VOL. XX  NO. 2    NEWS & VIEWS, NOTES & QUOTES, TO WARN & INFORM    February 2003

OK TO KILL UNBORN CHILD BUT NOT SNAIL DARTER—Our strict federal laws in the Endangered Species Act protect the snail darter fish and spotted owl, yet three children are killed every minute through legalized abortion (SBC's Nov.-Dec. Light). Over 42 million American babies have been legally aborted since Roe v. Wade. In our culture of death, we choose to ignore the value God places on each human life.

EUTHANASIA: GOOD INTENTIONS, BAD DESTINATION—Look where 30 years of euthanasia in the Netherlands has led. Dutch doctors “lethally inject dying people who ask for it; chronically ill people who ask for it; disabled people who ask for it; depressed people who ask for it; and, disabled babies whose parents ask for it.” (12/30 NA) The process has gone beyond voluntary to “termination without request or consent.”

WICCA IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE—A Wiccan priestess named Cynthia Simpson wants to give invocations at a Virginia county's board meetings (12/21 World). Wicca is a fast-growing, neo-pagan religion. It is sometimes referred to as “new age” or ”witchcraft.” Wisconsin's newest (2/1/02 CC) prison chaplain is a witch. At least 100 witches are attending covens at Ft. Hood, TX (7/1/99 CC). The World article concluded: “Based upon our review of Wicca, it is neo-pagan and involves polytheistic, pre- Christian deities.”

POPE A VILLAIN?—Bill O'Reilly noted (12/30 HT): It would be easy to call Pope John Paul a villain in the priest-pedophilia scandal. After all, he could have fired Cardinal Law and the other villainous U.S. cardinals months ago. But the pontiff did nothing, even after the evidence became overwhelming. He even refused to meet with a few victims during his visit to Canada earlier in the year. But the pope is “obviously ill” and, O'Reilly believes, not able to call the shots anymore.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S HYPOCRISY—During the recent flap over Sen. Trent Lott's comments that led to his resignation as majority leader, Planned Parenthood's president, Gloria Feldt, was among those who railed against Lott's "racist politics" of the 1940s. But Ed Szymkowiak of the American Life League says she is a hypocrite. She conveniently failed to mention PP's own racist actions – including the targeting of minority babies for abortion. He said PP founder Margaret Sanger, is on record discussing her plans to exterminate blacks (1/2 Agape Press), She was a radical socialist, a racist, and drug/alcohol addict who advocated free sex and sterilization of blacks, Jews and Catholics (7/1/96 CC). PP has been America's largest abortion provider and has received substantial taxpayer funds

MASONS PAY TRIBUTE TO BILLY GRAHAM is the title of a 9-page paper by Dr. Cathy Burns documenting a number of Masons who have close ties with BG. Some may surprise! Available from: Sharing, 212 East 7th St., Mt. Carmel, PA 17851, $2 postpaid.

THOUSANDS OF NUNS SEXUALLY ABUSED?—A national survey, completed in 1996 but intentionally never publicized, estimates that a minimum of 34,000 Catholic nuns, or about 40 percent of all nuns in the U.S. have suffered some form of sexual trauma. So says an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (1/5 HT). Some of that sexual abuse, exploitation or harassment has come from priests and other nuns in the church, the report said. The Roman Catholic Church was already shaken by a yearlong sex abuse scandal involving priests and minors. Sordid scandals are not confined to Catholics.

CAMPOLO EVER LIBERAL, CONTROVERSIAL—Former Eastern College (liberal American Baptist school) sociologist and evangelist – and adviser to former Pres. Clinton – Tony Campolo is given 9-page coverage in the 1/3 Chr. Today. He deals in hyperbole and shock: For example, he says: “While you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition…most of you don't give a [vulgarism] What's worse, is that you're more upset with the fact that I said [vulgarism] than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.” He is one of the only living evangelical leaders to undergo a heresy trial in 1985 (for saying that Christ is present in every human, etc.). Campolo says homosexuals are born that way, and his wife Peggy promotes homosexual weddings (6/1/95 CC). Yet he is a speaker for the SBC (10/15/94 CC), and National Council of Churches (3/15/02 CC).

PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES—Russian authorities seem to no longer welcome missionaries, following the recent adoption of a legal-status-of-foreigners law regulating relations that previously were not subject to regulation. Globally, in over 40 countries, Christians face daily persecution for their Christian faith. They are beaten imprisoned, tortured, sometimes killed, and their churches and schools destroyed for their faith in Jesus Christ. In Islam, war against the unbeliever is a central doctrine and practice.

PAT ROBERTSON SUPPORTS TEACHING OF THEISTIC EVOLUTION—Ken Ham (Answers in Genesis) said AiG received a number of letters from people dismayed and shocked by Pat Robertson comments on a couple of “700 Club” TV programs about those who believe in the six literal days of Creation (12/30 Chr. News). But Ham said he visited Robertson's Regent University several years ago and found that several professors were teaching theistic evolution.

WE'RE MOVING!—Please do not use our old Sparkman Dr. address. We moved from there about a year ago. Please continue sending Calvary Contender mail to 104 Cotton Row NW, Huntsville, AL 35806. Our new church building is located on 21 acres at 126 Douglass Road NW, Huntsville, AL 35806, three blocks from the CC editor's house.

Note: Some have asked for update on CC editor's health - See next CC.

CEDARVILLE PARTNERS WITH SOUTHERN BAPTISTS—Cedarville University, a GARBC “partner,” has entered into a partnering relationship with the State Convention of Southern Baptists in Ohio. This was formalized in Nov. during the 49th annual session of the state convention when messengers overwhelmingly approved the agreement and committed to recommend Cedarville to all "Southern Baptists as an accredited, quality, four-year university that embraces Southern Baptists." Located in southwestern Ohio, it is a top feeder school for Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Ky. "We're thrilled with the alliance with Cedarville," said Jack Kwok (exec. dir. of the Ohio convention). "Cedarville is a quality Baptist school. They wholeheartedly embrace Southern Baptists. A significant number of our pastors are Cedarville graduates. We're looking to them as a resource for future church leaders. They embrace our theology, our polity and our missiology. We would recommend Cedarville not only to Ohio Baptists but all Southern Baptists." Cedarville Pres. Paul Dixon likewise voiced excitement for "growing a relationship with Southern Baptists." Fundamentalist schools should now be even more wary of being a Cedarville partner.

WHY J.I. PACKER WALKED—Last June, the synod of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster authorized its bishop to produce a service for blessing same-sex unions, to be used in any parish of the diocese that requests it. Many synod members walked out to protest the decision. J.I. Packer, an exec. editor of Christianity Today, was one of those. He explains why in the Jan. CT. (Simply put, the Synod sanctified “sin by blessing what [God] condemns.”) “Because this decision, taken in its context, falsifies the gospel of Christ, abandons the authority of Scripture, jeopardizes the salvation of fellow human beings, and betrays the church in its God-appointed role as the bastion and bulwark of divine truth.” We commend Dr. Packer's stand against homosexuality, but recall that he was a signer of the ecumenical ECT (Evangelicals & Catholics Together).

ETS CLOSING DOOR ON 'OPEN THEISTS,' PINNOCK?—The Evangelical Theological Society has voted to challenge the membership of “open theologians” Clark Pinnock and John Sanders for promoting proposals “incompatible with inerrancy.” Open theists say that in the Bible God changes His mind, or repents, in response to human actions (1/03 CT). ETS members at its 2001 meeting passed a resolution that denied open theism: “We believe the Bible clearly teaches that God has complete, accurate, and infallible knowledge of all events past, present, and future, including all future decisions and actions of free moral agents.” ETS members present at the 2002 meeting voted 171 to 137 against Pinnock, and 166 to 143 against Sanders. Evangelicals are closely split on an important doctrine. (See 1/15/98 CC for Pinnock's dangerous teachings on hell and other doctrines.)

TRINITY FOUNDATION WARNS OF HINN'S ANTICS—Benny Hinn Ministries dismisses a news report which questioned its fundraising practices, financial accountability, and claims of physical healings. The late Dec. story on NBC's Dateline was the result of a two-year undercover investigation into Hinn and his worldwide ministry. Dateline producers and reporters interviewed former Hinn employees who claimed his main priority is bringing in millions of dollars to finance a lavish personal lifestyle. The report gave details of Hinn's plans to build a $3 million house on the West Coast. It also featured several who claimed to have been healed at Hinn crusades, only to die a short time later. Ole Anthony runs the Trinity Foundation which investigates televangelists. He says Christians need to think twice before supporting Hinn's ministry. "There are thousands…that follow him all over the country [who are] severely disabled in wheelchairs that go because they believe the next crusade is going to be where their healing is going to happen," Anthony says. "Well, that's just not scriptural."...Hinn would not agree to an interview, but a spokesman said Dateline found no incriminating evidence against the ministry. (AgapePress)

NEW BBFI PRESIDENT VISITS SWORD EDITOR—Sword of the Lord editor Dr. Shelton Smith reported on a Dec. 12 meeting in Murfreesboro with, and requested by, Pastor Bill Monroe the new president of the Baptist Bible Fellowship, to discuss the latter's “offense” at two recent Sword articles (see 11/02 CC). The articles pertained to the 9/02 BBFI national meeting's featuring a Southern Baptist speaker, and from its worldly “contemporary church” philosophy coming primarily from Saddleback [Rick Warren] and Willow Creek [Bill Hybels] “neo-evangelical centers.” Dr. Smith cites some NT texts which indicate there are “times when we must draw a clear line even with our brethren. Just as it is not right to be a liberal, we believe it is not right to enable liberals with our money [as SBs do] or our endorsements.” He adds: “…[I]t is…right for me to speak up when my brethren in the BBFI are courting and being cozy with neo-evangelicalism.” Both men agreed they disagree, but Dr. Smith said the visit was a very pleasant time. He said it is good when leaders talk through the trouble spots and: ”To do so, requires confrontation, communication, courage and courtesy.” [Eph.4:15]

ERROR APPEARS AS TRUTH—Indeed it does, so it must behoove us to be alert “error detectors.” The following is by Irenaeus of Lyons and appeared in the 10/02 Berean Call. “Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as, by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced…more true than the truth itself. One far superior to me has well said…, 'A clever imitation in glass casts contempt, as it were, on that precious jewel the emerald….' Lest, therefore, through my neglect, some should be carried off, even as sheep are by wolves, while they perceive not the true character of these men, because they outwardly are covered with sheep's clothing (against whom the Lord has enjoined us to be on our guard), and because their language resembles ours, while their sentiments are very different.” Be warned, be wise, beware!

WITNESS LEE, 'LOCAL CHURCH' SCRUTINIZED—Chinese evangelist Watchman Nee (1903-1972) was Witness Lee's mentor and founder of the Local Church movement. Lee, who died in 1997, followed his mentor to extremes (see 3/1/99 CC and the January 1, 2003 Charisma for some of his “aberrations”). Long accused of being a cult, the Local Church has a publishing arm, Living Stream Ministry, and now desires open dialogue with evangelicals. After years of complaints about its questionable doctrines (e.g., the Trinity), the LSM was granted membership in the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association in November.

DEATHS—Dr. John Walvoord, president of Dallas Seminary for 34 years, died Dec. 21 at 92. He was chancellor emeritus of Dallas, a dispensational theologian, published 30 books and contributed to 27 others. *** Dr. Lewis Smedes, popular author/ethicist and Fuller Seminary emeritus professor, died Dec. 19 at 81. [See 6/1/95 CC for possible liberal tendencies.]

SHEPHERD'S STAFF for Jan. 2003 has an article entitled “The Dangers of Denominationalism,” by Dr. Clay Nuttall (shepherdstaff@juno.com). Below is a small excerpt from The Benefits of Fellowship section: “God created us with the need for fellowship. Fellowship is an important interaction found in the family, the church and community. Christian servants who ignore the counsel and encouragement of others make a serious mistake. The same is true for the local church. History gives us a sad and clear commentary on those churches that saw themselves as the only right one left. Interchurch fellowship can be beneficial. It can also be tragic. The question is not about isolation. It is about the choices we make in fellowship. It would be folly to think a church could enter fellowship without some limitation. One of the great tragedies of our day is found in those churches that create illicit relationships….” For this entire thought-provoking article, contact Dr. Nuttall at the above e-mail address.

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