Understand The Times Announces New Web Site
Commentary by Roger Oakland
Understand The Times International: Roger Oakland Ministries
www.understandthetimes.org
1.800.689.1888
Over the past decade
radical changes have been underway in the Evangelical Church.
Publishers, pastors and church leaders have attempted to re-invent
Christianity for the postmodern generation. Church growth methods have
swept the church worldwide introducing “seeker friendly,” “purpose
driven” and ecumenical congregations to a watered-down Christianity that
has removed Bible teaching and preaching from many pulpits.
When concerned individuals go to their pastors or church elders and
express their concerns, they are told to “get with the program or find
another church.” Forced to leave these churches, they soon find out it
is impossible to find another church in their town or city where the
pastor teaches and believes in the Bible anymore. Dismayed, they often
end up staying at home, starving for fellowship or wondering if there
are others who have experienced the same problems.
While there are some pastors who remain faithful to proclaiming the Word
of God, most have fallen for techniques and methods they perceive will
reach the postmodern generation and fill their pews. Some pastors who
are embedded in denominations or fellowships of churches recognize the
problems that are underway, but remain silent because they don’t want to
rock the boat or lose their position in the “franchise” they belong to.
In essence, Christianity has become a big business at the expense of
standing up for the truth. Pastors, assistant pastors and staff members
of churches are on a payroll. In order to support their families, they
require their monthly check and cannot afford to lose their position.
Contemplative mysticism from an eastern worldview has invaded
Christianity by promising mystical experiences they are told will draw
followers closer to Jesus. Books by Roman Catholic mystics with Zen
Buddhist ideas are have found their way into sermons. Often Bible
studies no longer use the Bible, instead they use someone’s book that
introduces them to doctrines of demons. When this happens in the Women’s
Bible Study, the pastor often remains silent because he does not want to
offend his wife who is the leader of the women’s group.
Many who once considered the Genesis record God’s revelation to man
regarding the topic of origins, now have rejected biblical creation and
say that Moses was influenced by a Babylonian myth and not inspired by
God. Christians, like unbelievers, now find it is acceptable to believe
that all things came into existence by a natural process called
Darwinian evolution. While Genesis is the very foundation of
Christianity, only a remnant believes this and therefore have
misconstrued the gospel.
Further, a vast number of people who profess to believe in
Bible-believing Christianity are addicted to extra-biblical experiences
rather than measuring these experiences with the scriptures. While
“signs and wonders” attract large crowds and appeal to the flesh, the
fact is that these experiences they attribute to the “Holy Spirit” may
well be from another source. Both Jesus and Paul warned that “lying
signs and wonders” would be a sign of the apostasy in the last days.
While many evangelicals once saw the significance of the nation of
Israel as God’s chosen people, they now embrace Replacement Theology
promoted by Rome. This has infected many denominations who now replace
the promises to Israel to the church. Now pastors even preach hatred
towards the Jews and pledge their support for nations and people groups
who have vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.
Bible prophecy, once considered to be crucial in order to understand our
times exposing the apostasy and falling away the Bible warns would occur
before the return of Jesus Christ, now has been relegated by the
“Kingdom Now Builders” and placed into a spiritual museum. Now
participants in what is known as postmodern Christianity, see Bible
prophecy as useless and even a hindrance to working together with people
of all faiths in an ecumenical unity they say will bring peace, safety
and prosperity to the world.
When Pope Francis declared all religions worship the same God January 7,
2016, and a video produced by the Roman Catholic Church showed him
holding various gods from various religions, the vast majority of
pastors refused to inform their churches for fear they would be
considered unloving. Love requires that Christians “earnestly contend
for the faith” not remain silent when sheep are being misled to a lost
eternity.
These issues which have been outlined are cross-denominational and
worldwide. So far, very little has been done to build a platform or
forum where likeminded shepherds and sheep can gather and be encouraged
or encourage one another. This is why thegoodshepherdcalls.com has been
established.
On January 22, 2016 a round table discussion was held along with an open
forum in southern California to discuss the problems outlined in this
article. This is where the vision for this website began. You can view
that discussion at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLsH5DlBQy0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUUZqyIrRts
On February 6, 2016, a 32-minute presentation was made at a conference in southern California summarizing the need for a platform for like-minded shepherds and sheep for these last days. You can view this presentation at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eHhXaA-Ulw
The website, The Good
Shepherd Calls: An Urgent Message for the Last Days Church is an attempt
to fulfill the vision to establish a platform for like-minded shepherds,
church leaders, ministries and sheep. The goal is to encourage one
another and to focus on the “Good Shepherd”, Jesus Christ, and His Word.
We will follow Him and His Word and not the teachings of men who are
often inspired by other men who may not be following Jesus Christ.
Therefore, this website is not about following any man or any movement.
The platform designed will cross denominations and deal with essentials
of the Christian faith. This platform will sound the warnings that need
to be sounded, always with the Bible as our authority. We pray that God
will lead us by His Holy Spirit so that this site can be used to contend
for the faith while at the same proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ,
according to the Scriptures.