CHRIST-APP by philtierneyblog

The Chaos of Christian Influence

Jesus predicted that there would be false messiahs promoted by false prophets. And so, there are. In fact, there are more false prophets in America, nowadays, than ever.  

Materialism and Ministry:

Why would that be? I’ve already mentioned that America was settled and built by European colonists with mixed motives. Two of the most influential motives were religion and wealth.

Those two motives were so mixed together that they became interwoven, virtually inseparable. The Spanish Catholics came to convert the heathen and get their gold or enslave natives for profit. The English colonists came to freely practice their faith and to prosper materially. Their faith was reduced to this: “If we’re faithful, God will bless us with material wealth. If we’re materially blessed, we must be faithful.” Christian faith and material profit were intertwined in America from the very beginning to the present.

While there have been many faithful Christian evangelists, preachers and pastors, there have also been altogether too many who have seen Christian ministry as a means of profit. Given the wedding of faith with prosperity, it has been easy to link faithful ministry with material prosperity. Likewise, it has been tempting to link generous giving with the furtherance of ministries. The ease of those linkages has tempted too many wolves in sheep’s clothing to sheer the flocks.

Altogether too many Christian influencers have been seduced by wealth, notoriety and power. They claim to need them to promote the Gospel, but too often use the Gospel to gain them, instead. The motives of such Christian influencers might all too often have been worship of an idol, worship of the “golden calf” or mammon, money and prominence.

The Seeds of False Prophecy:

I’ll say it again. The vast majority of pastors, priests, preachers, missionaries and evangelists have been faithful and devout in their ministries. A growing number have entered public “Christian ministries” for other reasons, though. They have embraced false prophecy, I’m afraid, and some of them don’t even realize it.

There are many contributing factors to this. The first and foremost is the increasing importance of fame, fortune and the power they confer in contemporary culture. They are addictive. Access to the internet and reality shows on television have increased their allure. Apparently, the more flamboyant, the more extreme and outrageous, the more attention influencers can become. Americans, including American Christians, have been drawn to those temptations.

It’s easy to become a social media influencer merely by acting passionately and charismatically. Sensationalism and enthusiasm have replaced sound Christian teaching to attract large followings. In fact, some “Christian” influencers, who use the internet, radio and television, have even resorted to using intemperate, inflammatory and demonizing language in the name of Christ.

Another factor is that it’s quite easy to be licensed or certified for ministry online, these days. That can be accomplished without any genuine study of the Bible, theology, spirituality or pastoral training. It’s possible to identify oneself as a minster of the Gospel without preparation or screening.

Another factor is that numerous new “non-denominational” ministries, churches and movements have exploded in America during the past thirty years or so. The leaders and influences associated with them often have no accountability to any worldwide, historic, Christian Churches. Their credibility proceeds from their popularity derived from passion and dogmatism among those drawn to their ministries.

If leaders and influencers who claim to be Christian have no accountability except to their own personal interpretation of Scripture, their own claims to inspiration and their own popularity among the followers whom they gather to themselves, then there is no check on the truthfulness of what they say. They can say whatever they want for whatever reasons they wish, claim that it’s from God, and the followers they gain will likely believe them.

The Charismatic Movement:

Yet another factor has come into play. While the Pentecostal movement has a longer history, beginning about 125 years ago, the American Charismatic movement began in the 1960’s. Sixty years ago, the beginnings of the Charismatic movement took place within established denominations. The Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and other Protestant Churches had members who underwent the baptism or infilling with the Holy Spirit.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is accompanied by manifestations of the “gifts of the Spirit.” Gatherings of Charismatic Christians met to share fellowship and the gifts of the Spirit, like speaking in tongues, healing, words of wisdom and knowledge, prophecy, exorcism, etc. As long as they remained within their denominational churches there was balance, oversight or accountability.

Mainline Churches were often unwelcoming to Charismatics. Likewise, Charismatics became intolerant of having to restrain themselves. That characterized what some have called the “first wave” of the Charismatic movement. I was part of that movement. We remained in the Churches of which we were part. We worshipped and served in those Churches and under the authority of Church hierarchy. Otherwise, we gathered in small groups for Bible study, prayer and to share in the gifts of the Spirit. Sometimes we privately shared our personal experiences with other members of our churches.  

Intolerance for diversity increased among American Christians, though. Many traditional Churches embraced a more liberal approach to theology. During the 1960’s and 1970’s denominations embraced social justice as a unifying ethic. They embraced the civil rights, anti-war, feminist and Gay rights movements.

That began the shrinkage of traditional Churches in America. More traditional members were disaffected from their churches. Many left their home denominations to find new home churches or simple stopped attending church. Furthermore, those who were nominal members of their churches left Christianity altogether. Many Charismatics felt that they were being “called out” of their traditional churches. During the past nearly forty years, the traditional denominations, including the Catholic Church, have been hollowed out of their membership.

Charismatic Christians increasingly gravitated to non-denominational churches. They joined churches that were tolerant of their Charismatic spirituality and many joined churches that were Charismatic. That advanced the so-called “third wave” of the Charismatic movement. It involves many Charismatic Christians aligning with only independent “Neo-Charismatic” fellowships. The leaders of those independent churches or fellowships, especially if they founded them, usually have little or no accountability beyond themselves. 

Approximately 50% of all Evangelicals in America are Charismatic. Most have affiliated with non-denominational and independent neo-Charismatic churches and other groups. One of the weaknesses of the Charismatic movement has been that such Christians were exceptionally introspective. That is to say, they have focused on their own personal and group experiences, often to the near exclusion of servant ministries.  Altogether too many have been absorbed with ecstatic spiritual experiences. Too often, congregants would “psyche” themselves up to experience God in sensational ways.   

Certain leaders or influencers in the movement felt led to pursue more than personal spiritual experiences. They wanted to emphasize the importance of mission. They envisioned a far more significant impact. While Jesus emphasized proclaiming the gospel and works of service, Charismatic leaders have been emphasizing power – wonder working power.