by Sandy Simpson , Mike Oppenheimer,
4/23/03
"DECEPTION IN THE CHURCH" e-Newsletter
4/03
Dear All,
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
FEATURE ARTICLE
The feature in this DITC e-Newsletter is a follow up to the Open
LetterTo The NAE sent out last time. Since that time Ted
Haggard has sent us emails detailing his position on our Open
Letter. Please read this article called "An Answer
To Ted Haggard" by Sandy Simpson of Apologetics Coordination
Team and Mike Oppenheimer of Let Us Reason Ministries.
This is very important information that every Christian needs
to know about the leadership of the New ApostolicReformation.
See the article attached below.
In His hands,
Sandy Simpson
ACT
An
Answer To Ted Haggard
Response
to Ted Haggard's Email Rebuttal to our Open
Letter To The NAE
by
Sandy Simpson & Mike Oppenheimer, 4/23
This article is a response to an email we received from Ted
Haggard on April 7, 2003. Haggard was responding to our Open
Letter To The NAE. Keep in mind that Ted Haggard
did not want us to use the word "official response"
but graciously gave us permission to use his comments. The reason
we asked if his email to us was an official response to our open
letter was because we wanted to find out if he stood behind what
he claimed in his emails to us. We did this so that we would
be able to give a thoughtful response and not expect him to take
some other position after the fact. This letter is not meant
to be disrespectful. Our intent is to be honest in our position
and response. The following is the section of Haggards
email where he gave us permission to use his response.
Ted Haggard email: I assume that what I write
always has the possibility of being used in public. If I want
something to be personal or confidential, I mark it as such,
which I do very seldom. It's just the wording of "official
response" might require a little more thought. What I've
done with you is write memos/letters/notes to you. Sure you can
use them all you like, just note that they are what they are
so it is understood that in a letter sometime I don't qualify
certain statements that I might in an official response, especially
if I knew that the recipient was hostile and looking for opportunity
to be critical instead of helpful. In addition, in a note I don't
struggle over precise semantics. I'm responding to you along
with the 100 other e-mails I receive on an average day.
Just to clarify, we are not being "hostile" but are
bringing up legitimate concerns over unscriptural doctrine and
practice thathas consequences to the Church and to the NAE.
However, efforts to get to the truth these days are often met
with hostility--while calls for unbridled unity are met with
open arms. We prefer faithfulness to the Word of God and
biblical separation, if necessary, over unity based on doctrinal
compromise. We write this response to further clarify our position
on what Mr. Haggard has said in answer to our letter. It is not
our intent to try to respond to everything Haggard has written.
We are simply going to go over the same facts again and show
that our response is sufficient to prove the original points
in our Open
Letter To The NAE. Emphasis in the Haggard emails is
ours.
In our Open Letter we stated:
ACT Open Letter:
Ted Haggard has been promoting the agenda of C. Peter Wagner
and his "New Apostolic Reformation" (NAR) and International
Coalition of Apostles (ICA).
Ted Haggard responded:
Ted Haggard email: I do not embrace the modern
prophetic movement represented by Dr. C. Peter Wagner, Chuck
Pierce, Cindy Jacobs and others, nor have I ever. Because
of a legal arrangement we made with Global Harvest Ministry when
the World Prayer Center was being constructed, they have used
our building for conferences. I am invited to speak at those
conferences because I am viewed as a "balancing voice."
After hearing me speak, the attendees know that I do not embrace
the interpretation of the prophetic that the other speakers espouse.
We're sorry but these assertions don't square with the facts.
To say he never embraced this prophetic movement of C.P. Wagner
and the others mentioned is in direct contradiction to what he
has been doing for several years.
Let us reiterate. Ted Haggard is listed in the Division
of Church Leadership at the Wagner Leadership Institute under
Apostolic Ministries (AM). Haggards book The
Life Giving Church is Apostolic Recommended Reading
by WLI. He is listed as a member of the International Coalition
of Apostles (ICA) under C. Peter Wagner with apostle Church Pierce,
prophet Cindy Jacobs, Bill Hamon, Tommy Tenney and many others.
The ICA is now an organization with a password protected web
site and its membership is by invitation only. We must assume
that a person is invited to be a part of the ICA only if they
share the same vision and goals (ie. as stated by C.P. Wagner
himself).
For years Ted Haggard has been advertised as a speaker along
with others of the ICA in their conferences. He is listed in
a number of The National School Of The Prophets (NSOTP) conferences.
Speakers for various sessions have included C. Peter Wagner,
Jack Deere, Chuck Pierce, Jim Laffoon, Mary Crum, Cindy Jacobs,
Kingsly Fletcher, Barbara Yoder, Dutch Sheets, Mike Bickle, Bill
Hamon, John Eckhardt, and Ted Haggard. Lets look at the
balancing voice of Ted Haggard who claims: I
do not embrace the modern prophetic movement.
- Father, I thank you for those who have the office of
either a prophet or a prophetess or have a strong flow in the
prophetic. And Lord Jesus, we as a group of pastors, many in
this room apostolic pastors, we release, we bless, we confirm
the calling of the prophet - the calling of the prophetess -
the calling of the prophetic, and we welcome it into the global
church of the world. (Ted Haggard, National School of the
Prophets, Chuck Pierce/Cindy Jacobs, Sat. May 13, 2000, 11:00
AM)
These people he is blessing and confirming are all part of
Wagners Apostolic ministries and part of the prophetic
movement. Many of the NSOTP conferences were held at the New
Life Church (NLC) where Ted Haggard was a featured speaker.
At those conferences he confirmed his "embrace" of
the prophetic movement. Attendees at those conferences
are well aware of Ted Haggard's endorsement of the NAR in every
respect, and Ted would not be there if he did not endorse what
was going on. Note some of these other teachings
on the prophetic from Haggard.
- Gen. 1:20 Let the water teem with living creatures.
... This stage brings an explosion of life in the community.
... We start to release the life of God. Speak the life of God
into the body of Christ in this city. We speak the power of God
into this community of believers. Let life be vibrant in this
University of the Nations Workshop 1999 church body and let Your
power come. When they study the Word of God let it spring to
life and revelation. (Ted Haggard, September 10, 1999,
Morning Session, University of the Nations Workshop 1999)
This teaching, on the prophetic, sounds very much like the
confession doctrine of Word of Faith teachers.
Let's look at an NSOTP conference.
- Good morning, everybody. Thank you so much. Thank you
so much. It's a joy to see all of you this morning. And
I'll tell you what. I am so appreciative of all of you coming
here to Colorado Springs, to learn all about the prophetic. ...
I want to thank every one of you, for spending your money, for
taking your time, for coming here, and learning how to do and
how to grow in the prophetic ministry so that you can go home
and serve and edify and complement what the spirit of the Lord
is doing in your community. You'll go home and serve
the body of Christ in a more effective way because of today,
or because of these three days.
Because, Peter Wagner
functions, we see him as an apostle. I highly respect him
both as an elder, as an apostle,
But here's what Peter
does for me. He coaches me.
He helps me think.
Everybody say, "think." He helps me see. Everybody
say, "see." Everybody say, "think."
All right, so, when there's something that I don't see, he'll
help me see it. Now, not just because he's got the authority
of an apostle, but because he loves me.
All right, so,
so, that's important. And then we've got Chuck Pierce.
Everybody thank God for Chuck Pierce. All right, now, Chuck
Pierce has a prophetic anointing that I can't tell you how much
I highly respect it. . . . Peter Wagner has prophesied
in our church. And, and, he's a, a, a . . .We respect him
as an elder. We respect him with an apostolic anointing.
(Ted Haggard, NSOTP, Mobilizing the Prophetic Office, Saturday,
May 13, 2000.)
Mike Bickle has been in the prophetic movement since the days
of the Kansas City Prophets. He was also ministering in the Vineyard
church and is now part of the prophetic movement under C. Peter
Wagner.
- Mike Bickle is gonna be speaking at New Life Saturday
night and all three services Sunday. And then he's gonna
do a special training session Sunday afternoon
And I can't
think of a better man than Mike Bickle to do that, what do you
say about that? (Ted Haggard, NSOTP, Chuck Pierce/Cindy
Jacobs Sat. May 13, 2000 11:00 AM)
Ted Haggard undeniably endorses one of the prophets in this
movement and has him, as well as others, speak at his church
outside of the conferences. Haggard is also endorsing the
practice of training people in the prophetic with a registration
fee of $175, for regular admission that was charged at one NSOTP
conference for the privilege of learning how to be a prophet.
Haggard wrote us saying After hearing me speak, the attendees
know that I do not embrace the interpretation of the prophetic
that the other speakers espouse. But as you can see the
facts dont wash with what Ted Haggard has been promoting.
Were not addressing a semantics problem on how these men
interpret the prophetic. It is clear where Haggard stands on
this issue--right next to these other men and women who are claiming
to be prophets and are part of the prophetic movement. All one
has to do is go on the web to the prophetic sites to confirm
this.
NLC is also home to the World Prayer Center (WPC) affiliated
with C. Peter Wagner's Global Harvest Ministries (GHM). C. Peter
Wagner, Ted Haggard and Chuck Pierce head the WPC. George Otis,
Jrs Sentinel Group, of Transformations video fame, and
other New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) ministries are also there.
Funding for the center was provided, at least in part, by NLC.
Here are only a few quotes we have to show Haggard's involvement
with NAR organizations.
- World Prayer Center (A division of New Life Church) is home
for two ministries joined together. Ted Haggard, senior pastor
at New Life Church, which donated $3 million and the land for
the prayer center. Colorado - World Prayer Center being built
in Springs will reach out to ends of Earth (Michele Ames, The
Gazette)
- Colorado Springs, Colorado is the home of a 55,000 square
foot, 5.5 million dollar World Prayer Center and is estimated
to involve 50 million people in 120 countries around the world.
(http://www.texnews.com/1998/1999/religion/pray0130.html)
- In 1998, Otis's Sentinel Group, Wagner's Global Harvest Ministries,
and Ted Haggard's Christian Information Network plan to move
into the high-tech World Prayer Center on the grounds of Haggard's
New Life Church in Colorado Springs (CT, May 20, 1996, p. 78).
Spiritual mapping will be central to the operation of this "electronic
nerve center to connect the intercessors and let each other know
what they're hearing from the Holy Spirit," Wagner says.
(Christianity Today, January 12, 1998, Spiritual Mapping Gains
Credibility Among Leaders, by Art Moore in Tacoma)
- Haggard is this month's featured author on the Wagner Publications
site. (http://www.wagnerpublications.org/peter_wagner.html)
- Haggard, Tenney and many other NAR/ICA members are mentioned
as teaching at the Wagner Leadership Institute. (http://www.wagnerleadership.org/)
- The Wagner Leadership Institutes first graduation was
incorporated with Ted Haggard as a part of the 10:30 a.m. worship
service at NLC (What the Doctor Recommends,Ministries Today Interview,
July-August 2000)
We could belabor the point with many, many more quotes.
Suffice it to say we have proven our case beyond any shadow of
doubt on this topic.
Lets summarize what is now the evidence. Haggard stated that
he is not part of nor in support of the modern prophetic
movement despite the fact that he is on the ICA and has
participated on a deep level in the NSOTP conferences for years
and in hosting ICA members at his church.
Let's move on to Haggard's other direct responses to our Open
Letter points.
ACT Open Letter: Haggard
is a leader of the NAR under C. Peter Wagner, who claims they
are foundational apostles for the 21st Century Church.
Ted Haggard email: I dont have a clear understanding of
what the NAR is and I dont know what a foundational
apostle is. I think its Peter Wagners attempt
to develop semantics that explain significant growth and impact
of certain churches and movements in contrast to others. But
as for me, I consider myself a pastor, as is clear on all my
stationary, every biography issued from our church and every
book Ive written.
We are told WLI is made up of mature and successful apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Haggard is
listed along with the other apostles and prophets under WLI Faculty
and Leadership. To be a part of WLI and to teach
the NAR platform, we can only assume one must understand and
be in agreement with those teachings. Haggard cannot plead ignorance
to this when C.P. Wagner is member New Life Church, Haggards
own church, and they are in ministry with him on a number of
levels.
- In Colorado Springs where Wagner lives, Pastor Ted
Haggard of New Life Church has been officially recognized as
an apostle of a certain sphere of churches called the NET.
(Posted September 1, 2000, Arise Magazine Article: New Apostolic
Reformation)
Ted was present at the conferences in discussions of the ICA
on the subject of the NAR. How could he "not have a clear
understanding of what the NAR is"? This means he would
have to have not been reading the materials the NAR and ICA promote
or promoting those ideas himself. It doesn't matter what
Haggard considers himself to be, pastor or otherwise. What
matters is that he is a member of the ICA, the governing body
of the NAR; many of the organizations are housed on his church
property; he has promoted the doctrines of the NAR repeatedly
in conferences held at his church; and he has long been associated
with Wagner back to the "Signs And Wonders" class days
of Fuller Seminary.
- When Wagner defines hyphenated apostles he states,
For example, I am a teacher-apostle. Here is the
way I see several close friends of mine: Bill Hamon of Christian
International is a prophet-apostle. Ted Haggard of New
Life Church is a pastor-apostle. He is listed under Territorial
apostles. Apostles who have been given authority for leading
a certain segment of the body of Christ in a given territorial
sphere such as a city or state. (Ted Haggard of Colorado
Springs, APOSTLES & APOSTLES: Understanding How Apostles
Minister in Different Spheres, Random Notes by C. Peter Wagner
(Revised March 16, 2001)
This point stands.
ACT Open Letter: Ted Haggard
recently made a false prophecy.
Ted Haggard email: I did encourage Christians to pray that Saddam
would leave Iraq believing that if 1,000,000 people prayed, Saddam
would leave. That request, however, received a great deal of
criticism from those who did not believe God would respond to
more people praying than fewer people praying. Thus, lots of
people were encouraged not to join in prayer with us. In addition,
there was a large group who believed that justice required that
Saddam be killed, and they also encouraged people not to pray
with us. As a result, we had a few thousand people praying that
Saddam would go into exile, but not nearly 1,000,000. Thus, I
think I was faithful to say what I believed God had placed on
my heart. I wouldnt call it a false prophecy, though, since
1,000,000 Christians didnt pray.
This was more than an encouragement for people to pray. He claims
that the Lord woke me in the middle of the night and powerfully
spoke to me. When God speaks, His plans will not be thwarted
by poor human participation. As we stated in our Open Letter,
God does not need one million people to pray to accomplish His
will. If it had been His will to have Saddam leave Iraq,
He would have accomplished His will regardless. It is also
our understanding that there are at least 100,000 churches in
the WPC database. I have seen this prophesy on many, many
web sites as well, including many Catholic sites. If this
call to pray was sent out to 100,000 churches, there would only
have to have been 10 individuals from each church praying to
make this prophesy come true. It is our opinion,
based on the WPC and Mission America resources, and past victories
they claimed, that at least 1,000,000 people could well have
been praying together as a result of this edict. But there
is probably no way to prove these figures by either side. We
doubt very much if Ted Haggard can prove his assertions in this
matter with concrete facts.
One additional fact on this issue of praying for Saddam to leave
Iraq, as reported in Christianity Today:
- Ted Haggard, the new president of the National Association
of Evangelicals and pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs,
is also involved in several physical and online prayer efforts,
including the Presidential Prayer Team and the World Prayer Center.
"Everybody is praying to whomever they claim is the sovereign
God, so we all agree that however this comes out, it will be
God's will," he told the Post. "In the end, Saddam
is going to have to accept the fact that it was not God's will
for him to remain in power." (Christianity Today, March
17, Weblog: A Nation at Warand on Its Knees, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/111/51.0.html)
What is the use of praying to "whomever they claim is
the sovereign God"? If you are praying to Allah and
not praying to YHWH, you are praying in vain. This seems
like a fairly clear interfaith statement, and certainly not the
statement of an evangelical. In any case, God would not
give a prophecy in order to call Christians to pray in unity
with unbelievers.
This point stands.
ACT Open Letter: Ted Haggard
called Christians together to pray at the same time as New Agers,
using humanistic and superstitious reasons as the basis for gathering
to pray, instead of biblical truth.
Ted Haggard email: At New Life we often have special prayer meetings
on Halloween night. Because of the darkness of that season, many
Christians like to bring their families to pray on Halloween.
Similarly, I received many e-mails from Christians asking that
we call people to pray on March 3, 2003. I didnt know it
was a special day for New Agers until our researchers discovered
it. Since so many Christians felt this was a special day, I responded
by calling a day of prayer. Why? Because Ill call a day
of prayer any time I receive an opportunity. More people prayed
on March 3 than would have had we not called for prayer.
I thought God was the One who called Christians to pray, not
in response to someone who "felt this was a special day"?
To recap our letter, when Haggard sent out his call to pray on
3-3-3, he included the fact that New Agers were also doing so
on the same day.
- The magnitude of this date is not lost on the non-Christian
world as well. The Global Consciousness movement (New Age) has
for years been planning a worldwide "Largest ever experiment
into global consciousness" to take place on 03-03-03.
Why is Haggard saying that I didnt know it was
a special day for New Agers until our researchers discovered
it. in his email response to our reminding him that he
already called Christians together to pray with New Agers on
the same day? This is trying to confuse the issue.
The letter was sent out with this included:
- "Because he had so many letters to pray on such a day
He responded The World Prayer Team therefore calls on all
Christian churches and individuals to set aside at least 3 minutes
to pray at 3:33 PM in their time zone on 03/03/03."
Christians are to be in prayer regardless of whether members
of the ICA call them to pray. We are to pray, "without
ceasing". Therefore Christians were already praying
regardless. As already stated, Ted Haggard knew of the
New Age call to "prayer" on that date, which is reflected
in his WPC message. The fact remains ... why were Christians
called to pray in unity with New Agers on a date and time long
planned by people who use occult methods like numerology?
No benefits are derived from summoning Christians to pray alongside
New Agers, Muslims or any other pagan religion.
This point stands.
ACT Open Letter: Ted Haggard
was instrumental in reconciling John Wimber and the Vineyard
with the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (original church
of the "Toronto "Blessing" that brought Latter
Rain doctrines into the mainstream) because he "felt an
urgent impression from the Lord" to do it.
Ted Haggard email: It is trueI thought it was sad that
the Vineyard severed its relationship with the Toronto Church
without due process. In my efforts to reconcile the two, I did
not argue that the Toronto Church was right; I argued that the
Vineyard didnt go through an adequate process of discipline
before dismissing the church from fellowship. And I believe that
the Lord did prompt me to go and try to help.
Apparently the Lord overlooked the fact that the Toronto "Blessing"
originating church, TACF, was spreading all kinds of false doctrines
and practices, false prophesies and false anointings worldwide.
Why reconcile those who are teaching false doctrines? It
would have been far wiser to correct them than to attempt to
reconcile them. For more information on the Toronto "Blessing",
go here.
There is no denial this happened, so this point stands.
ACT Open Letter: Ted Haggard
and his associates like George Otis, Jr. have claimed whole cities
have been saved due to unbiblical spiritual mapping and spiritual
warfare techniques, including his home church city of Colorado
Springs, CO. The fact is that Colorado Springs still has
major problems and is nowhere near regenerate.
Ted Haggard email: I have never claimed that cities have been
saved due to spiritual mapping or spiritual warfare. I believe
that the only way for cities to be saved is for the individuals
within that city to respond positively to the Gospel message.
As for Colorado Springs, I am a fan of the city and an advocate
for it. I appreciate the positive things that have happened here
and am working diligently at winning the lost and discipling
people in His Word so more positive things will happen. No doubt,
we have many of the same problems any large city has, and some
of our problems are severe. Thats why we need to pray and
reach out the way we do.
We did not intend to mean that Ted claimed his whole Colorado
Springs city was saved, but meant it in the way he said it.
His associates like George Otis, Jr. have claimed whole
cities have been saved and completely changed as heard
in the Transformation videos. It is a known fact that their goals,
through spiritual mapping and warfare, are supposed to change
(save) whole cities and even nations.
We simply reiterate the same quotes we used in our Open Letter:
- Colorado Springs has become a haven for several major ministries.
But it wasnt that long ago when the area was a Mecca for
blatant occult activity. Then Rev. Ted Haggard and his congregation
discovered the raw power of prayer when then committed themselves
to praying for their citys transformation. Their plan,
"spiritual mapping" lead to an amazing spiritual revival
of the Colorado Springs area, and it is a method of prayer that
is changing cities and countries around the globe. (Interview
with Rev. Ted Haggard, "Spiritual Mapping", http://www.tln.com/program/timeline/tl2024.html)
In Ted Haggards terminology, does revival
include salvation or not? In the minds of those
these ideas are being sold to, spiritual revival
would naturally be equated with salvation. How can Ted
deny people are not getting saved by an amazing spiritual
revival when he said so? Is he or is he not using these
methods? The point we are making is that spiritual warfare methods
of the NAR are claimed to produce the goal of spiritual revival
and change for cities.
- In Ted Haggards book, "Primary Purpose",
published in 1995, it is said that the spiritual climate in your
city can be changed to such an extent that it will be "hard
for people to go to hell from your city ... It happened in Colorado
Springs, and it can happen in your city too. (Ted Haggard, Primary
Purpose, Charisma Book Warehouse, http://cbw.strang.com/c.cgi?ProdID=3810&Source=INTNET)
When you make definitive statements such as hard for
people to go to hell from that city this has to mean a
great revival of salvation already took place in Colorado Springs,
because Haggard is using it as a prime example of success. But
we expect to see the results in facts, not just words.
Add to the above from the AD2000 web site:
- Cal Johnson, black pastor of rapidly-growing Solid Rock Church
in South Colorado Springs, described how Ted Haggard had taught
him to prayer walk and to emphasize missions, rather than the
troubles of the community alone. "As you sow yourself out
to people overseas, you may not receive anything from it. But
God will supernaturally change your neighborhood." (http://www.ad2000.org/pwpday4.htm)
- Peter Wagner explains how this happens, Spying out
the land is essential when warring for a city...Christians should
walk or drive every major freeway, avenue, and road of their
cities, praying and coming against demonic strongholds over every
neighborhood... Even if you don't see instant results, keep the
trumpets blowing
Always remember, God is not slack concerning
His promise; the walls will come down!" (Engaging the Enemy:
How to Fight and Defeat Territorial Spirits - C. Peter Wagner,
Ventura, CA; p. 98)
Haggard does admit that there are still problems in Colorado
Springs in his email to us only after we revealed those facts
in our Open Letter. This is not the picture Ted Haggard painted
to the media in selling the "spiritual mapping" concept.
If nothing happened and your city is actually worse off than
other cities in the US, why tell these kinds of stories to promote
an unbiblical method of prayer? The same claims were used
by the Transformations videos put out by George Otis, Jr. and
the Sentinel Group from the NLC property. These kinds of
"strategic level spiritual warfare" methods have no
biblical basis. Read this series of articles, Part 1,
2
&
3
on
that subject.
Haggard is correct to state that people are only saved through
the preaching of the Gospel, but cities cannot be "saved"
as John Dawson and George Otis, Jr. have claimed. However,
our point is that unbiblical methods have been added on to biblical
evangelism, and this is what Haggard is promoting around the
world with his ICA associates.
This point stands.
ACT Open Letter: Ted Haggard
has claimed that the World Prayer Center is the Pentagon
of Christianity, which is consistent with their view that
the new apostles and their methods are foundational to the Church.
Ted Haggard email: I have never said that the World Prayer Center
is the Pentagon of Christianity. I dont even know what
that means. I believe the World Prayer Center is a place for
people to come and pray and a good resource for coordinating
prayer for the darkest areas of the world. I have said nice things
about the World Prayer Center, but this is not one of them, and
the World Prayer Center itself has nothing to do with the apostolic
discussion of Peter Wagner other than the fact that Peter offices
in the building.
We apparently did make a mistake in stating that Ted Haggard
personally made the statement about the "Pentagon of Christianity".
We apologize and would like to correct that statement here by
stating that these terms have been used by a number of NAR participants
and Charisma Magazine referring to the WPC. These types of quotes
are being used by the NAR to propagate unbiblical prayer ideas
and to bolster support for the ICA and NAR. Here are some
of the accolades written about the WPC.
- Charisma called C. Peter Wagner, Chuck Peirce and Ted Haggard
"God's Generals". (as cited at http://www.despatch.cth.com.au/Mini/mini_despatch_May_22_2000.htm)
Interestingly, Charisma claims they get their accountability
from people like Ted Haggard.
- We regularly seek counsel from various leaders in the church,
including Mike Bickle, Fuchsia Pickett, Chuck Pierce, Ted Haggard,
and Jack Hayford. (Charisma Magazine Online, July 2001)
Various media organizations and individuals have given a number
of other attributes to the work of the WPC.
- The WPC has been touted as the "Pentagon of modern Christianity,"
"God's Air Command," and other militaristic nomenclatures.
... The World Prayer Center was built largely through the contributions
of Pastor Ted Haggard's New Life Church, which neighbors the
Center. (http://www.banner.org.uk/globalism/WCM4.html)
- In 1998, Otis's Sentinel Group, Wagner's Global Harvest Ministries,
and Ted Haggard's Christian Information Network plan to move
into the high-tech World Prayer Center on the grounds of Haggards
New Life Church in Colorado Springs (Christianity Today May 20,
1996, p. 78)
- Spiritual mapping will be central to the operation
of this electronic nerve center to connect the intercessors
and let each other know what they're hearing from the Holy Spirit
(Christianity Today Jan.12 1998)
The Sentinel Group that produced the Transformation videos
offers a 20/20 plan, which is Battlefield Intelligence
for Frontline Intercessors through a monthly briefing
in their magazine World Insight that contains information
for spiritual mappers.
It is clear that everyone involved in the NAR are endorsing each
other's books and attending the same conferences whenever possible.
The World Prayer Center is just as involved in the NAR as any
other NAR enterprise. They are all strategically connected
in leadership, goals and operations. The people involved, who
are participating and writing on this, are well aware of what
is being said and done. Can we really believe that Ted Haggard
is unaware of what is being said of him by those who get counsel
from him and those who participate at his church in ministry?
Interestingly, Ted Haggard or any other ICA member has never
corrected the glowing statements by Charisma, Christianity Today
and other publications about the World Prayer Center that endorse
the agenda of the New Apostolic Reformation.
With errata, this point stands.
ACT Open Letter: Ted Haggard
claims that to evangelize the Muslims the primary goal
is not to win new Christian converts but to serve the Islamic
people.
Ted Haggard email: I believe that it is fundamental to the presentation
of the Gospel that we serve all people, whether they are Christian
or not. Thus, if they are converted, that is wonderful and certainly
our aim. However, even if they are not converted, we still hold
their best interests at heart. The article referred to here was
written when the Islamic community in Colorado Springs was scared
because of hateful comments from Christians after 9/11, and I
was assuring them that we would protect their kids in school
and their ability to shop, go to restaurants, etc., even if they
didnt become Christians. I wanted them to know that because
they live in a community with a large number of evangelical Christians,
they can feel safe.
It is a worthy goal to be concerned about the safety of the citizenry,
though that is primarily the job of government officials.
But how can you "hold their best interests at heart"
if you don't witness to them? Our job as believers is to
preach the gospel, so that some might possibly be saved some
from hell. It may not be well received, but when was it ever
well received by any religion? Here's the quote again:
- The Rev. Ted Haggard, pastor of the 8,700-member New Life
Church along with Fred Markert, executive director of Youth With
a Mission, are going to reach the Muslims without the gospel,
but by showing their good works. Haggard said "the primary
goal is not to win new Christian converts but to "serve
the Islamic people. We believe it is the role of Christians to
befriend people in the Islamic community to ensure their peace
and safety." Haggard said he wants people to "become
aware of the Islamic community and locate their needs. That includes
leaving them alone if that's what they want. Markert said the
goal is to give people a choice of religions, not force Christianity
on them. He said missionaries would provide blankets, food and
other short-term relief as well as help with long-term projects
such as installing clean water systems." (Quotes from The
Gazette -Pastors issue call for missionaries to Islam 9/29/01,
http://ww2.moriel.org:8004/notice/where_were_you.htm)
We need to be very careful about what we say as Christians.
Evangelicals have evangelism as their primary goal. Social
action is second on the list--very important, but still second.
Fred Markert, in agreeing with Haggard, revealed the agenda of
YWAM and other NAR organizations, which have become increasingly
social and interfaith instead of evangelical. The reason
we brought this up was to show that Ted Haggard has demonstrated
clearly that he does not really understand classic evangelicalism.
This point stands.
ACT Open Letter: Ted Haggard
(a) endorsed the book God Chasers by Tommy Tenney, a Oneness
Pentecostal in a long line of anti Trinitarians, (b) is a member
with Tenney of the International Coalition of Apostles (ICA)
and (c) was also instrumental in bridging the gap between traditional
Pentecostals, the UPC and Word Faith.
Ted Haggard email: I did not know Tommy was a Oneness Pentecostal.
I just knew that his book had encouraged people in their prayer
lives. I havent looked at the book in years, but I dont
recall him discussing the trinity in it. I did attend the meeting
called by Dr. Robert Fisher, Executive Director for the Center
for Spiritual Renewal in Cleveland, TN and Dr. Vinson Synan,
author of Century of the Holy Spirit, 100 Years of Pentecostal
and Charismatic Renewal 1901-2001, to establish communication
between the various groups that have developed within Pentecostalism.
As far as I know, no one renounced their Trinitarian beliefs
because of this discussion, but I believe it did work to convince
some of the UPC leadership that we Trinitarians are genuine Christians.
I am a member of the International Coalition of Apostles because
Peter Wagner asked me to attend the meetings, not because I believe
I am an apostle.
Just because Tenneys beliefs on the Trinity are not mentioned
in this particular book does not excuse Ted Haggard from finding
out who he is endorsing. The fact is, Tenney is on board
with the ICA. The meeting Haggard refers to was mostly a compromise
in order to work together; it did not settle any issues that
had the Oneness groups sever from the Trinitarians in 1914. Why
would those who are in sound doctrine be concerned about what
those practicing heresy think? The fact is, we dont need
to convince them about our beliefs, as Ted states, but it is
they who need to be convinced their beliefs are unbiblical. This
was overlooked in favor of ecumenical unity, which is neither
unity of the Spirit nor unity of the Faith. This is a consistent
theme running through the NAR teachings--unity outside of doctrinal
truth.
The Bible is very clear that those with servant gifts of leadership
are to use them for the purpose of teaching sound doctrine:
- Ephesians 4:11-16 It was he who gave some to be apostles,
some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors
and teachers, to prepare Gods people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach
unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and
become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness
of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and
forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of
teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful
scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all
things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From
him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does
its work.
Isn't it interesting that those who claim to be foundational
apostles and prophets to the Church today have so little regard
for sound doctrine, when that should be their utmost goal according
to Paul! It certainly was the goal of the real foundational
Apostles, on whom the Church is built. Though there are
no foundational apostles and prophets today, as NAR Latter Rain
participants claim, those who are sent out ones,
missionaries, and church planters preach the Word, evangelize
and teach because they realize their grace gift responsibilities.
We simply don't accept that Ted Haggard did not know Tommy Tenney's
UPC background, as Tenney's parents and grandparents wrote the
book on UPC doctrines and this is widely known.
Ted Haggard email: I am a member of the International Coalition
of Apostles because Peter Wagner asked me to attend the meetings,
not because I believe I am an apostle.
Haggard does claim to be a member of the International Coalition
of Apostles because Peter Wagner asked him. So, all members
are invited, but to be a member one must agree with the goals
of the apostles under Wagner. Isn't it time for those in
the NAR to openly stand up for what they espouse? This
nullifies Teds statement that I dont have a
clear understanding of what the NAR is. It also negates
his assertion that he has never been to a meeting, (has)
never been invited to a meeting, and (doesnt) know what
goes on in their meetings.
Peter Wagner considers Ted Haggard to be an apostle, and so do
many others.
- In Colorado Springs, where Wagner lives, Pastor Ted Haggard
of New Life Church has been officially recognized as an apostle
of a certain sphere of churches called the NET. (Posted September
1, 2000, Arise Magazine Article: New Apostolic Reformation).
This point stands.
ACT Open Letter: Ted Haggard
is also a member of the National School of Prophets (NSP) under
Wagner.
Ted Haggard email: No, I am not. I have never been to a meeting,
have never been invited to a meeting, and dont know what
goes on in their meetings.
How is this possible when Haggard is on their governing board?
His name is included with the others. Someone should ask the
other members. Membership is attained only by official invitation
from ICA leadership. Nominations are received through any active
ICA member and processed through the Colorado Springs ICA office,
as far as we understand.
As stated before, Ted Haggard has hosted the National School
of the Prophets at his church for a number of years, and was
a featured speaker at those meetings. We have him on video
and audio, unless it is a clever body double. As already
stated above, at those meetings Ted Haggard endorsed the modern
roles of prophets and the apostles in the church as per the NAR
Latter Rain construct. To be on board with them means one upholds
their goals and participates in them. These facts cannot be denied.
Again, we reiterate that almost all these teachings and practices
were from the Latter Rain movement that was rejected by the Assemblies
of God and other Pentecostal denominations in the early 1950s.
This point stands.
ACT Open Letter: Ted Haggard
and others of the ICA have claimed they are able to teach people
to be prophets, and have charged $175 to do so.
Ted Haggard email: No, I havent. I have never claimed to
teach anyone to be a prophet, dont know how to teach anyone
to be a prophet, and have never charged anyone anything for services
or information related to prophecy. I hope this clarifies my
position on these subjects.
This is simply not the case. They charge a fairly hefty
sum for the National School Of The Prophets (NSOTP) conferences.
- There is even a National School of the Prophets Conference,
where for $175 you can be trained in the art of propheteering.
C. Peter Wagner, Dutch Sheets, Rick Joyner, Cindy Jacobs, Mike
Bickle, Ted Haggard and others can train us to be prophets
(Charisma Magazine, Dec. 1998, as quoted in http://www.pfo.org/fortune.htm) (also http://www.harvestnet.org/reports/conferenceexamples.htm)
Haggard welcomes the people in during his speaking slot at
one NSOTP conference held at his church:
- I want to thank every one of you, for spending your
money, for taking your time, for coming here and learning how
to do and how to grow in the prophetic ministry (Ted Haggard
speaking at the National School of the Prophets, Mobilizing the
Prophetic Office, Saturday, 13 May, 2000.)
Here are a few of thing Ted Haggard taught said about the
prophetic at the National School of The Prophets.
- I am so appreciative of all of you coming here to Colorado
Springs, to learn all about the prophetic. ... (Ted Haggard,
NSOTP, Mobilizing the Prophetic Office, Saturday, May 13, 2000.)
- See, when we flow in the prophetic, when we encourage people
in the prophetic, when we make their lives better, it's a flow
of life. It's a flow of His life. It's a flow of
His power. It's a flow of His words into our community or into
our church, or into a believer's meeting." (Ted Haggard,
NSOTP, Mobilizing the Prophetic Office, Saturday, May 13, 2000.)
This point stands.
Conclusion
We have proven all our points from our Open
Letter to the NAE.
There is much more that could be presented on these topics, but
we wanted to keep this response as short as possible. There are
also testimonies of those who have attended Haggards New
Life Church that substantiate what we have written. We encourage
everyone to look further into this serious matter.
In Christ,
Sandy Simpson, ACT
Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Ministries
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/ |