Australian Independent Baptist Newsletter

www.Bennett.BibleForToday.org

MARCH--Issue #2, 2004

Dr. David C. Bennett, Editor (DCB)

PO Box 1241 - Dubbo - NSW 2830

Phone/Fax 02-6884-2846

Email: Bennett@BibleForToday.org

Permission is given to forward material contained in the AIB Newsletter.

Purpose: To inform and warn God's people of religious, social, and political events in today's world.

The Detroit News 8 March, 2004 WHAT A TREND WE HAVE IN JESUS... BUT IS POP CULTURE LOOKING FOR RELIGION - OR ENTERTAINMENT? (Edited by DCB)

"Jesus Christ Superstar, indeed. Pop culture's reigning 'It' guy is not some prefab pop star or some scruffy-haired actor with a million-dollar smile. Rather, it's none other than Jesus Christ." The popularity of Jesus is seen by His often being "the first figure thanked in awards show acceptance speeches and in album liner notes. But Jesus' popularity has surged in recent weeks, with a Christ-themed work setting the box office ablaze and spinning off successes on television, on the music charts and in trendy fashion circles." The soundtrack to Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" "sold more than 48,000 units its first week in stores, enough to enter the Billboard 200 at No. 19. Only two score-driven soundtracks have had better opening weeks, and both belonged to "Star Wars" films." "In bookstores, the hardcover accompaniment to Gibson's film, "The Passion: Photography from the Movie the Passion of the Christ" (Tyndale House Publishers, $24.99), is a Top 10 seller at Amazon.com, and will have more than a half-million copies in print by the end of the month." Then there are the "'Jesus is my homeboy' T-shirts." The company that makes these T-shirts said they "were looking at pop icons of the 21st century, and Jesus topped the list." Vicky Thompson, author of "Jesus Path: 7 Steps to Cosmic Awakening" said "The message of Christ as homeboy is evidence society is moving from less of an organized religion view of Christ and more to a personal, spiritual view of Christ." She went on to say that the "Jesus is my homeboy" shirts were "for fashion purposes but with little belief in what the figure actually represents."

Editor's Comment: Hebrews 10: 31 "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Des Moines Register 16 March 2004 (DMR Hereafter) D.M. PASTOR CONDEMNS MOVE AGAINST MINISTERS -Iowa (Edited by DCB) The pastor of the "First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, was incredulous when told that two Unitarian Universalist ministers were charged with a crime for marrying gay couples." He stated that "Same-sex commitment ceremonies are performed in Iowa all the time" and that "Most of the time, the unions are below the radar, accepted by the congregation and of little concern to the community." Even though the majority of Americans believe same-sex marriage is wrong this Unitarian pastor said "sometimes the majority is wrong and this is one of those instances."

Editor's Comment: It is not surprising a Unitarian pastor says this but according to Ellison Research, Phoenix, Arizona only "86% of evangelical ministers" say "homosexual activity is a sin." That means 14% do not believe sodomy is a sin! That is a sad indication of the spiritual state of the churches.

DMR 15 March 2004 WAUKEE SCHOOL STUDENTS PLAN GAY SUPPORT CLUB (Edited by DCB) - Iowa: "Students at a small suburban school are ready to take on a big issue. Waukee High School's newly formed Gay/Straight Alliance will conduct its first meeting Tuesday, and organizers say it will be a controversial step toward embracing gay students." "No student will be asked his or her sexual orientation, but it is assumed that participants want to be involved with advocacy and awareness of gay issues, said Brad Clark of the Iowa Pride Network, a group that encourages the formation of gay and lesbian clubs." Other schools in the Des Moines, Iowa area also have such clubs but "Chuck Hurley, a former Republican state representative and president of the Iowa Family Policy Center, a conservative pro-family group, said such clubs should be banned." Hurley went on to say that "Intervention should be provided to these students. It is extremely irresponsible of school officials to

have taxpayers pick up the tab on supporting this lifestyle."

Editor's Comment: Proverbs 14:34 "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

Sydney morning Herald (SMH Hereafter) Australia- ABORTION NOT ELECTION ISSUE March 17, 2004 (Edited by DCB) "The issue of abortion was an incendiary one which should not be used as an election issue, Treasurer Peter Costello said." Tony Abbot, who is a Roman Catholic, told students at Adelaide University that "society had too lax an attitude towards sexual promiscuity among teenagers." Costello, a Baptist, said "fellow cabinet minister Tony Abbott was expressing personal views, and not the government's, when he said the abortion rate in Australia was a national tragedy." Costello went on to say that Mr. Abbot is "a devoutly religious man and we respect his views for that and he was giving a personal statement on Christian views in relation to abortion." Costello said abortion was a "delicate area and there were big passions and terrible choices that people faced over it." With a Federal election later this year Costello said "Let's not try and turn elections on issues like that. They do in the United States, you know."

Editor's Comment: Abortion is murder and should be an election issue here in Australia. Psalm 139: 16 "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."

SMH 15 February, 2004 GAY STATEMENT OR MARKETING PLOY? (Edited by DCB)

"Australian fashion designer Richard Tyler has become embroiled in the gay marriage controversy engulfing the US. During the presentation of the designer's collection in New York..." "...two female models, dressed as a bride and groom, kissed on the catwalk." This was on the same day the mayor of San Francisco broke the California law allowing 87 sodomites to exchange wedding vows. "Tyler has normally shied away from fashion stunts but the Melbourne-born designer has succumbed to the increasingly popular 'lipstick lesbian' marketing technique."

Editor's Comment: Sadly, the sodomite onslaught is a warning that Acts 20:27 "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." is not true of most preaching today.

World Congress of Faiths (web site 17 March, 2004) "WE BELIEVE: The pulsating presence of the Holy is found both in nature and humanity. This has been envisioned by many of the prophets and founding revelations of the religions." This is seen when "the first spiritual preceptor of the Sikhs, spoke of the air as Guru, of water as Father and of earth as the great Mother."

Editor's Comment: Revelation 17: 5 "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."