If you know those initials then you know this ministry, and if it's in God's providence, you will stumble upon my blog or read the link on Facebook. Sadly, it seems to have come to a point where I cannot, in good concscience, remain silent any longer. Now, I realize this won't win me any popularity contests, and in fact, it'll probably earn me a few enemies. But I'm not so much concerned with what 'people' think as I am about protecting and defending the treasure that is the Word of God. I deeply love the truth of God's revealed Word, and by His grace, endeavor to contend for the true faith at every opportunity (Jude). Although I rarely have contact with those who continue to be involved in FTS, you are fellow saints in the LORD, so it is with biblical precedence that I attempt to sound the alarm, as it were, lest you (or I) be deceived (Galatians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude). I do this with a confidence that comes from knowing God is sovereign, and I trust that He will move in each and every life as He sees fit, in accordance with His will. I also do this because FTS does hold a special place in my heart in that I was involved in the ministry at its inception. As well, I was a participant in the very first HQ in 2004. There isn't a doubt in my mind that God providentially worked during that time, using it as a catalyst for His transforming work in my life in the ensuing years. This was at a time when I believe FTS was on a right course and unfortunately, over time, the direction of the ministry seems to have veered off track. As I've witnessed this throughout the years, it has continued to grieve my heart and I am persuaded to appeal to you who are called of Christ.
Without going into the details, it's important to note that I have, in the past (Oct 2009), contacted the founder of FTS regarding the direction of the ministry, specifically about what has been written in the newsletters. So this blogpost doesn't come randomly from out of nowhere. I write it with much forethought and I have anguished over every word. By the time I actually post it, please know that I have put much prayerful time, effort and thought into my words.
So, to begin. The troubling aspect for me (since I'm no longer directly involved in the ministry) is the newletters, which I've continued to receive for several years. I don't think it is at all unfounded to assert that the content of the newsletters reflects, most obviously, the beliefs of the writer, as well as the overall tenor and teaching of the ministry. If that's NOT the case, then I welcome correction. To me, it is glaringly apparent that there has been a steady deviation from promoting and teaching sound biblical doctrine to what I can only describe as a movement toward seeking personal revelation and subjective 'supernatural' experiences. With that, it appears that the subjective 'interpreting' of Scripture is left up to the founder & newsletter writer, for desseminating to the masses; or it's posited as instructional for the purpose of teaching others how to engage in the same sort of biblical 'interpreting;' or it's put forth as something along the lines of, "God has spoken this word to me so listen to me because I have the truth. All of it subjective.
The old newsletters are not on the FTS website for reference, so if you have access to the June and July 2009 editions, those are two from which I'll take my examples now and are the two I referenced in my Oct 2009 correspondance to the founder. The theme of these two newsletters was "common" and "uncommon." The writer claims, in the June newsletter, that after asking God what he should say to a group of students regarding the word, uncommon, (because that was the "word that the Lord had given him,"), God *responded* by saying, "BY BEING ON THE NARROW PATH, YOU ARE UNCOMMON! To be a Christ follower and not live an uncommon life is to not be a Christ follower!" [Emphasis the writer's]
This 'uncommonness' theme was fleshed out by the author: "The plan is so simple...accept our 'uncommonness.' Glorify Father by being who we are...by being uncommon. It is a false humility that uses phrases like, "I am just one little person," "I can't dream," "I can't ask...." "I can't..." This is actually PRIDE. .....Dare to trust Him. Dare to break away from normal thoughts, break away from quietly embracing common AND ACT LIKE THE UNCOMMON NEW CREATION THAT YOU ARE!" How do I begin? Begin by repenting of your desire for "common." Go on...do it. Then ask Him to begin revealing to you your "uncommonness" in Him."
Well, there is so much more in the newsletter, but I think you get the gist. To be frank, this is just flat-out unbiblical. Ask yourselves, "from where do these definitons of common and uncommon come, and how do they comport with the account in Matthew 7?" In verses 13 and 14, we see that the narrow gate leads to life, not 'uncommonness,' and the wide gate leads to destruction, not 'commonness.' By entering throught the narrow gate, a person is saved, not uncommon; and by entering through the wide gate, a person will perish, not be common. This passage is about conversion - life versus destruction. Furthermore, being uncommon isn't an inherent sin from which we must repent. Here's the bottom line: the supposed revelation that was supposedly received from God doesn't at all align with His already revealed word on the subject. See, there is a contradiction between what is claimed to have been spoken by the LORD and what God already said in His inspired word. Additionally, we don't 'glorfy the Father by being who WE are,' God is glorfied by His Holy Spirit who lives in us. At our core, we are wretched sinners, and enemies of God unless and until He saves. It's just not about who we are, it's about who Christ is.
Also ask yourselves this: "In the plain reading of the text in Matthew 7, how does one draw the conclusion that this passage has a thing to do with the traits of commonness and uncommonness?" In fact, these meanings aren't anywhere implied in the text, and this is NOT what the text MEANS at all. The words on the page MEAN something, and if we cannot read them to mean exactly what they SAY, then we really have no way of knowing *what* they mean! The Word of God is to be taken at face value, not 'hyper-spiritualized' and applied to every aspect and every circumstance of our lives.
The July newsletter continues with this common/uncommon theme, where the writer applies them to the account of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25, where Esau sells his birthright to Jacob. The author writes, "... Esau's family was RICH. Not comfortable, RICH! Esau could have snapped his fingers, said, "Sandwich," and one would have appeared. So what happened? Why would a wealthy, grown man trade his wealth and legacy for a bowl of soup? Because he forgot who he was! He was uncommon but he acted like a commoner. He was THE firstborn son but he acted like an orphan. He was living a common life, planning his own way, putting himself on the wrong path and positioning himself exactly where the enemy wanted him."
How on earth does he come to this conclusion? We simply must stay true to the biblical text, and not try to "spiritualize" it to apply to the 21st century Christian. In fact, Esau was acting in accordance with his sinful nature AND in accordance with the foreordained will of God (Gen 25:23, Romans 9:10-14). The text is historical in nature and isn't applicable to Christians' lives today. Do we learn from it? Of course, as all Scripture is profitable for teaching (2 Tim 3:16-17). But again, ask yourselves, "How would anyone else reading this passage draw the same conclusion as the author with regard to this notion of being common and uncommon? It's simply not in the plain meaning of the text.
These are just two examples; the newsletters are replete with many Scripture references that have been ripped from their contexts, and upon which subjective meanings have been imposed. There are other examples of "personal" revelations being put forth as God-inspired authority, and the already-revealed word of God is being left by the wayside. It's dangerous, no matter how well intentioned. My prayer is that anyone reading this would be a good Berean, take the time and effort to delve deeply into the study of the Bible, and NOT seek confirmation of truth through subjective experiences and 'personal' revelations - or take anyone else's to be God-inspired authority either. Our experiences don't define truth, Truth defines our experiences. God has already spoken.
The stunning event that absolutely compelled me to compose this letter comes from the Dec 2010 newsletter. As of this writing, it is not up on the website, but it did arrive in the mail.
Quoted by the newsletter writer at the bottom of page one is this little gem:
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light more than our darkness which scares us. We ask ourselves - who are we to be brilliant, beautiful, talented, fabulous? But honestly, who are you not to be so? You are a child of God, small games do not work in this world. For those around us to feel peace, it is not example to make ourselves small. We were born to express the glory of God that lives in us. It is not in some of us; it is in all of us. While we allow our light to shine, we unconsciously give permission to others to do the same. When we liberate ourselves from our own fears, simply our presence may liberate others.” Marianne Williamson [unedited quote found here ] [Emphasis the author's]
Marianne Williamson!!?? When I read it, the name rang a bell and red flags went up everywhere. Was this not the woman with whom Oprah Winfrey teamed up to do some sort of spiritual teaching? A quick internet search confirmed what I had vaguely remembered: Oprah and Marianne Williamson led Oprah followers through Ms. Williamson's book, A Course in Miracles, which can be found here. Not only that, but apparently new age, spiritual guru Marianne Williamson is a host on Oprah Radio. (I didn't even know Oprah had a radio station - she has enormous influence over the sheeple.)
The entire content of the above quote is patently unbiblical, in part, because it's central focus is YOU, YOU, YOU! Glorification of self. Furthermore, it comes from a woman whose life bears NOT ONE SHRED of evidence that she is a born again believer in Christ.
There is absolutely nothing on her website that would lead anyone to believe that she is true Christian or that she propagates the gospel of Christ; in fact you can't even find the name, Jesus Christ, on her site. You do find, though, tweets that say, "The real you is the light of the world." 12-10-10 (I thought Jesus was the Light of the world) and, "The universe is God's handwriting. It is never weary; it is never depessed; it is never limited in its creative capacity." 12-5-10 (Hmmm....Romans 8 tells us that creation is subjected to futility and it groans awaiting its redemption.) Or how about this one, "In the presence of holiness, anything is possible. And YOU, at your core, are holy" and, "There is nothing my holiness cannot do." 12-1-10 ~from A Course in Miracles. [God is holy, Marianne, and Christians have the imputed righteousness of Christ, possessing no inherent holiness apart from Him.]
Here's something scary (from her website; see above link): In December 2006, a NEWSWEEK magazine poll named Marianne Williamson one of the fifty most influential baby boomers. According to Time magazine, "Yoga, the Cabala and Marianne Williamson have been taken up by those seeking a relationship with God that is not strictly tethered to Christianity."
Spiritualism without Christ.
Marianne Williamson is a new age spritualist who uses the name of god, but her god is not the God of the Bible and, like Oprah, she believes that all paths lead to Him (called heresy). Which they do not. She is lost, FTS. Lost. So why are you quoting her and promoting her thoughts in your newsletter - a supposed Christian publication (ministry)? This is most disconcerting. You're lending tacit credibility to a heretic, thus misleading any undiscerning readers.
Be on guard, beloved. Test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Be diligent to show yourselves approved. Accurately handle the Word of God, holding it up as the Light it is to expose the lies of the darkness. Compare what others say (including myself) to the truth of Scripture. Where something doesn't line up, it isn't truth. And while you are diligently studying the Word of God, I encourage you to research the history and origins of Bushido - a practice that, even tangentially, has no place in a true Christian ministry.
In closing, please understand that I am always open to feedback and comments, or emails, but also know that I'm not looking to be convinced otherwise. My purpose was to expose some of the errant teaching coming out of FTS, in hopes that God will reveal HIS truth to those whom He desires. We do not need another spiritual "program" to lead people down some false path of enlightenment. We need to come in line with the declared Word of God so that we might be humble and useful tools for the glory of God.
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. Hebrews 13:20-22
Yours in grace for His glory,
