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June 19, 2005

James Rutz's MegaShift - A Critical Review

What exactly is a Megashift? According to the author, James Rutz, “The Megashift is [a] major transfer of responsibility and power, not a change in beliefs" (p. 118). 

In chapter one, page 2, Rutz states:

        For reasons we know only in part, God has handed down a somewhat revised set of rules, delegating greater authority to more people. He has apparently decreed that plain folks like you and me are now a central part of an accelerated plan for a total transformation of the world.

        That plan is centered around small clusters of loosely networked but highly committed Christian people who have been empowered to do extraordinary things. These open, participatory fellowships are the subject of this book, starting with chapter two.

Mankind, over many years, has been exposed to and subtly conditioned by the  advertising industry, in that what we have is never satisfying or fulfilling, and that the next new thing to come along always promises to be the magic bullet, waiting for us to jump in with both feet to finally have what we have always wanted. But then again, is it really the final fulfillment of our expectations?

While reading MegaShift, I felt as though I was in the presence of a well trained car salesman trying to convince me of how our early model car was just not good enough any more, and that we really needed--desperately needed--the newer version of something that was not really any better, that would cost more, and most likely was not as good as our original car.

Why does everything today have to be prefixed with the term "New"? Clearly, the Scriptures reveal to us,

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

God's teaching that there is no new thing under the sun is a plainly convincing statement which, in effect, warns us to be wary of anything that comes along that is being touted as a “new move of God."

The more I read, the more convinced I became that this book is just a repackaged version of an old concept, sometimes known as the Latter Rain movement, with additional bells and whistles. The timing of the release of MegaShift, along with the statement by Rutz for a total transformation of the world, leads me to believe that there is a concerted effort by the leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation to speed things up, and to gain new momentum in their quest to fulfill their own megashift.

This dominionist agenda is presented in various forms throughout the book, as Rutz applies it to the participatory fellowships. It is interesting to note that the call for a “New Reformation” to transform the world is coming from many fronts, including the Roman Catholic Church, the New Age Movement and the United Nations--all of which are leading us to a “New World Religion," which is first outlined and pictured for us in the book of Revelation.

To be fair, many of the house church concepts that Rutz presents are partially true, but he also mixes in many ideas that are unbiblical, causing a mixture of truth and error.

And God hates the mixture of truth and error.

The concept of house churches is not new. It was the basis for the New Testament believers to gather to worship and grow in the Lord. I am very familiar with the Biblical model of the house church from my own experience, as I began my walk in Christ gathering together and worshiping in a house church.

Rutz begins the book by luring the reader into an experience of miracles, which is something with a strong emotional hook to set the stage for a shift in our thinking, opening us up to a series of “new” concepts for us to think about.

The very next chapter [2] takes us to the “New Engines of Change," which lays out ten steps, plus one [11] giving us a clear understanding of the real agenda behind this book. Rutz introduces us to concepts which many may not have seen or heard about, such as: identificational repentance, spiritual mapping, rabbit teams, on site prayer, an emphasis on fasting (for powering up), and a different leadership concept; all of which are largely Latter Rain teachings.

As the chapters progress we get deeper into this megashift, which is an attempt to deconstruct our old belief system and reconstruct a new set of beliefs, bringing them into line with the Latter Rain agenda.

Much of the book is about our role; how it is our responsibility; how we have been given new freedom to act; new power to perform the tasks required; a new understanding of the gospel; a new lifestyle of victory to be an overcomer; all to become an integral part of the endtime picture to prepare the earth for the return of Christ. If we fail to megashift ourselves, then Jesus will not come according to this Latter Rain teaching.

If the above definition of Megashift (p. 118) is indeed true, then why throughout the book are we introduced to a barrage of new ideas and concepts intended to change our beliefs?

If you happen to belong to a house church, please do not begin networking with other groups to participate in this “New Christianity”. If you are still in a church body that has the freedoms expressed in this book, please stay where you are. If you do not have a church and intend to start a house church, do not follow this pattern, because it is deceptive, and will lead to further deception and take you away from the truth.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8).

Concerning the last days, Jesus stated, Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

For further research information on Latter Rain, Kingdom Theology and Reconstructionism please read the following articles:

Kingdom Theology - Al Dager

Introduction - Latter Rain Teaching - Jewel (van der Merwe) Grewe

Reconstructionism: Roots of a New "Christian" Inquisition? - Biblical Discernment Ministries

Kingdom Triumphalism - The Third Wave - Mike Oppenheimer

Please send us any comments at: smuse@erwm.com