-NGO with special consultative status listed with the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). (One can see that FOTF is dedicated to the UN agenda by going to the UN-Geneva website at <a href="http://www.unog.ch/">http://www.unog.ch/</a>.) Therefore, Dr. Mohler holds leadership positions in at least 2 NGO’s that serve the UN’s anti-Christ, one-world agenda. But this hasn’t stopped John Macarthur from inviting him into his church and pulpit every year.<br /><br />“In 1989 Focus on the Family vice president Rolf Zettersten testified: ‘One of the striking first impressions I had when I came to Focus on the Family seven years ago was the diversity of denominations represented by my co-workers’ (Focus on the Family, December 1988). He said: ‘I joined the Nazarenes, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Charismatics (& many other denominations) who had cast their theological distinctives aside in order to achieve a common objective—to help families.’” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#131#131">131.</a> Diversity setting aside their differences to focus on a common issue is the synthesis phase of the dialectic process. To always be in this synthesis phase is “life-long learning.”<br /><br />Dr. Mohler has been Chairman of a Billy Graham Crusade. According to David Cloud, “On May 3, 2001, the Baptist Press ran an article entitled “Hundreds of Southern Students Prepare for Graham Crusade.” R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of Southern Seminary, served as the chairman of Graham's crusade. He told the Baptist Press, ‘Nothing else has brought together the kind of ethnic and racial and denominational inclusivity as is represented in this crusade; nothing in my experience and nothing in the recent history of Louisville has brought together such a group of committed Christians for one purpose.’” Dr. Mohler is talking about pastors coming together from diverse backgrounds and setting aside their differences for a common purpose. This is the synthesis phase of the dialectic process.<br /><br />I was told by the GCC staff that all questions directed to Dr. Mohler at the Pastors' Conference would be pre-screened. For a $325 admission fee, I wouldn't be allowed to ask a question of Dr. Mohler without it being approved. I know that John Macarthur and the GCC elders and pastors are aware of Dr. Mohler's UN connections (I have told them). They don't want his UN connections exposed. Why? Is it because the exposure would hinder John Macarthur's ecumenical objectives?<br /><br />John Macarthur is disobedient to the Biblical doctrine of separation and his elders and pastors seem to be in the business of justifying that disobedience. At the 2005 pastors' conference, Phil Johnson gave a talk entitled “Dead Right: The Failure of Fundamentalism.” In that talk, Mr. Johnson attempted to justify inviting Dr. Mohler to the Shepherds’ Conference. Mr. Johnson stated, ‘Billy Graham refuses to practice separation from Roman Catholics and liberals. OK, we won't participate in his crusades. But Al Mohler once participated in a Billy Graham Crusade. Are we therefore obliged to separate from Al Mohler? Now you're into the third degree of separation. And since we haven't broken fellowship with Mohler, are fundamentalists required to separate from John Macarthur and everyone who associates with him? See how quickly we get to fourth and fifth-degree separation? But that is exactly the way separation works in the modern fundamentalist movement. Seriously, a fundamentalist friend told me that the main reason he could never attend a Shepherds' Conference or have anything to do with John Macarthur is because Macarthur hasn't broken fellowship with Al Mohler, and Mohler has a connection to Billy Graham, and therefore Macarthur is not a truly separated man.”<br /><br />Regarding Mr. Johnson's statement that GCC won't participate in Graham’s crusades because Graham won't separate from Catholics and liberals, the following question could be asked: Billy Graham openly denies Biblical doctrine; why isn't that the reason GCC won't participate in his crusades? Mr. Johnson then questions why GCC should be separate from Dr. Mohler. After all, he states, “Al Mohler once participated in a Billy Graham crusade” and “Mohler has a connection to Graham.” Why does Mr. Johnson try to give the impression that Al Mohler “once participated” in a Billy Graham crusade or that Al Mohler has “a connection” to Graham when Dr. Mohler's participation in the Billy Graham crusade was in the capacity of Chairman?! According to Mr. Johnson, GCC will separate from Graham because he is connected to Catholics and liberals; yet, the GCC elders and pastors, knowing that Dr. Mohler is connected to the United Nations, won’t separate from him. Why?<br /><br /><strong>Dr. Mark Dever</strong><br /><br />Another man invited by John Macarthur to be a keynote speaker at the GCC Pastors’ Conference is Dr. Mark Dever. Dr. Dever is a director of The Alliance for Confessing Evangelicals and a trustee of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Dever serves as the senior pastor of <a href="http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/" target="_blank">Capitol Hill Baptist Church</a> (CHBC) in Washington, D.C. and is the executive director of 9Marks Ministries. Dr. Al Mohler has praised his fellow Southern Baptist, Dr. Dever, by calling him “One of the most faithful and insightful pastors of our time.”<br /><br />The CHBC website states that the CHBC is “A Southern Baptist church since its founding... CHBC is in friendly cooperation with the causes of the SBC.” The symbol for CHBC includes a “shield cross.” The “shield cross” is a Masonic symbol. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#132#132">132.</a><br /><br />CHBC is a transformational ministry employing small groups. “We know that ministry is about transforming people and building Godly communities through the gospel.” Once a year CHBC “lay[s] out our overall vision for small groups.” “Small groups…[is] the context for facilitating discipleship relationships.” They expect “small group leaders” to “facilitate discipling relationships” and “be willing to create an open culture, and accept new members.” “We recognize the benefits single-sex groups can have in facilitating a healthy vulnerability and accountability…” Their small group leaders are trained on “how to build community” and “how to raise up new leaders.” “…most of our groups are ‘general community groups’ so that every group looks more like a microcosm of the whole church. We want the culture of the whole to be reflected in the parts.” They want their readers to “catch a vision” for what the next generation of pastors might look like. “Those who only learn ministry in the classroom often do not catch the vision of entrusting the ministry to others.” CHBC “seeks a healthy corporate life for churches across the world.”<br /><br />CHBC financially supports <a href="http://www.creativemission.org/ap" target="_blank">Access Partners</a>. Mark Dever stated, “CHBC supports Access Partners because they provide us with an important service.” What is this service? The Access Partners website states, “Access Partners develops businesses that facilitate church planting in locations least reached by the gospel.” Access Partners wants people to “consider joining us in this mission of change.”<br /><br />Communitarianism involves developing a sustainable church-business-government partnership. Access Partners stresses “the importance of business in church planting strategy” because “it became evident that business was increasingly the only way of bringing the gospel to those who had not heard…” Therefore, their church planting teams are now setting up “kingdom businesses.” Access Partners states, “…on the world stage, two events are happening: the need for new access strategies [accessing countries] and business as a means for sustainable international development. This is where our part begins.” Access Partners wants to create businesses “that both contribute to a country’s economy and provide sustainability and credibility for those wishing to advance the gospel in that country.” A missionary team is provided “credibility” by operating a business? What is the nature of this “missionary work” taking place under the cover of business?<br /><br />“Access Partners functions within a strategy that we and others call Business as Mission (BAM).” Access Partners states, “Like any business, these companies need capital to get started. We are building a network of ‘Kingdom Investors’” who will fund “these ‘Great Commission Companies.’” “In 2004, the Lausanne Movement…writes in their Business as Mission Manifesto that BAM ‘is about business with a Kingdom of God perspective, purpose, and impact…’” Access Partners wants to “implement sustainable [business] models” that will “take into consideration the community’s benefit. We want these businesses to be a blessing to the cities they serve.” “We are blessed to work within a network of like-minded organizations.”<br /><br />Dr. Dever has written a book entitled “Nine Marks of a Healthy Church.” Though I have not read this book, I have read an article written by Dr. Dever on his website entitled “How to change your church.” The first sentence of this article states, “Change is necessary.” This statement is a declared paradigm shift and basically a declaration of war against God. Dr. Dever goes on to say, “How to change? We must lead our churches to change, and yet we must realize that such change will often be difficult. Even if the change you envision is right, there is still further question of whether the time is right for that change.” The article goes on to say, “With almost any group of several score or larger, some people will resist needed changes. At that point, the group has a crucial decision to make — is it more important that we find some way to continue to include everyone who is presently here, or is it more important that we (as a group) move in a particular direction, even if such a move comes at the cost of certain ones of our number leaving because they do not feel that they can consent to this change?”<br /><br />Dr. Dever has stated that, in May 1996, he dismissed 256 members of his church. “So we did that and then in our main members’ meeting we actually voted out, out of our 500 members, 256. And that was a big step towards meaningful membership.” <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#133#133">133.</a> These 256 people were dismissed for being inadaptive to his “envisioned change.” Dr. Dever, another friend of John Macarthur’s, is obviously another change agent within the church.<br /><br />Churches subverted by the church growth movement want to remove the people who are blocking church transformation. It's the true Christian who holds to God's Word and refuses to participate in the small group dialectic process that blocks church transformation. Dismissing true Christians from a church is antithetical to Biblical Christianity.<br /><br /><strong>Final Thoughts<br /></strong><br />John the Baptist was beheaded for telling the truth about Herod. Not long ago, when John Macarthur was a guest on Larry King Live, incredibly, he stated three times, unsolicited, on national TV, that President George Bush was a Christian! Macarthur said, “Just happens that George Bush is a Christian…Yes, he’s a Christian, so he talks to the Lord about the [concerns] of his life.” This can be read near the bottom of the transcript <a href="http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0303/11/lkl.00.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Why do the producers of Larry King’s show invite John Macarthur on national TV? They want him to take a biblical position opposed by the liberal position of another guest hoping that a compromise can be reached by the audience between the two positions. In other words, Macarthur allows himself to be used in a dialectic process facilitated by Larry King. There are thousands of pastors in the US who understand the gospel. Why do the producers of Larry King Live invite John Macarthur? They know he can be counted on to toe their line on “sensitive” subjects like George Bush’s “Christianity,” Israel (which he seems to fully support), and the war in Iraq (which he supports), etc. A Christian researcher once said that if you ever see a face on TV, then you can be sure that the person behind the face is considered safe and under control.<br /><br />John Macarthur is a member of several pseudo-Christian orgs, such as the National Religious Broadcasters, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. When I recently called the GCC “Pastor of the Day” to confirm if Macarthur was a member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), he responded, “That depends on where you’re going with this.” I know a Christian who recently emailed GCC to ask if Macarthur was a member of the above mentioned orgs without ever receiving a reply.<br /><br />This paper has exposed the fact that GCC has been infiltrated by the CGM. This was not an expose of John Macarthur’s doctrine and teachings. There have been several articles written detailing the true teachings as well as the false teachings, compromise, and ecumenism of John Macarthur. One of the better articles on Macarthur can be read <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/general.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />Pastor George Zeller, M.A., Ph.D., of Middletown Bible Church, 349 East Street, Middletown, CT 06457, has compiled a 100+ page book showing what he believes to be Macarthur’s doctrinal errors, which is available for $6.00 plus shipping. (I haven’t read this book.) According to Pastor Zeller, “The book deals mainly with Sonship, his one view nature, Lordship salvation,…and especially his teaching that Christ did not die for all men.” Email: <a href="mailto:georgezeller@juno.com">georgezeller@juno.com</a>.<br /><br />GCC is not only a California non-profit religious corporation, but it is a 501(c) 3 entity. According to the courts, a corporation is “a creature of the state” and the state “is sovereign over the corporation.” Grace Church leaders may say that they depend on the Lord Jesus Christ for protection and that He is their sovereign, but by incorporating, they show that the state is their sovereign, as they must now follow many state regulations; and it is the state that they really depend on for “protection.” For most of US history it was illegal for a church to incorporate. More can be read about this at (<a href="http://www.hushmoney.org/">http://www.hushmoney.org/</a>). (GCC is a corporation that has an HR department. Christians at GCC are considered “human resources.”)<br /><br />Like many corporate leaders, John Macarthur is well compensated financially. I don’t know what salary John Macarthur receives from GCC or how much he receives for writing his books and giving talks, etc., but it is in the public record that for the 2006 calendar year he received $123,785 for being President of The Masters College and Seminary <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#134#134">134.</a> and he received $160,363 for being President of Grace To You. <a href="http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-4.html#135#135">135.</a> That’s $284,148.00, not counting his church salary, book royalties and speaking fees.<br /><br />Other GCC leaders are also well compensated. For 2006, the Executive Director of Grace To You, Phil Johnson, received $193,430. John Macarthur’s son-in-law, Kory Welch, as Video Production Director at Grace To You received $102,277 and other Grace To You board members received in excess of $100,000.<br /><br />The leaders of The Masters College and Seminary are also well compensated with their Sr. VP, Richard Mayhue, receiving $199,211 in 2006. And the public record, though limited, shows that their Seminary Professors are also well paid with one receiving $146,882 for 2006 (this was the highest Seminary Professor salary listed).<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />“But there were false apostles also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2Pet 2:1-3<br /><br />“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matt 7:13-15<br /><br /><br />ENDNOTES<br />112. <a name="112"></a><a href="http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/Greg_Laurie_Letter-1.pdf.tif">http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/Greg_Laurie_Letter-1.pdf.tif</a><br />113. <a name="113"></a><a href="http://www.wayoflife.org/files/3e4bcd36c2d50f2201fbffb85f5803d8-73.html">http://www.wayoflife.org/files/3e4bcd36c2d50f2201fbffb85f5803d8-73.html</a>;<br /><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/general.htm">http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/general.htm</a><br />114. <a name="114"></a><a href="http://www.voiceofcalvaryradio.com/legacy3.htm">http://www.voiceofcalvaryradio.com/legacy3.htm</a><br />115. <a name="115"></a><a href="http://watch.pair.com/toc-ea.html">http://watch.pair.com/toc-ea.html</a><br />116. <a name="116"></a>“Alarm Over Church Talks With Druids,” Jonathan Petre, Sunday, May 21, 2000; Issue 1822, <a href="http://www.celticcrow.com/news/article519.html">Electronic Telegraph</a><br />117. <a name="117"></a>Bailey, Alice. Initiation, Human and Solar, Lucis Publishing Co. 1922, pp. 61-2.<br />118. <a name="118"></a><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/general.htm">http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/general.htm</a><br />119. <a name="119"></a><a href="http://www.geocities.com/hebrews928/dagrwcm1.html">http://www.geocities.com/hebrews928/dagrwcm1.html</a><br />120. <a name="120"></a><a href="http://phillipjohnson.blogspot.com/2005/06/in-memoriam-dr-jack-macarthur-19142005.html">http://phillipjohnson.blogspot.com/2005/06/in-memoriam-dr-jack-macarthur-19142005.html</a><br />121. <a name="121"></a><a href="http://www.geocities.com/hebrews928/dagrwcm1.html">http://www.geocities.com/hebrews928/dagrwcm1.html</a><br />122. <a name="122"></a>George Marsden’s book, Reforming Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New Evangelicalism, p. 135.<br />123. <a name="123"></a><a href="http://www.geocities.com/hebrews928/dagrwcm1.html">http://www.geocities.com/hebrews928/dagrwcm1.html</a>; Ethel May Baldwin & David V. Benson, Earl 0. Roe, ed., Dream Big: The Henrietta Mears Story, Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1990. p.304,305.<br />124. <a name="124"></a><a href="http://educate-yourself.org/mc/illumformula5Bchap.shtml">http://educate-yourself.org/mc/illumformula5Bchap.shtml</a><br />125. <a name="125"></a><a href="http://www.nyoes.org/famous.php">http://www.nyoes.org/famous.php</a><br />126. <a name="126"></a><a href="http://www.durham.net/%7Ecedar/royrogers.html">http://www.durham.net/~cedar/royrogers.html</a><br />127. <a name="127"></a>“Masons Pay Tribute to Billy Graham,” Dr. Cathy Burns, <a href="http://www.jesus-is-lord.co.za/Lifeline/masons_billy_graham.htm">http://www.jesus-is-lord.co.za/Lifeline/masons_billy_graham.htm</a><br />128. <a name="128"></a><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/general.htm">http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/general.htm</a><br />129. <a name="129"></a><a href="http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=602">http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=602</a><br />130. <a name="130"></a><a href="http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29038">http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29038</a><br />131. <a name="131"></a><a href="http://watch.pair.com/database.html#dobson">http://watch.pair.com/database.html#dobson</a><br />132. <a name="132"></a><a href="http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&q=shield+cross">http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&q=shield+cross</a><br />133. <a name="133"></a><a href="http://walkingtogether.typepad.com/walking_together/2007/08/a-lost-intervie.html">http://walkingtogether.typepad.com/walking_together/2007/08/a-lost-intervie.html</a><br />134. <a name="134"></a><a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/956/001/2007-956001907-03c15615-9.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/956/001/2007-956001907-03c15615-9.pdf</a><br />135. <a name="135"></a><a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/953/846/2007-953846510-03a148d6-9.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/953/846/2007-953846510-03a148d6-9.pdf</a> </div> </div> <div class="post-footer"> <div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"> <span class="post-author vcard"> Posted by <span class="fn">The Pilgrim</span> </span> <span class="post-timestamp"> at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://johnmacarthurexposed.blogspot.com/2009/10/transformation-of-john-macarthurs-grace.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2009-10-11T00:45:00-07:00">12:45 AM</abbr></a> </span> <span class="reaction-buttons"> </span> <span class="star-ratings"> </span> <span class="post-comment-link"> <a class="comment-link" href="comment.g?blogID=3618046124060378663&postID=4852506515764889016&isPopup=true">10 comments</a> </span> <span class="post-backlinks post-comment-link"> <a class="comment-link" href="http://johnmacarthurexposed.blogspot.com/2009/10/transformation-of-john-macarthurs-grace.html#links">Links to this post</a> </span> <span class="post-icons"> </span> <div class="post-share-buttons goog-inline-block"> </div> </div> <div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2"> <span class="post-labels"> </span> </div> <div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-3"> <span class="post-location"> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> <div class="blog-pager" id="blog-pager"> <a class="home-link" href="http://johnmacarthurexposed.blogspot.com/">Home</a> </div> <div class="blog-feeds"> <div class="feed-links"> Subscribe to: <a class="feed-link" href="http://johnmacarthurexposed.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default" target="_blank" type="application/atom+xml">Posts (Atom)</a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div id="footer-wrapper"> </div> </div></div> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-56260233448640076202011-11-02T21:00:00.001-06:002011-11-02T21:02:39.194-06:00Some Facts about Utah<span lang="EN"><div>Two Mormon candidate for President.....Mitt Romney is proud of being a Mormon. John Huntsman is proud of his state of Utah.<br /><br /></div> <div>BUT WHAT DO THE MORAL FACTS AND STATISTICS REVEAL?</div> <div> </div> <div>UTAH: </div> <div>Suicides, Mental Health, Drug Overdose, Domestic Violence, Rape, </div> <div>Child Sexual Abuse, Public Schools, Prisons, and Divorce.</div> <div>The website at the bottom gives more of the dates in the complete article.</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">PORN</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">In 2009, the highest pornography use was in Utah with more online porn subscriptions than anywhere else in the United States. </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">SUICIDES</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">Compare the 6,816 fatalities in Afghanistan and Iraq with this little six-state region of roughly three times the number of suicides than both wars combined.</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">Utah Suicides: 302 a year. 60% of Utah males between 15-34 who commit suicide are Mormon. On average, someone took their life every 17.22 hours.</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">29 kids under 20 committed suicide in 2009, one every 12 days.</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">There were 1,336 suicides in Utah from 2008-2010.</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">From 2008-2009 there was a 12.7% increase of suicides. </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">Suicides in Utah for 2010 are 15% above the last year’s rate.</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">There were more suicides in Utah from 2007 to 2009 than AIDS, hypertension, homicides and birth defects – combined; 936 versus 1,195. </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">There were 35% more suicides than deadly car wrecks in Utah from 2006-2010; 2,061 suicides compared to 1,341 fatal car wrecks. </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">Utah Compared to the U.S.</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">In the U.S. suicides in 2008, 11.6 per 100,000.</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">In Utah, 15.0 per 100,000. And for 2009, 17. </div> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America with suicide at 11th place. Suicide was the 7th cause of death in 2009 in Utah and 8th in 2008. Suicide from 15-34 is well above the national average and this has been the case for decades.</p> <div dir="ltr" align="left">MENTAL HEALTH</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">Utah received grade “D” in the Mental Health. About 25% of the population in Utah has a depression or anxiety disorder. More than 17% of the females take antidepressants. And the Mormon Church is seeing every problem in the wards that they see in the mental health clinics. The population of Mormons in Utah is 1,691,200 = 60.4%</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">DRUG OVERDOSES</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">Along with a high percentage of the population on antidepressants, Utah holds this title. The number who died from a prescription drug overdose in 2008 was 277 and in 2009 it rose to 310, not including the suicide numbers.</div> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Utah, along with the Appalachian and Southwest states led the nation in having the highest death rates from drug overdoses. Utah experienced a 400% increase in prescription drug deaths since 2000, the number one cause of injury deaths in Utah, killing more people each year than car crashes.</p> <div dir="ltr" align="left">PAIN KILLERS</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">In 2006 Utah had the highest rate in America for nonmedical use of pain killers. </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">DOMESTIC VIOLENCE</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">Since 2000, 40% of all adult homicides have been domestic violence related. Out of the 48 homicides that took place in Utah for 2010, 19 were related to domestic violence. From 2004-2010 there were 360 homicides in Utah, 47.5% domestic violence related.</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">RAPE</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">One third of Utah inmates are sex offenders, the highest percentage in the nation. There was one rape every 9.47 hours in Utah for 2009. Utah’s rape rate is above the national average, so no wonder Utah leads the nation in having more sexual predators in prison than the rest of the nation. Societies where males have to dominate women have high rape rates. </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">In 2008-2010, 14,566 child sexual abuse cases were investigated. 2009 had 2,652 counts of forcible sex offenses and 250 counts of non-forcible sex offenses. </div> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Nearly 1 in 3 women report a sexual assault during their lifetimes, but less than 12% are reported to the police. The national rate is 1 out of every 6 women raped during their lifetime. It is more dangerous for women in Utah than those outside.</p> <div dir="ltr" align="left">PUBLIC SCHOOLS</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">In 2009, teacher sexual misconduct was the number one reason for being forced to give up their licenses. Since 1992, 313 teacher license revocations; 208 for sexual misconduct. Since 2001 there have been 73 instances of a teacher having sexual activity with a student. </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">PRISONS</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">Utah spends more money on prisoners than students and ranks at the very bottom of student expenditure in the nation. </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">DIVORCE</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">Are Mormon Marriages & Families are Forever? Utah’s natural increase in the population was 3 times higher than the nation’s average, being married more often and the divorce rate was higher. </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">19.2 births in Utah per 1,000</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">13.5 births in U.S. per 1,000</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">8.2 marriages in Utah per 1,000</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">6.8 marriages in U.S. per 1,000</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">3.6 divorces in Utah per 1,000</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">3.4 divorces in U.S. per 1,000 </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">This full article is available online at:</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><a href="http://lifeafterministry.wordpress.com/2011/03/25/suicide-in-utah-2010/" target="_blank">http://lifeafterministry.<wbr>wordpress.com/2011/03/25/<wbr>suicide-in-utah-2010/</a></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">TO HEAR AN ONLINE SUMMARY OF THE STATS GO TO:</div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><a href="http://www.whatloveisthis.tv/episodes/2011/ep436.htm" target="_blank">http://www.whatloveisthis.tv/<wbr>episodes/2011/ep436.htm</a></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left">32 minutes into the broadcast</div> <p dir="ltr" align="left"> </p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-11985002619735809302011-08-14T10:41:00.002-06:002011-08-14T10:48:15.075-06:00Is Nouthetic or Biblical Counseling Really Biblical? <p><span id="rating_info_1403003_post_1492" dir="LTR" style="float: left; width: 0.17in; height: 0.17in; border: none; padding: 0in; background: url(http://i0.poll.fm/images/ratings/info.png) no-repeat middle center scroll"> </span></p><p>
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<br /> </p> <a href="http://cafn.us/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/"><span style="color:#000000;">This posting is a reprint of the following:</span></a><p></p><p><a href="http://cafn.us/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/"><span style="color:#000000;">Nouthetic Counseling – Scripture as a Standard guideline for Directional Counsel</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> </span> </p> <p><em><span style="color:#000000;">March 29, 2011</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="color:#000000;">http://cafn.us/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="color:#000000;">By Prasha Maharjan</span></em></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Counseling means giving advice to a person having practical problems (McLemore, 5). In the Christian world, the word ‘counsel’ is seen both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Scripture refers God to be the perfect counselor and when Christ ascended to Heaven, God gave believers the Holy Spirit as their Guide or Advisor. People in the past generations might have very well used the Old Testament, especially the wisdom literature for guidance. It was a basis for morality and justice. Even Jesus counseled using the Old Testament during His time. Certainly, counseling simply meant advising, and perhaps it was a guide to live a problem-free life as well.</span></p> <p><a name="more-1492"></a><span style="color:#000000;">Dr. Jay Adams in the year 1970 developed a model of counseling derived from biblical principles. Nonetheless, Biblical counseling, of the kind represented by the Nouthetic school of counseling, is unbiblical, not because it does not use the Bible (which it does, and often effectively), but because it is not biblical enough. That is, it leaves out certain aspects of human life and function that are essential to having a holistic Biblical perspective.</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Counseling had been taking place within the church but a model had not been developed then. Adams who is considered the founding father of Biblical counseling came out of the seminary to preach at a church, He said he found himself incompetent at counseling a suffering person. Adams became interested in psychology to learn about counseling people. However, psychology did not help Adams any more than the seminary degree that he graduated with. In the following years, under O. Hobert Mowrer, Adams had his eye-opening experiences to true counseling. Though Mowrer was not a Christian or even a theist, Mowrer recognized that psychotherapy was a failure because it blamed others for all the problems. Mowrer contended that the problem was actually the patient’s own behavior. This was not new to Adams who as a Christian knew that the basic problem of humankind is its sinful nature. Henceforth, Adams engaged himself in developing a model for counseling based on biblical principles and gave birth to Nouthetic counseling.</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Adams’ model for Nouthetic counseling is comprised of three elements.</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">The Nouthetic confrontation always implies a problem, and presupposes an obstacle that must be overcome; something is wrong in the life of the one who is confronted. The idea of something wrong, some sin, some obstruction, some problem, some difficulty, some need that has to be acknowledged and dealt with, is central. In short, Nouthetic confrontation arises out of a condition in the counselee that God wants changed. The fundamental purpose of Nouthetic confrontation, then, is to effect personality and behavioral change. (Adams 45).</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">The second element in the concept of Nouthetic confrontation is that problems are solved nouthetically by verbal means. In Adams’ words, “Nouthetical counseling deals with the question of what, rather than why. What was done? What must be done to rectify it? What should future responses be” (45)? Adams says, “People never understand the “why” more clearly than when the focus is upon the “what” (46).</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">The third element of the Nouthetic confrontation is that verbal correction is intended to benefit the counselee. Nouthesis is motivated by love and deep concern, in which clients are counseled and corrected by verbal means for their good, ultimately, of course, that God may be glorified (50).</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">John D. Carter, in his article “Adams’ theory of Nouthetic counseling” said that Adams’ view of man in a psychological sense was almost completely external and behavioral. Adams’ metaphysical commitment to God and the Bible were the only aspects that prevented him from being full-fledged Skinnerian or Mowrerian. Behavior is translated into the active effort of keeping command. Carter further argued that Adams’ does not bring into perspective the New Testament concepts of spirit, soul, heart, and the flesh. Thus his concept of human being suffers because of his description of man or his problems. In contrast to Adams’ external behavioral orientation, Carter added that Jesus focuses on the heart and makes the inner aspects fundamental. Just a few references will show how basic the concept of heart is in biblical psychology: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34); “a good man brings good out of his heart” (Matthew 15:19);” out of the heart proceed evil thoughts” (Matthew 15:19). Doubt (Mark 11:23), conviction (Acts 2:37), and belief (Romans 10:9) are other aspect that take place in the heart. Carter also added that adultery is also not just a behavioral act but an event which can take place in the heart without external evidence (Matthew 5:28). Finally, the first and greatest commandment stresses the internal aspect of man who is to love God with all his heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Adams also excludes passive commands and exhortations of Scripture such as: “abide in Christ” (John 15:4); “let the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15); and “be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). These passive commands, which focus on the inner or central aspects of human nature, are apparently excluded along with heart, soul, and spirit because they are not assertive and do not lend themselves to behavioral definition. Adams’ definition of sin is in terms of the heart and its deceitfulness (Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21) is parallel to man’s sinful nature, which is lost. According to Carter, Adams has truncated the heart and the inner aspect of sin as the fall and the atonement. Thus, nouthetic counseling as a discussion of sanctification suffers since what the Christian is being sanctified from is inadequately defined.</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Martin and Diedre Bobgan, known for their hostility towards psychology also critiqued in their book Against Biblical Counseling that Adams excludes “spiritual issues that underlie behavior” (6). Thus, the conceptual status of the inner aspect of man (heart, soul, and spirit) and the inner nature of sin (the flesh) is so fundamental that no model of man and counseling can be called biblical without it.</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Carter also criticizes Adams choice of the Greek word ‘noutheteo’ and its cognate ‘nouthtesia’ from the biblical perspective for his model of counseling. Adams has never given the rationale for the choice of that concept; rather he has asserted it to be true. This word appears thirteen times in the New Testament. Adams links the word “noutheteo” to preaching and discipline which are not true and central to counseling. Preaching and discipline are not necessarily the first things that a counselor would want to impose on a counselee. More often than not, counselees are looking for words of comfort and exhortation. Carter has offered “parakaleo” and its cognate “paraklesis” as a much more adequate model for counseling from the biblical perspective. These words or concepts are translated 29 times as “comfort,” 27 times as “exhort,” 14 times as “consolation,” and 43 times as “beseech.” Carter emphasizes that “paraklesis” is listed as a gift to the church (Romans 12:8). The core meaning of these words implies to simply call on people to be by their side. Berry (1974) has also recognized the appropriateness of “paraklesis” as a model of biblical counseling. Carter said, “The concept is broad enough to support a variety of therapeutic techniques from crisis intervention to depth therapy, and it is a gift given to the church.” Thus, “nouthesia” represents a rather narrow range of functioning which Christians are to engage in but does not have the status of a gift to the church and does not have the focus that Adams wants to give it.</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Miles J. Stanford has also pointed out the inadequacy of considering Nouthetic counseling biblical. The framework of Nouthetic counseling does not capture the full spectrum of God’s redemptive plan through grace. Picking and applying just the relevant verses while counseling is not the way a faithful Nouthetic counselor ought to function with the use of the Bible. Stanford points out that “covenantism [is] erroneously applied to the Church that which belongs primarily to Israel”. All that the Nouthetic counselors touch becomes law-bound under the name of Covenant grace. Adams leaves no question as to that in his following statements:</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Moral judgment is the essence of counsel in the book of Proverbs. The unique element in the wisdom of that counsel is its moral orientation. These are commands for the covenant people which enable them to live in proper covenant relationship to God (p. 85).</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Adams further says:</span></p> <p style="border: none; padding: 0in"><span style="color:#000000;">In nouthetic counseling the Book of Proverbs plays a very significant part because these proverbs give instruction. The system of counseling advocated in Proverbs is plainly nouthetic. Proverbs assumes the need for divine wisdom imparted by verbal means: by instruction, by reproof, by rebuke, by correction, and by applying God commandments in order to change behavior for one’s benefit (p.99).</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">God’s story in the Bible is about grace. When Jesus died on the cross for sinners who did not deserve such great love, it was grace. To impose instruction, reproof, correction, and application of God’s commandments to change behavior for one’s benefit is biblical teaching but this is not what can really change a person’s heart or for that matter behavior. Change of behavior is an expression of gratitude with the understanding of God’s immeasurable love for undeserving sinners. Paul clearly says “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter” (Romans 7:6) Thus, counselors need to understand the concept of grace and should then spur the counselee to change his behavior and rightly so that Jesus receives full credit and glory. What Adams instead focuses on is legalism, the very laws that Jesus died for and for what Paul was passionate to renounce:</span></p> <p style="border: none; padding: 0in"><span style="color:#000000;">Structure is the means of moral living. Lives structured according to the Ten Commandments are by the very nature of the case also structured to the principles upon which God structured the world. The life which disciplined disciples endeavor to live is the same life of discipline and training for eternal holiness that Christ, the Son, perfectly lived. The disciplined life (a life lived according to God’s commandments) therefore grows out of the same kind of training to which Christ subjected Himself (p. 190).</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">The above statements plainly ignore how God has made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6).</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">The Bobgans contend that biblical counseling, of which the nouthetic model is a representation, is more focused on the problem, rather than the person’s spiritual sanctification and the walk with the Lord. It is problem-centered. They urge all Christians to rather practice practical theology: studying the Bible, thinking about it, and doing it. Practical theology, they believe is what every Christian is called to exercise, not biblical counseling. In their words, “No Counseling program can ever prepare a person to minister the counsel of the Lord. Only the Lord can prepare a person—through His Word and then through opportunities (life’s circumstances) to practice that Word through loving obedience to Him “(2).</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Although Nouthetic counseling uses much of the biblical principles and teachings, it fails to incorporate the idea of grace, the idea which is the most essential in bringing about genuine change in people. It is centered on problems instead of the person. Thus, the Nouthetic model of counseling is unbiblical, not because it does not use the Bible but because it is not biblical enough. It leaves out certain aspects of human life and functions of human life that are essential to having a holistic Biblical perspective.</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">References:</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">1. Adams, J. E. (1970). Competent to Counsel. Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company.</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">2. Carter, J. D. (1975). Adams’ Theory of Nouthetic Counseling. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 3(2), 143-155.</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">3. Stanford, M. J. (1975, January). Incompetent to Counsel. Retrieved April 5, 2007, from </span><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/counseli.htm"><span style="color:#000000;">http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/counseli.htm</span></a></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">4. Adams, J. E. (1980). Helping people grow. Nouthetic Counseling, p 151-164Santa Ana, Calif : Vision House Pub, .</span></p> <p><span style="color:#000000;">5. McLemore, C. W. (1985). Counseling and Psychotherapy: An Overview. In D. G. Benner (Ed.), Psychotherapy In Christian Perspective. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">
<br /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-43478040148835134962011-08-11T17:45:00.004-06:002011-08-11T17:50:53.546-06:00What is going on at Master's College with Biblical Counseling? <p align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>This posting is a reprint of: "The Master’s College: On the Downgrade?"
<br /></b></span></p> <hr align="CENTER" width="503"> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">The initial impetus for the biblical counseling movement was to encourage pastors to use the Word of God and to rely on the Holy spirit when ministering to individuals suffering problems of living. Because we saw the dangers of integrating psychology into Christianity, we encouraged biblical counseling. However, as our readers know, our concerns with psychoheresy are no longer limited to "Christian psychology" and "Christian counselors." We have a growing concern about the biblical counseling movement. We delineate some of these concerns in our book <i>Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible</i>.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">We had previously recommended the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, the National Association of Biblical Counselors, the Biblical Counseling Foundation and other biblical counseling organizations. But when we began to see serious flaws in their teachings, materials, and practices, we began to realize that some of the very same problems of psychoheresy had infected the biblical counseling movement.</span></p> <p>Classes in biblical counseling often employ psychological theories, methods, and techniques. An example of how those techniques are brought in under the designation of biblical counseling is Dr. Wayne Mack’s section in the book <i>Introduction to Biblical Counseling</i> by John MacArthur, Jr., Wayne Mack and The Master’s College Faculty. As we have indicated elsewhere, Mack’s use of the acronym SOLVER is an example of blatant borrowing from secular counseling techniques.<span style="font-size:78%;"><sup>1</sup></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Because for a long time we believed that biblical counseling was the answer to psychoheresy, we rejoiced when The Master’s College took the step of closing down its Behavioral Studies Department and its additional step of beginning a Biblical Counseling major in the Department of Biblical Studies. However, as we have observed the development of that department under the direction of Dr. Bob Smith and Dr. Wayne Mack, we became convinced that Biblical Counseling courses are often unbiblical and doomed to repeat the errors of secular counseling classes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">We use The Master’s College merely as an example of what can happen in this rush to develop and expand programs in biblical counseling. The Master’s College recently employed David Harrell as a faculty member in the expanding Department of Biblical Studies. According to Dr. John Stead, who was Vice President of Academic Affairs at the time, Harrell was hired at the recommendation of Dr. Wayne Mack.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Harrell has a B.S. in psychology and an M.A. in biblical counseling. He earned the M.A. under the leadership of Dr. Larry Crabb at Grace Theological Seminary. This is a one-year degree program compared with an M.Div., which usually takes three years. At one time Harrell attended Tennessee State University and was majoring in Psychology.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Harrell also has a D. Phil. degree from Oxford Graduate School, which sounds rather prestigious until one learns that this Oxford is unaccredited and is essentially a correspondence school in Tennessee.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Harrell is cofounder and Executive Vice President of Buyer’s Healthcare Cooperative, Inc. (BHC). We called BHC and found that Harrell was there from 1989 through 1995 until he left for The Master’s College. During his first six months at BHC Harrell worked part-time and counseled part-time. During the past five years he was full-time at BHC. Harrell is a member of the board of BHC and is one of five shareholders.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">BHC negotiates discounts for employees for health care services. The employees work for businesses that are represented by BHC. The health care services include the usual psychiatric and mental health services that similar plans offer. For a little less than one year, prior to coming to The Master’s College, Harrell was both full-time at BHC and the pastor of Calvary Bible Church in Joelton, Tennessee.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">While we do not believe one needs programs and degrees to give godly counsel, one would expect accredited Bible Colleges and Seminaries to follow academic standards of sound biblical scholarship in the Biblical Studies departments. Therefore we looked into what is usually required of prospective faculty members in accredited, academically oriented Biblical Studies departments in liberal arts Christian colleges.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">After interviewing a number of department chairs of such colleges, we conclude that Harrell would not likely have even been considered by those institutions, let alone be hired, because he lacks the educational and experiential background requirements for teaching in a Biblical Studies department at an accredited Christian college. In addition, The Master’s College lists Harrell’s D. Phil. from Oxford, even though the Christian colleges we called do not permit recognition for work or degrees received from unaccredited institutions.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">With a B.A. in psychology, an attempt at a doctorate in psychology, and an M.A. in an integrationist biblical counseling program under Crabb, we are concerned about a possible incongruity between Harrell’s educational interests and his current position in a Biblical Studies department.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Based upon our interviews with department chairs at other Christian colleges, we also conclude that in addition to being academically unprepared, Harrell is experientially unprepared. He has no real college teaching experience. Both college teaching experience and recency of college teaching experience are important factors in consideration for employment at other Christian colleges similar to The Master’s College. The only college teaching experience we are aware of occurred as a part-time hourly instructor under Crabb at Grace Theological Seminary during 1984-85. We were told by an administrator at Grace that this involved "very little teaching." If this is true, he has no teaching experience similar to what he is required to do at The Master’s College. And, the limited amount of teaching he has done was supervised by Crabb.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">The fact that Harrell’s business, BHC, negotiates mental health care services for employees seems a bit contradictory if one stands for the Bible as the source for dealing with problems of living. We understand how this would occur if one were merely an employee, but question a Christian who is an owner doing it. We wonder how many Christian employees have used the mental health services as a result of Harrell’s company’s negotiations. If Harrell is now opposed to such services, has he been public in his opposition to the use of the usual psychotherapy provided by such services?</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Harrell has written three brief articles during his career. The first was for <i>IBC Perspectives</i>, a publication from the Institute for Biblical Counseling headed by Crabb. We could not obtain a copy of this article. The other two brief articles were in <i>Parent</i> <i>Life</i>. <i>Parent</i> <i>Life</i> is a mixed bag of soundly biblical teachings and psychoheresy. We give one example of <i>Parent Life</i>’s psychoheresy in our July-August <i>PsychoHeresy</i> <i>Awareness</i> <i>Letter</i>. If invited, individuals who are truly biblical should not provide articles for such a publication.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">We were aware that Harrell charged fees for biblical counseling in the past. When asked about charging, he said, "I’ve repented of that." We wonder if he has apologized to those whom he charged or offered to return their money.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">As we said above, Harrell taught for Crabb at Grace Theological Seminary. Although Harrell claims to be converted from Crabb’s influence, Harrell has done Crabb-inspired integration counseling over a longer period of time than biblical counseling, since he has done little counseling during the past five years. How could he? A wife and three children and a full-time position at BHC, which he partly owns, along with his interest in "hunting, fishing, shooting sports, reading, writing, and family camping" (Handbook of the Biblical Studies Department, p. 7) would leave little to no time during the past five years to counsel, which is the very activity about which he is employed to teach. According to Harrell his change of heart began about five years ago. This raises the question: why would Mack recommend someone as a faculty member to teach classes in biblical counseling when Harrell has counseled so little in the past five years? And his prior counseling was Crabb-inspired.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">With all of the deficiencies discussed above, it is startling that Harrell was employed at The Master’s College and as an Associate Professor, when the usual entry level is that of an Assistant Professor. Harrell claims that he has additional background that would shed light on why he was employed over others. We wrote to him and asked him for the additional background. We followed up with a phone call in which he said that he would provide the information. Though he has had plenty of time to respond, to the date of completing this issue of <i>PAL</i>, we have received nothing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">This unusual hiring of Harrell and his immediate elevation to Associate Professor causes us to wonder why he was chosen over others. Why were the usual hiring standards set aside? Why wasn’t someone with a better academic and experiential background employed? Our guess is that Dr. Wayne Mack, who has more than a taint of integrationism about him, selected someone who would be compatible with his own position on recycling (euphemism for integration) of psychological teachings. Considering Harrell’s interest in psychology with a B.A. and attempted doctorate augmented with an integrationist MA under Crabb, this surely makes sense.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>A Little Leaven</b></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Just as a little leaven will leaven the whole loaf, will the Biblical Counseling Department leaven The Master’s College and eventually all facets of the ministries led by MacArthur? Is the Biblical Counseling Department the beginning of a downgrade in these ministries? As the Biblical Counseling Department grows, will there be a deeper danger?</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">If there is true belief in the sufficiency of Scripture in matters of life and godliness and if The Master’s College is to reflect this belief, then the Biblical Counseling Department needs to be eliminated as was the Behavioral Studies Department. If the Bible were properly taught, there would be no need for a Biblical Counseling Department. After all, what did the church do for nearly two thousand years without the biblical counseling movement? It is grievous to see a well-intentioned institution arrive at a place where, because of increasing popularity, the Biblical Counseling Department may eventually eclipse the entire Department of Biblical Studies.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">While this situation at The Master’s College may seem like an insignificant mistake, simply a local concern, we see this as having broader implications. This unusual hiring is a symptom of the rising popularity of biblical counseling. Could it be that such a move might be an indication that the biblical counseling movement is becoming more important than the Bible itself?</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">The sad state of many Bible colleges and seminaries is revealed in this testimony from a pastor who says:</span></p> <ul><li><p>As I went into seminary hungry to discover more life changing truths from the Scriptures, I was instead shocked to be taught that they were somehow deficient, and if I was to really help mankind, I needed psychological methodologies. I left seminary somewhat less confident in the resources of God and deeply disappointed because of it.<span style="font-size:78%;"><sup>2</sup></span> </p> </li></ul> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">This is a very common testimony of many who train to be pastors. However, the answer is not the biblical counseling movement (with all its flaws, fallacies, and failures) used as a substitute for what Christian educational institutions should provide. Nor is it necessary to add a Biblical Counseling Department to an existent Biblical Studies program. The answer lies in arming pastors with the Word of God rather than with the wisdom of men to make them more confident in God’s Word empowered by the Holy Spirit in the lives of men.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Because many Christians are now realizing the errors and futility of psychological counseling and its underlying theories, many colleges are starting to incorporate Biblical Counseling classes and majors. However, we contend that Bible colleges and seminaries that truly teach the Word of God as sufficient and efficacious in the lives of believers should stick with teaching the Bible, rather than incorporating classes in biblical counseling. </span> </p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">We raise these concerns as more and more Bible Colleges and Seminaries are rushing pell-mell to establish or expand biblical counseling programs. This will surely happen because many Christians have caught on to the fact that the Word of God is truly sharper than any two-edged sword and is sufficient for matters of life and godliness. Moreover many students will be attracted to those programs just as students are attracted to psychology programs in other institutions. The financial incentives associated with increasing enrollments in biblical counseling programs are great, but the biblical justification is lacking. However, we contend that such a move is totally unnecessary. Moreover, if such majors follow the trend of the biblical counseling movement, one will simply see a further expansion of psychoheresy even more deceptively packaged under the label of "Biblical Counseling."</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:78%;"><sup>1</sup></span><i>PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter</i>, Vol. 3, No. 1, Jan-Feb, 1995, p. 4<i>.</i></p> <p><span style="font-size:78%;"><sup>2</sup></span>Gary Rieben, <i>BCF Counseling Notes</i>, November, 1995.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">
<br /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-62329591856459502702011-07-22T14:24:00.003-06:002011-07-26T13:13:51.447-06:00Insidious Incursion: The Subtle Deceptions of “Biblical Counseling”<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>Insidious Incursion: The Subtle Deceptions of “Biblical Counseling”</u></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">By Bruce F. Levi, ICARE Ministries </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>I<span style="font-size:130%;">nsidious</span></i><span style="font-size:130%;"> is an adjective that describes something that is: </span></span></span> </p> <ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="hotword12"></a><a name="hotword11"></a><a name="hotword10"></a><a name="hotword9"></a><a name="hotword8"></a><a name="hotword7"></a><a name="hotword6"></a><a name="hotword5"></a><a name="hotword4"></a><a name="hotword3"></a> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><i>intended to entrap or beguile: an <span style="background: transparent">insidious</span> plan.</i></span></p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="hotword23"></a><a name="hotword22"></a><a name="hotword21"></a><a name="hotword20"></a><a name="hotword19"></a><a name="hotword18"></a><a name="hotword17"></a><a name="hotword16"></a><a name="hotword15"></a> </span><span style="background: transparent;font-size:130%;" > <i><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">2. stealthily</span></i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"> <span style="background: transparent">treacherous</span> or deceitful: an insidious enemy.</span></i></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="hotword43"></a><a name="hotword42"></a><a name="hotword41"></a><a name="hotword40"></a><a name="hotword39"></a><a name="hotword38"></a><a name="hotword37"></a><a name="hotword36"></a><a name="hotword49"></a> </span><span style="background: transparent;font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><i>3. operating</i></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><i> or proceeding in an <span style="background: transparent">inconspicuous</span> or seemingly harmless way</i></span></p> <ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="hotword47"></a><a name="hotword46"></a><a name="hotword45"></a><a name="hotword44"></a><a name="hotword35"></a><a name="hotword25"></a><a name="hotword24"></a><a name="hotword"></a> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><i>but actually with grave <span style="background: transparent">effect:</span> <span style="background: transparent">an</span> <span style="background: transparent">insidious</span> disease.</i></span></p></ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">I do not use the word <i>insidious</i> mistakenly or flippantly in regards to so-called “Biblical Counseling” as the title of this article states. What is called “Biblical Counseling” and “Nouthetic Counseling” is not really biblical. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:130%;">“</span><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Biblical Counseling” entraps and beguiles Christians with its false claims of being “biblical. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:130%;">“</span><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Biblical Counseling” is stealthy and deceitful in its use of biblical terms and “dressing up like a Christian” while mixing in false, unbiblical ideas.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:130%;">“</span><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Biblical Counseling” operates in a <i>seemingly</i> harmless way, but is actually very damaging to people who are subjected to it and to core Christian doctrines.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Because “Biblical Counseling” followed Humanistic Psychology and Psychotherapy into the church, a bit of background and a couple of questions seem appropriate:</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><i>Would you send a sick family member to a phony doctor?</i></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><i>Would you send a friend to an unethical investment agency that is misusing the investors' money? </i></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Who would knowingly do such unethical, harmful, and foolish things?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><u>Strange Practices for “Christians”</u><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Despite the unethical and sinful nature of the above kind of actions, every year Christian leaders send thousands of their fellow Christians to the spiritual equivalent of “phony doctors” or “unethical agencies.” This happens when Christians leaders send Christians to Humanistic Psychologists and Psychotherapists for “counseling.” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Amazingly, Christian leaders are reportedly the main source of such referrals to Humanistic Psychologists and Psychiatrists! </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">As a picture of just how wide the deception of Psychology is in the modern church, one of the most popular Christian radio programs and its related huge ministry were founded and led by a “psychologist and author” who openly promoted Psychological ideas and frequently interviewed and recommended Psychologists on his nationwide radio program. <a href="http://www.pamweb.org/dobsonbk.html">http://www.pamweb.org/dobsonbk.html).</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Most moderately-mature Christians already know that Humanistic Psychology and Psychotherapy are rooted in and operate under anti-Christian, anti-Bible ideas and are therefore very dangerous and inappropriate. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Sigmund Freud, the “father of psychotherapy” was openly anti-Christian and had an affinity for witchcraft and the occult <a href="http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/churpsyc/freud.html">(http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/churpsyc/freud.html).</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Carl Jung communicated with demons (<a href="http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/nathan/jung.htm">http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/nathanjung.htm</a>).</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: normal">To learn more how Psychology has infiltrated the Church and deceived many, read </span><i>Psychology and the Church: Critical Questions, Crucial Answers, </i><span style="font-style: normal">by</span><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal">Dave Hunt and T.A McMahon. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">We highly recommend <i>The Psychological Way:The Spiritual Way, </i>by Dr. Martin and Deidre Bobgan, for a comparison of how God heals souls versus mankind's weak and inferior ways. Visit the Bobgan's website for more information: <a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/"><span style="font-style: normal">www.psychoheresy-aware.or<u>g.</u></span></a> You will find many helpful books and articles on this topic. </span> </p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><u>Is Not the Bible Sufficient?</u></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">The Bible is clear about how we are to cure afflicted and hurting souls - it is not to be done through man-made, or demon-inspired methods. The Apostle Peter wrote: <i>According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto <span style="font-weight: medium">life and godliness,</span> through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (2 Peter 1:2-4.) </i></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Is the Bible God's perfect Word for us, or did God update the Bible via unsaved, ungodly psychologists? Perish the thought! What possibly can be added to the “all” that is the Word of God? Nothing, of course. Because Peter wrote clearly way back in the first century that the church already possessed “all things that pertain unto life and godliness,” just what business do Christians have with Psychology and Psychotherapy? </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">In a similar vein, Paul wrote: <i>All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17). </i></span> </p> <p style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Because God has already clearly stated that Christian can be “made perfect” (complete) by the scriptures, then just what can Humanistic thought in the form of Psychotherapy possibly have to offer? Is not Psychotherapy rather an attempt by forces of evil to dismantle what the Bible does in the hearts and minds of believers? We think so. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">The writer of <i>Hebrews </i>weighs in: <i>For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). </i></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Because the Bible is so incredibly insightful and powerful, why would any Christian want to resort to the imperfect, fallible, and changing ways of mankind found in Psychology and Psychotherapy? Why would a Christian downgrade to a such an ungodly system? </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><u>An Insidious Incursion Into the Church</u></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">In a similar way that Psychology and Psychotherapy have entered into the church and deceived many, so-called “Biblical Counseling” has made an <u>insidious incursion</u><span style="text-decoration: none">. “Biblical Counseling: has it roots in </span>Psychology, and also is deceiving many Christians. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;">“</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Biblically Counseling” is similar to the Emerging Church movement in that is subtly attacks core doctrines of Christianity. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">(<a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/04/15/a-massive-shift-coming-in-what-it-means-to-be-a-christian-time-magazine-considers-rob-bell">http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/04/15/a-massive-shift-coming-in-what-it-means-to-be-a-christian-time-magazine-considers-rob-bell)</a><a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/04/15/a-massive-shift-coming-in-what-it-means-to-be-a-christian-time-magazine-considers-rob-bell/"> </a></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;">“</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Biblical Counseling” is a movement among professing Christians. But this dangerous movement attacks the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture and the centrality of God's grace – it does this while claiming to be “biblical.” Insidious indeed! </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Some of the dangerous errors of “Biblical Counseling” are: </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Direct attack on the doctrine of the sufficiency of the Scriptures.</u> Jay Adams, the “father” of “Biblical Counseling,” crafted his own translation of the Bible (<a href="http://bibles.wikidot.com/adams-ccnt%29t">http://bibles.wikidot.com/adams-ccnt)</a><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"> in which he promoted Psychological terms and concepts. No wonder, for </span>Jay Adams studied psychology under Psychologist Orval Hobart Mowrer. Mowrer died by suicide in 1982. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orval_Hobart_Mowrer">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orval_Hobart_Mowrer).</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Adding to scripture.</u> “Biblical Counseling” mistakenly adds the office or calling of “counselor” to the church when no such office exists. God condemns the action of adding to His Word (Revelation 22:19). “Biblical Counseling” promotes the use of “counselors” rather than the person-to-person ministry or care of souls that the Bible describes and asks Christians to do. See <i>Person to Person Ministry – Soul Care in the Body of Christ </i>at <a href="http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/PPM-ebk.pdf">http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/PPM-ebk.pdf</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Eisegesis of scripture.</u> Eisegesis is the reading of a meaning or bias <span style="font-style: normal">into </span>the text, when no such meaning is there. <span style="color:#000000;">In his translation, Jay Adams changed many words so he could use the Psychological term “counseling” and its variations. (See </span><a href="http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/PPM-ebk.pdf"><span style="color:#000080;">http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/PPM-ebk.pdf</span></a>, <span style="color:#000000;"><i>Person to Person Ministry – Soul Care in the Body of Christ. </i>S<span style="font-style: normal">croll down to page 42 to see the many errors of Jay Adams' thinking. </span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Humanism.</u> With its focusing on mankind's problems, rather than on Jesus Christ, His atonement, and His healing power for the hurting soul, “Biblical Counseling” is Humanistic and not God-honoring. <span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">To focus on man's problems is to focus on man, which is to not focus on Jesus, which is a subtle denial of God's power, which is which is gross sin. (A focus on man's problems = Not to focus on Jesus = Humanism = Sin). </span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">. <u>A</u></span><u><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">ttacks the doctrine of salvation.</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"> “Biblical Counseling” fails to </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">incorporate “...</span><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><i>grace, the idea which is the most essential in bringing about genuine change in people. It [Biblical Counseling] is centered on problems instead of the person. </i><span style="font-style: normal">See </span></span><a href="http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/</span></span></a><i><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Legalism. </u>“Biblical Counseling” focuses on the Law of Moses and applies it to the church rather than to Israel, where it belongs. Thus, “Biblical Counseling” misses the whole point of God's redemption of the Church and His healing power and binds people with the Law, from which we were delivered by Jesus (Romans 8:2). To put oneself, or those he “counsels” under the Law, is Legalism. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Behaviorism.</u> Behaviorism is a type of Humanistic Psychology that focuses on the outward appearance. Behaviorism, as seen in its problem-centered focus, is a hallmark of the falsely-named “Biblical Counseling” movement. Problem-centered counseling is essentially Psychological Behaviorism under another name. Behaviorism is just another form of legalism, as the “counselee” is told to follow a list of do's and don'ts rather than focus on God's grace. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">. <u>Authoritarianism.</u> “Biblical Counseling” is very authoritarian in nature with its elevating of the “counselor” who “lords it over” and holds himself superior to the “counselee.” This violates the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers seen in 1 Peter 2:5 and Jesus strong words in Matthew 20:25-27: <i>But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant...</i></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Undermines of the biblical doctrine of male leadership.</u> “Biblical Counseling” promotes an environment that is particularly dysfunctional for men. As the male counselor usurps the role of the husband, the husband is denigrated in front of his wife and the wife now looks to her “counselor” who is not her “own husband” - in violation of Ephesians 5:22. Some “Biblical Counseling” that I have directly observed, had a woman counseling a man – all the while the local church which perpetrated this error pretended to hold to the doctrine of male leadership! </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Feminism.</u> “Biblical Counseling” teaches and encourages wives to rebel against and disrespect their husbands, in violation of the Bible's clear teachings at Ephesians 5:22 and other places. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Promoting various ungodly </u><span style="text-decoration: none">practices such as: </span>gossiping, tale-bearing, sinful/filthy conversations, dishonoring of parents and spouse, dwelling on past sins, etc. This violates 1 Corinthians 13 and many other commands in the Bible. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">. <u>Simony</u>. “Biblical Counseling” promotes the selling of spiritual care for money, which is forbidden in Acts 8:18.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><u>Just What Is “Biblical Counseling?” </u></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">The “father” of “Biblical Counseling” is Jay E. Adams. Adams was born in 1929 and is perhaps best known for his book <i>Competent to Counsel, © 1970. </i><span style="font-style: normal">Adams </span>developed and widely advocates a method or system that he named <i>Nouthetic Counseling, </i><span style="font-style: normal">which is also known as </span>“Biblical Counseling.” Adams originated his teac<span style="color:#000000;">hings while at </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Theological_Seminary"><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;">Westminster Theological Seminary, but that </span></span></span></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;">institution does not use his system Wikipedia.com).</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">As mentioned above, Jay Adams studied Psychology under Psychologist Orval Hobart Mowrer. Mowrer suffered from depression and psychosis and was treated by pharmaceuticals. Adams practiced psychotherapy and came to see its inabilities and developed his own system, which he named “Nouthetic Counseling.”</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">Adams asserted that the concept of <i>nouthetic</i> is taught in the Bible, but has never given any rationale for it. See how he talks around it here: <a href="http://www.ibcd.org/articles/68-what-is-nouthetic-counseling.A">http://www.ibcd.org/articles/68-what-is-nouthetic-counseling.</a> </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">Adams further stated that <i>nouthetic </i>activities are related to preaching and discipline, which he claims are <i>central to counseling</i>. However, these are often NOT the keys to effective counseling! This teaching seems to be the source of the heavy-handed, authoritarian, spiritually-abusive nature of “Biblical Counseling.” Jay Adams and others who followed him into the “Biblical Counseling” movement have truly missed the mark here and thereby advocate a biblically incomplete system, which means it is not actually “biblical.” (<em><a href="http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;">http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/)</span></span></a></em></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">The thee main branches and organizations which promote the insidious “Biblical Counseling” movement are: </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">1.The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC), which was founded by Jay Adams.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">2.The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF).</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">3.The Biblical Counseling Foundation (BCF).</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none">Several evangelical Christian colleges and seminaries have adopted the <i>nouthetic/Biblical Counseling </i>approach, including Central Baptist Seminary, Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Jones_University"><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">Bob Jones University</span></span></a><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maranatha_Baptist_Bible_College"><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">Maranatha Baptist Bible College</span></span></a><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvary_Bible_College"><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">Calvary Bible College</span></span></a><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;"> and Theological Seminary, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Baptist_Theological_Seminary"><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">Southern Baptist Theological Seminary</span></span></a><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_Baptist_Theological_Seminary"><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary</span></span></a><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">, and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master%27s_College"><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">The Master's College </span></span></a><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="color:#000000;">(Wikipedia.com). </span></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">Hundreds of local church leaders and Christians in general use this biblically-incomplete (= unbiblical) system. This may be happening out of tradition, lack of scholarship, being deceived by the movement's claim and label of being “biblical,” etc. I am convinced that many already heavy-handed and authoritarian “Christian leaders” use this system because it fits their <i>modus operandi </i><span style="font-style: normal">and strengthens their spiritually-abusive ways. I have seen this first hand – it is an ugly thing. This is exactly what Jesus strongly warned against in Matthew 20:25-27 and Luke 22:25-27. </span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">We call on all these schools, organizations, and all others who have adopted so-called “Biblical Counseling” or <i>Nouthetic Counseling</i> to repent and turn to the Scriptures for the healing of souls. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">“<span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">Biblical Counseling” has a view of man that is unbiblical because it is “...almost completely external and behavioral” and “does not bring into perspective the New Testament concepts of spirit, soul, heart, and the flesh.” Jay <em><span style="font-style: normal">Adams, the “father of biblical counseling fails to adequately define “inner or central aspects of human nature” because they “....do not lend themselves to a behavioral (mere outward actions) definition. “Biblical Counseling” discusses sanctification but does not adequately define what the Christian is being sanctified from. It is thus not really biblical. </span></em><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;">Jesus, on the other hand, focused on the heart over the external and mere outward behavior, which are simply “legalism.” See John D. Carter as quoted in </span></span><em><a href="http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#800000;">http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/</span></span></a></em></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;">Adams also “...excludes spiritual issues that underlie behavior...the conceptual status of the inner aspect of man (heart, soul, and spirit) and the inner nature of sin (the flesh) is so fundamental that no model of man and counseling can be called biblical without it.” Again, Adams and “Biblical Counseling” offer an incomplete, and therefore unbiblical system. They are selling “shoddy goods” to the church. </span></span></span><em><a href="http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/"><span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;">See http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/</span></span></span></span></a></em></em></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><i>Biblical counseling....represented by the Nouthetic school of counseling, is unbiblical, not because it does not use the Bible...but because it is not biblical enough...it leaves out certain aspects of human life and function that are essential to having a holistic Biblical perspective.</i> Prasha Maharjn at: </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><a href="http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/">http://cafn.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/nouthetic-counseling-scripture-as-a-standard-guideline-for-directional-counsel/</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Despite the claims of “Biblical Counseling”movement and its popularity among some Christians, major problems and deficiencies exist with this methodology in terms of its non-adherence to the Bible. We hold that so-called “Biblical Counseling” (a.k.a. <i>Nouthetic Counseling) </i><span style="font-style: normal">is grossly misnamed, is not really biblical, and is a dangerous movement that insidiously infiltrated the modern church – it is to be avoided. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">A careful analysis of the the above, and more, unbiblical teachings and practices of Jay Adams of “NANC” and David Powlison of “CCFE” can be found in the book, <i>Person to Person Ministry – Soul Care in the Body of Christ.</i> It is available free online at: <a href="http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/PPM-ebk.pdf">http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/PPM-ebk.pdf</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">An expose of the Biblical Counseling Foundation can be seen at: <a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/images/bcfpaper.pdf">http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/images/bcfpaper.pdf</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">Yes, it's true, if you want to know the Truth like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, you will need to do some study and work: “These were <b>more</b> <b>noble...</b>in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">To learn more about what merely purports to be “biblical counseling” but is man-centered and continues to operate at various Christian colleges and churches, see the book, <i>Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible </i><a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/e-books/ABC-webbk.pdf">http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/e-books/ABC-webbk.pdf</a><a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/e-books/ABC-webbk.pdf%29/">.</a> </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">See also: <i>Competent to Minister - The Biblical Care of Souls </i><a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/e-books/CTM-ebk.pdf">http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/e-books/CTM-ebk.pdf</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Here is a new book that also covers this topic: <i>Stop Counseling! Start Ministering!</i> <a href="http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/Stop-Start_ebk.pdf" name="http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/Stop-Start_ebk.pdf">http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/Stop-Start_ebk.pdf</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">To read how problem-centered, Humanistic “counselor” Larry Crabb infiltrated a well known Christian organization, where he taught for years even after being exposed, see the following articles. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.pamweb.org/macarthresp.html">http://www.pamweb.org/macarthresp.html</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.pamweb.org/scottgcc.html">http://www.pamweb.org/scottgcc.html</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/masters.html">http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/masters.html</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/crabb.htm">http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/crabb.htm</a>)</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;">Unfortunately, this well-known Christian organization remains loyal to and employs teachers who follow the misnamed “Biblical Counseling” movement and its spiritually-dangerous ideas. This can readily be seen in the book, <i>Counseling</i>, © 2005, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Pages 11, 18, 21-25, 89, 101, and 109 are a veritable praise-fest of Jay Adams. On page 258 Adams' ideas are named “balanced, thoughtful.” The above-named problem-centered “counselor” David Powlison is a co-author of this book! The book also praises Wayne Mack - but what is Mack really up to? See</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/macarthbc.html.D">http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/macarthbc.html.</a><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"> </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: normal">I have interviewed a man who has years of firsthand experience with the dangers and horrific results of the “biblical counseling” movement. He was in Family Life Church in Rancho Mirage, California in the late 1980's to early 1990's when Senior Pastor, Bracy Ball, co-authored the Biblical Counseling Foundation's </span><i>Self-Confrontation Manual. </i><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="text-decoration: none">That manual (1991 edition), page 6, describes Jay A</span>dams' significant influence in its development. Some 40 marriages and families were literally destroyed at that church by the application of the ungodly, problem-centered methods of “Biblical Counseling.” This large church of about 800 people eventually imploded and disbanded as a result of the spiritually-abusive ideas that came from “Biblical Counseling.” The local Christian school experienced great turmoil from the many children who had been indoctrinated with “Biblical Counseling.” One of the control techniques of this church's leaders, as taught and encouraged by “Biblical Counseling,” was heavy-handed authoritarianism. Bracy Ball even humiliated his own wife in front of the entire church, based on the false principles of this dangerous movement. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><u><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">What should a Christian do? Should he/she follow the Bible or the misguided ideas of men? What is most authoritative – the Bible, or mankind's ideas? What will you do – stand for the Bible or a college or church's bylaws? What is your real authority for Truth?<br /></span></u></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><u><span style="background: transparent">Why not stand up and do what is right? Avoid "Nouthetic Counseling" and "Biblical Counseling" like the plague. If your chruch's leadership endorses and uses this unbiblical system, print out and give to them the e-books referred to above. Tell them about this article. If they insist on using anti-biblical materials, get out of that church immediately.<br /></span></u></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-64758845399841601472011-06-18T21:41:00.002-06:002011-06-18T21:58:18.537-06:00A Word to All Supporters of I.C.A.R.E.Please be aware that enemies of God's grace have and are attacking <a href="http://www.icareministry.org/">ICARE Ministries. </a><br /><br />Recently, I (Bruce Levi) became aware of insidious, false, and spiritually-dangerous doctrines that are being taught and used to deceive and control unsuspecting people at Heritage Bible Church in Boise, Idaho, where I used to attend. I have informed the leadership and members of these dangerous ideas and have been attacked and slandered.<br /><br />From my research I have found that many, if not most, churches whose leadership was trained by Master's College and/or seminary in California are likely infected with the same false ideas.<br /><br />Master's College adheres to the unbiblical doctrines of Jay Adams and his Nouthetic Counseling. Close "cousins" to Nouthetic Counseling are the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation and the Biblical Counseling Foundation.<br /><br />The reason these organizations are spiritually dangerous is that they have insiduoulsy infiltrated Christianity with ideas that <span style="font-style: italic;">sound</span> biblical, but are not.<br /><br />First, to learn how Master's College and Grace Community Church have been infected with Humanistic Psychology, see this link: <p><a href="http://http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/general.htm"><span style="color:#000000;"><i><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/general.htm</span></i></span></a></p> More to be posted later.<br /><br />Bruce Levi<br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-21819929872655245222011-06-09T17:29:00.003-06:002011-06-09T17:38:33.393-06:00"Elder" Levi: Strong Warinings About Humanistic Psychology<a href="http://elderlevi.blogspot.com/2011/06/strong-warinings-about-humanistic.html">"Elder" Levi: Strong Warinings About Humanistic Psychology</a> and John MacArthur<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Article from Biblical Discernment Ministries..</span><br /><br /><h1>John MacArthur -<span style="font-size:100%;"><i>General Teachings/Activities</i></span></h1> <p>- Dr. John F. MacArthur, Jr., (born 1940) is the pastor of Grace Community Church (GCC) in Sun Valley, California, as well as the president of both The Master's College and The Master's Seminary. His first two years of college were spent at <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/bju/">Bob Jones University</a>. His undergraduate work was completed at Los Angeles Pacific College, followed by seminary training at Talbot Theological Seminary. Grace Church has grown from 450 members when MacArthur accepted the pastorate in 1969, to over 12,000 today. Much of MacArthur's influence is derived from his sermons that are edited and aired over more than 700 stations daily across the U.S. and Canada on the "Grace to You" (GTY) radio program. First aired in 1977, GTY now has a full-time U.S. staff of approximately 45, and has produced and distributed more than ten million audio cassette lessons. In addition, the "Grace to You Weekend" broadcast now airs on almost 100 outlets. MacArthur is also a prolific "writer," authoring a New Testament Commentary series, various issue-oriented books, and most recently, a study Bible. (Many of MacArthur's most recent works are merely re-edited sermon messages.)</p> <p>For many, John MacArthur is a champion of the faith whose voice is correcting many of the ills of Christianity. For others, his teachings border on heresy, if not blasphemy (see below). Nevertheless, MacArthur's charm, charisma, and abilities have combined to make him very appealing, even to those who should otherwise know better. MacArthur's proclamation of much truth can also create in one's mind a delusion. In the following quotes, MacArthur rightly reveals the deceptive ways of false teachers, yet in the process, he unwittingly describes himself:</p> <blockquote> <p>"... they are dangerous when they tell truth because often they cannot be distinguished from true teachers. The key to being a successful false teacher is to tell as much of the truth as possible" (MacArthur's Bible Study Guide, <i>Joy And Godliness</i>, p. 17); and<br /> <br /> "The subtlety of false teaching is that it uses the Word of God but misrepresents its teaching. Those who teach something explicitly and overtly anti-biblical, anti-Christ, and anti-God pose no real threat to the Christian church. But subtle teaching that appears to be biblical yet pulls unwary souls away from the faith is a great danger to the church" (MacArthur's Bible Study Guide, <i>Avoiding Spiritual Counterfeiters</i>, p. 17).</p> </blockquote> <p>We will focus primarily on Dr. MacArthur's psychological teachings and his neo-evangelical associations, and leave most of the other theological issues to others (e.g., a works-oriented approach to the concept of Lordship Salvation; dispensational inconsistencies; confusion concerning the two natures of the believer; confusing statements on the "blood of Christ"; denial of Eternal Sonship (since recanted); confusion concerning unlimited atonement; and the use of contemporary Christian music). (Portions of the above were adapted from a 1988<i> OBF Visitor</i> Feature Article by Pastor Peter Foxx.)<br /><br />- Through books and in various sermons (heard via The Master's Fellowship tape ministry -- over 11 million produced), MacArthur has continually claimed (since at least 1985) to be adamantly opposed to psychology and its message of "self." Yet at the same time these anti-psychology books and messages were published and recorded, respectively, MacArthur was fully employing the teachings of "Christian" psychologist Dr. <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a> (see details below). Likewise, in direct contradiction of this claim of being against psychology, MacArthur has preached other sermons teaching various psychological, and thereby, non-Biblical concepts and dogma, such as self-esteem, self-image, self-worth, self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, etc., all clothed in deceptive Christian garb. (See the "<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/self.htm">Radio Tape Index</a>" for details. It should be noted that many of the exact statements in this radio log can be found in anywhere from two to four written sources, authored by MacArthur, and still being sold in the GCC bookstore!)</p> <p>For example, check out the following blasphemous psychobabble from the man who not only claims to understand the psychological seduction of Christianity, but also claims to be solidly in the camp of those of us actively opposing it:</p> <blockquote> <p>"<u>A true sense of self-worth comes from understanding our position in Christ</u>. We have been chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world. Knowing <u>this gives us a sense of our significance and value to God. <b>We were so important to God that He gave up His Son to die on our behalf</b></u>. ... <u>Thank God for considering you valuable</u> enough to bestow such riches upon you. ... <u>If you're struggling with a lack of self-worth</u>, remember that <u>you were important enough for God</u> <u>to give you to Jesus as an inheritance</u>" (<i>The Believer's Life in Christ</i>, MacArthur Bible Study Guide, Eph. 1:1-2:10 [Word of Grace Communications:1989/1995], pp. 27, 36, & 69-70). (Emphases added.) [Tape series also offered in GTY's 51-page, 1996 tape and book resource catalogue.]</p> </blockquote> <p>God died for us because we were "important enough"?! This is a tragedy of immeasurable magnitude that we have people who claim to belong to the living God, and churches that claim to be Bible-believing churches, that are robbing God of that which belongs to Him and Him alone -- <i>all</i> the esteem, <i>all</i> the honor, is <u>His</u> for the work of salvation -- and directing it back to themselves. What blasphemy is being promoted from within the church today! -- that pastors like John MacArthur can find a way to say, "You want to know how valuable I am? You want to know how much worth I have? You want to know what gives me self-esteem? God thought I was valuable enough to die for." <u>That's blasphemy</u>. That's robbing God of that which is His alone. God did not die for us because of our great worth, but because of our great sin! He died because of who He is, and in spite of what we are (cf. Rom. 5:8). He died to demonstrate His righteousness and His divine justice (Rom. 3:23-26). There is no mercy if it had to do with my worth. It is not of grace if it had to do with my value. <u>Anyone</u> who would try to divert some of that glory, honor, and esteem to man is robbing God of the worship due Him and Him alone.</p> <p>[Elaborating on MacArthur's erroneous interpretation, he is clearly saying that we should feel good about ourselves because God was enriched through gaining us as His children! The context of Eph. 1:18, however, is all about the <i>blessings <u>we receive</u> from God</i>, <b>not</b> the blessings He receives from us. Clearly, the "riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" refers to what God has given the saints, not, as MacArthur teaches, to an inheritance they have bequeathed Him. Nowhere in the Bible is God enriched by man. It is man who is always benefited by God. Common sense also makes that clear. God, being infinitely rich and needing nothing, cannot be enriched by anyone or anything. (Adapted from the 9/93 <i>TBC</i>.)]</p> <p>- An elder of Grace Church once said the above <i>self-worth/significance to God </i>quote from MacArthur was "admittedly a poor way for John to state his point" (September 1994 letter on file). Well, MacArthur's point was -- what the fact that God the Father sent his Son into the world, says about man's value. And it is the <b>opposite</b> of what the Scriptures teach! It's like saying that since a person claims to be an ardent capitalist and then states, "hence I believe there should be no private ownership of property," is choosing a poor way to make his point. His statement <b>proves</b> the exact opposite of what he <b>said</b> he believed. [For clarification on this issue, see "The Parable of Heathen," which is a section in Jim Owen's book <a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/warbk.html"><i>Christian Psychology's War on</i> <i>God's Word</i> </a>(pp. 62-64). Owen is an associate professor of history at The Master's College.]</p> <p>In further contradiction to what MacArthur teaches, Dr. Trevor Craigen, also of The Master's Seminary, questions the doctrine of redemption being used "to proclaim that man is something worth dying for, and that one may now attribute to himself dignity, worth and significance or may see himself as something worthwhile." Yet, this is the exact concept that his employer, John MacArthur, is teaching! Craigen says:</p> <blockquote> <p>"In Scripture no context presenting the wonder and grandeur of salvation even remotely suggests or attempts to apply the doctrine in such a way so that anyone may now validly conclude himself to be worth dying for, or himself to be worthwhile and significant. ... Salvation is, in all of its aspects, a testimony of the grace of God toward those who were unworthy of eternal life and of His love. Salvation signifies, not the worth of man, but the sinfulness of man" (T. Craigen<i>, An Exegetical Foundation for a Biblical Approach to Thinking of Oneself</i>, doctoral dissertation for Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, IN, 1984, p. 43).</p> </blockquote> <p>MacArthur would be wise to run his writings by Dr. Craigen before publishing. It would save him considerable embarrassment and perhaps even help him to straighten out his theology on this crucial matter.<br /><br />- In the mid-1980s, Grace Community Church, with MacArthur's full knowledge and approval, and at the same time MacArthur was claiming to be adamantly opposed to the psychological teachings that have invaded the church, <u>was</u> deeply involved with the teaching and counseling ministries of so-called Christian psychologist Dr. <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>. (Crabb's model of counseling is primarily a psychological system of unconscious needs that supposedly motivate human behavior, which system is derived from Freudian and humanistic/Maslowian psychology with its hierarchy of needs, with greatest emphasis on so-called emotional needs, the fulfillment of which supposedly result in a sense of personal worth and psychological healthiness. Counseling under Crabb's model takes the form of delving into the unconscious by peeling away the "self-protective layers" [i.e., defense mechanisms] and getting at the "real pain and sorrow of unmet needs.") MacArthur had endorsed Crabb's film series, <i>Inside Out</i>; allowed Crabb to hold seminars on the Grace Church campus on at least two different occasions (while having Crabb as a co-speaker/teacher on at least two different "Christian cruises"); allowed his church counseling staff to use Crabb's model in-house, as well as recommended Crabb's materials to radio listeners who would call in for counseling; carried multiple copies of each of Crabb's books in The Master's College and Seminary and Grace Church bookstores, while, at the same time, refusing to carry books critical of Crabb's teachings; and had staffed the College and Seminary with a considerable number of pro-Crabb supporters (as well as having had Dr. Crabb as an adjunct professor on the Seminary faculty).</p> <p>Between August 1988 and July 1989, MacArthur's official policy regarding Larry Crabb was changing from one of active support to one of declaring Dr. Crabb "<i>persona-non-grata</i>" Along with this policy change, MacArthur claimed to have retracted the above "endorsements" of Crabb's teachings, and to have removed all identification with Crabb's name and materials. Nevertheless, an attendee at MacArthur's March 1990 Shepherd's Conference reported the following:</p> <blockquote> <p>(1) many of Crabb's books were recommended as "helpful resources" in the Conference Notebook's annotated bibliography; and</p> <p>(2) Crabb's materials and/or teaching concepts were still being used extensively at Grace Church, particularly in the adult Sunday School classes (one of which, "Marriage Builders," appeared to be named after a Crabb book title,<i> The Marriage Builder</i>), and was being taught by a Grace Church staff member and Crabb follower, John Zimmer. (Zimmer has since left Grace Church.)</p> </blockquote> <p>Later on in the 1990s, MacArthur employed even more men teaching Crabb-like concepts and/or trained at Crabb-influenced/-led institutions (see sections on <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/">Gary Ezzo</a>, Wayne Mack, and David Harrell). Therefore, regardless of his claims to the contrary, it is doubtful that MacArthur has ever abandoned his fondness for the psychological teachings of Larry Crabb.</p> <p>- In 1985, MacArthur's tape ministry produced a two-tape audio series, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/trial.htm"><i>The Day God</i>'<i>s Word Went on Trial</i></a>, describing the public court trial of Grace Church relating to the Church's counseling relationship with a Talbot Seminary Extension student who had committed suicide. The tape is not only replete with favorable references to psychology and psychiatry, but at the same time, it makes derogatory comments concerning those who might desire to counsel using only the Bible.</p> <p>- MacArthur's Grace Community Church owns and operates a bookstore (the Book Shack) on the Church's Sun Valley campus. Over the August 1989-1993 period, even though the books of some of the most psychologically-oriented authors (e.g., <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/dobson/">James Dobson</a>, Dennis Rainey, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/pleasure.htm">Ed Wheat</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/m&m/">Minirth & Meier</a>) were removed from the store, books still being offered for sale were those by pantheistic New Ager <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/campolo/">Tony Campolo</a>; financial psychologizers <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/burkett/">Larry Burkett</a> and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/blue/">Ron Blue</a>; psychological "Christian Marriage Enrichment" counselor H. Norman Wright; self-love advocates <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/mcdowell/">Josh McDowell</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/swindoll/">Chuck Swindoll</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/sproul/">R.C. Sproul</a>; four temperaments guru <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lahaye/">Tim LaHaye</a>; right-brain/left-brain mentor Donald Joy; religious humanist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/matzat/">Don Matzat</a>; ecumenical Catholicism promoter and psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a>; New Age Roman Catholic psychologist, mystic, and universalist Henri Nouwen; Arminian revivalist Charles Finney; womens' ministries psychologizers <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/arthur/">Kay Arthur</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/creative.htm">Linda Dillow</a>, and Carol Mayhall; and other lesser known psychologically-oriented authors. [Correspondence with the Book Shack manager in November of 1990 revealed that MacArthur's main reason for selling psychologically-oriented books was to teach his people discernment skills, and according to the manager, not to stock such books would be to adopt a "head in the sand" mentality! (To the contrary, the Bible teaches that the shepherd's role is to warn and protect the flock, <b>not </b>to expose them to dangerous heresies!]</p> <p>The GCC bookstore also publishes a mail-order book catalogue, the "Grace Book Service" (GBS). Along with some acceptable titles, the 31-page, 1996 GBS edition included a significant number of books and commentaries by covenant theologians, plus a few books by some of the usual neo-evangelical, psychoheretical suspects -- Elisabeth Elliot, Tony Evans, Josh McDowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/hour.htm">Dick Eastman</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lucado/">Max Lucado</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hendricks/">Howard Hendricks</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/packer/">J.I. Packer</a>, R.C. Sproul, Walter Kaiser, Joseph Stowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/trustpsych/">Ed Bulkley</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/lovelife.htm">Ed Wheat</a>, Wayne Mack, etc.</p> <p>- On a visit to the Grace Church campus on Sunday, 7/25/93, I came across an official Grace Church "tract rack" outside the main entrance to the Grace Church auditorium. All the tracts available were published by Good News Publishers of Wheaton, Illinois. One of the free tracts was titled "You're Special," written by Ted Griffin. Note the psychological concepts of self in this excerpt from the tract:</p> <blockquote> <p>"... <u>we are precious to God</u>, for He continues to love us even when we pay Him no mind. He still sees us as <u>individuals with great value</u>. ... He considers each of us <u>important enough to love</u>. ... Because <u>you and I are special to God</u>, He wants to forgive us and give us a full, meaningful life. When we trust in Jesus Christ and let Him put our lives together, the Bible says that <u>we become 'God's masterpieces</u>, created in Christ Jesus.' <u>Can anyone be more special than that?</u>" (Emphasis added.)</p> </blockquote> <p>Can John MacArthur really believe this psychobabble? Apparently so, or why else would such a tract be made available free of charge to the thousands of people who pass through the Grace Church doors each Sunday? (There is little doubt that MacArthur <b>does</b> believe this. The above quote reads like a paraphrase of the MacArthur quote cited previously in this report from<i> The Believer's Life in Christ</i> series.)</p> <p>- In September/October of 1989, MacArthur's radio tape ministry re-aired a 1979 series, <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/ffamily.htm">The Fulfilled Family</a></i>, in which MacArthur spends considerable time quoting from and recommending the works of so-called Christian psychiatrist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/m&m/">Paul Meier</a>, with whom MacArthur now claims to disagree (see below). When asked in August of 1989 why the Meier references (as well as the other considerable psychological material in the series; i.e., favorable quotes from Carl Rogers, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/dobson/">James Dobson,</a> <i>Psychology Today</i>, and various other "human behavior experts") were not being edited-out of the radio messages nor the Bible Study Guide, MacArthur's top assistant at the time (who claimed to speak with "the full authority of John MacArthur") replied, "It would cost too much; maybe we'll catch it next time." The "next time(s)" occurred in March/April of 1991; February/March of 1993, and again in March/ April of 1995, again with <u>no</u> editing-out of the psychological teachings. [<i>The Fulfilled Family</i> was also offered in GTY's 51-page, 1996 tape and book resource catalogue. Although <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Letter/v8n3.htm#John%20MacArthur%27s">a new <i>Fulfilled Family </i>9-tape audio cassette series</a> was recorded in 1996 and aired on Grace To You (GTY) radio in 20 segments in early-1999 (2/8/99-3/5/99), MacArthur still refers to the 1979-series as "the biblical model for family life," and claims the new series "includes principles from the original ... plus new information and insight -- some gained through the successes and failures of a whole generation of American families since then" (4/18/96, GTY ministry letter).]</p> <p>- In the late-1980s, with the financing of a "ministry friend," MacArthur even sent <i>The Fulfilled Family</i> 8-tape cassette album and Bible Study Guide to every U.S. Senator, Congressman, and Supreme Court Justice, and to every state governor and every "special person in the [Bush] White House" (Source: <a href="http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/50-45.HTM">GC50-45</a> -- "The Secret of Contentment -- Part 3" [Phil. 4:14-19]). MacArthur is apparently convinced that unbelievers can benefit from "the truth that God has designed for marriage and the family" (cf. 1 Cor. 2:1) and/or he believes (like James Dobson) that we can reform the heathen's behavior without God first regenerating the heart.</p> <p>- On <u>5/21/91</u>, MacArthur debated "Christian" psychiatrist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/m&m/">Paul Meier</a> on John Stewart's Los Angeles radio program (KKLA), rightly portraying Meier as a psychiatrist/psychologist with whom he [MacArthur] had serious disagreement. Yet <u>at the same time this debate took place</u>, MacArthur was in the process of distributing a free tape in the mail (<a href="http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/80-69.HTM">GC80-69</a>: "Shade for Our Children") that was recorded on <u>Mother's Day, 1990</u>. On that tape, MacArthur again quoted <u>favorably</u>, and at great length, from Paul Meier's book, <i>Christian Child-Rearing</i> <i>and Personality Development</i>, much of which was taken directly from the transcript of MacArthur's 1979<i> The Fulfilled Family</i> series! If this wasn't bad enough, MacArthur even added more psychological references that are in direct contradiction with some of what he says he believes in his <u>April 1991 book</u>, <i>Our Sufficiency In Christ</i> (see the attached notes on the "Shade for Our Children" message). [Tape GC80-69 was redistributed (@$4.75/each) and aired again on GTY radio in May of 1997; <b>none</b> of the psychological references were edited out. In June of 1997, MacArthur distributed another free tape titled "A Crash Course in Christian Parenting" (no tape number). MacArthur begins the message by affirming that Christian parents need to turn to God's Word for parenting instructions, not the world. Ignoring his own advice, he then goes on to cite many of the same psychological sources as in "Shade for Our Children." One of MacArthur's psychological platitudes was "If you want an accident prone child, ignore him and fight with each other so that he hurts himself to get your attention." Where is this psychological nonsense in the Bible?!]</p> <p>- In August of 1989, MacArthur's top assistant at the time (again, the same man who claimed to speak with the <u>full authority</u> of John MacArthur) privately stated that the psychology curriculum at The Master's College was going to be eliminated as early as the Fall 1990 semester, and that MacArthur was in the process of informing concerned parties at the College of this decision. In November 1989, however, the top administrator of the Master's College was questioned concerning the completion of this notification process, to which he replied, "To answer your question concerning the elimination of our course offerings in Behavior Sciences, the answer is no." (As an indication of the highly psychological content of the College's Behavioral Sciences curriculum at the time, the following concepts were routinely taught: "coping mechanisms of human emotions"; "identity formation"; "adaptive techniques"; "<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/midlife.htm">mid-life crisis</a>"; "treatment of abnormal behavior and personality disorders"; "group counseling"; "psychological motivation"; "the psychology of human potential"; etc.; etc.)</p> <p>The psychology curriculum was significantly altered for the Fall 1991 semester, but <u>not</u> eliminated entirely -- a new program in so-called "Biblical counseling" is now being offered, but MacArthur announced at the time that the new courses, "will be <u>supported by</u> courses in the social sciences" (July/August 1991, <i>Masterpiece</i>, p. 28). In fact, the 1996-1998 The Master's College Catalog still indicates that <u>every</u> Master's College degree-program student must successfully complete an introductory social science course (p. 46), which includes course offerings in Psychology and Sociology (pp. 158-159). In addition, students in the Liberal Studies and Teacher Education programs <i>must</i> take <b>both</b> of the psychology courses offered in the Behavioral Studies department -- "Introduction to Psychology" and "Child Development" (pp. 163, 207). (As of the Fall 1995 semester, the Biblical counseling program at The Master's College had 80 students and two full-time faculty members.)</p> <p>[One still needs to ask the question, "Why is the answer to 'getting rid of psychology courses in the curriculum' to replace them with 'Biblical counseling' courses?" Shouldn't the answer be to teach the Bible? What goes on in The Master's College theology and Bible classes if its graduates won't be able to care for their sheep without taking special classes in psychology or Biblical counseling? The message being communicated by The Master's College is this: Studying theology and the Bible does not adequately prepare pastors, teachers, and missionaries "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12). (The Master's College continued reliance on "counseling" rather than the Bible to solve problems of living can bee seen from the following statement on page 244 of The Master's College 1996-1998 Catalog -- "The college reserves the right to require a student to seek a medical examination or counseling assessment and treatments or ongoing counseling to maintain student status.")]</p> <p>- Wayne Mack was hired in 1993 to head up the Biblical counseling program at The Master's College and to train Grace Church staff members in Biblical counseling methodologies. (Mack is now Chairman of the Biblical Counseling Department and Professor of Biblical Counseling at The Master's College and an elder of Grace Community Church.) Mack was formerly employed as a counselor/instructor by the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccef/">CCEF</a>), an institution with a highly compromised Biblical stand (i.e., psychological integrationism). (See Bobgan: <i><a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/againstbk.html">Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible</a></i> for an excellent critique of the "Biblical counseling" movement in general and CCEF in particular.) Evidence of Mack's psychological leanings can be gleaned from his 1991 book, <i>Your Family, God</i>'<i>s Way</i>. The book is loaded down with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>-taught concepts and terminology such as: touchy-feely child rearing methods; "significance" and "security" needs; "self-image" and "self-worth"; "dysfunctional families"; "unconscious habits"; feelings of "rejection"; "listen to your inner-man"; "give yourself permission to feel and think"; "homophobia"; "inferiority feelings"; etc.; etc.</p> <p>Another book by Mack, <i>Preparing for Marriage God's Way</i>, is also used as a text at Grace Church. (The book is subtitled <i>A Step-By-Step Guide for Marriage Readiness and After the Wedding Conflicts</i>; it is designed to be used as a premarital counseling manual.) One only need look at Mack's "Resource List of Helpful Books and Tapes for Marriage and Family Counseling/Teaching" listed on page 153 of <i>Preparing for Marriage God's Way </i>to understand the extent of this man's psychological bent -- Mack recommends books and tapes by Adlerean psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccef/bettler.htm">John Bettler</a> (the director of CCEF); Freudian/Adlerean/Maslowian psychologist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>; four-temperaments gurus <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lahaye">Tim and Beverly LaHaye</a>; right-brain/left-brain psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/smalley/">Gary Smalley</a>, Christian "sexologists" <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/lovelife.htm">Ed and Gay Wheat</a>; and psychologizer and admitted adulterer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macdonald/">Gordon MacDonald</a>.</p> <p>The book is also replete with self-centered tests no different than the personality/temperament tests used by secular psychologists. In fact, on one of the "worksheets" (p. 15), the reader is asked to fill in the blank for: "What I like best about myself is:" (cf. 2 Tim. 3:2). The book also teaches the pagan idea that it is "essential" to "know yourself" and your partner "in a deep and accurate way" in order to have a successful marriage. ("Pagan" because on the walls of the Temple of Delphi "... was inscribed the most famous of all Greek precepts -- 'Know thyself!' Man has been preoccupied with such admonitions, and his partially successful response is reflected in the discipline of contemporary psychology" -- <i>Encyclopedia Britannica</i>, Vol. 15, 1978, p. 149.)</p> <p>[It appears that the CCEF influence (i.e., a psychological integrationist influence) is becoming dominant at Grace Church and The Master's College and Seminary. This was reconfirmed in July of 1994 when Word Publishing brought out a 21-chapter, 407-page book co-authored by MacArthur and Mack -- <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/counsel.htm">Introduction to Biblical Counseling</a></i>. The back cover proclaims that the book presents "an alternative to secular psychology" -- certainly a bad beginning to a well-intended book. (Since when is the Bible an alternative to anything, especially an "alternative to secular psychology"?) The book includes five chapters by John MacArthur, seven by Wayne Mack, and six by various other then-current MacArthur employees. In addition, one of the chapters was written by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccef/bibor.htm">David Powlison</a> (as well as a portion of the Q&A chapter), another psychological integrationist also employed at CCEF. Again, those interested should obtain the Bobgan's 1994 book, <i>Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible</i> and/or BDM's report on CCEF.]</p> <p>- The basically flawed, psychologically-oriented counseling program at The Master's College took a turn for the worse in 1995. (See <i>PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter</i>, Jan-Feb 1996, "<a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/masters.html">The Master's College: On the Downgrade?</a>," pp. 1,4.) Not only are the College's Biblical counseling courses not Biblical, its rush to develop and expand programs led to the employment of another psychologizer, David Harrell, as a faculty member in the expanding Department of Biblical Studies. According to Dr. John Stead, who was Vice President of Academic Affairs at the time of Harrell's hiring, Harrell was hired at the recommendation of Dr. Wayne Mack.</p> <p>Harrell has a B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Biblical Counseling. He earned the M.A. under the leadership of clinical psychologist Dr. <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a> at Grace Theological Seminary (GTS). This is a one-year degree program compared with an M.Div., which usually takes three years. At one time, Harrell attended Tennessee State University and was majoring in Psychology. Harrell also has a D.Phil. degree from Oxford Graduate School, which sounds rather prestigious until one learns that this Oxford is unaccredited and is essentially a correspondence school in Tennessee.</p> <p>Harrell was also co-founder and Executive Vice President of Buyer's Healthcare Cooperative, Inc. (BHC) from 1989 through 1995 until he left for The Master's College. The health care services provided by BHC include the usual psychiatric and mental health services that similar plans offer. The fact that Harrell's business, BHC, negotiates mental health care services for employees seems a bit contradictory if one supposedly stands for the Bible as the source for dealing with problems of living. It is understandable how this would occur if one were merely an employee, but legitimate questions arise when a professing Christian, who is an owner, is doing it. One wonders how many Christian employees have used so-called mental health services as a result of Harrell's company's negotiations.</p> <p>Harrell also lacked the educational and experiential background requirements for teaching in a Biblical Studies department at an accredited Christian college. What little teaching experience Harrell does have occurred as a part-time hourly instructor under Crabb at GTS during 1984-85, which actually required very little teaching. Moreover, with a B.A. in Psychology, an attempt at a doctorate in Psychology, and an M.A. in an integrationist Biblical counseling program under Crabb, there is a definite incongruity between Harrell's educational interests and his hiring at The Master's College.</p> <p>The question is: Why would Wayne Mack recommend someone as a faculty member to teach classes in Biblical counseling when Harrell's counseling experience is so limited and the majority of his prior counseling was Crabb-inspired? With all of the deficiencies discussed above, it is startling that Harrell was employed at The Master's College in the first place, and as an Associate Professor, when the usual entry level is that of an Assistant Professor. This unusual hiring of Harrell and his immediate elevation to Associate Professor causes one to wonder why he was chosen over others. [While earlier Biblical Counseling department materials did show Harrell as an Associate Professor, the 1996-1998 Master's College Catalog shows Harrell as an Assistant Professor. We have no idea which is correct.] Why were the usual hiring standards set aside? Why wasn't someone with a better academic and experiential background employed? Our guess is that Dr. Wayne Mack, who has more than a taint of integrationism about him, selected someone who would be compatible with his own position on recycling of psychological teachings ("recycling" is CCEF's euphemism for the integration of psychology with the Bible). Considering Harrell's interest in psychology, with a B.A. and attempted doctorate augmented with an integrationist M.A. under Larry Crabb, this surely makes sense.</p> <p>[Harrell left the employ of The Master's College in 1996; Dr. Timothy Turner took his place. Turner died in May of 1998.]</p> <p>- <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/">Gary Ezzo</a> held the position of "Pastor, Family Ministries" at Grace Community Church from early-1985 until mid-1993, and taught the "young families and single parents" Sunday School class ("Joint Heirs"). (Ezzo also heads up "Growing Families International," a Chatsworth, California-based firm, founded by Ezzo in 1989, that distributes the materials of Gary and his wife, Anne Marie Ezzo.) Despite no longer being on the Grace Church staff, Ezzo remained a "lay elder" at Grace Church until July of 1995, and as of November of 1995, the church was still teaching his materials in church classes and selling his materials in its bookstore (11/19/95, <i>Grace Today</i>). In June of 1996, the Ezzos resigned their membership at Grace Church.</p> <p>Evident from Ezzo's teachings is that he is a Freudian/Maslowian/Adlerean psychologizer, promoting many of the same concepts taught by Dr. <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a>. It is not clear whether MacArthur's tape ministry still distributes the 1985 four-part video series, <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/rfamily.htm">How To Raise Your Family: Biblical Essentials for No-Regret Parenting</a></i>, a series featuring John MacArthur and Gary Ezzo. [At our most recent visit to the Grace Church Book Shack (7/25/93), this video series could not be found. However, the same series was available on four audio cassettes (GTY34-37) through the 1993 "Grace to You Catalog."] This series is highly psychological in nature, teaching various principles of humanistic and Freudian psychology, specifically Larry Crabb's "need theology." (See the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/rfamily.htm">sub-report</a> summarizing the first two tapes in this series.)</p> <p>Psychological materials by Ezzo that were available in the Book Shack (as of 11/19/95) were<i> <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/godworth.htm">Godworth and the Self-Worth Crisis</a></i> (12-message audio series); <i>Reflections of Moral Innocence</i> (8-tape audio series); <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/ezzopar2.htm">Preparation for Parenting</a></i> (loose-leaf notebook); <i>The Bible and Common Sense Parenting</i> (booklet); and <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/godsway.htm">Growing Kids God's Way</a></i> (19-message audio cassette series and workbook). Moreover (and contrary to the rumor at the time that "Ezzo is on his way out"), Ezzo's highly psychological "Growing Kids God's Way" (GKGW) classes were scheduled to be taught again at Grace Church in the fall of 1993 (as advertised in the 7/25/93 <i>Grace Today</i>, p. 3).</p> <p>Besides the psychological content problems with <u>all</u> of Ezzo's materials, Ezzo has run into problems with some in the medical profession concerning his <i>Preparation for Parenting</i> series -- "Some physicians and nurses are concerned that the rigidity of the feeding program the Ezzo's advocate may put some newborn infants at risk of inadequate weight gain, especially in the first weeks after birth" (8/16/93, <i>Christianity Today</i>, "The Brave New Baby," p. 34). This "program" (six/60-minute videos or 7-message/4-tape audio cassette series, and a student workbook), was created in 1987 under the auspices of MacArthur's Grace Community Church, and is now in its fifth edition, being used in about 3,500 churches is the U.S. The Ezzos claim that about 600,000 parents have gone through <i>Preparation for Parenting</i>; and that all their materials in total are being used by one million parents in some 95 countries throughout the world. Strange in all this is John MacArthur's response to <i>Christianity Today</i>'s editors when asked his opinion of <i>Preparation for Parenting</i> -- "no comment."</p> <p><b>[Ezzo/MacArthur Update: </b>On 8/15/96, BDM received an e-mail from John MacArthur's daughter, Melinda (with a "Grace To You" e-mail address), stating that "Gary Ezzo and John MacArthur are not associated in any way ... John does not agree at all with his [Ezzo's] methods." She provided no specifics as to when or why this separation occurred, nor what steps John MacArthur had taken to publicly advise his and Ezzo's supporters of the decision. A friend of BDM called the Grace Church Book Shack on 8/16/96 and asked if the bookstore still offered any Ezzo materials. The employee said they did not, but eagerly volunteered the toll free number of Ezzo's Growing Families International in case the caller wanted to place an order! (Does this sound like a "disagreement with Ezzo's methods"? Is it not appalling that there was such a lack of concern -- or just plain incompetent leadership -- for the spiritual well-being of those wanting to purchase Ezzo's materials that there was no communication with bookstore employees concerning the Church's policy?) A few days later, a designated spokesperson of Grace To You e-mailed me on the Ezzo matter, but refused to answer any of the above questions.</p> <p>John MacArthur's Grace Community Church <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/gccstmt.htm">Board of Elders finally published a statement (dated 10/16/97) detailing the reasons for their mid-1996 split with Gary Ezzo</a>. The four areas of "more serious concerns" to the elders were: (1) Throughout GFI's material there is a blurring of the line between that which is truly biblical, and simple matters of preference; (2) GFI materials tend to be unclear on certain fundamental doctrinal issues -- particularly the issues of original sin and human depravity; (3) The GFI curriculum gives insufficient attention to the child's need for regeneration; and (4) There is a tendency on the part of some GFI-trained parents to isolate their children from others not involved in the program. My concerns with Ezzo are primarily his psychological teachings, but since these teachings were <b>not </b>addressed at all in the Grace Church statement, one can only assume that John MacArthur and his elders were not concerned about Ezzo in this area. That is <b>not </b>to say that the four areas of disagreement the elders have with Ezzo are not important, but what about all the psychological heresies Ezzo taught for more than ten years under the protection of the MacArthur umbrella? -- Ezzo's psychological teachings don't even get a mention on the list of "serious concerns"! I think the obvious answer is that John MacArthur does not oppose these psychoheresies. [In fact, in an 11/97 statement posted to the GFI website by Gary Ezzo, Ezzo provided evidence that MacArthur (in a letter from MacArthur to Ezzo dated 7/18/95) did not question his (Ezzo's) theology -- in MacArthur's own words: "... in my mind we're not dealing with issues of foundational doctrine. <u>I don't question your theology</u>."]</p> <p>At the end of the GCC Elders' statement, the elders profess their desire to handle things "privately," but that it was now "profoundly unfortunate" to have to issue a public statement. But Ezzo's teachings were <b>not</b> private sins, requiring private consultation. His teachings were not only public, they were publicly endorsed and supported by Grace Church and John MacArthur for over ten years! It is "profoundly unfortunate" that a public statement was withheld for over two years after Ezzo's resignation from the elder board. In my opinion, it all goes back to MacArthur's incompetent leadership, which manifests itself in his reluctance to expose and expel grossly unbiblical individuals such as Ezzo.</p> <p>In March of 1998, Grace Church and Gary Ezzo made a truce of sorts. In exchange for Ezzo removing his detailed response from the GFI website, Grace Church withdrew its 10/97 Statement and replaced it with a new statement (sans the Ezzo character assassination and much of the detail of the 10/97 statement). The new GCC Elders' Board Statement (dated 3/21/98) is very brief (only four short paragraphs totaling about 175 words), and covers only three areas of disagreement with Ezzo's teachings (infant feeding methods, insufficient evidence on the doctrine of depravity, and GFI-parent group isolationism); again, Ezzo's psychoheretical teachings are not mentioned as an area that concerns the GCC elders.<b>]</b></p> <p>- Hired to fill the position of GCC's Pastor of Family Ministries after Gary Ezzo's resignation in 1993 was Associate Pastor Stuart Scott. Scott has the title of "Pastor of Biblical Counseling and Family Ministries" at GCC. Scott is an avid promoter of the MacArthur/Mack/<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/nanc/">NANC</a> philosophy of so-called Biblical counseling. In early-1998, a man from Ohio received a letter signed by Stuart Scott; it was in response to a copy of the Bobgans' book (<i>Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible</i>)<i> </i>with a letter sent to John MacArthur. In his reply to the man from Ohio, Scott said, "John MacArthur wishes to thank you for your letter. He asked if I would respond since I am the pastor of the Biblical Counseling and Family Ministries at Grace Community Church." The remainder of the letter was a severe critique of the Bobgans' book.</p> <p>Martin Bobgan then sent two letters to Scott requesting information about his letter and the critique. Scott did not answer either letter. Bobgan then wrote a response to Scott's letter and sent it to him, with a copy to MacArthur and one to the man from Ohio. Scott then responded with a two-hour phone call and a subsequent letter, along with a written summary of his phone-call admonishment of the Bobgans, regarding what he considers to be the Bobgans' sinful attitudes, arrogance, etc. It was also learned that Scott claims NOT to have written the letter quoted above nor to have written the critique. In Martin Bobgan's letter to Scott, Bobgan says, "Throughout your letter ... you use the first person pronoun 'I' referring to yourself. The fact that you signed a letter you did not write, which is a criticism of a book you did not critique, is more than problematic. ..." [It is patently dishonest!] (Source: July-August 1998, <i>PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter</i>.) [Since Scott has not responded to Martin Bobgan's latest letter, Bobgan has posted (to the PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries website) his <a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/scottgcc.html">response to Scott's so-called critique</a> of <i>Against Biblical Counseling</i>:]</p> <p>- It appears that MacArthur employs typical <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/codep/">Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)/12-step recovery "Support Fellowships"</a> at Grace Church. In an 8/11/91 worship service handout, under the heading of "Special Ministries," two support groups are listed -- one for people experiencing "Drug and Alcohol Problems" [not "sins"?], and another titled, "Empowered Family Support Groups," for those apparently in so-called codependent relationships. (See the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/support.htm">sub-report summary</a> taken from the 8/11/91,<i> Grace Today</i>.)</p> <p>In addition, both Grace Church and The Master's Seminary have recommended and used a book by Dick Eastman, <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/hour.htm">The Hour That Changes The World</a></i>, which offers a "12-step prayer program," complete with a call to pray that the lost will "contemplate the possibility of a <b>Higher Power</b>" [sounds like <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/codep/aa.htm">AA-talk</a> to us]. The book also encourages believers to listen to their "inner voice" within, in order to ascertain God's will for their lives, and encourages "<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/journal.htm">journaling</a>" to record God's <u>audible</u> instructions! The book is loaded with other New Age references, is heavy in charismatic pseudomysticism, and is highly ecumenical in its approach. (MacArthur's top assistant at the time even favorably quoted from this book in one of his 1993 speaking engagements, plus the book is offered in the 1996 edition of the Grace Book Service.) [Must reading for anyone desiring a fuller understanding of the "codependent"/12-step recovery heresy sweeping the church today would be <i><a href="http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/12stepbk.html">12 Steps to Destruction: Codependency/Recovery Heresies</a></i>, by Martin and Deidre Bobgan, EastGate Publishers, 4137 Primavera Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, 1991, 247 pages.]</p> <p>- Charles M. Sheldon's classic <i>In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?</i> is believed to have sold about 30 million copies in over 15 languages in the past 100 years. One publication warned: "... <i>In His Steps</i> may be a great novel, [but it] promotes a social gospel rather than the Saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Walking in the steps of Jesus [as if an unregenerate man could!] is not sufficient. One must trust in His saving merits and vicarious satisfaction to get to Heaven." Sheldon, a Congregational minister, followed the liberal teaching of his day that Christ was merely an example. In the past, this book has been heavily promoted by John MacArthur and Grace Church.</p> <p>- MacArthur's April 1991 book, <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/sufficiency.htm">Our Sufficiency In Christ</a></i>, has an entire section devoted to the <b>errors</b> of psychology. Nevertheless, MacArthur not only accepts many psychological tenets and is quite psychological in his terminology, but he also reveals numerous contradictions between the realities of his ministry (past and present) and his recollection of the facts pertaining thereto.</p> <p>-<b> </b>Bob Vernon was Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department and one of the leading candidates to become the next Chief-of-Police when Darryl Gates was forced to "retire" over his handling of the 1991 L.A. riots and other matters. Instead, Vernon was also politically pressured to "retire" on the pretense that his religious views were too extreme. Vernon was, and is now, an elder at Grace Community Church. Vernon is also the author of a book being sold in the Grace Church bookstore, <i>L.A. Justice</i>. The book is published by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/dobson/">James Dobson</a>'s Focus on the Family Publishing, and is full of the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/self-est/">false gospel of self-esteem</a> so prevalent in Dobson's teachings. (See specifically Cha. 17 of the book -- "Root Causes: The Abandonment Of Our Children"; Vernon is also an occasional guest on Dobson's radio program.) Vernon claims his teachings are not contrary to Scripture on the self-esteem issue. John MacArthur apparently agrees, or why would Vernon continue to be on the Grace Church Elder Board, his book available in the Book Shack, and MacArthur favorably quote from it in his (MacArthur's) 1994 book, <i>The Vanishing Conscience</i> (pp. 56-58)?</p> <p>- In a 1991 interview with <i>Los Angeles Times</i> religious reporter, John Dart, MacArthur sheds some light on perhaps why he carries so many books of psychologically-oriented authors in the Grace Church bookstore: "MacArthur said he respects Christian psychologist <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/dobson/">James Dobson</a>," and that "he is not critical of Dobson because he [Dobson] is <u>not</u> a purveyor of psychotherapy." (Incredible statement! -- Dobson is <b><i>the</i></b> purveyor of psychotherapy in the church today.) Also quoted is Focus on the Family spokesman Paul Hetrick, who states that "MacArthur and Dobson are friends and 'do <u>not</u> disagree on primary issues'" (9/6/91, <i>Los Angeles Times</i>). (Emphases added.) [MacArthur later confirmed, in his answer to a Master's Seminary chapel question, that he had <u>not</u> been misquoted by Dart, and that he indeed did <u>not</u> have a problem with James Dobson's teachings!]</p> <p>- In the same <i>Los Angeles Times</i> article cited above, MacArthur is also quoted as saying that he has "a lot in common" with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a>, the ecumenical, hyper-charismatic, psychologically-oriented pastor of the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. (Hayford has not only appeared at conferences with "signs & wonders" charismatics John Wimber and C. Peter Wagner, but also claims to have once had a vision of Jesus seated in heaven at the right hand of God, and then rise up in preparation for His Second Coming, promising to give a "double portion of anointing to those who rise up with Him.") MacArthur also stated that he and Hayford "get together and talk about ministry, agreeing to disagree." (Reported in the 9/6/91,<i> Los Angeles Times </i>and the 9/15/91, <i><a href="http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Econtendr/">Calvary Contender</a></i>.)</p> <p>We do not find the Apostle Paul suggesting a get-together to "talk about ministry" with Hymenaeus and Alexander -- on the contrary, they were delivered to Satan in order that they might "learn not to blaspheme" (1 Timothy 1:20). [One would think that, at a minimum, MacArthur should apply 2 John 7-11 here somewhere?] We think that Miles Stanford's 3/93 open-letter warning to MacArthur is appropriate in this instance:</p> <blockquote> <p>"Your association with Jack Hayford may seem ever so innocent and interesting, but you have a responsibility to a tongue-vulnerable Church. You certainly should back up the stand of your <i>Charismatic Chaos</i>. I would think by now you have received an inscribed copy of Hayford's latest book, <i>The Beauty of Spiritual Language</i>. As you may have noted, it is a strong pitch for 'pseudo-tongues,' and certainly has the potential for enticing many more into the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/char/">present-day charismatic chaos</a> that has long plagued and devastated the Body."</p> </blockquote> <p>- In <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a>'s 1997 book, <i>Pastors of Promise: A Practical and Passionate Call for Faithful Shepherds</i>, MacArthur is found praising Hayford along with 29 other so-called "Christian" leaders (among whom are <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/anderson/">Neil Anderson</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/schuller/">Robert Schuller</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hybels/">Bill Hybels</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccc/">Bill Bright</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/pk/">James Ryle</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/laurie/">Greg Laurie</a>, and the late <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/wimber/">John Wimber</a>). At the beginning of Hayford's book, under "Praise for <i>Pastors of Promise</i>" (six pages of praise for Hayford and his book) MacArthur's "praise" reads (on the fourth page of quotes):</p> <blockquote> <p>"Jack Hayford is a model of diligence, faithfulness to the Lord and enduring loyalty to a local church. It's the long haul that manifests integrity and proven character. Many have fallen in the battle. Hayford is still standing-a tribute to God's marvelous grace."</p> </blockquote> <p>Yet, five years prior (1992), MacArthur wrote in his book <i>Charismatic Chaos</i> the following:</p> <blockquote> <p>"Lest you think cranks, obscure eccentrics, or naive charismatic believers are the only ones who would make such claims, listen to Jack Hayford, internationally known author, media minister, and pastor of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. Hayford told the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America that God has told him a new era is coming:</p> <blockquote> <p>'Hayford ... related a vision in which he had seen Jesus seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father. In Hayford's vision, Jesus began to lean forward and rise from his seat. As the anointing caught in the folds of His garments, it began to splash out and fall over the church. Jesus said, "I am beginning to rise now in preparation for my second coming. Those who will rise with Me will share in this double portion of anointing."'" [<i>Charismatic Chaos</i>, pp. 48-49; footnote on Hayford, "Pentecostals Set Priorities," <i>Charisma</i> (January 1991), p. 44.]</p> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p>MacArthur says Hayford is a man of "integrity" and "a model of diligence, faithfulness to the Lord ..." yet Hayford claims to have seen Christ and received a revelatory message from Him! Not only is Hayford's claim contrary to 1 Peter 1:8 ("though now ye see Him not"), it is also contrary to MacArthur's own words (i.e., "Scripture is a closed system of truth, complete, sufficient, and not to be added to (Jude 3; Rev. 22:18-19). It contains all the spiritual truth God intended to reveal [<i>Charismatic Chaos</i>, p. 51]). Proverbs 30:5-6 says, "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar." Even though Hayford has added to "His words" (Proverbs 30:6) and claimed to have received a vision of Christ, MacArthur says Hayford is "a model of diligence" and "faithfulness to the Lord"!</p> <p>On page 50 of <i>Charismatic Chaos</i>, MacArthur asks, "Did Jack Hayford actually see Christ rise from his seat next to God?" The obvious answer to that question (in the context of MacArthur's book) is "NO!" Jack Hayford lies about seeing Christ (the true Christ), yet MacArthur says, "Jack Hayford is a model of diligence" and "faithfulness to the Lord"! It took only <i>one</i> false prophesy in the Old Testament for a man to be found to be a false prophet (Deut. 18:20-22). Hayford is a model of a false prophet! He is NOT a man of "integrity and proven character" as MacArthur says. He is a false teacher who is leading thousands down the broad road to hell! This should be obvious to even those who follow MacArthur.</p> <p>- As detailed elsewhere in this report, MacArthur claims to be against psychology and its message of self, yet he himself proclaims it. For example, in his Commentary on Ephesians MacArthur writes:</p> <blockquote> <p>"The only way a person can achieve a true sense of self-worth, meaning and significance is to have a right relationship to his Creator" (p. 6).</p> </blockquote> <p>Moreover, in MacArthur's daily devotional, <i>Drawing Near</i>, he perverts the fall of man into a self-focused "identity crisis." At the head of the page in bold print he writes (for January 7):</p> <blockquote> <p>"A true sense of identity comes from knowing that God himself personally selected you to be His child."</p> </blockquote> <p>Then, speaking about the fall of man (i.e. when Adam and Eve disobeyed God) he writes:</p> <blockquote> <p>"That created within man a spiritual void and an identity crisis of unimaginable proportions."</p> </blockquote> <p>This is what MacArthur thinks (and his friend Greg Laurie also teaches), not what God thinks. Such "identity crisis" teaching is devoid from Genesis to Revelation.</p> <p>- <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/laurie/">Greg Laurie</a> is an author, crusade evangelist, and charismatic pastor of the 12,000-plus member Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. Laurie is an ecumenical psychologizer and speaker for and endorser of the unbiblical <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/pk/">Promise Keepers</a> movement. Laurie conducts 5-6 evangelistic crusades every year (Harvest Crusades) that draw about 50,000 people each. Laurie's gospel is a man-centered psychological gospel; his message is one of finding a "deeper meaning in life," with Jesus as the One who came to "fill the void."</p> <p>Since it has been documented that John MacArthur teaches that Christ came to die for us because "we were so important to God," it should not be surprising that MacArthur also endorses Laurie's man-centered gospel and the ecumenical Harvest Crusades:</p> <blockquote> <p>"I want to invite you to be a part of the Harvest Crusades -- a wonderful opportunity for you to bring friends who will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ presented by Pastor Greg Laurie. I believe God has His hand on this man, and I believe that the Word of God which he preaches is clear and penetrating. I want to encourage you that this is an opportunity for you to touch the life of someone for eternity. Bring them, and let them sit under the anointed preaching of God's Word and the gospel of Christ." (Source: 8/96 Harvest Crusade brochure on the Harvest Crusade Internet web site.)</p> </blockquote> <p>Along with MacArthur, other endorsers of the Los Angeles Crusade held 11/17/96-11/20/96 at Universal Studio's Universal Amphitheater were hyper-charismatic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/falwell/">Jerry Falwell</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/graham/">Billy Graham</a>.</p> <p>[Another Laurie Harvest Crusade set for Sept. 20-22, 1999 includes as speakers: John MacArthur, Franklin Graham, Joe Stowell, Tony Evans, Anne Graham Lotz, and Alistair Begg. MacArthur and Begg also spoke at last year's Crusade (which had the usual <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/rockm/">"Christian" rock music</a>), along with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/swindoll/">Chuck Swindoll</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/smith/">Chuck Smith</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/jeremiah/">David Jeremiah</a>. (Source: 6/15/99, <i>Calvary Contender</i>.)]</p> <p>[<b>MacArthur/Laurie Update:</b> In late-January, 1997, a friend faxed me a copy of a letter sent him by a MacArthur spokesperson (Grace Church's Associate Pastor of Community Evangelism, Stephen Lonetti, dtd. 1/15/97), which was an attempt to justify MacArthur's involvement with and support of Greg Laurie and his Harvest Crusades. Before quoting directly from MacArthur's correspondence with others who had also expressed concerns over the MacArthur-Laurie association, Lonetti reveals that not only did MacArthur and Grace Church <u>endorse</u> the November 1996 Los Angeles Harvest Crusade, but <u>Grace Church provided and trained crusade counselors to work the event</u>! Lonetti defines this as involvement on a "limited basis," and thereby, acceptable.</p> <p>Apparently, it doesn't matter to MacArthur that at Laurie's Harvest Crusades between 500 and 800 churches are involved in providing various forms of support. The Harvest web site states that: "The type of support would range from financial support to providing volunteer workers to promoting attendance at the crusades. Many denominations and associations are involved, including Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/efca.htm">Evangelical Free</a>, Church of Christ, Assembly of God, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/smith/">Calvary Chapels</a>, and independent churches." Typically, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/vine/">Vineyard</a> and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Cults/Catholicism/">Roman Catholic churches</a> also participate.</p> <p>In the letter, MacArthur admits to having developed a close relationship with Laurie over the years, and to "have had the privilege of helping him [Laurie] in the areas of doctrine and practical theology." (Could this be where Laurie got his man-centered gospel -- from MacArthur?). More recently, MacArthur has allowed Laurie to videotape him and use the tapes "as an endorsement" for Harvest Crusades! MacArthur admits to having "kept in touch" with Laurie and to "have been encouraged by his [Laurie's] heart for the lost and his desire to present a clear gospel message." So, according to MacArthur, Laurie's charismatic, feelings-oriented, man-centered, psychological gospel is a "clear gospel message"! Absolutely incredible!</p> <p>MacArthur goes on to justify Grace Church's involvement in the L.A. Harvest Crusade on the basis that Laurie allowed Grace Church to train its own counselors and to provide "overall direction for the follow-up process. ... [giving] us the freedom to use our own 'ground rules' for follow up ..." In other words, MacArthur says it's okay to involve your church with a false psychological gospel and a myriad of false churches, as long as the false teacher lets you play by your rules instead of his! Finally, all is well in this relationship because, according to MacArthur, "God has placed [Laurie] within our sphere of influence" making it crucial that they (MacArthur and Grace Church) "do all that we can to build a relationship ..." Where in the Bible do we find anything that would justify evil associations in order to do some perceived good? In fact, just the opposite is taught (1 Cor. 15:33).]</p> <p>- Greg Laurie has also concocted a new "ministry," PREACH THE WORD. Its first event was held August 26-29, 1998, titled "Leader's Training Seminar." Laurie states the purpose of the Leader's Training Seminar is to bring in "some of America's most powerful communicators to spend three days teaching on the topic of how to effectively bring God's Word to our generation." (Source: Greg Laurie/Harvest Crusade Internet web site, 4/98.) (The event was held concurrent with a Laurie' Harvest Crusade.)</p> <p>Besides Laurie speaking at the Leader's Training Seminar, four other neo-evangelical psychologizers agreed to participate: <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/jeremiah/">David Jeremiah</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/smith/">Chuck Smith</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/swindoll/">Chuck Swindoll</a>, and <b>John MacArthur</b>. It should be emphasized here, this event was not been touted as a debate. These were five men speaking on the same platform in supposed agreement. This would seem to be a problem only for John MacArthur, since the others have never spoken out against psychology, but instead have taught many psychological concepts openly. Or, perhaps MacArthur has abandoned his hypocrisy on the psychology issue and now openly wishes to identify with it and its infamous teachers?</p> <p>- MacArthur has also taken-up with Chuck Smith in a political activism event. Smith and MacArthur joined with pastors in the state of California at the 1999 "Pastor's Day at the Capitol" gathering on May 18 and 19, 1999. Capitol Ministries, which organized the event, believes pastors can influence the lives of legislators by either sharing the Gospel with those who are unsaved or worshipping with those who profess to know Christ. An invitation to the event, mailed to over 16,000 California pastors, says:</p> <blockquote> <p>"We are asking you, the men of God in our state, to come to the Capitol ... for a time of relationship building and outreach to our elected officials. We plan to unite in a special time of fellowship, worship and prayer all centered on the clear proclamation of God's holy Word by two of our State's leading pastors, Chuck Smith and John MacArthur Jr."</p> </blockquote> <p>While MacArthur speaks out against the Charismatic Movement and even many church growth programs, it is evident that he certainly has no reservation about joining with those who believe otherwise. (Source: May-June 1999, <i>Foundation</i>.)</p> <p>- Besides taking nontraditional/unorthodox theological positions on the blood of Christ (that the "blood" is only "symbolic" for death) and the eternal sonship of Christ (an eternal Jesus, but a "non-eternal" Son of God ["incarnational sonship"] -- since recanted), MacArthur's contribution to <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/neoe.htm">neo-evangelicalism</a> is to cross all barriers and bridge all gaps in diverse fellowship. In fact, MacArthur has stated, concerning himself and his Grace Community Church staff, that they consider themselves evangelicals, <u>not</u> fundamentalists. A glance at MacArthur's itineraries demonstrates that he is indeed "evangelical" -- <u>neo</u>-evangelical, that is.</p> <p>MacArthur's speaking engagements range from supposed fundamentalists to confessed new evangelicals. He has spoken in <a href="http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/fbns-index/sbcfbns.htm">Southern Baptist</a> circles at such places as Memphis' Bellevue Baptist Church with Adrian Rogers, at the First Baptist Church of Atlanta with psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/stanley/">Charles Stanley</a>, and at a Medical Ethics conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission at the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville. He has been an SBC Pastor's Conference speaker prior to annual Southern Baptist Conventions (once with pro-Catholic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a> from 6/18/95-6/19/95), and addressed an <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/efca.htm">Evangelical Free Church of America</a> Pastor's Conference. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the new evangelical, psychologized Moody Bible Institute, and has been a frequent speaker at Moody Founder's Week and Pastor's Conferences (taking the platform with psychologizers such as <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hendricks/">Howard Hendricks</a>, E.V. Hill, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hybels/">Bill Hybels</a>, Billy Graham's daughter, Joni Tada, and Tony Evans). He has spoken for and endorsed the ministries of psychologizers <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/sproul/">R.C. Sproul</a> and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/falwell/">Jerry Falwell</a>, and at various churches and institutions affiliated with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/garbc/">GARBC</a>). He has been a featured speaker at Wheaton College (on the same platform with a Catholic speaker), Cedarville College, Dallas Theological Seminary, California Graduate School of Theology, Word of Life, Tennessee Temple University, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/nae/">National Religious Broadcasters</a> Convention (with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/robertson/">Pat Robertson</a> and Rex Humbard), and the National Fellowship of Conservative Baptists. (Reported in part in <i>New Neutralism II</i>, pp. 66-67.) MacArthur (via the radio program <i>Grace To You</i>) is also a member of the highly ecumenical National Religious Broadcasters (MacArthur spoke at the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/nae/nrb.htm">1/97 NRB Convention</a>), which is an arm of the neo-evangelical (and increasingly charismatic) National Association of Evangelicals.</p> <p>[MacArthur has even taken to quoting sympathetically from German neo-orthodox theologian <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/bonhoeffer/">Dietrich Bonhoeffer</a>! MacArthur favorably quotes from Bonhoeffer four times in a half-page article in the Winter 1994, <i>The Master's Current</i>. This in spite of the fact that Bonhoeffer was a rank apostate who denied or questioned nearly every major doctrine of the historic Christian faith! He was also one of the fathers of the "Death of God" theology. (See "The Riches and Responsibilities of Fellowship," <i>The Master's Current</i>, Winter 1994, p. 2.) In the past, MacArthur has also quoted favorably from neo-orthodox theologian Soren Kierkegaard ("Praying for the Right Things -- Part 2," Grace To You audio cassette, <a href="http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/53-6.HTM">GC53-6</a>, 1992 -- redistributed 2/95), and from mystic <a href="http://withchrist.org/MJS/neelee.htm">Watchman Nee</a> ("The Path to Pleasing God," Grace To You audio cassette, GC45-89, 1992 -- redistributed 5/95).]</p> <p>To top all this off, Billy Kim was a Missions Conference speaker in 1986 at John MacArthur's Master's College! Billy Kim speaks and travels with hyper-charismatic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/cho/">Paul (David) Yonggi Cho</a>, and is vice president of the apostate Baptist World Alliance, an organization which has conducted on at least three occasions "theological dialogue" with the Vatican Secretariat for promoting Christian unity (5/1/93, <i>Calvary Contender</i>).</p> <p>- The lead article in the Spring 1995 <i>The Master's Current</i> details how the Political Studies major at The Master's College is one of the newest and fastest growing on campus ("Christian Perspective Lights Up Legal Careers," p. 1). The first seniors majoring in Political Studies graduated in the Spring of 1991. The College states that two of its 1992 graduates work in Washington, D.C., one on the staff of a congressman and the other for an interest group (euphemism for "lobbyist"), while a 1993 graduate works for a California State Legislator.</p> <p>The Political Studies Department is apparently proud of the fact that they present a "non-theological" analysis of issues, and that the course list "is very similar to that of a major university." But never fear, "the courses are taught by committed Christians with a Christian perspective and world view. So while factual information remains the same, The Master's College courses are value-oriented." The College also works with the politically active Christian College Coalition in order to allow students to participate in an internship/study program in Washington, D.C.</p> <p>So here we have a so-called Christian college training its students in the ways of a godless nation's political system, then actively working to place them in employment in the system, all the while convinced that the College faculty's so-called Christian world view, as well as a little Bible training thrown in along the way, will protect them against the wickedness of their worldly walk. The fact that the Bible knows nothing of the acceptability of this type of worldly employment for Christians seems not to phase MacArthur. Doesn't this approach represent a detour from the straight path Christians are to walk <i>before</i> the world, not <i>with</i> the world (cf. James 4:4)?</p> <p>[In the same<i> Master's Current</i> issue, the College points out proudly that The Master's is "listed in the 1993-94 Templeton Foundation for Character Building Colleges. The honor roll recognizes these colleges and universities which presently teach character development and value building. Across the U.S., 111 colleges and universities were chosen for <u>this special honor</u>." (Emphasis added.) A "special honor"?? From the Templeton Foundation? -- founded by New Age pantheist/science-of-mind universalist/investment guru John Marks Templeton! The same John Marks Templeton who funds the yearly $1 million Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion!]</p> <p>- Each year in January, MacArthur's Master's College usually holds a five-day Bible conference with various neo-evangelical and/or psychological speakers. Two of 1995's most notable were <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/jeremiah">David Jeremiah</a> and Russ Moir. At the time, Jeremiah was president of <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/icr.htm">Christian Heritage College</a> and Bible teacher on the "Turning Point" radio and television programs. His orientation is thoroughly psychological, and in recent years he has started speaking at charismatic men's conferences as well as hosting blasphemous "Christian" rap groups at the church he pastors. Moir pastors the psychologically-oriented Blackhawk Baptist Church (<a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/garbc/">GARBC</a>) in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is a supporter of the psychological, ecumenical, charismatic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/pk/">Promise Keepers</a> organization (personal letter on file); Moir also has AA-type <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/codep/12step.htm">12-Step programs</a> in his church. Also performing at the 1/95 Conference was CCM star Steve Camp. (See the Winter 1994, <i>The Master's Current</i>.)</p> <p>[In March of 1998, the psychologizer and ecumenical president of Moody Bible Institute, Joseph Stowell spoke at MacArthur's International Conference on the Bible. (MacArthur returned the favor and spoke at MBI on 5/20/98.) Other speakers included Tony Evans, Stephen Olford, Adrian Rogers (SBC), and David Jeremiah.]</p> <p>- Announced at a press conference on 3/29/94 was an ecumenical declaration titled "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium" (<a href="http://incolor.inetnebr.com/mdavis/evandcat.shtml">ECT</a>). The negotiations toward the declaration were initiated in 9/92 by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a> and Richard Neuhaus (former liberal Lutheran clergyman [ELCA] turned Catholic priest) under the auspices of the ecumenical and theologically liberal Institute on Religion and Public Life (headed by Neuhaus). The declaration starts with "We are Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics who have been led through prayer, study, and discussion to common convictions about Christian faith and mission." It goes downhill from there. The coalition specifically called for an end to aggressive proselytizing of each other's flocks (in effect, a mutual non-aggression pact). The signers of the Accord also confessed their past sins against Catholic/Protestant unity.<br /><br />The declaration said: "All who accept Christ as Lord and Savior are brothers and sisters in Christ." This conveniently ignores the fact that Catholics espouse a works-salvation false gospel! In a revealing admission of what brought these groups together, some signers said it was the experiences of worshiping together in the charismatic movement and working together in political causes such as anti-abortion [Moral Majority for example]. In fact, one writer correctly assessed that the declaration "amounts to a truce on theological issues so that the parties can continue to cooperate on political issues."</p> <p>Forty people signed or endorsed the document (20 Catholics and 20 so-called evangelicals), including Protestants <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/packer/">J.I. Packer</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/robertson/">Pat Robertson</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccc/">Bill Bright</a>, Os Guinness, and Mark Noll (a historian at Wheaton College who said, "Evangelicals can no longer consider Catholics as ogres or anti-Christs"). Catholic endorsers included six priests, three bishops, one Archbishop, and one Cardinal. By joint declaration, then, J.I. Packer and friends have, in effect, declared the Protestant Reformation a tragic mistake!</p> <p>In the summer of 1994, MacArthur preached a message warning of the dangers of the ECT Accord. He also distributed free to anyone requesting it an audio cassette tape of the message. We, therefore, found it strange when the neo-evangelical host of the John Ankerberg Show announced in January of 1995 that MacArthur would be part of a 2/8/95 seminar to be held at Catholic-sympathizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/kennedy/">D. James Kennedy</a>'s church (Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida). Other participants in the seminar (to supposedly <i>expose</i> the errors in the ECT document) were Ankerberg and Kennedy along with psychologizer <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/sproul/">R.C. Sproul</a>. [Ankerberg produced a 6-part video series of this seminar (titled "Protestants and Catholics: Do They Now Agree?"), and aired it on six consecutive Sunday evenings beginning 3/5/95. MacArthur was seated on the grandiose stage in between Kennedy and Sproul, while Ankerberg stood at a table in the audience, serving as host-moderator.]</p> <p>The ECT Accord generated so much heat in Protestant ranks, that Colson found it necessary to call a meeting in January of 1995 to try "to achieve a measure of understanding, clarification, and harmony around the truth recognized by historic orthodoxy" (1/25/95 Prison Fellowship News Release -- "Evangelical Leaders Resolve Differences On Evangelical-Catholic Paper"). Attending the 1/19/95 peace meeting (also held at Kennedy's Coral Ridge facility) were ECT signers Colson, Packer, Bright, and Kent Hill, along with a group of so-called evangelicals critical of the ECT (i.e., the "anti-ECT group") -- John Ankerberg, <b>John MacArthur</b>, R.C. Sproul, D. James Kennedy, Joseph Stowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/Horton/">Michael Horton</a>, and John Woodbridge.</p> <p>After the meeting, Colson, Bright, Packer, and Hill issued a joint doctrinal statement supposedly <i>clarifying</i> their position on the ECT. However, <u>no changes to the ECT were recommended, nor would any of the original ECT signators remove their names from it</u>. Ankerberg, MacArthur, Kennedy, Sproul, et al., did not sign this <i>clarification agreement</i>, but <u>they</u> <u>did help write it</u>, and the clear implication was that they agreed that this new statement satisfactorily answered any concern one might have over the content of the original ECT! [See Colson's 1/25/95 news release; the 3/6/95 <i>Christianity Today</i>, "Evangelicals Clarify Accord with Catholics," pp. 52-53; and the 6-part John Ankerberg Show video series (titled "Protestants and Catholics: Do They Now Agree?"). Concerning the latter, <u>Ankerberg states eight</u> <u>different times over the course of the six programs that he and the others in the anti-ECT</u> <u>group [which included <b>John MacArthur</b></u>]<u> helped write the so-called "<i>clarification agreement</i></u>."]</p> <p>On Ankerberg's second program, the program's participants agreed that it was possible to have "parachurch cooperation with evangelically committed Roman Catholics for the pursuit of agreed objectives" without implying "acceptance of Roman Catholic doctrinal distinctives or endorsement of the Roman Catholic church system"! (1/19/95 "Statement By Protestant Signers To ECT," paragraph #1). It didn't seem to bother them that this <u>statement, which, by their own admission, they helped write</u>, does <u>not</u> agree with what God's Word says! (Amos 3:3 states: <i>Can two walk together except they be agreed?</i>) MacArthur and his neo-evangelical brethren have now, in effect, stipulated to words that are in direct conflict with the Word of God! God says if you fellowship with unbelievers in joint projects, you have identified with the doctrine of the co-participants (see also 2 John 9-11)! [At one point on this program, MacArthur boldly stated that Roman Catholicism is a false religion with which no fellowship is possible. Yet when Ankerberg replied, "That's why we put paragraph #1 in this new doctrinal statement" (which permits and encourages ecumenical fellowship for worthy objectives), MacArthur did not object! Nor did he object to any of the outrageous statements made by Kennedy or Sproul throughout the series. (MacArthur has endorsed Sproul's teachings thusly: "R.C.'s teaching brought me face-to-face with the awful splendor of God's majestic holiness in a new and fresh way" -- Ligonier Ministries Internet home page.)</p> <blockquote> <p>"MacArthur and the others thus lend credence to, serve as 'bridges' to, and refuse to separate from, those who promote ecumenical endeavors with Roman Catholics. The 'clarified' ECT Doctrinal Statement changed nothing" (5/1/95, <i>Calvary Contender</i>).</p> </blockquote> <p>- Dr. Bill Jackson, president of the Association of Fundamentalists Evangelizing Catholics (AFEC), prepared a 6/18/99 statement on "The Gospel of Jesus Christ -- An Evangelical Celebration" (EC) (see the 6/14/99 <i>Christianity Today</i> for the full text of the EC). This document has been endorsed by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Charles Colson</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ccc/">Bill Bright</a>, and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/packer/">J.I. Packer</a>, all of whom also signed the controversial ECT documents of 1994 and 1997; as well as endorsed by <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/sproul/">R.C. Sproul</a>, <b>John MacArthur</b> and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/kennedy/">D. James Kennedy</a>, all of whom publicly [albeit weakly] challenged and criticized them for signing the ECT documents (see above). There are a number of helpful statements in this latest document which deal with areas which were not fully dealt with in the ECT documents (e.g., imputation is now dealt with favorably, but has been consistently opposed by Roman Catholic Councils and Catechisms). EC says, "We cannot embrace any form of doctrinal indifferentism by which God's truth is sacrificed for a false peace." But there is certainly no better example of "doctrinal indifferentism" than the ECT documents themselves (James 1:8)! Because ECT I stated that "Evangelicals and Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ," in order to be relevant the new EC document should be submitted to the Roman Catholics who signed ECT I and II. It is difficult to see how a person could subscribe to both ECT and EC. The only logical conclusion is for all who signed EC to remove their names from ECT. It also appears that the so-called "evangelical" ECT endorsers have been "let off the hook" by former critics such as MacArthur. We believe EC will be used to rehabilitate those who erred in 1994 and 1997, without their having to admit or ask forgiveness for their error. (Source: 7/15/99, <i>Calvary Contender</i>.) [Other "evangelical" endorsers of EC among the 15 members of the Drafting Committee and 114 members of the Endorsing Committee include John Ankerberg, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/arthur/">Kay Arthur</a>, Tony Evans, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/falwell/">Jerry Falwell</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hybels/">Bill Hybels</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/jeremiah/">David Jeremiah</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lucado/">Max Lucado</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/back.htm">Woodrow Kroll</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lahaye/">Tim & Beverly LaHaye</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/canad/myst.htm">Erwin Lutzer</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/pk/">Bill McCartney</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/palau/">Luis Palau</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/robertson/">Pat Robertson</a>, Ronald Sider, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/stanley/">Charles Stanley</a>, John Stott, Joseph Stowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/swindoll/">Chuck Swindoll</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/BookReviews/jabez.htm"> Bruce Wilkinson</a>, and Ravi Zacharias; also endorsing EC were hyper-charismatics <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a> and Steven Strang.]</p> <p>However ignorant MacArthur and fellow endorsers may be of all this, his participation in EC makes him a party to its consequences. It is also important to note that the EC document (which is supposed to be a definitive and comprehensive statement of the true saving Gospel of Christ), never mentions <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Introduction/repent.htm"> repentance for salvation</a>, and never mentions the total depravity of man (thereby leaning towards a decisional regeneration). Moreover, the EC promotes an ecumenical unity (via "trans-denominational cooperative enterprises") with all professing believers who attest to the EC's "essentials" of the faith. But this is not the unity of the faith taught in Ephesians. While we are instructed by Scripture to be of one mind, the evangelical today scoffs at the idea of true Biblical unity based on complete agreement with, and submission to, God's holy Word. The only use of the word "unity" in the New Testament is found in Ephesians chapter four. It is a "unity of the Spirit" (v. 3), not of men. It is a "unity of faith" (v. 13) based on sound doctrine for which believers are to contend, not water down nor reclassify into essentials and non-essentials (Jude 3). No real spiritual unity can exist apart from doctrinal unity, and we are to "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17).</p> <p>- MacArthur, in his 1994 book <i>The Vanishing Conscience</i>, continues to teach various "psychological truths," while at the same time claiming to be opposed to psychology and <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/self-est/">self-esteem</a>. For example, in the context of total depravity and <u>condemning</u> self-esteem, he writes:</p> <blockquote> <p>"How does one feel good about himself [as if this is a legitimate concern or need] when God Himself declares us worthy of His wrath? There is an answer to this dilemma [p. 94]. ... The liberation from sin those verses describe [Rom. 8:1-2] is the only basis on which we can really feel good about ourselves" (p. 104).</p> </blockquote> <p>MacArthur obviously still believes that man has a "dilemma"/need to "feel good about" himself. But where in God's Word are we ever encouraged or exhorted to feel good about ourselves, either before one comes to Christ or after? (There is nothing really new here for MacArthur. What is new is the long list of book jacket endorsements [hard-back copy] by a bevy of psychologizers and neo-evangelicals: glowing endorsements from the likes of hyper-charismatic <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hayford/">Jack Hayford</a>, Adrian Rogers, Joseph Stowell, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/arthur/">Kay Arthur</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/burkett/">Larry Burkett</a>, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/packer/">J.I. Packer</a>, James Montgomery Boice, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/laurie/">Greg Laurie</a>, Joni Eareckson Tada, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/hybels/">Bill Hybels</a>, and Elisabeth Elliot!)</p> <p>[See the following sampling of pages from <i>The Vanishing Conscience</i> for more of MacArthur's psychological teachings: (1) p. 32 -- "healthy self-image" and "true self-respect"; (2) p. 33 -- Karl Menninger's concept of good "mental health"; (3) p. 37 -- following one's conscience brings "self-respect"; (4) p. 90 -- here MacArthur even seems to outdo himself and take leave of his senses by stating that the Publican left the temple with "a new sense of self-worth" [Luke 18:10-13]. All this in a book with a chapter in which he claims to be against self-esteem!!]</p> <p>- Another humanistic psychological concept of which MacArthur is quite fond is that of self-forgiveness. In his Bible Study Guide, <i>Alive in Christ</i>, he exhorts in bold print, <b>"Do you have a problem forgiving yourself?"</b> Then he states:</p> <blockquote> <p>"In Christ, we're all beloved sons ... totally forgiven. Therefore, if you can't forgive yourself, you've got a God complex ... God has already accepted you -- so <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Introduction/uncondit.htm">accept yourself</a>!" ... So, if God can accept us, we can accept ourselves. Our sense of worth comes from knowing that we matter to God. And if we matter to God, we should matter to ourselves ... Self-worth and a firm self-image ... come from a knowledge of what God has done for you in Christ" (pp. 66-67).</p> </blockquote> <p>What is so damning about this self-focused doctrine is that it not only flows from the well of godless humanistic psychology, but it is subtle and deceptive. Those who believe and follow these selfism concepts are deceitfully diverted from a simple (2 Corinthians 11:3) focus on Christ (Hebrews 12:2) to a focus on self -- the exact opposite of Christ's exhortation to "deny" self.</p> <p>- Word Publishers (now a Thomas Nelson division) released in late-1997 <i>The</i> <i>MacArthur Study Bible</i>, a 2,200-page, New King James version of the Bible with John MacArthur's personal study notes explaining key words and verses. Besides choosing a publisher well-known for the publishing of psychoheretical authors and their books, MacArthur chose a bevy of neo-evangelicals, ecumenists, and psychologizers to endorse his <i>Study Bible</i>. Among the endorsers were Adrian Rogers (former SBC president), Joseph Stowell (president of Moody Bible Institute) <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/lucado/">Max Lucado</a> (psychospiritual author and Church of Christ pastor), Franklin Graham, Tony Evans, <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/canad/myst.htm">Erwin Lutzer</a> (pastor of Moody Bible Church and teacher of charismatic spiritual warfare methodologies), and self-love teacher <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/mcdowell/">Josh McDowell</a>. Obviously, MacArthur wants to be identified with this hodge-podge of heresy, or why else would he have chosen them to endorse this extensive theological work?</p> <p>- In an advertisement in the Christian Booksellers Association trade magazine, <i>Marketplace</i>, <i>The MacArthur Study Bible</i> is described as follows:</p> <blockquote> <p>"Unlike past 'classics' burdened by outdated theological systems, <i>The MacArthur Study Bible </i>strives to let the systems go, and let the Word of God speak. And day after day, year after year, you can always count on hearing something new."</p> </blockquote> <p>On the historic, orthodox, creedal view that the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is immanent and eternal, this new Bible did indeed "let the systems go." The notations on Hebrews 1:5 and 7:3 demolished the historic creedal view that Christ is the Eternal Son of God, hence there is no eternal and immanent Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is not "new," but compared to the view of Bible doctrine expressed in the Creeds, Confessions, and Theological "standards," it is heterodox. In other writings, MacArthur has also expressed the view which makes the Trinity a "nameless" unity, as he believes the "Son" is a "role" assumed by the "second person" in the flesh, which also implies the "Father" is a "role" assumed by the "first person."</p> <p>MacArthur contends in his <i>Study Bible</i> that "Sonship" refers to Christ in the "role" of "Son" which supposedly began in a "point of time" when He was incarnated via the virgin birth. This birth constituted Him as the "Son." This is sometimes called "incarnational sonship." MacArthur uses the Syriac Pershitta translation on Hebrews 7:3 to bring the reading of the passage more in line with his theory. We view Hebrews 7:3 as one of the strongest Biblical affirmations of the Eternal Sonship of the "Son," and the MacArthur note demolishes this great truth from that passage. (Excerpted from a 7/21/97 e-mail from Bob Ross of Pilgrim Publications.)</p> <p>In contrast, the Bible teaches the Eternal Sonship of Christ -- that He was the Son in eternity past. To deny that the attribute of eternality is inherent in Sonship (rather than conferred by incarnation), is, in effect, a denial of the "equality" of the "Son" with God -- a very serious heresy!</p> <p>To make matters worse, MacArthur branded as "heretics" those who held to the historical, orthodox, Biblical view of Eternal Sonship -- he labeled the Biblical view as a "heretical idea" and he associated it with "cultists who deny Christ's deity." Based on his concept of "Sonship," MacArthur specifically denounced the Eternal Sonship of Christ as follows:</p> <blockquote> <p>"He [Christ] is no 'eternal son' always subservient to God, always less than God, always under God. ... It [Son] is his human title, and we should never get trapped in the heretical idea that Jesus Christ is eternally subservient to God" (<i>Commentary on Hebrews</i>, 1983, pp. 28-29).</p> </blockquote> <p>In that same Commentary, MacArthur associated Eternal Sonship with "cultists" who imply that eternality of the Son means "inferiority" to God. Also, in his <i>The Sonship of Christ</i> booklet (published by the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ifca/">IFCA</a>), MacArthur so defined and distorted the "eternal generation" of the Son that he felt justified in branding it as being "meaningless and confusing" (p. 9). He alleged that "orthodox teachers" who hold to "eternal generation" "echo an element" of the "false belief" of "cultists who deny Christ's deity." He equated this with the idea that Christ was "created." [Excerpted and/or adapted from a 11/17/97 e-mail from Bob Ross of Pilgrim Publications.]</p> <p><b>[12/99 Update:</b> In late-August of 1999, MacArthur released an extensive statement <b><i>recanting</i></b> his position of Incarnational Sonship. A key portion of that statement read as follows:</p> <blockquote> <p>"I want to state publicly that I have abandoned the doctrine of 'incarnational sonship.' Careful study and reflection have brought me to understand that Scripture does indeed present the relationship between God the Father and Christ the Son as an <i>eternal</i> Father-Son relationship. I no longer regard Christ's sonship as a role He assumed in His incarnation."</p> </blockquote> <p>Sadly, MacArthur's statement gave no indication how widely he planed to publish this doctrinal change, if at all.<b><i> </i></b>Moreover, MacArthur showed no remorse or regret or repentance for the many he has misled on this vital doctrine over the years, including, but not limited to, the damage that took place in the IFCA. (It was the same story when MacArthur broke off with <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/crabb/">Larry Crabb</a> and then <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/ezzo/">Gary Ezzo</a> -- absolutely no repentance for the many thousands led into the clutches of these two psychoheretics.)</p> <p>Reading the entire August, 1999 statement, MacArthur compared his theological review process to that of Augustine's before his death. But MacArthur's words come off more as a trivialization of a crucial doctrine than genuine remorse for teaching falsely; MacArthur's "repentance" reads more like: "Me and Augustine -- just doing a little theological review before we die." In his statement, MacArthur even said it's no big deal for others to hold to a mere Incarnational Sonship -- NOT "rank heresy" or anything like that -- and still falling within the boundaries of orthodoxy. As if the doctrine of Eternal Sonship is some insignificant gray area that believers have the liberty to accept or reject!</p> <p>It would have also been helpful if MacArthur had given his followers a little of his thought process in coming to this change in theology to which he had held so adamantly for so many years, in speaking and in writing. Should we now expect a recall of MacArthur's <i>Hebrews</i> <i>Commentary</i>, his 1991 booklet <i>The Sonship of Christ</i>, and <i>The MacArthur Study Bible</i>? Don't hold your breath.<b>]</b></p> <p>- After John MacArthur changed his position on the doctrine of the Eternal Sonship of Christ, he wrote a letter in which he explained how he could sign the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ifca/">Independent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA)</a> doctrinal statement even during all those years when he strongly denied the Eternal Sonship of Christ. These are his words (in a letter to a Pennsylvania pastor dated 9/30/99):</p> <blockquote> <p>"Frankly, I don't think the breach in the IFCA is merely a matter of the incarnational sonship. That's such an isolated issue. It seems to me that the people who created the rift are, by disposition, divisive. Also, the statement on sonship in the IFCA doctrine is simply that Christ is the eternal Son of God without any explanation. Even people who believe in an incarnational sonship, such as I used to, could affirm the statement that He is the eternal Son of God with qualification."</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="mailto:georgezeller@juno.com">Pastor George Zeller</a> (Middletown Bible Church, Middletown, CT) makes the following observations concerning MacArthur's statement of recantation:</p> <blockquote> <p>(1) I know the men MacArthur is referring to, and these men are not divisive. It was never their desire to bring about a division in the IFCA. Their only desire was to defend and uphold the IFCA doctrinal statement and not to broaden its meaning so as to allow for contrary views. Also these men were not the ones who caused the rift. It was MacArthur's "Incarnational Sonship" teachings that triggered the controversy and the whole problem could have been easily solved from the beginning if the IFCA leadership had simply enforced its own doctrinal statement;</p> <p>(2) The IFCA doctrinal statement simply says "that Christ is the eternal Son of God without any explanation," because we believe exactly what these words mean. We take these words at face value. Such a clear statement of doctrine does not need any explanation. The words mean what they say. MacArthur once taught the following: "The Bible nowhere says that Christ is the eternal Son." This denial of eternal Sonship is also very clear and needs no explanation;</p> <p>(3) The problem that we have had with MacArthur is his affirmation of our [the IFCA] doctrinal statement "with qualification." -- "I affirm the Christ is the eternal Son of God with the qualification that He did not become the Son of God until Bethlehem." What if someone said, "I affirm the full deity of Christ with the qualification that I don't really believe He is God!" Or, "I affirm the eternal security of the believer with the qualification that those who depart from the faith will be lost and lost forever." Or, "I affirm the Pre-Tribulation rapture of the church with the qualification that I really hold to the Pre-Wrath view." Or, "I believe that Christ died as a Substitute for all mankind with the qualification that He died as a Substitute only for the elect." Or, "I believe that the believer has two natures with the qualification that the believer really only has one nature, the new nature in Christ." If the IFCA allowed for such qualifications, as MacArthur contends, then any person holding to any deviant or heretical view could sign the IFCA statement!</p> </blockquote> <p>- MacArthur (who is a "member in good standing" of the increasingly neo-evangelical/ecumenical <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ifca/">IFCA</a>), when speaking to a gathering of Indiana <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/garbc/">GARBC</a> churches (also now highly inclusivistic) in January of 1991, commented on his then recent trip to the Soviet Union. While in Russia, MacArthur preached in the "registered" church. Since a registered church is one that has already agreed to compromise the Scriptures by allowing itself to be controlled by an atheistic government, MacArthur has apparently accepted the Communist propaganda concerning "freedom of religion," and in effect, has stabbed the persecuted church in the back (much as <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/graham">Billy Graham</a> did during his trip to Russia in the early-1980s). (See the 6/15/91 <i>Calvary Contender</i> for Georgi Vins' accurate analysis of the Russian "registered" church. Vins had refused to speak in the pulpits of Russia's registered church "where liberals have also spoken," because his conscience would not permit him to do so. Apparently MacArthur's conscience is not as sensitive to error as is Vins'.)</p> <p>- John MacArthur continues to sign the <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/Psychology/ifca/">IFCA International</a>'s (formerly Independent Fundamental Churches of America) doctrinal statement, even though he contradicts it in his public tapes and writings. Three examples:</p> <blockquote> <p>(1) The Two Natures of the Believer -- IFCA Statement: "We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit." MacArthur: "I believe it is a serious misunderstanding to think of the believer as having both an old and new nature ... there is no such thing as an old nature in the believer" (<i>Freedom from Sin: Rom. 6-7</i>, pp. 31-32);</p> <p>(2) The Extent of the Atonement -- IFCA Statement: "We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all mankind as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice." MacArthur: "He is the Substitute only for those who believe. ... In the substitutionary sense He bore only the sins of those who ultimately would put their faith in Him" (Tape GC47-36);</p> <p>(3) The Eternal Sonship of Christ -- IFCA Statement: "We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God." MacArthur: "The Bible nowhere speaks of the eternal Sonship of Christ ... only from His incarnation has He been Son. He was not a son until He was born into this world" (<i>MacArthur Commentary Series: Hebrews</i> [1:4-5]). [Recanted 8/99 -- see above.]</p> </blockquote> <p>Can the IFCA leadership ignore such glaring contradictions? Apparently so. The 6/97 IFCA national convention was held at the Word of Life facilities (NY), with John MacArthur as main speaker! (1/15/97, <i>Calvary Contender</i>). So the issue with MacArthur continues to be not whether one agrees with the IFCA Doctrinal Statement, but the hypocrisy of John MacArthur in signing the IFCA's Statement of Faith, thereby attesting to the doctrines therein, and then teaching what amounts to an outright denial of those very doctrines!</p> <p>- MacArthur's top assistant at the time (who, you must remember, claimed to "speak with the full authority of John MacArthur" and was an elder at Grace Church) was preaching at a large Midwestern "evangelical" church on 7/25/93. One of his messages was titled "Learn to Discern," in which he lamented the failure of today's spiritual leaders:</p> <blockquote> <p>"[Where is the] spiritual discernment to successfully evaluate and distinguish the wisdom of the world from the wisdom of God? ... The church is in such a paltry state because they ape the things of the world ... just like the issue of psychology ... [The world] is jumping off the bandwagon of psychology just at the time when the church is running toward it full bore. [Yet] spiritual discernment says that you're able to distinguish between ... that which is right from that which is wrong ... that which is true from that which is false. ... Biblical separation is the process by which you say, 'This is what God says and all others are false, not true.' ... The discernment of evil is a byproduct of learning to identify truth."</p> </blockquote> <p>One only has to browse around the Grace Church campus and/or listen to tapes or read the various publications emanating from The Master's Fellowship complex of ministries to come to the conclusion that spiritual discernment there is a commodity in extremely short supply. (For example, in MacArthur's 1994 book, <i>The Vanishing Conscience</i>, he begins chapter 3 by quoting favorably from <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/colson/">Chuck Colson</a>'s acceptance speech for the 1993 "Templeton Progress in Religion Prize," delivered at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago!) By applying MacArthur's own definition of discernment, MacArthur and staff need to spend a great deal more time learning to identify truth. Perhaps then they will be able to discern what is evil.</p> <hr align="left"> <p><b><span style="font-size:+1;">Personal Note</span></b><br /><br />In John MacArthur's (<i>et al.</i>) 1994 book from Word Publishing titled <i><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/counsel.htm">Introduction to Biblical Counseling</a></i>, MacArthur says on p. 378:</p> <blockquote> <p>"Is it inherently unkind or condemnatory to say someone else's view is errant? Not if one has biblical authority for saying so. In fact, to remain silent and allow error to go unexposed and uncorrected is an abdication of the elder's role (Titus 1:9). The apostle Paul publicly called Peter a hypocrite for compromising biblical principles (Gal. 2:11-15). Peter had been publicly hypocritical; it was right that he be rebuked publicly (cf. 1 Tim. 5:20). To disagree with or critique someone's published views does not constitute a personal attack. If the Church cannot tolerate polemic dialogue between opposing views -- especially if Christian leaders cannot be held accountable for whether their teaching is biblical -- then error will have free reign."</p> </blockquote> <p>(This same teaching on public criticism can be found in MacArthur's 1994 book <i>Reckless Faith</i>, pp. 20-21, 40, 44, 47, 81.) From the following account, it is obvious that MacArthur means this public criticism is for <b><i>others</i></b> and <u>not</u> for himself. This is gross hypocrisy:<br /><br />In February and March of 1994, a pastor of a small house church in Southern California (herein referred to as HCSC) confronted John MacArthur, both publicly (via three warning messages preached to HCSC's congregation) and privately (the tapes of the messages were personally handed to MacArthur as well as personal letters sent him), concerning his (MacArthur's) erroneous teachings on psychology. MacArthur's response (via official action of the Elder Board of Grace Community Church) was to label HCSC's pastor a "factious" man (i.e., a "heretic" -- Titus 3:9-10 [KJV]), to deem him unqualified to teach or preach the Word of God, and to tell him he was on his way to hell. Moreover, in a private meeting with three members of the Grace Church Elder Board (in which two other men from HCSC were refused admission), they completely refused to discuss with or correct HCSC's pastor in regards to what he taught in his exposition of MacArthur's teachings. Moreover, in a subsequent scurrilous letter to HCSC's pastor from one of these elders ("scurrilous" because of the elder's unfounded charges that HCSC's pastor was a child-beater, was sponging off other people, had never held a steady job, and was a cult leader much like David Koresh and Jim Jones), it was specifically contended that the Scripture forbid the elders from engaging the pastor in a doctrinal dispute over the specifics of MacArthur's teachings until he (HCSC's pastor) would admit and repent of being "factious"! In other words, HCSC's pastor had to first admit he was a heretic before MacArthur would defend his own heretical teachings!<b>*</b></p> <p>Similarly, since 1988, Biblical Discernment Ministries privately contacted Dr. MacArthur by personal letter on three different occasions, each time asking him to justify his various psychological teachings in light of his professed belief that psychology is not of God. On each occasion, I have received only generic responses from various designated spokespersons in his ministry, never from Dr. MacArthur himself. Nor have I ever received a public or private response "correcting" me, <u>from the Word of God</u>, of any erroneous reporting or improper interpretation or analysis of Dr. MacArthur's teachings.</p> <p><b><u>11/97 Update</u>: </b>There has been some recent "contact" with MacArthur's people. An elder at Grace Church has posted to an Internet web site personal attacks against both the pastor mentioned above and against BDM's editor. (See <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/macarthu.htm">BDM response</a>.) Yet, the question still remains to be answered -- "Are MacArthur's teachings true to Scripture?" I contend that they are not. I have documented my contentions is <a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/exposes/macarthur/">this report and the posted sub-reports</a>. Other than these personal attacks leveled by the leadership of Grace Community Church, MacArthur's defenders remain silent.</p> <p><b>*</b> The pastor's name has been withheld from this "Note" beginning with the 8/96 revision to this report in an attempt to nullify MacArthur's continued use of a <i>red herring</i> argument. "The <i>fallacy of red herring</i> gets its name from the practice of using a herring, a particularly smelly fish when cooked, to divert hunting dogs from the scent of a fox. To commit the fallacy of red herring in an argument is to draw attention away from an issue by raising some other, seemingly related issue. In so doing, the arguer attempts to sidetrack the opponent's argument. (Source: Robert M. Johnson, <i>A Logic Book</i>, 2nd Edition, [Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1992], p. 262.) MacArthur seems to think that if he can discredit those who challenge his teachings (i.e., making the issue the person challenging him rather than the specifics of the challenge), then that makes his teachings immune from scrutiny. In today's neo-evangelical environment, he has thus far been successful.</p> <hr align="left"> <h3><i>Biblical Discernment Ministries</i> - Revised 12/99<img src="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/images/eye_bar.gif" height="11" width="560" /> </h3><a href="http://www.rapidnet.com/%7Ejbeard/bdm/"></a><div align="center"><center><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></center></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-52965713100794968332011-03-10T20:19:00.001-07:002011-03-10T20:21:51.092-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From Treadmill to Truth: A True Story of a Transformed Mormon Missionary<span style=""> </span><br /></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt;">By Bruce Levi<br /></span></b></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Have you ever gone to the gym and gotten on a treadmill?<span style=""> </span>Maybe you even have one in your home.<span style=""> </span>You’ve probably noticed that a treadmill takes you nowhere, right?<span style=""> </span>After all that walking or running, you’re still right where you started, aren’t you?<span style=""> </span>If you want to actually go somewhere, you will have to get off that treadmill.<span style=""> </span>Well, I spent over a quarter of a century on a religious treadmill.<span style=""> </span>I kept finding myself right where I had begun.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But, just a few weeks before my 27<sup>th</sup> birthday, I clearly saw that I needed to get of that treadmill. I prayed to Jesus Christ and asked Him to forgive me of sin and be my Savior.<span style=""> </span>He did just that.<span style=""> </span>And I felt an immediate sense of forgiveness and relief from guilt that I had never before known. I will never forget that day - the day I got off the treadmill.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This act that was born of faith, when I called on Jesus Christ for salvation, was a huge departure from everything I had been taught.<span style=""> </span>In fact, it was heresy in my Church.<span style=""> </span>I had been taught that calling upon Jesus for salvation was a false doctrine, because each person must <i style="">earn</i> salvation through participation in religious rituals such as water baptism and other special ceremonies, and by then keeping <i style="">all </i>the commandments of my Church.<span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">You see, I was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormon Church or the LDS Church.<span style=""> </span>In my family, our whole lives centered on the Church. We attended virtually all the weekly Church meetings starting when I was a young child.<span style=""> </span>At age twelve I was ordained a Mormon Deacon in the “Aaronic” priesthood.<span style=""> </span>I was even the president of my seminary class, a formal religious instruction program for Mormon youth.<span style=""> </span>In the Mormon Boy Scout program, I attained the rank of Eagle Scout by age 14 and then earned the Duty to God Award, of which I was very proud.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My quest for self-perfection continued after graduation from high school when I began attending the Mormon Church’s Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah.<span style=""> </span>At BYU, I was very active in the Church programs, in which held leadership positions.<span style=""> </span>I was ordained an Elder in the higher-level “Melchizedek” Priesthood.<span style=""> </span>I was asked by the President of the Mormon Church, whom I considered to be a true prophet of God, to go on a two-year mission to Germany.<span style=""> </span>In preparation, I attended the secretive Mormon temple ceremony and began to seriously study Mormon teachings.<span style=""> </span>This study led to some interesting, and disturbing, discoveries.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I learned that in its early days, the Mormon Church’s doctrine of God was more similar to Christianity’s Trinitarian doctrine than the more recent and perhaps current Mormon teaching that God was once a man, that man can become God, and that there are many Gods. I came upon these early doctrines of God in a book titled, <i style="">Lectures On Faith,</i> which I purchased at either the BYU bookstore, or a local Mormon bookstore in Provo<i style="">.<span style=""> </span>Lectures On Faith</i> was published as part of the official 1835 edition of Mormon scripture titled <i style="">Doctrine and Covenants, </i>of which I have a photostatic copy. In case any reader doubt the important position and status that <i style="">Lectures On Faith</i> played in early Mormonism, one only need to know that it occupied pages 1 to 74 of the 1835 <i style="">Doctrine and Covenants</i> and was specifically referred to in that volume’s preface, which was signed by Joseph Smith, Jr. himself, the founder of Mormonism.<span style=""> </span><i style="">Lectures On Faith</i> is no longer part of the LDS Church’s scripture, and no wonder.<span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then, I found out that that Brigham Young, who led the Mormons to Utah in 1847, taught openly and plainly that Adam was actually God the Father who brought one of his wives, Eve, with him to the Garden of Eden to start the human race. I read Brigham’s own words in a copy of the then recently-published work titled, <i style="">Journal of Discourses</i>, which a fellow student who lived in my same dormitory had just purchased. This student, who had recently returned from his mission to Scandinavia, came to my room to show Brigham’s quote to my roommate, who had just returned from his mission to Germany.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Since I had been taught that Mormonism was a restoration of the one true church that Jesus Christ organized some 2000 years ago, it seemed strange to me that God would give such contradictory teachings about Himself.<span style=""> </span>After all, the whole reason for the Mormon Church was to clear up such doctrinal discrepancies that had come to characterize Christianity.<span style=""> </span>When I asked fellow Mormons to explain these changing doctrines of God, I was told to just ignore them since recent Church leaders had finally cleared this up.<span style=""> </span>This made me search even more.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Perhaps the most significant thing I learned as a college freshman at BYU was about the Mormon doctrine of salvation.<span style=""> </span>Like Christianity, Mormonism teaches that Jesus Christ paid for the sins of the world with an atoning sacrifice.<span style=""> </span>However, the similarity ends there.<span style=""> </span>Mormonism taught me that I must <i style="">earn</i> Christ’s atonement for salvation through religious ceremonies and keeping <i style="">all </i>the commandments of Mormonism.<span style=""> </span>It was years later that I learned that the Bible, in sharp contrast, teaches that man cannot keep all the commandments, which were not given to bring salvation, and that Christ grants eternal salvation as a <i style="">gift</i> to those who place their trust in Him.<span style=""> </span></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But even in Mormonism it is obvious that no one can keep all the commandments. So, one is to overcome this inability through repentance.<span style=""> </span>However, in Mormonism, repentance (like almost every theological term) does not mean what it does in Christianity.<span style=""> </span>In Mormonism the word repentance loses its meaning as “a change of mind,” wherein the sinner is to turn to God.<span style=""> </span>It is, instead, a process in which the sixth, and final, step is: “Keep All The Commandments.” This definition and the steps of repentance can be seen in the official LDS publication, <i style="">Gospel Principles</i>, which is published by the LDS Church. In the 1997 edition, the section on repentance begins on page 122.<span style=""> </span>Or, do a search on the LDS website: www.mormon.org.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As a student at the official LDS University I wanted very much to learn the doctrines of the Church.<span style=""> </span>At that time, a book, <i style="">The Miracle of Forgiveness,</i> by LDS apostle Spencer W. Kimball, was very popular. This book still has much influence in the LDS Church as seen by the numerous times it is quoted in <i style="">Gospel Principles.<span style=""> </span></i>This book, was almost required reading, at least among serious students of LDS doctrine in 1973-74. Spencer Kimball, who eventually became the President of the LDS Church Kimball uses 368 pages (My edition is a third paperback printing from 1981.) to elucidate the LDS doctrine of repentance. </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is ironic that the book’s title describes forgiveness as a miracle.<span style=""> </span>For after reading it, one can see that the only miracle involved in LDS forgiveness would be that anyone could even hope to qualify for forgiveness, let alone come close to it.<span style=""> </span>Here are some examples from the book that<span style=""> </span>demonstrate why I say this, and why I said above that Mormon salvation is a kind of spiritual treadmill.<span style=""> </span>Kimball says that one must “leave nothing undone toward arriving at personal perfection” (page 124).<span style=""> </span>And, “To try is weak. To “do the best I can” is not strong.<span style=""> </span>We must always do <i style="">better</i> than we can. This is true in every walk of life” (page 165). And, “there must be no turning back.<span style=""> </span>Any reversal, even in a small degree, is greatly to his detriment” (page 170).<span style=""> </span>And, “It depends upon you whether or not you are forgiven, and when.<span style=""> </span>It could be weeks, it could be years, it could be centuries before…you have the positive assurance that the Lord has forgiven you” (page 325).<span style=""> </span>And, “forgiveness was possible eventually, when the heavy price had been paid” (page 343).<span style=""> </span>And, “that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins” (page 346). </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But, doubts and questions about such serious topics as salvation are not particularly welcome in the Mormon Church. Mormon leaders taught that “when they had spoken the thinking had been done.”<span style=""> </span>Questioning is regarded as a sign of weakness.<span style=""> </span>Besides, I had been taught that all the Churches of Christianity had fallen into total apostasy and had no priesthood authority to act in God’s name. Wasn’t the fact there are so many competing protestant denominations proof enough of this?<span style=""> </span>So it did not matter that I wondered how I, or any Mormon for that matter, could ever do enough to please Christ and earn salvation, I was simply to obey.<span style=""> </span>All around me were people who appeared to believe they could do all the requirements for salvation.<span style=""> </span>This was the environment in which I was raised.<span style=""> </span>It was all I knew. I had no other point of reference.<span style=""> </span></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">There is much pressure in Mormonism to conform and do what you are told.<span style=""> </span>And, since I thought I needed to do many good works, obey Church leaders, and keep all the commandments to earn eternal life, I dutifully became a Mormon Missionary to Germany. It was in Germany, the land of Martin Luther, who asked questions, searched the Bible, and stood firm, that God planted the seed of the Gospel in me.<span style=""> </span>In Germany I read the Bible from cover-to-cover and noticed many things that Mormonism could not explain.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One sunny afternoon while waiting for a bus in Darmstadt, I was approached by a soldier who was stationed at a nearby U.S. Army post.<span style=""> </span>He asked me if I had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.<span style=""> </span>When I replied that I had been baptized, he explained that he meant a personal relationship like two friends have, and like he had with Jesus.<span style=""> </span>Right then and there I knew in my heart that I did not have such a relationship with Jesus. It bothered me greatly that I, a missionary from the “only true church,” did not have a personal relationship with the One who was named as the very head of my Church.<span style=""> </span>This realization troubled me for the remainder of my mission and for years after it.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;">After my mission, I returned to BYU to major in Business and minor in German language.<span style=""> </span>While continuing to also study Mormonism, I saw that Mormonism had no reasonable explanation to substantiate its claims that many truths were removed from the Bible.<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Since I had read this quote from Brigham Young (There is much additional evidence that proves Brigham taught this doctrine for over 20 years.) with my own eyes, I was shocked what I heard on my car radio in 1978.<span style=""> </span>While driving on University Avenue in Provo, Utah, the newscaster reported that the President of the LDS Church officially condemned the Adam-is-God doctrine.<span style=""> </span>I remember having to pull off the road because this news was extremely contradictory to what I knew Brigham had taught. This meant the unthinkable: either Brigham was not a faithful prophet of God, or that the prophet in 1978, Spencer Kimball, was not a faithful prophet.<span style=""> </span>Which prophet was I to believe?<span style=""> </span></span><br /></span> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;">More importantly, I saw that the happiest Mormons where those who lived their lives as they saw fit and had their own opinions, despite what the Church leaders taught.<span style=""> </span>Maybe they had noticed some of the same things I had. Twice at BYU I encountered Christians who were handing out information on the differences between Mormonism and Christianity. After much contemplation and study, I came to the inescapable conclusion that Mormonism’s way to eternal life by keeping all the many commandments was just impossible. I knew that there must be another way.<span style=""><br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After graduation, I moved back to Boise, Idaho where I was employed in the sales force of a large international company. The next spring, I simply walked away from the Mormon religion.<span style=""> </span>It had become clear to me that Mormonism was powerless and lifeless.<span style=""> </span>Its emphasis on human effort and its lack of focus on the love of Christ were emptiness to me.<span style=""> </span>Like many Mormons who come to this same realization, I concluded that organized religion was not the answer, so I did not attend church anywhere.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But God had other plans. That summer I met a Christian who invited me to attended a Sunday morning church service at a local protestant church.<span style=""> </span>Out of curiosity I went.<span style=""> </span>There I saw for the first time, a large group of people who were in church because they wanted to be, not because they had to be in order to get on God’s good side.<span style=""> </span>I was amazed at their gratefulness to Christ for what He had done for them in purchasing and then giving them eternal life. The hymns they sang were all about Christ.<span style=""> </span>They were just like the army man I had spoken with in Germany six years previous. They had a relationship with Jesus.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I liked what I saw there and kept attending.<span style=""> </span>A few weeks later a former Mormon came to present his story of conversion to Christ and tell how Mormonism differed from Christianity. I attended his daylong seminar and learned of the many changes and cover-ups in Mormon doctrine and history. Some of these I had heard of before, but now I saw evidence carefully laid out with a respectful and caring attitude. I studied this information in detail along with the Christian doctrine of salvation by grace alone.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It became clear to me that the Bible plainly teaches that all people are sinners by nature.<span style=""> </span>This confirmed my own observation about myself. I knew that I did unrighteous things without even trying. They seemed to just happen naturally, no matter how hard I tried to be perfect.<span style=""> </span>It became clear that I, too, was really just a sinner by nature who lacked the capability to save myself in any way and in any part.<span style=""> </span>Now, I was ready to receive the Bible’s teaching that Christ purchased my salvation and wanted me to acknowledge Him as my personal Savior.<span style=""> </span>So it was in October of 1981 that I prayed to Christ and He became my Savior.<span style=""> </span>I got off that religious treadmill and received the gift of eternal life.<br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoBodyText2"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bruce Levi, his wife Sandi, and their six children have a ministry that educates Christians on the differences between Christianity and Mormonism and equips Christians to reach Mormons in a non-offensive, non-argumentative manner that allows for the Gospel to be given in a way the Mormon can understand.<span style=""> </span>For 18 years they lived in Utah and are now members of Montana Avenue Baptist Church in Caldwell, Idaho.<span style=""> </span>In western Idaho, as well as in the bordering State of Oregon, Mormonism has grown by 50% during the past decade! The vast majority of people who convert to Mormonism have a Christian background.<span style=""> </span>Over 225,000 people per year (600 people per day) are leaving Christianity for Mormonism.<span style=""> </span>The Levis are available to speak in your Church, Sunday School, Camp, or other meetings.<span style="color: black;"><a href="mailto:trumpetthetruth@aol.com"><span style="color: black;"></span></a></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-44881454938275826322009-01-08T09:29:00.000-07:002009-01-13T20:42:21.283-07:00Reading Between the Clean Cut Lines, Part 2<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:.8in .8in .8in .8in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:12;"><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">In his “Witnessing to Mormons” post of September 27, 2008, Clean Cut, the Mormon apologist, stated, “…there is only one eternal God…there are many gods, but they are gods by grace, made so by God himself.” In my previous post, I showed that the Bible plainly teaches that there is only one God, period. There is not a central, original, eternal God who then made other “gods” as per Mormon thinking. Several passages from Isaiah were listed. See that posting for the list.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Bible does use the words <i style="">god</i> and <i style="">gods</i>, with a small g. However, such usage is almost always in reference to false gods, or idols. The nations surrounding <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place> all had false gods and idols against which God repeatedly warned. It is no wonder the word <i style="">gods</i> is in the Bible so often. Of course, those “gods” are not real gods; they are mere fabrications, first in the mind of a human and then often fashioned from wood or stone. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">An analogy is a false passport. It is not really a passport at all; it only attempts to pass itself off as one. It may appear to be real. However, upon closer examination it will be found phony.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Some false gods exist only in the imagination of men’s minds. For example, some people believe in and worship the non-material, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ethereal</span> gods of Hinduism. The first of the Ten Commandments tells us to have no other “gods” before God. This is in reference to false gods, who merely pose as God. There is only one real God and any other “gods” are false pretenders. Neither are these false gods some kind of junior level gods that were made into gods by the one eternal God of Mormonism. Again, this is clear from Isaiah, as well as many other passages in both the Old and New Testaments.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">What about the interesting statement in the New Testament, John 10:34-36, where Jesus Christ says, “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of the God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, who the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">blasphemest</span>; because I said, I am the Son of God?” Mormons often quote this passage to “prove” that men can become, and even have already become, gods.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">In order to properly understand any Bible passage, one must first understand its context. This rule applies to all written works, not just the Bible. To take a passage in the Bible, or any book, and use it in disregard to its contextual meaning, is nonsense. The context of John 10:34-36 is Jesus answering His attackers who want to stone Him to death (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">vss</span>. 31-33). They believe He has blasphemed by claiming to be God. (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">vss</span>. 29-30). Go back to at least verse 24 and start there to see the context of this passage.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">And for further context of John 10:34-36, go the Old Testament passage Jesus is quoting,<span style=""> </span>Psalm 82:6 “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” Note in verse 1 of Psalm 82 that God (the only one God) is judging the “gods.” In verse 5, He says that these “gods” are devoid of knowledge and even the ability to know. In verse 7, He pronounces a judgment of death on these “gods.” In verse 8, we see the psalmist’s plea that God Himself, the One and Only God, judge the earth. For, only God, the real God, can and will judge creation in perfect justice. It is therefore obvious that these “gods” of Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34 are in no way the “gods” of classical Mormonism, who must become very knowledgeable, good, and righteous before they can become gods. This is clear from the official <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">LDS</span> instruction manual, <i style="">The Gospel Through the Ages,</i> as well as Mormon scripture, the <i style="">Pearl of Great Price</i>, which I quoted from in my previous posting, which is Part 1 of this topic.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">In His use of Psalm 82:6, Jesus is making a simple argument to the people who want to kill him for blasphemy. He is proving with Psalm 82:6 that the word <i style="">gods</i> can be legitimately used to refer to others than God Himself and that its use does not mean that other beings are actually Gods, or even junior “gods” that under the direct authority of the one eternal God. In other words, Jesus is asking His attackers, If God, in Psalm 82:6 refers to people as “gods” and “children of the most High,” then why are you so upset if I, Jesus, call myself God? Jesus is using a play on words by stating that if humans can be called gods, then it is OK for Jesus, the Messiah, to call Himself God. For, of course Jesus is God the Eternal Son, the second person (not former human) of the Holy Trinity. As proof that He really is God, Jesus asks His attackers to consider the works He had done (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">vss</span>. 37-38).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Now, what about Clean Cut’s assertion regarding God’s grace? Did the one eternal God of Mormonism make many gods by his grace? Is Clean Cut being clear about Mormon doctrine with his statement? Is he obfuscating or misleading, or is he correct according to Mormon scripture?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">LDS</span> scripture, the<i style=""> <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Pearl</st1:city></st1:place> of Great Price, Abraham </i>5:22 it states, “And God saw these souls [called “intelligences’ in verse 22] were good…and he said: These will I make my rulers.” In chapter four, verse one, these rulers organize the world [note that Mormonism’s “gods” do not create, but merely organize]. In verse 2, these rulers are called “Gods. If we ignore the use here of the capital G, and replace it with a small g, we can see in Mormon scripture that the original <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">LDS</span> God, who is the “only eternal God,” chose other “rulers” or “intelligences” to become "gods." There is no description in this passage of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">LDS</span> scripture that these “gods” did anything to become gods. However, the one eternal God makes them his adjunct “gods” “for [means <i style="">because</i>] they were good.” In this way it appears on the surface that the original “only one eternal God” of Mormonism made “many…gods by his grace.” Thus, on the surface, Clean Cut <i style="">appears</i> to be in line with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">LDS</span> scripture.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">However, upon deeper examination, there is a serious problem with Clean Cut’s statement that the one eternal God made gods by his grace. The use of the word <i style="">for</i> in <i style="">Abraham </i>5:22 shows us that the one eternal God of Mormonism chose beings called “intelligences” to be his “rulers” or “gods” on the basis of their inherent goodness. This is simply the standard heresy of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Pelagianism</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Arminianism</span>, whereby God chooses those He sees have some inherent goodness, or worth, or ability. In other words, that God chooses based not on His own will and purposes, but because of some inherent value in other beings. Such a way destroys the sovereignty of God and puts <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">mankind</span> in charge of God. But this voids the voice of Scripture.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Yes, it is true that in <i style="">Abraham</i> 5 that the” intelligences” had apparently performed no overt actions to earn godhood. However, they were chosen because they were “good.” What had made these “intelligences” good? If they followed the standard Mormon "plan of salvation" they had made themselves good. They worked for it. This state of being “good” implies that they deserved to be the “rulers” under God, or his “gods.” Everywhere in Mormon doctrine, one finds the requirement that beings make themselves “good” to earn godhood. So, why would it be different with the “intelligences”? All this focus on the goodness of other beings, and God having to chose them because of their, not His, character is not grace!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">At this point, the discerning Christian will recognize that Clean Cut and Mormonism have redefined grace to be something that is outside the orthodox, biblical, Christian meaning of <i style="">grace</i>. In this manner, Clean Cut is misleading and false in his use of the word <i style="">grace</i>. Just what is the Mormon definition of <i style="">grace</i>? In the official, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">LDS</span>-printed book of doctrine, <i style="">Gospel Principles</i>, <i style="">grace </i>does not appear in either the Glossary or the Index! Grace, if it had any significance or importance in Mormon theology, would be listed. But it is not! In his book, <i style="">The Miracle of Forgiveness and </i>cited in <i style="">Gospel Principles</i>, former Mormon prophet and President Spencer W. Kimball, did not list <i style="">grace</i> in his index. However, he did say this about grace: “One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation.” Wow! No ambiguity there, huh?<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Because an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">LDS</span> apostle speaks with more authority than Clean Cut, we can conclude that Clean Cut is wrong with his statement that God made many gods by his grace. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9907448.post-50561025316057413052008-12-30T20:47:00.001-07:002009-05-16T18:23:13.022-06:00Reading Between the Clean Cut Lines, Part 1<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Last week I came across a blog authored by “Clean Cut” dated September 27, 2008 (http://latterdayspence.blogspot.com) that was titled "Witnessing to Mormons." Clean Cut is apparently an active Mormon (a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and writes apologetics, in an unofficial capacity, for the LDS church/religion. His blog’s title is a reference to "an evangelical blog that had a list of suggestions for witnessing to Mormons" that he had read and wished to comment on. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Clean Cut states: "Christians who want to witness to...Mormons - make sure you understand Mormon doctrine as Mormons understand it." Certainly, Clean Cut is correct in his admonition. In fact, it is a wise practice to ask each Mormon one encounters to explain his own understanding of Mormonism's teachings. Mormons are more diverse in their thinking than one might think. You will find a variety of answers. Clean Cut acknowledges this with his statement that "19 year old [Mormon] missionaries are not the most informed in Mormon theology." I have had two Mormon missionaries in my home tell me mutually exclusive things about key LDS doctrines in the same conversation.<br /><br />Before I address Clean Cut's blog, let me introduce myself. Like Clean Cut, I completed a 2-year mission for the LDS church (<st1:country-region st="on">Germany</st1:country-region>), attended BYU (I graduated in 1979.), have a great interest in LDS history, teachings, and practices, and I grew up in the West (<st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Boise</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Idaho</st1:state></st1:place> area.)<br /><br />However, unlike Clean Cut, I am a conservative evangelical Christian. I left Mormonism on my own accord and was <i>not</i> excommunicated for any cause. In early 1982, I formally resigned due to the many changes I had discovered in LDS history and doctrines while at BYU, on my mission, and after I graduated from BYU - and because I came to believe in the salvation through faith alone by grace alone of orthodox Christianity. Since then, now more than 26 years I have continued to be an observer of the LDS church's teachings and dealings. I lived for 18 years in <st1:state st="on">Utah</st1:state> as a former Mormon, where I had almost daily interactions with Mormons, before moving back to <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Idaho</st1:state></st1:place> in 2000. In addition, since the <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Boise</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Idaho</st1:state></st1:place> area is about 25% Mormon, I have had many conversations and dealings with Mormons here, too.<br /><br />Because most Evangelicals, and perhaps many Mormons, will likely be confused or even feel purposefully mislead by Clean Cut's statements, I deemed it helpful and necessary to address his statements. Because I was an active, studious Mormon for the first 25 years of my life and then have continued to study Mormonism from a broader perspective for another 26 years, I believe I have some legitimate and accurate observations that will be of help. Now, I am not so naive to think that most Mormons will like it that I, a former Mormon, describe official LDS doctrine. Nevertheless, I will proceed with the goal of helping even just a few Evangelicals and Mormons. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />In his second paragraph, Clean Cut states, "Mormon doctrine holds that there is one eternal God... and that there are many gods." As students of Mormonism know, Mormonism has held over the years that there are many gods. So, how can Clean Cut state in the year 2008 that there is both only "one eternal God" and "many gods"? The answer has to do with the LDS meaning of the word "eternal." It also lies in Clean Cut’s use of the capital letter G in reference to the "one eternal God" and his use of lower case g in reference to the "many gods." At this point, it should be clearly stated that LDS definitions of virtually all theological terms are very different from the definitions of Evangelicals and other Christians.<br /><br />Because Mormon leaders, including LDS founder Joseph Smith in his 1844 "King Follet Discourse” taught that God became God by advancing from manhood unto Godhood, it would seem first that there could not have ever been any "eternal God." For if God were anything at all before He was God, then he cannot, by definition be "eternal God." For biblical Evangelicals, <i>eternal </i>means literally forever, with no beginning in time, and indicates an existence before the universe was created.<br /><br />Mormonism's founder was not alone in plainly teaching that God the Father had been a mere man before he became God. In 1945, George F. Richards, under his authority as President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Mormon church, published the book, <i>The Gospel Through the Ages.</i> The book’s author was Milton R. Hunter, himself a Mormon general authority in the Council of Seventy. The book was published for use by holders of the higher LDS priesthood, the Melchizedek Priesthood. That this book had this purpose and was an official LDS church publication is very clear. Richards states on page V, “Hunter was assigned the task by the general authorities.” Hunter himself, on pages VII and VIII, “expresses sincere gratitude to Elder John A. Widstoe, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, Elder Ezra Taft Benson, and Elder Charles A. Callis for their careful perusal of the manuscript and for their kind and helpful suggestions throughout the entire time that this volume was being written and published.” Note that two of the men who carefully advised Hunter “the entire time” served as Prophet and President of the Mormon Church. This book is no accident or statement of aberrant doctrine. This official manual (This author has a Fourth Edition of March 20, 1946.) of the LDS church plainly teaches on page 104: "Mormon prophets have continuously taught...that God the Eternal Father was once a mortal man..." Note that a variety of Mormon general authorites agreed in this book that the doctrine that God was once a man was “continuously taught” by Mormon prophets.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">This official LDS book, page 113, quotes LDS Prophet and Church President Lorenzo Snow's teaching" "As man now is, or God once was; As God is, so man may be." Thus, when recent LDS Prophet Hinckley indicated in a television interview that the LDS doctrine of man becoming God was not a sure teaching, he was either grossly ignorant of the LDS church’s own doctrinal manual and that “Mormon prophets continuously taught” such doctrines, or he was purposefully obfuscating.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />One way Clean Cut and other Mormons can assert that there is “one eternal God and many gods” is that in Mormonism, <i>eternal</i> can mean not just "forever with no beginning in time before the universe was created," but simply "that which pertains to God." Therefore, when a Mormon says there is only "one eternal God," he can mean "one God who has what pertains to God," or "one God with God's attributes." Of course, this is really just a meaningless statement. It is like saying that one's car is a car because it has what makes it a car. In this case, Clean Cut is not adequately defining his terms. He is, albeit perhaps unwittingly, misleading Evangelicals. On the other hand, one can ask, is he misleading on purpose? An appropriate admonition to Clean Cut would be that he should explain LDS doctrines and his own statements, so that Orthodox Christians sufficiently understand official LDS doctrines.<br /><br />Here is another way that allows Clean Cut to state, "Mormon doctrine holds that there is one eternal God... and that there are many gods."</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">At some point, some Mormon leaders realized that some god or God could not have been a mere man prior to becoming God, because God or a god had to first create that man. In essence, they realized that the traditional, normal, biblical definition of <i>eternal</i> must be held to. The original God the Father could not have become God by arising out of manhood. For, who created the God who created this man who became God? At some point the nonsense of Gods making Gods making Gods, etc. has to come to a stop - there needed to have been an original, or first, God the Father. This "original God" was not a man before he became God. He became God by virtue of this own inherent characteristics and power. This idea of a superior, original God and other gods is taught in LDS scripture, the <i>Pearl of Great Price</i>, in Abraham 3:16-24. This author was taught such a concept of an original first God, the one with a capital G, while at BYU in the mid through late 1970's.<br /><br />Perhaps this truly eternal, original God of Mormonism is similar to the God of traditional, orthodox Christianity. Perhaps, to some Mormons, this is the God Whom traditional Christians worship in ignorance. In fact, I have been told by several Mormons that both Mormons and traditional Christians really worship the same God. The problem with this kind of thinking, for the Mormon, is that Mormons are told by their leaders to worship the god who once was a man. This god who was once a man would, by definition, not be the original, truly eternal God of us Evangelicals, but only one of His underling gods. Thus, if you follow the logic, it is the Evangelicals who worship the real, never-been-man, original God, while Mormons are content to worship only a lesser god. In Mormonism, this original, truly eternal in the normal sense of the word, God then made the rules, described in Mormonism, of how men, whom He later created, become gods. In other words, the original God the Father is the only eternal God who deserves a capital G. The other gods, with a small case g, are under God in hierarchy and authority. Such reasoning allows Clean Cut and other Mormons to “have their cake and eat it, too." It allows them to appear as orthodox Christians and to be Mormons at the same time.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">All this is, of course, a big mess. For Mormons will interchange "God" with a capital G, and "god" with a small g. This just confuses things even more. It would be helpful if the Mormon prophet/president would make some official pronouncement or declaration of just who their God, or god, is.<br /><br />For sure, Clean Cut, and all Mormons for that matter, have a serious problem on their hands when it comes to LDS scripture and the idea of more than "one eternal God" and other "gods." For, also in the <i>Pearl of Great Price,</i> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">in the book of <span style="font-style: italic;">Moses,</span> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">the idea of more that one God and god is refuted: <span style="font-style: italic;">Moses 2:1 </span>states that God is the "Beginning and the End," which indicates in plain English that He alone is God. Chapters 1-5 of Moses state over 75 times that "I God" made the universe, not that Gods or gods (plural) did it! What has more force of meaning, the 75 statements of only one "I God" in Moses, or the only 46 statements of the various "Gods" in Abraham? 75 is 63% larger than 46. Is there only one who deserves the capital G, or are there many that deserve the capital G? Which part of the Pearl of Great Price is the correct part that the Mormon is to take seriously as the real doctrine? If Mormonism was revealed to clarify truth and bring the "fullness of the gospel" as the angel <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Moroni</st1:city></st1:place> supposedly told Joseph Smith in the 1820s, why does later-written Mormon scripture confuse things? This fact alone should show the discerning person that Mormonism is not self-consistent, but is self-contradictory.<br /><br />The Evangelical will recognize that any way that any Mormon, such as Clean Cut, defines the "consistently taught" Mormon concept of "one eternal God" and the "many gods," the clear teaching of the Bible is still violated. In clear passages, over and over again, such as are found in Isaiah chapters 37 through 48, we see that God is the only God (see Isaiah 37:16, 40:28; 41:4, 41:14, 42:5, 42:8, 43:11, 43:13, 44:6, 44:8, 44:24, 45:5-7, 45:14, 45:18-23, 46:5, 46:9, 48:11-12). The <i>Pearl of Great Price</i> cannot at the same time be true when it states that there are "Gods." And Clean Cut cannot at the same time be accurate when he says there are "many gods." The Mormon will be wise to search for the truth in this matter of God. If one has a false knowledge of God, it will result in <i>not</i> having eternal life! "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent" (John 17:3).<br /><br />In a subsequent posting, I will address Clean Cut’s statement that the "many gods" are "gods by grace" and other of his statements.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p> <span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com