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"These . . . confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

Hebrews 11:13

Also below:
A Little More Context

January 9, 2007
Reclaiming America for Whom?
By Pastor Ralph Ovadal, Pilgrims Covenant Church

By any measure, Dr. D. James Kennedy is a very powerful man. The pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and the president of Coral Ridge Ministries, Kennedy presides over a far-reaching network of ministry organizations which daily influence millions. Dr. Kennedy's Coral Ridge Hour television program airs on more than 400 stations and 4 cable networks. Coral Ridge Hour is available to 81% of America's television homes. The program also runs in 165 nations on the Armed Forces Network. Truths That Transform, Kennedy's half-hour daily radio program, and his 90-second Kennedy Commentary are broadcast by more than 744 radio facilities and 437 radio facilities respectively across America.

As noted, Dr. D. James Kennedy is a very powerful man who influences millions of people, Christians and otherwise. He is a man seen—I almost said worshiped—by a multitude of evangelicals as a staunch defender of biblical precepts against godless liberalism and apostasy along with the evils which they spawn such as abortion and homosexuality. But as I have documented in other articles, Dr. Kennedy is a shameless, blatant ecumenist who is doing much harm to the cause of Christ and the gospel. He, like many evangelicals, seems to be convinced that the only way to defeat Assyria is to yoke with Egypt.

This article has as its subject an annual event by one of Kennedy's organizations, the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ. The conference, being held this year on March 2-3 at Kennedy's church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is called Reclaiming America for Christ, which I will often abbreviate as RAC. The promotional brochure for RAC contains a message by the Center for Reclaiming America's executive director Dr. Gary Cass and Dr. Kennedy, the organization's founder and president. That message begins, "Reclaiming America for Christ 2007 is coming, and 'evil' is counting on you. That's right. The only thing evil requires for its triumph is for Christians to say and do nothing." I could not agree with Kennedy and Cass more regarding the spread of evil. That is why I believe Christians should stand against such wickedness as abortion and homosexuality. That is also why I feel compelled to speak out against the RAC conference which Kennedy and Cass say "offers you the tools and training, ideas and energy" for "Reclaiming America for Christ." Christians, especially pastors, who are concerned for the cause of Christ should speak out against Dr. Kennedy's conference which is nothing less than a bold assault upon the gospel and the purity of Christ's bride, the church. Moreover, when just the bare facts about the RAC conference are considered, one could almost be led to wonder if Kennedy is purposely "pushing the envelope" to see how open and blatant he can be in his ecumenical sin! Sadly, he is no doubt safe enough in this era of the teflon-coated evangelical celebrities.

The promotional brochure and web page for the Reclaiming America for Christ conference leaves absolutely no doubt that this conference is being presented as a Christian conference for Christians and featuring Christian speakers, all with the goal of reclaiming America for Christ. If that statement sounded redundant, it was merely an echo of the drumbeat sounding forth from RAC. For instance, the name Christ appears nineteen times in the short promotional brochure for the RAC conference while Christian(s) appears nine times. We are told by conference materials that those attending will "learn and interact with speakers who are engaging the culture for Christ." Conference topics will include "Reclaiming America through evangelism."

Dr. D. James Kennedy heads up the slate of "17 speakers on the leading edge of Christian moral witness" who will teach and disciple the attendees at the "premier Christian social witness and action-equipping conference"—a conference, by the way, being well-promoted on conservative Christian radio and by a campaign in American churches which includes the distribution of banners, buttons, logos, and printed material. Of course, I am not against a good Christian conference to train the Lord's people in the finer points of being salt and light in our nation; but this conference is neither good nor Christian and is more about darkness than light.

A visit to the special Reclaiming America for Christ conference web page brings one face to face with four featured conference speakers, apparently the headliners along with Dr. Kennedy. Of the four chosen ones, three are Roman Catholic led off by priest Frank Pavone! We will not call him "Father" even though Kennedy and his friends do. I devoted a good deal of space in my book More Than These to Pavone, the Vatican's charismatic icon in the ecumenical pro-life movement who also is deeply involved in the ministry of Dr. James Dobson.

The other two Romanist speakers at the RAC conference will be Eagle Forum president Phyllis Schlafly and last, but certainly not least, author Ann Coulter. Before I share a few words on the first Catholic lady, it is important to consider the significance of the second being one of Kennedy's headline speakers. It is a warning that those who neglect to practice biblical separation from error are soon caught up in a downgrade which, if not promptly corrected, eventually turns into a spiritual free fall.

RAC bills Coulter as "Columnist, Author of Godless." Apparently, Dr. Kennedy thinks the renowned Coulter is, as RAC touts her, "on the leading edge of Christian moral witness." I have leafed through Coulter's Godless book and would have to differ with Kennedy. On page three, we find Coulter's own, certainly not the Bible's, definition of Christian: "I often refer to Christians and Christianity because I am a Christian and I have a fairly good idea of what they believe, but the term is intended to include anyone who subscribes to the Bible of the God of Abraham, including Jews and others." On page 266, Coulter assures her readers, "Whatever your religious persuasion, if you believe we are distinct from the beasts, you're with God." The Catholic Coulter's definition of Christian certainly leaves one to wonder about Kennedy's definition! After all, Coulter is one of his featured, may we say, preachers at his Christian conference where Dr. Kennedy says Christians will "learn and interact with speakers who are engaging the culture for Christ." Attendees have been assured that being taught by the likes of Coulter will "send you home eager and equipped to reclaim your community for Christ." It does not seem to bother D. James Kennedy and his staff that at least some of those whom he has doing the equipping, such as the acid-tongued Ann Coulter, preach another gospel, another Christ. And where there is bad soteriology, there is naturally other grievous error.

This is certainly true in the case of the New York Times bestselling author. For example, in numerous places in Coulter's book, she posits that God may have created by using evolution. She also speaks crudely about sexual matters as well and uses crude expressions to make her points on various issues. One instance of that is found on page eight where Coulter writes, "Question: Are liberals clueless about waste management? Answer: Do bears c--p in the woods?" It should be noted that while I left the two letters out of the crude word of the crude expression just quoted by necessity, Miss "Christian moral witness" kept the word intact.
Visitors to Coulter's web site are treated to an entire page of pictures of her, including one of Ann posing in a deep-v-neck, short-skirt leather dress. The jacket cover of her Godless book, which no doubt will be available at the RAC conference, shows Coulter in a skimpy dress, featuring a plunging, cleavage-revealing neckline accented by a cross necklace! Suffice it to say, the trying-hard-to-be-a-blond-bombshell Coulter is hardly a daughter of Sarah and will probably not be speaking on Titus, chapter two. On the other hand, given the surreal spiritual nature of the RAC conference, anything is possible.

Of course, Phyllis Schlafly is not exactly in the running for the gentle spirit award either. However, in a mockery of the words of our Lord Jesus, Dr. Kennedy has tapped Phyllis, an unregenerate woman living in Romanist darkness, to be the keynote speaker at the RAC "Salt & Light Banquet."

Given that three of Kennedy's seventeen speakers are Roman Catholic, I suppose it is a safe bet that his seminar on "Reclaiming America through evangelism" will include nothing that would offend his Romanist co-laborers or Catholic conference attendees who ante up the conference fee to attend ($79 advance, $125 at the door; the Salt & Light dinner costs extra). But this is all consistent with Kennedy's determination to promote the communion of light with darkness in gross violation of 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 as well as many other Scripture passages. Perhaps Dr. Kennedy, who markets modern Bible translations, has decided Ephesians 5:11 should read, "And have much to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. Indeed, promote them."

There is much which could be said concerning the ecumenical spectacle and sheer hypocrisy of Dr. D. James Kennedy's Reclaiming America for Christ conference. I should at least squeeze in the fact that U.S. Senate chaplain and RAC conference speaker Dr. Barry Black is a Seventh Day Adventist! Length-of-article considerations do not permit me to deal with all the speakers and ministries involved in Kennedy's conference. So I will restrict myself to the facts I have presented in hopes that my readers will apply the Scriptures. Dr. Kennedy and his friends will no doubt address many evils at the RAC conference; but they will be promoting the worst evil of all—a false gospel and a counterfeit church headed up by antichrist!

But how many of the Lord's people, especially pastors, will speak up for Christ and our gospel faith against this outrage? How many are set for the defense of the gospel against all who would subvert it? I have written to Kennedy on this matter and, of course, published this article with the hope of stirring up some love and zeal in a few hearts. But if the past is any indication, Dr. Kennedy will hardly be subject to a blizzard of protests from Christians and ultimatums of "repent or have your programs yanked" by Christian radio station managers. Jeremiah 5:31—"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"

In November when the infamous Pastor Rick Warren had a pro-abortion U.S. senator speak at his church's AIDS conference, conservative, evangelical pro-life leaders, including pastors and radio hosts, were rightly up in arms. But what of those pastors and leaders who signed on to a public rebuke of Warren? How many of them will show such zeal in defense of our gospel faith? How many will now confront Dr. Kennedy for betraying our Lord, advancing the cause of popery, and smoothing the road to hell for Romanists? Judging from their past performances, probably none. I suppose they are all too busy "reclaiming America for Christ" when, in reality, the desperate need is to reclaim the church for Christ.

January 9, 2007

Dear Dr. Kennedy,

I am writing to you as a minister of Christ given the duty to feed the flock "which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). Every Christian is charged to strive for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27); but surely, the Lord's shepherds have the most responsibility of all to do so. With a sense of that duty, I have written and published an article about your upcoming Reclaiming America for Christ conference. I have included that article, which speaks for itself, with this letter.

Dr. Kennedy, there can be no doubt that you are well-educated on the grievous and deadly errors of the Roman Catholic Church. Likewise, it is impossible that you would not be familiar with the many Scriptural commands, Old and New Testaments, which mandate that Christians separate from such error and resist it. A few examples of such passages from the New Testament would include 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11; Galatians 1:8-9; and 2 John 9-11.

Dr. Kennedy, in spite of your extensive biblical knowledge and professed love for Christ, you have for years misled the Lord's people, injured the cause of Christ, and comforted Roman Catholics in their lost, condemned state by ignoring such passages. At your upcoming Reclaiming America for Christ conference, you will have three Roman Catholics, including a priest and a worldly, profane woman, supposedly teaching Christians how to take a stand for Christ! This is an outrage against our Lord and His people. It is an open, grievous sin of which I urge you to repent. How can you defend your actions from the Scriptures? You cannot, for they only condemn what you are doing! Our spiritual forefathers stood for our gospel faith against Rome and sealed their testimony with their own blood. You are publicly betraying the blood of Christ and the blood of those martyrs of Jesus, and you are teaching others to do likewise.

I do not doubt you have a genuine concern for the preborn, for the moral state of our nation, and for the survival of our Christian liberty. I share that concern. But we will not stop abortion or the homosexual juggernaut by trusting in ungodly confederations (Isaiah 8:9-13) and yoking with a religion that keeps men in bondage, held captive to "the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124:8). Any cause undertaken by the Lord's people must in the end be ruined unless it is based on complete trust in Him and has as its first principle His glory. Yoking with Roman Catholics under the banner of Christ in a vain hope to defeat His enemies is unbiblical, unrighteous, unconscionable, and unwise.

Further, by your actions, you are schooling millions of evangelicals in the way of ecumenical compromise. In this, you are acting as a grievous wolf among the Lord's flock.

Dr. Kennedy, there is much I could share from the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, which not only condemns your ecumenical sin but also shows the danger and foolishness of it. But this is a letter, not a sermon; and you have read all those passages many times. So I will close by asking you to cease acting as an enemy of the Christ who "washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Revelation 1:5) As it now stands, you certainly bring into question whether or not you are even in Christ. I hope that you are, knowing that if you are, repentance will soon follow.

Sincerely,

Pastor Ralph Ovadal
Pilgrims Covenant Church
Monroe, Wisconsin
www.pccmonroe.org

P.S. I am sending a copy of this letter to Dr. Gary Cass as everything I have written to you I would like him to also consider.

More related articles
Where Are the Bereans Today?
The Bride Betrayed

March 20, 2007
A Little More Context

Apparently, my article "Reclaiming America for Whom?" upset quite a few evangelical fans of D. James Kennedy and his Reclaiming America for Christ conference. Perhaps they should be a bit more upset with Dr. Kennedy and his RAC sidekick Dr. Gary Cass for promoting their Roman Catholic conference speakers, such as "Fr." Frank Pavone, as Christians "engaging the culture for Christ" and "on the leading edge of Christian moral witness.

For those blind fans of their blind leaders, below you will find a couple of pictures of RAC headline speaker Pavone worshiping a Romanist wafer in front of an abominable, pagan idol said to be our Lord on the cross. This is called "celebrating the mass" and includes the priest "immolating" the Lord of glory in a "bloodless sacrifice" after turning Him into a wafer and a cup of wine. Of course, I suppose next I will hear that since Pavone didn't celebrate the mass in Kennedy's church during the conference, I am making much to-do about nothing. And besides, isn't the mass just one of those "doctrinal distinctives" we are supposed to ignore for the good of the pro-life/pro-family cause?

By the way, a post conference article posted on the RAC web site gives a rave review of Pavone's speech in Kennedy's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church during that conference. (Coral Ridge Ministries is the parent organization of Reclaiming America for Christ.) And in an amazing example of the "strong delusion" which is setting in among evangelicals in America, the article ended with this self-contradictory -- or should we say self-condemning -- report of the closing message of the March 2-3 Reclaiming America for Christ conference: "Coral Ridge Ministries Executive Vice President Brian Fisher cautioned the crowd against activism divorced from knowledge of the Word of God. Citing statistics from the likes of George Barna, Fisher impressed upon the conference to take seriously the study of the Word, the teaching of the Word, and the living out of the Word, before all else."

Pastor Ralph Ovadal
NATIONAL  AMERICAN  HOLOCAUST  MEMORIAL
BATON ROUGE,  LOUISIANA

THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

TO END THE SLAUGHTER

"The Liturgy we celebrate on earth is a mysterious participation in the Heavenly Liturgy"

Page Two - Page Three - Page Four

Picture
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life. Offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away
the sins of the world.

Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: "Holy, holy,
holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is,
and who is to come."

Picture
This cup which is poured out for you
is the new covenant in My Blood.

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing."

"To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever."
Picture
Pilgrims Covenant Church
PO Box 314
Monroe, WI 53566

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  • Gospel
    • From Death unto Life
    • Heaven or Hell?
    • Christ Jesus Came into the World
  • Audio
  • Romanism
  • New Calvinism / Evangelicalism
  • More
    • Bible Versions
    • The Lord's Day
    • Revival & Awakening
    • CCM
    • Women Preachers and Leaders Forbidden by the Word of God
    • An Education Acceptable to God
    • The Christian and Alcohol
    • The Charismatic Movement
    • The Real Antichrist
    • The Greek Orthodox Church
    • Abortion
    • A Response to the Southern Poverty Law Center
    • Homosexuality