Deathwish

I read a recent series on Erwin McManus over at Apprising Ministries and decided to share a few observations on the subject. I'm a long time reader of Slice, CRN, and Apprising and I've corresponded in the past with Pastor Ken Silva so I'm somewhat familiar with McManus and his ilk. I'd also like to take a moment to note that I applaud and appreciate the important work for the Lord that's being conducted in the Christian blogosphere by these ministries.

Like many other discerning believers I've noticed the most common theme among the Emergents, Seeker Sensitive, and Purpose Driven church growth apostates is their man-centered gospel. They continually look within themselves for the answers to life's problems and circumstances as opposed to looking outward and upward toward God and seeking Him in His Word. Of course they'll drizzle a little Jesus on top of their man-centered spiritual buffet - take what you want and leave the rest! - and they'll flavor it with a dash of "church speak", but in the end it's the same old hell spawned anti-theology that the devil has been dusting off and trotting out in various forms in order to deceive sinful men for ages.

More recently however I’ve begun to notice the correlation between the aforementioned groups and the occult. Their self-esteem building workshops, their "hero within" fetishes, and their positive confessions can all be traced back to the most ancient origins of witchcraft and occultism.

Consider one important aspect common to the doctrine each of the aforementioned groups - but which they often try to obfuscate - their predilection toward positive confession and how the practice parallels witchcraft:

Both believe human words are or can be imbued with spiritual power.

Both believe that words, spoken correctly (either through the positive confession of "God's Word" or by a proper incantation) can channel spiritual power to affect the temporal world. (Incidentally this is also the cornerstone of the word-faith heretics’ belief system whose doctrine is the "kissing-cousin" of the human potential advocates within the broader harlot professing church.)

Both believe that man has "a god" inside of him or is actually "a god" himself. (Again we hear the echoes of "potential" and inherent human
worth.)

It's clear that Erwin McManus himself and his ministry reside on this slippery slope based on a few of the comments which were quoted in Ron Foster's article over at Apprising Ministries:

"...I am created to create the future..."

"The quest to live out your dreams begins by unleashing your creative spirit..."

"Inspired by an ardent and sincere belief in what we offer..."

It brings to mind the scripture: "IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN”- (MATTHEW 15:9)

Friend, if you find yourself caught up in the emergent, seeker sensitive, and/or purpose driven harlot religious systems I pray you'll flee from the clutches of those satanic stooges, those demonic dupes of the devil and embrace the singular truth of Christ crucified as revealed in the whole counsel of God, the Holy Bible.

One day each of us will stand before the Infinite Creator and Judge of the universe and give an account of what we did with Jesus Christ during our time on earth and many, MANY who thought they were Christians will hear on that day the terrible words "...depart from Me..."!

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Matthew 7:13)

Friend, the modern professing harlot churches have turned the gospel upside down. They teach of a heaven that's wide open and waiting for anyone who'll whisper a quick "sinner's prayer" and optionally get dunked in a tank of tap water, and they teach of a hell - if they mention it at all - that's nearly impossible to stumble into. That is not the gospel message and that doctrine is certainly not to be found anywhere in the Word of God.

True Christianity is about the death of self to the glory of Christ. True Christianity is about taking up one's cross and following daily after the Lord. The cross is a cruel instrument of death, not a plastic toy to be tossed to and fro and juggled and fondled like a dime store novelty. The cross isn't to be used as a spiritual back-scratcher to ease our worldly itches, it's meant to slay us dead that we might become dead to sin in order that Christ might live in us.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galations 2:20)

If we don't hate what Christ hates and love what Christ loves then how can we call ourselves His obedient servants? How can those who are called by the name of the Lord, who ought to be separated and set apart as a peculiar people, the ecclesia - literally the "called out ones" - the church of Jesus Christ, be so comfortable within the corrupted worldly systems that are dominant not only outside, but inside much of the professing church? How has it gotten so bad? Why do men stand idly by and allow spiritually corrupted pulpit pimps to prostitute themselves and their churches and become unseemly stains upon the gown of the Bride of Christ?

Where are the bold defenders of truth in this present darkness?

1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

9And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

10Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

11Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

12And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

13But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. (Isaiah 6:1-13)