Dear Lighthouse Trails:
As a Southern Baptist, I am concerned that powerful leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention are taking the denomination far from its biblical moorings. Bureaucracy within the organization is to blame, as are a few mega-church pastors who take turns filling decision-making posts whether elected or appointed. What can Southern Baptists do to stop the march toward progressivism and apostasy?
Most Southern Baptists who believe the denomination is standing strong on moral issues would be shocked to hear leadership double-talk concerning the normalization of LGBT behavior and involvement in Revoice. Also shocking are stances on contemplative spirituality, immigration, social justice/social gospel, and wealth re-distribution. Alliances with Muslims, Mormons and the Pope have led to compromises in the presentation of the Gospel. The Gospel has also been distorted through LifeWay Bookstore’s sale of books and literature written by false teachers.
It appears some SBC policymakers care more about what is politically and spirituality “correct” than what is biblically correct. We must remember not to be “unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness and what communion hath light with darkness.”
Russell Moore and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission are behind much of what is wrong in the SBC. In an article titled “Cultural Seduction and the Demise of the Southern Baptist Convention,” Jeff Maples said Moore has “dedicated his life and career to changing the dynamics of a denomination that once stood on the authority of the Scripture and the power of the gospel . . . to a voting bloc that seeks to radically change the culture in ways that true conservatives would detest.”
Maples went on to say, “Whether it’s calling Jesus an ‘illegal migrant’ in his push for open borders and immigration amnesty, his advocacy of environmentalist ‘creation care’ his ecumenical worship with adherents of other religions like at the Becket Fund’s multi-faith gathering, his ethical compromise to attend gay wedding celebrations but not the wedding itself, calling conservatives who believe in national sovereignty idolaters, Moore certainly has more in common with Nancy Pelosi than he does Bible-believing Christians.” The article also addresses actions by SBC President J.D. Greear. [https://reformationcharlotte.org/2019/01/31/cultural-seduction-and-the-demise-of-the-southern-baptist-convention/]
Controversy erupted when a sermon Greear gave on homosexuality was released. In Mississippi’s Baptist Record, Tommy Jamison compared God’s Word to Greer’s troubling views. Another controversy arose after Greear called on the SBC to place women in the highest levels of leadership. Since then Beth Moore’s name has been floated as president of the convention, possibly in 2020.
The celebrity speaker and writer, whose imagination gets in the way of sound exegesis has been criticized for having “wild-eyed prophetic visions;” aligning herself with false teachers including Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and Christine Caine, and promoting contemplative spirituality. Despite Beth Moore’s lack of biblical adherence, her women’s Bible studies continue to be favorites and are financially lucrative for LifeWay. Rick Warren’s books also provide big profits tor LifeWay, so it is doubtful the well-documented problems with his Daniel Plan, P.E.A.C.E. Plan and collaboration with Fabian Socialist Tony Blair will lead to disgrace and ouster from the SBC.
I believe most Southern Baptists are oblivious to duplicity in the denomination and in the “Christian” world because pastors are silent. Until pastors begin warning their sheep, I don’t see a resurgence of biblical understanding and action. In the Book of Hosea, priests had led the people away from the knowledge of God. Hosea prophesied that unless the Northern Kingdom repented, God would destroy it and allow the people to be taken into captivity. This was a popular message before the conservative resurgence in the 1980s. We should take heed for the sake of our Christian witness and for our children and grandchildren. Pray God will awaken us and raise up leaders to the message of Hosea.
Sincerely,
Lettie McNeece
LTRP Note: Mrs. McNeece has been pro-active in trying to help Southern Baptist pastors in her own home state. For over two years, she has been purchasing Lighthouse Trails booklets and having them sent out to over 1500 Baptist pastors so they might become aware of the apostasy that has entered the church. We commend her for these efforts and also for this open letter.
(photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)
Jesuit Agents and Jesuit Stooges
Corban University in Salem, Oregon.
This is one reason local churches should be independent and not part of a convention or denomination.
Elizabeth, I greatly appreciate your concerns. Be of good courage.
Robert Lindsted founder of Sunrise Christian School.
Check out this christian ministry, they have a sports program. and may be able to recommend a university.
http://www.sunrisechristian.org/academics/administration/executivedirector/
Shared via the Google app
It was replayed again today on Daystar. Continues next Sunday. Also current on lwf.org with a PDF outline etc.
Ms. Lettie,
I will surely keep you and your family in my prayers! I hear the sadness in the responses here, and it is extremely disturbing to see what is going on with God’s people in the churches. But we must continue to look to God’s Word, and allow His beautiful Spirit to lead and guide us into the Truth.
God will give us the boldness when it is time to speak, and the confidence when we need to be quiet. Look at Esther, had she not been obedient and waited on the LORD, things would have been much different for her, but God would still have saved His people.
And consider the Apostle Paul, and those who were with him, when God was adding many to the Church.
Acts 5:25 “Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Acts 5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
And that really is the issue isn’t it? Do we obey God or man? And do we desire to please men or God?
I just know the more I know God, the more I love Him. And the more I read and study His holy word, and spend time with Him in prayer, my love for God and His dear Son grows even stronger.
I would like to share a message that I found in a KJV Gideon Bible that I really love. I liked it so much that I made a bookmark out of it to put in my book… I hope it will be an encouragement to you and those who read it. 🙂
C. Read
______________________
THE BIBLE contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.
It contains Light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter.
Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.
It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.
It is given you in life, will be opened at the Judgment, and be remembered forever.
It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.
—Author Unknown
It must have been another thread, but I remember that someone lamented, “Where is Adrian Rogers when you need him?” I know that was a rhetorical question, as he died in 2005.
His sermons are still on TV and I enjoy them greatly. Right now his series on Revelation is being telecast. I don’t remember the exact URL, but one can google Love Worth Finding to get to that website and get information on that.
Elizabeth, if you’re referring to Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida, it has been my understanding that it is not affiliated with the SBC — maybe Independent Baptist? I don’t have personal knowledge of this, but have known a number of students (all homeschooled K-12) who have gone there, are there now, or are planning to attend.
You didn’t mention Bob Jones University, but as far as I know they are not affiliated with the SBC either, and have been listed here as NOT being emergent.
A fellow church member and I went to our pastor and deacons, gave them PLENTY to look over for their self. Proof of the SBC falling away. “Were not ready to leave the SBC”. It was as if they already had their minds made up, before they even heard what we had to say!
God bless Lettie McNeece. If one pastor listens, it is worth it.
It would be encouraging if we could hear from pastors who have listened and taken action after being warned of the new spirituality, or what ever you want to call the apostasy taking place in most churches.
Are there any churches that have remained faithful to God’s word?
There are many Christians who have stayed faithful and have had to leave apostate churches. I believe Christians must come out from among them. And that is not easy but God’s grace, God’s mercy, and God’s strength, our Tower, will see us through to the end(or should I say the beginning).
Crown College in Powell, TN
1 John 2:15 Love not the world…..
Infotainment churches are really not teaching anything rather they appeal to undiscerning emotions.
Exegetical sermons merely give the illusion of teaching. Real teaching requires active classroom participation by the students (laity). When America was founded CHILDREN had to pass a written or oral test before being allowed to have communion. They wrote:
“It is proper for all persons to learn the lessor catechism before they be admitted to the sacrament of the Lord’s supper; and composed for the use of all congregations in general.”
One example of the 32 test questions is as follows:
Q. What is the Lord’s supper?
A. A holy ordinance of Christ, appointed to communicate unto believers his body and blood spiritually, being represented by bread and wine, blessed, broken, poured out, and received of them. ”
Today’s ADULTS are not taught and therefor don’t know the 10 commandments nor any creeds or catechism.
To be an elder in some churches one had to pass a 27 chapter Catechism . Is there even one modern elder that could pass this test?
Hosea 4:6 My people perish for lack of knowledge..
That is the cause for the acceptance of apostasy. No one is truly feeding the sheep anymore. Seminaries are not even feeding the pastors.
Amen Grandma! Let us continue to pray for those who are walking in darkness, yet know not where they are going! Praise God the “True Light “ is still shining through LHT! 🙂
Thank you for the encouragement you have given me through Malachi and thank you for your prayers. I especially ask for prayer for my unsaved family and friends,
Thank you for your kind response. More than anything I appreciate the encouragement you have given me through God’s Word.. Please pray for my unsaved family.
Thank you. My stance is not bolder than yours. I have experienced the same as you when talking to church members and also family about apostasy in the church. What is most difficult is offering the gospel to loved ones. Please pray I won’t be such a coward.
I, too, am thankful for LHT and their discernment in these dark days. There are many who are still standing for TRUTH…but alas, many who are tripping and falling because of ignorance of God’s Word.
Thank you, David.
My church is not S. Baptist and sticks to the Bible, is not doing the emergent practices. I will be looking into their universities, like Pensacola in Florida and West Coast Baptist Bible College in Lancaster, CA. Will write to my son-in-law; he is a missionary in Spain but is not aware of the emergent movement. He lives in a small, medieval village, near Pamplona, Spain. I pray we will be able to get my grandson into another university that is not emergent .
Dear Lighthouse Staff,
I am the only one in our family who believes and understands about how bad some of our churches and colleges have strayed from the Bible. When I try to tell them they make fun of discernment ministries. My grandson wants to play basketball at CBU. I tried to warn his father that sports students have a bad reputation as far as personal conduct, but he answered that they have a good spiritual program for the athletes, which probably means spiritual formation. I told my son-in-law that the churches and colleges are doing a lot of R. Catholic things, but he did not respond. Can you recommend a sound university or college for my grandson that has a basketball program, that does not practice spiritual formation or allow unbiblical behavior on campus? I am in a big dilemma!
Elizabeth, I hope you can do all you can to get your grandson transferred to another college. CBU outrightly promotes meditation among other things that are totally opposed to Scripture. For example: https://calbaptist.edu/college-of-behavioral-and-social-sciences/center-study-human-behavior/labs/christian-meditation-lab/background and https://calbaptist.edu/college-of-behavioral-and-social-sciences/center-study-human-behavior/pdfs/Cloud%20of%20Unknowing%20Meditation.pdf. We’ve had CBU on our Contemplative College list for some time: https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/Colleges.htm#C.
I just found out that California Baptist University is being sued by a transgender for being expelled. I tried reading the student handbook but there is nothing about transgenders. The main word used was consensual as far as sexual behavior so that is confusing to me. I thought sex was limited to married couples. The handbook also states that they can change the behavior policies without notice. I will have to do more investigations and inquiries. I am concerned because my grandson will be a freshman at CBU in the fall.
I too grieve over the progressive direction taken by major, formally conservative, denominations. I am a member of another major conservative denomination that is also allowing progressive ideas to undermine God’s Word. Even when given the opportunity to address the error with leadership, there is often a lack of concern or discernment. I am thankful for those who will boldly stand for the Truth, like Lettie Mcneese and Lighthouse Trails. We are in a spiritual battle. I am praying for a strong move of God among our churches and church leadership.
26 April 2019
Dear Lettie McNeece & Lighthouse Trails,
I really appreciate your stand for the Truth! I earnestly pray that as more people in the Southern Baptist Convention churches become aware of the apostate condition of the SBC, that they will be willing to stand against the sin that J.D. Greear, and others in the leadership, condones and promotes.
It seems nearly impossible to turn things around at this point, when you consider that so many preachers, teachers, and evangelists have joined hands with the devil—whether knowingly or unknowingly. But I just know that with God, all things are possible—even the salvation of those who have been led astray by the devil, and have been overtaken by the power of Darkness! The “True Light” of Jesus Christ is the only answer, and discernment ministries like “Lighthouse Trails” are directing the way to Him! (John 1:1-14) Praise God!
I would like to share a relevant passage that I believe could be the inspiration to bring about the needed change in the SBC and its churches. I encourage you to read all of Malachi (it is only four chapters long), to get the full jest of what God is saying here.
Malachi 3:14-18 “Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.
And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.”
I believe there are many sincere people (in all the denominations) who do not realize how far away they are from God; and because of sin, Satan, and his lies spoken through false teachers and corrupt Bibles, they do not see the truth. That is why it is so important for those who know the truth to be willing to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2), as they are led by the Holy Spirit.
I can get a bit length (and I don’t mind when LHTB editors edit my posts), but I just wanted to add the rest of the story.
Malachi 4:1- 6 “For, behold, the Day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the Day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the Day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
As God’s people who love Him, we must read, study, and obey the “Book of Remembrance” that God has given to us! And as we therefore have opportunity, we must be willing to share our views with others, especially as we gather together with God’s people in our churches, in our homes, and in forum’s like this.
May God send forth more labors who can also be “A light shining in the darkness,” as David and Deborah Dombrowski are doing through their ministry!
Ms. McNeece, I will keep you, “Lighthouse Trails,” and God’s people in my prayers!
With the love of Christ,
C. Read
I am trying to find out California Baptist University’s stand on this issue. I believe that a few yrs. ago they announced they were having a discussion about gender issues. I e-mailed them, asking them what this discussion was about specifically. I did not get a reply. Will let you know when I find out.