December 23, 1999 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The Alpha course, "a short practical introduction to the Christian faith," grew out of a study program started in the 1970s by Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), one of the largest and most influential Anglican parishes. It is located at the heart of London’s most exclusive shopping district, Knightsbridge, and is just down the street from the world famous Harrods department store (owned by the father of Dodi al-Fayed, who was killed in the auto crash with Princess Diana in September 1997).

The Alpha program consists of 15 sessions and runs for ten weeks. It covers such basic topics as who is Jesus and why did He die, how and why should I read the Bible, why and how do I pray, how does God guide us, and what about the church? The course has been extremely successful among Anglican parishes, so much so that some churches that had been closed were reopened.

In 1991, the Alpha program was revised by Nicky Gumbel, one of the pastors of HTB, for use in other churches. Since then, Alpha has crossed denominational lines and has grown rapidly among liberal Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic Church. Only 600 people attended the courses in 1991, but by 1996 that number had exploded to 250,000 per year. By 1997, it increased to 500,000 participants worldwide. There were 5,000 Alpha courses being conducted in the United Kingdom alone by 1997, and the materials had been translated into 14 languages. The Alpha program is also growing rapidly in North America and has been promoted by Jack Hayford, Robert Schuller, J.I. Packer, Luis Palau and by many other well-known Christian leaders.

The chief problem with the Alpha Course is its watered-down doctrine and its charismatic orientation. (Holy Trinity Brompton is one of the centers of the "drunken revival" that was brought over to England from Toronto a few years ago.) I documented this in the article "The Alpha Course/Evangelistic Bible Studies," April 20, 1999. (See the Evangelism section of the End Times Apostasy Database at the Way of Life web site -- http://www.wayoflife.org/.) In this article, I also describe how the basic Alpha idea of evangelistic Bible studies can be used to the glory of God in Bible-believing churches.

IN ADDITION TO THE ECUMENICAL AND CHARISMATIC ERROR ASSOCIATED WITH ALPHA, IT IS ALSO BEING USED TO PROMOTE A WORLDLY BRAND OF CHRISTIANITY.

This was illustrated by a recent Alpha Course campaign in England. The campaign included distribution of "Millennium Survival Kits" in London’s Covent Garden by supporters of the Alpha Course. The Alpha people were dressed as street entertainers and sported party hats, and the kits they distributed were complete with Alka Seltzer, bottle opener, party hat, party popper, and an invitation to the Alpha Course. "By appearing like ‘one of the party crowd,’ it was evidently hoped to make the Christian faith slot comfortably alongside the usual pursuits of modern-day urban life" (Christian Research Network Newsletter, No. 7, 1999, Essex, United Kingdom).

What confusion! The world needs to know that the things of Christ are of great solemnity. True Christianity is about life and death, Heaven and Hell. Bible Christianity is not a worldly party; it is redemption from sin by the blood of Christ and holiness of life to the glory of Christ. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). The preaching of the Gospel in the early churches was accomplished with great solemnity. Can you imagine John the Baptist passing out party poppers to the self-righteous Jews outside of Jerusalem, or the Apostle Paul distributing party hats to the unsaved idolaters at Athens!

Just as the Bible prophesies, the world in these end times is filled with unscriptural churches that preach a false gospel, worship a false christ, and are empowered by a false spirit (Matt. 24:3,4,11,24; 2 Cor. 11:1-4; 2 Peter 2:1,2; 1 John 4:1; Jude 3,4).

"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY" (2 Timothy 3:5).