A Declaratory Statement Challenging the Western Church

PREPARED BY TRUTH WATCH N.Z. 2001

This declaration is a cry for a revival in Christian thought, practice and action. Today’s Christian culture no longer rests firmly on a sound biblical foundation. The only hope for genuine revival lies in recapturing the central priority of what Jesus called “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 24:14). The only alternative is churches where CHRIST is truly honoured and the Bible faithfully expounded and believed. Begin by challenging poor leadership. Test everything against God’s Word. Rediscover the Church’s mission in Western Society. Heed Paul’s warning to Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear… They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Introduction:

Truth Watch is one ministry in an international network of Bible-believing Christians who lament the current state of the Christian church in New Zealand and seek a reformation in Christian belief, practice and action. Truth Watch is based in Wellington, New Zealand. It has begun to actively campaign for more accountable eldership in the evangelical churches. It seeks a return to good shepherding and a renewed recognition of the importance of the priesthood of all believers. The fact that these two elements are failing to function effectively and biblically is evident in New Zealand’s growing paganism.

While Truth Watch is only one group it is anticipated that there are a significant number of sincere evangelical Christians who are disturbed about the effectiveness of the true church in New Zealand.

This declaration is intended to call evangelical leaders back to a commitment to biblical truth. Unless steps are taken now the evangelical church will drift into the same malaise now afflicting the Protestant (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian) denominations. A point may be fast approaching when ‘Ichabod’ (the glory has departed, 1 Samuel 4:21-22) may legitimately be posted above many currently evangelical fellowships.

Truth Watch is calling concerned evangelical Christians to heed the message contained in this declaration. A ‘solemn assembly’ of those with a robust evangelical understanding of biblical truth is needed.

Zephaniah 3:18  "The sorrows for the appointed feasts (solemn assembly – AV) I will remove from you; they are a burden and a reproach to you. (Or "I will gather you who mourn for the appointed feasts (solemn assembly); your reproach is a burden to you)

Truth Watch provides you with an opportunity to join that assembly in ‘cyberspace’ by registering your support (SITE NOW WITHDRAWN - 2018) and offering further information that may help us all gauge the true state of Christ’s bride and find ways to positively and constructively restore it. We need to clearly identify the ‘reproaches’ and ‘burdens’ (Zephaniah 3:18) in the evangelical church today and take steps to expose and overcome them - God willing.

Essential doctrines need to be re-stated and false doctrines need to be exposed if the Great Commission is to be worked out effectively and fully in New Zealand. With the Lord’s blessing we need to actively seek to recover the years the ‘locust has eaten’. The undeniable fact is that the Christian community has shrunk in size, influence and relevance in what is now a post-Christian pagan western society. Truth Watch also seeks to appeal to those in other lands. If you have accessed this site from outside New Zealand then feel encouraged to examine the situation in your own land and take action to remedy it. Christians are all priests. We are all called to test everything against scripture. We are all called to be people of action.

Truth Watch does not seek to condemn or defame anyone. This initiative is based on a loving concern for God’s people and a sincere desire to uphold biblical truth. However, where church leadership fails to equip the saints (Ephesians 4:11-12) according to scriptural truth or entertain speakers into New Zealand who are false prophets or who clearly preach a false gospel Christians have a duty to act:

Colossians: 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

Jesus did warn us! 

‘False prophets’, ‘false apostles’, ‘deceitful workmen’, ‘hired hands’ and ‘savage wolves’ will come amongst us to distort the truth and draw disciples after them (Matthew 24:11; Acts 20:29-30; John 10:12; 2 Corinthians 11:13).

Desired Objectives:

Truth Watch has a number of strategic goals it aims to achieve over the longer term. This declaration should be evaluated against the following goal statements at various stages to ensure it captures all that we wish it to achieve.  The goals are:

To perform the role of the watchmen and women (Ezekiel 3:17 and 33:7) – it is the duty of those who believe they have this calling on their lives, whether people are listening or not, to act.

  • To awaken a complacent, sleeping church (Zephaniah 1:12) to the weak spiritual state of the church and, its poor witness to the nation.
  • To challenge evangelical leadership to accept accountability.  Elders should be both good shepherds (Psalm 23) and effective servant leaders (Matthew 20:26).
  • To encourage Christians to “Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). Christian truth should be heard everywhere in society.
  • To draw out and unify drifting believers, enfolding them back into good churches.
  • To encourage true unity in faith, among believers, based firmly on biblical principles.
  • To call people to choose between error and truth - Joshua 24:15 ‘Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord’.
  • To exposing false doctrines and prophecy in Bible-believing churches.

Identifying the Problem:

The Truth Watch goals point to some serious problems within the evangelical Christian community.  This declaration will now define the main problems facing that community and identify the underlying causes for those problems. Considerable space will also be devoted to pinpointing and discussing the outward symptoms that are the evidence or outward manifestation of the problems and their cause.

Truth Watch does not claim to have fully exposed and accurately stated all of the problems, or their underlying causes. It does, however, believe that it is not too wide of the mark. Further work may be needed.

The main problems: 

  • There has been a general failure to correctly understand, teach and apply the Word of God inside and outside many churches. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Christians seem unable to accept that they are engaged in a battle of ‘world views’.  At this time it is no contest. Christians have allowed the secular humanist worldview to run rampant.
  • The evangelical churches have often been ashamed of the gospel by so diluting the message of repentance and salvation that it has lost its real meaning and saving power. The prevailing Christian ‘culture’ is undermining an effective Christian witness in Western society by trying to accommodate itself to it. Consider Paul’s words: ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek’ (Romans 1:16).
  • Many churches fail to teach the whole counsel of God.  Instead they focus, for example, on a faith-prosperity or self-esteem gospel that is not the true Gospel.
  • There has been a general failure to use the true Gospel of the Kingdom, with its emphasis on repentance, salvation by Jesus Christ alone and evidence (drawn from world events and biblical prophecy) that point to the accuracy and truthfulness of the Bible.  Now many people in New Zealand think there are many paths to a god they have fashioned in their own image.
  • Many evangelical Churches are failing to acknowledge that the scriptures are the power of God. ‘So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17)’.

Identifying the Causes Behind the Problem:

Without a statement of the underlying causes there is no stated basis for the problems, its symptoms or the solutions.  Again, Truth Watch has attempted to identify some of the causes.  Framing appropriate solutions should rest on these causes.  Eliminating the causes, with God’s blessing, will remove the problem and associated symptoms.  Getting the cause definition right is therefore crucial.

Main causes: 

  • There has been a trend towards ‘hireling’ leadership (John 10:12) with its corresponding emphasis on bringing in large numbers by offering ‘cheap grace’, ‘personality’ Christianity and a range of marketed ‘products’.
  • Christians will often follow a ‘charismatic’ leader and fail to test the leader’s theology and actions against scripture.  Unfortunately, many Christians are also ill-equipped to distinguish between Gnostic teaching (the leaders claim to special knowledge or insights) and biblical truth.
  • Unqualified elders and pastors: Theological knowledge has deteriorated (e.g. We understand that Elim may now no longer be teaching repentance at its Bible College?).
  • An absence of teaching on how evolution undermines biblical authority and Christian relevance among unbelievers.  The theory of evolution has provided the basis for an atheistic world view masquerading as science.
  • A general failure to adhere to ‘sola scriptura’ (scripture alone) and ‘sola fide’  (faith alone) - see our "What do we Believe?" statement.
  • A systematic willingness to compromise with the World by uncritically accepting its slide into atheism and new age, humanist paganism.  Christians fail to understand that biblical truth relates to all of life, not just the spiritual dimension.
  • ‘True worshippers worship in the spirit and in truth’ (John 4) – there is an insufficient balance kept between the two.  A false spirituality has grown up.  Biblical spirituality is concerned with how Christians live life, think, demonstrate Christian character, raise families, make decisions and look after the disadvantaged (Romans 12:1-2).  Many Christians view spirituality narrowly as outward manifestations of something supernatural and the performance of core institutional functions within churches.
  • An institutionalised faith where pastors slip on the mantle of the priest, demanding acceptance of their dictates.  The priesthood of all believers has been undermined (1 John 2:27).

These causes will be discussed in a little more detail later.

Truth Watch has attempted to identify’ a list of symptoms that expose the existence of the problems and their causes, listed above.  This has been done under these headings: Leadership, Doctrine and Fellowship/Structures/Other.

Leadership:

  • Failure to encourage apologetic debate.  Christians are not trained to defeat arguments raised against the knowledge of God.
  • Leaders are often money and numbers driven.  Eldership is a career (hirelings) not a calling.
  • Some leaders (e.g. Robert Schuller) are monotheistic – claiming Jews, Moslems and Christians all worship the same god.
  • Many put mystical experience before biblical truth.
  • Heavy shepherding (Nicolaitianism) – the demand for obedience and followership by a ‘priestly’ class.
  • People pleasing.  Leaders that appease and please people rather than directing them towards a fear of God (read about the Levites in Ezekiel 44).
  • Theological compromise, especially over the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the primacy of scripture (Galatians 1:6-10).
  • Music: Indistinguishable from the World; man-centred; an over emphasis on the Spirit above the ‘’word of God and a lack of theology in  song lyrics.
  • An emphasis on ‘seekers’ rather than repentant sinners.
  • A lack of spiritual and scriptural discernment on many issues.
  • An endorsement of false TV ministries.
  • A reluctance to listen to constructive criticism (Colossians 3:16).
  • An emphasis on attacking people not the issues they raise.
  • A failing to confront sin/sexual immorality.
  • A willingness to entertain false doctrines.
  • Women admitted into eldership in defiance of scriptural instruction.
  • Little testing of prophecy against scripture.
  • The prevalence of false prophets (Jeremiah 23:9-40).
  • Little leadership and ministry accountability.
  • The active avoidance of ecumenical and evolution/creation issues.

Doctrinal:

  • Many false doctrines taught by high profile ‘leaders’.
  • Hyper-charismatic behaviour.
  • Little teaching on creation/evolution and its social impact.
  • An unscriptural  emphasis on demons/ancestral curses/binding & loosing.
  • The unscriptural binding of Satan (James 4:7; Jude 8-10).
  • The unscriptural application/emphasis on being ‘slain’ or ‘drunk’ in the spirit.
  • Unscriptural self-esteem theology (e.g. Robert Schuller, Kenneth Copeland).
  • The uncritical acceptance of  proven false prophecies and prophets.
  • The unscriptural ‘latter rain’ teaching that the church will triumph prior to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • False New Age ‘visualisation’ teaching.
  • The New Age idea that Christians should ‘empty their minds’.
  • ‘Cheap grace’ teaching and conversions that neglect the need for repentance.
  • A failure to guard against false teachers and prophets.
  • Little concern about whether new converts are truly born again.
  • The unscriptural Alpha Course emphasis on the Holy Spirit, not Jesus Christ.
  • Accusations of being legalistic when just trying to be biblical.
  • Judgmentalism: Confusing spiritual discernment with divisiveness.
  • The unscriptural belief that leaders are ‘anointed’ and beyond criticism.
  • Worldly marketing programmes replacing biblical evangelism (e.g. Hybels, Wagner).
  • Weak, compromising teaching on sin and  the reality of hell.
  • Having faith in faith rather than Jesus Christ.
  • Kingdom Now or dominion theology.
  • Exaggerated expectations of revival in the midst of apostasy.
  • The blatant disregard of scripture.
  • Little understanding of the false grace and false gospel within Catholicism.

Fellowship/Structures/Other:

  • A social gospel that denies a whole of life commitment to the cause of Jesus Christ.
  • Ecumenism/joining together with Catholics and other world religions.
  • Truth sacrificed to an unbiblical focus on fellowship and unity (1 Corinthians 11:19).
  • An unscriptural emphasis on signs - not the teaching of biblical truth (Matthew 16:4).
  • Institutionalised church structures with ‘royal families’.
  • A general failing to confront/contend for the faith in the world.
  • General complacency and worldly compromise.
  • Little understanding of the true church’s history – and the lessons to be learnt.
  • Building programmes – wasting scarce financial resources (Haggai 1:9-10).
  • No inter-church unified (‘gospel of the kingdom) sense of purpose.
  • Poor application of the ‘Berean principle’ (Acts 17).
  • Little understanding or application of 1 Corinthians 5:12.
  • Sin in the camp is tolerated.
  • Jeremiah 23 - false prophets are accepted.
  • Those who dare to question are attacked while the issues they raise are not addressed.
  • Those who ask questions are unscripturally branded as legalistic and unspiritual.
  • ‘That’s OT, we’re NT’ – no understanding of the doctrinal overlaps between the two.

The above symptoms have been re-grouped around six common themes, arranged in order according to their causal effect. The leadership theme is first because the other themes are the natural consequence of this primary cause and therefore cascade off it. This section identifies the scriptural basis for the concerns expressed in this declaration.

Themes:

 

1. Poor servant leadership – leading to a…

 

2. A lack of apologetic historic root and proper exegetical teaching, and...

 

3. Attitudes to ‘traditional evangelicals’, which together leads to...

 

4. Poor doctrine and little discernment, which results in...

 

5. New age, hyper-charismatic activity plus...

 

6. Complacency and unscriptural ecumenism (1 Corinthians 11:19).

 

Each of these themes will now be discussed in more detail.  The relevant symptoms will then be listed under each and scriptural support provided for most.  In some cases explanatory comments will be added to the symptom statements in an attempt to avoid ambiguity.

The Evangelical Community, in the Western World, has become an institution rather than a discipling, missionary body dedicated to effective local evangelism.  Many pastors and elders are victims of the ‘Nicolaitian’ spirit (power over the laity), elevating unscriptural practices above a love of the truth.  They are often poorly grounded in scripture. Buildings, money, women in eldership, church size and ‘people pleasing’ are put before the whole counsel of God and unrighteousness in society.

Apostolic structures with institutional hierarchies – some evangelical churches have established apostles responsible for regions with pastors under them. This encourages Nicolatianism and ignores the priesthood of all believers. Anyone who questions leadership and church direction are often accused of being ‘legalistic’. Worse still they may be branded as ‘touching the Lord’s anointed’ or committing the ‘unforgivable sin’. Invariably, these three terms are used in an unbiblical context.  Articles found on the Truth Watch website explain the proper Biblical context for each.

Theme One: Poor servant leadership – leading to a…

Symptoms: 

Institutionalised church structures with "royal families" who seem to think they have rights of succession to Elder or Pastor-ship

1 Peter 5:5-6 You younger men likewise be subject to your elders, and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, for God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.

Ephesians 5:21 And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 ...For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness whose end will be according to their works.

Heavy shepherding – the creation of an evangelical ‘priesthood’ which believes their insights and dictates must be followed.

Jeremiah 5:30-31 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land.  The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority, and my people love it so!  But what will you do at the end of it.

1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

 John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

Little toleration for those who question decisions or teaching.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble minded than those of Thessalonica, for they received the word with eagerness, examining the scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.

People pleasing or preferring to tell people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.  Read Ezekiel 44 where comparisons are drawn between the Zadokite priests and the Levites.

1 Samuel 15:24 Saul said to Samuel  “I have sinned I have transgressed the commandments of the Lord, because I feared the people and listened to their voice”.

Unity – but without the truth.  There is a strong emphasis on unified fellowship which leaves little room for constructive debate about matters of doctrinal truth.  Unity in the absence of the truth is a false and eventually destructive state.  There should be a primary focus on fellowship in truth  leading to unity.

Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head even Christ.

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us, for if they had been of us they would have remained with us, but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth, thy word is truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment…

Many churches are driven by money and numbers.  Leaders who are not called (the evidence lies in their poor ability to expound scripture properly) expose many churches to worldliness. They put an emphasis on the size and appearance of the church and leave it defenceless against heresy, false prophecy and lying signs and wonders.

2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the love of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.

John 10:12 He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

Titus 1:10-11 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain.

A move away from the ‘whole counsel of God’.  The scriptures are often taken out of context to provide a pretext for teaching that is more about the mind of men rather than the mind of God.

Acts 20:27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 But the Spirit explicitly says that in the latter times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.

Jeremiah 6:16-19 Thus says the Lord “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls”.  But they said, “we will not walk in it” and I set a watchman over you saying “listen to the sound of the trumpet” but they said, “we will not listen”.  “Therefore hear O nation, and know, O congregation, what is among them”.  “Hear O earth.  Behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their plans because they have not listened to my words, and as for my law, they have rejected it also.

Building programmes – putting too much effort and resources into buildings rather than they work of the Lord.

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it, unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.

Haggai 1:9 You look for much, but behold, it comes to little, when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why? Declares the Lord of Hosts, “because of my house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house”.

Acts 2:46  And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.

No unified purpose – many churches are isolated entities with little inter-church co-operation between true bible-believing churches for the cause of Christ. 

1 Corinthians 3:4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos”, are you not mere men.

Ephesians 4:11-13 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

No absolutes – scripture is often ‘massaged’ to fit contemporary attitudes.  The women in eldership/feminism and evolution/creation issues are good examples, where the meaning of scripture is stretched well beyond breaking point.

1 Timothy 2:11-14 Let a women quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.  But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.  For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.  And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.

Romans 1:20  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Matthew 5:18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the law, until all is accomplished.

Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is tested, and He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…

No love of the truth.  It is the truth that sets people free from their bondage to sin, complacency and ineffectiveness in the cause of the gospel.  Without ‘properly divining the word of truth Christians are left exposed to the winds of false doctrine. 

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 And with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.  And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false.

Isaiah 66:2 But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at my word.

1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, so those who are approved may be recognised among you.

Failing to confront sin/sexual immorality, false doctrines.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition that you have received from us.

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind that does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife.

Blatant disregard of Scripture.  The Bible warns Christians to be on constant alert for the ‘doctrines of demons’.  Yet, today there are many examples of high-profile Christian leaders preaching false faith-prosperity, kingdom now and self-esteem ideas that have no basis in scripture. 

2 Timothy 4:2-3 Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction for the Timothy will come with they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate to themselves teachers according to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness whose end will be according to their works.

Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

1 Timothy  4:16  Watch your life and doctrine  closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Seeking after Signs and Wonders.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 That is, the one who is coming is in according with the activity of Satan, with all power, signs and false wonders.

Matthew 24:24 For false Christ’s and false prophets shall arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 12:39 An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Adoption of worldly standards.

Ephesians 5:3-5 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints and there must be no filthiness, or silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Theme Two: A lack of apologetic historic root and proper exegetical teaching, and…

Symptoms:

An uncritical acceptance of the "Status Quo"

The ‘noble Berean’ (Acts 17) need to test everything is subverted by an unquestioning acceptance of unscriptural teaching, false prophecy and abuse of the gifts of the spirit.  Few are equipped or motivated by pastors and elders to stand up in defence of the faith.  The historic roots of evangelicalism are not taught and evolutionary dogma has been allowed to subvert the abundant evidence proving the Bible’s creation account.

Lack of apologetic, historic root emphasis.

Failure to encourage apologetic debate. 

Christians are not equipped by leaders to defend against or attack arguments raised by the world against a knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ. 

Jude 3 I felt the necessity to write to you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defence to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is within you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Creation/evolution.  Christians have failed to understand the fundamental importance of evolution in shaping the anti-God thinking of this age.

Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created both in the heavens and on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or authorities, all things have been created by Him and for Him.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, been understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Failing to avoid truth-compromising ecumenicalism.  Because Christians know little about Christian History and are poorly equipped to appreciate the importance of essential doctrines they are easily convinced that Catholicism and evangelicalism are similar. 

Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

Galatians 1:6-10  I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!  Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:1-18 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain for He says, "at the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you"; behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation" giving no cause for offence in anything, in order that the ministry be not discredited,  but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things. Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. Now in a like exchange--I speak as to children - open wide to us also. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their god, and they shall be my people. "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.

1 Timothy 1:4 Nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.

Failing to confront/contend in the world.  Jesus, Jeremiah and the Apostles were all persecuted because they confronted the world.

Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?  It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and be trampled underfoot by man.

2 Timothy 2:4-5 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier… And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

Little taught on historical roots of Christianity – understanding the historic foundations of today’s evangelical community.  It did not exist from the reformation but is the legacy of the true church which has existed and been persecuted down through two millennium.

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things happened as examples for us that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved.

Hebrews 11 – the whole chapter.

Psalm 106.

Acts 7 – the whole chapter.

Dumbing down of the church – hardly going beyond elementary teachings.  These teachings on subjects like baptism, repentance and the gifts of the Spirit are often repeated in different forms in an endless cycle.  In depth exegesis of scripture is not common. Many Christians do not have a wide view of Christianity and its place in the whole of life.  There is a disturbing absence of an all-encompassing Christian worldview.

1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren could not speak to you as spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ.  I gave you milk to drink not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it.  Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshy.

Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again to have someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Theme Three: Attitudes to ‘traditional evangelicals’, which together leads to…

Symptoms:

The few who try to warn the Evangelical Community are usually unjustly accused of being judgmental, legalistic and unspiritual. They are like prophets crying in the wilderness. The leaders who oppose them often prefer to attack them personally, forcing them out of fellowship before they will address the real issues. These leaders are likely to employ the same tactics against those who prepared or endorsed this declaration. Accusations of being legalistic – accusations levelled at believers who are just trying to find or uphold what is biblically correct.

Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble minded than those of Thessalonica, for they received the word with eagerness, examining the scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.

Mark 7:9 You nicely set aside the commandments of God in order to keep your tradition.

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word which is in according with the teaching, that he may be able to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

‘That’s OT, we’re NT’ – a tendency to reduce the Old Testament to merely a forerunner to the New Testament rather than recognising that it is still an important part of the whole counsel of God.  There is an old saying that: ‘The old is in the new revealed and the new is in the old concealed’.

Matthew 7:12  "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets".

Matthew 5: 17 - 19  "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill…"For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished… "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Judgmentalism - Christians who accuse others of being judgmental do not understand the term in its Biblical context.  Christians are called to be discerning and to be able to judge what God has already judged, according to His word.

2 Corinthians 3:6-8  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant— not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

Ephesians 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness but instead even expose them.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do with judging outsiders?  Do you not judge those who are within the church?  But those who are outside, God judges.  Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

Attacking people not issues.  Those who question leaders are often attacked on a personal level while the real issues are ignored

Galatians 4:16 Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth.

Failure to question and test what is being taught.

Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble minded than those of Thessalonica, for they received the word with eagerness, examining the scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.

Theme Four: Poor doctrine and little discernment, which results in…

Symptoms:

False doctrines, false prophecy and unscriptural ‘faith prosperity’, ‘self-esteem’ and ‘kingdom now’ philosophies are widely accepted.  False conversions spawned by ‘cheap grace’ ministries or programmes abound. The born-again repentance conversion based upon an acknowledged understanding that we are all born in sin and shaped in iniquity is often ignored.

Poor testing of prophecy/bereanism.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 And if you say in your heart. ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken’?  When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or does not come true, that is the thing that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Jeremiah 14:13-14 But, Lord God!  I said “Look the prophets are telling them, ‘you will not see the sword neither will you have famine, but I will give you a lasting peace in this place’ then the Lord said to me, the prophets are prophesying falsehood in my name.  I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them, they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds”.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Important Reading: Please read Jeremiah 23:16-40.

Lack of discernment and false doctrines.

Titus 1:10-11 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain.

Galatians 1:8  But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that to which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Acts 20:29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock, and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to myths.

2 Peter 2:1-2 But false prophets also rose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies even denying the master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves, and many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth shall be maligned and in their greed they shall exploit you with false words.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.

Compromise on sin and hell.  Little is preached on these two subjects.  Sin has become unfashionable.  Many leaders prefer to talk about love, but love without repentance leaves people without a true born again conversion.  They easily fall away or become a thorn in the side of the church having the appearance of holiness without its substance.

Luke 16:24 And he cried out and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.”

Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

Self esteem doctrine.  This is a false gospel because it avoids the central issue of sin and the need for repentance before there can be reconciliation with the Father through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes it and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church.

2 Timothy 3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.

Psalm 1:5-6 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Romans 3:23-24 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 2:3 And do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgement upon those who practice such things and do the same yourselves that you will escape the judgement of God.

Revival rather than the reality – the Bible forecasts a falling away or end times apostasy, not a great revival or the triumph of the Church. 

2 Thessalonians 2:3 – 4 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction who opposes and exalts himself above every so called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Matthew 24:24 For false Christ’s and false prophets will arise and show many signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:4-5 See to it that no-one misleads you.  For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Christ” and will mislead many.

1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says some in the latter times will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.

Important Reading: Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 13:1-10 false prophets.

Kingdom Now/Dominion Theology (latter rain teaching or the manifest sons of God).  This unscriptural teaching claims that the church will triumph in the world before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ

John 18:36 My kingdom is not of this world.  If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews, but as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm.

Looking for signs.  Christians are encouraged to look for mystical experience rather than apply God’s whole counsel in their lives, in the church and in the world.

Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Easy-believism – the notion that all you have to do is accept that Jesus loves you and you will be saved. Most people ‘saved’ in this way fall away.  A true believer first acknowledges that they are sinners in need of God’s free-gift of grace.  Secondly, they must accept in their hearts that Jesus is Lord of everything.  God cannot be compartmentalised by separating the sacred from the secular.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

John 8:58 Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am.

Cheap grace - people can think they are born again when they are not.  Courses like Alpha can focus too much on the Holy Spirit and experiential manifestations, glossing over the central importance of the saving work of Jesus Christ for those who repent and believe in their hearts that He is Lord. 

Ephesians 2:1-9 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.   All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature (Or our flesh) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

 Jude 4 For certain persons who have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, and godly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles”? and then I will declare to them I never knew you, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.

Matthew 15:7-9 The people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.  But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.

Matthew 13:25-26  "But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away…But when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.

False church growth initiatives – seeker service and marketing research programmes that rely on worldly ‘feel safe and enjoy the show’ approaches rather than the power of the Word of God.

Matthew 7:13 Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.

Romans 3:11 There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God.

1 John 2:15-16  Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him… For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Isaiah 55:8-11  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD… For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater.. So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Endorsement of false TV ministries.

Ephesians 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness and deceitful scheming.

2 John 9-10 Anyone who goes to far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God, the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting, for the one who gives him a greeting, participates in his evil deeds.

No fear of God.  In Proverbs 8 it says to fear God is to hate evil, yet many Christians do nothing about the evil all around them in the world. 

Ecclesiastes 12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Psalm 103:13 Just as the Father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

Isaiah 66:2 But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at my word.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit – Nowhere does the Bible instruct us to pray to the Holy Spirit except in the context of the Trinity.

John 16:7-9 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you and He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgement; concerning sin, because they do not believe in me.

John 16:13-14 But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He shall glorify Me, for He shall take of mine and shall disclose it to you.

Theme Five: New age, hyper-charismatic activity plus…

Symptoms:

A hyper-charismatic emphasis on mystical, slain-in-the-spirit experiences is in danger of replacing a Bible-based reliance on God. New age visualisation and meditation practices, dragged from eastern religions, are being taught in churches. The saving grace and glorious hope of salvation that rests only in Jesus Christ is being replaced by an unscriptural search for signs and wonders.   The role of the Holy Spirit is being misinterpreted.

Hyper-charisma.   Many Christians have been led to engage in many forms of experiential activity.  Uncontrolled laughter, being thrown across the room, making animal noises, losing control of bodily functions have no basis in scripture

1 Corinthians 14:26 What is the outcome then, brethren?  When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.  Let all things be done for edification.

Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah

1 Corinthians 14:40  But let all things be done properly, and in an orderly manner.

Slain/drunk in the spirit.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid lest the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity of devotion to Christ.

Demons/ancestral curses – we are taught to resist the Devil and he must flee from us.  Therefore, Satan cannot possess Christians and nor can ancestral curses hold a born again Christian in bondage.  What relationship can light have with darkness?  

Ezekiel 18:20 The person who sins will die.  The son will not bear the punishment for the fathers iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the sons iniquity, the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

Proverbs 26:2 Like a sparrow in its flittering, like a swallow in its flying, so a curse without a cause does not alight.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 6:14  Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Exodus 20:5-6 You shall not worship them or serve them, for I the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing loving kindness to thousands, of those who love me and keep my commandments.

The belief that individual Christians can bind Satan.  Satan’s power over Christians has already been destroyed on the cross.  We cannot bind Satan but we can and should resist him, recognising and claiming the full armour of God.  It is the Lord we can cal on to rebuke Satan

1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  You adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Jude 9 But Michael the Archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgement, but said, “The Lord rebuke you”.

Acts 19:14-16 And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"  And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Faith in faith – the ‘if only we had enough faith’ argument ignores the fact that we only need faith as small as a mustard seed.  It is faith in our God and the hope or assurance of our salvation that matters.  An over-emphasis on the role of faith rather than its redemptive work can result to having faith in faith rather than in God.  Many also use hyper-faith techniques to manipulate God using ‘faith formulas’ on which they believe God must act.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Matthew 17:20 And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

Visualisation.  The teaching that one must visualise what one wants and combine it with faith to get what one wants.  This is Buddhism and accords with New Age or eastern religious practice not Christianity. 

1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says some in the latter times will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.

Galatians 1:8 But even though we or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Emptying your mind.  The idea that by clearing ones head one will ‘experience’ God.  Again this is a New Age technique that is not taught in scripture.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together” says the Lord.

Experiential emphasis – the expectation that God will manifest himself in all sorts of bizarre ways for which there is no Biblical mandate.

Matthew 24:24 For false Christ’s and false prophets will arise and show many signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 The one who is coming is in accordance with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders.

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Music - trying to be like the world and creating songs that do not directly and unequivocally extol the work of Christ and the God of the Bible. They then become man-centred, with an over-emphasis on the spirit.

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Theme Six: Complacency and unscriptural ecumenism (1 Corinthians 11:19).

Symptoms:

The evangelical community has become complacent; preferring to compromise with an unsaved world A reverential fear of God is being replaced by a fear of worldly ridicule.  Materialism and societies pleasures often take precedence over a concern for the cause of Christ.  The ecumenical promotion of a shared love of God is being substituted for the Biblical God of love and judgement.

A Social gospel – rather than the Gospel of the Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, so those who are approved may be recognised among you

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

General complacency and worldly compromise.

Romans 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you.

Zephaniah 1:12-13  "And it will come about at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good or evil! Moreover, their wealth will become plunder, and their houses desolate; Yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but not drink their wine."

Ecumenism/Joining together with Catholics, etc.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “Therefore come out from their midst and be separate”, says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean and I will welcome you and I will be a Father to you and you shall be sons and daughters to me”, says the Lord Almighty.

Revelation 18:4 “Come out of her, my people that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues; for her sins are piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities”.

Monotheistic compromise –the idea, which is becoming more and more prevalent, that Christians, Jews and Islam all worship the same God.  Robert Schuller and the Pope have been promoters of this false concept.

World’s pleasures first – evangelicals have failed to get beyond succumbing to this world’s pleasures and pressures and allow them to get between them and God’s purposes.

Christian Bookshops – these have become commercial entities rather than missions.  The result is bookshops stocked with texts and music that have more to do with pop-psychology and contemporary music than they do with the important things of God.

 A lack of social responsibility – evangelicals have remained largely mute while governments flout God’s precepts with laws that are, in a godly sense, unjust, unholy and unrighteous.

Solutions?

Truth Watch has not attempted to explicitly define solutions to the problems facing the evangelical community. Clearly, solutions lie in the antithesis to the problem causes and symptoms identified. Your ideas would be appreciated.  As we said at the beginning, join this solemn assembly in cyberspace and contribute ideas, scriptural revelations and Godly wisdom. The evangelical statement of belief, found on this site, and summarised on the one-page declaration, must be the cornerstone of the solution because it expounds central Biblical truths.

Concluding Statement:

Thirty or more years ago the charismatic and Pentecostal awakening added new life to the evangelical community and was a genuine move of God.  Man has soulishly got in the way of God’s work.  The situation is summarised perfectly by God in his discourse to the prophet Haggai:

Haggai 1:3-10 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD. "You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. "Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.

This Declaration is a cry for a New Reformation (See the 95 Theses). The only hope for genuine revival lies in recapturing the central priority of the Gospel.  The only alternative is churches where CHRIST is truly honoured and the Bible faithfully expounded and believed. Check everything against God’s Word. Rediscover the Church’s mission in Western Society (See The Next Generation Church - a book downloadable from this site).

Be suspicious of single leaders who demand obedience or create factions based on suspect reasoning.  Go to the sectarian ‘mind control’ questionnaire reading to test your suspicions about ‘heavy-shepherding’ in your church. The Holy Spirit’s purpose is to lead Christians into all truth.  He does not lead us into unquestioning obedience to any man.  Test teaching against the Word of God. Remember, Christians have been commissioned to be God’s ambassadors to take that truth into all of society because it is relevant everywhere.

Michael SaxonEssential Reading: Challenge 3Comment