Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. -- Romans 13:1-2 (ESV)
Eighty-five people died in California yesterday from the COVID virus. That brings the state total to 2630. That is 2630 people, who had lives, families, and friends. The trend in California COVID cases is not decreasing with daily increases of 1500-1750 new cases, now totaling almost 65,000 cases. Faced with such statistics the Governor has continued his lockdown of the state in order to try and save what lives he can. In response, mega church pastors have declared they will no longer obey their governor or the key verse and will open on Pentecost, May 31, 2020. The link above reveals the flawed and unbiblical thinking behind this decision. Let us reason once more.
"Several church leaders announced Thursday, May 7, that they will reopen their churches on the Day of Pentecost, May 31, despite California Gov. Gavin Newsom's continued lockdown. The group, led by Pastor Dan Carroll and Pastor Matt Brown, represents 1,500 churches in California Gov. Newsom's plan to reopen the state schedules churches to reopen in the third stage, a time for which has not yet been specified." -- Charisma News
Pastor Carroll hails from Water of Life Community church, which boasts six locations and a weekend attendance of over 19,000 people. The website reveals the typical mix of purpose driven slop and seeker friendly NAR teachings. In the section of "How Do I Become a Follower of Jesus" the webpage displays a moving picture of the enormous sanctuary and an assurance that God "massively loves you and wants a relationship with you." Step one they state is to know God's plan for you. Straight out of Warren theology, they abuse John 10:10 to mean that God wants to give every believer an abundant live, in this life. One sure test of heresy is if the teaching would work in other cultures for other Christians. Step two is defining the "problem" that we are separated from God. They conclude by declaring you need to ask God to end the separation by surrendering your life to Jesus by inviting Him to be the "leader of your life." They then encourage viewers to say the following sinner's prayer:
I am asking you to come into my life and heart. I no longer want to be separated from you and want the abundant life that you have promised. I know that I have sinned by trying to live my life on my own and I ask your forgiveness for that. I believe that you are God's son, who died for me on the cross and rose from the grave. Please take control of my life and make me the person that you want me to be -- I turn away from my old ways. I take you as my Savior and ask you to be Lord of my life. -- Water of Life community Church
I take you as my savior? I want the abundant life you promised? They define sin as trying to live your life on your own? This is well scripted but the heart of the problem with the apostate church in America. This prayer dances around salvation with lip service paid to the vital missing element -- repentance. No wonder over 19,000 people show up every weekend. Now, Pastor Matt Brown leads Sandals Church in Riverside and has eight locations with a weekend attendance of over 10,000 people. Let's continue to discover the thinking behind this callous disobedience and disregard for the very lives of the sheep entrusted to them.
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