Unsettled Christianity

One blog to rule them all, One blog to find them, One blog to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
August 6th, 2011

The Response is the Worst thing to happen to American Christianity in a long time

Why? Because it has allowed the worse of American Christians, Joel’s Army and the New Apostolic Reformation, to have a national stage. But, beyond that, the individuals themselves have questionable beliefs. You know, like Tony Perkins and his ties to the KKK or Bryan Fischer. Further, their ‘prophetic statements’ among other things, have reached the level of outright heresy, lies, and attacks on Scripture. To be honest, there isn’t enough time in the day to go through the list of people who spoke and their abhorrent theologies. Or, perhaps, what they have said about other Christians, especially Catholics and Mainliners.

I find it funny that in Scripture, the only persons able to call a nation to prayer was a king… a fact that did not escape mention today:

While you are at it, read Rodney’s post…

NBC is reporting about 25,000 in attendance… in a stadium which should hold about 71,000.

If Texas Gov. Rick Perry runs for president, the type of crowd that attends a seven-hour prayer rally in a football stadium would not be disappointed.

Held in the venue where the Houston Texans play, more than 25,000 people here attended “The Response,” an event that was part prayer service, part Christian rock concert, and part marathon pep rally for Jesus Christ.

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July 11th, 2011

There is more to IHOP and Mike Bickle than bad eschatology

Dr. Witherington has a post up on an article which ran over the weekend in the New York Times regarding the International House of Prayer. Dr. Witherington notes the bad theology, bad eschatology, and the rampant emotionalism which is normally attached to IHOP. What he doesn’t note is the authoritarianism often reported by those who have worked with Bickle and the Bunch:

Founded 12 years ago by Mike Bickle, a self-trained evangelical pastor, with a group of 20, the International House of Prayer, in a former strip mall, now draws tens of thousands of worshipers to its revival meetings. A wholly devoted cadre of 1,000 staff members, labeled missionaries, have given up careers to move here, living off donations and spending several hours a day in the prayer hall to revel in what they describe as direct communication with God. Another thousand students attend the adjacent Bible college, preparing to spread this fervent brand of Christianity.

…..

Mr. Bickle has won praise from many evangelicals, but he has also been criticized by some pastors for what they describe as unorthodox theology and a cultish atmosphere, charges that Mr. Bickle rejects. Some former students said they had been expelled for questioning the fascination with mystical healings, prophesies, angels and demons. (NYTimes)

I am unsure that Dr. Witherington’s students have actually worked at IHOP or just attended there, but if you search the archives, I’ve linked to several stories about former ‘missionaries’ who report a very cultish mentality. Bickle, if you remember, was part of the failed and discredited ‘Kansas City Prophets, with such illustrious leaders as Bob Jones. He runs a tight ship, but stories to appear.

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July 8th, 2011

This Week in Dominionism, the Presidency, and 2012

Photo of Bob Vander Plaats

Image via Wikipedia

First up, we have Rick Perry’s pastor who has said that Oprah is ushering in the antichrist. (ht) Oh, and look it’s out favorite Mike Bickle, of IHOP fame, and no, not pancakes.

Bickle: The Harlot Babylon is preparing the nations to receive the Antichrist. The Harlot Babylon will be a religion of affirmation, toleration, no absolutes, a counterfeit justice movement. They will feed the poor, have humanitarian projects, inspire acts of compassion for all the wrong reasons. They won’t know it, beloved they will be sincere, many of them, but their sincerity will not in any way lessen the impact of their deception. The fact that they are sincere does not make their deception less damaging. I believe that one of the main pastors, as a forerunner to the Harlot movement, it’s not the Harlot movement yet, is Oprah. She is winsome, she is kind, she is reasonable, she is utterly deceived, utterly deceived. A classy woman, a cool woman, a charming woman, but has a spirit of deception and she is one of the clear pastors, forerunners to the Harlot movement.

Remember, Bickle is endorsing Rick’s The Response (website), well, actually more than endorsing. Speaking of sponsors and those likely to be seen in Texas soon, Lou Engle is taking up Pat Robertson’s mantle, in saying that the tornadoes in Joplin were God’s punishment.

Following that, we have Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann both signing the ‘Family Leader Vow’ from Bob Vander Plaats. There are some issues with this ‘vow‘. First, it is anti-Islamic. There is a difference between being pro-Christian (not sure I would even describe it like that) and being anti-something. Other things too, but you can judge for yourselves. I haven’t posted much on Dominionism/Christian Reconstructionism lately, and nor do I intend to make it a regular habit, but it is something which people should be concerned about. Indeed, since before 2008, these various groups have done their best to find a viable candidate, which they prophesied was Sarah Palin, to run on their platform. Now, they have two who have declared themselves with one waiting in the wings.

I long for the days when Mitch Daniels was considering running. I like him, but don’t tell anyone.

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June 5th, 2011

Responding to The Response – Is it about God or Politics?

Gov. Perry, Rodney’s idol, has launched a call for a gathering for prayer, in Houston, for the national crisis. (I’m not going to remind anyone that it seems that those calling for prayer are those who helped to cause the crises (as listed by Perry) because that would be overtly partisan and I don’t want to do that).

Perry, instead of governing (Eccl 9.10), has taken the time to issue this call and write,

Fellow Americans,

Right now, America is in crisis: we have been besieged by financial debt, terrorism , and a multitude of natural disasters. As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for the blessings of freedom we so richly enjoy.

Some problems are beyond our power to solve, and according to the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, this historic hour demands a historic response. Therefore, on August 6, thousands will gather to pray for a historic breakthrough for our country and a renewed sense of moral purpose.

I sincerely hope you’ll join me in Houston on August 6th and take your place in Reliant Stadium with praying people asking God’s forgiveness, wisdom and provision for our state and nation. There is hope for America. It lies in heaven, and we will find it on our knees.

In looking at the leadership, it is filled with Republicans and the dominionists alike – such as the Student Leader from IHOP. You have lobbyists, political strategists and others, such as Jim Garlow who declared Glenn Beck an virtual prophet and leaders in Lou Engle‘s TheCall.

They have adopted the American Family Association’s Statement of Faith – just so you know if you belong or not.

I note he has now invited all Governors, but not the President? Umm…. Wonder why

The man is going to run for President and use the God Card. He is no Sarah Palin but he is obviously a dominionist. Lovely.

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September 16th, 2010

IHOP to IHOP – You make us look bad

The IHOP logo
Image via Wikipedia

Mike Bickle’s IHOP is being sued by the more famous IHOP – the International House of Pancakes. This is just an awesome day

IHOP (pancake), based in Glendale, Calif., has sued IHOP (prayer), based in Kansas City, for trademark dilution and infringement. The lawsuit, filed last week in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, essentially said there was room for only one IHOP and that would be the restaurant chain that has been using the initials since 1973.

The religious group drawing thousands from around the world to south Kansas City to prepare for “end times” was started just 10 years ago.

[T]the chain, which has 1,476 restaurants across the country, claims it has six registered trademarks with the IHOP acronym and that the religious group’s use of the same four-letter logo causes, according to the lawsuit, “great and irreparable injury and confuses the public.”

The lawsuit further accuses the church mission of adopting the name International House of Prayer knowing it would be abbreviated IHOP — the intent being to misappropriate fame and notoriety of the food chain.

On Tuesday, IHOP (pancake) spokesman Patrick Lenow said the suit was filed only after the church mission refused repeated requests to stop using the trademark.

Maybe, as part of the deal, IHOP (False Prophet) will agree to shut down completely…

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February 20th, 2010

Some of IHOP’s “Red Flags”

Describing such things as ‘mandatory fast’, a former staffer at IHOP goes on to tell of her associastion with Mike Bickle’s International House of Prayer:

There were many, many experiences that made me do a double take and say “what?” while I was at IHOP but that internal questioning was quickly explained away or rebuked by internship leaders. Once I began to deviate from IHOP’s teachings and study scripture on my own for answers to the internal conflicts I wrestled with, I began questioning the pseudo reality I had been conditioned to embrace. Suddenly I saw the isolated red flag incidences as a seamless pattern of error and the veil of deception fell. I stopped rationalizing and justifying. Enough was enough and I was done and wanted out.

There are much more personal experiences than I can put into one single blog post, but here are a few I still recall pretty strongly.

HT.

January 17th, 2010

Julie’s Story: More in Mike Bickle and IHOP

From the Grey Coats:

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January 12th, 2010

Mike Bickle on Contemplative Prayer

I don’t believe that their is a reason to interpret this for you, but at the link below, you’ll find some pretty good ones:

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January 9th, 2010

Coming Soon: Todd Bentley and Mike Bickle – Two Peas, One Pod

First, our favorite Canadian tells us that The Todd has experienced ‘another outpouring.’ You know, because if there is one thing that God is, it is fickle.

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December 31st, 2009

A Personal Testimony about Mike Bickle and IHOP #onething09

…..In a prophetic class that was taught by Kirk Bennett one of our assignments was to take a scripture and repeat it over and over for two hours straight, praying it, repeating it until we got a revelation, this is nothing but a mantra, repetitious prayer, something we are not supposed to be part of. at the time I thought something was wrong with me because I never got anything (but tired) unless it was by my imagination, but later I was pleased to know that I was being protected, that’s why it wasn’t working. I was a sincere man trying to answer what I thought was the call of God on my life and at the time I new very little about the prophetic movement, but I did see a power that I thought had to be God And how could twenty four hour seven day a week prayer and worship not be of God?….

A Personal Testimony about the Dangers of IHOP « Truthspeaker’s Weblog.

December 27th, 2009

Understanding Matthew 5.5

Literalism in biblical interpretation is not always meant to be – you must take the context of the ‘then’ and not the ‘now.’

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