Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3:10 NIV. Like I said, its a really strange statement. Ill be discussing the various aspects of Life.Church under three broad categories: Green Flags: Those things I believe the church does wellYellow Flags: Things that are problematic, but dont reject sound biblical teaching or compromise the gospelRed Flags: Reasons Christians should avoid or outright reject Life.Church and their teachings. Ill discuss this more down below, but Groeschel and other pastors have demonstrated that they do understand how to do exegesis. Topical preaching is so common throughout modern churches that many people may not realize theres anything else. The rest of the time is spent getting people emotionally invested in entertaining or heartwarming stories, motivating them with clever ideas or saying, and doing anything other than actually discussing what Gods word teaches. Jesus is the one who helps us be who were meant to be. So Groeschel is essentially saying that his words, especially as he teaches his church, dont need to fall under what is established in Gods word. Keep a list in your home to refer to. I wasnt comfortable with using their request prayer feature on the website just to see what would happen, but I imagine someone on the other end truly does pray for the requests that are sent in. 8 As the head, Jesus is the one who governs, controls, and provides for His body. Although their poor interpretation of Malachi 3:10s relevance is troubling (this command was to the nation of Israel, as was its connected promise), the extreme they take this to is blasphemous. Practically speaking, there are several steps to guarding your kids from false teaching: Identify the false teaching and messages through lots of open conversations. Life.Church doesnt present any barriers for its listeners. Other things worth knowing for this discussion include: The goal of this article isnt to pick on a random church, but instead to create a resource for those in my area who are becoming interested in attending Life.Church locally. Groeschel and the other pastors are meant to protect not only themselves but the people that God has given them to care for. But when we focus on God and the reality of how He views our sin, we understand why He hates it and why we need Christ. If one reads the writings of the early church fathers and the documents of the church councils it becomes obvious . Or is what Gods word says of so little importance that it would be removed and much of the pastors sermon would still make sense? Within that goal, they recognize that our holy God has likewise called us to holiness. However, if we were to boil sermons down to their bare essence, we could lump them into two groups: In other words, how necessary is the Bible to any given sermon? And if someone grew up learning what the Bible says about sin and what Christ did on the cross, its a very solid presentation of the gospel. And if we want to achieve ultimate happiness and success in life, we need to stop sinning and follow Jesus. So His criticism is that God didnt submit Himself to the context and authority of what was written in His own word (even though Luke 4:16-21 highlights Christs respect for context). ]. There are several things that will help you spot a false church, so that you will not be deceived. But there is also longstanding historical myopia when it comes to the embodiment of doctrine in daily practice. We preach the unadulterated word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It also shows us what the church leaders believe about God and our purpose in life. Whether or not we try to put a Christian wrapper on it, this worldview says that our greatest problem is that we dont love ourselves enough, and we need salvation from our bad thoughts. God calls us to give the first 10% of our income back to Him. Again and again, Peters descriptions relate to greed, sensuality, and pride or money, sex, and power. Peter has very little to say about compromised teaching, but he gives a litany of descriptions about compromised lives. Munich, by far the largest city in southern Germany, lies about 30 miles (50 km) north of the edge of the Alps and along the Isar River, which flows through the middle of the city. Paul said their "message will spread its infection like gangrene" (2 Tim 2:17). It comes as no surprise that God warns us many times in Scripture to be aware of false teaching. They are divisive 2. Its time to change your mind so God can change your life. Consider, for example, evangelical pastor-teachers like George Whitefield, who not only enslaved Black peoplemany of whom were Christian sisters and brothersbut also fought to secure the institution of slavery in the state of Georgia. False teachers usually teach for financial gain or to build their own following. If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. And now, like millions of Christians worldwide, I have everlasting life through my faith in Him (John 3:36; 6:47). Thats simply not the case. Lots of people are teachers who are simply misguided and unhelpful in many ways, but might not come under the ban of being called a false teacher. However, the idea of mandatory tithing is deeply entrenched in Christian tradition. The few benefits they may offer are nothing compared to the serious issues faced by the church and its leadership. Jakes, Paula White, and Hillsong. Most false teachers live and die by their stories. If we had any doubts at this point, Peter joins the refrain to add another voice: There will be false teachers among you (2 Peter 2:1). And it is his embodied teaching that causes the weak to stumble, leads many astray, and drives countless others away from Christ. If God desires that only men are in the role of pastor, then Life.Church is functioning and teaching in rebellion to God. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. (Mark 13:2223; see also Matthew 24:24). This mentality, honestly, spins my brain in circles. Is the Bible so prominent that you could remove its use that the sermon would absolutely fall apart? Even in the online chat, I saw several instances of new people being welcomed and engaged. No doubt, false teachers may be difficult to recognize in the moment. And we must continue to do so, not in a mouthing-the-words way but in a conviction-of-the-heart-and-mind way. 8. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Jesus Christ Isn't The Only Way. His multi-site church is one of the fastest growing churches in America with over 27,000 attendees. instruct and monitor students in the use of learning materials and equipment. Fresh Life Church is an egalitarian church. The headship of Jesus over His church is a truth that is still being assaulted today. (1 Timothy 2:11-12). If someone fails to provide for the needs of his household, he has denied the faith (1 Tim 5:8). False teachers will be known by their ungodly influence . I would not be who I am today if it wasn't for godly leaders in the church. Seven times in the book of Hebrews, the author captures the heart of Christianity in a simple, wonderful command: draw near. The Bible is lightly sprinkled in, but the real feature is stories of incredible things happening. In Colossians, Paul warns against a . We mess up when we dial the wrong number, misspell a word, or mistake tablespoons and teaspoons when adding salt to a recipe. We should not be surprised to find false teaching in the church today. The Doctrine Of Annihilation. And despite the good things that Life.Church may do, there are many more problems that overshadow that good. The first reason why elders must rebuke false teachers is because they divide healthy churches. Life.Church is a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). The church has blessed me with opportunities to worship, learn, serve and make lifelong friends. THEY ARE DIVISIVE. One thing he says is: If you dont accept the reality of Hell youll never appreciate the glory of the gospel.. Consider also pastor-teachers like Douglas Hudgins, pastor of First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi, and one of the most influential Southern Baptist preachers in his day. I would like to test Gods faithfulness by accepting the Three-Month Tithe Challenge. For further reading, 9Marks has an excellent breakdown of 22 problems with multi-site churches. The false prophets claiming God said this! were taking Gods name in vain. In several sermons, I heard Groeschel appeal to peoples need to stop living for themselves and instead be obedient to God and the holy living He calls us to. The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. This was an alarming reality I noticed as I listened to sermon after sermon. False Doctrine 4 - The Sabbath Day Abolished. The question is whether you can discern which messages are false. This could easily be a red flag, but I will discuss something even more concerning there. They defile the flesh, reject authority, and participate in deeds of ungodliness (vv. Fresh Life Church has a standard faith statement that is biblical and not particularly useful for this assessment. As I researched Life.Church, I was surprised to see solid Christians giving their (sometimes begrudging) support. In a 36 minute sermon, less than five minutes may be spent actually interacting with Gods word or explaining whats being said. He also shares ways that God directly spoke to him about these things. You won't find any glaring errors in the . Theres a vast difference between being neglectful during one sermon and having a formulaic gospel presentation that purposely ignores the wrath of God against our sin. We arent called to just grow personally, but to grow together. Church leaders in the first several centuries pressed for clarity in worship and proclamation of this one person, the incarnate, preexistent Son, Jesus of Nazareth. Following is a list of the false prophets in the Church today that have been critiqued on this site. Craig Groeschel is a businessman at heart. The things they say, do, and believe are outright dangerous. Four other congregations with female pastors were also determined to be not in friendly cooperation with the SBC, as well as one removed over its abuse response. But in the end, the wages of messing up is death doesnt really make sense. Little, if anything, can be done to hold teachers accountable who are far away, but much should be realistic and actionable in the life of the local church. But, as historian Jemar Tisby said recently, We have to understand that theology is not merely stated but lived., Indeed, relegating Christianity to the realm of doctrinal propositions inevitably leads to, as theologian William Cavanaugh says, limit[ing] the range of Christian faith from the entire body of the believer to the space between the ears.. Life.Church was listed on Newsmax's "top 50 megachurches of America", with approximately 100,000 people attending weekly. But what exactly does this faith entail? So many Christians, including Groeschel, try to make the interpretations of a secular worldview find harmony with Gods truth, but in the end they weaken both psychology and the Bible. Life.Church may not promote this misunderstanding on purpose, but tithing is a major part of their church and it begins with a false foundation. Posted By Marsha West on September 5, 2016 in Discernment, False Teacher Alert, Women and the Church 13. God Isn't A Trinity. Christians can get things out of the sermons just as an adult can get nutrition out of baby formula. False teachers from "among the people [en t la] . Furtick wrote in the post. However, Life.Church is much more likely to weaken, stunt, or even destroy a Christians walk with Christ by replacing it with a selfish, shallow, and even unbiblical substitute. False Prophets in the Church Today. Shepherds should smell like sheep, because they live and walk among the sheep, and are not sequestered from the flock. They were at the starting gate. But in this scenario, Jesus is our means to an end. We see this most clearly, perhaps, in the history of racism and American evangelicals. There are many critiques we can bring against any multi-site church. Many churches, whether innocently or manipulatively, tell people that God demands 10% of their income. Elizabeth Prata of The End Time reveals yet another reason to leave Lysa. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (2011) 1,348,335; (2021 est . However, the Bible warns us that false teachers hide in the church like weeds among wheat. Much of the music they sing is fairly typical for a contemporary church, but the way they do it creates a feeling of a concert more than buildings of people worshipping God together. So the red flag isnt that they dont believe in Gods wrath against sin, but that thousands of people have asked Jesus to save them, and those without a background in Christian-ese likely accepted a false gospel of self-help and positive thinking, which is not a saving gospel at all. David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Heresies (false teachings that . He even has a popular book called Winning the War In Your Mind. Heres the summary from Amazon (emphasis mine): Are your thoughts out of controljust like your life? Conversions credited to women evangelists sharing the good news one-on-one in conversations. However, while some churches can have a strong sense of community, they can become so insulated that outsiders feel intimidated. I didnt want to hastily dismiss the church, so I gained a better understanding by: While I havent exhausted everything about Life.Church, I did spend over 20 hours researching important areas so that I can give a fair and measured evaluation for this article. From Life.Churchs website:Tithing is a biblical principle. Christians have believed and confessed these core teachings or doctrines for going on two millennia. On its own, this can come down to preference more than concern. Taking Gods name in vain isnt just using it as profanity. No one understands God perfectly, so be generous and helpful long before you condemn and cast someone out. Jude continues: For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (v. 4). #6 Hyper-grace. When we say it was hell, we mean that it was a miserable experience. The ultimate goal of this is simply to get people to say yes and pray a prayer. But he is teaching with his whole personwords and deedsnot just explicitly named doctrines. Paul's epistles and early church history prove that. Its easy to hear someones teaching online or at a large conference, but how can we know their lives are true? They talk about eternity apart from God in the same way someone may talk about living through war or working at a horrible job. However, its exciting to hear, and people are drawn to the idea that they can have everything their greedy hearts desire if they just believe hard enough. To that end, anyone who regularly listens to Life.Church and comes away feeling like they heard a deep or challenging message is almost guaranteed to be either spiritually immature or not saved at all. In several instances, I saw a host in the online chat type out a prayer after someone requested prayer for something like healing. With Gossip of the Gospel, the Church Grows in Nepal, Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church. Poor leaders proclaim Christ in word but deny him with their lives. Jesus Is The Archangel Micah. 1:6; Col. 2:20; 1 Tim. He just doesnt care, nor does he want his people to value handling Gods word carefully. Transition to "why" 1. From their church beliefs (emphasis mine): People were created to exist forever. They were (and are) a different kind of false teacher: heretics of the heart. The same struggles and deceptions that plagued the early church continue to plague modern-day believers. We want to do things to be happy, or change because were miserable. He denies the full humanity of women in both word and deed, advocates for profane views of gender and sex, rages with unrepentant pride, engages in habitual self-promotion, and manipulates and abuses others. Life.Church is the largest church in America, according to Wikipedia, and has roughly 100000 attendees and over 35 franchises. Craig Groeschels wife, Amy, is even called Pastor Amy on their own website. And those who do are worth his entire church mocking right alongside him. Teaching through experiences, not the Bible. Jude encourages us to confront ungodly and licentious living. Theyve discussed some other subjects many Christians wonder about but may struggle to find answers to. The church has learned through the ages that to deny the core doctrines of our faith is to deny Christ. . Our Lord preached good news that assumed the total integration of belief and action: If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15, emphasis added to all). Another danger is that anything is justified when the numbers support it. It may seem odd to speak to Christians worldwide about one specific church. While preaching through Luke 5, Furtick . The first false teaching that you will commonly hear in mainstream Christianity would be the teaching, "faith alone.". They have LifeGroups for people at all stages of life, and the material I found shows that they emphasize growing together in a community of other Christians. In 1 Corinthians 3:2, Paul chastises the church for still being spiritually immature and weak in their thinking and understanding. False religion has "exchanged the truth of God for the lie.". For most of church history, it took extraordinary energy and effort to influence the masses. Sin is never specifically explained in the majority of sermons unless the sermon topic is about a very specific sin (porn, anger, etc). They take Christs call to make disciples as a call to treat the church like a business. And so it is with ethical compromise. More numbers equal more disciple-making. Within that goal, they recognize that our holy God has likewise called us to holiness. If you tithe for three months and dont see Gods blessings in your life, we will refund 100% of your tithe. [emphasis mine]. To share this article with your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. Maybe its time we start believing him, and act accordingly. Here is a video where Groeschel takes a firmer stance on Hell. No matter how twisted the teaching, no matter how publicly shamed the church may feel over the expos of an unethical leader, no matter how dark the days become, no matter how helpless we may feel in guarding gospel doctrine and preserving gospel-worthy lives, we have this great sustaining hope: Jesus knows how to rescue the godly. Even someone who isnt a Christian can sit under the teachings of Groeschel and his guests for years and walk away feeling motivated and empowered to change their lives. When sermons appeal to peoples emotions, rather than appealing to Gods word, theyre equipped to be led by emotion. 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