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Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 7)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Purpose-Driven Churches, also referred to as the Emerging Church, represent a significant development in the spiritual landscape, signaling a major step toward Christ's return. This movement is perceived by the world as something different, though not entirely new. It is believed that the Emerging Church will play a crucial role in influencing people in the wrong direction, despite not ultimately being named the Outcome-Based Religion Church. This organization, while calling itself Christian, operates more as a slick business with human philosophical, pagan, and occult religious undertones, fitting comfortably into a broader union of worldly systems. Its appeal is particularly strong among Israelitish people, but its influence is extending into the Gentile world, finding success in various regions. The Emerging Church shares similarities with other groups like the International Christian Embassy, Jerusalem, in their overall theological and political purposes, aligning with a dominionist perspective that seeks to establish the Kingdom of God on earth before Christ's return, a stance in direct opposition to God's plan through Jesus Christ after His return.
Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Emerging Church, also referred to by various names such as the Purpose-Driven Church, New Paradigm Church, and Outcome-Based Religion, represents a contemporary religious movement that appears inviting but reveals a dangerously flawed concept upon closer examination. This movement, likened to a butterfly emerging from its cocoon after hidden development, focuses on growth in numbers for the sake of growth itself, employing a variety of programs and schemes akin to commercial business strategies. A key figure in the Emerging Church is Dr. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church near Santa Ana, California, who was closely associated with business guru Peter Drucker, utilizing sharp business marketing psychology to attract and retain members. The Emerging Church is designed with the times in mind, presenting a show of wisdom on the surface, but at its base, it harbors a deceptive nature that does not promote a relationship with Christ. It uses the name of Christ and sometimes the Bible, yet it turns people away from Him, failing to hold to the Head, and thus proves ineffective in harnessing carnality. This movement employs pragmatism, a concept from business and politics, which seeks practical means to resolve problems but forces compromise on standards to achieve desired outcomes, often prioritizing church membership and income growth over scriptural truth. In pursuit of unity, the Emerging Church achieves numerical success and increased income, with huge congregations as evidence of their effective, yet compromising, approach through pragmatism. Their outreach addresses everyday issues like personal finance and relationships, using psychology and philosophy rather than obedience to God, packaging messages in a carnally logical way that alienates no one but often avoids the painful truth. Ultimately, the Emerging Church amounts to little more than a religious, social, do-gooder organization aiming to change the world according to their perception, setting aside the Word of the Almighty God in favor of their own thinking, lifting themselves up as equals to Him to produce the outcomes they desire.
Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Emerging Church, as part of the broader Outcome-Based religion movement, focuses on creating a positive-feeling experience for its members, often prioritizing emotions over the hard facts of spiritual truth. This approach emphasizes experiencing God through theatrical elements like music, slide programs, uplifted prayers, and dramatic stage productions, rather than fostering a direct relationship with Him through study and prayer. Such practices create an atmosphere of Christian political correctness, avoiding instruction against heresy or warnings of potential dangers to maintain unity and happiness among the congregation. Leaders of these Outcome-Based religious groups often reject God's word when it threatens the unity they seek or the outcomes they aim to achieve. They employ Christian counselors trained in Christian psychology to address complex personal issues, rather than directing individuals to the simple truths found in scripture for strength and overcoming. This results in a religion that makes people feel good about themselves, convincing them they have God's approval without truly addressing human nature or promoting corrective change. The New Paradigm churches, which include groups like the Saddleback Community Church, have apostatized from their original affiliations, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, to form new patterns of belief. This shift, while leading to significant growth in membership and finances, often involves making merchandise of the brethren through exploitation. Their use of familiar Christian terminology masks different underlying concepts, mirroring historical patterns of deception where terms are twisted to attract and mislead, ultimately promoting greater absorption into worldly culture rather than spiritual transformation.
Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn recent decades, a notable religious phenomenon has emerged in the United States, often referred to by journalists as the Emerging Church. This movement is also known by other names such as the Purpose Driven Church, Outcome Based Religion, or the New Paradigm Church, all describing the same religious trend. While the leaders of this movement do not use these specific terms, it qualifies as a church and incorporates elements of Christianity, though it has significantly redefined it. This redefinition and its popularity suggest a potential prophetic influence. The Emerging Church is characterized by its emotional appeal and feel-good approach, making it highly attractive to the religious public. It often avoids traditional denominational labels like Baptist or Methodist, opting instead for names like The New Life Community Church or simply neutral identifiers such as Park South. These congregations are known for their massive growth, with some local groups boasting memberships between five and twenty thousand. Mega churches associated with this movement, such as one in Houston, Texas, with a 750,000 square foot facility, attract tens of thousands to their services each weekend, a stark contrast to the small, remnant nature historically associated with true followers of God. This rapid expansion and popularity stand in opposition to the biblical depiction of God's church as a little flock, never growing large in numbers or influence. The Emerging Church's pattern of redefining Christianity, akin to historical movements like Gnosticism, raises concerns about its alignment with true spiritual principles, especially given its widespread acceptance and the carnal mind's natural enmity against God.
Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 6)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Purpose-driven churches at the end time will have joined in the effort of a one-world government and making no attempt to come out of the world.