Steve Lawson Has Been Removed From Ministry Due to Sexual Immorality

Today TBC announced that Steve Lawson is removed from all ministries at Trinity Bible Church in Dallas:

ANNOUNCEMENT

The elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas regretfully announce that effective immediately, Steven J. Lawson has been removed indefinitely from all ministry activities at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.  Several days ago, the elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas were informed by Steve Lawson of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman. The elders have met with Steve and will continue to come alongside him and pray for him with the ultimate goal of his personal repentance. Steve will no longer be compensated by Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.

In light of this, may we be reminded that we are ALL sinners, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners - and Christ remains Head of His Church, which is bigger than any fallen man.  In fact, Jesus Christ will continue to lead His Church, including Trinity Bible Church here in Dallas, just like He has from the start of this work on January 5, 2018.  Since that time, the elders have focused on the primacy of biblical exposition knit together by various men filling the pulpit each week.  The Lord was building Trinity Bible Church of Dallas well before Steve became our Lead Preacher, and He will continue to build this church long after Steve Lawson, or any other man for that matter.  We would ask for your prayers for the elders, for our Body, and for Steve and his family.  Let us always be mindful of the words of 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall."

~ TBC announcement, bold, original 

He preached last Sunday and then the week prior, at Bible study. He taught on "Defining True Greatness" (Luke 7:24-30) on Sept. 15,2024 and the Thursday prior, Sept. 12, 2024 he taught "Being Truthtellers" at the men's Bible Study. Photo is here (having technical issues getting photos to upload on this blog).

I will have to now go back and remove all posts that promote him in a good way. The one that I will keep up is where he lauded false teacher Billy Graham.

Christian Don't Compromise Your Biblical Convictions For Temporal Gain

Dear Christian, do not fear what you see around you and toss aside your biblical convictions for a temporary win. Stay faithful to Christ and His Word. He is sovereignly in control of everything that happens in this world

I saw a huge tirade by a conservative on X today, cussing & angry at conservatives who won't compromise their values by voting for Trump. The man was BIG MAD and condemned such people.

God knows that NOT voting for a moderate literally means NOT VOTING FOR A MODERATE. This angering fearful pragmatism does not influence me; Scripture & trusting a Sovereign God, does. My freedom in Christ keeps me from being enslaved to other's pragmatic consciences.

Remember, running to Egypt didn't help nor bless Israel in the least. God caused Egypt to be Israel's shame. Their hope for a temporal gain didn't happen. Don't do the same. Don't give up what you know is biblical for the same of a temporary fix.

How much more blessed to stand true to biblical principles and values with a clear conscience before God and see Him protect and bless you for being loyal to Him and His Word. It's trusting Him by faith, not by sight.

God will raise up and bring down our leaders; He raised up Pharaoh, and He’ll raise up the Lawless One, for HIS righteous purposes.  Pragmatism isn't of faith--it's of fear in this case. Do the right thing and trust the outcome to the God Who Sees, like Daniel who kept faithful to the Lord in everything despite the persecution.

Prov. 16, Dan. 2:20-22; 4:35, Is 40:23; John 14:27.

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 

Heb 11:14  For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 

Heb 11:15  If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 

Heb 11:16  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 

Joni Eareckson Tada And Rome

 

Joni Eareckson Tada and Rome

'Oh No!  Please don't say this! It can't be! You're just mean and judgmental!' 

August 2, 2024

denise m. gumprecht

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4: 3-4

2 Corinthians 11:3  “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” 

September 20-22, 2012 were the dates for Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth’s  ‘ Revive Our Hearts’, ‘True Woman ’12’ Conference, held in Indianapolis with speakers: Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth, Joni Eareckson Tada, Joy McClain, Janet Parshall, Mary Kassian, & Priscilla Shirer.  

Upon viewing a few episodes from this conference (True Woman '12: Forgiving Like You've Been Forgiven — Joni Eareckson Tada ); one notices a peculiar, large, Circle drawn on the platform floor which surrounded the podium where the women would speak. 

True Woman '12: Forgiving Like You've Been Forgiven — Joni Eareckson Tada

For these women; this was their ‘prayer circle’; an extra-Biblical TOOL, which caused those praying within it, protection, power, and concentration. This is a pagan practice with it’s roots in mysticism and witchcraft. ALL these women involved were practicing paganism. Not long ago Mark Batterson (lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C) published a book called, “The Circle Maker”. (https://www.challies.com/book-reviews/the-circle-maker/) He pointed to Jewish mystic; Honi ( an Israelite from the extra-biblical ‘Book of Legends’ from the Talmud; who wanted it to rain, drew a circle around himself, and stayed there demanding God answer his prayer ) , and also British evangelist Gipsy Smith; who used chalk circles as a false prayer tool to cause God to hear & respond.                                              

How does this connect with Joni Eareckson Tada?  Joni was one of the speakers at this conference. She spoke from the center of this mystic ‘prayer circle’.

 (note: other circles had been placed on the floor of this conference room for conference participants to enter, pray, & cry ).  During closing prayer, Joni; along with other women speakers, wheeled herself into the center of the circle praying in agreement that this powerful hedge of a circle would cause God to respond better, make their prayers more powerful, heard by God, and grant their prayer requests.  And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.Matthew 6:7  There is no authority in any circle. Our authority is in Christ alone. “ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. “ Matthew 28:18

Sadly, there is nothing in Scripture to affirm this bizarre practice. There is nothing in Scripture that states man/women can cause God to act or act better in response to prayer. There is NO power inside a circle. This is false teaching and pagan ritualism. What is very shocking and very grieving is that Joni has set up a mystic, “Virtual Prayer Circle” on her own website for all to use: 

https://joniandfriends.org/series/virtual-prayer-circle/ 

This somehow seemed too similar to false teacher; Pete Greig, and his creation of specious and misleading 24/7 prayer with it’s dark rooms: “Boiler Rooms”. Completely demonic & evil.  https://www.24-7prayer.com/?s=Boiler+room  ( This is an interdenominational movement of prayer, that has people praying night-and-day and has gone on for more than 20 years reaching all nations. It is connected to modern monasticism ). Also noted is that Greig uses these false prayer circle practices also. ( https://downloads.24-7prayer.com/prayer_course/2019/resources/pdfs/14%20A%20Circle%20Prayer.pdf) Again, man can not cause God to act. Isaiah 46:10-12

We are always aghast when we; as those in Christ, view one who was trusted as a testimony to Christ turns to false teachings. This is where there is another very grieving issue regarding Joni. Joni has become enthralled with Catholic contemplative, Carmelite monk- mystic; “Brother” Lawrence. (author of The Practice of the Presence of God). She is fully impressed with him. “Brother” Lawrence encourages readers to listen to “the voice of God”, chant mantras, empty your mind in order to be filled, and thus “experience God”. Joni has been impressed with  “Brother” Lawrence’s suffering in life and how he viewed this as a way to be closer to God. It became a method. ”practicing the presence of God”.

“Brother” Lawrence felt he found a secret to a higher spiritual life with focus on practices rather than solely God’s Word. He used repetitious prayers and mindfulness meditation. Matthew 6:7

He was devoted to focus on God’s presence in all you do. ‘a mystical higher power unrelated to anything Biblical; similar to Zen.

“God”: The Holy Spirit in us; it is not a mystical/contemplative personal experience outside God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is the agent of salvation for the redeemed, He dwells in us as helper, seals us, convicts us of sin, regenerates us, gives power to the gospel and illuminates scripture to us. 1 Corinthians 2:13  Philippians 2:12-13.

Our call is to present the gospel in full with absolutely no mystical experience creating unBiblical superstitions, feelings, mantras, and visions. Brother Lawrence’s gospel is not the one found in God’s Word. His is a false gospel of sacraments and works. Sadly, we view Joni giving us an example of a lacking, skewed ‘no gospel at all’. “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another:

only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed. ” Galatians 1:6-8

A recent example of this false teaching:  Joni Eareckson equated and told a male nurse that he reminded her so much of Jesus since he was serving her. ”You are just like Jesus”. She  personally justified this  as “practicing the presence” &and planting  ‘gospel seeds or tidbits’. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnB3LWopIaY   point: 16:24). There was NO presentation of the gospel. 

 

”He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.  “….“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”Mark 1:15  The gospel is the  message of the cross, the “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16  God’s Word is a “sword” “piercing the soul asunder”. (Hebrews 4:12). These “gospel seeds” are without God’s clear message on salvation bring false thinking and teaching. 

Previously Joni stated, (point 13:15 continuing:   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnB3LWopIaY ) Joni; “If we want to get to know this man of sorrows, acquainted with our grief, this Jesus; ripped to shreds and hung up to dry as a bloody piece of meat on a hook— if we want to get to know Him and His sweetness and His nearness, we’ll have to suffer in some measure- not the [same] amount, but we have to taste deeply of afflictions, God- God wants us to FEEL our afflictions deeply -we want to escape them - we want to run away from our weakness, God wants us to feel them deeply so that we might also feel our need for Him … they can know the path to know Jesus better. (sufferings) ‘ the road rocky, but when we come to the cross- wow, there’s life.”  

Another Roman Catholic with false thinking/teaching as this was Mother Theresa. She stated this to a dying patient, “ "You are suffering like Christ on the cross. So Jesus must be kissing you." (Christoper Hitchens - The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice, p. 41). 

Feelings?  Faith comes through hearing through the Word of Christ, as Romans 10:17 states. How do we come to know Jesus, as our Lord and Savior? Again; 2 Corinthians 5:21, Mark 1:15 It is by being regenerated by the Holy Spirit and being given the gift of repentance and faith “even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”  Ephesians 2:5  We preach the whole counsel of God for our sanctification; not ‘tidbits’.  “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” Acts 20:26-27. Planting ‘seeds’ includes the gospel in full, not conjured up, picturesque ideas, nor visions or parts of the Gospel, which is really no gospel at all. Scripture tells us to grow in Him through the reading of His Word and prayer. 2 Timothy 2:15 and 1 Peter 2:2-3. As those in Christ, we are commanded to come boldly to the throne of grace in repentance and faith in times of weaknesses and testing. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

This ‘suffering’ comes after redemption as often one will suffer/trials for His name’s sake. James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 4:12-14.

Suffering, or as Paul calls it in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, “this light momentary affliction” is not always a continual necessary part of the path to Christ, but it can be a frequent result of declaring necessary faith in Christ and living in service to him, for no slave is above his Master.  Romans 8:18 states,  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” 

Our disposition in suffering; “but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:4

 In Christ, we are humbly blessed to proceed “boldly” to “the Throne of Grace”. Hebrews 4:16  God’s sovereignty gives us satisfaction and peace; complete trust in Him to work according to His sovereign will. 

Too much emphasis on subjective things like experiences/feelings/ or ‘sensing’, often leads one down the road of discouragement and frustration, as opposed to the comfort and resting in Christ with the unchanging reality of confidence in Him regardless of day to day emotions and circumstances.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-5

 The God of all comfort during our afflictions God works all things for the good of those who love Him and who are called by Him.  

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Just last year, in October of 2023, Joni published a book with a very similar name as “Brother” Lawrence’s. Her book is called, “The Practice of the Presence of Jesus”. On every other page of Joni’s book, she quotes Roman Catholic Monk “Brother” Lawrence. Why would one supposedly in Christ point to a Catholic false teacher with a false gospel and false prayer?  Jesus taught us His perfect example on how to pray in Luke 11:1-4 Is this not sufficient? 

Feelings, and sensing “God’s pleasure” is man-created emotionalism which is an attempt at ‘experiencing God’. Evidently Joni was impressed and viewed “Brother” Lawrence’s suffering and toil-filled life similar to her own, causing Joni to have high regard  and honor of this man with his false practices. She seems to believe like “Brother” Lawrence that suffering brings you closer to God. This is also similar to how she relates to him. This book; sadly, may cause people to embrace the false gospel of Catholicism and mystic practices. (such as lectio divina which John Piper, Lou Giglio,  Beth Moore, Francis Chan others did at 2012 Passion Conference for youth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvwKl63sGqM ) How deceiving!

As redeemed, one does not turn to Catholicism for spiritual truth. Joni is hearing the voice of a stranger. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5

In November 2009 the Manhattan Declaration document was created and signed by it’s supporters  It united so- called ‘orthodox’ Evangelicals and Catholics together for the sake of moral issues. The Trinity Foundation - The Roman Catholic Agenda Embedded in the Manhattan Declaration  and 

The Trinity Foundation - The Roman Catholic Agenda Embedded in the Manha... Editor’s note: Richard Bennett is the President and Founder of Berean Beacon Ministries. The Website for Berean ...

https://www.gty.org/library/articles/A390/the-manhattan-declaration 

Sadly, we view Joni Eareckson Tada’s signature in support of this document.

In 2010, Joni became part of a longstanding, annual movement and conference of dubious origin called Lausanne Movement. (founder Billy Graham and chairman John Stott)  It promotes widespread ecumenicism and far excess focus on political and social justice issues/globalism.  https://disntr.com/2023/11/13/how-the-lausanne-movement-is-hijacking-christianity-to-jumpstart-a-global-marxist-revolution-part-i/    Lausanne totally dilutes spreading the unadulterated gospel of repentant faith in Jesus Christ. It is a ‘christian’ (in name alone) deception with no true gospel and promoting friendship with the ‘dark’.  “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? “ 2 Corinthians 6:14   Joni willingly became The Lausanne Senior Associate for Evangelism Among  Disabled People. To date, she is a great advocate for this false movement. 

Joni Eareckson Tada - Why Support the Lausanne Movement?

Joni Eareckson Tada - Why Support the Lausanne Movement?

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7

Prayer is needed  for Joni to turn away from false prayer practices, the teachings of mystic Roman Catholicism, and all things ecumenical. 

“My brother, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.” James 2:1

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:17-23 

“Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude of dependency; dependency upon God . Prayer is a confession of creature weakness, yes, of helplessness. Prayer is the acknowledgment of our need and the spreading of it before God.”- A.W. Pink

Why Joni Eareckson Tada Should Be Avoided

Joni Eareckson Tada

***Update***

So the unsound practice of Joni Tada continues. She's teaching pastors and leaders at the notorious Willow Creek Church who has women pastors (founder Bill Hybels had to step down), on how to lead. Please do not continue to say she's "sharing her testimony". She TEACHES MEN about LIVING a "Christian" life--sanctification. Telling OTHERS how to live, how to understand God and His work in life, how to THINK about "suffering", even using Roman Catholic mystic monk Lawrence to do it.

"So when Tada, an author and artist known mostly as just “Joni,” took the stage at this summer’s annual Global Leadership Summit held at Willow Creek, a Chicago-area megachurch, she told the pastors and other leaders gathered that if they want to succeed they are going to have to admit their imperfections.

“The most effective leaders do not rise to power in spite of their weakness,” Tada said. “They lead with power because of their weakness.”

~article from Roys News

She has been a member of the Lausanne Congress (Lausanne Senior Associate for Evangelism Among Disabled People until 2013). She has been a board member since 1989  and was a plenary speaker that year.  Lausanne Congress is a pragmatic/inter-faith/ecumenical/feminist group & has attended the conference hosted by them. Some very liberal people have been a part of it, including Billy Graham, John Stott, Tim Keller, Richard Mouw, & Rick Warren.

“I'm grateful for Lausanne’s commitment to the whole Gospel of Christ. The 2010 Lausanne Congress will emphasize that true evangelism means reaching out in Jesus’ name to every part of society — including those who are sick, hungry, poor and disabled.”

 

Mrs. Joni Eareckson Tada
Founder, Joni and Friends International Disability Center
Lausanne Senior Associate for Evangelism Among Disabled People

Link to see her endorsement here.

UPDATE 7/31/24 on Lausanne is at Disntr: "How the Lausanne Movement Is Hijacking Christianity to Jumpstart a Global Marxist Revolution – Part I".

She signed the 2009 inter-faith Manhattan Declaration (supposed to have addressed key moral issues in our country like abortion and homosexual "marriage") which John MacArthur refused to sign b/c it was not explicitly Christian & joined w/ Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox without explicitly showing the fundamental chasm between Christians and the rest.

The Manhattan Declaration states in part:

"We, as Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians, have gathered, beginning in New York on September 28, 2009, to make the following declaration, which we sign as individuals, not on behalf of our organizations, but speaking to and from our communities. We act together in obedience to the one true God, the triune God of holiness and love, who has laid total claim on our lives and by that claim calls us with believers in all ages and all nations to seek and defend the good of all who bear his image." (emphasis, mine)

But Scripture states:

2Co 6:14  Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15  What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16  What agreement has the temple of God with idols?

The answer: NONE. Moreover, Israel tried to find help from the pagan Egyptians against God's sanction. It was spiritual harlotry just as marrying women outside of Israel led to spiritual harlotry. 

Isa 30:1  “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin"

Tada endorsed RC "First Things" Journal

https://excatholic4christ.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/popular-evangelical-joni-eareckson-tada-endorses-ecumenical-first-things/comment-page-1/

She also campaigned for pro-abortionist (he's ok with some abortions, not for abolishing it) Roman Catholic Marc Rubio around 2016.

 

2012 Tada participated in pagan prayer circles with Nancy Leigh DeMoss (links are down below) Prayer circles info: https://tottministries.org/praying-circles/  as well as saying this:

 

She sounds VERY similar to John Piper and his sensuality as he uses the exact same word (no coincidence--biblical Christians do not think like this):

 “Jesus is ecstasy beyond compare and if new hardships draw us closer to Him, I'm more than content with it.” ~Joni Eareckson Tada posted on Joni & Friends, November 19, 2018

This quote sounds more like Ann Voskamp and John Piper with such sensual spiritual errotica talk about Jesus than she does a sound, biblical Christian. This statement is hardly biblical, nor God-fearing, nor worthy of Christ Jesus the King. It's quite fleshly and emotive.  

"Never forget, the point of the kitchen is the banquet. The aim of hermeneutics: happiness. The goal of exegesis: ecstasy." - John Piper, April 29, 2014 on X (Twitter)

Tada and Voskamp:

Why Voskamp is bad. 

https://annvoskamp.com/2016/10/when-god-says-no/

https://annvoskamp.com/2017/11/how-to-feel-lasting-comfort-through-the-really-hard-days/

She promotes the website with her articles on her own website--directs her fans to to pagan Voskamp: https://joniandfriends.org/uncategorized/why-doesnt-god-heal-people-we-love/

Tada and Brother Lawrence

Why Brother Lawrence is bad

Lawrence was a Roman Catholic Carmelite monk, so all his doctrine and practice will be false. He was a mystic, claiming that his practices led to a "higher spiritual life" in his monastery, so that's also pagan.

According to Wikipedia, Lawrence's order:

"The Discalced Carmelites are friars and nuns who dedicate themselves to a life of prayer. The Carmelite nuns live in cloistered (enclosed) monasteries and follow a completely contemplative life. The Carmelite friars, while following a contemplative life, also engage in the promotion of spirituality through their retreat centres, parishes and churches. Lay people, known as the Secular Order, follow their contemplative call in their everyday activities. Devotion to the Virgin Mary is a characteristic of Carmelites and is symbolised by wearing the brown scapular."

Another infamous Carmelite nun was mystic Teresa of Avila,  the founder of the Discalced Carmelites along with John of the Cross. She's a favorite in the contemplative spirituality evangelical circles. They're all connected to the mystic & original Carmelites, the "Desert Fathers" who worshipped Mary. 


In this video where she says she read Lawrence in high school, so her devotion to the Catholic monk started over 50 years ago:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnXLFHyYyFo&t=409s 

Her latest book promoting Brother Lawrence:

https://joniandfriends.org/product/the-practice-of-the-presence-of-jesus/

Tada and "Jesus Calling" 

Why "Jesus Calling" is bad: here and here.

https://www.jesuscalling.com/podcast/lifeline-drowning-hurts-joni-eareckson-tada-dedee-greg-lhamon/

Tada and prayer circles

Why prayer circles are bad.

Tada talking about being inside the prayer circle at the 2012 Revive Our Hearts conference:

Transcript :

Joni: These are women who through their decisions, whether with their husbands, with their children, in their homes, their communities, in their churches, these people, these women can be great influencers for good. They can help shape the destiny not only of their families and their churches and their communities, but the destiny of this nation. These women are change agents for the gospel of Jesus Christ. And that I get a chance to encourage them? That’s pretty cool!

Joni: Because all the speakers had an opportunity to stand in it. And of course, I had an opportunity to wheel inside that circle. May revival begin with me.

Joni: May renewal in the church begin with me inside that circle.

Tada In Leadership & Teaching Over Men

Tada teaches men and women about their walk, their sanctification. She focuses pretty singularly on the "theology of suffering". This is teaching doctrine and  crosses over from retelling her testimony of her accident, which everyone's heard of for the last 50 years (which is why she's invited to speak in the first place), to violating Scripture in teaching men. 

Moreover, she was CHAPLAIN for the US Paralympics in 2000. This is another violation of Scripture. Her video is here.

She's also on the Today's Christian Woman advisory board. This is a division of the notorious "Christianity Today" that promotes all manner of false doctrine, feminism, mysticism, and heretics.

Tada refers to "joni & friends" as her ministry in the "She Leads" article (see below): “I’m grateful to Elizabeth Doyle and my friends at She Leads America for their recognition of our ministry among families that struggle with disability." (bold, my emphasis)

Therefore Tada's position as CEO, and the president of the ministry is also a woman, Laura Gardner. It is structured not like a ministry but a business with a president and senior vice presidents as well as chiefs of Executive, finance, marketing, operating, finance. This is not how a ministry should run. Scripture shows us how and fundamentally it is connected to a local church. Women are NOT leaders over men in ministry according to Paul's epistles (1 Tim. 3, Titus 2).

1Ti 2:12  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13  For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14  and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 

She is a self promoter of her awards like the "She Leads America" in 2023 . Reprinting the press release, it states in part: "As part of the recognition, Tada’s name and accomplishments have been entered into the Congressional Record at the U.S. Capitol" as if the world's awards have any bearing on one's relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. Medals, awards, accolades, and praise from the world isn't something to brag about.

John 15:18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 

Like Billy Graham (a founder of the Lausanne Congress and pro-Roman Catholic), Tada gets praise from the world, which tells you that she's not specific with the Truth to cause offense like Christ Jesus and the apostles and true Christians do. Fans of Tada: Pres. George W Bush and Ronald Reagan, Larry King, the US State Department/National Council on Disability, and the Paralympics. 

 A good example who does get heat for being specific on the Gospel as well as pointing out heretical teachers is Justin Peters. While I disagree with him at times on some things, and sometimes he doesn't take a hard enough stand against certain false teachers (they all deserve harsh criticism), he's also in a wheelchair. A disability isn't a shield from criticism nor lack of discernment. 

Apostate Francis Chan wrote the forward to the 25th anniversary edition of her autobiographical book as well.

A Correction For My Use of Gen 3:1-3 "Hath God Said?" Reference

I need to make a correction my reference to this passage:

Gen 3:1  Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of ANY tree in the garden’?” 2  And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3  but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”   (Bold and all caps, my emphasis)

I need to correct myself. There’s something that I missed in using the quote “Hath God said?” to counter those who reject clear Scripture (for example passages about not women teaching men or creation in six literal days), and I often would say “Yes He did”. In fact I was wrong, or imprecise. God has indeed spoken on the topic—that was my point—but the Serpent asked if God said “don’t eat from ANY tree in the garden” to which the answer is NO, that’s not what God said. 

Here's what God said:

Gen 2:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You MAY SURELY eat of EVERY tree of the garden, 17  BUT of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall NOT eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”  (bold, all caps, my emphasis)

God's word is precise and I need to be too. I just wanted to correct myself on this. 

May anyone who reads God's Word stay faithful to it and its precision and its power. 

"Ministry" Branding

 If your "ministry" have a brand, it's not biblical. It's an empire, a legacy, a corporation, and very temporal, worldly, and fleshly. But it's certainly not biblical. 

Photo and article here here.

John MacArthur Recommends Heretic John Stott

2Co 11:3  But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 

Today I found that Grace Books, part of Grace Community Church, offers what MacArthur recommends by way of books, which includes John Stott who was an Anglican (false church that taught salvation by works and whose founding was in Henry VIII's sexual immorality) and was also an annihilationist (which rejects God's word about eternal torment and His justice).

John Stott used infamous corrupt psychologist and author Alfred Kinsey to interpret Scripture's view of sodomy and cast doubt Scripture's clear condemnation of sodomy. He offers no salvation from gay desires in this life; says there are homosexual Christians what will always be homosexual by orientation; tells us to listen to the world's wisdom on sodomy alongside the Bible ("double listening"). I deal with this here. But here's the excellent video by T.S. Williams who deals with Stott, his book, and his teaching:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxEex5y754w&t=1s

Why MacArthur would read, much less offer Stott as being a benefit to a Christian, instead of a heretic that has done great damage to many, aiding and abetting their sin, offering zero hope and help to those in their sin, is beyond me.  I guess denial of eternal torment and God's just nature and sure Word are personal preferences. This is egregious and condemned by Scripture (2Peter 2-3; 2 John 9-11; 2 Cor. 6:14-17).

Rom 16:17  I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18  For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.