Unceasing, Euphoric Worship:Linger and IHOP Have a Lot In Common

"In 1983, Bickle says, God instructed him to "establish 24-hour prayer in the spirit of the tabernacle of David." The tabernacle was the tent erected by King David to house the Ark of the Covenant after the conquest of Jerusalem; it became a dwelling place of God and a site of ecstatic worship…. 

Bickle believes that unceasing, euphoric worship and song at IHOP and in prayer rooms across the globe, which should never close or be empty, will promote passionate intimacy with the Lord, revive the church and demolish demonic strongholds. And so IHOPers pray all day and night, through blizzards and blackouts, in hours-long sessions of mesmeric, musical worship, repeating the same phrases over and over, expecting to precipitate the Great Tribulation and the final battle between good and evil that precedes the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. "

~Herescope, "The Passion of the 'Presence' (bold, original)

(Bickle is one of the founders and leaders of the IHOP and NAR movements.)

That's exactly why I believe the Linger Conference coming up, with John Piper (infamous for his "passion" overuse and teacher at the "Passion" conferences geared exactly to the same target audience: young adults) and Matt Chandler, both Charismatic Calvinists, is going to be nothing but mysticism. 

Here’s what I wrote recently warning about the Linger Conference and what they say is the concept of lingering over at Linger Conference:

"The vision and purpose of the Linger Conference is to impart the fundamental importance of remaining or "Lingering" in the presence of the King. Our attention span as a culture, even for spiritual matters, is measured in seconds and minutes rather than hours and days. This conference offers the opportunity to be transformed in the presence of God by lingering in worship, prayer, meditation on scripture, and reflection. We hope to draw the attendance of lay people in addition to church staff and provide a conference environment where believers can linger in the presence of the Lord. We pray that this conference will spark a hunger for the presence of God and a lifelong pursuit of beholding His Glory."

Furthering mystic Charismaticism, Linger promises 

"Worship is a core component of Linger Conference. We’ll gather for praise and worship times that will teach us all to defy expected time constraints and structure to truly come into God’s presences [sic]. We’ll hear keynotes from leading speakers who will help us expand our understanding of spending time with God. No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, you’ll be moved, involved and inspired."

They also say:

If I’ve known the benefits of lingering in everyday circumstances, then I’ve most assuredly known the value of lingering in God’s presence. Anytime I move worship off the grid of time constraints and expected formulas, I am blessed with a deeper, more meaningful, one-to-one connection. And the reward of this kind of lingering leaves blooper reels, extra pie or sales tips in the dust. Lingering in God’s presence is life changing.

It’s this simple truth that sparked the genesis of Linger Conference.
Linger Conference is a unique event created to help all of us learn what it is to linger in God’s presence. In two amazing days in Dallas in February 2014, we will assemble some of the brightest speakers, teachers and artists to share in the disassembling of our preconceived notions about spending time in God’s presence. From moments of undiluted worship to sessions that bring us together with like-minded friends and colleagues, Linger Conference is a chance to rest, review and renew so that we can bring more intentional worship back to our churches across the country. 

                               ~Linger (italics, original)

Additionally, there will be a "Linger Room" open during the conference. When I asked them by email what that was exactly, they told me, 

"The Linger Room is a "Get away" space. Before and after conference hours and during meal times, there will be worship leaders in that space leading the room in worship. At other times there will be worship music payed on CD. We have licensed Biblical counselors there throughout the conference and space set up for prayer."

End quote.

~Surph's Side, "The Linger Room"

***UPDATE**

What Herescope further says about the IHOP prayer rooms is sounding exactly like what the Linger room is about:

Quote:

Many critics, observing that IHOP recruits post-pubescent youth, have wondered where, if they are to approach their Lord as Solomon's beloved approaches Solomon, their imaginations are supposed to go. "[Jesus] is not coming until the people of God are crying out globally in intercession with a bridal identity," Bickle has preached. If the Second Coming depends upon "romantic communion" with Christ, and the alternative is satanic hegemony, then any error in worship should be made on the side of erotic intimacy – to lust and repent is surely better than abandoning Jesus in his hour of need. 

Bickle makes a point of warning his followers that bridal theology is not sexual. To IHOP's detractors, though, the introduction of any suggestion of sensuality into worship invites transgression. Aggravating the libidinal diciness, they argue, is the nature of that worship. IHOPers spend 20, 30 or more hours every week in the prayer room, often for three or four hours at a time. 

Across the IHOP complex, in cafeterias, hallways and the prayer room, music composed to enhance the ecstatic experience is "omnipresent," according to an ex-member. Among the lyrics to two popular songs: "God is a lover looking for a lover/So he fashioned me" and "Do you understand what you do to me? . . . How you ravish my heart with just one glance?" Some former IHOPers have talked of being addicted to it – they become nervous and irritable when they turn it off. Another IHOPer has written about addiction to the sedative atmosphere of the prayer room itself: "A common refrain around anxious, discouraged IHOPers is, 'I just gotta get to the prayer room.'" 

"Very quickly, there were sensual escapades with God," a former intern says, meaning that some people's private imaginings turned explicit after exposure to IHOP's "bridegroom" Christ. She says that an instructor told her, "God is using his word to kiss you." The intern heard stories of IHOPers fantasizing about having "orgies with Jesus" and "sex with God." [80][italics in original, bold added] 

End quote. (bold, original)

This nonsense stems from the Jesus Movement/Seeker Friendly junk of early Calvary Chapel/ Contemporary Christian Music days: portraying Jesus as a lover, a boyfriend, summoning the worshiper to "fall in love with Jesus" (remember the 7/11 song, "I keep falling in love with Him, over and over, and over and over again...."?).  The Linger room at the Linger Conference is open both before and after the teaching sessions with music continuing both live and on cd. I had noted in my article on the Linger Conference, "that it seems to me that with the notion of "lingering in God's presence" being the whole point of the conference, this "Get Away" room will be used to hold on to whatever lingering presence is left by keeping up the music, etc. Sort of lassoing the Spirit by use of music." It very well could be that the sensual romance is what they want to hold on to.....

Considering how many Calvinists now hold to the unbiblical eschatology of Amillennialism, rejecting biblical Dispensationalism (and it's solid hermenutics), I'm beginning to see that there is a connection between their mysticism and eschatology. Undoubtedly their theology is quite man-centered and man-driven, hence their obsession with works-righteousness (social justice/liberation theology--which is right out of Romanism), compromise on false justification (Piper says you can reject the Imputation of Christ and still be saved), and centering on mystical experiences, their eschatology would also follow in that same vein: get things "better" so they can usher in Jesus' return (NAR teaching). 

There's no huge jump from the Linger conference (which DID have IHOP's Stephen Venable as a speaker until recently--so there was enough in common with both parties to agree with each other) to a full-blown IHOP conference. Francis Chan already did it (committing more spiritual harlotry). Piper and Chandler are next to do so.

It will come. Just watch.

Because once you relegate experiences and "good intentions" as on par or higher than Scripture, you have just rejected Scripture on the most basic level, therefore anything and everything is on the table as acceptable. There remains no objective authority or truth.