Today (Saturday) two walks are taking place in Vancouver BC.
TheCry, NAR’s ‘prayer walk’ is taking place before the troops wind up at Lumberman’s Arch in Stanley Park for the ‘free’ concert.
And the annual Vancouver zombie walk is taking place, complete with makeup.
Zombie walkers – how about finding your way over to TheCry event?Â
No doubt staying in character you could handle the hassle of people surrounding you, dancing, emoting, singing, and wanting to pray for you.Â
As a Christian I’d advice stumbling zombie-like away if TheCry leaders try to lay hands on you to pray.
This is not a spiritually healthy bunch or mature bunch and I wouldn’t want to see you spiritually harmed even if you don’t believe they can.
See, the bible says lay hands suddenly on no man (to pray) but Joel’s Army doesn’t care about that.
Given TheCry attendees think they are Joel’s Army, they might be aggressive and hyped. Since zombies aren’t hyper - you’d get to see some neo-charismatic spiritual zombies close up.
Update: Crasher squirrel is Krystow fan Photo credit: Kathryn Fenney
Other little NAR event: Todd Bentley announced at Rick Joyner’s MorningStar site that he is holding a webanar for an hour September 10th at Fresh Fire US and that it’s free.
The Fresh Fire USAÂ site can only handle 1500.
It’s a great way to avoid facing reporters and tough questions, isn’t it?
It really isn’t free at all.
For the hour you pay $25/US for the initial download of the webanar platform.Â
It would be helpful if someone with good transcription skills and $25/US to spare to sign up, transcribe the hour and sent it to various reporters (if you decide to do this, let me know and I’ll pass on the transcript to Canadian and US reporters who followed Lakeland and Bentley)
As well, your effort would be a valuable service to discernment ministries in Australia, the UK and the US. (I’d be happy to put you in touch)Â
I don’t have a credit card or $25/US to spend on Bentley.Â
I believe this webanar is his trial balloon to solidify his base to start public ministry again. Since Rick Joyner can’t seem to contain  Bentley’s restoration; I think it’s an if you can’t beat him, join him announcement. And with the economic downturn, NAR apostles have to be financially pinched and eager to get the infamous Bentley back on stage.
Joyner broadsided the press, there is no reason any press should be amused, hopefully we’ll be hearing something from concerned media.
 As well, Steven Straders book on the ‘Lakeland revivial’ is out, that needs a critique and fact checking, so more people are not fooled or harmed by NAR.
Bentley spent time in the latest Morningside video bragging about his kids flying alone to see him, (how sad for these children) about the amusement parks they went to, the personal trainer he has hired and how he is fine and ready to get back to the stage. He mentioned Jessa before moving on to his ‘free’ webanar’ pitch. Now we know he was out romping around while Joyner has been doing rambling Bentley restoration videos on his own since May. No word on the supposed book with the supposed journalist.Â
Also note the bottled water in video, read this about Zao. Anything for a buck.
Joyner used the video to spin the Fresh Fire USA September 10th webanar as a personal exchange, not ‘ministry.’
Oh.
Bentley wants the hour to be about clearing up misinformation, and giving the  partners and friends he dumped, left behind and left hanging personal time.
Oh.
“I wanna see something greater than Lakeland” -Â Todd Bentley, August 13, 2009
Update: Canadian Christianity weighs in on marketing, politics and attendance: Christians debate significance of TheCry
I visited the Cry’s site and they are asking for a donation
to connect to the web link of online coverage.
If you can’t “sow”, they’ll send a complimentary link.
———————
I’ve noticed that most of the Cry’s pages have more
to do with money than with the Message.
Or, am I totally wrong about this?
It just strikes me that they want money and mention
money more than they want to impart the Message.
I could just “cry” myself. That’s very interesting about the zombies walking around on the same day – aren’t zombies people who are walking around as though they are alive, while really they are dead? He who has ears, let him hear.
And may God save us from anything “greater” than Lakeland – I thought Lakeland was the church hitting absolute solid rock bottom – you mean Todd Bentley is going to try and dig even lower and bring us something worse?? G o d ! F o r b i d !
About these topics on these very well set up Blogs and the very good responses that have gathered our attention can be further learned about with the help of these two and other books, etc.
Here is a good book on a now display stand in our church library is:
‘Larson’s Book of Cults’ by Bob Larson Cp1985, 8th printing 1985
This was earlier displayed is ‘Cults’ by Lorri MacGregor
I find is time well spent
The book goes into the dynamics of the founders and decisions made later in the history of these groups
Cult: latin cultus: place of worship
The word is now used as it is in modern English
But, to be fare, what is the History behind these groups gives them a chance to talk and explain themselves is fair.
The book gives readers a better understanding of the groups listed in this and other books
The dynamics of how the leadership is structured and why?
Demands put upon the followers?
Acceptance of other beliefs?
How many people really turned out for “The Cry” in bc?
From the crowds I saw on God.TV there could not have been more than 2,000 people there, perhaps as few as a thousand. These sorts of events are losing people.
Anyone else got an estimate?
Perhaps I’m wrong but I didn’t see any coverage
of the Cry on either CTV or Global BC.
A quick read through the two papers revealed
nothing and the few radio stations whose websites
I checked said nothing.
If the attendance was as pitiful as 200, how will
Faytene play this to the media without stretching
the truth?
It will be interesting to see what fallout arises
from this last weekend’s event.
One thing I am really curious about, perhaps someone should tip off thei Americal Authorities. How does a convicted pedophile like Bently even get into the US? Does he lie about his record when he crosses the border? Also, does the state he lives in have a law requiring convicted sex offenders to advise their neighbors.
http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue103.pdf
(links removed at authors request – BD
NAR followers have a bad habit of being combative, anyone of us who write about them have had that experience)
This website and the article above (my previous post that escaped on me) at Critical Issues Commentary have tons of information about the history and other issues arising from this New Apostolic stuff….Kingdom Now theology…Dominionism. There are tons of links included in the articles from Herescope …enough reading to keep a person going for a year.
It seems to me that they think that it is up to Christians to make the world a better kind of place so that Jesus will return. I don’t know what verse that is but I have yet to find it…:)
It seems on my last post…the link to the Herescope articles would not paste the whole page information. It wouldn’t put up the signs that needed to go after New and after Reformation. So, I have put it as a link if you click on my name. What a kafuffle….:)
Bentley was a juvie at the time.
Records are sealed.
I’d have to go back and look at what occurred, he was a young teen, and I don’t remember the age of the victims.
I believe a pedophile is defined legally, psychologically as an adult.
TheCry wasn’t covered by newspapers as of a check last night Torontonian, the control and demands on media are crazy, why would any media outlet waste their time? I think it needs to happen at some stage. It will take an informed reporter.
TheCry PR was only picked up by three websites.
Re: Crasher Squirrel pix…
Naughty BD…
*Casey Kasem*: “Moving up in the top ten in Faytene Kryskow’s “Enemies List” is Bene Diction….”
The Crasher Squirrel is a hoot.
You’d have to be incredibly cold-hearted not to like the little guy.
Some friends and I got goofing around with the inlay last night and had a few laughs.
Dan, further to your comment:
Got me curious, the correct term is sex offender.
Bentley had complained while in Canada about being turned back at the border for not having the correct paperwork, but the complaints were vague, I don’t know if any border issues had to do with his juvie record or not.
The first mention was in 2001, Bentley has talked about it, and it was mentioned again by a National Post columnist last year.
http://tinyurl.com/onqk42
” . . . Torontonian, the control and demands on media are crazy, why would any media outlet waste their time? . . .”
———-
From the Cry’s own site:
NOTICE TO MEDIA: All media are required to contact TheCRY in advance of the day and check in on site once they arrive if approved for onsite coverage. As the schedule is extremely dense there may not be time for coverage on the day but a representative may be available after the event for interviews.
From the Cry’s map page:
NOTE: The small parking lot immediately at Lumberman’s Arch (20 spots) is exclusively reserved for TheCRY tech and supplies vehicles.
————
If you’ve read this far, you’ll notice that the Cry doesn’t organise
itself very well and doesn’t sound very welcoming to “outsiders”
[my term].
Small wonder then the event passed as not noted by
the mass media.
If this is anyway indicative of her ministry or her attitude
to people, I’m glad she at the other end of the country.
That’s the standard disclaimer Ms. Krystow uses, yes.
Control.
Normal operating procedure for NAR devotees.
I think she is now based in Ottawa.
How does one find God TV to see The Cry?
I live in Vancouver, B.C.
I have Cable up to around Channel 29
What Channel is it on?
I’ve looked and tried on-line through the internet and U-Tube
1. Todd looks nervous to me.
2. Who are the “we” that went to IHOP?
3. Has Todd been under a doctor’s care? He spoke about how much needed “rest” he’s had.
4. He looks very tatooed again. Sorry, they are distracting too me.
5. Oh know! Todd’s getting himself pumped up for something “greater than Lakeland”, literaly and figuratively.
6. Mr. Joyner, are you Todd’s spokesman now? You seem to be his
cheerleader. Indirectly I hear you saying, GO Todd GO! 7. I’m not interested in your’s or an assoc. of your’s opinions on biblical divorce and remarriage, or the like. That’s turning out to be old news you guys are harping on. Christian’s have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.
8. Mr. Joyner stated that the same Holy Spirit Todd has, we have.
Be careful Mr. Joyner, because I truely don’t recognize Todd’s.
9. Sept. 10th—You guys are already screening the questions.
10. So Todd says “free”. We will see.
11. Check this out Mr. Joyner and Todd. I say no thanks to what you guys are offering.
Susan
Louie Giglio’s Passion tour drew alot more people then the CRY. Nearly 7,000 young people turned out this pats October at the GM place in Vancouver
From the looks of it, the cry only drew around 800-1200 people?
I hope everyone reading this blog realizes that John Payzant is mentally unstable.
Charles:
John has been public, transparent and honest about his head injury.
I’ll assume you don’t have a problem with that.
Well, it’s interesting because John P. is doing a whole lot better than all those people without any head injury who are still insanely running around chasing after fables and fairy tales. I found my own little uninjured grey cells to be such a hindrance to the point where I asked the Lord one day if I could trade in my head for a heart! “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord” is more than a nice saying – it’s the absolute truth! Blessed are you, J.P.!
Mark 9:40 and Luke 9:50
At first glance on your site, and others like this, it appears that you have a genuine concern to “protect” people from deception in the church. However, I do not once read anything written in love for the people you are writing about – people whom Christ died for and loves deeply. Instead I read gloating, mockery, and dishonor. I would encourage all of you strongly to really check your own motives for following all of this so intensely and so angrily instead of simply going to the Lord in prayer for these people, remembering Galatians 6:1 – to restore gently, but beware that you may not also be tempted.
I was not at The Cry, but I have read the prayer declaration that came from it and found it biblically sound with a heart of repentance for the sins of our nation and a declaration of holiness. I’m not certain what you were doing when as you say only a few came out to the Cry. Possibly instead of gloating over how few may have come, you could better spend your time in prayer. I’m sure you all mean well, but truly what you are doing isn’t helping.
Charles MacDonald
“I hope everyone reading this blog realizes that John Payzant is mentally unstable”
In the year 2000, after three years of weightlifting, I walked 1 mile home after 1/2hr on the Universal Gym, 1/2 hr on the freeweights, then sauna and cold shower.
A fellow was on probation for 2 years for after drinking 1 & 1/2 bottles of Sambuca Liquor, 23% sweet alcohol, put his roomate in a headlock and punched him in the head 40 times.
1 year and 1 day after this was his half sister’s 18th birthday where he started to drink in the same way as above.
He was asked to leave the Pool Hall and smashed a bottle down, walked 3 doors North stood in front of his family’s house.
I walked by, with only 4 blocks to go to get home, he puts his right arm around me and punched me with his left and let me go.
I fell back from the curb onto the road cracking the right-rear of my skull and had a seizure as the person stood over me and watched, then ran.
He was arrested serving 1 year in corrections and 2 years probation
He and his mother do not know who his father is
I had a cracked skull and bruised brain is a 13 out of 15 brain injury
This is not a serious injury as it is only bruised
So, mentally, I’m quite well functioning back at the same job prior to the assault.
But, back in 2004, there was probably some tell tale signs of something about me even though I was quite well functioning
Some people like to discriminate against a person if they have a disablity and I am under the impression that is probably why I was not treated well by Worship Invasion and Extreme Prophetic
I went to school after the injury and took Law 12 and got an A was one of three students with perfect attendance that handed in all of my assignments.
My teacher said to me, “You look at things closely and some could take that the wrong way that you’re checking them out and will find out something their trying to hide”
So, that is probably what happened.
I don’t think persons like this should do things like this and feel they can get away with it without any consequences.
April, I’m not sure what a prayer declaration is – I can’t remember seeing this term in the word of God. But even if you could find nothing unbiblical in this one thing except it’s name, one statement or document is hardly enough to base an assessment of any ministry on. Hope you will have a careful look at Bene D’s Review on this site of Faytene Kryskow’s book, Stand on Guard.
I’m very grateful to the Lord who has really been opening my eyes and sharpening my understanding of God’s word and how certain lies and deceptions deviate from His word, and exposing lies and deceptions being spewed from certain quarters which profess to be Christian – which as I understand it, is a big part of the church’s role on this earth. The early church did this quite a lot. So did Jesus. (There have been many scriptures that have come forth during this discussion about that subject, so I won’t repeat them now.)
And actually isn’t battling the enemy’s lies a necessary thing for our ‘survival’, and the meaning behind the “the gates of hell will not prevail against the church”? The Father of Lies is constantly trying to encroach upon, pervert, distort, and lead astray from, the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hi April:
I’ve not been able to find this declaration.
Do you have a link?
I understand warnings can be clumsy, perhaps this will help.
http://www.crossroad.to/charts/transformation-church.htm
Therese:
While I appreciate your biblical fervor, I fear that the your exegesis of this verse may be flawed.
Many scholars and theologians suggest that Jesus was likely using the phrase “The gates of hell…” to represent death by martyrdom…not a fight for survival by Christians. Scholars believe that Jesus was suggesting that even in the face of the apostles’ bloody deaths, then, the church will still remain victorious. The first part of the verse is talking about Peter, the rock. Ironically Peter was martyred for his faith.
Keener: A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, pg 429 says. ““The church will endure until Jesus’ return, and no opposition, even the widespread martyrdom of Christians … can prevent the ultimate triumph of God’s purposes in history” It appears this verse isn’t talking about violence or force that the church uses to protect itself, but rather it seems the verse is talking about the violence and force that comes against the church will not overtake it (ie, the violence of martyrdom).
Might I suggest that we could take that verse in the context of spiritual discernment as well and apply it that we are never to fight for the faith using anger, maliciousness or judgment, but we are to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in the faith, whether we agree or not, and work toward truth in partnership not in competition.
April’s comments were valid, and to be respected, just as mine or yours are. Not everyone is accustom to conversation, and this blog is testament to that. But in our honest desire to stray people away from lies, let us remember that Jesus called us to love, and reminded us that God would be the ultimate judge. We need to remember that the words we chose to converse with and the tone we chose to speak in shout volumes about the love we have for others.
Our collective experiences with groups like Faytene’s or other charismatic movements will not shed light to those involved if we don’t wash our words with love. If anger or hate or even that forceful nature (that many of us don’t like about these movements) starts to come to the surface, we will never be able to share what we have learned, what we have seen or what has been restored in our lives. People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
I’m very sorry you have misjudged my tone and intent, E. I have absolutely no feelings of maliciousness, competitiveness, anger, judgment or disrespect whatsoever – my feeling towards April is very mild and neutral both now and when I wrote my comment.
You also seem to have misunderstood my use of the word ‘survival’ – I was talking about spiritual survival, not physical survival.
Your statement: “It appears this verse isn’t talking about violence or force that the church uses to protect itself, ” – I’m not talking about violence or force either, our weapons against lies and deception are spiritual – the best weapon against a lie is the word of God, the truth. I don’t agree with what those scholars are saying about this verse – the only spiritual weapon that can come against or potentially prevail against the church that I know of from scripture is the lie/deception coming from the Father of Lies. I don’t consider martyrdom to be a weapon against our faith, it’s only a weapon against our physical bodies which are perishing anyway. In 2 Thess. 2:10-12, it says, “They perish because they have refused to love the truth…For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth….”
Actually “prayer declaration” nearly slipped through my ‘radar’ – I give thanks and glory to God that He woke me up to it moments before I sat down to type that comment. Next thing you know, some self-proclaimed false shepherds will be trying to slip a “catechism” under the radar. How we need to be alert in these days!
Something in E’s comment prompted me to look into this passage of scripture some more:
“Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it….’” Matthew 16:17-19
It’s my understanding that the Greek word, petros, for Peter means “detached stone”, whereas the rock Jesus will build His church upon, petra, is using the Greek word for “bedrock”. Jesus was referring to Himself as the rock he will build His church upon, not Peter.
This is consistent with other scriptures where our Lord is referred to as a rock, eg:
Genesis 49:24 “…because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel…”
Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock…”
Romans 9:33 “See I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Later on, Peter himself reflects what Jesus meant by that verse when he wrote: “As you come to him, the living Stone, rejected by men but chosen by God, and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood….’See I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone…’” (1Peter2:4-7)
Peter and the rest of the church are living stones built upon the Rock, the Living Stone, who is the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ. We are like Him, hewn from Him as it were, but He is the foundation that the prophets and apostles testify of, he is our only Head, not any man.
Also, just to mention – the fact that Peter had to be soundly and publicly rebuked by Paul for falling away from truth and leading others astray in Galations 2:11-21, ought to completely blow out of the water the Catholic doctrine of “infallibility”, in case anyone wants to try and sneak something like that by in the future, which would not surprise me one bit.
I’m writing this out to help get it straight in my own mind and memory, but anyone is welcome to it if needed!
Hello folks
Your comments and research on these two blogs are good
I see and admire how much many of you research typing in your findings are good
I like to investigate and research a lot too
Going to lectures and or just going out of the way to take an interest in somethings that I notice
I though I’d been to a good broad amount and was aware of exceptions to the norm and rule
But, I tell you, back in 2004 till the present, in starting investigating these groups discussed on this blog was unaware and not expecting as to what I was to find in the dynamics and demographics has been quite a learning experience.
There groups -take the cake- as far as things go about being different
So, from now on, when investigating, am more inconspicuous and try to maintain a more professional distance so I can notice without being noticed makes it much easier on me
Being discreet is good when investigating something new
The photo of Faytene Kryskow and the Crasher Squirrel reminds me of those ’70s variety show where two singers shared one mike and sang together. And CS kinda looks like Sonny Bono, if you squint a little…
I Got…You Babe!
Therese;
I’m very sorry that you have misjudged my tone and intent Therese. Nowhere in my comment had I suggested that you personally had feeling of maliciousness, competitiveness, anger, judgment or disrespect whatsoever towards April.
Though I did directly speak to you regarding the wrong exegesis on the scripture you mentioned, I did however use “we” and “our” language throughout the entire piece. I was not speaking directly to you in those moments. I was reminding others as much as reminding myself of my conduct toward those I disagree with. My sincere apology if you received it that way.
I find it dis-heartening to hear that you disagree with theologians and scholars who have spent years pouring over languages to understand the meaning of certain texts. I assumed that your love for the truth and getting “back to the bible” as it were, meant you were someone who studied commentaries and other Biblical analysis books. I hope that you can come to appreciate the historical aspects of the Bible as well and the writings of commentaries. I believe it would really help you on your path to truth and enrich your Bible study.
“Might I suggest that we could take that verse in the context of spiritual discernment as well and apply it that we are never to fight for the faith using anger, maliciousness or judgment, but we are to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in the faith, whether we agree or not, and work toward truth in partnership not in competition.
April’s comments were valid, and to be respected, just as mine or yours are. Not everyone is accustom to conversation, and this blog is testament to that. But in our honest desire to stray people away from lies, let us remember that Jesus called us to love, and reminded us that God would be the ultimate judge. We need to remember that the words we chose to converse with and the tone we chose to speak in shout volumes about the love we have for others.”
E – When I look at your remarks again, since you addressed your comment to me, and since I was the only one who had responded to April’s comment up to that point, and since you connect the verse you and I were talking about to suggesting that we apply it to certain wrong attitudes, I don’t see how it could have been taken any other way than that you were talking to me about me. But still, no worries, I’m glad you didn’t mean it that way – written language can be a funny thing sometimes especially when read without the benefit of seeing the writer face to face. Occasionally I have to backtrack and rephrase my comments on blogs because they came out wrong, it’s no big deal.
As to scholars, I’m not against scholars, scholarship or historical aspects of the bible – wherever did you get that idea? I just happen to not agree with this particular viewpoint!
Therese;
I absolutely was talking to you about April, when I wrote about your response to April. Perhaps things get lost in language translation, but at times your responses seem somewhat strong. Perhaps I read into what you wrote. I don’t know April, nor intended on having a continued conversation about her. I was only pointing out that our (notice the word “our”) language needs to be loving and humble.
I already apologized if you tied the entire comment about specifically you. That wasn’t the case.
When one decides to disagree with numerous, countless commentaries and theologians on a particular verse, I usually take that to mean that person doesn’t resource scholarly work as a part of their regular Bible reading/research. Not everyone does, nor do they have interest to, nor do they have to. If that is not the case with you, then I apologize.
I also did not suggest you were “against” scholars/theologians/commentaries, I merely hoped and suggested that using them would enrich your life. I can’t see where I suggested you were “against” them.
I apologize also that it appears you have seen quite negatively into most of comments on this blog. Hopefully in the future that assumption will change and that we will be able to challenge, glean and learn from one another as we all work toward understanding what it truly means to be a Christ follower.
E: “I find it dis-heartening to hear that you disagree with theologians and scholars who have spent years pouring over languages to understand the meaning of certain texts.”
Therese: But why disheartened? I’m sure you wouldn’t say that you agree with every thing that every scholar or theologian has ever written. What about bible scholars who disagree with each other?
E: “I assumed that your love for the truth and getting “back to the bible†as it were, meant you were someone who studied commentaries and other Biblical analysis books.”
Therese: What I advocate is a return to our first love, the Living Word of God before we were seduced away to the words of man.
The Holy Spirit is more than adequate to help us in our understanding of His own word, but there is a cost and condition – we must be carrying our crosses and following Jesus in order to receive revelation. That is not to say that scholarly biblical works can never be useful or have a place – just that I believe they should not have a place in our life over the Spirit.
E: “I hope that you can come to appreciate the historical aspects of the Bible as well and the writings of commentaries.”
Therese: I do.
E: ” I believe it would really help you on your path to truth and enrich your Bible study.”
Therese: Indeed, but not nearly as much as the Holy Spirit.
E – I am sorry if I irritate you sometimes. Just so you understand me – I pretty much talk in a straight-forward way I think, mixed in with some English/Irish pride and opinionated-ness, and maybe a more formal way of writing than some due to the kind of books I read in my younger years. Sometimes (often) I’m rushed or distracted when I’m writing a comment for various reasons and might be too brief or abrupt – also I think it’s the nature of blogs to most of the time keep our comments to the point. But we’re all family, and sometimes family members get into some intense and heated discussions and disagreements but it doesn’t mean we don’t love each other or that holding conflicting viewpoints in any way diminishes the dignity or personhood of others. Honestly, when I see how many people from other cultures interact with one another, I think we Canucks are often just too thin-skinned and take it too personally when someone disagrees with us. Truly, I think scripture bears this up too, and I’ve been learning to grow a thicker skin in recent years. C’mon sis, toughen up a little! (Don’t know if I can help the irritation factor though, pray for me!)
re: Prayer walking – In a spirit of humility, I want to suggest that you reexamine the practice of prayer walking through a sharper exegetical lens. I find no direct Scriptural support for “prayer walking” anywhere in the NT, and only the OT Jericho incident as a vague example of God’s people doing any such thing. Then, of course, YWYH destroyed the walls and the Israelites proceeded to kill every man, woman and child in Jericho. (Certainly not the example of a benefit to the locals for prayer walking in a pagan city…:-)
It is curious to me that Jesus’ clearest instruction about prayer methodology never seems to surface in all the discussions I’ve seen about prayer walking. Why is that? In Matthew 6, Jesus specifically instructs how to pray – and now NOT to pray. A plain reading of that text seems to indicate that, at best, public prayer walking is fraught with potential for major prayer failure. In fact, a whole class of failed religious people had risen up in first century Judaism who apparently loved to “prayer walk”. (sound familiar?)
But, beyond that warning, Christ Jesus also gives specific instruction about how to pray – He is VERY specific, too. Why would we ignore this direct command of Jesus? If you do so, claiming a plain read of this command of Christ Jesus as “irrelevant” or “mis-interpreted”, then it seems you are consigned to dumping the Lord’s prayer with your decision. Are you really ready to dump”Our Father, who art in Heaven…” Is that wise?
This apparent contradiction is quite troubling to many a thinking person. For my part, I cannot understand why millions of well-meaning Christians who claim to read and believe the Bible quite literally, and who seem not to struggle with stretching literalism to the extreme in books like Daniel and John’s Revelation find it so difficult to take Jesus literal command of Scripture in Matthew 6 to heart. Since this command about prayer methodology was given by Jesus verbatim, and since it serves as a foundation for the Lord’s Prayer (one of the very few written prayers in the NT) the practice of “prayer walking” seems quite contrary to good plain reading of Scripture. Perhaps I’ve missed other critical justifying passages? Perhaps.
Of course, praying in one’s “secret closet” of the mind, without public declaration would seem fine and perfectly pleasing to Jesus’ intent in Matthew 6 – but any act that makes one’s presence apparent (e.g. large groups parading in unfamiliar areas, busses arriving and unloading scores of well meaning visitors waving banners and Bibles, large groups parading around public buildings, wild public displays of “signs and wonders” coupled with disorder, etc.) seems to be a direct contravention of Jesus’ intent in Matthew 6.
Of course I realize that you may well have thought this through more deeply than I, and found solid Biblical justification for this practice, built on proper exegetical methodology and reverence for the Text. If so, and if the plain writ of Scripture shows it, please feel free to correct me. As we both know, only a fool stands against the Word of God!
Bless you for being ‘on the ball’, brother Keith. I think you are right, that prayer walking is not a scripturally mandated activity for new covenant believers, and the concept of prayer walking might have come from a too-literal application by some in the church of Joshua 1:3 “I will give you every place where you set your foot.” It was quite literal for the Israelites under the Mosaic Covenant, but for the new covenant church it has spiritual application – in Christ we have power to overcome in every area of our lives that we need to in order to enter the Sabbath rest of God. The Promised Land we are entering today is not literal earthly territory that we have to march in on our literal feet in order to conquer, but it is that Sabbath rest which the Promised Land was symbolic of. “The Lord your God has given you rest, and has granted you this land.” Joshua 1:13
I suspect the concept of prayer walking may be one more thing that has developed or is developing into a false doctrine…
Gal 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 1:7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
There are many false prophets in our midst who deceive people and turn them to a different gospel away from trusting the words of Jesus in their simplicity including prayer walking or soaking or twitching.
I always wondered how the twitching by Pastor Steve Long of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship could be from God when it was not in the bible and so unnatura?.
Then I realized it wasn’t a sign of the Holy Spirit but of a Kundalini serpent power. Not surprising when we consider how hypocritical TACF or Rodney Howard Browne are!
Jesus laid down his life for the sheep and Rodney taught it was the Pastor’s duty to fleece the sheep. And when he was asked to help the victims of Pastor Karl and Dan Strader he refused because he was and is a hireling like many of his friends!