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AnInquiryIntoTheTheologicalCharacteristicsOfTheWordofFaith,ThirdWaveMovement&

TheNewApostolicReformation

Publishedonwww.academia.com

&DesperateImitationofChristBlog

By:R.P.MooreKandern,BadenWürttemberg,Germany

April2016

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Contents1.0.......................................................................................................Acknowledgements1.1....................................................................................................................Introduction1.2............................................................................................................LogicforWriting1.3............................................................................................................OrthodoxorNot?1.4........................................................................................................HistoricalHeresies1.5........................................................................................................................Gnosticism1.6........................................................GnosticSyncretismborderingontheOccult1.7............................................JealousGnosticism:InsideSecretsoftheKingdom1.8...................................................................................................GnosticismRunAmok1.9.....................................................................ChristologicalHeresies:Adoptionism1.10..................................................................ChristologicalHeresies:KenosisView2.1.....................ChristologicalandSoteriologicalHeresies:ViewofAtonement2.2.............................................................ChristologicalHeresies:HypostaticUnion2.3..............................................................................................Extra-BiblicalRevelation2.4.....................................................................................................................Dominionism2.5.............................................................“HostingthePresence”orNeo-Gnosticism2.6.........................................DangerwithinMainstreamEvangelicalChristendom2.7...........................................................IndictmentofFalseTeachersandProphets2.8..........................................................................................................................Conclusion

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1.0 Acknowledgements Iwouldliketothankallthepeoplewhohavehadinputonthisproject.Firstofall,mywifeSimoneMüller-Moore,whohasspokenmostoftenintothisprojectwithgraceandfairness.Shesoughttomakemytoneandworkmorereadable.IwouldalsoliketothankmycolleaguesatTeachBeyondwhohavealsogivenmemuchwisdomintohowthisworkcouldbeacceptedintoGermany.BenjaminRudolph,BjörnWagner,andCurtisCoston.Thanksverymuchforyourthoughts.ImustalsothankmyparentsRayandGailMoorewhohaveencouragedthisworkasanecessarycontributiontotheevangelicallandscape.ThanksalsotomysisterDorothyMoore,whogavemanyeditsandcontributions.IalsowanttothankCreeksideCommunityChurchourChurchfamily.ThankstoJohnBrucepastor,andparticularlyJeffBrucewhogavehelpfulcontributionsinregardstoChristologicalelementswithinthispaper.AndfinallythispaperiswrittentothegloryofChrist.HehasgivenmeinsightandledmetowritethispapertowarnHisChurchaboutaspiritoferror.1.1Introduction

Godforbidyouwereonedaydiagnosedwithcancer.Yourdoctorwouldquicklymakeatreatmentplanfordealingwiththisdeadlydisease.Youmostlikelywouldnotsaytoyourdoctor,“Idon’twanttofollowyourtreatmentplan.IthinkIwillseehowthingsdevelop,andseeifitgoesawayorjustgetsbetter.”Leftuntreated,thatcancerwillspreadthroughoutyourwholebodyandeventuallykillyou.Youhavetoseparatethecancerfromyourbody,oryourbodydies.Youcannotlivewithitandseehowthingsdevelop,orseeifthiscancermightjustgoaway,getbetter,orbehelpfultoyouinsomeotherway.Youwouldneverthinkabouttryingtotakepositivethingsfromyourcancer.Youwoulddoeverythinginyourpowertogetridofit,anddoctorswillhelpyougetridofittothebestoftheirabilities.

Likewise,Godforbidthroughaninjuryorillnessyouhavegangreneinafootorhandoroneofyourlimbs.Gangreneisaconditionthatoccurswhenbodytissuedies.Itiscausedbyalossofbloodsupplyduetosomeunderlyingillness,injury,orinfection.Fingers,toes,andlimbsaremostoftenaffected.Gangrenecannotbeallowedtogrowfurtherinabodyandmustbeaddressedimmediately,orthegangrenewillspreadthroughoutthewholebodyandeventuallythebodywilldie.Gangreneistreatedwhenyouremovetheaffectedtissue.Usuallypeopleloselimbsifafootorlegisaffected.Itisaterriblyhorriblething,butabsolutelynecessarytokeepapersonalive.Nooneaffectedbygangrenewouldsay,“Welllet’sseeifitgoesawayonitsown;let’sseeifitgetsbetter,orifthereisanythinggoodthatIcangleanfromthisgangrenousinfection.”Ifyouallowthegangrenousconditiontocontinue,youwouldsoondie.Theinfectionwouldsooninvadeyourwholebloodstreamandpoisonyoufromtheinsideoutwithitsdeadeningtoxins.

PaulwritestoTimothyin2Timothy2:16-19aboutfalseteachingandhowitworks.Hewrites,

“But avoid irreverent babble, for itwill lead people intomoreandmoreungodliness,andtheirtalkwillspreadlikegangrene.Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swervedfrom the truth, saying that the resurrection has already

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happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’sfoundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows thosewho are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of theLorddepartfrominiquity.”(Emphasismine)1

PaulusestheGreekwordγάγγραινα(pronouncedgang'-grahee-nah),whichisfromtherootwordγραίνω,whichmeans,“tognaw.”ThewordPauluses,γάγγραινα,canmeanulcer,"gangrene,”canker,aneatingsoreorcancer.2ThiswordisonlyusedonceintheNewTestamentinthiscase,whichmakesitthatmuchmorecrucialbyPaulchoosingamedicaltermlikethis,towhichwewouldinamedicalsenserespondaccordingly.ThecontextinwhichPauldiscussestheneedtocareforfalseteachingisinhiscareforTimothy’sowntheological“workmanship.”SoPaulpreviouslytellsTimothytowatchoutforhisteachingandministryandthengiveshimaprimeexampleofhowhecanpracticethatworkmanshipbyavoiding“irreverentbabble.”Hegoesontodescribethepoortheologicalworkmanshipoftwopeopleandnamestwonames.HymenaeusandPhiletusaretheculprits.PeterWilliamsinhisbookOpeningUp2Timothydescribesthesetwomen:

Here were two heretics who had forfeited God’s approvalbecausetheywereengagedinempty‘godlesschatter’,andhadundermined the truth of God’s Word. Like some gangrenousdisease, their false teaching was spreading like a poison,corruptingandinfectingthemindsandheartsofthepeople intheirunderstandingofthewholesomegospel.(Emphasismine)3

Furthermore,weseethatthisulcer,"gangrene,”canker,eatingsore,or

cancerhadspread,wasspreading,and“destroyingthefaithofsome.”ThatwaswhyPauladdressedTimothyandpleadedwithhimto“shunprofaneandvainbabblings.”MatthewHenrycommentsonhowthespreadofthesebabblingstranspired:

“Whenerrorsorheresiescomeintothechurch,theinfectingofone oftenproves the infecting ofmany, or the infecting of thesame personwith one error often proves the infecting of himwithmanyerrors.”4

Theonlysolutionforthesegangrenousheresies,accordingtoPaul,wasashunningoravoiding.Wewoulddothesametorealcancerous,gangrenousdiseases,namelyamputationandremoval.Pauldescribestheamputationandremovalin1Timothy1:20ofHymenaeuswhomhe“deliveredovertoSatan.”Wecouldunderstandthis

12Timothy2:16-192Thomas,RobertL.NewAmericanStandardExhaustiveConcordanceoftheBible:IncludingHebrew-AramaicandGreekDictionaries.Print.3Williams,Peter.Openingup2Timothy.Leominster:DayOnePublications,2007.Print.OpeningUpCommentary.(Page58).4Henry,Matthew.MatthewHenry’sCommentaryontheWholeBible:CompleteandUnabridgedinOneVolume.Peabody:Hendrickson,1994.Print.(Page2362).

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“handingovertoSatan”astheshunning,amputation,andremovalofthepoisonousheresiesthatPaulreferstoin2Timothy2.

Theteaching,theology,andpracticeoftheWordofFaithMovement,ThirdWaveMovement,andtheNewApostolicReformationisalsogangrenous,cancerous,andpoisonous.Itmay,likeHymenaeusandPhiletusaffectmuchoronlyalittlepartofthebodyofChrist.Aswithcancerandgangrene,wewouldnotallowthosedeadlypartsofourbodytoexistunopposed,unchallenged,anduntreated.Wewouldbeallowingourbodiestosoondie,andinregardtotheChurchwemightruinourfaithorthefaithofthosewhoweministerto,ifweallowedthe“irreverentbabble”toliearound,andspreadinourchurches.Letus,likeasurgeon,removethedeadlyinfectiousteachingoftheProsperityGospel(WordofFaithMovement),ThirdWaveMovement,andtheNewApostolicReformationfromourChurches.InthispaperIwillseektolayoutthedangerousteaching,theology,andpracticeofthesemovements,anditsleaders,soastoexposethedangerouspoisonofthethreeintertwinedmovements.AstheScripturessayweshouldexposefalseteachers,andnevertakeinthepoisonthattheyteach.5Jesusalsoinstructedusto“bewareoffalseprophets,whocometoyouinsheep’sclothingbutinwardlyareravenouswolves.”6Thatiswhyitisimportanttoexposethesefalseteachings,becausetheyareoftenpresentedaswonderfulnewmovesofGod.However,theyarepoisonoustheologically.Theyarenotpresentedbysheep,butbyravenouswolvesoutfortheirowngain.

IlivedintheSanFranciscoBayAreaforalmost9years.DuringthattimeIwasayouthpastorforaChurchintheOaklandArea.Throughoutmytimethere,IwasintroducedtotheWordofFaithorThirdWaveMovement,alsoknownastheNewApostolicReformation.IhadknownfrommytimeinBibleCollegetheveryunbiblicalandoftentimeshereticalteachingsoftheWordofFaithMovement.WestudiedthelikesofRobertTilton,FredPrice,KennethCopeland,KennethHagin,BennyHinnandPaulCrouch.Wewereabletostudyfromatheologicalperspectivewhythesemenwerefalseteachersandhowtheirteachinghasformanyyearsbeengangrenouscancergrowinginsideofcontemporaryevangelicalism.Wewereabletostudy,fromtheirownwords,whytheytaughthereticaldoctrines.InmytimeinCalifornia,though,Iwasreintroducedtowhatisnowbeingcalledthe“ThirdWaveMovement”orthe“NewApostolicReformation.”Iwasabletoseehowthesemovementswereadevelopmentofthatdeeplyflawedteaching.

DuringourtimeinCalifornia,mywifesharedhertestimonyinawomen’sBiblestudyabouthowourdaughter,bornwithDownsyndromeandlaterdevelopedaseizuredisorder,wasdoing.Inthattestimonyshesaid,“WehaveprayedandprayedforGodtohealAna,andnowwearenotprayingthatanymore,butratherweareaskingforGod’sgrace.”AfterhertestimonyawomanapproachedherandgaveheraCDofsometeachingbyBillJohnsonfromBethelChurchinRedding,California.Thesermonwentsomethinglikethis:“Godisgood;cancerisbad;Satanisbad;thusSatanisthesourceofcancer.”Icannotquoteitverbatimanymore,andIcannotfindtheparticularsermonontheirsermonarchives,butasIrememberitthatiswhathesaid.HeequatedcancerwithaworkoftheDevilandneveraworkoforallowedby

5Romans16:17-18;2Peter2:1-36Matthew7:15

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God.7ThiswouldbenosurpriseifyouhaveanyknowledgeoftheWordofFaithMovement.BillJohnsonwasquotedinaninterviewassaying,

"You can only give away what you have. Can God give awaysickness? No, He's not sick. You can't give cancer if you don'thaveit."8

Johnsonalsotaughtinthatsameinterview,

"No.Two thousand yearsago Jesusmadeapurchase.Hedoesnotdecidenottohealpeopletoday.Thedecisiontwothousandyearsagowastoheal.Eitherthepaymentwassufficientforallsinornosin.Eitherthepaymentwassufficient forallsicknessorno sickness. . . ThebrushstrokeofGod's redemptionwas towipe out the root of sin, the root of illness and the root ofpoverty."9

Thiswasnotverysurprisingforme,butitdidbringbackintomypurviewhowwidespreadtheWordofFaithMovementhadbecome.Itremindedmethatitwasthere,anditpiquedmyinterestintowhattheWordofFaithwasmorphinginto:amoresinister,disturbinganddangerousnewbreedofheresy.ButasIresearchedthisnewmovement,Icouldnotbelievehowdeeptherabbitholewent.Ifweunderstoodthescopeofhowsinhasaffectedtheworldasseeninthedoctrineoftotaldepravity,thenwemightunderstandwheresicknessanddeathcomefrom.ItcomesfromAdam;inAdamallmensinned,anddeathcamethroughsin.10ThefaithfulChristiandoctrinethroughtheageshasbeenthatdeath,diseaseandsinarearesultofthefall,andwillnotbefullyrestoreduntilJesusreturnstomakeallthingsfullynew.AsMillardJ.EricksonexplainsinhisseminalworkChristianTheology,

Weshouldnotethattherewereotherchangesasaresultofsin.In Edenman had a body, which could become diseased; afterthe fall there were diseases for him to contract. The curse,involving the coming of death to mankind, also included awholehostofills,whichwouldleadtodeath.Paultellsusthatsomeday this setof conditionswill be removed,and thewholecreation delivered from this “bondage to decay” (Rom. 8:18-23).11

7https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SehJOzfj0Rg&ebc=ANyPxKr3i-EyeayH8AOLY-HVjmmTI6bYIa2D16IViXkrszQ6MSwgv8bpoytIgu2IZZEnJ5eimfQ8uYSF-Ug1gbGDnAMpfk5q6A(AccessedApril2016).8http://www.donotbesurprised.com/2013/08/bill-johnson-god-does-not-cause-illness.html(accessedApril2016).9Ibid101Corinthians15:21-23;Romans5:1211Erickson,Millard,J.ChristianTheology.GrandRapids,MI:BakerBookHouse,1984.Print.VolumeII.(Page613).

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AsEricksonclearlyexplains,weareundera“bondagetodecay”thatwearecurrentlystillunderuntilthatdaywhenChristwilldeliverusandthewholeofcreationwillbesetfreefromthosebondagestodeath,diseaseanddecay.AsChristianswewaitwithgreatanticipation.

WhileIwasayouthpastorinCalifornia,wehadsomanypeoplecometousfromBethelinRedding,CAwhowereeithertotallyconvincedofthevalidityofthe“signsandwonders”thattookplacethere,orontheotherhandthatweretotallyburnedandneedingrecoveryfromafalseteaching,cult-likeatmosphere.ThisalsoaffecteduspersonallyaswereceivedateachingCDfromBillJohnson.Itwasmeantasanencouragement,butratherwasreceivedasdeeplydiscouragingbecauseourdaughterwasnothealed.WeoftenhadpeoplecomingfromBethelwhoaskedusinthoseyearsifwehadfaiththatGodwouldhealherDownsyndrome.Fromthisteaching,wecouldhaveconcludedthatwedidnothaveenoughfaith,and/orthattheillnessthatwasravagingourdaughter’sbodywasfromSatanhimself.TherewasnosuchideathatGodwasincontroloftheseheinousepilepticepisodes.ItseemedthatonlyguiltandshamewasbeingdeliveredbyBethelbecausewecouldnotmusterupenoughfaithforhertobehealedoftheseizures,orforthatmatterherDownsyndromeaswell.

1.2BackgroundforWriting

IwritetodaybecauseitseemsthatthetentaclesofthisfalseGospelhavemadetheirwayaroundtheglobe.WemovedtoGermanyalmosttwoyearsagoandhavefoundtheBethelinfluenceisfarandwideacrossGermany.Forinstance,recentlyIwaspreachingsomewhere,andafterwardayoungmancameuptomeandsaidhewouldliketoprayformydaughterthatherDownsyndromewould“goaway,”andthatJesushadpaidthepriceforherhealthonthecross.Iwasabletopatientlyguidethisguyintoarightteachingoftheatonement,andalsolethimknowthatitwasnotasicknessanddidnotneedtobehealed.Godwouldnotjusthavetohealher;hewouldhavetochangehercellularstructure,everysingleone.Downsyndromepeoplearebornwiththreechromosomesonthetwenty-firststrandofeverysinglecell.Mostrecently,tootherewasaneventinNürenburg,Germanycalledthe“AwakeningEurope.”12ThespeakerswereToddWhite13,BenFitzgerald(BethelChurch)14,andHeidiBaker15.ThiseventisputonbyGodFirstMinistries,andisalsoendorsedbyBillJohnson,pastorofBethelChurch.IknowmanypeoplewhoattendedtheeventinNürenburg,andalsomanywhoplanonattendingthecomingStadion-eventinFreiburg.IhavealsoseenmanymoreplacesandchurchesusingBillJohnsonsermonsandmaterialsfromBethelinRedding.IrealizethesemovementsarepowerfulandnothingImightwritemaychangewhatishappening,butifIcanchangeoneperson’smindorswaysomeoneawayfrominvolvementinthesedangerouseventsandteachingsIwillhaveachievedmygoalthen.Iwanttoexplainmybackgroundintheologyandapproachtoscripture.I

12http://www.awakeningeurope.com/event(AccessedApril,2006).13http://www.lifestylechristianity.com/(AccessedApril2016).14http://www.awakeningeurope.com/speakers-en/ben-fitzgerald(AccessedApril2016).15http://irismin.org/andhttp://www.awakeningeurope.com/speakers-en/heidi-baker(AccessedApril2016).

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believeinFullInerrancyasdescribedinstatementssuchatthe1978ChicagoStatementonInerrancy.MillardEricksongivesasimpledefinitionofFullInerrancy:

The Bible, when correctly interpreted in light of the level towhichcultureandthemeansofcommunicationhaddevelopedatthetimeitwaswritten,andinviewofthepurposesforwhichitwasgiven,isfullytruthfulinallthatitaffirms.16

Tothatwecanadd2Timothy3:16-17,whichgivesusagoodbasisfortounderstandingapplyingthescriptures,“AllScriptureisbreathedoutbyGodandprofitableforteaching,forreproof,forcorrection,andfortraininginrighteousness,thatthemanofGodmaybecomplete,equippedforeverygoodwork.”17Forthesakeoftheologicalclarity,IhavebeenveryinfluencedbyCalvinisminmySoteriology,LutherinmyChristology,theearlychurchfathersandApostlesinmyEcclesiology,andthegreaterreformedmovementinmylargerTheologyProper.IhavealsobeenveryinfluencedbytheKeswickideasofsanctificationandthevictoriousChristianlifebutalsofindsomeweaknesseswithinit.IalsoholdtoalltheChurchCreedsfromantiquity.Thesetheologicalsystemsare,however,manmadeandinmanywayslimitedtheologicalsystemsthathavetriedtosystematizeandmakesenseofthewordofGodforus.Theyhaveinmanywayssucceededbecausethesemenwerebrilliant,andsomehowhadaGodgivenaptitudeforcreatingthesetheologicalsystems.Theseparticularviewshaveinfluencedme.Toreadfurthermyspecificbeliefsyoucouldrefertomyarticletitled"HereIStandICanDoNoOther,SoHelpMeGod!"18Thispaperwillreflectonteaching,theology,andpracticeoftheWordofFaith,ThirdWaveMovement,andNewApostolicReformationmostlyfromascripturalpointofviewandIwilldothatbyaddressinghistoricallycondemnedheresies.

IalsowanttobeclearthatIbelieveinthesupernatural.IbelieveinthedeepandmysteriousworkoftheHolySpirit.Ibelievethatsigngiftscanandareabletobeexercisedtoday.Iamnotacompletecessationist,whosaysthatthesigngiftsceasedwiththetwelveApostlesandthefinalizationoftheScripturalCanon.Iamalsoneitherafullnon-cessationistwhobelievesthatallsigngiftsaretobepracticedfullyastheywereinalltheirfullnessinthebookofActs,etc.Ifindmyselfsomewherefullyinbetweenthecenterofbiblicaltension.Inthattension,Idobelievethatthesegiftsshouldbepracticed,inaccordancewiththeepistlesandhowtheNewTestamentclearlylaysouthowthesegiftsoughttobepracticed.Thereisclearprecedenceonhowtheyoughttobepracticedinanorderlyway,neverinchaos,confusionordisarray.IbelievethatpeoplearehealedbythepowerofJesus,andGodcanusethesesupernaturalactstobuildabridgeovera“gospelthreshold”(usuallyinrelationtocrossingculturallines).Iknowmanypeoplewhohaveobviouslybeenhealedand/ordeliveredfromcripplingillnessesandoppression.

16Erickson,Millard,J.ChristianTheology.GrandRapids,MI:BakerBookHouse,1984.Print.Volume1,(Page233-234).172Timothy3:16-1718http://richardpmoore.blogspot.de/2015/12/here-i-stand-i-can-do-no-other-so-help.html(accessedApril2016)

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Ihavepersonallyonmanyoccasions,inthepowerfulnameofJesus,beenfreedfromspiritualoppressionandseenhisworkandpoweroveroppressioninmyyearsofministry,andIhaveseenitinothers.Thestoryofourdaughterwasthatofhealing,butitwasnotimmediate.Weprayedoften,andasIsaidearlierwebegantoprayforgrace,andGodgaveit,andnowwecansayshehasbeenseizurefreeformanyyears,butshestillhasDownsyndromeandwillfortherestofherlife.ThisiswhereItrytostandwithbrothersandsistersonbothsidesofthe“signgifts”campaswellasIknowhow,allthewhileseekingBiblicalintegrity.However,theWordofFaith,ThirdWaveMovement,andtheNewApostolicReformationIbelievearenotinthetheologicallyOrthodoxChristiancamp.IwillgoforwardinthispaperseekingtobeconsistentwithhistoricalBiblicallyacceptedtheologicalassertions.1.3OrthodoxorNot?

FortherestofthepaperIwilltakedeeperlookatBethelandthewiderProsperityGospelsoastoswayyouropinionofthem,aswhollyunchristian,apostate19,andheretical.TheThirdWaveMovement(TWM)andTheNewApostolicReformation(NAR)inmyopinion,whichisenlightenedbyresearch,donotholdtohistoricallyorthodoxtheologies.IwillattemptintherestofthispapertoexplainwhichhistoricalheresiesthatBethel,BillJohnson,hisleadership,andthegreaterThirdWaveMovementteach.Furthermore,Iwillalsoshowthelinkagestooccultpracticesthatthismovementengagesin.FirstIwouldliketodefineProsperityTheology.ProsperityTheologyisthebeliefthatfinancialblessingisthewillofGodforallChristians,andthatfaith,positivespeech,anddonationstoChristianministrieswillincreaseone'smaterialwealth.Thisviewisbasedonnon-traditionalinterpretationsoftheBible.ItviewstheBibleasacontractbetweenGodandhumans:ifhumanshavefaithinGod,hewilldeliverhispromisesofsecurityandprosperity.1.4HistoricalHeresies

Iwillbeginbyexplainingallthehistoricalheresiesthatthesemovementsarelinkedto.Thetermheresyisthrownaroundwithsomedegreeofeaseinourdayandage.So,Iwouldliketodefinetermsthatwillbeused,soastobringclaritytothesubject.

“The term “heresy” refers to a false doctrine, i.e. one that issimplynottrue,andthatis,inaddition,soimportantthatthosewho believe it, whom the church calls heretics, must beconsideredtohaveabandonedthefaith.”20

Thispaperwillgoforwardwiththisterminmind.IwillrefertothosefalseteacherswhoIbelievehaveleftthefaithinregardtotheirdocumentedteachingsandquotations.Iwillgiveabreakdownofhistoricalheresies.ItisnotmyintentinthispapertolookatthepositiveaspectsoftheWordofFaith,ThirdWaveMovement,andNewApostolicReformation.Thereverywellcouldbesome19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy(AccessedApril2016).20Brown,HaroldO.J.Heresies:TheImageofChristintheMirrorofHeresyandOrthodoxyfromtheApostlestothePresent.GardenCity,NY:Doubleday,1984.Print.(Page1).

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positives,likepassionforJesus,passionateworship,excitementinministryandvibrantchurchlife,whichisappreciatedandthegreaterchurchcouldcertainlylearnfrom.However,mypurposesaretopointoutthepoortheologyfoundintheteachingoftheseleaderssoastowarnpeoplenottoparticipate.Insodoing,myhopeisthatmanymorewillnotbepoisonedwithfalseteachingandprofoundlyinadequateandhereticaltheology.Thepositivesthatexistinthesecongregations,andthemovementasawhole,canbefoundorpracticedinothercongregations.Inotherwordstakethosepositiveaspectssuchaspassion,andpracticeitelsewhere.FromhereonIwillrefertoWordofFaithasWOF,ThirdWaveMovementasTWM,andtheNewApostolicReformationasNAR.

1.5Gnosticism

Gnosticism was an early Christian movement that was a blend of self-worshipandphilosophy.Itwastheovervaluingofknowledgewithrespecttofaith.

"The Gnostic position asserts that over and above the simpleGospel, which is all that the ordinary spirits can understand,there is a secret, higher knowledge reserved for an elite. It isnatural enough for people to ask more questions than theGospel answers; the gnostic movement attempted to give theanswers,anditdidsobydrawingonreligioussourcesalientoChristianity and amalgamating them with elements of theGospelfaith.”21

TheelementsofGnosticismcreepupinmanyplaceswithinthemodern

Church,butnonemoreprevalentthanintheThirdWaveMovement(TWM),WordofFaith(WOF),and/orNewApostolicReformation(NAR).TheelementsofGnosticismareespeciallystrongatBethelChurchinRedding.InaprettythoroughnewspaperarticlefromRedding,California,thewriterdocumentedthepracticeofgolddust(aglorycloudfilledwithgolddustandGod’spresence)appearingintheirmeetings,AngelFeathers(FallingfromheavenonBillJohnsonandinmeetings),anddiamondsappearingonpeople(duringintenseworshipthroneroomsessions).22Thesepracticesarewhollyunbiblical,andnevermentionedinscripturebutrathermirrorsomesortofNewAge,EasternMysticism,orwhatIwouldliketocall“Neo-Gnosticism”(NewGnosticism).WhatmakesthissodevastatingisthattheyhavesyncretizedorcombinedPaganpracticeswithChristianity.Christendomhasstruggledwiththisandcontinuestoneedtoriditselfof“insidersecrets”thatGnosticismpurports.ThesesyncretisticstreamsofGnosticismwereoriginallycondemnedasheresyandarecreepingbackintomainstreamChristendominthesenewmovements.Bethelandothershavetakenupthepracticeofsyncretizing,itselfwithPagan,occult,andotherbizarrepractices.Insodoingtheyhavecreateda“Neo-GnosticismandtheyapostatethemselvesastheGnosticpredecessorshavedone.

SomeoftheotherNeo-Gnosticpracticesarewhattheylabel“signsandwonders”suchasthe‘glorycloud’and‘golddust,’angelfeathersfalling,gems21Ibid,3922http://www.redding.com/news/bethels-signs-and-wonders-include-angel-feathers-gold-dust-and-diamonds-ep-377152155-353401081.html(AccessedApril2016).

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appearing,conjuringangelorbs,firetunnels(inwhichtheyemployKundalinimethods)23,spirittravel,out-of-bodyexperiences,and‘healings.’Theyalsopracticeprophecy,portaltravel(Wherepeoplecantravelthroughportalstootherplacesphysically,sotheyclaim,whichisobviouslyaNewAge/Occultpractice),extra-biblicalrevelation,raisingthedead,charismaticprayingintongues(IdonotcondemntonguesifdoneinorderastheBibleexplainsin1Corinthians14:26-40),soaking,newwinemovement,drunkenglory,visualization,laughter(TorontoBlessing),animalsoundswhilefilledwiththeSpirit.Otherpracticesarecontemplativeormeditative(wheretheyteachtoemptythemindorrepeatonewordfromtheBible,whichisnothistoricalChristianmeditativepracticewherewefillourmindswithscripture),practicessuchaschanting,andsoakingetc.,whicharetaughtintheirschool’sSOZOclass.BillJohnson’swifeBeniusestuningforksasapropheticact,andalsobelievessheiscalledtothe‘propheticactofwakingupangels.’Shesaysoneofherfriends,“‘getsprettywacked’whentheangelsarearound.”24

BillJohnsoninaYouTubeclipalsorecountedastorywherepeoplefromhischurchattendedapsychicfairinNorthernCalifornia.Heclaimedawomanfromhischurchpaintedaportraitofthreepeople.She“pressedintotoit”ashesaidandaskedtheLordforthenamesofthepeopleshehadpainted.Sheplacedthenamesofthepeopleontothebackofthepainting.Shethenhungthemupintheir“propheticbooth.”Peoplewouldcomeintotheboothandseethemselvespaintedonthepaintingsandthenthewomanwhopaintedthepaintingswouldprophesyoverthem.25Thisisatbestverynaïveandatworstworkingincohortwithpsychicandoccultpractices.Icouldunderstandgoingtoaplacelikethisandministeringthegospel,orprayingwithpeople,buttoengagein“prophetic”activitythatcouldeasilybeunderstoodaspsychicorseeractivityisverydangerousandtooneartothepracticesofthoseatthepsychicfair.InJohnson’sstorytherewasactuallynorealpropheticvaluetowhathappened,justthatthiswomancouldseethepeopleandpaintapictureofthembeforesheknewthem,whichsoundsverypsychicinnature.

BillandBeniJohnsonhavealsoappearedseveraltimesonSidRoth’sextremelycontroversialTVshowcalled“It’sSupernatural”whereRothhasdealtwithtopicssuchasangelworship/visitation,portaltravel,heaventourism(eavesdroppingonconversationsbetweenJesusandtheFatherGod),theBibleCodecontroversy,teleportation,“downloadingthemysteriesofmoney,”Seeingtheinvisiblespiritworld,language/worshipofheaven,dreaminterpretation,andbloodmoonprophecy.26AgainattheveryleastthisisalackofdiscernmentonthepartofBillJohnson,butmorelikelyheandhiswifeBeniareinleaguewithRothandhisagendaofaccessingthesupernaturalrealmatanycostwhetheritisbiblicalornot.1.6GnosticSyncretismborderingontheOccult

23https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini(AccessedApril2016).24https://shepherdguardian.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/heresy-alert-bill-johnson-jesus-culture-and-bethel-church/(AccessedApril2016).25https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdYEzolSHG4&index=4&list=PLCZFj_Ex2zmrGIi8ndK8tpvuNLqP7Iwwm(accessedApril2016).26http://sidroth.org/television/tv-archives(AccessedJune2016)

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ItisclearalsofromseveraldocumentariesandBethel’sownYouTubechannelhowtheirsyncretismandoccultpracticeswork.27ByBillJohnson’sownadmission,theyhaveexperiencedandpracticefiretunnels,golddust,andhaveseenAngelFeathersfalling,whichheclaimshavefallenonhimandintheirmeetingsformanyyears.Inthiscliphehimselfexplainswhatishappening,andheinvitesmoreofthesemanifestations.28JohnsonclaimsthatGodis“intensifying”themanifestations.Similarly,manyoftheearlyGnosticmovementsputahighpremiumontheexperienceofGodattheexpenseofsolidBiblicalteachingororthodoxdoctrine.SoalsoBethelandJohnsonplaceahighvalueontheexperienceattheexpenseoforthodoxy.SyncretismisthemixingandmatchingofmanyothermysticalpracticeswiththatofChristianity.ThesearejustafewofthepracticesthatBethelandtheNARemploy.LetushavealooknowattheteachingthatalsofallsunderhereticalGnosticism.

BillJohnsonhassaidinhisownwordsthatthereisaspecialtypeofspirituality:asortofinsiderintimacy,

“Jesus stood before His disciples, before Nicodemus in Johnchapter 3, and Hemade this statement, He said, "No one hasASCENDEDintoheavenexceptHethatdescended"[John3:13].NowthisisbeforeHisdeath,beforeHisResurrection;soHewasdescribing here a lifestyle of intimacy with the Father whereeven though Hewas standing on earth He had ascended intoheavenlyrealms inHis relationshipwithGod.Thepointbeing,thatisaninvitationforeverybeliever…”29

Johnson’sNeo-Gnosticismgoesseveralstepsdeeperwherehedescribesa

specialspiritualitybestowedonthefaithful,orashesaysthe“obeyingtherulesofthiskingdom.”

“Here’swhatI’mbelievingfor–Iknowit’sneverhappened;butI know that it must before the end There must be, not justindividuals–I’mthankfulwehaveindividualsthatarerisingupwithsuchanointing,suchstrength,wehavepeoplescatteredallovertheplanetrightnowthatarejustmakingamessofthingsin all the right ways. We are so encouraged. But, what I’mbelievingforisageneration–agenerationthat’llriseupwithacorporate faith, a corporate anointing to press into realmsbecauseit’smyconvictionthatasmuchasGodputonaWilliamBranham,oraKathrynKuhlman,oraWigglesworth,He’llputfar greater anointing on a company of people than He everwould on an individual. To do that, there must be thatcorporate sense of, ‘we have to dealwith the issue of obeyingthe rules of this kingdom to tap into the resources of this

27https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvJMPccZR2Y(AccessedApril2016).28https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcPkOR4Lwj0(AccessedApril,2016).29http://podcasts.ibethel.org/en/podcasts/thinking-from-the-throne(AccessedApril2016).

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kingdom’…wecannotusetheprinciplesofthisworldandexpecttotapintounlimitedresourceofthekingdomofGod…30

InthisviewthereisaspecialwaytoaccesstheunlimitedresourcesofthekingdomofGodasGnosticismhastaughtsinceitsinception.ThedangerhereistheBiblemakesitclearthatanyonecanaccessGodthroughJesusChristouronetruemediator,notspecialanointingorcorporateobediencetotherulesofHisKingdom.AndinChristwealreadyhaveeverythingweneedbecause“HisDivinepowerhasgivenuseverythingweneedforlivingagodlylife(2Peter1:3).”311.7JealousGnosticism:InsideSecretsoftheKingdom

BillJohnsonfurtherteachesthatwedefinethemeasureofthepresenceoftheLordwehaveaccessto.Onhisownbloghewrites,

“AswebecomefaithfultohostthepresenceoftheLord,wefinda tensionbetweentworealities—thatHehasbeengiven touswithout measure but that we set the limits of that measure.Though all of themeasurements are set up on our end of theequation, we can experience the measure of presence we arewilling to jealously guard.Whatever youwill jealously guard,that is the measure you will have on a consistent basis. Allmeasurements in theKingdom exist for us to pursue increase.ThewholeKingdomisbasedonthisprinciple:thefaithfuluseofwhatyouhavebeengiveniswhatqualifiesyouformore.32

ThisjealousguardingofGod’spresenceisthesecretformulatoreceiving

moreofit.IsthisBiblicalinanyform?Absolutelynot!Godisincontrolofhisglory,presenceandrevelation,notanyman.AsColossians3:3-4says,“Foryouhavedied,andyourlifeishiddenwithChristinGod.WhenChristwhoisyourlifeappears,thenyoualsowillappearwithhiminglory.”JesusistheexactimageofthegloryofGodandwhenyouhaveJesus,youhavealltheaccesstothemanifoldgloryofGodthatyouneed.Thereisnosecretformulaforprotectingtheglory.Goddoesnotneedusforprotectingorjealouslyguardinghisgloryeither,butratherHeallowsusaccesstoGodthroughJesusChrist,andonlythroughJesusChristisHisgloryrevealed.

Johnsonalsoteachessomethinghecallsa“corporatethroneroomexperience”whichhesaysisnecessarytoexperiencemoreofJesusthaneverbefore.

“The churchwill receive a fresh revelation of Jesus, especiallythoughthebookofRevelation.Thatrevelationwill launch thechurch into a transformation unlike any experienced in apreviousage.AsweseeHim,webecomelikeHim!Thecoming

30https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHcRI60j0HI(AccessedApril,2016).311John2:1;Hebrews12:24;9:15,24-28;5:1-10;4:14-16;Ephesians2:13;1Timothy2:5;32http://bjm.org/hosting-his-presence/(AccessedApril2016).

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increaseinrevelationofJesuswillbemeasurablethroughnewdimensionsofworship-corporatethroneroomexperiences.”33

ThesecorporatethroneroomexperiencesareindirectcontradictiontoHebrews4:14-16.TherewereadthateverybelieverthroughJesusChristhasdirectaccesstoHisthroneroomandthatitisathroneofgraceandmercy.

“Sincethenwehaveagreathighpriestwhohaspassedthroughthe heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to ourconfession. Forwedonot havea highpriestwho is unable tosympathizewithourweaknesses,butonewhoineveryrespecthasbeen temptedasweare, yetwithout sin. Letus thenwithconfidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we mayreceivemercyandfindgracetohelpintimeofneed.”34

1.8GnosticismRunAmok

Thebizarrepracticesseemtonotend,butrathergofurtheranddeeper.Thesestrangepracticesseemtobeunhindered,orattheveryleastnotreignedinbytheseleaders.ThesestrangeNeo-Gnosticpracticesseemtoratherbeencouraged.People’semotionsinthesemovementsareratherwhippedupintofrenzy.Thingshavesomehow“runamok”intheWOF,TWM,andNARmovement.AmongthesemanypeculiarGnosticteachingsofthe“insidesecretsofthekingdom,”Johnsonalsopractices,withhispastoralstaffandassociates,somethingcalled“gravesucking”(orgrabbing).YouthApologeticstrainingwebsitedescribesitas;“thebeliefandpracticeofpullingthesupposedHolySpiritpowersfromthedeadbonesofapreviouslyempoweredbeliever.”35AndtheaforementionedevangelistBenFitzgerald,whoisapastorandassociateofBillJohnsonandBethel,andwhoisalsoputtingonthecomingStadion-eventinFreiburgGermany,36isseenheretravelingtothegravesofformerrevivalistsandseekingtogettheHolySpiritanointingfromtheirgraves.37IfthisweretheonlybizarrethingthatthesefollowersofJohnsonpracticed,itwouldbeenough.Thissingleoccurrencewouldbeenoughtolabelhimafalseteacher.Thereisnoevidenceofcontritionorrenunciationofthesepractices,butratherdeeperandfurtherpracticebyJohnsonandhiswife.38

CallingupthespiritsofthedeadisclearlycondemnedintheBible.Itiscallednecromancy.Itistheconjuringofthespiritsofthedeadforpurposesofmagicallyrevealingthefuture,influencingthecourseofevents,orbringingbenefitstotheconjurers.Leviticus19:26;31,Leviticus20:6,Deuteronomy18:10,Galatians5:19-20,Acts19:19,1John4:1andmanymoreplacesinthescripturedisallowandstronglycondemnthispractice.EventhefamousactofnecromancythatKingSaulpracticedin1Samuel28whereSaulcalledSamuel’sspiritafterhisdeathis

33http://bjm.org/content/23/the-coming-glorius-church--unity-of-the-faith.html(accessedApril23,2010nolongerpublishedonhisblog).34Hebrews4:14-1635http://youthapologeticstraining.com/grave-sucking/(AccessedApril,2016).36http://www.stadion-freiburg.com/#!programm/cn9a(AccessedApril,2016).37https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrHPTs8cLls(AccessedApril2016).38https://twitter.com/prayfor5/status/394901670402228224(AccessedJune,2016)

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condemnedbySamuelwhenheiscalledbackfromthedead.AfterthewitchofEndorcallsbackSamuelfromthedead,hepronouncesjudgmentonSaulfordisobeyingtheLordbyseekingamedium.AllthroughoutscriptureweseethatGodhascondemnedthispracticeasanabomination.WhydoesGodhatethispractice?GoddisallowsthisbecausewewillputmorevalueonthewordofthespiritsthanthewordofGod.Jesusisenough,andHiswordisenough.ForthisreasonBenFitzgerald,anassociateofBillJohnsonandapastoratBethelinRedding,isunequivocallyafalseteacher.IfyouhavethoughtaboutbeinginvolvedintheStadion-eventinFreiburg,Germanypleasereconsider.Youmightbeunintentionallyaffectedbypracticesandtheologythatarewhollyunbiblical.1.9ChristologicalHeresies:Adoptionism

MovingonfromtheGnosticheresiestotheratherimportantonesregardingthedivinityofChrist,thefirstChristologicalheresythatIwilladdressisAdoptionism.Adoptionismwasaviewthat“Jesuswasbornasamere(non-divine)man,wassupremelyvirtuousandthathewasadoptedlateras"SonofGod"bythedescentoftheSpiritonhim.”39ItisalsoknownasDynamicMonarchism.40BillJohnsonandmanyotherWOF,NAR,andTWMTeachersbelieveandteachthisview.BillJohnsonhimselfsaid,“HewasbornthroughMarythefirsttimeandthroughtheResurrectionthesecondtime.Hewas‘bornagain.’”41Inasermonin2009heisquotedassaying,“DidyouknowthatJesuswasbornagain?Iasked…thefirstserviceandtheysaid,‘No.’ButIwillshowit.It’sintheBible.Hehadtobe.Hebecamesin.”42Hehasalsowritteninhisinfluentialbook,WhenHeavenInvadesEarth,“Jesuslaidasidehisdivinity...theanointingJesusreceivedathisbaptismwastheequipmentnecessarytomakeitpossibleforJesustolivebeyondhumanlimitations.”43Earlierinthatsamebook,hewrites

“Jesus Christ said ofHimself, ‘The Son can do nothing.’ In theGreek language that word nothing has a uniquemeaning—itmeans NOTHING, just like it does in English!He had NOsupernaturalcapabilitieswhatsoever!…Heperformedmiracles,wonders,andsigns,asaman inrightrelationshiptoGod…notasGod.”44

JohnsonfurtherrecordedheresyinregardtoAdoptionismwhenhewritesin

hisbookTheSupernaturalPowerofaTransformedMind,

“Jesushadnoabilitytohealthesick.Hecouldn’tcastoutdevils,andHehadnoability to raise the dead.He said ofHimself in

39https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_heresies(AccessedApril,2016).40Kelly,J.N.D.EarlyChristianDoctrines.NewYork:Harper,1959.Print.(Page115f).41https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzAwFYKe3h0(AccessedApril,2016).42http://ewenhuffman.podbean.com/2009/12/23/jesus-is-our-model-sermon-of-the-week-20-dec-09(accessedinDecember20th,2009)43Johnson,Bill.WhenHeavenInvadesEarth:APracticalGuidetoaLifeofMiracles.Shippensburg,PA:TreasureHouse,2003.Print(Page79).44Ibid,(Page29)

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John5:19,“theSoncandonothingofHimself.”HehadsetasideHis divinity. … He put self-imposed restrictions on Himself toshowthatuswecoulddoit,too.JesussoemptiedHimselfthatHe was incapable of doing what was required of Him by theFather–withouttheFather’shelp.”45

1.10ChristologicalHeresies:KenosisView

Ifthiswerenotbadenough,JohnsongoesontohaveanimproperviewonseveralotherhistoricallytheologicallyorthodoxpositionsoftheKenosisandJesus’Divinity.ArianismwasanearlyheresypropagatedbyAriusinthe2ndand3rdcenturies.AriuswasdeclaredahereticatthefirstCouncilofNicaea.AriustaughtthatthedivinityofJesusChristtookvariousspecificforms.HetaughtspecificallythattheFathercreatedJesusChrist,thathehadabeginningintime,andthatthetitle"SonofGod"wasacourtesyone.46Thisisunmistakablyagainsttheorthodoxviewofthatofthepre-existentChrist.JohnsonwroteinhisbookWhenHeavenInvadesEarth,“He(Jesus)performedmiracles,wonders,andsigns,asamaninrightrelationshiptoGod…notasGod.IfHeperformedmiraclesbecauseHewasGod,thentheywouldbeunattainableforus.”47ThisdoesnotmeanthatBillJohnsonandotherWOF,NAR,orTWMteachersareArians.ButthisquoteandotherteachingswithinthismovementareveryclosetoArianism.AttheveryleasthehimselfandhisassociatesteachJesuswassomehownotGodorpre-existent.

InthesameveinJohnsonandotherBethelPastorsandassociatesteachadangerousviewcalledtheKenosisview.ThewordKenosisisderivedfromtheGreekwordκενόω,whichispronouncedken-o'-owhichmeanstomakeempty,i.e.(figuratively)toabase,neutralize,falsify,makeofnoneeffect,ofnoreputation,void,beinvain.48WhichisusedinrelationtowhatJesusdidintheincarnationinPhilippians2:7.Hemadehimselfof“noreputation,”“madehimselfnothing,”or“emptiedhimself.”WhatthisisreallygettingatisthatJesusgaveuphisdivinerightsprivilegesorprerogatives,butneverHisdivinityitself.ThewidelyacceptedviewisthatJesusemptiedhimselfofhisclaimsasGod,ofwhichhehadsolerightsto.Hedidthisasanexampleofhowwecanlivehumblyinthislife.Colossians1:15-20furtherelaboratesonwhoChristwasasfullyGodandfullymaninonegloriouspersonJesusChrist.Itsays,“forinHimallthefullnessofGodwaspleasedtodwell.”49KennethCopelandisknowntohavetaughtthisviewofKenosisthatJesusemptiedhimselfofhisdivinitywhilehereonearthasanexampleofhowwecanbeinrightrelationshipwithGod.Copelandsays,

“Christians mistakenly believe that Jesus was able to workwonders,toperformmiracles,andtoliveabovesinbecauseHe

45Johnson,Bill.TheSupernaturalPowerofaTransformedMind:AccesstoaLifeofMiracles.Shippensburg,PA:DestinyImage,2005.Print.(Page50).46Kelly,J.N.D.EarlyChristianDoctrines.NewYork:Harper,1959.Print.(Page227f).47Johnson,Bill.WhenHeavenInvadesEarth:APracticalGuidetoaLifeofMiracles.Shippensburg,PA:TreasureHouse,2003.Print.(Page29).48Thomas,RobertL.NewAmericanStandardExhaustiveConcordanceoftheBible:IncludingHebrew-AramaicandGreekDictionaries.Print.49Colossians1:15-20

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haddivinepowerthatwedon’thave.Thus,they’veneverreallyaspiredtolivelikeHelived.Theydon’trealizethatwhenJesuscametoearth,Hevoluntarilygaveupthatadvantage,livingHislife here not as God, but as a man. He had no innatesupernatural powers. He had no ability to perform miraclesuntil after he was anointed by the Holy Spirit as recorded inLuke 3:22. He ministered as a man anointed by the HolySpirit.”50

JohnsonintensifiestheviewsoftheWOFpredecessorslikeCopeland:as

previouslyquotedJohnsonrevealsaKenosisteachinginhisbookWhenHeaveninvadesEarthJohnsonwrote,“Heperformedmiracles,wonders,andsigns,asamaninrightrelationshiptoGod…notasGod.IfHeperformedmiraclesbecauseHewasGod,thentheywouldbeunattainableforus.”51ItwouldcertainlybeunderstandableifintheheatofanemotionalsermonthatJohnsonsaidsomethinglikethis,andmaybeeithertakenoutofcontext,orsaidsomethinghedidnotmean,ormisspoke,behedidn’t.Thiswasnotinasermon.Hewroteitinabook,itwasedited,andthenpublishedassuch.Andnotjustinoneplaceinthisbook,butseveralotherplaceshehasclearlysaidJesuswasnotGod,andhasconfirmedthisWOFprofoundlyflawedKenosisviewofJesus.2.1ChristologicalandSoteriologicalHeresies:ViewofAtonement

TherearemanydifferenttheoriesandviewsofwhathappenedintheAtonementofChristandhisdeathformankindonthecross.ThedifferentviewsaretheSocinianTheoryortheatonementasanexample,TheMoralInfluenceTheoryortheatonementasademonstrationofGod’slove,TheGovernmentalTheoryortheatonementasademonstrationofdivinejustice,TheRansomTheoryortheatonementasvictoryovertheforcesofsinandevil,andfinallyTheSatisfactionTheoryortheatonementascompensationtotheFather.52Justbywayofinformationandcandidness,IadheretotheviewofPenalSubstitution,andelementsoftheotherviews.Ialsowanttoclarifythattheatonementisdeeper,wider,andvasterthanwecouldeverfullyknoworcomprehend.53However,theScripturerevealsenoughforustoknowthedeepandwidedetailsthataresufficientforourunderstanding.IalsowanttobegenerousifothersadheretootherviewsthanPenalSubstitution,oralsotakeseveralviewsoftheatonement,butIdobelievethatthereareviewsoftheatonementthatarewhollyunbiblical,andtheWOF,NAR,andTWMteachthesevariousunbiblicalviews.

TheviewthattheWOFmovementhasformanyyearsacceptedistheviewthatChristalsoaccomplishedourhealingandisasprimaryanactastheforgiveness

50Horton,MichaelScott.TheAgonyofDeceit.Chicago,IL:Moody,1990.Print.(Page266).51Johnson,Bill.WhenHeavenInvadesEarth:APracticalGuidetoaLifeofMiracles.Shippensburg,PA:TreasureHouse,2003.Print.(Page29).52Erickson,MillardJ.ChristianTheology.GrandRapids,MI:BakerBookHouse,1998.Print.(Page783-800).53http://richardpmoore.blogspot.de/2016/02/gospelology-what-is-gospel-thorough.html(Myownresearchonthedepth,vastness,richnessoftheGospel.ResearchintotheGreekwordEvangelionAccessedApril,2016).

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ofsins.KennethHagin,whowasundoubtedlyinfluencedbyE.W.Kenyon,firstespousedthisview,andHaginisoftenconsideredthefatheroftheWOFmovement,andfurthermoreisrecognizedthroughoutthemovementasateacherandprophet.54McConnellinHisbookADifferentGospel:AHistoricalandBiblicalAnalysisoftheModernFaithMovementclearlyestablishedlinesfromWOFmovementtoChristianScientistsandUnitySchoolofChristianitythroughE.W.KenyonandKennethHagin.WordofFaithTheologyandparticularlytheviewofatonementhavebeenmarredbythisinfluence.Withthatinmindletuslookatthespecificsofwhathas,andisbeingtaughtintheWOFmovementinregardstotheAtonement.

WOFteachesthatJesushadtodiespirituallyonthecross,notonlythatbuthehadtogotohelltosufferforoursins,andthentobeborn-againinhell.55IfthatwasnotoutrageousenoughthattheeternalGodinJesusChristhadtodiespiritually,itgetscrazier.HaginwroteinhisbookTheNameofJesus,"SpiritualdeathmeanssomethingmorethanseparationfromGod.SpiritualdeathalsomeanshavingSatan'snature."56HaginelaboratesonthedevelopmentofthisoutrageousviewontheAtonementlateroninthatsamebook,"WeneedtoknowthathealingforourphysicalbodiesispartandparceloftheGospeloftheLordJesusChrist.Henotonlytookoursins;Healsotookourinfirmitiesandboreoursickness."57TheWOFMovementwasstartedintheimaginationsoftheChristianScientistE.W.Kenyon,whoimpartedittoHagin,whothendelivereditasthefatherofthefledglingWOFmovement.

IninvestigatingtheatonementviewheldbyBethelChurchitishardtofindmuchontheirwebsiteregardingthecross.Tobefairtheydohavealittleexcerptregardingsalvation,“Salvationfreesusfromthepowerofthedevil-sin,lies,sicknessandtorment.”58Thecrossishoweverwoefullyomittedfromthiswholepage.Especiallynoticeableinthisstatementoffaith,thereisnothingaboutwrath,judgment,repentance,atonementorreconciliation.Thatomissionisevenmoreworryingthanalloftheoutwardheteropraxy(falseorunchristianpractices).Essentially,thegoverningcenterofBethel'sframeworkisPentecost,notCalvary.Anystatementoffaiththatomitsthecrossisterrifying.

UponfurtherreviewonestatementcanbefoundaboutthecrossontheiBethelwebsite,whichhasmoretodowiththeirTVministry,butburieddeepinthiswebsiteafullerstatementoffaithandmoreaboutthecrosscanbefound.“Hewascrucifiedforoursins,died,wasburied,resurrectedandascendedintoheaven,andisnowalivetodayinthepresenceofGodtheFatherandinHispeople.Heis"trueGod"and"trueman."”59ThishiddensitefurthertalksaboutrestorationintofellowshipwithGodthroughrepentance.AlthoughtheiBethelwebsitedoesregardthecrossofJesusinthissingularoccurrenceasthemeansofsalvation,itisobviousthatPentecostandthesupernaturalarecentraltolifeandministryatBethel.Itisfairlyobviousthatthecrossiswoefullyignoredingospelproclamation.Itisplainthat

54McConnell,D.R.ADifferentGospel:AHistoricalandBiblicalAnalysisoftheModernFaithMovement.Peabody,MA:Hendrickson,1988.Print.(Page55).55Hanegraaff,Hank.ChristianityinCrisis.Eugene,Or.:HarvestHouse,1993.Print.(Page153).56Hagin,KennethE.TheNameofJesus.Tulsa,OK:K.HaginMinistries,1979.Print.(Page31).57Ibid,(Page122).58http://www.bethelredding.com/about/our-mission(AccessedApril,2016).59https://www.ibethel.org/about/(AccessedApril2016).

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BethelandJohnsonhavebeeninfluencedintheirviewoftheatonementbytheWOFmovement.

ThedevelopmentfromtheearlyinceptionoftheWOFviewoftheAtonementhasbeenfaithfullyhandeddowntothenextgenerationofTel-Evangelists,Prophets,andApostlesfromHagintowhatweseecurrentlyintheWOF,TWM,andNAR.Therehasbeensomeprogressioninthistheology,butthecoreofthepurposeofChrist’satonementhasremainedundoubtedlyasmuchabouthealingastheforgivenessofsins.ItiscleartheTWMhaspickedupwheretheWOFleftoff.NotonlywereyoursinspaidforasChristsufferedthepunishmentofSataninhell,butbecausehehadnotsinnedGodgothimoutofHellonatechnicality,andasGodinfusedtheresurrectionpowerbackintothespiritofJesusheovercameallyoursickness,pain,suffering,andinthemeantimeevensecuredyourfinancialsuccess!BillJohnsonandBethelechothisterriblyinexplicabletheologicalviewoftheatonement.

“NotwothousandyearsagoJesusmadeapurchase.Hedoesnotdecide not to heal people today. The decision two thousandyearsagowastoheal.Eitherthepaymentwassufficientforallsinornosin.Eitherthepaymentwassufficient forallsicknessor no sickness…The Brushstrokes of God’s redemption was towipe out the root of sin, the root of illness and the root ofpoverty.”60

Ifthiswasnotabsurdandinconceivableenough,itgetsworse.ThedeficiencyofGodnothealingisnotonGod’sendbutratheronourend.BillJohnsonwritesonhisblog,

“How can God choose not to heal someone when He alreadypurchased their healing?WasHis blood enough for all sin, orjust certain sins? Were the stripes He bore only for certainillnesses,orcertainseasonsoftime?WhenHeborestripesinHisbodyHemadeapaymentforourmiracle.Healreadydecidedtoheal.Youcan’tdecidenottobuysomethingafteryou’vealreadyboughtit.Therearenodeficiencies onHis end–neither the covenant isdeficient,norHiscompassionorpromises.Alllackisonourendoftheequation.”61

Andthereitisthecontrol,thehurt,thepain,theguilt,andshamethatthiscultlikemessagethatcomesoutfromBethelandBillJohnsonproduces.Thiswassooffensivetousasafamilysomanyyearsago,whenhetoldusthroughhisteachingthatourdaughterwasinfusedwithadiseasefromSatan,andthatourfaithwastooweak,thelackwasonourend,andthatiswhyshewasnothealed.Thecovenantisnotdeficient;alllackisonourendoftheequation.Ifthisweretrue,thenall

60https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iXrX9eSHWA(accessedApril,2016)61http://bjm.org/qa/is-it-always-gods-will-to-heal-someone/(AccessedApril2016).

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believersassoonastheyputtheirtrustinChristwouldimmediatelybefreefromillness,poverty,anddeath,becauseChristboreourillnessandpovertyonthecross.However,therealityisthatwedieanddeathistheultimateillness.Mostpeopledieofsomesortofillnessveryfewpeoplejustdieofoldage.Theonlywaythathecangetawaywiththisdisconcertingviewisthathequalifiesitwiththephrase“alllackisonourendoftheequation.”SoifwedieofcancerasaChristianthelackmusthavebeenonthecancervictimsend.Butthatisexctlywheretheperspectivebreaksdown.Wealldieatsomepoint.Deathistheultimatedisease,whichtakesthisperplexingtheologyoutoftherealmofthelogicalandmovesitintotherealmoftheabsurd.

Thisviewcertainlypoursontheguilt,shame,andhurtwhenGodoftendoesnothealinregardtodeepfaith,andhopefulprayers.SurelyGodcanandwillhealuswhenweprayinfaith,butdoesGoddoitasarule?OrisitconnectedtoourforgivenessofsinastiedintotheatonementofChrist?TheotherpossibilityisthatofthehistoricorthodoxviewofChristianity.InGenesis3whensinenteredtheworld,itaffectedeverything.Deathenteredintotheworldthroughoneman’sdisobedienceasRomans5:12,19-21showsus,

“Therefore, just as sin came into theworld through oneman,anddeaththroughsin,andsodeathspreadtoallmenbecauseallsinned…Forasbytheoneman'sdisobediencethemanyweremadesinners, soby theoneman'sobedience themanywillbemaderighteous.Nowthelawcameintoincreasethetrespass,butwheresin increased,graceaboundedall themore,sothat,as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign throughrighteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ ourLord.”62

WecanseeherethattheobviousjudgmentonAdam’sracewasdeathanddecay,butontheotherhandtheoneman’sobediencemanywillbemaderighteous.Nomentionoftherestorationofhealth,wealth,orprosperity,butratherinverse21arighteousnessleadingtoeternallife.Soyesonedayhewillrestoreourlowlybodiesintheresurrectionoftherighteous63,butuntilthatdaytheearthis“groaningwiththebirthpangs.”64 InConclusion,thisviewissodangerousbecauseitcreatesaninclusiontothecrossofChristthathasnotbeenhistoricallyacceptedinanyoneofthemanifoldviewsoftheatonement.Theonlyversethatcouldpossiblybeuses,asprooftext,isfoundinIsaiah53:5,whichsays,“andbyhiswoundswearehealed.”Thedangerhereistobuildawholetheologyoffofoneisolatedtext.TakeforexamplethepassageinMark16:18thatsayswewillpickupserpents,anddrinkdeadlypoisonandnotbehurt.Wecannotbuildawholetheologyandpracticeoffofoneprooftext.Unfortunatelymanychurchesdopracticesnakehandlinganddrinkingpoison.DidMarkandIsaiahmeanthatweoughttopracticethesethings?Weshouldratheraddressthe“wholecounselofGod”whenaddressingpuzzlingpassagesofscripture62Romans5:12,19-21631Corinthians15:12-4964Matthew24:8;Mark13:8

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soastoclarifytheirmeanings.TheWOF,TWM,andNARaddtheelementofhealth,wealth,andprosperityontotheAtonementthathasneverbeforebeenhypothesized,andinsodoingexpandtheatonementtounbiblicalboundaries.2.2ChristologicalHeresies:HypostaticUnion TheHypostaticunionisthetheologicaltermfortheunionofthetwonaturesofChrist.InAD451theCouncilofChalcedondefinedthetwonaturesofthehypostasis,whichistheGreekwordforperson.ThehistoricallytheologicallyacceptedpositionthatthecouncilestablishedisthatChristhadtwodistinctnatures,humanityanddeity,thereisnointerminglingofnatures,andalthoughhehadtwonaturesheisoneperson.ThispositionthattheChalcedonCreedestablishedisacceptedbyallofChristendomnamelyallOrthodox,Catholic,andProtestantChristians.65TheChalcedonCreedreads,

“Following, then, the holy Fathers, we all unanimously teachthat our Lord Jesus Christ is to us One and the same Son, theSelf-same Perfect in Godhead, the Self-same Perfect inManhood;trulyGodandtrulyMan;theSelf-sameofarationalsoul and body; co-essential with the Father according to theGodhead, the Self-same co-essential with us according to theManhood; like us in all things, sin apart; before the agesbegottenof theFatheras to theGodhead,but in the lastdays,the Self-same, for us and for our salvation (born) ofMary theVirginTheotokosastotheManhood;OneandtheSameChrist,Son, Lord, Only-begotten; acknowledged in Two Naturesunconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; thedifferenceof theNaturesbeing innoway removedbecauseofthe Union, but rather the properties of each Nature beingpreserved, and (both) concurring into One Person and OneHypostasis;notas thoughHewerepartedordivided intoTwoPersons,butOneandtheSelf-sameSonandOnly-begottenGod,Word, Lord, Jesus Christ; even as from the beginning theprophets have taught concerning Him, and as the Lord JesusChristHimselfhathtaughtus,andastheSymboloftheFathershathhandeddowntous.”66

AsseenbeforeinBillJohnson’sownwordshedoesnotbelieveinthehistoricfindingsoftheCouncilofChalcedonthatsaidthatJesuswasonegloriouspersonintwodistinctnatures,butratherhesaidthatJesuslaidasidehisdivinityandthatJesuswasonlyamancompletelydependentontheFatherduringhistimehereonearth.TheHypostaticunionisanothertheologicalpositionthatBillJohnsonandotherNARteachers,prophets,andapostlesdeny.Andforthesemountingreasonsit

65Driscoll,Mark,andGerryBreshears.Doctrine:WhatChristiansShouldBelieve.Wheaton,IL:Crossway,2010.Print.(Page230).66Bindley,T.Herbert,andF.W.Green.TheOecumenicalDocumentsoftheFaith;theCreedofNicaea,ThreeEpistlesofCyril,TheTomeofLeo,TheChalcedonianDefinition.London:Methuen,1950.Print.(Page91-92).

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iscleartoseethatheisafalseteacher,andthescripturesconfirmthatanyonewhodeniesthatJesusistheChristisanantichristandliar,andifdenialoftheSonhappensthenthatpersonalsodoesnothavetheFather67 However,ifweweretoextendgenerositytoJohnson,hemaybetryingtoexplaintheseeminglyinexplicablehypostasis.Forinstance,letusaddresswhenJohnsondescribesJesuslayingasidehisdivinity.Ifwewereverycharitablewithhimonhisdescription,wecouldconcludeheistalkingaboutJesusrightfullyassumingahumannature.ItisrelativelyunclearwithJohnsonandhisdescriptionofJesuslayingasidehisdivinity.Christendom’stheologicalhistoryhastriedtomakesenseofthenatureofChristbyexplainingthatJesushypostasisdidnotdivinizehishumanity(i.e.nointerminglingofnatures).Eutycheswasanarchimandriteintheearly5thcenturywhotaughtthatJesushadonenature,orthatJesusbecameonenature.68WecouldconcludefromJohnson’steachingthatitmightbeinlinewithEutychianismorMonophysitism,whichitisoftencalled.Monophysitism,asitbecameknowlater,wasthegreaterteachingofEutyches(Mono=Single,Physis=nature).69Ontheotherhand,Contra-EutychianismwasthereactiontoMonophysitism,andtaughtthatChristdidn’tdivinizehishumanity,andthatheretainedtwonaturesastheaforementionedChalcedonCreedexplainsindetail.JohnsoncouldbeaffirmingtheorthodoxviewthatChristlegitimatelyassumedahumannature,butitseemsimprobablefromthecontextofJohnson’squotes.ThecontextisinrelationtobeingabletodowhatJesusdid.HispointseemstobethatifJesushadretainedhisdivinityhereonearth,thenwewouldnotbeabletodothemiraculousthingsthathedid.HisotherstatementthatJesusoperatedhereonearthasman,notasGodconfirmsattheveryleastthathislanguageiscarelessorsloppy,andattheveryworstthathereallymeansthatJesushadcompletelylaidasidehisdivinityandoperatedonlyasamanonthisearth. TheseelementsofJohnson’steachingcouldbeleaningtowardamaterialheresyratherthenaformalheresy.Materialheresyisthatspoken,orwrittenteaching,whetheronpurposeoronaccidentthatgoesagainstOrthodoxy.ItisanopinionthatiscontrarytotheteachingsoftheChurchorbroaderChristendom.Materialheresyisdistinguishedfromformalheresy.FormalheresyisproposedbysomeonedeliberatelyandisconsciouslyteachingagainstorthodoxChristendom.IfweweretogiveJohnsonthebenefitofthedoubt,thenonecouldleantowardmaterialheresy.BecauseChristdidhavetolayasidecertainprerogativesasGodinhishumannature,forinstanceJesushumanitywasnoteverywhere,itdidn’tknoweverything,itcouldbetempted,etc.IfwetookhisstatementsthatwayJesuswasreallyahumantotallydependentonGod,asJohnsonseemstobeteaching,whodidmiraclesthroughthepoweroftheSpirit.InotherwordsJesusdidn’tgoaroundpullinghis“Godcard”out.Concessionstohismeaningcouldbemade,buthisotherquotesandteachingsaboutthenatureofChristproducegreatquestionsandraisemanyredflags.Theyareverysuspiciousandbegtobeclarified.TheresponsibilityforclaritylieswithJohnson.

671John2:20-2568Erickson,MillardJ.ChristianTheology.GrandRapids,MI:BakerBookHouse,1998.Print.(Page729)69Ferguson,SinclairB.,DavidF.Wright,andJ.I.Packer.NewDictionaryofTheology.DownersGrove,IL:InterVarsity,1988.Print.(Page442).

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2.3Extra-BiblicalRevelation ThenextdangerthatpermeatestheWOF,TWM,andNARiswhatiscalled“extra-biblicalrevelation.”Thesemovementsareconstantlylookingfora“wordofwisdom”meaningthatanapostle,teacher,orevangelistwillbringanewwordfromGod.Thiscanbeassimpleas“Godsaid…”orascomplexascreatinganotherteachingthatisnowheretobefoundintheBible.AnexampleofthisiswhenBillJohnsonwroteinhisbookTheSupernaturalPowerofaTransformedMind,“RevelationisnotsomethingyoucandigoutofaTheologicalbookorstudyguide.It’snotevensomethingyoucanunravelintheBibleallbyyourself.”70ThefreedomforpersonalinterpretationoftheBiblewaswonforusduringthereformationandconfirmedbytheChurchofJesuseversince.TheimplicationfromJohnsonisthatyoucanonlyunravelwhattheBiblemeanswithJohnson’soranotherprophet/apostle’shelpthroughhiswordsofwisdom,explanations,andbooks,ofwhichthereareplenty. Idoacknowledgewhathemightalsobetryingtocommunicate,thatittakesmorethanjustreadingtheBible,theHolySpiritisnecessary,asJesussaid,“WhentheSpiritoftruthcomes,hewillguideyouintoallthetruth…Sanctifytheminthetruth;yourwordistruth.”71Johnson’sviewhowever,takesauthorityawayfromtheBible,andpersonalinterpretation.HowwillGodintheendspeaktoman?HewillspeaktomanthroughHiswordtheBible,whichisilluminatedbytheHolySpirit,notthroughextra-biblicalrevelation.HewillnotaddanythingortakeanythingawayfromthepagesofScripturethroughspecialrevelation.72Ibelievethismovetowardspecialrevelationisadangerousprogression.Godwillspeakandilluminatehiswordandwehavetheabilitytounderstandit.Wedonotneedanyinsiderwisdom,orspecialrevelation,butratherwecanreaditandunderstanditforourselves,andtheHolySpiritbringsilluminationtoitsmeaningandinterpretation. 2.4Dominionism DominionismisatheologicalschoolofthoughtthatsaysthatGodgaveAdamandEveDominionovertheearthandthatSatanusurpedman’sDominionthroughthefall.ChristdefeatedSatanandtookbackdominionoftheearthonthecross,andHegavebackdominiontobelieverstoestablishdominionagainonthisearththroughtheinceptionthekingdomofGodonthisearth.ThenandonlythencanJesusreturnwhenwehaveusheredinthekingdomofGodthroughdominion.Johnsonwrites,

“Hasiteveroccurredtoyouthatoneofyourjobsonearthis…toprovethewillofGod?Yourcallingandmycallingasbelieversmay be too massive to fully understand, but the Bible’scommand is clear: Our job is to demonstrate that the realitythat exists inHeaven canbemanifested righthere, rightnow.Wearenotjusttobepeoplewhobelievetherightthingsabout

70Johnson,Bill.TheSupernaturalPowerofaTransformedMind40-DayDevotionalandPersonalJournal.Shippensburg:DestinyImage,2011.Print.(SamplePage1Introduction).71John16:13;17:1772Revelation22:18-19

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God,butpeoplewhoputthewillofGodondisplay,expressingitandcausingotherstorealize,“ohsothat’swhatGodislike.”…Jesus taught and demonstrated that the Kingdom of God is apresenttensereality—itexistsnowintheinvisiblerealmandissuperiortoeverythinginthevisiblerealm.”73

ThisisofcourseatotalmisinterpretationofRomans12:1-2.TheGreekwordtherefor"prove"isδοκιμάζω,whichtransliteratedispronounced“dokimadzo”anditmeanstotestbyimplicationtoapprove:allowordiscern,orexamine,prove,ortry.74Thispassageissayingthatthroughnon-conformitytothisworld,andbyrenewingyourmindthroughthescriptures,youwillbeabletoknowthewillofGod.Wewillbeabletounderstandit,andrecognizewhatGodwantsustodo.ThisispoorexegesisandhermeneuticsfromJohnson,howeverrightinlinewithDominionistTheology.OnearthasitisinHeavenisacentralvisionforlifeandministryatBethelChurchwhichlinesupwith“kingdomnow”Dominionisttheology.Johnsongoesonfurthertodescribeindetailwhathemeanswiththis,

"God’s ideawas tohaveaplanetengulfed inHisgloriousrule,withmankindflawlessly“provingthewillofGod”onearthasitisinHeaven…Ofcourse,weknowtheoriginalplangotderailed,and that Adam forfeited the rulership God gave him over theearth,puttinghumanityintoslaverytotheenemy…Inthedeathand resurrection of Jesus Christ, God took back the authoritymanhadgivenawayandreclaimedourpurposeonthisearth…We, the Church, are called to extend His rule in this earthlysphere,justasAdamwascalledtodo."75

ThisisalmostawordforwordexplanationofwhatDominionismteachesasdefinedabove.Thisisanotherfallaciousteachingonthefallandhumandepravity.ThisisnowherenearBiblical.Thisformoftheologyshouldberesisted.Ifwetookthisteachingforwhatitreallyclaimsandhopesfor,thenthenaturaloutcomewouldbestrivingforTheocratic(GodasKing)formsofGovernment,beforeJesuswillbeabletoreturntoearth.

Furthermore,didAdam“giveaway”hisauthority;orratherdisobeyaHolyGodthusfallingintosin?Adamdidnotgiveawayauthority,butratherfellintosinandGodultimatelyhashissovereignruleovertheuniversetothisdaydespitethefall.Additionally,Christwillcontinuetoenacthissovereignruleovereverycorneroftheuniverse.Colossians1:15-20describesacompletelysovereignChristwhohasnotrelinquishedhisauthoritytoAdam,norSatannoranyothercreatedbeing.AlthoughJohnsonwronglyclaimsthatGod’splangot“derailed”,weknowGodcontinuestoworkhissovereignredeemingplanthroughouthistory.AsthegreatDutchReformerAbrahamKuyperoncesaid,“Thereisnotasquareinchinthewhole

73Johnson,Bill.TheSupernaturalPowerofaTransformedMind40-DayDevotionalandPersonalJournal.Shippensburg:DestinyImage,2011.Print.(SamplePage3Day2).74Thomas,RobertL.NewAmericanStandardExhaustiveConcordanceoftheBible:IncludingHebrew-AramaicandGreekDictionaries.Print.75Johnson,(SamplePage4Day3).

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domainofourhumanexistenceoverwhichChrist,whoisSovereignoverall,doesnotcry:‘Mine!”76ThetruthisthatwehaveneverseenanythinginourlivesthatGoddidn’tcreate,andcontinuetosustainbythepowerofHisword(Revelation4:11,Col1:15-20).Christispersonallyinvolvedinmaintainingandsustainingtheexistenceofeverythingthatisinourfieldofvisionatthisveryinstant(Hebrews1:3).Everythingthatwesee,alongwitheverypersonwhobeholdscreationweremadebyandthroughChrist.Weweremadeforoneultimatereason:tobelongtoand‘beunto’Christ(Col1:16).AstheWestminsterShorterCatechismespouses,“Man’schiefendistoglorifyGod,andtoenjoyhimforever.”77AnythingshortofthischiefendisnotfulfillingthepurposesthatGodhadinmindforman.2.5“HostingthePresence”orNeo-Gnosticism ItishardtofindacategoryforJohnson’snextteachingbutmaybeintheneighborhoodofGnosticism.Itistheteachingof“HostingthePresence.”InHisbookManifestoforaNormalChristianLifehedescribesthepracticeofhostingGod’spresence.Itissostrangethatitcanonlybedescribedinhisownwords.

“Jesusmodels,betterthananyoneinScripture,howtohostthepresenceoftheLord.Iwouldremindyouthat,obviously,JesusisGod. He is eternal. He is not a created being but he emptiedhimself and became a man and learned how to host thepresence of the Lord. Jesus himself said that he set aside hisdivinity.TheScripturestellusthatheemptiedhimself.Hecoulddonothingofhimself.NoneofthemiraclesdidhedoasGod.Hedidthemallasaman,yieldedtoGod.TheyareallexpressionsofalifeundertheinfluenceoftheHolySpirit.JesuslearnedtohostthepresenceoftheLordandindoingsowassoconsciousofGoduponhimthatwhenawomantouchedhisclothinghecouldtellpowerhadbeenreleasedfromhim.Imaginebeing soawareof theSpirit ofGodonyou that, eventhough you have conversations going on with people aroundyou, even though there is a crowdpushing inaround youandtouching you, when one person that touches you in faith andthereisawithdrawalfromyouraccountofpresence,orpower,youaresoconsciousofwhatyouarecarryingthatyourealizepresencehasbeenreleased throughyou. Itwasn’tbecause thepresence in him was depleted, because the Spirit of God wasgiventohimwithoutmeasure.Itwasjustthathecouldtellthattherehadbeenademandputuponwhathecarried."78

76Bratt,JamesD.,ed.AbrahamKuyper:ACentennialReader.GrandRapids,Mich.:Eerdmans,1998.Print.(Page488).77Boyd,JamesR.TheWestminsterShorterCatechism:WithAnalysis,ScripturalProofs,ExplanatoryandPracticalInferences,andIllustrativeAnecdotes.Philadelphia:PresbyterianBoardofPublicationandSabbath-schoolWork,1854.Print.78Johnson,Bill.ManifestoforaNormalChristianLife:TheHTBTalksKindleEdition.Redding,CA:BillJohnsonMinistries,2013.Samplepages.EPUBfile.

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Inthispassage,firstofallJesuswasnotGod,againthatChristologicalheresycontinues.ActuallyitisratherconfusingbecausehestartsoffsayingJesusisGodandeternal.ButthengoesontoteachthatJesuslaidasidehisdivinitysothathecouldtakebackthedivinityorpresenceoftheHolySpiritagain?Thatdoesn’tmakelogicalsense.WhynotifyouwereJesusjustkeepyourdivinitysoHewouldn’thavetodoallthisdifficult“layingaside”andtakingbacktheHolySpiritpresenceexchangething.IfyouwereGodWhynotjuststayGod?Thisisagainveryconfusingandattheveryminimumcarelesslanguage.AlsohereisamishandlingoftheScripture.Jesusneversaidthat“presence”wentoutfromhim,butratherthat“power”wentoutfromHim.BecauseJesussaid“power”wentoutfromHimthatclearlydisplaysthatJesushadcompletecommandofHisholypower.OnecouldconcludefromJohnson’steachingthatJesusdidnothavecontrolandauthorityoverhisHolyattributes,andpower.

FurtherJohnsonsaidthatJesuscouldtellthattherehadbeena“demand”putonwhathehadcarried?Thisissounchristianitishardtoknowwheretostart.Godneverhasa“demand”putonhisgloryorpresence.InmostcaseswhenthegloryoftheLordwasrevealedintheScriptureseitherpeopleweredead,wantedtobedead,orwereontheirfaceshopingtheywouldnotsoonbedead.Alljokesaside,GodneverhadanydemandsplacedonthescopeorextentofHisglory.HeisGod,andnothingistoodemandingofHispowerorglory,nothing.HavingademandplacedonthepresenceofGodsoundsmoreNewAge,EasternMysticism,orTheOccult,thanChristian.Thegodsofthosereligionsareconfinedtotimeandspace,andarenotOmniscient,Omnipotent,orOmnipresent.Demandscouldbeputonothergods/spiritsbecausetheyarelimited.Thespiritsofthese,occult,andanimisticreligionsdohavedemandsplacedontheirpowerandsovereigntythattheycannotmeetbecauseGodofHeavenandearthistheirabsolutesovereign.TheGodoftheBibleisbeholdentonodemandsplacedonhimbyanyman,ortherequestofhispower!YHWHthegreatIAMhasnodemandtoogreatforhim.Nonetheless,theNewAge,andoccultpracticescarrywiththemallsortsofotherdangerouspracticesthatarewhollyunchristian.LateroninthebookJohnsondescribesthepracticeof“hostingthepresence”inmoredepth,

“Andyouwillalwaysreflectthenatureoftheworldwearemostawareof.Whatyouliveconsciousofiswhatyouwillreproducein theworldaround you…TheHoly SpiritUPON Jesuswas thevery power which would emanate from him to change andtransformpeople’slivesandcircumstances.Tormentsthatwereonpeoplewerebrokenoff,Diseaseswerehealed,andhopewasgiven to people who had no hope. Jesus ruined every funeralthat he attended - including his own…They realized that Paulcouldnotgoeverywheresotheywouldjusttakearticlesofhisclothingandtakethemtoasickordyingortormentedpersonandtheywouldbesetfree.Itwasn’tsimplyanactoffaith.Thatwouldbenobleenoughinitself.ButitwasbecausetheSpiritofGodcanactuallysaturatecloth.Andjustthesimpleresidue,thecrumbs from the table, was enough to bring deliverance andhealing when it was taken from the presence of the Lord…I

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don’tknowhowtolearnanythingbutbyexperimenting.Thosepeoplewho like toget it right the first time should stayawayfrom the gifts of the Spirit, because we have to learn byexperiment,inacontextofsafety…WhenIbecameconsciousofthepresenceIwouldwalkintothestoreandthenIwouldstartbuying whatever I needed. And if what I wanted was in oneparticular place in the shop I’d walk up and down the otheraislesfirst.Iwouldn’tgostraighttoit.I’dwalkupanddowntheaisles, because I felt like I was a sprinkler systemwalking upanddown,wateringtheentireplacewithpresence.”79

Theerrorthatlieswithinthesewordsisdevastating.FirstJesushadtheSpirit“upon”him.Itmightbejustsemantics,buttheSpiritwasnotuponJesus,butwasratherinJesus,SpiritisJesusandJesusisSpirit.AndagainJohnson’sbasisintheimproperKenosistheologybecomesplain.JesusonlyministeredthepresenceofandcarriedtheHolySpiritwithhimandsomehowsharedthatpresencethatwas“upon”Him.InJohnson’sviewJesuswasnotasthegreatcreedclaims,“GodofGod,LightofLight,trueGodoftrueGod,begottenandnotmade;oftheverysamenatureoftheFather,byWhomallthingscameintobeing,inheavenandonearth,visibleandinvisible,”80Butrathersomecheapknock-offofgod.AgainthisisenoughtodiscounteveryotherwordJohnsonsaysinhisteaching.However,letusexaminethisquotealittlefurther.

HesaysthattheSpiritofGodcansaturateapieceofcloth?AndtheHolySpirithasaresidue?ThisisforsureNewAge,Animism(TribalReligionthatsaysspiritsareinobjects),ortheOccult.Goddoesnotindwellorsaturateclothorleaveresidue.Hegoesontosaythatheknowsonlyhowto“experiment”whenitcomestothegiftsofthespirit.Thisexperimentationhashiddendangers.TheobviousdangeristhatpeoplebecomeopentoNewAge,EasternMysticism,andAnimisticpractice.ThemoreclandestinedangersaretheslowerosionofaffectionforChrist,andacravingandlongingforthesupernaturalphenomenathatareneveralludedtointheNewTestament.Thiscultureofexperimentationisrubbingoffonhiscongregationalso.ItseemsthatJohnsonhasnoproblemstryingthingsinexperimentationthatareofflimitsforusasChristians.Iguessthatiswherethepreviouslycitedpracticesofgloryclouds,golddust,angelfeathers,gemsappearing,conjuringangelorbs,firetunnels,spirittravel,out-of-bodyexperiences,healings,prophecy,portaltravel,extra-biblicalrevelation,raisingthedead,soaking,newwinemovement,drunkenglory,visualization,laughter,chanting,soaking,tuningforks,andwakingupangelscomein.

MaybeatthispointyouarewonderingwhyyouhavenotcomeacrossmanyofthesepracticesinScripture.Itisbecausetheyarenotthere,andchurchesshouldnotpracticethem.TherearenoplacesinscripturethatmakesanyofthesethingssomethingweasChristiansshouldpractice,orevenbeopentoo.Moreover,thesepracticesarespirituallydangerousforus,becausetheyopenourlivesuptosupernaturalforcesthattheenemyhascontrolover.Johnsonlaterdescribeshimself79Ibid,(SamplePages)80Schaff,Philip,andDavidS.Schaff.TheCreedsofChristendom:WithaHistoryandCriticalNotes.GrandRapids,MI:BakerBookHouse,1983.Print

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asasortofsprinkleroftheHolySpiritwherehewatersanentireplacewithpresence.Thissoundsmorelikeamedium(someonewhomediatesbetweentheSpiritworldandthephysicalworld)morethanaNewTestamentpracticeoftheministryoftheHolySpirit.

Paul,inhissecondlettertoTimothy,instructshiminwhatwillhappenwhenpeoplewillnotenduresounddoctrine,butratherwantingtohavetheirearstickledtheywillsurroundthemselveswithteachersthatwillteachtheminaccordancewiththeirowndesires.81Ofcourse,everyonewantsamessageofprosperity,healing,andwealth.Itsoundslikeagreatideato“sowaseedoffaith”(WhichmeansgivemoneytoaministryinWOFjargon)intoaministrysothatGodwillblessmetenfold!Everyonewantsprosperity,health,andwealth.However,therealmessageofthegospelisthatofsufferingforChrist,“IndeedallwhodesiretoliveagodlylifeinChristJesuswillbepersecuted.”82WhataboutMark8:34“Ifanyonewouldcomeafterme,lethimdenyhimselfandtakeuphiscrossandfollowme.Forwhoeverwouldsavehislifewillloseit,butwhoeverloseshislifeformysakeandthegospel’swillsaveit.”TherearesomanybiblicalthemesandcharactersthatstandindirectantithesistoalmosteveryprosperityteachingoftheWOF,TWM,andNARthatitwouldbeimpossibletonamethemallhere.Jesushimselfstandsinoppositiontothemessageofprosperity.Hewaspoor,homeless,rejected,scorned,reviled,forsaken,andabandonedbyhisbestfriends,andbeaten“asonefromwhommenhidetheirfaceshewasdespised,andweesteemedhimnot.”83Hislifeistheexactoppositeofthemessageoftheprosperitygospel.Hisgloriousandhumblelifeisrathertheforsakingofthewaysandprosperityofthisworld,whichhehadfullauthorityandrightstotakeuntohimself.Astonishingly,ourLord“humbledhimselfbybecomingobedienttothepointofdeathevendeathonacross.”84 2.6DangerwithinMainstreamEvangelicalChristendom

ThereissomuchmoretobesaidandwrittenabouttheWOF,TWM,andNARbutwhathasbeenpresentedshouldsufficeforthesimplepurposesofexposingtheteachingofBillJohnson,BethelChurch,andtheNARteachersthataretryingtofindtheirwayintoEuropeandGermany.InallfairnessBillJohnsonhasdeniedanyconnectiontotheNAR.85ThelinkagesneverthelessareveryclearwhenheappearedatthecommissioningofToddBentleyasanApostlewithotherApostlesfromtheNARincludingChéAhn,RickJoyner,andC.PeterWagner.86JohnsonhasalsoappearedonseveralepisodesofMorningstarMinistriesTVwithRickJoyneranApostleintheNAR,andmorespecificallyonanepisodetorestoreToddBentley

812Timothy4:3-4822Timothy3:1283Isaiah53:384Philippians2:885http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/may/cover-story-inside-popular-controversial-bethel-church.html(AccessedJune,2016).86Part1:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqaoskr5wlcPart2:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVcXMkSrHEQPart3:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBnnpiV1nloPart4:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE9IvUsq8Ws(AccessedJune,2016).

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backintoministryalongsideRickJoyner.87ThewebsiteSpiritofErrordoesagoodjobheredocumentingJohnson’sconnectiontheNAR.88

MypurposeshavebeentouncoverthefalseteachingandheresythatthesemovementsposeinmainstreamChristendom.Asaresult,itisprettyclearhowthesemovementseffectivelypositionthemselvesasaveryrealthreattoorthodoxhistoricallyacceptedviewsofChristandalltheheretofore-mentionedtheologies.Theproblemsareblatantandclearlystatedandpublishedbytheseteachers.Theseteachingswerenothardtouncover.Theyarepublishedworks,theirownYouTubesermons,interviews,theirownwebsites,documentaries,andblogswheretheseheresiesarepublished(PleaserefertoAppendixandAnnotatedBibliographyforfurtherreviewanddeeperstudyintotheWOF,TWM,andNAR).InlisteningtonumeroussermonsfromJohnsonandotherNARteachersforthisproject,almostallhadstaggeringlyseriouserrors,anddeeplyflawedfalseteachingwithin.AllthatisnecessaryistoholdtheseteachingsuptothelensofthewordofGod,andadiscerningChristianspirit.Finallyletusbringscripturetobearonwhatweoughttodoinregardstofalseteaching,andfalseteachers? Jude3-4saysthatweoughttocontendforthefaithandthatcertainpeoplewillcreepintothefoldanddenyouronlymasterandLord.Ephesians4:14saysthatwealsooughttonotbetossedaboutbyeverywaveofdoctrine.TheintroductionexplainedindetailtheinstancewherePaul,in1Timothy1:20,handedtwopeopleHymenaeusandAlexanderovertoSatansothattheywouldlearnnottoblaspheme,becausehisfalseteachinghadspreadlikegangrene.Gangrenecannotbeallowedtoliveinthebodyofapersonasifnothingwaswrong.Itmustbecutoff,cutout,eliminatedandthrownoutoritwillpoisonandkillthebodyofthepersoninfectedwithit.Falseteaching,inthecaseofHymenaeuswasfalseteachingontheresurrection,andPaulexplainedhowtheseteachingsneededtobedoneawaywithlikegangrene. InthecaseoftheWOF,TWM,andNARitisamanifoldheresy,andposesmanyotherproblems,butnonemoreegregiousthantheirChristologicalheresies.Hebrews13:9saysthatweshouldalsonotbeledawaybydiverseandstrangeteachings.Romans16:17saystowatchoutforthosewho“causedivisionsandcreateobstaclescontrarytothedoctrinethatyouhavebeentaught;avoidthem.”89Weshouldnotseehowmuchwecouldgetfromtheirteachingbeforewehitthefalseteaching.Saiddifferently,ifsomeoftheirteachingisheretical,thenalloftheirteachingisheretical,andwemustavoidthemalltogether.PaulgoesontoshareinverseeighteenthattheseteachersdonotserveChristbuttheirownappetites,andbyflatterytheydeceivetheheartsofthenaïve.Withthesemovements,particularlyBethelandJohnson,peopleoftenarguethat,weshouldjust“takethegoodandleavethebad.”Ifthereisheresyfoundinanyone’steachingitisadangerouspropositiontotrytotakethegoodandleavethebadbecausetherootsofheresywillaffectthefruit.

87https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nzafj0ylRU&list=PLCZFj_Ex2zmrGIi8ndK8tpvuNLqP7Iwwm&index=5(AccessedJune,2016).88http://www.spiritoferror.org/2016/05/yes-bethel-redding-and-bill-johnson-are-part-of-the-new-apostolic-reformation/585889Romans16:17

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2.7IndictmentofFalseTeachersandProphets2Peter2:1-3isapowerfulindictmentagainstfalseprophetsandteachers.It

saysthatfalseteacherswillariseamongthebodyofChrist.Thesefalseteacherswillintroducedestructiveheresies,andevendenythemasterwhoboughtthem(e.g.DenyingChristasGod).Becauseofthesedestructiveheresiesthetruthwillbemaligned,andtheywillexploityouwithfalsewords.Theendofversethreeisoneofthemostfamousversesagainstfalseteachersandisverystrongindeed.“Theirjudgmentfromlongagoisnotidle,andtheirdestructionisnotasleep.”90InotherwordsGodissavingadaywhenfalseteacherswillfaceHisjudgment,andthatjudgmentwillthrottleallfalseteachers.ThisisnotanidlethreatfromGod,andtheirdestructionorcondemnationisnotsleeping,itisactiveandGodiswaitingtounleashitonthem.PaulalsowritestoTimothyaboutprotectinghisdoctrine.1Timothy6:3-10describeshowfalseteachersareconceitedandthenhegoesontosaythatwemustbecontentwithwhatwehaveandtheloveofmoneyis“therootofallkindsofevil”andsomebylovingmoneyhave“wanderedawayfromthefaithandhavepiercedthemselveswithmanygriefs.”91WhywouldGodhavepurchasedussomethingonthecross(prosperityandmaterialwealth)thatPaulsayscanmakeuswanderawayfromthefaith?Thatwouldbeludicrous,butJohnson,theWOF,TWM,andNARteachthisintheirviewoftheatonement.2.8Conclusion InConclusion,TheBibletellsusclearlythroughJohnthatwearetotesteveryspiritandnotbelieveeverythingbecausetherearefalseprophetsintheworld.Herein1John4:1-6itgivesusclearinstructionsonfalseteaching,

“1)Beloved,donotbelieveeveryspirit,buttestthespiritstoseewhethertheyarefromGod,formanyfalseprophetshavegoneoutintotheworld.2)BythisyouknowtheSpiritofGod:everyspirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh isfromGod,3)andeveryspiritthatdoesnotconfess Jesus isnotfromGod. This is the spirit of the antichrist,which you heardwascomingandnowisintheworldalready.4)Littlechildren,youarefromGodandhaveovercomethem,forhewhoisinyouis greater than he who is in the world. 5) They are from theworld; therefore they speak from the world, and the worldlistenstothem.6)WearefromGod.WhoeverknowsGodlistenstous;whoeverisnotfromGoddoesnotlistentous.BythisweknowtheSpiritoftruthandthespiritoferror.”92

Wecanclearlyseethatwearetotesteveryspirit,becausetherearemanyfalseprophetsintheworld.EveryspiritthatconfessesthatJesusChristisGodpassesthetest.Unfortunately,mydearbrothersandsistersinChrist,itpainsmetowritetoyou,butfromholdingtheteachingoftheWOF,TWM,andNARincludingBillJohnson,BenFitzgerald(ofAwakeningEurope),andBethelChurchinReddingupto902Peter2:3911Timothy6:3-10921John4:1-6

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thelensofscriptureandhistoricalheresies,theydonotpassthetest.Theyarefalseteachers,andshouldberebuked,andallotherChristhonoringChristiansshouldbewarned.93Consideryourselfwarned.PleasedonotallowthisgangrenouscancerousteachingtoremaininourChristhonoringchurchesanymore.Churchleaderandpastor,Iaskyoutopleasediscernforyourselvesifyoushouldstopusingmaterials,visitingconferences,revivals,andsupportingBethelChurch,BillJohnson,theWOF,TWM,NARoranyoftheirassociates.Itcandamageyourfaith,andorthefaithofyourcongregations.Itcancauseirreversibleinjurytoeverything.Ihavewitnesseditfirsthandinmy20yearsofyouthandchurchministryhowdevastatingitcanbe.PleaseseriouslyconsiderleavingbehindandabandoningtheteachingoftheWOF,TWM,NARandBillJohnson’sBethelChurchinReddingCalifornia.“ThegraceoftheLordJesusChrist,andtheloveofGod,andthefellowshipoftheHolySpiritbewithyouall.”94

932Timothy4:2;Titus3:10-11942Corinthians13:14

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AppendixI:SourcesReferenced/Cited(SeeAlsoAnnotatedBibliography)ReddingNewspapercritiquehttp://www.redding.com/news/bethels-signs-and-wonders-include-angel-feathers-gold-dust-and-diamonds-ep-377152155-353401081.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3oFFZQqKdchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWeUNoR30_0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X1HC-3s3uIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fuhR7WEnrITheAgonyofDeceithttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/pastor-rick-henderson/osteen-meyer-prosperity-gospel_b_3790384.htmlhttp://www.bible.ca/tongues-encyclopedia-pentecostal-preachers.htmBethelHeresies,cultbehavior,anddeadlyactivityhttp://jesuscultureawakening.blogspot.de/2012/06/god-delivers-another-from-cult-of-jesus.html#.VvGbx8d07zKBillJohnsonCritiqueregardingSmokeCloud,GoldDust,andAngelFeathershttp://www.worldviewweekend.com/tube/video/exposing-false-teaching-bill-johnson-bethel-church-redding-caHereticalquotesfromBillJohnson:http://www.zedekiahlist.com/cgi-bin/quotes.pl?&id=57408920FullCritiqueofBethelhttp://jesuscultureawakening.blogspot.de/search/label/Bill%20Johnson#.VvG06Md07zJThoroughHereticaldissectionofBethel’steachingshttps://shepherdguardian.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/heresy-alert-bill-johnson-jesus-culture-and-bethel-church/BethelTV’sownGloryCloudVideohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvJMPccZR2YAlltheProsperityHeresyyoucanhandleallononeYouTubeChannelBethelTVhttps://www.youtube.com/user/ibetheltv/videos

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Schmelzer,Carsten.VineyardAGTheologie-EinblickeinBillJohnsonsHeilungstheologie.http://pastor-storch.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Bill-Johnsons-Heilungstheologie.pdf.EPUBFile.Kariuki,Mumbi.DeceptionInTheChurch::TheNewApostolicReformationAndTheEmergentChurch.N.p.:CreateSpaceIndependentPlatform,2016.Print.Osborn,Fredrick.TheNewReformation:AnAssessmentoftheNewApostolicReformationfromTorontotoRedding.N.p.:FredrickOsborn,2015.Geivett,R.Douglas.,andHollyPivec.ANewApostolicReformation?:ABiblicalResponsetoaWorldwideMovement.Print.Geivett,R.Douglas.,andHollyPivec.God'sSuper-apostles:EncounteringtheWorldwideProphetsandApostlesMovement.Print.McConnell,D.R.ADifferentGospel:AHistoricalandBiblicalAnalysisoftheModernFaithMovement.Peabody,MA:Hendrickson,1988.Print.Ross,Christopher.TheNewApostolicReformation:AnAnalysisandCritique.2005.Print.Simpson,Sandy.TheNewApostolicReformation:WhatIsItandWhereIsItGoing?PearlCity,HI:ApologeticsCoordinationTeam(ACT),2004.Print.Strom,Andrew.KundaliniWarning:AreFalseSpiritsInvadingtheChurch?UnitedStates:RevivalSchool,2010.Print.Weaver,John.TheNewApostolicReformation:HistoryofaModernCharismaticMovement.Print.

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AppendixII:BillJohnsonQuotesandAssociations…http://www.zedekiahlist.com/cgi-bin/quotes.pl?&id=57408920BillJohnsonTeachestheHealthGospelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzAwFYKe3h0HealingintheAtonementhttp://youthapologeticstraining.com/bill-johnson-and-healing-in-the-atonement/BibleTeachingsaboutNecromancyhttp://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/NecromancyBillJohnsonWolfinsheep’sclothinghttp://www.thebereancall.org/content/august-2012-q-and-a-1DocumentaryonLakelandRevival:andToddBentleyAnointedbyBillJohnsonasanApostlethroughtheNARandAnointingservice,andsoonthereafterBentleydivorcedhiswifefor“irreconcilabledifferences.”Hehadhadanongoingaffairwithanassistantfromtheministry.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDEsXVUQeLo&ebc=ANyPxKrOoh_3fFDfhgEznDZYaZJfp6ZoQsuIvoaQNDUtnJ1m9fhX54TD2cBinkE1p44zAL58nMCTDgixkQsPNic692VpbV8nvgToddBentleyControversyhttp://www.charismamag.com/spirit/devotionals/live-extraordinarily?view=article&id=2778:leaders-of-todd-bentleys-former-ministry-break-silence&catid=566BillJohnsonGoddoesnotCauseIllnessandneverallowsiteitherhttp://www.donotbesurprised.com/2013/08/bill-johnson-god-does-not-cause-illness.htmlBillJohnsonexplainstheGoldDustandAngelFeathershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcPkOR4Lwj0BenFitzgeraldtheonewhoisseenheregravesuckingattwodifferentgraves…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrHPTs8cLlshttp://www.awakeningeurope.com/godfest-team-en/ben-fitzgeraldKundaliniPractices:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KundaliniOrthodoxviewofTorontoBlessinghttp://orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/toronto.aspx

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SmithWigglesworth:WhomBillJohnsonPraisesandreveresandBenFitzgeraldvisitedhisgraveandsuckedtheHolySpiritfromhisboneshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrHPTs8cLlshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_WigglesworthBillJohnsonteachesonJesusemptyinghimselfofDivinityhttp://mywordlikefire.com/2014/07/21/bethels-bill-johnson-jesus-was-so-empty-of-divine-capacity/BillJohnsonBornAgainJesusPart1https://notunlikelee.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/bill-johnsons-born-again-jesus-part-i/BillJohnsonBornAgainJesusPart2https://notunlikelee.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/bill-johnsons-born-again-jesus-part-ii/BillJohnsonNewAgeChristPart1https://notunlikelee.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/bill-johnsons-christology-a-new-age-christ/BillJohnsonNewAgeChristPart2https://notunlikelee.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/bill-johnsons-christology-a-new-christ-part-ii/BillJohnsonNewAgeChristPart3https://notunlikelee.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/bill-johnsons-christology-a-new-age-christ-part-iiia/BillJohnsonNewAgeChristPart3bhttps://notunlikelee.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/bill-johnsons-christology-a-new-age-christ-part-iiib/BillJohnsonNewAgeChristPart4https://notunlikelee.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/bill-johnsons-christology-a-new-age-christ-part-iv-conclusion/WordofFaithAtonementhttp://www.givingananswer.org/articles/wordoffaithatonement.html“RevelationisnotsomethingyoucandigoutofaTheologicalbookorstudyguide.It’snotevensomethingyoucanunravelintheBibleallbyyourself.”TheSupernaturalPowerofaTransformedMind:(SamplePage1Introduction)“WhatisfreetooperateinHeaven—joy,peace,wisdom,health,wholeness,andalltheothergoodpromiseswereadaboutintheBible—shouldfreetooperatehereon

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theplanet….Whatisnotfreetooperatethere—sickness,disease,spiritualbondage,andsin—shouldnotbefreetooperatehere,period.”TheSupernaturalPowerofatransformedMind:(SamplePage2Day1)“Hasiteveroccurredtoyouthatoneofyourjobsonearthis…toprovethewillofGod?Yourcallingandmycallingasbelieversmaybetoomassivetofullyunderstand,buttheBible’scommandisclear:OurjobistodemonstratethattherealitythatexistsinHeavencanbemanifestedrighthere,rightnow.WearenotjusttobepeoplewhobelievetherightthingsaboutGod,butpeoplewhoputthewillofGodondisplay,expressingitandcausingotherstorealize,“ohsothat’swhyGodislike.”…JesustaughtanddemonstratedthattheKingdomofGodisapresenttensereality—itexistsnowintheinvisiblerealmandissuperiortoeverythinginthevisiblerealm.”TheSupernaturalPowerofatransformedMind:(SamplePage3Day2)QuotefromTheSupernaturalPowerofaTransformedMind:AccesstoaLifeofMiraclesPage31,35,41ThisisofcourseatotalmisinterpretationofRomans12:1-2thewordthereforproveis“Dokimadzo”anditmeanstotestbyimplicationtoapprove:allowordiscern,orexamine,prove,ortry.Thispassageissayingthatthroughnonconformitytothisworld,andbyrenewingyourmindthroughthescripturesyouwillbeabletoknowthewillofGodtestitandapprovewhathewantsyoutodo.Thisisofcoursepoorexegesisandhermeneutics.DominionistTheology:

1. Dominionists:AdamandEvelostDominionoftheearthtoSatan.TheResurrectedChristappointed.ChristeithercannotorwillnotreturnuntiltheChurchhasaccomplishedit.

"God’sideawastohaveaplanetengulfedinHisgloriousrule,withmankindflawlessly“provingthewillofGod”onearthasitisinHeaven…Ofcourse,weknowtheoriginalplangotderailed,andthatAdamforfeitedtherulershipGodgavehimovertheearth,puttinghumanityintoslaverytotheenemy…InthedeathandresurrectionofJesusChrist,Godtookbacktheauthoritymanhadgivenawayandreclaimedourpurposeonthisearth…We,theChurch,arecalledtoextendHisruleinthisearthlysphere,justasAdamwascalledtodo."TheSupernaturalPowerofatransformedMind:(SamplePage4Day3)HastheChurchregainedandreclaimedrulership?Dominion?Authority?HostingthePresence:OurDivineassignmentistobecarriersofthepresenceofGod“Jesusmodels,betterthananyoneinScripture,howtohostthepresenceoftheLord.Iwouldremindyouthat,obviously,JesusisGod.Heiseternal.Heisnotacreated

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beingbutheemptiedhimselfandbecameamanandlearnedhowtohostthepresenceoftheLord.Jesushimselfsaidthathesetasidehisdivinity.TheScripturestellusthatheemptiedhimself.Hecoulddonothingofhimself.NoneofthemiraclesdidhedoasGod.Hedidthemallasaman,yieldedtoGod.TheyareallexpressionsofalifeundertheinfluenceoftheHolySpirit.JesuslearnedtohostthepresenceoftheLordandindoingsowassoconsciousofGoduponhimthatwhenawomantouchedhisclothinghecouldtellpowerhadbeenreleasedfromhim.ImaginebeingsoawareoftheSpiritofGodonyouthat,eventhoughyouhaveconversationsgoingonwithpeoplearoundyou,eventhoughthereisacrowdpushinginaroundyouandtouchingyou,whenonepersonthattouchesyouinfaithandthereisawithdrawalfromyouraccountofpresence,orpower,youaresoconsciousofwhatyouarecarryingthatyourealizepresencehasbeenreleasedthroughyou.Itwasn’tbecausethepresenceinhimwasdepleted,becausetheSpiritofGodwasgiventohimwithoutmeasure.Itwasjustthathecouldtellthattherehadbeenademandputuponwhathecarried."ManifestoforaNormalChristianLife(SampleKindleEdition)“Andyouwillalwaysreflectthenatureoftheworldwearemostawareof.Whatyouliveconsciousofiswhatyouwillreproduceintheworldaroundyou."ManifestoforaNormalChristianLife(SampleKindleEdition)“TheHolySpiritUPONJesuswastheverypowerwhichwouldemanatefromhimtochangeandtransformpeople’slivesandcircumstances.Tormentsthatwereonpeoplewerebrokenoff,Diseaseswerehealed,andhopewasgiventopeoplewhohadnohope.Jesusruinedeveryfuneralthatheattended-includinghisown.ManifestoforaNormalChristianLife(SampleKindleEdition)RaisingBabiesfromthedead?ataJesusCultureConferenceinCleveland“TheyrealizedthatPaulcouldnotgoeverywheresotheywouldjusttakearticlesofhisclothingandtakethemtoasickordyingortormentedpersonandtheywouldbesetfree.Itwasn’tsimplyanactoffaith.Thatwouldbenobleenoughinitself.ButitwasbecausetheSpiritofGodcanactuallysaturatecloth.Andjustthesimpleresidue,thecrumbsfromthetable,wasenoughtobringdeliveranceandhealingwhenitwastakenfromthepresenceoftheLord."ManifestoforaNormalChristianLife(SampleKindleEdition)“Idon’tknowhowtolearnanythingbutbyexperimenting.ThosepeoplewholiketogetitrightthefirsttimeshouldstayawayfromthegiftsoftheSpirit,becausewehavetolearnbyexperiment,inacontextofsafety.”ManifestoforaNormalChristianLife(SampleKindleEdition)

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“WhenIbecameconsciousofthepresenceIwouldwalkintothestoreandthenIwouldstartbuyingwhateverIneeded.AndifwhatIwantedwasinoneparticularplaceintheshopI’dwalkupanddowntheotheraislesfirst.Iwouldn’tgostraighttoit.I’dwalkupanddowntheaisles,becauseIfeltlikeIwasasprinklersystemwalkingupanddown,wateringtheentireplacewithpresence.”ManifestoforaNormalChristianLife(SampleKindleEdition)"Iwasintoomuchpaintotalk.Irememberthinking,I’msuregladIgavemylifeBACKtoGodfourdaysago.IhavenofearofdeathbecauseIknowspirituallyI’mreadytomeetGod.Ialsorememberthinking,howdifferentthiswouldallbeifIwerestillbackslidden.TocomesoclosetodeathandnotberightwithGodwouldbeascarything.”TheEssentialGuidetoHealing(SampleKindleEdition)TellshisstoryofHisgrandmothervisitingheaventwotimesinanoutofbodyexperience.(HeavenTourismvisitation)BillJohnsonhasahereticalKenosisviewofChristBythis,theyarereferringtoJohnson’steachingthatChristsetasideHisdeityduringHisearthlysojourn.Johnsonhassaid,“Jesuswas(andis)God.EternallyGod.Thatneverchanged.ButHechosetolivewithself-imposedrestrictionwhilelivingonearthintheflesh—asaman.Indoingso,Hedefeatedsin,temptation,andthepowersofdarknessasaman.WeinheritHisvictory—itwasforus.Heneversinned!”(BillJohnson,Facebook3/21/2011).Consequently,that’snotallthathe’staughtorallthathisfollowershavesaid.SpeakingofJesus,Johnsonwrote,“Heperformedmiracles,wonders,andsigns,asamaninrightrelationshiptoGod…notasGod.IfHeperformedmiraclesbecauseHewasGod,thentheywouldbeunattainableforus”(Johnson,WhenHeavenInvadesEarth,p.29).That’shumanreasoning,andbyimplicationopensthewayforadeificationofmanJohnson’sviewofourLord’s“emptyingHimself,”ofwhichtheliteralmeaningis“humbledhimself”(Philippians2:7),alignsverywellwiththeLatterRain/Word-Faith“littlegods”teachingofKennethCopelandandothers.Johnsonhasgoneontosay,“GodgaveeverybelieverthepowertohealasJesusdid”(Johnson,“You’veGotthePower,”CharismaOnline,March2012).InlinewithWord-Faithteaching,JohnsonandhisfollowersspeakofthesepresumedabilitiesinawaythatsoundsverymuchlikemindscienceanddepartsfromScripture.CritiqueofBillJohnson’sviewofPenalSubstitution:Jesuspaidforyourhealthonthecross.http://www.donotbesurprised.com/2013/08/bill-johnson-god-does-not-cause-illness.html

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Bethel’sHealingmeditationschoolhttp://bethelsozo.comBillJohnsonAufDeutschhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c6kyfXzhG0&app=desktopJohnCrowderDrunkenGlorywhohasbeenendorsedbyJohnsonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNGPA6IdopgToddBentleyDocumentaryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDEsXVUQeLo&ebc=ANyPxKrOoh_3fFDfhgEznDZYaZJfp6ZoQsuIvoaQNDUtnJ1m9fhX54TD2cBinkE1p44zAL58nMCTDgixkQsPNic692VpbV8nvgRickJoynerMorningstarMinistriesOrthodoxDissectionofTorontoBlessing:http://orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/toronto.aspxJoelOsteenandJoyceMeyerhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/pastor-rick-henderson/osteen-meyer-prosperity-gospel_b_3790384.htmlEncyclopediaofWOFTeachershttp://www.bible.ca/tongues-encyclopedia-pentecostal-preachers.htm

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AppendixIII:Heresies

TheologicalheresiesthattheThirdWaveMovement,WordofFaith,orNewApostolicReformationencourage.1Timothy4:1-22Timothy4:3-52Timothy3:12Acts16:18GirlofDivinationproclaimedtruthDemonProclaimstruth,butPauldoesnotallowthegirltocontinueJude“theterm“heresy”referstoafalsedoctrine,i.e.onethatissimplynottrue,andthatis,inaddition,soimportantthatthosewhobelieveit,whomthechurchcallsheretics,mustbeconsideredtohaveabandonedthefaith.(Brown,HaroldO.J.Heresies:TheImageofChristintheMirrorofHeresyandOrthodoxyfromtheApostlestothePresent.GardenCity,NY:Doubleday,1984.Print.Page1)

2. Modalism:Godtakesdifferentmodesindifferentages.Thisistheageofthespirit

3. Gnosticism(buyingandsellingofspiritualoffices)Blendofself-worshipandphilosophy.Overvaluingofknowledgewithrespecttofaith."TheGnosticpositionassertsthatoverandabovethesimpleGospel,whichisallthattheordinaryspiritscanunderstand,thereisasecret,higherknowledgereservedforanelite.ItisnaturalenoughforpeopletoaskmorequestionsthattheGospelanswers;thegnosticmovementattemptedtogivetheanswers,anditdidsobydrawingonreligioussourcesalientoChristianityandamalgamatingthemwithelementsoftheGospelfaith.”(Ibid,39)

4. Docetism:ThatChristwasnottrulyhumanoronly“appearedtobehuman”(JesushadtobebornagainaleJoyceMeyer,KennethCopeland)

5. HypostaticUnion:KennethCopelandteachesagainsttheHypostaticunionthatwasaffirmedintheNiceneCreedbutlargelyrejectedbywordoffaithheretics

6. FurtherRevelation:ExtraBiblicalRevelation7. Adoptionism:JesusbecameGodafterhewas“filledBytheSpirit”8. Apolinarism:BillJohnsonteachesthatJesuswasonlyamandependenton

God.9. Arianism:teachesthatJesuswasnotdivinebutlaterbecamedivineafterhis

Baptism,andtaughtbyBillJohnsonandBethel10. Atonement11. Psilanthropism:RejectsJesusdivinity,eithersayingheneverbecamedivine,

neverwasdivineorwasnotpre-incarnate.allofwhichareinsomewaytaughtbytheThirdWaveMovement,WordofFaith,orNewApostolicReformation

12. Antinomianism:freedbygracefromanyadherencetoaMoralLawtaughtbythelikesofJoyceMeyerandJoelOsteen.Nevertalkingaboutsinoranydealingwithamorallaw.

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13. Dominionists:AdamandEvelostDominionoftheearthtoSatan.TheResurrectedChristappointed.ChristeithercannotorwillnotreturnuntiltheChurchhasaccomplishedit.

JohnPiperontheProsperityGospel:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-V_91c5ojUMattChandlerontheProsperityGospel:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3oFFZQqKdcListofChristianHeresieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_heresiesHeresyAlertBillJohnsonandJesusCulturehttps://shepherdguardian.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/heresy-alert-bill-johnson-jesus-culture-and-bethel-church/

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AppendixIV:ScripturesReferences

Ephesians4:14VerseConceptsAsaresult,wearenolongertobechildren,tossedhereandtherebywavesandcarriedaboutbyeverywindofdoctrine,bythetrickeryofmen,bycraftinessindeceitfulscheming;1Timothy1:18-20ThiscommandIentrusttoyou,Timothy,myson,inaccordancewiththepropheciespreviouslymadeconcerningyou,thatbythemyoufightthegoodfight,keepingfaithandagoodconscience,whichsomehaverejectedandsufferedshipwreckinregardtotheirfaith.AmongtheseareHymenaeusandAlexander,whomIhavehandedovertoSatan,sothattheywillbetaughtnottoblaspheme.2Timothy2:16-18Butavoidworldlyandemptychatter,foritwillleadtofurtherungodliness,andtheirtalkwillspreadlikegangrene.AmongthemareHymenaeusandPhiletus,menwhohavegoneastrayfromthetruthsayingthattheresurrectionhasalreadytakenplace,andtheyupsetthefaithofsome.Titus1:10-11Fortherearemanyrebelliousmen,emptytalkersanddeceivers,especiallythoseofthecircumcision,whomustbesilencedbecausetheyareupsettingwholefamilies,teachingthingstheyshouldnotteachforthesakeofsordidgain.Hebrews13:9VerseConceptsDonotbecarriedawaybyvariedandstrangeteachings;foritisgoodforthehearttobestrengthenedbygrace,notbyfoods,throughwhichthosewhoweresooccupiedwerenotbenefited.2Peter3:17Youtherefore,beloved,knowingthisbeforehand,beonyourguardsothatyouarenotcarriedawaybytheerrorofunprincipledmenandfallfromyourownsteadfastness,Romans16:17-18NowIurgeyou,brethren,keepyoureyeonthosewhocausedissensionsandhindrancescontrarytotheteachingwhichyoulearned,andturnawayfromthem.Forsuchmenareslaves,notofourLordChristbutoftheirownappetites;andbytheirsmoothandflatteringspeechtheydeceivetheheartsoftheunsuspecting.1Timothy1:3-4AsIurgedyouuponmydepartureforMacedonia,remainonatEphesussothatyoumayinstructcertainmennottoteachstrangedoctrines,nortopayattentiontomythsandendlessgenealogies,whichgiverisetomerespeculationratherthanfurtheringtheadministrationofGodwhichisbyfaith.Galatians1:8-9Butevenifwe,oranangelfromheaven,shouldpreachtoyouagospelcontrarytowhatwehavepreachedtoyou,heistobeaccursed!Aswehavesaidbefore,soIsayagainnow,ifanymanispreachingtoyouagospelcontrarytowhatyoureceived,heistobeaccursed!2Peter2:1

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Butfalseprophetsalsoaroseamongthepeople,justastherewillalsobefalseteachersamongyou,whowillsecretlyintroducedestructiveheresies,evendenyingtheMasterwhoboughtthem,bringingswiftdestructionuponthemselves.1.1Timothy6:5Thesepeoplealwayscausetrouble.Theirmindsarecorrupt,andtheyhaveturnedtheirbacksonthetruth.Tothem,ashowofgodlinessisjustawaytobecomewealthy.IncreaseinfalseteachingsinChristianity!2.2Timothy4:3-4Atimewillcomewhenpeoplewillnotlistentoaccurateteachings.Instead,theywillfollowtheirowndesiresandsurroundthemselveswithteacherswhotellthemwhattheywanttohear.Peoplewillrefusetolistentothetruthandturntomyths.Howtoidentifyfalseteachers?3.Isaiah8:20LooktoGod’sinstructionsandteachings!Peoplewhocontradicthiswordarecompletelyinthedark.4.Malachi3:18Thenyouwillagainseethedifferencebetweentherighteousandthewicked,betweenthosewhoserveGodandthosewhodonot.”5.Matthew7:15-17“Bewareoffalseprophetswhocomedisguisedasharmlesssheepbutarereallyviciouswolves.Youcanidentifythembytheirfruit,thatis,bythewaytheyact.Canyoupickgrapesfromthornbushes,orfigsfromthistles?Agoodtreeproducesgoodfruit,andabadtreeproducesbadfruit.6.1John2:22Andwhoisaliar?AnyonewhosaysthatJesusisnottheChrist.AnyonewhodeniestheFatherandtheSonisanantichrist.7.Galatians5:22-26ButthefruitoftheSpiritislove,joy,peace,patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,gentleness,andself-control.Thereisnolawagainstsuchthings.NowthosewhobelongtotheMessiahJesushavecrucifiedtheirfleshwithitspassionsanddesires.SincewelivebytheSpirit,bytheSpiritletusalsobeguided.Let’sstopbeingarrogant,provokingoneanotherandenvyingoneanother.Canwejudgeandexposefalseteachers?8.1Timothy1:3-4WhenIleftforMacedonia,IurgedyoutostaythereinEphesusandstopthosewhoseteachingiscontrarytothetruth.Don’tletthemwastetheirtimeinendlessdiscussionofmythsandspiritualpedigrees.Thesethingsonlyleadtomeaninglessspeculations,whichdon’thelppeoplelivealifeoffaithinGod9.Ephesians5:11Takenopartintheunfruitfulworksofdarkness,butinsteadexposethem.10.1Timothy1:18-20Timothy,mychild,Iaminstructingyouinkeepingwiththepropheciesmadeearlieraboutyou,sothatbyfollowingthemyoumaycontinuetofightthegoodfightwithfaithandagoodconscience.Byignoringtheirconsciences,somepeoplehavedestroyedtheirfaithlikeawreckedship.TheseincludeHymenaeusandAlexander,whomIhandedovertoSatansothattheymaylearnnottoblaspheme.Watchoutforfalsedoctrine.11.Galatians1:7-8notthattherereallyisanothergospel,buttherearesomewhoaredisturbingyouandwantingtodistortthegospelofChrist.Butevenifwe(oranangelfromheaven)shouldpreachagospelcontrarytotheonewepreachedtoyou,lethimbecondemnedtohell!

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12.2John1:10-11Ifanyonecomestoyouanddoesnotbringthisteaching,donotreceivehimintoyourhouseanddonotgivehimanygreeting,becausethepersonwhogiveshimagreetingsharesinhisevildeeds.13.Romans16:17-18AndnowImakeonemoreappeal,mydearbrothersandsisters.Watchoutforpeoplewhocausedivisionsandupsetpeople’sfaithbyteachingthingscontrarytowhatyouhavebeentaught.Stayawayfromthem.SuchpeoplearenotservingChristourLord;theyareservingtheirownpersonalinterests.Bysmoothtalkandglowingwordstheydeceiveinnocentpeople.14.Colossians2:8Seetoitthatnoonetakesyoucaptivebyphilosophyandemptydeceit,accordingtohumantradition,accordingtotheelementalspiritsoftheworld,andnotaccordingtoChrist.Warningagainstadding,takingaway,andtwistingScripture.15.Revelation22:18-19AndIsolemnlydeclaretoeveryonewhohearsthewordsofprophecywritteninthisbook:Ifanyoneaddsanythingtowhatiswrittenhere,Godwilladdtothatpersontheplaguesdescribedinthisbook.Andifanyoneremovesanyofthewordsfromthisbookofprophecy,Godwillremovethatperson’sshareinthetreeoflifeandintheholycitythataredescribedinthisbook.Testingthespirit:GuardyourselfwiththeBible.16.1John4:1Dearfriends,donotbelieveeveryonewhoclaimstospeakbytheSpirit.YoumusttestthemtoseeifthespirittheyhavecomesfromGod.Fortherearemanyfalseprophetsintheworld.17.1Thessalonians5:21Buttesteverything;holdfastwhatisgood.18.2Timothy3:16AllscriptureisgivenbyinspirationofGod,andisprofitablefordoctrine,forreproof,forcorrection,forinstructioninrighteousness:Rebukethem19.2Timothy4:2Bereadytospreadthewordwhetherornotthetimeisright.Pointouterrors,warnpeople,andencouragethem.Beverypatientwhenyouteach.20.Titus3:10-11Asforapersonwhostirsupdivision,afterwarninghimonceandthentwice,havenothingmoretodowithhim,knowingthatsuchapersoniswarpedandsinful;heisself-condemned.Reminders21.Ephesians4:14-15Thenwewillnolongerbeimmaturelikechildren.Wewon’tbetossedandblownaboutbyeverywindofnewteaching.Wewillnotbeinfluencedwhenpeopletrytotrickuswithliessoclevertheysoundlikethetruth.Instead,wewillspeakthetruthinlove,growingineverywaymoreandmorelikeChrist,whoistheheadofhisbody,thechurch.22.Jude1:4Forcertainindividualswhosecondemnationwaswrittenaboutlongagohavesecretlyslippedinamongyou.Theyareungodlypeople,whopervertthegraceofourGodintoalicenseforimmoralityanddenyJesusChristouronlySovereignandLord.TheymightlooklikeaChristiananddogooddeeds,butevenSatandisguiseshimself.23.2Corinthians11:13-15Thesepeoplearefalseapostles.TheyaredeceitfulworkerswhodisguisethemselvesasapostlesofChrist.ButIamnotsurprised!EvenSatandisguiseshimselfasanangeloflight.Soitisnowonderthathisservantsalsodisguisethemselvesasservantsofrighteousness.Intheendtheywillgetthepunishmenttheirwickeddeedsdeserve.

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24.2Timothy3:5Theywillactreligious,buttheywillrejectthepowerthatcouldmakethemgodly.Stayawayfrompeoplelikethat!25.John8:44Youbelongtoyourfather,thedevil,andyouwanttocarryoutyourfather’sdesires.Hewasamurdererfromthebeginning,notholdingtothetruth,forthereisnotruthinhim.Whenhelies,hespeakshisnativelanguage,forheisaliarandthefatheroflies.

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AppendixV:FlowChartoftheWOF,TWM,&NAR

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©2016RichardPinckneyMoorePropertyofDesperateImitationofChristFurther information for Richard’s Ministry can be found atwww.richardpmoore.blogspot.comThispapermayberedistributed,orcitedwithpermission,butonlywithoutanychangesbeingmade.