The Heresy Hunter

CRI Response to Bill Alnor Attacks

2010-11-06T07:50:00.004-04:00

Elliot Miller has responded with a lengthy but admirable examination of the attacks made over the last 20 years against the Christian Research Institute and Hank Hanegraaff by Bill Alnor, Jay Howard and many others. Contrary to claims that the response isn't on CRI's website, it can be found here http://www.equip.org/PDF/BTS2010.pdf

Pro-life Articles

2010-01-28T08:32:00.003-05:00

A couple of recent pro-life articles

March for Life Attracts Hundreds of Thousands

CBS to Air Focus on the Family Pro-life Ad During Superbowl

Kenneth Copeland Accused of Humanitarian Aid Fraud

2010-01-21T13:16:00.001-05:00

In the wake of the Haiti earthquake,

Kenneth Copeland has been accused of Humanitarian Aid Fraud

The Deadly Message of Joel Osteen

2010-01-19T17:44:00.000-05:00

The Deadly Message of Joel Osteen

Pat Robertson Blames Haitian Demons for Earthquake

2010-01-14T12:03:00.002-05:00

Pat Robertson Blames Haitians' Pact With the Devil for Earthquake

Touch not God's anointed!

2010-01-06T18:11:00.000-05:00

Touch Not God's Anointed!!! Is this a valid argument?

Highlands Church and Homosexuality

2009-12-19T20:23:00.001-05:00

New on Examiner.com, Highlands Church, Denver - Taking User Friendly Churches to Their Logical Conclusion

Go to church - get a tattoo!

2009-12-11T14:26:00.000-05:00

My latest article: Go to Church - Get a Tattoo!

Examiner.com

2009-10-27T19:04:00.001-04:00

Now writing for Examiner.com. Much more freedom to write on that website. First article is on David Koresh Syndrome.

Mark Chironna - Man of God?

2009-10-19T21:36:00.001-04:00

Television evangelist Mark Chironna is a frequent host of the Trinity Broadcasting Network’s (TBN)Praise the Lord program and has his own show on TBN called The Master’s Touch. He’s also the overseer of The Master’s Touch International Church in Orlando, Florida.

God Ceased to Exist?

Unfortunately, in his ministry, Chironna communicates a basic misunderstanding about many aspects of the Scriptures, starting with the nature of God. He says “When He [Jesus] released Himself back into the hands of the loving and Almighty Father and He said ‘It is finished,’ literally…that moment when the immortal One died, rocks split apart, because that which held them for that brief moment was no longer in charge…and the whole earth went dark because that which held it together was expired for a moment.”

How can the "immortal One" expire? In reality, Jesus never ceased to exist, even for a moment, because it would have meant that God, who by definition is eternal, ceased to exist. In addition to the fact that the earth "went dark" starting at noon, not when Jesus died at 3:00 p.m., one might ask, if the rocks split because Jesus, the One who held them together, had died, then why didn’t the rest of the universe, including everyone on earth, also split for a moment?

Preaching the Health and Wealth Gospel

Chironna teaches that to the poor the Good News of the Gospel is money. “So in Isaiah 61….The first thing He says is ‘He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.’ What is good news to the poor? You don’t have to be poor anymore. And if you don’t believe me, even liberal scholars acknowledge that Christ is talking about economic compensation, payback, economic forgiveness….God wants to bring people out of places of poverty into places of abundance.”

One would wonder why Chironna, who is supposed to be conservative, is quoting liberal scholars for support. To learn the context of this passage, Chironna would have done well to quote the rest of Isaiah 61:1, which continues, “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” The passage in Isaiah that Jesus quotes describes what Jesus did in His ministry, and, in context, it is obvious that Jesus is presenting Good News for the poor in spirit, and for those oppressed by sin – the Good News being the forgiveness of sins. Likewise, in places like the Sermon on the Mount He talked about the poor in spirit, not the poor in pocket book.

While Jesus did heal the blind and the lame, He didn’t restore wealth to the physically poor, nor did He even give them a pep talk on how to escape physical poverty. On the contrary, He warned people about the deceitfulness of wealth (Mark 10:24, 25).

Giving God Permission to Act

Chironna tells followers to speak words of faith and give God permission to act. “How many of you know you’re a new species of being? If you really are, then what God did in the original creation you can now give Him permission to do again in the new creation….Now you have the mind of God on the inside….You realize the person of perfect health is already living inside your body even if you’re sick right now. And what you and I need to understand is that God wants us to begin to think His thoughts after Him and once we think them, God the Son wants to then speak them on His behalf. That’s what the word of faith is….And then once you hear something in the Spirit, speak it with your mouth. As the Father thinks, the Son speaks and then the Spirit takes what you say and begins to reorder your world to line up with your faith!”

If people need to give God permission to do anything then He is no longer sovereign! Chironna teaches that Christians can speak things into existence. He states, “If I’ve been made in the image of God and I’m not like a giraffe or a monkey, the thing that makes me like God is I can talk. I can say ‘Let there be’ and there will be.” Imagine the chaos in the world if everyone could have exactly what they wanted, even if this ability applied only to Christians?

Choosing Wise Teachers

James made it clear that those who teach will come under more strict judgment from God (James 3:1), and Peter warned that false prophets and teachers would invade the church, introducing destructive heresies (2 Peter 2:1). It is the responsibility of the Christian not to blindly accept the teachings of anyone (particularly most of those on TBN) but to test everything by the Word of God.

Source:

Praise the Lord, Trinity Broadcasting Network, January-April 2003

Suite101

2009-10-01T10:14:00.005-04:00

I'm now writing for Suite101.com on various Christian topics. You can find my articles listed HERE.

Since my editor at Suite101 doesn't seem to think that opinions can also be facts and has removed some of my articles, they will be reprinted here at The Heresy Hunter.

Joel's Army Marches On

2009-07-31T12:03:00.003-04:00

Finally, my latest feature article for the Christian Research Journal is out. As the Journal writes "Self-professed apostles and prophets who claim to have futher revelation apart from Scripture are mobilizing their followers to be 'Joel's Army,' which will supposedly perform miracles, execute God's judgments, and bring multitudes into the kingdom before Christ returns. Widely accepted in charismatic circles, this movement should not be ignored."

William Branham

2009-02-08T20:47:00.005-05:00

Nope, The Heresy Hunter ain't quite dead yet - just busy with seminary. Thought I'd post a few words from William Branham, who is hailed as a hero of the Word Faith Movement and the Prophetic and Apostolic movements. I'm sure that the leaders of these movements don't care one whit that what he taught was heresy, but maybe some their followers will one day open a Bible and discover that false teaching DOES matter. Here is Branham denouncing the Trinity. Full text can be found here.

"Now all these expressions, 'Him Which Is,' and 'Him Which Was,' and 'Is To Come,' and 'Faithful Witness,' and 'Firstborn From Among the Dead,' and 'Prince of the Kings of the Earth,' and 'The Alpha .and Omega,' and 'The Almighty,' are titles and descriptions of the ONE AND THE, SAME PERSON, Who is the Lord Jesus Christ, Who washed us from our sins in His own blood.

The Spirit of God in John expresses thusly in order to set forth the Supreme Deity of Jesus Christ and to reveal the Godhead as ONE God. Today there is a gross error. It is that there are three Gods instead of one. This revelation as given to John by Jesus, Himself, corrects that error. It is not that there are three Gods, but one God with three offices. There is ONE God with three titles, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This mighty revelation IS what the early church had, and it must be restored in this last day along with the correct formula of water baptism.

Now modern theologians won't agree with me for here is what was written in a great Christian magazine. That teaching (on the Trinity) is at the very

heart and core of the Old Testament. It is every whit as much at the heart and core of the New Testament. The New Testament is just as much opposed as the Old Testament is to the thought that there are more Gods, than one. Yet the New Testament with equal clearness teaches that the Father is God, and the Son is God; and the Holy Spirit is God, and that these three are NOT three aspects of the same Person, but three persons standing in a truly personal relationship to one another. There we have the great doctrine oh the Three Persons but one God.

They also state, God, according to the Bible,. is not just one person, but He is three persons in one God. That is the great mystery of the Trinity. "It sure is. How can three persons be one God? Not only is there no Bible for it, but it shows even a lack of intelligent reasoning. Three distinct persons, though identical substance; make three gods; or language has lost its meaning entirely. Just listen to these words again, I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, Which Is, and Which Was, and Which Is to Come, the Almighty. This is Deity. This is not simply a prophet, a man. This is God. And it is not a revelation of three Gods, but of ONE God, the Almighty.

They didn't believe in three Gods in the beginning of the church. You can't find that sort of belief amongst the apostles. It was after the apostolic age that this theory came in and really became an issue and a cardinal doctrine at the Nicene Council. The doctrine of Godhead caused a two-way split at Nicea. And from that split it there came two extremes. One actually, went into polytheism, believing in three Gods, and the others went into Unitarianism. Of course that was a little while in coming about, but it did, and we have it right today. But the Revelation through John by the Spirit to the churches was, I am the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am ALL of it. There isn't any other God, And He put His seal on this Revelation:

Consider this: Who was the Father of Jesus? Matt. 1:18 says, She was found with child of the Holy Ghost. But Jesus, Himself, claimed that God was His Father. God the Father and God the Holy Ghost, as we often express these terms, make the Father and the Spirit ONE. Indeed they are, or else Jesus had two Fathers. But notice that Jesus said that He and His Father were One, not two. That makes ONE God.

Since this is historically and Scripturally true, people wonder where the three came from. It became a foundational doctrine at the Nicene Council in 325 A.D. This trinity (an absolutely unscriptural word) was based upon the many gods of Rome. The Romans had many gods to whom they prayed. They also prayed to ancestors as mediators. It was just a step to give new names to old gods, so we have saints to make it more Biblical. Thus, instead of Jupiter, Venice, Mars, etc. we have Paul, Peter, Fatima, Christopher, etc., etc. They could not make their pagan religion work out with just one God, so they split Him up into three, and they made intercessors of the saints as they had made intercessors of their ancestors.

Ever since then people have failed to realize that there is just one God with three offices or manifestations. They know there is one God according to Scripture, but they try to make it the fantastic theory that God is like a bunch of grapes; three persons with the same Divinity shared equally by all. But it plainly says here in Revelation that Jesus is That Which Is, That Which. Was, and 'That Which Is to Come.. He is the Alpha and Omega, which means that He is the' A: to "Z' 'Or The All Of It, He is Everything, The Almighty." He is the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the valley, the Bright and Morning Star, the Righteous Branch, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. He is God, Almighty God. ONE GOD.

1 Tim. 3: 16 says, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles; believed on in the world, received up into Glory. This is what the Bible says. It doesn't say a thing about a first or second or third person here. It says God was manifest in flesh. One God. The ONE GOD was manifested in flesh. That ought to settle it. God came in a human form. That didn't make Him ANOTHER GOD. HE WAS GOD, THE SAME GOD. It was a revelation then, and it is a revelation now, One God.

Word Faith Consequences

2008-10-10T21:16:00.003-04:00

Good article on the consequences of Word Faith theology from Time Magazine: Maybe We Should Blame God For the Subprime Mess.

A Final Word on the Todd Bentley Fiasco

2008-09-02T15:49:00.001-04:00

Great article by Marsha West, "We Have Had Enough of False Prophets."

A Heresy Hunter At Concordia

2008-08-29T21:42:00.001-04:00

Note that I have now started a new blog called A Heresy Hunter At Concordia. Enjoy!

The Heresy Hunter Retires

2008-08-15T05:27:00.006-04:00

After 20 years involvement with, and 13 years employment with the Christian Research Institute (CRI), at the age of 59 I am moving on to my third career.

My first was 22 years as a plant operator at a power generating station in Toronto. The second was my time with CRI as a researcher for the Bible Answer Man show and writer for the Christian Research Journal.

In September I will be starting classes at Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS) in Fort Wayne, Indiana where I will be studying to become a pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. This was definitely not my idea - when my wife would suggest that I'd make a good pastor I would shrug it off. However, after asking a few questions I saw doors opening and others closing and it became obvious that God wanted me to go into the pastoral ministry. Additionally, others I respected thought I'd make a great pastor as well - again, much to my surprise - and the staff of CRI has been behind me and has wished me well.

My plan is to preach and write for the next 30 years or so and then move on to my fourth career - possibly as a 90 year old rock singer - after all, the Rolling Stones will probably still be performing!

Since I've got to immerse myself in my studies for the next few years and will undoubtedly lose touch with all the current heresies in Christianity today, posts to this blog will be few and far between. I may start another blog relating my time at CTS but that remains to be seen. If I do I'll post a link here. Once I'm ordained, in addition to serving my parishioners I plan to continue writing on today's aberrant movements. The Heresy Hunter may ride again, but this time greatly improved!

In the meantime my wife and I will be living mostly off of student loans and donations. If your church would like to adopt me as a student it would be greatly appreciated - just contact Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne for details!

Deception in the Church? Blame Iraq!!!

2008-08-14T12:01:00.003-04:00

This is so unbelievable that I'll just post this with no further comment necessary. Dutch Sheets writes the following on Elijah List and the Streams of Revival e-mail letter:

The level of deception and confusion I have seen over America the last two years, both in the church and out, has been unlike anything I have ever witnessed. The level of it, especially in the body of Christ, has truly been shocking to me.

The list of areas in which it has manifested is broad: presidential candidate endorsements and prophecies; doctrinal error; relational breakups; disagreements over what is true and false revival; and so on. Add to this list a general weariness, complacency (one well-known leader told me he doesn’t think it matters anymore who is elected president—so much for shifting the Supreme Court!), disillusionment, disorientation and so on, and it all equals incredible deception and confusion.

I believe [the deception] is linked to our war in Iraq, which is ancient Babylon. Babylon, of course, means “confusion.” It was not difficult for us to defeat Iraq’s physical army, but the principality—the spirit of Babylon—has been another story altogether.

Just a couple of weeks ago, however, I heard the Holy Spirit very clearly say to me, “I’m about to unravel the cords of confusion.” When I heard this I had the sense that He would begin to do it in September. In 2 Chronicles 20, [we read that] God used the Israelite’s worship to “ambush” their enemies. The result was that these enemies destroyed one another! Expect the confusion to break off the church this fall and God’s enemies to be ambushed.

Life After Bentley

2008-08-13T13:44:00.003-04:00

Now that Todd Bentley is headed for the divorce courts J. Lee Grady is finally confident enough to state what many of us have known since Todd Bentley showed up on the scene. From today's Charisma News:

Here are few of my many, many questions about this fiasco:

Why did so many people flock to Lakeland from around the world to rally behind an evangelist who had serious credibility issues from the beginning?

To put it bluntly, we’re just plain gullible.

...Why didn’t anyone in Lakeland denounce the favorable comments Bentley made about William Branham?

This one baffles me. Branham embraced horrible deception near the end of his ministry, before he died in 1965. He claimed that he was the reincarnation of Elijah—and his strange doctrines are still embraced by a cultlike following today. When Bentley announced to the world that the same angel that ushered in the 1950s healing revival had come to Lakeland, the entire audience should have run for the exits.

Why didn’t anyone correct this error from the pulpit? Godly leaders are supposed to protect the sheep from heresy, not spoon feed deception to them.

...Why did God TV tell people that “any criticism of Todd Bentley is demonic”?

This ridiculous statement was actually made on one of God TV’s pre-shows. In fact, the network’s hosts also warned listeners that if they listened to criticism of Bentley, they could lose their healings.

This is cultic manipulation at its worst. The Bible tells us that the Bereans were noble believers because they studied the Scriptures daily “to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11, NASB). Yet in the case of Lakeland, honest intellectual inquiry was viewed as a sign of weakness. People were expected to jump first and then open their eyes.

Just because we believe in the power of the Holy Spirit does not mean we check our brains at the church door. We are commanded to test the spirits. Jesus wants us to love Him with our hearts and our minds.

...Why did a group of respected ministers lay hands on Bentley on June 23 and publicly ordain him? Did they know of his personal problems?

This controversial ceremony was organized by Peter Wagner, who felt that one of Bentley’s greatest needs was proper spiritual covering. He asked California pastors Che Ahn and Bill Johnson, along with Canadian pastor John Arnott, to lay hands on Bentley and bring him under their care.

Eventually another "move of God" is going to hit the scene. People are going to flock to the "revival" and unquestioningly embrace it. It happened at Azusa, it happened in Toronto, it happened in Brownsville, and it happened in Lakeland. It will happen again and people will not learn from the past.

Todd Bentley Meets Law and Gospel

2008-08-12T11:36:00.002-04:00

Listen as a man known as "Law Man" preaches Law and Gospel at the entrance to a Todd Bentley meeting. You'll be asking yourself "Are these Bentley fans actually Christians?"

1 Corinthians 2:9 - Joel Osteen Version

2008-08-08T08:59:00.004-04:00

In today's devotional message Joel quotes 1 Cor. 2:9 and writes:

Because God loves you, He has supernatural blessings in store for you; increase, favor, good breaks, supernatural opportunities. His dream for your life is so much greater than you ever imagined. You haven’t seen anything yet! You may have a dream to get well again, or to be able to walk without pain, but God’s dream for you is not only that you will walk, but that you be able to run and play like you did when you were a child. Your dream may be just to keep your marriage together, but God’s dream is that your marriage would be happier, healthier, and more fulfilling than you ever thought possible!

Your dream may be to just pay your bills and make it through each month, but God’s dream is that you have an abundance, that you be totally out of debt, pay your house off, pay your credit cards off, and have so much overflow that you can be a blessing to everyone around you! Get ready because God has greater blessings in store for you that you ever imagined. Open you heart today and keep an attitude of faith and expectancy and you will live the abundant life the Lord has prepared for you!

But what does Paul say in 2 Cor. 2:6-10?

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:

"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"

but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

Although many Christians use this to point to what God has prepared for us in eternity, Paul is quoting from an Old Testament passage that was pointing forward to the plan of salvation. No doubt we can also use it to describe God's future plans, but one thing we can say for a certainty is that the Joel Osteen interpretation is pure fiction.

As an aside, you can read my review of Osteen's current best-seller, "Become a Better You," in the current Christian Research Journal.

Patricia King - It's Time To Get Out There and Raise the Dead

2008-08-05T13:01:00.003-04:00

Good Christian people, it's time to get out to your local mortuary and start raising the dead! Watch the gold dust fall and just feel the power of God come down as you pray over those bodies in your neighbourhood mortuary. What? Nothing happened, even though you felt God's power and saw the gold dust? Well, don't let that bother you!

In this very weird video prophetess Patricia King introduces a woman from Phoenix who is doing just this! King travels in the same prophetic? circles as Todd Bentley, Bob Jones, Paul Cain, etc.

Lakeland Revival May Be Of God!

2008-07-31T10:58:00.005-04:00

I may have to repent of condemning Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Revival. J. Lee Grady writes today:

In China, They Beat Christians With Crowbars
The Summer Olympic Games will focus a needed spotlight on the Chinese government’s abusive treatment of believers.
....When I met with a group of 80 underground church leaders seven years ago in a secret conference near Guangzhou, I discovered that all of them had been jailed at least three times each. Many had been beaten with iron crowbars while others had been shocked with electric cattle prods in an effort to gain information about secret church groups.

In China Christians are beaten with crowbars - at Lakeland Christians are kicked in the stomach. Of course, one is done by those who hate Christianity and the other is done by a "Christian pastor," but why quibble? Maybe this proves it's a move of God!

Note to Bentley supporters: Check out the two videos in my previous post and tell me which one is a move of God - and please don't try and say that both are!

Rick Joyner and the Church of Altered States

2008-07-30T14:33:00.001-04:00

I saw this firsthand in Toronto 14 years ago. I guess if you wait a decade you can get a new group of unsuspecting and gullible Christians being sucked into the realm of the cults.

Now, contrast that with this video below of what appears to be a genuine revival in China. Which revival is of God?

The Multiplying of the Chickens! Marilyn Hickey

2008-07-29T17:25:00.008-04:00

You're not going to believe this: Marilyn Hickey - remember her? - has apparently duplicated one of Jesus' best known miracles, the multiplying of the loaves and fish- I mean, chickens. According to Charisma:

‘Loaves and Fishes’ Miracle Reported in Egypt

More than 2,000 boxed-lunches inexplicably turned up at a pastors’ conference in Cairo, according to Marilyn Hickey Ministries.

[07.29.08] Bible teacher and evangelist Marilyn Hickey’s recent 10-day trip to Cairo, Egypt—described by organizers afterward as the largest gathering of Christians to ever assemble in the ancient city— included a report of something more astounding than the several hundred who claimed healing and salvation: 2,400 meals from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) apparently appeared out of thin air.

The reported incident, which if true is a miracle nearly unheard of in modern times, occurred during Hickey’s citywide leaders conference in May, attended by nearly 10,000 pastors and local leaders—from curious Muslims to orthodox Coptic Christians.

According to Hickey, 77, whose ministry organized the meetings in conjunction with the Egyptian Evangelical Association, 3,500 boxed-lunches from KFC were ordered and accounted for. “There were tickets distributed for the lunches,” she said. “The boxes were given out, leaving none in the room.”

After the food was completely distributed, and after the crowd swelled to about 5,000, she said volunteers were astonished to return to what should’ve been a room of empty tables to discover 1,200 more lunches. She said after they handed out the mysterious extras, another 1,200 appeared, leaving a surplus of food and dumbfounded witnesses. Hickey’s staff called it a “loaves and fishes” miracle.

“I am fully convinced that this was a supernatural occurrence,” Hickey told Charisma.

“It is something I have believed to see on my ministry and am overjoyed that it happened.”

I hope she realizes that

God violated some legalities regarding duplicating KFC's secret ingredients in order to perform this miracle!
God didn't make very efficient use of His time - why not just materialize all 2400 boxes at once instead of 1200 at a time?
I don't think God provided them with a very healthy meal either!

This "miracle" is briefly mentioned at the 3 minute 20 second mark of the video report from her ministry, below:

Man Sees Out of Glass Eye - Amputated Legs Growing

2008-07-25T08:58:00.004-04:00

Here is video of a man who claims his amputated legs are growing and that he can see out of a glass eye. Now, WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE? Shouldn't he be on national TV providing medical evidence of having a glass eye that he can see out of and, by now, two fully-restored legs?

Since posting the video this morning one of two copies have been removed from YouTube. This version appears to be the only one left.

Disaster to Befall Europe!

2008-07-23T11:31:00.002-04:00

Todd Bentley is about to pull up stakes and take his road trip to Europe. Excerpt:

Revival Evangelist to Fold His Lakeland Tent

By Cary McMullen
LEDGER RELIGION EDITOR

Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

LAKELAND | Evangelist Todd Bentley, whose unorthodox appearance and methods have attracted worldwide attention, will leave the long-running revival he has led here, it was announced Monday, although the local pastor who brought Bentley to Lakeland vows the revival will continue.

Bentley's last day leading the Florida Outpouring revival will be Aug. 23, said Lynne Breidenbach, revival spokesperson. The enormous white tents on the grounds of Sun n' Fun Fly-in, where the revival has been held since early June, will be taken down after that night's service.
...After leaving the Florida Outpouring, Bentley will conduct revivals overseas, including in the United Kingdom and Sudan, according to his ministry's Web site.

Todd Bentley - Angel for KIDS

2008-07-21T19:35:00.001-04:00

What is this doing to the kids at Lakeland?

Rick Joyner - Look Out For Those Religious Folks!

2008-07-21T14:00:00.002-04:00

Once again, Rick Joyner is warning people about those who would oppose what's going on in places like Lakeland and Morningstar:

Rick Joyner:

"The History and Future of the Present Revival - Tighten Your Seatbelts. We Are in For the Ride of Our Lives!"

A revival atmosphere is usually a combination of the presence of the Lord and a lot of energy from people. This is right for the revival, but we must recognize that human excitement can be contagious too. It is great to see Christians excited again, but this excitement must translate into us being obedient to the will of God in our lives.
...That being said, we are presently in a time of revival, and it is just beginning. We are still a long way from even seeing the peak of this revival. Some prophetic words have come from those I consider trustworthy that this revival will last for three years.

...It is hard to be encouraged if you are sick or oppressed by the devil with some affliction. That is why the emphasis on healing, miracles, and deliverance for the Church is so crucial at this time. In due time, the Church should be healed and we can move on, and those who were healed should be healers for the lost.

...The last trumpet or message of God in the Book of Revelation is "our God reigns" (see Revelation 19:6), or the Gospel of the Kingdom. That Gospel has not been preached since the first century, and it must be preached throughout the world before the Lord will come. The Church is being prepared to preach that Gospel and to do it from a position of living in the power of the Kingdom. We are being prepared to prepare the way for the Lord.

....In a general timing, we can expect most of the Church to be in stage 1, reviving and waking up the Church, getting her healed from her wounds and afflictions for about three years. Then there will likely be a transition time between the stages where stage 2 starts to burn more and stage 1 fades out, at least as far as being the main emphasis of the Church. Even so, stage 1 imparted healing, miracles, deliverance, and faith in God for great things and will continue to be an integral and major part of Church life from now on.
All that is accomplished by stage 1 will continue on into orbit as a basic part of the vehicle. However, what we are now calling revival and what is causing revival will be normal Church life. Miracles far beyond what we are seeing now are going to be commonplace.
....As we are told in Hebrews 12, everything that can be shaken will, so what is from God will remain. We can be sure that everything that is from God will survive the shaking.
Using the metaphor of being launched like a rocket, this move of God has barely left the launch pad and has a long way to go before stage 1 is finished. The shaking will likely get much more violent and remain that way through the stage 1. It will lessen some after the main booster has completed its burn, but it will not be over until we are finally in the assigned orbit.

A lot of the shaking will come from persecution, most of which will come from religious people. Historically, the worst persecution of emerging moves of God came from the leaders of the previous moves of God. This great tragedy has undoubtedly nullified much of the fruit accomplished by these leaders and even helped prepare for the coming move that they persecute. This tragedy has rarely been avoided because pride comes before a fall, and those who get used in great ways have rarely been able to escape the most deadly trap of pride, which is easily salted with jealousy.

We are told that it was because of envy that Jesus was crucified (see Mark 15:10), and this is still true. As we do to the least of His people, we are doing it to Him. As we persecute or resist even the least of His messengers, we are doing it to Him.

Talk about a warning! If we dare criticize what is going on, we are the "religious people" and are, in fact, persecuting Jesus! This kind of talk sure sounds cultic to me!

Bentley's Vacation Is Over

2008-07-17T13:12:00.002-04:00

It would appear that Todd Bentley's vacation - which began immediately after the Nightline report on his ministry - is over. He will be speaking today in Louisville, Kentucky at the Evangel World Prayer Center. Additionally, God TV is saying "After taking a short break to rest and be refreshed after nearly 100 days of back-to-back ministry, Todd Bentley has announced he will be back ministering at the Lakeland Outpouring from Friday this week":

Todd Bentley will be at all
services at both locations!

July 17, 2008

HEALING SERVICE

12 Noon
6900 Billtown Road
Doors open at 11:00am
No Child Care Provided
Refreshments available

EVENING SERVICE

6:30 pm
TWO LOCATIONS
Doors open at 5:30 pm

Bob Larson - It's ALL About the Money

2008-07-15T11:20:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I got this inspiring e-mail message from that well-known exorcist, Bob Larson:

Are you depressed?

Lacking direction in life?

Feeling compelled to do things you don't want to do?

Wondering why you lack the success you deserve?

You can schedule PERSONAL TIME with

PASTOR BOB LARSON in DENVER

JULY 18, 2008! Let Bob personally pray

with you while he's in town. This is your time

for a one-on-one meeting with Pastor Bob.

To arrange for your SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTER

with Pastor Bob, email Bob@boblarson.org

or call 303-980-1511

This is your opportunity for spiritual freedom!

At last, I could meet with Bob and get some prayer and direction for my life! Naturally I quickly replied to arrange a meeting. I received this reply:

The cost is $500 - Please call 303-980-1511 for details.

What a bargain! I can meet with Jesus any time for free, or go one better and meet with Bob Larson for $500! Needless to say, I can't pass up this opportunity.

Todd Bentley - Praying in the Name of BAM Boomba!

2008-07-09T11:19:00.003-04:00

Undoubtedly unintentional, but praying in the name of BAM Boomba? That explains a lot!!!

Traditional Lutheranism

2008-07-07T21:51:00.001-04:00

Believer Bitter Over 'Prosperity' Preachings

2008-07-07T16:12:00.004-04:00

A rarity - CNN reporting a story about someone hurt by the Word Faith Movement.

The message flickered into Cindy Fleenor's living room each night: Be faithful in how you live and how you give, the television preachers said, and God will shower you with material riches.

And so the 53-year-old accountant from the Tampa, Florida, area pledged $500 a year to Joyce Meyer, the evangelist whose frank talk about recovering from childhood sexual abuse was so inspirational. She wrote checks to flamboyant faith healer Benny Hinn and a local preacher-made-good, Paula White.

Click Here for the rest of the story. Unfortunately, Brian McLaren is quoted.

Che Ahn — He Must Decrease While Todd Bentley Increases

2008-07-03T11:51:00.001-04:00

Watch the first two minutes of this clip in which Che Ahn says that he must decrease while Todd Bentley increases. Seems to me I've heard those words before somewhere. Che Ahn was involved in the Toronto Blessing back in the 90s.

Defending the Lakeland Revival

2008-07-02T10:11:00.002-04:00

Elijah List prophet Chuck Pierce has written an article defending Todd Bentley's Lakeland revival. Also included is the text of the "commissioning" of Bentley by Peter Wagner. The content of this article is revealing. Chuck Pierce:

We have had several people write with great concerns about the current move of God that has been stirring in Lakeland, Atlanta, Dallas and other areas of our nation....We have made our way into Northern Nigeria....I love being here, even though the surroundings are not what I am normally accustomed to; the food is different, and well, yes, there are many different creatures. The main issue is this: in the midst of this environment, I am not afraid of being infected by malaria or getting dysentery because I am in a different land. The people here are some of the most gracious in all the world.

I see that some individuals view "moves of God" this way: they see all the dangers, they are afraid that they will have a demon transferred to them, they analyze every move and shake and scrutinize doctrinally everything that is happening. This may be the only way that some can process their relationship with the Lord and the Body of Christ.

Pierce seems to think he can compare living in a different land to a different form of Christianity and the implication is that just because he's not afraid of getting malaria we shouldn't be afraid of getting something by taking part in this "revival."

I'm willing to bet that he had shots for numerous diseases before he left the U.S. however! Likewise, we have the Word of God to protect us from diseases in the body of Christ. Since he criticizes those who "scrutinize doctrinally everything that is happening," I would think that Chuck Pierce would have been a strong critic two thousand years ago of the Bereans who tested everything Paul said with the Word of God.

Some have written asking me to reject Todd Bentley. Glory of Zion International does not have a philosophy or mindset to reject anyone. We watch, pray, and then try to communicate what the Lord is saying to help the overall Body of Christ advance.

Well, since you won't reject anyone then you can expect the wolves to mingle with the sheep, Chuck! Notice that there is no appeal whatsoever to the Word of God in his effort to see what God is saying.

Please know that we are living in an age where the apostolic gift in the Body has come into a new position and era of authority.

And how do you know this? A feeling? God spoke to you? How do you know He spoke to you? What is your standard for truth?

I was very excited to read Peter Wagner's report (below) on the commissioning service in Lakeland. I admire Ché Ahn, Bill Johnson, and John Arnott. I can now rest in the LORD, knowing that if things get out of sync, this team can help Todd make adjustments so the Spirit can keep moving.

This is like sending a pack of wolves in to mind the fox in the chicken house. I have to wonder HOW out of sync things would have to get for them to step in! Maybe if Bentley rejected these leaders as genuine apostles?

I have many friends who have great cautions over experiential manifestations and extra-Biblical, sensational happenings. I heed those friends' voices and listen carefully. This does not keep me from experiencing what God is doing. I love what Bishop Bill Hamon says, "Eat the meat and spit out the bones and you will find yourself nourished."

In other words, swallow everything these people feed you, heresy or otherwise, and reject what you don't like. Don't check it for truth first, just swallow the spiritual cyanide!

Joel Osteen - Mormons are Christians

2008-07-01T14:41:00.001-04:00

I posted the text of this a while back, but here's the video. Volume is a little low.

Punching Out the Cancer

2008-06-30T14:44:00.001-04:00

You've heard about how Todd Bentley hits people. Now you can see him punch or kick someone in the stomach who has stage 4 colon cancer!

Casting Call From Bob Larson!!!

2008-06-26T13:24:00.004-04:00

FINALLY, some honesty from Bob Larson, albeit unintentionally, I'm sure. Just got an e-mail from him which says, in part:

Casting for new episodes of THE REAL EXORCIST, to air in October, 2008 on the Sci-Fi channel, is now taking place. This is your opportunity for spiritual freedom!

Casting, of course, is done when someone needs actors! And can you think of a more appropriate network for him to be on than the Sci-Fi Channel?

No More Worries About Todd Bentley

2008-06-25T10:01:00.006-04:00

Relax folks! We don't have to be concerned about Todd Bentley's teachings getting out of hand anymore. See this story at Charisma:

Leaders Commission Todd Bentley at ‘Lakeland Outpouring’
The special service was billed by leaders as one of the greatest moments in revival history
[04.24.08] Canadian revivalist Todd Bentley, leader of the “Lakeland Outpouring,” was commissioned as an evangelist last night in a special ceremony in Lakeland, Fla., that was broadcast into millions of homes by God TV.

California pastors Ché Ahn and Bill Johnson, along with Canadian pastor John Arnott, laid hands on the 32-year-old Bentley while Peter Wagner, leader of the International Coalition of Apostles, read a statement about the need for apostolic alignment. Other prominent leaders from the apostolic and prophetic movements stood on the platform to show their support for Bentley and to endorse the revival, which began in early April and is now in its 83rd day of continuous meetings.

The ceremony, held in a 10,000-seat tent, took place after some charismatic leaders raised questions about Bentley’s claims, methods and theology. They asked Wagner to oversee a dialogue, and he responded by organizing Monday evening’s event so that Bentley could have more accountability—or what Wagner calls “apostolic alignment.”

“I believe last night was truly historic and a true sign of unity,” Bentley told Charisma today. “Many streams converged and I know last night’s commissioning will truly help bring God’s outpouring to a much larger part of the body.”

Participating leaders at the ceremony included Wagner; Ché Ahn, pastor of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, Calif.; John Arnott of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship in Canada; Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, Calif.; and Rick Joyner, founder of MorningStar Ministries in Charlotte, N.C.

Wagner said to Bentley on the platform: “This commissioning represents a powerful spiritual transaction taking place in the invisible world. With this in mind, I take the apostolic authority that God has given me and I decree to Todd Bentley, your power will increase, your authority will increase, your favor will increase, your influence will increase, your revelation will increase.

“I also decree that a new supernatural strength will flow through this ministry. A new life force will penetrate this move of God. Government will be established to set things in their proper order. God will pour out a higher level of discernment to distinguish truth from error. New relationships will surface to open the gates to the future.”

In a newsletter released earlier this week, Bentley said Wagner was the one who suggested having an official ceremony in which Bentley could be commissioned.

“I am no church historian, but I do not know of any other time in history, since the book of Acts, have so many different apostles and so many different prophets and movements and leaders [been represented],” Bentley said of the capacity crowd. “This is so much bigger than [anything else] ever before. The devil is shaking in his boots because the apostles are gathering and the prophets are gathering.”

Though the outpouring has enjoyed mostly favorable publicity and is stirring excitement in charismatic congregations worldwide, it has also spawned a debate among leaders dialoguing behind closed doors. These backroom discussions over aspects of Bentley’s teachings were partly what prompted leaders to lay their hands on him last night.

Well, I'm certainly glad that people like John Arnott ("Experience is the best teacher"), Peter Wagner ("Fat woman lost 32 lbs in one meeting" "the end does justify the means") and Rick Joyner (Wealth will be transferred to believers) will be keeping an eye on Todd Bentley to keep him from crossing over into some weird stuff!

Jesus the Liar?

2008-06-25T08:49:00.002-04:00

Great article from Cal Thomas today:

Do They Think Jesus Was a Liar?

By Cal Thomas
Syndicated Columnist/FOX News Contributor

I am shocked and appalled over a newly published survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. It finds most Americans believe there are many ways to salvation besides their own faith. Most disturbing of all is the majority of self-identified evangelical Christians who believe this.

Apparently they must think Jesus was a liar, or mistaken, when he said: “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me.” Look it up.

This theological ignorance is a product of several things. It is surely a product of biblical illiteracy by people who don’t read, or selectively read scripture. It is also fallout from the political correctness vice that says you are intolerant if you believe anything to be true, because people who have another truth, or no truth, might feel bad and experience rejection.

If they feel rejection now, wait until they hear “away from me, I never knew you.”

Tolerance is a good thing. People should tolerate and respect people of different faiths, or no faith. But watering down your own set of professed doctrines in order to appeal to the lowest spiritual common denominator is akin to Peter denying Christ three times.

If there are many paths to heaven, Jesus suffered and died for nothing. He could have stayed in heaven, sent down a book of sayings and avoided crucifixion. Orthodox Christians have always believed – and their Bible teaches them — there is only one path to heaven and it is through Jesus Christ and him alone. One can believe whatever one wishes, but you can’t be considered a Christian without believing in this fundamental doctrine.

Christian churches have a lot of work to do in addressing biblical illiteracy, ignorance and, yes, heresy, in their midst. They might want to pay more attention to fixing what’s gone wrong among their members before expending too much energy on politics and politicians.

The Mystery of Who Wrote Hebrews - SOLVED!

2008-06-24T11:28:00.004-04:00

I've just been reading Todd Bentley's account of his trip to heaven on Sid Roth's website. You can read about this fascinating account in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Below I'll quote a few highlights.

First of all, you have a right to see Jesus visibly if you really love Him:

“The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him]” (Jn. 14:21 Amplified). That is a promise that God gives! He says that if you love Him and keep His commandments, He will manifest Himself to you! How will He manifest Himself? It might be through a dream, in a vision, in a prophetic experience, in the Word of God, divine knowledge or revelation....He will also come bodily.

It shouldn't bother us when someone says they've been to heaven. I mean, who else does Jesus have to talk to on earth?

Why is it in the church today that we struggle when somebody says that he or she has been to heaven or they’ve had an encounter with Jesus face to face? Listen! God doesn’t have anybody else to visit but you and me!

Bentley points out the fact that Paul wasn't permitted to speak about all that he saw. Great news! All that has changed!

Naturally, there are times when deep revelation should not be discussed but there are times when it is right to share. Today I am permitted by God to share with you about some of the recent amazing heavenly encounters that I have experienced.

Once again, we come back to Jesus' Bambi eyes!

So, even though I could give a description of the Lord, the main thing that I was drawn to was Jesus’ eyes. He had brown eyes, and I know it sounds funny, but I immediately thought of Bambi!

These are different from the eyes Jesus has in heaven, however, according to Jesus Himself!

“These are My eyes as I had eyes on the earth. But if you were to see Me in heaven I have eyes ‘blue, like revelation eyes,’ like fire. These are My human eyes, not My God eyes.”

At last we have an explanation of vibrating in the Spirit:

He put His hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes and said one word, “Peace I give you, not as the world gives,” and this peace came over me like a vibration and my whole body vibrated while I received the peace of God.

Bentley came to a bridge while in heaven and it was here that he met the Apostle Paul. I'll bet you're anxious to know what Paul looked like, right?

People have asked me what he looked like, and so I will attempt to describe his appearance. He was short, not more than 5’1” or 5’2” (I’m 5’6”). He was bald except for a little crown of hair that came around his head. Looking very Jewish with a short, trimmed, white beard, my first thought was of a monk in a monastery! He actually had jolly cheeks and I thought: Paul you’ve got a little weight on you! I mean he wasn’t fat but he looked a little pudgy! Funny, eh? But that’s what I was thinking!

Not only that, but Abraham and David were present as well!

Just so you know too, Abraham was taller than David and Paul, about 6’5”. He was a very big rugged looking man, very big boned, large hands, having a long black beard and hair. In fact he looked quite East Indian or Pakistani (in skin color); not like an African man (in blackness), but closer to an East Indian man. He actually didn’t look Jewish at all! Now David’s appearance was much different from Abraham’s. Having seen Jesus before, I noticed that David’s features were similar to Jesus, the Son of David. Both Jesus’ hair and David’s hair were alike—long brown reddish locks that hung to their shoulders. David’s eyes were blue and he wore a purple royal robe but when he lifted his arm, inside his robe I saw the color blue; it was very kingly. He was very handsome with a short beard and he was really well kept.

Too bad he didn't describe Jesus in a little more detail, other than the Bambi eyes. It is here that we finally find out that it was Paul who wrote the Book of Hebrews!:

Paul told me: “Abraham taught me, in heaven, and that’s how and why I wrote the book of Hebrews. What I heard was from the lips of Abraham himself.” I know I’m stepping out on theology now; however, I want you to understand that Paul always made it clear when he authored an epistle—“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ” or “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ.” Always! Yet, for the Book of Hebrews, although most Bible scholars believe that it was authored by Paul, there are those that really can’t say it was him because the authorship is never clear. Paul told me why. Here is what he said to me. “Do you know why I know so much about Abraham?” [So much of Hebrews is based on other things that you just can’t pull from in other scriptures.] He said, “Abraham himself shared (information) with me and I simply wrote it” (in the Book of Hebrews). “The authorship isn’t clear because it was Abraham and I; Abraham shared with me.” [Much of Hebrews is about Abraham; i.e. Hebrews Chapter 11.] Paul said, “When I was in the third heaven, Abraham was with me like you are with me now.”

Paul then tells Todd:

Now one of the most striking scriptures in the Book of Titus is the first verse where it opens with—“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (emphasis mine). “Todd, never just be an apostle or just do signs and wonders.” “No!” said Paul, “be a love slave.”

I don't know why, but I get visions here of Mike Meyer as the Love Guru!

Finally, did you know that there are several different levels in heaven, and that you have to ascend to each level by climbing a ladder? Yep, it's true!

What’s more, several days later I was taken back into heaven to Paul’s house! But this time I didn’t go inside. I stayed outside where I saw a ladder in his back yard like the one described in Genesis 28, Jacob’s ladder. [I’ve come to understand that there are ladders like that in heaven in order to ascend and descend into different realms because heaven has places, geographical places

....Back to climbing! I went up from the throne room into the fifth realm which is the heavenly city. I saw streets that are golden and mansions and I noticed that it was very different from the Paradise of God (third heaven) where there are hills, still waters, and flowers. It wasn’t as peaceful. Next came the sixth realm of heaven which is the place where the angels live. There is literally a realm reserved for Michael, Gabriel, all the arch angels and all the angels under the arch angels! This isn’t the second heaven, the angel and demon realm, where they battle. It’s just a realm where the angels dwell. Then the last heaven I saw, the seventh realm was other universes and the solar systems; undiscovered universes and planets that God has created....There could be other heavenly realms; however, I only saw seven.

Words cannot express how I feel about this so-called "encounter"! It would be hilarious if not for the fact that Christians are actually being taken in by this stuff. Is there no fear of God in these people? Are they so far deceived that they really think they've taken these trips?

George Carlin

2008-06-23T13:36:00.004-04:00

Since every online newspaper considers George Carlin so important that they felt they had to feature a picture of him on the front page, I didn't want to be left out.

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

I hope he had a last-minute conversion.

Embedded Angels

2008-06-22T13:42:00.003-04:00

Over on Elijah List "prophet" Bill Yount is talking about angels embedded in the walls of churches. He writes:

I saw ancient angels of faith embedded in the walls of many churches. They are now being awakened and activated through the prayers of the saints of past generations - who were praying to see a great move of God in their day.

I sense that many saints in these churches may have felt like their fervent prayers were bouncing off of the ceilings and walls of their churches. They didn't realize that their eternal prayers were actually going into the ceilings and walls of their churches, which have been building up for a greater future last day outpouring!

These ancient angels of faith being awakened, have been faithful to their long-term assignments to these churches so that "the glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former!"

Angels who were summoned generations ago to many churches through tear-stained altars, but were stifled in their assignments through unbelief and strife, were now being called forth to complete their assignments - even in churches that people were thinking, "This church will never see a move of God!" But God was now honoring the prayers of many generations and a mighty breakthrough for so called "dead" churches was now inevitable!
....I heard these ancient angels of faith decreeing to both ancient and newborn churches and to home group fellowships: "No 'spiritual' walls left standing. Every generational wall that separates you from one another is coming down!"
It's as though these angels were given a command for this hour to bring down every wall that has been erected between God's people over many generations. I heard a strong angel proclaiming: "No walls left standing! Walls are coming down!"
As these ancient angels of faith began to awaken inside of these walls and began stretching their wings, generational walls of tradition and division began to crumble as religious spirits were being cast out by the presence of God!

Elijah List publisher Steve Schultz says if we want to spiritualize this we can, but also says that "if you would receive our Quantum Physics, Music and Prophetic CD sets, you would hear how science can now prove that 'matter' (that is hard things like rocks and walls) does have memory. And we also know that angels are spirit beings and are also outside of time as we know it."

So he is strongly hinting that Christians should take this prophecy literally.

The religious spirits, of course, are those who disagree with this type of nonsense and insist on testing everything in the light of Scripture.

I find it astounding that today's so-called Christians are so lacking in discernment that they tolerate this sort of garbage and then label those who disagree Pharisees, as though that label settled the argument.

God's Sense of Humour

2008-06-18T09:39:00.004-04:00

Deepak Chopra says that religious people should laugh more because God does. Writing about Mike Myer's new movie "The Love Guru" he writes:

The inability of some religious people to laugh at themselves betrays, I think, a great deal of insecurity. What if God was a two-year-old toddler and you were his mother? You'd spend your day keeping close watch and only find calm when your child was taking a nap. But God isn't two years old, and he /she doesn't need taking care of. I wish religious people took the analogy seriously, because they are constantly rushing in to protect God, screaming in outrage when he /she is surely laughing. God may very well see the universe as a divine comedy. Every exploding nova could be an explosion of laughter. Nobody knows.

...more comedies should cross the line between vulgar lampoon and reckless disrespect. Let's catch God with his pants down -- or more especially those who peddle faith in God so self-righteously.

You're right Deepak - God is laughing. But somehow I just don't think you'll be laughing along with Him. Just read Psalm 2:

1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.
3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."
7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD : He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Annual Egg On His Face Award

2008-06-13T08:04:00.002-04:00

Once again the "2008 Egg On His Face" award goes to --- Yisrayl Hawkins!

Rick Joyner's Revival and Healings

2008-06-11T08:22:00.003-04:00

Rick Joyner has a few words to say about the revival taking part at Morningstar in today's Elijah List entry:

As amazing as what we are now experiencing is, we still have a way to climb to what is just normal, Biblical Christianity. It is our right as Christians, possessors of the New Covenant with God, to see everything that happened in the Scriptures happening in our own time. The Lord is the same today as He was then. His name is not "I was," or "I will be," but "I AM." The same Holy Spirit that was present with the church in the Book of Acts is present with us today. All Christians have the same Holy Spirit with them that the Apostle Paul had and can therefore see the same power released through them that Paul or anyone else has.

...It is still amazing for us to watch our high school students pray for the handicapped, blind, deaf, or those with fatal diseases, believing God will heal them, and often He does. A few nights ago, I saw a commotion in the back of the room and found out that a couple of our high school girls had prayed for a young man in a wheelchair, who immediately got up and walked. He had multiple sclerosis and had not walked in seven years. It was not long before he was back in the wheelchair, not because the affliction had come back, but because he was so worn out from not using those muscles for so long.

...Because of the prophetic indications we have received that September 21 will be a significant date, we shifted the dates for our Harvest Conference to September 18-20, and the Worship & Warfare Conference to September 22-24, sandwiching Sunday the 21st between them.

If, as Joyner rightly says, the Lord is the same today as yesterday, why did that man go back into his wheelchair? When Jesus healed the paralytic in Matthew 9 the man got up and went home. It doesn't say he had to stop and rest because of his muscles. When Peter healed a paralytic named Aeneas who had been paralyzed for eight years in Acts 9 he was healed completely. Jesus, who is the same today as He was yesterday, heals completely, not partially.

I'd stay tuned for September 21st, but as everyone knows, nuclear war will be breaking out tomorrow according to Yisrayl Hawkins.

Get Service

2008-06-06T21:07:00.000-04:00

Yisrayl Hawkins - Nuclear War Again!

2008-06-06T10:59:00.009-04:00

Yep, once again nuclear war is breaking out, according to Yisrayl Hawkins. Excerpt from ABC News:

Texas Sect Leader: Doomsday Begins Next Thursday, June 12
Thousands Follow Self-Proclaimed Prophet Yisrayl 'Buffalo Bill' Hawkins of Abilene
By BRIAN ROSS and VIC WALTER
June 6, 2008—

Nuclear war will begin next Thursday, June 12, or sooner, according to the latest prediction of self-proclaimed prophet Yisrayl "Buffalo Bill" Hawkins, the founder of a religious sect in Abilene, Texas.

"It could be turned loose before then," Hawkins told 20/20 for a report to be broadcast tonight. "You're going to see this very soon, really soon," he said.

Hundreds of truck trailers have been loaded with food and water on the group's 44-acre compound, in preparation for the coming war.

Unfortunately for Hawkins, it is not the first time he predicted the outbreak of nuclear war.

Most recently, Hawkins set Sept. 12, 2006 as the beginning of the end. His followers produced an on-line video with a countdown to doomsday. In Kenya, hundreds of his followers actually hid in basement bomb shelters and donned gas masks on the date. They went home in humiliation when there was no war.

Hawkins says he does not care if people consider him a laughing stock.

"You know, the savior himself, told me not to worry about that. He said, 'They're going to hate you above all people on the face of the earth,' " Hawkins explained.

Trouble is, after his failed prophecy he said that nuclear war had begun on Sept. 12th and would last 13 months. See my post Yisrayl, I Was Wrong.

Joel Osteen - Herrnhuter

2008-06-05T11:32:00.004-04:00

On TBN's Praise the Lord program on April 30th, 2008 Joel and Victoria Osteen were the focus. During the show this conversation took place between Joel Osteen and host Phil Munsey:

Phil Munsey: This is why I’m glad that you allowed us to be on TBN tonight, to be able to let our brothers and sisters and pastors from around the world to know that this is a God thing, that the Good News is still the best way to bring people to repentance.

Joel Osteen: Amen. I believe that. I mean, that’s what the Gospel’s all about, and we see people respond. I mean, you know, I found most people already know what they’re doing wrong. But when you come back and tell them that, you know, no matter the mistakes they’ve made or where they are, that they can recover, they can go further, that God’s still got a plan for their lives. Victoria told you how these arenas that we go to, half the people stand up, so I think it is the goodness of God, and we’ll continue to put it out.

Phil Munsey: Absolutely. Somebody said when someone’s drowning you don’t need to describe the water. You just need to throw them a rope of hope. And I think that’s something that is very strong, that comes from your ministry, and that is people know they sin, they know they’re sinners. They don’t need somebody describing the water. They need a rope of hope.

As reported in an earlier blog entry, in the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel on May 28, 2008 Osteen shows that repentance isn’t a priority with his ministry. He was asked to compare himself to Billy Graham. He said in response:

Osteen: I like to be inspired by Dr. Graham. He's been a hero and a mentor and a friend to me. But we have different races to run. He fulfilled his calling.

Interviewer: What's your own calling?

Osteen: It's the same in a sense: leading people to Christ. But he brings them to repentance, and mine is more focused on hope and encouragement.

According to C.F.W. Walther the Herrnhuters were an 18th century group (Moravians) who "preferred not to have the Law preached at all....We shall readily admit that the Herrnhuters have made an impression on many, but it was a mere surface impression. Their hearers were never made to realize that they were enemies of God, worthy to be cast down to perdition rather than to be saved." (The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel, p. 90, C. F. W. Walther)

That sounds remarkably like the teaching of Joel Osteen and countless other churches today in the 21st century - including some facets of the LCMS! So does the Gospel come first? A few Scripture verses might clarify the situation:

Mark 1:15 "The time has come," he [Jesus] said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

In Acts 2:14-38 Peter makes the Jews aware of the fact that they had crucified Christ (v. 23). They were convicted (v. 37) and Peter told them to repent and be baptized (v. 38) They didn’t “already know what they were doing wrong” as Osteen would suggest.

In Matthew 5 Jesus teaches 21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” And 27 “You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Why would Jesus teach this if people were already fully aware of their sins?

Attention All Pharisee-Accusers

2008-06-03T17:38:00.005-04:00

Excellent article by Todd Wilken titled "Playing the Pharisee Card." All critics of this blog and other similar blogs should read it.

Wake-up Call For the LCMS

2008-06-03T14:00:00.004-04:00

From Christianity Today:

Keeping It Real
Can staged worship "experiences" lead to a false gospel?
James Gilmore

...As a business guy, I'm always cautious about taking any business thinking and applying it to the church. Don't take this stuff about the experience economy and make worship a staged experience. Consumerism has come to dominate contemporary evangelicalism. We're becoming a reflection of the world, instead of standing apart from the world. The church has moved to "spectacalism," which can become a false gospel.
…
All of life is being commodified. The church should be the one place that stands apart and says, We have nothing for sale. We only offer a free gift. The church ought to be the place where people see that there's something different about this place and this people from anything one experiences elsewhere in the commercial marketplace.
…
To me, the church should not aim to be "real" as an end. The church is there to proclaim truth. Trying to be hip and cool and real does a disservice to the church. We're not called to be successful. We're called to be obedient, even if they don't come. Ministry leaders should think more like Noah, of being part of a remnant that is faithful. If somebody doesn't find you objectionable, I wonder if you're preaching the full counsel of God.
…
To some extent, if people view the church as being fake, they will never enter. But the extent to which the church has become a business, with food courts, skate parks, basketball courts, etc.–I think people look at it and say, That's not really a church. That's fake.

So why are LCMS churches embracing this model of church? Even Bill Hybels has realized the danger!

Warning to All Liturgical, Confessional LCMS Pastors!!!

2008-06-02T15:33:00.002-04:00

Do not - I repeat - DO NOT attend one of Todd Bentley's healing services!!!! Watch and see why...

Todd Bentley - Vibrating in the Spirit

2008-05-31T15:07:00.001-04:00

Whatever the spirit is, it sure isn't God! More like 40 proof!

Joel Osteen's Calling?: It Isn't Repentance!

2008-05-29T18:42:00.005-04:00

In the Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) yesterday Joel Osteen was interviewed by James D. Davis. During the interview he was asked:

Q. When a preacher reaches prominence, people often ask if he's the next Billy Graham. Do you think you have a shot at it?

A. I don't think about it much. I like to be inspired by Dr. Graham. He's been a hero and a mentor and a friend to me. But we have different races to run. He fulfilled his calling.

Q. What's your own calling?

A. It's the same in a sense: leading people to Christ. But he brings them to repentance, and mine is more focused on hope and encouragement.

And that is one of the main problems with Joel Osteen's teachings. Osteen runs a church. Thousands consider Lakewood to be their home church. Even more watching on TV look to him for their spiritual nourishment.

But what does he offer them? Or rather, what doesn't he offer them? The message of repentance. The message that they are sinners in need of a Savior.

Does he offer them the Gospel? Not really. He says that in every service and broadcast he "gives people an opportunity to receive Christ."

But why would I want to receive Christ? To live a better life? To live my best life now? There are lots of other ways to live a good life too! That isn't the Gospel. The Law and Gospel consist of the fact that I am a sinner doomed to an eternity in hell - except for the fact that Jesus Christ died on a cross for my sins. If all I'm doing is accepting Christ to live a better life I've missed the message of the Gospel.

Now, if Lakewood Church was my church where would I turn to hear the real Gospel? Should I run to another church to hear the message and then run back to Osteen's church so I could feel good? - or doesn't Osteen think a message of repentance is important enough that he needs to teach it?

Todd Wilken - Jeff Schwarz - THEY'RE BACK!!!

2008-05-28T23:20:00.004-04:00

Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz are coming back to haunt LCMS leaders. Click Here for details.

Is Grassley Picking on Pentecostals?

2008-05-28T11:35:00.003-04:00

The Dallas News reports:

North Texas' Copeland sees bias in televangelist inquiry
12:00 AM CDT on Monday, May 26, 2008
Jacqueline L. Salmon, The Washington Post

North Texas preacher Kenneth Copeland is leading a counterattack against the U.S. senator who is investigating alleged lavish spending by six high-profile televangelists.

Some of Mr. Copeland's backers question whether Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, is biased against the Pentecostal televangelists because of his Baptist faith.

Mr. Copeland, a subject of the investigation, recently launched a Web site called believersstandunited.com.

He said the senator's investigation is "aimed at publicly questioning the religious beliefs of the targeted churches, their ministers, and their members while ignoring televangelists of other denominations."

Is Grassley really targeting Pentecostals? Or is it more likely that Word of Faith teachers tend to come from that background? I don't see a single person named in Grassley's investigation that isn't a Word Faith teacher, and certainly not all Pentecostals are Word Faith. I think this is simply an attempt to get all Pentecostals behind him, Word Faith or not.

Revitalizing Non-Lutheran Lutheran Churches

2008-05-18T21:52:00.001-04:00

Great article on Revitalizing Lutheran Congregations That Are No Longer Lutheran.

Heresy Hiatus

2008-05-17T14:21:00.002-04:00

I'll be in Fort Wayne, Indiana next week so I won't be posting for a few days.

The Danger of Not Speaking Out

2008-05-16T09:05:00.009-04:00

Recently two women named Holly and Sharon have been taking issue with the fact that I speak out against what's going on in Lakeland, Florida with Todd Bentley's revival. They would prefer that I just pray for these leaders and not speak out - in fact they say I'm much like the Pharisees who killed Jesus - which, of course, makes them just as judgmental as they claim I am. People like them will tell people to point to the fruit of these people. They forget that some of that fruit that teachers are supposed to produce is correct doctrine.

Two thousand years ago Holly and Sharon would have had to admonish Paul for publicly exposed Hymenaeus and Alexander. Paul said "Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. (1 Tim. 1:18-20).

Paul even dared to speak out against Peter! "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, 'You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?'" (Gal. 2:11-14)

The trouble with the American church today is that it is experience-oriented - feeling supersede Scripture - and if an experience is happening in the church then it must be of God. Word and sacrament are no longer enough for this generation.

Back in 2006 I posted the message below. I think it's worth posting again.

Matthew 7:15-20: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:29-31).

Those engaged in apologetics often get criticized for always attacking other "Christians" who are just trying to bring people to Jesus Christ. "Do you always have to spend so much time attacking others?" Well, let me answer that with a question: How much time should a shepherd spend weeding the wolves out of his flock? How much time should someone spend heeding the warnings of Scripture that there are wolves right IN the church body? Maybe once a year, and let the wolves roam freely the rest of the year? Or should we constantly be on our guard?

Here is an example from the London Telegraph of how modern-day Christianity is reported:

There were only a few empty seats in Earls Court arena on Thursday night, almost all 10,000 places were taken....On the stage in front of them was a short, orange-looking man with a fat tie and a big grin. "Hallelujah," said Dr Morris Cerullo, prosperity preacher and "harvester of souls". "Oh Hallelujah. I'm just so glad to be here."
On the stage behind Cerullo stood several other of America's most determined money-raising evangelists, nodding their heads in approval: Pastor Benny Hinn, an Israeli, who heals believers by blowing on them; Dr Mike Murdock, a crooner, who sings amongst other things about the beauty of money. All of them with their own trademark way of persuading a congregation to part with cash, and all over here on a hunch that bewildered, binge-drinking Britain might finally have become as open to their message as the American Midwest.
"Oh-ba-ba-ba-ba" said Morris, looking at his watch as his congregation wrote out their cheques and credit card details: up to £250,000. It could have been funny, and on television, in another country, it sometimes is. But close up, the hybrid of Christianity and investment banking seemed to me less of a joke than a threat: if you don't give, Cerullo implied, God won't love you, and if he doesn't love you, he'll keep you poor. Worldly success is a measure of divine approval; after all, he points out, look at me.

Cerullo even ba-ba's like a sheep!! What an impression to leave with the non-Christian of Jesus Christ. Is there anyone out there that DOESN'T see a problem with this brand of Christianity?

Willow Creek Abandoning Seeker Sensitive - Sort of?

2008-05-15T13:36:00.002-04:00

It's about time. From Christianity Today:

Willow Creek's 'Huge Shift'

Influential megachurch moves away from seeker-sensitive services.

Matt Branaugh | posted 5/15/2008 08:30AM

After modeling a seeker-sensitive approach to church growth for three decades, Willow Creek Community Church now plans to gear its weekend services toward mature believers seeking to grow in their faith.

The change comes on the heels of an ongoing four-year research effort first made public late last summer in Reveal: Where Are You?, a book coauthored by executive pastor Greg Hawkins. Hawkins said during an annual student ministries conference in April that Willow Creek would also replace its midweek services with classes on theology and the Bible.

Whether more changes are in store for the suburban Chicago megachurch isn't clear. Hawkins declined CT's interview request, and senior pastor Bill Hybels was unavailable for comment.

Since 1975, Willow Creek has avoided conventional church approaches, using its Sunday services to reach the unchurched through polished music, multimedia, and sermons referencing popular culture and other familiar themes. The church's leadership believed the approach would attract people searching for answers, bring them into a relationship with Christ, and then capitalize on their contagious fervor to evangelize others.

But the analysis in Reveal, which surveyed congregants at Willow Creek and six other churches, suggested that evangelistic impact was greater from those who self-reported as "close to Christ" or "Christ-centered" than from new church attendees. In addition, a quarter of the "close to Christ" and "Christcentered" crowd described themselves as spiritually "stalled" or "dissatisfied" with the role of the church in their spiritual growth. Even more alarming to Willow Creek: About a quarter of the "stalled" segment and 63 percent of the "dissatisfied" segment contemplated leaving the church.
...Greg Pritchard, author of Willow Creek Seeker Services, told CT the church "sporadically has recognized it was not teaching a robust enough biblical theology and needed to turn the ship around.
"It is a huge shift," Pritchard said of the church's planned changes to its services. "But they're still using the same marketing methodology. Willow appears to be selecting a new target audience with new felt needs, but it is still a target audience. Can they change? Yes, but it will take more than just shifting their target audience."

Look Out For Lakeland (and Heresy Hunters)

2008-05-14T16:43:00.004-04:00

Charisma''s Lee Grady is expressing some concerns about the Lakeland Revival with Todd Bentley. Here is an excerpt (click here):

I’m a cheerleader for the charismatic movement, so I rejoiced when I heard the news about revivalist Todd Bentley’s extended visit to Ignited Church. It was thrilling to hear the reports of miracles and to watch the crowd grow until a stadium was required to hold everyone. When I visited a service on April 15, I was blessed by Heather Clark’s music and the audience’s exuberant worship. And I laughed with everyone else as I watched Bentley shout his trademarked “Bam! Bam! Bam!” as he prayed for the sick and flailed his tattooed arms over the crowd. Hey, Jesus didn’t pray for people according to the Pharisees’ rulebook, so I’m open to unconventional methods.

But I would be dishonest if I told you that I wholeheartedly embraced what I saw in Lakeland. Something disturbed me, but I kept my mouth shut for three weeks while I prayed, got counsel from respected ministry leaders and searched my heart to make sure I was not harboring a religious spirit. The last thing we need today is more mean-spirited heresy hunters blasting other Christians. I am not a heresy hunter, and I support what is happening in Lakeland because I know God uses imperfect people (like me and you) to reach others for Jesus. At the same time, I believe my questions are honest and my concerns are real.

...Yet I fear another message is also being preached subtly in Lakeland—a message that cult-watchers would describe as a spiritual counterfeit. Bentley is one of several charismatic ministers who have emphasized angels in the last several years. He has taught about angels who bring financial breakthroughs or revelations, and he sometimes refers to an angel named Emma who supposedly played a role in initiating a prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. Bentley describes Emma as a woman in a flowing white dress who floats a few feet off the floor.

...When the Holy Spirit’s power comes on people they may feel weak or even fall. The Spirit’s power can also cause people to tremble, shake, laugh or cry. Such manifestations are biblical and we should leave room for them. But where do we draw the line between legitimate experience and fanatical excess? The apostle Paul had to deal with outrageous charismatic manifestations in the Corinthian church. People were acting like raving lunatics—and turning the church in to a free-for-all of unbridled ecstatic behavior. Paul called for discipline and order, and he reminded early Christians that “the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32). In other words, Paul was saying that no one under the influence of the Holy Spirit should act out of control. In many recent charismatic revivals, ministers have allowed people to behave like epileptics on stage—and they have attributed their attention-getting antics to the Holy Spirit. We may think it’s all in fun (you know, we’re just “acting crazy” for God) but we should be more concerned that such behavior feeds carnality and grieves the Spirit.

...Some of the language used during the Lakeland Revival has created an almost sideshow atmosphere. People are invited to “Come and get some.” Miracles are supposedly “popping like popcorn.” Organizers tout it as the greatest revival in history. Such brash statements cheapen what the Holy Spirit is doing—and they do a disservice to our brothers and sisters who are experiencing New Testament-style revival in countries such as Iran, China and India. We have a long way to go before we experience their level of revival. Let’s stay humble and broken before the Lord.

It appears that Grady thinks that heresy hunters are, by definition, mean-spirited people who speaking out against error. However, using the word "cult-watchers" is okay. Since he's expressing concern I guess he isn't a heresy hunter, but a cult-watcher. If he wants to call people who expose error heresy hunters, fine, but at least he's expressing concern about this movement regardless of what label he wants use. Certainly took him long enough to recognize what the rest of us knew immediately, though.

Incidentally, I call my blog Heresy Hunter for two reasons - one, the obvious twist on my name, and secondly, the fact that anyone who criticizes the teachings of the Word Faith teachers is automatically labeled a heresy hunter.

Strang On Lakeland Revival

2008-05-09T08:20:00.002-04:00

Charisma's Steven Strang has weighed in on the so-called revival taking place with Todd Bentley in Lakeland, Florida. He writes, in part:

The latest outbreak of revival is apparently in Lakeland, Florida. It started with meetings with Todd Bentley on April 2 at Ignited Church pastored by my long-time friend Steve Strader....That was also the church where Rodney Howard Browne's ministry really took off in the United States with extended meetings back in the early 90's.

...Before I attended on Monday I was also beginning to get critical emails about the revival, expressing cautions, etc.

As I've covered the move of the Holy Spirit for the last three decades, I know that anytime there is a genuine move of God, it is guaranteed that certain people will automatically oppose it. These people oppose any move of God that is beyond their own religious experience. The sad thing is that some times they will have some valid criticisms that people like me tend to discount because they are so negative.

Some people also question Todd Bentley's past. He has quite a "testimony" that actually was first reported in Charisma several years ago. But there are those who feel that a person who is less than perfect can't really be used by God. Actually I believe that the Bible teaches that "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:27, NIV).

Also, at one of the meetings recently Paul Cain was given a place on the platform. Unfortunately Paul Cain has disqualified himself from ministry due to various sins in his life he has confessed to including drunkenness and homosexuality. Other ministers have worked to restore him, but we are told that the restoration process has not continued.

...When I was asked later on to describe the service I heard myself saying rather extemporaneously that the first part of the service with worship reminded me of the worship at the Brownsville revival and Todd's style of ministry reminded me of a "Benny Hinn with tattoos." A couple people I've said that to have found it rather funny and have also found it a helpful word picture.

It's too early to really tell the long-term effect of this revival. My report today is neither criticism nor an affirmation. I have not had an opportunity to research any of the miracles or even to talk personally with Todd Bentley. Much of what I know has come from Steve Strader (whom I have known a long time and who I trust).

Yes, "certain people" do criticize these "revivals." They've seen the Toronto Blessing - in my case I went to many of the meetings to see what was going on. They've seen the Brownsville Revival. They've also seen the devastation that results in the lives of disillusioned Christians who rely on experiences for their spiritual food rather than on the Word of God.

If Strang wants to take out of context the passage that God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, then I could give him a list of some very strange cults that God must be using today to confound the wise. Is that his measure of truth? Does he think allowing Paul Cain to speak at this "revival" shows discernment on the part of the leaders at Lakeland? His history is very well known in those circles.

No, give me the Word of God. Give me Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Give me His presence in Word and Sacrament. That's what He left us, not foolish experiences like we see in these revivals.

Holy Spirit Breakout: - Morning Star Fellowship

2008-05-06T15:01:00.002-04:00

Rick Joyner's MorningStar Fellowship Church in Fort Mill, SC in April. And they really think this is the work of the Holy Spirit??? I guess they didn't learn from the Toronto Blessing and Brownsville "revivals."

Todd Bentley Encounters With Angels

2008-05-03T13:34:00.002-04:00

More of Todd Bentley's claims. Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow."

Todd Bentley - Jesus With the Bambi Eyes!

2008-05-01T18:33:00.002-04:00

Bentley is involved in a "revival" in Lakeland, Florida. The first person you'll see is prophetess Patricia King who introduces Bentley. Talk about an unsettling video!

The Old Replaces the New Which Replaces the Old

2008-04-30T14:52:00.007-04:00

Remember the old Benny Hinn? He used to say things like:

"I'm sick and tired of hearing about streets of gold. I don't need gold in heaven. I got to have it now. I mean, when I get to glory, all my bills will be paid, brother. I won't have bills in glory. I won't need to worry about bills in glory. I got to have it here. You say, well, Benny Hinn, isn't that wonderful to have gold streets in glory? Well, of course, but if I hear the thing one more time of how it will be, and how it was, I'm going to kick somebody." (Praise the Lord, November 1990)

Well, three years ago he apparently had a crisis of conscience. On Praise the Lord he said:

"In many churches all you hear is prosperity. We’re sick of it. We’re tired of hearing the same old thing over – it’s souls now! Forget – you know what? You’ll prosper way more if you focus on souls. You’ll prosper. We all believe – look, I believe in prosperity, I tell you. I believe in prosperity. Of course you know I’ve been preaching on TBN now for years. You know what I believe. But here’s what has changed: God has grabbed my heart with a burden." (Feb. 2005)

Wonderful - at least it was a start. But something happened! During the most recent April telethon on TBN he said:

"I'm here to tell the church of Jesus Christ get ready - these are your greatest days now. The conditions of the world are right for you to prosper. When you watch the news they're talking about recession. They talk about troubles. That's not your world. You're in it, not of it....Jesus said that the world would experience crisis. He did not say the church would. He said in the world you'd have tribulation. He didn't say in the church....Now the world has sorrow even when they do prosper. But not us. And you read Psalm 73 where David said he was troubled by the prosperity of the wicked until he realized they're standing on slippery grounds. In other words, God will allow them and allow them continually to pile up their wealth for one reason. One reason only. I'm here to tell you a wealth transfer is on the way....I'm here to prepare you for the greatest wealth transfer in the history of the world!" (April 6, 2008)

Well, it was nice while it lasted!

My Visit to Lakewood Church

2008-04-29T09:38:00.003-04:00

Well, not my visit - the visit of Rev. Dr. Matt Tittle, minister of Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church in Houston. You can read his review here. He gives us a very revealing list of positives and negatives. They include:

Positives:

- Joel Osteen's sermon. It could have been one of mine.
- Victoria Osteen's Bible interpretation. She uses the same method I do.

Negatives:

Parking!!!! Getting in and out was worse than any sporting event or concert I've ever attended.
- The theology of the praise music and the prayers conflicted with the theology of the sermon.

Joel, when a Unitarian Universalist says your sermon could have been one of his, doesn't that raise any alarm bells?

When Victoria interprets the Bible the same way this minister does, shouldn't that concern you?

And when the theology of the praise music - which may accidentally actually contain a little bit of sound theology - conflicts with the theology of the sermon, isn't that a cause for concern?

I know, that's not your calling!

TBN (and Christians) Drop the Ball Again?

2008-04-25T11:20:00.003-04:00

Once again TBN (not a surprise) and much of Christianity is refusing to speak out against what is obviously unbiblical. From Beliefnet:

Christians Curiously Silent On Gay Music-show Host

We're no longer shocked when a popular Christian figure does something to invite the scorn of his or her faithful (so to speak) fans. But when Azariah Southworth, host of "The Remix," a popular Christian version of MTV's "Cribs" told a Nashville paper last week that he's gay, the response was truly astounding: nothing. "I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community," he told Out & About (adding, "and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ"). But so far he says his employers have yet to inform Southworth that he's been fired. And though he says his inbox is filling up with emails supporting his decision to out himself, few are from those who watch the show.

Why the wait in firing him? Perhaps Christian entertainment outlets, too, are hardly shocked at this kind of news anymore, and have other things on their to-do lists before firing the latest transgressor in their stable. Not likely. It could be that public relations is trumping principles: "The Remix" producers may figure they'll only draw more attention to Southworth's editorializing, and prove his point in some minds, by coming down swiftly.

Martin Luther - Word of Faith Preacher

2008-04-23T15:05:00.007-04:00

Did you know that Martin Luther preached the prosperity gospel? Neither did I until I heard this quote from biblical scholar Benny Hinn on the TBN Praise-a-thon April 6th, 2008:

Martin Luther said Satan will use two weapons against the saints to stop the Gospel - tyrants or poverty. This is Martin Luther, the great reformer. The German priest that brought justification by faith to the church. It's in one of his books. I read it. He said Satan will stop the Gospel only two ways - by raising tyrants. By raising men like Nero or like somebody else. Or he'll convince the church that poverty is what God wants for them.

Now that is a shock! It looks like it's time to turn the LCMS into a full-fledged Word of Faith church - just watch it grow then!

Now I know there's no good reason to doubt the word of Benny Hinn but just for the record I suppose we should look at what Luther actually said. I found what Benny Hinn was referring to in Luther's Commentary on Galatians 6:6. Here it is in its entirety so you can see what Luther really said. I've highlighted some key passages. Galatians 6:6 by the way says "Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.":

Here Paul is preaching to hearers that they should share all good things with their preachers. I often used to wonder why the apostle was so diligent in commanding the churches to provide for their preachers. For in the papacy I saw everyone contributing with great generosity for the construction of magnificent churches, for the increase in the income and the growth in the revenues of those who dealt with sacred things.Thus the social position and the wealth both of the bishops and of the other clergy increased so much that everywhere they had possession of the best and most fertile lands. And so it seemed to me unnecessary for Paul to command this when the clergy were not only receiving donations of every good thing in abundance but were actually becoming very rich. Therefore I thought that people should be dissuaded from giving more rather than persuaded to give, for I saw that the excessive generosity of people was only increasing the greed of the clergy. But now we know the reason why formerly they had an abundance of every good thing, but now pastors and ministers of the Word suffer want.

Formerly, when wicked and false doctrine was taught, the pope became an emperor, and the cardinals and bishops became kings and princes of the world; so abundant was their prosperity, derived from the Patrimony of Peter—who claimed not to have any silver or gold (Acts 3:6) —and from so-called “spiritual goods.” But now that the Gospel has begun to be preached, those who confess it are about as rich as Christ and the apostles once were! We are finding out by experience how conscientiously people observe this commandment about providing for the preachers of the Word, which Paul so persistently urges and inculcates upon hearers both here and in other passages. We do not know of a single city today that provides for its preachers. They are not being provided for from any donations given to Christ, to whom no one gives anything. For when He was born, He used a manger instead of a cradle, because there was no room for Him in the inn (Luke 2:7). While He lived on earth, He had nowhere to lay His head (Matt. 8:20). At the end He was stripped of His clothing; and He died a miserable death on the cross, naked, hanging between two thieves (Matt. 27:28–38). No, our preachers are being provided for from donations given to the pope in exchange for the abominations of suppressing the Gospel, teaching human traditions, and establishing wicked forms of worship.

When I read the exhortations in which Paul preaches to the churches either about providing for their own preachers or about contributing something for the alleviation of the poverty of the saints in Judea, I am deeply amazed, and I blush with shame that such a great apostle is compelled to use so many words in obtaining this favor from the churches. To the Corinthians he presents this matter for two entire chapters. I would not be willing to defame Wittenberg, which is nothing compared with Corinth, as he defamed Corinth when he begged for support for the poor with such anxiety and solicitude. But that is the fate of the Gospel. When it is preached, not only is no one willing to give anything for the support of its ministers and the maintenance of schools; but everyone begins to rob and steal and to take all sorts of advantage of everyone else. In short, men seem suddenly to have degenerated into wild beasts. On the other hand, when the doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1) are proclaimed, men become truly lavish and spontaneously offer everything to their seducers. The prophets denounce the same sin in the Jews, that they contributed to the support of godly priests and Levites only with reluctance but were extremely generous to the wicked ones.

Only now do we understand how necessary this commandment of Paul’s about providing for the ministers of the churches really was. There is nothing that Satan can bear less than the light of the Gospel. When it shines, he becomes furious and tries with all his might to extinguish it. He attempts this in two ways: first, by the deceit of heretics and the might of tyrants; secondly, by poverty and famine. Because Satan has been unable thus far to suppress the Gospel in our territories through heretics and tyrants, he is now trying the second way; he is depriving the ministers of the Word of their livelihood, so that poverty and famine will force them to forsake their ministry, and the unfortunate people, deprived of the Word, will eventually degenerate into animals. To make this dreadful evil come more quickly, Satan is vigorously pressing it through wicked magistrates in the cities and nobles in the country, who are seizing and misappropriating the possessions of the churches, from which the ministers of the Gospel should get their living. “From the hire of a harlot,” says the prophet Micah (1:7), “she gathered her possessions, and to the hire of a harlot they shall return.” In addition, Satan leads even good men away from the Gospel by means of satiety. A constant and daily attention to the Word makes it cloying and contemptible to many, who then gradually become neglectful in the practice of all the duties of godliness. No one nowadays is bringing up his children in the knowledge of good literature, much less of sacred literature, but only in ways of making a living. All these are efforts by Satan for suppressing the Gospel in our territories, and that without the might of tyrants or the deceit of heretics.

Thus it is not useless for Paul to admonish the hearers of the Word to share all good things with those who teach. He says to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 9:11): “If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits?” Therefore hearers should minister in their material needs to those from whom they have received spiritual benefits. But today the peasants, the townspeople, and the nobles only abuse our doctrine to get rich. Formerly, under the dominion of the pope, there was no one who did not pay something to the priests annually for so-called anniversary Masses, vigils, etc. The mendicant friars had their share too. Trade with Rome and the daily offerings also got something. Our people have been set free from these and endless other exactions by the Gospel. But they are so far from being grateful for this freedom that they have been changed from prodigal donors to thieves and robbers, who will not give even a pittance either for the Gospel or for its ministers or for the holy poor. This is the surest possible sign that they have already lost the Word and faith and have been excommunicated from our blessings, for it is impossible that true believers would permit their pastors to suffer need. But because they laugh and poke fun when their pastors suffer some sort of adversity, and because they deny them their support or do not give it as faithfully as they should, it is certain that they are worse than heathen. Soon they will learn by experience what calamities will follow this ingratitude, for they will lose both their material and their spiritual goods. It is inevitable that grave punishment should follow this sin. I am sure that the only reason why the churches in Galatia, Corinth, etc., were so confused by the false apostles was that they had neglected their faithful teachers. Finally it is the utmost justice that someone who refuses an obol to the God who offers every good thing and eternal life should end up giving a gold piece to the devil, who offers him every kind of calamity and eternal death. Whoever is not willing to serve God in a small way for his own great advantage, let him serve the devil in a big way to his own supreme loss. Only now that the Word is shining do we see what the devil and the world are.

When Paul says “all good things,” this is not to be taken to mean that everyone should share all his possessions with his preacher. No, it means that he should provide for him liberally, giving him as much as is needed to support his life in comfort. The word κατηχούμενος is familiar to anyone who knows Greek.

Hmmm!

The papacy and the rich bishops with their fertile lands = the Word of Faith empires and preachers with Lear jets, Lincoln Continentals? No, must be a coincidence!

Cardinals and bishop getting rich and the real preachers are as poor as the apostles? - But Word Faith teaches the apostles and Christ were rich! Maybe I've been misunderstanding the Hinns of this world - they wouldn't contradict Scripture or Hinn's hero Martin Luther, would they?

David Strand and Katharine Jefferts Schori

2008-04-21T19:11:00.008-04:00

Has David Strand been listening to the head of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori? Probably not, but they certainly made some similar statements.

In an article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, in response to the fact that 7,000+ people had signed a petition to bring back Issues, Etc. he "pointed out that the 7,000 signatures make up one-third of 1 percent of the church body." (St. Louis Post Dispatch, April 15, 2008)

Meaning, of course, that he's not worried about a minuscule number like 7,000 Lutherans.

In the April 19th Salt Lake Tribune the Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, head of the Episcopal Church was quoted:

...one issue continues to divide Anglicans among themselves: the 2003 ordination of New Hampshire's Bishop Gene Robinson, an openly gay man in a committed relationship. Some congregations already have pulled out of the denomination, including the entire Nigerian Diocese, to voice their objections.

Ultimately, Jefferts Schori does not believe the Anglican Communion will splinter over it.

"It's a very, very small part of this church, less than 1 percent, that sees this of sufficient concern to want to leave over it," she said. "Our job is to bless their going and reassure them our door is always open and that we'll keep the light on for them."

Hmmm! Do you think that perhaps David Strand is ready - maybe even anxious - to bless our going, since we're supposedly such a small number?

Earthquake Rattles St. Louis

2008-04-18T14:11:00.003-04:00

From St. Louis Today:

Earthquake measuring 5.2 rattles St. Louis region

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

04/18/2008

A predawn earthquake rattled Southern Illinois and eastern Missouri early today, waking up neighborhoods across the area and flooding police departments with calls.

The quake measured a 5.2 magnitude and occurred at 4:37 a.m. CDT. It was centered in southeastern Illinois, five miles from the town of Bellmont, according to Timothy M. Kusky, director of the Center for Environmental Sciences at St. Louis University.

President Kieschnick, you might think it's okay to get 1/3 of 1% of LCMS members angry, but I wouldn't argue with God if I were you! :-)

Noooo! He's Not Word of Faith!

2008-04-18T08:38:00.003-04:00

Joel Osteen's message for today:

Something Out of Nothing

Today's Scripture

“The earth was formless and void…and God said, Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:2-3).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Are you believing God for something today that seems impossible? We serve a great and mighty God. and He can create something out of nothing. He can make a way when there seems to be no way! Genesis tells us that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. But before He spoke the world into existence, it was formless and void. If God can make the world out of nothing, He can take the empty places in your life and create something beautiful, too! He can speak light into your darkest hour. He can take your formless dreams and give them shape. He can resurrect your dormant gifts and talents! He can make your crooked places straight! Remember, you are created in the image of almighty God. There’s power in your words, and there’s power when you’re in agreement with Him. Start saying what God says about your situation. Speak life to your broken dreams, today. Stay in an attitude of faith and expectancy. As you do, God will take you places that you’ve never dreamed, and you’ll live in victory all the days of your life!

A Stroll Down Y2K Memory Lane

2008-04-16T15:05:00.004-04:00

Check out this "Time Bomb 2000" ad from Jack Van Impe, where all hell was expected to break loose in 14 months when the clock struck midnight 2000 AD. And you could have bought this emergency DVD for only $24.95. I'm not sure what Jack would have done with the money in the midst of the Y2K crisis though since he wouldn't have been able to get to it in his bank account.

Why?

2008-04-16T08:16:00.001-04:00

Obama Vs. Kim Clement

2008-04-11T10:27:00.005-04:00

Barack Obama's run for president is over. AP reports:

Republican Sen. John McCain has erased Sen. Barack Obama's 10-point advantage in a head-to-head matchup, leaving him essentially tied with both Democratic candidates in an Associated Press-Ipsos national poll released Thursday.

The survey showed the extended Democratic primary campaign creating divisions among supporters of Obama and rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and suggests a tight race for the presidency in November no matter which Democrat becomes the nominee.

The Associated Press is wrong, however. The real reason for McCain's rise isn't because he's benefiting from the conflicts between Obama and Clinton. The real reason is a prophecy by Kim Clement. He is claiming that Obama will become the next president:

God says, "There is a sway in the political arena; a change in your political world. Enough of this discussion about Jeremiah Wright." God said, "This makes no difference. It is a spirit that has endeavored to rock and sway the people and to divide them." God said, "I will sway it next week. Yes, I will, and because of Pennsylvania, I will raise up the man I want," says the Lord, "to rule and to reign and to declare victory in the Middle East."

We declare victory in the Middle East tonight. We declare victory in America tonight. For the Spirit of God says, "Hear, oh people of Zion. Those who have been afraid in Zion, those who have been afraid in this nation--fear not! For your news media has intimidated you, and therefore, it is My turn. Next week, I will arise. I will change everything."

"I'M TALKING ABOUT OBAMA"

For they have unfairly spoken against an African man, and I'm not talking about Jeremiah Wright; I'm talking about Obama. For God said, "Even though you may think this or that, there is an element of righteousness inside of him to reach out for Jesus. Therefore, I will sway it next week," says the Spirit of God, and I will cause My man, My power--to exalt in the White House what is necessary to declare victory. For this time, I shall rise up and I shall make known who I am in a way that I have never done it in this nation," says the Lord.

We all know that Kim Clement hasn't made an accurate prediction yet. Thus, Obama's run for president is effectively over!

TBN's Fertile Soil

2008-04-10T15:14:00.006-04:00

Last week Rod Parsley made this statement on the TBN telethon:

Seed is important, soil is important, season is important. And the soil that we are going to give you an opportunity to sow into here just in a moment, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, I have found to be the most fertile soil that I have ever sown seed into in my life.

I wouldn't doubt it. Soil needs fertilizer and they spread more manure around than anyone else!

Paula White's Heretical Lies

2008-04-09T16:55:00.003-04:00

Paula White and Larry Huch teaching countless heresies, including the teaching that Jesus told us not to pray to Him and that Jesus isn't the only begotten Son of God.

Steve Munsey Heresy

2008-04-06T14:13:00.004-04:00

I was watching the semi-annual telethon on the Trinity Broadcasting Network last week and, to my surprise - not! - came across these purely heretical statements by Steve Munsey.

Jesus says “I will bless you a hundred fold in this life and in the life to come with houses, lands, brothers and sisters. Now, I’m just raising a question. I’m not trying to be big theological order here, and maybe somebody can help me. But if you want to know if you’re going to get a good reward in heaven, how are you being rewarded here now? “For I will bless you now and in the world to come....Jesus says when you give to the Gospel – Gospel means good news – when you give to promote that, I will bless you down here. And I want to let every body know that I’ve already tried to live for God with poverty and tried to be spiritual and I failed. I want to be honest with you. When somebody tells you that you’re more spiritual when you don’t have anything they’re lying through their teeth. Because when I’m broke I want to get drunk. I want – oh, come on now – “Well, that will make you pray more!” It does not make me pray more. It only makes me cry more. I’m just being real! Am I talking to any real people out there? But when I’m being blessed, the joy of the Lord is my strength and I can shout and lift my hands and shout to the Lord.

This so-called preacher knows absolutely nothing about the Gospel. If I ever saw a heretic, this guy fits the bill.

The Reclaim the LCMS Warrior

2008-04-04T09:52:00.004-04:00

Found this at The Wittenberg Trail. Don't know who created it, but it's great!

Mollie Hemingway Is Blogging

2008-04-03T16:20:00.002-04:00

Mollie Hemingway, who wrote Radio Silence in the Wall Street Journal on the cancellation of Issues, Etc. is now blogging about the LCMS at Augsburg1530. Don't miss it!

The Dangers of Bob Larson Theology

2008-04-02T10:31:00.004-04:00

Sometime during the night I received the following instant message on Meebo from an unknown individual in the UK who was so confused he or she apparently thought I was Bob Larson. The message says:

please help me, all my life has been struggle, from birth untill now, i keep waiting for it to end but it doesn't, it just goes on. now i look forward to death because the struggle exhausts me. i saw your uk program and recognise the cursed and inhabited as my life. when i try to think clearly my throat fills so i can't breath. i am 48 and crying. please help me

What would Bob Larson's answer be to this person? Undoubtedly he would try to cast demons out of him or her, and when that didn't work the person would probably blame himself. Instead the answer is in turning to Jesus Christ Himself for refuge. This person needs to find a good pastor who rightly divides the Word of God - perhaps not an easy task in Great Britain. He may need to hear the Gospel and he may need a doctor, but he certainly doesn't need a sensationalist like Bob Larson.

Todd Wilken on Church Consultants and Heresy

2008-03-31T18:22:00.004-04:00

Find more videos like this on The Wittenberg Trail

Todd Wilken’s Video on Church Consultants and Heresy!

How to be distinctly and unapologetically Lutheran in a post-denominational world. You can’t tone down Lutheran theology and practice without making it something else!

Mollie Hemingway on the White Horse Inn

2008-03-29T08:22:00.002-04:00

White Horse Inn producer Shane Rosenthal just let me know that Mollie Hemingway, who wrote the article "Radio Silence" in the Wall Street Journal was interviewed by Michael Horton about Issues, Etc. Click Here to listen to the interview.

Issues, Etc. Makes the Wall Street Journal

2008-03-28T08:21:00.009-04:00

Check out this on the Wall Street Journal (CLICK HERE). Excerpt:

Radio Silence

By MOLLIE ZIEGLER HEMINGWAY
March 28, 2008

Usually radio hosts have to offend sacred moral sensibilities to be thrown off the air. Opie and Anthony were fired after they encouraged a couple to have sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Don Imus lost his job after using racist and sexist epithets against the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

What would Martin Luther do?

But when the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod canceled its popular, nationally syndicated radio program "Issues, Etc.," listeners were baffled. Billed as "talk radio for the thinking Christian," the show was known for its lively discussions analyzing cultural influences on the American church. It seemed like precisely the thing that the Missouri Synod, a 2.4-million-member denomination whose system of belief is firmly grounded in Scripture and an intellectually rigorous theology, would enthusiastically support.

Broadcast from the nation's oldest continuously run religious radio station, KFUO-AM in St. Louis, and syndicated throughout the country, "Issues, Etc." had an even larger audience world-wide, thanks to its podcast's devoted following. With 14 hours of fresh programming each week, the show was on the leading edge of what's happening in culture, politics and broader church life. The Rev. Todd Wilken interviewed the brightest lights from across the theological spectrum on news of the day. Guests included Oxford University's Dr. Alister McGrath, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Albert Mohler and more postmodern types, like Tony Jones, national coordinator for a church network called Emergent Village.

This is a fantastic article that lays the whole issue on the line and, in all likelihood, the real reason behind the cancellation.

First Things also has a good article today although it sounds like the author doesn't believe in Genesis, as does Get Religion.

LCMS and the Seeker-Sensitive Movement

2008-03-27T16:34:00.009-04:00

As we know, the LCMS is in a state of crisis these days, moving away from being the Confessional church founded by C. F. W. Walther and embracing the Seeker-Sensitive and possibly Emergent Church style of church.

I am in the process of examining this transition and how it is influencing the Lutheran church - the LCMS in particular -, and may either post my findings on the internet or make it into a booklet for distribution to congregations that need to see what is happening to their church and the Synod as a whole. The body of Christ as a whole is not very discerning and I don't think Lutherans are an exception to that rule. I believe this is a vital first step in restoring the church to its original purpose as I believe the majority of Lutherans are in the dark as to what is happening in the Synod.

In doing this I need information on how these movements have influenced particular churches within the LCMS. I would have to be able to document any information provided rather than rely on heresay - documentation would include such things as articles in print from a particular church or things posted on the church's website, audio, etc. If you have such information please e-mail me at heresyhunter at gmail.com. Thanks!

Joel Osteen's NOW Faith

2008-03-27T16:21:00.004-04:00

I thought I'd seen every possible way to twist the meaning of a passage, but I was wrong. Joel Osteen found a new way in Wednesday's version of "Today's Word with Joel and Victoria":

Now Faith

Today's Scripture

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

What are you hoping for in your life today? The Bible says that faith gives substance to the things you hope for. Notice this verse starts by saying, “Now faith…” It’s not “later” faith or “one day” faith.

Sort of reminds me of the Jehovah's Witness twist on Jesus' promise to the thief on the cross, "I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise."

Casting Out Demons - For a Price!

2008-03-26T08:06:00.004-04:00

No, this blog hasn't become exclusively a "Restore Issues, Etc." website, but I will have regular updates.

"Exorcist" Bob Larson is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to finally cast those demons out of your life. He writes in a March 17th e-mail:

Dear Friend,

Do you want to cast Satan out of your life?

Are you tired of the bondage, harassment, and oppression of demonic forces that threaten to destroy you or someone you love? Overcoming these attacks lies in knowing what to confess and how to confess it.

You need to know how to:

Confess your destiny in Christ
Confess your purpose for living
Confess your calling for service
Confess your anointing for power
Confess words that defeat the devil
Confess your financial prosperity so your needs are met
Confess your leadership abilities to stop what Satan steals from you
Confess a warrior's oath to wage war against the demons attacking you

I am ready to enter into spiritual agreement with you to declare these dynamic, soul-freeing confessions. I'll say the words right along with you and teach you how to believe what you are confessing. The results will change your life forever.

These declarations of victory are found on four DVDs (eight hours of teaching) entitled:

CONFESSIONS TO CAST OUT SATAN!

Because you are a special friend and trusted us enough to give us your email address, I want to do something very special for you!

Our new prime-time reality TV show "The Real Exorcist" is due to premiere on Wednesday, March 19th. We desperately need your help financially. Because of our urgent situation, here is how I want to sow into your life:

1) If you are one of 1,000 Freedom Friends to share a gift of $100 or more, I'll send you all eight hours of the CONFESSIONS teaching.

2) If your gift is $50 or more I'll send you the first four hours of CONFESSIONS.

3) If you'll give at least $20, and pray about supporting us monthly, I'll send the first of the CONFESSIONS, "How to Confess Your Destiny."

I want to bless you and covenant with you in prayer to stop every attack of Satan on your life. I can only do that if you have these DVDs in your hands to watch. That's why I'm practically giving away these DVDs, praying that when you watch them and God does a miracle in your life, you'll abundantly bless our ministry in return. Thank you for remembering us when you have your victory because of these CONFESSIONS.

I tell you, if you saw Jesus and brother Bob Larson side by side you could hardly tell them apart! He's so concerned about getting the demons out of your life that he's practically giving away those DVDs - assuming you have a spare $100!

Issues Petition Video

2008-03-25T13:53:00.002-04:00

The link for signing the petition is here. As of this writing there are over 4,400 signatures.

Additionally, David O. Berger of the LCMS Board for Communications Services has written an open letter to the Praesidium of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. It can be found here.

KFUO supposedly restored the archives for Issues, Etc. after removing them, however you will note that all of the links for downloading or listening to the shows are dead.

Take Issue With the Issues Cancellation

2008-03-20T07:59:00.007-04:00

Let's not let this matter die out, as I'm sure the LCMS is desperately hoping it will. This could be make or break for the confessional wing of Lutheranism. The things the LCMS has been introducing, such as Ablaze and the Church Growth Movement, are the very things I was trying to escape when I joined the Lutheran church and I'm sure that's the case for many people. Below is some helpful information provided by Aaron Nemoyer.

Update at 12 noon. I have just received a reply from David Strand. He offered no explanation as requested and so I have informed him that I am withdrawing all financial support to the LCMS and requesting from my own church that they use my donations strictly for their own purposes without sending any of it to the LCMS district or headquarters. It is my understanding that this can be done. If enough people do this it will have an impact.

Here is all sorts of contact information to tell people what you think about this, let them know how important Issues, Etc. was to us, and ask why the show was cancelled:

Rev. David L. Strand
Executive Director
Board for Communication
(314) 996-1200
(314) 822-0000
david.strand@lcms.org

Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
(888) 843-5267
(314) 965-9000
FAX: (314) 996-1016
infocenter@lcms.org

KFUO Radio Station
(314) 725-0099
(314) 725-3030‎
(314) 721-2969

Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick
Synod President
(314) 996-1402
(314) 842-7110
president@lcms.org

LC-MS Board of Directors
(314) 996-1350

------------------------

Meanwhile, an online petition has been started up about Issues, Etc. being ended. Here's the link:
http://www.petitiononline.com/Issues/petition.html

For anyone who comes across this and has Facebook, the most discussion it seems is going on at the "Bring back Issues ETC!!!" Facebook group.
http://facebook.com/group.php?gid=11679316089

------------------------

Finally, financial help for the Schwarz and Wilken families can be sent to the following address. Just put in the memo line that it’s for the “Schwarz/Wilken Fund”. The Schwarzes especially need the help as Jeff Schwarz's wife Beth has been recently diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy and they need to go to Mayo Clinic to try figuring out what can be done.

"Schwarz/Wilken Fund"
Saint Paul Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 247
Hamel, IL 62046

All help and all prayers are appreciated.

------------------------

I will be continuing to post information and resources relating to the cancellation of Issues, Etc. and firing of Rev. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz. So, if you could please help me draw people to the resource of my blog, I would really appreciate it.
http://latinkid.blogspot.com/2008/03/pulled-from-air-issues-etc.html

God bless,
--Aaron Nemoyer

KFUO Statement

2008-03-19T16:46:00.004-04:00

For what it's worth - not much in my opinion- here is the statement KFUO has posted now on their website. They have reinstated the archives of the show:

For programmatic and business reasons, the decision was made this week to discontinue the "Issues, Etc." program on KFUO-AM. We look forward to bringing you new programming in this time slot in the near future. Also, we thank "Issues" host Rev. Todd Wilken and producer Mr. Jeff Schwarz for their years of service on behalf of the station. Those interested may still download past "Issues, Etc." programs from the "Issues" archive on this website. Thank you sincerely for your continued support of KFUO's radio ministry.

There is now a petition online to voice your concern to the LCMS about the cancellation of Issues, Etc. You can sign at http://www.petitiononline.com/Issues/petition.html

Unholy Tuesday

2008-03-19T11:48:00.002-04:00

Time to voice our concerns to the powers that be!

Issues, Etc. Canceled

2008-03-18T16:03:00.005-04:00

According to The Wittenberg Trail:

Today the LCMS ordered the cancellation of the popular radio show Issues, Etc. without stating a reason why, and terminated the employment of Pastor Todd Wilken, the show's host, and Mr. Jeff Schwarz, the show's producer.

Speaking as an occasional guest on the show, I find this to be an extremely sad day for the LCMS. Check out the Wittenberg Trail for more information as it becomes available. A fund has also been set up to help Todd and Jeff on Wittenberg Trail. Additionally, to support the Schwarzes and the Wilkens donate to Saint Paul Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 247, Hamel, IL 62046 Make your gifts - Wilken/Schwarz Fund..

Giving to Receive?

2008-03-17T22:30:00.002-04:00

One of the mottos of the Word Faith movement is that you have to give to receive. Give God $100 and He will repay you a hundred-fold. By contrast, Oswald Bayer writes:

In his last will and testament Paul Gerhardt reminds his only son, still living after all his other children had died: "Do good to people, even if they cannot pay you back because...." The reader expects that the sentence will continue with: "God will repay you." However, Paul Gerhardt frustrates that expectation by continuing: "...because for what human beings cannot repay, the Creator of heaven and earth has already repaid long ago when he created you, when he gave you his only Son, and when he accepted and received you in holy baptism as his child and heir." (Oswald Bayer, "Justification as Basis and Boundary for Theology," Lutheran Quarterly 15 (Autumn 2001): 276, as quoted in "Handling the Word of Truth," John T. Pless)

Itching Ears

2008-03-15T21:16:00.002-04:00

Christianity Today has a good article that reminds those of us who are involved in apologetics and those of us who like to read blogs like this one that there is danger in the old itching ears syndrome. While Scripture tells us to expose those who are teaching false doctrine, we may find that the sin nature in us causes us to take a secret delight in running down other teachers in an effort to make ourselves look good:

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

When we come across these words from the apostle Paul to Timothy, we tend to see this verse as a description of our day and age. How else do we explain the elegant churches whose liberalism has overtaken their once-glorious heritage? Or the masses that fill stadiums to hear prosperity teachers tell us how good we are and how much God wants to bless us financially?
Preaching that tickles the ears. We nod our heads in agreement and pray …
Lord, deliver us from the liberals who don't believe anything and don't preach the truth.
Lord, deliver us from those who give good advice and moral platitudes without the Good News of individual salvation.
Lord, deliver us from the stand-up comics who fill stadiums with ear-tickling, side-splitting sermons that are all about us and not about God.
Then, we sit back on Sunday mornings with a smile, satisfied in our assurance that our ears don't itch.
But are we deceiving ourselves? Do we truly believe we have escaped the temptation to listen to pastors who tickle our ears? Is it possible to preach harshly against certain sins and yet still be an ear-tickling preacher?

Click here for the rest of the article.

Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland in Pentecostal Bedlam

2008-03-14T14:21:00.001-04:00

Just in case you need a laugh to start off your weekend.

We're Not About Doctrine

2008-03-12T08:30:00.004-04:00

From Monday's Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Patricia Sheridan: Historically, religion has been used as a tool for war. You know, "My God is better than your God" sort of thing. How is your church different?

Joel Osteen: We try to focus on what we have in common rather than what we disagree on. We don't claim to know it all. We believe what we feel in the Bible is the truth. We're not about arguing and debating doctrine.

Well Joel, if you believe what you feel is true, and since feelings are notoriously unreliable and are no measure of truth, then your beliefs about the Deity of Christ, salvation, etc. may change in the future, correct?

As for not arguing and debating doctrine, what happened to Jude's admonition?

Jude 3-4: "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord."

What do you do with Paul's statements?: "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies....Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 1:3 and 4:16)

I know - you probably don't feel that it has been interpreted correctly.

Redefining God

2008-03-11T10:24:00.005-04:00

Joel Osteen's morning message today says:

Today's Scripture

“According to Your faith, be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

A lot of time people think that when they have a need, that if God wanted to, He could just automatically meet it. But Jesus didn’t say, according to your need be it unto you; He said, according to your faith.

Really? You mean God is limited in what He can do? He can't provide us with our needs unless we believe He can?

Going back three chapters to Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus said:

25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus says nothing here about having to have enough faith before God can supply your needs, although He does ask us to have faith and not to worry. He tells us to seek His kingdom and God will supply your needs. However, even the pagans would have nothing unless God permitted them to have food, clothing and housing.

As for the passage Osteen quoted, Jesus did ask the blind men if they thought Jesus could heal them, and then responded in the affirmative. Jesus healed them based on their confession. However, just a couple of verses later we read:

32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."

There is no indication here that the demon-possessed man had any faith at all. Jesus acted out of pure grace in this case. So it is apparent that God can act independent of whether we have faith or not.

England, Beware of an American Invasion!

2008-03-07T10:10:00.004-05:00

Just received this e-mail from that well-known "exorcist" Bob Larson:

"The Real Exorcist" is for REAL!

Wednesday, March 19, 10:00 p.m. UK time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time), our new prime-time reality show premieres in England, the UK, and Europe. The U. S. release of the series will be announced soon. For more information, go to www.virginmediatv.uk.co. and click on the Virgin1 icon. Please pray for the launching of this series internationally.

I know there are lots of people in Great Britain reading this blog, so let us know what sort of a disaster this show turns out to be!

The Incredible Power of Jesse Duplantis

2008-03-06T18:37:00.003-05:00

On the February 6th Praise the Lord show, Jesse Duplantis made this incredible claim:

I went to Wendy’s and I saw one of my school mates and he said “Boy, didn’t we have a good 40th year reunion?” I said I certainly did. I said I can’t wait for the 50th. And he looked at me and he said “Do you think we’re going to make it?” I said I’m gonna make it. I don’t know about you. I’m gonna make it. “How can you say such a thing?” Let me shock you. Let me shock you now with the Word of God. Death and life are in the power of who? The tongue. It’s not in the power of cancer. It’s not in the power of diabetes. It’s not in the power of high blood pressure. It’s not in the power of anything or viruses. It’s in the power of your mouth.

Back in June of 2001 he made it clear that we control when we die:

Jesus was His own Man and He controlled His destiny and He reached His destination. Well, when I read that I said "Well, can I control my destiny and reach my destination?" The Lord said "Be ye therefore imitators of God as dear children." Whatever Jesus can do, you can do. In fact, you can do greater works. Now when you say that you're going to get letters. People say "Who do you think you are?" "Everything Jesus said I was." Now, whether you got a problem with that, that's your problem. Ain't my problem, you see. But He made me an offer I couldn't refuse. So I took it. And I just decided - bless God - that I would live the way the Lord said I could live. He said if I'd be blessed in the city, blessed in the field, blessed going in, then I never expected not to be blessed. He said if I could - more people freak out on divine health. They don't mind you getting healed, but if you start saying you'll never get sick, get ready, because somebody will write a book against you and call you a heretic! Well, He said I could walk like that. I mean Abraham was 140 years old having babies. That's good. Moses was 120 years old climbing mountains. Climbing mountains at 120 and he doesn't wear no glasses. That's good. Mary had a baby, an immaculate conception, at 15. That's real good. Think about that. They couldn't kill the apostle Paul until he was ready. They couldn't kill Peter until he was ready. He determined when. Peter said "I'm [throwing?] the latest tabernacle down and then I'm out of here." They tried to kill him and they just woke the boy up while they was sleeping. Peter - they had to kick him to get him up. He wasn't worried about it. Why? It wasn't his time. Now that's what God said.

Bet you didn't know you had that power, did you? As a matter of fact, I don't think God knew either until Jesse taught it!