Cross of Christ

THE BEREAN CALL
www.thebereancall.org
September 2006

God of Jacob, God of Israel Part Two!
Dave Hunt:

Last month we noted that the only true God, the Creator of the universe andall things therein-the God of the Bible-has linked His name with and tiedHis integrity to Israel. Yet many evangelicals, including well-knownleaders, insist that Israel is of no significance to God any longer, having been cut off for rejecting Christ and now having been replaced by thechurch. There are even groups (not only among white supremacists or cults such as Herbert W. Armstrong's die-hard followers today) who persist in theridiculous theory that the "Ten Lost Tribes" of Israel migrated to theBritish Isles and that therefore all those of British descent are the trueJews today. Some go so far as to say that all of the "white races" are thetrue Jews-as though not only England but all of Europe and Russia wasuninhabited wasteland until these remnants of the "Ten Lost Tribes" settledthere. We have proved that the ten tribes taken to Assyria (2 Ki 17:6-23) were not"lost" but make up most of those called Jews today (see 2 Chr 34,35; Q&A Nov'92, May '96). Far from Israel being cut off, hundreds of propheciesforetell Israel's importance in world affairs in the last days, the attackof all the world against her at Armageddon, her rescue by the Messiah, andher glorious final restoration in the Millennial Kingdom. Nor is there evera reference to Israel anywhere in Scripture that could possibly beinterpreted as meaning the British Isles or the British people, much lessthe "white races"! Most of the more than 2,000 references to Israel or Israelites in the Bibleand the thousands of prophecies (already fulfilled or yet to be fulfilled)pertain to the historical land of Israel in the Middle East, whoseboundaries are clearly described (Gn 15:18-21), or to the people who livedthere for nearly 2,300 years, were cast out under God's judgment, and willbe brought back by God so that not one ethnic Jew will be left outsideIsrael (Ezk 39:27-29). We know who the Jews are today by DNA testing. The Israeli Immigrant LiaisonBureau requires DNA tests where there is some question as to theauthenticity of claimed Jewish ancestry. Such tests would draw a completeblank if applied to the average person of British descent, and proveBritish-Israelism to be utter folly. No other ethnic group without its ownland and scattered around the world for more than 2,000 years has or couldmaintain its DNA identity as have the Jews. It is not important to know who is an American, German, Arab, Greek, et al.In contrast, it is vital to know who is a Jew. Why? About 70 percent of thepages of Scripture are taken up in recounting Israel's history andprophesying her future: her continued and unrepentant rebellion against God,His reluctant and long-delayed but finally severe discipline (the worst ofwhich is yet to come), the Jews' worldwide dispersion, their re-gatheringfrom all over the world back into their own land in the Last Days, hundredsof prophecies concerning Israel's present key role in world affairs, of hergreatest trial just ahead (Jer 30:7) when two-thirds of all Jews on earthwill be killed (Zec 13:8,9), and of her final restoration under the Messiah(Zec 12-14). Unquestionably, Israel is the major subject of God's Holy Word.To be wrong about Israel is therefore to be wrong on almost everything inthe Bible. The One whom the Bible 203 times calls "the God of Israel" has sworn by aneverlasting covenant that Israel (three times called the "apple" of Hiseye-Dt 32:10; Lam 3:18; Zec 2:8) will never cease to exist as a nation:"Therefore fear thou not...O Israel...though I make a full end of allnations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end ofthee: but I...will not leave thee altogether unpunished" (Jer 30:10,11)."Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the city [Jerusalem] shall bebuilt...it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever" (Jer31:38-40). The language could not be clearer here and throughout God's HolyWord. These and hundreds of other promises from God to Israel recorded inScripture are a sharp rebuke to those such as Hank Hanegraaff, D. JamesKennedy, R.C. Sproul, et al., who teach that the church has replaced Israel."Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light byday...moon...and...stars by night...if those ordinances depart from beforeme...then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before mefor ever..." (Jer:31:35,36); "While the earth remaineth...day and nightshall not cease" (Gn 8:22); "Behold, I will gather them out of allcountries, whither I have driven them in mine anger...and I will bring themagain unto this place [Israel], and I will cause them to dwell safely: andthey shall be my people, and I will be their God...so will I bring upon themall the good that I have promised them" (Jer 32:37-42). Israel has failed to fulfill her calling to be an example to the world ofholiness in dedication to God (Lv 20:20-24, 26; Dt 6:4,5; 7:6, etc.). Whilethere are many believing Israelis, some even within the military, Israeltoday as a whole remains as wicked and godless as America and the rest ofthe nations. God's "chosen people," living once again in the Promised Landin fulfillment of many specific biblical prophecies, refuse to honor intheir daily lives the God of their fathers who has brought them there. Evenin the present distress related to Gaza and Lebanon, the vast majority ofIsraelis trust in their own arms and determination instead of trusting theonly One who can protect them and has promised to do so. The triumph of tiny Israel in every war and against impossible odds isadmitted by many in the IDF as defying ordinary explanation. Militaryofficers giving pep talks to new recruits often tell of amazing events theyhave witnessed in past wars, but rarely is God's intervention hinted at,even when no other explanation would be possible. Israel as a whole has notyet been humbled to the point of acknowledging what the Psalmist prophesied:"If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say...whenmen rose up against us: then they had swallowed us up quick.... Blessed bethe Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth....Our help is inthe name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Ps 124:1,2,6,8). AtArmageddon, however, this prophecy will become a reality to all who survive. In contrast, Britain, along with America, will be among those "all nations"that God will gather and destroy at Armageddon (Jer 30:11; Jl 3:2; Zec 12:9,14:2, etc.) for their mistreatment of Israel, and especially for dividingHis land. In fact, Britain played a key role in robbing Israel of its landand giving most of it to the Arabs for oil. Both Britain and America havebetrayed Israel many times, and the U.S. State Department and BritishForeign Service have opposed Israel from the beginning, as we document inJudgment Day. Those facts alone prove the lie of British Israelism. So why would God faithfully help faithless Israel? He makes it clear toIsrael from the very beginning, "...because the Lord loved you, and becausehe would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lordbrought you out...from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt..." (Dt 7:8). As wenoted last month, referring to her ultimate restoration and blessing (whichHe has promised through the Messiah), the God of Israel declares: "Thussaith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but formine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen...be ashamedand confounded for your ways, O house of Israel...I the Lord have spoken it,and I will do it" (Ezk 36:22,32,36, etc.). In spite of Israel's presentdisregard of Him, "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Ex 3:15,16 and tenother places in the Bible) is fulfilling His promises to those patriarchsthrough their descendants-and the day is coming when all Israel who surviveArmageddon will believe. Most Jews worldwide await the Messiah's first coming, unaware that Healready came and was rejected and crucified. Jesus warned the Jews, "I amcome in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come inhis own name, him ye will receive" (Jn 5:43). Tragically, it will takeArmageddon for the surviving Jews to repent, turn to the God of Israel, andembrace the One who comes in His Father's name. In that greatest distressever faced by Israel, God declares that the one-third whom He will bringalive "through the fire...refine[d] as silver is refined...as gold is tried[shall] call on my name, and I will hear them" (Zec 13:8,9). When they see with their own eyes the Messiah come to rescue them, anddiscover to their shame who He is, "...they shall mourn for him, as onemourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him...a greatmourning in Jerusalem..." (Zec 12:10-14). Why such extreme sorrow at beingrescued by the Messiah? The God of Israel declares: "they shall look upon mewhom they have pierced" (12:10)!At Armageddon, when Yahweh comes to the rescue, He reveals Himself as theOne whom Israel has pierced! Pierced?! When and how could Israel pierce theOne who told Moses, "there shall no man see me, and live" (Ex 33:20)? God,"a Spirit" (Jn 4:24), cannot be pierced-but the Messiah coming as a mancould be. Jesus, who fulfilled every Messianic prophecy, was pierced on thecross. Why was He crucified? For claiming to be God (Jn 10:30-33)! Yahweh is speaking in the first person, yet two persons seem to be involved:"...they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn forhim...." This him seems to be another person-and yet He must have beenpierced because they mourn for Him-so he must also be Yahweh! Is Yahweh twopersons? In fact, He declares Himself to be three in one! Consider this: "Ihave not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was,there am I..." (Is 48:16). Surely the one speaking must be God because Hehas been speaking from the very beginning. Yet He adds, "The Lord God, andhis Spirit, hath sent me" (Is 48:16). Here we encounter God, the Lord God,and the Spirit of God. Could this be what the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle John to write, "Inthe beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word wasGod"? Surely this One called the "Word," who already existed at thebeginning and is God, must be the same God to whom Isaiah refers who speaksfrom the beginning.But the similarities in these two verses don't end there. Both raise almostidentical questions. In Isaiah, how can God be sent by God; and in John, howcan God be with God? There is only one solution: the Messiah must be God.When Jesus said, "I and my Father are one" (Jn 10:30), the Jews accused Himof blasphemy. When they picked up stones, Jesus asked why they wanted tokill Him. Their instant reply was, "for blasphemy...thou, being a man,makest thyself God" (vv. 31-33). For the Messiah to declare His deity wasthe ultimate heresy, worthy of death? No! According to the Hebrew prophets, the Messiah had to be God and, at the sametime, the Son of God. If God has a Son, who Himself is God and one with HisFather, that would dissolve the rabbis' objections. We encounter God's Son anumber of times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Speaking prophetically, thePsalmist presents God as declaring of one who is to come, "Thou art my Son;this day have I begotten thee" (Ps 2:7). Jehovah's Witnesses and others whodeny Christ's deity take this as referring to Christ's birth on earth as thebeginning of His existence. That cannot be the case, however, because Godspeaks of His Son as already existing and warns a God-defying world, "Kissthe Son, lest he be angry....Blessed are all they that put their trust inhim" (v. 12). That the Son of God already existed before His incarnation is clear from anumber of other statements by the Hebrew prophets. Solomon quotes theprophet Agur asking this question: "Who hath ascended up into heaven, ordescended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound thewaters in a garment?" The obvious answer is "God." Then he asks, "what ishis son's name..." (Prv 30:4), proving that the Son of God already existedat that time. Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into a huge furnaceso hot that the flames killed those who threw them into it. Nebuchadnezzar,astonished to see these three Hebrews walking alive in the flames, observesanother with them and in wonder exclaims, "the fourth is like the Son ofGod" (Dn 3:25)! While promising salvation through the coming Messiah, Yahweh repeatedlydeclared that He himself was the only Savior: "I, even I, am the Lord; andbeside me there is no savior" (Is 43:11); "Look unto me, and be ye saved,all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Is 45:22).And yet this salvation goes to "the ends of the earth" by another who mustHimself be God and the Messiah: "I will also give thee for a light to theGentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth" (Is49:6). Of whom does God speak? Unquestionably, the Hebrew prophets all agree that God exists as atri-unity: three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) but one God-and thatin the Messiah He becomes man without ceasing to be God. Christ's claimsthat He was God and man, and one with His Father, agree with the prophets.Isaiah declared: "For unto us a child is born..." (Is 9:6). This refers toHis humanity, derived, as foretold, from His virgin mother, Mary: the "seed"of the woman (Gn 3:15). But Isaiah adds, "unto us a son is given: and thegovernment shall be upon his shoulder....Of the increase of his governmentand peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David..." (9:6,7).Surely the Son given must be the already-existing Son of God-and He must bethe Messiah, because He will rule on David's throne. But Isaiah declares that the Messiah is God! His name is "Wonderful,Counsellor, The mighty God." And He is also "The everlasting Father." Hereis the same mystery: God is both Father and Son, and He alone is theMessiah! Most Jews still refuse to recognize this identity of the "God ofAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob." This is one place where they agree with theirbitterest enemies, the Muslims. The Qur'an condemns to hell anyone whobelieves in the Trinity (Sur 5:72-74)! So the fact that Yahweh has come as a man who was pierced to the death,resurrected, and has returned to rescue Israel at Armageddon is in perfectagreement with the Hebrew prophets. When Israel sees her God in this formcoming to her rescue, it will be painfully clear that He has been to earthbefore, where He was rejected and pierced to the death. So Jesus was onlyechoing the prophets when He said to the inhabitants of Jerusalem as He wasbeing "brought as a lamb to the slaughter" (Is 53:7) on the way to theCross: "Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is hethat cometh in the name of the Lord" (Mt 23:39). At last they willunderstand "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob"-and "all Israel shall besaved" (Rom 11:26)! -TBC ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Quotable ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- [It has been said] that the more a man has in his own heart the less he willrequire from the outside; excessive need for support from without is proofof the bankruptcy of the inner man. [Thus] the present inordinate attachmentto...entertainment is evidence that the inner life of modern man is inserious decline. The average man has...no inner strength to place him abovethe need for repeated psychological shots to give him the courage to go onliving....The [fantastic] growth of the amusement phase of human life [is] a threat tothe souls of modern men. It has...greater power over human minds and humancharacter than any other educational influence on earth, [a] power almostexclusively evil, rotting the inner life, crowding out...eternal thoughtswhich would fill the souls of men....[It] has grown into a veritablereligion...against which it is now dangerous to speak.... For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldlyentertainment, recognizing it [as] a device for wasting time, a refuge fromthe disturbing voice of conscience...divert[ing] attention from moralaccountability....But of late...she appears to have join[ed] forceswith...the great god Entertainment....So today we have the astonishingspectacle of millions of dollars being poured into the unholy job ofproviding earthly entertainment for the so-called sons of heaven. Religiousentertainment is in many places rapidly crowding out the serious things ofGod...and hardly a man dares raise his voice against it. From The Best of A.W. Tozer, 126-128 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Q&A---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: I would say that my eschatological beliefs line up with what Iread in The Berean Call. I am unequivocally a premillennialpretribulationist, and a futurist regarding prophecy. Yet, I thought youwent beyond the eschatological ring and broke its pugilistic rules when youcommitted a "low-blow" against those you mentioned in the August 2006 TBC inthe Q&A who "hold a prejudice against...Israel," implying that their views"cast doubt upon whether one really knows the true God." Are you saying abelief in replacement theology seriously brings into question whether theyare truly saved or not? I can't believe that you consider one's view of theevents of the Last Days to be critical to one's salvation. Or do you? Answer: Thank you for asking. Perhaps my language was not as precise as itought to be and therefore others may have the same question. No, I did notsay that "one's view of the events of the Last Days [is] critical to one'ssalvation." I have never included eschatology in the gospel. My concern waswith God's identity and glory. I wrote: "...the Bible identifies Him as 'theGod of Israel 203 times, the God of Jacob 28 times, the God of Abraham 17times, and the God of Isaac 13 times.' These designations are foundationalto everything the Bible teaches, including the very character of God. Toprofess to believe in God and at the same time to hold a prejudice againstJewish people or against Israel that turns these clear biblicalidentifications into meaningless titles casts doubt upon whether one reallyknows the true God." I pointed out the fact that "In His refutation of the Sadducees' denial ofthe resurrection, Christ's primary argument was based upon God's statementto Moses: 'I AM...the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God ofJacob...this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto allgenerations' (Ex 3:15). Clearly, this was the identity of the true God then,is now, and will be forever. God never changes." Christ was saying that if Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are not resurrected toexist eternally, then their names could not be part of the eternal name ofthe eternal God. This was Christ's logic and I simply adopt it with respectto Israel as a nation descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Reasoning as Christ did, I argued: "If the nation of Israel is dead, or hasbeen replaced by the church and does not have an eternal future, then thevery term 'God of Israel' would not be to God's glory. Instead, it would bea slur upon His character in view of His many promises that Israel wouldnever cease to exist. Yet that is the position taken by those who say thatIsrael has been replaced by the church." I didn't say that before anyone can believe the gospel we must explain thatGod is "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" or they can't be saved. I amsaying that when one professes faith in Christ and in the One who sent Him,but later, through prejudice against Jews or Israel, refuses to accept Godas He reveals Himself in relation to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and thenation descended from them, doubts are legitimately raised as to whetherthis person truly knows the true God. My point is that in counteringReplacement Theology we need to focus on the identity and character of God,His name, and His promises to those whom He first called "chosen...to be aspecial people of God unto himself, above all people that are upon the faceof the earth" (Dt 7:6). Question: My wife and I look forward each month to The Berean Call.We...praise the Lord that someone is still contending "...for the faithwhich was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). Your Dec. 2005 article,"Wonderful Love," was especially uplifting [but] I question where you say,"He [God]...caused Him [Christ] to endure the eternal Lake-of-Fire...." Thatwould certainly make the "little god-Kenneth Copeland" very happy[considering] his teaching...that Jesus had to fight the devil in hell forthree days and nights and be "born again" to purchase our redemption. I amwondering WHICH book of the Bible you got that from?! Answer: It is foundational to the gospel that Christ experienced thesuffering of the Lake of Fire for every person who would ever be born.Christ's declaration, "It is finished [tetelestai, meaning 'paid in full']"surely indicates that He suffered what all mankind were doomed to suffer fortheir sins. That must include the Lake of Fire eternally. Our Lord became a man "that he by the grace of God should taste death forevery man" (Heb 2:9). Inasmuch as the Lake of Fire is "the second death" (Rv20:14) that all of the damned will suffer forever, Christ must have sufferedthat eternal penalty for all mankind. If not, there would still be somethingfor the redeemed yet to pay. But that cannot be the case for those who"shall not come into condemnation; but have passed from death unto life..."(Jn 5:24).That Christ endured the pains of the Lake of Fire does not mean that Hesuffered in the Lake of Fire. The teaching of Copeland (and others) thatChrist suffered in hell is false doctrine! He bore our sins on the cross; itwas from the cross that He cried in triumph, "Tetelestai!"; and we areredeemed by His blood shed in His death on the cross. Question: I liked your May article. You emphasized the theme of the lambthat runs through Scripture. Doesn't The Message downplay if not eliminatethe lamb in Hebrews 11:4? How can so many evangelical leaders recommendEugene Peterson's The Message, published by NavPress, when it does suchviolence to God's Word!answer: God says, "By faith Abel ["a keeper of sheep" (Gn 4:2)], offeredunto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witnessthat he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being deadyet speaketh" (Heb 11:4). The Message says, "By an act of faith, Abelbrought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. [So far, so good.] It was whathe believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That's what Godnoticed and approved as righteous." On the contrary, the sacrifice Abel, brought from his flock is what theBible emphasizes! Peterson substitutes his own words for God's, and he daresto call what he has authored "another version of the Bible"! Clearly,Hebrews emphasizes what Abel brought ("sacrifice...gifts...it") and says itwas offered "by faith." Moses likewise emphasizes the offering: "AndAbel...brought of his firstlings of the flock....And the Lord had respectunto Abel and to his offering...but unto Cain and to his offering he had notrespect" (Gn 4:4,5). The entire emphasis is on the offering: Abel's wasaccepted by God, Cain's was not! Peterson's perversion of the Bible implies that the offering is unimportantand that it was only what Abel believed that mattered. How do we know whathe believed? By his offering! Christ "was once offered to bear the sins ofmany" (Heb 9:28). Our faith is in Christ who "offered himself without spotto God" (Heb 9:14) for our sins. The offering is central to our faith. Here,as elsewhere, Peterson changes the meaning entirely, robbing readers of thetruth!Considering in what great detail God describes Old Testament offerings,Peterson's view is heresy! He tampers with a major theme of Scripture andthe meaning behind it-the Lamb slain for our redemption. Peterson gives ushis words, not the "word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord" (Dt8:3) and "endureth for ever" (1 Pt 1:25). Yet he deceitfully passes it offas "Bible." The Psalmist rejoiced, "For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled inheaven" (Ps 119:89). We rejoice that Peterson cannot "improve" God's Word upthere! How can so many church leaders praise Peterson's mutilation of the Bible!Endorsers include: Richard Foster, Jack W. Hayford, J. I. Packer, RickWarren, and Warren Wiersbe. Ask them why they endorse this perversion thatought to be denounced. How can true Christians take this mutilation of God'sWord lightly?! Christians must awaken to the corruption taking root in thechurch, rise up in protest, and hold accountable those who are responsible.Surely a firm stand for truth is long overdue! We hope and pray that TBC'sreaders will act decisively! (For a partial list of perverted quotationsfrom The Message, see http://www.thebereancall.org/.) Question: As a long-time fan of TBC, I was terribly disappointed by yournegative remarks about the movie, End of the Spear, in the May Q&A. Youstated, "The film does a disservice both to the missionaries...and to theLord...is an insult to the five martyrs, dishonoring to their Lord, andmisleading to viewers!" In fact, nothing could be further from the truth! Dave, the next time you critique a movie please see it first. MissionaryNate Saint's son, Steve Saint, championed this film.... The Waodanithemselves also approved of and cooperated with these filmmakers.... Answer: Go back and read my response once again and you will see that I didnot claim to judge End of the Spear without seeing it. My response was basedentirely upon what a questioner said who had seen it. My reply to him usedphrases such as "what you portray" and "the film as you describe it."His opinion of the movie (after seeing it) differs markedly from yours-andin your letter you don't respond to his objections that I quoted. You referto "production values...tight script, gorgeous cinematography, beautifulscore, a compelling story and fine acting." Similar compliments could begiven to many ungodly movies. Nor do your objections to what I wrote haveany relationship to the question I was asked and to which I responded. The critic stated: "The greatest disappointment was that the gospel-that allhave sinned and that Christ is God who became a man and paid the penaltydemanded by God's justice for our sins-was missing! The transforming powerof the gospel and faith in Christ was never explained as the reason for thechange in the lives of the Aucas!" You did not refute that. Indeed, you madeno reference at all to the film's gospel content or lack of it. He said, "Nor does the film depict the godly lives of these men. Jim Elliotwas unfairly and dishonorably portrayed as a reckless buffoon; themissionaries never prayed, read their Bibles, mentioned Jesus, or conversedabout God. No church services were shown or even implied. Viewers couldmistake these five young men for Peace Corps workers or anthropologistsrather than missionaries. The film could just as well have been thepromotion of pacifism or nonviolent response to persecution." You refutednone of these serious objections. You say that "the missionaries...were whole men and women who loved theirspouses, got pregnant, raised families, celebrated birthdays, danced,laughed, and lived life more abundantly." That such things were beautifullyportrayed could be said of many secular films and has no relationship towhat ought to be the heart of a Christian film. He complained that the filmdid not have the gospel and that it did not portray the Christianity thatthese missionaries lived. Not only do you not refute this criticism, youdon't even address it! I hope others who view this disappointing movie willhave more discernment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------News Alert ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.jewishworldreview.com/, 6/22/06: Photos Really Do Lie, JonathanTobin [Excerpts]-How is it that the pictures and the facts seem to be sodivorced from each when it comes to Israel? When an explosion on a Gazabeach killed several Palestinians earlier this month, the internationalmedia didn't pause to think, research or ask questions about the incident.They simply jumped. On Israel.As a picture of a Palestinian girl grieving over the corpse of a deadrelative spread around the world and onto the front pages of newspapers likeThe New York Times, there was little doubt as to who was to blame for hersuffering and, by extension, that of all Palestinians: the Israeli"occupiers" whose brutality had once again taken the lives of Arabinnocents. The only problem with this story...is that its basic premise wasn't true.Shell fragments...along with other factors, showed that the Israel DefenseForces were not responsible. Does all of this sound familiar? It should....It was the same when aPalestinian boy...was supposedly slain by Israeli army snipers...at thebeginning of the second intifada in the fall of 2000 when, in fact, he waskilled by Palestinian gunfire. The same scenario was played out in thespring of 2000 when many in the media bought into a lie about a massacre ofArab civilians in Jenin during an Israeli army counteroffensive following awave of Palestinian suicide bombings. Even the UN eventually had to acceptthat this was false, too. Why does this keep happening?...For a credible answer to these questions,there's no better place to look than a book that was published by Encounterlate last year to little fanfare: The Other War: Israelis, Palestinians andthe Struggle for Media Supremacy by journalist Stephanie Gutmann. As Gutmann reports, in the age of the 24/7 news cycle of Internet andall-news cable television, the stakes involved...have never beenhigher....Gutmann asserts, "I wrote this book because...people need to bereminded that pictures do lie-the second intifada was explained to thepublic through a series of images-images that didn't bring us the truth." The classic example of this was a celebrated New York Times error in whichthe paper printed an AP photo that it said depicted an Israeli soldierbrutalizing a bloody Palestinian youth on the Temple Mount. As the Timesdiscovered, the youth in extremis was actually an American Jew who had beenattacked by Arabs. The soldier, whom Times readers were told was beating himup, was really an Israeli police officer who had rescued him from a mob benton lynching him. Gutmann closes on a hopeful note when she predicts that blogs and alternatemedia sources are undermining the "imperial media" monopoly and bringingaccountability to a profession that desperately needs it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Itinerary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sept 8-10 Great Lakes Prophecy Conference (Dave & TA)Appleton WI(920) 735-1242 http://www.ccappleton.org/ Sept 12 Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (Dave)Santa Ana CA(714) 979-4422 Sept 16 Midwest Hebrew Ministry (Dave)Arden Hills MN(612) 866-8014 Sept 29-30 Calvary Bible Chapel (Dave)Macomb MI(586) 977-1849 Oct 1-2 Christliche Versammlung Thurstrasse (TA)Frauenfeld Switzerland41 (0)52 720 48 57 Oct 7 Centre Biblique Européen (TA)Lausanne Switzerland41 (0)21 887 75 63 Oct 4-6 Winnipeg Prophecy Conference (Dave)Winnipeg MB(204) 853-7786http://www.wpgpc.org/ Oct 18-22 Midnight Call (Dave)Brazil51 3241-5050http://www.chamada.com.br/ Nov 3-5 TBC Conference (Dave & TA)Bend OR(800) 937-6638http://www.thebereancall.org/ Nov 10-11 Calvary Chapel Men's Retreat (TA) Lynnwood WA (425) 672-4377 Nov 12 Calvary Chapel (TA) Lynnwood WA(425) 672-4377 Nov 23-26 Calvary Chapel Vladimir (Dave) Vladimir Russia Dec 29-31Calvary Chapel Fort Worth(817) 838-8381 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Letters ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Berean Call,I purchased the book Showtime for the Sheep? It was thought provoking, to say the least....The book is well done and not mean-spirited at all...it is a fair and balanced book. I have...not been so quick to just follow this mass entrance into the soft mindset that seems to prevail so much today among Christians. Thanks for your ministry. It has helped me already. (email) Dave Hunt,It is a comfort to know that in a fast-paced world where Truth is mistaken for a host of lies, "In the beginning was the Word." This is the Word that remains. It is also a comfort to hear a voice of Truth and clarity speak out against a corrupt and relative worldview, especially in the church. For that, I must thank you with all my heart, Mr. Hunt. CP (Canada) Dear Friends,Thanks for the email update revealing Rick Warren's misapplication of Scripture: "I'm saying some people are going to have to die or leave. Moses had to wander around the desert for 40 years while God killed off a million people before he let them go into the Promised Land. That may be brutally blunt, but it's true. There may be people in your church who love God sincerely, but who will never, ever change" (Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox, No 263, 6/14/06). It explains something that has mystified me. I couldn't believe the way the pastor of the church we were attending...seemed to become deliberately contentious and openly dismissive if we questioned their reliance on things like psychology, The Message, The Purpose-Driven Life, etc., rather than Scripture...as if they were actively trying to drive us away rather than "waste" time defending their positions from Scripture....Thank goodness there are still some, like you guys, who teach it straight! DE (WY) Dear Dave and TA,I receive your newsletters monthly and cannot wait to read them. The modern-day churches seem to be falling more and more into apostasy. But you guys at The Berean Call are focused, relying on God's Word, the Holy Spirit, and, of course, Jesus, as our source of all truth. We as Christians should not rely on worldly methods to share the gospel. Our churches don't feel the same way....Sadly, we're in the "Falling Away," as the Apostle Paul said would happen in the latter days. Fight the good fight till Christ comes. DN (TX) Dear Saints,I really enjoyed your newsletters [Mar/Apr '06] about psychology in Christianity. It's hard to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and the coming Kingdom inside these [prison] walls because most "professed Christians" in here believe they can do or act any way they want as long as they "believe" in Jesus....All I can do is pray for them and let them know Jesus is coming soon. AM (prisoner, TX) Dear Mr. Hunt and Mr. McMahon,Thank you for the biblical perspective you provide on so many of our cultural, political, and media issues. I feel so much more informed on the truth of the upside-down, turned-around, and blatantly sinful activities, attitudes, and opinions of our current cultural norm. DG (CA) The Berean Call,I have been receiving The Berean Call for several months now. Although I think that what you are doing is meritorious, I would like to end my subscription. The articles, although informative and accurate, are somewhat repetitive and negative in content. Your publication is beneficial in pointing out the errors of some of the false teachings that are prevalent today, while my desire is to learn more about what the Bible actually says. Needless to say, I agree with your point of view that people need to be more diligent when it comes to what they believe and who they listen to. With so many false teachings prevalent in society today, everyone needs to apply themselves wholeheartedly to studying the Scriptures to ensure that what they are hearing is in accordance to God's Word. PD (Canada) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------TBC Notes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- We Covet Your Prayers Here at TBC, prayer is our number-one priority. Rarely is anything undertaken without bringing it "unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16). We make no distinction between the menial, routine things and the major tasks or projects when it comes to seeking God's help. We're confident that God makes no such distinctions, either, in providing His grace. In the abundance of mail we receive, it thrills us every time when someone adds a line or so saying something like, "I pray for your ministry continually." The last half of this year is filled with things for which we covet your prayers: our first-ever conference here in Bend; my first-ever European speaking tour; Dave's trips to Canada, Brazil, and Russia; wisdom as we consider relocating to quarters here that we would own rather than lease; and certainly, daily protection, provision, and fruitfulness as we seek to glorify the Lord and bless His people. T.A. McMahonExecutive Director ----------------------------------------------------------------------------TBC Extra ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is theophostic counseling? by Jan Fletcher Theophostic Prayer Ministry (TPM) is taking thousands of churches by storm around the world. This fast-growing inner-healing technique is an offshoot of Agnes Sanford's teachings. Sanford, deceased for over two decades, advocated healing of the memories through mystical prayer. She taught that one should visualize a past situation, and then envision Jesus coming into the memory to solve the problem. In TPM, a Theophostic-trained facilitator asks the ministry recipient to drift back and identify the first memory he or she can remember in which was felt the same negative emotion that has been "triggered" in the present time and is the current source of trouble. The facilitator helps to identify a lie embedded in that memory, such as, "I'll never be safe." The recipient then prays to Jesus to reveal the truth with the expectation that both the lie and the emotional pain will be vanquished. Ed Smith, who launched Theophostic Prayer Ministry in Campbellsville, Ky., in 1996, says Theophostic facilitators "ask the Lord to reveal His truth" as clients "watch for, listen [to] and feel" a special revelation from Jesus, who "has the ability to enter into our historical moment and reveal truth in the experience."1 The TPM facilitator then declares that the source of the revelation is actually Jesus. "During Theophostic Prayer Ministry, demons sometimes masquerade as Jesus, appearing visually in people's minds looking like Jesus," warns Smith. But, don't be alarmed by this, he says, as it's easy to spot the demonic imposter.2 "I have found that when a person looks carefully at the face of a demon 'Jesus,' it will usually be dark or hazy, or look angry, scornful, or evil."3 Smith also warns against all forms of channeling or divining the future using TPM, because he admits that facilitators have used it for divination.4 In TPM, truth is defined by how it feels, and Smith elevates a mystical encounter with Jesus over teaching and discipleship. He warns of "clutter"5 that can hinder TPM, which includes logical thinking, because this will interfere with receiving truth.6 In Smith's thinking, the mystical method must take place before teaching, insight, and encouragement can have any effect on the person's emotional distress. Smith says: "As Christians are released from their lie-based thinking, they will be better able to appropriate the biblical instruction they receive through other cognitive venues....We need to experience the freeing presence of Christ in our lives so that we can absorb the Word of God and be changed by it."7 Smith claims that a feeling of peace validates the entire mystical experience as being from God, and this "Peace rarely, if ever, comes via the cognitive instruction of the facilitator/counselor. If cognitive truth resulted in peace, our churches would be full of peace-filled people."8 In Smith's view, preaching, teaching, and discipleship-non-mystical means of receiving God's truth-do not enable believers to fulfill Col. 3:15's command to "let the peace of God rule in your hearts...." However, this verse follows Paul's commands in the previous verses to "set your affection [to exercise the mind] on the things above"; to "mortify [subdue] therefore your members which are upon the earth" and "put on...mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another...." Smith claims that these cognitive activities are useless in obtaining the peace of Christ. Following strong criticism of his earlier training materials, Smith's latest manual now has frequent, highlighted warnings against the generation of false memories during TPM. Obviously, if one has to sign a "hold harmless" agreement9 before engaging in TPM, as Smith recommends, TPM carries significant risk for legal liability. In Smith's previous writings, he advocated sneaking TPM past local church leadership by avoiding the name "Theophostic" until people in the church have experienced it through miracle healings, thereby building an experiential argument for the method.10 Smith has now changed his advice. Although he warns of a "Deacon George," who may claim TPM "is of the devil," based on web-based reports by apologists,11 he now compares a church's rejection of TPM to a body's rejection of an organ transplant.12 So, his advice is to compromise the local Body's immune system from the pulpit. Smith recommends that the "preaching pastor...gradually move a congregation in the direction of embracing the principles taught in this manual....Many people have never been exposed to this type of thinking and, as a result, may need some time to process it."13 God's lambs are hearing sermons straight out of Smith's TPM manual without knowing they are surreptitiously being prepared for a Theophostic invasion in their church. Smith previously developed a new theology he calls "lie-based theology," which stands in contrast to "sin-based theology [which] believes that the root of my problem is my sin." Smith said he realized sin-based theology "is a misconception and a grave error," because, he notes: "it doesn't work."14 In his 2005-revised training manual, one of Smith's original nine Theophostic principles-"God heals the lost and saved equally with no preference over either"-quietly disappeared15 Smith says of TPM, "People consistently say it was from God. This is even the case with those who do not profess any relationship with God."16 And, later he says, "God does not seem to require confession of sin from a nonbeliever."17 But how can a lost person have the "peace of Christ"-that which Smith defines as the end result of Theophostic healing? If a lost person can have it, and claims that God showed it to him, then it's not the peace of Christ: it's a false gospel! If a lost person gets a word of truth from Jesus without repentance, it's a false Jesus! Smith has consistently shifted his terminology, switching from "genuine recovery" to "genuine renewal," and repackaging his concepts to stay ahead of critics, and also to ensure that TPM remains appealing to conservative churches. Don't be fooled by cosmetic changes! Theophostic Prayer Ministry's core premise18 continues to promote a false Jesus and a false gospel. (Jan Fletcher is a Christian journalist who has reported on TPM since June 2003. Her research is on the web at http://www.lyingspirits.com/.) Endnotes 1. Ed M. Smith, Basic Seminar Manual (2005), New Creation Publishing, 137-138. 2. Ibid., 140. 3. Ibid., 233. 4. Ibid., 194. 5. Ibid., 142. 6. Ibid., 145. 7. Ibid., 288. 8. Ibid., 165. 9. Ibid., 202-4.10. Ed M. Smith, Beyond Tolerable Recovery, 4th ed., Alathia Publishing, 252-53.11. Smith, BSM, 332.12. Ibid., 317.13. Ibid., 309-10.14. Smith, BTR, 224-2515. Ibid., 116. 16. Ibid., 136.17. Ibid., 147.18. CRI's Elliot Miller claims there is nothing unbiblical about the "core Theophostic theory and method" in his two-part evaluation on TPM, published in the CRJ, Vol. 29, numbers 2 and 3. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Please visit our online shopping area at http://www.tbcorders.org/ to browse our complete catalog of products.----------------------------------------------------------------------------The Berean Call is a nonprofit 501 [c] [3], tax-exempt corporation registered in the State of Oregon. It is overseen by an independent board which has full and final authority over all corporate assets, personnel, and affairs. 09/06) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------EMAIL COMMANDS: To subscribe, send an email to: updates-subscribe@lists.thebereancall.orgTo cancel your subscription, send an emailto:updates-unsubscribe@lists.thebereancall.org -- No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/437 - Release Date: 04/09/2006