Diaprax in the Contemporary Church
The following is an excerpt from Dr. Robert E. Klenck's
What is Diaprax?First, we need to define diaprax, and understand this foundational thinking that the Church Growth Movement (CGM) is based upon. Later, we will show you how this process is being utilized in churches, and the direction that it is headed.
Diaprax is the repeated practice (praxis) of the Hegelian dialectic (the dia – of diaprax). Briefly, the Hegelian dialectic process works like this: a diverse group of people (in the CGM, this is a mixture of believers and unbelievers – thesis and antithesis), gather in a facilitated meeting (with a trained facilitator/”teacher”/group leader), using group dynamics (peer pressure), to discuss a social issue (or dialogue the Word of God), and reach a pre-determined outcome (consensus, or compromise).
When the Word of God is dialogued (as opposed to being taught didactically) between believers and unbelievers, and consensus is reached – agreement that all are comfortable with – then the message of the Word of God has been watered down, and the participants have been conditioned to accept (and even celebrate) their compromise. This becomes the starting point for the next meeting. The fear of alienation from the group is the pressure that prevents an individual from standing firm for the truth of the Word of God. The fear of man then overrides the fear of God.
An example: A traditionally thinking Christian, when proven wrong with factual information (i.e. Biblical moral absolutes), yields to the facts, and admits that he/she is wrong, and then aligns him/herself to those facts. Because Biblical moral absolutes do not change, such traditional thinkers, who align themselves to those unchanging absolutes are "resistant to change".
On the other hand, transformational thinkers, when proven wrong with factual information, have been conditioned to process that information differently - they automatically question it and dialogue it within themselves; their (deceitful) hearts rebel against it, and then they begin to justify (to themselves and others) why it is that they no longer have to attend to the facts. (They process the facts away, and their conscience becomes seared.) This is the natural result of the dialectic process – the searing of the conscience:
1 Tim 4:1-2: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (KJV)
These people are then able to justify to themselves why they are no longer bound to Biblical moral absolutes. You see, people are saying that the Biblical message just doesn't apply to today's (humanistic) culture – that it must be interpreted in light of the culture of the day. [To some degree this is true – (i.e. slavery was common then, etc.).]
However, the church growth movement takes it much further, and through the process of continual incremental change (using the Hegelian dialectic over and over with the last synthesis becoming the new thesis – the “new fact” base, or “new reality’), the Word of God is gradually/incrementally changed from its original intent, and eventually it is interpreted to mean something contrary to its original intent. This is the process that all sinners use in attempting to justify their rebellion to themselves and others. The rebellion is subtle at first – simply moving away from the traditional way of “doing” church; later, the ordaining of female “pastors”; and eventually it gets to the point of ordaining lesbian "pastors", etc..
The same process was utilized in the abortion debate – first, the fact (“what is”) was questioned – what is life?, and does it really begin at conception? It was decided that as long as the child was not aware of pain, that it was not viable, or really alive. Now, through incremental change, our society has gotten to the point of tolerating “partial-birth” infanticide. This would have been unconscionable in the days that Roe v. Wade was decided.What is the Church Growth Movement (CGM)?The utilization of modern marketing techniques by the church, in order to draw and hold large numbers of people (by meeting their "felt needs"). The church then “converts” them, and “disciples" them through the use of modern organizational management (Total Quality Management-style) techniques, so that they can effect "change" in the community, and the world.
They become agents of social change, or “change agents.” The Roots of the Church Growth Movement (CGM)
PASTORSThree of the most well-known pastors who are promoting this movement are Dr. Robert H. Schuller, Rev. Bill Hybels, and Dr. Rick Warren. All three of these pastors surveyed their communities, determined the “felt needs” of the community, and patterned their churches accordingly. Pastors Hybels and Warren were influenced by Dr. Schuller’s book – “Your Church has Real Possibilities,” in which Dr. Schuller discussed his surveying, and both readily admit to this influence by Dr. Schuller. 1,2
Dr. Robert H. Schuller
Dr. Schuller founded the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove California. After surveying the “felt needs” of the community, he opened a “drive-in church” at a drive-in theater location in Southern California. You could go to church without ever leaving the security of your own car, and be assured that the service wouldn’t last for over one hour. Dr. Schuller has authored numerous books, one being “Your Church has Real Possibilities.” He has been called by his wife, “The greatest possibility thinker of all time.” Possibility thinking – potential, “what can be”, or vision, is the end result of the Hegelian dialectic process – transformational thinking. It is the direct opposite of moral absolutism – “what is”. In order to move a person into this transformational mode of thinking, “what is” must be questioned and challenged. The dialectic process – “constant change” – requires one to let go of “what is”, in order to strive towards potential – “what can be”. You have to leave your moral absolutes behind, or else you will remain resistant to change, old-fashioned, and an obstacle to church change that must be overcome in one fashion or another. We will get into this further later on.
Rev. Bill Hybels - Willowcreek
Rev. Hybels founded Willowcreek Community Church in So. Barrington Illinois- a “seeker-sensitive” “mega-church.” Dr. Schuller believes that Rev. Hybels took his church growth principles further than he himself was able to.3 While he claims to have distanced himself from Dr. Schuller theologically, he often speaks at Dr. Schuller’s yearly church leadership conference. His last appearance at this event was in January of 2000.
Rev. Hybels has been a “spiritual mentor” for President Bill Clinton since 1992 – confidentially meeting with Mr. Clinton on approximately a monthly basis, and supporting him through the Monica Lewinsky affair. On August 10, 2000, President Clinton personally addressed 4,500 pastors attending a leadership conference at Willowcreek.4 Four days after this public “confession” of his failures, he addressed the Democratic National Convention, and boldly stated that he would continue to support “a woman’s right to choose.”
Dr. Rick Warren/Saddleback
Rick Warren (as he prefers to be called), founded Saddleback Valley Community Church in Mission Viejo, CA after performing a community survey focusing only upon the needs of unbelievers, and he designed his church to meet those needs.5
Eph 4:11-13: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (KJV)
The church was designed to equip the saints, not to meet the needs or wants of unbelievers.
Pastor Warren authored The Purpose – Driven Church, Growth Without Compromising Your Message and Mission (emphasis added), which has sold over 1 million copies. He has trained over 150,000 pastors and church leaders in church growth principles. He holds a doctorate of theology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary – one of the strongest proponents of the church growth movement.
Organizational management “guru” Peter Drucker, who is very involved in this movement, stated:
"…noncustomers are as important as customers, if not more important: because they are potential customers.… Yet it is with the noncustomers that changes always start."6
Thus, in this movement, it is imperative that unbelievers are brought into the church; otherwise, the process of continual change cannot begin. There must be an antithesis (unbelievers) present to oppose the thesis (believers), in order to move towards consensus.(compromise), and move the believers away from their moral absolutism (resistance to change). If all members of the church stand firm on the Word of God, and it’s final authority in all doctrine and tradition, then the church cannot and will not change. This is common faith. Soon, we will see why these “change agents” are pushing so hard for change to occur in the church.
“Pastors are probably the most underrated groups of change agents today.” - Rick Warren Pastor Warren holds seminars on how to lead churches through the process of change, and on October 13, 1999 on an airing of “The Bible Answer Man”, hosted by Hank Hanegraaff of the Christian Research Institute, Pastor Warren stated that to bring a church through change, “you have to be as wise as serpents, and as gentle as doves,” in your dealings with your congregation. That scripture, Matthew 10:16, is Jesus, speaking to His disciples: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and gentle as doves" (KJV). Warren’s manipulation of this scripture results in the traditionally-minded servants of Christ being likened unto wolves.
Furthermore, Pastor Warren went on to relate a conversation that he had with an airline pilot from his congregation. He had asked the pilot about various degrees of turning the airplane, and reported that a 90 degree turn would result in a crash, a 45 degree turn would make the passengers very uncomfortable, but that a 33 degree turn could be made all day long without the passengers ever becoming aware that they were changing direction. The subtlety/deception involved in this process of church change is made clear by Pastor Warren’s own words.
Some of the most disturbing words from Pastor Warren regard his overview of his church:
Saddleback is kind of the Research and Development department of the church at large. We're not afraid to fail. We've always tried more things that didn't work than did. Every once in a while we find – usually by accident—something that works. Then we teach the seminars and pretend like we planned it all along, when really it was just the result of trial and error. (Laughter) - Rick Warren , <http://www.christianity.net/leadership/7L3/7L3022.html> What scripture could possibly be utilized in order for a pastor to justify social experimentation on his congregation?How Diaprax Manifests Itself in the Church
First Impressions
Preferred parking, trained “greeters”, and an “unchurchlike setting” await newcomers. Often the church is completely devoid of religious symbols such as crosses, or stained-glass windows, that a non-believer might deem “offensive”. There is another reason, that we will discuss later, regarding reasoning behind “sanitizing” the church grounds. Studies have shown that a newcomer decides within the first eight minutes of his/her first visit to a church, whether or not they will ever return. Thus, there is a great deal of effort spent to make those first eight minutes comfortable and warm for newcomers.
The Presentation/Message
The presentation is informal, with the pastor usually sporting a polo shirt, rarely does he have a Bible, as it has been replaced by notes. There is contemporary music, and dance, and drama are often added to the mix. There are distractions, such as numerous video screens, and the pastor often paces back and forth across the stage, which makes the “real” message that is being taught difficult to discern.
The message is watered down. Sin and judgment, the awesomeness of God, etc., are often absent from the message, or replaced with less offensive terminology. The message usually begins with a few “icebreakers” – light stories or jokes. Numerous Bible versions are used, the King James Version is avoided, and the verses quoted are displayed on the video screens. The message is ambiguous, sounding reasonable to people who think traditionally, are in transition, or have been trained to think transformationally. Often, half-truths are used (i.e. Christ’s preeminence as a religious leader, but omitting His deity), or “subliminal” messages utilized. We heard a tape of one pastor who was teaching against Mormonism, and he was stating how they latch on to a verse in the KJV that is an unfortunate translation. He then stated how “I can show you numerous errors in the King James.” The message was against Mormonism, but the subliminal message that people took home with them was that the KJV Bible version is unreliable. We have very little training in listening to what is not being said, and in the atmosphere of distraction described here, this type of discernment is very difficult, and must be pursued vigorously. Peter Drucker, who plays a large role in this movement is aware of this fact:
“The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.” Peter Drucker
“The pulpit is the ultimate tool for church growth.” Rick Warren7
A tool is used to manipulate objects. In the same article, Pastor Warren declares that he first considers the needs, hurts, and interests, and then he goes to the Bible to see what it says about their needs. Once he examines what the Bible says about the subject, he asks himself: “What is the most practical way to say this? What is the most positive way to say this? What is the most encouraging way to say this? What is the simplest way to say this? What is the most personal way to say this? What is the most interesting way to say this?” In other words, he puts his “spin” on the Blessed Word of God in order to tickle the itching ears of his audience.
2 Tim 4:3-4: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (KJV)
Central to the message, of course, is that the felt needs and the hurts of the congregation are addressed. Often, the pastor receives information regarding the current needs/hurts of the congregation from prayer request cards, or from feedback from small group leaders.
Ostensibly, the message and presentation are designed to make it easier for a non-believer to come to faith, but Jesus, when questioned as to why He spoke in parables, had a different goal in mind:
Matt 13:11-14: He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath . Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (KJV)
Jesus stated that He was intentionally cloaking His truth in parables, so that only the elect could come to the knowledge of the truth. This was not a very seeker-sensitive message.
Discipleship
Once in the church, people are then “discipled.” They are taken through a series of classes beginning with church membership. Covenants are signed, where one pledges to tithe a certain amount (or percentage of their wages). The signer agrees to submit to the church leadership, not to gossip (or evaluate the activities of the church leadership in the light of the Holy Scriptures).
“When you’re helping row the boat, you don’t have time to rock it.” Rick Warren8
God has clearly stated that we are not to sign covenants:
Matt 5:33-37: Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (KJV)
In the “discipling” process, “spiritual gifts assessments” (personality profilings) are performed. The (false) premise is that God uses people in their areas of strengths, rather than in areas where they are weak.
"He (Drucker) believes in human strengths to counter human weaknesses. The science of discovering those strengths, of fitting them into a productive framework, is what Drucker calls management." Christianity Today9
"The pastor, as manager, has to identify their strengths and specialization, place them and equip them for service, and enable them to work in the harmonious and productive whole known as the body of Christ." Peter Drucker9
Once again, this is the direct opposite of the clear teaching of the Word of God. First, there is no “pastor, as manager” in the scriptures, and:
2 Cor 12:8-10 : For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (KJV)
Small Groups
People are also required to sign covenants promising participation in small groups. It is in the small groups where the dialectic process is utilized to the utmost. First, the group “leader” is a facilitator, a change agent. In “Bible study” groups, the Word of God is dialoged to consensus, rather than taught in a didactic fashion. The result is the watering down of the Word, as unbelievers are mingled with believers, and multiple Bible versions are brought in by the various members of the group. Many of these (especially new) versions take a much more liberal tack than something that is more traditional, i.e. the King James Version.
"Small groups are the most effective way of closing the back door of your church." Rick Warren10
The reason that pastor Warren states this, is that he is aware of research by Lyle Schaller, of the Leadership Network, that shows the relationship between the number of friendships that one has in the church, and the percentage chance then of that person leaving. Close relationships are formed in the small groups, thus, people are required to participate in them.
Social Ministries
The churches also foster numerous (what we call) “social ministries” – such as surfing/skiing/bike riding/quilting, etc. (Saddleback Valley Community Church has over eighty of them). These “ministries” are opportunities for the church members to feed their flesh together, and “bond”. Once again, when relationship is fostered, then the chances of people leaving the church are diminished, regardless of how far astray from the truth the pastor leads them.
“Relationships are the glue that keep the faithful coming.” Rick Warren11
Accountability Groups
Many of the CGM churches are requiring members to commit to “accountability” groups. These are where members confess all of their sins on a regular basis to their small group. This has many grave implications.
“Something intrinsic in communism makes this confession phenomenon indispensable to it; it can't exist without it. … The meaning in confession then, as the Reds now use it, is agreement with the rules laid down and hence submission to the existing heirarchy.” Edward Hunter12
Subconsciously, the confessor is repeatedly, incrementally submitting to the authority of the group, and in particular, the small group leader, or facilitator. In addition, a paradigm shift in his/her thinking is occurring. When struggling over a sin issue, the person’s first and foremost thought is: “How will I answer to the group next week about this?”
Their overriding concern regarding sinning is shifted from the awareness that the ever-present omniscient God sees their sin, to concern about how the group will react to their confession. The accountability shifts from accountability to God, to accountability to man. In addition, the person becomes dependent upon the group to keep them pure, rather than being purified by the Lord. Many find it difficult to live righteously on their own, when separated from the group for a period of time.
Lastly, these confessions actually lead to sin. People tend to role-play and fantasize the sins of others in their mind. Ruminating on them leads one to enter into the behavior. Also, the realization of the fact that someone who you consider to be a good Christian, and who you look up to engages in depraved thoughts and behavior, actually allows you to justify why it is then that you also can enter into similar behavior. It empowers you to sin, and it actually helps to cause a brother to stumble.
1 Tim 2:5: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (KJV)
Career Development Ministries
The gathering of employment information on all members of the congregation is becoming more widespread. Allegedly, the reason for this is altruistic, enabling church members who are in need of employment to be matched with others, who might be able to offer them employment. However, this leads to a databasing of all congregants, along with the databasing which takes place during the spiritual gifts assessments (personality profiling), previously discussed. If they have not done so already, the federal government may require churches to “share” this information with the government, or risk losing their 501 (c) (3) [tax-exempt] status. With large mortgages on large buildings/properties, most churches are not willing to forfeit their 501 (c) (3) status. We will be revealing very close ties between these churches andthe government shortly.
Youth Ministries
Team building exercises, with such activities as “falls of faith”, where a participant closes his/her eyes and allow themselves to fall backwards, only to be caught by the rest of the youth are taking place in CGM churches as well. The point of the exercise is “trust.” Once again, the trust is shifted – from trust in God, to trust in man. “Death education” (martyrdom), is being taught, just as it is in the public schools. Multitudes of non-Biblical, dialectic activities are documented in the book: Spiritual Junk Food – The Dumbing Down of Christian Youth, by Cathy Mickels and Audrey McKeever.13
Pragmatism
The CGM is based upon a pragmatic approach. “The end justifies the means.”
"As long as you are bringing people to Christ, into the fellowship of his family, building them up to maturity, training them for ministry, and sending them out in mission, I like the way you are doing ministry." Rick Warren
Firstly, if the people have not been taught all about Christ – not only that He is a God of love, but a righteous judge also, then are they being brought to the Christ of the Bible, or to a false Christ?
Secondly, this “discipleship” is discipling to a disciple of the humanist, man-centered dialectic process. And thirdly, pragmatism is not allowed by the scriptures.
Method does matter to God. When Moses did not do as God said, and he smote the rock the second time out of his anger with the children of Israel (rather than speaking to it as God commanded), he suffered dire consequences. As a result of his disobedience, he was not allowed to enter into the promised land. When Uzzah steadied the ark of the covenant with his hand (against the command of God), he was struck dead (2 Samuel 6: 6-7).
When church growth and organization are based upon humanistic, Satan-inspired, dialectic processes, God hates it!
Matt 7:15-23: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJV)
There is only one foundation that our churches should be built upon, and that is the foundation of the Rock. Jesus Christ, our sure foundation:
1 Cor 3:11 : For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (KJV)
References
1. Taken from The Purpose-DrivenTM Church by RICK WARREN. Copyright © 1995 by Rick Warren. Used by Permission by Zondervan Publishing House., p. 190.
2. Pritchard, G.A.; Willow Creek Seeker Services, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 1996, pp 49 – 58.
3. ibid, p 56.
4. Clinton Speaks of Anguish over Affair – SGVT 8/11/00 (attached)
5. Warren, p. 190.
6. “Management’s New Paradigms,” Forbes, October 5, 1998.
7. http://ministryonline.com/churchgrowth/warren.htm
8. Warren, p. 86.
9. Business of the Kingdom, Christianity Today, November 15, 1999, Vol. 43, No. 13.
10. Warren, p. 327.
11. Warren, p. 123.
12. Hunter, Edward, Brainwashing: From Pavlov to Powers, Bookmailer Inc. 1960.
13. Mickels, Cathy, and McKeever, Audrey, Spiritual Junk Food – The Dumbing Down of Christian Youth, Winepress Publishing, Mukilteo, WA, 1999.
