Wayman Mitchell Heresies

By David J. Stewart

 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." —2nd Corinthians 11:3

       On February 23-25th, 2007, Wayman Mitchell came to Guam for a series of crusades at Ypao Beach Park.  He was invited by the local Victory Chapel Pentecostal church.  Since I live on Guam, I decided to go down to see what this guy was teaching.  I and my kids sat about 500 feet back up on a hill, apart from the crowd, watching and listening in the dark of the night. 
 

Who is Wayman Mitchell?

The Potter's House Christian Fellowship (aka, the Potter's House Christian Church or simply The Potter's House) was founded by Pastor Wayman O Mitchell in Prescott, Arizona in 1970.  They have opened nearly 1400 churches under The Potter's House banner in over 100 nations.  The first Australian church was established in the city of Perth in 1978.  As of January 2006, the Potter's House Christian Fellowship and its affiliated ministries (including The Door, Victory Chapel, Christian Fellowship Ministries and The Light House) claim approximately 1,365 churches world-wide, with 392 in the United States, 60 in Australia, and the remainder internationally.  The mother church in Prescott, Arizona is headed by Wayman Mitchell. -SOURCE


Lordship Salvation Heresy

From listening to Mr. Mitchell, I believe he is sincere; but misguided.  During the invitation, he asked those who wanted to be saved to pray, repeating after him.  He asked the folks to pray the phrase... "I now turn from my sin."  This is damnable heresy.  You cannot show me one verse in the Word of God that tells us to turn (i.e., repent) from our sins to be saved.  Mark 1:15 says, "...repent ye, and believe the gospel."  Acts 20:21 states, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."  This is Biblical repentance--turning TO the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.  We turn FROM our unbelief.  The foolish teaching of Lordship Salvation requires a lost sinner to forsake their sins to be saved, which is NO salvation at all because it is based upon self-righteousness.  Can anyone truly forsake sin while in the flesh?  The only thing that a person needs to repent from is their UNBELIEF.  If they have just enough faith to OBEY the Gospel, then they will be saved (Romans 10:13).  It is a damnable heresy when preachers lead people to turn, forsake, or feel sorry for their sins as a requirement to get saved. 

Romans 3:19 states... "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."  The word "guilty" in the Greek is "hupodikos" and means "under judgment, one who lost his suit; of liable to punishment from God" (SOURCE: Enhanced Strong's Lexicon).  Hence, a person must realize their GUILT to be saved, i.e., that the condemnation of God is upon them because of their own sins.  This is vastly different from a FEELING of sorrow or remorse over one's sins.  Do you see the big difference?  To FEEL sorry for one's sins is an act of self-EMOTION; whereas, GUILT is a matter of self-AWARENESS.  The two are often NOT connected.  Many convicts are sorry (emotionally) for their crimes, but only because they got caught.  They have no genuine awareness of the sins they've committed.  Likewise, a person may walk down to a church alter and cry with emotion over their failures in life; YET, have NO awareness that they are under God's condemnation and awaiting judgment.  So you see, a feeling of emotion, i.e., sorrow over one's sins is not Biblical repentance.  Biblical repentance is when a lost sinner becomes AWARE that they are under the condemnation of GOD'S LAW for their own sins, and they TURN in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting upon His shed blood to forgive and take away those sins... "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ..."  Carefully notice that this is NOT turning from sin. 

The Bible teaches that a man must become GUILTY before God, and then TURN to Christ in faith for salvation; whereas, Lordship Salvationists teach that a man TURN from his sins in order to receive Christ.  The difference between the two teachings is a matter of Heaven verses Hell.

The Word of God does not require anyone to feel sorry for their sins to be saved; rather, we only need to become aware that we are "liable to punishment from God."  Many people today readily admit that they are imperfect and sinful, but few believe that they are under God's condemnation, and bound for the Lake of Fire.  They have NOT "become guilty before God" as Romans 3:19 states.  Thus, they cannot be saved until they become aware of their sinful condition.  How can a person be saved who does not believe they need saving?  If a lost sinner doesn't realize their guilt and the condemnation to Hell facing them, they why would they want or need a Savior?  Thus, many people today have churchianity without Christianity, and religion without salvation.  They are superficially following the "teachings of Jesus," but they don't know Jesus as a personal Savior.  There is little GUILT in our churches today.  Few religious people today are aware that they are under the condemnation of GOD'S LAW and deserving of Hell-fire.  They go to church as a mere social event, and find self-gratification in giving charity; but they are going about to establish their own righteousness, instead of submitting to the righteousness of God, which is Christ Jesus! (Romans 10:2-4).
 

Speaking in Demonic Tongues Heresy

With my own two ears, I heard Wayman Mitchell babbling in Charismatic tongues.  I am bewildered at the ignorance of Pentecostals today concerning this issue of speaking in tongues.  There is clear Scriptural evidence condemning the mumbo-jumbo, nonsense, which Charismatics call "speaking in tongues" today.  First, on the Day of Pentecost Peter spoke in Greek, no other language.  The Bible says that the people from other nations HEARD (Acts 2:6-8) in their own native tongue (i.e., language).  What they actually experienced that day was HEARING IN TONGUES.  Peter never spoke any language other than the Greek he normally spoke.  It is IMPOSSIBLE to reconcile the demonic jibber-jabber of Pentecostals today with the miracle of tongues in the Bible.  Acts 2:9-11 mentions sixteen different nations which were present on the Day of Pentecost.  Acts 2:8 plainly states that each man HEARD the Gospel in his own native tongue in which he was born.  How does this compare with the Charismatic speaking in tongues today that makes NO SENSE TO ANYONE. 

 

Audio clips of Tongues In Church

Furthermore, the Apostles NEVER sought the miracle of tongues, it was always initiated by God.  Pentecostals preachers today arrogantly claim to have the ability to access God's power at their will. 

Also, please note that every time the Bible mentions the Apostles speaking with new tongues that the Gospel message was being preached.  In sharp contrast, Charismatics today don't even know what they're trying to say, and someone else has to interpret.  The Apostles always knew what they were saying as they spoke, and again, their listeners HEARD in their own language. 

Consider this, why do Pentecostals only speak in Charismatic tongues during Charismatic meetings, and in Charismatic churches?  If speaking in tongues is a sign of being saved and spiritual (as Pentecostals teach), then why do they never speak in tongues in public?  Have you ever seen a Pentecostal speak in tongues on a city bus, or at a ball game, or in a restaurant?  Hmmm?  No, they only speak in demonic tongues when in a demonic service.  Listen friend, any spirit that is not the Holy Spirit, is a familiar spirit (demonic).  The practice of speaking in Charismatic tongues invokes a familiar spirit that is not of God. 
 

Healing Service Heresy

At the crusade, Wayman Mitchell invited those who wanted to be healed to come down to the front.  He then asked them to line up on the stage.  One by one, he prayer with them, tocuhed them, and


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