conveyed in Biblical terminology, however, its deception cannot endure for it presents a wholly inadequate god who is q~ckly seen to be but a poor replacement for the only God. In Liberation Theology, "God" and "Jesus Christ" are simply symbols for the People. God is merely a concept and Christ an ''event" in the present struggle of the People against the repressive structures of Christian-rooted Western Capitalism ordained and sustained by the Creator-God . (decadence apart). God is an incomplete, suffering hoping being who is caught up with man in the process of history; and, subject to history, this god moves towards an unordained future. God is completely identified with the People. He is God the worker, Christ the labourer, the revolutionary, or the freedom fighter. The PeoJ?le become God; they become therr own liberators executing the divine plan of salvation. The voice of the People is the voice of God. Remember the Formula of Chalcedon!

There are the blood brother gods of liberation Theology too. They are Chaos, Ungodly Revolution, and Anarchy, and.they are all the forerunners of the god of Humanistic Totalitarianism which actually invokes chaos, revolution and anarchy in the vain process towards a Utopia of absolute equality in everything .. Then mankind will live beyond good and evil, right and wrong, law and order, family life, property, and religion.

Working towards that Utopia, too, is the god of the New Age Movement with its sign of Aquarius, the water-carrier, which promises true cleansing . and puri.fjcation of such proportions as shall wash away the scourge of Orthodox Christianity .. The message of the New Age is clear: all is one, all is God, we are God. This

movement, which is presently being popularized in the advertising campaigns of big business, declares that Lucifer, commonly taken to be Satan, is . the true Son of God, and all who refuse to be initiated by him into the New Age are threatened with extermination.

. CONCLUSION

Now let all these other gods be silent The Almighty Creator-Redeemer God has spoken. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens." (Psalm 96:4-5). "Look unto me, and be ye saved, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH; FOR I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE." (!sa. 45:22).

A BOOK REVIEW

BY

BYROI': S:\APP

FORBIDDEN ALLIANCES, George Gillespie, Presbyterian Heritage Publications, P. 0. Box 180922, Dallas, Texas 75218, $2.50 God has made man to be a social being. Prior to Eve's creation God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone." (Gen. 2:18b). God made Eve. Even if God has given one the gift of singleness there still remains the need for fellowship and friendship. Herein we are reminded of the fellowship of the Triune God within the Trinity itself.

Amqpg the many decisions that one ti)tist make following regeneration and conversion is, "With whom will I be a friend?" After all, we are not taken out of the world. At the same time we

Page 12 June 1990 The Counsel of Chalcedon

are to guard ourselves from evil influences in the world as well as from Satan himself (John 17:15). Presbyterian Heritage Publications has done the Christian community a great service in reprinting this short work on Forbidden Alliances. It is taken from the 1846 edition of The Works of Mr. Georee Gi11esPie and was originally published in 1649.Do not think this material is dated or written in language that is of a bygone day. Indeed; the need for material on this subject is perhaps greater today than when it was first written. Also, the work has been well edited and is written in a style and print that will attract today's reader.

The author begins on this premise: The Christian is allied to Christ, frrst and foremost. This alliance must govern all out other alliances. Within the framework of Scripture, Mr. Gillespie shows the Chrisitan how his chief 'Friend' has laid out principles and warnings that are to guide us regarding whom we should many, join in close business partnerships and ventures, or join in denominational affiliation. He looks honestly at Scripture and provides a wealth of Scripture verses that allows the reader to study and apply to his own life.

Mr. Gillespie wrote this book against the background of a historical period (the English Civil War) when Christians were extremely ~oncemed about this very issue. The author is familiar with the arguments that opponents raised. He deals with the arguments clearly, concisely, and above all, Scripturally .Naturally, the author does not believe the Christian is to move into a monastery and separate himself from the world. Where he believes the line to be drawn I will let you discover as you read the book.

Con't, page 21

Certainly. I wish I had done better in getting father-and-two-sons time together, for example, though while in Greeley our family did camp in th e Rockies and as a private pilot I took the children on. some noteworthy trips. In the Purdue University related student ministry during those sixteen years in West Lafayette, over forty students (two at a time) lived with our family. On a number of these occasions we struggled to get "just us' time, and we occasionally failed. It was a daily battle, but, not to wony, there was victory down the road. Daily family worship, training our children to critique the culture, keeping them committed into the hands of the loving God of all grace, experiencing forgiveness of sins, loving each other and telling them so ... these are the ingredients of conquest. God's Covenant with Abraham is truly a spiritual foundation on which to build for the long-range future. (Reverend Raymond P. Joseph is pastor of Southfield Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southfield, Michigan.) FORBIDDEN, con't from p. 12 The fact that forbidden alliances are too seldom discussed today, and, all too often I believe, much neglected, increases the need for a wide distribution and prayerful study of this booklet. In so dojng, perhaps God would be pleased to bring revival to our land as we take seriously the fact that the unsaved are enemies of God and of Christians and are hell-bound. Perhaps the reader's evangelistic passion and practice will be increased. Let us pray that God might be pleased in His time to make our nation again a Christian nation. Then this discussion of forbidden alliances can be broadened to national relationships with other nations. Yet, first, it must begin with you and me as Christians. This booklet will show us that

improper friendships are as foolish as trying to plow with an ox and a mule. Befriending this book and studying it in light of Scripture will defmitely help the pastor and layman alike in knowing which friendships to cultivate and which to root out.

TRUE AND FALSE WORSHIP; Jolm Knox . Presbyterian Heritage Publications, P . 0. Box 180822, Dallas, TX 75218, $2.50.

Proper worship should be a continuing concern for God's people. Its importance is noted in the second commandment, the third commandment and the fourth commandment. Of course, reference could also be made to the first commandment as well.It cannot go without notice that great problems are evidenced in Scripture as a result of false worship. Think of Cain, N adab and Abiram, the golden calf made by Aaron, as well as problems in the Corinthian church and several churches that are addressed in Revelation Two and 1bree.

Proper worship honors God. We have Abel's example, Abraham's .. testimony as he entered Canaan the first time, the book of Psalms, numerous teachings by Christ as well as other passages throughout Scripture.

(p.l) In this booklet, Knox is primarily concerned with examining the Mass from a Biblical perspective but Knox in his life also spoke out against false aspects of Anglican worship, Knoxs' work is elaborated under two basic points. 1. "All worshipping, honoring, or service invented by the brain of man in the religion of God, without His own express commandment, is idolatry." (p. 2) 2. "All honoring or service of God, whereunto is added a wicked opinion, is abonirnation." . (p. 17) In explaining his reasoning, Knox draws on a wealth of Scripture passages from throughout the Bible. With Knox's incorporation of so much Scripture, we must realize that these verses apply to all ... types of false worship, not just to the Mass.Knox's desire is that God's Word is sufficient to regulate our worship services. This should be our desire as well. The usefullness of this booklet is found in its introductory essay, footnotes, marginal Scripture references providing chapter and verse for passages quoted in the text, as well as updated language that makes the entire text more readable to today's reader. Also, Knox ably answers objections raised,by those who supported the mass.

Reading this book helps the reader in several ways. First, the reader is reminded that problems in the worship of God have existed throughout history., We are not facing problems in this

Thus, this re-publication of John area for the first time. Secondly, Knox's writings on worship God's inspired word is sufficient should not go unnoticed. Kevin to direct us in proper worship as Reed has written a helpful well as how to answer the introductory essay in which he improper. Knox provides the explains a basic fact that "the "how to" in this booklet. struggle between true and false Finally, we must always examine worship was the central conflict our own worship practices in of the Scottish Reformation." Con't on page 24

The Counsel of Chalcedon June 1990 Page 21

would give them $75,000 in 20 years. In 30 years they would have over $346,000. Karl Marx could not have dreamed of a better "opiate of the people" (proletariat-worker) than the current gambling/lottery craze. Legalized gambling is a scourge upon society for many reasons. It exploits the ignorant who do not understand the odds against them. Gambling robs a man of creative thought and dulls initiative both now and in the future. His gambling undermines family budgeting. It is a seductress toward something-for-nothing. It is also a handy tool for politicians to fund the socialistic policy scams of big government. It assaults and undermines Godly labor and the cultural mandate given by God at creation (Genesis 1:26-30). The politicians' lottery/education schemes will rape what little wealth is left from poor families. Educators, of all people should oppose such folly! What does lottery proponents

"gambling/lotteries" teach your junior and senior high school students about chance games and productive work? What will our Nation reap via this policy? Will we see millions more of idle vagrants ("hornless") spending their pittance on lottery tickets? Pro-gambling/lottery politicians are not long-term friends to your State and our Country. They are short-term political opportunists who should know better. They pretend to care for our children. But their plans undermine work

and teach instead to sucker the poor and ignorant to pay for your schemes. Hopefully, Christian leaders who care will not continue to let them get away such hypocrisy.

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Cont. from Page. 24 light of the Scripture presented. We can be assured that Satan and our own weak flesh will battle proper worship. Knox reminds us that God's word is sufficient ammunition to battle false worship. True worship honors . God and advances the Gospel.

Plan to read and circulate this booklet. Do more. Pray that this booklet will be used to further a desire for and a practice of proper. worship.

Page 24 June 1990 The Counsel of Chalcedon