Just Another Latter Rain Cult

What is being taught at the Rock of NW Arkansas in Springdale is nothing new. While I have found evidence of Todd's doctrines being rejected as early as the first century, these ideas keep being regurgitated and the uneducated masses embrace the message as "new."

For a more modern iteration of this message, we need look no farther than the "Latter Rain" movement started in 1948 by George Eldon Ladd. The same principle of restoration through the prophets and apostles, dominion over the earth, and earthly immortality were taught. Then, in the late 1980's and 1990's the doctrine resurfaced. Much of what Todd teaches can be tied to these cults.

Instead of a formal history lesson, I'll refer you to a ministry called Let Us Reason. They have done several series on the Latter Rain movement and have citations that could be matched to services at the Rock of NW Arkansas in Springdale. Sometimes the quotes are uncanny they are so similar.

In this article I am attempting to tie together the Latter Rain teaching with that of the Rock of NW Arkansas. I trust I can skip over the apostles and prophets portion, since that aspect of the doctrine is painfully obvious at this point. What I do want to show you is the same focus on self and fixation on tithe as a wealth generation tool.

Focus on self

"One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They're only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren't above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents." Romans 16:17-18

One of the first things you will likely notice if you attended a Rock service is the focus on self: "Get in shape." "Get a nice car." "Get a nice house." "Kingdom sons should look glorious."

While there is nothing inherently wrong with being in shape or having nice things, when this becomes a focus of a ministry, WATCH OUT! It's easy to get caught up in this thinking and many have.

We all have a deep desire to be perceived as successful. Whether conscience or not, Todd preys on this desire in people.

The Latter Rain cults notoriously emphasized health and wealth as a way to "usher in God's kingdom." The message at the Rock is no different and teaches the same tired, worn out ideas.

Taking the Tithe

One of the more disturbing practices actively taught at the Rock is that your material blessing is tied to the "seed you sow into the kingdom." "When you stop sowing, you stop the blessings."

What is disturbing is that much of the focus on sowing is on the tithe. On many occasions Todd Murner taught that 10% was just the beginning and that he tithes much more. He then ties the material blessing in his life to his own tithing record.

This is a dangerously self-serving and unethical method of building his own bank account. Of course people want material blessing! It's in our genes! But telling people that their "blessing level" is connected to their "tithe level" is unscriptural, unethical, and wrong. The only person getting rich through the tithe is Todd Murner.

Once again, the Rock of NW Arkansas mirrors the Latter Rain cults with their emphasis on tithing as a way to generate wealth. Since the wealthy sons will be "ushering in the kingdom," it is only natural that people give far more than 10% of their income to Todd. 

Tithing is a matter of the heart. I cannot critize anyone just for tithing more than 10%. But when the purpose of tithing is to generate wealth, then you've got a serious problem. 

Tying it all together

While this article is hardly an exhaustive work, the connection between the Latter Rain cults and the Rock of NW Arkansas in Springdale is difficult to deny. The obvious ideas of apostles and prophets "restoring the church" are not hard to connect. But the focus on self and the tithe as a wealth generation tool are not so obvious unless you sit in on the services.

In the end, the Rock of NW Arkansas is just another modern Latter Rain cult espousing the same old ideas. Nothing new and certainly no "new truth" is being released.

I'll leave you with this quote from Dr. David Jeremiah:

"Any Gospel that cannot be preached in a Third-World country is not the True Gospel of Jesus Christ."