The Emerging Church Trap (Part 2)

Complimentary Story

Part 1 of this special series explained that “The Emerging Church Movement” (TECM) is real, popular, and global. If you doubt me, just type in “Emerging Church” under “Books” on amazon.com, and you will find a plethora of works on the topic. Amidst diversity, perhaps the core idea of TECM is that, in order to effectively impact the current Youtube Generation, the Church of Jesus Christ must reflect, rethink, adapt, and finally, “emerge” into a different kind of creature altogether to make a difference. It’s sink or swim. “Emerge” or perish, we’re told.

As we saw in Part 1, TECM has one good point — yes, God’s church must be relevant — but unfortunately, its teachings are typically laced with gross errors. Generally speaking, TECM:

 

  1.  Is woefully weak about the importance of maintaining "sound doctrine" (see 2 Timothy 4:3) and of living "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (see Matthew 4:4). 
 

  2.  Is highly ecumenical, not only promoting the value of interdenominational cooperation among various Christian churches, but also stressing "interspirituality" with Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, or even Wicca.
 

  3.  Promotes experiencing God through mystical spiritual disciplines that open dark doors to satanic delusion, counterfeit spirituality, and invasion by demons. 
 

  4.  Ignores, avoids, or even rejects, the God-inspired prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, and the necessity of earnest preparation for "the end of the world" (see Matthew 24:30,31,45-51; 28:20).

 

The New Testament contains earnest warnings to God’s saints to watch out for false teachers, erroneous doctrines, and subtle deceptions within Christianity. Notice carefully these words of Paul,

 

       Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some          [within the church] will depart from the faith, giving heed            to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1).

       For the time will come when they [professed Christians]             will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own            desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up           for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away               from the truth, and be turned aside to fables (2 Tim. 4:3,4).

The book of Revelation also contains pointed prophecies describing global conditions—especially within the religious world—immediately preceding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In Revelation chapter 14, a special end-time message from God is proclaimed “with a loud voice” to alert His saints to the subtle plans of “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Notice carefully that Heaven-inspired warning:
 

       Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven,              having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who                     dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and                      people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give        glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and               worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and                      springs of water.”
 

       And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is           fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations              drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

      
       Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,        “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives           his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall            also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured              out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the            holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the                   smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they               have no rest day or        night, who worship the beast and his            image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. Here is           the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the               commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Revelation          14:6-12).

These end-time warnings—which again, are inspired by God—are centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ (verse 6), are to be preached worldwide (verse 6), announce a time of judgment (verse 7), and urge humans everywhere to worship the Creator (verse 7). Next, they boldly warn about “Babylon” and its intoxicating “wine” being drunk by “all nations” (verse 8); and finally, about “the beast” (verse 9), its deadly “mark” (verse 9), and the horrific consequences of receiving it (verses 10,11). These holy messages conclude with a description of a loyal, apocalyptic people who “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (verse 12) amidst global apostasy. All of this is predicted to occur right before the return of Jesus Christ on “a white cloud” with “a sharp sickle” (verse 14) to reap the harvest of the earth.

Sounds serious, doesn’t it. It is serious. And I guarantee you this: The Emerging Church Movement, with its “Let’s all cooperate” mystical mindset seeking interdenominational and even inter-spiritual camaraderie with Hindus, Buddhists and New Agers, has no clue about the magnitude of Revelation 14’s urgent prophetic warning. Beware of Babylon and the Beast? “The hour of His judgment is come” before Jesus Christ returns? EC advocates will mostly shake their heads in disbelief, for they know nothing of these truths. But they must learn them — as must we — before it’s too late. 


Read Revelation 14:6-14. The prophetic facts are there in black and white. In Part 3 of this series we’ll take a closer look at what the book of Revelation really teaches about Babylon, its spirit, doctrines, and satanic wiles.

 

Until then, make no mistake about it. Searching daily the Holy Bible, trusting Jesus Christ’s love, clinging to Him by faith, separation from the world, and following “sound doctrine” are all vitally important for true Christians in these “last days” (2 Timothy 3:1). By His grace, Jesus is calling all of us to stand our ground and to avoid turning “away [our] ears from the truth, and being “turned to fables” (2 Timothy 4:4).

 

To be continued …
 

Steve Wohlberg is the Speaker/Director of White Horse Media (Priest River, Idaho). Author of over 30 books, his newest pocketbook is, The Emerging Church Trap: Avoid the Bait. Printed copies only $1 each (quantity discounts too). Also available on DVD. For questions or orders, call 1-800-782-4253. Follow Steve on Twitter (@WhiteHorse7), or Facebook (www.facebook.com/stevewohlberg), or quickly sign up for his free E-newsletter by sending an email to: signmeup@whitehorsemedia.com.

Learn how to email this article to others