|
|
|
|
Live Teaching Engagements
|
|
|
|
Contact Us
|
|
P. O. Box 100223
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15233
|
|
Shalom in Christ Jesus,
Below is a compilation of
articles concerning Rick Warren's appearance at the ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) in Washington D.C. on July 4th.
The date and location is
absolutely telling of the spiritual significance of this I believe and the
interpretation is not a pretty one.
THIS IS LIKE THAT...At that time Berodach-baladan a son of Baladan, king
of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah
had been sick. Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure
house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and the
house of his armor and all that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing
in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them. Then
Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, "What did these
men say, and from where have they come to you?" And Hezekiah said,
"They have come from a far country, from Babylon." He said,
"What have they seen in your house?" So Hezekiah answered, "They
have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasuries that I
have not shown them." Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of
the LORD. `Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all
that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon;
nothing shall be left,' says the LORD. `Some of your sons who shall issue from
you, whom you will beget, will be taken away; and they will become officials in
the palace of the king of Babylon.' " - 2 Kings 20:12-18
We have seen a marriage grow
between false Christianity, all false religions, the political realm and all of
society in the West in general, and now Rick Warren as its prophet is reaching
out to Islam, but I highly doubt Islam will take hold. This whole idea is
anathema to the true beliefs of Islam just as it is anathema to the true
beliefs of Biblical Christianity.
Brethren, my heart's
desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify
about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.
- Romans 10:1-2
But what does it say?
"THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart"--that is, the
word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus
as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will
be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and
with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. - Romans 10:8-10
How then will they call on
Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have
not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach
unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET
OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS !"
- Romans 10:14-15
Sadly, Rick Warren did not
even come close to preaching the gospel to 8000 Muslims.
We have been repeating
Christ's Words to "Come out of her, my people..." for a long time and this is
further evidence that those who do not are destined for captivity of some sort,
that is if they have so far escaped the captivity of the strong delusion which
I fear many have not.
Please understand these
alerts are done out of love for the body of Christ. Agape love commands to tell
the truth even if it hurts just as a medical procedure may be painful but
necessary for survival. There is such deception that love is "warm fuzzies"
that never tells the truth regarding lies such as Roman Catholicism. These are
lies straight from Satan.
The time gets shorter ever
day and the light is getting dimmer. Whose side will you choose? I know which
side those of you who support Moriel and ministries like us are because of the
encouraging letters I receive, but I ask that question rhetorically and for
those who you may be passing this on to as I know many do.
Again, time is short and the
deception like this recorded below will continue to grow worse, for the Word of
God tells us so.
Note: I have tried to make this comprehensive
regarding the coverage. It begins with news reports of the event, then
continues with commentary and ends with the initial reports before the event
and related reports.
May the Lord bless you and
keep you.
BE/\LERT!
Scott Brisk
|
|
|
|
Scriptures for Context
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Matthew 5:13
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Hosea 4:6a
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...
Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help
And rely on horses,
And trust in chariots because they are many
And in horsemen because they are very strong,
But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD !
Galatians 1:6-10
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
|
July 4th, 2009: Rick Warren speaks at the Islamic Society of North America ...
Watch/Listen to the Speech:
|
ISNA 2009 Rick Warren
A video of Rick Warren's speech at ISNA 2009
Posted on YouTube Here
|
| Rick Warren envisions coalition of faith
|
THE WASHINGTON TIMES [News World Communications/Moon-Unification Church] - By Julia Duin - July 5, 2009
The Rev. Rick Warren, one of America's best-known evangelical Protestant pastors, pleaded with about 8,000 Muslim listeners on Saturday night to work together to solve the world's greatest problems by cooperating in a series of interfaith projects.
"Muslims and Christians can work together for the common good without compromising my convictions or your convictions," Mr. Warren said during an evening session of the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) at the Washington Convention Center.
"I am not interested in interfaith dialogue but interfaith projects," said the pastor of the 24,000-member Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., who is widely known for his bestseller "The Purpose-Driven Life."
"Talk is cheap ... but love is something we do together," he added. "As the two largest faiths on this planet - more than 1 billion Muslims and 2 billion Christians - as Muslims and Christians, we must believe in this. As more than half the world, we must do something to model what it is to live in peace, to live in harmony."
His 25-minute speech, which was met with light applause at several intervals, included three suggestions: create a coalition to end religious stereotyping, work together to restore civility to American society and take a common stand against attacks on freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
Criticizing the media as being "clueless as to what you believe as well as what I believe," Mr. Warren called for a "coalition of people of good will to say we are not going to allow this stereotyping of anyone. It is the truth that sets us free and we're not going to allow this."
ISNA U.S. President Ingrid Mattson introduced the pastor as a "distinguished guest" whom organizers wanted to invite because of his worldwide charitable projects.
Noting that Mr. Warren gives away 90 percent of his salary, she added, "Here is someone who, in charitable giving, is very stiff competition."
The pastor, who usually dresses in informal Hawaiian shirts, arrived in a beige suit and yellow tie. He began his speech with the common Arabic greeting "Asalam alakum," or "Peace Be Upon You." Mr. Warren said he was "deeply humbled and honored by this invitation," then cracked a few jokes about his unworthiness in being there.
Although he is an evangelical pastor, Mr. Warren was sparse in his mentions of Jesus and God. Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet but not God incarnate.
"My deepest faith is in Jesus Christ," the preacher said at one point. "I am committed not only to the good news but the common good. Scripture says 'love your neighbor as yourself.' I am commanded to respect everybody."
The session, held in a cavernous hall with huge screens hanging from the ceiling, began 40 minutes late with a melodious chant from the Koran. Next were several videos, presentations, tributes, speeches and a lengthy session of fundraising.
Several speakers talked of progress among America's millions of Muslims, culminating with their being recognized by President Obama - whose father was Muslim - in his inauguration speech.
Original Report
|
|
Rick Warren calls on Muslims and Christians to work together
|
Saddleback pastor urges Islamic Society convention to form an interfaith coalition to combat prejudice.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER [Freedom Communications/Providence Equity Partners LLC.] - By Jessica Terrell - July 4, 2009
WASHINGTON - Speaking to a crowd of nearly 8,000 Muslims at the Islamic Society of North America's annual convention in Washington D.C., Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren called on Muslims and Christians to form an interfaith coalition to combat prejudice and stereotypes.
While Fourth of July revelers staked out seats to watch fireworks at the nearby Capitol Building, Warren addressed convention-goers - some of them from Orange County Muslim student associations - about the need for mutual respect.
"Tolerance is not enough," Warren said. "People don't want to be tolerated, they want to be respected, they want to be listened to. They want to be valued."
Armed with four ideas for action, Warren called on Muslims and Christians to work together to create respect, restore civility to civilization, promote peace and tackle major world problems.
"I am not interested in interfaith dialogue, I am interested in interfaith projects," Warren said. "Talk is very cheap."
The evangelical minister and bestselling author has played an increasingly prominent role in public forums. Saddleback, which Warren founded in 1980, has five campuses in Orange County and is one of the largest churches in the country.
In 2008, he hosted a presidential candidate forum with Sen. John McCain and then-Sen. Barack Obama. His Lake Forest church also hosted then-Sen. Hillary Clinton in 2008.
Warren acknowledged that he was likely to receive criticism for addressing the Islamic convention. He declined to give any interviews about his appearance at the convention, according to a spokesperson. But in a blog last week the pastor addressed criticism he receives for speaking at non-Christian events.
"Every time I speak to any non-Christian group, I get criticized by well-meaning believers who don't really understand how much Jesus loves lost people," Warren wrote in the blog. "They are more concerned with their own perceived purity than the salvation of those Jesus died for."
[Ed. Note: Yes Rick, that is why we are suppose to preach the gospel to them]
Warren also listed his speaking engagement at the convention, in case people wanted to pray for the event.
Organizers of the convention were likely to get criticism for inviting him to speak as well, Warren said.
A popular minister whose churches minister to an estimated 20,000 people every week, Warren is not new to criticism. He supported the passage of Proposition 8 in the November election and gay rights protesters demonstrated outside his church after the gay marriage ban passed.
It was Warren's support of Proposition 8 that fueled much of the controversy over his invitation to participate in the inauguration. Many gay rights activists were vocal in their opposition to then-President-elect Obama's choice.
However Warren was praised for steering clear of controversy on inauguration day and delivering what was deemed a conciliatory and inclusive prayer.
"You can disagree with someone without hating them, without being afraid of them," Warren said.
Some are taking Warren's participation Saturday as a sign of Islam becoming more accepted in America, according to a recent article on the event by the Associated Press.
ISNA President Ingrid Mattson discussed the diversity of Islam, and Muslims' changing place in American society.
Many Muslims were relieved to be recognized in President Obama's inaugural address as being an important part of the fabric of American diversity, she said.
Mattson said she admired Warren's dedication to his community. Warren emphasized that governments cannot solve all the worlds problems, and emphasized the success of his interfaith work improving healthcare in Africa.
"I think what he said was fantastic," said Shiran Elkoshairi of the Adams Center Mosque in Virginia. "Historically, that (interfaith co-operation) was the way things got done, but we have forgotten that over time."
Elkoshairi said he especially liked how Warren said that love is a verb, an action rather than an emotion.
"I am commanded to love and I am commanded to respect everybody," Warren said.
Original Report
|
Megachurch pastor Rick Warren addresses US Muslims
|
ASSOCIATED PRESS - By Sarah Karush - July 4, 2009
WASHINGTON - Defying some of his fellow conservative Christian critics, one of the most prominent religious leaders in the country told several thousand American Muslims on Saturday that "the two largest faiths on the planet" must work together to combat stereotypes and solve global problems.
"Some problems are so big you have to team tackle them," evangelical megachurch pastor Rick Warren addressed the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America.
Warren said Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end what he calls "the five global giants" of war, poverty, corruption, disease and illiteracy.
Warren, founder of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County, Calif., is the author of "The Purpose Driven Life," which has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. His willingness to show support for U.S. Muslims is a huge gain for the community, which has endured intense scrutiny since 9/11.
A Southern Baptist, Warren has a record of upsetting fellow Christian conservatives by calling old-guard evangelical activists too partisan and narrowly focused. Ahead of his speech Saturday, bloggers who follow Warren had already denounced his appearance at the convention as cozying up to extremists.
Warren acknowledged the controversy during his 20-minute speech.
"It's easier to be an extremist of any kind because then you only have one group of people mad at you," he said. "But if you actually try to build relationships - like invite an evangelical pastor to your gathering - you'll get criticized for it. So will I."
In his speech, Warren also urged Muslims and Christians to speak out against stereotyping of any group and to respect each other even while disagreeing. Addressing Muslims who "have been in America for many generations now," he urged them to help "the newcomers learn what it means to be American."
Based in Plainfield, Ind., ISNA is an umbrella organization for Muslim groups across the country. The annual convention, now in its 46th year, regularly draws more than 30,000 people for lectures, prayer and socializing. ...
AP Religion Writer Rachel Zoll contributed to this report.
Read Full Report
|
|
Rick Warren asks Muslims for help
|
Southern BAPTIST PRESS - By Erin Roach - July 14, 2009
WASHINGTON -- In a controversial address to the nation's largest Muslim organization, Rick Warren asked for their cooperation in addressing some of the world's problems that governments haven't been able to solve.
Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., told about 8,000 Muslims at the Islamic Society of North America's annual convention in Washington July 4 that he was "deeply humbled" and applauded their courage for inviting an evangelical pastor. ...
Before and after Warren spoke at the Muslim convention, observers voiced views supporting and criticizing his decision. The Associated Press said that, given Warren's standing as "one of the most prominent religious leaders in the country," his willingness to speak was "a sign of growing acceptance of U.S. Muslims."
AP also noted that it was not the first time Warren had addressed an American Muslim group. Last December he spoke at a meeting of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, a policy organization based in Los Angeles.
"But the Islamic Society gathering is by far his most dramatic display of friendship with U.S. Muslims," AP said.
Mike Edens, a professor of theology and Islamic studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, told Baptist Press Warren was acting in line with a document he had signed previously advocating Muslim-Christian interaction.
The full-page letter endorsed by Warren and nearly 300 other Christian leaders appeared in The New York Times in December 2007. It was drafted by scholars at Yale Divinity School's Center for Faith and Culture and said conversation should take place between Christians and Muslims centered on the "common ground" the two religions share. ...
Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum, a think tank focusing on issues in the Middle East, questioned Warren's choice to speak to the Islamic Society of North America in particular.
"The constructive substance of Warren's talk -- the calls to dignity, civility, freedom and to constructive action -- was severely outbalanced by his addressing these words to an Islamist organization that shares few of his goals -- that is in fact antagonistic to them," Pipes told BP.
"ISNA works to apply the Shari'a, or Islamic law, a medieval code that denies dignity, civility and freedom to non-Muslims. Worse, the Department of Justice in 2007 named ISNA as an unindicted co-conspirator in the crime of financing a foreign terrorist group," Pipes said. "Warren should atone for this mistake by apologizing and finding moderate Muslims to endorse and work with."
In a July 10 blog entry at danielpipes.org [See Below], Pipes quoted a report by the Investigative Project on Terrorism which said the conference also "featured speakers spewing raw anti-Semitism, homophobic rhetoric and defense of the terrorist group Hezbollah."
Edens, in his comments to Baptist Press, said, "While it is clear that ISNA has been a channel for funds to Hamas, the fact remains that the members of the ISNA are our American neighbors in need of a Christian witness. Secondly, although those members have always had a choice between involvement with groups like Hamas and groups which seek the common good, with Pastor Warren's address that choice becomes stark. As Muslim Americans disavow Hamas and choose to embrace the common good, freedom and peace will advance. Giving Muslims a choice to join in such a pursuit benefits all humanity."
Read Full Report
|
Rick Warren Stresses Need for Christians to Build Bridges
|
THE CHRISTIAN POST - By Eric Young - July 6, 2009
In the days leading up to the 46th annual Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention, evangelical megachurch pastor Rick Warren opted not to speak with the media regarding his guest appearance.
But to his congregation at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, the "Purpose Driven" preacher made it clear that his goal behind every speaking engagement is always the same - for the "global glory of God."
"I invest my time speaking to groups of unbelievers that most pastors never get the opportunity to share with," Warren wrote in a recent update to the Saddleback family.
"Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners,'" Warren added, citing Luke 5:31. "If you want to have a Christ-like ministry, you have to associate with the people Jesus did - unbelievers!"
Though highly popular for his bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life, and for his influential and wide-reaching ministry, Warren has received a lot of flak in recent years for his association with pro-choice president Barack Obama, his support behind a major initiative to combat global warming in 2005, and for speaking engagements such as the ISNA convention this past weekend.
"Every time I speak to any non-Christian group, I get criticized by well-meaning believers who don't really understand how much Jesus loves lost people. They are more concerned with their own perceived purity than the salvation of those Jesus died for," Warren stated in the letter, which had no specific mention of ISNA but was sent out one week ahead of its convention's kick off.
Critics of Warren's latest appearance include Zionist Jan Markell, founder of Olive Tree Ministries, and fundamentalist Steve McConkey, president of 4 WINDS.
According to McConkey, Warren's "silence on the exclusive claims of Christ" this past Saturday "led his Muslim audience into believing that works will save a person."
"Rick Warren envisions coalition of faith," McConkey wrote on his website following Warren's appearance Saturday evening. "Where in the Bible does it say we are to combine with false religions to do good works? In James 2:14-26, faith in Christ is first and works second. In Warren's theology, works are first and faith is second because as he does his works, he is not telling people that Christ is the only way!"
Markell similarly criticized Warren, expecting the megachurch pastor not to share the gospel during his appearance.
"Why go to a Muslim outfit and not share your faith and not tell them the truth," she posed to OneNewsNow ahead of Warren's appearance.
She also pointed to ISNA's alleged ties to terror and said she does not understand why Warren's denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, or own congregation has not expressed any concerns about his dealings with the questionable Islamic organization. ...
Read Full Report
|
OP-ED: Celebrating July 4th with Rick Warren and 45,000 Muslims
|
HUFFINGTON POST - By Ibn Khaldun, Chair Research Fellow at American University - July 7, 2009
This 4th of July I celebrated America's Independence with Pastor Rick Warren, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), and 45,000 Muslims. We were together in Washington, D.C. as a part of the Islamic Society of North America's (ISNA) annual convention. The Washington Convention Center came alive with halal food stands, people praying on the carpets, and entire families in their colorful regional Islamic dress--all a stone's throw away from the 4th of July fireworks spectacular going on at the National Mall.
The convention's theme "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" was a call for pluralism and bridge-building between different faith communities in the US, symbolized by ISNA's selection of perhaps America's top Christian leader as the keynote speaker. In his speech in a cavernous hall Warren appealed for Muslims and Christians to work together to solve common problems which he said was possible without "compromising my convictions or your convictions."
Warren's presence wasn't the only thing contributing to the evangelical-like atmosphere of the assembly hall. The sound system, giant video screens, and slick mass production values recalled America's Protestant mega-Churches. Warren's presence created a lot of interest but the real buzz among the convention crowd was reserved for superstar converts to Islam like Sheikh Hamza Yusuf--perhaps Warren's equivalent in the American Muslim community--and Yusuf Islam.
I was at ISNA for the premiere of a film I made with Ambassador Akbar Ahmed of American University and a team of young Americans called Journey into America. The film depicts a nine month journey we took to over seventy five cities and one hundred mosques to study how Muslims were fitting into American society and to promote better understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. Our film was featured as the special event at the Islamic Film Festival.
As I walked around with Ambassador Ahmed many people embraced and greeted him with the traditional Arabic greeting salamalekum, which means "peace be upon you." This warmth was immediately extended to me when they saw us together. Even when I was alone and people asked who I was all I had to say was that I was with Ambassador Ahmed and doors would open. I felt very privileged as a young American to have access to a community that so many of my countrymen know so little about. That is why Ambassador Ahmed called our team the "best Ambassadors for America to the Muslim world" when he introduced the film.
Our film's world premiere went very well. The theater was packed to capacity and we had to turn over 400 people away at the door. I had been tense for the last few weeks worrying how the audience would respond to the film, but everyone was enthusiastic, laughing and expressing shock at all the right parts. It was great to have some of the stars of the film that we had interviewed across the country and well as our team's parents and friends lending their support.
On the panel afterward were ISNA's president Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Imam Mohamed Magid of the Northern Virginia ADAMS center, Rabbi Bruce Lustig of the Washington Hebrew Congregation, Al Jazeera's Riz Khan, and Ambassador Ahmed.
All the panelists praised the film as an important step to improving relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in the US. Riz Khan had already interviewed the entire team on Al Jazeera and was so enthusiastic he said he wished to show it as a three part series on his network. Both Dr. Matteson and Rabbi Lustig complimented the producer on the originality of the concept and the technique and invited the film to be shown under the auspices of their respective organizations. They said it should be compulsory viewing for every American wishing to understand Muslims, and vice versa. Imam Magid praised one scene in the film in particular where we visit a statue of Thomas Jefferson at the University of Virginia containing a tablet which reads "Religious Freedom, 1786 - God, Jehovah, Brahma, Atma, Ra, Allah." The fact that Jefferson had included "Allah" surprised the imam and reinforced the convention's theme of American pluralism and interfaith dialogue.
Yet despite the inclusive theme, our movie event was the only place where I saw non-Muslims. I had even accompanied Ambassador Ahmed to the highest gathering of the VIP delegates and there was not a single non-Muslim there apart for me and members of our team. I am unsure if this was due to ISNA's failure to make a serious attempt to bring mainstream America to their 4th of July convention or of Americans' disinterest or hostility to Islam. Despite Warren's star power, for example, there was not one mainstream American media outlet at the opening press conference. This meant that both Muslims and non-Muslims missed a golden opportunity to talk and interact with each other in the nation's capital.
The goal of our film and the work we've been doing at American University is to improve dialogue and communication between ethnic and religious groups in the US, which is what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they created this country 233 years ago. Witnessing the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims even at a major Washington, D.C. convention dedicated to pluralism means we still have much work to do.
Original Report
|
Rick Warren: A Voice for the Regenerate Church or the Degenerate Church?
|
MORIEL MINISTRIES - By James
Jacob Prasch - July 6, 2009
Rick Warren, whose efforts
to turn Evangelical Christianity into a psychologized religion based on
marketing with his Purpose Driven agenda stunned many who claim to be
regenerated, Bible-believing Christians when he appeared on Larry King Live
globally, offering an apology to the homosexual and lesbian community for his
"apparent" opposition to California's Proposition 8. (This proposition outlawed
legal recognition of same -sex marriage.) He offered this apology in spite of
the fact he first created the unambiguous impression he opposed it. Warren's
hypocrisy or Christ-less treachery appears to know no limits. Yesterday's theological
liberal is today's alleged "Evangelical".
From his butchering of
Scripture out of context, to his reliance on Eugene Peterson's The Message -
which to any biblical Evangelical schooled in New Testament Greek can only be
described as an utter bastardization of Holy Writ - Warren has set new limits
for spiritual seduction.
On the basis of Scripture,
Warren's translocational hermeneutics, in which he literally "cuts-and-pastes"
verses from one book or passage into another to completely change the original
meaning, demonstrates categorically that Rick Warren is clearly of the devil -
an agent of hell dispatched by Satan to destroy what con-artist televangelists
and ecumenists have not already destroyed of biblical Christianity.
Warren's perversion of the
Gospel by which he replaces the biblical centrality of repentance with a
consumer-friendly instruction not to preach repentance would have, at one time,
left any biblically-grounded Christian, and certainly pastors, warning others
against this deceiver, but not so today.
His exhortation to avoid End
Times prophecy, directly contradicting the opposite exhortation of Jesus
(achieved by deleting Acts 1: 6 and replacing it with a cut-and-pasted
insertion of Matthew 24:3) means that he places his instructions above those of
God. This is indeed the spirit of antichrist. Like the Lucifer by whom he is
employed and takes his orders, Warren likewise in the character of Satan in
Matthew 4 perverts texts out of context in isolation from co-text to create a
distorted pretext. This is the devil, and this is Rick Warren.
Warren joined with Brian
McLaren (who demands a moratorium on debating the morality of homosexuality and
lesbianism until the church decides if it is right or wrong) in forwarding Dan
Kimball's book The Emerging Church, a post-modern metaphysical philosophy of
mysticism drawing on early medieval monastic spirituality with everything from
icons to labyrinths to the "lectio divina", indeed, a return to the Dark Ages
with no objective biblical compass to determine direction. McLaren is, by
theological definition, a Gnostic who says the parables of Jesus should rather
be interpreted on the basis of "our imagination". It is Warren's Purpose Driven
lie that is the door into McLaren's emergence. What is astounding, however, is
that these sons of Lucifer are portrayed as "Evangelicals" even though they
cannot justly claim any subscription to an exegetically biblical Evangelicism.
What is more perverse than
this, however, is that even after Warren's apologetic backtrack to the
homosexual and lesbian community who demand legal recognition of what is
biblically an unholy matrimony, Warren is now claiming he is not against such
same-sex marriages. And the backlash from Christians has remained muted.
Christian bookshops continue to sell his Purpose Driven lie.
Warren spoke at a synagogue
but made no proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah as St. Paul and Jesus did when
they were invited to synagogues, and as others such as David Hocking have done
today. Instead, he lectured on his Purpose Driven programmatic approach as the
means to grow synagogues as well as churches. One would ask why anybody would
want to help a false Judaism rejecting its own messiah to put more Jews on the
path to hell? Yet, Warren extends his agenda to other religions as well. Now,
and most notably, this includes Islam.
Truly born again, Arab
believers normally address Jesus as "Yesua Hamesa", but after praying in the
name of "Issa", (the Islamic name for Jesus who is not the Jesus of the Gospels
because Issa is not God's Son) at Obama's inauguration, Warren has gone even
further. He has now addressed an Islamic convention organized by Islamic
organizations funded by oil money from Saudi Arabia, which executes people for
becoming Christians. Like Obama, Rick Warren offered not a single word about
human rights abuses, the persecution of Christians throughout the Islamic
world, or the rife hatred of Jews even taught to children in Muslim schools and
madrasses. Persecuted Christians are not on Obama's agenda, and neither are
they on Rick Warren's. Neither, of course, did Warren in any sense present the
Gospel to these lost souls.
It is obvious that we have
wicked men like George W. Bush and Barack Hussein Obama in the White House
because we have wicked men like Rick Warren in the pulpit. Backslidden nations
get the leaders they deserve. As do backslidden churches.
Muslims, unbelieving Jews,
and homosexuals and lesbians are not the cardinal problem. These are unsaved
people doomed to a Christ-less eternity unless the true church by God's grace
and with God's help can reach them with the Gospel. However, what is left of
the true church?
For too long it has been
sandwiched between one lunatic fringe of ultra-Pentecostals and
hyper-Charismatics not knowing the difference between charismata and
charismania on one extreme, and another lunatic fringe of hyper-Calvinistic
kooks and Cessationists not knowing the difference between reconstructionism
and the true Kingdom of God on the opposite pole of the ecclesiastical
spectrum. Now the center is being satanically subverted.
If Jesus were not coming, I
would become very despondent. But Praise God He is coming! Now as the faithful
remnant strengthens the things that remain, the question becomes what our
strategy should consist of in the meanwhile. The Lord will indeed show us if we
ask Him and He has, in a greater sense, already showed us doctrinally in broad
terms in His Word.
How can the Body of Christ
not remove this demonic and highly metastatic cancer from itself but instead
watch not only the lost perish but also the church progressively rot to death
with this auto-tolerated malignancy? That demonic cancer is indeed the agenda
of Rick Warren and Company.
J. Jacob Prasch
Moriel
Ministries
Original Post
|
|
An Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren
|
OLIVE TREE MINISTRIES > Understanding The Times Weekly eUpdate - By Jan Markell - July 6, 2009
On July 5 the Washington Times online reported that Pastor Rick Warren told his Islamic audience, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA,) that he envisions "a coalition of faith." Whether Pastor Warren knows this or not, this is just another term for the coming one-world religion outlined in Revelation 13. It is further outlined in Revelation 17. I have not taken on the issue of Rick Warren all that often, but after reading what the Washington Times has to say about his message to a group of spiritually lost Muslims, I feel I must address this in an open letter to who many say is the most influential pastor in America and some would say the world.
Pastor Warren, you pleaded with 8,000 Muslim listeners on Saturday, July 4, to work together to solve the world's greatest problems by cooperating in a series of interfaith projects. You said, "Muslims and Christians can work together for the common good without compromising my convictions or your convictions."
Pastor Warren, you needed to compromise the convictions of the Muslims in attendance. To just say that "My deepest faith is in Jesus Christ" was not enough to a thoroughly lost crowd. The hour is too late to withhold a gospel message without which they will face a Christless eternity, and you will be held accountable. The "world's greatest problems" will always be with us and the Bible says so in Matthew 26:11. Sin is at the root of them. I have to conclude you are more interested in ecumenical unity and solving AIDS, poverty, and other social issues. Last Saturday you were given a golden opportunity that 99.9% of American Christians could never get.
You said you were not interested in interfaith dialogue, but you seize every opportunity to talk to all religions and you always leave out the gospel. You even address Jewish groups but you tell them how to grow a mega-synagogue like your own church, Saddleback. In this "can't we all get along?" generation, you usually leave out the only good news left: There is salvation in Christ and Christ alone (Acts 4:12), and the hour is late, so make a conscious decision to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You told ISNA, "Talk is cheap but love is something we do together. We must do something to model what it is to live in peace, to live in harmony." Pastor Warren, you know your Bible better than that, don't you? The Bible says there will never be peace and harmony in this world until the Messiah rules from His theocratic kingdom. The U.N. spews the same kind of pagan "peace concepts." Aren't you above that? You would likely never suggest your Muslim audience pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm122:6), yet you push for foolish and hopeless ecumenical peace!
In your speech you included three suggestions: 1) Create a coalition to end religious stereotyping; 2) Work together to restore civility to American society; 3) Take a common stand against attacks on freedom of religion and freedom of speech. There is civility in American society so why are you even suggesting there might not be? But you won't find much of it in Islamic society. Go see the film, The Stoning of Soraya M, the true story of what happens to a lot of innocent Muslim women. It's a lot more gross and bloody than any horror flick and this is reality, not fiction. The Muslims you addressed know all about this procedure. ISNA wants Sharia Law everywhere on earth! You missed a golden opportunity to challenge them to stand up to Islamic governments that perpetrate such atrocities.
Pastor Warren, you then went on to say the media was clueless as to what Christians and Muslims believe. They know very well what both faiths believe. They believe Christians are the new Taliban, and they press for hate crime legislation that will protect Muslims. You then said, "It's the truth that sets us free." Why did you take John 8:32 out of context? You twisted the very words of Jesus when you should have been proclaiming the words of Jesus.
The ISNA stated how impressed they were with your charitable work. What charitable work have they done? As terror expert Steve Emerson says, "ISNA has has been an umbrella and a promoter of groups that have been involved in terrorism." Here again you could have challenged them, but then you would not be invited back had you done so.
Joseph Farah says, "Suffice it to say the ISNA is no friend of Christianity or America." Yet in 2007, Rick Warren was one of many "evangelical leaders" who signed a document begging forgiveness from Muslims for all the evil deeds perpetrated against them by Christians. What evil deeds have true Christians committed against Muslims? Now, Pastor Warren, you've gone beyond pandering and are sounding like a fool along with all others who signed that document.
Even the secular Washington Times noted, "Mr. Warren was sparse in his mentions of Jesus and God." But since works and good deeds were stressed, this reinforced the belief of ISNA members that works will help them get to Heaven.
Pastor Warren, you stated you were committed to "the common good" and that you are commanded to "respect everybody." You don't want to deal with the verse that says we are to preach to gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15). It seems to me that you are more interested in marching hand-in-hand with other faiths down the winding road to the coming one-world religion.
There is literally a mini-revival going on with Muslims turning to faith in Jesus, particularly out of the U.S. It would have been nice, Pastor Warren, if you would have thought of that and tapped into it. We don't expect you to give altar calls at such meetings as this one. We do expect you to lift high the Name of the Prince of Peace who is coming again and who offers eternal life to all who ask, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30, Acts 16:31). Many just wanted some variation of that quoted among your many ecumenical statements and how to solve the world's problems -- impossible without God's help.
To better understand this, order Caryl Matrisciana's brand-new film, Islam Rising, pictured and described on the left sidebar. Also visit my Web site category of "Islam & the Arabs." ...
Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell
Read Full Report
|
|
A Letter to Rick Warren on Your Statements on
Islam
|
By Paul McGuire - July 7, 2009
Rick Warren was a regular
listener to my nationally syndicated radio show, which broadcasted from
Southern California for over 10 years. The words I write are my own and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of the company which syndicated the show I
hosted. As a listener, Rick Warren called in to the show live and we have
talked on the air. In addition, I had his wife on the program and some of
Saddleback Church's pastors. However, in the spirit of Christian love, I would
like to challenge some of the things Rick has said at the Islamic Society of
North America.
First, I know personally
people who have accepted Christ through Rick Warren's ministry and books. But,
in love as a brother in Christ, I must challenge some of Rick's statements. The
reason I am doing this in public is because his statements have been made in
public.
I have no problem with Rick
Warren's desire to reach out to the Muslim world with the message of Jesus
Christ. However, respectfully I do have a problem with the methodology and what
I perceive is the lack of a solid Biblical basis for his actions. At anytime I
would be glad to talk to him about it privately or in the media. Secondly, I
see an extremely dangerous theological error in the foundation of his approach.
From the Old Testament to Revelation, the Lord God is the "King of Israel." God
made an everlasting covenant to the physical descendants of Abraham to give
them the physical land of Israel. It is true God blessed the descendants of
Ishmael, but not with the physical land. Also, the Church has not replaced
Israel. As far as I know Rick Warren's church and other "Seeker Friendly"
churches do not spend much time teaching on the Book of Revelation. In a spirit
of humility and love, I would like to offer my services to teach Bible prophecy
at Saddleback in a way that is Biblical but non-confrontational. I think Rick
would agree that you cannot understand the Bible without understanding
Revelation and the fact that Jesus Christ returns to Jerusalem in fulfillment
of the Abrahamic Covenant, I do not believe that Christians can have any
serious discussions with Islam as long as they continue to make public
statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the complete destruction of
Jews and Israel. To ignore those statements, is like Chamberlain ignoring
Adolph Hitler's statements before he killed 620million Jews.
At the convention, Warren
said," Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end what he calls
"the five global giants" of war, poverty, corruption, disease, and illiteracy."
Superficially, Warren's statements sound Christian. But, militant Islam is the
primary force in the world today causing war, poverty and disease. Christians
and Jews by the millions are being slaughtered around the globe by militant
Islam and al Qaeda threatened to nuke the U.S. To date, I have heard know
unified public apology from Islamic leaders for 911 and the mass genocide.
Iran, the Palestinians, al Qaeda want to divide Israel for the purpose of
"wiping Israel off the map." PLO leaders like Yasser Arafat and many others
like the President of Iran have gone on record with these statements. Militant
Islamists in Pakistan, Iran and other nations are actively acquiring nuclear
weapons for the purpose of jihad.
Warren who is a gifted
communicator said, "it's easier to be an extremist of any kind because then you
only have one group of people mad at you," he said. "But if you actually try to
build relationships - like invite an evangelical pastor to your gathering -
you'll get criticized for it. So will me." I take issue with Warren's
manipulation of those worlds. Is Jesus Christ an extremist because He said, "I
AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH HIM?"
Building in relations is
noble, but not when they are relations built on compromise. A man can build a
relationship with a prostitute, is that noble? Chamberlain built relationships
with Hitler because he ignored the evil that Hitler was doing.
In his speech, Warren also
urged Muslims and Christians to speak out against stereotyping of any group and
to respect each other even while disagreeing. Addressing Muslims who "have been
in America for many generations now," he urged them to help "the newcomers
learn what it means to be American." I agree with Warren, I do not believe we
should stereotype Muslims. For example, I know many American-Iranian Muslims
who are not fanatics and make a real contribution to our nation.
Rick, as someone who has
called my radio show and as someone whom I have met and heard preach a
Gospel-centered message, I desire to build a bridge with you and reach out to
you as a brother in Christ. I am not saying this to be self-righteous, but I
pray for you because you have been given enormous responsibility. I am
available to talk publicly or privately as brothers in Christ.
I will close by mentioning
several concerns: I do not know to what extent you endorse the leaders of the
Emerging Church. But, a number of Emerging Church leaders have made public
statements that are not in a grey area. They are statements of Apostasy and
since they have not taken back their statement, I can only assume they are the
apostates the Apostle Paul warned us of. I cannot deal with this Apostasy with
a weak hand. In my conscience before the Lord, I must confront it for what is
and that is Apostasy.
One final concern, I have
heard Rick Warren that your are either a member of the Council on Foreign
Relations or work closely with them? The Council on Foreign Relations
masquerades as merely a "think tank." However, under the direction of
Rockefeller their goal is a one world socialist government, world currency and
the establishment of a New Age Religion. I can document that for you in my book
"The Day The Dollar Died" and spend as many hours as you like providing
exhaustive documentation of their goals which are in direct opposition to God's
World. Malthusian population control, indoctrination of youth into humanism
beginning with Julian Huxley, the founder of UNESCO. The CFR established the
U.N. for the purpose of a one world government.
Rick, I hope you receive
this letter to in a spirit of true Christian love. Again, should you chose, I
am available to meet with you. I thank God for the many good things you have
done. But, as your brother in the Lord, I must speak t o you the truth in love.
Paul McGuire is the author
of 16 books and a conference speaker. Paul can be reached at
www.paulmcguire.com
Posted on Moriel Website
|
"ISNA Rejects All Expressions of Racism and Bigotry"
|
By Daniel Pipes - July 10, 2009
That's the title of press release, datelined Plainfield, Indiana, issued by Louay Safi, executive director of the ISNA Leadership Development Center. On behalf of the Islamic Society of North America, he "rejects all expressions intended to demean any community of faith," specifically "a pejorative statement in reference to the Jewish community during his presentation" at the ISNA national convention a few days earlier. He goes on:
We would like to set the record straight and state our complete rejection of all prejudicial views and bigoted stances toward the Jewish community and any other community of faith. ... ISNA is committed to working with its partners in the Christian and Jewish communities to promote peace and understanding, and will take the necessary precautions to ensure that its convention and conferences are not used as a platform to attack its faith partners and undermine social peace.
Safi is coy about specifics, but here they are: the Investigative Project on Terrorism published a report yesterday, "'Mainstream' Islamist Convention Features Hate Speech and Hezbollah Defense" in which it broke the news that the conference "featured speakers spewing raw anti-Semitism, homophobic rhetoric and defense of the terrorist group Hezbollah." It then provides details on several speakers but zeroes in on Warith Deen Umar, the former head of the New York state prison chaplain program who lost his job after the Wall Street Journal exposed his pro-bin Ladin views in front-page story in February 2003. Umar appeared at ISNA to promote a new book, Jews for Salaam: The Straight Path to Global Peace, in the context of a "Meet The Author" program. In the course of it, he
attacked "unholy Jews" such as Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, two of President Obama's top aides, by name as [Israelis and] part of a conspiracy "to control the world." He then claimed that in the Holocaust-the systematic Nazi murder of 6 million Jews-Jews were "punished for a reason because they were serially disobedient to Allah." He praised the notorious anti-Semitic forgery, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and claimed "the Protocols actually explain and reveal what others observe about the real activities and results of Jewish diplomatic, industrial, business, and political involvement among the peoples of the world..."
IPT also notes the ISNA rules:
Before the convention started, ISNA posted a statement for vendors which said "Any literature (fundraising or otherwise) is restricted to the assigned booth and must be pre-approved in writing by ISNA, in ISNA's sole and absolute discretion. Book selling vendors must complete enclosed form providing inventory of the literature to be sold at ISNA."
Original Report
|
Rick Warren does it, again
|
Exclusive: Joseph Farah skewers pastor for cozying up to Islamist front group
WORLDNETDAILY - By Joseph Farah - July 3, 2009
While millions of other Americans will be celebrating Independence Day weekend, Rick Warren, often called "America's Pastor," will be serving as the keynote speaker for a Saudi-backed Muslim group that promotes a radical strain of Wahhabi Islam in about 80 percent of U.S. mosques.
I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of Rick Warren's bad judgments.
This time Warren will be schmoozing with the Islamic Society of North America, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood - just as are al-Qaida, Hamas and most other Muslim terrorist organizations.
ISNA puts on a fa�ade of moderation, yet, according to terrorism expert Steven Emerson, it "convenes annual conferences where Islamist militants have been given a platform to incite violence and promote hatred."
After Hamas leader Mousa Marzook was arrested in 1997, ISNA raised money for his defense. He was eventually deported.
ISNA condemned the U.S. government's seizure of the financial assets of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad after Sept. 11.
"I think ISNA has been an umbrella, also a promoter of groups that have been involved in terrorism," explains Emerson. "I am not going to accuse the ISNA of being directly involved in terrorism. I will say ISNA has sponsored extremists, racists, people who call for jihadagainst the United States."
I could go on with many more details about ISNA. Suffice it to say it is no friend of Christianity and no friend of America.
So what is Rick Warren doing speaking at the group's national conference?
I don't know what Warren's agenda is. He would probably say he doesn't have one. But I can tell you the effect of his appearance - it is designed to disinfect and rehabilitate a group that is dangerous and subversive to U.S. national security.
But it should surprise no one, at this point, that Rick Warren will be there. One of the first times I ever wrote about Rick Warren was in 2006 when he took an equally misguided trip to Syria to meet with dictator Bashar Assad and praise him for his pleasant treatment of Christians. Syria was then and remains today one of the world's leading state sponsors of Islamic terrorism. Almost every terrorist group in the world maintains offices there. Nevertheless, Rick Warren said, while in Syria, that the country "does not allow extremism of any kind."
Less than a week after Warren's absurd proclamations in Syria, a Christian leader in Lebanon, former President Pierre Gemayel, was assassinated in the streets of Beirut. Everyone in Lebanon knows who killed him - the Syrian government.
As I wrote at the time, "it is imperative that Christians - and especially Christian leaders - have discernment about evil in our world. And true, unadulterated evil is what you have running Syria today. The government led by Bashar Assad, who met with Rick Warren last week, is anti-American, anti-freedom, anti-Christian, anti-Jewish and pro-terrorist.
"Rick Warren should know this. Yet, he has placed himself in a position of apologizing and excusing the government in Damascus, one of the most evil on the face of the earth.
"It is not an exaggeration to say that government got cover last week as a result of Warren's shameful public relations on its behalf. I won't go so far to say there was a direct cause-and-effect relationship between Warren's embrace of Assad and the assassination of Gemayel yesterday, but it is both a coincidence of striking proportions as well as an illustration of the true character of Damascus' totalitarian police-state regime."
In 2007, Rick Warren was one of 100 or so "evangelical leaders" who signed a document begging forgiveness from Muslims for all the evil deeds perpetrated against them by Christians.
Rick Warren loves to apologize for things he didn't do, for things other people did that weren't wrong, even for things that occurred hundreds of years before he was born - such as apologizing to Muslims worldwide for atrocities committed against their ancestors during the Crusades.
In 2007, he also apologized for American "excesses in the war on terrorism."
And he has apologized for the church because it hasn't done enough about the spread of AIDS and problems like global warming.
Yet, I must observe that despite his predilection for apologies, he has a great deal of trouble owning up to his own personal mistakes.
Once again, just like his trip to Syria, serving as the keynote speaker to the Islamic Society of North America is a very, very bad personal mistake - one that demonstrates a complete lack of spiritual discernment.
Original Report
|
I agree with Rick Warren!
|
WORLDNETDAILY - By Joseph Farah - July 13, 2009
Rick Warren told the Islamic Society of North America last week that he is not interested in interfaith dialogue; he's only interested in interfaith projects.
I agree with Rick Warren.
So let's get started. I have a project to suggest. It's very simple. It's very straightforward. I think it's a great starting point for Christian-Muslim action.
Let's get Muslims to stop killing and oppressing Christians and Jews around the world.
That would be the speech I would deliver to a group such as the Islamic Society of North America, a front group for the extremist Muslim Brotherhood, which has incubated and supported terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida and Hamas.
But, then again, it's unlikely ISNA is ever going to invite me to address its national convention. And that's just fine with me.
Nevertheless, I'm serious about my proposition. I really do agree with Rick Warren that "interfaith dialogue" is a waste of time. There are only four kinds of relationship Christians should have with unbelievers, according to the Bible:
We should pray for them; (Matthew 5:44)
- We should evangelize them so that they can know the true nature of God and begin a real relationship with Him and have a chance for eternal life; (Mark 16:15)
- Failing that, we should separate ourselves from them for our own protection; (1 Kings 8:53)
- We should rescue believers who fall captive and are forced to live under their yoke of oppression and the threat of death as Abraham did with his nephew Lot; (Genesis 14)
Am I missing anything? Maybe so. But I can't find a single biblical reference that suggests believers should develop public works projects with non-believers. It may sound good. It may tickle the ears. It may seem like it makes sense from a worldly perspective. His Word does not suggest we should, as Rick Warren suggests, attempt to "team tackle" the world's problems with non-believers.
There's simply no biblical precedent for any of this.
For instance, Rick Warren thinks we should work with Muslims to address certain issues. This is what his so-called PEACE plan is about. The issues on which we are supposed to work together are the following:
- spiritual emptiness: How are Christian believers supposed to work with Muslims on spiritual emptiness without getting them to understand repentance and grace? That is the only way spiritual emptiness can be addressed from a biblical perspective. That means evangelism.
- corrupt leadership: The definition of corrupt leadership from a biblical perspective is leadership not adhering to God's Word. How are believers to form a new definition that will be palatable to non-believers and still true to the Bible?
- extreme poverty: Jesus does tell believers to minister to the poor, but I fail to see where he suggests we should do this in conjunction with government programs, non-believers or in the name of other gods.
- pandemic diseases: Is the God we serve not big enough to address problems? Do we need the help of other gods? Is that a biblical principle?
- illiteracy and education: And what are we to teach people? Should we help Muslim nations and Muslim groups to teach their children the Quran? Or do we expect Muslim nations and Muslim groups to permit us to teach their people to read the Bible?
All these ideas sound nice. They sound humane. They sound reasonable. They sound like areas for "common ground."
But, as far as I can see, they have nothing to do with what Jesus taught.
Yes, we are to deal with spiritual emptiness - in the name of Jesus.
Yes, we are to deal with corrupt leadership - in the name of Jesus.
Yes, we are to help the poor - in the name of Jesus.
Yes, we are to cure the sick - in the name of Jesus.
Yes, we are to educate - in the name of Jesus.
As we are told in 2 Corinthians 6:14: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
Original Report
|
Islamic Society convention lands appearance from Rick Warren
|
INDIANAPOLIS STAR [Gannett] - By Robert King - June 19, 2009
The Indiana-based Islamic Society of North America will be holding its annual convention -- the largest yearly gathering of Muslims on the continent -- in Washington, D.C. over the Fourth of July weekend.
And while convention leaders are holding out hope that President Barack Obama might make the convention his latest stop in his outreach to the Muslim world, the convention has landed another pretty big fish as a featured speaker.
Purpose-Driven pastor Rick Warren has agreed to appear at the convention and be part of its main session discussing the convention's theme -- "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Joining Warren for the session is ISNA President Ingrid Mattson and noted Muslim scholar Hamza Yusuf.
Warren's scheduled visit to the convention follows ISNA leader Sayyid Syeed's appearance last December at Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on Public Health. Warren was unavailable this week to comment about the appearance.
His involvement with ISNA follows the Muslim organization's attempt to build partnerships with people of other faiths, including the Union of Reform Judaism and the American Baptist Churches. You can read more about all this in my story scheduled for the Sunday edition of The Indianapolis Star.
Original Report
Also:
Speakers Information: Rick Warren
See Here
|
|
Rick Warren to address Hamas-linked, Muslim Brotherhood-linked unindicted co-conspirators
|
JIHAD WATCH - By Robert Spencer - July 1, 2009
Interfaith dhimmitude. Does Rick Warren know or care that in 2007, ISNA was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) terror funding case? The Holy Land Foundation, once the nation's largest Islamic charity, was ultimately found guilty of funneling millions of dollars in charitable contributions to the jihad terror group Hamas.
Does Rick Warren know or care that in July 2008 the unindicted co-conspirator status was reaffirmed? ISNA, along with the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) protested its designation as an unindicted co-conspirator, alleging that this classification was merely part of a larger attempt by government and law enforcement to "disparage" and "vilify" Muslims. This earned them a stinging rebuke from federal prosecutors: "During last year's trial, numerous exhibits were entered into evidence establishing both ISNA's and NAIT's intimate relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, the Palestine Committee, and the defendants in this case. They were intimately connected with the HLF and its assigned task of providing financial support to HAMAS....That ISNA and NAIT appeared in these documents and share a common history with these defendants is a reflection of the evidence, not any attempt to 'disparage' or 'vilify.'"
Does Rick Warren know or care about ISNA's "intimate relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood"? This intimate relationship ought to raise the concerns of every free American, not just the Justice Department. After all, the Muslim Brotherhood in the United States is dedicated -- in its own words -- to "a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and 'sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and Allah's religion is made victorious over all other religions."
That's from an internal Brotherhood document captured by law enforcement and released during the Holy Land Foundation trial: "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Brotherhood in North America." This memorandum concludes with an extraordinarily revealing "list of our organizations and the organizations of our friends." Among these organizations is listed the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
Oh, and why doesn't Rachel Zoll of Associated Press discuss any of this in her article? ...
Read Full Report
|
|
Rick Warren speaking to Islamic group with terror ties
|
ONE NEWS NOW [American Family News Network] - By Chad Groening - July 1, 2009
The leader of a Messianic Jewish ministry is questioning the decision of mega-church pastor Rick Warren to address a Muslim group, which has terrorist connections, during its annual convention over the Fourth of July weekend in Washington, DC.
Jan Markell, the founder of Olive Tree Ministries, is concerned that the high-profile pastor will not use the opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with Muslims. Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Church in California, has agreed to appear at the convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and be part of its main session, discussing the convention's theme: "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." ISNA was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a Hamas terror funding case in 2007.
Warren's involvement with ISNA follows the Muslim organization's attempt to build partnerships with people of other faiths, including the Union of Reform Judaism and the American Baptist Churches. Markell does not expect Warren to share the gospel during his address.
"Why go to a Muslim outfit and not share your faith and not tell them the truth? If he's just going to come and tell them they can have a wonderful and happy life, why go? I don't understand any purpose," she admits.
And Markell says there is another reason why Warren should stay away from the Islamic Society of North America.
"The group that he is visiting has ties to terror; there's simply no two ways about it," she notes. "It has ties to terror and has ties to CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations."
Markell admits she cannot understand why the Southern Baptist Convention or Warren's own congregation has not expressed any concerns about Warren's dealings with this very questionable Islamic organization.
An article posted on the ISNA website suggests the Islamic group is holding out hope President Barack Obama may make a surprise appearance at the convention.
Original Report
|
Guess, who is on the Tony Blair Foundation advisory board?
Religious Advisory Council of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation
|
The Foundation has an International Religious Advisory Council to give advice and help to Tony Blair on the Foundation's work and plans.
The Council is composed of individuals from each of the six faiths with which the Foundation initially intends to work. The members are either religious leaders or significant scholars. They will often be nationally or internationally known but the most important thing is the expertise and wisdom each can bring to bear from his or her individual experience.
Council members keep the Foundation attentive to the religious nuances and implications of the Foundation's work. In addition to responding to specific requests for advice they are of course welcome to offer views whenever they think fit and to suggest new areas in which the Foundation might work. Council members help to keep the Foundation focused and creative as well as sensitive to the traditions of each of the six faiths and alert to developments within them.
Members are drawn from many parts of the world, in order to represent a range of perspectives from within each of the faiths and a variety of social, political and geographical contexts.
Finally, to allow for a wide-ranging and flexible contribution from the Council, it has no formal, legal responsibilities. The Foundation does of course have a board of trustees who discharge the traditional responsibilities required of the trustees of any charitable organisation.
Members of the Council are:
- Dr Ismail Khudr AL-Shatti, Advisor in Diwan of HH the Prime Minister of Kuwait and former President of the Gulf Institute for Futures and Strategic Studies
- HE Dr Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina
- The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Richard Chartres, Lord Bishop of London
- The Reverend David Coffey, President of the Baptist World Alliance
- The Reverend Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance
- Professor Jagtar Singh Grewal, former Chairman of the India Institute of Advanced Study and former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University
- Roshi Joan Halifax, Abbot of the Upaya Zen Center
- Right Reverend Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Bishop of Kaduna
- Anantanand Rambachan, Professor and Chair of the Religion Department at St. Olaf College, Minnesota
- Rabbi David Rosen, Chairman of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations
- Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth
- The Reverend Rick Warren, Founding and Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church
From time to time, other people will be asked to join the Council.
More Info
|
|
Beware the new axis of evangelicals and Islamists
|
THE SPECTATOR [Press Holdings/Barclay-LONDON] - By Melanie Phillips - March 4, 2009
Melanie Phillips says there is a dangerous new alliance between anti-Israel Christians and radical Muslim groups, often plotting in secret against their common enemy
Last weekend the Revd Stephen Sizer, vicar of Christ Church, Virginia Water appeared at an anti-Israel meeting with an Islamist called Ismail Patel. Patel has not only accused Israel of 'genocide' and 'war crimes' but considers Disney to be a Jewish plot and supports Hamas, Iran and Syria.
Sizer is a virulent opponent of Christian Zionism and of Israel, which he has said he hopes will disappear just as did the apartheid regime in South Africa. He has also applauded Iranian President Ahmadinejad for having 'looked forward to the day when Zionism ceased to exist'. Nevertheless, the appearance of an Anglican churchman on a pro-Islamist platform in Britain is a new and significant development. The Church of England recently banned its clergy from joining the BNP; should it not equally ban them from siding with the forces of Islamofascism?
Sizer's participation, however, must be seen in the context of a disturbing realignment in the services of the forces of darkness against the free world: the emergence of an axis between a body of evangelicals, the hard left, the Islamists - and the far right.
Last July, a discreet meeting was held by a group of influential Anglican evangelicals to co-ordinate a new church approach towards Islam. The meeting was convened by Bryan Knell, head of the missionary organisation Global Connections, and others from a group calling itself Christian Responses to Islam in Britain. The 22 participants, who met at All Nations Christian College in Ware, Hertfordshire, were sworn to secrecy. The aim of the meeting was to develop the 'grace approach to Islam', which 'tries to let Muslims interpret Islam rather than telling them what their religion teaches'. The meeting had in its sights those 'aggressive' Christians who were 'increasing the level of fear' in many others by talking about the threat posed by radical Islam.
The aim was thus to discredit and stifle those Christians who warn against the Islamisation of Britain and Islam's threat to the church. Those who do so include the Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, the Africa specialist Baroness Cox, the Islam expert Dr Patrick Sookhdeo and the Maranatha Ministry. A few weeks ago, Dr Sookhdeo became a spectacular victim of precisely such a discrediting process. Dr Sookhdeo, an Anglican canon, a Muslim convert and one of this country's premier authorities on Islam, runs the Barnabas Fund, an aid agency helping persecuted Christians. He has written many books about Islam of which the latest is Global Jihad: The Future in the Face of Militant Islam.
In January the website of Fulcrum, an evangelical group, carried a review of Global Jihad by Ben White, a frequent contributor to the Guardian. His review rubbished Sookhdeo's scholarship on the grounds that he had identified a theological problem with Islam when Islamic aggression was rooted instead in global grievances, particularly the existence and behaviour of Israel. To cap a farrago of ignorance and historical illiteracy, White tried to damn Sookhdeo by association, citing 'hard-line conservatives and pro-Israel right-wingers' who endorsed his work as proof that Sookhdeo was beyond the pale.
White then drew his review to the attention of a blogger, Islamist and Muslim convert called Indigo Jo. On his website, Indigo Jo anathematised Sookhdeo as the 'Sookhdevil'. This attack was reproduced on various other Islamist websites and Sookhdeo has received a death threat as a result.
So why should Christians betray another Christian to radical Islamists? Fulcrum have denied any connection to the Indigo Jo site along with any intention to discredit Sookhdeo. They say they merely wanted to 'provide a forum' to discuss the issues raised by his book. But why use Ben White, who clearly knows little about Islam, to review a book by an Islam scholar? A recurring thread of White's writing is his hatred of Israel. He justifies Palestinian terrorism against Israel as legitimate self-defence to bring about the 'decolonisation and liberation from occupation and Zionist apartheid'. He says he can 'understand' why some people are unpleasant towards Jews because of Israel's 'ideology of racial supremacy and its subsequent crimes committed against the Palestinians' and also 'the widespread bias and subservience to the Israeli cause in the Western media'.
Enter at this point the non-evangelical, secular Left in the shape of Andrew Brown, who joined White's onslaught against Sookhdeo on the Guardian's Comment Is Free website. Brown claimed of Sookhdeo's supporters that they constructed 'a closed mirror-world of hatred to stand against the Islamist one'.
Brown's article, too, seemed to be driven by hostility to anyone who supported Israel. His objection to Sookhdeo was principally that 'in practice the Sookhdeo view of Islam is always coupled with a stance in favour of the greater Israel' - which enabled Brown to make a witty crack insinuating that the Jews were 'people who are instructed by their religion to be violent, treacherous and imperialist'.
There has long been a notable crossover between the Left and the Islamists, who bury their considerable differences because of their all-consuming hatred of Israel and the West - and in which they find an echo in neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups. But what's new in this explosive mix is the presence of Christian evangelicals. What is extraordinary, moreover, is the targeting by Christian missionaries such as Brian Knell of Sookhdeo, a principal campaigner to end the death sentence for Muslim converts to Christianity. So why are such evangelicals trying to destroy people who are defending Christianity against Islamist aggression?
The answer lies in a profound split amongst evangelicals: between Christian Zionists who love Israel and want to defend the church against the predations of radical Islam, and those who want Israel to be destroyed and radical Islam appeased. Brian Knell, for example, blames Israel's 'institutionalised terrorism' for the radicalisation of Muslims worldwide. He thus ignores Islamist statements about the innate perfidy of the secular West, the cosmic evil of the Jews throughout history and the need to impose doctrinal purity upon other Muslims in the face of Western modernity.
The warped obsession with Israel is fundamental to these evangelicals' desire to accommodate radical Islamism. Another participant at the All Nations meeting was Colin Chapman, the father of the UK movement against Christian Zionism - and whose animosity is rooted in a theological prejudice against the Jews. Chapman's hugely influential book, Whose Promised Land, resurrects the ancient Christian canard of 'supercessionism' - the belief that because the Jews denied the divinity of Christ, God transferred His favours to the Christians while the Jews were cast out as the party of the Devil. This doctrine lay behind centuries of Christian anti-Jewish hatred until the Holocaust drove it underground.
In his book, Chapman writes that violence has always been implicit in Zionism and that Jewish self-determination is somehow racist. He also subscribes to the canard of sinister Jewish power. He has written: 'Six million Jews in the USA have an influence that is out of all proportion to their numbers in the total population of 281 million... It is widely recognised, for example, that no one could ever win the presidential race without the votes and the financial support of substantial sections of the Jewish community.'
It is a sobering fact that such a subscriber to anti-Jewish prejudice should be so influential in the church. And such thinking has many followers, including Stephen Sizer. 'The covenant between Jews and God,' he has written, 'was conditional on their respect for human rights. The reason they were expelled from the land was that they were more interested in money and power and treated the poor and aliens with contempt'. And he has denied validity to Judaism itself saying: 'to suggest ...that the Jewish people continue to have a special relationship with God, apart from faith in Jesus ...is, in the words of [the leading Anglican evangelical] John Stott, "biblically anathema".'
And now look at other groups with which Sizer is making common cause in his hatred of Israel and the Jews. He has given interviews to, endorsed or forwarded material from American white supremacists and Holocaust deniers. Last year, he sent an article printed in the Palestine Chronicle about the alleged influence of 'Israel in Washington' through 'powerful overtly Jewish Washington organisations and, increasingly, through Christian Zionist organisations' to an appreciative Martin Webster, the former leader of the neo-Nazi National Front.
Many will be deeply shocked that the Church of England harbours individuals with such attitudes. But the church hierarchy is unlikely to act against them. Extreme hostility towards Israel is the default position among bishops and archbishops; while the establishment line is to reach out towards Islam in an attempt to accommodate and appease it. With Christians around the world suffering forced conversion, ethnic cleansing and murder at Islamist hands, the church utters not a word of protest. Instead, inter-faith dialogue is the order of the day, with Canon Graham Kings - the theological secretary of Fulcrum, no less - a key player in Anglican inter-faith work. And now Israel's war against Hamas has had a pivotal effect. There is now a widespread sense that Israel must finally be defeated once and for all - and then the Islamists will calm down.
It is horrifying that so many in the church should be preaching against the victims of Jew-hatred and Islamist violence and seeking to accommodate those who stand for the persecution of Christians, the destruction of western and Christian values and the genocide of the Jews. It is horrifying that the church is providing a platform for the dissemination of lies about Israel and ancient theological bigotry against the Jews. And it is horrifying that it contains people who are not just virulently hostile towards Israel but also towards anyone who supports it.
Given the common but no less odious view that British Jews who support Israel are guilty of 'dual loyalty', it would seem that the church is truly supping with the devil and setting the stage for a repeat of an ancient tragedy.
Original Report
|
Islam at a Crossroads: Obama's message of hope a rally call
|
THE CLARION-LEDGER of Jackson, Mississippi [Gannett] - By LaReeca Rucker - July 11, 2009
Islam is at a crossroads in America.
That is the theme of a conference being held this weekend at Jackson's International Museum of Muslim Cultures. The event marks the museum's eighth anniversary.
Okolo Rashid, co-founder and IMMC executive director, said world-renowned scholars are speaking at the Jackson Convention Complex. The conference, which began Friday and continues through Sunday, is designed to open an international dialogue about American/Muslim relationships. About 500 are expected to attend, Rashid said.
"In addition to being a museum and presenting these cultural expressions and contributions of Muslims to the global community, we are really now positioning ourselves to be partners with the president, Barack Obama, in helping shape the relationship with the Muslim world that he has initiated," Rashid said.
Rashid said the conference follows Obama's European tour and visit to Turkey, where he extended a friendly hand of partnership to the Muslim world.
"With the new administration, everybody is inspired by the message of hope and change. American Muslims are playing a pivotal role in this relationship and this conference sheds some light on opportunities," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on Islamic-American Relations in Washington.
Awad said the symbolism to the location of the museum and conference shouldn't be overlooked. Mississippi was a hotbed of civil rights activity during the 1960s.
The museum is only a few miles from the home of Mississippi NAACP field secretary Medgar Evers, who was gunned down by self-proclaimed white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith in 1963.
"We're standing on the giant shoulders of people," Awad said. "We're learning by those who came before us - African-American leaders who have struggled over the years to make laws and change laws to push back."
The conference is also addressing the challenges Muslims in America face and how they can use their customs and faith to positively influence and contribute to the American story.
Rashid said a video from Amadou Toumani Tour�, president of the Republic of Mali, and Muammar Ghaddafi, president of Libya and chairman of the African Union, will be shown.
Rashid said the IMMC celebrates Muslim contributions and strives to facilitate multicultural and interfaith tolerance.
"We are really excited about the kind of reception we have received in eight years," she said.
The museum was established in 2001 at 201 E. Pascagoula St. first as a companion exhibit to the Mississippi Museum of Art's Majesty of Spain exhibition. It is on the second floor of the Mississippi Arts Center in downtown Jackson.
After inviting more than 25,000 visitors to learn more about Islamic Moorish Spain, the founders felt encouraged to establish a permanent museum and annual conference. The museum displays ancient manuscripts written in Arabic on loan from a library in Timbuktu, and a 20-by-30-foot leather camel skin ten.
"We have 7 million Muslims (in America), which is larger than the population of many countries," Rashid said. "Muslims are a very important part of this country in terms of their contributions. We think the conference is a great way of showing that."
An estimated 5,000 Muslims live in Mississippi.
Emad Al-Turk, co-founder of the IMMC and chairman of the IMMC board, said the conference features several topics important to American Muslims.
Topics include: Islamic leadership; civil rights since Sept. 11, 2001, and civic responsibility; the historical role of Islamic African leadership in Africa's development and its prospects for African Americans today; Islamic youth - hip-hop, spirituality and the arts; Islamic banking and the economic crisis; healthy family and marriage relationships; and interfaith dialogue about peace.
"It fits very well with the recent speech that President Obama gave in Cairo between the relationship of the American and Muslim world," Al-Turk said. "I think the main issue is Muslim Americans and Islam are really part of the fabric of America." ...
Read Full Report
|
|
FAIR USE NOTICE
This Email newsletter
contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically
authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our
efforts to advance understanding of religious, environmental, political, human
rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We
believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17
U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to
those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information
for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml . If you wish
to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go
beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright
owner.
Important Disclaimer
Moriel Ministries does not
necessarily endorse everything that is transmitted to our email groups, as being
completely trustworthy or godly as some items are drawn from secular sources.
Nor does it suggest in any way that any individual or organization mentioned
should be followed or given any special credence. Be Alert! is for the
dissemination of information only and godly discretion must be applied
by recipients to every transmission received by them, from us.
Regarding "Conspiracy Theories"
Be Alert! and Moriel do not
necessarily endorse the views expressed by those deemed as "conspiracy
theorists" (nor do we necessarily always agree with the use of this terminology
used as a label by the establishment) when such an article reprinted or topic
covered. We present this in the interests of research - for the relevant
information, we believe it contains. We encourage the reader to prayerfully use
this information within the framework of reasoned and scriptural consideration
for the purposes of investigative journalism, research and sound bible study,
towards a greater, common understanding of the unanswered questions, concerning
intrigue and deception which have engulfed both the church as well as the
world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
