Good Idea or Not?

[RickyD]

For those of us trying to find a true, Bible believing church I have come up with an idea. Mind you this idea is one I am going to implement to narrow my search. I was just curious to know what some of the thinking is on this board. I will be doing it anyway but some input as to what to be aware of or even watch out for would be appreciated. Perhaps your ideas will help others who are going through this as well.

I am going to go into the church book store and see what is on the shelves. I figure that would be a good start on how to find their positions as far as Emergent, Contemplative, Seeker Friendly etc............ I will use Lighthouse Trails http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/ as my "red flag guide"

I could and probably will ask questions of the employees at the book store
(usually members).

That's my idea. Thoughts on this would be appreciated.

[Sing4Him]

The "Christian" book stores today are shocking. They appear to carry "new age" books under the guise of Christianity.

Lifeway bookstores are loaded with apostate books.

http://www.christianresearchservice.com/bookstores8.htm

and:
LifeWay Online Christian Bookstores

Advertising and Promoting Much More than 'Christian Resources'



See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ (Colossians 2:8).



According to its website, "LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention is one of the world’s largest providers of Christian products and services, including Bibles, church literature, books, music, audio and video recordings, church supplies and Internet services through lifeway.com.



"Established in Nashville, Tenn., in 1891, the company owns and operates 122 LifeWay Christian Stores throughout the United States, as well as two of the largest Christian conference centers in the country" (excerpt from "About LifeWay Christian Resources").



Despite the information provided to LifeWay Christian Stores through e-mails, phone calls, and the Master List, LifeWay continues to advertise and promote a variety of non-Christian "Resources" on its website (see below).



Dr. Thom Rainer is the president of LifeWay, and the author of the book, The Unexpected Journey which, according to the description of the book on LifeWay's website, the reader can "Hear the captivating stories of 12 men and women who converted to Christianity after previously practicing Mormonism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and other religions."



Apparently, Dr. Rainer is familiar with non-Christian religions.



On June 16, 2006, Bud Press, the Director of Christian Research Service, called to speak to Dr. Thom Rainer. The call was followed-up with an e-mail letter, with the hope of establishing communication. The letter introduced Dr. Rainer to the research that is available on Christian bookstores, and informed him of what LifeWay was currently advertising and promoting on its website. The letter stated in its entirety:



Dr. Thom Rainer, President

LifeWay Christian Stores

One LifeWay Plaza

Nashville TN 37234

http://www.lifeway.com

Re: Authors & Books In LifeWay's Online Bookstore



Dear Thom:



This is a follow-up to the phone call I made to you today. With your busy schedule in mind, I will be as brief as possible.



As a Christian Investigative Researcher, I have spent about three years researching the authors and books within the major online Christian bookstores. Part of the research has involved LifeWay Christian Stores, communicating with Jimmy Draper and his staff, and informing them of the non-Christian authors and books that infiltrated LifeWay's bookstores and database.



While I am pleased to announce that LifeWay has made numerous changes for the better to guard the flock against a variety of non-Christian authors and books, more needs to be done.



In other words, because of the constant stream of cultic, heretical, New Age, homosexual, lesbian, and transgendered authors and materials being made available to the body of Christ, it is extremely important for LifeWay to monitor its database of authors and books on a regular basis.



For example, right now, LifeWay is advertising and promoting the book, Man as Male and Female: A Study in Sexual Relationships from a Theological Point of View. The Foreword of the book is written by Virginia Ramey Mollenkott. Mollenkott is a lesbian feminist and the author of OMNIGENDER: A Trans-Religious Approach.



In another example, LifeWay carries numerous materials by Ken Blanchard, the author of The One Minute Manager, and the co-founder of the Lead Like Jesus movement. But did you know that Blanchard is deeply involved in the New Age Movement, the endorser of numerous New Age books, a graduate of the New Age Hoffman Institute, and is even on the Hoffman Institute's Board of Advisors?



Of course, even under the best conditions, non-Christian authors and books will slip-in from time to time. This is why I have always maintained the importance of removing the author's name from the database--once and for all. When this is done, the chances of the author returning to haunt the bookstore, and endanger the spiritual welfare of the believer, is slim to none.



In closing for now, I am impressed with your inaugural address, especially the last paragraph where you were quoted stating that,



"'In His strength, I will lead with an urgency that cannot compromise... 'And I know that if I depend on Him and Him alone, neither I nor LifeWay will fail. For great is the God we serve. Great is his love. Great is His strength. Great is His faithfulness. To God alone be the glory.'"



Amen! You are right, Thom. We cannot compromise. Indeed, there is too much at stake.



I look forward to speaking with you at your earliest possible convenience. Until then, may the Lord bless and keep you.



Sincerely in Christ,

Bud Press, Director

Christian Research Service

www.christianresearchservice.com

[END]



While LifeWay removed the book, Man as Male and Female: A Study in Sexual Relationships from a Theological Point of View, books written by New Age promoter, Ken Blanchard, remained.



There was no reply from Dr. Rainer.



If you are disturbed by the books listed below, please prayerfully consider contacting Dr. Thom Rainer and voice your concerns, as the Lord leads.


Dr. Thom Rainer, President

LifeWay Christian Stores

One LifeWay Plaza

Nashville TN 37234

E-Mail: thom.rainer@lifeway.com

Phone: (615) 251-2605

Website: www.lifewaystores.com



The following is a list of books currently advertised and promoted within LifeWay Christian Stores (descriptions are from either LifeWay's online bookstore or information available on the internet):



Yoga for Christians (Susan Bordenkircher) Refer to Brian Flynn's article, "Christian Yoga-Oxymoron" at http://www.onetruthministries.com/yoga.html.



The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha (Mahinda Palihawadana, John Carter) "Brilliant and lively, this vibrant translation of a significant text is taken to be a collection of the utterances of Buddha himself. However, the appeal of these epithets of wisdom extends beyond the text's religious heritage to a general and universal spirituality. Includes an Introduction and notes which examine the impact the 'The Dhammapada' has had within Buddhism over the centuries."



Third-Eye Theology (Choan-Seng Song) "In his book Third-Eye Theology (Orbis, 1979) he focuses on the image of the third eye in the teaching of the Japanese Zen master Daisetz Suzuki, who suggests that the aim of Zen Buddhism is to open up a vision of life that is usually clouded by our ignorance, a vision that will enable us to see ourselves as we truly are" (from the article, "Outlining Rice-Roots Theology").



Tantra in Practice (David Gordon White) "Tantra is an Asian body of beliefs and practices that seeks to channel the divine energy that grounds the universe, in creative and liberating ways" (from the description of "Tantra in Practice," Princeton University Press, http://www.pupress.princeton.edu/titles/6986.html ).



Who Told You That You Were Naked: Freedom from Judgment, Guilt, & Fear of Punishment (John Jacob Raub) "Based on principles from A Course in Miracles..." A Course in Miracles is New Age. Go to http://www.letusreason.org/BookR3.htm for further information.



Praying for Others: Powerful Practices for Healing, Peace, and New Beginnings (Birrell Walsh) "To help guide people in their prayer lives, Walsh brings together the practices of many religious traditions, including the wisdom of Buddhism's 'keeping company, ' shamanism's traveling to other worlds to retrieve healing power for others, and the Chassidim's tradition of using 'Kabbalah' to heal the world."



An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism (Raymond Brady Williams)



Religious Pluralism and Religious Education (Norma H. Thompson) "RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION is a collection of original chapters written by renowned experts from all the world-class religious traditions: Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu. This eye-opening [sic] volume offers a great variety of basic principles and practical guidelines for entering into growth-producing contact and shared opportunities with other faith traditions."


Silence and Stillness in Every Season (John Main) "Many thousands of people across the world have found their lives enriched by the daily practice of Christian meditation, the method of silent prayer taught by Benedictine monk John Main. It is a tradition that draws on the ancient wisdom of the Bible, the Hindu Upanishads, and the early Christian Desert Fathers."



Understanding Your Hindu Neighbour (John Ewan) "Explains the beliefs and customs of Hinduism for pupils aged 11-12." Click HERE for a detailed description.



100 Graces: Mealtime Blessings (Marcia Kelly) This book "features 100 ways of giving thanks for the daily repast in a glorious collection of ancient and contemporary graces from many traditions, including Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, and Native American."



Traveller in Space: Gender, Identity and Tibetan Buddhism (June Campbell)



How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life (Art Linkletter, Mark Victor Hansen)



A Time for Healing: Overcoming the Perils of Ministry (Jody Seymour) "Using the Enneagram, Seymour examines the perils of ministry using various biblical figures as models for understanding the unique challenges that come from ministering to others." According to Dictionary.com, the Enneagram is "a system of spiritual psychology based on an ancient Sufi typology of nine personality types or primary roles with the recognition of one's type tantamount to a spiritual awakening." The word Sufi is defined as "A Muslim mystic."



For additional information, please refer to the article, "Does Southern Baptist Lifeway Stores Promote Contemplative Spirituality & the Emerging Church" by Lighthouse Trails Research at http://************/zys6e.



Researched & Compiled by:

Bud Press, Director

Christian Research Service

www.christianresearchservice.com

August 17, 2006
http://www.christianresearchservice.com/LifeWayOCB.htm

[JustinSolo]

Find a church without a book store :)

[LoudRam]

That's really not a bad idea. I wouldn't use it as a final test but it's a good way to weed out the really bad churches when your first looking.

[goinghome]

I've moved around a lot in my lifetime, so I've come up with what I think is the best way to know a good church from a not so good one. If they are promoting anything on their own behalf, move on. I'm assuming you're reading the Bible on a daily basis so you'll know good sound doctorine when you hear it. A good church will stick to the Word of God with nothing to sell, no clubs to join, no alterior motives, no agenda for "groups", etc. If groups or clubs exist, it should be a natural outpouring of the Body of Christ (you-the Church) and not something the pastor is trying to do to make the church grow, seem more attractive, make money, sell learning materials, etc.

I'd hesitate to judge solely by what's in their bookstore as sometimes the pastor doesn't have time to research everything that's in the store and leaves it in somebody else's hands. A good pastor will, however, rid the church store of inappropriate material when brought to his attention by discerning members of the church.

You might try the Calvary Chapel nearest you. Most (not all) of them are very sound and great at teaching the Word in a no frills, no agenda, style. Know your Bible and the Holy Spirit will guide you in your search. I'll pray for you to find a great church to serve in and learn from :wave

[Lynn]

If the church you are visiting doesn't have a book store, they will often have a library. If you find something highly offensive (NAge/Emergent) it gives you a talking point as you go out the door after service, when you can ask the pastor whether or not he holds to that teaching. We have made it a practice for years to look at the books on the shelves of church libraries/pastor's study (when he was present, of course). You can learn a lot in a short time. :)

[icebear]

if its a decent church, you should be able to get a writen statement of faith from them... if they won't give you one, then they probably can be crossed off your list...., if they do have one, that will help you weed them out further if there is anything weird in it.