Thank you Brother Derek. J.C. Ryle's book on prayer was a real eye-opener. Thanks for encouraging us to get back to reading great books. I'm going to shut this computer off now and get back to reading!
Don Shoemaker is still being celebrated as a Crystal Cathedral preacher on Grace Connect, an FGBC website at http://graceconnect.us/don-shoemaker-to-preach-sunday-at-crystal-cathedral/
To be honest, I've tried to avoid reading anything associated with the Crystal Cathedral (cc) because of heresy. I don't think they ever had the Biblical message of sin, Christ's complete & perfect payment for that sin, and our deadness without Him. That wouldn't film well on TV. But cc's cash flow was strong with the self esteem false gospel for a season. Alas, competition was stiff and the hip church growth guru's competed directly with them, pushing them to bankruptcy. I think they've sold the crystal palace to Mr. Shoemaker's eucharist worshipers. Perhaps Mr. Shoemaker will now be a regular speaker in the sacramental cult he seems to prefer over Christ. Unbelievable! Paul's words in Galatians are prophetic for those who turn from the true Gospel to "weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage". Mr. Shoemaker is leading this once great fellowship back to Roman bondage, in a known heretical "megachurch", while professing to be a Bible-believing pastor. Unbelievable! Thank you for shining some light on this. It's simply unbelievable the compromise in today's church!
It boggles my mind to know that Don Shoemaker, as educated as he is, can so readily turn his back on the Gospel of Christ. His arm-in-arm coziness with the church of Rome is disturbing - especially since he doesn't feel the need to bring the Gospel to Catholics. I came out of the "catholic tradition"- it is an empty, dead religion of works! I spent 9 years of my life in Catholic school; had 4 of the 7 sacraments checked off the list by age 10! I was being groomed to be a "good Catholic", to follow the "traditions" of Rome. And you know what?..I was NOT saved. Praise God - the Lord rescued me from that mess with the preaching of His Word - NOT Rome's rules.
Dr.Shoemaker seems to forget that faith comes by HEARING, and HEARING the Word of God(Rom10:17) He also seems to have forgotten Mark 7: The Lord Himself rebukes the Pharisees(Dr.Shoemaker)of "making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."(Mark7:13)
Shame on you Don Shoemaker for deceiving people who NEED to hear the Word of God..precious souls depend upon it. Shame on you for trampling upon our forefathers who gave their lives that we may have a Bible to read!
Pastors..Preach the Word of God and NOT this sacramental heresy!!
You wrote in your missive that, “the liturgy will include a Creed that goes to the heart of Gospel and will include words spoken and sung that take us to the Cross.” It is here that you carelessly trample not on Scripture alone, but upon the TRUE Gospel, the FINISHED work of the Cross, and the LORD Jesus Christ.
…The Catholic gospel is a complex system of sacramental faith and works in which God’s grace is doled out sacrament by sacrament… The sixth point of the Grace Brethren Statement of Faith says: SALVATION. A complete and eternal salvation by God's grace alone received as the gift of God through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
In your continual promotion of the ministry of pope and priest alike, you trample our Biblical position on SALVATION beneath your feet in the dung of man’s tradition and papal decree. You insult the lives, testimonies, and shed blood of the martyrs that died for the true Gospel that our statement of faith declares.
*The excerpts from the letter below were written to Don Shoemaker four years ago, exhorting him to repent and stand by his professed commitment to the FGBC doctrinal distinctives. I EXHORT YOU TO DO THE SAME:
…As a pastor of a Grace Brethren Church you have professed agreement with a basic FGBC covenant and Statement of Faith. Section One of that covenant reads, “The sovereign congregations which are members of this corporation are united in accepting the Holy Scriptures as the sole guide and authority in all matters of faith, doctrine and practice” (http://www.fgbc.org/whoarewe/covenant-and-statement-of-faith.cfm). How does finding “spiritual nourishment” (and encouraging others to do so) in Roman Catholic “liturgy,” “Creed,” and “homily” based on an amalgamation of Holy Scripture, unholy papal decree, and the unholy authoritative traditions of Rome, reflect a commitment to “the Holy Scriptures as the sole guide and authority in all matters of faith, doctrine and practice”?
…Your professed unity with the FGBC is based upon a claim to hold to the “Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible,” and yet you trample upon the Bible and that claim, through your continual promotion of the Roman Catholic Church.
You wrote, "As you know, the FGBC is a Fellowship of churches. Our association as churches is relational (around doctrinal distinctives of course), but our functioning together is because of our relationships with each other. That is why we are a 'fellowship' rather than a 'denomination.'"
I exhorted Dr. Shoemaker to cease trampling upon the FGBC doctrinal distinctives four years ago. I exhorted you to defend the FGBC doctrinal distinctives, and more importantly the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, four years ago. I exhort you to do so again now. Repent Greg. Defend the Gospel. Defend the Word of God. Defend the very heart of the FGBC doctrinal distinctives. Repent of your fight against those who are defending the Gospel, Word of God, and the FGBC distinctives. Repent of your unholy alliance with the pope, priest, mass, counter reformer, Rev. Ginny Wagner promoting Don Shoemaker as a member of the AGBM in good standing. Do the Biblical and “honorable” thing and repent, OR withdraw yourself from the AGBM, the FGBC, and the pastorate. BGBC is yet committed to defending the Gospel, the Word of God, and the FGBC doctrinal distinctives that are built upon it. Repent and join us in that defense Greg.
Chuck, To my knowledge, I never received your Oct 16, 2008 letter renouncing your licensure. This is the first that I have heard of it. And this is the first that I have become aware that you were even thinking of separating from the PNW or the FGBC. I’m surprised that your renunciation or the letter did not come up at our meeting in The Dalles. Also, I am puzzled, as to why if you renounced your ministerial credentials, have you been paying your dues? As you know, the FGBC is a Fellowship of churches. Our association as churches is relational (around doctrinal distinctives of course), but our functioning together is because of our relationships with each other. That is why we are a “fellowship” rather than a “denomination.” If as your Oct. 2008 letter indicates, that you and the elders question your desire for continued association with the FGBC, maybe the honorable act on your part would be to withdraw as a member church. Also, if you don’t mind, I would appreciate a full copy of your October 16, 2008 letter.
Does Shoemaker worship the eucharist as a god? That's catholic teaching. Does he worship Mary as co-savior with Christ? That's catholic teaching. Do the sacraments save you from hell and not faith in Christ as the Bible says? That's catholic teaching. I escaped catholicism 2 decades ago and am sickened that once great Bible fellowships are sliding into it. Mr. Shoemaker's favorite, St. Charles church, likely had a eucharist worship session just prior to his dropping in, where you kneel and stare at the wafer, displayed in a golden chalice, and you pray to it as a false christ. It's a complete rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God and His FINISHED work on the cross!! Mr. Shoemaker should be removed from the Bible fellowship or the fellowship should renounce Christ and embrace this catholic nonsense outright. Having it both ways will certainly spell judgment for Grace Brethren fellowship.
I commend you for maintaining a firm stand for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord gave us Holy Scripture so we can know Him- follow Him-obey Him. It is NOT a book of guidelines or suggestions, but commands. These men of the Grace Brethren fellowship are seriously compromising the narrow path of Christ and SHOULD be exposed for it. Far too many churches in our day just want to push the "easy button" so they will be popular with everyone... How sad! I will be praying for their repentance. I am truly blessed to be a part of ONE church that refuses to compromise - and honored to have a Pastor with the courage and backbone to stand firmly in God's Truth and call heresy for what it is!! Thank you, Pastor Chuck
Pastor O'Neal, congratulations on leaving that fellowship! You can know with certainty that our Lord Jesus Christ would not want His name on that liberal, Christ-minimizing, pope-promoting, ecumenical mess that is the new Grace Brethren Fellowship!! You can stand tall with the African Anglican churches that left their "fellowships" over women bishops and homosexuality promotion. We need more Pastors that will stand for the Gospel!
What a horrible thing you've endured! I've read a few "spiritual abuse" blogs. They may contain a few actual "victims" but what these women did to your church is truly sick. And to pretend they are abused while they falsely report you for crimes means they're completely hardened. I've never seen Christians act that way. I hope other churches are paying attention to this attack on your church. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more like it.
To the good Pastors and Teachers and Godly men who have so graciously left our broken, beaten down church a kind Google review: God bless you! I cried today and I had almost stopped being able to cry after living through these last few years. It is the Lords work and I am speechless! Thank you!!!
I am a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps and currently serving in Afghanistan working closely with the military (and some civilians) of this country. I am very strong in my Christian faith and I've been raised in a Godly home and a great church! With that said, this blog says "We must speak the truth in love!" I see nothing but hate for the Muslim community in this blog. I agree that we need to be a light to those who don't know Christ. However, we can't, and shouldn't, shove our belief in God down anyone's throat! If you read the first few chapters of Luke, you'll see that Jesus tells his followers to leave a place if they are unwanted. Jesus Himself had to escape from his own home town because they were leading Him up a cliff to throw him off!
My whole point is this: Instead of ordering people to repent of their sins, do what Jesus did and love His people, no matter their background, beliefs, lifestyle, or religion. Jesus preached with authority, grace and most importantly, love! If you can show someone love in all matters, that allows the Holy Spirit to move on them and change them. We are told by Jesus to preach the good news, not to change one's heart!
I love the passion you have on this matter, but it comes off at hateful.
Jason, there is something you should know if you call yourself a Christian.
The Mosaic Law is a fundamental part of the Christian Faith. Its the Law that God writes on the hearts of his people. The constant stream of hearing Gods most Holy Name taken in vain is distressful for us, so dont expect to change our minds about this movie because you found a good wordly moral. While our Liberty in Christ allows us to partake in Seafood, we are still called to remember the basis for that law. The basis of removing ourselves from the unclean(like this movie) While our Liberty in Christ allows us to wear mixed fabric clothing, we still remember the basis for that law. The basis of santification, keeping ourselves seperated from wordliness or those that love the world more than they Love God.
This movie, like the bat in the Mosaic Law, is an abomination
The saved person knows sin and loathes it. The unsaved person cannot perceive sin and goes to eternal hell and damnation.
The saved person would try through the love of God to lead his neighbor away from all sin.
The unsaved cannot perceive sin in themselves or sin in their neighbor, therefore will through sin, and Satan who blinds them, go with their neighbor to hell and damnation.
If you cannot perceive sin in yourself and see sin described in Scripture then you go to hell which is eternal pain and suffering.
GOD states in Scripture, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" Thus does GOD designate homosexuality as sin.
No Christian 'hopes' that any go to hell, on the contrary. Go and read I Corinthians 6: 9-11 and consider 'such WERE some of you' in that context. There is still hope for sinners- see I Timothy 1: 15.
Jesus knows all about YOU Muscari and His word: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
NUNEZ says; "Not ONCE does Jesus even mention homosexualiy"
Jesus did say; Matt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
The law says; Lev 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
Conclusive proof of Jesus position in that He agrees with His Father that homosexuality is an abomination.
Also Romans Chapter 1:18 - 27 describes homosexual practice as subject to the wrath of God upon a people who reject the Word of God.
2/18/13 10:29 PM
