Sound Doctrine Elevation Do It Again

Question

Who is Steven Furtick, and are his teachings biblical?

Answer

Steven Furtick is the atomic number 82 pastor of Elevation Church building, based near Charlotte, North Carolina. Acme Church was founded past Furtick in 2006 with just fourteen members. The church building has now grown to a weekly attendance over 27,000 (equally of 2019). The stated purpose of the church is "that people far from God will exist raised to life in Christ" (from their official website). Besides being a pastor, Furtick is a songwriter and acknowledged author.

Steven Furtick is a talented performer and a personable, charismatic speaker. Under his leadership Tiptop Church has grown into one of the ten largest churches in America (every bit of 2020). The church now has at least twenty-one campuses in the The states and Canada and a growing international outreach through television and online.

Steven Furtick and Elevation Church have washed much good in the world: the church has donated nearly $100 million to charitable causes around the globe. In partnership with the city of Charlotte, Tiptop Church building has donated $750,000 and 100,000 hours of service to community projects such every bit mentoring in the public schools, organizing claret drives, feeding the homeless, building soccer fields, expanding a local gratis clinic, etc.

Doctrinally, Height Church is evangelical, and their "Our Beliefs" folio on their official website posts a complete set of accurate Christian teachings. Steven Furtick has a master's caste from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and, for the nearly part, his preaching is in sync with that background.

Simply there are some problems. One instance of a serious doctrinal error came in a sermon titled "Information technology Works Both Ways" (delivered July 26, 2015) in which Furtick claimed that "God bankrupt the police force for love. I say information technology to every sinner: God bankrupt the law for love." The "law" to which Furtick alludes is the Quondam Testament police force of God, his point existence that God loved us so much that, in gild to salve us, He broke His own police force. Non just is this illogical (how could God become a lawbreaker to save lawbreakers?), merely it is unbiblical. For God to pause the law, which is perfect, would be for Him to become a sinner. Scripture says that Christ came to save united states by fulfilling the constabulary, not by breaking information technology. "Do not think that I have come up to abolish the Law or the Prophets," Jesus said; "I have not come to cancel them but to fulfill them" (Matthew v:17; cf. Luke 24:44; Romans 3:31).

Furtick besides strays dangerously near the simulated prosperity gospel. He has shared the stage with Joel Osteen (August 29, 2012); Bishop T.D. Jakes (Oct 26, 2017); Brian and Bobbie Houston (September four, 2011); Joyce Meyer, whom Furtick chosen "the greatest Bible instructor alive today" (January 15, 2012); and others. Furtick'due south own Bible educational activity relies heavily on pop psychology, motivational platitudes, and feel-good directions for building 1's self-esteem:

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is considering nosotros compare our backside-the-scenes with everyone else'southward highlight reel."

"If yous desire to modify the direction of your life, change the proclamation of your lips."

"You can't fulfill your calling in your comfort zone!"

"Many people never reach greater because they don't leave practiced enough behind."

"Today's excuses are tomorrow's regrets dressed in disguise." (All from https://quotefancy.com/steven-furtick-quotes, accessed three/30/2021.)

Past any worldly mensurate, Steven Furtick is quite successful. According to Money Inc., as of Jan 2021, his estimated net worth is $55 million (https://moneyinc.com/steven-furtick-net-worth/, accessed 3/30/2021). He lives in a 16,000-square-foot mansion situated on nineteen acres of wooded land, valued at approximately $one.7 million in 2013. Furtick said his home was "a gift from God" (www.dailymail.co.uk/news/commodity-2478378/Megachurch-pastor-tells-congregation-newly-built-16-000-square-foot-business firm-gift-God.html, accessed 3/30/2021) and downplayed its worth, saying information technology is "not that great of a house" (www.charlotteobserver.com/latest-news/article9092012.html, accessed 3/thirty/2021).

Some critics of Steven Furtick charge that, rather than making disciples for Christ, Furtick is making fans for himself and that Elevation Church building is guilty of elevating Furtick and fostering a cult of celebrity. Likewise, Furtick'southward promotion of "spontaneous baptisms" has come under scrutiny, and there's evidence that some of the decisions fabricated during the calls to baptism are orchestrated and not so "spontaneous," afterward all (www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/i-squad/how-elevation-church-pastor-furtick-produce-spontaneous-baptisms/275-292975851, accessed 3/30/2021).

Steven Furtick is guilty of doing and maxim some questionable things, forging unwise alliances that muddle doctrine, and possibly promoting show over substance. But if Furtick's audition is regularly hearing the truthful gospel of God's grace—salvation is past faith, not by works, paid in full by the blood of Jesus Christ (John three:16; Romans 3:21–24; Ephesians 2:eight–9)—then, for that we would be grateful.

We praise the Lord for every soul saved and every life transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. At the same fourth dimension, nosotros must do discernment and cultivate the ability to test everything we hear, including what Steven Furtick says, by the Word of God (meet Acts 17:11).

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