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Response to the statement posted by WEST on its website

entitled ‘Negative Publicity’

This article is written by R. E. Palgrave and includes links to

important information by Dr E. S. Williams.

The section on information sources is written by Mr E. Roberts.

In January 2013 the Bible League Quarterly and the Sword and Trowel published an article by

R. E. Palgrave regarding the abandonment of Biblical separation from error by Wales Evangelical School

of Theology (WEST).

In summary, this article outlined the following:

• WEST has appointed as its Chancellor a man who has had a 20-year close relationship with Rick

Warren and who has signed his ecumenical P.E.A.C.E Plan promoting work with Muslims, Roman

Catholics and all faiths.

• WEST has appointed as its Chairman a man who has translated Rick Warren’s teachings into

Korean and is himself teaching Rick Warren’s message of easy believism.

• WEST has made alliances with Porterbrook and Acts 29 Network. The latter was founded by Mark

Driscoll who promotes immoral and licentious behaviour and is part of the Emerging Church.

WEST now offers Porterbrook courses which teach Emerging Church and New Calvinist

philosophies. WEST and Acts 29 are working together on an initiative called ‘Valley

Commandos.’

• WEST has also appointed on its board the international director of the ecumenically compromised

Lausanne Movement.

The Bible League Quarterly article entitled The Right Direction? can be found here:

http://www.bibleleaguetrust.org/articles/west.pdf

The Sword and Trowel abridged article entitled Abandoning Separation from Biblical Error: The Disaster

of the Theological College WEST (with an introduction by Dr. Peter Masters) can be found here:

http://www.metropolitantabernacle.org/Sword-And-Trowel/Evangelical-Magazine-Sword-and-Trowel-

Articles/Wales-Evangelical-School-Theology-%28WEST%29-Error

Further developments at WEST following the publishing of the article

‘The Right Direction?’ by R. E. Palgrave

Since the article was published there have been further developments at WEST that have confirmed the

relationships between WEST and Porterbrook/Acts 29 and hence the direction of the College. WEST has

announced that leaders of the Porterbrook Network have been appointed to the faculty. WEST has

published the following statement on its website:

‘We are happy to announce the appointment of Steve Timmis1, Tim Chester2 and

1 Steve Timmis is the co-founder of The Crowded House, an international group of church planting networks, the

co-director of the Porterbrook Network, the director of Acts 29 in Western Europe and the co-author of Total

Church (Intervarsity Press, 2007).

2

Jonathan Woodrow3 to the WEST Full-time Faculty for September 2013. The new

gospel partnership WEST has with Porterbrook is looking to be a very strategic one

that demonstrates WEST’s passion to help equip church planters across Europe. Steve

Timmis and Tim Chester are widely read by Pastors in the UK and the States with

titles such as ‘Total Church’ etc. Jonathan Woodrow who is the Associate Director of

Porterbrook Seminary will also come on the adjunct faculty for lecturing and will

possibly be doing a PhD with our very own Robert Letham at WEST. We feel these

additions will make a significant improvement to the relevance of WEST programmes

to new churches and more established bodies.’4

Dr. E. S. Williams has recently published an article on his website which further highlights the connections

between Tim Chester and Steve Timmis of the Porterbrook Network and Mark Driscoll’s Acts 29 church

planting network. He states that:

‘… the affinity between Mars Hill Church, Seattle, and Porterbrook is so close that in

2009 Mark Driscoll made Steve Timmis director of the Acts 29 Europe church planting

network... Acts 29 Network actively promotes the books of Timmis and Chester. All the

evidence before our eyes shows that Porterbrook actively promotes the Driscoll brand

of Christianity in the UK.’5

The alliance between WEST and Acts 29 (and with the FIEC and Anglican evangelicals) was evident with

the announcement of the Acts 29 Europe Conference entitled Explicit which was held in Cardiff on 26-27th

February 2013. The speakers were: Matt Chandler (President of Acts 29), Steve Timmis (Director of Acts

29 Europe), Andy Paterson (Director of Mission for FIEC), Sam Ko (WEST Chairman of the Board and a

pastor at SaRang Church, Seoul), and Ms Elspeth Pitt (leader of Christianity Explored and the Central

Focus Bible study group at the Anglican St. Helen’s Bishopsgate). At this conference the Valley

Commandos project, the initiative of WEST, SaRang and Acts 29, was launched.

Dr. E. S. Williams has commented on the appointment of the Porterbrook/Acts 29 leaders to the WEST

faculty:

‘In full knowledge of the link between Driscoll and Porterbrook, WEST Evangelical

School of Theology has appointed Timmis and Chester to their faculty. By doing so

WEST is endorsing the ministry of Mark Driscoll in the eyes of both the evangelical

world and its students. The implication is that hundreds of students, who are being led

to believe that they are attending a Reformed theological college, are being exposed to

Driscoll’s false teaching.’

Dr. Williams’ article on the WEST/Porterbrook/Mark Driscoll connections can be found here:

http://www.newcalvinist.com/west-porterbrook-and-driscoll/

2 Tim Chester is a church planter with The Crowded House in Sheffield, UK, and co-director of the

Porterbrook Network.

3 Jonathan Woodrow is the Associate Director of Porterbrook Seminary and part of the leadership team of The

Crowded House church planting network. He planted and co-leads The Crowded House in Loughborough,

Leicestershire.

4 http://www.west.org.uk/porterbrook/

5 http://www.newcalvinist.com/west-porterbrook-and-driscoll/

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WEST responds to the article ‘The Right Direction?’

WEST has published a response to the article ‘The Right Direction?’ on its website entitled ‘Negative

Publicity.’ The response can be found here: http://www.west.org.uk/negative-publicity/2378/

The response was written by Mr Kerry Orchard who was the Development Officer for WEST until 20116

and he is currently an elder at the Heath Evangelical Church in Cardiff.7 The majority of the response does

not deal with the real issues but casts aspersions on the motives and competence of the author. There are

also false claims such as the assertion that the author has been researching into Jonathan Stephen for five

years.8 Nowhere in the response does Mr Orchard provide evidence from the Scriptures to defend WEST’s

position of making alliances with those who are ecumenically compromised and teaching error. He cannot

do so because no such sanction exists in the Scriptures. Instead, the response claims that Mark Driscoll is

no longer in the Emerging Church and is in fact a ‘Reformed Evangelical’, that Yonggi Cho is not so bad

these days, that using Charismatic contemporary music does not endanger the ministry in Biblically-sound

churches, that the information sources in the article are ‘out-of-date’ and that no contemporary worship

course was planned at WEST. All these claims will be refuted with evidence in the present article.

Mr Orchard then wrote a letter to the editor of the Evangelical Times.9 In this letter he fails to address the

real issues of WEST’s alliances with Rick Warren and Mark Driscoll’s Acts 29 Network. He mentions that

the author refers to ‘OM’ (Operation Mobilisation) in the WEST article which is incorrect, and he fails to

recognise that Presbyterian and other churches can also be charismatic. In this letter Mr Orchard states:

‘Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones rightly distinguished between primary and secondary

issues… Brothers and sisters… Stop shooting at one another! Instead encourage,

build one another up and get on with gospel work.’

Dr. Lloyd-Jones did indeed distinguish between primary and secondary issues, but he never said that

alliances with error were ‘secondary issues’ or that secondary issues are not important. This is the teaching

of the New Evangelicals who dislike the doctrine of separation and hence categorise Biblical truths into

‘important’ and ‘not important.’ New Evangelicals dislike any kind of controversy, rebuking of error and

sin, or criticism of other Christians even when Scripture commands it as in Ephesians 5:11. They therefore

promote positivism and love and unity above doctrine to the extent that almost no Biblical teaching apart

from the Gospel and a few fundamentals are considered important. As New Evangelicals do not like

warning about false teachers or false doctrine, they promote the unbiblical belief that the way to deal with

serious error is to simply ignore it and get on with preaching the Gospel.

Compare the response above with that of Mark Driscoll when he was criticised by John MacArthur and

Phil Johnson for his bad language:

‘Don’t get caught up in shooting all your brothers and arguing over secondary

matters….In the end, I implore you, I beg you, talk about Jesus, think about Jesus,

study about Jesus, go out and pastor for Jesus, and preach about Jesus.’10

6 This is according to Companies House data.

7 The former Principal of WEST and current ‘Research Supervisor’, Dr. Eryl Davies, is also an elder at

Heath Evangelical Church in Cardiff.

8

The author undertook research into the BEC/Affinity and Dr. Lloyd-Jones during 2007, and later in 2012. There

was no further plan for writing on the subject of separation until a concerned member of Heath Evangelical

Church approached her with information regarding WEST’s links with Yonggi Cho and Rick Warren. Given the

seriousness of the information, it was felt that the Christian public should be made aware of these matters.

9 Evangelical Times (April, 2013).

10 Mark Driscoll Responds to Phil Johnson

http://5ptsalt.com/2009/05/01/mark-driscoll-responds-to-phil-johnson/

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The English Churchman publishes a response to WEST

On February 8th the English Churchman ran a front page article11 by Dr. E. S. Williams responding to

some of the comments in the WEST response. This article reported the comments of the WEST Principal

Jonathan Stephen and his friends on Twitter:

‘We learn a lot more about WEST from the response of its principal to Palgrave’s

article. Jonathan Stephen wrote on Twitter (26 January): ‘Beware the evangelical

Taliban!! Shall I write an article? No, too many good things to do. Grace and peace!’

Rev Dai Hankey agrees (26 January): ‘Too right mate! No point stooping to that level

–everyone can see those articles as baseless, graceless, nonsense! Prov 11:12. Rev

Simon Bowkett on Twitter (25 January): ‘Just supply rope and allow people like that

to self-suspend. Don’t give them a second thought. Keep going guys.’

The current article

As the response published by WEST has caused confusion in the minds of some, it was deemed

appropriate that there should be a fuller response to WEST for the sake of clarification. The response by

WEST contains fabrication, personal attacks on the character and integrity of the author, and many

irrelevant points which are simply smokescreens to divert the readers’ minds from the real issues. This

article will not respond to these types of comments, but will provide answers to the points made that

actually refer to the arguments in the WEST article. The following points in the WEST response will

therefore be addressed:

1. WEST does not recognise the seriousness of guilt by association and hence uses the term ‘hyper-

separatist’

2. WEST defends its Chancellor and Chairman who have embraced false teachers and Biblical error

3. WEST defends Mark Driscoll

4. WEST defends Yonggi Cho

5. WEST defends the use of Charismatic Contemporary Christian Music

6. WEST claims that no contemporary music course was planned at WEST

7. WEST claims that the information in the article comes from ‘woefully out-of-date websites’

11 E. S. Williams The Sad Decline of WEST (English Churchman, no. 7864, 8th and 15th February 2013, pp.1 & 4).

http://www.cofec.org/sermons/7864

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Response to WEST and Mr Kerry Orchard

(Elder at Heath Evangelical Church, Cardiff,

and former WEST employee)

1) WEST does not recognise the seriousness of guilt by

association and the sin of making unholy alliances

As shown in the article The Right Direction? WEST is working directly with Acts 29, and the Chancellor

and Chairman of WEST are working directly with Rick Warren.

In the response published on its website WEST states that the author’s ‘central thesis is that Jonathan

Stephen and WEST are to be condemned because of guilt by association with bodies and individuals that

are ecumenically compromised… Her ONLY argument is guilt by association.’

From this statement it is clear that WEST does not recognise the seriousness of the sin of ‘guilt by

association.’ The Bible, however, does.

The Scriptures command us to ‘mark’ out those who are false teachers and avoid them, not join alliances

with them:

‘Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary

to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.’ (Romans 16:17).

The Scriptures are very clear that even bidding a false teacher ‘God speed’ makes one guilty of partaking

in his evil deeds, hence to be guilty by association:

‘Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He

that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there

come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house,

neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil

deeds’ (2 John 9-11).

What is said in the Scriptures about alliances with the ungodly?

‘Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with

Ahab…’ (2 Chron. 18:1).

‘And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt…’ (1 Kings 3:1)

What is the Biblical view of such unholy alliances?

‘Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is

wrath upon thee from before the LORD’ (2 Chron. 19:2).

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‘Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of

these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us,

so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?’ (Ezra 9:14)

It is therefore extremely clear that God’s people are not to form alliances with false teachers and that doing

so incurs God’s anger. In God’s eyes those who do form these alliances are guilty of partaking in their sin,

hence the term ‘guilt by association.’

Furthermore, our forefathers and men such as Dr. Lloyd-Jones and Spurgeon recognised the reality of this

sin. Spurgeon recognised the Scriptural notion of partaking in the sin of another:

‘It is our solemn conviction that where there can be no real spiritual communion

there should be no pretence of fellowship. Fellowship with known and vital error is

participation in sin.’12

Dr. Lloyd-Jones recognised the need to separate from error in order not to incur guilt by association. In

speaking of the need to separate from the Ecumenical Movement he said:

‘Indeed, is not the call to us to separate from everything that is represented by the

World Council of Churches and the ecumenical movement? … When a church is

apostate or refuses repeated attempts to discipline those in error on these matters, you

cannot reform her. This is the testimony of history. You must… separate yourself

from them and ‘be not partaker of their evil deeds.’13

In his 1967 BEC address entitled ‘Luther and his message for today,’ Dr. Lloyd-Jones warned about ‘guilt

by association’ with men in the apostate denominations:

‘…not only is compromise with such people impossible for the Evangelical; it is

equally impossible for him to be yoked together with others in the church who deny

the very elements of the Christian faith, these men who seem to deny the very being of

God… who talk about the Lord Jesus Christ as a homosexual! There is no agreement-

it’s light and darkness! And that you should desire to hold such groups together in one

territorial church, my friends, it is a denial of the Christian faith! It is guilt by

association! If you are content to function in the same church with such people- the

two groups I have mentioned- you are virtually saying that though you think you are

right, that they also may be right- it is a possible explanation- and that, I assert, is a

denial of the Evangelical, the only true, faith. It is impossible.’14

Dr. Lloyd-Jones, commenting on this address in a sermon in 1974, said:

12 C. H. Spurgeon The Sword and the Trowel, Nov 1887. Printed in The ‘Down Grade’ Controversy (Pilgrim

Publications, 1978, p.35).

13 D. M. Lloyd-Jones The Mayflower Pilgrims, printed in Unity in Truth (Evangelical Press, 1991, edited by H.

Rees Jones, p. 100). This was a BEC address delivered in Westminster Chapel on 1st October, 1970.

14 D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Luther and his message for today (1 Nov, 1967). This was a BEC address and the

verbatim quotation is taken from the recorded message.

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‘I was criticised some eight or nine years ago for using a phrase, “guilt by

association.” I was told you mustn’t say that. But now there is no difficulty because

the position has changed. What I saw then to be implicit has now become explicit.’15

Rev. David Fountain recalled that:

‘Lloyd-Jones… spoke about guilt by association with regard to those who had

fellowship with men in mixed denominations. He was making an important point

when he said, as I clearly remember, concerning men who were in the mixed

denominations: “They offer you their right hand but to whom are they giving their

left hand?”’16

The Scriptures command us to reprove the ‘works of darkness’ including sin and false teaching, and to

warn others:

‘… have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

(Eph. 5:11).

‘…if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die

in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the

wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his

iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul’ (Ezekiel 33: 8-9).

Furthermore, because WEST does not recognise the seriousness of making unholy alliances and guilt by

association, its Principal has coined the term ‘hyper-separatist’ in order to try to pour ridicule and contempt

on God’s people who are seeking to be faithful and obey His commands. On its website, WEST has called

the Bible League Quarterly and the Sword and Trowel ‘hyper-separatist organisations’.

Jonathan Stephen has used this phrase in the past to describe those who do not agree with his non-

separating policies. When he attempted to introduce his Essentially Evangelical17 organisation with his

non-separating policies the Bible League reported that:

‘…in February 2001, an alarmed Stuart Olyott wrote: “The three articles on ‘Hyper-

separatism’ by Jonathan Stephen, Brian Edwards and John Rosser have caused me a

great deal of distress. I know of many others who have had the same reaction. I

believe that anyone who follows what my three friends have recommended will be

making a very big mistake indeed ... So what distresses me about the three articles? It

is that they do not tie up with Scripture.”’18

15 D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ sermon on 1 Cor. 16:13-14 (1st November, 1974). Quoted in J. Brencher’s Martyn Lloyd-

Jones (1899-1981) and Twentieth-Century Evangelicalism (Paternoster Press, 2002, p.129).

16 Dr. Peter Masters and Rev. David Fountain Today’s FIEC and E. J. Poole-Connor (Sword and Trowel, 2000,

No.2, pp.16-19).

17 Essentially Evangelical was Jonathan Stephen’s proposed network of Free Church and Anglican Christians

together. See Rev. Geoff Thomas’ article: http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?646

18 http://www.bibleleaguetrust.org/articles/affinity.pdf

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It is also true that calling people who wish to separate from false teachers and their teaching ‘hyper-

separatists’ is unscriptural as God commands His people to separate from evil, sin and error. As Dr. Napier

has aptly commented regarding WEST:

‘We are to separate from what is sin. Simple as that. So – what on earth does WEST

mean by “hyper-separatist”? That is like the joke of being “A little bit pregnant”!

Separateness is separateness! There can be no degrees of being separate. We are either

separate from sin, or we are not. But, it seems that WEST thinks it can be just a little

bit pregnant! In this it is a mimic of the modern idea of a sliding scale, a continuum,

where good and bad, sin and holiness, can be mixed happily by heretics.19

2) WEST defends its Chancellor and Chairman who have

embraced false teachers and Biblical error

WEST states that: ‘Interestingly, RP is NOT saying SaRang are guilty of preaching the “Prosperity

Gospel” (or worse) in the case of Yonggi Cho or ecumenical compromise in the case of Rick Warren.’

However, it is clear from the evidence provided in the original article that WEST’s Chancellor Pastor Oh is

guilty of ecumenical compromise in the signing of Rick Warren’s very ecumenical P.E.A.C.E. Plan, and

that Rev. Sam Ko is preaching a false gospel heavily influenced by the easy-believism of Rick Warren.

Hence, with the appointment of these men at WEST, it is apparent that WEST is now influenced by

Warren’s teaching and that SaRang and WEST have entered into ecumenical compromise.

In 2001 the pastor of SaRang, who is now the Chancellor of WEST, made a statement suggesting that

doctrine divides and that unity is more important than truth:

‘Korean churches are strong in Systematic Theology. This means that I am right;

others are wrong. We are not of the same mind. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, I

want the Korean ethnic churches to eliminate denominational barriers.’20

Given that the Chancellor of WEST was thinking along these lines in 2001, it is no surprise that he later

signed Rick Warren’s very ecumenical P.E.A.C.E. Plan. WEST now has a Chancellor (Pastor Oh) who has

signed a covenant to work with a false teacher. The WEST response simply describes Pastor Oh’s signing

of the Rick Warren P.E.A.C.E. Plan as ‘unwise.’ Is this not a massive understatement? WEST suggests

that they can appoint a Chancellor who is ecumenically compromised and in agreement with the false

teaching of Rick Warren and that this does not compromise the College or affect its teaching!

The WEST response defends Rev. Sam Ko’s sermon, of October 14th 2012, at Mount Pleasant Baptist

Church in Swansea entitled Three great I am’s. However, nowhere in that sermon is the Gospel adequately

19 Dr. Barry Napier When Error is Made a Virtue: WEST excuses for Non-Separation (Bible Theology

Ministries, 2013, Ref. No. A/481).

20 Joining the Holy Spirit Movement with Discipleship Training

http://www.davidcho.com/Neweng/news-event/2001-06-16-2.asp

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explained, and there is much irreverence. We would ask readers to listen to the recording for themselves:

http://www.mountpleasantchurch.org.uk/sermons.htm

In this sermon Rev. Sam Ko said this:

‘…it is so simple. It is so simple. It is the power of God to everyone who believes. So

simple isn’t it! The Gospel is so simple! Ladies and Gentlemen, in order to have the

Gospel in your heart, you don’t have to beg to God. “Please please please please

please please please.” You don’t have to beg to God. You don’t have to bargain with

God: “Oh God, if you give me something then I’m not going to eat chocolate for the

rest of my life.” You don’t have to say that! You don’t have to bargain with God. Or,

you don’t have to bribe to God: “Oh God if you give me this - okay – um, I’m going

to make sure to uh to attend Sunday service every Sunday!” You don’t have to bribe to

God – “I’m going to give you ten pounds.” You don’t have to bribe to God! You don’t

have to beg to God. You don’t have to bargain with God. You don’t have to uh bribe

to God. Only thing you’ve gotta do is, you only BELIEVE! You only BELIEVE! You

see God made it so simple that nobody could say it was too hard to understand.’21

Sam Ko’s gospel is ‘only believe… it [is] so simple.’ This of course is the easy believism that is taught by

Rick Warren in his Purpose Driven Life. No repentance is required and holiness of life, just ‘receive and

believe’:

‘… all you need to do is receive and believe… Believe God loves you and made you for

his purposes. Believe you’re not an accident. Believe you were made to last forever.

Believe God has chosen you to have a relationship with Jesus, who died on the cross for

you. Believe that no matter what you’ve done, God wants to forgive you. Second,

receive. Receive Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior. Receive his forgiveness

for your sins. Receive His Spirit… I invite you to bow your head and quietly whisper

the prayer that will change your eternity: “Jesus I believe in you and I receive you.” Go

ahead. If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of

God!’22

Pastor Phil Johnson23 has warned that Rick Warren’s teaching omits the true gospel24 and Pastor Gary

Gilley25 has given the following warning about Rick Warren:

‘In his book The Purpose Driven Life and in his video series Forty Days of Purpose,

he does not give a clear gospel. As a matter of fact, the gospel that he does give is very

weak and very watered down … It is very alarming and very concerning that people

could take this video series and read the book, pray a little prayer and think they’re

21 Sermon by Rev. Sam Ko (morning service, October 14th, 2012).

http://www.mountpleasantchurch.org.uk/sermons.htm

22 Rick Warren The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan, 2002, pp.58-59).

23 Pastor Phil Johnson is the Executive Director of Grace to You. He is also an elder at Grace Community Church

and pastors the GraceLife fellowship group.

24http://www.holybibleprophecy.org/films/church-of-tares-purpose-driven-seeker-sensitive-church-growth-new-

world-order/

25 Dr. Gary E. Gilley has been pastoring at Southern View Chapel, USA, for more than 37 years. He is author of five

books including This Little Church Went to Market: The Church in the Age of Entertainment (Xulon Press, 2002).

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saved when in reality they don’t know the first thing about why Jesus Christ died for

them.’

In defending Sam Ko’s sermon with its easy believism, WEST appears to accept Rick Warren’s version of

the gospel.

We strongly recommend that readers watch the following video presentation, entitled Church of Tares,

about Rick Warren. It presents a great deal of evidence regarding Rick Warren’s false gospel, seeker-

sensitive church growth movement, New Age, mystical and Emerging Church teaching, and ecumenical

compromise:

http://www.holybibleprophecy.org/films/church-of-tares-purpose-driven-seeker-sensitive-church-growth-

new-world-order/

An article entitled ‘Driscoll and Warren’ written by Dr. E. S. Williams is also highly recommended and

describes the links with Mark Driscoll who is also defended by WEST in their response. This article can

be found here: http://www.driscollcontroversy.com/?page_id=792

3) WEST defends the false teacher Mark Driscoll

The WEST response states the following:

‘Mark Driscoll is described as an Emerging Church leader. That statement is as

accurate as describing the Apostle Paul as a persecutor of the Christian church! Mark

Driscoll was in the Emerging Church movement. He no longer is. Driscoll is well

known as a Reformed Evangelical preacher.’

Firstly, it is to be noted that WEST and Mr Orchard defend Mark Driscoll, calling him a ‘Reformed

Evangelical preacher.’ This is utterly unbelievable given the fruit of his ministry and the unbiblical,

worldly and sinful behaviour he promotes. It is deeply concerning that WEST should wish to defend the

ministry of Mark Driscoll.

The Lord Jesus Christ taught (Matt. 7:15-20) that false teachers are to be known by their fruits. The

Driscoll Controversy website (http://driscollcontroversy.com) shows Driscoll to be a false teacher, as his

ministry produces the following corrupt fruit:

1. Perverse language and corrupt communication

2. Mocking Scripture

3. Sexual licentiousness

4. Worldly punk-rock music

5. The promotion of tattoos

6. Supernatural visions

Secondly, the WEST response above states that Mark Driscoll has left the Emerging Church. This is

incorrect. Mark Driscoll has left the Emergent stream of the Emerging Church. He is still in the Emerging

Church in the stream he refers to as the ‘Emerging Reformers.’

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In an article by Mark Driscoll entitled Navigating the Emerging Church Highway he describes the four

lanes (sometimes referred to as ‘streams’) of the Emerging Church movement. Regarding these lanes,

Driscoll says:

‘… I will define them as Emerging Evangelicals, House Church Evangelicals,

Emerging Reformers, and Emergent Liberals. What the first three lanes have in

common is theological orthodoxy… The Emergent Liberal lane of the emerging

church has drifted away from a discussion about how to contextualize timeless

Christian truth in timely cultural ways and has instead come to focus on creating a

new Christianity.’26

In a message in 2008 Driscoll explained that it is this ‘Emergent Liberal’ stream of the Emerging Church

movement that he has left:

‘In September 2006 Christianity Today wrote an article saying the two hot theologies

among young pastors are this ‘Emerging Reformers’, our lane, and then the ‘Emergent

Liberals’, the lane that I was somewhat connected to and left…’27

David Cloud, who has researched extensively and written on the Emerging Church, has warned regarding

Mark Driscoll’s distancing himself from the ‘Emergent Liberals’:

‘Though he has distanced himself somewhat from some emerging church radicals and

has warned of some of their errors, he has not separated from them after a biblical

fashion. He calls them friends rather than the dangerous heretics that they are,

continues to recommend some of their writings, and joins hands with them in

contributing to the same books.’28

Sadly, the more recent developments at WEST mentioned in the introduction have further highlighted its

links with Porterbrook and Mark Driscoll’s Acts 29 Network.

4) WEST defends the false teacher Yonggi Cho

The WEST response defends Yonggi Cho, stating that:

‘There is some evidence, however, that since the early 1990s, Cho has modified his

position considerably and has even claimed to have become a Calvinist!’

The implication of the WEST response is that Yonggi Cho is not so bad these days because he may have

embraced some Calvinistic theology. Sadly, in attempting to defend their alliances with those in error

WEST is endangering the souls of Christians who may be influenced by Yonggi Cho.

Yonggi Cho does preach some truth but Satan’s best deceptions, such as Roman Catholicism, always

contain an element of truth. Yonggi Cho adds dangerous occult and New Age heresies to the Truth and

thereby deceives souls. As David Cloud has said of Yonggi Cho’s church:

26 Mark Driscoll Navigating the Emerging Church Highway (Christian Research Journal, vol. 31, no. 4, 2008).

27 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58fgkfS6E-0

28 David Cloud What is the Emerging Church? (Way of Life Literature, 2009, pp. 22-23).

12

‘Like the charismatic movement at large, Yoido Full Gospel Church is a dangerous

mixture of truth and error.’29

J. C. Ryle said that:

‘There is a wide-spread desire to appear charitable and liberal-minded: many seem

half ashamed of saying that anybody can be in the wrong. There is a quantity of half-

truth taught by the modern false teachers: they are incessantly using Scriptural terms

and phrases in an unscriptural sense… There is a silly readiness in every direction to

believe everybody who talks cleverly, lovingly, and earnestly, and a determination to

forget that Satan is often ‘transformed into an angel of light’ (2 Cor. 2:14). There is a

wide-spread ‘gullibility’ among professing Christians: every heretic who tells his story

plausibly is sure to be believed, and everybody who doubts him is called a persecutor

and a narrow-minded man… They tend to make the assaults of false doctrine in our

day peculiarly dangerous.’30

Is Dr. Cho now a sound teacher? The David Cho Evangelistic Mission (DCEM) has an up-to-date website

with accounts of David Cho’s teaching engagements. There is no public statement of repentance and

renunciation of his heresies on the DCEM website. On the contrary, the very recent sermons and messages

from conferences in 2012 and 2013 include heresies, regardless of whether he has modified his position or

added Calvinism to his beliefs. All the evidence shows that Yonggi Cho remains a dangerous heretic; it is

alarming that WEST should defend him. The following signs are apparent on the website:

• Dr. Cho’s ‘Greetings’ page still carries the promise of healing:

‘…the Holy Spirit has brought about wondrous miracles of God's power and grace

which are always available for everyone to experience.’31

• Dr. Cho’s recent messages still contain heretical teaching:

The page entitled ‘Core of Messages’32 still contains details of Dr. Cho’s false teachings called the

‘Fivefold Gospel’ and ‘Threefold Blessing’.

In a sermon preached on February 10th, 2013, Dr. Cho made many orthodox statements but concluded by

alluding to his ‘Fivefold Gospel’, the ‘Threefold Blessing’ and his New Age/occult teaching regarding

dreams and confession. The website states that he taught the following:

‘By believing in Jesus, we are completely freed from sins, become completely purified

from iniquities, being the temple of the Holy Spirit, cured completely of the diseases,

released completely from the curses, and saved completely from the death. Think of,

expect and dream about, believe in, and confess these things.’33

The report of the sermon preached on 8th May, 2011, states that Dr. Cho taught the following New Age and

occult ideas:

29 David Cloud A Visit to the World’s Biggest Church

http://www.wayoflife.org/database/worldsbiggestchurch.html

30 J. C. Ryle Warnings to the Churches (Banner of Truth Trust, 1967, p.77).

31 http://www.davidcho.com/neweng/ab-1.asp

32 http://www.davidcho.com/neweng/bb-1.asp

33 http://www.davidcho.com/neweng/sermon.asp

13

‘1. Think in a positive way that your hopes will come true.

2. Imagine and dream about your dreams becoming a reality.

3. Confess with your mouth that it will come true.

4. When you seek and pray, believe that your dreams will come true. Then,

they will become a reality.’34

Dr. Cho’s heretical teaching has also been evident in his most recent conferences. At the Power

Conference and Charismatic Festival in New Delhi, India in 2012 Dr. Cho taught his healing and positive

confession heresies. There were indeed elements of Biblical truth about the necessity of perseverance and

diligent prayer, but the Truth was twisted as he introduced the idea that if we concentrate very hard and

repeat statements over and over again with all our fervour for more than three hours that God can be

persuaded to give us anything we want:

‘When I have a problem to solve, I cry… I use simple prayer: “Solve this problem,

solve this problem, solve this problem, solve this problem, solve this problem”… then

God listens to me…’35

This is Hindu teaching regarding the power of mantras (statements repeated over and over again to aid

concentration); it is not Christianity. Dr. Cho teaches that we can be sure to be healed or have our problems

solved if we pray using these methods. He said:

‘Have a clear goal in your prayer and have a very simple prayer, use the simple prayer

over and over again, then you have a fellowship prayer, you can pray about many

things, then you have worshipping prayer, you can pray about many things, and when

you have a task-oriented prayer, speak very simply and pray over and over again, over

and over again, then God is going to work together with you…’36

Dr. Cho further reported in this sermon that he desired to speak in tongues and so he went and held onto a

tree in the middle of the night with all his might, and pleaded over and over again to God for the gift of

tongues. He said that soon he was speaking in tongues.

The DCEM website reports that at the Tokyo Jesus Festival in 2012 Dr. Cho preached to more than 2,500

people and said:

“‘When we look at the Cross on the Calvary we can find our dreams and hope there.

By strengthening our faith we are not to be yoked as slaves. We must look at the Cross

and know that Jesus gave us freedom and that we have been changed.” He

admonished that we are to be the victorious Christians by declaring our positive

thinking, dreams, faith, and mouth confession.’37

At the Arise and Shine conference for pastors and leaders in 2011 Dr. Cho taught his New Age/occult

‘Positive Confession’ teaching that healing is always available to us as long as we think positively and

state positive beliefs that it will happen. As reported on the DCEM website, Dr. Cho said:

34 http://www.davidcho.com/neweng/sermon.asp?id=865

35 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U2RaA3OYJw

36 Ibid.

37 http://www.davidcho.com/NewEng/Main_News.asp?no=95

14

‘We must change our mind and thinking. If you ever think, “It won’t be done, I can’t

do it, it’s no use to try,” miracles will not happen. However, if you think and confess

with your mouth, “I can be healed, our church can be revived, Hong Kong will be

evangelized, China will soon change,” then miracles will happen when you proclaim

and believe. The Lord will surely accomplish it.’38

At the Asia Conference in 2010, the DCEM website reports the following:

‘Dr. Cho preached about the core of fourth-dimensional spirituality: thinking, faith,

dreams and words. In the first morning session, Dr. Cho disclosed, "The secret

weapon during the past 50 years of my ministry has been fourth-dimensional

spirituality… All Christians must count the stars in the sky with faith after coming out

of their own tent. Be a person of fourth-dimensional spirituality by visualizing the

invisible world as a visible one.”’39

WEST suggests that Dr. Yonggi Cho’s preaching has not been a matter for serious concern since the

1990s. The above evidence shows that his teaching between 2010 and 2013 still contains dangerous New

Age and occult heresies. It is extremely irresponsible of WEST to give the impression to the Christian

public that Dr. Cho is no longer a dangerous false teacher in order to defend their alliances with error.

5. WEST defends the use of Charismatic Contemporary

Christian Music

WEST defends and promotes the use of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). Steve Timmis of the

Porterbrook Network and Acts 29 Europe (and newly appointed full-time lecturer at WEST) supported the

Manchester Gravity concert in September 2012 with rap artist Lecrae.40 Furthermore, WEST uses CCM in

its meetings and its promotional video41 shows staff and students singing the song ‘In Christ Alone’ by the

Charismatic CCM artist Stuart Townend.

The WEST response defends ‘the use of contemporary music and words’ and makes the following

assertions which will be examined below:

• That it is possible to use this music ‘while maintaining the priority of the Word and excellent

teaching.’

• Singing songs by Charles Wesley or William Williams does not make anyone Arminian

or Calvinistic Methodist. The implication is that singing songs written by Charismatics is therefore

not dangerous and will not lead evangelicals into Charismaticism.

WEST’s assertions are ill-informed, unscriptural and ultimately endangering the souls of others. Evidence

has shown that churches that adopt CCM do indeed change.42 (This will be discussed in point 4 below).

38 http://www.davidcho.com/NewEng/Main_News.asp?nsel=&no=86

39 http://www.davidcho.com/NewEng/Main_News.asp?nsel=&no=82

40 http://sanctifiedrant.wordpress.com/tag/priority/

41 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr0aiV0c2EE

42 David Cloud Music for Good or Evil (DVD set includes examples of once Biblically sound churches transformed

15

Following the introduction of CCM, even the most traditional and Biblically sound evangelical churches

have changed and imbibed New Evangelical, worldly, Charismatic and Emerging philosophies. CCM is

extremely powerful as we shall see.

The use of CCM should not be defended by God’s people for these reasons:

1. God commands His people not to love the things of the world

2. Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is Charismatic and encourages the ‘signs and wonders’

phenomena

3. CCM is ecumenical: it is the music of the One-World Church

4. The introduction of CCM has the power to radically change the character of a church away from

Biblical principles

1. God commands His people not to love the things of the world

‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the

world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the

flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the

world’ (1 John 2: 15-16).

If anything is ‘of the world’ it is surely rock/pop music. Music with rock/pop rhythms has been associated

with sex, drugs and ungodly behaviour since the start. For this reason it is not an appropriate vehicle for

the worship of a holy God, regardless of the appropriateness of the words sung to the music. Churches that

use CCM are bringing the world into the church. David Cloud has commented that CCM:

‘…puts no difference between the holy and the profane. “All music is holy,” it boasts;

nothing is profane. All dress styles are holy; nothing is profane. God is the God of

everything.

The worldliness of Contemporary Christian Music is seen in that the contemporary

music itself borrows from the world’s sensual rhythms. Contemporary Christian

Music openly and proudly uses any type of music in the service of the Lord and

refuses to separate from music that is openly used in the worship of the flesh and the

devil.

What is worldly music? Worldly music is music that sounds like the music used by the

world for sinful activities. John defined the world as “the lust of the flesh, and the lust

of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 Jn. 2:16). Music that is characterized by these

things is worldly music, and that is certainly true for blues, jazz, rock, rap, reggae, and

other forms of modern dance music. This type of music has an intimate association

with immorality, drunkenness, drug abuse, gambling, prostitution, and other evils, and

it is impossible to disconnect the music from this association.’43

Dr. Peter Masters has stated that one of the major departures from Biblical principles of worship is:

by CCM) http://www.wayoflife.org/publications/video/music_for_good_or_evil.php

43 David Cloud Why Are We Opposed to Contemporary Christian Music?

http://www.wayoflife.org/database/opposedtoccm.html

16

‘…the modern refusal to accept the great gulf between sacred and profane, so that the

entertainment forms of the world are imported into the church for the praise of God.’44

In answer to the question ‘What exactly is worldliness?’ Dr. Masters continues:

‘Is a musical style (or instrument) unsuitable for worship simply because the world

uses it? No, but it is unsuitable for spiritual use if it is used by the world to promote an

anti-God, anti-moral agenda.’45

Dan Lucarini, a former contemporary worship leader, led a number of churches away from the use of

traditional hymns to the use of CCM. In his book Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement

he states the following:

‘Is the rock music style used in so much CCM associated with any particular moral

dimension? I argue that it is clearly and unequivocably associated with immorality,

especially promiscuous and adulterous sex, glorification of drugs, and rebellion

against authority. But, Dan you must mean the secular godless lyrics, not the music.

No, I mean the music style itself. Decades of rock music in our culture have

permanently stamped that music style with the dimension of immorality. Changing the

lyrics and substituting Christian musicians cannot remove that stigma… The very

names of many of the performing groups – Black Sabbath, KISS (Knights in Satan’s

Service), AC/DC, Sex Pistols, to name but a few – advertise the profane associations.

Rock music is obviously connected with certain evil things and people. The Bible

commands us to avoid and abstain from the appearance of evil… Holiness means to be

set apart for God from the world… that requires us to avoid anything that hints of

immorality.’46

CCM artists often have a false, worldly and unbiblical view of the Godhead. For example, the CCM artist

Stuart Townend has said that God is not vengeful:

‘There is lot of talk about the wrath of God and is that right to think that the Father’s

wrath was poured out on Christ, and I think that is right to say that. But that is not to

say that God is a vengeful God…’47

However, Romans 12:19 states that ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord’ and the Scriptures

teach throughout that God will ‘execute vengeance upon the heathen’ (Psalm 149:7). Furthermore, when

asked ‘What would Jesus sing?’ Townend replied:

‘I think he would be doing thrash metal or hip hop…’48

Christians who love CCM (and are untrained musically) argue vehemently that the softer rock ballads of

CCM artists such as Stuart Townend and Graham Kendrick are not pop/rock music. Many are so

determined to bring the popular modern music into their churches that they do not investigate what this

44 Peter Masters Worship in the Melting Pot (The Wakeman Trust, 2002, p.33).

45 Ibid.

46

Dan Lucarini Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement: Confessions of a Former Worship Leader

(Evangelical Press, 2002, pp.90-91, 97-98).

47 Stuart Townend quoted in http://www.wayoflife.org/index_files/getty_townend_contemporary_hymns.html

48 Stuart Townend What Would Jesus Sing? (Principles of Praise, 2011).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCW0oAAna7c

17

music really is. However, there are now resources available produced by professional musicians in order to

educate Christians, and especially pastors, in this important area.

Pastor Graham West is a professional musician49 who worked in the pop music industry before he was

saved and called to full time ministry. Pastor West’s previous experience in music has given him a special

burden to warn against the ungodly influence of rock music, including Contemporary Christian Music

(CCM). He has produced a series of DVDs in order to help Christians, especially pastors, understand CCM

and its dangers. Pastor Graham West’s presentations can be found here:

http://www.musiceducationministries.com/shop/category.php?id_category=3

Pastor West’s Rhythm of Rock lectures50 demonstrate that the soft rock ballads (e.g. songs by Getty,

Townend and Kendrick) have all the same rock rhythms as the heavier more obvious rock/pop music, just

softer and slowed down. However, the softer rock CCM songs of Townend and Kendrick carry very real

spiritual dangers. Pastor West has issued the following warning:

‘Once you begin listening to soft rock, you begin sliding down that slippery slope to

the more aggressive forms of rock. SOFT ROCK BEGINS TO ORIENT THE

WHOLE WAY OF PERCEIVING MUSIC AROUND RHYTHM and away from

melody. Your musical interest will change. Hymns will seem dull in comparison to

your newly acquired tastes. It’s a progression I’ve seen over and over again in the

lives of Christians. IT’S A DOWNWARD SPIRAL. It happens in the lives of

individuals; it happens in the lives of families; it happens in the lives of churches.

There is a GRAY AREA OF IGNORANCE ABOUT THE POWER OF POP

SYNCOPATION. And the devil, taking advantage of this, being not only the master

musician but also the master of subtlety, comes along to a strong fundamental church

or a Bible college and he offers his wares of CCM rock ballads. It sounds great.

There’s no drums, no wild electric guitars, no obvious back beat, just the piano or

guitar and the singer. And it’s almost the same as the songs that they used to sing,

except the rhythm kind of trips a little bit. But that’s O.K. because it’s exciting, and

the young people love it. The problem is that when the rhythm does that little trip it

means that the music contains a basic, distinctive rhythmic feature of all rock & roll

since its inception in the 1950s. In this way, before you’ve even known it, you’ve been

deceived by the subtle strategy of Satan. This is the blind spot that Satan is using to his

advantage. He knows that once a church accepts rock ballads, complete capitulation is

almost inevitable.

In the case of vigilant, serious-minded Christians, he has to start them up at the very

top of the slope with very gentle rock so that the conscience doesn’t scream out, “This

music is wrong!” Just as long as he can get you started, he has won, because just like a

drug pusher he knows that his users will want more and more of that sensual

rhythm.’51

49 Pastor Graham West studied music at the University of South Queensland. In 1981 he graduated with a Diploma

of Arts in Music and obtained his Associate of Music on the piano with the Australian Music Education Board.

50 Graham West The Rhythm of Rock (These DVDs are also available as downloads on this website.)

http://www.musiceducationministries.com/shop/category.php?id_category=3

51 Ibid.

18

Dr. Peter Masters has advised that if a hymn book has only one or two of the contemporary worship songs

then it should not be used in a church.52 This is extremely wise advice given not only the worldliness of the

songs, but the addictive nature of CCM and the slippery slope that Christians enter onto once they begin

listening to CCM, as described by Pastor Graham West.

Given the rock/pop genre of Townend/Getty songs and the downward slide into worldliness that they

instigate, it is vital that pastors educate themselves about this music and examine all the evidence before

making decisions based on faulty human reasoning as to the appropriateness of their use in Christian

worship. Ignorance of the unholy character and genre of CCM and its inherent dangers will endanger souls

and is no excuse before a holy God.

2. Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is Charismatic and encourages the

‘signs and wonders’ phenomena

As mentioned in the article ‘The Right Direction?’ the WEST students chose to sing the Charismatic song

‘Let it Rain’ by the band Jesus Culture at a church service. The article warned of the dangers of singing

such songs which encourage Charismatic phenomena53:

‘The video footage of Jesus Culture events shows scenes reminiscent of the so-called

Toronto blessing. Young people at the band’s ‘worship’ services can be seen

staggering around with uncontrollable body jerking, spasms and laughing. The band

leaders believe that these disturbing phenomena constitute revival. It is therefore

horrifying that churches are singing songs which were written with the intention of

promoting an atmosphere that encourages these phenomena, and whose words are

actually requesting it, whether or not the singers themselves are aware of the meaning

and intention of the songs.’54

That CCM encourages these phenomena is undeniable. As discussed in the previous article, the members

of the band Jesus Culture say that this is what their music encourages and explain that they want their

worship events to have the following effect on the worshippers:

‘We want you to be equipped in the realm of the supernatural - in prayer, in power, in

the prophetic, in dreams, in signs and wonders, healing, uh you know, all this stuff.’

When the false teacher Benny Hinn and other Charismatic leaders have meetings where Christians are

falling over in hysterical laughter, being thrown backwards, displaying drunken behaviour or making

animal noises, the music used at such events is this CCM, and usually the softer types rather than the hard

rock and roll music.55

Of course, that does not mean that every time a CCM song is sung that these

52 Dr. Peter Masters Recovery from Spiritual Decline: The Enemy Enters. Bible study preached on Wednesday 13th

March, 2013, on Nehemiah 13. http://www.metropolitantabernacle.org/

53 See the DVD set by David Cloud entitled Music for Good or Evil (Way of Life Literature) which examines the

musical characteristics of CCM:

http://www.wayoflife.org/publications/video/music_for_good_or_evil.php

and the DVD/free eVideo: The Foreign Spirit of Contemporary Worship Music

http://www.wayoflife.org/free_evideo/foreign_spirit.php

54 R. E. Palgrave The Right Direction? http://www.bibleleaguetrust.org/articles/west.pdf

55 An examination of videos on You Tube will prove this. The author will not link to these videos due to their

nature.

19

phenomena will happen, but that Christians listening to this music are putting themselves in a dangerous

position where they are at risk of the influence of unholy spirits. This is at the very least extremely unwise.

The Charismatic and ‘latter rain’ connections with CCM are evidenced in the presentation entitled: The

Foreign Spirit of Contemporary Worship Music by David Cloud. This can be viewed here:

http://www.wayoflife.org/free_evideo/foreign_spirit.php

3. CCM is ecumenical: it is the music of the One-World Church

CCM is being used to create a sense of unity and oneness between those of different faiths; it is being used

by the devil to create the One-World Church. Richard Peck has observed that:

‘Aside from its commercialism and its increasing resemblance to the world,

contemporary Christian music is becoming a religious melting pot… CCM is proud of

its ecumenical and charismatic spirit. This ecumenism extends open arms toward

apostate protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic Church.’56

Charismatic CCM artists have ecumenical objectives and their lyrics are blatantly ecumenical in nature.

Darlene Zschech, the lead singer of the CCM band Hillsong, who performs at Charismatic, Roman

Catholic and evangelical events, has made the following comment about her album You Shine:

‘There is a new sound and a new song being proclaimed across the earth. It’s the sound

of a unified church, coming together, in one voice to magnify our magnificent Lord.’57

CCM is used in many Roman Catholic churches and is the music of choice at ecumenical events. For

example,

‘Contemporary Christian Music was the music of the largest ecumenical charismatic

conference of the last quarter century. This was New Orleans ’87, held in July 1987…

Approximately 40 different denominations and groups came together under one roof,

including Episcopalian, Church of Christ, United Methodist, American Baptist,

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA, and dozens of

others. Fifty percent of those in attendance were Roman Catholics. Roman Catholic

priest Tom Forrest delivered the closing message and brought the mixed multitude to

their feet when he called for unity. “We must reach the world,” he cried, “and we must

reach it the only way we can reach it; we must reach it TOGETHER!” At those words

the people became ecstatic, leaping to their feet, shouting, stomping, speaking in

“tongues,” dancing, hugging one another… At the book sales area in New Orleans

one could purchase Rosary beads and Madonnas to assist in one’s prayers to Mary. A

Catholic mass was held every morning during the conference. The music that held all

of this confusion together was CCM. Youth Explosion ’87 was held at the same time,

and 5,000 young people were bombarded with a steady diet of unscriptural teaching,

56 Richard Peck Making Musical Choices (Bob Jones University Press, 1986, p. 86).

57 This quotation from D. Zschech is taken from the album cover and is quoted from the article by D. Cloud Darlene

Zschech and Contemporary Praise Music. http://wayoflife.org/database/zschechandpraise.html

20

ecumenism, testimonies by sports stars and entertainment figures, and ROCK

music.’58

CCM is used at ecumenical events because the music itself encourages a sensual mood where one’s

doctrinal defences come down hence encouraging a spirit of false unity. Don Moen, a producer of CCM at

Integrity Music, has observed that CCM is working to bring about ecumenical unity. He has said:

‘I’ve discovered that worship [music] is transdenominational, transcultural. IT

BRIDGES ANY DENOMINATION. Twenty years ago there were many huge

divisions between denominations. Today I think the walls are coming down. In any

concert that I do, I will have 30-50 different churches represented.’59

The singer/songwriter Stuart Townend, whose music has been adopted by evangelical churches ignorant of

its dangers, is aware of the power of CCM to bring about false ecumenism. His music is a bridge from the

traditional Biblically-sound churches to the ‘broader church’; he has stated the following: ‘I am excited

about the fact that you can write something that actually feeds the broader church.’60 David Cloud has

issued the following warning regarding Stuart Townend:

‘Townend is an out-and-out Christian rocker. He is charismatic in theology and

radically ecumenical in philosophy, supporting the Alpha program which bridges

charismatic, Protestant, and Roman Catholic churches. He is a member of Church of

Christ the King in Brighton, U.K. and supports the “extraordinary manifestations of

the Spirit,” which refers to the demonic/fleshly charismatic mysticism such as

nonsensical ecstatic tongues, spirit slaying, holy laughter, and shaking.

Townend is holding hands with the “broader church” in all of its facets and heresies

and end-time apostasies, and Townend’s objective in writing “hymn-like”

contemporary songs is ecumenism. He is doubtless sincere in this, but he is sincerely

and decidedly and dangerously wrong. Townend is a rock & roller, pure and simple.

In his blog he says that he doesn’t go home and put on a hymns album, because this is

not “where I’m at musically at all.” He wants to use the soft CCM to bring “traditional

churches” into association with the “broader church.”

When “traditional” churches borrow Townend’s “soft” CCM “hymns,” the

contemporary churches are in no danger of being “traditionalized,” but the traditional

churches are most definitely in danger of being contemporized and led into the

treacherous waters of modern evangelicalism…

A church will not long maintain a biblical separatist stance if it embraces either

contemporary Southern Gospel or contemporary worship music. Within a decade or

two such churches will have adopted a different stance, a New Evangelical-

contemporary-emerging one.’61

58 David Cloud Contemporary Christian Music: Some questions answered and some warnings given (Way of

Life Literature, 2006, p.31).

59 Ibid., p. 29. Don Moen of Integrity Music in an interview with Christianity Today.

60 David Cloud Getty/Townend and Contemporary Hymns

http://www.wayoflife.org/index_files/getty_townend_contemporary_hymns.html

61 David Cloud The Transformational Power of Contemporary Worship Music

http://www.wayoflife.org/index_files/76f5db87061f007209d0d36d7baf4fe2-930.html

21

Keith and Kristyn Getty are CCM artists who also write and publish with Townend. David Cloud recently

commented on their collaboration with a Roman Catholic:

‘In July 2012, the Gettys joined Townend and Roman Catholic Matt Maher on

NewsongCafe on WorshipTogether.com. They played and discussed “The Power of

the Cross,” which was co-written by Getty-Townend. The 10-minute program

promoted ecumenical unity, with Maher/Townend/Getty entirely one in the spirit

through the music. Major doctrinal differences are so meaningless that they are not

even mentioned. Spiritual abominations such as papal supremacy, the mass, infant

baptism, baptismal regeneration, and Mariolatry were entirely ignored. Jude 3 was

despised and Romans 16:17 completely disobeyed for the sake of building the one-

world church through contemporary Christian music.’62

Graham Kendrick also seeks to promote ecumenism through his music:

‘Graham Kendrick is one of the most prominent names in Contemporary Christian

Music, and one of his objectives is to break down denominational barriers and create

ecumenical unity. He was a founder of the ecumenical March for Jesus program,

which not only involves Roman Catholics but Mormons as well. A biography at

Kendrick’s web site boasts: “Crossing international and denominational barriers, his

songs, like the popular Shine Jesus Shine, have been used from countless small church

events to major festivals -- including Promise Keeper rallies, Billy Graham crusades

and a four million-strong open air mass in the Philippines capital Manila, where the

Pope ‘swung his cane in time to the music.’”63

Many Christians are being swept into ecumenism through CCM and many will end up in the One World

Church because of it. It is tragic that WEST is not only failing to warn about CCM but is promoting it in

spite of its deeply ecumenical agenda.

4. Introducing CCM changes the character of a church

WEST asserts that it is possible to use this music ‘while maintaining the priority of the Word and excellent

teaching’ and that singing songs by Charles Wesley or William Williams does not make anyone Arminian

or Calvinistic Methodist.

WEST clearly believes that it is possible to introduce CCM into churches and Christian institutions whilst

remaining Biblically sound. However, all the available evidence suggests otherwise. The messages by

David Cloud entitled Music for Good or Evil prove this assertion to be false. The messages can be

purchased as a DVD set or an e-Video download here:

http://www.wayoflife.org/publications/video/music_for_good_or_evil.php

This presentation shows examples of numerous churches that have adopted CCM and have changed from

once Biblically-sound traditional churches into New Evangelical, Charismatic and even rock and roll

62 David Cloud Getty/Townend and Contemporary Hymns

http://www.wayoflife.org/index_files/getty_townend_contemporary_hymns.html

63 David Cloud Contemporary Christian Music and Rome

http://www.wayoflife.org/database/ccmandrome.html

22

centres. CCM is that powerful. The presentation shows that CCM’s transformational power resides in its

enticing philosophy of ‘liberty’ and in its sensual, addictive music.

The following free presentation is ONE of the messages from this DVD set and discusses the

transformational power of CCM:

http://www.wayoflife.org/free_evideo/transformational_power_ccm.php

The WEST response implies that singing songs written by Charismatics is not dangerous and will not lead

evangelicals into Charismaticism. WEST is right in saying that singing hymns written by Arminians is

unlikely to make someone Arminian and likewise that singing old hymns written by Anglicans will not

make a person become Anglican. However, Charismatic music is in a totally different league and has

unique dangers. The old hymns by Arminians or Anglicans used music that was sacred, not profane. There

is no danger in singing these hymns of becoming worldly, of receiving or being influenced by evil spirits,

or being influenced through the music itself so that one accepts ecumenism and unity at the expense of

truth.

There is, however, a power in Charismatic music and its repetitive, sensual rock rhythms that do indeed

encourage change in one’s philosophies and doctrinal position. All the evidence has shown that

contemporary churches that sing traditional hymns are not changed to become Lutheran or Methodist, but

that traditional churches that introduce contemporary Charismatic songs do indeed change and become

New Evangelical and Charismatic/Emerging to varying degrees.

Nigel Smyth has issued the following warning regarding CCM, especially with regard to the songs of

Kendrick, which tend to be adopted first by evangelical churches:

‘…not all churches who use Mr. Kendrick's songs would have any links to the

charismatic movement, nor even be sympathetic towards it. However, the trend

emerging in many churches in Britain is a gradual moving away from the 'older'

hymns and spiritual songs, to the use of the modern worship songs. This does not

happen overnight. It is rather a change that occurs almost without anyone noticing. It

may not primarily happen in the main worship services, but via other meetings held in

the church…

Ask yourself why so many churches not openly associated with the charismatic

movement have become infected with the Toronto blessing? The first step was the

change in worship. Some of the hymns were replaced with the new songs; then the

form of worship itself changed; and then the whole church changed.’64

David Cloud has warned:

‘These so-called contemporary hymns, they’re not changing the contemporary

churches making them more traditional, no never, they’re always making the

traditional churches more contemporary, always in that direction. It is the “traditional”

churches that are being changed by this communication, not the contemporary

churches.

64 Nigel Symth What are we all singing about?

http://www.freedomministries.org.uk/ccm/nsmyth1.shtml

23

Every [Biblically-based]65 church that doesn’t take this matter seriously and doesn’t

educate itself continually and doesn’t take a strict stand will be well down the

emerging road within a decade or two. Contemporary music is that powerful and it is

that much at the heart of end-times apostasy.’66

How does CCM change Christians doctrinally? David Cloud has explained that:

‘CCM is not just a different type of Christian music. It is the soundtrack of an entire

philosophy of Christian faith and life. It is the piper’s tune for a worldview, and it is

very enticing because it preaches a doctrine of license under the guise of a more

relaxed, grace-based approach to Christian living (and usually this relaxed attitude

affects one’s approach to doctrine as well).’67

The late Ernest Pickering issued the following warning:

‘Perhaps nothing precipitates a slide toward New Evangelicalism more than the

introduction of Contemporary Christian Music… This inevitably leads toward a

gradual slide in other areas as well until the entire church is infiltrated by ideas and

programs alien to the original position of the church.’68

New Evangelical philosophies69 which the CCM encourages include:

•

An over-emphasis on being 'positive', and a dislike of the more negative aspects of Biblical Truth

•

A unbiblical dislike of rebuking error (e.g. refusal to warn about Mark Driscoll)

•

An unbiblical 'judge-not' philosophy whereby saying something is wrong or exercising discernment

tends to be viewed as ‘judgemental’ and 'unkind', and a dislike of doctrinal controversy

•

An over-emphasis on a 'grace' approach which is a licence for worldliness

•

Condemnation of those seeking to be holy and calling them 'legalists' and 'Pharisees'

•

A repudiation of separatism

•

An exaltation of love and unity above doctrine

•

A hearty dislike of 'fundamentalism' to the degree that Christian brothers and sisters with Biblical

views are deemed ‘narrow’ and are strongly criticised

•

Categorising truth into 'important' and 'not important' (so-called secondary matters do not matter)

•

A desire for intellectual respectability and a pride of scholarship

•

Exalting social-political activity to the same level as the Great Commission

•

A mood of softness and tolerance, a desire for a less strict Christianity, a weariness with theological

fighting and a general attitude of neutrality toward Christian warfare

•

The adoption of unbiblical pragmatic approaches to getting people in a church (i.e. entertainment

evangelism and contemporary worship music)

Frank Garlock of Majesty Music has observed that: ‘If a church starts using CCM it will eventually lose all

other standards.’70

Indeed, the introduction of CCM tends to go hand-in-hand with a downgrade in the

dress code of the church members, the introduction of entertainment and gimmicky forms of evangelism,

65 David Cloud refers to Independent Baptist churches as he lives in the US. UK readers will better understand the

term ‘Biblically-based churches’.

66 David Cloud The Transformational Power of Contemporary Praise Music

http://www.wayoflife.org/free_evideo/transformational_power_ccm.php

67 Ibid.

68 Ernest D. Pickering The Tragedy of Compromise: The Origin and Impact of the New Evangelicalism (Bob Jones

University Press, 1994, p. 169).

69 See David Cloud New Evangelicalism: Its History, Characteristics and Fruit (Way of Life Literature, 2006).

70 Frank Garlock (Bob Jones University Chapel, March 12, 2001).

24

the replacement of the King James Bible with modern Bible versions and all the New Evangelical

philosophies mentioned above.

David Cloud has remarked that:

‘The pastors who follow the contemporary church growth principles claim that they

are not changing doctrine, only style. That is simply not true. Many of the so-called

“style” changes are doctrinal. To allow church members to dress immodestly like the

world without any reproof or correction is a doctrinal issue. To borrow the music that

the world uses for sexual pleasure and to incorporate that very music into the church

program is a doctrinal issue. To claim that music is neutral is a doctrinal issue. To

yoke ecumenically with charismatics and such is a doctrinal issue. To say that

preaching should focus on the positive is a doctrinal issue. To take Matthew 7:1 and

Romans 14:4 out of context to approve a non-judgmental, doctrinally non-

controversial approach to the Christian ministry is a doctrinal issue… To adopt a New

Evangelical philosophy is a doctrinal issue.

When a church changes its “style” in these areas, it is undergoing a radical doctrinal

change; and continual boasting to the contrary is mere noise without meaning and only

deceives the willfully blind…

Therefore, we believe Gordon Sears was right when he said: “When the standard of

music is lowered, then the standard of dress is also lowered. When the standard of

dress is lowered, then the standard of conduct is also lowered. When the standard of

conduct is lowered, then the sense of value in God’s truth is lowered.’71

In failing to acknowledge the radical changes that have occurred in churches that have adopted CCM and

in stating that CCM does not change the character of churches, WEST is positively contributing to the

downgrade of Evangelicalism and the increase of worldliness in the churches.

6. WEST claims that no contemporary music course was

planned at WEST

The WEST response states that: ‘RP refers to a planned course at WEST with Sound of Wales. This is

inaccurate; no such partnership or course is planned.’

We would ask the readers to consider the following evidence. On the Sound of Wales website this

information was published in January 2012:

‘Sam Ko is the chairman of the board of trustees at WEST theological seminary…

Sam Ko caught wind of Jon Goode and his degree together with the vision of SOW

and so asked to see us one early (Very early might I add!) April morning last year…

Within a few weeks he had gone back to Korea and started raising money for various

projects within West – one being the SOW degree and vision…

71 David Cloud Contemporary Music Brings Great Changes to Churches

http://www.wayoflife.org/database/contemporary.html

25

… A month or so later Sam was back in Wales and had managed to raise a substantial

amount of money for the West projects including SOW. He had also set up a meeting

with us and the principal of West Jonathan Stephen. This meeting was full of the spirit

of God inhabiting our every word thanks to the grace of God – and by the end of the

meeting – he too was on board.

Since we have been pursuing this path and the degree hopes to start in September

2013 at WEST Bridgend. A Welsh degree in contemporary worship in this the land of

song.’72

The following was later published on the Sound of Wales website:

‘Another exciting partnership is with West theological seminary. This will be the

place where the brand spanking new degree in contemporary worship starts in

September 2013. This college has been training pastors for many years and now is

opening its doors to the SOW degree in contemporary worship. We are currently in

the throngs of meetings with the head bods at West, putting together a plan for the

degree’s start. Keep watching for updated news…’73

In the March 2012 edition of the Evangelical Times, WEST published the following information:

‘WEST has launched an event called Songburst, which the Bible school hopes will

become a regular slot in coming years.

Running from 23-27 July, Songburst will be a blend of Bible teaching, workshops and

performance, designed for Christian musicians who wish to enhance their skills and

increase their understanding of their role in worship contexts.

According to WEST, Songburst marks the beginning of a collaborative venture

between the theological college and Sound of Wales (SoW).

SoW is a group of professional, Christian musicians dedicated to seeing the young

people of Wales affected by a Christ-centred, Word-centred gospel.

Coinciding with this, WEST is seeking to introduce a BA (Hons) programme. This

will aim to establish a comprehensive training in the field of contemporary worship

music, based upon a reformed theological foundation…’74

The following e-mail confirms that a contemporary worship degree was still WEST's intention on 30th

October 2012, and states that they are only in the development phase of the degree. They were perhaps a

little behind in order to start in 2013?

Please see the e-mails below:

72

http://www.sowmusic.org.uk/_blog/Sound_of_Wales_Blog_-

_SOW/post/%E2%80%98Do_not_despise_the_day_of_small_beginnings%E2%80%99/

73 http://www.sowmusic.org.uk/_blog/Sound_of_Wales_Blog_-_SOW/post/Partnerships_with_SOW/

74

http://www.evangelical-times.org/archive/item/5374/News/Songburst/

26

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: George White <georgewhite27@gmail.com>

Date: Tue, Oct 30, 2012 at 10:34 AM

Subject: Worship course

To: info@west.org.uk

Dear Sir or Madam,

I was looking at the Sound of Wales (SOW) website.

The website mentioned that WEST was starting a degree in Contemporary Worship in

September 2013.

I am very interested in finding out more information about this course and wonder

whether this course will be available in September 2013?

I would be very grateful if you could email any information to me.

With many thanks,

George White

Response from WEST to George White:

From: West Email <joelmorris@west.org.uk>

Date: Tue, Oct 30, 2012 at 3:30 PM

Subject: From WEST

To: georgewhite27@gmail.com

Dear George,

Many thanks for your recent email regarding a course in Contemporary Worship Degree

in September 2013. We are still in the development phase of this unfortunately at the

present time! We'll try and keep you posted on our progress. In order to help shape the

course I am keen to hear from you what you are looking for in such a course. What it

should deliver etc! We have a few options at present in how we could deliver this and to

what level is required by your average worship leader.

Best regards,

Joel

Dr. Joel Morris

Chief Operating Officer

WEST

Please note that Mr Joel Morris, Chief Operating Officer at WEST, does not tell the enquirer that his

information is incorrect and that no such course is planned! If WEST has since changed its plans, the

College should have been up-front and honest about this rather than giving a complete denial regarding a

contemporary worship course.

27

7. WEST claims that the information in the article comes

from ‘woefully out-of-date websites’

The following article has been written by Mr Edward Roberts, an Information Analyst, in response to

WEST’s claim.

An Analysis of the Quality of Website Information and Sources in the Article ‘The Right Direction?’

by R. E. Palgrave

Mr Edward Roberts

A response to the article by R. E. Palgrave about WEST was published on the WEST website. In the

response an allegation was made regarding the quality of websites used as sources. The WEST response

states:

‘One looks in vain for … any attempt to check on the accuracy of facts often gleaned

from woefully out of date websites.’

However, only accurate and reliable websites have been used in the R. E. Palgrave article. The websites

used for the information in the article are currently used, popular and accurate sources of information. They

are kept up-to-date and are authoritative. Many of the websites are from primary and not secondary

sources. The allegation made by WEST about the quality of website information does not stand up to

scrutiny; it is an allegation without foundation.

As an example: The WEST website states that it has linked up with the Porterbrook Network. Three men

from Porterbrook have now become lecturers at WEST. I believe the WEST website is a reliable source

and gives accurate information and that the information about the Porterbrook link-up is correct. If the

information was coming from a secondary and less well known website corroborating evidence would be

needed. Reliable websites have been used to make sure that the information is correct.

All the websites used in the R. E. Palgrave article are taken from quality source material. The main sources

of information from websites are listed below. It must be noted that a lot of information has also been used

from published print sources: books and articles. These print sources are also taken from highly reputable

sources.

LIST OF THE MAIN SOURCES USED IN WEST ARTICLE

ACTS 29 NETWORK WEBSITE

This is a reliable website for information about the ministry of Mark Driscoll and Matt Chandler. It is

updated regularly. It is a primary source.

COMPANIES HOUSE WEBSITE

This is an up-to-date source of information. This is the very latest data that has been collected and

published by the UK government. Companies House gives information about those in leadership at WEST;

these include Director and Secretary appointments.

28

CHRISTIANITY TODAY WEBSITE

This is a well-regarded website that has news, opinion and interview material. The interview with Mark

Driscoll that was referred to in the article was published in 2006. Interviews with Mark Driscoll are rare

and a 2006 interview is still highly relevant. The article states that Mark Driscoll calls himself

‘theologically conservative and culturally liberal’. (This statement is also made in one of his books.) This is

clearly still the case in 2013 as can be evidenced by visiting the Mars Hill website.

DAVID YONGGI CHO WEBSITE

The David Yonggi Cho website is updated regularly with up-to-date information about the ministry of

David Cho; it is the official website of Cho. The source is a reliable and primary source of information

about Cho’s ministry. The meeting referred to in R. E. Palgrave’s article between Pastor Oh of SaRang and

Cho happened in 2001. It was written in 2001 as the meeting happened in 2001. There is also photographic

evidence of the meeting with Cho and Oh.

‘THE MARK DRISCOLL CONTROVERSY’ AND ‘THE NEW CALVINISTS’ WEBSITES

These websites are very well regarded and are kept up-to-date. The owner of the website is

Dr E. S. Williams who is a published author. In 2012 Dr E. S. Williams prepared two messages which were

delivered at the School of Theology Conference at Metropolitan Tabernacle on the subject of New

Calvinism. The information in these websites refers to New Calvinists such as Tim Keller and Mark

Driscoll.

EVANGELICALS NOW WEBSITE

This is another quality source. The website has articles that have appeared in Evangelicals Now over many

years. The Evangelicals Now website is kept up-to-date. The Evangelicals Now article referred to in the

R. E. Palgrave article was written by Jonathan Stephen. It was written in 2011 and is highly relevant to the

issues facing WEST. It is a recent article in a high quality source written by the Principal of WEST.

EXILED PREACHER BLOG

This blog is published by Guy Davies. Davies is a minister from Wiltshire who also works part-time for the

Protestant Truth Society as a Wickliffe Preacher. The article refers to a recent interview in 2011 between

Guy Davies and Peter Milsom which appears on the Exiled Preacher blog. Peter Milsom is the Director of

Affinity and a recent Chairman of the WEST Council. This is a very relevant document about current

events with a key participant in the management of WEST.

KOREA TIMES NEWSPAPER

This is an up-to-date and reliable source of information which produces quality journalism. The Korea

Times is the oldest of three English-language newspapers published daily in South Korea and is popular

with British and American diplomats. The article referred to by R. E. Palgrave was published in 2010 and

portrays SaRang’s current rebuilding programme.

MOUNT PLEASANT CHURCH, SWANSEA

This website is kept up-to-date. The sermon referred to by Sam Ko was preached in October 2012. Sam Ko

preached here after he had become Chairman of the Board at WEST.

PORTERBROOK NETWORK WEBSITE

This is a reliable and up-to-date website. Porterbrook confirms its link with WEST on its website. Details

of Porterbrook are given in the article. All the information about Porterbrook is taken from this regularly

updated website.

29

PR NEWSWIRE

PR Newswire is a highly regarded and reliable source of information. PR Newswire is hired by

corporations, public relations firms and non-governmental organisations to deliver company and agency

news and multimedia content. PR Newswire is used by prestigious news organisations such as Bloomberg

and Reuters. In R. E. Palgrave’s article reference is made to Rick Warren’s visit to South Korea in 2006.

The PR Newswire reports that Warren’s visit was organised by Pastor Oh with the support of Billy Kim

and David Yonggi Cho. It is a 2006 report of an event that took place in 2006. It is a highly relevant

document.

SADDLEBACK CHURCH WEBSITE

This website is the website of Rick Warren’s church. In the R. E. Palgrave article it is used as a primary

source of information regarding Warren’s ministry. It is a current website that is kept up-to-date; it is a

reliable and quality source of information. In the R. E. Palgrave article reference is made to a news report

on the Saddleback website of a recent event that took place in 2010. The news report refers to a meeting

between Rick Warren and Pastor Oh. This is a highly relevant document to prove strong and recent links

between the ministries of Warren and Oh.

SARANG CHURCH WEBSITE

This source is used for a number of references. This is an up-to-date website and is used as a primary

source. This website gives information about the present church and the history of the church. The website

also has a current link to a video of Rick Warren and of Warren’s links with the SaRang church on its main

home page. This is a current website and shows SaRang’s present day links with Warren. This website is a

quality source. The news section of the SaRang website gives details of the SaRang/WEST link-up and

reports on Jonathan Stephen and Peter Milsom signing the joint agreement in Korea.

WAY OF LIFE LITERATURE

This website is very reliable for information and is updated regularly. It has a lot of information about the

Emerging Church and on many other subjects. It has proved to be a highly accurate and reliable resource

from an Independent Baptist ministry in the United States.

WEST WEBSITE

The source is a quality source for information regarding WEST. It is also updated regularly. It is an up-to-

date website and is a primary source regarding WEST.

YALE UNIVERSITY WEBSITE

This is a current website with an excellent reputation. Yale is one of the most famous universities in the

world. The events covered in the article refer to Rick Warren’s P.E.A.C.E. Plan of 2010. The

comprehensive information about the P.E.A.C.E. Plan signatories was published in 2010. It is an historical

document (albeit only three years old); a 2010 date should not be alarming as it is reporting an event that

happened in 2010.