ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION NOW A DEADLY SIN (Friday Church News Notes, March 21, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - According to a new list of “seven deadly sins” published by the Roman Catholic Church, “polluting the environment” could send you to hell. The new list was announced by Cardinal Gianfranco Girotti, who said that the old list (sloth, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, wrath, pride) was weighted on the side of an “individualist dimension.” In contrast, the new list has “a social resonance.” The new deadly sins are genetic modification, carrying out experiments on humans, polluting the environment, causing social injustice, causing poverty, becoming obscenely wealthy, and taking drugs. According to Rome, deadly sins are a “grave violation of God’s law” and bring about “eternal death” if not confessed to a priest. It is interesting that Rome is guilty of these new deadly sins. Anywhere that her doctrine holds sway she has created poverty, social injustice, environmental pollution, and drug taking, and she has become obscenely wealthy in the process. What blasphemous audacity Rome has, to think that she can pronounce what is a deadly sin.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND REMAINS OF FIRST TEMPLE (Friday Church News Notes, March 21, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - For the last few years some Muslims have been purported that Israel never had a temple in Jerusalem. This Temple Denial is intended to delegitimize Israel’s claim to the city. Arafat denied Israel’s Jerusalem temple to President Bill Clinton in 2000 at the Camp Daivd summit. Dore Gold describes the rapid spread of this doctrine: “Temple Denial spread across the Middle East like wildfire from the editorial pages of al-Jazirah in Saudi Arabia to well-funded international seminars in the United Arab Emirates. ... Temple Denial found fertile ground in the Arab world’s universities, particularly those with a more radical Islamist perspective, where it would affect an entirely new generation” (The Fight for Jerusalem, 2007). In his book Gold gives many evidences for the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, including Josephus’ testimony, the Arch of Titus in Rome, and items that have been recovered such as temple plaques and coins. (See “Temple Denial vs. Archaeology” at http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/temple-denial-vs-archaeology.html). Now there is new evidence. In March 2008 the Israel Antiquities Authority announced that for the first time in the history of archaeological research remains from the First Temple have been found close to the Temple Mount (“First Temple Building Remains Found,” Arutz Sheva, March 17, 2008). Excavations done over the past two years have uncovered a “magnificent colonnaded street from the 2nd century” that sits directly on top of the layer from the First Temple period, thus having protected it from plunder in later periods.

UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL CALLS THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE RAPTURE “EXTREMISTS” (Friday Church News Notes, March 21, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Karen Armstrong, of the United Nation’s Alliance of Civilizations, calls Christians who believe in the Rapture “extremists” (http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php?ArticleID=320). In response I want to thank the lady for reminding me that the Bible is true. More than 2,000 years ago the Bible prophesied that “there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:3-4). It would be impossible for a mere human book to prophesy something so exactly two millennia in the future, and it does not contain just one prophecy. It contains thousands of them! All of the detailed prophecies of Christ’s first coming were fulfilled to perfection, and so will the prophecies of His second coming. My friends, beware of the evil skepticism of our time and do not doubt God and His holy Word! You won’t regret it! “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ... But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:1, 6).

CHRISTIANITY TODAY SAYS WE SHOULD FORGET ABOUT “ABOUT BEING RIGHT” AND INSTEAD PURSUE CATHOLIC MYSTICISM (Friday Church News Notes, March 21, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Everywhere we look evangelicals are turning to Roman Catholic styles of contemplative spirituality (which in most cases were borrowed from pagan sources), such as ritualistic rote prayers, chanting, mindless repetition, meditation, non-thinking centering prayer, the use of prayer beads, the Stations of the Cross, lectio divina, and labyrinths. The cover story for the February 2008 issue of Christianity Today was “The Future Lies in the Past: Why Evangelicals Are Connecting with the Early Church as They Move into the 21st Century.” It describes the “lost secrets of the ancient church” that are being rediscovered by evangelicals. The ancient church in question happens to be Rome. The article observes that many young evangelicals dislike “traditional” Christianity,” which is described as too focused on “being right,” too much into “Bible studies” and “apologetics materials.” Instead, these evangelicals want “a renewed encounter with a God” that goes beyond “doctrinal definitions.” This, of course, is a description of mysticism, which seeks to experience God beyond the boundaries of Scripture. Christianity Today recommends that evangelicals “stop debating” and just “embody Christianity,” towards which end they should “embrace symbols and sacraments” and dialogue with “Catholicism and Orthodoxy”; they should “break out the candles and incense,” pray the “lectio divina,” and learn the Catholic” ascetic disciplines” from “practicing monks and nuns.” Christianity Today says that this “search for historic roots” will lead “to a deepening ecumenical conversation, and a recognition by evangelicals that the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox are fellow Christians with much to teach us.” The article ends with these amazing words: “This is the road to maturity. That more and more evangelicals have set out upon it is reason for hope for the future of gospel Christianity. That they are receiving good guidance on this road from wise teachers is reason to believe that Christ is guiding the process. And THAT THEY ARE MEETING AND LEARNING FROM FELLOW CHRISTIANS IN THE OTHER TWO GREAT CONFESSIONS, ROMAN CATHOLIC AND EASTERN ORTHODOX, IS REASON TO REJOICE IN THE POWER OF LOVE.” This is a no holds barred invitation to Catholic mysticism, and it will not lead to light but to the same darkness that has characterized Rome throughout its history, and it will lead beyond Rome to the paganism from which Rome originally borrowed its practices. Behold the “mystery of iniquity” that has been leavening “the church” for 2,000 years.

THE MOSES CODE (Friday Church News Notes, March 21, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Due for release on April 5, The Moses Code movie is a sequel to The Secret, and both present the devil’s ancient lie that “ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5). According to The Moses Code’s blasphemous philosophy, the statement I AM THAT I AM in the Pentateuch is not a name for Almighty God but a magical declaration that any person can chant to create a force field that will produce miracles and even bring in world peace. The following is excerpted from “The Moses Code - Taking the Next Step toward a World Wide Awakening,” Lighthouse Trails, March 4, 2008: “On April 5th, The Moses Code film will be released in a ‘unique synchronized worldwide opening,’ just a few weeks after this week’s release of the book with the same title. The book and film without a doubt will become best sellers with expected promotion by Oprah Winfrey and others. The book/film is following the release of last year’s The Secret, which has remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for over 59 weeks. The Secret, also a book/film, was highly promoted by Oprah and carries a similar-type message. In essence, both projects focus on humanity being divine and having the ability to alter our personal lives and ultimately alter the world in which we live through hidden mysteries that the projects supposedly reveal. The publisher of The Moses Code details the theme of the project: ‘Is it possible that nearly 3,500 years ago, Moses was given the secret for attracting everything you’ve ever desired? The Moses Code was first used to create some of the greatest miracles in the history of the world, but then it was hidden away, and only the highest initiates were allowed to practice it. In this book, James F. Twyman reveals the Code for the first time, showing how it can be used to create miracles in your life . . . and in the world.’ The Secret focused on the Law of Attraction, which, if practiced faithfully, promises to help one obtain his or her hopes and dreams. The Secret tells readers and viewers how this is possible: ‘You are God in a physical body ... You are all power ... You are all intelligence ... You are the creator’ (p. 164). Incidentally, the author of The Secret, Rhonda Byrne, thanks a group of spirit guides called Abraham for ‘their inspirational teachings’ (p. xv). Now, The Moses Code takes followers further along the metaphysical road: ‘... You’re here to use the power of Divinity itself to create a world based on the laws of compassion and peace.’ ... The Moses Code says that mysticism is the avenue through which we enter a ‘frequency’ that draws us into a sacred space called God, and this frequency can be entered by turning to the I AM field which ‘helps initiate and enhance sacred experiences.” “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4).

CREATIVITY IN WORSHIP THE WAY OF CAIN (Friday Church News Notes, March 21, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Cain wanted to worship God and delve into spiritual things, but he wanted to do it on his own terms rather than follow the precise instructions of God’s Word. He was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve and his younger brother Abel was a prophet (Luke 11:50-51). God spoke through Abel that He was to be approached through the sacrifice of a lamb, which pointed to the coming of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:24). Abel obeyed and brought the prescribed offering, shedding its blood and killing it as God had instructed. Cain decided to come on his own terms, instead, and brought an offering of the vegetables that he had grown with his own hands. It was an emerging, cool, contemporary, artsy type of worship. Surely God would be well pleased! Abel offered by faith in God’s Word, whereas Cain offered in the presumption of his own thinking (Heb. 11:4). God rejected Cain’s offering and accepted Abel’s (Genesis 4:1-11), and as a result Cain killed his own brother. As David Moss says in God’s Song, (Fundamental Evangelistic Association, Fresno, CA): “Cain thought that the most important thing in life was for him to express himself. He thought God would be pleased if he used his own imagination in offering a creative form of sacrifice. Why was God not pleased? Because God did not want human imagination or ‘creativity’ as a gift. Rather, He wanted conformity to His precise plan. Humans reject this dogmatic rigidity and substitute for it their theory of existential relativism. As each one tills and cultivates his own life, he will inevitably express reality differently from others. There must be, therefore--according to man’s imagination--many legitimate roads to follow in order to accommodate the many different orientations of people and the many different ways in which they express themselves. ... It is when we allow the agents of sensuality to enter our worship that the order and peacefulness of worship is destroyed, not enhanced. The expressiveness of the individual becomes more important than what pleases God. God is expected to be happy because men and women are giving Him something they ‘grew with their own hands,’ but in the process, the sacrifice of Cain is repeated over and over again to the music of the modern church” (David Moss, God’s Song, pp. 46, 49).