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Mormons, Muslims and Hindus |
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On July 9th 2001 Focus on the Family formed an Alliance with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus In Christ, all man made religions (whether they use the name of Christ or not), philosphies and lifestyles, are "judged already, because they have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-21), and true Christians are called to witness as Christ Jesus-through love NOT contempt, patience NOT hate, blessings NOT evil for evil, and living out Christ's Gospel, etc. to the lost...remembering God's warning not to be yoked/joined with them. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" 2Corinthians 6:14 also see Dr. Jay Adam's Be Ye NOT Unequally Yoked A Nondenominational Counter-cult Ministry http://www.freedomquestministries.org/ 7-16-01 Dear Tom Minnery, I received a copy of your position statement as to why Focus on the Family has formed an Alliance with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus, and felt that I should respond. Even though I am convinced that you are sincere in your belief that you are doing what is right, I also believe that you are sincerely wrong. Sincerity is not the standard of righteousness... Gods Word is. The Apostle Paul was very sincere in his efforts to persecute the Church before his conversion to Christianity, but his sincerity did not make his actions right before God. One of mans greatest propensities for failure is in the arena of "doing what is right in his own eyes" rather than obeying Gods clearly revealed written Word. I found five major errors or inconsistencies in your position statement. Please do not take this as a personal attack. I am aware that, although you authored the position statement, each and every word was approved by Dr. Dobson and the entire cabinet. 1) No "alliance?" In your cover letter you refer to your involvement with the World Congress of Families as a "supposed alliance." The inference is crystal clear. You are insinuating that you have NOT formed an Alliance, when in actuality, the opposite is true. Please, Tom, the employees and supporters of Focus on the Family deserve to know the TRUTH. Why deny the Alliance? You told me personally that, "Focus has aligned themselves with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus." By definition that is an alliance. The term "congress" means a FORMAL assembly of representatives. For Petes sake Tom, YOU ARE ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE of the World Congress of Families (WCOF), and even held a conference on the Focus campus with your fellow WCOF members. Please be more forthright, and call a spade a spade. Why are you ashamed or afraid to admit that you have formed a formal Alliance with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus? I believe that you are afraid that it may cost Focus financially. Many people would not support Focus if they knew that Focus had become the FIRST Evangelical organization to form a formal Alliance with the Mormons in the entire history of the LDS Church. I had the opportunity to speak with some of the members of the WCOF, and they definitely consider it to be a formal Alliance. 2) Non-evangelicals? Your next misleading statement is a bit more devious. Throughout the position statement, you refer to working with "non-Evangelicals." The statement itself is even titled "FOF Involvement with Non-Evangelicals." Tom, I dont believe that most people are as concerned about Focus working with "non-Evangelicals" as they are Focus working with NON-CHRISTIANS. Mormons, Muslims and Hindus are NON-CHRISTIANS, Tom... not non-Evangelicals. This comes across as being deliberately misleading. Maybe that was not your intention. A good way to prove that your intentions are righteous would be to rename the position statement: "FOF Involvement with Non-Christians." You also use the term "denominational differences." The Mormons are not just another "denomination," no matter what their TV commercials say to the contrary. You say that it is important to "cooperate with friends who are defending truth wherever we can find them." Mormons, Muslims, and Hindus do not adhere to ANY Biblical truth. Just because you share the same political and moral agenda, does not justify calling them "friends." As you know, the Muslims are the number one killers of Jews and Christians around the world. Muslim officials have killed over two million Christians in the Sudan in the last eight years alone. Friends they are not. The Mormons teach some of the most bizarre and blasphemous doctrines that one could ever imagine. They do not adhere to one single essential Christian doctrine. They desperately want to be perceived as "just another Christian denomination." Now, by aligning yourself with them, you are helping them to achieve this allusive goal. Their 60,000 Missionaries will now be using the name of Focus on the Family to get their unsuspecting prey to drop their guard, by convincing the poor souls that they are orthodox because they "work with Focus on the Family." You even say in your statement that Dr. Dobson will not allow cultic groups (such as the Mormons) into the recording studio because of the "deceit in their message, and in All of their dealings with the orthodox Christian community." If the Mormons are "deceitful in All their dealings with the orthodox Christian community," wouldnt that "All" include this Alliance? You wont allow them in the recording studio, but you will form a political Alliance with them? Why be so double minded? James 1:8 says that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Your standards for Truth should always be the same. These are just some of the official pillars of Mormon theology: A) God is just an exalted man! ("As man is, God once
was... As God is, man may become") I trust that you understand that these beliefs are a stench in the nostrils of our Creator. 3) No Scriptural basis? One major item that seems to be lacking in the position statement is your Scriptural basis for the Alliance. You only quote Gods Word on two occassions. Once to say that we must be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16) and lastly you quote three verses to justify that other religions have some Truth, too. But what you do NOT state is the scriptural basis for the Alliance. Yes, we need to be wise and harmless, but that has NOTHING to do with forming an Alliance with the enemies of God. As a matter of fact, forming an Alliance with Gods enemies is about as UNwise as I can imagine. In your position statement you never seem to get around to the core issue, which is: "Is the Alliance Biblical?" The obvious reason that you do not quote Gods Word to justify the Alliance, is because the Alliance militates against Gods Word. II John 1:8-11, says, "Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds." Therefore, by welcoming the Mormons, Muslims and Hindus onto the Focus campus and aligning yourself with them in the World Congress of Families (and lending them credibility within the Church), you now "participate in their evil deeds" that they commit outside of the Alliance. James 4:4, says, "You (spiritual) adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." II Corinthians 6:14-17, says, "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?... 17 "Therefore, Come out from their midst and be seperate," says the Lord." Ephesians 5:6-11, says, "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 For the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in their unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them." 4) Unity in the Fundamentals? This is by far, the most confusing and convoluted statement in your letter. You state that we must have "Unity in the Fundamentals." What fundamental doctrines of Gods Word do we share with the Mormons? The Muslims? The Hindus? The two most basic fundamentals are: "The Nature of God" and "What Must I Do To Be Saved." Do you have "unity" with your Alliance on these issues? NO! You only have political unity, not unity in the Spirit. 5) Truth is the banner? This is actually a continuation of point four, stated in a different way. You say that, "Truth is the banner around which we will rally any and all who are willing to come to her defense." Is that what this Alliance is all about? Defending the Truth? Whose Truth? Yours? Gods? Mormons, Muslims and Hindus are all working to earn their salvation. Do they believe in salvation by Gods Grace? NO! Is Jesus their Way their Truth and their Life? NO! This is a slippery slope, Tom. Where do you draw the line? I guess there is no line, as you said you would rally "any and all" as long as they share your political agenda, because they certainly dont share a belief in Gods Word. Some Focus employees have also erroneously assumed that maybe you are trying to witness to the members of the World Congress of Families, but as you know, their mission statement says in order to be a member, you must "set your theological beliefs side." www.worldcongress.org You also say you are trying to "keep one eye on the fundamentals of the faith and another on your practical goals." You need to be keeping both eyes on the Cross, instead of being cross-eyed! For improved vision, please read Matthew 5:29 and 6:22-24. Tom Minnery, Dr. Dobson, Del Tackett, Diane Passno, and Tom Mason, PLEASE listen to those who are warning you of the dangers of this Alliance. The Board of Focus on the Family is mainly made up of wealthy supporters. But there is one Biblical scholar, Adrian Rogers. He stated that he believes that this Alliance is unbiblical and WRONG! He is Gods mouthpiece to you at this time. Adrians personal opinion is no better than yours or mine, but when he quotes Gods Word... then every ear should be open to hear from the Spirit of God. And God is saying, loud and clear: "Do not be bound together with unbelievers in the World Congress of Families!" In Jesus, [PeaceMakers Note...if Dr. Adrian
Rogers is still on FOTF board it's to his shame, bringing judgement
upon himself. Dr. Rogers was President of the Southern
Baptist Convention-the same which failed to Biblically care for
President William J. Clinton and wife.] TO: All Staff RE: FOF Involvement With Non-Evangelical Groups Greetings to all! As you may know, for the past few days Focus on the Family has been serving as the host organization for a meeting of the Planning Committee of the Third World Congress on the Family. A few of our employees have had questions about the purpose of this gathering and Focus's role in the proceedings. You may also be aware that our involvement with this gathering has given rise to outside criticism of our supposed "alliance" with non-evangelical groups like the Mormons and the Muslims. In accordance with our standard policy of keeping staff as fully informed as possible with regard to issues of ministry-wide concern, we have prepared the attached statement explaining both the extent and the intent of Focus on the Family's connections with nonevangelicals. It has been crafted with extreme care, every word having been subjected to the approval of the entire Executive Cabinet. Please study it carefully and feel free to use it in responding to friends, neighbors, and other members of the community who may have questions or concerns about our activities in this area. I'll close with a word of thanks to each and every one of you who has worked so hard to help us maintain the purity of Focus on the Family's evangelical witness to Christ. "Let us not become weary in well-doing!" (Galatians 6:9) Keep up the good work, and God bless you all. FOF Involvement With Non-Evangelical Groups We believe that Focus on the Family has received a pressing mandate from the Lord to defend biblical righteousness and truth. The charge is all the more formidable in that it has been laid upon us within the context of an increasingly secularized and culturally diversified society. How, in this era of "tolerance" and "multiculturalism" can we move with integrity into the public square and there establish strongholds in defense of eternal truth and scriptural standards of morality? And to what degree do we cooperate with others who may not share our Christian faith, but who do agree with the positions we hold to be based on biblical truth? Seldom have the words of Jesus seemed so immediately relevant: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves" (Matthew 10:16). We have been given an exceedingly stiff challenge. If we are to meet it successfully, we will indeed have to learn how to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (ibid.). What exactly does this mean? As we have pondered our position, it has become increasingly clear to us that at least part of the answer to this question lies in our willingness and ability to cooperate-soberly, discerningly, and selectively-with groups and individuals who do not share our Christian convictions. Naturally, the practical application of this principle will take different forms at different levels of our ministry. For example, the criteria invoked in choosing a broadcast guest, a chapel speaker, a conference speaker, or a worship leader should be far more exacting than those applied to vendors and contractors. Chapel guests are required to sign a statement of faith; food-service or software providers are not. Where broadcast guests are concerned, Dr. Dobson intends to continue following the policies and practices he has established in the past. He is not opposed to discussing matters-of common concern with adherents of non-Christian faiths, provided that the convictions and allegiances of such individuals are understood clearly from the beginning of the program and the on-air conversation stays focused upon the issue at hand. He will not, on the other hand, invite members of groups he considers to be cultic into the studio, being extremely uncomfortable with the element of deceit he perceives in their message and in all of their dealings with the orthodox Christian community. Denominational differences are of a more delicate nature and may need to be handled with greater discernment. On the whole, however, they should be approached in a similar fashion, always bearing in mind the familiar motto, "In the fundamentals, unity; in non-essentials, grace; in all things, love." In general, our working relationships with fellow Christians need to emphasize the common bonds we share: love for Christ, loyalty to the Gospel, and zeal for biblical morality and standards of truth. Never should we allow these larger concerns to be sacrificed on the altar of sectarian doctrinal debate. We are, of course, most comfortable working with groups that can sign our statement of faith, which affirms the fundamentals of orthodox evangelical doctrine. But we also believe it is important to cooperate with friends who are defending biblical truth wherever we can find them. In today's society there is too much at stake to do otherwise. Finally, it is important to underscore the point that everything we do at Focus on the Family is an expression of our commitment to biblical Truth. We will not compromise that Truth as a means to an end. As we confront today's threats to western culture-moral relativism, the denial of absolutes, the redefinition of the family, pornography, abortion, euthanasia, and the radical homosexual agenda-we may occasionally find ourselves cooperating with nonChristian groups. This is nothing new. We have for a long time committed ourselves to advocating for the family in government arenas, and the forming of broad coalitions is a normal and customary part of government lobbying. When this occurs, we must bear in mind that such cooperation is only a by-product of our central purpose. We will not seek out such liaisons for mere expediency's sake. The point will always be our dedication to Scripture and the Judeo-Christian worldview. But to the extent that representatives of non-evangelical bodies share our view of Truth or show signs of being receptive to it (and Scripture does teach that this Truth is in some measure accessible to all men, and not merely to believers; see Ecclesiastes 3:11, Acts 17:26-28, and Romans 1:18-20), we will do what we can to encourage them. To the degree that they are for this reason interested in holding the line against Truth's enemies, we will sometimes combine efforts with them. In other words, Truth is the banner around which we will rally any and all who are willing to come to her defense. To sum up, in all of Focus on the Family's dealings with individuals and groups who do not completely subscribe to our Christian and evangelical convictions, it is crucial to exercise keen discernment, keeping one eye on the fundamentals of the faith and another on the practical goals we are seeking to accomplish. We must resist the temptation to draw the lines of our differences with others too fine. On the other hand, we have to remain true to those biblical principles that we consider foundational. FX446 7/01 without prior permission from Focus On The Family. PeaceMakers
International, Inc. Email: PeaceMaker@PeaceMakers.net |