I'm
LEAVING the PROPHETIC MOVEMENT
-by Andrew Strom.
RE:
The KC 'Whitedove' Conference
(-Main speakers: Bob Jones, Paul Keith Davis, Bobby Conner, John
Paul Jackson - plus Jim Goll and others).
It is with great sadness that I make the following report.
I said last week that the 'Whitedove' conference in Kansas City this past
weekend would be a pivotal one. It certainly was pivotal for me personally. I
wish I could say that there was deep repentance - which the preaching was
incredibly anointed and the crowd were on their faces crying before God. I wish
I could say that, but I can't. In fact, it seemed to me that the opposite
was true. The saddest thing of all is that many people probably came away from
this conference saying how "wonderful" and "uplifting" it
was (-just as they always do). But I have to tell you; I was grieved to the core
by it. Many parts of it I would even describe as spiritually "sick".
Some people believe that the fall of Paul Cain into serious sin is some kind of
aberration - just one individual's problem. But I am convinced that the fall of
Paul Cain (-who was recognized worldwide as the 'father' of this movement) is a
symptom of a much wider disease. The whole movement is sick. As I have stated in
previous articles, the 'Prophetic' as we know it is really a "fallen"
movement -since the early 1990's. But I always held out hope that it would
somehow turn around and get back on track again. In fact, I believed that this
conference was a heaven-sent opportunity for that to happen.
However, after what I saw this weekend, I no longer believe this is possible.
The deception is now too deep. This movement is being "given over to
believe a lie" and I want no part of it. I am cutting myself off, because I
cannot afford the disease to spread into what we ourselves are doing. Things
have now gotten so bad that we have to separate ourselves - and to do so
publicly.
As you know, I requested special prayer from you all last week that a true
spirit of Repentance might prevail in this conference. The reason I made this
request was because God had woken me up at 6 am the previous Friday and given me
a strong word about the conference. (God only wakes me up like this quite rarely
- perhaps five times a year).
The word He gave me was that this must be a 'repentance' conference - that this
was in essence the "last chance" for the Prophetic movement because it
had become more and more corrupt - centered around money and 'ear-tickling'
words, false prophecy and so-on. This was a gathering of KEY prophets at a
moment in time when the 'father' of the movement had just fallen. It was God's
ideal moment for a truly "solemn assembly". (And yes - I did write and
pass this word on - in person - to the three main leaders of the conference).
However, what actually eventuated at this event seemed to me to be more akin to
a circus than a solemn assembly. The music, the concert-style lighting, the
stage dancers, the groaning tables stacked high with books and CD's for sale,
the 'ear-tickling', the hype, the $40.00 door fee (plus extra offerings taken
each session) - and that's just for starters.
What really bothered me about the weekend was the total lack of any truly
'prophetic' preaching. There was some good stuff on Self-pity and Bitterness
right near the start, but after that it was mostly downhill. As always, there
were plenty of anecdotes and tales of angelic visitations, etc. There were
Scriptures quoted and a few helpful insights. But as far as a message that truly
pierces and challenges and convicts - well, don't go looking for that in THIS
prophetic movement! In fact, there were warnings AGAINST any message that might
come across as even slightly "condemning", and there was even one of
those cute talks on the need for "loving oneself", etc.
Today's prophets seem to talk a lot ABOUT the 'sword of the Lord' but never
actually bring it to bear. They bring no piercing word. And thus the entire
movement is open to great deception. And instead of REPENTANCE, people are
getting all kinds of counterfeit spiritual experiences. There seems to be almost
no discernment at all.
The ON-STAGE DANCING throughout this conference was a good example. Now, I
myself am a rock musician, but from the beginning these dance items had a rather
'wild' aspect to them that truly made me uncomfortable in my spirit. There was
even one that came across like a sensual 'Harem' dance. Much of it really felt
"off" - and almost anyone who sees the videos would tell you so. Even
the worship had a very "tribal" feel to it at times. And by Day Three
they were doing dance items with just loud voodoo-style drums only - and leaping
around in a frenzied circle making weird cries to the super-amplified beat. The
feeling in the room was so oppressive and "pagan" during this
that I could hardly even bear to stay in there. Then came one of the most
shocking statements of the whole conference - from one of the main prophets. He
got up and said that people may feel uncomfortable with such obviously
"pagan" type dancing, but that it was originally God's type of dancing
and we were just now 'stealing back' what the pagans had stolen from God!
I have to admit, this was the last straw for me. What could be more blatant?
What kind of 'spirits' do they think are being transmitted to people who open
themselves up to that music? There is no
discernment in this movement at all.
Now, I do not primarily blame the dancers. They were young and possibly
immature. (-They weren't actually from 'Whitedove' itself). Clearly, most of the
blame lies with the main prophets who invited them in and openly endorsed and
promoted what was happening the whole time. They would get up and publicly
acclaim these dance items, thus ensuring that the spirit of it would pervade the
entire event. And indeed it did - more and more.
Remember, most of the major "movers and shakers" of the Prophetic
movement were at this conference, going along with this stuff. I repeat what I
said earlier: This movement demonstrates absolutely NO DISCERNMENT. I urge
everyone to GET OUT NOW, before even worse is brought in. I believe this
movement is RIGHT NOW being given over to deception by God - and it is going to
get much worse.
Even the 'spiritual' moments in this conference often had strong touches of
"Charis-mania" excess about them. And this was not the 'harmless,
silly' kind of excess, either. It was at a level where I believe demonic spirits
of deception were clearly at work. By the last session the audience was so hyped
that they threw away all inhibition and leapt into the 'pagan' dancing
themselves with wild abandon. And one of the main prophets even got up and
announced that there were angels in the room going around "blowing on
people's fingers" if only they would lift them up in the air. That
particular part sounds silly, but actually the whole thing by this stage had
become awful beyond words. Virtually every day I came home utterly grieved and
depressed. I had come to this conference with great expectancy and hope,
thinking that the return of Bob Jones may bring a renewal of all that was
originally good about this movement. I literally came as a 'friend' and they
turned me into an enemy in the space of three days.
Below are the SPECIFIC THINGS that God told
me He has against this movement as a whole:
-The giving and receiving of "ear-tickling"
words.
-The giving and receiving of money in expectation of prophecy.
-False words and false teaching.
-The lack of a true Repentance message.
-The spiritual 'blindness' that allows familiar spirits and spirits of
divination to flourish.
-The failure of this movement to judge itself, meaning that God must judge it.
-The idolizing of well-known prophets - placing them on a pedestal.
-And so on....
WHAT NOW for us?
Well, obviously, with great sadness we must now totally cut ourselves off from
today's Prophetic Movement. Any related links and articles would be removed from
our web site immediately.
As you know, for some time now I have spoken of the 'John-the-Baptist' type
ministries that must arise to preach REPENTANCE in the Western nations.
-Preachers of righteousness with a piercing word, like the Finney’s, the
Wesley’s and the Whitefield’s of old. Such ministries are essential for true
Revival to come. I now see that this new move must completely "separate
itself" from the influence of the existing Prophetic movement. We need a
completely 'NEW' Prophetic, and to keep it from being tainted by the sickness
that has infected the old, there must be a complete cutting-off and a
"leaving behind".
I urge all of you to take this before the Lord for yourself. We live in very
dangerous times, and I believe the old Prophetic literally stands under the
judgment of God.
For our ministry in Kansas City, what this means is that we have to go right
back to the original calling and mandate over this city, and build on that. We
cannot build on the movement that came after. The 21 days of prayer and fasting,
the comet that came, and the commission to preach Repentance to the Lukewarm
church - these were all foundational elements. So too were the four standards of
"Holiness of heart, Unwavering faith, Day and Night prayer, and Extravagant
Giving to the Poor". The original Prophetic move here seemed to be
relatively pure for only a few years - and then quickly became a quagmire. So we
have to stick to only the original foundations - and build on that. Our Sunday
night meetings in Kansas City will certainly continue.
There were prophecies last year that a 'new' prophetic - a "second
phase" was about to begin. I do believe this. But what we need to make sure
of is that it does not become ensnared in the garbage
of this previous movement. It must be totally NEW.
I would ask that you forward this email to as many Lists as you can, and to your
Christian friends. We want it as widely known as possible that we have cut off
all relations with the current Prophetic movement - and why we did it.
To email me with any feedback, please write to:
prophetic@revivalschool.com
As you can tell, it has been a terribly sad and devastating weekend for myself
and my family. We would truly appreciate your prayers at this time, my friends.
God bless you all.
Kindest regards in Christ,
Andrew Strom.