This past spring NavPress released My First Message by Eugene Peterson. The book is meant to be a child's first Bible. A product description of the book suggests that the contemplative practice called lectio divina is being utilized:Lectio divina is indeed powerful, as are other contemplative practices, but it will not "deepen" the devotional lives of children. On the contrary, it will introduce kids to a spirituality that produce detrimental results on practitioners.

The World Council of Churches, an ecumenical organization that represents many of the mainstream "Christian" sects, is seeking to approve a "code of conduct" by which member churches will adhere to when seeking converts. For the first time, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches will be involved in helping to draft the agreement. Members of the WCC held a consultation with representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Yoruba religions, during which they issued a joint statement, that "freedom of religion was a non-negotiable right of every human being". 

Quote: "WCC officials say the code should help ease relations with other faiths, especially with Islamic leaders who regard individual Muslims who convert as apostates. In some countries, these face the death penalty if they do not recant. Individual Muslim groups regard missionaries -- or even suspected missionaries -- of other religions as "enemies of the true faith" and sometimes take extreme measures against them. The Taliban in Afghanistan have accused the 23 South Koreans they captured last month, two of whom they have since killed, of coming to the country to spread Christianity in a devoutly Muslim land. 

But when it comes to Muslims, Jews and Hindus, freedom to "choose one's religion" and freedom to "make disciples of all nations" are two completely different things. Israel still has strict anti-proselytising laws, Christian missionaries that proclaim the Gospel are persecuted by anti-missionaries, and Jewish families often disown relatives that become Christians. Christians are very much persecuted by Hindus in India, and as we have seen before, a Muslim that becomes a Christian faces extreme persecution and quite often death at the hands of their tormentors. But the WCC is seeking to "ease relations" with other religions, by adhering to some code that will likely hinder the preaching of the Gospel. And it's easy to see how big denominations wrapped up in the ecumenical movement will comply. Already a "bloodless Gospel" is being preached from many pulpits across the world. In the name of good relations with the people, some pastors are prepared to tickle the ears of their congregation so as not to cause offence - even so far as publicly denying Acts 4:12, "neither is there salvation in any other". I'm not a preacher, and how I wish I was bold in my God to be able to witness better for Him. I'm a complete failure, and I hope and pray that God would somehow be able to use me for His glory. But I pray that God would save us from this generation of vipers, and that we would get back to preaching the true Gospel, and stop being ashamed of our Saviour. The disciples were warned by the religious leaders of the day to stop preaching in this Name, and even though they were beaten and thrown into prison, the next day they were back in the Temple preaching Yeshua.

Acts 5:27-31 
And when they had brought them, they set [them] before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

It's the same today. The Name of Jesus Christ is being blotted out of the Congress, the military, and many other public spheres of life. You can pray in Buddha's name, Allah or any other name, except the name of Jesus. God help us to be zealous for the Name of Jesus.

Source Reuters

The United Methodist Committee on Relief, or UMCOR, recently announced a partnership with Muslim Aid, a British-based relief organization. The Muslim group is very clear about its Islamic mission -- and on its website there are numerous references to the Koran and to Allah, says Mark Tooley with the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD).