Index To ‘Christian’ Courses         OR       Section 10A   The Contemporary Church

“The Alpha Course has been a runaway success. In 1991 there were just four courses involving 600 people; in 1993 there were fewer than 10 courses being held in Britain. Now there are an estimated 3,000 being run regularly three times a year, more than 500 of them overseas. These are being run by every denomination, including Catholic. So what is the Alpha Course?” (Banner Ministries)

According to the official Alpha Website, “The Alpha Course consists of a series of talks addressing key issues relating to the Christian faith.” and “Alpha is for everyone, especially: Those wanting to investigate Christianity, New Christians, Newcomers to the church, Those who want to brush up on the basics”.

Some of the write ups include

"A novel approach to Christian education that has been catching on nationwide." The New York Times

"The miracle formula church leaders are hoping will reverse this religious decline...many claim Alpha has changed their lives and appear genuinely happier for the experience." Time Magazine

"Alpha...uses modern marketing methods to promote and explain Christian teachings around the world." Newsweek

"Alpha makes Christianity relevant to modern life." Julia Llewellyn Smith, The Express

"It is clear that Alpha is already changing British church life." The Economist

"The world's most popular course in Christianity." The Independent on Sunday, London

"...The only unqualified success there has been in recent years to arrest the seemingly inexorable decline in attendances - the Alpha course." Evening Standard, London

The Alpha Course Examined
It is clear that there are many things about Alpha which are praiseworthy. It is remarkably well produced and the quality of the resources are exceptional. Perhaps the most significant contribution that Alpha has made is the emphasis it places on the value of relationships. Nor is there any doubting the remarkable ability of the course to draw in non-Christians. However but the question does remain as to what they are taught during the course. So as Scholes wisely points out we must cut through the packaging to examine what Alpha conveys

Evangelism Or Christian Living
Adherents of false religions claim a relationship with God, and a prayer life, but they are not saved. Many church goers read their Bibles and have an interest in church and in Christianity, but they are not saved. Likewise, more compassion/understanding at work, more patience, tolerance, confidence and deep feelings of contentment can equally well be produced by a sense of psychological well-being. Without the cross they do not constitute salvation.

Is The Popular Alpha Course Leading People Astray?
With so many in today's society gripped by materialism and atheism, can Alpha be anything other than a good thing? As young people become hopelessly enmeshed in a godless culture, should we not applaud the efforts of Alpha and help make it a success? We wished that the answers to these questions could be an emphatic Yes. But closer examination of Alpha prevents such a clean bill of health being given to it. Why this concern? There are six vital reasons we would like to bring to your attention.

Final Answer Or Fatal Attraction?
The Alpha Course and program is also promoted and endorsed by glowing personal testimonies but on close examination has many weaknesses and falls short of meeting biblical scrutiny. Isaiah 8:20 reminds us: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Jim Jones, even in the final hours of his regime in Guyana, could produce glowing testimonials. Collective cheerleading does not create truth.

The New Age of Alpha
Although the program includes a lot of mixture, if one studies the entire body of material offered by Alpha on any subject, serious examination reveals that it is significantly slanted towards the New Age position. Also manifestations often happen to participants before they ever make any commitment to God, therefore many testimonies cannot be referring to the Holy Spirit.

Nicky Gumbel and Pope John Paul

The March-June 2004 Alpha News, published in the UK has a front-page photograph of Nicky Gumbel, the founder of Alpha, shaking hands with the pope. A second photograph on Page 7 carries the caption “As denominations work closer together, Nicky Gumbel goes to Rome”

What is particularly interesting is Nicky Gumbel’s statement, which he made after his trip to Rome….

“It was a great honor to be presented to Pope John Paul II, who has done so much to promote evangelism around the world. We have been enormously enriched by our interaction with Catholics in many countries. It is a great privilege to meet inspiring leaders from different parts of the church – Catholic, Baptist, Salvation Army, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Methodist and so many more – and discover that what unites us is infinitely greater than what divides us”.

(“Alpha News,” Alpha International, Holy Trinity Brompton, London England , March-June 2004. page 7)

Also See

The Two Faces of Catholicism On the one hand the Vatican has made a concerted effort since 1965 to bring their "separated brothers back home to "holy mother the church." On the other hand the Catholic church fraternizes .. joins in prayer with ... and actively endorses other religions.. Pope John Paul II's bizarre involvement with and approval of other anti-Christian religions 

Ecumenism Christians seem to totally forget that they are followers of the man who called the Pharisees white-washed tombs and drove the money- changers out of the temple. We are students of the Apostle Paul, who called down God's curse on anyone who preached a different gospel, the man who publicly confronted Peter

‘Christian’ Courses

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