Kingdom Power vs. Holiness: How the Pursuit of Miracles Replaced the Pursuit of Christ | Episode 447

John explores the disturbing evolution of “holiness” from its biblical meaning to the authoritarian distortion seen in Pentecostal and Apostolic movements today. Tracing the thread from Frank Sandford and John Alexander Dowie through Charles Fox Parham, William Seymour, Chuck Smith, and John Wimber, he exposes how the theology of holiness became linked to pride, hierarchy, and unquestioned leadership. Through this historical lens, John reveals how the New Apostolic Reformation’s obsession with “apostolic authority” mirrors ancient Gnostic elitism—redefining holiness as group loyalty instead of Christlike transformation.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of why so many modern movements repeat the same pattern of control, abuse, and spiritual manipulation, and how true Christian holiness—rooted in humility and service—stands in stark contrast to the self-exalting “Moses models” that dominate today’s revivalist culture.

00:00 Introduction
01:04 Why cults attack those who leave
03:13 What “holiness” means inside destructive groups
06:07 Growing up in Branham’s tabernacle
09:03 The pride of being “the holy elite”
10:12 Tracing the roots of Pentecostal holiness
12:11 From Gnosticism to Azusa Street
13:06 Frank Sanford and British Israelism
17:18 How “apostle” was redefined into hierarchy
19:49 John Alexander Dowie’s empire and corruption
23:01 Charles Parham and the birth of Pentecostalism
27:54 When holiness became submission to leaders
32:02 Modern examples: Mike Bickle and IHOPKC
33:46 Chuck Smith’s Moses model of leadership
38:12 John Wimber and Kingdom Theology
43:01 Miracles, power, and false holiness
47:52 How “apostolic authority” silenced accountability
51:19 Why cult holiness is about belonging, not transformation
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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:
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Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K
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