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                     VOLUME 22 - NUMBER 2 (August 1999)

                        THE WORLD CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT

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                       EVANGELISM VS. EVANGELIZATION

                           By Albert James Dager

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PART FOUR of Four

                             DOMINION THEOLOGY

The idea that the world can be turned to Jesus Christ is a fabrication of
the dominionist mindset of the World Christian Movement's leadership. And,
again, it is nullified by the Lord's own words:

     Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is
     the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go
     in thereat:     Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
     which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.   (Matthew
     7:13-14)

This last verse, especially, spoken by our Lord Himself, does not allow for
the world ever being won to Christ. It is the qualifying verse for all hose
that are stated above, and all others that speak of the condition of the
world during all time until His return.

All Scriptures that speak of events leading up to the Lord's return offer no
hope for the vast majority of mankind. Contrary to what is heard in the
"Christian" media, and promoted by mystical, feelings-oriented movements
that abound today, there is not going to be a revival that will bring the
world to Christ. The world is, by God's design, under the rulership of
Satan, and will remain so until the Lord returns. It is our task to win
those individuals who will be saved through the preaching of the Gospel, but
it is not our task to insert into every people group a nominal Christian
presence. The "revival" being touted today is not the result of preaching
the Gospel, but of emotional pleas for people to let God do good things for
them, including saving them from hell.

Since we know from God's Word that evil will abound toward the end and that
few will be saved, we must reject out of hand the pleas of those within the
WCM who would commandeer our time, energy and finances to further their
religious agenda based upon the dominionist concept that Christ cannot
return until the Church has established dominion over the nations.

That dominion theology is at the heart of the WCM is evidenced by its
leaders and those whom they cite for justification of their work. In an
editorial, Ralph D. Winter states:

     Don't worry, all of my ideas relate to missions directly or
     indirectly. But that only seems to be true if you have followed
     the breadth of the mission we are talking about-the depth and
     breadth of the arresting phrase in the Lord's Prayer: "Thy Kingdom
     Come, Thy will be done on earth."...

     Missions isn't just "over there" on the "mission field." It is not
     as if Satan prowls the whole world but stops at the U.S. border.
     Indeed, missions is essentially the restoration of God's kingdom
     and rule and power on this earth. It involves the reestablishment
     of His glory, of His honor of His control of things....

     This means that we must realize that our mission is a global
     mission not just a "foreign" mission. We must realize that
     stopping evil wherever it is found is part of that mission. (81)

God's kingdom and rule and power over the earth do not need to be
reestablished. He already has all rule and power over the earth, and His
Kingdom exists throughout the universe. What Winter and the WCM want is to
establish the visible manifestation of God's Kingdom on earth. This means
they must "clean up" society. But that visible manifestation will not be
realized until Jesus returns. Man's attempt to do for God what God has not
authorized man to do is presumption and sin.

The dominionist agenda of the WCM is further revealed in Winter's railing
against the government for not spending enough on cancer research, and
against the evils of gambling, tobacco and cocaine, as if the Church could
somehow alleviate these problems.

Out of the Lausanne movement, which formed the basis for the World Christian
Movement, has sprung the University of the Nations (UofN), whose goal is to
disciple the nations for Christ. On the website for the UofN, can be found
the strategy for that organization headed by Loren Cunningham of YWAM:

     The seven spheres of influence described below will help us shape
     societies for Christ. God gave us these handles to use in carrying
     out Matthew 28 and discipling the nations for Him. We believe He
     is wanting all His people to see the importance of these seven
     areas and work in them to extend Christ's reign throughout the
     earth. (82)

The seven spheres of influence follow:

     One of the purposes of the UofN in Europe is to counteract the
     influence of these philosophies, promulgated here on this
     continent, which have led the whole world on a path away from God.
     We want to put God back into the centre of higher education. And
     into the centre of the influential sectors of society, including
     the family, the Church, education, government, the media, the
     arts, entertainment and sports, and commerce, science and
     technology. Our goal is not to just make individual disciples, but
     to disciple the nations, to bring God's presence and ways into
     these influential parts of society in every country.

     In order to train Christians to minister effectively in these
     seven influential sectors of society, we have organised the
     University of the Nations into      seven Colleges/Faculties    ,

        * Christian Ministries - covering the Church
        * Communication - covering the media
        * Counseling and Health Care - covering the family
        * Education - covering education,
        * Humanities, and International Studies - covering government
        * The Arts - covering the arts and entertainment
        * Science and Technology - covering science and technology (83)

The World Christian Movement has a convoluted concept of what Christ
requires of His disciples. By claiming that we are all to become engaged in
these fields in order to capture them for Christ, the stage is set for guilt
on the part of those who fail to live up to the demand. It also sets the
stage for pride in those who do. But so, too, is the concept of Christ's
sacrifice convoluted by some within the movement. Under the heading for The
Media we read:

     Pick your least favourite news reporter. Get his or her face
     firmly in your mind. Then realise that this is a person for whom
     Jesus Christ hung on the cross-this is an individual worth the
     sacrifice of the Son of God. (84)

Did you catch it? This is the basis for the neo-evangelical gospel: that all
men are "worth" the sacrifice of God's Son. But if we are all worthy of His
sacrifice, where does God's grace come in?

No one is worthy of Christ's sacrifice. We are all unworthy; that's the
essence of the Gospel: that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us
(Romans 5:8).

We were alienated from God, worthy of death and destruction, not worthy of
His dying for us. The neo-evangelical gospel is at the root of dominion
theology as espoused by the World Christian Movement.

As we look at the various organizations involved in the WCM we find that
many are youth oriented, seeking to mobilize teenagers to accomplish their
goal of world dominion. One such is TeenMania, a charismatic outreach known
for its "Acquire the Fire" conventions, headed by Ron Luce.

     Acquire the Fire     is a mega-gathering of thousands of teenagers
     throughout North America, who have a burning desire to change the
     world. At Acquire the Fire conventions, teens and adults alike are
     challenged to live radically on the edge of Christianity
     throughout their teen years and the rest of their lives!

     Acquire the Fire      conventions present the gospel in a relevant
     format that will radically change the lives of all those present.
     Prepare yourself for a live praise & worship band, live comedy
     sketches, video roll-ins on huge, mammoth video screens and
     pyrotechnic "bombs" igniting throughout the convention!

     This year, more than 125,000 teens are expected to attend ATF
     conventions. Don't be left out, this convention is intense!85

This is how virtually all youth-oriented "ministries" present their form of
gospel: flash-bang, emotion-driven attempts to garner "decisions" for Christ
and for entering into the organization's "ministry." In order to enter into
the ministry laid out for them, teenagers must take oaths such as
TeenMania's WorldChanger 2000 Oath:

     I am determined to have passion for the Almighty God and to use
     that passion for His cause.
     I will love all, honor all, and lead all I can to Him.

     I am determined to keep my relationship with Jesus alive by
     keeping my quiet times.

     I commit to defend God's cause by being active in Bible Study, my
     church, and my youth group.

     I commit my mind to God and my courtship to purity.

     I am determined to honor my parents and to be accountable to Godly
     friendships.

     I refuse to live in slow-motion because I am determined to live a
     life of worship and holy actions. I commit to reach out through
     missions while I am a teenager.

     I will start a revolution in my hometown. I am determined to stand
     up, shout loud, sweat hard, pour out, give all, love, live,
     breath, and die if I must for the one who died for me.

     I am a WorldChanger. (86 )

This one-size-fits-all oath is a recipe for disaster, disappointment,
humiliation, guilt and pride. Scripture forbids us to take oaths, but that
doesn't stop those bent on manipulating others to further some religious
agenda. And not even the elders of the Church are expected to do all that is
required of these kids; how much less teenagers who have not even reached
the point of full understanding and maturity?

No one can determine to have passion for God; either he has it or he
doesn't. A momentary response to an emotional plea means nothing. And God
has not called children to "start a revolution" in their hometown.

As far as honoring one's parents, that's fine. But what if one's parents
 don't want him involved in this movement? How does one honor his parents
and disobey them? Suppose one's parents don't want him to go to the mission
field while he is a teenager? Yet that is part of the oath according to "The
Ten Challenges of a WorldChanger":

     A WorldChanger goes on a mission trip while he is still a
     teenager.87

TeenMania is not merely an organization unto itself, but a network of youth
ministries from around the United States, touching many churches through
their dynamic use of youth-oriented attractions. It also links with other
similar organizations designed to mobilize youth for the "Cause of Christ":
Christian dominion over the nations.

Kaleidoscopic Global Action Plan

Out of the Lausanne GCOWE has also come a think tank called a "Working Group
on A Kaleidoscopic Global Action Plan" that was formally commissioned by the
GCOWE 2000 conveners in September 1988. Out of that working group there was
developed the "Kaleidoscopic Global Action Plan," a document "compiled from
the writings, statements, positions, conversations, discussions,
suggestions, proposals, ideas, and interactions" of its members.

The members of the Working Group were: David B. Barrett; Jay E. Gary; H.
Vinson Synan; Todd M. Johnson; Leslie Brierley; Patrick J. Johnstone; Gary
K. Clark; John S. Mbiti; Tom Forrest, CSsR; James W. Reapsome; V. David
Garrison; Lamin Sanneh; and Manuel J. Gaxiola.88

Tom Forrest is a Roman Catholic priest heavily involved in the ecumenical
deception of the Vatican. H. Vinson Synan is a well-known ecumenical
charismatic. Jay Gary is an ecumenical proponent of the United Nations whose
beliefs closely align with New Age philosophy. John Mbiti, from Kenya, is
working with Global Mapping International to compile African proverbs for
integration into evangelization efforts. All in the Working Group are
ecumenical toward the Vatican and/or liberal "Christianity," several leaning
toward social reform as essential to their plan.

To demonstrate the influence of these men, it is stated in the Kaleidoscopic
Global Action Plan (KGAP):

     All the members of this group were widely-experienced theologians,
     missiologists, or church or mission executives. Each of them has
     written or published extensively on and around our subject for a
     total of 280 years (an average of 21.5 years each).89

The Kaleidoscopic Global Action Plan consists of "109 ideas or concrete
proposals for overcoming present barriers to world evangelization."90 The
formulators for the KGAP state that they are not proposing a new global plan
from scratch, but are building on the current status and existing plans of
78 global mega-plans and 33 global giga-plans, as well as the rest of some
2000 plans in total, as sketched out in the book, Seven Hundred Plans to
Evangelize the World: the Rise of a Global Evangelization Movement (Barrett
and Reapsome, pub. by New Hope, 1988)

. In the Introduction to the KGAP list of goals, we read:

     If we are to have any impact on the complex world revealed by our
     diagrams and statistics, we must target and focus on a small
     number of sharply-defined, reasonably achievable, concrete goals.

     We propose that the Great Commission decision-makers think in
     terms of a short list of 200 global goals. Listed below is a
     selection of 186 or so such goals. You the reader, with your own
     interests, can add the remaining 14 or so from your own immediate
     concerns and priorities. Don't forget to ensure that the goals you
     add are each actually achievable (if we really tried) by AD 2000!

     The listing is a collective compilation of final goals put forward
     by agencies and protagonists, in most cases separately. A certain
     number appear secular or are goals of secular organizations but
     are being pressed by top executives in them who are committed
     Christians. Each goal is considered to be a final closure goal to
     complete an aspect of world evangelization by AD 2000 and to keep
     it completed beyond. In most cases, the phrase "by AD 2000" can be
     understood to mean "By AD 2000 and Beyond. Each goal therefore is
     based on a different or even unique definition of what it would
     mean to complete the unfinished task of the Christian world
     mission. Each represents a statement of what closure means in one
     or more of the 300 different and distinct dimensions of the
     concept "evangelization" and how it is measured and quantified.
     Together these goals take aim at the same overall target,
     expressed in the watchword "World Evangelization by AD 2000 &
     Beyond."...

     Christians can react to these goals in a variety of ways. We have
     2 recommendations:

     (1) that we Great Commission Christians decide, announce and
     proclaim that     all of these goals are our legitimate goals, and
     that we intend to press for the implementation of all of them; and

     (2) that individual Christians, groups, churches, organizations,
     or agencies select one or more of the goals and concentrate on
     implementing just these, in collaboration with other Great
     Commission Christians and agencies which have similar goals.91
     (emphasis ours)

We cannot disagree with all of the goals set forth in the KGAP, but many of
them reach far beyond what the Lord has commanded and are even ominous,
revealing the liberal social consciousness of many in the WCM. The overall
tenor of these goals is dominionist, some being secular, some being
spiritual, focusing on prayer, praise and worship, such as:

     1. Establish 15,000 prayer movements by 1995 in every city over
     50,000 population and on all 15,000 university campuses,
     evangelizing the urban and academic worlds by. 2000.

     2. Enlist, by AD 2000, 30 million Christians to pray fill-tune
     every day for world evangelization, through a globally organized
     network of young pacesetter intercessors to cover all countries,
     cities, peoples, topics, needs, and persons....

     4. Enthuse all prayer-oriented or contemplative brothers and
     sisters, monks and nuns, to regain past monastic enthusiasm for
     world evangelization and to rededicate monasteries and convents
     worldwide by 2000 to prayer support for the Great Commission
     task....

     10. Link the world's 350 million Christian-owned computers by AD
     2000 into one single global giga-network to facilitate Great
     Commission information exchange.

This ambitious proposal (#10) seems harmless enough even desirable. Imagine
how the Gospel could be furthered through such a network. However, consider
that among the "350 million Christian-owned" computers are those that are in
the hands of aberrant "Christian" religions and movements. Many belong to
the Roman Catholic Church, and only the Lord knows to whom else.

     13. Support research and development of alternative energy sources
     including solar power.

This is fine for individuals, but should the resources of the Body of Christ
be used to advance technological achievements as part of a perceived mandate
for "evangelization" of the world?

     16. Pursue systematic region-by-region dialogue with the world's
     organized atheists, agnostics, non-believers, and nonreligious, as
     well as with the great non-Christian world religions and newer
     cults and religious movements, so that all may genuinely
     understand each other's position and the full message of Christ
     may be fully understood in all these contexts by 2000.

Again, dialogue is a two-way street. Why is it necessary to "genuinely
understand" each other's position? We already know that they are lost
without Christ. If it is to convert them, dialogue isn't going to do it.
Nowhere in Scripture are we encouraged to bring false belief systems
together for understanding. This is a New Age concept designed to bring
about "unity in diversity." And how can the full message of Christ be "fully
understood in all these contexts"? The message of Christ is not understood
in any context but the Word of God. This proposal reveals the WCM's belief
that the Gospel is found in all the world's religions. Only here it is
extended to atheism and agnosticism!

     20. List all negative factors holding up world evangelization,
     target them, and make it increasingly difficult for them to
     continue uninterrupted.

This is one of those ominous proposals. Since the WCM can't possibly
interfere with Red China's (or any other major power for that matter)
hindrance of evangelization, it stands to reason that the WCM must focus on
lesser elements that they believe are hindering the attainment of their
goals. Perhaps they might make it increasingly difficult for individuals and
small organizations to continue uninterrupted? And how might they go about
that task?

     22. Redistribute the great majority of Christian resources of
     manpower, money, and methods across the world's unevangelized
     peoples and cities strictly according to need by 2000.

How might the WCM redistribute our physical efforts, our money and our
methods to the unevangelized peoples and cities? Why cities? It appears as
if the WCM has a socialist agenda in the works. It is not up to any
organization or movement to "redistribute" anything that belongs to someone
else. We must each stand before the Lord to account for what we do with what
He has given us. His Word forbids compulsion as an incentive for giving.
Understand that, according to the WCM, "Christian" means anything that is
nominally Christian. The United States is a "Christian" nation because the
majority of its citizens claim to be Christian. Therefore, the resources of
the United States must be redistributed to the governments of unevangelized
peoples. This proposal fits well into the plans of the New World Order for
redistribution of wealth.

     23. Monitor and encourage a final massive attempt by AD 2000 at
     the promotion of human development in all its forms worldwide as
     an integral part of world evangelization.

This is another secular, New Age proposal. Human development "in all its
forms" includes psychological wellbeing, self-actualization, high
self-esteem, and myriad other psychological attainments that have nothing to
do with holiness and genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

The liberal social proposals go so far as to encourage dialogue and
cooperation with other religions, environmental groups and the United
Nations:

     25. Feed and nourish the world's 600 million persons on the verge
     of starvation both now and up to and during the year 2000 and see
     that they continue to live nourished lives thereafter.

     27. Support WHO (World Health Organization) goal of safe drinking
     water for every soul on Earth by 2000 and beyond.

     29. Abolish the global state of absolute poverty (per capita daily
     income of under US$1) by AD 2000 through massive redistribution
     everywhere of national and international wealth, certainly by all
     Christian denominations and agencies, also by secular
     organizations persuaded by Christian activists within them.

     30. Raise the physical quality of life of all disadvantaged
     peoples of Earth to a livable level by 2000 and even higher levels
     beyond.

     31. See the establishing of an international system of
     environmental accounts leading to positive action to improve the
     human condition.

     32. See in each nation by 2000 the creating of plans for the
     sustainable use of its land.

     33. Aid bodies working for reduction in rates of fossil fuel use
     to reverse global warming and environmental degradation.

     34. Support WHO goal "Global Health for All by the Year 2000."

     36. See every nation by AD 2000 reduce its infant mortality rate
     below 25 deaths per 1000 live births, its population growth rate
     to less than 1% per year, and increase its life expectancy to over
     70 years.

     37. Support UNICEF (United Nations International Children's
     Education Fund) goal to halve child deaths (38,000 a day in 1988)
     by 1997, then continuing to decrease by 2000 and beyond.

Other secular pursuits include:

   * Supporting WHO goal to increase worldwide immunization to 100%
   * A final negotiated settlement to end the homeless status of all
     refugees
   * Eliminate poverty housing
   * Support UNESCO goal to increase adult literacy to 100%
   * Monitor the status of human rights in every country
   * Articulate and support codes of ethics for international business and
     other spheres affecting world evangelization. _ Monitor, with the aid
     of Amnesty International and others, the status of state-sanctioned
     police/military torture in all countries
   * Abolish tobacco use
   * A massive worldwide Christian movement opposing and outlawing all war,
     warfare, mass-destruction weapons, militarization, para-militarization,
     arms sales, arms traders, death squads, and all indiscriminate mass
     killings
   * Throw the whole weight of Christian motivation behind the
     environmentalist goal of halting global warming by planting 15 billion
     new trees on Earth each year from 1990-2005

All noble pursuits. But they essentially require that God's people join
hands with anti-Christ organizations such as the UN to accomplish them. This
reveals the influence of Working Group member Jay Gary, whose ties to the UN
and New Age philosophy are revealed in our special report Celebration 2000.
And how can these goals be accomplished unless the WCM's movers and shakers
are heading up the governments of the world or, at least, are influential in
those governments?

Poverty, starvation and their attendant evils are not economic problems.
They are problems of governments that keep their subjects in poverty in
order to justify their requests for foreign aid. That foreign aid is then
used to further bolster the government's power and keep the elite living a
lavish lifestyle. These and all such problems with governments will not be
solved until Jesus returns to establish His rule over them.

That the World Christian Movement believes that it has God's mandate to
alleviate the world's problems is a testimony to how far it is removed from
the purity of the Gospel.

Along the spiritual vein, the KGAP reveals its bent toward the charismatic
"signs and wonders" movement:

     109. See the decade of 1990-2000 close as having been the greatest
     decade in Christian history for signs and wonders, miracles,
     conversions, evangelism and evangelization; with the greatest sign
     or wonder being Christians loving one another and gathering in
     unity everywhere.

     110. Enable 300,000 itinerant charismatic evangelists to target
     unevangelized cities, countries, and peoples by 2000,
     demonstrating power evangelism (John Wimber's term), power
     healing, power intercession, and power encounters.

     112. Deliberately exercise power evangelism in the world's least
     evangelized and most hostile environments so that by AD 2000 power
     Christianity (gifted ministries of signs and wonders) is not
     enjoyed solely in Christian lands.

This is John Wimber's agenda which has gained a foothold among a vast number
of churches beyond the Vineyard movement. (For an expose' of Wimber's false
theology and methodologies see our special report       The Vineyard     .)

There are many other proposals in the Kaleidoscopic Global Action Plan with
which we find strong disagreement. These few are enough to make any
discerning Christian think carefully before involving himself in the World
Christian Movement.

                          THE WORLD PRAYER CENTER

Of late the focus on the WCM's dominionist agenda has spread from U.S.
Center for World Missions in Pasadena, California, to The World Prayer
Center, affiliate of Global Harvest Ministries, headed by C. Peter Wagner in
Colorado Springs, Colorado. The World Prayer Center (WPC) is headed by C.
Peter Wagner, Ted Haggard and Chuck Pierce (whom Charisma magazine calls
"God's Generals"). It is touted as the "Pentagon of modern Christianity,"
"God's Air Command," and other militaristic nomenclatures. According to the
World Prayer Center Web site:

     The World Prayer Center is a communications center, serving the
     Church throughout the world by linking prayer requests, practical
     needs, and reporting evangelistic breakthroughs. It will collect
     and compile requests from every continent as national prayer
     centers re port what God is doing and how His people ought to
     pray. Dr. Peter Wagner says, "We see our task as getting people in
     touch with one another to form interactive, human web networks
     that are properly equipped to wage effective spiritual warfare."

     The physical facility, located in Colorado Springs, will include
     the latest telecommunications system. It will also contain
     interactive touch screen monitors, prayer rooms, a spiritual
     mapping repository, classrooms, a large auditorium, and a
     bookstore containing the world's largest collection of prayer and
     spiritual warfare material....

     Never in the history of the Church has it been possible to link
     believers throughout the world. The coordinated prayers of God's
     people will be concentrated on His objectives. The World Prayer
     Center will provide daily reports that will help prayer teams
     respond to rapid changes throughout the world and to mobilize
     believers in effective global intercessory prayer....

     Since prayer is the precursor to every great move of God, a fully
     equipped nerve center with data and information about prayer needs
     throughout the world will enable intercessors to pray
     intelligently. The World Prayer Center networks prayer ministries,
     denominations, churches and cell groups. This creates a united
     prayer front that will end Satan's attempt to divide and isolate
     believers, and to blind so many to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.92

The World Prayer Center was built largely through the contributions of
Pastor Ted Haggard's New Life Church which neighbors the Center.

According to the "Generals," the purpose of the Center is to wage spiritual
warfare against principalities and powers that control cities, states and
nations. It is their belief that if enough Christians engage in their
charismatic form of "spiritual warfare" the nations will be turned to God.
About Wagner, J. Lee Grady, writing in           Charisma         , states:

     If the World Prayer Center is a spiritual version of the Pentagon,
     then Wagner is the church's Norman Schwartzkopf. . . And now that
     his command center is built, he's ready to launch his own
      spiritual version of Operation Desert Storm.

     Wagner's military strategy is calculated and convincing: He
     believes that in order to secure success for the "ground
     troops"-the missionaries, pastors and churches working on the
     front lines-there must be an "air force" that provides protection
     as well as strategic information about spiritual enemies....

     "I believe Luke 10:19 in a literal sense, Wagner told Charisma
     during a recent interview, referring to the verse in which Jesus
     says He has given the church authority over Satan. "Jesus has
     given us authority over all the power of the enemy, so I believe
     we have authority over all levels of the demonic."93

Wagner believes that, based on his understanding of this and other verses of
Scripture, united Christian prayer will cause the demons to surrender, and
victory over the nations will ensue.

Housed in a 55,000 square-foot building, the World Prayer Center is home to
the Observatory Research Center, which houses an enormous "spiritual
mapping" system. That system is designed to compile in its computers the
largest collection of data on evangelization ever assembled.

Spiritual mapping

Spiritual mapping is a term coined in 1991 by George Otis, Jr. Art Moore,
writing in Christianity Today, says:

     Spiritual mapping, says Otis, president of the research agency the
     Sentinel Group, is nothing more ethereal than creating a spiritual
     profile of a community based on careful research. It is a tool, he
     says, for intelligent prayer aimed at opening spiritually blind
     eyes to the gospel.

     Otis poured seven years of global research into his new book,  The
     Twilight Labyrinth: Why Does Spiritual Darkness Linger Where It
     Does?            (Chosen Books). He has identified 15 "transformed
     communities," of which 14 incorporated spiritual mapping. Two
     factors present in all 15, Otis says, are "persevering leadership"
     and "united prayer." Commitment is the key, he says. "God didn't
     move in Hemet until Bob [Bennett] bought a burial plot in the
     city."

     Otis has developed a 28-stage scale to measure the progress of a
     community from the "spiritual beachhead" phase to "spiritual
     breakthrough" to "spiritual transformation." Spiritual mapping
     does not begin until stage nine, Otis points out. "When you reach
     that point you have a core of intercessors in a community really
     petitioning God for a visitation," he says....

To explain the burial plot thing, a "World Christian" (someone involved in
the WCM) must have a "commitment" in an area, such as a burial plot, home,
job, etc., in order for God to work there.

     Though it still raises many eye brows among evangelicals,
     spiritual mapping is gaining broader acceptance, as evidenced by
     the AD 2000 United Prayer Track's Spiritual Mapping Division,
     which Otis heads. United Prayer Track coordinator C. Peter Wagner
     teaches a class on spiritual mapping at Fuller Theological
     Seminary....

     Many of spiritual mapping's detractors have less of a problem with
     spiritual mapping than with its most common applications,
     "strategic-level warfare"-defined by Wagner as discerning and
     praying against territorial spirits assigned to a community -and
     "identificational repentance."94

Spiritual mapping is nothing more than keeping data on the beliefs of people
according to geographic areas. The purpose at the WPC, however, is to
disseminate information to its constituents so that they may engage in
unbiblical forms of "spiritual warfare."

A good account of spiritual mapping was reported by Damon Adams in the south
Florida Sun Sentinel through interviews with local leaders in the movement:

     In the hopes of removing sin's grip on South Florida, [Pastor
     Jonathan] Benz and others at Covenant Community Church in Palm
     Beach Gardens are waging spiritual warfare.

     The name of their weapon: spiritual mapping, a practice of
     pinpointmg and praying over geographic areas considered Satan's
     strongholds. Though rare, it is gaining acceptance among more
     evangelical Christians.

     Through newspaper clippings, local history and other research, a
     community's spiritual profile is compiled. Areas thick with crime
     and other problems are marked, sometimes with pins, as trouble
     spots. Once the area is mapped, the faithful pray for it,
     oftentimes going to the site for prayer.

     "With mapping, you can identify where places of prostitution are,
     drug dealing, murders. When you look at that, it allows you to
     pray more strategically," said Benz, pas tor of prayer and
     outreach at Covenant Community Church. "It gives you an idea why
     darkness congregates in certain areas."

     Believers say spiritual mapping is gaining worldwide interest,
     primarily with conservative Christians. In November 1997, more
     than 400 people attended the first International Consultation on
     Spiritual Mapping in Tacoma, Wash. Books on mapping, such as C.
     Peter Wagner's  Breaking Strongholds in Your City , can be ordered
     on the Internet. And this year, the World Prayer Center, a hub
     promoting global prayer networks, opened in Colorado Springs to
     provide information on how to map.

     "If you have more information about an area, you're able to pray
     with more clarity, direction, understanding and focus," said
     Derrick Trimble, curator of the spiritual mapping repository at
     the World Prayer Center."95

The World Prayer Center is giving spiritual mapping a tremendous lift
through its database designed to provide the spiritual climate of not only
nations, states and cities, but down to blocks and individual residences:

     Thus we need help to network or initiate research efforts
     throughout the U.S. That will track people down to specific
     addresses, block by block.96

Through a spiritual census, then, it is planned that every home - first in
the United States and then worldwide - will have its beliefs cataloged in
the WPC's computers. Their computers are linked with those of Global Mapping
International (GMI), founded by Robert Waymire in 1983 on the campus of the
U.S. Center for World Mission. GMI is now also located in Colorado Springs.

It is the goal of the WPC and GMI to link all 330,000 churches in North
America to their databases, and then all the churches in the world. Thus
far, over 100,000 are linked. Eventually, churches working with the WPC will
provide information on their members to aid in global spiritual mapping.
What will this mean in terms of the WCM's design to identify and remove
obstacles to its idea of evangelization?

The concept of spiritual warfare in which the leaders of the WCM and the WPC
engage is fantasy, largely influenced by the fiction of Frank Peretti, whose
This Present Darkness is among the all-time best-sellers. (See our special
report,      This Present Darkness: Spiritual Warfare Fact or Fantasy?    )

With all the hoopla, sweat, screaming, wailing and jumping up and down that
has gone on over the spiritual plight of cities these past several years
there isn't a single one that has been won to Christ. And there won't be
any. These efforts create nothing but black holes that suck up Christians'
time, energy and money while exalting the leaders as God's anointed apostles
and prophets.

Some point to the recent decline in crime statistics in the United States as
proof that the Church's prayers are being effectual. But the nation has had
such declines in the past without all the clamoring we hear today. Recent
news on the reduction in crime statistics make this claim a joke were it not
grounded in the tragedy of abortion. Two widely respected researchers into
the declining crime rate in the U.S. have come to the startling conclusion
that legalizing abortion in the 1970s has reduced the number of potential
criminals in the 1990s. Their findings, summarized in a report entitled
"Legalized Abortion and Crime," resulted from three academic workshops at
Harvard, the University of Chicago and Stanford.

     The authors emphasize that their findings do not constitute an
     endorsement of abortion, and say their research was motivated by a
     desire to discover the forces responsible for reducing crime.

     In particular, they said, they hoped that research into the
     reasons for the decline in crime would avert needless public
     spending on ineffective programs.

     But they concede their paper may be attacked as suggesting that
     abortion has a beneficial social effect or that certain groups
     should be encouraged to have abortions, an idea they insist they
     do not advocate....

     When told of the paper, David O'Steen, executive director of the
     National Right to Life Committee in Washington D.C., called the
     thesis bizarre.

     "You mean killing unborn babies in the '70s led people in the '90s
     to do less shoplifting?" O'Steen asked.

However, the findings are not that simplistic.

     In their 45-page analysis, the authors detail the following
     findings:

   * The timing of the crime drop in the 1990s coincides with the period
     roughly 20 years after the Supreme Court's landmark 1973 decision in
     Roe vs. Wade legalized abortion nationwide. Thus, the children who
     would have been born if the pregnancies had not been terminated would
     have reached the peak ages for criminal activity, roughly ages 18 to
     24, in this decade.

   * The five states that legalized abortion in the three years before the
     Supreme Court decision experienced drops in property crimes, violent
     crimes and murder before the other states.

   * Places with high abortion rates in the 1970s experienced big drops in
     crime in the 1990s, even when accounting for a wide variety of forces
     that influence crime, such as income, racial composition and
     incarceration levels. Both individual states and multistate regions
     with higher abortion rates in the first three years after Roe vs. Wade
     later saw greater decreases in crime.... Every 10 percent increase in
     abortion in the years they studied later led to about a 1 percent
     decrease in crime, the authors found.97

While the dominionists wish to point to the decrease in crime, they must
also admit that abortion - once a crime itself-is no longer counted in the
statistics. How many multi-millions of crimes would we have to add to the
list if they were counted as murder?

Most of the "proof' offered as evidence that the charismatic prayer program
is changing cities is centered on the enthusiasm generated by the leaders of
the movement within the hearts of their church members:

   * The building of the WPC
   * The number of spiritual warfare conferences being held
   * The increase in publications devoted to prayer and fasting
   * Prayer walks
   * Houses of Prayer
   * More Christian intercessors
   * Reconciliation of pastors to pastors
   * Reconciliation of pastors to members
   * Charismatic-non-charismatic reconciliation
   * Ethnic reconciliation in the churches
   * Male-female reconciliation

This last one is evidenced by the fact that women are becoming more
equitable partners in ministry (female pastors and teachers) In truth, some
of the "proofs," if traced to their end results will be found contrary to
God's Word.

                      WHERE ROMAN CATHOLICISM FITS IN

The dominionist mandate of the World Christian Movement is not a new thing.
It is the same mandate claimed by the Roman Catholic Church, whose head, the
pope, is believed to be the "Vicar of Christ" on earth. This title is not
given to one who merely represents Christ on earth-all true believers do
that. No, it is given to one who it is believed replaces Christ on earth.

By this I mean that the pope is said to replace Christ as the visible head
of the Kingdom of God over the nations of the earth. According to Roman
Catholic teaching, Christ's Kingdom resides in the apostolic succession of
the pope, believed to be the spiritual descendant of the Apostle Peter.
Since Jesus told Peter that He was giving to him the keys to the kingdom of
heaven, the Catholic Church claims that those keys reside with every pope
throughout the centuries since.

This is played down in today's ecumenical climate. But the evidence is found
in the fact that the Roman Catholic Church is the only religious body whose
headquarters is recognized by virtually all nations as an independent
political state, and to whom they send their ambassadors. The Vatican was
given its independence by Mussolini for the Papacy's promise not to
interfere with his rise to power.

For centuries the Roman Catholic Church was the most visible representative
of what passed as Christianity. Its power over governments, inherited
through the military power of the Roman Empire kept it entrenched as the
authority over the heads of Europe and their colonized nations. With the
16th century Reformation that power was greatly weakened. Since that time
the Roman Catholic Church has sought to reestablish its authority over the
earth's governments. But first it must reestablish its authority over the
earth's professing believers in Jesus.

Having failed to accomplish this through pogroms of persecution, torture and
death, and having lost its political power to a great degree, the Roman
Catholic Church has for some time sought to woo what it calls its "separated
brethren" back into its fold through a more benevolent approach its
ecumenical outreach developed through the Vatican II Council.

To begin, we should review what Vatican II says about ecumenism:

     Bishops should show affectionate consideration in their relations
     with the separated brethren and should urge the faithful also to
     exercise all kindness and charity in their regard, encouraging
     ecumenism as it is understood by the Church.98

The key phrase in this statement is "as it is understood by the Church." How
the Roman Catholic Church understands ecumenism is different from how others
might understand it:

     The term "ecumenical movement" indicates the initiatives and
     activities encouraged and organized, according to the various
     needs of the Church and as opportunities offer, to promote
     Christian unity.99

To the papacy the purpose of the ecumenical movement is to benefit the Roman
Catholic Church (by bringing the "separated brethren" under papal
authority):

     This sacred Council urges the faithful to abstain from any
     frivolous or imprudent zeal, for these can cause harm to true
     progress toward unity. Their ecumenical activity cannot be other
     than fully and sincerely Catholic, that is, loyal to the truth we
     have received from the Apostles and the Fathers, and in harmony
     with the faith which the Catholic Church has always professed, and
     at the same time tending toward that fullness in which our Lord
     wants his Body to grow in the course of time. 100

This is no secret among non-Catholic leaders who give the impression that
Roman Catholicism is just another Christian denomination. There have been
many expose's on the subject; it has been explained to them. So why do we
see the World Christian Movement treating Roman Catholic missions as valid
elements of their movement?

Thomas Wang, writing in Perspectives, lists several evangelistic efforts
through which he finds encouragement. Among them are: Charismatic
Initiatives, "attended by 30 charismatic leaders from a wide spectrum of
denominations including Roman Catholics, from many parts of the world";
Evangelization 2000, headed by Tom Forrest, the Redemptorist priest; and
Pentecost '87, "A National Satellite Celebration of Catholic Evangelization"
which took place in June, 1987.101

Also writing in Perspectives, R. Pierce Beaver champions the "great and
courageous innovators of the 17th-century, the Jesuits." He speaks glowingly
of how Catholic priests "supervised" Christian Indians in the New World,
"christianizing" folk festivals, and introducing "Christian" (read,
Catholic) feasts and fasts to them.102

Kenneth Scott Latourette follows suit with his contribution to Perspectives.
Speaking of the rise of Christianity during the first five centuries,
Latourette credits Roman Catholicism with a noble attempt to instill conduct
along the lines that Jesus taught:

     By its discipline the Catholic Church as well as some of the
     bodies which dissented from it attempted to bring the conduct of
     its members towards an approximation of what Jesus had taught. As
     hundreds of thousands flocked into the Church and, in spite of the
     efforts of many zealous clergy, the lives of most Christians were
     not much if any better than those of the adherents of the
     surviving remnants of paganism, monasticism arose.103

Latourette also credits Roman Catholic theology and liturgy with stimulating
piety among the faithful after the rise of pragmatism in the West:

     Although it suffered losses, some of them serious, in general
     Christianity rose to the challenge. The Roman Catholic Church
     displayed features which had characterized it in the nineteenth
     century. Many of its hereditary constituency had their allegiance
     weakened or dissolved, but those who remained were more nearly
     consolidated under the Papacy. The See of Peter had a succession
     of able, upright men. There was fresh intellectual activity,
     especially in theology. The liturgical movement, Eucharistic
     congresses, and other developments stimulated piety.... Through
     the Ecumenical Movement it developed an expanding fresh approach
     towards Christian unity. 104

Notice that Latourette validates the Roman Catholic Church's claim that its
oversight is "the See of Peter"! If he is not a Roman Catholic, he is
certainly a good candidate to become one.

C. Peter Wagner credits the Catholic charismatic movement with revival Latin
America:

     Traditionally, the message of the Gospel in Latin America has
     appealed to the working class. But changes have begun to take
     place, and many middle and upper-class people are now opening
     their hearts to Jesus Christ. Some of this is happening through
     the Catholic charismatic movement.105

What Wagner doesn't tell us is that the Catholic charismatic movement in
Latin America (and elsewhere) prays to Mary "in the Spirit," opposes true
evangelical Christianity, and keeps the people bound to the false gospel and
idolatry of Romanism. Throughout the Perspectives Reader Winter equates
Roman Catholicism with Christianity and extols its virtues, particularly the
monastic structures:

     ... the monasteries were uniformly the source and the real focus
     point of new energy and vitality which flowed into the diocesan
     side of the Christian movement. We think of the momentous Cluny
     reform, then the Cistercians, then the Friars, and finally the
     Jesuits-all of them strictly sodalities, but sodalities which
     contributed massively to the building and the rebuilding of the
     Corpus Cristianum [the Body of Christ, the network of diocese,
     which Protestants often identify as "the" Christian movement.

     At many points there was rivalry between these two structures,
     between bishop and abbot, diocese and monastery, modality and
     sodality, but the great achievement of the Medieval period is the
     ultimate synthesis, delicately achieved, whereby Catholic orders
     were able to function along with Catholic parishes and diocese
     without the two structures conflicting with each other to the
     point of a setback to the movement. The harmony between the
     modality and the sodality achieved by the Roman Church is perhaps
     the most significant characteristic of this phase of the world
     Christian movement and continues to be Rome's greatest
     organizational advantage to this day. 106

Notice, in this glowing report on the Roman Catholic system, Winter credits
it with being part of the World Christian Movement. Is it any wonder, then,
that Roman Catholic influences over nations and individuals is not deemed a
target for spiritual warfare?

The idolatry of other religious systems make those systems targets for the
World Prayer Center's "strategic warfare." But the idolatry of Roman
Catholicism is regarded as acceptable, not needing the attention of these
''prayer warriors."

The real dichotomy in the World Christian Movement is its insistence that
Christians must make the Gospel relevant to the culture to which it is
taken, even to the point of incorporating pagan ritual by "christianizing"
it. Yet is insists that it has discovered the means to overcome spiritual
darkness: spiritual mapping and concentrated prayer. At the same time, it
embraces the darkness of Roman Catholicism, which is bent on world conquest.
In fact, Wagner accepts Roman Catholic countries as "Christian":

     Probably the first Asian nation to become predominantly Christian
     will be Korea (with the exception of the Philippines which is
     already about 85 percent nominal Catholic.) 107

Wagner credits Paul Yonggi Cho with spearheading the move of Korea toward
Christian nation status.

                                  SUMMARY

It is evident that the World Christian Movement is largely controlled by
charismatic elements whose trust for victory is in the signs and wonders
movement, and other spiritual deceptions. Yet as sinister as many elements
of the World Christian Movement sound, we cannot neglect the fact that there
is a definite zeal, however misdirected, among the grassroots populous
involved. Many genuine brethren are following the only course set before
them by their leaders. It would be good to see as much zeal among those who
recognize the errors of the WCM, yet do nothing themselves to reach out to
the lost. We can certainly take heart that God uses even the works of the
flesh to accomplish His purposes in the hearts of those whom He has chosen.
Let's not lose sight of the fact that many souls will be genuinely saved
through the efforts of some involved in the WCM. Yet we cannot remain blind
to the fact that there is a great deception underfoot, as prophesied by
Jesus in Matthew 24:24.

For such a deception to take hold, it is necessary that it appear not only
Christian, but biblical in most respects. It is a deception that will lead
many into the anti-Christ's lap, largely through the efforts of his false
prophet.

I am convinced that there is a Vatican Fifth Column at work within the
Christian community. Those involved present themselves as Protestants or
other types of Christians, but they are working for the Vatican's
counter-reformation efforts.

Do not be deceived by outward evidences of signs and wonders, calls for
Christian unity, or even the extolling of the virtues of Jesus.

     And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
     light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
     transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
     according to their works.                (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

You, if you are involved in any of the movements associated with the World
Christian Movement, are you absolutely certain that you are serving God in
truth, and are not being led into deception? And on what are you basing your
judgment? On the perceived "holiness" of its leaders? On the "good works" to
which they testify? On the results (if it works it must be of God)? Or are
you sufficiently versed in Scripture to be able to discern truth from error?

Think about it. As Jesus said about the great deception, "Behold, I have
told you before." *
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NOTES

81. Ralph D. Winter, "Reflections on World Missions," Mission Frontiers, May
18, 1998

82. "Discipling the Nations, Seven influential sectors of society hold the
keys", UofN Lausanne. http://www.uofn.ch/lausanne/society.htm
83. "What is the University of the Nations" UofN Lausanne,
http://www.uofn.ch.lausanne/uofn.htm
84. "Discipling the Nations," Op. Cit.
85. "Welcome!" Acquire the Fire Convention website,
http://www.Acquirethefire.org/
86. "WorldChanger Oath", http://www.teenmania.org/wc2000/oath.html
87. "The Ten Challenges of a WorldChanger,'
http://www.teenmania.org/wc2000/tenchallenges.html
88. Kaleidoscopic Global Action Plan (1990 Global Evangelization Movement).
89. Ibid.

90. Ibid.

91. Ibid.

92. "What is the World Prayer Center?", World Prayer Center Website,
http://www.wpccs.org/

93. J. Lee Grady, "God's Air Command,       Charisma     , May, 1999, p.72.

94. Art Moore, "Spiritual Mapping Gains Credibility Among Leaders,"
Christianity Today                  , January 12,1998 Vol.42, No.1, Page 55.
95. Damon Adams, "Ministries using prayers to wipe sin off the map,"   South
Florida Sun Sentinel, December 26,1998.
96. Mission Frontiers, Jan-Feb, 1996, p.18.
97. Karen Brandon, "Drop in crime is linked to legal abortion, scholars
say," Chicago Tribune, reprinted in the Seattle Times, August 8, 1999, p.
A1.
98. Vatican II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, Austin Flannery,
O.P., ed. (Northport, NY: Costello Publishing Co., 1975), p.573.
99. Ibid., p.457.

100. Ibid., p.470.

101. Thomas Wang, "By the Year 2000: Is God trying to tell us something?,
Perspective's on the World Christian Mouernent, A Render,    Revised Edition
(Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1981,1992), pp. D-27-28.
102. R. Pierce Beaver, "The History of Mission Strategy,"  Ibid., pp.B.60.61
103. Kenneth Scott Latourette, 'By Way of Inclusive Retrospect,"  Ibid., pp.
B-22.

104. Ibid., p. B-29.

105. C. Peter Wagner, "Look at What God's Domg!, excerpt from   On the Crest
of the Wave (Ventura, CA: Regal Books. 1983).
106. Ralph D. Winter, "The Two Structures of God's Redemptive Mission,'
Perspectives, A Reader, Op. Cit., p. B-51.

107. C. Peter Wagner, "Look at What God's Doing!", Op. Cit.
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