November 30, 2005 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

From time to time I receive questions about Ray Comfort’s Living Waters ministry. Recently a subscriber to the FBIS wrote: “Ray Comfort’s ministry has helped me in my witnessing and understanding of repentance and using the Law in evangelism. But I am concerned -- while on one hand he seems very dedicated to preaching the true Gospel and reaching as many souls as he can (via open air preaching) -- on the other he seems very ecumenical.”

To this I replied: Ray Comfort is a thoroughgoing New Evangelical, as is obvious by his associations.

The following is from his web site: “Ray Comfort’s ministry has been commended by Franklin Graham, Josh McDowell, D. James Kennedy, Bill Gothard, David Wilkerson, Jerry Falwell, George Barna, Ted Haggard and many other Christian leaders. He has written for Billy Graham’s Decision magazine and Bill Bright’s Worldwide Challenge. He has also spoken in more than 750 churches from almost every denomination.”

As with any New Evangelical, much that he says will be scriptural and helpful. His warnings about getting mere “decisions” and his approach of using the Ten Commandments to bring a sinner to repentance are excellent. That is the purpose of the Law (Rom. 3:19; Gal. 3:24). This is what we see in the ministry of Christ (i.e., the Sermon on the Mount) and the apostles (i.e., the book of Romans, where almost 3 chapters are devoted to exposing sin before the grace of God in Christ is preached).

The great error of New Evangelicalism is not the error that is preached but the truth that is neglected. Unlike Paul (Acts 20:27) they narrow their message down, neglecting unpopular doctrines such as separation. Thus New Evangelicals are dangerous because of what they leave out of their teaching and because of the ecumenical, judge-not, stay positive philosophy that they promote.

They will quote from modernists and unbelievers uncritically and without warning.

I believe it is very dangerous to swim in New Evangelical waters.