Here is what I found in my research on the issues that are being spoken of in recent days:
Christian Coalition Highlights
By J. Allen Fine
[Elder Fine is a retired pastor/evangelist from the Mountain View Conference of SDA’s in West Virginia . He is the Speaker/Director for “New Sounds of Inspiration Radio and Editor of its publication, The Zion Trumpeteer and is a member of and liaison pastor to the Christian Coalition since 1994.]
When my wife and I attended the annual Christian Coalition (CC) meeting in October, we found the grassroots, right wing, religio-political organization very well coordinated and zealous to “Save our Country.” We sat also in awe, observing a most impressive rally by thousands “In Support of Israel.” Here are a few comments from the speakers to give you an idea of the fervor that was generated by a plethora of well-known religious and political leaders.
Roberta Combes (President of the CC): “We are here on a mission to save America . We need to bring the spiritual and legislative together and swell the Christian ranks in our government. We need to take back our country and get prayer back in our schools.… America ’s greatest security lies in returning to the godly values on which the nation was founded.”
Joyce Meyers [/b] (Powerful speaker for Joyce Meyers Ministries and co-sponsor of the meetings): “As Christians we are to work to have, not just a prosperous nation, but a Godly nation. I have heard that church and state should be separated. That’s a deception from Satan!![/color] … Though people are working to get God out of our nation …we’re not going to let them get rid of God!!! Change won’t take place just because you show up at church.… We need the righteous to stand up for America !! We see wrong and say, ‘I certainly hope they do something about it.’ Well, wake up, people, … you are they!!! We must stop getting in our little denominational corners and come together to take action for God. There was a time when the church would not stand for immorality. We must get back to that mindset.… Thank God for a godly president. God put him sovereignly and supernaturally in the White House and under his leadership things can change – thing will change.”
We will be listed with the Godless, going against God's ways. When the truth is that those listing us as such are so blind and have forgotten what America is all about and what makes it different from other countries. The difference is that we are free here in our worship. Once this freedom is taken away America will become like other countries no longer free to worship God unless we do it as others tell us to do it.
Too late, people like Joyce Meyers will find out that they helped open a can of worms worse than anything going on today. It is so sad to know that her books are being sold in our ABC Centers. May God forgive us. M.G.
Congressman Tom DeLay (Majority whip for the House of Representatives): “It is reckless and irresponsible to go to war and not pass the Homeland Security Bill first.… We will work until it is passed! [This bill which could usurp many of our previous rights was passed shortly thereafter – sometime late in November].
Congressman Dick Armey (Majority leader for the House of Representatives): “I would not have been elected to Congress if the Christian Coalition hadn’t taken a chance on me, and George Bush would not be the President if the Christian Coalition hadn’t supported him.”
Senator Phil Graham: “We’re trying to take our nation to the next level.… We’re going to take on any issues in order to protect our way of life.”
Pastor James Robison (a spiritual advisor to President Bush): “I have just come from having prayer with the President in the oval office. Many times while riding in his white pickup truck in Texas we have stopped to have prayer. When President Bush went to China to meet with its leaders, the first thing he did was share his faith with them, … Surely God put this Christian president in the White House for a time such as this.
Judge Roy Moore (the Alabama Supreme Court justice who refused to take the ten commandments out of his courtroom): “The idea of a ‘wall of separation between church and state’ is a fable. No phrase is more widely used or widely abused.
And so it went, speaker after speaker – a parade of powerful politicians, religious leaders and a video address from Jerry Falwell and President Bush calling the Christian Coalition his “good friends” and reiterating the values we share in common. What pertinent messages did we come away with? Mainly these:
1. If ever there was a climate for legislating morality, it was definitely present this year … much more than ever before. The members of the Christian Coalition are vibrant, sincere Christians whose main goal is to save America from the dregs of vice and immorality and preserve its heritage … goals I can heartily concur with. However, we know “the rest of the story” and many of them will be horrified when they discover where all their good intentions lead – and end!
2. The wall of separation between church and state is fastly crumbling, and will soon become a mere heap of dust, very soon.… No doubt it will disintegrate as rapidly as the Berlin wall fell. Just remember, the Berlin wall fell “overnight” only because the Pope and President Reagan had “secretly” been orchestrating plans for its demise for many months through stealthily laid plans and backroom compromises.3
3. The forcefulness of the demonstration and move to support Israel came as a real surprise, but since most Protestants are of the deceptive “Left Behind” mentality, we shouldn’t have been so astonished. To them Israel is hallowed ground awaiting the arrival of Christ and His reign in Jerusalem during their purported millennium of peace. In their eyes, Israel must be protected – the temple must be rebuilt – thus the push to subdue Palestinians and remove Iraq as a threat is all part of that preparation. The demonstrations and speeches were forceful. We were all given small Israeli flags to wave and a mock Stars and Stripes and Star of David flag were sewn together as one flag, and it, along with many other pro-Israeli / pro-“millennium of peace” objects, were paraded up and down the aisles. Israeli dancers danced and singers electrified the audiences with familiar pro-Israel songs. It was quite a spectacle and the following comments will acquaint you with the general tone. Many times we heard the words written in Genesis 12:3 quoted: “Those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed.”
Roberta Combs (CC President): “We will be there for you! … We are fighting for democracy and freedom and the Holy Land .”
Congressman Tom DeLay (House Majority Whip): “ America and Israel are allies in the battle between tyranny and freedom. In President Bush the Israeli people have a steadfast supporter. We stand squarely with Israel .”
Senator Phil Graham: “If America doesn’t have the character or wisdom to stand with Israel today, God will not stand with us tomorrow. We’re going to stand by Israel until the Second Coming.” (Great applause)
I just received a phone call from the CC office telling me they are going to set up pro-Israeli rallies in all 50 states this next year. They had just returned from a trip to Israel and asked if I would be willing to lead a group there if my way was paid. Of course, I could not do this and be true to my own beliefs.
4. That President Bush is a much more “religious” president than we realized and is ready and willing to cooperate with the Christian Coalition’s agenda, came across very clear. His pen is poised as the Coalition and other religious right wing organizations push for laws for the “good of the people” to stem the tide of terrorism and immorality that is engulfing this nation. We were also surprised that the politicians that spoke to us (more than 20 in all) are, for the most part, dedicated Christians. They said prayer sessions and Bill Bright’s Bible study groups “on the hill” had increased markedly since 9-11.
5. We both commented on the marked decrease in “visible” Catholic presence in comparison to previous years, but then should we have been surprised? Although there was definitely an alliance formed between Protestants (Evangelicals) and Catholics in 1994, they (the Catholics) are obviously standing back and working their own agenda behind the scenes while allowing it to appear that the Protestants are “setting up the dominoes.”
6. That America is truly a nation of moral decay and decadence was heart-wrenchingly evident when Congresswoman JoAnn Davis showed us the power of the internet to destroy our children and our families through pornographic sites. Our Spirit of Prophecy writings tell us it will be because of a decline in the morals of America , that Protestants will unite with Catholics to try to “save America ” and laws that take away our liberties (including the enforced Sunday law) will be passed for the “good of the nation.”
7. We came away with the definite impression that the “dominoes” are all lined up and when the series of calamities spoken of in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy occur, and the first domino falls, there’ll be an outcry for “a national day of rest” (Sunday law) and, “the final movements will [indeed] be rapid ones!” [Indeed ARE rapid ones.] Actually, the first domino began to lean precariously right after 9-11 when Americans gave up many liberties overnight through the “Patriot Act,” without even a whimper, for the sake of “peace and safety.”
Also, there was talk of putting the topic of “a national day of rest” on this year’s Christian Coalition agenda but it was not discussed – at least not openly and not at any of the Christian Coalition meetings. However, word has come to several of us through reliable sources that there was another very secretive strategy meeting going on at the Hyatt Regency Hotel that very same weekend, where the elite of the Christian Coalition, several right wing politicians and religious leaders were gathering behind closed doors. And they aren’t talking! My thoughts are that it was incongruent for the Christian Coalition to have a big rally for Israel (obvious Sabbath-keepers) and then call for a “national day of rest” (which would obviously be Sunday), but, I (and others) believe the issue of a “national day of rest” indeed was discussed that weekend – just not at the Christian Coalition event.
The concluding comments of the meetings that were summarized in a fax I received from a gc.adventist.org website summed up the Christian Coalition “Road to Victory – One Nation Under God” convention quite well with these words:
“The rally was a celebration of a union of church and state, the promise of a world-wide religious revival, and an impressive flexing of political muscle fueled by religious fervor. It was hard to sit through many of the speeches without hearing the echoes of prophecy.”
A Catholic Agenda with a Protestant Face
Silently, stealthily the rebel deceiver, Satan (often using well-intentioned people), is weaseling his way into the churches, coalitions, governments and legislative halls in order to promote his agenda. Granted, he’s not roaring quite yet, but he’s certainly growling ferociously and pacing and “seeking those he can devour” and if we look closely, we’ll find his tactics haven’t really changed for thousands of years. In fact, they greatly resemble those he utilized in the Garden of Eden when all of this started – those of deception, delusion, and diversionary tactics (a favorite ploy of the enemy when we’re at war). As the inspired pen of Ellen G. White wrote:
“Satan conceals himself from view and stealthily draws his deceptive covering over their eyes [those Protestants being deceived]. The tempter often works most successfully through those who are least suspected of being under his control.”4
Recently I became aware of another organization that appears to be one of the most important policy making agencies behind the White House and the Christian Coalition. It is known as the CNP or Council for National Policy. It wields as much, if not more, advisory political power than any other right-wing conservative group. I’m going to get into this subject as simply and concisely as possible, so you can appreciate and maybe, for the first time, be convinced or be reconvinced that when Mrs. White says “the Sunday movement is making its way in stealth and darkness,” it is truly happening in back rooms filled with powerful men touting Catholic agendas.
The author of the following comments chooses to remain anonymous. He is a graduate of London University and Lincoln ’s Inn Court of London, England , and was a Barrister-at-law in Britain for 20 years. He has been a Seventh-day Adventist since 1953 and moved to the U.S. in 1975; became a citizen and has since worked in the Corporate and Civil litigation department of a major California corporation. He writes:
“By the early ‘70’s three key men – Richard Viguerie (a Roman Catholic), Howard Phillips, and Paul Weyrich (A Roman Catholic) had laid the foundation for a conservative revolution in the U.S. Weyrich (remember that name) obtained financial backing from a Colorado beer magnate Joseph Coors (a Roman Catholic) to found the Heritage Foundation. This is a right-wing think tank that has exercised great influence on Republican presidential administrations since Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980.…
“In 1974 and 1975 a group of key leaders, including Richard Devos, president of the Amway Corporation, and Bill Bright, president of Campus Crusade for Christ convened a series of secret meetings to plan the development of the religious right. This group published a blueprint for Christians to win elections and a manual designed to persuade evangelical Christians to adopt conservative positions on a whole range of issues.…Organizations arose to mobilize women by appealing to ‘family values’ and anxieties [against] … the emerging feminist movement. In 1972, Phyllis Schlafly (a staunch Roman Catholic) founded the Eagle Forum to organize opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment, which she saw as a threat to the traditional family.… Grassroots organizations such as the Moral majority and eventually the Christian Coalition joined their voices.
“It is not possible within the limits of this [communique] to mention all of the arms of the religious right movement. Suffice it to say that all of the major religious right leaders have united in[to] a single political entity called the Council for National Policy (CNP).”
I gleaned the following information from an ABC news.com release entitled “Meet the Most Powerful Conservative Group You’ve Never Heard Of,” which I will partially quote so you can be privy to another viable source and then I’ll try to pull it all together.
“When Steve Baldwin executive director of the Council for National Policy (CNP) boasts that ‘we control everything in the world,’ he is only half-kidding.… But also half serious because the council has deservedly attained the reputation for conceiving and promoting the ideas of many, who in fact, do want to control everything in the world.…
“Clothed in secrecy since its founding in 1981, the Council for National Policy is a virtual ‘Who’s Who’ of the Hard Right. Its membership comprises the Right’s Washington operatives and politicians, its financiers, and its hard-core religious arm.”
I wanted first-hand information about this organization and was able to talk to the executive director, Steve Baldwin, who was a bit upset at first that I had managed to get his number. However, when I told him I was a member of the Christian Coalition and was just a pastor trying to understand a little more about the organization’s relationship to the CC, he opened up somewhat and answered a few of my questions. I found out that the membership list is not suppose to be for publication (although I was able to get a fairly recent membership list through an ABC affiliate just last week). Also, I learned that … membership is open to anyone who wants to request it ‘…even I could apply to become a member for a yearly fee of $1750. BUT I would have to be recommended by another CNP member and voted in by the other members. So they manage to be extremely selective as they meet behind closed doors with no media allowed and no press releases unless all presenters agree upon them, which is next to never! This way they are allowed to say anything, vote anything without fear of being exposed. It’s not directly connected to the government so does not have to answer to ‘the people.’ I asked Mr. Baldwin … ‘Why have an organization like the CNP? His answer: ‘It gives major (right wing) thought leaders a chance to all get together and discuss what is best for America and help carry it out.”
ABC News.com in a May 2 release put this spin on it: “The Hard Right utilizes the CNP’s three-times-a-year-secret meetings to plan its strategy for implementing the radical right agenda. It is here that the organizers and activists meet with the financial backers who put up the money to carry out their agenda.”
Major thought leaders, organizers, financial backers is right! This list of members obtained through ABC.com includes the likes of Dr. James Dobson (Focus on the Family), Congressman Tom DeLay, Congressman Dick Armey, Karl Rove (Chief advisor for President Bush), Jerry Falwell, Gary Bauer, Judge Robert Bork, Attorney General John Ashcroft (he’s listed as a former member), theologian John Ankerberg, Pat Robertson, Jeffrey Coors (Coors Brewery money magnate), Richard DeVos (Amway and Orlando Magic entrepreneur), Bill Bright (Campus Crusade), Senator Jesse Helms, Larry Burkett, Rev. Donald Wildman (American Family Assoc.), D. James Kennedy (Save our Sundays and Save our America), Sam Moore (President of Thomas Nelson Bible Publishers), Oliver North, Roberta Combs (President of Christian Coalition), Ralph Reed (former head of Christian Coalition and Bush’s presidential campaign director), Keith Fournier (attorney and Catholic spokesman), Phyllis Schlafly (women’s activist), Tim LaHaye (Author of the deceptive Left Behind series and “a founding father of the CNP), John Whithead (Rutheford Institute founder), Alan Keyes (Roman Catholic talk show host), Nelson Baker Hunt (son of billionaire H. L. Hunt and connected to the John Birch Society, the Reagan political network and a founding father of the CNP), and the list goes on.
Now, don’t quite reading … you’ll be quite amazed at where this all leads and what the bottom line truly is and who is actually drawing it. I do, however, want to momentarily switch gears here. We have a friend who helps us research issues as these, and in reviewing the CNP, ran across the acronym NSSM. We asked him to see what he could find out about it. It turned out to be shorthand for National Security Study Memorandum. It was defined as “the definitive interagency study of world population growth and its implications for United States and global security.” Among its conclusions was: “World population growth is widely recognized within the Government as a current danger of the highest magnitude calling for urgent measures.…”
So, what does all of this have to do with our concerns? Just this – one of the solutions to the problem of overpopulation that was promoted vigorously by the NSSM was the wide use of contraception and abortions – a pro-choice platform that totally “flies in the face” of the Catholic church. The NSSM died a very quick and quiet death as did other proposed pro-population control bills. The head of the Center for Research on Population and Security, Dr. Stephen Mumford, decided to research the “Why?” and journaled his findings in a book entitled, The Life and death of NSSM 200, 1996, Research Triangle Park , NC .
His research revealed that at the same time the Christian right wing movements were emerging (in the1970’s), another group had organized in response to the Roe vs. Wade pro-abortion decision … a group called the American Catholic Bishops! The abortion issue was the “sticky” moral issue that provided the glue for Catholics to solicit Protestants to meld together in a common cause giving them a viable springboard into the political arena. The American Catholic bishops organized to formulate a plan that would give them access to the political processes while beating the drum for antiabortion activists to join them to overturn “Roe vs. Wade.” Dr. Mumford wrote the following in his book which has been corroborated by other authors I’ll mention later.
“On November 20, 1975 , the American Catholic bishops issued their ‘Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities.’ … This plan is a superbly detailed blueprint of the bishops’ strategy for infiltrating and manipulating the American democratic process at the national, state, and local levels. It creates a political machine controlled by the bishops. This plan has been called by Timothy Byrnes (Author of Catholic Bishops in American Politics), the most ‘focused and aggressive political leadership’ ever exerted by the Catholic hierarchy. So much for … separation of church and state! (Pg. 137) Mumford includes the entire ‘Bishops’ Pastoral Plan’ as written in his book.
“Jesuit priest Virgil Blum, … proposed this strategy (a strategy to undermine the American political will) in a 1971 ‘American’ magazine article titled, ‘Public Policy Making: Why the churches Strike Out.’ He stated, ‘If a group is to be politically effective, issues rather than institutions must be at stake.’ Abortion was simply the issue created to achieve this effectiveness. Blum’s article set the stage for the creation of the Pastoral Plan, offering the bishops a set of well thought out guidelines which capitalized on centuries of experience of Jesuit manipulation of governments. (Pg. 155)
“In another of his guidelines, Blum concluded that if the Catholic leadership is to succeed, it must make their efforts look non-Catholic. Blum also concluded that to accomplish this goal, the bishops must create a strong ecumenical movement.… Blum recognized early on that ‘ecumenism’ would be an essential weapon to counter the criticism certain to come with the blatant involvement of the bishops in making public policy. (Pg. 159-60)
“The Pastoral Plan specifically directed the creation of ‘grassroots’ organizations (like the Christian Coalition) for the purposes of advancing the papal agenda. During the period 1976-1980, nearly all of the organizations that became known as the ‘New Right Movement’ or the ‘Religious New right’ were organized, such as ‘The Moral Majority,’ ‘The Heritage Foundation,’ ‘Eagle Forum,’ the ‘National Right to Life Political Action Committee’ and many others.… Catholics were key players in the creation of all of these organizations and in their leadership.
“Vital to the success of the Pastoral Plan has been the creation of first, the Moral Majority, followed by the Christian Coalition.… The evidence shows that both of these organizations, for all practical purposes, were created by the bishops because of the Plan, and these organizations have derived their energy, organization and direction from the Catholic Church.…
“Perhaps the most convincing link between Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition and the activists who are implementing the Bishops’ Pastoral Plan is Robertson’s link with Paul Weirich (a staunch Roman Catholic and the money and the brains behind the Heritage Foundation). Weyrich (the Catholic activist) recruited Jerry Falwell to become the nominal leader of the Moral Majority. Weyich also claims to have suggested the Moral Majority name.… When Falwell dropped out of politics in the late ‘80’s, Weyrich sought out another Protestant to take his place in order to continue the ecumenical activity called for in the Bishops Pastoral Plan: … Pat Robertson … Weyrich is deeply involved in the Christian Coalition and planned to serve as a faculty member at 70 Christian Coalition ‘leadership schools’ in 1994.… (Pg. 175-177)
“Catholic leadership of Robertson’s so-called Protestant network is clearly established. In an April 1993 article in Church and State magazine, Joseph L. Conn reveals the close connections between Weyrich and other Catholic activists and Robertson.… Marlene Elwell, co-founder of the Catholic Campaign for America , has long been a close ally of Robertson.… and was active in his political campaign. Thomas Monaghan (a staffer on a legal firm sponsored by Catholics United for Life) is senior counsel of Robertson’s American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). Catholic activist Keith Fournier heads ACLJ and also serves on the Catholic Campaign for America. … (Pg. 178)
“According to Conn ,… ‘Simply put, the emerging alliance between these Protestant and Roman Catholic conservatives links Pat Robertson’s grassroots army – estimated at 350,000 (this year it was reported at 1.7 million) with the Catholic Rights’ wealth, political expertise and high-tech capabilities.’ It also gives that very desirable Protestant look to the movement as sought by the Bishops’ Pastoral Plan. (Pg. 178)
“The evidence continues to mount that the Christian Coalition is fundamentally Catholic – not Protestant.… Political science professor Mary Bendyna told the Religious News Service that she was surprised to find that even before the creation of the Catholic Alliance (a Catholic appendage of the Christian Coalition created in 1995) – even before that – all five staffers in the Christian Coalition’s Washington, D.C., office were Catholic.
“God’s word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men.…”5
We originally had no clue that we were going to find this deep Catholic connection in the Christian Coalition. Remember, the obvious lack of visible Catholic presence this year, especially in contrast to earlier CC meetings? Now we understand why. It is vital that they continue to be perceived as a Protestant organization in order to ‘stealthily’ promote a Catholic agenda. “Since its (the CC’s) creation, the press (Mumford goes into the extremely important role the vastly networked Catholic media plays in this intricate drama) (Catholic and secular) has given Americans the mistaken impression that the Coalition is a Protestant organization.… By October 1995 it was deemed safe for this ‘Protestant’ organization to more openly identify with Catholics but only as individuals.… Reed told the Associated Press: ‘It was time to at least “peek their heads out of the closet door.” After all, they had signed the “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” in 1994 and we had seen them all clasp hands in solidarity – so why not?’ We came to expect a certain Catholic presence after that.”
The ‘95 meeting did, indeed, have a very Catholic flavor. We were inundated with antiabortion speeches and material and were given badges to wear that had an outline of a baby in the womb and a light that blinked on and off to represent a beating heart. Very impressive! Catholics, Governor Robert Casey and Education Secretary William Bennett were keynote speakers. Catholic presidential candidates Alan Keyes and Patrick Buchanan received standing ovations when they spoke. Several priests in full garb pronounced invocations before the meetings. The Catholic Campaign for America had a booth set up right before you walked into the convention doors. I attended a breakout session with the Catholic Campaign for America and it was there, while sitting between two priests discussing school vouchers when one said, “The American people won’t accept all of these things at once so we’re going to have to accomplish them in increments.” Well, the school vouchers are a “done deal” under “our man in the White House” as several speakers referred to President Bush at the CC meetings in October 2002, and implementation of faith-based organizations headed by a Catholic is now a reality. Incrementalism is alive!
We don’t know how all of this sets with you, but our reaction left us dumbfounded, to say the least. I thought, “Is this guy, Mumford, for real?” I could tell he was greatly upset that his NSSM Bill had been squelched and wondered “Is this just a vendetta against the Catholics in return?” However, his credentials appeared valid and his book seemed quite well-documented. Then logic set in. I asked my friend Bob to scan the internet, and I began to search my library for other sources to confirm what he had written. We ran across several, some that Mumford had quoted in his extensive bibliography, and others in my library and on line that reinforced Mumford’s portrayal of the “Catholic” Right. I will list these books for you at the conclusion of this “treatise.” What “cream” I’m able to skim off the top for you is only a drop in the ole’ proverbial milking bucket. I did find a personal interest story in a book I had, entitled: “The Conservative Revolution” by Lee Edwards, that I’d like to share with you. It confirms and expands on what Mumford had reported.
“Weyrich (the Catholic who sought out Falwell to head up a Right Wing movement) was giving a briefing to Falwell on the current state of American politics when he remarked, ‘Out there is what you might call a moral majority. They are politically and socially conservative. If we could get these people active in politics there is no limit to what we could do.… ‘A moral majority’ Ed McAteer (who had arranged the meeting) mused, ‘that’s a great name.’ Falwell, too, was struck by it, ‘That’s it. That’s the phrase I’ve been looking for.’ And thus the Moral Majority was born.… I want to quote from a couple of other sources to help undergird what Mumford has written.
John Swomley authored a book entitled, Catholic Power vs. American Freedom which brings a lot of this same information from a new viewpoint in a more concise way. He states:
“It seems clear that Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority and Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition would not have been organized if the Vatican through its agents, the American bishops, had not decided it was necessary to involve articulate right-wing Protestant leaders in their anti-abortion campaign. (Pg. 169)
“One of the early successes of the Bishops’ Plan was the passage of the Hyde Amendment (by Congressman and Catholic activist Henry Hyde), which restricted the use of Medicaid money for abortions, limiting poor women’s access to abortion. Although declared unconstitutional by a federal district court judge, an appeals court overturned that decision and it became law.
“The Bishops’ Plan also indicates that their action against abortion must not be thought of as a Catholic movement, but must be seen as ecumenical. This was probably their most important decision because it resulted in the enlistment of much of the Protestant right-wing as both allies and followers of the bishops’ strategy.… (Pg. 168)
“Other developments reveal the success of the bishops’ strategy. The Southern Baptist Convention came under right-wing control and accepted the Catholic position on abortion.” (Pg. 171)
Having been a Southern Baptist, I was most interested in what Mumford also had to say in a more extensive way: “Another major accomplishment of the [Bishops’] Pastoral Plan has been its effect on Protestantism in America . The Plan has taken the protest out of Protestant [emphasis supplied]. No wonder when I asked Ralph Reed why he called himself an Evangelical and not a Protestant he said, “Why should I? I’m no longer protesting anything.”
Back to Mumford: “It is obvious that the victory of the Baptist fundamentalists benefits the Papacy. The bishops can now speak for 14.7 million Baptists on this issue and will wield the additional political power derived from this arrangement.… By 1979, the bishops had identified their man to engineer the Baptist rift.… Judge Pat Pressler! … During an interview by journalist Bill Moyers, Moyers brought to light that Judge Pressler is on the board of directors of the Council on National Policy (he was actually one of the ‘daddy rabbits’ of the organization) along with fanatical Religious right Catholics, Richard Viguerie, Phyllis Schlaftly and Joseph Coors.” This is the secretive CNP organization we spoke of earlier. Mumford continues: “As Meyers pressed the Judge on his relationship with the Council on National Policy (CNP), which promises the adoption of Papal policy, the judge broke off the interview and refused to answer further questions. The Judge had been exposed – as had been the real actors behind the Baptist rift.” (Pg. 312) No wonder W. A. Criswell, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention said without any qualms: “I don’t know anyone more dedicated to great fundamental doctrines of Christianity than the Catholics.” And Billy Graham, another Baptist minister, professed: “I’ve found that my beliefs are essentially the same as those of Orthodox Roman Catholics.” I have great respect for my dear Baptist friends, but I’m so grateful that God has called me out of that darkness “into this marvelous light” and I pray they will also be “enlightened.”
Beloved, there’s absolutely nothing or no one left to be “put in place.” It’s all there waiting for just the right circumstances and “boom” down go the dominoes – time’s up and we’d better find ourselves “cleaned up,” “filled up” and “looking up,” ready to be lifted up “into Abba’s arms.”
I close this part with these statements from Testimonies, vol. 5.
“God has revealed what is to take place in the last days, that His people may be prepared to stand against the tempest of opposition and wrath.… We are to be as men waiting for their Lord, not in idle expectancy, but in earnest work, with unwavering faith. It is no time now to allow our minds to be engrossed with things of minor importance.”6
“Will the people of God now arouse from their carnal lethargy? Will they make the most of present blessings and warnings, and let nothing come between their souls and the light God would have shine upon them? …
“If you wait for louder calls or better opportunities, the light will be withdrawn, …”7
Ready or Not – Will You be Prepared – or Still Preparing?
We’re well aware that we’ve been in the middle of a “great controversy” ever since the Garden episode, but you can take it to the bank – the dragon (the devil) is making preparations for his one last monumental battle – one last grand push to show his authority and secure as many people as he possibly can to “go down” with him on the fatal battleground. His mission? Vengeance – to wound the Son and his cause deeply and painfully one last time. Does he think he can win – surely not! – for it was made very clear that he had lost the war when Jesus said, “It is finished” from the cross. Can he wound the cause of God and his people and ultimately God himself one last time? Without a doubt, but not fatally and only as heaven (and we) permit.
Sister White tells us that we’re not to sit back idly and allow this final battle to come any sooner than it has to – that we’re to do all in our power to stop it. There was a Sunday movement in her day that was stopped when one lone man stood up against it – A. T. Jones – and we’re to do no less.
So, I pose this question, How can we stop or slow down something if we aren’t in tune with what’s going on before it happens? More importantly, how can we warn others and help them prepare and find cover under the protective “wings” of our Saviour if we ourselves choose to turn a deaf ear and continue to run and peck and cackle with the “foolish flock?” Our main goal is to lift up Christ and to alert our people in every way we can that we are at the “time of the end” and the “end of time” is one “backroom” meeting and one stroke of a pen away.
References
1 The Great Controversy, p. 371
2 Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 14.
3 “Holy Alliance ,” Time Magazine, Feb. 24, 1992 .
4 The Great Controversy, pp. 508-509.
5 Ibid., p. 581.
6 Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 452.
7 Ibid., pp. 719-720.
Christian Heritage Foundation, CS 2003-2005 – Franklin S. Fowler Jr., M.D., Director
Liane, the Zoo Mama
