In Pastor John Macarthur's latest book, Truth War, he warns of "escalating apostasy" in the church. Many of the apostates that Pastor John faithfully warns us about in his book have recently united together in a new and brazen act of apostasy. Our churches need a strong warning about the growing apostasy of the movers and shakers (Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Tony Jones -Emergent Village, Brian Mclaren -Emergent Wolf, Robert Schuller, etc.) of the "evangelical" church who have now declared unity with Islam under one and the same god.

A few months ago the Yale Center for Faith and Culture wrote a letter to the Islamic world on behalf of all Christendom asking forgiveness from the "All Merciful One" (an alternate name for Allah found in the Koran). They went on to establish that Christians, Jews, and Muslims all genuinely love and serve one and the same god of love. The letter then draws theological truths regarding God's character and central commands from the Koran. Muhammad is referenced and quoted as a true prophet of God, and his life is upheld as an exemplary life of love, faith, and righteous service unto God, on par with Jesus Christ. It is noteworthy that they carefully made no reference to the deity of Christ or the triune nature of God in the entire letter. The authors close with this hyper-humble, gospel convoluting, biblically bankrupt statement; "If we fail to make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony you correctly remind us that "our eternal souls" are at stake as well."

Yale Divinity School professors originally authored the apostate letter, but there are over 300 "Christian" theologians, pastors, and leaders that have signed on. The list reads mostly as a who's who of apostates, but there are probably a few that we would all be surprised to find in apostate company supporting an apostate letter. Here are just a few of the notable names:

-Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals

-David Yonggi Cho, Founder and Senior Pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, Korea

-Lynn Green, International Chairman, Youth With A Mission

-Bill Hybels, Founder and Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL

-Tony Jones, National Coordinator, Emergent Village

-Steve Knight, National Coordinating Group Member, Emergent Village, Charlotte, NC

-Duane Litfin, President, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

-Brian D. McLaren, Author, Speaker, Activist

-Luke Miller, National Coordinating Group Member, Emergent Village, Dallas, TX

-Richard Mouw, President and Professor of Christian Philosophy, Fuller Theological Seminary

-Rev. Roy Oksnevad, Director Muslim Ministry, Billy Graham Center at Wheaton, IL

-Doug Pennoyer, Dean, School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University

-Rev. Dr. Robert Schuller, Founder, Crystal Cathedral and Hour of Power

-Rev. Dr. John Stott, Rector Emeritus, All Souls Church, Langham Place, London, UK

-Michael W. Treneer, International President, The Navigators, Colorado Springs, CO

-Rick Warren, Founder and Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church, and The Purpose Driven Life, Lake Forest, CA

The Apostle Paul exhorts us:

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. -Acts 20:28-31

And Jude adds:

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. - Jude 3-4

This letter is a blatant denial of the "only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ." Certain men (Purpose Driven, Seeker Centered, Emergent, and others) have crept in and taken the helm of the ship through lectures, seminars, books, cd's, etc. We must prayerfully watch, warn, and contend earnestly for the faith.

No doubt some of the signers of this letter did not fully comprehend that which they signed. However, to "not comprehend" the clear apostasy on the page is incriminating in itself. Furthermore, to sign a document of this nature authored by the long compromised, liberal Yale Divinity School staff is an egregious error in judgment. Finally, to join your name to the long list of Right Reverend Apostates without any internal theological alarms sounding in your heart, mind, or soul says something about the spiritual health of the heart, mind, and soul.

The Apostle Paul has warned us about such men, that "they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thess 2:10). Do they love the gospel so little and understand the gospel so poorly that they do not see it compromised and therefore reject the compromise? Do they love the LORD Jesus Christ so little that they do not see His Deity and His justification upon the cross trampled upon. Do they love Muslims so little that they would rather honor their false god for the sake of temporal peace than have them repent of idolatry and turn to the one true Holy Creator God and His Son in repentance and saving faith?

Sincerely,

Chuck O'Neal, Pastor BGBC

*The unabridged letter can be found at: