| This past Tuesday, a number of
us from Pilgrims Covenant Church traveled to Bushnell, Illinois to
minister in front of the Cornerstone Festival. This huge event was birthed
twenty-two years ago by the Jesus People USA. Held on a five-hundred-acre
grounds, this five-day event is built around "Christian" hard
rock. In a previous "Heart of the Matter" program,
we documented some of the other activities that go on at Cornerstone,
including the showing of movies which many unsaved parents would not want
their young people to watch. For instance, this year featured a "Days
of the Dead" line-up of movies.
I would encourage you to listen to
tonight's "Heart
of the Matter" program during which I will give a report on our
ministry at Cornerstone. [Text of the report can be read here.]
Believe me, the "lure the sinner to Jesus
with worldly devices" is bearing some very evil fruit among the young
of this nation. During our six hours at the front gates of Cornerstone, we
had things thrown at us and obscene gestures directed our way. We were
called "faggots" and "fascists." We were interviewed by
a film crew making a documentary and by a CCM magazine. We preached to and
witnessed one-on-one with many, many young people. Below you will find a
flyer we handed out.
Our time at Cornerstone provided us a
penetrating look into the heart of the theology and spirituality of a
subculture of young people who call themselves Christians. I came away
hating even more the neo-evangelical, seeker-sensitive, purpose-driven
drivel which passes today for preaching. It is producing a generation of
"Christian" young people who do not even believe in objective
truth and who are shockingly illiterate when it comes to the Word of God.
Having said all of this, I must also add
that we rejoiced at the end of our day at Cornerstone as we looked back on
all that the Lord had been pleased to do with our time there. Lord
willing, we certainly plan on returning next year for a longer time. I
will share much more on tonight's HOM.
Pastor Ralph Ovadal
Photos from
our witness at Cornerstone
Cornerstone Dishonors
the "Head of the Corner"
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify
God in your body,
and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:20
Cornerstone Festival is represented as a
Christian event, but in reality, it is a profane, worldly carnival which
promotes false doctrines and dishonors God. Those who truly are Christ's
are to bring glory to Him, not take part in activity which dishonors Him
and violates His Word.
"Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the
love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life, is not of
the Father, but is of the world." —1 John 2:15-16
Everything about Cornerstone Festival
screams "world" and consequently rebellion to the commands of
our Lord. Ecumenical and even New Age religion is common fare. Tattooing
and body piercing are accepted and approved. Young women immodestly
dressed and men with long hair are commonplace. Ungodly, improper movies
are shown. This year, Cornerstone is holding "Days of the
Dead" celebrations complete with films such as The Body Snatcher.
How can those taking part in such things glorify God in their bodies and
spirits? How can those taking part claim to be "a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that
ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9)?
"Give unto the Lord
the glory due unto his name;
worship the Lord in the beauty of
holiness.” —Psalm 29:2
Cornerstone features ungodly, worldly music.
Many of the songs have nonsensical—in a few cases, obscene—lyrics.
Many of the singers ape the world's ways as they jerk, gyrate, and
screech out those lyrics to ear-splitting music. Such musical
performances glorify immature, worldly performers and appeal to the
flesh, but they are not holy, and they do not glorify God. Those who
take part in such sessions are mocking God in an ugly, worldly way
rather than worshiping Him in the beauty of holiness. "For he that
soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting"
(Galatians 6:8).
"Wherefore also it
is contained in the scripture,
Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner
stone, elect, precious:
and he that believeth on him shall not be
confounded." —1 Peter 2:6
Cornerstone Festival dishonors and
misrepresents the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the chief cornerstone of His
own spiritual house, the Church of Jesus Christ. Those responsible for
this ungodly spectacle would do well to remember that Jesus is "the
blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords"
(1 Timothy 6:15), "whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly
purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the
chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable" (Luke 3:17).
"And he beheld them,
and said, What is this then that is written,
The stone which the
builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever
shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall
fall, it will grind him to powder." —Luke 20:17-18
Pilgrims Covenant Church • www.pccmonroe.org
P.O. Box 314, Monroe, WI 53566 • 608-328-4841
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