Not long ago, I was having an email exchange with a friend of the ministry. He mentioned that a former student of his had seen one of the “Jesus” commercials during the Super Bowl and decided to try church again the following Sunday. Well, lo and behold, the pastor of that church critiqued those commercials, and the student was not too fond of that! Now, he isn’t interested in church anymore.
My friend found himself frustrated by all of this, but when you think about it, it really comes down to what a church can or cannot talk about. Also important is how we challenge people in this life when they see or hear something they do not like.
Can We Talk About That?
We have to remember that, biblically, a church is for the assembling together of believers. It is not for the unsaved. If an unsaved person pops into a church service, great, but “church” is for the equipping of the saints. Then, when we walk out the doors of a church, we are to do the Lord’s work, which our Bibles explain and instruct us to do.
However, the “visible church,” as some call it, often acts very differently. Many of these churches cater to lost people by attempting to make them feel comfortable and unjudged for their sin. We have really “dumbed-down” services in many churches today.
Which topics can preachers talk about or not talk about? I think they should be able to preach about anything going on in our world today, from a biblical perspective, that might be affecting their congregation. If a pastor believes the organization behind the “Jesus” commercials is suspect, he should say so and give the reasons why. The job of the pastor is to warn his flock against the wiles of the devil and the world system. While we claim that false teachings are taking place these days, many never want to call out these false teachings or the false teachers who teach them. What a time to be alive!
When you work with youth, or really with anyone, you have to teach them to QEQE: Question Everything and Question Everybody. Why didn’t my friend’s former student just walk up to the pastor and say, “I watched those commercials last week during the Super Bowl, and because of them, I decided to come to church today. I noticed that you critiqued those commercials in your sermon. Why did you do that, and what was the reasoning behind your comments?” If the commercial really moved him to go to church, why would one “bad experience” at church make him not want to go back? We really need to challenge people to be critical thinkers.
The Question of Fellowship
As my friend and I continued our email exchange, we discussed who we could or could not partner with. He said, “I know we should test the spirits and not accept everything that comes down the pike, but if we can agree on these five things, then I am all in: 1) God, 2) God’s Son, 3) God’s Spirit, 4) God’s Word, and 5) the Gospel, then I am ready to go.”
That sounds really good on its face, but do you see a problem with this litmus test? Do any red flags go up for you? Think it through for a second. Who might fall into these five categories that you really would not want to recommend to others?
A 19-year-old guy was asking me about IHOP the other day. He pulled out his phone and showed me something about the International House of Prayer. Mike Bickle is the founder and leader of that organization. I warned Andrew to be careful and told him he needed to learn how to test the spirits since false teaching is everywhere.
The following link takes you to an article. Watch the first video clip, which is from IHOP. Would you really recommend that any young person get involved in this movement? Yet, those in this organization would affirm the five points listed above.
https://bereanresearch.org/is-ihop-a-cult-one-interns-story/
At Todd Bentley’s commissioning service, the Who’s Who of the New Apostolic Reformation leaders―men like C. Peter Wagner, John Arnott, Che Ahn, Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson, etc.―were all in attendance. Stacy Campbell also attended that event. Watch her in the video below. Just check out the first couple of minutes. She and that whole gang would agree with those five statements above, but would you recommend any of these ministers to someone seeking truth?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=macIFwHROaM
Bill Johnson, who I just mentioned above, is the senior leader of Bethel Church in Redding, CA. He is extremely popular and getting more popular by the day. A lot of people are following him and his ministry, especially young people. Have you done any research on him, his church, his Supernatural School of Ministry, or any of his other teachings? Would you recommend his teachings and his church to someone seeking truth in the days we are living in?
Watch the following five-minute video clip of Kenneth Hagin. He would have agreed with the five statements above. Mr. Hagin has impacted so many lives. Look at the audience. Notice that Kenneth and Gloria Copeland are sitting there. Is what you see in this video clip biblical? I will help you here: This phenomenon has nothing to do with the Spirit of the God of the Bible. It is demonic. Period.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2V7KbbfRHA
I have been listening to some of Billy Graham’s older sermons from the 50s and 60s. One thing that has really stood out to me is how pro-Roman Catholic and ecumenical he was, even back then. He had no problem partnering with Orthodox or Catholic churches for his crusades and speaking events.
Billy would have given all the right answers to the five statements above. With that being true, how would you explain the following?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INPyY0QjgpY
Embracing the Truth
Proverbs 14:15
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 24:4-5; Mark. 13:5-6
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 20:29-31
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch . . .
I heard someone say the other day, “The only cult you don’t recognize is the one that you are in.” The only way you can tell if you are in false teaching is if you know the truth. Where does the truth come from? Jesus is the Truth. Where can Truth be found? Only from Genesis to Revelation, properly interpreted in context, and nowhere else.
If you feel that any of the materials we produce here at the ministry are false teachings or heretical doctrine, take whatever you have left of them and toss them in the nearest trash can. Truth is way too important to tolerate error.
The days are running short. We are hurtling toward the end. Discernment is probably at the lowest point it has ever been. People need truth―and only the Truth―during these dark and serious times. Give it to them. Then pray and watch God work His marvelous wonders.
Until the nets are full,
P.S. Always remember that sharing your faith is not pushing your faith on anyone. I asked someone last night, “If you could know what the truth is, would you like to know?” He was very enthusiastic in his response. Also, maybe we should be as bold as some of the evil that is engulfing our country right now?
P.P.S.
