Transformation
The Global Church & Community
Chart: Transformation of the Church
CHANGE! New world, New ways, New minds, New gods new
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TransformationThe Global Church & CommunityChart: Transformation of the Church CHANGE! New world, New ways, New minds, New gods new
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The links and summaries on this page will show that similar buzzwords, visions, purposes and psychosocial processes are used around the world to drive the transformational agendas of local community groups, global organizations, the World Bank and other "specialized UN agencies," educational and mental health institutions, and the Purpose-Driven and Church Growth Movements. Believers and unbelievers alike are embracing the new relational dialogues and transformational thinking needed to unify the world and establish solidarity.
December 2006
Whose Country Is It? "The majority in Britain today doesn’t go to church, even at Christmas.... In recent times we have increasingly seen officialdom trying desperately not to offend minorities at Christmastime. Reacting to their need for political correctness, supposedly to encourage inclusiveness but actually creating divisions and dissent, the imposition of attitudinal fascism by officials at Christmas is even more nasty than usual. Schools and councils hold festivals to celebrate (if that is the right word) multiculturalism. Holly and Christmas trees are banned, even though they have their origins in pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. The carol service becomes a multicultural concert....
"The Britain we know and love, and our way of life, faces destruction. The threat comes from within. ... Most immigrants arrive jobless, settle, enjoy our standard of living, and draw on our resources and tolerance. Meanwhile, the British government has allowed the EU to accelerate that process unhindered and apparently without regard for the consequences. ...
"Col Gaddafi told Al Jazeera television recently that 'there is no democracy in Islam. We want an Islamic state where Islamic law is not just in the book, but enforced. Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe. There are 50 million Muslims in Europe already. They will turn it into a Muslim continent within three decades.'" See Reinventing the World
November 2006
Ted Haggard's Lies. "Few evangelicals -- and even fewer outside evangelicaldom -- know that Haggard, like Rick Warren, has been much more than a megachurch pastor. He stands at the forefront of what is called the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), i.e., Rick Warren's '2nd Reformation.' Haggard's church has played a central role in promulgating the heretical doctrines of the NAR, especially dominionism -- political dominionism, mission/evangelization dominionism and prayer warfare dominionism.
"As a political dominionist, Haggard -- in his roles as megachurch pastor, head of the NAE, and 'apostle' of the NAR -- has been playing in the "big league" with the politicians ever since his rise to fame. Unfortunately for him, these big boys play ugly. According to a story that appeared in Harper's magazine last year, 'Pastor Ted… talks to President George W. Bush or his advisers every Monday' and 'No pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism than does Pastor Ted, and no church more than New Life.'" See Reinventing the World
PSEUDO-MISSION: Creating A "Social Ethic" Worldview: "The mainline denominations moved to integrate sociology with theology early on. They didn't have to hassle with the stalwart fundamentalist who insisted on doctrinal purity. It was easy for mainline leaders to simply blend the latest intellectual 'scientific' research into their functioning, particularly on a global mission scale." See New Age terms in the Church
October 2006
The Language of Dreams and Idols: "...the neoevangelicals have a new arsenal of techniques for the transformation of theology at their disposal. Borrowing heavily from the more recent theoretical research of social scientists, psychologists, anthropologists, linguists, political philosophers -- among others -- these advocates of 'new ways' of 'doing' Christianity are working to contrive new forms of speech, written word and even thought patterns. These leaders know that in order to transform the church, one must transform its language....
"The premise behind this change in language is to move Christians away from a text-centered faith.... The Christian faith has always been anchored in written language.... But now the neoevangelical leaders of the '2nd Reformation'... are broadening the scope of language to include the verbal and nonverbal, signs, symbols, metaphors, parables, stories, dreams, etc." See New Age terms in the Church
Transforming the World by Subverting the Church: "The Social Gospel of the early 20th century shifted the focus of many church leaders from God's unchanging Truth to the world's pliable ideals. Pragmatic pastors and seminary professors would validate their visions with hand-picked Bible verses that 'fit' their social message. 'Offensive' words like sin and and redemption were redefined, contextualized or ignored. No need for the cross, since all people were considered essentially good....
"Today, more than a decade after the supposed 'death of Communism,' a more pleasing version is rising like the mythical phoenix out of its own ashes. It's new label? Communitarianism! Like the old system, this postmodern version would control the masses through universal surveillance, personal data files, and a hierarchy of groups or councils (originally called soviets). It's already being marketed to the public as decentralized leadership, sustainable development, supportive networks, and voluntary service."
September 2006
Metro Muslims building a legacy: "As a new mosque rises in Minneapolis, Twin Cities Muslims reflect on their growing place here in post-9/11 America. Siddiqui said about 100,000 to 150,000 Muslims live in Minnesota, many of them immigrants from Somalia.... Issa points out that congregants regularly sweep and clean a five-block radius near the mosque. They plan to hold an open house for neighbors to introduce themselves and their religion, which he says has similarities to Christianity." See The UN Plan for Global Migration
May 2006
(Thomas Sowell): "For those liberals who lived through the 1960s, that was often also the springtime of their youth, increasingly treasured as a memory.... It is expecting an awful lot to expect them to consider any alternative vision of the world, especially one that shatters the beautiful picture of themselves as wise and compassionate saviors of society. But what are the facts?..."The 1960s marked the end of many beneficial trends that had been going on for years -- and a complete reversal of those trends as programs, policies, and ideologies of the liberals took hold. Teenage pregnancy had been going down for years. So had venereal disease.... There were similar trends in crime. The total number of murders in the United States in 1960 was lower than in 1950, 1940, or 1930 -- even though the population was growing.... Every one of these beneficial trends sharply reversed after liberal notions gained ascendancy during in the 1960s. By 1974, the murder rate had doubled." See Chart: Total transformation and The fall and rise of human violence
Redefining the Church: "I found myself pondering that situation in light of the many emails I have received from people around the country. These people often are unwelcome in churches in which they had been members for many years. What seems so strange is that the unwelcome members were not accused of sin or heresy; they were accused of not supporting the church’s mission or program. In some cases the mission and program had recently been changed and the long standing members had resisted the change. Ultimately most of these people left willingly, but with sadness of heart. Some who decided to stay and fight were eventually removed from fellowship.
"What has happened that evangelical churches are willing to lose solid Christian members who have not fallen into sin or heresy?...
"It is possible that some who belong to the invisible Church never become members of the visible organization, as missionary subjects who are converted on their deathbeds, and that others are temporarily excluded from it, as erring believers who are for a time shut out from the communion of the visible Church. On the other hand there may be unregenerate children and adults who, while professing Christ, have no true faith in Him, in the Church as an external institution; and these, as long as they are in that condition, do not belong to the invisible Church." Who defines the Kingdom of God?
April 2006
Are facts obsolete? (Thomas Sowell) "People who have made up their minds and don't want to be confused by the facts are a danger to the whole society....
"Those who are in the business of teaching the young, whether in the public schools or on college campuses, too often see this not as a responsibility to pass on what is known but as an opportunity to indoctrinate students with their own beliefs. Many 'educators' and the gurus who indoctrinated them actively disparage 'mere facts,' which they say you can get from an almanac or encyclopedia. The net result is a student population that does not even know enough to know what needs to be looked up, much less how to analyze facts, so as to test opposing beliefs....
"...slavery is an issue that is widely discussed as if it were something peculiar to Africans enslaved by Europeans, instead of something suffered and inflicted around the world by people of every race, color, and religion. Two books about a million European slaves taken to North Africa have been published in recent years. That is more than the number of African slaves brought to America.... Both books have been largely ignored by the media and academia alike." See Re-inventing the World
Transformation. Soothing Ourselves to Death: "This trend is evident not just in theater-like churches.... It's also true of Christian radio, historically an important source of serious preaching and teaching. Several stations recently—many acting on the advice of a leading consulting firm—have dropped serious programming in favor of all-music formats....
"When another major station, this one in Cincinnati, replaced BreakPoint with music, I called the station manager, arguing that believers need to think Christianly about major worldview issues. The young woman on the other end of the phone admonished me: 'But we don't want to do anything that will upset our listeners.' Younger women, she said, want 'something to help them cope with life.'... What is the job of Christian radio, after all? To give people what they want, or—as with any ministry—to give them what they need? ....
"When Postman published his book two decades ago, he feared television would impair our capacity to think. He was right. Can we learn from this—or are we destined to follow suit, the church blissfully amusing itself into irrelevance?" See the next link:
Repeat The Cross. "Neil Postman, the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, understood these socialist strategies. He also saw the power of a cooperative media to fuel new cravings and dull old convictions. To illustrate today's manipulation of our minds, he drew an interesting contrast between two familiar totalitarian visions: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and George Orwell's 1984:
"Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies.... In [Orwell's] 1984... people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us."
"The spiritual war against Christ and the cross is being waged on both fronts. The assault on religious freedom fits Orwell's vision. The flood of images and suggestions that distort traditional beliefs, twist Biblical values and trivialize Christian words, fit Huxley's vision."What's love got to do with it? "I can think of no maneuver Satan has had more success in deceiving mankind with than turning what was once considered a Divine attribute into nothing more than a four-letter word.... We have churches offering unrepentant sinners amusements, refreshments, recreation and smiling faces that wink at rebellion while denying the Lord they claim at every turn by hiding His Word behind clever programs, techniques, organizations, reputations and strategies; and in doing so, re-define 'love' into something sneaky, seductive, misleading and unbiblical as a pragmatic means of gaining... approval of a fallen and rebellious world that, in reality, hates Jesus Christ and His Word." See Chart: Transformation of the Church
First & Second Order Paradigm Change: "Transformation is a new paradigm, a new worldview. Transformation is systemic. It is global. It is not just affecting the Church, but all of the entire social and cultural systems of the planet. Transformation is intentional and planned. It isn't just a "new world order" political change, but is also mystical and spiritual."
March 2006
Releasing Your God-given Potential: "Natural Church Development means releasing the growth potential that God has already imparted in your church. By applying the following steps you can do your part in supporting this process: 1. Do the NCD Survey to find how strongly developed each of the eight quality characteristics is in your situation.... 2. Focus on your minimum factor.... 3. Set Qualitative goals.... 4. In all your decisions, learn consistently to work in harmony with the six growth forces of NCD: Interdependence, multiplication, energy transformation, sustainability, symbiosis, fruitfulness. Help your people move into this new framework of thinking...."
Here is another “human potential” program clothed in Christian words and postmodern logic. It fits right into the “positive thinking” and strategic marketing strategies taught by Drucker, Senge, Warren and Blanchard.
See Reinventing the World
UK set for over seven million more houses: "'It’s now clear that population growth is the main force driving housing demand and the UK’s population is spiraling out of control,' Valerie Stevens.... 'The ODPM’s revised projections for England are alarming enough but for the UK as a whole the longer-term outlook for quality of life and environmental impact is genuinely frightening.... We’re already facing severe congestion and water rationing in the South of England.'” See UN Plan For Global Control: A Report on Habitat II
Using CHANGE to facilitate TRANSFORMATION: "Change is an essential ingredient to marketing. The marketing model has been brought into the Church via the leadership training seminars and workshops. This model primarily focuses on new practices and new methods of leadership to cause Church Growth.
"To create a climate of change, a discontent with the old models is focused upon. And extravagant claims of success (numerically in terms of converts) is promised with the new model.... Name brand identification is often a key to success ('I am of Rick Warren, I am of John Maxwell,' 1 Cor. 1:4)."
February 2006
Homosexual Activists' War Against Christianity: "While they claim to want only equal protection under law, the real agenda of homosexual activists is simple: the complete alteration of American society.... Paula Ettelbrick is former legal director of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and now executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Ettelbrick stated, '...We must keep our eyes on the goal... of radically reordering society's views of reality.'
"...the foundation of our culture must be shifted to a new way of perceiving reality that rejects the Judeo-Christian view. However, that leaves one major institution standing in the way: the Church. Christians who still hold to the Judeo-Christian views of human sexuality, marriage and family are called by religious faithfulness to resist the homosexual movement. That makes Christians the enemy....
"For those churches which resist the siren call to complete moral relativism, Kirk and Madsen submitted a secondary strategy. They suggested that gays 'undermine the moral authority of homophobic churches by portraying them as antiquated backwaters, badly out of step with the times....' It should come as no surprise, therefore, when Christians see themselves portrayed on countless television shows as self-righteous bigots or hate-filled lunatics who simply refuse to accept the fact that things have changed in America.... 'At a later stage of the media campaign for gay rights -- long after other gay ads have become commonplace -- it will be time to get tough with remaining opponents. To be blunt, they must be vilified.'"
That sounds similar to the strategy Church Growth leaders use to vilify church members who resist today's unbiblical "transformation." See Dealing with Resisters and Fundamentalism... one of the big enemies
Forces Reshaping Christianity Around World: "In Nigeria, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles congregation holds huge all-night revivals....The World Council of Churches hopes to leave its assembly in Porto Alegre... with a clearer vision of how to address the sharp growth of Pentecostal, charismatic and evangelical groups around the globe.... 'We need a fresh look at global Christianity,' Kobia told The Associated Press.... 'I will also call on Pentecostals, charismatic and others to approach us in an open mind and not with the hostility of history that has led to suspicion." See The Second Reformation
Megachurches Growing in Number and Size: "A new survey on U.S. Protestant megachurches shows they are among the nation's fastest-growing faith groups, drawing younger people and families with contemporary programming and conservative values....
" Leadership Network's clients are large churches in the U.S. and Canada looking to grow or maintain growth with new ideas and methods. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research is part of the nondenominational Hartford Seminary in Connecticut....
"The growth of megachurches in recent decades has come about because of a common historic cycle in U.S. religion: faith institutions reinventing themselves to meet the consumer-like demands of worshippers, said Paul Harvey, American history professor.... 'We have a market economy of religion.... Megachurches just show the instant adaptability of religious institutions. They reflect how Americans have morphed their religious institutions into the way they want them to be."
The next two links show some of key leaders in a global plan to merge church and world. Rick Warren is being used to facilitate this agenda. See Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan and UN Goals
Introduction to the Hartford Institute: "We want to thank our web designers, Krista and Greg, of Alchemy Design and the consultation of Joyce Magee of Web Magik. Funding for this venture was generously provided by a grant from Lilly Endowment...." See Social Change and Communitarian SystemsLinks to the Learning Communities: "...the Hartford Institute will develop creative ways to share useful research-based information with congregations, religious bodies and their leaders.... The Hartford Institute has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for an unprecedented project to create a national network of 'learning communities.'... The project, which started in January, will place the Hartford Institute at the hub of an expanding network.... It will provide information in new and innovative ways that will enable religious leaders to improve their leadership and policy makers to understand the role of religion in society today." See UNESCO's Declaration on the Role of Religion in the Promotion of a Culture of Peace
January 2006
What is MicahMorphosis? "To undergo a Micahmorphosis is to shed the cocoon of complacency and indifference, and emerge with eyes wide open and wings unfurled to affect the winds of change. It is to die to society's concept of individualism, power and wealth and to be born again, consciously working for the global good. It is to have engrained on the heart and mind God's call, 'to act justly and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God'- Micah 6:8. The United Nations outlined Eight Millennium Development Goals in 2000 as a call on all UN member states to morph their current foreign policies in such a dramatic way that extreme poverty would be cut in half by 2015." See Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan and UN Goals (Part 3): Whom do we serve?
Will the Poor Always Be With Us? "Using biblical references and stories, Myers' article addresses the issue of poverty by discussing the dichotomy between a world created by God to provide completely for the physical needs of its inhabitants, and the reality that this world has become that which it was never meant to be - a world full of hunger and need."
But God never promised to end physical hunger and need during this earthly life! Instead, He promises spiritual fulfillment and eternal life with Him to those who know and trust Him. See Hope in Christ & Sharing His suffering
The Movement to Change Society: "A wave of spiritual renewal is beginning to build across North America and abroad. And it's happening through small groups—where 'good hands' provide a place for people to experience biblical community like never before....
"
Our curriculum was, and continues to be, written in community for community—in order to create healthy communities. It wasn't written only to learn more about a passage or a biblical character. Too often curriculum is only about information, which doesn't lead to application and thus personal transformation. Our curriculum is experiential." See Warren's PEACE Plan and UN Goals: Part 2
December 2005
See Re-Inventing the Church and NEW AGE terms in the churchChanging Society: "One of the trademarks of this movement is a vague and duplicitous language. Its participants regularly employ terms that mean one thing to biblically literate Christians and often something else to 'seekers,' secular society and the enemies of Christ.... Some of the more common words used with many meanings are: 'change', 'community', 'connect', 'conversion', 'emerging', 'experience', 'healthy', 'facilitate', 'felt needs', 'leadership', 'passion', 'purpose'.....
"Here is an excerpt from the aforementioned Christianity Today article that clearly illustrates how easy an alternative agenda can be validated and advanced in the church by simply employing biblical terminology. 'There are two kinds of conversions: a spiritual conversion, which every person must have—and a small groups conversion—which every pastor or church leader must have: A Christian conversion and Community conversion. Small groups are not just another program in a suite of church offerings. Small groups are the church—it's the primary way people get transformed—life on life.'”
Get Involved:
"Become a
Change Agent. Consider partnering with us as a certified, small
group leader....
"What is a Change Agent? Are you an influencer or
would you like to become one? Do you see a crucial need for revival among
the church and the way it thinks? Are you willing to be a part of a grander
story that could change the minds and hearts of Christians throughout our
nation? If so, you need to consider partnering with and representing Focus
on the Family as one of our trained Change Agents.
"The Truth Project offers an opportunity for exponential worldview change within the body of Christ.... As a Change Agent, you will facilitate a small group using our DVD-based lessons and see for yourself the dramatic spiritual and intellectual transformation that will take place...." See Re-Inventing the Church and NEW AGE terms in the church
November 2005
This Revolution’s for You! [George Barna's new book] "It is comprised of a demographically diverse group of people who are determined to let nothing stand in the way of authentic and genuine experience with God. They are involved in a variety of activities and connections designed to satisfy a spiritual focus.....
"En route to this intimacy with God, they are integrating the seven spiritual passions of a true Revolutionary Christian into their life.... They respond to His love by seeking ways to invest the resources they control or influence for kingdom outcomes.... They pursue opportunities to use their abilities to affect the quality of life in the world..... It is this holistic devotion to being Christ-like that triggers the transformational legacy of the Revolution...."It entails drawing people away from reliance upon a local church into a deeper connection with and reliance upon God... believers see the world as their church grounds. "
See Loving God
[At transformation.com] 40 Days of Purpose: Sojourns with Saddleback (An insider’s story): "...we used the book as an opportunity to discuss religious differences. Our people loved the opportunity for comparative theological reflection. Members mentioned they had not read a religious book in years and now that's all they read. The Purpose-Driven Life primed their spiritual pumps for further study and growth." Spirit-Led or Purpose-Driven?
What is the 2006 Challenge? "Special Offer! Preorder the Extraordinary Life Challenge kit today and receive Dr.[Charles] Stanley's 2006 wall calendar absolutely free! ...
• "An in-depth assessment will give you an accurate snapshot of your spiritual, physical and financial health. ... Personal Coaching CD...
• "49-Day Challenge Wristband... to maintain your focus and commitment to living a life of excellence.
• "Tote bag... When people see this distinctive bag you’ll have the perfect opportunity to share your faith and how they, too, can have an Extraordinary Life!"
October 2005
Time Magazine to convene leaders to develop; solutions to global health challenges: "Speakers Include Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Lee Jong-wook, Ted Turner... Madeleine Albright, Paul Wolfowitz... Rick Warren, Julie Gerberding and Bono... TIME is partnering with PBS, as well as ABC News, to reach a broad audience."
See the next link:
Rick Warren's Strange Bedfellows: "What do Rick Warren, Ted Turner, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Bono and Paul Wolfawitz, President of the World Bank have in common? Well, they have a conference in common sponsored by Time Magazine from Nov. 1-3 in New York City on solving global health problems. I received a call this morning from Time, Inc.'s PR person, wanting to know if we would cover this event from the 'faith based' angle.... Rick Warren will be there along with....' Right. We knew that. ...
"These are people working to transform the world, not by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but by a world-wide acceptance of socialism and tolerance for whatever they want to deem normal." See Whom do we serve? : “We need to take a new look at one of our most quoted Bible verses: 'The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost' (Lu. 19:10). In the past, most of us thought that Jesus was saying 'to seek and to save those who were lost.' Consequently, we applied it to saving souls. ... The Holy Spirit is now speaking to the churches and saying that God’s people must do what it takes to transform society, segment by segment, until God’s kingdom is seen on earth as it is in heaven.” See the same message from Rick Warren:
Whom do we serve? Rick Warren:
"I’m looking at a stadium full of people who are telling God they will do whatever it takes to establish God’s Kingdom ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’" See Watchfulness
September 2005
The Labyrinth Journey -- walking the path to fulfillment? "Christians looking for ways to bring in new relevancy within church worship did not 'rediscover' the labyrinth as a spiritual tool. As we shall see, it's been part of the esoteric world for a very long time. Which is why, today, labyrinth walks and 'prayer journeys' are being promoted by Rosicrucian groups, at New Age festivals and celebrations, and throughout the neo-pagan world.
"Not surprisingly, one of America's largest witch, shaman, and neo-pagan assemblies, the 2005 Pagan Spirit Gathering at Wisteria, OH, held a night-time Summer Solstice Labyrinth ritual, which was described as a 'transformative, walking meditation through an all night labyrinth formed by 1000 lighted candles."
See Chart: Total transformation
July 2005
Three reports from the July 27-31 Baptist World Centenary Congress in Birmingham, England (The last two -- by Rick Warren and Jimmy Carter -- have been moved to Transformation) :
Campolo: Jesus’ Mission Statement proclaims Kingdom
: "Tony Campolo—American sociologist, professor, Baptist author and preacher, speaking at a Baptist World Centenary Congress focus group on July 28—brought his trademark quick quips.... 'What was Jesus’ Mission Statement?' he asked. Campolo pointed to the gospel proclamation, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand,' as the short summation of Jesus’ ministry. Marks of the Kingdom include children do not die in infancy; the elderly will live in health and well being; decent housing and jobs would be a reality; children would not be born for (later) calamity; the environment would be protected. 'We should all be environmentalists."No, those are the marks of the world's idealism, not of God's Kingdom. Our King calls His people to love Him, know His Word, share His suffering, go where He leads, and lay down our lives according to His will and purpose, not ours. Yes, we must demonstrate His love to everyone, but the focus is on eternity. He does not tell us to love or accommodate the world, fix its problems, or heal the environment.
Loving God First and Don't conform to the ways of the world
Baptist Congress Today: "There is an intense hunger among Christians around the world for a healing of the differences that now separate us from one another,' [Jimmy] Carter, United States president from 1977 to 1981, told reporters.... Those Christians 'are looking for a single voice, a common understanding and friendship, and [want] to put aside the divisions that plague our faith.' ... Differences of belief -- even among Muslims, Jews and Christians -- are outweighed by a common commitment 'to truth, to justice, to benevolence, to compassion, to generosity and to love,' Carter told a roomful of reporters from around the world. ... The tough work of interfaith dialog is not pointless but well worth the risk and investment of time, he said." See Heresy in high places
Rick Warren: Global Baptists: "...Rick Warren told reporters at the Baptist World Alliance’s centenary congress that the withdrawal of Southern Baptists from BWA was a 'silly' mistake. 'God has called us to enjoy and fellowship with each other and work together. We’re all in this together,' he said, adding Baptists can 'celebrate our diversity and celebrate our unity.' ... 'I am praying for a second reformation of the church' that will focus more on deeds than words.' 'The first Reformation was about beliefs. This one needs to be about behavior. … We’ve had a Reformation; what we need now is a transformation.'
"Fielding a question about claims that The Purpose Driven Life comes across as an adulation of men, Warren responded, 'I don’t know how it could be an adulation of man when the first sentence of the book is, ‘It’s not about you.’ The whole book is, ‘It is all about God.’
That's not true! If it told the whole, balanced truth about God and the nature of man, it would not have won worldwide popularity. See Widening the gate to the Kingdom, God's Way versus Our ways and Softening God's Word
The Twilight of Atheism: "...creating a sense of community has become an increasingly important political issue in many Western cultures.... In his much-cited article 'The Age of Social Transformation,' published in the November 1994 Atlantic Monthly, management guru Peter Drucker pointed out that traditional communities of family, village, and parish have practically disappeared.
"But what of atheism? The former Soviet Union realized the importance of creating a sense of community. Having eliminated religion from the public life of the nation, Soviet planners recognized the importance of creating rituals and events, which fostered social cohesion and a sense of identity. Thus the Saturday just before Easter was celebrated as Communist Saturday. Other holidays included May Day...."The nearest thing in the West to this Soviet model is found in Canada, which seems to think that a sense of community identity can only be created by eliminating any religious presence in the public arena. In the United States, atheism spawns organizations; it does not create community." See Chart: Soviet Education in the 1930s compared to U.S. Education in 2001
One Nation Under Therapy - How the Helping Culture is Eroding Self-Reliance: “'therapism' – 'emotional self-absorption and the sharing of feelings' – has asserted itself in public education and American culture.... Along with high self-esteem, stress management is seen as the pinnacle of the healthy self. The Girl Scouts of America, who have been on the cusp of the feminist ideal, introduced a 'Stress Less Badge' in 2001. Girls aged 8 to 11 can earn the badge by keeping a 'feelings diary,' exchanging foot massages and practicing 'focused breathing.'" Self-esteem
The Second Reformation: "At a recent Purpose-Driven conference Warren stated, 'The P.E.A.C.E. plan will be a ‘revolution’ for global Christianity,' and 'I’m looking at a stadium full of people who are telling God they will do whatever it takes to establish God’s Kingdom ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’...
"The 'Kingdom transformation' of the African continent appears to fit the radical goals of a one world government. It also appears to be a bold maneuver to create a new market for corporate interests.... Rick Warren brazenly asserts that his plan is 'God’s Plan.'”
Whose jubilee? "What common cause could unite Pink Floyd and Rick Warren? ... Meet Live8, ONE, Make Poverty History, and the Long Walk To Justice.... The campaign, timed to arm-wrestle world leaders ahead of next month's G8 summit into canceling debt against certain poor countries and increasing public aid, became so fierce last week that it reunited the '70s band Pink Floyd and hauled Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren onto the bandwagon.
"Mr. Warren, the top-selling Christian author, issued a June 3 endorsement of The ONE Campaign, along with evangelist Billy Graham and British theologian John Stott. Christian music icons Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay, and tobyMac also signed. So have a variety of Christian relief organizations, including World Concern, World Vision, Episcopal Relief and Development, and Operation Blessing International, the relief and development arm of televangelist Pat Robertson's empire."But offstage a band of leading economists and scholars says the G8 plan is not only misguided but harmful, particularly for church-based poverty-fighting efforts. 'Debt forgiveness rewards the corruption and inefficiency of governments who have mishandled loaned funds,' writes the editorial board of the Kairos Journal in a letter sent June 6 to Mr. Warren and Mr. Stott, along with others. 'n forgiving the debt of poor nations, we're not forgiving the debts of those nation's poor; we're merely enabling bureaucratic perfidy and incompetence.'...
"Western nations have been down the debt-forgiveness road, writing off $33 billion in debt for 41 poor countries from 1989 to 1997. Yet those same countries incurred new borrowing totaling $41 billion.... Debt relief goes to governments of poor countries, not to poor people. ... Debt relief would flow to Robert Mugabe's government in Zimbabwe, where food shortages this month sparked street riots while government policies have destroyed the country's agriculture base and have limited UN relief to card-carrying party members." See Spiritual Gifts and Community Service
June 2005
Take a Giant Step Up (Jim Rutz, WND columnist): "The New Christianity A startling new phase of Christianity is exploding. Within this core of 707 million, roughly 100 million are spreading a radical version of Christianity that is so different, you can't tell it's a church! There are no sermons, programs, hierarchies, buildings, or salaried pastors. Instead, its ordinary members are given high status and responsibilities. With such total participation, this 'open Christianity' will, we feel, become predominant in our generation." See Transformation
Whose GOD Is Their Co-Pilot? "The U.S. Air Force Academy faces charges that it has allowed rampant evangelization on campus.... Critics say the behaviors violated the Constitution and Department of Defense regulations--and threatened troop unity by teaching future commanders overt religious favoritism.... Lieut. General John Rosa Jr.... publicly conceded, "I have problems in my cadet wing, I have issues in my staff, and I have issues in my faculty." It might take six years, he said, to change the culture....
"The ethos may not have been as pervasive as some allege. 'There's this idea that all evangelical Christians walk around shoving their faith down other cadets' throats, and it's not true,' says academy computer-science professor Martin Carlisle, himself an Evangelical."
Change the culture? From freedom to discuss one's faith to a fear of offending someone by our Lord? See Chart: Total transformation
Megashift? More "Christian happy-talk: "Farah proudly announced that Rutz was coming on as a regular contributor to World Net Daily, saying, 'The day I finished reading 'Megashift,' I started plotting how to get Jim Rutz involved in WND.' ...
"Instead of seeing quotes and teachings from the Bible at Megashift.com, you’ll see such things as a make-believe conversation between 'you' and 'God,' in a section called: '“A Few Questions From God,' that foolishly puts words into the mouth of the Almighty for your consideration and amusement; something false prophets were killed for in the Old Testament and the Lord Himself sternly warned against in The Revelation. ...
"...this 'megashift' coming out party is simply the latest wave in an ongoing paradigm shift from tradition to transition to transformation that perpetual change agents have been revising, renaming and re-implementing for years with 'fresh fire'... which, incidentally, has little or nothing to do with the Word of God, the Kingdom of Heaven or Jesus Christ." See Transformation
(Occultism is spreading fast) Burning Man - Just One of the Signs the
Occult Is Sweeping the Globe: "Across the sea in the UK, Brighton proudly wears the title these days of 'Capital of Occulture.' This year's Occulture festivities exhibited bigger than ever venues - sacred music and dance, clarivoyance, psychic and tarot readers, chakra, traditional witchcraft, tatooing, piercing, fetish satanism, shamanism, transcendent techniques, and lectures favoring paganism from the original Book of Shadows. And then there was the 'Pleasure Dome" where magicians, sorcerers and witches discussed their trade, including Mogg Morgon, founder of the Golden Dawn Occult Society, Ralph Harvey, a prominent Wiccan High Priest, and Emrys, a Shaman of the Cromlech Covenant." See The Nature and Tactics of Satan and Loving evil more than good (by Jim Rutz, author of Megashift): "If you've always been a Sunday-go-to-meetin' kind of Christian, you now have an exciting alternative. Without changing one iota of your beliefs, you can upgrade yourself from a pew potato to a world-changing pioneer. This has to be the biggest megashift in the history of mankind...."One, we're going to overwhelm the secular liberals by sheer numbers (see my first column), thus enabling us to pass a sweeping series of truly progressive reforms based on a radical vision like Mr. Farah's. And two, we're going to cooperate with God in re-creating the church, turning the people from a professionally led audience into proactive disciples who get their directions straight from the Spirit. (We can't change diehard spectators, but we can change many believers and bring in a billion more in the next 11 to 12 years.) See The Open Church
Megashift: Igniting Spiritual Power: "The 1700-year nightmare is over.... Prepare yourself to take part in a total makeover of Planet Earth! You are about to discover a new world where...
- Over a billion non-Christians may become highly active Christians in the next dozen years.
- A whole new form of Christianity promises to bring a far greater impact than the Protestant Reformation....
" MEGASHIFT not only documents a wide range of miracles, but also spotlights hundreds of thousands of house-church teams around the globe that are producing a new culture of responsible freedom. In these teams, people are allowed to speak and interact. They often form deep friendships, dump their heaviest problems, turn into free and powerful spearheads of worldwide change, and get connected with God and man in ways that almost defy description. This is a megashift away from spectator religion."
This sounds amazing, but what is really happening? Where does the Bible fit into this picture? Or preaching? How do you differentiate between genuine rebirth in Christ and the new form of "positive," relational or cultural Christianity? See The Open Church
May 2005
Transformation. Christianity taking over planet Earth? "In Megashift, author Jim Rutz coins a new phrase to define this fast-growing segment of the population. He calls them 'core apostolics' – or 'the new saints who are at the heart of the mushrooming kingdom of God.'... He says there are 707 million 'switched-on disciples' who fit into this new category and that this 'church' is exploding in growth.... And what is driving this movement? Miracles, he says."
This may be of God, for nothing is impossible with Him! But it could also be part of the prophesied apostasy with its miraculous "signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth." We need to pray and test all things by God's Word. See The End Times and the coming apostasy and The Loneliness of the Christian
Before Hawai’i can be Transformed - YOU must be Transformed: "Transformation Hawaii is apostle Ed Silvoso’s project (who is associated with Peter Wagner’s apostolic government). ... He is gathering an army to take dominion over the State of Hawaii, by teaching people to take their faith into the marketplace. Certainly, we can all be more vocal and upfront on whom we believe.... but there is more to this transformation prayer movement than one can learn in a weekend of attending their meeting....
"This is accomplished by 'Speaking peace... saying ‘Lord, I send peace over them.,’ I wish them well. I pray that angels will protect them. And then that positive energy that come from the throne of God begins to dismantle the forces of evil and as it does the eyes of the people will open up.'"
It almost sounds like the light side of the Force -- and like UNESCO's Declaration on the Role of Religion in the Promotion of a Culture of Peace! But that's not what God tells us to do. See The Gospel
HOLY ANGER • American evangelist, Benny Hinn leaves Nigeria in annoyance: "His expectations were high because he had allegedly sunk $4 million dollars (about N600 million) into the 3-day crusade that is now being trailed by controversy. ... 'Four million dollars down the drain!' he reportedly shouted during the crusade, with his voice cracking with emotion. ... Hypes and great expectations had heralded the coming of the world renowned healing evangelist to Africa’s most populous nation, but the organisers were reportedly scored very low by Hinn.
"...a leading Pentecostal preacher who preferred anonymity, told Daily Sun: "No one can blame the organizers for the turnout. ...
"Putting the disappointments behind him as he returned to his base in USA, Dr Hinn posted some cheerful news on his Ministry’s website. He said: 'I have just concluded three amazing days of ministry at our miracle crusade in Lagos, Nigeria. The Holy Spirit’s fire penetrated the hearts of millions as God’s presence descended upon the massive crowds. Precious saints who had travelled great distances praised the Lord with unbridled enthusiasm as miracles of salvation and healing took place all around."
Global Day of Prayer -- Are you ready to change the world? "Unleash the power of prayer. The Global Day of Prayer is a movement for all people that promotes real world change through the power of prayer and the good works of humanity. You have the power to make a difference. Be a part of this historic and global event!" ... "Pray as if everything depended on God, and work as if everything depended upon man." - Francis J. Spellman
Notice the strange twists on truth. How can we "work as if everything depended upon man," when we must continually trust God for His strength and guidance to accomplish the work in His way?" And who are we to "unleash the power of prayer?" God determines the response to our prayer. It's not a force or energy that we can manipulate. And when we choose to ignore His guidelines He may choose to ignore our prayer -- no matter how many voices sound the words together.
See Prayer, Global Day of Prayer
A global day of prayer is celebrated Sunday: "May 15 will be phase two of a strategy that could change the world. It's being called the Global Day of Prayer where nearly 250 million Christians from more than 150 nations will pray for global transformation....
"Bob Bakke works with the US-based National Prayer Committee, which is partnering with Purpose Driven Ministries: ... Bakke says it's about "transforming the place in which they live. And, over the course of the next five years there will be an unleashing of untold amounts of blessing and ministry to the poor, to those without Christ, in every city and continent of the earth." .... '100 years ago missionaries could only have dreamt of a day when a national church could rise on its own two feet and do what we're talking about now." See Transformation
Global Day of Prayer uniting diverse churches: "...the focus in North America will be on Reunion Arena in Dallas. Dallas-area pastors Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church and T.D. Jakes of the Potter’s House will host a gathering there to encourage unity among diverse congregations through prayer and corporate community service. Rick Warren...will share Saddleback's P.E.A.C.E. Plan, an emphasis for church-based small groups to Plant churches, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick and Educate the next generation....
"As many as 20,000 people are expected to fill the Dallas arena for prayer, and 90 days of 'compassion in action' are to follow as church members step outside church walls and minister in the community....
"'All across America, I see a growing awareness among evangelical conservatives to… move beyond their comfort zone and actually commit to the culture a message and a mission of love,' [said] Graham, a former Southern Baptist Convention president...." See Prayer
Leadership Network Celebrates 20 Years of Equipping Innovative Church Leaders: “'From the very beginning,' says Buford, who still serves as LN’s chairman of the board, 'we knew we had caught on to something. The pastors so appreciated the chance to gather together across denominational lines, learn from each other and step outside their comfort zones. What we did was create a structure to make that possible.'...
"Through self-assessment tools, books, events and other resources, Leadership Network’s Halftime initiative takes this a step deeper by working directly with individuals who are looking to repurpose their lives, as well as churches that want to encourage such transformations in their congregations." See Social Change and Communitarian Systems
State of the Church: 2005: "The final substantive section is a subjective overview of George Barna’s take on what these numbers and patterns mean within the bigger picture of American spirituality. You cannot make great strategic decisions unless you are well-informed about the world you wish to influence. The information in this report provides some of the baseline data you need to be a more effective leader serving God and His people in the days to come."
But today's leadership seems to rely more on assessments, polls and data systems than on the Holy Spirit.
See God's Guidance
April 2005
