When the pro-choice writer came up against the

pregnancy center, the director began to persistently

induce paranoia in all of us over the minor threat of Planned

Parenthood, rather than the major threat of God’s

impending judgment upon the heresy that was being promoted.

She used it all as an excuse to totally try to make the

gospel obsolete, hinting that it was too offensive, that we needed to

“honor others paradigm” and adhere to more secular ways of

dealing w/ clients, etc. etc.   My way of getting people to

question was obviously so elusive, that the publisher thought

it was on behalf of the center, and it could be taken that way.  I

just basically laid it out on the line about what a pregnancy

ministry should really look like and what hinders that.  I could go

on and on, but I’ll just say that the one thing that finally

gave me the courage to go thru w/ this article, was that

God gave me peace about leaving and confirmed to me the day

that I left that my discernment had been right all along.  They

came right out and told me that day that they were ecumenical

and heavily into the “River,” etc.—even the board member I met

w/ that day.  Enough said for now—heres the article.  Thanks

Mkayla for encouraging me to post it.

This is an overdue response in connection to the pro-choice write up (in the April 28, 2011 issue) against Crossroads Pregnancy Center and its “agenda.”  For purposes of clarification it must be made clear that the secular “Earn While You Learn” program is what is highly promoted at most pregnancy centers.   Clients signed up for EWYL must go through an hour of parenting classes every other week for a month and a half before they begin to redeem any “mommy bucks”, unless they just come once every six months to receive a small material assistance package.   The Christian counseling and Bible study are optional and only lasts thirty minutes each visit.  Therefore, the concern shouldn’t be whether or not clients are “forced” to receive Christian counseling before getting material assistance or whether the counselors are college educated (most are), but the real concern should be whether or not the Christian counseling and Bible study is doctrinally sound according to true biblical Christianity, even after such worldly attacks.

It is because of such pressure from the world and advocates of tolerance (who are ironically intolerant of Bible-based Christianity) that many “religious” organizations today compromise their stance on truth.  They feel backed into a corner to conform to a progressively morally declining society in order to “serve” the public without offending.  However, if the worst accusation that an organization gets from the world is that they are “religious” with a political agenda, many question whether they have a Christian agenda at all.

Therefore, the concern of many Christians is that some politically controversial organizations have only a Christian front with a fully political agenda.  Many give lip service to the gospel today, striving endlessly to maintain the public image of their “ministry” so they can get financial support from local churches in order to build their own kingdoms.  Some are even experts at using Christian terminology but in practice its something else altogether.  This is where godly discernment is needed.  It’s true that although the pro-life stance is Christian based, not all of its supporters and outreaches are.  Therefore, many Christian churches may be unknowingly financially funding a political and possibly interfaith/ecumenical agenda, thinking they are donating their time and money to a purely Christian cause.

Interfaith agendas involve the ecumenical idea that those of different faiths can sacrifice truth on the altar of “unity”, in order to come together for a common cause, the first steps to forming a one-world religion.  However, biblical Christianity is based on the narrow way, upheld by those who are faithful to the teaching of the first apostles, “contending for THE faith once delivered to the saints,” not a different gospel, a different Jesus or a different faith.   According to Gods Word,  (2 Cor.13: 5 for instance), one is disqualified if believing and practicing within the broad way of a false faith apart from the truth.

Jesus is the Rock of offense, the Truth, the only Way.   Naturally, there will be those who are offended because of this exclusive claim in such an inclusive world.

So in response to the secular worldview, true Christians do have an “agenda” and its not centered around political correctness.  It’s to share and defend the gospel, out of love for God and those who are perishing.  It’s to boldly proclaim the truth despite the world’s hostility.  Some of us may have a mission field where the secular seeks to dominate but that doesn’t mean we personally feel we have to use worldly tactics to lure people.  The gospel is sufficient enough in itself to attract those in need of Gods grace and mercy, the power to change lives and help clients become the parents God means for them to be.

Out of deep concern, Christian churches need to not only ask but also thoroughly investigate whether or not the clients who are opting for Bible study and Christian guidance in these types of ministries, are receiving the true gospel.  Is it an “all love,” or works gospel, watered down and distorted to the point of being indistinguishable from New Age philosophy?  Are the Christian volunteers there pressured to use flattery or altar the gospel message, or are they encouraged to give the full counsel of God, to “speak the truth in love?” Are some counselors being subtly indoctrinated to employ spiritually dangerous counseling and prayer techniques similar to occult practices?  Do Christian counselors feel pressured to appease counselors of other “faiths” or those who have already compromised and pretend that they are in agreement?  And if not yet, is the organization being directed toward the broad way to destruction, while the true laborers suffer in silence as they become increasingly manipulated and marginalized?

We all need to at least be reminded of the subtle signs of deception, the invisible war that threatens biblical Christianity from having free reign within its own ranks.  It’s not a Christian duty to judge character, but to warn of Gods judgment and to discern between good and evil according to His standards, not the worlds.  It’s expected that secular organizations fall in with the world, but organizations that bear the title “Christian” have a stewardship to uphold and “it’s required in stewards that one be found faithful,” not to a political or secular worldview, but to a biblical worldview.  True stewards don’t fall away when persecuted or get offended when biblically corrected.  This will be the real test.  Who will exhort these Christian organizations to be accountable to God so His truth will not be blasphemed?  Surely, it must begin with the Christians who are donating their time and money —–

Sincerely,

Lee Anne Ferguson B.S.W. —–Crossroads (volunteer Christian counselor)