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This is so far out of line that it makes me embarrassed to acknowledge my first name.
Relatives attend Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas. After we visited there with them we talked about the church. When they said there is no elder board and that the church is governed by heads of other huge ministries from across the US I scratched my head. They also said that elders can get in the way of the vision of the pastor so his leaders need to agree with his vision. Cult like indeed.
One of the prime indicators in the business world that your company is run by the “pointy haired boss” is to rate the vapidity and cluelessness of the company’s vision and mission statements.
True for religion also.
Can one imagine Jesus having a “vision” statement?
Indeed, he had a mission. He just went about his life carrying it out.
The Gospel revealed in the Scriptures knows nothing of God speaking to people, unless He speaks to them audibly. The Holy Spirit only communicates the conviction of belonging to Christ (Rom. 8:16). For many years now, the evangelical community has held onto a mysticism that has produced every form of heresy until they almost can no longer hear the Gospel Paul taught. Today, we have Osteen teaching self-help and wealth and the sheeple drink deeply. This error is not a derivative of the Romanist error, but puts many of the gatherings in the same situation...lost.
Ping.
I could attract a crowd if I took my clothes off on a stage every Sunday. It would "work."
Would it result in souls converted to Christ, families committed to godliness, reconciliation, love of neighbor, and all those things the Bible tells are features of Christ's church? Does a "visioneering" pastor's church produce these results?
I don't know.
It is oddly coincidental that this story came out after watching a documentary last night about Jonestown. But then, I do not believe in coincidence...
I have explained to the church I serve as pastor that our mission has nothing to do with my going off somewhere and getting a word from the Lord. God does not give me visions. Actually the mission of the church is not difficult to discern. God has made it quite clear in his Word. The church is sent into the world to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of the Lord Jesus in the ways that he has prescribed (Matt 28:16-20; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:6-11). There is simply not a category in Scripture for a pastor who receives, by way of revelation from God, a particular mission for his church. It is not there. So why does this notion continue to flourish?
PFL. Thanks for posting this, Gamecock!
Excellent article. Many wise words. Thank you for sharing it.
My first comment is... God likes a flat organizational chart! Each person is to have their own direct connection to the Boss through His son. Never, ever surrender your will externally to another human being as if you do, you do not have the authority over your will to surrender it to God.
It appears that my purpose is to assist each person to use the Bible as their operating manual for their life as it is God’s scavenger hunt tool given to us as a guide to finding His hiding place.
Per above, “I raise these issues because I care about the purity of the church and the integrity of the pastoral office. I have no question that the cult of visioneering can produce results. It can attract crowds. It “works.” And if it were not so blatantly unbiblical and dangerous for the souls of those who follow I suppose it would be fine.”
Very good points... what are the fruits of the process. Is the harvest full or empty.
While it is sometimes very subtle, the question I ask is “Does the pastor get his power from the people who worship him or from his worshipping God. There is a big difference.
I once observed a Buddhist master who had such power that when he raised his hands, I could feel the wind from his energy on my body far away from him. (indoors)... Later that day I watched him more closely with a crowd of people. He asked that everyone pray for him. What I saw happening was him collecting the prayerful energy of all the people who were worshipping him. He concentrated all their energy like a magnifying glass does sunlight and focused it on the woman who was in charge of the conference who was standing right next to me. What I noticed was that it was NOT Divine Energy. It was a high volume of a low frequency energy. It appeared as though he were doing miracles, but they were not real.
I caught this woman as she was falling off her feet and shielded her from his energy. I reflected it right back at him which made him very angry. The human body cannot take high volumes of low frequency energy. It’s like using a thin wire for high voltage current. It fries! Shortly thereafter, this master died. It was an excellent learning experience for me. Always strive to grow closer to God and turn only to Him for my strength.
The very first time I observed a charismatic pastor manipulating people into the false born again experience, it made me physically sick to see this happen. I walked out into the cold freezing rain and turned to God and asked, “Why was I led here to see such a horrible thing.” The voice replied to me loud and clear, “This is how satan will lead my people astray.”
“We are united under the visionary”
Sounds like something Joe Goebbels would have come up with.
Do the church members all extend their right arms when they Amen?