Joyce Meyer, Mike Bickle, the Kansas City Prophets, Jesus Culture, Bill Johnson all serve a different Jesus and are deceived by a different spirit. These worship singers should not be participating with them. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)
Objections
Some will object to the above by stating that both the worship leader and false teacher believe in Jesus and therefore it doesn't matter. Others will object by saying that when it comes to worship music discernment doesn't apply.
Both of these attitudes are unscriptural. The New Testament writers were very concerned for God's sheep over being lead astray by myths, false gospels, false Christs, false spirits, false teachers and apostles, they were always strongly encouraging the church to stay close to Jesus Christ, the message they first received, to listen carefully lest they drift away because servants of Satan would disguise themselves as servants of Christ in order to draw them away from the truth. And these false teachers and prophets would be among them.
(Hebrews 2:1, Acts 20:30, 1 Timothy 4, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4,13-15, 2 Peter 2, Matthew 24, Galatians 1, 2:4, Jude 1:3-4, Matthew 7:15, 2 Timothy 2:12)
We can classify worship leaders as:
1. The worship team at your local church
2. Worship team that claims to be a movement such as Jesus Culture.
3. Christian worship artists such as Kari Jobe, Phil Wickham and Jake Hamilton.
1. Worshiping with false teachers is not worshiping God in truth.
"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24
The Father seeks worshipers who worship Him in truth. When a worship singer worships to God with those who claim to be Christian yet their teachings are contrary to Scripture, this is not worshiping God in truth.
Some of Joyce Meyer's false teachings are:
- Jesus stopped being the Son of God
- Jesus was born again
- Jesus paid for our sins in hell
- Jesus went to hell and was tormented
- You cannot be saved if you don't believe Jesus went to hell
- We are called little gods
- Joyce Meyer said she is not a sinner
You can read more about her false teachings here. We cannot separate theology from worship because when we worship God we are thinking about who He is as He has revealed Himself in Scripture.
2. They are participating in their evil deeds.
"Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds." 2 John 1:9-11
There are warnings and commands in Scripture to avoid those who teach what is contrary to Biblical doctrine.
"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them." Romans 16:17
Worship leaders such as Kari Jobe, Matt Redman and Phil Wickham should not lead worship for Joyce Meyer. This goes against the Biblical teaching to stay away from her because she is a false teacher. Staying away or refusing to lead worship at an event such as IHOP's One Thing conference would not be "mean" or randomly "judgmental". Instead this would be a righteous judgement made (John 7:24) based on what the Bible says on how to handle false teachers. However, by joining with Mike Bickle and Joyce Meyer these Christian musicians are participating in their evil deeds.
Worship singers, bands and teams are not exempt from discernment. These verses are commandments to all Christians, not just the "theologians, polemicists and apologists" in your local church.
3. It validates their false teachings.
When a Christian musician leads worship at a false teachers church or conference this validates the false teacher as a true teacher of God's Word. This will lead others astray.
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." 2 Peter 2:1-3
Peter and Jesus spoke how false teachers will secretly bring into the church heresies that are destructive, Jesus referred to these teaches as wolves in sheep's clothing (Matt 7:15).
When a Biblical worship singer worships for a false teacher, this gives approval to the false teacher and makes it seem as if the false teacher is a part of evangelical Christianity when it reality they are a wolf.
Titus 1:9 says to refute those who contradict sound doctrine not team up with them.
"Holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict". Titus 1:9
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 is clear that false apostles and deceitful workers will disguise themselves as apostles of Christ and servants of righteousness. It is already difficult enough to discern a false teacher because they "disguise themselves", how much harder is it when Evangelical worship leaders team up with them?
4. The worship leader is questioned and discredited.
It reflects negatively upon a worship leader when he or she worships for a false teacher. The worship leader is questioned for his lack of discernment, knowledge of the Bible and approval of these teachers.
It also implies that worship leaders are exempt from the same standards we would apply to other ministries. Christians should be on guard and aware of false teaching not blurring the lines by linking arms with false teachers.
"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." Acts 20:28-30
5. It distorts the Gospel.
"Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them." Acts 20:30
False teachers do not give a clear gospel presentation representing the full counsel of God (sin, rebellion against God, punishment for sin, Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, God's grace and mercy, redemption, forgiveness and living a holy life for Him).
Therefore, when a professing true Christian teams up with a false teacher is distorted because it will not be communicated clearly to the masses.
Paul was concerned for God's sheep that they would be lead astray from the simple Gospel.
"But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully."
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
"But I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed". Galatians 1:6-9
Matt Redman is another worship singer who regularly leads worship for Joyce Meyer.
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2 NASB
However, today many songs are labeled Christian with no mention of the gospel, Jesus Christ, God, holiness, justice, wrath or sin. Instead popular Christian songs sum up Christianity, the atoning work of Christ and his redeeming power from sin in one word, 'love.' Love has become the mantra of Christian music as if Christianity and God are one dimensional. The problem with this is that the world also likes the idea of love. However, the world has a corrupt view of it. So without defining the love Christians have, these "Christian" songs are played on secular radio stations without causing anyone to stop and think about the truth because they sound as if they were written to their "significant other".
The second problem with this is that God is not just love. He is also holy, pure, just, righteous, sovereign, eternal and absolute truth. We worship the same God who has saved us as the One who also eternally damns people to Hell. We pour out our soul to the One who is love (1 John 4:8) but is also Truth (John 14:6).
John 4:24 says those who worship God must worship Him in not only spirit, but in truth. Also, Worship is not supposed to be displayed only in music but should be a lifestyle of presenting our lives to God as a holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).
In today's institutional church the act of worship is mainly enacted and emphasized through music. Christian worship music has become the gateway to God's presence and superior way to connect with Him. Therefore, we have many popular, young, hip, cool, Christian singers and bands who are looked up to by 'the church' as spiritual leaders, mentors and who pave the way for the next generation.
And that is where the concern of this page lies. Popular Christian worship artists are paving the way for the next generation of Christian musicians without any regard to discernment. A recent example of this is the worship lineup for International House of Prayer's One Thing Conference at the end of December. Popular Southern Californian native Phil Wickham will be leading worship and sharing the same stage as Kansas city false prophet Mike Bickle and Word of Faith false teacher Joyce Meyer. Phil Wickham also has lead worship for Joyce Meyer during her conference April 10-12 in Sacramento. Kari Jobe is also included in the IHOP lineup, she recently played a concert at Pastor David Jeremiah's Shadow Mountain Community Church.
Worshiping God and praising Him is a part of an authentic Christian life. In Scripture we can see it not only is a commandment but a response of love for God from His people:
"Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." Psalm 95:6 NASB
"Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father". Colossians 3:14-17 NASB
"Praise the Lord in song, for He has done Excellent things; Let this be known throughout the earth." Isaiah 12:5 NASB
Will the True Worshipers Please Stand Up?
"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24
Note: Phil Wickham was not able to make this event