December 2000 Newsletter

December 2000 Newsletter

Our Christian Mandate to End the Murder of the Innocent

We in the Church of Jesus Christ have comforted ourselves with the foolish belief that, because we disagree with child killing in a nation that has killed more than 40 million children, God's hand of judgment will be stayed. We have the vain hope that God will somehow overlook the shedding of innocent blood if we work hard to elect a new President to fix the problem. God, however, is not mocked. He will not overlook the shedding of innocent blood - not one drop!

No matter who the President of the United States of America is, if there is not a national repentance for shedding the innocent blood of over 40 million children, there remains only the fearful judgments and Judgment of God. Many of His judgments are already physically manifesting themselves in our streets, as murder has become the solution for almost every problem. Aborting the young, euthanizing the old, and murdering anyone in between, "Violence has grown into a rod to punish wickedness…." Ezekiel 7:11. This is God's judgment upon a nation that has turned its back to Him.

"… Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you." Ezekiel 35:6

The blood of Abel cries to the Lord for vengeance. The blood of the babies cries to the Lord for vengeance. If we get what we deserve as a nation, we are dead. The blood of Christ, however, cries to the Lord for forgiveness. Our one and only hope as a nation is that we cry out to God to forgive us for the horrendous sin of child killing. We must repent and tear down the altars where children die, and plead the blood of forgiveness. What presidential candidate will lead us here?

There can never be national repentance until there is first repentance in the Church of Jesus Christ. We evangelicals have been busy pointing our crooked little fingers at everybody else - the wicked abortionist, Planned Parenthood, the Supreme Court, et al. - but we have failed to point our finger in the right direction. It is us - God's church. That's right! How can we call a nation to repentance while overlooking our own sin - our silence and cover-up of the shedding of innocent blood?

All of our hard work to elect a new President will not atone for our sin against God and His children. The President cannot possibly make up for our years of silence and cover-up. How can we expect righteousness to reign at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue if it does not first reign in the Church of Jesus Christ? If the election this November and its chaotic aftermath have shown us anything, it is the need for God to hear our prayer, forgive our sin, and bring healing to our land. God's people are the only ones who can bring this about. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

The Great Divide in Our Nation

Many of the media pundits are pointing to those things that divide us as a nation. They lament that these divisions will make it difficult indeed to govern these once "United" States. They deliberately forget, however, that these differences have always existed in our nation. What united America in the face of so many different ethnic, geographic, economic, racial, and gender backgrounds was the common belief in God and the Bible. From our pilgrim forefathers to this day there was a unifying principle that broke down all the walls of prejudice between gender, ethnicity, race, and geography. This unifying principle enabled a very diverse people to establish a nation that became a beacon of liberty for the entire world. It was a nation that truly believed that all men were created equal because all men have a common creator.

The Great Seal of the United States appears on every dollar bill. On that seal appear the words E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one). Many are our differences but we are united in our hearts under God. We shall remain one, only as we remain under God. It is He who unites us. It was the common belief in this truth that made America strong, great, and good.

Our nation is not divided over geography, gender, race, or ethnicity. Though the most recent exit polls of our presidential election clearly indicate that these differences do exist, they are not what divide us. Let's start with geography. The Democratic states are grouped in mainly three clusters: the Northeast, the upper Middle West, and the Pacific Coast. The rest is Republican territory. Geography, however, is not what divides us.

Then there is race. Six in ten Latinos voted Democratic nationwide, and so did nine out of ten blacks. Whites favored Mr. Bush by 12 points. Race, however, is not what divides us.

Gender differences do exist. Men voted Republican by 11 points, while women voted Democrat by 11 points. That comes to a 22 - point gender gap. Gender, however, is not what divides us.

Ethnic differences are obvious. Four out of five Jews backed Mr. Gore while voters who attended religious services more than once a week favored Mr. Bush. Ethnicity, however, is not what divides us.

What divides us cannot be seen, yet it cuts through the heart of every man, woman, and child in our nation. It manifests itself most clearly in the war that has been going on since creation in Genesis 3:15. It is the war over two worldviews. It is the war between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. This division hinges over the question, "Who is Lord and whose laws reign?" For those who claim Christ and stand absolutely upon God's Word, the battle lines have been drawn. For those who claim any other god (including nominal Christians) or no god at all, the battle lines have been drawn. It is Jesus verses all the rest. A house divided against itself cannot stand. We, in America have become a house divided.

Those in our country chanting the mantra "the will of the people" are really parroting the lie of the serpent, "…you will be like God…" Genesis 3:5. This worldview is a visible manifestation of the seed of the serpent, governed by no law other than itself. It brings with it lawlessness - everyone does what is right in his own eyes. This worldview has no standard. On the other hand, those in our country speaking for "the rule of Law" give credence to the One who established Law. This worldview is a visible manifestation of the seed of the woman, governed by the Law of God. It brings with it both order and unity, where people choose to love their neighbor as themselves. This worldview has an absolute and unchanging standard - the Word of God!

John Adams, the second President of the United States of America, made it abundantly clear that our form of government would not stand if it ever abandoned the unifying principle of God and His Word. We are witnessing the prescient truth of his words in these days: "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion … Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." As we have moved from the moral and unifying principles of God and His Word we have found our Constitutional Republic less and less able to govern an unruly people.

George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." We hold this truth to be self -evident in our day of moral anarchy.

Chaos in Palm Beach

There was friction in the air as a small contingent of us from Operation Save America arrived outside the Palm Beach courthouse on Saturday, November 11, to survey the scene. There was a swarm of frantic reporters, lawyers, and police hovering in and around the building trying to sort through the electoral chaos. Many protesters from the Bush and Gore camps were also present, voicing their opinions with signs and bullhorns. We positioned ourselves on the corner across the street from the courthouse so that the entire crowd could read the large scripture signs saying that we, as a nation, need to turn our hearts back to God. When asked by many of the bystanders, news crews, and other protesters whose side we were on, we gave a simple message, "Neither!" This answer was strangely reminiscent of the message the Angel of the Lord gave to Joshua before going into the battle for Jericho (Joshua 5:13-14).

We were there to represent another King, one called Jesus! Our hope was and is not in Al Gore or George Bush, but in Jesus alone. We explained the importance of our God-given Constitution, pointing out that we must not ignore the only standard of law our nation has. It is the Constitution, which is based upon the principles of Christ, and not the "will of the people."

Gospel Confrontation at Willow Creek Church

On Sunday morning, October 22, 2000, at 7:30 a.m., approximately 160 gentle Christian warriors gathered at a small shopping plaza just outside the mammoth 162-acre Willow Creek Community Church complex. From Florida, Texas, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois, Christians gathered to become a "living parable" and a "living rebuke" to a church that has done great damage to the plight of pre-born children in our land. When words fail, God speaks in "living parables!"

Willow Creek is one of the fastest growing evangelical congregations in our nation with over 20,000 members. It is located just outside of Chicago. This past August, the President of the United States of America was invited to address thousands of pastors and leaders at Willow Creek's annual Leadership Summit. A man who advocates the wholesale slaughter of God's children and stands squarely upon the radical homosexual agenda was invited to address the Church of Jesus Christ. He was invited as a brother in the Lord. God help us!

Willow Creek's pastor and founder, Rev. Bill Hybels, has been the President's trusted accountability partner and confidant for the past eight years. They meet almost every month. Pastor Hybels believes that President Clinton is a "born-again" Christian. He told us that he has had strong disagreements with President Clinton over his blatant advocacy of child killing and the radical homosexual agenda, but Mr. Hybels, in his "seeker friendly" mode, has learned to disagree agreeably.

Disagree agreeably over the wholesale slaughter of God's image bearers? Disagree agreeably over the sin of homosexuality? This is diametrically opposed to God's Word. Mr. Hybels is a priest who is ruling by his own authority. He is making it up as he goes. One should not tolerate or disagree agreeably with that which God calls an abomination! Unfortunately, we have come to a place in the "seeker friendly" world of Willow where form has become more important than content. Showing good form, being cordial and accepting, being nice with a winning personality has taken precedence over truth. He is strengthening the hands of evil doers: "Among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: … they strengthen the hands of evil doers so that no one turns from his wickedness…" Jeremiah 23:14

Enter Christians from across the country bringing the horrifying truth of child killing to the very doorstep of Willow Creek Community Church. We met with a large group of Christians, led by Ralph Ovadall, and a group of Pro-Life Action Network (PLAN) folks, led by our good friend Tim Murphy. We had a rousing praise, preaching, and prayer service that called to mind the spiritual battle we fight. We placed over 5,000 pieces of literature in the hands of the saints ("Treachery at Willow Creek" and "Sing a Little Louder") and 60 large and very graphic signs of aborted children. We were ready to take our place at the gates of this church in Jesus' Name.

Half the group went with the signs and literature to the three entrances outside Willow Creek and the rest of us attended the early morning service. Twenty minutes before the service, Kristene O'Dell and I met with Pastor Hybels and his elder board. There we confronted him with his sin against God's pre-born children and against the Church of Jesus Christ. We reminded him of how he had muddied the stream for many of Jesus' lambs when Mr. Clinton spoke at his church. He said that he supported us but disagreed with our methodology to overcome abortion. At the end of the service he announced to the congregation that our presence outside the church was welcome. He said that we were a people who passionately stood for life. We just have differences in methodology.

Pastor Hybels and the elders were hopeful that we would call off the rebuke for the sake of church unity. We reminded them that it was not us who caused disunity. Our differences were far more than methodological and that is why we had come.

The Hollow Men of Willow Creek

The men of Willow are, for the most part, very kind and nice. One gets the impression that they would remain that way even if an enemy were to attack their families, church, and nation. They would offer him coffee and doughnuts and try to win him to Jesus while he was robbing, killing, and destroying. It is the "seeker friendly" way!

All of the passion for Christ, all of the understanding of the battle presently savaging our nation has been stripped from these men. They have become spiritual eunuchs bereft of a physical progeny to take the battle to the very gates of hell. This is just exactly what the devil had in mind. The hollow men of Willow leave no legacy whatever for the next generation of young men coming behind them. The male arrows that God has placed in the quiver of this church have no example. They have no men standing for the cause and cross of Christ. They will not fight. They will, however, be nice!

In talking with these men it becomes apparent that they are far more interested in the form of the argument (let's agree to disagree) than the content of the argument (your children are being slaughtered). There is no passion to fight the Gospel battle and crush the head of the serpent. There is only a desire to better understand the serpent and be agreeable in our disagreement with him. Who knows? If we don't offend him he might become a Christian. Please!

Willow is Not at War With the Devil; Just in Disagreement

Willow Creek is not at war with the devil; it simply has a disagreement with him. If he were to arrive at the main entrance of Willow, I have no doubt that he would be greeted with doughnuts and coffee and a very sincere hope that he could be won into the kingdom. In an effort to be civil and nice, the good people of Willow would give the devil all the cover he needs to rob, kill, and destroy. This is exactly what happened when the President of the United States was invited to Willow. The devil (not Bill Clinton) was given cover to promote his killing agenda by not allowing one prophetic voice to be heard - not one!

Willow is so deep into mercy ministry that it absolutely negates the prophetic side of God. The Law of God that is meant to lead men to Christ has been discarded for a gentler, kinder way. The prophetic side (Father side) of God is rooted in the unchanging principles of His word. It is judgmental, distinguishing between that which is good and that which is evil. It tells the awful truth about our predicament as lost and hopeless sinners and calls us to repentance. The prophetic ministry is one that is reserved for men. Willow Creek has no place for the prophetic and is therefore manned by women.

The prophetic ministry moves men to passion and puts in them a will to fight and stand up for what is right. It creates an avenue where a man can be a true man of God. A man is never better than when he is laying his life down for his Lord, his family, his church, his nation. There is no better sign of God's prophetic call upon men than the cross of Christ. Jesus laid His life down that others might live! He calls men to follow Him. They are not called to be nice. They are called to fight!

Willow tantalizes one with the fragrance of the Gospel of Christ but gives only a wisp of the real thing. "Willow the Wisp" would be a more appropriate name for this church, for it denies the true blood and suffering of the cross of Christ. It has replaced the cross with a sickeningly sweet imitation. The only cross to be found at Willow is one that is on wheels. That's right! It is wheeled out for baptisms, or when it can be used as a prop for a sermon illustration; otherwise it remains hidden. Why? It might turn someone off to the Gospel of "Willow."

The Problem is Not Just at Willow Creek

It appears that almost anyone can claim the Name of Jesus nowadays and find a big evangelical church to give him the A-OK. Al Gore was preaching a sermon at Rev. T.D. Jake's church dedication ceremony the very Sunday morning we were at Willow. Thank God we had some folks left in Dallas to bring the truth to that church. Some of our great evangelical leaders are allowing men and women into their pulpits who hate God (not with their lips but by their actions) and are using the pulpit to promote the devil's agenda. Enough already!

Churches all over the country, in particular the black churches, were opening their doors to those known for their promotion of child killing and homosexual perversion. Al Gore, Joe Leiberman, Bill and Hillary Clinton were all using the Church of Jesus Christ to promote their political and murderous agenda. On Sunday, October 29, Vice President Al Gore spoke from the pulpit of the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit. After endorsing Gore in his sermon, Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, presented him with a jacket emblazoned with the church logo on the back and "President Al Gore" written on the front.

"But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds." Jeremiah 23:22.

The Folks at Willow Were Nice - Sort of.

The folks at Willow were very kind to us for the most part. Yes, some did extend the middle finger of fellowship. Yes, there were a couple of lunatic drivers that ran over our signs. One purposely hit Isaac Boehr. Isaac is one of the many young arrows (seventeen years old) that God is raising up to stand for Him. It was Isaac's first time to be spat upon as he stood for Christ at the Willow Creek Community Church. One doctor from Cook County Hospital (Chicago's main hospital) screeched his car to a halt and let it be known, using some very colorful language, that we were not wanted at Willow Creek. Another raced his car around us waiving a coat hanger out the window. The prophetic and horrifying truth of child killing did its awful work.

Theology Became Biography Once Again at Willow

We are looking forward to our next "living parable" that will be presented to the Willow Creek congregation. Yes, theology will become biography once again at the very gates of the church that claims the Name of Jesus Christ. Long before the enemy manifested himself through the Supreme Court in the infamous Roe v. Wade ruling, he first had to gain entry through the gates of the Church of Jesus Christ. Our problem is not so much with whom will be residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, or who will be sitting on the Supreme Court, or who will have the majority in Congress. Our problem is with those of us who call ourselves Christians yet drag His precious Name through the mud.

"The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the world's people, that enemies and foes could enter through the gates of Jerusalem. But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous." Lamentations 4:12-13.

28^th Roe Memorial, January 19-22, Cleveland, Ohio

Today, the altars of our Lord lie in ruin, stained by the blood of 40 million innocent children killed by abortion. Before we can ask God to bless America, we must first smash the idol of child killing called "choice." January 19-22, 2001, we will bring the King of Glory into the streets of Cleveland. Keith Tucci, Flip Benham, and Team Redeem will lead us to the gates of hell and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. The church in Cleveland is ready, and will not sit idly by while our heritage is being destroyed. "We recognize child killing as an idol to be confronted and destroyed in the spiritual realm in order that we may rebuild the altar of our God. It is our mandate to establish Cleveland as a City of Refuge, free from the shedding of innocent blood," said Mary Ellen Urmin, Coordinator. For hotel information, please call 216-999-9500.

Flip Benham,
Director