Don't Be Seduced and Deceived!

In a recent article, Dr. Albert Mohler, a man whom I respect greatly, is quoted and tells us that there are many leaders (rightfully so, I might add) who call the "Emerging Church Movement" a threat to the Gospel".

At the end of the article, Dr. Mohler sums it up quite well:

"Dr. McLaren's position diverges too greatly to be appropriate for this conference."

Mohler concludes that McLaren and other leaders in the Emergent Church represent "a significant challenge to biblical Christianity."

"Unwilling to affirm that the Bible contains propositional truths that form the framework for Christian belief, this movement argues that we can have Christian symbolism and substance without those thorny questions of truthfulness that have so vexed the modern mind," Mohler writes."The worldview of postmodernism -- complete with an epistemology that denies the possibility of or need for propositional truth -- affords the movement an opportunity to hop, skip and jump throughout the Bible and the history [of ]Christian thought in order to take whatever pieces they want from one theology and attach them, like doctrinal post-it notes, to whatever picture they would want to draw."

This movement is "nothing new under the sun" and is an example of what Jude predicted and prophesied about the end times. There would be a falling away from the truth of the Gospel and the Bible. This leads to, and is called, heresy and apostasy.

The Da Vinci code phenomenon is an example of taking heretical notions about Jesus and making it appear to be "real" and "the truth." Even though the author claims that it is just a work of fiction, the manner, views, and context in which the book is written demonstrate a blatant attempt to lead the reader into doubting the true Gospel of Christ.

The current "gay" Christian movement is another perfect example. They pick and choose which verses to follow from the Bible and which ones they will ignore. Notice (in article link) that the Emergent Church movement advocate (Dr. McLaren) refused to answer and/or acknowledge what the Bible clearly says about the sin of homosexual behavior. He gave some silly excuse that it is "too political."

The Emergent Movement wants to move away from the commandments of God and "do what is right in their own eyes." This is no better than any non-believer out there...but the worst part is that they are leading flocks of would-be/could-be followers of Christ into a false gospel.

The ones who will not be fooled by this are the elect of God:

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.

Leaders like Dr. McLaren are subtlely (and, in some cases, not so subtlely) advocating for the "carnal Christian man." Let's briefly examine what Paul says about this obvious contradiction.

Paul speaks of the natural man (Ephesians 2:1-3) as one who seeks the desires of the body which occupy most of his (or her) mind and life. He doesn't feel conviction for his sins; he sees no need of righteousness, and he's not concerned about the judgment.

Paul said, "The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness" ( 1 Corinthians 1:18). Like the blind man who cannot appreciate the beauty of a sunset, natural man without the Spirit of God in his heart and life lacks the faculty to recognize and understand the love of God and man's need for redemption.

Paul's heart had been opened to truth by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:15, 16). he wasn't transformed by the wisdom of man but became spiritual in the power and in the demonstration of the Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul discusses the "carnal Christian" (Ephesians 4:13-19) as one who has been awakened by the Spirit of God to his need of Jesus Christ and has received Christ as his Savior, but he has never submitted his life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The carnal Christian lives in an arrested state of spiritual devolopment and remains as he was years ago - in the infancy state.

You can never be fully satisfied as a carnal Christian. It's only as you give your life, your body, your mind and your soul to the Lord and commit it all to him that you will know the joy, peace and blessing of walking in, and with, the Spirit.


Ephesians 4