Photo used with permission from bigstockphoto.com
By John Lanagan
Despite proclamations about the love and power of Christ, when all is said and done, the International House of Prayer offers onsite Alcoholics Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, and Codependents Anonymous meetings to those who are in bondage.[1]
All churches and organizations associated with the New Apostolic Reformation are in error–but some far more than others.
IHOP-KC has even had its own “Twelve Steps Program Leader.” [2]
The 12 Step religion is the broad way Christ warns about. According to the A.A. Big Book, which is essentially the A.A. “Bible”:
We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of the Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men. When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God.” (pg.46-47) (bold and italics mine)
Christ declares the opposite:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. (Matthew 7:13)
Equally disturbing, but less surprising, is the first thing offered to addicts on the IHOP-KC pastoral care Resource Page: Addiction & Grace, a book purporting to provide a “hopeful guide to freedom based on contemplative spirituality.”[3]
Contemplative spirituality?
According to gotquestions.org, “Contemplative spirituality is an extremely dangerous practice for any person who desires to live a biblical, God-centered life.”[4]
IHOP-KC’s pastoral support ministry, formerly called Foundations, is headed by Mike Bickle’s sister, Tracey Bickle.[5]
Pointing addicts toward contemplative spirituality is not surprising, as key IHOP-KC leaders are deeply involved in these practices.[6] Contemplative prayer has even been listed as one of the “Core Values” of IHOP-KC, although this has since vanished from the internet.[7]
For those who do not know, contemplative prayer is not really prayer at all. It is essentially Eastern/New Age meditation disguised with Christianese terms and lingo. Eastern/New Age/contemplative teaches the person to empty the mind of thought and to enter what is known as the silence. It is here, in the silence, that spiritual deception occurs.
No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14)
Contemplative prayer can addle or alter theology. One need look no further than Bethel Redding or IHOP-KC to see the effect this can have.
While it is not surprising to see IHOP-KC promote dangerous contemplative practices (this is an old story), it is astounding to learn they are hosting 12 Step meetings. Alcoholics Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, and many other “Anonymous” groups are part of the 12 Step belief system, a polytheistic religion where anything and everything can be defined as “god.”
A.A.’s history and theology make clear it is in opposition to the Bible.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
That there is no one besides Me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other, (Isaiah 45:6)
In A.A. and other 12 Step groups, Christ is seen–at best–as but one “god” among many. Furthermore, with long term involvement in A.A., biblical understanding can become diluted, and Christians can subtly–and not so subtly–take take on some of the trappings of this non-Christian belief system. Unfortunately, this has already happened to many, and is one of the reasons why the Body of Christ is in so much trouble.
Solomon, the wisest man in the world, thought he was strong enough not to be spiritually weakened by associating with those who worshipped foreign gods. Solomon was wrong. (1 Kings 11:1-11)
The Lord warned Solomon. He also warns us–we are to come out and be separate. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)
According to a long-term A.A. member in his speech to up and coming alcohol counselors, “While A.A. literature has used and continues to use the personal pronoun which describes the concept of a personal deity, a belief in this concept is by no means required. In fact, I am convinced that the greater a member’s years in A.A., the less important the nature of this Power becomes.” [8] (bold and italics mine) This speech is now official A.A. literature and is distributed in pamphlet form.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; (Ephesians 5:11)
Please do not misunderstand: This is not about isolating from the world. We must reach out to all unsaved people, and this includes addicts. But we must not be unevenly yoked with a spirituality that declares anything at all can be worshipped as “god.”
Can two walk together except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)
The 12 Steps were given to A.A. co-founder Bill Wilson by a familiar spirit. Wilson, portrayed as a Christian by some, was in reality given over to spiritualism for decades. (Read Seances, Spirits, and 12 Steps)
Why would IHOP-KC enter into spiritual alliance with Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12 Step groups? Perhaps is easier to wax eloquent about fidelity to the Christ of the Bible than it is to actually obey Him. How much of the decision making in IHOP-KC comes from time spent in contemplative prayer?
That being said, I do not question the sincerity or care and concern by IHOP-KC for Christians with sexual struggles, traumas, eating disorders, and much more.
People deserve to know that many of us are free from alcohol and other bondages because of Christ alone. We did not need an A.A. Big Book because we have the Bible, the love of our King, and the fellowship of the saints. There are biblical fellowship groups like The Most Excellent Way out there–there is no need to become involved in an anti-biblical group or spirituality.
Tracey Bickle likens all the IHOP-KC pastoral care options to a “banqueting table.” Unfortunately, at least two of those banquet choices, contemplative and 12 step spirituality, can also be likened to poison.**
Click here to read a short online booklet about the unholy history and nature of A.A.
Source Notes:
1. http://www.ihopkc.org/foundations/12steps/
Twelve-Step Programs: All programs meet at IHOPKC Blue Ridge Annex Building, located at 12404 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Grandview, MO. 64030
2. http://www.ihopkc.org/foundations/about
3. http://www.ihopkc.org/foundations/resources/
4. What is contemplative spirituality? http://www.gotquestions.org/contemplative-spirituality.html
5. http://www.ihopkc.org/foundations/about/
6. http://mywordlikefire.com/2011/10/28/mike-bickle-of-ihop-kc-instructs-followers-on-contemplative-prayer/
7. http://mywordlikefire.com/2011/12/09/contemplative-prayer-listed-under-ihop-kc-core-values/
8. aa.org/pdf/products/p41 amemberseyeviewofaa.pdf
**There are more unhealthy approaches in the IHOP-KC pastoral support repertoire. This article does not deal with SOZO and Theophostic Prayer.
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