Matt Chandler Knee Deep In Strange Fire: personal prophecy, expectation of physical healing, and TBN

Apprising Ministries noted last week of Matt Chandler (Acts 29, Charismatic Calvinist) and Ed Stetzer (Lifeway Books) was scheduled to appear on TBN's "Praise the Lord" show on Janurary 17, 2014. Well they sure did.




Here they are on January 17, 2014 (appearance #2, this one is on their "Praise the Lord" show. Ed Stetzer, president of Lifeway Books, is the HOST of this show (notorious for it's blasphemy against the Triune God and Scripture as is the TBN network).


Interestingly Chandler omits the personal prophecy from his friend about this "journey" and how God was going to use it to "circumcise" him and make him "the father of many sons". Moreover, he presumed upon God that God wanted him healed; he would tell people that he was going to be healed (while on earth). "Pray, expect and believe that God will heal"  us is what he says God commands us to do. Accept that is not accurate. Pray and submit to His sovereign will, whatever it is, not knowing His will for the length of our lives, is what James says for us to do. Quite a different thing than what Chandler is promoting. By the way, Chandler's view is very much a foundational Charismatic view.

As Apprising Ministries notes:


[Lloyd] Unger begins his commentary by sharing in bold a classic argument used by those appearing with heretical teachers; or in this particular case, sharing a platform with them.

I’d say, if you change Dr. Brown to Matt Chandler, Ed Stetzer, and Priscilla Shirer, and then Benny Hinn to the haven of heretics known as TBN, his words are still applicable.

For you see, the Praise the Lord program is the very heart and soul of TBN aka the Trinity Blasphemy Network :

1.  Why shouldn’t I reach his audience with gospel truth for five days, even if it means some people will be upset with me?

- Well, because if Benny Hinn is a false teacher, and there’s no doubt about that:...

[Continue here.]

Well this is at least Chandler's third appearance on the blasphemous network. He and his wife were  there on Dec. 5, 2013 hawking his book on Philippians and his Charismatic experience "in the prophetic" (as they say in the Charismatic world:



Chandler begins by saying a friend prophesied over him that God was going to take them through "a bit of a journey", just prior to his brain cancer (time mark 2:30). Apparently his friend said "The Lord has told me" (that is always a RED FLAG) that God was going to "circumcise" Chandler and through that make him the father many sons (time mark 4:04).  So he's like a new Abraham? That is so typically Charismatic too---using OT verses meant for specific people (namely Jewish prophets) and apply them to professing Christians (been there, had that happen to me too when I was growing up in the movement). They have no clue how to rightly handle the Sword whatsoever.

Ken Silva at Apprising Ministries found the transcript of that Dec. 5th show if you want to read it here.

That prophecy is what he put his faith in while going through chemo, according to his own account. That was the infamous bathroom incident he's repeatedly shared, although  in his latest appearance on TBN, he omits the personal prophecy and makes it sound like he was merely holding on to the Word. But he wasn't. We found out that he was not placing his faith   in Scripture ALONE--that inconvenient truth of the 5 Solas he claims (or used to claim) to believe in as a Reformer, which rejects all extra-biblical prophecies, revelations, and experiences as coming directly from God.

That prophecy was  nothing more than a good guess (all Christians go through hard times) wholly unbiblical. God doesn't give personal words of upcoming trials. Rather He just gives  the trial to us when He sees fit. That's the whole point of walking by faith and not by sight. Our comfort comes from the Scriptures through the Holy Spirit, not some personal message of "The Lord told me to tell you" stuff.

And now Matt Chandler will be speaking at the mystical Linger Conference in a few weeks. He's really getting into the Strange Fire now.

Matt Chandler: Showing Signs of Being Emergent

Matt Chandler, who is pastor of The Village church, is being promoted by John Piper (go here for the article by Ken Silva).

Claiming to be a Calvinst (whatever that means anymore), he is a promoter of the Emergent Church Movement (speaker at Catalyst which is ECM), while saying some decent things. Like Driscoll, except I haven't heard Chandler "cuss" although he did use the "c" word in his interview with Driscoll. In fact, throughout his church's website, the language peculiar to ECM is used, as are the books the church recommends to its people. Remember, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, its usually a duck.


Chandler is connected directly with ECM founder and course-talking Mark Driscoll:


His church links to Acts 29 and The Resurgence (Driscoll's website). As well, he also links to Piper. This is no surprise. When people like Piper they usually like his friend Mark Driscoll and more often than not, if there's a link to Desiring God, there's also a link to Resurgence.

Interview with Driscoll here. The first sign of a church dying is not taking care of the building, Chandler says. He preached (live) at the Villiage Denten campus church once at the one year anniversary. He "speaks in places that reformed, complimentarian teachers don't get invited to --because he grew a church to a mega church." His numbers got him invited...not doctrine. More than "just preaching the bible"--they want to know how to grow a church. "Most reformed churches ar 6, 8, 10 families" and they laugh at that. "Larger churches know how to organize." He's learning about technology and marketing for his church. Uses the c* word in this interview. Driscoll assumes books, conferences would be upcoming as the next level. Chandler says he will be writing a book.

Chandler is a Catalyst speaker. This is very much an Emergent conference with various ECM leaders coming to speak yearly. ECM leaders such as Andy Stanley who helped start this event. Others like John Maxwell. Catalyst had Emergent heretic Rob Bell in July 2006. Speakers for this year here which includes Bell again, ECMer Carlos Wittaker, ECM leader Chris Seay, and some women (Nancy Ortberg, Miriam Webster, Lisa Harper, ECM feminist Margaret Feinberg), ECM's Leadership Network "Mission Specialist" Reggie McNeal, ECMer Ed Stetzer, ECM leader Alan Hirsch, and Perry Nobel.

Partners of Catalyst are emergent also.

Chandler is a speaker at Emergent Exponential 09 (Catalyst is a sponsor, along with Leadership Network, Shapevine, Willow Creek Association, Zondervan, Bethel Seminary, and RTS which is going Emergent/liberal) . Other speakers he shares the platform with are: John Burke, Francis Chan (he's also at Catalyst), Alan Hirsch, Tim Keller, Ed Stetzer, Erwin McManus, Gary Lamb. Women will also be speaking, some are women "pastors" and/or feminists like Lisa Bennett, Kelly Kastens ("worship director"), Tammy Melchien, Anne Miliam, Mary Nelson, Sommer Wisher.


Chandler spoke at the Acts 29 Boot Camp this year:


"The Acts 29 Boot Camp is considered by many to be one of the best available. It is required for Acts 29 applicants, but is open to anyone. Are you considering planting a church? Are you called? Are you ready? The Acts 29 Boot Camp can help make the difference between success and casualty. The Seattle Boot Camp will be hosted by Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. Speakers for this event will include Mark Driscoll and many more."

His profile is on Driscoll's "the resurgence" website.

Chandler was a speaker at Driscoll's Advance 09 along with ECMer Driscoll and Ed Stetzer, as well as Piper.

Four Books recommended for "Grief recovery" at his Villiage church (how many recovery programs does a church need? Isn't simple discipleship and pastoral counseling enough?):

One is by Thomas Watson. The only author in line with "Calvinism" as Chandler claims he is.
Two books by Romanist CS Lewis who was NOT Evangelical in the least. Let's not forget his questionable relationship, too.
One book by Nancy Guthrie (she enjoys Emergent leader Eugene Peterson...also it appears she teaches men from time to time).

Emergent verbage in their statement of philosophy of ministry like
"incarnationl", "attractional"
Counseling outside the local church--this shows a low view of God's way of setting up the local assembly to help disciple men and women and equip them. Note the emergent vocabulary:

"We believe an authentic church should strive to meet individual needs through relationships with others in community. You can develop relationships with others through home groups, support groups, and other connection opportunities. When additional care is required, our pastoral care ministry exists to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of Village attendees in unique life circumstances. The following services are available..." Then they offer three ministries outside of the church.

On the Villiages page on Serving the community: we see Emergent vocabulary and wrong ecclesiology:

"The goal of a minister of reconciliation is to restore man and creation to a right relationship with the Lord. The primary way we serve our city is through each of our members engaging all areas of their lives with purpose and intentionality as God has called them....Second, the Church as a whole has been called to seek the good of the city (Jeremiah 29: 5-8). We seek the welfare of the city by focusing our corporate missions efforts on improving the health, safety, education and commercial opportunities available within the city."

This isn't what the churches of God are called to do anywhere in the NT, where God starts building His churches. We see the local body ministerying first and foremost to Christians. The local church is not called to change the world/society.

Jesus said, Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." Commercial opportunities are earthly and temporal and we haven't TIME to help the world with their economic status.

Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

The Villiage's Serving the World: more emergent phrasology:

"Missions is something we attempt to live out every day. So, whether it is engaging our neighbors or co-workers, or going to serve those who live in the uttermost parts of the world, those experiences are tools to help us live out Missional Living with other members of the church. While we believe "missions" is a lifestyle, we recognize that we are called to engage and serve all the peoples of the world."

We're called to PROCLAIM the Gospel and make disciples and then baptize them,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." But if you're too busy worrying about commerical opportunities or ridding the world of hunger or worried about education, then there isn't TIME to teach them ALL JESUS commanded.

Here's where the Calvinist's church reflects Arminian/Emergent theology (not Calvinist or Reformed) in relation to the "Gospel" (aka story)they give at their website - note the missing declaration of man dead in sins and trespasses, haters of God, His enemies. They paint a fairer picture of fallen man and make Salvation about a story, not Truth, not Fact, but a mere story. Stories lower the power of the Gospel and God NEVER refers to the Gospel nor His redemption as a "story". Like sin, Hell is horrific and real. But they don't mention that either. This sounds far more akin to what Ricky Warren says.

"The story of redemption is about the living God. He has been writing a grand and glorious narrative of His goodness and grace since before time began. "

"Through one man's disobedience, we fell from this joyful state of fellowship. Sin entered our hearts, and with that sin, the world became twisted and fractured."

"The harmony and peace that creation once enjoyed was damaged by sin and broken in disrepair."

"Since that time, God has patiently and purposefully continued the story of redemption."

"Through Christ we have been offered restoration and reconciliation. God takes that which is broken and makes it new. The Father invites His children into relationship with Him and into the newness of life Christ offers. We urge you to explore this story further. What God starts He will bring to completion, and we pray that you would be woven into the narrative."

"If you feel Christ inviting you into this story — inviting you into restored relationship with the living God — turn to Him in repentance and put your trust in Him and the work He accomplished on the cross to redeem you and save you."

For any biblical Christian the above message should cause eyes to pop out and grief to set in. This reflects NOTHING of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ or the true view of the Fall. This is not even reformed, but totally Emergent.

The Villiage Recommended Books

Paul Tripp (the guy who justifies using the s word and taught his kids to use it.),"Age of Opportunity", "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands", "War of Words"
James Dobson "Bringing up Boys"
John Piper - half a dozen of his books
Robert Putnam "Bowling Alone" a secular book on American Community
Richard Foster - "Celebration of Discipline", "Streams of Living Water", "The Challenge of the Disciplined Life"
Andy Stanley and lane Jones "Communicating for a Change" - emergent
JI Packer "Concise Theology" - interfaith
Augustine "Confessions" Roman Catholic philosopher
Mark Driscoll "Confession of a Reformission Rev.", "The Radical Reformission"
Dan Wallace "Dethroning Jesus" - liberal scholar
Larry Crabb "Inside out" - psychologist turned mystic
Arbinger Institute - "Leadershp and Self- Deception" - http://www.blogger.com/ : "Arbinger is a diverse group, trained in business, law, economics, philosophy, the family, education, coaching, and psychology. We come from diverse cultural, religious and non-religious backgrounds. We share a deep understanding and passion for Arbinger's compelling model of human understanding. It offers people a common language for openly and clearly discussing - and settling - their differences. And it works across cultures, races, classes, religions and beliefs."
CS Lewis - "Mere Christianity", "The Problem of Pain" - Romanism
Tim Keller "Ministries of Mercy", "The Reason for God" - Emerging
Darrell L. Guder - "Missional Church" - http://www.blogger.com/ eccumenial, liberal (PCUSA)
Gordon MacDonald - Ordering Your World (disqualified pastor)
Ed Stetzer- "Planting Missional Churches"
Don Whitney - "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" - Foster promoter
Philip Yancey - "The Bible Jesus Read", "The Jesus I never Knew" , "What's So Amazing About Grace?"- liberal, pro-Homosexual - http://www.takeheed.net/SEPTEMBER2004.htm
John Stott - "The Cross of Christ" - denier of literal Hell, Anglican
Peter Drucker - "The Effective Executive" - http://www.blogger.com/
Brother Lawrence - "The Practice of the Presence of God"
Brennan Manning - "The Ragamuffin Gospel"
Dallas Willard - "The Spirit of the Disciplines"
Edward Welch - "When People Are Big" - holds to psychology/integration: http://www.blogger.com/

Remember, a denial of being Emergent doesn't mean one is not. What counts is what they actually say and do. Chandler'd website is full of emergent speak and Arminian theology (like his "gospel" page). Driscoll is the same way: he claims to not be Emergent, even though he's one of the founding fathers of the modern movement, and after distancing himself from it, he then turned around and hosted an Emergent Conference with leaders of the ECM like Karen Ward.

***Update****

I came across this Recovery program at The Villiage. While sprinkled with some Scripture, the quotes included: Quotes: CS Lewis, WCF; Celebrate Recovery Principle 7 (Rick Warren);Spiritual Disciplines/Richard Foster; JI Packer; Piper; Spiritual Disciplines (Bible reading, meditation, prayer, fasting, solitude, confession, silence, worship, fellowship, service p.36); pragmatism.

He also follows Alan Hirsch and Andy Crouch on Twitter.

Chandler was a speaker at Leadership Network's Innovation 3 Conference. Leadership Network is probably the biggest promoter of all things Emergent.



Matt Chandler: "Engaging the Culture And Deepening Your Church".

Other speakers: Nancy Ortberg, Tim Keller, Ed Stetzer, Mark Discoll.

Tim Keller, "Turning Your Biggest Idol Into Your Biggest Benefit": Apparently from the official notes here, Keller calls Peter a racist based on Gal. 2:14.

Modern Evangelical is a failure.

Matt Chandler is set to resume the pulpit at his church soon, after stepping down in August for "inappropriate" texting with a woman who works at the church.

"“The volume of exchanges and the familiarity, which played itself out in kind of coarse and foolish joking, is just not okay for someone who has been put in the position that God has placed me in,” Chandler said." - Roys Report quoting Chandler's statement.

According to Matt Chandler's own church website:

"The elders commissioned an independent law firm to conduct a review of Matt’s messaging history across social media platforms, cell phone, and email. The investigators’ report led the elders to conclude that Matt violated our internal social media use policies, and more importantly that, while the overarching pattern of his life has been “above reproach,” he failed to meet the 1 Timothy standard for elders of being “above reproach” in this instance."

1) Chandler is disqualified from being an elder:

1Ti 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1Ti 3:7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Titus 1:6  if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7  For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, of sordid gain, 

2) Lawyers have nothing to do with a biblical church. It is the elders, deacons and the people who are to judge all things going on inside the church. If they cannot evaluate reality and test it against Scripture, they should examine themselves to see if they are in the faith and those leaders are also disqualified.

3) Man's policies are never the standard by which to apprise a ministry. It is Scripture ALONE that is the SOLE standard to judge elders, deacons, and the people in a local church, not a law firm.

If Chandler violated the church's policies but not Scripture, then it's a false standard.

If Chandler violated Scripture but not the church's policies, it's a false standard. Source: Julie Roys, TVC (proceed with caution--I do not endorse her website or TVC's).

Matt Chandler Is No Different Than John Piper: both compromise and endorse grave error

Given Chandler's pulpit sharing with Emergents at Steve Furtick's "Code Orange" conference the other night and given how many folks are promoting Chandler's gospel preaching that night and thus giving him somewhat of a free pass, here's a little clarity and the context of Matt Chandler. Remember folks, he is an example of how false teachers secretly sneak in among you. A false teacher will say some right things. But as is the case with John Piper, Matt Chandler endorses serious error and heretics, along with sharing the pulpit with them.

Chandler is a Reformergent Charismatic, he endorses Emergent  New Ager, Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola's book "The Jesus Manifesto", he consistantly has shared the platform of the false teachers within the Emergent Church Movement , Saddleback "Conversations", Acts 29  where he is a Board member (the denomination (yes it is) that has promoted  planting a church in a gay bar), the inter-faith Elephant Room.

More: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/06/great-confluence.html The previous Herescope post looked at the big picture of how the Emerging Church movement is connecting with the New Apostolic Reformation, as exemplified by the release of the new book Jesus Manifesto co-authored by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola. There are even more troubling connections, and these lead straight into the New Age movement.

These things show he is NOT reformed, and violates 2John 9-10. 

2Jn 1:9  Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11  for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 

1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." 

As I quoted in my piece where John MacArthur  exhorts Christians to stop giving a free pass to these compromising "Reformers":

The main problem is that many religious leaders today say one thing and teach another. If you ask Gregory Boyd or the other “Open View of God” heretics if they believe in the “omniscience” of God, they will say, “Yes.”Dumb Christians are satisfied at this point and go their merry way deceived and hoodwinked. But if you force them to define the term “omniscience,” they end up denying that God knows all things! They claim that God does not and cannot know the future.

Just because someone says, “I believe in sola scriptura,” does not mean he really believes in it. If he elsewhere says that the Bible is not the final authority in faith and practice, he has denied insubstance what he supposedly affirmed as a slogan. Heretics have always done this. What they affirm with the right hand is what they deny with the left hand. It does not matter what doctrine is at stake.

                                    ~Robert Morey

Matt Chandler: Charismatic Reformergent

I'm going to push this a little further than Ken Silva did in his piece titled " ACTS 29 PASTOR MATT CHANDLER ON BEING A REFORMED CHARISMATIC" and show something interesting. Chandler, as I have stated in previous posts, is a Reformergent (much to the chagrin of his suporters). His Charismaticism blends well with ECM because both are mystical, both are man-centered, and both have low view of God.
As Robert Morey once said:

"Just because someone says, “I believe in sola scriptura,” does not mean he really believes in it. If he elsewhere says that the Bible is not the final authority in faith and practice, he has denied in substance what he supposedly affirmed as a slogan. Heretics have always done this. What they affirm with the right hand is what they deny with the left hand. It does not matter what doctrine is at stake."

He's right. This is exactly what Jude and Peter warned about when they said there would be false teachers who "secretly creep in among you", who will "secretly bring in destructive heresie" and are "hidden reefs among your love feasts". "Secretly" "hidden" and "creep" are key words here. They say enough "right" things to not be immediately detected, but eventually they are found out, for God makes that happen. They do not announce themselves as "heretics" or hirelings or false brothers.

More recent problems with Chandler, is as follows:

Chandler is also part of the Ecumenical Saddleback Conversation.

He is part of the ECM scene: Missionshift conference and Exponential 10

Go to my research here where I show more of what I call Reformergence (blending Reformed theology with Emergent Church Movement theology and practice).

The problem with the Charismatic movement(CM) is that not only is it unbiblical, but it denies several biblical doctrines that Calvinists claim they believe, such as Sola Scriptura,that God speaks now only through His Word and not giving more revelations (the canon of Scripture is closed). The Charismatic movement and its theology have a high view of man and a low view of God. At its very heart is Arminian theology. It also has occultic practices. Its also very feministic, contrary to Scripture which does not allow for women to teach men nor have authority over them in the church. But then, all these things of the CM is really in line with the Emergent Church Movement (ECM). Experience, not biblical Truth determine what they believe. Women can teach men in church. God still speaks. There's a huge lack of discernment and spiritual maturity in both the ECM and the CM, precisely because their view of God and His Word are way too low. They are fleshly, worldly, and are hostile to the purity of the Truth of Scripture.

Which is why so many can't let go of their magisterium mentality or "touch not God's anoint" (whether Charismatic or Reformed). Instead of loyalty to Christ, their loyalty is to men who failed the test of Scripture. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, as is justification.

Matt Chandler Is No Outsider To Emergents

Matt Chandler is lined up to speak at Perry Noble's pastor conference  on September 6,2012 This would include sharing the pulpit yet AGAIN with the cast of usual suspects:

Quote:

In one day, learn from seven pastors who love Jesus, love the Church, and lead in the Church, preaching from experience and conviction.

Join James MacDonald along with Matt Chandler, Steven Furtick, Perry Noble, Judah Smith, Andy Stanley and Jud Wilhite at NewSpring Church on Thursday, September 6, 2012 for the NewSpring Leadership Conference.

End quote.

Again, proving the point that Chandler is no outsider to this group, and hasn't been. He's PART OF IT.

Matt Chandler's Affection Grows for Ann Voskamp

Showing his continued lack of discernment and love of the truth, Reformergent Charismatic Matt Chandler not only likes a false woman teacher, he is growing in his affection for her teaching.

Bad trees bear bad fruit.

Matt ChandlerVerified account‏@MattChandler74

I think @annvoskamp is becoming one of my favorite writers. Tremendous piece http://shar.es/1nvAuY 

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6:15 PM - 12 Aug 2014

That article that Voskamp (author of "One Thousand Gifts") wrote promotes Teresa of Calcutta, the Roman Catholic nun who, although raised millions of dollars for her charities, she didn't use them to help get the sick well. Quite the reverse. She promoted suffering as a means to become more spiritual. Perhaps that was Voskamp's point of her article (she's a pagan). Her Jesus is not the one of Scripture. She ignores the fact that often depression and ailments are in fact caused by a fallen world, sin, bad decisions, spiritual harlotry, rebellion against God. Only those IN Christ, who are walking in the paths of righteousness, can actually say that all things work together for good because they love the God of Scripture and are called by Him (Rom. 8:28). Roman doctrine of suffering to become more spiritual is actually doctrines of demons.

I've blogged on why Voskamp is dangerous here. Basically she's a mystic, panentheist feminist. One cannot ABANDON Truth and preach demonic doctrines and still be in Christ.  The fact that Chandler is doing this shows he's not a true and faithful preacher of Scripture. His affections are GROWING for those who are anti-Christ. He is not growing in love for the Truth, but rather AWAY from the truth.

Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 

Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 

2Jn 1:9  Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11  for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 

1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."

Matt Chandler: God speaks outside of His Word

Matt Chandler, president of "Acts 29" (there is no Acts 29 in Scripture, it only goes up to chapter 28 so they are adding to it), who is a Charismatic and New Calvinist seeks special mystical revelation from God instead of just going to the Word where He has already spoken:

Time mark 3:10:"Here's what we'll do. We'll ask God what he wants us to do and we'll write it down. That sounds like voodoo to me. I almost err on the side of bibliolotry...Alright?(3:20) But it's evident from Scripture that God speaks outside of His Word. (3:40) God is not going to contradict His word, but He definitely speaks outside of it." And so it begins. Their "vision" from God. Because His Word is not enough for these Calvinist Charismatics.

God's final speaking was through His Son and anyone who adds or detracts from Scripture will incur God's curse:

Heb 1:1  Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Heb 1:3  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Heb 1:4  having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Rev 22:18  I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 
Rev 22:19  and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 

Psa 138:2  I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 

Chandler's view of Scripture is in error, and he does not almost err on the side of "bibliolotry". Not only does that not exist, Chandler clearly and repeatedly states his low view of Scripture by going OUTSIDE OF IT TO HEAR GOD'S VOICE. Experience over Scripture is always deceptive. Always.

Find Jesus where you may, He is the antagonist of those who would lessen the authority of Holy Scripture. “It is written” is His weapon against Satan, His argument against wicked men. The learned of this hour scoff at the Book and accuse of Bibliolatry those of us who reverence the Divine Word; but in this they derive no assistance from the teaching or example of Jesus.—Spurgeon

Not a word derogatory of Scripture ever fell from the lips of Jesus Christ; but evermore He manifested the most reverent regard for every jot and tittle of the inspired Volume. Since our Savior, not only before His death, but after it, took care to commend the Scriptures to us, let us avoid with all our hearts all teaching in which Holy Scripture is put into the background.--Spurgeon

Matt Chandler Keeps to His Emergent Roots: to speak at Exponential 2016 alongside women pastors and elders

https://www.exponential.org/2016east/

Emergent's Exponential Conference is meeting again in 2016. 

So the Emergent Exponential East 2016 is ramping up, trying to get people motivated to register for next year's conference.

Their purpose:

"Becoming Five continues a conversation started in our 2015 theme Spark: Igniting a Culture of Multiplication. Think of Becoming Five as a sequel of sorts that drills down into more detail focusing on how we can each play our part in moving the needle on church multiplication.  At Exponential 2016, we’ll roll up our sleeves and look practically at how leaders create healthy multiplication cultures: How do we confront and embrace the tensions that come as we’re trying to establish and develop healthy and powerfully aligned cultures that take churches from where they are to what we’re calling Level 5  multiplying churches."

Notice what's missing: Christ Jesus the Lord. In their whole description of their purpose for this conference, Christ is left out.
Of course this isn't biblical, but ironically, it's smacks of the factory-pumped out, mega-church, institutional program/methodology that the Emergents once-upon-a-time rebelled against. However, money is needed and fame is wanted, so their attempt at being "grass roots" and "organic" didn't last long! However, their leaders and false teaching still are around.

It sounds like this is just another method to get more churches, infested with Emergent and Refomergent and Charismatic nonsense. Yes, what American needs is more churches, right? Wrong. What we need are BIBLICAL churches with truly God-ordained men who won't cower at making biblical, consistent, and bold stands for the Truth and against error in all forms.

Names you should be concerned about:

Alan Hirsch (Emergent) and Deb Hirsch his wife, author of and expert in sex and sexuality among other things. I highlight this because sex has become a focus of many people, like John Piper (see my article "Why John Piper Should Be Rejected"), Mark Driscoll, and Ed Young Jr.

Erwin McManus, pastor of Emergent's Mosaic "church", long time Emergent.

Ed Stetzer, long time Emergent friend, also is executive director for SBC's Lifeway publishing company, as well as TBN host and contributing editor for "Christianity" Today magazine.

Jodi Hickerson: "Jodi Hickerson serves as Teaching Pastor and Programming Director for Mission Church in Ventura, California. Jodi and her husband Mike, along with their three daughters, are a part of the team that planted Mission Church in September of 2011, which continues to be the adventure they cannot imagine missing."

Candace Lewis: "Candace is an Ordained Elder from the Florida Annual Conference.Candace is a sought after preacher, leader, coach, consultant and passionate servant of the church."

Jenni Catron: "Jenni is the author of several books including Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence and The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership. Outreach Magazine has recognized her as one of the thirty emerging influencers reshaping church leadership. A leader who loves “putting feet to vision,” Jenni has served on the executive leadership teams of Menlo Church in Menlo Park, California, and Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee."

Cynthia Marshall: "Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer-Human Resources, develops and directs HR programs for AT&T's 240K employees. Her organization implements and administers HR practices to support AT&T's business strategy and diversity programs."   No mention about being a Christian, so that leaves us to presume she's there just for the politically correct road of these social justice multiplication techniques. In other words, going to the world for wisdom.

Brian Houston: pastor of Word of Faith's Hillsong Church. He's also pro-Sodomy. Here's another article on Hillsong's acceptance of sodomites in their churches. Hillsong is also where "pastor" Christine Caine and Carl Lentz come from and both of whom John Piper has shared the platform with at Passion conferences.

Last but certainly not least:

Matt Chandler is the Lead Pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, TX and president of the Acts 29 Network. He is the author of several books, including his latest The Mingling of Souls.

Yes indeed, Matt Chandler the Reformergent Charismatic. He has been an Emergent for years (that's where he got his start), and he's lined up to speak at this Emergent conference again, alongside women pastors and other Emergents. He's been on the heretical TBN three times (some of which he promoted a prophecy about himself given to his friend). He's been working closely with Mark Driscoll for years and just a few years ago took over Driscoll's Emergent "Acts 29" church plant and resource ministry. Remember there is no Acts 29 in Scripture. They're trivializing Scripture by adding another chapter as if they're being cute and clever. They aren't. This new engagement next year only proves Chandler has stayed true to his roots, as well as giving lie to his claim of "complementarianism". Then again, no Charismatic can hold to that view since by nature and foundational doctrine, Charismaticism denies the sole authority of Scripture and it's closed canon. They think God is still speaking today and therefore there is nothing in Scripture that they need to hold to when they've got "God" himself speaking to them and giving new revelations and prophecies. 

reTrain

reTrain: "The Resurgence Training Center " but more accurately would be: re-training the mind with liberal re-tread, subtle or not. This is the face of Reformergents.

Executive Director of retrain, Rick Melson explains:

Quote:

If you want to be in missional ministry, you need missional training. The Resurgence Training Center (Re:Train) was founded to serve as the leadership development engine for Mars Hill Church, Acts 29 and the broader Resurgence movement. The mission of the Resurgence Training Center is to train missional leaders to serve the Church to transform cultures for Christ by staying culturally accessible and Biblically faithful. This unique training provides church based theological education that is confessionally reformed, convictionally complementarian and committedly missional – by the church and for the church

Reformed. Gospel-centered sound doctrine based on the entirety of God’s Word, the exclusivity of Jesus, and the absolute truth of his grace and sovereignty, mercy and justice, wisdom and love.

Missional. God is a missionary God, and his people are a sent people. When we talk about “missional” modifying anything – church, leadership, philosophy – what we are stating, even if only implicitly, is active participation in the missio Dei, the sent and sending nature of God.

End quote.

Elsewhere reTrain states: "The Resurgence Training Center exists to train missional leaders to serve the church to transform cultures for Christ. Our commitment continues to be for our students to effectively reach cultures with the gospel, shepherd families, plant churches and fulfill the Great Commission, while staying Gospel-centered and biblically faithful. Students’ passions and hearts will be ignited and equipped for a more satisfying love of Jesus through living on mission as missionaries in all contexts."- Source

8 times "missional" is used in this "word from the founder". This is emergentspeak. Where does Scripture say that the nature of God is one of "sending and sent"? The nature of God is described as holy, righteous, wrathful, lovingkindness, love, good, omnipresent, omnipotent, omnicient, etc. Sending some out as missionaries is what God DOES, not what His nature is. Already there's an inaccuracy which is the tool of liberals to blurr lines instead of "accurately handling the Word of God" and accurately describing HIM.

In addition, the stated goal of this program is to "transform the culture" yet they want to stay "culturally accessible." I suppose that is why they hired on emergetn Ed Stetzer (Lifeway research group) Glenn Lucke of Docent Research Group. We know what researchers do when it comes to Christianity. The most glaring example is George Barna.

Lucke's purpose is very man-centered, user-friendly, stats driven, PDL really, for pastors so they can customize their productions to whatever audience. This isn't biblical nor is it Christ-centered. Claims of "sound doctrine" are cancelled out by the rest of what they DO.

MacArthur states correctly in his book, Ashamed of the Gospel (3rd edition):

"Some will maintain that if biblical principles are presented, the medium doesn't matter. That is nonsense. If an entertaining medium is the key to winning people, why not go all out? Why not has a real carnival? A tattooed acrobat on a high wire that could juggle chains saws and shout Bible verses while a trick dog balances on his head. That would draw a crowd. And the context of the message would still be biblical. It’s a bizarre scenario, but one that illustrates how the medium can cheapen and corrupt the message." (p. 81 )

"Any end-justifies-the-means philosophy of ministry inevitably will compromise doctrine, despite any proviso to the contrary. If we make effectiveness the gauge of right and wrong, how can that fail to color our doctrine? Ultimately the pragmatist’s notion of truth is shaped by what seems effective, not by the objective revelation of Scripture." (p. 89 )

He goes on to say:

"Charles Finney's approach to ministry thus foreshadowed and laid the foundation for modern pragmatism...We would expect those who reject the biblical doctrine of God's sovereignty to follow Finney, but not those who say they affirm it. Their pragmatism becomes a denial of their theology ---a kind of spiritual schizophrenia." p.169

The list of teachers/professors at reTrain, heavily supported by John Piper (also a teacher there and he's got the biggest picture and quote on their homepage) shows more connections between Reformed and Emergent (what I call “Reformergent”) men is revealed in this particular project and should be a warning to stay away from these men because of their compromise.

The list:

Wayne Grudem
Gregg Allison
John Piper
Ed Stetzer
Sam Storms
Bruce Ware
Tom Schreiner
Bryan Chapell
Ray Ortlund Jr.
Rick Melson
Justin Holcomb
Glenn Lucke
Bill Clem
Mark Driscoll
Scott Thomas
Tyler Jones
J.D. Greear
Ellito Grudem
Darrin Patrick
Jeff Vanderstelt
Daniel Montgomery
Dane Ortlund

Summation of information:

Reformed/Calvinist by seminary training, by church, or by claim:

Sam Storms
John Piper
Justin Holcomb
Glenn Louke
Elliot Grudem
Daniel Montgomery
Wayne Grudem
Mark Driscoll
Rick Melson (Bethlehem Baptist Church, reTrain is "reformed" he says)
Bryan Chapell
Dane Ortlund

Two Charismatic Reformers (the only Charismatic ones on the list are Calvinists)

Grudem
Storms

Seminaries the speakers graduated from:

Dallas Theological Seminary: Sam Storms, Ray Ortlund Jr., Rick Melson,
Fuller Theological Seminary: John Piper, Bruce Ware, Tom Schreiner,
Reformed Theological Seminary: Justin Holcomb,Glenn Lucke,Elliot Grudem,Daniel Montgomery
Bethel Theological Seminary: John Piper, Bruce Ware, Tom Schreiner,
Bethlehem Seminary: Rick Melson (pres. Resergence, Exec. Elder at Mars Hill, pastored at Bethlehem Baptist)
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Rick Melson, Ed Stetzer, Bruce Ware, JD Greear
Trinity Evangelical Divinity school: Bruce Ware,Ray Ortlund Jr,Gregg Allison, Wayne Grudem
Covenant Theological Seminary: Bryan Chapell, Dane Ortlund

Wheaton College:
Piper
Sam Storms
Ray Ortlund Jr.
Dane Ortlund

Acts 29:
Jeff Vanderstelt (Willow Creek Church -Hybels' church where women pastor; );
Elliot Grudemn (PCA too),
Tyler Jones
Scott Thomas
Mark Driscoll
Rick Melson (Bethlehem College and Sem. and pastor)
Darrin Patrick

Mars Hill:
Rick Melson
Justine Holcomb
Bill Clem
Mark Driscoll
Scott Thomas

Two research groups (Stetzer of Lifeway and Glenn Lucke of Docent Research Group)

Emergent (besides being part of the ECM Acts 29):

Ed Stetzer: missionshift; ed stetzer
Jeff Vanderstelt: Emergent. Soma is ECM; missionshift
Daniel Montgomery's church: ECM: sojourn :health clinic, arts/music shows; social justice advocates, parties of three/sacred confessions and Angel's song; missionshift
Gregg Allison is East Coast pastor of sojourn
Tyler Jones ECM-friendly: Vintage21 Church Relevent to POMOS Matt Chandler connection with Advance09; "attractional" church , coaches
JD Greear: friends with David Platt; missionshift

Additional information:

Matt Chandler is on the board ofActs 29 (note some of the same names as above):

"Who are the key leaders within the ministry?Mark Driscoll, President and Founder; Scott Thomas, Chairman and Director; Darrin Patrick, First Vice President; Jeff Vanderstelt, Second Vice President; Board members: Matt Chandler, Chan Kilgore, Eric Mason and church planting strategist, Tyler Powell. Other regional leaders are Brian Howard, David Fairchild, Russ McKendry, Daniel Montgomery, Tyler Jones and Ed Marcelle." -Source

For some of the recent doctrinal problems with Driscoll and Acts 29 go to Apprising Ministries for the connection of Emergent's love affair with Contemplative Spirituality.

Keep in mind too, that some Reformers, Reformergents, and Emergents are ecumenical too:

More speakers at this Ecumenical Conference Series (hosted by Lusanne):
Darrin Patrick
Joni Erickson Tada - also signed the Manhattan Declaration
Ligon Duncon
Matt Chandler
Os Guiness
Michael Horton
Richard Mouw - liberal inter-faith (including Mormons) president of Fuller Seminary
Tim Keller - also signed the Manhattan Declaration

Regarding pragmatism (which is what liberalism and emergent and ecumenicism is),MacArthur echoes what I've observed and noted, when he said in Ashamed of The Gospel: when the church becomes like the world:

"Do you see how the new philosophy necessarily undermines sound doctrine? It discards Jesus' own methods---preaching and teaching--as the primary means of ministry. It replaces them with methodologies utterly devoid of substance....In fact it avoids dogma or strong convictions as divisive, unbecoming,, or inappropriate. It dismisses doctrine as academic, abstract, sterile, threatening, or simply impractical. Rather than teaching error or denying truth, it does something far more subtle, but just as effective from the enemy’s point of view. It jettisons content altogether. Instead of attacking orthodoxy head-on, it gives lip service to the truth while quietly undermining the foundations of doctrine. Instead of exalting God, it denigrates the things that are precious to Him. In that regard, pragmatism poses dangers more subtle than the liberalism that threatened the church in the first half of the century." (p. 92-93 )


2Pe 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.