Training Creative Goat Herders - C3 Conference 2017

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It's that time of year for C3 (Creative Church Conference), or maybe better described as "Training for Creative Goat Herders". Their promotional videos gives us a sense of the unsavory flavor they're about to release. Note the Word of Faith declaring and decreeing (really just shouting) by Steven Furtick:

Some quotes from the video.

"Church should be the most creative entity in the universe."

"Hearing from God, allowing God to use your uniqueness in your context, to communicate His glorious Gospel."

What does the emphasis on creativity and uniqueness confess?

Relying on "creativity" and "uniqueness" (buzzwords for stagecraft) is an outright confession that the word and sacraments that God gave his church are not enough. No one will come right out and admit the obvious belief system that's being demonstrated here:

"If you want to attract a big crowd, you've gotta put on a big show."

Jesus instructed Peter to feed his sheep in John 21:17. Matthew 25:32-33 tells us Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats.

These Christian leaders are being taught how to entertain goats, not feed the sheep.

Power of Potential to Elevate Furtick's Ego?

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In a recent sermon on "The Power of Potential" at Elevation Church, Steven Furtick is seen repeatedly begging his congregation for elevation of his ego, while he also self-brags on his preaching ability.

He directed the person running the Snap Chat app to make sure  he was recording the sermon because he was "preaching pretty good". Another time Furtick lifts his head to God, and appears to be petitioning God for a crowd reaction. Furtick then begs his church to help him preach because he feels like he is at a funeral.

You will also observe Furtick asking for his audience to at least grunt in reaction to his sermon, as he makes weird gestures with his body. Furtick  continues to self-brag by reminding Elevation that he has his own church, and can pretty much say what he wants to say.

 

Later his ego appears to be deflating as he repeats to himself, "I'm helping somebody." His church had some mercy and gave some positive reinforcement.  
Then once again his ego was deflating, and he had to self sooth and repeat to himself, "I wish this was the rowdy crowd." That achieved the desired effect and his church once again elevated his ego.

In a final volley of self-aggrandizing rants that provoked his audience to a fever pitch, he brags and says, "This is the kind of preaching that will mess you up." 

Elevation Church appears to be about the elevation of Steven Furtick's ego. He brags about his preaching, begs for praise, while going back and forth on his stage. On a closing thought, speaking of the stage, take a look at the picture below and see who all four spotlights are pointing toward.

Is Jesus in the spotlight? Who is he pointing praise and attention towards repeatedly in his message? The answer is sadly obvious. 

This is a sin that can be forgiven because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Pray that God would grant any church caught up in these antics full repentance. If you're in a position of leadership and are caught up in this nonsense, the forgiveness is for you too. Ask God to grant you repentance.

The Steven Furtick Cornucopia of False Teaching, Egomania and Hairgel

Pastoral Shouting Match with Ed Young and Steven Furtick!!!

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  • HYPE-O-RAMA OF PASTORAL (& OVERLY DRAMATIC) SHOUTING! BECAUSE SHOUTING PROVES THAT SOMETHING IS TRUE!! Just like using ALL CAPS!!!!
  • OBLIGATORY FOOTAGE OF EMOTIONAL WORSHIPPERS WITH HANDS RAISED! (Wide aperture on lens for that shallow depth of field look; this says "spiritual, but not religious" like nothing else)
  • CHEERING A LOT... AND THEN CHEERING SOME MORE!! WHY IS THERE SO MUCH CHEERING?? JUST KEEP CHEERING!!!!
  • OBLIGATORY FOOTAGE OF ATHLETE GETTING READY TO WIN!! WOW-HE'S READY TO KICK SOME BUTT!!! JUST LIKE OUR CHURCH!!!!!
  • NO LOSERS ALLOWED; THIS IS WHERE SUPER-CHRISTIANS LEARN HOW TO WIN!!
  • OBLIGATORY FOOTAGE OF DRUMMERS DRUMMING AS PEOPLE DANCE AROUND IN SLOW MOTION!! (Wide aperture on the lens again; nice touch)
  • COOL YOUNG ROCKSTAR WORSHIP LEADERS!!
  • ONCE YOU BECOME A DIAMOND IN AMWAY YOU CAN QUIT YOUR DAY JOB!! (Oh wait, that's a different, but very similar, conference...) 
  • SOMETHING ABOUT GOD... SOMEWHERE... OH YEAH, GOD WANTS YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM DESTINY THINGY!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!! (Continue cheering until further notice...)

Watch this conference promo video and ask yourself: Does this look like an actual Christian conference, or a motivational conference full of shouting, exaggerating and people being told how great they are? Ask yourself: Is this video trying to accurately describe a conference, or is it emotionally manipulating me into wanting to get pumped up and join all the cool people shown here? 

 

Perhaps this is the motivational speaker that that Ed Young should hire for next year's conference...

A related article:

When Did the Church Turn Into Amway?

Fighting for the Faith episodes that show how Ed Young twists God's Word:

Fighting for the Faith Ed Young

Fighting for the Faith episodes that show how Steven Furtick twists God's Word:

Fighting for the Faith Steven Furtick

For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Ed Young or Steven Furtick (or any other church leader) here's something just for you: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

If you're having a knee-jerk reaction to try and defend this video, check out: Confirmation Bias: Why You Are Protecting Your False Beliefs.

Finally, here's an article that will help you be more discerning and a lot less gullible: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

C. Peter Wagner Alters the "7 Mountain Mandate"-An Act of Desperation

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If there's any doubt that C. Peter Wagner has very poor reasoning skills, this article (from Charisma) should clear it up:

C. Peter Wagner: I Like Donald Trump

In Wagner's NAR world of Seven Mountains Mandates (and Pixie Dust), it doesn't matter if someone is immoral and selfish-as long as they're successful. After making excuses for Trump's lack of moral integrity, he says this:

"Let me point out that influence is related to spirituality in the Religion Mountain, but this is not true in any of the other six mountains that are the molders of culture. The chief producer of influence in the six non-Religion mountains is not spirituality but success. The most successful people are the most influential."

So, in the original Seven Mountain Mandate, Christians were supposed to take over the "seven mountains" of Religion, Business, Arts, Media, Education, Family and Government. This idea is NOT from the Bible-it's something made up in the minds of Bill Bright and Loren Cunningham (and some other guys who probably want to take credit for it, too). This is, very generally speaking, another version of Dominionism; it's the idea that Christians are supposed to somehow Take Over The World!

But after years and years of teaching and proclaiming this man-made idea, and endless books, seminars and conferences, nothing has happened like they said it would. Nothing. Well, except that lots of books, seminars and conferences made a lot of money for all of the seven mountain mandate experts.

So now Wagner, the Grand Pooh-Bah of the New Apostolic Reformation, has decided to change the rules. According to his latest pro-Trump article, in order for the Seven Mountain Mandate to (finally) work, we need successful (non-Christian) people to take over the non-Religious mountains. Seriously. He really said this. Think about how bad an idea this is: Wagner wants successful non-Christians taking over the "mountains" of Education, Family and Government... oh wait, that's already happened. How's it working, Peter? This is your plan to "make America great again??" We've already got very influential people running the whole world!  

In Wagner's new and better version of the Seven Mountain Mandate, God does not require the assistance of Christians in order to take over the earth; He just needs successful people. God needs the help of greedy, rich and powerful people to accomplish His will. In the ever shrinking world of "religion" God will still utilize Christians (phew-at least we can still do something!), but for the rest of culture, anyone with a big ego and bank account is on the Lord's side. What, exactly, does successful mean? Wagner makes it very clear:

"In the Business Mountain and the Media Mountain Trump has accumulated $8-10 billion. He knows how to influence. I want to vote for a commander-in-chief, not a bishop-in-chief."

Take this ideology to it's logical conclusion, and Jesus Christ must be the most unsuccessful person of all time, followed by the Apostles and Prophets. Apparently, making billions of dollars is the measure of a man's influence. Thank you C. Peter Wagner, for proving once and for all that you're a foolish little man who values the things of this earth more than the things of God.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
— Matthew 6:24
one of c. peter wagner's worthless books promoting dominionism

one of c. peter wagner's worthless books promoting dominionism

Read more about Wagner and The New Apostolic Reformation.

Wagner does NOT want anyone to know about The Charismatic Day of Infamy

Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know!

Here's a related article: Finally Found! The Roots of the Seven Mountain Mandate.

 

By the way, if a Christian wants to vote for Trump regardless of his religious beliefs because they think his ideas are best, or because they think he's not part of the corrupt establishment, etc., that's one thing. It's another thing all together to say that God has chosen Trump to do some great and mighty thing (to save America, usher in the return of Christ, etc.) and we should not only ignore his moral shortcomings, but we should applaud him as a new kind of savior. We already have a Savior, and He said "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." (John 18:36)

Here's a short article called Trump's Personal Jesus.