christiana
Puritan Board Senior
Just wondering at the lack of discernment in some contemporary theologians and at who is leading whom and to where? It seems ever more difficult to focus on a strong, orthodox, scripturally sound theologian!
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“An infectious enthusiasm, entrepreneurial spirit, and a bold plan for growth are all trademarks among Alpha’s top leaders. But not everyone is cheering Alpha onward. Some church leaders have found Alpha teaching too charismatic, too experience-driven, and too negative about traditional churches. Martyn Percy, director of the Lincoln Theological Institute for the Study of Religion and Society of the University of Sheffield, England, has commented about Alpha that it is ‘a package rather than a pilgrimage.’ In a recent essay, he said, ‘It is a confident but narrow expression of Christianity, which stresses the personal experience of the Spirit over the Spirit in the church. ... The Alpha approach has been faulted for pushing an experience-driven approach to evangelism that sidesteps intellectual difficulties.” - Christianity Today, Feb. 9, 1998, pg. 37.
Chris Hand in his analysis of Alpha concludes the following:“1. The God of Alpha is not the God of the Bible. ... it does not present us with the God who has revealed Himself in the Bible. ... It simply fails to tell us anything we need to know about God.
2. The plight of man in Alpha is not as serious as in the Bible. ... Alpha does not use strong terms and leaves us rather unclear about where we stand. As one follows its argument, sin is more to be seen in the way we have ‘messed up our lives.’... For all the gravity of sin, Alpha never allows us to feel too bad about ourselves. It never permits us to see ourselves in God’s sight. That is a big omission.
3. The Jesus Christ of Alpha is not the Jesus Christ of the Bible. ... despite having part of the course titled ‘Why did Jesus die?’, it is unable in the final analysis to answer this question. ...
4. The love of God in Alpha is not the love of God of the Bible. ... The God of the Bible is love but it is love that is seen in His willingness to save sinners. ... without the context of God’s holiness and absolute perfection, the meaning of love is lost to us. ...
5. The Holy Spirit of Alpha is not the Holy Spirit of the Bible. ... Alpha’s ‘Spirit’ appears to work in ways that lie outside the confines of Scripture. Whoever it is that people are ‘introduced’ to at the Alpha Weekend, it is not the Holy Spirit. But whoever this mysterious guest is, he is equally at home with the ecstatic gatherings of New Age enthusiasts and non-Christian religions alike.
6. Conversions in Alpha are not like the conversions in the Bible. ... More often than not it is an emotional experience about the love of God but without any understanding of holiness or the need to be saved from our sins. ... For all its efforts, Alpha does not help us to know God. It does not describe the true and living God for us. It does not diagnose man’s condition accurately enough. ... it is unable to supply us with the ‘good news’.” - The Christian Research Network Journal, Spring 1998, pg. 22. The Alpha Course, by Chris Hand
I've had some dealings with the Alpha course. Never come across any heresy. They don't employ necessarily presuppositional apologetics on the course, which to some here is akin to heresy (I kid ), but those who came up with the Alpha course affirm the Trinity, a substitutionary view of the atonement, the deity of Christ etc. I don't really see where the Heresy is... Churches generally tailor it to how they wish to teach it, as some are reformed, some are not, etc. What was it you thought was heretical?
I've had some dealings with the Alpha course. Never come across any heresy. They don't employ necessarily presuppositional apologetics on the course, which to some here is akin to heresy (I kid ), but those who came up with the Alpha course affirm the Trinity, a substitutionary view of the atonement, the deity of Christ etc. I don't really see where the Heresy is... Churches generally tailor it to how they wish to teach it, as some are reformed, some are not, etc. What was it you thought was heretical?
I guess you missed the session that promotes the holy laughter and the possible effects of being "filled with the spirit". Nicky Gumble has ties to the New Apostolic Reformation that evolved from the Toronto/Kansas City prophets mess.
I also remember a part where Gumble talks about getting hands laid on him and he falls down and the guy laying hands on him yelling more, more, more or something to that effect.
These were segments of the Alpha video series that was circulating around 2002. The books didn't have this in them, if my recollection is right.
I think everyone should look up all the things that occurred in the Toronto nonsense.
I think everyone should look up all the things that occurred in the Toronto nonsense.
I think everyone should look up all the things that occurred in the Toronto nonsense.
Some of the authors may have been influenced by him, but Wimber is not an author of the Alpha course. Also, Wimber cut the Airport Vineyard loose after the Toronto Blessing. I don't see the connection between what happened in Toronto and the Alpha course. Maybe I am missing something.
The link is the person who "laid hands" on Gumble, and supposedly imparted a gift of the Holy Spirit to him.
The link is the person who "laid hands" on Gumble, and supposedly imparted a gift of the Holy Spirit to him.
Does Gumble claim that the Toronto Blessing is alive and well in the Alpha course through the laying on of hands of Wimber? Wimber did not support what happened in Toronto.
Does the Alpha course claim to be in the spirit of Toronto? I guess I will have to do more research.
The link is the person who "laid hands" on Gumble, and supposedly imparted a gift of the Holy Spirit to him.
Does Gumble claim that the Toronto Blessing is alive and well in the Alpha course through the laying on of hands of Wimber? Wimber did not support what happened in Toronto.
Does the Alpha course claim to be in the spirit of Toronto? I guess I will have to do more research.
I don't recall a quote of being connected with Toronto. However I do recall him speaking about Wimber &/or his group. I remember him talking about his personal experience of being filled. The You Tube videos seem different from the version I saw. I'm still searching for the session where he talks about it. Some of the supposed manifestations are talked about in the Holy Ghost weekend video HOW CAN I BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT? | HTB ALPHA WEEKEND TALK 3 - YouTube
The link is the person who "laid hands" on Gumble, and supposedly imparted a gift of the Holy Spirit to him.
Does Gumble claim that the Toronto Blessing is alive and well in the Alpha course through the laying on of hands of Wimber? Wimber did not support what happened in Toronto.
Does the Alpha course claim to be in the spirit of Toronto? I guess I will have to do more research.
I don't recall a quote of being connected with Toronto. However I do recall him speaking about Wimber &/or his group. I remember him talking about his personal experience of being filled. The You Tube videos seem different from the version I saw. I'm still searching for the session where he talks about it. Some of the supposed manifestations are talked about in the Holy Ghost weekend video HOW CAN I BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT? | HTB ALPHA WEEKEND TALK 3 - YouTube
It sounds very 'Third Wavish', hence the endorsements by Grudem and Piper. Whether or not it is 'heresy' is for a church council to decide.
Also, where does the notion that Packer and Keller "endorse" it come from?
One of the main weaknesses of the Alpha course is its insistence that leaders do not answer questions,