Question: I am being bombarded by material from friends insisting that as New Testament Christians we should still be...

December 1, 2010

TBC Staff

Question: I am being bombarded by material from friends [enclosed article by Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler] insisting that as New Testament Christians we should still be observing Passover and the other Old Testament feasts. Should we?

Response: We have addressed the issue of keeping the Law in previous issues of the newsletter (01/2010), but because Pierce and Heidler integrate mysticism with legalism there is a good reason for an additional examination.

Chuck Pierce, along with his partner, Robert Heidler, teaches much more than keeping the Old Testament feasts. Indeed, they have gone far beyond keeping such celebrations as Passover and have delved into "Christianized" forms of astrology, numerology, etc., and the kabbalah (embraced by celebrities Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna, et al.)

An infatuation with mysticism will always take one away from the Scriptures and now takes Pierce and Heidler into Jewish mysticism. For example, consider the following statement from Kabbalah 365, "Daily Fruit from the Tree of Life," Day 131: "Although the air of the earthly atmosphere is thick in volume and mass, the mystery wisdom of the spirit realm still manages to enter this world because of the birds. For when the birds are in flight, their flapping wings cut through the thickness of the atmosphere, enabling in the moment for the mystery wisdom of the spirit realm to come through to our world."

On May 2, 2008, Pierce issued what he calls "A Key Prophetic Word!" that parallels the kaballah: "I have come to make room for you to ascend to a new height. Extend your wings. Then extend them again. Stretch them to the left and the right. It is time for you to take flight!" (http://www.glory-of-zion.org/outmail/5-2-08_EuropeTripLetterOnline.htm).

Here's another example: "I am sorting out those situations that are presently confining you. I am coming in with a sorting instrument to begin to sort that which has kept evil in your midst, working against My best purpose for your life. I will sort out the confusion that is around you. I am sending help now. What you need will be sorted out and your path will be rearranged. I AM coming down and cutting through the atmosphere that has been too thick for your vision to progress" (Ibid.).

That's another parallel to kabbalah: "Your mind serves as a mail sorting room, where thousands of pieces of mail flow in to be sorted. The items that cannot be 'sorted' are swept into a pile, which we call the subconscious. Kabbalah gives you ten slots (Sephiroth) to sort the incoming mind processes in to, and making things manageable!" (http://www.thelivinglightfoundation.com/classesKabbalah.php).

Pierce and Heidler run roughshod over Scripture. First, regarding the Passover (and by implication the Law), they say, "The Bible tells us it is to be a permanent ordinance...a celebration for all time." The Bible does state this. What Pierce and Heidler fail to recognize, however, is that most sacrifices (bloody and unbloody) are also said to be "continual," or "perpetual." For example: "Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering" (Num:28:2-3). One would think that Pierce is not perpetually offering burnt offerings. But according to his reasoning, both the feasts and the sacrifices are said to be "perpetual." The word "perpetual," or "continual," means this sacrifice lasts as long as the covenant is in effect (Gal:3:23-25).

These traditions ended when the veil was rent in two. Further, "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool" (Heb:10:12-13). Paul writes very plainly in Colossians:2:14, that with His sacrifice, Jesus blotted "...out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."

Unfortunately, along with many in what is called the "New Apostolic Reformation," Pierce often presumes to speak for God as in the following "utterance" recorded in the November 18, 2008, Elijah List online newsletter:

I AM brooding over many areas in the earth-government, economic and spiritual structures-and changing the structures of how these systems have operated in past seasons....There are sounds that are flowing through your blood. There are sounds that I am rearranging in the bloodlines of nations. Get in step with My harmony and the earth. (http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/7073)

This sounds like new age environmentalism. Consider the following statement from the new age publication New Dawn: "The great spiritual teachers tell us that the chaos of the modern age is merely part of the natural order, that out of this chaos, a new age of harmony and grace will emerge. Many of us are moving beyond this phase in the cycle, realigning ourselves with spirit and feeling the great call to the light. We are planting the seeds for the world to come" (Sharron Rose, "2012: A Time Odyssey," No. 106, Jan-Feb 2008).

The words that Pierce attributes to God sound very much like the above, and which continue: " I AM shaking nations into MY next order. Trees are clapping their hands and root systems are becoming renewed. Fruit that hasn't been seen in the last season will burst forth before the eyes of My people this year" [emphasis in original].

Pierce claims that he is speaking for God. It is now nearly two years since his "this year" prophecy was given. We need to give greater attention to the biblical guidelines for prophets and those who presume to speak in the name of the Lord (Dt 13:1-3, 18:20-22, 1 Jn:4:1-3, etc.)