Life.Church Leads to Eternal Death

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25)

For just a few examples of Life.Church's "destructive heresies" (2 Peter 2:1):

I. Suicide

Founder of life.church, Craig Groeschel, teaches you can kill yourself and go to heaven. Answering the question, "If a person commits suicide, does that person automatically go to hell?" (@26:20-31), Groeschel answers,

“I see only one sin in the Bible which is unforgivable, that is the unpardonable sin, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I believe that is a different sin than taking your own life. . . . It is my hope that just as all other sins are forgivable that this one is as well. It is my guess that a christian who takes his life can be forgiven. But I say that with more caution than you can ever imagine. . . . I would never risk my eternal destination based on a dark moment. . . . It is my hope that God has grace through his Son, and I believe He does, to forgive them.” (life.church/media/faq/week-1/ @30:12-31:23)

Graig's answer is a hellish lie. Several times over God's Word warns against those who don't continue in Christ:

Committing suicide is not enduring to the end (Matthew 24:13).

he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13)

Committing suicide is not remaining/abiding in Christ (John 15:1-6).

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:6)

Committing suicide is not continuing in His goodness (Romans 11:22).

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:22)

Committing suicide is not holding fast the word (1 Corinthians 15:2).

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-- unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)

Committing suicide is being moved away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23).

if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23).

Committing suicide is not holding fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end (Hebrews 3:6).

if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:6)

Committing suicide is not holding the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end (Hebrews 3:14).

For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end (Hebrews 3:14).

Committing suicide is refusing and turning away from Him who speaks from heaven (Hebrews 12:25).

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven (Hebrews 12:25).

Finally, committing suicide is not overcoming the world (1 John 5:4), but rather being overcome by the world and the devil (1 Peter 5:8). That doesn't happen to those "born of God."

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. (1 John 5:4)

For more on suicide, see atruechurch.info/suicide.html.

II. Women Pastors

Life.church does not obey the Word. Scripture commands,

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:11-12)

Why?

For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (1 Timothy 2:13-14)

Likewise, Paul commands,

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)

Contrary to these passages, Midtown Tulsa Life.Church has the woman “Pastor Melody Dixon” (life.church/midtowntulsa/), and Lenexa, Kansas likewise has “Pastor, Heather Van Wormer” (life.church/lenexa/). They are also “called by men” (Matthew 23:7) “Pastor” in accordance to the practice of false spiritual leaders who love such titles of esteem (see Matthew 23:6-10). “Pastor” Graig's wife is called “Pastor Amy Groeschel” (life.church/sisters/).

III. Sexually Immoral

Speaking to the church Craig says,

Many of you are living together and you're not married. (life.church/media/faq/week-2/)

In 1 Corinthians 5:11 Paul commands,

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-- not even to eat with such a person.

IV. Ecumenical

A. They Claim Catholics Go to Heaven

Craig believes people caught in the false religion of Catholicism can go to heaven. Craig teaches,

Catholics who trust in Christ for salvation will go to heaven, just as Baptists who trust in Christ. (@21:55f life.church/media/faq/week-3/)

That's like saying, “Satanists who trust in Christ for salvation will go to heaven.” It's a contradiction of terms. Catholics worship demons and believe in a false Christ. It is only through the “Truth” (the real Christ) anyone is saved. Those who are saved “will by no means follow a stranger” (John 10:5). False religions lead people to hell, not heaven. Craig teaches the opposite of Christ. He teaches a broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

B. “Undiscerning” (Romans 1:31) And Unholy

“Life.Church is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church.”1 This is an ecumenical organization in which they declare:

We are a catholic church. The word catholic literally means universal. We are part of the universal church that has existed from the days of the apostles until now. This includes all who confess faith in Christ. (Covenant Affirmations, p. 4, underling added)

This is antichrist. It is directly against the teaching of Christ. Jesus does NOT include “all who confess faith in Christ.” Jesus said,

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23)

2 John says,

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. . . . If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 John 1:9-11)

Life.church is unholy. They are not set apart from the error of this age (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Without holiness “no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

Paul instructed Timothy to “turn away” from those confessing faith, but not living it (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Paul told the Romans to “avoid them” (Romans 16:17).

V. Teaching of a man

A. The Tithe

False teachers often teach the tithe is still a command under the new covenant. It fits well their covetous hearts. “They have a heart trained in covetous practices” (2 Peter 2:14).

A tithe (10%) to the Levitical priesthood was indeed a command under the old covenant (Hebrews 7:5). No such command is found for the new covenant. But, Craig argues it is.

The Tithe is Biblical, Old Testament and New. (@ 20:00-20:34, life.church/media/faq/week-3/)

In the above video, to support his claim Craig quotes Matthew 23:23 NLT.

For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law-- justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. (Matthew 23:23 NLT)

This NLT translation erroneously translates “You should tithe, yes” in the present tense. But, in the Greek it is in the imperfect past tense (e.g. “you should have done” NAS). Moreover, Jesus' context is “aspects of the law” which has to do with the old covenant law of Moses.

Finally, in the above video (@20:50f) Craig says you should give 10% of your gross income, before taxes. Where does he get this standard? Not from the Bible!

B. Masturbation

After admitting the Bible is “silent” on masturbation (@ 4:06f), Craig says,

Therefore, it is my opinion that it is sinful.(@ 5:48f, life.church/media/faq/week-3/)

Jesus condemned the spiritual leaders of His day with these words:

And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9)

If God doesn't condemn something, who does Craig think he is to call it “sin”? Since Craig condemns masturbation as a sin, he adds to God's Word (Proverbs 30:5-6), disobeys James 4, and speaks evil.

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? (James 4:11-12)

Graig acts as God, the Lawgiver, by declaring, “it is my opinion that it is sinful.” Only God decides what is sinful.

Endnote:

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