NORTHERN STYLE NEWSWATCH 3
Aware that the 60 days breathing space given to the Government by the `Petrol Protesters' is fast running out, we would once again turn our `newswatch eyes' towards that threatened event.

One of the more curious aspects of the last `Protest' (and picked up by most media commentators), was the `doctrinal confusion' in the statements made by various institutions - predominately by the Trade Union Congress, who were meeting at that particular time - and their condemnation of the protesters seeking to bring the government to its knees by picketing the oil refineries! Continuing with that line of thought, the Government and the petrol companies - caught off guard by such a popular protest - also seemed to be caught up in that feeling of total confusion, and through their contradictory remarks and confused statements they appeared to be powerless and bewildered!

Understanding the spiritual powers at work in heavenly places, many have seen in all this the continuing hand of God stretched out in judgement upon this country. We have no wish to add further comments to the sighting of this particular `flowering' of rebellious anxiety, but would rather turn our eyes and thoughts to the seed that lay in the `flower' which is undoubtably being seen in the violent storms that are closing off this month of October. Simplifying those remarks, it would appear that `confusion is leading to chaos', which will lead to . . . (what we spoke of some 3 years ago) strong authoritarianism emerging in our political leaders.

But first we need to turn to Scripture lest we stray into sensationalism instead of watching! Jesus, speaking to His disciples shortly before His final act of redemption, says: (John 16:1)

" All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. . . "

As He continues, we read in verses 12-13:

" I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit
of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will speak not on His own; He will
speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. "

We would now turn to Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians, where in chapter 2 he writes: (v1-2a)

" Concerning the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask
you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter
supposedly to have come from us . . . . "

Paul continues in verse 5:
" Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? "

2.
Paul's second letter followed on very closely to his First Letter to the Thessalonians. During his time with them he had faithfully taught them the things that would occur leading up to `the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him'. As we read through Paul's second letter we feel the alarm that has been caused by others coming after Paul with false prophecies, false reports and letters, all of which was causing confusion among the believers. Paul's words are very firm and, perhaps feeling a little frustrated, he writes: `Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?' His anxiety leads him to write his letter, which would not only be for the Thessalonians but for all those who would follow on, right up to the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul, as a father, was being used by the Father to warn and encourage His children, the disciples of Jesus, not to become easily unsettled, but to remember the Word of God, which is so needed in these unsettled times. Here, in this letter, he is echoing the words of Jesus recorded in John 16: `All this I have told you so that you will not go astray'. For that enabling we have been given the Spirit of Truth. He will tell us what is yet to come so that we will `not become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposedly to have come . . .'. The words of Paul, and earlier those of Jesus, presupposes that we will `remember' through a study of the Scriptures (and retention of that study) and check all that occurs in the natural world (and the words spoken in our Christian assemblies) against what is written in Scripture.

There we would leave the possible chaos that may or may not occur through further `Popular Protests' over fuel prices and look to the confusion which is leading to chaos within the Body of Christ in the Western churches. For that we must be more specific and risk accusations of having a critical spirit! Over the past four years we have seen confusion entering the `life blood' of the Church, through the so-called Toronto Blessing (or Experience) and all the variations which have spawned from that move, and are still being outworked in most of the churches in this country. During that period, apart from the denunciations against the most bizarre of the manifestations that occurred at meetings the most persistent denouncement was against what is called Replacement Theology. (That is, the denial of Israel being in a covenanted relationship with God, which will be finally outworked according to the literal Word of Scripture.) As the denunciations settled down to a guarded truce, it would appear that the church leaders of the `Toronto Persuasion' have seen the damage done to their `cause' by a repeated denial of the truth contained in Scripture concerning Israel and have begun to embrace the `cause' of Israel! We are hearing regular reports of `prophecies, reports and letters' giving new revelation to the congregations of the `Toronto Persuason' churches, without the repentance and rejection of, and the cutting off of erroneous teaching coming through that Toronto Experience, which has allowed an alien spirit to enter into the life of those churches!

This leaves those who have understood Israel's Scriptural position, those who have opposed the Toronto Experience teaching, in the perilous position of being drawn into the Toronto `net', for many who opposed Toronto did so because of the `Replacement' teaching concerning Israel, which was expounded by the `Toronto churches'. (Although in all firmly held beliefs there is always the danger of over-emphasis, and those who `support Israel' can so easily step into a form of idolatry as they seek to argue their position.) Through the correction of an unscriptural position concerning Israel by the `Toronto churches' - but without the repentance and rejection of their unscriptural practices - there is the danger

3.
that many disciples and churches who previously rejected Toronto because of Replacement Theology (but who have stepped into a form of idolatry over Israel) will be drawn into accepting the authority and covering of the Toronto churches, particularly now that the `Toronto spirit' is lying dormant - and it is only dormant, for it has never been repented of by the church authorities who promoted it! Once the `breathing space' has lapsed do not be surprised to find that the natural chaos caused by the winds of the storm that has just blown through this country, following the confusion of the Petrol Protest, will be a foreshadowing of the spiritual chaos which will follow the spiritual confusion caused by `Toronto' as many more are drawn into the authority of the `Toronto church' covering! As you read through Paul's warning to the Thessalonians you will see the lawlessness that Paul knew would come in the lead-up to `the Coming of our Lord Jesus'. In the `Petrol Protest' we saw lawlessness at work, for the basis of the rule of law in this country is representative democracy not popular protest. The Petrol Protest led to confusion, and the natural storms which have followed on in the 60 days breathing space have caused chaos. According to what we have set out in this Newswatch we see a time of spiritual confusion leading to spiritual chaos within the churches . . leading to the emergence of spiritual authoritarianism within the Toronto churches who are quietly drawing other churches under their unscriptural covering umbrella.

There is a growing concern over the powerful hierarchical system which is being put into place under such titles as Universal Apostolic Elders and Prophets among the `Toronto type churches', a spiritual bureaucratic system as real as any experienced when trying to speak to a person in authority in the communications system. (We leave you to recall the disembodied voices telling you which button to press . . only to find 10 minutes later that `all our operators are busy'.) That is already happening in the `Toronto churches', with layer upon layer of authority being built up, headed up by unknown `Apostles and Prophets' to whom the churches are accountable! But unless you are in the `right layer' of authority you will not know which `button to press' to break through the spiritual bureacratic layer that is being built, which is usurping the Scriptural authority of the elders of the local churches. Paul warned that in the days `concerning the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . the secret power of lawlessness is already at work', and out of that confusion, which leads to chaos, will emerge the lawless one. How terrible that we see a foreshadowing of that in the churches! We will close this Newswatch with the words of Jesus and Paul:

" All this I have told you so that you will not go astray (and) Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things. "

For comment or for future Newswatch letters our e-mail address is: info@northernstyletrust.com

Our telephone No. is: (01493) 441891 Return