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Brannon Howse

What Would Jesus Say To Today’s Religious Leaders?

One of the most misused Bible verses of our time is Matthew 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

I’ll explain this scripture abuse shortly, but first, to grasp the correct context of Matthew 5:13-16, we need to go back to Matthew 5:1. Let’s start with verse 1 and see what’s really going on by the time we read Matthew 5:13 (NKJV): And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Here, Jesus is teaching what are known as The Beatitudes. They are part of the “Sermon on the Mount.”

Notice the description that sets up this event. Matthew says Jesus “was seated.” This is significant because in the first century, it was common for Jewish teachers to sit and teach. So Jesus’ sitting is a sign of His authority.

Next: what does Jesus mean by “the poor in spirit,” “those who mourn,” and “blessed are In Matthew 5:3, the meek?” Biblically, being poor in spirit means Jesus teaches to acknowledge one’s spiritual bankruptcy—to that those who acknowledge that you’re depraved, sinful. acknowledge there’s To confirm this, Paul says in Romans nothing they can do 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the to save themselves glory of God” and in Romans 3:12, “There is recognize that none righteous, no, not one.” Apart from faith, they are spiritually repentance, and the righteous life of Jesus Christ being imputed to us, even our righteous deeds look bankrupt. Salvation like wickedness to God (see also Isaiah 64:6). is all from Christ, In Matthew 5:3, Jesus teaches that those Christ alone. who acknowledge there’s nothing they can do to save themselves recognize that they are spiritually bankrupt. Salvation is all from Christ, Christ alone.

Associating blessing with being the poor in spirit would have been offensive to the religious leaders who first heard these words. In that culture, much of a person’s status was based on his riches or wealth.

People thought that the richer you were, the more blessed by God you were. Many believed that a man’s riches were a sign of his spiritual condition and favor with God. Possessing great riches was evidence that the person was spiritually superior to others.

Yet many of these well-to-do, influential people were not believers. Jesus called them white-washed tombs, dogs, vipers —see Matthew 23, for instance. So, for Jesus to declare that people need to be poor would have been contrary to the predominant worldview at the time.

Continued on Page 12 Worldview Weekend Digest Winter/Spring 2015

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n this three part DVD series Brannon explains why Revelation 17:5 describes the false, global church as “the Mother of Harlots.” Brannon will take you to Genesis 11 where the children of this harlot are birthed at the Tower of Babel.

Almost all of the world’s false religions began at the tower of Babel and almost all of them have a few things in common that include the mother/son cult of Semiramis (the queen of Babylon) and Tammuz (her son that is said to also be her reincarnated husband Nimrod).

Rome impose on individuals and why so many?

• When did the Church of Rome begin and when did it formally go into apostasy? • Why is it unbiblical to confess your sins to a priest?

• Why is it a doctrine of Satan for the Church of Rome to forbid nuns and priests to marry?

• Why was Peter not the first Pope? • Why is it unbiblical to pray to Mary or to ask her to make intercession for you? • What is the goal of Mariology? • Where in the Bible did Mary admit she was a sinner despite the claims of the Church of Rome that she was born sinless? • How does the Church of Rome elevate Mary to the place of God? • Why is it a heresy to teach that in the Catholic communion the wafer and juice become the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ? • How does the Church of Rome use John 6:53-56 out of context to support the belief of transubstantiation? • What are the major foundations upon which the Church of Rome are based and how can a Christian use Scripture to destroy these arguments raised up against God? • What is the most effective way to share the Biblical gospel with someone that is deceived by the false gospel of the Church of Rome?

These and many more topics are examined in light of Biblical truth. Mike and Brannon use an abundance of Scripture to refute the false teachings of the Church of Rome and to affirm the Biblical gospel.

Brannon details how Semiramis is documented in Jeremiah 7 & 44 as the Queen of heaven. Today, the queen of heaven is worshipped by the Church of Rome as Mary. Tammuz is mentioned in Ezekiel 8:14.

I Kings 18:19 mentions the prophets of Baal and prophets Asherah which is Nimrod and Semiramis by different names. In Acts 19:23-28, we see the people of Ephesus worshiping Diana which is also known as Semiramis.

Many people are not aware of how the mother/son cult is today represented in aspects and traditions found within Easter, Christmas, and Lent. This mother/son cult also is the source of Mother Earth and Gaia worship or feminism. According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the National Park Service, the Statue of Liberty, which was given to America by the Masons in France, is also a representation of Semiramis. Brannon explains how Feminist Gnosticism and Patriotic Gnosticism have infiltrated America and many churches. All of these movements can be traced right back to Babylonian cults.

Brannon Howse is the president and founder of the conference series Worldview Weekend and the website Worldview Weekend.com. The author of ten books, Brannon has been a guest on more than 1,500 radio and television programs and has been featured in such publications as the Washington Times and appeared on such television programs as The O’Reilly Factor with Bill O’Reilly on Fox News. Brannon is the host of a national, daily radio program as well as the host of The Worldview Weekend Hour, a weekly television program. Brannon’s greatest passion is the teaching of God’s Word and the importance of a biblical worldview, biblical apologetics, and biblical theology and doctrine.

WHY THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS

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Mike Gendron explains why he left the Catholic Church after 37 years and now serves in a ministry to reach those deceived in the false gospel of the Church of Rome. • Why are so many evangelicals embracing Catholics as Christians? • What roll did Billy Graham, Chuck Colson, and Bill Bright play in introducing Catholics as Christians to evangelicalism?

• What is the Templeton Prize and why is it shocking that Billy Graham, Chuck Colson, and Bill Bright accepted the award? • What was the goal of John Templeton and his Templeton Prize? • What does the Catholic Church teach that one must do in order to be saved? • When does the Catholic Church teach that one is regenerated? • How does the Catholic Church teach that one is justified? • Does the Catholic Church teach that one is justified temporarily or permanently? • How does the Church of Rome diminish the glory of Jesus Christ? • What is an indulgence? • What is the treasury of merit and who controls it? • How many indulgences are needed to get out of purgatory? • How long does a person have to stay in purgatory for each sin before they are released? • Does the Pope have to do time in purgatory? • Why is purgatory completely unbiblical? • How does one become a saint according to the Church of Rome? • How many anathemas has the Church of Rome pronounced on the Protestant Church?

• How many anathemas does the Church of

WHY THE MOTHER OF HAARLOTS

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Mike Riddle

Topics Why the Prosperity Gospel is a False Gospel The Jesus of the Cults Versus the Jesus of the Bible The Danger of Mysticism

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A Biblical Look at Pot, Gambling, Pornography, Abortion, & Doctor-Assisted Suicide The Dangers of Moralizing: Why Christians Should Not Attempt to Force Christian Values on to Unbelievers How Hannah in I Samuel 2 Understood and Trusted in God’s Total Control, Rule, and Goodness and Why You Can Too Growing up in the Church but Not Saved: A Biblical Study of True and False Converts Through the Eyes of Samuel in I Samuel Chapter 3.

A Rocket Scientist Debunks Evolution (by Test-Pilot and Real Rocket Scientist Jason Pratt) Testimony of a Backslidden Atheist (By former atheist Jason Pratt) How To Study The Bible in Context Plenty of Question and Answer Time with the Speakers Critical Thinking Skills That Disarm Evolutionists The Bible Versus Millions of Years

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What Would Jesus Say To Today’s Religious Leaders (continued)

And what about “blessed are those who mourn?” Jesus’ words are especially ironic because another word for blessed is happy. Happy are those who mourn? You want to be truly happy or blessed? Mourn. What Jesus means is that we should experience godly sorrow that You want to be truly produces repentance unto salvation. happy or blessed?

Second Corinthians 7:9-11 teaches the Mourn. What Jesus same thing. Godly sorrow produces repentance means is that we for salvation. We mourn because we are spiritually bankrupt. And blessed are those who understand that should experience godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation. godly sorrow that Moving on to verse 5, Jesus adds, “Blessed are produces repentance unto salvation. the meek.” Another word for meek is humble. This is not a groveling, wimpy humility people mistakenly think of. The better way to understand Jesus is that meek means power under control.

Counter-Cultural Worldview All three of these messages went against the culture of the day, and it goes counter to the culture of our day as well. Meek people are not applauded or respected. They are often seen as weak. The common saying “good guys finish last” describes our cultural attitude. Humble people who acknowledge their sinfulness and dependence on Christ generally are not held up as the standard of success in our society. But now, as then, Jesus turns our thinking upside down. The rich people thought to be blessed of God were actually cursed. The meek, not the mighty, “shall inherit the earth.”

But wait, as they say, there’s more. Consider Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Where do we find the prescription for righteous living? In God’s Word. And how does “a young man cleanse his way” (Psalm 119:9)? By heeding the Word of God. So if I hunger and thirst for righteousness, what do I do? I study God’s Word. If I want to walk in obedience, sanctification, and faithfulness, I study God’s Word, and by studying God’s Word, I will be filled.

Jesus goes on in verse 7 to say, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” He’s speaking of those who have compassion, grace, and service. In one of my television programs on the spiritual fruit of a maturing Christian, we saw that the Bible teaches love is patient and kind. The word kind in 1 Corinthians 13:4 implies service to others. You’re not just a “nice

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person” who smiles at people. It means you provide consistent Christian service to others. Humility is also implied here in serving others. First Corinthians 13:4 confirms Matthew 5:7 as scripture always confirms scripture.

Then, verse 8—“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”—describes those who are sanctified. The only way to be pure in heart is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through salvation. Otherwise, what are we? Our righteous deeds are counted as wickedness, and we’re dead: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” (Romans 6:23).

The only way to be pure in heart is through having a new heart.

Your stony heart is replaced, and old things pass away. You’re made a new creation in Christ. That comes only through salvation, justification, and the sanctification process of faithfulness and ongoing obedience to God’s Word.

Verse 9 gets even more interesting.

“Blessed are the “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they peacemakers, for shall be called the sons of God.” Blessed they shall be called are those who preach the Gospel of peace.

Isn’t that how Scripture often describes the sons of God.” the Gospel? For instance, Romans 10:15 Blessed are those declares, “How beautiful are the feet of who preach the those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Gospel of peace.

How do you bring peace to people? By preaching the Gospel so they can accept it, be justified and sanctified, and their sin debt paid through Jesus Christ. The Bible describes this as a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Preaching the Gospel of peace makes us peacemakers—and “blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” Verse 10 offers more blessing—on “those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” For Christians, this verse is especially reassuring because 2 Timothy 3:12 reminds us that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” This clearly is not a man-centered message that’s likely to be well-accepted today. It is a Christ-centered message, a Gospel-centered message. Living this out requires self-denial and the uncomfortable dying-to-self truth.

Continued on Page 16

Worldview Weekend Digest Winter/Spring 2015

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What Would Jesus Say To Today’s Religious Leaders (continued)

But what is the man-centered gospel of today? “Be happy. Get your best life now. Be part of the group. Join the consensus. Don’t swim against the current; go with the flow.” But Christ tells us to stand for that which honors the Lord, according to His righteous standard—and risk being persecuted in the process. The persecution part of the promise doesn’t sell to the church very well, and that’s why you seldom hear an altar call say anything like, “Come forward, receive Christ, and begin to be persecuted.” That’s not good for church growth numbers.

Instead, most churches, revivals, crusades, or evangelistic events promise that if you come to Christ, you’ll get something. For instance, I have a video of false teacher Myles Monroe in which he says: People ain’t interested in no blood. . . . They don’t want to hear about the blood of Christ. They don’t want to hear about the blood in the boardroom. They don’t want to hear about the blood on the playground. People ain’t interested in blood. . . . Don’t preach Jesus.

So what does he say to preach? Tell what Jesus (supposedly) will do for people: put them on top, give them dominion, prosper! That’s the mancentered gospel of today. Make Christ your personal butler to give you what you want.

Quite to the contrary, Job 5:7 warns that trials and tribulations are like sparks from a fire. Come to Christ, and let the tribulation begin. Suffering is the true way with Christ. Churches which conveniently leave out this part are led by hirelings, not godly pastors. The man-centered, pop psychology gospel produces nothing but false converts.

Now, look at verse 11: Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus concentrates on internal, not external, values. He confronts several religious groups here—not just one. His confrontation with these four religious groups brings me to the focal point of what I think Jesus would say to today’s leaders. And what is that?

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True Salt and Light I believe He would say, “I am concerned about the heart. I want to focus on what’s going on inside you, not so much in your external religious traditions, your pietism, self-help formulas, religious agendas, church campaigns, and political coalitions. If you get the heart right, everything else will fall into place.”

Jesus emphasizes this point later in Matthew 5:21-22: You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.” But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

Being “angry” is internal. If you’re angry with your brother and hate him enough to think of killing him, that is internal.

Jesus presses the point further in Matthew 5:27-28:

Jesus concentrates on internal, not external, values. He confronts several religious groups here—not just You have heard that it was said to those one. His confrontation of old, “You shall not commit adultery.” with these four religious groups But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already brings me to the focal committed adultery with her in his point of what I think heart.

Jesus would say to today’s leaders.

Lust. That is certainly internal. By lusting, you commit adultery in your heart.

The words heart and mind are often interchangeable in the Scriptures. Together, in fact, they are used 826 times in the Bible. Think of how the following verses apply: • Matthew 15:18—“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.”

Continued on Page 22

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21

What Would Jesus Say To Today’s Religious Leaders (continued)

• Romans 10:10—“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

• Matthew 22:37—“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.”

For Jesus, the heart of the matter is the heart.

As we teach about biblical worldview—whether through Worldview Weekends or anywhere else biblical worldview is taught—we affirm that the foundation of all of a person’s values and conduct is his or her worldview. If you have the right foundation, built on God’s Word, then your external world will be ruled by the internal transformation of your life.

Yet, despite Christ’s teaching about the heart, far too many of our religious leaders focus on externalities. They believe if they can get society to act the way they want it to act, if they can get control of Congress, the White House, and the governors’ mansions, then they can make cultural changes.

But you see, they’re focusing on the external, not the internal.

To support this quest for external “redemption,” many of the religious right twist Scripture to suit their agendas. They misuse the idea that we need to be salt and light. Scripture teaches that we are salt and light if we are Christians living out The Beatitudes. Yet many religious activists rationalize their involvement in issues by asserting that they are being salt and light. But are they really?

“To be salt and light,” they insist, “we’ve got to pass this legislation or support that political measure. We need believers to run for office and must win the next election.”

Politicking may or may not be okay for Christians, but it is definitely not what Jesus is talking about in Matthew’s Gospel. While I do believe we should go out and vote for the best candidates to uphold God’s purpose for government, (I’ve even run for office in my hometown), Christ’s Sermon on the Mount is not calling for political activism. To the contrary, He asserts that our issues are not external; the important ones are all internal. Get the hearts of people right, and other things will fall in line!

Because of this erroneous teaching about salt and light, many religious leaders today are, in fact, not being salt and light. They’re not preaching a biblical Gospel. Sometimes they make it sound biblical, but they undermine the message by promoting false teachers and ecumenical enterprises. Many others never even teach the Gospel at all. They teach Christian activism, not biblical salt-and-light living.

A careful examination of what Jesus actually says in Matthew 5:13-16 22

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reveals the inner issues He’s really talking about. Here’s what He tells the disciples: You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.

Yet, despite Christ’s teaching about the heart, far too many The “good works” described here of our religious leaders focus are not works of political activism. on externalities. They believe if Certainly we can defend the life they can get society to act the of the unborn, we can fight active way they want it to act, if they euthanasia, we can oppose samecan get control of Congress, the sex marriage, and do so out of an understanding and defense of White House, and the governors’ biblical truth. But this is not a call to mansions, then they can make Christian activism. Jesus says simply cultural changes. But you see, that salt-and-light people exhibit they’re focusing on the external, The Beatitudes. not the internal.

Spiritual Line-Up Take a look at how this lines up with the preceding Beatitudes. If you want to be salt and light, then be poor in spirit. Acknowledge your spiritual bankruptcy. Be someone who has mourned over your own depravity. Have godly sorrow that produces repentance unto salvation.

Hunger and thirst for righteousness—God’s standard, His Word. Become a person of compassion, full of grace and Christian service. If you want to be salt and light, then be pure in heart, a believer sanctified through ongoing faithfulness and obedience to God’s Word. Be a peacemaker by preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, the Gospel of peace.

When you are salt and light, what are you like? You take on the characteristics of salt.

Continued on Page 32 Worldview Weekend Digest Winter/Spring 2015

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What Would Jesus Say To Today’s Religious Leaders (continued)

Salt purifies. You can clean out a wound by washing it in saltwater.

The purifying is what makes salt in a wound sting. The church, too, should sting the consciences of unbelievers.

Salt also makes a person thirsty. Saltiness motivates people to seek water. Spiritually, that means to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Salt is a preservative. You put it on meat to keep it from rotting.

Likewise, Christians can be a preservative within the culture. A culture is simply a group of people living their lives in a common environment. So a “culture war” is a spiritual sample of the fruit from within a culture. It’s a symptom of the spiritual condition of that nation, land, or people. So when Christians act as they’re called to, they can Judgment also provides stop—or at least slow down—the rot.

An additional value of salt and light an opportunity for to a culture is that the presence of Christians Christians to offer an in a nation can delay or delete God’s judgment “object lesson”: If you on that nation. It can cause God to show think national judgment mercy by not levying divine judgment or “giving them over” to hopelessness, (Romans is bad, imagine how 1:28). Because of the presence of Christians, bad eternal judgment He may choose to give more grace to a nation. will be.

In this sense, Christians are a preservative by preserving a nation from judgment for a period of time. History shows, though, that eventually judgment becomes absolutely necessary, and Christians are subject to it along with everyone else. Yet the judgment is not against them but against the nation and its turning from God. Judgment also provides an opportunity for Christians to offer an “object lesson:” If you think national judgment is bad, imagine how bad eternal judgment will be.

Salt and light are reminders that the moral law is written on the heart and mind of every person. Romans 1, 2, and 3 explain that no one has an excuse on the Day of Judgment because the moral law—what God expects—is written on the heart and mind. That’s why everyone everywhere knows murder is wrong, lying is wrong, rape is wrong, adultery is wrong. The conscience tells them so. And we, by preaching the Gospel and living the Christian life, should prick the consciences of unbelievers.

Jesus offers a warning to us in Matthew 5:13: But if the salt shall lose its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

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In his study Bible, John MacArthur makes a poignant observation about this verse. He points out that “pure salt cannot lose its flavor or effectiveness.” So what does that imply? It suggests that pure Christians, true Christians, those who are living the Christian life according to God’s standard—reflected here in The Beatitudes—cannot lose their flavor or effectiveness. Isn’t that fascinating? But MacArthur goes on to explain something Jesus and the people of His time knew that most of us do not: Pure salt cannot lose its flavor or effectiveness, but the salt that is common in the Dead Sea area, where Jesus was teaching, is contaminated with gypsum, other minerals, and may have a flat taste or be ineffective as a preservative. Such mineral salts were useful for little more than keeping footpaths free of vegetation.

In other words, some salt really is useless for its intended purpose. First century Jews knew bad salt was only good for throwing onto the paths Continued on Page 36

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What Would Jesus Say To Today’s Religious Leaders (continued)

or trails to keep down the weeds. By analogy, a false Christian can lose his or her flavor and become worthless. True Christians, however, will not lose their effectiveness. They walk in faithfulness and obedience, living according to The Beatitudes.

Four-Way Stop Knowing a bit more about the four specific religious groups Jesus addressed in His Sermon on the Mount should give us pause. I’ll explain why.

Four distinct groups made up the religious professionals of Jesus’ day: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots. And to continue answering the question, “what would Jesus say to the religious leaders of our day,” we need to understand what Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day. While He clearly directs His remarks in Matthew 5 to believers, these other religious folks are in the audience, and much of what He says goes against their traditions and divergent worldviews. So who were they and how did they view the world?

Pharisees These guys were the legalists. Tradition and rules dominated everything they thought, said, or did. Does that sound familiar? It should. Many fundamentalists closer in history to us were very much into the external. They focused on how you dressed and how your hair was cut, on the things you did and did not do.

I would not have disagreed with some of the fundamentalists in the way that a person should act, but conduct and appearance should be an outgrowth of the heart, not a concentration on external things. Pharisees didn’t pay much attention to the heart or people’s motives. They didn’t concern themselves with teaching theology, doctrine, and good discipleship to generate heart-produced righteous living. They taught on the dos and the don’ts: legalism, externals, and tradition.

Sadducees Sadducees were the liberals of the day. Nowadays, we have this in the form of the Emergent Church and postmodernism. In the 1950s and 60s, we had modernists. They thought reason and knowledge could solve all issues.

Modernists rejected the essential Christian doctrines, undermined the authority of Scripture, downplayed the cross, and minimized the true Gospel.

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Scripture, for them, did not offer solutions. That was a realm for human reason. Now we’ve gone even further with post-modernists who say, “What do you mean by reason? Truth and reality are created by man, not

by God. Everyone has his or her own idea of truth.”

Like the Sadducees then, we have our religious liberals, modernists, and post-modernists now who make up the religious left.

They give us a post-modern-dominated society and the Emergent Church.

Essenes

It’s prideful to think that if we live in a bubble, we look a certain way, we dress “just so,” then we’re spiritually okay. Again, that is concentrating on the external, not the internal.

The Essenes were isolationists. They “moved out” geographically to separate themselves from everyone else. They wanted little or no contact with the culture or other people.

Essenes pursued what we would think of as religious pietism. They prided themselves on their isolationism, thinking that it positioned them as the spiritual elite.

Do we have folks like that today?

I think we do. People who move away from big cities sometimes err in their isolationism. “You need to move as far away as possible,” they say, “and live in a small group or commune of like-minded people.” They believe it is a righteousness thing to do, that they are spiritually elite by protecting themselves “in a bubble” from other influences. To that I echo the scripture that says we’re to be in the world, but not of the world ( John 17:16). While there are many things we definitely shouldn’t participate in, we’re not called to isolationism. It’s prideful to think that if we live in a bubble, we look a certain way, we dress “just so,” then we’re spiritually okay. Again, that is concentrating on the external, not the internal.

As I write this in summer 2014, there have been recent stories of at least two religious leaders in America, well known for their long lists of legalistic, isolationist ways—how men should dress, what women should wear, how families should be structured, what parents and their children should and should not do. They seem to teach that “if you follow these formulas, you’ve arrived spiritually.” Yet what good has this concentration on externals done for these leaders? Both have been accused of shameful, private, heart-produced behaviors masked by their externals. The Essenes were guilty of the same, dysfunctional isolationist thing.

Continued on Page 40 Worldview Weekend Digest Winter/Spring 2015

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TESTIMONIES “Contend was a truly encouraging and edifying conference, where adults and young adults alike were able to hear the word of God accurately taught and proclaimed to equip the saints in contending for the faith and to glorify God. All speakers brought a unique and dynamic contribution to the conference, varying topics with in-depth study of God’s word with available resources to continue learning. I really enjoyed hearing from Brannon about contending against the “ISMS” of the day, which threaten our society as well as true biblical theology.

Jesse Johnson contributed a humbling and edifying message on the Christian’s life from Philippians 1:21. Jared Carlson contended for the validity of the Bible, the infallible word of God, as well as clarifying the issue of homosexuality in light of the Gospel. And finally Jason Carlson taught on the real truth in regard to evolution. These speakers were definitely my favorite and the notes I have taken I will surely share with others. I thank everyone who made it possible for the Contend 2014 conference and I hope that this conference will be able to happen again to continue to equip believers to contend earnestly for the faith.”

—Taylor College Student, Minnesota, 19 “I enjoyed Jason and Jared Carlson the most. I loved that they talked about the problems that Christian college and high school students have going against them almost every day, such as homosexuality and evolution. This was the best Christian student conference I’ve ever been to. Thank you for bringing this together, Brannon Howse.”

—Rachel High School Student, Alabama “I have loved my time at Contend 2014! I love the fact that I am treated as a young adult instead of an immature kid. Contend has been a great experience because everything has been focused on Christ, versus keeping us entertained with fluffy messages. I have enjoyed the straight forward facts. Thank you to all of the speakers and behind the scenes workers for all of your time, teaching, and work for us youth. Looking forward to Contend 2015!”

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What Would Jesus Say To Today’s Religious Leaders (continued)

Zealots Can you say, “Political activists?” That’s who the Zealots were. They wanted power. Their idea of redemption was to reform society through political power or revolution. That sounds like a lot of our religious right, doesn’t it? Win the next election. Boycott the corporations you don’t agree with.

This approach flies directly in the face of being salt and light. We’re not called to be political agitators. Am I saying we shouldn’t be involved politically?

No. But balance is the key. Let me explain.

Someone called my radio program and asked, “Brannon, what is your belief about how much we should be involved politically? Should we vote?”

The answer to that is simple: yes, vote. You’d be crazy not to. Too many people have died to give Americans that right. We dare not take it lightly. We should participate in choosing our elected officials. I’m convinced, however, that some of our election tallies aren’t kept quite like they should be. I read, for instance, that in the 2012 presidential election, more people voted in some districts than actually live A quick search online will in those districts. Concerns like that make show you just how many of me question the validity of how elections these folks preach about are conducted, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t participate. being salt and light, but Should we support measures that it’s always about Christian uphold the biblical purpose of government? activism. Their teachings Absolutely. You would be foolish not to vote do not line up with Paul’s. in favor of good ordinances for your town In 1 Corinthians 2:2, or initiatives on the ballot. You certainly should encourage elected officials to support legislation that defends the family, keeps the airwaves open for the proclamation of the Gospel, protects parental authority, and guards the pulpit to keep it free.

The proper balance, though, is to take care of the internal first.

What to Do and Who to Avoid Christians are supposed to light up the world. Christ is the light, and those of us who accept Him as Lord and Savior are meant to exhibit the light of Christ. Yet you will find many religious leaders who do not encourage that. Instead, some undermine the Gospel by mixing with false teachers.

On TV, radio, or the Internet, they interview people from the Word of Faith or the New Apostolic Reformation. They dialog with Roman Catholics.

They talk to Mormons. They even enter into spiritual activities with Mormons 40

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like Glenn Beck and join in spiritual enterprises with Catholic priests and Catholic groups. They involve themselves in one initiative after the other, one event after another, that undermine the Gospel, and yet they claim to be salt and light. Many of them aren’t even believers, so they can’t be salt and light. They are goats, not sheep.

A quick search online will show you just how many of these folks preach about being salt and light, but it’s always about Christian activism. Their teachings do not line up with Paul’s. In 1 Corinthians 2:2, for example, he says, “For I determine not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Paul didn’t call us to political activism or boycotts. He called us to preach Christ And thereby to be peacemakers. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, did Paul say, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received—a voter guide?” Not hardly. He said: For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

(Emphasis mine) Unlike Paul, many pro-life, pro-family religious right leaders try to sell us on Christian activism. But here’s how we’re supposed to understand the role of the believer: Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14-16) Much preaching today offers only an aroma that stinks. Lost people claim to be saved, just as many leaders of Jesus’ day smelled of religious stench.

Christians, though, can offer a sweet aroma if we exhibit The Beatitudes, preach the Gospel of peace, and avoid those who manipulate the Scriptures to further their own political ends. Jesus may have harsh words for people like them, but as true salt and light, you can be among those to whom He repeats Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Worldview Weekend Digest Winter/Spring 2015

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Put Your Beliefs to the Test Grave Influence Making Sure Your Worldview Lines Up 21 Radicals and Their Worldviews With the Word of God that Rule America From the Grave

Religious Trojan Horse How False Teaching From Neo-Evangelicals, The New Religious Right, and the Spiritual Left, Have Invaded the Church to Establish a Coming Religious One World Government

Twisted Scripture, Twisted Theology Untwisting the Most Commonly Distorted Scriptures that Lead to Bad Theology and an Unbiblical Worldview

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Listen to Worldview Weekend Radio with Brannon Howse Live at 1pm CT on the VCY America Radio Network & then Stay Tuned for Crosstalk at 2pm CT You can also listen via our FREE app at WorldviewWeekend.com/app Illinois Charleston - VCY(S) 90.5 FM Olney - WPTH 88.1 FM

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Stream VCY America 24 hours a day at www.VCYAmerica.org The VCY America radio network features solid Bible teaching programs, live call-in programs on issues of concern to the Christian community, news and commentary, programs reaching children with the Gospel, and conservative, uplifting Christian music.

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Speaker Bios John MacArthur: is the pastorteacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, President of The Master’s College and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry.

In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. The emphasis of his pulpit ministry is the careful study and verse-by-verse exposition of the Bible, with special attention devoted to the historical and grammatical background behind each passage.

John is also President and featured teacher with Grace to You. Founded in 1969, Grace to You is the nonprofit organization responsible for developing, producing, and distributing John’s books, audio resources, and the “Grace to You” radio and television programs. “Grace to You” radio airs more than 1,000 times daily throughout the English-speaking world, reaching major population centers on every continent of the world. It also airs nearly 1,000 times daily in Spanish, reaching 23 countries from Europe to Latin America. “Grace to You” television airs weekly on DirectTV in the United States, and is available for free on the Internet worldwide. All of John’s 3,000 sermons, spanning more than four decades of ministry, are available for free on this website.

John has written nearly 400 books and study guides, including the MacArthur Study Bible, the cornerstone resource of his ministry.

Brannon Howse: Brannon’s greatest passion is the teaching of God’s Word and the importance of a Biblical worldview, Biblical apologetics, and Biblical theology and doctrine.

While raised in a Christian home, Brannon was a false convert until he was an adult.

Brannon regularly writes and speaks on the importance that Biblical evangelism include the use of the moral law and the Biblical explanation of true repentance.

As the author of twelve books, Brannon has been a guest on more than 1,500 radio and television programs and has been featured in such publications as the Washington Times and appeared on such television programs as The O’Reilly Factor with Bill O’Reilly on Fox News.

Brannon is the host of a national radio program that is broadcast nation-wide as well as the host of The Worldview Weekend

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Worldview Weekend Digest Winter/Spring 2015

Hour, a weekly television program that is viewed in 120 nations around the world.

Worldview Weekend Radio can be heard each day on 50 stations live at 1pm CT and at WorldviewRadio.com Dr. Thomas Ice: Tommy Ice has authored and co-authored over 30 books, written hundreds of articles, and is a frequent conference speaker. He has served as a pastor for 17 years. Dr. Ice has a B.A. from Howard Payne University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. from Tyndale Theological Seminary and finished doctoral studies at the University of Wales in Lampeter. He lives with his wife Janice in Justin, Texas and they have three grown sons and five grandchildren.

Dr. Henry Morris III: Dr. Henry M. Morris III holds four earned degrees, including a D.Min. from Luther Rice Seminary and the Presidents and Key Executives MBA from Pepperdine University. A former college professor, administrator, business executive, and senior pastor, Dr. Morris is an articulate and passionate speaker. The eldest son of ICR’s founder, Dr. Morris has served for many years in conference in and writing ministry.

He has authored numerous articles and books. Dr. Morris can be heard on Science, Scripture, and Salvation which can be found on WorldviewRadio.com Mike Gendron: For over 30 years, Evangelist Mike Gendron was a devout Roman Catholic and a strong defender of the “one true church.” He was taught, from a very early age, to trust and rely on the church, its priests, the sacraments and his own good works for salvation. However, in 1981, while attending an evangelical seminar, he realized the Bible is the supreme authority for knowing truth. God led him to then help organize the very first Little Rock Scripture Study at a Catholic Church in Dallas. Mike soon realized that many of the teachings of the Catholic religion were not found in the Bible and the Roman Catholic plan of salvation was diametrically opposed to the Gospel of grace revealed in the Bible. Mike left the Catholic Church in 1985 for a church where the true Gospel is proclaimed and the Scriptures are the final authority in all matters of faith.

Mike is the host of Proclaiming The Gospel-TV which can be heard on WorldviewRadio.com

Justin Peters: Raised in a Southern Baptist church but genuinely saved as a preacher, Justin has studied in great depth the word-faith movement. His Clouds Without Water seminars, which incorporate videos of false teachers, confront and refute the biblically bankrupt word-faith system.

Justin has taught on the word-faith movement across the U.S. and in ten countries and has attended numerous wordfaith churches and conferences to support his research. Justin and his wife, Kathy, live in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Justin is host of the Justin Peters Program which can be heard on WorldviewRadio.com Jesse Johnson: Jesse is an elder and the Teaching Pastor at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, VA (in the Washington, D. C. area). Jesse is a graduate of The University of New Mexico (Sociology), and The Master’s Seminary (M. Div., Th.M.), where he taught Apologetics and Evangelism. Prior to coming to Immanuel, Jesse served as the Outreach Pastor at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA. He has edited a number of publications including Fundamentals of the Faith, Co-editor of Evangelism in the John MacArthur Pastoral Library Series, and was a contributor to Men of the Word and Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong. Jesse and his wife Deidre were married in 2006 and have two daughters, Madison and Savannah.

Jesse is the host of Immanuel which can be heard on WorldviewRadio.com Mike Abendroth: Mike’s passion is preaching the Bible in a verse-byverse fashion and training other men to do the same. He graduated from The Master’s Seminary in 1996, (M. Div.), received his doctorate in Expository Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2006, (D. Min.), and is an adjunct professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Pastor Mike is also the author of the book entitled Jesus Christ: The Prince of Preachers. He is overwhelmed at God’s grace in his salvation and in God’s choice of his amazing wife Kimberly. Mike has been the Senior Pastor at Bethlehem Bible Church (BBC) in West Boylston, MA since April 1997.

Mike is the host of No Compromise Radio which can be heard on WorldviewRadio.com Jared Carlson: Rev. Jared Carlson is the Vice President of Christian Ministries International. With a dynamic and passionate style of communicating, Jared captivates audiences with his love for Christ and passion for

evangelism. Jared is a regular speaker for worldview conferences, youth and family camps, and special church outreaches. At the age of 32, his ministry has taken him to 20 countries on four continents speaking in missions and pastors’ conferences, as well as high schools, universities, and seminaries.

Jared is also a frequent speaker for many Christian summer camps and youth conferences around the nation.

Jason Pratt: Jason will be refuting the lies of evolution in your textbooks in his keynote presentations entitled: A Rocket Scientist Debunks Evolution. Literally bring your science textbooks. Jason will go through them, point out some of the common lies and then scientifically refute the lie. Read Jason’s bio as a test pilot and scientist and see just how qualified he is to address this topic. Don’t miss out on hearing these two powerful presentations by this former atheist and Darwinian evolutionist.

Usama Dakdok: Usama Dakdok was born in Egypt and raised in a Christian home as the son of a Baptist pastor. Although Usama was a Christian, he learned about Islam in school because it was, and still is, a mandatory subject. To further his knowledge of Islam, he studied Islamic law while attending college in Egypt. After coming to the United States and attending New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he founded The Straight Way of Grace Ministry in 2004.

Usama is now working to warn American Christians about the dangers of Islam and the rise of Sharia (Islamic law) in America.

Through his study of other English copies of the Qur’an and his knowledge that they have been white-washed, he labored for four years to complete an accurate English translation, The Generous Qur’an. He has also published a complementary book to The Generous Qur’an, Exposing the Truth about the Qur’an, The Revelation of Error.

Mike Riddle: Mike is an international speaker and educator on Christian education and apologetics. Mike is also an adjunct speaker for Answers in Genesis.

He holds a degree in mathematics and a graduate degree in education and has been involved in creation ministry for more than thirty years. Prior to getting involved in creation ministry, Mike was a captain in the U.S. Marines and a national champion in track and field.

Worldview Weekend Digest Winter/Spring 2015

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12th Annual

Branson Family Reunion Proudly Presents

John MacArthur Taking questions via Skype

April 24, 25, 26, 2015 Branson, Missouri

Priority Upfront Seating Deadline February 21st 2015

Speakers: Dr. John MacArthur, Brannon Howse, Mike Abendroth, Dr. Tommy Ice, Dr. Henry Morris III, Mike Gendron, Justin Peters, Jesse Johnson, Usama Dakdok, & Jared Carlson

All speakers are live in person - except John MacArthur via Skype

Marty Goetz is back by popular demand with his daughter Misha.

Visit

WorldviewWeekend.com/Branson 48 48

WorldviewWeekend WeekendDigest DigestWinter/Spring Winter/Spring2015 2015 Worldview