Is the NAE Becoming Like the NEA? Part 8

This is the final installment in a series of articles dealing with the 20 minute interview by the NPR Fresh Air radio show of Rev. Richard Cizik, who is the now former VP of Governmental Affairs for the National Evangelical Association (NAE). This interview was the last straw, it brought down this ravenous wolf in sheep's clothing. Cizik resigned last week. That interview was so enlightening into the mind of a man who purported to be the key voices of American evangelicals. What was in that mind was deception and lies and much that is antithetical and repugnant to Jesus Christ and to His message, and to Biblical truth.

Today we will explore the final portion of the interview and provide commentary on the interview and a few overall conclusions about the man and his now former organization.

‘CREATION CARE,’ THE HIGHEST PRIORITY

Terry Gross attacks all conservative Christians and true Christ-followers, by asking, “Now let me just ask you a pointed question. Are you waiting for some of the evangelical leaders who have opposed you on issues like your concern about the environment and climate change—are you waiting for them to retire and leave the stage? And I guess I’m thinking most specifically, here, about James Dobson."

Cizik in the mode of a true compromiser and liberal appeaser answers, “I’m not waiting. I would want Jim Dobson to join us, because this is about creation care, it’s what the bible teaches, it is Godly, it is right. So I’m not waiting for him to leave the scene at all. I want him to join us. In other words, Terry, I’m always looking for allies not adversaries; always allies. This is important. It’s strategically important for Christians to care for this earth, just as it’s important for Christians to care for the family. These are equals; they’re both part of God’s concern, they’re both part of His heart. So no, I’m not waiting.”

Gross, agreeing with her interviewee queries, “I appreciate what you’re saying but at the same time I think the odds of you winning over James Dobson on this are probably slim, so do you think?”

Cizik, laughs in agreement mumbling unconvincingly and with little conviction, “With God all things are possible!”

Gross probes deeper, “…what’s going to change in the long run is that he and some of the other people who oppose your work putting environmental issues near the top of the agenda, do you think that what’s going to change is that they will retire and that there will be a new guard?”

Cizik brags a bit, “Well, sometimes I believe that occurs. Even some of the names back on the letter a couple years ago are gone. But that doesn’t change the fact that we all will pay a price for not changing. The earth is reaping the consequences of our actions when we don’t reexamine our habits of consumption, right? The poor around the world, well, they’re reaping the consequences of us failing to meet our obligations. This is not something that can wait for any of us to retire. (Some may be wanting me to, but...)

“The Gospel paints a vision of society that is relationally and environmentally sustainable. What do I mean by that? Relationally sustainable- it’s a message of hope that we all get along, not just get along but work together for a cause which is bigger than ourselves.”

BUSH NOT LIBERAL ENOUGH FOR CIZIK

Gross now asks Cizik about the Left’s favorite President, “Since we’re in the final weeks of the Bush administration, I’d like to ask you your thoughts as that administration comes to an end. What do you think were his achievements, what do you think were your greatest disappointments?”

Ignoring such stellar accomplishment as the fact that Bush disapproved funding for stem cell research, signed the partial birth abortion procedure ban, Cizik selects and cites, “Greatest achievements: surely the effort called the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief. This is felt in real ways in sub-Saharan Africa in ways that we in the West don’t even understand. They love us as Americans because of what George W. Bush did on that.

“I think, on the other hand, this man of faith failed to understand in my estimation, religion in the Middle East, and it led to a war that’s been unnecessarily long. It may have been right, as it were, to take out Saddam Hussein, but the way this war was waged in so many ways I think everyone would have to admit was ill-planned, ill-conceived and the rest. So, look, one has to have mixed emotions about the Bush administration.”

Gross continues to press Cizik about President Bush, “And what are the ways that you think he has helped, and/or hurt, the evangelical community?”

Bush didn’t please the rest of the world enough according to Cizik, who said, “I suppose George W. Bush’s faith was a mixed blessing. On the one hand, we evangelicals took pride in the fact that this man became president who openly said that he was a person of faith, for whom, even Jesus he said was his favorite philosopher. And yet, he didn’t in so many ways reflect that Jesus as we would have wanted him to have. With a humility and a fashion to the rest of the world that communicated just what kind of people we are. I don’t think that real picture ever came through.”

CREATOR OVER THE CREATED

I think the most damning thing Cizik said was “It’s strategically important for Christians to care for this earth, just as it’s important for Christians to care for the family. These are equals; they’re both part of God’s concern, they’re both part of His heart.” Wrong, people, souls, are much more important to the Creator than the lower creatures, such as insects, birds, and other animals. Man, Rev. Cizik is the highest and most important of all of God’s creatures. We reflect the image of God. Deer and buffaloes and barracudas do not.

THE FUTURE OF THE MAN

As I listened to this so-called conservative Christian pro-life Evangelical leader throughout the length of the NPR interview, I felt embarrassed, disgusted, and horrified that he would even name the name of Jesus and allege that he is a Christ-follower. From my perspective Mr. Cizik by his words and actions is neither what I consider to be (1) a conservative, (2) a Christian, nor is he truly (3) pro-life. Then what is he? The man is a (1) wolf in sheep’s clothing, (2) an apostate, and (3) an appeaser, and a (4) compromiser.

However, I am sure Cizik will resurface as a political advocate with the National Education Assoiciation (NEA), Green Peace or any of a number of other left-wing groups. Why? Because, philosophically, his ideology lines up more with the liberal elite than does he the conservative common man.. . .

THE FUTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION

As for the NAE, Bill Wilson in his 12/14/08 Daily Jot article, succinctly articulates the situation at the National Association of Evangelicals, “The damage done to the NAE and its image among those who take the Bible seriously (by letting Cizik run amok) will take a long time to repair. And it’s not just Cizik who was at fault. The mindset of the organization appears to have changed over the years to drift away from basic conservative Bible truths and to support the more seeker friendly Christianity without commitment, sin without consequences dogma that is permeating the Church. . .” That in a nutshell tells it like it is.

Based on the radio interview conducted with the NAE’s Cizik, the positions he espoused were nearly indistinguishable from the abjectly liberal, Marxist positions of the very liberal 'religious' National Council of Churches (NCC) or even the secular National Education Association (NEA). A few decades ago the NAE sprung into being to contest the growing apostasy found in the NCC, now the NAE finds itself in a state of denial of its own apostasy.

CAN THE NAE BE RENEWED?

Bill Wilson concludes that “It is now a perfect time for the governors of the NAE and Mr. (Leith) Anderson (President) to conduct a complete audit of the issue and policy positions taken by Cizik to ensure that the NAE not only espouses Biblical truth in its writings and positions to its members, but also practices them in their relationships in Washington, D.C. and other places.”

What is needed in America is a renewal of the heart, mind and spirit starting with the Church and organization representing the Church, and starting with individual Christians. What Cizik and his NAE seem to be following is deceptive Gore-bought doctrine instead of Jesus’ message. Cizik’s NAE is saying that we need to be worrying about renewing the earth. If the NAE is saying this they are either a foolish deceivers or a deceived fools, Rev. Cizik and the NAE, I do not know of a gentler, kinder way to say it. I suggest that you get back to the Biblical basics.

WHAT DOES THE NEA GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Throughout this series I have made allusions, at least in the title of this series, to a tie between the NAE and the National Education Association (NEA). What the NEA has done for our schools, which amounts to nothing or worse, is just about what the Cizik's NAE has done for the Christian community, nothing or worse. The NEA is working to deliberately weaken our schools and dumb down American children. They feel indoctrination into such things as homosexuality and social justice are more important than learning to read and write and do simple math. Why are our schools among the worst achievers of all industrial nations? One big reason is the death grip the NEA holds on our nations educational system.

Likewise the NAE is less and less representative of evangelicals or true Christianity as demonstrated by the leftward shifting of leaders like Richard Cizik. The NEA and the NAE have anti-God, anti-Biblical philosophies, which sometime are indistinguishable, that seem to be merging, the letters of their initials are the same - just a little different order . . .

To quote the President-elect it is time for real change. Do you hear that NAE? It is time to get back to basic Biblical truth once more. After Cizik, that would be a refreshing change.

Is the NAE Becoming Like the NEA? Part 7

This is part 7 of a series of articles which I have written based on the December 2 (exactly 2 weeks ago today) interview of former official of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) on the NPR Fresh Air radio show. Richard Cizik resigned last Thursday, but I want to complete this series probing his public pronouncements about faith and virtue or the lack same.

In today’s article I will cover the priorities which Cizik espoused on behalf of the NAE. It is still a question as to what degree the NAE, itself, comports to Cizik’s liberal and secular humanistic view toward the issues. By his responses during the interview, Cizik deeply conformed to the world’s view of what was important. He lost sight of the things important to God. I suspect the whole NAE organization, likewise, has been so molded by the world.

CIZIK's (NAE’S?) PRIORITIES

Anticipating Barack Obama’s reign, Terri Gross asks Cizik what his priorities and plans will be post inauguration, “So what else is on your list of priorities now as the chief lobbyist of the National Association of Evangelicals? What are you looking forward to after January 20th?"

NUCLEAR TERRORISM & CLIMATE CHANGE

Cizik waxes ‘eloquent’ as he misguidedly responds, “Let me say that one of the bigger war and peace issues that I’m struggling with and attempting to find a role on is the threat of nuclear terrorism. A new report that just came out this week that said it’s greater and realer than we ever thought before. But I’m actually going to Paris to be part of unveiling a new movement called Global Zero, which is an attempt to understand that whereas the threat of nuclear weapons was a deterrent, and now it no longer is. In a world in which you have non-state actors who can potentially wield weapons of mass destruction, the mere possessions of weapons of mass destruction becomes morally problematic in ways unheard of before if this makes any sense.

"And so, therefore, this movement called Global Zero, supported by both John McCain and Barack Obama, will come forward I think in the next week and months ahead to communicate a strategy to begin to address this threat of nuclear terrorism. That’s one thing I want to be a part that I think is very important for evangelicals; after all, most would not make any connection but I’ve been with the NAE so long that I was on staff back when I actually proposed a letter to then President Ronald Reagan which became the evil empire speech to the National Association back in 1983. And while few remember it, that speech known for challenging the Soviet Union, included a line from the President advocating the abolition of all nuclear weapons. Most would not remember that, and yet it was true. It became a reality at Reykjavik in conversations that President had with the President of the former Soviet Union.

So, I happen to think this is one of the premier issues along with climate change that will impact the rest of life here on earth.

FINDING COMMON GROUND OR COMPROMISE?

Gross, repeating a theme, asks, “I do not want to put words in your mouth, but I think I have heard you say that you want to find, and you want your groups, the National Association of Evangelicals, to find some common ground with Obama and work with him. Is that going to be hard to convince a lot of your members to do?"

Cizik shamelessly, compromising, rationalizing, “Well, for those to whom all compromise is simply submitting, you see, to political correctness or whatever for them, it is going to be very hard. But for most evangelicals I don’t think so. After all, we believe, you see, that God is alive and real and He lifts up some and puts down others. And ultimately we have to say God is put this man in this position and it is our responsibility to pray for him, and to support him, and to work with him in whatever ways we can. It may require for some ‘bridging outward,’ – bridging outward, that’s Robert Putnam’s term—bridging outward to collaborate with Barack Obama to do what is right by so many different people who need the kinds of policies he’s espousing.

"That will be hard, yes, but should we do it? Yes. And will we hold him accountable when he happens to run against what we happen to think is right and good and proper and all the rest? We will do that, but we’ll do it in a nice way. And we’re not going to be, I think objectionable, in the way that we have been in the past, as I said, that led one Republican leader to call one of our members a bully and a thug. That’s not who we are."

STRAYING FROM THE TRUTH

Ironically, Cizik didn’t resign until last Thursday, until he took one last trip into liberal cause land. In the email correspondence I received on Friday from the NAE apparently Cizik wasn’t confronted sooner about his intolerable display of unbiblical positions, which he represented during the interview, because he was in Europe taking part in the Global Zero conference. Leith Anderson mentions in the NAE email in which he informed of the Cizik resignation, “because Richard traveled to a previously scheduled international conference in Europe shortly after the airing of the broadcast it was not possible to meet with him until his return.” It seems ironic that Cizik’s last official action was being one of 100 participants and signatoriesto Global Zero, which he mention during his interview, as one of his burning present and future priorities. Among the 100 international participants and signatories to that Global Zero conference attending along with Cizik included fellow liberals or socialists Presidents Jimmy Carter and Mikhail Gorbachev, Sandy "stuffing secret documents in his pants to protect Bill Clinton" Berger, and Desmond Tutu. This was a part of Cizik’s problem, his priorities were messed up.

Another thing that stood out to me in the interview was the great compromises Cizik was willing to make. He did not point out any areas were he took issue with Obama. Nowhere did Cizik point out that Obama was wrong. It seems as though Cizik was an Obot, demonstrating a mindless machine-like devotion to the man who is one of the most radical supporters to abortion. Yet Cizik would seek to find common ground with a such man whose key principles and policies conflict with Biblical principles. Overall throughout the interview, Cizik’s positions were antithetical to Christianity. In order to get along and not be viewed as a fundamental nut-job I guess Cizik gave up any biblical convictions or principles he may have once held – most notably that of the sacredness and uniqueness of marriage and the God-given right to life that every human being has - even babies in the womb.

Journalist Bill Wilson said it best in his 12/14/08 Daily Jot article, where he provides an excellent, penetrating, and pointed assessment of Cizik, “He flirted with liberal causes considered by many to fly in the face of sound Christian doctrine , , , Global warming, homosexuality, illegal immigration, abortion and supporting candidates that were cross ways of Biblical standards marked the waning years of Cizik’s career with NAE.”

Tomorrow we will conclude our reporting and commentary on the Cizik-NPR affair.

Is the NAE Becoming Like the NEA? Part 5

NAE’s Response to My Concern Regarding NAE Priorities

I have been writing a series of articles about the recent interview which Richard Cizik gave to a National Public Radio (NPR) radio program. Cizik was the chief spokesperson and VP of Governmental Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Below is the content of an email that I sent last week to Cizik and the key officials in NAE. This email sums up the reasons that Cizik's remarks during the interview are so abhorrent.

Rev. Richard Cizik, VP of Governmental Affairs –

I listened to your interview on the NPR radio show, Fresh Air. I was dismayed at how you represented Jesus Christ and true Biblical Christianity in your responses on that nationally broadcast show. You claim to be a conservative, a Christian and pro-life. What I heard from you was the opposite.

I agree that we must pray for President-elect Barack Obama, but support him, help him succeed? ." I wonder, Rev. Cizik, what do you mean by success? Do you mean passage of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), granting amnesty to illegals, higher taxes, taking guns away from the people, increasing the national debt, surrendering our sovereignty to the United Nations through treaties such as Kyoto and LOST, surrendering victory in Iraq, permitting openly homosexual behavior in the military, keeping our borders unsecured, creating a Hitler-style youth brigade to "protect" our neighborhoods, or buying into the global warming craze? That, sir, would not be success. Obama must be fought on these social and fiscal issues that matter to true conservatives and Christians.

Are the positions you championed on the radio your own positions, or are they the official positions of the NAE? If they are the official position of the NAE, then organization has compromised and failed to live up to its motto, "cooperation without compromise." I heard a lot of compromise.

Young evangelicals who place the opposition to the immoral homosexual lifestyle and behavior; opposition to any abortion; and who place faith in Jesus Christ and Scripture as of secondary import to such things as the global warming hoax and the animist respect for "Mother Earth" have been poorly prepared by our churches. Our failed governmental schools and lax churches have helped to indoctrinate our children to consider faith, life and morality to be less important than those things that drive the secular humanistic worldview.

The NAE should be helping churches to educate our young people in taking Biblical positions on the issues and not helping them to conform to the world's standards.

I am very disappointed in you and the NAE. I am ashamed to be a member of a church and a denomination that belongs to the NAE.

Here is the content of an email which I received today from the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). I will have more to say about this overdue resignation as well as to what true Christians must demand of this now suspect and now incredulous organization. This resignation is only the first necessary step . . .

To be continued

Dear gregjaye:

This response comes to you as follow-up of your recent email to the National Association of Evangelicals regarding Richard Cizik . . . .

An announcement of the resignation of Richard Cizik from the staff of NAE has been released. Here it is for you to read:

Richard Cizik resigns from NAE

Richard Cizik resigned as Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). His resignation, which takes effect today, concludes 28 years of service and leadership in the Washington, DC office of NAE.

Over the past three decades he has been a tireless advocate for a broad variety of issues important to the evangelical community including freedom of religion, laws against human trafficking, nurture of family life, protection of children, justice and compassion for the poor and vulnerable, sanctity of human life, opposition to abortion on demand, peace and the restraint of violence in our world, creation care and others. He gave leadership to the writing and implementation to the landmark document, For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility.

Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, explained in a letter to the members of the board of directors of NAE that “in a December 2, 2008 broadcast interview
on National Public Radio Richard responded to questions and made statements that did not appropriately represent the values and convictions of NAE and our constituents. Although he has subsequently expressed regret, apologized and affirmed our values there is a loss of trust in his credibility as a spokesperson among leaders and constituents.”

Anderson also wrote that “because Richard traveled to a previously scheduled international conference in Europe shortly after the airing of the broadcast it was not possible to meet with him until his return. He and I have recently met together and mutually concluded that his resignation is a difficult but appropriate decision.”

A December 5, 2008 letter to the board had already reaffirmed that “our NAE stand on marriage, abortion and other biblical values is long, clear and unchanged.”

The National Association of Evangelicals began in 1942 and today is composed of more than 50 denominations representing about 45, 000 churches. The association membership also includes parachurch organizations, colleges, associations and individuals.

Sincerely,
Leith Anderson
President, National Association of Evangelicals

Is the NAE Becoming Like the NEA? Part 3

I began a series of articles this past Sunday. The series is based primarily on the God-insulting, impertinent, insolent responses of Rev. Richard Cizik, the VP of Governmental Affairs with the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), in an interview he gave to the NPR radio show (Fresh Air) hostess Terri Gross. Today’s post contains reactions of one Christian radio host to that interview, who heard the NPR Fresh Air radio show last Tuesday morning. This post also contains more transcribed excerpts from the NPR radio interview. I end this article with a few of my personal reactions to Cizik’s comments.

ONE CHRISTIAN’S REACTION TO THE CIZIK INTERVIEW

Ingrid Schlueter, Christian radio show hostess of CrossTalkAmerica.com was outraged, and justifiably so, by the comments of a man and an organization which claims to represent evangelicals, but which hypocritically spoke the opposite. She was particular incensed that a person calling themselves a Christian could ever vote for a person known to be vehemently and outrageously pro-abortion to such an extent of even supported the wicked partial birth abortion and being against the Illinois’ Born Alive Bill, which the then state senator Obama supported.

She commented on the well warn phrase, “God bless America.” She said, “You know I don’t even want to hear that anymore because God will not bless America. He will not bless America, first and foremost, because those who bear the name of His Son (Jesus), go out and DEFEND PURE EVIL on national radio . . . “ She went on to suggest that her listeners tune into the online archived version of the NPR show in question and hear for themselves why God will no longer bless America.

“You can lay it (the reason God may no longer bless this nation) at the door of men like Richard Cizik who have SOLD OUT for a smile from the American Left, a pat on the head. 'Slavering sycophancy' is what it is called . . . drooling, mewling after the approval of the hard core left, who are absolutely opposition to everything God has decreed in His Word. (They are) wanting the approval of Terri Gross and National Public Radio (NPR) listeners, wanting to appear thoughtful, above the polemic, above the sort of repugnance tendencies of the fundamentalist crowd. Oh, so erudite. Oh, so reasonable. Oh, so willing to find common ground. . ”

Another of her comments was that if Cizik represents evangelicals than the terms “evangelical” and true “Christianity” are now, more and more, actually becoming mutually exclusive terms.

Like I said she was livid.

THE EVANGELICAL MOVEMENT

On the NPR Fresh Air radio show which aired on 12/2/08, hostess Gross questioned Cizik about the affect of the election on the Evangelical Movement. “Over what direction the movement should head in, what issues should be emphasized? Cizik responded, “It was hard to know, Terri, even the young Evangelicals those that went for Obama. They clearly are pro-life. They are conservatives, but they also, well 32% of evangelicals voted for Obama, younger evangelicals that is. That is twice the number that voted for John Kerry four years ago. And this is a big increase in states like Colorado , Indiana and North Carolina. So, younger Evangelicals are probably the future, with that broader pallet. And they will determine the future of this huge movement that by some surveys estimate if you include children and the rest, a hundred million people, a third of all Americans.”

THE SOCIAL ISSUES

Gross pursued the thought asking Cizik, “So in that younger group that you are describing is (same-sex) ‘marriage’ not a priority issue?” Cizik claims, “It is not as high now. In fact if you look at some figures these younger Evangelicals, they disagree quite strongly with their elders on that subject.” Gross continued, “Do you think that that is because younger people are growing up in an environment where they know (homosexuals and lesbians) who so many (homosexual) people who are “out” and once you know (homosexuals and lesbians) who are “out” maybe it is not so frightening . Cizik agreed and asserted, “Absolutely, the generational peers in clear,. four in ten young evangelicals say they have a close friend or family member who is (homosexual) or lesbian. And so much different than their elders, younger evangelicals they, well, 52% favor either same-sex marriage or civil unions. But it is not just on this issue, Terri. . . For example, fully 2/3s of young evangelicals say we would still vote for a candidate even if that candidate disagreed with them on the issue of abortion, and that is in spite of the fact that younger evangelical, they are decidedly pro-life. But they also rank other issues, economic issues, the environment – these other issue are very important to them. In fact, health care is just as important to the younger evangelicals as is abortion. And so they have a more PLURALISTIC outlook than do older, WHITE evangelicals. And they have a decidedly different posture with respect to the role of government here and abroad.”

WHAT?

My comments here are in response to Cizik’s statement above. The reason more and more young evangelicals are weakening on the positions regarding abortion and acceptance of same-sex behavior and are elevating the lesser issues is because you, my friend, and your organization and the churches are failing to hold up the Biblical standard.

Cizik seems content with this situation. He seems resigned to the current situation among young evangelicals, rather than being concerned. It is just the way it is. It is inevitable and acceptable to him.

I believe that it is the combination of many factors: government schools and its educational bureaucracy; the anti-American Marxist teachers union leadership; the leftist media including taxpayer funded public radio; the entertainment industry; all incessantly and egregiously promoting, defending, and actually propagandizing this perverse lifestyle almost force feeding the homosexual-lesbian lifestyle on our young people. Likewise on the issue of abortion the young evangelicals are being brainwashed into accepting a a woman’s “right to kill her baby.”

Many young evangelicals have been successfully brainwashed by godless, secular humanistic government schools. That, Mr. Cizik is why more and more young Evangelicals are rejecting Biblical truth and exchange that truth for the liberal LIE. Your job and the job of the NAE, bud, should be getting THAT message out rather than your seemingly condescending and even promulgating the LIE yourself. You Mr. Cizik are a co-conspirator as to why sinful homosexual behavior and abortion is being accepted by the church. You seem to be being swept along instead of putting your finger in the dyke and trying to warn and ward off continued degradation. Not only that you should be speaking out against it and lobbying on behave of pro-iife, abstinence education and anti-homosexual indoctrination. You seem to have bought into LIE, believing it and even telling it yourself.

What we need are pastors, churches, organizations and individuals who will proactively work to persevere and maintain godly scriptural-based principles rather than to compromise and cooperate with evil and the wicked world system, which you and the NAE appear to be doing.

DEDICATED SERVICE

Romans 12: 1, 2 (NASB) says:

“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.

.

“And do not be conformed to this world (global warming nonsense, perversion of the definition of marriage, going along with the abortion atrocity), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (not mother earth!), so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good (abortion is not good, homosexuality is not good, civil unions are not good, worshiping the creation instead of the Creator is not good) and acceptable and perfect."

Is the NAE Becoming Like the NEA? Part 2

I began a series of articles yesterday (See Part I), which are based primarily on the God-insulting, impertinent, insolent responses of Rev. Richard Cizik, the VP of Governmental Affairs with the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), in an interview he gave to the NPR radio show (Fresh Air) hostess Terri Gross. This post contains a reprint (with permission) of an important commentary by journalist Bill Wilson, who writes a terrific daily news commentary called the Daily Jot. Mr. Wilson’s article addresses Cizik in the broader context of the growing apostasy in many so-called Christian churches and evangelical organizations in America.
.

Evangelicals in Sheep's Clothing--Beware of the Emergent Church

By Bill Wilson, Daily Jot News Service Senior Analyst

WASHINGTON—Dec 5—DJNS-- Three years ago I was asked by a very influential member of one of the largest pro-family organizations in America why I wrote that the National Association of Evangelicals was a liberal organization. I replied that in my covering of this organization in Washington, D.C., that its leaders were often at news conferences with those who were anti-God, sought to reduce the influence of ministries in the US and abroad, and that the NAE was beginning to espouse very liberal interpretations of the Bible. The man just shook his head in disgust that I would think his buddies were becoming apostate, and he chastised me for being too “opinionated” in my writing.

Aside from the little known or publicized news conferences where members of the NAE associated with those who were against enforcing immigration laws, went overseas to bash American positions on the environment, and supported the teaching of a watered-down version of the Bible in public schools that promoted Islam as worshipping the one true god, we are now seeing that the NAE does not represent the Bible and its evangelism is something far from the book of Acts. On December 2, the Washington face of the NAE, Richard Cizik told National Public Radio that “It would be possible for evangelicals to disagree with Barack Obama on same sex marriage and abortion and yet vote for him.”

Cizik was actually angling to justify a public admission that would explain NAE’s association with those trying to hijack the Bible’s intent on grace and mercy by supporting leftist and socialist views on issues like immigration and climate change. On the subject of homosexual marriage Cizik told NPR, “I'm shifting I have to admit. In other words I would willingly say that I believe in civil unions. I don't officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don't think. . .

“Maybe we need to reevaluate this and look at it a little differently. I'm always looking for ways to reframe issues. Give the biblical point of view a different slant."

A “different slant” is where a lot of so-called evangelicals are making their move. In “Faith Undone”, Roger Oakland’s book about the “Emergent church”, Rick Warren is quoted regarding a meeting with Eric Sawyer, the leader of the radical gay activist group, ACT-UP. Warren asked Sawyer, “How can I help you get your message out?” Sawyer replied, “Use your moral authority.” Warren responded, “I’m working with these guys.” Jesus warned in Matthew 24:24, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Jesus warned in the beginning of the chapter, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Beware of the emergent church and the false prophets.”

In other words, Rev. Cizik is straying from the narrow way (if indeed, he was ever on it) to the broad road that leads to perdition and sadly, he is bringing many with him. Matthew 7:13-15 (NASB) reads:

The Narrow and Wide Gates

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

Is the NAE Becoming Like the NEA? Part 1

I became aware, through the Crosstalk America radio show, that Rev. Richard Cizik, a so-called Evangelical leader, who was interviewed on a National Public Radio (NPR) show last Tuesday. In listening to an archived version of that NPR radio show, I confirmed that his positions and ideas were very troublesome to any true believer of Jesus Christ. We will explore, in a series of articles starting today, what was discussed on that particular NPR radio show.

The NAE stands for the National Association of Evangelicals. The NAE is comprised of some 45,000 churches representing 50 denominations and 30 million constituents.

The NEA stands for the National Education Association, which is the major teachers’ union in America. They lobby on behalf of their member teachers. Unfortunately, the NEA has advocates, using its teachers’ dues, the most radical of liberal causes. Much of their advocacy works counter to the educating our children in the 3 Rs and does not improve the teachers' situation. Furthermore, the NEA has literally helped to destroy and to transform our educational system into one that is grossly inferior to that of most developed nations.

Through the course of this series of articles you will see that the ideology and priorities of these two apparently divergent organizations’ are beginning to merge.

REV. RICHARD CIZIK ON GOD AND GLOBAL WARMING

This so-called representative of Evangelicals, Richard Cizak, has profoundly upset a lot of true Christians, including myself, with statements made in an interview on the liberal National Public Radio show he gave last week. CizIk must have set out to make points with the outright liberal Fresh Air from WHYY program on December 2, 2008 hosted by Terri Gross.· The description on the NPR website summarizes this particular program, “Conservative Christian Richard Cizik preaches the message of environmentalism from a pro-life perspective. Cizik is the vice president for governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), a powerful lobbying organization . . .”

WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR FOR PRESIDENT?

Terri Gross, the host of the Fresh Air (actually Putrid Air would be more apt) stated that the environment and climate change have been priorities for Cizik. This she noted has put Cizik at odds with “older Evangelical leaders” and some in the Republican Party (duh!!!). To stir up the hornet’s nest quickly, she asked Cizik who he voted for President. His reply was that he voted for the “best choice” in the Virginia primary, and that was Democrat Barack Obama. He was evasive about whom he definitively voted for in the general election, but hinted that his primary vote was an “indication” of who he voted for in the general election. What a wonderfully politically correct answer!

Cizik went on to say that “all of us want this man to succeed, absolutely. If we don’t there is something wrong with us.” I wonder, Mr. Cizik, what do you mean by success? Do you mean passage of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), granting amnesty to illegals, higher taxes, taking guns away from the people, increasing the national debt, surrendering our sovereignty to the United Nations through treaties such as Kyoto and LOST, surrendering victory in Iraq, permitting openly homosexual behavior in the military, creating a Hitler-style youth brigade to “protect” our neighborhoods, or buying into the global warming craze? That, sir, would not be success. Obama must be fought on these social and fiscal issues that matter to conservatives and Christians.

DOES FAITH MATTER?

Gross went on to ask a second provocative question, to which Cizik responded even more controversially. “How important is faith to you when you are voting?” Cizik answered, “I think it is very important, BUT it is not THE factor, nor should it be. Though there are those who by identity politics and culture war, they do that, and (they say) that is the most important factor. I say absolutely not. I say character first, of which faith is part, of course it helps determine one’s values. But there are other factors, such as the philosophy of government, two parties, two different philosophies, and lastly, the issues. So it is possible for me to disagree, for example, with a candidate on high profile issues, and still believe that on the basis of character or philosophy, he is the better of the two candidates. So, in this case, it would be possible, as Evangelicals did, to disagree with Barack Obama on same-sex marriage and abortion, and yet vote for him. We know they did. Not because of those positions (where) he stood, but in spite those positions."

Mr. Cizik, I ask you, “What are the character qualities that commend Obama to you? With what in the Democratic platform positions do you agree? Of the two platforms the GOP platform at least is strongly pro-life and pro-marriage, while the Democratic Party platform is severely lacking in substance on the social issues. For example, it states a woman has a "right" to kill her baby, but that we should support those women who choose to allow their babies to live. The Democratic platform is in total, morally deficient. I see Obama as being grossly inexperienced, ill prepared for the important office of President. His positions, policies, and beliefs are essentially evil. He had the most radically liberal record of all the Senators in Congress. He even favored the killing of babies born in botched abortion procedures. This was done in order to protect the liberal sacred cow, the woman’s right to murder her baby! It is inconceivable for me that ANY true follower of Jesus Christ would vote for a candidate like Obama. It would be precisely because of his lack of character and his lack of Biblically-based principles that I could never bring myself to vote for such a man.

Mr. Cizik, faith means absolute trust and dependence in God, in Jesus Christ as the only way to God and faith in Christian principles as outlined in Scripture, the ultimate guide to life and liberty. Faith is the foundation to a Christian’s life in all matters. At least it is for true Christ-followers.

TESTING THE FRUIT

Finally, in your Bible, Mr. Cizik, in Matthew 7:16-30 you will read,

"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits."

This, sir, is talking about Barack Obama. How can a man who believes that it is okay to abort babies for any reason and even to allow babies born alive to be killed. That man’s fruit is bad. That man’s character is bad. That man has no faith. You, Rev. Cizik seem to be a blind shepherd!

To be continued . . .