Rev Paul Fitton, Dungannon Free
Presbyterian Church
The Alpha Course is sweeping through this nation, crossing the denominational
divides, and spreading across the world with great rapidity. From its inception
in 1991 when approximately 600 people attended the four existing courses,
it has steadily grown in popularity to the extent that in 1996 some 250,000
people attended an estimated 5,000 courses. The estimated figure for those
attending this year is in the region of 500,000 persons.
The Alpha course is therefore being adopted by more and
more churches as the years pass by. It knows no denominational boundaries
-- Anglicans, Methodist, Congregationalist, United Reformed, Elim Pentecostal,
Salvation Army, Baptists, Presbyterian, Charismatic Fellowships, Evangelical
Free Churches, and the Roman Catholic Church all run their Alpha Courses.
If the Alpha course continues to advance at the present
rate its teaching will eventually permeate into the majority of churches,
and influence the greater part of people who in this land claim to be Christian.
If the Alpha course is a faithful declaration of the
Gospel of Christ and instructs people in sound Biblical doctrine then it
can only be a mighty influence for good, but if it is not a faithful declaration
of the Gospel, and if its teaching is not rooted in sound Biblical doctrine
then it will be an awful influence for evil.
The question therefore arises concerning the
Alpha Course -- Is it Bible Based or Hell Inspired? Does its teaching rest
solidly and squarely upon the authoritative rock of Holy Scripture or does
it teach error in the name of Jesus?
1. REASONS WHY THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD EXAMINE
THE ALPHA COURSE
There are many today who would question the right
of any believer to question the teachings of another who professes to be
a Christian. They think that all that matters is that a person teaches and
does things in the name of Christ. Such a belief is wrong. In past weeks
we have been examining the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount, and we
discovered that the false prophet preached, and prayed, and performed great
signs and wonders in the name of Christ. He deceived the people in Christ's
name and the tragic result was that both the false prophet and those that
heeded him were to be cast out of the presence of God on the day of Judgment,
Matthew 7v15-23.
It is the Christian's DUTY to test the teaching
of others even when they teach in the name of Christ. Isaiah 8:20 states,
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak" (Notice the communication
here. It refers to the thoughts of one being communicated to another.)
"if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light
in them". The Christian is taught by God to test the utterances of another,
to check the words of those who speak and teach to see if they are in accord
with the Book - the Word of God.
It is the Christian's DUTY to examine the teachings of
those who purport to teach in the name of Christ, to examine the doctrine
and teaching of others to see if they are founded and fixed upon the Scripture.
It is also the Duty of the Believer having examined the
teaching of another in the light of Scripture to REJECT anything which is
not sound in doctrine. Nowhere does the Bible teach that the Christian is
to embrace error. Rather the Bible teaches that the Christian should RECOGNISE
error and then REJECT it absolutely. 2 John 10: "If there come any unto you
and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid
him God speed." Sound doctrine, Biblical doctrine, doctrine founded upon
and substantiated by the Word of God is the only basis for fellowship. Any
doctrine not found in the Bible must with those that teach it be rejected.
It must also be REPROVED. It is one thing to
Recognise error, another to Reject it and yet another to Reprove it. Eph
5:18: "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." Once more
we are reminded that error, falsehood must not be received but rejected by
the Child of God. Now notice the final words of the verse, "but rather reprove
them." Error, false doctrine, false practices, false teachers must not only
be recognised by examining them in the light of God's Word, and rejected
by every true believer but the Christian must then reprove them, speak out
against them, declare that they are wrong.
These then are the Scriptural reasons for examining the
Alpha Course. The believer has a duty to test everything that is taught
in the name of Christ by the Word of God. They have a duty to recognise
that which is error, reject it as being error and reprove, that is speak
out against that error.
2. THE ROOT FROM WHICH
THE ALPHA COURSE DERIVED
Whenever a movement or doctrine is examined it
is always important to trace it back to its roots. The Lord Jesus Christ
declared in Matthew 7:18, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither
can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." Similarly we can say that if
a stream is contaminated at its source then the pollutant will be in the
river and all who come into contact with that river run the risk of being
contaminated. It is therefore essential that we trace the Alpha course as
far back as possible.
The course is formally attributed to Nicky Gumbel,
curate of Holy Trinity, Brompton. Immediately this information should cause
us great concern. Holy Trinity, Brompton is an Anglican Church. The Anglican
Church as a whole has tolerated error for a very long time. Long before
the ordination of women became an issue there were very serious doctrinal,
and moral issues that the Anglican Church never addressed and certainly
never dealt with in the light of scripture. The Anglican Church has embraced
the error of the mass even though one of the thirty-nine articles denounces
it as a "blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit". It has permitted ungodly
men, men who have no knowledge or experience of the rebirth to minister.
It has defended homo-sexuals among the clergy despite the Bible's condemnation
of such practices. It has tolerated men who have denied the Virgin birth,
the resurrection and ascension of Christ. We say this because if Nicky Gumbel
was the spiritual man he and others claim him to be he would not be a curate
in the Church of England. God calls men out of apostasy not into it.
Let us though concentrate on Holy Trinity, Brompton.
It was there in the early nineties that the "Toronto Blessing" first showed
its ugly and ungodly head in Britain. In fact Nicky Gumbel was one of the
leading lights in the propagating of this evil in this land. Now I have
not the time to deal with the Toronto Blessing at this time, but I can assure
you that it will be dealt with on another occasion in the will of God,
and shown to be the evil that it is. Suffice to say the Toronto Blessing
is NOT the work of the Holy Spirit.
Now the main text behind the Alpha course is
the book "Questions of Life" which is attributed to Nicky Gumbel. The book
carries his copyright. The man, therefore, whose teaching lies at the heart
of the Alpha course not only belongs to a denomination which has tolerated
error, but to a local congregation of that denomination which was responsible
for the inception into this country of the Toronto Blessing, which is another
great evil and error. Nicky Gumbel may be a very intelligent man, that
we do not dispute, but he is obviously a man who can embrace doctrinal
error.
Now we cannot condemn the Alpha course simply because
the man behind it attends a particular Church. Nevertheless the fact that
he can tolerate doctrinal error in the Church of England, and not merely
embrace the doctrinal errors of the Toronto Blessing but actually support
and propagate its errors should cause us concern and alarm. Everything he
holds to cannot be substantiated by the Word of God. Therefore we must carefully
consider what is taught in the Alpha course because on the whole it is the
teaching of Nicky Gumbel.
3. OUR RESERVATIONS CONCERNING THE ALPHA COURSE
Now before we begin to look at our reservations,
the basic problems we find with the doctrines taught in this course, let
me point out that this book is very subtle. It cloaks serious doctrinal
errors in truth. In other words a lot of what you read in this book is
acceptable but hidden behind that truth is the poison of false doctrine.
It is a bit like a cake made out of the very best ingredients that the
cook can buy. It looks good, it smells good, it even tastes good, but hidden
in the cake is a deadly poison. A poison that would pass unnoticed unless
you carefully analysed the cake before eating. Tell me, how much of that
cake would you dare consume?
If the text behind the Alpha course contains the poison
of false doctrine which it undoubtedly does, how much should the believer
tolerate? The answer is none. "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."
As a little yeast permeates through the whole loaf so a little false doctrine
spreads and corrupts the whole.
I was greatly disturbed by the reports in the
Alpha News concerning the acceptance of the Alpha course by the Roman Catholic
Church. Now I say this because I believe it will bring home the reservations
we have about this course. The Catholic Church despite what many would
have us believe is not a Christian Church. The Bible teaches that salvation
is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8,9 -- "For by grace
are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of
God. Not of works lest any man should boast". The Roman Catholic Church
teaches that any one who believes that doctrine is "Anathema"; they are
cursed. The Council of Trent, session VI, Canon 10:-- "If any one says that
justifying faith is nothing else than trust in the divine mercy pardoning
sins for Christ's sake; or that it is by that trust alone by which we are
justified: Let him be accursed."
Rome opposes and curses those that hold to the Biblical
doctrine of justifying faith, because her religion is based upon works.
What an individual can do, and what the Church can do is what Rome bases
her doctrine upon. Acceptance into the Catholic Church is not upon the grounds
of faith in Christ, but that a person accepts the teaching and practices
of the Church. The Alpha News, July to October issue, page 1, in its report
upon the Alpha conference for Roman Catholics quotes Bishop Ambrose Griffiths,
Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle:-- "It is not a complete
exposition of Catholic doctrine. No introductory course could possibly
do that. But it doesn't contain anything that is contrary to Catholic doctrine."
Is not that amazing? The teaching of the Bible
as regards salvation is totally contrary to the teaching of the Church
of Rome. But the Bishop states, and it is reported in the Alpha News, the
newsletter printed by Holy Trinity Brompton, that the Alpha course is not
contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church. It is not contrary to Rome's
teaching that salvation is by works and not by faith.
This past week I was talking to Doug in the Bethany book
shop here in Bridlington. The conversation came around to the Alpha course
and he informed me that he employed it, and I quote his words, "to get people
saved". That is why he uses the course, and I am sure that is why many others
use the course, simply "to get people saved". On the cover of the book we
have the words, "A practical introduction to the Christian Faith". Gumbel
himself says in the preface on page 9, that the book ".. is based on "Alpha",
a course run at Holy Trinity Brompton for non-churchgoers, those seeking
to find out more about Christianity, and those who have recently come to faith
in Jesus Christ." It appears to be that the book, the Alpha course is to
be employed in bringing those who know nothing of Christianity to a knowledge
of the Gospel.
Now before I go any further, do you not think it strange
that a course intended to introduce people to the Christian Faith spends
so little time dealing with the fundamental issues of the Gospel? In fact,
of the fifteen chapters only four, (and I am being generous by including
the chapter on assurance of salvation) relate to the necessity of salvation.
Here is a course, intended to be used to teach non-churchgoers, those who
know little or nothing of Christ and the Gospel, and only three, at best
four of fifteen studies deal with salvation.
Why is this? Well as we shall see in a moment
or two the course has a hidden agenda. It has a concealed objective. It
seeks to open the mind and heart of those that follow it to things which
have no grounding in the Word of God. It promotes error and heresy upon
the back of apparent truth.
Let's continue to think of the Gospel for a moment. What
Gumbel says of the person and work of Christ on the whole is acceptable.
He is shallow in his presentation of truth, but on the whole it is there.
The same applies to his dealing with sin. He speaks of it in terms which
don't have great depth but on the whole we will not object too strongly.
Yet even in this section, where much of what he teaches is correct there
is a remarkable absence of teaching concerning the work of the Holy Spirit
in conversion. I say a remarkable absence because he goes to great extremes
in his teaching regarding the Holy Spirit in the rest of the chapters.
The Bible teaches that salvation is in the person
and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture teaches that in order
to be saved we must place our trust in Christ. We must believe that He
is the Son of God the only Saviour, and that He died in our place at the
cross, bearing our sin and penalty. However this act of faith is not a mere
assent of the mind to these truths. It is not a mere consenting of the human
will to accept the doctrine of Christ, but rather, it is the result of the
Holy Spirit working in the heart and soul of individuals, regenerating them,
changing them by His power that they may receive Christ as He is offered
to them in the Gospel. John 1:12-13-- "But as many as received Him (Christ)
to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe
on His name: Which were born, NOT of blood, NOR of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God." The Scripture teaches that those that
receive Christ, those that believe in His name, do so not because of an
act of human volition, but because God the Holy Spirit has changed them
from within. He has convinced and convicted them of their sins and so changed
them that they repent and believe upon Christ.
This teaching is absent in the Alpha course.
Indeed it appears to be what we could call "Conveyor belt" Christianity,
whereby after being informed of the facts that make up the Gospel, a prayer
of acceptance of Christ is recited and the person then is a Christian. Salvation
here is more a conforming to what a Christian ought to be, than a change
wrought by the Holy Ghost in the heart of a sinner. This is undoubtedly the
case. In the first Alpha video two testimonies are given. They refer to a
relationship with God and a prayer life. That's good, but sincere adherents
of other religions claim to have a relationship with God and pray. They
refer to the "baptism of the Holy Spirit", reading the Bible, attending
Church, but there is a notable absence of terms used to describe true genuine
conversion. For instance there is no speaking of conviction of sin which
leads to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. No mention of assurance of
salvation through Christ's death. Indeed there is a total absence in their
testimony of what Christ has done for them. Even when Gumbel tried to ascertain
the reason for their changes in attitude and lifestyle the response was
"just the relationship that I've developed with God, simple as that."
There is conversion here, but it is conversion to a Christian
lifestyle rather than a conversion to Christ. This is repeated time and time
again.
Now whilst I do not doubt that there have been some who
have genuinely been converted, I also must point out that many have been
led into a false profession. Bear in mind the fact that the original course
and book were intended to redress the problem of declining numbers in the
church. Bear in mind also that churches which have struggled for years to
get people into their church see the course as a quick way to filling the
church with people. It is being taken on by more and more churches which
see it as a way to quickly correct their failures. These false professors
are simply "Proselytes of Christianity". They consent to the teaching that
is given about Christ and seek to live as a Christian, but it results from
an act of their own volition. They make a conscious decision to live as a
Christian, believing the tenets of Christianity and doing basic Christian
activities, but sadly their heart has never been changed by the Holy Spirit.
Gumbel shows us that at the end of the day he holds to
this view. On page 221, he refers to the vastness of the universal Christian
Church, informing us that the Encyclopaedia Britannica states that the
Church has some 1.7 billion adherents world-wide. He confuses Church membership
with belonging to Christ. Sadly, many, many of this vast number have never
experienced the rebirth, they are not in a saving relationship with the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Such thinking as expressed by Gumbel and propagated
by the Alpha course is not Scripturally sound. It is Arminian in doctrine;
humanistic in philosophy. There is a lack of understanding with respect
to the person and work of the Holy Spirit. This is backed up by Gumbel himself.
On page 120 of "Telling Others" he writes, "At the end of the course I
send out questionnaires... if there is a change I ask when that change
occurred. For many the decisive moment is the Saturday evening of the week-end."
This of course is on the "Come Holy Spirit" weekend. It is the time when
Nicky Gumbel invites the Holy Spirit to come and the participants are filled
with the Spirit.
The DECISIVE MOMENT is when the Holy Spirit comes rather
than the momentous occasion when they were supposedly converted. If nothing
else shows the fallacy of the Alpha Course this certainly does. The time
when, as the Bible teaches, the Spirit of God enters the soul and works
the miracle of regeneration, the soul dead in sin being made alive, the
soul in darkness having the light of Christ lit within it is not viewed as
the decisive moment. There is something fundamentally wrong here.
Unfortunately time does not permit to deal with all the
errors of this book, but suffice to say, Christians need to be on their
guard. Gumbel intertwines many falsehoods with truth as the course is followed.
He gives credence to Westcott and Hort, two heretics responsible for the
production of the text upon which the modern perversions of scripture are
based. He advocates Ecumenical unity at the expense of fundamental Gospel
truths. He teaches that natural gifts are greatly enhanced when they are
taken on by the Holy Spirit which is why many rock musicians have turned
their natural ability into what is now termed "Rock Gospel". These are aspects
which we could spend considerable time examining, but there is an issue at
the heart of the Alpha course that demands our attention.
The main objection to this course is its teaching
regarding the Holy Spirit. This is especially in connection with His work
and gifts. This should come as no great surprise for Gumbel is extremely
Charismatic in his teaching. His work is therefore filled with charismatic
teaching and although the book was prepared prior to the phenomenon known
as the Toronto Blessing it is undoubtedly pro-Toronto Blessing.
Throughout the book there are references to John Wimber.
Undoubtedly Wimberism has had its influence on Nicky Gumbel. On tape five
of the video set Nicky Gumbel dates his call to Evangelism to the 1982
incident in which he received prayer from John Wimber. He relates part
of that incident on page 201 of "Questions of Life". The video, however,
gives a little more information. It tells us that on the occasion in question,
he experienced such supernatural power that he had to call out for it to
stop. It was at that time that Wimber gave a "Word of knowledge" that Gumbel
had been given a gift of telling others. He can trace his ministry of telling
others to that particular time. Isn't that interesting? Time does not permit
me to fully deal with John Wimber, but let me say this. Wimber says that
in 1977 God clearly spoke to him; that God gave him a revelation, a direct
communication. God said to him, "I've seen your ministry, now I am going
to show you mine. Preach forgiveness of sins, and the healing of the body,
preach the Kingdom." Note that he is not being told to preach Christ, or
the blood, or the cross or the Gospel, or the book. He is being told to
preach the Kingdom. This doctrine has been described in a variety of ways,
Restorationism, or Dominion Theology to name a few. It is a unique and new
form of Pentecostalism and it is the basis of the Toronto Blessing. In fact
it has been said that as to its theology and practice the Toronto Blessing
is "Wimberism". Gumbel shows aspects of this teaching in chapter thirteen.
He refers to the Kingdom, the preaching of the Kingdom. He speaks of the
Kingdom in the same terms as Wimber, the healing of the sick, signs and wonders.
He is paving the way for people to experience the same phenomena as those
in the Toronto Blessing.
Now in the Toronto Blessing the New Age philosophy that
"Experience leads to explanation" is the order of the day. Indeed a close
examination of the Toronto Blessing will reveal that it is a replica of
New Age philosophy and practice in the guise of Christianity.
We are constantly told that the Church is moving into
the realm of the supernatural. This is nothing but New Age teaching dressed
up. They believe humanity is moving into a higher humanity. That there
is a quantum leap.
In the Toronto Blessing there is the "Experience
of the Holy Spirit"; in the New Age it is called "Tuning in to the Divine
Consciousness."
In the Toronto Blessing there is the "Word of Knowledge"
and revelations from the Spirit realm. In the New Age there is what is
termed "Channelling from the Spirit World".
In the Toronto Blessing there is a "Transmission of anointing"
through the close proximity to a teacher, or the touch upon the forehead.
In the New Age there is the transmission into Higher Consciousness through
the close proximity of a Guru, or Shakti pat. Shakti pat comes from Hinduism,
shakti meaning power. Power transmitted by simply a touch.
I could go on but that will suffice for the present
to show the connection between the New Age philosophy and practice and the
Toronto Blessing. Similarly, the thrust of the Alpha course is towards the
experiential and not the written Word of God. Commenting on the weekend
away, Gumbel says of those from a New Age background, "They are on more
familiar territory in experiencing the Holy Spirit". "Telling others", page
19. How is this? Surely Christianity should be a million miles away from
occultism. Yet they are at home. There is a similarity in what they believed
and held to in the New Age movement, and what they come across in the teaching
and experience regarding the Holy Spirit in that weekend away.
It is obvious from what we said earlier, that there are
many who arrive at the part of the course which deals with the work of the
Holy Spirit who know nothing of genuine conversion. There are others and
perhaps they are young converts, and still others who, because of a lack
of teaching in their particular church, have joined the course. The Alpha
course then takes them through the "Experience" of receiving the Holy Spirit.
Now during this time, on the Saturday evening, Gumbel prays for the Holy
Spirit to come upon them.
Now how do they know that they have received the Holy
Spirit? Well one of the evidences is that they speak in tongues. I say one
because Gumbel does not fall into the trap of many charismatics. He has
learned by their mistakes and so he does inform us that not every Christian
will speak in tongues. At this point let me do something which Gumbel tells
Christians to do but which he himself and those on the course fail to do
-- test the spirits. 1 John 4:1 -- "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but
try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world." The Bible teaches us to try, or test the spirits,
to see if they are of God. And the reason given is that there are false prophets
in the world. How do we try the spirits? By the Book. By the Word of God.
"If they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light
in them." If it is the Spirit of God coming upon them then their experience
must measure up to what the Bible teaches. If it does not, then the phenomenon,
in this case tongues, and the experience - receiving the Spirit must be rejected.
If the phenomenon associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit does not
measure up to the standard of God's Word then it is not the Holy Spirit of
God, but another spirit that comes upon them.
Gumbel in "Questions of Life", chapter 9, pages
140-144, makes the following statements regarding what tongues are and
the benefits they bring:-
He states that speaking in tongues "is a form of prayer"
and he quotes 1 Corinthians 14:2 as his proof. Let us read the verse, "For
he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God."
That is where the learned Mr Gumbel ends the verse and states that because
it is speaking to God it is prayer. That is not what the apostle is teaching.
Paul does not say speaking in tongues is prayer. Look at the rest of the
verse, "For no man understandeth him". He is saying that if a person speaks
in another language, other than the one that they understand, in the gathering
of God's people then only God knows what they are saying. Paul backs up
this statement by saying, "Howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."
Note the connecting word in the next verse, "But he that prophesieth speaketh
unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort". Paul says no man
but God knows what a person speaking in tongues is saying. His words are
a mystery, they are of no value to the church. This is not a commendation
for tongues. It is not saying that tongues are for prayer, rather Paul is
saying they are of no value if employed in this manner. It is not prayer.
In verse 14, Gumbel expresses that Paul speaks of prayer in relation to tongues.
So he does, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my
understanding is unfruitful". Has Mr Gumbel proved his point? I am afraid
not. You must read the next verse where Paul says "What is it then, I will
pray with the spirit, and pray with the understanding also ..." Paul continues
to apply the same argument to worship, to praise. What is his argument? It
is this - If you pray in tongues your understanding is empty, it is unfruitful,
but that is not the way you should pray, that is not the way in which you
should worship. Your understanding, your mind should be active. This is a
terrible aspect of the Charismatic and Toronto style meetings. People are
told to empty their minds but God never tells Christians to empty their mind.
They must be alert, aware, conscious of what they are doing.
Gumbel then gives us three areas where tongues
can help the Christian:-
1. In Praise and Worship
2. Praying under Pressure
3. Praying for other People
Isn't that strange? The two things Paul has just spoken
of here, praise and praying, are the uses of tongues which he gives. Paul
doesn't substantiate what Gumbel is teaching. In fact, the Bible teaches
the opposite to what Gumbel is saying. But I find it even more extraordinary
when he omits to mention the Scriptural purpose for the gift of tongues.
Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak
with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." They were speaking
in tongues. The Holy Ghost came upon them and they began to speak with other
tongues. There was no learning to speak. No going over gibberish until
it came. There and then they were given the gift of tongues. Does it not
surprise you to discover that the same Holy Spirit according to Gumbel
doesn't give a perfect gift? In the training manual of the Alpha course,
relating to the giving of the gift of tongues (page 17 section g) -- "Encourage
the person to start to speak in another language..." On page 147 of "Questions
of Life" he not only teaches that we should "Ask God to fill you with the
Spirit and give you the gift of tongues", but in point six he states, "Persevere.
Languages take time to develop. Most of us start with a very limited vocabulary.
Gradually it develops. Tongues is like that. It takes time to develop the
gift. Don`t give up." Does the same Spirit give a perfect gift on the day
of Pentecost and an imperfect one today? We are examining Acts 2:4. They
began to speak in tongues - Why? Was it the sign that they had received
the promise of the Father? Was it to praise or pray to God? No! Verses 5
and 6 give the purpose. They inform us that there were men in Jerusalem
from all parts of the earth and the Apostles preached to them in their own
language. The gift of tongues was given that they might preach the Gospel.
Gumbel in his teaching upon the Holy Spirit never
mentions this. His doctrine is not in accord with the Bible. The experience
of many who attend this course is not in accordance with the Word of God.
The tongues manifested at the "Come Holy Spirit Weekend" are not the same
either in character or purpose as the tongues in the Scripture. "They speak
not according to this Word". Now it follows that if the evidence of the
experience is unsound, the experience itself must also be unsound. Whatever
comes upon them during that weekend, we can be sure that it is not the Spirit
of God.
Time does not permit for the examination of other
phenomena associated with this occurrence. Gumbel teaches that there are
those who by the same spirit receive the gift of healing, words of knowledge,
visions, dreams, and prophecies. He opens the minds of those who participate
in the course to extra-Biblical revelations, to signs and wonders. The mind
of all who are taught these errors is open to the thought that a revelation
from God, a word of knowledge from the Spirit, a word given by prophecy,
are all on a par with the Word of God. If this is accepted "Anything " can
be taught in the name of Christ. Absolutely anything can be taught and it
follows that if it is as they claim from the Spirit of God then it must be
believed. Thus what men say is taken on board as the truth of God without
any scriptural ground.
There is a great danger here. The Alpha course
is being used to prime the pump. To condition the thinking of church people
to accept the teachings and phenomena which we associate with the Toronto
blessing. Phenomena which have no anchorage in the Scripture. Doctrines
which otherwise would be rejected out of hand.
These phenomena are unbiblical. There is no ground in
Scripture upon which to anchor them. The Alpha course in Philosophy is New
Age; it relies heavily upon experience. In Practice it leads to experiences
that are rooted in the occult. If they are calling down the spirit and
they are possessed by that spirit, and that spirit is not the Spirit of
God then they have opened their minds to other spirits, to evil spirits.
It promotes humanism, Arminianism, Ecumenism, and Charismaticism. There
is evil being done in the name of Christ, wickedness being practised and
taught in the name of the Lord. The Alpha course is only conditioning people
to accept these errors, to tolerate and to take on these evils.
The Alpha course is not Bible-based; it does not rest
firmly upon the Book. It leads people away from truth and into error therefore
it is Hell inspired. As Christians we must stand apart from that which
is the vehicle for propagating false doctrine and false experience. The
Christian is told to reject error, to withdraw from those who teach and
practise falsehood. God says, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate...
and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you". On the basis of
God`s Word I say we must reject the Alpha course and all that is associated
with it.
May God help us therefore to fulfil our duty and responsibility
to reject this error and to speak out boldly against it.
Amen & Amen.
