The Religious Right uniting with Religious Renegades Part 3

Stand Firm in the Faith has been given permission to reproduce the article below. This is a 3 part series of articles. (part 1, part 2)

THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT UNITING WITH RELIGIOUS RENEGADES

PART 3

By Marsha West
July 6, 2011
NewsWithViews.com

There’s an old saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” meaning that people who believe they are doing good often end up doing evil. It’s the law of unintended consequences. Unfortunately this is what has happened to some--not all--religious conservative organizations. I know of altruistic Christian activists, both conservative and liberal, who believe they are doing God’s work, but in their effort to “right wrongs” they have utterly failed to honor God’s command to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 1:3)

What does Jude mean? Simply that true followers of Jesus Christ are first and foremost to share Christ with the lost. Yet many so-called Christians are not evangelizing the lost for fear of being perceived as trying to “push their religion on others.” They detest being thought of as intolerant, thus they remain silent. News flash: The Gospel of Jesus Christ always has been and always will be offensive to those who are lost! It’s a whole lot easier to say “Jesus loves you” than “take up your cross and follow Him.”

Some prominent Christian Right (CR) leaders that head up ginormous organizations are so busy fighting the culture war that they’ve forgotten what’s most important -- Truth! Jesus said: "Thy Word is truth!" (John 17:17)

The CR (unrepentantly) unites with pretty much anyone who is likeminded politically. Sadly this includes a slew of false teachers, cultists, and Social Justice Christians (SJC) a.k.a. Progressive Evangelicals. SJCs are chiefly liberals whose main goal is to dismantle historical, orthodox Christianity and usher in a “new kind of Christianity.” In the name of social justice, SJC leaders stealthly steer undiscerning believers into a left-wing collectivized utopia!

SJC is beyond of the scope of this article so I’ll move on.

PRAGMATISM = COMPROMISE

Many in the CR leadership are uniting with evil doers (God’s word, not mine). They have climbed aboard the SS Pragmatism and are proceeding full speed ahead into shark infested waters. Uniting with evil doers serves two specific purposes. It helps get the message out and provides an additional source of revenue. And let’s face it. When the money stops rolling in organizations are forced to close their doors. So these additional funds, regardless of the source, keep the message alive and the group afloat.

Before I move to my next point I need to stress that it is my belief that Christians should try to influence public policy. How? By casting their vote, serving in local government, forming and joining special interest groups, writing letters to the Editor, giving financial support, and participating in lawful demonstrations. Anti-abortion activists are a good example of Christians trying to influence public policy. Pro-lifers have formed groups comprised mostly of Christians that engage in politics because it is the only means they have to end abortion. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, it will happen because of the dogged determination of political action groups.

For obvious reasons Christians should never relinquish control of the government to godless secular humanists and “grievous wolves” (Acts 20:29)! On the other hand, Christ never commanded His followers to build a theocracy!

Isn’t the NAR attempting to do this?

A SUBTLE SHIFT

P. J. Miller urges visitors to Sola Dei Gloria to read an essay by Rachel Tabachnic titled Lions In the Pews. “This is an extremely interesting article,” says Miller, “one I would suggest reading in its entirety. You may not agree with all of it, (the author touches on the rapture and a few other points which many believers differ over, theologically) but sitting that aside, the information concerning the subtle shift many Churches are making into Dominionist/Dominionism theology is excellent reading for those interested in the goals these people have set and are pursuing: That includes the NAR…”

The following is an excerpt from Tabachnic’s article with bold by P. J.:

But this strand has emerged from Pentecostal and Charismatic backgrounds and has been nearly invisible to both the mainstream press and progressive writers. Like other Dominionists the New Apostolics are culture warriors and have specific stated goals for overtaking all spheres of American society and government as seen in the video above.

Also, like other dominionist groups they actually invest much of their efforts in fighting the traditional institutionalized church.

However, they differ from most other Dominionist groups in their embrace of the outpouring of gifts of the holy spirit, or manifestations, like being slain in the spirit, Holy Laughter, and other states of altered consciousness that are a part of their very experiential worship style.

The New Apostolic Reformation is also much more focused on the expulsion of demons as the process for healing, social reform, or even raising people from the dead. They have a unique and extensive lingo that is dedicated to the description of the expulsion of territorial demons including terms like ground level spiritual warfare, occult level spiritual warfare, and strategic level spiritual warfare.

While Pentecostal churches have always celebrated a restoration of the church, this has been tempered with Rapture theology. As churches embrace this Apostolic revolution they are moving away from the traditions of Assemblies of God and other denominations and are adopting a view of the end time that includes the triumph and perfection of the church as opposed to escaping in the Rapture from an evil world descending into the apocalypse.

They see the imminent end times as a time of great glory for the restored true Apostolic church greater than the one of New Testament times, and a time when the foot soldiers of this church will be imparted with supernatural powers.

This outpouring of powers will allow them to crush evil with a “rod of iron” and deliver a purified church to Jesus when he returns.

Seeing as pro-family leaders Tony Perkins, Don Wildmon, Janet Porter and Mat Staver have united with the NAR one can’t help but wonder if they share their end times beliefs. It’s a legitimate question to ask.

PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT

Methodist holiness preacher Charles Parham is considered the founder of modern Pentecostalism. Parham broke with the Methodist church and started his own ministry. In 1901Agnes Ozman began to speak in "tongues" when hands were laid on her. Parham believed that speaking in tongues was both a sign of Spirit baptism and also the signal of the end of the age. Parham also linked the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with a latter-day Pentecost.

“What began on a corner at the turn of the twentieth century is now barreling down Main Street. What was once known as the Pentecostal movement has now splintered into numerous diverse, yet overlapping movements: Pentecostal, Charismatic, Vineyard, Word-Faith, and Holy Laughter.” [1]

Add to the list Latter Rain Restorationism/ International House of Prayer (IHOP)/Third Wave/Deliverance/ Soaking in the Spirit/ and the aforementioned Dominionists/Seven Mountains/Elijah Revolution/Kingdom Now/Joel’s Army/Manifest Sons of God and most recently the NAR. I’ve only scratched the surface!

Bud Press of Christian Research Service lamented:

The Prophetic Movement is a dark, evil wasteland teeming with false apostles, false prophets, hyper-heretics, false healers, and greedy, money-hungry con men and women, all of whom are overshadowed by Satan and his demonic forces.

There’s plenty of blame to go around for the unholy mess the Church has become. Liberals, liars, and loons have infiltrated her. To paraphrase my pastor’s teaching (from my notes), believers have been misled by well-spoken, self-promoting, self-serving, charismatic leaders who emphasize power gifts but put little emphasis on preaching the gospel. These men and women think nothing of exploiting God’s people for their own gain.

Jesus gave us fair warning:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (Mat 7:15-17)

While we’re on the subject of ravening wolves, some false teachers deny the divinity of Jesus Christ…

There was no bodily resurrection…

The Bible was written by men, not by Divine inspiration. It’s a book of myths and fables, full of contradictions, open to interpretation, holds hidden meanings that only the “enlightened” can know…

Seriously?

Wolves teach that God loves, doesn’t judge, so all humans go to heaven.

Triniterianism is out…

No vicarious Atonement…

The virgin birth? Don’t make me laugh!...

As for sodomy? No sin there!...

Fornication and cohabitation? What’s the big deal?...

Abortion? It’s my choice!...

Wait a minute! A Christian can choose to murder a baby?

Really?

I could go on, but hopefully the point is made. The postmodern Church will only tolerate a small “g” god who simply rolls his/her eyes at sin and say, “Boys will be boys.”

Over 20 years ago the late Dr. Walter Martin took on liberalism in the Church:

Let me tell you something that I have learned; I know the liberals. I know them well; I was one of them. And they are the most dangerous, insidious, and all-pervading cult that’s loose in the United States right at this moment…

And this theological flea infestation is ruining the lifeblood of the Church, which is evangelism. And, you think these are very strong statements; I intend to back them up in—if necessary—excruciating details. For any person who does not know that today in the United States, and in denominational structures world-around, we are in an accelerating apostasy does not know—I repeat—does not know what’s going on…

We have, for more than one hundred years, been under sustained attack in the United States; in our theological seminaries, church related schools, and our churches. A sustained attack by people, who have the form of godliness, and work within the structure of the Church and have—wherever they have been permitted the opportunity—diluted the Gospel and destroyed the Faith.

They occupy today the chairs in our major theological seminaries; the rulership of our major denominational structures—they maintain boldly and boastfully—“This[is] the Church!” But it’s not the Church if it denies the power of the Gospel... [2]

LYING SIGNS & WONDERS

The NAR travels the globe allegedly performing miraculous healings, raising the dead back to life and breaking down “demonic strongholds.” They have visions as clear as a movie screen… give future prophecies…experience visitations from Jesus, angels, and Aimee Simple McPherson. As an extra added bonus they get “revelation knowledge” directly from God and have the unmitigated arrogance to say, “The Spirit of God spoke to me…” but there’s no way to verify whose voice they hear! According to Isaiah 8:20, “[I]f they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them.”

With all the powers these wolves possess, I presume some of them can walk on water.

WE’RE STILL WAITING, RICK

In 1988 “super-prophet” Rick Joyner shared his “vision” concerning the coming “revolution” in the Church:

“What is about to come upon the earth is not just a revival, or another awakening; it is a veritable revolution. The vision was given in order to begin to awaken those who are destined to radically change the course, and even the very definition of Christianity. The dismantling of organizations and disbanding of some works will be a positive and exhilarating experience for the Lord’s faithful servants. A great company of prophets, teachers, pastors and apostles will be raised up with the spirit of Phineas; it will be said of the apostles soon to be anointed that they have turned an upside down world right side up. Nations will tremble at the mention of their name.” [3]

Have I missed something? I can’t think of a single nation that trembles at the name of Rick Joyner or the other so-called apostles and prophets. Joyner’s alleged prophecy came to him over two decades ago. He claimed that the “soon to be” anointed would turn an upside world right side up. Well, what’s the hold up? With the way things are going in this country, I’m eager for the “great company” to turn things right side up, aren’t you?

A CALL TO DISCERNMENT

Admittedly there are some CR leaders that want to build a theocracy as do Dominionists, but many in the CR do not. The CR leadership unfamiliar with the NAR’s global goals is leading those involved in fighting the culture war into shark infested waters. They must “take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them (evil men).” (Deut. 12:30) In other words, listen up -- and abandon ship!

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:13, 14)

FOOTNOTES:

1- The History of the Charismatic Movement--By Gary E. Gilley

2- Walter Martin, The Cult of Liberalism, CD Rom—Obtained from Apprising Ministries

3- Rick Joyner. Restoration, May/June 1988, "The Harvest"

RECOMMENDED READING

For a more thorough understanding of the NAR, go to “Recommended Reading” in Part 1 & Part 2

The Prophet Movement: An Evil and Adulterous Generation—Christian Research Service website

Alexander Campbell Looks Beyond the Dominionists’ Seven Mountains--By David Brumley

Apostles and Prophets and the Foundation of the Church: Biblical Exegesis that Proves that Only the New Testament Apostles are Authoritative—By Critical Issues Commentary

Former IHOP Member Explains Why IHOP (International House of Prayer) Is A Cult— Sola Sisters website, posted by Christine Pack
VIEW VIDEOS:

1- The Religious Right's Modern Day Spartan Army—Tony Perkins of FRC talks with NAR “Apostle” Rick Joyner
2- America Needs Godly Leaders--Tony Perkins of FRC talks with Word of Faith preacher James Robison

3- Mat Staver invites you to TheCall Sacramento—Mat Staver, President of Liberty Council

LISTEN TO INTEVIEWS:

1- Ingrid Schlueter's interview with Sarah Leslie of Discernment Ministries

2- Jan Markell’s interview with Mike Oppenheimer of Let Us Reason Ministries


© 2011 Marsha West - All Rights Reserved

Marsha West is a religious/political-based writer and owner of EmailBrigade.com. As well, she is the founder and editor of the Email Brigade News Report, a biweekly news resource for people of faith that is chock-full of critical news and information…Marsha is dedicated to restoring a more common sense approach to our nation's governance by encouraging people to thoroughly understand the issues that impact American lives, and then to engage the culture.

Marsha's articles have been published widely online and in print. She is a regular contributor to News With Views, Renew America, Worldview Times, Christian Research Network, Conservative Crusader and a guest columnist for American Daily and Mich News.

Marsha is currently writing a fiction series for Christian children to equip them to defend their faith and live for Christ. Visit Marsha's website: http://emailbrigade.com/

The Religious Right Uniting With Religious Renegades Part 2

Stand Firm in the Faith has been given permission to reproduce the article below. This is a 3 part series of articles. (part 1,  part 3)

THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT UNITING WITH RELIGIOUS RENEGADES

PART 2

By Marsha West
June 18, 2011

My purpose for writing this article is not to discredit, scold or embarrass the Christian Right (CR) for their part in helping to advance the bizarre beliefs of a renegade movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). My words are intended to be loving but firm. (Eph 4:15) I believe the CR’s intentions are good and that they are honorable men and women who believe they are faithfully serving our Lord. What they fail to understand is that the NAR is a Christian sect!

So with this in mind I am calling for spiritual discernment from CR leaders. Prominent Christians are not exempt from doing as the Bible instructs: “Prove [test] all things; hold fast to that which is good [true].” (1 Thes 5:21) My hope is that CR leaders will scrutinize NAR’s theology and doctrines by the light of God’s Word. If they will do this, what they will discover is that the NAR’s message has little to do with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ – and this should be cause for alarm.

CHRISTIANITY 101

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Heb 1:1-4)

The words the Son of God spoke while He was among us are found in the pages of the Bible. The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the four Gospels to correctly record what they heard from the lips of Jesus. One of the essential doctrines of Christianity—a non-negotiable-- is the inerrancy of Scripture. In other words, everything in the Bible is true, thus God’s people must believe what the scriptures say. This is Christianity 101, my friends.

Nowhere in Scripture does it teach that we can expect “new revelation” from God. Those who teach this are in error. Moreover, our feelings and experiences are not to be trusted. I mean, seriously. Can you really trust your emotions?

Many Christians, especially Charismatic Christians, are open to receiving a “prophetic word from the Lord” through a so-called prophet. Some have even bought into the notion that they actually hear God speaking to them in a sort of whisper. Apologist Greg Koukl offers this warning:

This teaching that God will whisper in your ear all kind of particulars that pertain to you and His will for your life is very appealing to Christians. Even though when you look at the Scriptures, the specialized directions are rare. They are unusual. They are usually unsought. And they are always crystal clear. None of this "I think the Lord is telling me" business. People are still gravitating to the suggestion that we can develop a sixth sense that can tie us into a hotline to God so that we can have certitude about the things of life and the decisions we ought to make. Why is this appealing? Because it's easy. [1]

It is vitally important that we understand that God has chosen to speak to us through His Word:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness  (2 Tim 3:16-17).

The Bible makes it clear that God’s people are to live righteous lives. The Bible says thou shalt not lie, cheat, steal, have sex outside of marriage, laze around, dress like a slut, get occult tattoos, drink like a fish, view pornography, and so on and so forth. Living righteously means not being involved in immoral behavior. (I find it ironic that Christians knowingly participate in all sorts of activities that displease God, yet they sit around fretting over whether or not it’s God’s will for them to take that job offer, or marry Harry, or go on a mission trip to Timbuktu.)

Simply because someone believes they hear God whisper things that pertain to them—or His will for them--does not mean the “voice” is God’s. (Read Greg Koukl’s article Does God Whisper?)

Christians must be careful of such things as voices, visions, dreams, revelations, strong impressions, angel visitations and drawing on their experiences. None of these things should be given equal or greater authority than what is contained in Scripture. The Bible is the believer’s final authority. Everything we need to know has already been written. “If we do not base our understanding of Christ on the Word of God,” says Justin Edwards, “then all we are left with are opinions based on the figment of our imagination, the consequences of which are fatally hazardous to the soul.”

SEVEN MOUNTAINS TO CONQUER?

Conquering The Seven Mountains for Christ is the brainchild of the Dominionist movement. Over the years Dominionists have gone by many names including Latter Rain/Kingdom Now /Joel’s Army/Manifest Sons of God and most recently the NAR. The so-called Apostles and Prophets have a plan to aggressively “retake the reins of our country” for Christ. Dominionist Johnny Enlow wrote The Seven Mountain Prophecy where he shares his expertise on the subject. Enlow proclaims:

You are called to impact your culture! The coming Elijah Revolution will affect the entire world and will prepare the way of the Lord before His return.

What is the Elijah Revolution? ER’s website explains:

Elijah Revolution is a new ministry working in partnership with TheCall, Luke18 Project, and IHOP–KC, launching teen conferences and high school campus initiatives, calling teenagers to a life of wholehearted devotion to Jesus and radical commitment to God, in the spirit of a Nazirite.

Enlow continues:

There are seven nations “greater and mightier than we” – the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These nations correspond to seven “mountains” of global society – Media, Government, Education, Economy, Religion, Celebration/Arts, and Family. These culture-shaping areas of influence over society are the keys to taking a nation for the kingdom of God.

This is hogwash.

The purpose of Enlow’s book is to:

help each individual determine his or her specific assignment in this mission; and then to offer insight into the nature of the battles involved in this spiritual confrontation.

Enlow then adds:

With divine power and favor, revolutionaries will take these mountains for Christ!

Revolutionaries?  Does he mean Christian young people must stand together and organize a far-left type revolution to take mountains for Christ?  Yes, this is exactly what Enlow is purporting.

I don’t have a problem with Christians standing together to try to shape the culture using biblical morality as a guideline. Nor do I have a problem with Christians becoming social activists, especially when it comes to protecting the unborn and traditional marriage. But here’s what I do have a problem with. It is a fact that the NAR is awash in heresy -- and this is easily proven – and yet these men and women, who teach doctrines of demons, are being taken seriously by the CR.

Something else I find troubling is that many professing Christians no longer share the Gospel of Jesus Christ – ever! Christians of all people should know that real change will not come until hearts and minds are changed. Why?  Because the unregenerate (unsaved) man is dead in his sins. In other words, the unsaved man is spiritually dead. (Eph 2:1)  When he accepts Christ, he is “born again” or regenerate. Thereafter he will see things through a spiritual lens. In time his worldview will change. Which leads to this question: Why are Christians not sharing the good news?

Listen to what Jesus commanded His followers to do:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Mat. 28:19-20)

This is a far cry from what the NAR is doing. They think God has given Christians a mandate to stem the tide of evil in this world. In order to accomplish this they must take the Seven Mountains of influence. These mountains of influence are:

(1) Arts and Entertainment; (2) Business/Economy; (3) Education; (4) Family; (5) Government; (6) Media; (7) Religion.

They believe that as they accomplish ridding the world of evil, things will get better and better and then Jesus Christ will return to set up His kingdom. And this is in the Bible?

One disgruntled left-wing blogger wrote:

I've been writing a lot about the steadily increasing influence that 7 Mountains/Dominion theology has been having on the Religious Right recently, though mostly as it has relates to Janet Porter.

But it is important to note that Porter is not alone in embracing this theology and partnering with activists who espouse it. For instance, Lou Engle played a central role in last year's Family Research Council "prayercast" against health care reform and has developed ties to many other Religious Right leaders as well. Others, like Cindy Jacobs of Generals International, have likewise been making similar connections and several of these groups have also become members of the right-wing supergroup known as the Freedom Federation.

And even Newt Gingrich is cultivating his own ties to 7 Mountains advocates. Last year, Gingrich appeared alongside Engle at a "Rediscovering God In America" conference where Engle laid hands upon Gingrich and prayed for God's protection for him. Not long thereafter, Gingrich formed a group called Renewing American Leadership and tapped Engle-associate and Prop 8 leader Jim Garlow to serve as Chairman of the organization. [2]

So what is going on here? It is obvious—even to the far-left--that the CR has united with the NAR. If this is untrue then why, for example, is the American Family Association (AFA) part of the leadership group promoting Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s “apolitical prayer meeting” The Response: August 6 1011?  Is AFA not aware that the group includes several NAR leaders?  Look at the list!  In the leadership are such notables as:

Luis & Jill Cataldo—Mike Bickle’s International House of Prayer (IHOP)

Randy & Kelly Bohlander—IHOP &Lou Engle’s The Call

Dave Sliker—The Call & The Elijah Revolution

Doug Stringer—NAR Apostle

I can only assume Gov. Perry’s heart is in the right place and his purpose for this event is honorable, but without question the aim of many of those in leadership is to advance the NAR’s Seven Mountain agenda to take over society and government for Christ.

Sarah Leslie of Discernment Ministries has written extensively on the NAR. In an email to me Sarah explained the depths of the NAR leader’s depravity:

They believe that the modern-day apostles are gifted with the same gifts as the New Testament era Apostles (with a capital "A"). We know from Scripture that the first Apostles in the New Testament era were given a unique job by Christ Himself, which was to write the books that we have in the Canon of Scripture. These 12 men gave us the Foundation (Rev. 21:14) of the DOCTRINE of the Gospel of Salvation. It was the APOSTLE'S DOCTRINE which built the church.

The NAR believes that the modern-day apostles are being given new words (both rhema and logos) from God and are able to re-write that doctrine with "new understandings." We have many articles posted about this on Herescope, including some key quotes from C. Peter Wagner and Hector Torres.

The NAR teaches the heresy that the modern-day apostles are the "foundation" of the church in a reverse hierarchical pyramid structure where they will rule the world (the 7 mountains) from a top-down networking structure. Their rule is said to be absolute and requires obedience from their downline. See the series that we ran on Herescope, for example. [3]

I’ll end part 2 with a quote from 2 Thes. 2:13-15:

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Stay tuned for part 3


© 2011 Marsha West - All Rights Reserved

1. Hearing God’s Voice—By Gregory Koukl

2. The Dominionist Agenda Driving Gingrich's New Organization —Right WingWatch.com

3. The quote was taken from an email sent to me by Sarah Leslie, used by permission.

Recommended Reading:

1- New Apostolic Reformation articles

2- The Death of Truth—By Greg Koukl

3- My 7 years working for the Elijah List—By Kevin Kleint

View:

1- Lou Engle--Our Nazerite call

2- Rick Joyner – meeting with congressman

3- Morningstar Ministries and the End-Time Army-- they are referring to Joel's Army/Joshua Generation, and they are targeting our children!

Marsha West is a religious/political-based writer and owner of EmailBrigade.com. As well, she is the founder and editor of the Email Brigade News Report, a biweekly news resource for people of faith that is chock-full of critical news and information…Marsha is dedicated to restoring a more common sense approach to our nation's governance by encouraging people to thoroughly understand the issues that impact American lives, and then to engage the culture.

Marsha's articles have been published widely online and in print. She is a regular contributor to News With Views, Renew America, Worldview Times, Christian Research Network, Conservative Crusader and a guest columnist for American Daily and Mich News.

Marsha is currently writing a fiction series for Christian children to equip them to defend their faith and live for Christ. Visit Marsha's website: Email Brigade News Report

The Religious Right uniting with Religious Renegades, Part 1

Stand Firm in the Faith has been given permission to reproduce the article below. As false teaching and heretical doctrines increase, it is becoming more vital then ever for Christians to Stand Firm in the Faith. 1 Thess. 5: 21-22 to “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil“

The Religious Right uniting with Religious Renegades, 

 Part 1

By Marsha West
May 18, 2011

Some Religious Right leaders have joined forces with movers and shakers, literally speaking, of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). They have been warned about this "New Breed" of Christian and their global kingdom agenda and have chosen to disregard the warnings. This article will put to rest the notion that the NAR's esoteric doctrines fall within the pale of orthodox Christianity. The hope of course is that the Religious or Christian Right will wake up and smell the coffee and sever all ties with these renegades.

What's astounding is that conservative Christian leaders, many of whom are biblically literate, fail to recognize blatant false teaching. For instance, some of them assume John Hagee, senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, is an orthodox preacher when Hagee promotes unbiblical word-faith teaching!

But this is not about John Hagee's promotion of the doctrine of positive confession. This is about the unorthodox teaching and the sinister plans of the NAR. The reason I'm sounding the alarm is that more and more Christians are getting caught up in this cult.

False teachers have made their mark on the Church by marketing a user-friendly "relevant" Christianity that is a whole lot more palatable to the unchurched "seeker" than the Christianity of the Reformers. Admittedly, even to the discerning believer truth laced with false teaching is as tough to detect as a few drops of arsenic in a tall glass of water.

Some apostates are so sly that the average Christian in the pew is defenseless against them. But, thankfully, not everyone is taken in by them. When false teaching comes into churches from lose canons who depart from sound doctrine (Titus 2:1) some folks recognize it and alert others. In many instances those who speak up and address their concerns are ignored, marginalized, or accused of being divisive. The person who will not back down is often given the boot!

THE NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION

I have written about NAR previously. I pointed out that,

leaders in the New Apostolic Reformation, a heretical movement that sprang from the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, claim that they hear directly from God, Jesus and angels. They even encourage their followers to contact angels despite the fact that Scripture expressly forbids contacting the spirit world because Satan and his demons can appear as an "angel of light" to deceive people. (2 Cor 11:14) Like the apostles who established the early church, these "restored apostles and prophets" believe they are called by God to lay the foundation and government for the new earthly Kingdom. Moreover, they believe that soon they will take dominion over government and dominate the world politically and spiritually. (I'll cover Dominionism in Part 2.)

It has become necessary to report on the NAR again because it is gaining credibility with evangelicals as well as the conservative media, entertainers, politicians and the Tea Party movement.

Last year self-professed NAR prophet Cindy Jacobs' and General's International held the May Day 2010: A Cry To God For A Nation In Distress at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial where "local representatives shared about their state's Christian heritage and lifted up prayers for their state and the United States. National leaders offered up prayers of repentance for seven main issues: family, the church, education, arts and entertainment, business, government and the media." Janet Porter of Faith2Action had an active role in organizing the gathering. In attendance were such notables as James Dobson, Tony Perkins, Wendy Wright, Jerry Newcombe, Peter LaBarbera, David Barton, Mathew Staver, Robert Knight, Alan Keyes, to name a few. Also in attendance were several NAR leaders including C. Peter Wagner, Chuck Pierce, Dutch Sheets, Lance Wallnau and Rick Joyner.

In April 2010 conservative Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA hosted The Awakening 2010 conference sponsored by the Freedom Federation. They define themselves as "a group of the nation's largest multiracial, multiethnic and multigenerational faith-based and policy organizations representing more than 30 million Americans united by core values. The group's mission is to bring together community leaders committed to mobilizing the Judeo-Christian worldview to preserve freedom and promote justice."

One of the speakers at the event was Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Other influential leaders include Newt Gingrich, Gary Bauer, Tony Perkins, Wendy Wright, Richard Land, Andrea Lafferty, Kelly Shackelford, Ken Blackwell, Mat Staver, Rick Scarborough, and NAR Apostles Cindy Jacobs, Lou Engle, Harry Jackson and Samuel Rodriguez.

What is wrong with this picture? People from the NAR who are in the grip of evil were invited to participate in both of these events. One example is Cindy Jacobs. Jacobs is the NAR's "lead U.S. National Apostle." Cindy is supposedly a modern day prophet. But I beg to differ. This woman has uttered more false prophecies than Walgreen's has pills, proving beyond a reasonable doubt that she is no more a prophet of God than Lady Gaga! The truth is, Cindy Jacobs is a false prophet.

The May 2010 edition of Herescope reported:

Forays by NAR Apostles into the political scene in America have been until recently sparse. But Lou Engle...who has his own ministry to youth called "The Call," has been politically active in pro-life and homosexual issues. Some months ago he was able to pray for Gingrich and Huckabee with the laying on of apostolic hands. But very recently the political stars seem to have come suddenly into alignment.

American political landscape has suddenly changed. A tumult is appearing in the land with the passage of health care reform. The Christian Right, with its years of courting political influence, is now poised to merge with the new Tea Party Movement. In times of crisis, natural or caused, things seem to happen faster and opportunities, that would take years, seem to happen in months. There is the scent of rebellion in the air.

Before I move on, I should point out that there is nothing wrong with Christians gathering together to stand up for biblical principles and fight the forces of wickedness that are destroying America. And there's certainly nothing wrong with praying for our country and for the men and women in the armed forces who put their lives on the line so that we can live free. To say that our nation and our soldiers are in dire need of prayer is an understatement. Even though the Christian Right (CR) often shares a stage with controversial groups/persons it does not mean that they necessarily share their views; what it does mean however is that when controversial groups/persons are invited to participate in a CR event it appears that they endorse these groups/persons. It grieves me to say this — and I'll get a lot of flak for it — but many professing Christians seem to have little or no problem partnering with false teachers and cultists, perhaps because these groups/persons are useful in furthering their political causes.

As a conservative Christian myself, I find partnering with the wicked unacceptable for the reasons that: (1) God opposes the wicked; (2) The wicked should not be given a platform — especially when God's people provide that platform!

But that's just me.

Ever notice how the CR complains about RINOs (Republican in name only) hijacking the Republican Party? Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani is considered a RINO because he's fiscally conservative and socially liberal. So when he ran for President in 2008 he couldn't muster the support of socially conservative evangelicals because they get all hot under the collar when liberals, who call themselves moderates, refuse to adhere to the official Republican platform on important issues such as abortion, homosexuality and same-sex "marriage." Yet the CR has no problem joining forces with CINOs (Christians in name only) that pervert sacred Scripture!

Listen to what Jesus said about false prophets:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves   (Mat. 7:15).
And,
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect  (Mark 13:22).

MOVIN' ON UP

The NAR a.k.a. Latter Rain/Kingdom Now/Dominionist/Joel's Army/Manifest Sons of God — no doubt I've left some names out — has been on the rise for over six decades. As you can see the name has been changed umpteen times so that unsuspecting Christians will swallow the hype that there's a "New Wave" or a "Paradigm Shift" taking place in Christendom. They claim they're receiving new revelation from God and are ushering in "a reformation greater in scale than the reformation of the 1500's." They also claim that a new group of believers will rise up and be given the power to perform miraculous signs and wonders, even greater than the miracles of Jesus and the Apostles — and they believe they have the power to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead and bring multitudes into the Kingdom of God.

The founder of this sect is C. Peter Wagner from Fuller Theological Seminary. Wagner is one of the leading authorities on the Church Growth movement and has been studying the field of church growth for close to 40 years. (Rick Warren wrote his doctoral dissertation at Fuller Seminary on Wagner's church growth ideas and was mentored by Wagner.) C. Peter Wagner is the "presiding apostle" in the International Coalition of Apostles.

Orrel Steinkamp of Discernment-Ministries believes Wagner is,

attempting to will into existence [the] 'New Apostolic Reformation.' He tells us in a book he has edited called 'The New Apostolic Churches' of the struggle he had with naming his new reformation. [3]

As I pointed out earlier, what the NAR is putting out there is not new. In fact, Bill Hamon of Christian International has been teaching it for decades. Hamon runs a school to train people to become modern day "Apostles" and "Prophets." In his view the church is in her third and final Reformation and Christ can't return to earth until the Church purifies itself.

Steinkamp wonders:

Can it be argued that this 'New reformation' is something that God has just recently dropped new from heaven like the baby Superman from Krypton? I suggest that there is nothing new here at all and for anyone willing to do the study they will find it a mere cutting edge version of something at least 100 years old. G. Raymond Carlson, former General Superintendent of the AOG [USA], had this to say regarding the new apostles and prophets:

'I saw it in the New Order of the Latter Rain in the late 40's and early 50's. Before that, it made its presence felt in the early days of the century among early Pentecostals.'

Steinkamp continues:

To Latter Rain teachers it seemed obvious that if there was to be a repeated apostolic Pentecost then apostles and prophets must be restored as well. These teachers then devised a historical scheme of restoration. Church history was understood as a succession of recoveries of lost or neglected truths. Luther recovered justification by faith, Baptists believers' baptism, Wesley holiness, A.B. Simpson healing and the early Pentecostal pioneers the gifts of the Spirit. The recovery process was now extended further. The end time body of Christ must go on to maturity and restore the apostles and prophets and these restored ministries must lead the church to a new and final dimension of power and authority not only bringing in the final harvest but establishing the Kingdom of God upon the earth. [4]

Are we to establish a Kingdom of God upon earth?  Listen to what Jesus says:
My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.  (John 18:36).

The NAR has one thing right. The ministry of the apostles continues today:

Not in the person of anyone claiming to be an apostle, but in the New Testament. Every time the Word of God in the New Testament is read and proclaimed, the apostolic ministry and office fulfills its role. The apostles of the first century live on today, in the Church, through the Word God has given us through them. [5]

Part 2 coming soon!

NOTES:
[1] The History of the Charismatic Movement — By Gary E. Gilley

[2] Rick Joyner. Restoration, May/June 1988, "The Harvest"

[3] The New Apostolic Reformation — By Orrel Steinkamp, D. Min

[4] Ibid

[5] Unknown author

RECOMMENDED READING
The Coalescing of the Christian Right with Apostolic Dominionism — By Orrel Steinkamp

Dominionism and the Rise of Christian Imperialism — By Sarah Leslie

NAR Prophetess's Inflammatory Comments on the Egypt Crisis — Herescope blog

The 'Great Wealth Transfer' — 100 Percent Returns! — By Spirit of Error

Links to articles that cover the New Apostolic Reformation


© Marsha West

Marsha West is a religious/political-based writer and owner of EmailBrigade.com. As well, she is the founder and editor of the Email Brigade News Report, a biweekly news resource for people of faith that is chock-full of critical news and information…Marsha is dedicated to restoring a more common sense approach to our nation's governance by encouraging people to thoroughly understand the issues that impact American lives, and then to engage the culture.

Marsha's articles have been published widely online and in print. She is a regular contributor to News With Views, Renew America, Worldview Times, Christian Research Network, Conservative Crusader and a guest columnist for American Daily and Mich News.

Marsha is currently writing a fiction series for Christian children to equip them to defend their faith and live for Christ. Visit Marsha's website: http://emailbrigade.com/