Christmas: It's Time To Pander to the Crowds Again!

Every year the biggest churches put on the biggest spectacles to attract the biggest crowds. Here's a video compilation of a few of the most ridiculous:

Just in case you aren't nauseous yet, here's a post from last year at this time: Battle of the Crazy Gigantic Extreme Christmas Spectacles!

I wanna see people floating around My churches on wires! Where are the acrobats? Can’t we get more acrobats for the Christmas Show?? Let’s get some colored lights on those drums! Turn up the bass solo-I want people to feel it! Remember, Christmas is all about ME and MY SHOW!!!
— Things Jesus Never Said

Enter His Courts With Scaramouch at Cedar Creek Church

Sunday worship needs more scaramouch. At least that’s what I’m lead to believe based on an opener to come out of Cedar Creek Church during their Sunday worship service. They did a rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, using wigged head banging men to spice it up.

 

Bohemian Rhapsody mentions scaramouch. What is scaramouch?

1. capitalized : a stock character in the Italian commedia dell’arte that burlesques the Spanish don and is characterized by boastfulness and cowardliness
2a : a cowardly buffoon : rascal, scamp

That’s an amazing unintentional and accurate metaphor. Tactics like this during worship boast more in our human genius to keep people in the church instead of trusting in the means God uses to save and grow his church. We end up trusting in our own genius. Ultimately this leads to total buffoonery.

For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Cedar Creek Church (or any other popular teacher/church) here's something just for you: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

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

Here's a very extensive documentary exposing the problems with the "Seeker-Friendly" church model: Church of Tares: Purpose Driven, Seeker Sensitive

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

Joo-Joo Eyeball & Monkey Finger at Kensington Troy Sunday Worship Service

Have you ever sang about joo-joo eyeball, toe-jam football, monkey finger, and walrus gumboot at your Sunday church worship service? Kensington Troy did during their 09-11-2016 Sunday worship service.

This isn’t the type of singing scripture tells to use when we come together during worship.

Ephesians 5:18-19 ESV

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Colossians 3:15-17

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Worship lyrics should be distinctly bible centric, not Beatles centric. Let’s come together around scripture, not around joo-joo eyeball, and monkey finger.

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

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

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

 

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


A related article:

When Did the Church Turn Into Amway?

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

Fighting for the Faith Ed Young

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

Fighting for the Faith Steven Furtick

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

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

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

Hands Up for the British Invasion at North Point Community Church

Andy Stanley’s North Point Community Church attempted a reboot of the British Invasion during their official worship service on Sunday.

They described it as a Beatles medley on their Facebook page.

They sang segments from Beatles classics, ending with Hey Jude. They called upon their audience to sing along and wave their hands to the Beatles tune as they sang, “na na na na na na na…”

You can watch the entire video here (you may notice some of the people sitting in the audience who look pretty expressionless; you have to wonder what they're thinking about this "worship"). This idea of singing Beatles songs at church isn't new; here's a much less professional video from a tiny church that, at least, changed the words of "Hey Jude" to fit their communion service. Is this really where the Evangelical, "Bible-believing" church wants to go? Really??

The week before they did an opener with rather suggestive lyrics singing, “Baby love the way you turn me on.”

Some more suggestive lyrics from an opener. Segments from the original lyrics. They did some adjusting, but not enough.

Nowhere to hide when I’m getting you close
When we move, well, you already know

Feeling good, good, creeping up on you
So just dance, dance, dance, come on
All those things I should do to you

(I can’t stop the feeling)
Wanna see you move your body
(I can’t stop the feeling)

Oddly enough, Andy Stanley has this quote on the NPCC website.

Why write about this? Because Andy Stanley and many other churches use these tactics which in the end detract from focusing on the gospel at an official church worship service.

Official church worship services are not extra curricular activities. There is plenty of time for fun, recreation, and out of the box creativity, but that can be done outside of an official church worship service.

I used to agree with, and promote these approaches to ministry. It took a “rude meanie head” to open my eyes. I hope this article serves as eye opening food for thought.


In case anyone is asking themselves, "does North Point Church know that this form of "worship" might be a really bad idea? Maybe they are just making an innocent mistake? Maybe we should just let them have some fun and not make such a big deal out of this..."  

Here's what you need to understand: North Point Church is deliberately doing these secular cover songs in church in spite of objections from fellow Christians. They are going so far as to remove Bible verses off of their own blog, and now they have stopped allowing any comments at all. Why aren't they allowing any comments on their blog? It appears that they don't want people to read all the Bible verses that have been posted there (or the Bible verses that people have tried to post there). Here's a screen shot from August 3, 2016-over a week since they put up their "boy band/love the way you turn me on" video on July 25:

North Point Church knows exactly what it is doing: 

"Secular songs? Yes! Bible verses (that might make our strange choice of songs look bad)? NO!"

This type of "worship" service was unthinkable just a decade ago. With the huge influence of Andy Stanley and North Point Church (one of the biggest and most influential churches in the world) it's sad to think that more and more churches might be abandoning worship and replacing it with mere entertainment. Here's an article about the top 50 mega-churches in the USA (btw, this is a "puff piece" about these mega-churches). Here's an excerpt: "As an individual congregation, North Point could be much more influential in the public arena, but it chooses not to be in order to extend its influence through the training of hundreds of thousands of leaders. North Point has opted for exponential influence..."

How long before true Christians say "enough is enough!" and stop tolerating such worldliness in their churches?

 

For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Andy Stanley/North Point Church (or any other popular teacher/church) here's something just for you: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

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

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

 

North Point Church Blog: "No Bible Verses for You!!!"

Apparently North Point Church refuses to allow Bible verses on their blog:

Above is a screenshot from 6:53 pm of a comment made the morning of Thursday, July 28th, on the North Point Church blog. The comment is simply three Bible verses-without commentary or criticism, but they've never been published. The blog says "Your comment is awaiting moderation." Why doesn't North Point want to allow these Bible verses to be shown on their website? Maybe because they'd have to remove them... like they did earlier on this same morning:

And the next day...

they still won't post Bible verses:

 

Here's a screenshot from two days later (nothing has changed):

 

 

North Point Church is making it more difficult to view their "boy band" video (since we published this a few days ago), so we've made this video to remind everyone of it's questionable and foolish content:

If anyone is interested in seeing how this works, go ahead and post some Bible verses to their "boy band" video page and see what happens: http://blog.northpoint.org/90s-opener/

Here's a whole bunch of Bible verses you may want to share with them:

Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know!

Update: September 12, 2016...

"Love the way you turn me on!" at North Point Community Church

"Love the way you turn me on." "You got the right stuff, baby."

Imagine you're sitting in church on Sunday during an official worship service, and singers on stage are singing those lyrics. Would you really want to hear lyrics about how a girl turns a guy on because she has the right stuff baby? That's what happened during a Sunday worship service at North Point Community Church-Andy Stanley's church. They opened an official Sunday worship service with hits from the 1990s.

The Apostle Paul said, "We preach Christ and Him crucified," but Stanley seems to be saying "we will put on an elaborate and worldly show to draw a crowd." 

Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ not good enough? Does it really need to be dressed up with cheesy boy band songs from the 90s? On top of that, can anyone imagine that any of those performers had any free time left to study God's Word? This is a tightly choreographed and professionally performed medley of (secular) hits; it must have taken many hours of practice and rehearsal to accomplish this. Is this what a church should be encouraging it's people to focus their precious time on? North Point and Andy Stanley have a gigantic effect on other churches in America; many smaller churches study their methods and try to emulate their "success." Lord have mercy...

Here's a quote from Andy Stanley that might help:


For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Andy Stanley/North Point Church (or any other popular teacher/church) here's something just for you: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

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

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

UPDATE JULY 28, 2016!!

Apparently North Point Church refuses to allow Bible verses on their blog:

This is a screenshot from 6:53 pm of a comment made this morning. The comment is simply three Bible verses-not commentary or criticism. Why doesn't North Point want to allow these Bible verses to be shown on their website?? Maybe because they'd have to remove the Bible verses... like they did earlier on this same morning:

Read the follow-up article: No Bible Verses for You!!!

VIP Seating, Popcorn, Candy and Movies at Christ Fellowship Church

Christ Fellowship is handing out popcorn at the door, giving away VIP reserved seating, and conducting a special effects smoke & flame show with "Ironman" on stage during their official Sunday worship service. The VIP reserved seating has a mini refrigerator with drinks, hot popcorn, and candy. To potentially qualify for the VIP reserved seating you have to take a picture of yourself by a movie set at a church campus, post it to social media, and then tag the photo. Does this seem like pandering to get people to show up to you?

Is this really the type of atmosphere an official church worship service should have? This may be fine for an informal church outreach event, but this is supposed to be a gathering of the church to worship. But a big sign on stage saying "AT THE MOVIES" confesses that the focus here is on a movie. 

Below you will see the absolute distraction and mess they make of a church service...

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 Timothy 4: 3-4

B. Houston on the "naked cowboy" Event: "I'm Clueless About It-But It's No Big Deal Anyway"

(somehow this video has been removed from YouTube-even though it was posted by a hillsong fan who was simply sharing this event that they attended. We will put up a copy below)

"Simila" tattooed in large script across his chest

"Simila" tattooed in large script across his chest

this is a screenshot from a guest sermon that Simila gave at cape Christian church, Cape corral, Florida on April 10, 2016

this is a screenshot from a guest sermon that Simila gave at cape Christian church, Cape corral, Florida on April 10, 2016

In an amazing example of not taking responsibility, Mega-Pastor NARpostle Brian Houston finally made a very brief blog post about what happened at his church. The basic summary could be this: "I have no idea how my staff (under my Apostolic authority) did such an inappropriate thing, but it doesn't matter anyway. And don't be so judgmental." 

Here's what he said, in entirety (posted on the Hillsong blog June 1, 2016):


"So how did someone come on stage imitating Times Square’s famous Naked Cowboy, (during a fun moment involving lots of other people), at the Colour Conference in NYC? It’s a good question, I’ve been trying to work that out myself.

I do know that Bobbie – my wife – who was convener of the conference was clearly unaware that this was going to happen and was taken back by it.  She was at the dress rehearsal and there was no sign of a naked cowboy lookalike there. Carl and Laura Lentz were also not part of the decision. I can only guess at this point, that some one thought it would be funny and sent him out there without thinking about the ramifications.

What I do know is that those who perpetuate the story, do so mainly with the help of a video, no context,  and a good dose of what the bible describes as hearsay and rumour. He was wearing proper shorts, not underwear, and he had a flag draped over him.

What I also know is that talk of apostates etc., is nonsense. Some well-meaning person just made a silly decision. It is unlikely to happen again.

Brian"


Houston is (desperately) hoping that you don't know that his own Hillsong youth pastor was the guy who dressed up as the "naked cowboy" (actually, he didn't dress up-that's the whole problem). Brian Houston is the Head Apostle of the Hillsong Media Empire, and senior members of his staff were in charge of this event and were even on stage during the event... but none of them:

  1. Know how this happened
  2. Know who actually stripped down to their shorts (you know, the guy with his name tattooed across his chest: Diego Simila)
  3. Will take responsibility-including the Grand Master Apostle Himself, Brian Houston

Here's a screen shot from the Hillsong NYC website:

Hillsong NYC Team screen shot.png

Even though Brian and Bobbie Houston are the senior pastors of this "church," they have no idea how this whole thing happened. After Brian Houston passes the buck, he then goes on to describe the real problem:

EVERYONE ELSE.

When you look at the videos and see Hillsong pastors/staff members cavorting with their fellow pastor, Diego Simila, a.k.a. "The Naked Cowboy/Youth Pastor" you are not to make any judgements! Just let them all have their fun and say nothing... because you can't possibly know what's really going on by watching the videos of what's going on... made by people who were right there watching what was going on. Got it? Obey NARpostle Brian Houston and move along-nothing to see here.

And then for the zinger at the end he writes: "What I also know is that talk of apostates etc., is nonsense. Some well-meaning person just made a silly decision. It is unlikely to happen again." This is the tactic of a cunning politician who knows how to divert attention away from serious problems that should be addressed.

Dear Brian Houston, "this talk of apostates" is not nonsense. It's true that this "naked cowboy" thing is actually a relatively minor issue when compared to all the false teaching, worldliness and scandalous cover-ups that are ongoing at Hillsong. This little incident is like a stupid college stunt (that was engineered by adults who should've known better). So let's move on; here's a lot of information about your heretical, apostate, messed up church: The Brian Houston & Hillsong Cornucopia of False Doctrine, Abuse, Obfuscation, & Money Generation

As soon as this Hillsong blog post went online, I made the following comment (nobody had made any other comments yet):

About 20 minutes after I made that comment, the comments were closed: 

UPDATE! As of June 3rd, 2016, it appears that Diego Simila is being removed from the internet. It appears that someone is very busy covering up the fact that Diego Simila was portraying the "naked cowboy" character, and they want to pretend he's not actually a pastor at their church (for sure, Brian Houston has done this in his blog post). It's bad enough that Hillsong often causes their followers to blindly trust whatever false doctrine they'e being taught, but Hillsong goes so far as to manipulate the appearance of their organization on the internet! It's a not a real church-it's a giant corporate entity that uses marketing tricks, media manipulation and propaganda to create the illusion that "God is doing something great at Hillsong!"  

And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and (poof) out came this calf.
— Exodus 32:21-24 (No, Aaron didn't actually say "poof")

For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Brian Houston (or any other popular teacher) here's something just for you: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

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

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

James Bond Marriage Series? Really??

Because "spies are cool," and because men might show up at church more often if they talk about James Bond and pretend to be in one of his movies, Church by the Glades has done this:

So this church service is not focused on Jesus, but is more of a "marriage enrichment" session. And if that weren't a big enough distraction from the Gospel, they have this strange obsession with the fictitious character of James Bond, who is a "really cool" womanizer/adulterer. 

For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
— Romans 16: 18

Chuck Pierce Speaking Directly for God-Add This To Your Bible

Here's an exact transcription of the "prophecy" from Glory of Zion (from the March 2, 2016 episode of Fighting for the Faith):

(Starts with nonsensical speaking, which will then be interpreted)...

Prophet Keith (interpreting the nonsensical speaking): "And the Lord would say to you today, awaken oh dry bones, oh bones that have laid and have laid in the dust today is the day that new breath and yes, my breath is coming over you, so awaken dry bones, awaken. Arise, arise and dance, because your purpose is before you, so when you awaken go forward, go forward, go forward, because a triumph... a triumphant cry is awaiting when you awaken."

Prophet Chuck (stepping in to show how it's done): "I saw a picture it was like what Keith just prophesied, all of a sudden I saw God start re-pulling you together and bringing you up to a top of a plateau, and then He said now you're gonna go down a long slide, and when you get back down to that hard place you were in, it's gonna manifest as a garden like you've never b-seen before. I saw watch this week as you hit your slide and where you thought you'd been scattered in past seasons, you'll find you'll be pickin' fruit in this season. And I will say to you this will be a month the trees begin to shake, and when the wind blows if you'll step out into the wind, you'll hear where you need to go, for I'm gonna be sending my people out this way and that way, and in the midst of the wind blowing new strategies to increase I will be blowing in. And every way you increased in the past, I say make a list of it and then, hear me blow you in to a multiplication to increase in the future. And I say what I've done in you if you will review then I will give you a vision of how I'm going to use you with others in days ahead. I say you are at the brink of multiply, do not back up, lists and review and then see where I would have you go. For this has been a season of repositioning and in my repositioning I have even left some where they are that they so they can increase in new ways, I say see your position now for now you will move out to the right and the left and increase will come. I healed you so that others could be healed, I broke through you so that you could breakthrough others, I say I caused you to be delivered, so many could be delivered, I say to you, this is your beginning of moving out. And I say use that which had you bound as a whip on the enemy. I say if you'll look back and see how the enemy had you bound you will break and cause the increase of many to come, I say I want healing in my body, but I want my body to prosper again. And I say to you a portal is forming over you, one that you have never seen before, I say run under and watch me pour down upon you for you are just beginning to receive and I say to you don't interpret your future from your past but allow your past to come under the portal of your future and I will pour over you that identity that you need to step into." 

New Prophet: "For the Lord says that I am redefining your sense so you will see how to move and operate in the portal that is coming down, and he says I am redefining your sense in the watch he says do not shut your eyes in the hour of watch he says be ready for me as I begin to move in the watch."

Back to Prophet Chuck: "The Lord says to you this is the beginning that I am going to reveal my glory and how my glory will move out I'm gonna show you how to advance, I'm gonna show you how to move, for Oklahoma I have chosen to unlock, and in unlocking Oklahoma I will unlock this entire nation, for my first people are dwelling in that place and DNA for the nation exists there, so from the east I will begin to manifest my spirit in a new way sayeth the Lord."  

 

Please add this to the Bible. Chuck Pierce assures us that he speaks directly on behalf of God. Do NOT question the Messenger.

Heidi Baker's Demonic Impartations at Bethel Church

Screaming like your getting your eyes gouged out, writhing around like your body is in flames... This is what can happen when the "prophetess" Heidi Baker lays hands on you. Listen to this guy screaming his lungs out as Heidi Baker tries to act like everything is under control:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
— 1 John 4:1

Could there possibly be a more clear example of a false teacher or prophet? She lays her hand on his head to impart something and says "Wooooooo" and he goes down on the floor shaking and screaming in pain. Just to make sure you know that she was really trying to drive something into him, a minute later she says: "I think he's got it" as he continues in agony. Any questions? This is so crystal clear and straightforward in showing a demonic impartation. At best, it was a mentally disturbed kid who got triggered by Baker and then went into an act of some sort, but he looked perfectly fine until she gave him something. She uses her Bible as a prop-she never actually reads it; instead she says meaningless phrases over and over again. "Ten Times;" "Legacy;" "Giving away;" "Try it again!" and "Moooore Looooord" are non-Christian mantras-no matter how many times you repeat them. A real Christian pastor would have said, "In the name of Jesus I command the demons to leave!" But the name of Jesus wasn't even mentioned. 

From the same person who made that video, there's this  VIDEO of Heidi Baker using the term "gods" when she should saying "god." How could she "accidentally" get the plurality wrong? 

Heidi Baker and the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) "Super Apostles" don't want you to know about their involvement in the Charismatic Day of Infamy.

For those of you who think it's mean and un-loving to criticize Heidi Baker (or any other popular teacher) here's a list of Bible verses to consider: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

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

Rick Joyner's Demonic Voodoo "Church"

Warning: Viewer discretion advised; the following video is pretty scary:

This video is from a Morningstar Ministries broadcast, but somebody else added the text later; the original video was most likely removed by Morningstar Ministries after somebody realized how this looks much more like a voodoo ritual than a Christian church service. It starts with Joyner himself announcing "Lord, move among us..." and he walks offstage. Then the other (worship?) pastor says "alright, Tori's got something she's gonna release, and when this releases it's gonna be like a starting gun for the ministry time. So those of you who'd like ministry, go ahead and stand up, get in the middle section; youth, children, those who've been touched by the fire... prepare to minister... yeah, he's here."

Let's think about this for a minute: he said that this woman has "something that she's gonna release" and then he says "when this releases it's gonna be like a starting gun for ministry time..." Just based on those words alone this cannot be the Holy Spirit; unless you actually believe that the sovereign God of the universe is really an impersonal force that can be bottled up and then "released" by an incoherent, babbling woman who launches into a frightening spell of shouting, chanting, sobbing and repetitive phrases; resulting in a lot of people twisting, contorting and shaking uncontrollably. 

For those of you who aren't disturbed by this video (because you think the true Holy Spirit is causing these things to happen) please read about the faulty and un-Biblical teaching behind Joyner and others like him: The Rick Joyner Cornucopia of False Teaching, Bible-Twisting and Overall Wackiness

Rick Joyner doesn't want you to remember that he was part of The Charismatic Day of Infamy

Finally, this is a very helpful article about the many false beliefs, half-truths and misunderstandings that have crept into the church and are making discernment so difficult: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs

 

Here's another video where the same woman, Tori, is shown again; she was apparently a "Senior" in a school that was held at Morningstar Ministries:

What Would Jesus Brew? Serve Beer to Attract Young People!

Because some people need a good, solid reason to attend church...

This is an article from NPR about churches that are serving beer to attract people to church. This topic is similar to the previous Museum of Idolatry post, (the "tattoo church"): sometimes it looks pretty desperate when churches try so hard to be "relevant."  

Photo credit: Corey Grunewald Facebook.com/coreygrunewaldphotography

Photo credit: Corey Grunewald Facebook.com/coreygrunewaldphotography

This is not a post against the responsible consumption of alcohol; we have the freedom in Christ to drink (but not to engage in drunkenness). This is about the worship service becoming much, much less than a worship service. When a church adds beer (or anything else) to attract new people, it's really hard for the central focus of our faith to remain so. But there are some notable efforts being made to use the craft-brew phenomena as a way to start a dialogue with non-believers. For example, here's a very interesting group called "The Bible and Beer Consortium" that holds meetings apart from the worship service to discuss the Christian faith. Here's another group called "What Would Jesus Brew?" And here's a good, short article addressing these "beer/church" issues and the NPR article; and here's one more.

There's a difference between a gathering to exchange ideas, listen to speakers and socialize, and an actual worship service. When churches remove all of the sacred elements from the worship service in the name of attracting new people, they end up hurting the very people they are called to serve.

Ultimately, it isn't a good idea to depend on beer (or any other worldly, cultural thing) to bring people closer to God-we've been given Word and Sacrament by God Himself. Praise be to God!

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, as you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
— 1 Peter 2:1-5



Hillsong's "Sleazy Silent Night!"

The following video is wrong on so many levels. 

Aesthetically, it's just weird, confusing and embarrassing. 

Hillsong Music Director: "Hey everybody, I've got a great idea! Let's take the beloved and peaceful Christmas hymn 'Silent Night' and turn it into a loud, obnoxious, roaring twenties style, Las Vegas big-band production! You know, kinda like Christmas in a whorehouse! What'ya think?!"

Everybody Who Should Know Better at Hillsong: (silence)

But beyond the ridiculous nature of this one particular song/video there's the more serious problem that this "thing" claims to be the church...

Hillsong leads the way when it comes to "churches" featuring worldly, gigantic and expensive spectacles to attract a large audience. They are laughing all the way to the bank, too, as this global empire continues to gobble up followers around the world.

Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world.
— 1 John 1: 15-16
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what it the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
— Romans 12: 1-2
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.
— 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-5

Closing thoughts: For those of you who say "but this was a performance at a special concert event-this wasn't an actual worship service; you need to see this in it's proper context..." Here's a question; why would a "church" have an event/concert with moral guidelines that are different from the moral guidelines that govern a worship service? Why be "a little more like the world" to attract people to a spectacle (like this video) and then "re-adjust" things for a Sunday morning service? If this video is supposed to be sleazy on purpose to somehow try and teach a lesson, Hillsong doesn't mention it anywhere-and this is from their own YouTube channel. It seems that this is just a very obnoxious version of Silent Night to grab the attention of the crowd. Note: A few hours after we posted this video, it was "made private" by Hillsong; the video on this page now is a copy we put on Vimeo.

For more information, here's a link to Church Watch Central's Hillsong page.

As of January 14th, 2016, here is an important Follow Up Article!

 

Love Your Life! Or Maybe Not?

Here's a happy, peppy and positive promo video for a woman's conference called "Love Your Life" at Lakewood Church. As a side note, try to not notice the world's skinniest skinny jeans being worn by Lisa Bevere in a stadium full of women struggling with body-fat/shame issues at 11 seconds into this... 

Here's what the Bible says:

Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."
Acts 20:24 "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and ministry."
Revelation 12:11 "And they have conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."

'Ekstasis worship'?

Did you know Patricia King wants you to experience Ekstasis Worship? We will let Patricia King introduce you to this bizzarre worship experience:

"Have you ever heard the term 'Ekstasis worship'? No? Well many people haven't. It's a powerful word. It's a Greek word that means... well you'll find out in a little while. Because I want to introduce to you Caleb Brundidge.

He's one of our itinerant ministries. But also a worshiper with so much passion. In fact if you've been to any of our conference, you would see Caleb flagging and worshiping God and opening up the heavens and operating in a real breaker level anointing.

He is actually a DJ as well and leads a lot of Christian events and weddings and you know, High School events and things like that. So if you would like to know more about him, he's on our itinerant page on our website. But today, he's going to tell you about Club Mysterio and about the Ekstasis worship that takes place to bring those times of gathering together. So it's my privilege to introduce to you Caleb Brundidge."

She aired this following segment on XP media. (You can see Patricia King 55 seconds in.)

Here's a promo video to introduce people to Ekstasis "worship," where you "disengage the mind and experience God at a cellular level" (or maybe you just dance around a bunch):

 The Elijah List allowed Caleb Brundidge to explain his teachings more. To read more on this (and, surprise! buy his CDs), click here.