The Organic Church – Doctrines of Demons and
of Men: Part 3
By John Beardsley -
August 30, 2011
Many call the days we
live the last days, awaiting the rapture to snatch them away from this world
with all the trials and tribulations but seem to forget we are also warned
of an apostasy that must come first – so often we would forget! If these are
not the days of apostasy Jesus Christ warned his Apostles, I’d hate to see
what is!
No special knowledge
needed to see this, just need to read the Bible. – The New Testament paints
the picture of the spiritual darkness growing today:
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall
deceive many.
Matthew 24:11-13 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit]
of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world.
Acts 20:29-30
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter
in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
2 Thessalonians
2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any
means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth
and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so
that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The Naked Church
Churches who have
depended on a host of experts for how to grow churches, do church, how to
counsel integrating psychology, employ the world’s music, and defer what is
true doctrine to some programs have left the church defenseless to the
attack. The church faces (or faced past-tense) an attack they are
ill-prepared to fight. Your church attendees or members will undo your
organized church to make it “relevant” or leave to start their own flavor
with the organic “home” church. Emergent, emerging churches or organic I
have shown, the roots are very similar and the names blend between both,
they are closely related and at times connected.
Worldly Connections of the Organic Church to Emergent to New Apostolic
Reformation (NAR) – Birds of the feather
The evidence shows when
it comes to the handling of the Word of God, these teachers cannot be
trusted to teach it Biblically. A God fearing, Bible reading
Christian is taught to mark and avoid anyone teaching a gospel contrary to
God’s Word (Ro 16:17-18). Yet
thousands have flocked to the teachings of the emergent churches, music,
books and assorted conferences. Whether I am talking about
Rick Warren,
Brian McLaren,
Leonard Sweet or Frank Viola (the main focus of this series), I perceive
them as false apostles and deceitful workers, whether you want to categorize
them as emergers, organics or whatever - I am simply calling them what the
Bible calls them again based on the evidence presented.
Earlier I documented the
connections of Frank Viola with the Local Church Movement (of Watchman Nee &
Witness Lee and others covered in the series
Part 2), which the late Dr.
Walter Martin considered “cultic.” This is very similar to their emergent
church counterparts who bring in:
Dominion, kingdom and restoration theology
with the idea the Church needs restoring (or misuses the word reforming).
The evidence shows these teachings are nearly identical not only by those
being put forward by Viola & Sweet but those of the radical “Third Wave” or
“Seven
Mountains or Spheres” closely
aligned with the so-called
New Apostolic Reformation.
(More links related to these topics at
end of part 3)
Another trait of the
emergent church is the extreme
ecumenism
where the buzz word is “dialogue” whether it is with the Mormons,
homosexuals and even Muslims in an attempt to find common ground.
Compromising to the point of trading off of belief systems (reading from the
Quran in a Christian Church and vice-versa), tolerance saying same sex
marriage is okay with God and more to bring us under one umbrella of faith
saying we all worship the same god. (Little “g” intended) Why I make this
point will become clear in what follows.
For a bit of off-road
driving (especially for those of you who claim to be part of the Organic
Church), here is one of your beloved leaders Frank Viola with connections
that tie neatly into all the points made above:
People
often use very different vocabulary to express the exact same thing. For
instance, Watchman Nee used a unique phrase when he referred to his
fellowship with the Lord. He called it "touching the Lord." Others use the
phrase "sweet communion." Others use "divine encounter." Others use less
phenomenological phrases. To describe fixing one’s heart upon the Lord, some
people use the phrase “turning to the Lord.” Others use the word “gazing.”
Others say “beholding” or “looking into the face of God.” Still others say
“contemplating,” “centering,”
“abiding,” or “partaking.” Others describe it as “meditating.”
By and large, it's semantics.
I've observed this phenomenon all my Christian life.
People express the same experiences differently. (page 72).
Viola’s book Revise Us Again only confirms his modus operandi with the quote earlier. My translation from such a glob of mumbo-jumbo emergent double-speak: Is whatever your belief system is irrelevant, what matters is your encounter with god, it is semantics to argue right and wrong or variety of differences in our belief systems. Remember Viola said, “…whether you say “contemplating,” “centering,” “abiding,” or “partaking.” Or “…meditating.” By and large, it's semantics. People express the same experiences differently.”
2.
In chapter 10
of Revise Us Again Viola refers
the reader back to Reimagining Church
but doesn’t say where to go in it. (Reimagining
Church is another of his books and a follow-up to
Pagan Christianity) There is a very notable part in
Reimagining Church, chapter on “Church
Practice and God’s Eternal Purpose,” under the heading, "Drawing it all
together" Frank Viola quotes
Miroslav Volf,
“Indeed, together with
you we believe that we need to move beyond “a polite ecumenical dialogue
between selected religious leaders” and work diligently together to reshape
relations between our communities and our nations so that they genuinely
reflect our common love for God and for one another.”
Volf ignores Biblical admonitions and openly recognizes the god of Islam as the same as the God of the Bible. Volf is in fact one of the biggest voices in the move towards a merging; a ‘Chrislam’ as coined. Frank Viola’s use of Volf to me is more than just mere coincidence, and more than passing association, Viola made it a key point in how we are to be ‘reimagining church.’ “Drawing it all together,” is an undeniable choice by Viola to associate with and recognize Volf’s contribution… but I state it is to associate with someone guilty of teaching a doctrine of demons! The article written in part by Volf and others dated in 2007 crossing lines that Bible Believing Christians dare not cross,
“A
Common Word Between Us and You
identifies some core common ground
between Christianity and Islam which lies at the heart of our respective
faiths as well as at the heart of the most ancient Abrahamic faith,
Judaism.”
“The future of the world depends on our ability as Christians and Muslims to live together in peace. If we fail to make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony you correctly remind us that “our eternal souls” are at stake as well.”
- So is this
God’s eternal purpose for His
church? Viola’s double-speak gets him into a lot of doctrinal trouble using
Volf as a springboard to prop up his organic church thinking!
There are many more
connections with more names:
Loving God And Neighbor Together:
A Christian Response To A Common Word
Between Us And You Under
portion that a selection of prominent signatories follows:
-
Rick Warren,
Founder and Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church, and The Purpose Driven Life,
Lake Forest, CA
-
Bill Hybels, Founder and Senior Pastor, Willow Creek
Community Church, South
Barrington, IL
(The list too long to include here just
including big names related to this series)
3.
My focus on
the part of Reimagining Church
chapter on “Church Practice and God’s Eternal Purpose,” section on “Drawing
it all together” is due to Viola’s emphasis on this section in that book.
Viola continues on the next page quoting Gilbert Bilezikian co-founder and
elder noted for the seeker-sensitive, church growth, positive confession and
emergent church leanings Willow Creek.
(His senior Pastor Hybels a signatory above)
“Christ
did not die just to save us from sins, but to bring us together into
community. After coming to Christ, our next step is to be involved in
community. A church that does not experience community is a parody, a sham.”
(Bilezikian as quoted page 148 in Reimagining Church)
4.
In an article
by Southern View Chapel, Pastor Gary Gilley mentions Bilezikian regarding
the modern (or should say post-modern) teaching of Open Theism -
“More lethal is the fact that this new concept of God is sneaking in through the backdoor of the camp by means of popular writers such as Phil Yancey, and the influence of men like Gilbert Bilezikian, who, as the resident theologian of the Willow Creek Community Church , wields tremendous power over the minds of many modern church leaders. Others in line with Yancey and Bilezikian include devotional/mystical writer Richard Foster and theologian Donald Bloesch.[1] Particular danger of this latter group is that they may seldom, if ever, admit to holding open theistic convictions but espouse those views in attractive formats (e.g. Yancey’s popular book, Disappointment with God).” Southern View Chapel, Pastor Gary Gilley
5.
Tying this
together with the first points – it is impossible for me to ignore how
easily Viola compares our encounters with “God” as simply, “…it's semantics.
People express the same experiences differently,” When you roll that
together with the reference in Revise
Us Again in chapter 10 back to his 2009 book
Reimagining Church in my opinion,
this is all a ploy.
a.
Frank Viola
cleverly omits Volf’s extreme ecumenical position. I could not accept
ignorance of Volf’s position – he believe he knows what he is doing. My opinion this
was done so he can draw more from Volf at a later date in one of his later
books, giving Volf more time to gain acceptance in the so called Organic
Churches and with his Emergent leading friends such as
Brian McLaren.
b.
This ploy is
nothing new, as when Brian McLaren called for a five year moratorium on the
issue of homosexuality - after the five years revisit the issue if there is
clarity. More like the dialogue has led to the compromise we see now! It is
a type bait and switch, just play stupid down the road, if it is found out
and still seen to be unacceptable.
c. Additionally, Gilbert Bilezikian is co-founder of a church that is a signatory of that same Chrislam document co-authored by Volf.
d.
The quote
chosen by Viola of Volf again,
"As Miroslav Volf says, "The church lives from something and toward something that is greater than the church itself." That something is God and His eternal purpose." (page 147) - A number of other implications or meanings can be drawn from such a statement but merely keeping it in the context of Volf’s teachings is heretical at best and damnable based on scriptures! (2 Peter 2:1-2)
e.
Please
refer to Viola why I keep coming back to his previous books, he is the one
who keeps drawing on them as if because they exist they are an authority
unto themselves.
Today [June 1] is the
launching of a new book,
co-authored by
Leonard Sweet and
Frank Viola.
This marks the open marriage of the
Emergent movement with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).
Sweet and Viola’s book,
Jesus Manifesto, is subtitled “Restoring the Supremacy and
Sovereignty of Jesus Christ,” and it pushes the envelope on redefining
Jesus, including “You can be a Jesus Manifest.”[2] A quick glance at the
lineup of key endorsers for this book includes a list of who’s
who in Emergent, the Latter Rain cult, neoevangelicalism and the
New Apostolic Reformation.
In recent posts on this blog we have noticed that emerging church
leader Leonard Sweet has links to the NAR.[3]
The co-author of his book,
Frank Viola,
also has roots in the NAR. He has been connected with the House2House group,
a movement that is ostensibly about “house” churches, but in reality is
concerned with building the
networking apostolic cellular model of
church for the purpose of
building the kingdom of God on earth.
This is the same
Dominionist
goal that is characteristic of the NAR: “This amazing network of
churches is rapidly transitioning as a network to embrace the simple church
models that the Lord is blessing all around the world,” leading to the
“transforming work of God in bringing people to Christ. . . leading to
dramatic advances of the Kingdom of God.”[4] John Arnott of the Toronto
“Laughing Revival” has been a notable contributor to the House2House
magazine.[5]
A key name associated with Frank
Viola is
Heidi Baker, whose
frequently appears with her husband Rolland. They
flourish in the New Apostolic Reformation and can often be found
on the Elijah List (chief organ
for the NAR)[6] and OpenHeaven.com (a radical Dominionist group).[7] The
Bakers spoke at the Global Awakening “Voice of the Apostles” conference,
October 28-31, 2009 along with other
NAR apostles Randy Clark, Che
Ann, Bill Johnson and
John Arnott.[8] Heidi was featured along with Latter Rain cult
leader
Rick Joyner at his MorningStar
Ministries “Harvest Fest” held September 24-30, 2009.[9] The list of
interconnections and associations with the NAR could go on and
on…
Neil Cole is another well-known name associated with Frank Viola and the
House2House movement. He is also connected with Leadership Network.[10]
Furthermore, Frank Viola’s book
Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life
Happens is endorsed by such notables as Bob Buford (head of
Leadership Network) and John Maxwell.[11]
Leonard Sweet endorsed one of Frank Viola’s earlier books,
Reimagining Church: Pursuing the Dream of
Organic Christianity, by connecting it to the idea of
“God’s Dream,” an increasingly
common metaphor.[12] Viola has also authored
From Eternity to Here:
Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God, described as “a whole new way
of looking at the Scriptures, at Jesus, at the church, and at me,”[13] and
endorsed by such Emergent leaders as Leonard Sweet,
Brian McLaren,
Dan Kimball,
Shane Claiborne and many
others.
Characteristic of all of these recent emerging convergences, a
MANIFESTO accompanies the
agenda being promoted jointly by Sweet and Viola. It is called “A Magna Carta for Restoring the
Supremacy of Jesus Christ a.k.a. A Jesus Manifesto for the 21st Century
Church.” This Manifesto does not hearken back to the written Word
of God in order to follow Jesus or His teachings. Instead it speaks of
“implantation and
impartation” and “incarnation.”
This is based on imaging, imagining, visualization, meditation, and
following a
“Presence,” even using the term
“cosmic Christ.”[14] The
document also makes this amazing statement – an example of psycho-spiritual
biblical revisionism:
The Bible does not offer a plan or a blueprint for living. The “good
news” was not a new set of laws, or a new set of ethical injunctions, or a
new and better PLAN. The “good news” was the story of a person’s life, as
reflected in The Apostle’s Creed. The Mystery of Faith proclaims this
narrative: “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.” The
meaning of Christianity does not come from allegiance to complex theological
doctrines, but a passionate love for a way of living in the world that
revolves around following Jesus, who taught that love is what makes life a
success . . . not wealth or health or anything else: but love. And God is
love.
It also seems to claim we are Christ:
All of this is a very quick overview, there are many more connections and
associations. ***Click here for 26 published endorsers of
The Jesus Manifesto for starters.
The key point is the context of this new book by Sweet and Viola, it isn’t
just Emergent! This represents that much-anticipated, much touted New
Apostolic Reformation
great convergence, the
many streams coming together into one big river!
Where Is This River Heading?
Above are only a handful
of links to other information showing this convergence of streams into a
river. As my research on this topic has continued, sifting through the huge
amount of regurgitated information and obvious connections have proven to be
too many to count.
The teachings exposed are a frontal
assault on the basic tenets of Christianity trampling on the Word of truth,
the Bible (Mat 7:6). While the writers of
Pagan Christianity, Reimagining Church, and The Jesus Manifesto
offer lip service that they are all about the centrality and supremacy of
Christ they are taking advantage of the frustrations many may feel, even in
a solid Bible Believing Church. Similar to the cults,
Pagan Christianity is a tool for
playing the heart strings of many within organized churches that are
inundated with programs, filled with men’s ideas of business management,
psychology. The "Institutional Churches" (as they use as disparaging
term) are where they are making inroads because men and women have been weakened
by poor leadership who abandon scriptures for something else, something
"relevant" but reap
what has been sown with a the convergence in a river of lies sweeping over
them.
Am I saying all of the criticisms
laid at the steps of the organized churches are erroneous?
Not at all! But I state
they are using propaganda to mislead the reader for another agenda – theirs being the
restoration of the Church, but restoring it to what kind of Church?
The Organic Church or Emergent Church? Take your pick, they have the same
creator and it’s NOT the God in the Bible! Here are two quick reminders:
-
Where are we told this? Certainly not in
scripture but it is straight out of heretical restoration, kingdom and
dominion theology!
“Jon Zen’s book [The
Pastor Has No Clothes] demonstrates beyond dispute that the
clergy-system (in the form of the modern pastorate) is not only unbiblical
but also contrary to the headship of Jesus Christ. I hope that every
Christian reads this volume with an open heart and mind, especially those
who deem themselves "leaders" in the body of Christ. I applaud Jon for his
courage in adding another
Scripture-based book to help foment the growing revolution that God has
begun today - a revolution designed to give His church back to His beloved
Son." (emphasis in bold mine)
- More evidence of the hate of the pastorate
and proof they are teaching revolution in the churches it is not Biblical
reformation!
What Is the Evidence Showing Us?
Based on the preponderance of the evidence (only a fraction of what there is), I have revealed a number of snares for believer and non-believer alike. Viola and Sweet do not directly advocate the extreme ecumenism (inclusive of Islam) but they are connected with those who do, with numerous positive quotations and endorsements exposed in this series. Their friends are opening the doors making it inclusive to false religions, no Hell, some openly universalist. I refer you to the appendix of part 2 of The Jesus Manifesto endorsers for the details.
"We have come then to this fearsome place where the word Jesus has become the enemy of the Person Jesus, and the enemy of what Jesus taught. We must fear this contentless banner of the word Jesus not because we do not love Jesus, but because we do love Him. We must fight this contentless banner, with its deep motivations, rooted into the memories of the race, which is being used for the purpose of sociological form and control. ...
Personal Message to Readers
If you are offended,
hurt, and or convicted by what I shared, good! Whether you like what you’ve
read or not, your eyes have been opened and if you are caught up in it, know
that you can escape your snare. My intent for the articles parts 1 through 3
are largely inspired by persons my wife and I love that we see ensnared by
the lies exposed here. I will not be more specific on the Internet but
suffice it to say we see a number of them going down the emergent/organic
path unwittingly.
2
Peter 2:1-3 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves
swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness
shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of
a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
Closing Thoughts
I often hear two things
from the teachers today, first asking what is relevant for the church today?
Second is a comparison to the lukewarm church at Laodicea, Revelation
3:15-16 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou
wert cold or hot. So then because
thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my
mouth.”
– Any church claiming
the name of Christ, claiming to being alive and relevant to this generation
while
teaching another Jesus has no life,
no Holy Spirit in it – it is dead.
Additional Links and other information not included in
the series that tie to Frank Viola and Leonard Sweet: (excerpts point to the
connections)
“Small group “cells” aren’t usually marketed to the
church as a networking plan. Restructuring the church into a small group
structure has been presented as a church relationship-building endeavor that
will produce better results and meet “felt needs.” Very seldom has the
top-down nature of the hierarchy been revealed. The people in the pews have
been kept in the dark for several decades about this.”
“Frank Viola is "a high school Psychology and
Philosophy teacher," who in "his spare time...plants house churches, speaks
at church-life conferences, and authors books on Christ and His church." On
one of the opening pages he says that he "left the religious system." One of
his arguments against preaching is "it suffocates mutual ministry." And as
he debates the case against church buildings, he implies the friendlier,
warmer atmosphere of a house (the sofa over the pew). So the agenda emerges.
He is a destroyer of one system in the interests of promoting another. This
phenomenon (the house church movement) is built on certain common premises:
(1) smaller is better, (2) informality {though defined by the leaders} is
preferable over order, (3) spontaneous/conversational teaching is superior
to a prepared orderly presentation, (4) diversity is celebrated, (5)
breaking from "tradition," and (6) opposition to pulpits, buildings and
treasuries. All of these items (like a systematic theology) show up in some
form in Viola's book, urged upon the reader as a warmer, more spiritual
atmosphere and derived from the New Testament (not as a "manual," but more
like a love-letter hermeneutic).”
“Chironna was featured at the "Let the Eagles Gather:
The International Gathering of Prophets, Apostles and Intercessors"
conference in Orlando in August 2009 along with top NAR "apostles" Chuck
Pierce and Cindy Jacobs.[44] Chironna must be considered important in these
circles, because he is also listed as an endorser of the Frank Viola and
Leonard Sweet's recently released Jesus Manifesto book.[45]”
“Emergent leader Mike Morrell got the plum job of
conducting the book-launching "Interview With Frank Viola and Leonard
Sweet," which was posted on June 1 at Morrell's webpage HERE. Morrell, "an
editor with TheOoze.com and founder of the popular ‘alt.Christian’ web
directory zoecarnate.com,[2] explains how he originally hooked up with Frank
Viola in his article "House Church: Ready for Prime Time? Frank Viola says
'Yes!'" Morrell, describing Frank Viola as a "family friend," records that
he "started reading Frank right at the beginning of my house church journey
in 1998, my freshman year in college" and how "[o]ne year later, he crashed
on a pallet beside me and three other guys on my parents living room
floor!"[3] He then explains the significance of connecting the Emergent
movement to the NAR's "house church" movement.” “…At this point it is
important to explain that the emerging "house church" concept in the NAR is
engineered to be an organic whole that is facilitated and networked by a
growing alliance of international self-anointed, self-appointed apostles and
prophets - a living "body" on earth that is both hierarchical and cellular
in nature. It is an "organism" that must be managed by the machinations of
man (not God), assessed via feedback mechanisms, monitored and propelled
towards an evolutionary target of a collective "emergence." Don't be misled
by the rhetoric! The NAR concept of "house church" is not about humble
little autonomous churches meeting in living rooms.[5]”
"Three and a half
billion people—the majority of the world’s population—profess Christianity
or Islam. Renowned scholar Miroslav Volf’s controversial proposal is that
Muslims and Christians do worship the same God—the only God.” …
In an article on Yale News Daily, September 9, 2009, In Blair’s shadow, Volf shines “According to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, his co-teacher for the “Faith and Globalization” seminar, Miroslav Volf, is a “a lot smarter and more knowledgeable than me.”
In
reference to Volf, “Now, after moving to the United States in 1977 when he
began studying at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., Volf
maintains contact with spiritual leaders around the world. He spent hours in
a discussion group with the Dalai Lama…”
More Leonard Sweet connections (similar to
Viola):
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/05/mainstreaming-dominionism.html
Excerpts:
Another
interesting name connected with the 7 Mountain Mandate is mystic leader
Leonard Sweet, who has mainstreamed himself into the evangelical
world-at-large, coming out of his obscure role as Emergent
professor-in-residence. How he did this is a study in itself. In June 2007,
a SYNERGIZE! Billion Soul Pastors Conference for January 2008 began to be
advertised as a way to become "equipped to impact 'seven spheres of
society.'"[15] This was being promoted and sponsored by a recently formed
organization, Second Billion, a spinoff of the Global Pastors Network.[16]
Headed by James O. Davis and globally-renowned "apostle" Sunday Adelaja, the
organization grew rapidly, using a "synergistic approach to fulfilling the
Great Commission [mandate]... exponentially in every region of the
world."[17] Len Sweet was billed
as a speaker at this first conference where the "seven spheres of society"
were touted. He quickly rose to prominence to became a fixture in the
organization. By August 17, 2007 he was listed in the e-newsletter under
"Leadership Series" as a "Futurist and author." The current e-newsletters
routinely feature his writings and speaking, and he is now listed as a
leader.
End of Part 3
The Organic Church together with the Emergent Church Movement: Part One January 2011
The Way of The Organic Church: Part Two March 2011
Appendix to Part 2: Birds of the Feather Gathering Together- The Starlings of The Jesus Manifesto August 2011
The Organic
Church: In Typical Christian Na’vi Blue - The message comes forth! "Epic
Jesus: The Christ You Never Knew" give at Momentum Conference
– by Frank Viola
9/4/11 reviewed by John Beardsley 9/7/11 September 2011
Biblical Discernment Ministries - 8/2011
by John Beardsley
