4901 South Howell Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Milwaukee, WI 53207
★
Faith Builders International Ministries ~ MilWAUKEE
This is a review of Faith Builders International located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and lead by Pastors Jerry and Pastor Robin Pruitt. We will be discussing and reviewing Faith Builders International via the information found on their website, http://www.faithbuilders.cc[1]
When you first access the homepage at Faith Builders International you are greeted with a picture of the two lead pastors of the church, Pastors Jeffrey and Pastor Robin Pruitt. Right away we can see from this homepage introduction that this church is in rebellion against the word of God by allowing a woman to be hold the title of pastor. The bible is very clear on this issue in 2 Timothy 2:12-14. The Apostle Paul writes;
“But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”
This statement is not culturally indicative like some have suggested. Paul is very clear to define that this is to be transcendent of time and culture when he states;
“For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.”
We can also look at Titus 1:6 for the outline of the qualifications of a pastor which states;
“namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.”
Here again we can see that Faith Builders is going against what the word of God clearly says. How can a women be a pastor and be the husband of one wife? Simply, she can’t it is not possible. Faith Builders is in direct violation of the Word of God by allowing Robin Pruitt to be a Pastor. Right here is enough for any bible following Christian not to attend this church, but as you will read there are other reasons as well.
Lets take a closer look at some of the other areas of concern with Faith Builders starting in their Vision section. We will be looking at the vision section located at http://www.faithbuilders.cc/about_us.php#our_vision for our information. We are told in the opening section under the “Our Pastors” title that Pastor Jeff Pruitt has an “Apostolic mandate to build churches.” Really, so Jeff Pruitt has seen Jesus? I ask this because to have an “Apostolic mandate” you have to have been alive when Jesus was alive and have been a disciple. So I am guessing either Jeff Pruitt has invented a really cool time machine or that he is once again in biblical error. I would venture to think the later, that he is again in biblical error. The official office of Apostle and Apostolic mandates closed with the death of the Christ’s Apostles.
Under the History section we are introduced to God giving Jeff Pruitt a dream to start a church and than later God actually speaking to Jeff Pruitt several times and telling him that it was time to “leave the nest” and "Come, please come. We need you here." He then heard the Lord say, "Son, you are in the wrong place. I need you in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.". I see many problems with having this in your history statement and claiming that God has literally spoken to you. The least of then to be said is that it makes you sound a little kooky. More importantly I have a real problem with anyone claiming that God has literally spoke to them, this is not how God speaks to us in the New Testament. We have plenty of examples of God speaking to people in the Old Testament but this ceased when Christ came in the New Testament. While I am not opposed to God speaking to us today He does so through His Word and the Holy Spirit. We don’t see any biblical mandates for Him to be speaking literally in a voice to people today. The question than has to asked; If this was not God speaking to Jeff Pruitt than whom was it? The answer is pretty simple if it is not of God than it is of the devil. It seems to me that Jeff Pruitt is basing this who church on a voice he heard and claims to be from God. The problem with this that we have no real why of saying what he heard was from God, or the devil or even an over active imagination.
Further on down the page if you look at their vision and purpose section you will see that they follow the Dominion theology teachings. As you will read in their Vision:
“To impact an entire region (Northern Illinois & Southern Wisconsin) with a (7) church model structure. Those models will all share the same heartbeat and vision for what God is doing and saying within that region, thus creating the synergy and unity needed for regional transformation.”
They are very much into taking over the region or dominions for the kingdom of Christ using a seven church mandate structure. You can learn more about what the 7 mandates of Dominion theology are at www.reclaim7mountains.com. Besides being very much into the Dominion theology they also are mixing in mysticism. When they are talking about "heartbeat" and "creating the synergy and unity needed for regional transformation" they are actually using the same terminology that you will find in the mystical new age movements like IHOP. It seems to me that Faith Builders International is a toned down version of IHOP. It is a new age mysticism light version of Mike Bickel's IHOP to say the least.
Another common theme that is run through Faith Builders International can be seen on the homepage and in their mission statement when they are talking about bringing people to "a destiny with God”. There are several problems with this statement bringing people to a destiny with God. First of all who are the Pruitt’s to decide what person’s “destiny” is with God, does not God make that clear to each person through the word of God. We do not need to dream weaving of the Pruitt’s to do this. Second of all defined destiny what do they mean by destiny nowhere on their website is the word destiny defined. Sadly, one can infer here that the word destiny is new age terminology in a Christian wrapper.
Looking at their Statement of Faith page I am actually surprised here a little they actually use biblical references to back up what they believe. However, I might add that they do take some of the Scriptures out of context that they cite. For example when they talk about operation of the Gifts they quote Acts 1:8 as for a reason. However upon further analysis of Acts 1:8 we can see the poor exegesis of Scripture;
" but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Upon further investigation of this text by reading the verses above and below Acts 1:8 we can see that Jesus is talking to his disciples. Furthermore we can see that this has to do with a distinct period of time. More specifically it has to do with the ministry of Christ while Christ was here on earth. This verse does not promote the use of the Gifts for today. Another improper use of Scripture comes when Isaiah 53:5 which states;
"But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed."
They try suggesting that this verse is the reason that divine healing is commonplace in the church today. Isaiah 53:5 is actually a foreshadowing of the crucifixion of Christ it has nothing to do with divine healing or the use of divine healing in the New Testament church. Once again Faith Builders International has taken Scripture out of context and has twisted it to fit their own meaning. I would be very leery of any church that cannot properly ask exegete Scripture for a simple Statement of Faith. If they can't not get this simple task right how can you or I trust them to get any other rending of Scripture correct. Especially when it comes to preaching and using Scripture. This poor exegesis of Scripture in their statement of faith makes one wonder how much Scripture twisting and ripping is put in to their sermons.
In conclusion, Faith Builders International headed by Pastor Jeff and Robin Pruitt is not a church that I would recommend attending. For starters I would not recommend them due to their all right rebellion for the word of God by allowing Robin to hold the title of a pastor. Secondly, I would not send anyone to a church that bases their whole existence and founding on supposed dreams and literal word spoken to the pastors from God. Thirdly, Faith Builders International holds very much Dominion theology and other new age mystical teachings. Fourthly, we can see that Faith Builders International can not hermeneutically exegete Scripture even for the simple task of writing a statement of faith. Finally, Faith Builders International has a synergistic view of salvation in which salvation is achieved through the working of man and God together. This is contrary to the biblical view of monergism in which God does the process of salvation of the help of man and through no condition or merit of man.
[1] http://www.faithbuilders.cc/