Retreats gone extreme?

I don’t know much about Christian Zionists, but if this is what all of them were like, I would definitely be wary. It seems quite extreme that these things actually take place. I can understand having a retreat that offers peace and healing, but casting out demons in this manner, speaking in tongues on command, and saying that your “wounds” are only a matter of generational curses just doesn’t rub me the right way.

I haven’t experienced the casting out of demons first hand, so my opinion is fuzzy on that matter and I’m not sure anyone can judge it until they’ve experienced it for themselves.

Speaking in tongues is supposed to be a gift that is given in order to speak to people who cannot understand your language. The bible says that if you speak in tongues but do not have an interpreter, it is useless. I don’t think just anyone can do it and if they’re saying they can speak in tongues on command, I don’t think that this is the truth, and even if it is, I feel that they are greatly abusing it.

A small part of me wants to believe in generational curses and blessings simply because my mother told me a few times how her great grandfather prayed hard for his family and all the generations to come. In a way, it’s a neat thought. Thanks great grandpa! But wait... what if it’s not true? Who can truly know? Every family has things that they were blessed with in addition to things they struggle with. I agree that a lot of times children end up becoming like their parents even if that’s the last thing they ever wanted to be. Maybe a slight portion of it does lie in the genes. Either way, I believe that we have to take responsibility for our own actions instead of just blaming them on people from the past and their mistakes.

With all that said, I can see how this Matt guy thought these people were crazy and out to conform the whole nation to their own teachings. They do seem kind of far fetched. If it’s true that they believe that they can hurry up the coming of Christ, they have another thing coming. Nothing can change the timing of God Himself. No one knows when the time will be. It is quite alarming to think that people who are perhaps not telling the whole truth and trying to get people to be almost hypnotized by their words are being followed by 4.5 million viewers alone. It’s true that many Christians do fit into a mould of habit and going through the motions and willing to hear a lot of what a preacher has to say because they trust them. However, it is up to every individual Christian to test what they are being told, to look it up in their own bibles and discuss with each other what the real truth is and if they agree. The bible also says that there will be false prophets and teachers and that we are to be very cautious in following anyone. A few points that Matt made in this article might have some truth to it, but I really hope people remember that he’s strictly talking about Christian Zionists rather than all Christians as a whole.