Gospel-less Haiti Relief

While looking for news about the Haiti relief effort a few weeks back, I ended up on the World Vision site where I saw a link to the book, The Hole in Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision. Looking for information about this book, I found two interviews with statements that are very important for us to understand at this time, so that we may continue to be found faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this Sojourners interview, Stearns discusses his philosophy of ministry and his position on the president’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Read the Sojo interview here at this link.

In this PBS interview, Stearns discusses World Vision’s policy on religion, evangelism and proselytization, as well as his position on Obama’s Faith Based Task Force.

Watch the PBS interview here at this link.

Please continue reading for a collection of quotes from these interviews, and my analysis and exhortation to all the saints.

If you do the research, you will find that World Vision is actually a UN organization, not a private Christian organization, although it is marketed to Christians as solely a Christian organization. World Vision is an NGO partner of the UN and funded largely by the UN (USAID/Research: Millenium Development Goals). It is a “Public-Private Partnership” which means that it is jointly funded by the UN Government, corporations, and private individuals. Policy is set in cooperation with UN Government (International) policy, and the workforce (volunteers) come largely from the “faith” community; churches and private sector. (May we be reminded that the US Government is a member of the UN, supports and cooperates with the UN, helped created the UN and funds the UN.) World Vision has support from the Christian community, but it is the secular government which funds it and makes policy regarding how it may operate.

The UN (and world government in general) has a religious goal: the global consensus of world peace and unity set upon ecumenical inter-religious faith (universalism), the worship of the earth, and the solving of the world’s physical, economic and social problems. This looks identical to Rick Warren’s Global P.E.A.C.E. plan, which is the social gospel of world peace without the Gospel proclaimed.

This reminds me of McLaren’s book, Everything Must Change (which I have read) which is trying to change the Gospel message and our task on this earth to be about this earth, this mortal life, and this world, rather than souls, spiritual reality, eternity, sin, righteousness, judgment day, holiness of God, justification, faith in God, obedience to Him, the glory of God in redemption of the righteous, the judgment of every person who has ever lived, and the Lordship and Kingship of Jesus Christ over all things in heaven and earth.

Here are quotes from the Sojo interview:

RICHARD STEARNS: “Many people believe that the gospel — and its message of salvation — represents a private transaction, almost a “fire insurance policy,” between them and God. I contend that Jesus Christ proclaimed a broader, bolder vision of the gospel, a gospel that proclaims Christians are to be “salt and light” in the world. Jesus intended that his followers would be on the vanguard of a social revolution that would change our world. “

There is nothing wrong with Humanitarian aid, caring for the poor, feeding the hungry and helping the suffering. These are important! But I don’t think we who are Biblical Christians agree with this quote, biblically. Jesus did not send us out on a social revolution to change our world.

Stearns:
“A lot of our churches and seminaries focus too much on believing the right things, rather than doing the right things. “

This is exactly what Rick Warren said, “We need a new Reformation: Deeds not Creeds!” (my paraphrase)

Stearns:
“Yes, there has long been a debate about faith versus works as the path to salvation. It’s not an “either/or,” but rather a “both/and.” For example, in Luke 6, Jesus admonishes his followers: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” “

Here he is saying that the “works” we are supposed to do, to do what Jesus says, is the transformation of the world by humanitarian aid to solve the world’s physical problems.

Stearns:
“I believe it was Mother Teresa who said, “God does not call us to be successful; he calls us to be obedient.
If we are obedient to God’s call, we can make a difference in the world, a world where more than 2 billion people live on less than $2 a day. I’ve met many of those people. I’ve been in their homes. I’ve met their children. And I have witnessed the transformation that occurs when someone shows love and compassion, as well as when they receive education, clean water, and proper health care. We can do this. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. But we can’t do it if we turn our eyes away from the poor.”

Here he is talking about TRANSFORMATION–This is mystical new age transformation, not regeneration by the Spirit and power of God through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. This is transformation for the new global oneness they are working for. Rick Warren said the churches must supply
the workforce (Christian volunteers and others from “all faiths”) to help with this global transformation.

More from the interview: quote:
“Q: You were named to President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. What does that entail?

Stearns:
“President Obama wants us to make recommendations on how to best engage faith-based and neighborhood organizations in four areas of social service delivery: economic recovery in the U.S., reducing the number of abortions and teen pregnancies, responsible fatherhood, and promoting positive international religious dialogue. I am serving on a sub-group on the role of international development. My duties and those of the other members are to advise President Obama on ways faith-based organizations can assist in pursuing those priorities. Moreover, there’s a “broader tent,” if you will, in this advisory group. President Bush’s faith-based office, right or wrong, was associated primarily with evangelicals. This council includes not just Christians of many stripes, but also people of other faiths and people of no faith.”

faith based= all religions.
dialogue= all religions synthesized together using diaprax,which is the goal.
people of other faiths and no faith= global interfaith universalism oneness.

Stearns:
“But I believe the faith community and the government can work together in meeting the needs of the poor. World Vision has been receiving government grants for more than 25 years for our work in the developing world and, more recently, for our work in the U.S. We receive those funds not because we are Christian, but rather because of the quality of our work. I believe President Obama — and President George W. Bush before him — wants organizations of all faiths to have a level playing field when it comes to applying for grants. He has seen the effectiveness of faith-based and community groups in delivering social services in Chicago and sees the positive benefits of the work of those types of organizations.”

all faiths to have a level playing field/ faith based= development of global religion under the direction and funding of the (world) government .
—————————————–

Now going on to quotes from the PBS video interview,

Stearns says, regarding religion, Evangelism and proselytization: (Remember, this is because they get money from 1. Government 2. Corporate 3. private individuals),

“There’s a firewall between religious activities and the services we perform.”

“We subscribe to International codes.”

” World Vision has a policy that prohibits proselytizing. So we don’t do that. With private money or Government money we have policies that prevent that from happening. We take those very seriously.”

By International Law and UN Government policy, the Gospel is forbidden to be taught or proclaimed in any way, in any World Vision work. And Stearns is committed to cooperating and being obedient to these antichrist Government laws. He takes this very seriously!

Regarding his position on Obama’s Faith Based Task Force:

(They are )” .. a wonderfully diverse group representing multiple
faiths and even people of no faith..”

His task force committee (Global poverty) has a list of recommendations for the president that his multi-faith committee (task force) came up with together. This is done by consensus, to create synthesis in belief for religious unity for the purpose of jointly solving, in this case, global poverty.

Brothers and sisters, we are in a spiritual war.

We know the antichrist world government system and the New Age antichrist religious leaders of the world are playing their part. But we must recognize that inside the visible church, there are professing Christians and Christian organizations which are knowingly or unknowingly aligning with the antichrist world leaders to help achieve the goals of satan on the earth. One of these goals is the muzzling of the message about Jesus Christ and the gospel.

BUT Jesus Christ our Lord has clearly made it known to us His Truth and His will for what we as His people are to do while we are on the earth in our mortal flesh. The world system is urgently calling upon everyone to be committed to saving the earth and working for the physical restoration and happiness of mankind, as well as the spiritual unity of all humanity. These are satanic doctrines. Jesus has called us who belong to Him to preach the Gospel, make disciples, walk in obedience to Him, abide in Him, speak His words, teach His Truth and be His ambassadors with the Gospel of grace for the salvation of souls. Every person is going to be judged by fire, and this earth will also be judged in fire. He will do this by His power.

There is much pressure to consent and cooperate with spiritual global unity, but this involves denying Christ and disobeying His commandments. If we love Him, if we fear God, if we are bought with the high price of the blood of Jesus Christ… then we must choose to not join in with the world’s governmental, physical (earthly) and spiritual goals. We must not be ashamed of the Gospel and we must not obey if commanded by men not to speak of Christ and the Gospel. We must seek to please God and not men, for we are bond servants of Christ. The world has been crucified to us, and us to the world; let us boast only in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithfulness to Christ is costly; it is painful, it involves suffering because we are disapproved by the world when we do not go along with its earthly, temporary goals which serve the god of this world (I speak of being quiet about Jesus while working for global spiritual unity that excludes Jesus Christ and the true Gospel). It involves not being popular or acclaimed by the world. It involves being “shamed” by the world. It involves conflict with the world. This is about faithfulness and worship and obedience and love to our God.

There is a choice to make. Right now it is Christian organizations aligned with the antichrist government who are not allowed to speak of Christ. (They are choosing to cooperate with them. They chose to align with the government and take their money; now they must do what the government says.) Next, it will be churches, homes and individuals.

Saints, prepare now spiritually to stand for Christ and obey Him; for one day when “International code” forbids all from proclaiming Jesus Christ, you may then be filled with love for Him and have abundant JOY in His strength by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Rom.1:16

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Gal.6:14

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond servant of Christ. Gal.1:10

Here is a youtube video:
Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations!

Excellent blog post on this very topic:  The mysterious case of the disappearing gospel, from BetterThanSacrifice.org