Following the demise of the Body of Christ over the last several years has a wearing effect. The things that are going on in the “Church” is beyond words and has on occasions left me with my face in my hands between outrage and hysteria. Is it possible for “believers” to fall any further. When the Lord said that He would “send strong delusion that they would believe the lie,” I never would have thought that it would materialize into the madness of what we call “Church” today. The organized church has become an inebriated stumbling sideshow with crazed leaders having the ability to shepherd millions of ignorant sheep over a steep precipice.
It is beyond me how anyone with half a brain could sit and listen to men like Perry Noble, Mark Driscoll, Rick Warren, or a hundred others in their blood line and not pickup on their falsehood. The only answer is “Strong Delusion.”
We read in Scripture of the strong drink that the nation will be made to drink of, and the drunken state that will be the result. “A second angel followed and said, ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.'” What we began to experience in the circus church was a spectacle, and still is, but it has moved on to an intoxicated fisticuff.
I have followed loosely Ken Silva at Apprising Ministries and Christian Research Net, and Lighthouse Trails documenting of Perry Noble at New Spring Church in Anderson S.C., but have never commented, till now. After reading about the account of the leadership at New Spring, going way over the line, in their attack of James Duncan for his critique of Perry Noble, and Perry’s strong arm response of intimidation, a word of warning is overdue from this site.
In an interview with Chris Rosebrough of Fighting for the Faith Radio, James Duncan, a Professor at Anderson University advises all believers to start a discernment blog to warn of the imminent danger that is at hand; this is good advise. The interview, “Perry Noble’s Employees Assassinate the Character of a Critic,” needs to be listened to. Perry is a growing influence in the Seeker Sensitive, Mega Church movement and is charting the course for many market driven Churches. This man brings violence one step closer to the elimination of all Bible believing Christians, and he gets support for his deeds.
Also, on James Duncan’s own blog, Pajama Pages, James documents, in detail, how these so called followers of Christ, tried to destroy him for openly criticizing Perry Noble.
Perry Noble, like Mark Driscoll, preachs a very worldly and flesh oriented message, and by so doing gather to themselves large followings of those who gravitate to the base nature of man, rather than to the Cross, where the flesh and the world are put away. Perry openly feeds his congregation the filth of the world, then tries to intimidate, by his crude rashness, anyone who would dare disagree with him.
This is the trend of Church Growth today, the blind leading the blind into accepting a false, flesh gratifying, Im O.K., You’re O.K. as long as you don’t take the Bible too serious, kind of Gospel.
Perry Noble, Mark Driscoll, and Rick Warren are the worst of the worst, but there are many others who exist on the fringes of their teachings and who have not ventured out of the closets yet, but they will come. They exist up and down Main Street, in your town and across the Nation, and have listened to these men and rehearsed their methods in their own Churches, and envy their success, and secretly desire their fame for themselves. They live and play on the edge of a dangerous cliff and promote the teaching of these men as if it were their own, and encourage their flock to graze ever closer to the edge, all the while saying it is good and healthy for their soul; Peace, Peace, but there is no Peace sayeth the Lord.
These men never blush for their wickedness, but encourage others to celebrate this new kind of freedom. The freedom they celebrate is freedom from the narrow way; it is freedom from the Cross, which is freedom from Christ.
Hag 2:12-14
“If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?”‘” Then the priests answered and said, “No.” And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.” Then Haggai answered and said, “‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord , ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.”
These verses speak loudly to a nation caught in its sin, and it speaks loudly to these American Churches. Where did the mentality come from that says, that if we put a Christian in the midst of the world we can make it holy; that by a Christian presence we can spread holiness? Where did the mentality come from that says that a Christian can maintain their purity when simultaneously mingling with impurity? Who said that we could keep an open relationship with the world and come away unscathed? It is a lie, it cannot be done.
Haggai here declares the same; it cannot be done. The pure person cannot by being with impurity and mixing with them impart his purity to them. But, to the contrary, if a holy person touches an unclean thing the holy person becomes unclean. To say it plainly: corruption and sin are more easily transferred to the righteous than righteousness transferred to the unrighteous. So the rule seems to be plain enough. Don’t think that an evil person living in the midst of goodness will commend that goodness to the evil person. The Spirit has declared that it is not so, but this is exactly what we see, routinely, in the institutional Church. We advertise, we promote, we poll neighborhoods, we beg and we plead that the world would please come and be a part of us, and they have, and we have become corrupted and unclean, deluded, because we now see as the world sees, and we see that the world’s ways and means have great promise for the Church. We have become an unclean thing and we don’t know how to repent, so the Lord will come to us in our darkest hour, and we will see our nakedness and be ashamed.
Repentance and shame is not in the vocabulary of these men, they exalt there shame and draw ovations from their flatterers.
As we watch the world tumble and turn, and the organized church slip into apostasy, words start taking on new value, meaning, and understanding, both for the worldly Christian and for those enlightened souls who recognize the fulfillment of end time prophecy. We have witnessed, in our generation, the grand sermons of talented preachers, with their endless chatter, flowing like a fermented mash, to inebriated crowds, bellying up to the bar for a round of worldly religion, and seen them stumble home, and still manage to confess, in the face of their sin, their creedal and national allegiance, then fall for the umpteenth time while convinced, by their pastor, that they can live in the world and not be of it. They are not only in the world, they are awash in it; it covers them; they have become to the “world,” just, the “religious world,” no different than those outside, just more cocksure that’s all.
The words of Scripture are very clear today.
2 Cor 6:14-7:1
“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. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Steve Blackwell
10 replies on “Perry Noble as an Example of the Apostate Church”
Hi,
thank you for this interesting post and all the thought and time that has gone into it (including the responses).
I am actually a little concerned (not challenging anyone in this blog) because I arrived here after looking into New Spring church, and then Perry Noble.
However… I was a bit shocked because I was NOT researching Mark Driscol and had even started watching an online sermon of his this afternoon, I have been watching quite a few of his teachings over the last few weeks – and been enjoying them. One or two things seemed a little odd, but I guess I didn't focus on it.
My background is that I was saved 3 years ago, I am working hard to learn God's biblical and inerrant truth but it is definitely a very deep and rich mine, so please, I may appear foolish for potentially being deceived but I had definitely not yet picked up on Mark's apostasy. I am seeking God's truth, and am a relatively 'young' believer in the faith. It may be obvious to others, but to be brutally honest at the risk of sounding foolish, it had not to me.
Can you recommend any good links, resources or even thoughts (biblical, scripture-backed) as to why you believe this or where I can find out more? I will keep on 'googling' for now.
Obviously I am concerned to have been 'learning' from someone who may be/is apostate.
So I pray that God will bless you, me and anyone reading this web page with wisdom (James 1:5) to know His voice (the good shepherd) and be truly discerning. I also pray for restoration and God's truth to prevail, light to shine on darkness and God to expose sin in the church. If these men are teaching apostasy I pray that Jesus would rebuke them and restore them that He would use it for His glory and the truth.
-> If you agree, then please ask God as well, let's agree for His truth to shine. I thank you for your sharp and discerning mind, I am just encouraging us to also pray as a prayer in God's will has the power of heaven behind it 🙂
God bless
Thank you
Thanks for the visit.
I am pleased to hear that you are a seeker of truth; that always impresses me.
Today if a person would find truth they must seek it diligently, as if their life depended on it, because, you see, it does. Truth has always been a rare commodity, never recognized by the world or the religious elite. You will, no doubt, break a few nails and receive some bruises in its pursuit; not to mention losing friends and sleep. Once you sign a membership roster or join a denominational organization you will begin the compromise that the “Church” has become famous for. Follow Jesus and obey Him, void of any allegiances to anything other than truth, as the Spirit promises to unveil to the faithful.
The Protestant Reformation was the breaking away from the premiere prostitute of Christianity, Rome. Today the Protestant Church is headed back to Rome. The Roman Catholic Church has always committed itself to any and all methods, even murder and genocide, to bring back all their lost sons and daughters, and is now committed to “peace and love” to unit all religions in their ecumenical move for a one world organized religion. The bottom line in all of this is that none can be trusted to present truth as outlined in Scriptures, especially the highly publicized and marketed commercial Churches you mention here.
You have every right, and obligation to be concerned, because the danger is very real, and the consequences eternal. Jesus said the way is “narrow” and that “very few would make it” for a reason, and that reason is, because it is true. Those who He says are traveling the “broad way” and will be lost are those who are professing to be His followers, not the world. Getting involved with institutional religion may be most dangerous thing you can do. Almost all of them have great wide doorways that enter on to the “broad way.”
How can so many so called Christians be wrong? Strong delusion is the answer. God, Himself, said He would send it, and that they would believe it. You will search in vain to find today’s modern Church in the Bible. Only by a stretch of your imagination will see the modern Christian religious establishment in the Bible; it simply is not there, nowhere. But, try to find the apostasy of the Church in Scripture and you will see it everywhere from Genesis to Revelations. Why do we ignore the abundance of truth concerning the Church and choose rather to follow fabrications? It is because we are a deceived and blind race of creatures; the Bible says so plainly.
You ask about “good links”. Lighthouse Trails Research is a very good place to research what is happening in the Church. All of their information is well documented and can be trusted; but even they must be weighed in the balances with the Bible. No one can be accepted carte blanche as the final word concerning the Church. Be careful where you get your information, it cannot all be trusted. There are many wild beast roaming this desert wilderness preying on the weak and young; they come with words of wisdom, dressed in white like a shining light, unlocking the mysteries of the ages, promising great things, and a bright future; but they are liars and false prophets who shackle their catch and lead them away to death.
God’s truth is shining brighter and brighter as the end nears; but only to those who have been given sight. As truth grows, so will evil increase. As you become more aware of the evilness of the world, know for a fact that the Holy Spirit is opening eyes of ever increasing light and understanding to those few who have set their will to know the truth. We need not pray for restoration or revival, but that God’s will be done. It may be God’s will to bring darkness and delusion on the whole world, as He said He would do, and if that is God’s will, then so-be-it, that is my will. God’s truth will prevail, as it always has, even during time of immense suffering and persecution. God has never prevailed His truth onto unbelievers except in judgment. Jesus’ explanation to His disciples, concerning who He is, and how they can know for sure who He is, is stated in John 7:17. In this verse He lays the burden of knowing the truth squarely on the shoulders of men, and that “truth” would not be forced on anyone, by stating, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”
I am thankful for your earnest search for truth; you will not be disappointed, if you stay the course.
In His service
Steve Blackwell
When you say say that Noble and Driscoll don’t preach repentance and the cross, that is simply incorrect. I have heard 4-5 messages by Perry and he taught on the cross and repentance directly in two and less directly in the others. Driscoll teaches verse by verse and book by book so deals with repentance and faith consistently. His book, “Death by Love” is entirely about the cross, substitutionary atonement, etc. Be specific with any wrong theology they have said, don’t put up scarecrows with some generic rant. Specifics about the truth, not about dress, style, personality.
Bruce
Bruce,
Those are your words, not mine, I never said that. You have jumped to a conclusion in your reasoning and assumed that I would say something like that. I do not doubt that they both give speeches using those very words. Satan’s most successful deceptions, after-all, come from the preaching pulpit. Satan has always used God-words, they are the foundation of his methodology, remember Eden? If a talented Christian can effectively use God-words, why, he can rape, pillage, and commit all kinds of sacrilege and receive the redemption of men, the world, and whole congregations of ignorant little lambs.
You cannot see Perry’s defect because you may be too close to the source and do not want to see it. Congregations are blinded because they do not seek truth, but rather want to be accepted. When people invest themselves in a program or association they cannot allow truth to do its work, because it divides and brings criticism, and it most often, separates the truth bearer from the truth receiver. And, nobody like wasting their investment. Perry’s defects are obvious to a few, but to others his actions are the normal ways of Christian living today.
As far as Mark Driscoll, it is even more apparent that he has left the path. These Christians (so called) make Satan’s work far too easy, when we can’t see what is plain before our eyes. You see, it doesn’t matter that Perry or Mark preach from the Bible, Satan is a very apt preacher, and he is found with a Bible under his arm wherever he goes. These men show forth the fruit of this world, and not of the Heavenly Kingdom, but rather the kingdom of this world. This world with its vulgarness and it violence are not of God, obviously, but is an offering like Cain’s, that God rejected. Don’t fool yourself, Cain was a worshiper of God too, but he was rejected.
You need to weigh these men’s actions against Scripture, and desire truth in the inward parts, as David says, then separate yourself, from not only them, but all who love them and applaud their evil ways.
These men are the easy ones to detect. They are the trash that has floated to the surface. Others who are not so public may take a little more work.
What I have put here is not generic rants. Other, much more credible sites, have done in-depth research into these men, and many other men also, and they are accurate accounts of what these men stand for. But, if you do not want to hear it, then you will not hear it, and you will be in good company with many who fill their religious establishments, giving them what they want; unfortunately it will be more of the same; can a leopard change its spots?
Good luck
Well said, Steve!
Wonder what the thousands of people who have had their lives changed by Jesus Christ at these venues would say about this ridiculous post?
Jack,
It is a wonderful thing to dream, but we must wake up some day to the facts of Scripture. The Bible paints a different picture from the ones presented to us from most pulpits. But, for the sake of argument let’s say that a few of the thousands you mention were saved, is God limited in the methods He uses to save one of His children? God uses hirelings to shepherd His flock. Pharaoh was used by God to teach a whole nation. Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar were called God’s servants; God spoke through the mouth of a donkey; or God can use John 3:16 printed on a baseball cap to deliver His message.
It is nearly impossible to argue against a changed life, especially if the change was for good, but change alone is deceptive. What about the millions of changed lives in the Mormon Church, or the Jehovah Witnesses, or the Christian Scientist, or the Muslims, or even the followers of Adolph Hitler, or for that matter, Mickey Mouse? These would argue for a changed life, so, is it a changed life we are looking for, or is it Truth?
If there is one thing that is perfectly clear from the beginning of the Bible to the very end, it is that the human race is a deceived race of people and that we look for God where He does not exist. The Bible is clear that very few will be saved: He takes one from a city and two from a family; it is like a shepherd that takes from the mouth of a lion a leg bone, or an ear, or a rib, so shall Israel be saved; the way is narrow and gate strait (as in difficult) and very few will enter in; or, on that day many will say Lord, Lord, but He says He never knew them.
But, let’s not forget what the bible say about the end day Church, He says there will be a great falling away, an apostasy from the truth. The Church over the couple of thousand years it has been around has morphed into various shapes of which the Bible calls prostitution. The Prostitute has changed her wardrobe many time in two thousand years, and her followers love it. The crowds love a good show.
You say my post is ridiculous, and it may be so, but it is much closer to the truth than your comment.
Remember that the truth that Jesus spoke appeared ridiculous to the organized church of His day, and they murdered Him for His seemingly ridiculous statements. What He said just could not be true to the status quo. The truth did not fit in then, and it does not fit in today. The truth will always offend.
Steve Blackwell
RIGHT ON !! 100%
The leaders at New Spring seem to bear a striking resemblance to Diotrephes in III John.
Yes they do.
It is striking how children take on the characteristics of their parents. The branch is fed by the root, and in this case the root reaches into Hell.