However, Groeschel clearly understands it. Groeschel is famous for integrating secular psychology into his teaching. A false teacher who teaches the false doctrine that you can't be holy do so because they haven't yet experienced the new birth that comes with genuine salvation that brings about the new nature of Christ in a believer to enable them to live a holy life that's free from sin. This clip made the rounds on social media, but I first encountered it naturally while listening to what I assume was just another sermon. I dont say this to be dramatic, but I literally had to pause and rewind to make sure I really heard a pastor say what I thought he did. One more reason to avoid Lysa TerKeurst of Elevation Church. This is something God isnt too fond of. (2 Corinthians 9:7). Jesus is telling us in advance that the "broad way"no matter how well intentionedis not from Him. Help kids learn the truths (including Bible references) that refute each false message and write them on your list. They promise it. Speakers will regularly call for the online chat to type things in the comments, whether its something fun or proclaiming their new decision to be a Christian. Jakes, Paula White, and Hillsong. Conclusion: Is Life.Church safe for Christians? Because of their poor exegetical understanding of Malachi 3:10, they are bold enough to promise that God will bless those who give 10% of their income to the church. David Mathis is executive editor for desiringGod.org and pastor at. But its nonetheless essential to protecting the church from false teachers. False religion has "exchanged the truth of God for the lie.". Groeschel rightly believes that Christ is God. (Interestingly, theres zero mention of personality, charisma, or speaking ability in any of the Pastoral Epistles.). I dont mean for the label to sound sarcastic by saying I think. Their website and online chat have numerous ways for people to request prayer. Taking Gods name in vain isnt just using it as profanity. Consider, for example, the Epistle of Jude (and its parallel in 2 Peter 2). In short, the false teachers Jude warns against are denying Christ not necessarily through their doctrine but through their behavior. The church may excel at creating baby Christians, but the environment does little to help them grow up. If you visit their YouTube channel and sort their videos by most popular, their most-watched video is titled Your Porn Battle Plan. The sermon is exactly what youd expect it to be, and its encouraging to see that a church is willing to speak bluntly to a major problem. Our leaders need to be held accountable, and not held in such high esteem that we give them a pass on the normal Christian life. 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. In his head, he might have what many consider to be the right doctrinal content. Test me in this 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. Craig Groeschel is a businessman at heart. And despite the good things that Life.Church may do, there are many more problems that overshadow that good. The Doctrine Of Limited Atonement. His multi-site church is one of the fastest growing churches in America with over 27,000 attendees. 9. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. In several sermons, I heard Groeschel appeal to people's need to stop living for themselves and instead be obedient to God and the holy living He calls us to. There are several things that will help you spot a false church, so that you will not be deceived. My Experiences with False Teachers. However, the Bible warns us that false teachers hide in the church like weeds among wheat. The apostle Peter also warned Christians that false teachers would arise (2 Peter 2:1). 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. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Is regularly giving money to support our local church biblical? (2011) 1,348,335; (2021 est . False Teacher - Craig Groeschel The Prettified Gates of Hell Satan, by his gospel, offers an ample entranceway through which you, and all you have, can enter. And those who do are worth his entire church mocking right alongside him. If God desires that only men are in the role of pastor, then Life.Church is functioning and teaching in rebellion to God. Sin is never specifically explained in the majority of sermons unless the sermon topic is about a very specific sin (porn, anger, etc). [ This article is also available in
Like so many churches across all denominations, Life.Church is guilty of leading so many people to a false sense of salvation. Furtick has a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and 6.3 million followers on Facebook. . These pastor-teachers confessed Christ with their mouths but denied him with their bodies. When sermons appeal to peoples emotions, rather than appealing to Gods word, theyre equipped to be led by emotion. Historically, Groeschel has also supported false teachers like Steven Furtick and Joel Osteen. Yet Life.Church is more than just a fluffy, come-as-you-are church with motivational sermons. The only reason this isnt a red flag is that the stories (usually) drive people to understand biblical truth. Emphasis on community Some may reach the end of this article and be furious because it feels like an attack on a personal experience. 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). Its 35 minutes of telling people that they dont see results because they dont dream big enough. Life.Church must shrug their shoulders, say I guess God was a liar this time, and refund the investment of someone who trusted God for three months and saw that He isnt everything they were promised. Basically, what this teaching promotes is the belief that you simply have to believe and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and you're already saved! Making Life.Church a part of your walk with Christ risks far too much for so little gain. observe and evaluate students' performance and development. Like cancer, it rots beliefs, then character, and ultimately pulls people away from Christ and his church. Im sure people have stories of how God spoke to them or changed their lives through Life.Church. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. But what exactly does this faith entail? One of the mysteries of the Christian faith can be found in Jesus' warning that the way to life is "narrow" and that "few" would actually find it. In the best scenario, a Christian will attend Life.Church and remain spiritually immature forever. During the gospel presentation, sin is regularly explained as messing up., Describing sin in this way is like telling someone to be afraid of a spaghetti noodle. When the power of a message rests in the personality, charisma, and cleverness of the speaker instead of the power of Christ and the Bible, then people arent changing because of truth. [emphasis mine]. 7:15). 1:6; Col. 2:20; 1 Tim. I dont discount Gods sovereignty in saving His people no matter how bad we may fumble things. People arent excited about what God reveals in the Bible, but instead live through the stories and experiences of others while dreaming of someday, somehow, having their own experiences. The comments would often be along the lines of The sermons may be shallow, but the gospel presentation is clear. And as I listened to my first few sermons, I likewise found myself impressed with how clearly they give the gospel. The false teachings of the New Apostolic Reformation, Word of Faith and Prosperity Gospel have contributed to these false assumptions. 2:1). This of course contradicts their last sentence that says hell is a real place, but by not capitalizing it they arent committing to a biblical definition of Hell. The personality on the screen cant shepherd a flock three states away, the local pastors dont fulfill a primary function of teaching, and the church that isnt the pastors primary location becomes more like a franchise than a local church. 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. This is why 2 Peter 2:9, the apex of this chapter on false teaching, serves as such a sweet assurance the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials.. Its using His name in any way that is disrespectful, false, or misleading. The reason this is a huge issue right now is that many churches have temporarily begun moving many of their regular "in person" activities to livestream, YouTube, Zoom, Skype, etc., due to COVID restrictions that prevent members from gathering together easily. Here is a list of of the more obvious heretics/false teachers to be marked & avoided: (not exhaustive) Angley, Ernest [Word of Faith] Armstrong, Karen [Progressive] Arnott, John [leader Toronto "Blessing", Latter Rain] Bakker, Jamie [Emergent Church] Bakker, Jay [Emergent Church, neo-liberal] Bakker, Jim [Prosperity Theology] It may seem odd to speak to Christians worldwide about one specific church. Despite the unstructured nature of evangelicalism, its leaders, churches, and institutions have long sought to teach and worship rightly. Notice the quoted text. The emphasis on practice continues through the rest of the short epistle, adding further details about false teachers denial of the faith. 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.. Furtick wrote in the post. In the Book of Titus, Paul lists Christian virtues like hospitality, self-control, and love of goodness as the foundation for an overseers ability to preach with sound doctrine (1:89). Some were small, others grandiose, but all were false and misleading. Real Christians never miss a church service.". use relevant technology to support instruction. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org Hello, friends and subscribers to the Fundamental Baptist Information Service. (Romans 12:2). When you click Take the Challenge, you can read this under the terms: 7. #6 Hyper-grace. (Romans 6:23), Some may have noticed this in the previous point, but it needs to be directly pointed out. A Christian blog and podcast by Ray Burns. False teachers will be known by their ungodly influence . . Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" ( 1 Tim. Not only do they have churches in 12 U.S. states (including a recent church plant in my own state of Iowa), but they have a compelling and approachable online presence. At the end of the three-month period, if I am not convinced of Gods faithfulness to bless my life as a result of my obedience to His Word, then I will be entitled to request a refund of the full amount of contributions made during that three-month period. Many churches, whether innocently or manipulatively, tell people that God demands 10% of their income. That's what Craig Groeschel experienced and offers his hearers. 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