Unfortunately, such a shift is happening today among evangelical circles at an increasing rate. A prime illustration is seen when a church has a statement of faith that includes something like, “We believe in the sole authority of Scripture for faith and practice,” yet they have practically abandoned that stance by allowing false teachings to enter in, whether deliberately or indirectly. If Scripture is really their authority, as they say, it should be in actuality, not just in statement. Sometimes it can be more telling to view a church’s list of current studies to know if they truly adhere to God’s Word.

Let’s turn our attention to a few specific examples of untrue teachings that have entered the visible church, making way for a foundational swing.

#1 Hearing God’s Voice

It is quite possible you have heard the phrase “hearing God’s voice,” whether from some teacher or in conversation. Upon hearing such an expression, we should ask ourselves what the person means. Are they saying they were reading the Bible and the Holy Spirit illuminated the truth meaning of the text to their minds? Perhaps that is what they mean. But generally when the phrase is used it means something quite different.

Authors Henry and Richard Blackaby, as well as teachers Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer, to name a few, typically use the phrase to convey the concept that God’s voice is heard when one opens themselves up or learns through experience apart from or beyond Scripture. Keep in mind they might affirm that God’s voice is heard only in Scripture. However, in reality, usually the idea is that one should hear fresh inner promptings or whispers that are not found in the Bible. In fact, they suggest that to hear God’s voice immediately and directly is fresher and greater than simply reading and studying His Word.

Do you see why this teaching is so deceptive? It is not because of what is actually stated – to hear God’s voice – but because of what is not stated – how, when, and where to hear God’s voice. The truth is that Christians are commanded to read, study, memorize, believe, and obey God’s Word, not to listen for a voice. It is in the hearing and illumination of the Word that the Spirit then promises to be with us, guiding and empowering us, as we simply walk by faith.

For more on this subject, you can read How Does God Speak? and Hearing God’s Voice.

#2 Experiencing God

“Experiencing God” is another commonly heard theme. The idea is associated with having fresh encounters with God. An example can be seen in the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Young states, “I knew that God communicated with me through the Bible, but I yearned for more…” (p. xi) What is this “more” for which Young longs? Is it for more of the Bible? It is not presented that way. Implicit in her statement is the desire for a personal encounter or direct experience with the Living God that is beyond, or other than through, the Word of God.

Should Christians desire to personally encounter God based on their own devices or whims? Is this even attainable? Mystics would answer “yes.” They believe that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth, or ultimate reality can be attained through subjective experience as intuition or insight. But the believers’ “experiencing” of God is a knowing of God through His means – the Word of God and the Spirit of God. The eternal invisible God is unknowable to fallen and rebellious sinners apart from His own provision for them. Unfortunately, when someone wishes to experience God directly they will be operating from worldly or sensual desires.

Let’s remember what one of the more prolific writers and theologians of the 20th century, Francis Schaeffer, said:

“We must stress that the basis for our faith is neither experience nor emotion, but the truth as God has given it: in verbalized, propositional form in the Scripture and which we first of all apprehend with our mind – though, of course, the whole man must act upon it.”

Benjamin Warfield, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, explained the difference between biblically “experiencing” God and mystical experience in The Biblical Review, Volume 2, 1917:

“Evangelical Christianity interprets all religious experience by the normative revelation of God recorded for us in the Holy Scriptures, and guides, directs, and corrects it from these Scriptures, and thus molds it into harmony with what God in His revealed Word lays down as the normal Christian life. The mystic, on the other hand, tends to substitute his religious experience for the objective revelation of God recorded in the written Word, as the source from which he derives his knowledge of God, or at least to subordinate the expressly revealed Word as the less direct and convincing source of knowledge of God to his own religious experience. The result is that the external revelation is relatively depressed in value, if not totally set aside.”

One of the more prominent people who introduced experience-based emphases and techniques into the visible church was author Richard Foster. His book Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth took the church world by storm when first published in 1978 (from which the below quotes are taken). It is about the quest for spirituality based on the inner workings of the soul and spiritual techniques. Interestingly, Foster was raised a Quaker. They believe in the “inward light.” To give you a taste of Foster’s book, the following quotes are given:

The inner world of meditation is most easily entered through the door of the imagination. (p. 22)

Another meditation aimed at centering oneself begins by concentrating on breathing…become silent outwardly and inwardly. Be attentive to the inward living Christ…then listen once again. (p.25)

You can see Foster believes that imagination, meditation, and the quest for the “inward Christ” are the new mediation before God. Of course that is absolutely not biblical, and is in contrast to the “outward” light who invaded our world of darkness in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He and His Word are the Light having come into our darkened lives. (You can read our review of Foster’s book to gain more insight.) Not long after Foster’s book, a new seminary category of study was born – spiritual formations. It is quite a conglomeration of teachings in most seminaries these days.

#3 The Cosmic Christ

Another false thought that has entered into evangelicalism is that of a Romantic and/or Cosmic Christ. It says God comes to us “in stuff” (like the creation) and that we need “spiritual eyes” to see Him there. But does Christ make Himself known personally through the creation? No, the true God reigns transcendent over His creation and made Himself personally known in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture.

Yet many are flocking to such authors as Ann Voskamp who writes in her book One Thousand Gifts, “Do I have eyes to see His face in all things…” (p.112). This is a new-age concept in that there is an ever present deity in the creation. It is not talking of the real Jesus, the One who became flesh and dwelt among us and died and was raised again and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. If you want that Christ, you should stick with only the Scriptures. (For an excellent review of One Thousand Gifts, you can read Bob DeWaay’s Romantic Panentheism: A Review of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.)

#4 The End of this Present Evil Age

Unfortunately, the introduction of many false teachers and false doctrines as mentioned here has been “winked at” by most evangelical leaders. This is not ok. Where does that take us if we move even slightly off a biblical foundation? In Acts 20:17-38 we read of Paul’s ministry to the elders of Ephesus and his emphasis in that ministry. True shepherds warn the flock of such impending dangers just like Paul.

In light of this, we must not overlook the very nature of the end of this present evil age. Remember what Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2. He warns that there would be a falling away from the faith led by the man of sin. In the midst of the church at the end of the age, a beast will arise and be the catalyst of a false church and the world’s final rebellion against the God of the Scriptures. The spirit of antichrist starts in the visible church and the final apostasy will be no exception. For saints who are alive, it will be very costly to maintain a faithful testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ in the environment of both the visible apostate church and the fallen world.

But our ultimate hope is eternal and will be revealed when the Lord Jesus Christ Himself returns on that glorious day of His revelation! Until then, we should be on guard (even while sitting in a church pew) and wait patiently with watchful eyes and prayerful hearts.

This post was first written in 2018 as a guest blog post on Michelle Lesley’s Discipleship for Christian Women blog. You can also find Bible Studies, warnings against false teachers, and much more on Michelle’s blog.

The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears

Intro to The Circle Maker

The Circle Maker introduces us to the legend of Honi the circle maker. Honi drew a ritualistic circle around himself in the sand wherein he prayed that God would pour forth rain. According to the author, Honi prayed with “the authority of the prophet Elijah” (p. 10). The rain came (or so they say).

Honi’s full name is Honi ha-M’agel and his tomb is in Hatzor HaGlilit, Galilee. Though Honi is referred to in the ancient Jewish writings (Talmud, Midrash) and also by Josephus, he is not found in the Old Testament Scriptures.

One might think this is just a nice little inconsequential legend we can read about and move on. But Batterson informs his readers that they should “imitate” Honi’s method of drawing prayer circles. He writes, “The earth has circled the sun more than two thousand times since the day Honi drew his circle in the sand, but God is still looking for circle makers” (p. 13). The question then becomes: Should Christians imitate this practice?

Some would say an emphatic yes! Popular leaders such as Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth encouraged circle-making at her True Woman Conference in 2012 as well as in 2014 on her Seeking Him podcast episode titled Inside This Circle. Jen Hatmaker has promoted it on her website as well. Also, John Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, said, “Honi the circle maker is a long-time legendary figure, and Mark Batterson is well on his way. You will love the freshness of this approach to prayer.”

This is where we have a problem. A big problem.

God has never mentioned in Scripture that prayer should include drawing circles, rather figurative or literal, around ourselves or anyone else! Why would leaders within Christendom be promoting something drawn from legend? It causes great confusion for God’s people.

Let me explain several concerns about the teachings found in “The Circle Maker.”

Concern # 1 – Sacred Symbol

Batterson writes that Honi’s circle, which he drew in the sand and of which he was in the center and prayed – became a sacred symbol. (p. 11) Did you catch that? A story and its practice – not found in the Bible – is a sacred symbol for Christians?!

The practice of circle-making is actually found in pagan religions and witchcraft (as some have pointed out). It was most recently introduced into the church through gypsy culture. It is reported that there was a famous gypsy revivalist from the late 19th and early 20th century, named Rodney ‘Gipsy’ Smith, who used circle-making. The practice of integrating the “gypsy circle of protection” into Christianity is widely attributed to Smith.

An actual sacred symbol is something that represents a spiritual revelatory truth from God. For example, baptism represents our being united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection; communion represents Christ giving His life for the salvation of His people; the burning bush represents God revealing Himself to Moses and giving Him instruction.

Whereas, circle-making is an image or representation of some activity done on our part that supposedly becomes a place where we meet with God. That sounds more Catholic than anything.

So, why would a legend found in pagan teachings, and not found in the Bible, ever be a sacred symbol for Christians to imitate?

Concern # 2 – ‘Me’ at the Center

There may be some confusion with the picture that is painted by the practice, which is someone standing in the center of a circle and praying. Praying to the God of the Bible means praying in His will. Batterson writes, “Drawing prayer circles starts with discerning what God wants, what God wills” (p.14).

But with circle-making prayer, who is in the center of the circle? Quite odd. If our prayers start with God, why would I draw a circle around me?

We must question whether this kind of praying truly is about God’s will being at the center. And, when we hear of revivals that call for prayer circles, we must wonder whose revival it is.

Concern # 3 – Prescriptive Praying

Another questionable teaching in the book is found starting on page 13 where Batterson argues that boldness and bigness are two things God is pleased with when we pray. You might be thinking it is good to have confidence before God in praying. Indeed, that is true.

“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” 1 John 5:14-15

But Batterson takes Biblical descriptions of God working, in an historical context with specific commands to obey, and turns them into a prescription for us to follow and claim as ours. For example, the story of Joshua really becomes all about – us imitating Joshua (p. 15). The problem with this is that we don’t receive specific promises/commands from God like Joshua did in order to be able to pray with “bigness and boldness.” True faith does please God, but it is based in God’s Word. It is not birthed in us or by us, nor do we whip it up in our own power.

The fruit that God brings to glorify his own name in the life of the believer is for those who abide in Christ as Christ abides in them. (John 15:7-8) The Christian has great boldness of access into His presence because of the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:19). This boldness is based in His provision of our access to him without circles. It is not based in our ritualistic prayer circles that are centered on how we have decided He might best be glorified by doing what we “boldly” desire. The picture Batterson paints goes way beyond the Biblical witness.

Concern # 4 – Invoking Deity

Further, Batterson writes that “prayers are prophecies. They are the best predictors of your spiritual future.” (p. 14) There is something incredibly deceptive with this idea. Prayers are us talking to God. Prophecies are the truths God has spoken found in the Scriptures. In God hearing us and answering us, it can build great assurance in our hearts regarding His working in our lives.

But please make no mistake about “prophecies” though. Scripturally speaking, true prophecies are God’s Word. False prophecies are men and women attempting to play God and speak for God, and in this instance, the image of “praying God’s words!” False prophets and prophecies are not sent by Him nor do they represent Him.

Batterson essentially uses prayer as an attempt to invoke the deity to do our bidding and calls that faith. But if we think we can shape our lives by what we pray, how is that seeking God and His will? There is a huge difference between humbly submitting to the Holy Spirit through prayer and petition according to the truths of God’s Word versus summoning God to do our bidding which we assume is His will.

Conclusion

This is where we must stop and confess that circle-making prayer goes way beyond the Biblical concept. Circle-making prayer as Batterson describes it and all such prescriptive ritualistic practices of men are nowhere to be found in the Bible – except the places where we are told to flee false worship in the Old Testament! Drawing a circle around oneself and invoking a spirit being is found in paganism and witchcraft. You should absolutely run away from such teaching! It is not of God.

Sadly, Mark Batterson has popularized the “circle-making” phenomenon which has now swept through neo-evangelicalism. Instead of rejecting it, many have embraced and practice it. This is the sad state of the visible church. Somehow, many think we can borrow practices from paganism for a “new” Christian practice and come out unscathed.

In reality, that mindset sets the stage for a continual downward spiral and is yet another piece of “the falling away” puzzle. Unfortunately, there already are many and will be plenty more false doctrines that ride in on this deceptive carpet. Are you on guard, Christian?

The following is a review of 40 Days of Purpose Introductory Video by Rick Warren (Accompanying Book – The Purpose-Driven® Life by Rick Warren)

Did you know that, according to a leading voice in the American church scene, one can now “connect” to Christ?

I was introduced to Rick Warren at my church in the fall of 2003 through his introductory video of 40 Days of Purpose and his accompanying book The Purpose-Driven® Life. The video, as originally recorded, used to be available on his website, but I can no longer find it. The video presents an introductory “gospel” and Warren leading in a prayer of salvation.

During Warren’s original first session of the 40 Days of Purpose® tape you are introduced to two main concepts: 1) That a person is an eternal soul and 2) That life should have purpose before God. Then, Warren states, “what you do with your life on earth will determine where you spend eternity.” At the close, Warren leads in a prayer for those who have not yet “opened their life” to Christ. But what does it mean to open your life to Jesus Christ when you have not considered the sin issue? There was no mention of the cross, sin, Jesus blood shed for remission, death of Christ, resurrection of Christ – nothing! This was certainly no “sinner’s prayer”.

The problem with leading in a prayer for salvation without acknowledging sin is that there is no foundation laid of guilt before God or a call to Biblical repentance (a change of mind – which results in a change of life). In fact, Warren is issuing this relationship with Jesus Christ to those who have both been in church or have never gone to church at all. In other words, an understanding of the holiness of God, sin, repentance, and the need for forgiveness is not an issue. He simply leads the prayer with “as much as I know how I open my life to you” (Christ). With this done, he then welcomes them into the family of God.

The full context of the first session of this video tape very clearly indicates that he believes he has presented the gospel. But, he has not mentioned one thing about sin.

Please take time to review the original tape for yourself. A different gospel preached in the public arena, at a church no less, was my introduction to Rick Warren and probably the same introduction of thousands upon thousands of churches and, unfortunately, probably millions of people!

Therefore, this begs the question: Unto what Christ have those who followed him in the prayer opened themselves? Is Warren indirectly saying that a persons’ sin is that they did not know that they were an eternal creature (which is mentioned in one of his points)? In addition, is their sin that they did not know that they can live a life of purpose before God? If a person opens their life up to this information, which evidently Jesus provides and is the reason they are now opening their life to Him, are they then saved? These are the only sins that it would seem he is addressing. In reality, these sins are the philosophical basis of the gospel he presents.

In context, these thoughts raise themselves up against the knowledge of God and the word of the cross. That is, they wrongly place a person in a position before the cross that says they can add Jesus onto their life without considering their sinful condition.

Now tell me, when you look in the gospels, do you ever see Jesus allowing for anyone to do this? Does He allow people to be in a position where He permits them to think that they can add Him onto their life or open their life to Him while ignoring their sinful ways?

The real issue is that we are sinners before a Holy God. True Scriptural faith/repentance cannot occur unless the true gospel message is proclaimed and received. Faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). The fact is, if one is ignoring the reality of sin and its consequences, then one cannot be receiving the Lord Jesus Christ of the gospel. Only sinners need a Savior!

Thus, are we missing a few important Biblical truths in this gospel presentation? Are the Biblical ideas of repentance and faith and forgiveness before a Holy God optional in presenting the gospel? If the answer is no, yet a person is moved to pray a prayer based on a gospel presentation missing these concepts, do we know who moved them? It should be noted that if the gospel is not presented, then another spirit is at work rather than the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth always presents the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, in the Biblical context of His redemptive work at Calvary. The Lord Jesus Christ of the gospel is the door and there is no other way into the fold. The Scripture tells us that the thief, robber, and false shepherd will tell us otherwise.

I believe a careful reading of the book which accompanies the video session will clearly show it is centered in humanistic philosophy rather than the cross, similar to the self-esteem gospel. Go to your local public library sometime and read the chapter on the Fatherhood of God in Self-Esteem: The New Reformation by Robert Schuller. (Or you can read Review: Self-Esteem: The New Reformation) If you are truly Christian make sure you are seated. Notice how he twists the real meaning of Scriptural words/concepts and yet continues to use those very same Biblical words.

Many people replace the cross of Christ with the vain philosophies of men (Colossians 2:8). But that ends up making the message of the cross empty (1 Corinthians 1:17). The cross of Christ is central to the gospel message! When you remove the center, you remove the true message! Thus, you remove the scandal and the reproach (1 Corinthians 1:18; Hebrews 13:12,13).

When Jesus looked toward the cross during His earthly ministry, He said it was the reason He came into the world. Yet we dare omit its’ meaning from our gospel? The growing apostasy in the American church seems quite content in doing so. Not only was Jesus crucified at Calvary, but according to Paul the cross has something to do with us as well. (Galatians 2:20) Do you know of anywhere in the New Testament epistles where the Apostles ever view our crucifixion in Christ as optional? Life as we knew it came to an end! Are we allowed to pick and choose? That is, do we have the forgiveness He has provided without agreeing with the judgment God rendered there about the condition of our life apart from Him? You do realize it was one event, don’t you? Why then continue, as the book and video do, to talk about forgiveness, about service, or fellowship or mission if we have indeed allowed for people to miss the Lord Jesus Christ of Calvary as the door? Not only that, those who opened their life to Christ now actually think they are bound for heaven. God help us if we have only further helped them continue in their lost condition before a Holy God and actually done it in Jesus name.

I thank God that those who shared the Lord Jesus Christ of the gospel with me for the first time had the audacity to think that I was a sinner and because of that I was on the road to eternal separation from God in a place called hell. They lovingly pleaded with me in regards to the truth of the gospel and my condition before a Holy God. They actually preached the Real One – knowing that I was to come under conviction of the Holy Spirit as a sinner and so I believed in the Savior! Do you know the love of that Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ of the Scriptures?

Unfortunately, Rick Warren placed a false door to the kingdom of God before people in a church setting, personally walked them through it, and then told them they were part of the family of God!

See Galatians 1:6-10 and notice:
1. “Who” do we desert when we follow a different gospel?
2. Do you know why the Apostle Paul knew they received the gospel? (See Acts 18:23)
3. What does the Apostle Paul think about the “person” who makes a different public proclamation of the gospel than the gospel that HE preached and knew the Galatians received?
4. When Paul stood firmly on the gospel he was seeking whose favor? Do you?
5. When we don’t stand firmly on the gospel Paul says we are seeking whose favor?
Finally, are YOU, like Paul, a true and faithful witness to the Lord Jesus Christ of the Gospel? Do you think like he thought when he made the above statements in Galatians 1:6-10?

*It should be noted in any look at Rick Warren’s 40 Days of Purpose videos that his original video of 2003 was on VCR and sent to thousands of churches. Many of those are no longer available. Within a year or two after that fact he came out with a DVD that made some changes from the original VCR tape sent to churches. Any pastor or layperson who watched and was actually paying attention to that original video can confirm the critique given here.