Megachurch Pastor accuses some congregation members of being "duped"

Here is the story in a nutshell: David Cox was pushing the Purpose Driven Church (Warrenism) on the congregation at First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla.

(Interesting article here states that Cox eliminated the bus ministry and spent $450,000 on a new Rock Concert type stage)

When a document (below) was passed out around the church, Cox went into full attack mode (al la Warrenism) and claimed that the congregation was being duped. (or worse, read his attack on the facts at this link )

"But perhaps you have been duped by such a piece of
propaganda. I believe when most people consider this document for what it really
says, they will re-think being associated with it because of its lack of theological,
historical, and practical foundation. It simply has no doctrinal basis." (Cox)

Here is the document in question.

In the past ten(10) years a lot of churches in America and in other countries have
changed from a traditional New Testament church model to a contemporary
Purpose Driven model...most with sorrowful pitiful results.

Contrary to Purpose Driven Church propaganda millions have been leaving their
churches after the change occurred. Thousands of churches have split, closed, or
had significant reductions in attendance. Hundreds of pastors have been fired after
insisting on the change to a PDC model.

Most churches, after having a brief upsurge in growth, either reverted back to
their original size or suffered church trauma by introducing the PDC model in
their congregation.

It is important that EVERY church member know if their church is targeted for a
PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH takeover. Initially a small clique of church staff
including the pastor plans the change without telling the rest of the church
membership.
Church transitions(a PDC training arm) trains the clique initiating the change in
eight (8 steps. The church is not to be informed of the transitions until the fourth
(4) step. After the sixth (6) step in the process of change if there are some
members in the church who voice concerns the following is suggested:
#1- Identify those who are resisting the changes
#2- Assess the effectiveness of their opposition
#3- Befriend those who are undecided about changes
#4- Marginalize more persistent resisters or questioners
#5- Vilify those who stay and fight
#6- Establish new rules that will silence all resistance
This usually means that the church membership is not told until it is too late to
make a difference. In other words, the church is stolen.
Then the members either accept the changes or leave the church.
Rick Warren author and director of the PDC movement says, "When you reveal
the vision to the church the old pillars are going to leave. But let them leave...they
only hold things up."
So what are the signs that your church is targeted for a PDC change?
#1- Change in music to a contemporary rock style.
#2- Removal of hymn books...often words on a screen.
#3- Eliminating the choir or introducing a choral "entertainment type" singing
group. Repetitive praise lyrics
are used.
#4- Replacing the organ/piano with heavy metal type instruments.
#5- Dressing down to casual informal attire.
#6- Eliminating business meetings, church committees, council of elders, board
of deacons or other
traditional leadership groups.
#7- The pastor with a few assistants (usually four) take charge of all church
business.
#8- A repetitive 40 day PDC study program stressing psychological relationships
with each other, the
community and the world.
#9- Funded budgeted programs are abandoned or ignored with 'hidden' line items
in financial reports.
#10-Sunday morning, evening, and/or Wednesday prayer meetings are changed
to other times, named
differently or eliminated.
#11-Sunday School teachers are moved to different classes or replaced by new
teachers more sympathetic
with the changes being implemented.
#12-The name "Sunday School" is usually dropped and classes are given new
names.
#13-Crosses and other traditional Christian symbols may be moved, removed, or
put in obscure places.
#14-New versions of the Bible are used. Verses are flashed on the screen.
#15-PDC videos are shown prior to, during or after a service.
#16-The decor may be changed to eliminate any resemblance to the 'former
church'.
#17-The name "church" is often removed and may be called a "campus".
Denominational names are often
removed.
#18-An emphasis on more fun and party times for the youth.
#19-Elimination of altar calls or salvation invitations.
#20-The elimination of such words as "unsaved" "lost" "hell" "heaven"
"abortion" "sodomy".
#21-Reclassification of the saved and lost to the "churched" and "unchurched"
#22-The marginalizing or ostracrizing of all who are not avid promoters of the
new PDC program.
#23-Closed meetings between pastor, certain staff, and selected leaders without
any accountability to the
general membership.
#24-Open hostility to members who do not openly embrace the new program or
who may have left for
another church.
Recognize any of this? Many say it's too late when you get to step #4 in the first
section. May be. But don't forget;
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind." II Tim. 1:7
[portions of the above were provided by the research dept. of the Southwest Radio
Ministries, Bethany, Okl.]

(Cox resigned 1/29/07)

Southern Baptist Megachurch Pastor Resigns Over Controversy

"On Sunday, a Southern Baptist megachurch in Daytona Beach, Fla., will have an empty pulpit. Instead, a videotape of the church's former pastor will be playing for the congregants as the church currently stands without a senior pastor.


Less than five months into his senior pastorship at First Baptist Church, David Cox resigned Wednesday as he read a prepared statement to more than 500 church members.

"Over the past several weeks, First Baptist Church has undergone a season of extreme duress and difficulty," said Cox in his statement, according to Baptist Press. "Given present dynamics and poised circumstances, I believe that any continued service and ministry here, on my part, would not be productive toward future growth and health."

While details of the "difficulty" at First Baptist were not disclosed in his statement or by church staff when called for comments, the Associated Baptist Press reported the controversy was over changes Cox instituted in the church's worship style, his spending habits and the resignations of many longtime staff members after he took the helm that former Southern Baptist Convention president Bobby Welch retired from in August of 2006.

Cox had served as co-pastor beginning in 2003 with Welch, who led First Baptist for 32 years.

At a town hall style meeting earlier this month, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Cox stood in front of congregants defending his job as church members vented frustrations over the renovated altar and misplaced priorities under Cox's leadership.

The altar was modernized with a hardwood stage, twin movie screens and music equipment, but no cross – renovations that congregants saw as excess, especially as the church plans to move to a new church in some three years.

First Baptist – the largest church in the area, with 4,000 members - is planning to build a new church off Interstate 4.

The congregation also complained about the departure of at least five staffers and questioned the salaries for Cox and other staff at the cost of many popular programs in the church. Congregants are also unhappy with Cox's use of the bestselling The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and the more contemporary sound of music.

While some defended the changes in the church geared toward appealing to youth, many congregants had begun circulating a petition the first week of January to dismiss Cox."

(Snip, more at link)By Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter

[Shades of Mac Brunson and Steve Gaines?]