Harvest Church Caloundra
Some things that are important values to us that might distinguish us from other churches:
Values & absolutes of a person or organisation go really to the heart of matter.
This cuts through all the noise & distractions & really go to the heart of the church & the pastors.
You can know exactly what church we are by reading every page on this website.
Our focus is not entertainment or performance but truth, sincerity & focus:
*What are we?
1) First of all: What are we not: We are not a denomination or part of a denomination, hence you will not find any "label" besides Christian on our media pages. As a student of history I understand how they came about & this was necessary to move away from from false doctrines & move closer towards Biblical truth.
2) But looking at it objectively through a pure Biblical lens, denominations are not Biblical & as such are not according God's perfect will.
3) We do believe though in strong ties, relationships, connections, friendships, covering & accountability within the Body of Christ.
4) But Biblically speaking there are no Pentecostal, Baptist, Evangelical, Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran etc Christians, only Born again Christians who are a new creation in Christ Jesus. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1633290271148062
5) I actually developed a dislike for denominations, as they are very similar to government: everything they touch slows down, and much of it ends up in control, power-play, strive, competition , corruption, compromise, bureaucracy & red tape:
"All government is an ugly necessity."
"Large organisation is loose organisation. Nay, it would be almost as true to say that organisation is always disorganisation."
G.K. Chesterton
Since we are not a denomination or don't want a "label" what is the church?
A local assembly of believers, as well as the redeemed of all ages who follow Jesus Christ as Saviour & Lord. The church began on the day of Pentecost. The word church is used 115 times in the New Testament. It is not a man made institution but is a spiritual assembly of all believers in Jesus Christ, regardless of denomination or religious affiliation. The church of Jesus Christ is not a building, but a gathering of saints in unity. Since we are the the temple of the Holy Spirit, wherever we meet, that is where the church is. Remember the local church is not perfect, and when you join it, you make it a little less perfect. An individual is in disobedience to Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the church if he/she is not committed to a local body of believers.
*We can't be silent, we need to stand up against unrighteousness
Can it really be God's will that His children be silent at a time like this? It is time for battle, not a time for "fence sitting" & cowardice that masquerades as as godly meekness & obedience. There are haunting similarities between today's Western" church and the German church of the 1930's. "Cheap grace" has taken the spiritual vitality of millions of Christians. Paying lip service to the Gospel, they shrink from resisting the evils of our time. As Bonhoeffer & other heroes of the faith insisted; the church has a vital role in the culture & condition of a nation. It is our duty to fight the powers of darkness, especially on behalf of the weak & vulnerable. Silence is not an option. God calls us to defend the life of the unborn, to confront the lies of cultural Marxism, and to battle the globalist tyranny that crushes human freedom. "Silence in the face of evil is evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act". (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
*Israel, Jews & Antisemitism (which is a nice word for Jew-Hatred)
We stand unreservedly & unequivocally with Israel & pray for and support Israel & the Jewish people worldwide & Downunder. It is not because they are "better" but because of God's covenant promises:
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-israel
Israel is our prophetic time clock and as Christians we are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The Jewish people have been terribly persecuted throughout the centuries, even by people who called themselves "Christians". Sadly Israel Replacement Theology has contributed to antisemitism which started with Origin & Augustine & indirectly resulted into Auschwitz. History is repeating itself, so we need to continue to show our love, support and prayers for Israel & the Jewish people in general. The Nazis where trying to keep their evil plans & actions secret, but many of the pro-Palestinian crowd are openly celebrating atrocities & calling for a "free Palestine" from the river to the sea, which is effectively calling for a genocide of the Jews. Besides the people protesting, what is also concerning is the biased Mainstream Media, the Governments, UN, UNRWA, ICC, & even churches allowing this to go on & condoning terrorist acts, by being silent & not speaking up against this wickedness. All of the above are directly or indirectly supporting the terrorist organisations Hamas, Hezbollah etc. The road to another Holocaust is being paved with wokeness & apathy.
*Islam
I can't think of a greater threat to Christianity, Israel, civilisation & the world in general. Especially with the bizarre
development of the the woke left supporting radical Islam. I have written several articles in the blog section to warn
people. Not only do I think that Islam is incompatible to Western Civilisation, it is incompatible to humanity:
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-islam
*Remnant Church
We are a remnant church & believers, see below what that means:
https://harbingersdaily.com/just-what-is-a-remnant-believer/
https://harbingersdaily.com/how-to-survive-as-remnant-believers/
https://harbingersdaily.com/when-church-leadership-silences-the-voices-the-of-the-remnant/
https://harbingersdaily.com/when-the-remnant-grows-weary/
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/remnant
https://josephmattera.org/characteristics-modern-day-remnant-church-2/
*Calvinism
Calvinism" & the so called "TULIP" has some Biblical truths, but we consider it overall a false doctrine, and is probably one of the most damaging doctrines directly & indirectly introduced during the reformation & still influences many pulpits today across many denominations.
I have written a detailed article in the blog section of our website:
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/calvinism-a-doctrine-from-hell
For more info see links below: https://www.heraldofhope.org.au/reformed-theology-faulty-flower/
https://www.heraldofhope.org.au/who-are-the-elect/
https://youtu.be/hXeFRQ3qsqY?si=mwynHipGQXIVP3qc
https://youtu.be/bLIiq6kiBMw?si=uU0iiyr5bdaSruBt
*Once save always saved?
This is such a hot potato in the Christian world, but I still feel a strong leading to counteract "hyper grace" or "cheap grace" Before you shut me down or zone out: I am fully behind & in agreement with the fact that we are saved by grace and not by works so that no one can boast. You can't earn or work for your Salvation. But there are to many Scriptures to ignore, that warn believers to run the race to the end. It is to simplistic to ignore all these warnings. Pay close attention to all the "if's" in the Gospels & Epistles. To say: "if they fall away or depart from the truth, they were never saved in the first place", is to me brushing over & ignoring many recent examples & in church history of believers & church leaders / pastors walking away from the faith & a myriad of Scriptures like the ones below.
Hebrews 6:4-6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Hebrews 10:26, 27a, 29b
For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement,....
....,counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
See links below for those who want to dig deeper; please go ahead and be a "Berean".
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/the-danger-of-hyper-grace
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/once-saved-always-saved
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/free-grace-is-not-cheap-grace
*Bible Translations
There can be lot of controversy, legalism, confusion & misunderstanding about this important topic.
In our preaching we use mostly NKJV, Amp, ESV, NLT, NIV.
I understand that those who are used to or have grown up with the KJV prefer this,
but it you push this as the only correct translation to use, you are greatly mistaken:
1) You actually don't know all the facts about the KJV translation & it's errors & biases.
2) The way the English in the KJV is written, shaped, spelled & word order & usage changes the whole meaning in regards to way English is spoken & used today.
3) I am not disputing that the KJV has blessed many generations, but for new believers and a generation growing up who are not used to reading books, it is almost impossible to comprehend what they are reading.
It sounds like a foreign language to them.
4) There is no perfect translation, thus any serious pastor or Bible teacher will often look at the meaning of the original text in Hebrew or Greek & compare several translations.
Please see below a blog from Ps Mark Driscoll:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju4dTXz5K74
If want to know more background & don't mind a bit of reading 5-10 min I posted 3 different articles:
1) The haters: The KJV only movement
2) Why are the newer translations of the Bible "missing" verses?
3) What are the most accurate translations of the Bible?
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/what-bible-translation-to-use
*Wokeness & liberalism
We do not adhere to: "Woke" philosophies, Critical Race Theory, Twisting & perverting history facts to fit a certain narrative, Dividing society by race, Cultural Marxism, un-Biblical views & practices of marriage & gender.
*Vaccinations
We never have or will support vaccination mandates, as it is not for the government or the so-called medical "experts"
nor the WHO, to determine what goes into our and/or children's bodies. By now, what we already suspected then, but were
called conspiracy theorists & granny-killers, there is now overwhelming evidence, that those "cures" have killed more people then the COVID-virus. Also we as a church & pastors never went along with the "Covid Mandates". We left it up to the peoples own judgement, whether they should use masks, hand-sanitisers & get vaccinated. We did not discriminate or make any separation either way or enforced anything in our church! And we won't either whether it is monkey pox, "hanta virus", or whatever else floats around or the "Elites" & Bill Gates are planning.
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-vaccinations
*False doctrines
We don not teach Israel Replacement Theology, Calvinism, Dominion Theology, NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) & Bethel "doctrines". There are many teachings, practices & supernatural manifestations that have been introduced over the last years, but the Word of God / The Scriptures are the final authority in testing manifestations, healings and doctrine: If something can't be backed up from the Bible in the right context, it is not an acceptable doctrine, manifestation, prayer or practice. Some of those teachings & practices are: Prosperity "Gospel", Falling or "Slain" in the Spirit, Fire tunnels, Sozo (or so called "healing" rooms), they might sound spiritual, but have no sound Doctrinal Biblical support. This does not mean we don't believe in the supernatural, signs wonders & miracles, but they need to backed by the Scriptures & we need to test the spirits 1 John 4:1
*We believe in miracles, signs & wonders for today
All the gifts of the Holy Spirit are also for today!
We are not cessationists, there is no Scriptural evidence that the gifts of the Holy Spirit as in the book of acts can not operate today in the Body of Christ.
What does that mean?:
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/counteracting-cessationism
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/the-gift-of-speaking-in-tongues
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/when-the-spiritual-gifts-stop
*Women in ministry
Women in ministry? This is such a hot potato in the church world, plagued by extremes from both sides.
For more clarity on this please read this article in the blog section of our website:
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/women-in-ministry
*Abortion
We believe the life conceived in a mother's womb is valuable, sacred & precious which deserves & requires the support of all who confess to be Christians. We need to stand up against this "culture of death", which even allows late term abortions or even letting "the unwanted" baby who is still alive, after the abortion, to die, without medical care. Whatever happened to the Hippocratic oath? Taking "the unwanted" life out of the mothers womb is not health care or "reproductive rights", but murder !
Watch "Room Goes Silent As Ex-Abortion Doctor Exposes The SHOCKING Truth About Abortion"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_WkpbGRVL4
*Climate change
We view "Climate Change" as an absolute hoax & lie. Yes there are changes throughout times & seasons, but they are not caused by human activity. The "science" & "experts" (follow the money) that support this, is based on politicised biased opinions (which is more like a religion worshiping creation rather then the Creator) It is a Trojan Horse for Marxism, poverty & control by deceived unelected elites. "Renewable" energy sources are unreliable, unsustainable, unaffordable, do damage to the bird & fish life, take away large amounts of good farming land & will cause a massive waste problem in the years to come when all these batteries, wind turbines & solar panels have to be dumped. Besides a lot of those precious minerals needed for those "renewables" (which they are not, this is an oxymoron) are often done with child-labour & bring devastation in the landscape.
Harvest Church Blogs on this topic:
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/all-you-need-to-know-about-climate-change
*Creation
The foundation of everything: https://youtu.be/n-ck1SU1xgU
We believe in a literal 6 day creation as recorded in Genesis & dating around a 6000 year since the creation of man.
Some teach that there is big time-gap between Genesis 1:1 & 1:2 which is a possibility based on the original Hebrew text, but there is not sufficient Biblical evidence for this to build a doctrine on it.
https://harbingersdaily.com/why-you-cant-fit-millions-of-years-into-the-days-of-creation/
I can highly recommend the Facebook pages called "Intelligent Design" for your education or helping somebody clearly understand that "evolution" or any other theories that are contrary to the Bible are not science but utter non-sense:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071819707611
Also I can recommend two other ministries that will help you find intelligent answers:
https://answersingenesis.org/answers/
*Sexual perversion
The Gospel and the LGTBTQ.... sex religion are the total opposite. That's why this will be the biggest point of religious tension & persecution to the church over next few years. True Christianity & the LGTBQ+ sex religion" are the exact opposites: self expression versus self denial; sex worship versus God worship; man become god versus God becoming man; pride versus humility; "born this way" versus "you must be born again". A baby is either born with XX or XY chromosomes, the removal of the male or female body parts of confused teenagers is not healthcare. This is mutilation, deception & an horrendous evil, that equals the practices of the experiments the Nazi Medical Doctors did in the concentration camps. Whatever happened to the Hippocratic oath?
*Marriage & sexuality
No matter what the world says, Biblical marriage is only between a man & a women!
Also living together in a sexual relation is not right in God's eyes, the Bible calls it fornication.
And there are only two biological sexes: male & female
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
*Media
We consider the Main Stream "legacy" media mostly anti-Christian, antisemitic, biased & unreliable, controlled & run by governments & corporations with left & woke ideologies, especially 'Downunder"
Also now with the devlopmnent of AI, seeing is no longer believing
A recommended alternative is:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sky+news+australia
https://www.youtube.com/@JTVGlobalJewishChannel
https://dailydeclaration.org.au/about/
https://thelightaustralia.com/
https://t.me/s/beholdisraelchannel (Amir Tsarfati)
https://www.youtube.com/@TBNIsrael
https://jamesmacpherson.substack.com/
https://www.youtube.com/topherfield
https://www.youtube.com/@Erin_Molan/podcasts
https://www.australiansagainstantisemitism.org/home
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gxxeC0elWutUUmPEr74NA
https://c4israel.com.au/articles/
We are not necessarily agreeing in everything with all the above resources,
but you can not rely on the MSM in Australia for developing a truthful & Biblical worldview!
Food & health
We see in these last days that not only the media, government, banks & pharmaceutical industry are corrupted but also the food processing industry is deeply affected by by this. Also here the love of money leads to all kinds of evil; in this case compromising the quality of food or adding also all sorts of chemical additives & sugar. Unfortunately again very few churches & pastors are looking or researching this big issue in our societies, while the Bible has a lot say about this. Don't just leave this to RFK Jr. Healthcare starts is the kitchen. Yes the Lord can heal us, but we as Christians have a responsibility to take care of our bodies as this is the temple of the Holy Sprit.
Please see our blogs on this topic:
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/is-the-food-we-are-eating-killing-us
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/healthcare-starts-in-the-kitchen
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/the-biblical-connection-between-creation-and-nutrition
The only Bible Teacher / Pastor who I know of, addressed this important topic is Derek Prince:
https://www.derekprince.com/devotions/c-28-1
https://www.derekprince.com/devotionals/c-b052-074
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjR1wqCxq-0&t=1608s
Also check out the website & YouTube Channel of Barbara O'Neil
https://barbara-oneill.mykajabi.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@realbarbaraoneillvideos
Another helpful tool is the "Be in health" website based on the teachings of Dr Henry Wright
*Quality not quantity
It is not about numbers & entertaining people but fulfilling & obeying that last words of our Lord Jesus before He ascended up to heaven recorded in Matthew 28:19 " Go therefore and make disciples....."
*Persecuted Christians
Pray, help and support financially persecuted Christians: there are presently more Christians persecuted and even killed for their faith in Jesus than any time in history. We can not sit by and do nothing.
For this purpose we support 3 different organisations:
Barnabas, Open Doors & Equipping the persecuted.org
*Rapture
We believe in the imminent rapture of born-again Christians before the seven years tribulation.
All rapture teaching & article links in one blog:
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-rapture
Get answers & find hope:
https://www.prophecyexplained.org/
Watch "The Great Disappearance Interview with Dr. David Jeremiah"
https://youtu.be/c2coA6kBZJA?si=qYpJMv8s52izNsVK
This Is How the Rapture Will Really Happen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSB_MnL9V-Y
*Tithing & Offering
We believe in faithfully sowing into the "local house of worship". This is not just an Old Testament law but also a New Testament principle that the apostles have applied to the church. Not as a law to earn salvation, but as principle of providing generously for the functioning of the local church & provision for the "workers in the vineyard".
We as a church also "sow" finances to:
Barnabas, Open Doors, Equipping the persecuted.org, International Fellowship of Christians & Jews, One for Israel & Australian Christian Lobby
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/tithing-what-the-bible-actually-says
*Our example to follow
We are a non-denominational church and our model and example to follow is first of all our Lord Jesus, (which sounds so obvious, but is not, because many churches follow secular business modules for growth) & the first church in the book of Acts, not the latest trend or fad.
Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
