From: rksuto@oregon.uoregon.edu (Robert Suto)
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Subject: Re: Mike Warnke Controversy in Cornerstone magasine
Date: 21 Jul 92 21:21:11 GMT
Article-I.D.: nntp.1992Jul21.212111.989
Organization: Dep. of Chemistry

In article <1992Jul20.142448.10094@cs.rose-hulman.edu>, pearsodc@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu (Douglas C. Pearson) writes:
> 
> 
> This is a crosspost from soc.religion.christian concerning one of my  
> heroes, Mike Warnke, a Christian comedian who God has built an incredible  
> ministry on over the past few years...does anybody on r.m.c know anything  
> more concerning this?  I really hope it isn't true...but then again, does  
> Cornerstone have any reason to print lies?
> 
> Pray for Mike and Rose and their family...whether this is true or not,  
> they're in for a long haul...
> 
> Please post to both boards, as I expect there are people in r.m.c and  
> s.r.c who are very interested in this issue...
> 
> clueless chuck
> PearsoDC@NeXTWork.Rose-Hulman.Edu
> 

>
In reply to the Mike Warnke Controversy:

   In the latest issue of Cornerstone, a major portion of the magazine is devoted to the investigation of Mike Warnke. (I want to apologize now, because I do not have a copy of the article with me, for I have loaned it to friends at church.) I have read the article and also listened to a seminar by the two authors, John Trott and ?(sorry), at the Cornerstone '92 festival, July 2-5. This article had not been published lightly, but is a well researched and prayerfully considered piece of journalism.
   Their investigation centers around Mike Warnke's book 'The Satan Seller' which was published 20 yrs ago, and is the basis and foundation of Warnke's ministry. Several years ago, the authors did a simular investigation into Laura Stratford (Satan's Underground) and exposed her story as false. Becouse of this, several peple have approached the authors over a number of years with concerns about Mike Warnke.
   The article follows several lines of evidence:
1.  Mike Warnke clames in his book to have gone to college and was recruited into a group of satanists. He quickly became their leader, after which he was converted to Christianity. His book does not give exact dates, but does give enough information to establish a time line. This internal time line does not fit when examined with external documentation ( lunar cycles, college transcripts, etc.). Simply put, Mike does not have enough time to complete all that is claimed in the book.
2.   The authors traked down people in Mikes past life. His close college friends and girlfriend refute Warnke's story, and describe him as a 'storyteller'. Other people, like pastors, friends, coworkers of Warnke's latter life describe a lifestyle that is not right for a man of God. Here are many witnesses that discount Warnke's claims.
3.   They investigate Warnke's ministry, and there are a number of alligations and concerns here. (Of particular intrest is Warnke's rapid salary increase over the years - 200,000 in 1990 (?))
4.   Finally, Mike is currently in his fourth marriage (!?!)

	  I would encourage everyone to obtain and circulate this article. I had never heard of Mike Warnke before this , but many of my friends have. They were sceptical at first, as you probably are, but the evidence is strong, that Mike Warnke's ministry is based on a LIE.
   The authors did not fell bound by the principle found in Romans, but they did make an atempt before publishing to personally meet with Warnke, but he refered them to his lawyer. They suggested that each side bring some pastors to act a witnesses, in an effort to keep this within the Church, but were again told to contact his lawyer. (Hmmm?!)
   The authors ask Warnke to repentof his falseness and to come under the discipline of the Church, and remove himself from his ministry. One problem is that Warnke is accountable to no one but himself within his ministry. Thus the Church as a whole will have to band together and make him accountable.

   In closing, Mike Warnke is not being judged by Cornerstone, nor myself. The bible calls us to test those who come in the name of Jesus. God is TRUTH, and as Christians the truth counts. We are also told to lovingly bring back a fallen brother into a right relationship with God. In selecting a leader within the Church, the Bible states that we should look and see haw a man runs his own house (4 wives gives me a clue! :>).
   To those who have been positively affected by Warnke's ministry, do not downplay that, because the Word of God is true, loving and pewerful, and the messenger can not corrupt that.

Robert

"If you are going to cross over, bring the cross over!"