Paul Cox
08-24-2008, 08:41 AM
I recently learned that the Living Stream Ministry had suspended their radio programs in the United States, because they had become unpopular during the lawsuit with Harvest House.
As we know Hank Hanegraaff (President of Christian Research Insittute, founded by Walter Martin) and Gretchen Passantino (formely associated with CRI, along with her late husband Bob) wrote an amicus brief in support of LSM for their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
It seems that one or both of these (Hanegraaff and Passantino) recently accompanied some Living Stream Church members on a visit to China. They were impressed with the Living Stream Church, and gave some kind of endorsement that the LSM Church is doctrinally sound. As a result of that episode, LSM has decided to resume their radio programs. I'm not clear on all the details. Perhaps someone can fill in the facts.
How ironic it is that LSM would now rely so heavily upon the endorsement of those they previously categorized as parts of "Poor, Poor, Fallen Christianity." They also rely heavily upon the "expert testimony" of world renown vampire expert G Gordon Melton.
Is this just image building, or is it a legitimate effort to be accepted by the Church at Large, which they still teach their young people to shun. Not only do they teach their young people to shun “Christianity,” but they also pay close attention to those Local Churches which, in their view, may be tending toward the practices of Christianity. This was much of the problem with the Local Churches in the Midwest.
Prior to the “quarantine” of Titus Chu there was much spoken and written about how those churches had started, in their view, to become more and more like “Christianity.”
So, LSM, which is it? Is Christianity fallen, and to be guarded against? Or, are we only to believe them when they endorse you. Otherwise, beware.
What say ye?
Roger
As we know Hank Hanegraaff (President of Christian Research Insittute, founded by Walter Martin) and Gretchen Passantino (formely associated with CRI, along with her late husband Bob) wrote an amicus brief in support of LSM for their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
It seems that one or both of these (Hanegraaff and Passantino) recently accompanied some Living Stream Church members on a visit to China. They were impressed with the Living Stream Church, and gave some kind of endorsement that the LSM Church is doctrinally sound. As a result of that episode, LSM has decided to resume their radio programs. I'm not clear on all the details. Perhaps someone can fill in the facts.
How ironic it is that LSM would now rely so heavily upon the endorsement of those they previously categorized as parts of "Poor, Poor, Fallen Christianity." They also rely heavily upon the "expert testimony" of world renown vampire expert G Gordon Melton.
Is this just image building, or is it a legitimate effort to be accepted by the Church at Large, which they still teach their young people to shun. Not only do they teach their young people to shun “Christianity,” but they also pay close attention to those Local Churches which, in their view, may be tending toward the practices of Christianity. This was much of the problem with the Local Churches in the Midwest.
Prior to the “quarantine” of Titus Chu there was much spoken and written about how those churches had started, in their view, to become more and more like “Christianity.”
So, LSM, which is it? Is Christianity fallen, and to be guarded against? Or, are we only to believe them when they endorse you. Otherwise, beware.
What say ye?
Roger