Is Willow Creek on a downward path?
I'm sure that by now you have heard that Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., split with Exodus International. Until now, I have only heard politically correct statements from Willow Creek. But apparently, according to Alan Chambers of Exodus International, Willow Creek first met in 2008 with a pro-homosexual group by the name of Soulforce who is (according to their website http://www.soulforce.org/) "committed to freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people from religious and political oppression through relentless nonviolent resistance" and with gay affirming pastor, Jay Bakker and then Willow Creek began a series of meetings with Exodus and other ministries before their final decision to split with Exodus was made.
 
Hear the interview with Alan Chambers here:The Janet Mefferd Show (http://www.janetmefferdpremium.com/2011/07/26/janet-mefferd-radio-show-20110726-hr-1/)

Just last week, emergent church leader and homosexual activist - Tony Campolo, spoke at Willow Creek. Only days earlier, Howard Schultz, the chief executive officer of Starbucks canceled an appearance at Willow Creek's annual leadership conference after pressure from gay rights groups (http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/August/Starbucks-CEO-Cancels-Willow-Creek-Summit-Talk/). According to Todd Friel of Wretched and Way of the Master, emergent church pastor Erwin McManus spoke at the leadership conference. Friel described McManus' message as "dangerously false". According to Willow Creek's website, The Global Leadership Summit 2010 included a session from Oneness Pentecostal preacher T.D. Jakes titled "Combustible Passion". According to the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, Jakes denies the Trinity. CARM:"T.D. Jakes’s view on the nature of God is known as modalism. Modalism is a heresy that teaches the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do not simultaneously exist as distinct persons. Rather, God at some times and places is the Father, at some times the Son, and other times the Holy Spirit." (See: CARM: T.D. Jakes)

The following is from Willowcreek's website:
August 17
Tony Campolo

A pastor, sociologist, and public speaker, Tony challenges Christ followers to live out the "red letters," the words of Jesus in the NT. His recent releases include Connecting Like Jesus, Choose Love Not Power, and Stories that Feed Your Soul.

7 p.m., Worship and Teaching (Lakeside Auditorium)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tony Campolo in his own words:

The following quotes are from an article titled, "Where Did the Emergent Church 'Emerge' From?" By: Dave Fiorazo (http://goodfight.org/a_t_emergent_church.html)

"Going to heaven is like going to Philadelphia... There are many ways...It doesn't make any difference how we go there. We all end up in the same place." 1a

"On the other hand, we are hard-pressed to find any biblical basis for condemning deep love commitments between homosexual Christians as long as those commitments are not expressed in sexual intercourse." 1b

"But the overwhelming population of the gay community that love Jesus, that go to church, that are deeply committed in spiritual things, try to change and can't change..." 1c

"...we want to see God at work converting society, converting the systems, so that there aren't the racist overtones, the economic injustices, the polluting of the atmosphere." 1d

"I learn about Jesus from other religions. They speak to me about Christ, as well."1e

"I'm not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians." 1f

(Tony Campolo is an author, professor of Sociology at Eastern College, former spiritual counselor to President Bill Clinton, and a leader of the movement called "Red Letter Christians".)

Listen to Understanding the Times with Jan Markell : What's A Red Letter Christian?
Eric Douma a Twin Cities Pastor, joins Jan to help listeners better understand "Red Letter Christians".  What do they believe? Why are their beliefs literally dangerous?  Who are the leaders to avoid?  How and where are they seducing millions, heavily young people?  How are they promoting a form of neo-Marxism?
(Part 1: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/understanding-the-times/listen/whats-a-red-letter-christian-part-1-208889.html)
(Part 2: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/understanding-the-times/listen/whats-a-red-letter-christian-part-2-208890.html)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

(From 2007) Mature devoted Christians in seeker-sensitive churches are fed up and calling for their pastors to teach the word and not just give them fluffy messages that tickle the ears of the unbelievers. Willow Creek (which is the model for many seeker-sensitive churches) in 2007 reconsidered the way it had been doing church for years after the results of a survey and focus groups. In a Christianity Today article written Oct. 18, 2007 titled 'Willow Creek Repents?' (You can read the entire article at http://www.outofur.com/archives/2007/10/willow_creek_re.html .) It's pastor, Bill Hybels irritated by the results of the survey first reaction was, "I'll feed those people...I'll hire some old seminary prof...I'll feed 'em till they barf!" (watch video here).
 
But has it gotten better or worse? Are the people at Willow so infiltrated with doctrine now that they are "barfing"? Well, on July 14th, 2010 emergent pastor and heretic Rob Bell (Love Wins) was invited by Pastor Bill Hybels to come and speak at Willow Creek Church. (See: Between the Trees: Rob Bell speaking at Willow Creek Community Church recorded in 2003) I think it's plain to see that either the leadership at Willow Creek is lacking serious discernment or is embracing liberalism (i.e. social justice and the emergent movement). When you lack solid Bible teaching, error is not far off.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Wretched Segment of the Day: A man who mocks from the pulpit is no pastor (http://www.wretchedradio.com/podcast.cfm?h=48256E389BBE50C5D0EC81284AF95287&page=1) Todd Friel calling on pastors to have some guts and call out apostate preachers. Unless solid Bible teaching pastors call out men like Hybels and Warren to repent or else be marked, with the huge influence that these men have over evangelicalism, it will only get worse.