Contemporary Christian Music Pioneer Don Francisco departs from biblical inerrancy

Two-time Dove Award winner Don 30 Francisco is a singer/songwriter best for songs like He’s Alive, Adam, Adam Where are You" and I’ll Never Let Go of Your Hand. Surprisingly, Francisco is now scolding Christians who believe that the Bible is without error. In fact if you believe in the infallibility of Scripture, you are "dead," and need to stop drinking the Kool-Aid, Don says. He posted this message on his Facebook page:

I love the Scriptures. Anyone who's heard my songs knows that, and I shouldn't even have to say it. God speaks to me through them constantly. The Bible is the most wonderful book in the world. Those who have given their lives to preserve it and translate it didn't die in vain, for without them we wouldn't know that God came to Earth and lived as one of us, died on the Cross to show us His love and forgiveness, and rose from the dead to take away all our fears. And those are just the main points....My problems begin with those who would try to make this book into a god. There is only one Foundation, Jesus Christ, and anyone who attempts to build on another one will be using an unstable and deadly cornerstone. I understand those of you who have 'drunk the Kool-Aid' (believed in the inerrancy/infallibility thing because you've been taught to believe it-- I used to be one of you), but it's time to arise from among the dead and believe the Gospel. For those of you who intentionally use this doctrine to control others, may God have mercy on your soul! May you soon travel the Damascus Road as Paul did. source

I think the mercy needed here should be from Don and his adoring fans agreeing with him, rather than demanded from those who cling to the truth of God's breathed-out Word.  Breaking news: the Bible judges us, not vice versa.

What - or whom - could possibly have influenced him in this dreadful direction?

Sadly, it appears that Rob Bell has influenced Don and Wendy, even in denying the Doctrine of Hell:

Sounds a lot like what Brian McLaren has said.  Final question: Do women of God speak like this?  Are we not to judge the fruits of those who call themselves "Christian?"  Please continue to pray for this couple that they and their many followers would turn to the truth and away from worldliness and unholy language:

Hat Tip: Jose Estrada

Praying to "Papa Francesco?"

(Update September 23) Parades, tears of joy, mobs trying to touch his robe. Can you believe what we are watching on television as the Pope visits the U.S.? When reporters call this a "holy day" for the United States, and gush over the "Holy Father," it's a holy slap in the face to our only real Holy Father. Just a few months ago, protestant Christian leaders were praising and praying TO the Pope. I dug this out of the trash from the old site and am so thankful that I've archived all my posts!

An astounding ecumenical prayer alert shared by Christian singer Don Moen suggests that people of all faiths are praying to Papa Francesco, or Pope Francis, the "Holy Father."  The artist was invited, along with Andrea Bocelli And Darlene Zschech to sing in Rome at the Vatican in a "Voices In Prayer" event in St. Peter's Square, to pray for persecuted Christians.

"This ecumenical event brings Protestants, Catholics, and Jews together as we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being martyred and persecuted all over the world today. Although there are many denominational differences throughout the church worldwide, I have seen firsthand how coming together in worship and prayer promotes unity." He also shared this on his Facebook Page from Channel 2000, a pro-Vatican television channel:

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Posted by DON MOEN (Praise & Worship Leader) on Friday, July 3, 2015

This ahead of another blending of faiths, as Rick Warren prepares to meet with the Pope in Philadelphia this September and attend a mass. (story here)

Hat tip: Chirani M.

Driscoll Publicly Repents…For Criticizing Osteen

“At the end of the day we’re all on the same side,” says Hillsong celeb Brian Houston of Mark Driscoll’s sudden attack of conscience.  Our friends at Pulpit & Pen have audio of Driscoll’s statement. Here is a snippet, but do go to the site and listen for yourself:

Speaking at the Hillsong conference, Mark Driscoll repented for a number of things. Praise God. Hallelujah.

Milking the Best-Seller’s List by Improperly Using Church FundsAsking staff about their wive’s favorite sexual positionWell more than a dozen counts of plagiarism Porno-graphic discerno-visionThrowing people under the Mars Hill bus

No. Driscoll didn’t repent for any of that stuff. Driscoll repented for having criticized Joel Osteen.

Read more

The Thud of Silence

"You know, our message is about lifting people up, helping them fulfill their destiny, helping them to forgive in a tough time, how to make it through this life when life tries to push you down."

- Joel Osteen on why he avoids controversial issues, like sin, wrath, repentance...

No, we're not calling J-O a Christian leader, but many megachurch pastors are either silent or echoing these sentiments.

Christian Post reports: Joel Osteen on Why He Avoids Political, Social Issues: 'It's Not What I'm Called to Do;' Says Message Is 'Lifting People Up'

Joel Osteen, the popular 52-year-old leader of America's largest protestant church, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, bluntly revealed that the reason why he avoids speaking out on hot button social and political issues, such as same-sex marriage, is because he believes that's not what he's called to do as a pastor.

In a recent interview on WBUR's "Here & Now" radio program Osteen, who was asked if he felt these hot button social and political issues are important, said: "I think they are important but I think everybody has their own calling."

He further explained that "It's not what I'm called to do."

"I have friends who are very political. They're pastors and that's what their thing is. But I think sometimes, that the church world, we can take one issue and make it really, really big and it can turn people off where there are many bigger issues. That's why I don't like to be defined by one thing," said Osteen last Monday.

"You know, our message is about lifting people up, helping them fulfill their destiny, helping them to forgive in a tough time, how to make it through this life when life tries to push you down," he added.

Osteen emphasized that the biggest issues facing people he ministers to are concentrated in the marital, relationship and health arenas. One of the reasons that his church continues to grow while others lose members, he said, is because he focuses on the everyday issues affecting people rather than focusing on the controversial ones.

In a 2013 interview Osteen gave a similar response to Katie Couric on why he focuses on "everyday life issues" instead of controversial ones.

"I want them to know that God's good, that they can move forward, that they can break an addiction, that they can become who God's created them to be," he said.

When asked about the "prosperity gospel" that he preaches, Osteen said he didn't like the term. "What it connotates is that you just talk about money," he said. "I don't do that, I don't do that on purpose because so many people are skeptical of TV preachers to begin with."

He added: "Prosperity is having good relationships, having peace in your mind, being able to sleep at night. But I do believe God wants you to be blessed. He wants you to excel in your career. He wants you to go further than your parents. There's a tradition that says you're supposed to take a vow of poverty if you're going to be a Christian, but I don't believe that."

More holy laughter coming to Northeast Wisconsin

In my home town in a little church in Neenah, Wis., a false prophet is ensnaring many.  It's a church in which past speakers have includedTodd Bentley, Patricia King, Joshua Mills and many others. I take no pleasure in sharing this information, but do so with a heart of love and alarm for those who will be exposed to a dangerous teaching.

More on that in a moment. First, you're probably asking, what makes these teachings and teachers so dangerous?  They talk about Jesus, don't they?  The answer is yes, they sure do. But if you compare their teachings to the Scriptures (which must be your sufficient authority), you'll find that God's Word and their teachings are many times opposite, in spite of verses and the name of Jesus being sprinkled into their presentations.

As well-intentioned as they are, these folks are part of a huge and growing conservative dominionist movement called the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), that you ought to learn about. I've put together a research White Paper on Dominionism (NAR) so that you can study if for yourself.

Back to the local event: July 17-19 a visiting "prophet," self-described apostle Doug Hogan, will be in the Fox Cities on his whirlwind tour of "holy laughter," being slain in the spirit and amazing predictions for congregants. Hogan is known for sharing his tales of raising a couple of hundred people from the dead (actual death - not spiritual), through his Freedom Ministries, with a vision of "winning Mexico and the world for Jesus."

What will you experience if you go? Here is the testimony of a man named Brian who attended one of David Hogan's performances:

There were only a few minutes devoted to reading and teaching from the Scriptures, that is, if you count the time Hogan was distracted from his preaching by episodes of uncontrollable laughter (called "holy" laughter by many Charismatics). He didn't seem to have any problem with the interruptions, though, nor did some in the congregation who found it amusing. At first it surprised me that there were people who didn't find Hogan's bizarre behavior offensive. I then remembered that there exists "Christians" who don't place the premium on God's Word that they should. It was troubling to know that I was sitting among some of them. Hogan's lack of respect in reading from the Scriptures was tolerated because he wasn't invited to the church to teach from God's Word. The church marketed him as a healer, not a teacher. He was invited to put on a show. A show that was said to be inspired by the "Spirit."Occasionally those people who came in contact with him would fall backwards into the arms of "catchers" who would then help these "slain" onto the floor where some remained for a long time (much to the excitement of some of the younger onlookers).

Another woman named Gail writes of her experience with Hogan:

When David was asked "who should the checks be made out too", he said "leave it blank" but was corrected by one of the church officials. I found that strange. He did very little teaching, read portions of about 3-4 scriptures and said he had prepared a teaching but wouldn't be giving it. Said he was feeling very aggressive. He started out the meeting saying he didn't like or trust any of us and didn't care what we thought about him. He introduced his wife but would not give her first name because he didn't trust us. Weird. He spent most of the time making us feel bad and boasting of the miracles at his hands and the places he would be teaching, that of course seemed more important than him being with us.

What do David and Gail get for their testimonies?  Accusations and attacks from deceived Christians, mostly. And if you try to stand up for biblical truth against false teachers, you will too. Says Brian:

Over the years many people have slandered me with the accusation that I do not believe in the power of God. Often they will try to demean me with words like, "How many people have you raised from the dead?" Were it God's will for me to raise the dead back to life then that is what I would be doing. Instead I am led to help others heal from the damage false teachers like Hogan leave in their wake.

We are called to warn and provide resources. It's up to you to help spread the word in order to snatch Christians away from the deceptive flames of this.

Leadership Network wants evangelicals to spend a year learning from Peter Drucker

Is your church following the directives of Leadership Network? If you don't know, you might want to find out.  The latest push from this global organization is a book, A Year With Peter Drucker. Before your elders pick up a copy, you might want to ask them what they know about the influence of Peter Drucker.

If that name is unfamiliar to you, Drucker is known as the father of the seeker-friendly megachurch business model that treats Christians as customers.  Drucker's "Big Three" proteges are Rick Warren of Saddleback, Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Association, and Bob Buford of Leadership Network.

With that bit of background, take some time to read up on how Leadership Network - in its own words from its own website - continues to push forth Drucker's business model to evangelical leaders:

How Evangelical Leaders Can Spend a Year Learning from Peter Drucker

By Warren Bird, Leadership Network

If you’ve ever used the words decentralization, knowledge worker, management by objectives, or privatization, you’ve been influenced by Peter Drucker, who coined all of them – and more. In the church world, if your ministry has been impacted by Rick Warren and Saddleback Church, Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel, or Bill Hybels and Willow Creek Church, then you’ve also been influenced by Drucker, who developed a significant mentoring relationship with each of these leaders and organizations.

Drucker (1909-2005), who described himself as a “social ecologist,” was also a personal mentor for more than 25 years to Leadership Network co-founder Bob Buford, whose most recent book, Drucker & Me, highlights Drucker’s relationship to Leadership Network and to various evangelical church leaders. Events sponsored by Leadership Network often featured Drucker as a speaker, offering opportunities to meet with Drucker in small groups over shared meals.

Now for those who want to dig deeper into Drucker’s writing themselves, a new book, A Year with Peter Drucker: 52 Weeks of Coaching for Leadership Effectiveness, makes Drucker’s ideas accessible in bite-size excerpts. The author is longtime Drucker associate Joseph A. Maciariello, who Bob Buford describes “the authority on Peter Drucker” – quite an accolade given Drucker’s four million word output spanning 39 books, dozens of scholarly articles and hundreds of newspaper essays.

Evangelical readers will find particular interest in Maciariello’s choice of topics in his week-by-week clustering.  An entire section is titled “Developing Oneself from Success to Significance.” (Week 38 to Week 43). Other sections touch on everything from leadership succession to leadership goals. In fact, Leadership Network supplied so many transcripts and other materials to the author that his opening acknowledgment reads: “I first want to thank Bob Buford….”

The book has received positive reviews, such as the The Wall Street Journal. Heady but consistently insightful, it offers a top-flight one-book overview of the core coaching that Drucker gave to many evangelical leaders.

What happens when you replace "Movie Title" with the breathed-out Word of God...

Dumb question:  Why does the visible church think that it needs Hollywood movies to draw people to Jesus Christ? Why do so-called anointed pastors feel they need to use sermons designed by Christian mystics who dramatize a very different Jesus and a different gospel?

The newest Easter fad is A.D., the Roma Downey/Mark Burnett-produced film that some powerful pastoral pontificators want you to immerse yourself in on Resurrection Sunday. But don't stop at just Easter; make sure your small groups and your church bulletins are aligned under the mantle mandate.

They offer the Church 5 reasons to jump on their bandwagon. May I humbly suggest that you read these - and just for fun, substitute in your mind the word, "Scripture."

If you're thinking about ways to use the A.D. series in your church, here are five things you can do today to get your congregation ready for this special event.

1.  Watch the A.D. series intoduction video with Executive Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. Show the A.D. Trailer at your church, share it on your church website and social media pages.

2. Order the A.D. Digital Church Kit and get access to sermons and streaming videos.

3. Get free A.D. Digital Downloads including bulletin insert, printable invitation, and web/social media graphics.

4. Launch A.D. small groups and open those groups to anyone interested in learning more during the 12 week series.

5. Order A.D. customizable resources like indoor and outdoor banners, bulletin shells, postcards, and door hangers and use them to increase participation during your series and small groups.

We're excited to see how God will use this TV series to open hearts and introduce people to the story of Jesus. Get your church ready to take this message to their neighbors and friends!

Sigh. 

Why we're seeing "Mantle Madness"

Why are so many preachers now talking about mantles? We hear them figuratively "bestowing a mantle on the next generation," like Hillsong's Christine Cain did at Passion 2015, or Saddleback's Kenny Luck talking about how we have a mantle of leadership. or we see preachers like Chuck Pierce literally give a mantle in the form of a sparkly cloak to Mormon Glenn Beck and his wife during a service in March.  Where do we find this bestowing in Scripture? Prophets often wore cloaks called mantles, but there is one place where it is used as a calling for a specific purpose:  in 2 Kings in Chapter 2 we see  Elisha receiving a "mantle" (a cloak) in a very unique situation from the prophet Elijah, and this act has not been duplicated.   Well, until now. Those preachers calling themselves apostles have resurrected this practice as some sort of religious calling from what they say is the Holy Spirit Himself, and it usually involves works.

Got Questions puts it this way:

Although there are variations of the meaning of mantle in the Bible, the main idea is that of a covering such as a cloak or other article of clothing. The New American Standard Bible uses the word mantle in Joshua 7:21 and Hebrews 1:12. In the former passage, the ESV translates the word as “cloak” and, in the latter, “robe.” In biblical times, a mantle was typically a large, loosely fitting garment made of animal skin, probably sheepskin. Several people are mentioned as wearing a mantle, including Job (Job 1:20) and Ezra (Ezra 9:5).

Prophets were known for wearing mantles as a sign of their calling from God (1 Kings 19:13). The prophet Samuel wore a mantle (1 Samuel 15:27). The prophet Elijah “threw his cloak around [Elisha]” as a symbol of Elijah’s ministry being passed on to Elisha. The prophet’s mantle was an indication of his authority and responsibility as God’s chosen spokesman (2 Kings 2:8). Elisha was not confused as to what Elijah was doing; the putting on of his mantle made his election clear.

Some theologians see the mantle as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. For example, in 2 Kings 2:14 Elisha takes the mantle that had “fallen” from Elijah, similar to how Jesus received the Spirit “descending” on Him at His baptism (Matthew 3:16). The audible voice of God in Matthew 3:17 confirms Jesus as God’s chosen servant (cf. Isaiah 42:1). We see a similar “falling” of the Spirit in Acts 8:15–16 and Acts 10:44. It’s only after Elisha takes the fallen mantle that he performs miraculous works (2 Kings 2:14, 21, 24). The Holy Spirit is the Person who empowers God’s people to do God’s work (Micah 3:8; Matthew 12:28; Ephesians 3:16).

The mantle served the practical purpose of keeping people warm and protecting them from the elements. It also served a symbolic purpose, in the case of the prophets, showing they were wrapped in God’s authority. Like all imagery in the Old Testament, the mantle presents a visible representation of a New Testament principle. The mantle can be seen as a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit whom God so graciously gives to all Christians, the people of His choosing (1 Thessalonians 1:5–6; 1 Peter 2:9).

LifeWay pulls Heaven visitation books

LifeWay Christian Resources has stopped selling all "experiential testimonies about heaven" following consideration of a 2014 Southern Baptist Convention resolution on "the sufficiency of Scripture regarding the afterlife."

LifeWay told Baptist Press about its decision to halt sales of heaven visitation resources today (March 24) in response to an inquiry about the book "90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper, which is being made into a movie slated for release this fall. The book recounts Piper's supposed experience of heaven following a severe auto accident and has sold 6.5 million copies in 46 languages.

"Last summer, as we began developing LifeWay's new structure and direction -- what we've now identified as One LifeWay -- the role of heaven visitation resources was included in our considerations. We decided these experiential testimonies about heaven would not be a part of our new direction, so we stopped re-ordering them for our stores last summer," LifeWay spokesman Marty King told Baptist Press in written comments.

"Now that we've begun implementing the new direction, the remaining heaven visitation items have been removed from our stores and website and will not be replenished. We have more work to do aligning the LifeWay Retail Division with LifeWay's vision and core values so we covet your prayers as we continue to provide trustworthy Biblical Solutions for Life," King said.

Though LifeWay "was not mentioned in the SBC resolution affirming the sufficiency of biblical revelation and affirming the truth about heaven and hell," King told BP in an interview, "the resolution was approved overwhelmingly and was considered during our process."

The resolution, adopted by messengers to the SBC annual meeting in June, warned Christians not to allow "the numerous books and movies purporting to explain or describe the afterlife experience" to "become their source and basis for an understanding of the afterlife."

The resolution did not list specific book or movie titles, but it seemed to describe works like "90 Minutes in Heaven," "The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven" by Kevin and Alex Malarkey and "Heaven Is for Real" by Todd Burpo along with its companion movie released last year by Sony Pictures.

The resolution affirmed "the sufficiency of biblical revelation over subjective experiential explanations to guide one's understanding of the truth about heaven and hell."

In January, LifeWay announced it would stop selling "The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven" after coauthor Alex Malarkey admitted that he lied about having a vision of heaven as a 6-year-old. See related BP story. At the time, King said LifeWay was "committed to becoming even more proactive in the next few months in evaluating the resources we carry."

Giving Films announced the completion of filming for "90 Minutes in Heaven" March 12. The movie stars Hayden Christensen of "Star Wars" and Kate Bosworth of "Superman Returns." The film also features veteran actor and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson as well as singers Michael W. Smith and Dwight Yoakam, according to a news release from Giving Films.

"I'm an ordinary man with an extraordinary story," Piper said according to the news release. "I want people to see hope in their challenges, to see that pain can come with purpose."

Source: Baptist Press

College Ministry Kicked off Campus - for Requiring Leaders to Be Christian

Via Garrett Haley over at ChristianNewsnet:

TURLOCK, Calif. – A Christian campus organization has lost recognition from its university and been accused of “religious discrimination” for not allowing non-Christians to hold leadership positions in the group.

Chi Alpha is a national student ministry organization with a presence in over 300 college campuses across the United States. According to the group’s website, Chi Alpha exists to “reconcile students to Christ, equipping them through Spirit-filled communities of prayer, worship, fellowship, discipleship and mission to transform the university, the marketplace and the world.”

On September 11, 2014, Chi Alpha’s chapter at California State University-Stanislaus was informed by the university that the group would no longer be recognized as a campus organization. The school accused the organization of religious discrimination and abruptly severed ties with the Christian group.

In a letter mailed last week to Cal State Stanislaus, Chi Alpha’s National Director, E. Scott Martin, explained that the Christian group was effectively “exiled from campus.”

“Within twenty-four hours, university personnel locked Chi Alpha students out of their reserved meeting space and forced them to hold their meetings off campus—in effect our Chi Alpha chapter was exiled from campus,” Martin wrote. “The harm from these incidents is ongoing, as it continues to affect Chi Alpha’s student members to this day.”

Chi Alpha was allegedly kicked off the Cal State Stanislaus campus because, although any student can become a member of the group, its leaders must affirm the organization’s Christian beliefs. University officials claim that this requirement violates the school’s non-discrimination policy.

“No campus shall recognize any fraternity, sorority, living group, honor society, or other student organization that discriminates on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability,” states the university’s official policy.

Time Magazine: Inside the Evangelical Fight Over Gay Marriage

The "Reformation Project," an LGBTQ advocacy group dedicated to making all churches gay affirming and accepting, is getting a huge spread in Time magazine this month. The project's founder, Matthew Vines, is trumpeting the article as proof that his work is making inroads into the hearts and minds of Christians who once held firm to what the bible has to say about homosexuality, and who now hold firmer to what the popular culture has to say.   An excerpt from the magazine highlights the impact Vines has had on the visible church:

The generational shift is easy to spot elsewhere. Consider the Reformation Project, a Wichita, Kans.–based effort by 24-year-old gay evangelical activist Matthew Vines to raise up LGBT-affirming voices in every evangelical church in the country. To reach that goal, he is training reformers in batches of 40 to 50 at regional leadership workshops who can go back to their home churches and serve as advocates for LGBT inclusion. The Reformation Project has staffers in three states, representatives in 25 more and plans for a presence in all 50 states by 2018.

At the group’s conference in Washington, D.C., in early November, some 300 people came from some of the country’s largest megachurches... “The LGBT issue has been one of the most obvious forces behind the increasing loss of regard for Christianity in American culture at large,” Vines says. “It’s like slavery and anti-Semitism, where the tradition got it totally wrong. It’s one of the church’s profound moral failures.”

If you are a paid subscriber, Time will let you read the entire article. Even better, head tosite for an in-depth analysis.

Pentatonix and the elephant in the sanctuary

One of the most talented new groups singing carols is Pentatonix, a five-member band who has more talent than most of us have ever heard before. I see my friends posting their music videos, and am struck with wonder at how perfectly harmonized these singers are together. NOTE: The reason I wrote about this is not to point fingers at the world, but to ask questions of the visible Church. A big shift is happening, and many are going along with the cultural tsunami rather than make waves being set apart.

Read the article here

WND Promotes Soaking Prayer Tutorial

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It's always a little shocking to see a ministry that warns people about dangerous trends in the church turn around and promote one. WND today ran an article by Sid Roth (from television's "It's Supernatural"), about the Contemplative Prayer practice known as the Soaking Prayer. The title of the article is, The lost art of "soaking" in God's presence. Billed as an "exclusive," Roth interviews Julie True, "in a rare, interactive session." In other words, we're not only learning that there is such a thing as the Soaking Prayer, but we're being taught how to do it, in order to “be still and know that He is God.” (Psalm 46:10 is a verse often taken out of context by mystical meditation proponents).

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Here is the video: https://youtu.be/6kMX-5nWLfs

Julie True hosts an online healing room where she plays mood music to get you into a trance state in order to hear God's voice.

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The “Soaking Prayer” isn’t found in the Bible, but it was designed to empty your mind and experience the Holy Spirit. It was developed by the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, now known as Catch the Fire Toronto. This group also gave rise to the “Toronto Blessing” and many aberrant practices such as holy laughter, making animal sounds, and being drunk or paralyzed in the Spirit.

CBN frequently promotes this style of experiential contemplative prayer, as does writer Gary Oates, who recently opined in an article titled, “Soaking: The Key to Intimacy with God”, that "Bible reading and prayer are not enough."

Here is an excerpt:

I tell the Lord: “God, I want more of You, more of Your Presence, more of Your fullness in my life. Fill me with more of You.” I may repeat this statement many times as I wait on the Lord and focus on Him.

Then, I get quiet and that’s when I begin to hear His voice. Many times, I begin to have visions and supernatural experiences.

The key here is learning to wait in solitude. I cannot overemphasize the importance of waiting on the Lord until I experience His manifest Presence daily. I don’t come out of that private room until I have experienced His Presence.

During our soaking times, we position ourselves to receive impressions, nudges, quiet whispers, pictures, angelic visitations, and supernatural revelations. Here is a partial list of what to expect:

DreamsVisionsTrancesOut of body experiencesAngelic visitationsBeing transported in the Spirit

Experiencing the true intimate Presence of the living God will radically change your life. People describe His manifest Presence in different ways. To some, it is heat, electricity, or shaking. To others, it is lightness, peace, or weeping.

Experiencing the manifest Presence is not the goal but the gateway to the supernatural realm. It’s the beginning. We go into the spirit realm where we can see Him, hear His voice, walk with Him, and be empowered by Him.

While God can and does do the supernatural, the list of expectations in the above statement is NOT something a Christian should be partaking in. In fact, the Bible warns us to safeguard our souls against this sort of sorcery. And if you notice the premise of the Bible not being enough, Gary Oates, Sid Roth and "soakers" might to well to remember that Scripture is sufficient. 2 Tim. 3:16

Soaking prayer, listening prayer, theophostics, or any other prayer that seeks the presence of God through mystical exercises is simply not biblical. In this it is similar to ”contemplative prayer” and contemplative spirituality, which are equally unbiblical. Biblical prayer is talking to God with His will in mind (1 John 5:14). A biblically praying believer already understands that God's presence is always with him (Psalm 139:7; Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; 2 Timothy 1:14).

Church of Tares and the real roots of the Emergent movement [VIDEO]

If you've ever wondered what the "big deal" is about the fruit of the Purpose Driven Church created by Peter Drucker and championed by Rick Warren, Bob Buford and Bill Hybels, you'll want to check out two videos we have on our website, and perhaps even get the free DVDs offered by the filmmaker for your church. You may have seen these videos by now, and if you haven't they are highly recommended:

Church of Tares: Purpose Driven, Seeker-Sensitive, Church Growth & New World Order and The Real Roots of the Emergent Church are two of the many free movies Eliott Nesch has produced, and healso has a passion for reaching the lost through open-air street preaching and prison ministry.

Here is the Real Roots video:

"Can the Church borrow the marketing tools of the world and apply them to the Church? What is the history of the Church Growth movement and its false premises? Who is involved in the new evangelicalism and second reformation? Why are these movements embracing contemplative mysticism? How does this movement play into the New World Order?" These questions and more are answered in Church of Tares: Purpose Driven, Seeker-Sensitive, Church Growth & New World Order.

Here is how Elliott describes this video project:

Church of Tares chronicles the man-centered pragmatism of these evangelical Christian movements in comparison to the Bible's instruction for building the Church of Jesus Christ. As a sequel to The Real Roots of the Emergent Church, Church of Tares documents the connections between the liberal Emergent Church movement and the Church Growth movement. Both movements' leadership were discipled by business management guru Peter Drucker, who was attracted to the megachurch movement as a social phenomenon that could bring about his "new society" and New World Order. Megacurch pastors Rick Warren and Bill Hybels as well as Leadership Network founder Bob Buford all acknowledge Drucker (who professed not to be a Christian) as their mentor and have built their organizations upon his secular business management philosophies rather than the foundation of Jesus Christ.

The fruit of these movements is great compromise of the Gospel and the Great Commission. Rick Warren claims to be ushering in a new spiritual awakening and second reformation with his P.E.A.C.E. Plan. But this reform appears to be a social reformation rather than a spiritual one by joining together in ministry with unbelievers to fight global giants. Such compromise has led to the affirming response letter to the Common Word document which declares Muhammad to be a prophet and the Bible and Qur'an to be of the "same Divine origin."

Written, edited, narrated and directed by Elliott Nesch. Original interviews with:

• Paul Smith, leader in the Calvary Chapel movement founded by his brother Chuck Smith, who also wrote the foreword to Paul Smith's book New Evangelicalism: The New World Order.
• Phil Johnson, executive Director of Grace to You, a Christian tape and radio ministry featuring the preaching ministry of John MacArthur.
• Chris Rosebrough, Captain of Pirate Christian Radio and Host of the Fighting for the Faith radio program, holds a degree in Religious Studies and Biblical Languages from Concordia University.
• Joe Schimmel, Senior Pastor of Blessed Hope Chapel in Simi Valley, California, head of Good Fight Ministries and producer of such films as The Submerging Church and They Sold Their Souls for Rock and Roll.
• Gary Gilley, Senior Pastor of Southern View Chapel in Springfield, Illinois, and author of several books including This Little Church Went to the Market: The Church in the Age of Entertainment.
• Bob DeWaay, former Senior Pastor of Twin City Fellowship in Minneapolis, Minnesota, author of Redefining Christianity: Understanding the Purpose Driven Life Movement, The Emergent Church -- Undefining Christianity as well as over 90 articles on important theological issues through Critical Issues Commentary.
• Ray Yungen, speaker, research analyst and author of A Time of Departing and For Many Shall Come in My Name.
• James Sundquist, founder of Rock Salt Publishing and author of Who's Driving the Purpose Driven Church?
• Eric Ludy, bestselling author of dozens of books on Christian thought and living, the President of Ellerslie Mission Society, teaching pastor at the Church at Ellerslie, the lead instructor in the Ellerslie Leadership Training.
• Robert LeBus, Bible researcher, apologist and evangelist.

This film is non-profit and FREE, not to be bought or sold, but you do have permission to make copies and distribute freely. To obtain a DVD, simply contact us for a free copy or make a donation with your request:

www.HolyBibleProphecy.org

Rick Warren creates “The Bible”-Driven sermons, small groups

“Lord, what are we going to do?” asks a disciple.
“Change the world,” Jesus answers, in a slightly British accent.  Um, said no Bible verse ever.

Here is the movie trailer from the History Channel’s new The Bible series set to debut March 3rd – Easter Sunday.

Will The Bible remain true to Scripture, or will its producers, Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel“), and her husband Mark Burnett (creator of reality TV shows “Celebrity Apprentice,” “Shark Tank,” “Survivor” and “The Voice”), change things? We won’t know until we see it, but already The Bible is getting huge accolades and even a smartphone app. Downey plays Jesus’ mother Mary in the series.

And when America’s Pastor, Rick Warren ties his name and his Saddleback church to the project, well, many of you are probably wondering about the wisdom in joining in any church-sponsored small group studies around this movie.

Warren plans to give an exclusive preview and behind-the-scenes look at the production in a90-minute simulcast that will feature an overview of the series with Burnett and Downey, according to Pastors.com, Warren’s website for Christian leaders and pastors.

Warren will incorporate the History Channel TV series during the next five weekend sermons. His Sunday evening services will feature a viewing of the series on big screens. He is encouraging other churches to do the same. Will your church tie into the Saddleback series?