“For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places,
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,” (Eph. 6:12-13)
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places,
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,” (Eph. 6:12-13)
Liberty University has a World Vision problem.
Until World Vision announced and quickly reversed its policy
on same-gender marriage, most of its donors probably thought they were giving
money to help feed and evangelize poor children and families all around the
world. While World Vision lost donors because of its betrayal of orthodox
Christian doctrine, the furor created by the decision focused attention on what
World Vision actually did–and didn’t do–with its donors’ money. Donors learned
that their money didn’t actually go to the child pictured on the refrigerator
(but to the child’s village), nor did World Vision always share the gospel as a
part of its outreach. While people have been grieving the fact that thousands
of children have lost sponsorships, we don’t know how much of that has been
offset by donors redirecting their philanthropy to denominationally based
efforts that promise to more effectively take the gospel to the people who need
to hear it.[i]
on same-gender marriage, most of its donors probably thought they were giving
money to help feed and evangelize poor children and families all around the
world. While World Vision lost donors because of its betrayal of orthodox
Christian doctrine, the furor created by the decision focused attention on what
World Vision actually did–and didn’t do–with its donors’ money. Donors learned
that their money didn’t actually go to the child pictured on the refrigerator
(but to the child’s village), nor did World Vision always share the gospel as a
part of its outreach. While people have been grieving the fact that thousands
of children have lost sponsorships, we don’t know how much of that has been
offset by donors redirecting their philanthropy to denominationally based
efforts that promise to more effectively take the gospel to the people who need
to hear it.[i]
The World Vision public relations crisis had three related
components:
components:
- We discovered that World Vision was willing to reject
clear biblical teaching. - We discovered that World Vision isn’t actually a
gospel-preaching missions organization. - We discovered that our own churches and denominations
do a better job than we thought.
Last week, we learned that Liberty University, America’s
largest Christian college, had engaged
in a partnership with Benny Hinn that would permit students to watch
10 hours of video, take an easy quiz, and qualify for ordination through Hinn’s
World Healing Fellowship. The news spread quickly through blogs and
Twitter, and Liberty, realizing they had an unfolding public relations disaster
on its hands, released
a statement that asserted that they and Hinn were not in partnership.[ii]
largest Christian college, had engaged
in a partnership with Benny Hinn that would permit students to watch
10 hours of video, take an easy quiz, and qualify for ordination through Hinn’s
World Healing Fellowship. The news spread quickly through blogs and
Twitter, and Liberty, realizing they had an unfolding public relations disaster
on its hands, released
a statement that asserted that they and Hinn were not in partnership.[ii]
Ancient Heresies
Before the celestial "shock and awe" judgments of
the Tribulation are unleashed, God's Word describes a time characterized by
false teaching and teachers SO strong, that it would even sweep away even true
believers (Mk. 13:22) if they were not sealed by the Spirit of God.
the Tribulation are unleashed, God's Word describes a time characterized by
false teaching and teachers SO strong, that it would even sweep away even true
believers (Mk. 13:22) if they were not sealed by the Spirit of God.
In Matthew 24 Jesus describes the world before He
returns in His Second Coming, as a world where the love of most has grown cold
because of false teachers (Matt. 24:11-12); and where "the
Faith" will be nearly extinct (Lk. 18:8).
returns in His Second Coming, as a world where the love of most has grown cold
because of false teachers (Matt. 24:11-12); and where "the
Faith" will be nearly extinct (Lk. 18:8).
The end of the church age is shown in Revelation 3
to be like the church at Laodicea where truth is light, self-centeredness is
heavy; materialism and personal agendas run deep, and true Biblical
spirituality is shallow.
to be like the church at Laodicea where truth is light, self-centeredness is
heavy; materialism and personal agendas run deep, and true Biblical
spirituality is shallow.
Today we see such a sweeping array of deceptive false
teachers as just the foretaste of this birth pang, which Jesus warned about and
described--forming before our very eyes.
teachers as just the foretaste of this birth pang, which Jesus warned about and
described--forming before our very eyes.
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