— Critical issues concerning the Church —

"Chrislam" — Apostasy du jour

Just when we think things couldn't get stranger ... they do.

Following the lead of luminaries such as Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Robert Schuller and Brian McLaren, today's strain of an age-old spiritual virus, syncretism, would merge Christianity with, ah, with ... Islam (even this keyboard balks at the linkage). With amazing chutzpah, these biblically educated(?) spiritual alchemists are attempting the equivalent of walking on water. Bad enough to so blatantly set themselves at odds with God, but at last report, have encouraged some 300¹ other church leaders to join this deadly foolishness. To make their case nationally, the Faith Shared2 project dedicated last Sunday (6/26/11) to their cause. Churches from Alaska and Hawaii, to California, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Alabama, plus New England, etc., co-joined to commit spiritual treason.  Pray God's mercy for them all.

This heresy, by any other name, is syncretism: the amalgamation of different cultures, schools of thought or religions.  Chrislam, having sprouted in Nigeria in the 80s, has since, with ample Muslim fertilizing, propagated around the globe and is now taking root in America. Along with its devil’s advocates bent on corrupting the church, are the well-intentioned blind who perennially seek to improve upon God's plan.  Diluting Christianity to destroy it is an old satanic game-plan about which Yogi Berra might quip: “It’s like deja vous, all over again.”³ [sic]

A roster of Chrislam’s charter rogues lists non-Christians camping under Christendom’s umbrella (Catholic, metaphysical, etc.). Also are liberal denominational churches such as: Presbyterian, United Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, etc.. Even congregations from the doctrinally stalwart Baptists and Methodists are being seduced.

What's going on with the latter?

Common to those led astray is COMPROMISE.   Compromise of the Bible’s centrality, its integrity; of Jesus Christ Himself.  Even compromising common sense.  I.e., a pastor’s recent invitation for his own to join him for physical exercise at a business where yoga, martial arts and belly-dancing are featured.  It's where the church’s youth meet. Huh?!  Dear one, incremental compromises are like tiny beetles that can eventually fell the stoutest of oaks.

Mixing Christianity with ANY religion or thing, ranks as God’s #1 no-no: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Ex 20:3). Himself is the beginning, the centrality and end-all of our faith. Adamantly, He refuses to share our affections with man-made religions, deities and counterfeits.  He abhors trespasses against His person(s), plans or purposes and hates today’s bogus ecumenism.  Indeed, God Almighty commands us to separate: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (1Pet 1:14-16). Only Judaism and Christianity have at their core, the true God of the Bible. In spite  of other religion's smooth speaking and slick sound bytes, their gods and their "Jesus" are of demonic origin.  "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry" (1Cor 10:14).

Concerning Chrislam and such, of which God has unequivocally spoken against, Paul warns today's church: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2Cor 6:14-18).

Dear Christian, trials, testings and tribulations are flooding the church ... as is a tsunami of false teachers, doctrines and movements.  All the more reason to be faithful, repentant, humble, diligent in prayer, in study and service before Him.  In the strength of His power, we must cling to the Truth; to Scripture ... to Jesus Christ.  See Phil 4:13 for assurance.
 

1. What Would Jesus Think? — http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=314661
2. Faith Shared — http://www.faithshared.org/
3. Yogi Berra — http://www.yogiberra.com/yogi-isms.html
 

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FR17-08