Living Journey

A few posts ago I wrote about the gospel and how it is increasingly becoming unpopular in popular culture. I also addressed the issue, although somewhat briefly, of Christian extremism and how a certain pastor says that fundamentalism will be the enemy of th 21st century.

Well, I have just found a little bit of interesting information about the above in my research. But before I post about that, I want to talk about something that the christian blogosphere has been all up in arms about - the Rick Warren PEACE plan - and his visits to countries that are considered terrorist nations, or at the very least countries that are run by dictators. Does North Korea ring a bell - Goose steps, big guns, testing what the big guns can do etc.

I have posted at some length about Warren’s diplomatic whoops, I mean, his personal visits to these nations. I have said, even though tongue in cheek at the time, that perhaps Warren is in with certain lobbyists to appease … improve certain middle-east relations with the West. But no, Warren said it was just a personal visit. Nice!

Well, with a recent comment on CNN Warren had this to say …. ‘“I’m always happy to be a back channel for peace.” Rick Warren, CNN, 12/15/06 (emphasis added). Is it little wonder that some have jumped on the band wagon and done their research on this strange little term ‘Back Channeling’. What is back channeling, what does it mean? Strange terminology needs to be researched and someone has done it.

You can find out everything you need to know about Back Channeling and how it is used here at Herescope. Many thanks to Herescope for this enlightening post. May I suggest that you read it, it is rather lengthy but well worth the read if you want to understand the undercurrents of all political - and dare I say it - religious maneuvers that are happening in these interesting times. The divide between the religious and the political is closing people. And most people don’t even know it!

Track Two Diplomacy:

Unofficial Interventions with Unofficial Actors — “Track Two Diplomacy” can be found here and has some eye popping stuff especially for those who are following the cookie crumbs of Warren’s PEACE plan. I would say that Diplomat, Pastor, Mr Rick Warren fits in perfectly within this track II with his recent trips to Syria, Africa and North Korea.

Now back to my first point. Now, I consider myself to be a fundamental Christian by the original terminology in the five points written in the early 1900’s in a book called ‘The Fundamentals” edited by R.A. Torrey with contributors such as H.A. Ironside and C.I. Scofield.’ That apparently, makes me an extremist in certain peoples views because I hold onto the biblical tenets first delivered to the saints who were waiting and praying for their blessed hope, its all about eschatology and my belief in the Groom coming to get His bride. Well, appararently with that admission I could be considered to be mentally ill. Lock me up baby and throw away the key will you! This same post from Herescope has my curiosity piqued - this is found at the end of the post:

This “peace” process entails strengthening the voices of moderates” and, at the same time, building “social networks” as an “infrastructure for peace.” In this context, it becomes necessary to ameliorate the extremes. And, according to some definitions, fundamentalist Christians could be considered to be extremists. There is a link to an article “Dealing With Extremists” which raises some deeply disturbing issues. It should also be read in its entirety. Again, notice the emphasis on beliefs and attitudes:

Defining Extremism

“Extremism is a complex phenomenon, although its complexity is often hard to see. Most simply, it can be defined as activities (beliefs, attitudes, feelings, actions, strategies) of a person or group far removed from the ordinary.” Particularly note that those who hold end-time eschatological views are considered to be “extremists.” Note also that “extremists” are considered to be mentally ill:

“Extremism emerges from apocalyptic, eschatological (end-of-life) ideologies. Extremist activities are often committed and valued because they are consistent with broader myths or systems of meaning.…
“Extremism is a pathological illness. This perspective views extremism as a disease and a way of life where people look to violence to provide a feeling of aliveness. Greun (2003) writes, ‘The lack of identity associated with extremists is the result of self-destructive self-hatred that leads to feelings of revenge toward life itself, and a compulsion to kill one’s own humanness.’[2] Thus extremism is seen as not a tactic, nor an ideology, but as a pathological illness, which feeds on the destruction of life.” [emphasis under subheadings added]

Notice also that those holding “extreme” beliefs are characterized as potentially violent. There is no provision for Christians who hold to fundamental beliefs, who non-violently (i.e., with non-resistance) peaceably live out their faith in conscience and conviction (“non-negotiables”).

Yet in Washington Post Joel Achenbach when speaking about the strange weather patters (El Nino) uses terms that may be considered extremist when he said:

The weather is sublime, it’s glorious, it’s the end of the world. Weather is both a physical and a psychological phenomenon. Meteorology, meet eschatology.

While Joel offers no real blessed hope, he does appear to know that something is not quite right with the world. But if a person was to say that this all points to Christ coming back which is our blessed hope, that then makes it dangerous and a extremist view?

As Moriel has pointed out the world knows something big is going on, but the fallen church doesn’t want to proclaim the truth that is our only hope (ah … because that is being too extreme, too fudamental, too negative, not a popular gospel!):

However, no matter what one believes about these events, one thing is quite clear: The majority of human beings sense that something is very, very wrong with our planet.

As you will see in this first article, the secular press mentions “the end of the world” and then uses the phrase “meteorology, meet eschatology.

What is most shocking and truly sad is that you will here this kind of talk in the secular media but you still won’t hear it in the seeker driven churches. The leadership sees this sort of thing as “negative” and it won’t appeal to those who are looking for love and community to “fill those holes in their life”.

These shepherds have become so stupid (God’s word, not mine) that they can’t see danger of any sort staring them right in the face.[...]

It is to their judgment that the world is acting with more wisdom then they.

Jer 5:30-31 An astounding and horrible thing has happened in the land. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their hands; and My people love it so. And what will you do at the end of it?

2Th 2:10-12 and in all deceitfulness of the unrighteousness in those perishing, because the love of the truth they did not receive for their being saved, and because of this shall God send to them a working of delusion, for their believing the lie, that they may be judged–all who did not believe the truth, but were well pleased in the unrighteousness.

Remember that the bible says that God first judges the house of God then the world!

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Related Articles:

• Here is a related article called ‘Rick Warren: Is he or isn’t he?’ its about Rick Warren’s involvement with CFR and his back peddling.

• A paper on the plutocrat David Rockefeller called ‘The Proud Internationalist - the globalist vision of David Rockefeller’ (PDF)

• The Social Gospel 7.0 @ Herescope