Dear Vinny Carvega

This article is all about churches and so called pastors who teach everything else but the unadulterated Word of God. Leadership teaching is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Leadership teaching teaches you how to be sucessful in order to impress people that they too want to have the success you have and be ‘saved’ by this ‘Jesus’ who bring so much prosperity for all the wrong reasons.

Genuine salvation is about knowing you are a sinner and repenting of your sin. Satan can give you all the riches in the world, and make you succeed as well, just as God can bless His children (after they are born again) – but Satan will never tell you that you are a sinner, quite the opposite in fact.

You don’t first have success to showcase your God to others so that they can accept Jesus Christ as their saviour, you first believe by faith and know you are a sinner and repent; thereafter God will give you what you need.

And Jesus said “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)

Having said that, the only compelling argument made in this article is John Wesley’s association with Christian mysticism… If true, I agree, that in and of itself is a serious issue. However, the tone of this article takes the opposite extreme, which I believe is just as dangerous. The folly of the New Age teachings is that they promote “the power of self”, dressed in religious teachings; to further the enemy’s lie that mankind is capable of saving itself if we look inward, instead of salvation through Christ Jesus. Based on what I’ve been able to find online, that is NOT John Maxwell’s message…

On the one hand, I get it… there is a warning flag that goes up when anyone uses God to sale commercial products. On the other hand, this article implies that if I’m successful & have the opportunity to help others be successful, that I should separate my faith from my experience when sharing with others… which also seems counter to the Word of God in my opinion. Once again… haven’t read any of his books, so perhaps I’m missing some context. But if he is truly only teaching people skills for being successful leaders, and not teaching that his principles of leadership are synonymous with salvation, then articles like this seem to serve no other purpose but to cause division. To imply that being successful should mean suppressing my faith when I share with others, or else segregating the impact of God’s Word from my personal and professional journeys… that just sounds like the same legalistic mindset the pharisees demonstrated in their condemnation of Jesus. Our faith should absolutely permeate through all aspects of our lives… as long as it is the life, death, and resurrection of Christ that we proclaim as the path to salvation, and not our own lives.

Not knowing much about Mr. Maxwell, I can speak from my own example… I’m a project manager by trade. I’ve enjoyed progressively more & more success over the last 5 years. I believe most, if not all of it, is attributable to God’s favor and my sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. When my friends ask questions concerning my string of promotions in the IT field, I’m able to give them both practical answers on skills & practices they should research, as well as share my personal testimony on the faithfulness of God. I agree that we do not come to God to acquire things and “attract success”… At the same time, I don’t think we have to shy away from our successes; as we never know how God might be using our own experience(s) as an introduction into someone else’s life, that might lead to the testimony of salvation.

Hi Sola Scriptura :hi:

Thank you!

Hi RJ :hi:

Thank you *hugs*

Hey iPads are expensive here in Africa that’s why they don’t give away cars…however the day they start giving away cars I will truly pass out :shocked:

Popcorn in church? Unbelievable. I suppose they liken that to the time that Jesus fed the crowd with loaves and fish. (Matthew 14:13-21).

Hi RJ. Thanks for your comment. As you can see I edited out the word you asked to be edited.

QUOTE:

On entering the church auditorium, you are presented with a ‘take a dip raffle bag’ to pull out a lucky number to stand a chance of winning 1 in 3 prizes. 1st prize = Apple Ipad. I wish I was joking, but I am not, this happened at Bridge Church in Alberton, Johannesburg.

Really, Deborah? **ONLY** an Ipad?? “get with the program over there” {totally sarcastic JOKING of course} because have you heard that here in America, some mega churches give away CARS at Easter?? You can google about Calvary Church in Irving doing this a handful of years ago. As well as a church in Minneapolis & other places, too, IIRC. …. along with other “nice BIG prizes”. You know? I’d hate to stand before the Lord on Judgment Day & admit I’d gone to church in hoping to win a car!

And along with what you say: the mini-rock concerts construed to “entertain”, well that’s everywhere as well. In fact, at Life Church (popular in the Midwest), they also pass popcorn around DURING SERVICE!! Our (young at the time) niece who’s being raised rc (I refuse to capitalize that — but for those who don’t know, stands for roman cath.) had spent the night with a friend & the next morning attended Life Church — where I presume she had herself quite a time. Rock Concert AND popcorn!! :like:

I try to be funny about it & poke fun at it now & then…. but truth is, I am deeply grieved over what church has become!!! Nothing at all as the Lord intended.

sigh…. sure makes us feel a lot like…. LOT!! {ref: Luke 17}

Thx. for the essay on Maxwell…. can you believe (YES, of course you can!!) years ago, I bought a book (never read) written by him — in a CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE??!!! In fact, should I ever find the thing again laying in a drawer around here somewhere — off to the garbage bin it goes!! I should never have bought it, I knew even by the title it had NOTHING to do with real Christianity!! Something along the lines of following your dreams, et al….

:unhappy: :dazed:

Thank you Robbie

:thankyou:

On the web http://www.success.com this is what Maxwell says about Pope Francis.

“Transformational. The guy—just think of the church, and how ruttish it’s been for centuries. This man, you talk about branding, well he’s rebranding the Catholic church, and he’s a great example for leaders to follow.” {Emphasis added]

Also

“Maxwell either implicitly or explicitly endorses some New Age teachers and doctrines. Even if Maxwell himself (or the church leadership) understands the dangers of New Age doctrines, it is a dangerous thing to give such tacit endorsement in front of a church family, especially considering those who are younger in their faith” [Emphasis added]

Slick… very slick.

In an essay submitted to a faculty for a doctorate in ministry, Eric Weathers concluded the following.

“Having explored the teaching and preaching of Dr. John C. Maxwell, his profession that the Bible is his primary source for his leadership principles rings hollow (see Chapter One for Maxwell’s treatment of “The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward” in Luke 16). With the application of LHGH the reader has seen specific instances where Maxwell applies, and misapplies the Word of God. The examples cited in this work are just the proverbial tip of the iceberg, yet they demonstrate Maxwell’s lack of exegetical research, spurious extra-biblical revelation, fanciful visions, and conversations with the dead which may lead some of his readers to unbiblical conclusions and applications never intended by the authors of Scripture. What should be a biblical response to Maxwell’s teachings as they relate to his use of the Bible? https://biblicalvocation.com

Clearly, believers should not consult Dr. Maxwell for biblical practices in the marketplace.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:8-10).