The Pastor’s Notes

The Pastor’s Notes

THE MIXED (UP) MULTITUDE

The inaugural prayer luncheon sponsored by The Washington Times Foundation (the Times is owned by Rev. Moon's Unification Church) was one of the largest and most diverse inaugural religious gatherings.

Martin Luther King, Evangelist Billy Graham and Rev. Sun Myung Moon were honored by an evangelical group of clergymen . . . Luncheon committee member Doug Weed introduced "seven of the ten top television evangelists in America today."

The Rev. Jerry Falwell brought greetings from the Rev. Jesse Jackson . . . Robert Schuller "marveled" at the different religious groups praying in the same room . . . Singer Pat Boone . . . noted the "wonderful feeling" at the prayer event, encompassing Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus . . . Boone also sang along with other performers (they got that right) including singer John Michael Talbot a Franciscan brother . . . Iman Hassan Oazwini, director of the Islamic Center of America, said that "all praise is due to Allah . . . (The Washington Times via The Berean Call)

One can only wonder if any of these people are saved. Yes, including Jerry Falwell. Greetings from ultra-liberal, and adulterer Jesse Jackson? Honoring Rev. Moon who claims to be Jesus Christ of the second coming saying that Jesus failed in His mission to save the world. Of course Falwell has preached for Moon before.

- CORNERSTONE CHALLENGE

DO NOT BE DECEIVED!

From time to time you may hear or read that the public schools are improving, but that is simply not the case. It is a manipulation of the facts. Scores from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study were recently released. According to School Reform News (2/2001), U.S. eighth-graders did worse on science than four years ago, coming in 19th among the 38 nations participating.

France, Austria, Germany, Spain and several other nations did not enter or it would have been even worse. In math U.S. ranked 18th. If private schools had been included with the public schools, American children would have ranked 6th in science and 12th in math.

While there are no figures available, it seems obvious that if private U.S. school children were measured alone they would have scored much higher and probably near the top. Amazingly, in spite of these poor scores, "U.S. teachers ranked second among the 38 nations in teachers reporting they felt `very well prepared to teach math'."

Certainly parents should do all they possibly can to get their children into an academically and spiritually sound Christian school. Sad to say, many Christian schools do not have qualified teachers and many do not have a strong, sound curriculum.

Dad and Mom, your child is only going to get one education, better make sure it is a good one; a good Christian School education.

- CORNERSTONE CHALLENGE

AMERICANS AND THE BIBLE

An article in the Å Washington Times says a poll reveals that Americans believe the Bible is more reliable than the daily newspaper. Well, that certainly is true, but the plain truth is few Americans know anything about the Bible or take it seriously.

if they did, this country would not be in the pitiful condition you find it today. If you knock on doors to give people the Gospel, or witness regularly, you know that Bible literacy was never lower. They know nothing, and they don't want to know!

One interesting fact is more than 80% say the Bible is divinely inspired and yet the number of those who accept it as literally true has dropped from 65% in 1960 to 33% today.

A Zondervan (publisher of NIV) study shows that Americans want a Bible that is easy to understand Ä Americans want everything easy. That is the claim of all the modern versions; we make the Bible easy to understand.

Why then are people so ignorant of God's Word. If you are not saved, you can't understand the Bible (1 Cor. 2:14). Remember, it is easy to go to hell!

- CORNERSTONE CHALLENGE