Special Edition: The Cult-Like Hostile Takeover Tactics of the Purpose-Driven Church Transitioning Seminar

Below is a Special Edition of the Fighting for the Faith radio program that exposes the Cult-Like Hostile Takeover Tactics of Dan Southerland's Purpose-Driven Church Transtioning Seminar. The list of cult-like tactics employed by Southerland is LONG. They include:

1. Flat out lies and manipulative double speak
2. Blatant Scripture Twisting
3. New & Direct Extra Biblical Revelation and Visions from God
4. Flat out intolerance for anyone who questions or challenges these "new" Extra Biblical Revelations and Visions that are supposedly from God.

All of these cult-like tactics are exposed and discussed in this special edition of F4F. Furthermore, I cannot emphasize enough the fact that Dan Southerland's Church Transitions company has been the "go to" company used by Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven businesses to train pastors into Warren's Druckerite leadership methodologies.

Please pass this special edition of F4F along and warn the Body of Christ about these cult-like tactics employed by the Druckerites.

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Comments

[Thomas]

I guess my bible doesn't read like his; yet another misquotation of 2 Chronicles 7:14 at the hour 1 minute 12 mark. As quoted, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray then will I hear from heaven, then will I heal their land". The verse actually read:

"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (ESV)

Having been delivered from a cult, I recognize these same techniques very well. Nobody ever wanted to object to their inconsistencies simply because they [the cult leaders] were the ones who were hearing from God.

[Ian Smith]

I will play the 'devil's advocate' on the issue of the cell-church-movement. The recent focus in the West on cell-churches is due large in part to what is happening in the global south. In places like China where the church experiences persecution, cell-churches have been very important in the spread of the Gospel.

The cell-church movement in China exists in part due to the reality on the ground. In some parts of China it is still illegal to meet together as a church, or have a 'priesthood' to lead a church. So lay-leadership has become very important in the Chinese church (not to mention the Muslim context, under Communism etc). The church has to be small, mobile and fluid in order to survive and grow.

Where is this in the New Testament? Well it is clear that churches met in people's houses (Romans 16:5, 1 Cor. 16:19, Acts 20:20) , and that people were disciple in small group contexts. This is actually a very biblical model, and sometimes the Western church structure tends to be father from biblical Christianity than some of the ways that cell/house/etc. churches are meet.

As part of the "Protestant Reformation" we assert the priesthood of all believers as a fundamental tenant of Christianity. You of all people should appreciate this -the last time I checked you were not an ordained priest in the Lutheran Church (I could be wrong). Small Groups, Cell Groups, House Churches etc. promote the development of leadership! The church needs godly leaders, and more often than not the products that come out of lay-leadership from godly churches tend to be better than those that even the best seminaries can produce.

In fact, many purpose-driven churches actually discourage raising up leaders in thier congregation because they challenge the authority of the pastor. If you develop "small groups," "cells" whatever you call them, you have to raise up leaders. In the book of Acts we see this in the appointment of the seven deacons when the church grew beyond the immediate control of the Apostles. Sure they were appointed to help widows, but we see several of the deacons also ministering to God's people through preaching, evangelism and apologetics. Stephen was known for his articulate and authoritative apologetic witness, Philip for his evangelistic zeal, and church tradition teaches that at least two others, Nicanor and Parmenous were martyred for preaching the Gospel.

Barnabas raised up and helped establish the ministry of Paul and John Mark, Paul raised countless other church leaders: Aquilla and Priscilla, Timothy, Silas, Titus, Luke, etc. etc. (there are at least 35 people listed as working with Paul, under Paul or in support of Paul in the New Testament... many of them working with small house churches, church plants etc.)

I find it dumbfounding that you are against the cell-church/house church/small group movement, because it seems to contradict where you usually stand on topics. I mean, even if a person goes to a bad church with an unbiblical pastor, there's always the potential that his small group leader, discipler, cell group leader is a godly man... of course that isn't always the case. However, oftentimes lay-leadership tends to be more grounded biblically than some pastors and priests.

[Dave Lee]

This is frightening! At least a politician can be removed at some point. In this case the false words go out wrapped in such a sugary coating that unless you are in diligent study, it might even make sense to you. Thanks be to God that as a confessional christian I don't have to alter one word of scripture to be a Lutheran. Lord have mercy on these wolves in sheep's clothing.

[Willem]

This is quite shocking. I never actually heard these guys compare fundamentalist Christians to wolves that ought to be shot! Am I misinterpreting things here, or did I hear him imply that fundamentalist (Biblical) Christians shoot be put to death? My friends, the true nature of this whole movement is hereby clearly exposed. This is an extraordinary admission from these people and Christians ought to take note!

Just like newagers, these people absolutely despise Biblical Christianity and would do anything to "cleanse" the earth from this perceived "cancer". And I should know, because prior to my conversion to Jesus Christ, I was one of them. As a new-ager I read new-age teachings that blatantly call for the eradication of all those who cling to the "old ways". Meaning materialistic people and Christians alike. Basically, anyone who disagrees with their "new-age revelation" and refuyse to go along with it. They euphemistically refer to it as "the selection process" or the "cleansing of the earth". They make it sound like an unavoidable step that humanity has to take to order to evolve towards a more loving and peaceful world. Make no mistake. These people mean business. By the time this whole thing becomes really big, they will put their words to action.

You know, I have always kind of known that it would be the ones that call themselves Christians, that would be the fiercest persecutors of the real Christians in this world. And the more I look at what's going on, The more I know that this just might be case.

By the way. I am from the Netherlands and I regularly listen in to your pod-casts and others like it. You are doing a great job and I want you to know that even here, on the other side of the ocean, you are definitely reaching people. The exact same things are going on in my country. For the most part, the churches here are very much asleep and very, very deceived. There are but a few that dare raise their voices against the tsunami of unbiblical teachings and practices that is entering the churches today. And as a result of it, most of them have been thrown out of their churches. Some where even pastors. It's an absolute shame. These people are completely heartbroken over what is happening to the church, and so am I.

Even though I only recently gave my life to Christ, I can clearly see what is going on. I really tried to fellowship with Christians, only to discover that most of the churches here, if not all, have fallen for some kind of false teaching or false practice or another. Whether it be seeker friendly, purpose driven, humanistic philosophy, psychology, ecology, mysticism or even new-age for that matter. As someone that came out of the new-age, I can testify that a lot of modern churches are actually preaching newage doctrines in a Christian disguise. And most Christians don´t have a clue as to what is really going on. More and more of these "churchpeople" (because frankly, I'm not even sure whether to call these people Christians anymore) are under the impression that God, indeed, is doing something "new and exiting" in the world today and that they all can be a part of this new movement. If only these people would realize the truth of the matter: That the only "new thing" that is emerging in the world today, is antichrist.

I thank God for your program and this website and hope that He will use it to open the eyes and ears of many.