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Correspondence:
ISLAM – The Big Picture of History:
“How dreadful are the curses, which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refi nement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife or a concubine, must delay the fi nal extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities — but the infl uence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytising faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.”
Sir Winston Churchill, The River War, fi rst edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).
ISLAM – Are There Two Laws?
”As to the generality of everybody who lives in this country being required to accept the norms and the values of this country, let me state this: The notion that you can be subject to two laws is a notion I reject. It goes against the very basis of our secular society. As a wholly inadequate member of the Christian religion let me say that I don’t regard myself as being subject to two laws. I regard myself as an Australian being subject to the laws of this country. And I think suggestions that there is an exclusivity of religious belief in this country is against the values we hold. And I think it’s also very unfair and damaging to those hundreds of thousands of Muslim Australians who share my view and I’m sure the view of the millions of your viewers or hundred of thousands of your viewers that we should respect other religions and we should try and live in tolerance and harmony in this country. Now I hope you will understand where I stand in relation to views that would be different from the ones I’ve just expressed but I do have to be rather circumspect in relation to a particular person. Now as far as future changes are concerned, we are examining what, if any, changes should be made to the law. And I had a detailed briefi ng from senior people in my department about that this afternoon. And I’ll be having something more to say about it very shortly.”
The Hon John Howard, MP
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Broadcast: 04/08/2005.
TV Program Transcript – Location: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/ 2005/s1430603.htm
The General Biblical Rule:
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Apostle Paul,
Romans 13: 1, NKJV
The Only Exception – Preaching the Gospel:
Then Peter and the other apostles answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men” Apostle Peter,
Acts 5: 29, NKJV
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
No western (nominally Christian) country knowingly legislates against freedom of speech or freedom of religion.
Countries dominated by Islam often do. In Australia, UK, USA and NZ etc Muslims are allowed to build Mosques. In Saudi Arabia Christians are NOT allowed to build Churches and they are persecuted to the point of martyrdom in some cases.
Islam dominated Indonesia is increasingly legislating against religious freedom, which inevitably leads to the curtailing of freedom of speech.
Some argue that Islam is eroding by stealth the values of Western (Christian) society.
We MUST wake up before it is too late:
Visit http://www.spectator.co.uk/article_pfv. php?id=6421
Register free on line to read the Cover Story entitled
The myth of moderate Islam by Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, director of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity in Britain.
In addition there’s an excellent review of Janet Folger’s
The Criminalization of Christianity written by Bill Muehlenberg (17/08/05) at: http:// www.acl.org.au/home/browse.stw?article_ id=4851&from=SEARCH
ISLAM IN AUSTRALIA:
A new Muslim political party, called the “
Best Party of Allah in Australia” or “Best Party” in short, applied for registration in the Australian Capital Territory (“the ACT”) on the 5th of September, 2005. The founder and president of the party, Kurt Kennedy, originally from Vietnam, says he converted to Islam after reading the Qur’an. He was also a candidate for the elections to the ACT Legislative Assembly in their 2004 elections. Since then he has formed the “Best Party” and has been recruiting members in his spare time with the help of others. Their website includes the party’s constitution which makes for concerning reading. It can be viewed at: http://freedom.homemail.com.au/
DISARMAMENT: A Parable for our Time:
From time to time there is a push by the UN and others for universal disarmament. On the surface it looks a noble idea, but is it?
“Once upon a time all the animals in the zoo decided that they would disarm, and they arranged to have a conference to arrange the matter.
So, the rhinoceros said when he opened the proceedings that the use of teeth was barbarous and horrible and ought to be strictly prohibited by general consent. Horns, which were mainly defensive weapons, would, of course, have to be allowed.
The buffalo, the stag, the porcupine, and even the hedgehog all said they would vote with the rhino, but the lion and the tiger took a different view.
They defended teeth and even claws, which they described as honourable weapons of immemorial antiquity.... Then the bear spoke.
He proposed that both teeth and horns should be banned and never used again for fi ghting by any animal.
It would be quite enough if animals were allowed to give each other a good hug when they quarrelled.”
Winston Churchill, speech at Aldersbrook, 24 October 1928
BIBLE VERSIONS:
Dear Philip,
I noticed in the last issue of CETF the letter from Spencer Gear about the authenticity of the A.V. 1611 and your response to him with which I have no argument. However it needs also to be pointed out that the translators of the A.V.1611 did not incorporate the apocrypha into the text of the Old Testament and that they gave seven reasons for that, briefl y summarised as follows:
1. The language was not Hebrew in contrast to that used throughout the O.T.
2. None of the writers claimed inspiration.
3. No apocryphal books were endorsed as scripture by the Jewish church and the Lord never quoted them.
4. The church of the fi rst four centuries excluded the apocrypha from the sacred books.
5. They make outrageous statements and are self-contradicting.
6. They set forth corrupt doctrine.
7. They set forth corrupt practice.
Therefore it is quite misleading to suggest that even the original A.V.1611 was tarnished by apocryphal insertion.
However, the modern versions of the Bible are based on the corrupted Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts, which did insert the apocrypha into the Old Testament text.
This certainly draws a clear line of distinction between the convictions of the A.V.1611 translators and the editors/writers of those manuscripts and should be helpful to the student in coming to a decision about the value of the modern versions.
As the translators of the A.V.1611 said, the apocrypha was inserted merely for its historical value, howbeit with unfortunate misuse by the R.C. institution, and as you pointed out, was excluded in later editions. Yours in Christ,
Stephen Thompson
HILLSONG: Why criticise others?
The following exchange took place between May 23 and May 25, 2005.
The writer’s name has been omitted deliberately to retain privacy. The correspondence relates to CWM’s claims about HILLSONG and the HOUSTONS.
Since the dates of these letters there have been disclosures relating to shady property deals involving the Houstons in large personal fi nancial gains and failures to make annual returns for a tax-exempt company of which Brian is a director.
Details at: http://www.christian-witness.org/past_mailers/ aug05mm.html
In addition there are ominous implications in respect of Hillsong’s perceived stance on homosexuality – see below.
Monday, May 23, 2005 email 11:07pm:
Dear Philip,
Whilst I fi nd some of your information interesting, surely we are called to recognise that no-one has ever lived a perfect life except our Lord and as Jesus said: ’Let he who is without sin cast the fi rst stone’. As He forgave every sin, no matter how heinous, how can we do otherwise or risk becoming whited sepulchres, super religious individuals, whom he spurned and castigated?
My Bible tells me that pure Godly love covers a multitude of sins, not exposes them, real or otherwise.
RESPONSE: 24 May 2005 email 9:25pm:
You are right on one point and in my opinion wrong on the implications of the other three: Yes, our Lord was the ONLY one who lived a perfect life.
All others, you, me and everyone else, are sinners in a need of a Saviour.
Thank God you and I and many have found Him to be true to His Word in that He has saved us from our sins — not “in” our sins, but FROM our sins. He saved us while we were sinners but He did not leave us in our sin. In that you are right.
In my humble opinion you are wrong when you try to quote the passage about casting the fi rst stone, implicitly in respect of what I and CWM and some others try to do in bringing “the hidden things of darkness to light”.
We are ALL actually commanded to do what we at CWM do i.e. “
reprove” i.e. “
expose and
rebuke” the hidden works of darkness.
The passage about casting the fi rst stone had to do with actual stoning.
The issue was the case of a woman taken in adultery and the Pharisees challenged Christ with the situation. Only CHRIST was without sin and ONLY He on the basis of what HE said could have cast the fi rst stone — a literal stone — but HE chose to forgive and in so doing proved who HE was and who and where the Pharisees stood in respect of their accusation.
CWM and I have no intention of physically stoning anyone. It is against the law and I have never tried to do it — NOT even once.
Only God can forgive in Christ.
I am not able to forgive unless a sin has been committed against me personally. Nor am I able to withhold forgiveness unless again the sin has been committed against me.
This is an extremely bad mistake that so many make about this matter, and in my opinion you too have fallen into the trap.
The Bible teaches that GOD — and only God — COVERS sins. He does NOT “cover up” sin, in fact quite the opposite.
The only way HE covers sin is by fi rst exposing it to LIGHT thereafter requiring open confession and repentance.
That leads to what the Bible calls “propitiation” i.e. the covering of SIN.
On the day when Jesus Christ “will judge the hearts of all men” I sincerely hope, trust and BELIEVE that the action of CWM and CETF and Philip Powell in bringing things to the light will be seen in the positive light of enabling some — please God many — to face facts and seek God’s forgiveness.
You may be interested to learn that recently a person who attends Hillsong told me that it was what was on our website which actually forced the hand of Brian Houston to act in respect of the disclosure of an aspect of the immorality of his late father.
Many years ago I preached a message entitled “IT’S CLEAN-UP TIME IN THE CHURCH”. Much has happened since the Lord gave me insight in respect of that message.
It has taken some time, but I THINK we are on the verge of something that hopefully will purge the church.
After all, does not the Bible teach us that the TRUE Bride of Christ “makes herself ready” to meet her bridegroom?
You may judge my motive and disagree with my method, but I stand fi rm and know that one day I and all others who LOVE Christ will stand before HIM to “receive the deeds done in the body”.
Foremost among them in my humble opinion will be the “contending earnestly for the faith delivered unto the saints”. Hillsong and Brian Houston have perverted the Word of God and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They have turned the Church into a business corporation that relies on sales techniques to kid people into making decisions that make no difference to their life-styles.
The sense of God and of the conviction of sin have long since departed for the Holy Spirit has withdrawn.
Thank you for caring enough to write to me.
Because I care I have responded. God bless you. Sincerely yours in CHRIST who is LORD of all,
PP
HILLSONG & HOMOSEXUALITY:
On July 18, 2005 CWM reader EM, drew our attention to an article written by journalist Lincoln Wright (LW) of Australia’s Sunday Herald Sun, entitled “Church breaks US link” with byline “HILLSONG Church has been embarrassed by a link to Firepower Ministries [International] (FMI), an extreme religious group in the US” (July 17, 2005).
LW claimed that, among other things, FMI “preaches a tough stance on homosexuality” and quoted Maria Ieroianni (MI) “spokeswoman for Hillsong” as saying that she “was shocked to read the Firepower website” and that “any link with Hillsong would be revoked. *1”
EM wrote to MI asking for a clarifi cation of the implication contained in the article that “Hillsong is soft on abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, etc”. He asked, “Is this article a misrepresentation? Can you clarify the Hillsong church position on these types of issues please?”
Her reply on July 19, 2005, acknowledged that Jeff Beacham2, founder and head of FMI in USA, “was part of Sydney Christian Life Centre some years ago.” She claimed there is no formal link between FMI and Hillsong. The response avoided EM’s direct questions stating that the journalist “made assumptions about Hillsong’s view about homosexuality, same sex marriage, abortion, topics which were never discussed”.
The Melbourne daily newspaper, The Age, recently contained an article by Jason Koutsoukis entitled “Costello’s Hillsong”. Jason Koutsoukis wrote: “Hillsong’s brand of prosperous Christianity and the evangelical style of its pastor, Brian Houston, have invited suggestions that Hillsong has more than a little in common with the powerful religious right that dominates US politics. Is this fair?” (July 6, 2005 – Canberra)
According to Tim Costello (TC), a Baptist minister who was a leading critic of Brian Houston and Hillsong for their faith-prosperity message (that was before TC became head of World Vision), it’s NOT fair. “If you look at Hillsong and the Pentecostal movement here, then I would say it is more Democrat than Republican, more left than right. In contrast to the US religious right, they are very much in favour of gun control. Nor are Australian evangelical Christians as militantly anti-abortion as their US counterparts.” Mr Costello is reported to have said.
Meanwhile CWM has it on good authority that Anthony Venn-Brown (AVB), a former AoG Evangelist who wrote the book A Life of Unlearning about his homosexuality is an attendee at Hillsong’s No 2 Church at Waterloo. AVB openly canvasses for the rights (wrongs) of homosexuals.
Philip Powell (PP) and AVB exchanged correspondence from 19 July to September 16, 2004. PP offered to discuss the implications of AVB’s views from a biblical perspective in the public arena or privately at AVB’s choice. The offer was never taken up by AVB, who claims that Romans chapter 1 does not condemn homosexuality. We beg to differ.
Here’s part of PP’s email to AVB on August 16, 2004. PP wrote a follow up email on 16 September 2004 pointing out that there had been no response.
PP to AVB, Monday, August 16, 2004 email 12:44pm:
FIRSTLY YOU WROTE: “Is there a note of genuine inquiry in your email ... if so I’m happy to continue the dialogue”
MY ANSWER: It very much depends on what you mean by the question. I certainly have no inclination towards homosexuality myself, nor is there any tendency that way with anyone that I know including all my family members. I do have a concern respecting the proliferation in society and in the established church of the homosexual lifestyle, which I think is aberrant and condemned in both Testaments of the Bible. It is gaining prominence through the vocal minority and it is here that my concern lies.
As you know the government has addressed the issue in Australia in respect of the socalled “same sex” marriage. I am thankful for the stand taken by both sides of the house in our parliament.
I am also pleased to read that the recent same sex “marriages” in USA have been legislated as “illegal”. So to make my position very clear my “concern” (I’m not sure it was an “inquiry”) relates to the overall situation and in particular to your involvement in it as what appears to me to be a promoter of homosexuality within society. That you were an evangelist within an orthodox denomination and that you now take this position is of concern. I am concerned for you as well as for those whom you may infl uence.> We watch and wait with a growing concern about the perceived drift within the Australasian Assemblies of God. …
come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (
2 Corinthians 6:17).
*
COURAGE COMMENDED:
Hello Philip,
I have been reading some of your material on your website. I admire your courage to expose the state that the Pentecostal church is in. I have been a Christian for 35 years and have come to a place where I cannot attend any church in Canberra.
I have tried to suppress intuition, common sense and worst of all the inner voice of the Holy Spirit. At times I have spoken up only to be told I am a troublemaker. I won’t tell you my life story, suffi ce to say, it seems similar to yours and I understand the fl ack you must cop. I cop a bit from time to time myself.
My wife and I have moved to a small farm in the country to spend some quality time with the Lord to fi nd answers from the Bible .
We want to be able to give hope and restore faith to the victims of these church machines. It has been amazing to us how many things we have been doing in our lives that aren’t in line with how God wants them done. I refer mainly to church life. I have pastored a few churches and have had to repent of a lot of church club activities.
I would like to meet you sometime.
I am interested to hear what solutions you may have to the issues you raise.
DO – in transit
AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK:
CWM was contacted about the correspondence between Brian Pickering (BP) and PP (
refer CETF 33 pages 10 & 11) by a person who claimed that contrary to BP’s claim that “we have had no other complaints from anyone except yourself” she had in fact raised the same concern with the APN. Then on 08/09/05 CWM received another unrelated email, which led to the following: (omissions at author’s request). What is your opinion on …[church name and location withheld] … ? They are no Hillsong, but the excessive emphasis on the prophetic and third wave teaching is a bit scary. I need an independent source of advice on this, as one of my good friends is involved with the teaching at this church, and had dropped out of a medical science degree to pursue full time intercession. She gives me literature that borders on the new age. Thank you for your help, Regards – Anon.
ED: PP responded drawing attention to
CETF 33 (pages 10 & 11) Australian Prayer Network and received the following response: Thank you for your information, it has been of invaluable help to me.
I read the Australian Prayer Network literature, and it is interesting to note that Brian Pickering actually regularly attends this church. I used to go there and they have quite an extensive partnership with the Australian Prayer Network, and have interestingly enough hosted conferences in conjunction with Cindy Jacobs, C. Peter Wagner etc.
I attended Hillsong as a teenager for 5 years from 1995–2000, and have family members working in the public health system, and have observed a frightening correlation between attending this church and the onset of psychiatric problems.
I would like to write further on what I have observed, but am just waiting until I gain more life/ academic experience and theological training until this can become a reality.
Feel free to contact me, if you would like any information that would help your ministry, I would be glad to draw on my experiences to help.
STEREOSCOPE OF SCRIPTURE
CETF 32 pages 13 (PLP) & 15 (CHS)
In contrast to stereoscopic viewing, an issue (like a sculpture in the physical realm) can be viewed or considered from several angles or perspectives, all valid but in themselves incomplete representations of the whole.
Here the stereoscope is too simple an instrument to integrate or process these perspectives; it needs the brain to do that.
So to claim that “two (different) views of truth can be brought together by the stereoscope of scripture” may provide a useful illustration of Spurgeon’s intent, but it does so at the expense of the facts and reality.
This is not a practice that can be justifi ed, even if the statement is suitably qualifi ed.
The fact is, the Word of God can hardly be represented by the stereoscope, which in any case, cannot bring into relief (or meld together) two different perspectives of an object.
It is also relevant to note that God’s truth is unfathomable, in the sense that there is always more to know and understand, consistent with the ongoing sanctification process.
So if there are any ‘sides’ to a doctrine or topic, there cannot necessarily be only two.
But the fact is that Spurgeon is not looking at “two views of truth”, nor is he using Scripture to “meld them together”.
Sadly, he is simply promoting the predestination theory of Calvinism.
There is a lot more to the eternal security debate than the two sentences of John 6: 37 (p15-17).
The elementary but critical lesson for today is that we must be Bereans, not (blind) followers of men (past or present), whatever their perceived stature.
I have found no reference to applications of the stereoscope relating to “seafaring settings” (whose meaning is not explained).
Tony Tsipouras, Albany, WA
ED: All illustrations are simply that – illustrations. They shed some light but obviously require the application of the mind (brain). Your defi nition of the “stereoscope” (not included above due to space constraints) does not confl ict with that published in
CETF 32 (page 13), which was from the Concise Oxford Dictionary 9th edition (page 1366).
I fail to see a confl ict except for your bottom line conclusion viz that the two apparent contradictions cannot be held in tension.
I agree with CH Spurgeon that they can and in fact should be so held, for the very reason that you have suggested in the phrase “God’s truth is unfathomable”.
Amen to that and amen also to your appeal for us all to be Bereans, which was one of CH Spurgeon’s strongest appeals in his time.
PP
Dear Editor,
I really appreciate and value your write ups, a great deal.
Thank God for men of God like you who have made up their mind never to condone or cover up evil but to stand for the truth and nothing but the truth. I believe God appreciates this move too.
I would love to be on the mailing list of the magazine and also to join the prayer and praise support group.
I am a young writer.
MU
POLICY: We value and encourage your communications on any matter and especially on subjects raised in our publications. However due to the large amount of correspondence that we receive Philip Powell can not undertake to answer personal correspondence.
WE are receiving so many letters and emails that it is impractical to publish them all.
CWM issues a regular electronic Mailer, which among other things seeks to warn Christians about false doctrine and abusive practices within the Christian community.
Good advice resulted from our publishing the story.
You can join the CWM Mailer at http://www. christian-witness.org/join.html for future despatches.
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Monday, October 09, 2006
