The Battle Rages On © 2014 Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church Published by: Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church 201 Pandan Gardens, Singapore 609337 Website: calvarypandan.sg Email: [email protected] This booklet is made available free to our members and friends. Where copyrights have been infringed, we crave the forbearance of the parties concerned. We trust that any infringements will be graciously overlooked. Contents Introduction 3 Attack on God’s Word 5 Introduction to Charismatic Movement 11 Charismatic Movement 13 Introduction to Neo-Evangelical Movement 20 Neo-Evangelical Movement 22 Introduction to Ecumenical Movement 34 Ecumenical Movement 36 Introduction As we remember the 16th Century of Christ the easy-believism rampant in Reformation, we are also reminded that the the teachings of many churches today? battle rages on. The Adversary has been What did Christ mean when he proclaimed innovative and adaptive, using different in Matthew 7:13 - 15, “Enter ye in at the battle strategies against the church over strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad time and circumstances. This year, we have is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and compiled four articles for your edification. many there be which go in thereat: Because These are, by necessity, polemical. strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that Many have accused us of being divisive. find it. Beware of false prophets, which come That we agree, for Jesus Himself said in to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they Matthew 10:34-36, “Think not that I am are ravening wolves.”? come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come “Sola Scriptura” was one of Martin Luther’s to set a man at variance against his father, rallying cries. The battle rages on today as and the daughter against her mother, and the many Charismatics claim they continue to daughter in law against her mother in law. hear God audibly. That is effectively adding 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own to the completed revelation of God in the household.” We, therefore, believe it is canon of Scriptures we have in the bible. better to be divided for truth than united in error. Finally, a word to all who are in these movements:- the Charismatic, Neo- Some have faulted us for being unkind. evangelical, and the Ecumenical; and That we disagree, for the kindest thing to do to the many well-meaning and sincere is to tell a man the truth. We do not believe people in these movements. This booklet we have the monopoly of truth. However, is written and compiled for truth’s sake from God’s Word, it is crystal clear the and to the glory of God. It is a labour of doctrines and practices of certain churches love for them that they might discern and are at odds with those taught in Scriptures. come out from among them as God calls; and 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “be ye separate, Others have said we are trigger-happy to saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean offend people of different persuasions. We thing; and I will receive you, And will be a are not. We prefer not to offend people, but Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and way above that, we dare not offend our God. daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” And thus we deem it a grave responsibility to share what we trust is the truth with you. We invite you to spend an hour digesting these articles and pray they may be of help Another group may say we are harsh. to you and others with whom you may Perhaps we are, but the truth often hurts. share this booklet. Should a church of God practise baptism of animals, hold joint worship services Calvary Pandan B-P Church with Roman Catholics, ordain gay pastors, Reformation Booklet Committee allow same-gender marriages? Is the gospel October 2014 3 Attack on the Bible Historic Animosity of God’s Word. But Christians can take Satan hates God’s Word. He hated it in courage because we will also see how, time the past; he hates it now; he will hate and again, God has protected His Word. it in the future. History has shown that there is no end to his devilish devices and We will examine the Deceiver’s strategy schemes to subvert God’s Word. His very over time in three broad categories: first work of destruction is recorded in Corruption, Concealment and Criticism Genesis 3. In the Garden of Eden, Satan of God’s Word. could cunningly raise doubts in the mind of a perfectly intelligent woman with -“Yea, hath God said...?” From there, he The Word of God dragged man into eternal misery and hell. Undermining God’s Word is the key to is the foundation of obstructing man’s way to God. God has given us His Written Word through which our Christian faith. fallen man can know the Living Word. This Living Word is Jesus Christ (John The Early Church (1st to 5th Century): 1:1). In order for Satan to be successful in Corruption of God’s Word preventing man from knowing the Living Apostle John completed the book of Word, he must prevent man from knowing Revelation around AD 90. With the the Written Word. closing of the canon of Scripture, nothing was to be added to or subtracted from The Word of God is the foundation of our it. This was sealed by God Himself in Christian faith. The strategy is simple but Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV) “For I testify effective - gun down doctrines through unto every man that heareth the words of the different means over varying circumstances prophecy of this book, If any man shall add and periods. By going for a frontal assault unto these things, God shall add unto him the against God’s Word, Satan is attempting plagues that are written in this book: And if to destroy the very foundation by which any man shall take away from the words of the all-important doctrines are built upon. book of this prophecy, God shall take away his When the foundation is destroyed, the part out of the book of life, and out of the holy building will crumble. city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Why was this prohibition and The onslaught against the Holy Scriptures warning necessary? Possibly the Apostle rages on. Soldiers in the Lord’s army John had already witnessed false teachers cannot be ignorant of Satan’s devices. The attempting to corrupt Scriptures. The Word of God is the church’s only weapon Apostles would have encountered not a few against the foe. Taking a glance through heretics and false teachers who attempted history, we will see how Satan has been to sneak in their spurious writings as part relentless and innovative in his attack of the canon. 5 hunted down Christians and even decreed Not only did the the burning of Scriptures in AD 303 in an Holy Spirit move attempt to wipe out God’s Word from the the Apostles in the face of this earth. Despite man’s attempts to corrupt the writing of Scriptures, Word of God, God still preserved His Word. And as Christ ascended into He also guided the heaven, He promised His disciples that “… early Christians to when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:…” (John 16:13). identify Scriptures. Not only did the Holy Spirit move the Apostles in the writing of Scriptures, He The Adversary was on the warpath. With also guided the early Christians to identify the writing of Scripture came also many Scriptures. The canon of Scriptures was counterfeit writings. The Apostle Paul settled in the Council of Carthage in AD had already sounded out a warning against 397. The 66 books of the Bible (39 for false teachers who would creep into the the Old Testament and 27 for the New church to lead man astray from God’s Testament) were identified through the truth (Acts 20:29-30). No doubt some leading of the Holy Spirit. The battle of these false teachers would also come against corruption of the Word was then with their counterfeit scriptures teaching fought and won. their blasphemous doctrines. Separately, the Apostle Peter also alerted the church of false prophets who would bring in Popes sought to damnable heresies (2 Peter 2:1). replace the Word In order for these heretics to find a of God with their “scriptural” basis for their teachings, they had to corrupt the Bible. This was done either words. Fear and through adulterating authentic Scriptures or introducing fictitious “Scriptures”. One superstition were such example was Marcion the heretic, their weapons of who formed his own canon of the New Testament. There were also the “gnostic choice to subdue gospels” and “nag hammadi library” which were meant to pass off as Scriptures. The the commoners. “gnostic gospels” include the Gospels of Thomas, Judas and Philip. Some of these The Dark Ages (5th to 16th Century): would relate false stories of the Lord Jesus Concealment of God’s Word Christ’s infancy and childhood, teaching Satan was not going to give up on his attack. another gospel and another Christ. For the next 1200 years the Scriptures were locked up and hidden from God’s During this time, the early Church was people.