Wayne Cordeiro's 'Dream' And Invisible Guides: a book review
Seeing the participation of Wayne Cordeiro with the 'unleashing and imagining' emerging church leaders at the recent 'Awaken 2008' emerging conference (linked above - TiP), and being aware of his wide influence, it became a matter of necessity to take a closer look at his teaching and doctrine. 'Guilt by association' may or may not hold up in court, but just the same..."Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3 [*2017 update/correction: All references to "Holy Spirit" should be read "Holy Ghost" (link)]
For that reason Wayne Cordeiro's book "Dream Releasers" was randomly chosen for a representative sample of his teaching and examined. Regretfully, the report is not good.
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'And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD...But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.' Genesis 4:3,5
It's an amazing thing to consider how so much of what passes today for Christian teaching can be anything but, and yet the mass of professing Christians are completely unable to discern the errors. The most foundational points of what would be called "sound doctrine" can be completely absent and no concern will be raised by those receiving the instruction. The Holy Spirit can have nothing to do whatsoever with the activities in question, and He will never even be missed by the crowds of followers...
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'And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD...But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.' Genesis 4:3,5
It's an amazing thing to consider how so much of what passes today for Christian teaching can be anything but, and yet the mass of professing Christians are completely unable to discern the errors. The most foundational points of what would be called "sound doctrine" can be completely absent and no concern will be raised by those receiving the instruction. The Holy Spirit can have nothing to do whatsoever with the activities in question, and He will never even be missed by the crowds of followers...Such is the case with this little book by Wayne Cordeiro entitled "The Dream Releasers", published in 2002, and still being sold through the New Hope Oahu church which Cordeiro founded. The fact that the book continues to be sold shows that the particular philosophy/theology espoused is unchanged. This is a serious problem for any who would receive the teaching of this book without exercising discernment as to the 'soundness' of the doctrine.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing Romans 7:18
By a liberal use of 'Christianese', an exterior appearance of Christianity is retained in Cordeiro's teaching, a thin veneer, but the truth of the Word of God has been gutted and replaced with a slick teaching of 'human potential' development. The little 5" by 7 1/2" book uses the word "potential" no less than fifty (50) times in approximately 137 double spaced pages. The book has 189 pages total but the content itself is contained on 137, the rest being blank, or title pages, or illustrations, etc.. In comparison, another subject, a crucial one, which shall be discussed later, was mentioned absolutely zero times. None, nada, no mention whatsoever.
In a nutshell the teaching is something along these lines:
The gospel of 'Dream Releasing' basically starts with the premise that God has given a wonderful and exciting dream to all people. Cordeiro writes:
"Everybody has one. It might be imprisoned by faulty character or it could be paralyzed by others' disdain. Still, everybody has one. Everybody has . . .a dream. This dream is a hope of what we can be for God. It was divinely installed at His moment of choice. But unless that potential is recognized and released (p. 26) it remains richly unproductive, helplessly filled with hope and powerfully impotent. But once discovered, it becomes a honing device, an invisible guide that navigates us through the precarious passages of life." (p. 27)
It is to be noted that no scripture references are given for these statements. The reason for that is not difficult to find because there are no scripture references for these statements.
read full: Cordeiro book review
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2 PETER 2:1 'But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies'
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2 PETER 2:1 'But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies'
Thank you for this post. I left a church where the pastor is leaning toward Emergent, and I have friends there who are concerned with Wayne Cordeiro's teaching. The pastor is teaching from the book "The Irresistable Church." Any information? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've not read Cordeiro's
ReplyDelete"Irresistable Church" so cannot at this time comment on it but,
Can the leopard change his spots? Jer. 13:23
One thought on the subject: Pastors should be teaching from the Word of God, not from books of men who are proven church-growth and emergent oriented and connected. Disuse of the Bible alone is cause enough to look for the door.
That aside, there is no evidence whatsoever to expect anything different from "Irresistable Church" than what has come before from Cordeiro. His basic teachings have never changed.
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? James 3:11
Would I drink from that fountain? Not a chance.
I think dream is just a way to describe when we understand God's plan for us, usually through the proper use of spiritual gifts...without a dream We are his workmanship (Eph 2:10, Psalm 139:19). The KJV of Proverbs 29:18 might be considered, other translations of that verse maybe seems less so.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. Bible based teaching is fundamental. Sound doctrine is so essential. Devil can also gives us dreams to lure us away from the deeper truths. Beware. We need discernment which the Holy Spirit can give us. Praise the Lord.
ReplyDelete