ENLIGHTENMENT

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© SMBC-comics by Zach Weiner

What if Satan Ruled?

What would things look like if Satan actually took over a city? The first frames in our imaginative slide show probably depict mayhem on a massive scale: Widespread violence, deviant sexualities, pornography in every vending machine, churches closed down and worshipers dragged off to City Hall. Over a half-century ago, Donald Grey Barnhouse, pastor of Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian Church, gave his CBS radio audience a different picture of what it would look like if Satan took control of a town in America. He said that all of the bars and pool halls would be closed, pornography banished, pristine streets and sidewalks would be occupied by tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The kids would answer "Yes, sir," "No, ma'am," and the churches would be full on Sunday ... where Christ is not preached.
quoted from Michael Horton,"Christless Christianity: Getting in Christ's Way " in Modern Reformation.

So if the churches are full and the name of Christ can't be mentioned, what could they possibly be teaching?

Let's try to come up with some ideas:

• Your Best Life Now
• Purpose Driven Life
• Possibility Thinking
• 12 Step Recovery

Then there are the spiritual giants:

• Prayer
• Spiritual Formation
• Spiritual Disciplines
• Meditation and Silence
• Chicken Soup for the Soul
• Holistic wellness
  

O.K. I admit, I couldn't really come up with any ideas on how there could possibly be a church without preaching Christ, and Him crucified. So I just looked around at all the popular megachurches today.

And that, my brothers and sisters in Christ, makes me very sad indeed.

maranatha

What is New Age (part 3)

      Phil Johnson has added the final installments of his overview of what New Age means with
Part 3: Typical Beliefs and Practices of New Age Spirituality
Part 4: New Age spirituality is Anti-Christian

      I just wanted to add this link, point out the term holistic, and the mish mash of assorted practices which have been brought into the one collective term New Age.

      It is important to understand how truly ANTI-Christian these practices are, and they have been condemned repeatedly in the Bible from the Old Testament all the way through the New.

previously:

• Part 1: "What's So New About the New Age Movement?
• Part 2: Background of New Age

Christless Christianity?

      "What happens when we take Christ out of Christianity?"
Author Michael Horton, Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology, has explored that question in his new book "Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church."



      At his website for the book he gives a 5 minute introduction to its message. You can also download the first chapter for a further glimpse.

      From the website,

"Christians have always had their differences, but never in church history have there been so many statistics indicating that many Christians today are practicing what can only be described as "Christless Christianity."

Christless Christianity guides the reader to a greater understanding of a big problem within the American religious setting, namely the creeping fog of countless sermons in churches across the country that focus on moralistic concerns and personal transformation rather than the theology of the cross.

Michael Horton's analysis of the contemporary church points believers back to the power of a gospel that should never be assumed."

      Check out this especially pertinent warning to the church.

p.s. Do Not miss the link to Horton's article in Modern Reformation linked in the side bar

h/t Phil Johnson

What Is New Age?

The answer to that is multiple choice. Pick a person - get an answer.

Phil Johnson of Pyromaniacs has written an excellent article explaining the New Age "Movement."
Check out this article if you have friends that are into crystals, UFO's, meditation or any of the other so-called "new" spiritual ideas going around.

From the article:
"The New Age movement is a diverse and eclectic approach to spirituality that stresses individual self-exploration through a variety of beliefs and practices borrowed from a wide array of extrabiblical sources and non-Christian belief systems, ranging from astrology to eastern mysticism to science fiction, and beyond."

Read here, "What's So New About the New Age Movement?-Why Christians need to remain on guard against the threat of New Age spirituality"

update: Part 2

HOLOCAUST

If you were born after 1972, 1/3 of your generation has been killed by abortion in America! You should consider yourself a Survivor of the Abortion Holocaust.

The horror!

America has recently elected the most actively pro-Abortion President in history. This man has voted to kill babies both in the womb and after delivery (surviving a botched abortion). He has gone so far as to announce his first act as president will be to sweep aside any remaining hindrances to this abomination.What hindrances?!?

The murderers from Planned Parenthood can continue to carry out their evil plans. These butchers can prey on helpless girls 13, 14 (actually even younger) telling them they are their "friend" and there to "help" them. Without getting your consent, they can secret these babies out of school, even across state lines to an abortionist TO KILL YOUR GRANDCHILD, and put them back in school. And you have "no right" to be told any of this is taking place. And the school administration that you entrusted your precious daughter to is an active participant.

SURVIVORS is a Christian, pro-life activism organization dedicated to educating and activating high school and college age individuals.