CALVARY CONTENDER ARTICLES

CALVARY CONTENDER ARTICLES

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June 26, 1999 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The following information is from recent issues of the Calvary Contender. Jerry Huffman is the editor of this bi-weekly paper. The full issues are available on the web at http://home.hiwaay.net/~contendr --

MERCER PROFESSOR PAUL DUKE'S UNBELIEF - Mercer University professor of New Testament and preaching Paul Duke, in a 1994 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (the moderate-liberal wing of the SBC) Pre-Assembly Institute entitled "Homosexuality and the Church," stated: "Scripture is not our ultimate authority, because the Bible will one day pass away. We won't carry those in Heaven... Homosexuality is not a major concern of the Bible. ... I cannot with confidence say that the Bible condemns all forms of homosexual behavior..." Duke affirmed his "broad support" for the union of homosexual couples, but noted that his personal preference was for heterosexual couples (4/99 Baptist Banner). Mercer U. is CBF-funded (Calvary Contender, June 1, 1999)

ELDERLY FEAR EUTHANASIA - David Stevens, exec. Dir. Of the Christian Medical & Dental Society, said (Moody, June 1999): "In the Netherlands, where euthanasia has been tolerated for more than a decade, one in five euthanasia cases in 1995 occurred without the patient’s consent. The elderly, disabled, and severely ill are afraid to enter local hospitals, fearing they will be euthanized. The legalization of assisted suicide … [gives] doctors a right to kill. With rising health care costs, it’s a deadly prescription (Calvary Contender, June 1, 1999).

GARBC-APPROVED AGENCIES JOIN WITH NEW EVANGELICALS - The May 1998 Baptist Bulletin stated: "The Cedarville College Symphonic Band and the Asbury College Band (Wilmore, Ky.) held a joint concert on March 8…" Asbury Seminary in recent years has invited Roman Catholic and liberal speakers to its pulpit, and its president, Dr. Maxie Dunnam, has praised the RC rosary and is/was a member of the Roman Catholic - Methodist International Dialogue Commission. The article also stated that Dr. Walter Kaiser, president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, brought the installation challenge for Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary’s new vice president. Gordon-Conwell also has had liberal and Catholic speakers. Cedarville and Grand Rapids are GARBC-approved agencies. We pray that the GARBC will stop flirting with New Evangelicalism and again embrace the separatistic principles and practices it was founded on. It is popular today to be a rhetorical Fundamentalist but an operational New Evangelical (Calvary Contender, June 1, 1999).

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER ‘99 - In recent years, Mrs. James Dobson (Shirley) has chaired the annual National Day of Prayer. Co-chair has been Vonette Bright of Campus Crusade. Charles Colson is on the National Advisory Committee. Rabbi Joshua Haberman, "Father" Robert Siroco, and D. James Kennedy were liaisons. An NDP booklet states: "People of all faiths are encouraged to participate according to their own traditions. … NDP was created and intended for all peoples of faith to pray to the God of their understanding." The NDP Task Force is limited to the Judeo-Christian [Jewish religion, Catholic/Christian] heritage. But how can we join in prayer with those who pray to different gods? Our God is holy and jealous (Josh. 24:18-20) and will not share His glory with pagan gods and the false gods of Judaism and Romanism. The National Religious Broadcasters and others co-sponsored a Concert of Prayer carried by Moody Radio and other stations. The May 6 NDP featured Franklin Graham and remarks by a number of religious leaders including Cardinal Francis George of Chicago who gave the opening prayer (Calvary Contender, June 1, 1999).

FALWELL’S AUTOBIOGRAPHIES - Dr. Jerry Falwell in 1997 updated his 1987 autobiography. In the newer version, he has added some new material and revised some of the old. In the Foreword, Falwell-mentor and veteran BBF leader John Rawlings states his belief that "no clergyman of any faith has appeared in the media as much as Jerry Falwell...ever." Then Falwell (in Epilogue) says: "My burning obsession is to cooperate with God in building the greatest Christian university in the world, in history." He said the late Jack Wyrtzen (Word of Life) advised him to take over PTL in 1987. Falwell says "I am convinced that God led me to Heritage in 1987", then a few sentences later says: "God wanted it [PTL’s Heritage, USA ministry] terminated." He still calls Catholics, and PTL partners, "brothers." He said: "My relationship with charismatic Christians across America and the world has been radically improved.... The [charismatic PTL] supporters and partners are among the finest Christians I have known." With the Moral Majority, he said: "I found myself sharing the platform with Roman Catholic priests and nuns, Orthodox rabbis, Mormon elders, and pastors from Southern Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Assembly of God and Nazarene churches." Falwell’s inclusivism remains a divisive and confusing force within Fundamentalism (Calvary Contender, June 1, 1999).

FALWELL IS ON SBC PROGRAM - "Nationally known televangelist and recent convert to Southern Baptist life," Jerry Falwell, will appear on this year’s annual Southern Baptist Convention program-not to preach or preside, but to give the benedictory prayer after the convention sermon (4/21 Baptist Standard). Although he has addressed the SBC Pastor’s Conference in the past, this is the first time for him to appear on the SBC meeting program. He recently spoke at the Baptist Bible Fellowship’s annual meeting where he was introduced as "the BBF missionary to the Southern Baptist Convention" (Calvary Contender, June 1, 1999).

GOLD TEETH MIRACLES AT TORONTO - Bad news for dentists? Charismatics now claim that God is filling teeth with gold. John Arnott of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship says this is occurring all over the world (Charisma, June 1999). This church was formerly linked with the Vineyard, and renowned for its "Laughing revival" where people fall to the floor laughing, making weird animal noises. The TACF website has Psalm 81:10 ("…open thy mouth wide and I will fill it"). After a Los Angeles pastor visited a church, an 80-year-old woman allegedly received five gold crowns and then two more while she slept. He believes the fillings are a sign from God that His glory is coming. Jesus said, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign" ad that false prophets would use signs and wonders to deceive. Be warned, be wise, beware! (Calvary Contender, June 15, 1999).

GAMBLING AWAY THE GOLDEN YEARS - More senior citizens now gamble and lose control. The highest increase among gamblers is among those 65 and older. Per the May 24 Christianity Today: "Compulsive gambling causes people who have no past criminal behavior to suddenly write bad checks or steal money from relatives. Out-of-control bettors lose their jobs, gamble away cars and homes, file for bankruptcy, divorce, go to prison, or kill themselves--all because the addiction becomes paramount in their lives." Casinos seduce seniors (arrange low-cost trips and buses) and make it easy and affordable for them to bet. Among 1,100 clients at rescue missions, 18 percent cited gambling as a cause of their homelessness" (Calvary Contender, June 15, 1999).

WOMEN IN DANGER - In many countries closed to the gospel, many women risk their lives every day (6/99 Charisma). A Buddhist proverb says, "She was born a woman because she committed a thousand sins in the previous world." In Hindu countries, women are told they are valued less than a cow, and they pray to be reincarnated as a man. In Pakistan, over 70 percent of women in police custody are physically and sexually abused by jailers. In India, men often marry wealthy women for their dowries, then burn them alive so they can claim the money. In Indonesia, dozens of Chinese women have been raped during recent riots. In many Muslim nations, women cannot enter areas where men gather to pray or go out in public unless accompanied by a male relative. In parts of Africa there are taboos against women eating nutritious foods reserved for men. In Afghanistan, women can be publicly beaten and stoned for not wearing head-to-toe covering. In Pakistan, two female witnesses are equal to one male witness in a legal case (Calvary Contender, June 15, 1999).

DEPRESSION - We glean the following from an article by Gary & Carol Almy, in the May-June PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter (get this free newsletter from 4137 Primavera Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93110). Office visits for depression increased from 10.99 million in 1988 to 20.43 million in 1993. The article lists over a dozen Bible passages refuting the common view that depression is an abnormal event in the life of a Christian. Depression is a kind of suffering. From the world’s viewpoint, all suffering is inappropriate, unjustified, unacceptable and to be avoided. From the Scriptural viewpoint, suffering has both meaning and purpose. We are joint-heirs with Christ and if we suffer with Him [for righteousness sake] we may also be glorified together. [Note: This Letter also has an article entitled, "James Dobson promotes Freud"] (Calvary Contender, June 15, 1999).