Vineyard Christian Fellowship

Vineyard Christian Fellowship refers to a group of "Third wave"⁽¹⁾ charismatic churches, reported to be more than 250+ in number, under the dominant influence of the late John Wimber. A former rock music promoter and businessman, John testifies of having been converted in 1963. He attended Azusa Pacific University (Wesleyan/Arminian) and a bible college associated with the Evangelical Friends Alliance (Quakers) denomination. In 1970, he was ordained by the California Society of Friends (Quakers).⁽²⁾

In 1975, John Wimber worked with the Fuller Seminary Evangelistic Association as a lecturer on church growth and joined with professor, C. Peter Wagner, to establish the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth. During this time he became heavily involved in the charismatic movement. A year later, he left Fuller to pastor Calvary Chapel of Yorba Linda, California, which was started by Wimber's wife, Carol, as a home fellowship meeting. The church got its name from its association with Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, a hotbed of charismatic activity during the Jesus People Movement of the late '60s and early '70s. Around 1983, the church changed its name to Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Anaheim, California, following an associational union with a small number of other churches called "Vineyards" led by a Kenn Gulliksen.

From 1982 through 1985, John Wimber taught his controversial MC510 course, "The Miraculous and Church Growth" at Fuller Seminary. Later on, after the course was suspended, he traveled throughout North America holding conferences under the title "Signs and Wonders and Church Growth." The course and conferences use Hebrews 2:3-4 to proof-text the so-called miracles. His ministry is not confined within the church walls, as John adds, "Many more are healed as we pray for them in hospitals, on the streets and in the homes. The blind are seeing, the lame walking, the deaf are hearing, cancers are disappearing."

The following observations concerning John Wimber are paraphrased from a paper entitled "Assessing the Wimber Phenomenon" written in the late '80s by Regent College professor Dr. Don Lewis who attended a 'Signs and Wonders' conference in Vancouver, British Columbia.

He is clearly becoming one of the "hottest items" on the charismatic circuit.

He gives the impression that it is commonplace for non-Christians who attend his church in Yorba Linda, California, to be converted one day, and the next to be out on the street casting out demons and healing the sick without even knowing John 3:16.

A disturbing aspect of the conference was the strong anti-intellectualism which he exhibited from time to time. His insistence that "at some point critical thinking must be laid aside" is nothing less than dangerous. Anti-intellectualism disparages God's gracious gift of our mind and reflects ill on a Creator who chose to endow us with the ability to think critically. [This is due to the Gnosticism inherent in the movement from the beginning.]

Wimber's starting place seems to be his own experience and Scripture is drawn in to proof-text his own position.

He holds a radical Arminianism (some might well argue it is Pelagianism). Wimber seems to have little or no appreciation of the doctrine of the Fall and speaks of being involved in "restoring the Edenic state" in and through his ministry. [For a detailed explanation of this error, read The Unholy Alliance.]

He believes and teaches that believers can be "demonized".

He stated categorically that he does not believe in the imminent return of Christ for the Church. The church is now being restored to its pristine purity, being made fit for her bridegroom. Christ will only come back for a church which is pure and spotless and thus she needs to make herself ready. He considers his "Fellowship" to be in the vanguard of this work. Historically, this teaching is referred to as "restorationism" and is common to such groups as Irvingites in Britain, Alexander Campbell's Disciples of Christ, Seventh Day Adventists, and Mormons.

He seeks to extend his influence by reaching pastors and church leaders; he clearly gears his message to them. Testimonies were offered at the conference by pastors who had turned their backs on their own denominations or local fellowships and witnessed that God had greatly "blessed" their ministry through their willingness to embrace Wimber's teaching.

Finally, many Vineyard churches have also embraced the "inner healing" concepts of Agnes Sanford. This teaching focuses on walking through one's past (even pre-natal) in an attempt to bring psychologically release and healing to the present. Agnes Sanford, Evelyn Underhill, and the late Rufus Moseley, practitioners within the semi-metaphysical movement called CAMPS FARTHEST OUT, also advocate a mental telepathy technique. It involves visualizing yourself or others as perfectly well, thereby releasing the 'laws' of health in the body.

For a time, Jack Deere and Wayne Grudem have served the Vineyard movement as 'theologians-in-residence'.

John Wimber died November 17, 1997 at the age of 63 from a massive brain hemorrhage.

The Internet contains numerous articles, some written by former members of Vineyard churches. Here's a sample of links:

⁽¹⁾ The term "Third wave" was coined in 1983 by Fuller Seminary professor, C. Peter Wagner. It was intended to describe a contemporary religious phenomena similar to the Pentecostal movement (First wave - 1902->) and Charismatic movement (Second wave - 1965->). The movement is made up of evangelicals who claim to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in healing the sick, casting out demons, receiving prophecies, and other charismatic-type manifestations, while not initially disturbing the philosophy of ministry governing the denominations to which they attend. Mr. Wagner has identified the tenets of the third wave to include: 1) belief that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion rather then as a second work of grace subsequent to the new birth. This is different from First and Second wave adherents. 2) expectation of multiple fillings of the Holy Spirit subsequent to the new birth. 3) a low-key acceptance of tongues as well as other sign gifts. 4) ministry under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit as the "portal of entrance" into the Third wave movement. This "anointing" is to be found in a group context rather than as an individualistic experience emphasized in the First and Second waves. 5) avoidance of "divisiveness" at any cost. 6) and rejection of First and Second wave terminology, such as "charismatic" and "Spirit-filled" because of the spiritual elitism often associated with those so labeled. One of the dominant, conservative forerunners to this Third wave movement was the college campus organization, Campus Crusade for Christ, International (CCCI); the self-described "evangelistic arm" of the body. Many members of CCCI attend Vineyard churches.

⁽²⁾ The Quakers, or Society of Friends, was founded during the 17th century by George Fox. Born in England and apprenticed to a shoemaker, he had no formal schooling. He came to rely on the "Inner Light of the Living Christ" as the ultimate reality. This highly subjective and mystical religious group bears similarities to metaphysical groups of the 20th century.

Vineyard Christian Fellowship - An Exposé

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