Apostles, Prophets & The International Fellowship of Christians & Jews

David Cannistraci wrote “Apostles and the Emerging Apostolic Movement” in 1996. It is stated that it is, “A Biblical look at Apostleship and how God is blessing His church today.” Bill Bright, David Yonggi Cho, Ted Haggard and Cindy Jacobs are some of the many endorsers. Cannistraci's close friend and mentor, C. Peter Wagner, has declared this book to be required reading for all his “Fuller” students.

Wagner wrote in the forward of the book of the Postdenominational Movement, that being a world-wide movement that is recognizing the reinstatement of the new apostles as authoritative leadership. 'Inherent in today's postdenominational churches...[are] "apostolic networks,' in which both the gift and office of apostle are recognized and accepted." 28.

The definition of apostle within the book is "...one who is called and sent by Christ to have the spiritual authority, character, gifts and abilities to successfully reach and establish people in Kingdom truth and order, especially through founding and overseeing local churches...Apostolic people are Christians who support and participate in apostolic ministry, but are not actual apostles...people work with apostles to reach the lost through dynamic outreach, church planting and nurturing. Apostolic churches...recognize and relate to modern-day apostles...The apostolic movement is the Holy Spirit's worldwide activation of apostles and apostolic people to come together as a part of a great revival on earth....a restored function of New Testament apostles is not only important it is critical...' (emphasis in original) 29

Excusing the failure of people like William Branham, "who appears to have become deluded near the end of his life..." Cannistraci states "apostles are primary in the Body of Christ, they are only human and as such they will be imperfect and fallible..." 30 That is no different than Rick Joyner declaring God's prophets to have the normal acceptable error in predictions anywhere from 10-90%.

Not unlike the Catholic church and "fathers", the author presents the concept of apostles taking on a fatherly role.

Since people like Rick Joyner and others like him are considered by many to be Apostles, are we now to call him our spiritual father?

In 1986, the ever ecumenical Oral Roberts, considered the apostle of healing, formed the International Charismatic Bible Ministries (ICBM.)32 ICBM advertises last years Conference audio and videotape which shows speakers/video workshops to have included “Bill Basansky & Rodney Howard-Browne” teaching, “Church Growth/Home Cell Ministries” and Oral Roberts & Benny Hinn working together. Their new conference is slated for June20-22, 2000. Their slogan has been “Love and Unity through Signs and Wonders.” 33

The ICBM conducts “leadership conferences,”34 and is a “coalition of charismatic leaders,” many of whom are dominionists.35 While noting that the names change occasionally Al Dager cited an Ad for Charismatic Bible Ministries, in Charisma, May 1987 showing that the original officers and trustees were: Oral Roberts* -Chairman; Ken Copeland* -Secretary; Jack Hayford* - Vice Chariman; Billy Joe Dougherty* - Treasurer; Paul Yonggi Cho—International Honorary Chairman; Executive Committee Members: Charles Green, Marilyn Hickey, Karl Strader. 36 [Bolding added]

Jim Ammerman	Gerald Fry	Freda Lindsay*	Charles Simpson
Tommy Barnett*	John Giminez*	Francis MacNutt	Carlton Spencer
Charles Blair	Kenneth Hagin, Sr.*	Ralph Mahoney	Stephen Strang*
Jamie Buckingham*	Ronald Halvorson	John Meares*	Lester Sumrall*
James Burskirk*	Buddy Harrison*	Mike Murdock*	Hilton Sutton*
Happy Caldwell*	James N. Haynes	Charles Nieman	Vinson Synan*
Charles Capps	Wallace Hickey	John Osteen*	Robert Tilton*
Morris Cerullo	Roy Hicks	Paul E. Paino	Larry Tomczak
Ed Cole	Benny Hinn	Earl Paulk*	Casey Treat
Paul Crouch	Charles Hunter	Carlton Pearson	Ron Tucker
Geraldine Derstine	Frances Hunter	Fred Price	Tommy Tyson
Richard Dortch	Dick Iverson	Tommy Reid*	Jeff Walker
Ed Dufresne	Vicki Jamison-Peterson	Evelyn Roberts*	Paul Walker
Quentin Edwards	G.L. Johnson	Richard Roberts*	Robert Weiner
Mike Evans	James E. “Johnny” Johnson	Roy Sapp	Austin Wilkerson
Kenny Foreman	Larry Lea	Jerry Savalle*	Ralph Wilkerson

While discussing the apostle/prophet movement in his 1990 book ‘Vengeance is Ours,’ Al Dager states he attended a Vineyard Church from 1983-1984. 37 Listing organizations and individuals that are in the forefront of the restoration of apostles and prophets and/or other dominionist teachings, he states, “Jack Hayford’s Church on the Way does not stress dominion teaching to the degree Earl Paulk’s Chapel Hill Harvester Church does. But Hayford has accepted some dominion doctrines, and continues to minister in association with more aberrant teachers, thus placing his church in this category. This has saddened many, myself included, who have in the past held his ministry in high regard.” 38

Albert Dager began Media Spotlight in 1977. A telephone conversation to Mr. Dager revealed that he changed his views on Jack Hayford about the time Jack got his Foursquare Church (1969). Mr. Dager had been raised Catholic and left that church when he accepted the Lord in 1964. Although stating he has never been Pentecostal, believing the tongues, signs and wonders to be the major problem in churches today, he moved from a home based fellowship into Melodyland Christian Center under Ralph Wilkerson who "had charismatic leanings." Upon leaving there, Mr. Dager attended Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel from about 1976 until 1980. He said while not being involved in the inner workings, he developed some close friends that have continued to this day. He doesn't agree with Pre-tribulation teachings like C. Smith, but rather is pre-wrath or pre-millenial. Besides attending the Vineyard from 1983-1984, (they liked the music) before understanding what John Wimber was about, he also attended a Foursquare Church for several years. Al Dager has been in a Fundamentalist church for the last six years. 39

Melodyland Christian Center has been an ecumenist hotbed with many holding conferences there, like David Duplessis-- Mr. Pentecost-- Dennis Bennett, Hal Lindsey (spoke there, though he was not charismatic), Winkey Pratney, Dick Mills [NKJV committee] and even Kathryn Kulman had some services at Melodyland. Jim Bakker reportedly worked with Ralph Wilkerson until they had a falling out.

"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them."

One will find names associated with either Pentecostals, Evangelicals or listed above, also in the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). 1 The Story of the Fellowship 2 and other related articles, reveals

Proponents of IFCJ include names like Ralph Reed, Jerry Falwell, Gary Bauer, Baroness Caroline Cox, Jamie Buckingham, Jack Hayford, Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, Charles Colson, William Bennett, Pat Boone, Dr. James Draper, Dr Robert Dugan (National Assoc. of Evangelicals), Dr. Rick Buhler and many others.

“…Participants in the First Annual Evangelical-Jewish Leadership Congress included Dr. Ralph Reed, Executive Director of the Christian Coalition; Dr. Jerry Falwell, Chancellor of Liberty University; Dr. Richard Land, President of the Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention; Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League; Philip Baum, National Director of the American Jewish Congress; and Rabbi David Saperstein of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, among others. …Speaking at a news conference following the meetings, Rabbi Eckstein said, "We agreed to disagree without maligning or impugning the motives or characters of one another... We've come a long way.”

Senator Joe Lieberman, Al Gores former running mate, is honorary chairman of the Center for Jewish and Christian Values, which is a part of the IFCJ. From the website, " The Center for Jewish and Christian Values, a special project of the Fellowship, works to improve the moral climate in our country by bringing together Jews and Christians in support of a common set of principles and programs on which to build a more moral society in America." 3

THE ADVISORY BOARD includes some of the names listed above and Gary Bauer , Bill Bennett, Chuck Colson, The Baroness Cox, Kay Cole James, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Lloyd Ogilvie, Ralph Reed , Jack Kemp, William Kristol and so on.

The IFCJ is composed of people who have endorsed the world ecumenical movement. One observer writes about a TV ad for their Isaiah 58 Project:

“… I saw an infomercial at noon on my local "christian" TV station. The infomercial had Rabbi Eckstein as the main guy with Jack Hayford, Pat Robertson, Pat Boone, Jerry Falwell and Chuck Colson urging people to send their money to the IFCJ for their Isaiah 58 project. 4 They also have the Wings of Eagles 5 project where you send money to fly Jews out of Russia and into Israel. The number that you call is in Utah. When I called it the woman told me nearly all the people working there are Mormon. So the evangelical celebrities want the Christian American viewers to call Mormons in Utah who will tell them how to direct their money to Chicago (while earning a wage doing it) and the IFCJ in Chicago who are a combo of evangelical Christians and Jews who are not Christians, will collect the money and keep some of it of course…” 40

Another problem is that Rabbi Eckstein, founder, president and author, isn’t supported by the MJAA. Though the IFCJ fully supports Eckstein, the MJAA article, October 1999: An Alternative to Rabbi Eckstein 6 quotes his writings showing he is totally against Messianic or Hebrew Christians. His view is, be either a Jew or a Christian. While appreciating Eckstein’s work to help fellow Jews, the MJAA presents the alternative to Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein's ministry, Wings of Eagles.“ Instead, “well-meaning” Christians should consider supporting MJAA's Russian Aliyah Project 7, which is, “… uniting the financial resources of Messianic Jews and Christians in a public testimony of unity and love for our Jewish people.”

Rick Joyner has declared that racism is the enemy of the Messianic movement. However, the MJAA issue with Rabbi Eckstein seems to be whether one agrees with the Messianic movement. C. Peter Wagner, in the Reader for Perspectives on the World Christian Movement calls social and political action "the cultural mandate" of the Gospel:

“…The cultural mandate, which some refer to as Christian social responsibility goes as far back as the Garden of Eden. After God created Adam and Eve, He said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing...Both the cultural mandate and the evangelistic mandate are essential parts of biblical mission, in my opinion. Neither is optional. There is a growing consensus on this point in Evangelical circles. “41

“... Wagner makes the assumption that God's instruction to Adam and Eve has not been accomplished because Christians are not in dominion over the earth. This argument is presented by dominionists of every stripe, from Manifested Sons of God adherents to Christian Reconstructionists….The "cultural mandate," then, is the need for Christians to take dominion over the earth by means of social and political action. And, according to Wagner, it was inspired by the "social upheavals of the 1960's." …” 42

“…In the Foreword of the Perspectives Reader, Leighton Ford, Chairman of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization states:

“God is raising up a new army of Kingdom volunteers in our day. Across every continent are emerging 'World Christians"-young women and men with world horizons, committed to "Exodus" lifestyles, possessed by the goal of discipling the nations to Jesus Christ the Lord.33” 43

Mr. Dager writes of this militant methodology, ”…The strategic warfare designed to bring down principalities and powers involves corporate prayer gatherings festooned with liturgical practices. Several nations have had such prayer gatherings to bring down the spiritual powers over them. They are led by Christian leaders from all over the world, affiliated with various organizations we have mentioned, such as InterVarsity Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, YWAM, etc. 44

“This is the new worship form for dominionism. There are gatherings for every nation, every city, every block, to take control of that area through spiritual warfare. “45

The “Army” being raised will be discussed. Our hearts are to be focused on Jesus Christ. His command is that we love one another, not the world. We know the way is narrow.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Copyright . All articles are the sole property of SeekGod.ca and Vicky Dillen. All Scripture King James Version unless otherwise stated.

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