A church in England sees no problem with using Harry Potter in their youth group.
Why is a movie about witchcraft being used in the church? It’s simple, the youth worker of this church says Harry Potter “deals with some issues–standing up for what you believe in, love, trust–are really important for our young people to be thinking about.”
But what about the occult, witchcraft, Satanism, etc. associated with this movie? Ahh, the good youth leader has an answer for that as well: “I think certainly there are [sic] some stuff within Harry Potter that the Church wouldn’t endorse but we need to teach our young people to work out what those things are and stay away from them and that’s great.” Oh, you mean stay away from them like bringing it into the Church? Woe to you young man, woe to you!
Do you wish your soul to be saved? Then remember, you must choose whom you will serve. You cannot serve God and mammon. You cannot be on two sides at once. You cannot be a friend of Christ and a friend of the world at the same time. You must come out from the children of this world, and be separate; you must put up with much ridicule, trouble, and opposition, or you will be lost forever. You must be willing to think and do things which are only held by a few. It will cost you something.
Thanks to Chris from A Little Leaven for putting this together. This video shows a heretical false teacher tickling the ears of his congregation who know no better because their Bibles are more than likely at home collecting dust on a shelf.
“I just try to teach practical principles, I may not bring the scripture until the end of my sermon and I don’t feel bad about that.”
This may not seem like a big deal to some, but consider associating Osteen’s philosophy on preaching with that of Jesus, or Peter, or Paul. Whenever you can say “aww, that doesn’t really seem that bad” I recommend that you check out how preachers of old used to preach. In fact, check out this great post by Jim over at OldTruth.com for an example of Now vs Then. I enjoy when Jim compares preachers of today to preachers of yesteryear. It really helps to put things into perspective.
But I have come to see that many evangelical Christians do not really believe the Word of God, especially when it talks about hell and judgment. Instead, they selectively accept only the portions that allow them to continue living in their current lifestyles. It is painful to think about hell and judgment. I understand why preachers do not like to talk about it, because I don’t either. It is so much easier to preach that “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” or to focus on the many delightful aspects of “possibility thinking” and the “word of faith” that brings health, wealth and happiness. The grace and love of God are pleasant subjects, and no one more beautifully demonstrated them than our Lord Jesus. Yet in His earthly ministry, He made more references to hell and judgment than He did to heaven. Jesus lived with the reality of hell, and He died on Calvary because He knew it was real and coming to everyone who doesn’t turn to God in this life. Believers are willing to accept the concept of heaven, but they look the other way when they come to passages in the Bible about hell. Very few seem to believe that those who die without Christ are going to a place where they will be tormented forever and ever in a bottomless pit where the fire is not quenched and they are separated from God and His love for all eternity without any chance of return. If we knew the horrors of the potential judgment that hangs over us–if we really believed in what is coming–how differently we would live.
Interviewer:Tell me, what do you think is the future of Christianity?
Response: …I think there’s the body of Christ which comes from all the Christian groups around the world, or outside the Christian groups. I think everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they’re conscious of it or not, they’re members of the body of Christ. And I don’t think that we’re going to see a great sweeping revival that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time. . . . And that’s what God is doing today, He’s calling people out of the world for His name. Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the body of Christ because they’ve been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their heart that they need something that they don’t have, and they turn to the only light that they have and I think that they are saved, and that they’re going to be with us in heaven.
Interviewer:That’s fantastic, I’m so thrilled to hear you say that. There’s a wideness in God’s mercy.
We are called to care and love the lost but sometimes we forget this. I hope this video encourages you to remember the second greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-40
If you prefer, you can watch this video on Godtube.com by clicking here.
Thanks to T.D. Jakes & Joel Osteen for their contribution to the downfall of Christianity in the West.
Watch for these gems in the video:
*He [TD Jakes] works as hard as any CEO and makes no apologies for living like one too.”
*The first evangelicals in the 19th century were often sales people, people who understood a customer, knew how to sell a product. There’s always been this interesting connection between marketing and evangelism. (Author Laura Nash)
*The narrator’s description of Osteen’s book as “largely secular” with a “think big message.” (Yet Christian bookstores continue to sell this book).
*And listen to Joel Osteen’s answer to the interviewer’s question: “God is a growth business?”
China will be using animated Cyber Police that will appear on internet user’s screens to warn them to stay away from illegal internet content. I find it interesting that this article came from Yahoo News because Yahoo has blood on its hands from past actions and it’s for this very reason I refuse to use the Yahoo search engine. If you are unfamiliar with Yahoo’s assistance with the Chinese government to turn in the identity of web users, then check out this article, or this article.
For those of you who are asking the question, “who cares about this, isn’t this all related to politics?” I submit for your consideration this link regarding what Christians endure in China. And if you’re still unconvinced, then here’s a whole list of links on news articles of Christian persecution in China.
Ingrid had an excellent show recently on CrossTalk on the topic of Biblical Adornment. So good in fact that I’ve put it on the Reformation Nation website for you to download it. Just click on the this link then right-click on the link Biblical Adornment and save to your computer.
Since Joel Osteen has announced the upcoming release of his new book, which I posted earlier here, I thought I’d add some more posts this week in honor of him and his Lakewood Church.
The following video is of a preacher standing outside Osteen’s church doing what Osteen has failed to do inside… preach the Gospel. I know, I know, some of you are saying, “but Pilgrim, he is preaching the ‘gospel’ inside.” Oh, I’m certain he is, but the “health, wealth, prosperity, have your best life now, become a better you” gospel of Osteen is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I was struck by the droves and droves of people that just walked past the preacher in the video as they exited Osteen’s Church. It reminded me of these illustrations in the Chick Tract entitled The Long Trip. To see the whole tract click on any of the pictures.
Anyway, without further ado, I present to you the man preaching the Gospel outside Lakewood Church that isn’t being preached inside Lakewood Church.
Anyone like myself who has studied Mormonism has been anxiously awaiting the film September Dawn. Not so much to learn something new about the horrific event that transpired on September 11, 1857, but to see how the historical truth would be depicted in this film. Well the wait is finally over. My wife and I went to see the movie opening day! I rarely ever go to the movies, since Hollywood only knows how to produce trash nowadays, and I haven’t been to the theaters since Narnia, so this was an all around treat: an anticipated movie and hot buttered popcorn.
The comes out of the gate swinging! No holding back. Not only does the movie pull no punches regarding the doctrine of Blood Atonement that contributed to the murder of the 120 men, women and children, but it also highlighted polygamy and Joseph Smith’s demise in a gunfight (where he also shot and killed two men). The movie even shows the very reason Joseph Smith was shot and killed while being held in the Carthage Jail; for having the Nauvoo Printing Press burned because the paper dared to print information about Polygamy in the Mormon Church. This movie even shows part of the secret temple ceremony (yes, I said secret, not sacred) in the Mormon Temple.
Another pleasantly shocking surprise is that there are those in the movie that are Christians and are depicted praying, wearing crosses, etc. but here’s the shocking part: They’re pictured in a neutral if not favorable light! That’s right, you heard me correctly. The Christians in this movie are not depicted as crazed child molester like is so often the case in Hollywood movies.
Now bare in mind, this movie was done in “Titanic” style. It combines a love story with an actual historical event as the backdrop. It all flowed together splendidly.
One of my favorite parts is when the main (Mormon) character calls the main (Christian) character a Gentile. She questions him about why he says that when he’s not even Jewish. (Gentiles are what Mormons call all non-Mormons).
The movie has an R rating for violence, although there is one scene in which the main male character enters a tub. His unclothed backside is exposed. And because this movie is interwoven with a love story, there is a moment of sensuality where the two main characters run into each other at the river at night, which ends up in them kissing fully-clothed while sitting atop a horse. Aside from that, there is no sex or profanity in this movie (outside of the words “damn” and “hell” used in their proper context).
Those who are interested in the history of the Mountain Meadows Massacre will enjoy this film. And allow me to go out on a limb here, but I don’t think the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is going to be promoting or even encouraging the viewing of this movie.
I invite your comments.
September Dawn Theatrical Trailer (1:44)
Behind the scenes of September Dawn ( 5:44)
I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands.
Brigham Young
Journal of Discourses
Volume 3 Page 247
Here’s a video clip filmed outside a Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall on their Memorial night. It’s the once a year tradition where Jehovah’s Witnesses meet to take part in communion. However, nobody actually takes the elements because in their belief system, only 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses are worthy to do so and they’re all dead. Six Screens Of The Watchtower are the creators of this video.
Enjoy this 7 minute dramatization created by a former Jehovah’s Witness. It’s produced in good quality and accurately depicts the common JW’s approach to share their “gospel.” Six Screens Of The Watchtower are the creators of this video.
In one of my other posts I commented on Joel Osteen’s new book (releasing in October) entitled Become a Better You. If you haven’t see it, click here. Now he’s got a short 34 second promo clip on Amazon plugging this new book. I guess his first book Your Best Life Now didn’t deliver, otherwise there’d be no need to become a better you. You can watch the video by clicking here.
It’s time once again to play Who Said That?
Christ Alone Wyoming 