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Apologetics: What type of church is this?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by evangelist6589, Nov 18, 2014.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    My book on the cults by Ron Rhodes arrived yesterday and he names many different groups and differs between New Age, New thought, Christian Science, and Religious science. So I am trying to figure out where this church would fall.

    http://www.milehichurch.org

    I do not think they are New Age as that would describe one of these Scientology places, nor do I think they are Christian Science, so is this a religious science, or a New Thought church? I can't tell the difference.
     
  2. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    There is not a word about Jesus or Christ anywhere, not even in the statement of faith. It doesn't fall under the umbrella of Christendom.
     
  3. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    It's a cult but which one? I may need to read the Rhodes chapters twice. If not a cult its a new religion.
     
    #3 evangelist6589, Nov 18, 2014
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  4. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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  5. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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  6. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Combo of modern Christian Science and ba hai faith, as they teach metaphysical realiites, and that all faiths led to same place!
     
  7. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Trying to decide how to address these kinds of churches and I use different arguments and different tracts for different churches. I imagine a apologetics defense of Christianity concluding with a good person test would be best for them.

    I trust solely in Gods election in that only He grants faith and repentance to the elect so it's not like my argument and tracts will persuade anyone. But I do believe God is glorified when we try and persuade people and preach repentance and the full gospel.

    Those that preach and use simple gospel tracts that hardly touch on sin and get lots of decisions I think hurt the cause.
     
    #7 evangelist6589, Nov 18, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 18, 2014
  8. PreachTony

    PreachTony Active Member

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    From their website
    The Law does not respond to our thinking. Our thinking was supposed to respond to the Law. The Law is presented as God's direction to mankind. It was not meant for man to try to change God's Law. Of course, Grace worked wonders for us in that respect.

    Humans have "unlimited good"? No, no we don't. While not all of us hold to Calvin's Total Depravity in the TULIP sense, we do admit that man has a sin nature and is more given to sin than to righteousness. Even man's best attempt at righteousness is nothing more than a filthy rag to God.

    Per Romans 1:19-25
    19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
    20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
    21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
    22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
    23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
    24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
    25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.


    There is no spiritual thread. Mankind has seen the truths of God in nature, but they denied God and set up for themselves mythologies and rituals. This is not spiritual truth, but is instead an abject denial of God.

    For the record, Joel Osteen has said there is only one path to God, which is Jesus, but there are many paths to Jesus. So much for that bit where Jesus said "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44) and "no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

    My response to this nonsense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShwM7gBGjWs
     
  9. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Joel Olsteen would then be wrong on this, as he is on most of his theology!
     
  10. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Good post. You give me good ideas on what to say to them.
     
  11. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    I am not sure if Osteen is a heretic. I know he is no question a false teacher, but his church teaches the essentials of the faith which baffles me. These charismatic are very confused on many doctrines but not sure yet if I can place them at the same level as this church.

    Just sent a letter to a charismatic church with a rebuke. But I did not say if they were not saved. Very different tone than my letter to a universalist church where I told the pastor she would burn in hell without Christ.
     
  12. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    He would be part of those seeing Jesus as being One to "write our own ticket to God with", so would see him as being a false teacher, or someone saved but really duped and deluded into bad doctrines!

    And a good read on modern Charasnmatic movement is the book by Dr macArthur, Charasmatic chaos...
     
  13. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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  14. PreachTony

    PreachTony Active Member

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    I don't really call him a "heretic," but that's mostly because I'm not one to throw that word around. He is, most definitely, a false teacher. He is one of those that Philippians 3:18-19 calls "(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"

    I don't have a problem calling Osteen an enemy of the cross of Christ.
     
  15. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Can you take a look at their books....just bet you they are tremendously profitable. :smilewinkgrin:
     
  16. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    They are tremendously profitable....for Osteen :smilewinkgrin:.

    BTW, I always thought that if you taught heresy you were a heretic. Now you're just a fella who happens to teach wrong ideas.
     
  17. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I don't think anyone really calls people heretics anymore. It's a word reserved for studying Church history and posting on Christian forums. :smilewinkgrin:
     
  18. PreachTony

    PreachTony Active Member

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    Especially considering my long history in small backwoods churches in the northeast Georgia mountains...you don't hear the word "heretic" thrown around all that often.
     
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