By Paul Proctor

May 28, 2005

 

I was very encouraged last month to see World Net Daily FINALLY address the church growth movement in an article by WND newcomer, Brannon Howse. Up until then, to my growing frustration, Joseph Farah and Company had largely ignored the CGM (Christian Growth Movement) Trojan Horse rolling around their living room; and in spite of my many attempts to bring it to their attention, chose to remain curiously silent on the subject. The one exception I recall besides Kyle Willians' benign mention of Rick Warren in his latest, is Jerry Falwell promoting a Purpose Driven Life conference a couple of years ago in his column.

But, like an answer to prayer, in a marvelous piece entitled: “A Pioneer of Christian Happy-Talk,” Howse suddenly exposed the movement for what it is; even going so far as to name names; something most pop-cultured pastors of postmodern pabulum and platitude are afraid to do since being so carefully conditioned by their compromised contemporaries to fear men more than God.

Unfortunately, my rejoicing was short-lived when I discovered WND’s editor and chief, (whose religious and political assessments I often agree with) enthusiastically endorsing a new book by Jim Rutz called, “Megashift.” Overtly sensationalized advertisements for Rutz’s book had already been running regularly on the web pages of World Net Daily; but instead of responding to ads, which don’t always accurately reflect the views of the publisher, I thought it best to wait and see if it would be promoted beyond the usual revenue raising rubbish.

Much to my disappointment, Farah proudly announced that Rutz was coming on as a regular contributor to World Net Daily, saying, "The day I finished reading 'Megashift,' I started plotting how to get Jim Rutz involved in WND.” Apparently, Joe decided to officially come out of the closet on the “new spirituality” issue or just hop down off the fence and join in the faith-based fracas.

Well, it wasn't long until one couldn't go to World Net Daily without being assaulted with eye-gouging headlines proclaiming MIRACLES!!! – MIRACLES!!! – MIRACLES!!! – the very faith-healing tactic the Benny Hinn’s of our world use to draw carnivalesque crowds of consumerist curiosity, controversy and cash flow, (something Jesus never did) reminding me of the Apostle Paul’s warning in 2nd Thessalonians of “signs and lying wonders” bringing on a “strong delusion” in the last days:

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” – 2nd Thessalonians 2:7-12

If you go to the Megashift.com web site you’ll see much of the same transformational lingo you find at other CGM sites complete with pot loads of pitchman promises and psycho-centric silliness that made Rick Warren and Bill Hybels what they are today. Like Warren and his Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan, (a Christianized and regurgitated replica of The Peace Corp.) “Megashift” currently focuses their falderal on the rather hard-to-verify continent of Africa where it is suggested by those promoting it, a “new reformation” is being birthed and validated by miracles galore!

You see, the mere Word of God just doesn’t do it for us anymore. We need something to stimulate our senses, don’t we? Like the faithless Pharisees of old, we require a little magic show or two before we’ll throw in with somebody claiming to be the Messiah; and even THEN, it’s necessary that we LIKE what He has to say about us in front of our followers; so, we better have some flagrant flattery with that hocus-pocus, just to be on the safe side and protect our sacred business interests. Yeah, the antichrist is going to have a field day with these folks when he brings his bag of tricks onto the world stage.

Instead of seeing quotes and teachings from the Bible at Megashift.com, you’ll see such things as a make-believe conversation between “you” and “God,” in a section called: “A Few Questions From God,” that foolishly puts words into the mouth of the Almighty for your consideration and amusement; something false prophets were killed for in the Old Testament and the Lord Himself sternly warned against in The Revelation.

You’ll also find links to the Alpha organization, an endorsement from church growth guru and founder of the “New Apostolic Reformation,” C. Peter Wagner and one from Jim Montgomery, founder of Dawn Ministries; not to mention an "inspirational" quote from John W. Gardner, President of the Carnegie Foundation. According to bio information posted on the website, MegaShift author, Jim Rutz, has not only written for the United Nation’s Non-governmental organization, World Vision but also for the Lausanne Committee. Watchmen, acquainted with today’s growing apostasy know all too well the ecumenical agenda of these organizations.

Rather than citing biblical wisdom or even the Ten Commandments, at Megashift.com, you’ll see “Eight Offers,” “Six Gottas,” “Four Oughttas” and “Ten More Good Steps” complete with carefully selected photos designed to exalt personal strength, ambition, achievement and experience; encourage self-discovery, group-dynamics, spiritual “upgrading” and a contrived and controlled unity through small group interaction and teamwork; a kind of ecclesiastical Total Quality Management that humanists, socialists and even transformational Marxists would applaud.

The bottom line is this: Megashift.com is just more horizontally-focused, earth-centered, group-guided, psychology-based, therapeutically-managed, globalist gobbledygook, covered with a thick white sugary Christian glaze, forwarding the same old anti-traditional, amillennial, dominionist worldview that says WE are going to change this world and make it a better place for a largely unnamed “Christ” to return to and reign over someday.

The only difference I can see between the old CGM and the new, is that this upgraded version transitions us beyond the materialistic mega-church fad that, for the last decade or so, has successfully seduced, sidetracked and sucked the membership, faith and resources out of almost all of the nation’s small and God-fearing fellowships and taken the postmodern party from debt-ridden spiritual supercenters for the scripturally challenged, bought with borrowed money from the banks of "Mystery Babylon," and moved it into our own neighborhoods and homes for further dialectical processing and programming; thereby creating more sustainable communities of groupthink and global values for the New World Order.

But then, as many of us already know, that’s been the occult’s grand plan from the beginning. From what I can ascertain, this "megashift" coming out party is simply the latest wave in an ongoing paradigm shift from tradition to transition to transformation that perpetual change agents have been revising, renaming and re-implementing for years with “fresh fire” and fresh faces which, incidentally, has little or nothing to do with the Word of God, the Kingdom of Heaven or Jesus Christ.

It’s sad that today’s “Christian” can’t discern the stark contrast between the daunting challenge Jesus gave us: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,” and the Mr. Microphone style infomercials we regularly receive from church growth organizations and their purpose driven pod people.

While a repentant and remorseful sinner, rescued from a well deserved writhing in Hell, will do whatever Jesus commands and be eternally thankful for the privilege, even if it pits him against his own friends and family, the CGM blessing chaser will forever be turning the channel for a better deal and more benefits.

According to Megashift.com, “The world is rapidly becoming all Christian.” Is that what YOUR Bible teaches? I know MINE doesn’t. Could it be somebody is lying to us again? Now who in the world would do such a thing?

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” – Matthew 7:13-15