Knowing the wiles of the devil, the apostle Paul exhorts us to be purely devoted to Jesus Christ. He wrote: “I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). In Roman Catholicism, there are many diversions that lead Catholics away from Christ, but none so prevalent as their perversion of the biblical Mary.
– Mike Gendron
Check out the following piece from Apprising Ministries on the pope throwing a monkey wrench into Rick Warren’s ecumenical machine:
Ok, here’s the latest scoop on the religious scene from Apprising Ministries. Well, it turns out that Rick Warren Is Saying Protestant Reformers Luther and Calvin Were Wrong because in opposition to what these Reformers taught Purpose Driven Pope Warren has now pontificated that the Roman Catholic Church is no longer apostate and is, in very fact, once again a part of the Body of Christ.
O but wait, it gets even better because meanwhile, back at the ol’ Vatican ranch Benedict XVI, the papal pretender to being the Vicar of Christ, has said instead that Rick Warren is the one who is actually wrong. I know, I could hardly believe it myself when I heard it! Just imagine the nerve; someone dares to criticize America’s favorite social worker and Megapastor. Zowie; good thing he’s a god on earth, huh.
So now here’s the deal; you see, Rick Warren is not a Roman Catholic but is instead a decidedly—er, non-protesting *ahem* “Protestant” in the SBC—which might actually stand for Slowly Becoming Catholic. Ok, because of that fact, according to the RCC Pope it now seems that the PD Pope can’t even be “America’s pastor” anymore because he doesn’t actually pastor a real church:
Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday [July 10, 2007] that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches…
It restates key sections of a 2000 document the pope wrote when he was prefect of the congregation, “Dominus Iesus,” which set off a firestorm of criticism among Protestant and other Christian denominations because it said they were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities and therefore did not have the “means of salvation.”
In the new document and an accompanying commentary, which were released as the pope vacations here in Italy’s Dolomite mountains, the Vatican repeated that position. (Online source)
If only this was as silly as a Hollywood gossip column. But with people’s eternal souls in the balance I’m afraid there’s nothing funny about men such as these, who for now, are peas in a very corrupt spiritual pod and speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them (1 John 4:5).
Thanks to Pastor Ken Silva for this piece. I’d like to add that I find it ironic when the very apostate Roman Catholic Church that the very apostate Saddleback Church is trying so hard to merge with refuses to consider them a legitimate Church at best and anathema at worst. What Rick Warren fails to realize is that if the world’s religions are going to merge into one anti-Chirst led conglomerate, it’s going to be under the RCC and it’s going to be on their terms, not his.
See also: All roads may not lead to Rome, but according to the pope, only Rome leads to Heaven.
By 1800 the American church was in a dismal state and ripe for anything that would offer some kind of spiritual sustenance. The Second Great Awakening, which began in 1801 in Cane Ridge, Kentucky, would fill that void and forever change Christianity in America. Sermons of substance were rapidly replaced with emotional appeals. Doctrine was steadily replaced by “conversion” stories, and the preacher’s performance became more important than what was taught. Music took on a central role as emotionalism became the order of the day. Ministers began to study “what worked” in order to draw a crowd. . . . In other words, church services became a form of entertainment.
– Gary Gilley
I just finished reading Gary Gilley’s excellent book This Little Church Went to Market. I wish I could get this quick and easy read into the hands of every Christian (especially those in the Laodicean churches).
Gilley covers such topics as the market-driven’s philosophy, music, and false gospel. He’s also not afriad to name names. I highly recommend this enlightening examination and scathing indictment of Western Christendom; it’s a book that needs to be read.
What could an unsanctified man do in Heaven, if by any chance he got there? . . . No man can possibly be happy in a place where he is not in his element, and where all around him is not congenial to his tastes, habits, and character. When an eagle is happy in an iron cage, when a sheep is happy in the water, when an owl is happy in the blaze of the noonday sun, when a fish is happy on the dry land—then, and not till then, will I admit that the unsanctified man could be happy in Heaven.
– J.C. Ryle
1816 – 1900
As most Americans celebrate Halloween today there is a smaller segment that will celebrate Martin Luther’s nailing of the 95 theses to the Wittenberg door in 1517 which sparked the Protestant reformation. But there’s an even smaller segment that will recognize a much-lesser known event that occurred on this day almost a hundred years ago.
A 64 year old man on a train unexpectedly died as the train was approaching Pampa, Texas. That man was Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and on this day in 1916 this wolf in sheep’s clothing quietly slipped into eternity to face the very Christ that he taught was not God, and the very Hell that he denied existed.
It was on this day in 1916 that this false prophet died, being cast into the black darkness that had been reserved for him forever (Jude 13), and leaving a destructive cult in his wake.
The Gospel contemplates every descendant of Adam as a fallen, polluted, Hell-deserving, and helpless sinner. The grace which the Gospel publishes is his only hope.
– A.W. Pink
1886 – 1952
And the cheesy, shameful marketing of the name above all names continues. Will it ever end?
HT: A Little Leaven
Fundamentalism is the militant belief and proclamation of the basic doctrines of Christianity leading to a Scriptural separation from those who reject them.
– John Ashbrook
I do not so much have to pray up when I’m preaching under a tent in inner-city San Anton[io], but I have to pray up and know that I am walking with the Lord when I walk into an average Baptist church because of the way most people dress. And you say, “It’s legalism.” No it’s not. They’re commands in the Bible. It doesn’t say we’re all supposed to dress like a Puritan, but it does say we’re supposed to be decent and cause no offense or stumbling. “Well you can’t judge a book by its cover.” Yes you can! Jesus said you can; by their fruits you will know them.
– Paul Washer
Idolatrous paganism and rank heresy are two expressions that immediately came to mind as I read the following article on the Pope’s recent visit to Pompeii, Italy. Here are a few of the opening paragraphs from the article:
POMPEII, Italy, OCT. 19, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI placed the world in Mary’s hands during his one-day visit to the shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, near Naples.
The Pope’s leading of the Supplication of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, a prayer written by Blessed Bartolo Longo (1841-1926) was one of the high points of this 12th pastoral trip in Italy.
“We implore you to have pity today on the nations that have gone astray, on all Europe, on the whole world, that they might repent and return to your heart,” the text of the prayer reads.
With the words of Bartolo, the Pontiff turned to Mary, saying: “If you will not help us because we are ungrateful and unworthy children of your protection, we will not know to whom to turn.”
In a gesture of filial love, the Pope then offered the Madonna a golden rose.
Return to Mary’s heart?
Don’t know who to turn to?
Is he serious? Does the Pope not own a Bible? Chapter and verse please!
To read the entire article click here. And when you’re done reading the article, check out the following short piece by James White on the idolatry of a Mary window smudge.
See also the following related links:
The written word of God and Roman Catholicism
A Christian debates a Catholic on the street corner
Unmasking the pope and the and the Catholic system
RC Apologist has trouble explaining the “Immaculate Conception” when students interject Scripture
Growing churches are creating an atmosphere, an environment of fun. So fun has replaced holiness as the church’s goal. Having a good time has become the criterion of an excellent, growing church, since fun and entertainment is what consumers want. Yet Bible references encouraging churches to become havens of fun are, as one may suspect, lacking.
– Gary Gilley
I’ve asked this question in the past but since new readers have come on board here at DefCon, I thought I’d pose the question once more: Which Bible translation do you prefer and why?
Please take our poll below and if you want to explain why you use a preferred translation, feel free to leave a comment.
If you choose “Other,” please take a moment and let us know what your “Other” is. And yes, I know . . . The Message isn’t a “translation” but I thought I’d just throw it in there to see what happens.
There is no imagination wherewith man is besotted, more foolish, none so pernicious, as this–that persons not purified, not sanctified, not made holy in their life, should afterwards be taken into that state of blessedness which consists in the enjoyment of God. Neither can such persons enjoy God, nor would God be a reward to them. . . . Holiness is indeed perfected in Heaven: but the beginning of it is invariably confined to this world.
– John Owen
1616 – 1683
World Net Daily is reporting that a California public school held a surprise “Gay Day” for kindergartners. Read the article here. I wonder what would have happened if they had a surprise “Bible Day.”
This begs the question, “Should Christians take their children out of the public schools?”
There is nothing wrong with charitable acts—but they are not to be confused with preaching the Gospel. Feeding programs can save a man dying from hunger. Medical aid can prolong life and fight disease. Housing projects can make this temporary life more comfortable—but only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can save a soul from a life of sin and an eternity in Hell!
– K.P. Yohannan
Albert Mohler visited the question Should Christians take their children out of the public schools? on this radio broadcast. This podcast also features a brief interview with Voddie Baucham on the issue.
The wrath of God is a perfection of the divine character upon which we need to frequently meditate. . . . We are prone to regard sin lightly, to gloss over its hideousness, to make excuses for it. But the more we study and ponder God’s abhorrence of sin and His frightful vengeance upon it, the more likely we are to realize its heinousness.
– A.W. Pink
1886 – 1952
Zero church is making news on DefCon again (see the previous post here). This time they are holding a “Halloween fun” service on November 1st in which the following description is provided:
“Ghost”
. . . More than Halloween fun, although we will have plenty of that with illusions and a demonstration seance. We ask the big question, what happens after you die? Can we communicate with the dead?
You can see the advertisement here.
The Roman Catholic religion claims that the Bible does not contain all the truths which a Christian is bound to believe (The Faith of Our Fathers, p. 72). Catholicism also says the Bible does not contain everything God taught about salvation (A Catechism for Adults, p. 52); is not clear and intelligible (The Faith of Our Fathers, pgs. 70, 152); is a dead book (Question Box, p. 67); and does more harm than good (Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, p. 274). These, and many other comments against the Bible, reveal that Catholicism is not a loyal friend of the Bible but a forceful enemy that needs to be confronted. Roman Catholicism constantly seeks to undermine, weaken, oppose and nullify the Bible from its God-ordained place of authority.
– Mike Gendron
Christ Alone Wyoming 