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Christian Research Institute
Journal Articles - Installment 1 (Files 1-35)

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0001. New Age Catholic Matt Fox Creation
From the Fall '92 issue of the Christian Research Journal (page 14), "Catholicism for the New Age: Matthew Fox and Creation-Centered Spirituality" by Father Mitchell Pacwa, S.J., a Scripture scholar from Loyola University at Chicago. Father Matthew Timothy Fox O.P. (Order of Preachers, commonly known as the Dominicans), has placed himself at the center of a storm inside the Catholic church. What gave rise to the conflict between Fox and Catholic leadership? Is Fox a danger to the Christian church? Also available in plain text format.

0002. "Identity": racist "Christian" fad
From the Fall '92 issue of the Christian Research Journal (page 20), "Identity: A 'Christian' Religion for White Racists" by Viola Larson. This religious movement is uniting many of the white supremacist groups in the United States. Identity's teachers consider themselves true Israel and view the Jews as half-devils and arch enemies. All non-whites are said to be inferior creations. Identity's religious views are bizarre and occultic. Their view of history is often informed by conspiracy theories. Identity's use of the name "Christian" to promote racism and violence is blasphemous. Also available in plain text format.

0003. 'Are LDS Christians?'--book review
Mormon author Stephen E. Robinson has written a book defending the belief that Latter-Day Saints are Christians. According to Robinson, the one issue that really matters is the fact that Mormons acknowledge that "Jesus Christ is Lord." But what do they mean when they make that statement, and how does this compare to the historic Christian position? Gordon Lewis, Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Philosophy at Denver Seminary, reviews this book and explains why he does not agree with Robinson's conclusions. Also available in plain text format.

0004. Boston Church of Christ, Cultic?
The Boston Church of Christ, with its membership of 50,000, would seem to be a church on the move. However, it is also a very controversial organization, with its emphasis on baptism for salvation, and its troubled approach to the practice of discipling. "At What Price Success?: The Boston (Church of Christ) Movement" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Winter 1993, page 24) by James Bjornstad. Also available in plain text format.

0005. Update CRI Assessment of Adventism
"From Controversy to Crisis: An Updated Assessment of Seventh-day Adventism" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1988, Volume 11, Number 1, page 9) by Kenneth R. Samples. This article answers afresh the question, "Is Seventh-day Adventism a cult?" Christian Research Institute took a lot of heat for its position on this question many years ago. Here is a more current report on the matter as well as a look at the trends within Adventism as a whole. Also available in plain text format.

0006. Jesus raised a JW Spirit Creature?
"Was Jesus Raised as a Spirit Creature?: Dialoguing With Jehovah's Witnesses on 1 Corinthians 15:44-50" (an article from the Witnessing Tips column in the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1987, Volume 10, Number 1, page 7) by Robert M. Bowman, Jr. and Brian A. Onken. Long a bone of contention, Jehovah's Witnesses deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus by saying He was raised as a spirit alone. Also available in plain text format.

0007. Break'n Through Relativity Barrier
From "Breaking Through the 'Relativity Barrier.' How to Make Points Effectively with New Agers" (an article from the Witnessing Tips column of the Christian Research Journal, Winter/Spring 1988, Volume 10, Number 3, page 7) by Elliot Miller. Ever struggle trying to communicate with someone from a different faith? Often there is a communication gap that runs deeper than mere terminology: it involves outlooks on the world that are themselves _worlds_ apart. Also available in plain text format.

0008. Evangelizing New Agers / Groothuis
"Evangelizing New Agers" (an article from the Witnessing Tips column of the Christian Research Journal, Winter/Spring 1987, page 7) by Doug Groothuis. Groothuis, author of Christian books on the New Age movement, gives practical advice on how to reach New Agers for Christ. He starts out with a brief description of the New Age world view, and then gives five steps for evangelistic strategy with an emphasis on showing the weaknesses of the New Age world view itself. Also available in plain text format.

0009. Kingdom Now: Five Fold Ministry?
"The Faulty Foundation of the Five-Fold Ministry" -- from the Viewpoint column of the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1987. "The five-fold ministry," is a system of church government with apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. The neo-Pentecostal "Restoration" movement and its offshoot, "kingdom now" teaching, claims that one of the things which God is "restoring" to the church is this five-fold ministry. Also available in plain text format.

0010. Hate+Nation of Islam/Black Muslims
"Hate Begotten of Hate" (Part Four in a series on Islam from Forward magazine [which became the Christian Research Journal], Fall, 1986, page 9) by Joseph P. Gudel and Larry Duckworth. The Nation of Islam (earlier known as the Black Muslims) with its controversial leader, Louis Farrakhan, is a faith based on racism and hate which expects that all of its enemies will soon be destroyed, and that its members will then rule the world. This article takes a look at the movement's history, leaders and doctrines ending with a biblical response. Also available in plain text format.

0011. PTL Scandal & Biblical Repentance
"The PTL Scandal and Biblical Repentance" (an article from the Viewpoint column of the Christian Research Journal, [Summer 1987, page 31]), by Walter Martin, who opens with: The church in America was shocked, rocked, and battered by the fiasco of Jim and Tammy Bakker and the PTL ministry. I have never seen a scandal used to better advantage by the Enemy in his ceaseless efforts to destroy the effective evangelism of Christ's Body. Make no mistake about it: this scandal hurts every single Christian in our country. Don't think...that this scandal doesn't affect you. It does. Also available in plain text format.

0012. Should Church Apologize to Unity?
An article from the Viewpoint column of the Christian Research Journal, Winter/Spring 1987, page 31) by Elissa Lindsey McClain. Pointing to similarities between popular Word Faith and New Age/metaphysical teachings, the author ironically asks if the Unity School of Christianity offshoot of Christian Science deserves an apology for being called a cult. Also available in plain text format.

0013. Review of Paulk book/Books on JWs
From the "Book Reviews" and "Recent Releases" columns of the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1987. Includes a review of the book, "That the World May Know," by Earl Paulk and brief reviews of "Point/Counterpoint: A refutation of the Jehovah's Witness Book, Reasoning from the Scriptures, Volume 1: False Prophets" by Duane Magnani; "Jehovah's Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse" by David A. Reed; "Defending the Faith and Refuting Jehovah's Witnesses" by Randall Watters. All reviewed by Robert M. Bowman, Jr. Also available in plain text format.

0014. The Many Faces of Satanism
An article from Forward magazine [now the Christian Research Journal], Fall 1986, page 17) by Craig S. Hawkins. An overview that briefly discusses popular thinking with regard to Satanism and supposed links to serial killing, "dark metal" rock bands, child abuse rings, animal mutilation and church desecration. It then responds to questions such as how widespread and dangerous Satanism is and if these people actually worship the devil. Also available in plain text format.

0016. Christian Leader's Accountability
"Who Sharpens Them? The Need For Accountability Relationships Among Leaders" (an article from the Viewpoint column of the Christian Research Journal, Winter/Spring 1988, page 31) by Brian Onken. The article identifies a major cause behind the controversy and scandal identified with Christian leaders in the national media. Also available in plain text format.

0017. Tips on Reaching LDS for Christ
"Witnessing to Mormons - Some First Principles" (an article from the Witnessing Tips column of the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1987, page 7) by Marian Bodine. Has a focus on LDS efforts to have you read the Book of Mormon and how they use their "testimony" as a truth claim. Also available in plain text format.

0018. Ye Are Gods? -- Self = Deity?
"'Ye Are Gods?' Orthodox and Heretical Views on the Deification of Man" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Winter/Spring 1987, page 18) by Robert M. Bowman, Jr. Some people (for example: Hindus, Mormons, New Agers, and even deceived Christians) use the Bible to support the idea of human ability to become god. Read this article to learn the how, why, and why not. Also available in plain text format.

0020. Scripture Vs. the Spiritual Gifts?
"Scripture Vs. the Spiritual Gifts?" by Elliot Miller (from the Viewpoint column of the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1988, Volume 11, Number 1, page 31.) The author argues that anticharasmatics and many charismatics have one thing in common -- a mistaken view of the "sign gifts" as a source of new revelation. Also available in plain text format.

0021. Reviews: God Calling/Horoscope NOT
"Book Reviews" (a column from the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1988, Volume 11, Number 1, page 29.) Books reviewed in this file are: 1) "God Calling" by A. J. Russel, Ed. (Revell, 1972) reviewed by Edmund C. Gruss (who reports the book was inspired by occult means and contains faulty theology and misinterpreted Scripture); and 2) "What Your Horoscope Doesn't Tell You" by Charles Strohmer (Tyndale House Publishers, 1988) reviewed by Elliot Miller. Also available in plain text format.

0022. "Kingdom Theology"/Paulk--Critique
"The Gospel According to Paulk: A Critique of "Kingdom Theology" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1988, Volume 11, Number 1, page 15) by Robert M. Bowman, Jr., with Craig S. Hawkins and Dan R. Schlesinger. This article describes and evaluates the central tenets of this teaching, which has a large following among charismatics, as presented by its leading proponent, Earl Paulk. Also available in plain text format.

0023. 88 Reasons Apocaly. Prophesy Flubs
"88 Reasons: What Went Wrong?" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988, page 14) by Dean C. Halverson. Edgar Whisenant's booklet "88 Reasons" was yet another failed attempt to identify a specific time for the End. And yet, in spite of the long history of such failures, many took him seriously. The author points out several critical flaws with date-setting approaches to biblical prophesy. Also available in plain text format.

0024. Are Christians Supposed to Take Dominion?
(an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall, 1988, page 31). Do Christians have a mandate to "take dominion" politically and socially before Christ returns? Two camps say "yes": Christian Reconstructionism and Kingdom Theology. Robert M. Bowman, Jr. offers a Bible-based answer. Also available in plain text format.

0025. Ethics of Humanism: Book Review
"Forbidden Fruit: The Ethics of Humanism" by Paul Kurtz (Prometheus Books, 1988) a book review from the Christian Research Journal, (Fall, 1988, page 27), by Norman L. Geisler. This book has be trumpeted by secularists as a landmark work which proves that morality is possible without God. The reviewer subjects this claim to exacting scrutiny. Also available in plain text format.

0026. Watchtower Authority and the Bible
"Watchtower Authority and the Bible," Part One in a four-part series on Jehovah's Witnesses and the Bible" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988, page 19) by Robert M. Bowman, Jr. The Watchtower prides itself on its high view of biblical authority. And yet, Jehovah's Witnesses are not free to independently interpret the Bible. The author reviews this and takes a hard look at the Society's claim that they are the sole channel for biblical truth today. Also available in plain text format.

0027. How LDS Are Defending Their Faith
"How Mormons Are Defending Their Faith," Part One in a four-part series on Mormon Apologetics (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988, page 22) by Robert M. Bowman, Jr. The Bible, history, and even the Book of Mormon often contradict Mormon doctrine. The author surveys several ways in which Latter-Day Saints are trying to resolve these difficulties. Also available in plain text format.

0028. Metaphysical "Positive Gospel"?
"Addressing the 'Positive Gospel' of the Metaphysical Movement" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988, page 7) by Dean C. Halverson. This article discusses sin and the objections of Religious Science, Unity, A Course in Miracles, and Christian Science in evangelism. Also available in plain text format.

0029. The Way International: Breaking Up
"The Way Tree Is Splintering" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988, page 9) by John P. Juedes. Serious charges have been leveled against the late founder and current leadership of The Way International, a cult that blends charasmatic practice with Jehovah's Witness-like doctrine. The author provides helpful information concerning the controversy and the mass defections and splinter groups that have resulted from it. Also available in plain text format.

0030. Fulfilled Prophecy as Apologetic
"Fulfilled Prophecy as an Apologetic" (an article from the Witnessing Tips column of the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1989, Volume 12, Number 2, page 7) by Hank Hanegraaff. This article describes how to use the prophetic evidences for the Bible's trustworthiness as an evangelistic tool. Also available in plain text format.

0031. JWs, the Divine Name: = "Jehovah"?
"Jehovah's Witnesses and the Divine Name," Part Four in a four-part series on Jehovah's Witnesses and the Bible (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1989, Volume 12, Number 2, page 21) by Robert M. Bowman, Jr. Watchtower followers believe their use of the name "Jehovah" sets them apart as true disciples of Jesus. The author provides an orthodox Christian response. Also available in plain text format.

0032. Lamsa: Scholar/Cultic Influence?
"George M. Lamsa: Christian Scholar or Cultic Torchbearer?" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1989, Volume 12 Number 2, page 9) by John P. Juedes. Lamsa's books and views have made considerable inroads into the evangelical Christian world. In this fully-documented analysis the author casts a revealing light on Lamsa and his message. Also available in plain text format.

0033. Report: '93 Parliament World Relig
"The 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions, Part One: Interreligious Dialogue or New Age Rally?" (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall, 1993, page 8) by Elliot Miller. Also available in plain text format.

0035. The Christ of the New Age Movement
"The Christ of the New Age Movement," Part One in a Two-Part Series on New Age Christology (an article from the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1989, page 9) by Ron Rhodes. Also available in plain text format.

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