Church Reviews North Carolina
★
Elevation Church
Elevation Church is a SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) associated Mega church located in Charlotte North Carolina headed by Steven Furtick. From 2007 through 2010, Elevation has been consistently cited by Outreach Magazine as one of the Top 100 fastest growing churches in the United States.[1] It has been described as, "a pop culture-friendly church with an orthodox Christian message.”[2] While this church may be described as having an, "orthodox Christian message", that orthodoxy is hard pressed to be found. Instead, one will find Steven Furtick's preaching to be more on the verge of heterodoxy mixed with narcissism.
If the name Elevation Church seems familiar, it should. Steven Furtick along with Elevation church has been in the news several times over their 6 years of existence. In the pass Furtick has pulled such tactics as the 5,000 Easter egg drop on Easter day. Steven Furtick also has used Elevation to promote his heretical book, Sun Stand Still. A book in which Furtick commands us to pray audacious prayers by unbiblical means that are present in the bible. Just recently Elevation Church and Steven Furtick hosted the controversial conference called the, “Code Orange Revival.” (See the article on the Code Orange Revival for more information).
While Elevation Church may paint its self as a solid biblical, "Southern Baptist" church that is just trying to be relevant to the culture around it. There are numerous problems within the paradigm of this church and its teachings that will send any solid bible believing Christian running from its doors. One of the foremost problems with Elevation church comes from their statement of faith or what they call "The Code” which can be found at http://www.elevationchurch.org/thecode
While "The Code" may seem like a harmless set of guidelines to express the church's core values there is much more to this entanglement of dubious values than appears at first glance. Upon closer examination of these 12 core values that make up "The Code" we can see that it is the conglomerate emphasis of these values that are the problem not just one core value being the issue. While we appreciate the out right honestly of statements like found in number 9, "We are all about the numbers" or number 5, "We need your seat.” These types of statements do nothing to grow a solid biblical church or help promote mature solid biblical Christians.
With the promulgation of "The Code" and its teaching, we can see other problems such as found in statement number 4, "We are united under one vision.” This teaching puts Steven Furtick in a position of almost divine personhood. It does so in such a manner that if a person is to disagree with Steven Furtick, that person is than going against God or at a minimum a prophet from God, Steven Furtick, and the vision from him.
In the up most simplistic sense "The Code" puts an almost cultish condition of up most adherence's to whatever Elevation’s divine leader and prophet Stephen Furtick says must be done or has envisioned to be done. If one disagrees with Furtick, one may be view as disagreeing with God himself. In reality "The Code" is promoting LAW not the GOSPEL as their core value system. While churches need a code of conduct to operate by, these codes must be gracious in Christ centered in the Gospel, not the law.
Another area of concern with Elevation Church comes in the area of Pastor Steven Furtick and his ability or should we say inability to handle any criticism. As a pastor, Furtick should be teachable, humble and willing to learn. This is diffidently not the case as can be seen in this very condemning and arrogant video put out by Furtick himself. This video shows a unusually narcissistic side of Furtick that is anything, but teachable, humble or willing to learn. The video, “Hey Haters” and can be seen on YouTube at: http://mcaf.ee/x1huq. The “Hey Haters”, video is a perfect example of how Furtick handles any criticism towards himself or his church. This criticism biblical or not, automatically deems one a "hater". If this self-centered egocentric narcissism is put forth by the church's pastor, one can only wonder how much more is being promulgated by the leadership and congregation of Elevation Church?
Another problematic area at Elevation church is when it comes to the handling of the Word of God in sermons. Pastor Steven Furtick oftentimes in his sermons practices allegorizing texts and verses along with narcissistic eisegesis. At this point, it might be good to explain exactly what allegorizing a text and narcissistic eisegesis means. One might ask the question, “what is allegorizing the text mean?” To allegorize a biblical passage means to read an extra meaning into the text the original author never intended that passage to have. Narcissistic eisegesis is just a fancy word for reading oneself into the text and making the text about one’s self and not about Jesus Christ. This allegorizing of biblical texts and narcissistic eisegesis can be heard in many of the sermons that Furtick preachers all one has to do is listen to the church's podcast's http://mcaf.ee/n498m. Just pick any one of Furtick’s to hear him mak the Bible about us and not about Jesus Christ. Listen to Furtick read extra meaning into biblical passages.
Along with the problems of narcissistic eisegesis and allegorization of the biblical text there is the problem of the church’s associations with heretical teachers and teachings. In the latest attempt for popularity and stardom during the Code Orange Revival, Steven Furtick brought his church into association with such known heretics as; T.D. Jakes, Perry Noble, Christine Cain, and Ed Young to name a few. This attempt by Furtick to launch his church on the scene of stardom has only proved to show his lack of biblical discernment and brings into question his ability even be a pastor under Titus 1:9. By allowing heretical teachers to be associated with Elevation church and spread their false teachings on Modalism and the Prosperity Gospel from the pulpit, Furtick is giving creditably to their lies.
As stated earlier Elevation Church, may be one of the 100 fastest growing churches, but this does not make it a biblical or sound church. While this church may be popular among its attendees, this does not make that popularity right or truthful. Oftentimes it is quite the opposite. Popularity does not transcend to the absolutes of truth. Those who subscribe to popularity as being the measure of legitimization of truth are simply not thinking logically and are falling for the simple fallacy of the appealing to the popular. Many may argue, at this point that this popularity and the fact that people are experiencing “life change” happening at Elevation Church are evidence that the church is on the right track, and God is blessing them. Looking at this from a logical view this argument does not automatically transcend to the absolute fact that God is behind that change. In all simpleness, people are falling for the fallacy of; post hoc ergo propter hoc. In other words, this fallacy means that because one thing follows another the first thing is the cause of by the other.
Neither the popularity or the life change argument hold any validity theses arguments are straw man arguments. In other words, just because change happens and it appears to be good does not mean that the change that is happening is from God. We must compare that change to the Word of God and measure the two together and see if that change is Scriptural or just of man and his humanistic efforts. Unfortunately, Elevation Church falls into the later upon review of their church conduct and leadership under Steven Furtick.
Problems abound at Elevation church, with no real quick remedies in sight. If you, or someone you may know is attending this church, run and do it as fast as you can. Find yourself a real church that teaches the bible, not narcissistic eisegesis while promoting false teachers and their teachings. Between the cultish conduct of, "The Code" and the poor and improper handling of the Word of God, this church and its leader Steven Furtick are a dangerous combination.
[1] Outreach Magazine (October 8, 2007). "2007 List of Fastest Growing US Churches" . Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
[2] Funk, Tim. "A Cool Pastor, and a Hot Church" . Charlotte Observer, September 14, 2008.
If the name Elevation Church seems familiar, it should. Steven Furtick along with Elevation church has been in the news several times over their 6 years of existence. In the pass Furtick has pulled such tactics as the 5,000 Easter egg drop on Easter day. Steven Furtick also has used Elevation to promote his heretical book, Sun Stand Still. A book in which Furtick commands us to pray audacious prayers by unbiblical means that are present in the bible. Just recently Elevation Church and Steven Furtick hosted the controversial conference called the, “Code Orange Revival.” (See the article on the Code Orange Revival for more information).
While Elevation Church may paint its self as a solid biblical, "Southern Baptist" church that is just trying to be relevant to the culture around it. There are numerous problems within the paradigm of this church and its teachings that will send any solid bible believing Christian running from its doors. One of the foremost problems with Elevation church comes from their statement of faith or what they call "The Code” which can be found at http://www.elevationchurch.org/thecode
While "The Code" may seem like a harmless set of guidelines to express the church's core values there is much more to this entanglement of dubious values than appears at first glance. Upon closer examination of these 12 core values that make up "The Code" we can see that it is the conglomerate emphasis of these values that are the problem not just one core value being the issue. While we appreciate the out right honestly of statements like found in number 9, "We are all about the numbers" or number 5, "We need your seat.” These types of statements do nothing to grow a solid biblical church or help promote mature solid biblical Christians.
With the promulgation of "The Code" and its teaching, we can see other problems such as found in statement number 4, "We are united under one vision.” This teaching puts Steven Furtick in a position of almost divine personhood. It does so in such a manner that if a person is to disagree with Steven Furtick, that person is than going against God or at a minimum a prophet from God, Steven Furtick, and the vision from him.
In the up most simplistic sense "The Code" puts an almost cultish condition of up most adherence's to whatever Elevation’s divine leader and prophet Stephen Furtick says must be done or has envisioned to be done. If one disagrees with Furtick, one may be view as disagreeing with God himself. In reality "The Code" is promoting LAW not the GOSPEL as their core value system. While churches need a code of conduct to operate by, these codes must be gracious in Christ centered in the Gospel, not the law.
Another area of concern with Elevation Church comes in the area of Pastor Steven Furtick and his ability or should we say inability to handle any criticism. As a pastor, Furtick should be teachable, humble and willing to learn. This is diffidently not the case as can be seen in this very condemning and arrogant video put out by Furtick himself. This video shows a unusually narcissistic side of Furtick that is anything, but teachable, humble or willing to learn. The video, “Hey Haters” and can be seen on YouTube at: http://mcaf.ee/x1huq. The “Hey Haters”, video is a perfect example of how Furtick handles any criticism towards himself or his church. This criticism biblical or not, automatically deems one a "hater". If this self-centered egocentric narcissism is put forth by the church's pastor, one can only wonder how much more is being promulgated by the leadership and congregation of Elevation Church?
Another problematic area at Elevation church is when it comes to the handling of the Word of God in sermons. Pastor Steven Furtick oftentimes in his sermons practices allegorizing texts and verses along with narcissistic eisegesis. At this point, it might be good to explain exactly what allegorizing a text and narcissistic eisegesis means. One might ask the question, “what is allegorizing the text mean?” To allegorize a biblical passage means to read an extra meaning into the text the original author never intended that passage to have. Narcissistic eisegesis is just a fancy word for reading oneself into the text and making the text about one’s self and not about Jesus Christ. This allegorizing of biblical texts and narcissistic eisegesis can be heard in many of the sermons that Furtick preachers all one has to do is listen to the church's podcast's http://mcaf.ee/n498m. Just pick any one of Furtick’s to hear him mak the Bible about us and not about Jesus Christ. Listen to Furtick read extra meaning into biblical passages.
Along with the problems of narcissistic eisegesis and allegorization of the biblical text there is the problem of the church’s associations with heretical teachers and teachings. In the latest attempt for popularity and stardom during the Code Orange Revival, Steven Furtick brought his church into association with such known heretics as; T.D. Jakes, Perry Noble, Christine Cain, and Ed Young to name a few. This attempt by Furtick to launch his church on the scene of stardom has only proved to show his lack of biblical discernment and brings into question his ability even be a pastor under Titus 1:9. By allowing heretical teachers to be associated with Elevation church and spread their false teachings on Modalism and the Prosperity Gospel from the pulpit, Furtick is giving creditably to their lies.
As stated earlier Elevation Church, may be one of the 100 fastest growing churches, but this does not make it a biblical or sound church. While this church may be popular among its attendees, this does not make that popularity right or truthful. Oftentimes it is quite the opposite. Popularity does not transcend to the absolutes of truth. Those who subscribe to popularity as being the measure of legitimization of truth are simply not thinking logically and are falling for the simple fallacy of the appealing to the popular. Many may argue, at this point that this popularity and the fact that people are experiencing “life change” happening at Elevation Church are evidence that the church is on the right track, and God is blessing them. Looking at this from a logical view this argument does not automatically transcend to the absolute fact that God is behind that change. In all simpleness, people are falling for the fallacy of; post hoc ergo propter hoc. In other words, this fallacy means that because one thing follows another the first thing is the cause of by the other.
Neither the popularity or the life change argument hold any validity theses arguments are straw man arguments. In other words, just because change happens and it appears to be good does not mean that the change that is happening is from God. We must compare that change to the Word of God and measure the two together and see if that change is Scriptural or just of man and his humanistic efforts. Unfortunately, Elevation Church falls into the later upon review of their church conduct and leadership under Steven Furtick.
Problems abound at Elevation church, with no real quick remedies in sight. If you, or someone you may know is attending this church, run and do it as fast as you can. Find yourself a real church that teaches the bible, not narcissistic eisegesis while promoting false teachers and their teachings. Between the cultish conduct of, "The Code" and the poor and improper handling of the Word of God, this church and its leader Steven Furtick are a dangerous combination.
[1] Outreach Magazine (October 8, 2007). "2007 List of Fastest Growing US Churches" . Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
[2] Funk, Tim. "A Cool Pastor, and a Hot Church" . Charlotte Observer, September 14, 2008.
