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"On
Pluralism Sunday
[Pentecost, May 27] progressive Christian churches around the US will explore
and experience other religious traditions.... We grow closer to God,
grow deeper in compassion, and understand our own tradition better by honoring
and exploring the world’s religions."[1]
"It’s not just tolerance, it’s to go beyond
tolerance, to principle pluralism. The fundamentalists have a
pessimistic view of future, and they have this perception... that there’s an
unbridgeable
divide between the believer and the unbeliever.... We don’t believe
that."[2] Richard Cizik, National Association of
Evangelicals
"This is the New Spirituality’s false gospel of
Oneness: 'We are all one. Ours is not a better way, ours is merely another
way."[3] Tamara Hartzell, In
the Name of Purpose - Sacrificing Truth on the Altar of
Unity
It's no secret that the today's world system
is driven by a vision of global solidarity
and spiritual pluralism. We don't know God's precise schedule, but He warned us
long ago to prepare for a time of "falling away," when people with "itching
ears" would trade truth for myth and reject the "sound doctrine" needed to
guard against deception.[4]
Do those signs describe our
times?
Exposing the dark
forces behind this spiritual revolution, Tamara Hartzell quotes occultist Alice
Bailey, whose main source of "insight" was her spirit guide, Djwhal Khul:
“The day is dawning when all religions
will be regarded as emanating from one great spiritual source; all
will be seen as unitedly providing the one root out of which the
universal world religion will inevitably emerge. Then there will be
neither Christian nor heathen, neither Jew nor Gentile, but simply
one great body of believers, gathered out of all the current religions. They
will accept the same truths, not as theological concepts but as
essential to spiritual living…. Such a world religion is no idle dream but
something which is definitely forming today.”[5]
That prediction was dictated
by Bailey's demonic mentor in 1947, before the telltale signs of social
transformation were noticeable. But the next three decades brought radical
changes. Humanistic
psychology, multicultural
education, the dialectic
process, and countless other transformational
schemes had been sown and began to bear fruit through institutions and "educational
laboratories" across America. Together with data tracking technology, they
evolved into increasingly sophisticated programs for manipulating minds,
changing values, and undermining Biblical truth. [See Brainwashing in
America]
Seminaries
along with universities
embraced the new way of thinking, and soon the revolution swept through churches as
well. Postmodernism
rejected the truth and values that had shaped America -- and pluralism
is replacing them. The unthinkable is becoming the norm!
Hostility toward unbending
Biblical Christianity is rising fast, exposing today's double-minded guides
who bend the truth to please people and broaden their influence. Ponder these
statements by three trusted models of Christian leadership. Are they teaching
God's Truth -- or promoting a more popular postmodern distortion?
2. "America's pastor"
Rick Warren gives a similar twist to
the uncompromising Scriptures. Dismissing the Biblical "foundation"
for our relationship with Jesus, he cheered his UN audience and CNN listeners
with these false assurances:
"You may be Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or
Baptist or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish or Jain, or you have no religion at
all. I’m not interested in your religious background. Because God did not
create the universe for us to have religion. He came for us to have a
relationship with him.”[7]
“I have known many people who believe in the Messiah of Jesus,
regardless of what religion they are, because they believe in him. It’s
about a relationship, not a religion."
[8]
3. President George W.
Bush
fits right in. He, too, has made countless head-scratching
comments that turn God's Truth into pluralist proclamations. Do you wonder, as
I do, if he really believes what he says? Or is he just trying to please his Christian constituents without
offending others?
"In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Charles
Gibson, Bush said he believes that both Christians and Muslims worship the
same God. 'I think we do. We have different
routes of getting to the Almighty,' Bush
said."[9]
"The same Creator who names the stars also knows the
names of the seven souls we mourn today," Bush added. "The crew of the
shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that
all are safely home."[10]
"Americans of many faiths and traditions
share a common belief that God [which
God?] hears the prayers of His children and shows grace to
those who seek Him. ... There is a power in these prayers [to diverse gods].... I ask the citizens of our
Nation to give thanks, each according to his or her own faith, for
the freedoms and blessings we have received and for God's continued
guidance, comfort, and protection."[11]
Has he
forgotten that Jesus said, "I am the
way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through
Me" (John 14:6)?
Diana Eck, founder of
Pluralism
Project at Harvard, is not a "trusted
model" of Christianity. Yet, in her promotion of Pluralism Sunday, she echoes
the above sentiments:
"I have found my own faith not threatened, but
broadened and deepened by the study of Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Sikh
traditions of faith. And I have found that only as a Christian
pluralist could I be faithful to the mystery and the presence of the
one I call God.... We believe that God is no way constricted or
limited by the traditions, doctrines, dogma, or texts of any one
religious tradition.... Through it all, we are connected to the same
infinite Source and we are all unified by the same all-inclusive Spirit. For
us, Pentecost Sunday will be Pluralism Sunday."[12]
Those misleading statements remind me of a sobering
Old Testament warning that we would be wise to heed:
"...you cried out to Me, and I delivered you
from their hand. Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I
will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen;
let them deliver you in your time of distress." Judges
10:12-14
The wonder of Pentecost
Like Diana Eck, the Interfaith Center at the Presidio
promotes the new version of Pentecost: "On Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2007, Christian churches across the
United States and beyond will dedicate their worship to a celebration of our
interfaith world."
[13]
This interfaith feast is sponsored
by Center for Progressive
Christianity
(CPC). It doesn't claim to be Biblical, but it does present
itself as a more accommodating version of Christianity. And it gives us another sobering glimpse of
the direction the world is headed. Remember, what seems absurd today may seem
"normal" tomorrow. What has been "right" to Christians may soon be
reviled -- even in churches:
"On Pluralism Sunday progressive Christian churches
around the US will explore and experience other religious
traditions.... Participating congregations will benefit
by being included in national and regional
publicity.... creating a special
'evangelism' opportunity to reach out to people who seek
open-minded, open-hearted
churches....
"We don’t claim that our religion is superior to all
others.... Pluralism Sunday spreads good news: there is a way to be
Christian without making this prideful claim, which has been the cause of so
much inter-religious division and misunderstanding.
"Acts chapter 2 in the Bible recounts the
powerful legend of Pentecost. When Jesus’ disciples gathered
in Jerusalem, the 'curse of Babel' was reversed, and suddenly people who
spoke different languages could understand each
other."
[1]
God had good reasons for disrupting the Babel building project. He saw the
arrogance of ambitious visionaries who sought to control the world through
human unity and ingenuity. Now, with UN treaties
and global technology, mankind is establishing a far more sophisticated
monument to human strength and solidarity. And God, who is "slow to anger,"
will not be patient with us forever.
The actual Pentecost was no "legend." An historical event, its wonders were documented by
eyewitnesses and ancient historians. On that momentous day, God sent His Holy
Spirit to equip His true Church with the life, strength, wisdom and love
needed to serve Him anywhere in the world. But only those who believed
in Jesus Christ received His Spirit -- the miraculous gift that would
transform poor, uneducated fishermen into faithful preachers with the courage
to face torture and death in the name of
Jesus.
"When the Day of Pentecost
had fully come, they [disciples and other believers] were all with one
accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon
each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance....
"Then they ["the
multitudes"] were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, 'Look, are
not all these who speak 'Galileans? 'And how is it that we hear, each in
our own 'language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes... visitors
from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking
in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.'” Acts
2:1-13
Peter, the humbled disciple
who had thrice denied Jesus, stood up to explain. Knowing the joy of divine
forgiveness, he shared the good news of Christ's victory through His death,
burial, and resurrection. The people were amazed.
"What shall we do?”
they asked.
"Repent," answered Peter,
"and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit....
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized;
and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." Acts
2:38-41
The "enemy" to man's global
vision
"...no one religion rightly can claim superiority over all others,"
says Rev. Jim Burklo, the Presbyterian coordinator of Pluralism Sunday. "More
and more people have been exposed to the insight and wisdom in spiritual
traditions other than their own. Many folks see the damage that religious
chauvinism is doing in the world today, and have turned away from
Christianity."[13]
Do those words sound
familiar? It might, if you have read our article on Al Gore's "panreligious
perspective." Compare Rev. Burklo's views with Mr. Gore's statement
Earth in the
Balance. Notice
his attitude toward those who refuse to compromise their
faith:
"The richness and
diversity of our religious tradition throughout history is a spiritual
resource long ignored by people of faith, who are often afraid to open their
minds to teachings first offered outside their own system of
belief. But the emergence of a civilization in which knowledge moves freely
and almost instantaneously throughout the world has... spurred a renewed
investigation of the wisdom distilled by all faiths...."
[14]
Postmodern pluralism sounds tempting to the world. Few mention the
devastating consequences: spiritual blindness, moral corruption, cultural
decay, bondage to lust and cravings, an epidemic of depression
and hopelessness, and a growing hatred for uncompromising Christians.
While the Bible warned us it would happen, it also offers wonderful
hope:
"...in the last days perilous times will come: For men
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving,
slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn
away!
...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will
suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse,
deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things
which you have learned..." 2 Timothy 3:1-14
"If you continue in my
word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32
Why hate crimes laws would ban Biblical Christianity
Ban
truth - Reap Tyranny | Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan and UN Goals
Who defines the Kingdom of God?
Endnotes:
1.
Center for Progressive Christianity at www.tcpc.org/news/item.cfm?news_id=79
2. Richard Cizik, representing the National Association of
Evangelicals during a panel discussion at
Clinton Global Initiative: Mitigating
Religious and Ethnic Conflict.
3. Tamara Hartzell,
In
the Name of Purpose - Sacrificing Truth on the Altar of
Unity, Chapter 18. Available
online at http://www.inthenameofpurpose.org/
4. 2
Thessalonians 2:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:3; Matthew 24:25, 42-44; 25:13; Luke 21:34; 1 Corinthians
16:13.
5. Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul, Problems of Humanity,
Chapter V - The Problem of the Churches, III. The Essential Truths, 1947.
http://bernie.cncfamily.com/spi/bailey/ab_the_new_world_religion.htm.
Also quoted in The World Goodwill Newsletter, 1993, No.4.
http://www.reachouttrust.org/articles/newage/lucis_pf.htm
7. United Nations, Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, September 2005,
transcribed from the audio of Rick Warren’s message available at Lighthouse
Trails Research Project, “The New Missiology—Keep Your Own Religion, Just Add
Jesus” at http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newmissiology.htm;
below Rick Warren’s quote -- “Listen to entire transcript.” Cited by Tamara
Hartzell.
8. Interview with Rick
Warren, CNN Larry King Live, Aired December 2, 2005, Transcript, http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/02/lkl.01.html.
Cited by Tamara Hartzell.
9. Bush on Religion and God at http://www.biblebb.com/files/tonyqa/tc00-105.htm
10. Comforting Words As a Matter of
Faith
at www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A16539-2003Feb2¬Found=true
11. National
Day of Prayer, 2007: A Proclamation by the President of the United States of
America http://www.ndptf.org/press_room/Index.cfm?Entity=4&Department=4&Dept_Order=1&This_TopicOrder=8&This_SubtopicOrder=1#3
12. Diana Eck, Pluralism Sunday at http://suncath.org/sunburst/index.htm#bookmark03
(accessed 5-16-07) and http://allison.zaadz.com/blog/2007/4/celebrate_pluralism_sunday_on_may_27.
13. Interfaith Center at the Presidio at www.interfaith-presidio.org/icpnewsevents.cfm (Scroll
down to "Progressive Christians Celebrate Pluralism Sunday")
14. Al Gore, Earth in the Balance; Ecology and the Human
Spirit (Houghton Mifflin, 1992), pages 258-259.
Provided
by Berit Kjos
If
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