A worship team at the feet of a false prophet

[DaughterOfAKing]

Okay, so here's the thing, I know for a fact this post is going to push a few buttons as I know there is bound to be at least one person who is a member at this church who will see this.

Firstly, let me start off by saying that I do not know how to test the spirits as yet and therefore I am unable to tell whether or not someone is a false prophet and so, therefore, I always conduct a google search to do a background check on the "preacher" in question - I've only recently started doing this. I think highly of Joyce Meyer but according to research, she's a false prophet. I wouldn't say I follow the teaching of Steve Furtick as I have yet to listen to one of his messages but I love, love, love Elevation Worship. According to research, he is a false prophet.

I have seen online that Pastor Furtick is a big fan of rock music and it shows in his ministry, his church does look a lot like a concert venue. It just makes me question if I am in the wrong for listening and worshipping to the music of Elevation Worship. I have their songs fullness, give me faith, the King is among us and resurrecting on repeat, with a strong love for a couple others. 

ANOTHER EXAMPLE: Charlotte Gambill of Life Church, Bradford, UK

I remember my first encounter with Charlotte's message, it was at a women's conference hosted by a popular UK Christian organisation called Premier. I loved her message and went on to attend Charlotte's own women conference several months later with empowering and uplifting messages, there was a couple of secular songs played but not half as much as I heard when I attended her conference this year. I guess I didn't hear as much secular music as I attended her conference myself this year and was always on time to hear the word, in comparison to last year when I went with a friend and we were always late. This year, music from the likes of Beyonce, Pharrell Williams etc. was played and I looked around thinking that I couldn't possibly be the only person to disagree with what was going on? Secular music at a Christian conference? 

I wasn't as bothered last year as I wasn't so grounded in the word and in my faith as yet but my present church has taught me how vital it is to not participate in listening and singing secular music. I guess 1 Corinthians 10:31 confirms why, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." The issue is I love their worship team too, not half as much as I do Elevation Worship but that's beside the point.

Honestly, I don't know why I even bothered to write this post. I know it's wrong to continue listening to a worship team led by a wolf in sheep's clothing. I guess like things of the world it's hard to pull away from something damaging to your spiritual walk, even more so actually. I just thought I would share my viewpoint with you all.

God bless you all,

Deanne

 

 

[angels4u]

5 hours ago, DaughterOfAKing said:

Okay, so here's the thing, I know for a fact this post is going to push a few buttons as I know there is bound to be at least one person who is a member at this church who will see this.

Firstly, let me start off by saying that I do not know how to test the spirits as yet and therefore I am unable to tell whether or not someone is a false prophet and so, therefore, I always conduct a google search to do a background check on the "preacher" in question - I've only recently started doing this. I think highly of Joyce Meyer but according to research, she's a false prophet. I wouldn't say I follow the teaching of Steve Furtick as I have yet to listen to one of his messages but I love, love, love Elevation Worship. According to research, he is a false prophet.

I have seen online that Pastor Furtick is a big fan of rock music and it shows in his ministry, his church does look a lot like a concert venue. It just makes me question if I am in the wrong for listening and worshipping to the music of Elevation Worship. I have their songs fullness, give me faith, the King is among us and resurrecting on repeat, with a strong love for a couple others. 

ANOTHER EXAMPLE: Charlotte Gambill of Life Church, Bradford, UK

I remember my first encounter with Charlotte's message, it was at a women's conference hosted by a popular UK Christian organisation called Premier. I loved her message and went on to attend Charlotte's own women conference several months later with empowering and uplifting messages, there was a couple of secular songs played but not half as much as I heard when I attended her conference this year. I guess I didn't hear as much secular music as I attended her conference myself this year and was always on time to hear the word, in comparison to last year when I went with a friend and we were always late. This year, music from the likes of Beyonce, Pharrell Williams etc. was played and I looked around thinking that I couldn't possibly be the only person to disagree with what was going on? Secular music at a Christian conference? 

I wasn't as bothered last year as I wasn't so grounded in the word and in my faith as yet but my present church has taught me how vital it is to not participate in listening and singing secular music. I guess 1 Corinthians 10:31 confirms why, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." The issue is I love their worship team too, not half as much as I do Elevation Worship but that's beside the point.

Honestly, I don't know why I even bothered to write this post. I know it's wrong to continue listening to a worship team led by a wolf in sheep's clothing. I guess like things of the world it's hard to pull away from something damaging to your spiritual walk, even more so actually. I just thought I would share my viewpoint with you all.

God bless you all,

Deanne

 

 

Hi Deanne,

Here is one example of a false teacher ,the sad part is that many people are following the NAR churches

This story is very sad :

http://olivetreeviews.org/radio-archives/

[DaughterOfAKing]

@angels4u Thank you very much, I shall check it out. 

Just to confirm, by NAR, do you mean New Apostolic Reformed churches? 

Edited June 17, 2018 by DaughterOfAKing

[angels4u]

Just now, DaughterOfAKing said:

@angels4u Thank you very much, I shall check it out  

It will open your eyes !

We have to be so careful who we believe and the whom we listen

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matt.24:24

[DaughterOfAKing]

1 minute ago, angels4u said:

It will open your eyes !

We have to be so careful who we believe and the whom we listen

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matt.24:24

We certainly do need to be careful. I for one thoroughly enjoyed Joyce Meyer's teachings, I even have her everyday life bible and now I am having to stick to my bible app (I do have two other bibles but the font is much too small to comfortably read and of course, study).

[angels4u]

3 minutes ago, DaughterOfAKing said:

We certainly do need to be careful. I for one thoroughly enjoyed Joyce Meyer's teachings, I even have her everyday life bible and now I am having to stick to my bible app (I do have two other bibles but the font is much too small to comfortably read and of course, study).

If you really want to know my opinion read this :

https://bereanresearch.org/word-of-faith-false-teacher-joyce-meyers-shocking-doctrine-and-heresy/

[DaughterOfAKing]

4 minutes ago, angels4u said:

If you really want to know my opinion read this :

https://bereanresearch.org/word-of-faith-false-teacher-joyce-meyers-shocking-doctrine-and-heresy/

Oh yes, I've seen that before but have only now properly read it. I am in utter shock, to say the least. 

[GandalfTheWise]

On 6/17/2018 at 9:12 AM, DaughterOfAKing said:

Firstly, let me start off by saying that I do not know how to test the spirits as yet and therefore I am unable to tell whether or not someone is a false prophet and so, therefore, I always conduct a google search to do a background check on the "preacher" in question - I've only recently started doing this.

I'd strongly urge you to find several *independent* Christian research sources.  Most of the so-called Christian research sites I find basically copy and re-copy each other's material and create an echo chamber.  Just because one can find 20 links and see 20 people say the same things about someone doesn't mean it's necessarily true or discerning.  Often it is a rehashing of one original article that gets amplified by a number of people repeating it and reposting it and rewriting it to appear more original.  Sometimes the original article is well done and researched well; sometimes the original article is plain awful, misleading, and basically libel and untrue.   I've seen both types of articles posted (and reposted) on Christian sites.

About 40 years ago when I was a younger Christian, I got suckered into Christian witch hunting that masqueraded as discernment and research and wasted a few years believing pretty much every bad thing researchers wrote about various other Christians.

I had a rude awakening when I was sharing my discernment with a few people at my church.  Someone mentioned a particular preacher and I felt compelled to explain about how unbiblical this person was.  They challenged me on it and gave me one of this preacher's books to read.  I was happy to dig in  (especially since I had a book that had exposed this preacher as a new ager in disguise.)   I was shocked to find that nothing of what I had been saying was correct.  The book disparaging this preacher had taken literally every single quotation out of context and put words in his mouth.  As I found, this author that I had been taking as an authoritative guide to exposing the new age in the church was putting words in people's mouths.  He was probably so convinced he was right and that the devil was so devious and deceptive that he deemed it proper and spiritual to re-arrange sentences, take things out of context, and in general make up whatever he wanted to.  It's been a long time so I forget many of the details, but I remember being shocked to find that this researcher was basically fabricating stuff and saying that it was what this preacher was teaching when I read sentences from this preacher that explicitly said something different.  I then found a couple other books by authors that this researcher was attacking and found he did exactly the same thing to them.  He'd lift words and sentences out of context, redefine them, and then put a new age message where there was none before.  Sadly, this guy is still active decades later doing the same old thing.  I suspect as people wise up to him and ignore him that many more new people discover him and listen until they wise up.  Even more sad is the number of other Christian "researchers" that do exactly the same thing.

In the interest of illustrating the type of thing I'm taking about, I am going to butcher the OP in the manner I've seen some of these Christian "research" sites do.  I do NOT believe what I am writing here.  I am purely doing this as an example of the type of stuff I've seen Christians put out and how they intentionally misrepresent people and make many worst case assumptions.  (Now, I think they are probably doing it out of good intentions and they believe they are exposing darkness, but that doesn't change how misleading they often are.)

[Example of a Christian hit piece]  "Firstly, let me start off by saying that I do not know how to test the spirits as yet and therefore I am unable to tell whether or not someone is a false prophet and so, therefore, I always conduct a google search to do a background check on the "preacher" in question - I've only recently started doing this."  Wow, the OP apparently believes Christians should use a biased secular source to "test the spirits" and trust that this biased secular source will give unbiased links!!!  I wonder what type of spirits are being tested!?! Does any mature Christian really believe that the spirit behind google will return links pleasing to the Holy Spirit!!!!  No mention of the Bible, prayer, being part of a solid Bible believing church, or of asking a mature Bible believing pastor.  Any *real* Christian with the Holy Spirit in them should be able to test the spirits.  Or is this the OP's attempt to misguide Christians into trusting the spirit behind google instead of the Holy Spirit?!?!  It's good God now gave us google or how did Christians for the past 2000 years discern false prophets?!?!  Let's call out posts like this that encourage Christians not to follow the Holy Spirit and the Bible but to read and accept questionable links!!!!  [End of example]    Ayyy.  I cannot do this anymore.  I couldn't even bring myself to put in large size type in red color to make it more authoritative.   I don't know how in the world some Christians can write pages upon pages of stuff like this day after day and maintain such a cynical, negative, hostile, and dark mindset to do this.  But this is the type of thing I've seen (and on sites that some people regularly link to from this site).  Frankly, I think some people who often read sites like that start to unconsciously adopt that same type of inquisitional and accusatory spirit that is willing to twist and question everything in the quest to root out error.  To me, the sad thing is that the accusations often become accepted truth by repetition and innuendo rather than truth by fact.

The reality is that it is very easy to make anyone look terrible and accuse them of teaching or believing false things by grabbing individual phrases and sentences from a book or sermon out of their larger context.  It becomes even easier when a handful of sites and researchers start agreeing with each other and unquestioningly repeat and repost what the others say.  Over the years, I've come to take the approach of trying to judge someone's ministry and teaching in its entirety and from the perspective of how it is growing and maturing, not from a few sound bytes, a few of their most stupid moments or decisions, or from a few of their most poorly phrased sentences.   Sadly, many Christian research sites seem to take the approach of "hey, we've made 100 different accusations against this person, if only a fraction of those things are true, they must be as bad as we thought.  And besides, if they are that bad, we are justified in making more accusations and keeping them under close scrutiny."

This is why I look to find several *independent* Christian sites and *independent* articles with different viewpoints when researching any particular person or ministry.  I also like to look up original books, articles, or sermon transcripts from that person to find a more complete context.  

[Billiards Ball]

On 6/17/2018 at 10:12 AM, DaughterOfAKing said:

Okay, so here's the thing, I know for a fact this post is going to push a few buttons as I know there is bound to be at least one person who is a member at this church who will see this.

Firstly, let me start off by saying that I do not know how to test the spirits as yet and therefore I am unable to tell whether or not someone is a false prophet and so, therefore, I always conduct a google search to do a background check on the "preacher" in question - I've only recently started doing this. I think highly of Joyce Meyer but according to research, she's a false prophet. I wouldn't say I follow the teaching of Steve Furtick as I have yet to listen to one of his messages but I love, love, love Elevation Worship. According to research, he is a false prophet.

I have seen online that Pastor Furtick is a big fan of rock music and it shows in his ministry, his church does look a lot like a concert venue. It just makes me question if I am in the wrong for listening and worshipping to the music of Elevation Worship. I have their songs fullness, give me faith, the King is among us and resurrecting on repeat, with a strong love for a couple others. 

ANOTHER EXAMPLE: Charlotte Gambill of Life Church, Bradford, UK

I remember my first encounter with Charlotte's message, it was at a women's conference hosted by a popular UK Christian organisation called Premier. I loved her message and went on to attend Charlotte's own women conference several months later with empowering and uplifting messages, there was a couple of secular songs played but not half as much as I heard when I attended her conference this year. I guess I didn't hear as much secular music as I attended her conference myself this year and was always on time to hear the word, in comparison to last year when I went with a friend and we were always late. This year, music from the likes of Beyonce, Pharrell Williams etc. was played and I looked around thinking that I couldn't possibly be the only person to disagree with what was going on? Secular music at a Christian conference? 

I wasn't as bothered last year as I wasn't so grounded in the word and in my faith as yet but my present church has taught me how vital it is to not participate in listening and singing secular music. I guess 1 Corinthians 10:31 confirms why, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." The issue is I love their worship team too, not half as much as I do Elevation Worship but that's beside the point.

Honestly, I don't know why I even bothered to write this post. I know it's wrong to continue listening to a worship team led by a wolf in sheep's clothing. I guess like things of the world it's hard to pull away from something damaging to your spiritual walk, even more so actually. I just thought I would share my viewpoint with you all.

God bless you all,

Deanne

 

 

Did you know, one of the most frequently played songs on the Bible Broadcasting Radio Network was written by a famous musician who later famously converted to Islam? If we really get into the doctrine or lack of Word knowledge of most musicians in the modern era, we will listen to very little music--but let your conscience and faith guide you here!

[Sevenseas]

I honestly think this topic is a bit of a minefield.  on the topic of Joyce Meyer, I'm not sure she still teaches some of the things she used to teach.  I think she has become more centralized and less WOF.  I think she is a great encourager and pretty spot on with things she says about 'practical' Christianity

On the other hand, with reference to playing songs by Beyonce, I would think that shows a lack of discernment and I would wonder why play her songs or any other secualr music at a Christian conference.  Beyonce has publicly come out and stated that a spirit overtakes her when she performs and she has even given it a name.  not going to link to it, but I guess a person can google it if curious

the worst thing about NAR is their extra biblical 'revelations' that seem to take precedence over the Bible

however, I would also agree that not everything or everyone that is painted as a heretic, is a heretic.  that's an awful broad brush and used too often 

 

if a person is really uncomfortable with what is going on, they can always ask someone familiar with the event why such and such is happening and if the answer provided is not sufficient to indicate things are ok, said person can leave

 

these days, more than ever, a person needs to study scripture and understand what God's will is (and that is not some nebulous feely meely unatainable 'it'.  we renew our minds with the Bible and understand what the will of God is.  no exceptions)

 

that's my take anyway