It grieves my heart when I see Christians getting emotionally caught up in the Emergent Church and their unbiblical New Age practices. I cannot imagine how much it grieves the heart of God when He sees this.
Jesus Culture is part of this Passion Movement
What exactly is Jesus Culture Movement?
Excerpts from pointingtojesus.blogspot.com
Before looking at Jesus Culture’s teachings in-depth, a brief look at the people who influence them is necessary. While who they associate with may not alone make the movement heretical, the people Jesus Culture support and have speak at their conferences gives reason for one to worry. First, the movement is heavily influenced by Bill Johnson, senior pastor at Bethel Church. He has been heavily influenced by the charismatic Toronto Blessing and its leaders.
A Low View of Scripture ( my comments in blue)
The first danger of the Jesus Culture movement is the way their leaders deal with Scripture. They handle God’s Word in a way that suits their own purposes. The leaders of the Jesus Culture movement have a tendency to allegorize biblical narratives, especially in the Old Testament, to make the text about the contemporary Christian, rather than seeing what a passage is saying about God—His power, purpose, and salvific plan. (emphasis added)
Does Andy Stanley’s mishandling of God’s Word come to mind?
Another error that the leaders of Jesus Culture often make is using Scripture in a dishonest way, using it out context to make whatever verse they quote mean whatever suits their purposes. In Jesus Culture, Banning Liebscher quotes Acts 10:38, which is part of Peter’s speech to the Gentiles in Cornelius’s home. Then he claims that the new breed of revivalists that is rising up “will be marked with an Acts 10:38 anointing.” However, Liebscher gives no evidence from Acts 10 or anywhere else in Scripture for his claim that Christians should operate under an “Acts 10:38 anointing” which, in context, is speaking of Jesus’ anointing and the signs and wonders that He did. Rather, Liebscher merely quotes this verse, claiming that all Christians should operate under this anointing. This use of Scripture is dubious at best.
Sounds like another version of “Name it and Claim it”
Other examples of flawed uses of Scripture in Jesus Culture, the sermons of the movement’s leaders, and their blogs abound. However, the most tragic and dangerous treatment of Scripture comes in their elevation of visions and dreams to the same level or above Scripture. – source
The Word of God is complete. Extra-Biblical visions and words of knowledge are simply heretical. God’s Holy Word should reign supreme in the hearts of His children
Running on Emotion Instead of Standing on the Word
I believe that the “slippery slope” began with the Charismatic Movement. In the 80’s, I was saved in one of these churches. Although being a baby Christian, the Lord gave me an abundance of discernment for my protection. Each week, the same people would stand during services. They had visions, dreams to impart and words of knowledge to share. I began to feel so uncomfortable and finally left.
God is a God of Order. In my spirit it was clear that these services were “out of order.”
I just wasn’t sure that what these people were saying came from God or from their own minds. I kept thinking “Is God’s Holy Word not enough?”
Contemplative Prayer
Those pastors and teachers who have aligned themselves with Jesus Culture and the Passion movement are all Emergent Church members.
What is the at the heart of the Emergent Church?
In two words, I can sum up the goal of the Emergent church – SOCIAL GOSPEL.
From fanaticforjesus.com (this article was from 2012 )
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works“ (2 Cor. 11:13-15)
Passion Conferences: Contemplative Prayer for Social Change
At the beginning of this month, the Passion Conferences hosted Passion 2012. Originally founded by members of the Emergent Church movement, Louie Giglio is the speaker and co-founder of the Passion Movement. He also pastors at Passion City Church in Atlanta, GA.
The conferences reach several cities and they have ministered to other continents with a purpose of “…uniting students in worship and prayer for spiritual awakening in this generation.”[1] It reaches college age individuals with their message, and raises money for social justice causes.
Louis Giglio – founder of the Passion Movement
The Catch
As we have seen within the Emergent Church movement, Passion Conferences are pushing the TM-like practice of Centering/contemplative prayer – but they call it Lectio Devina for their own reasons. It is a traditional Catholic practice of scripture reading, meditation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God. Like Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina is a contemplative approach to pondering the scriptures, and they share common ground with the same prayer practices of other false religions.
As we learned in a comparative study of TM vs. Contemplative/Centering Prayer, there are several distinct similarities between the two, and more importantly a mystical practice used by Pagans which is practiced by Catholics – opening believers to seducing spirits and spiritual deception.
This form of mysticism is playing an important part of the ecumenical movement and the one world religion. In his book Speaking My Mind, Tony Campolo drives the point home about Contemplative prayer and mystical practices:
Tony Campola : “Mysticism provides some hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam. Both religions have within their histories examples of ecstatic union with God, which seem at odds with their own spiritual traditions, but have much in common with each other.” – source
PASSION 2018:
Brethren, have you read enough to see the blatant heresy which has gripped much of the church? It sickens me that not one of these people have the gift of discernment from our Lord.
If they did, they would see clearly that they are acting as if they are “of the world” and not just in it.
Pray for all who have been drawn into this satanically inspired movement!
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA!
