BREAKING NEWS: Elevation Employee Reveals Reason For Chandler Sermon Censorship

I hope you're sitting down because you're not going to believe what you're about to read!

Geoff Schultz, the Motion Graphic Designer for Elevation Church said on his Facebook wall that the reason why Chandler's sermon was edited out of the revival's rebroadcasts was that "The team decided to focus the rebroadcast on Jesus - so we reformatted the content a bit - We are trying to stay in the flow of what the Spirit is leading us to do."

Here's the Screen Shots taken today of his Facebook Wall.

Comments

[Puritan Physicist]

So lemme get this straight: a sermon which magnifies the glory of God does not "focus on Jesus"?

The Spirit's ministry is convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Certainly the sin of religious pride was being confronted by Chandler in his sermon. But the Spirit doesn't want people to be convicted of that sin, according to Mr. Schultz.

George Orwell would applaud that kind of doublespeak.

[Angie]

So, I had Matt's sermon from Code Orange posted on youtube. Elevation "Church" just took it down about an hour ago. I didn't realize there was a copyright on the gospel. Oops...

[Candance]

I don't get what they mean about focusing the rebroadcast on Jesus. That's who he preached about didn't he? *shrugs*

[Barbara]

Has Chandler weighed in on this publicly at all? I do know that he makes an unapologetic point of going wherever he is invited so that he can open up the Scripture and preach the Gospel in some otherwise dark places. I just - I don't know if it's ever been so blatantly censored out before. I'd love to hear it myself - is it available anywhere? Chris? You have it tucked away for a sermon review maybe?

[Walt]

Correct me if I'm wrong, that's a strange statement ..."focus the rebroadcast on Jesus", Furtick usually focuses on himself correct? So would it be wrong to assume that since Chandler didn't mention how scripture is fulfilled in Furtick and Elevation church or talk about how scripture is fulfilled in himself and the Village Church, he was not focusing on Jesus.

Is that a reasonable interpretation of "focus the rebroadcast on Jesus"?

[Mike Baker]

"...we are trying to stay in the flow of what the Spirit is leading us to do."

Which is obviously a different spirit than the one that the holy apostlic church is commanded to listen to [1 John 4:1-6].

I have no doubt that they followed the lead of a spirit.

The question is: What kind of a spirit would lead a "church" to air Jentezen Franklin's self-absorbed, mythological talk but then--on the following night--not air the glorious sermon that actually proclaimed the encarnate Christ, repentance, and the forgiveness of sins in His name?

By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

"The team decided to focus the rebroadcast on Jesus..."

I also have no doubt that they wanted to focus on Jesus. [Matthew 24:23-24]

The question is: Given what they aired instead of the sermon, which Jesus does Elevation church want to focus on?

Certianly not the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Worst construction: They are intentionally leading people astry and wandering after myths.

Best construction: They are so spirtually blind that they do not know what they are doing and therefore have no authority to teach others in spiritual matters. It's not enough to follow any spirit. You must be in THE Spirit... God the Holy Spirit which convicts the world of sin and leads the church into all truth.

[Sergio Martinez Whosoever]

Maybe ask Matt to come on Fighting for the faith? But either way I'm a little bit shocked. Why would Steven claim to listen to orthodox teachers and that he likes to be a spiritual "omnivore" but yet not allow the real Gospel to be preached? But men will be lovers of themselves in the last days. Code Orange is fulfillment of prophecy!

[Sergio Martinez Whosoever]

So in a way, you can say that Steven Furtick IS in the Bible!

[matt]

Here is a link....

[matt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyhp6sQSwaA&feature=related

[Rick Koenig]

One thing this reveals is which "spirit" they are following. And it isn't the Holy one. I cannot imagine a more absurd statement - at least until the next sermon from this conference. It is clear people are being led AWAY from God. Satan must be having a good laugh.

I pray that the light will reach even the darkest places, if that is God's will.

[Stephen]

it's clear that this church is much more about "honoring" the glories of their pastors and pastor-friends than preaching Jesus. Can't wait to hear you exalt Jesus in his words on Matthew 13:16, because Perry Noble did exactly the opposite.

[Scott]

Building hype about themselves, drawing attention to themselves rather than Christ is synonymous with building their concept of the kingdom.

Here is an excerpt from an article I just saw, seems to describe what is going on here:

When the Product is the Producers

As in industry, when it's all about what each can get for themselves, the focus and strategy favors the short term gains of the producer rather than the long term development of the product. Unfortunately, in modern commercial religion, the product is the producers, the larger than life stage and screen personalities that now draw the crowds.

The larger the media build up of the superstar who is the center and focus of the ongoing events, the greater the interest. Those who have not developed a foundation for themselves either through their role in the world system, or by their faith in Christ, will often seek to vicariously live through the fame and fortune of others who give the impression that they have a connection with those who attend their events and support them.

The messages thus will not be focused on building the product, which in Biblical terms would be the disciples that Jesus was seeking from the nations from those who were to sincerely build the true kingdom of God by preaching the Gospel. Instead, the messages will continually be about the greatness and success of the center of attention.

The underlying dynamic and reason that will act as the magnet to keep the community and crowds centered around the given institution or personality (they are really one in the same) will be either that those attending thus can learn to be as great and successful as the personality on the stage, or if failing that, at least by association, by attendance and financial support, they can feel as if they are sharing in the success of the given personality or program.

This idol worship of personalities leads to denial when there is evidence that the media persona and the private life of the individual do not line up. Those who have developed a dependence for their own identity based on their association with the given media personality will often refuse or disregard evidence or facts that might suggest their idol is not sufficient to support their expectations.

So it was when the ark of God was placed in the temple of Dagon. In the morning the Philistines found their idol had fallen face down in the presence of the ark of God, yet their first response was to simply pick it up and stand it upright again. It is the worshipers who support an idol. It is the true living God that through faith in Him who supports those whose confidence and trust is in Him.

[Liz Daniels]

So Furtick is afraid of the Gospel being proclaimed in his Church! No big shocker I guess but very sad.

[audie]

"We are trying to stay in the flow of what the Spirit is leading us to do." That seems rather a lot like the NAR stuff about the "river of God" and other latter rain ideas. Given that many of the Code Orange speakers are Word Faith, is the use of such language by this graphics guy indicative of where they are going or even already are theologically?

[kevin]

Here's a link that's working RIGHT NOW.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yqQuTT1S40

I downloaded the video with FREE YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD so now I have Matt Chandler's sermon on my own computer and nobody can take it! I'm sure others have done the same, and there's no way anyone will be able to keep the sermon off the net b/c people will just keep reposting it.

[Risto Soramies]

One could add: Did you notice how Jesus centerd Ed Youngs "sermon" was? It made the cut without any questions.
Risto S. Finland

[Fred]

"Motion Graphic Designer" for a church. Well, in my church the only motion we get is when everybody turns the hymnal to number 87.

[David]

I downloaded the sermon myself also. It was a very great encouragement to me, reminding me of the significance of Jesus' cross - the glaring monument that Jesus isn't fooled about our past or our loveliness. He knows the cost of our salvation, and He willingly and gladly paid for us because of the underpinning motivation of going about the work of upholding His glory.

To not host the sermon is strange. The people from Elevation Church at the meeting were very encouraged by it also if the agreement they vocalized is any indication.

[Curtwhalen]

Pretty simple to understand. Furtick got angry at Matt Chandler for calling him out for all the focus on Elevation / Furtick himself and not Christ. Furtick pulled the broadcast and only relented to repost it after the backlash from the web. Interesting to note that the Elevation staff cut out the parts of Matt's sermon that called Furtick out.

[Brian]

As a fellow believer, and one who does not know any more about this situation than anyone else, I just feel the need to say this:

There's a lot of heart-judging going on right now, and we need to be cautious. God knows Steven Furtick's heart, the hearts of his staff, and the hearts of his congregation ... but we don't. If we claim to, then we're in sin. When we begin to speak on what is important to others or their motives behind their action, we're taking the place of God. It's sin. Plain and simple.

I'm saying this with the same love that Chandler used to talk to Elevation Church and say hard things.

Romans 14 has a lot to say about how critical we as believers can be toward each other, and how much God hates that.

Instead of attacking, why don't we all get off the Internet, go somewhere private, drop to our knees, and beg God to glorify Himself and show Himself mightily through Elevation Church? Or is prayer not as fun as stirring up controversy?

[Casey]

I am employeed and a covenant member of the church that Matt preaches at, The Village. This sermon is the same sermon that we hear every weekend. It's the same because nothing needs to change. "I decided to know nothing among you except Christ, and Him crucified" 1 Cor. 2:2. We don't hear about Matt and what Matt is doing; we hear about Christ and what He's done, what He's doing, and what He is going to do. The Gospel is offensive. The Gospel forces us to see our wickedness and Christ's perfection. If Matt's message offended you, it's ok. You are not awesome, but, Christ is. Gospel Centered preaching is the only way lives will be changed. Not by man made "revivals", man focused "talks" (not teaching/preaching, or church/pastor centered "pep rallies."