C. Peter Wagner is always coming up with radically unorthodox new doctrines to justify "kingdom" endeavors of the Apostolic Reformation. Below is a classic example:

“We need to take a new look at one of our most quoted Bible verses: 'The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost' (Lu. 19:10). In the past, most of us thought that Jesus was saying 'to seek and to save those who were lost.' Consequently, we applied it to saving souls. But now we realize that we should have taken Jesus’ statement at face value, namely 'that which was lost.'

“What is it then, that was lost and that Jesus came to seek and to save? The answer is in the first chapter of Genesis. God’s original design was that Adam and Eve should have dominion over all of God’s creation (see Gen. 1:28). But they disobeyed God, they lost their authority, Satan usurped it and he became the god of this age. Satan’s kingdom encompassed all of the human kingdoms of the earth (see Lk. 4:5-6)

“Why did Jesus come? He came with His kingdom, namely the kingdom of God, to invade the kingdom of Satan for the purpose of taking back dominion of God’s creation which was lost in the Garden of Eden. The Holy Spirit is now speaking to the churches and saying that God’s people must do what it takes to transform society, segment by segment, until God’s kingdom is seen on earth as it is in heaven.” [C. Peter Wagner, “Transform Society!” Global Prayer News, Vol. 6, No. 3, Jul-Sep 2005.]

Beware of an Alternative Redemptive History!

This statement by Wagner is not Christian orthodoxy. This teaching originated in the Latter Rain cult. A number of solid biblical refutations of this type of spiritual warfare doctrinal error can be found on-line at www.deceptioninthechurch.com. Below is a quotation from Dr. Orrel Steinkamp, whose report, "The 'Script' Underlying Spiritual Warfare Christianity" is posted at http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/orrel15.html --

"A 'world-view' is an arrangement of ideas in and through which a person interprets and judges reality. It is a background 'script' that undergirds, consciously or unconsciously, more or less consistently, a person's thoughts and actions. In the jargon of biblical/theological studies there is a long German word 'Heilsgeschichte," meaning roughly 'salvation history'. 'Salvation history' is the series of events and truths that portray God's redemptive plan across the ages, a worldview focused specifically on the elements of salvation. From it is drawn the church's historical teaching about salvation. It is broad in scope, usually beginning with creation and the fall and moving on through the incarnation of Christ, His substitutionary death for human sin, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the founding of the church by the apostles, the second coming of Jesus, the final resurrection and judgment, and the final state of glory. It is a consistent biblical paradigm of what God has done in history to make salvation from sin not only possible, but an assured reality.

"There is room to flex when interpreting some of the details, but all orthodox Christians 'color within the lines' and remain true to the overall script of biblical salvation history.

"Again, beware. In recent decades a radically different script of salvation history worldview has entered the scene. Unfortimately, it is rarely recognized as being outside the boundaries. It has many things in common with orthodox Christianity, but its underlying heilgeschichte [salvation history, ed.] is fundamentally different. It is a rival salvation history, which promotes a false gospel. The current evangelical culture of downplaying theology in favor of pragmatic evangelistic strategies is a main reason why this alien heilgeschicte [salvation history, ed.] is often undetected when it creeps, or even stalks boldly, into the church. This movement appeals widely because it promises heretofore unheard-of success in evangelism and rapid church growth.

For more information on this topic, read Dr. Steinkamp's excellent report, "The Technology Of Spiritual Warfare Evangelism," posted at the same website at http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/orrel9.html

The Truth:

The Scripture from Luke (19:10) that C. Peter Wagner was trying to create a new theology around happens to correspond to a verse from Matthew. Below is that verse from Matthew -- in context. When read in context, it is obvious that the new-fangled doctrine that Dr. Wagner is trying to concoct can't withstand the most basic biblical standards of proper exegesis:

"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:1-14)

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© 2005 by Discernment Group

www.herescope.blogspot.com/2005/10/c-peter-wagner-redefines-genesis-1.html

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   See also  Dominionism and the Rise of Christian Imperialism

A Blinding Darkness | Global Day of Prayer | The Second Reformation

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