A study
of a false teacher
[Who is
Joel Hunter? Was that a DNC ‘prayer’? And other things you need to know about his
agenda]
List of Sections:
Section 1
– ‘Intro’ – Who is Joel Hunter?
Section 2
– Joel’s ‘DNC benediction’ –
Smooth-talking, story-teller
Section 3
– Joel’s Creation Contradictions –
‘Progressive Creationism’ and the Bible
Section 4
– Israel and the ‘New Evangelicals’ –
Joel’s calling for the dividing of the Holy Land
Section 5
– Abortion – Joel, when does God
say life begins?
Section 6
– Alliances – Joel: Uniting the
World’s Churches and Religions
Section 7
– ‘The Environment’ –
Joel: ‘Saving the earth’ and ‘Fighting climate change’
Section 8 –
‘Tickets please’ –
Joel – Building state-of-the-art entertainment ~ it’s just a show
Section 9
- ‘Finalé’ – Other unique
facts on Joel, his connections, and his worldview
*-*-*
Section 1: Intro –
Who is Joel Hunter?
First off, we should mention that there is a lot of difference
between those who try to teach the truth and someone who is knowingly
abandoning the truth. Some pastors in America teach people to fear and obey
God, but it seems more of the pastors in our country teach people that they can
get away with sinning and loving the sinful pleasures of this world.
Bible-believing pastors teach people about the fear of the Lord, and to get
ready to give an account to a Holy God. Sincere pastors and Bible teachers can
and do make mistakes, even though we try not to make mistakes. Also, true Bible
teachers are willing to learn from the clear teaching and instruction of the
Word of God. That is very different from a false teacher trying to make up
stories – they have knowingly rejected the real God and are now trying to
invent a user-friendly god.
Examining Joel Hunter ~ a false ‘evangelical’ leader
You may know his name. You may have seen his face on a commercial
about ‘evangelicals’ against global warming. You may have seen that he led the
group of ‘evangelical’ leaders who wrote a letter to George W. Bush asking him
to continue to put cruel pressure on Israel to give away their land to the
Muslims, and Joel also signed that letter himself. Or, you may have seen or
heard him giving the benediction ‘prayer’ at the Democratic National
Convention, or you might have heard that he supports the ‘Hate speech’ bill in
Congress that is aiming to silence Biblical Christians. So, who is he? In 1985,
he came to Florida to start a ‘friendlier’ church with a ‘friendlier’ false
gospel. Most people think of him as a ‘pastor’, but, the things Joel says
proves that he isn’t a pastor. There is a lot of information available about
Joel, but in this update, we have tried to simplify it down to the most
revealing information. So, in this update, we have many quotes of Joel, and
quotes from God’s Word, so you can see for yourself what he says and come to
your own conclusions, and so you can warn your friends. We know this is a long document,
and that is because Joel Hunter is influencing a lot of people on a variety of
subjects, that will hurt them and our country. Some of it is repetitive, but it
makes a strong case, and there are important points made all the way through
the end.
In this update, we quote verses from the NKJV and NASB
versions, and these verses were copied from: www.blueletterbible.org.
As you read this update, please remember these brief but very
important passages:
Jesus said: “Woe to
you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false
prophets.” (Luke 6:26)
On loyalty to God or earthly possessions, Jesus said:
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one
and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon [worldly treasures].” (Luke
16:13)
Mark Cahill asks: When you are about to
listen to any leader talk about politics or economy, or God’s Word, do you have
your guard up or down? Now, when you hear a religious speaker talk about those
things, shouldn’t you have your guard up? Yes, we need to have our guards up
when we hear any religious speaker. Mark is right. We need to double-check
every single thing we hear with God’s Word. This update exposing Joel Hunter is
a good example of why we all need to examine the messages in today’s culture.
Joel has been saying wild and wacky things for many years. The
next few pages show how confused he was before he became an activist for a
one-world-religion, while still claiming to be a Christian. In ‘Section 2’, we
have included a transcript of his ‘benediction prayer’ at the Democratic
National Convention (DNC) (Page 9).
*-*-*
Quotes from early papers of Joel Hunter that show
how he doesn’t understand the Scriptures
‘Northland’s Mission’ ‘Marks of maturity’ (10/1990) –
These 2 quotes give you a picture:
“… 6. The ability to assimilate and use abstract
ideas. (I Peter 3:15)*…”
* Where did Joel find that idea in this verse?:
“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready
to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that
is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (1st Peter
3:15)
>> This verse is about sanctifying
Christ as your Lord – like discipleship, and evangelism: “give an
account for the hope that is in you.”
2nd quote --
“9. The ability to coordinate all efforts toward a long range
life focus. (Rom. 12:1)…**
** Again, where did Joel find that in this verse?:
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to
present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is
your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
>> This verse is about being a living sacrifice and commitment
to discipleship. But, Joel’s activities through the years show that what this
meant to him is a one-world religion with social ambitions.
* * *
‘Northland’s Approach to Cultural Myths’ (9/16/1992):
(Below are 5 groups of quotes from a 2 ½ pages article Joel wrote
and passed around. Several years later and after a lot of criticism, they
started learning to hide their true beliefs and edited that document. But those
ideas still re-define the words that Northland uses. We have it segmented for
easy reading, and we contrast what Joel said, and what God’s Word says.)
Joel says:
“… If one believes someday Christians will be extracted from this
world before it’s destruction (premillennialism),[A] then
he/she is more likely to begin the separation process now (no use getting
attached)…”
[A] – Joel shouldn’t
scoff at the rapture, 7-year-tribulation/Great tribulation, or at God’s
complete destruction of this sin-cursed earth.
God’s Word says: “… knowing
this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to
their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’… The Lord is
not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering
toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to
repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which
the Heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with
fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons
ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.” (2nd Peter
3:4, 9-11)
* * *
Joel says:
“Lastly [Northland’s
approach], if one believes that when Christ came the first time, He
ushered in a new era of His reign in a partial sense and that someday He will
transform this world into a new earth as well as a new Heaven (Revelation 21),
he/she is more likely to see this culture as perverted, but yearning for what
is real…” [B]
[B] – The human sin nature is
worse than Joel understands:
“… Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were
thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were
darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans
1:20-22)
And in Romans 3, God says: “There
is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all
turned aside… Destruction and misery are in their ways… There is no fear of God
before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18)
* * *
Joel says:
Northland’s approach is one that recognizes God’s sovereignty in the “secular”
as well as the “sacred” (the culture’s false dichotomy). We do not initially
separate ourselves from the culture in which we are placed…
“Now, myths are an attempt to explain some important aspect of human life
through an imaginative story… If imagination or pretending is wrong in itself,
then myths are wrong to tell. But, if the myth is used as a prelude to interest
the elemental mind in finding the deeper story, and if it is clearly conveyed
as an intriguing hook to a real mystery, then myth can serve as an introduction
to God…” [C]
[C] – But God’s Word teaches that
coming out of worldliness is essential for salvation:
God’s Word says: “Therefore
'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is
unclean, and I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, and you shall
be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.' Therefore, having
these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2nd Corinthians
6:17-7:1)
Editor’s notes: God is not trying to use
old wives tales to explain His Word, and Christians are commanded to avoid
myths and old wives’ tales:
“But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise
yourself toward godliness.” (1st Timothy
4:7)
* * *
Joel says:
“We must not revert to the strict and narrow “religious” ways only (Galatians
3:3). Superstition about God’s wrath for all forms of the world can be as
damaging as the superstition which takes the myth to the final reality…” [D]
[D] – When Joel said that in
September 1992, he flatly rejected the gospel again, because he likes the
worldly pleasures of the broad way:
Jesus said: “Enter
by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to
destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and
difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
(Matthew 7:13-21)
Editor’s notes: God’s wrath is not a
superstition.
Jesus said: “My friends, do
not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they
can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has
killed, has power to cast into Hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!’” (Luke
12:4-5)
* * *
Joel says:
“But the main concern of the Christian parent should be this – Can I lead my
child to Christ through this cultural myth? ... ” [E]
Editor’s notes: The debate at Northland
in September 1992, was about santa, halloween,
and the easter bunny.
[E] – But God’s Word says: “Therefore, since we
have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we
have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor
handling the word of God deceitfully,…” (2nd Corinthians
4:1-4)
* * *
‘A Church Distributed’ (1998):
This is Northland’s plan to spread their false teaching material
and ‘distribute’ their ‘church’. And this idea is not new. Genesis 11:4 – “And
they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower…’” for a
one-world religion.
“…
OBJECTIVE: to build a church that
will equip and support Christians where they live, yet keep us all linked
together in one church (that will also equip and support other churches and
ministries of like mission).
STRATEGY:
to distribute the teaching, materials, and congregation of Northland all over
the world, yet worship together every week. Further, to link with other
ministries that desire our help to train and equip people.
TACTICS:
take ministry and leadership training transportable through various
relationships and forms of media. …”
Editor’s notes: Northland
only offers their curriculum to those who agree to reduce the definitions of
God’s Word. That is how Joel finds ‘common ground’ with a variety of false
teachers. That is how Joel has done it since he started his ‘distributed church’
– deliberately destroying Biblical churches since 1997/1998. Joel’s program has
grown very large and global. Joel is also working with the UN’s international
‘religious’ teams to find ‘common ground’, including as a delegate to ‘Alliance
of Civilizations’ forum, and as a delegate to the U.S. – Islamic World Forum in
Doha, Qatar. See Section 6, below, for more details.
<---><---><---><--->
Section 2: Joel’s
‘DNC benediction’
Smooth-talking,
story-teller
Joel has been well-known for his ‘social gospel’ message for a
long time. He is a big advocate for improving the earth and dividing Israel’s
land – issues that he says that Jesus would agree with.* He is a
smooth-talking, spin-master and story-teller who cherry-picks Bible verses,
while skipping over convicting verses and parts of verses that he doesn’t like,
and has been doing it for more than 20 years. Joel also supports the
pro-homosexual “Hate speech” bill(see below in Section 6) – that
bill will try to restrict American pastors’ Constitutional rights to free
speech and freedom of religion. And, as you examine Joel’s prayer (below),
you can see Joel has different definitions for common Christian terms, words
like: ‘faith’, ‘God’, ‘persecuted’, ‘zeal’, ‘create’, ‘peace’, ‘fear’, and
‘hatred’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeFZx3nD8GY&feature=related
So now, let’s look at Joel’s recent ‘prayer’ and benediction at
the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Here it is.
Joel’s Benediction ‘prayer’:
(quote) Joel says:
“We are
all here to devote ourselves to the improvement of this country we love. In one
of the best traditions of our country, would those of you who are people of
faith join me in asking for God’s help?
“Almighty God, let
your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us a reverence for all
life. Give us a compassion for the most vulnerable among us – the babies, the
children, the poor, the sick, the enslaved, the persecuted – for all of those
who have been left out of the ‘advantaged world’. Give us a zeal to
clean up the environment we have polluted, while we create an economy where
everyone who can work can have a job. Help us to honor those who defend our
country by working harder and smarter for peace. Help us to counter those that
incite fear and hatred, by becoming people who are informed and respectful and
are known for the principles and projects that aim higher than merely our own
benefit. Guide Barack Obama and all of our leaders to be agents of your will
and recipients of your wisdom. And grant that all of us citizens will
continually do our part to contribute to the common good, so that we can truly
love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Now
I interrupt this prayer for a closing instruction. I want to
personalize this. I want this to be a participatory prayer. And so, therefore,
because we are in a country that is still welcoming all faiths*, I would
like all of us to close this prayer in the way your faith’s tradition would
close this prayer. So, on the count of three, I want all of you to end this
prayer, your prayer, the way you usually end prayer. You ready? One, two,
three:”[everyone yells their god’s name, while he says] “in
Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s go change the world for good.”
[Quoted from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQyXd33Y1KU&feature=player_embedded]
>> Editor’s notes:
First off, Joel lied in the first sentence. It has never been a
well-honored tradition in America for all the false religions to get together
and pretend to ‘pray’ to each of their own ‘gods’. The pilgrims that
founded Jamestown, and our founding fathers came with a fear of God
and knew the Bible is true. Since the founding of this country, there have been
2 groups of people – some who choose the fear of the Lord, and others who
choose to love the world’s treasures and earthly pleasures. Throughout the
centuries, our country has drifted between times where Americans wandered from
God, and then God allowed trouble in our nation that brought our nation back to
repentance before Him. Genuine repentance is what God wants from us now too.
Joel says; but God’s Word says:
* - ‘all faiths’ – But, are there
several ways to God? No, absolutely not – according Jesus the Messiah –
the world’s greatest theologian.
Jesus said: “I Am
the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John
14:21)
God’s Word says: “Nor
is there salvation in any other, for there is no other Name under Heaven given
among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts
4:12)
So, Joel and the group of religious leaders with him are trying to
create a new god that doesn’t exist. The NWO needs a one-world-religion, or
they cannot bring all nations together. They also need a religious purpose,
like saving the environment and helping somebody who is not ‘advantaged’.
*-*-*
>> A ‘zeal to clean
up the environment’? Where is that in Jesus’ message? God does have a
zeal, but it’s different from Joel’s.
Here is what God’s Word says:
“And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep
and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of
cords, He drove them all out of the Temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and
poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. And He said to those
who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house
of merchandise!’ Then His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for
Your house has eaten Me up.’”
(John 2:14-17)
Ø Jesus had
a righteous zeal - this was a display of God’s holy anger against the hypocrisy
of money-minded religious leaders. It would be silly for a real pastor to take
up a major message to save the environment, because a real pastor knows how God
will destroy this earth – Revelation 21:1. A real pastor focuses on evangelism,
discipleship, and praying for the spiritual growth of those in His flock.
*-*-*
>> A ‘reverence for’
babies, children, poor, sick, enslaved, persecuted, and the un-‘advantaged’? As
this report progresses, we will show you more of Joel’s ‘new’ and/or additional
definitions for these terms. We don’t want to pollute your minds or ours by
directly explaining how the “Hate Speech Bill” redefines those words, like
‘sick’, ‘enslaved’ and ‘persecuted’.
>> Please also notice,
there is nothing in this ‘prayer’ about holiness or calling for repentance of
sin, or turning from idolatry and the love of this world and sinful pleasures. It
is common knowledge that Obama worships a foreign god.
God’s Word says: “Or do
you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not
knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans
2:4)
Other notes:
Joel’s ‘prayer’ was a New Age religious – New World Order speech
to a deity not in the Bible. The New Age religion believes that all ‘faiths’
are ‘equal’ and that contradicts God’s Word in many places. However, this
prayer is not as bizarre as the time he gave a Sunday morning speech about what
he liked in all of the world’s religions, and then ended with a prayer to some
deity thanking them for all of the world’s religions. I wish I still had a copy
of that CD. We used to have a copy of that, and then a pastor borrowed it and
never returned it. We have found it to be a mystery several times when we had
very interesting evidence about Joel’s belief system and misplaced it. I would
really like a copy of his rewriting of the book of Acts, where he removed the fear
of the Lord. If any of our friends have a copy, please share a copy with us. We
have seen a number of examples like this of how Joel has a team of demons that
try very hard to hide the evil things Joel is a part of and his false teaching.
And, it would not surprise us to someday find that Joel is among the top of the
Elites’ list of 26,000 US ‘pastors’ that use the New Age religion to push the
‘New World Order’ system, and are working to unite the ‘churches’ by lessening
parts of God’s Word.
*-*-*
Jesus also said: “These
people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their
lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
(Matthew 15:8-9)
<---><---><---><--->
Section 3: Joel’s Creation
Contradictions
‘Progressive Creationism’
and the Bible
Hugh Ross
Joel Hunter loves to work with Hugh Ross. Hugh Ross was
scheduled and probably did speak at Northland on March 25th* and
April 29th.** And Hugh Ross is scheduled to speak again
at Northland on June 24th,*** and has spoken at
Northland numerous times over the years.
* http://www.northlandchurch.net/index.php/calendar/2009/03/25
** http://www.northlandchurch.net/index.php/calendar/2009/04/29
*** http://www.northlandchurch.net/calendar/details/faith_and_science_group
Who is Hugh Ross? Hugh Ross is known all around the world as a
distinguished ‘scientist’, but Mr. Ross holds to distorted ‘science’ studies
and contradicts to the Bible. He has written that he thinks that people only
‘criticize him’ because they haven’t met him and seen his friendly personality…
But what does that have to do with the evidence and facts? Below is a quote and
a link from a man who exposes Hugh Ross’s false teaching – you can go see it
for yourself.
“… In
fact, Dr. Davidheiser sent a copy of the
draft of this booklet to Dr. Hugh Ross for comments. Dr. Davidheiser said that "I think that the honorable
thing to do is to send it first to Dr. Ross to ask if he finds any errors of
fact on my part. I sent him a copy of the first edition and he had found no
fault. He seems to think people criticize him because they do not know what a
fine person he is and would not criticize him if they know him personally…"
~ (quoted from http://www.bible.ca/tracks/b-hugh-ross.htm)
Over the years, Hugh Ross has changed his wording from ‘Theistic
Evolution’ to ‘Progressive Creationism’. That’s a clever and deceptive word change,
but God hasn’t changed His Word. And Hugh Ross is still rejecting the
Scripture’s account: “For in six days, the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the
sea and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.” –Exodus
20:11. Hugh Ross for years has been and continues to be a scoffer – knowing the
Word of God and knowing science proves God’s account of creation – yet still
rejecting the truth and scoffing at those who point out the evidence that
proves he is wrong. He sounds scholarly – he uses clever words to call God a
liar, but Scripture calls him a fool. In Romans 1:22, God says: “Professing
to be wise, they became fools…” And in 2nd Timothy
3:7, God describes people like Hugh Ross: “… always
learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” That is
bad news – bad news for him and all who listen to him.
Those who believe God’s Word, worship a God who is powerful enough
to speak and create everything out of nothing, in 6 literal days. We know the
Scriptures are true and we know for a fact that what God says, happens exactly
how He commanded it to be. Believing God’s account of creation is a key
principle for Biblical Christianity. “Through faith we
understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God…”
(Hebrews 11:3)
Ken Ham’s ministry posted this warning article about Hugh Ross:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/0821ross.asp
And, Ken Ham’s ministry posted this warning of the ’10 Dangers of
Theistic Evolution’: http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i4/theistic_evolution.asp
<---><---><---><--->
Section 4: Israel and the
‘New Evangelicals’
Joel’s calling for the
dividing of the Holy Land
Besides
his entertainment and public speaking sides, Joel Hunter is also known for
signing a letter to George Bush (a modern-day Balaam) at the end of July 2007,
in which he led 33 other so-called ‘evangelicals’ to ask Bush to increase
pressure on Israel to give away parts of the Holy Land, land God gave Abraham
and his descendants by covenant. This is what Joel had to say: www.christianpost.com...evangelical-pastor-ordered-to-leave-israel...
And, here is a quote from the letter by the Joel-led group of
‘evangelicals’:
“… The letter signed by 34 evangelical leaders – ranging from presidents of
some of the nation’s top Christian universities and humanitarian organizations,
to the editor of a preeminent Christian magazine – acknowledged that both
Israelis and Palestinians have rights to the disputed land.
“ ‘Historical honesty compels us to recognize that both Israelis and
“Palestinians” have legitimate rights stretching back for millennia to the
lands of Israel/“Palestine”,’* states the letter dated July 27th2007,
and published in the New York Times on Sunday. Signers called for a lasting
agreement to end the ‘tragic cycle of violence’ by guaranteeing
both sides ‘viable, independent, secure states.’
“‘To achieve the agreement both sides will be required to give up some of
its demands and reach a compromise.’ said the evangelical
leaders.’
“‘Israelis and “Palestinians” must both accept each other’s right to
exist’ they stated. …”
(Quoted from: www.christianpost.com...u-s-evangelicals-shatter-christian...)
* Abraham sent Ishmael away because God said he does not
inherit that land (Genesis 21:10-12). And, neither did Jacob/Israel give Esau
(Edom – Edomites) that land. Also, of interest,
both Esau’s family and Ishmael’s family started intermingling early on (Genesis
28:9).
Other links on this:
> Evangelical statement on Israel/'Palestine'
> http://tzemach.org/weblog/?p=85
> US 'evangelicals' 'shatter' Christian Zionist misconception
> http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Radio/News.aspx/962
Editor’s notes:
One thing is for sure – Joel and these
‘evangelicals contradict the Bible and DO NOT represent us
Bible-believing followers of Christ across the USA!
Another part of this problem is the false teaching called
‘Replacement Theology’, a false teaching that has come and gone in cycles and
has been around for centuries. ‘Replacement Theology’ is a view that somehow
the church of the New Testament has replaced Israel, and that God has somehow
abandoned Israel and all His promises to them, as a people and nation. But,
that is wrong, and when a religious group rejects that many Bible verses, and
distorts Revelation, they are making themselves vulnerable to falling for any
other strange doctrine too. The religious leaders who hold to that view, likely
have an ulterior motive for it, and are ignoring many passages in the law and
the prophets, as well as the New Testament. God will still keep His promises
and prophecies to Abraham and Israel, with the USA or against us, including
Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who
curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Here are just a few more:
To Isaiah, God said: “He
will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel,
and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”
– Isaiah 11:12
And again, God said: “Fear not, for I am
with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the
west; I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep
them back!' Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of
the earth.” – Isaiah 43:6
To Jeremiah, God said: “But, The LORD
lives, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and
from all the lands whither He had driven them: and I will bring them again into
their land that I gave unto their fathers.” –
Jeremiah 16:15
And to Ezekiel, God said: “Therefore
say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will gather you from the peoples,
assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give
you the land of Israel.”’” – Ezekiel 11:7
Please pray: God is fulfilling His
promises. The Israelis are trying to re-gather in their land, but there are
corrupt business people in our country and in Israel that are trying to take
away the land the Israelis brought at top-market prices and land they rightfully
won in wars of self-defense. And the global ‘Elites’ are trying to prevent most
of the Jewish immigrants from coming to Israel, and even murdering the
honorable Jewish people and leading voices that by faith want to keep their
land, and restore the people of Israel back to God. We need to make sure that
we pray and support the honorable Jewish people in Israel and those who want to
go there, and at very least speak up when we see a US leader trying to stop
them. The honorable Jewish people need our prayers and our support! Thank you
for your part.
<---><---><---><--->
Section 5: Abortion
Joel, when does God say
life begins?
Here are Joel’s comments in support of the National Institute of
Health's (NIH) new draft guidelines for government financing of embryonic
stem-cell research as a ‘common ground’ approach that supposedly respects life
at every stage:
“Joel Hunter, Senior ‘Pastor’, Northland A Church
Distributed, Florida”:
“
‘I enthusiastically support the NIH's draft guidelines on embryonic stem
cell research. They have hit the right balance by limiting funding to
particular slated-to-be-destroyed IVF [In-Vitro
Fertilization] cells, yet expanding significantly the number of
diseases that can be addressed by increasing the number and range of stem cell
lines from which we can learn. These guidelines respect life from beginning to
end.’ ”
http://faithinpubliclife.org/content/press/2009/04/evangelical_catholic_leaders_w.html
* * *
JOEL HUNTER (quote - talking on abortion):
"OBAMA
WAS TECHNICALLY RIGHT, THE BIBLE DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY TELL US WHEN LIFE BEGINS
- IT'S RATHER IMPRECISE"
http://stevenjcamp.blogspot.com/2008/08/pastor-joel-hunter-obama-was.html
>> Editor’s notes: Joel
is obviously confused, but God’s Word is clear. Here are just a
sampling of verses that Joel doesn’t seem to remember:
God’s Word says: “For You formed
my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the
earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they
all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of
them.”
(Psalm 139:13-16)
>> Biblical poetic language in which God is described as
creating life in the mother’s womb.
God’s Word says: “And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered
her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a
son, and called his name Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the
LORD.’”
(1st Samuel 1:19-20)
God’s Word says: “And it
happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe
leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she
spoke out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed
is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my
Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting
sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy…’” (Luke
1:41-44)
>> Again, another interesting passage. In this one, it is
mentioned twice that John, the baptizer – before he was even born, was aware of
Mary’s presence and rejoiced.
And the 6th of the 10 Commandments is:
“You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13;
Deuteronomy 5:17)
Also, God’s Word says: “Behold,
children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a
reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's
youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be
ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” (Psalm
127:3-5)
>> Concluding notes: Life begins at conception,
and God is the one who creates the new life. Children are a gift from God. And
the Bible is clear, even in the details, that the baby inside the mother is in
fact a living human being, not a ‘fetus’. And that clearly shows all abortions
are equal to murder and therefore wrong. Though, God grants forgiveness to
those who repent and plead for His mercy. God can and will restore all who
humbly repent and forsake their sins.
For, God’s Word says: “The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite [repentant]
heart-- These, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)
*-*-*
Joel Hunter: Democrats Could "Steal the Title of the Pro Life
Party"
(Belief Net blog)
One of the
most interesting evangelicals these days is Joel Hunter…
I was
therefore a bit surprised when he mentioned during our chat this week that he's
been asked by the Obama campaign to deliver the closing prayer at the
Democratic convention. He said yes.
The next
surprise was his suggestion that Democrats "could arguably steal the
title of the pro life party."
Huh? How is
that possible? Obama is just as pro-choice as any other Democratic nominee;
critics say he's the most
pro-choice candidate ever. Hunter makes a practical
argument: …
"With
eight years of Bush the abortion rates have not declined. Every indication is
that with financial support and different forms of supporting pregnant mother
and then some post birth help also we could come close to 50% reduction in
abortions. That's huge. That's huge."
Continuing
with the same culture war paradigm is therefore morally dubious. "If
we insist on keeping this an ideological war we're literally not saving the
babies we could save. The Democrats have a huge opportunity here to really
steal the thunder from those who are seen as traditionally pro life."
He's
pessimistic that the Democratic Party would go far enough to really take
advantage of the opportunity, though he does think the new platform took a step
in the right direction. He was consulted by the Obama campaign, and believes
that on balance "philosophically this is a huge move"
because it put the party on record supporting certain abortion reduction
measures such as maternal health and adoption support…
He
says, abortion is the number one issue keeping evangelicals from embracing
him [Obama]…”
http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/08/joel-hunter-democrats-could-st.html
As you read this report, you will notice Joel in these verses:
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising
themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises
himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants
also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be
according to their deeds.” (2nd Corinthians
11:13-15)
<---><---><---><--->
Section 6: Alliances
Joel: Uniting the World’s
Churches and Religions
Joel shouldn’t be uniting the world’s churches and religions, but
he is, and has been for more than 10 years. Joel pressures and pushes churches,
in the US and around the world, to reduce the amount of the Bible they believe
and agree with, so they can find ‘common ground’ with false teachers, cults,
and false religions. Here are a few articles that show Joel working to unite
the religions, and going against the truth.
*-*-*
For 2008 and 2009, Joel Hunter was a participant on the UN’s board
of ‘Alliance of Civilizations’ for the ‘National Association of Evangelicals’ –
a false ‘conservative’ group that rejects key parts of the Bible. ~
http://aocistanbul.org/data/AoC%20Forum%20Report%20Madrid%20complete.pdf
Joel has also been a delegate to the U.S. – Islamic World Forum in
Doha, Qatar – seeking ‘common ground’ with Islam. ~ http://www.northlandchurch.net/main/staff/dr._joel_c._hunter
Editor’s notes: it looks like Joel will
spend a lot of time standing at the “Great White Throne” judgment while so many
of his judgments are added up.
*-*-*
Where Obama turns for spiritual advice: Rev. Joel Hunter of
Longwood
(Orlando Sentinel)
“He doesn't
thunder from the pulpit in righteous rage. He'd rather relay stories that make
a moral point… What the soft-spoken Rev. Joel Hunter of Longwood does have is
an ‘evangelical church’ of 12,000, a talent for building diverse coalitions and
a prominent spiritual advisory role in the administration of President Barack
Obama, a Democrat. …
Along the
way, the 60-year-old pastor has sought alliances with Catholics, Jews and
Muslims and irritated some traditional evangelicals, who worry that too much
emphasis on social issues would nudge the Gospel to the sidelines…
Four
decades later, when the nation's first black ‘president’ asked Hunter to join
the White House's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood
Partnerships, Hunter felt a particular pride. …
"It's almost
like redeeming that [past]," Hunter said. "I'm sensitive to those
people who aren't the 'religious type,' but who have incredible God-given gifts
and could be a gift to a church."
In 2006,
the Christian Coalition — the conservative lobby founded by Pat Robertson —
invited Hunter to take the reins.
Hunter hoped to expand
the group's agenda beyond fighting abortion and gay marriage. His idea was to
embrace environmentalism as an act of caring for God's creation and to redefine
pro-life" to include poverty and hunger. …
Two years
later, the pastor was giving the closing benediction at the Democratic
convention in Denver. He concluded his prayer in an innovative way, asking
spectators to speak the blessing they would use in their own faith traditions.
…
The sociologist at Rice
University credits Hunter with "great pastoral gifts"
and a style that resonates with many who want to look past endless brawls over
religious hot-button issues.
"It
seems he has been scratching an itch that others hadn't noticed,"
Lindsay said.[A]
But some evangelicals did notice his unorthodox, all-inclusive prayer.
Bob Parker, pastor of First Baptist Church Markham Woods in Lake Mary, said
Hunter missed a chance to tell the Democratic convention that "Christ
is the only savior." …
"Jesus said
the way is narrow," Parker said. …
Hunter said
he has no plans to pursue politics but looks forward to working with Catholic,
Jewish and Muslim leaders on a national level to address social ills, as he has
done locally.
Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida,
speaks glowingly of Hunter and his wife. The imam sees little difference
between the relatively unknown pastor who reached out to him about 15 years ago
and the man who recently made the front page of The New York Times.
"I've seen
him increase in humbleness and generosity," Musri said. "Even after September 11, when
it wasn't very popular to talk to Muslims, he stood by us and spoke kindly
about us from the pulpit." …”
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-joel-hunter-041209,0,7417058.story
>> Editor’s notes: As
you can see, Joel Hunter doesn’t know much about Biblical Christianity.
[A] – This is a
fascinating quote, because God’s Word says:
“For the time will come when they [false
brethren in churches] will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their
own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for
themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
turned aside to fables.” (2nd Timothy
4:1-4)
But, God’s Word says: “For what
partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light
with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Satan, or what has a believer in
common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?”
(2nd Corinthians 6:14b–16)
*-*-*
(quote from the FUSE website)
“Additionally,
as a delegate to the US-Islamic World Forum held in Doha, he [Joel] is seeking
to build a dialog between Muslim and Christian communities. Grist magazine
named him among the top 15 religious environmental leaders in the world, along
with the Pope and the Dali Lama.”
(clip about Joel Hunter on the FUSE About us – Advisory Board
page. FUSE = ‘Faiths United for Sustainable Energy’ ~ http://www.fusenow.org/about/advisoryboard.html)
Jesus said: “Woe to
you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false
prophets.” (Luke 6:26)
*-*-*
Who Is Joel Hunter, and Why Is Obama Praying with Him?
(Time Magazine)
As Joel
Hunter explains it, his telephone prayer session with Barack Obama on Tuesday,
roughly 10 hours before Obama was declared winner of the presidential election,
was not intended to be as intimate as it ended up. Obama, says Hunter, "just
wanted to pray with some folks," and his religious liaison
arranged a conference call with Hunter, Dallas Pentecostal mega-pastor T.D.
Jakes, Houston Methodist minister (and George Bush favorite)Kirbyjon Caldwell
and Otis Moss II, the retired pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in
Cleveland. But Obama was delayed, Jakes had to appear on live TV, and Caldwell
had to board a plane, explains Hunter; so the candidate ended up praying with
just Moss and Hunter.
…
Though he
says he has prayed with Obama twice before, Hunter adds, "I find it
hard to believe that I'm in the inner prayer circle." …
[Joel
says] "If we look hard enough, we can find suitable
arrangements that really do protect both sides." He adds, "If
you don't get into conversations that have never been entered into before, you
will not win the kind of progress that has never been made before."
…
Thus Hunter
also plays down another potential bone of contention between the new President
and Evangelicals — Obama's July 2007 pledge to Planned Parenthood that "the
first thing I'd do, as President, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act" —
a bill that could wipe out many of the inroads conservatives have made into
strict interpretation of Roe v. Wade. "I think [the
FCA] is a horrible idea," Hunter says. "But it's just a
bill in committee," and it would take time to reach the
presidential desk. "Circumstances and constituencies evolve, so I'm
not sure that a promise he made to a particular constituency some time ago will
even be relevant in two years." …
He may also
especially like part of the sermon that Hunter plans to deliver this Sunday to
Northland flock. Speaking about Tuesday's election results, Hunter will say,
"God answered your prayers. If you pray, 'God, put who you want in
the White House,' and you believe that God answers our prayers, then it is
logical to assume that Barack Obama is God's answer to our prayers."
… ”
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1857140,00.html
A simple way to understand Joel is that he rejects and abandons
God’s Word. God pronounced a woe judgment on those who call evil: ‘good’, and
good: ‘evil’.
God’s Word says: “Woe to
those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light,
and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” –
Isaiah 5:20
Jesus said of Himself: “He who
speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One
who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.” – John
7:18
Jesus said to the religious hypocrites – “You are
of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was
a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there
is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for
he is a liar and the father of it.” – John 8:44
*-*-*
In a video on Youtube, Joel gives a
pre-election speech about how the leaders that get into office are put there by
God.* What he fails to point out is that when a nation is
rebellious, God allows them to get an evil king. And, in contrast, when a
nation is walking in the fear of the Lord, He allows them to have a righteous
king. In many ways, we the citizens of the Unites States for America have
chosen really bad leaders and have abandoned our responsibility to hold them
accountable for their many actions and policies that contradict God’s Word,
here in the US and around the world. Our government leaders are given the responsibility
to crack down on criminals and commend those who do what’s right,** and
yet the leaders seem to, for the most part, ignore the crimes. Therefore, it is
our responsibility to hold them accountable for their actions. And if we don’t,
then we will feel the pain oftheir
evil choices. Also, Joel fails to remind people that Obama is
not Constitutionally eligible to be President, because he was born in
Kenya. So, right now God is directly allowing criminals to run our government –
it’s time to pray.
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-9jdJsp3K0&NR=1
** (See Romans 13:3-4)
>> In the brief little
clip above, Joel partially quoted 2nd Chronicles 7:14, which
sounded nice and all. He even repeated part of that verse a few times. But, did
you notice what he left out? Here’s the whole verse "If My
people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My
face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will
forgive their sin and heal their land." (2nd Chron.
7:14) Did you notice that Joel left out the part about turning from our wicked
ways? Why did he skip it? Joel has shown a pattern for over 20+ years of
avoiding subjects like: Hell, sin and rebellion against God, God’s justice,
confessing and forsaking our sins, repentance, and the “fear of the Lord”. Why?
Because Joel doesn’t want to make the people who come feel uncomfortable and he
wants to keep everything ‘positive’ and inviting to those in the world. But,
Jesus’ words show people like Joel are blind leaders of the blind. Jesus
said: “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else
make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of
vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of
the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:33-34)
“For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he
whom the Lord commends.” (2nd Corinthians
10:18)
*-*-*
Quotes from a PBS news report about Joel Hunter:
JOEL HUNTER (talking about Christians and politics):
“… We were pretty narrow in what we were paying attention to rather
than very broad. Now that wasn’t true in Jesus’ time, [A] because
Jesus was very broad in what he did.”
…
HUNTER: “I hope that along
the way I could be of encouragement in the president’s spiritual life [B] because
that’s what a pastor does, that’s what we care about. But beyond that, I’m very
excited about working with a very broad spectrum of people to see how our faith
communities can really solve the problems, or help solve the problems, of this
country. …”
www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/february-20-2009/joel-hunter/2279
[A] (Luke 13:24)
[B] “Every plant which My Heavenly Father has not planted will be
uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind
leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” (Matthew 15:13-14)
*-*-*
Steve Brown
Another of Joel’s good friends is the local religious speaker and
radio show host – Steve Brown. Steve has spoken at Northland three times this
year, and has spoken at Northland many times throughout the past years.* Steve
has also had Joel on his show a number of times.
* http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source...www.nacdweb.org%2Ffiles%2Fpodcast...
Below is a helpful brief expose on Steve Brown, by a guy who just
finished listening to Steve’s 37 lectures on ‘Grace’ at ‘Reformed Theological
Seminary’. I encourage you to read this brief but reasoned response to Steve’s
lack of using God’s Word, and questioning why Steve was encouraging the
students to do things that contradict the Bible, and common sense. One of the
things Steve told his students to do is to cuss – to just do it.*http://bibchr.blogspot.com/2008/03/steve-brown-2.html
* But Jesus said: “Whoever
therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so,
shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever does [obeys]
and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
(Matthew 5:19)
Steve Brown is known for being loose with Scripture. In his book,
entitled ‘A Scandalous Freedom: The Radical Nature of the Gospel’
(2004), he is hard on those who push their views that being gay is wrong. It
may be just a ‘belief’ that Steve is willing to let go of, but God’s Word is
still clear that homosexuality is a choice and is wrong. About a year ago, a
man called into Steve’s radio show and told him that he was a homosexual and
that his concerned Christian friends were warning him that it was wrong and
that he needed to get rid of the sin and turn back to God. This man said that
he was beginning to become concerned if they were right. So, he asked Steve if
he should listen to their message and Steve told him not to let it bother him.
– That is just another example of how Steve Brown doesn’t teach God’s Word
accurately.
Also, Romans 1:18-32, talks clearly about those who practice
homosexuality, and how God’s wrath is on them for this rebellion against God.
This passage also shows how being homosexual is a choice, and must be repented
of for the person to be redeemed and be a follower of Jesus Christ.
Because, God’s Word says: “For the
wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness… Professing
to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God
into an image made like corruptible man… Therefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among
themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and
served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For
this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged
the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men
committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty
of their error which was due. … knowing the righteous judgment of God, that
those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but
also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:18, 22-32)
This verse in Revelation 21, explains more: “But the
cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers,
idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
(Revelation 21:8)
*-*-*
Editor’s notes: Joel, and several other
‘new evangelical’ religious leaders, supports the pro-homosexual “Hate speech”
bill – that bill will try to restrict American pastors, and to reduce
everyone’s Constitutional rights to free speech and freedom of religion. But
the Constitution limits the government, which gives us our freedoms, and we
need to stand up for them. Here is the 1st Amendment in the
‘Constitution for the United States’, a section that is also called the ‘Bill
of Rights’.
“Amendment 1 -
Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
to petition the Government for a redress of grievances…”
(Quote from “The U.S.
Constitution Online’)
So, why is Joel supporting that bill that is clearly illegal and
un-Constitutional?
*-*-*
Joel Hunter supports the ‘Hate speech’ bill.
‘Leaders of Evangelical Left Endorse 'Hate Crimes' Bill’
(‘Life Site News’ article)
"WASHINGTON, May 11, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Prominent members of the
Evangelical left have endorsed a bill before Congress that would add
sexual orientation and gender identity as official categories to "hate
crimes" law.
Liberal evangelist Tony Campolo, founder of the
Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, joined a Capitol Hill
rally this week organized by the Human Rights Campaign, a homosexual
advocacy group, which also distributed supportive statements by Christian ethicist
David Gushee, Sojourners' Jim Wallis and Florida
mega church pastor Joel Hunter. The rally additionally touted legislation that
would protect trans-sexualism in the work place.
"We Evangelicals who have such a high view of scripture should want
justice for gays, lesbians and transgendered persons," said Campolo, "Justice is love translated into social
policy ... This [legislation] is a chance to practice that love."
However, Mark Tooley, President of the Institute
on Religion and Democracy, responded to the support of Campolo and
the others for the bill, asking, "Why are self-proclaimed evangelicals
echoing the secular culture by endorsing ideologies wrapped around 'sexual
orientation' and 'sexual identity'?
"Increasingly the Evangelical Left is indistinguishable from the
secular Left."
Critics of hate crimes laws say that they are redundant and attempt to
criminalize thought and speech rather than criminal actions. They also warn
that clergy and others who support traditional marriage potentially could be
prosecuted for "hate" if "sexual orientation"
is made to be a protected class…
Tooley further said that "Christians of all
traditions are called to transform the culture, not conform to it. But the
Evangelical Left repeats arguments from The New York Times' editorial page and
seems to think such cultural conformity will win applause." He
quipped: "History shows that accommodation-ist Christians
are ultimately irrelevant Christians."
[Editor’s note: If you call the leaders
below, you probably won’t get them on the phone, but the people you talk to and
their organizations will realize that Americans hate what their bosses are
doing. If you do get a chance to talk to them, please don’t get star-struck –
these are not heroes. Of course, you need to be polite, but keep in mind that
they are enemies of your Constitution.]
To express concern:
> Dr. Tony Campolo
Phone: 610-341-5962
Fax: 610-341-4372
> Dr. David Gushee
Email: feedback@davidpgushee.com
> Rev. Jim Wallis
Phone: 202-328-8842 or 1-800-714-7474
Fax: 202-328-8757
E-mail: sojourners@sojo.net
> Dr. Joel Hunter
Phone: 407-949-4000
Email: info@northlandchurch.net”
(You can find this article at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051110.html)
Other links on Joel’s support for the ‘Hate speech’ bill:
Left-leaning evangelicals misleading young Christians
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=528198
Leaders of Evangelical Left Endorse 'Hate speech' Bill
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=10445
*-*-*
Joel’s group prides themselves on connecting groups and looking
for ‘common ground’. But, there is a problem there, in that, truth and lies
cannot work hand in hand, and still be truthful. Here is how Northland describesthemselves on the EFCA site (quote):
“Northland, A Church Distributed is an interdenominational
congregation of 12,000 that worships at several physical sites throughout
Central Florida and hundreds of virtual sites worldwide via the Web. Northland
is A Church Distributed, arranging the church around the relationships of the
congregation and partner ministries, rather than around a physical church
building. Completed in August 2007, Northlands 160,000 square foot facilities
in Longwood, Florida, serve as a distribution point rather than a destination.
Northland's mission is to call people to know and follow Christ and reconnect
the church by building relationships, serving and worshiping together.” (www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=21254)
One of Joel Hunter’s most deceptive methods is using Christian
words and changes their meanings. But, this is nothing new with the cults.
Cults and cult leaders are constantly using Bible words and lingo to deceive
you into thinking that you both agree, while hiding the parts of God’s Word
that they contradict and/or ignore. Remember in Joel’s clever prayer, he
included several nice-sounding words, but we have shown you what he really
meant. Please go back and read that fake ‘prayer’ (Section 2), so you can see
his twisted definitions, and please share your findings with someone who
supports Joel.
*-*-*
Here are some groups that share Joel’s false teaching:
>> White House Appointments:
‘President’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood
Partnerships’
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/working_with_faith
>> Board of directors:
‘World Evangelical Alliance’
http://www.worldevangelicals.org
‘National Association of Evangelicals’
‘The Global Pastor’s Network’
http://www.call2allmedia.org/index.php
>> Organizing Director:
First Green Bank
>> Advisory Boards:
‘Belhaven College’
‘Florida’s Faith-based and Community-based Advisory Council’
http://www.volunteerfloridafoundation.org/about_faithbased.php
‘Man in the Mirror Ministries’
‘Vision Orlando’
‘Vernon C Grounds Institute of Public Ethics’ (Denver Seminary)
>> Guest Lecturer:
‘Reformed Theological Seminary’ – a source of subtle false
teaching that is influencing the churches in the US
Joel’s wife, Becky, shares their false teaching with other
pastor’s wives around the world. Among the positions that she has had:
Being the former president of the ‘Global Pastor’s Wives Network’ from Jan.
2006 – Jan. 2009. – http://www.gpwn.org
<---><---><---><--->
Section 7: ‘The
Environment’
Joel: 'Saving the earth'
and 'Fighting climate change'
The petition:
The ‘save the planet – call to action’ petition Joel signed:
http://christiansandclimate.org/learn/call-to-action/
Joel’s name is on the list of notable US ‘religious leaders’ who
signed this.
>> If you want to know
which pastors and religious leaders in our country have left the Bible behind
and the message of Jesus Christ, and have looked for a new gospel, please look
at this list of 200+ religious leaders, and see if you know any of them. If
your pastor is on there, please ask him why and have a Bible study with him.
http://christiansandclimate.org/learn/call-to-action/signatories/
Joel’s ‘let’s make this world a better place’ – ‘evangelical’
leader commercial:
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeFZx3nD8GY&feature=related
The letter Joel signed about global warming
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0208-07.htm
[Editor’s notes: God is still actively showing
theses people are lying criminals.]
Snow in London on the day of Gore’s ‘Global Warming’ debate
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/29/commons_climate_change_bill
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1081135/...October-snow-London-74-YEARS...
Exxon Mobil now supports carbon tax
‘But is it all that surprising?’
www.oldthinkernews.com/Articles/oldthinker%20news/exxon_mobil_now_supports...
Editor’s notes: Joel’s noise about the
environment is also a fake world religion, because many scientists have proven
the direct link between solar flares and the earth warming – it goes in cycles.
The only reason globalists and corporations are pushing it is because they want
to use the fear of ‘global warming’ or ‘climate change’ to force Americans to
newer higher priced products, when older products work just fine. Those changes
also move us more toward the New World Order.
If you want some real humor, research the Freon scandal. The
scandal is about DuPont’s patent-rights that are expiring, so they are creating
the ‘urgency’ for a ‘new Freon’ that they hold the patent-rights to.* So,
the ‘global warming’ noise about Freon is generated by a large company whose
patent is expiring, and they don’t want to lose their huge profits, and because
DuPont is a part of the New World Order corporate-overthrow-team. The
carbon-dioxide stories are equally scandalous, and the bogus ‘carbon tax’** is
part of the same ‘New World Order’ arrangements. For the global ‘Elitists’, the
‘global warming’ nonsense is just ‘business as usual’, and we Americans need to
reject it.
* - ‘Idaho Business Maligned by the EPA’ (article about DuPont
and the EPA)
http://www.zianet.com/web/freon1.htm
** - Alex Jones - North American
Union Carbon Tax Scam
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2007/120207_b_Scam.htm
‘Global warming’ is another tactic of the Elites to promote their
One-World system:
www.prisonplanet.com/obama-pushes-carbon-tax-proposal...
*-*-*
>> A bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Real Christians would
object to everything Joel is doing, if they knew.
(Quote from a PBS interview)
Joel Hunter: “We just try to preach
the best we can from Scripture, try to help people where they are in
their lives and love them and encourage them [A]—people
are desperate for encouragement—and try to help the world get better. And
whether that is about community service or it’s about shaping social policy,
whatever that’s about, we are trying to make this world more like Heaven. [B] Jesus
taught us to pray that “thy Kingdom come, thywill
be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” So that’s what we’re trying to do. …”
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/february-20-2009/joel-hunter-interview/2330/
[A] – God’s Word says: “The
heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it?
I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every
man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”
(Jeremiah 17:9-10)
[B] – God’s Word says: “But the
day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the Heavens will pass away
with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth
and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in
this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.”
(2nd Peter 3:10-11)
<---><---><---><--->
Section 8: ‘Tickets
please’:
Joel - Building state-of-the-art
entertainment ~ it’s just a show
Joel and his team have recently finished building their new $42+
million building,* more like an interactive theater atmosphere,
with state-of-the-art equipment.** We have heard, from people who
have visited Northland, that Joel has shortened his Bible-time section down and
it’s mostly stories. A curious question – why would a sincere Bible teacher
partner with a web-connection company*** to help him spread his
message? Joel has been working hard to create his mostly ‘clean’ entertainment
group for many years. He says the things people want to hear. And, Joel and his
team have distilled their theatrics, sounds and lights down to a science.**** And
the ‘show times’ are free, though, they do encourage ‘donations’. It is
not a church – it is a big entertainment franchise – a bogus ‘church; a ‘feel
good’ religious club, which we will show more below.
* http://www.northlandchurch.net/main/about/northland_history
** http://www.meyersound.com/news/2007/northland_constellation
**** http://livedesignonline.com/venues/getting_word_3 (the
pictures and description speak for themselves)
Joel started with a small group of worldly-minded people involved
in a church split, has grown very popular, and is a high-tech ‘pep-talk’ and
entertainment club. Not much has changed in these last 20+ years. Joel is a
very good picture of what is described in 2nd Timothy 3: “But
know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money… traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of
pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its
power. And from such people turn away! ... always learning and never able
to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now
as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also
resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but
they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs
also was… But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and
being deceived.”
(2nd Timothy 3:1,2a, 4-5, 7-9, 13)
We’ve shown you clearly that Joel has evil intent. Years ago, we
gave Joel the benefit of the doubt, thinking he was just un-studied, and
thought that if you showed him enough Bible verses, he would change. But, he
has rejected the truth, because he didn’t like it. And God let me know that
Joel is leaving, and I understood that to mean that Joel has many serious
judgments against his soul. Now, years later, we can clearly see that he is in
a lot of trouble with God. We know God will tear down Joel and
his popular false gospel system ~ and it will come down with a great crash, as
God exposes him as a liar and a false teacher, according to His Word.
Jesus said: “But
everyone who hears these teachings of Mine, and does not obey them, will
be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended,
the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And
great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:26-27)
Did Jesus or the apostles use the best ‘marketing’ tools of their
day to get the message of the gospel of repentance and discipleship out? No.
Their message was hard to hear, and convicting to our selfish and self-centered
desires and perspective, and many scoffed at it. Why? Because the message
of Jesus and the apostles was a message of coming to God in humility and
genuine repentance, becoming crucified to ourselves, and learning to daily grow
in holiness and obedience, and leaving behind idols of every kind.
<---><---><---><--->
Section 9: Finalé:
Other unique facts on Joel,
his connections, and his worldview
*-*-*
Jesus said that there would be things that cause men to stumble,
but strongly warned those who would make men stumble:
“Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no
offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” (Luke
17:1)
Jesus also said:
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you
shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves,
nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.”
(Matthew 23:13)
>> Editor’s notes: Jesus’ words exposing
the religious hypocrites of His day applies just as well to Joel, for Joel
teaches the broad road of ‘acceptance’, and does not teach repentance and what
it means to count the cost and become a whole-hearted disciple of Jesus Christ.
God’s Word says: “These
are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving
only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the
winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom
is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” (Jude
1:12-13)
We must
remember that God's message to man since man’s rebellion against God in the
Garden of Eden and when He performed the first sacrifice - men everywhere need
to repent, and become disciples of Jesus Christ, and make disciples of Jesus
Christ. Jesus did not tell us to create a utopia on earth. Repentance is a
primary theme of the Old and New Testament. Here are just a few examples.
God’s
prophets:
Jeremiah 6:16; Ezekiel 14:6, 18:23, 18:30; Joel 2:12; Zech. 1:4;
Jesus:
Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15, 6:12; Luke 13:3,5; Rev. 2:22, 3:3, 3:19;
His apostles:
Acts 3:19, 17:30, 26:20.
And the fear of the Lord is still the beginning
of wisdom:
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from
evil.” Proverbs 3:7
(See also: Prov. 1:7, 3:7, 9:10; Luke 12:5) –
That is just a few of the many passages in the Bible on fearing
God and departing from evil.
*-*-*
Quotes from a PBS news report about Joel Hunter:
… HUNTER: “There is a whole new generation
of young evangelicals that are coming up that really don’t care about any of
the labels. I mean, they could care less — Democrat, Republican, liberal,
conservative — they don’t care. What they care about is can we change the world
for the better.” [A]
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/february-20-2009/joel-hunter/2279
[A] – But, God’s Word
says:
“Do not associate with those who are given to change, for
their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that comes from both
of them?” (Proverbs 24:21-22)
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now
commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which
He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He
has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts
17:30-31)
* * *
HUNTER: “On the one side, I
had a wonderful encouragement especially from non-Christians, you know, and
from many Christians who understood what I was doing. I got raked over the
coals with a lot of Christians because I didn’t hijack [B] the
prayer and pray it only for Christians.” …
[B] – Editor’s notes: ‘Hijack
the prayer’? Is Joel praying to Jesus of the Bible or not? No.
God’s Word says: “But
even if we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what
we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I
say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have
received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9)
* * *
HUNTER: “The idea here that
goes through my mind is that this is not the person that I’m going to be
answering to. That’s a way higher thing, and on judgment day when I stand
before God, I’m going to have to answer to what I’ve said.” [C]
[C] – Editor’s notes: Out of
his own mouth, Joel has acknowledged his future judgment.
Jesus said: “But I
say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give
account thereof in the Day of Judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)
* * *
HUNTER: “I think what I do
is not so different than anybody else except maybe in different circles, but I
just live my life as best I can, and I just pray that I’ll do God some good.” [D]
[D] – Editor’s
notes: Joel pretends that he is doing a lot of good, but his
statements hint at many more scandals that we pray will be brought to light in
time.
Jesus said: “Woe to
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs
which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's
bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men,
but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew
23:27-28)
God’s Word says: “Beloved,
do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of
God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” (3rd John
1:11)
*-*-*-*-*
In conclusion:
Those who are truly Jesus’ sheep and children of God, will
not in any way continue to follow Joel or other false teachers like him.
For, Jesus said: “And
when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow
him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but
will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers… But you do not
believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep
hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John
10:5, 26-27)
Joel teaches a false gospel – not the gospel message of
repentance, faith, and discipleship that Jesus preached.
God’s Word says: “But
there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false
teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even
denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth
will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words;
for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does
not slumber.” (2nd Peter 2:1-3)
And God’s Word says: “The coming of the lawless
one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying
wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because
they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for
this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe
the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth
but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2nd Thessalonians
2:9-12)
We know that neither Joel (nor Obama, or Joe
Biden) are the anti-Christ, but we can get an idea about the
personality and people skills the anti-Christ will have. Joel gets people to abandon
righteous principles for smooth-talking agreements to turn away from God and
His Word.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
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The Henry Family