CYBERESCHATOLOGY (sī’bər-ěs’kə-tŏl’ə-jē):

(CYBER, [GK kubernetes. the helmsman of a boat, especially big warships]; fig. n. leader, controller, governor; of or pertaining to a systemic feedback mechanism; possibly related to CYBORG—n. 1960, machine-enhanced human being, anthropomorphic robot, metaphysical techno-human, computer-human); (ESCHATOLOGY—n. 1844, from Gk. eskhatos”last, furthest, remote” [from ex"out of"] + -logia “a speaking” [in a certain manner]. In theology, the study of the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, hell.) Related term: Cyborgeschatology.

1. The endtime belief in an imminent cataclysmic time period on earth in which humans possessing enhanced physical and/or superior spiritual capacity (mystically homo noeticus, homo universalis or new breed) will prevail against the evil forces of darkness (spiritual and/or techno-spiritual creatures) resulting in the creation (or re-creation) of paradise conditions on earth.

2. Theapocalyptic millenarian belief that the spiritual body of Christ on earth must overcome the devil and his spiritual forces of darkness via technologically and spiritually enhanced warfare, resulting in a superior man and revivified planet earth.

3. The utopian millenarian belief in an absolute reign of a religio-political world theonomic system, governed by spiritual elites, resulting in supernatural perfection that brings forth the second coming of Christ.

4. The belief in a cosmic paradigm shift, facilitated by psycho-spiritual-political methodologiesand technologies, which when applied to humankind en masse will culminate in a purified race and a perfected global collective, especially via the cleansing of all demonic, cancerous, evil, or environmental contaminants on earth.

See also:

DOMERGENT

DOMYSTIC

PROTHOLIC

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DO MER GENT (də mər’jənt) n.

[(DOM, from DOMIONION n. - 1400–50; late Middle English  < Middle French  < Medieval Latin *dominiōn-  (stem of *dominiō ) lordship, property, ownership); (EMERGENT n. 1350–1400; Middle English  (< Middle French ) < Latin ēmergent-  (stem of ēmergēns ) arising out of, present participle of ēmergere  to emerge). Lit. Emergent Dominonist]

1. A person who is adopting the tenets or practices of Dominionism for evolutionary, mystic, and/or progressive purposes.

      2.   A person who believes that Dominionism is a necessary component of emergence theory.

      3.   A person who is incorporating tangible Dominionism aims into new theological constructs.

      4.   A leader who manipulates doctrine in order to further Dominionism as a theological base.

      5.   One who is gradually emerging as a Dominionist.

      6.   An Emergent leader who is teaching Dominionism.

See also:

DOMYSTIC

PROTHOLIC

WHAT IS DOMINIONISM?

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HT: Sola Sisters

See also:

APPRISING MINISTRIES: ROB BELL RESOURCES

ROB BELL AND CHRISTIAN UNIVERSALISM

ROB BELL ON THE RECORD CONCERNING SCRIPTURE

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By Special Apprising Ministries Correspondent Dustin Segers
Pastor, Shepherd’s Fellowship of Greensboro

I fully believe that were it not for prayer and a consistent diet of the word, it would be easy to grow cynical of what goes by the name of “evangelicalism” in America.  On the whole, American evangelicalism is very materialistic and individualistic rather than sacrificial and collective. 

 I am exposed to it constantly, and as I’ve already said; were it not for plenty of prayer, meditation on Scripture, and many a good night’s sleep, I’d probably have quit pastoral ministry a long time ago. 

I, along with many atheists and skeptics roll my eyes (but for completely different reasons) when I see another goofy church marquee or read another article about Rob Bell’s latest heresy, or hear supposed evangelicals pounding the drum of what is known as “social justice”.  I roll my eyes because all of these groups are missing the point.

It’s not that I question Biblical Christian theism in any way; quite the contrary, I have full epistemological confidence/warrant that it is historically true and I fully believe that the Biblical gospel is the power of God unto salvation and such salvation naturally entails societal changes from the ground up.  However, much of American evangelicalism seems to be all about two things: (1) “Hipster christianity”, (2) and “Hippy christianity”.   The lowercase “c” in “christianity” is there for reasons that you’ll see in the explanations below.

“Hipster christianity” presents Jesus in a shiny, slick materialistic veneer with a limp wrist wearing a Hawaiian shirt on.  He avoids offending heretics, homosexuals, and theological liberals at all costs and he certainly doesn’t want to be politically incorrect.  After all, being politically incorrect earns you zero social currency at the water cooler.  A “Hipster christian” would be much better off at the water cooler being thoroughly conversant with the latest “House” episode or the latest reality show details, or having already memorized their favorite lyrics from the most recent Avril Lavigne release that they just downloaded this past weekend from iTunes.  In a nutshell, “Hipster christianity” majors on skin-deep superficiality since religion is still considered somewhat “hip” in America.  It loves to join hands with the world to throw money at social problems all the while ignoring the problems in its own congregations and communities that are ultimately rooted in sin.  It holds conferences that provide a platform for the world’s unbelieving gurus who are diametrically opposed in both philosophy and deed to the Biblical gospel while spilling their rank heresy onto their unsuspecting, but “thirsty-for-the-world” congregations.  For the average “Hipster christian”, really knowing what the Bible says about the Jesus of history and faith is a foreign concept since the Bible paints a portrait of Him that doesn’t fit well with the materialistic, cool, hip, world-consuming “evangelical” masses.  The Jesus of the Bible angers the Hipster christians because He demands of them the very thing that they aren’t willing to give to Him: everything (Luke 14:27-33).  

“Hippy christianity” has Jesus with holes in his bleached jeans, dreads in his hair, wearning thick-rimmed $500 designer eyeglasses.  He is all concerned about the poor, homeless, and sick, and he even ministers on the street to them while living in a 100 year old tenant apartment house along with 20-25 other people right in the middle of downtrodden downtown.  This “Hippy Jesus” doesn’t preach the gospel of sin, righteousness, and judgment because that would reveal what the real underlying problem is:  sinful men.  Not only that, but if the “Hippy Jesus” starting preaching the gospel of the Biblical Jesus, He might get persecuted or killed like the Biblical Jesus.  After all, the gospel infuriates many and our “Hippy Jesus” doesn’t want to be at enmity with the world.  Those who follow the “Hipster Jesus” fail to understand that the community is the way that it is because those evil bureaucrats attending their theologically liberal churches (or atheist meet-ups) have long rejected the gospel and have treated the poor badly because they believe the only ones they ultimately have to answer to are themselves and if dissing the disenfranchized (but not too much) allows them to get ahead in the world, then so be it.  On the other hand, while many of the poor attend “church”, they attend those that have long left the Biblical gospel too and traded it in for a mess of heretical Word of Faith pottage, blab-it-and-grab-it, and give-to-get scheme religion.  Since they don’t embrace the true gospel which changes lives forever and for the good, they have responded with their own evil by hating their enemies, embracing the sin of laziness by depending upon the government to save them (as well as the “Hippy Jesus” community to give them soup and sandwiches) and they avoid work hard.  After all, if the “Hippy Christians”, Uncle Sam, and HUD housing can save them by putting bread on their tables and a roofs over their heads, then why would they ever need to hear about the Biblical Jesus, especially since the Word of Faith “Jesus” has promised them that if they give what little they do have (which many of them received from Federal subsidies), then their version of “Jesus” will give them food, shelter, and clothing?  After all, in a system like that, why give hope to the community through opening “their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in [the Biblical Jesus]“ (Acts 26:18).  You see, the “Hippy Jesus” is too urban for all of that ancient nonsense.  After all, what good is giving the poor, homeless guy a sermon when his real problem is that he needs a sandwich?  The Jesus of the Bible also angers the “Hippy Christians” because He demands of them the very thing that they aren’t willing to give to Him:  everything (Luke 14:27-33).  

Both portrayals of “Jesus” and “christians” reveal that many professing believers really don’t read their Bibles (much less believe them) and that they are content with having the sticky jello of the world on our hands rather than use their hands as a vehicle to exude the eternal message of the gospel that saves men from God’s wrath.

Now, all of the above commentary was inspired not only by some great interaction this past Sunday in our church meeting regarding the role of “social justice” in the life of a church and individual Christians, but the following short article by Anthony B from WORLDmag.com touches my nerve too:

The number one social justice issue for African-Americans in New York City is abortion. Period. The city’s abortion rate is twice the nation average, with 41 percent of all pregnancies ending in abortion. According to recent data, the rate for blacks is even higher: 59.8 percent. For Hispanics it’s 41.3 percent, Asians 22.7 percent, and whites 20.4 percent. In 2009, unmarried women accounted for 84 percent of the abortions in the city.

To make matters worse, votes will be cast today for Bill 371, which will effectively shut down New York City’s pro-life crisis pregnancy centers by imposing outrageous regulations that most centers do not have the manpower to implement.

Then last month, controversy was stirred up over a billboard erected in SoHo noting, “The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb.” The billboard was only around for a few days.

All of this has me wondering why the missional, center-city evangelicals, who are all about “justice,” “loving the city,” “renewing the city,” “serving the city,” etc., do not seem to consider abortion one those flagship “justice” issues.

I’ve been browsing the mercy and justice websites of several of New York’s well-known churches and Christian non-profit groups for discussion of New York’s abortion crisis. Outside of the crisis pregnancy centers themselves, I have not found much of anything. What one will find are very good discussions on subjects like fighting homelessness, improving inner-city education, opening women’s shelters, and dealing with sex trafficking and juvenile delinquency. I raise this issue because I am concerned that perhaps the missional pendulum has swung too far in one direction.

There are groups of 30-something-and-under Christians in cities who are trying to present a different kind of evangelical Christianity—one that’s not so political and not so much about “culture wars,” protesting abortion, or escaping “the culture” to the safety of the suburbs. These groups have made a conscious decision to not live out Christianity politically.

But Christian withdrawal from politics can inadvertently undermine the justice work of the church by not having a voting presence to maintain religious liberties for Christians to do what they are called to do. I fully recognize how an organization’s non-profit status constrains certain types of activities and speech, but if New York’s Christians are not encouraged to get involved in the politics of religious liberty, people are going to die, literally.

If there were pro-life Christians on New York’s City Council, Bill 371 would fail and the crisis pregnancy centers would not be in jeopardy of closing. Bill 371 is a reminder that if your center city church is too missional for the politics of abortion and religious liberty, Christianity eventually will be limited to serving and renewing the city in rhetoric only.

So where are the missional people when it comes to abortion?  Where are the books, the debates, the conferences addressing this issue from the social justice preaching missional proponents?  Where are the missional churches in Greensboro, NC at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning outside of A Woman’s Choice abortion clinic begging young mothers not to kill their children, offering to adopt their children, and giving them the only message that the change them forever, the gospel of Jesus Christ?  Where are the black Word-of-Faith church attenders on Saturday mornings when statistically-speaking, a genocide of black people is taking place at 201 Pomona drive?  Where are the black pastors who are not only exposing abortion for the damnable genocide that it is but are also educating their people to vote for political candidates not because of the color of their skin but because of their dedication to protect pre-born life because the Bible says that the life of a human person begins at fertilization/conception?  Where are they? 
IN CONCLUSION, I’ve been listening to the social justice, missional people for years and like most other things I’ve watched come and go within evangelicalism, they too will eventually run out of steam and morph into something else that is just as non-gospel preaching as their current schtick.  They are a fad that has come and will eventually go as their “wave” runs out of fleshly energy and their adherents grow up a little bit and get tired of “the cause”, especially since it has no eternal, heavenly-minded gospel perspective and shows little results for such hard, dedicated work.  Some missionals need to repent of their worldly, godless thinking and embrace the gospel and then go and preach it while giving people sandwiches, clothes, and adoption options.  If you give an able-bodied man a fully belly, a warm cot, and a roof over his head and fail to give him the gospel whereby his soul can be saved, then you have done nothing more than heaped up more condemnation on him on the day of Judgment since his ongoing, continued dependence and trust upon you and “the system” instead of the Sovereign God to provide for his needs further calcifies and solidifies his ungrateful, lazy, and unrepentant heart.  The real Jesus said it best:

Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.  (John 6:27) 

The original appears here complete with a comments section here.

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Today [circa 1985], in the Christian world, we see a spectre rising in the greatest of all the [non-Christian] cults; it is the doctrine of universalism. Karl Barth taught it; neo-orthodoxy teaches it, it is the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees—and it reaches out—and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale [mentor to Robert Schuller] has become a convert to it. Dr. Peale no longer believes in the existence of hell; he no longer believes in a personal devil, he no longer believes in everlasting punishment.

Well then, what are you saved from? What did Jesus die for; to tap you on the wrist and say, “All-ee, all-ee in free.” Christ died for our sin; because the penalty of our sins is eternal spiritual death. I’m concerned about the kingdom of the cults and the occult—there’s 84 million people, going to hell. Somebody says, “You don’t really think that.” Well let me tell you, if you deny that Jesus Christ is God eternal, where do you think you’re gonna go?

And if you don’t think anybody’s going there, you had better get into your Bible—and as quickly as possible—because without the preaching of hell, there’s never revival. You’ll never have revival in the Christian church unless you warn people of what’s going on. You know one of the reasons evangelism has died on the mission field; because people have given up believing that God intends to punish! Well, He does.

I’m not a hard-shelled Southern Baptist preaching hell fire and brimstone because that’s my background. It isn’t my background. I’m a liberal Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, agnostic, that got saved. Hallelujah. I come by my witness of the Spirit the hard way… I want to tell you something, I have nothing against Dr. Peale; I have nothing against…people in the Christian world who are doing things like this.

But you better believe I have something against the doctrine that they’re preaching! And if I keep quiet, the stones’ll roar; because God will not let Himself [be] without a witness. We cannot afford to have heresy leavening the [visible] Christian church because we are afraid to offend people in high places. The minute you sell the truth; the minute you are willing to give in on your position as a representative of Jesus Christ, the nose of the camel is in your tent.

And it won’t be long before you’ll be on the outside, and the camel will be inside. I want you to look at something; and I want you to look at it hard. The leaven of the Sadducees and the Pharisees and the Herodians is all around us. Whatever denomination you go into and you find a man who says Jesus Christ is other then God Himself in human flesh; there it is. Wherever you go and you find a person saying Jesus Christ is not risen from the dead, in His own body; there it is.

Wherever you find a person saying Jesus is one way for the Christians, but Mohammad is for the [Muslims], Buddha is for the Buddhist; that is the leaven of the Sadducees. And wherever you go in and you hear people proclaiming that there is no eternal judgment, that God is not going to deal finally with sin—as Jesus said—then you are dealing with the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and perhaps, even of the Herodians.

The main thing is, the danger is here. Now people, characteristically and historically, do not like to be told about danger. That’s a living fact of history. People never take kindly to being warned; because they don’t want to be disturbed. Jesus disturbed everybody; He upset everyone. Now, you’ll find the Apostle Paul echoing this also. 1 Corinthians, chapter 5, “purge, therefore, the old leaven”; verse 7, “that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened.”

“For even Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians, chapter 5, tells you that the Christian is to purge out the leaven. Well, it [doesn't mean] purge out the leaven in your life. It means purge out the leaven in the church. And if people are teaching false doctrine, and if they are leading people astray with it, they should not be permitted the free exercise of [their teaching within] the Body of Christ; because a little leaven can make the whole lump sour.[1]

Walter Martin (1928-1989)

________________________________________________________________________________

End notes:

[1] Walter Martin, The Annihilation of Hell, CD Rom).

See also:

REMEMBERING THE AWFUL REALITY OF HELL

HELL: FOREVER’S A MIGHTY LONG TIME

RAZING HELL WITH SHARON BAKER

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He asks a lot of questions in which, unless they’re rhetorical (meaning he believes the answer to them is obviously “no”), they never get answered.  The first chapter “What About the Flat Tire?” is a chapter full of such questions.  The first three pages contain much of what he said in the video.  He talks about the art show at his church.  He asks if God has “created millions of people over tens of thousands of years who are going to spend eternity in anguish” and, if so, how he could do or allow that “and still claim to be a loving God”. (p.2)  And if there are only a select few, how do you become one of them?  ”Chance?  Luck?  Random selection?  Being born in the right place, family, or country?  Having a youth pastor who ‘relates better to the kids’?  God choosing you instead of others?  What kind of faith is that?  Or, more important: What kind of God is that?” (pp.2-3)…

Mr. Bell correctly says that a lot of people believe that [the so-called age of accountability] to be around twelve years old.  But what if your child lives past that age and ends up not believing in Jesus, dooming themselves to hellfire for all eternity?  In a passage that someone is sure to take out of context and say “Rob Bell Wants To Kill All Children Under the Age of Twelve!”, he writes ”If every new baby being born could grow up to not believe the right things and go to hell forever, then prematurely terminating a child’s life anytime from conception to twelve years of age would actually be the loving thing to do, guaranteeing that the child ends up in heaven, and not hell, forever.  Why run the risk?” (p.4)  This is, of course, rhetorical.  But it does give insight into Bell’s attitude on the traditional Christian doctrine of Hell.

He also spends significant time probing traditional ways of thinking about what salvation actually is.  Is it simply believing the right things?  Is it saying “the prayer”?  What is the prayer?  What if you prayed it once but it means nothing to you now?  Who do you pray to?  Jesus?  Which Jesus?  The Jesus an abusive father claims allegiance to?  The Jesus people kill other people over?  The Jesus that hates homosexuals?  If Romans 10:14 is true, is our salvation in someone else’s hands?  ”What if the missionary gets a flat tire?”  Is someone else’s eternity my responsibility then?  (pp.5-9)

A simple Christian understanding of salvation is this: You’re a sinner in need of grace, and if you believe in Jesus and confess him as your Lord and Savior and enter into a personal relationship with him, you’ll go to Heaven when you die.  The number of questions Bell raises is indicative of the difficulties he feels are inherent to such a concept.  To be fair, he never actually says it’s false.  His rhetorical questions seem to do that for him.  And again, if I’m mistaken and these questions aren’t rhetorical, he’s just bringing up questions he never intends to answer.  What he does positively state is that the phrase “personal relationship” appears nowhere in Scripture.  ”Nowhere in the Hebrew scriptures, nowhere in the New Testament.  Jesus never used the phrase.  Paul didn’t use it.  Nor did John, Peter, James, or the woman who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews.” (p.10)  (And yes, you read that last sentence right.)

I believe Bell’s dissatisfaction with such a view of salvation is seen most in his view of grace.  As I mentioned in the intro post, he never dismisses orthodox doctrine outright.  He redefines it.  Every good Christian knows and believes Ephesians 2:8-9:  ”For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  I believe this and so does Mr. Bell.  But we understand it very differently.  If salvation is a free gift that “we cannot earn by our own efforts, works, or good deeds- and all we have to do is accept and confess and believe, aren’t those verbs?  And aren’t verbs actions?  Accepting, confessing, believing-those are things we do.  Does that mean, then, that going to heaven is dependent on something I do?  How is any of that grace?  How is that a gift?  How is that good news?” (pp.10-11)  Isn’t that, he reasons, what has always set Christianity apart?   That you don’t have to do anything because Christ did it all on the cross?  (see John 19:30)

Citing numerous verses throughout the New Testament, Bell then proceeds to wonder aloud how people even get saved.  Citing Luke 18:13, Luke 23:42-43, John 3:3, and Luke 20:35, he asks if salvation is about being born again, being considered worthy, or if it’s a matter of what you say or what you are.  Citing Matthew 6:14, Matthew 7:21, and Matthew 10:22, he asks: “So do we have to forgive others, do the will of the Father, or ‘stand firm’ to be accepted by God?  Which is it?  Is it  what we say, or what we are, or who we forgive, or whether we do the will of God, or if we ‘stand firm’ or not?” Or is it a matter of what we say we’re going to do, as in the case of Zacchaeus? (Luke 19:8-9) (pp.12-14)

The list goes on for a couple more pages, but the point is made.  For Bell, the traditional evangelical understanding of salvation seems to be fraught with difficulties.  It’s just far too complicated.  Every “simple” statement the Bible makes about how to get saved just leads to more questions.  That isn’t to say these are not legitimate questions.  In fact they’re good questions.  But the impression I was left with at the end of the first chapter was that Bell seemed to have such a hard time reconciling the verses above that eventually he concluded he couldn’t, at which point he decided the problem must be in how we understand salvation.  Later in the book (in a VERY bold passage I’ll address in another entry), he upholds Jesus’ claim to be the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one would come to the Father except through him. (John 14:6)  Again, orthodox Christian belief here (at least in name).  But here’s what he sees in John 14:6: “What [Jesus] doesn’t say is how, or when, or in what manner the mechanism functions that gets people to God through him.  He doesn’t even state that those coming to the Father through him will even know that they are coming exclusively through him.” (p. 156)

So that pretty much sums up the first chapter. (Online source)

The Tenth Leper

See also:

TRANSCRIPT OF LOVE WINS VIDEO OF ROB BELL

IS ROB BELL EVANGELICAL?

ROB BELL IS DEFINITELY NOT LIKE JESUS

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Love Wins is my first foray into the writings of Rob Bell…  I’ve always felt that I would have to read one of his books for myself before seriously engaging one of his followers.  Turns out, Love Wins, perhaps his most controversial book to date (based solely upon a promotional video on it), is that book… Rob Bell released a promotional video last weekend for his upcoming book Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.  The video seems to strongly suggest that Rob Bell is promoting a Universalist theology…

A month or so ago I got my hands on an advance-reader copy of the book and decided to take it, knowing that if ever I was going to read a book by the guy, why not his newest one which talks about hell and which I got for free?  It’s been on my bookcase since then, and after watching his promo video for the book on Saturday, I pulled it off the shelf and started it.  I finished it in two sittings,…  I’ll be analyzing his book in different posts over the next several days.  My initial assessment of the book is this: I think my conviction that I should read Rob Bell before I ever publish an opinion on Rob Bell was extremely well-founded. 

That’s because Bell doesn’t strike me as the guy who would ever denounce orthodox Christian beliefs outright.  He strikes me as a guy who would denounce them by retaining Christian terms and redefining them, seeking in the process to show how this new definition of such a familiar term as “hell” isn’t new at all.  Rather, the term as he uses it is how it was originally understood by the writers of the New Testament and their audiences, and we are the ones who have made it to mean something it was never meant to mean. 

That’s why I’m glad I sat down to read this book for myself, because Bell doesn’t really seek to say “This isn’t in the Bible” as much as he does “That’s not actually what the Bible is saying here.”  “Do I believe in a literal hell?” he asks.  “Of course.” (p.72)  So it’s perhaps not the best route to rebuke Bell’s argument by pointing to places in Scripture that talk about Hell as a real place.  Nor is it as simple as quoting Matthew 25:46 which says that those who do evil go off to “eternal punishment.”  He’s ready for that. 

Invoking the original language of the New Testament, he’ll argue his case that the punishment referred to here (better translated, he believes, as “correction”, or “pruning”, or “trimming”) doesn’t last forever in the way we understand the term “forever”.  If I were to rebuke his thoughts on Hell by pointing to Matthew 25:46, it would be clear to anyone who has read Love Wins that I had not.

The definition of “eternal” in Matthew 25:46 (which I’ll devote a whole entry to) is probably the most blunt thing I remember reading in Love Wins.  As I said, he doesn’t ever say “Hell isn’t real.”  He just challenges what we mean by it.  He’s too smart to be overly blunt throughout most of the book.  But he makes no apology for his declaration that while Hell is a real place, and people will go there, it’s not forever.  Ultimately, God’s love will prevail for every person and they will be restored. 

So I would say that what the recently-released promo video for Love Wins suggests, the book confirms. (Online source)

The Tenth Leper

See also:

TRANSCRIPT OF LOVE WINS VIDEO OF ROB BELL

IS ROB BELL EVANGELICAL?

ROB BELL IS DEFINITELY NOT LIKE JESUS

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By Ponderings From Patmos: Biblical Truth For Modern Day Exiles, used with permission

Today on Patmos we will discuss my experience at the Saddleback Health and Fitness Seminar this past weekend.  I first arrived to Saddleback’s campus only to be told that “all parking lots were full.”  I drove across the street to see if there were any spots available in the business lots and they were full too.  I ended up parking in a housing tract and walked a mile or two back to Saddleback’s campus.  As I arrived, I overheard a parking lot attendant say they estimated about 6,000 people had come to the seminar. 

I was a little late, so I was grateful to my nephew who went online and began to relay what was being said in the opening comments, as I didn’t want to miss what was to be the foundation of the talks that day.  I was a little taken aback when my nephew told me the first speaker, Dr. Amen, made reference to the Egyptian pyramids and how they were built upon an ”idea,” and if man could build something like that all those thousands of years ago, what could he do today if he put his mind to it?  I found that to be somewhat disturbing, as the pyramids, no matter how impressive they were, represent the ancient pagan religions which got their start in Babylon when Nimrod gathered men (the community) together to commit idolatry by building a tower to honor themselves as gods (Gen. Ch. 11). [1]  And yet here it was, the analogy that was chosen to illustrate this new “idea” Saddleback would launch their 52 week program with.  No matter what Dr. Amen’s intent was, I believe the analogy was appropriate, and the subtle message is telling…”MAN CAN DO ANYTHING HE PUTS HIS MIND TO.”  Sound familiar? (Read Gen. 3:4-5). [2]

As I began to head up the hill toward the main sanctuary, a Saddleback tram pulled up and the driver asked if I wanted a lift and I said I preferred to walk, but thanks.  The driver yelled, “Let’s all give her a hand folks, she’s started the Daniel Plan already!”  And the people on the tram cheered.  Nevermind the fact that I have been walking my entire life because I enjoy doing so, not because of some health and fitness campaign.  I sensed I was entering a nightmare.

The main sanctuary was full & it was standing room only.  They told me the overflow areas were full too.  So I found a spot on the patio outside the main sanctuary looking in.  I had a good view and could see the stage perfectly.  Their outdoor sound system made it so I could roam around, observe the audience, continue to listen to the guest speakers, and take notes.

To begin, I’d like to state that Saturday Jan. 15th, 2011 will go down in the history books as the day Saddleback Church was sold a bill of goods.  The masses had come out in droves for answers to their weight loss difficulties & health problems, but unbeknownst to them, they were being given a prescription for restructuring society & population control.

The prescription goes by the name Agenda 21, a.k.a. “Sustainable Development” or “Smart Growth.”  Agenda 21 is a published document put out by the United Nations with the intent to put limits on population and to restructure nation-states into a global society. [3] Rick Warren’s “new friends” had dubbed it, “The Daniel Plan – God’s Prescription For Your Health.”  A more appropriate title would’ve been, ”Sustainable Living - Destroying Inalienable Rights, One Community at a Time.”

By the time I settled into listening more intently, the second speaker, Mark Hyman, began.  It didn’t take too long to figure out what the basis of his message was.  We ”need to heal with community” (he termed this “accompaniment”), “we’re here for the sake of each other,” this plan “is our way out,” this plan “saved me,” and in fact will ”change the world.”   Saddleback was being told they were a “test community” to show the world how to live “healthy and sustainably.”  When I heard these words, my heart sank.  It was as I’d feared.  I knew which buzzwords to listen for, and he was hitting them all.  The audience was told they would be champions in health to show the world what “living sustainably” was all about, but Dr. Hyman is a leftist who is more than a champion in health, he’s a change agent for the global elite, as is Dr. Oz & Dr. Amen.  Dr. Hyman is the founder and medical director of the Ultra Wellness Center, he advises Dr. Oz’s healthcore group, and he’s a nominee to President Obama’s advisory group on prevention, health promotion, and integrative and public health. [4]  Hmmmmmm.  I smell an agenda.

Dr. Hyman practices what’s known as “functional medicine,” which means he uses a “whole systems” approach to medicine, in other words, he practices medicine ”wholistically.” This is also known as “Mind Body” medicine.  At Saddleback’s seminar, “mind body” or “functional” medicine was presented as if it’s completely scientific.  Any scientist worth his salt will tell you that yes, the body can be measured scientifically, but the mind falls into an entirely different category which can never be measured by science.  As stated by Dave Hunt in his book Occult Invasion – The Subtle Seduction of the World and Church, “Physical science, by very definition, can make no judgements concerning a nonphysical realm” as is the mind & the soul. [5] In other words, the mind and the soul are scientifically immeasurable.

It’s the same with the religions of ”Mind Science.”  Calling a religion “Mind Science” or “Scientology,” when there’s nothing scientific about it, is the same as calling a cereal “Grapenuts” when it contains no grapes or nuts.  But we live in an era when the masses have been sufficiently dumbed down and all it takes to impress is clever packaging and branding.  If “they” say it’s science, then dog-gone-it, it’s science!  After all, “these doctors are on television.”

As I sat through all 3 presentations by Dr.’s Hyman, Amen, & Oz, what came to mind were the traveling snake oil salesmen of the 1800′s.  They talk fast, so fast that the message that’s really being given, goes right over people’s heads.  They used tactics to tug at the heart strings such as videos of sick little girls who suddenly got well from being on “the program” and have been “set free” from relying on medications.  Then they flooded the audience with “facts” and “statistics” to scare any grandmother, such as “a tsunami of disease is hitting us,” “life expectancy is going down,” “1 out of 2 people are diabetic or pre-diabetic,” “70% of all agricultural land is taken up by growing animals to feed all the people,” “the bigger your body gets, the more your brain shrinks,” etc. 

I about fell off my chair when Dr. Hyman stated, “The key to the success of the “Daniel Plan” is “group living”…”individuals” will not succeed, our only hope lies in “community.”  And with that, it was announced that the “Saddleback community” would be an example of “sustainable living” and would set the course to ”change this world”…and the crowd went wild!  I have to admit that visions of the masses being manipulated by Adolf Hitler’s oratory skills came to my mind, only this particular crowd had just been manipulated by a really bad infomercial.

Dr. Hyman said that he is a Jew, Dr. Amen is a Christian, and Dr. Oz is a Muslim.  And doesn’t that represent the demographic of “most of the population of the world?”  But then he said, “We’re all the same underneath.”  True to his snake oil salesman fashion, Dr. Hyman didn’t define his terms.  What in the world does he mean “we’re all the same underneath”?  That can mean a number of things.  Since he was speaking to a religious crowd, I’d venture to say some of the folks present took that to mean we’re all children of God (Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.), which is patently false according to the Bible.  The Bible says there are only two groups, children of wrath and children of God.  You’re either one or the other, a believer in Christ Jesus, or a non-believer. We aren’t “all the same underneath.” (Ephesians Ch. 2). [6]

The only way in which we’re “all the same underneath” is we’re all sinners in need of a savior, and the savior isn’t “sustainable living.”  The Savior is Jesus Christ and He is the only way unto salvation. (John 14:6). [7]  And to become a child of God, Jesus said, “You must be born again.” (John Ch. 3). [8]  The tragic thing about the talks given at Saddleback is, Jesus was never mentioned…and I mean NEVER.  There was a reference to Jesus in the opening worship song along with a few passing references to God by Rick Warren.  Daniel Amen mentioned that our bodies were ”a temple of the Holy Spirit and the brain is the innersanctum,” but in the lessons being taught that day, Jesus didn’t make the cut, “sustainable lifestyles” & “group living” did.

Following Dr. Hyman’s talk, my best friend arrived to observe the day with me, only to hear Dr. Amen mention in his presentation that he did a brain scan on one of his clients who had a habit of cheating on his wife.  The brain scan showed that there were “holes in the pre-frontal cortex of his brain” which controls the impulses.  In other words, this man wasn’t sinful, he was “mentally ill.”  All he needed was to get on the “Change Your Brain, Change Your Body” program, and his personal struggles with sin were remedied.  Once again, Jesus was removed from the equation.  My friend and I were dumbfounded when we listened to the Saddleback crowd cheer.  My best friend couldn’t contain it any longer and let out a, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”  My thoughts exactly!

Dr. Hyman recommended yoga and meditation to the crowd.  Dr. Amen gave a diplomatic denunciation of yoga (which is contradictory since he has recommended it himself), but about five sentences later mentioned a study done by a friend of his named Andy Newberg who did brain scans on Tibetan nuns and Franciscan priests while in “prayer and contemplation” and the study showed that “spiritual connection” is healthy.  Dr. Amen has been an advocate of ”Sa Ta Na Ma” meditation. [9]

If by chance any attendees of the Saddleback “Health and Fitness Seminar” read this blog post, I encourage you to educate yourself about what globalism truly is.  You also need to research Agenda 21.  As stated earlier, the purpose of Agenda 21 is to restructure society.  Sounds conspiratorial, I know.  But it isn’t a conspiracy, it’s a published document of the United Nations that’s in full swing.  Anywhere you hear the terms, “Sustainable Development,” “sustainable living,” “smart growth,” “going green,” etc., rest assured you’ve just been exposed to the U.N.’s Agenda 21. [10]

It shouldn’t surprise us that Pastor Rick Warren would allow a seminar of this nature at Saddleback, after all, he himself has “GONE GREEN.” [11]  He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. [12]  This illustrates the natural progression of one being unequally yoked with non-believers & buying into heresies such as ”Kingdom Now,” “Dominionism,” or ”Restoration Theology.”  Where these heresies reign, as they do at Saddleback, you will find that the focus subtly shifts from salvation in Christ alone, through faith alone, to misguided efforts to restore mankind & the earth through “community” works, sustainable living, and social justice.  How convenient that these just happen to be the vehicles which the United Nations is using to further it’s own agenda to restructure society & unite the world under its governing body of global elites.

TRUE TRUTH:
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

(I found it to be slightly humorous that, on page 9 of the booklet which Saddleback passed out to attendees, the symptom of “itchy ears” was listed in the “Medical Symptom/Toxicity Questionnaire”…oh, the irony!)

Endnotes:
1. Genesis 11:4 – “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’”

2. Genesis 3:4-5 – “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

3. Agenda 21 -
http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/

4. Mark Hyman’s presentation at “Authors @ Google” titled, The UltraMind Solution: Healthy Body, Powerful Mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAZVpsd2Nao

5. Occult Invasion – The Subtle Seduction of the World and the Church, Dave Hunt, Harvest House Publishers 1998, pg. 61

6. Ephesians Ch. 2:1-5 – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).”

7. John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

8. John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said unto him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

9. Dr. Amen recommends “Sa Ta Na Ma” meditation a form of Kirtin Kriya yoga.
http://richardeward.com/kirtin-kriya-sa-ta-na-ma-meditation/

10. Agenda 21 – The U.N. Plan for Your Sustainable Community
http://www.crossroad.to/text/articles/la21_198.html

11. A Greener Spirit: Evangelicals Embrace “Creation Care”
http://environment.change.org/blog/view/a_greener_spirit_evangelicals_embrace_creation_care

12. Council on Foreign Relations Membership Roster
http://www.cfr.org/about/membership/roster.html?letter=W

The original appears complete with a comments section right here.

See also:

RICK WARREN AND HERESY

ECUMENICAL APOLOGETICS WEEKEND OF RICK WARREN

RICK WARREN, DR. DESTINY LAVERNE ADAMS, AND “APOSTLE” CHUCK PIERCE

RICK WARREN, DR. DESTINY, AND DR. CINDY TRIMM

RICK WARREN PRESENTS US OUR DESTINY DOCTOR

SADDLEBACK CHURCH, RICK WARREN, AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

RICK WARREN AND PURPOSE DRIVEN ROMAN CATHOLICS

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By Apprising Ministries correspondent Mike Ratilff of Possessing the Treasure

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:18-27 ESV)

This ministry exists solely by the grace of God. I do not depend on donations or advertisers to keep things going. I work for a living and this site is maintained on WordPress.com so it is free. I spend time and prayer and effort in it of course, but I do not depend upon the financial support of others to keep things going. However, I have friends who minister full time and those who depend upon advertisers to keep their radio shows on the air, et cetera always have that threat of having that money pulled away as pressure comes to bear for various reasons.

I heard from a friend today who lost two advertisers who told him they had received numerous complaints about his stance on homosexuality in the church and so they were pulling their advertising dollars from his ministry. Of course, those very same people who were calling in the complaints also hacked into his web site and did major damage to it. All of this was done by certain people who claim to be Christians that insist on the unconditional love of Jesus for all. I guess that love only goes to those who support their agenda of gay affirmation in the visible church.

Carefully read this disgusting piece from The Huffington Post. As we have been studying about for months my brethren, just calling oneself a Christian does not make you one. As we saw in yesterday’s post, Not All of You Are Clean, Judas Iscariot looked just like the rest of our Lord’s disciples and our Lord even washed his feet, but that did not change the fact that he was an imposter and betrayed our Lord. If you read that piece from The Huffington Post and still believe that Jay Bakker is not a heretic then please tell me why not.

I actually look at this as the opening explosion in a Tsunami of open confessions from the supposed Evangelical community of Gay Affirmations as well as those who profess to be both Christian and Homosexual. Of course, God’s Word knows nothing of this. These are mutually exclusive.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV)

Notice that it is the unrepentant who will not inherit the kingdom of God. Within those to whom Paul was writing that letter were former homosexuals. By God’s grace, forgiveness and healing is available.

In any case, look for this sort of thing to increase in both frequency and volume in the apostate visible church. Let us continue to proclaim the truth by the grace of God, giving the Gospel to all who will hear.

Soli Deo Gloria!

The original appears complete with a comments section right here.

See also:

“OUTLAW PREACHER” JAY BAKKER SHILLS FOR “GAY BISHOP” GENE ROBINSON

WHAT JAY BAKKER WISHES THE BIBLE SAID ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY

BUT DO EMERGENCE CHRISTIANITY AND BRIAN MCLAREN REALLY LOVE GAY PEOPLE? 

THE SIN OF HOMOSEXUALITY IS DIFFERENT 

COUNTRY SINGER AND DEVOUT CHRISTIAN CHELY WRIGHT COMING OUT AS A LESBIAN

GAY CHRISTIAN SINGER JENNIFER KNAPP OUT ON LARRY KING LIVE

GAY CHRISTIAN RAY BOLTZ: “I DON’T BELIEVE GOD HATES ME ANYMORE”

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You are those who have stayed with me in my trials. (Luke 22:28)
 
When life is done and role is called up yonder, what will be the words that every disciple will want to hear? Perhaps, the most famous words men want to hear are, “Well done good and faithful servant.”  Certainly these would be words that a disciple would want to hear from his Master, but perhaps of equal value are the words that Jesus shares with his disciples before his final hour. 

 These men who are with him have endured much in following Jesus and have not turned away.  There was one point in Jesus’ ministry where thousands turned away and would walk with him no longer (John 6:66).  Throughout Jesus’ public ministry the Pharisees had tried to trap him, malign him, blaspheme him, and even kill him.  The disciples were quite aware of all the attacks upon their Master and even sought to warn and protect him at times. 

 These men had committed their lives to follow a man who lived under a death sentence.  They had as much opportunity to turn away from him as any other man, but yet they refused go back on their word.  They had left family, friends, jobs, and normal lives to follow a man that was hated by the world.  There were amazing times of healings, casting out demons, raising the dead, and season of many believing the Words of Jesus, but at the same time there was always danger in being associating with Jesus. 

The commitment level of the confessing Christian of America pales in comparison to these men.  Men who claim to be committed to following Christ will turn away from him due to very minimal tension.  Scores of people come into the church for numerous reasons and make a public decision to commit their lives to Christ, but very few are willing to stay the course.  Christianity has no room for wimpy, whining, worthless confessions.  Christianity is for real men who will sell everything, leave everyone, and take up their cross and follow their Master.  Those who have been regenerated by the work of the Holy Spirit will be those who will follow Christ to the end no matter the cost. 

Dearly beloved, examine the level of your commitment to Christ.  Have you found Him to be a lovely Savior?  Have you found Him to be trustworthy to His Word?  Have you found Him to be faithful to a thousand generations?  Have you found Him to be longsuffering towards your sinfulness?  If He is all of these things and a thousands more then you have no excuse for not following Him all the way into eternity.  Endure to the end for His glory!

J. Randall Easter, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Briar, Azle, TX.
II Timothy 2:19
“He who sells cheapest shall have most customers; the devil knows that it is a cheap and easy doctrine which pleases the flesh, and he doubts not but he shall have customers enough.” (Thomas Watson)

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