Update: Eikon Church is no longer affiliated with the Assemblies of God. According to the Assemblies of God:
“Dan Matlock has announced that he and Eikon Church will no longer be affiliated with the Assemblies of God. The North Texas District moved swiftly and in accordance with processes outlined in the General Council Bylaws when first made aware of the departure from the Assemblies of God’s position on marriage, sexual orientation, and gender identity — which is the only permissible stance for Assemblies of God churches and ministers. The North Texas District is committed to helping members of Eikon Church find church families that continue to embrace the biblical views consistent with the statement of faith originally embraced by Eikon Church.”
Read John Burton’s original article below:
“The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Gen. 3:13).
Eve’s passion was for her eyes to be opened and to be wise like God. Sounds good, except that single decision resulted in immediate death for her and billions of others who would follow. Her redefinition of what godliness was paved the way for innumerable people throughout the ages entering into never-ending torture in hell. Evangelism wouldn’t be necessary if it wasn’t for Eve.
Tragically, another church leadership team has looked to redefine spirituality, and because of the cunning deception of a wicked serpent, they ate of the fruit, fruit that was good for food and a delight to the eyes. Their decision was catastrophic.
Redefining Spirituality
I’ve attended Assemblies of God churches at various times throughout my life, and I have so appreciated their devotion to holiness and classic, historic, biblical Christianity. I was stunned to hear about an Assemblies of God church in Texas making the decision to fully embrace homosexuality, without apology, becoming what is known as an inclusive church.
Eikon Church in Kyle, Texas, led by Pastors Dan and Kelly Matlock has sadly, tragically been duped by modern, cultural arguments and is now fully affirming. On an interior page on their website, suggested resources are provided, including a podcast titled “How to Be a Girl Podcast: A Christian Family’s Story of Raising Their Trans Child,” a book titled God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines, a glossary of LGBTQ+ terms and much more. The following is also found there:
In our endeavor to promote unity over uniformity, we’ve compiled these resources that we believe will be helpful as you learn more and lean into conversations regarding our church’s decision to be a fully inclusive church for the LGBTQ+ community.
I contacted the general superintendent of the Assemblies of God. Thankfully, he sent me a copy of a statement he released publicly this morning:
As many of you are aware, a certified minister at an AG church in Texas on Sunday announced a departure from the official Assemblies of God position on human sexuality. The Assemblies of God has a well-established process to deal with such departures. Immediately upon first knowledge, the North Texas District initiated appropriate action required in dealing with both the minister and the church. When it comes to matters of marriage, sexual orientation, and gender identity, the Bible is clear. That is why the only acceptable position for Assemblies of God ministers and churches is clearly outlined in this statement: CLICK TO READ THE STATEMENT
False Love
In my article “The Great Love Deception: A False-Love Movement Is On The Rise,” I wrote:
“So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of…” (Phil. 1:9-10, MSG).
We are to learn to love appropriately. This scripture is a critical exhortation! Why? It means there are inappropriate ways to love. There are deceptions that feel right, but are poor representations or even counterfeits of truth.
As God’s love begins to manifest in such amazing, deeper ways at the end of the age, we have to be aware that the enemy will work hard to redefine, misrepresent and twist true love. He has a castrated version to offer us.
Affirming wickedness is the furthest thing from true, holy love. Endorsing homosexuality and welcoming those who participate in this forbidden lifestyle as brothers and sisters in Christ eliminates any hope of deliverance and eternities are put at great risk. Heaven and hell are very much in play.
Deadly Theology
Their departure from Christian faith is made clear, in bold words, on their website:
We believe in and practice full inclusion here at Eikon Church, which means that individuals from the LGBTQ+ community can serve and be involved in EVERY AREA of Eikon Church from serving to pastoring.
This affirmation is not only heretical, it’s spiritually deadly. This church family will most certainly experience a season of glee where the rush of false love floods in. Understand, I’m sure these people are caring and tender-hearted and they want every person to feel their affection. The problem is in their theology, and, yes, bad theology can lead to destruction.
When the church becomes more about the people than about God, more about welcoming them, affirming them and celebrating them than about worshipping a most holy, fearful God, flaws can be overlooked, sin minimized and wickedness redefined as the purest form of love. Wicked love.
I wonder, will the leadership of Eikon church preach on the topics of sin, hell, holiness, consecration, repentance and surrender? Or have they already fallen through the trap door of false grace and Universalism?
A Just Judge
The terror of the Lord must hit every church and every Christian in this hour. God’s love is very different than what is humanly discerned. Many question how a loving God could sentence someone to eternal torment. A better question is how a wicked people could ever presume to deserve anything less. God is fearsome, He is holy and, yes, He is love. He is not, however, tolerant. He is not affirming of that which He defines as an abomination. He is a good, good Father, and He is also a just, just judge.
We need to intercede for the sheep at Eikon Church who are being led into wholesale deception, heresy and undeniable departure from the Christian faith.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who exchange darkness for light, and light for darkness; who exchange bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight! (Isa. 5:20-21, MEV).
