Announcement

**Guest** · 09-26-2005, 09:56 AM

Re: Bird Flu

Attack of the bird flu: Experts say pandemic inevitable
While the deadly Avian flu spreads through Asia, Bay State health officials - who have been ``vigorously'' planning for a flu pandemic for six years - doubt the state could ever be completely prepared for a full-blown attack.

``At some point, the pandemic is going to happen. We're prepared better today than we were last week. We can only prepare so far,'' said Dr. Alfred DeMaria, head of communicable disease control for the state Department of Public Health.

Two million people in Massachusetts alone could become ill in six to eight weeks if a flu pandemic hit, according to the state DPH. One million Bay Staters could need outpatient care; 16,800 could be hospitalized and nearly 5,000 could die.

Bird flu may see NZ close borders
New Zealand may lock down all air and sea ports if a lethal bird flu epidemic takes hold internationally, potentially turning planes around and putting all arrivals into quarantine.

The disease has killed more than 50 people, but it has not yet learned to rapidly transmit between humans.

A bird flu vaccine, the pharmaceuticals' holy grail
PARIS (AFP) - The discovery of a human vaccine against bird flu would not only mean a financial jackpot for the pharmaceutical company which won the race, but also a much needed boost for the industry's reputation.

Hungary says could make 50 mln bird flu vaccines
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary could make 50 million vaccines for bird flu, mostly for export, the health authority chief said after he and the health minister became the first participants in the country's human trials of the immunization.

Indonesia "caught short" as two more die of bird flu
JAKARTA (AFP) - Indonesian health officials have confirmed two more deaths from bird flu as Australia said its neighbour is struggling to contain the virus which has now claimed at least six lives.

**Guest** · 09-28-2005, 09:51 AM

Re: Bird Flu

China sets blueprint for fighting flu pandemic
BEIJING (Reuters) - China announced color-coded emergency measures on Wednesday to avert or handle an influenza pandemic amid fears that a deadly strain of bird flu could mutate and infect millions of people around the world.

Millions of Chinese catch flu every winter, while avian influenza, including the deadly H5N1 strain that has killed 65 people in Asia, is believed endemic among the country's bird population.

The Health Ministry, widely criticized three years ago for its handling of a deadly SARS outbreak, is to set up a national anti-influenza leadership group and stockpile vaccines. It has urged regional governments to coordinate monitoring efforts.

Four levels of alert -- blue, yellow, orange and red -- will indicate the seriousness of the outbreak.

Avian flu, bioterror and Washington
The threat of the avian flu virus is real, as Senate Majority Leader Bill First explains in this section, and could potentially claim millions of American lives. No vaccine for the avian flu exists. The country needs biotechs, academia and government to cooperate to create the vaccines and other compounds needed to fight it. In that regard, the avian flu is just one of many potential biological problems -- whether natural or man-made -- that we must grapple with. To deal with the avian flu and the others -- anthrax, smallpox and radiological threats, to name three -- the United States must update the 2004 Bioshield law. That law was a good start, but not nearly enough.

**faith** · 10-01-2005, 10:17 AM

Rosh HaShana - Feast of Trumpets (Oct.4-5 Israeli calendar)

10,000 Rosh HaShana Kits to be Distributed by B'nei Akiva Youth
Ahead of the holidays, 10,000 Rosh HaShana kits will be distributed by members of the B'nei Akiva youth movement in the Haifa and central region.
(Rosh HaShana is what we call a Feast of Trumpets and its many meanings celebrated by the Jews are very interesting in light of Bible Prophecy.)

**faith** · 10-01-2005, 12:09 PM

Interfaith celebration 'God's October Surprise'-Muslims, Jews, Catholics...

RNS- OCT-HOLIDAYS: Interfaith Action Celebrates `God's October Surprise'
If all goes as predicted, Tuesday, Oct. 4, will indeed be a holy day. For the 1st time in 33 years, 2 world religions would mark the beginning of their most sacred seasons on the same day. Jews will begin celebrating Rosh Hashana(Feast of Trumpets - "Day of the Awakening Blast"), the Jewish New Year that also begins the 10-day period known as the “Days of Awe.” And if the 1st moon sighting goes as some are predicting, Muslims will usher in the holy month of Ramadan that same day. Even if the crescent moon cannot be seen Oct. 4, the religious holidays will see an unusual convergence in the same week. Catholics are in on the action as well, marking Oct. 4 as the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a relatively minor holiday mostly commemorated by Roman Catholics. Across the country, religious communities are using the calendar's coincidence as a launching pad for interfaith projects around topics ranging from the political to the spiritual.

(You sure can see the whole one world type church building. The PC way of whatever you believe in is fine - all paths lead to heaven. Eerie, because it's so opposite of Scripture-God's Word. God shows that there is only ONE way to heaven & it's thru His Son, Jesus/Yeshua -Hebrew. He warns TONS of times against embracing other false gods and the judgments it brings on the nation. Well, PTL for God's Son, Jesus, who when we come to Him with a true heart faith, is our own personal Lord & Savior, with His HS sealing us as God's true children forever. Amen!! \/

BTW, with all these many, "record & historical" ecumenical movements & global meetings bringing the religions of the world on "the same page" more & more, you can see how EZ it will be for the False Prophet to step in and lead one day, to bring it all together. To the world, he'll seem such a promise & answer, supposedly helping bring 'peace' to the world with help of the religions. And he'll be greatly looked up to and idolized. Boy is that process ever building fast now for whoever ends up being that False Prophet (aka one of the 2 beasts of Revelation). Little does the world know that there is only one TRUE PEACE than can truly change the world & that is thru Jesus Christ alone. Everything else is temporary. The world will never have true peace thru religion or democracy or whatever alone - TRUE peace comes only thru God's Son, Jesus, and HIS RETURN to the world at the end of the tribulation will finally bring that PEACE, when satan is taken out of the picture for a 1,000 years - The Millenium.

Today, our world is being deceived right in front of its' eyes, as satan pushes ahead wrapping sin in pretty packages that look 'righteous' on the outside, but are empty on the spiritual inside, pulling people further from the ONLY TRUTH, to a joining & meshing of the world's beliefs to make an 'inclusive' blend of INTERFAITH. This is one of the reasons PERSECUTION of true believers will quickly grow, as Christians will be seen as standing in the way of this so-called great religious peace movement of the globe. But mostly persecution will increase against true Christians because satan hates those who are eternally saved & sealed in Christ Jesus - His children, and satan hates the chosen Jewish people of God.

And don't forget that one day Scripture says that it's the False Prophet who will cause or force the people around the globe to take the mark of the beast. They won't be able to buy or sell w/o it. That's pressure enuf for many. And the False Prophet will do miracles & displays for the Antichrist so people will be fooled all the more. BTW, the mark is an eternal seal to hell with satan, so nothing to take lightly, whatever form it ends up taking. Say YES to God the Father today, by truly coming to Him with a repentant heart and a true heart faith, knowing thru Jesus alone, His death on the cross covering over all our sin, taking the judgment away from us forever...is for YOU as well. As the Bible says best, "Today is the day of salvation." I pray it's yours today. God bless & be with you.

The silver lining of it all, is that it's fulfilling Bible Prophecy, and more signs that Jesus our Lord is coming soon! \/)

Allah - the Moon God
(VERY IMPORTANT to read this link above. BTW, I started to post Scriptures on God's MANY warnings to not EMBRACE, worship, serve, or say names of "other gods" from the other nations & peoples, showing how He said He'd bring judgments/cursings of disobedience on the nation if they did that. But, there was too many and they're too important to skip over any. So, when you have time, go to link below. This search below was for "other gods" Scriptures. But the list would be endless if you search Bible results on "false gods", "spiritists", "false prophets", "idolatry", "mediums", "witchcraft", "magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers" etc. etc.)

http://bible.gospelcom.net/keyword/?...lewordsonly=no

**faith** · 10-01-2005, 12:17 PM

"No Doubt We're In The Last Days" News - Interfaith

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 07:26:24 -0700
Subject: TBC Today : "No Doubt We're In The Last Days" News
From: The Berean Call

INDIAN HILL, OHIO - In an effort to understand and discuss the world's major
religions, Horizon Community Church is providing a panel discussion with
area guest speakers for 5 Sundays beginning July 10 and ending Aug. 14.

The idea came from teaching pastor Chad Hovan, who sets the church's program
schedule. He had been aware of a similar program at Chicago's Willow Creek
Church and he brought the idea to Horizon.

"I think the interest was there partially because of world events," says
John Kirby, director of operations and communications for the church. "We
wanted our emphasis to be on tolerance-to have a clearer understanding of
Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity and what their members
believe."

Adds Hovan, "Our goal was to make this a safe place for people to compare
and explore the world's major religions. It is not an inherently Christian
service. We want each faith to be given a fair, neutral chance to present
their views, and hopefully in the end we'll understand each other better."

The first Sunday's gathering drew a capacity crowd which came to hear about
the beliefs of Islam.

"Those who came discovered a lot more similarities than differences," Kirby
said.

[TBC: Professing evangelicals who lovingly embrace false religions of the
world in this manner are committing spiritual adultery and are willing
accomplices in the delusion and apostasy of the last days prior to the
rapture of Christ¹s true Bride, and the subsequent revelation of Anti-
("in-the-place-of") christ and his false "christian" church.]

**faith** · 10-01-2005, 12:25 PM

Contending for the Faith (Apostasy of the Church)

September 23 - Contending for the Faith

Is there a need for a "new way of doing church"? I'm not so sure the old way was all that bad. I hear a lot of people tell me "God is doing a new thing today" and I'm not convinced it's God behind the shift.
In September both "Time" and "Newsweek" featured stories about spirituality in America. The September 5 "Newsweek" says, "Move over, politics. Americans are looking for personal, ECSTATIC EXPERIENCES with God..." It goes on to elaborate that the glue causing so many to stick together today and feel "united" is MYSTICISM. The Bible, however, calls that "divination." And it's an equal opportunity deceiver" affecting Baptists, Lutherans, Catholics, and every other group of spiritual seekers.

"Time" magazine has an extensive article on the latest rage, "Christian Yoga" in an article titled, "Outstretched for Jesus." I wonder if the Hindu Yogis have this in mind? Neither they nor the thousands of Hindu gods do I promise.

Here's what's captivating a lot of Protestants and Catholics.

The above-mentioned Yoga in "Christian" form--"Christian Yoga." It's coming to a church near you. It may be there already. Participants swear the Hindu gods will never make it to their Yoga mat. Don't be so sure.

Christian Zen" which advocates getting into an alpha level brain state for better "Christian meditation."

The "Emergent Church" also called "Starbuck's Christianity" for "GenXrs" featuring sounds, the smell of incense, candles, music, but little or no Bible teaching.

Mary for Protestants, so popular that it made the cover of "Time" magazine March 21, 2005.

Contemplative Prayer which practitioners say is safe but which can put one in an altered state of consciousness as one focuses on a "Christian mantra."

Walking the "labyrinth" and going into a meditative altered state of consciousness as you walk a winding path.

Apparitions of Mary as she appears around the world at the same time and is seen by millions of Catholics who appear to be in an altered state of consciousness.

The rush towards "interspirituality" which is a unification of many faiths likely leading to the one world religion of Revelation.

Experience, experience, and signs and wonders, in some cases replacing solid Bible teaching.

The preaching of the "bloodless gospel."

The rush to have the National Association of Evangelicals unite with the World/National Council of Churches in spite of the latter's socialistic agenda. The NAE was founded to counter the WCC/NCC.

The out-of-control teaching that the church will usher in the Kingdom of God and make the world nearly perfect. Seen the news lately?

The church is the new Israel (Replacement Theology). Good-bye Israel. You're literally history.

Taking the words of poor new translations like "The Message" as the Gospel truth.
That only scratches the surface. The book of Jude exhorts us to "contend for the faith" and it must be there for a reason. I'm recommending contending! We can shrug our shoulders and chalk this up to the great "end-time falling away" (II Thess. 2:3; I Tim. 4:1) or we can stand up for truth and alert family and friends.

We'll spend time on this on Saturday afternoon of our "Evidences for the End Times" conference September 30 - October 1. Hal Lindsey will be the only speaker Friday night and Saturday morning bringing "The Late-Great Planet Earth" up to 2005. See the Web site, www.olivetreeviews.org then go to "CONFERENCES" for all the details. Roger Oakland, Brian Flynn, and I will address the issue of the "equal opportunity deception" going on today. No one is singled out. It flourishes in the Protestant Church and Catholic Church. All of the above and more will be discussed that afternoon.

Roger, Brian, and I have all produced books and videos/DVDs on this topic. Remember, Jesus said on the Mt. of Olives that deception would be the key to the end of the age, and He was speaking to believers.

We CAN contend without being divisive or the book of Jude wouldn't have been written. It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error.

MEDIA ALERT: I will be on Joyce Harley's "In Focus" Friday, September 23, 2-3 PM CST with guest host Pastor Bob DeWaay. The program is aired on my home station, AM980 KKMS, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. You can listen anywhere in the world live at www.kkms.com. Click on "Listen Live."

RADIO THIS WEEKEND: Brian Flynn, Ray and Sharon Sanders, founders of Christian Friends of Israel, and Hal Lindsey. See Web site for listening options or listen live at www.kkms.com. The program airs live Saturdays, 9 - 11 AM CST and is rebroadcast Sundays, 12-2 PM.

Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell

You may pass on these items or have people sign up on the "Home" page of our Web site, www.olivetreeviews.org. We update "Current Headlines" twice a day and you can access our radio programming from the last two years on "Radio Archives." Also see the Web site for other options to catch the program, "Understanding the Times," live and tape-delayed. Report e-mail address changes reporting old and new.
Please remember us prayerfully and financially.
Gifts are tax-deductible with receipts in January.
Olive Tree Ministries
Box 1452
Maple Grove, MN 55311.

**faith** · 10-02-2005, 03:25 PM

TBC updates on Islam and Mormonism

updates Digest 28 Sep 2005 10:00:00 -0000 Issue 90

Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 09:26:29 -0700
From: The Berean Call
Subject: TBC Today : Israel and Islam

Far from being a religion of tolerance, Islam has rigid requirements of its adherents as a recently release fatwa (decree) in Indonesia shows.

Jakarta Post, 30/7/2005

The 11 fatwas issued by MUI

1. Religious teachings influenced by pluralism, liberalism and secularism are against Islam. The fatwa states that Muslims must consider their religion to be the true one religion, and to consider other faiths as wrong.

2. Ahmadiyah, an Islamic group that does not recognize Muhammad as the last prophet, is a heretical sect, and its followers are murtad (apostate).

3. Mixed marriages between people of different faiths are haram (forbidden under Islamic law).

4. Women are forbidden from leading prayers when men are present in the congregation. Women are only allowed to lead prayers in an all-female assemblage.=20

5. Joint prayers performed with people of other faiths are not recognized i= n Islam. Saying "Amen" to prayers led by a non-Muslim is haram.

6. Islamic law on inheritance is not applicable for non-Muslim family members.=20

7. Islam recognizes capital punishment for serious criminal offenses and th= e state can apply such punishments in the judiciary system.

8. Engaging, believing and practicing in shamanism and fortunetelling are forbidden. The publication and dissemination of these practices, such as through television shows, are also considered haram.

9. Determining goodness for the public under sharia must not violate Islami= c texts, and the only institutions that have the right to determine such goodness are those possessing sharia competence.

10. Any violation of intellectual property rights (HKI) is haram. HKIs that are protected under Islamic law are those that do not go against sharia.

11. The government cannot revoke the ownership of a person's personal property arbitrarily or by coercion.

Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 07:29:37 -0700
From: The Berean Call
Subject: TBC Today - Bogus Beliefs

[TBC: It has been reported in the past how the Mormon Church has invested huge sums of money to change their public image. Instead of fresh scrubbed, enthusiastic young men appearing at your door without warning, they are proceeded by hours of "public service" commercials dealing with family issues. As the following report shows, their strategy has worked.]

The reason for their success lies in strategic advertising. Before Mormon missionaries appear at anyone's door, the church's high-tech public relations organization moves in with its sophisticated advertising techniques, electronic broadcasting, satellite dishes, print media, telecommunications, motion pictures, and radio. With $550 million set aside worldwide, including $100 million for the U.S., they are determined to see that their message reaches every home. And, what is their message? Not that individuals can become gods, or that temple rituals are required for full salvation, or that heaven can only be gained through the certification of Joseph Smith--these doctrines and others are concealed. Rather, they bombard the public with Christian values. More specifically, that happiness and family solidarity can be gained by following the teachings of Jesus Christ as contained in the Book of Mormon, the latter offered free through an 800 number.

But, recently, they have devised a better strategy. Instead of a free Book of Mormon, they are now offering a free Bible. What greater way to avert the public's attention away from their unbiblical theology! The free Bibles are then delivered by enthusiastic missionaries intent on telling people how the Bible has been so mistranslated that it is untrustworthy; but the Book of Mormon is the pure word of God. In third world countries, rather than portraying family values, their advertising may focus on health and hygiene, law and order, or obedience to authority--whatever is applicable to that country's situation. Even sports are used. In South America, BYU basketball games were broadcast free for five years. When the Mormon missionaries were finally sent in, they were instructed to look only for houses that had TV antennas. Introducing themselves as BYU students, they inquired if anyone in the household had seen the games. It was an automatic door opener.
Advertising in foreign countries requires time and perseverance. For example, the church had to invest ten years of broadcasting in the Dominican Republic before they were able to organize a mission. But it worked. They attributed the first one thousand baptisms to their advance publicity (Hutchinson, "Strategies of the Mormon Church, http://www.apologeticsindex.org/m01.html).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mormon Church to Build Two New Temples - ABC News/AP

**faith** · 10-02-2005, 03:30 PM

Cast doubt on Darwin, get cast out...(scientist doubts)

The Smithsonian/Sternberg controversy; Cast doubt on Darwin, get cast out
What happens when an editor of a technical biology journal decides, along with others, to publish the first peer-reviewed technical article that casts doubt on Darwin and lays out the evidence for an intelligent designer?

In the case of Richard Sternberg, a Smithsonian research associate and former managing editor of the independent journal called the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, it meant being cast out of the prestigious Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C....
(Full article at link above. Very good one on evolution debate.)

**faith** · 10-02-2005, 03:34 PM

Olive Tree Ministries Bible Prophecy Conferences

Olive Tree Ministries - Bible Prophecy Conferences

**Guest** · 10-04-2005, 10:24 AM

Re: Bird Flu

Bird flu aid

Bird flu aid

October 04, 2005

HUDNREDS of Australian volunteers will begin testing different formulations of a bird flu vaccine this week amid growing fears of a global pandemic.

Australia will also send a team of advisers and specialists to Indonesia this week to help it cope with a bird flu outbreak.
The Australian trial is aimed at obtaining a vaccine to prevent the spread of bird flu in the event of a pandemic and to determine which of four formulations produce the best immune response.

About 400 healthy Australians aged 18 to 45 in Melbourne and Adelaide will receive their first vaccinations later this week.

A particularly virulent strain of avian flu, known as H5N1, already has killed more than 60 people in four Asian countries since 2003.

Most of those who have died have had direct contact with infected birds.

But scientists are worried if avian flu mixes with a type of human flu, it may develop into a new, highly infectious strain that's easily transmitted between people and invisible to human immune systems.

Hence the race by vaccine manufacturers, such as Australian pharmaceutical company CSL Ltd, to develop a suitable vaccine.

CSL is sponsoring the trial and has received $4.93 million from the federal government to fast track production of a pandemic flu vaccine.

The government grant has allowed the trial to go ahead around seven months earlier than originally planned.

A federal government report published last year estimated a major flu pandemic could lead to 2.6 million Australians seeking medical attention, 58,000 hospitalisations and 13,000 deaths.

Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott has warned producing a vaccine against a pandemic flu strain could take at least six months because of the difficulty in developing a candidate vaccine virus which is effective and safe.

The government has negotiated with CSL and European company Sanofi Pasteur to supply 50 million doses of pandemic flu vaccine should it become available.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said AusAID director-general Bruce Davis would head the deployment of specialists to Indonesia.

"The team, drawn from a number of commonwealth government departments, is expected to meet with the Indonesian Ministers for Health and Agriculture, relevant Indonesian government officials and senior personnel from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation," he said.

"These experts will work to make an assessment of the avian influenza threat, convey Australia's concern and agree on specific areas of further Australian assistance.

"This assistance is likely to include the further strengthening of laboratory capacity, public awareness campaigns and contingency planning."

Australia has already funded 50,000 doses of the anti-viral medication Tamiflu for Indonesia, which is due to arrive in Jakarta this week.

The Tamiflu will be distributed among 44 Indonesian avian influenza referral hospitals.

Six people are confirmed as having died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu virus in Indonesia this year out of more than 60 confirmed or suspected cases throughout Asia.

The World Health Organisation fears H5N1 will mutate, acquiring genes from the human influenza virus that would make it highly infectious and lethal to millions in a global pandemic.

AAP

This report was published at dailytelegraph.news.com.au

**Guest** · 10-04-2005, 10:29 AM

Re: Bird Flu

Bird-flu warning triggers action

The United States is responding rapidly to concerns about a possible outbreak of avian influenza, awarding a spate of contracts over the past few weeks to stockpile flu-fighting vaccines and drugs.
The World Health Organization, the public health arm of the United Nations, predicted this summer that bird flu will likely become the first human-flu pandemic since 1968.
Dr. David Nabarro, the organization's newly appointed U.N. coordinator for avian influenza, on Thursday projected a bird-flu outbreak could kill between 5 million and 150 million people worldwide. The next day, the U.N. health agency lowered its forecast to 2 million to 7.4 million deaths....

**faith** · 10-07-2005, 06:40 AM

Important quote for us all...

(Here's a must read. Sure fits perfect with the churches of our day. What a sign of the times! Thanks Lightseeker for finding this.)

Adrian Rogers's Daily Devotional:

October 4, 2004

BIBLE MEDITATION: I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?? Luke 18:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: I believe with all my heart that the call needs to go out today more clearly than ever before for Christians to keep the faith. William Booth, who was the founder of the Salvation Army, said, "The chief danger of the 20th Century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and Heaven without Hell." We are but one generation away from paganism. If this generation doesn't keep the faith and pass it to the next, there will be no faith.

**faith** · 10-07-2005, 07:03 AM

Persecution of Evangelicals in Russia growing fast

Documentary disinformation - PERSECUTION: Russia's Orthodox Church spearheads a televised, nationwide smear campaign

**faith** · 10-07-2005, 08:35 AM

"A Way Which Seemeth Right..."

(While this is long, it really gets to the very important heart of the matter as you get further into the article. Many movements today are mixing with man's ways, patterning after the world, which God commanded us not to do. And being that HE created us, He knows what's right & wrong. He's our only absolute Authority in that. PTL! \/
Romans 12 Living Sacrifices
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A Way Which Seemeth Right..."
T. A. McMahon

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

I recently attended the Celebrate Recovery Summit 2005 at Saddleback Church in Southern California. The primary purpose of the conference was to train new leaders who would return to their churches and inaugurate the Celebrate Recovery (CR) program. Saddleback's pastor, Rick Warren, describes CR as "a biblical and balanced program to help people overcome their hurts, habits, and hang-ups...[that is] based on the actual words of Jesus rather than psychological theory [emphasis added]."

As a long-time critic of psychological counseling and 12-Steps therapies in the church (see The Seduction of Christianity and archived TBC newsletter articles and Q&As), I was pleased to have the opportunity to learn firsthand from those who are leading and/or participating in the program, to better understand what was intended in CR, and to see how it is implemented. What I learned right away was that the 3,000 or so in attendance had a tremendous zeal for the Lord and an unquestionable sincerity in desiring to help those who were struggling with habitual sin. This was my impression in all of my interactions -- with individuals, in small groups, in workshop sessions, and in the general worship sessions. The CR Summit lasted three eight-to nine-hour) days and covered nearly every aspect of Celebrate Recovery.

Nevertheless, other thoughts ran through my mind as I reviewed whether or not I had missed something significant in my previous criticisms of 12-Steps recovery therapies. Is Celebrate Recovery's 12-Steps program truly different -- that is, "biblical and balanced . . . rather than psychological" -- as Rick Warren believes? Furthermore, is he simply naive when he says in his "Road to Recovery" series of sermons, "In 1935 a couple of guys formulated, based upon the Scriptures, what are now known as the classic twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and used by hundreds of other recovery groups. Twenty million Americans are in a recovery group every week and there are 500,000 recovery groups. The basis is God's Word [emphasis added]." Or is Celebrate Recovery another alarming example of a way that seems right to a man but one that is turning believers to ways and means other than the Bible to solve their sin-related problems? Let's consider these questions in light of some A.A. and 12 Steps background information.

To begin with, 12-Steps programs are not just a Saddleback Church issue. Increasing numbers of evangelical churches are sponsoring Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) meetings and/or creating their own self-help groups based upon A.A.'s 12-Steps principles. Bill Wilson, one of the founders of A.A., created the 12 Steps. Wilson was a habitual drunk who had two life-changing events that he claims helped him achieve sobriety: 1) he was (mis)informed by a doctor that his drinking habit was a disease and was therefore not his fault, and 2) he had an experience (which he viewed as spiritual enlightenment) that convinced him that only "a Power greater than" himself could keep him sober. Attempting to understand his mystical experience, he was led into spiritism, a form of divination condemned in the Scriptures. His official biography indicates that the content of the 12-steps principles came to him "rapidly" through spirit communication. Certainly not from God.

Celebrate Recovery began 14 years ago at Saddleback and is used in more than 3,500 churches today, making it evangelical Christianity's most prominent and widely exported 12-Steps church program. Warren considers CR to be "the center of living a purpose-driven life and building a purpose-driven church" and recently announced that Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship would begin implementing CR in every prison where the ministry is functioning.

Celebrate Recovery is a very complex methodology that attempts to bring biblical adjustments to the 12-Steps program originated by A.A. and utilized in numerous other "addiction" recovery programs. The complexity, however, applies to the setting up and implementation of the program as well as to the strict rules that govern its execution. Although there are many problems related to "making it work," there is only space in this article to address some fundamental issues. Let's begin with the implications regarding the name of the program.

Reflecting A.A.'s influence upon CR, the term "Recovery" is significant. All those in A.A. are "recovering" alcoholics, who, according to A.A., never completely recover. Recovery is a term that primarily denotes a process of physical healing. A.A. teaches that alcoholism is a disease for which there is no ultimate cure. Although CR rejects A.A.'s view of alcoholism as a disease and calls it sin, the title nevertheless promotes the A.A. concept in contradiction to what the Bible teaches. Sin is not something from which a believer is "in recovery." Sin is confessed by the sinner and forgiven by God. The believer is cleansed of the sin right then. "I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin" (Ps 32:5).

At the 2005 Celebrate Recovery Summit, every speaker introduced himself or herself in the A.A. "recovery" mode, with this "Christianized" difference: "Hi, I'm so and so . . . and I'm a believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with issues of (alcohol, drug, codependency, sex, or whatever) addiction." The audience then applauded to affirm the individual for overcoming the "denial" of his or her habitual sin. Not to confess some "addiction" or specific sin struggle raises suspicions of "being in denial." Throughout the three-day conference, there was never a hint from any of the speakers that anything about A.A., 12 Steps, or CR might not be biblical. Moreover, where Celebrate Recovery programs were not available, those "in recovery" were encouraged to attend A.A. or N.A. meetings.

Rick Warren, on video, reassured the Summit attendees that CR was no man-made therapy. He insisted that CR was based upon the "actual words of Jesus Christ from the eight Beatitudes, which parallel the 12 Steps" and identified his own "Higher Power: His name is Jesus Christ." I don't find "Higher Power," which is a misrepresentation of God, in the Bible. Nor can I fathom why a Bible-believing Christian would want to promote Bill Wilson's concept and methodology. Why not simply rely on what the Bible teaches?

Is God's way completely sufficient to set one free from so-called addictions? Did A.A.'s founders provide a more effective way? If so, what did the church do for the nearly 2,000 years prior to Bill Wilson's "spiritually enlightened" way to recovery? Moreover, if Wilson's method really works, why are some in the church trying to add Jesus as one's Higher Power and the Beatitudes to it? On the other hand, if the effectiveness of the 12-Steps program is questionable at best and detrimental to the gospel and to a believer's life and growth in Christ, why attempt to "Christianize" such a program? It is imperative that all believers ask themselves whether or not they truly believe that the Scriptures and the enablement of God's Holy Spirit are sufficient for "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Pt 1:3). A rejection of this biblical teaching is the only possible justification for turning to ways the Bible condemns: "the counsel of the ungodly" (Ps 1:1) and "a way which seemeth right unto a man."

How dependent is Celebrate Recovery upon (with minor modifications)A.A.'s 12 Steps? Completely! Those going through CR's small group take from 12 to 16 months to complete the 12-Steps program. Many go through more than one small group and often become leaders in one while attending others. Without Bill Wilson's principles, the CR program would be reduced to a handful of misapplied Bible verses. Tragically, the most obvious biblical problem with such an approach to overcoming habitual sins seems to be dismissed by all 12-Steps advocates: the Bible never offers a by-the-numbers self-help methodology for deliverance from sin or for living a sanctified life. God's way involves obedience to His full counsel and maturity in Christ through the enablement of His Holy Spirit.

**READ FINAL PART NEXT....

**faith** · 10-07-2005, 09:26 AM

Pt. 2 - final

FINAL PART...

Warren's CR program views the 12 Steps as generally compatible with Scripture yet seeks out verses that appear to biblically reinforce each step. In doing so, however, scriptural interpretations are forced upon concepts that either have no direct relationship to the Bible or that pervert the true interpretation of the scripture intended to support the particular step. CR's attempt to use the Beatitudes as biblical principles for overcoming habitual sins, for example, is a serious distortion of the Word of God.

Search as you may, you'll find no commentaries that even hint at such a use of the Beatitudes. [B]Why? Simply because the Beatitudes all have to do with seeking the Kingdom of God and nothing to do with solving an individual's so-called addictions. Again, why try to legitimize from Scripture Wilson's "ungodly counsel" from "seducing spirits [bringing] doctrines of devils" (1 Tm 4:1)?

Consider, for example, the "Beatitudes justified" first three steps:

(1) We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. That our lives had become unmanageable. "Happy are those who are spiritually poor."
(2) Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
(3) Made a decision to turn our life and our will over to the care of God
(modified from A.A.'s "God as we understood Him"). "Happy are the meek."

This is more than a misdirected attempt to sanctify (in Rick Warren's words)Bill Wilson's "biblically vague" 12 Steps. It both abuses the Scriptures and reinterprets Wilson.

In these foundational steps, Wilson is summarizing his beliefs based upon his experiences as a "recovering alcoholic." He felt "powerless" because he believed alcoholism was an incurable disease that consequently made his life "unmanageable." Since he couldn't "cure" himself (although millions do without 12-Step or other therapies!), he put his faith in "a power greater than ourselves," whom he called God, and "understood" Him by fabricating Him out of beliefs discovered in his study of different religions and religious experiences. That's more than "biblically vague." It's a false religion. So why would Celebrate Recovery or the multitudes of other Christianized 12-Steps groups try to reconcile the Word of God with Wilson's definitely erroneous and demonically inspired methodology? The deluded response is: "Because it works!" But does it?

Pragmatism is the fuel that powers "the way that seems right" and governs much of what is being lauded in the church today. Not only is this unbiblical, but too often there is nothing beyond enthusiastic testimonials to support the claim that something actually works. The reality for the 12-Steps program of A.A. and N.A. is that there is no research evidence proving that they are more effective than other treatments. Furthermore, the most extensive studies related to "addictions" conclude that most drug and alcohol abusers recover without any psychotherapeutic treatment or self-help therapies.

The many problems inherent within a Christianized 12-Steps program -- and particularly CelebrateRecovery -- are too numerous for this brief article. Yet, consider these observations: CR is highly promoted as completely biblical and not psychological, yet the key speakers for CR Summit 2005 were clinical psychologists Drs. John Townsend and Henry Cloud. Psychologist David Stoop, the editor of Life Recovery Bible (CR participants' mandatory paraphrase Bible, polluted with psychotherapy commentary), is a favorite speaker at Saddleback's CR Large Group meetings. The CR leadership manual advises, "Have Christian psychotherapists volunteer their time to help instruct and support your leaders." CR's entire program content is marbled with psychobabble such as this "solution" from its Adult Children of the Chemically Addicted group's dogmas:"The solution is to become your own loving parent . . . .You will recover the child within you, learning to accept and love yourself."5 This is biblical?! Honoring the psychologically contrived "disorder" of codependency, CR's Codependency and Christian Living group made this humanistic and biblically false statement: "Jesus taught....A love of self forms the basis for loving others."6

A.A.'s 12-Steps methodology, along with its antibiblical psychotherapeutic concepts and practices permeates Celebrate Recovery, yet no one at the Summit with whom I spoke seemed concerned. CR's small group meetings are the antithesis of the way the Bible instructs mature believers to help those young or struggling in the faith to grow. Pastors and elders can be small group leaders, but not for teaching purposes. No leader may biblically instruct or correct but may only affirm the "transparency" of the participant sharing his feelings. "Cross-talk," or comments by others, are prohibited to allow the freest expression possible. Much of this "expression" reinforces psychotherapeutic myths. The two-hour meetings usually open with the spiritually anemic Serenity Prayer and the recitation of the 12 Steps. Leaders are drawn from those who have completed one or more 12-Step groups. Some leaders work through one "addiction" in a small group while leading another group. It's not unusual for a leader to put in eight to ten hours in CR functions per week, every week. Serious Bible study and discipleship are not part of the Celebrate Recovery "biblical" emphasis.

Let no one think that presenting these critical concerns about Celebrate Recovery in any way lessens the biblical obligation (Gal 6) of the church to minister to those struggling with habitual sin. The issue is not whether we should minister, but how we should minister: man's way or God's way? Man's way, or a mixture of biblical teaching and ungodly counsel, is contrary to God's way. Man's way leads to death. Applying Scripture to man's way leads to a slower death, akin to what would result when pure water is added to a toxic drinking fountain. We desperately need to take heed to God's admonition through the Prophet Jeremiah: "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (Jer 2:13). TBC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*All TBC articles are printed with prior permission from TBC for the MWM website.

Announcement

Archives Sanhedrin, Quake, Volcano, Bird Flu, Environmental, Religious

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment