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MARCH FOR JESUS?
On May 27, 1995 another "March for Jesus" took place. Since this march is gaining so much popularity and support, I think it is necessary that we stop and take a look at the origins of the march. (In another issue we will look at some of the people involved in promoting such a march.)
The four people who are responsible for the start of the march are Roger Forster, Lynn Green, Graham Kendrick and Gerald Coates. Let's look at the origins from their own words taken from their book entitled March for Jesus. They state: "We met on several occasions to pray about taking the praise and prayers of the CHARISMATIC movement out onto the streets."1 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.9-10.] [emphasis mine throughout]
One of these four men, Graham Kendrick, was the son of a Baptist minister. He "had a first taste of music in evangelism when he formed a ROCK BAND with his brother and sister."2 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.22.] Graham claims: "When we started the band it had become popular for Christians to use the pop music of the day to communicate their faith. Many churches had converted halls into coffee bars. Bands like ours were used as bait to get people off the streets."3 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.22-23.]
The first march was held in 1987 in the city of London and was "led in worship, prayer and praise by a platform party including Graham Kendrick, Lyndon Bowring of Care Trust, contemporary ROCK BAND Heartbeat, Floyd McClung of YWAM, Roger and Faith Forster, Gerald Coates, Lynn Green, singer/songwriter Noel Richards of Pioneer, John Pressdee, Lovell Bent, a black church leader, and Christine Leage of the Lydia Fellowship."4 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.33.]
For the second march in 1988, "Graham suggested that each column should have its leaders at the front followed by DANCERS, singers and a band."5 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.44.] The crowds "began to wave and DANCE. There was a tremendous CARNIVAL atmosphere."6 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.26.]
This book, March for Jesus, from which I've been quoting, adds: "...marching for Jesus involves celebration....To reflect this spirit of celebration our marches have a carnival feel to them. Some folks put on clowns' suits, others wear bright clothing, we carry balloons and colourful banners, there's lively music and songs--all in celebration of God's extravagant love for the world."7 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.147.]
Does this sound like something that would be pleasing to Christ? Yet, this is SUPPOSED to be a "March for JESUS." I might also ask, "WHICH JESUS are they marching for?"
By 1989, the march had spread to other countries, becoming more and more ecumenical. By 1990, "there were an estimated 200,000 marchers representing 3,000 churches marching for Jesus."8 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.98.]
Even Amy Grant, a popular so-called "Christian" singer, joined in the 1992 March for Jesus in Nashville, Tennessee.9 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.130.] Grant, by the way, has swum in the nude with men around and thinks it's fun to use four-letter words. For which Jesus was she marching? It certainly couldn't be for the Jesus of the Bible, for the Bible explicitly tells us: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth" (Ephesians 4:29).
Of course, the marches were not meant for people to witness for Christ. Graham Kendrick admits that "direct evangelism HAS NEVER BEEN the primary purpose of the marches."10 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.26.]
If "direct evangelism has never been the primary purpose of the marches," then what is their purpose? Jesus clearly told His disciples: "Go ye into all the world, and PREACH THE GOSPEL to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
UNITY IN CHRIST?
The book, March for Jesus, may give us a hint as to the purpose of the march. It states: "By marching together and not as individual congregations we demonstrate the unity we have in Christ; a unity achieved at the 'highest common denominator' of the cross."11 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.132.] It then adds: "Finally, marching shows that we're for something. The happiness, the enjoyment, the balloons, the bright colours, the singing, the fancy dress, all contribute to an atmosphere of CARNIVAL and celebration which prophetically asserts the positive nature of living God's way in God's world....
"These things are all expressed in symbolism....We think that there is actually a RELEASE OF POWER THROUGH SYMBOLISM."12 [FN: Graham Kendrick, et. al., March for Jesus (Great Britain: Kingsway Publications Ltd., 1992), p.132-133.] Of course, any WITCH will tell you the same thing! "Symbols," we are told, "are representative of ownership."13 [FN: Eric Barger, From Rock to Rock: The Music of Darkness Exposed! (Lafayette, Louisiana: Huntington House, Inc., 1990), p.118.] "A symbol is a figure of something intellectual, moral or spiritual, a visible object, REPRESENTING to the mind the semblance of SOMETHING WHICH IS NOT SHOWN but realized by association with it."14 [FN: Slipper, The Symbolism of the Order of the Eastern Star, (no other information available), p.7; See also: Sarah H. Terry, The Second Mile (Corpus Christi, Texas: Christian Triumph Press, 1935), p.5.]
If the March for Jesus is not done for the reason of evangelizing, then what is its purpose? When a friend of mine called the March for Jesus USA headquarters in Austin, Texas, he was told that the purpose of the march was to raise consciousness.15 [FN: Phone conversation with Texe Marrs on February 3, 1995.] They feel that when enough people get together there will be a unified consciousness created. This is New Age terminology and sounds very much like the "hundredth monkey" concept. The "hundredth monkey" concept goes like this: A colony of monkeys was given sweet potatoes to eat but they were hesitant to eat them because they were covered with dirt. One day a particular monkey washed her potato in a stream. Progress was very slow but eventually other monkeys also starting washing their potatoes before eating them. Supposedly, when the one-hundredth monkey washed his potato something clicked within the minds of all the other monkeys and SUDDENLY almost all of the monkeys started to wash their potatoes.16 [FN: Alan Morrison, The Serpent and the Cross: Religious Corruption in an Evil Age (Birmingham, England: K & M Books, 1994), p.133-134.]
This is basically what is being promoted through the March for Jesus. When enough people get together, there will eventually come a time when something will register within the minds of the mass of people which will cause most everyone to have the same type consciousness. Alan Morrison states: "Dr. [Peter] Russell refers to the fulfilment of the 'Hundredth Monkey Concept' as the moment of 'Critical Mass,' when a crucial number of people engaged in 'consciousness-altering' activities on the planet has been reached. In this moment, a universal change of consciousness will be effected throughout the species, bringing unprecedented effects across the globe."17 [FN: Alan Morrison, The Serpent and the Cross: Religious Corruption in an Evil Age (Birmingham, England: K & M Books, 1994), p.136.] Peter Russell, by the way, is a New Ager, but his idea sounds identical to that of the March for Jesus organizers.
One Christian warns: "The theology behind these marches, according to the organizers of the marches, is decidedly Dominion/Reconstructionist. The marches, it is proposed, are aimed at claiming the various geographic territories in which they are held. They are based on the popular but spurious New Age theory called the hundredth monkey principle which was used to promote the famous New Age Harmonic Convergence holiday which now has an annual celebration among New Agers.
"According to the hundredth monkey theory when a certain number of monkeys--people--began to exhibit a certain behavior, then a quantum leap of behavior would be made involving the entire population. So that if we can get enough people marching in the March For Jesus then the whole world would come under the dominion of the dominion theologians.18 [FN: New Age Adversary Bulletin and Old Time Gospel Advocate (February 1994), p.6.]
DIE OR CHANGE
New Agers, such as Barbara Marx Hubbard, promote this concept. Hubbard's "1983 book Revelation: the Book of Co-creation called for a Hundredth-Monkey-style 'planetary pentecost which would alter the world's state of consciousness.' "19 [FN: Alan Morrison, The Serpent and the Cross: Religious Corruption in an Evil Age (Birmingham, England: K & M Books, 1994), p.181.]
Hubbard was the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee for 1984 and the Executive Director of the World Future Society. She doesn't mince words when she informs us: "Humanity will not be able to make the transition from Earth-only to universal life UNTIL the chaff has been separated from the wheat....
"No worldly peace can prevail until the self-centered members of the planetary body EITHER CHANGE or DIE. That is the choice....They must surely DIE, or CHANGE....
"This act is as horrible as killing a CANCER cell. It MUST be done for the sake of the future of the whole....
"There have always been DEFECTIVE SEEDS. In the past they were permitted to die a 'natural death.'...We, the elders have been patiently waiting until the very last moment before the quantum transformation, to take action to CUT OUT this corrupted and corrupting element in the body of humanity. It is like watching a CANCER grow; something MUST be done before the whole body is destroyed...."20 [FN: Barbara Marx Hubbard, quoted in The Omega Letter (October 1988, Vol. 3, No. 9), p.12.]
Surprisingly, the March for Jesus advocates also have their own plans for purging the earth. It is claimed that anyone "who opposes the March For Jesus is considered an antiChrist and should be punished. Capital punishment has been proposed by many dominionists, such as R.J. Rushdooney and Pat Robertson, for any who oppose Christian Dominion over the earth."21 [FN: New Age Adversary Bulletin and Old Time Gospel Advocate (February 1994), p.6.]
Interestingly, Pat Robertson wrote a book entitled The Secret Kingdom. One subheading in this book is "Renegades Excluded." He states that the renegade "will be ostracized. That, in a sense was God's answer to the problem when He called His people Israel. They were not to temporize. The renegade was removed from society and rendered incapable of such conduct through very harsh punishment."22 [FN: Pat Robertson with Bob Slosser, The Secret Kingdom (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1982), p.119.] Robertson then lists several Bible verses as a footnote to this statement. In almost every instance, the punishment was DEATH. In other words, the nonconformists and misfits (synonyms for renegades!) are to be removed. Knowing that Robertson has promoted many New Agers on his program, I just wonder if his list for extermination includes the Bible-believing Christians since he, like the New Agers, denies Biblical inerrancy.23 [FN: Constance Cumbey, A Planned Deception: The Staging of a New Age "Messiah" (East Detroit, Michigan: Pointe Publishers, Inc., 1985), p.172.]
REBELLIOUS ARE REMOVED
Trish Tillin writes: "Derek Prince, one of the contributors to a strange book titled Target Earth: The Necessity of Diversity in a Holistic Perspective on World Mission--gives a brief outline of the events of the Last Days, as he understands it: This follows a familiar pattern, to be found in most restoration writings:
"1. A Latter Rain Revival leading to a vast end-times harvest in which countless millions will be saved.
"2. Parallel with this, a severe judgement from God on all who resist the revival.
"3. As a result of these events, the kingdom will be brought forth on earth--then consummated by the personal Return of Jesus.
"A key to this prophetic scenario is the REMOVAL OF THE REBELLIOUS. This idea alone should be enough to alert you to the danger of our times. Yes, it is being preached everywhere that, come the great spiritual revival, all those who resist will be destroyed!"24 [FN "Que Signifie 1994?," Trish Tillen, Mainstream (Winter 1993), p.8.] [Emphasis in the original]
This so-called "spiritual revival" is aiming to "bring in the Kingdom of God through spiritual warfare with principalities and observing certain laws."25 [FN: Letter from Lynn and Sarah Leslie dated June 13, 1994.] Sarah Leslie remarks: "There is an obvious abandonment of orthodox Christianity and the Word of God as evidenced by the writings of those involved in this movement. Much of this new theology is antichristic in nature (I John 4:2, 3). These new doctrines are being broadcast by Christian media to the broader evangelical community with increasing frequency, and are being absorbed into people's belief systems."26 [FN: Letter from Lynn and Sarah Leslie dated June 13, 1994.]
Please notice that, according to the Scriptures, when Christ returns again, He will not find a worldwide Christian kingdom on earth. In fact, Jesus asks: "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) We are also reminded in Matthew 7:14 that "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it." Those who are promising a worldwide revival before the return of Christ do not know or understand the Scriptures. Of course, this is precisely what the Dominionist, Reconstructionist, and Kingdom Now camps allege. You see, they believe that mankind must set up the kingdom of God on earth before Christ can return!
Earl Paulk, a promoter of this theory, writes: "In Matthew 24:14, Jesus clearly says that HE CANNOT RETURN for His Bride UNTIL she has demonstrated the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the nations of the earth. Until the church can demonstrate the alternative Kingdom, JESUS CANNOT COME AGAIN. God no longer has the authority to send Christ back to earth, because He will not circumvent His eternal plan....I can say with the authority of God that CHRIST CANNOT AND WILL NOT COME BACK UNTIL we have demonstrated the Gospel of the Kingdom to the nations of the earth. That task demands a mature church, which will have become an alternative to the kingdoms of the world. That is what the church is all about and JESUS CHRIST'S RETURN IS UP TO US."27 [FN: Ralph G. Griffin, "Dominion Theology," The Gospel Truth (April 1988, Volume 29, Number 4), p.2.]
There is one MAJOR problem in establishing the kingdom here on earth NOW. According to the Bible there will be a kingdom established ON EARTH but it WILL NOT be God's Kingdom--at least the kingdom of the Christians' God! You see, the kingdom that will be established here on earth will be under the rule of the ANTICHRIST! The sad part is that many people who are WELL-MEANING and SINCERE are working to set up THIS kingdom for the ANTICHRIST while actually believing that they are working for Christ's Kingdom.
IGNORING THE SCRIPTURES
Additionally, the "focus of the Jesus March is not so much the salvation of individual people, but territorial, geographic salvation!...
"The Jesus March and evangelistic events are designed to bring all denominations together in unity--unity is the key. The organisers believe Christ cannot come until there is full visible unity in the Church. Anyone who stands in the way is accused of destroying this unity--and that's also why doctrine is thrown out. Doctrine divides, they say--so let's ignore the scriptures and concentrate on love and unity.
"Those who dare to raise points of doctrine are called nit-picking fundamentalists."28 [FN "Networking: A Global Vision," Trish Tillen, Mainstream (Winter 1993), p.4-5.] [Emphasis in the original]
It is being taught that this world will continue to get better and better until the whole world is evangelized by the gospel. For example, David Chilton claims: "Our rule is going on now, on this earth...and the extent of our rule coincides with the progress of the gospel. As it increases, so does the dominion of Christians....Eventually, through evangelism, the REIGN OF CHRISTIANS WILL BECOME SO EXTENSIVE that 'the earth will be full of the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea' (Isaiah 11:9) Edenic blessings will abound the world as God's law is increasingly obeyed...."29 [FN: Ray Nelson, "Whose Kingdom Come...?," Passport (January-February 1988), p.3.]
The Bible, on the other hand, talking about the second coming of Christ, forewarns us: "Let NO MAN DECEIVE YOU by any means: for that day SHALL NOT COME, EXCEPT there come a FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition..." (II Thessalonians 2:3). Elsewhere we are told "that tin the LATTER TIMES some shall DEPART FROM THE FAITH, GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS, AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron..." (I Timothy 4:1-2). II Timothy 3:1 prophesies "that in the LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME." These perilous times will be like this: "Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY" (II Timothy 3:2-5).
Isn't this a PERFECT description of our day? Is the world really getting better and better with all the abortion and homosexuality taking place? Are the Christians really coming into power and taking over the world for Christ? According to Daniel, a prophecy for the end time about the ANTICHRIST'S RULE, reveals that he "made war with the saints, and PREVAILED AGAINST THEM....And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall WEAR OUT THE SAINTS of the most High..." (Daniel 7:21; 25a). Matthew also tells us that in the LAST DAYS "they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you:...And because INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND, the love of MANY shall WAX COLD....and THEN SHALL THE END COME" (Matthew 24:9, 12, 14b).
Does it sound like those in the March for Jesus organization are hated for Christ's sake? Listen to their boast for the 1994 march: "In every capital city of EVERY NATION of the world, plus thousands of other cities, Christians will march through the streets in demonstration of their faith and proclamation that Jesus Christ is Lord."30 [FN: he AD 2000 and Beyond Movement, p.4.] What a difference from what Christ said would take place: "And ye shall be HATED of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 10:22; See also: Matthew 24:9; Mark 13:13; and Luke 21:17).
--Dr. Cathy Burns
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