Some today would say, "well, sure, truth is important. But what's really essential is that we know the Person, not the propositions." Not so, the Apostle James would say: "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner away from his error will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20) There is no such thing as a personal relationship with Christ apart from an understanding and acceptance of the nature, character, and mission of Christ. Turning people from error is not a trivial concern. It is bound up with the severest of consequences: saving a soul from death.
Maybe we have the attitude we do because we no longer believe eternal questions are important and perhaps that means that we -- who should have been the last to do so -- have become so preoccupied with this world (success, power, fame, and fortune) that we have tolerated a creeping cynicism about the importance of the next.
The Apostle Paul understood that souls are saved and lost in the struggle over truth and heresy. Paul said he was "innocent of the blood of all men" because he had "not hesitated to proclaim to [the people] the whole will of God." Therefore, he issued his own warning to the leaders of the church at Ephesus: "Guard yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with his own blood." And then the Apostle anticipated apostasy: I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." (Acts 20:26-31)
With as many as 500 million viewers worldwide, the televangelists under critical examination in this book, have until recently been protected from censure. After all, were they not successful evangelists? But eventually there came an end to their privileged status. What brought about their downfall? Not that they were preaching "another gospel," though that was in fact what they were doing. No, they were brought down when news of lavish expense accounts and sexual deviance reached the public and shocked the church -- shocked it more, apparently, than the televanglists' unabashed disregard for biblical truth. Only when some televangelists were found to be frauds in general were Christians brave enough to confront them on theological grounds.
...many of us have had experiences with local churches or para-church ministries that gave evidence of giving method priority over message, quantity over quality, volume over clarity, comfort over confrontation. "But they're winning souls!" we are always told. "Isn't that enough?" Not really. If success and growth be always a sign of God's favour, we should be elated with the spread of Mormonism, Islam, and Oriental mysticism. But, of course, we are not. We know that numerical growth can be caused by spectacular distortion of Scripture. It is not necessarily the outcome of the preaching of a theologically sound message. Put another way, an arena filled with persons shouting, "Praise the Lord!" is not necessarily a sign of God's blessing.
"In the last days," Paul warned "people will be lovers of themselves [so we tailor a self-esteem gospel]...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God [so we put together a gospel of health, wealth and happiness]." Such people have "a form of godliness but [deny] its power," and Paul's command concerning them is urgent: "Have nothing to do with them" (II Timothy 3:1-5). But they are our brothers! "Have nothing to do with them!" But they love Jesus! "Have nothing to do with them!"
Not only have we had a great deal to do with them, we have often been "them." Though the Westminster Catechism asserted that man's chief purpose was "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever," the modern creed insist that we use God to glorify ourselves and enjoy ourselves forever. Christianity must be fun, never demanding. It was sweep the believer from one experience of "victory" to another. Talk of discipleship's rewards far outweighs talk of its cost. In short, the modern gospel is marketed to consumers, not proclaimed to sinners.
In spite of all the present dangers, Jesus promised, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt. 16:18). Similarly, Paul warns Timothy (and all believers) that "the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine," he still challenges him to "keep [his] head." For though men will "gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear" and will "turn aside to myths," there is hope for those who pursue an accurate proclamation of the faith (II Timothy 4:3-5).
Martin Luther characterized the heretics of his day as "strutting peacocks" who "seek self-made, individualistic doctrine and manner of faith and life, apart from the commonly accepted ones." Thus, a heretic is "one who is self-willed in matters pertaining to God, a queer fellow who knows of something better and chooses his own way to heaven, a way the ordinary Christian does not travel." As for the "miraculous signs" that often accompany heretics, Luther made this chilling prediction..."for in those for those who have no love for the truth, the devil will be powerful and strong..."
The scenario Luther describes is not far from Christ's own description of the coming Judgment Day. As many faith healers make their way to Jesus, surprised that they have been excluded from the very kingdom they insisted they were building, they plead, "Did we not prophecy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" And Jesus says, "I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from Me you evil doers!'" (Matt. 7:22-23)
For more information on Victory Churches and the Faith Movement, go to the Reference Library. Click on any book title to get a brief overview of the book. All books on the list are available through www.amazon.com.
