THE LOST CHURCH
The churches are going from God’s vision to man’s vision of what church should be. They have gone from God’s bible driven church to a purpose driven program church. Instead of following God’s instructions for His church, they have chosen to follow Rick Warren or Bill Hybel’s instructions. Many use the book Transitioning by Dan Southerland to achieve this goal.
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves
will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things,
to draw away the disciples after themselves.
ACTS 20 : 29, 30
The sad part is that by the time the members of the congregation realize something is wrong with what the pastor and his chosen leaders are doing, it’s to late.
4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in
(who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus,
that they might bring us into bondage),
GALATIANS 2 : 4
As Dr. Michael Youssef put it so well, the church is now conforming to the world, rather than requiring the world to repent. God’s way, take Jesus Christ to the world, the purpose driven program driven church’s way, bring the world into the church. They preach community, unity and all must work together, whether Christian, Jew or Muslim, we must join together for the common good and peace for our global community.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
ROMANS 12 : 2
5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world,
and the world hears them.
6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is
not of God does not hear us.
By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 JOHN 4 : 5, 6
"Rick Warren predicts that fundamentalism, of all varieties, will be 'one of the big enemies of the 21st century.' 'Muslim fundamentalism, Christian fundamentalism, Jewish fundamentalism, secular fundamentalism.
What are those Five Fundamentals of the Faith?
1. The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1; John 20:28;
Hebrews 1:8-9).
2. The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27).
3. The Blood Atonement (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25, 5:9;
Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14).
4. The Bodily Resurrection (Luke 24:36-46;
1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 15:14-15).
5. The inerrancy of the scriptures themselves (Psalms 12:6-7;
Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20).
Our faith makes us an enemy of the 21st century world church. THANK GOD.
These purpose driven, program driven churches will lose the majority of faithful bible followers to true bible teaching churches, but they are thrilled filling their churches with the unchurched (their new word for sinners.) Where they give them a washed down gospel, stating Jesus will take your sins away, just believe and receive, and welcome to God’s family. They are never told they need to admit they are sinners and must repent of their sins. They are led into a false salvation.
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness,
so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached,
or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received,
or a different gospel which you have not accepted—
you may well put up with it!
2 CORINTHIANS 11 : 3, 4
They have turned God’s house into a place of entertainment and feel good churches, never mentioning to the people the wrath of God to come. They build their mega churches based on community programs, doing their good works, which is the bait to lure the unchurched (sinners) to their churches.
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
PSALM 127 : 1
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
EPHESIANS 2 : 8, 9
A strange distortion of truth has spread like a grass fire on a windy day through churches around the world. It calls God's people not just to understand our changing times from the world's perspective, but to actually blow with the wind and help fuel the transformation. This Church Growth Movement (CGM) uses familiar old words to persuade the people, but it conforms God's Word as well as human thinking to politically correct views of unity, community, service and
change.
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men,
in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
EPHESIANS 4 : 14
Living on an Island, one can’t stop information from getting out. One local church pastor when asked if they were going purpose driven, he denied it, yet they have done the steps listed in transitioning the church to a purpose driven, program driven church. Be listening for the next step in transitioning, a plan to extend the campus in the future, see you don’t call it church anymore, you know the type, with their café’ and all the trappings to lure the unchurched (sinners) in.
While these purpose/program driven pastors preach community, unity and love to the unbelievers and the community, they attack the faithful Christians in their own churches if they dare to question them. These pastors are hypocrites, they call God’s faithful Pharisees because they will not blindly follow this dictatorship who has taken over God’s church for his purpose, his vision.
Here is an example of how a pastor dealt with those who dared to question him.
Yet unfair and misleading labels continue to undermine the credibility of faithful believers. In the article "165 members ousted from Gardendale Baptist," Brad Olson wrote, Read the whole story at http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/04/4-purpose-resisters.htm
Rick Warren is more subtle, and his references to health versus disease cloak his hostility toward "unhealthy" members who resist his agenda. In The Purpose Driven Church, he writes:
"When a human body is out of balance we call that disease.... Likewise, when the body of Christ becomes unbalanced, disease occurs.... Health will occur only when everything is brought back into balance. The task of church leadership is to discover and remove growth-restricting diseases and barriers so that natural, normal growth can occur."[1, page 16]Anyone who dares to question them should be cut out like a disease. This is how these purpose/program driven pastors show God’s love to God’s faithful children.
SIGNS TO LOOK FOR IN TRANSITIONING OF A CHURCH
FROM GOD DRIVEN TO PURPOSE DRIVEN PROGRAM DRIVEN
1. Change in music to a contemporary rock style.
2. Removal of hymn books; eliminating the choir.
3. Replacement of organ and piano with heavy metal instruments.
4. Repetitive singing of praise lyrics.
5. Dressing down to casual and informal attire.
6. Eliminating of business meetings, church committees, council of
elders, board of deacons, etc.
7. The pastor, or a new leader with a few assistants, usually four,
takes charge of all church business.
8. A repetitive 40-day Purpose Driven Church study program
stressing psychological relationships with each other, the
community, or the world, begins.
9. Funded budgeted programs are abandoned, or ignored, with
ambiguous financial reports made.
10. Sunday morning, evening, and/or Wednesday prayer meetings
are changed to other times; some may even be eliminated.
11. Sunday School teachers are moved to different classes, or
replaced by new teachers more sympathetic with the changes
being implemented.
12. The name "Sunday School" is dropped and classes are given
new names.
13. Crosses and other traditional Christian symbols may be moved
from both the inside and outside of the church buildings.
The pulpit may also be removed. Also the Christian flag
and the American flag.
14. In accordance with Dr. Warren’s instructions, new version Bibles
are used; or only verses flashed on a screen are referenced during
regular services.
15. Purpose Driven Church films, purchased from Saddleback,
precede or are used during regular services.
16. The decor, including the carpets, may be changed to eliminate any
resemblance to the former church.
17. The word "church" is often taken from the name of the church, and
the church may be called a "campus". Denominational names may
also be removed.
18. An emphasis on more fun and party sessions for the youth.
19. Elimination of altar calls or salvation invitations at the close
of the services.
20. The elimination of such words as "unsaved", "lost", "sin", "Hell",
"Heaven" and other Gospel verities from the pastor’s messages.
21. The reclassification of the saved and lost to the "churched" and
the "unchurched".
22. The marginalizing, or ostracizing, of all who are not avid promoters
of the new Purpose Driven Program.
23. Closed meetings between the pastor or chosen staff members
without any reports made to the general membership.
24. Open hostility to members who do not openly embrace the new
program, or who may have left for another church.
These pastors tell you, you must submit to them and follow their instructions right or not blindly, and if you dare to question them, they will tell you that you are in rebellion. They’ll tell you God placed them there and that God gave them this vision just for your church, so if you refuse their instructions, it is really God you are rebelling against. Also many of these churches recommend reading John Bevere’s book Under Cover to put you into submission to them with this false teaching.
16 Thus says the LORD of hosts:
“ Do not listen to the words of the prophets
“ Do not listen to the words of the prophets
who prophesy to you.
They make you worthless;
They speak a vision of their own heart,
Not from the mouth of the LORD.
17 They continually say to those who despise Me,
‘ The LORD has said, “You shall have peace”’;
And to everyone who walks according to the
They speak a vision of their own heart,
Not from the mouth of the LORD.
17 They continually say to those who despise Me,
‘ The LORD has said, “You shall have peace”’;
And to everyone who walks according to the
dictates of his own heart, they say,
‘ No evil shall come upon you.’”
‘ No evil shall come upon you.’”
JEREMIAH 23 : 16, 17
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men, according to the
basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2 : 8
Gossip, slander and misinformation? Statements from those who were forced to leave the church community they had loved show that their concerns about the shift to a more contemporary model were valid. During a televised interview, one person wept as she expressed both the pain of rejection and the confusing new rules for the church. The actual "misinformation" seems to come from the new pastor and other church managers who have little tolerance for anyone who questions their absolute power and unbiblical commands. No wonder, since contemporary "church leaders" are trained to use tough words to discredit dissenters.
Know a pastor is not above the congregation, he should be honored and respected for his service, but he is equal to those in the congregation. For God calls us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1 PETER 2 : 9
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers,
not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you,
but being examples to the flock;
1 PETER 5 : 2, 3
These churches grow out of power, money, intimation and oppression. They use their own congregations as their own personal community workforce, then claim all the glory for themselves. We are not to submit to them, not even for an hour in church. Jesus made us free. Do not become entangled again to bondage.
6. Establish rules, regulations, laws and principles that silence, punish or drive out resisters.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
PSALM 119 : 133 – 135
2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet
before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
that they may have glory from men.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
MATTHEW 6 : 2
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,
and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
GALATIANS 5 : 1
4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in
(who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus,
that they might bring us into bondage),
5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour,
that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were,
6 But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were,
it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—
for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.
GALATIANS 4 : 2 – 6
Know the pastor, elders, the pastor’s chosen leaders do not own God’s church, you do, the body of Christ. Contact the elders to call for a congregational vote to replace these purpose driven, program driven pastors, and if they don’t, it’s up to you the congregation to stand fast in the traditions as God’s word taught us and come together to elect new elders who will follow God’s instructions for His church, not man’s.
23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with
fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
ACTS 14 : 23
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which
you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
2 THESSALONIANS 2 : 15
19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder
except from two or three witnesses.
20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all,
that the rest also may fear.
1 TIMOTHY 5 : 19, 20
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and
arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth,
who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
1 TIMOTHY 6 : 3 – 5
God gave us His Holy Spirit so we can be discerners of right teachings from wrong teachings, and we are to exercise our discernment and test the spirit to discern if it is from God or not.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
1 CORINTHIANS 2 : 14
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is,
those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil.
HEBREWS 5 : 14
BEWARE OF THESE FALSE TEACHINGS
From John Bevere’s Book Under Cover.
“Our judgment will be relative to our submission, for authority if of God. To resist delegated authority is to resist God’s authority. We should not take upon ourselves the pressure to discern beforehand whether leaders are right nor not. Nor should we judge after the fact. This is not our burden, but God’s He alone knows and can change hearts as he so desires (Bevere 147)” .
These men are coveting God’s church and as brothers in Christ we are required by God to judge them, but we do not judge those outside the church.
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone
named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside?
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside?
Do you not judge those who are inside?
13 But those who are outside God judges.
Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
1 CORINTHIANS 5 : 11 – 13
“This is true because rebellion is witchcraft. The more they rebel the more they give legal access to demonic powers to influence, control and empower their lives. By rebelling against the order and the laws of God and His delegated authority, they knowingly grant legal access to the controlling demonic realm.” (Bevere, 68)
God gives each one of us gifts according to our ability. These men want to tell you what your gift is through their questionnaire to best serve them. So if you know your gift that God has given you and you stand on God’s will and not man’s, according to their new doctrine, you are in rebellion and have granted legal access for demons to come into your life.
This is one of the most ridiculous teachings I have ever heard to force people into submission to man’s will over God’s will for His church.
These organizational purposes include experimentation. "In the living laboratory of Saddleback Church, we were able to experiment with different ways to help people understand, apply, and live out the purposes of God," Pastor Warren wrote in Developing Your SHAPE to Serve Others.[7] Apparently, Saddleback's "laboratory" experiments involved assessing "measurable results" against pre-planned outcomes (or purposes), which give little credit to what God might do outside the boundaries of the manmade standards. As Warren wrote in The Purpose-Driven Church:
Now the church will decide what your gifts are and how you must use them, not God.
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
ROMANS 12 : 5 – 7
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit,
to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things,
distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1 CORINTHIANS 12 : 7 - 11
Quote from John Bevere : "I am so tired of criticalness being called discernment. Do you want to know true discernment? Paul said "That your love may abound in all discernment." When you are willing to die for somebody that is when you are actually discerning them. Jesus could call the Pharisees hypocrites and snakes because he went to the cross and died for them. So the next time you are quote "discerning" about somebody ask yourselves the question could you die for them? If you can’t say yes, you're critical because the love of God is to lay down your life for them, and discernment is rooted only in love. Got it?" (John Bevere, The Christian Channel Europe "The Messenger" 26/3/98)
If God intended us to follow these false teachers and preachers blindly, God would have not warned us about them so we won’t be deceived.
Thenfalse prophets will rise up and deceive many.
MATTHEW 24 : 11
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
2 CORINTHIANS 11 : 13
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God;
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 JOHN 4 : 1
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men, according to the
basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2 : 8
PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM
Please pray for these pastors, ask God’s blessing for them that they would bring God’s church back to the way God said it should be, to follow God’s instructions for His church, not man’s.
And pray for the people that God will give them His wisdom to see the truth and His strength to take a stand against these false teachings and bring God’s church back into God’s will.
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel
but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition,
if God perhaps will grant them repentance,
so that they may know the truth,
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape
the snare of the devil,
having been taken captive by him to do his will.
2 TIMOTHY 2 : 24 – 26
If you have read about the seven churches in the book of Revelation, you know that not many make it into heaven because they chose to blindly followed those false teachers and preachers. Remember the old saying, The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
WHICH GROUP WOULD YOU CHOSE TO BELONG TO
THREE KINDS of GROUP RELATIONSHIPS | |||
Biblical Fellowship & Christian Community | Human Friendship & Traditional Community | Dialectic Groups & Postmodern Community Example: Community-Making | |
LED by the SPIRIT | DRIVEN by felt NEEDS | DRIVEN by organizational OUTCOMES or PURPOSES | |
Includes | "Born again" believers from all nations and cultures | All who choose to belong, share common interests and are accepted by the group | Diverse (spiritually & culturally) participants in the dialectic process |
Foundation | God's Word and Spirit | Felt needs; natural desire to belong to a group | A pre-planned strategy and outcome (purpose) aimed at personal and social transformation |
Goal | Love, faith and obedience to God, agapeo love for each other, unity in Christ | Build relationships, meet need for fellowship, have fun | Transformation: from former beliefs and values to an ever evolving group synthesis or consensus |
Result | God is glorified through our worship, praise, service and oneness in Him. | Personal gratification, a sense of belonging, increased dependence on the group | Bonding of group members, willingness to compromise, changed beliefs and values, surrender of personal will & meaning to the group |
Shows others: | God's supernatural agapeo love | Human phileo love | Skill of facilitator, power of the dialectic process |
Ultimate goal | Eternity with God | Rich relationships in this world | Achieving the vision of the ideal community |
