Chip Brogden on Urgent Messages

I posted this under another thread but thought i would post it here. Chip sent this out a few days ago in his 'Christology' email. Again, just another viewpoint to help keep things in balance...

"God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. When we listen to, and spread, messages of doom, gloom, and fear then we are focused on the wrong thing. Of course we can expect difficult, troubling times; the Scriptures are quite clear, and common sense tells us that things are difficult and will get worse as we anticipate the coming of our Lord Jesus and the fulfillment of His Kingdom in a tangible way. This is the direction and the course of all human history and should come as no surprise. What is truly surprising is the way some Christians elevate so-called "prophets" to superstar status for stating what should be blindingly obvious.

As Christ is increasing, everything else is decreasing. Embrace these Two Universal Spiritual Principles and you can eliminate fear, panic, and worry. You can dispense with silly attempts to stock up on food, buy gold, or build bomb shelters - that is for the fearful and the unbelieving, not for the people of faith. You can stop trying to preserve your way of life down here because you will have discovered a brand new Life that comes from above and continues forever. You can safely ignore the melodramatic ramblings of pseudo-prophets. And you can be a light to the world and a source of hope instead of a stumblingblock." - Chip Brogden

In Christ, Chanin

Hi Chanin,

I was put off by this.

What is truly surprising is the way some Christians elevate so-called "prophets" to superstar status for stating what should be blindingly obvious.

You can safely ignore the melodramatic ramblings of pseudo-prophets. And you can be a light to the world and a source of hope instead of a stumblingblock."

Comments like this for me carry more insult than weight and light.

This whole thing seems to be generating a mass of garbage.

EDIT: Dear Chanin, I wanted to say that I in no way intend my response to reflect upon you or your sharing this here, or upon your motives or heart in sharing this. Please forgive me for anyway that my response has been less than loving and perfect towards you and others. May God help us to build each other up in the days ahead.

Brother Alot of this post rings true to my spirit but i must say that we can tell alot about were a persons spiritual foundation is by the way that they voice their opinions towards these phrophets. I know what will happen and dont need confirmation about it because the holy spirit constantly shows me these things. i agree that we should on a personal level rejoice just in the fact that The lord is always on the throne and is always in control and will not forake HIS PEOPLE. preaching the truth to people can be interpreted as doom and gloom and instilling fear by some people because they dont wont to face the conviction and would prefer to only ever talk about nice stories of love and being happy. MY walk with Jesus became more personal when i was convicted under the law and i wept with tears and i feared the wrath of God if i continued certain sins in my life. as i repented of these sins and abided in christ the love grew and there was no room for fear as God had washed out this condemed guilt. on these posts about end times my first question is why is this or that person so fearfull about end times to come if there foundation is so strong!!

I feel Chip Brogden has personally missed it on this. While I appreciate his attempt to battle the spirit of fear that many can easily become subject to, I personally sensed nothing of the sort in brother David's word. In fact, while the message does talk about fearful things that are to come, it is also a message tempered with mercy and hope.

It has been a while since I have read Brogden's material, but personally, this message he gives is simply one of many lashings he attempts to bring from time to time on individuals who are in "institutional churches," especially well known Assembly of God ministers like David Wilkerson. I think his criticism, while much welcomed, also contradicts itself. If I understand him correctly, it is ok for the Scriptures and common sense to make predictions about things getting worse and worse in this world, but it isn't ok to do so prophetically? Brogden says much about the prophetic in his writings, of which I am quite sure he cries fowl on those who say "peace, peace" when there is no peace.

Also, while the Scriptures do encourage us to "take no thought for tomorrow" and to live by faith, this faith seems to encourage practical preparation for difficult times. Joseph told Egypt to take advantage of their seven years of plenty for their seven years of famine. Solomon told us to diversify our investments because we don't know what troubles will come upon this world. The prophet Agabus encouraged the church to prepare an emergency relief fund for the saints in Judea due to the famine that was coming upon the world... which sounds remarkably like what Joseph encouraged to be done.

Furthermore, practical preparation is acting in faith when responding to a message one believes to be from the Lord. It is "living by faith." Even George Muller, who lived by faith in the running of his orphanage that clothed and feed 5,000 people recognized that if one had surplus, they should use that surplus for the future needs. And indeed, such needs may not so much be for the sustenance of you as it may be for others.

Also, consider brother Katz's messages about the coming time of Jacob's trouble, and being prepared to respond prophetically to Jews in flight. The practical considerations he suggested were not so much for one's own survival as it was for the survival of those who are fleeing for their lives throughout the world.

I don't think any of these men, Joseph, Solomon, Agabus, Muller, or Katz have any delusion about trusting in what one has "stored up" for a "rainy day" as being what one will depend on to get through those rainy days. Indeed, such men recognized the things they have received right now as a gift from God. Their trust is ultimately in the Lord.

And I think Chip Brogden has forgotten that Wilkerson knows all to well about what it means to live by faith. Anybody who has read "The Cross and the Switchblade" would surely come across the story of Wilkerson's founding of Teen Challenge, and the faith they had that trusted in God for food, clothing, and shelter, not only for themselves, but the lives of those to whom they ministered to.

I am quite sure that brother Wilkerson remembers such a time in his life rather well. Though not to judge our brother, I believe Brogden knows far less about this area of faith than Wilkerson, and would probably do well to heed such practical advise. Wilkerson has regularly moved mountains with the faith he's had over the years. Brogden, so far as I have seen, has done nothing more than create a slick web site with long winded articles. Please grant me mercy in these comments. I do not intend to put down Brogden, by whom I have benefited much.