Mark Driscoll – of to save Haiti…and make a film [Updated]

February 25, 2010

It’s one thing to send aide to Haiti and let the experts do their job – but here is Mark Driscoll playing the hero and having to get to Haiti himself and of course make a film at the same time!

 

As the images started coming in after the earthquake, I became haunted by Haiti.

The pictures of dead bodies piled in the streets, parents carrying their limp children, and appendages stretching out from underneath rubble were everywhere. On every channel, every Web site, and every cardio machine at the gym. I know you saw them also. Suddenly, our lives seemed so simple and so blessed. Whatever had troubled us before we were haunted by Haiti suddenly shrank in significance as the reality of true pain and massive suffering pressed itself before our eyes and into our hearts.

On Thursday morning, James MacDonald who leads a wonderful church and Bible-preaching ministry called me to brainstorm some ideas he had to get involved and help direct other pastors and churches to do the same. As our conversations, texts, and emails continued, by the day’s end we had decided to take a trip together to Haiti. He had secured transportation and an initial delivery of 1,000 pounds of relief supplies. From Mars Hill we gathered a small filmmaking crew and a Pulitzer Prize finalist photographer who has covered events in Kosovo, Haiti, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Rwanda while working for Time magazine, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe who volunteered to go with us.. We had also made contact with a number of other pastors in the US wanting to help out, as well as the president of World Concern, which shares a facility with one of our Mars Hill Campuses, and a handful of other ministries that are doing great work helping those in need and that could really use your help. We were stunned by the gracious provision of God as Jesus truly provided the resources for this mission in rapid succession and we take no credit for it but are thankful to be on it. As an aside, you can also pray for Merry Fitzpatrick of Mars Hill Shoreline who is helping coordinate the field work in Haiti right now.

So, on Sunday a pre-recorded sermon will play at the Ballard Campus of Mars Hill Church while we are en route to Haiti. If you would like to know how to pray, the following would be appreciated:

Pray that we can get into the country and are able to travel safely.

Pray that we are able to get the plane full of medical and relief supplies effectively distributed to those in need.

Pray that we can serve where we are needed, as reports indicate that so many pastors are dead and churches destroyed that those Christians seeking to grieve and serve need much support.

Pray that we can forge some solid bonds with the best local churches and international relief agencies on the ground.

Pray we can get some great stories on video about what God is doing in order to help encourage God’s people around the world to be generous and help those in need.

Pray we can get great photos and other video footage to give away online, to give to Christian agencies who could use it to help get the need out, and to give to mainstream media outlets showing the difference the church and God’s people are making as well as all that remains to be done. There has been a great deal of great media coverage, and we want to add to it some of the stories of God’s people doing God’s work to encourage more of God’s people to support that work.

Pray for the ongoing generosity of people around the world sending in support and supplies.

Pray for the complicated task of getting supplies to needy people when roads are not passable, and only a quarter of the country’s roads were paved before the earthquake.

Pray for the hearts, minds, and souls of the people, who are reportedly 80 percent Catholic and 16 percent Protestant, while roughly 50 percent also practice voodoo.

Pray for the rebuilding of the city of Port-au-Prince as prior to the earthquake it was the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with 80 percent of people under the poverty line and 54 percent in abject poverty with a Gross Domestic Product per capita of only $1,300 with two-thirds of the labor force not even having a formal job.

Pray for protection for disease, as the spread of hepatitis A and E, typhoid, malaria, leptospirosis, and dengue fever is a reality as conditions worsen.

Pray against civil unrest that would further promote chaos.

Pray for the government, which has lost many of its buildings and leaders.

Pray for the safety of the people, since some of the jails and prisons are now emptied and dangerous criminals are running the streets without police patrol to contain them.

Pray we get home safely and can take what we learn to help encourage churches and Christians to strategically pray and give of their resources for the long haul, as this will not be a short rebuilding effort.

Pray for the children as roughly half of Haiti’s population is reportedly children.

Pray that Christians will help bolster the remaining churches in Haiti and support the planting of many more Jesus-centered churches so that the people of Haiti can see the gospel rise out of the devastation.

Pray for us as as a plan is forming for churches helping churches in places where war and disaster have struck.

Lastly, I am hesitant to post any of this because it may not come to fruition in light of the great complexity of the mission we are on. But, I felt that our best hope was prayer and so thank you for interceding. Our hope is to serve those ministries and organizations who are helping those in need and helping partner God’s people to places of strategic gospel opportunity.

If you would like to support the rebuilding of churches and resourcing of pastors in Haiti, you can find more information or give through Churches Helping Churches.

 

I don't know if he got there or not - but just thinking about it is really quite stupid...in my humble opinion!

______________________________________________________________________

Yep he got there, here is some film

 


How do we evangelise? Should we feel pressure to do so?

February 24, 2010

I’ve lifted this question by Teddy in its entirety from the previous thread, because I think its a worthwhile topic on its own.

Teddy asked:

A question. Do you believe that the church is responsible for accomplishing the very thing that God Himself accomplishes as part of His plan to wrap up this church age?

Jesus is building His own church and God adds daily those who are destined to be saved.

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

(Matt 16:18-19)

“AND THE LORD WAS ADDING to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

(Acts 2:47)

Should we feel pressured by notions of the “Great Commission” and the necessity to advance the gospel in order to accomplish Christ’s work? Does Christ accomplish what He has placed in His own hands. Yes. Our job is to tell the truth and preach His grace. But, the work of saving men and women eternally is His work, to His glory.

How does this all fit in to our various notions of “community”?

Do we preach and evangelize? Yes. How?

***************
Thanks Teddy.
RavingPente


Exploring Burke’s Comment

February 21, 2010

From GroupSects, RW Burke said the following:

“… It’s interesting that Catholics don’t have this problem, because their Priest Fathers don’t build empires for their own children, since if they have behaved they don’t have any! (ha) Anyway, here’s my point. For all the so-called enlightenment our pastors do, seldom do they point out self-condemming things: Like any business is self-interested. The barber will almost always tell you, you need a haircut. Thus, the preacher will say, you need to attend church…( and donate!) Thus is self-interest.

Western Enlightenment always taught this: That man is sinful and needs systems of verification and checking. Thus the pastor teaching enlightenment would tell his flock that even he might recommend his own church to… someone who might not need it! He, the pastor, might …. need to fire his relatives! He, the pastor, might be wrong in thinking his… granddaughters sing well and need the organization to pimp a CD of their music. (As done by a certain big TX televangelist!)

So, the crazy thing is that pastors teach so much…. blindness… and not self-examination! You get that from a class on Western Enlightenment… and critical thought.”

I thought his comment was well worth exploring. Are pastor/evangelists selfish getting people to attend their church? With the pastor/evangelist saying “you need to attend church“, does this undermine their own work? Interesting…

S&P


Brandon Gone ‘Bonkers’

February 20, 2010

Brandon Barthrop – pray for him! And all those following in him into destruction.

I feared this is what would happen with the bridal paradigm going too far in concept. This has now turned into pure occult. Brandon Barthrop is promoting ‘Jesus sex’ – more rightly demon sex.

Brandon said on Facebook:

Brandon Barthrop Spirit to spirit sex with Jesus Christ, also called intimacy, is the very thing that produces the ligature! Enjoy the orgasmic glory!

Below is an extreme video of him manifesting and growing crazy with off terminology of getting ‘ding dong all night long’ with the spirit and having ‘bonky-bonky’ or ‘pokey-pokey’ with Jesus. (You may be able to see this below if you like to be disturbed).  This man must be stopped! This is no Holy Spirit manifestation. It will creep you out. If I can find a way to upload facebook video up, I will. But BE WARNED. This video is extreme. I felt quite unwell watching this.

What disturbed me more was his audience, who seemed to be quite young, encouraging him to get more of his whacked out revelations. However, among the comments were some people rebuking him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You may be able to follow these links and watch these videos:

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S.O.S. Jesus Sex – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

10:39 Added on Thursday
Having spiritual sex with Jesus should be just as normal to Christians as breathing, since we are 1 spirit. Intimacy has been so religiousized by demons, so let us break the barriers into the reality of what intimacy is: sexual union. The entire bridal paradigm and the mystery of marriage and consummation etc. that is in the natural is all symbolic of the ultimate union with God. Sex between a man and women in the marriage covenant is the physical manifestation of the spiritual marriage and spiritual sex between the Christian and their Lord. Glory! Orgasmic glory is here to stay as the Lord will never issue us a marriage certificate! Hallelujah! For more orgasmic glory visit Red Letter Ministries online garden: http://RedLetterMin.com
In this video: Brandon Barthrop (videos)

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Spank You Ferret Darkness! [HD]

6:17 Added about 2 weeks ago
The Heavy Drunken
Dark Cloud of Glory!

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Dragon’s Roost – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

10:31 Added about 2 weeks ago
A group of sons getting trained up in sonship, aka rulership, is like a dragon’s roost. Dragon’s are fire breathing celestial rulers who bear the image of their older brother, the Lord Jesus Christ, or Chief Dragon (see Isaiah 14:29). Come join us for 15 days of mystical training at the Crack House in North Minneapolis. It is a party that is shaking the world!!! Red Letter Ministries Inc, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Visit RLM’s scandalous online feeding trough for dragons at: http://RedLetterMin.com

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Smells Like Poop – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

14:07 Added about a month ago
“Yahweh God made clothes out of skins for the man and his wife, and they put them on.” -Genesis 3:21 (Jerus)

Sonship is infinitely greater than apostleship and prophetship! Sons flow in the fullness of the 5-fold ministry natures, plus two more: king and judge. Jesus created the 5-fold to bring the entire body of priests into maturity in the Spirit as sons of God. Eat right for your blood type and you’ll get heavenly delight. Others will think you are out of sight, but that’s alright!

2 spots open for March & April’s 15-day Mystic Intensive School. It’ll change your life, and your city!

Red Letter Ministries, Inc. http://redlettermin.com

In this video: Brandon Barthrop (videos)

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RLM Prophecies for 2010 (Shepherd’s Rod) [HD]

9:13 Added about a month ago
1. Awesome glory intimacy in the House of Wine.
2. Destruction of false apostles, prophets, and teachers with their “doing the stuff” false Christianity.
3. The revealing of God’s global government.
4. Acceleration on sonship: Knowing the 7 spirits of God as very close friends training us in the House of Wine.
Red Letter Ministries, Inc. is the sonship priesthood of Brandon and Penny Barthrop aka The Apostolic Pirates. Visit RLM’s website for tons more sonship revy: http://redlettermin.com
In this video: Brandon Barthrop (videos)

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Wolves Den – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

10:37 Added about 2 months ago
Genesis 49:27, “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at night dividing the spoil.” Lotta glory on the berserker mantle! Berserker would wear wolf furs symbolizing their ferocious devouring nature to destroy enemies! Get hopped up on glory mushrooms of the Spirit and have fun! Visit our all new Crack Shop loaded with goodies to get you loaded and exploded: http://redlettermin.com

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Zayin Being Tutorage – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

10:57 Added about 2 months ago
Zayin is the Hebrew word for the seven beings that are your tutors from Galatians 4:1,2. The 7 spirits of God are like Esther’s 7 maidens preparing her for 6 months until she would meet the King. Glory! Enjoy the Morph glory! New CD Release Artist: Light Title: Master of Magicians Genre: Vocal-Sci-Trip-Trance Visit http://redlettermin.com
In this video: Brandon Barthrop (videos)

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Living Beings – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

10:25 Added about 2 months ago
“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust [gold dust] of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 (AMP; Emphasis mine).
Visit Joel’s Bar Cyber-Church Fridays 7pm Live Central Time: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/red-letter-ministries-drunken-glory-ustream

Visit Red Letter Ministries website for tons of free mystical living scrolls: http://RedLetterMin.com


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Trance Figuration – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

10:56 Added about 3 months ago
“We are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor!” -2Cor.3:18(AMP). Eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus Christ daily by faith to impart the life and light of his DNA into your body which changes you into His image; blue diamonds and fire! “For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].” Eph5:8.
Visit our website:
http://redlettermin.com
In this video: Brandon Barthrop (videos)

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Suck Bigtime – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

14:57 Added about 3 months ago
“They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they suck the affluence of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.”
-Duet. 33:19 (RSV)

† New t-shirt designs–they make great Christmas gifts for everyone!
Visit: http://breakerclothing.com
† 2010 RLM 15-day mystic intensive school schedule now open.
† Joel’s Bar Kansas City information and contact info:
Visit: http://joelsbar.org
† Joel’s Bar cyber-church every Friday 7pm CST.
† Remember Red Letter Ministries this holiday season in your financial giving.
Visit: http://redlettermin.com

In this video: Brandon Barthrop (videos)

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God Dam – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

10:34 Added about 3 months ago
Hebrew dâm BDB Definition: 1) blood 1a) of wine (figuratively) The God dam blood is the supreme intoxication of the gospel of the kingdom. Keep drinking the dam river of life and manifesting your sonship to possess all your inheritance forever! Red Letter Ministries, Inc. http://RedLetterMin.com

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The Eden Clouds – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

8:14 Added about 4 months ago
“Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden.” Genesis 2:10. The River of Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and You are running through you! Water the garden of creation as an Eden cloud flowing in the river of Life! (see also Ps 110, and Ez 1:10).
Red Letter Ministries, Inc.
http://redlettermin.com
In this video: Brandon Barthrop (videos)

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Melchizedek Company – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

10:11 Added about 4 months ago
Ephesians 3:16 (Amplified Bible)
“May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].”
Melchizedek is the King of the treasure house of heaven, and you have a rich treasury of glory inside you, therefore you are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Hallelujah! Want to do a 15-day intensive at RLM intern house, “The Crack House,” then apply today for December 1-15, 2009. Red Letter Ministries, Inc. http://RedLetterMin.com

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The Myrrh Angel – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

10:53 Added about 4 months ago
“Wisdom has mixed her wine.” -Proverbs 9:2 Ancient people would would mix their wine with various ingredients. Gentiles would dilute their wine with water to make it go further. Jews would add opium, myrrh, and honey to their wine to make it much stronger. The mixed wine of the Spirit is a strong intoxicating drink which produces a psychedelic Jesus Trip in the eternal realm. Visit the Red Letter Ministries website for more information. http://RedLetterMin.com
In this video: Brandon Barthrop (videos)

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Already Made Full – RLM Pirate Talk [HD]

8:55 Added about 4 months ago
Colossians 2:10 (Amplified Bible) “And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].” Red Letter Ministries, Inc. http://redlettermin.com

Deception Champions the Cause of Hillsong Conference 2010

February 15, 2010

The Hillsong website reads: Faith, Hope, Love. If they were honest with themselves, it should read: Money, Power, Deception. Seems like a strong statement to make. But on their website, in regards to their conference they say:

Hillsong Conference is designed to champion the cause of the local church everywhere.”

If they are ‘championing the cause of the local church everywhere’, why are they inviting some evidently CORRUPT ministers to preach at their upcoming Hillsong Conference 2010? Obviously they do not care about their reputation, their vision, or who their God is by the way they have rolled out the carpet to two incredibly foul, corrupt, sooth-saying speakers. This issue MUST be addressed. Hillsong is spreading the contagious corrosive teachings and celebrity wolves to smaller local churches. Hillsong is SICK and are now their spreading sickness further.

These celebrity wolves are speakers TD Jakes and Ed Young.

Under the heading of ‘An Unshakeable Kingdom’ Hillsong has a bit to say on the two. I think we can all remember how shaken Hillsong was when Guglimucci was exposed. This is even worse than Guglimucci because these speakers will not be exposed but get away with their heresies and teachings that are a pure offense to the gospel.

Hillsong says of TD Jakes:

Second Time at Hillsong Conference

Bishop T.D. Jakes IS A QUINTESSENTIAL LEADER. Known for his service to the church and the global community, his heartfelt efforts have made worldwide impact. He is a man at the forefront of philanthropy, a best-selling author, and most of all a premier contemporary spiritual voice.

Bishop Jakes has global reach through missions around the world, record-breaking events, and weekly, with his diverse congregation at The Potter’s House, where he shares his message of hope, inspiration and God’s love with over 30 thousand members there in Dallas, Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth community is also home to Clay Academy, the college preparatory school for leaders of the next generation; the Metroplex Economic Development Corporation, a resource for aspiring entrepreneurs; and Capella Park, a charming single-family housing development.

http://www.hillsongconference.com/2010guests/tdjakes

Hillsong says of Ed Young:

Ed Young

Second Time at Hillsong Conference

How could we ever forget the imprint that Pastor Ed Young left on our hearts at Hillsong Conference in 2007. He communicated such Godly wisdom at “a whole nutha level”…

We are so excited to announce that Ed Young will be back with us again in 2010…

Ed Young is a straightforward communicator who uniquely connects God’s unchanging truth with a diverse culture through compelling and creative teaching methods. He is the founding and Senior Pastor of Fellowship Church. The church has its main campus just north of the DFW Airport and operates five satellite campuses in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area and one campus in Miami, Florida. Ed’s books include The Marriage Mirror, Outrageous, Contagious Joy, In the Zone and The Creative Leader.

Ed is also known for his candor when talking about leadership and the inner workings of a growing church, and he provides resources for church leaders through CreativePastors.com and the Creative Church Conferences (C3).

He and his wife Lisa have been married for twenty-six years and have four children. More information about Ed and his various ministries can be found online at EdYoung.com.

http://www.hillsongconference.com/2010guests/edyoung

About TD Jakes

TD Jake’ s is from the Oneness Pentecostal Cult. It is NOT a Christian move of God. He is also a liar – In  Nov. 17, 2009 on the “Larry King Live” show, he said that he does not believe or preach a ‘prosperity gospel’.

Unfortunately, TD Jakes is a well-known prosperity pimp.

As for his Oneness Pentecostal roots, his belief statement says:

God -There is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three manifestations: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

http://www.thepottershouse.org/v2/content/view/18/32/

ApologeticIndex exposes TD Jakes well:

Bottom-line: In its initial article, the Christian Research Journal writes:
Even well-discipled and discerning Christians find it challenging to differentiate between the truth and error found in Jakes’s teachings — let alone the watching secular world. The New York Times published an article on 1 January 1999 regarding how America has always had a national evangelist. ”Ever since the colonial era, America has had a pre-eminent preacher who played an unofficial role as national evangelist, preaching a simple message of repentance and salvation and drawing vast crowds in the process. For the last 50 years that role has been filled by the Rev. Billy Graham. But at the turn of the century with Mr. Graham now 80, the question arises, Who if anyone can take his place.”63 It is sobering that of the five possible successors to Billy Graham listed, one of them is T. D. Jakes.There is no denying that T. D. Jakes has many fine leadership qualities, and the social outreaches of his Potter’s House church appear quite commendable. But, while sound doctrine is not the only criterion for leadership among Christians (1 Tim. 3:1–13), it is certainly a necessary criterion (Tit. 1:9–11). Do we really want a non-Trinitarian to be the spiritual leader of our country? If the answer to this question is anything but an unequivocal no, the future looks dark indeed for the American church. 

The Man, His Ministry, And His Movement: Concerns About The Teachings Of T.D. JakesOff-site Link by by Jerry L. Buckner, writing in the Christian Research Journal

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/j11.html

I encourage you to read the full article.

About Ed Young (Exposed!)

As Lance blogged this last week. Read the articles he pulled together here:

http://groupsects.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/ed-young-and-the-mystery-jet/

While Ed Young think he may have resolved the problem and is now ‘moving on’, he actually created more of a problem for himself as ‘A Little Leaven’ has pointed out:

“… So, Ed Young’s admissions rather than making his case have instead proven what the News 8 reporter set out to demonstrate, namely that Ed Young’s luxury spending is out of control and not in keeping with a pastor’s salary.”

http://www.alittleleaven.com/2010/02/ed-youngs-admissions-are-more-damning-than-the-original-news-story.html

“A reminder that the apparently “worldly” Chris Rosebrough will be putting even more perspective to this troubling tale on his FftF program today, which airs at 6pm EST.”

http://apprising.org/2010/02/09/luxury-and-ed-young-jr/

Christian Pirate Radio is worth listening too as well on this subject here. He observes that Ed Young possibly likes to be influenced by TD Jakes. I really encourage you to listen to this (I know it’s long), 8o minute expose on Ed Young. If there is a script from this radio expose written, I will post it up. Here is where you can hear the Pirate Christian Radio’s expose on the issue:

http://apprising.org/2010/02/11/radio-expose-on-ed-young-jr-and-luxury/

Hillsong are cursing the local church by allowing speakers to preach different gospels and teachings for filthy luchre’s sake. They need to be accountable to who they have speak at their conferences. This  indeed will be a sad moment when Hillsong allows these deceivers to speak into the lives of the thousands that flock to their conferences.

S&P


Boycotting Hillsong Music – Too Extreme?

February 15, 2010

RavingPente revealed to Signposts02 some time ago her surprise of Hillsong’s statement of faith. In particular the following line:

“We believe that in order to receive forgiveness and the ‘new birth’ we must repent of our sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to His will for our lives.” – http://myhillsong.com/what-we-believe

The Bottom Line reports:

A Screen Door On A Submarine – The Hillsong Faith Statement

Stop the press! Just when I thought I had finished with my series on the false gospel of Hillsong some intriguing videos were drawn to my attention. Many of you have been reading my series over the last few weeks where I have exposed Hillsong’s shameful editing of Scripture. Equally shameful was the blatant contradiction between their faith statement and the gospel presented in their massively popular worship CDs. This contradiction was so bad that Hillsong’s faith statement actually defines their gospel presentation as a false gospel. This is an extremely serious matter for people who publically represent stewardship of the Christian faith.

Robert Fergusson, who Brian Houston (their senior pastor) used to write their faith statement, actually engaged in some correspondence with me. He is one of the most prominent preacher/teachers at the Hillsong mothership in Sydney. Fergusson’s e-mails ultimately revealed (click here to read the correspondance) that Hillsong’s faith statement is as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike or a screen door on a submarine. It gives the cosmetic effect of orthodoxy all the while serving no practical purpose whatsoever (it is a lesson to all of us to make sure that our churches have orthodox creeds and that the teaching submits to those creeds).

Even though Fergusson ultimately decided to deal with my questions by ignoring them, one of the readers on this blog drew my attention to this intriguing video . . .



So, clearly, Fergusson outwardly professes that their faith or creedal statement should be the driving force behind the message they communicate. But his apologetic with the Anglican minister was amazing – listen to some of our other CDs! What a great way to answer a legitimate theological question – NOT! Furthermore, it was interesting to note that Fergusson stressed the importance of teaching the theology of the Trinity in their songs. Robert, if the Trinity is so important then why did you invite this guy as your main speaker?????



That’s right, TD Jakes, the keynote speaker at this year’s Hillsong conference doesn’t even believe in the Trinity. He is what is known as a modalist, someone who denies the three distinct Persons of the Trinity by describing them as three manifestations (http://www.thepottershouse.org/v2/content/view/18/32/). TD Jakes’ modalist presentation of God is clearly not the God of Scripture and therefore an idol. Modalism is a heresy that was denounced in the fourth century AD by the Athanasian Creed (http://www.ccel.org/creeds/athanasian.creed.html) and was punishable by death during the reformation. But in 2010 it qualifies you as a keynote speaker at a Hillsong conference!

http://onceuponacross.blogspot.com/2010/02/screen-door-on-submarine-hillsong-faith.html

____________________________

I will be doing another post shortly on a pastor called Ed Young that also will be speaking at the Hillsong Conference. E-mails have been popping up in my inbox about him. My main focus is that churches in the past have also talked about boycotting Hillsong worship song’s and CD’s (which we’ve talked about previously on Signposts02). After Fergusson’s talk on applying Hillsong’s statement of faith to their music, surely that must be of concern to local congregations who like to sing their music.

After watching Fergusson what are your thoughts on boycotting Hillsong products? Music, I believe, is more of a powerful form of media than preaching. You can forget a preach, but a catchy tune tied to wrong doctrine is dangerous indoctrination. I would go far as to say that it can be a form of brainwashing.

S&P


Judging Trees

February 13, 2010

Discerning False Prophets and Wicked Ministries

We often say we are to judge a tree by it’s fruit.

Their are three places in Matthew where we find Jesus talking about trees and fruit. The first instance is in the preaching of John the Baptist:

Matt 3:7-10 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!… Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Jesus towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount:

Matt 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Jesus response to Pharisees who ascribed his healings to Beelzebul:

Matt 12:33-35 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure.

Can we still use these analogies to help give us discernment on individuals or churches today? I have this really peculiar feeling that we don’t know what is being spoken of in these passages. I will look into this.

In the meantime, I think it’s worth discussing if there is any better way of discerning false prophets or ministries other than by their fruit. Fruit seems to suggest time plays a role to determine prophets or ministries to be true or false.  In my understanding, by the time you are drawn into a cult, it’s too late to examine the fruit if you’re apart of the tree.

Is there a better way to discern? I would say yes.

* what you think the Spirit is saying or making you feel.

* measure what is taught or practiced by returning to your first love and Salvation experience.

* measure what is taught or practiced by what you know of the gospel.

* measure what is taught or practiced by loving the Lord with all heart, mind, soul and strength.

* measure what is taught or practiced by knowing the bible and what it says in context of issues or topics.

* understanding basic human motives and group dynamics.

* pray without ceasing. Ask God to reveal what is right or wrong. Be open to His words and what He gives you.

* ask what others in the church think. ask outside churches what they think about your church.

* be open to information and other opinion, being humble in approach.

To me, this is how one should move in discernment. So what’s the purpose of the tree and it’s fruit analogy? Does ‘fruit’ in these parables means motives or outcomes and manifestations?  What are your thoughts on ‘fruit and trees’ in scripture?


The Serpent Anointing of Bentley!

February 10, 2010

Bull urgently thought this was worth posting. I totally agree.

This was received as an e-letter from Revelation TV:

KUNDALINI WARNING

by Andrew Strom

I just saw the video of Rick Joyner announcing that Todd Bentley is back ministering every night at Morningstar in North Carolina and now they have so-called “revival” manifestations eerily similar to Lakeland. They also announced that they are streaming these big meetings every night on their new TV channel – and they are greatly promoting the whole thing.

Now I am a tongues-speaking Pentecostal myself – but can I ask a simple question here please? What kind of “spirit” was it operating in the Lakeland revival – when the leader and main focal- point of the meetings (Todd Bentley) was having an adulterous affair behind the scenes? Was it truly the “Holy” Spirit that was anointing something so sensual and unholy? And now that Todd divorced his wife and married his mistress – are we supposed to welcome him back and this “anointing” with him? What is going on here? Rick Joyner has been warned very specifically by high- level ministries not to do what he is doing now – bringing Todd Bentley back into the limelight. And yet it seems he does not care. Apparently the “manifestations” are all that matter.

So what exactly are these ‘manifestations’ if they are seemingly at home in such an unholy environment? Are they from God at all? (I am talking here about the violent “jerking”, uncontrollable laughter, bodily contortions, drunkenness, ‘portals’, strange “angel” encounters, etc.) Why do we not see such an ‘anointing’ in the Bible? Why aren’t Jesus or the apostles promoting these manifestations if they really are true Revival? Why instead do we see these things all the way through the New Age and Hinduism, etc? Do we not realize that many false religions have their own version of “laying on of hands” that results in these very types of manifestations? This ‘spirit’ is not in the Bible – but it is all the way through Kundalini-type Hinduism! Don’t you think this should alarm us?

WHAT is KUNDALINI?

If you search for Kundalini and Shakti on the Internet, you will find that multitudes of people in the New Age and Eastern religions still experience these powerful manifestations. Often this is with the help of a Guru, who touches them on the forehead so that they can experience a “Kundalini Awakening”.

As researcher Robert Walker wrote in 1995:

“The meetings which mystic Hindu gurus hold are called ‘Darshan’. At these meetings devotees go forward to receive spiritual experience from a touch by the open palm of the hand, often to the forehead, by the guru in what is known as the Shakti Pat or divine touch. The raising of the spiritual experience is called raising Kundalini… After a period when the devotee has reached a certain spiritual elevation they begin to shake, jerk, or hop or squirm uncontrollably, sometimes breaking into uncontrolled animal noises or laughter as they reach an ecstatic high. These manifestations are called ‘Kriyas’. Devotees sometimes roar like lions and show all kinds of physical signs during this period. Often devotees move on to higher states of spiritual consciousness and become inert physically and appear to slip into an unconsciousness…”

And as the guru Shri Yogãnandji Mahãrãja wrote:

“When Your body begins trembling, hair stands on roots, you laugh or begin to weep without your wishing, your tongue begins to utter deformed sounds, you are filled with fear or see frightening visions… the Kundalini Shakti has become active.”

In China there is a popular Kundalini-type movement called ‘Qigong’. When a Chinese Qigong spiritual master spoke in the USA in 1991, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that many in the crowd began to experience “spontaneous movements”. The master told his audience, “Those who are sensitive might start having some strong physical sensations – or start laughing or crying. Don’t worry. This is quite normal.”

When you see videos of these “kriyas” or other Kundalini-type manifestations, you would often swear that you are watching a modern “Impartation”-type church meeting. (And I say this as someone who believes strongly in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I just don’t believe in “alien” anointings infiltrating the Body of Christ! There is a big difference between Kundalini and the real Holy Spirit).

Since 1993-4, I believe a foreign spirit has been allowed to invade the church – first through Rodney Howard-Browne’s ministry – then Toronto, then the Prophetic movement (which I was part of at the time) and on into Lakeland and many other ministries and movements. I urge people now to “test the spirits” just as we are commanded to in Scripture. Do not let just anyone lay hands on you. This is a powerful spirit and it has the backing of a lot of big-name ministries. In fact, these men and women are the very ones responsible for allowing it to spread right through the body of Christ. And one day they will be answerable to God for doing so.

We are specifically warned in the Bible that the Last Days will be a time of “seducing spirits,” false prophets, ‘lying signs and wonders,’ and that we always need to watch for “angels of light” masquerading as the real thing. Why does the modern church not take these warnings seriously? Aren’t we living in the very days that the Bible warns about?

Right now I need to do something that I have never done in such a way before. I have never before published a list of ministries or movements to watch out for. But this time I have to. This sickness has gone on long enough. I urge you to cut yourself off from the following ministries and their tainted “anointings” my friends. Even though some of these people say “good things” at times, it is simply not worth having any involvement with them due to the tainted anointing that they endorse or minister in themselves. Here is the list-

(1) Todd Bentley.
(2) Rodney Howard Browne – the so-called “Holy Ghost Bartender.”
(3) Rick Joyner or anyone connected with Morningstar Ministries.
(4) John Arnott & any connected with TACF (The “Toronto Blessing”).
(5) Peter Wagner of the ‘New Apostolic Reformation’ who claims to be head of a worldwide network of ‘apostles’ – who publicly endorsed Lakeland and will soon preach at Toronto TACF alongside other “false anointing” advocates.
(6) Mike Bickle and IHOP Kansas City (-I lived nearby for over two years – and know how much they are into all this stuff. Mike Bickle promotes it in his book).
(7) Bob Jones – the Kansas City prophet whose ministry is utterly tainted by it all.
(8) Patricia King and anyone else from ‘Extreme Prophetic.’
(9) John Crowder & anyone connected with “Sloshfest.”
(10) Bill Johnson of Bethel church, Redding – who says some good things but publicly endorsed Lakeland and promotes the “false anointing” very strongly behind the scenes.
(11) Heidi & Rolland Baker of IRIS Ministries – who do good work amongst the poor in Mozambique – but who have also carried and promoted this tainted anointing for years.
(12) Randy Clark, Wes & Stacey Campbell, and other key figures from the “Toronto blessing.”
(13) The Elijah List – and almost anyone featured on it.

Of course there are a huge number of lesser-known preachers and ministries who carry or endorse this Kundalini-type “anointing” around the world. But I have concentrated here on the most influential that I know of. It really is an enormous issue in the church. I urge anyone who is a supporter of any of the above ministries to really check them out thoroughly. If you find (as I have) that they carry or endorse this false Kundalini spirit in the church, then please stop supporting them in any way – and whatever you do, don’t let them “lay hands” on you!

I am putting everything on the line to be “naming names” like this. But I believe it is that serious. How on earth did we get to the point where “kriyas” just like Hinduism are spreading through the church?

Please forward this email to everyone you know, blogs and boards, etc. These people are trying to “relaunch” this whole thing right now. Help us get this warning out.

God bless you all!

Andrew Strom.


The ‘True Thing’ & The ‘New Thing’

February 9, 2010

http://www.spiritoferror.org/2009/12/god-is-doing-a-new-thing-or-is-he/282

The Spirit of Error reports:

God is Doing a “New Thing” — Or Is He?

Have you ever heard a Christian teacher make this statement? Chances are, you have. It’s become a catch phrase to promote all kinds of dangerous teachings, like this recent one from “Prophet” Paul Keith Davis of WhiteDove Ministries. See it here. In his teaching — sent out by the Elijah List on Dec. 12 — Davis said God is doing a “new thing” today by giving new revelation to the Church through modern “apostles” and “prophets.” The purpose of this revelation, according to Davis, is to help the Church set up God’s kingdom on earth. The Scripture he quotes to support this teaching is Isaiah 48:6-7. What is the new revelation God is giving the Church, according to Davis? It contains insights into the heavenly realm, including the discovery of new laws of “physics, light, sound and spiritual colors,” he said. It also contains new revelation into the Scriptures.

Christians will suddenly understand verses they never understood before. Their new understandings will have as great an impact on the Church as the Protestant Reformation, according to Davis. But does Isaiah 48:6-7 support Davis’ teaching? No, an examination of the passage in its biblical context shows that it can’t be used to promote new revelations from “apostles” and “prophets.” First, let’s look at the passage. I will quote from the Amplified Bible since it’s the translation Davis quotes from, even though it’s not the best translation to use. (I’ll explain why it’s not the best translation in a future post.)

Here’s the passage: 6You have heard [these things foretold], now you see this fulfillment. And will you not bear witness to it? I show you specified new things from this time forth, even hidden things [kept in reserve] which you have not known. 7They are created now [called into being by the prophetic word], and not long ago; and before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, Behold, I knew them! In this passage, God — speaking through the Prophet Isaiah — says He will reveal “new things” that He hadn’t revealed before. What are the “new things”? They had to do specifically with the nation of Israel and its restoration after going into captivity. How do we know this? By reading the chapters surrounding Isaiah 48. In Isaiah 39, God reveals that He will punish the Israelites by sending the Babylonians to conquer them. Undoubtedly, this experience will leave them wondering if God has abandoned their nation. So, in chapters 40-48, God calms their fears by promising that — after a time of captivity in Babylon — He will forgive them, return the exiles to their land, and restore their nation. Thus, the restoration of Israel is the topic of chapters 40-48 and also the subject of the “new thing” God promised to do in Isaiah 48:6-7.

This same “new thing” is promised in two other places: Isaiah 42:8-9 and 43:18-19. So, Isaiah 48:6-7 is a specific promise God made to the nation of Israel — not a green light for every new revelation given by a teacher. Yet, a “green light” is exactly how this passage was treated by Rev. V. Gene Robinson when he was elected as the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop. In an interview with Beliefnet, Robinson said that the election results showed that “God is doing a new thing in the world.” Robinson’s use of this passage contradicts other teachings in Scripture that say homosexuality is a sin. In the same way, many modern “apostles” and “prophets” are giving teachings that don’t mesh with Scripture, like Davis’ teaching that we must learn new laws of physics in order to establish God’s kingdom on earth. God makes it clear that we must test all new revelations by seeing if they line up with Scripture. That’s what the first Christians did when they were presented with new teachings from the original apostles — they examined the Scriptures daily to see if they matched up (Acts 17:11).

But can God ever do something new — assuming that it lines up with the revelation He’s already given? He certainly can — He’s God! He can do whatever He wants to do. This is the very reason He promised to do a “new thing” for Israel in the first place. He wanted to show them that only He — and not their worthless idols — was capable of fulfilling prophecy (see Isaiah 48:5 and 7-8). Yes, God can do a “new thing.” But that doesn’t mean He’s the source of every new teaching. So, the next time you hear an “apostle” or “prophet” say “God is doing a new thing,” ask yourself: “Is He really?” Then check it out with Scripture.


The Love of Luxury

February 4, 2010

Following on from S&P’s thoughts on ministers getting swept of track in the area of exaggeration, I wondered whether this example of corruption by luxury is another example of how leaders and even entire congregations can get swept off track.

In the Sydney Morning Herald today, this article regarding exposure to luxury appeared. Basically, students who were exposed to luxury objects were more likely to make decisions that were self-interested when visualising themselves in a CEO situation, than students who were exposed to non-luxury goods. The goods were items such as shoes and watches.

The students who viewed luxury goods were significantly more likely than the second group to endorse production of a new car that might pollute the environment, launch a new software with bugs, or market a video game that might induce violence, according to the study.

“Results … suggest that when primed with luxury, people endorsed self-interested decisions that could potentially harm others,” the researchers said in the study.

“Luxury-primed individuals tend to make decisions that are self-interested and arguably unethical.”

From ‘Exposure to luxury can alter decision making: study’, SMH, February 3, 2010 (Reuters)

So what does the promotion of lifestyle enhancing luxuries as a sign of God’s blessing, or as things to be aspired to, do to our churches? Are churches who use images of these things in their marketing and advertising – flashy cars, gorgeous people, attractive or trendy fashion items, leaders’ conferences in exotic locations – are they corrupting the flock? Does self-interest become more of a feature of those cultures, than say in a church that eschews these things? Are decisions made poorer quality when it comes to their effects on people, though they might satisfy the goal of the organisation in the short term? On the other hand, does the eschewing of these things make a better church? Where is the balance to be found?

Personally, I tend to think that obsessing too much about material things in either direction is a trap (which I’ve no doubt been guilty of myself). Still, is this another trap for pastors in prosperity driven churches? Do they change from their initial motives to serve, to becoming increasingly self-interested, and not necessarly abusive, but more disinterested in the real lives of those around them, such as congregation or church staff, when there is no personal gain to be had?

Is exposure to luxury a trap for all of us in the materialistic world we live in?

*******************
RavingPente


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