[1]  One example is the cult of Isis where  the god Osiris is supposedly murdered by his brother and buried in the Nile. The goddess Isis recovers the cadaver, only to lose it once again to her brother-in-law who cuts the body into 14 pieces and scatters them around the world. After finding the parts, Isis “baptizes” each piece in the Nile river and Osiris is “resurrected.” Parallels between the “resurrection” of Osiris and the resurrection of Christ are an obvious stretch. [1]

[2] Mithraism is another pagan religion. Mithra was supposedly born when he emerged from a rock. He was carrying a knife and torch and wearing a Phrygian cap. He battled first with the sun and then with a primeval bull, thought to be the first act of creation. He slew the bull, which then became the ground of life for the human race. Mithra was considered the son of God. He was a savior. He was born of a virgin and had 12 disciples. He was crucified. He rose from the grave on the third day.. He atoned for the sins of humankind. He returned to his father in heaven. However, this cult flowered after Christianity, not before. The timing is all wrong to have influenced the development of 1st Century Christianity.[2]

Cited Resources: [1] The Complete Bible Answer Book by Hank Hanegraaff, [2] Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics by Norman Geisler

Mike Riddle Video

Responder 1: The videos were accurate but he completely left out that the index of carbon 12 to carbon 14 over time is indexed a used in all carbon dating tests. This index is found in bubbles of air in the ice at the poles. Samples of air are taken from layers in the ice (going back several million years). This gives us the relation of 14 to 12 during that time period. He never mentions this and its standard practice. No assumptions were ever made as he claims.  As well carbon 14 dating is only 1 of a myriad of dating teqniques used to get a reliable date. They are compared against each other to get reliable dating. His purpose to misslead is based on his personal need for evolution to be false.

So aside from the incomplete explination of Carbon 14 dating  he never touches on genetics which has removed all doubt that evolution is how humans came to be. Its not even a question anymore its just a fact.

Its easy to fool people, I would love to see him make these claims in an open forum with a few physicist on hand. I’m sure they would quickly correct him on his omissions. Also remember the christian bible (new testament)  was a work published by a roman Emperor “Constantine” 300 years after Christ died. He collected stories and he decided what to put in the final work along with monks under his rule. He had a political motivation for doing this by his own admission. How could this even remotely be construed as a divine source of information. Many of the stories about Jesus can be found in ancient babalonian writings but the names and places are changed. That was thousands of years before Jesus was born. It looks like a lot of the bible writers borrowed heavily from those stories.

Michael: Yeah, There are presuppositions are on both sides. And Christians do disagree when it comes to the age of the earth. It’s an interesting debate, but for myself  I hold to logic that tells me it was created and am still exploring the “when” question. Certainly, Constantine played a part and wanted to spread Christianity. That is what happens when one is converted, including myself.  I want you to be in the Kingdom of God for all eternity.

Constantine Video

The death of Christ took place around 30 A.D. Documents were not written long after the events but within close proximity to them. So the idea that these testimonies were written down “hundreds of years later” is not true. Things that have happened in the past can’t be proven or disproven.  It is a matter of looking at evidence and deciding what is most probable; not possible. In the legal system you’ve heard of the term probable cause, not possible cause. The trustworthiness of any historical account is based on evidence. Since you can only prove what is observable and repeatable, the scientific method can’t be applied to proving historical accounts.

When it comes to history, one must look at the historical documents or manuscripts. Look at the dates and distribution of the manuscripts and the motive for writing. Were the writers getting paid? Did they have something to gain? The Apostles died for what they believed and saw firsthand. If  we have more manuscripts with earlier dates for the Gospels than other ancient history, then why is this not taught as history along with the writings of Tacitus in our high schools and universities? There is a real simple answer. There is a prejudice against the supernatural. Because of the predisposition to the supernatural, in academic circles they believe it is not intellectual to believe in the bible. They judge the bible based on what they’ve experienced. That is not objective, rational, scientific or academic. That is imposing your experience on history.

In court, if a member on the jury has a prejudice against a certain issue in the case, they are thrown off the jury and a new person is brought in. We all have a predisposition or inclination against God to some degree because we haven’t witnessed the kinds of miracles that are documented in the Old and New Testaments and therefore have doubts. So we all must look at the manuscripts objectively. God captured what happened in the first century, protected it and delivered it to us. Thanks for taking the time to listen. Eternity is a long time to spend on the wrong side. God bless you.

Is evolution is a fact or theory?

The dictionary defines the word “cult” in a broad sense; as a group of people centered around a religious belief, worship and ceremonies.  But words change over time to mean different things. In this case, the word has become a negative label.

Cults are groups with uniform sets of doctrines and rigidly defined organizational structures. Their false teachings deviate from Essential Christian Doctrine.

Sociologically

A cult may be defined sociologically. From this perspective, a cult is a religious or semi-religious sect whose followers are controlled by strong leadership in virtually every dimension of their lives. Devotees characteristically display a displaced loyalty for the guru and the group and are galvanized together through physical and/or psychological intimidation tactics. This kind of cultist more often than not displays a “we/they” siege mentality and has been cut off from all former associations including their immediate families.

Theologically

A cult may be defined theologically. In this sense a cult can be a pseudo-Christian organization that claims to be Christian but compromises, confuses,  contradicts or completely rejects essential Christian doctrine. Such cults operate under the guise of Christianity but deviate from the orthodox teachings of the historic Christian faith as codified in the ancient ecumenical creeds. Typically, devotees become masters at taking texts out of context to develop pretexts for their theological perversions.

Throughout this website you will find topics and information about religious groups. I f they hold to  Essential Christian Doctrine , I post this at the top of the page. If not, I clarify where they deviate from essential doctrine.

Cited Resources: The Complete Bible Answer Book by Hank Hanegraaff

Hold on one second silly goose. Put down those scissors.

Biblical laws fall into 3 categories: Civil, Ceremonial or Moral. Moral laws don’t change because they stem from God’s nature who doesn’t change. He is unchangeable. Civil laws are to be understood in the context of a theocracy, which we are no longer under. Ceremonial laws were types and shadows that point to Jesus. We no longer practice those.

In the context of what Paul is teaching the Corinthians, the main thrust of chapter 11 is about women covering their heads as they take part in worship. This too would fall under the cultural norms in Corinth. This is not a moral law that Christian women must adhere to today.

The artistic drawings we see of Jesus with light skin and long hair are not true representations, but influenced by the artists and their culture. Jesus may have had long hair. Devout Jews would actually grow their hair long on the sides of their head because Scripture commanded it. God never commanded men not to have long hair. We actually see the opposite of this.

Lev 19:27  You shall not shave around the sides of your head, not shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.

Also, Samson’s strength was in his hair. After being pestered by Delilah he finally revealed, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

Even if hair length were to be enforced as moral law, exactly how long would be too long? Isn’t this subjective? Would past the ears be too long? How about past the neck? Past the waistline? If you’re tripping over it when you walk would that be too long? How do we figure this one out? Talk about bondage to legalism.

As a man living in Corinth, it would not be cool to have long hair because in that culture, the male prostitutes in pagan temples had long hair. You wouldn’t want to be associated with them. However, in many cultures long hair is considered masculine and cool. Have you seen the movie Braveheart?  :-)  Some women are attracted to that look. Most men who have long hair are not wearing a feminine style and they don’t have cross-dressing in mind.

The same is true for women. Lots of women prefer a short manageable hair style. They are not trying to look like men. In the Corinthian culture, it was common for the female prostitutes to have short hair. So again, women with short hair were labeled prostitutes. Paul was communicating that we should avoid appearances and behavior that detract from our ultimate goal of being believable witnesses for Christ. It is sinful for men to take on the roles of women and for women to take on the roles of men. We should be celebrating the differences in men and women the way God intended. This is the application of moral law. Today, that fabric of morality is under attack. Let’s not get caught up in shallowness of legalism.

- Michael Hoover

Audio Commentary #hh173 – Hank Hanegraaff – 2 Peter 3:8

Audio Commentary #hh229 – Hank Hanegraaff – Matt 24:36

Agreeing with May 21st won’t get you saved. Receiving the message of the Gospel saves you.

Responder 1: Do you agree with the theology by the men speaking on that link you sent?  Because I must tell you that even though it sounds very close to truth, they missed it by a million miles.  They talk all about how futile it is to rely on anything YOU can do that will get yourself saved and it IS absolutely futile I well know from Scripture but iin the next breath they are referring to the altogether wrong idea that God wants so badly to save each and every person if only they would let Him.  That may not be the exact wording they used but it totally IS what they said nevertheless.  They are blatantly contradicting what they claim is true!  If YOU have to LET God save you then that IS something YOU CAN DO to get yourself saved.  Whats more belief of faith absolutely is defined as “work” in the Bible yet the same people that know that no one can be saved by THEIR works are saying YOU have to believe,  you have to have to generate your own faith or belief and only THEN can God save you.  But the Bible says in one place “This is the work of God, that you believe” and in another “by grace are you saved through faith and THAT not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” and still in another “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith OF Jesus Christ…”  Saving faith IS a work but it is never OUR work…the type of belief or faith that WE can generate when we simply choose to subscribe to one belief or another can NEVER save a person!  It can not even initiate salvation in anyway, that is impossible!  The ENTIRE work from beginning to end is God’s work!  In John 6:37 I believe that’s the verse, we read Jesus saying ” All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” OK?  So every single person that comes to Christ DOES become saved no ifs ands or buts, right?  But now skip to joh 6:44 to find exactly who will come to Him Jesus says there ”
in John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”  See how there is no way around all this?  God can draw whomever He wills to Christ but He obviously does not draw every person.  But every person He DOES draw to Christ, that person DOES come to Christ and absolutely IS going to be saved …ABSOLUTELY.  There are many many more verses that emphasize this but the churches simply ignore them and instead focus on the verses that only APPEAR to look as though it is something that any person could do if they wanted to.  But the fact is that to correctly understand anything in Scripture one must understand all of it in a way that harmonizes together.  There are NO contradictions in Scripture but there are many tests placed for us so if we insist, we can support a wrong understanding at the expense of God’s truth.  Sadly what a person will do by nature is to place great confidence in a person or persons that seem to be good sincere people, people who SEEM to really have studied Scripture and are very confident in what they teach, But this is EXACTLY what God warns about!  We can NOT trust ANYONE for God’s truth!  We MUST Look ONLY to the Bible for our confidence!  We read “Let God be true but every man a liar”  and this includes the man i our own mirror!  He says “trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean NOT on thine own understanding”   There are things we can DO to foster hope in our becoming saved …we can “pray without ceasing”   We can ”seek..the Lord with all our heart and all our soul”  If we are truly worried to the point of brokeness we can have very great hope!  We read “A broken and a contrite heart thou will not despise…”  Please by all means read Ezekiel 36: 24 (i think it’s 24) where God explains EXACTLY how He saves people …see if you see anything there that recipients did to get themselves chosen by God or worthy of God in any way!

Michael: I can appreciate the Calvinist view,  however Camping isn’t in that Camp because he goes as far to say that you can’t know if you are saved! The Apostle John wrote some powerful stuff about assurance.  Read through 1 John chapter 5 and ask God to speak to your heart. God bless you and thank you for the thoughtful emails.

Responder 1: He basis that on Scripture and as ALWAYS he says “don’t trust me, read it for yourself and see if that is not what it means”  ALWAYS ALWAYS let God be true and every man a liar.  I get so tired of everyone making things about Harold Camping.  Not only is it insulting but it is downright shifting the question from what it ought to be!  Be a Berean, check it out.  Or not.

Responder 2: I beg you to read the Bible and to plead with God to save you, making you one of his chosen people. It’s imperative that you do everything you can do to get right with God before Saturday, May 21. There has never been nor will there ever be anything more important in your life. You do not need to read the whole Bible, and you don’t have to understand everything you read in it. God can save you through the reading of his word, no matter how small of a portion of the Bible that may be. The important things are to read God’s word and to beg for salvation now. Below is the gist of what’s going on and some selected references. In the interest of being concise so that you may read this message more quickly in the short time we have left, I have included only a few of the relevant passages. The Bible is full of scriptures that confirm the details below, but providing all of the references would be equivalent to a large book. Since Judgment Day is so imminent, I’m trying to present what you need to know as quickly and concisely as possible. If time permits, I will send another email with more references.I beg God that each of you will be saved from the horror that is about to occur. That can happen only if you read the Bible and God opens your eyes. God can save you even if you have very little understanding of the Bible. Just read it and beg God for mercy. I pray that the information below will help you.

Michael: I’m born again. How many times must one be born again to be saved? Come on now.

Responder 1: Hank Hannegraff’s big words sound smart, but I didn’t hear any proof texts from the Bible. Should I believe him rather than the Bible? I’m confused.

Michael: Because there is no info in the bible about when Jesus will return, lol. I will discuss this with you on Sunday (May 22nd) , while Harold prepares to tap dance around his mistakes. God bless you.

Responder 1: What about this? But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief (1 Thes 5:4).

Michael: Ok. What is the context of that verse?

Responder 1: You have to realize it is only pride that keeps you going on this no matter what you are telling yourself the justification is. It is pride that makes us just not want to let go of a thing.  You know how you can know this is pride?  There are billions of people that know next to nothing of Scripture and yet you care less about seeking them out to correct and instead are focusing in on this perceived rare opportunity to be right and you just can’t let go of it and only focus on the doctrine itself between you and God.  It’s only sin on sin and you are desperately trying to drag as many into your game as you can.  Really you need to worry about your own salvation and not look for opportunities to shine.  I am not going to even say what would because you reject it and it just fans the flames.  Go to the mirror and worry about that one.

Responder 2: The Bible pretty clearly explains it in the passages I provided. I’d be glad to provide the previous passages and the following passages if that would help (1 Thess 5:1-11). The Bible’s words are stronger than any I would use myself to describe it.

Michael: A thief comes in the dead of the night and steals possessions from your home. You come home to the horrible surprise of finding stuff missing or worse, you get surprised by a bullet to the head if the thief is still there. In comparison, the coming of Christ will surprise the ungodly in a horrible way. However, it is a happy occasion for believers who live expecting the return of Christ at any moment. Therefore, we aren’t surprised by his return in that sense. This verse has nothing to do with knowing the date of his return.

P.S.  Police say if you hear someone breaking in your house, it is actually safer to leave than to confront the thief, even if you have a gun. You’re taking a risk. Just a side note.

Audio Commentary #hh223 – Hank Hanegraaff – Acts 2:30-31

The diagram shows Hades being the abode of the dead for both unbelievers and believers. However,  I don’t believe souls reside in the center of the earth as depicted below.

In classifying the Word of Faith Movement, it is more precise to use the term cultic, which means cult-like. Cults are groups with uniform sets of doctrines and rigidly defined organizational structures. They are monolithic. On the other hand, Movements are multifaceted and diverse in their beliefs, teachings and practices. While certain groups within the Word of Faith Movement can be properly defined as cults, the word cultic more aptly describes the movement as a whole.  The numerous Word of Faith teachers should be judged on an individual basis. For example, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, headed by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, bears all the marks of a cult. 1) It has a formalized hierarchical structure. 2) It boasts a centralized organizational facility. 3) It is equipped with a publishing arm complete with a distribution mechanism. 4) Fervent followers consider the Copelands to be the final authority in matters of faith and practice.

Nine Points of  WOF Theology

1. Faith: They believe it is always God’s will for Christians to be healthy. If you have faith in your faith (the force being your words of faith), you can speak things into existence. If you have enough faith, you are guaranteed healing (similar to Christian Science doctrine). Followers have died because of this teaching, refusing to seek medical treatment.

2. Healing: Isaiah 53:5 is taken out of context to guarantee physical healing. The actual meaning is healing from sin unto eternal life.

3. Fear: They believe fear is also a force that activates the devil. By speaking words of fear, you can bring sickness, disease or even death into your life.

4. Possession: They believe Christians can be demon-possessed, even though Jesus taught the opposite. If they are experiencing this within their congregation it is because they are  not saved.  Mark 3:27

5.  Prayer: They believe to pray “Thy will be done” is a lack of faith, even though Jesus taught the opposite. Matt 6:10

6. Prosperity: It is always God’s will for you to be wealthy. If you give to their ministries, in return you will be blessed and your bank account will overflow. It is the wrong focus. We give our time, treasure and talent to further the Kingdom of God, not for selfish motives.

7. Little gods: They believe Christians are little gods. Man is deified and God is demoted. God was once as we are now (similar to Mormon doctrine). They believe God lost control of the earth from Satan. Satan is also deified and God is demoted.

8.  Atonement: They believe Jesus became a satanic being on the cross. He didn’t redeem us on the cross, but redeemed us in hell where He defeated the Devil. He finished the work of atonement in Hell. Jesus was the first man to become born again at that point in history. That’s when His divinity returned.

9.  False Prophets: Many prophecies have been made that haven’t come to pass in the timeframe predicted.  Deuteronomy 13:1-3

Video #jp1v – Justin Peters

Video #jp3v – Justin Peters

Video #wm1v – Walter Martin

WORD OF FAITH TEACHERS

Bentley, Todd:

Audio Commentary #hh53 – Hank Hanegraaff –  2 Peter 2:1-3

Video #tb1v – Todd Bentley

Video #tb2v – Todd Bentley

Video #tb3v – Todd Bentley

Video #tb4v – Todd Bentley interviewed by Nightline News

Video #tb5v – Todd Bentley interviewed by Nightline News (part 2)

Video #tf7v – Todd Friel

Branham, William Marrion:

Audio Commentary #hh196 – Hank Hanegraaff – Deu 18:22

Audio Commentary #hh003 – Hank Hanegraaff – 1 John 4:1

Browne, Dr. Rodney Howard:

Chironna, Mark:

Audio Commentary #hh98 – Hank Hanegraaff – 1 John 4:1-4, Mark 11:22-24, Deu 13:1-3, 18:21

Copeland, Gloria:

Video #gc1v – Gloria Copeland

Copeland, Kenneth

Crouch, Jan

Crouch, Paul

Dollar, Creflo

Duplantis, Jesse

Video #tf1v – Todd Friel – Mark 4

Video #tf2v – Todd Friel – Mark 4

Video #tf3v – Todd Friel – Mark 4

Video #tf4v – Todd Friel – Mark 4

Hagin, Kenneth (1917 – 2003) Father of the modern Word of Faith Movement

Hickey, Marilyn

Hinn, Benny

Video #bh1v – Benny Hinn

Video #tf5v – Todd Friel

Audio Commentary #hh219 – Hank  Hanegraaff – John 10:34, Ps 82:6-7, Prov 6:2, Jer 23:16-18

Huch, Larry

Kenyon, E.W. (1867–1948) First Proponent of the Word of Faith Movement

Meyer, Joyce:

Video #jm1v – Joyce Meyer

Audio Commentary #hh208 – Hank Hanegraaff – John 19:30

Munroe, Myles

Osteen, Joel  (Largest Church in America)

Video #jm2v – John MacArthur

Price, Frederick

White, Paula

Wommack, Andrew:

Video #aw1v – Andrew Wommack

Wright, Henry:

Audio Commentary #hh157 – Hank Hanegraaff – Job 13:15

Video #jp2v – Justin Peters

Cited Resources: Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century by Hank Hanegraaff,  A Call For Discernment by Justin Peters,

Responder 1: My simple / narrow definition for this discussion of a cult is 1) They DO NOT believe in the essential Christian doctrine 2) Cult leaders and cults members are NOT Christians  3) Cult leaders and members are going to hell – not heaven. Background on my perspective: I believe that the following teachings are out-side of orthodoxy and they are un-biblical. 1) prosperity teaching to the extreme (however, I DO NOT believe that Christians have to be poor) 2) name it – claim it 3) professing healing or financial gain and demanding God to do it because God made promises in the bible (they twist his promises). Synopsis: I am fully confident that the following groups fall into the category of being a cult: 1) Mormon 2) Jehovah Witness 3) Scientology 4) Branch Davidian, David Koresh 5) Peoples Temple, Jim Jones. I CANNOT make that jump to calling the “Word of Faith” movement a cult or placing them in the same group as the ones listed above because: It’s a movement – a group of ideas / theologies – not an organization that has a leader, a hierarchy, or a centralized theology. But some of their teachings can be un-biblical (as I stated by beliefs above). To my knowledge there isn’t a “Word of Faith” denomination or theological seminary. Also, I do not believe that all of the individuals that the internet attributes to the “Word of Faith” movement have signed a doctrinal statement of faith, that includes:  1) believe Christians are little Gods 2) believe Jesus became a satanic being on the cross  3) if you give to my ministries, in return you will be bless and your bank account will overflow. If I place all “Word of Faith” movement teachers into a cult then I’m saying that all of the following individuals and their church members are going to hell. (Ernest Angley, John Bevere, Markus Bishop, Juanita Bynum, Morris Cerullo, Kim Clement, Kenneth Copeland, Paul Crouch, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Hagin, Marilyn Hickey, Benny Hinn, Rodney Howard-Browne, Larry Huch, T.D. Jakes, Bishop Eddie L. Long, Clarence McClendon, Joyce Meyer, Myles Munroe, Steve Munsey, Mike Murdock, Joel Osteen, Rod Parsley, Peter Popoff, Fred Price, Oral Roberts, R.W. Shambach, Robert Schuller, Karl Strader, Robert Tilton, Paula White, Ed Young). I also CANNOT state for fact that all of the “Word of Faith” movement teachers do not believe in Essential Christian Doctrine .