Also See
Slain In The Spirit? What spirit?
Comparing the supposedly 'Christian' phenomenon of 'Slain In The Spirit' with the ancient Hindu tradition of awakening' Kundalini - a concentrated life force associated with the goddess Shakti. Not only are the the requirements for receiving the same, but the methods of transmissions are the same and the resulting physical manifestations are virtually indistinguishable. How then can 'Slain In The Spirit' be Christian?
Why Christians Are Deceived
And
The Four Most Dangerous Mistakes Any Christian Can Make
ON THIS PAGE
Alpha
History, What Is Alpha? Spread, Endorsements
Popularity
Why Should We Test and Evaluate Alpha For Ourselves?
the Gospel is a message that has eternal consequences, therefore any and all Christian teaching can not be measured by a trendy or even well thought out presentation, a celebrity speaker, or the accolades of others, but only by the truth of Scripture.
Roots And Branches
Roots: The Toronto “Blessing”
by way of John Wimber
Branches: Holy Spirit Weekends
The Gospel is not central to the course but these weekends are.
Participants are invited to personally “experience God” through the Holy Spirit.
The Role of The Holy Spirit - According to Scripture
Alpha completely misrepresents the work of the Spirit
Alpha’s Wide Ecumenical Appeal Is Clear Testimony To Its Doctrinal Weakness
Alpha is offered by thousands of Catholic parishes around the world. Just how ‘adaptable’ is it?
Nicky Gumbel - Unity At All Cost
Alpha Glosses Over Sin and Repentance
Salvation
Conversions in The Bible Vs. Conversions in Alpha
Those who heard Peter’s message were cut to the quick and recognized that they were sinners.
In Alpha people have no understanding of holiness or the need to be saved from our sins. There is no recognition of the need to repent and to turn to God as a matter of life and death.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, Alpha's weaknesses and flaws completely overshadow anything that can be said in its favor.
Alpha
History
In 1997 Charles Marnham, a member of Holy Trinity Church in Brompton (HTB), London, pioneered a short course in basic Bible lessons for people in church. The course was designed as a basic 10-week introduction that unpacked the basics of Christianity. Each session examined a different question and encouraging the participants to discuss the topic and share thoughts and ideas” [01]
Enter Nicky Gumbel - Anglican priest and one time Oxford educated barrister who entered the ministry and became curate of HTB then Vicar from 2005 to 2022. Gumbel who is also evangelical and charismatic developed the Alpha Course promoting it as an introduction to Christianity from the 1990s. The course began in Anglican churches but has since been,
“taken up by other Christian churches, including some Catholic churches, in many countries around the world. To date, at least 1.2 million people have followed an Alpha course in the UK, and as many as 25 million worldwide. [02]
In fact, it was so popular and so well known that in December of 2008 the online edition of Time Magazine carried an article entitled "Finding Jesus in London". It spoke about the "growing number of young, highly educated and moneyed Londoners" who were turning to the church, and that the focal point for many of these people was Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB). [03]
So What Is Alpha?
According to the Strasburg Presbyterian Church in Strasburg, Virginia, Alpha stands for
A - Anyone interested in finding out more about the Christian faith. Adults of all ages are welcome.
L - Learning and laughter. It is possible to learn about the Christian faith and to have fun at the same time.
P - People meeting together. Eating a meal together gives people an opportunity to know each other and make new friends. (Some say the P stands for pasta and pudding)
H - Helping one another. The small groups afford a chance to discuss issues raised during the talks.
A - Ask anything. ALPHA is a place where no question is seen as too simple or too hostile. [04]
In a critique, reformed clergyman Tim Chapman mentioned some of Alpha's strong points. For instance he said it was well produced with exceptional quality resources. He also praised "the underlying concept" and "the emphasis it places on the value of relationships".
Perhaps the most significant contribution that Alpha has made is the emphasis it places on the value of relationships. The practice of guests returning to the same group each week, sharing a friendly meal together on neutral ground ensures that people are put at ease and better able to hear a talk and ask questions at the end. This is where Alpha is at its strongest. [05 ]
Spread
Alpha is alive and kicking and has spread all over the globe. According to an archived page alpha.org/global
As interest grew, Alpha conferences were organized internationally and the original film series, Alpha with Nicky Gumbel, was produced in 1994 to make it accessible to the widest possible audience. Millions of people worldwide have tried Alpha, and it has been translated into 112 different languages. The Alpha talks have been repackaged for today’s audience in the Alpha Film Series, and the Alpha Youth Series was created to reach a younger generation with the gospel. Even as times have changed, Alpha has continued to be used by the Church as an effective tool to help people encounter Jesus. [07]
It didn't take very long for the Alpha Course to wend it's way across the Atlantic arriving on these shores about 1996 then spreading quite rapidly. In an interview conducted in February 2007 Todd Hunter, then president of Alpha USA, remarked that he had witnessed hundreds of young people coming to the course at his friend Nancy Hanna's church in midtown Manhattan, just as they did flocked to Holy Trinity Brompton in London. When asked how many churches were using the Alpha Course at the time, he estimated the number at 8,200 with
"438 Youth Alpha courses being run, 220 on college campuses and scores more in prisons, work places and military settings such as Iraq and Afghanistan. [08]
Endorsements
Alpha UK lists quite a number of endorsements from both secular and non-secular sources on both sides of the Atlantic. For example, it was called "a novel approach to Christian education" (The New York Times), "a miracle formula church leaders are hoping will reverse this religious decline" (Time Magazine), "The world's most popular course in Christianity" (The Independent), a modern marketing method used to "promote and explain Christian teachings around the world" (Newsweek) etc. etc.
Obviously what the secular media has to say means absolutely nothing in terms of assessing a Christian course
however, a number of well known religious figures were equally enthusiastic.
Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Preacher to the Papal Household) In my opinion Alpha accomplishes an incredible task, in making people interested in faith and in making faith relevant to the modern man. I especially appreciate the ecumenical spirit of the Alpha Course: There is no pressure on anybody to join a different denomination, but just to join Jesus and to put Jesus at the centre.’ –
Alister McGrath, President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, UKThe Alpha Course has now become one of the most reliable and important means of drawing people into the church. It has enormous potential.’ –
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, To me, Alpha is an expression of the work of the Holy Spirit ... It's accessible, it's easy, and it’s user-friendly. It's extraordinary. It's leading people into a personal relationship with Jesus and building a community that engages with the world and changes it for the better.’ –
Richard Chartres, Bishop of London: I thank God for this Alpha movement ... It is a method which I’ve seen with my own eyes so you can believe me when I say: I've seen it, it works. I praise God for it.’ [09]
Christianity Today: Alpha has succeeded in many cases in turning faithful churchgoers from an inward focus on church work to an outward focus on evangelistic outreach.
Alpha also once boasted endorsements by Rick Warren and Billy Graham
If you have never heard of Alpha, I want to challenge you to check it out. It is one of the most effective evangelism tools for the 21st century ... 40 Days of Purpose and Alpha fit together like hand in glove ... these two are similar programs inspired by the Holy Spirit... So, as the author of The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life, I, Rick Warren, want to tell you that Alpha has my 100% endorsement and I would encourage you to use it in small groups in your Church and everywhere that you can." [10]
Billy Graham has invited Alpha leader Nicky Gumbel to speak at a major conference he is organising in Amsterdam, Netherlands, this July. Mr Gumbel has been asked to speak at a workshop on the Alpha course at the conference, to be attended by 10,000 evangelists from around the world. Mr. Graham wrote, "Your experience and expertise as a leader will be a great asset to the conference, and participants will gain invaluable knowledge and insight from the content of the workshop." [11]
It is sad but true that a commendation by Rick Warren does not provide sufficient reason to run out and sign up for the course. In fact, considering Warren's extremely poor track record, anything and anyone he endorses should be viewed with extreme caution. And unfortunately, the same goes for Billy Graham whose opinion can be taken with a grain of salt after he put a stamp of approval on the false gospel preached by the Roman Catholic church.
The Enormous Problems With The Purpose Driven Life
Billy Graham
Section on Catholicism
Why We Should Test and Evaluate Alpha For Ourselves
So far Alpha has already outlived most of the fads that have invaded the professing Church over the last several decades. In fact, in view of it’s wide and ongoing appeal, to say nothing of the accolades heaped on it by so many who one would presume know what they are talking about, Alpha has often seen as the best thing to happen to Christianity in many years
But is it?
What we cannot afford to forget is that the Gospel is a message that has eternal consequences, therefore any and all Christian teaching can not be measured by a trendy or well thought out presentation, a celebrity speaker, or the acclaim of others, but only by the truth of Scripture. It is every Christian's duty and responsibility to test what is being taught in the name of Christ and not render judgment based on popularity and the commendations it has received - regardless of who made them.
Alpha's reputation and many endorsements do not make it untouchable. Much to the contrary, the popularity of the program renders scrutiny imperative. Its claim to be a practical introduction to the Christian faith makes it vital that the Gospel message is both clear and Scriptural -- that what unbelievers are being introduced to is in fact the Gospel message as presented by the Bible.
And the only way to be sure that any teaching complies with God's word is to carefully compare it with God's Word. And by that I do not mean using a few out of context verses to prove a point. Teachings have to be compared with the whole of Scripture. See Context is Crucial
After careful examination should any teaching be found to not be strictly in accordance with Scripture, the Christian is not only instructed to reject it absolutely but to rebuke and avoid those teaching it. In fact, not to have any fellowship at all with any purveyor of false, deviant, partial, or skewed doctrine. Here are some of the Bible’s instructions regarding false teachers
Mark Them And Avoid Them -- Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. (Romans 16:17 NASB)
Rebuke Them -- This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, (Titus 1:13 NASB)
Reject Them -- Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, (Titus 3:10 NASB) (Titus 3:10)
Turn Away From Them -- holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:5 NASB)
Receive them not --If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. (2 John 1:10-11 NASB) [For a more complete list see Judge Not?]
Fraternizing With The Enemy
Part II -
The Problems - Roots And Branches
Roots: The Toronto “Blessing”
Via John Wimber
Holy Trinity Church Brompton had a very close Association With John Wimber of the Vineyard and The Toronto "Blessing". In fact, in the 1990s HTB actually became a focal point of the so called "blessing" or "laughing revival" that claimed to be a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit comparable with the day of Pentecost. (See John Wimber below)
This "blessing" is spread when a leader, who has already received "the blessing" himself, passes it on to others, usually in a meeting of a church. The basic idea being that the anointing of the Holy Spirit is transferable and usually, through touch, can be passed from one person to another. This impartation is often accompanied by people laughing uncontrollably ("holy laughter), shaking, trembling, weeping, making animal noises, and staggering about as though drunk ("drunk in the spirit"), falling backwards onto the ground ("slain in the spirit") and lying there for a time etc. etc.
This anti biblical behavior was brought to England in the late 1990’s by Eleanor Mumford wife of Pastor John Mumford of the Southwest London Vineyard. Eleanor Mumford visited the church in Toronto and on her return she testified of her experiences in Toronto and prayed for a group of people who were profoundly affected. Among the group was the curate of HTB - Nicky Gumbel.
Gumbel got himself together and rushed to a meeting at Holy Trinity Brompton where he apologized for being late. When he closed that meeting with the prayer "Lord, thank you so much for all you are doing and we pray you’ll send your Spirit,” the same strange phenomena were again manifested.
Manifestations of 'drunkenness' experiences at HTB included being so intoxicated that they were unable to drive home. HTB had to reassure taxi drivers that their fares were not drunk in the conventional sense and were quite safe to have in their taxis. [12]
And the rest, as they say, is history
Brownsville
Additionally, the so-called Laughing or Drunken Revival that broke out in the Brownsville Assembly of God in Florida can be directly traced to Sandy Millar, then vicar at HTB. See Footnote II
Early in 1995, evangelist Steve Hill visited Holy Trinity Brompton and asked for prayer. When Sandy Millar prayed for him Hill was completely overcome and fell to the floor. When, on Father’s Day June 1995, Hill recounted this story at the Brownsville Assemblies of God Church in Pensacola, Florida many were similarly affected including pastor John Kilpatrick, This the so called Brownsville "Revival" continued for five years
The Alpha program's explosion into international popularity coincides with Holy Trinity Brompton becoming a British headquarters for the unscriptural Laughing (or Drunken) Revival. In fact, Alpha and the "Toronto blessing" are inextricably intertwined. In Nick Gumbel's words,
"I believe it is no coincidence that the present movement of the Holy Spirit (TB) has come at the same time as the explosion of the Alpha Courses. I think the two go together. [13].
As said by Dusty Peterson in The New Age of Alpha ...
"Some readers may feel led to argue that participants frequently have Spirit-given experiences during the Course. While it is true that various supernatural manifestations are seen, many of which are recorded in official publications from Alpha's home church – These include: uncontrollable shaking / jerking uncontrollable laughter painful burning sensations white 'lights' in the head a voice in the head, and electric shocks. Many Alpha supporters believe these experiences to be proof of baptism in the Holy Spirit – and therefore proof of salvation". [14]
However, there is a serious problem with this assumption simply because these manifestations often happen to participants before they ever make any commitment to God. In fact, many participants actually assume that their experience was synonymous with conversion. We need to remember that the Spirit of God is only ever given to
believers - in fact, only obedient believers ("And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." (Acts 5:32 NASB)]
See Counterfeit Revival
The Toronto Deception
A brief but precise summary of the origins, progress and underlying erroneous doctrines of the phenomenon known as the Toronto Blessing.
‘Slain’... By What Spirit?
The texts put forward to 'prove' that being slain in the spirit and other related manifestations (laughter, shaking and other bodily convulsions) are Biblical, do no such thing. The Scriptures are void of any account that even faintly resemble an of these mostly bizarre happenings. Where then does the practice originate?
John Wimber
The reason for the numerous references to John Wimber in Alpha material is because Nicky Gumbel was very influenced by him. In a video series, Gumbel traces his call to evangelism to a 1982 incident when Wimber laid hands on him, and "He experienced such supernatural power that he had to call out for it to stop." As Gumbel was being carried out John Wimber said, “God is giving to that man power to tell people about Jesus Christ” [15] Gumbel adds that he often looks back at that as a very significant moment in his life.
In this video Jay Pathak talks with Nicky Gumbel about his journey of faith, the origins of the Alpha Course, and the influence of John Wimber and the Vineyard on Alpha etc, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PidpHNQ2AXs&t=292s
in fact, beginning around the 6:45 mark Nicky Gumbel says “If it hadn’t been for John Wimber’s input and ministry of the Holy Spirit and the evening on healing when as he says he “and a lot of other people had a very powerful experience of the Holy Spirit” [16]
Wimber (1934-1997) who converted to Christianity through the Quakers in 1963 eventually joined the faculty at Fuller Theological Seminary where he was strongly influenced by Fuller professor C. Peter Wagner, a pragmatic 'church growth' expert who relied on the success of a methodology rather than its doctrinal correctness. Whether or not it was Scriptural was not the point. If it 'worked' it was used. Therefore it is no surprise that after Wimber founded the Vineyard Association, he
applied this type of pragmatism to the practical side of Christian life and ministry. He focused more on experience and feeling than on doctrine. He warned against "worshipping the book" and mocked those who judge everything strictly by the Bible, saying they have "God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Book" (Wimber, as cited in Counterfeit Revival, p. 109). On another occasion Wimber warned against being "too rigid" and "too heavily oriented to the written Word". [17] I suggest you read the article in its entirety HERE
(ALSO SEE John Wimber and The Dominionists
Sandy Millar also held John Wimber in high regard. See A friends recollections of John Wimber by Sandy Millar HERE https://www.vineyardchurches.org.uk/resources/remembering-john-wimber/
Branches: Holy Spirit Weekends
This Holy Spirit day or weekend brings attendees into a close, emotionally charged atmosphere where they are more receptive/suggestible. Noting that the focus is on the Holy Spirit rather than on God or Christ the leader prays for the Holy Spirit to come upon the participants so they can personally experience God through the Holy Spirit.
In other words, they open themselves up to being ‘Slain in The Spirit’ with any and all the accompanying manifestations. In In Nicky Gumbel’s words
“ ... since 1982 we’ve regularly prayed ‘Come Holy Spirit’. I see it as like the ocean - there are always waves, but sometimes it’s more gentle and peaceful, and sometimes there are huge waves. I don’t know why sometimes we pray ‘Come Holy Spirit’ and dramatic things happen. We’ve always said that’s not important - sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t. These days things are much more gentle. [18]
Here is how important these weekends are to the course.
A Crucial Part of The Course
Author Jules Evans who joined an Alpha program and said he was "lucky enough to be in a group with Nicky Gumbel and his wife Pippa". (Emphasis Added)
The Holy Spirit session, Nicky told me, is the heart of the Alpha course, and also the most controversial part. Many people have said to him, we love Alpha, we love the discussion groups, couldn't we just have all that without 'Come Holy Spirit'. 'But that would be like a Mercedes without an engine', he says. 'Nice to look at, but lacking in power'. [19]
The web site of Alpha Australia once said (Emphasis Added)
We want to highlight the importance of including these sessions on the Holy Spirit, regards of whether it is over a weekend or a single day. Please do not skip these sessions. Without the Holy Spirit, it is just not Alpha. Alpha is so much more than an intellectual discussion; it's about providing opportunities for guests to experience God personally through the Holy Spirit. For many guests this is the most transformative moment on Alpha. It is a significant time where their questions change and many guests make a commitment to follow Jesus. [20]
Stephen Hunt is a British professor of sociology at the University of the West of England who's primary research interests include the Charismatic movement. He attended several 'Holy Spirit days' or weekends during the course of his research., . Chapter 14 of his book The Alpha Enterprise - published in 2004 (Emphasis Added)
“... these two days are not limited to the instruction of doctrine since the Holy Spirit is meant to be 'experienced' in a profound way. The weekend is, therefore, deliberately planned, at least ideally, to be held at a particular stage of the course and to coincide with teachings on the Holy Spirit and, as one clergy interviewee suggested to me, 'it brings the course alive".
By the time the guests are invited on the Holy Spirit weekend they would have had a basic introductory talk on Christianity, teachings on Christ and the atonement, the significance of the Bible and how to read it, how to pray, and how God guides and communicates with the believer. The teachings on the Holy Spirit come next in the form of three talks on overlapping themes that are the real theological substance for the weekend".
He went on to write (Emphasis Added)
the day was built up by course leaders from the very beginning of the programme and was awaited with some anticipation by all those involved". 'This is kind of what it was leading up to', Mary the course leader had explained a couple of weeks prior to the Holy Spirit Day. [21]
In other words the high point of Alpha is nothing but an initiation into the Toronto Blessing experience.
Thus Alpha’s over emphasis on the Holy Spirit is no surprise.
The Problems
1.) Many who attend these sessions assume that their experience was synonymous with conversion. (However, the Spirit of God is only ever given to believers - “those who obey Him." (Acts 5:32. Thus whatever spirit comes upon attendees at these sessions it is not the Holy Spirit. See Slain in the Spirit? What spirit?
2.) The Apostles did not distinguish between the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Jesus Christ which means there can be no difference between the two ministries.
They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; (Acts 16:6-7 NASB)
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (Romans 8:9 NASB)
Jesus did not knock people over, or cause his disciples to be "slain" or get "drunk in the Spirit" and behave embarrassingly. Much to the contrary, He rebuked and drove out the demons that caused people to behave erratically. Which is why we can conclude that these antics can only stem from occult sources or be psychologically induced .
However, if you consider the numerous parallels between being slain/drunk in the spirit and the Hindu practice of 'awakening' a person's Kundalini (a concentrated form of life force said to be lying dormant in our bodies) there is little question that these practices are demonic. Not only are the the requirements for receiving are the same, but the methods of transmissions are the same and the resulting physical manifestations are virtually indistinguishable. How then can these practices be Christian? See Slain in The Spirit Part IV
In fact when Gumbel was asked the following question
Q. To what extent do you think the things people might deem as ‘Holy Spirit encounters’ could be accounted for by psychological things like, say, trance states, or hypnosis, or social contagion? It’s striking that similar sorts of ecstatic experiences happen in other religious traditions.
His
A. There are three possibilities in the kind of experiences you’re describing. Either it’s demonic, or it’s psychological, or it’s God. Or it could be a combination, particularly of the last two. What matters is the fruit. You don’t know at the time. If it leads to a ministry for Alpha in the prisons, you say I think that was definitely God. If it leads to people coming off heroin and finding peace in their life, you say that looks like it was God. And if it was just psychological, maybe we need more of the psychological. [22]
The Role of The Holy Spirit - According to Scripture
Jesus said the Holy Spirit will glorify Him and not draw attention to himself (John 16:13-15) and clearly identified two aspects of the Holy Spirit’s function.
Unbelievers: And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned. (John 16:8-11 BSB)
The word convict means to reprove, to expose, to convince with solid, compelling evidence.
The Holy Spirit convicts man of the fact that he is sinful, in need of righteousness, and that all humankind will stand before and answer to a righteous God
Believers: Jesus told the disciples that He would "...ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; (John 14:16) and went on to say that the Father would send this Helper in His (Jesus') name and very importantly He would teach them all things and "bring all things" to their remembrance, whatsoever He had said to them (John 14:26) . He would also guide them into all truth and disclose what is to come (John 16:13). The Spirit also assures us of salvation (Romans 8:16); helps our weakness and intercedes for us.
Alpha’s Wide Ecumenical Appeal Is Clear Testimony To Its Doctrinal Weakness
Adaptability
According to a Christianity Today article, Alpha has a "lay-led, relational format" and people are in fact advised to "tailor Alpha in minor ways to their local needs". But many are concerned that it is just too flexible, bringing up the possibility that
"Catholics could add tradition, the Mormons could add the Book of Mormon, the Christian Scientists could add Mary Baker Eddy, and the Seventh-day Adventists could add Ellen G. White".
And adapt it they have.. The "All Saints' Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills, California, in 2004 added an "Alpha for the Gay Community" to its existing course". [23]
Alpha and Catholicism
Alpha endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Cardinals is offered by thousands of parishes around the world. Why it doesn't seem to rub any Catholics up the wrong way is simply because it is ‘inoffensive’ (read user friendly) The cardinal truths of Christianity have been presented so ambiguously that they do not in any way directly contradict Catholic beliefs thus allowing them to interpret the teaching to suit their own doctrine. See Alpha - Catholic Context HERE
In fact, Gumbel has admitted that the sections in Questions of Life about baptism and holy communion were carefully scripted to enable them to be used by Roman Catholics and evangelicals alike.
In particular, the essential elements of repentance from sin and the new birth are absent. This is not surprising because, much like the Catholic Church, the Anglican church sees salvation as a process rather than a conversion experience when a person through faith turns from sin to God and is born again. [24] However, they do affirm that the ultimate basis for salvation is the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Nicky Gumbel - Unity At All Cost
Nicky Gumbel Meets Pope John Paul II
In February 2004, Nicky and Pippa Gumbel visited the vatican and were presented to Pope John Paul II by Father Raniero Cantalamessa. After returning from Rome he said. The photo of Gumbel and the pope was featured in ALPHA NEWS March – June 2004),
It was a great honour to be presented to Pope John Paul II, who has done so much to promote evangelisation 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) [25]
(Incidentally, In November of the same year, they met with Cardinal Ratzinger at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith a few months before he was elected Pope. Nicky Gumbel also met Pope Francis in 2014).
Eleven years later at the 2015 Alpha Global Conference he left no doubt at to his ecumenical views. In his words,
Unity is not an option - Jesus is still praying for our unity - so that the world will be one.
Unity doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything - disagreement is healthy.
I used to think if some part of the church is different from me, they must be wrong. Now I think, ‘wow, they’re different from me, I must have so much to learn from them!
I have come to love the Catholic Church - If God has given them the same Spirit, who are we to oppose God?
The same Spirit lives in the Catholics, and the Orthodox, and the Pentecostals and the Protestants, even the Anglicans have the same Holy Spirit living within them. That's what makes us one!
We live in a divided world that demands a united church.
Root of all problems in the world is division. Paul gives us the answer to this - it’s in relationships!
(IPS Comment: Regarding the last point I would love to know where Paul said or even implied that division is the root of all the problems in the world. If you actually read your New Testament you will find that he was quite clear that sin was the root of all our problems. He made over 60 references to sin in his epistles but this one on Roman should suffice to show how seriously he took sin because sin causes death
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12 BSB))
Why are we forgetting that we 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.
See True and False Unity
Although doctrine has often been allowed to divide people in disgraceful ways, division is not something that can be avoided. You could scour the Scriptures for the next ten years without finding a single word about being united at the expense of truth. Much to the contrary, what passes for "unity" is (all too often) nothing but compromise, which is why Christians are commanded to separate themselves from those that believe and teach false doctrine. They are to refuse to have fellowship with those who cross over the line. It is far better to be divided by truth than united in error.
Nicky Gumbel also claims that the differences between Protestants and Catholics are:
totally insignificant compared to the things that unite us ... we need to UNITE around the death of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus; the absolute essential things at the core of the Christian faith on which we are all agreed. We need to give people liberty to disagree on the things which are secondary.” [26]
People who tirelessly repeat the statement that 'what unites us is greater than what divides us' as Nicky Gumbel does, must be blind to the fact that the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism are not a manner of style or disagreement about nonessentials of the faith but a very wide and very deep chasm between fundamentals.
As a Church of England Curate Nicky Gumbel should well know that the average Anglican or Catholic Alpha attendee is trusting in christening, baptism, and confirmation, confession of their sins to a priest, Mass, the rosary, good deeds etc. to get them to heaven. Yet, he never ever explains that works cannot save.
Thousands of Roman Catholics have completed Alpha, said the sinner's prayer, received the 'spirit' and spoken in tongues, without ever realizing that none of the above can do anything to contribute towards a person's salvation. And there is more - plenty more. The problems are so large and so numerous that an entire section on this site is devoted to Catholicism.
Yet in an interview with with Adam Rutherford of The Guardian, Gumbel stated
"Probably one of the strongest movements of the Holy Spirit is in the Roman Catholic Church, so there’s not a huge theological difference between the official teaching of the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, for example..."If they choose to join the Catholic Church at the end of the course, that’s wonderful.” [27]
(Reminds me of Billy Graham who once he had found that his beliefs were “essentially the same as those of orthodox Roman Catholic” and that they only differed “on some matters of later church tradition”. See Billy Graham (scroll down to The Catholic Connection)
Alpha Glosses Over Sin and Repentance
Somewhere along the line we began to preach shallow and horribly abbreviated Gospel messages - speaking only of the God of love, the wonderful relationship we can have with Christ, how we can be empowered by the Holy Spirit and do great things and, of course, that we are 'saved'. We want our religion quick, easy and painless - a very dangerous attitude when it comes to our eternal safety.
Sin:
Paul used some very strong language when speaking about sin. For example he called us children of wrath by nature. In other words, we have broken God’s law and, as verse 12 tells us, we are without hope and will face His judgment and will be condemned for all eternity. All of which Alpha tends to gloss over never letting attendees feel too bad about themselves. The Alpha Course by Chris Hand is well worth reading
Alpha is missing the mark on so many levels doctrinally, it is tough to cover it all here. Within its pages, there is no satisfactory explanation as to why Jesus had to die in the first place. Sin is described as doing "wrong things" and yet the doctrine of sin is never fully taught, avoiding even the actual word.
What is never explained is that the biblical concept of "sin" is not just about doing wrong, it is about who we are - the motivations of the heart, our inherent sinful nature, and our separation from God. Alpha does not teach about the full nature of God or His attributes, His righteous anger at sin, or that holy justice required a substitution on our behalf.
"Gospel light" hardly describes it fully, and one is left with the impression that Christ died because we mess up sometimes and because the universe brings with it some abstract notion of justice in case stuff happens. Alpha does not bring home the reality or the gravity of our sin, the realization that in us is no good thing, and the truth of how God sees us as lost in our sin until we receive (trust) Christ as our Savior. Thus, we can have no confidence in Alpha that it can truly convert people into a saving faith in Jesus Christ. [28]
The Bible tells us "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves (1 John 1:8) for "all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Neither apostle minced words when it came to the fate of the unrepentant sinner.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)
The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23).
Pay careful attention to the last point.. the penalty for sin is death. Alpha's treatment of the consequences of sin is so brief and cryptic that most listeners probably do not hear it, never mind grasp what is at stake. Participants will be told little or nothing about God's wrath or His coming judgment, much less how terrible that day is going to be.
See The Wrath of God
Since both Testaments equally emphasize the love of God and the reality and terror of God's wrath, the emphasis placed almost exclusively upon God's love is prime evidence that much of the modern church no longer holds to Christianity as taught by the Bible.
See The End of the Age
God's kingdom will be preceded by a devastating period of time such a man has never before seen. There is a day looming on the horizon when mankind's iniquity will reach the brim, at which point in time He will say, "enough!" and will pour out His wrath, or retributive justice, on the earth, bringing punishment to the transgressors, and an end to the injustice and suffering in this world.
See Holiness
The Bible says "Without Holiness, No Man Shall See God!" (Hebrews 12:14) in view of which perhaps it would be wise to know exactly what it means by holiness
Repentance:
What you believe about Biblical repentance is quite literally, a matter of life or death. Do not be fooled by the watered down Gospel message of just believe and be saved heard in so many churches today. On innumerable occasions, the Scriptures record God as warning that He will only have mercy on those whose repentance is real, but will destroy those who do not repent and turn from their sin. Biblical repentance is not a one time clearing of your conscience that makes you feel better . Neither is pulling up your socks and/or sorrow for wrongdoing - it goes much deeper than that.
See Sin, Biblical Repentance and Salvation on This Page
Conversions in Alpha tend to be an emotional experience without any understanding of the holiness of God coupled with the fact that without leading a life of holiness none of us will ever see God (Hebrews 12:14) . Nor do they ever seem to be told anything about His wrath and the need to be saved from it.
There is no recognition of the need to repent and to turn to God as a matter of life and death. People feel forgiven but do not seem to have realized the depth of their sinfulness or repented of their sin. People feel cleansed without having consciously put their faith in Christ. Often this happens when people are in some ecstatic state. Alpha may regard this as conversion but it is not what we find in the Bible. [29]
Salvation:
Conversions in the Bible.
On the day of Pentecost Peter preached a sermon that had no illustrations, no catchy title, and no amusing anecdotes. After Peter told the crowd that God had raised Jesus to life which they had all witnessed and exalted Him to His right hand Peter came to the climax of his message - They had crucified the one that God had made both Lord and Christ.
And he wasn't too nice about it either .. soundly laying blame for the torture and death of the son of God on his hearers.
Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!” (Acts 2:36 BSB)
Accusing people usually antagonizes them however, the response from the crowd suggested that Peter’s words profoundly affected them. They realized that what they were hearing was the truth and understood that they were sinners and had committed an unbelievable atrocity. Acts 2:37 tells us they were “
In reply to their question the first word out of Peter’s mouth was “repent”.
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit ..." (V. 38) and exhorted them to "Be saved from this perverse generation!" (V.40)
The result? Three thousand souls were baptized, continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Similarly the Philippian jailer asked urgently ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?‘ (Acts 16:30)
Conversions in Alpha
come differently from this. More often than not it is an emotional experience about the love of God but without any understanding of holiness or the need to be saved from our sins. There is no recognition of the need to repent and to turn to God as a matter of life and death. People feel forgiven but do not seem to have realised the depth of their sinfulness or repented of their sin. People feel cleansed without having consciously put their faith in Christ. Often this happens when people are in some ecstatic state. Alpha may regard this as conversion but it is not what we find in the Bible. [30] Article is well worth reading in its entirety
Jesus' death on the cross meant He gave His blood which the Father accepted in place of ours -
If a person does not see themselves as sinners and do not understand the consequences of their sins they have no appreciation of what Jesus actually did for them. Telling someone that they can be saved is completely ridiculous if they neither know they are lost nor what it is they need to be saved from - The Wrath of God.
Telling someone that there is a pardon available is an absolute waste of time, if the person does not know why they are already condemned. Unless a person understands and appreciates their true standing before a holy God, they cannot recognize their need for a saviour.
Besides which, salvation and eternal life do not come without anything being expected of us. To imagine that we can live our lives like the rest of the world, but still be welcome in God's presence, is little more than wishful thinking.
Conclusion
Many claim that the Alpha Course has not only caused many people to become believers but has also helped many Christians understand more about their faith. And, I can imagine this could be true if churches presented a more Biblically based version of the course in which participants are clearly made to understand that good works do not save.
Churches that gloss over sin, the wrath of God and subsequent judgment in favor of an unbalanced focus on the power of the Holy Spirit are not preaching the Gospel message. The 'Holy Spirit weekends" are nothing more than opening a door to demonic infiltration and need to be avoided at all costs.
And then you have Alpha's blatant ecumenism. No course that preaches the unadulterated Gospel message could not possibly gain the support of Catholic priests, bishops and cardinals. That fact alone should tell us that 'something is rotten in the state of Denmark '- a line from Hamlet used to describe a smell of corruption or that something is not right.
Unfortunately, Alpha's weaknesses and flaws completely overshadow anything that can be said in its favor.
In the Bible, sin and/or false doctrine was often symbolized by leaven even a little of which, as both Jesus and Paul pointed out, was a very dangerous thing.
And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Matthew 16:6 NASB)
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? (1 Corinthians 5:6 NASB)
Leaven was used as a symbol of evil because, given time, the yeast reproduces, spreading throughout the dough or batter biologically changing the chemistry of the dough as it works. As Paul asked the Galatians who were turning from the truth of the Gospel to doctrine preached by false teachers.
You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. (Galatians 5:7-9 NASB)
Alpha is not a little leaven but a very large amount that has insidiously made it way through the church.
End Notes
Unless otherwise specified all URL's were accessed in October 2025
[01] Rev Gordon Ferguson. (Minister of South Grove Free Presbyterian Church, London)
https://www.truelifebpc.org.sg/church_weekly/whats-wrong-with-the-alpha-course/
[02] Nicky Gumbel, The Alpha Priesthttps://alivepublishing.co.uk/2020/06/nicky-gumbel-the-alpha-priest/ Emphasis added
[03] Eben Harrell. Finding Jesus in London. http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1866094,00.html
[04] http://www.strasburgpresbyterian.org/christian-faith-alpha.html
[05] The Alpha Course Examined by Tim Chapman. Web site of the The Anglo-Reformed Movement. https://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/12/alpha-course-examined-tim-chapman-anglo.html]
[06] https://web.archive.org/web/20150322141016/http://alpha.org/global
[07] The Story of Alpha. https://alphausa.org/what-is-alpha/
[08] http://doableevangelism.com/2007/02/04/interview-with-todd-hunter/ Link is no longer valid
[09] https://alpha.org.uk/press-and-endorsements#endorsements
[10] https://alpha.org.uk/press-and-endorsements#endorsements
[11] Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) Promotes Alpha Course
http://deceptioninthechurch.com/grahamalpha.html
[12] James Heard. Inside Alpha: Explorations in Evangelism. Wipf and Stock Publishers, Jun 1, 2012 Page 14.
[13] Nicky Gumbel, 'The Spirit and Evangelism', Renewal, May 1995, p15
[14] https://www.bayith.org/TheNewAgeOfAlpha.pdf
[15] Dusty Peterson & Elizabeth McDonald. The True Spirit of The Alpha Course
https://www.girdedwithtruth.org/the-true-spirit-of-the-alpha-course/
[16] Nicky Gumbel on encounters with the Holy Spirit.
https://www.philosophyforlife.org/blog/nicky-gumbel-on-encounters-with-the-holy-spirit.
[17] David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, Way of Life Literature. John Wimber and The Vineyard.
http://www.wayoflife.org/database/wimber.html
[18] Nicky Gumbel on encounters with the Holy Spirit.
https://www.philosophyforlife.org/blog/nicky-gumbel-on-encounters-with-the-holy-spirit
[19] Jules Evans. From the Alpha course to the Book of Mormon.
https://www.philosophyforlife.org/blog/what-do-the-alpha-course-and-the-book-of-mormon-have-in-common
[20] Holy Spirit Weekend/Day Away.
https://australia.alpha.org/easter-leadup/2016/3/8/cf2jypnmuh1hjf0jw1uco59wjnq2as. Link is not longer viable
[21] Stephen Hunt. The Alpha Enterprise: Evangelism in a Post-Christian Era Paperback – Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (November 17, 2016)
[22] Nicky Gumbel on encounters with the Holy Spirit.
https://www.philosophyforlife.org/blog/nicky-gumbel-on-encounters-with-the-holy-spirit
[23] LaTonya Taylor. Christianity Today. ]Evangelism: Adaptable Alpha Course Draws Praise and Worry.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2001/11/evangelism-adaptable-alpha-course-draws-praise-and-worry/
[24] Alpha Course. https://newchristiancourse.com/alpha-course
[25] Philip Clifford Owen. A Study of the Ecumenical Nature of Charismatic Renewal:
https://files.core.ac.uk/download/pdf/77897.pdf
[26] Nicky Gumbel. Session 13 White Alpha training manual pp 63-68 Video V Talk 14
[27] Nicky Gumbel transcript of interview with Adam Rutherford.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/aug/28/religion-christianity-alpha-gumbel-transcript
[28] The Alpha Course - An Evangelical Contradiction by Mary Danielsen and Chris Lawson
https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/new-booklet-the-alpha-course-an-evangelical-contradiction/
[29] Chris Hand. Is the popular Alpha Course leading people astray? http://www.banner.org.uk/misc/alpha.html
[30] Chris Hand, Is the Popular Alpha Course Leading People Astray? Crich Baptist Church - Derbyshire, UK .
https://www.crichbaptist.org/articles/alpha-course/
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