There is a story about IHOP that is appearing all over the internet. I don't question the man's testimony or motives in writing it. There is some truth in it. The problem I am having now a day after reading it for the first time is now there is a baby/bathwater issue.
Many will assume that everything Mike Bickle and IHOP ever did was invalid and of no value to the Kingdom. That would be a wrong assumption. The whole Prophetic worship flowed out of the IHOP model. The Emphasis on Prayer and Praise as two sides of the same coin came from there. The idea of immersion into that culture FOR A TIME had value. It did in early days of Christianity and still does today. The idea of intense discipleship for new young believers was needed. The breaking down of barriers of the God Box that many of us kept Him by religion was critical. The sharing of all things that I saw happen in person .. a la book of Acts was a rich heritage. A new level of Grace living. Tabernacle of David emphasis and the Christian Hedonism - Desiring God John Piper theology that set so many people free was taught and lived. The prophetic emphasis that was not anywhere in the church in 1999 when we started (I was part of it then). The new boundaries pushed back in passionate worship. Misty Edwards. And a new view of Grace Living by Faith that caused many to grow in God.
Much good came from all that. Many people today now act as if they invented this. They didn't. It flowed out of this movement. We must not scorn that place where we came from.
Then some things began enter in. Some messed up end times teaching. Some of the discipleship became demands. Some of the demands became almost cult-like. Some of the money needed to run the ministry came from kids who didn't make a future, didn't make a life, didn't get a job, didn't get married, didn't go to school to get an education. BECAUSE Jesus was coming soon. The money-ministry machine was in full force and needed to be fed. Young lives were the fodder.
New leadership had entered the scene. I met some of them. Not like Mike.
I pray that this exposure will cause those in leadership at IHOP to set aside some time to carefully examine if there is a cause and begin to deal with it all. It's not too late. Sometimes God uses people to create a Holy Reboot.
If you tend to be critical, be careful what bandwagon of disdain you jump on to illuminate your own bandwagon. Be more like Gamaliel in your opinions. If you don't know what I mean, you probably don't have an opinion.
That is the warning I heard in the Spirit.
10 comments:
I tend to agree with your perspective on IHOP. Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Even though things can get messed up, there is definitely still some amazing things God has done through IHOP.
To be honest the body of Christ treats anyone who moves on as a leper and drives them from the camp making them cry out "unclean - unclean" I am not going to take sides on this issue other than to say if a person is forced to leave a group due to sin, we are to treat him like a publican or sinner - and when a person hears God that it is time to move on, they are treated like lepers. In over 40 years as a Christian, and having made more than my share of changes I have only found one or two churches that even know how to treat sinners, let alone those called to a change of ministry. We are family, not enemies. They will know we are Christians by our love. We need to live as family, not enemies. Lets be honorable and loving.
Very good balance to the letter written about IHOP.
Jesus' said to be wise as a serpent and harmless as doves. He also taught us to use knee mail when we saw or heard thing that didn't make right understandings. When we judge, we are judged. Take this to your Lord and let Him work it out.
Kathleen
My sister just posted the article on her FB page, so I read it,(because she is my sister, and if for no other reason, I want to protect her!) and this is what I have answered:
Did not know that was their "teaching" on end times, if this article is accurate. However, I have LONG counseled (any who would listen,) that we are to OCCUPY until Jesus comes. "Occupy" means to transact business like a banker. We are SUPPOSED to be busy about The Father's business- using our talents and gifts to grow the Kingdom!
Too much mindset of "come take me away" and "to Hell" with the unsaved, unrepentant! Jesus MANDATED that we go into all the world and preach the Kingdom of God, that they would NOT go to Hell, but rather be saved!
The Kingdom is not about money and big houses, although Prosperity IS a part of the Kingdom! The Kingdom is not about sell everything and be poor and live in church, because Jesus is coming at any minute, but rather active sacrificial giving to the poor should be a way of life for every Christian, and healthy Church relationships and attendance and ongoing growth in the things of God with a local body as well as on your own are integral to our Spiritual health and well being and also commanded by God!
Prophecies are to encourage, warn, and guide you. They are to be tested and not just swallowed blindly! Apostle Bobbie Jean Merck taught me very early on in my relationship with her, if ANYONE says they have the corner market on something, and they are the only one who is right- RUN from them! The BIBLE clearly teaches, we ALL see through a glass darkly and know in part and prophecy in part... 1Cor. 13:8-12 AMP Love supersedes all and is all. Everything including Faith, operates by LOVE. GOD IS LOVE. And it is from that point of reference all else proceeds. Selah.
I also encourage you to read Prophet Gene Redlin's article here:
http://prophetgene.blogspot.com/.../a-propehtic-warning...
I leave you with these verses:
1Co 13:8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
1Co 13:9 For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).
1Co 13:10 But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.
1Co 13:12 For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].
1Co 13:13 And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.
ya but now it kind of seems like IHOP is throwing Mike under the bus
If our eyes are on Jesus, then all is well. Thats the only thing that matters. God makes all things new, its ok. Apologies are in order though
We can never excuse something that may seem to appear as good without seeing and understand those that became dehumanized, marginalized, and extremely hurt because of the supposedly good of that church or ministry.
Mike Bickle is an advocate of New Apostolic Reformation. His heresy is where the troubles come from. The New Apostolic Reformation seek to appoint modern-day people as apostles.
We know from the New Testament that our faith is founded upon the apostles and prophets. The apostles are the twelve (including Paul). The prophets are Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah through Malachi. The apostles wrote the New Testament. The prophets wrote the Old Testament. Upon these is our faith founded.
All "new apostles" are false, and churches that advocate that heresy are like the church of Pergamum, advocating the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
Well written article. Fair to IHOP and praised their efforts in keeping with the mandate they were given. However, as a former IHOPer, I can tell you that "prophetic worship" did not originate here, as the writer claims. Neither did "Prayer and Praise being two sides of the same coin". Also, prophetic emphasis was in fact in the church prior to 1999 contrary to what the writer claims. Therein lies the about the most major problem that people have with IHOP - a standard turned off feeling you get from many ihopers who have a "where it's at" hat on. It's like the awkward date you go on where the lady shows up and gives you the cold shoulder the whole evening, yet still makes a entire evening of the date. You can't figure out what they want from relationship because on one hand it's obvious they don't like you or approve, but on the other hand they make an entire evening out of the date. Often times these people in some weird way need the rest of body but don't know how to articulate anything but how they're different from you and you need what they all have. The "where it's at" hat is present in many ministries in the body where something a little different and cutting edge is going on. Usually typified by tons of youth's zealous involvement with the ministry without the proper amount of pastors to keep people in line. Although this happens in spades, God still sees these types hearts and will work with them, even though His dealings with them often leads to some form of embarrassment in efforts to humble them. On the plus note of things - IHOP in it's heart is a great place. As the writer said in regards to the keeping of intense discipleship of young believers and prophetic ministry. So in that way I praise Ihop and the writer. Since my time from IHOP I have continued to see so many people touched with the power and love of God all over the world and in different ministries. NO one ministry can lay such extravagant claims to one form of ministry over another. God's body is huge and can use one's particular style but other places operate in the Spirit as well, and that's the main thing that matters the most.
I have to go with throw the baby and the bath water out and while you're at it, the tub. Are you following God? If so the baby is unimportant. It's an idol that you need to let go of. God asked Abraham to sacrifice Issac. This isn't anyone's life ending, it's a church, an organization, a leader. Leave that and run to God.
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