Tag Archives: John Maxwell

Is The C3 Movement A “Cult Of Prosperity”?

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in C3 Ministry, C3 Values, Pringle's Doctrine/Gospel, Uncategorized

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Phil Pringle is heavily influenced by the prosperity cults. He endorses, speaks or works alongside some of the most heretical persons such as Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Brian Houston, Yonngi Cho, Kong Hee, Kenneth Hagin, John Avanzini, Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, John Maxwell, Rick Warren, Dale Bronner, Bill Johnson, T.D Jakes, Tommy Tenney and so on. The article below addresses false teachers who Pringle either endorses or who is influenced by their ministries.

pringle in league with prosperity cult

The below article uproots Pringle’s false Christianity and does a solid job presenting readers with the facts of scripture. Unlike Pringle, we encourage readers to pull out their bibles (or visit our resources on the left) to do a bible study on this article below.

The Bankruptcy of the Prosperity Gospel: An Exercise in Biblical and Theological Ethics

Study By: David Jones

Just over one hundred years ago, the renowned pastor and statesman Charles H. Spurgeon spoke these words to the then-largest congregation in all Christendom:

I believe that it is anti-Christian and unholy for any Christian to live with the object of accumulating wealth. You will say, “Are we not to strive all we can to get all the money we can?” You may do so. I cannot doubt but what, in so doing, you may do service to the cause of God. But what I said was that to live with the object of accumulating wealth is anti-Christian.1

Over the years, however, the message being preached in some of the largest churches in the world has changed. Due, in part, to the rise of several ungodly philosophies and movements,2 a new gospel is being taught today. This gospel has been ascribed many names, such as the “name it and claim it” gospel, the “blab it and grab it” gospel, the “health and wealth” gospel, the “word of faith” movement, the “gospel of success,” the “prosperity gospel,” and “positive confession theology.”3

No matter what name is used, though, the teaching is the same. Simply put, this egocentric gospel teaches that God wants believers to be materially wealthy. Listen to the words of Robert Tilton, one of the prosperity gospel’s most well-known spokesmen: “I believe that it is the will of God for all to prosper because I see it in the Word [of God], not because it has worked mightily for someone else. I do not put my eyes on men, but on God who gives me the power to get wealth.”4

Teachers of the prosperity gospel encourage their followers to pray, and even demand, of God “everything from modes of transportation (cars, vans, trucks, even two-seat planes), [to] homes, furniture, and large bank accounts.”5 By closely examining the faulty theology and errant biblical interpretation of the teachers of this movement, this study will prove that the prosperity gospel teachings regarding the acquisition and accumulation of wealth are ethically incorrect.

The Theology of the Prosperity Gospel

“Theology is important,” wrote scholar Millard J. Erickson, “because correct doctrinal beliefs are essential to the relationship between the believer and God.”6 A corollary to this statement is that an incorrect theology will lead to incorrect beliefs about God, His Word, and His dealings with men. The thesis of this paper is that the prosperity gospel is constructed upon a faulty theology. Consequently, many of its doctrines, including the teachings concerning wealth, are erroneous. While it is beyond the scope of this study to examine in detail all of the specific doctrines of prosperity theology, there are four crucial areas of error relating to their teachings on wealth that may be isolated and examined. These areas are the Abrahamic covenant, the Atonement, giving, and faith.

Prosperity Theology and the Abrahamic Covenant

The theological basis of the prosperity gospel is the Abrahamic covenant.7 While this is good in that prosperity theologians recognize that much of Scripture is the record of the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, it is bad in that they do not maintain an orthodox view of this covenant. Prosperity theologians hold an incorrect view of the inception of the Abrahamic covenant; what is more germane to the present study, however, they hold to an erroneous view concerning the application of the covenant.8

Researcher Edward Pousson best stated the prosperity view on the application of the Abrahamic covenant when he wrote, “Christians are Abraham’s spiritual children and heirs to the blessings of faith…. This Abrahamic inheritance is unpacked primarily in terms of material entitlements.”9 In other words, according to the prosperity gospel, the primary purpose of the Abrahamic covenant was for God to bless Abraham materially. Since believers are now “Abraham’s spiritual children,” they consequently have inherited these financial blessings of the covenant.

Prosperity teacher Kenneth Copeland wrote, “Since God’s Covenant has been established and prosperity is a provision of this covenant, you need to realize that prosperity belongs to you now!”10 Referring to the prosperity theology of Kenneth Hagin, author Harvey Cox wrote, “Through the crucifixion of Christ, Christians have inherited all the promises made to Abraham, and these include both spiritual and material well-being.”11 To support this claim, prosperity teachers such as Copeland and Hagin appeal to Gal. 3:14, which says “that the blessings of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus. . . .”12 While it is not an understatement to say that the problems with this argument are legion, two glaring problems need to be addressed. First, in their appeal to Gal. 3:14, prosperity teachers ignore the second half of the verse, which reads, “That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”13 In this verse Paul clearly was reminding the Galatians of the spiritual blessing of salvation, not the material blessing of wealth.

Second, prosperity teachers claim that the conduit through which believers receive Abraham’s blessings is faith. This completely ignores the orthodox understanding that the Abrahamic covenant was an unconditional covenant.14 That is, the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant were not contingent upon one man’s obedience. Therefore, even if the Abrahamic covenant did apply to Christians, all believers would already be experiencing the material blessings regardless of prosperity theology.

Prosperity Theology and the Atonement

A second cracked pillar upon which prosperity theology stands is that of a faulty view of the Atonement. Theologian Ken Sarles wrote that “the prosperity gospel claims that both physical healing and financial prosperity have been provided for in the Atonement.”15 This seems to be an accurate observation in light of teacher Kenneth Copeland’s comment that “the basic principle of the Christian life is to know that God put our sin, sickness, disease, sorrow, grief, and poverty on Jesus at Calvary.”16 This misunderstanding of the Atonement stems from two errors that proponents of the prosperity gospel make.

First, many who hold to prosperity theology have a fundamental misconception of the life of Christ. For example, teacher John Avanzini proclaimed that “Jesus had a nice house, a big house,”17 “Jesus was handling big money,”18 and He even “wore designer clothes.”19 It is easy to see how such a warped view of the life of Christ could lead to an equally warped misconception of the death of Christ.

A second error of prosperity theology, which also leads to a faulty view of the Atonement, is the misinterpretation of 2 Cor. 8:9. Without exception, this is the verse to which prosperity teachers appeal in order to support their view of the Atonement. The verse reads, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”20 This problem with this interpretation is, of course, that in this verse Paul was in no way teaching that Christ died on the cross for the purpose of increasing anyone’s net worth materially. In fact, Paul was actually teaching the exact opposite principle.

Contextually, it is clear that Paul was teaching the Corinthians that since Christ accomplished so much for them through the Atonement, then how much more ought they empty themselves of their riches in service of the Savior. This is why just five short verses later Paul would urge the Corinthians to give their wealth away to their needy brothers, writing “that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack.”21 Commentator Philip E. Hughes wrote of 2 Cor. 8:9, “The logic implicit in the statement of this great truth is too obvious for anyone to miss it.”22 Apparently, however, the champions of the prosperity gospel have indeed missed it.

Prosperity Theology and Giving

One of the most striking characteristics of the prosperity theologians is their seeming fixation with the act of giving. Students of the prosperity gospel are urged to give generously and are confronted with such pious statements as, “True prosperity is the ability to use God’s power to meet the needs of mankind in any realm of life,”23 and, “We have been called to finance the gospel to the world.”24 While at face value these statements do indeed appear to be praiseworthy, a closer examination of the theology behind them reveals that the prosperity gospel’s emphasis on giving is built on anything but philanthropic motives. The driving force behind this emphasis on giving is what teacher Robert Tilton referred to as the “Law of Compensation.”25 According to this law, which is supposedly based on Mark 10:30,26 Christians need to give generously to others because when they do, God gives back more in return. This, in turn, leads to a cycle of ever-increasing prosperity.

As Gloria Copeland put it, “Give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000;… in short, Mark 10:30 is a very good deal.”27 It is evident, then, that the prosperity gospel’s doctrine of giving is built upon faulty motives. Whereas Jesus taught His disciples to “give, hoping for nothing in return,”28 prosperity theologians teach their disciples to give because they will get a great return. One cannot help but agree with author Edward Pousson’s observation that the stewardship of “the prosperity message is in captivity to the American dream.”29

Prosperity Theology and Faith

A final area of prosperity theology that merits investigation is that of the doctrine of faith. Whereas orthodox Christianity understands faith to be “trust in the person of Jesus Christ, the truth of His teaching, and the redemptive work He accomplished at Calvary,”30 prosperity teachers espouse quite a different doctrine. In his book, The Laws of Prosperity, Kenneth Copeland wrote that “faith is a spiritual force, a spiritual energy, a spiritual power. It is this force of faith which makes the laws of the spirit world function. . . . There are certain laws governing prosperity revealed in God’s Word. Faith causes them to function.”31 This is obviously a faulty, if not heretical, understanding of faith. Later in the same book Copeland wrote that “if you make up your mind . . . that you are willing to live in divine prosperity and abundance, . . . divine prosperity will come to pass in your life. You have exercised your faith.”32 According to prosperity theology, faith is not a theocentric act of the will, or simply trust in God; rather it is an anthropocentric spiritual force, directed at God. Indeed, any theology that views faith solely as a means to material gain rather than the acceptance of heavenly justification must be judged as faulty and inadequate.

The Biblical Interpretation of the Prosperity Gospel

As has already been demonstrated in this paper, the hermeneutics of the prosperity movement leaves much to be desired. Author Ken Sarles wrote of the prosperity teachers that their “method of interpreting the biblical text is highly subjective and arbitrary. Bible verses are quoted in abundance without attention to grammatical indicators, semantic nuances, or literary and historical context. The result is a set of ideas and principles based on distortion of textual meaning.”33 Indeed, a survey of the volumes of literature produced by the prosperity teachers yields numerous examples of such misinterpretations. As was the case in the theological study of this movement, an analysis of all such examples of misinterpreted texts would fall beyond the scope of this study. However, it is possible to choose one verse as an example and to examine both the prosperity gospel and orthodox interpretations of the text.

A suitable verse for this study is 3 John 2.34 In this verse, the Apostle John wrote, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”35 This verse is interpreted by prosperity teachers to mean that God wants all believers to “prosper in all things.” Furthermore, their interpretation of this verse makes clear their claim that material prosperity is inseparably linked to spiritual growth. Oral Roberts, regarded by many to be the father of the prosperity gospel movement, claimed at the beginning of his ministry, during a time of search for direction, that God miraculously led him to 3 John 2, which he understood as a revelation of the prosperity gospel.36

Another faith teacher who has built his ministry around this faulty interpretation of 3 John 2 is Kenneth Copeland. Author Kenneth Kantzer noted that “Copeland misinterprets this [verse] as a universal promise,”37 and writer Bruce Barron remarked that “the Copelands use these words so often that they appear to be the key verse of their ministry.”38 A careful study of 3 John 2, however, reveals that this verse is not a carte blanche approval of prosperity gospel teachings.

Those who use 3 John 2 to support the prosperity gospel are committing two crucial errors, the first contextual and the second grammatical. First, con-textually, one is wise to note that John’s purpose in writing 3 John 2 was not to teach doctrine; it was simply to open his letter with a greeting. This is not to say that doctrine cannot be derived from a nondoctrinal passage, for all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, but it is to say that one must be sensitive to the original author’s intent. Therefore, the claim that 3 John 2 teaches the doctrine of prosperity ought to be regarded as suspect at best. Second, one is wise to note the meaning of the word “prosperity” as it occurs in this verse. The term translated “prosperity” is a form of the Greek word eujodovw. This word, which is used only four times in Scripture, does not mean to prosper in the sense of “gaining material possessions,” but rather means “to grant a prosperous expedition and expeditious journey,” or “to lead by a direct and easy way.”39 The wording of modern translations such as the New International Version even reflect this nuance of the word.40 Therefore it is evident that teachers who understand 3 John 2 to teach prosperity theology are misinterpreting the text.

Conclusion

Through this study of the theology and the biblical interpretation of the prosperity gospel, one may discern five clear reasons why this movement’s teachings concerning wealth are incorrect:

1. The prosperity gospel is built upon a faulty understanding of the Abrahamic covenant.

2. The prosperity gospel is built upon a faulty understanding of the Atonement.

3. The prosperity gospel is based upon a faulty understanding of the biblical tachings on giving.

4. The prosperity gospel is based upon a faulty understanding of the biblical teachings on faith.

5. The prosperity gospel, in general, has been constructed upon faulty biblical interpretation.

Aside from these five specific theological and biblical arguments against the prosperity gospel, and without even considering the practical implications of this movement,41 there is perhaps one general, summary reason why the prosperity gospel is a wayward gospel: its faulty view of the relationship between God and man. Simply put, if the prosperity gospel is correct, grace becomes obsolete, God becomes irrelevant, and man is the measure of all things. Whether it is the Abrahamic covenant, the Atonement, giving, faith, or the biblical interpretation of any given verse, the prosperity teacher seeks to turn the relationship between God and man into a financial quid pro quo transaction. As scholar James R. Goff noted, God is “reduced to a kind of ‘cosmic bellhop’ attending to the needs and desires of his creation.”42 This is a wholly inadequate and unbiblical view of the relationship between God and man and the stewardship of wealth.

Note: This article was originally published in Faith and Mission Vol 16, p. 79ff. Published with permission.

1 Tom Carted, ed., 2,200 Quotations from the Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), 216.

2 While it is impossible to trace the prosperity gospel back to an exact starting point, there are at least three movements from which it draws its ideas. One is the experience-centered Christianity which was birthed in the mind of nineteenth-century theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher and has come to fruition in the form of the twentieth-century Charismatic movement. A second philosophy that gave rise to the prosperity gospel was the “positive thinking” school of Norman Vincent Peale. Indeed, scholar Harvey Cox wrote concerning the prosperity gospel that “it owed much to the ‘positive thinking’ of the late Norman Vincent Peale.” Harvey Cox, Fire from Heaven (Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1995), 272. The third modern movement that has influenced the prosperity gospel is simply the “American dream,” or materialism.

3 For the purpose of this paper, the phrase “prosperity gospel” will be used.

4 Robert Tilton, God’s Word about Prosperity (Dallas, TX: Word of Faith Publications, 1983), 6.

5 David Pilgrim, “Egoism or Altruism: A Social Psychological Critique of the Prosperity Gospel of Televangelist Robert Tilton,” Journal of Religious Studies, 18.1-2 (1992): 3.

6 Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1985), 28.

7 This important covenant is mentioned numerous times in the writings of the prosperity teachers, i.e., Gloria Copeland, God’s Willis Prosperity (Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Publications, 1973), 4-6; Kenneth Copeland, The Laws of Prosperity (Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Publications, 1974), 51; idem, Our Covenant with God (Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Publications, 1987), 10; Edward Pousson, Spreading the Flame (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992), 158; and Kenneth Copeland, The Troublemaker (Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Publications, n.d.), 6.

8 Prosperity teacher Kenneth Copeland articulated his movement’s view of the inception of the Abrahamic covenant best when he wrote that “after Adam’s fall in the Garden, God needed an avenue back into the earth;… since man was the key figure in the Fall, man had to be the key figure in the redemption, so God approached a man named Abram. He reenacted with Abram what Satan had done with Adam. . . . God offered Abram a proposition and Abram bought it.” Kenneth Copeland, Our Covenant with God, 10.

9 Pousson, 158.

10 Kenneth Copeland, The Laws of Prosperity, 51.

11 Cox, 271.

12 Gal. 3:14a (NKJV).

13 Gal. 3:14b (NKJV).

14 That the Abrahamic covenant is an unconditional covenant can be demonstrated by four facts. First, the covenant ceremony in Genesis 15 was unilateral. In fact, Abraham was asleep. Second, no conditions are stated in the covenant. Third, in the restatement of the covenant in Gen. 17:7,13, and 19, the covenant is called “everlasting.” Finally, the covenant was confirmed despite Abraham’s continued disobedience and lack of faith.

15 Ken L. Sarles, “A Theological Evaluation of the Prosperity Gospel,” Bibliotheca Sacra 143 (Oct.-Dec. 1986): 339.

16 Kenneth Copeland, The Troublemaker, 6.

17 John Avanzini, “Believer’s Voice of Victory,” program on TBN, 20 January 1991. Quoted in Hank Hanegraaff, Christianity in Crisis (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1993), 381.

18 Idem, “Praise the Lord,” program on TBN, 15 September 1988. Quoted in Hanegraaff, 381.

19 Avanzini, “Believer’s Voice of Victory.”

20 2 Cor. 8:9 (NKJV).

21 2 Cor. 8:14 (NKJV).

22 Philip E. Hughes, The Second Epistle to the Corinthians, New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishers, 1962), 300.

23 Kenneth Copeland, The Laws of Prosperity, 26.

24 Gloria Copeland, God’s Will Is Prosperity, 45.

25 Theologian Ken Sarles rightly noted that “the Law of Compensation [is] the bedrock of the prosperity movement.” Sarles, 349.

26 In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus stated, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sister or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life” (NKJV). Other verses that the “Law of Compensation” is based upon include Eccl. 11:1, 2 Cor. 9:6, and Gal. 6:7.

27 Gloria Copeland, 54.

28 Luke 10:35 (NKJV).

29 Pousson, 159.

30 J. D. Douglas, and Merrill C. Tenny, eds., The New International Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing, 1987), s.v. “faith.”

31 Kenneth Copeland, The Laws of Prosperity, 19.

32 Ibid.,41.

33 Sarles, 337.

34 Sarles says that this is an “often quoted verse” in the prosperity movement. Sarles, 338. Hanegraaff wrote that 3 John 2 was a “classic example” of prosperity misinterpretation. Hanegraaff, 223. Gordon Fee called 3 John 2 “the basic Scripture text of the cult of prosperity.” Gordon Fee, “The ‘Gospel’ of Prosperity,” Reformation Today 82 (Nov.-Dec. 1984): 40. Bruce Barron wrote that 3 John 2 was “the ‘Old Faithful’ of prosperity proof texts.” Bruce Barron, The Health and Wealth Gospel (Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press, 1987), 91.

35 3 John 2 (NKJV).

36 For a full account of Roberts’ miraculous revelation concerning 3 John 2, see Barron, 62.

37 Kenneth S. Kantzer, “The Cut-Rate Grace of a Health and Wealth Gospel,” Christianity Today, vol. 29, June 1985, 14.

38 Barron, 91.

39 Joseph Henry Thayer, The New Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1981), s.v., “eiio86w.”

40 “Dear Friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (3 John 2, NIV).

41 There are numerous practical implications that arise from the prosperity gospel view on wealth. While it would take a lengthy treatise to explore and explain them all, three are important enough to be considered here. First, the prosperity gospel incorrectly implies that poverty is a sin. Teacher Robert Tilton even said that “being poor is a sin.” Robert Tilton, “Success in Life,” program on TBN, 27 December 1990, quoted in Hanegraaff, 186. Likewise, Kenneth Copeland wrote that “poverty is under the curse of the Law.” Copeland, Laws of Success, 51. Second, the prosperity gospel “appeals to the poor and the sick to put more faith in the ultimate fulfillment of their desires than in the Word of God.” Sarles, 343. Third, when the prosperity gospel does cause positive changes in a believer’s life, the prosperity teacher gets most of the credit, and when the believer does not experience prosperity, the blame is usually left upon that individual. For example, Robert Tilton offered several reasons why some believers did not experience blessings: “Individuals lacked faith, refused to follow his directions, and criticized Tilton’s ministry.” Pilgrim, 7.

42 James R. Goff, Jr., “The Faith That Claims,” Christianity Today, vol. 34, February 1990,21.

Source: David Jones, The Bankruptcy of the Prosperity Gospel: An Exercise in Biblical and Theological Ethics, http://bible.org/article/bankruptcy-prosperity-gospel-exercise-biblical-and-theological-ethics, Accessed 09/01/2013.

Note: C3ChurchWatch has permission to published this article.

Phil Pringle, Napoleon Hill… And Chuck Norris

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, Pringle's Influences

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Some people still may be skeptical about Pringle’s connections to New Thought/Occult influences. Here is another article that explores these associations. Pringle gets a casual mention alongside other problematic preachers and non-Christian teachers.

We have Herescope’s permission to reproduce this article.

Herescope writes,

“CHUCK NORRIS

HIS BELIEFS, HIS ASSOCIATIONS, HIS MISSION

By Gaylene Goodroad

When I finished my online E-booklet, My Life in “The Way”, exposing the Buddhist/Taoist/New Age roots of the martial arts,[1] I also documented the inseparable relationship to its Western point man, Chuck Norris.[2] Norris is a martial artist, actor, author, political activist—and professing Christian—which necessitates the need for discerning Christians influenced by his celebrity to weigh his beliefs, his associations, and his mission with the Bible.

CHUCK NORRIS: HIS BELIEFS

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

(Rom. 16:17)

As I documented in My Life in “The Way”, Mr. Norris kept his 1988 autobiography, The Secret of Inner Strength: My Story, very secular. While there is no mention of a Christian conversion or belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, he admits to being influenced by New Thought/Human Potential gurus, Napoleon Hill and Dr. Joseph Murphy.[3] Mr. Norris routinely utilizes and affirms the use of visualization techniques throughout his book while recounting famous karate matches with other notable martial artists. Commenting on this practice I wrote:

Much could be said concerning the occult/metaphysical nature of the human potential movement, but suffice it to say, it is NOT Christian. Napoleon Hill was given his formula of success—the “Supreme Secret”—from unseen visitors on the astral plane calling themselves “The Venerable Brotherhood of Ancient India.” They taught Hill the power of visualization and his famous maxim, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” His most popular book, Think and Grow Rich, influenced millions. This demonic philosophy is behind such motivational teachings of the late Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller, and Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret.[4]

With prompting and inspiration from his second wife, Gena,[5] Norris wrote a second “Christian” autobiography, Against All Odds, in 2004. In it, Mr. Norris says that he trusted Christ as his Savior at age 12 (sometime in 1952), while making a commitment to Him sometime later after going forward at a Billy Graham Crusade.[6] Despite this public profession of faith, Mr. Norris fails to recant neither his New Thought/Mind-Science techniques nor the core philosophies of the martial arts—teachings and practices that are completely incompatible with true Christianity.[7] Also troubling is an underlying “might makes right” attitude inherent in the fighting arts. On page 30, Mr. Norris records this story:

The ambushers beat him up badly [an Air Force policeman] and robbed him. [He] was a black belt in tang soo do. When the slicky boys found this out, they were so horrified at the potential reprisal they might suffer, they printed an apology in the local paper. It did them no good. When somebody messes with one black belt, he or she is challenging the whole organization. One of our members tracked down several of the attackers. He killed one and injured two. The police arrested him, and he was sentenced to three years in prison. He was back out on the street in two weeks. The lesson was clear: Mess with one member of our group, and your messing with all.[8]

The Bible says that murder is wrong and that vengeance belongs to the LORD.[9]

On the contrary, Mr. Norris has retained this unbiblical mixture of beliefs and practices and has made them a primary part of his life’s work. I documented his most disturbing belief (and teaching) in my E-booklet:

Forty-four years after his professed conversion, and in between his two autobiographies, Chuck Norris published another book in 1996 entitled: The Secret Power Within: Zen Solutions to Real Problems. This book is a real problem for Christians. The reader discovers the “secret power within” on pages 127-130: “Ki: The Universal Power.” “The fact is that everyone has ki, which is really little more than a technique of visualization allowing one to utilize the internal energy that we all have and letting it flow through the body…”[10]

On page 36 of My Life in “The Way”, I made this observation followed by a probing question:

By now, the Christian reader is rightfully confused regarding the source of Mr. Norris’ “secret inner strength,” and “secret power within.” Has he made the same deleterious leap as Michael Chen and Rev. Jordan in equating the impersonal “ki” force (kundalini power) with the Holy Spirit of the Living God—the third person of the triune godhead? Has he unwittingly become a de facto false teacher of Far Eastern mysticism in woolen garb like this author did before fully repenting—and renouncing the martial arts? Let the evidence speak.

CHUCK NORRIS: HIS ASSOCIATIONS

For there must also be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may have become evident among you

(1 Cor. 11:19)

It has already been established that Mr. Norris’ faith is a heady mix of Christianity, New Thought and Zen Buddhism. A closer inspection reveals that his peculiar brand of Christianity is strictly of the charismatic Word-Faith variety. He has been a motivational speaker for T.D. Jakes Ministries and the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN),[11] as well as Ed Cole Ministries. He will be a featured speaker at the 2010 Lion’s Roar Global Men’s Summit in Dallas in November,[12] a ministry of the Christian Men’s Network (CMN) begun by the late Cole.[13] Dr. Cole was nurtured under the ministry of Aimee Semple McPherson, becoming an Assemblies of God pastor within two years of his conversion.[14] He later became a men’s motivational lecturer and the inspiration for Promise Keepers.[15] Cole has mentored many influential men including Bill McCartney, John Maxwell, Pat Robertson, Kenneth Copeland, Oliver North, Kong Hee, Sunday Adelaja… and Chuck Norris.[16] Adelaja, a key New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) apostle and 7 Mountain/Sphere Mandate promoter, has led teaching seminars with Norris, ex-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mel Gibson.[17] Among many Word-Faith notables, Norris will share the Lion’s Roar Summit platform with Mike Hayes, Kong Hee, Brian Houston, Jack Hayford, Eddie Long, Phil Pringle, and Jim Garlow,[18] Christian right activist and chair of Newt Gingrich’s ReAL (Renewing American Leadership).[19]

Norris endorsed Joel Osteen’s 2004 book, Your Best Life Now,[20] and in the introduction to his latest book, Black Belt Patriotism, Mr. Norris commends Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life.[21] Mr. Norris received an honorary doctorate from Liberty University in 2008,[22] the same school that hosted the “Awakening 2010 Conference” in April that featured prominent Dominionists,[23] and that invited Mormon Glenn Beck to deliver its 2010 Commencement Address.[24]

Chuck Norris, along with his wife Gena, is also on the Board of Directors of the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools (NCBCPS),[25] which appears to be a commendable organization until a closer examination is made. The vice president of this council is (Ret.) Col. Jim Ammerman, an apostle in C. Peter Wagner’s International Coalition of Apostles (ICA), a component of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), and personal friend to John Hagee and Kenneth Copeland.[26] Among the luminaries on the NCBCPS Advisory Board, is Janet Folger Porter, the May Day Event organizer who lost her Faith2Action radio program on VCY America after Herescope posted a series of articles exposing her ties to Dominonism.[27] Porter, like Norris, also writes a column for WorldNetDaily.[28]

Also noted is NCBCPS Advisory Board member, David Barton, a patriotic Dominionist and historical revisionist,[29] who has influenced not only the NCBCPS curriculum, but Fox News host Glenn Beck[30] and the Texas State Board of Education.[31] Barton’s version of history is also a prominent feature of Norris’ latest book, Black Belt Patriotism, How To Reawaken America.[32]

Todd DuBord, Chuck Norris’ chaplain (TopKick Productions) and researcher,[33] was interviewed on Wallbuilders Live! (Barton’s radio program) in March of 2009 by Rick Green, a former Texas legislator marked by ethical improprieties who failed an attempt at becoming a Texas Supreme Court Judge in April 2010—despite glowing endorsements from David Barton… and Chuck Norris.[34] In the radio interview, DuBord referred to Black Belt Patriotism as a “Christian Cultural Manifesto,”

…A hardcore look at what our Founders believed and a way to reawaken America and to get back to that vision—very similar to what Wallbuilders is all about. In fact, we [Chuck and Todd] use many, many resources from Wallbuilders and always appreciate your guy’s ministry.[35]

David Barton also has strong ties to former House Speaker, Newt Gingrich, founder of Renewing American Leadership (ReAL),[36] and possible presidential candidate in 2012[37] —who also has a working relationship with Chuck Norris. In 2008, Norris appeared in drilling ads for Gingrich’s American Solutions for Winning the Future campaign.[38] In May, Norris was a featured speaker at the National NRA Convention in Charlotte, N.C., alongside Gingrich, Sarah Palin, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., Lt. Col. Oliver North, and Glenn Beck,[39] who frequently features Barton on his TV/radio program[40], and related special events.[41]

Chuck Norris has not only thrown his celebrity behind a famous Word-Faith author (Osteen), a Texas Supreme Court judge hopeful (Rick Green), but also endorsed former Republican Arkansas Governor and Fox News host Mike Huckabee for president in 2007-2008.[42] Incredibly, Huckabee appeared in an ad with money preacher, Kenneth Copeland, in the December 2007 issue of Charisma magazine and spent a week on Copeland’s TV daily broadcast, the Believers Voice of Victory—at the same time that the Senate Finance Committee launched an investigation into the Copelands (and several other multimillion-dollar Word-Faith ministry moguls).[43] Instead of distancing himself from Copeland, Huckabee accepted a $29,000 personal donation from Copeland, held a fundraiser at the Copeland estate raising upwards of $100,000[44] —and even appeared in a live webcast pastor’s conference sponsored by Kenneth Copeland Ministries requesting emergency funds. One report says that following Huckabee’s plea, $111,000 in cash was raised for Huckabee, with an additional unspecified amount given in campaign pledges presumed to be in excess of a million dollars.[45]

As mentioned previously, Chuck Norris is a columnist for WorldNetDaily (WND),[46] a conservative online news source founded by Joseph Farah, a Dominionist sympathizer[47] with radical right views.[48] Farah just re-released his Dominionist-leaning 2005 book, Taking America Back: A Radical Plan to Revive Freedom, Morality, and Justice, as well introducing his latest work, The Tea Party Manifesto: A Vision for an American Rebirth earlier this year.[49] In September, WND and Farah will host the “Taking America Back Convention,” in Miami, FL. Speakers will include author, political commentator, and syndicated columnist Ann Coulter, Rep. Michele Bachmann R-Minn., constitutional lawyer Michael Farris, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), Alan Keyes, Christian right political activist, and Bible teacher Chuck Missler (Koinonia House).[50]

CHUCK NORRIS: HIS MISSION

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ 

(Phil. 3:17-20)

Despite the personal notoriety, Chuck Norris considers his life’s mission to be KickStartKids, a martial arts program for at-risk school children that former President H.W. Bush helped him start in 1992.[51] Norris has said, “martial arts training provides them [at-risk children] with the core values and philosophies associated with leading a productive and healthy life…”[52] According to Norris, those “core values and philosophies,” taught in the KickStart program, square with the Bible. “The martial arts is a philosophy that is pretty much the principles in the Bible. Even though we can’t talk about Jesus, we can talk about what Jesus talks about in the Bible—love, loving your neighbor, being good people.”[53]

It has previously been established that the root philosophies and underlying values of the martial arts are completely at odds with the Bible.[54] Nevertheless, Mr. Norris has a vision to establish this program in every school in America, growing his nearly 7,000 students into 24,000,000 and beyond.[55] All the proceeds from Norris’ book sales and projects like his World Combat League, airing on the Versus Channel, go to KickStartKids.[56] In 2009, Norris received the McLane Leadership in Business Award by President Bush Sr., “for his service to America’s youth.”[57] Accepting the award, Norris told the audience, “I’m a product of what martial arts can do for you, it turned my whole life around…It changed a young, insecure, nonathletic kid into a world champion and renowned actor.”[58]

In keeping with his “service to youth,” Chuck Norris and Pastor Todd DuBord wrote The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book in November of 2009.[59] The book (published by Tyndale Publishing) is a compilation of mythical sayings (in the spirit of Paul Bunyan) with inspirational messages woven in—“many of which reintroduce Americans, particularly our youth, to our Founder’s America.”[60] These Chuck Norris “facts” have become an Internet phenomenon, such as “Chuck Norris puts the laughter in manslaughter,” and “There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Oklahoma.” Norris has even become a cult hero among American—and Iraqi forces.[61]

Norris posed the following questions in a March 2009 column posted in WorldNetDaily, “How much more will Americans take? When will enough be enough? And, when that time comes, will our leaders finally listen or will history need to record a second American Revolution?[62] Six months later, Norris wrote a piece entitled: “The Secret Weapon in America’s Revolution.” Here is the “secret weapon”:

I believe young people will play a critical role in reawakening and returning America again to its Founding Father’s vision, ways and principles…I believe there exists a latent power in this particular generation that waits to be awakened and reveal its full potential…I’m not talking about selling them on a partisan platform, but a patriot one (as our Founders had.)… [63]

(This sounds alarmingly like Dominionism’s “New Breed.”)[64] In the Black Belt Patriotism chapter entitled, “Calling All Millennials!,” Norris gives this charge to his younger readers:

We need you to help us reawaken America and rebuild what our Founding Fathers started…If you’re a Millennial, consider this an invitation. We need your help. I need your help to join me and millions of others in a revolution (or, if you will, a rebelution), not to abandon the principles of the past but combine them with social action in the present to build a better tomorrow. In other words, it’s time to make some noise![65]

In the introduction to this book, Chuck Norris makes this statement: “I’ve committed the rest of my life to help Old Glory rise again to her heights of splendor.” He followed his remarks with a visit back to the Alamo (coincidently the same locale for the Patriot Pastor’s Tea Party Rich Scarborough held July 7),[66] proudly detailing the human casualties in this infamous battle. He concluded the historical narrative by saying, “They lost that battle but would provide the inspiration to win the war. Their fighting spirit rallied the new found republic and still does to this day. So when you think all is lost in America, remember the Alamo!”[67]

Human beings were killed in this armed revolution. Is this the kind of “revolution” he has planned for the youth—the Millennials— of America? Decide for yourself. Norris closes this intro with a quote from General Sam Houston, former governor of Texas and leader of the Texas Revolution of 1835.[68]

We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest, and must conquer or perish. It is vain to look for present aid: none is at hand. We must now act or abandon all hope! Rally to the standard, and be no longer the scoff of mercenary tongues! Be men, be free men, that your children may bless their father’s name.

ENDNOTES:
1. Scroll down my blog page, http://mylifeintheway.blogspot.com, and click the (pdf) link on the bottom of the page to read my free e-booklet, My Life in “The Way,” From the Broad Way of the East to the Narrow Way of Christ. See Herescope review: http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-life-in-way.html
2. My Life in “The Way,” pp. 29-36.
3. Ibid., pg. 29.
4. Ibid. (Note: For an in depth background on New Thought, see Pastor Larry DeBruyn’s excellent article: “Bewitched! Evil Eye Over Evangelicalism,” Discernment Group, http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NL_MarchApril2010.pdf).
5. Laura J. Bagby, “A Powerful Witness: Chuck Norris Gets a Kick out of Life,” http://www.cbn.com/entertainment/screen/bagby_chucknorris_0904.aspx.
6. Carlos Ray Norris, Against All Odds, B & H Publishing Group, Nashville, TN, pp. 22, 29-30.
7. My Life in “The Way,” pg. 30.
8. Against All Odds, pg 30.
9. See: Ex. 20:13; Rom. 12:19.
10. My Life in “The Way,” pg. 31.
11. Chuck Norris official website, http://chucknorris.com/html/biog.html. (Note: For an expose` on T.D. Jakes, see Pastor Larry DeBruyn’s article: “Eroticizing the Eucharist,” Pastor DeBruyn’s website, http://guardinghisflock.com/2010/03/04/eroticizing-the-eucharist-1/).
12. Lions Roar 2010, http://lionsroar.majoringinmen.com/?page_id=21.
13. http://www.lionsroar2010.com/?page_id=46; Black Belt Patriotism, pp. 163-164.
14. Ed Cole Library, http://edcole.org/index.php?fuseaction=edcole.main.
15. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Louis_Cole.
16. Ed Cole Library, http://www.disciplemen.com/node/829; Black Belt Patriotism, pp. 163-164.
17. Robert Duncan, “Sunday Adelaja: Europe’s Mega-Church Leader,” Spero News, Nov. 1, 2006, http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=34&idsub=127&id=6370&t=Sunday+Adelaja%3A+Europe’s+Mega-Church+Leader; Pastor Adelaja’s church website, http://www.godembassy.org/en/news/news_publ.php?search=chuck norris&showdetail=538; http://www.godembassy.org/en/news/news_publ.php?search=chuck norris&showdetail=1160; (Note: to read more on Pastor Adelaja, see Herescope, http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/05/mainstreaming-dominionism.html).
18. Lions Roar 2010, http://lionsroar.majoringinmen.com/?page_id=21.
19. Herescope, “Mainstreaming Dominionism,” http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/05/mainstreaming-dominionism.html.
20. Daryl Wingerd, “A Critical review of Your Best Life Now, by Joel Osteen,” http://ccwonline.org/osteen1.html.
21. Chuck Norris, Black Belt Patriotism, Fidelis Books, imprint of B & H Publishing Group, Nashville, TN, 2010, pg. 9.
22. Katherine T. Phan, Christian Post, http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080514/chuck-norris-tells-liberty-univ-grads-to-let-god-direct-steps/index.html.
23. Liberty University website, http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=17574.
24. Glenn Beck website, http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/40278/.
25. NCBCPS website, http://www.bibleinschools.net/About-Us/Board-of-Director-and-Advisors.
26. Talk To Action, Part Two – “Conspiracy as Prophecy,” http://militaryreligiousfreedom.org/press-releases/t2a_conspiracy.html; http://www.talk2action.org/printpage/2009/6/3/12516/15056.
27. http://www.crosstalkamerica.com/shows/2010/06/the_gospel_is_more_important_t.php;Herescope, http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/04/may-day-prayers.html; http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/janet-porter-goes-warpath; (Note: For more info on Dominionism, see Derek Gilbert interview with Sarah Leslie, “VFTB 048-False Christs and False Prophets,” PID Radio, http://www.pidradio.com/?p=875 follow links on page); and Marsha West, “Damnable Heresies Invading the Church,” May 29, 2010, http://www.newswithviews.com/West/marsha197.htm.
28. WND website, http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=46; http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=43&authorId=88&tId=8.
29. NCBCPS website, http://www.bibleinschools.net/About-Us/Board-of-Directors-and-Advisors; http://www.liarsforjesus.com/; Chris Rodda, “Chuck Norris Helps the NCBCPS Spread David Barton’s Lies,” http://www.talk2action.org/story/2007/4/15/04011/4130; Herescope, “Mainstreaming Dominionism,” http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/05/mainstreaming-dominionism.html.
30. Karl Frisch, “Author debunks butchering of 1809 Adams letter by ‘Christian nationalist pseudo-historian” and Beck,’” http://mediamatters.org/print/blog/201006250036.
31. http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/barton-named-texas-school-board-experts-panel; http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/education/tx_textbook_controversy_030810.
32. Black Belt Patriotism; See extensive footnoting of David Barton: pp. 246, 256- 257, 259, 261, 264, 266.
33. Todd DuBord’s Official website, http://www.nationaltreasures.org/; Black Belt Patriotism, pg. 223.
34. Justin Elliott, “Leading Texas Supreme Court Candidate Has Checkered Ethical Past, Religious-Right Worldview,” http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/meet_rick_green_next_texas_supreme_court_justice.php
“Disaster (Barely) Averted: Rick Green Loses Texas Supreme Court Run-Off,” http://www.rightwingwatch.org/print/5194.
35. Todd DuBord with Rick Green, “Saving Our National Treasures,” Friday, May 08, 2009, Wallbuilder’s Live! Website, http://www.wallbuilderslive.com/archives.asp?d=200905.
36. Dan Gilgoff, “Newt Gingrich Steps Up Efforts to Mobilize Religious Conservatives,” http://politics.usnews.com/news/religion/articles/2009/03/20/newt-gingrich-steps-up-efforts-to-mobilize-religious-conservatives_print.html; Gingrich interviewed by Barton & Green, Mar. 23, 2009, http://www.wallbuilderslive.com/archives.asp?d=200903.
37. Des Moines, IA-AP, July 12, 2010, “Gingrich Calls Obama ‘Disaster,’ Says He’s Weighing 2012 Presidential Bid,” http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/12/gingrich-calls-obama-disaster-says-hes-weighing-presidential-bid/.
38. Noel Sheppard, “Chuck Norris for American Solutions: Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less!”, http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/06/14/chuck-norris-american-solutions-drill-here-drill-now-pay-less
39. Jim Morrill, “NRA convention may draw 70,000 to uptown Charlotte this weekend,”
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/12/1430302/70000-expected-at-nra-meet.html
40. David Barton on Glenn Beck, Part 1 of 5, ReAL video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MTLG3_y_Xc; Barton interviewed on Beck’s radio program, http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/39831/.
41. David Barton was scheduled to speak on “faith,” at Beck’s “American Revival” meeting in Salt Lake City July 17; Glenn Beck website, http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/42960/.
42. “Chuck Norris Endorses Mike Huckabee for President,” Oct. 22, 2007, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,304096,00.html; http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=44234.
43. David Van Biema, “Huckabee Stands By a Televangelist,” http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1684330,00.html; Michelle Vu, “Huckabee Undeterred by Senate Probe of Copeland,” http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071123/huckabee-undeterred-by-senate-probe-of-copeland/index.html
44. “The Huckabee Copeland Connection,” http://thoughtsongod.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/the-huckabee-copeland-connection/.
45. Allie Martin, “Copeland Ministries accused of ‘shady’ Huckabee donation,” Jan. 31, 2008, http://www.onenewsnow.com/Printer.aspx?id-66025.
46. WND Authors & Commentators page, http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=33.
47. A “clear-eyed, Christ-centered Worldview”? June 15, 2006, http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/06/clear-eyed-christ-centered-worldview.html.
48. Herescope, “R & R Revival and Revolt: The Tea Party’s Strange Bedfellows and What They Believe,” Apr. 22, 2010, http://herescope.blogspot.com/2010/04/r-revival-and-revolt.html.
49. WND bookstore online, http://superstore.wnd.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=1755; http://superstore.wnd.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=3754.
50. http://www.takingamericaback2010.com/speakers.html.
51. Black Belt Patriotism, pg. 157.
52. Ibid, pp. 157-158.
53. Laura J. Bagby article; (Note: See My Life in “The Way,” pg. 34).
54. My Life in “The Way” (See endnote #1).
55. KickStart Official website, http://www.kick-start.org/chuck.html.
56. Chuck Norris, “Questions I am asked most about martial arts,” WND, http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56560; Meghan Cooke, “Chuck Norris draws long line of admirers,” http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/15/1437576/chuck-norris-draws-long-line-of.html.
57. Meredith Stancik, “Chuck Norris Receives Leadership in Business Award,” Mar. 31, 2009, http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/42236757.html.
58. Matt Woolbright, “Martial arts legend speaks about his life, accomplishments,” http://www.thebatt.com/2.8485/bush-presents-chuck-norris-with-award-1.1182956.
59. Todd Dubord’s Official website, http://www.nationaltreasures.org/.
60. Chuck Norris, “The Secret Weapon in America’s Revolution,” http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?print=yes&id=33748.
61. Mohammed Abbas, “Norris Gains Cult Status Among Troops,” Mar. 3, 2008, Reuters, http://news.aol.com/story/_a/norris-gains-cult-status-among-troops/20080310090409990001
62. Chuck Norris, “I may run for president of Texas,” March 9, 2009, WND; http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=91103.
63. Chuck Norris, “The Secret Weapon in America’s Revolution,” Sept. 29, 2009, http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?print=yes&id=33748.
64. Jewel Grewe, “A New Breed Arising,” Discernment Newsletter, March/April 2009, Vol. 20, No. 2, http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLMarchApril_2009.htm.
65. Black Belt Patriotism, pp. 156-157.
66. Vision America website, http://www.visionamerica.us/pastors/national-patriot-pastors-tea-party/
67. Black Belt Patriotism, pg. 12.
68. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Houston; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Revolution.
NOTE: Emphases in quoted material may have been added.”

C3 Bible College Students Taught To Be Manipulative Leaders

05 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, Pringl'es Books, Pringle's Beliefs, Pringle's Doctrine/Gospel, Pringle's Influences, Pringle's Laws

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We value our readers contribution to the C3 Church Watch. Recently we had a student pass on their C3 College materials to us.

They said,

“I had to take a leadership course (much to my annoyance). PDF documents were given to us on a CD. These documents were our subject readings to help us with ministry and our assessments. Unfortunately, the students alongside me  in these classes were studying for a bachelor of theology.”

Do you think these resources meet the requirements for students studying at bachelor level? Are the methods taught morally sound?

You The Leader p292-353

You the Leader p263 – 291

Winning p25 – 35 Jack Welch

Understanding Influence p 42 – 66

The Empowered Church Chapter 4

The Empowered Church Chapter 3

The Empowered Church Chapter 1

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader p111 – 119

Spiritual Leadership Chapter 4 p27-33

New Leaders p327 – 332

Leadership Excellence p203 – 226

Leaders on Leadership p123 – 148

Identifying & Developing p9 – 14

Growing Leaders Chapter 3 p41-56

Developing the Leaders Around You p 61 – 82

Developing the Leader Within You pp161_178

‘Winning’ is a book written by Jack Welch of General Electrics (GE). Welch had manage to earn the company massive revenue. When Welch retired in 2001, GE’s revenue had grown from $26.8 billion to more than $410 billion by 2004. Because of the success and growing revenue that was caused by Welch, do you think the C3 Colleges want to create ministers for themselves with the same drive for success?

John Maxwell has been rightly critiqued on the web for his misuse of scripture. For example, Biblical Discernment says:

“Major concerns about Maxwell’s material, broadly speaking, are: First, the manner in which Maxwell handles the Scriptures to “teach” his principles is sometimes egregiously mistaken, i.e., the Bible is not teaching the principles that Maxwell contends it is. His handling of the Scripture indicates Maxwell does not know (or at least is not utilizing) the proper methods of Biblical interpretation. Second, Maxwell either implicitly or explicitly endorses some New Age teachers and doctrines. Third, Maxwell employs questionable theological doctrines—such as a mistaken notion of the miraculous, a conspicuous absence of the cross, and various psychological doctrines, including self-esteem psychology and temperaments psychology.” – John Beardsley, http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/maxwell/general.htm, November 2003.

Dr. Richard G. Howe has a B.A. in Bible from Mississippi College, an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Mississippi, a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Arkansas. He is a Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics and Director of the Ph.D. program at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, NC. He is also a contributing writer for the Christian Research Journal and has contributed to several apologetics books.1 Read his article on John Maxwell in the pdf below (emphasis mine):

Some Concerns about John C. Maxwell2

You will also observe that degree students were given extracts from Phil Pringle’s (head of the C3 Church Movement) books. These are some quotes from the above PDF ‘You The Leader’ by Phil Pringle that students had to read3:

“If we cannot serve a person who we can see, how can we serve a God whom we cannot see? Some just have to have their own thing and be the “boss”. I grieve for these people who have become the King of their own tiny mound, when they could have been a Prince in a major organization.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 293-4.

“The people we choose are to “fight for us.” The people we choose must have the ability to fight and win. They have proven themselves in spiritual battles and triumphed. They are overcomers. They display consistently positive attitudes. These people do not just attend, support or watch, but they fight. For us! They do not just fight for their own victories. They fight for the church. They defend the Pastor when he’s criticized. They fight for the church’s reputation, health and her finances. They are genuine soldiers for God.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 317.

“We have a program in our church called “Harvest Now.” Within this program are eight initiatives that are designed to reach the unchurched for Christ. One of those initiatives is contacting people who were previously members of our church and have slipped away. I so admire the people involved in this because they hear all the worst criticisms about the Pastor, about the church and about what we do, yet they keep reaching out to these people and eventually win them back to the Lord. These people have to be soldiers. They can’t be involved in the conversation, listening to all the disaffections of these people, (which often sound very plausible), and get swung over to the negative. There is a war with perceptions that are deposited in these people’s minds by the devil. Those involved in dismantling them must be tough enough to “fight for us”…

When we’re in the trenches being fired at, I don’t want soldiers at my side wondering why their leader is being fired upon. People like this can eventually turn their guns on their leader. They imagine the enemy must have good reason for shooting at him and so begin firing at him also… I want to know my guys will be loyal to me when the attacks are unjustified, and when they are justified.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 317-318.

“I don’t expect to live my life without making a few mistakes. I want them to help me get through whatever the mistake is, so we can get to the end of this calling together. The church for too long has shot its wounded. We’ve got to heal fallen soldiers. Hopefully I have learned that if I give mercy, my people will return it when I need it. I’ve seen pastors who are hard and merciless on their people. When they make mistakes (which everyone does), mercy simply isn’t there. It has never been modeled. It’s not a part of their culture.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 318.

“All the ministries in our churches, from Youth Leaders through to Music Directors and Associate Pastors are best “home-grown”. Abraham trained those who were born “in his own house,” to be an extremely effective band of soldiers (Gen 14:14)… Those people God gives us are rarely trained when they come. This is so that we can place our particular anointing and culture into their lives. They come unready, so that we can go to work at making them ready.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 319.

“People can become anything under the right conditions.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 319.

“Peter Wagner notes that men who have not had formal training but have been developed in “apprenticeship” situations lead all the fastest growing and largest churches of South America. They have been in harness with another man of God; doing the business, not just learning about it.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 320.

“Abraham’s method is far preferable to getting someone from elsewhere. If people do come from outside, give them time to be “baptised” into the church, so they “own” the vision like everybody else. To become true sons and daughters of the church they need to drink the milk (accept the teaching), imbibe the spirit (accept the attitude of the church), and accept the name (be proud of belonging to your congregation).” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 320.

Another PDF Reader is taken from a book called ‘Understanding Influence for Leaders at all Levels’. Look at the contents of the book4:

  • Preface
  • 1. Power and influence
    Nick Forster
  • 2. Persuasion and influence
    Caroline Hatcher
  • 3. Charisma and influence
    Des Guilfoyle
  • 4. The power of positive spin
    Tom Murrell
  • 5. The power of networking
    Robyn Henderson
  • 6. The power of knowledge
    Alastair Rylatt
  • 7. Influencing behaviour in organisations
    Liza Spence and John Eales
  • 8. Influencing fundamental change
    Dr Phil Harker

One has to ask the following questions. Who in the Bible Colleges read this book and included it as a core reading for the students ‘Leadership Course’? Secondly, have they any discernment on what influence these teachings may have on Christian ministers who leave C3’s Bible College? The chapter given to students to read was Persuasion and influence by Caroline Hatcher. Some sub-chapters are ‘What Is Persuasion’, ‘Persuasion and Soft Control’, ‘The Power of Identification’, ‘Audience, Audience, Audience’ and ‘Winning Words’.

This pdf resource is teaching Christian students how to pdf persuasive and manipulative. Here are some excerpts (emphasis mine):

“… managers can increase their persuasive impact if their staff experience a heightened engagement within the interaction.” (pg. 44)

“The concept of rhetoric, or the art of persuasion, is based on the notion that language can act as a symbolic means of inducing cooperation because people, by their nature, respond to symbols.” (pg. 44)

A rather significant quote in this PDF is this one:

“An important part of persuasion occurs when managers and employees ‘imagine’ or envision together.” (pg. 44)

I would like to suggest that this pdf is actually a photocopy of the actual book that can actually be found in the C3 Library. I say this because in browsing C3’s libraries in the past, the books Pringle references in his own books can be found there. Consider this above statement in relation to what he said in his pdf ‘You The Leader’:

“Abraham’s method is far preferable to getting someone from elsewhere. If people do come from outside, give them time to be “baptised” into the church, so they “own” the vision like everybody else. To become true sons and daughters of the church they need to drink the milk (accept the teaching), imbibe the spirit (accept the attitude of the church), and accept the name (be proud of belonging to your congregation).” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 320.

It almost seems plausible that Phil Pringle has learnt the manipulative teachings of persuasion, put it into practice and justified this deceptive tactic by mangling scriptures to suit his purposes. Even if this speculation is wrong, the tactics taught are practically identical, one just disguised more with Christian jargon.

Caroline Hatcher continues:

“… we can also be persuaded more indirectly, when meaning is channeled through heuristic cues. These heuristic cues are the rules that guide how we make sense of the world. All of us carry rules around in our heads that we have learned from childhood and that we develop through our experience…  In other words, although the specifics of the message are important, many of the meta-messages-the messages about how to understand a message-are critical also and are part of the persuasive process. (pg. 44-45)

It is highly concerning that Phil Pringle and the C3 Colleges think it is ethical to train upcoming ministers to use such manipulative tactics within the church environment. This goes directly against scripture and the Spirit of God (emphasis mine):

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.” – Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 1:17

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” – Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 2:1-4

For some say, “His [Paul’s] letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” – Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 10:10

“I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.” – Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 11:6

“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” – Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 11:1

“Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” – Apostle Paul, 1 Philipians 3:17

“Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.” – Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 4:16-20

The PDF later says (emphasis mine):

“You will need to consider whether your audience will oppose or agree with your ideas. You also need to consider their values and attitudes. The recent movie What women want with Mel Gibson explored just this idea. Gibson played a male chauvinist advertising agency star. He developed the ability to read women’s minds following an accident.  This new-found talent allowed Gibson to come up with advertisements that women loved. Why? He started with what women wanted rather than starting from his own perspective.

This facility of reaching into the mind of your audience might not be so simple outside life in the movies, but it does demonstrate that the real test of an effective message is not what the originator of the idea holds dear. Rather, understanding how the audience is thinking about an issue is critical, and respecting their perspective on things that will affect them will pay dividends.” (pg. 51)

However, it should be the desire and goal for upcoming Christians ministers to be persuasive only through the faithful preaching of God’s Word and in Godly conduct:

“Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.”  – Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 1:12

The C3 College student ended their conversation with us with this:

“If any is curious what I did for my assessment with the above PDF’s, I treated the essay as a spoof. I wrote it like a parody and received a good mark. The lecturer even inquired if I had taken my concept from another persons work and didn’t acknowledge them.

Please feel free to pass this article on to others if they are considering studying at a C3 Bible/Leadership or Creative Arts College. Please make comments quoting the readings in case they point out some major concerns with C3’s educational values.”

In closing, we would like to challenge anyone reading this article to consider why C3’s Colleges gave this type of material to their B.A. students.5

Don’t you think C3 has a lot to gain if they developed students who were fed this type of material?

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1. Information on Dr Howe can be found here: http://www.richardghowe.com/. (Accessed 05/01/2011)
2. In case the article is taken down, read the pdf here: Some Concerns about John C. Maxwell.
3. The quotes from the students readings came from an earlier edition of Phil Pringle’s book ‘You The Leader’.
4. Link: http://www.8mmedia.com/Influence%20page.htm (Accessed 05/01/2012)
5. C3 Colleges no longer have the B.A of Theology courses due to Sydney College of Divinity investigating issues within their B.A. program.