Religion or Entertainment? - By Ken Parks

By Ken Parks (Examiner.com article), April 26, 2013

Several religious organizations purport their mission as leading people to Jesus Christ. And on the other side of the coin, one has to examine their actions. Is it true religion or secular entertainment?


There seems to be a disparity among religious organizations within the U.S., and the cause appears to be centered on the choice of music along with other things. This came to my attention as an invited guest to the North Point Community Church, an independent mega-church organization run by Andy Stanley, the son of the famous Charles Stanley of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta.

The lights dimmed down into a dark aura. The rock-n-roll band initiated their presence with the harsh sound of guitars and drums. The strident heavy rock sound followed with the indistinguished lyrics, rotating and rolling beams of various colored lights, smoke generated on the stage, and three members filming the band by turning and twisting their video cameras so the multi-screens would show odd angles. This was the making of a rock concert.
I was told by a member that the rock music brings in the young folks and teenagers. I was astonished. The facility had no indication of the Christian faith; there was no cross, to be found on the building or anywhere within the huge office-like structure. Even the logo of the North Point Community Church displays some sort of modern art, again with no cross, the symbol of the Christian faith. The logo could easily represent most any secular business.

Further investigation showed that the church organization had presented a rock theme based on their “Wicked” series. The stage was prepared for several dancers to perform to the rock music of Michael Jackson's Thriller. This was not the only secular rock music to be played on different occasions. The rock sound of Aerosmith's Dream On was played prior to one of Andy Stanley's questionable speeches.

On a separate occasion, Gary Smalley, a family and marriage counselor, was a host speaker at North Point.. During one of the breaks, the speakers were filled with several secular rock-n-roll recordings. Some people shook their heads with disbelief. Personally, I found this entirely disrespectful to the faith in Jesus Christ. I walked out.

The Bible is specific in that we are to make a joyful noise on to the Lord, and we are not to conform to the ways of the world. The secular rock-n-roll hardly comes close to a melodic and pleasing sound. Rather, it can be best described as harsh and a cacophony of secular heavy metal rock.
I also noticed that any praise and worship music is specifically for the Lord and not for the purpose of entertaining the young and teenagers. God is a jealous god, and will not tolerate the actions of wanna-be Christians. I believe many people will be held accountable and find that they were never part of the Ekklesia, the real Church.

There are other disparities and perhaps a topic for another day, such as inviting a pro-abortionist to be a guest speak at his campus, a la Michelle Obama. The secular rock-n-roll has its entertainment place among non-believers, and it's not in the place of the real Church.

Marketing the Church

By Ken Parks, February 11, 2013

Several church businesses employ the strategy of marketing their product, church attendance, by bringing in guest speakers who sometimes have nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A few years back, I attended one of these so-called "men's conference."  Basically it was a Saturday morning breakfast al a cart and the guest speaker was a former NFL football player.  I took a few photos and listened. 

The former NFL player informed the crowd of about 150 men that he was a kicker, and he was known as "Thunder Foot" among his teammates and the league.  As he went into detail about his college and NFL career, I noticed something missing.  The kicker was really this: There was no emphasis on the preeminence of Christ.  I thought there would be some sort of theme to his winded story ending in a particular passage of the Bible.

Nothing, nada, zilch!

I was disappointed in that the gospel of Christ or anything directly related to Christ was never the key.  The speech was entirely about his college and NFL career, laid out with humorous stories.  Afterwards, several people sought his personal playing card and his autograph.  This had nothing to do with Christ and His ministry.

The church business had used this "men's conference" as a marketing strategy to get men to join their church organization.   The more men, the more wallets!

At the time, I did not see this as anything derogatory or deceptive.  But as time went by, and as I had discovered the manners in which I call "churchianity" was operating.  It was mostly church-centered and noticeably less and less of Christ-centered.  This bothered my spirit.

More and more emphasis is spent on ways to get people to attend church businesses.  And this is accomplished by BIG names such as Tim Tebow (NFL Quarterback), Josh McDowell (Author and Speaker), Dan Cathy (President and CEO of Chick-Fil-A), and Fred Luter (SBC President) in the fashion of a "Grid-Iron Men's Conference."  This recently came to my attention via a pamphlet mailing.  There is no mention of Jesus.  However, there is the glory of men in that it is "Presented by Phil Waldrep Ministries."

The purpose is not to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ before the people, but rather to get people to attend, contribute, and become faithful to the church business.  This is churchianity at its finest.  The "Grid Iron Men's Conference" cost only $79.00 and is to be held at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) Arena, which seats 19,000.  The cost of this conference exceeds any show scheduled for the next six months including the upcoming Jerry Seinfeld event costing a maximum of $77.00.  If you do the math, this sell-out conference will bring in a cool $1.5 million.  And yet, the pamphlet and the website make no mention of His name, "Jesus Christ."

Many years ago, I viewed someone's characteristic guide of cults.  Included in that list was when an organization uses their own name then beware.  "Presented by Phil Waldrep Ministries" fits this characterization.  Once one registers for this conference, the return credit card will be charged to PWM.CC Phil Waldrep.

Jesus explicitly stated,  "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6 (NIV)

Churchianity has changed this.  One Baptist church organization boldly proclaimed during a recorded sermon, "Jesus brought you salvation... the church maintains salvation  for you."  In so doing, Jesus' statement has been modified to, "The church is the way, the truth, and the life.  No man can come to the Father except through the church organization."

This is the church organization's deception, bestowed with the doctrines, traditions, and fables of men which nullify the Word of God.  Marketing tactics as described are only part of the means of luring people into their fold, fleece the flock and continually feed them with the dependency of the church business.

In Perils Among False Brethren

By Ken Parks, February 9, 2013

"... in journeys often, in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren." - 2 Corinthians 11:23

We, the members of Ecclesia, may not experience the same perils of the Apostle Paul.  He had many challenges and tolerated many accusations so as to put him in a bad light with the unbelievers and believers alike.  He even named names of those who left him and forsaken him for the glory of the false light. 

And there are many false brethren in this world.  Jesus warned us:

"Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day , Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" - Matthew 7:21-23

These are the same who have castigated the true prophets of God, calling them devils for revealing the truth about their secret goals.  These are the same who speak as if they are righteous, appearing to doing good.  These are the same who have shown to others that they have provided a small portion of their entirety to the poor, the homeless, and the hungry as a means of approval.  And these are the same, the many, that Jesus declared to be false brethren.

Sure they have amassed large amounts of money by means of the "tithe doctrine."  They have purchased wonderful things for their church business and spent large sums to show that their god is working wonders, such as a $3.4 million pipe organ, made in Italy and installed directly into the construction of their new sanctuary.  Did anyone question this?

Many followers of church businesses go along with the piped music, and never question the reasons.  Jesus told us:

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?... Therefore, by their fruits you shall know them." - Matthew 7:15-16 and 20

The blind, church business leaders, have a knack of leading the blind.  They don't accept the truth whenever a prophet reveals the results of their actions.  They reveal their fruits.  The Apostle Paul had written:

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" - Ephesians 5:11

The purpose is to show the difference between the false brethren and the true brethren, the works of darkness as compared to the works of light, and make those who are asleep and arise from the dead so that Christ may provide you His wonderful light.

The false brethren, whether by sleepiness, accident, or by knowingly accept the unfruitful works of darkness, have no light of Christ.  And they have an ultimate destiny with the outer depths of darkness.  Their high-leader is the prince of darkness, the pied piper, who leads them into a flaming death, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of  teeth.  Not a very good place to end.

The true believers of Christ, those who have been selected to be members of Ecclesia, recognize the false brethren and their unfruitful works of lawlessness.  The Elect have witnessed how these so-called churches have fleeced their own with prodding and intimidation in their desire for more money, "Come on people!  This is a business!"

Pointing his finger at these religious organizations, Chip Brogden had often stated, "It’s hard to see the truth when one’s livelihood depends on NOT seeing it." 

The leaders of these church businesses spend on their own lavishness.  They even claim, "Our church maintains your salvation.," fooling their followers into the doctrine of attendance is mandatory, often employing the misinterpretation of Hebrews 10:25.  The main reason for the misinterpretation of this sacred cow scripture is to ensure that there will be more wallets and purses to contribute to their goal, the bottom line.

The church businesses (organized religion) use Hebrews 10:25 to maintain control of their members, mostly false brethren, ensure that their members abide by their doctrines, traditions, and fables of men which nullify the word of God,  The false brethren are encapsulated into the attendance doctrine, the tithe doctrine, so-called stewardship doctrine, and undeniable faithfulness to the church business.  Jesus has been given the right foot of fellowship. 

The Apostle John knew about the perils of false brethren.  He knew that they put on a facade of righteousness with the desire to pull you into their works of darkness and their practice of lawlessness. 

For the true believers of Christ Jesus:  "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets (includes false brethren) have gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1

The only means of testing the spirits is to know the Word, and the Word knows you.  Without the wisdom of Christ, one is inept and incapable to distinguish the false light from that of the true light.  And then the false brethren is subject to becoming further deceived.  The Apostle Paul viewed this as one of his perils or we, the true believers, may know this as cause of alarm.

Much more can be said about false brethren and their actions of darkness...

Prophets and Pastors

By Ken Parks, February 3, 2013

It’s a fair assumption that Prophets are not welcome in the confines of the church businesses. And there is ample reason as to their lack of presence within these so called "corporate bodies."

Basically and for the most part, prophecy is not acceptable in church businesses. Similar to other taboo subjects, it is considered too controversial and may cause division. Some church businesses claim that prophecy is not for today.  One of the major things that the church business want to avoid is controversy; it may cause division, loss of members, and ultimately a loss of the bottom line.

Audio equipment and the Italian built pipe-organ was installed for more than $3.4 million.  The pastor and executive pastor of an Atlanta mega-church drive expensive cars, wear expensive clothing, play with expensive toys, and naturally endorse the tithe doctrine.

In one particular church business, they accept prophecy because they changed the definition of the word. In their view, prophecy has nothing to do with future events, warnings, and the aftermath of performing lawlessness.  Rather, the church businesses perceive prophecy as the way one discerns the truth from error.  To them, it's all a subjective evaluation for each individual.  In and of itself, that is another doctrine of men, another erroneous teaching.

Prophets were know to reveal the truth to their leaders, regardless of the outcome.  Prophets have a duty to expose the leaders, the blind leading the blind, of any wrong doing.  This does not sit well with those who are so-called pastors of church businesses.  Consequently, prophets are dismissed, shunned, ostracized, and even excommunicated from their forum.  They are labeled as "troublemakers" and are not part of the "corporate body."  Notice how the word "corporate" is not found in the King James Version of the Bible.  However, church businesses often use the word "corporate body" as a means to describe the members of their organization.  It should be the "corrupt body."

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians:  "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" - Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)

Prophets of God are bad news for church businesses.  Often enough, they expose the inner and secret works of those who put on the facade of righteousness.  This exposure often results in embarrassment and shame upon the leader.  The last thing a leader wants to see is division within his "corrupt body."  This could ultimately lead to his/her loss of vocation and income.

Yes, these church organizations are compelled to enlist your money.  One associate pastor attended a small Sunday School class and  put it succinctly in his attempt to rouse up more money, "Come on people!  This is a business!"  No, this is a sham!

There is not one time in the ministry of Jesus Christ that he tried to get people to give him money or even alluded to it.  Yet church leaders promote the tithe doctrine as one of their sacred cows.  Prophets of God see how these so-called "pastors" employ methods of underlying intimidation and trickery.  And yet, the inept, the lazy, and the lethargic members, those who don't seek the wisdom of Christ, are lulled into the tithe doctrine.

One does not have to be a prophet to see through the leaders church business' mist of deception.  Some of these so-called "pastors" have been exposed through the news media.  Some have practiced adultery, some thievery and misappropriation of funds, some have caused divorces,  and some have murdered.  Are these the fruits of righteousness?  God forbid!


The simplicity of Christ involves the ability to discern the good from evil.  John warned us, :  "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets (includes false brethren, false pastors) have gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1 (NKJV)

When a church business claims that they maintain your salvation, then you should know that Jesus has been given the right-foot of fellowship.  A new means of salvation, outside of Christ, has become another doctrine, tradition, and fables of men which nullifies the word of God.  That is the type of deception that leads one to a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth."  It's not a very pleasant place.

These new-age church businesses are trying to get more young people, ignorant of the truth, involved in rock-n-roll for Jesus.  Some of these church businesses have lured the masses with blending worship with secular music.  One church business has used the music of Michael Jackson. Isn't that a Thriller?  And the same has harped the music of Aerosmith.  If this isn't deception, then let's all Dream On.  Btw, all of this can be found on youtube.com

The same Northpointless community church had invited a well-known pro-abortionist and gay-rights advocate to one of their rock-n-roll services.  We know her as Michelle Obama.  That can also be found on youtube.com

Therefore, it doesn't take a prophet of God to see the amazing amount of lawlessness practiced by these so-called pastors.  There is a price to be paid.  My Lord and Savior, my ONLY Lord and Savior has stated, "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day , Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" - Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)

Prophets can not only have visions of the future, but they can see the on-going deception planted in the hearts of these ill-advised pastors and their ultimate demise.