Page Suggestions: False Prophets, who are true prophets, Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

Alternate known names: Brownsville Revivals, Elijah List, Florida Revivals, IHOP, Kansas City Prophets, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)A movement within Protestant Christianity that embraces present-day apostles and prophets who claim they govern the church and give new divine revelation needed to set up God's EARTHLY kingdom., Toronto Blessing → see false prophet list.

Heidi Baker

Mystic Is As Mystic Does

In May 2012, Christianity Today featured a cover story about Heidi Baker, who, with her husband Rolland, operates a "ministry" in Mozambique. The subtitle of the article announced, "There are credible reports that Heidi Baker heals the deaf and raises the dead," and the text goes on to explain:

The article reports that Baker "…claims, scores have risen from the dead, food has been multiplied, the crippled and blind have been restored…"

Christianity Today describes a time when Baker was sick and her husband, Rolland, visited …the Toronto Airport Vineyard Christian Fellowship (now known as Catch the Fire), where the controversial Toronto Blessing revival of the mid-1990s had broken out. It was marked by ecstatic manifestations of the Holy Spirit, most notably "holy laughter." Hearing his report, Heidi became convinced that she desperately needed to visit Toronto.

The article also reports that, back in Mozambique:

The article further reports "Scholar McClymond describes Heidi as a ‘practical mystic, like Teresa of Avila.’" "Mystic" is a good description of Heidi Baker, given that she does things like this:

Can you say, "Mantra"? If you study transcendental meditation, or contemplative prayer, this is the technique used to enter into a "trance" or altered state of consciousness. Sometimes mystics simply go into the silence. The Bible in Matthew 6:7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.Matthew 6 verse 7, however, specifically commands against repetitive babbling: "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." The Christianity Today article goes on to report that Baker also:

Christianity Today mentions the New Apostolic Reformation but tries not to connect Baker to the NAR. Baker, though, works with many prominent NAR personalities, and she is a co-author of The Reformer’s Pledge with Cindy Jacobs, C. Peter Wagner, Bill Johnson, James Goll, Lance Wallnau, John Arnott, Chuck Pierce, Lou Engle, and Jim Garlow.

Baker and her husband Rolland are also listed as part of Revival Alliance, which is made up of NAR proponents such as Bill and Beni Johnson, Che and Sue Ahn, Randy and DeAnne Clark, Georgian and Winnie Banov, and John and Carol Arnott.

Sadly, in May 2012 it was not just Christianity Today bringing Heidi Baker to the attention of Christians but also groups like the American Family Association and American Family Radio Network. AFR’s website posted a May 22, 2012, interview between Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association and AFR, and Heidi Baker. (the video for this interview appears to be removed!)

True Christians should grieve at how self-professing Christian groups and individuals are helping to bring false teaching into the mainstream—whether they know it or not.

I have stated many times that New Agers, the New Apostolic Reformation, neo-evangelicals, the New Religious Right, and the Emergent Church are merging. For example, the "Flame of Love Project" is described on the University of Akron website as:

John Templeton, as you’ll recall, wanted to establish a world religion "about God that doesn’t rely on ancient revelations or scripture." Under the heading "Exemplar Biosketches," the Flame of Love website lists those involved in the project, including such New Apostolic Reformation personalities as:

Under "Social Justice Ministries," you’ll find Emergent Church folks like Jim Wallis, Shane Claiborne (who did a year’s internship with Bill Hybels at Willow Creek), and Tony, Peggy, and Bart Campolo. Ironically, with respect to the Flame of Love, the most loving thing we can do is point out those who are promoting false teaching and false teachers so we can defend the Gospel and see people spared from the flames of an eternal hell.