By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on May 9, 2014 in AM Missives, Current Issues, Features, Rick Warren, Southern Baptist Convention
Rob Bell
Why Is the Charismatic Movement Thriving in Africa?
Also read these article placed on our blog : Warning! Rick Joyner to visit South Africa and Join hands with Angus Buchan. Also see here Angus Buchan: Evangelist or Revivalist?, Oom (Uncle) Angus Buchan from the Mighty Men Revivals and of Faith like Potatoes fame and The Apostolic Prophetic Conference of Neville Norden’s church Lewende Woord. We also previously reported on Gretha Wiid from the Worthy Women Revivals, Buchan’s South African female understudy. And also WARNING ! WARNING !! Todd Bentley is coming to serve Satan in South Africa .
By Conrad Mbewe
Conrad Mbewe is the pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Zambia, Africa. He is one of the keynote speakers at the Strange Fire conference in October offered by Grace to You the church of John MacArthur.
Many explanations have been given for the explosion of the Charismatic movement in Africa. Many have seen this as a powerful visitation of the Holy Spirit. Whereas there is probably more than one reason, I want to add my own observation to this for what it is worth. In this blog post, I do not refer to the old conservative form of Pentecostalism once represented by the Assemblies of God churches. I have in mind the current extreme form that is mushrooming literally under every shrub and tree in Africa. How can one explain this phenomenon?
I think that one reason why the Charismatic movement in Africa has been like a wild bushfire is because it has not challenged the African religious worldview but has instead adopted it. It has simply baptised it with Bible verses and Christian words that previously meant something totally different.
The African Spiritual Worldview
Let me explain what I mean. The African spiritual worldview consists of four tiers.
- God
- Angels and demons
- Ancestral spirits
- Human beings Continue reading
BEWARE !! NEW NAR “BIBLE” A DANGEROUS HERESY
by Amy Spreeman
Have you heard about the latest Bible “translation?” This one comes from the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) camp, from the brain of one man, a human-appointed “Apostle.” It’s called “The Passion Translation,” written by Brian Simmons of Stairway Ministries.
Simmons has actually released four installments of his new translation:
- Psalms: Poetry on Fire
- Song of Solomon: Most Amazing Song of All
- Luke: To the Lovers of God
- Letters From Heaven by the Apostle Paul
Coming this fall he is releasing Proverbs, Wisdom From Above.
Let’s do a side-by-side comparison of Proverbs 8. Just for fun, I’ll use the NIV to compare what the Bible says, vs. what Simmons thinks it should say. First, the real deal: Continue reading
Santa Claus, Antichrist and Angus Buchan: more interesting than the Book of Proverbs?
Grant Swart
It never ceases to amaze, how controversial personalities and questionable professing Christians succeed in occupying the thoughts, imagination and time of those who regard the internet news feed as a worthy place to spend a lot of their valuable time. It is evident that the debate about characters and events such as Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, The Elephant Room, Rob Bell and Passion 2013, takes on a greater importance for many, than does for example, the studying and discussion surrounding the wonderful wisdom and humour held within the Book of Proverbs.
The statistics on this blog represent no exception. As administrator, I was able to gain access to those. The following list should be indicative of what I have just said. These are the names of the controversial personalities attached to the most widely read articles on this blog over the past year or two. The list tells its own story:
Santa Claus (father Christmas)
Antichrist
Angus Buchan
TB Joshua
Rick Joyner
Rick Warren
John Piper
Joseph Prince
Eugene Peterson (author of The Message)
Bill Johnson
Beth Moore
Ann Voskamp
Kay Arthur
I do concede that, on the greater scale of things, this blog cannot be representative of global tendencies, but these stats are nevertheless disturbing, particularly as there are so many more expository articles on this blog, than there are articles of tabloid interest.
While I realize that it is not any sort of requirement or justification, I wonder how many of the people who have read and commented with much fervour on the blog postings regarding the above personalities, are able to fill in (more or less) the missing words from these well-known Bible verses?
OK, so let us try, beloved readers:
1) “I will lift up mine eyes unto the….., from whence cometh my …… My …. cometh from the …., which made …… and earth…”
2) LORD, how are they increased that……. me! many are they that …… up against me.
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no….. for him in God
One more try, this time, from the most beautiful benediction from the Book of Jude. Simply fill in the blanks in your mind’s eye:
Now to him who is able to keep you from…….. and to present you blameless before the presence of his…… with great……, to the only God, our ……, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, …….. and ………., before all time ..… and forever. Amen
It seems unacceptable that, when placed on a balance, the time set aside by Christians to partake in conferences, debates, forums and discussions surrounding controversial personalities and subjects, it far outweighs that which is spent in contemplating God’s Grace and applying the simplicity of His Sovereign will to our lives.
I wish there to be great blessings of peace in your lives, and less strife and confusion over subjects and people who cannot as much as influence the passage of a single day in Creation.
Irrespective of how many seats on international jet-liners, people such as CJ Mahaney, John Piper or Benny Hinn fill, or how many hotel rooms they rent as they criss-cross the globe, or how many deceived souls they draw into their conference halls, the form of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ will remain unaffected (Matthew 16:18). Maybe Rick Warren or Louis Giglio will have a street, a building or a new model of some four cylinder Korean car named after themselves, but in terms of that which they successfully merchandise to the unbelieving world, they are worthy only of our disregard.
Blessings to all.
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“Abba” is not “Daddy”
Charismatics love to use the word “Daddy” when they refer to God. Praise the Lord, however, for the Scriptures that reveal the truth to us.
Many years ago, while I was still attending a Charismatic church, a speaker on the day referred to God as his daddy. It irks me when people speak of God in such a derogatory way. Who are we then, to bring God down to our level? It is shameful to say the least.)
We are called to show reverence, humility and honour to God.
Somehow “Daddy” just doesn’t cut it in that regard.
Jesus Himself never used such terminology and He knew God better than anyone else, being the Son of God.
Jesus said:
Father take this cup from me.
Our Father who art in heaven.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
Go into your closet and pray to your Father.
Our daddy who art in heaven? (It’s just not right)
We can, however, clearly see where overplayed humanism has again brought changes and altered meanings to what is written in Scripture. Continue reading
In the world, but not of the world, but which world is that, really?
by Grant Swart
The things of this world, wars, famine, suffering, poverty, etc., impact Christians and non-Christians alike. By remembering that we, as Christians, are “not of this world,” remembering that these things are just for a little while, we can see them in a different light. We are still in this world but we are no longer of it (John 17:14).
Believers are no longer of the world—we are no longer ruled by sin, nor are we bound by the principles of the world. In addition, we are being changed into the image of Christ, causing our interest in the things of the world to become less and less as we mature in Christ. Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values. As believers, we should be set apart from the world, we often hear this, even refer to this and remind each other of it, but do we know what that world entails? Continue reading
BRIAN MCLAREN CROSSED THE ROAD…
Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
By Amy Spreeman
Post-modern liberalism in the Body of Christ is what gives the Emergent Church theology its wings. It helps you toss along the waves of uncertainty; question what God said is Truth. A few weeks ago we reported the many ways in which the Church is emerging into a New kind of Spirituality, one that brings together people of all faiths.
Yesterday on 9-11, a brand new book was released by Brian McLaren: Why did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed cross the road? Is it a bad joke? Here’s Brian McLaren’s punchline:
My answer to the question Why did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed cross the road is simply, this: To get to “the other.”
In other words, everything we know about Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammad, tells us that—if they were here today—they would be trying to lead us into an encounter with the other where, instead of killing one another, and hating one another, we would discover one another.
As all God’s children… Continue reading
