BARKING SHEEP
Paul Proctor
August 14, 2002
NewsWithViews.comFor two years now I have written much about the godless nature and direction of the seeker sensitive church growth movement conceived and birthed years ago at Fuller Theological Seminary and spread throughout the world by organizations like the Crystal Cathedral, Saddleback Community Church and Willow Creek Community Church through its associations and member churches. I have exposed and explained time and again the Hegelian Dialectic they incorporate into their teachings and practices to bring the church at large into the “ecumenical” and “interfaith” agenda of the United Nations through non-governmental organizations like World Vision. It seems every year during the fall some bazaar story emerges from Willow Creek’s faux pas factory into the mainstream media sending shock and confusion throughout the Christian community.
Two years ago it was an unrepentant Bill Clinton appearing on Ted Koppel’s show Nightline seeking forgiveness and support as the keynote speaker of Willow Creek Community Church’s Leadership Conference right before the Democratic National Convention. Last year pastor Bill Hybels invited a Muslim cleric to speak at Willow Creek after the 9-11 attacks to soothe fevered brows in the interest of tolerance and diversity. And every year Willow Creek’s spokesperson responds to the resulting outrage with the same kind of dialectic spin and denial reminiscent of the Clinton administration. Well friends, fall is here and the “Creekers” are at it again.
“In a letter to Bush, 60 signers, identifying themselves as American evangelicals, endorsed a U.S. policy that "affirms the valid interests" of both sides in the Middle East conflict. They also told the president the "American evangelical community is not a monolithic bloc in full and firm support of present Israeli policy…In their letter, the writers endorsed a free state for the Palestinians.”-- Baptist Press
Letter By 60 Christian Leaders Criticizes Pro-Israel Evangelicals http://www.baptistpress.com/bpnews.asp?ID=13995
So, essentially these “evangelicals” are asking President Bush to negotiate with terrorists, bypass God’s call to support and defend the nation of Israel against its enemies and ignore His covenant with Abraham that clearly establishes the land they now “occupy” as their divine inheritance. This is just another episode in the ongoing saga of “blind guides” building an Apostate Church for the 21st century.
Not only are they calling for the president to practice the Hegelian Dialectic in the middle east --Thesis (Israel) + Antithesis (Palestinians) = Synthesis (False Peace) -- whether they admit it or not, they are forwarding a belief system known as “replacement theology” that promotes the occult idea that Christians are somehow God’s replacement for the Jews as His “Chosen” people.
You really have to investigate thoroughly the corrupt core and occult beginnings of the church growth movement (CGM) beyond its slick marketing strategies, management techniques and worshiptainment format to understand the nature of the beast. If you only address the sterilized “worship centers” they build and the circus atmosphere they create on Sunday morning, you will miss the heart of the heresy and they will simply defend themselves, as they always do, by claiming a difference in worship style. If, however, you delve into the roots and philosophy of the CGM you will discover the REAL problem – that it’s NOT a matter of style but rather a matter of substance – transformational Marxism with a Christian face. Using group think and group management they centralize the church’s power and authority under a few select individuals called “facilitators” (change agents) who are guided and instructed from without. They will tell you, “The message hasn’t changed.” What they won’t tell you is that the message is seldom, if ever delivered, so as to protect the lost from any offensive and intolerant doctrine – thereby keeping them and their money “faithfully” coming to church.
It’s all about putting people and their “felt needs” FIRST to promote change within the church for the benefit of global governance -- God and His unchanging Word SECOND to avoid conflict and dissention (division) and utilizing human talent and technique to form a governmentally manageable religion for the United Nations where everyone’s beliefs are considered equally valid, except of course those whose beliefs are strictly biblical.
As Christians, we need to take a stand against such heresy and support the nation of Israel in defense of its covenant land – not negotiate with murderers and idolaters who consider the suicide bombing of innocent bystanders to be a religious experience and duty to a god named Allah. If you are a member of a church that belongs to the Willow Creek Association or any of the other participating organizations mentioned in the above Baptist Press article it is essential that you know and understand just Who is against those that are against Israel. In other words -- beware of barking sheep – they’re not there to graze the green pastures.
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
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The People’s Church© 2002 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved
Paul Proctor, a rural resident of the Volunteer state and seasoned veteran of the country music industry, retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance writer and regular columnist for News With Views, he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print. Paul may be reached at watchman@usa.com.
