— Critical issues concerning the Church —

Fellow Soldier,

By way of reminder, the Field Report deals with critical corporate issues, whereas Soldier to Soldier targets personal Christian matters.

We herein report on another pervasive enemy scheme to corrupt the Church, yet one which generally goes unrecognized.  In fact, it’s even accepted as normal in entire denominations and evangelical circles.  But in fact, it is blatantly heretical and divisive.

After being born-again in the midst of a cult, we both were later captured by another heretical movement. Escaping it, we then landed in a “safe” denomination which, undiscerned by we young believers, showcased an unbiblical doctrine.  We cite this because all three also taught a two-tiered form of Christianity.

Multi-level Christianity

Are you a “world-class” Christian?

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in him which is the head." — Col 2:8-10a

Rick Warren claims his Purpose Driven (PD) scheme produces “world-class” Christians.¹ Brian McLaren advertises that his mysticism-laced, Emergent Church (EC) idea is creating a higher order saint.² Peter Wagner suggests we all need be governed by neo-apostles in his New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)³.  Pentacostals and Charismatics say we must have a “second blessing” to be complete.

Through such movements, countless millions have been deceived into believing there are two levels of Christianity: garden variety, and elite.  This heresy is called pietism ... sometimes, elitism.

Pietism / Elitism

In fewest words: proponents teach that there is a higher order of Christianity than recorded in scripture.  They claim that following their methodology will lead God’s people, variously, into a deeper walk; higher spiritual turf; closer to God; greater power; more God-pleasing life, etc.  “More,” meaning, having more than the average (biblical) Christian.  Appealing to one’s earnest desire to be the best Christian we can (and to our pride) promulgators concoct their own means to such ends as they pilfer the unwary from God’s flock.  Following are a few examples of common pietistic movements and methods.

Catholicism⁴ (the world’s largest, richest and most politically influential cult) uses two methods which they claim will elevate a biblical Christian: mysticism and monasticism.  Mysticism’s contemplative prayer and meditation methodology supposedly permits any person to contact God directly — effectually making the substitutionary work of Christ unnecessary.  Even regeneration!  Monasticism implies that a cloistered, covenanted and ascetic lifestyle will produce superior Christians.  Aside from the fact monastic vows are unbiblical (poverty, chastity and obedience) centuries of experience prove it to be a failed concept.  Indeed, it produces doctrinally imbalanced, religious and Pope-bound persons, rather than saints free in Christ Jesus. In other words, persons who scarcely measure up to scripture’s definition of “Christian” — no less an elite version.  Though undoubtably sincere, it’s pompous and prideful pietism.

Pentacostalism.  Its foundational claim is that Christians must be “Spirit- baptized” in order to live victoriously, or ... certainly, to minister.  They say a “second enduement” or “second blessing,” otherwise called, “baptism of the Holy Spirit,” is required to be a superior or more powerful believer.  Indeed, much of their thinking and teaching focuses on this idea.  Commonly asked questions by proponents are: “Are you Spirit baptised?” and, “Do you have the gift of tongues?” — the latter supposedly certifying the first. But, has their methodology produced a higher order Christian?  No.  In fact, ten minutes of online research will reveal that the majority of today’s and the last century’s false teachers, unbiblical movements, heresies and scams are rooted in pentacostalism.  Nonetheless, a biblical Christian is often made to feel inferior in their “elite” midst.  Though sincere and well intended, this is unbiblical pietism.

Charismatic movement.  From its 1959 Catholic launch in Steubenville, Ohio, it leapt to Michigan in the mid 60s before bursting more broadly onto the corporate scene.  Led by Full Gospel Businessman’s Fellowship, Women’s Aglow and budding Christian TV, like a magnet, it attracted particles from the Latter Rain, Manifest Sons of God, Branhamites, Dominionists, Word-Faith-ers, leg lengtheners, metaphyicians and opportunists — plus tarnished faith healers and tent revivalists left over from the 40s and 50s.  These all coalesced into what has since been unflatteringly labeled Charismania;5 now dominated by the Word-Faith Movement and “Christian” television.  Some of the more odious fruit of this amalgamation is TBN, Charisma magazine, Holy Laughter, Toronto Blessing, Brownsville Outpouring, Hinn and Bentley’s more recent, Lakeland Revival.

Threads of mysticism are woven into their doctrinal fabric and all teach an aberrant, multi-level form of Christianity; by any other name: another gospel (2Cor 11:4; Gal 1:6).  They try to convince that, in addition to scripture’s straight-forward requirements to becoming God-pleasing persons, something else is necessary to really be favored, or to live victoriously.  They imply that being an average Christian isn’t enough, and each suggest they alone are privy to the missing ingredient; as it were ... a talisman.  They would variously have us jabber, meditate, laugh, shake, rattle, roll, oscillate, bray, howl, confess, declare or dance our way into an elevated, two-tiered, Christianity.  Bazaar pietism!

However, not all expressions of pietism (or elitism) are so conspicuously unscriptural.  More subtle forms surreptitiously slip in under the radar to even be accepted as biblical.  Example are: Wesley’s traditional Methodism; Warren’s Purpose Driven Christians, and the Hebrew Roots Movement.  The latter claims New Covenant believers must celebrate Jewish feasts, hold to their sabbath, etc.  More subliminally, some fellowships infer that members must participate in certain of their own activities to become more pleasing to our Lord; i.e. must tithe; attend all meetings, etc..  Pietism.

What does Scripture say?

The apostle Paul speaks clearly to the church on such matters.  Just prior to our opening text, he says: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him" (Col 2:6).     To paraphrase, “You were taught the scriptural truth, now — stick with it!”  Two verses later, he issues a warning:  "See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (V8). Being keenly aware of satanic tactics, Paul knew full well that, after one has accepted the simple, yet complete gospel unto salvation, a great challenge is to cling to it in the face of ongoing demonic onslaughts.  He then forewarns about attacks from outside the church: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29).  Near the Bible’s end, Jude writes about this danger (but by then, in past tense) — “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.  For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.  They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 1:3,4).  Both apostles identify these men as wolves; unregenerate, godless men.

However, if you’ve been in the church very long, you’ve learned that the far greater danger arises from within.  Why?  because we trust our brothers and sisters in Christ and, rightly so.  But trust must be tempered by discernment and scripture addresses this danger as well: “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Therefore watch” (Acts 20:30,31a).  Here Paul makes starkly clear that we must remain vigilant ... even in the sanctuary.  Elders and pastors can go astray, leading others awry.  After 33 years of navigating churchdom, I venture to say that for every outside “wolf” attack — there are many more by fleece-draped and trusted ones from within.  Jesus Himself warns: Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (Mt 7:15).  Today’s “sanctuaries” can be perilous!

Compromisers have opened the sanctuary to pagans and routinely turn their pulpits (and flocks) over to false teachers.  Moreover, under the guise of “Bible Study,” many teach from the enemy’s publications.  False teachers, with few exceptions, promote an unbiblical, multi-level Christianity; i.e.: Rick Warren and his Purpose-Driven agenda.  His 40-day program subjects God’s people to seven full weeks of stewed theology: mysticism, humanism, pietism, make-believe Bibles, etc.  Spiritual botulism!  Oh, how it grieves and riles to report such things.  But, biblically, I must ... and so must you.⁶

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him.  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught (Col 2:6,7a).  “There are no extraordinary Christians, but being an ordinary Christian is an extraordinary thing.”⁷

1. Purpose Driven Life — Rick Warren, pps 297-300, Zondervan 0-310-20571-9
2. Mystic Madness: Spiraling Down The Pit  — J. Alnor, www.apostasyalert.org
3. The New Apostolic Church movement —  www.letusreasontogether.org/latrain21
4. Emergent Church Markets Catholicism — R. Bennett, www.bereanbeacon.org
5. Charisma vs Charismania — Chuck Smith, Word For Today Pub, 0-936728-49-3
6. Ezk 3:17-21; Acts 17:10,11; 20:31; 1Cor 4:14; 1Thes 5:14; etc.

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