I've just been impacted by a few things I have just heard...songs, actually...one song is filled with truth according to God's Word, the other two are based on fables.
Here's a solid song of discernment that I just came across (doesn't matter if you like rap music or not, these words are true)...
‘Heresy’ by Javon Mackenzy
transplantministries.com/blogWow! Most refreshing, especially after two other songs I (painfully) listened to. These were sung
before and
after the latest 'sermon' by
The Shack's author, who is still being invited into churches to teach (even though William Paul Young is on
this list of those who deny the penal subsitionary atonement today). Even so, he was invited to speak at Mariner's Church last month in California. (Watch and listen
here). Surprisingly, someone on the worship team at this church even wrote a song due to the impact of this fictional book on his understanding of God, which was performed before William Paul Young spoke. Another song was sung after Mr. Young spoke, about crossing over the border, or something to that effect. In between these songs, Mr. Young said a lot of very nice, interesting things. He talked about God's love, and about us turning back to Him. Lots of nice things about God healing our spirit. But it's what he did not mention that struck me. He didn't say that the only way to the Father was through the Son. Young also read something he wrote - a fictional encounter/conversation he had with Jesus on a dock (not sure if it was a new thing or a quote from the book). You can listen more closely to the sermon and the songs for yourself if you so choose. {Note: My intent is not to criticize the talent of the musicians, or judge Mariner's Church, but rather to show the huge impact a rather poorly written book has had (and is STILL having) on Christians, who already have THE BIBLE to teach them about the true character of God, if they would only study it.}
Meanwhile, as the people would rather learn about God from a fable than from God's Word, and continue to praise this man’s interpretation of God, they appear to be totally blind to the fact that he has rejected what God has done to save us. Perhaps it's the way he says such very nice things, so that one must listen carefully, measuring his words with God's Word to catch it. Sadly, not many want to do the difficult digging work of discernment, or even listen to those who have.
For example, here is a reminder of something that was recently caught in that infamous interview of The Shack's author by Kendall Adams:
Adams: “Ya, many see that as Christ being the agency of our reconciliation but that when, you know, that Christ was taking the wrath of God upon him, I, I take it that you wouldn’t, you wouldn’t agree that the cross was a place of punishment for our sin.”
Young: “No. I don’t, I am not a penal substitution …reformation…point of view.”
-Transcript of interview (morebooksandthings.blogspot.com)
And who can forget this...
The Shack Has Been Nailed
Author of “The Shack” Is a Universalist, Denies Penal Substitutionary Atonement
morebooksandthings.blogspot.comAnd so here's that list again, incase anyone missed it, which includes the present day enemies of Jesus Christ who most blatantly deny the atonement of the cross.
And the envelope please…
Those that deny ‘penal substitution’ are“the enemies of the cross of Christ”
[Philippians 3:18]
Cecil Andrews – ‘Take Heed’ Ministries – 10th July 2009
www.takeheed.netThe sad, apparent truth is that today's Christian would rather listen to fables than the truth. Little do they know they are fulfilling end-times prophecy.
~ ~ ~
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 4:3,4
