Over the years, I’ve watched a hundred + documentaries on the rise of Hitler; the Shoah שואה; the capitulation of the church; and living under the reign of the Nazi mind-set.
The hellish story is a significant part of my family’s heritage. My grandfather, grandmother and relatives moved from Cologne to California in the 20’s-30’s, where my step-uncle lived and did business in America as a full-fledged member of the Nazi party. In graduate school, my seminary offered a complete course on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. While I was a youth pastor in the 80’s, a mother of one of the girls in our group used to play with Bonhoeffer’s sister in Breslau. “The Cost of Discipleship” has been one of the most formative influences on my own theology and praxis.
All to say, throughout my life, I’ve thought A LOT about what it would have been like had my family NOT immigrated to America in the 20’s and 30’s. Would they – and would I – have had what it takes to do the right things in a totalitarian state? The question has formed the fabric of so much of who I am.
None-the-less, it hasn’t been until this last month, that I’ve honestly begun to believe I now have to make this kind of vital decision – in real time; discerning the season, perceiving the socio-political dynamics, envisioning the road-map ahead of us; understanding a bit of the social-psychological dynamics (my undergraduate major), and living with fidelity to the Spirit of Christ, with compassion, and civility to my neighbor.
In less than a month our nation is has lurched into the gutter; laws and protocols abrogated; policies thrust upon us by fiat; threat upon threat; promises (made just weeks ago) broken; violent, openly racist men propped up into positions of unimaginable power; checks and balances trashed; fires set; the vaults of American records handed over to men who daily tell us they have no regard for personal liberty; adolescent retaliation; the weaponization of every authority within their grasp; and the jeering applause of millions of blood-thirsty, cursing “patriots” who just want what’s due them, plus a pound of flesh.
Today the storylines are being formed that will allow us to justify the (re)appropriation of native lands, the invasion and seizure of foreign lands, tribunals, police-state surveillance, and perhaps even, re-education camps. For anyone who still retains an ounce of perspicuity (we’ve been on this journey for nearly a decade already) all of this can be clearly seen -not even imagined – realized. Every bit.
In the days of John the apostle, he had the choice to bend the knee to Caesar, OR declare that “Jesus was Lord”. To assert one, was to deny the other. I am convinced the Christian church is in an identical moment. Today, believers in America can choose to believe the way forward is through the Sermon on the Mount, prophetic alarm, repentance and the crucified life, or we can continue to entrust our lives, our commission and our nation to the narratives and the ways of one boastful, lustful, hostile man.
Friends, two crosses lay before us; one is broken and proudly flies on banners that promise to protect our rights, and never touch our flesh. The other remains very much intact, and capable of bringing our self to death – but into league with our King.
By the grace and Spirit of God, I know which I shall choose.
Jeremiah began his prophetic ministry in 627 BC. He gained national notoriety when he first prophesied the destruction of the Temple during the wicked King Jehoiakim’s reign in 609 BC. He warned that if the Judeans would not repent before the Lord, and put away their sinful practices, the destruction of the Temple and exile would follow. Unwilling to listen, the wicked king, the nobility, and the priesthood persecuted Jeremiah and attempted to have him silenced – permanently.
After the traumatic exile of Jehoiachin (Jehoiakim’s son) and 10,000 other leading Judeans twelve years later, there was widespread concern in the land. Suddenly, Jeremiah’s bleak prophecies appeared to be materializing. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia was rapidly conquering the world, and the tiny nation of Judah was extremely vulnerable. However, a group of false prophets arose in Judah who predicted a miraculous downfall of Babylon followed by the return of Jehoiachin and the other exiles.
Around the same time, Egypt was fanning the flames of revolt against Babylon. This led King Zedekiah to host an international summit in 593 BC to discuss the formation of an anti-Babylonian coalition. This summit gave the people of Judah all the more religious and political encouragement to oppose Jeremiah’s message of humility and surrender to the ways of the Lord. Why repent and be broken before the Lord, when the hour called for strength, and unity under the banner of national pride and integrity?
Jeremiah appeared at Zedekiah’s summit wearing a yoke; a picture of the Lord’s call for Judah (and the rest of the nations) to dutifully submit and entrust themselves to YHWH’s dependable leadership.
In essence, the line was drawn in the sand. Will Judah attempt to make herself great in the ways of the world? Or would she clothe herself with the Lord’s definition of greatness, namely, “to walk in humble fidelity to God”?
Thus said the Lord to me: Make for yourself thongs and bars of a yoke, and put them on your neck. And send them to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the Ammonites, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon, by envoys who have come to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem…The nation or kingdom that does not serve him – King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon – and does not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will visit – declares the Lord – with sword, famine, and pestilence, until I have destroyed it by his hands. As for you, give no heed to your prophets, augurs, dreamers, diviners, and sorcerers, who say to you, “Do not serve the king of Babylon.” For they prophesy falsely to you – with the result that you shall be banished from your land; I will drive you out and you shall perish. But the nation that puts its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serves him, will be left by Me on its own soil—declares the Lord – to till it and dwell on it. (Jeremiah 27:2-11).
After Jeremiah’s dramatic presentation, the false prophet Hananiah son of Azzur publicly confronted Jeremiah, breaking his yoke and announcing that Babylon would fall in two years (Jeremiah chapter 28). Of course, we are privy to the course of history. Jeremiah was indeed the true prophet, and Hananiah, and the other court-prophets were false.
However, in the real time of the story, one must ask: How were the people – even the most God-fearing ones – to distinguish between true and false prophets? This question was not merely a matter of academic interest. Jeremiah’s forecast of seventy years of Babylonian rule (Jeremiah 25:10-11; 29:10) came with political ramifications: remain faithful to the ways of the Lord, even under the thumb of Babylon, or suffer the destruction of their nation. By predicting the miraculous demise of the pagan empire of Babylon, the false prophets supported strident, prideful, national revolt against Babylon. These were the social media contentions of their day. What was being argued influenced not only matters of state, but also the very survival of the people, their families, and their way of life.
Some false prophets were easier to detect than others. Their flagrant disregard for the Torah discredited them as true prophets. However, Hananiah son of Azzur and Shemaiah the Nehelamite (Jeremiah 29:24-32) both sounded righteous. Neither preached idolatry nor laxity in Torah observance, and both spoke in the name of God. After each prophet made his case, Jeremiah “went on his way” (Jeremiah 28:11). There was no way for the people to know who was right, and therefore they would have to wait to see whose prediction would be fulfilled.
Waiting, however, was not a helpful option. The false prophets were riding the crest of national zeal for revolt now, and what Jeremiah was calling for looked so passive – submissive even.
Before the Lord, Jeremiah bemoaned the mockery he endured on account of the peoples’ refusal to receive his words: “See, they say to me: ‘Where is the prediction of the Lord? Let it come to pass!’” (Jeremiah 17:15). Although Jeremiah would ultimately be vindicated, in the fire of revived national resolve and fervor, his way seemed meek and impractical.
To address these difficulties, Jeremiah presented alternative criteria by which to ascertain false prophets. He staked his argument in the Torah’s assertion that a prophet who preaches idolatry is a false prophet regardless of successful predictions or signs:
As for that prophet or dream-diviner, he shall be put to death; for HE URGED DISLOYALTY TO THE LORD YOUR GOD (ki dibber sarah al A-donai Elohekhem) – who freed you from the land of Egypt and who redeemed you from the house of bondage – to make you stray from the path that the Lord your God commanded you to follow. Thus you will sweep out evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:6)
Strikingly, Jeremiah extended the Torah’s example of idolatry to include anyone who did not actively promote repentance before God. Since the false prophets predicted the unconditional downfall of Babylon irrespective of any repentance on the people’s part, they must be fraudulent:
In the prophets of Samaria I saw a repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray. But what I see in the prophets of Jerusalem is something horrifying: adultery and false dealing. They encourage evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness. TO ME THEY ARE ALL LIKE SODOM, AND ALL ITS INHABITANTS LIKE GOMORRAH. (Jeremiah 23:13-14).
More subtly, Deuteronomy uses the expression, “for he urged disloyalty to the Lord your God” (ki dibber sarah al A-donai Elohekhem). This phraseology is used to refer to specific prophets only twice in the books of the prophets: when Jeremiah censured Hananiah and Shemaiah, the two false prophets who appeared the most righteous:
Assuredly, thus said the Lord: I am going to banish you from off the earth… for you have urged disloyalty to the Lord (ki sarah dibbarta el A-donai) (Jeremiah 28:16)
Assuredly, thus said the Lord: I am going to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his offspring. There shall be no man of his line dwelling among this people or seeing the good things I am going to do for My people, declares the Lord – for he has urged disloyalty toward the Lord (ki sarah dibber al A-donai) (Jeremiah 29:32).
Thus Jeremiah distinguished the true prophet(s) from the false prophets, (even the most undetectable false prophets) according to whose words called for humility, and pure and simple obedience to the ways of the Lord, vs. those who urged disloyalty to the ways of the Lord.
Beloved. This is where we find ourselves today. The parallel between the day of Jeremiah, and the 21 century American Church is striking. (We should let it strike us!)
There is undoubtably a world-wide plague of pagan godlessness that threatens to overtake our world – and our nation. But in the moment of crisis, the Lord is calling His people to resist the temptation to clothe ourselves in our own power and greatness; the worldly dynamics of increased wealth, increased political influence; hostile authoritarianism; and strident uniformity. Instead, He’s calling His people to remain faithful to His ways – the foundational ways that His Son laid out for us in the Sermon on the Mount: “Remain broken. Remain tender-in-heart. Remain meek. Remain hungry for God’s right order. Remain holy. Remain merciful. Remain peaceable. And repent of every way that you have let go of these realities of My Kingdom.”
One of the great, great lies of the last eight years has been the subtle invitation into a false way; a false hope; an invitation to become disloyal to, and distrust the power of the foundational ways of the Lord. The devil’s voice goes sounds like this: “You’re not electing a pastor. You’re electing a President.” In essence, the tempter is saying: “You don’t need the meek way of Jeremiah. You need the power of the hostile, lustful, strident, unrelenting, prideful, forceful, singular-minded way of the world. The way of Jesus’ beatitudes won’t work here.”
I’ve been praying for revival in my nation for all of my adult life. The picture of that revival is one that includes capital buildings as well as churches. It’s a vision of God’s matchless, eternal power and holy glory resting on Presidents, politicians, pundits and pastors. Perhaps we’d all be closer to that reality if we had more voices of the Lord proclaiming that we’ve become the culture of Sodom, and less vaunted victory cries of “America is back”. Perhaps what we need are more present day prophets speaking to our President like Jeremiah, and less time blessing the carnality of his power, like Hananiah. Perhaps it’s time to hear and heed the wilderness, yoked voices that are calling the people of God to repent, and remain faithful to the foundational ways of God.
____________________ JSB • December, 2024
#ChurchOfSodom
NOTE: In this BLOG, I am beholden to the Lord having called our house to pray/read through the book of Jeremiah three times over the last several years; AND an excellent exposition on the life of Jeremiah, by Rabbi Mark D. Angel.
Social Psychologists tell us that the stories we tell ourselves about what’s happening in our lives have great power to shape our beliefs. These stories are called “narratives”. They help us make sense of our world, and when they are reenforced by significant others, they become powerful determinants of truth, and motivators for how we engage our culture.
Below are 26 of the (hundreds of) narratives that have grown up in our nation, and have fueled Trump’s popularity the last 9 years. These narratives were largely non-entities ten years ago. But since, they’ve been broadcast at rallies, developed by political pundits, sometimes embellished, fueled pod-casts, launched careers, blogs, articles, and conventions.
They’ve been turned into chants, bumper-stickers, t-shirts, songs, videos, hats, flags, cardboard cut-outs and AI images.
Then they have been copied, affirmed, liked, embellished some more, and reshared billions of times on social media.
They have also found root, have been nurtured, encouraged and have produced fruit within our evangelical family.
How many of these narratives have you grown to believe?
A. The traditional media is biased to the left, and the alternative media is much more unbiased and fair-minded.
B. Trump did not engage in Quid Pro Quo w Zelinski. His first impeachment trial was a baseless witch-hunt.
C. The Muller Report exonerated TRUMP and his associates from campaign impropriety.
D. The many proLife, conservative staff, cabinet members, generals, and advisors that TRUMP either fired, or who resigned from his first administration were DEEP STATE operatives, or DEEP STATE dupes.
E. The DEMS and WORLD ORDER colluded to use COVID to dethrone TRUMP.
F. TRUMP wanted no masks, no restrictions, and no (rush to produce) COVID vaccines
G. TRUMP didn’t incite a violent riot on J6.
H. The 2020 election was stolen. The DEMS, DEEP STATE and WORLD POWERS produced votes that put Biden over the top in key states.
I. The DEMS and DEEP STATE were actually the ones responsible for the mayhem, and death on J6.
J. TRUMP didn’t violate federal law re the removal and storage of classified documents being kept a MaraLargo.
K. The FBI is being weaponized against TRUMP.
L. The DEMS and the DEEP STATE are responsible for his assassination attempts.
M. PENCE and 90% of TRUMP’s former cabinet members, White House staff and generals chiefs of staff who resigned and/or opposed TRUMP’S narrative after J6, are DEEP STATE traitors.
N. More than 1000 conservative, proLife (GOP) judges, governors, state officials, and state legislators who balked, objected and/or would not go along w TRUMP’S “stop the steal” campaign were DEEP STATE, or DEEP STATE dupes.
O. The prophets predicted TRUMP would be president twice.
P. TRUMP’S rape trial was a nefarious hit job orchestrated by the DEMS and DEEP STATE.
Q. TRUMP’S adultery pay-off trial w a porn-prostitute was rigged against him by the DEMS and DEEP STATE.
R. TRUMP never engaged in human trafficking, or other predatory sexual behavior associated w Jeffry Epstein
S. The J6 committee was a hit job coordinated by the DEMS and DEEP STATE.
T. TRUMP didn’t simulate oral sex on a microphone at a rally in Milwaukee.
U. TRUMP has never issued blasphemous statements about himself; claiming to be a messiah, or possessing God-like power.
V. TRUMP is a champion for the life of the pre-born.
W. TRUMP stands against same-sex-marriage, and values the sanctity of Biblical marriage.
X. TRUMP is, and will always be a friend of Israel.
Y. TRUMP is a baby Christian, and a man of Christian faith, who loves the Bible.
Z. It isn’t important when TRUMP behaves contrary to the Sermon on the Mount. We’re not electing a pastor.
Right now, across the earth, in the midst of impossible crises; elections; climate-fear; Israel; epidemics; and even church scandals, the way of Babylon is being heralded, elevated, and strengthened through all forms of media, governments, organizations, and human interaction – and especially through social media.
At its essence “Babylon” is the way of self-determination, and self-rule. The voice of Babylon says: “Come, let us build ourselves…” (Genesis 11:4) It’s the way of developing solutions to human crises. It legislates laws. It forms think-tanks and committees. It develops strategies and initiatives. It protests, and then demands countermeasures.
Resolutions that are impossible to accomplish, and enforce – but programs that are put in place none-the-less; without humiliation; without abasement; without poverty of spirit – liberal, socialist, conservative and nationalist; these endeavors of human flesh “promise the world” without the encumbrance of being subjected to (and waiting upon) the One Who created, died for, and is coming to rule the world.
These very human ways; the way of Babylon, are fouling the earth with insurrection against the essence of our endemic relationship with God. These are the ways of human striving and impatience.
We belong under our Father’s intimate, daily, and holy care. Apart from this life-giving connection, we’re in rebellion against our God. We are living in human autonomy – ultimately, only accountable, “on the curve”, in comparison to others who are also living alienated from our true life-source.
This way of Babylon is being touted by political champions, cultural idols, and religious intelligencia; prophets and priests alike – everyone who attempts to crowd-source a unity rooted in the power of human strength, rather than human poverty.
This is the prevalent, endemic way of the human heart – and the Bible tells us, it will mushroom, compound, and thoroughly infect the whole earth…
“And (the angel) cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great… has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” (Revelation 18:2-3)
The first Words of Jesus’ sermon on the mount spell the end to the kingdom of Babylon: “You’re blessed when you realize that you’re poor, and you live with the daily awareness of your impoverished spirit. In fact, THIS mental attitude is the gateway into My Kingdom.” (Matthew 5:3)
Right now, those who are (even blindly) caught up in the ways of Babylon, are urging communities, nations and churches to come up with solutions to the troubles and tribulations that threaten us – without needing to acknowledge our mutual poverty; without needing to admit that none of us are righteous; without acknowledging that none of us have the keys to life.
Do you see the difference? The Lord is orchestrating circumstances, and training the redeemed to perceive the distinction between the way of true life, and the way of perpetual darkness, curse and frustration.
Those who humble themselves and learn from Him, are seeing the distinction; and are becoming more and more rooted in intimate, humble, repentant-even, conversation with the dialogue-speaking God. He’s our way; our truth; our life; (John 14:8) breath by daily breath. He is our very Present Shepherd Who guides, counsels, provides, protects, and resurrects EVERYONE who comes to Him out of the contention of Babylon, and says: “I’m poor. Completely poor. Without a cent. Without one plea. Show me the way.”
Those who never come to Him in this manner; who continue to follow the self-sufficient-siren-song of Babylon, will never sing the song of the Lamb. When push comes to shove, they will not have cultivated lives that have learned the blessed place of putting all their weight, and hope on the close, leadership of the King. And with the rubble of Babylon’s laws, edicts, projects, initiatives and mandates all around them, they will not understand the tingling zeal of those who herald Him with the words: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing… and who sits on the throne… forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:12,13,14)
Today is a day for us to come to Him, and behold Him in all His unique, life-giving sufficiency; to fall at His feet; to lay the millions of our wisest solutions before Him; to plead utter poverty – and to plead for grace to continue to live before Him in such an impoverished manner. When we do, the Kingdom of heaven will open to us (Matthew 5:3) – and we may even be privileged to offer His Kingdom to others who are being chafed by the barren promises of Babylon.
Beloved. Right now, the Father is waiting for us to do His Son’s first beatitude; to humble ourselves; to desperately need Him; and to urgently cry out for His tangible, daily, in-our-midst, administration of our lives.
His invitation into (or BACK into) His Kingdom is open to us at this very moment.
One of the chief reasons hundreds of thousands flocked to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City over the last 20 plus years was the vehicle of the Prayer Room. For the first time, in a loooong while, worship-filled, Word-centered prayer was being installed as the center-post of a New Testament work. It was more than novel. That prayer room was a “forum” of sorts where individuals were engaging the pure Voice of the Lord – without mediation. Face to face, as it were. Open Bibles, hungry spirits, mingled with melodies from heaven…
Of the hundreds of people I know connected to #IHOPKC, very very few of them came because of the promise of a ministry, the personality of a teacher, a classroom, or a prophetic “whatever”… They came because they were hungry for the Psalm 132 God, and His manifest Presence, speaking, touching, enrapturing, and transforming their soul as they simply gazed upon His beauty in the place of prayer.
There were many great Biblical messages preached by hundreds in that community over its 24 years. But NONE OF THEM compared to the power of that Voice speaking to believers and seekers as they sat, sang, wept, and rejoiced in the Worship of His Word. FCF, and the classrooms, and the conferences were always a side-bar to the nuclear fusion that was happening in that room.
The Prayer Room was a profound paradigm shift away from the ensconced, western church pattern where THE MANY sat under the vision, teaching, and ministry control-valve of THE FEW. 24/7 prayer and worship flung the doors open to literally thousands (teams, students, staff, missionaries, families etc), empowering them into first-person, primary, dialogue with THE Main Man Himself – the “One Thing”. 24/7 Prayer literally turned the Church’s week-in, and week-out, status quo, structure upside-down.
And thousands of folk who came, tasted, and heard His Voice saying, “You can do this back home in your community. You can create space in garages, store-fronts, warehouses and old churches where you, and others can hear My Voice FOR YOURSELVES.” And they did. Tens of thousands obeyed the Voice, and have set up living tabernacles where millions can come apart for awhile and hear the Voice of the Word-speaking God – for themselves.
(Proof of the pudding? Sit down and listen to a Worship with the Word set from Laura, from Justin, from Jon, from Hellen, from Jeremy, or… You can’t tell me that the Spirit doesn’t vivify your spirit as you take in the simple, melodic phrases of scripture being sung. And this supernatural dynamic personally renewed and conformed minds and hearts for decades!)
This is a big statement, but I believe, the empowerment of the masses through the House of Prayer that’s been happening in the beginning of this new millennium (more than what was coming out of Kansas City), is as large of a paradigm shift for the Kingdom, as the printing press was in putting the written Word in the hands of the common believer in the 15th century.
The long, gross sin of a man – even a leader who was significant in the development of this paradigm is enormously grievous – and is still in need of just, thorough and holy cleansing. But ultimately IT WAS NEVER THE MAN OR HIS THEOLOGY, OR HIS PROPHECIES THAT THOUSANDS CAME TO SEE, AND BE A PART OF.
It was that VOICE. The Voice of the Father. The Voice of the Bridegroom. And the Voice of the Spirit. It was, and still is, drawing the Church, and the world to Himself.
Having said this, here is my list of 10 vital, Biblical emphases that the International House of Prayer in Kansas City encouraged, and blessed to churches, Houses of Prayer, and missions throughout western Christianity. These are not only 10 values that we need within our evangelical culture, they are 10 values that I will cherish and seek to live into, for the remainder of my life.
1. The necessity for the Church to cultivate a focused centrality upon the Person of Jesus Christ, and the revelation of the Person of Jesus Christ
2. The priority of putting Jesus’ first commandment love in first place
3. Harp and Bowl; Worship-empowered intercession and musical meditation on the Word – especially, the Holy Spirit power of corporately “singing the Word of God”
4. An understanding that corporate prayer in the New Testament is not only called to be “unceasing”, it is presented as both positive and enjoyable
5. The vital necessity to marry corporate prayer to corporate mission, and the fulfillment of Jesus’ great commission.
6. A revival of the apostolic, pre-millennial eschatology, that puts Jesus, and His return, at the center of all theological teaching, and discussion
7. Intercession for Israel, and the Lord’s incredibly wise, evangelistic strategy through the salvation of all Israel
8. An understanding of “vibrant righteousness”, what it is, what threatens it, and how it is supremely cultivated within a community.
9. Establishing a 21c vision for what it means to be “Friends of the Bridegroom”
10. An appreciation that at its seminal foundations, the covenant people of God are called to be a “house of prayer” where YHWH Himself “makes”, and fills “all nations” with supernatural “joy” (Isaiah 56:7)
What would you add to this list?
____________________ JSB • May, 2024
NOTE: This isn’t a contest. 10 good things don’t counter-act 10 bad things. If you’re preaching Biblical orthodoxy, you don’t get a pass on practicing pagan immorality. The things that IHOPKC got wrong, are disqualifying attributes. The Lord is looking for, and providing for purity, not ethical counter-balance. This list of 10 necessary, vital dynamics deserved/deserve a corresponding NT, Holy Spirit purified praxis. In order to achieve that praxis, we must understand and address the 10 Things IHOPKC Got Wrong
PREFACE: Awake very early. I’ve been hearing a stillness in the Lord the last three nights. Tonight, I’m unable to dismiss it. As our little House of Prayer goes into the last week of lament, I am pained over the judgment from the Lord, that I believe is passing from the “prayer-movement”, to the larger American Church culture. Beloved, it’s not about one ministry organization, I believe the swift judgment that’s fallen upon this house is now falling upon the church in America, and the destruction that erupts in the Church will be terrible, and heart-breaking. As I’ve said from the beginning. The Lord is using the House of Prayer in Kansas City as a “forerunner of judgment” upon the rest of the unrepentant Church in America… We need to understand what’s at risk, and why.
10 THINGS IHOPKC GOT WRONG
Underneath the collapse of this beautiful community of believers was a system of beliefs that could not hold either the weight of its success, or ultimately, its demise, under the judgments of the Lord. The load-bearing walls to this bonafide movement of God finally proved insufficient, both in terms of what it had built, and what it simply would not, or could not do in order to be saved. For all that IHOPKC got right; for all its orthodoxy, these 10 theological beliefs, and praxes are what the Lord was aiming at in His judgments, and the reason why the organization collapsed, and hundreds of families fled in six, short months.
Here’s the salient, sticky part: EVERY ONE OF THESE ELEMENTS ARE PRESENT IN CHURCHES and HOUSES of PRAYER throughout the United States.
Here are 10 beliefs and practices that could not stand the test of the Lord’s refining fire:
1. Casual practical, lack of daily appreciation for the utter, eternal holiness of God. We forgot, (or never inculcated) an awareness that the One we were standing before in the place of prayer is supremely holy, and was calling us to serve Him as priests in a privileged place of utter holiness.
2. We hurt people. The top-down leadership, pastors, professors, counselors, section leaders, worship leaders, and intercessors tolerated, and contributed to community dynamics that used people, manipulated people, abused them, and ultimately, in too many instances, abused them sexually, and then applied little to zero pastoral, accountability to safeguard the people.
3. A one, or two-dimensional approach to prayer. IHOPKC never developed a bonafide model of corporate confession, lament and repentance. IHOPKC never applied her own many teachings of “Joel”; in fact she resisted every encouragement to engage the Joel assembly.
4. A pre-packaged, hermeneutic for interpreting the Bible that could not transcend the gravitational pull of western, 21c culture. We saw, and applied Biblical truth through a very Ameri-centric lens.
5. No theology of the cross… She never cultivated training on the crucified life in a way that leveraged Jesus’ warning: “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it. Whoever loses His life for My sake, and the gospel’s will keep it.” (Luke 9:24)
6. No theology of the cross… is what allowed Mike to stay hidden in darkness for (now) 7 months…
7. No theology of the cross… is what has allowed the “current” ELT to so desperately “save itself” that it yielded to pretense instead of repentance.
8. No theology of the cross… is what kept the “current” ELT from believing that if all of IHOPs sins were brought into the light, it would have no ability to “recover”.
9. No theology of the cross… is the void that satan used to keep Mike, and many others in bondage to hidden, unaccountable sin, and not healed and set free from sin.
10. No theology of the cross… is ultimately why no outside evangelical ministry, voice, or leadership personality maintained a prophetic, redemptive, crucio-centric dialogue with IHOPKC through her judgment from the Lord.
No theology of the cross could make this list on 100 different planes. And, it must be understood: this is at the crux of what is ultimately going to contribute to the ashes of SO MUCH of American evangelicalism in the coming years.
This isn’t merely a list of what IHOPKC got wrong. IHOPKC didn’t exist in a vacuum. She existed within an evangelical culture that looked for, rewarded, and provided a seed-bed for these contra-Kingdom elements of belief. This is one reason why when we debate, lament, defend, and criticize IHOPKC, we is talking about “us”.
Unless the American church recognizes herself in these same dynamics; and unless she surrenders herself to the Lord’s zeal to rebuild our faulty load-bearing walls of prayerlessness, cultural ethno-centrism, fear of repentance, and no theology of the cross, the rest of us will suffer the same judgment as IHOPKC.
25 DAYS OF CONFESSION, REPENTANCE and PURIFICATION BEFORE THE LORD
“Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Worship leaders, intercessors, pastors from Arizona, and beyond – you’re invited to come apart with us during a dedicated season of cleansing, and purification before the Lord – beginning Monday, March 4, and concluding Saturday, March 30.
Every day we will engage in meditation on the Word, and the cross, as well as engage in focused times of corporate repentance on topics such as prayerlessness and lack of zeal to reach the lost, to idolatry and unhealed racial and denominational sin-wounds. In the evenings we will have spontaneous times of group reflection, prayer and Word-centered dialogue.
Brothers and sisters, this is an hour to let the “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29) of our God analyze and purge all of our ways.
Contact us at xaris4u@yahoo.com or (928-255-3576) to make reservations for you and/or your group to join us for three or four days or more, in this convocation of consecration to the Lord.
OUR KEY SCRIPTURES FOR THESE 25 DAYS SATURDAY • March 2 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK OF FIRST-COMMANDMENT LOVE for JESUS “You shall offer a… sin offering for atonement, every day. You shall CLEANSE the altar when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to sanctify it.”(Exodus 29:36)
SUNDAY • March 3 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR OWN PERSONAL SINS “O, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.” (Leviticus 10:10)
MONDAY • March 4 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER THE WAYS OF OUR FAMILIES and OUR LACK of INVESTMENT in OUR SCHOOLS “The Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in His eyes.”(2 Samuel 22:25)
TUESDAY • March 5 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK of INTERCESSION for ISRAEL and OUR LACK of WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER for the NAME of JESUS “If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13)
WEDNESDAY • March 6 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER the WAYS WE COMPROMISE OUR WITNESS to JESUS in the MARKETPLACE, and REPENTANCE OVER our FAITHLESSNESS in HEALING the SICK “They gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. Then the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and brought out all the debris that they found in the temple of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 29:15-16)
THURSDAY • March 7 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER the LACK of UNITY in the CHURCH and EPIDEMIC UNFORGIVENESS BETWEEN PASTORS and LEADERS and BROTHERS and SISTERS in CHRIST “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!” (Job 14:4)
FRIDAY • March 8 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK of HUMILITY and CONTRITION re OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATIVE AMERICA as well as OUR NATIVE SISTERS and BROTHERS in CHRIST “The righteous will hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.” (Job 17:9)
SATURDAY • March 9 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK OF FIRST-COMMANDMENT LOVE for JESUS “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” (Psalm 19:9)
SUNDAY • March 10 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR OWN PERSONAL SINS “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalm 24:3-5)
MONDAY • March 11 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER THE WAYS OF OUR FAMILIES and OUR LACK of INVESTMENT in OUR SCHOOLS “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin… Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:2, 7 and 10)
TUESDAY • March 12 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK of INTERCESSION for ISRAEL and OUR LACK of WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER for the NAME of JESUS “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word. With my whole heart I have sought You!”(Psalm 119:9-10)
WEDNESDAY • March 13 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER the WAYS WE COMPROMISE OUR WITNESS to JESUS in the MARKETPLACE, and REPENTANCE OVER our FAITHLESSNESS in HEALING the SICK “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor.” (Isaiah 1:15-17)
THURSDAY • March 14 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER the LACK of UNITY in the CHURCH and EPIDEMIC UNFORGIVENESS BETWEEN PASTORS and LEADERS and BROTHERS and SISTERS in CHRIST “The priest and the prophet have erred… They err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filth; no place is clean.”(Isaiah 28:7-8)
FRIDAY • March 15 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK of HUMILITY and CONTRITION re OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATIVE AMERICA as well as OUR NATIVE SISTERS and BROTHERS in CHRIST “I have seen your adulteries and your lustful neighings; the lewdness of your harlotry, your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Will you still not be made clean?” (Jeremiah 13:27)
SATURDAY • March 16 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK OF FIRST-COMMANDMENT LOVE for JESUS “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.” (Jeremiah 33:8)
SUNDAY • March 17 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR OWN PERSONAL SINS “She has grown weary with lies, and her great scum has not gone from her. Let her scum be in the fire! In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you, and you were not cleansed, you will not be cleansed of your filthiness anymore, till I have caused My fury to rest upon you. I, the Lord, have spoken it; it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not hold back, nor will I spare, nor will I relent; according to your ways and according to your deeds they will judge you,’ says the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 24:12-14)
MONDAY • March 18 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER THE WAYS OF OUR FAMILIES and OUR LACK of INVESTMENT in OUR SCHOOLS “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols… Thus says the Lord God: ‘On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt’.”(Ezekiel 36:25, 33)
TUESDAY • March 19 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK of INTERCESSION for ISRAEL and OUR LACK of WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER for the NAME of JESUS “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness’.” (Matthew 23:25-27)
WEDNESDAY • March 20 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER the WAYS WE COMPROMISE OUR WITNESS to JESUS in the MARKETPLACE, and REPENTANCE OVER our FAITHLESSNESS in HEALING the SICK “The One Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:11-12)
THURSDAY • March 21 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER the LACK of UNITY in the CHURCH and EPIDEMIC UNFORGIVENESS BETWEEN PASTORS and LEADERS and BROTHERS and SISTERS in CHRIST “And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed’.” (Matthew 8:2-3)
FRIDAY • March 22 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK of HUMILITY and CONTRITION re OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATIVE AMERICA as well as OUR NATIVE SISTERS and BROTHERS in CHRIST “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.’ Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.’ For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, ‘You are not all clean.’ So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:3-15)
SATURDAY • March 23 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK OF FIRST-COMMANDMENT LOVE for JESUS “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
SUNDAY • March 24 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR OWN PERSONAL SINS “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
MONDAY • March 25 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER THE WAYS OF OUR FAMILIES and OUR LACK of INVESTMENT in OUR SCHOOLS “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:21-22)
TUESDAY • March 26 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK of INTERCESSION for ISRAEL and OUR LACK of WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER for the NAME of JESUS “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”(Hebrews 9:13-14)
WEDNESDAY • March 27 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER the WAYS WE COMPROMISE OUR WITNESS to JESUS in the MARKETPLACE, and REPENTANCE OVER our FAITHLESSNESS in HEALING the SICK “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:7-10)
THURSDAY • March 28 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER the LACK of UNITY in the CHURCH and EPIDEMIC UNFORGIVENESS BETWEEN PASTORS and LEADERS and BROTHERS and SISTERS in CHRIST “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-8)
FRIDAY • March 29 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK of HUMILITY and CONTRITION re OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATIVE AMERICA as well as OUR NATIVE SISTERS and BROTHERS in CHRIST If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9-10)
SATURDAY • March 30 • PRAYERS for REPENTANCE OVER OUR LACK OF FIRST-COMMANDMENT LOVE for JESUS “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints… Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” (Revelation 19:9-14)
SPIRIT WORD & CROSS 