JOHN F.: LEAVING PURPOSE DRIVEN BEHIND
By Apprising Administrator on Aug 29, 2006 in Current Issues, Rick Warren
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. (Galatians 6:6, KJV)
In the interest of showing that thiings are not all bad, may the Lord be praised as a reader of Apprising Ministries shares the following encouraging testimony of God’s faithfulness:
Rev Silva,
Your ministry is reaching further than you know. Our story …
My wife and I are relatively young Christians and attended a large SS/PD church in TX. At first, I was excited to be a part of a work that I thought was God inspired as I continually heard how many and how much that the church had accomplished in 10 years of existence. I was also following the teachings of Joel Osteen, TD Jakes and others via TV. I thought we were on track and was confused as to why anyone would not want to become a Christian. We are promised all the worlds finest!
After about two years, as I learned the Word and prayed. I began to be very troubled about the state of my spiritual condition as well as that of the modern day church as a whole… at least the man centered church I had become accustomed. I started learning about Christians being massacred in other parts of the world, our brothers and sisters persecuted in Muslim and Hindu countries, the severe persecution taking place in China and Korea. I knew that something was not right. Why wasn’t God providing them the luxurious life styles and huge mega-campuses that we in America enjoy … as promised by current leaders of our faith?
Through a friend, I found a small bible based study group and started to attend. We actually studied the bible … as opposed to watching Noomas and other fluff offered through the mega-church men’s group. I learned of my pride and sin and the Holiness of God and how I am here to serve and worship Him, not for Him to cater to my felt needs. I was once again growing as God began working in my life.
As I mentioned earlier, the mega-church is a direct product of the PD Movement and Rick Warren’s name, as a personal friend of the Pastor, is mentioned often. I had read the PDL via a bible study and was not so impressed as I have read many ‘motivational’ books in my career and RW was saying nothing new, only adding God and bible verses into the mix. Also, I hadn’t realized the PD Church and PDL were distinct until one of the Pastors mentioned it during a casual conversation. My interest was piqued.
I visited the PDC web site and was immediately aghast at what I saw. I saw someone actually franchising the church of God and the work of the Holy Spirit!!!! I could not believe it. Thus began more research in the PD movement.
That is how I found Apprising Ministries, Slice of Laodicea, Lighthouse Trails Research, and others. The information you’ve gathered is invaluable. I checked out your claims and saw that all was solid. I also started researching the New Age movement since there seemed to be a connection. Eventually, I presented the research of PDM and New Age to our small bible study. Within a week, their eyes were opened and our host went full bore into researching the New Age. Each week as we learned, we were amazed at how much the New Age had infiltrated the church, Christian bookstores, the Christian community and global society itself.
Also, the links between PDM and New Age were becoming apparent. For several weeks, the bible study and messages focus was on discernment. The entire group now has a deeper understanding of the deception that is taking place and how we must take heed of the words of Jesus to stay faithful and alert until He returns. Also, many of us agree that we now see entire sections and chapters of the bible differently, as if a light had suddenly been turned on.
Rev Silva, Ingrid & others, all this can be directly attributed to the work of your ministry. Rest assured your efforts have helped a small group of believers from possibly becoming entrenched in a false Christianity.
May God continue to bless your ministry.
Yours truly,
John F.
The Woodlands TX