DOCSLIB.ORG

An Evaluation of Prayer Ministry in the Teaching of John Wimber and the Vineyard Movement

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
An Evaluation of Prayer Ministry in the Teaching of John Wimber and the Vineyard Movement POWER PRAYING: AN EVALUATION OF PRAYER MINISTRY IN THE TEACHING OF JOHN WIMBER AND THE VINEYARD MOVEMENT by E. MARY NEVE A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham March 2012 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT Prayer ministry evolved from John Wimber’s five-step model for healing prayer. The one-to-one encounter practised in ministry time was the third part of the threefold structure in a Wimber Vineyard event. Wimber’s personal history included conversion in his late twenties, church leadership, and knowledge of church growth. He drew on colleagues to build a theology of worldviews, the kingdom of God, phenomena and experiences, and the supernatural. This thesis argues that using his undoubted charisma he profoundly influenced Wimber Vineyard communities, who take every opportunity to engage in prayer ministry. Wimber, often using his characteristic rhetoric taught that observable signs, phenomena and manifestations occurring during prayer ministry could be understood by the participants to signify the presence, activity and power of God. Combining the research methods of participant observer and discourse analysis, I argue that Wimber’s charismatic leadership style obscured the strong possibility that the power of God and the Holy Spirit, can become indistinguishable from human power. The analysis reveals that Wimber could be uncertain about conveying this model to all, and that he could seem to own personally the ability to heal. Drawing on insights from professional counselling, this research proposes that a greater awareness of the significant difference between prayer ministry (Gods power) and power praying (human power) should be recognised and acknowledged by current Vineyard leaders and an appropriate response made. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people have contributed significantly to this thesis. My parents, Rupert and Evelyn and the rest of my family especially my sister Ann have supported and encouraged me unquestioningly. They and my groups of friends have endured me endlessly ‘pressing on’ and still consistently encouraged me, (illness halted my progress for more than 3 years) picked up the slack where they could, took me in and fed me and gave me a haven to work in when I needed one. Thank you Graham and Maureen, Anne and George, Dorothy, Tony and Peggy, Trinity friends. My fellow Pastoral Team mates have always been a support and kept an eye on my progress. My particular friends Vivienne and Julia who have probably suffered the most and been the most help, talking and discussing, proof reading, offering comments and putting the whole project together with me. They have shared my passion and interest in this area of work. Thank you too, to my supervisors, from whom I have gained so much since I started this project, Dr Kenneth Wilson who initially saw some potential, Dr Nicola Slee, Dr Adam Hood and Dr Peter Hammersley from The Queens Foundation where I started this journey. And from The University of Birmingham, Dr Mark Cartledge who has been so supportive and Dr Andrew Davies who has worked so very hard to help me pull everything together over the last, but probably most intense part of my long journey. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: WIMBER VINEYARD PRAYER MINISTRY Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 1. What Is Wimber Vineyard Prayer Ministry? ............................................................. 4 1.1. Power Evangelism ............................................................................................ 5 2. Renewal .................................................................................................................... 6 3. Personal Memories – My Introduction To Prayer Ministry ....................................... 7 4. Hopes For New Evangelistic Strategy ...................................................................... 9 5. ‘Ministry Time’ Taken Up By Churches .................................................................. 10 6. What Will Be Studied? ............................................................................................ 11 6.1. Prayer Ministry Encounter .............................................................................. 12 7. Why This Subject Is Important For Me ................................................................... 14 8. How May Prayer Ministry Be Studied? ................................................................... 17 9. Introduction To Theoretical Framework.................................................................. 17 9.1. Social Construction And Discourse Analysis ................................................. 17 9.2. Participant Observation .................................................................................. 19 10. Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 20 CHAPTER 2: THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRAYER MINISTRY Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 22 1. The Development Of Prayer Ministry ..................................................................... 22 1.1. Prayer Ministry Or Professional Counselling? ................................................ 25 2. Some Influences On Prayer Ministry ..................................................................... 28 3. The Story And Expressions Of Renewal ............................................................... 28 4. Conservative Evangelicalism.................................................................................. 33 4.1. The Place Of The Scriptures In Conservative Evangelicalism ...................... 35 5. Charismatic Evangelicalism .................................................................................... 36 5.1. Prayer Or Counselling In Charismatic Evangelicalism? ................................ 39 6. Eschatological Issues ............................................................................................. 41 6.1. Eschatology And Wimber ............................................................................... 41 6.2. The Wider Picture ........................................................................................... 43 7. Restorationist Movement ........................................................................................ 44 7.1. Restorationist Authority And Leadership ....................................................... 50 7.2. Restorationist Discipling And Pastoral Care ................................................. 53 8. Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 56 CHAPTER 3: WIMBER: THE MAN AND HIS THEOLOGY Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 59 1. John Wimber ........................................................................................................... 62 2. Lonnie Frisbee ........................................................................................................ 67 3. C. Peter Wagner ..................................................................................................... 73 4. George Eldon Ladd ................................................................................................ 78 5. Charles Kraft ........................................................................................................... 80 6. The Development Of Wimber’s Theology .............................................................. 81 6.1. How Does Wimber Vineyard Ministry Operate? ............................................ 81 6.2. What Are Wimber’s New Worldview Dominant Discourses? ......................... 83 6.2.1. The Kingdom Of God .......................................................................... 84 6.2.2. The Now And The Not Yet ................................................................. 86 6.2.3. Personal Evil And Evil Spirit/Demons ................................................ 88 6.3. Jesus’ Worldview Versus A Secular Worldview ............................................. 91 7. A Shift In The Worldview Adopted Is Necessary For Signs And Wonders ............ 93 7.1. What Can Happen When A New Worldview Is Adopted? ............................ 95 7.2. A Training Model For Healing The Sick? ...................................................... 95 8. Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 98 CHAPTER 4: CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE OF WIMBER VINEYARD MINISTRY Introduction ................................................................................................................... 102 1. Wimber
Load more

Recommended publications
  • John Wimber • Door Peter Van Beugen En De Derde Golf
    N T T O IE N U N U E D E W M P H E TESTAM E TESTA RAKTISC THEMA John Wimber • door Peter van Beugen en de Derde Golf B O G E I N PA L JO K K STORAA ACTUEEL NGEREN BESPRE ‘Van een veilige afstand van honderden jaren ziet een opwekking er ver- kwikkend uit: wat is er heerlijker dan het machtige werk van God zelf in ons midden? En als we ons er middenin bevinden, vinden we het allesbehal- ve verkwikkend en zijn we misschien vol met scepsis, afkeer en angst … waarom verloopt een opwekking soms zo rommelig? De ironie van opwek- king is: terwijl we er soms zo hunkerend naar verlangen, veranderen we licht in tegenstanders op het moment dat deze zich aandient. De vijandig- heid richt zich niet op het idee van opwekking, waar zo vurig voor gebeden is, maar op de manier waarop deze gebeden worden beantwoord en die een totaal onverwachte vorm aannemen’ (John White: 1988). 16 | focus John Wimber Dit een-na-laatste artikel over sleutelfiguren in de kerkge- zuidelijke staten in Amerika. De omgangsvormen binnen schiedenis voert ons zo goed als naar de tijd waarin wij le- de familie waren ongepolijst. Het huwelijk tussen zijn ou- ven. Dat de Gemeente van God een van de grootste omwen- ders had slechts enkele maanden standgehouden en zijn telingen uit de geschiedenis doormaakt kan ons nauwelijks vader en diens familie heeft hij nooit gekend, met uitzon- nog ontgaan. Ik bespreek nu de levens van mannen die dering van zijn oom Curly die zo goed en zo kwaad als daar mijns inziens een sleutelrol in hebben gespeeld.
    [Show full text]
  • A Simple Critique of Dominionism
    A simple critique of Dominionism There are several varieties of Dominionism flourishing today; some in conservative circles, other more extreme versions amongst Charismatics. What is Dominionism? It is the idea that the church will become so powerful that, in one way or another, will dominate the world; usually the idea is of a Christian world government. Now Dominionism is usually associated with a postmillennial eschatology; that is, a belief that Christ will return after a prolonged golden age of the church (which may or may not be 1,000 years long). However, not every postmillennialist is a Dominionist. Some Puritans held postmillennial views that supposed the church would grow increasingly in numbers and influence and effect an age of righteousness in society before the Lord returned; but they, mostly, did not teach that the church would rule the world. Reformed Dominion theology Reconstructionism The modern Reformed version of Dominionist ideas is called ‘Reconstructionism’ or ‘Theonomy’ and is taught by people like Rousas Rushdoony (now deceased), Gary DeMar, Gary North, David Chilton and Greg Bahnsen. It is a development of American Calvinism arising out of Reformed Presbyterianism. ‘Reconstructionism’ insists that the Bible (particularly the OT) must be applied to all areas of life and society reconstructed to obey this command. ‘Theonomy’ (from theos = God and nomos = law) refers to the idea that the civil laws of OT Israel are normative in all societies for all time, including death for adultery and homosexuality. The believer must keep the whole Mosaic Law to be sanctified and the civil law aspects are to be applied by the civil rulers.
    [Show full text]
  • Spiritual Gifts Booklet Updated 2017
    Table of Contents I. Introduction II.What are Spiritual Gifts? III.What are the Spiritual Gifts? IV.What Does the Bible Teach about Spiritual Gifts? V. What are the Views on Spiritual Gifts? VI.What are Some Incorrect Views on Spiritual Gifts? VII.What is Vintage Church’s Stance on Spiritual Gifts? VIII.How Do You Discover Your Spiritual Gift(s)? IX. Conclusion X. Resources !2 I. Introduction Over the past one hundred years, spiritual gifts have become a topic of major debate within the church. Pentecostal and other charismatic churches have caused most Christians in all denominations to re-evaluate spiritual gifts. This is especially the case for “supernatural gifts” such as prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues. This renewed interest in spiritual gifts has caused many to ask questions and ultimately remain more confused than before on the issue. In 1 Corinthians 12-14 the apostle Paul discusses spiritual gifts at length. As Vintage Church journeys through our sermon series on 1 Corinthians entitled “In the City. For the City.”, we will discuss the topic of spiritual gifts from 1 Corinthians 12-14. This mini-series is entitled “Power Up.” It is our hope that this mini-series will bring clarity to the issue of spiritual gifts and provide freedom to serve Christ and his church however he has gifted you. II. What Are Spiritual Gifts? Simply put, the definition of a spiritual gift is the manifestation of God’s grace on the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament a handful of words are used for spiritual gifts, but the primary word used is charismata.
    [Show full text]
  • Baptism in the Holy Spirit
    Baptism in the Holy Spirit Why study this now? What is the point of further study of this subject? Is it not the case that Charismatics accept the doctrine as it stands and cessationists reject it as a new experience? The positions are entrenched; why study it any more? What is new is that recent developments (e.g. the Toronto Experience) have so shocked many Charismatics that they now question the validity of their previous teaching, but do not doubt they had a genuine encounter with God in the past. At the same time, some cessationists are looking for more than dry, formal liturgy but do not agree with the concept of a second blessing . Is it not time for a re- evaluation of the apologetic of Charismatic teachers, yet opening up the teaching of the New Testament on what it means to be filled with the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit? There is no doubt that the Bible offers believers a walk with God that supersedes ordinary human life, even godly Enoch and sinful Samson knew something of this. Just what is it and how do we obey God in our reception of it? What was wrong with the previous teaching? A brief recapitulation of recent history and especially Charismatic history The beginnings of the modern idea of the baptism For many years, since Topeka in 1901 1 and Azusa Street in 1906 2, the doctrine of the baptism in, with or by the Holy Spirit remained largely the province of the Pentecostal churches of various sorts.
    [Show full text]
  • Faith Is Spelled R-I-S-K: a Motto for Kingdom Life
    FAITH IS SPELLED R-I-S-KA MOTTO FOR KINGDOM LIFE 1 FAITH IS SPELLED R-I-S-KA MOTTO FOR KINGDOM LIFE INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 3 WEEK 1: A MOTTO FOR THE KINGDOM LIFE ....................................... 4 WEEK 2 : FAITH ON FIRE ..................................................................... 5 WEEK 3 : DOING WHAT THE FATHER IS DOING .................................. 8 WEEK 4: PERMISSION TO TRY .......................................................... 10 WEEK 5: THE GREAT EQUALIZER ...................................................... 12 WEEK 6: RISK STORIES TO ENCOURAGE YOU .................................. 13 CONCLUSION: FAITH IS SPELLED R-I-S-K ......................................... 19 © 2020 Vineyard Resources All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. TM 2 INTRODUCTION John Wimber, the late founder of the Vineyard Movement, popularized a phrase that has rocked the church world for almost a half-century. “Faith is spelled R-I-S-K.” When it came to the Christian life, John’s forte was to live at the intersection of the profound and the practical. He wasn’t content to just read about Jesus doing miracles, casting out demons, and healing the sick. He believed that Jesus had come to do something more – to invite us to do the work of the Kingdom alongside Him.
    [Show full text]
  • TERRY VIRGO Finally We Looked to the Future
    Contents A gospel-preaching church that is loving, A church where elders are honoured as righteous in its lifestyle, involved in world mission servant-leaders, caring for the flock and 1and reaching the unsaved in its community by providing appropriate spiritual disciplines Page 4 both public and personal evangelistic activity. 9 where necessary. Page 31 A church where regular teaching and A church freed from complacency and preaching of the Bible holds a primary role endeavouring to grow in gospel impact, 10 and where Scripture’s authority is final. faith, prayer, generosity, action and influence. Page Page 35 Page 7 2 A church whose people are assured of the A church whose individual members are grace of God in their lives and are clear about equipped for their role of service within the 3 church and community, including the release the full New Covenant benefits of being in Christ. 10 Page 11 Page 38 and training of those called to trans-local ministry. A church whose people are baptised in A church which is fully involved in our shared water and in the Holy Spirit, and brought apostolic mission to extend the kingdom of God into a genuine life in the Spirit. globally through the recovery of New Testament Page 14 4 church life, making disciples, training leaders and planting churches by all means, including A church where God’s presence is prized and where wholehearted financial commitment, welcoming God is enthusiastically worshipped with genuine trans-local ministries, regularly freedom for men and women to worship attending corporate gatherings, publicly in the Holy Spirit, to use spiritual promoting our publications and gifts and to participate in ‘body ministry’.
    [Show full text]
  • The British House Church Movement of the 1970S
    The British House Church Movement Of The 1970s And its connection with the emergence of the Restoration Movement I have avoided writing anything on this for decades, partly because I had many more important things to write about. However, several hundred articles and books later perhaps I should now give this some attention for several reasons. The first is that there appears to be the beginnings of a sovereign move of God to establish new, informal house churches in America, Australia and England. Learning from past mistakes would be beneficial, especially as some of these groups are already beginning to make the same old errors that trapped the earlier house church movement. Secondly, some of the published books that touch on this subject ( Streams of Renewal, Peter Hocken, Restoring the Kingdom, Andrew Walker etc.) while valuable, have a few wrong perspectives, many gaps and insufficient focus on 70s house-churches. Finally, there are many current blogs and articles on the internet which receive great applause but which are hopelessly mistaken on factual matters and which draw very false conclusions. Some, written by certain influential women, even spell leader’s names wrongly, mistake sons for fathers, get important dates wrong and completely misrepresent authors, failing to understand their thesis. This ought to be remedied. So for these, and other, reasons I have decided to give my ‘tuppence- worth’. What are my qualifications for this? Well the first thing is that I was there. I was converted in the winter of 1970-71, initially being closely related to Campus Crusade for Christ, but within several months was worshipping in a newly established house-church on the South Coast.
    [Show full text]
  • Current Background Theology
    A Synopsis of the Theological Systems Behind Current UK Church Streams How to see the wood for the trees in today’s evangelical mess. Paul Fahy 2 A Synopsis of the Theological Systems Behind Current UK Church Streams Contents Why is this important? Amyraldism Arminianism Calvinism / Reformed Theology Cessationism Charismatic Theology / Neo Pentecostalism Deeper Life / Higher Life / Victorious Life / Keswick Teachings Deliverance Theology Dominionism 1: Reconstructionism / Theonomy Dominionism 2: Charismatic Kingdom Theology Dispensationalism [Dispensational Premillennialism] Ecumenical Theology & Movements The Emerging Church Federal Vision Fullerism Hyper-Calvinism Humanism Jewish Roots Liberal Theology Modernism Mysticism / New Age New (or Neo) Evangelicalism Neo Orthodoxy [Dialectical Theology or The New Hermeneutic] The New Perspective on Paul / Justification / Judaism Oberlin Theology (Finneyism) / New Haven Theology / New Divinity Occult Theology / Paganism Open Theism Pentecostalism Perfectionism Psychoheresy Quietism Sacramentalism Seeker-sensitive Practices / Church Growth Movement Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare Theology / Territorial Spirits Universalism - No hell as future punishment Conclusion 3 Appendixes Appendix One: The Progress of Charismatic Error Appendix Two: The Jewish Roots Reaction to Extreme Charismaticism Appendix Three: The Eschatological Key to Current Charismatic Factions Appendix Four: The Diminishing of the authority of God’s Word Appendix Five: The Impact of the Mind Sciences Appendix Six: The Rise of
    [Show full text]
  • Download the December 2019 Edition of the IWS Bibliography
    The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies Bibliography on Worship Studies Edited by Mark A. Torgerson, Ph.D. December 2019 The Master and Doctor of Worship Studies programs are based significantly on the eight volumes of The Complete Library of Christian Worship. Numerous articles and bibliographies appear in these volumes. Because they form a basis of knowledge for our program, they will not be cited but once in the reference materials below. The following bibliography covers additional resources (by no means exhaustive), some of which may be required reading for courses in the Master and Doctor of Worship Studies programs. In light of the fact that Christian worship is always embodied within the cultural context of a community, the resources mentioned in the following bibliography will refer to cultural analyses as well as theological studies. Many titles could easily be categorized under several “headings,” so it would be wise to explore multiple areas when building a list of possible resources to examine. Recent titles added to the bibliography are located just after the table of contents. The titles mentioned are also integrated into the bibliography under the appropriate headings. Table of Contents I. General Theological Resources .................................................................................. 7 A. Introductory Materials ................................................................................................... 7 B. The Church ...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • What Is the Kingdom of God?
    “Vineyard is committed to the theology and practice of the kingdom of God, rooted in the vision of the Hebrew prophets and fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. We have been commissioned to proclaim the good news of the kingdom bearing witness to the already and not yet of the kingdom in words and deeds. Vineyard is a movement distinctively centered in a renewed understanding of the centrality of the kingdom of God in biblical thought. We view the kingdom of God as the overarching and integrating theme of the Bible.” Vineyard USA, Core Values And Beliefs, p. 4 WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD? Introduction ................................................................................. 5 The Kingdom Jesus Preached ................................................ 7 The Now Of The Kingdom ......................................................11 The Not Yet Of The Kingdom .................................................14 How Do We Become Kingdom People? ............................18 Visit This Link For Free Song Downloads From Vineyard Worship www.VineyardWorship.com/Distinctives Contributing Authors To The Series Brian & Thora Anderson | Christena Cleveland | Christian Dunn | Mark & Karen Fields Homero Garcia | Brenda Gatlin | Jeff Heidkamp | Bill Jackson | Dianne Leman Caleb Maskell | Derek Morphew | John & Eleanor Mumford | Rich Nathan Steve & Cindy Nicholson | Rick & Becky Olmstead | Jay Pathak | Lance & Cheryl Pittluck Jim Pool | David Ruis | Adam Russell | Jamie Stilson | Rose Swetman | Phil & Janet Strout Mike Turrigiano | Jamie & Michelle Wilson | Dan Wilt © 2014 Vineyard USA. All rights reserved. All Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ 3 AFTER JOHN was PUT IN PRISON, JESUS WENT into GALILEE, proclaiming THE GOOD news OF GOD.
    [Show full text]
  • John Wimber, US, Pastor May 11. John Wimber
    John Wimber, US, Pastor May 11. John Wimber. Prior to his conversion, John was part of a Los Angeles musical group called the Paramours, who later became the Righteous Brothers. But his life then was anything but righteous. He described himself as a beer-guzzler, a drug-abuser, and a chain smoker. After his conversion in a Quaker church, John became best known for his leadership in the Vineyard churches, churches with both evangelical and charismatic roots. Between his conversion and his tenure at the Vineyard, John led multiple Bible studies and taught at a seminary. In 1977, John planted the Calvary Chapel of Yorba Linda. On this date in 1980, the Holy Spirit fell on Calvary Chapel. In 1982, Calvary Chapel was renamed Anaheim Vineyard, and it became the flagship church of the Vineyard movement, a movement that spread first across the US, and then across the globe. Here’s his story. Christ calls us to die, so we can live. On his knees, John Wimber scrubbed the oil residue from the inside of another barrel. It had only been a few months since he was John Wimber—the accomplished musician, known for touring the Las Vegas nightclub circuit in various show bands, his successful arrangements, and for his role in the creation of the The Righteous Brothers. Now, he was John Wimber, the man who worked at a manufacturing plant and cleaned oil from the inside of used barrels. One day, an old friend of John’s from the music business heard that he was working at this manufacturing plant and decided to pay him a visit.
    [Show full text]
  • Membership 2020
    TRINITYCENTRAL Joiningt h e f a m i l y PAGE 1 Why do we believe in ‘being added’ to a church? .....................................4 Trinity Central’s mission: .............................................................................6 Our 6 core values: .......................................................................................8 What are our roots? ..................................................................................11 Prophetic vision .........................................................................................13 What’s the plan? .......................................................................................16 Working it out everyday ...........................................................................18 Leadership in Trinity Central ......................................................................21 Training up leaders ...................................................................................24 What makes a great church member? ......................................................25 How do I become a member? ...................................................................30 What if I don’t want to become a member? .............................................33 Church Discipline .......................................................................................35 How do I leave Trinity Central? .................................................................37 In conclusion, we’d love for you to join us! ...............................................38 PAGE
    [Show full text]