The No Goofy Zone Discernment Ministry

The No Goofy Zone is a discernment ministry for saved born again Christians and all who are seeking the truth.We expose non-biblical trends in the church. We are making material available to advance understanding of issue's which endanger Christianity. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit.

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Location: Piqua, Ohio, United States

Former drummer for Gary Lewis and The Playboys and The Coasters. Tim has also played with Paul Baloche, Lincoln Brewster, Darlene Zscech and Hillsongs, Jeff Fenholt, SteveCamp among others. Tim founded The Simply Agape Project in 2001 to get free Christian music to the troops. Recordings have been made with Tim, and friends Alex Acuna, Abe Laboriel SR, Justo Almario,Steve Camp , Jared Ming and some wonderful Independant Christian artists.The Somebody Brave CD also features words of encouragment to the soldiers from Pastors, Moms, Dads, and Lt Col Brian Birdwell a Pentegon 9/11 survivor Tim is married to Donna Wirth and has four children Alan 25,Steven 23, Brittany 22, Bethany 21. Tim has played in numerous churchs as well as shows on TBN. Tim has also performed on JCTV on the show Generation Worship featuring worship leader Jared Ming. Tim has a book published worldwide titled "Pass The Plate And Let Us Prey" (My Search For Black and White Christianity in a Gray Nation)

Thursday, May 31, 2007

New Series of Article's coming on Hollywood and its impact on the church


Im in the process of writing and researching a series series of articles on how Hollywood is impacting the church.
This will be of interest to all movie buffs out there as well.
Some of the topics will be on Evan Almighty which Ive been invited to the screening and I will go to this and ask other pastors and ministers why they get their churches involved as well as the appeal to entertainment.
I will also be discussing Christian and so called Christian movie makers TBN, Hagee the Christiano brothers and more.
And I will also be covering on how we are being sold a bag of goods and being set up for deception.
Lots to come stay tuned.-
Tim

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

New from Extreme Theology-Anatomy of Saddleback Spin

From my brother in the Lord Chris at Extreme Theology

May 12, 2007
Anatomy of Saddleback Spin - Part One
Many times when I tell other Christians about the tactics that Saddleback employs to protect Rick Warren and his image the response I get is utter disbelief. People think I am describing Bill Clinton’s political spin machine rather than a Christian pastor and his extended staff. But I am not.

When evidence appears on the internet of Rick Warren or members of his church saying or doing things that are out of step with the truth or could be damaging to his image these things have a habit of disappearing from the web. A very well documented case of this occurred in November 2006 when Rick Warren travelled to Syria and was reportedly making statements that were favorable to the Syrian government and their policies regarding religious tolerance. Joseph Farah of World Net Daily took issue with what Warren was saying and wrote about it in his column at WND. This prompted Warren to contact Farah via email and claim that “words were being put in his mouth by the Syrian media” and that they twisting what he was saying.

The story probably would have ended there but, while this email exchange was occurring a video surfaced on YouTube of Warren making the the exact types of statements that he was telling Farah were ‘being put in his mouth’.

Farah had caught Warren in a lie.

When Farah confronted Warren with the video, it vanished from the web. Without that evidence it was Farah’s word against Warren’s regarding what was being said in Syria. Thankfully, someone was able to make a copy of the audio from the YouTube video before Warren’s people yanked it off the web. This gave Farah the physical proof that he needed to show the world that Warren was engaging in deception. (The details of the story are well document on the WND website. If you would like to learn more, I recommend clicking here to read Farah's article entitled "Warren continues to deceive")

Warren’s Porn Scandal

The Real Facts of the Case

Fast forward to May 2007, Warren has now come under fire by myself and others because of his claims to being Rupert Murdoch’s pastor and his inaction regarding his pastorly duties to discipline Murdoch for publishing and distributing pornography.

The story first broke as a result of a press release that I sent out through the Christian Newswire on May 4, 2007 (Click Here to Read the Press Release). I followed this press release up with a post at my ExtremeTheology.com blog entitled “Purpose Driven Pornography?”. The purpose of that article was to give more details about facts of the story. This was necessary because of the 400 word limit for all press releases sent through the Chrisitan Newswire.

In that article I detailed Rick Warren’s claims to being Murdoch’s pastor as well as the evidence that Murdoch’s status as a born again Christian was being called into question as a result of the expansion of his porn distribution channels in the UK.

My primary point was that since Warren was on the record claiming to be Murdoch’s pastor, Warren had the Biblical responsibility to step in and discipline Murdoch. What is at stake is the moral authority of the Christian message. As one of my unbelieving employees put it, “If a Born-Again Christian is profiting from the distribution of porn, how can Christians say that people are sinning if they look at porn?”

In my article I NEVER claimed that Murdoch was a member of Saddleback Church. The reason I did not make this claim is because I had called Saddleback church in order to get clarification. When I called, Pastor Warren was out of town but I was able to talk with his administrative assistant. She was very kind and very professional. She explained to me that Rupert Murdoch was not a member of Saddleback church. I told her that was not the issue. The issue was that Rick had claimed to be Murdoch’s pastor. When I asked her for clarification about what Warren meant she encouraged me to email Warren. (This is also documented in my article).

For the Record: Here are the assumptions that I operated from:

1. Rupert Murdoch is not a Member of Saddleback Church
2. Rick Warren is the one claiming to be Murdoch’s Pastor

3. Rick Warren was telling the truth about being Murdoch’s Pastor.

4. Since there is no other definition of Pastor given than the one outlined in the scriptures, Warren was implying the Biblical definition and duties of “pastor”.

5. Under the Biblical standard (not Warren’s personal standard) of church discipline as outlined in 1 Corinthians 5, Rick Warren as the ‘pastor of note’ is obligated to discipline Murdoch for his un-repentance regarding profiting from pornography as demonstrated by the expansion of his pornography holdings.

6. The purpose of Biblical discipline is twofold: 1. For the restoration of the sinner: the goal is for the sinner to repent of their sin and receive Christ’s forgiveness. 2. To prevent the church’s message from falling into disrepute in the world’s eye as a result a blatant sin being committed by someone who is supposed to be a Christian brother.


The radio interviews that I conducted during the first week of the story clearly demonstrate that these were the assumptions I was operating from. I recommend listening to my interview on May 9, 2007 on the The Issues Etc. radio program as proof of my assertions. It is important to note that this interview was conducted one day prior to the release of the World Net Daily story.

Saddleback’s Spin Control and More Vanishing Evidence

Earlier this year, Rick Warren enlisted the services of veteran journalist Mark Kelly to set the record straight any time a damaging story surface on the web. One could argue that Mark Kelly is Rick Warren’s spin doctor. (Who ever heard of a Christian Pastor needing a spin doctor?)

On Friday May 11, 2007 Mark Kelly posted Saddleback’s rebuttal to my calls for Warren to discipline Murdoch. His rebuttal was prompted by the the story that appeared on World Net Daily on May 10, 2007 entitled “Murdoch pastor gets heat for mogul's porn channels”.

Kelly’s rebuttal turned out to be a hit piece. I was full of inaccuracies and very flimsy argumentation that spinned the issue rather than dealt with the issue head on.

Not surprisingly, Kelly’s rebuttal disappeared from the internet almost as quickly as it had been posted.

Saddleback was up to its old tricks. Thankfully, I’ve seen them use this tactic so many times before, that when I first saw Kelly’s rebuttal I decided to take screen shots of it in order to keep it in the public record. This morning I stitched those screen shots together and posted the finished graphic on the internet.
I want everyone to see for themselves what type of tactics Pastor Warren and his proxies employ to defend him.

I want everyone to see the sophistry that Pastor Warren and his people employ to twist the truth and deflect blame and accountability away from this ‘man of God’.

Like the Syria story, the facts of this story are breath-taking.

Click Here to see what Saddleback’s Spin Doctor, Mark Kelly produced in order to defend his boss.

In Part Two of this article I will outline the distortions and sophistry used by Mark Kelly and Warren's Chief of Staff, David Chrzan in Saddleback's short-lived rebuttal.

Posted by Chris Rosebrough on May 12, 2007 at 12:12 PM in Purpose Driven Critique | Permalink

Great New Article by Berit Kjos

Great new article from my sister in the Lord Berit Kjos.
(I am currently involved in some research -new article's from me to come soon-Tim)

TRADING TRUTH FOR SOLIDARITY
PART 1




By Berit Kjos

May 30, 2007

NewsWithViews.com



"On Pluralism Sunday [Pentecost, May 27] progressive Christian churches around the US will explore and experience other religious traditions."[1]

"It’s not just tolerance, it’s to go beyond tolerance, to principle pluralism. The fundamentalists have a pessimistic view of future, and they have this perception... that there’s an unbridgeable divide between the believer and the unbeliever.... We don’t believe that."[2] Richard Cizik, National Association of Evangelicals

"This is the New Spirituality’s false gospel of Oneness: 'We are all one. Ours is not a better way, ours is merely another way."[3] Tamara Hartzell, In the Name of Purpose - Sacrificing Truth on the Altar of Unity

It's no secret that the world is headed for a global government linked to worldwide solidarity and spiritual pluralism. The signs are all around us! Exposing the dark forces behind this spiritual revolution, Tamara Hartzell quotes occultist Alice Bailey, whose main source of "insight" was her spirit guide, Djwhal Khul:

“The day is dawning when all religions will be regarded as emanating from one great spiritual source; all will be seen as unitedly providing the one root out of which the universal world religion will inevitably emerge. Then there will be neither Christian nor heathen, neither Jew nor Gentile, but simply one great body of believers, gathered out of all the current religions. They will accept the same truths, not as theological concepts but as essential to spiritual living…. Such a world religion is no idle dream but something which is definitely forming today.”[4]

That prediction was dictated by Bailey's demonic mentor in 1947, before the telltale signs of social transformation were noticeable. But the next three decades brought radical changes. Humanistic psychology, multicultural education, the dialectic process, and countless other transformational schemes had been sown and began to bear fruit through institutions and "educational laboratories" across America. Together with data tracking technology, they evolved into increasingly sophisticated programs for manipulating minds, changing values, and undermining Biblical truth.[5]

Seminaries along with universities embraced the new way thinking, and soon the revolution swept through churches as well. Postmodernism rejected the values that had shaped America -- and pluralism is replacing them. The unthinkable is becoming the norm!

Ponder these statements by three trusted models of Christian leadership. Are they teaching God's Truth -- or promoting a more popular postmodern distortion?

1. Billy Graham made this statement during a 1997 interview with Robert Schuller:

"I think everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ. ... He's calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think that they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven."[6]

But God said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15). Faith must be grounded in truth -- the reality of the crucified and risen Jesus. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)

2. "America's pastor" Rick Warren gives a similar twist to the uncompromising Scriptures. Dismissing the Biblical "foundation" for our relationship with Jesus, he cheered his UN audience and CNN listeners with these false assurances:

"You may be Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Baptist or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish or Jain, or you have no religion at all. I’m not interested in your religious background. Because God did not create the universe for us to have religion. He came for us to have a relationship with him.”[7]

“I have known many people who believe in the Messiah of Jesus, regardless of what religion they are, because they believe in him. It’s about a relationship, not a religion."[8]

3. President George W. Bush fits right in. He, too, has made countless head-scratching comments that turn God's Truth into pluralist proclamations. Do you wonder, as I do, if he really believes what he says? Or is he just trying to please his Christian constituents without offending others?

"In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson, Bush said he believes that both Christians and Muslims worship the same God. 'I think we do. We have different routes of getting to the Almighty,' Bush said."[9]

"The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today," Bush added. "The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home."[10]

"Americans of many faiths and traditions share a common belief that God [which God?] hears the prayers of His children and shows grace to those who seek Him. ... There is a power in these prayers [to diverse gods].... I ask the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, each according to his or her own faith, for the freedoms and blessings we have received and for God's continued guidance, comfort, and protection."[11]

Has he forgotten that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6)?

Diana Eck, founder of Pluralism Project at Harvard, is not a "trusted model" of Christianity. Yet, in her promotion of Pluralism Sunday, she echoes the above sentiments:

"I have found my own faith not threatened, but broadened and deepened by the study of Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Sikh traditions of faith. And I have found that only as a Christian pluralist could I be faithful to the mystery and the presence of the one I call God.... We believe that God is no way constricted or limited by the traditions, doctrines, dogma, or texts of any one religious tradition.... Through it all, we are connected to the same infinite Source and we are all unified by the same all-inclusive Spirit."[12]

Those misleading statements remind me of a sobering Old Testament warning that we would be wise to heed:

"...you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand. Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress." Judges 10:12-14

THE WONDER OF PENTECOST

Like Diana Eck, the Interfaith Center at the Presidio promotes the new version of Pentecost: "On Pentecost Sunday... Christian churches across the United States and beyond will dedicate their worship to a celebration of our interfaith world."[13]

This interfaith feast is sponsored by Center for Progressive Christianity (CPC). It doesn't claim to be Biblical, but it does present itself as a more accommodating version of Christianity. And it gives us another sobering glimpse of the direction the world is headed:

"We don’t claim that our religion is superior to all others.... Pluralism Sunday spreads good news: there is a way to be Christian without making this prideful claim, which has been the cause of so much inter-religious division and misunderstanding.

"Acts chapter 2 in the Bible recounts the powerful legend of Pentecost. When Jesus’ disciples gathered in Jerusalem, the 'curse of Babel' was reversed, and suddenly people who spoke different languages could understand each other."[1]

God had good reasons for disrupting the Babel building project. He saw the arrogance of ambitious visionaries who sought to control the world through human unity and ingenuity. Now, with UN treaties and global technology, mankind is establishing a far more sophisticated monument to human strength and solidarity. And God, who is "slow to anger," will not be patient with us forever.

The actual Pentecost was no "legend." An historical event, its wonders were documented by eyewitnesses and ancient historians. On that momentous day, God sent His Holy Spirit to equip His true Church with the life, strength, wisdom and love needed to serve Him anywhere in the world. But only those who trusted in Jesus Christ received His Spirit -- the miraculous gift that would transform poor, uneducated fishermen into faithful preachers with the courage to face torture and death in the name of Jesus.

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they [believers] were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance....

"Then they ["the multitudes"] were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, 'Look, are not all these who speak 'Galileans? 'And how is it that we hear, each in our own 'language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes... visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.'” Acts 2:1-13

Peter, the humbled disciple who had thrice denied Jesus, stood up to explain. Knowing the joy of divine forgiveness, he shared the good news of Christ's victory through His death, burial, and resurrection. The people were amazed.

"What shall we do?” they asked.

"Repent," answered Peter, "and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.... Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." Acts 2:38-41

THE "ENEMY" TO MAN'S GLOBAL VISION

"...no one religion rightly can claim superiority over all others," says Rev. Jim Burklo, the Presbyterian coordinator of Pluralism Sunday. "More and more people have been exposed to the insight and wisdom in spiritual traditions other than their own. Many folks see the damage that religious chauvinism is doing in the world today, and have turned away from Christianity."[13]

Do those words sound familiar? It might, if you have read our article on Al Gore's "panreligious perspective." Compare Rev. Burklo's views with Mr. Gore's statement Earth in the Balance. Notice his attitude toward those who refuse to compromise:

"The richness and diversity of our religious tradition throughout history is a spiritual resource long ignored by people of faith, who are often afraid to open their minds to teachings first offered outside their own system of belief. But the emergence of a civilization in which knowledge moves freely and almost instantaneously throughout the world has... spurred a renewed investigation of the wisdom distilled by all faiths...."[14]

Postmodern pluralism sounds tempting to the world. Few mention the consequences: spiritual blindness, moral corruption, cultural decay, bondage to lust and cravings, an epidemic of depression and hopelessness, and a growing hatred for uncompromising Christians.

While the Bible warned us it would happen, it also offers wonderful hope:



"...in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God... [F]rom such people turn away! ...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned..." 2 Timothy 3:1-14



"If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32

Footnotes:



1, Pluralism Sunday
2, Richard Cizik, representing the National Association of Evangelicals during a panel discussion at Clinton Global Initiative: Mitigating Religious and Ethnic Conflict
3, Tamara Hartzell, In the Name of Purpose - Sacrificing Truth on the Altar of Unity, Chapter 18. Available online
4, Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul, Problems of Humanity, Chapter V - The Problem of the Churches, III. The Essential Truths, 1947. Also quoted in The World Goodwill Newsletter, 1993, No.4.
5, Brainwashing in America
6, Billy Graham interviewed by Robert Schuller in 1997. Transcription posted on Pastor John McArthur's website
7, United Nations, Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, September 2005, transcribed from the audio of Rick Warren’s message available at Lighthouse Trails Research Project, “The New Missiology—Keep Your Own Religion, Just Add Jesus.” Cited by Tamara Hartzell.
8, Interview with Rick Warren, CNN Larry King Live, December 2, 2005. Cited by Tamara Hartzell.
9, Billy Graham Believes Catholic Doctrine of Salvation Without Bible, Gospel, or Name of Christ
10, Comforting Words As a Matter of Faith
11, National Day of Prayer, 2007: A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
12, Diana Eck, Pluralism Sunday and this
13, Interfaith Center at the Presidio (Scroll down to "Progressive Christians Celebrate Pluralism Sunday")
14, Al Gore, Earth in the Balance; Ecology and the Human Spirit (Houghton Mifflin, 1992), pages 258-259.



© 2007 Berit Kjos - All Rights Reserved

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Another good article from Extreme Theology




Again I need to point out that in my opinion what Rick Warren has created is in fact a new religion with just enough scripture in it to deceive undiscerning Christians-Tim

From Chris at Extreme Theology-

May 15, 2007
Rick Warren: “Any church that fails to fulfill the five purposes...is not really a church!”
by Chris Rosebrough

Yes you read that headline correctly. That is a quote from Rick Warren in Mark Kelly’s latest spin piece for Saddleback entitled “Seven myths about ‘Purpose Driven’”.

The piece itself has two wildly surreal statements in it, that if you consider what is really being said, ought to make you question the entire ‘Purpose Driven’ church concept.

The first is a quote from Rick Warren himself:

Rick Warren says: “The five purposes of the church commanded by Jesus in the Great Commandment and Great Commission never go out of style. They are not a fad. They are eternally relevant. Any church that fails to fulfill the five purposes Jesus established for his people is not really a church!”
Wow!?

If your church isn’t fulfilling the 5 Purposes, according to Rick Warren it “is not really a church!”

Maybe its me, but this sure does sound like a dogmatic and judgmental rebuke by Warren. This seems a little out of character for a person who according to his apologists, "prefers behind the scenes persuasion rather than public rebuke."

When you take this statement and add it to the next one, you will really be scratching your head.

Said Kelly:

“...you don’t have to be part of any particular denomination to implement PD principles. There are Purpose Driven congregations in more than 200 different denominations and associations. Our desire is to work with denominations to strengthen their churches. Each church can maintain its own heritage and doctrinal convictions while cooperating with others on accomplishing the five purposes...”
This seems really odd to me. On the one hand these folks say that any church that isn’t fulfilling the 5 purposes ‘is not really a church”. But on the other hand ANY church REGARDLESS OF DOCTRINAL CONVICTIONS can be Purpose Driven.

So with these PD folks, the truth of a church’s doctrinal statement doesn’t determine whether or not it is ‘really a church’. But, the thing that matters is whether or not they are fulfilling the 5 purposes.

By Saddleback's own admission, they work with over 200 denominations and help them all be Purpose Driven.

This explains why there are Purpose-Driven Catholics, Purpose-Driven Mormons and soon there will be Purpose-Driven Synagogues. (This must be what Warren means by Deeds not Creeds.)

Do you think there is anything wrong with a definition of church that embraces all churches regardless of doctrinal statements but denies that a church 'is really a church' if it has a difference of opinion with Rick Warren about the purposes it should be fulfilling?

This dichotomy is a little clearer when I put it in a math formula format.

If Rick Warren held both creeds AND Deeds in equal regard we'd expect to see formula 1 as the ONLY true definition of church:

1. Fulfilling 5 Purposes + Sound Doctrine = True Church (Deeds AND Creeds)
But based upon Warren's statement and the fact that ANY church regardless of DOCTRINE can be Purpose-Driven, the Saddleback way of thinking ALSO makes formula 2 a valid formula.

2. Fulfilling 5 Purposes + False Doctrine = True Church (Deeds NOT Creeds)
Warren's ideas also make formula 3 a valid equation.

3. Not Fulfilling 5 Purposes + Sound Doctrine = False Church (Deeds NOT Creeds)
Notice that the thing that decides whether or not a church is a TRUE CHURCH in their way of thinking hinges on fulfilling the 5 purposes. True doctrine is not a deciding factor it is only one of the Purpose Driven 'flavors' of church.

In other words, Warren's dogmatic focus is off. He should be dogmatic about BOTH Fulfilling the 5 Purposes AND sound doctrine. But he's not.

Sorry, but I can't accept this definition of church. Warren and his followers have elevated their ideas about the 5 purposes above sound doctrine. That is why there are Purpose Driven Catholics, Unitarians and United Pentecostals. Each of those groups subscribes to false doctrines and therefore are not part of the true church. But in Warren's way of thinking they are part of the true church.

Sorry but this doesn't fly with scripture.

---

A couple of really good articles

These are from my friend and brother in the Lord Chris Rosebrough. Chris is doing a really fine job on shedding solid scriptural light on a variety of current subjects.
Here are a couple of fine websites that are currently sources of solid information.

http://www.extremetheology.com/
http://www.alittleleaven.com/

here are the articles from Chris-

Did you know that Rick Warren and Saddleback church will work with and help ANY church become "Purpose-Driven" regardless of its 'doctrinal convictions'?

Here is what Saddleback Church said last week:

"There are Purpose Driven congregations in more than 200 different denominations and associations. Our desire is to work with denominations to strengthen their churches. Each church can maintain its own heritage and doctrinal convictions while cooperating with others on accomplishing the five purposes" (Online Source)
By their own admission Rick Warren and his Purpose-Driven ministries will 'work with' and 'strengthen' ANY church.

Where does this 'strengthening' and 'working with' take place?

Answer: At a Purpose-Driven Church Pastor Training Conference

What happens at these Pastor Training Conferences? Here is what the Purpose-Driven website says:

The Purpose Driven model offers leaders in your church a unique, biblically-based approach to help them establish, transform, or maintain a balanced, growing congregation. What is a balanced, growing congregation? It’s one that is growing larger in numbers as it grows deeper in carrying out the God-given purposes for churches... (Online Source)
Conference Sessions include workshops on:

• Targeting Your Community for Evangelism - Understanding Who You are Trying to Reach
• Attracting a Crowd - How to Design Seeker-Sensitive Services
• Building Your Congregation - Turning Attenders into Members
• Structuring Your Church on Purpose - How to Organize Your Church for Growth

Did you know that these training sessions are attended by Mormons, Catholics and Jews?

Here is what Rick Warren told USAToday about his "Purpose Driven" training programs:

"Warren's pastor-training programs welcome Catholics, Methodists, Mormons, Jews and ordained women." (Online Source)
Wait a minute! Mormons and Jews are NOT Christians. How on Earth can a "Christian Pastor" 'work with' them and help them 'strengthen' and grow their congregations?

Here is Rick Warren's explanation for training Mormons and Jews. Said Warren:

"I'm not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won't try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?"
Since when is helping to strengthen and grow a non-Christian church a "non-essential"?

Christians are not called upon to help train non-Christian churches on how to strengthen and grow their congregations! Those congregations are sending people to hell? We don't want them to be healthy, strong and growing. We want those non-Christian churches to shrink and die by having their members repent and believe in the true gospel.

Plus, God forbids Christians to do this! Here is what the Bible says on this matter:

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
Sorry, Warren's explanation demonstrates a complete disregard for clear Biblical teaching! Warren said that he didn't want to be 'divisive' but in reality Warren IS being divisive by flatout disobeying God and helping to strengthen and grow these non-Christian sects.

Sadly, Rick Warren is trying to portray himself as being 'magnanimous' by working with leaders from all faiths and "building bridges" with them. But, when you compare what he is doing to what God’s Word tells us to do you'll discover that the correct word to describe Warren's behavior IS "divisive". The reason for this is because he is being openly rebellious to God's clear commands which forbid Christians to be in partnership with false churches and unbelievers.

For those of you tempted to think that USAToday got their facts wrong, please consider this: The week that the USAToday story broke, Rick Warren's Pastors.com website said this about the article:





Click Here to Visit the Pastors.com website

Rather than repudiate the article's claims regarding Warren's training of Mormons and Jews, Rick Warren instead asked for people to pray that the article would be successful in introducing the "The Purpose-Driven Life to a whole new secular audience."

Rick Warren obviously approved of this article and its contents.

I’ve had time to think and process Warren’s response regarding disciplining Rupert Murdoch.

I think his response is tragic. The fact that is being lost on everyone is that we are ultimately talking about the eternal salvation of Rupert Murdoch. I don’t want Murdoch to face God’s wrath on Judgement Day. I don’t want Murdoch to perish for eternity in the fires of hell and neither does Jesus Christ.

Warren’s response can be summed up this way, “Murdoch isn’t a member of Saddleback church therefore it would be inappropriate for me to discipline him.”

This is a a dodge and a bad one at that. It is well documented that Rick Warren has claimed to be Murdoch’s pastor. This was a claim that Warren made, not Murdoch.

What Rick Warren seems to be forgetting here is that he has a profound opportunity to show the LOVE of Jesus Christ to Rupert Murdoch by disciplining him.

Warren has spent so much time flying around the world telling everyone how important it is to ‘do the Bible’ and show the love of Christ by feeding the poor and taking on global giants, that he has forgotten that discipline is another way which pastors are called to ‘do the Bible’. Discipline provides pastors with a rare and special opportunity to show the love of Christ to those under their pastoral care.

Here is what the scriptures say:

1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Notice that this verse clearly says that the Lord disciplines us so that we may NOT be condemned along with the world. This is a very loving and positive aspect to discipline.

Hebrews 12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every sn whom he receives.”
Again, notice that the Lord disciplines those HE LOVES. We don’t like to be disciplined and disciplining someone is never easy and never fun. But this passage tells us that discipline is a loving act on God’s part towards his children.

Rick Warren needs to show the full spectrum of Christ’s love to Rupert Murdoch, a man whom he is pastoring.

Contrary to what Warren’s defenders have said, it is absolutely fitting and appropriate for Warren to discipline Murdoch, call him to repentance, and publicly call for him to dismantle his pornography empire.

This is literally THE MOST loving thing that Warren could do for Murdoch.

If Murdoch repents of his sins and receives Christ’s forgiveness then he will not be condemned with the rest of the world. He will be forever grateful to Rick Warren for showing him Christ’s love by disciplining him.

But, if Warren doesn’t show Christ’s love to Murdoch by disciplining him and Murdoch is judged to hell, he will FOREVER be asking the question, “Why didn’t Rick Warren show me Christ’s love by disciplining me? How come my pastor didn’t love me enough to call me to repentance?”

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

The Purpose Driven Trojan Horse-Walking around in a state of HUH?


This is a older article I wrote a couple years ago. Im reprinting it for the sake of the many new readers God has blessed us with world-wide.

The Purpose Driven Trojan Horse-Walking Around in a State of HUH?


Recently I sat down to watch a movie with my wife on television. As the movie played I noticed annoying little mini commercials being played in the lower left hand screen. One was a graphic portraying a pit crew changing tires on a race car, then it showed the driver jumping in to race the car off your screen. Another one advertised a movie that would be on next week. Of course no sound played as the mini commercial ran but it really distracted away from that was playing on the TV screen. HUH?
Walk into a store and try to figure out the proper toothpaste to buy. Before it was simple choices. Now I like having choices but remember the days when the choices meant Colgate-Crest -or Ultrabrite. HUH?
Now even within the brands you have toothpaste's that make your teeth more white and remove tartar. You can buy brands with mouthwash in the toothpaste. Literally rows of choices. I was in a grocery store two days ago shopping and saw a old man shopping for some jello. He told me he was confused over all the different weights and wanted to get the best buy on sugar free jello. I helped him a bit, he thanked me but said he wanted to look a little longer. When I was ready to get in line for check about twenty minutes later I noticed the old man was still in the jello aisle looking at all the boxesHUH?
Cellphones now make it available for us to be interrupted in the middle of whatever we are doing so someone may speak to us.Ever been in a long line at the store when someone is getting ready to pay and they get a phone call, and are then oblivious to the clerk trying to collect their money and move the line? How ever did we live before without all this?
I know people who will sit at a computer , while watching TV, and carrying on a conversation. They call this multi-tasking. I call it not paying attention to any one thing. Something is bound to suffer.HUH?

Christianity is suffering from this as well. We have so much stuff available to us we very seldom will just sit down and read the Bible without a study aid or purpose driven something.
So what is it about Rick Warren that makes us go HUH?
Could it be that Rick Warren states that Robert Schuller is not his mentor in Richard Abanes book about Rick Warren.
But yet writes a article titled "Learn to Love Yourself" for Ladies Home Journel and never mentions the name of Jesus and the first line is" Self Esteem still wobbly after all these years?"
From a article in Christianity Today "Schuller, though, won them over. "He had a profound influence on Rick," Kay says. "We were captivated by his positive appeal to nonbelievers. I never looked back."
HUH?
Rick Warren has stated church growth is not about the numbers. Yet brags constantly about numbers and growth.
HUH?
Rick Warren states this in Christian Retailing magazine"None of us feel we are smart enough to figure out how to make a devotional book by a pastor sell 25,000,000 copies."
Then states in The New Yorker Magazine
"You guys don't understand."Warren told them. "This is a hundred million copy book:"
(Warren talking to his publishers before PDL was published)
HUH?
In Rick Warrens best selling self help book The Purpose Driven Life Rick opens out with the sentence "It's not about you."
And then proceedes to put the whole books focus on you.
HUH?
In Ladies Home Journel Rick Warren states " God accepts us unconditionally, and in His view we are all precious and priceless."
HUH?
If God accepts us unconditionally why did He have to send His son Jesus to die a horrible bloody death on the cross?
Ricks statement is a lie. There are conditions that God sets on us. We need to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior or we go to hell.
on page 66 of PDL Rick writes "Worship isnt for our benefit! We worship for God's benefit. When we worship, our goal is to bring pleasure to God, not ourselves."
But yet Saddleback is a huge entertainment center centered on pleasing men not God check this link and see the various worship venues (insert entertainment when Rick mentions worship)
http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/home/todaystory.asp?id=5700
HUH?
Notice it states TRY one of our worship venues. Rick movement is centered on mans needs and wants not Gods worship.

I would say that Rick Warren preaches another jesus but I very seldom hear Warren speak about Jesus in the many articles he writes or TV shows Rick is on. Is Rick ashamed of Jesus?
Warren actually encourages people not to sing songs of praise and commitment to Jesus because it may make the unsaved feel uncomfortable (Purpose Driven Church page 291)

And in truth the unsaved will never ever feel comfortable in the presence of a Holy God.
Do I think the unsaved feel comfortable at Saddleback and other Purpose Driven churches.
You bet I do.
Perhaps because Gods presence is no longer there.

Here is a pretty good description of Rick Warrens God in a article by The New Yorker titled "The Cellular Church"
(speaking of The Purpose Driven life)
"It is tempting to intrepret the book's message as a kind of New Age self-help theology. Warren's God is not awesome or angry and does not stand in judgement of human sin. He's genial and mellow. "Warren's God'wants to be your best friend.' and this means, in turn, that God's most daunting property, the exercise of eternal judgement, is strategically downsized.
HUH?
Rick Warren's latest comment on hell.

Rick Warren – “Making a Difference with Your Life”
40 Days of Peace # 1, Sept 17-18 2005
Message at Saddleback Church
"Let me tell you what my definition of hell would be. Hell would be if God were to show me all the blessings in life that I’ve missed because I was selfish or afraid. To me that would be hell. I missed that just because I was afraid, just because I was insecure.”
HUH?

With all this confusion where do you think Warren gets his wisdom?
James 3:15-16 "This wisdom descendth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work."

And if you think Warrens man made movement is not causing strife read all the other articles here and you can see where ever this guy and his movement goes the church lowers their standards. Which conflicts with the Bible.
The church is called assembly or congregation which in Greek is ekklesia which means "called out from. "
We are called out from this world. But Rick wants to call your church into the world. A purpose driven entertainment center.

Rick Warren articles , books and statements often contradict itself.
God is not the author of confusion. God will not make you go HUH. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you into all truth.

You be the judge of who built this Purpose Driven Trojan Horse.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Another comment from one of our readers

Another reader sent me a story of what happened at their church. Thanks for all the comments and sharing your experiences-Tim

Tim,
Here is my short(?) story.
My BIL pastored a church up until a little while ago, when he decided that God was calling him to dump his church ,and his flock for the MegaShift/Wolfgang Simson/George Barna house church movement. And now they spend all their time traveling from conference to conference drinking up as much of this false teaching and experience they can stomache.
I don't know exactly what their beliefs were several years ago, but now they are charismatic, emerging, preterists who are drawn to contemplative practices. I tried and tried to warn my sister about the labyrinth they wanted to set up, and her reading a book by Leonard Sweet,etc. She has friends involved with Jesus People USA, but she wouldn't listen to my warnings about them either, or their ties to Christians for Biblical Equity. My BIL was actually quoted on his blog that some in his house church(of which he never attends any house church meeting- I guess he is above all that) were complaining that they don't get fed.His response was basically"feed yourselves!" Then he ended it with "so if someone is not getting fed, someone is doing something right!" I definitely confronted them both on this , and it ended with him signing off his last email with "your adversary". There is so much more I could tell you, but suffice it to say, we are miles apart, and I pray many times for their deliverance from this false system.
Thank you for the chance to vent.
Jodi Helm

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

New article by Bob Dewaay

For the record I need to state that I personally dont like it that Bob chooses to partner with self promoting Brannon Howse and Christian Worldview Network.
I do however believe at this time that Bob is still a good source of information. Here is a new article from Bob Dewaay-

A Biblically based commentary on current issues that impact you

The Problems with Personal Words From God
How People Become False Prophets to Themselves

by Bob DeWaay



The Bible tells us that God has spoken, infallibly, finally, and authoritatively through people He chose as mediators of His revelation. This is summarized in Hebrews 1:1, 2: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” The Bible further tells us that Christ’s words to us were confirmed through eyewitnesses, the apostles. Hebrews 2:2, 3 says, “For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard.” The apostles were responsible for giving us the New Testament that constitutes Christ’s authoritative words to His church—the revealed truths that remain binding on all.

In this article let us consider this question: Can a believer receive special revelations that become God’s personal, revealed will for his or her life? Many believe that this special revelation is real—that God provides it today. I contend that they have not thought through some of the concept’s problematic implications. In this article: I will defend the idea that God, since the days of the apostles, has been ruling providentially rather than through further specific revelation—whether through authoritative mediators or directly to individuals.



Personal Words From God
In considering the issue of God speaking to us, it is helpful to focus on knowledge and divide it into two large categories: that which can be known through observation of the creation using our physical senses, and that which can only be known through revelation. We are free to study and learn what pertains to the first category by using the rational minds God has given us. The second category can be further divided into two parts: that which God has revealed and the secret things that belong only to God (Deuteronomy 29:29). What God has revealed is contained in the Bible. That leaves a second category—the secret things.

With these categories established, then let us consider how to categorize “personal words from God.” These words are not observable aspects of creation (called general revelation in theology1) so do not fall into that category. Therefore, according to our categorization, they are either special revelation from God or unrevealed secret information (the occult). Since nearly every Christian would consider occult knowledge illegitimate, then those who claim special words from God must consider them to be special revelation from God.

Considering personal words from God (throughout the rest of this article PWFG or PWsFG will designate “personal word(s) from God”) to be special revelation is exactly what makes them so problematic. In the last issue2 we showed from Scripture that special revelation came through God’s chosen mediators who spoke authoritatively for God. The only exception was when God gave ordained means of guidance such as the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30). But even those revealed God’s will only because they were ordained by God as spoken through an authoritative mediator (Moses). The truth of God came to the people of God through His ordained mediators. If we take PWsFG to be special revelation, then we are implying that every believer has become an authoritative mediator of special revelation. Now that is really problematic.

I have discussed this matter with people who strongly believe in divine guidance that is specific for each individual. Their answer to my challenge is that they are not claiming to mediate special revelation to the church; they claim these words only as personal words for their own lives. But consider this: Prophets who spoke for God had to be 100 percent accurate (Deuteronomy 18:22). So if indeed PWsFG are specific revelations from God to the individual, are these also inerrant? I have yet to speak with someone who believes in PWsFG who claimed to know that the words were perfectly accurate and infallibly from God. Neither do they claim that these words have the same quality as inerrant Scripture.

If PWsFG are a mixture—some of which may be from God and some of which are in error—then some means of telling the difference is necessary. But what possible means are there? Since these PWsFG are specific to individuals and cover conceivably any aspect of life, they cannot be tested by Scripture. For example, suppose I receive a PWFG that tells me to move to Iowa and start a church. How am I to test it? Some would say to consult other Christians. But this really doesn’t change the problem, it just diffuses it. If the idea of moving to Iowa and starting a church may or may not be a true word from God and it cannot be tested by scripture, since the Bible does not dictate where we must live, then what remains is a group of people who are not infallible prophets of God trying to receive special revelation. The group is no more inerrant and authoritative than the individual.

In practice, people who believe in PWsFG tend to rely on pragmatic tests. One often hears what I call “miracle guidance stories.” Generally someone claims to have received a PWFG, took action and the result was something significant or extraordinary. Some leaders tell so many miracle guidance stories that they convince followers of their special status with God like Moses or Elijah. But when pressed to defend their practice, these leaders usually admit that if a course of action that was taken based on a PWFG did not appear to work out well, the result was no proof their personal “word” was not from God.

Let’s look at a pragmatic test. A person gets a special revelation to take a certain action. This revelation is not infallible, and the person does not claim to be an infallible prophet. The person takes the prescribed action and something great happens, or nothing special happens. In either case they still do not know if the word was an inerrant, authoritative word from God because good things happen sometimes to misguided people, and bad things happen to well-guided people. Pragmatic tests for truth are not valid.

Consider Jeremiah for example. He was an ordained prophet of God and spoke authoritatively for God. But his true guidance brought him a lifetime of continual misery and personal rejection. The whole nation failed to listen to him and in the end he was hauled away to Egypt by people who refused to listen to his true word from God. If judged pragmatically Jeremiah would be deemed a failure. But his true words from God were inerrant and comprise a book of the Bible.

Miracle guidance stories, used to make certain people appear to have “heard from God”, are of no value. They are not the Biblical test for prophets and cannot be because they are not specifically Christian. Psychics and New Agers have their own genre of miracle guidance stories that enhance their credibility. My friend Brian Flynn tells testimonies of how, before he was saved out of the New Age, he gave some very accurate psychic readings that created “miracle” guidance stories for people.3 The requirements in Deuteronomy 18 and 13 are there to protect us from “words from ‘God’” that are not from God. These tests require perfect predictive accuracy and the teaching of correct doctrine about the “God we have known.”

The failure of pragmatic tests means that in the end, once someone has received a PWFG, whether something favorable or unfavorable resulted, the person still cannot be sure that it was truly God who spoke. Such personal guidance is impossible to test. This creates a very troubling side effect. People suppose themselves to be authoritatively bound by a “will of God” that is revealed specifically and personally to each Christian. But the Christian can never be sure that he knows he has found this “will of God.” How can errant, non-authoritative words that may or may not be from God be binding? They cannot. To make them so is abusive.

Someone might counter that if a person thinks a word is from God, then “whatever is not of faith is sin.” In other words, believing something to be from God binds his personal conscience to it; and since his faith is in that word, it would be sin to not follow it. But this means that any person who has placed faith in a misplaced object of faith is bound to stay in that condition. Luther argued against that position, for example, when he claimed that people who took special religious oaths (like monks) had sworn to what is bondage and not from God. Therefore they should renounce those vows as based on lies and falsehood. Lies and falsehood are not proper objects of faith.4



Becoming a False Prophet to One’s Own Self
We have argued in previous editions of CIC that to prophesy is to speak authoritatively for God.5 Special prophets that God raised up to predict the future had to be 100 percent accurate. If they were not accurate to that degree, people were commanded not to listen to them. If we claim to have heard a word from God that He gave in order to direct our lives, then the same standard applies. It is as if we prophesy to ourselves in God’s name. Doing so must meet all the Biblical tests for prophets. If we fail the test, then we have become false prophets to our own selves; consequently, we should not listen to ourselves! If we were wrong even once, then we are unreliable and cannot be trusted to speak for God. Period.

Some may object that people who prophesy in the manner of 1Corinthians 14 (unto edification, exhortation, and comfort) do not have to meet such tests. They speak and the others judge. But this type of prophecy is to bring out implications and applications of Scripture. Everyone has the Bible as an objective means to judge such prophecy. If they have claimed that a certain passage implies that certain actions or attitudes are binding on the church, everyone can judge this because implications and applications are logically connected to the meaning of the text.

But PWsFG are of a different sort. If someone claims that God told him to start a certain business, by what means are the others to judge this? The type of prophecy that is derived from the meaning of the text is controlled by the inerrant and authoritative word from God. So if it is a true implication of Scripture it, too, is authoritative. But subjective words about matters not bound by Scripture cannot be judged in this way, as we showed earlier. These subjective revelations are neither inerrant nor authoritative.

So the person who got a PWFG that really was not from God is binding himself to what God has not spoken. It is a sin to bind what God has not bound, or loose what God has not loosed. Let me give a couple of examples. Consider this passage:

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. (1Timothy 4:1-3)
If someone spoke to the church and forbade marriage in God’s name, clearly he would be a false prophet teaching a doctrine of demons. But what if the person speaks this word to himself? That is he determines to have a PWFG saying he cannot marry. Why is he any less a false prophet than if he said the same thing to the church?

A man is free to marry in the Lord or to not marry. If he chooses to not marry as Paul did (see his discussion in 1Corinthians 7) that is within his Christian liberty. If he marries, it is within his Christian liberty as well (“if you marry you have not sinned” – 1Corinthians 7:28a). But what if a man says, “God spoke to me that I must not marry but remain single”? According to 1Timothy 4:3 he is teaching a doctrine of demons to his own self. The only way to escape the logic of this is to claim that anyone can speak in God’s name to his own self without those words fitting any Biblical test. But that would open the door to any possible error and bondage. This same argument applies to taking oaths such as the oath of chastity that monks take.6 One has bound oneself in God’s name presumptuously.

Let us consider another issue from the passage in 1Timothy 4. Suppose someone spoke in God’s name to the church, forbidding the eating of pork. According to our passage, that is a doctrine of demons. Suppose someone said, “God told me I am not allowed to eat pork.” How is it any less a doctrine of demons when spoken to one member of the church (i.e., one’s self) than to the whole church? Any person is free to not eat pork without recrimination. But if they try to add God’s imprimatur to this they make themselves an invalid lawgiver.

Therefore, PWsFG that are taken to be binding and authoritative, whether given to the church or one’s own self, are false. All words that claim to be God’s inerrant and authoritative word when they are not are false prophecies. Those who speak false words in God’s name to their own selves and thus bind themselves to those words have become false prophets to their own selves. They should quit listening to themselves!



The Difference Between Special Revelation and Providence
Those who teach that PWsFG are to be the normal experience of all Christians often write literature where Biblical characters are used as examples. They argue that if God can speak to Moses, God can speak to us.7 The issue is not God’s ability to speak or God’s unchanging nature, but how God has chosen to speak. As we argued in the previous issue, people under the Old Covenant, like Korah, made the same argument that God could speak to anyone. But God had chosen to speak through Moses as Korah found out in a most horrific way.

God chose to speak authoritatively to the patriarchs, Moses, the prophets, Jesus and the apostles. Their words are God’s words that are binding on all. But, is being the recipient of special revelation normative for all? Clearly it is not. We are bound to pay attention to the words of those through whom God has chosen to speak: “how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will” (Hebrews 2:3, 4). God spoke through them in extraordinary ways and thus the faith was “once for all” delivered to the saints.

Even in Biblical times there were long periods without any record of God giving special revelations. For example, from the time of Joseph through the first eighty years of Moses’ life, there is nothing said about God speaking to anyone. God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham that his descendants would be oppressed for 400 years but afterward come out with many possessions (Genesis 15:13, 14). During those years, God’s purposes were being fulfilled just as fully as they were during the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when God spoke directly to them.

Consider the first eighty years of Moses’ life. The story of his birth; hidden for three months, placed in an ark of bulrushes, placed in the Nile, found by Pharaoh’s daughter, given back to his mother, and raised in the royal court of Pharaoh—the story contains not one mention of God directly speaking to anyone. In fact, after Moses killed an Egyptian and fled to Midian, he was there for 40 years with no record of God speaking to anyone until the incident at the burning bush. But everything that happened leading up to that incident was God providentially working to fulfill His promises to Abraham.

Many Christians have a poor grasp of the Biblical doctrine of providence. This leads them to the conclusion that unless they regularly receive PWsFG, God is not leading them or working in their lives. Moses’ mother did not get a word from God to put him in the Nile. But God used it. Consider the book of Esther. God is never mentioned in Esther, but the entire book is about God’s providential working through Esther to save His people. The turning point in the Esther narrative is found in Mordecai’s words: “Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?’” (Esther 4:13, 14). Providentially, God had placed Esther in the place of royalty, so she was urged to take action, which she did. God providentially saved the Jews and preserved the Messianic promises through people who heard no special word from God.

For 400 years—from Malachi to John the Baptist—there were no authoritative prophets in Israel—and they knew it. Several passages in the intertestamental book of Maccabees show that they were well aware they had no prophet. For example, “And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, till there should come a prophet, and give answer concerning them” (I Maccabees 4:46).8 But, in Daniel 11 there is detailed prophecy about what would happen during the intertestamental period. These are given in so much detail that liberal critics claim Daniel must have been written after the events. What this shows us is that God is sovereignly ruling providentially to bring to pass His purposes and that He is able to do so without someone alive who is currently receiving special revelations to guide His people. God brought salvation history forward from Malachi to John the Baptist exactly as Daniel predicted and did so with no prophets during those years.

What we see from these examples is that during those periods, without any special revelation other that what had been given previously to others, God worked His plan through people just as effectively as He did through direct revelation. God’s providential rule is not a lesser way for God to care for His people.



Understanding Providence
Providence includes good and evil. Even wicked kings are “established by God” according to Romans 13:1. Dreams, visions, subjective impressions, etc. are part of God’s providence. They, too, contain good and evil. They are not inerrant specific revelation unless they are given to proven prophets who meet all the tests. Daniel was a proven prophet. His dream (Daniel 7) was authoritative revelation from God, not merely a part of God’s providence. The king of Babylon’s dream was part of providence, but in his case there was an authoritative prophet to interpret it. Had there not been an authoritative prophet he could not have known the meaning.

Since providence contains good and evil, so do subjective impressions that are part of God’s providential rule. Sometimes as Christians we have dreams that we might consider spiritually significant. Sometimes we have subjective impressions that we may think are important. Since we are not infallible prophets, we cannot determine that any particular dream or subjective impression is a specific revelation from God. But we can make decisions that are within the realm of Christian liberty.

For example, in 1971, several weeks after my conversion, I had a dream that I was sitting in the small country church I grew up in. In the dream I was sitting with my brother in the back pew. A young girl was singing and it seemed to me that her song was being used by God to touch people’s hearts. Then it struck me that the people in that church had not heard the gospel in a clear way, so they would not know what God expected of them. So, in my dream, I got up and preached the gospel to them. When I woke up, I clearly remembered the dream and it made an impression on me. That fall I returned to Iowa State University as a junior in Chemical Engineering. On Sunday mornings and Sunday nights I attended a Pentecostal church in Ames, Iowa. I spent a lot of time praying and seeking God. During that time the idea grew strong in my mind that I should go to Bible College and study for the ministry.

During those first weeks at Iowa State I was enrolled in a class on the philosophy of science. In one lecture the professor made the claim that the two ways of knowing truth were divine revelation and the scientific method. He said, “Divine revelation is hogwash.” But concerning the scientific method, this man was a very early proponent of what we now call postmodernism. He claimed that all theories are “true” but that some don’t work so well in the universe we happen to live in. He said there is no “TRUTH” but only theory. So I asked at the end of the lecture, “Are you saying that it is impossible to know the truth?” He answered, “Yes.” That experience made me long to learn what I knew to be true—the words of the Bible. Coupled with other amazing circumstances, I decided to quit the university and enroll in Bible College.

The process partially described above is how I ended up being a preacher of the gospel rather than a chemical engineer. That was God’s providential working in my life. But I do not consider the dream nor any other impression or experience I had that led me to Bible College, inerrant, authoritative revelation. I certainly am not an infallible prophet. But the doctrine of providence describes how God uses all things as He works in us and through us to bring about His purposes. Even our desires are part of providence. We do not have to fear, as we make choices within the realm of Christian liberty, that God’s plan will be derailed because we failed to gain special revelation.

In the books of Acts, we have an example of people giving Paul directional guidance and Paul ignoring it, even though it was from the “Spirit.” Here is the passage: “After looking up the disciples, we stayed there [Tyre] seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem” (Acts 21:4). From Tyre they journeyed to Ptolmais and then Caesarea. There a prophet spoke about Paul’s trip:

As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:10-13)
First the Spirit spoke through believers that Paul should not go to Jerusalem and then a valid prophet spoke by the Holy Spirit telling Paul what would happen if he did go. Yet Paul went. If guidance that we know (through the inspired writer Luke) was from the Spirit was not binding on Paul, how much less is subjective guidance that we do not know is from the Spirit binding on decisions that are within the realm of Christian liberty?

The story of Paul’s journey to Jerusalem also invalidates the idea that decisions by the church about what the Spirit is saying are binding on the individual. Earlier in Acts we read: “Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome” (Acts 19:21). Paul’s own decision to go the Jerusalem was not overridden by future words from the Spirit or prophecy from the church. Furthermore, once the church realized that Paul had made his own decision, we read this: “And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, ‘The will of the Lord be done!’” (Acts 21:14). God’s will was not revealed by the Spirit speaking through church members or by a prophet, but by Paul’s decision. Thus God’s providential will in matters of Christian liberty is made known by the decision of the person involved.



We are Safe in God’s Providential Care
One great section of Scripture that every Christian should learn and apply is Romans 8:26-39. It describes the doctrine of providence and various implications of it.9 The most important implication is that all of the Lord’s people shall stay safe in Him and shall be brought to glory and conformity to the image of Christ. There is nothing in the section that requires specific revelations beyond Scripture. Our security in Christ is not dependent on our gaining revelation or personal guidance. In fact that section begins by telling us that we do not know what we need: “And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26, 27). Beyond Scripture, we do not know God’s future, providential will for us. But the Holy Spirit prays for us “according to the will of God.” There is no indication that if we gained PWsFG we then would know how to pray as we should. The Holy Spirit Himself prays for us according to God’s will.

God will not judge us for failing to “obey” PWsFG that we cannot know to be from Him. What God does tell us to do is ask for wisdom: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Contrary to what some think, as we will see when we examine a passage later in James, this is not a prayer for a PWFG. It is a prayer that God would so work in our lives that we will make wise and godly decisions. This is much like the previous verses in James which teach that trials and testing produce endurance. God gives wisdom for decision making, but we make the decisions. The PWFG approach assumes that God wants to make every decision for us and that we need special revelation of God’s decision. But that produces “reproach,” which James says asking for wisdom does not. Why? Because if one thinks he has a PWFG and follows it, and the result is disaster, he comes under the reproach of assuming he heard wrongly. But when we ask for wisdom which is the result of the fear of God, love for the truth, our developing a Christian worldview and consequently developing Christian values, we make wise decisions.10 There is no reproach because we, within our Christian liberty and in light of our Christian values, made a decision. The outcome of our decision is unknown until God’s providential will is revealed as history unfolds. But there is no reproach because of the way we made the decision.

This brings us to a key passage that shows that making decisions based on special revelation is not God’s normative plan for Christians:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)
This passage provides very important evidence that the PWFG approach is not Biblical. If indeed the Biblical pattern was for all Christians to receive special revelation from God that directs their future plans, then the passage would say, “You ought to have asked, ‘Lord tell us Your will about whether to go into this business.” But it does not. It says they should have said (not asked) “If the Lord wills.” That means they should have not boasted about the future when they did not know what it is. To claim to know what one does not know (God’s unrevealed providential plans for our future) is called arrogant boasting and is condemned. They were free to decide to travel and start a business, but they were not free to claim to know the future outcome.

If we make PWsFG normative, specific revelation about our plans and the future when in fact these things are unknown and unrevealed, we boast about what we do not know. We are much better off saying “I do not know” or “If the Lord wills” than claiming God’s endorsement of our plans based on supposed personal revelations. We are safe to make plans that fit within the realm of Christian liberty and know that God will use even our decisions to bring about His purposes in our lives.



Conclusion
God never binds people to error or uncertainty. Only inerrant, authoritative, special revelation is binding on all Christians. The only “words from God” that fit that criteria are those found in Scripture. It is abusive to make PWsFG to be special revelations of God’s will either to an individual or to a church. These “words” never have the quality of being “certainly from God.” When we take them to be that when they are not, then we have become false prophets to our own selves or to the church.

God has been ruling only providentially (rather than directly through infallible prophets) for over 2000 years and not giving further infallible, special revelation. God could raise up infallible prophets and apostles that meet the criteria of Deuteronomy 18 and 13, but He has not. Rather than seeking to make errant “words from God” authoritative and binding, we would be better off admitting God has not raised up any infallible prophets and accepting His benevolent providential rule. We are safe in God’s loving, providential care and are not “missing God” by failing to follow PWsFG that fail the necessary tests for being God’s authoritative revelations.




Issue 98 - January / February 2007



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End Notes

Any good systematic theology book contains a discussion of general revelation and special revelation. For example, Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, (Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, 1932 – 1996 combined ed.) 128 – 137. Also, sometimes one hears the phrase “specific revelation” which means the same thing as special revelation.
Issue 97 http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue97.htm
See his book Running Against the Wind available here http://www.onetruthministries.com/
This is different than the case of the weak conscience discussed in Romans 14. The person who is “weak” and eats only vegetables because of that, is not bound by a special revelation from God, but by his own conscience. That conscience can become better informed by the Word of God and may grow stronger. But a “word from God” about eating vegetables cannot “grow” because if deemed to be from God, who cannot lie, that “word” never changes.
See the two articles in Issue 95: http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue95.htm and http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue95b.htm
See chapter 4 of Redefining Christianity by Bob DeWaay that discusses the problems with religious oaths.
One of the more egregious examples of this reasoning is found in Henry T. Blackaby & Claude V. King, Experiencing God (Broadman and Holman: Nashville, 1994).
Other references are IMaccabees 9:27; and 14:41. These are not scripture, but part of Jewish history. They are often cited as evidence for the uniqueness of the canon and that the apocrypha is not the product of inspired prophets.
I wrote an article about this section of Scripture that discusses what it means to be “led by the Spirit”: http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue76.htm
See Gary T. Meadors, Decision Making God’s Way – A New Model for Knowing God’s Will; (Baker: Grand Rapids, 2003) for an excellent description of this approach to decision making.


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Published by Twin City Fellowship

Critical Issues Commentary
P.O. Box 26127
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
952-935-3100
pastorbob@twincityfellowship.com

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures taken from the New American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1995 The Lockman Foundation.

Im back and new article by Sarah Leslie

Thanks for everyones prayers as I traveled to Miami and back. My cruise was great and thank God we made it home through the fires in Lake City, FL.

I will be back online regular next week so look for some more article to come.
Here is a great article by Sarah Leslie-

Dominionism And The Rise Of Christian Imperialism

By Sarah Leslie

Conspiracy theorizing about the Christian Right’s supposedly “secret” agenda involves highlighting the hate-mongering and bizarre ideas of a handful of Christian Right players while neglecting the broad popularity of dominion theology.

Sara Diamond, “Dominion Theology:
The Truth About the Christian Right’s Bid for Power,”1

American churches are to a large degree defined by what they choose to rebel against. The Christian right has set itself in opposition to liberal, secular government and, as a political consequence, declared itself a buddy of big business.”

Russ Rymer, Mother Jones, Dec. 20052

The ambassador's words seemed prophetic a couple of weeks later, when a Dream for Africa draft plan found its way into Swazi newspapers, turning public opinion sharply against Mr. Wilkinson. Under the headline “British Colony or Dr Bruce Colony?” one op-ed writer in the Swazi News wrote, “Why can't he simply tell us that he wants to be given the whole country so that he can gloat to his friends overseas that he owns a modern day colony in Africa called Swaziland?”

Michael M. Phillips, “Mr. Wilkinson Hits Wall Trying To Push ' Orphan Village'”, Wall Street Journal, 12/19/053

For the past several decades the political Left has focused attention on the Christian Right’s political activism in America. Particularly, the Left has been highly critical of a select group of dominionists called Reconstructionists, whose aggressive verbiage, extreme Calvinist theologies, and religious political agendas have made it an ideal target for outrage. But, as Leftist researcher Sara Diamond has astutely observed, “the Reconstructionists’ religion of Calvinism. . . makes them unlikely to appeal to most evangelicals.”4 Indeed, few Reconstructionists would consider themselves to be evangelicals. Nevertheless, their influence has been considerable over the much larger group of patriotic evangelicals.

There are two other dominionist sects within evangelicalism that have escaped in-depth scrutiny from the Left. These dominionists have been able to function virtually incognito for several reasons: 1) They have been deeply embedded within the evangelical subculture; 2) They cloaked their dominionism with new terminologies and doctrines over a period of thirty years; and 3) They figured out how to package dominionism using sophisticated mass marketing techniques. Also noteworthy: these two other dominionist camps have been operating in a dialectical fashion – while one group appealed to the TBN charismatics with all of its emotional excesses, the other group carefully managed its more intellectual public image to conform to traditional evangelical standards.

This paper is a brief overview of the three main dominionist movements operating inside evangelicaldom and examines how all three of these sects are now converging around a global “kingdom” agenda. This paper is not a treatise on doctrine, nor is it an historical record, nor is it a thorough analysis of the multifarious streams of evangelical dominionism. This paper does not cover the broader issue of dominionist sects within other world religions, except for a few brief noteworthy mentions. To examine the totality of the individuals, the organizations, and their cross-linkages would require an exhaustive study which is beyond the scope of this brief synopsis. Even so, every point made in this paper could be validated by dozens, sometimes hundreds, of pieces of documentation. The inquiring reader may check out the footnotes and references.

Only a small handful of Christian discernment and apologetics ministries, of which this writer is a part, have been paying attention to the intersection of the dominionist streams. The apologetic ministries fulfill a Scriptural role to examine and expose false doctrines and teachers, and to warn other believers of heresies (Jude 3, 2 Peter 2:1). Increasingly, over the past two decades, many apologists have become seduced by dominionism, blunting their ability to critically examine the roots and fruits of this rapidly rising new church era.

Dominionism in brief

Throughout the 2000 year history of Christianity there has always been a vein of dominionism embedded in the strata of doctrines. This seam has ebbed and flowed for 20 centuries, sometimes submerged, sometimes exposed. Whenever out in the open, it has given rise to horrible abuses done in the name of Christ. In the early 21st century, once again this vein is now showing and active. Keep in mind:


Dominionism is always an aberration of true Christian theology.


A remnant of believers has always opposed it, often suffering a martyr’s fate at the hands of intolerant dominionists.


Traditional Christianity teaches

The Gospel of Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross. The emphasis is placed upon repentance and conversion of individual souls. The Kingdom of God in this age is spiritual and grows through efforts of evangelism based on teaching the Bible. It is “not of this world” (John 18:36), but a spiritual rule in the hearts of men (Luke 17:20-21). Furthermore, the Kingdom of God is only finally realized upon Christ’s second return to Earth, whereby He Himself establishes His literal and physical reign.

The evangelism mandate by Word and Spirit

Christ never intended that His gospel should be propagated by fire and sword or His righteousness wrought by the wrath of man. When the high praises of God are in our mouth with them we should have an olive-branch of peace in our hands. Christ’s victories are by the power of His gospel and grace over spiritual enemies, in which all believers are more than conquerors. The word of God is the two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12), the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17).5 [emphasis added]

Matthew Henry, circa 1700

Dominionism teaches

The Gospel of Salvation is achieved by setting up the “ Kingdom of God” as a literal and physical kingdom to be “advanced” on Earth in the present age. Some dominionists liken the New Testament Kingdom to the Old Testament Israel in ways that justify taking up the sword, or other methods of punitive judgment, to war against enemies of their kingdom. Dominionists teach that men can be coerced or compelled to enter the kingdom. They assign to the Church duties and rights that belong Scripturally only to Jesus Christ. This includes the esoteric belief that believers can “incarnate” Christ and function as His body on Earth to establish His kingdom rule. An inordinate emphasis is placed on man’s efforts; the doctrine of the sovereignty of God is diminished.

The new dominion mandate by control

Dominion theology is predicated upon three basic beliefs: 1) Satan usurped man’s dominion over the earth through the temptation of Adam and Eve; 2) The Church is God’s instrument to take dominion back from Satan; 3) Jesus cannot or will not return until the Church has taken dominion by gaining control of the earth’s governmental and social institutions.6 [emphasis added]

Al Dager, Vengeance Is Ours: The Church In Dominion

Dominion theology is a heresy. As such it is rarely presented as openly as the definitions above may indicate. Outside of the Reconstructionist camp, evangelical dominionism has wrapped itself in slick packages – one piece at a time – for mass-media consumption. This has been a slow process, taking several decades. Few evangelicals would recognize the word “dominionism” or know what it means. This is because other terminologies have been developed which soft-sell dominionism, concealing the full scope of the agenda. Many evangelicals (and even their more conservative counterparts, the fundamentalists) may adhere to tidbits of dominionism without recognizing the error. This is because dominionism has “crept in unawares” (Jude 4) to seduce an undiscerning generation.

To most effectively propagate their agenda, dominionist leaders first developed new ecclesiologies, eschatologies and soteriologies for targeted audiences along the major denominational fault lines of evangelical Christianity. Then the 1990s Promise Keepers men’s movement was used as a vehicle to “break down the walls”, i.e., cross denominational barriers for the purpose of exporting dominionism to the wider evangelical subculture.7 This strategy was so effective that it reached into the mainline Protestant denominations. Dominionists have carefully selected leaders to be trained as “change agents” for “transformation” (dominion) in an erudite manner that belies the media stereotype of southern-talking, Bible-thumping, fundamentalist half-wits.

The 3 sects of evangelical dominionism

There are three predominant sects (or movements) that propagate dominion theology which hold considerable influence over evangelicaldom.

1. SPIRITUAL WARFARE PRAYER movement: The Kingdom of God must be advanced on Earth through hyper-spiritual “warfare” activities against the devil. A veritable supermarket of verbal and physical prayer techniques such as chanting, walks, and marches are employed in this effort. Believers are told their prayer power creates spiritual “canopies” over regions, preparing the way for “revival.” In this sense, prayer warfare is seen as preparatory work so that the other two movements can build the kingdom. Recently the contemplative prayer movement – which includes meditation, fasting, and labyrinths – has been brought into the spiritual warfare prayer “arsenal.” Prayer serves as a convenient decoy for covert operations. All three sects are utilizing massive statistical databanking resources (e.g., the World Prayer Center in Colorado Springs) and sophisticated psycho-social group manipulations to forge kingdom “transformation.” One key leader of this sect is Cindy Jacobs, who is closely associated with C. Peter Wagner (see below). Her website http://www.generals.org epitomizes the militant doctrines and practices of the spiritual warfare sect.

Prayer before fighting

Our calling is to be worshippers, warriors, and workers. We must first offer our lives as a living sacrifice in worship to God. From our worship will flow our intercession and warfare as we fight with weapons of righteousness in our right hand and in our left. Only after we have worshipped our God and fought the fight in the Spirit will we proceed to work in the harvest fields, advancing the Kingdom of God.8 [emphasis added]

Promoting these prayer warfare activities are hyper-charismatics from the “signs and wonders” movement, which include self-anointed, self-appointed “apostles” and “prophets” who are preparing to govern the world through their “New Apostolic Reformation.” This dominionist sect is a direct offshoot of the Latter Rain cult (also known as Joel’s Army or Manifest Sons of God).9 Chief architect of this movement for the past two decades is C. Peter Wagner, President of Global Harvest Ministries and Chancellor of the Wagner Leadership Institute. His spiritual warfare teachings have been widely disseminated through mission networks such as AD 2000, which was closely associated with the Lausanne Movement. A prominent individual connected to this sect is Ted Haggard, current head of the National Association of Evangelicals.10

The New Apostolic Reformation

Since 2001, the body of Christ has been in the Second Apostolic Age. The apostolic/prophetic government of the church is now in place. . . . [W]e began to build our base by locating and identifying with the intercessory prayer movements. This time, however, we feel that God wants us to start governmentally, connecting with the apostles of the region. God has already raised up for us a key apostle in one of the strategic nations of the Middle East, and other apostles are already coming on board. Once we have the apostles in place, we will then bring the intercessors and the prophets into the inner circle, and we will end up with the spiritual core we need to move ahead for retaking the dominion that is rightfully ours.11 [emphasis added]

C. Peter Wagner

2. MISSION AS TRANSFORMATION movement: The words “revival,” “reformation” and “transformation” now carry embedded dominionist connotations. “Fulfilling the Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20) no longer means spreading the Gospel message by speaking the Word of salvation from the Bible. The dominionist focus is placed upon the phrase making disciples, with an incorrect exegesis that is disconcertingly compulsory. Traditional mission evangelism, done one-on-one using the Bible, is being replaced with a slew of “kingdom building” corporate activities for cities, regions and nations. The disingenuous phrase “bless the nations” is often used to conceal dominionism. Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ International and Ralph Winter, founder of the U.S. Center for World Mission and editor of the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement curriculum (which has taught dominionism to an entire generation of missionaries), have been among the chief architects of this movement.12

Dominionism supplants biblical evangelism

“The Church must grow past the ‘Gospel of Salvation’ message and understand that it is only when we begin to implement the principles of the ‘Gospel of the kingdom’ that we will really begin to see change in lives and cities and nations. The Church has no understanding of this realm. . . The Church must grow up. . . . 13 [emphasis added]

Dale Neill, president of ICCC

Beyond Salvation

“. . . God's concern goes beyond the salvation of individual people. His redemptive plan encompasses the healing and transformation of entire nations . . . . Nations are discipled as the church makes the invisible Kingdom visible by faithful obedience to God's Word throughout culture--in every area of life, and every realm of society including the family, the community, the arts, sciences, media, law, government, schools, or business. . . .”14 [emphasis added]

Disciple the Nations

3.PATRIOTIC AMERICAN movement: Patriotic dominionists, most of whom are not Reconstructionists, teach that political action will advance the kingdom of God in America. Using the vehicle of Christian media, they have taught evangelicals for the past three decades that America is a Christian nation and needs to return to its roots. Almost every evangelical in the pew has been influenced in one way or another by this sect. Patriotic dominionist leaders and their organizations have been closely interlocked financially and politically with the conservatives from the political Right. The secular conservatives purport to uphold morality, which appeals to evangelicals. The combined force of conservatives and evangelicals flexes its political muscles in Washington. One of its most powerful leaders is James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Patriotic dominionism was widely disseminated through the activities of Jay Grimstead, founder of Coalition on Revival (COR). From its earliest inception COR managed to successfully bring together key leaders from all three dominionist sects, including the Reconstructionists, to promote the most ruthless doctrines of dominionism.15

Grimstead’s COR Steering Council letter, dated May 1993

1. The Kingdom of God was inaugurated and the King was installed and seated in the First Century A.D. and we need not wait for the King's second coming to get the Kingdom started here on earth.

4. At this moment of history, all humans on earth, whether Jew or Gentile, believer or unbeliever, private person or public official, are obligated to bow their knees to this King Jesus, confess Him as Lord of the universe with their tongues, and submit to His lordship over every aspect of their lives in thought, word and deed.

5. Biblical evangelism according to the Great Commission of Matt. 28:18-20 is not truly accomplished unless that message of Christ's lordship from point #4 above is given to the person being evangelized so that they know that an attempt at personal neutrality before King Jesus is sin and treason in this universe.16 [emphases added]

Dominionism goes global

Since the latter half of the 1990s the three major dominionists sects have openly converged into an ecumenical force. These three branches of dominionism are linked historically at many levels, and there is solid documentation to support the idea that the current convergence was planned and intentional.17

While Leftists focused their attentions on political dominionists in American politics and what was going on in Iraq, the three movements went global. This new confederation of dominionists has been rapidly advancing its kingdom across the globe through “economic, social, political and spiritual transformation.”18 To achieve this paradigm shift, the global dominionists have employed sophisticated psycho-social methodologies, statistical research, socio-economic development tools, marketing research, strategic planning, assessments, databanking and monitoring, and technical assistance. They are also aggressively forming alliances with national and international governments, corporations, individuals, private agencies, philanthropic groups and other entities. Below are some key examples of this rapid convergence around a global kingdom worldview.

1. Global “spheres.” Observers from the Left were infuriated when the Coalition on Revival political dominionists cranked out documents during the 1980s addressing a Christian worldview in seventeen “spheres” of life and ministry – education, health care, the family, the arts, sciences, law, media, government, business, etc. This is because COR didn’t just write a philosophical statement. COR “determined that it is mandatory for all Christians to implement that worldview in society, particularly as it applies to the dominionist interpretation of the Great Commission.”19 These spheres didn’t disappear when COR began to fade off the radar screen. They have a new life. The worldview sphere documents have now gone global by becoming incorporated into mission agendas. Mission groups are now partnering with national and international governments, business corporations, NGOs, humanitarian entities and others to build their kingdom in the cultural spheres of selected nations around the globe.

Mission incorporates COR’s spheres

The seven spheres of influence described below will help us shape societies for Christ. God gave us these handles to use in carrying out Matthew 28 and discipling nations for Him. We believe He is wanting all His people to see the importance of these seven areas and work in them to extend Christ's reign throughout the earth. The Family & Health Care; Commerce, Science and Technology; The Church; Government; Education; The Media; The Arts, Entertainment and Sports20

Disciple the Nations

2. The 3-legged stool. The dominionist’s kingdom must be advanced on Earth by gaining control of governments (State), utilizing business (Corporations) and partnering with social sector (Church) institutions. New bridges are being built based on triangular relationship between all three sectors of society. The Church is forming partnerships (or collaborations) with State and/or Corporate interests in order to implement dominion. Peter Drucker, the management guru, was instrumental in overseeing the implementation of this agenda – to create a three-legged “healthy society” globally – via Rick Warren of purpose-driven fame. Warren was mentored by Drucker, as were a number of other evangelical leaders such as Bob Buford of Leadership Network. Buford trained an entire generation of aspiring megachurch pastors in Drucker’s social philosophies. The megachurches are based on the Drucker corporate business model. Drucker’s ideas also undergird the faith-based (Church-State) movement which has been politically championed by the neoconservatives in Washington.21 Dominionism is significantly breaking down the walls between Church and Corporations (see point 4 below). In brief, the three-legged stool of dominionism looks like this:

CORPORATE + STATE = Fascism

STATE + CHURCH = Faith-based

CHURCH + CORPORATE = Fusion –
the Merchant Church

Drucker’s 3-legged stool model

. . .[The Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management], created ten years ago to honor Peter Drucker’s contributions to management and leadership, believes that a healthy society requires three vital sectors: a public sector of effective governments; a private sector of effective businesses; and a social sector of effective community organizations, including faith-based organizations. It furthers its mission to lead social sector organizations toward excellence in performance by providing educational opportunities and resources.22

Leadership Network

3. The phenomenon of Rick Warren. Rick Warren has single-handedly accomplished more to bring about a public convergence between the three sects of dominionism than any other individual. Warren received his doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary under the tutelage of his advisor, C. Peter Wagner of the spiritual warfare dominionists.23 Dubbed “America’s Pastor” by the media, he is now embarking on an aggressive marketing campaign to set up a model of Peter Drucker’s “healthy society” in Rwanda, ostensibly under the banner of missionary and charitable endeavors. Warren has launched a grandiose plan to “transform” Africa – to “cure AIDS,” “end poverty” and “fulfill the Great Commission.” Warren transcends evangelicalism. He easily moves in internationalist circles (Aspen Institute) and aligns himself with rock stars (Bono). Warren has audaciously called for a “Second Reformation” based upon his global P.E.A.C.E. Plan, which is a study in dominionism.24 Leftists who fret over Warren’s foray into AIDS25 may miss the more serious dominionist ramifications of his overall global plan. Warren intends to amass the world’s largest volunteer “army” of “one billion foot soldiers” to implement his global P.E.A.C.E. Plan.26

The global P.E.A.C.E. plan to make disciples

In addition to its message of compassion, the [Saddleback Church AIDS] conference sought to impart several other points emerging from Warren’s global P.E.A.C.E. plan.

Based on the Great Commission to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) and the Great Commandments to love God and to love our neighbors (Mark 12:28-34), the plan is Warren’s approach to attack what he calls the five “global giants” -- spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases and illiteracy and poor education, by Planting churches, Equipping servant leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick and Educating the next generation. [emphasis added]27

“Involvement in AIDS crisis urged at Saddleback conference,” Baptist Press

4. Marketplace ministries. Corporate business ventures are cloaking themselves in missionary garb to enter a nation and effect change. Creating an outpost for new corporate markets in undeveloped Third World countries, particularly those rich in natural resources, is being done in the name of “kingdom-building.” In order to establish a spiritual aura for these activities, a high-tech Global Day of Prayer was established in May 2005 by the Spiritual Warfare sect working together with Rick Warren.28 This annual event is designed to promote the dominionist agenda worldwide. Corporate “marketplace ministry” expansion is being done with claims of sustainable development, free-trade, and other community development activities that could screen the dominionist agenda. An influential marketplace mission organization is Transform World, which is one of the most patent examples of dominionism.29 Mission groups are taking up the quest for corporate expansion and financial gain by linking with business corporations, who are taking up the “mission” to expand their markets in the name of kingdom-building. Meanwhile, C. Peter Wagner has cooked up a new definition of ekklesia (Gk. church) to fuse the Church with the Corporate workplace.30

Marketplace Dominionism

What is required is a change of heart. The heart of the nation is the marketplace—the combination of business, education and government, the three arteries through which its life flows. If we take God’s power and presence to the marketplace we will see nations changed . . . .

To change a man you must first change his heart. This approach, of course, is typical of missionary organizations. Silvoso’s idea, though, is far more radical. Cities can be changed in nature. Countries can be redeemed. Entire cultures can be brought to "salvation." The land itself, in fact, can be healed.

And such a miraculous change is brought about through one primary avenue: God working through the marketplace. . . .

The primary means to true revival, though, takes place first in the marketplace.31 [emphases added]

Business Reform interview with Ed Silvoso of Harvest Evangelism

The “business mission company”

To achieve its purpose, the business mission company must develop and invest in Great Commission efforts that are synergistic with and leveraged by the company's presence in strategically selected markets. It must set standards for evangelism and discipleship, measure results, and evaluate results per dollar invested for every sphere of influence identified in the market analysis. Company spheres of influence and the spheres of influence of each team member are specific market segments targeted for impact.... Any parts of the company that do not produce to standards are pruned. An axe is laid to the root of those that do not produce at all.32 [emphasis added]

John Cragin, On Kingdom Business:
Transforming Missions Through Entrepreneurial Strategie

5. Militant rhetoric. There is a notable increase in the stridency and urgency of “strategic level” prayer warfare rhetoric which is linked to global “transformation” (dominionism).33 False prophets regularly pump out new “prophecies” and “decrees” to shore up the kingdom mandate. These “prophecies” function like oracles – they are a major avenue for communicating “God’s plan” for the next step in kingdom-building. False apostles have been anointed, appointed as leaders of regions around the globe, and charged with wielding the king’s authority. The doctrines of the New Apostolic Reformation have been promulgated throughout the mission movement by C. Peter Wagner, Cindy Jacobs, Chuck Pierce, Bill Hamon, a group known as the “Kansas City Prophets,” the Vineyard Fellowship, and many others. At the highest echelons these organizations all have interlocking boards of directors. Two noteworthy internal organs for disseminating false prophecies and new doctrines include The Elijah List and Joel News.

A militant false prophecy

We are coming to the times when passive Christianity and passive Christians will cease to exist. There is a maturity, a discipline, and a divine militancy coming upon the people of God. Those who have succumbed to humanistic and idealistic theologies may have a hard time with this, but we must understand that God is a military God. The title that He uses ten times more than any other in Scripture is "the Lord of hosts," or "Lord of armies." There is a martial aspect to His character that we must understand and embrace for the times and the job to which we are now coming.34

Rick Joyner, “TAKING THE LAND”

6. Neoevangelical and neoconservative allies. The December 2005 issue of Mother Jones magazine was devoted to examining the Patriotic dominionists. It included an article about the National Christian Foundation, a philanthropic group linked to neoconservative organizations. This brief article called attention to a vast network of interlocking boards of directors and financial ties between neoconservatives and neoevangelicals.35 The website www.mediatransparency.org explores Patriotic dominionist financial ties to neoconservative groups,36 but it does not delve into the considerable linkages between the other two sects and the neoconservatives. Some of the bonds between these individuals and organizations go back over half a century, and some connections are alarmingly anti-semitic.37 Corporate acts of charity, especially through the influence of the philanthropic groups, are supplanting the traditional doctrine of “let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth” (Matthew 6:3). Marketplace transformation is also forging many new political alliances. Dennis Peacocke of COR is an influential marketplace transformation leader who is also a member of the International Coalition of Apostles (the spiritual warfare dominionists).38 Peacocke, who easily moves in all three sects, has suggested changing global economic structures.39

The new “Apostles” move into governments

Apostle Jim Hodges took the stage on Wednesday evening to introduce an exciting new venture for FMCI: a permanent presence in Washington, D.C. called the International Leadership Embassy (I.L.E.). The I.L.E. will position FMCI more directly to affect our government, our nation, and world nations by establishing contacts with government officials, D.C. citizens, and international diplomats. The ILE will, further, facilitate on site intercession efforts in D.C., host visiting prayer teams, sponsor Kingdom oriented teaching for government officials, employees and interns, and Christian leaders.40 [emphasis added]

Federation of Ministers and Churches International

7. Whose kingdom come? There has been a significant rise of cross-pollination between evangelical dominionists and New Age Theosophists.41 Since the late 1970s there has been a closeted fraternization between dominionists and Theosophists for the purpose of finding common ground for the future. Both groups seek to bring in a “Christ” figure to solve the world’s problems. Both groups have grand utopian plans to create “peace” on earth. During the past decade, the two groups began borrowing doctrinal terminologies from one another and working on common theologies. The events of 9/11 gave a new impetus to this effort.42 Jay Gary, who has been a leader within all three sects of dominionism has had close ties with the Theosophists43 and is adopting new theologies, including a hybrid of preterism called “transmillenialism.”44 Bob Buford of Leadership Network (mentioned in point 2 above) has been working since the mid-1990s to create a youth culture based on “emergent” theologies called the Emergent Church – a mixture of New Age paganism, eastern mysticism and evangelical dominionism.45 And Patriotic Dominionist leaders have long-standing, close ties with the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who has his own messianic kingdom ambitions.46

“Christ’s” Law

The crime of separation, of division, of lawlessness must go from the world. All that hinders the manifestation of man’s divinity must be driven from our planet. My Law will take the place of separation.47

Maitreya the “Christ”

8. The stewardship deception. The “Transformational Covenant”48 by Luis Bush is a key document which outlines the new theology of stewardship dominion. Bush has held very influential positions in the mission movement as a leader in AD2000, World Inquiry, and the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. He now serves as the international facilitator of Transform World. By linking a reinterpreted Genesis 1 “stewardship of the earth” mandate to the reinterpreted Great Commission doctrine, there is a volatile new doctrine of dominionism doctrine rising. This “stewardship” mandate was actually first proposed as a deceptive strategy in the late 1970s by Jeremy Rifkin in his book The Emerging Order.49 Rick Warren and others have now picked up the theme.50 George Otis of the Sentinel Group (spiritual warfare dominionist), suggests that by taking dominion of the Earth (he calls it “transformation”), paradise can be restored (as in Genesis 1 before the Fall) – an old Latter Rain cult heresy that presents an alternative eschatology of dominion.51

“Cultivating the Great Commission Ecosphere”

EFMA exists to cultivate the Great Commission Ecosphere so that it bears good and abundant fruit and God is glorified among all people. To this end the Fellowship works in depth with members to enhance mutual effectiveness and increase capacity as we work to extend Christ's Kingdom. EFMA works broadly within the mission community who share a commitment to Christ, the Scriptures, and obedience to God's command to disciple the nations.52

Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies

The Genesis 1 stewardship mandate

. . . [W]hen God created man, he gave man dominion over the earth. Adam relinquished man’s dominion by disobedience. Redemption and restoration of man’s dominion over the earth, as well as his reconciliation with God, was made possible by Jesus.53

International Christian Chamber of Commerce

9. Leftist dominionists. Evangelical Leftists (Tom Sine, Ron Sider, Jim Wallis and others) have always hobnobbed with the dominionists.54 Many of the key Leftist dominionists have been coalescing around an agenda to eradicate world poverty, laboring with Rick Warren to implement the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. Micah Challenge is one of the key organizations operating in this realm. A number of international mission networking agencies have formed alliances around these mutual kingdom aspirations. Working to end poverty may seem laudable on the surface. But scratch the surface and dominionism appears.55 Charity is not what it seems. Charity is a vehicle to maneuver dominionism into the best possible international publicity spotlight. And altruistic appeals for charitable sacrifice are a mechanism to sign up recruits in the billion man army.

WEA, Micah Challenge and Wolfowitz

The Church is "God's primary instrument of transformation within the local community," says Tunnicliffe, chair of Micah Challenge Canada and international director of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA). Canadian churches and Christian organizations must evaluate what they're doing to serve the poor. They must keep themselves informed about issues surrounding poverty, and strive to find meaningful, practical outlets for people to respond. . . .

While in Washington, the group also met with the new president of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz, who reportedly told the Christian leaders that the Church could become a more significant player in the role of responding to global poverty.

The World Bank, a source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world, has traditionally worked with governments. But Tunnicliffe says they want to evaluate the possible role that could be played by the faith-based community in such work. A small body has been set up by the faith-based community to advise the World Bank in setting policy. The WEA has been asked to participate.56

10. The church militant. Since 9/11, patriotic fervor has combined with the neoconservative goals, and there is a disturbing rise of actual military activity for “kingdom-building” purposes. This activity is especially alarming because it encompasses all three major dominionist sects. Dominionist cult leader Bill Gothard has set up paramilitary training camps for evangelical children.57 Christian Right leader Michael Farris, connected with Coalition on Revival (COR),58 is recruiting homeschoolers for CIA-type training at his Patrick Henry College.59 At http://www.goarmy.com/hslda/ one can see how the Army is recruiting homeschoolers, many of whom are active in the patriotic dominionist sect.

Campus Crusade, an international mission organization, asks for prayer “that we will accomplish our Military Ministry goal to change continents for Christ.”60

Dr. Hope Taylor, ministry director of International Leadership Embassy, Washington, D.C. (see quotation for point 6 above), recently wrote “The church has the mantle to execute the will of the King concerning the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism. This assignment must not be abrogated or left solely to the military. . . .”61

Dr. Richard Kirby, of the World Network for Religious Futurists, a hybrid of neoevangelicals and Theosophists has written, “We want to train up a school of prophets who will be able to listen to the fresh word of God and deliver it to the people. Perhaps one example of this is the work of the Religious Futurists group with the military and with NASA the space authority.”62

“The Shepherd’s Rod” false prophecy

From this posture we will be strengthened as a mighty warrior and equipped to encounter the plots of the adversary set against this generation. The Lord is a Warrior and we are to be clothed in His militant attributes as it relates to the enemy who dwells in heavenly places. . . .

There will be times and seasons to hide ourselves in Christ and other times to be aggressive and militant in our posture. The seasons that we isolate ourselves with Christ is not for dormancy but to wait upon Him and minister to Him to gain His insight and blueprint for victory. . . .

There will be a marked escalation in the angelic activity surrounding the Church. Furthermore, this activity will carry a militant characteristic as Michael and the warring angels of Heaven are released to establish the design of Heaven in the earth. As in the days of Israel, the giants of the adversary are occupying the land of promise and must be displaced in order to access our inheritance. . . .

To experience the governmental release related to the dominion associated with His Kingdom design, we must also allow the Holy Spirit to equip us as "overcomers" clothed in garments of righteousness.63

Emerging Global Ethics

Fulfilling the kingdom mandate is seen as so critical that the “end justifies the means.” Rick Warren has advocated for a philosophy of “do whatever it takes” to achieve his global P.E.A.C.E. Plan.64 Putting forth the global hunger and AIDS crises as a rationale to further the dominion kingdom has proven to be a brilliant strategy. The new gospel of pragmatism, combined with emotive pleas for compassion, is superseding any ethical or doctrinal concerns about the legitimacy of the emerging Church-State-Corporate partnerships.

Pragmatic priorities

Eradicating global poverty for all is a key priority for Christians, but specific attention also needs to be paid to the scandal of inequality and deprivation within the world-wide Christian community, says Mennonite World Conference (MWC) executive secretary Larry Miller.

Mr Miller, writing in the latest issue of Courier, a multilingual MWC publication, supports the ‘Agape Call’ of the World Council of Churches and the ‘Micah Challenge’ of the World Evangelical Alliance, stating the biblical and theological case for involvement in the UN Millennium goals to halve world poverty by 2015.

“What must be added to these calls – and cried out loudly – is a plea to overcome the disaster of poverty in the church”, he adds. . . .65

Evangelicals have traditionally adhered to the Gospel directive to function as “salt” (Matthew 5:13) and “light” (Matthew 5:14) in the world. This Scripture was not traditionally laden with dominionist connotations. What it means is that Christians, by their individual or church-based acts of compassion, can make a difference in the lives of people. And by a holy and righteous lifestyle that matches a biblical profession of faith, Christians can make a positive difference within their culture. Being “salt and light” also means that there is a duty to do good in the face of evil (Romans 16:19).

The Scripture speaks of a type of separation between Church and State that forbids unholy coalitions. When a financial Church-State question was posed by the chief priests and scribes to the Lord Jesus Christ, He answered, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things that be God’s” (Luke 20:25) While believers have a responsibility to obey the laws and rulers of the land (Romans 13), they are also required to “obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29), especially when the truth of the Gospel message is at stake.

By engaging in this vast new dominionist alliance, the Christian witness has been compromised. The ability to function independently as directly accountable to God, while adhering to Biblical truth alone, has been sharply curtailed. The biblical charge to boldly speak the truth (e.g., Philippians 1:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:2) has been subrogated to the “never speak critically” mantras of the Rick Warren’s purpose-driven church covenants.66

The dominionist collaborations effectually function as a conspiracy against Scriptural truth (Jeremiah 11:9-10; Ezekiel 22:25-30).

The old doctrine

The kingdom of Christ is not a kingdom of this world, otherwise would his servants fight! It rests on a spiritual basis and is to be advanced by spiritual means. Yet Christ’s servants gradually slipped down into the notion that His kingdom was of this world and could be upheld by human power.67

Rev. Charles Spurgeon, circa 1880

Making merchandise

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, . . . And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:

(2 Peter 2:1a, 3a)

The Merchant Church

This kingdom being built is not of Jesus Christ OF the Bible. It is not FOR the Jesus of the Bible. It has nothing to do with Him, but everything to do with an antichrist zeitgeist that is frightening, appalling and massive in its build-up.

At the present time it is still possible for seekers after truth to access the old doctrines and old sermons in books and on the Internet. The time has nearly come when these traditional Gospel doctrines will be declared heretical and a threat to the false king and kingdom that are being set up.

The Bible speaks of a latter day heresy called “mystery Babylon” which is a merger of Commerce and Church. This unholy dominionist mixture – a modern-day alchemy – is what appears to be forming before our very eyes:

The global merchants

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies . . . .

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble. And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots and slaves, and souls of men. (Revelation 18:2-3; 11-13)

Endnotes

1.“Dominion Theology,” Sara Diamond, article posted at http://zena.secureforum.com/Znet/zmag/articles/feb95diamond.htm). Sara Diamond authored Spiritual Warfare: The Politics of the Christian Right (South End Press, 1989) which provides some history of the rise of modern evangelical dominionism. Her perspective comes from the political Left.

2.“Editor’s Note,” special issue “God and Country: Where the Christian Right Is Leading Us,” Dec. 2005 p. 5.

3.Michael M. Phillips, “In Swaziland, U.S. Preacher Sees His Dream Vanish,” Wall Street Journal, 12/19/05. Bruce Wilkinson, author of The Prayer of Jabez, is closely associated with Rick Warren; see Deceived on Purpose by Warren Smith, (Mountain Stream Press, 2004). Their efforts in Africa were connected with the other dominionist movements mentioned in this article. See also articles posted at http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLMayJune_2005.htm and http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLJulyAugust_2005.htm

4.Sara Diamond, Ibid, Internet article.

5.Matthew Henry Study Bible, A. Kenneth Abraham, Ed., (Tyndale House, 1986), p. 1207. Henry is commenting on Psalms 149:6 “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand” which has been given a new dominion connotation.

6.Al Dager, Vengeance Is Ours: The Church In Dominion (Sword Pub., 1990), p. 87. This book is a historical “encyclopedia” of the history of modern dominionism, clearly demarking the various sects. Dager approaches the subject from a Christian perspective. His book is available through http://www.discernment-ministries.org.

7.Lynn & Sarah Leslie, “Resurrecting Pagan Rites,” http://www.discernment-ministries.org/ResurrectingPaganRights.pdf. This article series examines the roots and rise of the Promise Keepers’ movement.

8.http://www.tribeissachar.com/. The mixture of contemplative spirituality with the spiritual warfare sect is coming in through the Emergent church, mainline denominations and purpose-driven. See http://www.whitedoveministries.org/content/NewsItem.phtml?art=254&
c=0&id=30&style=1; or http://tinyurl.com/87b4v.

9.Sandy Simpson, “The New Apostolic Reformation: What is it and where is it going?” http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/nardvd.html. See also, Strange Fire: The Rise of Gnosticism in the Church by Traverse & Jewel van der Merwe (Conscience Press, 1995) http://www.discernment-ministries.org/StrangeFire1.htm

10. See documentation at http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/addendum-haggard.html and http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/haggardelected.html for the history of Haggard’s entanglement with this sect of dominionism.

11. 11/01/05, Global Link newsletter Global Harvest Ministries.

12. Al Dager, The World Christian Movement, (Sword Publ., 2001). This book reads like a sequel to Vengeance Is Ours by the same author (see footnote 5). It is a cursory look at the rise of the modern mission movement, its roots and doctrines, from a Christian apologetics perspective. Available at http://www.discernment-ministries.org website.

13. President of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce, speech given at an International Coalition of Workplace Ministries banquet, Oct. 2004 http://tinyurl.com/bngcn or use http://www.tinyurl.com/a9db2. For more information about ICCC see http://www.icccreg.net/pages.asp?pageid=20404. This organization appears to be wielding tremendous influence in the marketplace transformation movement that believes “it is possible to operate in God’s Kingdom rule on earth here and now.”

14. Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA) “Online Course” summary at http://tinyurl.com/afdkj. This quotation is an example of the “spheres” mentioned in point 1 below in the text entitled “Global “spheres.”

15. Vengeance Is Ours, pp. 235-258.

16. The author has a copy of this letter. A subsequent COR conference was attended by Cynthia Weatherly and reported upon in The Christian Conscience magazine, “From SPIRITUALIST and Spiritual TWIST?” Nov. 1996, pp. 64-65.

17. Vengeance Is Ours documents the rise of the dominionists and their interconnections. At http://www.discernment-ministries.org there is an archive of past newsletters that focuses on the Latter Rain dominionists. The World Christian Movement documents the history of the mission dominionists. Also see http://www.herescope.blogspot.com which frequently posts historical material.

18. http://www.transform-world.net/article_read.asp?id=7 or use http://tinyurl.com/bynaw

19. Vengeance Is Ours, p. 235-236.

20. Disciple the Nations, http://disciplethenations.org/LMEMNVision.html#Discipling.

21. See The Pied Pipers of Purpose: Human Capital Systems and Church Performance, a monograph by Lynn & Sarah Leslie and Susan Conway. This monograph details the influence of Peter Drucker over Rick Warren, including a look at his political, social and economic philosophies. Monograph posted at http://www.discernment-ministries.org/Purpose_Driven.pdf

22. Explorer, No. 23, 11/06/00, http://www.leadnet.org/epubarchive.asp?id=41&db=archive_explorer. The Leadership Network has been a pivotal organization to turn Christian pastors into “change agents” through its leadership training.

23. This point is documented at www.deceptioninthechurch.com/ditc12-10.html.

24. See article posted at http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLMayJune_2005.htm, “The Global Day of Prayer” and its sequel, “The Second Reformation” at http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLJulyAugust_2005.htm, both authored by Sarah Leslie. These two articles present the current history of Rick Warren’s connection to the Global Day of Prayer, and his Africa project.

25. Wayne Besen, “Purpose-driven lies,” 12/09/05, http://www.washblade.com/2005/12-9/view/columns/lies.cfm

26. http://www.christianpost.com/article/ministries/1615/section
/purpose.driven.network.opens.new.aids.conference.to.address.church/1.htm is a news account. The transcript of Rick Warren’s interview with Larry King Live at http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/02/lkl.01.html. And a critical review of this from an African perspective at http://www.bibleguidance.co.za/Engarticles/Africanvision.htm

27.“Involvement in AIDS crisis urged at Saddleback conference,” Shannon Baker, Baptist Press, 12/07/05, http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=22230

28. See http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLMayJune_2005.htm and its sequel http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLJulyAugust_2005.htm (see footnote 22).

29. http://tinyurl.com/dyv8w or http://www.transform-world.com/focusgroupall.asp?id=2. Also see “A Call to Transformation,” Australian Prayer Network, http://tinyurl.com/b5v5y

30. See a transcript of Wagner’s speech posted at http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/arise.html. Also see http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/articles_view.asp?articleid=5682&
columnid=743, C. Peter Wagner's Foreword to Faith@Work Movement book by Os Hillman. Os Hillman is a key player in marketplace transformation.

31. Business Reform interview with Ed Silvoso of Harvest Evangelism, “The Heart of A Nation,” (01/07/05) at http://tinyurl.com/akwd2. Ed Silvoso, from both mission and spiritual warfare sects, is one of the architects of global marketplace reform.

32. John Cragin, Chapter 15, "The Business of Missions -- The Missions of Business," On Kingdom Business: Transforming Missions Through Entrepreneurial Strategies (Crossway, 2003), edited by Tetsunao Yamamori and Kenneth A. Eldred. The quote is a perfect example of the influence of Peter Drucker’s ideology.

33. See http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLMayJune_2005.htm and its sequel http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLJulyAugust_2005.htm (see footnote 22).

34. Rick Joyner, "TAKING THE LAND--We Are Establishing Our Eternal Place And Position Here On Earth" 11/29/05, http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=3617. Rick Joyner was one of the “Kansas City Prophets” who now wields considerable influence through his “prophecies” about a coming militant church.

35. Michael Reynolds, “Rendering Unto God,” Mother Jones, Dec. 2005, p. 43. http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2005/12/rendering_unto_god.html. For other articles see: http://www.motherjones.com/search/category_religion.html

36. Eric Alterman, “Neoconning the Media:A Very Short History of Neoconservatism,” 04/22/05 at http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=2.

37. Vengeance Is Ours documents the ties with Identity, e.g., p. 67. Also see Russ Bellant’s three books: Old Nazis, the New Right and the Republican Party (South End Press, 1988); The Coors Connection: How Coors Family Philanthropy Undermines Democratic Pluralism (South End Press, 1988) and The Religious Right in Michigan Politics (Americans for Religious Liberty, 1996). Bellant approaches the subject from the political Left perspective. His historical research goes back over sixty years.

38. International Coalition of Apostles website at http://www.apostlesnet.net/index.asp?action+introduction. “ ICA is designed for Apostolic Leaders who are kingdom builders. . . .”

39. Strategic Christian Services (Dennis Peacocke), “Co-Managing the Earth: The Foundational Work of the Christian Marketplace Ministry,” http://www.strategicchristianservices.org/0903article.asp

40. Federation of Ministers and Churches International, Spring 2005, FMCI’s November ’04 Leadership Conference, http://www.fmcapostolicnetwork.com/articles_view.asp?articleid=10858
&columnid=1727

41. Warren Smith, “Evangelicals and New Agers Together,” article posted at http://www.erwm.com/EvangelicalsandNewAgers.htm. It must be noted that there is a common Gnostic link between Theosophists and the Latter Rain cult. See Strange Fire (footnote 8) for more information.

42. Warren Smith, Reinventing Jesus Christ, book posted on-line at http://www.reinventingjesuschrist.com. This book chronicles the recent connections between Theosophists and leading evangelicals. A second edition with updated information will come out this Spring.

43. Warren Smith, “Evangelicals and New Agers Together,” Ibid.

44. http://www.presence.tv is an example of an entire ministry built around a new doctrine. Jay Gary has been a significant player, cloaking his dominionism in the rhetoric of “futurism.” He openly networks with the Theosophists. He is part of the World Network of Religious Futurists, an influential organization with theosophical underpinnings. See http://www.wnrf.org/cms/associates.shtml and http://www.wnrf.org/cms/faq.shtml.

45. See postings at http://www.herescope.blogspot.com for historical documentation.

46. In addition to the information on this topic which could be found at http://www.mediatransparency.org website, this author has personal experience in this realm and was an eyewitnesses during the 1980s to the Christian Right’s close financial and organizational ties to Moon.

47. Maitreya, Messages from Maitreya the Christ, (Share International Foundation, 2001), p. 248.

48. http://www.transform-world.net/article_read.asp?id=7

49. Rifkin, Jeremy with Ted Howard. The Emerging Order: God in the Age of Scarcity (G.P. Putnam’s Sons: New York, 1979), “See introduction,” pp. ix-xii. The book is a blueprint on how to network charismatics and transform their theology.

50. Lynn & Sarah Leslie, “What Is Transformation?” article posted at http://newswithviews.com/Leslie/sarah.htm.

51. George Otis is part of a new group called FUSION, which exemplifies many points made in this paper. See http://www.prayerbydesign.com/transformation.php

52. Evangelical Fellowship of Missionary Agencies, a key networking mission group with very dominionist goals http://community.gospelcom.net/Brix?pageID=7115

53. “The Vision: THE KINGDOM FOCUS,” International Christian Chamber of Commerce, http://www.icccreg.net/pages.asp?pageid=20404. See footnote 12.

54. For example, see a series of posts on http://www.herescope.blogspot.com (Sept/Oct. 2005) pertaining to Evangelical Consultations about the future held in the late 1970s. These Consultations not only linked Leftist evangelicals to the emerging dominionist mandate, but also brought in leading Theosophist Willis Harman to help create new theologies for the future.

55. See http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLMayJune_2005.htm and its sequel http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLJulyAugust_2005.htm (see footnote 22)

56. Patricia Paddy, “Christian leaders propose partnering with UN to fight poverty,” http://www.canadianchristianity.com/cgi-bin/na.cgi?nationalupdates/051027poverty

57. See http://www.alertacademy.com for starters. Gothard, who revivifies many Old Testament doctrines, appeals to a wide spectrum of evangelicals for varying reasons. His organizations function in a secretive cult-like manner.

58. Vengeance Is Ours, p. 252.

59. http://www.phc.edu/teencamps/. Note: homeschoolers are an extremely diverse group and cannot be lumped into the dominionist camps solely on the basis of the free choice they exercise in educating their children at home. Michael Farris and his organization, Home School Legal Defense Association, attempt to represent home educators politically in Washington, to the chagrin of the non-dominionist homeschoolers.

60. “Goal to Change Continents for Christ, 9/15/-5, Global Prayer Movement, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International, http://globalprayermovement.org/prayerrequests.asp?offset=23&AOA_Id=3404

61. “DECEMBER 15th, PRESIDENT BUSH AND IRAQ” post at http://www.ile-dc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=2 or see
http://tinyurl.com/a7431

62. “WNRF Marks 25 Years of Religious Futurism,” by Dr. Rev. Richard Kirby, World Network of Religious Futurists, 7/20/05, http://www.wnrf.org/cms/print_religious_futurism_25years.shtml. See footnote 42.

63. Bob Jones & Paul Keith Davis, Shepherd’s Rod 2004, October 7, 2003,
http://www.whitedoveministries.org/content/ArchivesItem.phtml?art=163&c=
0&id=11&style=2 . Bob Jones is a Latter Rain sect leader.

64. http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLJulyAugust_2005.htm (See footnote 22). For an example of how this “urgency” manifests, see footnote 3. The WSJ article cited states, “Mr. Wilkinson felt the situation was so urgent that the time for cautious measures had passed.”

65. “End scandal of poverty in churches, says Mennonite leader,” 05/12/05, http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_05125menno.shtml. This quotation is an example of the widespread diffusion of dominionist ideas. Mennonites are Anabaptists who traditionally do not hold to these doctrines.

66. The author was an eyewitness to the compromises of the faith that occur when political and financial coalitions take precedence biblical truth. See “How Can There Be Revival Without Repentance,” by Lynn and Sarah Leslie posted at http://www.discernment-ministries.org/2001_SeptemberOctober.pdf. See also Lynn D. & Sarah Leslie, “The Shepherding Movement Comes of Age,” http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLjanfeb_2003.htm. This article explores the content of the covenants that must be signed in the purpose-driven church movement.

67. Rev. Charles Spurgeon, “Christ’s Universal Kingdom and How it Comes,” http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols25-27/chs1535.pdf. Spurgeon’s sermons are a good source of old-time doctrines, which provide a stark contrast to modern dominionism.

Grateful acknowledgement is made to independent researcher Susan J. Conway and Steve Muse of Eastern Regional Watch Ministries (http://www.erwm.com) for their invaluable research assistance in this project.

Sarah H. Leslie is a former Christian Right leader in homeschooling and right to life. She has authored many articles on education reform and Christian apologetic issues. She and her husband Lynn published The Christian Conscience magazine and several books They currently sit on the board of directors of Discernment Ministries, Inc.

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