We were happily involved in a church home when our pastor began to make statements in his messages that bewildered us. "God is doing a new thing He has never done before," was a theme he often referred to. The ideas involved had to do with making major changes, but what the changes were to be was not explained. We thought at first they had to do with our church adopting new styles of music and so on but the message began to seem broader than just that. We didn't know where the ideas were coming from, except they weren't anything we'd ever read in the Bible.

Then our pastor began sharing new prophecies about a huge revival happening across our country and the world. Amazing claims were made as to how many people were coming to Christ, even 'important' people like mayors and governors. The 'prophecies' became more specific, about our own city, pastor and church, and the part they were to play in a wonderful revival that was to come here.

One day our pastor announced that he was a prophet. After that, he began sharing in his Sunday messages what God had 'told him' to tell us, rather than teaching directly from the Bible. At this point we became uneasy about all this prophecy, being aware of the strict guidelines in God's word. We began to wonder who these people were whose words were directing our church? What were these changes about? I found it difficult to get answers.

Then one night, out of curiosity, I typed the word "prophecy" in a search engine on the internet. I was amazed to see many sites where new 'prophets' were posting their 'prophecies.' As I read, I began to realize that there was a definite movement centered around the theme of revival, new prophecy, and major change in the church. It was not just something to do with our pastor and our church; it was obviously huge. As I read these prophets' offerings, my soul became troubled because it was quickly obvious that their prophecies were not at all in line with the Bible. Thus began an intense study of a movement I had been unaware of but has been steadily growing in the church over the last 10-20 yrs.

As I learned about this movement, I realized that I had picked up some of its teachings along the way myself, having no idea that they were aspects of such a thing. As I spoke with other people, I found the same was true of most of us. In the beginning, it seemed like it was just a matter of unrelated, neat things happening in and with the church, about people loving and trusting Jesus more and worshipping Him more authentically. But as I read the writings of its leaders, I found a distinct purpose and goals and a radically different theology and doctrines that are not compatible with God's word, the Bible.

Jesus said (Mt 7:24-27)

As followers of Christ, we need to beware of ideas that sound good but are contrary to what Christ taught. Only Christ's words are solid rock. No others will stand. They will prove in the end to be sand. Truth matters. Beliefs have consequences.

Leaders of the movement teach that doctrine and theology are critical and divisive, and unimportant anyway, so many have been lulled into putting them aside.

But are doctrine and theology really unimportant? Without them, what sets Jesus apart from Buddha? What sets the biblical way of salvation apart from any other religious system? Doctrine and theology refer to the bedrock of truth every hope of our faith is built on. Our spiritual welfare and the eternal destiny of souls depend on them.

The fact is, this movement does hold a theology and doctrines of its own and it would be wise to take stock of them. If they are biblical, they will not be harmed by scrutiny. The great majority following are doing so with a false impression of what they are following.

I am not implying that believers involved in this movement do not love Jesus- some very good, genuine, sincere believers have become involved because they are unaware of or deceived about the actual concepts underlying its teachings. God has given us the command, though, to examine teachings in relation to His word, holding only to those which are true (1Thes 5:21). If teachings are not biblical, they are only sand, and all the sincerity and good motives in the world will, unfortunately, not make them into rock.

I pray that you would look honestly at these teachings with me and weigh them out yourself, that God would show you His truth and His will, and that you would be drawn deeper into His word as we look into these things together.