Related: Part 2: Mutating DNA
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INTRODUCTION: In his book "The DARK SIDE of the Purpose-Driven Church",
Noah Hutchings (December 11, 1922 – died June 17, 2015) reveals a recent church blight and the greatest paradigm shift in church government and message since Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany in 1517.
Without doubt, Dr. Rick Warren and the Purpose Driven Church has become a tremendous force in the world, but Noah Hutchings sees a dark side to this force.Dr. Warren stated on May 23, 2005, at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: "The word 'Fundamentalist' actually comes from a document in the 1920's called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity."
The five fundamentals of the faith to which Dr. Warren objected are:
- The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible.
- The virgin birth and full Deity of Jesus Christ.
- The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
- Christ's atoning, vicarious death for the sins of the world.
- The literal Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The Purpose Driven Church religion at best is a distortion of the gospel; at worst, a movement to unite all religions to produce a one-world church.
The DARK SIDE of the Purpose Driven Church is available on Amazon.
(or free thru SW Radio Ministries)
(https://www.amazon.ca/Dark-Side-Purpose-Driven-Church/dp/0984630082)
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The Church Growth Movement, also known as the Purpose Driven Church/Life Movement, is sweeping through many churches throughout the United States today. Because this movement has caused the breakup and division of those churches, we receive more questions from our listeners and supporters about the Purpose Driven Church Movement than on any other subject.
(or free thru SW Radio Ministries)
(https://www.amazon.ca/Dark-Side-Purpose-Driven-Church/dp/0984630082)
______________________________________________
The Church Growth Movement, also known as the Purpose Driven Church/Life Movement, is sweeping through many churches throughout the United States today. Because this movement has caused the breakup and division of those churches, we receive more questions from our listeners and supporters about the Purpose Driven Church Movement than on any other subject.
These concerns from listeners prompted us to set up a resource section for those who want to find out more about the Church Growth Movement and the Purpose Driven Church Movement/
About the Church Growth Movement
According to Dr. Larry Spargimino in his article "The Megafall of the Megachurch," Donald A. McGavran, known as the "father of the church growth school," and one of his students, C. Peter Wagner, promoted the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary throughout the evangelical, pentecostal, and charismatic movements staring in the 1960s.
Wagner went on to establish the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelism. Its first international congress was held in 1974, headlined by none other than Billy Graham. However, basic Bible doctrine was the great casualty at the conference because it was viewed as being divisive.
What the Church Growth Movement Believes
Every movement has a set of core beliefs, and the Church Growth Movement is no exception. The founders set forth five basic tenets:
- God's will for every local church is numerical growth. It is important for churches to grow numerically. However, according to the Church Growth Movement, small churches are failures. If that is so, when Noah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, among others, would be considered failures by the Church Growth Movement.
- The needs and opinions of lost people should determine the strategy of the church. The world says, "If it feels good, do it." Jesus said, “. . . Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). The Word of God must always determine our standards and values, not the world.
- The lack of adequate church growth worldwide proves the needs for a new reformation. The Protestant Reformation involved doctrine; the Church Growth Reformation emphasized practices and living, feedig the poor, and curing disease. Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ is either far down the list or not mentioned at all.
- Man's "sacred need" for self-esteem will bring this new reformation. Church Growth leaders say that people need to learn to love themselves and talking about those who are "saved" and "lost" is counterproductive. Jesus said, “. . . If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
- Appeal to felt needs. People have many needs—some for basic food and shelter, others for fame and fortune. Jesus said, “. . . I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Jesus didn't promise earthly gain but eternal life, and He lost many followers because he refused to change His message (John 6:66). Neither should we.
To learn more about the Church Growth Movement, download Dr. Spargimino's article Megafall of the Megachurch. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it here for free.
About the Purpose Driven Church Movement
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren has sold over 25 million copies. Rick Warren presents specials on major television networks like Fox News and CNN, and his Saddleback Church in California is touted as a model for Christian churches in the United States and throughout the world.
But what does Rick Warren actually believe? In an article titled "The Church—The Greatest Force on Earth," Rick Warren explains, in eight major points, how great the church is. However, these eight points never mention the main reason for the church and the Author and FInisher of the Christian faith—the Lord Jesus Christ.
Warren has promoted the Purpose Driven Church/Life format he uses at Saddleback Church to convince and train many pastors and church leaders to become Purpose Driven Life churches. Consequently, many churches in the past several years have changed to this format, leaving church members confused and bewildered.
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What You Can Do?
If your church is in the initial stages of change (music or the first 40–day program), your church could be saved by talking to other church members, and with activist intervention by 10–20 percent of the membership. If nothing is done at this early stage, then by the time the program advances to step four, there is little that can be done except look for another church. Your church has become a Purpose Driven entity in association with Saddleback Church of Orange County or Willow Creek of Chicago.
You must educate yourself, and others, so that you can mobilize the membership to effectively resist. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).
Dr. Warren in his world peace plan has stated intentions of sending one billion Christians into the world to eliminate human problems. The number one characteristic of a cult is a messianic, charismatic leader.
Purpose Driven Church books are published by Zondervan, one of Rupert Murdoch’s many properties, including 175 newspapers and international television and satellite communications, in - cluding in China. Various reports indicate he is building his third wife, Windi Deng, a 22,000–foot mansion in the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Dr. Warren stated on May 23, 2005, at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: “The word ‘fundamentalist’ actually comes from a document in the 1920s called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity.” The five fundamentals of the faith to which Dr. Warren objected are:
1. The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible
2. The virgin birth and full Deity of Jesus Christ
3. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
4. Christ’s atoning, vicarious death for the sins of the world
5. The literal second coming of Jesus Christ
Are we to believe that Christians who hold to these basic foundational doctrines of the Christian faith are narrow and legalistic? According to the New Testament definition, those who believe otherwise are not Christians.
To start a Purpose Driven Church or change to one with the full knowledge and consent of the membership is one thing, but to practically steal a church from Christians who have given and served to build it without their knowledge or consent is quite another.
Don’t be fooled by the Saddleback website.
"You don’t catch many fish unless you have a look-alike bait! "
_____________________________________________________________
Additional copies may be obtained from: Southwest Radio Ministries, Box 100, Bethany, OK 73008 1-800-652-1144 www.swrc.com 25 for $10 – 100 for $20
For more in-depth information:
The Dark Side of the Purpose Driven Church by N. W. Hutchings 1 copy for your gift of $15
_____________________________________________________________
Is Your Church Going Purpose Driven? How Can You Tell?
~A tract by Noah Hutchings (Going PDC)
In the past ten years a large percentage of churches in America, and in other countries, have changed from a traditional New Testament church model to a contemporary Purpose Driven model, many with sorrowful results. Contrary to Purpose Driven Church proponents, millions have been leaving their churches after the change occurred. It is important that every church member know if their church is targeted for a PDC takeover (Purpose Driven Church takeover).
Initially, a small clique of church staff, possibly including the pastor or a new pastor, plans the change without telling the rest of the church membership. Church Transitions, an associate of Saddleback Church in California, trains the clique initiating the change in eight published steps.
The church membership is not to be informed of the transition until the fourth step. After the sixth step in the process of change, if there are some in the church who voice concerns, the following is suggested:
1. Identify those who are resisting the changes;
2. Assess the effectiveness of their opposition;
3. Befriend those who are undecided about the changes;
4. Marginalize more persistent resisters;
5. Vilify those who stay and fight;
6. Establish new rules that will silence all resistance.
This means the church membership is not told until it is too late to make a difference. In other words the members either accept the changes, or leave the church, which they may have served and given to build.
Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life has stated:
“When you reveal the vision to the church, the old pillars are going to leave. But let them leave . . . they only hold things up.”
Dr. Warren is right in one way. It is the senior members of the church who do indeed hold a church up and keep it from falling into apostasy. While some PDC initiators may not implement the full PDC format, generally these are the signs indicating that your church may be targeted for a Purpose Driven Church format:
1. Change in music to a contemporary rock style.
2. Removal of hymn books; eliminating the choir.
3. Replacement of organ and piano with heavy metal instruments.
4. Repetitive singing of praise lyrics.
5. Dressing down to casual attire.
6. Eliminating of business meetings, church committees, council of elders, board of deacons, etc.
7. The pastor, or a new leader with a few assistants, usually four, takes charge of all church business.
8. A repetitive 40–day Purpose Driven Church study program stressing psychological relationships with each other, the community, or the world, begins.
9. Funded budgeted programs are abandoned, or ignored, with ambiguous financial reports made.
10. Sunday morning, evening, and/ or Wednesday prayer meetings are changed to other times; some may even be eliminated.
11. Sunday School teachers are moved to different classes, or replaced by new teachers more sympathetic with the changes being implemented.
12. The name “Sunday school” is dropped and classes are given new names.
13. Crosses and other traditional Christian symbols may be moved from both the inside and outside of the church building. The pulpit may also be removed.
14. In accordance with Dr. Warren’s instructions, new version Bibles are used; or only verses flashed on a screen are referenced during regular services.
15. Purpose Driven Church films, purchased from Saddleback, precede or are used during regular services.
16. The décor, including the carpets, may be changed to eliminate any resemblance to the former church.
17. The word “church” is often taken from the name of the church, and the church may be called a “campus.” Denominational names may also be removed.
18. An emphasis on more fun and party sessions for the youth.
19. Elimination of altar calls or salvation invitations at the close of the services.
20. The elimination of such words as “unsaved,” “lost,” “sin,” “Hell,” “Heaven,” and other gospel verities from the pastor’s messages.
21. The reclassification of the saved and lost to the “churched” and “unchurched.”
22. The marginalizing, or ostracizing, of all who are not avid promoters of the new Purpose Driven program.
23. Closed meetings between the pastor or chosen staff members without any reports made to the general membership.
24. Open hostility to members who do not openly embrace the new program, or who may have left for another church.
______- >>> Go to Part 2: Mutating DNA
If your church is in the initial stages of change (music or the first 40–day program), your church could be saved by talking to other church members, and with activist intervention by 10–20 percent of the membership. If nothing is done at this early stage, then by the time the program advances to step four, there is little that can be done except look for another church. Your church has become a Purpose Driven entity in association with Saddleback Church of Orange County or Willow Creek of Chicago.
You must educate yourself, and others, so that you can mobilize the membership to effectively resist. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).
Dr. Warren in his world peace plan has stated intentions of sending one billion Christians into the world to eliminate human problems. The number one characteristic of a cult is a messianic, charismatic leader.
Purpose Driven Church books are published by Zondervan, one of Rupert Murdoch’s many properties, including 175 newspapers and international television and satellite communications, in - cluding in China. Various reports indicate he is building his third wife, Windi Deng, a 22,000–foot mansion in the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Dr. Warren stated on May 23, 2005, at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: “The word ‘fundamentalist’ actually comes from a document in the 1920s called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity.” The five fundamentals of the faith to which Dr. Warren objected are:
1. The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible
2. The virgin birth and full Deity of Jesus Christ
3. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
4. Christ’s atoning, vicarious death for the sins of the world
5. The literal second coming of Jesus Christ
Are we to believe that Christians who hold to these basic foundational doctrines of the Christian faith are narrow and legalistic? According to the New Testament definition, those who believe otherwise are not Christians.
To start a Purpose Driven Church or change to one with the full knowledge and consent of the membership is one thing, but to practically steal a church from Christians who have given and served to build it without their knowledge or consent is quite another.
Don’t be fooled by the Saddleback website.
"You don’t catch many fish unless you have a look-alike bait! "
_____________________________________________________________
Additional copies may be obtained from: Southwest Radio Ministries, Box 100, Bethany, OK 73008 1-800-652-1144 www.swrc.com 25 for $10 – 100 for $20
For more in-depth information:
The Dark Side of the Purpose Driven Church by N. W. Hutchings 1 copy for your gift of $15
_____________________________________________________________
Is Your Church Going Purpose Driven? How Can You Tell?
~A tract by Noah Hutchings (Going PDC)
In the past ten years a large percentage of churches in America, and in other countries, have changed from a traditional New Testament church model to a contemporary Purpose Driven model, many with sorrowful results. Contrary to Purpose Driven Church proponents, millions have been leaving their churches after the change occurred. It is important that every church member know if their church is targeted for a PDC takeover (Purpose Driven Church takeover).
Initially, a small clique of church staff, possibly including the pastor or a new pastor, plans the change without telling the rest of the church membership. Church Transitions, an associate of Saddleback Church in California, trains the clique initiating the change in eight published steps.
- Prepare for change
- Define your changes
- Plant your vision with your key leaders
- Share your vision with the whole church
- Implement your changes
- Deal with the opposition
- Make adjustments
- Evaluate the result
The church membership is not to be informed of the transition until the fourth step. After the sixth step in the process of change, if there are some in the church who voice concerns, the following is suggested:
1. Identify those who are resisting the changes;
2. Assess the effectiveness of their opposition;
3. Befriend those who are undecided about the changes;
4. Marginalize more persistent resisters;
5. Vilify those who stay and fight;
6. Establish new rules that will silence all resistance.
This means the church membership is not told until it is too late to make a difference. In other words the members either accept the changes, or leave the church, which they may have served and given to build.
Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life has stated:
“When you reveal the vision to the church, the old pillars are going to leave. But let them leave . . . they only hold things up.”
Dr. Warren is right in one way. It is the senior members of the church who do indeed hold a church up and keep it from falling into apostasy. While some PDC initiators may not implement the full PDC format, generally these are the signs indicating that your church may be targeted for a Purpose Driven Church format:
1. Change in music to a contemporary rock style.
2. Removal of hymn books; eliminating the choir.
3. Replacement of organ and piano with heavy metal instruments.
4. Repetitive singing of praise lyrics.
5. Dressing down to casual attire.
6. Eliminating of business meetings, church committees, council of elders, board of deacons, etc.
7. The pastor, or a new leader with a few assistants, usually four, takes charge of all church business.
8. A repetitive 40–day Purpose Driven Church study program stressing psychological relationships with each other, the community, or the world, begins.
9. Funded budgeted programs are abandoned, or ignored, with ambiguous financial reports made.
10. Sunday morning, evening, and/ or Wednesday prayer meetings are changed to other times; some may even be eliminated.
11. Sunday School teachers are moved to different classes, or replaced by new teachers more sympathetic with the changes being implemented.
12. The name “Sunday school” is dropped and classes are given new names.
13. Crosses and other traditional Christian symbols may be moved from both the inside and outside of the church building. The pulpit may also be removed.
14. In accordance with Dr. Warren’s instructions, new version Bibles are used; or only verses flashed on a screen are referenced during regular services.
15. Purpose Driven Church films, purchased from Saddleback, precede or are used during regular services.
16. The décor, including the carpets, may be changed to eliminate any resemblance to the former church.
17. The word “church” is often taken from the name of the church, and the church may be called a “campus.” Denominational names may also be removed.
18. An emphasis on more fun and party sessions for the youth.
19. Elimination of altar calls or salvation invitations at the close of the services.
20. The elimination of such words as “unsaved,” “lost,” “sin,” “Hell,” “Heaven,” and other gospel verities from the pastor’s messages.
21. The reclassification of the saved and lost to the “churched” and “unchurched.”
22. The marginalizing, or ostracizing, of all who are not avid promoters of the new Purpose Driven program.
23. Closed meetings between the pastor or chosen staff members without any reports made to the general membership.
24. Open hostility to members who do not openly embrace the new program, or who may have left for another church.
______- >>> Go to Part 2: Mutating DNA
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