Mike Bickle
Bio Information:
Theological views and Teachings:
Summary:
It is our belief that at Empowered by Christ that Mike Bickle is outside the norms of Christian orthodoxy thus making him a false teacher and heretic. We believe that Mike Bickle's heart may be in the right place but this however does not make him right. As you can see from the above stated information there is an overwhelming tendency and pattern of false heretical teachings propagated by Mr. Bickle and his associates.
This started with the false movement of the Kansas City Prophets and continues today with the establishment of IHOP. We at Empowered by Christ would like to state that we are not saying or coming down on everyone who attends the establishments of IHOP that you are a false Christian for doing so. Many may be attending without even understanding or knowing the falsehoods and un-biblical lies in which they are being taught. Our goal here is merely to point out the falsehoods that are being taught to those under Mike Bickle and his associates leadership so that they may turn to the word of God and find for themselves the truth and be set free to live and truly find Christ within Orthodox Christianity.
- Bickle became a Evangelical Christian when he was 15 years old after his football coach his way to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes student conference in Estes Park, Colorado. Which after listening to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Stubach speak Bickle committed himself to become a Christian.
- In 1982, after serving as a pastor in several evangelical churches in the St. Louis area Bickle moved to Kansas City and started Metro Kansas City Fellowship .
- From 1990 to 1996, Metro Kansas City Fellowship joined the Association of Vineyard churches led by John Wimber.
- During this tenure of six years Bickle started the heretical group "Kansas City Prophets" that, by some accounts, included Bob Jones, Paul Cain, John Paul Jackson, and others.
- In 1999, Bickle left the 3000 member mega-church he was pastor over. He started what is today known as IHOP (International House Of Prayer).
- On September 19, 1999 Bickle established a Bible college called the International House of Prayer University. This University consists of roughly 2000 staff members, students and interns in various numbers and amounts.
- In 2010, Bickle organized event in Kansas City, Missouri at the Kansas City Convention Center where over 25,000 young adults attended. The event focused on worship music, contemplative prayer, evangelism, and Christian eschatology.
Theological views and Teachings:
- Bickle believes and teaches that the Charismatic gifts has not ceased. Here at Empowered by Christ we to hold to this teaching as well. However unlike Bickle's teaching we believe in following the Charismatic gifts in accordance with biblical teachings found in number 2 Corinthians chapter 14. We do not believe in the un-biblical method that Bickle teaches and promotes with in IHOP. We do not believe in the methodology or approach that Bickle or his associates use in the IHOP establishments to propagate the use of the Charismatic gifts.
- Bickle also teaches and promotes the use of contemporary prayer or better known as breathing or breath prayer. This is the un-biblical teaching of emptying your mind and focusing on trying to find God and allowing spirits to talk to you while being in trance or deep concentration state of mind. This method of prayer is un-biblical and we are told in Romans 12 to fill our minds with the word of God not empty them. This is actually an Eastern mystic teaching that is used to alter the state of mind and consciousness to enlighten your mind and to reach your inner self. This is not what or how we are taught to pray in the Bible. Nor is this the reason for biblical prayer, we are taught in the Bible to pray to our Father not ourselves.
- Bickle believes and teaches through IHOP the following heretical theological views: the Manifested Sons of God Theology, The Latter Rain Movement, Joel’s Army, and Dominion Theology. All of these listed movements are unscriptural and are not within Orthodox Christianity views. For more information on these movements see our article, attached here: http://goo.gl/RzVZh
Summary:
It is our belief that at Empowered by Christ that Mike Bickle is outside the norms of Christian orthodoxy thus making him a false teacher and heretic. We believe that Mike Bickle's heart may be in the right place but this however does not make him right. As you can see from the above stated information there is an overwhelming tendency and pattern of false heretical teachings propagated by Mr. Bickle and his associates.
This started with the false movement of the Kansas City Prophets and continues today with the establishment of IHOP. We at Empowered by Christ would like to state that we are not saying or coming down on everyone who attends the establishments of IHOP that you are a false Christian for doing so. Many may be attending without even understanding or knowing the falsehoods and un-biblical lies in which they are being taught. Our goal here is merely to point out the falsehoods that are being taught to those under Mike Bickle and his associates leadership so that they may turn to the word of God and find for themselves the truth and be set free to live and truly find Christ within Orthodox Christianity.
