WHERE DOES IT END ? DO BAPTIST HAVE ANY DISCERNING LEADERSHIP LEFT ?
Rev Thomas Littleton 10-21-2019
Interfaith Dialog , Camel Method evangelism , Christlam – these are all terms fairly new to most evangelicals and Southern Baptist . Many are not paying close attention to the advance of the ideologies behind them or of the players involved on the “interfaith stage”.
BOB ROBERTS LEADING THE ORCHESTRA
“Bob Roberts Jr. is the founding pastor of NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas. Known around the world as an evangelical pastor who loves people from every faith, he has pioneered relationships with those that are usually shunned by Christians.”
“Wanting to serve the people of Vietnam, Bob developed a relationship with leaders in Vietnam and created an Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Glocal Ventures, to work in country to provide humanitarian aid and other resource”
“Bob lead a team from NorthWood Church to Afghanistan where he once again was greeted by Muslim leaders who were willing to work together and sought help to provide schools and other resources. Overcoming his own fears about Muslims, he has developed a great respect for those who hold strong beliefs in differing faiths.”
“As other opportunities have presented themselves, Bob has tirelessly worked to purposely draw together coalitions of leaders who would not ordinarily work together. And he’s brought that philosophy home to Texas. He, along with Rabbi Schneider and Imam Zia, put together DFW’s first Multi-Faith weekend. Celebrating each distinct faith, members from the church, mosque and temple visited each location to observe each others traditions cultivating a strong common respect.”
“Now, that relationship is being nurtured through community projects and other programs that show we can still hold strong beliefs but work together to improve not only our neighborhoods, but make a difference around the world.”
BOB ROBERTS AND THE ALLIANCE OF VIRTUE “FOR THE COMMON GOOD “
“Today, there are three principal individuals who are the recognized faces of the AoV movement. They include Pastor Bob Roberts, who is based in Dallas, Texas; Imam Mohamed Magid Ali, who is based in the Washington, DC, area; and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, who is based in Saudi Arabia and serves as the global leader of the AoV.”
“Meanwhile, many within the faith community today are familiar with what is known as A Common Word, a global Islamic outreach effort that was inaugurated in 2006 “
“Eight years after the “A Common Word” document was first introduced (in 2007), an Islamic conference entitled “Reviving the Islamic Spirit” was held on December 23, 2015, in Toronto, Canada. This appears to be the first time the Alliance of Virtue concept was introduced to the West. As described by event organizer Summayah Poonah, the theme of the event was “Alliance of Virtue,” which “speaks to a need to [form] cross cultural alliances in order to aid and facilitate social justice.”
MORE
Islam’s olive branch?
“Issued October 13, 2007, “A Common Word Between You and Us” stressed the need for peace between members of the Christian and Islamic faiths.”
“The document impressed numerous Christian leaders, including evangelical heavyweights like Richard Cizik, Bill Hybels, Brian McLaren, John Stott, Jim Wallis, and Rick Warren – who added their signatures in a response that said evangelicals needed to “ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world.”
THE BIG QUESTION
HOW FAR CAN THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH GO WITH MULTICULTURAL INTERFAITH EXCHANGES AND ALLIANCE AND STILL BE DOING THE GOSPEL ?
This is the unanswered question for many. Evangelism was said to be the goal at one time but now collaboration and common good seem to be the only aim of the ever broadening movement . Was Evangelism with groups in nations that prohibit it ever possible ? Clearly not so what is the goal ? Why has the SBCs missions focus gone almost exclusively to the AREAS of the world where seeking to convert those of other religions is a criminal offense. Much of the “Church Planting ” abroad is also being done in these areas where possible but again they cannot evangelize people of the native religions.
TIM KELLER AND TGCs COMMON GOOD NARRATIVE
Tim Keller’s work is saturated with the same narrative of seeking the ” Common Good ”
Keller’s work with Civilitas and Lausanne Movement is driven by the Common Good narrative .
Click to access civilitas_vsp_paper.utv.pdf
Civilitas
“Civil Conversations
for the Common Good”
Oiknomia Network- the Kern Family Foundation funding for Keller and others “Faith and Work” economics is a “common Good” narrative.
The Faith Based Partnerships Reforms outlined under the Obama administration are called “Partnerships for the Common Good ”
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2013/03/15/working-together-common-good
“Working Together for the Common Good
Keller’s The Gospel Coalition and the Common Good
http://resources.thegospelcoalition.org/library/a-counterculture-for-the-common-good
Counterculture for the Common Good
Timothy Kleiser | June 27, 2016″
Aslo -One example of books Keller is promoting with his city Gospel in Life website
BLENDING MULTICULTURAL WITH INTERFAITH IN THE NAME OF COMMON GOOD
Interfaith dialog is clearly not marketable to many in the evangelical church in the US but “multicultural ” outreach is all the rave. Bob Roberts is a key leader in the multicultural movement as well.
THE MOSAIX CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER 5TH IN DALLAS TEXAS THE FOURTH US BASED MOSAIX CONFERENCE IS TO BE HELD
“Founded in 2004 by Mark DeYmaz (D.Min.) and George Yancey (Ph.D.), Mosaix is a relational network of local church pastors and planters, denominational, network, and ministry leaders, educators and researchers, alike, that exists to establish healthy multi-ethnic and economically diverse churches for the sake of the gospel throughout North America and beyond.”
“Believing that healthy multi-ethnic and economically diverse churches must be established on sound theology for the sake of the Gospel, Mosaix seeks to reconcile diverse men and women to God and to one another, through faith in Jesus Christ, by establishing churches according to the principles and practices of New Testament churches such as existed at Antioch, Ephesus, and Rome; churches in which diverse men and women walked, worked, and worshipped God together as one so that the world would know God’s love and believe (John 17:20-23).”
“For nearly 15 years, Mosaix has served to organize, mobilize and catalyze the Multiethnic Church Movement by casting vision, connecting like-minded leaders, conferencing, coaching, cohort learning, curriculum development, church planting and transition. In that time, and since 2001, the percentage of churches having at least 20% diversity in their attending membership has risen from 7.5% to 13.7%, and to 14.4% among Protestant Evangelical churches. According to sociologist Michael O. Emerson, co-author of Divided By Faith, Mosaix has played a preeminent role in driving the statistical change. Our ongoing goal and vision remains to see 20% of churches throughout the United States achieve 20% diversity in their attending membership and leadership by the year 2020, and 1,000 multi-ethnic churches established through planting or transition by the year 2025.”
“Over 1,500 multiethnic church pioneers and practitioners – including church planters and pastors, network and denominational leaders, authors and educators – are expected to attend Mosaix’ 4th National Multi-ethnic Church Conference November 5-7, 2019, in Dallas, TX.”
“This triennial event is among the most anticipated, exciting and encouraging pastoral leadership conferences of the year! Plan now to bring your entire team, and don’t miss this next historic chance to experience the people and passion driving the Multiethnic Church Movement today!”
WHAT?
“The Multiethnic Church Conference is being held for only the fourth time in the United States, and for just over 48 hours will represent the epicenter of the growing Movement.”
The Conference organizer is Bob Roberts – the template is from Leadership Network who brought us a variety of influences into the mainstream of the evangelical church from the “Emergent Movement ” heresies to Warrens “PEACE Plan Community Development /Faith Based Partnerships ” to recently sponsorship of the 2019 radical “Revoice LGBTQ Thriving in historic (conservative ) Christian Tradition “.
Ron Edmondson, President
Leadership Network • Dallas, TX
Lifeways Ministry Grid is among the event sponsors
Chandler Vannoy, Brand Manager
LifeWay Leadership • Nashville, TN
As are a host of seminaries and Christian educational institutions like Wheaton and Dallas Theological Seminary
PLUS TGC/TIM KELLER PARTNER
AND A FULL GAGGLE OF PROGRESSIVE CHURCHES IN THE LEADERSHIP NETWORK STABLE
MOSAIX SPEAKERS INCLUDE
BOB ROBERTS OF COURSE
BOB ROBERTS, JR.
NorthWood Church
ED STETZER
Wheaton College
JOHN M. PERKINS
JVMP Foundation
JASON THACKER
ERLC
“The term “Common Word” is derived directly from Quran 3.64, which states:
Say: ‘O People of the Book! Come now to a common word between us and you, that we serve none but Allah, and that we associate not aught with Him, and do not some of us take others as Lords, apart from Allah.’ And if they turn their backs, say: ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].”
AGAIN WHERE DOES IT END?
This present trajectory has the church aimed at the heart of ” Global Spirituality ”
https://charterforcompassion.org/global-spirituality
“By spreading a global spirituality, a spirituality that transcends and includes (but does not compete with) the past and present religions and spiritual traditions, this project wants to contribute to join humans in a global family.”
“Eight representatives of different religious and spiritual traditions have come together to write an “Invitation to Global Spirituality.” An association supports them in sharing and spreading the message, creating an open space for discussion, and developing the project further, so that Global Spirituality becomes visible in the lives of many people around the globe.”
“We have the ability to become global citizens in thoughts, words and actions so that we can work together for peace, justice and sustainability. A world culture of respect, compassion and solidarity can emerge and reshape the planet into a place of wisdom and beauty, harmony and love.”
ERLC NEW POLITICAL PARTNER IN GLOBAL SPIRITUALITY AND THE POLITICS THAT WILL LEAD US THERE
It should not be shocking to Southern Baptist that its own Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission is leading it into oblivion . Russell Moore it current president is a very progressive and politically driven individual. For him to provide an ERLC Fellow for this Mosaix Conference is very much tracking with the movement he is committed to. Besides the overlap of Bob Roberts with the Multi-ethnic and Interfaith movement – the ERLC recently published its “Civility Report ” for Political Engagement with Global Spirituality partner Fetzer Institute helping draft the document and collaborate on its research with ERLC/ Moore .
Where did this partnership of ERLC and Global Spirituality develop? According to the Fetzer Institute Global spiritualist – at his attending ERLC/ TGC cosponsored MLK/50 event .
“By Sharif Azami
“As part of our efforts to engage all segments of American society, the Fetzer Institute collaborated with the Ethics in Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, to understand the current state of democracy from a Christian evangelical perspective.”
“The project supports Fetzer’s democracy initiative by exploring fundamental questions around social cohesion and polarization. It will also help us identify pathways for how civil society might facilitate the formation of healthy relationships and connections across difference and foster civic virtues essential for a flourishing democracy.”
“The idea for this project came about following my participation in MLK50, a conference organized by ERLC on the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. During the event, Dr. Russell Moore, ERLC’s president, spoke powerfully about racial justice in his speech. I was moved by ERLC’s commitment to addressing issues of race and social justice within the Southern Baptist Convention and wondered if there might be a connection with Fetzer’s interest in democracy.”
“Since then, we’ve established a partnership with ERLC on a project that pursues three objectives: 1) conduct seminars, in-depth interviews and public polling on how American evangelicals might contribute to healing political and cultural divides; 2) engage a broad evangelical community with the findings of the study; and 3) prepare toolkits as a capacity-building measure to empower evangelical individuals, churches, and seminaries to engage with their communities on issues of civic participation.”
CLEAR CONNECTION
So clearly the ERLC/ TGC movement behind their MLK/50 conference – one that launched the grave concerns about the Social Justice gospel invading the church – helped further bonds between the ERLC/ TGC and the Global Spirituality Movement . You simply cannot work with such partners or the United Nations as many SBC leaders are doing and not embrace it.
Just study the work toward the “New Genesis ” of Robert Muller -the UN “Prophet of Peace” and his global spirituality .
Read more on the ERLC “global spirituality ” partner here
https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2019/10/02/russell-moore-erlc-new-age-political-partners/
And here
NOT A GOSPEL ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE GOSPEL
Evangelism in obedience to the “Great Commission ” of Jesus is the Call of the church and of every Christian
Mark 16
The Great Commission
“14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned”
Nowhere does Jesus call His church to interfaith dialog- community development – bridge building of even conferencing to train leaders for such. He does not call us to draft documents for civility or for the common good. He does call us to be separate – set apart and not unequally yoked with unbelievers and to avoid idolatry with other gods who are in fact not God at all.
BELOVED THESE MOSAIX STYLE MOVEMENTS SIMPLY NOT THE GOSPEL OR THE CALL OF GOD FOR THE CHURCH BUT SOMETHING VERY OPPOSITE IF IT .
A valued history lesson from the Kings of Judah who made bad alliances is awaiting every TRUE believer in the Word of God . Just read it .
thirtypiecesofsilverdotorg 