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[The following article has been condensed and paraphrased from, The Cross of Christ Series, False Doctrine by Jimmy Swaggart].
The origin of the Government of 12 (G12) lies with one man, Caesar Castellanos of Bogota Columbia. After observing that his church was not growing to his satisfaction, he claims that through much prayer he received a vision directly from God. He traveled and visited Yonggi Cho prior to receiving the “vision” and implemented the cell group structure in his church with minimal success based on observation of Cho’s church structure.
To Castellanos “vision” is nothing more than visualization. He instructs his followers that they must dedicate time to “visualizing” what God has for them and their churches. G-12 then becomes the method or avenue by which they can attain these visualized goals.
Castellano’s persistent use of visualization clearly indicates an emphasis on the occult. Castellanos and others in the G12 structure strongly embrace Yonggi Cho’s concept of the fourth dimension. Cho believes that our thoughts can tap into the fourth dimension and create a reality around us in the third dimension in which we live. Cho believes that “The fourth dimension is the Holy Spirit” and that men, though “exploring their spiritual sphere of the fourth dimension through the development of concentrated visions and dreams in their imaginations , can brood over and incubate the third dimension, influencing it and changing it” Cho firmly believes that these revelations were given to him by the Holy Spirit. Paul Yonggi Cho, The Fourth Dimension.
TOTAL CONTROL
G12 is a discipleship program is about control and is presented as the best and perhaps the only way to win the world to Christ. Castellanos believes that this concept had its beginnings with Jesus and is the pattern for church growth today. He teaches that Jesus worked closely with twelve men and mentored them to take His place here on earth. Later, Paul trained a number of young men who became great leaders in the New Testament Church. He calls this mentoring technique “The Principle of Twelve.”
However there is a problem with this. Paul did not choose twelve young men, as it is claimed and Jesus did not train men to take His place on earth after He was gone! In fact this hierarchical doctrine, also used by the Catholic Church is an abomination. The Holy Spirit took the place of Jesus here on earth not twelve men, an apostle or a Pope. Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (Jn. 14:25-26).
Castellanos and others using the G12 Model claim that the number 12 is known to be the number of God’s Government in the Bible. While this is correct, let us quickly state that it is not God’s government as outlined in His word.
THE PYRAMID SCHEME
The motivation of the G-12 shows a desire to rule discipled nations as a religious government, and is not at all about individual relationships with Christ. G-12 can be surmised as a modern-day business model based on the pyramid scheme. It is the fabric of amalgamating worldly business techniques with modern Church growth techniques through concepts designed by business moguls to increase productivity in the business world. Now it has been brought into the church in order to garner “free labor” through volunteerism.
THE SEEDBED OF G-12
Actually this method did not really begin with Mr. Castellanos. It had its beginnings, at least in modern time, though Napoleon Hill, the author of several best selling books such as Think and Grow Rich, and The Law of Success. Hill mentioned Jesus and His Disciples in a mentoring partnership he called “the mastermind.” Hill was deeply influenced by the mind science religions and philosophers of the Nineteenth Century and believed that “Faith is the head chemist of the mind.” He believed that faith is blended with the vibration of thought; the subconscious mind instantly picks up the vibration, translates it into the spiritual equivalent, and transmits it to Infinite Intelligence, as in the case of prayer. In fact this correlates to the force Yonggi Cho called the fourth dimension- the Holy Spirit. Hill has done nothing more than repackage an old lie and add a little “christianese” to lure pastors and Christians into his web of controlled modified works, in order to achieve the spreading of his vision.
The mechanics of the G-12 model can be summed up in a four step process: Win-Consolodate-Diciple-Send. Castellanos defines WIN as a “Process through which we proclaim the Gospel to every person in a way that leads to repentance” He believes that “many souls are lost because we do not know how to present the Gospel” He also believes that “to be filled with the vision makes us reproducers of life which is God’s will for all members of the Church.” There are a multitude of errors in these few statements. God does not have a “process” for Believers to follow when witnessing. We are to be led by the Spirit understanding that every person is different. Only the Holy Spirit knows that individual (Jn. 6:44; 12:32;1 Cor. 1:21). Whether he believes it or not Castellanos is replacing Jesus Christ as the Author of Life with believers as the source of life. Believers can not reproduce life.
“Consolidation” is said by Castellanos to be “the care and attention that we should give to every new Believer in order to reproduce in him the character of Christ with the aim that he fulfills the purpose of God for his life which is to bear fruit that endures. By a system of charts, questionnaires and diagrams, the sanctification process begins which is in fact not a sanctification process at all. The Holy Spirit alone can sanctify the believer and He does not need to use psychological methods or mind control.
G-12 promotes the pre-encounter process, which lasts for four weeks, with one hour per week of instruction in preparation for the encounter. Only people who have supposedly made a commitment to Christ can attend. This is meant to build momentum and expectation for the encounter weekend. The people who attend these encounters are not permitted any contact with the outside world and use of telephones or cell phones is forbidden. The person is to stay within their group, and they are to attend all functions within the three days of the encounter. Every person, at one time or another is required to attend one of these encounters. In other words, attendance at an encounter session is mandatory.
CONTROL IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
Every aspect of the G-12 model controls the life of the individual for the benefit of the vision. The god of G-12 is the vision or the process of multiplication. It is wrapped up in Christian terms but it redefines the meanings, the same as do the “Purpose Driven Church” and “Purpose Driven Life.” The G-12 adherents sign covenants. In their cell groups, they answer to a leader who learns everything about their lives and at times W-2’s and tax returns are demanded by group leaders to ensure that tithes and offerings are adequately paid. In some cases individuals have to seek permission as to who they can marry and jobs may have to be sacrificed if they interfere with the constantly conducted meetings.
THE QUESTIONAIRES
Many of the encounter retreats use a questionnaire by Doris Wagner, the wife of C. Peter Wagner. The questionnaire asks very personal and intimate questions about past sins and experiences, including sexual relations. Family history and prior religious exposures are asked in preparation for deliverance at the encounter. Family curses and demon possession are handled at the encounter- or so they claim. People are asked to write down their sins, even sins that have long been forgotten by the Lord of Salvation. In some cases, they are asked to read them aloud and then to throw them in the fire or to trample upon them, which is meant to signify that their sins are gone.
What does the Bible say about such foolishness? First of all, these encounters are totally unscriptural. People who are truly born again are not possessed by demon spirits. While they definitely may be oppressed by demon spirits they may not be possessed. The answer to spiritual oppression is to look to Christ and what He has done for us on the cross. Bringing up sins that have been forgiven and washed clean long ago by the blood of Jesus is a direct insult to the Christ and what He accomplished on the cross.
Despite of their “visualization of the cross” followers of the G-12 model are “enemies of the cross.” The object of their faith is not the cross of Christ but rather their church and the G-12 rules and regulations. G-12 is simply another gospel. Some false doctrines are worse than others, and G-12 is one of the worst. It is a brainwashing technique that denies the leadership of the Holy Spirit and follows many of the same methods practiced by the communists years ago. The individual who gets involved with G-12 will not come out the same way that they went in. They will suffer regression rather than progression and may in fact lose their soul.
THE DOING OF RELIGION IS THE GREATEST NARCOTIC OF ALL
In one way or another, the entire world practices the “doing of religion” and G-12 is one of the biggest “doers” of them all. The doing of religion is the very opposite of faith, at least as the Bible teaches faith. While faith is very definitely involved in G-12, it’s not faith in Christ and the cross but rather in religious works. By these “works” men attempt to sanctify other men, or attempt to sanctify themselves. The Holy Spirit alone can sanctify us and He does so strictly by our faith in Christ and the cross and by no other means. (Romans 8:1-2, 11).
The function of the Holy Spirit in the Church is replaced in the G-12 vision by believers. Leaders are developed in a school that emphasizes the G-12 vision and the true calling of the Lord. Leaders are developed to have “influence” over their groups. Those within the group must submit to their leaders in an unscriptural manner. The group is where the individual is formed and molded for service for expanding the vision. The vision is the method for how disciples, through the multiplication process, are acquired, sanctified, and prepared to work the G-12 vision.
As Jeremiah said so long ago, they become “homeborn slaves” ( Jer,2:13-14). If people are actually won to Christ, they are locked up in G-12 cells and do not know the true freedom of serving God through grace. They are caged with rules and fears of being cursed if they should disobey leadership. Great effort is used to have members write down all their spiritual activity. Bible reading and prayer time become chores. Members are accountable to their leaders by documenting a journal of all their activities. God help us to see that G-12 is no different than any other cult that seeks to control the mind of its initiates and use them as robotic tools to keep the life of the false organization alive. As all cults do they operate in law and not in grace!
Law requires a mediator. In the G-12 model each cell group leader becomes a facilitator (mediator) to their up-line (vertical authority) on behalf of their group. In large G-12 churches, it is unheard of for new adherents to speak to the head pastor let alone ask him a question. Like all cults the emphasis for the leadership is control. G-12 has its apostles who cover large regions of the world. They have borrowed from various modern church growth strategies, mind science, the occult, and psychology. G-12 has been able to succeed because it is propelled by seducing spirits. The unbridled flesh of believers who do not correctly understand the cross are prey for the G-12 model. Likewise, new converts who have always lived according to the law without grace are fertile pickings for this deception. Jesus said to take heed that no man deceive us. The Apostle Paul said that we should “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col.2:8).
Jimmy Swaggart
I have been a member of a Christ following church with the G12 vision for almost 9 years now and I too can say this article depicting G12 as a "false doctrine" is false in itself. Like the other commentors, I too can say that my life was lost until I started attending this church. I first received salvation in a Baptist church and then felt a hunger for more, for the solid food of the Word, and came to this church.
I too can say that the Encounter weekend was something powerful for me and it was a life-changing experience. I can truly see that eyes from the "outside" can see things very different from those on the "inside". The Encounter, for instance, is not a "controlling" event. Obviously, new converts who attend need to be focused and free from the distractions of life to focus and draw near to Christ. This is something "suggested" in order to better their experience.
Also, when referring to Christians not being "possessed"...this is simply misunderstood in this article. The deliverance section of the encounter is for those who are possessed and oppressed by evil. This is because the Encounter is mainly for new believers but also consists of some more mature Christians who are attending to hear the Word and strenghten their faith walk. Some are brand new believers who obviously need to be set free from generational curses, addictions, etc., while others perhaps need freedom from oppression. And THIS is something MANY, many churches should be providing for their congregation. It is sad to see so many church-going christians sitting in church every sunday morning with bondages and not having any ministerial leadership who is equipt to set them free.
In all my years in this ministry, I have never seen the "control" as written in this article displayed in our church. I too have NEVER seen or heard anything in my 9 years about a "journal" that members need to write in about their whole life. There is a "Devotional" that the church motivates each member to have, which is simply a means to having a more personal relationship with the Word on a daily basis. This was also something I was never taught in other churches. I was never truly taight how to read the Word for my own, personal life and how to apply it to my life, which the Devotional does. You simply read text each day and write down what you feel the Lord spoke to your life and how to put it into action in your life.
Again, like another commentor said, every church is different...all have their strengths and weaknesses. Some are more developed than others. But there is one thing I know is true about the G12 church and its founders: they truly love Christ and long to enlarge His kingdom, which is rare to find in churches today. What I felt was twisted in this article was that the G12 Vision "replaces" God. This is extremely far from the truth. The G12 vision is simply a "strategy" to bring the lost to Christ and work with them to help them to mature in Christ. That's it. Nothing else. It's also obvious that one pastor, the senior pastor, of a church is not able to work closely with every single member of his/her church, therefore, forming a team of leaders with mature faith and life of holiness can help execute this task. As another commentor said, I too felt completely looked over and disconnected in every other church I went to previously. No one knew my name, and no one really was curious at all. No one cared if I was having struggles in my walk with the Lord or cared to SHOW me how to walk with the Lord. I, personally, read these types of articles and ask myself, "Would I be someone who was deceived/brainwashed into a cult for the past 9 years?" And then I think about my life and the expereiences I've had for these years and all I can say is that I've seen God's hand upon my life in these years; I've been led to become more intimate with Christ and His Spirit in a truly deep way. I have seen my family restored through answered prayers, my heart healed, and most important of all: I've come to initmately know Christ! I have fallen in LOVE with Christ in my time in this ministry. I have not been controlled nor have I worshiped leaders and their "vision". I have truly been formed, molded, loved, prayed for, strengthened in the faith, befriended by others, and much much more.
Derek Prince has even said that the best way for a Christian to receive deep character formation is by close fellowship with others in small, initmate group settings. This is exactly what takes place in the cell groups, among other things. I have made great, like-faith friends in this ministry and have learned the vital necessity of putting my love for God into action by sacrificing my will in order to be of blessing to others. This church has helped many to simply take their eyes off of their own needs/life and reach out to others. I truly believe that Christ would approve of the G12 vision because it was inspired by Him and is used to ultimately GLORIFY Him above all else, which should be the motive of all we do as Christians.
Is the G12 church perfect? No. Can some aspects of the church be misunderstood and seem strange to those who are not members of it or who look for errors and short-comings in it? Yes. Does the heart of the G12 church ultimately beat for God, Christ, and His children? Yes. Does it bring others to salvation, maturity, freedom and service? Yes.
God bless.
duh !!!
"brand new believers who obviously need to be set free from generational curses, addictions, etc., while others perhaps need freedom from oppression. "
HMMMMMM
If we believe are we not set free and saved?
Or ,are there unsaved who believe?
Jesus was sleepy and only got a leg or an armed saved on this group?
What kind of believers are there who are not set free?
A nice bit of educated passionate rhetoric. Good job there.
Just a little off base on being a believer.
I have been involved in two G12 churches. The first church was quite liberal in its implementation and eventually fell away. The 2nd church, where I am now is much more "structured." I attended the first and 2nd major conferences in Los Angeles and they were truly inspiring and I will tell you that it was through an encounter weekend that I turned from being a bench warmer each Sunday in church to becoming fully on fire to serve Christ. It began a complete spiritual transformation for me personally and I am grateful to God for the opportunity to have attended. As to the issue of submission to "leaders," I see how new converts can be and are manipulated. It really depends on the heart of the leader (some "leaders" clearly abuse their position) and how far the individual will allow that "leader" to push. I personally have never had that problem because I don't allow it (I am quite strong willed - it's a good thing in this respect.)
That said, I have noticed a trend that has caused me great concern. I have always had a problem with prosperity preaching (name-it-and-claim-it) and its give-to-get theology and the Word Faith movement. My major disappointment is that many of the G12 churches are headed exactly in this direction. Don't really want drop names but Rich Witmer of Generations Church is one (he's visited my church on a couple of occasions), as is Claudia Castellanos, the G12 founder's wife. One of the last conferences I was able to stomach, Claudia spoke of her prayer for Cesar to have "Abraham's wallet" so that she could possess all of the things in "Sarah's tent." She talked about that great big house she wanted in Miami (which she now has) and the convertible Lexus she wanted (and got). She, as well as her disciples, are involved in the Columbian government in one way or another and stress the importance of the church getting into those positions (this is starting to sound like the New Apostolic Reformation 7-Mountains jargin. Yikes!!)
My church isn't there yet and I pray we never get there. I don't keep quiet when I hear teachings that contradict scripture (I actually confront my "leader") and I certainly don't believe everything I read in Castellanos' books. I test everything by the Word of God and I think that is what we all need to be doing.
In closing, not all G12 churches are created equal. There are some good (my church still follows strict Biblical doctrine), there are some bad (getting a little off track) and there are some ugly (that are completely distorting the truth of God's Word.)
as a member of a G12 church i read your description of our vision and it's not very accurate. they don't control me. i don't turn in a weekly journal of what i have been doing with my time, i don't turn in w2s or pay stubs, i was not forced to go to encounter or do anything else, i don't get my cell leaders permission to switch jobs or buy a car and i am not brainwashed. i have been in churches before, i got lost in every single one of them. did anyone ever call me when i left those churches? no... they didn't even know i was there! i came to Generations Church (Yuma, AZ) and found a church that loved me and accepted me. through the teachings i have received and through the classes they offer (i am now in School of Leaders II) i have been made solid in Christ. i am not ever leaving God again, like i have many times before, where i landed myself in jail with my lifestyle. i am not saying that the G12 vision is perfect for everyone but for me, its perfect. i am a better daughter, mom, employee and person than i have ever been and thats because of Jesus. i have never loved Jesus as much as i do today. my pastor is available to me if i need him, he does not believe he's too good for anyone that he can't spend his time to help or say hello or even give you a hug. our church has been under a lot of criticism like this but we still do what we do and we still win souls... because really its not about our works or what others think about us but its about people and winning them for Jesus and loving them like Jesus loved people. God made us with a purpose... if you have a purpose you need to work at it, that's all were doing working towards the purpose of winning people to Jesus... with Jesus. no one can get through to the Father without going through the son. we give all the praise and glory to God. and with that i thank God for giving us pastors like Pastor Cesar Castellanos, and my own pastor, Pastor Rich Witmer who die to themselves to change not only their cities but nations around the world! God bless you and much love to them!
Your criticism of G-12 is just another example of how Christians squabble among themselves and hurl charges at each other in a very un-Christian-like manner. This is typical of the hypocrisy of some Christians who rush to judgement about other Christians who may proceed in their faith a litte differently, which is one huge reason I step outside my Christian roots to embrace the diversity God, or Allah, or by whatever name the Creator is called, created on Earth. And, by the way, I think for myself and interpret scripture as I see it. And I am a member of a G-12 church that permits my independency and contributions. You clearly seem to be speaking out of a closed mind and rush to judgement. But I hope not...
Sorry, friend. I was at Castellanos' church recently in Bogota. It's alot of show, big business, resturants upstairs, DVD and CD sales, a week long conference of dedicated followers that got "extended" into another week. G12 has has caused an enormous amount of discord in the true Body of Christ. You, my friend, don't travel internationally. And what I have seen and heard throughout all of Latin America confirms that G12 is a dangerous cult.
There is no rush to judgement here. I have read this article and it has scholarship and insight. You can't recognize it because you don't know who God-Allah-whatever-Creator-or MotherEarth is. And, of course, you are a free thinker and interpret scripture as it works for you. You been snortin' something, dude?
G12 is perfect for people like you. But do us a favor and don't go around bragging about your "roots". Being a tree-hugger doesn't qualify you as a Christian.
If you were saved, you would never have made these replies.