WEEKLY CHURCH NEWS NOTES
Pastor Dale Morgan
May 31, 2008
The Weekly Church News Notes is designed for use in churches.
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PENTECOSTAL PASTOR OF FLORIDA OUTPOURING ADMITS MEETINGS NOT ORDERLY *
Meetings that began on April 2 at the Ignite Church in Lakeland,
Florida, are continuing daily (in larger venues), with as many as 10,000
in attendance. The frenzy, which has been called "The Florida Healing
Outpouring," is led by evangelist Todd Bentley. Stephen Strader, pastor
of Ignite Church, recently admitted to the local newspaper that the
services are not orderly, describing them as "chaotic" and
"disorganized" ("A Working Man's Revival," The Ledger, May 18, 2008).
This is an admission that the "revival" is not scriptural. When Paul
wrote to the church at Corinth to correct their misuse of spiritual
gifts, he said: "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1
Corinthians 14:40). He left no doubt about the way that God works. "For
God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of
the saints" (1 Cor. 14:33). The "Florida Outpouring" is filled with
confusion, disorder, and a distinct lack of peace. People laugh
hysterically and shake like they are possessed and babble incoherently.
The evangelist hits people on the head and yells "Bam!" and they fall
down. He gets "drunk in the spirit" and falls down while his associate
is so "intoxicated" that he utters a profanity on stage
(http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=5075). The
Pentecostal-Charismatic movement has been lurching from one strange
scriptural thing to another for more than 100 years. Beware! (The
317-page book The Pentecostal-Charismatic Movements: The History and
Error is available from Way of Life Literature.)
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PENTECOSTAL EVANGELIST SAYS "DON'T TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT"*
Pentecostal evangelist Todd Bentley, who is heading up the current
"outpouring" in Lakeland, Florida, says of the "spiritual drunkenness"
and other phenomena, "Don't try to figure it out with your head"
("Florida Outpouring of Drunkenness,"
http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=5075). This has been one of the
theme songs of the Pentecostal movement from its inception, but the
Bible warns of deceiving spirits and instructs God's people to carefully
prove all things. The Bereans were called "noble" because they tested
everything by Scripture (Acts 17:11). This practice is exalted by the
Spirit of God as noble Christianity, and any type of Christianity that
draws back from testing everything carefully by Scripture is ignoble and
wrong. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians
5:21).
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PENTECOSTAL EVANGELIST SEES FLOATING ANGEL NAMED EMMA *
Pentecostal evangelist Todd Bentley, who is heading up the current
"outpouring" in Lakeland, Florida, claims to have seen many angels. Not
surprisingly, some of them were "financial angels" who spread prosperity
to Word-Faith Pentecostals. One of these is named Emma. "I was in a
service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in
conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma. As I
stared at the angel with open eyes, the Lord said, 'Here's Emma.' I'm
not kidding. She floated a couple of inches off the floor. It was almost
like Kathryn Kuhlman in those old videos when she wore a white dress and
looked like she was gliding across the platform. Emma appeared beautiful
and young--about 22 years old--but she was old at the same time. She
seemed to carry the wisdom, virtue and grace of Proverbs 31 on her life.
She glided into the room, emitting brilliant light and colors. Emma
carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then, as she
walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust
on people. 'God, what is happening?' I asked. The Lord answered: 'She is
releasing the gold, which is both the revelation and the financial
breakthrough that I am bringing into this church.' ... Within three
weeks of that visitation, the church had given me the biggest offering I
had ever received to that point in my ministry. Thousands of dollars!"
(Bentley, "Angelic Hosts," http://www.etpv.org/2003/angho.html). Since
the Bible exhorts us to "prove all things," we must compare this angelic
visitation with Scripture. There we see no female angels, no angels that
sprinkle gold dust, and none that float two inches off the floor.
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PENTECOSTAL EVANGELIST SAYS PAUL DOESN'T HAVE A MANSION IN HEAVEN *
Pentecostal evangelist Todd Bentley, who is heading up the current
"outpouring" in Lakeland, Florida, claims that he has seen Jesus face to
face and visited heaven. There he supposedly received revelations
directly from the apostle Paul. "After that, Paul took me to his house.
I was still in paradise [the third heaven]. His house wasn't a mansion.
It was actually a small cabin. There was an open field and a forest
there" (Bentley, "A Face to Face Encounter,"
http://lakelandrevival.blogspot.com/2008/05/cleaning-out-barn.html).
Bentley says that the river of life is not water but is oil and honey
and that there are seven realms or atmospheres in heaven, one of which
is reserved for angels. Bentley joins a long line of Pentecostals who
have allegedly visited God's paradise. Percy Collett saw a "Holy Ghost
elevator" and "barkless" dogs. Roberts Liardon saw a medicine cabinet
with bottles labeled "overdose of the Holy Ghost." Jesse Duplantis saw
weak Christians that must smell the leaves of the tree of life to gain
strength. I reject all of these claims, for the simple reason that in
every case the individual adds to the things recorded in the Bible in
direct conflict with God's command: "For I testify unto every man that
heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD
UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN
IN THIS BOOK" (Rev. 22:18). Many of the things recorded in the book of
Revelation pertain to heaven. Consider Revelation 4-5; 7:9-17; 8:1-6;
10:1; 11:15-19; 12:1-3; 12:7-12; 14:1-17; 15:1-8; 16:1, 5-7; 17:1-2;
19:1-16; 20:1; 21:1-27; 22:1-5. Is it not adding to "these things" to
say there are Holy Ghost elevators and barkless dogs and medicine
cabinets? The Bible is more certain than the most glorious mystical
experience. It is possible to be deceived into thinking one has been to
heaven or seen Jesus when this has not actually happened, but the Bible
is sure. Peter reminded his readers that he had witnessed Christ's
majesty and heard the very voice of Almighty God (2 Peter 1:16-18). But
rather than urging his readers to seek such experiences Peter magnified
the Bible above all such things, calling it "a more sure word of
prophecy" (2 Peter 1:19-21). We need to lay aside the carnal lust for
mystical experiences and miraculous signs and walk by faith and not by
sight, for this is biblical Christianity. "For we are saved by hope: but
hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet
hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience
wait for it" (Rom. 8:24-25).
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DAUGHTER OF FAMOUS FEMINIST REJECTS ITS ME FIRST PHILOSOPHY *
The following is excerpted from "How My Mother's Fanatical Views Tore Us
Apart," Daily Mail, London, May 23, 2008: "Alice Walker, author of The
Color Purple, touched the lives of a generation of women. A champion of
women's rights, she has always argued that motherhood is a form of
servitude. But one woman didn't buy in to Alice's beliefs--her daughter,
Rebecca, 38. Here the writer describes what it was like to grow up as
the daughter of a cultural icon, and why she feels so blessed to be the
sort of woman 64-year-old Alice despises--a mother. ... 'I very nearly
missed out on becoming a mother--thanks to being brought up by a rabid
feminist who thought motherhood was about the worst thing that could
happen to a woman. ... In fact, having a child has been the most
rewarding experience of my life. Far from enslaving me,
three-and-a-half-year-old Tenzin has opened my world. My only regret is
that I discovered the joys of motherhood so late. ... As the child of
divorced parents, I know only too well the painful consequences of being
brought up in those circumstances. Feminism has much to answer for
denigrating men and encouraging women to seek independence whatever the
cost to their families. ... Yes, feminism has undoubtedly given women
opportunities. It's helped open the doors for us at schools,
universities and in the workplace. But what about the problems it's
caused for my contemporaries? What about the children? The ease with
which people can get divorced these days doesn't take into account the
toll on children. That's all part of the unfinished business of
feminism. ... Feminism has betrayed an entire generation of women into
childlessness. It is devastating. But far from taking responsibility for
any of this, the leaders of the women's movement close ranks against
anyone who dares to question them--as I have learned to my cost. I don't
want to hurt my mother, but I cannot stay silent. I believe feminism is
an experiment, and all experiments need to be assessed on their results.
Then, when you see huge mistakes have been paid, you need to make
alterations.'"
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THE PRACTICE OF LOVE IN CHILD TRAINING *
The following is excerpted from Training Your Children to Turn out
Right, an excellent book by David Sorenson (Northstar Ministries, 1820
W. Morgan St., Duluth, MN 55811, 218-726-0209,
www.northstarministries.com, dhs.no...@charter.net) -- "Another
concept endemic to godliness is the matter of love. ... The New
Testament fairly overflows with references to God's people being people
of love. Curiously, the Bible has little to say about parents loving
their children. I believe the reason for this is that God has created
within us a natural instinct to love our children. ... Nevertheless, it
is important that our homes be an aquarium of love. In all your
teaching, discipling, and admonishing of your children, always season it
liberally with love. See that your children have no doubt whatsoever
that you love them. Tell them you love them. Show physical affection in
an appropriate fashion such as hugs and discreet kisses. Always be there
when they need you. Never be too busy for their school functions or
programs. Love them even more than you love yourself. Not only is it
right to love your children, it will enable you to most effectively
teach and train them. When they unquestionably know you love them, they
know that you have their best interests at heart" (Training Your
Children to Turn Out Right, 1995, p. 136).
CONCLUSION: Friends in Christ, do not be discouraged by any of this. It
is God's will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3) and that
we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. These things remind us
that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the coming of
the Lord. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for
Christ day by day? "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time
to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we
believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not
in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil
the lusts thereof" (Rom. 13:11-14).