Kingdom Now moves into Southwest Virginia
I was unfamiliar with this movement until a couple of years ago when my former home church allowed it to invade their otherwise phenomenal ministry. A few key beliefs of the Kingdom now crowd are as follows:
a. Satan usurped man’s dominion over the earth through the temptation of Adam and Eve
b. The Church is G-ds instrument to take dominion back from Satan and
c. Jesus cannot or will not return until the Church has taken dominion by gaining control of earths governmental and social institutions.
They also reject the concept of the Rapture of the church; instead believing in an end time revival in which masses will accept Christ. While I’ll admit that I don’t know to what degree this local church has accepted the Kingdom Now theology, they have proclaimed many of its tenets along with other disturbing points of view which I am not sure is necessarily shared by other KN adherents. I will speak only of what I have heard myself.
In one service I heard the Pastor state that Muslims, Jehovah Witnesses and Oneness Pentecostals could be part of the Kingdom of G-d, insinuating that Jesus (as second person in the Trinity) is not the only way to heaven. This pastor also encouraged new believers who had not yet read the book of Revelation to not bother, even stating that he himself couldn’t understand it. That was the end of my membership with that church. Since that time I have visited one other time. The church had invited a KN pastor, and personal friend of their pastor to minister. From the pulpit this pastor told stories of how he lied to get better seats on airlines and proudly proclaimed that he doesn’t do alter calls because he isn’t interested in changing anyone. I am also aware of homosexual couples who attended services and went up to pray for salvation. They were allowed full involvement in the church with the churches apparent knowledge that they continuing to live in a homosexual relationship.
Have no doubt, man did loose his dominion over this earth when sin entered the world but through Jesus Christ, Satan is under our feet. Jesus can and will return no matter what we do or don’t do. His return isn’t dependent on our actions. Many roads will lead to hell but only one will lead to Heaven; Jesus Christ. In John 14:6 Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Matthew 7:13 warns us: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road to destruction, and many enter through it." Nothing is more important than seeing souls saved. The Lord wants to see us saved, sealed and sanctified; put simply … we should be changed.
I can’t really question the salvation of KG adherents. I only know that the doctrine being taught does not line up with the Word of the Living God and I worry about the people entering for that salvation "experience" but walking out empty.