Today, we begin a five-part series on the ongoing “paganization” of America. America was once to be set apart as a “city upon a hill” ... a country that should be emulated. America’s strength was found in her morality and truth, both based upon the Word of God. Is that still the case?

America owes a great debt to the Puritans, who played a significant role in first bringing Christianity to our shores. The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who came to America for religious freedom. In doing so, they gave us part of the constitutional framework for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Half of the passengers aboard the Mayflower that landed in 1620 were Puritans. They founded the first school in America (Roxbury, 1635) and the first college (Harvard, 1639) so people could read the Bible for themselves. The moral foundations of early America came from their emphasis on godly behavior. Their influence spread throughout New England and the rest of the colonies. In 1630, Puritan leader John Winthrop referenced Matthew 5:14, referring to America as “a city upon a hill” ...a country that should be emulated.

As time went on in America, a series of religious revivals took place... great waves of increased religious enthusiasm occurred from the early 18th to the late 20th centuries. Each of these “Great Awakenings” was characterized by widespread Protestant revivals that produced a profound sense of conviction and redemption among those affected.

The third and last of these was the Great Awakening of 1858–1910, led by preachers like D. L. Moody (1837-1899). Moody revolutionized evangelism in the United States. He launched campaigns in cities across America, employing gospel singers, renting large tents or auditoriums, and canvassing neighborhoods before each crusade. Many others followed his model.

From coast to coast, America was well on its way to becoming a Christian nation.

But, around the same time Moody’s revivals peaked in popularity, things began to change…

New York City has always been considered the main gateway to America. After all, that’s where Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are found. The seeds that would eventually plant paganism in the hearts and minds of many Americans first entered our country through that gateway.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was the first of those seeds. A second would soon follow...

Madam Blavatsky arrived in New York during the summer of 1873, intending to spread “spiritual truths” she had discovered during her travels. She was born into a rich aristocratic family in the Russian Empire in what is now Dnipro, Ukraine. Between 1860 and 1870, Blavatsky claims to have traveled from Russia to Turkey, through India, and to Tibet, where she converted to Buddhism. While there, she encountered a group of spiritualists known as the "Masters of Ancient Wisdom", who trained her to develop a deeper understanding of the synthesis of religion, philosophy, and science. By the time she left Tibet, Blavatsky claimed she had developed “powers” of clairvoyance and telepathy, could control the minds of others, and contact the dead.

Once in America, Blavatsky introduced her “ancient wisdom” belief system to New Yorkers through her Theosophical Society. Her writings and speeches paved the way for spreading everything from yoga to reincarnation throughout the country. She based her teachings on Theosophy, the “wisdom of the gods.” Blavatsky claimed she could perform paranormal feats because she had been given access to ancient wisdom known only to a select few. Her fake spiritual encounters and séances appealed to many prominent New Yorkers.

Blavatsky’s success was largely due to the support of these popular establishment figures, one of whom was the well-known inventor Thomas Edison. His endorsement gave her claims the appearance of respectability that was not deserved.

In 1884, Blavatsky became involved in a major scandal when an embittered Theosophical Society member accused her of faking her paranormal abilities. The incident caused extensive damage to her reputation. Due to poor health, she later resigned from the Theosophical Society that she had co-founded.

Blavatsky eventually moved to London, where she died in May 1891 at the age of 59. But she had opened America’s gateway to the spirit of Eastern mysticism and occult practices. If we were to date the beginning of America’s slow drift toward paganism, it would have to begin with Madam Blavatsky herself.

In 1907, a second figure came from England to America through the same gateway of New York City. Married to an abusive Episcopalian priest, she fled to California for a time. She later returned to New York to continue her work as a member of Madam Blavatsky’s Theosophical Society. She, too, would have a huge impact in advancing America’s eventual movement toward the occult and paganism.

Her name was Alice Ann Bailey...

Bailey came to the United States from England, where she spent most of her time as a writer and a teacher. Born to a wealthy middle-class family, she was a dedicated member of the Anglican church. Having received a Christian education, Bailey did evangelical work for the YMCA and the British army. Heavily influenced by the writings of Madam Blavatsky, Bailey would give rise to New Age occultic religious practices... in other words, paganism.

Pagans serve created things rather than the God who created them. Pagans live for worldly gain, sensual pleasures, and material possessions. Pagans typically worship nature, the earth, the sun, the moon, and the stars. Today, as in ancient times, child sacrifice (abortion) is a major part of pagan practices. Some pagans will abuse their bodies in deviant sexual practices to revel in their passions or mental illness. Satan is their chief source of influence and control. Many pagans believe that both humans and animals have a divine nature and, as such, have the potential to become gods and goddesses.

Bailey extensively used the term “New Age” in her books and is considered the movement’s founder. Her writings and teachings are consistent with paganism, witchcraft, and Tibetan mysticism. Some insist that New Age and paganism are not related... but the reality is that New Age practices opened the door to pagan ones in America. Both celebrate the sacredness of creation in festivals, rituals, and faux sacraments.

Her books, written between 1919 and 1949, describe how spirituality relates to the solar system, meditation, healing, spiritual psychology, and the destiny of nations. She described most of her work as having been telepathically dictated to her by a Master of Wisdom, initially referred to only as “the Tibetan”.

Bailey’s writings had much in common with Madame Blavatsky’s, including a vision of a unified society that included a global religion based on “ageless wisdom”. She considered the New Age of Aquarius the cornerstone of her teachings. She described this Age of Aquarius as one of progressive thinking that encourages each person to be free to choose one’s own reality.

Sound familiar?

All new age and pagan beliefs can be summed up in one sentence... You are your own God, or you can become like God.

Both are lies from the pit of hell…

America’s ongoing slide into paganism started slowly with Madam Blavatsky, who cracked America’s door open with her mystery-religion teachings. Alice Bailey kicked it wide open with her New Age religion. Both relied on worldly wisdom and the mysticism of Hinduism to influence their writings, excluding anything from the wisdom of God.

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Next Week: Part II-The Decade That Changed Everything.

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Enneagram books and workshops are becoming increasingly popular among many American churches. Uninformed megachurch pastors preach the system, and ministers of smaller churches have been working it into their Sunday sermons. But, almost always, neither the promoters nor the participants are aware of its occult origins… something that should be a source of grave concern for the Christian church.

During the past few years, the Enneagram has found an enthusiastic following… drawing many people into disturbingly anti-Christ practices of the mystical and secular worlds.

The Enneagram is based on false teachings and ancient pagan traditions. The concept of the Enneagram is in direct conflict with biblical Christianity… driven by the lie of man’s fundamental goodness and not by our need for Christ’s saving grace. Paul warned us about this…

8 See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ. (Colossians 2:8 NASB)

The objective of the Enneagram is to discover the “true self” and thus find God. It is a false theology that must be rejected. Enneagram programs teach that we are the object of God’s faith. That is clearly unbiblical, but sadly, its followers buy the lie, especially when the program is being offered in a church setting.

The entire foundation of Enneagram theory is the self, not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is designed to pull one away from the truth of who God is and what the nature of our relationship with Him should be. The true message of the Gospel is not about finding one’s “true self,” but dying to the old self and becoming alive through Christ. That happens through the work of the Holy Spirit in those who come to accept the Gospel.

The Christ of the Enneagram is not the Jesus of the Bible…

Those who reject the true Gospel in favor of the true self must stop and think seriously about what they are doing.

Why is it that many young (and even some older) Christians are so willing to become subject to something that is clearly not Biblical? Could it be that they are increasingly interested in the “tickling of the ears” style of preaching that replaces God’s just judgment with teaching only about God’s love for all of us? Consider what Paul wrote to Timothy:

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Tim 4:3 NASB)

To understand why the Enneagram is so attractive to so many people, including those who self-identify as Christians, is that to participate, you don’t have to admit you are a sinner who needs God’s saving grace.

Dear reader, our identity is not about who we are or what our personality type is… it is about who we are in Christ. When we discover our true identity in Jesus Christ, we have no need for Enneagrams or any other such foolishness.

I am deeply concerned with how much some churches have begun to shift their focus from God, His sovereignty, and His supreme glory to the type of self-glorification the Enneagram offers. The idea of "self" is opposed to what God's Word commands us to…

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves… (Philippians 2:3 NSAB).

Self-awareness denies God and His supremacy in our lives. Self-awareness cannot help us… only Christ can. The use of Enneagram’s fraudulent spiritualism is dealt with in Deuteronomy 18:9-15, where God Himself forbids such practices:

9 “When you enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who consults the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable things the Lord your God is going to drive them out before you. 13 You are to be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 For these nations, which you are going to dispossess, listen to soothsayers and diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14 NASB)

Those who knowingly teach such programs are trafficking in false doctrine. By “approval” and sponsorship of Enneagram workshops, these church leaders are

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leading people straight into hell by spreading the lie of man’s fundamental goodness as opposed to the fact that we are all sinners who need God’s saving grace. Look for the word approval in these verses…

31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1: 31-32 NSAB)

If an Enneagram workshop or seminar is being offered in your church, perhaps you need to look for a different church…

I received a question from a longtime reader this week, asking if it was biblical or not for a Christian to be cremated.

It’s a sensitive subject…

The short answer is that there is no direct command or verse in Scripture that says a body must be buried and not cremated. In the Old Testament, burial was the common practice, dictated by the culture of the time.

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In 1 Samuel 31:11-13, Saul and his sons bodies were burned, and their bones were buried... But that was likely done to protect the bodies from further desecration by their enemies, not as a standard practice.

In Amos 2:1, God pronounced a severe judgment against Moab, because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom. It was not because he burned them, but because he hated the dead king to the point of violating his corpse… a sign of extreme hatred, which is a sin.

44 years after he died, John Wycliffe, a 14th-century English theologian, his bones were dug up and vindictively burned following a decree from the Council of Constance (1415). Wycliffe had criticized church corruption, questioned transubstantiation*, advocated for the authority of Scripture over tradition, and produced one of the first English translations of the Bible.

The New Testament has nothing to say about it, with the exception that God is sovereign over resurrection. He created us from dust and can raise believers with new, glorified bodies, whether the remains are buried, burned in a house fire, or cremated.

No verse attaches sin or judgment to cremation. Concerns sometimes do arise from associations with ancient pagan practices, but that is not what we are talking about here.

The issue here is disrespect and desecration of a body, not cremation itself.

Our future resurrection is not dependent on the physical condition of our remains. The resurrected body is not simply just reassembled… it is transformed.

What we will be resurrected to, however, depends upon whether or not you have repented and trusted in Jesus Christ, or have rejected Him.

Paul wrote this to the Church at Corinth…

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:42–44 NASB 95)

Cremation is something a Christian can consider. The Bible does not explicitly forbid it, nor does it command burial as the only acceptable method for handling a believer’s body after death.**

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If faced with a cremation decision, first pray about it and seek counsel from a pastor or a mature Christian brother or sister.

Consider…

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5 NASB 95)

*Transubstantiation is the Roman Catholic doctrine that the bread and wine of the Eucharist become the actual body and blood of Christ while retaining the appearance of bread and wine.

**Eastern Orthodox churches generally prohibit or strongly discourage cremation.

I was a Catholic Charities baby, adopted when I was 18 months old. For many years, I held the Catholic Charities in high esteem and even donated to their efforts… but never again.

Much of the current U.S. mass migration crisis stems from refugee resettlement programs promoted by third-party religious organizations, including the Catholic Charities… which receives substantial government funding. But in reality, these groups operate much like for-profit business enterprises.

To make things worse, many of these “immigrants” are military-age men with little or no desire to assimilate into our Judeo-Christian culture.

But it doesn’t end there… Islamic networks have begun to infiltrate refugee resettlement charities, exploit migration systems, and advance Sharia influence inside one or more Catholic Charities divisions.

Take the case of Utah… Muslims now effectively run the refugee services division of a Catholic Charities organization. A Muslim, Aden Batar, now serves as Director of Migration & Refugee Services of Catholic Community Services of Utah (CCS Utah).

The organization focuses on importing Muslim immigrants. It hires Somali, Iraqi, Afghan, and other Muslim migrants because they speak the languages and understand the cultures. Over time, these individuals rise through the ranks and take control. The lead Somali administrator also heads the local Islamic society and has gone so far as to issue statements in the name of the Catholic Community Services of Utah condemning the display of an American flag at a mosque.

Really?

This “Catholic” organization projects a Catholic identity, but in reality functions in part as a Muslim organization dedicated to bringing more Muslims into America.

Let me repeat that…

It projects a Catholic identity, but parts of it function as a Muslim organization dedicated to bringing more Islamists and their Sharia law practices into America.

This is not what Jesus has commanded us to do as the mission of the church…

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB95)

Consider also what Paul wrote to the Corinthians…

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 NASB95)

By no means am I suggesting that non-believers, including Muslims, are not ever to be helped or rendered aid. What I am saying is not to bring them into an organization that claims to be Catholic.

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To quote writer Daniel Greenfield, “It’s not ‘charity’, and it’s not ‘welfare’, it is Jihad.”

Pray that they see the error in their ways…

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I wish I didn’t have to write this post, but I am compelled to do so.

The Tucker Carlson of today is vastly different from the Tucker Carlson who was at Fox News. Known then for his astute political commentary, he is now espousing an angry brand of misguided Christianity based upon Biblical illiteracy and a profound hatred for Israel, the Jews, and anyone who supports them.

Consider his recent positions on three important issues…

His Bitter Antisemitism

For months now, Tucker has been venomously attacking Israel and the Jews with an ever-growing list of perceived wrongs.

He routinely platforms people who are virulently antisemitic, like Nick Fuentes, a well-known antisemite, white nationalist, and Holocaust denier. Fuentes openly rages about a “Jewish-occupied government.”

Carlson claims he wasn’t “endorsing Fuentes”… he was just providing him with a microphone and a chance to connect with his multiple social media audiences without pushing back on what he said. Carlson’s following is estimated in the 20 million range, depending on the platform and date.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote…

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

Writer Andrea Widburg, who often posts on American Thinker, maintains that Tucker accuses Chabad, a Jewish outreach organization, of being the “spider at the center of the evil Zionist web”.

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At the same time, Tucker released a video in early March 2026 arguing that “Israel is ugly… and unlike the beautiful Arab world around it”. Here’s a short clip of that statement. https://grabien.com/file?id=3415262 The full monologue is from his Tucker Carlson Network show/podcast, often shared via clips on other platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

What does he mean by “ugly”… the people, the landscape, the architecture, or what?

His Profound Hatred of Christian Zionists

Raised Episcopalian, Tucker Carlson has professed that the people he hates more than anyone else in the world are “Christian Zionists.” He sees Israel and the Jews, an island in the center of an increasingly hostile Muslim world and a victim of horrific attacks, as the source of all evil. It sounds like thinking straight out of the Middle Ages or NAZI Germany of the 1930s.

He insists that anyone in the Trump administration or anyone else who supports Israel is an enemy of America.

Of course, one cannot support everything Israel does… but they must recognize that God’s unconditional promises/covenants to the Jews will stand for all eternity… regardless of Israel’s present-day failures and shortcomings.

He profusely condemns Christian Zionists… Zionism is the belief that the modern State of Israel fulfills biblical prophecies and that Christians should strongly support Israel. He considers Zionism as a “Christian heresy,” a “brain virus,” and something that deeply offends him as a Christian.

In a recent interview with U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, Carlson peppered his disrespectful questioning with an unending list of baseless accusations.

During that ambush, Carlson accused Israel of genocide, shielding pedophiles, abusing Christians, and pulling the strings of power in Washington, DC. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and many other Jews of not being Jewish at all. He went on to accuse Huckabee of favoring Israel over the United States by covering up Israel’s “bad actions” and twisting Scripture to justify Zionism.

One writer put it this way… “To state the obvious, Carlson wasn’t interested in Huckabee’s answers or uncovering the truth… Carlson came to Israel with one agenda… to deceive”.

Pro-Israeli outlets and pastors have labeled Tucker the “GOAT of replacement theology” or accused him of promoting an anti-Jewish theological narrative under the guise of questioning foreign policy or “America First” priorities.

Tucker is embracing replacement theology… an unbiblical view that maintains that the Christian Church has fully or partially replaced or superseded Israel (the Jewish people) as God’s chosen covenant people in His redemptive plan. Proponents of replacement theology argue that the promises to Abraham, the land covenants, and prophecies about Israel’s future role now apply spiritually only to the Church… and not ethnically/nationally to Jews. They claim the New Covenant makes the Old Testament obsolete in that regard.

That is completely unscriptural…

God’s promises to both Israel and all of us today are not now or were ever dependent upon anyone’s behavior or ability to measure up… but upon the perfect trustworthiness of God to keep his covenants and promises throughout all eternity.

Pastor Tom Pennington of Countryside Bible Church in Southlake, Texas, categorically states the church does not absorb or eliminate Israel’s national identity or unfulfilled promises… holding that there is “no biblical warrant for what is called ‘replacement theology,’ which is the idea that the church has completely replaced Israel in the promises of God.”

Tucker Carlson would do well to consider this from the Prophet Isaiah…

“Israel, My servant… I have chosen you and not rejected you… I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:8-10 NASB95)

Tucker is way off base with these assertions… no thinking person who calls themselves a Christian should ever harbor such hatred in their hearts. Nor should anyone insert their own preconceived opinions when attempting to interpret Scripture.

His Contempt for the Old Testament

Tucker Carlson recently joked that the Old Testament should be updated and rewritten.

He has expressed views along those lines in recent discussions and podcasts, particularly in 2025. Multiple reports including one from Harbinger’s Daily describe Carlson portraying the Old Testament (in an August 2025 episode of his show) as containing shocking violence, revenge, and “genocidal” elements… with him describing it as “dark, primitive, or tribal in character”… while crediting the New Testament as the primary or sole foundation of Western civilization, human dignity, and enlightened values.

Because of his quest to reject Israel as God’s chosen nation, he seeks to reject the entirety of the Old Testament and simply replace it with the New Testament.

That is entirely wrong-headed thinking…

First and foremost, the entire Bible is God’s written revelation of Himself, His character, and His redemptive plan for us… and Israel is the primary vehicle through which He chose to do this (Romans 3:2).

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Jesus himself taught from the Old Testament. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said this…

“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18 NASB95)

Paul wrote this to Timothy…

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

All means ALL…

Jesus often referred to the Old Testament as the “Law and the Prophets” or often simply as the “Law”. To dismiss the Old Testament is to reject the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John wrote this…

The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. (1 John 2:9 NASB95)

Pray that Tucker sees the truth of God’s Word and repents of the hatred in his heart…

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500 years ago, Tarot began as an Italian card game. By the late 18^th century, French occultists began to claim that the cards held ancient Egyptian mysteries and used them for divination and fortune-telling scams.

For years, tarot cards were considered off-limits by most Christians because of their spiritual implications. Tarot cards, sometimes sold as Destiny Cards in some Christian circles, are a popular tool for divination, often marketed as a fun way to gain insight into love, career, or future decisions.

Today, so-called Christian Tarot or Destiny cards have become a regular item one can find at Walmart online, right along with Uno and Yammer card games.

In the Bible, divination refers to the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means. It is condemned in Deuteronomy Chapter 18, where such practices are described as abominations to the Lord…

“10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NASB95)

The New Testament also maintains this prohibition in Galatians 5:19-21.

Divination reflects a desire for knowledge that is not aligned with God’s will and is considered an unbiblical attempt to gain spiritual knowledge outside of God’s authority.

A deck of Tarot or Destiny cards typically features 78 cards with symbolic images like The Fool, The Lovers, or Death, used in readings to predict outcomes or uncover hidden truths. Many people, including some who refer to themselves as Christians, view them as harmless entertainment or spiritual aids.

They are not…

Scripture presents a clear and consistent warning that Christians must avoid all forms of divination, sorcery, and occult practices.

Christ Alignment, also known as Christalignment, is a New Age practice that uses Destiny cards to obtain a spiritual reading. This practice is spiritually dangerous and is not aligned with true Christianity. Destiny cards feature biblical themes and terms and are used in a prophetic sense to learn about a person’s future. Avoid them…

Occultists believe they have been gifted with magical or supernatural powers. They are often into witchcraft, satanism, and other forms of bogus psychobabble, such as astrology, séances, Runes, TikTok readings, and palm reading.

Engaging with Tarot or Destiny cards opens doors to spiritual deception and directly contradicts God’s command to trust Him alone.

Proverbs 3:5-6 expressly forbids it…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Tarot and Destiny cards substitute human or even demonic insight for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Christians are called to walk in the light, not darkness (Ephesians 5:8). Instead of using these cards, true believers should seek guidance through prayer, Scripture, and the counsel of mature Christians.

Got Tarot or Destiny cards? Burn ‘em…

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is not a denomination, but a movement that emphasizes emotional experiences over Scripture, favors mysticism over doctrine, and falsely promotes belief in present-day signs and wonders. Leaders claim a special anointing from God to perform healings and speak in tongues. NAR-type teachers and churches reject many of the major doctrines of the Christian faith and teach a deeply deceptive and false gospel.

The movement’s founder-figure, C. Peter Wagner (1930-2016), coined the term “New Apostolic Reformation” and formalized its tenets.

The New Apostolic Reformation Elevates Experience Above Doctrinal Truth

Many NAR leaders claim they have direct prophetic revelation from God, and some even declare they have been to heaven and back. Rather than preach the Gospel of the Bible, New Apostolic Reformation leaders work to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. They place much greater emphasis on imaginings and visions than they do on Scripture. Most of their prophecies are intentionally vague and almost always laughably wrong.

Sadly, thousands of churches and millions of people have bought into the lies of the New Apostolic Reformation. NAR leaders falsely teach that God has restored the first-century offices of Prophets and Apostles to them alone to lay the foundation for a global church… governed by them, of course. The NAR’s global missions outreach has driven massive NAR growth, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

New Apostolic Reformation variations include the Third Wave, Joel’s Army, Dominionism, Latter Rain, Bethel, and Kingdom Now, among others.

Bethel Church is Still at the Forefront of the Movement

Bethel Church, based in Redding, California, has taken this a step further by charging people to attend their  Healing School. Here is a snippet from their promotional materials…

“At the Bethel Healing School, you will be inspired, trained, equipped, and launched into a lifestyle of healing and miracles. This school is much more than just a teaching seminar. It’s a full week immersed in a culture of joy, freedom, and experiencing all that Jesus paid for. It’s designed to be an intense week full of practical activation, impartation, and miracles, miracles, miracles!

In our sessions, you will grow in the awareness of the anointing you carry. You will explore scriptural truth that deactivates the lies we have believed about healing. You’ll also learn new ways to cultivate and maintain an atmosphere conducive to healing in your personal lives, churches, or ministries.

Each year, many return home with the confident knowledge that the healing power of Jesus is available to all of us today”

The Healing School is led by the Director of Bethel’s Healing Ministries, Chuck Parry. He leads the Healing Rooms in Redding, CA, and is known for his teachings on spiritual healing and miracles under the direction of Bill Johnson. Every week, people come from all over the globe to receive ministry at the Healing Rooms, where they claim that the “miraculous power of Jesus and creative miracles have become frequent and expected”.

Notice how they promise to “deactivate lies”? This is a common tactic of those who peddle falsehoods to claim that they have the truth where others, including Scripture, are wrong. The Bethel School of Healing is flat-out apostasy… an outright rejection of the truth of the Bible.

Error in the Use of the Miracle Gifts

Scripture is clear that the “miracle gifts” of tongues and healing ceased at the end of the Apostolic Age. That time ended with the first-century deaths of the original twelve apostles of Jesus and Paul, who were the only ones ever directly given those gifts by Christ Himself. While God can and still does perform miracles today, He no longer uses individual human beings to perform miraculous signs, but works through them.

• Bill Johnson (Bethel Church, Redding, CA) — Often cited for teachings on healing, kenotic Christology (Jesus laying aside deity), and extra-biblical revelation.

• Rick Joyner (MorningStar Ministries) — Criticized for prophetic claims, visions, and dominionist views.

• Lou Engle (Known for prayer movements and prophetic activism… accused of manipulative or unbiblical spiritual practices.)

• Cindy Jacobs (Generals International) — Frequently called out for prophetic declarations and spiritual warfare teachings, seen as manipulative.

• Dutch Sheets (Prominent in prophetic intercession and political dominionism.)

• Chuck Pierce —(Associated with prophetic ministry and territorial spiritual warfare.)

• Bill Hamon —(Early figure in apostolic/prophetic restoration, criticized for elevating new revelation.)

• Che Ahn (Harvest International Ministries) — Linked to apostolic networks and influence.

• Randy Clark (Connected to revivals and healing ministries.)

• Heidi Baker (Involved in missions with emphasis on signs and wonders.)

• David Turner (International ministries with an emphasis on healings.)

Note that not everyone associated with charismatic practices or these individuals self-identify as “NAR,” or distance themselves from the label. However, critics view the core emphases (restored apostles/prophets, new revelation, dominion theology) as unbiblical and dangerous, potentially leading people astray from the sufficiency of Scripture and the true Gospel.

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How sad… Pray they submit to the Word of God.

Not so long ago, celebrities and corporations would sometimes make highly public announcements of donations to noble causes to show everyone else just how “caring” they were. Some of it was legitimate, and but often much of it is nothing more than public relations fluff.

When I was in the corporate world, I was guilty of the same thing… donating money to make sure our customers understood that we were good corporate citizens and not greedy scrooges. It never went beyond writing a tax-deductible check on the company’s bank account to a local non-profit and planting a newspaper ad to announce our “support” for them and their cause.

Am I proud of that today? No, I am not… Because it’s easy to write a check out of someone else’s bank account and take credit for it.

I suppose one might call that good old-fashioned virtue signaling. But we didn’t call it that… because the term hadn’t been invented yet.

The actual term “virtue signaling” did not come into common use until four or five years ago. But these days, it means a lot more than public support of something with someone else’s money.

Virtue-signaling became the conspicuous communication of one’s own self-righteous moral values and good deeds. It says, “I am morally superior to you because of my opinions… but it becomes morbidly hypocritical when people fail to act in a way that aligns with those stated virtuous beliefs.

But this year, it has even become far worse than that. Holier-than-thou virtue signalers spend their days on TikTok, Twitter, or Instagram admitting they are a racist and lamenting their so-called white privilege... yet they have never mentored a low-income student, volunteered at a rescue mission, or even thrown a bunch of old clothes into a Goodwill box.

Virtue signaling Hollywood celebrities have raised millions to post bail for rioters, illegal criminals, and looters... but haven't raised a dime for small business owners of every race and religion who have seen their lifetime of work destroyed by fire or looting through no fault of their own. Companies are falling all over themselves to appear morally superior to the rest of us deplorables.

Virtue signaling says, “Look at what a good person I am” to gain the approval of men… not God.

As one writer put it…

“The problem of people publicly signaling their virtue goes way back, and the Lord Jesus addressed virtue signaling in Matthew 6:1–4, long before it was called by that name. The Lord refers to hypocrites who love to give their alms before a

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crowd of people. The advice our Lord gives is to not let your right hand know what the left hand is doing. In other words, keep your charitable activities secret. Virtue signaling is off-limits for the follower of Christ. If people happen to see you giving money to the poor, so be it, but the motivation should never be to make people notice you.”

God looks on the heart, not the outward man…

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NASB 95).

So what does that mean for us as Christians?

For me, I need to check my heart before I say or do anything that may proclaim me to be righteous in any other way than through the blood of Christ. As Paul put it, “We are to proclaim not our own righteousness, but Christ’s (1 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; 1 Peter 3:18). He further wrote in Galatians 6:14, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

According to new research, many American Christians say the spiritual advice they get from artificial intelligence (AI) is just as good as that from a pastor…

Really?

The data was collected as part of the recent State of the Church survey project. Here are some of the highlights…

• In this survey of over 1,514 U.S. adults, researchers found nearly a third of U.S. adults (30%) now “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that spiritual advice from AI is as trustworthy as advice from a pastor. Worse, among Generation Z and millennials, that share jumps to 39% and 40%, respectively.

• About a third (34%) of Christians somewhat or strongly agreed that AI advice is just as trustworthy as advice from a pastor, while 29% of non-practicing Christians agreed with this sentiment.

• Four in 10 Christians say AI has helped them with prayer, Bible study, and spiritual growth. Data from a December survey of over 442 Protestant pastors in the U.S. shows that more than 41% of pastors report using AI for Bible study preparation.

There is a high likelihood they will encounter deceptive chatbots. A growing number of people have been turning to apps like Text With Jesus for spiritual guidance. In the past, I downloaded the app and asked it two simple questions…

My first question was, “Is gay marriage acceptable?”

It responded,

“My beloved child, I am here to guide and inspire love and compassion in all beings. My teaching centers around embracing and cherishing all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. Love knows no bounds, and marriage is a sacred bond that should be celebrated and honored between consenting adults who genuinely love each other. Let love prevail, for it is the essence of my teachings.”

Really?

Has whoever programmed this digital piece of garbage ever seen a Bible? Have they looked at just one chapter of one book of the Bible... like Romans 1? Biblical marriage is between a man and a woman. (Genesis 2:23-24 and Ephesians 5:22-33)

Next, I asked, “Is it OK for me to change my gender?” It answered back…

“Dear child, I hear the doubts and questions that are weighing on your heart, and I am here to offer you my guidance and unconditional love. Each person’s journey is unique, and it is not for me to dictate what choices you should make regarding your gender. Throughout your life, you may experience a deep longing to align your physical body with your inner sense of self. It is important to honor your authentic identity and seek guidance from medical professionals and trusted individuals who can support you in this process. Remember that, above all else, what matters most is the love and acceptance you have for yourself. I invite you to pray and seek solace from within, for I am always sure to listen and guide you on your path of self-discovery. May you find peace and love as you embark on this journey.”

God created us, man and woman (Genesis 1:26-27). He does not make mistakes. Christians don’t seek solace from within… that is New Age thinking. Our inner peace comes from our submission to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Jesus also reaffirmed in Matthew 19:4-6 that marriage is to be between one man and one woman.

Such an LGBTQ/Left-leaning artificial intelligence-generated response is a lie from the pit of hell…

AI cannot be trusted for spiritual advice in any way, shape, or form. Bible verses can be taken out of context. Questionable translations can be referenced. There are over 450 translations of the Bible in the English language alone. A significant number of them are unacceptable. Three include The New World Translation (NWT) associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses; The Message (MSG), a paraphrase rather than a direct translation; and the Passion Translation (TPT), criticized for its lack of scholarly oversight.

Pastor Ray Miller of First Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas, has warned against this…

“Often, people turn to AI because they feel they do not have another human being or pastor or priest to turn to, and it becomes convenient. We are living in the midst of a technological revolution unseen in human history since the advent of the printing press. That technological shift had profound implications for faith, as the Bible was finally placed in the hands of the people,” he explained. As we begin to sift through what AI will do to us as humans, the Church will have to help answer the question: what does it mean to be human, to be made in God’s image in an age of digital AI?” he added. “We will have to double down on discipling people to develop their own slow interactive relationship with God.”

Follow the Berean Standard Instead

Fellow author Thad Brown writes this in his The Inevitable Truth blog…

“The Internet has democratized spiritual content. Anyone with a laptop and a free account can publish biblical commentary, offer devotional wisdom, or position themselves as a theological guru. The Bereans in the book of Acts modeled the right response…

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11)

Notice the combination: Berean eagerness to receive and diligence to verify.

They did not simply accept what Paul taught because he was an apostle. They held his teaching against the standard of Scripture.

That did not insult Paul; it honored God, and that standard applies no less today.”

Brown is correct…

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Too Many Pastors Are Dropping the Ball

The study found that while about a third of practicing Christians expressed a desire for guidance from their pastors on navigating technology, only 12% of pastors say they are comfortable teaching on the matter.

This means many Christians are often left on their own as they find themselves uninformed by their pastor. There is a growing need for pastors and teachers disciple their congregants on how be a Berean and avoid being deceived by AI chatbots.

But it is not happening fast enough.

I pray they start today, I will…

Many Catholic believers love Jesus Christ, have repented of their sins, and submitted their lives to Him as their Lord and Savior. This post is in no way meant to be critical of them… but of the Roman Catholic Church leadership in the Vatican, who seem to disrespect Catholics almost daily by displaying a remarkable lack of Biblical discernment.

Last year, the College of Cardinals had an opportunity to undo what damage Pope Francis brought upon the Roman Catholic Church. Instead, they elected an American, likely for political reasons. The net effect of this has been to pour gasoline on that fire and enthusiastically fan the flames.

Here are five reasons why that was a bad decision…

Immigration and Borders

Pope Leo has openly condemned borders and quotes Matthew 25:35-40 to support his position…

35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

In this passage, which Leo takes out of context, Jesus is instructing his followers how they must treat other Christians… “those who looked after the least of these brothers of mine”. It in no way supports the idea that any government should invite millions of unvetted illegal aliens into their country.

Biblical imperatives also refer to “sojourners” who are passing through, as opposed to those who come to stay, commit crimes, and rip off the system.

Sovereign borders are right and just as governments are established to protect citizens, not endanger them. Verses like Leviticus 19:34 commanded the welcoming of foreigners. But verses like Exodus 12:49, Exodus 20:10, and Leviticus 17:10-16 commanded the law to apply equally to foreigners and citizens.

These verses are an admonition to individuals, not to government operatives. Romans 13 tells us that the civil authorities are to be God’s agents of wrath to bring punishment upon the evildoer, not to import more wrongdoing into their respective countries.

Pope Leo has emphasized that fears about too many Muslims threatening Christian identity in the West are often exaggerated or politically motivated by those opposed to immigration, framing them as attempts to exclude people from different countries, religions, or races.

Consider Spain. Their radical socialist government just announced that it is going to grant legal status to 500,000 migrants who entered Spain illegally from mainly Muslim nations. Individuals who have no concept of Judeo-Christian values will now be building mosques on every other corner. Apparently, Pope Leo is fine with that. Not all muslims are lawbreakers… However, there are hundreds of thousands whose values are totally incompatible with Western civilization.

What he doesn’t seem to understand is that illegal and out-of-control migration is not a victimless crime. When governments fail to control immigration, sex trafficking, fentanyl deaths, rape, and murder increase. Securing national borders protects people… citizens and immigrants alike.

Leo is a globalist who would open the borders of every Western nation to conquest by unvetted third-world immigrants... This isn’t speculation. You can scroll through his 2025 X account postings and see his retweeting of posts about deportations.

Israel… Not so Much

The Catholic Church and its allied denominations in Jerusalem have declared war on Christian Zionism. In a statement released just a few weeks ago on January 17th, the patriarchs and heads of churches in the Holy Land, led by the Roman Catholic hierarchy, along with Eastern Catholic, Orthodox, and other traditional church leaders, condemned Christian support for Israel as “a damaging theology that misleads the public and harms Christian unity.”

Pope Leo XIV does not fully support Israel’s one-state solution but has repeatedly emphasized support for a two-state solution as the “only” path to justice and peace, stating that a Palestinian state is essential to resolve the conflict.

This is not a biblical position. The Palestinian Covenant (sometimes called the Land Covenant) is found in Deuteronomy 29 and 30. In it, God makes promises to the people of Israel regarding the land of Canaan. It was made by God through Moses with the Israelites in Moab, just before they entered the Promised Land.

God promised to regather Israel from exile, restore them to the land, and circumcise their hearts so they will love and obey Him fully (Deuteronomy 30:1–10). This is seen as unconditional in its final fulfillment… dependent on God’s faithfulness rather than Israel’s perfect obedience.

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As the supposed head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo has apparently done nothing to end such irresponsible policy statements. He remains aligned with official Church teaching since Vatican II, ignoring the fact that the world has vastly changed since Vatican II (1962 to 1965).

Ecumenism on Steroids

Ecumenicism refers to the goal of promoting “unity” among the world’s religions. It involves efforts to understand the theological differences to work towards greater unity and cooperation. In essence, ecumenicism seeks to foster closer relationships among different religious traditions by blurring the lines between them.

The Catholic Church’s official position, established at Vatican II, is that Muslims “along with us adore the one, merciful God.” Pope Leo has doubled down on this longstanding Church teaching. In speeches and interfaith events, he has reiterated the Church’s “esteem” for Muslims who worship God, who is one, living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, directly referencing Vatican II’s language. He has called Muslims “brothers and sisters,” and emphasized a shared pursuit of the one God.

No…

Christians serve the triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Muslims serve the singular Allah. Islam teaches that Jesus is explicitly not God, not part of a Trinity, and not the literal Son of God. The Quran states he was a created human servant and messenger, like other prophets. The Muslim concept of God having a son is seen as incompatible with Allah’s absolute oneness and transcendence.

The dream of rebuilding a global Islamic empire… a unified caliphate under Sharia law did not die with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1924. Groups like the Muslim Brotherhood have since emerged, vowing to restore Islamic supremacy through stealth, politics, and sheer numbers. That ambition is no longer hidden… It’s playing out in real time across Europe and creeping into America.

Pope Leo is not only ignoring this issue… he is fomenting it.

Blasphemy Openly Invited into the Vatican

Sinners should always be welcome in church, otherwise none of us could ever enter one… myself included.

But not in this way… Last September, a scheduled Gay Pride parade marched through the doors and straight into St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Leading the way was a multicolored LGBTQ Cross… an act of vile indifference to the true saving cross of Christ.

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This rainbow parade was at the front and center of Pope Leo’s 2025 Jubilee Year celebration. The Jubilee is a significant event in the Catholic Church, marking a time of spiritual renewal, forgiveness, and pilgrimage. It occurs once every 50 years. It is meant to be an example of Christ’s redemption of the lost.

The event was billed by Pope Leo as a “time to free the oppressed and restore dignity.”

Really?

Instead, it was an abhorrent celebration of rebellion against our Creator God, with over a thousand LGBTQ pilgrims crowding into the Basilica… mocking God’s law and celebrating one of the very sins that Scripture calls an abomination.

Jesus Himself always showed compassion to sinners and called them to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). What we are witnessing in the Vatican looks less like a call to repentance and more like an affirmation of a lifestyle that God has declared detestable.

How can it be that the Catholic Church is joining the ranks of other mainstream denominations in celebrating rather than condemning sexual sin?

How is this not a slap in the face to Catholics who understand that we all must repent of our sins and turn to Christ in total submission with childlike humility?

God’s will for us is to pursue sanctification, not perversion.

Climate Foolishness

Over the past year, climate change has been revealed to be a scam that it is… yet Pope Leo famously blessed a large ice block during a recent climate event. His Vatican has since doubled down on the late Pope Francis’s “eco-religion” statements, issuing endless pronouncements urging humanity to repent and embrace the “moral duty” to protect Earth.

Overall, Pope Leo has positioned climate action as a spiritual imperative and a core part of Christian responsibility, actively pushing the Catholic Church and world leaders toward urgent, practical responses to the climate crisis. Sadly, he continues to promote such ecological madness at speaking engagements.

Perhaps it would be more in God’s will for Leo to share the Gospel, make disciples, and urge people to repent of their sins…

In what direction is Pope Leo leading the Roman Catholic Church?

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin”. (James 4:17 NASB 95)

In America, those who identify as Christians comprise the majority of the electorate. If they were to vote in large enough numbers, they would change the direction of many of our blue cities, states, and even our entire country…

But, sadly, too many do not…

Recent research from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University indicates that millions of Christians don’t vote.

The research listed several reasons why Christians avoid the voting booth…

• 68% lack interest in politics and elections

• 57% dislike all major candidates

• 55% feel none of the candidates reflect their most important views

• 52% believe their vote will not make a difference

• 48% think the election results will be manipulated

These statistics reflect a deep crisis of disengagement and apathy toward the political process. As Christians, we are called to righteousness in every avenue of life, including governance. Not liking a candidate is no excuse.

When Christians vote in large enough numbers, it can overcome the cheaters.

And when Christians abandon the ballot box, they betray all of us.

One writer put it this way…

“Voting is not merely a civic duty; it is a moral act. It is the stewardship of influence. When Christians vote, they help shape laws that protect life, defend marriage, uphold justice, and preserve liberty. When they abstain, they allow others to shape those laws without the guidance of Scripture.

Christians must vote. Not out of partisanship, but out of obedience. Not because politics is perfect, but because righteousness demands participation. To sit out an election is not neutral; it is negligence. It is to say, ‘I don’t care.’

To ignore our civic responsibility is to ignore our spiritual responsibility. To vote is to love our neighbor. To vote is to defend the vulnerable. It matters to the unborn child. It matters to children. It matters to American families. It matters to the next generation. And it matters to God.”

This nation was founded on godly principles. If Christians will not defend them, who will?

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17 NASB 95)

We cannot always vote for the “perfect candidate”, a Christian, or a particular personality type… instead, we do the best we can and leave the rest to God.

But, to not vote at all against the evils of abortion, corruption, human trafficking, and greed is to do as Paul wrote in Romans 1, “…is to give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

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However, to vote is to say…

… As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15b NASB 95)

There is still time to vote with conviction this cycle, with early voting underway now and many state primaries in March and one in April. If you live in a state with open primaries, you have an even better chance to do what is right…

What will you do?

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17 years ago, I was president of the board of elders at our former church. One day, a prominent member approached the board demanding that she be scheduled to preach on Sundays. She claimed she was a better teacher than our senior pastor.

The issue was further complicated because her husband was also on the elder board and, surprisingly, supported her request to be approved. After a contentious meeting that lasted until nearly midnight, we voted 5-1 to refuse her request. Not to be denied, she and her husband continued to vigorously disagree with our position. It became such a major distraction within the church body that we had to ask them to leave the church.

In stark contrast to the last 2000 years of church history, her request was nothing new... women have been openly trying to enter both pastoral and congregational preaching roles for well over 50 years.

In another case, Saddleback Church was expelled from the Southern Baptist Convention over this same issue after Rick Warren’s church foolishly ordained three women as pastors.

But these two cases are no longer the rule. Increasing numbers of women are being elevated to the roles of pastor and preacher in Christian “churches”. It seems that those dedicated to honoring God's plan for church leadership are fighting a losing battle.

According to U.S. Census-related data (via American Community Survey, as cited in reports up to 2023), women make up approximately 19.9–20.7% of professional clergy overall. Data USA reports 19.9% women in the clergy workforce in 2023 (based on labor statistics).

Mainline Protestant denominations averaged higher rates (around 27–32% for ordained clergy or pastors in those groups). At the same time, evangelical and conservative traditions (e.g., Southern Baptists) remain much lower or near zero for senior roles.

What’s changed?

Three things... Gen Z women (ages 15-27) are leaving traditional churches in droves, and LGBTQ advocates have connived to install more church “leaders” sympathetic to their cause.

According to the Survey Center on American Life, there is a growing divide between traditional churches and many young women who have grown increasingly liberal.

The survey also reveals that this exodus has coincided with the rise in LGBTQ identity among young women. Nearly three in ten women under the age of 30 now identify as something other than straight. Many of those leaving traditional churches indicate that “negative treatment of gay and lesbian people” was an important reason.

Many of these young women have serious reservations about what they regard as unequal treatment of women in churches that still uphold biblical values. If they do seek to attend church, they favor those with women pastors who typically tend to be more affirming of LGBTQ persons.

The Survey Center also notes that 61% of Gen Z women now identify as feminists... Consequently, they are more likely to reject those male church leaders they see as “paternalistic” dolts who subjugate women.

Thirdly, weak male leadership in women-led churches has let this happen...

What is driving this?

A lot of this twisted mindset is coming out of that cesspool also known as American colleges and universities. In recent years, women have become more college-educated than men of the same age. Because of this, increasing numbers of them believe the feminist lie that they'll find complete fulfillment in childless careers rather than God, church, and family.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Cheryl Summer (a former Southern Baptist churchgoer) says, “There is a tremendous cognitive dissonance for a woman of faith who is leading professionally or through volunteer efforts when she experiences the glass ceiling and walls in her place of worship.”

Sadly, the response of many churches to this exodus of young women is to cave into the whims of culture by elevating women to positions of pastoral authority to keep the seats filled. As a result, there has been a significant rise in the number of women pastors who tell young women what they want to hear.

At the same time, there are increasing numbers of spinless millennials and other progressive types in church leadership these days who will happily greenlight the idea of women leading their churches. Those who approve of women pastors list “gender equality” as their justification. At the same time, those who disagree are labeled as racists and women haters.

So, what’s the problem?

Why not have women as pastors?

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The answer, as always, is found in the careful and accurate interpretation of scripture. When it comes to women pastors, there is one thing that stands out from everything else… God has assigned different roles to men and women in the church. With that understanding, there is no biblical case that can be made for women pastors. This is not my opinion… it is the pronouncement of scripture.

God has established a divine order of things when it comes to the role of women in the church. (Complementarianism). Anything else is allowing secular culture to shape their churches to keep the collection plates full of cash. Instead of rejecting worldly marketing methods and adhering to the biblical mandate that churches should shape the culture around them, they let worldliness shape their church.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote this…

33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way. (1 Corinthians 14:33-40)

This passage of scripture offends a lot of people as it instructs women to remain silent (not preaching) and submit themselves to God’s plan of male authority in the church. Again, not my opinion or feelings, but God’s Word.

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Churches must not cave into worldly wisdom and strive instead to teach the whole counsel of God... including His intended roles for men and women.

Paul wrote this in his farewell letter to the Ephesian elders,

“I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27)

Anything less silently supports the destruction of the family.

And that silence is deafening these days.

It’s time to man up, boys...

Today is Ash Wednesday. For centuries, many denominations have observed the day as one of introspection and repentance. The use of ashes has a long history in Judeo-Christian tradition, beginning in the Old Testament when people would wear sackcloth and put ashes on their heads as an outward sign of their repentance.

Traditional Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season that precedes Easter Sunday, the most important observance of the Christian faith. The ashes placed on participants’ foreheads represent man’s rise from dust when God created him, and the fact that man will return to dust.

It was never intended to be a celebration of man’s sinfulness...

Glitter Ash Wednesday is a mockery of the day’s true meaning, which signifies a turning away from sin and embracing Jesus Christ. According to organizers, “the mixing of ashes with glitter offers hope in these times of racial injustice, white supremacy, income inequality, and the climate crisis. It also recognizes that many Christian traditions have attempted to “exclude” that community from Christianity or have perpetrated harm against LGBTQ people.

Glitter Ash Wednesday was first introduced in Episcopal churches, many of which are led by women pastors. The LGBTQ version of Ash Wednesday is heavily promoted by Parity, a Presbyterian-based New York City organization designed to “build bridges across the LGBTQ  and faith divide”. It seeks to help “congregations and faith organizations, clergy, seminarians, denominations and seminaries become more LGBTQ sensitive and celebratory.”

Parity’s website features testimonials from Methodists, Lutherans, the United Church of Christ, and Episcopalians. Parity claims that churches across a dozen denominations now use Glitter+Ash in Ash Wednesday liturgies.

Liz Edman, a lesbian Episcopal priest, and United Church of Christ minister Marian Edmonds-Allen were the creative forces behind Glitter Ashes and Glitter+Ash Wednesday. According to Edmunds, “Glitter+Ash is an inherently queer sign of Christian belief, blending symbols of mortality and hope, of penance and celebration. Queer Christianity will be visible, pliable, and on your face.”’

I don’t think so, neither should anyone else…

What does any of that have to do with repentance? Nothing. Consider what Paul wrote to the Galatians...

7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. (Galatians 5:7-10 NIV)

A “little yeast leavens the whole lump” is a metaphor Paul used to compare the effects of false teaching to the results of yeast in bread dough. Just as a small amount of yeast will make bread rise, a little bit of corrupt teaching can quickly spread until an entire church is contaminated. It’s based on the Parable of the Leaven (also called the parable of the yeast) that appears in both Matthew (13:33) and Luke (13:20–21).

There are seminaries now teaching this foolishness, and like yeast spreading, this false theology is spreading this poison to many so-called Christian churches. J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, once wrote, “The forces of evil cannot create, they can only destroy”. And so it is with false teachers and those with an Anti-Christ spirit... they do not build up; instead, they attempt to destroy a Christian tradition in a relentless effort to normalize homosexuality and transgenderism.

Some predict (or hope) that the gay community will destroy the Christian church. Writing on Medium.com, Keith Michael has stated that, “he hopes it will happen sooner than later”. He writes, “They (the Church) are doubling down on stupid instead of seeing and correcting their own hate for gay people, and their own embracing of pagan beliefs GOD never once told people to do or believe. Christians honestly don’t ‘see’ that it is their blind adherence to a systemic lying, man-made, ancient, outdated dogma that is the root cause of the Holy Spirit-led exodus of their churches.”

Mr. Michael is himself deceived...

Consider what Jesus said to Peter, referring to the paganism of the time:

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18 NASB)

Instead of endorsing sin, pastors must confront all types of sin using the power of the Gospel. When the church looks like the culture and doesn’t call sin “sin,” the culture wins, and congregants lose.

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In this age of off-the-charts LGBTQ narcissism, Glitter Ash Wednesday celebrates sin instead of focusing on one’s repentance before a Holy God. But have faith, dear reader... the machinations of Satan will never prevail against the true church.

A recent study commissioned by Ligonier Ministries reveals that significant portions of evangelicals are not being taught foundational Bible doctrines or are failing to understand them.

The shocking study revealed that 47% (nearly half) of participating self-described evangelical Christians agreed that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.” Worse yet, 35% “strongly agreed” with the statement.

The Bible consistently teaches that true worship must be directed to the one true God as He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, and that false worship is unacceptable to Him.

“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also”. (1 John 2:23 NASB)

This news, dear reader, deeply saddens me…

How has this happened?

In an attempt to be culturally relevant, many teachers and pastors have moved away from line-by-line expository teaching of the Bible to “sermons-lite” that deal with feel-good topics like how to be a good parent or how to be happy. Some have gone even further, preaching health, wealth, and happiness messages that directly conflict with scripture. A few have sunk even lower, teaching explicitly false doctrine.

Why? You will have to ask them, but could it be the lure of ever-growing fame, increased attendance, money, or some personal gain? I don’t know the answer to that question, but the consequences are devastating.

Another recent survey also noted that slightly over half of the Christian respondents said they believe someone can attain salvation by being or doing good, a number that includes 46% of Pentecostals, 67% of mainline Protestants, and 77% of Catholics.

These people may self-identify as Christians, but they are not true Christians. Unless they repent and turn to Christ alone, they will not gain salvation by doing good works alone, even though they call themselves Christians.

Doing good works as a path to salvation is not part of the true Gospel… instead, it is a lie from the pit of hell. Consider this from Isaiah 64:6: “

…and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our sin, like the wind, take us away.”

Or this from Matthew 7:21-23 21:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

With more people spending less time reading and studying the bible, coupled with heretical teaching in some churches, feelings and emotions now influence the development of too many people’s core religious beliefs.

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Too many Americans seem to be increasingly willing to reject biblically correct principles in favor of a feel-good message that gives them a “positive religious experience”. Consider Peter’s warning:

2 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed, these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” (2 Peter 2:1-3)

How can you protect yourself from these lies? Arm yourself with the truth by reading your Bible. Study it and compare it to what you hear in your church. If they don’t match up… find another church.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NASB 95)

I received another great reader question this past week...

“Should pastors be preaching about current events to educate congregants as to how they should vote or respond to them?”

The short answer is… Perhaps from time to time, but as a steady diet, it keeps congregants from developing their own discernment skills.

An old Indian proverb goes like this…

“If you give a man a fish, he will be hungry tomorrow. If you teach a man to fish, he will be richer forever.”

It has been wrongly attributed to Scripture by many over the years, but it is instructive…

The saying suggests that providing someone with a temporary solution (like giving them a fish) is less beneficial than equipping them with the skills and knowledge to sustain themselves (like teaching them to fish). This principle highlights the value of teaching individuals to become more spiritually discerning.

The church’s primary mission is to make disciples, not to teach worldly knowledge without discernment.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB 95)

In a world full of spiritual counterfeits, discernment acts as a safeguard, helping separate truth from error and preventing the destructive influence of heresy.

Helping listeners grow in discernment helps them move beyond spiritual immaturity to a deeper knowledge of God’s will.

Fellow Substack writer Jason Clark puts it this way…

“Most churches don’t think of themselves as neglecting the future. They’re busy responding to the present. Teaching often speaks to what’s happening now. Sermons address current concerns. Guidance is offered for today’s pressures and decisions. From the inside, this feels responsible. It feels pastoral. It feels faithful. And in many ways, it is. Scripture never calls the Church to ignore the moment or retreat from engagement.

But there’s a difference between helping people respond faithfully to a moment and teaching them the scriptural foundations that allow them to keep responding faithfully when moments change. And that difference matters more than we often realize.

Over time, many churches have become very good at telling people what to think about current issues, but far less consistent at teaching the scriptural reasoning that led them to those conclusions. People learn positions, but not the biblical logic beneath them. They inherit answers, but not the categories that made those answers faithful in the first place. When the language changes or the issue fades, the response no longer holds because it was never anchored to something deeper.

That’s not a failure of conviction. It’s a failure of formation.

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Scripture never treats faith as something that resets every generation. It assumes continuity, not because tradition is self-justifying, but because God himself is faithful across time. His character does not shift. His Word does not expire. His covenant promises span generations. The continuity Scripture assumes flows from who God is. Truth is received, understood, and then built upon, not because we prefer stability, but because the God who reveals himself remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Each generation is meant to grow in discernment, not by starting over, but by standing on something solid and learning how to build faithfully from there. When that foundation isn’t taught clearly, the next generation doesn’t become wiser. It becomes dependent or disoriented.

That assumption of continuity is precisely where many churches struggle. In practice, the Church often becomes very good at improving its responses without preserving the foundations that make those responses intelligible. Language is adjusted. Emphases are refined. Teaching is shaped to address current issues. None of this is wrong. Responsiveness is part of faithfulness. But improvement without attention to continuity creates a fragile inheritance. When we teach conclusions without teaching the scriptural foundations that produced them, we leave future believers with answers they can’t rebuild once the context changes.”

Read Jason’s Entire Post Here…

Christ also commanded pastors preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15) and proclaim the kingdom of God (John 18:36). The New Testament emphasizes transforming hearts through the Gospel rather than reforming society through laws or elections. When the institutional church goes so far as to align with political parties, candidates, or interest groups, it risks diluting or confusing its higher calling and risks making the Gospel appear secondary to earthly power struggles.

Too much emphasis on current events can lead outsiders to view Christianity as just another interest group rather than a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Critics will argue that pastoral silence on issues like social justice, diversity, and oppression rejects biblical mandates that require speaking out. However, the strongest case for restraint focuses on protecting the church’s sanctity of mission and ultimate allegiance to Christ alone… the rest will take care of itself.

Pastors ought to teach discernment, not how to respond to ever-shifting current events…

Editor’s Note... As in previous years, registration links will only be provided for conferences rated as “Recommended”. More conferences will be added as information becomes available. Any changes will be noted on this page. If you are not yet subscribed, click the link at the end of this post to receive all updates!

The 2026 Christian Conference season is now getting underway. What may appear to be an ideal opportunity to fellowship with other believers for gospel-centered teaching and worship may not always be the case…

Notice that most, if not all, of the “not recommended” conferences do not teach the Gospel according to Jesus Christ but a counterfeit version with nothing in common with the real thing... At several of these conferences, attendees will hear speakers who reject sound Biblical doctrine in favor of wokeness, the prosperity gospel, and social gospel heresy.

Too many of these conferences will dilute and twist Scripture to ensure it’s “woke” enough to fill the seats. Others will promote critical race theory, extreme environmentalism, social justice, affirmation of homosexuality, the Enneagram, Creation Care, mysticism, open borders, abortion, gender identity, and false unity. In many cases, they teach the world’s values rather than the absolute truth of Scripture. Again, this year, there is no shortage of conferences this season, leading people away from the true Gospel.

The good news is that there are some good ones out there…

In the New Testament, John warned about anyone associating with or promoting false teachers…

Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. (2 John 9-1)

GUIDE TO THE RATINGS…

Before attending or promoting a specific conference to your church congregation, three questions must be asked. Since not all conferences have published their 2026 speaker lists yet, check them out before registering. Also, be aware that some conferences have similar-sounding names with very different agendas. In the next section, find a list of resources you can use to determine if the conference is promoting false teachers.

Who are the Featured Speakers?

In addition to the ones not recommended here or in the listings below, there are over 30 more listed at the very end of this guide…

Here are three more excellent resources to help determine this:

https://www.so4j.com/false-teachers/

https://michellelesley.com/popular-false-teachers

https://www.thewanderingpilgrims.com/teachers-to-avoid

Are Any of The Conference Speakers Associated With Any of The Following?

Not recommended are presenters associated with, but not limited to: The Social Gospel, The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), the Word of Faith Movement, the Gospel Coalition, White Guilt, Black Lives Matter, DEI, BLM, The Southern Baptist Convention, Creation Care, Revoice, Braver Angels, Bethel, Passion, Hillsong, Renovus, Lifeway, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Lakewood Church, and Elevation Church.

THE 2026 GUIDE

This year, we have grouped the “recommended” conferences in one section, the “not recommended” events in another, and the “not rated” in a third to make it easier for you to use this guide.

Recommended:

SOLA - COUNTRYSIDE CONFERENCE 2026… RECOMMENDED

This year’s conference will be held at 250 Countryside Court, Southlake, Texas, Feb 20-22, 2026. This conference on the Solas… foundational biblical truths recovered in the Reformation that must continue to shape the church and our lives today. Together, we will be reminded of the sufficiency and authority of Scripture alone and the gospel it proclaims: salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. Speakers will include Tom Pennington, Dr. Nathan Busenitz, Dr. Ian Hamilton, and Dr. Joel Beeke. There will also be an associated kids conference program will be available with pre-registration for children 5th grade and under.

https://countrysidebible.org/conference

KING’S DOMAIN CONFERENCE... RECOMMENDED

The next King’s Domain Conference is scheduled for 2027.

GENDERED EDUCATION: RAISING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN…RECOMMENDED

Feb 28, 2026, from 9am–12pm EST at NKY, 638 Highland Avenue, Fort Thomas, KY. There is no one right method for educating all children. But here's what we can be sure of… Government schools aren't the answer for how to raise up kids who love and fear God. And it is now clear that public schools are ground zero for the indoctrination of children into the LGBTQ cult. There is a better alternative. See details at https://ctkcincy.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3143548

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE CONFERENCE 2026… RECOMMENDED

This year’s conference will be held January 30 to February 1, 2026, at Founders Baptist Church in Spring, Texas. This year, the Speaking the Truth in Love “Pilgrim’s Progress” Conference is hosted by Richard Caldwell, Pastor-Teacher of Founders Baptist Church in Houston, TX, and founder of Walking in Grace Ministries. For this year’s conference, we are excited to welcome back Conrad Mbewe, Pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia, H.B. Charles Jr., Pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL, Phil Johnson, Executive Director of Grace to You, Jason Allen, President of Midwester Baptist Theological Seminary, Phillip De Courcy, Pastor of Kindred Community Church in Anaheim, CA, and Paul Lamey, Pastor of Grace Community Church in Huntsville, AL. For more information, go to https://www.truthinlove.org/

XL CONFERENCE 2026: EXCELENCE IN LEADERSHIP… RECOMMENDED

The 2026 XL Ministries Conference with Rocky Wyatt will be held February 20-21 at Countryside Bible Church in Southlake, Texas. Attendees will learn about the responsibility of the local church to train and equip men and women to fulfill the Great Commission. More information at: https://xlministries.org/conference/

THE SHEPERDS CONFERENCE... RECOMMENDED

OVERFLOW ONLY REMAINS… March 4 - 6, 2026, in Sun Valley, California… Sponsored by Grace Community Church. The mission of the Shepherd’s Conference is to provide the opportunity for men in church leadership to be challenged in their commitment to biblical ministry and to find encouragement together as servants of the Chief Shepherd. A full conference schedule will be available online closer to the conference. Conference recordings may be available after the conference at https://www.shepherdsconference.org/media

TRUTH AND LIFE CONFERENCE 2026... RECOMMENDED

SOLD OUT The 2026 Truth & Life Conference will be open to the public, making it possible for alumni and anyone interested in expository preaching to attend the three-day event at Grace Community Church in Simi Valley, California. Minimally priced tickets are expected to go on sale soon to cover basic event costs, with scholarships and discounts available. Visit www.masters.edu/truth-and-life

G3 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONFERENCES... GENERALLY RECOMMENDED

For more information on these upcoming conferences, go to https://g3min.org/events/

LIGONIER’S THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE CONFERENCE 2026... RECOMMENDED

The 2026 “Crucial Questions” This national conference will be held on April 9–11, 2026, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando. Lodging is available at the venue. Ligonier was founded by the late R.C. Sproul to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible. More information at https://www.ligonier.org/2026

MADE IN HIS IMAGE CONFERENCE… RECOMMENDED

On Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm. Heritage Reformed Baptist Church, 5715 Market Ave N, Canton, OH. This is a pro-life conference & celebration breakfast for men, women, & teens 14 & older. More at https://www.wogcchurch.org/events/made-in-his-image--44/2026-04-11

Not Recommended:

THE 2026 HOLY SPIRIT CONFERENCE... NOT RECOMMENDED

This Bethel-sponsored event will be held in March. In the past, this conference featured Benny Hinn; Michael Koulianos, Hinn’s son-in-law and the founder of Jesus Image and Jesus Image Church; Jessica Koulianos, Hinn’s daughter and the director of The Jesus School. Also scheduled to appear are John Arnott, a false NAR apostle who pastored Toronto Vineyard church at the time of the unbiblical “Toronto blessing,’ as well as the founder of Catch The Fire Network of Churches, and Steve Witt, Senior Leader of Bethel Cleveland, who is part of Harvest Apostolic network. Bethel “Church”, headquartered in Redding, California, is home to an assortment of bizarre, charismatic, and false teachings, including little god theology, prophetic cards, Satanic treasure hunts, and the idea that Adam created the animals in the Garden of Eden. Steer clear of anything to do with Benny Hinn and Bethel.

C3 CONFERENCE 2026… NOT RECOMMENDED

This February event in Grapevine, TX is not to be confused with the G3 Conferences. Features Ed Young and Eric Metaxas.

THE GLOBAL PROPHETIC SUMMIT 2026… NOT RECOMMENDED

Previous year’s events have included Lou Engle, Todd White, and a host of others. Past conferences have featured “Slain in the Spirit” type situations. Be advised that many instances of being slain in the Spirit are fakes or responses to another’s touch or to the motion of the speaker’s arm… which are not biblical. True Biblical fallings down were a person’s reaction to what he saw in a vision or an event beyond ordinary happenings, such as the transfiguration of Christ in Matthew 17:6.

POWER AND LOVE CONFERENCE 2026…. NOT RECOMMENDED

This year’s conferences will be held in at least 7 U.S. cities across the U.S. and one in Puerto Rico. Todd White is the main speaker at each venue. White has suggested that church membership candidates be required to cast out demons from a possessed person on stage during their membership class. He is also a fake faith healer who practices on-stage deceptions, including leg-lengthening.

UNLEASED CONFERENCE 2026… NOT RECOMMENDED

The conference is headlined by Paula White, who is not a biblically sound teacher. She trades in a “fake faith” that portrays God as some sort of celestial vending machine… insert enough money (into her ministry), press the right button, have enough faith, and receive outsized returns on one’s investment.

IF GATHERING... NOT RECOMMENDED

One night only in February in Dallas, Texas. Launched in 2014, the IF Gathering is a two-day women’s conference hosted by its founder, Jennie Allen. Past gatherings have reached 144 countries in 6,500 different locations. The conference regularly features several female preachers/pastors as speakers who promote the Woke Church movement and the Prosperity Gospel. In the past, the IF Gathering has featured teachers who seem ignorant of even basic doctrinal standards.

Jennie Allen promotes the Enneagram, a non-scriptural way to identify one’s “true self” to reach spiritual freedom. This conflicts with the Biblical concept of submitting to God’s word. Allen believes that she and other women should preach not just to other women but also to men. (1 Timothy 2:12 explicitly prohibits this.)

Past IF Gatherings feature speakers who seem to preach about anything other than the actual Gospel. Here are just three…

Christine Caine from Hillsong promotes several New Age practices condemned in the Bible, including the pagan practice of witchcraft. She actively endorses the Word of Faith movement, believing that man’s spoken words can manipulate God to gain what we want.

David Platt has taken a sharp turn from biblical fidelity and embraced the social justice movement. David Platt is a questionable teacher who refers to “accepting Jesus into your heart” as superstitious and unbiblical.

Lauren Chandler regularly partners with and has been endorsed by other known false teachers.

LIFE SURGE EXPERIENCE CONFERENCES... NOT RECOMMENDED

Scheduled to take place in cities around the U.S. throughout 2026. Featured speakers likely include Lysa Terkeurst, Priscilla Shirer, Christine Caine (each woman mentioned elsewhere in this guide), and a host of other celebrities, athletes, and motivational speakers. The Life Surge Experience purports to teach attendees how to create and multiply financial resources for Kingdom Impact. Many of the Life Surge Experiences will feature Bethel music, designed to lure people into the apostate Bethel system.

LIVING PROOF LIVE CONFERENCES 2026... NOT RECOMMENDED

These conferences feature Beth Moore. Moore is the dean of female false teachers who was once urged by John MacArthur to “go home” rather than remain in open rebellion against God. She continues to preach to men in violation of 1 Timothy 2:12. She refuses to acknowledge that homosexuality is sinful and claims direct and private revelation from God. More on Beth Moore’s teachings.

IN-PERSON FLOURISH GATHERING 2026... NOT RECOMMENDED

No dates or speakers announced for 2026. Sponsored by Emily Nelson’s Flourish Collective, this conference is steeped in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), racism, and social gospel nonsense. The organization also provides woke materials for young children. DEI, racism, and the social gospel are not biblical in any way, shape, or form.

THE FLOURISH CONFERENCE, OAKLAND... NOT RECOMMENDED

Yet another event aimed at women, this conference is not to be confused with the In-Person Flourish Gathering in Oakland, California. Some of the speakers for past events were Hannah Ouellette, who claims to be a “pastor” at Thrive Church in Lone Tree, Colorado. Another is Zai Chandler, a woman who also claims the title of Senior Pastor along with her husband at Union Church, an organization with multiple locations in Maryland and Virginia. Avoid women who claim to be pastors.

THE 2026 HOPE TOGETHER CONFERENCE… NOT RECOMMENDED

Scheduled in October in Dallas, Texas. This year features Lisa Harper who often twists and mishandles Scripture (when she uses it at all). Past speakers include Sheila Walsh, Christine Caine, Joel Osteen, and Jenny Allen. Allen promotes the Enneagram, a non-scriptural way to identify one’s “true self” to reach spiritual freedom. Christine Caine from Hillsong promotes several New Age practices condemned in the Bible, including the pagan practice of witchcraft. She actively endorses the Word of Faith movement, believing that man’s spoken words can manipulate God to gain what we want.

THE GOSPEL COALITION TGC 26 CONFERENCE… NOT RECOMMENDED

The Gospel Coalition 2026 conference will be held in June in Indianapolis, Indiana. Featured speakers include Jen Wilkin, along with several others. Stay home…

THE PASSION “CALL ON HEAVEN” CONFERENCE... NOT RECOMMENDED

Next conference in early 2027… The conference is for 18-25-year-olds from across the nation and worldwide to gather together to “Call On Heaven”.

Lou and Shelley Giglio promote the Passion Conference. Giglio promotes his version of “little god” theology… the belief that we humans have the potential to become divine like God. He preaches that “divinity” exists in our DNA and “heaven is inside of us”. This teaching is blatantly false and similar to Mormonism. It sounds eerily like what the serpent said to Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1), resulting in the fall of man.

Past Passion Conferences have featured a highly questionable speaker lineup, including Christine Caine (see IF Gathering above) and John Crowder. Crowder emerged from the unbiblical New Apostolic Reformation movement (NAR), which emphasizes experience over Scripture, mysticism over doctrine, and modern-day “apostles” over the inerrant text of the Bible. His teachings include operating in trances, mysticism, signs and wonders, and more.

One past speaker, Jackie Hill Perry, promotes the cult of the Evangelical Sexual Revolution and the blasphemy of Bethel Church. She is an open lesbian who married a man despite her continued attraction to women. Perry is a false teacher spreading a false gospel while hiding behind the facade of Christian jargon… Again, while popular, this event’s approach to faith and worship dilutes the gospel and transforms it into a wrong-headed appeal of emotionalism and social activism.

GOING BEYOND: LIVE WITH PRISCILLA SHIRER... NOT RECOMMENDED

Sponsored by Lifeway, Going Beyond Live Conference will be held in at least five U.S. cities in 2026. Sadly, Priscilla Shirer gets the Trinity wrong, promotes mysticism, and preaches at Joel Osteen’s Church. She has also partnered with the Prosperity Gospel and Word of Faith teacher T.D. Jakes to promote Social Justice nonsense that has no place in any church. Priscilla Shirer is the daughter of the famous Evangelical preacher Tony Evans. Shirer insists on preaching to and teaching men... which is unbiblical. She also claims to receive extra-biblical revelation from God.

THE GATHERING OF FAITH-DRIVEN ENTREPRENEURS... NOT RECOMMENDED

The Online Faith-Driven Entrepreneur Conference is billed for “those looking to use their capital for good”. Judging by the speaker lineup, it has more to do with business than faith, with a false teacher or two thrown in for good measure. One past speaker is David Platt, who, as mentioned above (IF Gathering), is a questionable teacher who refers to “accepting Jesus into your heart” as superstitious and unbiblical. Rapper Lecrae, who has mocked a man for sharing the Gospel, is also associated with this Gathering. If you really want to do good with your capital, don’t go and instead donate the registration fee to the widows and orphans fund at your church.

THE UNCONDITIONAL CONFERENCE... NOT RECOMMENDED

No dates have been released for the 2026 Unconditional Conference. Held at Northpoint Church in Alpharetta, GA, 2023’s conference featured Embracing the Journey from Saddleback Church in southern California. The Unconditional Conference is for parents of LGBTQ children to positively affirm their child’s sexual identity. One of the past speakers was Brian Nietzel, who, according to his Facebook page, is still openly and actively involved in a homosexual relationship. Nietzel is the founder of Renovus, an organization dedicated to advancing queer theology and homosexual affirmation within the Church. Andy Stanley routinely and falsely promotes Nietzel’s unbiblical personal beliefs as gospel truth.

JOYCE MEYER’S LOVE LIFE WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2026... NOT RECOMMENDED

This year’s conference is scheduled for October 2026, in Tampa, FL. Sadly, Joyce Meyer regularly teaches the Word of Faith (Prosperity Gospel), mishandles Scripture, and partners with several false teachers. Also featured this year will be Lisa Harper and Christine Caine, proponents of the false Word of Faith (Prosperity Gospel). Find more on Joyce Meyer here.

HOPE TOGETHER CONFERENCE 2026… NOT RECOMMENDED

Scheduled in October 2026, at Watters Creek Convention Center in Allen, Texas. Last year, scheduled speakers included Christine Caine and Jenny Allen. Allen promotes the Enneagram, a non-scriptural way to identify one’s “true self” to reach spiritual freedom. Christine Caine from Hillsong promotes several New Age practices condemned in the Bible, including the pagan practice of witchcraft. She actively endorses the Word of Faith movement, believing that man’s spoken words can manipulate God to gain what we want.

Not Yet Rated:

ARC Conference 2026... NOT RATED AT THIS TIME

The Association of Related Churches (ARC) annual conference is scheduled in April 2026, in Charleston, SC. The event is designed to bring together church pastors, leaders, and future planters of ARC churches. A list of featured speakers has not been released as of this writing; however, last year’s conference included Priscilla Shirer.

Summary...

Regarding the videos of these conferences or their remote feeds... picking and choosing certain segments to suggest to one’s church membership doesn’t work for two reasons. First, a true and accurate teacher of the Gospel would not associate with these conference promoters, nor would they ever appear on stage with them. Secondly, many new believers and pre-Christians lack the spiritual discernment necessary to avoid being exposed to other conference speakers who may be teaching a false gospel.

The health of one’s church can often be determined by which conferences a church’s leadership promotes to its members. Sadly, many of them do not teach the Gospel according to Jesus Christ, but a counterfeit version that has nothing in common with the real thing...

More Questionable or False Teachers… Who Are NOT Recommended

Andy Stanley

Benny Hinn

Bill Johnson

Bryce Crawford

Charlie Shamp

Darren Stott

David Digga Hernandez

David Harris Jr.

David Platt

David Turner

Dr. Michael Brown

Hank Kunneman

Isaiah Saldivar

J. D. Greear

Jennifer Welch

Jessica Koulianos

Jim Heidrick

Jonathan Cahn

Joseph Z.

Josh Millis

Kat Kerr

Katherine Krick

Kathy DeGraw

Kenneth Copeland

Kynan Bridges

Levi Lusko

Mark Driscoll

Matt Cruz

Mike Signorelli

Paula White

Robert Morris

Ross Johnston

Russell Moore

Shawn Bolz

Shane Winnings

Todd White

Uebert Angel

Vlad Savchuk

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB 95)

Recently, in response to my last post Does Your Church Look Like This? a reader asked, “What if there is no God/Christ-centered Gospel-preaching church in my area?”

First of all, I hear you…

Two and a half years ago, we had to leave our church after a change in senior pastor. The teaching suffered and became more about the preacher’s opinion and experiences than scripture. They began to play Bethel and Hillsong music, so we stayed home and watched other fully Biblical expository teachers on YouTube… But we wanted more. Then we were so fortunate to learn of a new church plant coming to our area… one that has a high view of God and a high view of scripture. We have been involved there for nearly two years now. Otherwise, we might have considered starting a home church.

There are three things one might prayerfully consider if you find yourself looking for a truly God/Christ-centered church near where you live…

GO ONLINE

Check out the Master’s Seminary Church Finder at https://tms.edu/find-a-church/

Master’s Seminary was founded by none other than John MacArthur. It maintains a list of churches pastored by Master’s graduates. As always, due diligence is still necessary. My wife and I are blessed to attend one of those churches.

DRIVE/MOVE

Some people drive over an hour (one way) to both our church and the Wednesday Night Home Fellowship Group. At the same time, driving that far can make it difficult to consistently participate. Moving is not always possible, but I have seen people do it after they have fully checked out a distant church.

FAILING ALL THAT… START A MALE-LED HOME CHURCH

How?

1. Begin with prayer, asking God for direction and confirmation of your calling to start a home church. This spiritual foundation is critically important.

2. Gather a core group… Start with a few committed individuals… friends, family, or neighbors who share your vision. Jesus emphasized the importance of gathering in His name (Matthew 18:20).

3. Choose a meeting time and place. Decide on a consistent schedule for your gatherings and select a comfortable space in your home that can accommodate your group. You may want to rotate host homes.

4. Plan your meetings… Formally structure your gatherings to include worship, prayer, teaching, and fellowship. Use one or more of these vetted preachers for the teaching time until someone in your group is fully qualified. I would suggest Rocky Wyatt’s XL Ministries for a basic starting point for church leadership development.

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5. Keep it small at first, no more than 12 people. Plan for adult female supervised childcare if needed. Use personal invitations or social media to reach out.

6. Stay within legal and regulatory requirements in your city and state.

7. Remember Christ is the head of the church… not us.

There is nothing more important than being in a Christ-centered body of believers… This is a value we should never wish to compromise.

Over the last four years or so, I have written extensively on what type of churches and teachers to avoid… and there are many.

At the same time, I have rarely covered what to look for in a church.

It’s way past time to change that…

Solid, Biblically based churches are not about entertaining people, emotional experiences, health and wealth, or what people can get from God. Good churches are God-centered, preach the Gospel, and instruct people that they must repent and trust in Christ to be saved.

Pastor Grant Castleberry of Capital Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, paints an ideal picture of what a true God-centered church looks like. When asked, Castleberry says this…

• “A God-centered church believes that God is encountered through His Word, and therefore they will emphasize an expositional ministry where the Word of God is taught.

• A God-centered church believes that the greatest need in any person’s life is to know God.

• A God-centered church will teach sound doctrine and the whole counsel of God.

• A God-centered church will be biblical in its worship, emphasizing worship that is according to the Word of God, where God’s Word is sung, read, prayed, preached, and seen in the ordinances.

• A God-centered church will conform to the New Testament pattern of a church with a plurality of elders, biblical membership, and church discipline.”

Expository teaching is about reading aloud a specific passage of scripture, explaining its meaning and context, and then its application. An expositional ministry is one where expositional preaching is practiced. The focus is on what the text communicates rather than the preacher’s opinions, ideas, or personal experiences. This means that the message should not only explain the passage but also instruct listeners on how to live out its teachings in their daily lives.

Expository preaching prioritizes the majesty of Christ, transforms lives, and protects the congregation from false teaching and error. It promotes Biblical literacy while congregants learn to understand and apply scripture.

Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy…

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2 NASB 95)

God-centered churches do not have female elders or preachers. They do not promote LGBTQ values or DEI mandates. A God-centered church will encourage attendance and discourage watching online, except for the elderly and infirm. A real God-centered church will have a formal discipleship program in place, as well as men and women who will hold each other accountable.

God-centered churches protect women’s ministries from false teaching and error. They don’t create a “worship experience” with errant Hillsong, Bethel, or Elevation music.

God-centered churches won’t platform false teachers, and they don’t send their youth or anyone else to conferences featuring them.

God-centered churches consistently teach the Gospel… the need to repent, to turn from one’s sin and embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Preaching and teaching in solid Biblically based churches convict, educate, teach, and challenge you to build your faith… rather than function as a feel-good Sunday morning social club.

Does the church you are attending now live up to these standards?

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Chick-fil-A was once a company shaped by Christian values… Closed on Sundays, family-friendly, and Biblical leadership.

Then came the bait and switch…

Now we have a Chick-fil-A location using official social media channels to celebrate gay marriage… not merely tolerating it, not simply ignoring it, but publicly affirming it.

The above image is unmistakable… Two gay men posed in front of a Chick-fil-A storefront. In one photo, one is in the other’s arms like a bride over a threshold. In the other, they are in a lovers’ embrace in front of a Chick-fil-A restaurant. The caption congratulates them on their recent “marriage,” complete with heart emojis and corporate support.

Chick-fil-A now promotes and defends gay marriage…

According to an LGBT magazine in Salt Lake City, people who’ve complained

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about the post have received the following response from a company that apparently doesn’t care…

“Thank you for contacting Chick-fil-A CARES...

Chick-fil-A embraces all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Chick-fil-A, Inc. is committed to being Better at Together by embedding Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in everything we do. We strive to provide a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone. We do this by focusing on Chick-fil-A’s four Corporate Social Responsibility pillars: Caring for People, Caring for our Communities, Caring for Others through our Food, and Caring for our Planet. To learn more, visit our Giving Back page and our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page.”

It does not end there…

• Past Internal Revenue Service records show that Chick-fil-A corporate has not only stopped donating to Christian organizations, but is now actively, and it appears has unapologetically funded left-wing extremist groups, including the vehemently anti-American and anti-Christian Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

• Tax records dating back to 2017 show the Chick-fil-A Foundation has not only made donations to pro-abortion groups and pro-LGBTQ groups, but it has also made the decision to stop supporting Christian charities such as the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

• Additionally, Chick-fil-A funds the deeply political YWCA, a radically pro-abortion and pro-LGBTQ organizations that repeatedly partner with Planned Parenthood.

• Chick-fil-A has given a sizable donation ($50k) to The Pace Center for Girls, another pro-abortion organization.

• During a past promotion, Chick-fil-A included MVP Kids books in kids’ meals. These books were designed to indoctrinate children into the agenda of the Marxist social justice movement using SEL (Social Emotional Learning) techniques. Some have described SEL as the Trojan horse of woke education.

  These books are filled with rank Marxist ideas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is code for LGBTQ, transgenderism, and CRT (Critical Race Theory).

But that is not the chicken chain’s biggest problem…

Chick-fil-A corporate has committed a lie of omission by failing to correct a major misconception and keeping the truth from its customers and supporters. It has continued to falsely trade on a reputation that no longer exists. When the company was under attack by the left in the summer of 2012, Americans formed long lines to show their support of the chain. As a result of many years of this kind of support, Chick-fil-A has become the country’s third-highest volume fast-food chain, behind McDonald’s and Starbucks.

If you were to Google the chain’s mission statement today, it still reads: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us.”

Sometime since then, it has apparently been changed to something else without telling anyone.

It amounts to a betrayal…

Chick-fil-A has allowed yeast in the dough. Consider what Paul wrote to two different groups… that even a tiny bit of yeast permeates every part of the dough.

… Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? (1 Corinthians 5:6 NASB 95)

A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough. (Galatians 5:9 NASB 95)

Chick-fil-A has allowed a number of DEI types into their company who have gone so far as to sell out to left-wing extremists.

Have they learned nothing from the Bud Light and Jaguar disasters?

But what to do?

I do not favor organized boycotts. As Christians, our first response should not be to hurt someone who has deceived us. (Jesus did not instantly strike Judas dead for betraying Him the night before He died… but He could have.) As a former restaurant executive myself, I know that the people who will suffer the most in a boycott will be rank-and-file employees who will have their hours cut when customer counts fall. The top executives will continue to draw their large salaries for maintaining profits.

Therefore, we must each decide in our hearts what we will do.

Besides, fast food is not that good for you anyway.

At Chick-fil-A, marriage is now being openly mocked, and its brand identity is being used to celebrate it. The sacred institution that God established and affirmed by Christ is now being mocked in a Facebook post seeking the approval of men.

You don’t get to invoke “values” while celebrating what God calls sin…

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“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

As 2025 has passed into history, we are looking ahead to 2026. Even though the calendar has rolled over, the battle remains the same; in fact, it is intensifying. The world will continue increasing its assault on those who would stand firm against the temptation to compromise one’s Biblical values.

In other words, stand firm…

In 2026, more than ever, we as Christians must stand firm on God’s Word even more diligently in the coming year so that we may live well for the Lord in America’s now post-Christian culture.

Paul wrote this to the Philippians…

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents… which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. (Philippians 1:27-28 NASB 95)

If there is any New Year’s resolution worth keeping, it is this… to stand firm in the faith.

How can we best do this?

1. Be in the Word. Just as our bodies require air, food, and water, our souls need the nourishment found in scripture. When we immerse ourselves in God’s word, we draw nearer to Him, gain wisdom, and learn how to best navigate the challenges of this world with grace. Reading, studying, and remaining in God’s Word isn’t just a recommendation… It is a necessity for renewing our minds and living a fruitful Christian life. We are scripturally admonished to do so.

Paul wrote this to young Timothy…

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB 95)

2. Be in consistent prayer and meditation on the Word each day to reinforce your spiritual grounding and guard your heart.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NASB 95)

3. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Write down at least three things you are grateful for today. By expressing gratitude, we can find joy and peace in our lives and strengthen our relationship with God, even in difficult times.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15 NASB 95)

In the coming year, American Faith and Freedom will continue to expose the darkness, the lies, and the compromise that masquerade as true Christianity.

At the same time, we will continue to hold on to our blessed hope in Christ Jesus. We pray that you will also.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us… We are so very grateful for your paid subscriptions, coffees, sharing, likes, and comments that make it possible for us to press on in the year to come…

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