This is not worship beloved. It is soft-core pornography. Yet hundreds of thousands of young Christians are being exploited by Satan through music such as this and the spirits which accompany them. The teachings from IHOP and Bethel are rife with this heresy. Yet despite the in your face nature of it and despite the cult like murder trial underway surrounding IHOP churchgoers, everyone seemingly turns a blind eye to it. It is put up with readily enough. In fact, it is pursued vigorously. There are different spirits at work in church buildings across this land and most people who can tell the difference are branded as trouble makers who are in need of a "deeper revelation" of God. We do not need any more revelation than what God has already provided for us in His Word. Foolishness I know.
Lastly, they readily put up with different gospels than the one true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Once considered the easiest of anathema to spot, false gospels are not only pervasive but they are celebrated! Joseph Prince readily admits he preaches a different gospel! He states it in his testimony. He claims that the generation that follows his teachings will be the last before the rapture. It is not just Prince though. We see untold numbers of people who follow a prosperity gospel. Mixed in closely with that are untold more who follow word faith gospels. By their teachings alone it is clear they are a different gospel because they do not line up with Scripture. Here for example is a recent Facebook post from renowned false teacher, Paula White:
This is your year of DOUBLE PORTION - don't settle for anything less!! Declare It and possess your promise!
This is whose year of double portion? Everyone? How is that remotely possible? Is anyone going to go through a valley? Is anyone going to see their faith tested? Is anyone going to receive only a single portion? Is it only for those who follow Paula on Facebook? It is the height of absurdity to make a declarative proclamation for 1,687,272 people; which is how many people follow her. Not only does she make a ridiculous statement such as this but she compounds it with a false gospel. Behind all word faith heretics is the hidden belief that we are little gods, who contain the power of creation within our words. Thus we can literally speak things into existence. This is exactly what Joel Osteen preaches. It is exactly what Paula White preaches. Quite frankly, it is what Joseph Prince teaches as well but his word faith heresy is usually obscured by his hyper-grace heresy. Look at the arrogance from White. To teach people to not settle for less! As if God is going to give you a single portion of his blessings and you are going to stamp your feet and demand another slice? It is the same petulant Christianity taught by Mark Batterson in the Circle Maker. Nevertheless, White implores us to declare it! A staple of word faith gospels. Possess your promise! What promise? Nowhere in Scripture does God promise me that 2014 is my year for a double portion, let alone the million plus people who saw this post. Again, the big deal is in how pervasive these false gospels are. How they have become the mainstream while sound doctrine is vilified. Within just 18 hours this Paula White post garnered over 33,000 "likes" and 5,000 "shares." it is simply put up with readily enough. As with the other examples it is worse than that because it is sought out. It is what is pursued instead of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. You know; the one with the cross, the blood, sin, and repentance?
Just allow me a little foolishness beloved. Just some truth into the darkness of lies. I know that some might look upon the successes of some of the people mentioned in here and think that they must be doing something right. That "right" however need not be godly. God does not measure success as we do. Having a "ministry" with thousands of followers does not mean God is endorsing you. Having a million Facebook followers does not mean God is approving. Broad is the path that leads to destruction and narrow is the way that leads to eternal life. As long as we stick to the Bible, we are in no ways inferior to these super-apostles, as Paul says. The reference here seems to indicate people who were teaching things contrary to the person of Jesus Christ, His Spirit and His Gospel. The context seems to indicate that and no where else does Paul refer to the other 12 apostles so snarkily, leading to the conclusion that these so called super-apostles were infiltrating the church at Corinth and Paul was speaking against them. Paul then concludes the key verses with a very interesting comparison we need to take to heart. It is not the skill of the preacher as a speaker but rather his grasp on the knowledge of the Word that matters. That fancy preaching does not make all things plain to us but rather sound doctrine. You can keep all of the slick preaching, focus group tested marketing, carnal leadership summits, worldly church growth schemes, and entertainment in lieu of real worship. Give me the knowledge I need of the truth of God. If it be foolishness to some, then a fool I am.
Reverend Anthony Wade - June 28, 2014
