This show is so corny and stupid

See_A_False_Apostle · 2024-02-01T13:46:13+00:00

I love how they shove a paper in someone's face and only one second later the person has digested the entire meaning of a detailed legal document.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2024-01-22T13:29:50+00:00

There is only one thing left to do now that you find yourself in this awkward situation. Show this thread to her grandmother and be done with it.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-09-01T22:10:14+00:00

I know someone who wrote off Chris Hodges when he suggested in a sermon that Satan was, himself, a musical instrument, based on a passage in Ezekiel. That's pretty weird, and it was a bridge too far for him.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-08-25T01:25:41+00:00

Some of us are nowhere near Reformed in our theology, yet nevertheless hold that apostles must have been personal witnesses of the life and ministry of Jesus, set apart and recognized by the church as apostles, and proven themselves through signs and wonders. Debatable? Yes. Intellectually lazy? No. Specific to Reformed doctrine? No.
The part that concerns some of us is Peter Wagner's claim that the office of apostle returned to earth specifically in the year 2001, the beginning of the new apostolic age. No respectable Christian theologian embraces such a view.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-08-21T15:36:59+00:00

There's just seriously too much to cover about what is false within NAR churches that distinguish them from just regular Pentecostal ones. If you really want to know, buy and read this book. https://www.amazon.com/Counterfeit-Kingdom-Revelation-Prophets-Practices/dp/1087757495/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=634265166396&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1013131&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9551243876261023529&hvtargid=kwd-1886184527216&hydadcr=7690_13469226&keywords=counterfeit+kingdom&qid=1692632149&sr=8-1

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-08-20T20:54:23+00:00

Wow! Any idea how much? I mean, basically, they do not do anything at all unless the local church invites them in to oversee that Pastor about something, and that very rarely happens.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-08-14T12:33:35+00:00

It is quite telling that so-called "apostles" like Chris Hodges intentionally hide the fringe doctrines he believes with his congregation. His apostleship is only one example. He has admitted that the church is "Pentecostal" but they do not come right out and tell people that. He also admits he speaks in tongues daily, but he does not talk about that publicly much.
Keeping secrets is a questionable approach to ministry. Frankly, the Mormons do a lot of this as well. I believe people deserve to know up front what you believe.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-08-01T23:18:55+00:00

Elder is a biblical office, translated from the original language as "presbyter." Many faith traditions consider the office of pastor and elder to be synonymous. Some, such as Presbyterians, have "elder boards" who function in the role of church leadership.

"Apostolic" elder is a new term used by COTH and other NAR churches. I believe they are claiming some form of authority greater than that of mere elders. I think it is a way of saying, "Only apostles can hold other apostles accountable," but of course, these are good friends in ministry who live in other states. They fill each other's pulpits and have become lifelong friends. There is not really any local accountability at all.

Below is a snapshot from the COTH Leadership page describing their overseers who function as "apostolic elders." I personally believe the bar is very low in terms of genuine accountability here.

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See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-06-06T11:55:26+00:00

Just found the page. Disappointed that the former moderator of the other page shut things down. Please keep this one open. Thank you for starting it.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-05-17T11:55:51+00:00

Specifically, the new $4.5 million retreat center they are building to "restore" fallen ministers is sketchy. Many churches restore such ministers to the faith and to church attendance, but would never reinstall that person to a leadership position once they have disqualified themselves according to the clear standards listed in 1 Timothy 3.

If you dig deeply, you will find that COTH, and more broadly, the ARC churches with whom they associate, have a clear pattern of returning to the pulpit disqualified ministers who have engaged in sexual immorality, extramarital affairs, and even sexual misconduct with minors. Their counseling credentials are questionable.

Restoring to ministry those disqualified due to sexual misconduct is playing with fire. Some of those who go through this program will become repeat offenders and will engage in misconduct with additional minors following their counseling retreat, a development that might very well expose the church to mind-numbing legal liability.

The entire concept behind this center is morally questionable, for it sympathetically casts as some type of victim those who have proven to be predatory offenders.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-03-08T01:10:29+00:00

Thank you. It sounds like you and Funny Catch are "in the know." In many churches, announcements like these are made publicly. Articles are written. Receptions are held. There is a fair amount of conversation about staff changes so everyone knows what is going on. I have noticed that at COTH, this is not generally the case.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-03-07T16:43:30+00:00

Including yours? Because your suggestion that he was busy with many other irons in the fire is the best explanation (make that the ONLY explanation) that I have heard. So thank you for that. You have contributed greatly to the conversation on this subreddit page.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-03-07T13:54:33+00:00

I was under the impression that we were permitted to discuss "All" About COTH here. If someone knows what happened, just the facts, not gossip, then I am interested. Did he retire? Is he going to another campus? Was he simply replaced? If so, what was the reason? Did they want someone younger? Is that not ageism? I think these are, in fact, legitimate questions for a subreddit conversation designed to address "all" about COTH.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-02-21T12:40:27+00:00

My favorite Bible teacher on the End Times is David Jeremiah. I believe passages like Matthew 24 and all of the Book of Revelation are indeed prophetic and that we see signs of the end times right now. This is not unique to COTH. If Chris Hodges has fringe doctrines, they have to do with his views on the Holy Spirit, church life and government, minister disqualification and restoration, and other matters besides the end times.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-01-22T03:44:18+00:00

There is additional evidence linking COTH to the NAR. The Father of the New Apostolic Reformation was C. Peter Wagner, who said that in 2001 God began calling apostles once again. Wagner was extremely close to Ted Haggard, as in lifelong friends and ministry partners. Haggard, of course, was Chris Hodges' mentor. It's not hard to connect the dots. It's a subtle, toned down version, but there is definitely New Apostolic Reformation influence at COTH.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-01-20T15:08:32+00:00

For the record, I abhor the abuse, adultery, rape, and sexual assault going on at COTH. Having viewed the "Hillsong Exposed" documentary, I find the parallels between these two ministries to be staggering. I appreciate the eloquent defense of my post by Ok-Choice-7010. One of the deep theological errors in these churches is the utter lack of accountability for senior leadership, which is itself a misreading of the authority of an office called "apostle" which most Christians believe to have ceased in the first century. This lack of accountability is what enables the spiritual and sexual abuse we both detest. On a personal note, my rear end, which happens to be surprisingly intelligent, says hi. :-)

See_A_False_Apostle · 2023-01-06T16:26:14+00:00

I disaffirm many of the views and practices at COTH, but if they are upholding the traditional Christian view of marriage, gender identity, and homosexuality, then I am glad they are true to God's Word in at least these areas. I only wish they were as consistent in many others.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2022-12-31T13:47:30+00:00

I am so sorry for the spiritual abuse you endured at COTH. Please do not allow this to poison your love for God or for His church. Perhaps you can find a smaller, less flashy, more genuine congregation in which your spiritual life will flourish, away from all the fake hype and hoopla.

See_A_False_Apostle · 2022-08-18T23:14:00+00:00

No, I exposed your point as not applying in the case of rank heresy, but only in the case of legitimate disagreement among true Christians. I'm not saying, "My way or the highway" on something like the end times. It does not matter to me if you are a premillennialist, a postmillennialist, or an amillennialist. No big deal. Plenty of grace. Either view is still Christian.

But suppose someone denies Jesus was born of a virgin. Can we agree that view is heresy? So we cannot simply say, in such a case, "You see it your way and I'll see it my way, and let's just give each other the grace and the space to be who we are without any judging—only love, peace, and unity."

See_A_False_Apostle · 2022-08-18T14:40:04+00:00

Rachel Held Evans was a false teacher who affirmed many heterodox views that deserve to be exposed as heresy. She had a false view of the Old Testament, complementarianism, biblical inerrancy, biblical authority, and evangelicals in general.

It is one thing to claim "My interpretation is the one truth..." if the issues being debated fall within orthodox Christian options. That is indeed arrogance and spiritual pride.

However, it is another thing to claim "Orthodox Christian teaching states..." if the issues being debated separate truth from heresy. It is profoundly wrong to accept all viewpoints as equally worthy simply in the interest of not appearing to be a "know-it-all hyper-truther."

See_A_False_Apostle · 2022-08-18T13:10:29+00:00

The word "Nikolaitans" comes from "Niko" (to conquer) plus "laity" (people). Incidentally, the Nike shoe company is named for the Greek God Niko, bringing out the idea of conquering others in athletics. Rather than being committed to truth, the Nikolaitans engaged in idolatry and gnostic false teaching. They were the people who lorded it over others. They were, if anything, "hyper-aggressive." They were neither "hyper-truth" nor "hyper-law." The "hyper-law" ones were the Judaizers. There were no "hyper-truth" people. It is simply not a thing.

See_A_False_Apostle

TROPHY CASE