The apostles of Christ warn us that self-deception is a very real possibility even for Christians (Galatians 6:3,7; James 1:16,26; I Timothy 2:14; 2 Timothy 3:13). What is self-deception? How can a true believer actually be deceived? In our discussions of the Prosperity Doctrine and the Mandatory Tithe, I have noticed that both sides of these issues will, at times, accuse the other side of "being deceived." Here is a case in point: 

Both Craig and C.T.P. left The City Church in Kirkland, WA where Wendell & Gini Smith are the senior pastors.  When asked by Serj why they left, they made the following comments:  

“It’s not about the cars or houses, it’s about deception and manipulation for the end result of fleecing the flock. False doctrine caused me to leave the church…Paul told Timothy to watch his doctrine closely because it would save his soul and those who hear him. Why do people who take doctrine seriously leave that church? You do the math.” (Craig, City Business Church blog, July 21st, 2007 at 12:41 am) 

“My reasons for leaving are closely related to Craig’s. We both saw the deception and the false teaching. The pastors there are not open to hearing any critical voices speak, even if in love - so that gave us no option, but to move on, although it is hard to stop talking about it because of all of our friends that are still there…They [the pastors of the fastest church planting church in the nation] don’t buy $500 trash cans (like City does) or $4,000 flower pots (like City does), and yes that is true - I was a custodian at City so I know.” (C.T.P., City Business Church blog, July 21st, 2007 at 8:54 am).  

After reading what these two former members said about why they left The City Church, I found the following comments from Pastor Wendell Smith, Craig and C.T.P.'s former pastor, most interesting:  

“Over the years, I have known a few men who chose to debate the issue of tithing with me. Rationalizing their view based on their own limited perusing of Scripture, they decided to take a stand against being ‘obligated’ to give ten percent of their income. They believed the New Testament way was to give as the Spirit led. But always, upon review of their financial records after their departure, we discovered they were giving far less. Why would the Holy Spirit lead them to give less than what both Old and New Testament Scriptures teach? I believe the wrong spirit led them to the wrong doctrine and to the wrong decision! They missed the bigger issues of having a right heart attitude toward God, loving His Word, wanting to please Him, and understanding covenant relationship.” Wendell Smith, Prosperity with a Purpose, The City Church, Kirkland, Washington, 2005, p. 158

Both sides in this discussion accuse the other of being involved in some form of deception. Craig and C.T.P. accuse Pastor Wendell of being deceived by false teaching and using it to manipulate his flock for personal financial profit. Pastor Wendell accuses those who questioned his doctrine of tithing of not loving God's Word, and, therefore, opening themselves up to being deceived by a "wrong spirit." In my view, for any Christian to accuse another believer of being deceived is a very serious matter. What do you think?     

Pam over at How God Messed up My Religion just nominated this blog for The Subversive Blogger Award, or something like that. 

Here is her explanation:

3. City Business Church
Not for the faint of heart. These wayward brothers of a local megachurch take to task through biting satire and razor sharp insight the corrupt messaging of the prosperity gospel and overpaid clergy. You have been warned.

Now, I'll be honest, usually when I see the words "Not for the faint of heart" and "You have been warned", I think I'm about to stumble upon some pretty dirty porn.  But uh, evidently those terms apply to this blog as well.  I thought about this for awhile, and decided that Pam was absolutely right. This blog is subversive, and you know what, that's quite alright with me. My goal in blogging is to undermine the Prosperity Gospel and the churches that preach it.

And you know who else was known as subversive, a young messiah I like to call "Jesus Christ".  Calling out the pharisees wasn't exactly the Status Quo at the time. And the Roman Government didn't crucify Christ because he was complimenting them on their excellent management style.  Christ spent the majority of his life, showing people a better way to live. And they killed Him for it. Jesus was a Subversive Savior.

So, thank you Pam. I genuinely appreciate the compliment.

Responding to a great question from David about making friends at Portland Bible College, a reader writes:

I had a few but distant friends. Most of my peers are VERY sheltered in the church bubble and have no idea how to relate to newer Christians and especially those with a background like mine. The same people brag about their calling to the inner city and reaching out to the lost etc… Like good ol’ charismatics, its all about talk. I stuck to a small group. There was another person i opened up the most to. I didnt trust others. I couldnt relate to the Christian culture bubble. For crying out loud, i speak English not Christianese. And people make judgments and decide who to be friends with and who is worthy to talk to based on outward spiritual lingo, cuteness & clothes you wear.

I want to highlight this comment, because it's true.  The thing about spending all your time in Church and with Church friends and going to Christian concerts and wearing Christian t-shirts and worshipping your pastor, is that you totally lose your ability to relate to anyone that isn't Christian.  *cough* CULT *cough* So many Christians spend all their time in Church asking God for the ability to reach the "lost", and yet never make any actual attempt to reach anyone outside the church. Maybe the answer is a little less Church-time and a little more world-time. 

But we know why that doesn't happen. It's hard. It requires a level of vulnerability. And Christians, in my opinion, are by and large, some of the most insecure people I know.  Most are not strong enough to step outside the Church environment. So they go to Portland Bible College, and stay comfortable for four more years.

One of the classes that I taught in Bible College was called Leadership. We offered Leadership I and Leadership II levels. It was normally only Juniors or Seniors who took the classes.  I team-taught this class with the academic dean of the school whose name was Bill (name changed). One day, Bill distributed a handout to the class that truly began to open my eyes. The handout said that everyone in a local church, including all of the staff and congregation (I’m not absolutely positive about the congregation being included), was to function in the “ministry of helps” and serving to minister to the senior pastor and his vision.

Since the NT mentions the ministry of helps in I Corinthians 12:28 and the gift of serving in I Peter 4:11, I believed that there were (and are) such gifts in the church. But, to hear Bill say that everyone in a church and on a church staff was to function in those gifts to help the senior pastor accomplish his vision began to be too much for me. This handout raised many questions in my mind. Among them were these two:

(1) What if there are believers in a local church or on a church staff that have other gifts besides the gifts of helps or serving? What are they to do with their gifts?

(2) How are the other spiritual gifts like the gift of teaching, prophecy or leadership suppose to function within the confines of a service of “helps” or “serving” directed to benefit the senior pastor? 

Here is a fun website, where individuals write down in bubbles where they find God the other 6 days of the week?

The two most common places people find God: their children and their pets.

One of the highlights of my day is reading quotes from kids who attended Generation Unleashed.

"I've gone to a new level in worship," said Annalise Neciuk, 17, from Vancouver, Wash. "You can't help but be impacted when you're in a room with thousands of other people who are so hungry for the presence of God. That atmosphere alone builds your faith and encourages you to believe for something greater."

I felt the same way last month watching Belmont almost upset Duke in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. It was amazing, thousands of other people craving a Duke loss. All of us believing that nothing would be greater then mocking the Dukies as they left the stadium.  I seriously went to a new level in hating Duke.

But honestly, what is she talking about? What does it mean to go to a "new level" in worship? I know it sounds cool and spiritual to talk about "new levels", but I am not sure it actually means anything.

Because what Evangelicals do best is copy from that evil secular world out there, I give you:

My Church

See who can find City Bible's page.  

Kenneth Copeland Ministries is fighting back against Senator Grassley's investigation. In a letter responding to the investigation, Copeland's ministry states:

"The church is deeply concerned that the information Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is seeking could be used to subject the church and its members to public stigma, scorn, and obloquy,"

Yeah, I had too look up it up too; "obluquy" means "censure or blame".

Anyway, we'll see how Senator Grassley responds. It doesn't appear that Copeland is getting much help from other  ministries.

"We don't think it's the best approach to wrap yourself in the First Amendment," Kenneth A. Behr, president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) told Cybercast News Service. "We believe that financial transparency is one of the cornerstones of financial integrity."

It's been fun to watch this play out. My guess is that the IRS is preparing a lengthy audit of all of the churches under Grassley's investiation. And we'll likely see the results of those audits sometime in 2009.

There are two certainties in life, Death and Taxes. And while Christ cheated Death, he still couldn't get past Taxes. I think Kenneth is screwed.  

Matthew 22:21 - Give to Caeser what is Caeser's, and to God what is God's.

Young, docile, ambitious, uneducated, financially dependent, inexperienced, and insecure men (who are also in need of father figures) are the politically-safest kind of men for pastor-kings to promote in their kingdoms. (Why do you think so many corporations prefer in-house training?) 

The fattest carrot of all that pastor-kings offer to young men (or women) who feel a call to the ministry is ministry opportunity itself e.g., teaching a church class; sitting on the platform; preaching on Sunday night; traveling with the senior pastor; preaching in a sister church, team-teaching with one of the elders, etc. 

In the kingdom of the pastor-king, it is communicated in various ways that those who kiss the ring of the pastor-king obtain the big carrot - ministry opportunities; those who do not miss out on the same opportunities as well as promotions. (I declined becoming an elder in my home church more than once and it was clearly not appreciated.) 

Jesus said, "I am the door…" (application only) but in the kingdom of the pastor-king, it is the senior pastor who is the door to all ministry opportunities (of course, as "ministry" is narrowly defined and expressed in the confines of that pastor-king's kingdom). 

As one of my former pastors told me when I pressed him as to why he was hinting to me that I should quit my teaching position in his Bible College that I had successfully held for about nine years and go to another church: 

"If you will become more like us; I will open up more ministry doors for you; if you won't become more like us, then I won't open up anymore ministry doors for you." 

Young men expend too much time and energy - even compromising their personal convictions and swallowing their sincere questions and doubts - getting on the good side of their pastor-kings so that he will give them opportunities to “minister.” 

All these ambitious men really have to do, if they would just take a lesson from Jesus with the masses or John Wesley with the coal miners as they lined up to go work, etc. is open their front door and go preach to their neighbor or on the sidewalk or someplace there are needy people. 

Instead, the Yes Men of the pastor-king's court seek the honor and approval of men. They choose comfortable pulpits (with flowing water falls or rotating globes in the background), honorariums and choirs who will applaud their shallow, topical messages even though they lack originality and are filled with hackneyed clichés of the politically-correct traditions of their pastor-kings. 

One Sunday evening, I preached a controversial message in my home church; one to which I no longer hold. It was a sermon that supported Postmillennialism (the belief that all of the nations will gradually become Christianized before Jesus returns). Before the message, I playfully told the congregation that the pastor should feel free to correct me after I finished!

My comment was not appreciated. After I ended my message, instead of the pastor getting up to the pulpit and saying something like, “It sure is great that Christians don’t have to all believe the same thing on the End Times,” he tapped the elder who was sitting in front of him on the platform and asked him to dismiss the service; which he did very clumsily.   

The next morning, the pastor called me into his office. He told me that he was the only one in the church who defined doctrine and it was not going to be me! 

I asked him, "Why can Ern Baxter (now deceased) come into our church as a guest speaker and preach Postmillennialism from the pulpit and get away with it but I can't?" He said, "It's because Ern Baxter is not a member of this church; neither is he on staff here. What he says will be heard today and gone tomorrow. Anything Ern says that I choose not to re-emphasize, I just allow to fall through the cracks. In your case, however, since you are on church staff, it is an entirely different story.”

A reader commented that City Bible is getting a Starbucks:

Just found out cbc is putting in a starbucks in the church lobby. They are moving the reception area and book store. It will be located there.

Initially, I thought this was a joke. But I checked to see if other churches have Starbucks in their lobby. (City Bible rarely has an original thought.) And I stumbled across an article discussing Christianity in American, which included this paragrph:

The megachurches thus become part church, part shopping mall and part country club. One in Tacoma, Washington, even has its own Starbucks. Brentwood Baptist Church in Houston has a McDonald's on its 111 acres.

So I guess it's true. City Bible is getting a Starbucks. Here's my question. Why Starbucks? Why eliminate your own home-grown coffee shop to make room for a Starbucks. Will this really increase revenue? Will they advertise outside the church? How does this benefit City Bible?

My guess is that Starbucks will rent out the space in the church. I think City Bible is struggling to pay the mortgage and rent on all of its properties. And I bet they need the rent money to make their monthly mortgage payment. It's a lot like someone buying a home they can't really afford and then getting a roomate to pay the bills. 

But that's just my guess. Why do you guys think they're doing it?