A Party Jesus?
Warren B. Smith
(Book excerpt from 'The Titanic and Today's Church: A Tale of Two Shipwrecks,' p.165-167)
Disregarding Danger
AFTER Titanic collided with the iceberg, and with water flooding into the bowels of the vessel, some of the passengers frolicked in an almost party-like atmosphere around the estimated two tons of ice that had spilled out onto the foredeck of the already sinking ship. Several hours later, some of those involved in the merrymaking would be fighting for their lives in the freezing Atlantic Ocean.
So-called modern-day “revivals,” like the Toronto Blessing with its “holy laughter” and party-like atmosphere, are reminiscent of the Titanic passengers who, unaware of the disaster unfolding around them, wanted to join in all “the fun.” Charisma magazine, reporting on the Toronto Blessing back in August 1994, wrote about those who went to Toronto to “join the fun.”
So-called modern-day “revivals,” like the Toronto Blessing with its “holy laughter” and party-like atmosphere, are reminiscent of the Titanic passengers who, unaware of the disaster unfolding around them, wanted to join in all “the fun.” Charisma magazine, reporting on the Toronto Blessing back in August 1994, wrote about those who went to Toronto to “join the fun.”
When the services were broadcast on the radio, more curiosity seekers showed up to join the fun.1
Partying with God?
Randy Clark
Pastor Randy Clark, in describing the Toronto Blessing, said that sometimes there was “so much laughter” going on in services that it seemed to be “more of a party than church”:
Pastor Randy Clark, in describing the Toronto Blessing, said that sometimes there was “so much laughter” going on in services that it seemed to be “more of a party than church”:
Sometimes there was so much laughter as we ministered that what we were doing seemed to resemble more of a party than church.2
Clark recounted how one participant described the Toronto “revival” as “one big party.” The man had said:
It’s like someone’s throwing one big party!3
Brian McLaren
In The Secret Message of Jesus, after referencing “God’s Dream,” emergent church leader Brian McLaren wrote how “God is inviting” everyone to “a party.”
In The Secret Message of Jesus, after referencing “God’s Dream,” emergent church leader Brian McLaren wrote how “God is inviting” everyone to “a party.”
Today we could say that God is inviting people to leave their gang fights and come to a party, to leave their workaholism and rat race and come to a party, to leave their loneliness and isolation and join the party . . . to stop fighting or complaining or hating or competing and instead start partying and celebrating the goodness and love of God.4
Rick Warren
In a January 29, 2020 church e-mail framed with the heading “Time to Dream” and titled “The Power and Purpose of Parties!,” Rick Warren was acknowledging Saddleback’s 40th anniversary party that had just been held at their church. It had also been a celebration for Warren’s forty years of ministry.
Warren used his e-mail to present a mini-Bible study on “The Power and Purpose of Parties!” He said that Jesus was so into partying that today’s “Pharisees” would call Jesus “a party animal.” Rick Warren’s effort to present Jesus as a big “party” person seemed more than strange. But not to Rodney Howard-Browne, Randy Clark, Brian McLaren, and other church leaders who also portray “Jesus” as a last days “party” person.
In a January 29, 2020 church e-mail framed with the heading “Time to Dream” and titled “The Power and Purpose of Parties!,” Rick Warren was acknowledging Saddleback’s 40th anniversary party that had just been held at their church. It had also been a celebration for Warren’s forty years of ministry.
Warren used his e-mail to present a mini-Bible study on “The Power and Purpose of Parties!” He said that Jesus was so into partying that today’s “Pharisees” would call Jesus “a party animal.” Rick Warren’s effort to present Jesus as a big “party” person seemed more than strange. But not to Rodney Howard-Browne, Randy Clark, Brian McLaren, and other church leaders who also portray “Jesus” as a last days “party” person.
Spiritual Distancing
GIVEN all this, two questions beg to be asked: Are future revivals going to be spiritual offshoots of the Toronto Blessing—like some- one is throwing a big party? And are we to believe that the someone throwing the big party is going to be Jesus Himself because he is so into “partying”? For those who have a love of the truth and a love of the true Jesus Christ, we are not told to work out our salvation with complacency, shallow repentance, and “holy laughter”-type partying.” We are told to work out our salvation with “fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Scripture is very clear about the last days. We are to watch (Matthew 24:42). We are to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). We are to stand fast (2 Thessalonians 2:15). We are not to let our faith get shipwrecked by false teachings (1 Timothy 1:19). We are not to fall away from our faith (1 Timothy 4:1).
In short, we are not to be deceived and to take part in spiritual “revivals” that have “another Jesus”—a “party Jesus” who is not the true Jesus Christ. We are not to take part in “revivals” that have “another spirit”—a “party spirit”—that will merge one day with the Planetary Pentecost of the New Age and its false “God within.”
In short, we are not to be deceived and to take part in spiritual “revivals” that have “another Jesus”—a “party Jesus” who is not the true Jesus Christ. We are not to take part in “revivals” that have “another spirit”—a “party spirit”—that will merge one day with the Planetary Pentecost of the New Age and its false “God within.”
Endnotes
1. Julia Duin, “Praise the Lord and Pass the New Wine” (Charisma
magazine, August 1994).
2. Randy Clark, Lighting Fires (Global Awakening, 1998), p. 93.
3. Ibid.
4. Brian D. McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth That Could Change Everything (Nashville, TN: W. Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson Inc., 2006), p. 144.
1. Julia Duin, “Praise the Lord and Pass the New Wine” (Charisma
magazine, August 1994).
2. Randy Clark, Lighting Fires (Global Awakening, 1998), p. 93.
3. Ibid.
4. Brian D. McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth That Could Change Everything (Nashville, TN: W. Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson Inc., 2006), p. 144.