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CHURCH GROWTH MOVEMENT (By Greg DesVoignes)
A CRC REPRINT

Part 1: Sciences, Marketing, Surveys, and Demographics: Following God?    January 1, 2000

"They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them" 1John 4:5

By Greg DesVoignes

In this issue and in Parts 1 and 2, we will present an analytical and biblical view of what has been termed "The Church Growth Movement" [CGM] and its counter part, "The Purpose Driven Church". Thousands of churches have become involved in using the techniques of this movement over the past ten years in efforts to cause the numbers in their churches increase along with personal growth. But are there problems with it?

Have churches unknowingly compromised with the world? Have they unknowingly aligned with sources and techniques common to the New Age, but not common to the Bible?



CGM Fundamentals

A cursory look alone at the CGM indicates there is a problem concerning how the body of Christ is built, and what is being used to build it. It has been defined by its own experts as, "A group of pastors, denominational executives... who allow their ministries to be governed by Donald McGavran and fellow participants in the CGM". Peter Wagner, Win Arn, others, Church Growth: State Of The Art, Tyndale, 1989, pg. 284.

What are the principles of the CGM that churches and ministries open themselves up to be governed by? Church Growth participants do not refer to their principles as Biblical truths, but "worldwide truths which, when properly applied with other principles contribute significantly to the growth of a church". Ibid., pg. 284. Therefore, ministries that follow the principles of this movement are actually being governed by the philosophies that the world holds to, and not God and his Word.

What world truths or philosophies are churches submitting to as governing their ministries and causing their numbers to increase? "Church Growth" itself is defined as, "striving to combine the eternal principles of God's word with the best insights of contemporary social and behavior sciences...". Ibid. This translates into churches being ruled by, and following theories. These include the theories of sociology, anthropology, psychology, statistics, marketing, cultural relevance, and the ideal within each one.

So what is happening is that churches who follow the CGM are incorporating the same "sciences" and tactics that the corporate world is using to attract consumers, and much more.

Through a slow transformation process, the structure and character of these churches eventually manifest a "business" and "entertainment" looks. Something they say is more culturally relevant and appealing to the modern "baby boomer". This transformation process is sold through sermons, staff and lay leadership training, and required membership classes and "accountability" groups, with materials and "consultants", primarily out of Willow Creek Community Church and Fuller Institute of Church Growth.

However, as we look at scripture, we find that man's techniques of the world cannot build a church that God warned us not to follow the principles of the world, and not to add to His word. So let's compare what the CGM says, with scripture.



Wrong Principles: From the World

First, the CGM experts note that the principles of God are eternal. That is true. And since God's principles are eternal, i.e., what was said, and what worked almost 2,000 years ago and before, must apply to today. Thus, what happened to the eternal principle, "and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved". Acts 2:47, or "...who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling"? 1 Tim 1:9.

It appears to me that since the eternal principles here are [1] that it is God who called us by His spirit, [2] that the calling was a holy calling, [3] and that it was the power of God that added to the church; then this should also apply today.

Did Jesus call his disciples with sociology, psychology, anthropology, marketing, or any "world wide truth"? What is holy about these things? Most of them contradict the word anyway. Did Jesus preach a social gospel, an evolutionary gospel according to anthropology, or train his disciples to use the principles of the world along with His eternal principles? Then why do would we need the principles of the CGM?  We don't!

Secondly, another eternal principle of God that Jesus said is, "Upon this Rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." Matt 16:18. Upon whom is the church to be built, and who will build it? It is Jesus who builds His church and it is upon His eternal words from which it is built. Oh, but it must be all right to help it along. After all, we live in the 90's [now, the New Millenium]; we are a different culture today, right? In an apostate sense, yes!

This brings us to the third eternal principle. In Exodus 25, which is a foreshadow of the church and how it is to be built, God gave Moses the materials and the plan by which he was supposed to build the tabernacle saying, "And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it". Thus it is God himself who shows us how the church is built, not the world, and as He instructs in His word, this is how it is supposed to be built. [Read Acts 1-2]

God says in a fourth eternal principle, "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. So keep them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people". The principles of the CGM are in opposition to what God has said. For even they admit that they are "striving to combine" the ways of the world into the word of God.

A Lack of Confidence In God's Word

Why is this happening today? Why is it that these CGM experts can call God's principles eternal, but then reject them as being relevant and powerful today? Christian writer and preacher John McArthur assessed it well. He said, "Contemporary evangelism has been beguiled and sabotaged by a ruinous lack of confidence in God's word... They have accepted the notion that scripture does not contain all we need to minister in these complex times. So they turn to human expertise in the fields of psychology, business, government, politics, entertainment, or whatever they think might supply some recipe for success that's lacking in scripture". John McArthur, Our Sufficiency In Christ, Word, 1991, pg. 117.

Israel had this same problem and frequently took assistance and combined the "best insights of contemporary social and behavioral sciences" from the world of the nations around them, including those from Babylon. For while they were supposed to go in and take the land God had given them by His power, they themselves were many times converted to following the world. The results were disastrous. They were seduced, spiritually turned away from God, and then taken over and ruled by the very systems they were intrigued by.  As we will see, the same thing is happening in this system!

A fifth eternal principle from God asks, "To whom then will you liken God?" Or what likeness will you compare with Him". Isaiah 40:18. In verse 12 God shows the arrogant ignorance of man, by comparing the heavens with the span of His hand, and in verse 22 compares the inhabitants of the earth to grasshoppers that he has provided a tent for. In other words, what can we grasshoppers come up with that can compare with what this great and mighty God has done and will do among the "best insights" of the works of the world? Is it God's word that needs assistance from man? Or is it man that needs everything from God? The CGM misses the point.



The Frog In The Kettle

The transformation of a church is accomplished over a period of several months to a few years, the latter recommended by the experts. In fact, it is interesting that some of these experts recommend that pastors who desire to implement these philosophies and techniques do not try to transform their current churches, but start a new church based on these philosophies. Why? It has been well proven that this movement has destroyed churches. Even though they know this and state this, they still provide the techniques to transform a current existing church!

It usually starts with a trip to a seminar sponsored by a mega church such as Willow Creek in the Chicago area. Church pastors and staffs attend a "dynamic" public service, listen to speakers give ideas on how to make a church grow, and then get an eye full of the programs and the impressive buildings and their facilities. They come back excited about what they have seen and learned. Possibly a few months later, new ideas and terminology will start arising. The pastor may present a "vision" for the church.



The Change Masters

However in CGM methodology, presenting the new vision requires tearing down traditional Christianity. Not that some tradition should not be done away with, i.e., traditions of men added to biblical worship, which is worthless, but this is quite different.

Jim Dethmar of Willow Creek says, "Change only occurs when there is significant disillusionment with the status quo. This is 'Change Theory' ". So, that is what begins to happen. Tearing down subtly begins. Jim Dethmar gives a suggestion on how to do this when he says, "...a simplified view of how to do change is find something that is wrong, it might be a little one, and rub it raw, irritate it". {Willow Creek Seminar Tape} And so the "rub" begins.

This new vision has to do with being culturally relevant. You may hear that the church needs to create a non-threatening environment, in order that it may attract seekers. That non-threatening environment may mean several changes to accommodate the modern "seeker". There may be discussion as to whether or not it may be offensive to a seeker if you raise your hands while worshipping. Sunday services will change to seeker services for unchurched Harry. Messages will drift away from expository verse by verse teachings out of the Bible, to topical subjects. Not that topical teaching is wrong, but you will hear less and less of Biblical teachings and more use of psychology, sociology, statistics, etc., things you get out of modern college classes and business relation seminars.

For instance, you may start to notice more quotes from business leaders, psychologists and others such as Peter Drucker [Father of Modern Business], psychologist M. Scott Peck, or Stephen Covey [the latter two are New Age idealists]. You will hear less of messages of repentance and the cross, but more of felt needs, along the lines of Abraham Maslow's theory of "hierarchy of needs" philosophy: Get the needs taken care of first, and people will come to God [quite opposite of "Seek ye first, the kingdom of God..."].



Making A Corporation

More business aspects will arise. The church will come up with a Mission Statement, develop a Strategy, a Statement of Purpose, ascribe to Excellency, and make a call to Social Action or to be a conscience to the world.

You may hear of the need to create community, and the need to use demographics to do so. Accountability groups will form [called "quality circles", or "Peer Pressure groups" in the Corporate world], and will be used along with Cell groups and ministry teams to monitor and bring about behavioral changes, and frequently stress the "vision" and involvement.

Gospel of Socrates?

You will start hearing the term facilitator being used. Home fellowships and other ministries will no longer have a leader or teacher, but a "team" facilitator.

I have searched and searched, but I cannot find the gift of "facilitator" in the Bible. But I have in secular business and leadership books, and other places. In fact, one ministry facilitator notes that the concept is the "Socratic" method of teaching... saying, "I'm just a facilitator. Instead of lecturing, I try to help them discover for themselves what all this means". {Daily Herald, May 18, 1988}

Socrates used philosophy not the theology of the Bible, which was evident by his attributing evil to ignorance, not sin. Socrates was not exactly an Isaiah or Peter or Paul, but his ways are some of the "world wide truths" the CGM combines.

Along this same thought, Dethmar suggests not having a senior pastor, suggesting that churches decentralize, utilizing teams. In The CGM philosophy, the vision and its aspects run the church through teams and facilitators who must follow this vision. This is strange because Willow Creek has a senior pastor, Bill Hybels. However even he says that the church runs fine without him having to be there.

These concepts are also found in the business world. One TQM [Total Quality Management] philosophy for leadership is "...to be coaches rather than controllers of people, and to facilitate things rather than mandate them". {Effective Management Systems, Seminar material, Leadership Skills}. Since God calls us to teach, preach, lead, shepherd, feed, exhort, rebuke, and many others, this whole facilitator concept contradicts the Word. It is not a "vision" that guides the body of Christ, it is Christ through His Word and Spirit; and definitely not Socrates.



Members Only

Membership applications are suggested for those who want to become members. Those who do must have had regular attendance for one year, consistent participation, attend membership classes, have a personal interview, and sign a Statement of Commitment each year. One of the reasons given for this formality is "...to implement the principles of accountability and commitment to the local body of Christ, as defined in the New Testament and practiced in the early churches..." (Willow Creek Community Church Structure Of Ministry, pg. 11).

I cannot seem to find this formal membership and signing of a Statement of Commitment in the New Testament, nor accountability other than to Christ. I have had some parents tell me that their teens are becoming disillusioned with their youth groups because they have become more of social groups and use peer pressure accountability to change their behavior. I asked one youth pastor who uses the "accountability" concept, if changes in some of the youth in his group were from a heart changed by God, or from the pressure of conforming to the group. He did not know, and did not know if the outward changes were real, or a show because of group peer pressure.

Businesses who have adopted incorporating accountability "quality circles" or "peer pressure groups" in ethics and values programming among their employees, know that it is the peer pressure to conform to the group that forces an outward change.

Computers are suggested to track class attendance records, tithing, and behavior changes of members [sounds familiar to the Outcome Based Education system]. Why become a signed formal committed member? The CGM people say that this type of membership has benefits. Hmm, it seems that just being a part of the body of Christ isn't enough for membership or benefits. I have not decided yet if this follows the cults or Costco. It is also similar to "Partnering" in the business world where companies sign agreements to do business with another and adopt their values and receive benefits as well.

Are these all aspects of business? Yes. Modern business and business leadership books contain the same teachings and philosophies.

Pleasing The Customer

Next will come the demographic studies, a form of sociology used in marketing research. The church may start doing studies of their surrounding area by the use of surveys distributed in the area. Church members may be given surveys to give to friends. These surveys have questions designed to find out why people don't go to church, and find out what would make them come to church. The purpose then, is like market researchers, change and design the church to fit what would attract the population.

But then this marketing may go another step further. It seems the CGM suggests picking Target Groups, i.e. what part of the population should be targeted to get into church? It usually consists of targeting an age range, but may go beyond this.

Bill Hybels, a forerunner of the CGM and pastor of Willow Creek Community Church says that, "The messages must have high user value... When unchurched Harry comes out here for a service, he's going to be asking, 'What value does my being here have for my life?' So in preparing messages, we keep asking ourselves, 'So what? Jesus Christ was born to a virgin - so what?' That's the question Harry's going to be asking." Chicago Daily Herald, May 19, 1988 "Suburban Living. I don't know about you, but it appears to me that the Bible, the Word of God, the "sword of the Spirit", is not some product that is developed to have "high user value". It also appears to me that if a pastor is anointed by the Spirit of God, and is a vessel of God, then if he teaches out of the Word of God, the Word of itself is of a great value to anyone who hears it.

Several years ago I had to attend a three-day Total Quality Management seminar [referred to as TQM], which was put on by a management consultant for managers at my place of employment. The first day of the seminar it was De JA Vu. I started seeing the same things I experienced while in a church that had been involved in the CGM [such as what we just covered], and also in many of the books I had studied while researching the CGM.

I began asking the consultant questions about business leaders and books that I had seen in some of Fuller Institute of Church Growth and Willow Creek advertising materials. He was familiar with the books stating that TQM also used the philosophies of some of the writers I mentioned. During a break, the then Director of the place I work asked me what had motivated me to study modern business aspects. I told him that these same principles were starting to come into churches. He had a most remarkable response for a non-Christian. "I thought a church was supposed to be run by the Holy Spirit". Interesting concept!

I suddenly had a thought that God might be pleased if Christian businessmen allowed their businesses to be run by the Holy Spirit! Naw, silly thought. But if the business world is not run by the Holy Spirit, what is it run by? And if churches or other ministries are run by business concepts and not the Holy Spirit, what, or whom are they run by?



User Friendly Changes

Aside from the aforementioned changes, physical changes slowly began to occur. Since it is believed that traditional Christianity turns off seekers and it's icons, Christian symbols will start to disappear. Crosses and other such symbols may be replaced by some sort of banner on the wall behind the pulpit that contains a message or symbol representing the current series the pastor is teaching.

Next the suggestion arises that the physical aspects of the church must be changed to become more user friendly [kind of like K Mart]. Perhaps getting rid of the pews and going to more comfortable theater seats would attract more people, or parking lot parkers to show people where to park would show that this church really has it together.

Or maybe, as Bill Hybels stresses in CGM conferences, the secret of a successful Sunday service can be attributed to proper lighting, quality sound equipment, an attractive building and others. What do proper lighting and sound equipment have to with anything? This has much to do with the next aspect of the CGM. : Entertainment.



Multi Media Manipulation

According to Bill Hybles, drama and music can lower a person's resistance to persuasion, which enables him to communicate the message "...through the back door. People don't even know it's happening." Ibid. Now where did this idea come from? On the outside, the business world. It’s a tool used in advertising.

Why do you think commercials contain music and skits? And why do you think that all of the sudden you want to go to the refrigerator and eat what you just saw? And you don't even know it's happening either! Now the interesting thing about this is that these very same principles are suggested by the New Age as powerful methods to trigger a change in our thinking.

What is the reason given for the use of drama and music in CGM churches? To reach people at an emotional level. The heavy metal rock bands know this too, don't they? Psychology? If so, where did psychology get this concept? Let's see; music and drama have a power to manipulate a person's mind, a power that can lower the mind's resistance, a power to manipulate the mind to an emotional level, a power that is going on and people don't even know they have been manipulated, a power not seen taught in the Bible. Think about it a minute. According to the Word of God

"For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved, IT IS THE POWER OF GOD...

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe...

For my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but the power of God." 1 Cor 1:18, 21; 2:4-5

Music in the church is for the corporate praise and worship of God. God said He inhabits the praises of His people. However, in "seeker services" there is not much corporate worship. Just music, and sometimes it is secular music, or music to arouse emotions. Seeker services are non-participating services, services designed so as not to offend the seeker, or make them uncomfortable. Have we become ashamed of our worship? The Word says;

"From Thee comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows to the Lord before those who fear Him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord." Ps 22:25, 26

"I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a mighty throng." Ps 35:18

"I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips." Ps 40:9

We have forgotten the purpose of our gatherings together and have turned them into a dog and pony show in order to create a non-offensive environment. Pay your vows to the Lord before the people. Follow God, not the principles of the world.

Transcending Cultures

The Greeks were well known for their drama, and it was used to change thinking, politically and otherwise. But then they also followed the gods of the myths, the perverted word of the true God. Don't you find it interesting that although we find accounts of Paul being in Greece that he did not suggest using their culturally relevant methods to reach people? In Acts 17 it plainly shows he was in an area where religion was relevant, but the Word was not, "because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection." Vs. 18.

This account tells us that Paul was speaking in the synagogue and in the market place and finally gave a verbal message to the Athenian council. This offended some, but "...some men joined him and believed" Vs 34, including a member of this most powerful council. All without the use of their own culturally relevant methodology. This should tell us something.

Another example of the power of the Word, and not techniques or special effects or programs, is the account of Jonah. God gave him just eight words to speak to an entire city. "Yet in forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed". Not popular, but when its God's Words given to an anointed person to speak it, things happen. Those eight words of God caused an entire city to repent.

Consider the simple message of John the Baptist. Under the power and authority of God all he said was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 3:2. Now here was a pretty un-culturally relevant person. He didn't even preach in the temple! He didn't dress like the acceptable culture of the time, he did not preach a social gospel, a felt needs gospel, a watered down "light" message, as suggested by the CGM. But what happened? The power of the Word happened!

If we can get it into our heads that God's word has power, does not need help, and all we have to do is say what he tells us to say, things will happen. By giving this simple message it says that people from Jerusalem, Judea, and those around the Jordan were going out to him, being baptized, and confessing their sins. That is church growth, and it is the power of the Word of God that causes it.



It Doesn't Work!!!!

Do you know something else? By their own admission, the CGM experts say their philosophies and techniques do not work! Yes, churches grow in numbers, but it is transfer growth, not "...the Lord adding to their number day by day those who are being saved". Acts 2:47. And do you know what their solution is? Peter Wagner of Fuller says they have to look for more techniques!

Could it be that 1 Corinthians 1 is really true when it says that through the wisdom of men, man did not come to know God? Wow, what a concept; God's Word must be right! But some how, many just refuse to believe it, or cannot see it.

"God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation..." 2 Thess 2:13

"You did not choose Me, But I chose you..." John 15:16

"Yet others I will gather to them." Is 56:18

"No one can come to Me, unless the Father draws him..." John 6:44

If it is God who chose us from the beginning, if it is He who gathers, and if no one can come to Him unless it is He who draws, then how much time, money and energy must be wasted with all the attractions of man! If it is God who has already done this, no wonder the efforts of the principles of the CGM do not work!

It is interesting that TQM does not work either. This philosophy of business, which was in Japan years ago, was finally dropped because they found it really did not work. It did not work, nor even get off the ground where I am employed. It was a time consuming drudgery that caused burnout and dissension, and division, just as it does in churches today.

But do you know what the real thing is that makes me wonder about the phenomena of church transfers to CGM churches and the felt needs, "light" gospels? It is something that Paul warned Timothy about, a significant prophecy. He told Timothy,

"Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." 2 Tim 4:2-4.

But today we are told that the church is not culturally relevant; it is out of season. But Paul says to preach the Word, not what the culture wants to hear. He warned that there would be those that would gather to those who taught a relevant gospel, teachings that would fit their own desires. Are we setting up churches to fit the desires of people in order to attract them?  Absolutely!

What Is The Real Attraction?

And of these people who are transferring from other churches to fill CGM churches, what is the attraction? Is it the wonderful programs, the emotion raising drama, the comfortable seats, the professional music, the building and its modern amenities, the non-threatening non-offensive sermons? Or is it Jesus and a desire to get to know Him, to have His word speak to their hearts whether it is a reproof, rebuke, or an exhortation?

How many people would still be around, pastor, if the drama was gone, the lighting did not work, your sound system was gone, and all the things that you used to attract seekers in, were gone, and it was just you and the word of God? What really is the attraction? Is it itching ears, peoples own desires, the programs or is it the Word, Jesus, and what He has to say?

I wonder greatly about those people who transferred into churches that follow a system of the world that does not work, not only according to their own system experts, but according to the word of God. And I wonder, thinking about all the prophesies concerning apostasy and how faith in the Word would diminish, I wonder why many feel it necessary to combine the ways of the world with the "eternal principles of God", and allow themselves to be ruled by some other authority.

Why do we continue to follow something that does not work? Because there is a blindness caused by this system that seduces. Jim Dethmar of Willow Creek said of the CGM model, "Changing to the Willow Creek model is not something you do because you want to or because you think its a good idea. Its something you do because you have to... you are compelled". (Willow Creek Seminar Tape)

What is it about this CGM model that compels some to change to it? It doesn't work and it's not in the Word. Is it listening to a seminar minister speaking the word of God with power, as Paul did? Or is it the dynamics of the model that appeals to one's senses and emotions; the drama, the lights, the music, programs, business - like aspects and success? Could it be, as the prophecy says,

"An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?" Jeremiah 5:30

Elshaddai, "The All sufficient One", is no longer Elshaddai. What happened to faith and following the eternal principles of God? Although they speak of these things, they do not follow them. The Word, it seems, is no longer considered sufficient without the philosophies of man.

We are going to have to, once and for all, make up our minds. Are we going to follow the world, or the Word? If we continue to incorporate the world, we are going to have to take the hidden things that come with it, as Israel did. Are we the bride of Christ, or the bride of the world? Paul warned the Corinthians;

"For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, the to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ". 2 Cor 11:2,3

Are the CGM principles simple and pure? They neither carry the simplicity of devotion to Christ, and as we will see further in Part 2, nor are they pure.




NEW AGE CONNECTIONS IN THE CGM
Church Growth Movement: Business And The New Age    January 1, 2000

"A little leaven leavens the whole lump" Galations 5:9

By Greg DesVoignes

Philosophies Of The New Age In The Church Growth Movement

Who is undermining the sufficiency of Christ and His word? When we disobey God, and go outside His Word, there can be some real bad results, and we may end up in places we did not desire to be, involved with things we never thought we would ever be involved with.

We really need to do some rethinking concerning drawing upon the world of business, theirs and other techniques. Why? Revelation 18 warned us concerning the prophesied re-established Babylonian system, that [1] "...the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality", [2] "...your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery". vss 3, 23

Think about it a minute. These verses specifically tell us that the business world would incorporate the methods and thinking of this system, and become rich by it, and considered the "great" men, actually lords of the earth because the world accepted it, as the world too would be deceived by the system.

Think some more. What is actually influencing, even running the governments? The Corporate World. What is beginning to influence and run our educational systems? The Corporate World. In a recent newspaper article there was a story about some school districts even turning over the operation of the schools to corporations. And now churches? One futurist confirms the prophecy is happening when he said in a new book on business,

"The transformation of the corporation is part of the larger transformation of the socio - sphere as a whole... Taken together, they add up to a massive historical shift.... The force of change will be coming both from within and from outside the organization...

"In days of the Holy Roman Empire the Church, as the dominant institution in society, took major responsibility for the well being of the whole. Business is the dominant institution in modern society... As the dominant social institution on the planet, business and industry will pay a key role in shaping the future of the globe, whether for good or ill... the dominant institution in a society needs to take responsibility for the whole... It is genuinely new, and will require new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving..." Willis Harmon, The New Paradigm In Business: Emerging Strategies for Leadership and Organizational Change, J.P Tarcher, 1993, pgs 282, 285, 288, 289

If these things in Revelation 18 are true, and they are, or they would not be in the Word, then [1] Why is the church flocking to the business world, and [2] in addition to this, what else are these CGM churches also incorporating from the business world? And, if these things are not happening, if there is nothing really going on, then why did God say right after verse 4, "Come out of her, My people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues." Revelation 18:4

Durant, a contemporary writer observed, "While Christianity converted the world, the world converted Christianity". Dave Hunt, Global Peace and the Rise of the Antichrist, Harvest House, 1991, pg. 108, from Durant Civilization Vol. 13, Caesar and Christ, pg. 657. Unfortunately, by incorporating ideals of science and business, something unseen is going on underneath.

Aside from the outward aspects of these world philosophies coming into the church, what else has covertly been introduced with them in their "scientific" and "business" packaging? Looking for the source of the CGM concepts and of their worldwide truths, and into some of their recommended materials, over three years of research led us on interesting trails. In our research we found that woven in among the philosophies, and the materials provided and suggested by CGM experts and consultants, are the aspects and well know leaders of the New Age Movement and the occultism that go along with it.

In our last issue [Part 1] on the Church Growth Movement in Battle Lines, we pointed out that the Church Growth Movement [CGM] is largely based upon, to put it in their own words, "world wide truths". These include sociology, anthropology, behavior sciences, etc. We also noted that many CGM philosophies and materials have been incorporated from the business world. But what are the philosophies of the business world; where did they get them?

We indicated that the business world has adopted New Age philosophies, and influential people in the corporate world are claiming it is the dominant force over the church, to shape and transform society. Is this true?

In this article, using CGM recommend materials as a base, we will confirm our warning of what happens when we go outside the Word, by showing that the CGM has connected itself with New Age idealists from the corporate world and beyond. There is more to business than business today.



The Still, Small Voice

One of the most common things we hear from people who have come out of churches that have adopted the CGM model and practices is, "We knew something was wrong, we just didn't know what it was".

This has been the experience of many; a deep belief something was wrong, but not being able to put a finger on it, knowing it was not in the Word, and wondering where it came from. Some who read the last issue on the CGM told us they now understood what was wrong, what the still small voice of the Holy spirit was telling them; what they saw was contradicting the Word of God.

There was something else, another reason for the red flags of the still small voice: Where did these philosophies come from? What is the source of all of these new terms, programs, philosophies and other church growth techniques, not found in the Word of God?



In Comes The Leaven

In one of his parables of the apostasy within the Kingdom of heaven, Jesus said,

"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened". Matt 13:33

In this verse and others [1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9] we are taught that it does not take much of false doctrine to mess things up. So in the following paragraphs were going to look at what we found as some of the sources and resources of CGM materials. Unfortunately the church has become like "Mikie" in the old cereal commercial; we'll eat anything. Forgetting the warnings of apostasy in scripture, we just accept any "expert" that comes along without checking to see the sources and resources for their materials, or to check them with scripture. We cannot be this way anymore! As we follow the trail back to the sources of CGM, you will see why.

One of the first associations we found that links the CGM with the New Age were the writers themselves of the business and leadership books sold in the catalog of The Fuller Institute of Church Growth [a sub organization of Charles Fuller Theological Seminary]. It needs to be noted that these books are out of a catalog put out by The Fuller Institute of Church Growth in the 1990-1991 issue.  How much more has been added ten years later to both business and the CGM?

The Business Link

One business leadership book Fuller sells is On Becoming A Leader by Warren Bennis. Is Bennis associated with the New Age? We found Bennis' books endorsed by New Age Journal, and New Age futurist Alvin Toffler. Inside this book we also found Bennis quoting in a positive way, the writing of New Age business writer Thomas Peters and the elitist New World Order organization, The Club Of Rome, occultist Carl Jung, and Marilyn Furgeson, author of the popular New Age book, The Aquarian Conspiracy.

It is also interesting that Furgeson also quotes Bennis in her own book. It was quite obvious that Bennis is associated deeply with New Age persons and groups. Next on the list from the catalog is Lawrence Miller's book Barbarians To Bureaucrats. Are there NA associations with Miller?

"Transformative ideas also appear in the guise of Business management." The Aquarian Conspiracy

Miller's book is endorsed by New Age idealist Buckminster Fuller, author of Synergetics [a book based upon ancient uses of geometry & physics Fuller says will save the world], Craig Hickman and Micheal Silva, authors of Creating Excellence - Managing Corporate Culture: Strategy & Change In the New Age.

An Expanding "Network" Of Associations

When we did our four years [and still counting] research into the CGM [back in 1991], we went beyond the first level of books, i.e. those sold by Fuller, to research some of the authors and books that Bennis, Miller and others used as resources or who endorsed these books we found in Fuller's catalog at that time. We found it interesting to see the web of New Age associates increased and how they crisscrossed in using each other as resources.

For instance, we find one of Miller's endorsers, Buckminster Fuller, and his book Synergetics endorsed by Marilyn Furgeson, plus other New Age thinkers such as Norman Cousins, Samuel Elliot, Arthur C. Clarke, Arthur Loeb and so on.

Looking at Miller's second endorsers, Hickman and Silva, we found the sources of their book Creating Excellence... to be Marilyn Furgeson, Warren Bennis, Thomas Peters, Alvin Toffler, and others who are New Age thinkers.

Another book in Fuller's catalog is a popular book by Steven R. Covey, Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People. Covey also has an interesting list of positive New Age resources. Some of these include Thomas Peters [again!], Charles Garfield, author of Peak Performers; Anthony Robbins, fire walker and author of Unlimited Power; Tom Crum, founder of the New Age organization Windstar Foundation with John Denver; M. Scott Peck, author of several popular New Age books, such as The Different Drum, & The Road Less Traveled, and yes, Marilyn Furgeson.

Let’s take a quick look at some of Covey's resources and their associates. One is M. Scott Peck. Peck is a writer of two very popular books just mentioned. But whom is Peck associated with? One endorsement on the cover of The Different Drum reads "Peck has done it again!" - Marilyn Furgeson. Obviously Pecks books appeal to New Age thinkers, and they do. Peck believes that man is evolving into gods. An occult bookstore I was recently in even sells a M. Scott Peck Road Less Traveled Calendar. A real unfortunate thing that is happening, pastors are quoting Covey from the pulpit and even recommending his books to their members and staff.



What's Wrong With This Picture?

What is really wrong with this picture? First we can see that churches are sometimes unknowingly [hopefully], being taught by New Age idealists. I said "sometimes" unknowingly because some pastors I have spoken with and showed them the New Age connections to these materials, still continued to use them. This includes a favorite and well known pastor. And they just are not inviting in the one, but also the many; i.e. the string of resources that these author use. Now if New Age idealists write these books, and their resources and associates are New Age, what type of teachings do you suppose are coming into the churches? One word given to us warns;

"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate", says the Lord, "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you..." 2 Cor 6:14, 17

Now, would you think that these New Age idealists are believers in God as is written in scripture? Are they of light or of darkness? Obviously they are not believers, and the New Age is of darkness, not light. In fact, their philosophies and ideals oppose Christianity. Would you think that books endorsed by New Age Journal or written by New Age authors are clean or unclean?

We need to understand that those in the New Age believe that fundamental Biblical Christianity is a no more than an outdated irrelevant myth and a danger to their goals. In fact, Warren Bennis, along with New Age futurist Willis Harmon , says that the church is no longer relevant in today's society, that it is up to the corporate world to teach values and spirituality to their employees and families; in the corporate setting.

Do we want to be bound together with those who are opposed to Christ and believe that Christianity is a wall to their One World Eastern type religion and their New World Order? We need to realize that if we incorporate and get advise from the writers of these books that the CGM sells via Fuller and other CGM organizations, we are also getting the advise of the other numerous writers they referred to.

We followed the path of many of the endorsers and resources [about 20 books] of some the books that Fuller sells. They all had New Age philosophies, many times covered under the guise of business or science.

What else is wrong with this? It is that these books are even in a Christian organization and catalog! What happens is the ease by which the philosophies of these writers can enter churches. Most Christians know little or nothing about the New Age. So when a respected person or organization within Christianity promotes, sells or quotes a writer or book, they are giving credibility to them, their philosophies.

Christian Author Connections

Christian Authors Are Also Linked This problem not only happens with the secular books that the CGM promotes, but also, yes also, in some books by pastors and other authors in the CGM.

For instance, in a book co-authored by Church Growth experts Don Cousins, Leith Anderson, and Arthur DeKruyter called Mastering Church Management, published by Multnomah and at one time promoted by Christianity Today, Inc., we find some of their positive resources are also of the realm of the New Age idealists. Thomas Peters is one referenced. In his book In Search For Excellence, he resources Warren Bennis and Rosabeth Moss Kanter.

One part of Mastering Church Management has in it, Abraham Maslow's scripture - contradicting Hierarchy of Needs. Yet another promotes Kenneth Blanchard's One Minute Manager. Blanchard himself is a graduate of Anthony Robbins Unlimited Power course and was also at one time engaged in a cable TV advertising promotional of this course. Positive thinker Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral and Peak Performers author Charles Garfield also endorses Blanchard’s book.

It is interesting that Garfield also resources Blanchard in Peak Performers along with a list of heavy New Age thinkers such as Rollo May, Ted Turner [Turner Broadcasting], deep New Age idealist Aldous Huxley, Morton Hunt, Jean Houston, along with Warren Bennis.

Now if I did not know better, since Mastering Church Management was written by highly respected people [they have numerous books in Christian bookstores] and sold by the respected but out of scripture Fuller Institute of Church Growth, and in Christian bookstores in general, it must be all right. Not only must this book be all right, but also all those resources and their resources must be credible and acceptable.

This same concept applies to Honest To God  by pastor Bill Hybels, a very respected person in CGM circles who has a corporate style CGM mega church of over 19,000, Willow Creek Community Church. In Honest To God, Hybels quotes New Age Men's Movement philosopher Robert Bly [As does Promise Keepers book The Masculine Journey]. Bly's books and philosophies can be found in New Age bookstores. And remember M. Scott Peck, the writer who believes we are all evolving into gods? Bill Hybels book also uses Peck as a positive resource from The Road Less Traveled  and The Different Drum.

Remember that it was even on the cover of The Different Drum  that Furgeson said, "Peck has done it again". Incidentally, in a twenty-page interview by Playboy Magazine, Peck stated he thought pornography was good. Not a very good resource to draw upon. But church leaders are doing it!

In Honest To God, Bill Hybels also endorses a book called Please Understand Me; Character and Personality Types, by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates. He said this book helped his marriage. Bill stated in his book that Please Understand Me is an in depth look at the theories of Carl Jung and on personality types from which the Meyers - Briggs Type Indicator Test in the book was derived from. In this and past newsletters we have pointed out that Jung was an occultist, astrologer, believed the Bible is a myth, and was demonically possessed by two spirit guides; Philemon and Ka.  The Word said this was going to happen, didn't it?

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Tim 4:1

Personality type tests have their root in ancient mythology and astrology. There are occult books on the ancient occult symbol, the Enneagram, and personality and character types. Yet we also found these personality type tests offered in the Fuller Catalog. Now, because a respected person wrote Honest To God, the unknowing person may believe that Bly, Peck, Jung, Please Understand Me. and their philosophies are all right. But they are not.



Look Who's Coming To Dinner!

It should be quite evident there is a serious problem here. Look who, and what, has been invited into the church! The Word tells us,

"For many deceivers have gone into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the anti Christ... Anyone who goes to far and does not abide in the teachings of Christ, does not have God..." 2 John 7, 9

Question. Do those in the New Age acknowledge the Jesus of the Bible? No. Do they abide in the teachings of Christ? No. Then what are they doing being used in the body of Christ, either from the secular books or books written by Christian authors?

We are told,
"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [of Christ] do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting: for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds." 2 John 10, 11

"But"[some say], "We just utilize some of the good insight out of their books and throw the rest away". Sorry, no buts. The Word says do not receive them! Again, they not only do not abide [stay in] the teachings of Christ, they are not even in them. And, unfortunately, we are seeing that Christian pastors and authors are also not abiding [staying] in the doctrine of Christ, but going outside, utilizing those who follow the New Age; a very present danger when we look outside the Word.

Can we participate in their "evil deeds"? Yes. If we use them and their philosophies as resources, as helps, we help spread their anti Christ philosophy and give them credibility in the church.

"You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons" 1 Cor 10:21

REMEMBER, GOD SAID AN APOSTASY WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!

The question is, do we want to be a part of helping it spread? The CGM is doing just this. Not only by teaching their "world wide truths", but also by bringing in teachers and futurists of the New Age Movement.
Following Prophets Of Baal

"The church at the end of the twentieth century is going through changes of major proportion right along with the culture. We have long known, alerted by the works of Alvin Toffler and other futurists, that major shifts have been underway for decades now as we move from an industrial to a technological society."

This statement was on a paper I received from some concerned people who told me it was given to them from the mission director of their church. The paper had titles on it such as "Paradigm Shifts At The End Of The Twentieth Century" and "A New Paradigm For The Twenty First Century".

The writer of this paper then goes on to quote New Age futurists Alvin Toffler and Thomas Kuhn. Recall Toffler is also part of the trail of resources in the CGM recommended books, Barbarians To Bureaucrats; 7 Habits of Highly Effective People; On Becoming A Leader, also all the others that have The Aquarian Conspiracy in their line somewhere. Thomas Kuhn is also found in the trail. Alvin Toffler's book, Power Shift was also listed in a Fuller Catalog. Here we have another example of the church, utilizing CGM thinking, listening to and following the writings of New Age futurists.

Prophets of the New Age

What really is a futurist? They are the prophets of the New Age. They are the ones calling for the old "paradigm" to be put aside for the ancient occult prophesied [falsely I might add] new "paradigm" of the New Age. They are the modern day prophets of Baal.

And who is following them? The statement on the paper said, "We have long known, alerted by the works of Alvin Toffler and other futurists". The writer is referring to his sector of Christianity. What ever happened to "'We' have long known, alerted by the prophets of God"? The writer of this paradigm shifts paper [incidentally, "paradigm shift" was a phrase coined by Thomas Kuhn] also says,

"The Church will create a new paradigm to fit a new cultural situation. It is already happening before our eyes. Old institutions, organizations, and agencies are creaking at the joints and stretching as fare as they can. New forms are emerging.

Doesn't this sound exactly like the statement of Willis Harmon?

The question is, 'Will these new forms be driven by the cultural norms and ideas, or be firmly rooted in the broad biblical paradigm? The answer is obvious. First, even in this writer's own paper we see him listening to the New Age prophets concerning a forth coming society and the need for the church to change with it. Second, the CGM calls for churches to change to fit the culture. Third, the CGM is driven by the cultural norms and ideas as seen in the books and philosophies of the world they sell and promote, and as seen in the changes that happen in CGM following churches.

Does it appear that there is some blindness here? And isn't the doctrine of the Bible narrow and not broad? Marilyn Furgeson said of this paradigm shift,

"The premonition was recorded that a minority of individuals would some day be yeast enough to leaven a whole society. Serving as a magnetic culture, they would attract order around them and transform the whole." The Aquarian Conspiracy, pg. 45

It does appear that the leaven of the New Age is in the church. Especially since we have seen the introduction of the words of their prophets and other followers into the church. Peter warned,

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring about themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their perious ways; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of." 2 Peter 1:2

Can we see how this is happening in the church? What does the word say about leaven? It would be hidden within the good meal, and it would not take much to leaven a whole lump. Thus we can see that through the CGM's introduction of New Age prophets and teachers, this very thing is going on today. We constantly are failing to learn from the lessons in the scriptures concerning what happened to Israel and Judah. We are doing the same thing. How? First, God told Israel,

"Thus says the Lord, 'Do not learn the way of the nations...'." Jer 10:1

Did they listen? No. Are we listening today? No, we are incorporating the ways of the world and the occult into the church.

Second, they were told,
"Ephraim mixes himself with the nations; Ephriam has become a cake not turned. Strangers devour his strength, yet he does not know it... Hosea 7:8, 9

Has the CGM mixed itself with the nations? Yes. Do they, or churches that follow their philosophies see that they have invited strangers in? No. Do they know that these strangers are devouring their people, their strength in God? No.

Third, they were told,
"Thy holy people possessed Thy sanctuary for a little while, our adversaries have trodden it down. We have become like those over whom Thou has never ruled, like those who were not called by they name." Is 63:18-19

It should be seen that this is happening today. The adversaries of Biblical truth are coming in, and coming in invited with their Babylonian philosophies, being, as Furgeson said a "yeast", acting as a "magnetic culture" for the purpose of transforming the entire society, including the church. And what is suggested? That the church change itself to follow the culture. Yes, to become like them, in order to reach them. As with the New Age, those in the CGM and related ideals are saying the same thing!.  But what happened before has happened again, and with the same Babylonian system.

"We are ashamed because we have heard reproach; Disgrace has covered our faces, for aliens have entered the holy places of the Lord's house." Jer 51:51

"The adversary has stretched out his hand over all her precious things, for she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary, the ones whom thou didst command that they should not enter into Thy congregation." Lam 1:10

They See It, We Don't

"This picture is complicated because one of the most visible phenomena is the growth of Christian evangelical fundamentalists - a group who appear to have little in common with the followers of the Asian gurus passing through. It is only by talking in depth with many of these people that one discovers underneath a quiet but spreading commitment to an M-3 kind of metaphysical perception." Willis Harmon, Global Mind Change; The New Age Revolution In The Way We Think, Warner, 1988, pg. 121.

[Willis Harmon is the president of a New Age organization, Institute of Noetic Sciences, and a founder and Fellow of The World Business Academy]

This is an interesting statement from a New Age futurist [prophet]. We quoted Willis Harmon in the first issue on the CGM in Battle Lines concerning his perception, that it is the corporate world who will dominate the world and be the key to world transformation.

What he is saying that he sees that many evangelical fundamentalists are following the path of the New Age, but that it is quiet, an "underneath" or hidden [like leaven] within the precepts of Christianity. In other words, they don't even know what they are following. Harmon is saying, it is confusing that, although fundamentalists outwardly have nothing in common with Eastern mysticism, underneath they are committing to their philosophies. A mix of Christianity and New Age.

What does he mean by an M-3 metaphysical perception? It is called "Transcendental Monism"

It is the New Age belief that the universe is really the mind, an enlightenment of a universal consciousness, and a need to engage in a paradigm shift. In short, the philosophies of the New Age; a following of the New Age metaphysical views of reality and the universe.

"But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became evident also." Matt 13:25, 26

Now, this would seem an absurd thing to believe. However, we must realize that if the church has incorporated New Age books, New Age idealists and their teachings [as we have seen], then it is obvious that we have also incorporated their philosophies as well. Why is it that New Age followers see this, but we don't?

How Blind Are We?...

One book that stands out in a Fuller Institute catalog that amazes me is Megatrends For Women, by two New Age prophets Patricia Aburdene and John Naisbitt. The catalogue's promotion of this book says,

"Women of the 90s are challenging the male dominated status quo, integrating female values into the social, political, and economic megatrends of the day... Megatrends For Women documents the current achievements of women and the sweeping changes women need to be appraised of to excel now and throughout the future".

What are two things this book covers that women need to be appraised of? Listen.

"Whether theologians or nuns or New Agers, women are transforming both religion and spirituality by rejecting the notion of a male divinity and embracing the archetype of the Great Goddess." Cover flap!  We must ask, How did Fuller miss this?  Or did they?

This book has an entire chapter on the emergence of Goddess worship, the positive effect it is having, and another on Women In The New World Order, stating,

"In time the New World Order will come to stand for something very different from what it means today. It will mark the beginnings of the integration of women into a New Order, a new global power structure that celebrates the positive traits of both male and female. Women have opportunities as never before... to serve, to shape the New World Order", pg. 318

Now, is Harmon right about New Age philosophies spreading in Christianity? Yes, but since the time his book was written [1988], the New Age philosophies are not a quiet spreading anymore; but like Jesus said would happen, "...then the tares became evident also".

To see a visual example of how this is happening (highly recommended): GO TO CHART

...Really, Really Blind!

Isreal did not listen when they were told not to get involved with things outside His word.  They did not listen and were eventually taken over by the nation of the very system they incorporated; Babylon.  We have God's Word, his prophecies and warnings.  But are we still too blind to see this blatant incorporation of New Age idealisms?  Yes!  Why?

Remember what God told Israel?  The verses above bears repeating.

"Ephraim mixes himself with the nations; Ephriam has become a cake not turned. Strangers devour his strength, yet he does not know it... Hosea 7:8, 9

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring about themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their perious  ways; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of." 2 Peter 1:2

Perhaps are a pastor or board member in a church that has gotten involved in these things.  Perhaps you go to a church where you see these things happening.  Hopefully your eyes have been opened and you will turn away from it.

Where is this all leading? In the following article [Part 3] we will look into the hidden metaphysic that is in the very structure of the CGM and show how the Church is one more cell needed to complete a universal whole system.

Go To >Part 3: World Business: Chaldeans Of The New Age



World Business: Chaldeans of The New Age
THE RISE OF CORPORATE BABYLON IN THE CHURCH    January 1, 2000

"Your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery" Revelation 18:23

By Greg DesVoignes

As we noted in the first article on the CGM, the corporate leadership of the world now believe that the so called "paradigm shift" into the long waited for New Age is dependent upon them. You cannot hardly pick up a business /leadership book, or books on global perspectives without seeing the business world's perspective on this.

For instance, futurist and founder of the World Business Academy, Willis Harmon says in his book Global Mind Change, "Leaders in world business are the first true planetary citizens" pg. 132, and associate Rinaldo Brutoco says in The New Paradigm Of Business, "Because business is fully internationalized, it is the only institution... to serve as a catalyst for the broader planetary evolution that is underway" pg. 6.

As Revelation 18 prophesied, the "merchants" [emporos; wholesale tradesmen, both fixed and traveling] would be the "great men" [megitanes; very great, lords] of the earth. It also says there would be a close association between this corporate world and the risen Babylonian system, they refer to as the "new paradigm". As we look in other prophetical books concerning Babylon, such as Daniel, we can see the parallels between then and now.

The Chaldeans of Babylon were also merchant peoples, a powerful force for Babylon, and in the world. They were the catalysts for the spreading of the Babylonian kingdom. Looking back in history and in scripture, the Chaldeans were also the professional occultists of this unified society that was set up according to the structure of nature, the universe, and geometry. As one historian put it;

"One can discern an underlying vast philosophical system, in which man eternally linked with the movements of celestial bodies whose laws were immutable & inescapable. All life was but an infinite part of the universe". Albert Champdor, Babylon, 1958, PG 170.

Their temples were important centers of business, which was a vital part of the economic and social life of each community. Their ideal was the establishment of justice and equity on the earth. [Does this sound like today?] As we look at the underlying move in business today, there is not much difference.

Business writer Hazel Henderson says, "...our Earth has much to teach us... When we can feel this kind of attunement to the whole creation, we are transported... to the "high"... [of] 'peak experiences'... [we] seek new challenges in our societies for order, peace and justice and to develop our spirituality". The New Paradigm of Business, pg. 270

Henderson continues;
"The Age of Light is an image that reminds us that it is the light from the sun that drives the earth’s processes... The Age of Light will also be a time of re - weaving the world's cultures, most of which down through history have understood our planet's total dependence on the sun" Ibid., pg. 269, 274

Interesting comments from a book on business. Are these things business, religion, or the religion of business today? It sounds like ancient Babylon… because, it is not ancient anymore.

"Business in the new Paradigm seems to be evolving as a spiritual discipline... The emerging paradigm is going to include some synergetic combination of ancient spiritual wisdom and modern science... ancient wisdom is becoming something of a context for our actions". Micheal Ray, Ibid. pg. 291, 292.

In old Babylon, the temples were the centers of business and social life. In the new, the businesses are becoming the temples for the same purpose; spirituality, and an influence in the social life in each community.

What does it take to be a "true Planetary citizen? Being a global citizen in a society, like ancient Babel, without borders, unified in all aspects. This is the suggestion of world business today, and they are the catalysts. They are, as Rev 18 says, merchants of the ancient Babylon and her system.

The Church is just one of many groups, one more cell that the New Age system requires to make this metaphysical synergistic "at one" religious plan work, to make all an infinate part of the universe.  They are successfully accomplishing this through the adopted philosophies and materials of the Church Growth Movement.

Where will the CGM take the church if we follow their experts / philosophies from the business world? Perhaps the question should be, "Where HAS the CCM taken the church at this time?" As of November 1999, the Willow Creek Association shows over 3,000 churches worldwide that are paying members of this association

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