Calvary Chapel Pastors Perspective Refutes Praying to the Dead
Yet Calvary Chapel affiliate
Pastor Steve Berger encourages
praying (talking) to the dead
(Have Heart book and
Have Heart website FAQ page)
By Chris Lawson
September 29, 2015
Updated, August 30, 2020
September 29, 2015
Updated, August 30, 2020
Articles in this series:
- A Closer Look at Have Heart: bridging the gulf between heaven and earth (Steve and Sarah Berger, 2010)—Exposing the Deception of 'Christian' Clairaudience and Clairsentience
- Calvary Chapel Pastor's Perspective Refutes Praying to the Dead—Yet Calvary Chapel Affiliate Pastor Steve Berger Encourages Praying (talking) to the Dead (Have Heart book and Have Heart website FAQ page) (Current page)
- Have Heart: bridging the gulf between heaven and earth—Endorsements and Contacting the Endorsers
- Chuck Missler's Public Statement on Facebook Regarding His Personal Endorsement of Have Heart
- More Concerns About the Lack of Discernment Pertaining to Grace Chapel Leipers Fork and Steve Berger's Ministry
Calvary Chapel Pastors Perspective
Radio Program Refutes Necromancy
Pastors Perspective 9/29/2015
(See links below )
Radio Program Refutes Necromancy
Pastors Perspective 9/29/2015
(See links below )
Brian Brodersen, Don Stewart and Josh Turansky rightly agree here on Calvary Chapel's flagship radio program Pastor's Perspective that attempts at communicating with the dead in order to speak to "deceased loves ones" is dangerous, yet their fellow Calvary Chapel affiliate pastor Steve Berger (Grace Chapel Leipers Fork, TN)—says that Christians can pray to their deceased loved ones.
Here are a few quotes from Steve and Sarah Berger's book Have Heart: bridging the gulf between heaven and earth:
Here are a few quotes from Steve and Sarah Berger's book Have Heart: bridging the gulf between heaven and earth:
"Only two weeks after Josiah went to Heaven, I (Sarah) made it a habit to talk to Josiah... I would then be in instant conversation with Jesus and Siah [Josiah]" (Have Heart, p. 82).
"It wasn’t like he [Josiah] just appeared there. It was a sense of him coming into the aisle, and he got down on one knee and bent into my ear. He said, “Way worth it, Mr. Jim.” Then, as quickly as he came, he left. It wasn’t that he disappeared; rather, it was a sense of him leaving the sanctuary....He had a sense of speed about him, not that he was hurried, but as if life on earth was much slower than in Heaven—it’s a different place, a different plane. I stood up and went over to my wife and told her, “Josiah was just here.” (Have Heart, p. 99-100.)
"Jimmy's dream [Jimmy's dream?] is a great example of how we are surrounded and how our loved ones are connected to us. They know, they care about what we're going through, and there's a nearness that's not easy to explain but wondrous in reality...We are one body, connected here on earth, connected in Heaven, and connected between Heaven and earth. Our loved ones may show up in dreams or visits or other ways (who can limit God's imagination?), but the fact is that we're connected. Our loved ones are not "up there" and we are "down here." There is a thin veil, and we're connected to them, forever, in Christ." (Have Heart, p. 110).
"You don't father or mother a child for nineteen years and then hear God say, 'Oh, now you can't talk to him. You no longer have a relationship with him until you see him face to face in Heaven....' We still talk to Josiah, and it's going to be so great when we're together again." (Have Heart, p. 125).
Comments such as these and others in Steve and Sarah Berger's Have Heart: bridging the gulf between heaven and earth (2010) reveal clearly what Steve and Sarah Berger believe about communicating with their deceased son.
Statements such as these were originally posted on their own Have Heart website FAQ page (Question and Answers), which was eventually somewhat hidden within their website, and then eventually full removed. Here are the Questions that were asked on the FAQ page, and further below you will read some of the "Answers" that were given by the Berger's.
Frequently Asked Questions
Original webpage was on HaveHeart.Net
Statements such as these were originally posted on their own Have Heart website FAQ page (Question and Answers), which was eventually somewhat hidden within their website, and then eventually full removed. Here are the Questions that were asked on the FAQ page, and further below you will read some of the "Answers" that were given by the Berger's.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is my Christian loved one?
- How far away is my loved one?
- Can my loved one hear me when I talk to him or her?
- Can I talk to my loved one who has passed?
- Is it possible for my loved one to visit, or do you believe in the possibility of getting signs?
- Is it right for me to feel so much anger and pain?
- I can't help but continue to ask, "Why?"
- How can I keep going?
- How can I make sure my family and I are going to Heaven?
- How do you refer to someone who has passed away if you are unsure of them being in Heaven?
Original webpage was on HaveHeart.Net
- http://www.haveheart.net/answers/faq
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100621043852/http://www.haveheart.net/answers/faq/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20150820193846/http://www.haveheart.net/answers/faq/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20160501030234/http://www.haveheart.net/answers/faq/
Here is a screenshot from the Internet Archive page that recorded the Berger's Have Heart FAQ page. This screenshot is dated August 21, 2010. Here are the "Frequently Asked Questions."
Three "Questions and Answers" from
Steve and Sarah Berger's book
Have Heart: bridging the gulf
between heaven and earth
—Frequently Asked Questions webpage
Steve and Sarah Berger's book
Have Heart: bridging the gulf
between heaven and earth
—Frequently Asked Questions webpage
3. Can my loved one hear me when I talk to him or her? 4. Can I talk to my loved one who has passed? |
5. Is it possible for my loved one to visit, or do you believe in the possibility of getting signs? |
Brian Brodersen, Don Stewart and
Josh Turansky warn about
the danger of necromancy
Josh Turansky warn about
the danger of necromancy
As previously stated, "Brian Brodersen, Don Stewart and Josh Turansky rightly agree here on Calvary Chapel's flagship radio program Pastor's Perspective that attempts at communicating with the dead in order to speak to deceased loves ones is dangerous."
Here is the September 29, 2015 Pastor's Perspective radio program with Brian Brodersen, Don Stewart and Josh Turansky. If this radio program gets stripped from the Internet, the TRANSCRIPT TEXT will appear here.
Here is the September 29, 2015 Pastor's Perspective radio program with Brian Brodersen, Don Stewart and Josh Turansky. If this radio program gets stripped from the Internet, the TRANSCRIPT TEXT will appear here.
Pastors Perspective 9/29/2015
Streamed live on Sep 29, 2015
Today Josh Turansky is joined by Don Stewart and Brian Brodersen.
WATCH & LISTEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpPoRdlTIhs
Video screen is black up until the 33 second mark
and then the program begins.
The callers question about Necromancy
begins at minute 23:50 to 29:02
Streamed live on Sep 29, 2015
Today Josh Turansky is joined by Don Stewart and Brian Brodersen.
WATCH & LISTEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpPoRdlTIhs
Video screen is black up until the 33 second mark
and then the program begins.
The callers question about Necromancy
begins at minute 23:50 to 29:02
Note: Ann Marie is the caller, and the audio/video for this section begins at approximately minute 23:50. Don Stewart comes in at minute 25:35. This Have Heart section (question about Necromancy) is over at about minute 29:02, when they say goodbye to Ann Marie.
Steve Berger
(Grace Chapel Leipers Fork, Franklin, TN)
is listed as a Calvary Chapel
affiliate—church/pastor
(Grace Chapel Leipers Fork, Franklin, TN)
is listed as a Calvary Chapel
affiliate—church/pastor
One wonders why Brian Brodersen, Don Stewart, Josh Turansky, and the Calvary Chapel Association Leadership Council allow Steve Berger (Calvary Chapel affiliate pastor and church leader) to continue selling his books in a Calvary Chapel context—as a Calvary Chapel affiliate church. This is very confusing...is it not?
Pastor Steve Berger's "Grace Chapel Leipers Fork, Franklin, TN" church is listed as a Calvary Chapel affiliate church on the CalvaryChapel.com church finder. For many years now Steve Berger's church contact information has come up in the Calvary Chapel church locator search results, when one searches for Grace Chapel, Steve Berger, Leipers Fork, or Grace Chapel Franklin, etc.
Pastor Steve Berger's "Grace Chapel Leipers Fork, Franklin, TN" church is listed as a Calvary Chapel affiliate church on the CalvaryChapel.com church finder. For many years now Steve Berger's church contact information has come up in the Calvary Chapel church locator search results, when one searches for Grace Chapel, Steve Berger, Leipers Fork, or Grace Chapel Franklin, etc.
- Steve Berger, Grace Chapel Leipers Fork, Franklin, TN
- Grace Chapel Leipers Fork: https://calvarychapel.com/church-locator/?query=Leipers+Fork&selectDistance=25&submit=Submit
- Source: https://calvarychapel.com/church-locator/
Greg Laurie, also listed as a
Calvary Chapel affiliate—church/pastor,
is one of the endorsers of
Have Heart: Bridging the Gulf
between Heaven and Earth
Calvary Chapel affiliate—church/pastor,
is one of the endorsers of
Have Heart: Bridging the Gulf
between Heaven and Earth
Another matter of great concern is the fact that the personal endorsement of Greg Laurie (Author and Founding Pastor/Evangelist, Harvest Christian Fellowship) can be found in the first few pages inside of Steve and Sarah Berger's Have Heart book. Greg Laurie has been a long-time Calvary Chapel pastor and for many years was one of Pastor Chuck Smith's inner-circle protégé pastors. Greg Laurie is also a Calvary Chapel affiliate pastor and his Harvest Christian Fellowship church in Riverside California can be found in the Calvary Chapel church finder locator at CalvaryChapel.com, “Your one-stop online-hub for Calvary Chapel.”
- Greg Laurie, Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA
- https://calvarychapel.com/church-locator?query=riverside&selectDistance=25&submit=Submit
- Source: https://calvarychapel.com/church-locator/
Here is Greg Laurie's endorsement of Have Heart: Bridging the Gulf between Heaven and Earth.
“Steve and Sarah Berger have faced the worst tragedy imaginable: the tragic death of their son, Josiah. There are no words to describe the pain and sense of loss a parent feels when they have lost a child. To say that your world changes forever is an understatement of epic proportions. I know, because our son also died. In fact, it was through our mutual loss that my wife and I became friends with the Bergers. In their new book, Have Heart, Steve and Sarah write candidly of what they have experienced. And yet, despite the very real pain they live with each and every day, this book bursts with hope.
“While no one ever gets over the death of a child, the Bergers are going through this experience with more than their faith intact. As you will read, their faith is deeper, their insights are more penetrating, and their hope is bright with the expectation of seeing their beloved son again. I trust this book will be a blessing to you.”
Other endorsees of Have Heart include James Robison (Founder and President, LIFE Outreach International), the late Dr. Chuck Missler (Founder, Koinonia Institute), Senator Bill Frist, M.D. (Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader), William Paul Young (Author of The New York Times Best Seller, The Shack), and Michael W. Smith (Grammy Award-Winning and Multi Platinum-Selling Performing Artist).
Steve and Sarah Berger's original book endorsement was removed from the Have Heart endorsements page. The link became inactive on or before 4-22-2016, however, the last recorded snapshot of the Have Heart: Bridging the Gulf between Heaven and Earth endorsement page is actually January 31, 2012. Here is the Internet archive source link that goes to the Have Heart endorsements page, on the original Have Heart website (http://www.haveheart.net)
Steve and Sarah Berger's original book endorsement was removed from the Have Heart endorsements page. The link became inactive on or before 4-22-2016, however, the last recorded snapshot of the Have Heart: Bridging the Gulf between Heaven and Earth endorsement page is actually January 31, 2012. Here is the Internet archive source link that goes to the Have Heart endorsements page, on the original Have Heart website (http://www.haveheart.net)
- Original source: http://www.haveheart.net/media-kit/pdf/endorsements.pdf
- Internet archive page: https://web.archive.org/web/20120131114823/http://haveheart.net/media-kit/pdf/endorsements.pdf
Calvary Chapel Association Leadership Council
As for the Calvary Chapel Association Leadership Council, they should revoke Steve Berger and Greg Laurie's affiliation as Calvary Chapel affiliate churches/pastors, and publicly warn the Body of Christ about them, and the other men that promote and endorse Have Heart: bridging the gulf between heaven and earth.
The Calvary Chapel Association website claims,
The Calvary Chapel Association website claims,
"The men on the leadership council represent over 700 years of pastoring churches. This page is a work in progress and will be regularly updated with resources that the council has found to be helpful in their ministries over the years."
Well, how does this glowing statement on CalvaryChapel.com match up with the allowance of a Calvary Chapel affiliate pastor (Steve Berger and all the pastors at Grace Chapel Leipers Fork) selling and promoting a book that encourages praying/talking to the dead?
Here are the Calvary Chapel church locator search results.
The following italicized text is from the Calvary Chapel Association Leadership Council webpage:
Here are the Calvary Chapel church locator search results.
- Internet archive page: https://web.archive.org/web/20161018151704/http://calvarychapelassociation.com/helps/
- Original search source: http://calvarychapelassociation.com/helps/
The following italicized text is from the Calvary Chapel Association Leadership Council webpage:
For almost forty years Chuck Smith served the Lord and served the Body of Christ around the world. Chuck has passed on the leadership of the Calvary Chapel ministries over to a team of men that had been working with him for many years.
We covet your prayers that the Lord’s hand will truly be upon us and that we too will serve the Lord and the Body of Christ. This is a process that Chuck and these men believe to be of the Lord. We are dearly seeking the Lord for His love, wisdom, grace and blessing as we seek to follow Him.
The following Calvary Chapel Association Leadership Council names will remain here as long as Steve Berger and Greg Laurie—as Calvary Chapel affiliate churches/pastors—are getting away with promoting a book that encourages talking to the dead. It really shouldn't take ten plus years for "The men on the leadership council" who "represent over 700 years of pastoring churches" to stop a couple pastors from promoting and selling a book that encourages communicating with deceased loved ones (necromancy)—a practice God strictly condemns.
Here are the men on the council, dated August 21, 2016.
Pastor Skip Heitzig - Calvary Chapel Albuquerque
Pastor Rick Ryan - Kumulani Chapel
Pastor Raul Ries - Calvary Chapel Golden Springs
Pastor Mike Macintosh - Horizon Christian Fellowship
Pastor Don McClure - Calvary Way
Pastor Joe Focht - Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia
Pastor Sandy Adams - Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain
Pastor Bob Caldwell - Calvary Chapel Boise
Pastor Jack Hibbs - Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
Pastor Brian Brodersen - Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
Pastor David Rosales - Calvary Chapel Chino Valley
Pastor Malcolm Wild - Calvary Chapel Merritt Island
Pastor Jeff Johnson - Calvary Chapel Downey
Pastor Bill Stonebraker - Calvary Chapel Honolulu
Pastor Wayne Taylor - Calvary Fellowship
Pastor Tom Stipe - Crossroads Church of Denver
Pastor David Guzik - Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara
Pastor Ray Bentley - Maranatha Chapel
Pastor Lloyd Pulley - Calvary Chapel Old Bridge
As of August 30, 2020, the current leadership council can now be found at the non-secure webpage, http://calvarycca.org/leadership-council/ .
Here are the men on the council, dated August 21, 2016.
- Source link: https://web.archive.org/web/20160821130741/http://calvarychapelassociation.com/leadership-council/
Pastor Skip Heitzig - Calvary Chapel Albuquerque
Pastor Rick Ryan - Kumulani Chapel
Pastor Raul Ries - Calvary Chapel Golden Springs
Pastor Mike Macintosh - Horizon Christian Fellowship
Pastor Don McClure - Calvary Way
Pastor Joe Focht - Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia
Pastor Sandy Adams - Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain
Pastor Bob Caldwell - Calvary Chapel Boise
Pastor Jack Hibbs - Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
Pastor Brian Brodersen - Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
Pastor David Rosales - Calvary Chapel Chino Valley
Pastor Malcolm Wild - Calvary Chapel Merritt Island
Pastor Jeff Johnson - Calvary Chapel Downey
Pastor Bill Stonebraker - Calvary Chapel Honolulu
Pastor Wayne Taylor - Calvary Fellowship
Pastor Tom Stipe - Crossroads Church of Denver
Pastor David Guzik - Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara
Pastor Ray Bentley - Maranatha Chapel
Pastor Lloyd Pulley - Calvary Chapel Old Bridge
As of August 30, 2020, the current leadership council can now be found at the non-secure webpage, http://calvarycca.org/leadership-council/ .
Biblical warnings about attempting
to communicate with "the dead"
(necromancy, spiritism/Spiritualism)
to communicate with "the dead"
(necromancy, spiritism/Spiritualism)
Leviticus 19:31—“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 20:27—“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.”
1 Chronicles 10:13—“So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it”
1 Samuel 28:3-25—3 “Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. 9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10 And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. 13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. 14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 17 And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: 18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day. 19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. 20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. 21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. 23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof: 25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.”
Acts 16:16-18—“16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”
Galatians 5:19-21—“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; 20 Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Timothy 4:1 (KJV)—Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils [demons]"
1 John 4:1-6—“1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
Revelation 19:20-21—“20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”