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The New Pharisees

March 4, 2010 at 10:26 AM 2 comments

Blaming the Watchers Instead of the Doctrines

In this morning’s emailed newsletter from Jan Markell’s Olive Tree Ministry, she bemoans the fact (and rightly so), that more individuals are comparing her type of ministry (proclaiming the truth), as a form of Pharisaism.

Jan points to a newly available book called The New Pharisaism:  How Spiritual Bullies Control the Church, by Bill Slabaugh.  Apparently, Slabaugh points to Jan as one of these so-called “bullies.”  Of course, the tragedy here is that this gentleman is a graduate from Dallas Theological Seminary, which simply shows how far off its moorings Dallas has gone.  Slabaugh’s book is only available as a download with the price of $12.95.  There is nothing on his website that tells me how many pages are in the book, so I’ll probably jot him a note.  The price tag seems a bit high, since my most expensive book is $15.95 and about 224 pages or so, but it is also a real book.

Slabaugh makes this statement on his website:  “These Pharisaical organizations and individuals include Ray Yungen, Dave Hunt and The Berean Call, Crosstalk America, Lighthouse Trails Research Project, Media Spotlight, Southwest Radio Church, Apprising Ministries, and Understanding the Times.”

I ran into this attitude when I was researching for the book I wrote called, Anti-Zionism’s Vitriolic Allegations.  The statements people make are unbelievable, yet they’re out there and they firmly believe what they say.  At least they cannot be accused of hypocrisy for saying what they believe.  They can be accused of misunderstanding Scripture though.

On his website, Slabaugh also makes these statements, “This New Pharisaism falsely claims that New Age, Eastern mystical, and occultic  practices are being  introduced into most churches in America as part of the apostasy of the last days. This  inflammatory  and  divisive  material  has  made its way into local  churches  through  individuals  and small groups  of  bullies  who  have  used  it  for their own selfish gain and self-promoting agenda.”

This is from a guy who is selling an EBOOK (download) for $12.95!  Where is the rationale in that (or maybe it’s just irony)?

I certainly stand with Jan Markell, Lighthouse Ministries and the others mentioned.  It is extremely important in this day and age to know what the Bible teaches.  If there is an organization that teaches something other than the gospel of the Bible, then it should be questioned.

I may purchase Slabaugh’s book and if so, I’ll review it here.  Stay tuned.

Entry filed under: Religious - Christian - Prophecy. Tags: deliverance ministries, emergent churuch, modern pharisaism, the new pharisaism.