Category Archives: Prayer

February 15, 2010 · 7:21 am

Why All The Outrage To Pat Robertson’s Remarks About Haiti? (Part 10)

Click on the following for earlier articles in the series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 and Part 9.

Now, let’s consider some questions about Robertson’s remarks on Haiti:

1. Who were Robertson’s remarks about? Haiti and its inhabitants.

2. What audience was Robertson’s remarks actually directed at? Approximately 750,000 American Christian TV viewers, with the largest portion of them being Pentecostal/Charismatic Christians.

3. How did Robertson’s remarks mushroom into being the fourth largest topic on the internet and in mainstream media? For years, critics have audited The 700 Club program for juicy comments by Robertson. These remarks were obviously chosen to show a controversial Christian slant on the Haitian earthquake calamity.

4. Did any of Robertson’s media critics have any scriptural or historical knowledge to base their criticisms on? Most likely not, as no one referenced anything along these lines.

5. What about the American Christian leaders who were critical of Robertson’s remarks? It’s interesting to note that the Christian leaders who were interviewed about his remarks were not from the Pentecostal/Charismatic stream of Christianity. Instead, they were mainly Evangelical Christians who have a much different view on curses than Robertson’s viewpoint. Wouldn’t it have been better, and less biased, to have asked John Hagee, Rod Parsley, Joyce Meyer or other like leaders for their opinions?

6. What did the Haitians feel about Robertson’s remarks? Actually, Haitians would not have known except for being asked by aggressive news people. After all, Haitians had bigger problems than Robertson’s remarks on their minds. (Check out Haitian Ambassador’s non-response.)

7. Do Haitian Christians take Haiti’s supposed pact with Satan and the more than two-hundred year curse serious at all? In August, 1997, two hundred and six years after the supposed pact with Satan by Boukman Dutty at Bois Caiman, Haitian Christians, not only in Haiti, but also in the U.S. and Canada, began fasting and praying against the curse.

Then on August 14, 1997, Christians marched for six hours from the Presidential Palace to the tree where the pig was supposedly sacrificed. They prayed, asking the Lord to use Bois Caiman as a place of prayer.

Also, in 2004, during Haiti’s bicentennial celebrations, Pastor Jean Chavannes Jeune and other Christian leaders led a national campaign “to break the Voodoo curse” on the nation. At the first ever prayer breakfast at the national palace in Port-au-Prince, the leaders claimed that “going forward Haiti would be a Christian nation.”

All of the leaders believed by faith the curse had been broken.

8. Finally, what do Voodoo priests and followers think about Haiti’s supposed pact with Satan and the curse? Ever since 1791, Voodoo priests and followers view Bois Caiman as a holy place where Satan accepted Boukman Dutty’s pig sacrifice. They gather there every August 14th and offer animal sacrifices to Satan.

So, what about the supposed curses on Haiti?

(Continued in Part 11)

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February 13, 2010 · 6:43 am

Islamic Terrorists Vs. Radical Christians: New Game. New Rules. (Part 7)

An Updated Rerun 2009 Series

Click on the following for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.

How to be a Radical Christian (ii).

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels… (1 Cor. 13:1)

Now, I wish that you all spoke in tongues… (1 Cor. 14: 5

I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all do. (1 Cor. 14: 18)

Once again, I can hear the groans and screams. “No, not tongues. Anything but that trivial twaddle. I ain’t doing it. No siree – no tongues for me. Never!”

Okay, relax. Take a deep, deep breath and hold it for a minute or so. Now slowly breathe out. Continue reading.

Let’s return to the same scenario as Part 2. Your family is staying at the luxurious Berverly Wilshire Hotel (where Pretty Woman was filmed), just off Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. You, your wife and daughter are enjoying the shopping spree, and you are carrying enough plastic to pay for everything.

Then, three Mumbai-type terrorists enter the hotel lobby, AK-47’s blazing away and hand grenades exploding. Chaos and confusion reign as dead bodies are strewn on the floor.

Somehow, you grab your wife and daughter, and hide in the first floor’s Sidebar Lounge. As you crouch behind a table, you hear the sounds of people begging for their lives and the lives of their children. But then, bursts from the AK-47’s tell you that mercy is not a part of the terrorists’ makeup.

You hear their footsteps approaching the lounge. It will only be seconds before they enter the door. You look at your wife and daughter, tears are streaming down their faces; they don’t want to die. They want you to do something – NOW! Anything! Just do something!

Are you going to pray? If so, how?

Now remember, your mind will be a pile of mush. You will have thoughts about wishing you would have stayed home; or should have gone to Hawaii instead of California; or should have spent a sunny day anywhere, but not where you are at that moment. Plus, agonizing fear and not wanting your family to die. It will be total confusion.

How will you quiet your mind to pray at that moment?

Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered.

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8: 27-28)

Remember: Radical Christians do not care what others think. They swim upstream against the religious current even if it means going against their own church’s teachings.

(Continued in Part 8)

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February 12, 2010 · 8:31 am

Why All The Outrage To Pat Robertson’s Remarks About Haiti? (Part 9)

Click on the following for earlier articles in the series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 and Part 8.

A Simple Illustration of Curses and Judgments.

One morning, because of a FaceBook game, you’re five minutes late in leaving the house for work. A heavy schedule and a grumpy boss awaited you ten miles down the road.

You placed the keys in the ignition of the Ford Taurus, tightened your seatbelt, adjusted the mirror and started the engine. As you headed out the driveway onto the highway, you grasped the steering wheel with a Mario Andretti racing grip.

Traffic was light. The sky was clear and the road was straight. You stomped on the gas pedal and soon you were exceeding the posted speed limit. “Please Lord, just give me grace this one time. Please!” you prayed aloud, hoping the Lord had His earphones turned on.

Being vigilant, you looked to the left and right, searching for other motorists and the dreaded state police as you zipped down the road. Everything was A-okay. You smiled to yourself and relaxed a bit. “Thanks, Lord,” you whispered, content in thinking God had overlooked your minor transgression.

Then, you heard the siren. A quick look in the mirror revealed flashing red lights and a state policeman following directly behind you. You pulled off onto the side of the road.

As you waited for the policeman to approach your front window, you removed your driver’s license from a wallet. Maybe, you thought, he’ll just give me a warning ticket. Oh, I hope so!

As the officer reached for your driver’s license, he said, “Do you realize you were speeding fifteen miles per hour over the limit?”

You shrugged your shoulders. “Sorry, officer,” you said, “I’m late for work.”

He smiled and handed you a speeding ticket. “Next time, leave home earlier,” he said with a wink of his eye. “Your trial date is written on the bottom of the ticket. See you in court.”

You resumed your journey with a speeding ticket tucked under the visor above your seat and a costly excuse for being late to work.

Two weeks later, you appeared before a county judge. “How do you plead?” he asked, peering over the top of some official-looking papers.

“Guilty, your honor,” you said, resigning yourself to your fate.

“Okay, then,” he replied as he reviewed the papers in his hands. “You haven’t had a ticket in a long time and the officer says the road conditions were excellent. So, I’m just fining you the minimum amount: four hundred and thirty dollars. Pay the clerk before you leave.”

You mumbled a thanks for his kindness and headed toward the clerk with your checkbook in hand.

In this illustration, there was a speed limit law. The blessings of the law were safety to yourself and others if you obeyed it. When you disobeyed the law and were caught by the police, this was a type of curse of the law. A penalty was involved. A judge decided the severity of the penalty for your disobedience. It was called a judgment.

If you view Old Testament laws or New Testament truths, there are always positive sides (blessings) for obedience and negative sides (curses) for disobedience. Disobedience, especially continued rebellious disobedience, will eventually cause the Judge to place a judgment on a person, group or nation.

As you can see, curses and judgments go hand and hand. They are not separate entities, okay?

(Continued in Part 10)

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February 11, 2010 · 7:55 am

Islamic Terrorists Vs. Radical Christians: New Game. New Rules. (Part 6)

An Updated Rerun 2009 Series

Click on the following for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.

How to be a Radical Christian (i.)

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)

Maybe your first thought is, “Yuck! Who wants this Pentecostal/Charismatic phoney-baloney, plastic-banana, spiritual gifts stuff. Not me!”

Relax. Take a deep breath. Now, continue reading, okay?

Let’s say that you and your spouse take your daughter to the shopping mall. She is three years old and dressed up in just the cutest Bambi t-shirt and jeans outfit. Everyone looks at her and smiles. She’s a doll and you adore her, and would do anything for her.

But because you were in a hurry when you left home, you did not use the restroom, and you need to go – NOW. You tell your spouse, who rolls the eyes, and says, “Oh honey, use the one in Macy’s Department Store. We’ll wait here for you by the kids play area.”

You rush to the restroom, do your duty, wash your hands and leave. As you walk back out of the store, you see a flash and hear an explosion from an Islamic terrorist’s bomb. It knocks you down. Glass particles and debris cover your clothing.

Brushing yourself off, you run to where you spouse and daughter were waiting at the play area. When you get there, you see bodies strewn all over the floor. Somehow, you find your spouse and daughter. Sadly, they’re dead. Their bodies are mangled and shrouded in blood.

Now, what are you going to do?

Are you going to pull out you cell phone and call the police? Or the mayor? Or a doctor? Or your pastor? Or a funeral home? Or are you just going to fall down and weep, bemoaning your fate?

You see, at this disastrous moment, you need the gift of faith, the gift of healing, and the gift of miracles for an attempt to raise your loved ones from the dead. And I guarantee that you would do anything to have these gifts at that precise moment so you could at least give it your best shot, wouldn’t you?

So, what’s stopping you from seeking the spiritual gifts today? Pride. Bad teaching. Laziness. What? Because when bad things happen, it may be too late!

Remember: Radical Christians do not care what others think. They swim upstream against the religious current even if it means going against their own church’s teachings.

(Continued in Part 7)

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February 10, 2010 · 8:24 am

Why All The Outrage To Pat Robertson’s Remarks About Haiti? (Part 8)

Click on the following for earlier articles in the series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 and Part 7.

But examine everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Let’s examine the second part of Pat Robertson’s remarks about Haiti:

But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It’s cut down the middle, on the one side is Haiti, on the other side is the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. (See full video here.)

Are curses just Old Testament thinking or are curses also valid teachings for us New Testament believers?

Instead of mentioning Haiti, what if Pat Robertson would have said the Pope was cursed? Or the Dalai Lama was cursed? Or Ayatollahs and Imams were all cursed? Or President Obama was cursed? Or Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston were cursed?

Then what? Would the reaction have been even more vocal? Probably much more, and maybe some fatwas and lynch mobs would have been heading in Robertson’s direction.

And yet, according to the Bible, the Pope, Dalai Lama, each Islamic Ayatollah and Imam, President Obama, Brad Pitt, Anglina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and every creature on the earth live under a curse:

To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall bring forth children; yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. Then, to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. (Genesis 3: 16-19)

Now, meditate on the unfairness of the Adamic curse for a few minutes.

What did you or I do to deserve this curse? Nothing. We were just born under it. The blame belongs solely to Adam, our original earthly forefather. His sin brought about the curse which lies on all of earthly creation. And his sin also brought forth death which is still causing sadness today.

The Adamic curse is unfair, right?

But what are you going to do about the unfairness of the Adamic curse? Cry. Moan. Shake your hands at God. Go on TV and proclaim that God is picking on poor little you.

No, of course not?

For if by the transgression of the one [Adam], death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)

Whether we like it or not, there are such things as curses. After all, people are still dying and women suffer pain in childbirth.

So, now that we’re all on the same page, let’s look at curses… and judgments of God.

(Continued in Part 9)

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February 8, 2010 · 7:00 am

Why All The Outrage To Pat Robertson’s Remarks About Haiti? (Part 7)

Click on the following for earlier articles in the series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas to see if they were really teaching the truth. (Acts 17: 11 NLT)

Let’s imitate the Bereans and examine Pat Robertson’s remarks by dividing his words into two parts, and then just looking at the first part today:

Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. Napoleon the Third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, “We will serve you if you get us free from the prince.” True story. And so the devil said, “OK, it’s a deal.” They kicked the French out, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. (Full quote.)

Immediately after Robertson spoke his remarks about Haiti, the furor began. A short time later, Chris Roslan, a spokesman for CBN, posted a clarification on the CBN/700 Club’s web site:

On today’s The 700 Club, during a segment about the devastation, suffering and humanitarian effort that is needed in Haiti, Dr. Robertson also spoke about Haiti’s history. His comments were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion led by Boukman Dutty at Bois Caiman, where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French. (Full quote.)

Countless web sites and authorities seem to agree with Rev. Robertson’s statement about the 1791 Haitian slave rebellion, Boukman Dutty, Dutty’s supposed prayer and the service at Bois Caiman.

But how much of this is Haitian legend or tradition, and not supported by facts?

Jean R. Gelin, a Ph. D. and Church of God minister, has written three articles for BlackandChristian.com (here, here and here) explaining his findings on the history of the Haitian slave revolution:

“But, although the satanic pact idea is by far the most popular explanation for Haiti’s birth as a free nation, especially among Christian missionaries and some Haitian Church leaders, it is nothing more than a fantasist opinion that ultimately dissipates upon close examination. (Full article)

“I have researched Haiti’s history and found no record that suggests early Haitian leaders ever made a pact with Satan that would bind the entire nation. … Haiti’s constitution does not sanctify Satanism, but guarantees freedom of conscience for all.” (Full article)

David Patrick Geggus, a noted historian and author of Haitian Revolutionary Studies (Blacks in the Diaspora), also casts some doubts about what transpired in August, 1791. Yet, Geggus does provide good evidence for a voodoo ceremony taking place with Boukman Dutty in charge of it:

There was some sort of [voodoo] ceremony, likely on August 21, 1791, and it probably involved the ritual slaughter of a pig. Beyond that, little can be said to be known. Yet what is certain is that after that date the slaves’ course was set. (Full article.)

Of the two historians, Jean R. Gelin and David Patrick Geggus, I place heavier weight on Geggus’ writings.

Gelin mentions the drinking of blood by the slaves when Boukman Dutty spoke at the gathering (August, 1791), but explains it as an ancient cultural phenomenon or even hunger on the part of the slaves. But Gelman fails to mention that Boukman was a voodoo priest and that most of the participating slaves at the gathering were voodoo priests or voodoo followers. Drinking blood was a part of their rites.

Geggus also argues there is little in historical records to validate Boukman’s chant, or prayer, and thinks it was written by by a 19th century historian who added it later. Gelin lists the prayer as an important part of his writings.

So, let’s examine the second part of Pat Robertson’s remarks.

(Continued in Part 8)

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February 6, 2010 · 7:53 am

Islamic Terrorists Vs. Radical Christians: New Game. New Rules. (Part 4)

An Updated Rerun 2009 Series

Click on the following for earlier articles in the series: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Last year, I happened to listen to Bryan Suits on the radio while I was driving my truck. His show, Dark Secret Place, deals with terrorism, fighting in Iraq, and other related stories.

He talked about when he was an officer in Iraq and how the loss of one of his soldiers via an IED (improvised explosive device) led him to a discussion with an Iraqi cleric.

“Do you want to know how to stop IED’s and roadside bombs?” said the cleric.

“Sure,” said Lt. Suits, hoping to hear an answer for the dilemma.

“When you enter a town, grab a ten-year old boy and tie him to the front of your Humvee. Then , when you are leaving the town, untie the boy and let him go. The IED’s will stop,” said the cleric in a matter of fact tone of voice.

Suits was shocked by the cleric’s statement. He could hardly contain himself. “American soldiers would rather die than use an innocent boy as a shield. That’s a barbarous, cowardly act!” proclaimed Suits.

The cleric shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “Okay, that’s up to you.”

No matter how the news media and the anti-war movement have portrayed our American soldiers, our military will not resort to any means possible to win the war against radical terrorists. And sadly, the terrorists use this noble characteristic as a weapon against us.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

(Continued in Part 5)

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February 5, 2010 · 7:20 am

Why All The Outrage To Pat Robertson’s Remarks About Haiti? (Part 6)

Click on the following for earlier articles in the series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.

On January 13, 2010, Rev. Pat Robertson spoke these words on the 700 Club television show:

Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. Napoleon the Third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, “We will serve you if you get us free from the prince.” True story. And so the devil said, “OK, it’s a deal.” They kicked the French out, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free.

But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It’s cut down the middle, on the one side is Haiti, on the other side is the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island.

They need to have, and we need to pray for them, a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy I’m optimistic something good may come. But right now, we’re helping the suffering people and the suffering is unimaginable. (See full video here.)

First, let’s look at the comments of people who have voiced their disagreements with Robertson’s remarks:

Robert Jeffries, First Baptist Church of Dallas, TX: “It is absolute arrogance to try and interpret any of God’s actions as a judgment against this person or that person. We can only go as far as the Bible goes. And the Bible is clear and it says, “I am the God who creates calamity and causes well-being.”

Keith Olbermann, MSNBC: “Sir [Pat Robertson], because of your tone deafness and your delight in human misery and your dripping self-satisfied holier-than-thou senile crap, I am now likelier to believe that you are the devil.”

Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse: “I don’t agree with what Pat Robertson said…and I’m sure he misspoke. It’s unfortunate, but we need to get on with the task of helping the people right now…God loved the people of Haiti. He hasn’t turned His back on Haiti.

Mike Potemra, National Review: “…how do you explain all the sinful nations who have not been punished in any conspicuous way?”

Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary: “It never ceases to amaze in times of amazing human suffering, somebody says something that could be so utterly stupid…”

Donald Miller, author: “Robertson’s comments divide people of faith from, well, people of faith…Many controlling personalities are drawn to the idea of a severe, vengeful God…

Cynthia Tucker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “…If the New Testament is any guide, Christians are supposed to be non-judgmental and compassionate. Robertson is anything but. He’s also a dunce…”

Other random comments: “Robertson’s a nutcase.”…”Is he just senile or insane?”…Pat Robertson needs to shut up. For years this man has used his show to promote out of date ideas.”

Out of thousands of possible articles, I have selected just a few comments which are representative of those being said on TV, radio, newspaper, magazine and blogs about Rev. Pat Robertson’s remarks concerning Haiti. If you want, you can check out more on Google or whatever search engine you choose to use.

So, are the overwhelming criticisms of Pat Robertson’s remarks justified? Before you give an answer, let’s examine his words.

(Continued in Part 7)

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February 4, 2010 · 7:39 am

Islamic Terrorists Vs. Radical Christians: New Games. New Rules. (Part 3)

An Updated Rerun 2009 Series

Click on the following for earlier articles in the series: Part 1 and Part 2.

Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, legendary football coach at the University of Alabama, once said, “It’s not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”

The days of unskilled shoe bombers are almost over. Instead, America can soon expect to see Mumbai-type terrorists. Radical. Dedicated. Trained. Armed. Willing to die. Filled with hate. Hoping to kill large numbers of innocent men, women and children before they exhale their last breath.

These terrorists want to win. And they are prepared.

To counter these radical terrorists, America needs radical Christians who are dedicated, trained, armed, filled with love, willing to die for their family and neighbors and hoping to be life-giving witnesses to terrorists and others until their last breath.

I wish I could say that all of us Christians are prepared and ready to go…or even a small fraction of us. But the truth is that most (99%) of us are not dedicated. Not trained. Not armed (with spiritual weapons). We are bogged down with the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things.

But guess what? The radical terrorists will pay no heed to our excuses. They will kill you, me, our spouses, our children, our grandchildren, our neighbors, and whomsoever, if we are not prepared.

So, we need to make up our minds now.

Because when the terrorist attacks hit us, our president, our governors, our mayors, our city council members, our police and the national guard will not be able to help us. They will be too late. Only the DMORT teams will arrive on the scene in time to stuff us and our loved ones into body bags.

Today, I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live. (Deuteronomy 30: 19 New Living Translation)

(CONTINUED Part 4)

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February 3, 2010 · 9:58 am

Why All The Outrage To Pat Robertson’s Remarks About Haiti? (Part 5)

Click on the following for earlier articles in the series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

Over the last fifty years, the chief restorational influence on American Christianity came about because of some West Coast hippies. It was called the Jesus People Movement.

The movement’s message was simple: God is love; and He loves you.

It’s an understatement to just say the Jesus People were different than other new Christians of the 1960’s and 70’s. They had long hair, wore jeans, liked rocking guitars rather than organ music, were both enthusiastic and informal at the same time, and came out of communal living environments.

And when the Jesus People attended traditional churches, guess what happened? They didn’t fit in well with the starched white shirt, dark suit and formally dressed crowd. It was like trying to mix oil and water together; each repelled the other.

Thus, the Jesus People Movement spawned their own churches, ones like Calvary Chapel Churches and Vineyard Churches which held laid back, informal services focused on God’s love and building intimate relationships with God and each believer. And also, a new type of assembly came on the scene: Home Groups.

Plus, the music changed. Maranatha Music, Vineyard Music, and eventually today’s modern worship music, all had their origins in the Jesus Movement.

There is no doubt that God’s hand was on the Jesus People Movement. We American Christians needed a fresh focus on God’s love and building relationships without all the hindrances of traditional trappings. Thus, the Jesus People Movement has produced solid fruit in us believers.

But as with all movements throughout the history of the Church, the pendulum has swung too far in one direction. So much so, that today’s Church no longer views Jesus as the Judge or the Holy One who when John saw Him on Patmos , he fell at His feet as though he were dead.

Most of us American Christians now view Jesus as a warm and fuzzy Savior who tolerates all kinds of sin. After all, Jesus is love. And shouldn’t love put up with all kinds of sin?

The answer is a definite NO!