Why are you so afraid of how God is working through Alpha? You have made so many wrong assumptions about the program and seem to be so afraid of points of view other than your own. Please stop. I've seen many come to Christ through involvement in the Alpha program. Our church then works to continue to ground the new believers in Scripture, counting on God to continue the work He started in the newly saved. It's good. It works, by God's grace and mercy. No need to be so afraid, friend. Peace, PA
We appreciate your comment: Of course it works, because counterfeits work from a worldly point of view. Satan is a spirit who has spirits working for him who serve men and women. Look at Mormonism, people admire Mormons and they have a powerful movement and riches supposedly by God. They call it the only true church and use the Gospel to prove it.
The Alpha Course: Is It Bible-Based Or Hell-Inspired? By Paul Fitton Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, Bridlington Extension E-mail: PalFitton@AOL.com Part 1 The question therefore arises concerning the Alpha Course: Is it Bible-based or Hell-inspired? Does its teaching rest solidly and squarely upon the authoritative rock of Holy Scripture or does it teach error in the name of Jesus?
The Alpha Course is sweeping through this nation, crossing the denominational divides, and spreading across the world with great rapidity. From its inception in 1991 when approximately 600 people attended the 4 existing courses it has steadily grown in popularity to the extent that in 1996 some 250,000 people attended an estimated 5,000 courses. The estimated figure for those attending this year is in the region of 500,000 persons.
The Alpha course is therefore being adopted by more and more churches as the years pass by. It knows no denominational boundaries - Anglicans, Methodist, Congregationalist, United Reformed, Elim Pentecostal, Salvation Army, Baptists, Presbyterian, Charismatic Fellowships, Evangelical Free Churches, and the Roman Catholic Church: all run their Alpha Courses.
If the Alpha course continues to advance at the present rate its teaching will eventually permeate into the majority of churches, and influence the greater part of people who in this land claim to be Christian.
If the Alpha course is a faithful declaration of the Gospel of Christ and instructs people in sound Biblical doctrine then it can only be a mighty influence for good, but if it is not a faithful declaration of the Gospel, and if its teaching is not rooted in sound Biblical doctrine then it will be an awful influence for evil.
The question therefore arises concerning the Alpha Course: Is it Bible-based or Hell-inspired? Does its teaching rest solidly and squarely upon the authoritative rock of Holy Scripture or does it teach error in the name of Jesus?
1. REASONS WHY THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD EXAMINE THE ALPHA COURSE
They think that all that matters is that a person teaches and does things in the name of Christ. Such a belief is wrong. There are many today who would question the right of any believer to dispute the teachings of another who professes to be a Christian. They think that all that matters is that a person teaches and does things in the name of Christ. Such a belief is wrong. If we examine the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount, we discover that the false prophet preached, and prayed, and performed great signs and wonders in the name of Christ. He deceived the people in Christ's name and the tragic result was that both the false prophet and those that heeded him were to be cast out of the presence of God on the day of Judgement Matthew 7:15-25.It is the Christian's duty to test the teaching of others even when they teach in the name of Christ. Isaiah 8:20 states: "To the Law and to the testimony: if they speak" - notice the communication here: it refers to the thoughts of one being communicated to another - "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." The Christian is taught by God to test the utterances of
another. To check the words of those who speak and teach to see if they are in accord with the Book - the Word of God.It is the Christian's duty to examine the teachings of those who purport to teach in the name of Christ, to examine the doctrine and teaching of others to see if they are founded and fixed upon the Scripture.
II John 10: "If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed." It is also the duty of the Believer having examined the teaching of another in the light of Scripture to reject anything which is not sound in doctrine. Nowhere does the Bible teach that the Christian is to embrace error. Rather the Bible teaches that the Christian should recognise error and then reject it absolutely. II John 10: "If there come any unto you and bring not
this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed." Sound doctrine, Biblical doctrine, doctrine founded upon and substantiated by the Word of God is the only basis for fellowship. Any doctrine not found in the Bible must with those that teach it be rejected.It must also be reproved. It is one thing to recognise error, another to reject it and yet another to reprove it. Eph. 5:18 - "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." Once more we are reminded that error, falsehood must not be received but rejected by the Child of God. Now notice the final words of the verse: "[…]but rather reprove them". Error, false doctrine, false practices, false teachers must not only be recognised by examining them in the light of God's Word, and rejected by every true believer, but the Christian must then reprove them - speak out against them, declare that they are wrong.
These, then, are the Scriptural reasons for examining the Alpha Course. Believers have a duty to test everything that is taught in the name of Christ by the Word of God. They have a duty to recognise that which is error, reject it as being error, and reprove it, that is, speak out against that error.
2. THE ROOT FROM WHICH THE ALPHA COURSE IS DERIVED
Whenever a movement or doctrine is examined it is always important to trace it back to its roots. The Lord Jesus Christ declared in Matthew 7:18 - "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." Similarly we can say that if a stream is contaminated at its source then the pollutant will be in the river and all who come into contact with that river run the risk of being contaminated. It is therefore essential that at we trace the Alpha course as far back as possible.The Anglican Church has embraced the error of the mass even though one of the Thirty Nine Articles denounces it as a "blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit". The course is formally attributed to Nicky Gumbel, Curate of Holy Trinity, Brompton. Immediately this information should cause us great concern. Holy Trinity, Brompton is an Anglican Church. The Anglican Church as a whole has tolerated error for a very long time. Long before the ordination of women became an issue there were very serious doctrinal, and moral issues that the Anglican Church never addressed and certainly never dealt with in the light of Scripture. The Anglican Church has embraced the error of the mass even though one of the Thirty Nine Articles denounces it as a "blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit". It has permitted ungodly men, men who have no knowledge or experience of the rebirth, to minister. It has defended homosexuals among the clergy despite the Bible's condemnation of such practices. It has tolerated men who have denied the virgin birth, the resurrection and ascension of Christ. We say this because if Nicky Gumbel were the spiritual man he and others claim him to be he would not be a curate in the Church of England. God calls men out of apostasy, not into it.
Let us, however, concentrate on Holy Trinity, Brompton. It was there in the early nineties that the 'Toronto Blessing' first showed its ugly and ungodly head in Britain. In fact, Nicky Gumbel was one of the leading lights in the propagating of this evil in this land. Now I have not the time to deal with the Toronto Blessing at this time, but I can assure you that it will be dealt with on another occasion in the will of God, and shown to be the evil that it is. Suffice it to say: the Toronto Blessing is not the work of the Holy Spirit.
Now the main text behind the Alpha Course is the book Questions of Life which is attributed to Nicky Gumbel. The book carries his copyright. The man, therefore, whose teaching lies at the heart of the Alpha course not only belongs to a denomination which has tolerated error; but to a local congregation of that denomination which was responsible for the inception into this country of the Toronto Blessing, which is another great evil and error. Nicky Gumbel may be a very intelligent man, that we do not dispute, but he is obviously a man who can embrace doctrinal error.
We must carefully consider what is taught in the Alpha course because ... it is the teaching of Nicky Gumbel. Now we cannot condemn the Alpha course simply because the man behind it attends a particular Church. Nevertheless the fact that he can tolerate doctrinal error in the Church of England, and not merely embrace the doctrinal errors of the Toronto Blessing but actually support and propagate its errors, should cause us concern and alarm. Everything he holds to cannot he substantiated by the Word of God. Therefore we must carefully consider what is taught in the Alpha course because on the whole it is the teaching of Nicky Gumbel.
________________________
Part 2 3. OUR RESERVATIONS CONCERNING THE ALPHA COURSE
Now before we begin to look at our reservations, the basic problems we find with the doctrines
taught in this course, let me point out that this book is very subtle. It cloaks serious doctrinal errors
in truth. In other words, a lot of what you read in this book is acceptable, but hidden behind that
truth is the poison of false doctrine. It is a bit like a cake made out of the very best ingredients that
the cook can buy. It looks good, it smells good, it even tastes good, but hidden in the cake is a
deadly poison - a poison that would pass unnoticed unless you carefully analysed the cake before
eating. Tell me: how much of that cake would you dare consume?If the text behind the Alpha course contains the poison of false doctrine which it undoubtedly does,
how much should the believer tolerate? The answer is: none. "A little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump." As a little yeast permeates through the whole loaf, so a little false doctrine spreads and
corrupts the whole.I was greatly disturbed by the reports in the Alpha news concerning the acceptance of the
Alpha course by the Roman Catholic Church. I was greatly disturbed by the reports in the
Alpha news concerning the acceptance of the Alpha course by the Roman Catholic Church. Now I
say this because I believe it will bring home the reservations we have to this course. The Roman
Catholic Church, despite what many would have us believe, is not a Christian Church. The Bible
teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8,9 - "For by grace are
ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast". The Roman Catholic Church teaches that those who believe that doctrine are
"anathema" - they are cursed.The Council of Trent, session VI, Canon 10, stated: "If any one says that justifying faith is
nothing else than trust in the divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ's sake; or that it is by
that trust alone by which we are justified: Let him be accursed."Rome opposes and curses those who hold to the Biblical doctrine of justifying faith, because her
religion is based upon works. What are individual can do, and what the Church can do is what
Rome basis her doctrine upon. Acceptance into the Roman Catholic Church is not upon the
grounds of faith in Christ, but that a person accepts the teaching and practices of the Church. The
Alpha News, July to October issue, page 1, in its report upon the Alpha conference for Roman
Catholics quotes Bishop Ambrose Griffiths, Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle: "It
is not a complete exposition of Catholic doctrine. No introductory course could possibly do that.
But it doesn't contain anything that is contrary to Catholic doctrine."Isn't that amazing? The teaching of the Bible as regards Salvation is totally contrary to the teaching
of the Church of Rome. But the Bishop states, and it is reported in the Alpha News, the newsletter
printed by Holy Trinity, Brompton, that the Alpha Course is not contrary to the teaching of the
Roman Catholic Church. It is not contrary to Rome's teaching that salvation is by works and not by
faith!This past week I was talking to Doug in the Bethany book shop here in Bridlington. The
conversation came around to the Alpha Course and he informed me that he employed it, and I
quote his words, "to get people saved". That is why he uses the course, and I am sure that is why
many others use the course, simply "to get people saved". On the cover of the book we have the
words: "A practical introduction to the Christian Faith". Gumbel himself says in the Preface, page 9,
that the book "is based on "Alpha", a course run at Holy Trinity Brompton for non-churchgoers,
those seeking to find out more about Christianity, and those who have recently come to faith in
Jesus Christ." It appears to be that the book, the Alpha course is to be employed in bringing those
who know nothing of Christianity to a knowledge of the Gospel.Now before I go any further, do you not think it strange that a course intended to introduce people
to the Christian Faith spends so little time dealing with the fundamental issues of the Gospel? In fact,
of the fifteen chapters only four (and I am being generous by including the chapter on assurance of
salvation) relate to the necessity of salvation. Here is a course, intended to be used to teach
non-churchgoers, those who know little or nothing of Christ and the Gospel, and only three, at best
four of fifteen studies deal with salvation.Why is this? Well, as we shall see in a moment or two, the course has a hidden agenda. It has a
concealed objective. It seeks to open the mind and heart of those who follow it to things which have
no grounding in the truth.Let's continue to think of the Gospel for a moment. What Gumbel says of the person and work of
Christ on the whole is acceptable. He is shallow in his presentation of truth, but on the whole it is
there. The same applies to his dealing with sin. He speaks of it in terms which don't have great depth
but on the whole we will not object too strongly. Yet even in this section, where much of what he
teaches is correct, there is a remarkable absence of teaching concerning the work of the Holy Spirit
in Conversion. I say a remarkable absence because he goes to great extremes in his teaching
regarding the Holy Spirit in the rest of the chapters.The Bible teaches that salvation is in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture
teaches that in order to be saved we must place our trust in Christ. We must believe that He is the
Son of God the only Saviour, and that He died in our place at the Cross, bearing our sin and
penalty. However this act of faith is not a mere assent of the mind to these truths. It is not a mere
consenting of the human will to accept the doctrine of Christ, but, rather, it is the result of the Holy
Spirit's working in the heart and soul of individuals, regenerating them, changing them by His power
that they may receive Christ as He is offered to them in the Gospel. John 1:12,13 - "But as many as
received Him [Christ], to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God." Scripture teaches that those who receive Christ, those who believe in His name,
do so not because of an act of human volition, but because God the Holy Spirit has changed them
from within. He has convinced and convicted them of their sins and so changed them that they
repent and believe upon Christ.This teaching is absent in the Alpha Course. Indeed, it appears to be what we could call 'conveyor
belt' Christianity, whereby after being informed of the facts that make up the Gospel, a prayer of
acceptance of Christ is recited and the person then is a Christian. Salvation here is more a
conforming to what a Christian ought to be, than a change wrought by the Holy Ghost in the heart of
a sinner. This is undoubtedly the case. In the first Alpha video two testimonies are given. They refer
to a relationship with God and a prayer life. That's good, but sincere adherents of other religions
claim to have a relationship with God and pray. They refer to the "baptism of the Holy Spirit",
reading the Bible, attending Church, but there is a notable absence of terms used to describe true
genuine conviction. For instance, there is no speaking of conviction of sin which lead to repentance
and faith in Jesus Christ. No mention of assurance of salvation through Christ's death! Indeed, there
is a total absence of it in their testimony of what Christ has done for them. Even when Gumbel tried
to ascertain the reason for their changes in attitude and lifestyle the response was: "Just the
relationship that I've developed with God, simple as that."There is conversion here, but it is conversion to a Christian lifestyle rather than a conversion to
Christ. This is repeated time and time again.__________________________
Part 3 Now whilst I do not doubt that there have been some who have genuinely been converted, I also
must point out that many have been led into a false profession. Bear in mind the fact that the original
course and book were intended to redress the problem of declining numbers in the church. Bear in
mind also that churches which have struggled for years to get people into their church see the course
as a quick way to filling the church with people. It is being taken on by more and more churches
which see it as a quick way to correct their failures. They are simply 'proselytes of Christianity'.
They consent to the teaching that is given about Christ and seek to live as a Christian, but it results
from an act of their own volition. They make a conscious decision to live as a Christian, believing the
tenets of Christianity and doing basic Christian activities, but sadly their heart has never been
changed by the Holy Spirit.Gumble shows us that at the end of the day he holds to this view. On page 221, he refers to the
vastness of the universal Christian Church, informing us that the Encyclopaedia Britannica states that
the Church has some 1.7 billion adherents world-wide. He confuses church membership with
belonging to Christ. Sadly, many, many of this vast number have never experienced the rebirth, they
are not in a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.Such thinking as expressed by Gumbel and propagated by the Alpha course is not Scripturally
sound. It is Arminian in doctrine and humanistic in philosophy. There is a lack of understanding with
respect to the person and work of the Holy Spirit. This is backed up by Gumbel himself. On page
120 of Telling Others he writes: "At the end of the course I send out questionnaires. […] If there is
a change I ask when that change occurred. For many the decisive moment is the Saturday evening
of the weekend." This of course is on the "Come, Holy Spirit" weekend. It is the time when Nicky
Gumbel invites the Holy Spirit to come and the participants are filled with the Spirit.There is something fundamentally wrong here. The decisive moment is when the Holy Spirit
comes rather than the momentous occasion when they were supposedly converted. If nothing else
shows the fallacy of the Alpha Course, this certainly does. The time when as the Bible teaches the
Spirit of God enters the soul and works the miracle of regeneration, the soul dead in sin being made
alive, the soul in darkness having the light of Christ lit within it, is not viewed as the decisive moment.
There is something fundamentally wrong here.Unfortunately time does not permit to deal with all the errors of this book, but suffice it to say,
Christians need to be on their guard. Gumbel intertwines many falsehoods with truth as the course is
followed. He gives credence to Westcott and Hort, two heretics responsible for the production of
the text upon which the modern perversions of scripture are based. He advocates Ecumenical unity
at the expense of fundamental Gospel truths. He teaches that natural gifts are greatly enhanced when
they are taken on by the Holy Spirit which is why many rock musicians have turned their natural
ability into what is now termed 'Rock Gospel'. These are aspects which we could spend
considerable time examining, but there Is an Issue at the heart of the Alpha course that demands our
attention.The main objection with this course is its teaching regarding the Holy Spirit. The main
objection with this course is its teaching regarding the Holy Spirit. This is especially the case in
connection with His work and gifts. This should come as no great surprise for Gumble is extremely
Charismatic in his teaching. His work is therefore filled with charismatic teaching and although the
book was prepared prior to the phenomenon known as the Toronto Blessing it is undoubtedly pro
Toronto Blessing.Throughout the book there are references to John Wimber. Undoubtedly Wimberism has had its
influence on Nicky Gumbel. On tape five of the video set Nicky Gumbel dates his call to Evangelism
to the 1982 incident in which he received prayer from John Wimber. He relates part of that incident
on page 201 of Questions of Life. The video, however, gives a little more information. It tells us
that on the occasion in question, he experienced such supernatural power that he had to call out for
it to stop. It was at that time that Wimber gave a 'Word of knowledge' that Gumbel had been given
a gift of telling others. He can trace his ministry of telling others to that particular time. Isn't that
interesting? Time does not permit me to deal fully with John Wimber, but let me say this. Wimber
says that in 1977 God clearly spoke to him - that God gave him a revelation a direct
communication. God said to him: 'I've seen your ministry; now I am going to show you mine. Preach
forgiveness of sins, and the healing of the body; preach the Kingdom.'Note that he is not being told to preach Christ, or the Blood, or the Cross or the Gospel, or
the Book. Note that he is not being told to preach Christ, or the Blood, or the Cross or the
Gospel, or the Book. He is being told to preach the Kingdom. This doctrine has been described in a
variety of ways - Restorationism, or Dominion Theology, to name a few. It is a unique and new
form of Pentecostalism and it is the basis of the Toronto Blessing. In fact it has been said that as to
its theology and practice the Toronto Blessing is 'Wimberism'. Umbel shows aspects of this teaching
in chapter thirteen. He refers to the Kingdom, the preaching of the Kingdom. He speaks of the
Kingdom in the same terms as Wimber, the healing of the sick, signs and wonders. He is paving the
way for people to experience the same phenomena as those in the Toronto Blessing.Now in the Toronto Blessing the New Age philosophy that "experience leads to explanation" is the
order of the day. Indeed, a close examination of the Toronto Blessing will reveal that it is a replica
of New Age philosophy and practice in the guise of Christianity.This is nothing but New Age teaching dressed up. We are constantly told that the Church is
moving into the realm of the supernatural. This is nothing but New Age teaching dressed up. They
believe humanity is moving into a higher humanity. That there is a quantum leap.In the Toronto Blessing there is the 'experience of the Holy Spirit' in the New Age. It is called
'tuning in to the Divine Consciousness'.In the Toronto Blessing there is the 'Word of Knowledge', and revelations from the Spirit realm. In
the New Age there is what is termed 'Channelling from the Spirit World'.In the Toronto Blessing there is a 'transmission of anointing' through the close proximity to a teacher,
or the touch upon the forehead. In the New Age there is the 'transmission into Higher
Consciousness' through the close proximity of a Guru, or Shakti pat, Shakti pat comes from
Hinduism, shakti meaning power. Power transmitted by simply a touch.I could go on, but that will suffice for the present to show the connection between the New Age
philosophy and practice and the Toronto Blessing. Similarly, the thrust of the Alpha course is
towards the experiential and not the written Word of God. Commenting on the weekend away,
Gumbel says of those from a New Age background: "They are on more familiar territory in
experiencing the Holy Spirit". (Telling Others, page 19.) How is this? Surely Christianity should be
a million miles away from occultism. Yet they are at home. There is a similarity in what they believed
and held to in the New Age movement, and what they come across in the teaching and experience
regarding the Holy Spirit in that weekend away.There are others and perhaps they are young converts ... who because of a lack of
teaching in their particular Church, they have joined the course. It is obvious from what we
said earlier that there are many who arrive at the part of the course which deals with the work of the
Holy Spirit who know nothing of genuine conversion. There are others and perhaps they are young
converts, and still others who because of a lack of teaching in their particular Church, they have
joined the course. The Alpha course then takes them through the 'experience' of receiving the Holy
Spirit. Now during this time - on the Saturday evening - Gumbel prays for the Holy Spirit to come
upon them.Now how do they know that they have received the Holy Spirit? Well, one of the evidences is that
they speak in tongues. I say one because Gumbel does not fall into the trap of many Charismatics.
He has learned by their mistakes and so he does inform us that not every Christian will speak in
tongues.I John 4:1 - "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world." At this point let me do something
which Gumbel tells Christians to do but which he himself and those on the course fail to do. Test the
spirits. I John 4:1 - "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world." The Bible teaches us to try, or test the
spirits, to see if they are of God and the reason given is that there are false prophets in the world.
How do we try the spirits? By the Book; by the Word of God. "If they speak not according
to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." If it is the Spirit of God coming upon
them then their experience must measure up to what the Bible teaches. If it does not then the
phenomenon - in this case tongues - and the experience - receiving the Spirit - must be rejected. If
the phenomenon associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit does not measure up to the standard
of God's Word, then it is not the Holy Spirit of God, but another spirit, that comes upon them.Gumbel, in Questions of Life, chapter 9, pages 140-144, makes the following statements regarding
what tongues are and the benefits they bring:He states that speaking in tongues "is a form of prayer" and he quotes I Corinthians 14:2 as his
proof. Let us read the verse: "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men,
but unto God." That is where the learned Mr. Gumbel ends the verse and states that because it is
speaking to God it is prayer. That is not what the Apostle is teaching. Paul does not say speaking in
tongues is prayer. Look at the rest of the verse: "For no man understandeth him." He is saying that if
a person speaks in another language in the gathering of God's people than the one that they
understand then only God knows what he is saying. Paul backs up this statement by saying:
"Howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." Note the connecting word in the next verse: "But he
that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." Paul says no man
but God knows what a person speaking in tongues is saying. His words are a mystery, they are of
no value to the church.This is not a commendation for tongues. It is not saying that tongues are for prayer, rather Paul is
saying they are of no value it employed in this manner. It is not prayer. In verse 14 Gumbel
expresses that Paul speaks of prayer in relation to tongues. So he does: "For if I pray in an unknown
tongue, my spirit prayer, but my understanding is unfruitful". There! Mr. Gumbel has proved it! I am
afraid not! You must read the next verse. Paul says there: "What is it then, I will pray with the spirit,
and pray with the understanding also." Paul continues to apply the same argument to worship to
praise. What is his argument? It is this: If you pray in tongues your understanding is empty, it is
unfruitful, but that is not the way you should pray, that is not the way in which you should worship.
Your understanding, your mind should be active. This is a terrible aspect of the Charismatic and
Toronto-style meetings. People are told to empty their minds, but God never tells Christians to
empty their mind. They must be alert, aware, conscious of what they are doing.Gumbel then gives us three areas where tongues can help the Christian:
1.In praise and worship
2.Praying under pressure
3.Praying for other peopleIsn't that strange? The two things Paul has just spoken of here - praise and praying - are the uses of
tongues which he gives. Paul doesn't substantiate what he is teaching! In fact the Bible teaches the
opposite to what he is saying! In fact the Bible teaches the opposite to what he is saying! I
find it even more extra-ordinary when he omits to mention the Scriptural purpose for the gift of
Tongues: Acts 2:4 - "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." They were speaking in their tongues. There was no
learning to speak, no going over gibberish until it came. There and then they were given the gift of
tongues. Does it not surprise you to discover that the same Holy Spirit according to Gumbel doesn't
give a perfect gift? In the training manual of the Alpha Course, relating to the giving of the gift of
tongues, page 17, section 9, it says: "Encourage the person to start to speak in another language
[…]." On page 147 of Questions of Life he not only teaches that we should "ask God to fill you
with the Spirit and give you the gift of tongues", but in point 6 he states: "Persevere. Languages take
time to develop. Most of us start with a very limited vocabulary. Gradually it develops. Tongues are
like that. It takes time to develop the gift. Don't give up." Does the same Spirit give a perfect gift on
the day of Pentecost and an imperfect one today? We are examining Acts 2:4. They began to speak
in tongues. Why? Was it the sign that they had received the promise of the Father? Was it to praise
or prayer to God? No! Verses 5 and 6 give the purpose. They inform us that there were men in
Jerusalem from all parts of the earth and the Apostles preached to them in their own language. The
gift of tongues was given that they might preach the Gospel.Whatever comes upon them during that weekend, we can be sure that it is not the Spirit of
God. Gumbel, in his teaching about the Holy Spirit, never mentions this. His doctrine is not in
accord with the Bible. The experience of many who attend this is course is not in accordance with
the Word of God. The tongues manifested at the "Come, Holy Spirit, Weekend" are not the same
either in character or in purpose as the tongues in the Scripture. "They speak not according to this
Word." Now it follows that if the evidence of the experience is unsound, the experience itself must
also be unsound.Whatever comes upon them during that weekend, we can be sure that it is not the Spirit of God.
Time does not permit for the examination of other phenomena associated with this occurrence.
Gumbel teaches that there are those who by the same spirit receive the gift of healing, words of
knowledge, visions, dreams, and prophecies. He opens the minds of those who participate in the
course to extra Biblical revelations, to signs and wonders. The mind of all who are taught these
errors is open to the thought that a revelation from God, a word of knowledge from the Spirit, a
word given by prophecy, are all on a par with the Word of God. If this is accepted, anything can be
taught in the name of Christ. Absolutely anything can be taught and it follows that if it is as they claim
from the Spirit of God, then it must be believed. Thus what men say is taken on board as the truth of
God without any Scriptural ground.There is a great danger here. There is a great danger here. The Alpha Course is being used to
prime the pump, to condition the thinking of church people to accept the teachings an phenomena
which we associate with the Toronto Blessing - phenomena which have no anchorage in Scripture;
doctrines which otherwise would be rejected out of hand.These phenomena are unbiblical. There is no ground in Scripture upon which to anchor them. The
Alpha course in its philosophy is New Age. It relies heavily upon experience; in practice it leads to
experiences which are rooted in the occult: if they are calling down the spirit and they are possessed
by that spirit, and that spirit is not the Spirit of God, then they have opened their minds to other
spirits, to evil spirits. It promotes Humanism, Arminianism, Ecumenism, and Charismatism. There is
evil being done in the name of Christ, wickedness being practised and taught in the name of the
Lord. The Alpha Course is only conditioning people to accept these errors, to tolerate and to take
on these evils.The Alpha course is not Bible-based; it does not rest firmly upon the Book. The Alpha
course is not Bible-based; it does not rest firmly upon the Book. It leads people away from truth
and into error therefore it is Hell-inspired. As Christians we must stand apart from that which is the
vehicle for propagating false doctrine and false experience. The Christian is told to reject error, to
withdraw from those who teach and practice falsehood. God says: "Come out from among them,
and be ye separate […] and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you". On the basis of
God's Word I say we must reject the Alpha Course and all that is associated with it.May God help us therefore to fulfil our duty and responsibility to reject this error and to speak out
boldly against it.Amen and Amen.
Back to the Newsletter Back to Alpha Index
|
|