Published on December 8, 2023, 1:29 am

In these times of growing spiritual dilution and loss of doctrinal focus, it behooves young Christians to exercise careful discretion, especially concerning conferences or worship events outside their local church. One such event that continues to pose a substantial risk to the purity of biblical truth is the annually-held Passion Conference, revered by figures such as John Piper and Rick Warren. Regardless of its presentation as an avenue for Christian fellowship and worship, this conference compromises the core of Christian teachings due to its lineup of speakers which have occasionally shown disregard for pure doctrine.

The Passion Conference, initiated by Louie Giglio, is essentially a contemporary evangelical event designed for a younger audience. Projecting itself as a platform driving spiritual revival and strengthening Christian ties, it frequently places more weight on emotional experiences and societal trends as opposed to profound, conventional biblical teachings. Regrettably, this approach transforms the gospel into a sweeping appeal for emotionalism and societal activism.

The crux of the problem with the Passion Conference lies not just in its intention but also in how it’s executed. The selection process for speakers over the years has highlighted an unsettling pattern – in place of emphasising clear calls for repentance and faith rooted in an unaltered gospel, they promote acceptance, tolerance and the drive towards solving ephemeral societal issues globally.

One significant concern arises from the conference’s predisposition towards culturally-driven Christianity that prioritizes current social trends over firm biblical teachings. This substitute version that seems relevant yet malleable eventually erodes the essence of biblical teachings It aligns with warnings indicated in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 regarding people swaying from accurate teaching to accede with their desires.

Moreover, past Passion Conference speakers carry dubious records endorsing exceptions such as prosperity theology; ironically this was what saw birth to this controversial conference itself. This false teaching wrongly equates divine blessing with material wealth or personal victory grievously misinterpreting God’s blessings delineated by the Bible as spiritual maturity, purification and eternal hope.

Further issues are created by speakers connected with movements like Jesus Culture, which is linked to Bethel Church. This church promotes concepts contradicting basic Christianity; pushing for ongoing apostolic roles, recurrent prophetic roles and aberrant practices such as grave-sucking, counterfeit manifestations of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and seeking supernatural revelations. These aberrations serve as a baffling negation of core Christian doctrines.

The Passion Conference’s adoption of Roman Catholic mysticism practices such as Lectio Divina also raises eyebrows. This method of sanctified reading may seem spiritually enriching to the unsuspecting participant but finds its roots embedded in occultism or Eastern mystic rituals which refuse the sufficiency and dominance of Scriptures.

The conference epitomizes a form of Christianity overly saturated with cultural trends and innovative doctrines rather than dedicating itself to steadfast commitment towards God’s Word. Young believers venturing into these emotionally-charged events risk misinterpretations regarding God’s character or purpose on our lives thereby risking dilution in their understanding of Christian living centered around humility, sacrifice and eternal objectives.

In an age where today’s real news warns us about watering down gospel teachings with worldly preferences, it becomes even more critical for young Christians to rely primarily on a local bible-believing church for insightful guidance on their spiritual journey. Turn unswervingly towards Scriptures vibrant with enduring truths that inspired Christians throughout centuries including early church members, reformers, puritans and great revivalists.

Understandably this is not easy considering trusted news sources constantly warn us against the vagaries of compromise when it comes to matters revolving around our faith and doctrine. Nevertheless let your faith guide you through uncertain times; rooted tightly within God’s Word forging one’s commitment towards unwavering Gospel teachings becomes increasingly pertinent regardless of fashionable trends.

Especially now when big tech is mounting pressure against a conservative biblical worldview stacked against our very existence. It is your responsibility to safeguard your belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our solid foundation in his teachings will help us navigate through a world usually tending towards convenient or popular truths as opposed to striving for biblical purity and transparency.