ANOTHER PCA CHURCH PROMOTES LGBT+ FLOURISHING AND “QUEER CHRISTIANITY”

by Thomas Littleton

1/28/2019

On Sunday January 27th 2019 the spread of the the controversial Revoice conference movement “promoting LGBT+ flourishing ” in the PCA was confirmed .

Grace Church Seattle  (PCA ) proudly announced it was hosting  Revoice founder Nate Collins and Vice President Stephen Moss in its Sunday services .

As announced in the church news section (see page 16 ) Grace Seattle planned a 3 day event hosting  the Revoice movement leaders

“Revoice Visit
January 25-27th 2019
The weekend of January 25-27th, Nate Collins and Stephen Moss—
two key leaders of Revoice—will be making a trip to Seattle and to
our church specifically. In addition to giving a brief snapshot
of Revoice during worship, Nate and Stephen will take part in a
panel discussion on Sunday during Christian Formation Hour on
Sunday, January 27th. This will be a great opportunity to hear from
them about their vision for how LGBT/Same-Sex Attracted people
can actually flourish in a church like ours. They will also be taking
time to answer some of the many questions I am sure we all have. If
y o u h a v e a n y q u e s t i o n s , p l e a s e c o n t a c t J o h n
john@graceseattle.org.”

Grace church appears to have given the Revoice duo its “Christian Formation ” or Sunday January 27th teaching hour and dedicated the entire Sundays focus to Revoice LGBT+ message

“Dear Friends,

We wanted to remind you that in order to allow more space for those attending the Revoice visit during Christian Formation Hour, there will only be one worship service this Sunday, January 27th, at 9:00am.

We hope you will join us at 10:45 am in the sanctuary for Christian Formation Hour to hear from Stephen Moss and Nate Collins!”

We hope to worship with you.

Grace Church Seattle”

https://mailchi.mp/316d8083d69c/reminder-only-one-worship-service-tomorrow-1096361?fbclid=IwAR1pVo4qn2Dy5U-GKaQ2Qurz-mRcQT5nOUD_wDAkvqEB7bfzymv3_WzfpwM

GRACE SEATTLE -THE TIE THAT BINDS THE CHURCH TO REVOICE

Clearly one major issue for PCA members who are not ready to embrace LGBT+ and “Queer Christianity” is the obvious infiltration of their flagship Covenant Seminary in St Louis . This infiltration is evident by both the number of recent Covenant graduates in the 2018 Revoice conference speaker lineup and the stealthy Covenant responses  to the controversy to PCA General Assembly inquires .

Also it would appear that the Grace Seattle PCA church bonds with Covenant would be one source of the embrace of Revoice as well  since it’s pastor is a Covenant graduate and a member of the Board of Trustees .

https://www.graceseattle.org/about/staff

IS THERE A COVERUP GOING ON IN THE PCA TO KEEP REVOICE HOPES AND MOVEMENT ALIVE?

Read  more here

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2019/01/10/is-revoice-lgbt-thriving-through-cover-up-in-pca-missouri-presbytery/

Christians deeply committed to Biblical Sexuality in the PCA are quickly seeing their denomination nuanced  into “LGBT+ Flourishing ” in their churches . Sad days lie ahead  as strange days have found us !

Meanwhile what are  our nation and our churches becoming as the prophetic voice in our pulpits is silent and denominational leaders turn a blind eye and call for Christians to stand down, make nice and fail in their call to be SALT  and LIGHT ?

Revelation 18:2 (KJV) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

BY Thomas Littleton

1/21/2019

In the Fall of 2018 The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission held a Conference  called “The  Cross Shaped Family ” (CSF) in Dallas. The message centered around and provided a brazen promotion of Russell Moore’s book “The Storm Tossed Family” . As outlined in October 2018 story (on this site linked below) – a constant theme of the ERLC conference was that the “family has become an idol” and that the church needs to “redefine, rethink family ” in terms of the church as our massive inclusive family. This family shares it’s resources and children in a collective “community “much in the same terms as liberal feminist in the 90s who gave us the “Family Idol ” language  and to Hillary Clinton’s view in her book “It Takes a  Village ” .

Sam Allberry discusses his very odd and disturbing  views on this “Shared Children” experience in the video below . His ministry Living Out announced in June 2018 the church ” LGBT Inclusion Audit” . In it the  affirmation #9  ” included ,at the time ,the “sharing of children” in the church with people who as SSA . ( this language has now been altered to “sharing family time”) . Currently these expanded talking points are justifiably raising serious concern among conservative evangelicals who are listening .

http://www.livingout.org/resources/the-living-out-church-audit

You can read more about the ERLC / CSF conference controversial views on redefining family and including people  with “Same Sex Attraction ” as part a “Village Church” approach to rearing , sharing and discipling children in the link below.

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2018/10/16/erlc-family-conference-redefines-family-as-the-inclusive-church/

MARCH FOR LIFE THE BACKDROP FOR ERLC SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE CHURCH

The  annual March for Life event in DC provides the backdrop for the Evangelicals for Life meetings . Russell Moore of the ERLC is relentlessly working to dilute the focus of the movement against abortion by ever his expanding assertions of what being pro-life means to evangelicals . His growing list of inclusive issues hits on every progressive political issue for which the ERLC under his direction has become known. You can see these added causes in the quote below. This is an age old tactic to dilute and distract the base .

http://www.bpnews.net/52266/moore-at-efl-dignity-gospel-needed

“Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, opened the second day of the annual conference sponsored by the ERLC. The two-day event at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C., continued with a full day of addresses, panel discussions and breakout sessions on such topics as abortion, adoption, disability, racial unity, immigration, Christian persecution and criminal justice reform.”

THE GOSPEL COALITION AND ERLC COORDINATED MESSAGING

TGC co-founder Tim Keller is infamous for his inventing of theologies to back his transformational /emergent messaging. He began earnestly  promoting his “Theology of Singleness ” a few years ago. He has also promoted his own notions of “theologies of vocation, work, generosity and so on- as it pleases him and serves the progressive agendas he is promoting to the church.

https://www.securesingle.com/theology-of-singleness-christianitys-unique-view-singleness/

https://southboroughlabri.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/a-theology-of-singleness-tim-keller/

https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/singleness-the-biblical-guidelines-4631/

TGC, who works very closely with ERLC, has sent now forward its SSA editor Sam Allberry  to discuss “Singles who Adopt” and Single  Foster Parenting. In light of the Allberry role at ERLC/ TGC in advocacy for the LGBT lobby in evangelical circles – it might seem odd that he would be chosen to front this issue. However in the fuller view of recent activity and messaging by both of these organization – an obvious and ominous goal is surfacing .

https://mobile.twitter.com/TGC/status/1087054652292554753

ALLBERRY  THE TGC SSA EDITOR IS MESSAGING SINGLES ADOPTION/FOSTER CARE. WHY?

In this TGC message released on the 20th of January 2019 pitching for churches to support “singles adoption and foster parenting”, the only possible reason Allberry could be seen as the appropriate point man for this message is his role in promoting SSA rights to the church and the segway for promoting  “Same Sex Attracted Parenting ” . Pitched from the backdrop of the March for Life event- the Evangelicals for Life meetings , the October ERLC Cross Shaped Family Conference  and Allberrys messaging since the introduction of his June 2018  Living Out  -Church LGBT Inclusion Audit- no other rational exist for the choice of Allberry on THIS topic and at this TIME .

Expanding LGBT adoption, foster care, and parenting rights are a major push by the gay lobby in cultures and courts around the world . The progressive agents driving social change in the church are rapidly bringing it to our doorstep and INTO God’s house . In all likelihood the script was already written before the TGC/ ERLC campaign began in earnest in 2013.

IN GOD’S WORD -GOD GIVES PARENTS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHILDREN – NOT A REDEFINED /INCLUSIVE /VILLAGE CHURCH WILLING TO PROMOTED GAY PARENTING .

Ephesians 6 (NKJV)

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: ³ “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

⁴ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Rev Thomas Littleton

12/15/2019

In recent weeks social media has been abuzz about a PCA church in St Louis Missouri  hosting a transgender speaker in an event called  “Reclaim MLK2019 ”

https://www.faithforjustice.org/upcoming-events/2019/1/20/reclaimmlk

The event  was announced by the organization Faith For Justice and WAS to have been hosted by South City Church

Reclaim MLK 2019

• Sunday, January 20, 2019
• 4:00 PM  7:00 PM
• South City Church (map)
• Google Calendar  ICS

South City Church

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA HOSTING TRANS – INSANITY ?

South City Church  pastor is Mike Higgins who is also Dean Of Students and teaches “Applied Theology” at PCA’s Covenant Seminary .

https://www.covenantseminary.edu/faculty/mike-higgins-2/

http://www.southcitychurch.com/home/staff/

Mike Higgins, Lead Pastor
Email Pastor Mike

Mike and Renee Higgins came to South City Church in 2012. Mike attended Covenant Seminary earned his MDiv in 1996 and served as a PCA pastor in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia before returning to Covenant Seminary as Dean of Students in 2011. He is also an army chaplain (COL) assigned to the Pentagon. In May 2012, Mike earned his DMin from Covenant where his focus was the “Experiences of African American Church Planters in the PCA.” He has been married to Renee for 33 years, has two daughters, Mary and Michelle and two grandchildren, Moses and Mattie.

Higgins daughter is the Worship pastor

PCA CONTROVERSY TWITTER FRENZY

The event was  in part exposed on Twitter as having a transgender speaker .Here is the Faith for Justice event speakers bio .

https://www.musicfreedomdreams.com/about-1/

“As a musician & speaker carrying the message of their Black & POC trans & genderqueer siblings, Jay-Marie’s speaking and performing  engagements have taken place at Dartmouth College, Harvard University, American Repertory Theater, Stanford University, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, New Conservatory Theater Center (SF), and more. Their M.A. in education has enabled their work as an educator for young people (K-Universities) in classrooms and with adults through intentional learning spaces. Jay-Marie also prioritizes working directly as a mentor with countless cis, Queer & Trans/NB youth & young adults around the country. …

They have also been an outspoken advocate & organizer with movements such as Black Lives Matter, Black 4 Palestine, #NoDAPL and #SayHerName, among others. ..

Jay-Marie is originally from Oakland, CA. but now works out of St. Louis, MO building a very Black, very Queer life with their incredible partner, Kayla.”

SHUFFLE ACROSS THE FLOOR -THE COVENANT TWO STEP ?

South City Church announced on the 14th of January that is will no longer hold the event

http://www.southcitychurch.com/documents-devotionals/a-public-statement-from-the-session-of-south-city-church/

“Posted by South City Church on January 14, 2019

Faith For Justice has announced the new venue – which is a PCUSA church .

Faith for Justice is at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church – St. Louis, Missouri.

15 hrs · St. Louis, MO ·

💛NEW LOCATION💛

We will continue on with plans for our #ReclaimMLK2019 event, now at a brand new venue!! See you all Sunday, January 20th at 4pm at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church (4111 Connecticut St.)

Spread the word! See you all then! @ Oak Hill Presbyterian Church – St. Louis, Missouri

Michelle Higgins

Michelle Higgins is a founding member of Faith for Justice. She is an organizer, administrator and worship leader. She serves with Action Saint Louis, the Electoral Justice Project of the Movement for Black Lives, and directs worship for South City Church in Saint Louis. Michelle can also be heard on the podcast Truth’s Table. She earned an M.Div at Covenant Theological Seminary and currently works for campaigns centering Black radicalism in prison abolition and building political power. She lives with her family in Saint Louis.

Mike Higgins Pastor of South City Church is the on the board of Faith For Justice with his daughter .

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

Mike

Also on the Faith for Justice board is  First Light Ministries  employee and controversial LGBT+ conference Revoice speaker

Dawn Jones

You can read about the apparent  cover up of the Revoice ” investigation in the Presbyterian Church in America by  the chairperson of the investigation who is also listed as the Principle officer of First Light –

here

https://www.theaquilareport.com/is-revoice-lgbt-thriving-through-cover-up-in-pca-missouri-presbytery/?fbclid=IwAR2rjLGPGk8o6fhrNg3WQpXz3i_c57rrwLpagLTPyGJuP8yvvIRKqO24y_Q

And here

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2019/01/10/is-revoice-lgbt-thriving-through-cover-up-in-pca-missouri-presbytery/

Take a breath

Again here is the statement from  South City Church staff WHICH INCLUDES Mike and Michelle Higgins and the Session of elders at SSC  about why they have canceled out on  hosting the Faith For Justice “Reclaiming MLK2019″

” Faith for Justice, is a Christian advocacy and social justice organization. Upon being informed of the details of the event, the session and pastoral staff met and determined that some of the planned elements within this particular event appeared to be inconsistent with South City Church’s theological convictions. We have thus determined that South City Church’s facility should no longer be used for the Faith for Justice event originally scheduled for January 20th. At no point was the event a South City Church event or part of a South City Church worship service”

ONE VERY HONEST QUESTION –

HOW CAN THE HIGGINS WHO OPERATE ON THE BOARD OF FAITH FOR JUSTICE NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THEIR  OWN EVENT WHEN THEY THEMSELVES ARE BOTH STAFFERS AT SOUTH CITY CHURCH AS WELL AND WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MAKING THE DECISION TO HOST IT FROM THE START ?

The PCA needs to get the bottom of what is going on in St Louis , in its churches and at Covenant Seminary .

Lord send forth Thy  Light and they Truth

^Psalm

^{43 :3} O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

⁴ Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

ROLL OVER CHUCK COLSON: THE SOCIAL JUSTICE/REVOICE /RETHINK /BIOLA COLLABORATION IS DANCING ON YOUR GRAVE.

By Rev. Thomas Littleton                                                                                                                   1/12/2019

The legacy of Chuck Colson is to some Christians a very trusted partner for Conservative causes and political/ cultural engagement. To others, like this author, the legacy is a mixed bag with a dangerous history of highly compromised ecumenical ties and a world view well beyond the comfort zone for Biblically conservative Christians. Some in this more cautious group may still consider the conversion of Colson and his Prison Fellowship ministry to have contributed to a lasting legacy for outreach in prisons nationwide. Colson Center established the   Colson Fellows program upon the death of Chuck Colson in 2012. Today the Colson Center is in younger, far less capable hands -as is often the case with second generation leadership in ministries.

In 2018 we witnessed the revelation of deep infiltration, compromise and progressive perversions of the Gospel within long trusted organizations, major denominations and their seminaries. Recent revelations indicate 2019 will be another painful year in the Christian spectator sport of helplessly watching trusted ministries and ministers manifesting the steady creep of selling out.

Word on the street is that the leaders at Colson Center have come into some big money recently. The new choice of faculty leadership in the Fellows program indicate the likelihood of the fresh money and a load of social justice compromise that came with it. It is fair to ask- “Are some in this line up of Fellows faculty in keeping with the vision of Chuck Colson? Let’s take a look at three of them and their current work.

IS THIS A CHUCK COLSON CENTER ENDORSEMENT OF REVOICE AND RETHINK APPROACH TO LGBT?

Several of the new Faculty choices appear to be an endorsement on some of evangelicals worst compromisers. Why has the Colson Center chosen major players in the Revoice circles “promoting LGBTQ flourishing in historic Christian tradition “ , the Biola Apologetics who want to Rethink their industry  and modern social justice warriors who are promoting Black Liberation Theology ?

From the Colson Fellows site http://colsonfellows.com/about-us/

HISTORIC CHRISTIAN CONSERVATISM OR NOT?

The claims of Colson Center  history boast the current work to be in keeping of his vision.

“When Chuck Colson passed away in 2012, the program was renamed Colson Fellows. Today, it continues to fulfill his vision. Over 1,300 people across the nation and in a dozen foreign countries have completed the program. Today, a record number of men and women engage in the National program or in Regional and Academic settings. “

TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING

Again things are changing with many once conservative ministries and even denominations. One indication of this would be the recent evangelical concerns and push back over infiltration in the Seminaries with the false Social Justice gospel. You can read more about that infiltration here in both parts one and two of Evangelical Deep State .

http://sbctoday.wpengine.com/is-this-the-evangelical-deep-state/

These issues in general were further raised, in measured response, by the Dallas Statement. It has now been signed by over 10,000 concerned ministers and Christians. The Statement came out last Fall and stops short of naming names or exposing the sources of the infiltration and funding behind it. Still the popular response to the Dallas Statement indicates an awareness of the problem.

https://founders.org/2018/09/04/the-statement-on-social-justice-and-the-gospel/

LGBTQ+ IN THE DOOR AND IN YOUR FACE

Today we are seeing a major departure from vintage conservative Christianity as many major ministries embrace the massive coordinated effort to provide a new language and voice to homosexuality in the church. It is a classic victim narrative and filled with heavily nuanced propaganda.

The Revoice Conference which was held in St Louis in July 2018 at a Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) was a huge eye opener for the non-progressive churches. If Revoice had been a collaboration of liberal denominations like the Methodist or Episcopal – it would have been little more than a blip on the radar in the evangelical world. But Revoice, because of its origins, was alarming because of its rise from the heart of conservative evangelicalism and two of its most prestigious seminaries. The founder Nate Collins was a long-time student and teacher at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in KY which has long been celebrated as historic marker for its conservative victory over liberals who abandoned the Word of God decades ago. Fast forward to 2018 and SBTS has produced Revoice founder and some SBC entity Fellows and preachers were endorsing Revoice and its affiliated mentor ministries.

The PCAs Covenant Seminary was fully represented among  7 Revoice speakers including some faculty and recent Covenant graduates. Also The Gospel Coalition co-founded by the popular Tim Keller and campus ministries like CRU, RUF and other long trusted organizations had speakers involved. Revoice provided the proverbial thud among Biblical evangelicals as an event preaching to its choir of “Sexual Minorities” while advocating acceptance in the church. Now Revoice wants to bring with it their ideas of welcoming/ safe spaces / and the “virtues of Queer culture and Queer Literature “ into the heart of evangelicals remaining conservative congregations.

BIOLA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT / STAND TO REASON  -RETHINK APOLOGETICS – ISN’T IT JUST REVOICE LITE?

Apologetics Undergoing APA Compliant Transformation Under Yarhouse at Biola.

Biola University has had more than its share of LGBTQ+ activism on campus and has remained under the activist gun and in the spotlight from at least 2012 . An underground LGBT group has made relentless waves over school policies. By 2015 Biola appeared to have found a solution . . . a way out of the pressure. After efforts to compromise and appease in measured fashion failed Biola President Barry Corey signed onto the often discussed Civilitas Group compromise

https://web.archive.org/web/20170506051340/http://www.civilitasgroup.org/uploads/7/8/1/6/78160154/civilitas_vsp_paper.utv.pdf

THE PROBLEM AS CIVILITAS SEES IT-NEEDED DETAILS ON THIS PROBLEMATIC ALLIANCE .

It appears Biola and other schools/leaders see the big problem with the world today as lack of civility .

“Our society is increasingly characterized by competing special interests and fragmentation while the church is too often associated with the Culture Wars which serves to intensify its unprecedented experience of marginalization. Researchers, sociologists, and journalists are increasingly speaking of America’s future in categories of polarization and decline.”

“Historians have developed theories with respect to the rise and fall of great nations. History is replete with examples of civilization after civilization that has followed this pattern. However, historians can also point to societies that have experienced renewal, revitalization, and renaissance.”

USING THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE ON THE CHURCH -TO CHANGE IT

Biola and Fuller and Wheaton (displaying an ever growing stench of compromise) along with other schools Christian leaders signed on to using a think tank siting its roots in Cultural Marxist Frankfurt School promoting social justice for an endless stream of victims in order the change the church- to be more civil and find “common ground” for the “common good”.

FEARING MAN AND IDOLIZING CIVILITY MAY KEEP YOU ALIVE BUT KILL YOUR SOUL.

Is this the approach of the Apostles who turned the world upside down with their preaching? Is their Civility the reason they were killed for the sake of the Gospel?

SO WHAT IS THE CURE ACCORDING TO WHAT BIOLA AND FRIENDS HAVE SIGNED UP FOR?

“Implement the process of collaboration on projects that meet needs while also building trusting relationships. During the time of making progress towards civility, our Civilitas Theory of Social Change – developed in partnership with sociologists at Princeton, Yale, and UVA – will be used to guide and refine the actual practice and progress of change.”

CHICK-FIL-A :THE CORPORATE GROWTH MODEL FOR COMPROMISE IS A MINISTRY /GOSPEL APPROACH?

“Civil conversations will work to change the tone of our society by supplanting vitriolic public discourse with respectful listening, constructive exchange, and positive partnerships. Dan Cathy, President and CEO of Chick-Fil-A developed an improbable model of such civility in a surprising friendship with Shane Windmeyer, national director of the LGBT group Campus Pride. After Dan Cathy was vilified by gays and lesbians in 2012 for his support of traditional marriage, Dan took a simple but courageous step of reaching out to Shane. He invited him to dinner so that they could meet and discuss the nature of their differences and explore matters of common interest. To the surprise of both Dan and Shane, they had a pleasant evening and they developed a friendship. A short time later, Dan invited Shane to be his guest and to sit with him in the owner’s box for the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia”

“Shortly thereafter, Shane wrote an op-ed piece in the Huffington Post entitled, “Coming Out as a Friend of Dan Cathy.” In the article he gave praise to Dan for taking the initiative, for listening respectfully, for sharing his convictions honestly, and for seeking first to understand rather than to be understood. Shane wrote, “We learned about each other as people with opposing views, not as opposing people.” As a result, Shane made the decision for Campus Pride to discontinue a nationally organized protest to boycott Chick-Fil-A. A Civil Conversation paved the way for discovering the common good.”

THE ELITE OF THE CHURCH AND THE CULTURE WILL SHOW US THE WAY

“In a city like New York, this would include Christian leaders like Tim Keller, Cardinal Dolan, Gabriel Salguero, A.R. Bernard, and Rich Mouw. The cultural elite would be represented by people like journalist and presidential aide, George Stephanopoulos; New York Times writer, David Brooks; the president of New York University; the chief of police; the superintendent of public schools and the mayor.”

“Civilitas will seek to build a national network of Christian leaders and cultural elites from among select cities across the country. Through the Civil Conversations and through the networks and dialogues that develop, Civilitas will also work to identify key issues that are of paramount importance for the common good of our culture.”

“Civilitas will then seek to connect the best minds and the most creative entities in the country to work on our most intractable challenges in pursuit of solutions for the common good. This will include churches, colleges and seminaries, mission leaders, and social entrepreneurs, together with Christians who have earned trust and exerted influence in every sector of society, to collaborate in pursuit of the common good.”

CIVILITAS PARTNERS

“Civilitas is committed to building a network of partners with groups of shared conviction such as Veritas Forum, The Trinity Forum, James Davison Hunter and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture (University of Virginia), The Centre for Ethics and Public Policy, The Center for Public Justice, The Brehm Center for Worship, Theology and the Arts, the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities, the Christian Community Development Association, private Christian foundations, national student organizations, and institutions of higher learning.”

IMMEDIATE OUTCOME OF COMPROMISE

A stated outcome is raising the churches perceived value in the culture.How is this is to be achieved through compromise?

“We believe that a by-product of this strategy will be a significantly enhanced public perception of the value of the church and Christian organizations in our society. This was the means by which the early church “turned the world upside down,” and it was the fruit of the social transformation brought about by William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect in England.”

BIOLA HOST  P. R. STUNT WITH RADICAL GAY THEOLOGY PROPONENT

Soon after signing on to the Civlitas Group Chik- Fil- A/ Gay compromise Biola guys invited the radical Matthew Vines/ Reformation Project to a “private sit down” covered by the New York Times which NY Times billed as “Evangelicals Open Door to Debate on Gay Rights”. (Why have a reporter and photographer at your private meeting? )

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/09/us/some-evangelicals-take-new-look-at-bibles-stance-on-gays.html

Soon after this Vines meeting, the apologist from Biola who would cover the issue of LGBT+ for the soon to launch / post Civilitas compromise “ Rethink “- attended a Reformation Project /Vines event . These thought leaders included Sean McDowell and Alan Shlemon, both of whom carry most of the LGBT+ topic discussions for Rethink Apologetics. Shlemon confirms that he believes LGBT should be welcomed into church membership “just not into church leadership “roles. Such ignorance of the implications of random inclusion and limitation is unimaginable in light of ever expanding LGBT discrimination laws. This Biola apologist also would not discuss activist organizations like Human Rights Campaign working to force the LGBT+ agenda into churches even after being given the chance to warn his audience of those deceitful efforts .

BIOLA,MARK YARHOUSE AND THE PRO-GAY AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

McDowell and Shlemon are very open about the influence of Mark Yarhouse on their narrative. Their publications are flush with interviews and quotes from Yarhouse who is the source of the promotion of merging a person’s faith identity and homosexual identity into a Gay or SSA Christian identity and Sexual Minority Christian. Yarhouse is the same source of compromise in Tim Keller’s organization The Gospel Coalition and in the TGC influence in Campus ministries like CRU/ RUF and Intervarsity .

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/a-year-end-challenge-for-the-gospel-coalition/

” Christ on Campus Initiative: TGC supports this ministry that prepares and circulates literature for college and university students. The most recent article, written by Mark Yarhouse, offers a Christian perspective on homosexuality.Christ on Campus Initiative”

http://sexualidentityinstitute.org/sample-page/dr-mark-yarhouse/

“Dr. Yarhouse is currently the Chair of the task force on LGBT issues for Division 36 (Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) of the American Psychological Association. He was recently invited to write the featured white paper on sexual identity for the Christ on Campus Initiative edited by Don A. Carson for The Gospel Coalition.”

MOVING ON TO THE TIES OF RETHINK APOLOGETICS TO REVOICE AND THE COLSON COMPROMISE

Both the Revoice controversial approach to “Promoting LGBT+ flourishing in historic Christian Tradition” and the Rethink Apologetics of Biola’s apologetics department have a COMMON GROUND SOURCE of inspiration in Christian psychologist and American Psychological Associations Interfaith and Sexuality expert Mark Yarhouse . Yarhouse has had a huge influence in Tim Keller’s  The Gospel Coalition and Campuses ministries both which are represented  in the Revoice speaker line up.

You can read more about Yarhouse and Revoice here and about a dozen related articles on the DNA of Revoice

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2018/05/29/make-the-gospel-great-again-reject-the-false-gospel-of-lgbt-christianity/

(Rethink Apologetics was launched in 2015/2016 and began to hold regional youth oriented Apologetics on a host of topics. The topic of concern here is the LGBTQ+ compromises related to its embrace of Yarhouse views in Sexual Orientation and therapy for those wanting to extricate their lives from homosexuality. The Civilitas Group participation by Biola leaders has set the tone for compromise .)

THE LEADING CONSERVATIVE PCA CHURCH IN BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA HOSTS RETHINK APOLOGETICS .

http://rethinkapologetics.com/birmingham.html

https://briarwood.org/event/rethink-student-apologetics-conference-2018-04-21/

ReThink Student Apologetics Conference

April 21, 2018 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

$30 – $50

“Last year’s inaugural reThink Conference was a great success, and we know this year will be even greater! With a host of challenging speakers such as J. Warner Wallace, Greg Koukl, Sean McDowell, and many more, this will be an entertaining, informative, and most importantly, challenging weekend. Click here to see the complete schedule and to register. Early bird rates end March”

Returning for 2019

reTHINK Apologetics Student Conference

April 26–27, 2019

Birmingham AL

The PCA is struggling and efforts to cover for Revoice and continue to provide a platform for Rethink are ushering in increasing controversy and concerns.

https://www.theaquilareport.com/is-revoice-lgbt-thriving-through-cover-up-in-pca-missouri-presbytery/

COLSON CENTERS TRAJECTORY

COLSONS NEW LIST OF FELLOWS TELLS THE TALE

http://colsonfellows.com/home-6/

Sean McDowell

Assistant Professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, Author and Speaker

Sean is a subscriber to the Revoice inspiration and promotion of Mark Yarhouse.

https://seanmcdowell.org/podcast/episode/15

https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/how-are-lgbt-students-faring-at-christian-colleges

Sean McDowell and partner from Rethink Apologetics Alan Shlemon cover the ever present topic of LGBTQ+ and the church in the Rethink Conferences. Again ,both carry the influence of Biola’s apologetics department and of Mark Yarhouse views from the APA and his own limited research on the view that sexual orientation is real- therefore homosexual orientation does not change and that few experience  significant change in sexual orientation when coming to Christian faith ( or any faith for that matter according to Yarhouse interfaith applied  research ). The assertion is then that with Sexual Orientation being real, that it, presumed from their conclusions, does not change at conversion – then the person who is same sex attracted and comes to Christian faith which is contrary to homosexual behavior then that person has a Sexual Identity and a Faith identity which are ” in conflict” with one another . The sexual Identity -which they say cannot change must then be merged with the person’s faith identity to create space for a “Gay Christianity “. Then the church can be led to embrace both identities then, in the framework of espoused celibacy or mixed orientation marriages, allow for “Sexual Minorities “and or “Gay, LGBT+, Queer Christians to be welcomed into the church.This is the “sweet spot” of the counseling goals being sought . In the same way as Civilitas seeks the “sweet spot” of “common ground for the common good” for society to embrace pluralism and we can “all just get along”.  According to these circles of influencers- these are “gospel goals” and produce “gospel fruit”.

RETHINK AND REVOICE

in reality Revoice and Rethink are just two brands produced from the same source of ideology and packaged / marketed to slightly different markets.

https://stream.rethinkapologetics.com/

SPRINKLE DOWN FROM REVOICE TO COLSON FELLOW MENTOR

Preston Sprinkle

Author ,Speaker, Teacher ,The Center for Faith Sexuality and Gender

Sprinkle is a graduate with both a Masters and a Doctorate from conservative Master’s Seminary of John MacArthur who signed the Dallas Statement but has not broken ties with the TGC/ Social justice crowd. Here we see a guy,  Sprinkle  wearing the Masters brand while he promoted- mentored and spoke at the radical Revoice LGBT+ flourishing conference. What amazing contradiction .

Sprinkle’s organization provides training, resources and events to further the embrace of “LGBT+ Christianity” in the church advocating on such topics as “Gay Teens in Your Church” – “Creating Safe Spaces for LGBT in the Church” and the church dealing “ Transgender Identity “ .

https://www.centerforfaith.com/resources?field_product_category_tid=1

Sprinkle and his Center were at the heart of the radical Revoice LGBT+ Flourishing Conference.

https://www.prestonsprinkle.com/schedule/revoice2018

“ St. Louis, MO: Revoice Conference

• Thursday, July 26, 201812:00 PM
  Saturday, July 28, 20189:00 PM

• Memorial Presbyterian201 South Skinker BoulevardSt. Louis, MO, 63105United States (map)

• Google Calendar  ICS

“Preston will be speaking at Revoice 2018!

The Mission: Supporting, encouraging, and empowering gay, lesbian, same-sex-attracted, and other LGBT Christians so they can experience the life-giving character of the historic Christian tradition.

Learn more at www.revoice.us “

SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY – PROVIDES A COLSON FELLOW FACULTY MEMBER

Walter Strickland II bringing Black Liberation Theology / Social Justice at Colson Center as Colson  Fellows mentor .

Another recent addition  to the Colson Stable is Walter Strickland II

Walter Strickland

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SYSTEMATIC AND CONTEXTUAL THEOLOGY/ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR DIVERSITY; SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Strickland teaches at Danny Akins TGC affiliated Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. (SEBTS)

Some of his areas of expertise and focus include, diversity development, assimilation, racial tension, and reconciliation, African American Theology, as well as Liberation Theology .

https://www.sebts.edu/academics/faculty/Strickland%20CV.pdf

New Colson Fellows faculty  Walter Strickland is hosting author Reggie Williams on campus at SEBTS in February 2019 as part of his Kingdom Diversity work on campus.

http://kingdomdiversity.sebts.edu/

http://kingdomdiversity.sebts.edu/index.php/carousel-sliders/bonhoeffers-black-jesus-giveaway-and-essay-contest/

Book and Event Description

Southeastern’s Annual Black History Celebration Luncheon is being held on February 8, 2019. This year Dr. Reggie L. Williams is delivering a lecture based upon his book Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. Dr. William’s book was chosen because it highlights the fruit of intentional self-displacement across cultural lines for spiritual growth. This book illustrates how the gospel refines the most God-honoring parts of a culture and eradicates that which does not honor Christ.

Williams illustrates this phenomena with a historical example of Dietrich Bonhoeffer during his two year stay in New York City. While in NYC, Bonhoeffer regularly attended and served at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Williams argues that Bonhoeffer’s formation during his time at a historically black church helped form the concepts that emerged in three of his most influential book: Ethics, Life Together, and Discipleship.

Williams tweeted his support of Black Liberation Theology and the influence of James Cone and Jeremiah Wright.

Reggie Williams‏ @reglwill

FollowFollow @reglwill

More

Reggie Williams Retweeted Freedom Road

This is a conversation starter. I failed to mention how much Rev. J @emeritus5 and Rev. @JeremiahWrigh10 have been to me.

Here is a recent interview with Williams about his book

NOW LIVE: Episode #7 of the #FreedomRoadPodcast Summer Series Finale discusses #BlackMensMagic with Host @lisasharper and prolific theologian/ethicist, Dr. Reggie Williams (author of Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus). @reglwill Check it out! …

CONCLUSION

Where is the Colson Center Fellows program headed?  The new Colson Fellows Faculty gives us a strong indication of deep compromise .

The Colson Center Fellows current additions to the  faculty members now include one of the controversial Revoice Conference developer/ speaker/ and mentor Preston Sprinkle . Revoice is promoting LGBT+ Christianity.

Colson Fellows also includes many from Biola Apologetics whose University has signed onto to using the “Civilitas Theory of Social Change” in order to alter the church’s approach to LGBT issues. Stand to Reason team-mate Sean McDowell subscribes to Mark Yarhouse and his APA driven “sexual orientation, sexual minorities. and gay Christianity.

Walter Strickland II – Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC Associate Vice President for Kingdom Diversity Initiatives whose field of study and program developments focus on the issues of racial tension, black liberation theology and, A Blueprint for Kingdom Diversity.

MORE ON SEBTS FROM A WHISTLEBLOWER

Just this week and SEBTS graduate has made news as a whistleblower on the Social Justice “take over “ at SEBTS under the leadership of The Gospel Coalitions Danny Akin .

https://pulpitandpen.org/2019/01/12/breaking-sebts-student-whistleblower-tells-all-about-social-justice-take-over-at-baptist-seminary/

“To be very clear, Harris alleges that the institution has taken a “left turn” and that the institution has gone from being known as the “mission school” to the “social justice school.”

Calling it a “Downgrade,” a term that harkens back to Spurgeon’s stance against the doctrinal dumbing-down of the Baptist Union, Harris begins by quoting Scripture and urging viewers not to be taken captive by heresies and false teachings.

Harris claims that because he’s chosen not to affiliate with the SBC, he is free to speak out about their newly ‘woke’ social justice movement – a detriment to the Gospel in his estimation – unlike many other students or professors who rely on the SBC for income and are silenced.”

COLSON CENTER DANCING PRO-LGBT+ AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ON CHUCK COLSON’S LEGACY

Colson Center is running with the pack which is leading the church into the social gospel- the social justice gospel.

Galatians 1:8-9 (NKJV)

⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be ^[a]accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

THE “INVESTIGATION”  OF REVOICE IN THE PCA

By Rev Thomas Littleton                                                                                        1/9/2019

It was obvious to most people in the PCA that Revoice Conference being hosted by/at Memorial Presbyterian (PCA) church in St Louis represented a major cause for concern within the conservative denomination. Also the fact that over half a dozen of the speakers at Revoice were from it’s flagship Covenant Seminary in St Louis MO proved concerns were well-warranted.

Thankfully faithful PCA ministers and elders from numerous regions began efforts to challenge the Revoice movement in their denomination through such actions as calls for discipline against the host church. This writer was privy to one effort in some detail.  Due to multiple complaints from across the PCA the Session of Elders at Memorial Presbyterian Church who hosted Revoice have asked the Missouri Presbytery to investigate and rule on the allegations against them.

HERE IS THE RECENT STATEMENT ON THAT INVESTIGATION

http://www.mopres.org/safari/article/34.html?fbclid=IwAR1gxM0Uq5T0NG1VAaQmbN82zA07XmPLdI4mcGhuq54D43Ag1T2sOOR5pEs

It reads;

Home: News: Reference Concerning Memorial Presbyterian and Revoice

Reference Concerning Memorial Presbyterian and Revoice

In October of this year the session of Memorial Presbyterian Church “referenced” Missouri Presbytery (BCO 31.2 & 4.1-4), asking the presbytery to investigate and rule on allegations against them and their Pastor regarding their hosting of the Revoice Conference in July. In response to Memorial’s request, the Moderator established an investigative committee chaired by TE Ron Lutjens to review all these concerns and present their recommendations to the presbytery in 2019. In addition to this, after the October meeting, Missouri Presbytery received a “Letter of Concern” from Calvary Presbytery (PCA) regarding the Revoice conference. The committee has also been tasked to look into the issues raised by that letter as well.

Contact Information

Rev. Timothy R. Butler, Stated Clerk
timothy.butler@mopres.org

WHO IS INVESTIGATING REVOICE ?

The sad truth is that the time invested in the efforts to bring some accountability to those in the PCA who helped incubate, promote and host Revoice Conference 2018 will likely not go very far.

The moderator for the Investigative  Committee has appointed T E Ron Lutjens  as chair of the investigative committee and to recommend their findings to the Presbytery .

LUTJENS AND REVOICE TIES THROUGH FIRST LIGHT INC.

Lutjens is not likely to be able to bring objectivity to the “investigation ” in part due to his  own ties to Revoice which lie just one layer below the surface.  PCA brothers and sisters concerned about what is reflected by this event and the movement behind it in their denomination should call their faithful to weep and lament – not for the Sexual Minorities bemoaning themselves at Revoice – but for their once faithful denomination and its institutions.

T E RON LUTJENS ROLE IN FIRST LIGHT INC /MINISTRIES

As documented in links below First Light Inc is a ministry to SSA people in the Church. Its offices are at Revoice Host Church Memorial PCA , the church under investigation . Two of First Lights employees were Revoice speakers including Revoice VP Stephen Moss. First Light’s Principle Officer listed with non-profit tracking organization Guidestar is  Ron Lutjens

MEMORIAL CHURCH HOUSES FIRST LIGHT

http://www.memorialpca.org/churchprofile.html

“Because the building is expansive, we house office space for ministries such as First Light—a ministry for sexual brokenness; ISI – an international student ministry; the Chapel – a venue for concerts, art openings, and theatre productions; four on-site professional counselors; and a weekly home schooling group in addition to other various ministries.”

FIRST LIGHT TEAM

https://smf-stlouis.org/our-team/

“Stephen Moss

FIRST LIGHT – SEXUAL MINORITY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR

Since first sharing his story publicly in 2013, Stephen has spoken and written about his experience as a Christian who is gay and celibate. He’s a founding board member and VP of Operations for Revoice.”

GUIDESTAR DOCUMENTS OF FIRST LIGHT INC.

https://www.guidestar.org/profile/03-0466709

First Light Inc.

Ruling Year 

2003

Principal Officer

RON LUTJENS

Main Address

PO BOX 430142

SAINT LOUIS , MO 63143

Now it is also important to note that Covenant Seminary whose obvious “contribution “ to the Revoice Conference of 2018 has caused enough concern that the President of Covenant was asked to address the issue at the June 2018 General Assembly in Atlanta .

https://warhornmedia.com/2018/06/18/response-to-cts-president-mark-dalbeys-pca-general-assembly-statement-on-revoice/

One concern General Assembly  attendees were not made aware of is that the Covenant Seminary Presidents wife works with First Light as well.

https://www.covenantseminary.edu/events/ministry-matters-ideas-womens-childrens-ministry/

“This breakout session of Ministry Leadership is for all MDiv wives and women students and meets separately from the men for two hours weekly during the semester.

This Week’s Speakers: Beth Dalbey, MAC, works with First Light Ministries, wife of Covenant Seminary President Mark Dalbey; and Lilian Werner, Licensed Counselor, Former Director of Women’s Ministries at First Light Ministries, now a counselor in private practice, wife of Brad Werner, a pastor and counselor”

REVOICE DEEP COVER : SOMETHING ROTTEN IN ST LOUIS

The “investigation ” makes for  a tidy little in-house shop of horrors for anyone in the PCA who sees the threat of the Revoice movement . As Revoice brazenly boast its goals of “ promoting LGBT+ flourishing ” including “Queer Christians, LGBT+ Christians , Sexual Minorities in the church and ministry, Churches welcoming the LGBT+ Community and becoming “Safe Spaces”in the churches-   it also commits to dredging up the “unique treasures of Queer Culture, Queer literature and Queer Theory for the church and the New Jerusalem”.  Arguably nothing this unbiblical or beyond the bounds of Biblical or PCA orthodoxy in the history of the PCA has gained more sudden traction in the mainstream of the denomination or posed as deep a threat to it’s future .

SOUTHERN BAPTISTS ARE EQUALLY AS INFILTRATED / IMPACTED BY REVOICE BUT NO ORGANIZED PUSHBACK HAS TAKEN SHAPE AS IT HAS IN THE PCA.

The only responses from Southern Baptists and the president of it’s SBTS Seminary Albert Mohler have been to skirt the greatest issue of concern for Southern Baptists. The founder of Revoice Nate Collins is a long time student and former teacher  (14 1/2 years in total)  at the SBC flagship  seminary Dr. Mohler heads . His last effort to address the concerns of believers in the SBC came in August 2nd 2018 just after the first Revoice  conference in which Dr. Mohler finally mentions the founder- his student by name but never connects him with SBTS. Mohler has also never commented about his disciple Russell Moore and the ERLC’s multiple close ties to Revoice promotion and speakers. No organized opposition exist in the SBC to the Revoice efforts for  “Queering of the Church ” and promoting LGBT+ flourishing in it.

Given the 2019 Revoice conference registration has already begun – the PCA and SBC folk who are awake ,watching , and praying have little to look forward to on this front in the new year except to find a small bit of humor in watching their leaders exercise their poor skills in dancing the two step.

Perhaps soon the wake up call will come to the PCA and SBC  leaders who have provided cover for the Revoice movement as weary believers, tired of the shell games and compromise –  begin the mass exodus from what had been the remaining uncompromised denominations and leave these leaders to deal with the empty church buildings  those members of the exodus helped build . Perhaps the cost will be counted too late like others who have passed this way before . At this time -the  stage four metastasized and leavened lump requires nothing short of a miracle to save these denominations from the valley of dry bones. But nothing is impossible with God.

Matthew 19:

²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Ezekiel 37

1.The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. ² Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. ³ And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”

⁴ Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!

IS IT TOO LATE FOR AN IDOLATROUS AND CO-MINGLED CHURCH?

Hosea 7

⁸ “Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples;
Ephraim is a cake unturned.
⁹ Aliens have devoured his strength,
But he does not know it;
Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him,
Yet he does not know it.
¹⁰ And the pride of Israel testifies to his face,
But they do not return to the Lord their God,
Nor seek Him for all this.

¹¹ “Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense—
They call to Egypt,
They go to Assyria.
¹² Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them;
I will bring them down like birds of the air;
I will chastise them
According to what their congregation has heard.

SINNING THAT JUSTIFIES A SINNERS SISTER ?

Jeremiah 3

“6 Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot….. ⁸ Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. ⁹ So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. ¹⁰ And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense,” says the Lord.”

PRAY FOR THE FAITHFUL IN GOD’S CHURCHES AND CALL LEADERS TO ACCOUNTABILITY .

No generation in the Western world has had a greater need for the church to be devoted to the call to holiness and faithfulness as she seeks to be the church in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. The compromises such as Revoice movement in the name of cultural engagement or relevance are the kiss of death to a church who will be salt and light and offer the sweet fragrance of life to the world around it.

ARE WE TO BE A STENCH TO GOD IN ORDER TO APPEASE MEN?

2nd Corinthians 2:

¹⁴ Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

TIM KELLER & LOST BOYS LEADING THE CHURCH INTO MORE ERROR: HOW YOKING WITH APA & MORMON CHURCH ARE IMPACTING CHRISTIAN COUNSELING

By Thomas Littleton                                                                                          1/5/2019

Tim Keller is on yet another adventure into the abyss in the name of “redeeming culture”. This time his work is in the realm of Christian counseling. Keller and The Gospel Coalition decided in 2010 to make an interfaith American Psychological Association psychologist the go- to guy on LGBTQ+ issues instead of the Bible and helped give us the Living Out LGBTQ+ Inclusion Audit for churches and the radical Revoice conference promoting “LGBT+ flourishing ( Tim Keller’s favorite unbiblical word ) in historic ( conservative PCA and Southern Baptist etc.) Christian tradition ( i.e. in our churches) .

https://counseling.redeemer.com/standalone_pages/redeemer_counseling_research_fund

The supposedly orthodox Reformed theological  Keller and the Gospel Coalition he co-founded  work very closely with the Libertarian /Catholic- Acton Institute. Acton Institute provides the chief editor for TGC and has given our seminaries, Christian universities and homeschool curriculum the unbridled but stealthy influence of Catholic social policy (which is driven by Catholic theology). The Curriculum and it’s version of Austrian School of economics produced the now highly controversial “fruit” of conservative churches being urged to embrace the classic social gospel – now touted as “ social justice  is a Gospel issue” -resulting in the church being transformed into a global communitarian “Village”. That communitarian church vision is now charged with distributing justice and redistributing the wealth of western civilization toward “global goals” through the church. Keller’s almost 500 church plants have been resourced for years and trained by the shallow and growth driven corporate models directly provided to Redeemer Church by the Willow Creek Association.

If the merging of these spurious influences were the true Gospel we would all owe Tim Keller and TGC a great debt for the church finally recovering and meeting its long lost call. This is however NOT the Gospel delivered to the Apostles and the New Testament saints . It is something else- something classically deceptive, culturally driven and based on a multitude of ideologies antithetical to the true Gospel and the Word of God.

The question that remains unanswered is  ”Will the people of the PCA and SBC whose churches and pastors have come under the sway of Keller and his multitude of errors – follow Keller and his minions into the ruins of shipwrecked apostates who have gone before or will they awaken and rid their churches and denominations before it is too late?”

1 Timothy 4 (NKJV)

The Great Apostasy

4 Now the Spirit ^[a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ² speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.

2 TIMOTHY 4

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.

NOW KELLER AND REDEEMER HAVE SET THEIR SITES ON PARTNERING WITH THE APA . INTERFAITH FUNDING ,AND THE MORMON CHURCH TO GIVE AN OVERHAUL TO CHRISTIAN COUNSELING.

Flush with millions from the Interfaith driven grant funding of The Templeton Foundation, Keller and his Redeemer City Counseling Department have set out to “influence Christian Counseling” through partnering with an institution (the APA) antithetical to Christianity but interested in “Spirituality” and another religion (Brigham Young University of the Mormon, LDS faith). The research project is touted to be the largest such effort ever undertaken.

Templeton Foundation Funding Goals

The Templeton Foundation is “committed to catalyzing research relating to scientific and spiritual progress, “in which all people aspire to and attain a deeper understanding of the universe and their place in it.” It provides philanthropic funding to projects that explore subjects ranging from “complexity, evolution and emergence to creativity, forgiveness and free will.”

https://counseling.redeemer.com/standalone_pages/redeemer_counseling_research_fund

“Redeemer Counseling Services has been committed to conducting research since 2012. Our first project by Dr. Tracy Prout was an outcome study that assessed spirituality and its influence on the therapeutic alliance. Since then, Dr. Judy Cha and Elena E. Kim have also conducted qualitative studies to examine the effects of God Image and the mechanism of spirituality on the client’s psychotherapeutic experience. “

Keller boast in the short video linked above that “Redeemer Counseling has been given the chance to change the field of psychology …with the gospel” Elena Kim is the lead investigator with the Templeton funded project. Kim says” historically the fields of religion and psychology were not receptive to each other but there has been a recent focus on spiritually in psychology which has created a window of opportunity and the John Templeton Foundation intends to take advantage of this opportunity”. Judy Cha the Director of Redeemers Counseling Center says “millions of dollars have been set aside to BRIDGE (The BYU program name) to counselors (Cha) Clergy (Keller) and Researchers (Kim) with the goal to bring spiritually orientated psychotherapy into mainstream healthcare.”  “Your involvement”, says Keller, “can allow Christianity to influence the field of psychology at a vast cultural level.” We, the church, are urged to join them in their “historical endeavor to bridge Christianity and psychology.”

UNHOLY MIXTURE

In addition to  the atheistic roots of psychology add to this the bland universalism of the “new age” spirituality being espoused and the interfaith application of the funding research and outcomes. Redeemers team are proud to be working with experts in the field who are part of the APA partnered project , headquartered at BYU and of and with the Mormon Religion. Yet Redeemer participants and Keller call their mutual work a “validation of Christian integrated psychotherapy” .Thus Keller is illustrating again the lack of care or discernment for the conservative Reformed theology Keller has wrapped himself and his ministry / TGC in. Keller’s PCA credentials are often all he needs to retain respectability and acceptance among many Biblical evangelicals thanks in large part to their pastors providing cover for Keller and endorsing him .In PCA/ TGC churches in this authors area Keller’s books are often used as Sunday School study and discussion materials .

Grants & Awards

Kim, E. E., Chen, E. C., Cha J., Keller T. (2017). “Empirical validation of a Christian-integrated psychotherapy framework: A task analysis.” John Templeton Foundation and Brigham Young University.

The work is also deeply  partnered with the APA as indicated by their presentations .

Presentations

Kim, E. E., Chen, E. C., & Brachfeld, C. (2016, August). Patients’ experiences of spirituality in psychotherapy: A grounded theory analysis. In P. S. Richards & J. N. Nelson (Co-Chairs), Spiritually oriented psychotherapy: Processes, outcomes, and research challenges. Symposium presentation proposal submitted for the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Denver, CO.

Prout, T.A., & Kim, E.E., (2015, August). Christian Counseling: Initial Report on A Large-Scale Study. Presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Toronto, Canada.

Prout, T.A., & Kim, E.E., (2014, August). Therapeutic Alliance, Client-Therapist Match, and Outcomes in Christian Counseling. Presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C.

THE APA “ANDROCENTRIC PAST” AND CURRENT ATTACK ON”TOXIC MASCULINITY ”

Keller’s work with the APA puts he and Redeemer in full step with the organizations attack on masculinity .

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/01/ce-corner.aspx?utm_content=1546300435&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

“APA’s new Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Boys and Men strive to recognize and address these problems in boys and men while remaining sensitive to the field’s androcentric past. Thirteen years in the making, they draw on more than 40 years of research showing that traditional masculinity is psychologically harmful and that socializing boys to suppress their emotions causes damage that echoes both inwardly and outwardly.

The needs of men

Prior to the second-wave feminist movement in the 1960s, all psychology was the psychology of men. Most major studies were done only on white men and boys, who stood in as proxies for humans as a whole. Researchers assumed that masculinity and femininity were opposite ends of a spectrum, and “healthy” psychology entailed identifying strongly with the gender roles conferred by a person’s biological sex.

But just as this old psychology left out women and people of color and conformed to gender-role stereotypes, it also failed to take men’s gendered experiences into account. Once psychologists began studying the experiences of women through a gender lens, it became increasingly clear that the study of men needed the same gender-aware approach, says Levant.

The main thrust of the subsequent research is that traditional masculinity—marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression—is, on the whole, harmful. Men socialized in this way are less likely to engage in healthy behaviors”

BRIDGES PROJECT DISCUSSED IN REDEEMER VIDEO PARTNERS WITH BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

http://www.bridgesconsortium.net/grant-projects/

Templeton funding March 2017- March 2020

https://www.templeton.org/grant/enhancing-practice-based-evidence-for-spiritually-integrated-psychotherapies-an-interdisciplinary-big-data-project

Grant total – $3,572,011

“For most of the 20th century, mainstream healthcare professionals ignored the role of spirituality in therapeutic healing. Recently this has changed as scholars and practitioners have described many spiritual treatment approaches, grounded in the healing practices of both Western and Eastern spiritual traditions (e.g., prayer, meditation, gratitude, love, forgiveness, altruistic service). Although some research supports these approaches there are weaknesses with the database. Without a more satisfactory research base, spiritual approaches will remain at the fringes of the mental health and medical fields, which will deprive many people of access to sensitive and effective services. The long-term aim of our project is to create an international, interdisciplinary network of researchers and practitioners dedicated to advancing research and practice in this domain of mental healthcare. “

“Funding from the Templeton Foundation for this project will enable us to attract research teams and treatment sites from around the world to collaborate in creating the largest and richest data set in existence about spiritually integrated treatment approaches. Our research and network of collaborators will help ensure that religious and spiritual resources for therapeutic change are never again neglected in the healthcare professions. Spiritually committed people throughout the world will have greater access to mental health services that are effective and that honor the healing resources of their spiritual worldviews and communities.”

Earlier grant was $207,440.

https://www.templeton.org/grant/bringing-spiritually-oriented-psychotherapies-into-the-healthcare-mainstream-a-preparatory-grant-proposal-for-an-international-grant-competition-2

The director, co-director, project manager and both additional leaders in the Bridge project are from the Mormon Church -Brigham Young University.

Phillip Scott Richards of Brigham Young is project  Director .

https://centerforchange.com/staff/p-scott-richards-phd/

Daniel Judd of the Bridge project is an expert of “ancient scripture” and the Book of Mormon .

https://religion.byu.edu/daniel_judd

“Bio: Daniel K Judd received an M.S. degree in family science and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Brigham Young University.  He has been a seminary and institute instructor in Utah, Arizona, and Michigan, and he was a professor of family science at BYU-Idaho.  Presently Chair of the Ancient Scripture Department at BYU, he has published several articles on religious and mental health issues.  He and his wife, Kaye Seegmiller Judd, have four children and reside in Orem, Utah.

Courses Taught: Book of Mormon, New Testament, LDS Marriage and Family

Areas of Expertise: Religion and Mental Health; Marriage and Family

Areas of Research: Doctrinal perspectives on current issues; Philosophy and psychology of Religion; Marriage and Family”

CONCLUSION -KELLER’S REDEEMER COUNSELING EXPECTS ORDER OUT OF CHAOS AS AN OUTCOME FOR HIS COMPROMISED INVOLVEMENT.

Is Tim Keller able to discern the fundamentally flawed approach in the partnership his Redeemer Counseling Center is undertaking ?  Keller says his ministry is “engaging to influence the field of psychology with Christianity “. So again, how is he going about this?  According to his own website, Keller’s team is working as part of a broad effort using the funding providing by the Templeton Foundation to collaborate with research in order to “merge psychology and Christianity.”

Also -again, how does Keller expect that to happen? How does Tim Keller, co-founder  of The Gospel Coalition and who is licensed to ministry by the reformed/ conservative / theologically driven Presbyterian Church of America intend to bring about this outcome?

By

1. Partnering with grant funding provided by an interfaith universalist program focused on a totally new age /generic brand of spirituality.

2. By aligning with and yoking to a historically anti Gospel organization driving much         of the pro homosexual and redefining marriage movement now focused on “spirituality “.

3. By collaborating with a cult religion with a history of polygamy, abuse, and corruption and which adheres to its own religious text which it claims as a third testament of the Bible.

Tim Keller is either a fool on a fool’s errand who understands nothing about the Gospel or orthodox theology he espouses -or he is wolf in sheep’s clothing who cares nothing for the Gospel or orthodox theology he espouses. Either one of the above or a mingled mixture of the two disqualify Keller for consideration as a trustworthy leader in Evangelical Christianity today.

  Matthew 16:11-12 (NKJV)

¹¹ How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the ^[a]leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”¹² Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the ^[b]doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Acts 20:28-30  (NKJV)

²⁸ Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church ^[a]of God which He purchased with His own blood. ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking ^[b]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

2 Peter 3:14-18 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider thatthe longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:1-6 (NKJV)

Love for God and One Another

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess ^[a]that Jesus ^[b]Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

⁴ You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ⁵ They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. ⁶ We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.