In view of the upcoming conferences, it was important to get a mailing out this month.  If it is at all possible, please try and attend one of the conferences.  They will be well worth the effort!  There are special air flights available right now!  If you are not able to attend, the tapes from the conference will be available.  We have been focusing on the Purpose Driven Church in the last few months because of the extreme popularity of the best-selling books:  The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life.  These books have found their way around the world.  Unfortunately when a new fad comes to town, there are too many waiting to jump aboard.  Growing big churches is the measure of success.  However, we have found that there are very important questions that need to be asked.  Philip Foster asked some of these questions.  You can read what he has to say on:
http://www.christian-witness.org/pdf/cetf/PDLRickW04.pdf

1.  Why does Rick Warren accept the honor of the course in his name and not give God the honor?
2.  Why was it necessary to Copyright any part of the course? Has he added to the "Good News?”
3.  What has become so special about delivering the "Good News" that many church organizations, across many denominations, feel the need to BUY (with money) this P-DL package from Saddleback?
4.  Why can't the Shepherds who are BUYing this  P-DL package compose their own local package? Isn't this why they are Shepherds?
5.  Why do the members of the flock have to BUY a  P-DL Workbook? Surely the contents are at the Shepherds fingertips already? What was the shepherd's training all about then?
6.  Why are you NOT allowed to amend or vary the  P-DL package?
7.  Aren't the Aims & Objects already spelt out in the Bible - whatever the version?
8.  Rick is taking us on a spiritual journey of awakening. OK,  BUT isn't this what every local Shepherd is supposed to be doing with flock without BUYing into a world wide scheme?
9.  Doesn't this make a mockery of "Denominations"?  Look out here cometh the 'World Wide Church' by default!  One program influencing many Shepherds, world wide, with ease.
 
 Divisive.  (creating disunity or dissension)  Strange indeed is that this word is used as a label for those who question what is happening today.   If you do not accept each “new thing”, you are labeled as Divisive.  Yet the Word of God has been given to us as a plumb line for truth.  Many times those who are espousing popular views will not and can not defend their beliefs from scripture so it is much easier to label the person as Divisive who questions them.   Yes, it is wonderful for brethren to dwell together in unity.  But how is that “unity” defined?  Paul says in Ephesians 4:1-3 “. . . walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  The scripture then speaks of the Ministry gifts of the church which rightfully in their place will produce true unity in vs. 14:13:  “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:”

Sufficiency of Scriptures.  The objective truth of the Word of God is what is being undermined today as never before.  Obviously to many, the Word of God is not enough.  The world’s wisdom has entered via many doors. 

“The  wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy”. (James 3:17).   Folks, what more do we need?  The Word of God is PURE.  It is the water of life from a Pure well.  This Water satisfies the soul.  The wisdom of this world is from broken cisterns.  The dictionary definition of a cistern is:  an artificial reservoir (as an underground tank) for storing liquids and especially water (as rainwater).   Jeremiah 2:13 explains the situation so well:  “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”  One cannot even start to compare the Wisdom of God with what the world has to offer.

We have had many warnings over the years about the departure from the objective truth of the Word of God.  It is this truth that sustains and keeps the children of God in the hour of trial and temptation.   There certainly is not much hope in this world.  But as our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we are able to walk day by day in the knowledge that we can be of good cheer, for He has over come the world. 

A New Spirituality.      What happens when there is a departure from the objective Word of God and solid Bible teaching?  Very simply – a shift into the subjective.  We have seen this over and over in what was called the “revival” in Toronto and Brownsville.  What is ministered can be so “off” that you just shake your head in disbelief.  All that seems to matter is experiencing manifestations and “anointings” that are repeatedly attributed to the Holy Spirit.  The main concern seems to be going into new levels.  On the other hand, we also see a rise in mysticism.  This is very interesting as many years ago Matthew Fox (a former Catholic priest turned New Ager) foretold that all the religions would meet at the altars of mysticism.  Today we see mysticism on the rise in evangelical churches.   Christians seem to have no problem with entering the “silence” and emptying their minds.   I have heard of groups within churches sitting in almost total darkness with a few candles following a practice taught by  one of the latest “sparks” on the circuit. 

The emphasis on “subjectivity” and “mysticism” does take one to “New Levels”.    However, these Levels are fraught with danger.  They are not scriptural and will take you further and further adrift in your spiritual life.  If you are entering heavenly portals, naturally you are not going to be satisfied with just reading and studying the Word of God.  One of the so-called “prophets” being interviewed on television and quoted in charismatic circles is John Paul Jackson.  He had the following to say in “Heavenly Portals” - "God delights in revealing Himself to those who love His appearing and to those who watch for His coming.  One of the marvelous mysteries of God is the existence of portals -- doors and passageways -- leading to and from the heavenly realms.  When you are standing in a portal, it feels like an open Heaven.   A heavenly portal is a spherical opening of light that offers divine protection by which angels and heavenly beings can come and go, without demonic interference.  God has designed portals to begin in the third Heaven, travel through the second Heaven, and open upon Earth."

The following is a further quote from John Paul Jackson in the same article:   "This coming flow of God's Spirit will be felt in such fullness of power that it will unleash a massive, worldwide revival.  Believers will be anointed and empowered to perform even greater works than those Jesus did - - healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God has come to Earth (John 14:12).  In the coming day, the Lord will begin to show many of you where portals exist in your community, so that you will be able to receive even greater spiritual insight and revelation from God."

Do you see how he is misinterpreting scripture to reinforce a concept that is totally new age or a new spirituality?   The sad truth is that others are following in his footsteps.  Todd Bentley who has been making his mark lately is also in this mystical realm which he calls “Open Heavens”:

The Third Heaven – A powerful teaching on the third heaven, prophetic experiences and being caught up into the spirit.  Todd shares on how “Natural” it is to have “Supernatural” encounters.  Through scripture we see common people having extra-ordinary, unusual visitations of the Presence of God.

Third Heaven Activation – On this tape, Todd leads a group of students into experiencing the Third Heaven and how to exercise your spiritual senses.

Ministering Under an Open Heaven – What is an open heaven, how to open the windows of heaven when the heavens above are “brass” and the earth beneath are “Iron”.  On this tape Todd will give you the keys to receive spiritual breakthrough and council

You can say that you would never walk down this path.  Unfortunately, when the crowd starts following a trend, it is very difficult to not go along with the flow. 

Yes indeed, people are confused.  The more we hear the more we realize how serious indeed the state of affairs has become.  Fewer and fewer are taking a stand.  We are thankful for those who commit themselves to study and have a deep concern for truth. 

For your further study. Discernment Ministries is  offering the monograph entitled:  The Pied Pipers of Purpose (Part I:  Human Capital Systems and Church Performance)  by Lynn D. Leslie, Sarah H. Leslie and Susan J. Conway.   This booklet is powerful and clearly demonstrates how the Purpose Driven model originates from some radical philosophies about the nature of man and society.  You will want to order many copies to make available to friends and family who are plunging headfirst into this cistern that is empty!  The other book available only through this ministry is:  Deceived on Purpose – The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Church.  By Warren Smith (a former New Ager).   This book vividly shows how this new model of the church is actually opening the door to a great deception.  It is always encouraging to get e-mails and letters from our readers.  

A letter from a reader:

Thank you for Warren Smith's article recently posted.  My husband and I have found ourselves in this particular ministry of the Watchman. It is certainly not something we sought in our service to Christ. The gift of discernment of spirits as well as the gift of spiritual discernment is a tremendous responsibility.

We have recently been involved in a church split from a large church that we were with for about seven years. It began as a plant from a large First Baptist Church that had been a part of the community for well over 50 years.  Within just a few years of the planting the leadership broke away from the Baptist affiliation and sought out the Willow Creek Association's form of ministry to bring a contemporary non-denominational church to the community.  Under the leadership of the charismatic founding pastor, the church grew quickly. But in its 4th year, the pastor confessed to his elders of a serious sexual sin in his life.

The associate pastor was passed the mantle, and clearly it was his. It was at this time that the Holy Spirit began to really move in the body in ministry to the saints and in evangelism to the lost. But - at some point, the enemy began to creep into the leadership and as we started to hear the gospel watered down with the PC language of the Seeker Movement - our dear church began to transform into a large organization that looked not much different than one in the world.

When the church turned 10 - at the beginning of its eleventh year, God began to judge the church and discipline it's leadership. But, they were not listening - The staff had been forced to take a 20 percent pay cut because giving was down, as the givers were missing from the congregation. The elders and other staff decided to force the senior pastor from his position to help rectify their problems. Most of the church body was in utter disbelief, but many just swallowed the deception hook, line and sinker.

One elder stood by this ousted pastor, and within a short time he and some others began another church and brought him as their pastor. We began to see the full ramifications of the purpose driven, seeker sensitive movement. And God began to show us how the One World Church is coming about through the Apostasy of the churches today. We are so disheartened to tell you that these leaders of the new church and their pastor are poised to repeat this again. We have spoken to them privately and warned them, but it has fallen on deaf ears and we were subjected to public humiliation.

A friend of mine who was challenged to just look at The Purpose Drive Life, was driven to tears when she looked up the scripture quotes of the Message given throughout the book. To see God's word so changed and misapplied broke her heart. This newly rescued pastor who had recently compared the life of Cinderella with the life of David in one of his messages, listened defensively, but was only able to empathize with her feelings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thus, all the more need for the conferences.  There is such a need to not only have information, but to learn the necessity of trusting in Jesus alone in the days ahead.

Some of the topics to be presented at the upcoming conference are: - The Roots of the “Seeker-Sensitive” church; Transformation of the Church; Cell Churches; Basic of Modern Management and its effect on the church; Mysticism plus very solid ministry of the Word.  There is a possibility that Dr. Reddin may not be able to be at the Niagara Falls.  There will be a replacement in that case. 

Jewel Grewe

In order to cover costs for the speaker’s  traveling expenses and the conference venue, we are charging a registration fee.  Registration for the Canadian conference should be in by October 1^st and for the Albany conference by November 1^st. 

REGISTRATION FORM

I would like to attend the following conference:   _____  Niagara Falls  ____ Albany.  Enclosed please find my registration $25.00 for couple or $15.00 for individual. 

Name:   ________________________________________________________________________

Address:  _______________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Mail to:

Discernment Ministries, Inc.

P.O. Box 254

High Bridge, NJ 08829-0254