CONFRONTING ABUSIVE CHURCH LEADERS

A Vimeo video from Chris Lawson of Spiritual Research Network about abusive church leaders who use shame, guilt, mind control, coercion, manipulation, diaprax (Scripture twisting), syncretism, authoritarianism, etc.:
http://vimeo.com/54498513

YOGA-ITS OCCULT HINDU ROOTS-NOT FOR CHRISTIANS!

1Corinthians 10:20-21: But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
    If you thought that yoga was harmless exercise offered by your local liberal church and/or the YMCA/YWCA in your town, think again, biblical Christians. Similar to the degrees of Freemasonry, yoga is an introduction to a deeper involvement in Hinduism, the emptying of the mind via contemplative (Catholic) mysticism, the worship of other gods and demons, deceptively leading one away from the Word of God and possibly ending in demonic possession. There are various types of yoga including yoga re-packaged for Christians (so-called "Christ-centered alternatives to yoga"). These are supposedly safe for Christians, but is the risk worth it, when there are so many other forms of exercise?
    For example, Brooke Boon's "Holy Yoga" http://holyyoga.net, offered at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, http://www.saddleback.com/events/eventdetails.aspx?id=52061, or the "Praise Moves" of Laurette Willis, http://www.praisemoves.com, and "Atoning Yoga" of Lauren Terwilliger, http://www.atoningyoga.com.

Holy Yoga: Jesus is the Guru:

Praise Moves video:

Atoning Yoga video:

    The following resources refute this mixture of yoga with Christianity from a biblical point of view. There are many other resources on the internet to prove that yoga in any of its forms or mutations is to be avoided for your spiritual health.

"The Yoga Boom: What are Christians to Do?" video by Elliot Miller, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFRPLzZ7pA8, (1HR/21MIN).
"Yoga Exposed" video by Scott Johnson, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nzxv327fYA,(1HR/36MIN)
Scott Johnson's 2 part article with audio at Contending for Truth.com on Rick Warren's "New Health and Wellness Initiative": http://www.contendingfortruth.com/?p=2511 and http://www.contendingfortruth.com/?p=2506
Chris Lawson of Spiritual Research Network (SRN), http://www.spiritual-research-network.com/home.html, has three excellent videos on Vimeo: "Calvary Chapel & Purpose Driven Pastors Doing Yoga?", http://vimeo.com/53131997 (11MIN), and "New Age Teachings Influencing Your Church, Your Children & You", http://vimeo.com/53145537 (6MIN)(yoga at 5:45min mark), and "'A Time of Departing' (book by Ray Yungen) & New Spirituality Terms", http://vimeo.com/53127158 (7MIN).
Lighthouse Trails Research has articles on yoga, http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/yoga.htm and a new article, Barbie and American Girl Dolls Have Gone Yoga at http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=10533
Mike Oppenheimer interview on video, "Labyrinths (1st half) and Yoga (2nd half) Used by Christians" below:

Test everything by the Word of God!

ABUSE, CONTROL, AND/OR RETALIATION IN 3 CHURCHES

 SIMILARITIES EXIST AMONG ALLEGATIONS regarding:
 1) Sovereign Grace Ministries
2) Jack Schaap and Jack Hyles of First Baptist of Hammond, Indiana
3) Beaverton Grace Bible Church

    What do these churches have in common, other than fundamentalism?
    Maybe you are aware of all three of the above church issues, maybe not. All have similar scenarios of alledgedly abusive leadership and alledgedly abused church members. #3 above is addressed below.
    The parties in a lawsuit (since dismissed), filed prior to July, were Beaverton Grace Bible Church http://www.beavertongracebible.org/, an apparent independent fundamental church, pastored by Chuck O'Neal as plaintiff and Julie Anne Smith et al, as defendants. It was for $500,000. The defendants were former congregants at this church who voiced allegations of control, abuse and misuse of pastoral authority, etc. in their blog http://www.bgbcsurvivors.blogspot.com. In return, the above lawsuit was initiated and filed on behalf of the pastor, but in addition, the pastor created his own blog to counter the former congregants' blog referred to as the so-called "real survivors" blog http://www.bgbcsurvivors.org.
    You can decide for yourself who is right and who is wrong, but it is nevertheless extremely unfortunate and disgraceful and a reproach on the church and name of Jesus Christ that this was dragged into a civil court at all. Aside from the allegations coming from both sides, the right of church members to approach their leadership with concerns, observations, opinions and questions should be absolute without retaliation. The right of church members to also voice these publicly is a constitutionally protected right, unless of course they are known to be false, unfounded or slanderous. The exercise of these God-given rights is not a matter for "church discipline" in the form of punishment, shunning, marginalization, and/or ostrasization, and least of all lawsuits. A PASTOR or ELDER is not a POPE, autocrat, or dictator. Some pastors do however, become "wolves in sheep's clothing", where absolute obedience to them is required and commended. Lacking such fealty, the sheep are at risk of being destroyed in an abusive manner whether they remain in such a church or decide to leave. These pastors believe, in their assumed arrogant "anointing" that their control of Christians extends beyond the church property. Such is the case here, since they believe that the civil and criminal authorities have been instituted by God.
    Todd Rhoades of Toddrhoades.com has no opinion and some doubt on this matter, but he would like your comments on "if you were accused (wrongfully) of child abuse...if your church was accused of horrible things?": http://toddrhoades.com/pastor-starts-website-to-attack-churchs-attackers/. I draw your attention to the word "wrongfully" and the question mark "?" inserted in this quote. No opinion here?
    From Katu.com is the following picture and report upon the dismissal in court: http://www.katu.com/news/local/Judge-dismisses-case-where-pastor-sued-former-parishioner-163953036.html
    Here are some relevant videos:

For Sovereign Grace issues see: http://www.brentdetwiler.com
For First Baptist Hammond/Hyles/Schaap issues see: http://www.wayoflife.org









 
 

WIDE IS THE GATE-EMERGING NEW CHRISTIANITY

Here are two very thoroughly researched videos about the transition from "New Age" to "New Spirituality" occuring in the emerging churches, by CarylTV:
Part 1 in 240p and Part 2 in 360p:

GARY GILLEY: SEEKER SENSITIVE & EMERGING CHURCH

Gary Gilley exposes the "Seeker Sensitive" and "Emerging Church" marketing paradigms in these two videos given under the auspices of Take Heed Ministries and Cecil Andrews:

ALPHA COURSE-SOME OTHER OPINIONS

AS AN INTRODUCTION:
    Rick Warren endorses the Alpha Course in this video. Below the video are reviews of the Alpha Course from a biblical point of view, followed by two more videos of Cecil Andrews.

BELOW IS COPIOUS EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT ALPHA HAS ROOTS IN THE VINEYARD CHURCH OF JOHN WIMBER, CHARISMATIC, FRIENDSHIP AND COMMON CAUSE WITH ROMAN CATHOLICISM, CONTEMPLATIVE MYSTICAL ASSOCIATION WITH RENOVARE, AN ASSORTMENT OF ECUMENICAL PASTORS LIKE RICK WARREN, AND A BROAD RANGE OF APOSTATE CHURCHES. THIS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO SHOW THAT ALPHA IS TO BE AVOIDED IF YOU ARE OR ARE THINKING OF BECOMING A BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN:
Do Not Be Surprised Blog:
     http://www.donotbesurprised.com/p/the-alpha-course-compromise.html
Personal Freedom Outreach:
     http://www.pfo.org/alpha-cr.htm
Deception in the Church.com:
     http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/alpha.html
Dusty Peterson "The New Age of Alpha" (critique):
     http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~emcd/TheNewAgeOfAlpha.pdf
Christiandoctrine.net-"The Gospel According to Alpha" by Cecil Andrews:
   http://www.christiandoctrine.net/doctrine/outlines/outline_00107_the_gospel_according_to_alpha_web.htm
Apprising.org-"The Influence of Christian Mystics Morton Kelsey and John Wimber (Vineyard Church) on the Alpha Course":
http://apprising.org/2012/12/02/the-influence-of-christian-mystics-morton-kelsey-and-john-wimber-on-the-alpha-course/
Apprising.org-"The Ecumenical Compromise of the Alpha Course":
http://apprising.org/2012/09/27/the-ecumenical-compromise-of-the-alpha-course/
Apprising.org-"Chris Hand on the Alpha Course":
http://apprising.org/2012/11/30/chris-hand-on-the-alpha-course/
LighthouseTrails Research.com-"Alpha Assessed" by Cecil Andrews of Take Heed Ministries:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/alphabycecil.pdf#search="alpha course"
LighthouseTrailsResearch.com-"Dragnet Behind Alpha, Vineyard, 'Purpose-Driven', 'Toronto' (Blessing)":
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~emcd/index32.pdf (SEE COLORED FLOWCHART)
Bayith Ministries (Peterson & McDonald)-"The Character of Alpha's Jesus" (3 parts):
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~emcd/index18.htm and
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~emcd/index19.htm and
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~emcd/index20.htm
Webtruth.org-"The Gospel According to Gumbel (the Alpha Course)";
http://www.webtruth.org/articles/what-is-the-gospel-21/the-gospel-according-to-gumbel-(the-alpha-course)-40.html

VIDEO IN TWO PARTS BY CECIL ANDREWS ON: "ALPHA: ATTEND OR AVOID?":

CATHOLIC MYSTICISM & THE EMERGING CHURCH

Richard Bennett of Berean Beacon www.bereanbeacon.org gave a talk in London's Metropolitan Tabernacle:

SUE MONK KIDD-Former SBC Sunday School Teacher

Sue Monk Kidd, former Southern Baptist Sunday School teacher, now proponent of the feminine divine (goddess), divine spark, contemplative mysticism, monasticism, sacred images, etc. as she witnesses below:

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER & TAIZE WORSHIP

TAIZE: www.taize.fr Here are some introductory videos about Taize, the French ecumenical mystical monastery which is devoid of scripture and doctrine, but heavy on contemplative mysticism, candles, low lighting, prayer positions, and "religious" feelings, especially attractive to the unchurched of Europe and the U.S. Note that once Protestant denominations are becoming less Protestant and adapting these Catholic/Orthodox practices. It would seem that the Reformation of Luther, etc., is being undone, so that the "lost brethren", once called heretics, anathematized by the Council of Trent, and subsequently murdered by the Catholic Inquisition, can now be brought back to Rome.

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

David Cloud of Way of Life www.wayoflife.org explains reasons for not being a Southern Baptist at: http://www.wayoflife.org/database/whynotsbc.html. In summary the reasons are as follows:

(1) THE DENOMINATIONAL SYSTEM ITSELF IS UNSCRIPTURAL. 
(2) THE SBC IS ECUMENICAL. 
(3) THE SBC HAS REFUSED TO DISCIPLINE BILLY GRAHAM. 
(4) SBC CHURCHES ARE NOT GOVERNED SCRIPTURALLY. 
(5) WORLDLINESS IS RAMPANT IN SBC CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
(6) SHAMEFUL POLITICS IS PRACTICED BY SBC CONSERVATIVE LEADERS.
(7) WOMEN ARE ALLOWED TO HOLD LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE SBC. 
(8) THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT IS GROWING WITHIN THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. 
(9) THE SBC IS PERMEATED WITH THEOLOGICAL MODERNISM. (See below)
(10) THE SBC IS FILLED WITH MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE YOKED WITH PAGAN ANTI-CHRIST ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE MASONIC LODGE AND THE EASTERN STAR. 
(11) THE VAST MAJORITY OF SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONGREGATIONS REFUSE TO EXERCISE CHURCH DISCIPLINE, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE A BIBLICALLY PURE CHURCH WITHOUT DISCIPLINE.
(12) SOUTHERN BAPTISTS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROMOTING THE CHURCH GROWTH PHILOSOPHIES THAT WEAKEN THE CHURCHES BY TURNING THE CHURCH’S MISSION AWAY FROM THE COMMITMENT TO THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD, WHICH IS THE MISSION AND PURPOSE THAT JESUS CHRIST DELIVERED TO THE CHURCH (MATT. 28:19-20), TO A CAPSULATED, WATERED-DOWN, MAN-MADE “PURPOSE.” THE CHURCH GROWTH MOVEMENT PROMOTES THE USE OF WORLDLY MUSIC AND DRESS TO ATTRACT LARGE CROWDS. (See below)
(13) THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION IS NEW EVANGELICAL AND REJECTS BIBLICAL SEPARATION. 
    In reference to #9 above, the following video is brought to your attention for comparison. Jeff Pinder will be the new senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Wilmington, Delaware, www.fbcwilmington.com (Independent Baptist, non-SBC affiliated to date), effective January 1, 2013. He will be replacing the former pastor George Nichols under whom Pinder worked years ago as a youth pastor at Faith Baptist. Pinder authored "Forged by Conviction" and has ties, if not affiliations with, the Southern Baptists, including the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia and the Southern Baptist Convention of Florida. The question is whether Pinder will bring a formerly independent Baptist church into the Southern Baptist Convention, and if not, will he bring in contemporary "Christian" music and all the church growth methods of Warren, Hybels, and Drucker and mix in some neo-reformed Calvinism, mysticism, and ecumenism too? A hint may be found at his present church, Faith Baptist Port St. Joe, Florida www.fbcpsj.org