S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

This article takes a very cautious view of the Alpha Course. We do recognize, however, that the Alpha Course has been a tremendous help to many Christians. Many people have come to faith in Jesus C...

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July 01 2013 • 16 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Supporter Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

I have read Mr. Houdmann's answer and the 15 or so responses to it. The primary answer does not actually seek to describe the course and/or provide personal testimony of its benefits or shortcomings. So I will attempt to do so.

The evangelical church I attend (second largest in the city) has been hosting Alpha for 17 years, 2 sessions per year, approximately 3,000 total attendees. My wife and I served in this ministry for 6 years as table hosts (that is, discussion facilitators). The course was recently updated (new video host) and shortened (from 11 weeks to 8 weeks). The most controversial session on the Holy Spirit has been deleted. 

From my examination nothing in the video material constitutes a biblical error or false teaching. Certainly there are biblical truths that have not been included but that is because it is an "introductory" or "overview" course of the Christian faith. The Alpha organisation has set up the course so that there is no need for any formal biblical teaching outside of the video presentations. Small group table discussions are the only source of any additional biblical content during each Alpha session. 

Table hosts are discouraged from answering questions. Christians and non-Christians alike are encouraged to share their personal views around the table. Discussion questions are designed to illicit responses to the video teaching from the bible. If no one at the table is initiating a discussion then the host may share their personal beliefs to stimulate further conversation. The course is designed to help people discover biblical truth for themselves so their spiritual journey will lead them to a genuine conversion and salvation experience. 

My wife and I have witnessed several people coming to faith during the course, or afterwards in followup small group studies. We have witnessed divine miraculous healing during the prayer time after the talk on Healing. We have witnessed people being filled with the Holy Spirit during the weekend retreat where the sessions are focused on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Does anyone really know what will happen when the Holy Spirit descends on a group of people in power? Are we offending the Spirit when we sit in judgement on the experiences that people have in His presence. We have witnessed a transformation in lots of Christians attending the course. Many who had a casual interest in the faith, were so excited about the truths they were discovering, that their faith caught fire. They became devoted Christians who got involved in the ministry of the church.

The outline of the revised course is as follows:
Session 1 Who Is Jesus? Session 2 - Why Did Jesus Die? Session 3 - How Can We Have Faith? Session 4 - Why And How Do I Pray? Session 5 - Why And How Should I Read The Bible? Session 6 - How Can I Resist Evil? Does God Heal Today? Session 7 - What About The Church? Why And How Should I Tell Others? Retreat - How Does Guide Guide Us? Who Is The Holy Spirit? What Does The Holy Spirit Do? How Can I Make The Most Of The Rest Of My Life? The course takes 7 weeks plus a Saturday retreat.

Those folks who are so critical of this course are examining it through the lens of years of bible study and its easy to see missing ingredients they might believe are so important. But what about the people who are exploring the meaning of life and are looking for spiritual answers to their questions? These folks are not likely to go through the doors of a Christian church. Even if they did, they are likely to hear a sermon unrelated to their questions and not return again.

The Alpha course is offered in over 160 countries and many different languages. Millions of people have attended. Thousands have been saved. Was this ministry raised up by the Holy Spirit? I say Yes. 

Hear Jesus' response to objectors in Mark 9:38-41, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us."

March 07 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report