Introduction
J.P. Fourie is a South African Theologian, and the Founder of J.P. Fourie Ministries.
According to his website, Mr. Fourie got born again when he was 16 years old. [3] Served as a police officer with the Namibian Police when he was about 23, after which he moved to South Africa and worked for the South African Police Service (SAPS) as a member of the SAPS Dog Unit (K-9). [3]
Mr. Fourie's part-time ministry started in 1996 (just 3 years after my own), preaching in a house every Wednesday, in Worcester, South Africa. [3]
In 2003 Fourie and his wife moved to Hermanus, from where their ministry expanded rapidly throughout the Western Cape. [3]
Convictions
J.P. is an Arminian [3|4|5|6], Continuationist [6] and Dispensationalist [6].
Agreements
» We both uphold and defend the Doctrine of Believer's Baptism [6].
Misunderstanding
According to Fourie's original Statement of Faith [6] [no longer available], it seemed like Fourie held to Dispensationalism [6]. However, J.P. contacted me on the 2nd of February 2012 stating that he, in fact, does NOT support Dispensationalism [10].
Healings
UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS OF MIRACULOUS HEALING
Fourie's "claim to fame" is what he calls a "healing ministry" [3]. According to the official website of J.P. Fourie Ministries, signs and wonders were always part of his ministry.
"From the beginning as he prayed for people they got healed and signs and wonders were always part of his ministry." [3]
"We have seen HIV/AIDS heal, blind eyes open, cancers disappear, cripples walk and many more and since May 2008 it seems as if there is a greater and fresher anointing for more of what God has in store." [3]
Three Years and Still Nothing
On the 7th of December 2008 I challenged Mr Fourie to provide us [myself, my readers and his followers] with just one example of a medically verifiable, legitimate recovery from HIV/AIDS or cancer, or alternatively, a formerly blind individual that now sees, or a former cripple that now walks - as claimed his web site [5] - with medical proof that there was a condition, that that condition dramatically changed, and that that change continued. I also asked for access to both, the patient and the doctor.
I think anybody would agree that true miracles are medically verifiable, and that the above would constitute such medical verification.
It's been more than three years, and still we have not received a shred of evidence.
Prophecies
THE CONVERSION OF NAMIBIA's PRESIDENT AND CABINET
On the 7th of May 2011, Fourie posted a note on the official Facebook Page of J.P. Fourie Ministries, entitled "A prophecy for Namibia by Evangelist JP Fourie" [8].
In this note, Fourie claimed that "early one morning while in prayer" [8] he was "caught up" [8] by the Holy Spirit, after which God showed him Namibia and in particular, Windhoek.
The Holy Spirit then spoke to him, telling him that he was about to see "what will happen" [8] [things to come]. According to Fourie, he was then taken "to many different meetings days apart" [8], until "in one particular crusade meeting [his] attention was focused on the people that sat in the front row" [8], namely "politicians, many of them, including the state President" [8].
Then, "After the sermon was preached an invitation was made to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. The State President was the first to step forward and so did the rest of the cabinet. The president announced that Jesus Christ has full Lordship over Namibia and handed power over to Jesus Christ." [8]
Eight Months and Still Nothing
From 1990 to 2011, Namibia only had two Presidents: Sam Nujoma (1929-), the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005; and Hifikepunye Pohamba (1935-), the second President of Namibia since 2005.
Fourie's Prophecy couldn't refer to Sam Nujoma (1929-), because his presidency ended in 2005, six years prior to Fourie's Prophecy.
That leaves us with the second and current President of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba (1935-).
It's been at least eight months since Fourie's Prophecy, yet Pohamba and his cabinet, neither "announced that Jesus Christ has full Lordship over Namibia" [8], nor "handed power over to Jesus Christ" [8].
Did Fourie speak the truth, or did he expose himself as a false prophet? Time will tell, but don't hold your breath.
Responses
EMAIL CONVERSATIONS
AFRIKAANS: "Die profesie wat jy van praat het geen President se naam genoem nie en ek sien duidelik jy het nie n clue wat profesie is of beteken nie. Skerp jouself op in hierdie verband asb, dit sal jou Blog lesers baie help." [10]
ENGLISH: "The prophecy you referred too does not mention any President's name and I see that clearly you have no clue what prophecy is or means. Focus on yourself in this regard please, it will help many of your Blog readers" [10]
You're correct, you didn't mention the President's name, but you did unfortunately provide us with a time-frame: saying "GET READY God is ABOUT TO do something YOU have never seen before" [8]. Your wording speaks of imminence, of something that is ABOUT TO happen.
But it hasn't AND it won't. I know that because, unlike you, I am a real prophet: one of society's unpopular outcasts, since I will not pander to their itching ears. (2 Tim. 4v3; Jn. 6v60)
As far as my "lack of understanding" regarding The Gift of Prophecy goes: None of my prophecies ever fell to the ground. And, unlike you, I actually studied theology at a number of fairly reputable Bible Schools. So let me enlighten you.
"Prophecy is the action, function, faculty or charismatic endowment; whereby a divinely inspired prophet; moved by the Holy Spirit; foretells or predicts future events; or explain the mysterious and hidden sense of Scripture; illuminated by the Holy Spirit; to instruct, exhort, comfort and/or edify God's People" [11]
Your "prophecy" constitutes the prediction of a future event, since you claim to have interacted with God and His Spirit, who told you what you then prophesied. Furthermore, your "prophecy" could in no way constitute the latter, since it can not be found anywhere in Scripture [from where you could possibly have quoted it].
If the above, is not the Biblical definition of Prophecy, please enlighten us.
AFRIKAANS: "Baie dankie vir die blootstelling menigte het my gekontak en gesê as dit nie vir jou was nie sou hulle nie my site gekry het nie, thanx man jy help baie" [10]
ENGLISH: "Thank you for the exposure many have contacted me saying that if it wasn't for you they would not have found my website, thanks man you help a lot" [10]
I'm always glad to be of assistance.
Just be careful of not mistaking the pandering of your supporters as a sign of God's approval. We weren't sent here to start a fan club. We were sent here to preach the truth and dispel error. Even some of Christ's own Disciples left Him, because they could not stand His "hard teaching" (Jn. 6v60).
FACEBOOK STATUS UPDATES
Responding to J.P.'s "status updates" over at https://www.facebook.com/pages/JP-Fourie-Ministries/147582909163
STATUS: "Within the next few weeks we will go to the GATES of our city and anoint the gates. Someone with a chopper will take us over the suburbs and from the air i will anoint our territory. The area that i will be the strongman in. Christ in me the hope of glory. Greater is He that is in me than he that is n this world....." [2]
What nonsense?! Borders on witchcraft. Where do you find this in the Bible?
STATUS: "Another false prophecy busted. I wonder when will Harold Camping and his Family Radio team stop with this nonsense. It's the 4th Prophecy that was proven wrong. The 4th time this "End Time" Prediction exploded in their faces. Today, Sunday 22 May, I'm going to preach and sinners will get saved because of God's grace and love and we are going to build the Kingdom of God..." [1]
And soon yours too.
TWITTER TWEETS
Responding to J.P.'s "tweets" over at http://twitter.com/jpfouriemin
TWEET: "The faults I see in others' lives are often true of me; So help me, Lord, to recognize my own hypocrisy. If you are looking for faults to correct, try looking in a mirror!!" [7]
It is indeed unfortunate, that both Jesus and His Apostles were seemingly ignorant of Mr. Fourie's insights, since they are constantly found "looking for faults to correct ... in others' lives" [7] (Mt. 16v6; Mk. 8v15; Lk. 12v1; Acts 20v31; Gal. 2v11)
Associations
J.P. supports the likes of Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944) [4], Alonzo A. Allen (1911-1970) [4], Charles Finney (1792–1875) [8], John G. Lake (1870-1935) [4|8], Kathryn Kuhlman [4], Kim Clement [4], Maria Woodworth Etter (1844-1924) [1|4], Reinhard Bonnke [4], Smith Wigglesworth (1895-1947) [4] and William Marrion Branham (1909-1965) [4].
"He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord." (Pr. 17v15, AKJV, p.296)
Challenges
THE 2008 CHALLENGE TO A PUBLIC DEBATE
On the 7th of December 2008, I challenged Mr Fourie to a Public Debate in his home town of Hermanus, to which he responded:
ENGLISH: "Get yourself a buddy to play with and go and debate him in Hermanus' streets. I'm not interested. While you debate people are dying without Christ." [5]
AFRIKAANS: "Kry vir jou n maatjie om mee te speel en te gaan debateer hom in Hermanus se strate. Ek stel nie belang nie. Terwyl jy debateer gaan mense dood sonder Christus." [5]
Strangely enough Jesus were very much 'interested' in debating whomever He was challenged by, regardless of those who were apparently 'dying without Him'.
Maybe that is because Jesus understood a number of things that Mr Fourie still doesn't, like reaching the lost with the truth, rather than simply reaching the lost.
Funny how Mr Fourie can take time out to go on holiday, spend time with his family, watch sports on television, and YouTube videos online, while 'people are dying without Christ'? In fact, I don't know how Fourie can even sleep at night, if the lost were dying without Christ as a result of his absence?!
Conclusion
In conclusion, I consider Fourie a False Teacher, False Prophet and Fake Faith Healer, who's 'ministry' is best described in the words of the Prophet Micah:
"The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us." (Mic. 3v11, AKJV, p.406)
Detractors
» South African Theologian and former Charismatic Pentecostal Pastor, EJ Hill (1977-), opposed Fourie in an essay, entitled "J.P. Fourie".
Frequently Asked Questions
Don't you believe in miracles and prophecy?
Yes. I DO believe in miracles and prophecy. I just don't believe in Fourie's.
Do you think J.P. is purposefully deceiving his followers?
No. As far as I could determine, J.P. seems like a regular 'nice guy', and a good father, who really believes in what he is doing.
He is simply hopelessly entangled in the hype of Charismania, much like Andrew Strom and myself, before him.
Who do you think you are judging J.P.?
I'm a Christian who upholds the Doctrine of Christian Judgement as practised throughout Church History. (Mt. 18v15-17; Lk. 17v3; Jn. 7v24; 1 Cor. 5v1-13)
Fourie is everything but an innocent victim. He himself judged and pronounced Harold Camping a false prophet. [1]
Gallery
Bibliography
1. J.P. Fourie. Status Update [screenshot] (Facebook Page; 22 May 2011) ✔
2. J.P. Fourie. Status Update [screenshot] (Facebook Page; 15 May 2011) ✔
3. About JP Fourie (J.P. Fourie Ministries International; 15 August 2010) ✔
4. J.P. Fourie's Pages (Facebook; 9 December 2008)
5. J.P Fourie. In a Facebook Message to EJ Hill (7 December 2008) ✔
6. J.P. Fourie. Statement of Faith (J.P. Fourie Ministries International; 15 August 2010) ✔
7. J.P. Fourie. Tweet (Twitter; 24 February 2010) ✔
8. J.P. Fourie. A prophecy for Namibia by Evangelist JP Fourie [screenshot] (J.P. Fourie Ministries/Facebook; 7 May 2011) ✔
9. List of Presidents of Namibia (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; 6 January 2011) ✔
10. J.P. Fourie. In an email to EJ Hill, entitled "Blog" (J.P. Fourie Ministries; 2 February 2012) ✔
11. EJ Hill. Defining The Word 'Prophecy' (Ejays; 2 February 2012) ✔
For more information on J.P. Fourie, please visit the official J.P. Fourie Ministries and J.P. Fourie Ministries International websites, Facebook Page, Facebook and Twitter profiles.
Downloading
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Revisions
07.12.2008 / 15.08.2010 / 30.09.2010 / 22-23.11.2010 / 10.10.2011 / 05-07.01.2012 / 11.01.2012 / 02.02.2012
