Calling all churches to maturity

From my vantage point, the American church is mostly religious and not spiritual. Because of that, for the most part, more churches than not are without life and power because they are soulish in the way they are run. They have become pastor mills that do not follow the word of God for how church should be organized and governed. Ephesians 4 describes the model for church. Who besides a handful of churches are following it? So it begs the question, who is being biblical and who isn’t?

May I submit to you that what we have in church today is not biblical?

American churches are packaged, predictable and for the most part lacking power. Look at what the church produce as evidence. Is the average Christian church-goer different than the world? Not really. What plagues the world, plagues the church because we are all soulish for the most part – me included. We all struggle with being spiritually led but are more like soulishly led. We must become more aware of what God is doing in our lives and learn to BE spirit. Without that, we wouldn’t know, or more importantly, could embrace a spiritual experience if it bit us on the nose.

It seems to me that most people are only comfortable with what is predictable and soulish in church. We pray all the time for miracles and the supernatural power of God – as long as that doesn’t lead to the manifest presence of God. If that happens, “It’s starting to get weird,” right? What makes anyone so sure that a supernatural God is predictible? He may be consistent, but He’s anything but predictable.

There is verse that fits here: “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned,” 1 Cor. 2:14.

Isn’t it time we learned to spiritually discern all things and grow up as Christians? Or are we going to continue to struggle our whole lives and stay on mother’s milk because we’re not ready for solid food? Hebrews 5:12 reads “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”

I believe that we are in a time where God is challenging His bride to decide which type of Christians we’re all becoming. Shouldn’t we go all out and just get on with it one way or the other?

The Prophet’s Reward!

Matthew 10:41 reads: “He who receives a prophet in {the} name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”

What is the Prophet’s Reward and what exactly will we receive for receiving the prophet in this life?

The Greek in this passage reveals some interesting clues. In Matt. 10:40 as a part of this passage tells of Jesus instructing his disciples, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Clearly Jesus is explaining to the disciples that those who come on behalf of another honor not only the person they receive but also the person who sent them. In this case, Jesus explains that receiving the disciples is important because those that do, will be doing so also on behalf of Jesus who sent them. It’s an show of honor to the “sender,” in this case, an indirect honor to Jesus. The same is true of receiving the prophet. If a prophet is serving God, is not the sender equally God himself? Of course, the prophet comes to testify of Jesus therefore, receiving the prophet in this passage is likewise closely associated with receiving Jesus who sent the prophet in the first place, and the church would be wise to receive Jesus into the church in a fuller way.

Matthew 10:41 uses the Greek word lambanō for “receive,” which means to take hold of something with the hand, or lay hold of any person or thing in order to use it. It is not passive at all but directly proactive. A starving man who suddenly finds himself “receiving” a banquet does not sit and wait for the food to jump into his mouth, does he? At the mere mention of the gift, he receives it by taking hold of the food and eating it. He boldly and aggressively takes it for himself for he is starving!

This is the Lord’s intention for us with the spiritual gifts. We are not to receive the prophet and the prophetic like it’s something to be feared, but as an instrument of God boldly taken hold of and used. First Corinthians 14:1 reads “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual {gifts,} but especially that you may prophesy.” If we do not use the prophetic, we do not lay hold of it and the reward that comes with the prophet may only be deferred. And to do something with anything less than an “earnest desire” is to do so without passion, without zeal or without a burning pursuit.

I have often said that any gift given is just that, a gift given. That doesn’t mean it is received. To receive a gift, I must take hold of it. I must unwrap the gift and use it and keep it as my own. If all I do is put the gift on the table in front of me, I have not received the gift and it does me no good at all. I must choose to receive the gift and put it to good use. Otherwise, the gift is worthless.

Do you use the prophetic and other spiritual gifts or are they relics that sit on your shelf collecting dust? Spiritual gifts must be received in order to be useful. A shovel digs no holes on its own without a receiver taking the shovel as his own and using it to perform a task. We each should literally proclaim out loud to the Lord that we choose to receive his gifts and take them as our own and then begin to use them. Any parent can certainly identify with the picture of a small child trying to do something that is beyond their means. Take the task of vacuuming for instance. A 2-year old will struggle if the instrument of their task is too heavy for them to move or use properly. The imagery of this is tender and yet, in God’s kingdom, even if the gift is too big for us, he doesn’t take the tool out of our hand, he lets us use it anyway and allows us to grow into its intended purpose and power. But first we must try!

I believe that Jesus taught us to receive the prophet knowing 1) That there was great blessing to be had because of the prophet, and 2) That faith would be required to press through knowing that a number of false prophets existed at the time. In fact, there still is a number of false prophets today. And instead of joining with what God is doing, we see some in the church preaching that fear is a paralyzing force in our lives, and yet, they demonstrate the same fearful attitudes toward the prophetic – resulting in a quenching of the spirit (out of FEAR), that something might go wrong with it.

Fear overwhelms the gifts and instead quenches the spirit right out of our lives and of our church. And for prophetic people, this is tragic. Pain from being misunderstood or different is born out of that fear. Interestingly enough, when Jesus spoke of rejection, it wasn’t the gift of the apostle, pastor, teacher or evangelist that he used to illustrate his meaning – it was the prophetic and specifically the prophet as being the gift most closely associated with rejection (Mark 6:4). Of course it’s only human nature to fear the unknown. But we’re the body of Christ. We’re over-comers! We’re not supposed to fear the prophetic but to test it and lay hold of (receive) what is good. First Thessalonians 5:19-21 reads “Do not quench the spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything {carefully;} hold fast to that which is good.”

If the prophet is speaking for the edification of the body of believers, that is good. We should receive that without restraint. And if that prophet should ever say something this is not from God, let other prophets stand in judgment of his words and correct it accordingly (1 Cor. 14:29) instead of cutting off the flow either partially or entirely. Judgment by the prophets is not supposed to be to stand in judgment of the prophet himself, but the prophet’s word. People often confuse the judgment verse in 1 Corinthians 14 with the judgment verses for prophets in the Old Testament. They are not the same. The false prohets that came in the Old Testament came to testify of a false spirit. If the prophet today comes testifiying of Jesus, but gets it wrong, it’s okay because we live under grace not the law. In those situation, we lovingly correct when words do not witness to us. This is God’s order for the prophetic and how it should be used and managed. It’s not to be feared or judged any differently than anything the pastor or teacher brings each week to the body.

Surely the church should discern that the prophet is a man of God, but no more than a pastor or teacher. The judgments should be the same and regardless of the position or office. We should always look for evidence of authenticity that they are real (know them by their fruit) but after that, we need to get onto the business of receiving them by faith. What position a person with any gifting holds in a church depends on their level of gifting. For example, it’s one thing to be prophetic, and another to operate in the gifting and yet again another thing be in the office of the prophetic. What is God saying about the prophet, pastor, teacher and so on? What do others say? Has the Lord confirmed the person in some way? Does he have a calling and/or prophetic words of his own confirming his anointing and place? These are tough questions that should not only be asked of a prophet, but of all leaders, and particularly those we put into the highest positions of responsibility – the Office of the Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist and Pastor.

While all positions of leadership bring responsibility, so too do blessings also come. Prophets of the New Covenant bring the heart of God to the church. They build up and edify for 1 Cor. 14:3 reads “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” NKJV reads “It is for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.” The NIV reads that prophecy is for “strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.” Do these sound like rewards to you? They do to me even though, I don’t believe they are the actual rewards that God intended. I believe God knew that something extra in the way of faith would be required to truly receive the prophet and he rewarded that faith accordingly with what he called the “prophet’s reward.” Nevertheless, whether rewards come corporately to the body or to the individual, edification is good and goodness is from God.

So why was Jesus telling the disciples that whoever receives the prophet, receives the prophet’s reward? The majority of the passage in Matt. 10 speaks to the idea of position for the disciples among men, but also with perspective to their place before God. The prophets that Jesus speaks to in verse 41 may in fact refer to the disciples under the prophet’s anointing. Knowing this, Jesus would be instructing his disciples that a reward should follow for those who receive them. Surely there were prophets among the disciples. The reward is literally applied to those who receive them in this case. As I stated previously, I think there are aspects of the gifting that intrinsically are blessings and rewards coming out of the gifting as they are used to edify the church. Knowing this prophets should make a point to bless those who receive them (for the act of receiving them) and declare that God do so in an outrageous fashion so they receive a full measure of blessing no matter how God chooses to pour that blessing onto that body of believers.

In all the word “reward” is used 29 times in the New Testament and among the meanings closely applied to it are wages, pay, rewards, a price, or dues paid for work done. However, while in all cases the Greek word is the same, it is interpreted slightly different depending on the context. In a half dozen or so cases, the word refers to directly receiving pay for something done – but that is not how it is used in Matt. 10:41. In most cases the word is interpreted as a reward for a good deed and that reward can come in any number of ways.

Our instructions are clear though when reading and studying this passage. Honor and receive the prophet and you honor and receive the one who sent him. If you have done that, you will receive the Prophet’s Reward. Begin to pray that reward through as it is a promise from God. Hopefully for all churches, that person is always God rather than a wolf in sheep’s clothing. To know for sure, listen to the Lord. Use your gifts of discernment and if the prophet testifies of Jesus, then he is a true prophet. When he is, scripture is clear, blessings are sure to follow in whatever form they come.

The Anointing of Passionate Praise

At Bethel Church in Redding I had the opportunity to experience a new level of worship that they have regularly in Redding. As amazing as it was, I was quite surprised at the fairly youthful nature of the team. At first I thought to myself, “Well these guys just have more experience than most churches.” But then it dawned on me, how much experience could they really have? After all, some of these leaders are in their early 20s. So what’s the x-factor that they have that other churches are missing?

To first overstate the obvious, this is first and foremost, passionate praise. I think that’s what draws me to it so intensely. Be honest, does your worship team sing songs or do they truly worship? And when they worship, do they do so with passion? Where is this sort of passion in the rest of the church for worship? I would think that if you were a musician, you would be deeply passionate about music.

I have attended many sporting events in my life. What I go, I see deeply passionate fans of their teams and the sport. Likewise, I have attended dozens of churches, but rarely have I ever seen the same passion for praise and worship as is expressed in the everyday sporting event. Is it just me, or do you desire to see much more passion expressed through worship.

Second, there has to be a culture of freedom for expression in a church where this sort of praise can occur. Without freedom, much would not happen and it takes secure leadership to recognize where more freedom needs to be released so an outpouring of the Holy Spirit can occur through whatever means.

I believe we need more of this sort of worship in church. I understand some churches are far more conservative than this, but then again, many churches are also more lifeless than others as well.

If we want business as usual in church and want to continue to go each week without having an experience with the Holy Spirit, then by all means, we shouldn’t change a thing. But I personally believe there is much, much more and we can either go for it, or stay where we’re at and remain unchanged as a body of believers.

Isn’t it time we upgrade our worship?

Give a listen to these clips. I hope they stir your spirit as much as they stir mine.

It’s time for churches to upgrade the worship

Is it just me or has worship at most churches become very predictable? I talked about upgrading the words and lyrics we sing in worship recently, pointing out that the words we sing are very important. But what about the worship experience as a whole? Can anything be done to improve it?

Having a sensitivity for the spirit and what he is doing on any given occasion is equally important. All too often, there is a lot of singing at church and not enough leading by worship leaders. Personally, I believe this is a systemic issue because no one is modeling what spirit-led worship is. While I believe worship is a personal choice, a good worship leader can do a lot toward helping the body break through gunk in our lives via the worship experience. 

As an example, I submit to you a worship song from the team at Bethel in Redding, CA. Worshippers with passion, who operate out the leading of the spirit, bringing with it a tremendous anointing in the process that God can use to change our hearts.

Do you agree that we need more of this kind of worship or do you think it’s fine as it is? Take the poll below.

Seattle Transit Bus Ad Attacks People of Faith

Have you caught the latest ad posted on the side of a Seattle Metro Transit bus recently? It’s all part of the Freedom From Religion Foundation outdoor campaign that the FFRF is running this Christmas season.

Personally, I don’t blame FFRF for its campaign. They’re athiests and entitled to their point of view and, after all, do what athiests do – bash people of faith.

On the other hand, I have no problem blaming Metro Transit for allowing this campaign. As an advertising professional, this dumbfounds me.  Why in the world would any respectable business want to pick a fight with any of its paying customers? Since the busboards have hit the streets, many Christians have been outraged at how offensive this campaign is to them.

It is hard to believe that Seattle’s Metro bus lines would ever allow a campaign that is so offensive towards blacks, gays, hispanics, Asians, transsexuals any other group.  But our government-run transit agency has no problem with a campaign that attacks the beliefs of people of faith. Let’s face it. Christians are last acceptable targets of government-endorsed bigotry and nowhere is that more evident than right here in Washington State, home of the “Holiday Tree.”

Makes you want to run right out and catch a Seattle bus, doesn’t it?

Bill Johnson’s Leadership Advance Conference & Bethel Church Deliver the Goods!

I recently attended the Leadership Advance Conference at Bethel Church in Redding, CA. to see some of the things going there and find out for myself what I thought and discerned from the experience.

My wife went to Bethel on a visit recently and came back describing of an amazing spiritual experience, prayer ministry like few she had ever seen and profoundly powerful worship. I was moved by her description of the happenings in Redding and vowed to go soon.  When my pastor called me up and asked my attend Leadership Advance with him, I jumped at the opportunity.

I have often said, you cannot “think” an experience from God, you can only have one. As uncomfortable as some experiences in churches can be for some people, it is true you can’t “think” an experience. The pendulum between faith and reason has swung almost entirely over to the thinking, soul realm in many churches today to the point that having certain kinds of spiritual experience tends to be met with a suspicion and fear. I personally find it hard to believe that the absence of spiritual expression in church is God. All too often, churches have little if any spiritual expression in church. How can a God, who describes himself as “Jealous” be anything other than emotional. And while I don’t think that can be God, I also find it hard to believe that and anything goes, off the charts experiential affair is as well – although I will always allow God the room to stretch my personal tent whatever direction he chooses to go.

A great word from Bethel’s children’s education director was mentioned in a workshop that I attended. He said, “If you can do something on your own [in ministry] without the Holy Spirit, it’s not big enough. How true! We wonder in church why there is no power? Well perhaps it’s because we’re trying to do too much on our own power instead of using God’s power?  It stands to reason that God’s power is probably hard to bring to the body unless we are tapping into something other than our own abilities. Therefore, we must become intimate with the Father and able to share an deeper level of personal experience with him. When we do this, I believe it opens up our expressions in so many other ways; as in more devout prayer, heart-felt worship, obedience and revelation.

Bethel Church has done something that other churches should notice, which is embraced intimacy with the Father resulting in great revival and unimaginable growth the last few years. More than anything, they want the presence of God – not big facilities, not big tithes or just bigger congregations and buildings. Yes, those are all nice, but they are byproducts of a deeper, more intimate affair with the Father and Bethel seems to have it. By tapping into the presence of God, Bethel experiences more joy, freedom and love than any church I have ever been to. All the religion in the world cannot compete with God’s presence and Bethel seems to have embraced that fact for which they are openly criticized simply because they are different and some of the things happening there unexplainable.

Perhaps Bethel can say it best. I want to share this paragraph from Kris Vallotten, the prophetic leader at Bethel who writes in his book, Developing a Supernatural Lifestyle, that life in church shouldn’t be business as usual anymore, “I am convinced that religion is the father of genetic cloning. Religion invented cloning long before the world ever thought of it. Religion has a way of sucking the most powerful people on the planet into a spiritual look-alike contest and calling it discipleship. True discipleship is meant to empower people to be transformed into the image of their creator, but religion redefines the terms, conforming people into replicas of their leaders. Religion takes God’s mighty men and makes them artifacts in a museum.”

So I implore you to be different. Don’t let church become the sterile environment it is in so many places around our country. Dare to be different. Dare to expect great things like visions, miracles, signs and wonders. Hold your leaders accountable to that expectation if it’s not happening in your church. God hasn’t stopped working in those things, we just don’t know how to bring them to body. Dare to expect a visitation from the Father, that hopefully will become a co-habitation through your continued obedience and cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

Below follows my impressions of Bethel:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
My first impressions of Bethel were everything from original and unique to spiritual. Driving in the entrance of Bethel, entering cars were met with 500 cheering, flag waving, students welcoming leaders as they arrived. When was the last time you came to a church or conference where you were met with more honor than that. Everywhere you walk at Bethel, people in service pray and bless the visitors. Smiling faces greet you no matter where you go and others visiting were incredibly courteous.  

TEACHINGS
In three days of teachings from the likes of Bill Johnson, Danny Silk or Kris Vallotten, I didn’t hear one thing that contradicted or even loosely challenged the word of God. Never did any of the men and women of Bethel Church ever say one thing that professed anything other than scripture. One of the things taught at Bethel was about the proper alignment of governance in church in which Danny Silk explained how church today follows a pastor-led model instead of an Apostle/Prophet led model. Silk says, that is why the church resembles the world more than ever before, because it has broken away from God’s proper order explained in 1 Cor. 12:27-28 and until it accepts that fact, it will never reach its potential. Other teachings were superb as well, presented as smaller workshops or breakout sessions where attendees could interact with Bill Johnson’s staff.

SPIRITUALITY
People are not comfortable with open manifestations of the spirit will not be comfortable with Bethel. For some reason, if you show no emotion, or act like nothing is happening on the inside of you, that’s God. But if you openly express the impact on your life as they do at Bethel, that’s not God. I’m not sure where these rules came from, but clearly, Bethel’s most loyal walk in the spirit, are sometimes slain in the spirit, or are struck with joy. Just about any response they have comes under scrutiny because they are open to the possibilities of God rather than closed.

Bethel is also home of the School of the Supernatural. The very idea of this is probably offensive to those who hold to more traditional expressions for the Christian faith, but at least Bethel is trying. From what I saw, they offer a dramatic amount of material and teaching of a responsible spiritual walk through their school without squelching spiritual expression altogether as seems to exist in many other Christian Churches.

BILL JOHNSON
Bill Johnson believes in a church that is actually transformed in  the presence of God. As I observe around the world, I see amazing creativity. God created all of it. But in the church, is see no such creativity. Churches typically are systems made by men who want to build “kingdoms” more than they want to the presence of God. I watched Bill Johnson wait on God several times during my visit and was amazed by his patient, still spirit. Always discerning what is going on around him, Bill Johnson’s spiritual sensitivities should be envy of every leader. In the words of Graham Cooke, “If we are a church unchanged by the God we serve, we are nothing more than the Rotary Club with tongues.” 
I was thoroughly impressed by Bill Johnson and had a brief opportunity to meet and speak with him. He was nothing less than honoring and nothing more than humble. Would you want anything more from your pastor?

FACILITIES
The reason I am writing about this is because there are often assumptions made based upon the way a facility looks. Bethel is large – after all it hosts conferences and guests from all over the world, but it is far from extravagant. The children’s ministry area clunked loudly every time the air came on. The auditorium seats about 800 people and is a far cry short of many churches.  There are various rooms where smaller groups can meet at Bethel which also offers a coffee shop and bookstore, stocked full of both Bethel and non-Bethel materials.

Bethel also owns a second location that seats about 250 about 2 miles away from its main campus for its School of the Supernatural. Again, nothing too extravagant for a body that large.

Finally, Bethel fashions an amazing House of Prayer with rooms to pray, rest and meditate on the Lord. The main soaking room has an unassuming fountain with music creating an ambiance for prayer that is quite unique and moving. A table sits by the door with a book of written words that people have left for Bethel. A drawing book with pictures, some drawn by children, is also there for people to look through. Finally the grounds around the Prayer house are nicely landscaped with stone paths and benches where people can go outside to spend their time with God if the would rather.

SUMMARY
There is no doubt going to be people who are uncomfortable with the freedom that Bethel enjoys. However, we serve a supernatural God and yet, when we see a supernatural occurrence, we want to curse it. We don’t recognize the very God we serve. We might as well be saying, “Please God, come. Please come, please come, please come – just don’t manifest.”  Clearly, we don’t know him like Bethel does. They are not afraid, even if they don’t always understand what is happening around them.  As one pastor said to me while we were there, “Why can you cry your eyes out after having an experience with God and receive all the pats on the back of understanding you could conjure up, but when Joy comes on you and you feel laughter, happiness and excitement, they want to cast it out of you?”  So I ask doubters…what does AMAZING joy feel like, act like, look like to you?  If we are supposed to experience joy, where exactly is that being modeled.

All too often, I believe, that the lack of a healthy model is the reasons for problems that plague our society. For instance, no fathers in the home results in many social ills. The same goes for the Church. If no one models joy, freedom, spirituality, or fatherhood instead of always talking about it like it’s something sterile in a medical book that we’re completely removed from, how will we ever have more of it in our natural world.

I understand that we are not always going to agree on doctrines, but I truly do not understand why reasonable people cannot agree that God is 1) Supernatural, 2) Unpredictable, 3) Consistent, 4) Dynamic, 5) Alive and 6) Personal. If he is these things, he is not boring or boorish, heavy handed, but a loving Father who wants to see his kids get free.

Bethel is one church that has found its place. It is a church that is growing. It is one place where people can actually become more than pew fodder for pastors. Pastors should follow Bill Johnson’s example in that he seems to want a big people over a big church. If you go there, you’ll notice that Bill Johnson has both. Think about that for a while.

Graham Cooke on Prophecy, Passivity and Church

I recently attended the Way of the Warrior Conference in Everett, Washington where Graham Cooke was speaking. I recorded the sessions and pulled out a few choice cuts in this video.

NOTE: Audio levels are low but sounds fine with earphones if you have them.

A Treasure Hunt, God Style

Most kids have fond memories of getting their list of goodies that they needed to gather from neighbors and friends during a good game of Treasure Hunt. Either individually or in groups of 2 or more, kids would go on treasure hunts for safety pins, baseball cards, newspapers, and a sundry list of goods to see who could collect them first.

But now, groups of spiritual Christians are pushing the envelope of their faith by praying for people to reach in their communities. During the exercise the Christian prays for a list of attributes to look for in person to target for ministry or just words of encouragement.

The typical list that someone might receive in prayer would read, a young man, wearing a blue shirt and baseball cap, with his arm in a sling. Once the list is made, the spiritual Christian takes off for the destination that they think God sent them to, seeking out people who match that description. Upon finding them, the Christians share their faith or share the list of things that they got in prayer with their targets in an attempt to minister, pray, heal or disciple them to the Lord.

My wife found this video that was made on one such excursion trip to Disneyland by a group of spiritual Christians. Give the Treasure Hunt video a watch and see for yourself how God’s creativity for reaching the lost knows no bounds.

Audio Tape Captures Blessing & Power of the Prophetic

I have often pondered why the Word speaks so glowingly of the prophetic and why it is consider the greatest of the spiritual gifts? At the same time, having been around the prophetic, I often wonder how anyone can believe it is dead today and not in the church anymore.

I want you to experience this word from God delivered by Graham Cooke. I believe it expresses the beauty and power of the prophetic. There is nothing like it and I believe this is why the Lord’s word encourages us to prophesy.

Listen to these words.
Hear why you are his beloved.
It is his nature to love you.
God’s love for us never changes. He loves you 100% of the time.
Are you ready to experience God’s love for you? Are ready to experience and receive the inheritance that he has for you?

I believe God arranged for you to find this website today and to hear the following audio. You have been selected, on purpose by God, to review this word, a word of blessing in your life.

This word is for you designed to show you his unchanging love.

Accept it and be blessed and hear what it’s like to be Loved by the Lord.

Church Reported to State for Gay Exorcism Video

If it sometimes feels to you like the separation between Church and State is merely made up of smoke and mirrors, then this will make your cringe all the more.  A church that conducted a gay exorcism which was caught on video is coming under fire in the State of Connecticut and the ministry that conducted the ceremony is being charged with “Murdering a teen’s soul.”

As you have read on my blog for a while now, the soul is not something that we want to be guiding our lives. In fact, we should kill the soul in our lives. The soul, which is made up by our mind, will and emotions, is not to be our guide in life, but should always be subject to the Spirit. If we become spiritually led, then no longer will people respond in anger or to peer pressure because the idea of hearing from God and obeying will soon replace it as our guiding principle.

If the ‘charges’ are found true, the consequences could have a chilling affect on churches everywhere. There is something alarming about what might come of this if any charges are filed against this ministry. Can you imagine the state telling churches what is an acceptable religious practice and what is not?

Of course everything is within reason, but charges that Manifested Glory Ministries who prayed over the teen who is featured in the video and shown “flopping violently” on the floor, even vomiting at one point, somehow bears some responsibility for negligence or was “abusive” even by the loosest of definitions, is totally absurd.

Noting that watching the video made her sad, a gay activist Robin McHaelen, executive director of the Manchester-Conn., True Colors, said she was horrified when she saw the video.

If this type of thing leads to more wide spread condemnation against the ministry or more broadly, practices in churches, it will only serve to confirm what is written in scripture in 1 Cor 2:14 which reads, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Regardless of where you fall in this matter, religious organizations should be concerned if this increases scrutiny into church practices. While one practice may appear sensational to one church, it might be normal to another. It could be a short slippery slope down the hill before all practices become the future ”interest” of the state.