Post by philiprosenthal on Apr 28, 2006 16:01:56 GMT
THE ORIGINAL VISION AND THE NEW VISION
When I joined His People Ministries in 1989, the vision was that we wanted spiritual revival. Everything revolved around that purpose. God answered those prayers and blessed the many ministries of the church as a result. Then, in about 1991, the vision shifted towards social involvement. It could be summarised by the word 'reformation'. We wanted revival plus the reformation of society through the work of the Holy Spirit. I still support this vision of revival and reformation.
But later a new vision started to creep in and displace this vision of 'revival and reformation'. Basically, the idea was that rather than trust the Holy Spirit to work through our humble efforts - Rather that we were a spiritual elite that needed to first accumulate lots of power - and then use that power to dominate and control society. In this way, by growing the power of His People church and by dominating or taking over or out-competing other ministries and secular institutions - then we would reform society. The new vision sounds a bit like the old one, but it is based on human power and effort (see Galations), rather than on the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in revival. In this new model, devotion to Christ was less important and devotion to the leadership hierachy was all important. Especially submission to our 'apostle' Paul Daniel. In the new model, His People became the new Kingdom of God and Paul Daniel our new 'saviour'. Then Paul Daniel got exposed as a fraud and many who had realised the church was off track for a long time hoped things would improve. But no, the personality cultists didn't want to return to Jesus, revival and the Holy Spirit - that would require lots of repentance and a loss of power. MoringStar/EveryNation became the new Kingdom of God and Rice Broocks the new saviour/idol. (Rice, I hope you read this thread, because to a lot of people you are an idol - and that is really dangerous for you, because God is jealous of idols.) The expansion of the organisation became all important regardless of the quality of spirituality inside it. Weeds were allowed to grow unhindered because spiritual things were neglected in favour of human effort, human power, controlling the congregation. Now the church was uninterested in biblical moral absolutes on which it would quite happily overlook sin. The new absolute was the power of the hierachy. The hierachy must be protected at all costs.
I call this idolatry, whether it is idolatry of Paul Daniel, Rice Broocks, His People, EveryNation, MorningStar, Maranatha or whatever new names or new people get involved. Just idolators jumping from one idol to another. It is not true faithful biblical Christianity. (I guess some of my friends are going to read this and get a bit irritated. Pray and ask God to show you "Am I guilty of idolatry of this ministry or leader? Do I need to repent of it?"
My call is lets get back to the original vision of spiritual revival and reformation of society - and trash the human effort, lust for power vision. Lets get back to praying for God to move. If some leaders want to stick with their idols - rebuke them, leave them, don't give them your money. Support leaders who want real spiritual revival and not the counterfeit that is currently being offered.
When I joined His People Ministries in 1989, the vision was that we wanted spiritual revival. Everything revolved around that purpose. God answered those prayers and blessed the many ministries of the church as a result. Then, in about 1991, the vision shifted towards social involvement. It could be summarised by the word 'reformation'. We wanted revival plus the reformation of society through the work of the Holy Spirit. I still support this vision of revival and reformation.
But later a new vision started to creep in and displace this vision of 'revival and reformation'. Basically, the idea was that rather than trust the Holy Spirit to work through our humble efforts - Rather that we were a spiritual elite that needed to first accumulate lots of power - and then use that power to dominate and control society. In this way, by growing the power of His People church and by dominating or taking over or out-competing other ministries and secular institutions - then we would reform society. The new vision sounds a bit like the old one, but it is based on human power and effort (see Galations), rather than on the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in revival. In this new model, devotion to Christ was less important and devotion to the leadership hierachy was all important. Especially submission to our 'apostle' Paul Daniel. In the new model, His People became the new Kingdom of God and Paul Daniel our new 'saviour'. Then Paul Daniel got exposed as a fraud and many who had realised the church was off track for a long time hoped things would improve. But no, the personality cultists didn't want to return to Jesus, revival and the Holy Spirit - that would require lots of repentance and a loss of power. MoringStar/EveryNation became the new Kingdom of God and Rice Broocks the new saviour/idol. (Rice, I hope you read this thread, because to a lot of people you are an idol - and that is really dangerous for you, because God is jealous of idols.) The expansion of the organisation became all important regardless of the quality of spirituality inside it. Weeds were allowed to grow unhindered because spiritual things were neglected in favour of human effort, human power, controlling the congregation. Now the church was uninterested in biblical moral absolutes on which it would quite happily overlook sin. The new absolute was the power of the hierachy. The hierachy must be protected at all costs.
I call this idolatry, whether it is idolatry of Paul Daniel, Rice Broocks, His People, EveryNation, MorningStar, Maranatha or whatever new names or new people get involved. Just idolators jumping from one idol to another. It is not true faithful biblical Christianity. (I guess some of my friends are going to read this and get a bit irritated. Pray and ask God to show you "Am I guilty of idolatry of this ministry or leader? Do I need to repent of it?"
My call is lets get back to the original vision of spiritual revival and reformation of society - and trash the human effort, lust for power vision. Lets get back to praying for God to move. If some leaders want to stick with their idols - rebuke them, leave them, don't give them your money. Support leaders who want real spiritual revival and not the counterfeit that is currently being offered.