Who is Zac Poonen????

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Keith Browne,

Are you one of those who needs Zac Poonen transfixed in your mind to frame the bible and your christian walk in its “proper perspectives” ALL THE TIME?

Here are some of my thoughts. I have yet to see an article, message or written material from CFC India THAT DID NOT HAVE Zac Poonen. Yes, there are non-Zac articles at CFC but they are written by the other Poonens.

Is CFC a Poonen High Priest dynastic incubator? Are they incapable of producing apostles outside the family?

This must be the first time in history where a man of God failed to produce God-fearing men and women of God who can teach, preach and write for the Kingdom. All I see at CFC India is messages by the Poonens and no one else. I am sure though if this is pointed out, some rejigging can be done over the net.

Maybe, Zac Poonen has not found anyone worthy within the CFC but in my reading of the OT and NT, prophets and Apostles went out to groom another generation out of outsiders.

Read the bible. Don’t wait for an exegesis from the Poonens.

BTW, is this an example of giving Caesar’s to Caesar and God’s to God?
fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Poonen

George W. Bush served in Yale’s Skull and Bones Masonic cult. Why did the Poonen sons help such a person who was ostensibly a pious Christian but dabbled in witchcraft of the highest order? Satan is still worshipped at the Skull and Bones (if the name itself doesn’t sound an alarm?)

Here is a quote from Poonen: "In India, it has become a common practice now for “Christian” preachers to have non-Christian political leaders sitting with them on the platform and addressing the crowd. Thus the message of the gospel is totally compromised. One cannot imagine Jesus inviting Herod or Pilate to sit with him on a platform when He spoke to the multitudes. But today’s “Christian” preachers follow another Jesus. Yet multitudes of Christians are unable to see through this deception! "

[cfcindia.com/web/ma(name removed by moderator)ages/book_window.php?book=the_final_triumph](http://www.cfcindia.com/web/ma(name removed by moderator)ages/book_window.php?book=the_final_triumph)

Is this a paradox or what? Who is worshipping another Jesus here?
 
BTW, “Browne.” Can you explain Zac Poonen’s teachings on the Catholic Church? I mean Semiramis and Nimrod etc etc. Everyone is entitled to their views. But expect criticism either way as others do. Do you think a contrary opinion would be allowed to be posted on CFC’s youtube links or a CFC forum, if one exists?

And what about the Skull and Bones? Zac can ridicule hindu practises…fine…but I have yet to see a sermon that touches on freemasonry. Is he scared or what? Or waiting till he sons are fully-equipped at the bank before they can literally afford to preach and take over the Poonen sceptre? Why did they contribute to George W. Bush’s 2004 election campaign when they should have known of dubya’s cultic past (never reprented).

If you have one of Bro Zac’s teachings on freemasonry and other masonic cults, please link it here. And do remind him that it is illegal for his sons to carry out mission work in India if they have given up Indian citizenship. It is one of those NRI clauses.

I know his children married whites (and this was predictable way, way back then) and rednecks have a blind Republican tendency a la Bush. They also sport fashions contrary to what Zac preaches. Here is an example:

poonen.org/sanjay/

Short hair? Earrings? These were all unacceptable to us pitiful Indians. Women wearing jeans? Sin!! This was the petty behavioral control world of the Poonens.

Is there one Jesus for Americans and another for us lowly Indians? After all, if we dabbled in politics, it would be frowned by the Holy CFC.
 
An example of dynastic cult? Where is the good tree bearing good fruit?

cfcindia.com/web/youth/home.php

All I see is rabid toadies praising Zac Poonen sky high and yet none of them have produced similar fruits.

When Jesus preached, 12 apostles (actually, there were 70 and more) went out and spread the gospel. They in turn shook the world.

But I disagree with that Joseph Smith saga. Poonen was no Mormon. His toadies though kept referring to a certain Norwegian church that was the only other true church known to them. In the whole wide world!! This was personally recounted to me by a bicycle-riding elder who worked for ISRO; one who had nothing but contempt for India. This was a long time back but I believe this fellow was “Bro. V. Newton.” (that was the last time I even asked anything related to the bible at CFC)

Poonen was associated to Johan Oscar Smith’s church.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunstad_Christian_Church

Is Poonen’s church a cult. Yes. Is he associated with Joseph Smith? No.
 
I am still digging around. But this will be my last post for the time being. Zac Poonen seems to cultivate his image carefully on the net. When I discovered this thread, it was titled “Who is Zac Poonen” and was ranked within the top 10 hits when the man’s name was googled.

Now, however, there is another Who is Zac Poonen webpage:
virtueinknowledge.com/Who%20Is%20Zac%20Poonen.htm

Out of curiosity, I clicked on view page info. It was modified two months ago, and I guess this thread was promising to be disturbing enough for the Poonens.

Who says bad things about the Poonens? Very few. This man is praised by many. Unfortunately, none of them defend Jesus as much as they defend Zac Poonen, and I am speaking from experience.

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you.” (Luke 6:26, NKJV)

till laterz
Pax Vobiscum
 
It is interesting how the general trend of conversation about Zac poonen seems to be about how one man has undue prominence/priveleges and how wrong that is…it is interesting because its on a catholic forum…and we all know that one man has a lot of prominence and privelege there too…namely the Pope… who is believed to be infallible as well ? or has that changed with time?
 
Zarqun… what will you do when you see zac poonen in heaven with you will you continue to pick him apart? or love him as your brother in Christ?

Hey Zac is Human if he doesn’t make mistakes ever…hes not human and people who are in Christ always change for the better .

Zac was a naval offficer he fought for his country as a soldier, He loves his country and does not ridicule India.

As far as dating/the length of women’s hair are you serious???

Every culture is different us/indian/african/european/chinese …
 
Zac was a naval offficer he fought for his country as a soldier,
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Which war did he fight in? Frankly, this is one aspect of Zac Poonen I don’t know about except that he was miserable with the crass navy life. I don’t even know his last rank, his “combat duties,” where he enlisted etc. Nothing. He was very silent about it.
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Since you know him, can you enlighten us? This is a mystery to most of those who had known him.
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I have met hm and heard him speak on India. Didn’t see any love for India.
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As far as dating/the length of women’s hair are you serious???
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No, I am not, seriously. But Zac Poonen was, and still is. Read the original Love, Sex and Marriage, if he has not sanitized them by now. Have you been to the CFC?

Anyway, this forum might hold the record for online criticism of Zac Poonen. Any critic furthermore believes in “another Jesus.” Ask Zac.

Touch not my annointed? Has the “annointed” laid his hands on the sick and let the Holy Spirit heal them? Prophesied something that occurred accurately?

Jesus said “greater things then these you will do.” Jesus was speaking in terms of miracle (check the context). Haven’t seen anything except words, condemnatory words and judgemental words from Zac Poonen.

The Pharisees had a lot of words and legalistic arguments about picking grain and eating…hair…dressing style etc. Their lives were well-regulated.

You have just exposed the vacuous counter-arguments and selective amnesia of Poonenism.
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Zarqun i don’t know him that well …

You don’t join the army if you don’t love your country…seems to be a silly thing to do then…

I don’t know for sure about which wars he fought in i believe it was the indo pak one…

If somebody points out the bad in a country it doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t love their country and i guess the same holds for you too just because you criticize Zac it need not mean you don’t love Him maybe you do this so that He will change for the better??
 
Zac Poonen is an Indian preacher who left the Indian Navy to do “full time evangelism”. He worked with several Evangelical Protestant para church organisations and denominations. He found himself ever so often at odds with the denominations he worked with as he was of an independent mind. He moved across many denominations like the Brethren, the Bhakt Singh Movement, the Baptists at the top levels. Inevitably, he fell out with the leaderships of these denominations. In the mid-seventies, he began his own house church in his home in Bangalore which later expanded into a building and a bigger group which was first called the Christian Fellowship Centre and is now called Christian Fellowship Church. For more than 15 years, Zac Poonen was also associated deeply with a Norway based, exclusive sect called Smith’s Friends, controlled by Brunstad Christian Church or DKM. The sect is extremely secretive and peddles the doctrine that Jesus Christ was not God on earth but a man who carried “sin in his flesh” and was a man who became God. Zac Poonen broke off with the sect and accused it of being a cult and in heresy. The sect then launched a legal case against Zac Poonen to shut him up but after around ten years Zac Poonen won the case and more recently seems to have patched up with his former mentors and supporters. The sect had put in funds to help him build the CFC in Bangalore.Zac Poonen faced a tough period being ostracised by the sect as “antichrist” and he had also been put outside the mainstream for his suspect doctrines. But he slowly changed his tack and having cut ties with the sect, got back into mainstream evangelical preaching. He is charismatic (believes in gifts of the Holy Spirit), has written several popular books (he has now edited or withdrawn books that openly taught the sectarian doctrine of Jesus being only a man who had to purify himself of the sin in his flesh), has radio programs, and continues to travel across India and the world preaching “holiness”. He is considered to be among some of the foremost preachers in India. However, not many know about his background and history and his journeys across many denominations and especially his involvement over years with this sect with which he still maintains contact and with which he seems to have made peace recently.
fivepts.blogspot.com/search?q=is+this+a+cult
Zac Poonen is also a critic of Roman Catholicism being an Evangelical and Protestant who believes in radical holiness.
 
Thomas,

If I loved my country and became a “war hero” out of patriotism, I’d recount it. Daniel was faithful to Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon (though he put God first). But he was faithful to Nebuchadnezzar.

All the prophets who served politically in Babylon and Persian had their earthly tasks recounted in some degree in the bible. Nothing about Zac Poonen.

I have never heard Zac recount anything although his servants rant about Zac being unhappy there. Zac Poonen was disgusted with the Indian Navy. Nothing about a “war hero.”

Now, I would not be least surprise if an account emerges in five-10 years. By that time, most of Zac’s compatriots in the Indian Navy would have been dead.

Anyway, I find it odd that Zac is silent about his Naval service and yet his FOUR holy sons had donated generously to a warmonger’s (and ex-Satanist’s) re-election fund.

Ilovetruth,

Did you notice the contradiction in Zac’s expose of the Smith’s Friends:
First of all, it is important to clarify the fact that at no time have I or any of our churches been apart of this group. Some of their leaders have ministered in our midst. But once we fully understood what they taught and stood for (in 1989), they were never permitted to visit any of our churches thereafter.
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“Some of their leaders ministered in our midst?”

“Ministered?” This man won’t even tolerate any discussion about his quasi-Taliban fashion releases that were catwalked by gossipy, dour women in the “center” (no tolerance over the use of the term “church” back then either. “Church” was for unbelievers! The term "church was mocked).

So, how did he allow such people to “minister” in the midst of “our churches”? What were our churches? I have only heard of one true church and another in Norway from a CFC elder back then.

That CFC elder (a newbie then I think) rode a bicycle to work, called himself a scientist (possibly ISRO), and categorically spoke of the other true church in Norway. This was more or less 20 years ago.

I noticed that Zac had a pronounced, fake American accent then. Very glib though. Two decades later, judging by the youtube videos posted by CFC, his style of speech seems uncertain and sketchy. What happened? We are supposed to mellow with age. His “cystal-clear voice” was a major draw for the very bumpkins he despised decades ago.

Anyway, fashion statements must change in line with Zac’s white-in-laws. American-style liberty (wedding ring etc) can be allowed. Sports can be allowed for children. Women, if they are wealthy families, can wear jeans, but only outside church. Who knows even American cheerleading attire must be ok now. But fashion, or the lack of it back then, determined your holiness. (I would hear CFC stalwarts discussing a woman’s deepening spirituality by her growing disinclination to wear jeans!!!)

I don’t think I had ever met a shallow bunch of legalistic pharisees in such quantities anywhere before.

When I got older, I realized that Zac Poonen had NOT written one thing unique, except for “fashion” and the Kerala Christian equivalent of the wedding ring - the talli and minnul. Even that was shameless little detail was borrowed from the more fanatical elements of the brethren church.

Ahh, the good old days.

BTW, Smith’s Friend’s legal presentation was poor. I wonder why the case was not kicked out from the onset.
 
Here is something I picked up on the net. It touches on Zac Poonen’s identity crisis and his confused style of speech:

overcomer.xanga.com/
It seems he’s fairly well known, but prior to 2 days ago, I wouldn’t have a clue who you were talking about if you mentioned Zac Poonen. But I like him. A lot! (and that’s not just because he sounds half Indian and half Irish!)
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Half Irish? Maybe, I missed some of Zac’s speeches.

Here is where Zac’s unmistakable conversion signs come in:
perfection is our goal, but excellence will be tolerated.
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Which is Zac? Perfection or excellence? This sounds like one of those marketing slogans.

The writer lost steam down the road and I wonder if this was none other than one more promotional gimmicks by the Poonens.
 
Ok more about Zac poonen …he was the best outgoing cadet from his NDA batch… he trained in the NDA and was a naval officer… when God called him to quit his job the Indian Navy took a full year and a half to agree to let Him leave as they didn’t want to loose such a fine soldier…had He continued in the Indian navy he could well have been the naval chief of staff!!

As to why He doesn’t brag about all this I think its because he is humble…a mark of a Godly person!!

Zarqun it seems you knew Him/his church 20 years ago… people who are sincere about following God ALWAYS change for the better (become more like Christ) as time passes. and that holds true for Zac poonen too!

I think you seem to have an unhealthy hatred/loathing of the man/his church…and Jesus never approved of hating a fellow human being …He even forgave those who crucified Him!!.. it is sad that you had a very bad experience with Zac/his church but to carry a grudge for 20 years! …it will destroy you brother …so i beg you in the name of Christ not to do that to yourself …Love covers a multitude of sins…is merciful and forgives…
 
he was the best outgoing cadet from his NDA batch…
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Which batch?
had He continued in the Indian navy he could well have been the naval chief of staff!
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Zac Poonen, the Navy Chief of Staff? That is a very bold statement you are making. But it is typical of hero-worship… of the type I *find *at the CFC.

BTW, what was his last rank?

Has Zac Poonen changed for the better or has he **repented **of his past loathing and intolerance of anyone who disagreed with him? Changing for the better is not the same as repenting.

Zac Poonen’s condemnation of others believing in another Jesus is no small matter.

When the Apostle Paul set out to condemn believers, he had a Damascene experience, and he repented. This means he made a complete U-Turn. Paul did not “change for the better.”

No, this is not consuming me and I suggest that it does not consume you. If you are replying, please do let us know the year Zac Poonen graduated from NDA top of his class and his last rank in the Navy.

It’s been some time (years) since I visted the the Navy Nagar club in Colaba and when I do the next time, and if you are correct, I will affirm it here, same way i affirmed things I observed personally at CFC.

Pax
J.
 
zarqun said:
I wonder how many of those who answered here has really met Zac Poonen. Here are some facts about him.
  1. Met Zac Poonen nearly two decades ago. Even stayed with one of his elders at Da Costa Sq.
  2. Found them to hyper-judgemental. A bruised reed will probably be broken further. I have worked with ministries that help former drug addicts and prostitutes, among others. In Zac Poonen’s church, little goes beyond recrimination for smoking or drinking. In their cloistered world, it is impossible for a reformed prostitute or drug addict to find fellowship there.
  3. “Different Jesus”: Almost all ther Christians believe in another Jesus, a fake one. Thus, they are unsaved and condemned for eternal damnation. Ask Zac himself whether this is true. I have heard him sermonize that He will not tolerate any theological discussions on bible interpretations, including the one below.
  4. The Cult Syndrome: Almost everyone who has been in awe of Zac preaches along lines like “Uncle Zac said this, or Uncle Zac said that.” To me, Zac Poonen’s CFC was nothing short of a cult, or were at least its members subsribing to a cult personality.
  5. Penchant for lawsuits. Publish anything Zac and you will land in court. He may take the example of Paul in defending himself against Nero, but did Jesus sue the Pharisees of His day? One lawsuit got mired in comical relief because Zac’s toady objected to the other party’s use of a Hindu lawyer.
  6. The main topic of any conversation with the CFC lot is about the length of a woman’s hair. If you argue about it, you believe in a “different Jesus,” meaning you are NOT a believer. Zac Poonen’s sons married US women and hence there may be some changes to his harsh stances. www.poonen.org carried the family album once (just the sons and Zac and Anne), but after his sons got married, the link goes to CFC India. Maybe, they may have to grow their hair longer to fit his long-held theology in order to appear on his album. Maybe, the mere sight of them may harm Zac’s witness (see below)
  7. Dating for Christians was not desirable, and strongly discouraged for believers in India. It may be bad for your witnessing. It’s ok for believers abroad. This is also stated in his book on marriage - Sex, Love and Marriage. Check up an old copy and see for yourselves. You have a license to date like his sons if you live in America. Marriages at CFC used to be facilitated by elders (arranged marriage)
  8. Only Zac Poonen’s intepretation of the scripture is correct. Any other theological deviation is tantanmount to believing in another Jesus. You will be thrown out summarily for discussing any topic contrary to his beliefs. Ask evangelists around bangalore.
  9. The women in this church are prone to gossip. They are discouraged from working, and thus utilize their idle time with homemaking and gossip (at least from the example of one of the elders). His wife annie is a qualified doctor, but she opted to bring up her children instead. I commend her for this but see below.
  10. Only the rich or wealthy somehow swirl around Poonen’s teachings and companionship, and they can literally emulate his family lifestyle.
  11. Their kids are discouraged from attending any sporting activity so as not to contaminate themselves with worldly thoughts (I partly agree with sheltering children from the influences of the world. Maybe Zac was right on this one).
  12. The church claimed then that it was one of the two “true” churches in the world. The others around them in Bangalore just didn’t cut the grade. The other example quoted to me was a Norwegian church. Later, Zac categorically denied having any ties to this Norwegian church. So, his must be the only true church left.
13) All Catholics are unsaved heretics. All Orthodox Christians are unsaved heretics. So, are most Protestants. They are believe in a different Jesus. They are not saved. That is Zac Poonen’s philosophy. Ask Zac directly whether if you do not believe me. Did he once, or does he still, hold this view?

14)** India is a pagan nation. The US is a Christian nation.** I have lived here in the United States, met Congressman and high officials and can tell you they lament the passing of Christian values and the erosion of family institutions. It is extremely difficult to bring up children in the US along Conservative lines. The instances of divorces, debauchery, drug addiction within the church etc is simply mind-boggling. I really would not want to bring up my kids here. I have never seen this amongst the Indian churches he used to ridicule.
  1. Zac Poonen does not solicit donations like many Churches do. He has inherited wealth - lots of it – and does not need the money. Poonen and his sons were known to play table tennis and billiards in their homes since the 80s, since I came in touch with them. I have yet to meet a Middle Class Indian family that could afford both even today. They lived frugally and in style, and this is no contradiction. Yet, please remember that CFC members generally can afford sheltered lives.
  2. Finally, beware of the cult of personality at the CFC. Also, Pray for India. Zac may have a lot of contempt for India, but the Lord saw it fitting to send the Apostle Thomas there 2,000 years ago
Shalom, and God Bless.
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After reading & reviewing your Post… WELL PUT & accurate.
But many non-Catholics claim a “SPECIAL” relationship with the Bible
( only we have the correct interpretation & application of it; and/or My Jesus Is bigger, Better, “badder” than Your Jesus; lastly, Only Our Followers have the Truth & all others shall Perish! If I only had a dime for everytime I’ve heard That Twaddle - I’d be rich as ZAC. 😃

Regards & TY for your in-depth commentary
 
Okay, now this is interesting…

This is the second time that I have randomly come across the name “Zac Poonen”. I was talking to an acquaintance of mine who lives in India – a devout Catholic, no less – about Bible Study tools, and he started to talk about this “Through the Bible” CD that he listens to by “an Indian preacher called Zac Poonen”. I guess it’s spoken in English, which I found rather surprising.

Anyway, my friend visited Zac Poonen’s church in Banglore a while back just to try to see him in person. Poonen wasn’t present that Sunday, but my friend said he was pleasantly surprised at how warmly welcomed he was as a visitor, and how spiritually enriched he felt by being there – like no other non-Catholic church he’d ever been to.

Normally, when I hear all kinds of accusations about someone like this, I find that there’s probably something valuable there that the Evil One doesn’t want me to find out. I haven’t yet purchased the Zac Poonen CD, but I might just have to do that now. Anyone have good or bad to say about the CD itself?

Soli Dei Gratia
 
Dear Brother,

I don’t care much about what Bro Zac’s detractors are saying. But for me personally he’s been such a blessing in my walk with the Lord.

I attended his church in Bangalore in 2004-2005 and I can vouch that my spiritual life changed for the better.

I took some of my friends and relatives also to the church and I can tell you it’s been a tremendous blessing.

Yes, I’ve listened to “Through the Bible” and a lot other messages of Bro Zac. You freely download all the messages including “Through the Bible” from the church website,
cfcindia.com

God Bless
 
I have been reading what you have been writing about Zac Poonen. This is my outlook to any Servant of God.
  • If he (servant of God) shows me the narrow way instade of the broad way
  • If his desire is to please the Lord instade of preaching a feel good message
  • If his teachigs brings spritual growth in my life rather than just hearing & forgeting it
I should hear his meassge, since these are the caracter of Jesus Crist. I do want to say brother Zac Poonen is preaching the Good News the way it shoud have been preached by some Televangelist. If i were you i would not split hear about brother Zac Poonen. if i see any wrong teachings i will pray for him, since i have been blessded by all his teachings.

Let us focus our attention on the meassage of the CROSS, which is negelected by most televangelists.

God Bless you all

Mesay
Ethiopian
 
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