The Emerging Apostasy …
Below is excerpts from an article about emergent leader Doug Pagitt and his way
of “doing” church. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/10/26/progressiveevangelical
"This
tendency for Christians to see themselves as the most elite of the spiritual
people in the world is not only distasteful to a lot of us but it's sort of
maddening, because that image has been well-earned over the last 50 years --
that Christians speak as if they're the elite, they're the believers and
everybody else are the non-believers," Pagitt says.
Being a Christian has nothing to do with elitism and
everything to do with believing the truth of Scripture.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV) [Emphasis added]
There is nothing elitist about that. If someone does not believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ then they are not a believer; period!
That is not an elitist belief or attitude; it is the truth!
To be elitist you would have to say only certain people are aloud to believe
the truth. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is open to all who will believe.
You are not a Christian if you believe in anything other than Jesus Christ and
Him crucified, paying the penalty for our sin once and for all. The Word of God
says we are all sinners and condemned to an eternity in hell. The good news,
The Gospel, is that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for us and we can enjoy
eternity with Him in heaven if we will accept God’s free gift by grace. That
entails admitting we are sinners in need of salvation.
Mankind’s sinfulness and need of a Savior is missing from
the teaching of the emerging leaders of today. That makes them wolves in
sheep’s clothing. They are teaching a lie that is leading many to hell.
For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)
For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)
But without faith it
is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
"There's
a saying around here, 'The enemy is not those who believe differently about
God; the enemy is those who seek to destroy the good work of God,'" says
Olson.
The enemy of our souls is Satan who seeks to destroy. The enemies
are those who lurk in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravening wolves. The enemies
are those who have replaced sound doctrine for doctrines of devils.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour: (1 Peter 5:8 KJV)
Now the Spirit
speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1 KJV)
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15 KJV)
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among
you, not sparing the flock. (Acts 20:29 KJV)
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth
not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in
the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9 KJV)
All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV) [Emphasis added]
"We
differ from some of our evangelical family in that many of them feel like the
world is a deep dark place and they're the only light shining in the darkness.
We tend to see ourselves as Kingdom
of God horticulturalists
-- that the growth of God is active in the world and we will tend to it and
participate it in any way we can," he says.
The world is a deep dark place because at the moment, sin
reigns. Christians through Jesus Christ are the light shining in the darkness. The emerging group
can choose to see themselves however they want, but if it is a denial of the
truth and the way God sees us then it is a false belief. The only thing these
men are cultivating are lies that are deceiving people. The emerging gurus are
not participating in the “growth of God” but are participating in the growth of
the enemies lies and deceptions.
And we know that we are of God, and the
whole world lieth in wickedness. (1 John 5:19 KJV)
For God, who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to
give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6 KJV)
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as
children of light: (Ephesians 5:8 KJV)
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship
with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in
the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and
his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 KJV)
Beware of these men who dress themselves in the sheep’s cloak but inside
are ravening wolves! The only way to continually guard against these insidious
deceptions is to know the Word of God and to draw nigh to Him.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of
the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and
my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalms 91:1-2 KJV)
Draw nigh to God, and
he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your
hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8 KJV)
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that
I might not sin against thee. (Psalms 119:11 KJV)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
light unto my path. (Psalms 119:105 KJV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude
1:3 KJV)