I am speaking the truth in Christ–I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit– that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. – Romans: 1-2 (ESV)
I make no pretense to be expositing the key verses today. These are verses where Paul is expressing his dismay about how far lost his own people, the Jews, were at the time of his preaching. I cite them today only because I understand how Paul must have felt, albeit on a smaller scale. This great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart is borne witness by the Holy Spirit within me. I am not lying beloved. I try as always to speak the truth in Christ. I was saved almost 13 years to the day in an Assemblies of God church. A not so reformed and non-practicing Catholic who believed in a God without realizing I was my own God. It was a good church. A Gospel preaching church. A God-fearing church. Pentecostal and charismatic without many of the abuses that often come with it. We had a great pastor. A born evangelist with a true shepherd’s heart. A rare mix these days behind the pulpit. I went there that day with an equally unsaved friend and we both left that day in Christ. Within a month I was baptized and within a year I was in classes for ministerial credentials. Five years later I was a minister for the Assemblies and remained such until this month when I resigned those credentials. This technicality is irrelevant as my call was always from God and not man. The unceasing anguish is in leaving the only church family I have ever known. In 1962 Ronald Reagan remarked as he joined the GOP that he did not leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left him. That is how I feel today. I am not leaving the AG as much as the AG has already left me. Both globally and locally. My great sorrow is that the affiliation in which I learned discernment seemingly has lost theirs. The affiliation that once bravely stood up to Jimmy Swaggart now barely stands against anything.
Beloved we must understand the backdrop, which is the times in which we live. When we see the Biblical prophecies play out every night on the news and see the moral decay spiraling out of control each day, those who have eyes to see can see that we are living in the end times. The Bible warns us very clearly about these times. There will be a great apostasy, or falling away from the faith. This is very much underway in the church today. Paul warned Timothy about this:
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. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. – 2Timothy 4: 3-5 (ESV)
One just needs to look at what is taught today as doctrine to see the great apostasy. People follow prosperity myths, word faith myths, hyper-grace myths, false signs and lying wonders myths just to name a few. They gather around themselves teachers who specialize in teaching these myths. They wander off by choice. They choose to fall away. Their ears itch with their own passions and want teachers who will scratch them. With this understanding we must decide what side we are on. Remember, Jesus said there are only two choices:
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. – Matthew 12: 30 (ESV)
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matthew 7: 13-14 (ESV)
Narrow is the gate and few are those who find it. Think about that as you watch the next false teacher speaking to tens of thousands or claiming that entire swaths of people “gave their hearts to Christ.” There are only two choices beloved. We are either found gathering people to the Gospel or scattering them away from it. Thus doctrine becomes our critical measuring stick. Our plumb line. Who we choose to associate with becomes critical as well. Who we loan our credibility to. I once viewed Francis Chan for example to be a solid bible preacher. Once he decided to promote the wildly heretical false prophet Mike Bickle however, his preaching was no longer relevant. Remember what Paul charged the Galatians with?
You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. – Galatians 5: 7-9 (ESV)
A little false teaching eventually infects your theology. It spreads. It is parasitic. There can be no compromise allowed. This is not about perfection but rather purity of the Gospel. I have watched for years concerned about the direction the AG was heading in but was willing to wait and see. Anyone after all can make a mistake. Then the heresies started piling up. For me it all starts with the embracing of Rick Warren theology. The Purpose Driven Church has done more damage to the cause of Jesus Christ than anything in generations. It has eradicated the shepherd mentality amongst pastors and instead turns them into CEOs. Don’t believe me? Ask Andy Stanley, a staunch Warren adherent:
(When asked about Pastors being called shepherd) – That word needs to go away.” He added, “It was culturally relevant in the time of Jesus, but it’s not culturally relevant anymore.” – Andy Stanley (Leadership Journal, “Get-it-Done Leadership,” May 2006).
This began the slippery slope of growing churches but not the kingdom. The Assemblies embraced the Purpose Driven Life as well and coordinated their churches to all read it together. Something we even did at my church at the time. This is the same book that only addresses salvation one time and presents a nine word “sinner’s prayer” that is followed by an absurdly presumptuous – “Welcome to the family of God!”
Fast forward a few years and the AG tried to coordinate their churches again for a group reading. This time it was a book written by one of their own pastors, Mark Batterson. The Circle Maker is nothing but rank heresy. Based upon a fable found in the Mishnah, Batterson tries to change how Christians pray from being reverent to being petulant. The act of drawing circles is also taken directly from witchcraft. That does not mean the Mr. Batterson intended this. Intent however is irrelevant. The Circle Maker remains to this day a black eye upon the Assemblies. Then there are the associations the AG has chosen to make. Who they have aligned themselves with. Many are not aware of “Empowered 21,” which is self described as:
“The Empowered21 Global Council is an esteemed group of International Christian leaders, co-chaired by George Wood and Billy Wilson. These leaders give inspirational oversight to13 Regional Cabinets across the world and seeks to provide resources to address the crucial issues faced by the Spirit-empowered church.”
So the General Superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God in America is the co-chair of this international coalition. Problem? Not until you see who are part of its leadership:
Bill Johnson, Reinhard Bonnke, Lisa Bevere, Kenneth Copeland, Jentezen Franklin, Brian Houston, Cindy “The General” Jacobs, Robert Morris, Phil Pringle to name a few. This is a who’s-who of false teachers and wannabe prophets. I guess Osteen, Warren and Prince were just too busy. Seriously. Why in the world would you co chair this smorgasbord of heresy? Why would you even want to be on the same website? Bill Johnson believes in grave sucking the residual anointing from dead false teachers. He runs his own school for the supernatural where he teaches people the gifts of the spirit – pure blasphemy! Robert Morris abuses his sheep and tells them to pay him his tithes before paying their rent or bills or medicine or else God will curse all of their money! General Cindy Jacobs? Are you serious? Kenneth Copeland and Brian Houston? The Assemblies should know better. Reinhard Bonnke? International charlatan who brags about raising the dead? The AG threw a banquet in his honor recently. These are not fringe elements in apostasy. These are the leaders beloved.
Then there was the extremely poor decision to get into bed with ex-Catholic mystic Roma Downey and her heretical “AD Miniseries.” When I say in bed I mean under the covers. The AG actively marketed the “church kit” that Downey was selling which turned over your local church to this miniseries for 12 weeks. Each week they would provide you with a video sermon given by a Christian celebrity to match that week’s episode. The third lesson was done by none other than George Wood. Other notable teachers in the series were the aforementioned Mark Batterson and the Hillsong false teacher, Christine Caine. The teaching aside, the actual miniseries was a disaster biblically. It was clear that one of the goals Downey had was to overstate the role of women and make any leading male character out to either be a wimp or psychotic. Beloved we are not talking about artistic license. This series simply did not correctly represent the Bible. I can understand someone who is unsaved not understanding the point but I am talking about the actual story. Mary for example did not have to convince the disciples to wait the three days for when Jesus said He would rise again. Without getting too bogged down in the detail this was another example of very poor decision making by the Assemblies regarding who they want to be found in league with.
It was no wonder then that this past year at their annual General Council one of their speakers was Christine Caine. Never mind that she is from Hillsong, the largest international heretical organization on the planet. Never mind that she is an ardent supporter of someone like Joyce Meyer. Never mind that after “shadowing” Meyer for a week she tweeted a picture of herself laying hands upon the Bible of Joyce Meyer and praying for “an impartation of her “teaching anointing and revelation.” The same Meyer who teaches Jesus went to hell and had to be born again there. The same Meyer who teaches that she never sins. The same Meyer who teaches that we are all little gods. It is no wonder then that the quote that hit the Internet from Caine that night which was taken as some deep nugget of wisdom was:
“The size of your ministry is determined by the size of your heart.” – Christine Caine
Not determined by God. Not determined by the Holy Spirit. Not determined by correct doctrine or preaching the correct Gospel. No beloved. Determined by the size of our wickedly deceptive hearts. Therein sums up the progression of falling away I have witnessed within the Assemblies for the past several years. They bought into the Warren theologies of growth and marketing. They bought into the seeker friendly notions of church growth. They continued to make whatever associations were popular and gained them more exposure with seemingly little concern about doctrine. As a minister for the Assemblies, I am expected to support them and in complete fairness I can no longer do so.
That is the global scene if you will. It is the scene everyone sees on television and being reported. What is often lost however is the local scene. We all belong locally before we belong globally. There are still some very good AG churches out there beloved. Churches who are trying to do the right thing and preach the whole Gospel. Eventually they will have to come out from among them if the Assemblies does not stop its free-fall. Locally however, the politics are even worse. The disregard for correct doctrine is widely accepted as long as you can put bodies in the seats each week. Never mind if people leave. That is a Warren principle taught in the Purpose Driven Church called “Blessed Subtraction.” This principle teaches pastors that it is OK to let sheep wander away from your flock as long as you replace them. Talk about not understanding the 99 and the one! But this point is vitally important because Purpose Driven teachings insist that we are no long in the business of reaching the unsaved but rather the unchurched. That may sound subtle but it is purely a satanic plot. Instead of focusing on their salvation pastors now focus on whether they belong to a church. Instead of focusing on their relationship to Jesus they focus on their relationship to ministry. That is why Blessed Subtraction is so widely accepted theologically even though it violates the entire Bible! As long as you replace the body then the church has not “lost” anything. But what about the sheep that wandered off?
I have watched such local abuses and continue to see them to this day. I know hundreds of people devastated by Christian leaders and a church that swore they loved them as Christ does but then casually left the pen door open and kicked them out into the cold. I heard a pastor once preach that if a congregant had a problem with someone else they need to leave. From the pulpit this was said. During a sermon. I have watched congregations be eviscerated of anyone who was biblically literate. Anyone who dared to ask any questions. Anyone who even mildly objected. I have watched Elder Boards be launching pads for ministerial preaching careers from people who have no business dividing the Word of Truth. What does the Assemblies do about it?
Absolutely nothing.
In fairness, the overall Assemblies has little power over the churches in their fellowship. The power remains at the local level and that is not necessarily a bad thing if you are ensuring the biblical authority of your ministers. Instead however the local assemblies becomes this game of politics and productivity. If a pastor is seen as a producer, meaning he can refill the seats of those who leaves and grow his church, then doctrine or abuses can be nodded and winked at. Meanwhile the landscape is littered with bloody sheep, many of whom will never set foot in a church again. It is for these local reasons and the people who cry out from their abuses that I also feel compelled to walk away. I have close friends and acquaintances who were set into spiritual tailspins, seemingly never to recover. Every month seems to brings to light a new victim locally and a new doctrinal abuse globally. And beloved, please understand that this is not a broad brush I intend to paint with. As I have said there are plenty of good AG churches and ministers who preach the uncompromised Word of God and are led by real shepherds. This is also not personal in nature, even though I could recount my own personal tales of abuse. It is not about me. It is about the sheep of the Lord and the primacy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In good conscience I cannot continue to write that believers need to come out from among the falseness in the church today and continue to proudly claim affiliation to an organization that has lost its way. I will pray for the AG because I love the AG. I ask that you do the same. I pray that this once proud organization returns to its roots of uncompromised Gospel preachers. Time is running out.
Reverend Anthony Wade – January 16, 2016
True Discernment 
I can relate to the tragedy of former good churches (mine was a biblically-based, non-denominational Christian Fellowship) falling into the Rick Warren “purpose driven life and purpose driven church” errors.
You wrote:
Well, I had a negative experience involving Rick Warren’s teaching errors with my former church. The “sinner’s prayer” was missing the words needed to confess sin! I have written several blog posts about other errors (i.e. Warren’s “Chrislam” beliefs are also terribly disturbing!) but the posts are long so I will just share a relevant excerpt:
In one of my “Rick Warren” blogposts (Seeking to Save title), I can still recall the chill and feeling of dread that I had felt when the following incident happened:
…[I] first want to share something that happened at our leaders training class when preparing for “The Purpose Driven Life” Bible study.
All the leaders gathered to view a video done by Pastor Rick Warren as an introduction to the study course. When the video came to the portion where accepting Christ was involved, an alarm went off in my heart and mind as I noticed something missing from Pastor Warren’s prayer. There was no mention of the need to confess personal sins and repent of them. I had arrived late to the meeting so I thought that perhaps I missed that part in the beginning. During the question and answer time, I raised my hand and brought this up to the assistant pastor leading the class. He said he would “look into it” and quickly called on someone else with the next question. His lack of reaction and abrupt answer was close to an outright dismissal about my concerns!! I was shocked! Two other women sitting nearby said they felt the exact same way about that prayer! I was hoping that this would be brought out to the general congregation (because my pastor ALWAYS SPECIFICALLY EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO CONFESS SIN AND REPENT BEFORE RECEIVING CHRIST AS SAVIOR) but I don’t think it was ever brought up.
As a leader of two study groups, I felt that it was my obligation to be sure that the sinners prayer was included in this study so I led such a prayer myself to give people the opportunity to receive Christ at any time during the 8 week study.
That once thriving church lost probably 2/3rds of it’s congregation because of the changes that the pastor decided to make in order to copy Warren’s Saddleback Church.
2 Ti 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
That time is here! And, it’s not just that Assemblies of God church that has gone astray. Please see my post:
Talkwisdom: Syncretism Stew
May the Lord Jesus Christ continue bless you and your efforts to point out doctrinal error(s) as you continue to proclaim the truth.
Sincerely,
Christine
Excellent article. Thank you!
I joined an A.O.G. church in Gainsborough, UK.
The people there were truly seeking the Lord and I grew to love them very much.
I did however note that messages from the pulpit never seemed to have any food for the true believer. There also seemed to be a very strong spirit of control, which disturbed my spirit. (I have a BA Hons in Theology and Advanced Diploma in Christian Ministry) I am called to serve the Lord by whatever means He directs. God laid on my heart to prepare and distribute a large number of tracts pointing out the need for Christ in our lives.
As I had never felt called to be an evangelist per se, I felt that the pastor could perhaps help me with some of the wording. To cut a long story short his ultimate response was that the money would be better spent elsewhere, and that I was not hearing from God. I left the church and never returned but I did contact the pastor to tell him why I had left.
In the email that he sent as a response there was also details of a site for magic which included levitation and a lot of other tricks.
I was absolutely horrified especially as we are now quite near to Halloween and they are making a special ‘push’ for sales, I suppose you could call it.
It truly seems that sound doctrine has gone out of the window in so many churches. My heart breaks for those who are being led astray.
In these last days, we have got to be prepared to stand for truth no matter what the cost. I pray that God will continue to call many to gather together in true worship of Almighty God, and Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.
Sincerely,
Juliette
Thank You
I believe in what you say, you are bold as like Peter the Apostle. So am I.
I’ve been looking for a church that celebrates Passover. “not easter” having trouble finding one do not have auto, on foot & take the bus
Maybe u can help. Was looking on web thats when I found your blog/text.
Thanks again in His Service LINDA
please get back
As of this date, I see no one in the Assemblies of God exposing the truth that Rick Warren is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the New World Order, or that he was a guest at TED, and only shared about joining hands with anyone who would agree to work in his Reformation of Good Works. I have been praying for my former fellowship, and all who seem to be asleep, or to this day, know nothing of the purpose driven church; and sadly, have embraced new age teaching/principles/contemplative prayer. May God have mercy on all who claim to know Jesus, who claim to have a relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Anthony wowzers!!! My name is Ryan and I’m reading your article from Australia!! It is from 2016 so I truly hope this message gets to you..Anthony i would love to some how come into contact with you as i feel God has us on and in a very similar place, understanding, of knowledge, wisdom and Spirit which you and I know, is NO doing of ourselves!!!! Through The Word, God has been showing me the diabolical state of the Church, and that his Truth in Love must be preached in fullness, as it was by the Apostles, and taught to the degree of “the Narrow gate”!! I look forward to you geting in contact, bless you and thankyou Father
Yes I agree 💯. Percent. I was born again when I was 7 years old baptized in the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in youngest. As I grew older I wondered away. To make a long story short. I rededacated my life and God called me to repent ance. There is a reason I believe some of us are being called back. To our knees to pray. We are seeing Prophecy being fulfilled. We Had the word in our heart. So we know what the Lord is about to do. I Believe we need to separate our selves also from Denominations they are part of the falling away the Word of God says will happen. God has showed me this in my Soul and Spirit. The Lord also said to be Vigilant 😇The Rapture is the next thing on Gods timeline. The rise of the Anti Christ is starting. Coming down the road in a church Bus. But we that Have Jesus in our hearts. Are to be Vigilant. We are not to take part in the apposticy that is happening. Pray for the Lost. pray for our Nation Pray for Israel We are to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and stay in the Word. Stay in Prayer. Stay repent ent and be ready to leave this Planet. Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you that where I Am you maybe also. Look up your redemption draweth nigh. Stay Vigilant. InJesus Name I Pray God Opens up more eyes. So the Bride will be ready. ✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️
Please help, which church do I go to so my soul may live!!!!!
Pray and ask The Holy Spirit to direct you. He will tell your heart, which direction you are to go. His direction is always right.
Everything you have said is true. It breaks my heart that my pastor sent me a email and said that my membership to the church was no longer. I at 65yrs have been going there for 30 yrs. I’m not the only one. I feel lost ,hurt forgotten. At my old age. What did I do? It’s been over a year I want a church family again but now I don’t trust. AG church
I am one of those that also left the AOG about 6 years ago and have not found a church that I can call home since. I was involved in many ministies but lost favor with the Pastor – who couldn’t care less when I left. I always questioned why he never came after me – the lost sheep. I still have a relationship with Christ but Im scared of not having a church to help me.
It breaks my heart to hear how the assemblies of God church stray so far from the truth of the Gospel. My grandfather was part of the early beginnings in California. He was a AG chaplain in the army. Also helped start the AG church in San Diego. They first met in a garage! He was a man of great faith. He also taught in missions in California. Praying that true repentence and revival will come not just to the AG church but to all that have strayed
I was a member of north providence assembly of GOD for Approx. 24 yrs . It is run by a selfish , scripture twisting , tithe hungry , false gospel teaching pastor . In good conscience I had to leave. A female youth pastor was meddling , nosey , highly opinionated, rude and always involved in drama . Together they ran the church like a car dealership . Full of lies and no integrity, they manipulated many on a weekly basis . Eventually she was terminated and the pastor should just resign . I was attending since 1994 where until 2006 the church was run by a previous pastor who was indeed a “ true man of GOD “ . I am so glad and blessed that I left .
Amen ! I agree 100 percent brother !
I grew up in the A/G and have various relatives who preach therein – but I’ve left the denomination myself. I noticed this sea-change coming when I was a youth-group attendee. There was a much stronger push outward, with special musical and theatrics, and almost no focus on actual teaching or discipleship – except where it could be put on a pedestal and pointed toward for the purpose of missions or special programs. I had questions that the church would not – or could not – answer. I figured I’d go to the pastor-factory and see if they knew, so I enrolled in a seminary and learned all about original sources. Via grace and my own hard work, I ,managed to find those answers. They were all there, the entire time…and yet, not one “pastor” could even describe the general direction thereof. The story of the gospel is vast. If it were a flim, Lord of the Rings would pale in comparison – and no one in the pews seems to have any idea. Fam, we are not being taught. Our pastors are failing us. God isn’t a knowledge-hog. He WANTS us to understand. He wants us to know. Our road home is to believe that Christ is exactly whom He said he was and that His redemptive act has given us each a path back to the family of God. However, there’s more there for us to understand. The sacrifice is huge and the most important point – but getting the entire picture, from Gensis to the cross, makes all those disparate, “what about” bits click into place. It’s so humbling to see… You’d think that someone called to a pastoral role would teach the entire story – even the more spiritual sections they avoid out of fear or lack of knowledge. That would put more butts in seats AND give the brains connected to those butts actual knowledge….from which comes discernment enough to be able to spot antithetical teaching pretty easily. Hillcult, “Faith Healer” Hinn and all of them stick-out like glowing, neon “DANGER” signs – and to see so many fall so hard for that stuff is disheartening. I’m one of those who may never set foot in a church building again – but it won’t be from fear or hurt or sin. I just really don’t have any need for “sing-along with pastor Whosit” type candy-coated foolishness, when there’s meat in my own study at home. It’s the entertainment that’s killing the church, in my opinion. Bread and circuses vs teaching and spiritual growth.
Which would God rather hear, “This Church was so fun!” or “The people here really helped me to know and understand you more deeply.”?
Choose wisely.
The Resurrection AOG Church in Iowa City, IA Pastors are NOT pentecostal, their Church Services DOES NOT include, Speaking In Tongues, or Testimoni-es, yes they have a lively musical ceremony BUT this AOG Church is LITURGI-
CAL like The Roman Catholics, they recite The Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed, and The Lord’s Prayer, EXCUSE ME when i was converted FROM Roman Catholic TO Pentecostal by The UPCI United Pentecostal Church Int’l in the 1980’s ie A Jesus Only Church they FORBID and preached against All Liturgical Churches BCUZ there’s No Revival in Liturgical Churches ! And there’s No Revival in Roman Catholic Churches ! Why is the AOG Churches become SPIRITUALLY DEAD ? Chuck and Rose IN Iowa City, IA
I would suggest you listen to Miki Hardy of CTMI. He preaches the truth and hates false doctrine and speaks out clearly
Your story is my story to a “T” except that I was born into a large AoG family. I didn’t come into it in my later years. I had numerous relatives who were pastors, Ministers of Music, Sunday School teachers, board members, missionaries etc all in the AoG. Even my grandparents were involved from the very beginning of AoG. All were dedicated to belief in Jesus Christ our Lord, his sacrifice and resurrection.
I originally wrote a long post to describe all that I’ve seen. I never would have imagined any of it. Now all the family has left but in other churches and we discovered that the problems we saw in the AoG is all over the Evangelical churches.
I left the aog for the same reason. Benny hinn was more important then jesus
I left an Assembly of God in the United States in 2000 basically for these reasons as well. I was saved in 1995 out of the Roman Catholic Church and found a great AoG church where I was very, very involved. I didn’t know what I didn’t know so for a long time so I thought everything was biblical and legitimate. I began listening to “The Bible Answerman” Hank Henagraaf (spelling??) which talked about things I saw, learned and heard about at my church albeit in a negative way BUT he was able to back it up with the Word of God. At my AoG church there was a Monday night prayer group that would pray for Hank to get kicked off the radio because of what he taught which I didn’t understand at that time but I would eventually. I swear to you that there was a time I would have chosen to go to the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida over Israel if someone had offered it to me for free. Isn’t that sad????
I began to go to a singles group at another church with people from all denominations so I learned more than just what I learned at my AoG church and what I knew as a former Catholic. They had a Bible study twice a month taught by an older gentleman who was from a Reformed background and I learned so much from him. Again, he backed up his teaching with the Word of God. I then attended a class at a Presbyterian church with a friend from the singles group and learned even more Bible-based Christianity.
Over time time I began to realize that there was a lot of error in what was acceptable at my AoG church such as teachings Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Mayer, endorsing the Brownsville Revival, Toronto Blessing, allowing guest speakers and missionaries to say things from the pulpit without correction and more. I could not figure out why my pastor allowed certain things to be said until one day it hit me like a ton of bricks- he doesn’t correct it because he believes it!! He thinks it’s all true!!! That was really the final straw.
I began to go to the church where the singles group was held which was a Christian and Missionary Alliance church where the doctrine and beliefs of the pastor and leaders were much more biblical.
You are spot on with what you have written about concerning the Aog.
Thank you for coming out and speaking out. In the Lords time I to must speak out…the Lord began to speak to me today about what is going on inside this organization. The Lord first started showing me from the inside and then many years later & now today. If your interested in praying and talking about this in the Lord this may be where God wants me start. God Bless
The Pastors of AOG churches are more concerned with well above six figure salaries than delivering the soul saving redemption message.
🙏 so true & saddly they are enemies of the cross ✝️
Thank you so much for this excellent article. I am from an Elim background and you could have been writing about them- they too have partnered with ministers who preach the Word of faith and new apostolic reformation message. This is not the true gospel! I would thoroughly recommend a movie called “American Gospel: Christ Alone”. It explains the error so beautifully. We are now in an FIEC church which teaches orthodox Christianity and are so thankful for the doctrine we have learned. God bless you and thanks for speaking out.
I have a similar experience with a healing meeting/revival meeting sponsored by the AOG church. At first I was excited to be in a church where healing took place. Then I pointed out to a (self described) pastor who ran healing meetings that something he was doing was evil and he did not have the humility or decency to accept it and turn from it. Instead of recognizing his multiple sins, from shady business dealings (mentioned below) to endangering worker safety (which in his ignorance and arrogance he refused to see), he was oblivious and stubborn in refusing to turn away from them. To make matters worse, he slandered me and gossiped about me so that others would not contact me. Assemblies of God is disturbingly cult like and despotic and creepy in its control. I knew something was wrong when this self described pastor spent a Saturday morning mentioning that he was blessed to be living next to people driving Range Rovers…And that it was time to tithe. (This was a Saturday morning prayer meeting!) And sure they have healings and talk about speaking in tongues, but kindness and other fruits of the Holy Spirit are far away from this pastor revival/healing leader’s heart. He callously ignored his workers dangerous working conditions and ordered items that were made for him and he changed his mind on a whim after agreeing to buy them, after he was told they were being manufactured. He even paid his family worker before paying his employee. I noticed there was something wrong when his worker accidentally broke an item he was selling and he still expected the customer to buy it. This is a denomination in which all they talk about is signs wonders and miracles but they don’t even study the Bible at length. If they did, they wouldn’t do what they do as far as sin goes. Sanctification comes to a screeching halt in this denomination. They think because they are no longer whoremongers, drunks and drug addicts that the guy who shared the gospel with them is like Jesus. Even though the leader (self described pastor) claims “It’s all Jesus.” it turns this denomination into a personality cult and the people who do get saved thing he is a messiah figure, when it is God via their readiness in the Holy Spirit that healed them. That that self described pastor would slander and gossip to other people was lower than low and despicable. This is an empty and shallow denomination that is only about “signs, wonders and miracles”. That’s it. No real growth in sanctification, though the “pastor” uses it, he sure doesn’t live it. Shameful. God sees everything.
[…] https://truedsicernment.com/2018/01/24/why-i-have-left-the-assemblies-of-god/ […]