"Millionaires Who Will Take Our Churches Back"-Michael Chitwood's Depraved Mind

Millionaires need to take back our churches so America can dream again, according to Michael Chitwood. Chitwood, leader of something called Potential Church, claims to be "America's #1 expert and strategist on finance. A successful American businessman, author, philanthropist. educator, motivational speaker and a Christian man." 

Chitwood directs people to look to riches as a reason for hope. Scripture directs us away from hoping in riches:

"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy." 1 Timothy 6:17

God's Word also says that those viewing godliness as a means of gain have a depraved mind and are deprived of the truth:

"Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound[b] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and[c] we cannot take anything out of the world.8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." 1 Timothy 6:2-10

"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:

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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

Repeating Blues Disco Prophetess Jerri Flake

Have you ever wondered what a prophetic, blues, disco, gospel, spoken-word, repetitive, R&B video would look like? If you have, we have found your answer! Meet "Prophetess" Jerri Flake and her husband/vocalist extraordinaire, Anthony. A large bottle of Pepto-Bismol will be supplied to anyone who can stomach watching all three of these bizarre videos.     

What’s the point of pointing this out? This is an over-the-top example of absolute absurdity being done in the name of God. God doesn’t need cheesy theatrics with disco ball special effects to get the message out-especially if it's just a bunch of repeating phrases that lack any real content.

His real message is already out-in the Bible!

The Nagging Prophetess!

Do you want to receive blessings from God? Do you want protection from the coming calamity? Do you want the latest prophetic instructions from God? Not the latest prophetic instructions from a month or two ago, but right now?? Well then stop watching Vonda Brewer's YouTube videos for free, you cheap, uncommitted phony! You need to pay $300 to become a part of her private Facebook group!! (Chris Rosebrough, you've been giving away thousands of hours of valuable material for years now-get a clue from the Vonda The Nag!) 

We've done the world a favor by speeding up Vonda's video so that the painful 17 minutes is reduced to a slightly more bearable 7:21...

In the words of the Prophetess:

All Sales Are Final!

(By the way, The Nag has disabled the "thumbs up/thumbs down" feature on this YouTube video. Maybe because she was getting "thumbs down" about 5 to 1 after we originally posted this...)

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

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

C. Peter Wagner: I Like Donald Trump

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

— Matthew 6:24

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

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Read more about Wagner and The New Apostolic Reformation.

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

Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know!

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

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

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

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

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):

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"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"

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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:

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.

Release Angel Armies!! (but first send $39.00)

NARpostle Tim Sheets tells outlandish stories that would make Mark Twain blush. Joseph Smith (the guy who founded the Mormons) could have taken lessons from this guy. Here's the carnival barker, TV host and lovable nut-job Sid Roth, attempting to make this all sound plausible enough for you to pull the trigger on spending $39 that would have been better spent on a lifetime supply of extra shoelaces:  

This whole episode is a textbook example of New Apostolic Reformation nonsense, taken to the looney bin and back again.

Here's what Tim Sheets and Sid Roth don't want you to read: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know!

The Naked Cowboy: He's a Hillsong Pastor?!

Pastor Ben Houston on stage with fellow pastor and "naked cowboy" Diego Simila

The big story last week was about the "naked cowboy" appearing at a Hillsong women's conference in New York. The "naked cowboy" (who actually has underwear/briefs on) turns out to be a Hillsong youth pastor. In case you don't know, the "naked cowboy" is a real character who walks around Times Square in New York City. So it appears that the staff at Hillsong thought it would be funny for someone to portray that guy on stage at this woman's conference. Once again, Hillsong has been caught on camera doing something questionable and inappropriate, but we're supposed to trust them and not believe what we can see with our own eyes. Dr. Michael Brown, the very respected and scholarly Charismatic leader said this:

Yes, Dr. Brown, it's accurate. Are you gonna ignore this obvious and blatant example of charismatic worldliness-you know, just like you normally do?? Here's an article from the great researchers at Church Watch Central that fills in the details of this situation: Church Watch Central

Bill Hybels Talks About Popeye (Much) More Than Jesus

In his sermon entitled "Unwavering: A Story of Obedience" Bill Hybels mentions the cartoon character Popeye dozens of times-he specifically quotes him fifteen times! He does this because God gave him a direct revelation: God told Bill Hybels to write and preach about our "Holy Discontent," which is a term he invented and repeats dozens of times throughout this sermon (which just happens to be the title of his book). Instead of using exegesis to draw the meaning out of the Bible, Hybels crams his concept of Holy Discontent into the story of Nehemiah and then uses Popeye to back up this theory. He doesn't mention Jesus at all until the end of the sermon (when he wants to inflict guilt upon his listeners). But don't worry, even though this is all conjured up in Hybels mind, he says God gave it to him. 

Listen to Todd Wilken give an amazing sermon review on this episode of Issues Etc.

"Holy Discontent" is a variation on the Purpose Driven Life; it's the idea that God didn't just die on the cross to just pay for your sins (because that isn't enough in seeker-friendly theology); God really wants you to take whatever you're most angry about and act on it. Basically, the Gospel is all about how God wants you to do stuff-lot's and lot's of stuff. According to Bill Hybels, God will look at your hands to see if they're all scarred and bloodied (like His) when we get to heaven. If you haven't done enough stuff (and your hands are nice and pretty), then God will be very disappointed with you. Get to work, Christian! Don't you wanna be like Popeye, Bono, Martin Luther-King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Bill Hybels?!

“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

— 1 Corinthians 2:2

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For those of you who think it's mean and un-loving to criticize Bill Hybels (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.

Jesus asks "What Do You Want Me to Do for You?" says Victoria Osteen

Here's a 44 second clip from Victoria Osteen where she describes Jesus more like Santa Claus or a genie in a bottle than the Sovereign LORD of the Universe:

Victoria says, "When he walked through the streets, everyone he came in contact with, a positive change occurred in their life."

Really?? Hmmm...

“Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

— Matthew 19: 21-22

“The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.’ Then he left them, got back in the boat and crossed to the other side.”

— Mark 8: 11-13

“‘And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed-only Naaman the Syrian.’ All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of town, and took him to the brow of a hill on which the town was built in order to throw him down the cliff.”

— Luke 4: 27-30

“‘Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it.” One of the experts in the law answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things you insult us also.’ Jesus replied, ‘And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.’ (vs. 53) When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, waiting to catch him in something he might say.”

— Luke 11: 44-46; 53

“‘Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live forever because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.’ He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is hard teaching. Who can accept it?’ (vs. 66) From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”

— John 6: 56-60; 66

Here's the full 5 minute video where this clip came from: Victoria Osteen-A New Way of Thinking

Here's an episode of Fighting for the Faith with a segment about Joel and Victoria Osteen.

For those of you who think it's mean and un-loving to criticize Victoria Osteen (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.

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

This "Prophet" Will Read Tattoo So People Can Find Their Destiny

Here's an article from the "Tattoo Prophet, Dream Interpreter, Life Coach" Doug Addison: Tattoo Prophet Doug Addison

Besides the ridiculous idea of reading people's tattoos like a cheap fortune teller, there's the underlying theology of this man: it's the same as most of the Signs and Wonders people he's associated with. There is no mention of sinners who need to be saved-only people who need to be loved; and the best way to love them is to tell them about themselves and their destiny. This is ear-tickling, plain and simple. He almost never even mentions the name "Jesus." It seems that his god is a wish granting genie, more than the sovereign Lord of the Universe (although I'm sure he claims to believe in the sovereign Lord of the Universe).

 Doug (who claims to be a "prophetic forerunner") says: "Helping people find their destiny and life purpose is one of the most helpful and powerful things we can do for them. Over the next 5-10 years destiny-based outreach will become more and more prevalent. It encompasses all aspects of what a person needs to move forward. This includes, but is not limited to healing, dream interpretation, prophecy, spirit-filled life coaching, and explaining the supernatural in practical ways."

Hey Doug, how about if you please tell them about Jesus Christ-the Savior who died on the cross to pay the penalty for people's sins so they could have eternal life? Oh, that's right, this is a new type of anti-religion outreach you're doing. On his Core Values page, Doug says: "Some have presented the message of Jesus negatively, so one of our assignments from God is to be change agents. In a world that desperately needs hope, we do everything in our power to extend love and encouragement." 

While it's (painfully) true that too many people have presented Jesus in a negative way, this teaching goes way to the other extreme. It's actually loving to tell people about their condition of sinfulness and how Christ died as the atonement-that's not being negative, it's a vital part of the process of pointing them to the Savior. Doug has seminars called "Detoxing from Toxic Christianity" where he teaches this newer, totally positive version of Christianity. He comes across like a really caring man who means well, but his teaching appears to be devoid of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (or it's buried very deep in Dream Destiny Dog Do).

“For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD.”

— Jeremiah 29: 8-9

Here's a more extensive examination of Doug Addison's tattoo reading ministry from Let Us Reason Ministries: When Psychology Meets Psychic

For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Doug Addison (or any other popular teacher) here's something just for you: 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.

"In Jesus Name, The Bar is Open!!" -Patricia King

According to Patricia King, there are many barrels of wine in heaven. How does she know this? Because she's been there. "Wooooooo! There was barrel after barrel after barrel after barrel after barrel of wine!"

In the following video, the "prophet" Patricia King mangles God's Word and tells this audience that they can all get drunk the right way-God's way. After three and a half minutes of nonsense, she really gets to the main point of her message:

"In Jesus name the bar is open! The wine cellar is open, just come on in and drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink as much as you want! Because we can live in the house of wine! You know what, that banqueting table scripture in the Song of Solomon? That's a house of wine! Come on!"

“Do not get drunk on wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

— Ephesians 5:18

Patricia King is associated with The New Apostolic Reformation. Her "prophetic word" was used as the focal point for a sermon at Bethel Church recently (instead of the Bible); Chris Rosebrough talked about it on a recent episode of Fighting for the Faith.

For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Patricia King (or any other popular teacher) here's something just for you: 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.

Redeeming Sex or Confusing Everyone About Sex?

Watch this confusing video of Deb Hirsch talking about her book (from Christian publisher InterVarsity) called "Redeeming Sex" and see if it makes any sense to you:

Okay, now that you've watched this, can you figure out what she's actually talking about? Based on the confusing things she said while promoting her book, maybe she will need to write another book to explain what this one is about.

Hirsch says, "One of the first things the church needs to do, and realize, is that every human (doesn't matter what age you are)... male/female, gay/straight, no matter who you are... we are profoundly sexual beings." She continues, "My definition of sexuality is really about our need to know and be known, to love and be loved, our longing for intimacy and be connected with the other." That's an incredibly vague definition, but things really go downhill from there...

She talks about our "social sexuality-not just the act of sex... there are multiple ways we love God and give our worship to Him, just as there are multiple ways we can love others, and that's the expression of our sexuality... rather than limiting it to one aspect of who we are. But it's very hard to engage in the depth of relationship that, I think, God has for us, unless we broaden our understanding of sexuality." Huh? So sexuality, as we've always understood it, is too narrow a definition, and once we fundamentally change the meaning of it (or "broaden our understanding") we'll really have it figured out? How about if we look to God's Word for the correct definition of who we are and what "sexuality" is? 

Hirsch says a bunch of other confusing things about needing to "have a conversation" in "our communities" that requires "vulnerability" but then gets to this: 

"I fear that our boundaries and our fear is actually stopping us from being the people that God has called us to be."

It's hard to know what "boundaries" and "fears" she's talking about, but if we look around at the world of modern Evangelicalism, we see a sex-obsessed, divorce-loving, marriage-destroying, pornographic train wreck of a sub-culture.

Maybe a "lack of boundaries" isn't the problem?

HERE is a thorough (and thoughtful) review of this book. 

Charismatic Southern Baptist Pastor Embraces Book of Mormon

Here's an amazing little article from our friends at Pulpit and Pen about a Charismatic Southern Baptist pastor who has taken a stand in support of the Book of Mormon (and against the Bible):

Pulpit and Pen: "Charismatic SBC Pastor Embraces Book of Mormon"

Charismatics are really into new revelations (new "words from God"), so this is an understandable (but very wrong) direction to take. Mormons teach people to read their Book of Mormon and wait to see if they get "a burning in their bosom" to confirm that it's true "in their hearts." Charismatics often do something very similar and emphasize feelings and experiences over the objective and unchanging Word of God.

Oh, and yes, people claim to get that burning in their bosom all the time.

Bill Hybels: "God Uses A Re-Crafted Schedule To Transform Lives"

This one minute video clip is from the Willow Creek YouTube channel:

Pastor Hybels says: "I've never seen a tool that God uses more predictably in transforming human lives than a re-crafted schedule." This short clip is the conclusion of a 45 minute sermon (that feels like three hours) called "The Power of Your Schedule" which can be heard in a very thorough, funny and scathing sermon review by Chris Rosebrough (the sermon review starts at 1 hour 12 minutes into the program):

Is Hybels teaching from the "Book of Statistics" or something?? If God uses a re-crafted schedule more predictably than any other thing, why did He fail to mention it in His Word?

“Wow. Now I can see that I wasted a lot of my time on earth... I should have been teaching people to ‘re-craft their schedules’ instead of all that other stuff I did.”

— Said Jesus Never

Closing thoughts: Seriously, there's nothing wrong with being productive and efficient with our time, and setting goals and using some sort of planner is a good idea-just remember that God is not captive to our plans. Most importantly, Bill Hybels is supposed to be a pastor, not a life coach or business advisor. Although he mentions in this "sermon" that people in his church should, perhaps, get it on their schedule to study the Bible (duh!), he's setting a terrible example by not preaching from God's Word for this entire "sermon." 

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.”

— 2 Timothy 4: 2

“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

— 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’-yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your ignorance. All such boasting is evil.”

— James 4:13-16

Follow Up to Sleazy Silent Night

From the Hillsong Silent Night video

Michael Brown recently wrote this article for Charisma News:

Hillsong, Silent Night and the Danger of Judging by Outward Appearance 

Dr. Brown is one of the most respected members of the Christian Charismatic world; he's a brilliant debater, an actual Biblical scholar and someone who has been warning (to some extent) about false teachers in the Church. In this article he says that he, too, was appalled by the worldly and obnoxious Silent Night video that has gotten so much attention, but he refrained from making a judgment about it until he could get more information. But after he saw a Twitter comment from a pastor at Hillsong he could understand why they did the song the way they did.

There are a couple of really interesting things to note from this article: First of all, Brown makes a pretty amazing statement about how he couldn't talk to anyone from Hillsong, because he didn't have an "open door to interact directly with Hillsongs leaders (despite my attempts to do so in the past)." Please take note, everyone who says something like this: "You shouldn't say anything bad about pastor so and so until you talk to him face to face! Have you met with him and heard his side of the story?? Well then stop judging him!!" 

Even Dr. Michael Brown can't talk to the "powers that be" at Hillsong. Hmmm.

Another amazing thing about this article is how he has "differed with some of Hillsong's methods and message over the years…" but he still needed to get the true story from a reliable source before he could make a judgment. How have you differed with Hillsong, Dr. Brown? Have you spoken out against the blatant Word of Faith heresy that Brian Houston continually puts forth as Christianity? That's kinda important… but it gets side-stepped in his article. 

Here's the really disappointing part of this article: Brown believes he is able to make a correct judgment about this whole thing because he sees a Twitter comment made by a Hillsong pastor in Australia, and he accepts everything this guy says with no further inquiry:

Here's the big fat lie (intentional or not) in that Twitter comment: "This video was not released by Hillsong, nor would this number ever be an item on it's own." Except that the video was released by Hillsong... as an item of it's own… on Hillsong's own YouTube channel!

After Chris Rosebrough shared the video on Facebook and it started getting thousands of views (and negative comments) Hillsong quickly pulled it off their channel with no explanation, but we had made a copy for Vimeo (knowing that Hillsong would probably do the very thing they did). So now when everyone sees the Vimeo copy, Hillsong can claim that "somebody posted it out of context!" That's correct Hillsong, somebody did post it out of context-you did.

So, we now have a "sort of" official explanation as to why they made this "Sleazy Silent Night" and it does make more sense than before. This situation is still pretty irritating and here's why:

It seems Michael Brown (and lots of others) will let the heresy at Hillsong continue. That word, heresy, is not too harsh-it's an accurate statement made after a thorough evaluation of the teaching at Hillsong. Here are a bunch of programs where Chris Rosebrough has played Brian Houston's sermons and compared them to the Bible. Houston twists, distorts and mis-handles God's Word all the time! Here's an article that documents the history of covering up abuse by Brian Houston and his friends: Church Watch Central. And here's a very disturbing Australian TV Investigative News Show called Inside Hillsong. 

And almost nobody cares-because Hillsong is famous! Brian Houston is famous! Everybody loves Hillsong's praise music! Tens of thousands of people love and attend Hillsong! So we showed their ridiculous Silent Night video to draw attention to the problem… but now we are the bad guys because we didn't understand the correct context for the video (that Hillsong published without explanation and then silently removed). Fine.

We are sorry to have not made such a fuss over that video.

Now can we talk about the false-teaching, Bible-twisting, power-grabbing, money-loving, pedophilia-ignoring cesspool of corruption that is brewing at Hillsong??!

Along these same lines, here's an important article from our friend J. D. Hall at Pulpit and Pen:

An Open Letter to Dr. Michael Brown

Ken Copeland: Whatever Your Faith Can Believe You Can Have it in 2016

Ken Copeland, in his New Year's Eve service for 2016 claimed that God told him that whatever your faith can believe for, you can have it in 2016.

No Joke!

This is a fulfillment of the Apostle Paul's prophecy in 2 Timothy: 

“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

Ken Copeland: God Gave Us Private Jets Because You Can't Talk to God in Coach

Ken Copeland and Jesse Duplantis, on the December 29th, 2015 broadcast of the Believers Voice of Victory claimed that God gave them their private jets because you can't talk to God in commercial airliners. In other words, they claim that they have important conversations with God which would otherwise be impossible if they were flying coach.

Think we're just making that up? Think again. Watch the video below.

HT: Pulpit and Pen