Years ago, I heard about these two American pastors who were at an event in Bethlehem, the “Christ at the Checkpoint” event , which was a new strategy to sway Christian evangelicals from support of Israel, to Palestinian fulfillment theology, a theory of making another Islamic state run by the two different groups who hate each other, Hamas and Fatah would make an extra new nation that would some how make peace between Jews and Arabs. The organisers were Arab Christians who hold onto this idea, even though their Islamic government would keep them as poorly treated minorities, where as Arab Muslims and Christians living in Israel have freedom of speech and live in a democracy. (although plenty of room for improvement) There is no mention of the Jewish/Arab victims of Islamic terror at this event.
These two American evangelicals were a well known pastor called Tony Campolo who is in his 80s and his dreadlocked head scarfed companion Shane Claybourne. Something immediately didn’t seem right in my spirit about these two even way before I could see what side they were coming from.
Fast forward to 2016. This is a hard blog post to write. I was shocked to see Shane Claiborne was speaking in two different churches I really respect, one of these in Portsmouth, where I am from. 😦 He is also due to headline a popular Christian festival also.
In the past, there has been several fads in Christian teaching, some that are particularly appealing to Christian youth. This is the “Emergent church” movement.
Looking at Campolo’s Red Letter Christians web site is basically a classic example of this movement. There is no statement of faith, and is keen to support New Age themed ideas on spirituality, unbiblical acceptance of homosexuality and general void of sound biblical teachings. It frequently often bangs on about being “ordinary radicals” and “New Monastic” (whatever that means)
The most popular figure of the Emergent Church movement is Rob Bell who was kicked out of his church for his Universalism, and denial of the existence of hell. Yet he has sold 2 million books and still has a blog and pod cast on his weirdo ideas. The Zimzim of love anyone? You really want your Christian youth into this garbage??
The Emergent church is liberal sugar coated drivel that doesn’t feed Christians with knowledge of the bible and you should steer clear of it. We need to show love to people caught in ways of the world by preaching the gospel out of kindness, and relying on God to change them and turn away from sin.
This web site exposes some of the dangerous false teaching by the Emergent Church and its main people such as Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Rob Bell, Mark Driscoll, Brian McClaren and more. I think its interesting all of Paul’s books have a section to warn about false teachers, particular in latter times.
This book was recommended to me by a friend which I’d like to get hold of soon “Why we are not emergent” by by Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Were-Not-Emergent-Freedom-ebook/dp/B00125L8DK/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458332803&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=why+we+are+not+emergent
In all honesty, I don’t like thinking of people of groups to bash on my blog. I’d rather look for things to provide joy and encouragement to others and myself. I’d love to share with you things that have helped young Christians grow with their walk with Lord and help them be passionate for Christ in another post soon.
1 Timothy 4 : 1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
1 Timothy 4 : 6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,a you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
Interesting find I discovered a few weeks ago.
Brit In Jerusalem 