MY REPLY TO ANDREWS STROM'S ARTICLE, "WHY I LEFT THE PROPHETIC MOVEMENT"

by Chad Taylor

I was forwarded Andrew's article below from a friend tonight.  I was deeply stirred to respond and will include my entire response just below Andrew's article.  I believe what Andrew says merits listening to and praying through.  I DO NOT AGREE with everything Andrew claims but I do agree 100% that MAJOR change must occur in the current prophetic movement.  We have lost touch with the common man and the cities around us are by and large unchanged by our convening. We will hear more and more along these lines this coming year and our only hope is to build a bridge between this current dispensation and the world around us that so desperately needs Jesus.  Anything else I fear will face judgment and a "cutting away."  We must bear fruit!  Chad Taylor

"WHY I LEFT THE PROPHETIC MOVEMENT"
- by Andrew Strom (-Nov 3, 2004).

A report on the Kansas City 'Whitedove' Conference, Oct 28-30, 2004. (-Main speakers: Bob Jones, Paul Keith Davis, Bobby Conner, John Paul Jackson - plus Jim Goll and others).

It is with great sadness that I make the following report. I said last week that the 'Whitedove' conference in Kansas City this past weekend would be a pivotal one. It certainly was pivotal for me personally. I wish I could say that there was deep repentance - that the preaching was incredibly anointed and the crowd were on their faces crying before God. I wish I could say that, but I can't. In fact, it seemed to me that the opposite was true. The saddest thing of all is that many people probably came away from this conference saying how "wonderful" and "uplifting" it was (-just as they always do). But I have to tell you, I was grieved to the core by it. Many parts of it I would even describe as spiritually "sick".

Some people believe that the fall of Paul Cain into serious sin is some kind of aberration - just one individual's problem. But I am convinced that the fall of Paul Cain (-who was recognized worldwide as the 'father' of this movement) is a symptom of a much wider disease. The whole movement is sick. As I have stated in previous articles, the 'Prophetic' as we know it is really a "fallen" movement - since the early 1990's. But I always held out hope that it would somehow turn around and get back on track again. In fact, I believed that this conference was a heaven-sent opportunity for that to happen.

However, after what I saw this weekend, I no longer believe this is possible. The deception is now too deep. This movement is being "given over to believe a lie" and I want no part of it. I am cutting myself off, because I cannot afford the disease to spread into what we ourselves are doing. Things have now gotten so bad that we have to separate ourselves - and to do so publicly.

As you know, I requested special prayer from you all last week that a true spirit of Repentance might prevail in this conference. The reason I made this request was because God had woken me up at 6 am the previous Friday and given me a strong word about the conference. (God only wakes me up like this quite rarely - perhaps five times a year).

The word He gave me was that this must be a 'repentance' conference - that this was in essence the "last chance" for the Prophetic movement because it had become more and more corrupt - centered around money and 'ear-tickling' words, false prophecy and so-on. This was a gathering of KEY prophets at a moment in time when the 'father' of the movement had just fallen. It was God's ideal moment for a truly "solemn assembly". (And yes - I did write and pass this word on - in person - to the three main leaders of the conference).

However, what actually eventuated at this event seemed to me to be more akin to a circus than a solemn assembly. The music, the concert-style lighting, the stage dancers, the groaning tables stacked high with books and CD's for sale, the 'ear-tickling', the hype, the $40.00 door fee (plus extra offerings taken each session) - and that's just for starters.

What really bothered me about the weekend was the total lack of any truly 'prophetic' preaching. There was some good stuff on Self-pity and Bitterness right near the start, but after that it was mostly downhill. As always, there were plenty of anecdotes and tales of angelic visitations, etc. There were Scriptures quoted and a few helpful insights. But as far as a message that truly pierces and challenges and convicts - well, don't go looking for that in THIS prophetic movement! In fact, there were warnings AGAINST any message that might come across as even slightly "condemning", and there was even one of those cute talks on the need for "loving oneself", etc.

Today's prophets seem to talk a lot ABOUT the 'sword of the Lord' but never actually bring it to bear. They bring no piercing word. And thus the entire movement is open to great deception. And instead of REPENTANCE, people are getting all kinds of counterfeit spiritual experiences. There seems to be almost no discernment at all.

The ON-STAGE DANCING throughout this conference was a good example. Now, I myself am a rock musician, but from the beginning these dance items had a rather 'wild' aspect to them that truly made me uncomfortable in my spirit. There was even one that came across like a sensual 'Harem' dance. Much of it really felt "off" - and almost anyone who sees the videos will tell you so. Even the worship had a very "tribal" feel to it at times. And by Day Three they were doing dance items with just loud voodoo-style drums only - and leaping around in a frenzied circle making weird cries to the super-amplified beat. The feeling in the room was so oppressive and "pagan" during this, that I could hardly even bear to stay in there. Then came one of the most shocking statements of the whole conference - from one of the main prophets. He got up and said that people may feel uncomfortable with such obviously "pagan" type dancing, but that it was originally God's type of dancing and we were just now 'stealing back' what the pagans had stolen from God!

I have to admit, this was the last straw for me. What could be more blatant? What kind of 'spirits' do they think are being transmitted to people who open themselves up to that music? There is no discernment in this movement at all.

Now, I do not primarily blame the dancers. They were young and possibly immature. (-They weren't actually from 'Whitedove' itself). Clearly, most of the blame lies with the main prophets who invited them in and openly endorsed and promoted what was happening the whole time. They would get up and publicly acclaim these dance items, thus ensuring that the spirit of it would pervade the entire event. And indeed it did - more and more.

Remember, most of the major "movers and shakers" of the Prophetic movement were at this conference, going along with this stuff. I repeat what I said earlier: This movement demonstrates absolutely NO DISCERNMENT. I urge everyone to GET OUT NOW, before even worse is brought in. I believe this movement is RIGHT NOW being given over to deception by God - and it is going to get much worse.

Even the 'spiritual' moments in this conference often had strong touches of "Charis-mania" excess about them. And this was not the 'harmless, silly' kind of excess, either. It was at a level where I believe demonic spirits of deception were clearly at work. By the last session the audience was so hyped that they threw away all inhibition and leapt into the 'pagan' dancing themselves with wild abandon. And one of the main prophets even got up and announced that there were angels in the room going around "blowing on peoples' fingers" if only they would lift them up in the air. That particular part sounds silly, but actually the whole thing by this stage had become awful beyond words. Virtually every day I came home utterly grieved and depressed. I had come to this conference with great expectancy and hope, thinking that the return of Bob Jones may bring a renewal of all that was originally good about this movement. I literally came as a 'friend' and they turned me into an enemy in the space of three days.

Below are the SPECIFIC THINGS that God told me He has against this movement as a whole

-The giving and receiving of "ear-tickling" words.
-The giving and receiving of money in expectation of prophecy.
-False words and false teaching.
-The lack of a true Repentance message.
-The spiritual 'blindness' that allows familiar spirits and spirits of divination to flourish.
-The failure of this movement to judge itself, meaning that God must judge it.
-The idolizing of well-known prophets - placing them on a pedestal.
-And so on....

WHAT NOW FOR US?

Well, obviously, with great sadness we must now totally cut ourselves off from today's Prophetic Movement. Any related links and articles will be removed from our web-site immediately.

As you know, for some time now I have spoken of the 'John-the- Baptist' type ministries that must arise to preach REPENTANCE in the Western nations. -Preachers of righteousness with a piercing word, like the Finney's, the Wesley's and the Whitefield's of old. Such ministries are essential for true Revival to come. I now see that this new move must completely "separate itself" from the influence of the existing Prophetic movement. We need a completely 'NEW' Prophetic, and to keep it from being tainted by the sickness that has infected the old, there must be a complete cutting-off and a "leaving behind".

I urge all of you to take this before the Lord for yourself. We live in very dangerous times, and I believe the old Prophetic literally stands under the judgment of God.

There were prophecies last year that a 'new' prophetic - a "second phase" was about to begin. I do believe this. But what we need to make sure of is that it does not become ensnared in the garbage of this previous movement. It must be totally NEW.

To email me with any feedback, please write to: prophetic@revivalschool.com

As you can tell, it has been a terribly sad and devastating weekend for myself and my family. We would truly appreciate your prayers at this time, my friends.

 

God bless you all.

Kindest regards in Christ,

Andrew Strom. prophetic@revivalschool.com for complete article go to: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~revival/leaving.html
 

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MY RESPONSE (CHAD TAYLOR) TO ANDREW'S ARTICLE

 

There are many points that Andrew Strom makes that are "spot on" and a few that are simply coming from his own opinion and expression of frustration.  I however prophesied similar things in Knoxville, TN. to a large prophetic church last week.  Not the judgmental aspects, but simply that major change was coming to the prophetic movement this next year.  I saw a "narrow and dangerous" path that we are about to embark on.  I see now that this "narrow and dangerous path" is repentance from dead works and moving into the greater works of the Lord.  The "circus" atmosphere has to stop though, the buying and selling in the House of God.  That particular part has went completely overboard and threatens to sink the ship.  Our franchising of the prophetic has disenfranchised the world from it.  Our high prices and celebrity status has direly distanced ourselves from the very world we are trying to reach.  This scripture will play a powerful role in how we do things in the near future: "But when you give a banquet (conference), invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you..."  (Luke 14:13-14).  No matter how "spiritual" or prophetic we get we cannot forget the ultimate mandate of Jesus when he commissioned his apostles and prophets, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." 

The "severing all ties" though that Andrew proposes is really "throwing the baby out with the bath water", so to speak.  Believe it or not Andrew needs his brothers just as bad as they need him.  I sense he came to this conference in Kansas City to be at least recognized and acknowledged by these guys, which they should have done, but did not.  Thus resulting in a feeling of alienation and abandonment where there should have been co-lateral interaction and agreement between leaders.  That is a HUGE blunder with this current prophetic movement; the lack of any outside interaction.  They stick together and receive affirmation and confirmation from one another.  Anything else is usually deemed "not from God" or false judgment.  I see a "grafting in" to the prophetic camp in the coming months.  There is such a desperate need of evangelism and reaching out from these gatherings.  I fear we have become so introverted in modern "conferencism" that we are disconnected and out of touch with the very cities we are conferencing in.  No body reaches out and touches the common man that will never dare darken the doors of our conferences and cannot afford to - even if there was a desire too.  That my friend is the greater sin.  By and large the prophetic movement mentioned above is catering to a dispensational group and the masses that follow it.  Like the millions that gathered around Moses in the desert.  It's time to cross-over and possess the promised land and take the people to higher ground!

We must remember how David reacted to Saul though.  (I am not comparing these guys to Saul either).  God said to David not to "touch my anointed", meaning Saul.  Even though Saul was completely misled and his main motivation was to please the people and not God.  It was God's job go deal with Saul not David's.  David simply had to do what God had called David to do.  I see some "cutting of garments" right now and people taking it upon themselves to "make" something happen vs. simply crying out to God for HIM TO DO IT.  Can He do it or is His arm too short that it cannot save this current movement and those in it?  Is His ear to heavy that it cannot hear the cries for genuine repentance? 

Andrew's response reminds me of Elijah at Mt. Horeb when he was so disgusted and discouraged by what he saw and exclaimed, "I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away..."  God's response was basically, "I have it under control Elijah!"  And he does.  I believe we are though going to see a massive overhaul of how things are being done in our prophetic gatherings and conferences.  It's not going to be so easy to simply do our thing, prophesy to some folks and then go home.  That is simply spiritual gluttony and severe selfishness when our cities are full of dying and desperate people who need the "bread crumbs from our prophetic tables..."  The world around us is going to demand something more just as they did in Jesus' day.  They literally ripped the roof off and lowered the sick and lost in.  I see the Lord "ripping the roof off" of our contemporary events and conferences and letting the lost in.  They are going to divinely interrupt our wrought up meetings and get us back on track.  DO IT NOW LORD!

I see a "narrow and dangerous" road we are about to travel as a prophetic people.  This road will be less traversed and without fanfare and applause.  It will lead us to the heart of the Father.  It will also "streamline" our current methods and symbolisms.  Basically what I am trying to say is just because it has an eagle on it doesn't mean it is prophetic or just because it is a lion doesn't make it apostolic.  We have created a world of gimmicks and symbolism that has left a world scratching its head.  Most of which has meant big sales and swelling crowds rather than lasting impact and true revival.  Those that travel this narrow road will not carry with them their celebrity status and notoriety either as they do now.  They will be with the common man who does not merit them greater than Jesus.  We will say with Paul "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ..."  (Eph 3:8).

 A new day is upon us and greater victory await us.  We simply need to repent from dead works, things that have really changed nothing, and cry out to God for His spirit of repentance and revival.  We also need to have grace with our brothers and sisters and beware of "cutting Saul's garment" and let God do the judging.  Yes, we are to follow the Lord no matter the cost but we are not to kill Saul along the way.  Religion will always fall on her own sword.  We also need to have deep humility as leaders and listen to what the Lord is saying directly or indirectly though people like Andrew Strom and not "through the baby out with the bath water" when we receive hard and sharp words like the one above.  We need to "consider our ways" and let the Lord lead us to a bright and glorious future. 

** Read Paul Keith Davis' report of the recent conference in Kansas City HERE **

Chad Taylor
November 4th, 2004
www.consumingfire.com
Email: chadtaylor@consumingfire.com