Modernism EXPOSED!

by David J. Stewart
 

Modernists are False Prophets!

Modernism is religious liberalism!  These are the people who claim to know God, or to be spiritual; but, they deny one or more of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.  Others aren't sure if there is a God, but they claim to be spiritual.  A perfect example is the Unitarian Universalism Church, whose members are 18% Atheist.  The organization boasts of having no doctrinal statement whatsoever.  They fully deny the Word of God; yet, claim to worship God.  Another Modernist was Martin Luther King Jr. who denied the deity of Christ; yet, falsely claimed to be a Christian.  Another modernist was C.S. Lewis who believed the Bible contains myths, believed in purgatory, believed being born again was a lifelong process, taught works salvation, denied the penalty of Hell, etc.  C.S. Lewis was an unsaved heretic who fooled many people into thinking he was a Christian. 
 

Sylvia Browne's Heresy

A popular modernist today is psychic, Sylvia Browne.  From looking at Sylvia's website, you could easily get the impression that she is a Christian if you didn't know any better.  On her main page it reads...

"God love you - I do, Sylvia"

Ironically, Sylvia Browne also professes to have a "love for God." 

"In April 1986, Sylvia Browne embarked upon the most important chapter of her life. She founded a spiritual organization called Society of Novus Spiritus. This decision was a natural extension of her love for God and for all of humanity." -SOURCE

1st John 3:18 states...

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

Sylvia Browne loves with her words, but not with the Truth of God's Word.  She denies the deity of Christ, denies that Jesus died upon the cross for our sins, and denies that Jesus rose from the dead.  She certainly is NO Christian.  When Sylvia Browne speaks of the "spirit," she is speaking of a familiar spirit (a demonic spirit); not, the Holy Spirit of God.  Jesus clearly said in John 4:24 that God can ONLY be worshipped in truth.  This is why Jesus said that the people in Mark 7:7 were worshipping God in VAIN, because they were following the traditions of men instead of the commandments of God.
 

Modernists are Everywhere Today!

There are tens-of-millions of Modernists today.  Here is what the beloved Evangelist, Dr. John R. Rice had to say (from his excellent book, FALSE DOCTRINES, 1970, page 407, ISBN: 0-87398-251-7)...

"There are infidels who claim to be Christians.  They fit exactly the dictionary definition of infidels, denying the essentials of the Christian faith.  They have exactly the position of Ingersoll, Tom Paine, and Voltaire, but they are in the church and willfully deceive God's people because they want the prestige, the income, the influence of the Christian religion."

I recently received a letter from a woman who requested if she could use some of my writings to promote their ministry.  She provided a link to their website.  At first glance of their website, I was impressed that they wanted to win twenty million people to the Lord by the year 2020.  Then I noticed a big advertisement, begging for money to support their cause ... in India.  I carefully looked at their website and couldn't find a Gospel presentation or a doctrinal statement.  Then I read that their ministries' goal was to lead people to renounce all other gods, and MAKE A COMMITMENT TO CHRIST (aka, Lordship Salvation).  I wrote her back and kindly explained to her that making a commitment to Christ will never save anyone.  The Word of God teaches us to BELIEVE on Christ for salvation (Acts 16:31), not make a commitment to Him.  Jesus doesn't ask us to give up anything to be saved.  Eternal life is a FREE GIFT which God wants to give us through Christ (Romans 5:15, 6:23).  We can only be saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ.  There are people everywhere today making commitments to Christ, turning over new leafs, living for Christ, giving up the world, finding spirituality; BUT, they're not coming to Jesus Christ to have their sins forgiven.  No amount of dedication, religion, or commitment can save anyone.  You are a dirty rotten sinner, deserving of Hell; but, Jesus shed His precious blood for you because He loves you.  If you'll trust upon Christ, and the blood He shed for you to forgive your sins, then you will be saved.

This type of heretical liberalism exists everywhere today.  Billy Graham's message is so watered down that it would never offend any Catholic (which is why they love him so much).  Every Catholic believes in the basic Gospel; BUT, the Catholics have ADDED works to it.  They've added the seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, confession, holy communion, etc.  They also bow down in idolatry to Mary.  They also believe that a sinful man like the priest can forgive their sins instead of Christ (1st Timothy 2:5).  Catholics will not tolerate anyone telling them that Mary worship is idolatry.  According to the Word of God, religious liberals come to us "with feigned words" ... "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." (2nd Peter 2:3). 
 

Oprah Winfrey's Heresy

We read in Matthew 7:21-23...

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

The world is filled with such false teachers, who teach about spirituality and God; BUT, don't know God, and have not the truth of Jesus Christ.  One such heretic is Oprah Winfrey.  Oprah speaks about God, love, and "surrendering all," but what is she surrendering to?  Most people ASSUME Oprah means Jesus Christ; BUT, think again.  Here's a video of Oprah denying that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.  Yet, tragically, Oprah Winfrey has up to 20,000,000 people every day watching her show.  Oprah teaches about spiritual issues; but, she teaches New Age heresies and Satanic deceptions.  Oprah is leading the masses into Hell with her damnable lies.


Psychic John Edward's Heresy

John Edward is an internationally acclaimed psychic medium, and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Crossing Over, hardcover, ISBN: 1-58872-002-0, which has sold over 450,000 copies.  Mr. Edward has written several books, including a book titled, PRACTICAL PRAYING.  Edward is also a necromancer, who claims to communicate with the dead.  The Word of God plainly condemns such occult practices as punishable by the death penalty (Leviticus 20:27).  Yet, Edward ignores the Word of God completely, while claiming to have the experience to spiritually enlighten people.

According to an Amazon.com editorial review of PRACTICAL PRAYING, by John Edwards...

"John Edward’s focus in spiritual teaching is now being spotlighted on his own path of religious and spiritual enlightenment, and he is now sharing it in this book, PRACTICAL PRAYING: Using the Rosary to Enhance your Life."

Mr. Edward is extremely dangerous, a necromancer who sinfully attempts to communicate with the dead; yet, he has written books on how to pray and be spiritually enlightened.  Clearly, he is putting himself forth as a Christian.  People who are ignorant of the Word of God are easily conned by such modernists.


John MacArthur's Heresy on the Blood!

John MacArthur pastors one of America's largest churches in California.  He is extremely popular all across America.  Moody's annual Founder's Week has featured MacArthur for many years.  MacArthur has authored hundreds of books, writings, etc.  Tragically, John MacArthur is a heretic concerning Christ's blood, he is an unsaved modernist.

The April 1986 edition of Faith For The Family quotes MacArthur as saying in a 1976 article entitled, Not His Bleeding But His Dying: "It was His death that was efficacious, not His blood . . . Christ did not bleed to death.  The shedding of blood had nothing to do with bleeding . . . it simply means death.  Nothing in His human blood saves . . . It is not His blood that I love, it is Him.  It is not His bleeding that saved me, but His dying."  It is shocking to me, that a professed "Christian" minister would make such blasphemous statements, in lieu of such clear Scriptures as 1st Peter 1:18,19...

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ..."
 

Benny Hinn's Ecumenical Gospel

Benny Hinn ministries took in over $100,000,000 last year alone.  Listen to what Hinn said concerning Pope John Paul II after his death, “Pope John Paul II pointed millions to Jesus Christ when he was Pope. And I believe we're in for the greatest move of the Spirit of God on this planet." -BENNY HINN (Benny Hinn: The Impact of the Pope's Death, By Chris Mitchell, Middle East Bureau Chief, CBN.com).  What?  The Pope pointing people to Jesus?  Hinn is a false prophet!  Pope John Paul II pointed billions of people to MARY!!!  Pope John Paul II pointed people to himself, to the Catholic priests, to the Seven sacraments, to religion, to Mary; BUT, not to Jesus Christ.  You cannot point people to Jesus Christ while simultaneously teaching the traditions of men.  John 4:24 plainly teaches that God must be worshipped in TRUTH, not the traditions of men.  What a deception!!!  This is why Christ said in Mark 7:7...

 "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." 

Deceptively, Benny Hinn presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ on his website.   Benny Hinn also teaches that there are NINE members to the Godhead.  Hinn is very deceptive.  If you look at Benny Hinn's website, you might be totally convinced that he's a born again Christian.  Yet, Hinn's life contradicts his statements.  If a famous preacher claimed to believe in freedom and America; but then you find out that he was a member of the Communist Party at the SAME time, what would you think?  That man is Martin Luther King Jr.   Would you believe his words about freedom?  No!  Likewise, Benny Hinn presents the Gospel on his website; but, then praises the Pope, recognizes Our Lady of Fatima (Mary) as legitimate, partakes of transubstantiation (Catholic holy communion), and promotes Catholicism--The biggest cult on earth!  And by the way, Hinn never actually states in his online Gospel presentation that a person doesn't have to do works to be saved.  And also, every Catholic believes the simple Gospel, i.e., that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again for our justification.  The church of Galatia in the Bible fell victim to the same type of heresy.  They had heard the simple Gospel; but, now were being led to follow a works salvation by a false religion, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (Galatians 1:6).  Benny Hinn fools multitudes of people by presenting the Biblical Gospel on his website; BUT, then promoting the damnable heresies and idols of Catholicism.  To promote Our Lady of Fatima is blasphemy!


Dan Brown and Ron Howard Attack Jesus Christ

Dan Brown is the author of the demonic, The Da Vinci Code.  In His book, He attacks Christ's deity, discredits the Word of God, claims an immoral relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, and alleges Christianity to be a big hoax.  In May of 2006, Ron Howard released his movie, The Da Vinci Code, based upon Mr. Brown's works of darkness.  The very fact that these evil men produced works about Jesus Christ (a literal Person), whether it was fiction or non-fiction, made this a spiritual matter.  Multitudes of naive victims have been beguiled by the damnable Da Vinci Code.  Ron Howard claims that he's just making entertainment, not theology.  However, such demonic works, which are alleged to be based upon credible research, give ammunition to the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ, to blind the minds of the simple.  This is Satan's purpose, to blind people from the Truth of God's Word (2nd Corinthians 4:4).  Lest you should think The Da Vinci Code is taken by the public as mere fiction, consider what the New York Daily News said concerning Dan Brown ... "His research is impeccable."  Such statements imply that The Da Vinci Code is legitimate research; yet, both Dan Brown and Ron Howard have stated that their works are FICTION.  A simple web search will reveal that many people are taking the Da Vinci Code very serious, and are abandoning any thought of ever turning to Jesus Christ for salvation.  Dan Brown and Ron Howard are modernists, imposters, who come to us in the name of innocent fun and entertainment; BUT, they are vicious wolves who come to us in sheep's clothing.  There won't be any "Happy Days" where Ron Howard is going when he dies.  I say this with great sadness, for God is not willing for any to perish without Christ (2nd Peter 3:9).
 

How Can You Recognize a Modernist, or a Religious Liberal?

The only way to accurately identify a religious liberal or Modernist is to test their doctrine against the Word of God.  This is the acid test.  1st John 4:1 states, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."  Did you read that? ... MANY false prophets are gone out into the world.  There are literally millions of false prophets today.  1st John 4:2 continues by stating, "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God."  Many people misunderstand this Scripture.  It is not an all inclusive test; but rather, a starting point.  Think about it ... every Catholic believes that Jesus Christ came in the flesh; but then they worship Mary, teach works salvation, require the seven sacraments to be saved, trust men (priests) to forgive their sins, and follow a host of other manmade traditions not found in the Word of God.  Catholics are unsaved!  So when we test a person, we should START by asking them what they believe concerning our Lord Jesus Christ.

The tests we should give to a person's faith, based upon the Word of God, to determine whether or not they are a legitimate Christian, is, but not limited to:

  1. Do they believe that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven? (John 14:6)
  2. Do they believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ? (Isaiah 7:14)
  3. Do they believe that Jesus is God Almighty? (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-3,14; 10:33, 1st Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9; Revelation 1:8)
  4. Do they believe that Jesus is the Son of God? (John 3:16)
  5. Do they believe that Jesus died upon the cross? (John 19:23; Hebrews 12:2)
  6. Do they believe that Jesus was buried, and rose again physically after three days? (1st Corinthians 15:1-4)
  7. Do they believe that Jesus ascended bodily into Heaven after His resurrection? (Acts 1:9)
  8. Do they believe that it is Jesus' blood which takes our sins away, and not just the death of Christ? (Colossians 1:14; 1st John 1:7; Revelation 7:14)
  9. Do they believe in the Godhead (Trinity): God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? (Romans 1:20; Matthew 28:19,20)
  10. Do they believe that Jesus is a member of the Godhead, equal in every capacity? (Colossians 2:9)
  11. Do they believe that Jesus is perfect, never having sinned even once? (2nd Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15)
  12. Do they believe that Jesus existed in Preexistent form, before He came to the earth? (John 8:58; Revelation 1:8)
  13. Do they believe in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ upon the cross, Who died in our place? (1st Peter 2:21)
  14. Do they believe that Hell is a literal place that burns with fire, to punish all Christ-rejecters? (2nd Thessalonians 1:8; Revelation 20:8,11-15;)
  15. Do they believe in a literal Heaven, for the saved to go to? (John 14:1,2; 2nd Corinthians 5:8)
  16. Do they believe that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe? (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16)
  17. Do they believe that Jesus Christ always existed? (Revelation 1:8; John 5:58; Hebrews 7:3)
  18. Is Christ's work of atonement completely finished? (Hebrews 9:26)

The answer to every question above should be a confident "YES!"  

The answer to every question below should be a confident "NO!"  

  1. Does a person have to be baptized to go to Heaven? (1st Corinthians 1:17; Acts 16:31)
  2. Do you have to do any good works to go to Heaven? (Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5)
  3. Do you have to join a church to go to Heaven? (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Psalm 118:8)
  4. Do you have to confess your sins to a priest or a minister to go to Heaven? (1st Timothy 2:5)
  5. Do you have to keep the sacraments to go to Heaven? (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5)
  6. Do you have to endure or persevere to the end of life to be saved? (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:15; Romans 6:23; Romans 4:5)
  7. Do you have to earn your way to Heaven? (Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5)
  8. Do you have to pray the Rosary to go to Heaven? (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Matthew 6:7)
  9. Do you have to recognize the Virgin Mary to be saved? (1st Timothy 2:5; Exodus 20:4,5)
  10. Do you have to be religious to go to Heaven? (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Mark 7:6-13)
  11. Do you have to forsake your sins to be saved? (Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8,9)
  12. Do you have to "be willing" to turn from your sins to be saved? (Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8,9)

There are other questions as well; but, these are the main questions.  You'll find that 98% of the people in this world DON'T pass the above tests.  Please carefully consider the following words of wisdom from Dr. John R. Rice (from his excellent book, FALSE DOCTRINES, page 412, available from the Sword of the Lord)...

"Many actual Christians are so deceived by the liberals. the unbelievers, that they quote and defend the modernists, supporting them in Christian schools--so some born again Christians compromise until it is hard to tell the scabby, dirty sheep from the wolf in sheep's clothing"

Don't believe it?  It gets even worse.  Many of today's professed Christians are even supporting the witchcraft of Harry Potter!!!  Christianity Today magazine actually endorses Harry Potter's witchcraft.  This is apostasy!  Who would have imagined a day in America when we would actually see churches promoting abortion.

It is becoming increasing difficult to determine who's really a born again Christian; BUT, it's easy when you KNOW the Word of God.  The best way to expose Satan's works of darkness is by shining the Light of God's Word upon it.

Again, here are the words of Dr. John R. Rice (from FALSE DOCTRINES, page 412)...

"Dr. Nels F.S. Ferre, who says it is wrong to worship Jesus, to follow the Bible, says Jesus may have been the illegitimate son of a blond German soldier and harlot Mary--is advertised as "an evangelical," has been welcomed at Southern Baptist Seminary and other "Christian" institutions, as have Dr. George Buttrick, most outspoken opponent of the virgin birth, the blood atonement and inspiration of the Bible.  So is Dr. Elton Trueblood and many others who are actually unbelievers."

At Moody Bible Institute's annual Founder's Week, John MacArthur is a featured guest.  MacArthur totally denies that Jesus' blood has anything to do with the forgiveness of our sins.  John MacArthur, like R.B. Thieme Jr., believe that Christ's death is what saves us, and not the blood.  1st Peter 1:18,19 totally contradicts their lies!  Both of these men are unsaved heretics.  There is no way a man can be saved and DENY the very precious blood of Jesus Christ that saves.  These men are deceptive, and will say that the blood of Jesus is very important; but, the truth is that they believe Christ's blood is only REPRESENTATIVE of His death.  These are the type of modernists which we need to avoid and expose.
 

What Should Christians Do About Modernism, Religious Liberalism?

The following helpful words are from Dr. John R. Rice, FALSE DOCTRINES page 416-418...

'God's Word has clear instructions about what Christians should do about these who claim to be Christians but deny the essentials of the Christian faith, and are, in fact, infidels.  No one has to argue or try to weigh reasons why support of modernists, fellowship with modernists, might do more harm than exposing them, leaving them.

Here is what God's Word says do:

  1. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing," Jesus said (Matthew 7:15).  Call it "witch hunting"?  Well, it is still what Jesus commanded.  Be on the lookout for infidels in your church or denomination. 
     
  2. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith" (2nd Corinthians 13:5).  Have you been misled by such infidel Sunday school literature or teachers in college or seminary?
     
  3. "Earnestly contend for the faith" (Jude 3).  One is a poor Christian who is not insulted when Christ's deity is questioned or when the infallible authority of the Bible is questioned.  Contend earnestly, we are commanded.  Defend the Bible and Christ.
     
  4. Do not put yourself and your children under the influence of such false teachers, for "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1).  To use such Sunday school or other literature, to read such books, to sit under such teachers as question the plenary, verbal inspiration of the Bible, or the virgin birth, or bodily resurrection of Christ, is to "walk in the counsel of the ungodly"; often it is to "sit in the seat of the scornful."  It is wrong.
     
  5. Do not let any man teach a class you are in, nor stand in a pulpit for which you are partly responsible who is a religious liberal denying or questioning the essentials of "the faith."  2nd John 1:9-11 says:

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

One who does not stay with the Bible doctrine about Jesus Christ "hath not God," is unconverted.  You are not to receive him as a Christian, not to receive him into your house as a Christian, not to give a dime to support him, not even to bid him Godspeed!  To give money to a denominational program that includes colleges or seminaries with any liberal teachers is a sin, strictly forbidden.

  1. You are not to be in the unequal yoke of membership in a local church or denomination whose official stand is wrong on the essentials of the faith, such as the new Presbyterian Confession of Faith or the new curriculum prepared for the United Church of Canada.  To have your name and presence thus putting your tacit approval on infidelity, thus encouraging others to support it, is to be responsible before God for ruin and eternal damnation of some.  Thus you are "partaker of their evil deeds" who deny Christ and the Bible.

    So it is with the preacher who stays in a ministerial association which has Catholic priests or rabbis or modernists in it, thus indicating that he regards them as Christian brothers, when they are actually unsaved.  One may have fellowship with born-again Christians who differ on lesser matters, but one who denies some essential of the Christian faith is not a Christian, thus should not be endorsed as a Christian.  So what to do?

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." -2nd Corinthians 6:14-18.

If you are a member of the big Methodist church, since most of your bishops are unconverted, unbelievers, your colleges and seminaries liberal, your denominational literature openly liberal, then leave them all!  Your local church cannot decide its program, select clean literature, call a sound preacher; so leave it!  That is hard, but God commands it.

So with you Presbyterians with your new openly liberal statement of faith, to stay on the denomination means you compromise your convictions, disobey the Bible, and very likely lead to the eternal ruin of your children by destroying their faith.

Baptists, if your local church program is such that you cannot be in full fellowship without supporting through your cooperative Program, seminaries and colleges, and denominational literature that is liberal, the come out!  No one has a right to talk for Christ in testimony meeting and then talk against Christ and the Bible with his money.  "Put your money where your mouth is!"  Live like you talk!

Must one leave friends of a lifetime for Christ?  Yes, very often.  Must one give up a Sunday school class in a modernistic church when he teaches them the Bible?  Yes, or really you are teaching them to stay where it is wrong to stay, to study literature that is against Christ, to follow preachers who are false prophets and who will break down their faith.  Yes, the Bible says, "Come out from among them." 

Do you love Christ and His Word more then your denomination, more than your false leader?'

Thank God for faithful men like Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980), who fight the good fight of faith, by exposing those imposters who exploit Christianity and the Gospel for their own personal gain and greed.  Would to God we had many more men like Evangelist John R. Rice today.  Modernists need to be exposed!  Rise up oh Christian, let the voice of God's Word be heard!  If we remain silent, then who's going to sound the battle cry?

God's Simple Plan