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Christianity, discernment, false doctrine, false ecumenism, global religion, interfaith, interspirituality, social gospel, World Council of Churches
2 Corinthians 6: 14-18 (ESV)
The Temple of the Living God
14 zDo not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For awhat partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or bwhat fellowship has light with darkness? 15 cWhat accord has Christ with Belial?2 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For dwe are the temple of the living God; as God said,
e“I will make my dwelling among them and fwalk among them,
and gI will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore hgo out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 iand I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Religious leaders highlight significance of water at WCC assembly
Dr Parichart Suwanbubha, a representative of Buddhist tradition, participating in the symbolic act of sharing water at the WCC assembly in Busan.
04 November 2013
A symbolic act of pouring water into one common vessel, carried out by religious leaders representing Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist faiths, marked the significance of water in various religious traditions. This action took place at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 10th Assembly, currently underway in Busan, Republic of Korea.
The ceremony on 4 November at the “inter-religious space” in the Madang hall of the BEXCO centre, venue of the WCC assembly, featured diverse spiritual reflections on water.
The religious leaders, sharing examples from their own traditions, noted there is a great need to raise awareness concerning the preservation of water in all communities. A natural resource, still scarce in many parts of the world and serving as a root cause for conflicts, water is at the centre of social and political issues and causes to which they pledged their commitment, vowing to work together for water justice.
In almost all religions and their sacred texts, water is a symbol of cleansing, justice, peace, and it is therefore profoundly relevant to the WCC assembly theme.
The WCC theme is a prayer, “God of life, lead us to justice and peace”, and on this day it was interpreted by the participants especially in terms of water issues.
Read the rest of the article here.
The Narrowing Path 
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.”
I’m afraid the “Christian” leaders in the WCC aren’t too concerned about this verse.
Have a great day in the Lord, NP.
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When I was a young Christian way back in the late 1970’s I came across an ecumenical ‘charismatic’ gathering down in Newcastle, called “Unity Fellowship.” Of course, young Christians have lots of questions about ‘how come there are so many churches, and what;s the difference?’, so I asked away. And what I got back were some icy stares.
I didn’t understand the historical aspect of the church, particularly over the last 500 years of the Reformation, and that, through that process, God was restoring His body of believers back to the ‘faith once delivered to the saints’. All I could see was division and confusion and the occasional spat about who was right and who was wrong (Calvanism versus Arminianism) or worse still, Pentecostalism versus Evangelicalism.
I could see good things in most of the denominations that I fellowshipped wiht, but never understood why they couldn’t get it together, and “become one” – and then along came Unity Fellowship. this ‘church’ met twice a month in an old hired hall on the outskirts of Adamstown Hieghts, and was run by an older Anglican Charismatic couple (Noel and Marcia Saunders – now deceased.)
Of course, they wanted that special kind of ‘unity’ too, and they had worked hard for over 10 years to get it, only to have the whole thing fall apart just when a real “unity’ was to come about. Other ‘Charismatic’ ministers, such as Dan Armstrong (Uniting Church) and several other high churchmen were involved, as were a Catholic nun or two. the rest were lay people. These ‘followers’ decidely went back to their own (Evangelical and Pentecostal) churches, stating to the inner leadership circle that they did not believe that God wanted them to continue with the group, feeling that whatever good could have been obtained over that 10 year period had already come to pass.
Noel and Marcia were heartbroken (or so it seemed at the time,) and so Unity Fellowship was disbanded. Equipment was sold or given away as were musical instruments and song books. The booking on the hall was cancelled, and the annual conference thay had planned and managed (held at the then College of Advanced Education in the inner city,) was called off too – and thank God for that!
Many years later, I realised that their particular ‘brand of unity’ was based on the same kind of feel-good atmosphere that is generated at some modern ‘churches’. There certainly was preaching and ministry of sorts towards people’s perceived needs, but this unity – come – ministry was not based on the word, but on experiences, untested “prophecies,” the personalities involved (and thus some politicking behind the scenes,) and therefore a false unity that was not of God.
What happened back there in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s was a false Ecummenical unity, where people (most of them very genuine,) attempted to bring about a unity of the churches in Newcastle, based on shallow teaching, idealism and questionable experiences, but not on sound doctrine or safe ground.
Things have obviously progressed light years beyond that simple gathering of eager souls, to the point where the Interfaith movement has embraced people from pagan and animistic beliefs. As a classical Pentecostal myself, I have always held suspicions as to the true intent of such movements since that time, but I can say this quite safely I feel – “All roads lead to Rome!”
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Sherryn,
I just thought that I’d post in with some details that I gleaned off the Net this week. One listing that I found at ‘Webjournals’ was a complete advertisement for a Unity Fellowship conference back in the late 1970’s. It can be viewed here:
http://webjournals.ac.edu.au/journals/ADPCM/z02_vision-magazine/03-the-flower-fades-when-the-spirit-blows/
and then scroll down. It has several names of the ‘big players’ back then and is proof positive that such a movement did exist, as part of the wider Charismatic move.
Another man who was also prominent in that era (but not mentioned in the above listing) was Gordon Gibbs:
http://webjournals.ac.edu.au/journals/ADPCM/e-to-h/gibbs-gordon-1922-/
that link is a real eye opener too.
Another less prominent man of that era was Rev. Don Evans (Uniting Church Belmont Parish, Hunter Presbytery,) who wore vestments, and acted more like a Catholic priest than a low church UC man. Don’t miss his farewell speech in this next link – it’s an eye popper! (Chairperson’s Reflecdtions):
http://www.hunter.uca.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=125
Evans mentions verifiable connections between himself, and:
“ministry agents and leaders and to agencies and chaplaincies, relating to other churches ecumenically and to inter-faith groups, and at civic and community occasions.”
This has to be one of the clearest (hidden in plain sight) admissions of the links between the Charismatic movement, eccumenical ‘churches’ and the Interfaith movement – the grandchild of Unity Fellowship and every other deceptive organisation like it.
There’s other stuff on Internet that also forges links between the then Charismatic move and the current NAR/Hyper Faith/false profit movements of today:
http://biblicalconnection.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/charismatic-romes-change-agent-for-one-global-religion/
Those past happenings were to lay the groundwork for modern day deceptions, as spiritual counterfeits, designed to specifically draw people from differing church traditions, into an Eccumenical unity with Rome. This has been the Vatican’s grand scheme since Vatican 2, way back in the 1960’s.
I found out about the histories of John Wimber (Vineyard churches) Chuck Smith (Calvary Chapel) Larry Norman (CCM) and Katherine Kuhlman (faith healer) through independent studies, over the last few months, but the above link joins them all together in a master plan to bring about that false unity I spoke of in my previous post.
The first three men listed above, as well as David Moses Berg (Children of God/The Family cult) and the leaders of the original Potter’s House church in Perth, WA, all came out of the early 1970’s “Jesus Movement’ – all of them! Sounds suspicious?You betcha!
It’s OK if you don’t want to post all of this stuff onlone – it’s a bit of a stick of dynamite, but it does more or less prove that my suspicions earlier this week, were in fact correct. It looks like I found the ‘missing links’…
Austin Hellier
‘fake church historian’
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Brilliant research, Austin. Thanks so much for your continuing contributions! I am looking forward to reading through it all this evening. I have found the same kind of thing in this past year, but in different areas…if you look carefully enough, the links are indeed ‘hidden in plain view’. Will be back to comment further when I have finished reading these links. (Also, my goal is to post your testimony this week!). Blessings to you, brother.
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Hi Austin.
I looked through much of your material and I saw a picture of Randy Stonehill. His music is still some of my favorite. I was working in an Elk’s club as a busboy and setting up for their meeting (which I now know is new agey at the least). The song “King of Hearts” came onto the Christian radio station that I was listening to and it is still one of my favorites. Randy has had his struggles. Sadly, he has been through two divorces. All I can say is that his music got me into my Bible in a more serious way than ever.
I agree that Greg Laurie is on the wrong track, but it is hard for me to put Chuck Smith in the same category. The original Calvary Chapel, which I attended besides the church my family went to, was a great place for me to be. I will say that in recent years, although half-way across the country from Costa Mesa now, I have seen some of the new CC minister and have been very unimpressed.
I was disappointed that Chuck had an affiliation (although slight it seems) with Rick Warren.
Anyway, just had to stick up for Randy. He seems like the real deal to me.
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Chris,
I sent all of my links to Sherryn, as I found some of the ‘connections’ to be a bit startling too. There’s just no telling where this will all end – probably with the Second Coming. I don’t know of Randy Stonehill Chris, but I do know the stories behind a dozen or more ministries here in Australia that all started off well, only to fall victim to false teaching and unbiblical experiences.
I’ve just sent another link off to Sherryn and will post it here (if she approves):
http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.php/discernment/church-issues/various/nothing-new
This one is about some recent misdeeds by some prominent people within Pentecost (no names are included,) but these errors are of the grossest immorality that have been exposed amongst church leaders. Some of those involved were proud of the ‘new revelations’ that they were receiving from ‘God’!
It is not my purpose to go and “tar everyone with the same brush” nor is it my desire to cause offence. I can accept that there is such a thing as “deception by degrees” but there is now ample evidence on Internet regarding Chuck Smith and others, who may have started off well enough, but seem to have been ‘gotten at’ by the system of modern “churchianity” (prosperity doctrines, money, influence, large followings, cultishness, eccumenical links and various temptations towards immorality et al).
I would take the humble line in all of this and say like John Wesley: “except for the grace of God, there go I.” It behoves us to watch our walk with God and not succumb to the same temptations, and although the little people, like us will never achieve the notoriety that the ‘big names’ do, we can still fall into the trap of loving the world and all the things that we might hold dear.
We are fast approaching the day when the true church of Jesus will be forced to dump off all of the “big names” due to the fact that most of them simply cannot be trusted any more, and go it alone. But not alone, rather in each other’s company, either in person or online, we can still communicate on a daily basis and spread the good news of the true gospel and have fellowship with each other.
We can also leave behind us those apostate Mega Churches that seem more interested in worshipping Mammon than they ever did in submitting to the Lord.
Austin Hellier
‘no offence, only truth…’
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Lol, sometimes the truth is the offense. 🙂 No doubt you will hear a hearty amen to your response from Chris R.
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NP knows me well. I appreciate your search for the truth Austin. What more can anyone ask of someone? By the tone of your writing, I doubt I would ever take offense at anything you “say.” I, like you, am only after the truth. I am really not that knowledgeable about Chuck Smith’s later years. I remember fondly some of the earlier years. That said, I’ve read concerns from congregants within his church. I did cringe when I saw his picture with Rick Warren and Greg Laurie.
I’ve seen that our friend has put up the first part of your story. I look forward to reading it tomorrow as it is too late at the moment. May God continue to bless your efforts to sort out the truth from all of the error that we find in today’s world. It is one of the challenges for all believers.
Thank you. God bless you, and as NP has so aptly foreseen, “A hearty Amen.” (To the work that both of you are doing to further His kingdom.)
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Chris,
thanks for your warm response. I’m not so sure that some of the responses to my testimony will be that warm – they will be either “hot or cold” – the local false profits down here don’t like exposure, as it can cause ‘cash flow’ problems for their little business empires (which have to date, been successfully hidden behind a thin veneer of ‘churchianity’)
It’s not so much about an individual or an organisation, it’s about the “spirit of the age” – the antichrist spirit, spoken of by John the apostle millenia ago. No doubt there would have been times when he saw people that he knew go into apostacy, and felt powerless to help. Jude encourages us to ‘save some, as if pulling them out of the fire’ – without getting our own fingers burnt!
Last year I spent quite some time in an NAR church, before I even knew what the terminology meant (I’m going to have to get out a more often…) bit I did detect the Latter Rain influences from the past. Satan often changes his ‘name’ address and phone number, but his deceptions are more or less the same. I feel for the people and did take steps to at least put out a warning, but I can’tgo back there and change anything.
“Truth has boundaries, but error knows no bounds” – is an old saying, wheras “false doctrine and immorality are old friends – they are often found entwined together” is another and in my walk with the Lord, I have encountered both. I have lost friends over false profits and their antics – people who I fellowshipped with for years are gone forever, and all because of the pride and elitism that these wolves exude and pass on to their people – now that’s one “impartation” I can do without!
I just hope and pray Chris, that many people will be delivered from the fowler’s snare of falsehoods that have infiltrated much of the church in the last 60 years. The amount of deceptive doctrines and practices ‘on the radar’ today, are unprecedented in modern church history. I fear that we will have to publically seperate ourselves from all such as these, and declare a new orthodox ‘Reformation’ of our own.
Austin Hellier
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