Sad Story of the 'Visual Story Network'

...inmates running the asylum. Christendom 2008
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"...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." (2 Thes. 2:10b-11)

Innovative leaders gather to change the way the Church communicates with the World: source

POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA (ANS) -- Fifty-five leaders from 49 organizations met last week to “ignite a global movement of visual story for the sake of Christ’s kingdom.”

"The Visual Story Network Summit was a unique gathering of Christian leaders representing mission groups, Bible agencies, creative networks, media producers, filmmakers, distributors, universities, churches and television broadcasters."

“These participants are among the most innovative thinkers and practitioners in the world. They understand the need to move beyond ‘preach’ and ‘print’ to ‘portray,’” said Clyde Taber, Executive Director for the Visual Story Network.

During the Summit, strategy groups formed to focus on North America, global opportunities, training visual communicators and facilitating communication and collaboration.

The American Bible Society, Youth with a Mission, Highway Video, Asbury College, Sermonspice, SAT 7, Navigators, JESUS Film Project, Northland Church, Igniter Media, Good News Productions, Hollywood Connect and Mission America were among the organizations involved.

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re: some very big names, and "understanding the need to move beyond 'preach' and 'print' to 'portray'"

Fifty-five leaders from 49 organizations who have been convinced of the need to abandon preaching and the use of the written word of God....to become "visual communicators", i.e. using movies, video's, dramatic presentations, etc., in order to 'portray' the 'gospel message'. It is truly hard to fathom a level of deception so tremendous as what has here been foisted on such a large group. It demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of scripture. To "ignite a global movement" of such a thing is an iscariotic act of the highest order.

To forsake preaching and to forsake 'print', the actual physical use of the bible, is nothing less than an absolute defiance of God himself, who has commanded these very things as the only possible means of 'communication'. 'Preaching' is the only God-sanctioned method for communicating the 'good news' of the gospel to men, and 'print', or, the written Word of God, i.e the Bible, is the only means man has available for his own personal communication from God. Who but Satan himself would come along and try to talk a 'Christian' out of preaching and out of using the bible? Well, 'The American Bible Society' for one, apparently.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105).

To "move beyond print", as is the stated goal of these "innovative leaders", leaving the written word of God behind, is beyond comprehension. It is to condemn oneself to be forever wandering through the waste howling wilderness (Dt. 32:10) and spiritual darkness of this world (Eph. 6:12) without the only thing that can 'light' the way. Sadly, this group of 'visual storytellers' will not be able to 'see' their way through on this fateful journey, and this 'story' will not have a happy ending.

"The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead." (Prov. 21:16)

As to preaching, these scriptures (below) from the book of Romans teach us that the Word of God, 'preached' by one who is 'sent', and 'heard' by those whom are the 'sent to's'...is God's only given method for the communication of his "glad tidings of good things":

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:14-15,17)

By decree of the LORD himself then, faith can only come "by hearing" the word of God...not 'by seeing'. How could it be any clearer? These precious gospel truths must be utterly denied to promote what is being called "visual communication". But, the apostate church of Christendom 2008 is doing just that, convinced (deluded) that they, knowing better, now understand the need of doing it the 'new way'...it's a 'postmodern thing and all...you know'. Sorry, but this is simply rebellion against the authority of God. Their 'understanding' has vanished and has been replaced with "strong delusion". It's easy to 'see' that Satan has done quite a number on them!

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

The seeds of corruption planted long ago by the enemies of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ have grown into full sized trees and are now bringing forth a massive harvest of deception, as evidenced here. Each deceived individual is personally responsible though, because, according to the Word of God, as quoted at top...

"They did not receive the LOVE of the truth, AND FOR THIS CAUSE GOD SHALL SEND"...(it's a judgment against them)..."strong delusion, that they should believe a lie":

But what about the unfaithful? What about professing Christendom? I have not a word of comfort to say; for as the hour of trial will surely come upon the Jewish nation as a chastening of their unbelief in rejecting Him who came in His Father's name, the true Christ, and in receiving him who comes in his own name, so will it also be a time of trouble and of darkness, of terror and ruin, for corrupt, apostate Christendom; even as our Lord warned Thyatira that He casts Jezebel into a bed, and those that commit adultery with her into great tribulation. Believe the word of God. It is slippery ground, and argues boundless confidence in one's self and mankind, to form a judgment of what is coming grounded on what we may see around us; especially if that judgment appear to contradict the clear warning of Scripture. Now the word of God is plain, that God is about to send strong delusion, that men should believe a lie; for He will give up Christendom, as He once gave up Judaism and Gentilism, to its own rebellious perdition. And what does not Christendom deserve at His hands?

I speak of the unfaithful profession of Christ everywhere. Dealt with in infinite mercy, blest with the largest favours and the richest privileges, Christendom has lost its way as to truth and holiness and sense of grace and glory in Christ, far more than it has lost ground in actual outward hold upon the world. I am not denying the mercy of God, that works through men who send out Bibles and missionaries here and there over the world in these days; but such societies now are no contradiction, but rather a confirmation, of the sad reality they find everywhere, still less are they a reason why the day of the Lord will not shine with scathing light on the moral darkness of Christendom. On the contrary, here are the too sure indications of the great final crisis — the mass of men settling down, not only in infidelity, but in that phase of it which takes the character of apostate Christianity; not the profane scepticism of a Rousseau or a Voltaire, but the theological infidelity of the day — that of men who still profess to be Christians, yea, teachers and dignitaries, it may be in high positions, professorial or episcopal....Therefore I do not mention the fact to throw stones at individuals, but to pray that those who love Christ may labour more earnestly because they know of the fearful growing swamp of delusion into which Christendom is about to fall. The more I am assured of the love of Christ, the more it will act upon my soul; the more I am assured of the destruction that awaits the world, the greater the need to warn men, if peradventure some may be saved. Therefore may God bless His own truth, and keep His children's eyes on the coming of Christ, free from anxious speculation about the predicted troubles for the earth, as if such must be their pathway to heaven. Waiting for Him in the communion of His patience, we shall be caught up to meet and be with Him, ere the hour of temptation envelopes this guilty world. William Kelly (1870's?)

see also: the-falling-away-2thes. 2:3

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Many people will speak with head knowledge of truth. A preacher may expound truth eloquently. However knowing truth and loving truth are two different things. Only loving the truth will enable a person to make the hard choices when necessary...only loving the truth will safeguard against the easier, flesh pleasing path of compromise...only loving the truth will safeguard against being seduced into the many subtle forms of vile apostasy which can seem so innocent or harmless in the beginning...

"...because they received not the love of the truth"

Christian, you must receive the LOVE of the truth, that's the only safe place. If you cannot in all truth say that you do, then you must ask the Lord to give you a love for his word. It's His word, and His Holy Spirit that must do the work. It's your's for the asking, but you must be sincere. Ask and ye shall receive.

Love not the world, it is enmity with God (James 4:4), and also, you must separate from this pervasive raging apostasy. Men in rebellion forming their own World Government, and the apostasy of Christendom culminating in a global religious conglomeration, are the signs of the coming judgment of the earth...and those very signs are here in a big way.
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Psalms 119:127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.