THE CALVARY CONTENDER May 1, 2000 - Jerry Huffman - ALPHA GROWS, AND ECUMENICALLY - Nearly two million people worldwide have now done the Alpha Course. Over 40 conferences are set for the year 2000 across the U.S. Every denomination from Catholic to Baptist to charismatic now run it. Alpha speaker Nicky Gumbel says: "It cannot be done alone, but only in partnership. It is wonderful to work with so many different churches, Roman Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Salvation Army. We have Presbyterians & Pentecostals, people of entirely different theological positions." (Alpha News) Alpha is recommended by Cardinal Wm. Keeler, Robert Schuller, Luis Palau, Jack Hayford, Bill Hybels, Chuck Colson, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, Fuller Seminary, YWAM, Episcopal bishops, etc. Alpha started 20 years ago in England in Holy Trinity Brompton, an Anglican church with charismatic leanings (1/16/99 Ariz. Rep.). The 10-week course is non-denominational but discusses being filled with the holy spirit and speaking in tongues. There is a kernel of truth in Alpha but it is encased in a toxic shell of ecumenism.

18 Aug 2000 -

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In
whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Col. 2:10-13)

The Scriptures above tell us a tremendous amount about the new life that begins in us when we
become born again. We become complete in Christ when He circumcises our heart so the body of
the sins of the flesh are supernaturally removed, and when we declare publicly that our old
life is buried with Him through baptism, and by faith, which is the operation of God, we
become raised with Christ, as God raised Him from the dead, our dead works and sins no more
influence us as we are quickened together with Christ.

This unfortunately is not the result with the Alpha Course when invitations are given to those
unsaved: in need of salvation, because anybody is welcome to partake of the Alpha experience.
Little of what needs to be taught to every new believer is not in the contents of this course.

The Alpha Course does not instill an awareness about the great sovereignty of God, it does not
teach that mankind has fallen short of the glory of God; and therefore God s wrath is to our
account until repentance is made for sin and forgiveness is asked of God through Jesus Christ
our Saviour. Instead, sin, according to Nicky Gumbel (the originator of this course) is more
to be seen in the way we have messed up our lives (Gumbel 1994: 44,47), resulting in sadness
and unhappiness (Gumbel 1994:12-22). It is without doubt that the consequences of sin will
result in displeasure, but the only thing that will free us from this is our surrender to Jesus Christ as hopelessly lost sinners.

Alpha fails to tell us that we have displeased God, and mankind is in need of redemption. What
Alpha says about the love of God fails in presenting us the reason for God s love. "God so
loved the world..." (Jn.3:16), yes, but why did he so love the world? Because our destiny was
eternally damned if Christ never paid the penalty for our sin at the cross (Rom.5:6-8),
instead, Alpha portrays God as an emotional being of unconditional love giving us an emotional
high to make us feel good and special about ourselves with no remorse for our past sinful
life.

When our emphasis should directed at glorifying Jesus Christ, this is directed at the Holy Spirit which is far from what Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John 16:13-15.

Another thing I notice is water baptism is not a requisite, although it is indicated to us as
believers by Jesus example. The apostle Peter even mentioning, "The like figure whereunto even
baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer
of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" (1 Pet 3:21)

I become extremely concerned that leaders are not discerning the contents of the Alpha Course,
but seem to be unquestioningly going with the flow. When they do find irregularities with it
they avoid the possibility of contention. Many will say its attracting people into membership,
and many are being saved - but are they saved. Has change really taken place from a past
sinful life when they are taught by the contents in the Alpha Course?

The very opposite was demonstrated by Jesus. He never attracted them with flowery and sugar
coated messages, but rebuked them, losing most of the disciples he had made, remaining
eventually with only twelve. Those disciples that left Jesus were not sincere, they were only
looking for what they could obtain from Jesus. They saw Jesus perform the miracle of
multiplying the bread and fish, and followed Him with the wrong motive in their hearts (Jn.6:
26). They were looking for a bread-king, whereas Jesus was offering them the bread of life,
His words (Jn.8:31,32; Heb.4:12), which would circumcise their hearts. This would require the
turn about from the old life, sacrifice, and pain. Finally Jesus rebuked them saying "...no
man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father" (Jn. 6:65). Read John ch.6.
Christians want to avoid the process of sanctification which takes place throughout their life
as God changes them day by day. In replacment of this, offered is "Instant Christianity,"
instant results, jolly good times, shake rattle and roll.

Let's get back to biblical basic's. Let us relearn what God really intends of our lives from
the Bible, and stop taking advise and opinions from the teachings of men. [ Author unknown ]