Jerry Falwell: Should We Warn or Praise?

by David Cloud

Fundamental Baptist Information Service

Was the late Jerry Falwell’s overall influence to the Independent Baptist movement good or bad?

Falwell’s spiritual compromise and error was not late in coming and was not small by any measure. It was evident even by the 1970s that the man had made a 180 degree turn from his earlier stand and that he was determined to conduct a broadly ecumenical ministry. He was doubtless sincere in his desire to “bring America back to God,” but sincerity didn’t keep Moses from being judged by God when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully” (2 Timothy 2:5).

In 1999 I issued a warning report entitled “Jerry Falwell: The Billy Graham of Independent Baptists.”

Though Falwell claimed to be a fundamental Baptist, in reality he was a groundbreaking ecumenist who helped pave the way for the end-time harlot “church.” He happily worked alongside Roman Catholics, Charismatics, unregenerate Jews, Mormons, and religionists of many stripes who are staunchly opposed to the doctrine that he professed to hold in his Baptist church. 

Falwell and his buddy, the self-proclaimed “messiah” Rev. Sun Myung Moon

In a sermon preached in Evansville, Indiana, on December 12, 1978, Falwell said, “I believe God has called us in this last quarter of the 20th century to bring respectability to fundamentalism” (cited from Don Jasmin, Why Do Fundamental Schools Go Apostate, 2007, p. 171).

That was the same unscriptural objective that was announced at the founding of the New Evangelical movement in the late 1940s. When Christianity becomes respectable in the sight of this sin-cursed world, it has left its Biblical moorings. The Lord Jesus Christ is Almighty God, but He wasn’t respected when He came into the world 2,000 years ago, and He is not respected by the world today. Christ’s apostles were certainly not respected by the religious crowd or by the world at large. They were mocked, hounded, persecuted, and killed.

One of Falwell’s first concrete steps toward compromise was in the late 1970s when he decided that he needed to influence politics, and toward that end he formed the Moral Majority. 

This was a dramatic change of his doctrine. In the 1960s Falwell had said, “Nowhere are we commissioned to reform the externals. We are not told to wage wars against bootleggers, liquor stores, gamblers, murderers, prostitutes, racketeers, prejudiced persons or institutions, or any other existing evil as such. I feel that we need to get off the streets and back into the pulpits and into our prayer rooms” (“TV Evangelist Jerry Falwell Dies at 73,” USA Today, May 15, 2007).

By the late 1970s Falwell had made an 180 degree change in doctrine with the formation of the Moral Majority. By 1986 the organization had 500,000 active contributors and a mailing list of six million people. At that time, Falwell said that Catholics made up the largest constituency (30%) (Christianity Today, February 21, 1986).  (Read more)

Quote:

"The Devil is the author of false religions like Roman Catholicism (2 Corinthians 11; 1 Timothy 4), and it is a strange sight to see men like Jerry Falwell clamor for unity with false religions for the purpose of defeating the Devil’s works!" ~David Cloud 

 

Does The Truth Matter Anymore? Parts 3-5

The remaining segments of this presentation are all on one video.


(Vimeo link)

Worldview Weekend Radio: Chris Pinto

On Worldview Weekend Radio, Brannon Howe's guest is Chris Pinto. Chris has produced the documentary The Hidden Faith of the Founding Fathers, explaining that not all of the founding fathers were Christians. While some of the founders were Christians, men like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and George Washington were actually hostile to the Gospel while friendly to Christian ideals. 

This message has been hard to swallow, especially since homeschool curriculum, Christian books, and speakers promote the idea that they were all solid Christians. This is an excellent DVD and seen by every Christian.

Listen to the broadcast.
 

Does The Truth Matter Anymore? Part 2

(Vimeo link)

The Riverside Church: Liberalism and Unchanged Hearts

The Rockefeller family have funded Communist and humanistic projects and groups for years. With major financial support from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the Riverside Church in New York City was planned and built. The land was purchased by Rockefeller and construction was completed in 1930. Upon completion, the church had a large, magnificent cathedral-like church.The tower, rising to a height of 392 feet, was the first of its kind to serve a functional purpose, providing 24 floors for the congregation's programs.

The church was started as an ecumenical/interdenominational ministry with its roots in both the American Baptist Church and the United Church of Christ. Their weekly meetings emphasized communication and cooperation between denominations. Since John D. Rockefeller believed that it was critical that Christian theology reflect current concerns and needs, they have always been known for their controversial/heretical beliefs. [1]

Riverside Church has opened its pulpit to some of the 20^th Century’s most controversial leaders. In addition to Martin Luther King – who preached at Riverside six times between 1960 and 1967 – Fidel Castro, Nelson Mandela, Cesar Chavez, Andrew Young, Marian Wright Edelman, Desmond Tutu, Jesse Jackson and scores of politicians, writers, actors, journalists have found common cause, encouragement, and an open forum at Riverside.[2]

The Riverside’s pastors have consistently found scripture and liberal social activism intertwined. Most are proponents of Liberation Theology, and the church is a member of the Communist organization - the National Council of Churches.

Former Senior Pastors

The Rev. Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930 - 1946

• Rev. Fosdick was a leader of the NCC, and was a former President of the Rockefeller Foundation.
• He was a graduate of Union Theological Seminary.
• He did not believe in the essentials of the faith - such as the Virgin Birth, the deity of Christ, and the substitutionary doctrine of the Atonement.
• Fosdick believed that the democracies were largely to blame for the rise of fascism.

The Rev. Dr. Robert James McCracken, 1946 - 1967

• Rev. McCracken was a former professor of theology.  He was Scottish-born, and defined his approach as “life-situation” preaching.

The Rev. Dr. Ernest T. Campbell, 1968 - 1976

• Campbell taught at several seminaries, including Union Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary (his alma mater). Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, Claremont School of Theology and Garrett-Evangelical Seminary. 
• His preaching missions abroad served as inspiration for his books Christian Manifesto and Locked in a Room with Open Doors.[3]

The Rev. Dr. William Sloane Coffin, Jr., 1977 - 1987

• "William Sloane Coffin was a Skull and Bones member, Class of 1949. This would have made him companions with George Bush. Coffin comes from a long line of Skull and Bones Coffins. 
• Coffin was famous in the Vietnam War protest days as a leader of the left protest against the war.[4]
• He became President of SANE/FREEZE. It was a socialist, international group pushing for the United Nations military force and general disarmament of national armies, naval, and air forces.
• Coffin was involved in the environmental movement.
• He was the keynote speaker of the World Federalist Association, which is a group for a one-world government and end of American sovereignty and independence. [Dr. Cathy Burns]

The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., 1989 - 2007

• The church’s first African-American pastor, Forbes came from a Pentecostal background in North Carolina. 
• Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
• He was Professor of Preaching at Union Theological Seminary when called to the Riverside pulpit.
• Forbes continued the Riverside tradition of theological liberalism and social activism.  The New York Times observed that he had also run into significant opposition with some members of his “highly educated, highly involved congregation.”[5]  
• He is President of the Healing of the Nations Foundation, which promotes unity and inclusion [acceptance of gays].

The Rev. Dr. Brad R. Braxton, 2008 - 2009

• The Rev. Braxton joined Riverside Church in Manhattan in September of 2008, only to announce his resignation less than a year later. 
• Riverside Church had broken up into factions. They embraced a broad spectrum of faiths including: Christianity, Hindi, Buddhism, and additionally welcoming people from all walks of life.  Dr. Braxton attempted to help the church decide “how to bring an interfaith, interracial, progressive religious institution from the 20^th century into the 21^st century.”  Braxton’s method of preaching served to isolate many members of the congregation, since he preached “at times what they considered a Riverside heresy: that Jesus and only Jesus was the way to salvation.” [6] View video

The Rev. Stephen Phelps, 2010 - Present

• Rev. Stephen H. Phelps was selected as Interim Senior Minister for the Riverside Church in December of 2010 and began his position in January of 2011. 
• He earned his M.Div. at Yale Divinity School.
• Rev. Phelps has taught and initiated programs to strengthen contemplative practices, prison ministries, multi-cultural community, justice and inclusion for gays and lesbians, and interfaith learning and dialogue. [7]
• He is a proponent of interfaith dialogue.[8]

Conclusion

When this church came into being, the Church became infiltrated with an all out social agenda - Communism. It was intended that the Word of God be attacked so that people would question its accuracy. The Rockefeller family knew that if they opened this church, it would be "one of a kind" and would change what Christians hold as dear. The church leadership took a major step toward creating the one world religion. 

Riverside Church was a social experiment that created an alliance of believers and unbelievers that would model future churches to come. They took the heretical teachings from the Union Theological Seminary and muddied the waters completely with false teaching. They created for themselves a system of religion that would never enable them to know the God of the Bible. It was a system that could never change hearts.

It would be wonderful if the believing Church could create true change by shaking off the misguided steps of the past and get back to the Truth about who Christ is. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done. It will only be a matter of time when the Protestant and Catholic church will become one, then they will join together with the other religions of the world to worship who they believe is the one true God. Won't they be surprised to find it was the snake in the Garden, all along.

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8

Does The Truth Matter Anymore? Part 1

Pragmatism has been used by the devil to side track the Christian Church. True followers of Jesus Christ must stand firm on biblical truth. They must not compromise with the world around them. Christianity is not what works! Christianity is what is True!

John MacArthur teaches about the modern movements and the theology that has crept into the Church in the past couple hundred years.

This is part 1 of a series of 5. The series is titled Does the Truth Matter Anymore? I'll post part two next week.



(Vimeo link)

The Lausanne Movement and the NAE

Billy Graham posing with the Illuminati hand sign, the Devil's Claw.

Billy Graham is one of the most beloved and respected evangelists of the 20th century. He is also one of the most compromised Christians of our time. His involvement in the ecumenical movement is well documented, he's a 33rd degree Freemason, and he has several questionable friendships in high, crooked places. He has publically endorsed the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, both known Communist fronts working toward the one world religion.[1] He has embraced Universalism unashamedly in his old age.

Over 30 years ago, as Graham started preaching internationally, he united all evangelicals in the task of evangelizing the world. One of the most influential documents in modern Evangelical Christianity is the Lausanne Covenant, and was written and adopted by 2,300 evangelicals at the International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The covenant is a Christian religious manifesto promoting world-wide Christian evangelism. The first Lausanne conference, held in 1974, brought together 2,700 Christian religious leaders from over 150 countries and was called by a committee headed by Graham.

This video describes Graham's leadership in the Lausanne Covenant and Conference.

 

(YouTube link)

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is a supporter of the Lausanne Covenant. The goals of the Lausanne Covenant reflect the concerns of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. [2] If a denominational headquarters is a member of the NAE, then it is advancing the goals of World Socialism and the final world government.

The following are current denominational members of the NAE:

Advent Christian General Conference
Anglican Mission in America
Assemblies of God
Brethren in Christ Church
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Christian Union
Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.)
Church of the Nazarene
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
Converge Worldwide
Elim Fellowship
Evangelical Assembly of Presbyterian Churches
Evangelical Congregational Church
Evangelical Friends Church International
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Evangelical Free Church of America
Every Nation Churches
Fellowship of Evangelical Churches
Free Methodist Church of North America
General Association of General Baptist
Grace Communion International
Great Commission Churches
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
International Pentecostal Church of Christ
International Pentecostal Holiness Church
Missionary Church, Inc.
North American Baptist Conference
Open Bible Churches
Presbyterian Church in America
Primitive Methodist Church USA
The Brethren Church
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
The Evangelical Church
The Salvation Army
The Vineyard, USA
The Wesleyan Church Corporation
Transformation Ministries
United Brethren in Christ
US Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches

This leads me to believe that the National Association of Evangelicals have long supported ecumenism and their goal of unity. As you read in the last post, Leith Anderson, President of the NAE, has been appointed to the Presidents new faith council. It is important to note that Anderson signed the Manhattan Declaration, recognized as an ecumenical document/pact between leaders of socially liberal denominations.[3]

Anderson didn't think to stop there. He also signed the interfaith document "A Common Word Between Us and You" in 2007.  This document opened interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims. Among the organizations backing the dialogue were the World Council of Churches (WCC), and the World Islamic Call Society (WICS), a network with about 600 affiliated Muslim bodies. It calls for peace between Muslims and Christians and tries to work for common ground and understanding among both faiths, in line with the Qur'anic commandment to "Say: "O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah" and the Biblical commandment to love God, and one’s neighbour. [4]

I realize that many of the local churches do not adhere to what is taking place within their national denominational headquarters. The problem is that the financing of the denominational headquarters is funded by the local churches. The local church keeps the monster breathing. I regret to say that it will eventually gain strength and trickle down to the local level. This is a difficult time for the informed to live in. 

Ecumenism and the Three Threads of the Charismatic Renewal

Cardinal Leon Suenens ( 1904-1996)

The ecumenical house of deception has many windows. The following finding connects the ecumenical movement of the Roman Catholic Church with that of the Charismatic movement. If it were not for Cardinal Suenens, the Charismatic Renewal would never had entered the Catholic Church. Once it did, leaders from the Pentecostal, Protestant Charismatic, and Catholic church felt a need to bring the three streams of renewal together in a more formal way. With 50,000 registered attendees, this was the biggest and most inclusive gathering of "baptized in the Spirit believers" in modern history. With Cardinal Suenens as the papal liaison, the 1977 Kansas City Conference on Charismatic Renewal, " was the largest and most inclusive ecumenical assembly in the history of American Christianity." Almost half of the participants were Roman Catholics. This new body of Charismatics were not separatists, but rather reformist in character.[1][2]

According to Dave Hunt, the guiding hand behind the Charismatic movement, who likewise used it to further Rome's ecumenical aims, was Cardinal Leon Joseph Suenens. He was a recipient of the ecumenical  Templeton Award for Progress in Religion in 1976, and was given a special mandate to oversee the worldwide charismatic "renewal movement" in the Catholic Church, an assignment that was reconfirmed by John Paul II.

The Cardinal was influential in the General Council formed in the early 1970s by Shepherding and Protestant/Catholic charismatic leaders. It was at the General Council when Cardinal Suenens provided a blueprint plan for an alternative agenda.[3] He believed that once there was communion in the spirit, there would eventually be physical unity. [4] The Council then began to guide the ecumenical charismatic movement for years from behind the scenes. The minutes for its May-June, 1977 meeting reveal that a "covenant relationship" was entered into with Cardinal Suenens, which included the following:

"We, as a Council, are committing ourselves to work together with the Cardinal for the restoration and unity of Christian people and world evangelization in projects to be mutually agreed upon. In each project, headship, authority and method of functions will be mutually determined by the Cardinal and the Council in the light of the requirements of each situation."

Dave Hunt continues, "World evangelization" with Suenens? What naiveté! Cardinal Suenens hosted and gave the opening speech at the Second World Conference on Religion and Peace in Louvain, Belgium in 1974, which received Pope Paul VI's blessing. Delegates were particularly impressed with the important role that religious unity will play in establishing the coming world government. A continual call was sounded for "a new world order." Under Catholic leadership, the Louvain Declaration stated,

Buddhists, Christians, Confucianists, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims, Shintoists, Sikhs, Zoroastrians and still others, we have sought here to listen to the spirit within our varied and venerable religious traditions...we have grappled with the towering issues that our societies must resolve in order to bring about peace, justice, and ennobling quality of life for every person and every people....

We rejoice that...the long era of prideful and even prejudiced isolation of the religions of humanity is, we hope, now gone forever.

We appeal to the religious communities of the world to inculcate the attitude of planetary citizenship ....[5]

Examples of Compromise

As you may recall from one of my earlier articles, Kathryn Kuhlman did not like to conduct her services without Catholic priests on her platform.  Her personal secretary wrote:

"Nothing thrilled Kathryn more than to have thirty or forty Catholic clergymen, especially if they wore clerical collars or, better yet, cassocks, sitting behind her while she ministered. Somehow it seemed to lend authenticity to what she was doing — and helped create the proper climate of a trust and understanding which was so necessary for a miracle service." (Daughter Of Destiny, p. 221.)

Benny Hinn also has a connection with the Catholic Church, and has been invited for a private audience with Pope John Paul at the Vatican.

Reunification

Deception has long been used by the Vatican to lure the "separated brethren" of Protestantism back into the fold, but uniting all religions under Rome, as Revelation 17 indicates. The means and motivation behind doing this has long been part of Freemasonry. According to Dr. Cathy Burns, in her book Billy Graham and His Friends, Cardinal Suenens was a Freemason.

The interesting part of this resurgence in the tongues movement is that both Freemasons and Jesuit priests have been on the sidelines providing encouragement and guidance all along. When the parts of the Roman Catholic Church were baptized in the Holy Ghost, they did not turn their back on the Catholic church, it only provided more fuel. Suenens stated:

"Since I have had this [charismatic] experience, my allegiance to the Holy Father as the Vicar of Christ in the world has been heightened and strengthened. My appreciation for Mary as the co-redemptress and mediatoress of my salvation has been assured. My appreciation of the mass as the sacrifice of Christ has now been heightened." Cloud, Flirting with Rome 

Final Comments

My only desire for doing research on the Charismatic movement is to completely understand how and why tongues for today are not valid manifestations of the Spirit. I received the baptism many years ago, and could never receive a valid explanation for my experience after I left, other than what I saw in the Book of Acts. I did walk away from it at one point in my walk with Christ, but only returned to it again later. Once I learned I was deceived by my involvement with the Word of Faith movement, only after leaving it, I began to dissect every experience I had and balance it with Scripture. When I find information about the Roman Catholic Church, the baptism experience, and their direct connection with the ecumenical movement, how could anyone not have their eyes opened and continue down the same path?

A Lamp in the Dark: Chris Pinto

(Vimeo link)

Christian Pinto is the founder of the Adullam Films Christian film ministry, whose documentaries focus on Bible prophecy, exposes truth about the founding of our country, and teaches on the New Age and Freemasonry. He produced the recent release titled The Hidden Faith of the Founding Fathers, as well as Megiddo I: The March to Armageddon, and Megiddo II: The New Age. I have several from his collection, and I have watched them over and over.

This film is extremely exhaustive with chapter titles: The Gospel Record; The Roman Church; Dominic and the Inquisition; The Pilgrim Church; John Wycliffe; The Great Reformation; William Tyndale; Tyndale to King James; Enter The Jesuits; and The King James Bible. It documents dates and sources from which it derives its information.

Through the DVD, you see how the Catholic and Protestant churches have been in a constant struggle. They interfered in the freedom to read the Bible and freedom of worship. People died at the the hands of the Catholics for minor offenses they declared as heresy. It should make us all aware of the dark history of the Catholic church, and beware of any alignment with them in the future.

Here's an excerpt:


(YouTube link) (Part 10)


(YouTube link) (Part 11)

Was Jesus Polite to False Teachers?

(YouTube link)

Pastor John MacArthur talks about Matthew 23, and the strong reaction Jesus had toward the false teachers of His time. Then in Mark 8:15, we are warned to "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and [of] the leaven of Herod."

Today, we are very familiar with what occurs when there is too much leaven in the teachings of our Christian leaders. To clarify, a leavening agent is any one of a number of substances used in doughs and batters that cause a foaming action which lightens and softens the finished product. The leaven added into Bible teaching is enough to send someone to hell. I challenge you to be aware of how your thinking may have been leavened by those around you, and to compare your beliefs and convictions to Scripture.

The Feminist Movement & Evangelicalism

It should come as a surprise to most Christians to discover that one of the roots of the feminist movement came directly from Evangelical origin. Most are aware of the Marxist doctrine of equality and its affect on feminism and the breakdown of the family. But it was the great evangelical and holiness revivals of the last two centuries that has completely revolutionized male-female relationships in the 20th century.

Charles Finney
Charles Finney (1792-1875) has been in a place of honor in evangelical Christianity. He is best known for his ministry during the "Second Awakening," and for winning souls to Christ. His influence during this period was enough that he has been called The Father of Modern Revivalism.

Prior to his conversion, Finney was a third-degree Freemason for eight years. He wrote, "I soon found that I was completely converted from Freemasonry to Christ, and that I could have no fellowship with any of the proceedings of the lodge. Its oaths appeared to me to be monstrously profane and barbarous." Finney came to believe that part of his oath as a Master Mason was immoral, and that Masonry was dangerous to civil government. [1]

While Finney was rubbing elbows with the deceived local elites, he adopted many worldly ideas that stuck with him after his conversion - egalitarianism being one of them. Egalitarian doctrine maintains that all persons are equal in fundamental worth or moral status. The Christian egalitarian view holds that the Bible teaches the fundamental of gender equality, the equality of all racial and ethnic mixes, all economic classes, and all age groups. This is different from the viewpoint of Complimentarianism, which holds that "God has created men and women equal in their essential dignity and human personhood, but different and complimentary in mandated roles - with male headship in the home and in the Church."

Where we are today in the Church is a direct result of the ministry of Charles Finney. As he ministered, one of Finney's objectives was social reform. He has been criticized for his easy believerism, disagreed with the doctrine of original sin, confused the Law with the Gospel, and he believed he had personally achieved sinless perfection. He led the way of liberalism in the Church. Most notably, his revivals had more to do with generating the 19th century feminist movement, than any other single factor. He was already involved with the abolitionist movement, and the "feminist exegesis" grew out of abolitionism. Because of the way he viewed Scripture, Finney encouraged women to come forward and speak and pray in public with the men during his revivals. He founded the "altar call," and critics believe that there are too many emotional decisions made at the altar, as opposed to genuine conversions.

Oberlin College, which was formed by evangelicals (Finney was for a short time the president) was the first co-educational college to grant degrees to women and black Americans. Many of the early graduates of the college went on to become leaders in the feminist cause, such as Lucy Stone. It should be noted that Lucy was a Congregationalist, but later became a Unitarian. [2]

The Methodists and Baptists
By the 1860s, Wesleyan Methodists were ordaining women into the clergy. Even the Baptist minister who founded the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary became an advocate for the complete entrance of women into every political and social privilege obtained by men.

William and Catherine Booth

The Salvation Army was another major Evangelical influence on the feminist movement  in America. Catherine Booth, the co-founder and wife of 33rd degree Mason William Booth, supported the idea of women in ministry. Women in the Salvation Army were given equal standing alongside men. 

William and Catherine Booth - note the Masonic pose of William

Their ministry was to the poor and destitute, but benevolence is not a goal of Freemasonry. Benevolence is a method used to promote goodwill for an organization that has lost its public esteem ,and to enhance the image of Freemasonry — a major arm of the Illuminati and associated organizations. [3] Missions like that of the Booths are a tool to build national Socialism. Although the Bible does say we are to help the poor and needy, it is the Great Commission the Lord has given us to carry out to the world. 

The Faith of Adams & Jefferson

Christians have been fed a lie for many years concerning the faith of our founding fathers. I posted on the topic about a week ago, and have since then received the book containing the letters between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The following are quotes that directly pertain to their faith. I think that we can conclude that they are not Christian.

Letter: Adams to Jefferson, Quincy, July 16th, 1813 -

"In your Letter to Priestly on March 21, 1801, dated at Washington you call "The Christian Philosophy, the most sublime and benevolent, but the most perverted System that ever shone on Man." That is the most sublime and benevolent, I agree. But whether it has been more perverted than that of Mosse, of Confucius, or Zoroaster, of Sanchoniathan of Numa, of Mahomet of the Druids, of the Hindoos ect, ect, ect. I cannot as yet determine; because I am not sufficiently acquainted with those Systems or the History of their Effect to form a decisive Opinion of the result of the Comparison."

Letter: Jefferson to Adams, Monticello, Jan. 24, 1814 -

"Where get we the ten commandments? The book indeed gives them to us verbatim. But where did it get them? For itself tells us they were written by the finger of god on tables of stone, which were destroyed by Moses: it specifies those on the 2d. set of tables in different form and substance, but still without saying how the others were recovered. But the whole history of these books is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been plaid with their text, and with the texts of other books relation to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills."

Letter: Adams to Jefferson, Quincy, 23rd January 1825 -

"The Europeans are all deeply tainted with prejudices both Ecclesiastical, and Temporal which they can never get rid of; they are all infected with Episcopal and Presbyterian Creeds, and confessions of faith. They all believe that great principle, which has produced this boundless Universe. Newton's Universe, and Hershells universe, came down to this little Ball, to be spit-upon by Jews; and untill this awful blasphemy is got rid of, there will never be any liberal science in the world."

The author of this book has written an introduction to each chapter, which precedes a handful of letters. He has read the content of each of the letters and draws this conclusion:

"In religion as in science of politics the two retired statesmen could turn philosophers without effort. But their frank discussion of religion, it should be remembered, was confined to their private correspondence. Their sharp condemnation of the priestcraft, their ridicule of the mystical Trinity as untenable by rational men, and their use of historical criticism to distinguish fact from "revelation" would have raised public furor. Under the aegis of the Enlightenment, freedom of thought won least recognition in the field of religion and theology. To Adams and Jefferson the achievement of religious freedom in most of the states during the Revolution and the adoption of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States had done more, they hoped, than establish a grudging toleration. They insisted on the ultimate truth "that Almighty God hath created the mind free."

                    Lester F. Cappon, The Adams-Jefferson Letters

Why have Christians been led to believe these men were Christians? Christian J. Pinto, the writer and director of the DVD titled The Hidden Faith of the Founding Fathers, spoke on the topic. He said that this was a way to draw Christians away from God and have them focus on politics. This may be so, but there is something else happening here. 

The Christian Nationalism movement, a byproduct of Dominion Theology, which asserts that in preparation for the second coming of Christ, godly men have the responsibility to take over every aspect of society. Dominion Theology comes out of Christian Reconstructionism, a fundamentalist creed that was propagated by the late Rousas John Rushdoony and his son-in-law, Gary North.

Reconstructionists, the ones leading the deception, believe in postmillennial theology; meaning its followers believe Jesus won't return until after Christians establish a thousand year reign on earth. While other Christians wait for the messiah, Reconstructionists want to build the kingdom themselves.

The doctrine of Dominion/Kingdom Now Theology and their purpose for rebuilding our country as a Christian nation in which ours has been founded country (the lie), have been promoted in Christian homeschool curriculum and the Church. Many Christians don't believe in Dominion Theology, once they learn what it is, but they do believe our country was founded by Christians, which provides the Reconstuctionists with the fuel to feed their beliefs.

"Many if not most Christians following Dominion Theology leaders will be surprised to know it. For example, almost all of “Word of Faith” leaders are dominionists. The “Christian Right” has many dominionist leaders, especially those that are pushing ecumenicalism and those that teach that we need to take the nation or the world for Christ. Liberal Christians pushing ecumenicalism often are dominionists. Dominion Theology teachers lead a large segment of the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements. Much of the leadership of the “Promise Keepers” mens movement embraces Dominion Theology. Much of the “seeker friendly purpose driven” church growth movement has a dominionist world social agenda. The Catholic Church has a Dominion worldview. Even the ultra right Christian patriot and the Christian identity cults believe the unbiblical worldview of Dominion Theology." [1]

Do you believe it matters that our country was founded by Christians? The Puritans laid good ground when they came to this land. There were revivals that kept the hearts of men towards God. Jefferson helped the Christians by adding the Freedom of Religion, but it was primarily provided to gain the support of the people for the Revolution.

We Christians are such a trusting, sorry bunch.

God in America: Of God and Caesar - Part 6

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

(PBS link)

Shows how Fundamental Christians embrace politics when they never considered it before. Politics was considered as temporal, and Christians were focused on that which was eternal. I believe some of the info in this segment has been misrepresented, with information left out, but it is a good wrap-up for this series.

God in America: Soul of a Nation - Part 5

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

(PBS link)

Billy Graham revivals and crusades in the post-World War II era. You begin to see how politics and religion become intertwined. This is an excellent segment.

God In America: A New Light - Part 4

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

(PBS link)

Modernity challenges traditional faith, driving a wedge between liberals and conservatives. There is some unbelief in the segment. There are explanations for the conflict found in this section.

God in America: A Nation Reborn - Part 3

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

(PBS link)

God in America: A New Adam - Part 1

I will be posting the entire series this week. It can be found, at a later date, under the Church History section of the blog.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

(PBS link)

Aimee Semple McPherson: Her Impact on the Third Wave Movement

Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944), was a Pentecostal/Evangelical evangelist and founder of International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, the first interdenominational mega-church. Canadian born, she was a noted pioneer in the use of modern media, especially radio, owning her own radio station. [1] When she preached at revivals, it was standing room only. In a 3/93 Charisma magazine article, Jack Hayford said that Foursquare was "one of the first to fully embrace the Charismatic movement as being a legitimate movement of the Spirit."

Sister Aimee believed in physical healing as part of the atonement, being slain in the spirit, spiritual warfare/demon-deliverance, speaking in tongues, signs and wonders evangelism, and extra-revelatory prophecy. [2] In her book, This is That, she said, "The Voice of the Lord spoke tenderly: 'Now, child, cease your strivings and your begging; just begin to praise Me ...' All at once my hands and arms began to tremble gently at first, then more and more, until my whole body was a-tremble with the power ... Almost without my notice my body slipped gently to the floor, and I was lying under the power of God, but felt as though caught up and floating."

(YouTube link)

Sister Aimee filmed several of these type of messages on topics that concerned her.

(YouTube link)

Sister Aimee opened her church in 1923 in Los Angeles, CA.

(YouTube link)

Aimee Semple McPherson impacted several of the Third Wave/Word-Faith preachers. Benny Hinn revealed that he periodically visits Aimee McPherson's grave, where he says: "I felt a terrific anointing ... I was shaking all over ... trembling under the power of God ... `Dear God,' I said, `I feel the anointing.' ... I believe the anointing has lingered over Aimee's body." (Benny Hinn, April 7, 1991 sermon)

Sister Aimee believed she was living in the last days, perhaps because she lived during WWI and WWII. She said in her book, "Latter Rain is falling on the earth. The same identical signs which followed the preaching of the Word in the former rain, accompany the present outpouring" (This is That, pg. 511). William Branham (1909-1965), who led the Latter Rain Movement, may have been influenced by her when he named his ministry.

She is considered as one of the spiritual mothers to the Third Wave movement. In this poster from Rick Joyner's church, she can be seen pictured in the foreground.

Speaking of spiritual mothers: Aimee Semple McPherson's was Kathryn Kuhlman's spiritual mother, and a woman named Maria Woodworth Etta was Aimee's. [2]

Maria Woodworth Etta

Maria Woodworth Etta (1844–1924) was one of the more mystical of all the neo-Montanist women. She was a traveling evangelist, one of the first women to take this role in America, and was initially part of the holiness-healing movement. In the 1880's she was known to go into trances and stand stock-still for hours and sometimes days. During these trance times people would come into her meetings and be miraculously healed or converted. In 1890, she reports people receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit as evidenced with the speaking in other tongues, and people seeing heavenly visions. "The Holy Ghost was present in great power, with gifts, signs, and visions, following the laying-on-of-hands. There were visible signs of light and glory on the pulpit, and through the congregation seen by the natural eye by some" (Signs and Wonders, Harrison House, pg. 150-151). Sister Woodworth-Etter is possibly the source for many of the aberrant doctrines taken up by the New Order of the Latter Rain in the late 1940's. She practiced the laying on of hands for healing, delivering people from demons, and conveying spiritual gifts. [3]

Sister Aimee had her share of scandal. In the 1920s, she allegedly had an extramarital relationship and faked her own death as a cover. She later claimed that she had been kidnapped, but a grand jury could neither prove that a kidnapping occurred, nor that she had faked it. Roberta Semple Salter, her daughter from her first marriage, became estranged from Semple McPherson and successfully sued her mother's attorney for slander during the 1930s. As a result of this she was cut out of her mother's will. [4]

Aimee Semple McPherson died at the age of 54 in 1944, from an accidental overdose of barbiturates. 

Forest Lawn Glendale

But it doesn't end here. The New Age movement, through the false prophetess Elizabeth Clare Prophet, made some claims about Aimee Semple McPherson before her death in 2009. Within the teaching of the New Age Ascended Masters, Master Jesus (who is the Ascended Jesus of the New Age) had a celestial wife named Lady Master Magda. She had two known incarnations (bodily forms), one was Mary Magdalene; the other was Aimee Semple McPherson. [5] Strange, but true.

The church Aimee started is still in existence today. Her international church is now referred to as Four Square Gospel. It has almost 60,000 churches in 144 countries. [6] [7]

Kathryn Kuhlman: A Mystical Legacy

Kathryn Kuhlman (1907–1976) was another teacher who synchronized Christianity and Spiritualism together. She was born in 1907 and became a Pentecostal evangelical preacher at the age of 16. She made a lucrative career for herself as a faith healer, running “crusades” from the 1940s to the late 1960s throughout the world. Her meetings were known for healings, 'holy laughter,' and the practice of being 'slain in the spirit.' Although it was spoken about in her biography, her old crusade videos don't show her altar/healing ministry.

Kuhlman  eventually got her own 30-minute radio program, and then a TV show in the 70s. Most of it was devoted to testimonies of those who received healing.

As you will see, Benny Hinn has modeled his ministry after hers in many ways. One way that Hinn has shown tribute to Miss Kuhlman is by singing a song in his crusades that is based upon the title of her TV program, "I Believe in Miracles." In the following video, Benny Hinn explains how he was impacted by Miss Kuhlman's ministry.


(YouTube link)

Watch as Miss Kuhlman preaches in an eery, dramatic style. There are better videos, but I wanted to capture what she said. One researcher felt that she depended upon a spirit guide, because of the story Benny Hinn told in his book about her. Others believe she was possessed. [here]


(YouTube link)

Kathryn Kuhlman was one of the first ministers to place a heavy emphasis on the Holy Spirit, and one of the first within the Evangelical/Pentecostal world that laid a foundation for the new unity movement of religions. It was said by her official biographer, Buckingham, that Miss Kuhlman did not like to conduct her services without Catholic priests on her platform. [1][2]

"Nothing thrilled Kathryn more than to have thirty or forty Catholic clergymen, especially if they wore clerical collars or, better yet, cassocks, sitting behind her while she ministered. Somehow it seemed to lend authenticity to what she was doing — and helped create the proper climate of a trust and understanding which was so necessary for a miracle service." (Daughter Of Destiny, p. 221.)

On October 11, 1972, Pope Paul gave her a private audience at the Vatican. Coincidentally, Benny Hinn has also been to the Vatican. In this YouTube, Benny talks about his visit, by invitation, for the private service that preceeded Pope John Paul's burial.


(YouTube link) (02:15 - 04:00 on counter)

Hinn claims Jesus is going to make a bodily appearance in one of his crusades. This is an old video, but sometimes it takes a while for a prophecy to come to fruition. Funny about those spirits and their predictions!


(YouTube link)

In the second video (above), Miss Kuhlman says that before the Church is caught up in the rapture, there will be a miracle service in which everyone in attendance will be healed. She said this in more than one of her crusades, but hoped it might be occur sometime before she died.

Will Benny, as a tribute, fulfill Kathryn Kuhlman's prophecy to have everyone healed in one of his services? Will it be the New Age Christ who will perform this mass healing? Hum!