A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (Jeremiah 5:30-31)
Today, a growing number of Christian leaders are holding public events calling for national repentance and church revival. With Christians deeply concerned about the state of our nation, it is understandable that repentance and revival would be on the hearts of many in the church. But sadly and alarmingly many of the figures who are calling for revival today have been promoting false and dangerous teachings, and we must ask the question, how can those involved with serious false teachings lead the way to true revival without first repenting themselves of those false teachings? In Warren B. Smith’s new book, The Titanic and Today’s Church (published by Mountain Stream Press), he asks this same question and challenges many of these leaders in their roles of possibly bringing about a false revival based on faulty foundations.
A case in point is Pastor Steve Berger. On September 26th, Berger spoke at The Return, an event in Washington, DC (hosted by author of The Harbinger, Jonathan Cahn) in a session called Prayers for Blessing, the Spirit, and Revival. Earlier this year, Berger also spoke at a Promise Keeper’s event (and he is on their Advisory Board*) in a talk titled “A Call to Repentance“; and in 2016, he gave the opening prayer as guest chaplain at the U.S. Senate. It appears Steve Berger has become a major spokesperson in calling for repentance and revival in America. But there is a problem, and it is a serious one.
As Warren Smith documents in The Titanic and Today’s Church, chapter one, Steve Berger promotes communicating with the dead (i.e., necromancy). Smith explains:
In 2010, Steve Berger, head pastor of the Grace Chapel megachurch in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, wrote a book with his wife Sarah titled Have Heart: Bridging the Gulf Between Heaven and Earth. The book described how they claim to be in spiritual contact with their deceased son Josiah. . . . the Bergers wrote that their deceased son Josiah has been directly communicating with the two of them, their children, and some of their friends. . . .
The Bergers cited [an] incident in detail, telling readers that the visit proves that departed loved ones can communicate and interact with those on Earth. (pp. 31-32)
Two very popular Christian leaders, Pastor Greg Laurie and television host James Robison, have endorsed Have Heart (endorsements which still sit on the inside front pages of both the print and digital editions) even though such a practice is called an abomination in the Bible (Deuteronomy 18). Incidentally, both Greg Laurie and James Robison were contacted about their endorsements by Chris Lawson, director of Spiritual Research Network, as noted in Warren Smith’s book. Out of concern for both the Bergers and the body of Christ, Lawson also contacted Steve Berger and politely asked him about Have Heart. Berger told Lawson:
God has made an exception at this time in history for the Berger family. We are indeed in communication with our son Josiah. (source)
Warren Smith also documents in his book that on a Calvary Chapel Pastor’s Perspective radio program (23:50-29:02 min. mark),** a caller asked the two hosts (Don Stewart and Brian Brodersen) if talking to the dead was a serious issue. Smith writes:
Stewart said if the living are spoken to, it originates from one of only two sources—a “demonic spirit” or from some type of “charade” working through “a medium.” (pp. 33-34)
In Brodersen’s reply, he referred to Deuteronomy 18 and said, “This could cause real problems in the church.” Smith adds, “Program director Pastor Josh Turansky said that what had been discussed on the program was “dangerous” and “bizarre.”
The Berger situation is just one of many examples Smith provides in his book referencing Christian leaders whose request for repentance and revival are disconcerting and problematic.
While we should, as Christians, be praying for repentance and true revival in our country, we hope that discerning believers will realize we cannot sacrifice biblical truth in order to “save our country.” The only way America (or any country) can truly be helped is by Christian believers remaining faithful to God’s Word and by proclaiming the Gospel faithfully so that individuals will repent (i.e., change direction and turn to God) and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The New Testament does not speak of “national repentance” but rather teaches people are personally saved when they believe on and put their trust in Him (“whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
The Bible clearly indicates that apostasy will abound in the end times. In 2 Corinthians 11:4, the apostle Paul speaks of those who bring “another Jesus,” “another spirit,” and “another gospel.” There are many false teachings going on within Christian leadership today. Before these leaders ask the church and the country to repent, isn’t it time they do this themselves? As Warren Smith points out, so many of these leaders have been promoting heretical and dangerous concepts such as “God’s dream,” “oneness,” “God in all,” “contemplative prayer,” “holy laughter,” and “quantum spirituality”—and these very same leaders are now calling for revival when it is clear, they don’t really understand what that means.
While many of these leaders do talk about Jesus and what He has done on the Cross to save man from his sins, the mixture of truth and error can be more dangerous than straight error in that it is less recognizable and therefore more deceptive. Theologian Harry Ironside pointed out:
Error is like leaven of which we read, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died. (source)
The church is in danger today, perhaps like never before; and just like the Titanic, which received six warnings about the ice field ahead, church leaders are disregarding the warnings that Scripture gives, and the result will end with countless spiritual victims.
In The Titanic and Today’s Church, Warren Smith warns:
Today’s church is being told to overlook denominational differences for the sake of . . . “revival”—that we must come together in “unity” for the purpose of the “great awakening.” However, the late researcher and author Tamara Hartzell warned that spiritual deception and spiritual disaster arise when truth is sacrificed on the “altar of unity.” (p. 95)
It is ironic that in Pastor Steve Berger’s talk at Promise Keepers, he states:
While the Titanic of the United States of America is sinking, we are channel surfing . . . Friends, why is it now then that we don’t have the insight and the courage to say we are clearly under the judgment of God? Can’t we see the signs? Don’t we know how they conflict with the character, nature, and purposes of God? Are we so blind, are we so deaf that we’ve lost touch with who God is and what His will is all about. These are perilous times, friends, and we’ve got to wake up. God is requiring us to make a decision. Are we going to repent and turn from all of the things that are contributing to the peril and turmoil in our country and in our churches, or are we too busy channel surfing to even care or to recognize what’s happening in our land? Friends, we’ve become so addicted to offending one another and being offended by other people I don’t hear anybody asking the question, hey do you think we’ve offended God? (starting at 17 minute mark)
Will Christian leaders turn and look at themselves (as Berger suggests) and ask these questions? And will they turn from their false teachings and stop offending God and leading the sheep astray? If not, the revival they are calling for may indeed be a false revival with disastrous results.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. (1 Peter 4:17
*On the Promise Keeper’s website, it states that “The pastoral advisory board is intended to provide guardrails on doctrinal issues to Promise Keepers. It will provide wisdom around how the PK board and leadership are to respond to biblical questions and on controversial and political issues. . . . The pastoral advisory board are leaders who bring deep biblical knowledge and insight.
**This particular YouTube video can take about 30 seconds to load.
(photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)
Chas
From the LHT article:
Boy-howdy, is that ever true!
It’s also true of teaching that is “right on” regarding the issues noted above, yet corrupted with the false Lordship Salvation (LS) “gospel”.
CW
I agree with you 100% that God never, never ever contradicts His Holy Word! Thank you so much for your inspiring comment. 🙂
World News 2020, Sept-Dec. – Cristo La Verdad
[…] Steve Berger and Other Church Leaders Calling for “Repentance” and “Revival”. . . -Steve Berger promotes communicating with the dead in his book ‘Have Heart: Bridging the […]
Joyce
Amen, I see a remnant harvesting; but that remnant will be manifesting the power of God. They will truly be noticed.
Linn
In regard to Berger, God Never contradicts His holy Word! So who is this “god” that they are in contact with? Definitely NOT the holy God of the Bible! This type of entitlement mentality is truly breath-taking. The Deception is Huge. Hold tightly to the Word of God, saints, and persevere in the Faith…we’re almost HOME! Maranatha:)
Heidi Lavoie
Very well said, I agree totally with your comment. Twenty years ago I tried numerous times to warn a beloved pastor, of the false teachings of Rick Warren that were coming into the Christian and Missionary Alliance church I was attending. My sister also sent him letters and we pled with him earnestly but he refused to see. There are pastors now who are not only complicit with all kinds of false teachings but they ignore the signs of the times in which we live and do not ever mention or teach on the fact that we are at the very close of the Age. The Bible says such people are “willfully ignorant” of this and it follows that they are then blinded to the truth. However, we need to remember that God sees the heart of a person and we need to keep praying for deliverance from deception as God leads us.
Toby Will
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1
There are many events we are witnessing that are causing many to conclude that we are at or approaching the last days, and maybe we are. When our Lord was asked by His disciples what would be the sign of His coming, Jesus responded: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, and will deceive many” (Matt 24:4,5). Jesus said, if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived by these false teachers and prophets. Again, Jesus declares: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matt 7:15). Our passage in 1 John exhorts us to “test the spirits, because many false prophets have gone into the world.” Yet, despite all of these warnings, exhortations, and instruction in the Word of God, many Christians are giving heed to seducing spirits and are enamored with false teachers. What makes these false teachers so dangerous is that they seem so genuine. Remember, Jesus said they come in sheep’s clothing; they appear as harmless as sheep, and the sheep welcome them in. They deceive by speaking enough truth to hide their deception.
Today, there is no shortage of self-proclaimed prophets claiming to have a special word or vision from the Lord regarding our day. Common among these false teachers is a claim to apostolic…
Heidi Lavoie
This is truly a pertinent and valuable work by Warren Smith. I was troubled of late as I pondered the things going on with these calls for repentance/national or collective repentance in the U.S.A. I too, was troubled with some of the things I saw as I watched footage of the prayer that was offered by various leaders. And my main thought that troubled me most was simply this, that the leaders in these movements/churches who are believing and promoting false teachings, need to repent of that first and that is what needs dealing with before God. Warren Smith has done it again, he has come out with a much needed reminder about what is really going on. Thank you for posting this article Lighthouse.
Eileen Thompson
These false teachers have been warned many, many times over the years of the disastrous path they are on but still they ignore the warnings and I believe God is giving them over to their prideful sins. The more they seek after experiences above the Truth the more the devil will supply them! Oh how they love all their huge events, gatherings, conferences etc and the next ‘new thing’ God is doing . The Church’s mission is to preach the Gospel, not to ‘christianise’ the world.
I’m afraid the sad truth is that we will see more and more apostasy, not ‘revival’, til only a remnant of true believers remain. If this sounds all gloom and doom , I’m sorry, but that’s the reality of our sin-sick world. The good news is that God is ever faithful to His word and to those who love and obey Him in truth. It should throw us more and more on His mercy and saving grace….
Jeffry
In Job 16:22, Job says “when a few years are come, then I shall go the way, whence I shall not return”. 2 Samuel 12:23, David says of his dead child “ I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me”. Like 16:27-31, the conversation in the spirit world between Abraham and the man who spent his in selfish ease, told Abraham to send a messenger to his brethren still in the body, he argues that “if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.” Abraham says “ If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rise from the dead “. He thus kills the idea of one going in spirit-form, and speaks only of the possibility that a messenger should be sent in the body by means of resurrection. The Bible is a book that provides abundant comfort to those who are in trouble. But there is never a hint in it that comfort for the bereaved is to be derived from any sort of communication with spirits of the departed. The Bible tells us Spiritism was found in the world before the Flood. Sadly man has gone his own way. Satan looks down at Church Leaders and says these men love to make up their own rules. Pray the Lord saves them and makes them read their Bibles!!! Please. All of us, please get Warrens new book. It will give us direction for helping people to pray and realize that the Bible is our guide to truth. Preach the Gospel.
CW
So Berger (or someone else?) says that “God has made an exception” for him??? That he can communicate with his dead son even though God’s Word expressly forbids this? That no one else is supposed to do this, but he can, with God’s approval?
This is truly dangerous thinking. He has been seriously deceived if he truly believes this.
I saw the TV coverage of part of Saturday’s activities in Washington. I did not see coverage of The Return. I saw some really good things, and I also saw some things which greatly troubled me, similar to this issue here.
I used to be able to support James Robison (and some whom I saw on TV Saturday), and it grieves me that I can’t do that anymore in good conscience. 🙁
Gerry Nickerson
Comment on Jonathan Cahn and “The Return”….rally at the Washington Mall last Saturday. What should be our response?
Kathy Stewart
Thank you guys for your dedication in exposing & alerting the church to the dangers all around us.
Thank you for your timely warnings.
I pray we all have ears to hear & respond.
May we get in & stay in the lifeboat-Jesus Christ.