Blog Archives

A Look Back at the Pope's Visit to America

9/28/2015

9-28-2015

VCY America - A Look Back at the Pope's Visit to America

Host: Jim Schneider. Guest: Mike Gendron

Description:
From Time-Warner Cable's Papal Visit Channel to the throngs of people who waited hours on end just to catch a glimpse of him, over the past several days we've seen just how messiah-like the reception has been toward Pope Francis.

Just because Pope Francis represents a religion of approximately 1.2 billion people around the world, does that justify the kind of reception he received and the titles he claims such as Holy Father and Vicar of Christ?

Joining Jim to look at these and other questions was Mike Gendron. For over 30 years Mike was a devout Roman Catholic and was taught to rely upon the authority of the church. He followed the priests, the sacraments and was depending upon his own good works for salvation. However in 1981 after attending an apologetics seminar called, 'Evidence for the Christian Faith' the Bible became his sole authority in all matters of faith. As he searched the Scriptures he was amazed to see how often the Bible contradicts the teaching and tradition of the church he had been a part of for so long. Mike placed his trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and the Bible became his sole authority in all matters of faith. He founded a ministry, 'Proclaiming the Gospel' that points people to Jesus Christ as the all-sufficient Savior.

READ MORE + LISTEN: http://www.vcyamerica.org/blog/2015/09/28/a-look-back-at-the-popes-visit-to-america

Related:
America's Upcoming Papal Visit

What kind of reception would America give the Lord Jesus? | Janet Mefferd http://janetmefferd.com/2015/09/what-kind-of-reception-would-america-give-the-lord-jesus/

From Antichrist to Brother in Christ: How Protestant Pastors View the Pope http://bereanresearch.org/from-antichrist-to-brother-in-christ-how-protestant-pastors-view-the-pope/

Rick Warren, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen Express Excitement Over “Pope Francis” Visit http://christiannews.net/2015/09/27/rick-warren-t-d-jakes-joel-osteen-express-excitement-over-pope-francis-visit/

“Pope Francis” Leads Philadelphia in Prayer to Mary and Joseph to “Protect Families” http://christiannews.net/2015/09/28/pope-francis-leads-philadelphia-in-prayer-to-mary-and-joseph-to-protect-families/

“Please Pray for Me, Holy Father:” Kim Davis Embraces “Pope Francis,” Bursts Into Tears Receiving Rosary http://christiannews.net/2015/09/30/please-pray-for-me-holy-father-kim-davis-embraces-pope-francis-bursts-into-tears-receiving-rosary/

Christ in Prophecy: Gendron on Pope Francis

9/26/2015

Pope Francis' visit to America has been met with much enthusiasm and excitement, not only from Roman Catholics, but also the mainstream media. However, Protestants and Evangelicals do not recognize the office of the Papacy for the simple fact that it is not biblical. We understand that the Pope is a fallible human being like the rest of us. We need not follow him, a sinful man, though many Roman Catholics undoubtedly do. Bible-believing Christians follow the sinless One, the Lord Jesus Christ and true Head of the Church (not the Pope). Nevertheless, there is good news for the one billion Roman Catholics who follow the Pope today...

Watch “Christ in Prophecy: Gendron on Pope Francis” on Vimeo
Who is Pope Francis? Where did he come from? And what is he up to? Find out with guest Mike Gendron on the show Christ in Prophecy.

Mike Gendron's testimony: I always love to share my testimony of God's amazing grace because I grew up a very devout Catholic. I was a Catholic for 37 years and taught High School Catholic Christian doctrine. I was an altar boy for seven years. Later on I was responsible for bringing the very first Little Rock Scripture Study to a Catholic Church in the Dallas area.

During this time, the Lord was revealing Himself to me. There was a conference I went to in 1981 that convinced me that the Bible was the supreme authority in all matters of faith. So, at the age of 34, I began reading the Bible for the first time.

As I read the Bible, I recognized very quickly that what I'd been taught as a Catholic was diametrically opposed to what the Bible was teaching me in regards to salvation. I read in the Bible that we were saved by grace apart from merit, by faith apart from works. I read that Jesus was my all-sufficient Savior. I needed to repent of all the works that I was doing I thought would help God save me. Just through this process of reading the Bible, the Spirit of God illuminated the Scriptures to me, and so I came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus.

Related:
Pope Francis: The First Jesuit Pope
The Pope and the Papacy - John MacArthur

Pope's Congress address fails to mention Jesus, affirms leftward leading of Roman Church

9/26/2015

The following is from "The Briefing" by Albert Mohler (transcript):

Pope's Congress address fails to mention Jesus, affirms leftward leading of Roman Church

One of the largest questions hanging over the Pope’s visit to the United States this week is the question, would he lean left? And that question has been decidedly answered, answered by the Pope himself in yesterday’s address to a joint session of Congress, when as the New York Times reports,

“Taking a rostrum never before occupied by the bishop of Rome, Francis issued a vigorous call to action [on issues largely favored by liberals including], a passionate defense of immigration, an endorsement of environmental legislation, a blistering condemnation of the arms trade and a plea to abolish the death penalty.”

Actually the Pope leaned left on many issues and yet what is most noticeable about the Pope’s address to Congress is not at all what he said but what he didn’t say. In many ways, the Pope’s appearance before Congress yesterday must send a very clear signal to conservative Catholics that they have faced exactly what they feared, a Pope who is not only leaning left, but is going to take the Roman Catholic Church to the left with him. And yet the most amazing aspect of the pope’s appearance before Congress is that he never even mentioned Jesus Christ. The Federalist put out an article subsequent to the Pope’s appearance in which they wrote,

“Although he referenced multiple hot-button political issues in his speech to Congress, Pope Francis didn’t mention Jesus Christ even a single time.”

Read more: http://www.albertmohler.com/?p=36240&transcript=y

Related:
The Briefing: Pope's visit time for evangelicals to make clear issue with pope is theological, not personal

Pope's speech troubling, Southern Baptists say (Baptist Press)

22 Pope Francis Statements Proving He's a Leftist (NewsMax)

The Unbiblical Actions, Message, & Statements of Pope Francis While in America | Worldview Weekend

The Battle Over Islam

9/25/2015

9-25-2015

VCY America, Inc. - The Battle Over Islam

Host: Jim Schneider Guest: Usama Dakdok

Description:
Jim reported that President Obama wants to increase the number of refugees over 2 years to 85,000 in fiscal year 2016 starting October 1st with another 100,000 in fiscal year 2017. This is planned in spite of the fact that one of the ISIS smugglers said that they will use the crisis of refugees to infiltrate the West.

Lately in the news we've heard of hundreds who have died in the hajj stampede, the controversy surrounding presidential candidate Ben Carson and whether or not a Muslim should be president in America as well as the 'clock boy' incident and his invitation to visit the White House. What does all of this mean for America?

Joining Jim to discuss these issues was Usama Dakdok. Usama is the founder of the Straight Way of Grace Ministry. He was born and raised in Egypt in a Christian home. He learned Islam in the schools, studied Shariah and speaks fluent Arabic. He began the Straight Way of Grace ministry as he travels across the country revealing the truth about Islam. He has translated the Qur'an and has authored the book, 'Exposing the Truth About the Qur'an.' He hosts a daily radio program on VCY America entitled, 'Revealing the Truth About Islam.'

READ MORE + LISTEN: http://www.vcyamerica.org/blog/2015/09/25/the-battle-over-islam

Related:
Islam's American Agenda

Ayatollah says Muslim responsibility is to shatter U.S., the ‘idol of tyranny’ | CRN
http://christianresearchnetwork.org/2015/09/25/ayatollah-says-muslim-responsibility-is-to-shatter-u-s-the-idol-of-tyranny/

ISIS is planning to target Europe, intelligence officials say http://www.christiantoday.com/article/isis.is.planning.to.target.europe.intelligence.officials.say/65992.htm

How God Restrains Evil in a Society

9/25/2015

How God Restrains Evil in a Society - John MacArthur
Description (from OnePlace.com): How to Respond to the Controversy About Police Officers: In recent months, protesters across the United States have rallied against law enforcement . . . anti-police movements have sprung up in Ferguson, Missouri, Baltimore, Maryland, and elsewhere . . . challenging police officer’s authority. John MacArthur encourages us to consider a biblical perspective on the heated debate about police officers and how they exert their authority. http://www.gracechurch.org/Teachings/10789 Video: http://youtu.be/gFI8Kq8iQyg

Related:
Why Christians Submit to the Government - John MacArthur

THE SHOCKING MESSAGE POPE FRANCIS PREACHED AT NEW YORK’S ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL

9/25/2015

The following is from Now The End Begins:
THE SHOCKING MESSAGE POPE FRANCIS PREACHED AT NEW YORK’S ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL by Geoffrey Grider

THE POPE, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED “VICAR OF CHRIST”, PREACHING A MESSAGE OF THE FAILURE OF JESUS ON THE CROSS.

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV)

Like many people, I missed the message that the Pope preached at St. Patrick’s Cathedral because it was not streamed live as far as I was aware. And honestly, I was much more interested from a prophecy perspective in what he was going to say to Washington and the United Nations. So I did not bother to take a peek and see what he preached at St. Patrick’s. When I did, I about fell off my chair.

Read more: http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=35894

Related:
“I Unite Myself”: “Pope” Calls Muslims “Brothers and Sisters” in Message at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (CN)

Why Evangelicals and Catholics Cannot be “Together” (Cripplegate)

Why You Must Leave the Roman Catholic Church | Worldview Weekend

The ‘Gospel’ According to Rome (Cripplegate)

Explaining the Heresy of Catholicism - John MacArthur

Understanding Islam - John MacArthur

Pope Francis praises Catholic mystic Thomas Merton

9/24/2015

The following is from CNN:
Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton: Pope gives nod to two controversial Catholics By Moni Basu and Jessica Ravitz (CNN)

Pope Francis invoked four Americans in his historic speech to Congress on Thursday. Two are instantly recognizable: Abraham Lincoln and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The others -- Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton -- were Roman Catholic activists and ardent pacifists but lesser known, until the papal mentions sent many listeners on a Google search.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/24/us/pope-speech-thomas-merton-dorothy-day/index.html

Thomas Merton and the Buddhas by Ken Silva: It is simply beyond question that the contemplative spirituality Living Spiritual Teacher Richard Foster is teaching your pastors is very influenced by the late Roman Catholic Trappist monk Thomas Merton. In his book A Time of Departing Ray Yungen offers this bit of personal testimony in an encounter with Guru Foster: "I attended a local seminar where Richard Foster was speaking. At the end of the meeting, I approached him. Wanting to know more about Foster's beliefs, I asked, 'What do you think about the current contemplative prayer movement?' Foster emphatically told me, 'Thomas Merton tried to awaken God's people!'" Read more: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/news/article/thomas-merton-and-buddhas

Related:
DANGERS OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION : Apprising Ministries http://apprising.org/2012/06/13/dangers-of-spiritual-formation/
RICHARD FOSTER—CELEBRATION OF DECEPTION : Apprising Ministries http://apprising.org/2012/05/02/richard-foster-celebration-of-deception/

Phyllis Tickle, who championed a church paradigm shift,is dead

9/23/2015

The following is from Berean Research:

Phyllis Tickle, who championed a church paradigm shift,is dead posted by A. Spreeman on September 23, 2015
Screen Shot 2015-09-23 at 9.54.13 AM

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Phyllis Tickle

It was lung cancer. Sadly, the emergent-New Ager clung to her teachings that Christendom must evolve. She frequently appeared with Brian McLaren, Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt and those of other faiths to ring in a new era in the modern Church. (See “Emerging Towards Convergence”)

Tickle believed that throughout history, the Christian Church evolves every 500 years or so, and we are ripe for another paradigm shift. She wrote a book, Embracing Emergence Christianity: Phyllis Tickle on the Church’s Next Rummage Sale.

-See more at: http://bereanresearch.org/phyllis-tickle-who-championed-a-church-paradigm-shift-is-dead/

The Pope, Jesuits, Congress & John Stormer

9/23/2015

The Pope, Jesuits, Congress & John Stormer - Noise of Thunder Radio with Chris Pinto
Description: Chris discusses the arrival of the Pope in the U.S., something John Boehner, the Republican Speaker of the House, has wanted for some 20 years (according to USA Today). Francis is the first Jesuit Pope and he will be greeted by many Jesuit-educated members of the U.S. Congress and the Obama administration. In 2009, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities reported that "sixty Jesuit alumni" were serving in the Obama administration. Also discussed is the book, "None Dare Call it Treason" by John A. Stormer, who confronted the Marxist infiltration of the United States back in the 1960's. Are his warnings still valid today?
Listen here: http://www.noiseofthunderradio.com/show-downloads/2015/9/23/noise-of-thunder-the-pope-jesuits-congress-john-stormer-9231.html

Related:
22 Pope Francis Statements Proving He’s a Leftist (Newsmax)
Jesuit-Educated Lawmakers Shine in 112th Congress - Christian News Articles - Noise of Thunder Radio
Nine Percent of 114th U.S. Congress Are Jesuit Alumni - Christian News Articles - Noise of Thunder Radio
Obama, Pope Francis meet for first time (CNN)
John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi extend invite to Pope Francis (Politico)
Boehner picks Jesuit priest to be House chaplain (NY Times)
Vote All You Want. The Secret Government Won't Change. - Christian News Articles - Noise of Thunder Radio

5 Problems with Roman Catholic Confession

9/15/2015

The following is from Worldview Weekend:

5 Problems with Roman Catholic Confession by Jordan Standridge

In a not so shocking admission Pope Francis announced to the world that Priests now hold the right to absolve women who have had an abortion and to forgive them for their sin as long as they are contrite. Get this, the Pope has the authority to tell priests that they now have the authority to forgive the sin of abortion. And they say this pope is humble!
Growing up in Rome and watching people pray their way up the “holy” steps, watching them wait to confess their sins to men and many things like this, has caused me to grieve for people who are in the

Roman Catholic Church. Any religion that is built on the backs of the poor and that propagates works based righteousness should bring tears and concern to those who have experienced true grace. It is important that we as believers understand the truth of why Catholic confession is not Biblical, not to win an argument but in order to rescue souls. So here’s five problems with Roman Catholic confession.

Read more: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/news/article/5-problems-roman-catholic-confession

Related:
Pope tells priests to pardon women who have abortions (CRN)
Conservative dissent is brewing inside the Vatican (CRN)
Roman Catholic Priests, Sexual Sins, Abortion, Immorality, Sacraments & Salvation | SermonAudio.com
Pope asks forgiveness after sex scandals rock Vatican and Rome
Does the Bible support the Catholic practice of a marriage annulment (GotQuestions)