THE CHURCH MILITANT
Ephesians 5:11-"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them". This Christian News Blog maintains a one stop resource of current news and reports of its own related to church, moral, spiritual, and related political issues, plus articles, and postings from other online discernment ministries, and media which share the aims to obey the biblical commands to shed light on and refute error, heresy, apostasy, cults, and spiritual abuse.
Stand Up For The Truth reports here: http://standupforthetruth.com/2013/06/church-of-england-to-blend-christianity-with-paganism-to-attract-spiritualists/. Quote from above article: "Here’s a new twist on church growth: creating a pagan atmosphere and branding campaign for New Age spiritualists in order to increase the number of bodies in the pews. The Church of England is actually training its ministers to create “a pagan church where Christianity [is] very much in the center” to attract spiritual believers. That means changing the Anglican church doctrine to make it more inclusive for people of alternative beliefs. The Church of England admits that its motive is to retain congregation numbers who have embraced paganism." See also: "Church of England creating ‘pagan church’ to recruit members" at: http://bloggingtheology.wordpress.com/2013/06/22/13549/. See also: "Has the Church of England finally lost the plot?" at: http://ishtarsgate.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/has-the-church-of-england-finally-lost-the-plot/.
Meanwhile, there has been much about Anglican/Catholic reconciliation and unity:
Lighthouse Trails Research has published this very insightful story about the "grave increased danger of sexual abuse" for America's children and children around the world coming from the homosexual community. Deborah Dombrowski has this special commentary, quoted in full:
A Special Commentary by Deborah Dombrowski
As I read the headlines on the computer screen from an article a Lighthouse Trails reader had sent me the morning of July 6th, I remembered another headline I had seen just the day before. One was about a child pornography sex ring, and the other was about Obama. Putting those two stories together with this year’s earlier events of the Boy Scouts of America lifting the ban on openly homosexual scouts, I knew I would be writing an article myself, one that would be considered most un-politically correct by today’s standards. But that didn’t matter – it was the children I was concerned about.
Just by the headlines, I knew before even reading the story, it was going to be bad: “Model gay adoptive ‘fathers’ sexually abused 6-year-old for years: offered him to pedophile ring.” A homosexual ”couple” who lived in Australia (one of the men is American) adopted a baby boy from a Russian woman to whom they had paid $8,000 to be a surrogate mother. One news story wrote, ”Adam was handed over to [Mark] Newton and [Peter] Truong a mere five days after his birth in 2005.” The story of the adoption was actually highly publicized to show how a homosexual couple was no different than any other loving adoptive couple. But as this and other news stories have broken over this case, this was no loving couple. On the contrary, according to news sources, Newton and Truong are members of an international syndicate called Boy Lovers Network. One of the U.S. investigator’s on the case said it was “one of the worst [pedophile] rings” he had ever heard of.1 And he used the word “depraved” in describing what happened to the little boy. The men began sexually abusing the boy at 22 months old (some reports say even earlier than that). In the course of four years, the boy was molested by several other men, and the abuse was often turned into child pornography (a very “lucrative” industry). Newton, the American pedophile “father,” was sentenced to 40 years in prison on June 28th in a U.S. District court because of his role in the abuse.2 According to prosecutors, Truong has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
After reading this tragic story, I recalled the headlines of another story I had read the day before, “Obama Uses African Trip as Platform to Urge Nations to Decriminalize Homosexual Behavior.” The president of the United States was calling for countries around the world to legalize homosexuality. How ironic was this! The article, written by Christian News Network, stated:
“During his visit to Senegal, a largely Muslim country, Obama praised the United States Supreme Court for its decision to strike down key parts of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, stating that it was a “victory for American democracy and a proud day for equal rights.” He called upon African governments to likewise work to make homosexuals equal under the law, comparing the “controversial” issue in Africa to the American civil rights battle of the 1960s.”3
Earlier this year, as many know, the Boy Scouts of America, under pressure by homosexual activists and the U.S. media, caved in and removed a long-standing ban on openly practicing homosexual scouts.4 GLAAD and other homosexual activists immediately began their next campaign – for the Boy Scouts to allow openly practicing homosexual leaders into the scouts. We have no doubt now that this will happen – it’s just a matter of time.5
And then just last week, to make matters worse, Alan Chambers, the founder and director of the Christian organization Exodus International (a ministry to help homosexuals come out of that lifestyle) shut down the organization and made a public “apology” to the homosexual community for what he had done to them all these years.6 It was a devastating blow and betrayal to those Christians who have sincerely and lovingly worked to help homosexuals. And as we stated in an article, it was more “fruit” of the emerging church.
As Lighthouse Trails has been testifying to for many years, where there is homosexuality, there will be often be pedophilia. Are we saying that every homosexual will molest children? No. But when lust is let loose with no constraints (which is the category that homosexuality falls under), the “flesh” (i.e., the sin nature – which the Bible says is wicked and perverse) can never be satisfied. Carnality has an appetite that only grows the more you feed it. And like drug addiction, sex addiction when allowed to run freely must have “harder drugs” (in this case sex) to be satisfied. So, the practicing homosexual, just like the practicing pornography addict, is at greater risk of turning to molesting children than the person who does not give in to his lusts and sexual appetites.
As we have watched in horror the fall of the United States by its huge pornography (including child pornography) industry and now the embracing of the homosexual lifestyle and the destruction of the family (the God-given core of civilization) through the same-sex marriage laws, we have no doubt that child molestation in this country is going to escalate greatly. But what we predict will happen, as has already happened in other places (such as Amsterdam) and other time periods, child molestation will no longer be a crime. Impossible!, you say. Not at all. In 1973, the American Psychological Association (APA) changed the category of homosexuality from abnormal to normal. Then, in 1998, the APA released a “research” report in their publication, Psychological Bulletin, which stated that sexual relations with children is not necessarily harmful to them.7 And here we have an activist for homosexuality in the White House, voted in twice by the American people – and the damage has only just begun.
In 2006, when it came out that mega-pastor Ted Haggard was caught having a two-year homosexual relationship with a prostitute, I wrote an article titled, “Ted Haggard Story Will Raise Serious Questions For All.” It was in that article I told our readers that I was the Catherine Brown of Laughter Calls Me (a very personal account of how my children were the victims of a child pornography sex ring many years ago). And what I find troubling is that many of today’s American adults are ignorant of reality when it comes to the magnitude of children who are being abused in this country. I remember after our Haggard article came out, a reporter called me in my Lighthouse Trails office and said she did not believe child pornography was a big problem or a multi-million dollar industry as we have often stated. I told her to call the Los Angeles Police Department’s child exploitation division and ask them to show her the 15+ foot wall of gym lockers that were stuffed with confiscated evidence of child pornography. I know it’s there – I have stood in front of that wall of filth and gazed in shock upon some of its contents. And that was just one city of hundreds throughout this country with similar caches.
In my Ted Haggard article, I stated:
What does homosexuality and pornography do to families? Add to that the victimization of children, which is often the case, and you have the ingredients to destroy a society. Throw in drugs and New Age mysticism . . . and you have little to hold on to.
Anyone who does not realize what is happening to children needs to have his head examined. And anyone who does not see the connection between pornography – homosexuality – and child molestation is not putting two and two together.
A different, but related, tragedy we are watching unfold is the fast-changing views of the evangelical and Protestant church regarding homosexuality. We have written about this many times, and Roger Oakland wrote about it in his book Faith Undone calling it the “new” sexuality. We’re not going to repeat ourselves in this article, but you can read one recent article where we documented this change: “We Said it Would Happen, and It Has – CNN: ‘At evangelical colleges, a shifting attitude toward gay students.’”
A few years ago, one of the Lighthouse Trails readers, whom we had come to know personally, told us that weeks after their 18-year-old son graduated from the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa High School, he announced to them that he was “gay.” Today, at twenty-something, their son has gone fully into the homosexual lifestyle, recently announcing to them he was moving across the country with his new- found boyfriend. Are we saying that it is Calvary Chapel’s fault that this boy became homosexual? No, not directly or entirely anyway. But as we wrote about in 2009, the Calvary Chapel High School was introducing their students to contemplative authors, and we have time and again shown the connection between contemplative – emerging – and a growing laxed view on homosexuality. They have always gone hand in hand, and they will continue to do so. Why? Because the premise behind each is the antithesis of sinful man needing a Savior, but rather it is man can be his own God. Each is earthly, sensual, and devilish (James 3:15) and only feeds the lusts and carnality of men and women.
While we probably are not going to be able to stop the freight train of destruction that America’s politicians, Supreme Court justices, activists, and lobbyists have the country on, as Christian believers, we must continue our efforts to call out to Christian leaders to stop going down the path they are on, repent (turn around), and get going in the right direction. Christian leaders, you are calling for some kind of national repentance and turn around, but you yourselves are embracing the very spirituality that is causing much of America’s ruin. Can not just one major Christian leader come forth, humble himself, and admit that the contemplative/emerging mystical paradigm shift is wrong and dangerous? You may not think that has anything to do with children being molested, but remember, there is only one root of evil – that enemy of God – the Devil and his forces – and he is the father of all sin. Whether it’s practicing contemplative prayer, practicing homosexuality, or molesting children – it’s all coming from the same source. Yes, that is an indicting statement.
We are exhorted in the Bible to run to the light – that Light who is Jesus Christ. We are to resist evil and cling to that which is good. There are only two choices – toward the Light or toward the darkness!
If the Christian leaders and pastors in North America would truly repent, many would follow, and there could be genuine pure revival. It won’t be a politically correct revival, keep in mind, and won’t win over the masses (like a coming false revival will do). But it will return many to their first love and will save many out of the fire of destruction. What’s more, one fruit of such a true revival would mean fewer kids being sexually abused. That’s one thing you can be sure of. As I stated in my 2006 Haggard article, ”Christian leaders, as a whole, have been walking in deception and sin for some time, and they have bankrupted the Christian church at the price of truth, and souls have been lost because of it.”
As I sit here writing this article, another headline has come across my desk this morning,” ‘The Boxtrolls’ Trailer, New Animated Film By Laika, Features Gay Parents.” The article states:
Laika, the same company that brought us “Coraline” and last year’s Oscar-nominated “Paranorman,” returns with the trailer for their next feature, “The Boxtrolls.” Anyone who saw “Paranorman” (co-directed by out director Chris Butler) knows the film’s punchline when cheerleader Courtney (voiced by Anna Kendrick) asks meathead jock, Mitch (voiced by Casey Affleck), to a romantic movie, only to find out he’s gay with a boyfriend.
Having an out gay person as a lead character was a first for a mainstream animated film, and the film not only received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, but also a GLAAD Media Award Nomination as well.
The culture we live in, dear Christian, has dramatically changed. The Bible says these last days will be like that. What is good is being called evil, and what is evil is being called good. But if the church loses its love for the truth, how can we share the truth of the Gospel with the unsaved if we no longer have it ourselves. Remember the warnings Jesus gave in Revelation to the churches. May we heed those warnings while there is still time to do it:
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:4-5)
I want to end with a note of exhortation to Christian believers who are remaining faithful to the truth and the Gospel and who understand the times in which we live. In my 2006 article, I stated:
As leaders like Rick Warren have contacted us at Lighthouse Trails, and as I have seen first hand their efforts to defend themselves and cover up the truth, I have wondered why they should still be called the leaders of the church. And then I realized, the true body of Christ is not made up of leaders that compromise, deceive, and preach false doctrines that the Bible warns about.
The true body of Christ has one leader, and He is a powerful – yet loving, a righteous – yet compassionate God. And He is the only way of salvation – there is absolutely no other way. As opposed to the religions of the world, with Christ we cannot earn salvation; He gives it freely. While we are all sinners and equally need forgiveness from him, and while we do sin and need to go to Him in humility and confession, we cannot abide in sin if He lives in us. And He will live in the repentant soul who humbles himself and asks Jesus Christ to be Lord of his life.()
We can count on Him and on His Word. May those who are remaining faithful stand, by His grace, until He returns.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
See video below, a preview of The Kinsey Syndrome, exposing the works of Alfred Kinsey and his role in North American’s sex education in public schools. If you cannot see the video below, click here.
A San Diego judge has ruled in favor of yoga classes in public elementary schools, rejecting an argument from some parents that the practice was an attempt at religious mind control.
Judge John S. Meyer spoke from the bench for nearly two hours Monday as he presented his ruling on the yoga program being taught to elementary school children in the Encinitas Unified School District.
At issue: Are yoga poses religious in nature, and can schools offer yoga instruction as part of its physical education program without promoting the religion or spirituality behind the practice?
Meyer heard testimony in May regarding Ashtanga yoga and a curriculum established within EUSD where students practice yoga as P.E.
Robert Dekker pastor in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware defies town refusal to permit worship service on beach for Independence Day, July 4, 2013. This beach town has for years accomodated a sizable gay community with gay shops. Gay Pool Party at Rehoboth:
INTERFAITH INFLUENCES ON KIDSPEACE LEAVE JESUS CHRIST OUT; NO PEACE THE RESULT!
We will be expanding our research of "Interfaith" ministries, chaplaincies, and movements which are based on Christ denying, multi-faith, divine-in-us, philosophies and practices rooted in pagan and heretical religions of the past and present, which in their totality, deny the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and His gospel of repentance and forgiveness.
To begin, we present this video from the "All For God" website of Marian Schappell, new ager, interfaith chaplain, yoga promoter and practitioner, singer, teacher, apologist, and missionary at: http://allforgod.ning.com/video/christ-consciousness-seed, whose main website is at http://www.blueskychaplain.com/about_marian__her_mission/. It reflects the universalist/panentheist concept of the "divine in us", "Christ consciousness seed" lying dormant within every human being, waiting to be awakened or activated by human will.
"KidsPeace has been providing services to children since 1882. At the main KidsPeace campus in Orefield, PA, an important aspect of each child's treatment is the opportunity to participate in religious or spiritual activities during their free time. Marian Schappell and Tony Jefferson are part-time spirituality teachers and chaplains to the children of KidsPeace, and they fulfill their ministry by recruiting members of the local religious community and KidsPeace associates to volunteer with the children. A diverse group of dedicated clergy and lay people donate their time and love to conduct religious services, teach spirituality, mentor and listen to the children, sing, pray, play basketball and be there for the children on a regular basis.
To thank all of these volunteers for their important contributions, KidsPeace hosted an appreciation breakfast this week to thank all of those who spend their time with the children. Among the attendees were pastors and chaplains of a number of Lehigh Valley churches and associations, members of the Parkland Ministerium, volunteers who teach and advise the children and KidsPeace associates who are members of the Spirituality Committee. Several KidsPeace children attended as well to express their thanks to the wonderful volunteers who help them so much. One young man performed a rap he wrote encouraging others to pray and try hard, while a young woman sang a poignant song and told her story of life before KidsPeace. Another young lady told her story, thanking Marian for all of the help she provided to her in her recovery. Katya, a volunteer, sang a song she composed for the KidsPeace children that asks that all be released from the darkness and see God in others. Another young man discussed how Islam has turned him into a better person and praised volunteers from the Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley who teach teens about the Koran, prayers and how to model Islamic behavior. One of the pastors spoke about bringing God to the children, giving them the courage to open up and trust others.
After enjoying a wonderful breakfast with KidsPeace associates and several youth, the volunteers joined into a prayer circle and sang along with Marian to give thanks for all of their gifts from God. It was a touching tribute to these unselfish men and women who work so hard to bring the kids peace and healing."
Marian Schappell joins Deacon Charles Coyle and Msgr. Robert Wargo at KidsPeace appreciation breakfast.
But Kidspeace has had a fair share of no peace.
For example:
A) Physical Harm and Sexual Assault by Counselors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidspeace, Quote: "In 1993, Dean Sine, a counselor in the Orefield, Pennsylvania facility restrained a 12-year-old boy by sitting on his buttocks and then lower back. The boy reported that he couldn't breath, but the restraint was continued until after the boy was unresponsive, when it was discovered that the boy had stopped breathing. Resuscitation attempts failed, and the counselor was charged and acquitted of homicide in criminal court in 1995.KidsPeace was also sued regarding the incident, and settled out of court for over $1 million.The 12-year-old had previously claimed to have been raped by adult men in KidsPeace, resulting in the family trying to remove the boy from KidPeace's care. This claim was supported by court documents showing that KidPeace was aware of rectal injuries to the 12-year-old, but declined to report them to authorities.
In August 2003, Dean Sine plead guilty to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old boy in 1994. KidsPeace has declined to comment on whether Sine was working for them at the time of or in relation to the incident.
In 2007, admissions to KidsPeace were halted by state officials due to seven children sustaining broken bones while being restrained by KidsPeace staff. Admissions resumed in December 2007."
Quote: "In April 2008, two 16-year-old girls accessed a counselor's supply of methadone pills in her car. The girls took a total of 28 pills, resulting in one girl fatally overdosing and another being partially paralyzed. The girls were being given a ride home from a group home for children with drug problems."
Quote: "As of 2010, the pension plan for KidsPeace was underfunded by $42 million. In January 2012, KidsPeace failed to make a $1.4 million bond payment. In March 2012, a lien was filed against KidsPeace for failing to contribute $3 million to its retirement plan. As a partial result, Moody's downgraded KidPeace's bond rating to a C.
Executives at KidsPeace receive salaries and compensation of up to $413,729 per year."
D) Morning Call news coverage of other abuse at Kidspeace:
Quote from reporter Paul Carpenter: "I have had a great deal to say about KidsPeace over the years -- virtually all of it bad. This enormously profitable outfit has a symbiotic relationship with powerful agencies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was at the big KidsPeace complex in Lehigh County that Sine killed Jason, when Sine was a counselor there.
It seems obvious that the culture of peace has not taken root at Kidspeace despite all the religion and instructing children to discover their so-called "innate divine seed (or spark)". Instead, in their spare time, children are exposed to spiritual abuse and pagan practices while Medicaid funds the company.
One of the main players in the promotion of New Age/Occult "Christ Consciousness", yoga, Hindu, and Buddhist techniques blending with a corrupt form of Christianity is none other than the illustrious Oprah:
Here we have Oprah Winfrey's realization of the "Christ consciousness" in this short video clip:
Oprah interviews Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder of the "Omega Institute" http://www.eomega.org/, discussing Lesser's book "The Seeker's Guide" and interfaith concepts, including the multiplicity of "great beings" who brought humanity different revelations and knowledge of spirituality over the ages (as in Bahai religion). See our previous post about the Global Leadership Summit and Brene Brown, psychoheretic, and her close association with Oprah on New Age interfaith beliefs here: http://ratherexposethem.blogspot.com/2013/05/global-leadership-summit-2013.html.
P.S. Oprah claims she is a Christian in this video, but her own words prove her wrong:
The New Age Church Of Oprah That Denies Jesus;
Oprah believes there are many paths to God:
Joe Schimmel presents a history and analysis of the New Age
This old video proves Billy Graham's universalism in an interview with Robert Schuller. It clearly exemplifies Graham's public apostasy which spans decades. Nevertheless, Ingram sees no problem holding hands in joint ministry endeavors with Billy and Franklin Graham.
Now we will show that the "winsome" Chip Ingram of the "Silicon Valley", California, has maintained associations with compromised Christians, such as the Grahams, (e.g. at the Cove, http://www.thecove.org/), despite their Catholic connections, universalism, "wider mercy salvation", treating Mormonism as mainstream Christianity, awards to "word of faith" heretics, youth rock concerts, and ecumenism. Add to that Ingram's drinking deeply of the cesspool of the world of pagan psychology focusing on NDE, or "near death experiences" as proof (among 6 extra-biblical, unbiblical proofs) of the existence of an afterlife besides the Bible. Add again, his unbiblical, mythical, faulty and heretical demonology which populates this world and the next. Add again the association with Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, John Ortberg and other emerging heretics.
Perhaps Ingram, in his rush to be "all things to all people" got sidetracked and his ego inflated by the "performance metrics" (rising income, to name one) of his ministries' successes in the last few years, which has mistakenly convinced him that he must be doing something right with his sycophant undiscerning followers/donors. The business metrics may look encouraging, but what about the metrics of "real evidences of salvations/sanctifications/spiritual growth"? Ingram claims that pastors and church leaders can't seem to define these, allegedly providing such definition, but he never offers a biblical definition, other than marketing his use of worldly business models and systems to fill a "need" that he's convinced you of by nothing more than slick salesmanship.
We previously commented on the integration of secular, worldly business practices into churches at:
"It needs to be said that churches should not be run like businesses. When churches are run like corporations, pastors, elders and deacons lose whatever humility they once had and become manipulative dictatorial leaders and/or task masters, and discard their roles as shepherds, ministers, caring advisers, and equal members of the body of Christ, under the authority of God. Frequently, and in their sinful arrogance and independent spirit, the result is a complete failure to teach from the Bible, disciple believers, and warn and/or correct the congregation in a loving way about apostates, heretics, false teachers, false prophets, and the twisting of Scripture. Instead, they themselves become the focus of worship, the primary and final arbiters of truth, doctrine, and practice on their own authority. Members are ridiculed for wanting to hear Bible based expository preaching on the pretense that it just makes people fat and lazy, unwilling to work for the common good of the church. Adopting a business-like structure in church creates a hierarchy of authority, a "chain of command", leads to abuse, contributes to gnosticism, fosters elitism, belittles the congregation as a working class, values performance over grace, diverts from the God-given guidance of Scripture and focuses on implementing the vision cast by leaders, requires the congregation to subject themselves to unbiblical self-appointed change agents, drives the congregation away from the true gospel of grace towards a social gospel of works, creates a socialist, collectivist, community organizational structure that denies or suppresses individualism, individual thought, and individual effort. Compliance and compliant church members fit into this unbiblical business community, and consequently, individualistic personalities are routinely discarded and booted out if they "don't get with the program".
Let's begin and lay out the evidence, which, by the way, is very much hidden deep in a mountain of glowing, positive accolades from many sources and carefully crafted public persona imagery, couched in an aura of professionalism. This is all man-centeredness to the maximum, with a baptism in self-centeredness for his followers.
What we are dealing with here is much more sinister than simply a common integrationist methodology of mixing the Word of God with psychology producing psychoheresy. No, Ingram is careful to frequently give a disclaimer that what he offers is not just psychology alone. No, he claims his solutions are biblical and often quotes from the Bible. Nevertheless, the habits, addictions, symptoms, conditions and dysfunctional behaviorisms that he addresses are described as such, in psychological terms, never as sins and/or sinful, where the patient/counselee is the victim of past hurts and wounds. The latter approach of being personally responsible for sins would alienate much of his audience who would have to take the blame themselves for their state of mind and soul.
What Ingram offers is just another age-old form of gnosticism, with man's wisdom pre-eminent, for a price. It's what you don't get in this package tied so neatly with a fancy ribbon, namely the Holy Spirit's role and work in the believer!
Ingram was the senior pastor of Santa Cruz Bible Church, http://santacruzbible.org/, a large non-denominational church located in Santa Cruz, California, where he and Dan Kimball served on staff together for over twelve years (see page 265 of Dan Kimball's book, "The Emerging Church"). Kimball is at Vintage Faith Church now:
Ingram is one of six contributors to Kimball's book, including Howard Hendricks (Center for Christian Leadership), Brian McLaren (founding pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church, and emergent heretic), Sally Morgenthaler (president of Sacramentis.com), Mark Oestreicher (president and publisher of Youth Specialties, www.youthspecialties.com), and Rick Warren (senior pastor and Purpose Driven Pope of Saddleback Church www.saddleback.com).
Ingram comments on page 223 of Kimball's book cited above: "Dan's thoughts on discipleship are not limited in their application to the emerging church. The (ancient) disciplines are needed everywhere and can form a rich arena for followers of Jesus from all generations." This is a direct comment on Kimball's chapter 19, "Spiritual Formation: Becoming a Vintage Christian", sub-paragraph titled "Restoring the ancient disciplines (Catholic contemplative mystical practices) to create vintage Christians".
http://livingontheedge.org/about-us/core-values, indoctrinations into legalism, works and a type of "purpose driven" service similar to Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Life", where the gullible are led to believe that bible study, learning and wisdom should take a back seat to "kingdom building". "BIO" is a step further into a regimen of "spiritual disciplines" (also known as "spiritual formation"); for example this excerpt:
"BIO is a simple framework of spiritual disciplines that, when practiced regularly, builds healthy, sustainable spiritual growth for life. A BIO believer is committed to living out their faith daily before God, in community and on mission."
Contrast this with what the Bible has to say about justification and sanctification. There is nothing that can be added to, or should be added to, the completed work of Jesus Christ:
Romans 3:20-" Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
Romans 3:24-"being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"
Romans 3:28-"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law."
Romans 4:2-"For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God."
1 Corinthians 6:11-"But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God"
Kenneth Ring, psychologist on the left and Michael Sabom, cardiologist on the right, with two other original founders of "International Association of Near Death Studies, http://iands.org:
“During his visit to Senegal, a largely Muslim country, Obama praised the United States Supreme Court for its decision to strike down key parts of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, stating that it was a “victory for American democracy and a proud day for equal rights.” He called upon African governments to likewise work to make homosexuals equal under the law, comparing the “controversial” issue in Africa to the American civil rights battle of the 1960s.”
