Comments on Bill Hybels and the Emerging church movement?

Question

I just picked up a Bible study that was written by Bill Hybels in 1996 called Authenticity. It's part of the Interactions small group series. I Googled him to get background info. and found all of these seemingly accurate articles denouncing his beliefs and his church's affiliation with the emerging church movement. They say he is setting up the church for a one world religion and promoting tolerance over truth. All of the emerging church philosophies sound great until you think about the reprocussions of everyone just loving everyone else and not wanting to upset the unsaved person by mentioning righteousness, and making the gospel sinner- friendly. Offering Salvation to those who refuse to surrender to Jesus. I wondering about this Bible study. It seems Biblical, but I don't want present it to my Bible study, if there are hidden messages in it. When did Bill Hybels start associating himself with this movement. I want to know waht other Christians think about the emerging church?

Answer 1

the emerging Church movement for a one world religion is Biblical indeed, however, if you read it correctly, this one world religion will be headed by Satan, not God.

“Harlot” –rendered “whore” in the King James Version of the Bible-- is a term that denotes a woman that prostitutes herself sexually. In Bible Prophecy, the term is applied, symbolically, to a system of religion that rejects true doctrine from God’s word, and gives itself totally to a false system of worship.

Just as the true church (all born again believers of the Church Age –the dispensation of Grace--is known as the Bride of Christ, the Harlot, as depicted in Revelation, chapter 17, can be likened to being the mistress of Antichrist. She is of her father, the Devil.

“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” Rev. 17: 1-6)

This harlot church system will be made up of an ectlectic mix of religions in the time following the Rapture of the true Church. Mind you that this is what is being set up now before the Rapture, it will peak after the rapture. The sreligious system, called “Mystery Babylon,” will work in concert with the Antichrist regime to enslave the world in every realm of life.

This ecumenical movement among the religions of the world and the falling away within Christian church bodies from the sound, fundamental doctrines is quickly moving the world toward this prophesied harlot system.


NOWHERE in the Bible does God/Jesus tell us to promote tolerance OVER truth.

The Gospel is meant to be good news that all sinners may COME TO CHRIST for FORGIVENESS. Not that it is sinner friendly and open to all, regardless or whether they have repented or not.

Humanity can NOT offer SALVATION to anyone! Jesus is the ONLY one who can give the GIFT or SALVATION by his GRACE ALONE by HIS DEATH for US on the CROSS. Surrendering to Jesus is a requirement, not an option.

I live not to far and I am familiar with Willow Creek. The church I attended for the past several years was actualy opened in cooperation with them, and I have stopped attending because of some of the ways they are following suit to Willow Creek that I believe to not be correct. I will leave it at that, it is my opinion, I will just say it is not all that it is cracked up to be. A slight comparison to the split of the Church of Christ in Indianapolis can be made that happened roughly 6-10 years ago can be made. Not quite as cultish, however, along the lines of it somewhat.

As stated above, the emerging church on earth PRIOR to the 2nd Coming of Christ (not the Rapture) is not of God, but of Satan, as detailed above in the Harlot.

Answer 2

The emerging church will merge you right into hell. Stay away from this outfit. This movement is a continuation and further apostasy of an already apostate church movement in America. Health and wealth gospels, phony charismatic
fall over slain in the spirit churches, seeker sensitive mega churches, tolerance of homosexuality, worldly music , worldly marketing techniques and the acceptance and blending of new age Wicca paganism, witchcraft with Christianity are all examples of this continuing apostasy. Stay away from it.

Answer 3

I consider that faith has to difference with the days and with the alterations in society. If we don't then we can't talk to the alterations of generations and we uncover ourselves within the location of alternative global ideals in these days (no longer citing them). I don't always agree that is performed the way in which your sited works supply even though they've a few well ideas to speak about no less than. The Skeptical Christian Grace and Peace Peg

Answer 4

I have discovered that many of these emerging (or emergent) churches have icons, votive candles, and other paraphernalia that you might find in various catholic churches. This, coupled with fluffy preaching, dilute the true Gospel message.

This is another step in the march back to Rome. Martin Luther should be turning over in his grave.

Answer 5

The 'seeker church' or 'emerging', or whatever, is flawed, as you point out. It seems dangerous, but don't know enough about it to hold much of an opinion.

I will say I visited the Willowbrook church one time. It was somewhat shallow, in my opinion. One big problem that I see is that they focus almost exclusively on the milk, with no meat. Their milk may be sour as well.

Answer 6

I wish you had named those other sites. They are correct.
The "earmarks" of the emerging church movement are the ones you've named, and it is a slow seduction from the truth of the words of the Bible.
Salvation without Lordship of Christ. The reclamation of self, not the denial of self, and certainly not crucifying self daily.
Make it like the world to entice the world to save them from the world? There are too many problems with the emerging church movement.
Jude 3.

Answer 7

The "Emerging Church Movement" is nothing more than recycled propaganda from the spirit of the antichrist. It is to be avoided at all costs by true followers of Jesus. Remember, we follow Jesus and not men.

Here are two articles on Bill Hybels and his "movement" that should clarify things for you:

http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/church_issues/willow_creek_bill_hybels_theology.htm

http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/church_issues/bill_hybels_has_moslem_clergy_preaching.htm

Answer 8

They are setting up one world religion. They'd rather have unity of religions over truth and what is true.

Many of the "emergents" serve no purpose except to say as Satan said to Eve, "Hath God really said?" Many of them are not believers.

Answer 9

I believe it is called a "beast" and an "abomination" in the Bible.

God is TRUTH and not Bill Hybel or his thousands of ministers and churches.

God does NOT tolerate everything!!! I follow the Lord.