WesleyGospel Ministries

Originally from here.

Church planters are a RARE breed…no one in their right mind would EVER choose to do it…it MUST be a calling.  AND…no one WANTS their church plant to fail…yet here are seven reasons I’ve seen that some have…

#1 – The Church Is Planted Out Of Bitterness Rather Than A Divine Calling From God!

What some people call a church plant…God actually calls a church split.  When a group of bitter, angry, self serving people with a lot of money find a hirling who will do all that they want him to do…that isn’t necessarily a church plant.  AND…usually within two or three years it goes REALLY bad.  Let me be VERY CLEAR here…when bitterness and anger are the root of the plant…then the church is in deep trouble right at the beginning.

#2 – The Leadership Has A Desire For Imitation Rather Than Seeking Revelation!

We’ve seen it before…a group of guys go to a conference and see a church…and then come back to their community and try to be just like the church they saw at the conference.  There is NOTHING wrong with receiving inspiration and ideas at a conference…but when one church tries to be just like another one in every area…then I believe the leaders are spending way too much time studying methods rather than the Scriptures.  God calls every church to be unique in some sort of way…and that will never be found if the leadership isn’t desperately seeking God for His direction.

#3 – The Pastor Has A Desire To Be Known Way More Than He Desires To Fulfill The Great Commission!

When a leader is more obsessed with how many hits he is getting on his blog…or how many people follow him on twitter…and because of those things loses sight of reaching people for Christ–it’s over.

#4 – When The Leadership Allows The Vision To Get Hijacked In Order To Keep Everyone Happy!

EVERY church planter WILL experience SOMEONE trying to hijack the vision of the church…MOST of the time before the church ever officially launches.  Pastor..BEG God for HIS vision, let Him BURN it in your heart…and then go for it and don’t let anyone talk you out of what God has clearly spoken into you.

#5 – The Pastor Isn’t Willing To Call People To Commit.

The last thing we need in the body of Christ is a room full of people who are more commited to watching their favorite TV shows every week than they are to following Christ.  Pastors…you can’t be afraid to ask people to commit to Christ, to volunteer, to give and to read their Bibles.  If you back down from this then you will do nothing more than raise a co-dependent group of people who learn to depend on you rather than Jesus.

#6 – The Pastor Lacks Courage!

This sort of goes along with #5.  I believe that every church planter will be tested early in the process…usually within the first six months…and also usually it will relate to finances.  A big giver will begin to list out his or her demands…and then the leader must decide whether or not he is a prositiute (paid for a service) or a prophet (someone who belongs to God.)  Pastor…leadership requires courage.  People WILL take shots at you.  People WILL take what you say out of context.  People WILL lie about you.  You are NOT going to be loved by everyone…and to face that reality takes courage.  If you lack it then you won’t make it.

#7 – The Pastor Tries To Do It All By Himself!

Dear pastor…you are NOT that good!  You can’t do it all (even though some will expect you to.)  You’ve GOT to delegate ministry to others.  You’ve GOT to listen to the people God intentionally places around you.  You’ve GOT to admit when the load is too heavy so those who care about you can take things off your plate.  You’ve GOT to understand that Jesus cares WAY more about the church than you do…and He will send the right people along side of you to make sure HIS vision becomes reality.  We are NOT called to do it alone!!!

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A SUMMARY OF CHURCH PLANTING FAILURES

Successful church planters are rare. Here are seven marks of a pastor who will definitely fail at planting a church…

1. The Pastor is a Hireling. In 2-3 years, a church plant will fail–if it is planted by a group of bitter, holding-things-against-others kinds of elders, with a lot of money, and a selfish agenda–and they employ a hireling for a pastor. John 10:12: “A hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.”

2. The Pastor is Not Prophetically Led, But Just Copycats Megachurches. The pastor and elders don’t plant their church based on prophetic words from the Holy Spirit; are not willing to hold to their convictions; and instead just choose to copycat the methods and forms of some megachurch.

3. The Pastor Does Not Preach the Gospel! The pastor is more concerned with fame and how many people attend his church than actually fulfilling the Great Commission and preaching the Gospel. See Iain Murray’s John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock and John MacArthur’s Ashamed of the Gospel.

4. The Pastor, If At a Point Prophetically Guided to Plant the Church with a Specific Vision–Over Time, He Allows Other People to Compromise His Vision–and instead goes for ideas and fads which he deems will be more popular and bring more people to his church.

5. The Pastor Doesn’t Encourage Evangelistic Outreach! The pastor does not preach holiness and does not encourage his church members to be active in evangelistic outreaches.

6. The Pastor Is Not Financially Independent; and Compromises with Big Givers. The pastor lacks the courage to prophetically preach on holiness or Hell; and he succumbs to worldly-minded elders who are big givers. (Therefore, the pastor should be economically self-sufficient to pay the church rent–regardless if people give or not.)

7. The Pastor Is a Do-It-Yourselfer. The pastor tries to do all ministry activities by himself; and he does not ask other God-directed people in the church to help out or take responsibility for ministry duties.

Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.  –Jesus in Revelation 3:16

Originally from here.

1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13

2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4

3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.

4. Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.

5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31

6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33

7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12

8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62

9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38

10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14

11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25

12. Lukewarm people think about life on Earth much more often than eternity in Heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever, do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20

13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7

14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46

15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28

16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.

17. Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens—they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis—their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21

18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35

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UPDATE: 3/19/14 – John

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. –Jesus in Matthew 11:11

How to Stay on Fire for God: 10 Lessons from John the Baptist

1. HELL. Never Stop Seeing the Eternal Fire of Hell in Your Mind’s Eye. Matthew 3:7, 10, 12; Luke 3:7, 9, 17

2. REPENTANCE. Never Stop Repenting: Maintain a Clear Conscience Towards God. Matthew 3:2, 6, 8, 11, 14; Luke 3:3, 7-8; Mark 1:4, 5

3. REPENTANCE. Never Stop Resisting Sin and Temptation. Matthew 3:2, 8, 11; Luke 3:7-8; Mark 1:4

4. HOLINESS. Never Stop Growing in Obedience to God’s Moral Law in the Bible. Matthew 3:8, 11; Luke 3:9-14

5. FAITH. Never Stop Seeing the Cross of Jesus in Your Mind’s Eye. Luke 3:3; Mark 1:4; John 1:15, 29-31, 32-34, 36

6. HEAVEN. Never Stop Seeing Heaven in Your Mind’s Eye. Matthew 3:2

7. PROPHECY. Never Stop Listening to God through Dreams, Visions, Voices, and Signs. Matthew 3:11, 16-17; Luke 3:2, 16, 21-22; Mark 1:8; John 1:33

8. ZEAL. Never Stop Expressing Angry Rebukes to Sin, Injustice, and Unrighteousness. Matthew 3:7, 11; Luke 3:7-8, 19

9. EVANGELISM. Never Stop Open Air Preaching on Repentance. Matthew 3:1-2; Luke 3:3, 18; Mark 1:4

10. LOVE. Never Stop Seeing that God’s Love is Towards Jesus; and Towards All Who Are Made Holy by Faith in Him. Luke 3:22; For my view of Christian love, click here.

Originally from here.

The basis of all sin of whatever kind is pride. This was what inspired the disobedience of Adam and Eve, and it is always with us. One very common form it takes is the pride of privilege. When a man is given a special position, he forgets that it was given. He becomes proud, as though “his own arm” had gotten him the victory.

God knows well the heart and made provision for this sin of pride when He instructed the Israelites about appointing a king. He was to make a copy of the Law. This would be the antidote, necessary for him and likewise for all of us (for “Law” read “Word”). “He shall keep it by him and read from it all his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and keep all the words of this Law and observe these statutes.

In this way he shall not become prouder than his fellow countrymen nor shall he turn from these commandments to right or left” (Dt 17:19, 20 NEB). The attempt itself to keep the commandments, one by one and day after day, will be sufficient to humble us, for the “straightedge of the Law” (Rom 3:20 JBP) will only show us, as Paul found, how crooked we are. We will find, in fact, that we cannot keep it. “The whole matter is on a different plane–believing instead of achieving” (Rom 3:27 JBP). Pride won’t find much foothold on that plane.

What models or examples are there in the Christian corpus of clergymen or pastors who were on fire for God, preached holiness and righteousness hard-core with passion and zeal, and were evangelistically driven? Even as street preachers? Very few that I know of. I can’t say all of these street preached, but I’m inclined to think these were mostly CLERGY ON FIRE. See Leonard Ravenhill’s Sodom Had No Bible, “Part 2: Portraits of Revival Preachers.”

All five of these men were on-fire-for-God, holiness-preaching pastors, whom Leonard Ravenhill (d. 1994) looked up to, as models of the Christian ministry! Chadwick was his mentor. S. E. Dwight was the great-grandson of Jonathan Edwards.

According to Date of Death

1691 – The Autobiography of Richard Baxter ed. J. M. Lloyd-Thomas (1931)

1758 – The Life of President Edwards by S. E. Dwight (1830) | Jonathan Edwards

1763 – William Grimshaw, Incumbent of Haworth by Robert Spence Hardy (1860)

1791 – The Life of John Wesley by John Telford (Wesleyan Methodist Book Room, 1899)

1932 – Samuel Chadwick by Norman Dunning (Hodder and Stoughton, 1933)

DO NOT BE DECEIVED

Lately, I’ve been musing about a topic that really drives me crazy. It pertains to movies, television shows, radio ads, internet advertisements, books, as well as all forms of media not mentioned here trying to sell witchcraft to a young (or old) audience. I see a major problem with today’s media advertising movies/shows/songs about vampires, witches and warlocks, spells, potions, magic – the whole lot of it. Having a two year old who likes to watch Dora the Explorer, and just about anything animated, exposes me to much of children’s television of today. I frequent Disney Channel and Sprout networks as well as Nick Jr. television. Sad to say, but the “pickings are slim” when it comes to quality TV shows. The same goes for public library books or children’s books from Barnes & Noble. I am soooo sick of Harry Potter movies, sensual Twilight books/shows, or how about the new My Babysitter’s a Vampire on Disney channel. Why am I angry with these things? Truly, I am more afraid than just blindly angry. In the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 18:10-11), the Lord specifically speaks against witchcraft: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” Moses goes on to say that these people are “detestable” to God.

I could be wrong, but I believe they were burned at the stake in the Old Testament if they practiced witchcraft or anything like it (Exodus 22:18; correction: witches were stoned to death, not burned, Leviticus 20:27). In the New Testament, I don’t think it gets much better as far as the punishment that waits for those who indulge in sorcery. The apostle John didn’t have any cute, soft words for spells and magic works. Revelation 9:21 speaks of those who do not recant for their magic arts. Revelation 21:8 is unmistakably clear: “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Why are so many “Christian” magicians dull to these verses? I grew up in a town where the neighboring city had a cute CHRISTIAN magician. WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!! Christian Magician should be an oxymoron. Those who indulge in the magic arts/witchcraft will be thrown into the Lake of Fire! I don’t want to be among those who are running after Harry Potter and his new hit movie (which sold more in the box office than all of the Star Wars trilogy). Furthermore, I don’t want my 2-year old “innocent” daughter growing up to cast spells on people/animals. Let there be no mistaking that I am NOT wanting to vindicate anything with even the fringes of witchcraft about it!

Bickle, Mike. Contemplative Prayer: The Journey into Fullness. 4 CD set. Kansas City, MO: International House of Prayer Missions Base, 2001.

Dubay, Thomas. Fire Within. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 1989. Chapter 5. Bases everything on the mystical theology of Sts. Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross.
—–. Prayer Primer. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2002. Chapter 9.
—–. Contemplation: Union with God. DVD. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2006.

Foster, Richard J. Prayer. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1992. Chapter 14.

Glass, Clyde McLean. “Mysticism and Contemplation in the Life and Teaching of Albert Benjamin Simpson.”

Goll, James. Consecrated Contemplative Prayer. Antioch, TN: Ministry to the Nations, 1997.
—–. Wasted on Jesus. Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2000. Chapters 2-3.

Harris, E. Lynn. The Mystic Spirituality of A. W. Tozer. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 1992.

Schwanda, Tom. Soul Recreation: The Contemplative-Mystical Piety of Puritanism. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2012.

2. Their daughter later married Bertrand Russell:–the atheist philosopher.

3. John MacArthur, the Reformed theologian, in his Introduction to J. C. Ryle’s Holiness, says the dangerous nature of her teaching on sanctification was that it downplayed the role of active, moral striving and fighting against sin in the Christian life; it exalted a fantasy of moral perfection by this idea that sanctification is all a work of the Spirit and prayer and perfect miraculous righteousness; it also implied an antinomianism (anti-keeping God’s commandments), and passive quietism (no human effort in anything unless God’s voice gives the specific direction). So, you can see why a teaching like this would have a negative influence on her family life, by exalting the idea of a Christian to such a high level, so as to make it virtually impossible to live up to, and then fall into unbelief and dismiss Christianity as impossible and fantastic:–hence atheism and skepticism in her family followed. BEWARE!

God bless,
John

At this point in my relationship with God, my favorite charismatic theologians are Drs. Wayne Grudem and Sam Storms; its possible Max Turner and Doug Banister will be included soon. My reasons: (1) Reformed theology. (2) Charismatic gifts. (3) Biblical, historical, and experiential. (4) Ethical.

There are two reasons why I think I’ve been bit with a “charismatic theology” bug lately. (1) The recent publication of John MacArthur’s Strange Fire book (2013); and the conference, where he makes the sweeping accusation that all charismatics are not members of the body of Christ: “I believe that we are not dividing the body of Christ in this conference. We are trying to identify the body of Christ and show that these people [in the video] aren’t part of it” (0:34:33). (2) Personal experiences I’m having with people resistant to charismatic gifts.

PENTECOSTAL
1924 – Smith Wigglesworth’s Ever Increasing Faith
1928 – Donald Gee’s Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1968 – Howard Carter’s Spiritual Gifts and Their Operation

CHARISMATIC RENEWAL
1971 – Dennis and Rita Bennett’s The Holy Spirit and You
1971 – Don Basham’s A Handbook on Tongues, Interpretation, and Prophecy
1971 – J. Rodman Williams’ The Era of the Spirit
1972 – J. Rodman Williams’ The Pentecostal Reality – renewaltheology.net
1978 – Herman Riffel’s Voice of God
1984 – J. I. Packer’s Keep in Step with the Spirit
1984 – Ronald Kydd’s Charismatic Gifts in the Early Church – recommended to me by Sam Storms
1986 – Herman Riffel’s Learning to Hear God’s Voice

VINEYARD / THIRD WAVE
1985 – David Pytches’ Spiritual Gifts in the Local Church – recommended to me by the Dean of Alliance Theological Seminary, Ron Walborn
1986 – John Wimber’s Power Evangelism
1987 – John Wimber’s Power Healing
1988 – John Wimber’s Power Encounters
1988 – Wayne Grudem’s The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today
– Sam Storms says: “The best and most scholarly treatment of the prophetic gift I’ve read.”
1991 – John Wimber’s Power Points
1992 – Jack Hayford, John Wimber, Reinhard Bonnke’s The Gifts of the Spirit
1993 – Herman Riffel’s Dream Interpretation
1993 – Ira Milligan’s Understanding the Dreams You Dream
1995 – James Ryle’s A Dream Come True
1995 – Benny Thomas’ Exploring the World of Dreams
1996 – Mike Bickle’s Growing in the Prophetic
1996 – Max Turner’s The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts
– Sam Storms says: “This is the most scholarly and detailed analysis of the Holy Spirit and the charismata that I’ve read. His treatment of prophecy, tongues, and healing is especially good. Highly recommended!”
1999 – Doug Banister’s The Word and Power Church – recommended to me by the Dean of Alliance Theological Seminary, Ron Walborn
2002 – Sam Storms’ The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts
2005 – Daniel Jennings’ The Supernatural Occurrences of John Wesley
2007 – Steve Thompson’s You May All Prophesy
– He was the primary prophetic teacher at MorningStar Ministries, but he left because he disagreed with Rick Joyner’s attempt to “restore” Todd Bentley to ministry in 2008.
2009 – Daniel Jennings’ The Supernatural Occurrences of Charles G. Finney

Charismatic Theologians I Reject or Would Extremely Caution About

d. 1935 – John G. Lake (Pentecostal pluralist; “little gods” belief)
d. 1973 – Gordon Lindsay (Lake disciple; “little gods” belief)
d. 2003 – Kenneth Hagin (started the Word of Faith Movement around 1985 with the success of Rhema Bible Training College)
b. 1942 – Richard J. Foster (Celebration of Discipline, Prayer, etc)–although the content of these books is orthodox, and at times, profoundly prophetic, mystical, and powerful–Foster quotes from tons of Christian universalists! (Probably because the Quakers have a universalist stream that he inherited, either knowingly or unknowingly.)
b. 1940s? – Mark Virkler (Communion with God, etc) – Deep, prophetic material at times; has discernment about the New Age Movement, which is good; but accepts a level of positive confession views, and what is the worst, in my personal opinion–he does not believe in theology or in judging prophetic words, but believes that 99% of dreams come from God. He also seems to teach automatic writing, which is definitely not an orthodox prophetic revelatory practice, either Biblically or historically.
b. 1970s? – John Crowder (Miracle Workers, Reformers, and the New Mystics; The Ecstasy of Loving God) – trinitarian universalist; he can also be very rude and impolite.

The following is a list of bona fide Christian prophets, and groups associated with them, who embraced charismatic gifts down through the history of the church.

d. 356 – St. Antony / The Desert Fathers
d. 460 – St. Patrick / The Celtic Saints
d. 543 – St. Benedict / The Order of Saint Benedict
500s – 1100s – The Order of Saint Benedict (O.S.B.)
d. 1179 – St. Hildegard of Bingen (O.S.B.)
d. 1226 – St. Francis / The Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.)
d. 1419 – St. Vincent Ferrer / The Order of Preachers (O.P.)
d. 1582 – St. Teresa of Avila / Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.)
1500s – 1600s – John Howie’s The Scots Worthies / The Covenanters
d. 1791 – John Wesley (The Methodist Episcopal Church)
d. 1875 – Charles Finney (The Second Great Awakening / Revivalism)
d. 1919 – A. B. Simpson (The Christian & Missionary Alliance / C&MA)
d. 1947 – Smith Wigglesworth (friends with, but never joined Assemblies of God)

• The Essential Smith Wigglesworth edited by Wayne E. Warner (405 pgs)

d. 1991 – Dennis Bennett (the Charismatic Renewal; evangelical Episcopalian /Anglican)
d. 1997 – John Wimber (the Association of Vineyard Churches / Third Wave)

This is the only available video on Smith Wigglesworth that I know about. Nevermind the fact that the narrator Roberts Liardon fell into a gay scandal back in 2001. See also here. It’s still a good video on Wigglesworth. Nevertheless, if Liardon has not truly repented, then as the Good Book says: “Nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NKJV). Lester Sumrall (d. 1996) received a spiritual blessing from Wigglesworth; and has published many books on the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts:–unfortunately, he got into the Word of Faith movement.

Publishers of Orthodox Charismatic/Prophetic Groups

1. Liturgical Press – The Order of Saint Benedict
2. Franciscan Institute Publications – The Order of Friars Minor
3. ICS Publications – The Discalced Carmelites
4. TAN Books – Catholic Charismatic
5. Christian Alliance Publishing / Christian Publications – The C&MA
6. Gospel Publishing House – Assemblies of God
7. Vineyard International Publishing – The Vineyard

Prophets and Groups I Reject As Heretical and Not Worthy of Imitation

1. The Centering Prayer Movement – Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, M. Basil Pennington, William Meninger.
2. The United Methodist Church – universalism; “gay Christian” movement.
3. The Word of Faith Movement – E. W. Kenyon, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Charles Capps, Frederick K. C. Price, and tons of TBN preachers – has sadly infected Assemblies of God, Church of God (Cleveland, TN), the Pentecostal Holiness Church, and just about every Pentecostal denomination.
4. MorningStar Ministries – Rick Joyner, Todd Bentley, etc.
5. John G. Lake, Gordon Lindsay (Christ For The Nations), the 1950s Healing Revival, and the Healing Rooms – Lake believed Mohammed was a prophet of God (John G. Lake: The Complete Collection, pp. 911-912), that “God intends us to be gods” (as quoted in Dave Hunt and T. A. McMahon’s The Seduction of Christianity, p. 219), he condemned Assemblies of God, William J. Seymour, and associated with E. W. Kenyon (John G. Lake, pp. 474-479), he endorsed George Fox and Sadhu Sundar Singh–both universalists (pp., 365, 693), he repeatedly condemned all use of doctors and medicine in favor for the prayer of faith only.
6. Quakers – George Fox, The Religious Society of Friends, Evangelical Friends Church International, etc – UNIVERSALIST CHRISTIAN MYSTICS (even the early Quakers were!)
7. John Crowder – thenewmystics.com – trinitarian (universalist)