Truth Matters Newsletter May 2013

Christ For Us and In Us

Part One

Rev. Robert S. Liichow

One of the most difficult tasks for humans to accomplish is that of balance. It seems to be part of our falleness to gravitate from one end of a spectrum to the other. Many heretical teachings are at their core true doctrine which have been wrest from their proper orbit and transformed into something they never meant. An example would be the Person of Christ Jesus. We believe, teach and confess that Jesus Christ is completely divine and completely human apart from sin. The heretic will take one true aspect, e.g. the humanity of Christ to such a degree as to deny His divinity. Other heretics make Christ to be only divine and not a true man.

This creaturely habit of focusing on one thing to the neglect of others is seen throughout the Church world. Some groups are very well established in our justification on Christ’s merits alone, such as our own LCMS. Some denominations have focused in on the changed life or sanctification, which is laudable. Still others focus on works of mercy and charity. Several of the more questionable sects focus on healing and deliverance from demonic powers, speaking in other tongues and dancing in the aisles.

Within the Church there are two pathways through which all Christians use in order to relate and benefit from what our Lord Jesus Christ has provided for us through His work on the cross (Colossians 1:20). He is currently performing on a ministerial level as our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) and Intercessor (Hebrews 7:25). Both paths are clearly seen in the New Testament and they both have the same goal, the reception of the goods gifts of Christ, fellowship with Him and usefulness to others. Yet these ways of relating to Jesus are not equal and if the lessor path is taken at the neglect of its superior then the disciple is open to great deception.

As people we are either looking for Christ within ourselves, from which we get our term enthusiasm (en-thëo) or we look to Him outside ourselves (extra-nos). The tricky part is that these are not either or propositions, they are both and. Yet due to our inherent sinfulness few believers ever attain a proper understand of the relationship of these two realities in their spiritual walk.

Christ In You!

    In popular American evangelicalism the focus of the messages are almost completely enthusiastic in nature. The emphasis is on the texts which deal with the reality that Christ does indeed reside in us, here are just a few examples:

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Ro 8:10

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Ga 4:19

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 1:25-27

that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Phm 6

These texts are most certainly true and they mean what they say and they say what they mean. Christ dwells in us when He makes us His own. Enthusiasts add to this position the following biblical texts:

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor. 3:16

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:5.

And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he
hath given us. 1 John. 3:24

If words mean anything in their context it is beyond dispute that Christ indwells the believer as does the Holy Spirit. If these passages were not enough fuel to fan the flames of fervor, let me add yet more!

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Co 6:16–18

Not only can a biblical case be presented for Christ dwelling within us as well as the Holy Spirit, one can also declare that the Father also is in us as well. Note Jesus does not say in this text that the believer will go to heaven; He says He and the Father will come to him, and it is the Father who is quoted by Paul in his reference to the Corinthians.

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Cor. 6:17

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater
is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.1 John 4:4

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:12-13

These marvelous statements of eternal truth are important facts for the children of God to receive and as with all scripture, they are to be fully embraced but they do not comprise the whole of the Christian message or life. These texts, like all of God’s Word are extremely powerful and beneficial when understood in their proper context. When misapplied these same verses are used by our Adversary the devil (1 Peter 5:8) through mouths and actions of the false apostles, teachers and prophets. Through these counterfeits Satan entraps and ensnares the unwary (2 Peter 3:16). Leading them by their senses they are turned within themselves into an ever deepening gyre of error. Sadly, the enthusiast begins using subjective experience as the foundation for he or her spiritual life as opposed to the objective Word of God.

The verses I have cited comprise the basis for what we Evangelicals call the “theology of glory.” I know of what I say, I preached these very texts from this perspective for many years as a sign-gift enthusiast. The messages would go something like this and for at least 1.5 hours —–

Since God is in us, what manner of lives ought we to be living? Jesus said out of our bellies shall flow RIVERS of living water. Ask yourself, is anything flowing out of me? Some folks can’t even detect as much as a trickle coming out of them! The very power of God literally radiated off of Peter to the degree that sickness itself had to bow its knee in his presence because he KNEW who he was, a MOBILE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST THE GREATER ONE. Look at Paul, a man on fire with the Spirit. So much so that they could just take pieces of the very clothing he wore and put it on sick people in other towns and sickness and demons fled, read it yourself in Acts 19:12 If time permitted I could tell you how Stephen was supernaturally teleported in Acts 8:39— what’s the title of that book, oh yeah, The ACTS of the APOSTLES.

No one can convict me of preaching anything that is untrue (at least on the surface) in the above “sermon.” Out of our bellies shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38), and the Holy Spirit did heal people once via Peter’s shadow, even as special miracles (Acts 19:11) were wrought by the hands of Paul on at least one occasion.

Reading these pericopes as historical events is a perfectly legitimate use of the texts. The error begins when these verses are presented as (1) manifestations of doctrine and (2) as normative. Entire false doctrines have been built around some of these texts. Sign-gift SINisters have made over a BILLION dollars hawking a false teaching regarding the alleged “point-of-contact.” There are firms that exist to do nothing but send out religious fetish objects to people’s homes on a weekly basis. For example, Robert Tilton, Marilyn Hickey, Peter Popoff, TBN, Leroy Jenkins, Oral Roberts (deceased) etc. DMI has the only book in print dealing with this specific error entitled “Does the Bible Support A Doctrine of Point-of-Contact?”

The “glory-grabbers” become ensnared into almost exclusively focusing on “God within,” it is heady stuff indeed. After all, didn’t Jesus say we would do the works He did and greater works (John 14:12)? Yes, He did. Have we not received the same Holy Spirit that Jesus was filled with (John 7:39; Acts 1:8)? Yes, we have. Then why aren’t we healing the sick, raising the dead, casting our demons and cleansing the lepers (Matthew 10:8), isn’t this the disciples mandate given to them by Christ? So it would seem. Lastly, Jesus said that “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). So brothers and sisters, where is the GLORY? The King and His kingdom reside within us. All the power of God, the glory of God, the wisdom knowledge and understanding of God are all within the believer! We somehow live in a paradox. We have the power within us, yet we as the Church we seemingly experience “power failures” when it comes to actually manifesting the true (δύναμις)
power of God (Acts 10:38) like Jesus especially when it comes to signs, wonders and miracles.

With Signs Following    

    Before departing earth our Lord Jesus gave His disciples the following directive:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall
follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall
speak with new tongues; They shall
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:15-18

Jesus said signs SHALL follow them that believe. Signs are proof or validation of faith for the enthusiast. No signs? Then one must have a very weak or nascent faith. What is the remedy for this “powerless” Christian life? That is the $64,000 question!

Turn Within

God is within me as His own dear child according to His Word, but where exactly is He and how can I work with Him to such a degree where He can flow powerfully through me? Where is His inner kingdom located in my heart? How do I experience it and Him in my life? Since the Holy Spirit is within me and He is to show me things to come (John 16:13) how come I keep making mistakes? Since God is in me, why at times do I feel alone or depressed? Jesus said “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27) so how can I learn to hear with my spiritual ears the voice of my Good Shepherd? These are all questions I have asked myself when I was initially exposed to the theology of glory. The same answer was given — turn within and begin the journey inside yourself.

Hunger Games

The methods by which to achieve the goal, union with God, varied from Gnostic revelator to revelator. The so-called “Healing Revival” of Post WWII was spurred on in large part by a small book written by Franklin Hall entitled “Atomic Power with God through Prayer & Fasting.” Hall taught that through long fasts the Christian could come into contact with the Divine within and release His “atomic” power to heal and deliver the multitudes. Every revivalist read Hall’s book, practiced his ascetic practices and then went forth declaring themselves forerunners of the soon returning Christ Jesus. Some of the Pentecostal leaders affected by Hall’s enthusiasm included: Oral Roberts, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, T. L Orborn, Myrtle Beale, A.A. Allen, and William Branham. Fasting has long been practiced by Christians as well as non-Christian cults.

Fasting is a powerful tool period. Mohammad alleged that he received a divine visit from the arch angel Gabriel who whispered to him to Koran. Where is the world today because of his fast? Various books have been written based on revelations given during long periods of fasting. For example, DMI exposed the lies of Mary K. Baxter in her globally best-selling books “The Divine Revelation of Hell” and “The Divine Revelation of Heaven.”

Fasting is a biblical principle (see Isa. 58:6-11; Mat. 6:16, 2 Cor. 11:27) however the Bible NEVER sets fasting out as a “method” or a “tool” to be used by people to find God within themselves. Fasting is NEVER used as a means to gain spiritual power and to teach that it is places such instruction firmly in paganism.

Ramble On and on

Prolonged times of “praying” in other tongues is one of the most common techniques for stilling the conscious mind and becoming “open” to inner direction. I used to pray between 2-3 hours per day in other tongues for many years which I assume was not all that unusual for tongue-talking people. Tongue-talkers have all been taught that when they speak in tongues aloud in certain settings that this is in fact a manifestation of each individual’s supernatural prayer language. Enthusiasts interpret the following text to refer to praying in other tongues:

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Cor. 14:14-16

During this time I was uttering “mysteries” in the spirit, communicating directly to our Lord within my heart. Nobody (including myself) knew or understood what I was saying and thus no one could ‘derail’ the spiritual strategies being unleashed by me and the Holy Spirit! Speaking in other tongues will alter your consciousness and it does shut down your conscious mind to a great degree which is not a good thing in that it can open oneself up to satanic mental attacks.

If you don’t like to fast and have not yet received the “baptism” in/of The Spirit and do not speak in other tongues fear not you have other options for turning within and finding the Greater One within you!

Silence on the Set

    Run silent, run deep (a little submariner lingo) is appropriate to describe those who silence their vocalizing and hopefully by shutting their mouths from chatter they can still their own “inner chatter” enough to hear the voice of God within their own hearts. DMI receives a newsletter from a group calling themselves “The Friends of Silence.” This is an inter-faith cult dedicated to turning within via silence and hearing from God as He or She is perceived by the hearer. The Quakers since their inception have strongly emphasized the “inner-light” and their meetings were (and still are) silent affairs until or unless someone had received an insight which they would share with those gathered. Various Roman Catholic orders take vows of silence in order to focus on their inner light.

The Music of the Spheres

    Music has an integral role in altering the consciousness of humanity. Every pagan religion I am familiar with makes use of music, often accompanied by specific dances, to get in touch with the gods. We’ve all seen the old movies with the “voodoo drums” whipping the devotees into frenzy. Nothing new there, the priests of Baal did it too, about 1,800 years earlier than RKO. Certain forms of music can place people into trancelike states and can certainly open make them susceptible to being misled.

In a former congregation (Jubilee Christian Church, Detroit MI was known as a “warfare church” led by a restored apostle, Ellis Smith a Rhema graduate) we would sing for at least an hour. The first peppy part was called “praise” and the latter portion of our time was spent singing soft, slow emotional choruses repeatedly, this we designated as “worship.” During this segment of the service the lights would be lowered, hands would be lifted and the people were eased into a place of mental susceptibility and that when the lights were raised (we’d look up and open our eyes and behold the pastor at the pulpit) we were ready to receive revelation knowledge.

    What do you think occurs when a person has been fasting for a few days and when not eating, spending that time praying in other tongues comes to church? This person comes expecting to encounter the divine within, around and upon (Isa. 59:21) themselves. With the addition of ecstatic dancing, protracted throbbing music combined with singing repetitive ditties at full volume which later shifts into soft emotive crooning in a darkened room that person has been cleverly primed and programmed ready to receive the “present day truth” (2 Peter 1:12) flowing from the anointed vessel up front. Due to the implementation of various mystical practices whatever is being taught somehow now bears witness (συμμαρτυρέω – confirming testimony) with the zoned-out mind (Rom. 8:16) of the disciple. Such people are taken captive by cleverly designed fables:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Presto-Change-o!    

    Reading about spiritual power is one thing (author’s love this), fasting on your own, praying on your own is most assuredly a regular part of the interior
work but one of the quickest means to attain your goal of union with God within is by impartation.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: John 20:21-22

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; Rom. 1:11

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1 Tim. 4:14

According to most of today’s sign-gift enthusiasts Christians must receive the Holy Spirit at some point after their conversion. Being “filled with the Spirit” is seen by them as a second or at least a subsequent experience with God which must be received by the individual. How does one receive the Spirit?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:13

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. Acts 19:4-7

Having laid hands on over 1,000 people to be “filled” with the Spirit I can attest that we broke it down into two simple steps: (1) Ask the Father to give you the Holy Spirit and (2) I would lay hands on them and command them to speak in other tongues (and I would begin to “pray” in tongues over them). Around 90%+ of the people responding to the altar calls did in fact mutter some disjointed syllables and went home happy and dazed stepping onto the road that leads within.

Not only was The Spirit purported to be given via laying on of hands (a foundational Christian doctrine, see Heb. 6:2), but we taught that one or more of the nine sign-gifts were also bestowed in this manner (1 Cor. 12:4-11) and of course we believed as the Bible does teach that physical healing can flow through the laying on of hands (Mark 16:18, Luke 4:40; Luke 13:13; Acts 28:8). Since the revival excesses of the late 1940′s the belief in ministry gift/offices could be imparted via the laying on of hands swept the enthusiasts. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to meetings held all over the globe by “restored” prophets and apostles[INCLUDE PHOTO IN NEWSLETTER HERE IF SPACE ALLOWS]. In these meetings they declare that they will be imparting spiritual gifts, signs and wonders will occur, miracles will flow! The advertisement is from one such meeting that promises attendees will hear a “now Word” for the Church and receive “activation” and “impartation” from the prophets in attendance!

The internet is filled with reports, testimonies, videos and audio files of what people experienced after hands were laid on them during the latest eruption of enthusiasm. People coming to the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF, which my wife and I personally videotaped while in attendance at one of their spiritual drunkards conferences) and Brownsville (the Pensacola revival) had hands laid on them and all of them fell onto the floor and went immediately into long periods of altered states of consciousness which became known as “doing carpet time.” When returning to some semblance of normality people reported meetings personally with Jesus, being called into foreign mission work, others reported an intimate personal one-on-one time with the Lord God of all creation and yet others reported feeling healed emotionally, etc. Naturally, all of these reports cannot be verified and are totally subjective in content. Yet this fact has not stopped people from acting on what they have “received” mystically, often with tragic results.

When you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you

All of the aforementioned techniques or disciplines have the same goal; which is to bring the practitioner into direct
experiential communion with God as He exists within them. None of those who are actively seeking to experience the “God within” believe in the total sufficiency of the scriptures. The Bible is simply not enough for the enthusiast. There has to be “more” and since they have rejected the sole authority of the Bible (objective divine truth) there is nowhere else for them to turn but inside of themselves. The Bible is for these people a guidebook, a map of where God has been:

The difference between the truth of God and revelation is very simple. Truth is where God’s been. Revelation is where God is. Truth is God’s tracks. It’s His trail, His path, but it leads to what? It leads to Him. Perhaps the masses of people are happy to know where God has been, but true God chasers are not content just to study God’s trail, His truths; they want to know Him. (Introduction, bold type added).

By studying the Bible one can at best know about God. There is a vast difference between knowing God and knowing about God. Knowing God comes through direct power encounters and through biblical study. These power encounters are usually of a variety which cannot be found within the context of the dusty moldy pages of God’s past tracks.

Mr. Tenney wrote a book entitled “The God Chasers” and these above quotes are from his book. Tenney is a hugely influential Oneness (a modalistic heretic) Pentecostal that crossed denominational lines and revved up another bunch of sign-seekers to turn within! Note the low view of the Bible and by extension, the Author of the Bible held by Mr. Tenney and those who follow him. The Bible simply shows us where, past tense, God has been. The Bible is just a collection of dusty moldy stories of God’s past tracks!

The power encounters these fledgling mystics will experience will not be able to be verified by looking to the Bible (those dusty moldy pages)! Variations of this statement are trumpeted by most of the best known globally influential revivalists preying on God’s gullible sheeple today. I heard John Arnott (former pastor of TACF) cite the following text to explain the total lack of biblical support of the manifestations in his church meetings that I challenged him about:

And there are also many
other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. John 21:25

    The fact that there is absolutely NO BIBLICAL SUPPORT for what the enthusiasts are doing is no longer a hindrance because they base their new doctrines on information “revealed” while in some form of altered state of consciousness. These novel beliefs and practices have greater weight than the authority of the Bible in their lives. This is easily proven by simply engaging an enthusiast in a discussion in which you demonstrate that what they are engaged in (for example being slain in the spirit) is not biblical and they reject the biblical evidence in favor of their experience. Those who’ve gone this far are literally adrift on an uncharted speculative cesspool of fleshly imagination and demonic activity.

    Dear brothers and sisters our God does indeed reside within us, His Word is true and we can embrace this truth warmly. There is nothing in the New Testament that directs us to turn within and seek for God within the chambers of our hearts. The manner in which we relate to our God is simply through faith.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

We walk by faith and not by sight; we take God at His Word and rely upon what He has handed down to us in the Bible period end of story. These people of self-proclaimed great faith are totally moved by what they see, what they hear and what they feel how is that biblical faith? It is not.

The very foundation for all genuine faith is the Word of God. When one supplants God’s Word in favor of inner-experiences then one’s foundation has become shifting sand and great will be the destruction of their spiritual house:

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. Luke 6:47-49

Space does not permit me to go into the many very tragic results of people we know personally who turned within and got “lost.” The majority of them are completely out of the Church, some no longer Christians (but still highly “spiritual”). Next month we will consider the other manner in relating to our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Father and risen King. Selah.

Christ For Me

Extra Nox “Extra nos means that your salvation and standing before God are never dependent on how much faith you have. They aren’t determined by how many sins you’ve committed. It’s not based on whether you feel happy or sad. It isn’t about if it makes you feel good or not. It’s not attached to your attitude or even how much sleep you got. The extra nos of Jesus and His gifts means that you can rely on them even when you don’t feel like relying on them!

Truth Matters Newsletter April 2013

“Rock’s Cover Us. . .Hide Us from the Wrath to Come”

End Time Preppers

By Rev. Bob Liichow

 Men’s hearts will fail them for fear and for looking upon those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Luke 21:26

The engine that moves the cosmos (κόσμος ) is fear and the engineer is Satan himself, the fallen defeated god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). Fear comes from uncertainty about the future and many people today are very afraid. They are afraid of a great many things including the future of the world’s economy (Cyprus and Greece spring to mind), our corrupt political system, the influx of illegal immigrants, the threat of homosexuals being given the ‘civil right’ of marriage, global ecological problems, and the fear of pandemic disease. I could go into the dangers facing our food supply in America due to the drought last year, rising gasoline prices which affects the cost of virtually everything, potential gun ownership restrictions, our national debt and currency issues, our weakened military, rising nuclear enemies, terrorists who are unlimited in the means of terror they use (for example an “EMP,” biological weapons, dirty nuclear suitcase bomb, poison the water supply) and the list goes on.

One thing is certain; there is no shortage of things to be very afraid of. Everything I have cited are in fact genuine problems, some more severe than others but many of them could potentially destroy our lives and country as we know them.

Where There Is Fear There Is Profit

For example, the Affordable Care Act (ACA — aka Obamacare) becomes the law of the land. No one understands the full impact of this law, few people understand it at all and yet it will impact every American citizen. Due to the unknown, the misinformation and now what is truly being revealed about the ACA, people are very afraid. The solution? Write and sell a book for $19.95 on how to understand and overcome the ACA! The author is making a fortune on his book. The event that help crystalize this in my thinking was seeing Jim Bakker a few months ago on his television program shamelessly pandering to the somewhat legitimate concerns of people regarding the possibility of food and power shortages in the near future. We covered some of his latest fundraising gimmicks a few months back in a prior issue (December, 2012).

The “end of days” is a huge business in America and across the globe. There is an unspoken generalized societal feeling that everything could potentially come crashing down on our heads for a wide variety of reasons. One I did not mention in the listing of reasons to fear is the belief in an apocalyptic ending of this world as a cosmic judgment upon humanity. We experienced an inkling of what some people feared with the advent of “2013″ and the Mayan calendar. People actually sold everything, quit their jobs, moved onto high mountains above the projected flood plain and waited for the end to come (they are still waiting, but now on their newly acquired mountain top property).

On television we have a couple of programs dedicated specifically to End Time Prepper tactics. One is aptly called End Time Preppers and it examines the various beliefs people have about the end of the world and what steps they are specifically taking to plan for the end. The methods of preparedness will vary depending upon the catastrophe envisioned. Prepping for a pandemic is somewhat different than prepping for an EMP or zombie apocalypse. What was concerning to me were the amount of people interviewed who stated they were Christians and that God’s Word has led them to prepare in this manner. Another program is entitled Doomsday Preppers which is devoted to building bunkers underground or semi-buried for folks to gather their family and make a stand against whoever else is left wandering alive on their own outside the compound. There is now something called “Prepper.tv” online and “Prepper radio” also online to help educate people on how to “bug out, hide and survive” the coming horrors!

For around $100,000 you can have companies dig a big hole in your property and place a steel storage container (maybe 2 or 3 connected) in it and cover it up for you! The interiors can be as lavish or as basic as your budget provides. Naturally they will provide actual booby-traps, gun turrets, flame throwing devices, surveillance cameras (securely stored in a “Faraday cage” to protect it from a possible EMP).

Naturally, in the minds of these fearful Preppers their biggest concern after the apocalypse is other people. They have prepared for the inevitable catastrophe physically, but what of the moral questions involved? How to handle those outside one’s protected enclosure is something Preppers acknowledge as a genuine concern. Brother Prepper looks outside via his periscope and sees a woman and little child banging on their door for food and water. What is the policy? Let them in? Toss them some vitals and tell them to scram? Ignore them, treat them as hostile and kill them? What if they are just “bait” and a large group of armed people lays in hiding waiting for you to open the blast doors? After all, you scrimped saved and planned —– those outside did not, they deserve what they get. . . If you are a Christian I think you see the deep theological issues at hand which I do not believe have been properly considered by our prepping brethren.

For whoever desires to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

It might be possible to survive some huge catastrophe temporarily only to end up eternally in hell. Are a few more years on this fallen sinful ball of stone worth an eternity separated from God?

    Much of the Prepper worldview seems really to focus on saving “me and mine” which is nothing less than a quintessential display of the flesh. Our flesh always wants to preserve itself, to avoid pain and sacrifice. It demands to be fed what it wants and when it wants it and our flesh eschews out of repulsion and fear of death (see Romans 8:7) the light of God’s Word (see John 3:20).

Important Rabbit trail: Please understand that our flesh cannot be reformed, renewed, kept submissive. It is either fed by us or it is starved. Never underestimate its hatred for God and its aversion to His Word. The only solution for the problem of our flesh is to reckon it dead (Romans 6:12) and remind ourselves that the old man was drowned in the waters of holy baptism (Romans 6:3) each morning as we walk by faith, taking up our cross and following our Lord.

A More Biblical Response    

Fear Not

    In the KJV the phrase “fear not” occurs 653 times and it is the common response of our Lord Jesus to His disciples (see Matthew 17:7; Mark 5:36; Luke 5:10, etc.). Since the fall of Adam fear has reigned over fallen humanity. Adam’s first response after sin to his Father was “I heard Thy voice in the garden and I was afraid” (Gen 3:10). Even the Word of Faith heretics Copeland, Crouch, Dollar, Meyer, and Hinn all rightly say that “fear is the opposite of faith.” The majority of the Preppers are motivated by fear and the preservation of self. The Bible clearly states that whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:25-30

    People do not build bunkers, invest in guns and gold with faith in Jesus Christ. Ultimately these Preppers confidence is in their preparations, their dehydrated food supply and ammunition. Their actions prove that they are very worried about the unknown future. They have put their anxiety into action and yet God’s Word counsels us saying —

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

There is only ONE WAY possible to remain anxious for nothing, and that is by fixing our eyes firmly on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Peter, in obedience to our Lord’s command began to walk on water until he looked at his circumstances, taking his eyes off of Jesus and then he began to sink (Matthew 14:30). We know that Peter cried out to Jesus for mercy and the Lord saved him.

Okay, Fear Rightly

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

    If we must “fear” then let us fear the Living God in Whose hands is the power to grant eternal life or allow us to suffer the just consequences of our sins. The same Greek word “φοβέομαι” (phobeomai) is used and it means both to be terrified as well as to deeply reverence. We are counseled by our Lord to NOT be terrified of, nor reverence out of slavish concern those who can at most kill the physical body, which is destined to decay and die (see 2 Cor. 4 :16 ) due to our sin at some point. We are to reserve our fear for God alone. Godly fear ——

. . .comes from the believer’s apprehension of the living God. According to Luther, the natural man cannot fear God perfectly; according to Rudolf Otto, he is ‘quite unable even to shudder grauen) or feel horror in the real sense of the word’. Holy fear, on the other hand, is God-given, enabling men to reverence God’s authority, obey his commandments and hate and shun all form of evil (Je. 32:40; n. 22:12; Heb. 5:7). It is, moreover, the beginning (or principle) of wisdom (Ps. 111:10); the secret of uprightness (Pr. 8:13); a feature of the people in whom God delights (Ps. 147:11); and the whole duty of man (Ec. 12:13). It is also one of the divine qualifications of the Messiah (Is. 11:2–3).

    If we must fear, then let us fear the One who is actually in control of the universe and all our tomorrows. Let us fear Him who knows the “end from the beginning” (see Isaiah 46:10). If we would seek to secure our “goods” then let us attend to our Master’s words when He says —

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;  but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

I would ask the Preppers where they are storing their treasure. Is it buried in a bunker somewhere or are they living by the principle of “freely received, thus freely given” (see Matthew 10:8)?

How Should We Respond?

    Subtract the threat of hungry zombies and marauding Muslims attacking our shores and ask yourself this simple question. If you lost all your utilities in a storm and you could not drive out for a week, would you survive? No heat, no light, no gas, no running water and no ability to drive anywhere, what will you do? This is a serious question that ought to be addressed by us all.

A prudent
man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: But the simple pass on, and are punished. Proverbs 22:3

    Wisdom would dictate being prepared for the possibility of having to meet just such a scenario as I have described. Contrary to the Jim Bakker’s expensive offers it really is not that expensive to set aside enough food and water for your family and a few others within the space of a small closet in an apartment. Areas are hit by natural disasters with unfailing regularity and I have discovered that most of God’s people (my own family included) are not prepared to help ourselves, let alone our neighbors. If not wisdom, then godly love for others should impel us as God’s dear children to be able to help those in need around us.

    Not only do I pose this question to us as individuals, I also ask it of our congregations. Our congregation currently supports a local Christian run soup kitchen which is laudable. However, currently we have not yet given consideration (at least not since I have been a member, which is not too long) to the possibility of setting aside non-perishables as a congregation for our surrounding community in the event of an emergency. Regardless of the size of any of our congregations, each one could set aside something on a weekly basis. Folks, it really is a relatively “painless” endeavor for any congregation to undertake and the food will at some point always prove to be a blessing to someone in need.

    In Christ you and I have died, buried with Him in the waters of baptism (see Col. 2:12) and raised up in Him to newness of life. The inescapable
fact is this —- we no longer belong to ourselves Acts 20:28 says He purchased the Church with His blood as does 1 Cor. 6:20. Since we belong to Jesus, He is our acknowledged LORD and if words mean anything then this means we are not “LORD.” The Christian is freed of needing to care for themselves because we follow our Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and with childlike faith (we know in whom we have believed 2 Tim. 1:12) we trust Jesus to meet our needs.

    In Him being freed from ourselves (experienced now to the degree that we will trust Him) we can now focus on the needs of those all around us, our neighbors. This concern for others is what I find missing from the ethos of the Preppers.

    Christ Jesus came and gave His life away for the sins of the world (John 3:16-18) out of love and now as His disciples we are called to follow His example, as He has said “the servant is not above His Master” (Matthew 10:24). Our Lord’s brother James could not state things more clearly regarding what comprises true religion —

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows
in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27

    I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet (Amos 7:14) and I cannot tell anyone what is going to happen tomorrow. However, as I have written, I believe that godly wisdom and prudence dictate that as ambassadors for the kingdom of God (2 Cor. 5:20) each of our households should be provisioned in case of an emergency.

Remember Joseph. . .Prepper With A Heart For Others

And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. Genesis 41:35-36

    One does not have to have a dream from God, know how to discern the prophetic portents or subscribe to conspiracy theories to remember —-

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest.

Truth Matters March 2013 Newsletter

I’ll Do It My Way!
By Rev. Robert S. Liichow

Recently while on Facebook (Truth Matters readers can talk with me daily on FB throughout the week, it runs in the background of our system in my office)[i] a woman wrote of her lament over not having a good local congregation in her area.  Either the assemblies were “Word of Faith nonsense” or “have coffee bars in their narthex.”  I understand her plight!  It can be difficult to find a solid biblically-based place to go and worship.

I asked some probing questions which were ignored and she got to what she really wanted —- validation of her position which she now made clear to us on FB.  She wanted to know (really, wanted approval) what people thought of her gathering with a few like-minded people in their homes for “Church.”  After all didn’t Jesus say that where two or more are gathered in His name, that He was there (see Matthew 18:20) she asked rhetorically.

Many people wrote back encouraging her to leave The Church[ii] in its current form and to start a home-church group.  Some suggested books that would corroborate her new path. These responses were not too shocking to read, Tracy and I had already been through the “cell-groups” and “home-group” stuff back in the 1980’s via Dr. Paul Cho[iii] and others and was somewhat familiar with the initial concept.  Initially small groups were to augment the message delivered by the pastor on Sunday during the week in small settings.  Also they were to help people become ‘part’ of large congregations through intimate informal home connections.

However, this is no longer the goal for what has named itself a “movement” (Home Church Movement). No longer do they see their role as assisting the local church instead they are calling for people to flee organized Christianity[iv] and instead attend small house church meetings because in their view organized Christian worship is a failure and does not honor God.

Why Do People Attend a “House” Church?

         Although there can be various reasons, based on my experience, speaking with others and research the reason people leave the established Church and seek out another venue to express their spirituality is because they were hurt in the Church.       For some people their experience was that the Church asked too much of them.  These folks worked and worked, they fasted, went to the prayer meetings, tithed off the gross, passed out religious tracts and eventually they simply burned out from their efforts.  This is an all too common occurrence in many congregations.  I have personally seen, experienced and taught (out of my ignorance and to my shame) the treadmill system of evangelical works in Pentecostalism, among the Baptists and other groups.  This form of spiritual abuse stems from a confusion of God’s law and gospel.  People eventually get tired, they tried their best and they know their best is not good enough to placate a holy God so they begin to seek out others who are burnt out, tired wounded workers to commiserate with in a more “intimate” and “informal” setting.

Some others leave the Church because their “gifts” are not being recognized by the leaders of the congregation and they are not being used properly (in their minds anyway) and so they leave.  These type of individuals are usually pretty easy to spot in a congregation because they will be outspoken, always seeking a leadership role in anything that opens up (each position is a steppingstone in their minds to get to the pulpit).  Many times these people will try to begin home “Bible” studies apart from any pastoral authority and oversight or gather a few like-minded souls for small prayer meetings, in which they really prey on the local congregation, its pastor and leaders.  These meetings generally focus on any problems the congregation is undergoing.  Having been in such meetings as well as being the target of such meetings I can assure you that the end result will be division and strife.  How so?  Eventually something is said or taught that gets back to the pastor and/or elders and correction is attempted to be implemented and the result is usually not reconciliation but a rift, and the hurt pseudo-leaders will leave and often take a few kindred souls with them.  Take them where?  To their home, after all they are NOT giving up on ‘God’ just the flawed man-made religious system which they know to be unbiblical.

The House Church movement (HCM) is comprised of people who have been wounded, rightly or wrongly in the Church along with rebellious souls who have a “better” idea of how to do Church.  The HCM was not founded on any theological basis nor is it a reform movement to correct pervasive errors in the Church.  People attend the HCM because they have been (or currently are) hurt and wounded in or by the Church and people lead these meetings to showcase their perceived gifts and talents, even on such a small scale.

HCM Justification

         Keeping in mind that these HCM folks are Christians[v] they do appeal to the Bible as their guide.  The main proof text they all cite is from the lips of our Lord Himself:

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:19-20

There it is in red letters in many Bibles!  Where two or more are gathered in my name, then Jesus has promised to be in the middle of them.  In their own words:

The fellowship pictured in Mt. 18:20 (the source of the house church doctrine of church) is “two or three gathered together.” Even “church growth” expert Lyle Schaller says that the “glue” that is necessary to unite worshippers cannot be achieved as a church grows beyond a limit of about 40 people. Other experts point out that an assembly larger than a mere dozen people creates an environment in which some of the people often back away from full participation. And there is the concern so well-articulated by that the institutional church tends toward viewing its members as an “audience” and the worship experience as a “show.” It is better, he said, to view God as the audience and all the people equally accountable for the “performance” of worshipping in Spirit and in Truth.[vi]

The “source” of this movement is one text, Mt. 18:20 that speaks of nothing regarding the structure or worship of the Church.  What our Lord says is that when as few as two or three are gathered in (or around) His name He is present period.  Jesus set no limits on the number of people gathered, He says nothing here about the format of worship, and the focus is the unity that occurs when gathered in and around His name.  From this foundational text they proceed to build their house of cards.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:38-47

Familiar passages where newly empowered Peter stands and delivers the Word of God and at least three thousand people (1) gladly received his word and (2) were baptized.  Then what happened to them?  These three thousand souls continued steadfastly (1) the apostles` doctrine; (2) broke bread together; and (3) joined in prayers.  They continued in DAILY united in purpose (one accord) in the temple.

68.68 προσκαρτερέω^a; προσκαρτέρησις, εως f: to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty—‘to devote oneself to, to keep on, to persist in.’ προσκαρτερέω^a: τῇ προσευχῇ προσκαρτεροῦντες ‘devote yourselves to prayer’ Ro 12:12. προσκαρτέρησις: εἰς αὐτὸ ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καὶ δεήσει περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων ‘for this reason, be alert and always keep on praying for all God’s people’ Eph 6:18.[vii]

They were formally instructed by the apostles in the temple daily and not in individual houses.  They went to the temple at specific times to offer prayer (see Luke 18:10; Acts 2:15; Acts 3:1).  Instruction and worship originally took place in the temple at Jerusalem.

The apostles went from “house to house” breaking bread for fellowship with the newly formed family of God.  There was simply no way for three thousand people to sit down together and fellowship and interact with the apostles, not to mention the fact that no meals were served on the Temple grounds per se.  As a confessional Lutheran when I hear “breaking of bread” I immediately think “Lord’s Supper” but my thinking may not be correct —-

Breaking of bread – The Syriac renders this “the Eucharist” or the Lord’s Supper. It cannot, however, be determined whether this refers to their partaking of their ordinary food together, or to feasts of charity, or to the Lord’s Supper. The bread of the Hebrews was made commonly into cakes, thin, hard, and brittle, so that it was broken instead of being cut. Hence, to denote “intimacy or friendship,” the phrase “to break bread together” would be very expressive in the same way as the Greeks denoted it by drinking together, συμπόσιον sumposion. From the expression used in Acts 2:44, compare with Acts 2:46, that they had all things common, it would rather seem to be implied that this referred to the participation of their ordinary meals. The action of breaking bread was commonly performed by the master or head of a family immediately after asking a blessing (Lightfoot).[viii]

Whether it was a Eucharistic meal or not this is when they gathered in smaller groups in individual homes.  The early Christians continued in the Temple until persecution came and we know that Paul’s practice was to go into the local synagogues and preach Christ until he was ejected (see Acts 9:20; 13:16-41; 17:1-4, etc.).  With further and more intense persecution by the Jews, who appealed to Rome to stop the Christians (who were initially viewed as a Jewish sect by the Romans) and then the Roman authorities also joined in and took over the official persecution of the Church.

Like hot coals scattered abroad due to persecution the fledgling Church began to grow wherever God’s liberating Word was proclaimed.  Due to the religious persecution by Rome the early Christians met in small groups, in catacombs and cemeteries.  Many were converted as slaves and had no property or place of their own, so they got together surreptitiously. For the HCM sectarians this fledgling state was the “golden age” of the Church.  Small groups, getting together to pray, sing a song and share a meal is all that God ever had in mind for the Church in their minds.   These people had fallen into a common mistake made by every restorationist sect and cult in history — they take the Book of Acts for a pattern for doing Church.  The Book of Acts is an historical account of the birth of the Church; it is not a manual for church growth.                 According to the HCM the pure Church only lasted a little over 300 years:

The house church movement saw the church as having “fallen,” and probably would have dated that fall in AD 313, when the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which gave Christians tolerance in the Roman Empire. Later, in 380, Christianity became mandatory for Roman citizenship. Many in the institutional church today still regard these events as a great and glorious day for Christ, but the radical reformers saw in it a tremendous evil. Constantine began a process that changed the church from a persecuted minority to the status of royalty. When he summoned the bishops to Nicaea for the First Ecumenical Council in 325, he had them all arrayed in robes of royalty and saw to their comfort as honored guests of state. He doted over the bishops who had suffered crippling injury during the persecutions of Christianity. It is not hard to see how these bishops saw in this radical change in their social status the very fulfillment of the promises of God–the state would help the church reform the world and then Christ would return to reign.[ix]

The HCM plays fast and loose with both biblical history and Church history.  An excellent resource detailing their misrepresentations is their own book entitled Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna.[x]  Today’s HCM consider themselves today’s ‘radical reformers’ and they are indeed radical.  How radical are they?

As startling as it may sound, almost everything that is done in our contemporary churches has no basis in the Bible.[xi]

Most Christians who claim to uphold the integrity of God’s Word have never sought to see if what they do every Sunday has any scriptural backing.  How do we know this?  Because if they did, it would lead them to some very disturbing conclusions that would compel them by conscience to forever abandon what they are doing.[xii]

A great deal of what we Christians do for Sunday morning church did not come from Jesus Christ, the apostles, or the Scriptures.  Nor did it come from Judaism.[xiii]

This is how the radical HCM begins one of its major apologies for their existence.  Their contention is that basically everything we are doing today in The Church has no basis in the Bible, in Christ or His apostles nor does what we do come from Judaism.  In their warped view everything we know as “Church” really came in with and through Constantine and his recognition of the Church.

As unorthodox as many ‘contemporary’ services are they still have enough of a shell or veneer to be called Christian.  Having come from a background of off-the-hook sign-gift enthusiasm I can attest that those services did have prayer, praise and worship songs, baptized folks in water, some form of preaching/teaching from the Bible. They usually offered a Sunday school class for the various age groups and offerings were taken up for various needs, etc.  All of these expressions can be found in the Scriptures, apart from Sunday school which is simply a more modern way of saying “catechism” which was the original practice of the Church.

A Few Of The HCM Complaints

Temples, Priests, and Sacrifices

Ancient Judaism was centered on three things, the Temple, the priesthood and the sacrifice.  With the resurrection of Jesus Christ He ended all three.  He Himself is the temple (see John 2:19), He established a new order of the priesthood with Himself being our great High priest (see Hebrews 4:14) and Jesus is the once and for all sacrifice (see Hebrews 7:27; 9:14, 25-28; 1 Peter 3:18). “Consequently, the Temple, the professional priesthood, and the sacrifice of Judaism all passed away with the coming of Jesus Christ.”[xiv]

Without dispute Christ Jesus fulfilled the law (see Matthew 5:17) and established a new covenant (see Hebrews 12:24) but even under the new covenant our expression of faith and love towards the Living God has not changed.

The physical Temple was destroyed in 70 AD — however, in God’s new order all the believers in Christ are now being built into a building made without hands.  Each member is a ‘living stone’ (see 1 Peter 2:5) being built into a spiritual house (temple).  On the macro level collectively the people are “The Church,” we are an organism and not a physical structure. On a micro level each individual believer’s own body is considered now a “temple” of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. 6:19).

The HCM trumpets that until the year 300 “we know of no buildings first built as churches.”[xv]  In their darkened thinking they wrongly assume that specific places for people to gather and receive God’s gifts were in fact some form of paganism.  This is simply not true.  To begin with they fail to recognize the deep and brutal nature of the persecution experienced by the first Christians (post the 70 AD dispersion).  The early Christians met when and where they could while being persecuted, this history is well documented for anyone to study.  We do know that as early as (approximately) 190 AD Clement of Alexandria first used the phrase “go to church.”[xvi] This says to me that very early on believers had already developed the understanding that there was a known location (the church) for the Church (the people) to go and worship at.

With the conversion of Constantine believers for the first time in over 200 years could openly and freely live their lives as disciples of Jesus Christ without fear of imprisonment, torture and death.  It is common to human nature for people to gather together around shared beliefs, always have and always will.  The fact that disciples of Jesus pooled their resources (as was seen initially in Acts 2:44) to either buy or build places that could hold more people, much along the lines of the local synagogues of Judaism; is not a “bad” thing nor is it of pagan origins.  There is absolutely nothing in the N.T. that dictates the style, location or capacity of where God’s people chose to meet.  It seems that our Lord is not so concerned about the location of where we worship as the HCM would have us believe.

Next the HCM decries the established clergy.  They proclaim that there is no such thing in the N.T. as seminaries and a separate class of people who function as “priests” before God on behalf of the people.  We are all priests now in Christ, ergo we have no need of anyone to teach us, since we all can learn from the Lord. . . This is their mindset, and it is seriously flawed.  While it is true that all of God’s children are now a nation of priests and kings (see 1 Peter 2:9) it is equally true that God has placed ministry gifts in the Body to preach, teach, lead and counsel the people of God (see 1 Cor. 12:28).  If believers become omni-competent at conversion, then why set in place apostles, pastors, teachers, evangelists, bishops, elders and deacons to help us grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord?  While it is most certainly true that I do not need any man to go before the Lord on my behalf (see Eph. 3:13) I can come boldly (not rudely) to the throne of grace and obtain mercy to help in the time of need (see Hebrews 4:16); I do still need more learned men to instruct me (see 2 Tim. 2:2). The Bible has much to say regarding the financial compensation of those called into the ministry.

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink?  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 1 Cor. 9:3-14

This discourse by Paul, defending his apostleship, states unequivocally that those who “preach the gospel should live of the gospel,” those who minister are to be supported.

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reasonable that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:1-4

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Timothy 5:17

The passages from Acts 6 show us a burgeoning multicultural Church that needed seven (7) men to assist in the food distribution to the needy.  This congregation agreed that the best use of their leaders was to free them to devote themselves to (1) prayer and (2) the ministry of God’s Word.  It was not that these men were “above” serving the widows; it was simply not reasonable or practical for them to use their time in that fashion.  Later on Paul instructs Timothy that those who rule well are worthy of double honor:

60.75 διπλοῦς, ῆ, οῦν: twice the quantity—‘twice as much, double.’ οἱ καλῶς προεστῶτες πρεσβύτεροι διπλῆς τιμῆς ἀξιούσθωσαν ‘those elders who do good work should be regarded as worthy of double honor’ or more probably ‘… double pay’[xvii]

Paul needed to remind Timothy of the great value of having learned men who were faithful in their duties as elders of the people.

What is the response of the HCM to these texts and Church practice of having trained and paid ministers?  They ignore these bothersome texts and with laser-like focus narrow in on the following text:

How is it then, brethren? when you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 1 Cor. 13:26

They misread the above text as do almost all enthusiasts.  To them it means that when folks come together that everyone has a psalm, a doctrine, tongue, a revelation or an interpretation.  In their minds this verse says “we are all equally gifted by God and can share in public.”  Paul was not saying this at all!  He was astounded in wonder at how was it possible for them all to come together and everyone try to contribute something to the “stew” of worship.  The result was an unedifying chaos of messages in other tongues, “revelations” and interpretations.  Paul is not encouraging this sort of behavior, he decries it and shows the Corinthians a better way.

Lastly, in this opening phase of the book the authors deal with sacrifice.  Christ Jesus put an end to the sacrificial system through His own death on the cross.  The HCM is correct in their decrying of the “un-bloody sacrifice of the mass” as celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church.  Jesus died once for our sins (see Romans 6:10).  Yet we are in Christ a sacrificial people in that NOW we offer ourselves as living sacrifices unto our Lord (see Romans 12:1-2).  We offer to God a continual sacrifice of praise (see Hebrews 13:15) for His goodness to us in Christ Jesus.

Next the authors go on to decry the formation and current use of “church” buildings, including the steeple (p.31), the pulpit (p. 33) and the pews and balcony (p. 34).  Among their very weak complaints about church architecture they say “in addition, the church building is far less warm, personal, and friendly than someone’s home — the organic meeting place of the early Christians” (p.40).  Also, they complain about the cost of building cathedrals and the overhead of running any size “church” building.  They sound to me like those who squealed about the cost of the nard the woman poured on our Lord (see Mark 14:3).

To begin with none of their arguments regarding the shape, size or layout of the buildings we meet in have any support in Scripture.  They simply do not like the shape, size and layout of church buildings.  Every congregation I have been a part of has entered into some form of a building program.  What business is it of anyone if a group of people voluntarily pool together their talent, time and treasure and agree to build a building however grand or humble?

They decry the fact that over 230 billion dollars of property is owned by The Church in America -– “…Christians are spending an astronomical amount of money on their buildings” (p. 41).  If we were doing so at the expense of the poor in our midst and missionary/evangelical outreaches then things have gotten a bit out of whack.

When it comes to money let us be honest.  How many hospitals, schools and colleges have been built by little house church groups?  NONE!  How many millions of dollars are sent annually by these groups overseas? NO MILLIONS SENT AT ALL!  Yet for all their faults and foibles the organized (gasp!) Church has been used by our Lord Jesus Christ to spread the wealth globally since the time of Paul (see 1 Cor. 16:1).  Who can “do” more a group of six people or a group of 100?

Lastly, what do these HCM people read in their Bibles?  When Moses began to build the Tabernacle the people gave lavish amounts (see Exodus 35).  The outside was made of badger skins, but inside it was beautiful, fitted with fine cloth, gold and silver.  The place where God visited His people was very costly to make.  If you want to check the math just on the precious metals alone the cost is as follows:

35,276.73 Ounces of Gold X $1382.96 = $48,786,306.52
3,594,982.60 Ounces of Silver X $29.80 = $3,594,982.60
90,445.90 Ounces of Copper X $0.28 = $25,324.85
Total = $52,406,613.97[xviii]

When you add in the cost of the materials, skins and everything else that went into constructing the Tabernacle the total cost is just over $57,000,000 in today’s currency.  Now move over into the N.T. and read that God’s own streets are paved with pure gold (see Rev. 21:21). . . what do you think His throne is made of? (Hint — Ez. 1:26 tells us it seems to be made of a sapphire) and we know that each of the 12 gates are each made of a pearl (Rev. 21:21).  My point is simply this — why shouldn’t a people whom have been RANSOMED from eternal death FREELY through the sacrifice of God the Son on the cross BUILD structures that attempt to display the glory of the God that saved them?  I believe the structures we have built and do now build are expressions of gratitude, signs of numerical growth; they become central locations for the community to gather for religious and other purposes as well.  We commit no sin by building beautiful structures to the glory of God.

Probably the most egregious of their errors is the insistence that Church “buildings” began with the conversion of Constantine; that much is true due to the former persecution for over 100 years that the Church had undergone.  Where they err is in their insistence that the Church took all its patterns and structure, including our order of worship, from the pagans (pp.21-43).

Constantine introduced candles and the burning of incense as part of the Church service.[xix]

Under Constantine’s reign, the clergy, who had first worn everyday clothes, began dressing in special garments. . .The Roman custom of beginning a service with processional music was adopted as well.  For this purpose choirs were developed and brought into the Christian Church.[xx]

For three months I dealt with the origins of our liturgical worship in Truth Matters in 2012 entitled “The Eternality of the Liturgy” (available online on our Blog at www.newdiscernment.org) and proved how everything we do (at least in our congregations) is founded upon the clear teaching of Scripture.

Moses built the Tabernacle exactly as he was shown (Exodus 25:40) on the mountain.  Every fitting and design was revealed to them by God.  The ministers and the services were all detailed out exactly, nothing was left up to “Moses” to invent.  The Israelites used incense and candles in their services.  They also had a “choir” known as the Levites and they had processionals too.  Remember David bringing the ark back to Jerusalem?  They processed until Uzza reached out to try and help God (see 1 Chron. 13:10).  Later on when the ark is moved again David dances out of his clothes to music (see 2 Sam 6:14).

Brothers and sisters Viola and Barna are either grossly ignorant of Church history or they are being dishonest with their readers.  Candles, incense, music, choirs, liturgical robes/garments, bowing, offerings, chanting and kneeling are ALL found solidly within the pages of the Bible.  For these men to teach that such practices are not Judaic (p. 27) or Christian is simply to ignore the plethora of scriptures which speak specifically about each aspect of worship.  The few things I have cited have always been a part of the worship of the Living God and you can find them both in the O.T. and the N.T.  To say that these things are pagan and have no place in the worship of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ —- is to lie against the truth and mislead people.

For over 1,600 years the Lord Jesus Christ has been a failure as Head of the Church (see Col. 1:18) according to the HCM.  His Body appears to have become spastic after 321 AD and only recently with the restoration of the HCM is Jesus really beginning to assert His headship over His people.  This is the HCM’s position and I tremble for those who hold such a low view of the omnipotence of Christ and what He has been doing through His Body on earth historically since His ascension INSPITE of our fallen condition!

f feminine

---

[i] I will remind our readers that I take very seriously people’s prayer requests and the Internet is a very good way to communicate immediately.  Please do not hesitate to either call me (313)319-8673, e-mail me at bobliichow@gmail.com or privately chat with me on Facebook with any prayer requests or questions.  I usually end my letters with the ending “His servant and yours” and this is most certainly true.

[ii] I have been informed that I am wrong to capitalize “The Church” — when I capitalize ‘The Church’ I am referring to the Church Universal, hidden and manifest on earth and in heaven, the whole company of saints.  When I use ‘church’ in lower case it is usually referring to the local congregational expression vs. the universal Church.  I try to be consistent in my grammatical inconsistencies.

[iii] Dr. Paul Cho is the pastor of the largest church in the world.  It is located in Seoul Korea and is a WOF congregation and sadly extremely unsound theologically.

[iv] When saying organized they are referring to all Protestant denominations, all Roman Catholic & Eastern confessions and anyplace that has a specific building and meets on Sunday and/or Wednesday.

[v] Yes you can be a Christian and not attend a local Church of any kind ever.  However, you will be a miserable, lonely and ineffective in your Christian walk, not to mention extremely ignorant of much of what God’s Word has to offer, let alone the glorious gifts given in the sacraments weekly.

[vi] Obtained from http://www.hccentral.com/. Underlining added for emphasis.

[vii] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, vol. 1, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains, electronic ed. of the 2nd edition. (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 662.

[viii] Obtained from http://biblecommenter.com/acts/2-42.htm

[ix] http://www.hccentral.com/dchurch.html

[x] Yes that George Barna of the various polls and statistics.  He too is now a devotee of the HCM.

[xi] Viola, Frank. Pagan Christianity, Published by Barna 2008, p. 4

[xii] Ibid. p. 5

[xiii] Ibid. p. 6

[xiv] Ibid. p. 11

[xv] Ibid. p. 12

[xvi] Clement, of Alexandria. The Instructor, Book 3 ch. 11.

[xvii] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, vol. 1, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains, electronic ed. of the 2nd edition. (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 608.

[xviii] Obtained from http://proyouthworker.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-would-it-cost-to-build-tabernacle.html

[xix] Viola, Frank. Pagan Christianity, Published by Barna 2008, p.24

[xx] Viola, Frank. Pagan Christianity, Published by Barna 2008, p.25

February 2013 Truth Matters Newsletter

What is Heresy?

By Rev. Robert Liichow

               It was Paul Crouch senior who spoke the term “heresy-hunter” in a fit of anger regarding those of us who dared to challenge the doctrines of the Word of Faith (WOF) cultists.

There’s a spiritual application here. … I want to say to all you scribes, pharisees, heresy-hunters, all of you that are around pickin’ little bits of doctrinal error out of everybody’s eyes and dividin’ the Body of Christ … get out of God’s way, stop blockin’ God’s bridges, or God’s goin’ to shoot you if I don’t … let Him sort out all this doctrinal doodoo![1]

               Crouch was (still is) irate over people who are equally concerned for the truth of God’s Word both great and small points of doctrinal importance.  It seems that Crouch has forgotten what our Lord and the Apostle Paul said to the disciples by way of warning when they stated:

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Matt. 16:6 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Gal. 5:9

In vs. 12 of Matthew’s account Jesus goes on to explain that the ‘leaven” He was speaking of was the false doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Paul warns that such false doctrine(s) can spread like yeast and pollute the entire batch.

               What Crouch does not seem to understand is that there is no such thing as insignificant biblical error.  Admittedly, we all see through a mirror darkly (see 1 Cor. 13:12).  While no one individual or denomination has perfect understanding of all the truth about God and His Word we do have a body of truth handed down to us by God through the Apostles and Prophets that we are to guard and contend for (see Jude 3).

               Crouch was concerned over what people were saying about the teachings his megastars were spewing on his television network.  What he considers “little bits of doctrine” surrounded the teachings regarding the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross, hardly a minor point of doctrinal disagreement! His response indicates that he has no real grasp of who Jesus was, what He came to do and the true meaning of what occurred on the cross.  I have said it before and restate it now —- “it does not matter what you are right about, if you are wrong about Jesus.”

Heresy Is

For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 1 Cor. 11:19
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 2:1
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Gal. 5:20

               The word ‘heresy’ and its derivations are cited 4 times in the N.T. and in each example heresy is shown in a bad light, i.e. it is never treated as a minor issue, but as a real threat to the spiritual welfare of the saints.

63.27 αἵρεσις^c, εως: a division of people into different and opposing sets—‘division, separate group.’ δεῖ γὰρ καὶ αἱρέσεις ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι ‘for it is necessary that divisions exist among you’ or ‘the existence of divisions among you is inevitable’ 1 Cor. 11:19.^[2]

Against this background, it is impossible to solve the problem of the derivation of the special Christian sense of heresy. For the development of the Christian concept is not wholly analogous to that of the Rabbinic מִין, as though, in the process of the separation of non-orthodox groups, the heterodox parties came to be designated heresy. On the contrary, the word seems to have been suspect in Christianity from the very first, and when it is used as a Christian technical term in conscious or unconscious connection either with the Greek philosophical schools or the Jewish sects it denotes at once societies outside Christianity and the Christian Church. Hence it does not owe its meaning to the development of an orthodoxy. The basis of the Christian concept of αἵρεσις is to be found in the new situation created by the introduction of the Christian ἐκκλησία. ἐκκλησία and αἵρεσις are material opposites. The latter cannot accept the former; the former excludes the latter. This may be clearly seen in Gl. 5:20, where αἵρεσις is reckoned among the ἔργα τῆς σαρκός along with ἔρις, ἔχθραι, ζῆλος, θυμοί, ἐριθεῖαι and διχοστασίαι. Yet neither here nor elsewhere in the NT does αἵρεσις have a technical sense. In 1 C. 11:18 f. we see even more clearly the impossibility of αἵρεσις within Christianity^[3]

Initially when the leaders of the Church spoke of heresy they were speaking of anyone or any group of people who contradicted the teaching of the Apostles.  Heresy was any variant belief that denied who Jesus Christ was, what He taught, what He did before, during and after His crucifixion.

As the Church developed and the revelation of God was codified into what we call the “Bible” today the definition of heresy crystalized into meaning something more specific:

Material Heresy: Material heresy entails believing heretical doctrines through no fault of one’s own ‘in good faith.’ For example, if a Baptist grandmother in Arkansas denies infant baptism without having been a Catholic and without having investigated the doctrine, she subscribes to heresy materially and is without fault.[4]

Formal Heresy: Formal heresy is strictly defined as the obstinate denial or doubt, after Baptism, of a truth ‘which must be believed with divine and catholic faith.’ [5]

               Even though the above is the Roman Catholic definition, we as evangelical Catholics should not have too many problems with it.  Theologically heresy has been honed down to refer formally to any false teaching about the Person and/or work of Christ Jesus.  We might differ with Rome regarding the “without fault” clause in their definition of material heresy.  If one can (1) read his Bible and (2) inwardly digest what has been written then he bears some culpability for what is believed.  This is eminently proven in the following text:

 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; 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:  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thess. 2:9

               These are people who are hearing a false message and believing what they have heard to be true, they reject God’s truth and perish.  It matters eternally what one believes about Jesus Christ.  Both the preacher and the hearer are responsible before the Lord.  The preacher is responsible for what he proclaims (see James 3:1) and the listener to how he hears (see Mark 4:24).

Heretics & Their Heresies Past & Present

               Solomon informs us that there is “nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9).  With this in mind it behooves us to consider some of the past enemies of the Church and see how they have morphed over the centuries in a demonic attempt to infiltrate the ranks of the pure wheat of God.

The Gnostics —-

The main differences with Christianity and gnostic belief were that god, who was purely good, could not have created the world, as the world contained evil. Hence Gnosticism created a mythology much like Greek mythology in which numerous other forces were the children of god. These children in turn created our world. One such child was Christ who descended to earth to share his knowledge, some secret knowledge of which the Gnostics claimed to be only part of their religion (the unwritten, verbal knowledge passed on by Christ). Also associated with Gnosticism are the beliefs that all matter was evil, including the human body and that Christ’s divine spirit only descended into the man Jesus with his baptism and left him before his crucifixion, leaving the man, not the Messiah to suffer on the cross.               [6]

               Gnostic schools were also called mystery schools in that what they taught was hidden from everyone accept those admitted into the cult.  As stated above, they denied the reality of the material world and saw it as evil.  Gnostic schools could go one of two directions, either they were licentious giving themselves over to the debauchery or they were extreme ascetics, denying their flesh as much as possible.  The Gnostics were the mystics of their day and as D.M.I. has covered over the years, these mystics are still with us today in the form of Crowder, Rick Joyner, Hinn, Arnott and others preaching mystical insights.

The Docetists —

               The Docetists were among some of the first heretics that the Church dealt with.  A good working definition of Docetism is:

Docetism was an error with several variations concerning the nature of Christ.  Generally, it taught that Jesus only appeared to have a body, that he was not really incarnate, (Greek, “dokeo” = “to seem”).  This error developed out of the dualistic philosophy which viewed matter as inherently evil,  that God could not be associated with matter, and that God, being perfect and infinite, could not suffer.  Therefore, God as the word, could not have become flesh per John 1:1,14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.. “  This denial of a true incarnation meant that Jesus did not truly suffer on the cross and that He did not rise from the dead.[7]

               The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John rebukes this error when he writes “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world” (see 1 John 4:2-3) and again in 2 John 7 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.”

Sabellianism —

Sabellius, a third-century theologian and priest, was a proponent of modalism. Modalism is a non-Trinitarian heresy claiming that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are simply different modes of God and not distinct persons within the Godhead. Little is known about Sabellius, who was excommunicated in 220 AD, but the teaching attached to his name became infamous and is still with us today.[8]

His error has been one of the more persistent heretical weeds attacking the garden of God.  The modalism of Sabbellius is with us today in various forms, probably the best known is that of the Oneness Pentecostals, the largest cult within the sect of Pentecostalism.[9]

As with all heresies, Sabbellius forced the Church to formally address an area of doctrine hitherto not yet solidly defined the doctrine of the trinity of the Godhead.  To answer Sabbellius our Lord brought forth a champion of Truth by the name of Tertullian:

In Against Praxeas, Tertullian argued that Scripture reveals that the Godhead is three who are at the same time one. He rightly considered this an essential doctrine of Christianity. In the Sabellian modalist view, the three are not anything real, but rather just different manifestations of the one. Therefore, Tertullian proposed that we speak of the Godhead as “one substance (substantia) consisting in three persons (persona).” This terminology would serve as the basis for future Latin theology, and it is from Tertullian’s pen that the important Christian word “Trinity” (trinitas) was first inked.[10]

The damnable nature of modalism is that it undermines the atonement of Christ.  If God is only One and He works in history by appearing in different modes than obviously it calls into question the reality of the humanity of Christ as Docetism would have us accept.  If Christ is not both fully God and fully man then he cannot be the one mediator between God and man.  This reason is more than enough to deny the heresy of Sabellian modalism, and affirm the biblical doctrine of the Trinity.

Monophysitism —

Monophysitism is an error concerning the nature of Christ that asserts Jesus had only one nature, not two as is taught in the correct doctrine of the hypostatic union:  Jesus  is both God and man in one person.  In monophysitism, the single nature was divine, not human. The denial of the human nature of Christ is a denial of the true incarnation of the Word as a man.  Without a true incarnation there can be no atonement of sin for mankind since it was not then a true man who died for our sins.^[11]

This is another subtle twist on the Person of Christ.  In this errant view people taught that Jesus had only one nature a divine one and not a human nature.  The physical body of Jesus was just a vehicle for the divine to inhabit.  Formally Monophycitism was condemned as a heresy by the Sixth Ecumenical Council in 680-681.  This view was held by some in the East and in Egypt, but it is not as widely held today.

Adoptionism —

Adoptionism says that Jesus was a human being who was “adopted” by God at his conception, at which point he developed a divine nature.  Later versions sometimes suggest that he was adopted later, such as when he was baptized by John the Baptist.[12]

               This view holds that Jesus became the Christ when He was adopted by the heavenly Father. Prior to His adoption as Son, he was just a mere man such as us ourselves.  This view flew in the face of so many biblical problems that it did not last too long.

Adoptionism was declared heresy at the end of the 2nd century and was rejected by the First Council of Nicaea, which defined the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity and identified the man Jesus with the eternally begotten Son or Word of God.[13]

Nestorianism —

               Some could not see Jesus as God, others could not see a God becoming truly man.  Nestorius tried to bridge this gap by proposing that Jesus was indeed both God and man, but not united as such:

 Nestorius (c. 381-451) was a monk from Antioch before he became the bishop of Constantinople in 428. He so emphasized the two natures that Nestorius basically turned Jesus Christ into two persons. Wanting to avoid any “mixing” of the divine and human natures of Christ (as Eutyches did), Nestorius over-emphasized their distinctness.[14]

Nestorius ended up with really two Christ’s one divine and one human.  This aberrant view was struck down as heretical and condemned by the councils of Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon(451).  There are some today who still hold to this view, but they are largely confined to Iran.

Apollinarianism —

Apollinarius taught that Jesus Christ had a human body but a divine mind (soul).  He is remembered as a noted opponent of Arianism, Apollinarius eagerly emphasized the deity of Jesus and the unity of his person led him so far as to deny the existence of a rational human soul (νους, nous) in Christ’s human nature, this being replaced in him by the logos, so that his body was a glorified and spiritualized form of humanity.  In his defense of the deity of Christ Apollinarius lost His humanity which proved to be biblically indefensible. 

The teaching of Apollinarius was condemned at Antioch in 378 and 379 and by the Council of Constantinople in 381. The primary defender of theological orthodoxy was Gregory of Nazianzus, a 4th century Eastern theologian and the Archbishop of Constantinople.[15]

The Scriptures prove that Jesus was fully man as well as being fully God.  As a man we know He grew in statue and wisdom (see Luke 2:52), He grew hungry (see Luke 4:2), He was and is easily touched with the feelings of our infirmities (see Hebrews 4:15).  According to Church history Apollinarius did add one part to our confession today:

Apollinarius did make a lasting contribution to orthodox theology in declaring that Christ was consubstantial (of one substance) with the Father as regarding his divinity and consubstantial with us as regarding his humanity. This formula, which originated with Apollinarius, later became official orthodox doctrine. Apollinaris was also one of the first to claim that God suffered and died on the cross, a claim which received immediate condemnation but later became acceptable in orthodox theology.[16]

Arianism —

The danger with doctrinal error is that it can be very difficult to eradicate once it has taken root in people’s minds to any great degree.  Such is the sad fact regarding the heresy of Arius, an Alexandrian priest in Egypt (± 250-336 AD).  “Arius taught that it was impossible for God in any true sense could have a Son; as Mohammed tersely said afterwards, “God neither begets, nor is He begotten” (Koran, 112).[17] Today we call that denial Unitarianism. Arius denied that the Son is of one essence, nature, or substance with God; He is not consubstantial (homoousios) with the Father, and therefore not like Him, or equal in dignity, or co-eternal, or within the real sphere of Deity. Obviously such teachings about Jesus Christ caused confusion in the Church and the issue had to be settled at Nicaea.

On August 25, 312 A.D. Constantine convened a Church Council to hopefully settle some of the issues troubling the fledgling Church.  Arius was withstood by the Bishop Alexander of Alexandria and his deacon, Athanasius, who later went on the pen the “Athanasian Creed” and who wrote four works against Arius.  Long story short —- Arius and his followers were defeated and the doctrine of the Trinity was strengthened and has remained with us to this day.  Unfortunately, some devotees of Arius are still plaguing people today.  The Jehovah’s Witnesses fall under the Arian category, as do the Mormons, Moonies, Unitarians, Church of Christ Science and some lessor known cult groups.

Pelagianism —

The error given voice to by an Irish monk named Pelagius has proven to be among the more long-lived errors to plague the people of God for centuries.  Pelagius taught that the original sin of Adam and Eve was not passed down to and through their offspring.  After the Fall of Adam mankind was left with a “spark” of the divine within them and if so disposed they could seek after God in and of themselves.  Since lost mankind could make a “decision” to either receive or reject God and His Word the emphasis was placed on human effort and not the grace of God.  In fact, for Pelagius and his followers taught that baptism was not considered necessary, in that people could be “saved” by their own efforts, that is, they did not necessarily require the grace of God.  Among other cardinal doctrines of the Church Pelagius rejected the need for the substitutionary atonement and justification by faith through grace.  He believed that mankind could reform itself spiritually apart from the grace of God.

Such a stance brought him into direct conflict with many other theologians of the Church and the man who went toe-to-toe with Pelagius was Augustine of Hippo. 

Pelagius’ error was deemed heretical in 416 by the Council of Carthage. Originally Adam, Augustine said, possessed freedom—the ability not to sin. After the Fall, all human beings participate in Adam’s sin, which renders them not able not to sin. After the mediation of divine grace in Jesus Christ humans are once again given the ability not to sin. Augustine replied to Pelagius’ views in two treatises: On the Grace of Christ and On Original Sin. Augustine writes: “We must realize that Pelagius believes that neither our will nor our action is helped by divine aid…he believes that God does not help us to will, that he does not help us to act, that he helps us only to be able to will and to act.”[18]

The errors of Pelagius remain with the Church today and are most often expressed in today’s revivalism and the ‘decision’ theology of Billy Graham.  Some within the eastern branches of the Church still cling to some of his errors regarding the fall of Adam.  Any system that promotes works and self-effort alone as a means of spiritual advancement fall into the same pit as this Irish monk.

The battle for the truth of God’s Word has been waged since the beginning.  The Bible warns from the old covenant to the new of the danger of being led astray from a pure faith in God through the deceptions of false prophets, false teachers and false apostles.  Eternal destinies hinge upon having faith in the Biblical Jesus and thus Satan and his minions work tirelessly to lead people astray by presenting a false Christ who is in reality no ‘Christ’ at all.

Historically people have erred regarding the Person of Jesus.  Some have wanted to make Him pure deity at the expense of His humanity; some teach of Him as only a man ‘anointed’ by the Spirit at His baptism thus denying His eternality as God.  Satan well knows that —-

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

If Satan can get people to follow any of the ψευδόχριστος (pseudochristos) false Christ’s he presents then he has achieved his goal, the damnation of the lost.

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret  chambers; believe it not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ^[19] Matthew  24:23-27

We are living in the last days, Jesus has warned His flock that people will be declaring that “Christ is here” (say, at our revival) believe it not.  No “ifs ands or buts” about it, for two thousand years men (and some women) have stood up and declared themselves to be the Christ of God.  Church history is filled with wonder-workers and those who seek signs and today’s Church is rife with such deceived deceivers (see 2 Timothy 2:25; 3:13) who oppose themselves, the Church and ultimately the Lord of glory Himself.

REJOICE my brothers and sisters because like Peter we have been granted revelation of who Jesus is, truly God and truly man, the Savior of the world as proved by His sinless life, His substitutionary death on the cross for the sins of the world and His glorious physical resurrection from the grave three days later!  Flesh and blood did not and cannot reveal Christ Jesus; this is the work of the Spirit of Grace whom the Father (see John 6: 37) uses to bring us to faith through the preached Word of God.  Our Lord has claimed us for His own, what a humbling and glorious truth!                          

---

[1] Obtained from http://www.iamforsure.com/False%20Teachers/Crouch/CrouchMain.html

^[2] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, vol. 1, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains, electronic ed. of the 2nd edition. (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 615.

NT New Testament.

^[3] Vol. 1, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley and Gerhard Friedrich, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964-), 182-83.

[4] Obtained from http://cantuar.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-is-definition-of-heresy.html

[5] Ibid.

[6] Obtained from http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/heresy.html

[7] Obtained from http://carm.org/docetism bold type added for emphasis.

[8] Obtained from http://theresurgence.com/2010/06/22/sabellius-know-your-heretics

[9] Please understand that not all Pentecostal believers are cultists.  Many Pentecostal’s are indeed Christians yet within their ranks are various sub-groups that are distinctly NOT Christian including The Way International, the Moonies, the Shakers, The United Pentecostal Church, The Pentecostal World Assemblies {PAW}, etc.

[10]http://theresurgence.com/2010/06/22/sabellius-know-your-heretics underlining added for emphasis.

[11] Obtained from http://carm.org/monophysitism bold type and underlining added for emphasis.

[12] Obtained from http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/heresies.html

[13] Obtained from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoptionism

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Obtained from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollinaris_of_Laodicea

 [17]http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01707c.htm

[18] Obtained from http://theresurgence.com/2010/03/15/pelagius-know-your-heretics

 ^[19] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Mt 24:23–27.

The “Word” of the Lord for 2013

by Rev. Robert S. Liichow

The beginning of every New Year presents another opportunity for the restored prophets and prophetesses to reveal to the Church what is on the mind of God for the upcoming year.

One thing that seems to be very true of our sign-seeking brethren is they all seem to literally practice “forgetting those things which are behind” (see Phil. 3:3) especially when it concerns previous unfulfilled prophetic (pathetic) utterances.  By now most people have forgotten the claims made this time last year and eagerly await with baited-breath and hungry souls to devour the most recent ‘Word’ from God.

Let’s consider a few of the most recent disgorging of deception from the fetid hearts of the misguided souls.  The first example speaks of good news!

The Word Of The Lord Received During Prayer For 2013 Onward
As given through Prophetess Bishop Doris Hutchinson, Apostle Steve Lyston, Prophetess M. Lyston, Prophetess N. Green, Prophetess S. DiMuccio, Prophetess N. Brotherton, Prophetess M. Malcolm.[1]

THE BODY OF CHRIST (THE CHURCH)

God is calling His people to arise, there are dangers ahead. Many Christians are too busy with their own agenda and they are not faithful to God; which hinders their blessings and the blessings of others. They have shifted their focus from the Lord and have gone back to their old ways. But thus says the Lord to His people, “Do not harden your hearts, but return to me. The enemy desires to sift some of you as wheat. Many prophets and pastors have spoken out of their own spirit to the flock, and have prophesied words that I did not speak, (for fame and recognition). Some have spoken lying words to leaders and others have gone the way of Balaam, and it has caused division and confusion within the Body of Christ.” 33. This is a time when God requires all Christians to unite and pray that His glory will manifest in the earth. It will not be business as usual in 2013.  34. God says, “I am still extending my grace.” 35. This is a year of repentance. Repent, Return and Be Restored! 36. The Lord says this is a time of New Birth. Many of this people have been in labor for years, waiting anxiously for God to deliver them. Get ready for God is about to step in many of his people situations. God is about to deal with your enemies as in 2 Chronicles 20.

Wow edge of the seat stuff, right?  Note the proviso that “many prophets and pastors have spoken out of their own spirit to the flock. . .” This is stated to buttress the “authority” by which this utterance is being made.  Since the seers are speaking about false prophets you know that what is being said is true.  We also learn that ALL Christians are REQUIRED (law) by God to [1] unite and [2] pray.  The result being God’s glory will be allowed to manifest in the earth.  So when this does not come to pass, guess what?  God’s people did not unite and pray as they were directed to do, ergo, God could not release His manifest glory in the earth.

THE UNITED STATES

37. God will cause the US economy to bounce back in 2013 to show His mercy. 38. God is watching the USA – the decisions they are to make they are to do so quickly 39. Pray for the safety and protection of the US President and his family. 40. God shall defend His covenant with the USA. “I shall raise up America and not allow them to be put to shame. Righteousness shall be restored.”
41. Pray for the safety and security of the Indian Prime Minister. 42. The FAA and TSA need to be extremely vigilant with all international flights coming from the Eastern sections of the world. 43. More airlines will be merging because of low profit margins and low sales. 44. Pray for 2 US airlines (initials DA and SWA) that they will pay close attention to maintenance in 2013. . . Additionally, other prophecies revealed for 2013 are classified.[2]

Glory to God!  Forget the increased taxes ALL American taxpayers have been hit with.  Forget the trillions in debt, a debt that is fast approaching the economic tipping point at which point the debt will never be able to be paid off.  Forget the massive unemployment rate, and set aside the growing welfare roll.  Almighty God, who cannot lie (see Numbers 23:19)   “God will cause the US economy to bounce back in 2013 to show His mercy.”  There we have it on the highest authority, a sinful person speaking out of their heart (see Jeremiah 17:9) the revealed mind of God for America.         This financial restoration of America is to demonstrate His mercy.  However, the Bible says that God has demonstrated His mercy by sending His only begotten Son to DIE for our sins on the cross not by providing financial prosperity.

Be encouraged, “God shall defend His covenant with the USA.”  What covenant is being referred to?  I know of the covenant God made with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc., but I am totally unfamiliar with any covenant God has made with America.  I am aware that now in Christ we have a better covenant based upon better promises (see Hebrews 8:6) but I can find no biblical reference to a covenant with America.

Furthermore, God says “I shall raise up America and not allow them to be put to shame.”  From a human point-of-view as an American I could say “yea God is on our side,” but the facts speak otherwise.  In order for God to “raise” up America then the following will have to change this year: (1) abortion will have to again become illegal and not the law of the land; (2) acceptance of homosexuality must be rejected by us as a nation; (3) the divorce rate, a manifestation of the breakdown of marriage must be addressed; (4) the Church must be unhindered by the political system; (5) illegal immigration must be stopped (it can be), etc.  These issues among many others would have to be totally reversed in order for our “shame” to be removed.  Folks, even worse than the above policy decisions The Church in America has the SHAME of allowing heresy to be exported to virtually every place on earth.  Some might be tempted to say “hey Bob our church does not export. . .”  Truth matters, it really does and the truth is the reason so much heresy and so many SINisters flourish is because the Church does little to nothing to combat them (keeping silent and hoping they go away is not a biblical option)!

Friends, I personally know every major ministry who sole mission is to warn and educate God’s people to the eternal dangers presented by the false teachers, pastors, prophets, apostles and brethren attacking the Church.  Every one of these outreaches is ignored by the Church at large and because of this lack of support all of these ministries struggle financially.  DMI has been in the apologetics and counter-cult arena for over sixteen years and to this day we do not have ONE congregation supporting us period (even though we speak at churches often, somehow it does not translate into any financial support.  Folks, DMI is not alone in this reality).

The prophetesses go on to tell us that God will “restore righteousness” to America along with our financial fortunes.  When was America a righteous nation?  If anyone will simply go back and read the sermons written back in the day, they will discover the pastors decrying sin and moral decay from the inception of this country.  America has been more morally upright in the past, but morality is not righteousness.  In order for America to be a righteous nation, it must be filled with righteous people.  The only way people can become righteous is by placing their faith in Christ alone:

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:1-11

Unlike the biblical prophets, this most recent crop of soothsayers is not in agreement regarding the future of the Church, America and the world.  Here are some future insights given by a prophetess Phyllis Ford.  Phyllis Ford, another prophet who works with restored apostle (opossum DMI calls them) Eckhardt and through her we are told by “God” the following:

An Issachar Prophetic Company Movement:

“There will be a new fresh strong prophetic movement arising, they will be liken to an Issachar people: who will know the times and seasons, and who will know what my people ought to do.  There will be a distinct difference in what is perceived now as the prophetic.  For I will establish my people in this hour to do great exploits; not just say what will occur, but also go forth to demonstrate and execute my will.  They will uncover and destroy the works of the enemy in many places.  They are humble warriors who will properly train and prepare those whose hearts are willing, and even to those who have lost their own way.  They will bear the burdens of the people needs in their hearts and will emphasize salvation, healing and the deliverance as they go.  They will not be afraid to walk in the power that I will release upon them for my glory, says the Lord.”[3]

God reveals through Phyllis “a new fresh prophetic movement arising” as opposed to the old stale prophetic movement which formally took off in the mid 1980’s.  The role of these newest of the new prophets is to do GREAT EXPLOITS as opposed to merely “saying” what will occur.  These newly minted prophets will go “forth and demonstrate and execute my will.”  Here are just a few quickie examples of God’s will as revealed in the Bible.

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. John 6:38-40

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication: 1 Thess. 4:3

…in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:18

 It would appear from the context of this pathetic word that God’s will involves uncovering the destroying the works of the enemy in many places.  This group (as opposed to the former ones) will not be afraid to walk in the power “I will release upon them” for “my glory.”  Somehow it is always said to be for God’s glory and yet it ALWAYS ends up with the sinful human vessel being lifted up, glorified and financially enriched.  God does not share His glory with anyone, never has, never will:

I am the Lord; that is my name;my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Isa. 42:8

Bad news America!  Forget what the other prophetesses and apostle have spoken forth under the anointing of some spirit because here comes another word prophesying the opposite for America!

Judges, Catastrophic Events And Acts Of Terrorism:

“I will reestablish judges in the land, those who I will place my authority in as I deal with the corruption in the land and the people.  Some regions will be destroyed and the places where the people live that refuse to change, under great shakings will not stand.  I will call my people out from a place, and I will speak to them in dreams and visions and they will know that my timing is now.  Do not be so attached to a place that you will not come out.  In 2013 there will be devastation in the land through large earthquakes, landslides, major flooding from tsunamis and violent wind storms.  2013 will have several volcanic eruptions that will cause major damage.  So when you see these things pray and find out my will before determining your own plans.  When I say come out from among them and be separate, then come out.  Because of some unbridled emotions, strife and decisions within leadership in nations and regions, there will be adverse reactions from the hand of others.  Terrorism will occur from within and from the outside the United States.  There will be, at times, sudden striking without any warning.  Terrorism in London, and within various European lands, will become hot spots as the acts of violence grow against those regions.  The seizing of planes by highjackings with terrorist will also occur and the government will have to set new measures in place to counter act this activity.  Planes will have to be secured better and there will be many no fly zones announced.”

America is going to financially prosperous and righteous we were told for 2013, but now what do we hear?  “Some regions will be destroyed and the places where the people live that refuse to change, under great shakings will not stand.  I will call my people out from a place, and I will speak to them in dreams and visions and they will know that my timing is now.  Do not be so attached to a place that you will not come out.”

Regions will be destroyed if people do not change.  Catastrophes do not change people into believers (see Rev. 6:16).  Economic prosperity does not make people Christians (see Luke 12:20).  Seeing miracles does not produce faith in Jesus Christ (see Hebrews 3:17).  People are changed when they receive by faith the Gospel presented through the foolishness of preaching (see 1 Cor. 1:21).  According to the above fount of folly God will reveal to His people in dreams and vision when it is time to vacate an area slated for destruction.  While there is some biblical precedent for God speaking a warming through dreams and visions, especially in the O.T. the Christian is never urged to seek guidance from either dreams or visions.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;  Hebrews 1:1-3

We are told to look to the Scriptures and to hear the voice of God’s Son in His Word.  The God of the Bible NEVER tells His people to lean on their own subjective experiences to determine His will.  Anyone who encourages you to “look within” or “follow your dreams” is someone who does not have faith in God’s Word and as such is someone to be avoided.

In 2013 there will be devastation in the land through large earthquakes, landslides, major flooding from tsunamis and violent wind storms.  2013 will have several volcanic eruptions that will cause major damage. . .

 This seer see’s destruction coming on the land from God sent ‘natural’ calamities along with terrorism from within and without America.  God will warn His people to “come out and be separate” but He does not reveal exactly where we are to go to escape the deluge.   If you’re wondering “where have I heard that phrase before”. . .?

 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. 6:16-18

False prophetic words often contain snippets of biblical text to give them some gravitas in the listeners’ ears.  Well churched people’s minds will ‘click’ when hearing a portion of text —- later when asked if the word was biblical, they will give a hearty “yes” because it did, after all, contain some textual citation (don’t muddy up the stream by asking about context with these folks).  Let us continue our journey into enthusiastic excess.

Bob Jones is one of the ranking (and is he rank) false prophets of the movement.  His prophetic pedigree goes back to the early days of the Vineyard (1980’s) and at one time he was considered by their followers to be one of the “most powerful”  of what became known as ‘The Kansas City Prophets.’

The “Kansas City Prophets” was a group of men who controlled several sign-gift congregations through their pathetic prophetic utterances.  These men also spiritually abused members in their flock, Mr. Jones was one of the abusers.  For the record some of these individuals included: Paul Cain (a known homosexual and alcoholic), Mike Bickle, Bob Jones, Rick Joyner (an extreme mystic/false teacher), John Paul Jackson, Francis Frangipane (one of the New Order of the Latter Rain propagator and devotee of John Roberts Stevens, another sexual predator and false prophet).

Bob Jones, however, who not so long ago was regarded as the most powerful of the Kansas City crowd is out of ministry.  First when Wimber’s Vineyard absorbed the Kansas City Fellowship, Jones and another “prophet” were disciplined for making some outlandish statements and prophecies that were judged to have harmed some, and their prophecy tapes were removed from distribution. Jones’s ministry was then limited to church leadership “behind closed doors.” But it was behind those doors where Jones’s ministry ended.  Two women came forward in 1991 and told Vineyard leaders that Jones had used his prophetic authority to touch and fondle them sexually.[4]

Mr. Jones was restored back to ministry and he is still regarded as a great prophet of God today!  After all, the gifts and callings are without repentance according to these folks (see Romans 11:29).  Certainly there is forgiveness for his sins in Christ Jesus, but that does not mean he is fit to serve in public ministry, his fruit and the lack thereof prove this.  Here is the latest from Jones regarding 2013:

Nicolaitan spirit–This spirit is condemned by the Lord in Rev. 2:6 (church at Ephesus) and in Rev. 2:15 (church at Pergamum). This spirit has victory over or rules over the people. It’s the pastor (and sometimes other leaders in the church) being on a different, higher level than the people. The Lord says in Revelation that He hates this spirit, to repent of it, and that He will come against it with the sword of His mouth. The reign of the pastor over the entire church is coming to an end. There will be a community of believers with their various giftings operating. Everyone will be important. ^[5]

“The reign of the pastor over the church is coming to an end,” oh really?  Note the language (out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, see Luke 6:45) —- Jones say the Lord condemns this spirit that rules over the people, does he mean the same spirit by which he and the other false prophets manipulate and rule over their audiences?

What he is speaking forth is the sign-seekers mythical view of the Church, one in which everyone will minister and be used in their gifts within the church service.  What he envisions is total chaos in a service with no set people in authority per se, just a community of believers being led by the spirit.  Jesus Christ Himself gave the ministry of the keys (see Matthew 16:19) to the pastoral office.  The true God-sent pastor will not reign over the people but HE will serve them, lay down his life of them and lead them by Word, sacrament and example.

Bob added that it was not necessarily so that the woman would come along side the man and together they would be successful. Wherever he has gone to speak in the United States, it has been the women who have shown hunger for God–about 85% to 15%. It could very well be that the men will come along side the women and be successful. 6. Plagues coming to crops. Bob saw fleas hit the fruit in Florida and wipe out the crop. There will be new viruses and new infections. The medical community will have no answers. These plagues will promote fear everywhere, but we do not have to buy into it. Don’t pray to God for help. He’s already given us the authority over plagues, but we must rise up and use our authority. Bob gave an example of a virus that hit North and South Carolina a few years back. It killed many people and there was no medicine to stop it. The church pleaded with God to help them.[6]

Women seem to be more hungry (85%) than the men for what Jones is selling which does not speak well for these poor women.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 1 Timothy 3:1-9

According to Jones men will be coming along the women and become more spiritual by following their lead (i.e. following these 85% to Jones` meetings).  The role of women in the Church is a powerful one, but they are not called by God into leadership roles over men in the Church period, end of story.  Jones and his ilk note no difference between the ministry roles of men and women, something the Bible clearly demarcates.

Jones foretells of coming plagues on crops, new viruses and new infections will be coming upon humanity with no medical cure and due to these afflictions fear will come upon the land!  However, God’s people don’t have to give into fear (how many times does Jesus tell His people to “fear not”?), in fact, we do not even have to pray about these troubles and turmoil’s.

Stop the presses! ANYTIME ANYONE TELLS YOU NOT TO PRAY — THAT PERSON IS DECEIVED AND IS LYING TO YOU.

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luke 18:1

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Col. 3:17

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess. 5:17

Jones is repeating what Kenneth Hagin revealed through an encounter with some entity posing as the Lord Jesus Christ (read about these amazing revelation in Hagin’s book I Believe In Visions).  In one of the visions Hagin’s Jesus reveals that the Church does not have to pray about many things, but we are to simply use our authority that Jesus has given the Church.  This is why many of our prayers go unanswered, Jesus has done all He is going to do about these situations, now it is up to us!  This is precisely what God is saying to us via Jones.  Forget that this latest directive violates probably ten direct passages on the necessity of prayer in and for all circumstances.  Further into the miasma of deceit!

TBN Darling and one of Michigan’s premier false prophets – Kim Clement

The Spirit of the Lord came upon me again. He said, “I’m speaking about 2012 and 2013.” He spoke to me about this. He said, ”2012 to 2013 – for a seven-year period – it’s going to go up. Everything’s going to move upward. I’m going to bring about a move of My Spirit, a shaking, for My goodness will be seen by the people. For a seven-year period, you’re going to have exactly the opposite to what you’ve been experiencing now.”

I have the outline for another book entitled “More Moves Then Exlax©” in it I will briefly outline the various moves of the spirit including: The New Order of the Latter Rain, the Charismatic movement, the Discipleship movement, the Word of Faith movement, the Prophetic movement, The Apostolic movement, The Signs and Wonders movement —- and they keep on coming!

Great news God says “I’m going to bring about a move of My Spirit.”  Wow, yet another movement of the Spirit!

We’re all going to move forward and we will see God’s goodness for the next seven years.  My mother used to say “weak as water” and that is just what this pathetic, limp word is, insipid and weak.  My Bible tells me that my outward man decays daily, but my inner man is renewed daily (see 2 Cor. 4:16).  Every genuine child of God is growing, moving forward and God reveals His goodness to us daily and daily loads us up with benefits (see Psalm 68:19).  Kim continues —

Someone give Him a shout of praise, because I can hear some of you at home saying, “I want to believe this. Is this just giving us false hope?” No, it’s not. We’ve got to the worst place; the waters have subsided. The ark is now in a resting place; the dove has been sent fort h. The dove has found a resting place, and I promise you by the Spirit of the Lord that beginning 2012 to 2013, that period of time, for a seven-year period, there will be enough, there will be provision, there will even be abundance. America shall even stand strong again. The move of the Spirit shall be so strong . . .You have heard from the Spirit of the Lord. I’m standing in the garden – twelve visits; 2012–2013 is when it’s all going to erupt. The dove has found a resting place, which means that God has now found the place He wants so that we can be released on the earth to do what He wants us to do. I’m standing in the garden, tears are pouring down from my eyes, because I know it’s not coincidence, and as this is all happening, you’ll never guess what happened – and it’s so beautiful[7]

God has promised by the “Spirit of the Lord” that there will be: (1) enough, (2) provision and (3) abundance and (4) America will stand strong again.  Twice Kim lets us know that it is the Spirit of the Lord that we’re hearing from.

God has found the resting place He wants, so now we (the Overcomers) can be released on earth to do what He wants us to do.  What resting place is he referring to?  The whole earth is the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1; 1 Cor. 10:26) where can He be localized?  God’s plan for the ages has been rolling right along, on track and on time Mr. Clement, where have you been?

T.B. Joshua – Nigerian false prophet/ fake healer/false teacher/sexual predator

D.M.I. has not dealt with Mr. Joshua to any great degree primarily because he is in Africa and is not currently impacting the Church here in America.  Nonetheless, he is gathering steam and influence on his continent and among many in Europe.  The following is a little insight via the revelations of a woman delivered from his clutches:

In the Synagogue, the prophet’s Bible study regime is ring-fenced with rigid codes, subtle manipulation, fear, threat and weird misinterpretation of the Holy Bible. Months after Anneka Kinch’s embattled mind was won over with bitter lies, a new perverted dimension to her acculturation unfolded.  She began to notice regular assignations between the prophet and other young ladies. Many of them, both black and white had come from different countries in search of the miraculous but are being recruited into a sophisticated harem. They are being recruited into a nether world of sexual slavery. Naively, they become cannon fodders for the insatiable sexual appetite of a bearded Satan who masquerades as an angel of light and salvation.  Dazed, befuddled and fooled, poor Anneka Kinch was caught in the intriguing sexual web of a prophet she believed with immovable conviction that he was God. She ran assignations several times to the pent house bedroom of our prophet of doom. Interestingly, the prophet was able to make his sinful union chic, respectable and sought after with rich permutations of passing anointing through copulation with his female disciples! The prophet believes in false cross-fertilisation. Christ knew better. He had no female disciples![8]

If one ventures online to read about Mr. Joshua’s SINistry one discovers multiple accounts of spiritual and sexual abuse yet his work continues to grow (like leaven).  Here is a portion of the future as revealed to us by profit Joshua —

2013 is a year of surprises. I am seeing many great, famous, popular and rich men and politicians will become helpless and in need of help in matters of sickness, disease, finances, death, etc,” he said in the service broadcast live on the popular Christian station Emmanuel TV. One of the causes: They have failed to reward those who helped them to succeed. This is the year of judgment, especially for politicians who use youth to support their political ambitions without reward after winning power,” he added. Joshua then proceeded to celebrate the future of farming, claiming that providence would favour those who engaged in it this year. “Those in the foodstuff business will have a field day this year. Farming and agriculture will be the order of the day and will help greatly to be the source of solution this year. People engaged in it will be greatly blessed. Foodstuff business and agriculture or farming are anointed businesses this New Year, to revive the world from economic depression. This is the secret of God revealed to you today. Quote me; you will not regret doing it. My name is T.B. Joshua,” he said.[9]

Here we have another vapid, non-specific word from the deranged mind of a lost soul to a people seeking direction.  Almost thirty (30) years ago I visited a blind Pentecostal evangelist who lived in Nigeria back in the day he prophesied to Pastor Joseph Frye and myself in his living room about the coming day of agriculture in Nigeria and God’s blessing on it.  My point?  Simply this, Nigerian people recognize, and have for decades, the necessity for people to go back to their farms — Nigeria was once a major food producer, but with the discovery of oil people left their fields and sought work in the cities and oil production.  So Joshua (and our former Pentecostal brother) is not revealing some ‘great’ insight, but actually a commonly known fact of life, big deal.

Confusion Rules!

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Dear readers, you and I read these prognostications, shake our heads and continue to live our daily life which is as it should be.  However, there is a large (and growing) multitude of people who listen intently to their preferred diviner and attempt to structure their lives in accordance with what they have heard because they chose to believe the word being delivered.

The few examples I have cited demonstrate the problem of conflicting prophetic words.  If I am a sign-seeker whom am I to believe?  Do I go with the person with the larger following or the word that bears witness with my spirit?  Obviously, both prophets cannot be hearing accurately from the Lord, somebody is wrong.

Sign-gift devotees are not upset at all when the prophet ‘misses’ it (a euphemism for giving an unfulfilled/false word).  They say “we are all growing in our individual gifts, even so the prophet.”  To be forgiving is one thing, tolerant is another?  What does the Bible say about those who would speak in the name of the Lord?

The Serious Problems with These Heavenly Prophets

Now I have foretold it, and my prophesying will become true (I’m afraid), that God will visit our ingratitude and permit the truth to be cast down, as Daniel says (Dan. 8: [12]). Because we persecute and do not accept the truth, we must again have vain error and false spirits and prophets. Dr. Martin Luther, Against The Heavenly Prophets, 1525.

               The first and most serious problem that today’s prophets and those who listen to them have is the issue of blasphemy.  When one stands up and makes a proclamation in “the name of the Lord,” or “thus saith the Holy Spirit,” or “this is what Jesus is saying to His people,” —- and their words DO NOT have their origin from our God then these people are guilty of blaspheming the name of God.  They have spoken out of their darkened hearts and LIED in the name of the most Holy One and thus have presumptuously ‘attached’ Him to their words, words He did not speak.  This is a severe violation of   The Second Commandment.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain. What does this mean?–Answer. We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.[10]

These people have boldly stood up and declared the “word of the Lord” when the Lord has not spoken at thing!  There is no fear of God before their faces.

And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.  And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them. Jer. 14:14-16

The biblical record is crystal clear regarding how our God views those who presume to speak for Him.  This is not a new phenomenon; God’s people have always been plagued by satanic envoys whose mission is to divert people away from Jesus Christ and towards anything or anyone else.

What value are these heavenly prophets words? They spew forth (1) a lying vision; (2) a worthless divination and (3) the deceit of their own minds.  Whatever these people say is simply garbage and is to be rejected by man as it already has been rejected by God.

The danger to the hearer is that those who heed these lying words will suffer the consequences of believing a lie.  Over the years we have heard various horror stories regarding people who acted on prophetic words spoken over them and the great tragedies that occurred because of being misled.

I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds. Jer. 23:21-22

Again God is telling His people that He did not send these prophets, if they had simply proclaimed God’s Words to His people then the people would have turned from the evil ways and deeds, i.e. God’s Word produces good fruit, men’s words are worthless.

We live in a time that for some reason the Bible is no longer seen as a totally self-sufficient guide for faith and practice.  Many people are far more ready to act on the word of a sinful self-proclaimed prophet then they are to trust the written Word once delivered to the saints.

Throughout the Bible God has never sent prophets to reveal what was going to transpire in a New Year.  A close study of the role of biblical prophets will reveal how FEW men (and fewer women) God spoke through prophetically, not everybody ran around spewing forth “words” from God; if they did so they were most likely quickly stoned to death (see Deut. 13:5).  When God did speak through a prophet the word delivered was of great importance in the salvific economy of God as opposed to the vapid, silly and asinine drivel uttered by people whose conscience has been seared as with a hot iron (see 1 Tim. 4:2).  There is simply no comparison between what Isaiah prophesied and what Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, Robert Tilton, Marilyn Hickey, Fred Price, Kim Clement, Pat Robertson, Kenneth Hagin, Peter Popoff and other false prophets regularly disgorge upon the minds of the willing seekers.

The Bible warns us over and over regarding the reality and the danger these false prophets present to God’s people.  There is no light in them (see Isa. 8:20).  God has not sent them.  Their sincerity and zeal is no excuse for blaspheming the name of our God.  These lie and deceive people in His name and lead people further from Christ Jesus and not closer to Him. These people are tares sown among the pure wheat of God (see Matt. 13:25-26) by Satan.  Those who speak and those who listen to them are equally guilty before the Lord.

Let us pray for those who speak lies in God’s name that He might grant them repentance and then genuinely fill their mouths with His written Word.  Let us pray for the multitudes who follow these blind guides, they have been deceived and while they live there is hope for change.  Lastly, let us NOT be tolerant and accepting of error in our midst.  We all see through a mirror darkly (see 1 Cor. 13:12) and none of us has perfect understanding —- YET —- let us contend for the faith ONCE delivered unto the saints (Jude 3).

The word “contend” is ἐπαγωνίζομαι in the Greek and it means to “exert intense effort” to struggle for the faith delivered to us.  We’ve got to fight for the accurate teaching of God’s Word and not sit passively by.  The following verse in Jude tells us exactly why we have to contend —

V. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Unawares” in the Greek refers to men with an evil intent who’ve slipped in without being noticed.  Once in the Church they begin to divide the people by teaching false doctrine and seducing people away from their chaste faith in Christ Jesus.  Let us all take up our Bibles and from Its sacred pages let us contend with those who oppose our God, His Church and themselves (see 2 Tim. 2:25). This New Year let us together strive to “Teach Truth & Expose Error.”

---

[1] Obtained from http://rwomiword.wordpress.com/2012/12/31/the-word-of-the-lord-for-2013-onward/.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Obtained from http://www.hiskingdomprophecy.com/word-of-the-lord-2013-part-i/.

[4].

[5] Obtained from http://www.northwestprophetic.com/2010/06/bob-jones-2009-2010-2011-2012-2013.html.

[6] Obtained from http://www.northwestprophetic.com/2010/06/bob-jones-2009-2010-2011-2012-2013.html.

[7]

[8] Obtained from http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/3020/1/TBJ-A-Prophet-and-his-Sex-Slaves/Page1.html

[9] Obtained from http://www.zimdiaspora.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10533:tb-joshua-predicts-death-sickness-in-2013-prophecy&catid=73:music&Itemid=299

[10] A citation from Dr. Luther’s Small Catechism

Jim Bakker is Back At It Again

Truth Matters, December 2012, Volume 16 Issue 12

Jim Bakker is Back At It Again By Rev. Robert Liichow

            Baby-face Bakker was the former reigning king of charismatic television superstardom.  For many years no one could touch him in ratings and raising millions of dollars from his viewers.  Bakker even began to build his own city/amusement park known as “Heritage USA.”  Jim and Tammy-Faye Bakker were the darlings of Christian television and Paul and Jan Crouch, Pat Roberson, Jerry Falwell and Robert Tilton all stood in the shadow PTL cast. 

Naturally, when it was divulged that Jim had a one-night sexual liaison with Jessica Hawn (who had been being sexually abused by her pastor, who passed her on to Jim) all of the other ‘Christian’ televised charismatic luminaries lined up to take the soon to be vacated throne of beaucoup broadcast bucks.  This was easily seen in the behaviors of the Crouch’s, who to this day do not ever mention the Bakker’s and Mr. Falwell who tried to wrest control of the PTL holdings (remember the infamous waterslide photo of Falwell in his suit going down it out of modesty).  Jim loses control of PTL and eventually goes to trial and is given a very harsh and unreasonable sentence from the judge.  Most sign-gift folks, while mourning the loss of PTL switched over to viewing the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN aka “The Total Blasphemy Network) or The 700 Club hosted by Pat Robertson.

In 1997 Jim Bakker released a book entitled “I Was Wrong.”    He published this fascinating book after serving several years of a forty year prison sentence.  I remember buying the book in Grand Rapids, MI.  at Bakers Bookstore and reading its 480 pages in one sitting (it was sort of long, but I found it a page-turner).

One aspect of the entire Jim & Tammy debacle that was quite telling to me was how quickly ALL the people the Bakker’s had made “stars” due to PTL totally abandoned them in their hour of need.  The Crouches, who owe much of their existence on television to Jim Bakker totally distanced themselves from any Bakker association.  I wondered “where is the love?”

            This book chronicles Bakker’s rise and fall in a fairly honest fashion.  Jim acknowledged that the “prosperity” message was unbalanced and confessed to his sexual sin and other failings.  At the end one is left to believe that five years in the Federal prison changed Jim Bakker.  From a multi-millionaire, to basically a homeless guy when he emerged from jail sans Tammy Faye, who divorced Jim and married Jim’s best friend Roe Messner in 1993 (the same year Roe divorced his wife & married Tammy).  Bakker seemed totally humbled by his “fall” from super stardom.

            Frankly, one would imagine that after what he experienced and learned in prison he would know how to avoid many of the snares set by Satan to entrap him (2 Tim. 2:26).  Sadly, the lessons he may have begun to learn in prison were fleeting at best and the ‘birds of wisdom’ have flown the coup in Bakker’s case.

            Some of our readers may be a bit unfamiliar with PTL (the forerunner to TBN) and the earthly kingdom Jim tried to build called “Heritage USA,” which was a Christian based theme park, schmaltzy shops that sold precious moments idols, and ice cream parlors.  The vision was to have a place where Christians could come with their families for a fun time with a little evangelicalism-lite thrown in.  Before some readers “poo-poo” Heritage USA they might know that by 1986 (it was begun in 1978) it was one of the top entertainment venues in America:

For those who are not familar with it’s story, this place was created by the PTL Ministry which was ran by Jim and Tammy Bakker. Heritage USA started out as a camp ground but quickly grew to be the 3rd most visited theme park in the world attracting over 6 MILLION visitors! Walt Disney World and Disneyland were the only 2 other parks ahead of Heritage USA during one point in the 80′s.[i]

Bakker got into legal trouble it was mainly about allegedly overselling the units in a high-rise hotel he started to build on the grounds, the hotel was never completed and Heritage Village went defunct shortly after Bakker went to the Federal penitentiary.

There have been several attempts in America to establish godly earthly kingdoms, all started by ‘charismatic’ sign-seekers.  The Shiloh Community led by Frank Sanford; Zion, Ill. Founded by John A. Dowie, Miracle Valley AZ started by A.A. Allen, The City of Faith started by Oral Roberts and of course, Heritage Village.

When Jim got out of prison, Dr. Billy Graham (a former frequent guest on PTL) took him in for a bit (none of the Word of Faith crowd he helped make rich, although the Copeland’s did give Tammy some money when she was financially hurting, helped him at all).  Jim returned to South Carolina where he was formerly established.  Earlier in this decade Jim met up with Rick Joyner, head of Morningstar Ministries in Fort Mill, S.C. — the location of the former “Heritage USA.”  Before you could say “divine appointment” Jim joined up with Joyner who was willing to back Jimmy financially to get him back on television.

Who Is Rick Joyner & What is Morningstar Ministries?

Unlike Jerry Collins, a Dog Track owner and gambler who bailed out Oral Roberts back in January of 1987. Remember when Oral said “God” was going to take him home unless he raised several million?  Jerry Collins gave Oral 1.3 million; Rick Joyner is a SINistry whose devotees comprise the very farthest fringe elements of the so-called Prophetic & Apostolic movements.   I believe Mr. Joyner saw an opening to broadcast his specific[ii] perversion of the Gospel.[iii]

Rick Joyner is one of the most egregious of the false-prophets on the scene today.   Joyner sits very high-up on the dais of the ranking (and boy they are rank) prophets today.  In short, Joyner is a huge player in the so-called Prophetic Movement.  In fact, Mr. Joyner was one of the people responsible for the ‘spiritual restoration’ of ex-child molester and false-apostle, Todd Bentley.[iv]

When one goes through the kind of restoration Todd has been through over the last year and a half you usually come out stronger in basic Christian disciplines and character than ever. I feel that is certainly the case with Todd. However, I was surprised by the depth, power, and the impartation of the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit that was immediately present when we released Todd into limited local ministry…”   Rick Joyner – The ElijahList Email”  ”Check Out These Todd Bentley Events” May 15, 2010

Joyner seems to think Todd is a genuine apostle and is now restored from the ravages of his lust for another woman and the divorce of his wife, along with various lies, false prophetic words, etc.  However, it seems the nation of Great Britain does not view Bentley as a penitent whose been restored, they will not allow Bentley to set foot on their shores![v]

Mr.  Joyner gained a wider audience through the release of his book entitled “The Final Quest” aka online under the title “The Hordes of Hell Are Marching” and it is listed as one of the top one hundred Christian books (depending on which web site you visit).  He reveals in a more recent nighttime phantasy of Joyner we are told that God has given Rick power over all natural laws and that the super-saints will move literal mountains (see Matt. 21:21) before the return of Jesus Christ.[vi]

Joyner is an integral part of the Prophetic movement and as such he believes: (1) in the need for the restoration of apostles and prophets in order for Christ to return; (2) the re-establishment of The Tabernacle of David (see Acts 15:16-17); (3) the validity of the so-called new wine of the Spirit gifts; (4) strategic level spiritual warfare which includes warfare praise, warfare intercession, etc.; (5) the global dominion of the earth by the Church prior to the return of Christ; (6) ultimate victory over death prior to the return of Christ; (7) new revelations from The Holy Spirit via dreams, visions, and trances; and (8) unity in the Church based on experience and not doctrinal confessions.  You can even see Mr. Joyner on video declaring that God was going to send the fire of the Spirit through their cell phones (I kid you not) if the assembled would pull them out and make the call (the crowd did so and went into a frenzy).[vii]

Joyner is associated with every major charismaniac SINister infecting the Body of Christ today.  Now through Bakker’s return to television another wave of spiritual counterfeits are released within the Church and upon the unwary saints due to his association with Rick Joyner.

The Jim & Lori Show

Here is a nasty dirty little secret — the world of ‘Christian’ broadcasting is a cesspool of greed, intimidation, false and/or compromised doctrine, immorality and more.  Jan Crouch pretty much hated the Bakker’s who were the front people for Paul Crouch’s initial foray into television.  Bakker was the reason Crouch had any success, and Jan knew this.  Janny wanted to push her hubby out front of the cameras, so Paul fired the Bakkers.  Jim was very depressed but eventually rebounded.   All of this history is well detailed in Tammy Faye’s book “Telling It My Way” (another page-turner if you are into reading about these folks). 

Jim went home to S.C. and started the PTL Club, and outdid Paul and Jan “in spades” for many years.  The Crouch’s shed few tears when Jimmy was hauled off to prison and his network shut down.  Those blinded by the cathode-ray tube had nowhere else to turn but to TBN, which blew-up huge (a little music industry lingo) in the vacuum created by the absence of PTL.

Understand this fact, TBN (the Crouch juggernaut) is soundly in the Word of Faith (WOF) camp.  The resurrected Heritage International Ministries (HIM) is solidly in the Prophetic camp.  WOF is of the pre-tribulation rapture belief and the Prophetic folk are overwhelmingly dominionists and deny any rapture of the Church.  Now we have two sign-gift networks, which is watched in the same day will no doubt produce a TREMENDOUS amount of doctrinal confusion among the swallow-and-follow crowd.  The following chart is a simple thumbnail sketch of a few of the positions held by the two counterfeits and the historic Church.

Doctrine	WOF Cult	Classic Pentecostalism	Prophetic/Apostolic	Historic Christianity
Restored sign gifts	YES	YES	YES	NO
Restored apostles & prophets	YES	NO	YES	NO
Pre-Tribulation Rapture	YES	YES	NO	NO
Baptism as a means of grace	NO	NO	NO	YES
Bible Translation preferred	KJV/Amplified	KJV Dakes translation	Whatever	Differs widely over denominational lines.
Lord’s Supper as a means of grace	NO	NO	NO	YES
Prayer as a means of grace	YES	YES	YES	NO
Financial Prosperity	YES	NO	YES/NO	NO
Current & new ‘revelations’	YES	NO	YES	NO (the canon is closed)
Divine healing	YES	YES	YES	YES
Being Slain in the spirit	YES	YES	YES	NO
Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare	NO (although WOF believes in a form of spiritual warfare)	NO	YES	NO
Infant Baptism	NO	NO	NO	YES
Discipleship	NO	NO	YES	NO (not as practiced by the sign-gift folks). We Catechize.
Trinity of God	YES	YES/NO Modalists are the largest in number.	Primarily YES, some leaders are Modalists	YES

 

The divergence on the cited doctrinal issues is not sufficient to keep both groups from mingling together at times in conferences or at big revival meetings.  Remember the charismaniac war cry “doctrine divides.”   It is not uncommon in large meetings to find a Roman Catholic nun ‘worshipping’ next to a Jesus-only Pentecostal who is standing in front of a “Spirit-filled” Baptist whose is adjacent to a tongue-talking Episcopalian.  Isn’t unity a wonderful thing?  The fact is, none of the aforementioned groups agree with each other on any of the cardinal doctrines of the one holy and Christian apostolic Church.

 Please realize how serious a door Bakker has opened for the enemy of our souls.  Prior to the return of his television show the majority of these so-called restored apostles and prophets did not receive much air time (due to the Crouches opposition to many of their beliefs). Now because of Bakker and his association with a chief false-prophet Rick Joyner another stream of extremism has been released on a viewing world.  Now this specific steam of flakes has access to millions instead of a few thousand in conferences.  Now they can proclaim their spurious twist of the Gospel on a global level as Bakker’s empire continues to gather steam.  Now those who were previously unaware of the claims of the prophetic movement now have the opportunity to become beguiled by their lies.

One thing is for certain Jim Bakker has a gift or innate ability for making his televisions programs succeed financially by taking a voracious bite out of the Christian television market share; at least he had such ability prior to prison.   Assuming the Lord tarries, if I was a gambling man, I would put my money on Jim Bakker ending up on top of the charismatic cathode-ray crowd again.  Paul Crouch senior was/is in failing health and there is a huge power-struggle over who will take over at Paul Sr.’s death.

The latest in the nuclear family warfare surrounding the Trinity Broadcasting Network:  A photograph entered into the court record of what appears to be Jan Crouch, her head tossed back in ecstasy, showing off a letter that is alleged to have been written by her husband, Paul, on what was assumed to be his deathbed.[viii]

 Their close to a billion dollar empire is in huge disarray due to the many law suits that have been brought against TBN and Paul and Jan Crouch.  These law suits come from their own immediate family members (truth is stranger than fiction).

Bakker is moving with a much younger pool of sign-seekers than the Crouches.  Paul and Jan seem to appeal to the older middle and ‘blue-haired’ aging crowd.  Perhaps I’d compare Paul and Jan to Paul Harvey and Jim Bakker to Dennis Miller, one of the far more trendy and hip radio talking heads.

Even though Bakker has shifted camps doctrinally he has not changed his time-tested format on raising money.  The television programs seem to run along the lines of promoting a little bit of heresy in short teachings interspersed with a lot of selling products to garner funds for the various “projects” that need the viewers support.  What Bakker is now hawking to his viewers is indicative of his most recent evolution regarding the end times.  Jim begins this catalog off with the following statement:

Many, many Christians believe that the Church will escape the perils detailed in the book of Revelation.  I’d like to believe they are right – but I can’t.  And because I believe that the Church – including here in America – will go through a time on earth of suffering, hunger, violence and persecution, we must be ready.  More than that, we must help prepare our loved ones.[ix]

This statement is a HUGE dividing line among not only American evangelicals but also among the various derivations of sign-seeking groups.  Bakker is no longer among the pre-tribulation, pre-millennial rapture of the Church crowd.[x]  Now Bakker subscribes to a certain aspect of the Kingdom Now or dominionists belief system.[xi]  Bakker believes the Church must go through a literal coming tribulation period of seven years (see Daniel 9:24; Rev. 4) and he is building his empire on people’s fear of an uncertain future.  Let me prove this by giving you some examples from his “Christmas 2012” catalog:

“But if I’m right, that nonperishable food may save your life someday. ..Prepare now.  In the days ahead, food will be more valuable than gold.  I totally believe one day that food will be the main tool of bartering for all of our financial and material needs.” Jim Bakker p.4

1. 1.     TIME OF TROUBLE PLUS Food Buckets                                              $3,000
2. 2.     YEAR FOR TWO PLUS                                                                          $1,000
3. 3.     YEAR FOR YOU PLUS                                                                           $500
4. 4.     TIME OF TROUBLE Dessert Buckets                                                   $1,200
5. 5.     VEGAN FOOD BUCKET                                                                                    $150
6. 6.     Morningside Fire NOW Emergency Fuel                                           $100 (“Imagine yourself on a cruise ship, a naval vessel, or a cargo ship, and suddenly the sea turns blood red. . .”)
7. 7.     29 Blocks of Life Water Storage Containers                                     $580
8. 8.     Super Silver Starter Kit                                                                       $100
9. 9.     Fuel-Less Generator (solar kit)                                                          $1,900
10. 10.  Radiation Water Pitcher & Ultimate Survival Squeeze Btl              $100

Yet Another  DIRTY SECRET REVEALED! Raising money within Christian circles is often based on either blatant or subtle manipulation.  Within televangelism funds are obtained through the use of two psychological ploys: 1) People will “give” to purchase something, i.e. they are receiving something they want (or think they want/need depending on the giftedness of the salesman to manipulate the audience).  The donor receives some value for their dollar, along with the feeling they are helping support a cause they deem worthy. 2) People will “give” to build something, a cause to propose to build something or go somewhere and people will buy into the vision presented.  This makes the giver feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves.  Manipulation can be brought to bear here through showing images of starving children (if a mission work), the homeless vs. an average home (like the viewers), etc.      Certainly sending out trinkets as point-of-contact fetish items along with an appeal letter is another way of subtly telling the recipient “see we spent money to reach out to you, at least send in something,” and playing on their guilt.  Naturally in both cases the Word of God is horribly abused and twisted by these Gospel pimps to work the miracle of transferring the sheeple’s dollars into their bank accounts (some people think that God’s ‘address’ really is P.O. Box A, Santa Anna, CA).

At the top of each page of this catalog is either an excerpt from Bakker’s latest book “The Time Has Come,” or apocalyptic biblical passage wrest from its context with the intent of driving home the critical need the reader has to order these products.  In a simple 14 page catalog 17 photographic iterations of the Bakker clan are shown.[xii]

Jim uses both time tested techniques on his programs to raise his money.  Money to what end?  To buy more television time, to get more viewers, to get more money, to buy more time, to. . .and so it goes.

I imagine Bakker makes most of his money from selling his End-Time Pepper (perhaps next month we will consider this recent phenomenon from a biblical perspective) supplies because this is the current fear among many Americans due to the current political and economic conditions. 

No SINister worth his or her salt leaves a revenue source untapped; ergo the viewers can support the “Lori’s House” project for unwed teenage girls.  A “project” they can give to and watch being built and for a mere $1,000 gift one can become “A Lori’s House Builder Club” member.  This project is probably perking along pretty well considering it is: (1) pro-life, who isn’t, right?), (2) deals with pregnant teens, who does not want to see them nurtured? (3) Lori herself had several abortions in the past so she can tearfully persuade (sell) the viewers on the need to give.  I can assure you once this project is completed there will be another one to take its place or then the push will/can become to (1) maintain Lori’s House or (2) replicate it elsewhere, etc.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

The more things change, the more they stay the same (a little French lingo) is most certainly true of Mr. Bakker.  He has exchanged his WOF affiliation for acceptance by the so-called Prophetic and New Apostolic Reformation heretics.  Now because of his doctrinal shift there are two MAJOR venues to promulgate WOF heretics (TBN) and Prophetic heresy (Bakker) to an undiscerning audience.

Bakker is using the same technique’s that grew his former SINistry machine and it will probably work again for him in this latest venture.  When I first read his book, written before his association with Joyner and Morningstar, I thought to myself “praise God, Bakker has finally gotten it.”  It is evident that my excitement was ill-timed.  Bakker has yet to produce the fruits of genuine repentance (see Matthew 3:8).  I urge that we pray for Jim and Lori (Tammy-Sue, little Jimmy too) and their viewers.  May our gracious Lord, the One who opened our eyes and has shown us the glorious liberty that is ours in the Christ of the Gospels open the Bakkers and their viewer’s eyes as well.  Selah.

---

[i] Obtained from http://www.tommyandjames.net/heritageusa.html. Still online as of 12-2-2012

[ii] All tongue-talkers are NOT created “equally.”  They all agree on speaking in tongues and divine healing after that they share few similarities.  Classic Pentecostals and WOF are pre-mill, most Prophetic/Apostolic cults are post-mill.  There is some mutual recognition of self-proclaimed prophets/apostles by both WOF and Prophetic, but much doctrinally divides them.

[iii]  Am not saying that Joyner did not or does not feel sympathy or something for Bakker in his decision to initially bank-roll Bakker, but trust me when I say there is a lot more going on than mere brotherly “love.”

[iv] For more insight’s into this stellar restoration go to: http://www.morningstarministries.org/resources/videos/todd-bentleys-restoration-update

[v] Obtained from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9491508/Canadian-punching-preacher-banned-from-UK.html.

[vi] Obtained from a video of Joyner speaking at a Morningstar Conference at http://www.morningstartv.com/featured-video-week/greater-works.

[vii] See the video at: http://slaughteringthesheep.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/the-cell-phone-anointing/

[viii] Obtained from http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/09/14/deathbed-power-struggle-at-trinity-broadcasting/162002/.

 

[ix] Obtained from page 2 of the 2012 Jim and Lori Bakker Christmas Catalog, available online at http://www.jimbakkershow.com/lovegifts/christmas as of 12/01/2012.

 

[x] Even among the pre-tribulation rapture folks there is disagreement.  Some teach all the faithful shall be raptured at that point in time.  Others teach only the overcomers, as delineated by their own set of requirements, will be initially taken up and the others will have to go through either (1) 3.5 years of the tribulation or (2) 7 years of the tribulation.

[xi] Please understand that even among the dominionists they have differing views on the Church during the actual last days.  Some view the Church as rising up and becoming these miracle-wielding super-saints who begin to systematically Christianize the world.  This view sees the Church as overcomers, as Joel’s Army, as conquerors even conquering the last enemy, Death itself!  Others view the Church as being persecuted, decimated, yet being highly empowered in the sign-gifts and out of the rubble of society the Church rises like the Phoenix with healing in Her wings and solutions to the world’s problems.  Then the Church Christianizes the world and hands it to Jesus.  This later view seems to be the one held by Bakker, or at least the view he offers because it is the more lucrative position, only God knows his motives.

[xii] There are reasons why all of these people plaster their faces on virtually every page of their magazines.  It too is done for psychological impact.  The goal is hopefully for the reader to unconsciously relate to the images shown repeatedly.  Also, there is the reality of the pride of life (see 1 John 2:16) that we are all prone to.  These people are very proud, boastful and arrogant and take every opportunity to promote themselves.

GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out)

Truth Matters, November 2012, Volume 16 Issue 11

GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out) A Cautionary Tale By Rev. Robert S. Liichow

          Joel Osteen, America’s favorite pastor has published yet again another bestselling book entitled “I Declare 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life.”  However, before we delve into Joel’s latest masterpiece please accompany me for a quick trip in my “Wayback machine.”[1] 

The miracle is in YOUR MOUTH.  Dare to speak those promises out loud.  Say them to yourself!  Say them to the devil!  Say them to the sickness! Say them to your mountain of trouble!  Confess them in the face of all contrary evidence!  Say them while the pain is there!! Say them while you are so sick you can hardly think!!. . .When we SAY and CONFESS His Word, He brings the miracle to pass!![2]

          If John Osteen preached the above words once, he preached them thousands of times.   John Osteen was part of the beginning of the fledgling charismatic movement.  He was formerly a Southern Baptist pastor, and had an earned Master’s degree from Northern Baptist Seminary (one of the few sign-gift leaders with any genuine seminary education).  Osteen was voted out by his congregation and left the Baptists due to his stance over the sign-gifts and began Lakewood Church as an independent ministry in 1958.

Much to my dad’s surprise, many of the people in that congregation didn’t appreciate his fresh discoveries.  They were steeped in their traditions, and because of Daddy’s enthusiastic, fiery messages weren’t exactly what they were used to hearing, it made some of them uncomfortable. . .they were upset that the supernatural God Daddy described didn’t fit into their denominational guidelines.[3]

            Even though I disagree strongly with his theology I will say that John Osteen always struck me as a decent man, good husband and father and faithful pastor to his flock.  To his credit Lakewood was one of the early churches to being openly interracial, which was no small thing in Houston Texas in the 50’s and 60’s.  Lakewood was also one of the largest churches in Texas many years before Joel came onto the silver screen.[4]

            John was one of the main proponents of what was later codified as the Word of Faith (WOF) movement/cult led by its titular head Kenneth Hagin, a close personal friend of Osteen’s.  I’ve heard John proclaim the belief that our words create our reality time and time again.  Osteen was preaching positive confession before anyone heard of Kenny and Gloria Copeland.

            John Osteen practiced what he preached.  His daughter Lisa was born with some serious physical defects, they prayed, they confessed the promises of God and in the end their daughter was totally healed.[5]  Many years later in 1981 John’s wife Dodie was stricken with live cancer.  Even though she had Oral Roberts, Ken & Gloria Copeland, T.L. and Daisy Osborn[6] all pray for her it made no difference.  It was up to her and Jesus if she was going to be healed.

I felt like I was going through a dark tunnel.  There seemed to be no end to it and yet I still confessed, ‘I am healed.’  When anybody would ask me how I felt, I never confessed that I felt bad.  I said, ‘I am blessed of the Lord.’ …Confession did not seem to work for me for quite a while, but it finally did work!  I began to see a faint ray of light.[7]

            Dodie was healed of metastatic liver cancer in 1983 and she shares her story in a little booklet “Healed of Cancer.”  Dodie rightly gives God the glory for healing her body.  However, it is her belief that she would not have been healed had she not done her part, i.e. positively confess God’s promises.  Dodie can be seen sometimes sitting on the front row of her son’s stadium.

            Why this trip in the Wayback machine?  Because when you understand his parents and their home life, which John used to vividly describe in his messages, one begins to comprehend why Joel is as he is today.  Joel was raised in an almost hyper-faith atmosphere.[8]  He never heard a discouraging word at home nor was he allowed to utter one either!  Every week on Sunday, during the mid-week services and daily at home Joel had the precepts of positive confession bringing possession drilled into his young malleable melon.  I am sure his sister Lisa was probably a great “object lesson” to remind the family and congregation about the creative power of their words if anyone began to waver in their confessed hopes.   When Joel eventually attended college he went to Oral Roberts University, Oral was a very close friend of John and Dodie’s.  Even away from home and Lakewood Joel continued to have the hard core beliefs of the WOF cult, seed faith principles, etc. poured into him.  Unlike his father Joel did not earn a degree in theology but was a communications major.  Joel has no formal biblical education at all, and yet he finds himself at the helm of the largest congregation in America and by default is assumed to have God’s blessing due to the size of his church.

            Joel is without a doubt a product of his upbringing, the apple truly did not fall far from the tree.  Joel has taken his father’s errors and spread them much further than his father ever dreamed possible.  There are some major differences however between John and Joel when it comes to ministry.  John Osteen did preach Jesus Christ fairly as the Savior from sin; he did keep that much of his Southern Baptist doctrine active, which I believe if why God allowed him the modicum of success he experienced.  Joel Osteen hardly ever mentions Jesus Christ at all in his sermons or as I will prove, his books.  Why is this?  He did not learn this from his father or at ORU, he bears this guilt alone.  Lakewood was always known as a cutting edge charismatic congregation.  People getting filled with the Spirit and speaking in other tongues, men or women shouting out the occasional prophetic word; folks getting slain in the spirit were part-n-parcel of Lakewood services under John Osteen.  From what I have observed on television Joel’s services are anything but Spirit-led in the Pentecostal sense.  Joel assiduously avoids mentioning speaking in other tongues in his broadcasts; his father worked his enthusiastic experiences into virtually every one of his messages.

            Joel has cleverly marketed himself as everybody’s pastor and has successfully divorced himself, at least publically, from his WOF cultic upbringing and his former charismania.  I don’t know how he transitioned the former charismatic Lakewood into the seeker Lakewood it is today, but he did it and it is some sort of church-growth miracle.  The unknowing channel surfer can watch Joel weekly and never know that Joel: (1) comes from a hyper-charismatic cult background; (2) that Joel and all his family practice speaking in other tongues; (3) everything Joel teaches is based on WOF heresy; (4) has no formal biblical education.  These four “unknowns” are an example of the art of superlative spinning and of a marketing miracle.

            Kenneth Hagin Sr. used to ask rhetorically “how do you poison a dog?  You put the poison in the good meat.”  How best to disseminate error to as many people as possible?  Wrap the error around a fairly good looking guy, with great teeth & hair and winsome demeanor.  Give him a communications background, television and media production experience (Joel was always behind the scenes at Lakewood) and PRESTO {a little magician’s lingo} the leaven of Lakewood is spread to spiritual seekers globally.

I had never preached before! Ever! I had spent seventeen years behind the scenes at Lakewood managing our television production.  Over the course of those years, Daddy tried many times to get me out in the public to speak, but I never had the desire to do it. . .Keep in mind, I had never even prepared a sermon.[9]

            By his own admission Joel was (and is) totally unprepared to serve as a pastor.  He had no actual pastoral training, no seminary education, not even a diploma from an unlicensed “Bible” school!  What he did have was an entire lifetime spent surrounded by the leaders of some of the most extreme enthusiasts around (Oral Roberts, Hagin, Copelands, Price, Yandian, etc.).  Growing up in this environment was all the training Joel has received, and in his mind all he needs.  Gigo, garbage in over a lifetime, now , garbage out to an undiscerning spiritually hungry world.  Some of Joel’s foundational beliefs include things such as:

WOF & Words God created everything by speaking “faith-filled” words. God created man in His image. Man was to be the ‘god’ of this world, but Adam committed high treason and gave his dominion over to Satan, who became the ‘god’ of this world. Man, like God has the ability to create reality by speaking either faith-filled or fear-filled words.  This is a spiritual law and it works for everybody whether they know it or not, but usually in the negative. Spirit-filled Christians are to function exactly like Jesus did on earth “speaking” to fig trees, mountains, devils, sickness — because we are to do His works & greater works. To learn how to walk like Jesus all it takes is revelation knowledge, which you cannot obtain in seminaries, but you can receive it via “anointed” teachers (Copeland, Hagin, Hinn, Dollar).

As a graduate of Robert Tilton’s Bible School and former WOF cult pastor I can assure you that the lynch-pin of the WOF cult is their alleged doctrine of the creative power of our words.  Virtually everything they teach hinges upon their concept of positive confession (pc).  Once you swallow this false doctrine then everything else they teach makes sense within their specific paradigm.  Everything is traced back to spoken words in their worldview.  For the newer readers, or those without a sign-gift background the following is a very brief peek into the basic WOF doctrine of words:

Most of the above mentioned CON cepts are seen in his books or heard in his messages.  Make no mistake about it — Joel Osteen is an ardent WOF heretic in the same class with Mr. Copeland, Hinn, Dollar, Meyers, Duplantis, et al.

            “I Declare” is Joel’s third major book and it is simply an expansion of some of the CONcepts he plated up for public deception in his prior book “Your Best Life Now.”  In order for us to experience our “best” (as defined by his version of the American dream) now we have to do the following:

As long as you can’t imagine it, as long as you can’t see it, then it is not going to happen for you.  It’s the same way with us. . .We have to conceive it on the inside before we’re ever going to receive it on the outside.[10] But if you develop an image of victory, success, health, abundance, joy, peace, and happiness, nothing on earth will be able to hold those things from you.[11]

God abides by the laws He established, and if you don’t sow, you will not reap.[12]

Your Best Life Now is around 300 pages of well camouflaged WOF ‘101’ doctrine.  The spiritual law goes something like this: (1) First you begin by visualizing what it is you desire, say physical healing.  You must begin to “see” yourself as totally healed, the more precise and vivid an inner picture you and paint the better. (2) Then you must begin to confess verbally to yourself and to others (when asked) that you are totally healed prior to any manifestation of healing at this point.  This confession is usually comprised on various snippets of Bible verses taken out of their context, yet claimed as “God’s promises” for your life. (3) During this time of visualization and positive confession you will have to cast down every thought or report you are given that contradicts your stance.  During the waiting period (between initial confession & final possession) one must guard against digging up their “seed” (words) by giving in and confessing negativity about what you want.  When this happens then one must begin the process over.  Negative words will cancel out the positive ones, if the individual has more faith in the negative coming to pass.

If you allow your thoughts to defeat you and then give birth to negative ideas through your words, you actions will follow suit.  That’s why we need to be extremely careful about what we think and especially careful about what we say.  Our words have tremendous power, and whether we want to or not, we will give life to what we’re saying, either good or bad.[13]

(4) In God’s timing, if you remain steadfast in your confession you will receive what you have conceived in your heart and confessed with your mouth, isn’t this what Jesus taught in Mark 11:24?

            Your Best Life Now lays out the framework for why it is a necessity to verbally proclaiming the BEST desires of your heart until they manifest in your life.  As further proof that Joel is nothing more than a clever redressing of old sign-gift heresy we come to Chapter 28 of this book is called “The Seed Must Lead” and it is a shortened version of Oral Robert’s “seed faith” heresy that he made popular back in the early 1950’s and this false doctrine has syphoned off untold hundreds of millions of dollars from legitimate Church ministries.[14] Gigo, garbage in, garbage out.

            I Declare is Joel’s subtle next step into silently converting his followers into WOF demi-gods.  This is a much shorter book than Your Best Life Now.  This book is very similar to the previous one and honestly, it is like all of John’s and Joel’s sermons; one sort of ‘point’ with a lot of ancillary stories from either his father’s life or from people Joel knows.  On a very infrequent basis Joel attempts to shore up his doctrine with some cherry-picked pericope from the Bible.

            The book consists of 31 declarations aka positive confessions that the reader is to “declare” over their lives at the beginning of each day and then hold fast to that confession regardless of the circumstances or situations life may threw against you.  I have heard Kenny Copeland say on numerous occasions “if you play the game right you win,” meaning that if we simply will implement God’s “laws” regarding our words, then we will be victorious every time!

            The first words on the page of Joel’s latest book PROVE is a WOF heretic by writing the following:

Our words have creative power.  Whenever we speak something, either good or bad, we give life to what we are saying. . .They don’t realize they are prophesying their futures. . .Here is the key; you’ve got to send your words out in the direction you want your life to go.[15]  

            For those who might say that Joel Osteen is not a WOF devotee, because he has never said he was let me simply point you to a few of the following titles, all from people personally known by the Osteen family and apart from Joyce, all of these enthusiasts have helped shape and form Joel Osteen into the proclaimer of error he has become.

Your Words Hold a Miracle: The Power of Speaking God’s Word, John Osteen

There is a Miracle in Your Mouth, John Osteen

Reigning in Life As a King, John Osteen

How To Release The Power of God, John Osteen

Living in the Abundance of God, John Osteen Words, Kenneth E. Hagin

You Can Have What You Say, Kenneth E. Hagin

Right and Wrong Thinking, Kenneth E. Hagin

How To Be A Success In Life, Kenneth E. Hagin The Power of the Tongue, Kenneth Copeland

Living in Heaven’s Blessings Now, Gloria Copeland The Tongue: A Creative Force, Charles Capps

How To Avoid Tragedy and Live a Better Life, Charles Capps Change Your Words, Change Your Life: Understanding the Power of Every Word You Speak, Joyce Meyer Power Thoughts: 12 Strategies to Win the Battle of the Mind, Joyce Meyer

Two Difference Between Joel and these authors —-        

 One major difference between Joel and the fifteen titles I cited (I could easily add 50 more titles) is that the above authors speak basically in reference to Jesus whereas Joel does not. Joel does not even mention Jesus until chapter 10 of his book.  When he does mention our Lord it is in regard to Christ making wine at the wedding “Jesus sped up the winemaking process —God can do in a split second what might otherwise take you many years.”[16]  Joel NEVER refers to Jesus Christ as God the Son, as our Savior, as the sacrifice for the sin of the world.  Nor does he make any appeal to the readers to place their faith in the finished work of Jesus for them.  He does not even invite the reader at the end of the book to consider the claims of Christ, to pray, to receive Him as Lord, nothing like the normal American “evangelical” pattern at all.

Secondly, the above books all proof-text[17] massively whereas Joel does not cite many biblical texts at all and sadly, when he does cite the Bible he also resorts to proof-texting since he has never learned how to properly exegete the texts.  Here are some example of this truth-twisting Joel does:

1)     Ephesians 2:10 says, “You are God’s masterpiece,” (p. 68) — yes we are God’s handiwork (ποίημα or worksmanship) created in CHRIST for good works. Joel leaves this out.

2)     Jesus said ‘My yoke is easy and my burden is light.’  God wants to make your life easier, (p. 105).  He was comparing the heavy burden of keeping the Law as opposed to the liberty and freedom that come from walking in the light of the Gospel.  Where does the Bible say God wants to “make our life easier”?  Jesus said in John 16:33 that in this world we shall suffer tribulation, but in Him we have peace. Those who desire to live godly IN CHRIST JESUS shall suffer persecution 2 Timothy 3:12. 1 Peter 4:16 “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”           

3)     It says in Romans 5:17, “We are to reign in life as kings” (p. 117).  That is a misinterpretation of the text. Here is the entire verse “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ) .  AGAIN Joel leaves out any reference to reigning in life BY ONE, CHRIST JESUS.  Paul’s entire thought is about Adam’s sin and the remedy for our ancestral and inherited sin —- the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the ungodly!  Joel does not go here at all.

4)     James 4:2 says, ‘You have not because you ask not,’ (p.143). The entire text reads “You desire and do not have; you murder and are filled with envy, and are not able to obtain; you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, in order that you may spend it on your pleasures.  The lack in our lives is because we are not asking God for great things, never mind the part about asking with wrong (selfish) motives, asking for things to bring you pleasure and make your life a waking dream.

5)     And He promises in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for our good” (p. 147). Joel’s statement is FALSE.  God did not promise that all things are working for the readers good.  What He DID promise is this: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

6)     God says, ‘If you take the limits off Me I’ll amaze you with My goodness.  I’ll not only meet your needs, I’ll take it one step further. I’ll give you the desires of your heart.’ (2 Cor. 9:8-9 NIV) (p. 113). The verse reads in the NIV as follows: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”  There is nothing in this text which indicates that God will give you the desires of your heart. That is a citation from Ps. 37:4.  This text says that IF we delight ourselves in the Lord (only possible for Christians) THEN He will give us their desires of our heart.  Also, does this mean that He will give us “our” hearts desires or that He will place in our hearts His desires?  I believe the latter is true.

 These are not all the examples of Joel’s abuse of the scriptures, but I believe they are indicative of a very troubling pattern I have noticed in Joel’s preaching, in his televised interviews and now his writings —- he seems to intentionally leave out Jesus in all three venues of expression.  I admit that intentionality speaks to motive (a little Barrister lingo here) and no man knows the motives of another man, however I make my claim based on the facts in evidence.

For example why doesn’t Jesus figure prominently in the preaching and writing of America’s leading pastor?  When Jesus is cited it is by example of Him speaking “faith-filled” words into existence or taking life out of existence (the cursed fig tree, p. 164).  He is not shown as God the Son, moving as Emmanuel among the people.  Jesus is not portrayed as the suffering servant (what, Jesus suffer?) who came to die for the sins of the world.

Any Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Unity School member, theosophist, Christian Scientist, even Muslim’s can read this book as it is written and not be offended by its contents.  Nor will they have their current belief system challenged.  The book is so doctrinally insipid that any form of deist could place it on their bookshelves, and no doubt many have done just this.

I have counted the number of times the following words occur in Joel’s book to help prove my contention: the cross – 1 time, p. 17; Christ – 1 time; Jesus – 21 times; God – over 200 times.  In the entire book only 18 times are biblical texts cited.  Virtually every time Joel cites a text he misapplies it to such a degree that it is no longer “God’s Word” because he has made it a lie by taking it so far out of context.  God is never referred to as “the God of the Bible,” or “the Father of Jesus,” He is presented as the generic God that any reader could claim as their current understanding of deity.  The Holy Spirit is also never directly referenced as far as I could tell, after all, to do so might lead some readers to wonder if Joel is some form of Trinitarian (he is, but why share this and confuse others, right?).

  A lot of times we pray about our mountains: God please help me. . .It’s good to ask God to help you.  But when you face a mountain, it’s not enough to pray.  It’s not enough to just believe.  It’s not enough to just think good thoughts. Here’s they key: you have to speak to your mountains.[18]

You may be praying about things you should be speaking to…If you have health problems, instead of begging God to heal you, you need to declare to that sickness, ‘Sickness, you have no right in my body. I’m a child of the Most High God, You are not welcome here…I’m commanding you to leave my body.’[19]

There is a time to pray.  But there is a time to speak.  You don’t pray about your mountains; you speak to your mountains.[20]

            These declarations are not prayers to God, so what are they?  WOF doctrine teaches that words are carriers of either the spiritual force of faith or of fear.  They take quite literally Hebrews 11:1 “faith is the substance of things hoped for. . .” To Joel faith is an actual spiritual substance, a force which is wielded victoriously via the mouthed words of the adept.  These words (declarations) will cosmically draw the things, people, opportunities (Joel continually refers to them as “good breaks”), and money to us.  Our words are either used by God or the devil and demons to bring to pass whatsoever we confess for good or bad.  Joel is quite adamant about his belief that we all are living the lives we have created for ourselves.

            There are many problems with the doctrine of positive confession which are beyond the scope of this article.  Let the following be sufficient for now: 1) Positive confession is not taught anywhere in the Bible as a doctrine of the Church.  2) None of the writers of the Bible ever teach that our words have creative power similar to God who speaks things into being ex nihilo (out of nothing). 3) None of the Church Fathers wrote anything akin to what Joel is telling his readers to do.  This idea that we create reality by what we believingly confess is a novel idea in the Church and as a teaching is less than seventy (70) years old.  The mind-science cults that served as the fountainhead for this demonic deception are less than 160 years old themselves.

The Tyranny of Words

            One more serious flaw with Joel’s doctrine is that it puts those who adhere to it in bondage.  I experienced this personally as a WOF pastor many years ago.  I learned I could not know how any member of the congregation was really doing by asking the members.  Asking a PC person “how are you doing” will elicit a response of “oh Pastor, I am blessed in the city, blessed in the field, why I am the head and not the tail, blessed by Almighty God, filled with His Spirit, growing from faith to faith and glory to glory.”  Joel, as a pastor, does not want to hear about how big your problems are, he wants to hear how big your God is (see p. 124 Your Best Life Now) and Joel’s people are afraid to confess the truth because then they will dig up and cancel out their (hopefully) sprouting faith-filled words by speaking negative (reality as it is) words.

This places people under a tremendous weight.  They must watch their words at every waking moment.  They must be careful who they associate with, because negative people can also hinder one’s receiving.  Every thought must be held captive to whatever the dream/vision/hope one is trying to create.  Any thought to the contrary (even warning’s from the Lord) to what you are declaring is automatically consigned to Satan and cast down.  Once one starts down the path, there is no turning back unless the goal is willingly forfeited by the practitioner.

There is also the agony of doubt created by such a subjective concept.  Faith-filled words only produce when they are spoken from the heart and not the head (mind).  Their view is of man as a tri-partite being comprised of spirit, soul and body.  The spirit is reborn; the soul (mind, will, emotions) must be renewed by the Word.  Then together these two will control the body.  The only way they can know for certain that they are speaking true faith-filled words is when they receive what they are confessing.  Remember, these folks are either trying to confess the dream in their heart OR they are confessing things mentally to get them down in their spirit.  In either case, the acid test is the obtaining of whatever is being sought.  Since generally the things being sought do not arrive automatically, one must be prepared to begin confessing and never stop until the manifestation, even if it takes many many years.

            Since Joel is very clear that this spiritual law works every time it is properly used I would like him to explain these various events in light of this doctrine.  How did his father John end up on kidney dialysis for several years prior to his death?  John taught Joel all about confession brings possession yet John did not receive his deliverance from kidney failure.  Nor did he receive healing from the heart problems which eventually took his life.  Also, the positive confessions of his entire church for John while he was in the hospital were also of no avail (I will not go into the prophetic words that said John would live and not die, but be died anyway).  How is it that his mother got cancer in the first place?  We rejoice over God’s grace in restoring her, but she should not have gotten ill to begin with, how did that cancer spirit gain entrance?  Why did his sister Lisa’s first marriage end in divorce?  I know beyond any doubt that much confession went up prior to the marriage and during it.  Why didn’t those words work?

Joel’s View of Sin

            Something else is troubling about Joel’s writings.  In these two books and in his preaching and television interviews he does not talk about sin, judgment or hell.  Joel’s father planted the fetid seeds of “you are no long a sinner, you were a sinner but now you are a saint.”[21]  Joel grew up believing that he is not a sinner any longer.  I buttress this belief with these comments:

…King David, made a lot of mistakes. . .David didn’t focus on his faults or on the times he had done wrong.  No, he lived favor-minded.[22]

That’s not to condone wrongdoing, but the truth is, we all have areas in which we need to improve.  We can’t become so focused on our faults that we cease to enjoy who God made us to be.[23]

…David wasn’t perfect.  He made mistakes, he became discouraged, but he prayed. . .You may need to pray something similar. ‘God please help me to get rid of this negative attitude.[24]

Your job is not to judge.  Your job is not to figure out if someone deserves something, or to decide who is right or who is wrong.[25]

            Joel never uses the word “sin” or “sinner” in the entirety of his books.  To say the word “sin” is to give it place in his life and I suppose those of his hearers.  King David did make a lot of mistakes, but he also sinned grievously against his Lord.  He did not confess he missed it, he confessed his sins.

            We should be focused on our faults and wrongdoing if they are indeed sinful, which all wrongdoing is.  Guilt is a good thing when it drives the person to their knees seeking forgiveness from our Lord Jesus Christ.  We should feel guilty when we sin.  However, if we ignore sin and simply cast down guilt feelings immediately as “negative” is spiritually unwise.

            Obviously to Joel sin is no real problem in the Christian life, if it were as a pastor he would surely address it.  No, the pressing problem for us is not sin, but a poor self-image created by our negative words and those who accepted into our hearts from others.  Joel would have people believe that if they just change their thinking, renew their minds according to the cherry-picked promises (many of which are really not promises per se) then their former wrong doing will cease and via their declarations God will bring good things to them.

            Where the Bible does urge we confess — “If we confess (ὁμολογῶμεν) our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9) — Joel is silent. Or how about in James 5:16 “Therefore, confess (ἐξομολογέομαι)your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Note that it does not read “confess your mistakes” but says sins.  Lastly, what of our Lord’s own statement in Matthew 10:32-33 “So everyone who acknowledges(ὁμολογήσει) me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.  Where is the acknowledgement/confession of Jesus Christ as Lord in his preaching or his writing?  It is absent.

            In place of leading the people in a united public confession of sin and then standing before them as Christ’s mouthpiece and speaking forth the words of absolution Joel leads them in another confession he got from his father: ‘No wonder he held up his Bible every service and said, ‘This is my Bible.  I am what it says I am.  I have what I says I have’ (see p.64 Your Best Life Now).  Joel and his people confess a longer form of this same confession in each service.  I doubt Lakewood has ever been led by Joel or anyone in confessing the Apostles or Nicene creeds, I doubt Joel knows them.

            Joel’s latest book is simply more of the same heresy continued from his previous publication.  Both of his books prove beyond any controversy that Mr. Osteen is a Word of Faith heretic.  He may hold the title ‘pastor’ and his people may refer to him as such but Mr. Osteen is no biblical pastor.  He does not meet the qualifications to serve as pastor.  He refuses to preach Christ crucified for the SINS of the world.  He has not openly preached Jesus Christ in his services, books or interviews.  He intentionally leaves Jesus out of the verses that pertain to Him!  Joel is a false shepherd and he is misleading (unintentionally let us hope) multitudes further from Christ and not closer to Him.  DMI urges that prayer is offered for Joel’s deliverance from doctrinal darkness for the sake of his soul and those who follow him.

---

[1] The Way Back machine was an integral part of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show, okay I date myself.

[2] Osteen, John. There is a Miracle in Your Mouth. A John Osteen Publication. Houston, Tx. 1972 p. 6.

[3] Osteen, Joel. Your Best Life Now. Warner Faith. New York, NY, 2004 p.172.  Bold type added for emphasis.

[4] There is no dispute that Lakewood has grown exponentially under Joel’s smiling gaze.  He started with something like a mere 6,000 or people and now speaks to 40,000 people in person on Sunday and multitudes more via television.

[5] There are a great many accounts, sadly, probably most of them that are false.  However in the two cases in the Osteen’s life we see the genuine mercy of God.

[6] Daisy Osborn would later die of cancer, no confessions could heal her.

[7] Osteen, Dodie. Joel . John Osteen Publication. Houston, TX. 1986, pp. 42-43.

[8] I followed the hyper-faith teachers, Dr. Hobart Freeman and Elbert Willis.  These men took the WOF teachings to their logical conclusions.  Eschewing doctors, medicine, insurance, hospitals were all proof of “faith.”  The few hyper-faith teachers were not welcomed by the other WOF leaders, because the hyper-faith preachers “walked the walk,” whereas Hagin, Copeland, Harrison, etc. did not.

[9] Osteen, Joel. Your Best Life Now. Warner Faith. New York, Ny. 2004, p.215. Underlining added for emphasis.

[10] Ibid. p. 3

[11] Ibid. p. 5

[12] Ibid. pp. 256-257

[13] Ibid. pp. 121-122. Bold type and underlining added for emphasis.

[14] The dirty little secret is that Oral Roberts PAID Eugene Ewing for the CONcept of “seed faith” when Roberts SINistry was about bankrupt in the late 1960’s.  Ewing taught Roberts the whole scheme of “give and God will give back to you.”  Ewing has remained a “mystery man” ever since, his great wealth has kept him well insulated.

[15] Osteen Joel. I Declare. FaithWords. New York, NY. 2012, p. v. Bold type and underlining added for emphasis.

[16] Ibid. p. 56.

[17] Proof-texting is the bad practice of simply taking a biblical text out of its context, thus making it a pretext and using it to buttress a point being made.  With proof texting the person simply tries to find texts that “fit” their doctrine as opposed to making their doctrine submit to the contextual authority of the passage.

[18] Ibid. p. 161 Underlining & bold type added.

[19] Ibid. p. 162

[20] Ibid. p. 165

[21] This is not a direct quote from John, but he has made this statement, as have virtually all of the WOF cultists.

[22] Osteen, Joel. Your Best Life Now. P. 48

[23] Ibid. p. 66

[24] Ibid. p. 192

[25] Osteen, Joel. I Declare. P. 89