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"WHY I LEFT
THE PROPHETIC MOVEMENT"
- by Andrew
Strom (-Nov 3, 2004).
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~revival/leaving.html
A report on the Kansas City
'Whitedove' Conference, Oct 28-30, 2004. (-Main speakers: Bob Jones,
Paul Keith Davis, Bobby Conner, John Paul Jackson - plus Jim Goll and
others).
It is with great sadness that I
make the following report.
I said last week that the
'Whitedove' conference in Kansas City this past weekend would be a
pivotal one. It certainly was pivotal for me personally. I wish I
could say that there was deep repentance - that the preaching was
incredibly anointed and the crowds were on their faces crying before
God. I wish I could say that, but I can't. In fact, it seemed to me
that the opposite was true.
The saddest thing of all is that
many people probably came away from this conference saying how
"wonderful" and "uplifting" it was (-just as they always do). But I
have to tell you, I was grieved to the core by it. Many parts of it I
would even describe as spiritually "sick".
Some people believe that the fall
of Paul Cain into serious sin is some kind of aberration - just one
individual's problem.
But I am convinced that the fall of
Paul Cain (-who was recognized worldwide as the 'father' of this
movement) is a symptom of a much wider disease. The whole movement is
sick. As I have stated in previous articles, the 'Prophetic' as we
know it is really a "fallen" movement - since the early 1990's. But I
always held out hope that it would somehow turn around and get back on
track again. In fact, I believed that this conference was a
heaven-sent opportunity for that to happen.
However, after what I saw this
weekend, I no longer believe this is possible. The deception is now
too deep. This movement is being "given over to believe a lie" and I
want no part of it. I am cutting myself off, because I cannot afford
the disease to spread into what we ourselves are doing. Things have
now gotten so bad that we have to separate ourselves - and to do so
publicly.
As you know, I requested special
prayer from you all last week that a true spirit of Repentance might
prevail in this conference. The reason I made this request was because
God had woken me up at 6 am the previous Friday and given me a strong
word about the conference. (God only wakes me up like this quite
rarely - perhaps five times a year).
The word He gave me was that this
must be a 'repentance' conference - that this was in essence the "last
chance" for the Prophetic movement because it had become more and more
corrupt - centered around money and 'ear-tickling' words, false
prophecy and so-on. This was a gathering of KEY prophets at a moment
in time when the 'father' of the movement had just fallen.
It was God's ideal moment for a
truly "solemn assembly". (And yes - I did write and pass this word on
- in person - to the three main leaders of the conference). However,
what actually eventuated at this event seemed to me to be more akin to
a circus than a solemn assembly.
The music, the concert-style
lighting, the stage dancers, the groaning tables stacked high with
books and CD's for sale, the 'ear-tickling', the hype, the $40.00 door
fee (plus extra offerings taken each session) - and that's just for
starters.
What really bothered me about the
weekend was the total lack of any truly 'prophetic' preaching. There
was some good stuff on Self-pity and Bitterness right near the start,
but after that it was mostly downhill. As always, there were plenty of
anecdotes and tales of angelic visitations, etc. There were Scriptures
quoted and a few helpful insights. But as far as a message that truly
pierces and challenges and convicts - well, don't go looking for that
in THIS prophetic movement! In fact, there were warnings AGAINST any
message that might come across as even slightly "condemning", and
there was even one of those cute talks on the need for "loving
oneself", etc.
Today's prophets seem to talk a lot
ABOUT the 'sword of the Lord' but never actually bring it to bear.
They bring no piercing word. And thus the entire movement is open to
great deception. And instead of REPENTANCE, people are getting all
kinds of counterfeit spiritual experiences. There seems to be almost
no discernment at all.
The ON-STAGE DANCING throughout
this conference was a good example. Now, I myself am a rock musician,
but from the beginning these dance items had a rather 'wild' aspect to
them that truly made me uncomfortable in my spirit. There was even one
that came across like a sensual 'Harem' dance. Much of it really felt
"off" - and almost anyone who sees the videos will tell you so. Even
the worship had a very "tribal" feel to it at times. And by Day Three
they were doing dance items with just loud voodoo-style drums only -
and leaping around in a frenzied circle making weird cries to the
super-amplified beat.
The feeling in the room was so
oppressive and "pagan" during this, that I could hardly even bear to
stay in there. Then came one of the most shocking statements of the
whole conference - from one of the main prophets. He got up and said
that people may feel uncomfortable with such obviously "pagan" type
dancing, but that it was originally God's type of dancing and we were
just now 'stealing back' what the pagans had stolen from God!
I have to admit, this was the last
straw for me.
What could be more blatant? What
kind of 'spirits' do they think are being transmitted to people who
open themselves up to that music? There is no discernment in this
movement at all.
Now, I do not primarily blame the
dancers. They were young and possibly immature. (-They weren't
actually from 'Whitedove' itself). Clearly, most of the blame lies
with the main prophets who invited them in and openly endorsed and
promoted what was happening the whole time. They would get up and
publicly acclaim these dance items, thus ensuring that the spirit of
it would pervade the entire event. And indeed it did - more and more.
Remember, most of the major "movers
and shakers" of the Prophetic movement were at this conference, going
along with this stuff. I repeat what I said earlier: This movement
demonstrates absolutely NO DISCERNMENT. I urge everyone to GET OUT
NOW, before even worse is brought in. I believe this movement is RIGHT
NOW being given over to deception by God - and it is going to get much
worse.
Even the 'spiritual' moments in
this conference often had strong touches of "Charis-mania" excess
about them. And this was not the 'harmless, silly' kind of excess,
either. It was at a level where I believe demonic spirits of deception
were clearly at work. By the last session the audience was so hyped
that they threw away all inhibition and leapt into the 'pagan' dancing
themselves with wild abandon.
And one of the main prophets even
got up and announced that there were angels in the room going around
"blowing on peoples' fingers" if only they would lift them up in the
air. That particular part sounds silly, but actually the whole thing
by this stage had become awful beyond words. Virtually every day I
came home utterly grieved and depressed. I had come to this conference
with great expectancy and hope, thinking that the return of Bob Jones
may bring a renewal of all that was originally good about this
movement.
I literally came as a 'friend' and
they turned me into an enemy in the space of three days.
Below are the SPECIFIC THINGS that
God told me He has against this movement as a whole:
-The giving and receiving of
"ear-tickling" words.
-The giving and receiving of money in expectation of prophecy.
-False words and false teaching.
-The lack of a true Repentance message.
-The spiritual 'blindness' that allows familiar spirits and spirits of
divination to flourish.
-The failure of this movement to judge itself, meaning that God must
judge it.
-The idolizing of well-known prophets - placing them on a pedestal.
-And so on....
WHAT NOW FOR US?
Well, obviously, with great sadness
we must now totally cut ourselves off from today's Prophetic Movement.
Any related links and articles will be removed from our web-site
immediately.
As you know, for some time now I
have spoken of the 'John-the- Baptist' type ministries that must arise
to preach REPENTANCE in the Western nations. -Preachers of
righteousness with a piercing word, like the Finneys, the Wesleys and
the Whitefields of old. Such ministries are essential for true Revival
to come. I now see that this new move must completely "separate
itself" from the influence of the existing Prophetic movement. We need
a completely 'NEW' Prophetic, and to keep it from being tainted by the
sickness that has infected the old, there must be a complete
cutting-off and a "leaving behind".
I urge all of you to take this
before the Lord for yourself. We live in very dangerous times, and I
believe the old Prophetic literally stands under the judgment of God.
For our ministry in Kansas City, what this means is that we have to go
right back to the original calling and mandate over this city, and
build on that. We cannot build on the movement that came after.
The 21 days of prayer and fasting,
the comet that came, and the commission to preach Repentance to the
Lukewarm church - these were all foundational elements. So too were
the four standards of "Holiness of heart, Unwavering faith, Day and
Night prayer, and Extravagant Giving to the Poor". The original
Prophetic move here seemed to be relatively pure for only a few years
- and then quickly became a quagmire. So we have to stick to only the
original foundations - and build on that. Our Sunday night meetings in
Kansas City will certainly continue.
There were prophecies last year
that a 'new' prophetic - a "second phase" was about to begin. I do
believe this. But what we need to make sure of is that it does not
become ensnared in the garbage of this previous movement. It must be
totally NEW.
I would ask that you forward this
announcement to as many Lists as you can, and to your Christian
friends. We want it as widely known as possible that we have cut off
all relations with the current Prophetic movement - and why we did it.
To email me with any feedback, please write to:
revival4@pars.net
As you can tell, it has been a
terribly sad and devastating weekend for myself and my family. We
would truly appreciate your prayers at this time, my friends.
God bless you all.
Kindest regards in Christ,
Andrew Strom.
- PROPHETIC SUPERSITE.
- REVIVAL SUPERSITE.
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