May 4, 2007

Dear James & Peggy Eby,

Since your initial newsletter email to me came from you both, I believe it is appropriate that I respond to you both.  Since I have already given Jim a second warning, I pray that I have not gone beyond Paul's instructions in given you a final reply to your emails.  As to whether or not you were defending Warren, PDC and CGM often do not defend Warren when be presented with the truth, they go right into attacking the person who brought the message.  A reasonable person would construe your responses, as the Apostle Paul commented "I am now therefore the enemy because I tell you the truth?"  Instead of taking personal potshots at me, you should rather rejoice in the truth and commend me for being a good Berean.  I and many other scholars around the world and a host of saints have followed Paul's advice and searched the Scriptures to see if what Rick Warren is saying is true and found a host of examples that prove what he is saying is NOT true.  Paul would have been happy about that, how come you are not?  Contrary to your contention, I would have a way of knowing that you are a hypocrite (independent of our discussion of Rick Warren) because using your own premise that it is wrong to attack fellow believers (assuming Rick Warren is even one...for his teaching belies this and he is reaching who you call "the lost" with another gospel which the Apostle Paul taught us how to easily detect and discern).  If it is wrong to open fire on a believer, then what makes you a hypocrite is that you opened fire on me.   And it is much more difficult to win the lost (that you expressed a concern for and implied that I am not spending enough energy on...and how do you I don't spend more time reaching the lost than I do exposing false teachers unless you are “psychic” too?...as if it were a contest..BOTH are commanded for servants of righteousness and in so doing would be imitating the Apostle Paul which he exhorted us to do) if they have already believed Rick Warren's gospel.  So it is better to warn the world about him so that perhaps many more will come to the knowledge of the truth.  So using your own premise and logic, I am a "believer", so you shouldn't say anything negative to me even in response because it contradicts your own stated conviction. 

I also know where you stand regarding Rick Warren by statements on your own newsletter such as your alliance with John Maxwell with his Million Leader Mandate brainchild.  John Maxwell is a false teacher in his own right, but he is also, by the recorded testimony I have of the Purpose Driven Conference Leaders in Nairobi, that John Maxwell is at the heart of their program.  His unholy alliance with Warren is indisputable and renowned.  You promote John Maxwell in your own April/May 2007 newsletter, then you wonder how am "psychic"?  In there is a quote from your own bio:

"He also serves as an Associate Trainer for Dr. John Maxwell' s EQUIP organization in Maxwell' s Million Leaders Mandate outreach.  Both Pastor Eby and his wife Peggy have held ordaination [sic] in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) for more than 30 years." 

 I might have been born yesterday, but not last night!  My own documentary on John Maxwell and his alliance with Rick Warren is available online in my second book on Warren entitled: Rick Warren's Global Peace Plan vs. Scripture at: http://www.abrahamic-faith.com/James/Global%20PEACE%20Plan.pdf.  Then go to Page 122 for the Appendix on John Maxwell's teachings.  John Maxwell's EQUIP is virtually the E in Rick Warren's Global Peace Plan.  You support of Rick Warren and his major collaborators is hardly veiled or disguised!  Your whole website if rooted in the Fuller Theological Seminary.  You wear it like a neon sign, and then wonder how I am able to discern your position and allegiance.  Your alliances are loud and clear.  They are plastered all over your website, including Ralph Winter who attacked my friend and colleague Evangelist Loren Davis for his work in Africa in a published report, who is still picking up the pieces from the damage he has been causing.  Once again, one more example of your hypocrisy, since according to you, it is wrong to attack a Christian brother, yet here we have Ralph Winter (your colleague) doing precisely just that.  My only regret is that I did not warn Loren Davis about you too in my book and for his crusades all over Africa.  But I will be able to now, as well as other Christian media colleagues of mine that I know in Africa that publish exposes and warnings on the Warren/Maxwell plague you have helped bring there.  Any doubt that Ralph Winter is bad news, here are two websites which document his malfeasance:

RALPH WINTER EXPOSE:

http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/05/sarah-leslie/dominionism.htm

&

http://www.watch.pair.com/fuller.html 

But there is much more documentation on John Maxwell which I have placed at the end of this letter from two victims of his programs, including one that was written by Mac Dominick in his book on him. 

 I get SOS calls and emails all over the world wherein I am thanked rather than being reproached.  Remember sir, first you sent me an email, along with other documentation on the internet, which ALREADY identified your teachings and alliances.  Had you simply asked to be removed from my mailing list, that would have been the end of the matter (at least between us).  But what did you do?  Retaliate!  And then reload with a second ad hominim personal attack on me.  It would be one thing if I simply attacked a brother without evidence.  But I supplied you with the documentation, so you sir are really without excuse.  What you call "attacking" and "have a lot of hate" the Apostle Paul calls exposing the deeds of darkness, rebuking, rebuking strongly, admonishing, correcting, warning, removing and silencing.  Secondly, when I responded I did not initially even accuse you.  It was you who accused me and scorned and mocked me.  It is certainly my right, privilege and biblical mandate, to then require that you prove that I am bearing false witness against "a fellow believer", which you have still failed to do.  You have still failed to reason or refute me from Scripture, rather you unload even more ad hominim personal attacks on me, precisely what Rick Warren does and has trained 400,000 PDC pastors how do do in dealing with what he calls "resisters" if they dare to oppose his programs in their respective churches.  My ability to mark people, is based on their own published teachings.  I don't have to know them any more than I have to know the Pope to mark him as a global false teacher...speaking of which Rick Warren has formed unholy alliances with the Roman Catholic Church which you would see if you read my documentary or Richard Bennett's who was a former Roman Catholic priest who should know.  So was Martin Luther "attacking a brother" when he nailed his 94 Theses on the Wittenburg Door?  Was he attacking a good brother when he called the Pope the Antichrist?  Did he as you accuse me "Sounds to me like you have a hatred for Rick Warren" have a hatred for the Pope?  Did the Apostle Paul hate the Judaizers that he cursed and eternally damned in the Book of Galatians?  Did he hate Philetus and Hymaneus whose teaching he called "gangrene" in the Body of Christ?  You don't know me personally either, yet have no problem attacking me...which you should do...if you had any evidence!  I am still waiting!  You could make it perfectly clear where you stand regarding Rick Warren with a yea or nay and answer this question: "Is Rick Warren a false teacher?  Yes, or no?

So I invite you demonstrate your credibility by showing which Bible translation states what Rick Warren says the Bible states about his 40 Day examples.  Demonstrate your credibility by proving that Rick Warren does not invoke Carl Jung's Personality Temperament Divination in his SHAPE Program.  Demonstrate your credibility by proving to me that Rick Warren's gospel in his Ladies Home Journal Column is not New Age but the true Gospel.  Demonstrate your credibility by taking your case to saints such as those 165 members ousted by Gardendale Baptist Church and many others who even dared to question Warren's teachings. 

Here is your opportunity to publicly mark Rick Warren and disavow any defense of his programs...irrespective of what you think of me personally.

If you can prove me wrong, I would be the first to be grateful and would correct my unwarranted "attacks" on Rick Warren so that all of listeners to the hundreds of radio stations where I speak could also be illuminated in accordance with this Scripture.

2Ti 2:24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient,

2Ti 2:25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

2Ti 2:26And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

You say that you are not attacking me, but any person reading this would construe that your responses are sarcastic.  If you want to correct me, fine.  But because bearing false witness or against or "attacking" a brother is an abomination to the Lord, please do so in the manner prescribed by Paul.

As to being too "judgemental"[sic]  I can't judge Rick Warren's final destination, nor do I personally hate him.  But I can hate his teachings and the churches, families and countries he has decimated, for we are to abhor that which is evil, as you should too!  And I can and must judge his teachings and do so publicly.  The nanosecond we become a Christian, we forfeit our rights to remain silent in the face of false teachings.  To fail to do so should rightfully bring God's judgment to dereliction of duty of the Watchman on the Wall described in Ezekiel who failed at his post!

My final warning to you regarding your collaborators and unholy alliances you have formed comes from the following Scripture:

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”  2 John 1:10-11

Sincerely in Christ,

James Sundquist

Director

Rock Salt Publishing

JOHN MAXWELL EXPOSE TESTIMONY OF MAC DOMINICK & SISTER SUSAN  ADDENDUM

Hi, Bro. James,

Wonderful article.  Thank you for your kind words re my discernment of John Maxwell early on.

How well I remember this taking place at my former church.  I have highlighted in red the pertinent issues and my comments follow in green.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Several years ago, this author was a member of an Independent Baptist Church whose direction shifted dramatically to the “new paradigm” thinking of Warren, Hybels, Southerland, and other prominent teachers of the seeker sensitive Church Growth Movement.  After many struggles to maintain some level of purity within this assembly, a major battle developed when the pastor invited John Maxwell’s Injoy Ministries to present its program for church numerical and financial growth.  The bottom line of Injoy’s proposal “guaranteed” that for the meager sum of $40,000 consulting service fee, the church would recoup a minimum of $300,000 over the two subsequent years from increased giving and church growth. 

There were some of us who were OUTRAGED over the Board, at the urging of the pastors, spending this huge sum of money.  To no avail; our complaints fell on deaf ears.  Never mind the fact that it was OUR MONEY, given to us by the Lord and entrusted by us to the leaders, that they were so foolishly giving to Maxwell.  Of course, their answer was along the lines of  "We all prayed and God said..." to which I replied, "Well, then, why is it I feel God is telling me "No, don't do this?"  No reply.

This was to be accomplished by systematically committing the entire existing congregation to a new “faith-promise” type of sacrificial “stewardship” program.

How well I remember the "guilt trip" of Maxwell's faith-promise and sacrificial stewardship program.  IT WAS DISGUSTING.  Even the children were "guilted" into giving their pennies.   This program would be presented to the church in predetermined segments:  All of the following took place, in exactly the order listed in this article. 

While others in the church were signing up in droves (rushing headlong like lemmings to the sea) I RFUSED TO SIGN UP FOR THE MAXWELL'S MARKETING VIDEO. Silly, silly me.  Didn't I know I would be "missing out on God's plan for the church?  To which I said, "Who says it's God's plan?  How do you know this is God's plan?  DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU THAT THIS MAY NOT BE WHAT GOD WANTS FOR THIS CHURCH?"  Hmmmm, I never did receive an answer.  This non-answering was beginning to develop a distinct pattern.

l     First, a slick marketing style video would get the entire congregation excited (get people in a group, get them "excited" and "group think" prevails) as to the possibilities for growth and complete financial stability.  (How anybody with an ounce of sense in their heads could fall for this bunk is beyond me.  NOBODY BUT NOBODY CAN OFFER COMPLETE FINANCIAL STABILITY (God Himself NEVER promises any such thing to us on this earth) TO SAY NOTHING OF A $300,000 RETURN IN TWO YEARS ON A $40,000 INVESTMENT.  My Lord and my God, that's a 750% return on your investment.  THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!!  Their blatant arrogance and stupidity (for what else can I call it?) to this day makes my mind reel.  If some greasy-looking, unkempt stranger had walked in off the street offering them that kind of return, he would have been given the bum's rush.  But because it was ..... oh, my... the "exalted" John Maxwell, the church fell for it as though they were tumbling over a cliff and couldn't get to the bottom fast enough!

l     I recall saying something along the above lines to them and reminded them of the warning that accompanies investing in the stock market:  "Current profits are no indication of future earnings."  But, of course, the pastors and Board were well past taking heed of any kind.  Dollar signs and standing room only services filled their hearts and minds.  To me, the whole thing then (and now) had the hallmarks of a colossal bunko scam.  The only one making money, hand over fist, was John Maxwell!!  Certainly not the untold numbers of churches who have fallen prey to his con job.  And Maxwell's probably laughing all the way to the bank!

l     The details of the plan would then be presented to the church staff and higher profile, wealthier parishioners.  (I remember this quite well.  Although I was NOT invited (gee, what a surprise) the event was held on a Saturday evening at the church, a catered dinner, the women were given corsages, the red carpet rolled out.  It caused quite a flak in the church when the "lowly" non-invited members got wind of the event the next day (Sunday).  They felt as though they weren't "good enough or rich enough" to be included, and rightfully so.  It was a case of "class discrimination".  The have's vs. the have nots.)

l     Thirdly, the plan would be given to the “leadership of the church.”

l     After these groups of individuals were on board with the program, the rank and file membership would then receive the complete, detailed presentation.  By the time the general membership was presented the plan for a vote, the die would have been cast and the decision to go with Injoy sealed.  (AND IT WAS!!!  That John Maxwell, he's no dummy.  But then, he had $40,000 on the line, didn't he?)

The third point is where this discussion gets interesting.  For according to Dan Southerland in his book, Transitioning, Leading Your Church Through Change, “church leadership” should not only include the paid staff, deacons, Sunday School teachers, ushers, musicians, etc—but should also include those individuals with any level of influence that may adamantly oppose the plans for transition to the new paradigm model.  Therefore, the leaders of the church would not only include everyone who held an official office or distinct job in the church, but also those who were labeled as “trouble makers” who could undermine the entire effort.  And now I know why the pastors were so eager to get me out of the church.  I was considered a "leader" and they knew that the folks who attended my Bible study classes looked up to me, as well as other people in the church who sought me out for counsel.  As a "leader" how dare I publicly oppose the Board and Pastors?  How dare I start throwing up caution flags all over the place?  How dare I speak out and cause others in the church to question what...exactly...was going on?  I was quickly becoming a major threat and I had to be dealt with...pronto!  The Board and pastors probably all exhaled a collective sigh of relief when I resigned.

Can't help but wonder if they ever recouped that minimum of $300,000 over the first two years on their initial "investment" of  $40,000.  Between what it cost them to rebuild the sanctuary when the roof literally caved in, and then what it cost them to hire Maxwell's Injoy, I sincerely doubt they ever saw that $300,000 or anything even close to it.  So rather than taking the $40,000 and putting it toward some of the debt incurred when the sanctuary had to be rebuilt, THEY SADDLED THEMSELVES WITH EVEN MORE DEBT!!!  This is NOT a good idea!!!

I went to the church's website to get some numbers re: attendance and giving.  Remember now, in 2001 (when they presented John Maxwell's Injoy program and began Warren's PDL, they were announcing "great things" from the pulpit, including church membership of 2,000 within a couple of years, plus they were going to recoup their $40,000 investment and turn it into $300,000 in two years (What a magic trick that would be, but John Maxwell excels at pulling rabbits out of hats.)  So six years later, here are the actual numbers from their own church bulletins.  Church services are held Saturday evening and two on Sunday morning.  You be the judge.

$9,719 needed for budget to pay the bills (not counting missions, memorials, etc.).

Sunday, Jan. 7th:  Saturday 46, Sunday first service 108, second service 208.  Total ministry giving for budget $7,140.38.

Jan. 14th:  Saturday, 54; Sunday first service 117; second 233.  Total ministry giving for budget $5,818.05.

It continues on in this vain through January, February and March, so I'll jump ahead to the March 11th.

Mar. 11th:  Saturday, 37; Sunday first service 109, second service 187.  Total ministry giving $9,679.71. 

There were maybe three instances when they met the budget, but the attendance is pretty much the same and so is the giving, which of course is based on the attendance.

So for all the "hoopla" back in 2001, for all the "pep squad" meetings, for all the trust they placed in Maxwell (to say nothing of giving him a pot full of money), their dreams of becoming a "mega-church" (like our boy Rick promises) have not happened.

And they're still pushing Warren's "running the bases" (with the low attendance, they must be recycling the same people through the courses) and they're planning on attending Hybels' 2007 New Age-type seminar (see article I emailed you from Lighthouse Trails about this seminar).  Why can't they see what you and I can so plainly see?

Six years later, and I still want to bang my head into a brick wall and scream at them, "HOW COULD YOU BE SO DECEIVED?"

Anyway, thanks again for sending the article.  Nice to know I wasn't "whistlin' in the dark."  Especially good to know that, indeed, I had heard correctly from our Lord.

Blessings,
Sis. Susan