A closer look at some of the aspects of the charismatic movement: modern music replaces hymns, healing replaces bible study, needs replaces doctrines, man-centered replace christ-centered sermons...
Robert Schuller in his book, Self-Esteem: the New Reformation, state: ...that"Jesus never called anyone a sinner" (pp. 100,126, 157) was a mistake when Jesus called the Pharisees names such as "hypocrites, white sepulchres, serpents, generation of vipers, fools" (Matt. 23) Jesus was concerned about building up their self image. The church's problem is that it has had a God-centered theology for centuries, when it needs a man-centered one; we're not bad, merely badly informed about how good we are.
Rick Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church in his book, the Purpose Driven which has been circulating as the ‘how to’ manual among church growth circle, states: pastors need to recognize the waves of God’s spirit and ride it or catch a spiritual wave of growth. (p14)…if it works, it must be right…the young pastors must leave behind the old fashioned church music in favor of jazz, rock or whatever turns your people on. The churches should imitate the culture and dress down for church…figure out what mood you want your service to project, and then create it. (p264)…we use humor in our services…it is not a sin to help people feel good (p272)…we made a strategic decision to stop singing hymns in our seeker services (p285)…we have attracted thousands more because of our music (p285)…Saddleback now has a complete pop/rock orchestra (p290)…use more performed music than congregational singing.(291)…The ground we have in common with unbelievers is not the bible, but our common needs, hurts, and interests as human beings. You can not start with a (bible)text…(p295).
Benjamin Crème’s response about the Toronto Blessing: it is the method being used by his spiritual masters to soften up Christian Fundamentalists to accept the New Age Christ (Maitreya) when he appears. ---Emphasis in the original. Alpha: The Unofficial Guide, Elizabeth McDonald, St. Matthew Publishing, 2001
Seven hundred of the world’s leading evangelists attending Billy Graham’s major conference Amsterdam 2000 in Auguest attended official events where major presentations of the alpha course were given top billing. ---America’s Top Evangelists Show Interest in Alpha Rise”, Alpha News, Dec 2000, No. 8.
Alpha: “Between 8 and 13 vibrations, visualization is able to take place. Vibrations at the frequency are called alpha rhythms. The meditative visualization, in addition to catapulting one into divine/human encounter, maintains a consistent alpha level brain wave patter. The hypnotic trance exists within the alpha level. …’ ---Inner Healing: Deliverance or Deception? Don Matzat, Harvest House Publishing, 1987, p124.
The endorsers of alpha course are: Charles Colson, Bill Bright, Tony Campolo, Cardinal William Keeler(Archbishop of Baltimore), Bill Hybels, Pat Robertson, Billy Kim, Robert Schuller, Billy Graham…Alpha News, Auguest-November, 2000.
"The science of Witchcraft is based on our ability to enter an altered state of consciousness we call ‘ALPHA’, where brain waves register at seven to fourteen cycles per second. This is the slow, low frequency’ed music. As mentioned earlier, this is a state of consciousness associated with relexation, meditation, and dreaming…” --- Power of Witch: The Earth, the Moon and the Magical Path to Enlightenment. Delacorte Press, 1989.
