Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church

The "new" Teachers and the Church 

The "new" Teachers and the Church

Ponder this statement  “It is appointed to man once to die and then the judgment.”  Hebrews 9:27

What is Universalism?

All humanity has or will ultimately have a positive connection and relationship with God. A universalist belief system or universalism states that every human being will be reunited with God whether they believe in Jesus Christ or not. This belief system also says that every human being has divinity or God within them.

Who believes this? 

Below is a list of just a few we will call them "new" teachers who believe that the Church as established by the Lord Jesus Christ is a…….let's put it bluntly, a waste of time and way off base.

I'm sorry to point out that they are not "new" teachers, but this is just old, repackaged paganism, and selfism.  Where man is god and God is in man.

Doesn't the word of God state that there is "nothing new under the sun?" Oh well, let’s continue...

These "new" teachers basically ignore the Jesus of the Bible for a more enlightened modern one.  Specifically, the Jesus as described by the apostles in their letters to the churches.  They don’t mind the “Red Letter” Jesus of the gospels so much, and they even pick and choose those quotes from Jesus that they find necessary from the gospels.

They believe that everyone is going to be in heaven so there is no need to preach about hell and the sinfulness of man.  Their goal is to enlighten the world through Christ, not save sinners through Christ.

I got this list from the websites “Prophezine” “Rapture Ready” and “Deception In The Church.” They are all three excellent web sites for research and great commentary on movements within the church today and in the past.

Here are some quotes and brief description of what these “new” teachers say.

Madeleine L'Engle "All will be redeemed in God's fullness of time, all, not just the small portion of the population who have been given the grace to know and accept Christ. All the strayed and stolen sheep. All the little lost ones."

See also: Shakti Gawain: Creative Visualization, Willigis Jager: Contemplation, A Christian Path,

Benedictine monk, Willigis Jager, writing about the Transfiguration of Christ.  "His true Being comes to light and even penetrates his clothing. We should not limit ourselves to Jesus. We have to recognize ourselves, our own true form... Life would be so simple if we could always see what we are; if we could recognize what our neighbors are. If we could see the beams of light that pass through their clothing; if we could not only see their external form, but also experience their true being..."

Richard Foster: Celebration of Discipline, Streams of Living Water.

In Celebration Of Discipline Foster makes several recommendations of books that are "helpful" to read. He heartily endorses Tilden Edward's book, Spiritual Friend. Here are some quotes from that book: page 18 and 19 - "This mystical stream [contemplative prayer and other monastic traditions] is the Western bridge to Far Eastern spirituality [and to that of Sufis Moslems]; This exchange, together with the more popular Eastern impact in the West through transcendental meditation, Hatha Yoga, the martial arts, and through many available courses on Eastern religions in universities, has aided a recent rediscovery of Christian apophatic mystical tradition."  Foster ... is highly steeped in the Roman Catholic mystics, drawing from dozens of them for his theology. More than that, Eugene Peterson informs us that Foster has "'found' the spiritual disciplines [in the mystics] that the modern world stored away and forgot."—Gary Gilley,

Henri Nouwen: Way of the Heart.

Did Nouwen believe that Jesus was the only way to God?  "Today I personally believe that whileJesus came to open the door to God's house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God."—From Sabbatical Journey, Henri Nouwen's last book page 51, 1998 Hardcover Edition

Unfortunately, this widely read and often-quoted author, at the end of his life, stated in clear terms that he approached God from a universalistic view. He proclaimed:  Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God’s house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God.

See also Nouwen’s endorsement of a book by Hindu spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran, teaching mantra meditation, further illustrates his universalistic sympathies.

Thomas Merton: Contemplative Prayer,

Catholic lay monk Wayne Teasdale says this of Thomas Merton:

"Thomas Merton was perhaps the greatest popularizer of interspirituality. He opened the door for Christians to explore other traditions, notably Taoism (Chinese witchcraft), Hinduism and Buddhism."  Thomas Merton said:  "I see no contradiction between Buddhism and Christianity ... I intend to become as good a Buddhist as I can."

Brennan Manning: Abba's Child, A Glimpse of Jesus, He said “Herein lies the secret, I believe, of the inner life of Jesus. Christ's communion with Abba in the inner sanctuary of His soul transformed His vision of reality, enabling Him to perceive God's love and care behind the complexities of life. Practicing the presence helps us to discern the providence of God at work especially in those dark hours when the signature of Jesus is being traced in our flesh.”

 See also William Shannon - Seeds of Peace,  He believed that we can find Jesus in many ways.

Tilden Edwards: Spiritual Friend,

“This mystical stream [contemplative prayer] is the Western bridge to Far Eastern spirituality.  Shalem is an ecumenical Christian organization devoted to the support of contemplative spirituality."

M. Scott Peck: The Road Less Traveled

"I have said that the ultimate goal of spiritual growth is for the individual to become as one with God." He then makes this bold proclamation: "It is for the individual to become totally, wholly God." In familiar New Age fashion he believes "these concepts" have been promoted in the past "by Buddha, by Christ, by Lao-Tse, among many others."

Dr. Phil: T.V. Talk Show Host, He believes that everyone can find God and claims to be a Christian, but he never mentions sin or Christ. But I can’t be over critical of him.  It’s probably not his call to be a TV preacher, so to be fair he doe’s mention his Christian faith and his belief in the Bible.

See also, Gerald May, Matthew Fox: The Coming of the Cosmic Christ.  Gary Zukav: The Seat of the Soul,

John Gray: How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have.

We assist people across the world in creating meaning and purpose, creativity and health, joy and love. We call this authentic power – the alignment of the personality with the soul.

Sue Monk Kidd: When the Heart Waits.

Blending her own experiences with an intimate grasp of contemplative spirituality, Sue Monk Kidd relates the passionate and moving tale of her spiritual crisis, when life seemed to have lost meaning and her longing for a hasty escape from the pain yielded to a discipline of “active waiting.” Comparing her experience to the formative processes inside a chrysalis, Kidd charts the passages of her painful descent and her transforming ascent, offering wisdom and hope for the upheavals in life that blister the spirit and leave us groping.

 Jack Canfield: Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

Every religion I've looked at has some technology--- ... I've studied all of them and found what works for me and I've tried to make it available to others. What works for me is a combination of disciplines: I do yoga, tai chi which is a Chinese martial art and three kinds of meditation-vipasana, transcendental and mantra (sound) meditation. If you have to pick a yoga for me, I lean towards bhakii in the sense of devotion, adoration, singing, feeling love and joy exist in my heart."

 Deepak Chopra: The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.  Chopra is well known for his seven spiritual laws, “the principles that nature uses to create everything in material existence,” and which people can use to “fulfill [our] desires with effortless ease.”45 His two books on the subject provide guidelines for adults and children to create unlimited wealth.

Chopra’s seven spiritual laws are:

1. The Law of Pure Potentiality

2. The Law of Giving

3. The Law of “Karma” or Cause and Effect

4. The Law of Least Effort

5. The Law of Intention and Desire

6. The Law of Detachment

7. The Law of Dharma

Dharma and karma are the two cornerstones of Chopra’s seven laws. In Hinduism, dharma is our purpose in life, and karma is the law of cause-and-effect (Chopra explains the Law of Karma by paraphrasing the Bible: “What you sow is what you reap”).46 By fulfilling our purpose to serve others (dharma), as stated in the Law of Giving, we will reap benefits for ourselves (karma).47 A modified version of Brahma — which in Hinduism is understood.

Who is Beatrice Bruteau and what does she believe?

She is the founder of The School for Contemplation, and she believes God is within every human being. She wrote the book, What We Can Learn from the East.   "We have realized ourselves as the Self that says only I AM, with no predicate following, not "I am a this" or "I have that quality." Only unlimited, absolute I AM"

 Rob Bell.  Love Wins.  Velvet Elvis.

In Love Wins, bestselling author, international teacher, and speaker Rob Bell addresses one of the most controversial issues of faith—hell and the afterlife—arguing, would a loving God send people to eternal torment forever? Rob Bell is an electrifying, unconventional pastor whom Time magazine calls “a singular rock star in the church world,” with millions viewing his NOOMA videos. With searing insight, Bell puts hell on trial with a hopeful message—eternal life doesn’t start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins.

 Jim Palmer.   Inner Anarchy: Dethroning God and Jesus to Save Ourselves and the World.

“One of the biggest obstacles to birthing a new world is a false Jesus-story that institutional Christianity has been spreading for the past 2,000 years. Inner Anarchy is a literary Molotov cocktail, designed to take down that story once and for all so we can get to the true message and spirit of Jesus, and a real plan of action to birth a new world.”

 These are just a few of the proponents of a “new” spirituality and basically leaving out the Church as founded by our Lord Jesus Christ and they downplay the importance of the Biblical gospel.

Are they false teachers?  They all believe somethings a little different but all have one thing in common, to them the established fundamental Biblical church is of very little value.  Most of them believe that it actually hinders spiritual growth!  They replace the Biblical Jesus, His gospel and fundamental Biblical instruction with the "new" man centered spirituality.  I guess they would meet the description of false teacher since they preach “another Jesus.”  But to be kind we will continue to call them "new" teachers.

Take Jim Palmer for instance.  He not only is a former pastor but he has seemed to completely dismiss the church and the Biblical Jesus and the gospel. Is he really trying to to take down what Jesus established with His shed blood, the CHURCH?  Is he is inventing a non-Biblical Jesus and pushing this Jesus as the truth?  Is it his goal is to destroy the church? Or is he sincerely trying to lead others to the truth?  He is without realizing it destroying himself and many others?  Or is it an intense hatred of the Biblical Jesus and the gospel? How many souls follow his teaching?  Well what do you think? I can tell you that as of 2015 he was getting  thousands of “likes” on his daily face book posts.

 Why is the true Biblical Jesus and His gospel being attacked?

One reason we know.  Jesus is constantly attacked because the devil of course hates Him.  Jesus said He would be persecuted and that there would be false Christ’s abounding.  The apostles warned of false teachers in practically all of their writings.  Naturally you attack the hero of your enemy if you want to defeat Him.  The devil has an enemy, God and his church and the message of the gospel.  And He will use his subtle tricks and lies to kill and destroy the truth.  The devil takes advantage of man’s inmost desire to find God.  Many people if not most of us are looking for spiritual truth.

 But what did Jesus say about universalism?

Jesus said in John 14:6  “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father but by me.”  The Apostles constantly taught that is through Jesus alone, and the good news, the gospel, that we can have forgiveness of sin and know God truly.  Acts 4:12 “there is none other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved.” 

Many searching people think that there is a “secret” to be discovered that will give them peace and happiness.  But the Bible never says that.  There is no “secret” to spiritual truth!  The Bible writers inspired by the Holy Spirit never taught that there were any secrets to life.  Jesus died publically.  When God moves it’s almost always revealed publically.  There is no secret to life.  There is only the very public and very simple and easy to understand gospel of Jesus Christ that leads to life.  Jesus said “If you want life follow me, If you want truth follow me, if you want purpose follow me, if you want joy follow me, if you want forgiveness of sin and peace in your life, follow me.” How simple is that?

 Universalism has many variances and explanations to arrive at the same conclusion.  While Jesus says, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavily laden and I will give you rest.”  According to Jesus we can stop searching for truth.  Truth is found in a person, Jesus Christ the Lord.  “I am the way and the truth.” How simple God has made our search.  How can you explain truth?  Say “Jesus,” the Jesus of the Bible, not the one of "new" teachers.

 Why Do People downplay the Church and Want to undermine it?

Jesus endorsed the church when He said.....  “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Has Jesus failed?  I think not!  He is building the church the way He wants it even now!  I know that the seven churches in Revelation are indicators that Jesus is not happy with all congregations. But that doesn’t mean the church isn’t progressing according to His plan.  Churches are filled will forgiven, fallen, sinful people.  It cannot be perfect….yet.  But one day it will.

But if we look deeper we see that these church congregations that disappointed Him were preaching and endorsing false teachers.  Just like the people named above have been endorsed by non-discerning pastors and churches all around the globe.  We must be Bereans.  Acts 17:10-11 “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

 The Apostle Paul established church’s, that’s what he did!  Church, church, church that’s all you find in the book of Acts and the writings of the Apostles.  And specifically, warning the church about false teachers that would come and try to destroy the flock.  When exactly did false teachers stop infiltrating the church?  They haven’t!  They are more today than ever!

"New" teachers work against what Jesus loves and His means of working in this world.  Jesus never attacked the woes of society.  Jesus did NOT practice social justice!  He did not!  He was sent to the lost house of Israel.  He gave healing, food, and did miracles for those who came to Him.  Not everyone!  Jesus never protested against the evil government of Rome.  He never protested against paying taxes.  He never organized a food drive.  He fed 5,000 and 4,000 people at once.  But He didn’t say “go and do thou likewise.”  He came to “seek and to save that which was lost.”  Later the apostles organized fund raising for the poor saints in Jerusalem. The apostles took care of the poor and hurting among the “church.”  There was no fund raisers, food drives, or coat drives among those outside of the church. 

Jesus never mentioned anything about establishing a utopian non-church society.  He said that “My kingdom is not of this world.”  Jesus is going to rule and reign over a just world.  Jesus cannot rule over an unjust, fallen world.  We wouldn’t stand for it anyway.  We are a pluralistic society where everyone basically does what he thinks is right in his own mind.  Until the people and the world is redeemed Jesus cannot be king.

The church’s job is to Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20.  

 Life is all about Jesus Christ.  So naturally if Jesus said that “I will build my church…” His church is all about Him.  It seems that a "new" teachers focus on a warm fuzzy Jesus, totally dismissing the church.

And they appear to try to focus on our supposed inner guides and strengths and love for everybody.  They say that this can be found without the organized church.

They turn attention away from the organized church as if it's very structure is flawed.  But Jesus established the church and the apostles were commissioned to organize it.  The church has officers, leaders, and structure.  It is compared to a body where members all have a function.  If the church is so unimportant why is so much detail given about its organization in the New Testament?

 Another thing is that “new teachers” criticize is the Bible itself.  They deny many of the stories of the Bible.  Some say that the Bible is not all truth.  Why Should we believe the Bible?  Isn’t truth found in many places?  Let me give you three facts about “new” teachers and the Bible.

First of all…. even these "new" teachers use the Bible even if for their own means.

Secondly,  God spoke through Moses, the prophets, Jesus and the apostles through the inspiration of Holy Spirit. Many “new” teachers claim that they have been spoken to by God or an angel. But they are told by the so called God or seemingly angels things that contradict the scriptures. So is God the author of confusion? 

Thirdly, whether we like it or not the Bible has proven that it is the word of God.  The Bible is 27 percent prophetic.  The Bible told the exact day that Jesus would be crucified.  Daniel Chapter 9.  There are many verses that predict that Israel would be scattered throughout the world and return to their land in the latter days.  It even says they would have a strong military and turn a dessert into a place that can grow flowers.  And the Bible predicts that the world would turn against Israel in the last days.  A courious fact about the Iran Nuclear treaty is that no nation has objected to that treaty but Israel.  They are alone against the world as the Bible predicted. This proves that the Bible alone is the complete final word of God.   

 You would be highly irrational to ignore these prophecies.  If they are true, then the Bible alone is the word of God and truth of God period.  We have no need to anywhere else for truth.   

But many “new” teachers still look for truth in other places.  They have said “isn’t all truth God’s truth?”  All truth is not God’s truth.  There is absolute truth in this world.  Only God can know the absolute truth and can give absolute truth because He is alone is God.  But we as humans experience absolute truth all the time. There is absolute truth in mathematics, two plus two is always four. There is truth in flying an airplane for example.  If you want to fly to Atlanta any destination is not going to get you there.  There is a true path to Atlanta.  There is absolute truth in medicine. If you go to the doctor for a broken toe he is not going to do heart surgery on you, at least I hope not!

Again the Bible says that God is not the author of confusion.  He has given us the way and the truth and the life and that is found in ONE person Jesus Christ.

The phrase “All truth is God's truth” is not true for this reason.....Just because I feel it's true or I had this experience doesn't mean I have absolute truth.  So when someone says "what is true for me is my truth and you have your truth" is insane.  Both can't be right.  

As I said there is absolute truth in math, in medical science, in mechanical applications and even in a clock.  So why do people think that in their spiritual lives any truth is God's truth? 

Let me say that God has to be the ultimate order freak.  God does everything in order from the sunset to the oceans, from time and space and the revolution of the earth around the sun.  As God of order would not ever leave us so confused as to where to turn for truth would He?  I wouldn’t think so because God's truth has been tested by prophecy's that have come true, God’s truth is absolute truth as revealed in HIS word and therefore the word of God becomes ALL truth and absolute truth.

 So you are going to take something as important as your eternal destiny and trust it to your own thinking and your own reality and truth?  May I kindly say.... that is madness!  Will you trust your surgery to what you feel ought to be done or to the doctor who knows absolutely what needs to be done?

Will you trust your plane ride to Atlanta to the path you feel is right or will you trust the pilot who knows absolutely how to get there?

The Bible claims that the absolute truth of God is found in Jesus Christ!  Wouldn't you want to check it out and see for yourself?  God is love and love does not confuse or tease or leave us wanting more.  We have found everything when we find God's truth in Jesus Christ.

Just because someone says they have experienced God doesn’t mean it’s true.  It might be true to them, but if it does not line up with the word of God (Absolute Truth) then it is subjective, based on the person who experienced it.  Therefore if it contradicts the word of God (Absolute Truth) then that person experienced either a false god, (a demon) or is lying to themselves and others..

 The Bible says that in these last days He has spoken absolute truth to us through His Son. Hebrews 1:2.  And then goes on to explain that Jesus is better than the angels, and the law and that He perfectly fulfilled the law, the prophets and Moses words.  Jesus is everything to everyone! 

 Now let’s look at some common denominators of "New" Teachers.

A.  They downplay the established, fundamental Bible believing church.

The church is always too strict, too fundamental, and too Biblical.  They complain that the church holds them back because it is too narrow minded and doctrinal. 

Then some people go to a good Bible believing church just to pick it apart because, let's face it, they are spiritually arrogant.  They think they are too spiritual to attend that or any church.

They constantly church “hop” and failing to find a church that is good enough for them they finally quit and become church bashers.  Then they become fodder for the "new" teachers who themselves have left church for good and decry the church experience. 

They hear these "new"  teachers and their curiosity in their teaching will get them to start looking at extra biblical sources and experiences.  I’ve seen this happen time and time again.  Arrogance and pride leads to blindness and destruction. And curiosity can lead to entrapment.

 B.  They see no need for the cross

No need for a cross to bear our sin if have not sinned.  The cross is hardly ever mentioned by the "new" teachers.  Their disdain for the suffering for Jesus is further illustrated by the fact that you can go to heaven without Jesus.  Let's be honest wouldn't this is paramount to blasphemy! Why would the Son of God have to suffer if we could be saved apart from the substitutionary atonement? Again the God of order doesn’t build a stairway to nowhere.  Jesus died for a reason, to pay the sin debt of man.

C.  They don't like the word “sin.”

No need to upset people.  Everyone is good innately.  We just need to get tuned up and tuned in to our inner self.  Yes, people sin and God doesn’t like sin.  But since everybody does it and nobody is perfect, it’s okay as long as you don’t spoil the environment and hate your neighbor or yourself.  God will understand and in the long run, He will let everyone into heaven.

D.  They don't need fundamental belief in the Bible alone as our guide to spiritual truth.

The Bible is good but there are other channels to receive guidance and direction and peace in life.  Meditation, Eastern philosophies, yoga, spirit guides, mantras, contemplative prayer, labyrinths, higher learning.  The Bible can be too dogmatic and strict in its interpretations.  Don’t limit god to just one way of revealing himself.  God has spoken in many ways and in many things.

E.  Every "new" teacher believes they have the answer to life. 

Even though they all sound the same and every new book is the actually same old theme.  The message is always basically this….You are your own inner power and Jesus wants you to find your true self.  It’s all self actualization.  George Harrison of the Beatles said that self actualization was the goal of his life and all of his studies.  It’s all just Hinduism repackaged and resold.  Just look at the books of the authors listed above.  Who is different? They all are a little bit as far as their source for truth.  Who is the same? They all are in every way.

 F.  They believe that each of us has an inner source of truth. 

The Bible says that man’s heart is wicked and who can know it.  There is none that seeketh after God.  There is none righteous no not one.  The Bible describes man as fallen, sinful and hopeless in himself.  But the Bible gives glorious hope in our Savior Jesus Christ.  There is no inner truth in a fallen human.  Let's be frank....most of these"new" teachers can’t even repair a toaster but they have figured out all truth.  Okay...

The Bible says that “thy word is truth.”  Who is telling the truth here, all these false teachers with different ideas and paths or the Bible?  Both can’t be the truth?  Stick with something that has proven reliable and trustworthy...the Bible!  As I said before God is ALL TRUTH so His word has to be ABSOLUTE TRUTH.

 G. Even though they all have the same theme it is difficult to know down exactly what false teachers are saying. 

The Bible is focused on Jesus Christ and Him crucified for the sins of the world.  "New" teachers are a mishmash of contemplative prayer, centering, higher thoughts, non-Biblical claims, seeing Jesus,  visions, soul searches, spiritual laws, cosmic Christ’s, journeys, paths, roads, disciplines, enlightenment, visualization, and self-actualization.

 And no need to worry if history doesn’t back them up they will make up their own.  Confusion abounds.  Where do you start?  I guess whosever book you happen to pick up first will be your spiritual path until you get another book by another teacher.

These teachers basically believe everything for anybody and anything for everybody and everybody goes to heaven.    But the Bible says  “Thanks be unto God for his marvelous grace.” Why grace? Because we needed grace, God’s free gift of salvation, not a journey, or a spiritual path, or enlightenment.

H. They claim the Bible backs up their teaching.

You can find one verse to support about any teaching.  That is called using a text to say what YOU want it to say.  But the Bible will not back up their claims about the church or that Jesus is a guru.  Jesus is the Savior.  They take what they want from the Bible to back up their position and trust that no one will check up on them.

Or they don’t really know what the Bible says and don’t care if something contradicts their teaching.  They can explain any so called contradiction by playing the progressive card. “We have progressed culturally since the Bible was written.”  Or they can use the “this is what they meant to say” card in explaining texts that seem to contradict their teaching.

 J. They get rich!

The "new" teachers sell millions of books and recordings.  Look at their websites, fancy and expensive.  All to lure you just like a used car salesman. The Bible doesn’t try to sell you something but tries give you the free gift of salvation.   Salvation is free but it cost God His only begotten Son.

The Bible tries to tell you that you will be persecuted, hated and despised if you follow Jesus.  Not exactly a good sales tactic.

 But may I ask what price have "new" teachers paid?  Have they been any help to the mourning?  Have they been any help to the suffering?  Have they been any help to the sinner?  Have they gone out on a rainy Tuesday night to give comfort to the sick?  Have they gone out to the poor and wicked to give them the gospel at great risk of harm?  Have they traveled to foreign countries to give the gospel and aid to those who have never heard of Jesus?  Have they been burned at the stake or had their heads cut off?  Who does this? Only the true church of Jesus Christ is willing to sacrifice wealth and worldly goods.

 Have "new" teachers been any help to the cause of Christ and His beloved Church?  Not really, since they don't support a Bible believing church it would seem that all they can do is harm the Church and destroy the faith of many.

Remember “It is appointed to man once to die and then the judgment.”  Hebrews 9:27  “What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul.” Matthew 16:26

 A final word.

People who leave the church because it is too strict or too fundamental or as Jim Palmer puts it in his book “Inner Anarchy” “take down that story once and for all so we can get to the true message and spirit of Jesus, and a real plan of action to birth a new world” have to consider that many have died for their belief in the true Biblical Jesus.

So did all of those thousands upon thousands who have given their lives for Jesus for the past 2,000 years do it for nothing!  Jim Palmer believes they died for nothing because in the 21st century we are going to “take down that story once and for all so we can get the true message and spirit of Jesus.”   So they died for a lie? 

Didn’t most all believers in the Biblical Jesus die for refusing to water down or change the gospel message? Didn’t they die for refusing to “take the gospel down” to the worldly level?  Thousands have made the ultimate sacrifice for preaching and teaching that Jesus is the only way to God.  Christ plus nothing was their cry.  And they died gladly rather than “take down that story.”

 These brave, courageous Christians have been burned, hanged, crucified, beaten, tortured, humiliated, raped, decapitated, shot, stabbed, and hacked to death for the Lord Jesus for the past two thousand years.  And still courageous Christians die every day. 

But "new" teachers quit the church.  Why? Some quit  because when they would teach the true word of God people got angry at them.  They didn’t like it when some objected to the truth.  They felt that they were rejected, so they watered it down to get more people to accept it. Remember when Samuel was upset and felt rejected because they did not heed his word from the Lord? 1 Samuel 8:7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 

It seems to make these "new" teachers sad that God requires repentance from sin and faith in Christ alone for salvation.  That is too exclusive for them.  Remember how upset that Jonah was when God asked him to preach repentance to the Ninivites?  He didn’t want to and he ran and you know what happened after that.  God wants His preachers preaching the gospel and His teachers teaching the Bible not the ideas and philosophy’s of man.

And they seem to misuse the word salvation.  Why should we be saved when everyone already is?  It frustrated them that the church was unbending and uncompromising in the word of God.  Some of them are sincere is their efforts to help people.  But do we compromise in order to give people we love a false hope?  For example, today Jim Palmer is going to give us the “true message of Jesus, a real plan of action,” never mind the millions that have suffered and the thousands that have died for the old message of Jesus, the true message of Jesus, the true gospel.

 Really??

 The gospel as given by the Bible is the truth, the only truth, the absolute truth!    Truth doesn’t change because we don’t like it.  Absolute Truth is THE truth and Absolute Truth comes from only one source….the God of the Bible!  He alone is the God of creation and the God of redemption.  People will die for the truth.  Not many will die for what they know is a lie.  Jesus said “thy word is truth.”  Jesus even said “I am the way and the truth.”  Truth we have discovered is in a person and that person is Jesus Christ.  Jesus is truth because He was sent from the God of ALL TRUTH therefore Jesus Himself is ALL the TRUTH of God.  He is God revealed in flesh and taken up to glory!

How many will die for Jim Palmer’s new truths?  Well, you don’t have to die because everybody gets in!  Every saint, sinner, thief, murderer, Catholic, Jew, Hindu, Bhuddist, gay or straight person gets to heaven and no one has to be hurt. You don’t have to die for your faith anymore, you don’t have to be persecuted, you don’t have to stand for anything, just be the person their god made you and everything will be okay in the end. 

 The "new" teachers seem to lack the spiritual fortitude and courage for the preaching of the gospel which cost so many Biblical Christians so much today and in times past.  They think that courage to them means to stand against the church today!  And if I might add it is not courageous to take on that which God loves but foolish!  Yes, we know the church is not perfect and we constantly criticize those churches that have compromised truth but the true church that believes the gospel and teaches the Bible is the church Jesus loves.

Because the “new” teaches don’t like the true church today it gives them reason to deny the truth in order to take a stand against that blood stained gospel preaching true church.

It would cost them too much to change now I guess.  Look at the many of those who have refused to take a stand on what the Bible says about homosexuality, abortion and even Islam.  Why? It appears they are afraid of what others might think and may not like them for it.

But they aren't afraid to take on the Bible believing Church are they?  It's strange isn't it?  They have to have some courage to break free from traditional paths.  They have courage to disparage the church...... but not society morals and norms where most people even so- called Christians are at today.  So if they buck the church they aren't bucking modern society, the media, and social media.

 But this is a time when I believe God is weeding out the weak, nonbelieving and fearful in his church.  Never before has there been a time to stand up and be counted for the Bible and the true church as today.  

The weak kneed and faint of heart need not apply.  This is a time to heed the cry of our God to Isaiah in 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Not to beat a dead horse but the "new' teachers don’t seem to like the church because it has fundamental rules of faith and doctrine.  And I agree that the Bible is very strict and narrow minded and so is the church if they live by the word of God.  The true church exposes that there is only one way to get to heaven and that’s through Jesus Christ alone and the church lives by that truth.

Let me add that the "new" teachers aren't fond of doctrine either.  The Bible has doctrine because there are things we need to know to grow stronger in the Lord and things to avoid so that we do not sin and disappoint the Lord.  But "new" teachers don’t care if the Biblical Jesus likes them or not.  They are too busy trying to please the inner Jesus of self, another Jesus as described by the apostle Paul. 

But everyone, everywhere can come through Jesus.  No one in the whole world is excluded.  “As many as received Him to them made He to become the sons of God.”  John 1  “Whoseover shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

 Conclusion:

Will God judge these "new"teachers and their followers who try to mess with His church?  What do you think?  I beg you..... check out these "new" teachers.  They sound great.  But remember rat poison is 99% nutritious!

Be a Berean.  Check them out.  Anyone who follows these people God will not hold him guiltless for following their lies.  We are responsible for our own selves.  We can't blame someone else for our actions. Philippians 2:12 “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”  Continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].   Are you being careful to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit Christ?

But know one thing for sure....God will not allow anyone to destroy His church and the gospel message.   

The Lord warned the church in Revelation 2:20-23 “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”

1 Kings 16:31 “Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.”  Baal is a false teaching.  Jezebel led the nation into worshipping this false god and false teaching by cutting off the prophets.  She stopped the truth of God being proclaimed and promoted the false teaching of Baal. Isn't that what the "new" teachers are doing today? They want to marginalize the preaching of the word of God and promote the false teaching of Baal.

 Dear one please, Jesus will restore you if you will turn to Him.  I plead with you to do this for your life depends upon it.