There Has Been A Change

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

He is an old, ancient spirit...been around a long, long time. Old Baalam had some of it. The Cathedral of Wisdom and Mike Murdock is a great proponent of this old spirit. Our "Apostolic Prophet" has been listening to too many of his tapes...even using some of his exact verbage used by him.

But, it is not just that alone...only a small portion of the whole feeling of dispair that I have this morning. I don't even know if I will make it to the campgrounds this morning at all. I am still in my motel room.

If what I have seen and felt here is an indication...the whole Apostolic movement as we know it, has made a sharp turn toward error and is becoming embued with a strange spirit that I would have never thought to be possible.

It has been 25 years since...It may be another 25 years before I make this journey here again.

I learned last night, they don't even have Youth Camp here anymore. In my day, in the 1950s that was the highlight of the whole year to which we all looked forward to with such excitement. The music is strange, the spirit is strange, the words from the pulpit are becoming strange. There is still the FORM, but....????

Interesting.

Are you speaking of "prosperity teaching" alone, or a broader de-emphasis of the Word of God in exchange for worldly wisdom and ethics?

[Dimples]

Originally Posted by Cotton Mather

IMO (thanks tbpew), I think Brother Strange just recognized a spiritual shift among the people he used to fellowship closely with. Apparently he doesn't like the direction they have gone and things they are accepting.

That's how I read it too.

It does seem that there seems to be a change in what the crowd responds to. Seems many prefer the sensationalism over anything. It grieves me.

I have been in services where the crowd stands and claps throughout the entire sermon. We have become so programmed to respond in a way that inflates a preacher's ego that we forget to actually listen and respond to the Word.

This trend is dangerous. I honestly believe someone could proclaim beelzebub as god and most would just continue clapping. We need more hearers of the Word.

[tbpew]

I can read that BroStrange experienced something that has larger "atmospherics" then he could immediately articulate.

Though, he has now used two definite references to recognizing a (familar?) spirit. He also acknowedged that this 'ancient' operator [the spirit] was involved with Balaam.

In my reading of his [Balaam's] role, I see him as being a vehicle to bring a curse upon the assembly. His motive was as a hierling and ultimately his counsels were to invite the daughters of men to fellowship the "sons of God".

So while the observer may not be able to put his finger on the overall atmosphere brewing among his brethren, what he did understand clearly should be shared since the setting of this thread is very sober.

[LaGirl]

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

He is an old, ancient spirit...been around a long, long time. Old Baalam had some of it. The Cathedral of Wisdom and Mike Murdock is a great proponent of this old spirit. Our "Apostolic Prophet" has been listening to too many of his tapes...even using some of his exact verbage used by him.

But, it is not just that alone...only a small portion of the whole feeling of dispair that I have this morning. I don't even know if I will make it to the campgrounds this morning at all. I am still in my motel room.

If what I have seen and felt here is an indication...the whole Apostolic movement as we know it, has made a sharp turn toward error and is becoming embued with a strange spirit that I would have never thought to be possible.

It has been 25 years since...It may be another 25 years before I make this journey here again.

I learned last night, they don't even have Youth Camp here anymore. In my day, in the 1950s that was the highlight of the whole year to which we all looked forward to with such excitement. The music is strange, the spirit is strange, the words from the pulpit are becoming strange. There is still the FORM, but....????

are you saying they do not have youth camps at the La camp grounds??

Originally Posted by Cotton Mather

Interesting.

Are you speaking of "prosperity teaching" alone, or a broader de-emphasis of the Word of God in exchange for worldly wisdom and ethics?

The old Prosperity spirit is not hard to identify. He is the Prince of many spirits of which the Cathedral of Wisdom is a subset of very subtle spirits. Why would anyone that claims to be Apostolic drink in such a wicked spirit? And then, to be given freedom of the pulpit to offer the entire District a drink of the same old water of error?

It is beyond me. Are we so far removed from the old landmarks? Have we drifted so far away from our moorings that we are now lost at sea? Is there anyone left out there? Is the city empty? Has all been vastated?

[CC1]

Originally Posted by revrandy

What did WH say that was disturbing?

He said some good things but some of what disturbed me was when he spoke about saints supporting pastors through bad times, mistakes, etc.

He used as an example of how people should be a story about preaching at a church years ago where there was a little old Cowboy in his 70's. The pastor asked the old man to come testify for WH to hear. The testimony was how that a long time ago "a man came in and headed to the front saying he was going to hit my good pastor. I stepped forward and said wait a minute sir, before you hit my good pastor you are going to have to go through me".

Now we all can appreciate that all of us would protect our pastor from bodily harm but this story was used to promote almost a vigilante type atttiude.

The whole sermon was pretty much about ignoring pastor's mistakes, supporting them no matter what, and an unquestioning almost violent protectiveness about them.

I just don't find these kinds of sermons very helpful. A man will earn respect as a pastor he isn't going to get it by a campmeeting preacher telling people they have to.

I find the whole old time Pentecostal concept of church, pastor, saint, relations more old testament in nature than New.

Originally Posted by LaGirl

are you saying they do not have youth camps at the La camp grounds??

So I was told last night. I was told that it has been moved to Baton Rouge? Is that not right?

[LaGirl]

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

So I was told last night. I was told that it has been moved to Baton Rouge? Is that not right?

no, that isnt right. still at the OLD CAMP GROUNDS!!! :-)

[ManOfWord]

The times, they are a changin' that's for sure!! Gullibility, seems to be on the rise as ears are tickled etc.

The way to bigger offerings and meeting needs is always the same, MORE people getting saved! More people, more finances for ministry. It really isn't rocket science. Void of that, guilt and pithy promises of prosperity are needed.