HOW DIAPRAX MANIFESTS
ITSELF IN THE CHURCH

by Dr. Robert E. Klenck, M.D.

Preface

It is with a great burden that I write this. As a Christian, with no official ministry of my own, or even a small congregation, I have no personal axe to grind.

My search for the truth began after some personal experience with church growth, and further information was essentially placed into my lap. A search ensued, with the end result being this information, which continues to expand. My goal is to inform, comparing this movement with the scriptures, and exposing its roots. The scriptures should be the measuring stick by which we compare all aspects of our lives.

“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” Deut 8:3 (KJV)

It is my intention to bring people to a closer walk with the Jesus revealed in the Holy Scriptures, which I believe require the true Christian to come out of this dangerous movement.

Let me take a moment to define the Jesus of the Bible. He is the Creator of all: Col 1:16-17; He is God: Isa 9:6; He is the second person of the triune Godhead (Trinity) – a singular God in three persons: Eph 4: 4-6, John 10:30, Rom 8:9-11, 1 John 12:13-15; He was sent by the Father to come to earth as a man, which He willingly did, to die on a cross – a single sacrifice, once, for all the sins of those who would believe – the elect. He suffered and died so that He might reconcile the world back to Himself: John 10:30, Php 2:5-8, Heb 7:27, 2 Cor 5:19; He is the only way to heaven: John 14:6, Faith in Him, and the acceptance of His sacrifice as sufficient for the forgiveness of our sins is the only way that we can be saved from our sins and eternal damnation: John 3:16; Isa 64:6, Rom 3:12; We must keep His commandments: Matthew 19:17, John 14:21; Rev 22:14; All those who do not put their faith and trust in Him will sufffer eternally in a literal, burning hell after His final judgment: Luke 11:23, Matthew 25:13-46.

Back to the Church Growth Movement (CGM): the scriptures command me to inform as many people as possible about this wolf in sheep’s clothing:

“Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

“’If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” Ezek 33:1-7 (KJV)

I am expecting to draw fire, as someone who is “dividing the body of Christ”, or “blaspheming the work of the Holy Spirit”, but it is my hope and prayer that the end result will be a purifying of the body of Christ – the true church. Standing for the truth, by definition, is difficult, but I’m in good company. The prophets suffered and were martyred, and Jesus Himself was crucified, all because they stood firmly for truth.

Jesus stated:

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” John 15:20 (KJV)

And the Apostle Paul wrote:

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Tim 3:12 (KJV)

What is Diaprax?

First, we need to define diaprax, and understand this foundational thinking that the Church Growth Movement (CGM) is based upon. Later, we will show you how this process is being utilized in churches, and the direction that it is headed.

Diaprax is the repeated practice (praxis) of the Hegelian dialectic (the dia – of diaprax). Briefly, the Hegelian dialectic process works like this: a diverse group of people (in the CGM, this is a mixture of believers and unbelievers – thesis and antithesis), gather in a facilitated meeting (with a trained facilitator/”teacher”/group leader), using group dynamics (peer pressure), to discuss a social issue (or dialogue the Word of God), and reach a pre-determined outcome (consensus, or compromise).

When the Word of God is dialogued (as opposed to being taught didactically) between believers and unbelievers, and consensus is reached – agreement that all are comfortable with – then the message of the Word of God has been watered down, and the participants have been conditioned to accept (and even celebrate) their compromise. This [new synthesis] becomes the starting point [thesis] for the next meeting. The fear of alienation from the group is the pressure that prevents an individual from standing firm for the truth of the Word of God. The fear of man then overrides the fear of God.

An example: A traditionally thinking Christian, when proven wrong with factual information (ie. Biblical moral absolutes), yields to the facts, and admits that he/she is wrong, and then aligns him/herself to those facts. Because Biblical moral absolutes do not change, such traditional thinkers, who align themselves to those unchanging absolutes are “resistant to change”.

On the other hand, transformational thinkers, when proven wrong with factual information, have been conditioned to process that information differently—they automatically question it and dialogue it within themselves; their (deceitful) hearts rebel against it, and then they begin to justify (to themselves and others) why it is that they no longer have to attend to the facts. (They process the facts away, and their conscience becomes seared.) This is the natural result of the dialectic process – the searing of the conscience:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Tim 4:1 (KJV)

These people are then able to justify to themselves why they are no longer bound to Biblical moral absolutes. You see, people are saying that the Biblical message just doesn’t apply to today’s (humanistic) culture – that it must be interpreted in light of the culture of the day. [To some degree this is true – (i.e. slavery was common then, etc.).]

However, the church growth movement takes it much further, and through the process of continual incremental change (using the Hegelian dialectic over and over with the last synthesis becoming the new thesis – the “new fact” base, or “new reality’), the Word of God is gradually/incrementally changed from its original intent, and eventually it is interpreted to mean something contrary to its original intent. This is the process that all sinners use in attempting to justify their rebellion to themselves and others. The rebellion is subtle at first – simply moving away from the traditional way of “doing” church; later, the ordaining of female “pastors”; and eventually it gets to the point of ordaining lesbian “pastors”, etc..

The same process was utilized in the abortion debate – first, the fact (“what is”) was questioned – what is life?, and does it really begin at conception? It was decided that as long as the child was not aware of pain, that it was not viable, or really alive. Now, through incremental change, our society has gotten to the point of tolerating “partial-birth” infanticide. This would have been unconscionable in the days that Roe v. Wade was decided.

What is the Church Growth Movement (CGM)?

It’s the utilization of modern marketing techniques by the church, in order to draw and hold large numbers of people (by meeting their “felt needs”). The church then “converts” them, and “disciples” them through the use of modern organizational management (Total Quality Management-style) techniques, so that they can effect “change” in the community, and the world.

They become agents of social change, or “change agents.”

The Roots of the Church Growth Movement (CGM) -- Pastors:

Three of the most well-known pastors who are promoting this movement are Dr. Robert H. Schuller, Rev. Bill Hybels, and Dr. Rick Warren. All three of these pastors surveyed their communities, determined the “felt needs” of the community, and patterned their churches accordingly. Pastors Hybels and Warren were influenced by Dr. Schuller’s book – “Your Church has Real Possibilities,” in which Dr. Schuller discussed his surveying, and both readily admit to this influence by Dr. Schuller. [1],[2]

Dr. Robert H. Schuller

Dr. Schuller founded the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove California. After surveying the “felt needs” of the community, he opened a “drive-in church” at a drive-in theater location in Southern California. You could go to church without ever leaving the security of your own car, and be assured that the service wouldn’t last for over one hour. Dr. Schuller has authored numerous books, one being “Your Church has Real Possibilities.” He has been called by his wife, “The greatest possibility thinker of all time.” Possibility thinking – potential, “what can be”, or vision – is the end result of the Hegelian dialectic process or transformational thinking. It is the direct opposite of moral absolutism – “what is”. In order to move a person into this transformational mode of thinking, “what is” must be questioned and challenged. The dialectic process – “constant change” – requires one to let go of “what is”, in order to strive towards potential – “what can be”. You have to leave your moral absolutes behind, or else you will remain resistant to change, old-fashioned, and an obstacle to church change that must be overcome in one fashion or another. We will get into this further later on.

Rev. Bill Hybels - Willowcreek

Rev. Hybels founded Willowcreek Community Church in So. Barrington Illinois- a “seeker-sensitive” “mega-church.” Dr. Schuller believes that Rev. Hybels took his church growth principles further than he himself was able to.[3] While he claims to have distanced himself from Dr. Schuller theologically, he often speaks at Dr. Schuller’s yearly church leadership conference. His last appearance at this event was in January of 2000.

Rev. Hybels has been a “spiritual mentor” for President Bill Clinton since 1992 – confidentially meeting with Mr. Clinton on approximately a monthly basis, and supporting him through the Monica Lewinsky affair. On August 10, 2000, President Clinton personally addressed 4,500 pastors attending a leadership conference at Willowcreek.[4] Four days after this public “confession” of his failures, he addressed the Democratic National Convention, and boldly stated that he would continue to support “a woman’s right to choose.”

Dr. Rick Warren/Saddleback

Rick Warren (as he prefers to be called), founded Saddleback Valley Community Church in Mission Viejo, CA after performing a community survey focusing only upon the needs of unbelievers, and he designed his church to meet those needs.[5]

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph 4:11 (KJV)

The church was designed to equip the saints, not to meet the needs or wants of unbelievers.

Pastor Warren authored The Purpose–Driven Church, Growth Without Compromising Your Message and Mission (emphasis added), which has sold over 1 million copies. He has trained over 150,000 pastors and church leaders in church growth principles. He holds a doctorate of theology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary – one of the strongest proponents of the church growth movement.

Organizational management “guru” Peter Drucker, who is very involved in this movement, stated:

“…noncustomers are as important as customers, if not more important: because they are potential customers. … Yet it is with the noncustomers that changes always start.”[6]

Thus, in this movement, it is imperative that unbelievers are brought into the church; otherwise, the process of continual change cannot begin. There must be an antithesis (unbelievers) present to oppose the thesis (believers), in order to move towards consensus. (compromise), and move the believers away from their moral absolutism (resistance to change). If all members of the church stand firm on the Word of God, and it’s final authority in all doctrine and tradition, then the church cannot and will not change. This is common faith. Soon, we will see why these “change agents” are pushing so hard for change to occur in the church.

“Pastors are probably the most underrated groups of change agents today.” Rick Warren

Pastor Warren holds seminars on how to lead churches through the process of change, and on October 13, 1999 on an airing of “The Bible Answer Man”, hosted by Hank Hanegraaff of the Christian Research Institute, Pastor Warren stated that to bring a church through change, “you have to be as wise as serpents, and as gentle as doves,” in your dealings with your congregation. That scripture, Matthew 10:16, is Jesus, speaking to His disciples: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and gentle as doves. (KJV)” Warren’s manipulation of this scripture results in the traditionally-minded servants of Christ being likened unto wolves.

Furthermore, Pastor Warren went on to relate a conversation that he had with an airline pilot from his congregation. He had asked the pilot about various degrees of turning the airplane, and reported that a 90 degree turn would result in a crash, a 45 degree turn would make the passengers very uncomfortable, but that a 33 degree turn could be made all day long without the passengers ever becoming aware that they were changing direction. The subtilty/deception involved in this process of church change is made clear by Pastor Warren’s own words.

Some of the most disturbing words from Pastor Warren regard his overview of his church:

“Saddleback is kind of the Research and Development department of the church at large. We’re not afraid to fail. We’ve always tried more things that didn’t work than did. Every once in a while we find – usually by accident—something that works. Then we teach the seminars and pretend like we planned it all along, when really it was just the result of trial and error.” (Laughter) - Rick Warren, www.christianity.net/leadership/7L3/7L3022.html

What scripture could possibly be utilized in order for a pastor to justify social experimentation on his congregation?

How Diaprax Manifests Itself in the Church

First Impressions

Preferred parking, trained “greeters”, and an “unchurchlike setting” await newcomers. Often the church is completely devoid of religious symbols such as crosses, or stained-glass windows, that a non-believer might deem “offensive”. There is another reason, that we will discuss later, regarding reasoning behind “sanitizing” the church grounds. Studies have shown that a newcomer decides within the first eight minutes of his/her first visit to a church, whether or not they will ever return. Thus, there is a great deal of effort spent to make those first eight minutes comfortable and warm for newcomers.

The Presentation/Message

The presentation is informal, with the pastor usually sporting a polo shirt, rarely does he have a Bible, as it has been replaced by notes. There is contemporary music, and dance, and drama are often added to the mix. There are distractions, such as numerous video screens, and the pastor often paces back and forth across the stage, which makes the “real” message that is being taught difficult to discern.

The message is watered down. Sin and judgment, the awesomeness of God, etc., are often absent from the message, or replaced with less offensive terminology. The message usually begins with a few “icebreakers” – light stories or jokes. Numerous Bible versions are used, the King James Version is avoided, and the verses quoted are displayed on the video screens. The message is ambiguous, sounding reasonable to people who think traditionally, are in transition, or have been trained to think transformationally. Often, half-truths are used (i.e. Christ’s preeminence as a religious leader, but omitting His deity), or “subliminal” messages utilized. We heard a tape of one pastor who was teaching against Mormonism, and he was stating how they latch on to a verse in the KJV that is an unfortunate translation. He then stated how “I can show you numerous errors in the King James.” The message was against Mormonism, but the subliminal message that people took home with them was that the KJV Bible version is unreliable. We have very little training in listening to what is not being said, and in the atmosphere of distraction described here, this type of discernment is very difficult, and must be pursued vigorously. Peter Drucker, who plays a large role in this movement is aware of this fact:

“The most important thing is communication is to hear what isn’t being said.” Peter Drucker

“The pulpit is the ultimate tool for church growth.” Rick Warren [7]

A tool is used to manipulate objects. In the same article, Pastor Warren declares that he first considers the needs, hurts, and interests, and then he goes to the Bible to see what it says about their needs. Once he examines what the Bible says about the subject, he asks himself: “What is the most practical way to say this? What is the most positive way to say this? What is the most encouraging way to say this? What is the simplest way to say this? What is the most personal way to say this? What is the most interesting way to say this?” In other words, he puts his “spin” on the Blessed Word of God in order to tickle the itching ears of his audience.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim 4:3 (KJV)

Central to the message, of course, is that the felt needs and the hurts of the congregation are addressed. Often, the pastor receives information regarding the current needs/hurts of the congregation from prayer request cards, or from feedback from small group leaders.

Ostensibly, the message and presentation are designed to make it easier for a non-believer to come to faith, but Jesus, when questioned as to why He spoke in parables, had a different goal in mind:

“He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.

“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Matt 13:11-12 (KJV)

Jesus stated that He was intentionally cloaking His truth in parables, so that only the elect could come to the knowledge of the truth. This was not a very seeker-sensitive message.

“Discipleship”

Once in the church, people are then “discipled.” They are taken through a series of classes beginning with church membership. Covenants are signed, where one pledges to tithe a certain amount (or percentage of their wages). The signer agrees to submit to the church leadership, not to gossip (or evaluate the activities of the church leadership in the light of the Holy Scriptures).

“When you’re helping row the boat, you don’t have time to rock it.” Rick Warren [8]

God has clearly stated that we are not to sign covenants:

“Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matt 5:33-37 (KJV)

In the “discipling” process, “spiritual gifts assessments” (personality profilings) are performed. The (false) premise is that God uses people in their areas of strengths, rather than in areas where they are weak.

“He (Drucker) believes in human strengths to counter human weaknesses. The science of discovering those strengths, of fitting them into a productive framework, is what Drucker calls management.” Christianity Today [9]

“The pastor, as manager, has to identify their strengths and specialization, place them and equip them for service, and enable them to work in the harmonious and productive whole known as the body of Christ.” Peter Drucker [9]

Once again, this is the direct opposite of the clear teaching of the Word of God. First, there is no “pastor, as manager” in the scriptures, and:

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor 12:8-10 (KJV)

Small Groups

People are also required to sign covenants promising participation in small groups. It is in the small groups where the dialectic process is utilized to the utmost. First, the group “leader” is a facilitator, a change agent. In “Bible study” groups, the Word of God is dialoged to consensus, rather than taught in a didactic fashion. The result is the watering down of the Word, as unbelievers are mingled with believers, and multiple Bible versions are brought in by the various members of the group. Many of these (especially new) versions take a much more liberal tack than something that is more traditional, i.e. the King James Version.

“Small groups are the most effective way of closing the back door of your church.” Rick Warren [10]

The reason that pastor Warren states this, is that he is aware of research by Lyle Schaller, of the Leadership Network, that shows the relationship between the number of friendships that one has in the church, and the percentage chance then of that person leaving. Close relationships are formed in the small groups, thus, people are required to participate in them.

“Social” “Ministries”

The churches also foster numerous (what we call) “social ministries” – such as surfing/skiing/bike riding/quilting, etc. (Saddleback Valley Community Church has over eighty of them). These “ministries” are opportunities for the church members to feed their flesh together, and “bond”. Once again, when relationship is fostered, then the chances of people leaving the church are diminished, regardless of how far astray from the truth the pastor leads them.

“Relationships are the glue that keep the faithful coming.” Rick Warren11

Accountability Groups

Many of the CGM churches are requiring members to commit to “accountability” groups. These are where members confess all of their sins on a regular basis to their small group. This has many grave implications.

“Something intrinsic in communism makes this confession phenomenon indispensable to it; it can’t exist without it. … The meaning in confession then, as the Reds now use it, is agreement with the rules laid down and hence submission to the existing heirarchy.” Edward Hunter [12]

Subconsciously, the confessor is repeatedly, incrementally submitting to the authority of the group, and in particular, the small group leader, or facilitator. In addition, a paradigm shift in his/her thinking is occurring. When struggling over a sin issue, the person’s first and foremost thought is: “How will I answer to the group next week about this?”

Their overriding concern regarding sinning is shifted from the awareness that the ever-present omniscient God sees their sin, to concern about how the group will react to their confession. The accountability shifts from accountability to God, to accountability to man. In addition, the person becomes dependent upon the group to keep them pure, rather than being purified by the Lord. Many find it difficult to live righteously on their own, when separated from the group for a period of time.

Lastly, these confessions actually lead to sin. People tend to role-play and fantasize the sins of others in their mind. Ruminating on them leads one to enter into the behavior. Also, the realization of the fact that someone who you consider to be a good Christian, and who you look up to engages in depraved thoughts and behavior, actually allows you to justify why it is then that you also can enter into similar behavior. It empowers you to sin, and it actually helps to cause a brother to stumble.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Tim 2:5 (KJV)

Career Development Ministries

The gathering of employment information on all members of the congregation is becoming more widespread. Allegedly, the reason for this is altruistic, enabling church members who are in need of employment to be matched with others, who might be able to offer them employment. However, this leads to a databasing of all congregants, along with the databasing which takes place during the spiritual gifts assessments (personality profiling), previously discussed. If they have not done so already, the federal government may require churches to “share” this information with the government, or risk losing their 501 © (3) [tax-exempt] status. With large mortgages on large buildings/properties, most churches are not willing to forfeit their 501 © (3) status. We will be revealing very close ties between these churches and the government shortly.

Youth Ministries

Team building exercises, with such activities as “falls of faith”, where a participant closes his/her eyes and allow themselves to fall backwards, only to be caught by the rest of the youth are taking place in CGM churches as well. The point of the exercise is “trust.” Once again, the trust is shifted – from trust in God, to trust in man. “Death education” (martyrdom), is being taught, just as it is in the public schools. Multitudes of non-Biblical, dialectic activities are documented in the book: Spiritual Junk Food – The Dumbing Down of Christian Youth, by Cathy Mickels and Audrey McKeever.13

Pragmatism

The CGM is based upon a pragmatic approach. “The end justifies the means.”

“As long as you are bringing people to Christ, into the fellowship of his family, building them up to maturity, training them for ministry, and sending them out in mission, I like the way you are doing ministry.” Rick Warren

Firstly, if the people have not been taught all about Christ – not only that He is a God of love, but a righteous judge also, then are they being brought to the Christ of the Bible, or to a false Christ?

Secondly, this “discipleship” is discipling to a disciple of the humanist, man-centered dialectic process. And thirdly, pragmatism is not allowed by the scriptures.

Method does matter to God. When Moses did not do as God said, and he smote the rock the second time out of his anger with the children of Israel (rather than speaking to it as God commanded), he suffered dire consequences. As a result of his disobedience, he was not allowed to enter into the promised land. When Uzzah steadied the ark of the covenant with his hand (against the command of God), he was struck dead (2 Samuel 6: 6-7).

When church growth, and organization are based upon humanistic, Satan-inspired, dialectic processes, God hates it!

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt 7:15-20 (KJV)

There is only one foundation that our churches should be built upon, and that is the foundation of the Rock. Jesus Christ, our sure foundation:

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 3:11 (KJV)

So, Jesus wasn’t being very seeker-sensitive

The Leadership Network/Bob Buford

The Leadership Network (http://www.leadnet.org/) is in the business of marketing and promoting Church Growth, and claims to be “the support ministry for today’s most successful pastors and church leaders.”14 The Mission and Values statement of the Leadership Network states:

The mission of the Leadership Network is to accelerate the emergence of the 21^st-century church. We believe the emerging paradigm of the 21^st century church calls for the development of new tools and resources as well as the equipping of a new type of 21^st century church leader, both clergy and laity. This new paradigm is not centered in theology but rather it is focused on structure, organization, and the transition from an institutionally based church to a mission-driven church. We value innovation that leads to results and working with Kingdom perspective church leaders. We value seeing fruit on other people’s trees. And finally, we value getting it “right” for those we serve as well as our team. (emphasis added)

There are numerous problems with this statement alone. First, the goal of this group is to accelerate “change” in the church. This is based on the humanistic (man-centered) model of Total Quality Management – the process of “continual change”.

“For I am the LORD, I change not…” Mal 3:6 (KJV)

One of the “new paradigms” that is emerging is the shift from a hierarchical church structure, with God at the top, pastors lower, and men below; to a circular church structure with the “higher level” church leaders (men) in the middle – and notably God is left out of the diagram:

I will speak more about humanism and Total Quality Management (TQM) later, but TQM is the “structure and organization” of the “team” spoken of in the mission statement. I will also show that one of the “results” that the Leadership Network considers important is that of maximizing the monetary giving from church attendees.

The History (of the Leadership Network) begins:

“Leadership Network began with one entrepreneur (not “one Christian”) and one question. The entrepreneur was Bob Buford and the question was “How can I be useful to God’s Kingdom?” In 1984, a second entrepreneur, Fred Smith Jr., joined the effort and together the two began to create a network of large church leaders across the United States. From the beginning, the network has crossed denominational lines and included mainline, evangelical, as well as independent churches characterized by their innovation, desire to be on the cutting edge of ministry, and entrepreneurial leadership....” (emphasis added)

Webster’s New World Dictionary, (College Edition, 1960), defines an entrepreneur as: “a person who organizes and manages a business undertaking, assuming the risk for the sake of the profit.” (emphasis added)

Crossing denominational lines (ecumenism), and uniting on the basis of “innovation, desire to be on the cutting edge of ministry and entrepreneurial leadership”, rather than uniting on the basis of agreement on the interpretation of the scriptures and resulting doctrines is not only dangerous, but unscriptural:

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor 6:14-18 (KJV)

The Book of Revelation, in Chapter 17 warns us about being involved in the ecumenical, one-world Babylonian church that will be on earth in the very last days. When church leadership is no longer concerned about theology, and is more interested in ecumenism and entrepreneurship, the church is in great danger.

The Leadership Network History continues:

While Leadership Network was founded and remains guided by the core tenets of Biblical faith, our focus has always been on the practice and application of faith at the local church level that results in transformed (changed) lives.

We have sought to build on the existing islands of health and strength, focus on leaders who are life-long learners, and who are in positions of influence and can effect a wider distribution of change.

The work of Leadership Network has evolved through the years in response to a simple question, “How can we be useful to you?” The answers came first from senior pastors of large churches and later, other ministry staff of large congregations. Still other answers have come from denominational leaders, theological educators, church consultants and people committed to mobilizing the laity. Recent answers have come from Teaching Churches and a network of young leaders of the next generation of churches. (emphasis added)

While paying lip service to the “core tenets of Biblical faith”, the Leadership Network then speaks of what is really important to them – practice and application (structure), change, large churches, and church consultants. These human programs deny the power and ability of God:

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:47 (KJV)

It is God who grows the church, not church consultants, or input from people affiliated with large congregations. The pastor’s job is to preach and teach the Word of God, not to be the leader (CEO) of a “Teaching Church” that replicates this (TQM) process elsewhere. Preaching and teaching the Word of God and relying upon its sufficiency is what God wants us to do.

“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isa 55:10 (KJV)

Replacing the preaching and teaching of God’s Word with human management and business structures is a direct denial of the sufficiency of God’s Word, and a denial of the truthfulness of the scriptures, specifically Isaiah 55:11.

As an aside, “life-long learning” is the invention of the United Nations15, and is the blueprint for cradle-to-grave government involvement in our personal lives. This begins with parenting training, continues on with pre-school training, Goals 2000 in the school, School to Work (or School to Careers), TQM in the workplace, and Senior citizen schooling. Church Growth is promoting the same structure in the church, so that there will be no place of escape from this social engineering.

The federal government is getting more involved by “partnering” with “faith-based organizations” in the distribution of welfare and other governmental social programs. President Clinton has spoken of this16 as well as presidential candidates Al Gore17 and George W. Bush.[18] Regardless of the outcome of the year 2000 presidential election, certain churches will be in partnership with the federal government, with the government dictating some of their activities. President Clinton has already laid some of the ground rules that churches who “partner” with the government must follow.19

The United Nations has the agenda of a one-world government, with the seemingly altruistic goals of: first, “saving the earth” from pollution by industrialized countries; second, to alleviate all social ills such as housing and food shortages, and third, the bringing about of world peace. In order to accomplish these global goals, individual national sovereignties must be abandoned, and there must be a global redistribution of wealth. A strong sense of nationalism impedes progress towards this one-world government.

The actual goal is the creation of a new worldwide feudalism with a new ruling elite. Of course, the Bible tells us who will rule the one-world government to come – the antichrist. The church has no business getting involved with and even promoting the emergence of the one-world church, and the one-world government to come. However, this is exactly what churches involved in the Church Growth Movement (CGM) are doing, whether they realize it or not.

The mention of “people committed to mobilizing the laity” in the Leadership Network’s History is a reference to the practice of getting all church members involved in some aspect of ministry. In Total Quality Management, “Total” is short for totalitarian. Every employee must be involved in the process of change. To continue with the information directly from the Leadership Network:

The Leadership Network has “four basic lines of business”:

1. Learning Events. These include forums attended by invited senior ministers and other staff from large churches (1,000+ in week-end attendance). From time to time, special conferences, forums and summits are held around critical issues facing the church in the 21^st century.

2. Information Services. Because we believe that information has no value unless it is shared, a major initiative of Leadership Network is focused on the gathering, analysis, and distribution of relevant information to 21^st century church leaders. … Into Action is a newsletter that deals with team building and lay ministry. …

3. Incubation Center for New Initiatives. …Four new organizations that are currently in our “Incubation Center” include:

Leadership Training Network (LTN) provides training and products to help churches move away from heirarchial models of leadership to permission-granting teams and gift based approaches to equipping people to grow and serve.
Church Champions Network provides learning and networking among denominational leaders and church support organizations that are focused on serving the needs of the local church rather than the institutional church.
Teaching Church Network provides learning and opportunities and mentoring relationships on a church to church basis.
Social Entrepreneurs Network provides counsel and direction for business, professional and community leaders seeking to re-focus their experience and resources to address social issues and make a difference in their community and/or church.

4. Innovation and Research. This includes pilot projects undertaken by Leadership Network or in partnership with other organizations.

We’re a “Network of Networks” We believe the network is the defining organizational form of the 21^st century, and the most appropriate way to accomplish our mission. Our new organizational form is essentially a “network of networks” that reflects both the diversity and scope of our mission.

There are three core networks:

“The church leader network is the primary customer base of Leadership Network and comprised of “innovative and early adopter” local church leaders who lead 21^st century churches and churches most likely to become 21^st century churches. This network identifies “best practice churches,” looks for common principles, and then translates the principles into processes that can be applied to other churches. It is the eyes, ears, and most importantly, the reality check for us. The people in this network are a major focus of the investment of our resources in terms of staff, time, and capital, and the network is nurtured through peer learning at forums, periodic conferences, and special learning events.”

The interventionist network accelerates the pace of learning of those who intervene in local congregations. These leaders include consultants, denominational leaders, teaching churches, tool builders and suppliers. Through customized forums, workshops and relationships, it seeks to connect the best practices in these fields. It assists interventionists to, in turn, assist churches in an effective and productive manner.

The information network explores the future and what is being forecast in a wide variety of disciplines in addition to identifying ideas, concerns and trends in innovative churches. Once synthesized, these learnings are then translated into appropriate communication channels such as NetFax and NEXT to assist church leaders in reaching decisions about the future direction of their church and transitioning to become a 21^st century church. (emphasis added)

The Leadership Network is interested in numbers – big congregations and big money (as we will see later). The emphasis on humanistic structure, organization, team concepts, processes, etc., is again, an affront to God. There is a push towards studying what “works” in churches, and then replicating this. God will not allow Himself to be categorized, or placed into a set framework:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa 55:8-9 (KJV)

The information network gathers information (takes surveys), in order to help pastors chart the future direction of their churches. People will flock to churches that tell them what their “itching ears” want to hear. In one of his “pastoral epistles”, the Apostle Paul wrote to pastors:

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Tim 4:1-5(KJV)

Pastors are charged to preach the word, whether popular or not, period.

So, let’s look into the roots of the Leadership Network, and the Church Growth Movement. Bob Buford is the “entrepreneur” who started the Leadership Network, and is the Chairman of the Board. His biography states: “A classic entrepreneur, Bob is the author of Half Time (Zondervan), and was the founder and initial Chairman of the Board of the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Non Profit Management.”

In the dedication of his book “Half Time” Mr. Buford refers to Peter F. Drucker as “the man who formed my mind.” God told the prophet Jeremiah:

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
Jer 1:5 (KJV)

[Information from the Leadership Network Used with permission of Leadership Network, 800.765.5323, www.leadnet.org.]

Dr. Peter F. Drucker

So, who is Peter F. Drucker, and what does he stand for? Mr. Buford seems to place him on a level with Almighty God Himself. The Leadership Network’s biography of Peter F. Drucker reads as follows:

One of the most distinguished thinkers of the twentieth century, Peter F. Drucker is a writer, teacher, and consultant. He has played an important role in the shaping and direction of Leadership Network through his counsel since its creation and has participated in Leadership Network learning events for senior pastors and denominational leaders. He has called the emergence of the large pastoral church “the most significant development in American social history in this century.”

From 1950-1971, Dr. Drucker was Professor of Management at the Graduate Business School of New York University, which awarded him in 1969 the university’s highest honor, the Presidential Citation. Since 1971, he has been the Clarke Professor of Social Science and Management at the Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, CA. The school named its Graduate Management Center after him in 1987.

Dr. Drucker is a consultant specializing in strategy and policy for both business and non profits, and in the work and organization of top management. He has worked with many of the world’s largest corporations and with small and entrepreneurial companies; with non profits such as universities, hospitals, churches and community services; and with agencies of the US government as well as free world governments. He is the honorary Chairman of the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Non Profit Management.

A prolific writer, Dr. Drucker has published 28 books, which have been translated into more than twenty languages. He is also an editorial columnist for The Wall Street Journal and a frequent contributor to magazines.

Books on Society, Economics and Politics (12)

The End of Economic Man (1939, 1955); The Future of Industrial Man (1942, 1994); The New Society (1949, 1992); America’s Next Twenty Years (1957); The Landmarks of Tomorrow (1959, 1996); The Age of Discontinuity (1969, 1992); Men, Ideas & Politics (1971); The Unseen Revolution (1976); Toward the Next Economics (1981); The New Realities (1989); The Ecological Vision (1992); Post Capitalist Society (1993)

Books on Management (13)

Concept of the Corporation (1946, 1992); The Practice of Management (1954, 1992); Managing for Results (1964, 1992); The Effective Executive (1966, 1992); Technology, Management & Society (1970); Management: Task; Responsibilities; Practices (1971, 1992); Managing in Turbulent Times (1980, 1992); The Changing World of the Executive (1982); Innovation and Entrepreneurship (1985, 1992); The Frontiers of Management (1986); Managing the Nonprofit Organization (1990); Managing for the Future (1992); and Managing in a Time of Great Change (1995)

Novels (2)

The Last of All Possible Worlds (1982) and The Temptation To Do Good (1984)

Autobiography: Adventures of a Bystander (1979, 1991, 1994)

He also co-authored Adventures of the Brush: Japanese Paintings (1979).

Born in 1909 in Vienna, Austria, Dr. Drucker was educated in Austria and England. He holds a doctorate in Public and International Law from Frankfurt University. Dr. Drucker and his wife, Doris, have four children and six grandchildren and live in Claremont, CA.

There is no mention of Dr. Drucker’s Christianity, because his views are not Christian. He claims to be an Episcopalian, yet his views are clearly those of an atheistic, humanistic social psychologist. We will prove this shortly. Yet, the Leadership Network states that: “He has played an important role in the shaping and direction of Leadership Network through his counsel since its creation and has participated in Leadership Network learning events for senior pastors and denominational leaders.” This “partnership” with unbelievers is in complete contradiction to the Word of God, which states:

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
2 Cor 6:14 (KJV)

In his book on TQM,[20] author Bill Creech writes:

“I’ve found a viable change program must meet four criteria if it is to succeed. First, it must be based on a quality mindset and orientation in all activities at all times, including in every process and product. Second, it must be strongly humanistic to bring quality to the way employees are treated, included, and inspired. Third, it must be based on a decentralized approach that provides empowerment at all levels, especially at the frontline, so that enthusiastic involvement and common purpose are realities, not slogans. Fourth, however named, it must be applied holistically so its principles, policies, and practices reach every nook and cranny of the organization.

“In short, the revised approach must shape all parts of the management system, structure, and style – not some pieces in some ways. That may sound daunting, but it’s not complicated, mysterious, or hard to achieve. And it doesn’t all have to be done at once. It is this holistic, humanistic kind of management approach that I have used in many successful management transformations. It’s also the kind I now see in use by the Japanese. (In fact, they are virtually identical – the story later.) And I’ve found this same kind of approach in other highly successful companies in the United States and abroad, further confirming its worth.

“The Japanese didn’t invent this style of quality-focused, team-concept management, though they are very good at it. And it didn’t spring full-blown from the American quality pioneers who took process quality techniques to Japan in the fifties. They got the ball rolling there, but there’s ample proof the same ideas are being adopted in other places as well. But whatever the parentage, this new decentralized way admits to no national origin nor exclusive use by anyone. It works successfully in any organization, whatever its size, whatever its nationality, whatever its product or service, whatever its industry and whatever its market niche. Still, what makes it all work, and the scope of the principles behind it, are widely mischaracterized. My goal is to add clarity to this dialogue, and insight to you regarding how a change program must be structured if it is to succeed.” (bolding added)

The term “holistic” might be better described as totalitarian. All people at all levels are required to participate at all times (no exceptions). There are 15 references to “Holistic, humanistic TQM in the index of Mr. Creech’s book.

The parentage of TQM is actually extremely important, regardless of what Mr. Creech states. Dean Gotcher has read and researched over 600 books written by social psychologists that initiated the TQM process. All of these social psychologists are transformational Marxists, who use the “tool” of “group dynamics” (peer pressure) rather than force (which traditional Marxists use), to pressure people into complying with the agenda of the top leadership (elite). Mr. Gotcher’s video[21] describes the parentage of this process, which dates back to the Garden of Eden, and was utilized by the serpent (Satan), in his deception of Eve. More recently, the process has been popularized by these humanistic/atheistic transformational Marxists. Peter F. Drucker agrees with the statements of Bill Creech, and as a matter of fact wrote the following, printed in the inside cover of Mr. Creech’s book on TQM:[20]

As its performance in the Gulf War amply proved, no organization, whether Japanese or American, has done a better job in Quality than the Tactical Air Command of the U.S. Air Force. Yet in no organization could it have been more difficult to install and to maintain Total Quality Management – because of the size of the organization, its diversity, its being widely scattered, and because of the resistance of a military organization to drastic changes in behavior, habits, relationships.

“This achievement was the work of one man, Bill Creech. He did the job not by preaching, not by giving orders, not by grandstanding. He did it through the relentless pursuit of the basics, The Five Pillars of TQM. Success, indeed, survival of any organization – and especially of any business – in a competitive world economy will increasingly depend on installing quality throughout the entire organization and on maintaining it. This book by Bill Creech tells how to do this in simple, clear, and persuasive prose. It is must reading for every manager.” - Peter F. Drucker

Bill Creech also recommends a molding together of communism with capitalism, which is what TQM is really all about:[22]

“It therefore would be a mistake to isolate Communism as some unique form of philosophical cancer, not seen before and not to be seen again. Autocracy continues to thrive in many countries around the globe (and also in organizations large and small). History is full of such isms, and we have hardly seen the last of them. The point? Just this: Worker commitment is inversely proportional to the degree of management centralization. So if your system depends on such centralization, commitment is sure to be a casualty.

“I raise the issue to emphasize that we should not place the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe on one pole of centralized management extremes and place the United States on the other pole. We have reason to be proud of our democratic political system. No one has invented one that’s any better. We have no reason to paint American management in the same colors. Some is quite good: most is not. Thus, the case of the former Soviet bloc has important application to the American experience.”

The melding of communism with capitalism is defined as communitarianism..

In a recent newspaper article, Peter F. Drucker was described as “the father of modern management”, and a man who “changes as the world changes.”[23] We are commanded by the scriptures:

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Rom 12:2 (KJV)

Of course, since Dr. Drucker’s views are not Christian, we cannot reasonably expect him to follow, or be led by the scriptures. In the same article, he is described as being best known for his “humanistic approach to business management.”(emphasis added) The article goes on to state: “(Peter) describes management as a liberal art…The liberal arts helps us understand ourselves, our minds, our hearts. Peter constantly emphasizes (management) is a human enterprise.”(emphasis added)

The American Humanist Association can be found at http://humanist.net/. The website displays definitions of humanism, as well as the entire texts of the Humanist Manifesto I & II, published in 1933 and 1973, respectively. These documents outline that humanists:

a) deny creationism

b) embrace evolution

c) assert that “religion” evolved via interactions between man and his environment

d) deny the supernatural

e) believe that physical death is the end of life

f) recommend social and mental “hygiene”

g) discourage the hope found with God

h) encourage hedonism

i) recommend the transformation of religious institutions into conformity with the world

j) recommend worldwide socialism

k) assert that traditional religions are harmful to man

l) want man to achieve his full potential without restraints

m) assert that salvation comes through mankind

n) reject “pure” capitalism or communism (embrace communitarianism)(reinvented government)

o) advocate the free exercise of sexuality

p) insist upon the “rights” of birth control, divorce and abortion

q) insist upon the “rights” of death with dignity, euthenasia, and suicide

r) advocate democracy (rather than a republican form of government) with decentralized decision-making

s) advocate the separation of church and state

t) embrace multi-culturalism

u) advocate world law, and a transnational federal government

v) want world peace, and the elimination of all wars

w) place a high priority on the preservation of the environment

x) believe that the “central task” is the quest for the good life

Humanists are atheistic, and anti-God, and they seek to exalt mankind over God.

“He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.” Luke 11:23 (KJV)

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matt 23:12 (KJV)

Peter Drucker’s views are indeed, humanistic. In an extensive interview in Forbes Magazine6, he stated:

“For a social discipline, such as management, the assumptions are actually a good deal more important than are the paradigms for a natural science. The paradigm—that is, the prevailing general theory—has no impact on the natural universe. Whether the paradigm states that the sun rotates around the earth, or that, on the contrary, the earth rotates around the sun, has no effect on sun and earth. But a social discipline, such as management, deals with the behavior of people and human institutions. The social universe has no “natural laws” as the physical sciences do. It is thus subject to continuous change. This means that assumptions that were valid yesterday can become invalid and, indeed, totally misleading in no time at all.”

In other words, Dr. Drucker does not believe that there are any moral absolutes, and that anyone who believes that there are moral absolutes can be mislead by believing them. This is in direct contradiction to the scriptures, and yet churches are basing their organizational structure and philosophy on this man’s teachings.

In the same article, Dr. Drucker states:

“So the nonprofit social sector is where management is today most needed and where systematic, principled, theory-based management can yield the greatest results fastest. Just think of the enormous problems facing the world—poverty, health care, education, international tension—and the need for managed solutions becomes loud and clear.”

So, Dr. Drucker is interested in getting churches involved in the implementation of the one-world government’s (United Nations’) agenda, which I spoke of earlier. This is the humanistic notion that man can control his own destiny apart from God. This comes to us straight from the pit of hell, and dates back at least as far as the tower of Babel. The Bible speaks clearly about what God thinks of the notion that man, apart from God will be able to solve all of the problems on earth, and put an end to all violence:

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1Thes 5:1-3 (KJV)

Interestingly, the home page of the United Nation’s website at http://www.un.org/ states: “Peace and Security.”

Furthermore, Dr. Drucker continues on to say that in business and churches as well:

“…noncustomers are as important as customers, if not more important: because they are potential customers. There are very few institutions which supply as large a portion of a market as 30%. In other words, there are very few institutions where the noncustomers do not amount to at least 70% of the potential market.

“And yet very few institutions know anything about the noncustomers—very few of them even know that they exist, let alone know who they are. And even fewer know why they are not customers. Yet it is with the noncustomers that changes always start.…All our experience tells us that the customer never buys what the supplier sells. Value to the customer is always something fundamentally different from what is value or quality to the supplier.

“This applies as much to a business as it applies to a university or to a hospital. Consider the pastoral megachurches that have been growing so very fast in the U.S. since 1980 and are surely the most important social phenomenon in American society in the last 30 years. There are now some 20,000 of them, and while traditional denominations have steadily declined, the megachurches have exploded. They have done so because they asked, “What is value?” to a nonchurchgoer and came up with answers the older churches had neglected. They have found that value to the consumer of church services is very different from what churches traditionally were supplying. The greatest value to the thousands who now throng the megachurches—both weekdays and Sundays—is a spiritual experience rather than a ritual.”

Dr. Drucker admits that the large congregations are basing their changes upon what the “nonchurchgoers” want to get out of going to church, rather than preaching the Word of God, to those who hath an ear, and want to hear what the Spirit of God is saying to the churches. One sign of a “21^st century church” is that it is conformed to the world, and thus, is headed in the direction that the “nonchurchgoers” want it to go.

The reason that such churches are experiencing great growth, is that the congregation is not enduring sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they are heaping unto themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they are turning away their ears from the truth, and are being turned unto fables. They want a spiritual experience, based on human relationships and feelings, rather than a loving relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ, based on His facts. The Apostle Paul was not concerned with tailoring his ministry towards the felt needs of the congregation:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Rom 1:16-18 (KJV)

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Cor 1:17-25 (KJV)

The Jews require a sign, the Greeks seek after wisdom, and the 21^st century churchgoers insist upon a spiritual experience; but it is the foolishness of preaching the Word of God which pleases God to save those that believe.

Dr. Drucker continues:

What motivates—especially knowledge workers—is what motivates volunteers. Volunteers, we know, have to get more satisfaction from their work than paid employees precisely because they do not get a paycheck. They need, above all, challenge. They need to know the organization’s mission and to believe in it. They need continuous training. They need to see results. Implicit in this is that employees have to be managed as associates, partners—and not in name only.

The definition of a partnership is that all partners are equal. It is also the definition of a partnership that partners cannot be ordered. They have to be persuaded. Increasingly, therefore, the management of people is a marketing job. And in marketing one does not begin with the question, “What do we want?” One begins with the question, “What does the other party want? What are its values? What are its goals? What does it consider results?” And this is neither Theory X nor Theory Y nor any other specific theory of managing people. It goes beyond this and involves aligning the employees’ goals with those of the organization—and vice versa.

“Continuous training” is the same thing as “lifelong learning.” It is the mind manipulation technique of TQM, etc.. It is the method of “persuading” partners (or lay ministry personnel) to willingly do the bidding of those higher up on the ladder. Dr. Drucker makes it very clear- you have to “persuade”, or “sell” them on the ideas that you are putting forth. Let’s call it what it really is – deception.

It’s Not about Money—it’s About Big Money

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Tim 6:10 (KJV)

The Leadership Network recommends numerous materials and research studies to pastors that are geared towards maximizing the amount of tithing, pledging, and giving in the church. One of the “masters” of “stewardship” is John Maxwell. Mr. Maxwell is the former pastor of Skyline Community Church, in San Diego, CA, and founded Injoy Ministries, a church consulting firm. Regarding Mr. Maxwell, the Leadership Network acknowledges that:

“John’s stewardship seminar may rub some traditions the wrong way, but he has great practical ideas and gives pastors confidence to talk about a very spiritual subject.” - The Leadership Network

The following, from “A Time to Build Campaign Kit” was found on www.pastors.net:

“There is a time to build.” Eccl. 3:3

In 1994, Rick Warren led the people at Saddleback in a faith commitment that included a one day cash offering of $1,400,000 and a commitment to give $22,000,000 over the following 36 months. In 1997, using the same program, the people at Saddleback gave $3,000,000 as a one time offering and pledged to give $31,000,000 over the next 36 months.

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matt 16:26 (KJV)

I don’t believe that any further commentary is required on this subject.

Where is this Headed/ What is the Future of the CGM?

The Young Leader Network arm of the Leadership Network (www.youngleader.org) gives some insight as to where this movement is heading: Under the heading, “People We Connect”, they state:

Social activists living out the Kingdom life in urban settings
Christian leaders who understand local and global communities of faith and practice
Church planters who understand community more than momentum
Artists who have a place to express and communicate the Kingdom in multiple forms
Christian leaders who move beyond roles and gender
Resourcers who can begin giving handholds to emerging leaders who simply want to do something with God in their community
Theologians who construct new theologies that emerge out of practice (bolding added)

They also state that:

“At Young Leader Networks, we want to bring the best thinker/practitioners together in settings where ideas and thoughts inform our practice of Christianity in local places. We need your help to move to this new age of ministry built upon various experiences and expressions.” (bolding added)

“Our vision is to contextualize our message… by narrative preaching opposed to propositional... within the framework of relationship. We prefer the mediums of art, expression, and experience opposed to a 95-point sermon used by generations before us to communicate truth.” (emphasis added)

“We rolled up our sleeves and began the task of breaking down the old paradigms of ministry. (We have decided) how to approach ministering in our present postmodern transition. … And now it’s time to construct the church of the future.”

So, what is the church of the future described here?

In May, 1995, the Leadership Network’s Compass Magazine addressed the issue: “After Church Growth, What?” Under this heading, the Network wrote:

“The next movement will grow partnerships, not properties. Partnerships, alliances and collaboration will become the norm, rather than the exception, and the relationships will be built on new loyalties and a new common mission. … The next movement will grow people, not parking lots. … These same people are in the congregations of the 21^st century and they are going to be the “point people” for the partnerships and alliances that will achieve the vision beyond the property line.” (emphasis added)

“The Church of the 21^st Century is reforming itself into a multi-faceted service operation.” Bob Buford[24]

Compass continues on to say:

“The Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, has several 501 © (3) entities related to housing, job training and employment, medical and dental services, and educational ventures.”

Regarding the church, Peter Drucker stated:

“The community … needs a community center… I’m not talking religion now, I’m talking society. There is no other institution on the American community that could be the center.”[9]

So, what is the point of all this? Sustainable development. Outlined by Vice-President Gore, in Earth in the Balance, the notions are that:

There are too many people on the planet
There are not enough resources
There is wealth inequity
There’s not enough food
The people are negatively impacting the native species (the biodiversity)
World peace must be accomplished
We must act now, so that the earth is saved from mankind – all human activity on the earth must be “sustainable” for untold numbers of generations to come.

How?

Population reduction (family planning, abortion, homosexuality to be encouraged)
Redistribution of wealth and food
Strict control of all human activity – concentrate people into urban areas, discourage automobile usage, shift to mass transit – along designated “corridors” for humans between the urban centers, leaving the rest for “native species”, discourage energy use, consumerism, etc.
Nationalism – sovereignty of individual nations must be abandoned in order to accomplish this greater “global effort” of environmental protection, peace, and wealth equity
Anything hindering peace and harmony must be removed – like the hateful, divisive, exclusive views that Christians hold

These are the major goals of the United Nations, with all power to enforce them given to the U.N..

So, how does the church fit in? First, there will be designated community centers, which offer “one-stop shopping” (health care, food banks, education, and other governmental social programs: i.e. welfare distribution). There must be a lot of these decentralized areas, so that they are within walking/biking distances of peoples’ homes, diminishing the need for automobiles. Some of these programs are already being administered through fire stations (vaccinations), senior citizen centers, and parks (free cheese giveaways, etc.).

Is the church really participating in this? Compass continues:

“Willow Creek Community Church in So. Barrington, Illinois, is in partnership with World Vision [a United Nation’s Non-governmental Organization, affiliated with the U.N. Department of Public Information – they have agreed to actively promote the U.N. agenda.[25] to create Vision Chicago in an effort to link Willow Creek with urban ministries.”

The relationship between Bill Hybels and President Clinton takes an interesting turn with this information. Finally, Compass states:

Summerhill Neighborhood, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded by a partnership of churches to “revitalize Summerhill into a vibrant, growing and self-sustaining community,” and has established a medical center, low-cost clothing store, day-care center, and housing-rehabilitation program.

Yes, the church is participating in the neo-pagan, earth-worshiping, sustainable development touted by the United Nations, and both major American political parties. Additionally, the rules that the church must adhere to in administering governmental programs were recently laid out by President Clinton.16 In this instance, the church is partnering with the government in administering educational programs, and the rules are:

Ensure that all activities and programs provided by the groups are “purely” secular”
Selection of student participants without regard to their religion
Telling volunteers not to pray with students or preach about faith
Put a partnership agreement in writing
Make sure that any space used for teaching is free of religious symbols

It is interesting to note, that the CGM churches “sanitize” their surroundings of religious symbols ostensibly to keep from offending unbelievers, but that this “sanitization” also “happens” to bring them into compliance with partnership agreements with the government. There are approximately 100,000 schools entering into these partnerships with religious groups.

Summary

Firstly, CGM churches are actually carrying out and administering the U.N. global agenda. (For further information, we recommend a search of the internet for the UN Agenda for the 21^st Century - “Agenda 21” – which lays out the entire blueprint for global sustainable development).

The other goal that Church Growth Movement churches are accomplishing, is the “transformation” of the minds of the church membership and leadership to the transformational mode of dealing with factual information. Once all people are involved in diaprax – practicing the Hegelian dialectic process in all sectors of society (cradle to grave) in parenting classes, ready to learn programs, education programs – outcome-based education, school to work, police work – DARE, health care, business - TQM, religion, volunteerism, and even retired persons, (lifelong learning), then the global goal of unity can be accomplished, as all are willing to lay aside their differences for the sake of the unity of humankind. All of the world’s problems can then be solved by man – apart from God. This is the goal of the Humanists, Peter Drucker, and the U.N.. The only people hindering this utopian goal are those who refuse to lay aside their moral absolutes for the sake of the world.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (restrains) will let (restrain), until he be taken out of the way.” 2 Thes 2:7 (KJV)

Either by force, or by the LORD.

References

1. Taken from The Purpose-Driven Church by RICK WARREN. 1995 by Rick Warren. Used by Permission of Zondervan Publishing House., p. 190.

2. Pritchard, G.A.; Willow Creek Seeker Services, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 1996, pp 49 – 58.

3. Ibid, p 56.

4. Clinton Speaks of Anguish over Affair – SGVT 8/11/00 (attached)

5. Warren, p. 190.

6. “Management’s New Paradigms,” Forbes, October 5, 1998.

7. http://ministryonline.com/churchgrowth/warren.htm

8. Warren, p. 86.

9. Business of the Kingdom, Christianity Today, November 15, 1999, Vol. 43, No. 13.

10. Warren, p. 327.

11. Warren, p. 123.

12. Hunter, Edward, Brainwashing: From Pavlov to Powers, Bookmailer Inc. 1960.

13. Mickels, Cathy, and McKeever, Audrey, Spiritual Junk Food – The Dumbing Down of Christian Youth, Winepress Publishing, Mukilteo, WA, 1999.

15. Gotcher, Dean “Lifelong Learning and the U.N.”, Pamphlet (well-documented with references). Available from The Institute for Authority Research 5436 S. Boston Place Tulsa, OK 74105 (918) 742-3855.

16. Clinton news article (attached).

17. Gore news article (attached).

18. Bush news article (attached).

19. Clinton news article(attached)

20. Creech, Bill The Five Pillars of TQM, Truman Talley Books/Plume, New York, 1994, pg 5.

21. Gotcher, Dean Traditional, Transitional, Transformational OBE (Outcome-Based Education)/STW (School-to-Work)/TQM (Total Quality Management). Video - (918) 596 – 4422.

22. Creech, Bill ibid. pg. 259.

23. Daily Bulletin, November 4, 1999. “Dignitaries to fete Drucker at age 90”.

24. Leadership Network, NEXT Dec. 1997.

25. www.un.org, link to NGO’s, and the Department of Public Information (DPI)

HOW DIAPRAX MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THE CHURCH

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