Category — Evangelicals Concerned

Good news to report. The gay christian group Evangelicals Concerned Western Region is calling it quits. It would have been even better news to report that the entire organization is disbanding but we can only hope that will come sooner than later.  A letter from the ECWR president posted on the group’s website did not say what led to the vote to disband, but its national organization will dissolve while its “local chapters” are to remain in tact.

“Following several months of prayerful discussion and reflection, 99% of members who returned a ballot approved the motion to dissolve ECWR and transfer our assets and experience to the Gay Christian Network (GCN). Despite the bitter-sweetness of the circumstances, we can take some solace in such a strong confirmation of this direction.”

The letter says the affected individuals will be funneled into several other gay christian groups like the Gay Christian Network and the Evangelical  Network, a oneness pentecostal flavored group based in California.

ECWR may sound like a sound religious name but its led by people with bizarre imagery of Jesus. In his testimony, ECWR  president Rick Hocker recalls that in a “worship service” “Jesus” kissed him in an attempt to get him to accept homosexuality.

“I remember that one time during a worship service, I saw Jesus approach me and I felt him kiss me on the lips. This incident freaked me out for days. Surely, that could not have been God. The kiss seemed so wrong, and yet, so intimate, so real. Looking back, I see that God was slowly coaxing me into being comfortable with my sexuality.”

This was not the Jesus in scripture, but a demon impersonator.  God is not the author of such confusion. Perhaps not a common occurrence among gay christians, but we’ve documented (see this for an example) beliefs and practices that are nothing less than cultic idolatry.

There’s a popular line in the Sci-Fi television series, “Star Trek: TNG” in which an invading species known as “The Borg” declares their intention to all those societies who cross their path, “You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.” And in one moment, entire civilizations are then assimilated into one, single collective with no individual thought, no personal identities, just one unified body of neutrality.

But that’s science fiction.

In reality however it’s not science fiction, it’s real and it’s happening all around us. Currently, our nation, our society and many Christian leaders, are being assimilated right before our very eyes. Family members, public leaders and even children, are all falling under this assimilation and it’s being done under the guise of tolerance and acceptance. This assimilation has a name, and it’s name is called homosexuality.

If we do not act now and take the fight back to the enemy, our time for openly dealing with this issue will change the way we as Christians preach the gospel in a free and open society. Truly, we are facing one of the most challenging times the church of Christ has ever faced, excluding the coming Great tribulation, homosexuality is now the common denominator in which the church will find itself at odds with this new and changing society. More importantly, it (the church) will find themselves at odds with those who also call themselves Christians.

On June 24th, 2011, just before midnight, a declaration of war was announced, not by a foreign nation, not by militant Muslim terrorists, but by a presiding group of democratic legislatures in New York, who, driven by hatred for the gospel, passed a law recognizing the legal status of gay people and their “right” to marry, with only minutes to spare, which was readily signed into law by Governor Cuomo. The State of New York thus became the 6th State in the union to recognize same sex marriage and equal rights for homosexuals.

Make no mistake, this was a statement against God and his holy word. The assimilation of a people into accepting this lifestyle is nothing short of a people who have become immune to God’s warning of impending judgment. And because the people have unified themselves to become one people, pledging to violate the very fabric of God’s prescribed order of living, we have set a course in which the only true answer God can give is his personal judgment.

As I write this article for publishing, I am reminded of the continuing tragedies which seem to be mounting almost daily now all across this nation. From devastating tornados, floods and wild fires, this nation seems to be unyielding to a point of no return. Our economy is on the verge of literal bankruptcy, even after a momentary up swing in the U.S. dollar and stock market rise in Dow points, it seems we’ve taken another major blow to our nation and I believe it can all be pointed to where we are at when it comes to our spiritual condition as a nation. We are on the verge of ruin.

All around us people are being assimilated. Accepting ideas, false theologies and “morals” which are foreign to the true gospel, and still, with homosexuals marching in the streets of New York, celebrating the overcoming of great odds, the church has been stuck in mediocracy.

The word says in James 4:17, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” There can be no more excuse for the believer. The line has been drawn, the die has been cast, a choice must be made. For God is calling out a remnant of believers who will not back down when it comes to immorality, sin, wickedness and perversion. He is calling men and women who will stand up to the face of evil and call all men to repentance. For as sure as God removed the nation of Sodom from off the face of the earth, God is warning us that we are reaching a point of no return. This nation is at a tipping point and time is a luxury we no longer have.

The assimilation of our society has begun, war has been declared and Matthew 24 is steadily being fulfilled. Remember the warning found in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables.”

On June 24th, 2011, truth was forsaken, now judgment is coming.

If you would have told me 30 years ago that a Christian network in the future would play a part in the silencing of Godly men and women who were preaching the truth, denouncing corruption in the church and exposing liberalism and the teachers who promoted such views, I would have told you that maybe you should take a break from science fiction. But interestingly enough, that’s exactly what seems to be going on within the nation’s largest and most prominent Christian television network – the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Sometime during the week of June 11th, long time preacher Jack Van Impe became the second casualty in recent years when he was ultimately silenced by officials at TBN for comments and opinions expressed in a taped program set to air on their network, but after viewing, was considered a violation of their network policies of offending other ministers, even though this same offending program was aired the previous Monday.

So why did TBN become unhinged about Jack’s comments in his program enough to not only reject him by not airing his program, but forbade any future programs which contained his DVD full length program, “Reclaiming and Restoring Biblical Christianity” as well as moving him to another night where the audience viewership was 25% less than his current time slot, which would ultimately give him a much lower viewing audience which ultimately means less exposure. So what could Jack Van Impe have said, or was going to say that brought down the wrath of the Crouches and ultimately silenced a significant preacher of the gospel?

The answer, it seems, was Rick Warren and Islam.

It’s no secret to many who believe in traditional conservative Biblical views that Rick Warren has ultimately forsaken the gospel for a social gospel, which is no gospel at all, but a gospel of popular ideas not founded on the word. Warren’s belief’s of the removal of the cross in most churches, his pro-Islamic stance and his purpose driven theology, all point to a complete rejection of foundational Biblical truth.

What Jack apparently did, was discuss the major points of four (4) leading emergent evangelical leaders and how they were combining their doctrines to include Islam, something that our Lord has strictly forbidden (Ephesians. 5:11) as well as expose the many false teachings that are literally running rampant within the modern church and the people who are behind these teachings. Two prominent leaders, Rick Warren and Robert Schuller, were singled out concerning their liberal teaching and why merging Christianity and Islamic teachings is not only wrong, but damaging to the body of Christ. Schuller’s pro-gay stance has increasingly become all too well known here and here.

Once Impe began to reveal exactly what was being taught by these men and why their popular and accepted views are being held by many ecumenical leaders today, and why these same views would seriously hinder the gospel, not to mention it’s devastating affects on evangelism, folks over at Trinity began to get nervous, possibly outright upset that someone like Warren, who to many within the TBN camp is idolized, would start getting their feathers ruffled at the mere notion that one of their favorite Pastors was being labeled a false teacher.

It didn’t take long before the consequences of touching TBN’s favorite Pastors would be revealed, as the official statement by Impe’s own website clearly states, “On Wednesday afternoon we received a call from Matt Crouch of TBN informing us that they would not run that program, despite having aired it Monday evening. The reason he gave was that we specifically mentioned Rick Warren and Robert Schuller and that it is TBN’s policy that broadcasters are not allowed to rebuke other ministries. This is a rather hypocritical statement in light of the fact that they have never said anything in the past when we have rebuked others such as Bishop Spong, Bishop Pike, and in the past few months Harold Camping and Rob Bell. They also stated that they would not run any future program where we offered our DVD Reclaiming & Restoring Biblical Christianity as a premium for a donation to our ministry. A DVD that exposes false teachers and the heresies that they proclaim.”

So it seems that not only is it forbidden to examine the teachings of others, it’s also forbidden to challenge any viewpoint that is currently popular and accepted by the status quo. That’s where the censoring begins.

There was another man, a prophet of God by the name of Jeremiah, who went before the people of Israel and preached righteousness, exposing the false ideas accepted by many of his day and when they heard what this prophet declared as “thus sayeth the Lord” the people reacted angrily to the point where Jeremiah was thrown into prison at times, yet his declaration remained true.

But this is not TBN’s first rodeo when it comes to applying pressure to someone who is openly critical of another faith, one has to simply look to Hal Lindsey and see the affects of tolerance pressure when it is applied. Lindsey himself got into much hot water for questioning Islam and why the Islamic religion is dangerous not only to our nation, much less the world, but to the body of Christ. And yet, when Lindsey began to speak openly on his program, it didn’t take long for the Crouches to put a stop to his rhetoric and soon, Hal Lindsey was removed completely from the network and long time friends (Lindsey and Crouch) became divided. Lindsey was eventually brought back to TBN after much public swaying, but obviously the damage was already done.

The idea that a Christian network, ANY Christian network, would pressure a minister of the gospel in what they can or cannot say, should concern all of us who value God’s word. A true preacher of the word cannot be regulated, nor is he subject to sermon approval, the reason is simple, the gospel must be preached regardless of who it offends. Once we start silencing the gospel under the guides of tolerance and political correctness, we lose and not only us, souls lose as well.

At a time when Christians are accepting homosexuality within its walls, accepting worldliness, secularism and humanism, when Pastors can write books stating there is no Hell and that the atonement for man’s sin is not in the cross but through psychology and a purpose driven ideology, God will raise up a watchman or a Prophet that will declare what God has to say and no other. When a Pastor cannot state for certainty how a homosexual can be saved and delivered, when another wants the church to subscribe to ecumenicalism by joining up with Muslims, while another Pastor produces a popular movie which depicts a nearly half naked woman sitting on the couch undoing her bra, something is sadly wrong within the body of Christ and it takes someone with grit to expose and deal with this problem we are now facing.

Trinity Broadcasting is in error, and their new direction is clearly a sign of the times we are living in, when men would rather seek the praises of men rather than to promote Godliness and righteousness. When a Christian network begins to silence preachers and prophets of the gospel who are doing nothing more than warning the body of Christ what is happening in the church, it fulfills the warning of the apostle Paul, who saw this great falling away in our future, “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3

I contacted Paul Crouch Jr. seeking a comment for this article and was given this reply, “We choose to lift up the Lord, not chastise others. That’s not our calling. If he (jack van impe) needs to do that, he can buy time on secular TV outlets. Remember, we would not allow anyone to criticize Jack Van Impe either, even though many would love to! (The sword cuts both ways.) Again, it’s not our mission. “And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men…” end quote.

Again, it bears repeating, part of the gospel is weeding out the false and exposing those teachings which bring harm to the body of Christ, if we ignore those who are called of God to warn us of the poison many are bringing in, is that not lifting up the Lord by protecting his sheep he has entrusted us with?

All I can say is, judgment day is going to be a time of joy for many and a heartbreak for others.

By Shofarsound

“Why Dodge the Sex Question?”  Is Sexual Immorality Destroying the African American Community?
In November 1929 Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Sr. (pictured) published a series of sermons on sexual perversion. Powell claimed sexual perversion was steadily increasing in large American cities, particularly among women and ministers.  During this time many Black men and women left their spouses for members of the same sex.  Powell stated that homosexuality was one of the powers that debased a race of people.  It also caused a rejection of familial responsibility that held the black community together and therefore, made it a viable political entity.  He further went on to state that there was an increase in the number of black ministers who placed their own desires for personal gratification, prestige, and wealth over the interest of their congregation.  Having a sense of entitlement was at the root of homosexuality[source].
Rev. Powell instituted sex education classes in his church taught by medical doctors.  To his critics Powell replied, “why dodge the sex question?”  He stated that ignorance was the reason so many diseases spread. Didn’t Hosea 4:6 say, “…my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge?”

Almost sixty years ago the late Harlem US congressman Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Jr. wrote an article entitled, “Sex in the Church.”  Appearing in the November 1951 issue of Ebony Magazine, the article first spoke about the need for sex education in the African-American Church.  Revered Powell told a story about an unidentified pastor’s grief over the death of his handsome and talented personal male assistant. Powell described the funeral of that of a scene out of Arabian nights with a lavish spread of flowers and a very expensive coffin.  But what Powell found most disturbing was the preacher’s quavering voice, tear soaked eyes and shaking body.  The pastor even attempted to leap into the casket!  He went on to write that the minister’s broken sobs were those of someone who had just lost his lover. As it turned out, the two had been involved in an unnatural relationship for a number of years and the entire congregation knew about it.  Today this “man of God” is one of the most powerful and respected Negro pastors in all America.  The preacher Powell was referring to was Detroit Prophet Jones (James Francis Jones) and his longtime companion James Walton.  Jones was said to be very flamboyant and exhibited feminine tendencies.  And he himself admitted that he lived differently from other men!

Powell Jr. was absolutely right when he said there was a need for sex education with all the homosexuality that was taking place in the Black Church.  However, Powell Jr. was no saint either.  He committed adultery on his first wife [source]!

Adam Clayton Powell Senior and Junior had timeless messages that are still relevant today.  If we fast forward to the twenty first century we see the rampant homosexuality that is taking place in the gospel music industry.  We hear more and more about sexual abuse cases, mega-superstar preachers committing adultery, down-low brothers and all other sorts of sexual perversion.  What happened to holiness and sanctification?

Our church leadership has failed in the area of promoting sexual purity and standing on the principles of God’s Word when it comes to this subject.  For the most part, they have been muted from speaking out against immorality across the pulpit.  There are pastors who will look away at the immoral lifestyle of their talented singers, preachers, and prophets.  As long as they draw a crowd and bring in money, they will choose to believe that God is endorsing their sinful people.  They love prophets that ”prophet lie” and  prophesy blessings, instead of the truth.  Isaiah 56:10-11 says, “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea they are greedy dogs which can never have enough and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” They won’t bark out against the sexual immorality that is taking place in the four walls of the church and it brings a reproach on the Church of Jesus Christ because of the hypocrisy.

When God gave Moses the Torah, it just wasn’t just a book of arbitrary laws.  It was a book of instructions for the nation to live by and to be separated unto YHWH.  It taught the people to be “sanctified in their own sexuality” and to not take on the sexual practices of pagan Gentile nations. Leviticus 18:3 says, “After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.” The entire chapter of Leviticus 18 was dedicated in instructing Israel to abstain from unlawful sexual relations and to follow the Torah.  In short, it educated the nation of Israel on “sanctified sexuality.”  This made the nation of Israel very different from any other nation at the time because the Gentile nations had no sexual boundaries.

Here in the United States a whopping 78% of Americans identify with being a Christian.  But it seems that a lot of Americans are not practicing what they profess they are.   Are we really practicing Christianity or are we practicing Satanism?  As Christians we follow what is said in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, “What God wants is that you be holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to manage his sexual impulses in a holy and honorable manner, without giving in to lustful desires, like the pagans who don’t know God.” Are Christians that don’t abstain from sexual immorality really Satanist by de facto?  The first commandment of Satanism is  indulgence instead of abstinence and this promotes self indulgence of the flesh. 

The United States boasts the highest percentage of professional evangelicals in the industrialized world.  According to polls, 46 percent of Americans consider themselves to be born-again with the highest percentage in the African-American community at 59 percent[source].  However, America has the highest percentage of single parent homes, the highest abortion rate, the highest sexually transmitted diseases rate, and the highest teenage birth rate.  Isn’t it funny that one in three Americans or 90 million people  claim to be born-again[ source]?

Sex education is most needed in the Church!   We just can’t depend on the federal government or school system to teach sex education to our children.  Its taught from worldly point of view, and not from the standpoint of the Word of God. Even adults within the Church need to be taught the disciplines of sanctified sexuality in the context according to the Word of God.

Planned Parenthood is not a viable options either to teach sex education to the church. They teach kids that masturbation is safe and healthy and that using condoms is way to practice safe-sex.  What they fail to tell you is that a person can contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) through skin on skin contact and not just the exchange of fluids. The group also teaches that if a person can’t practice abstinence, than s/he can use lower risk activities such as: manual stimulation, mutual masturbation (phone-sex, cybersex, etc.), erotic massage, kissing, body rubbing, or oral sex[source].  Abortion is a tool for birth control, and to eliminate unwanted pregnancy.  Planned Parenthood definitely does not promote the biblical-based teaching that God created sex for the enjoyment and confinement of marriage between a husband and wife.

Has sexual immorality devastated the Black Community?

Does the Black Church need sex education?

Has the Black Church been impacted by sexual immorality?

Part Two of, “Does the Black Church Need Sex Education” will examine these questions.

Gay Christian Movement Watch is seeking first hand accounts and personal narratives of several categories of individuals who have had personal experience with gay churches and organizations.

First, GCM Watch is seeking testimonials of former members of gay churches namely: Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), any affiliate churches of The Fellowship (Bishop Yvette Flunder), Unity Fellowship Church Movement or any independent gay church. In addition, if you were part of an “affirming” or “inclusive” church, but left because you no longer accepted its false doctrines, please contact GCM Watch as soon as possible.

Secondly, if you have visited, but never joined a gay/affirming/inclusive church your personal narrative of that experience is also welcomed. Please tell us what you saw and heard.

Third, if you know of someone who fits the criteria above, forward this information to them and ask them to contact GCM Watch.

These personal narratives are being sought to provide a balanced and truthful counter to the lies currently being promoted by gay churches about biblical sexual morality. These organizations promise an overabundance of love, value and acceptance but what are they actually delivering to hurting and confused people?

Contact GCM Watch at gcmwatch@yahoo.com
Partial list of “affirming/inclusive” religious organizations here .

Gay Christian Movement Watch is seeking first hand accounts and personal narratives of several categories of individuals who have had personal experience with gay churches and organizations. 

First,  GCM Watch is seeking testimonials of former members of gay churches namely: Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), any affiliate churches of The Fellowship (Bishop Yvette Flunder), Unity Fellowship Church Movement  or any independent gay church. In addition, if you were part of an “affirming” or “inclusive” church, but left because you no longer accepted its false doctrines, please contact GCM Watch as soon as possible.

Secondly, if you have visited, but never joined a gay/affirming/inclusive church your personal narrative of that experience is also welcomed.

Third, if you know of someone who fits the criteria above, forward this information to them and ask them to contact GCM Watch.

These personal narratives are being sought to provide a balanced and truthful counter to the lies currently being promoted by gay churches about biblical sexual morality. These organizations promise an overabundance of love, value and acceptance but what are they actually delivering to  hurting and confused people? 

• Contact GCM Watch at gcmwatch@yahoo.com
• Partial list of “affirming/inclusive” religious organizations here and here.

This announcement will repost each month.