What is the Alpha Course?

[Vic]

Alpha course has been available for over 20 years. It is used worldwide by Catholics, Protestants, and Evangelicals.

What is it? what does it teach? and can it stand the test of Scripture?

[YYZ Skinhead]

I cannot figure it out, but it sounds new age and it scares me, because one of my relatives has apparently been in it (along with the Purpose-Driven Drivel) through the church she goes to. :-/

[LindaR]

The Alpha Course is New Age. There are several good articles critiquing the Alpha Course...most of the ones I found are listed on the Lighthouse Trails Research website. Here is an excerpt from one of the links of LHTR, by Chris Hand:

Quote:The Alpha Course
by Chris Hand

Is the popular Alpha Course leading people astray?

Many people have been greatly impressed by the Alpha course. Designed to be an introduction to the Christian faith through talks, video presentations, small-group discussions and a special weekend-away, lots of churches are now employing it as part of their outreach.

In the eyes of many it has been a run-away-success and its fame has spread far beyond the UK, and Holy Trinity Brompton, the London church where it originated.

It is no exaggeration to say it has spread right across the world and is now finding friends in several continents. It has been adapted so as to be accessible to young people and has also proved versatile enough to be used in prisons, schools and places of work.

Churches in inner cities and rural areas have found it sufficiently flexible for their needs. Future plans for expansion suggest that Alpha is very much here to stay. What is more, many people claim to have been helped through going on the Alpha course and believe it has ought them an understanding of God and how to respond to Him. Testimonies and accounts of wonderful things that have happened to individuals abound; In the light of all this, surely there cannot be anything wrong with it?

With so many in today's society gripped by materialism and atheism, can Alpha be anything other than a good thing? As young people become hopelessly enmeshed in a godless culture, should we not applaud the efforts of Alpha and help make it a success?

We wished that the answers to these questions could be an emphatic Yes. But closer examination of Alpha prevents such a clean bill of health being given to it. Why this concern? There are six vital reasons we would like to bring to your attention.

You can find the rest of the article on link at Lighthouse Trails Research..do a search for Alpha Course. Born again Christians should not get involved in the Alpha Course. It is lies mixed with some truth. Truth mixed with error is still error. Rat poison is 99% nutritious...the 1% poison will still kill the rat.

[4given]

4given>I am really sorry that I hadn't included in the Forum Rules, that Newbies are asked not to post links, until after 50 posts. I am really sorry, but have added a clause into the Forum Rules concerning this. Prior postings with this issue, we had just stated that Newbies were not to and I omitted it when posting the rules the other day. Vic http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=229


We had to leave our last church for speaking out against this course - our pastor called us on the phone and accused us of being Pharisees!

[Vic]

(04-05-2009 05:43 PM)4given Wrote:  We had to leave our last church for speaking out against this course - our pastor called us on the phone and accused us of being Pharisees!

We haven't attended some because of Alpha. And it seems like Purpose Driven and such that congregations are being split over these issues. Many see those who don't go along with all these venues, as being divisive. Except the person that contrives these extrabiblical teachings that causes division are the ones ingnoring such passages as

Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Those who won't accept these new ideas and concepts that cannot take the test of Scriptures are called to separate, for a good reason.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

[4given]

(04-05-2009 05:43 PM)4given Wrote:  4given>I am really sorry that I hadn't included in the Forum Rules, that Newbies are asked not to post links, until after 50 posts. I am really sorry, but have added a clause into the Forum Rules concerning this. Prior postings with this issue, we had just stated that Newbies were not to and I omitted it when posting the rules the other day. Vic http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=229


We had to leave our last church for speaking out against this course - our pastor called us on the phone and accused us of being Pharisees!

Thats ok - I better get my 50 posts done then lol - I'll save that link for another time ( I can understand why you have that rule)

[LindaR]

LOL....I'm going to wait till I reach 100 posts before I'm even going to ATTEMPT to post a link. My record of getting caught by the "ban" bot man is not good.

[4given]

(04-06-2009 04:22 PM)LindaR Wrote:  LOL....I'm going to wait till I reach 100 posts before I'm even going to ATTEMPT to post a link. My record of getting caught by the "ban" bot man is not good.

lol

On second thoughts I might not even post that link - discovered a few things that I previously was unaware of to do with that link.

Personally I think its great that you can't post links at first - I must say I am not used to this but rather than just promoting what others say about a certain matter its really good to put our own thoughts on the thread and then we can get to know that person alot better.


sorry I'm starting to derail - I'm back on topic lol

I personally do not think that the Apha course is based on sound biblical truths. All you have to do is look at where it originated from - Holy Trinity, Brompton. That is where the "Toronto Blessing" first raised its ugly head in the UK. ( I can only speak for what has happened in the UK as that's where I live)

It is based on experience and feelings rather than sound doctrine.

I see the Roman Catholic Church now do Alpha Courses - so it certainly is a watered down version of the bible if they can embrace it and its advertised here on buses and on Billboards. The Alpha course promotes ecumenism. I've seen pics on the net of Nicky Gumbel with Pope John Paul II.

There is a copyright on the course so even if a Pastor wanted to leave something out or add to the course in anyway - they are not allowed to do it. Many are fooled at first when they look at the course content - at first it does seem that the gospel is being preached - but its a trap - the more you get into the course the more you see that they are promoting all things "Toronto", using new age bible versions, and a huge emphasis on the Holy Spirit rather than on Jesus and his shed blood.

Now since this course is aimed at the not saved - why do they need to be told all about the Holy Spirit?

The unsaved at the meeting will listen to 2 testimonies - and do they hear about these people being under conviction for their sin? and about their repentance and their assurance that God will forgive us through the blood shed by our Lord at Calvary? They Don't

All the unsaved hear is about Baptism of the Holy Spirit, how someone enjoys reading the bible and praying and how they enjoy going to church and how doing the Apha course has helped them as they discover God. Their relationship with Jesus is never mentioned..................... says it all doesn't it.

The most disturbing event for me is their "Holy Spirit" Weekend - that is not the Holy Spirit moving if events do happen that weekend like the Toronto Blessing.


As Christians we must speak out when we see something that is in error - sadly many churches are more interested in numbers sitting on the seats rather than saving souls.

Just now I have my sister in law attending one of these courses.

[Vic]

4given!

Although I have researched it and have the info for an article, I just haven't got to it. The reality is, it doesn't take a lot to research some things and simply know that they are way off Biblical soundness.

One merely can read who is endorsing the course, including what the Catholic bishops etc have to say, right on alpha course promotions. That should be a HUGE flag of warning. What you have said is dead on.

What we see repeatedly is the elimination of focus on Christ in this and so much other 'stuff'. For Charismatics the focus is always the Holy Spirit and signs, which are not of God as we have seen in the Toronto mess and its expanding tentacles. It is beyond me how anyone can think barking like a dog, roaring like a lion, biting someone's ankle or frothing at the mouth, laughing hysterically, etc. is of God.

Their can be no other foundation than Jesus Christ. What Alpha and others do is build on the flesh, worldy things and ignore the Truth of the Scriptures, which must start with the Truth of Christ, sin, repentance and the cross.

We need to study the Scriptures in order to understand why Alpha and so many other things are wrong and not of God. That is how we discern between good and evil.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Quote:Personally I think its great that you can't post links at first - I must say I am not used to this but rather than just promoting what others say about a certain matter its really good to put our own thoughts on the thread and then we can get to know that person alot better.
sorry I'm starting to derail - I'm back on topic lol

Good points, although, now that you mentioned it, I did think I might have to and

[sheep wrecked]

(04-08-2009 07:12 AM)4given Wrote:  As Christians we must speak out when we see something that is in error - sadly many churches are more interested in numbers sitting on the seats rather than saving souls.

Just now I have my sister in law attending one of these courses.

[the whole post - just didn't want to repaste the whole thing ;)]

I think that Christians have very little discernment. If it is promoted as "Christian", many just follow along with whatever is suggested because it promises that one will experience God.

The charismatic/pentecostal Holy Spirit is seen as a "force" that is manipulated and controlled by one's "faith", so the premise is to find "new moves of the spirit" to specialize that control and new "waves" to promote manifestations of the "spirit" so that one can have a "real" relationship with God.

It's pretty pathetic