t has been widely noted of late that Clifford Hill's Prophecy Today, once severely critical of  John Wimber and the Vineyard and its latent heresies, and of the movements it has spawned, has been remarkably quiet.  Given that the Vineyard leadership activities has succeeded only in introducing further heresies into the church in recent years, one would might think that sounding the Biblical alarm was even more critical today.  It would appear that Clifford Hill  thinks differently.  In an amazing article in the current issue of Prophecy Today (Nov/Dec 97) Hill has finally re-surfaced and pinned his colours...to a quite different mast.
          In an 'Evangelism Special' entitled Breaking The Mould Hill sets out his recent experiences when attending the Flames of Fire conference hosted by Anglican Renewal Ministries (ARM) in Wales. (One might wonder what he was doing attending at all). What is particularly staggering about Hill's change of mind is that it has nothing whatever to do with eliciting theological or teaching changes within the Vineyard, or indeed in awakening the ARM leadership itself.  Quite the reverse.  It appears solely the case that: 'I am tired of controversy' - let us thank God that the prophet Jeremiah did not grow equally weary and give up - and that he was hugged and 'loved' by a senior Vineyard leader.  The article itself also implicates Peter Fenwick in this potential disaster for the 'anti-Toronto-but-still-charismatic' evangelical world. 

Excerpts from Breaking The Mould by Clifford Hill: Prophecy Today Nov/Dec 1997:
A hand-wringing journey to the Flames of Fire Conference (hosted by Anglican Renewal Ministries (ARM) at the Royal Welsh Showground.  "A number of other speakers were known to be supporters of Toronto and other teachings which have brought great division and suffering into many churches in Britain.  I am tired of controversy, and I know the futility of trying to have a biblical discussion with those who are excited by some new experience and who resent any questioning of its validity."
    After a night where his worst fears were realised (Toronto-style outbursts etc)  and calling on the Lord to 'release me' from whatever was to follow, so he could leave Hill a number of seminars then sat preparing for the evening assembly.  He says, "I knew something big was about to happen because the only thing the Lord said to me was 'Trust me'  I know when I hear that, I'm about to be thrown in the deep end, and I will rapidly find myself out of my depth.
  While waiting to mount the stage to give his talk Hill found himself sitting next to  the US Vineyard's Ron Allen.  He says, "I'd avoided him up until then, knowing him to be a senior Vineyard leader who had had oversight responsibilities for the Toronto Airport Vineyard when things for the Toronto Airport Vineyard when things began to happen there.
    Just before I was due to speak, he turned to me, gave me a hug, and said a brief prayer for me.  My heart melted.  I mounted the stage with my emotions churning.  What was I to do?  'Trust me' said the Lord.  In the glare of the floodlights I could see no one, but I was conscious of hundreds of faces turned towards me.  'Trust me', he said again.
    There was nothing else to do.  I abandoned my notes and just opened my heart."   
    Hill then claims though he believes he did not speak well many people came to the front lying face down and sobbing.  He points out 'none were on their back' presumably so we might believe this was different from the usual 'Toronto-style.
    Hill then seeks out Ron Allen who he finds prostrate on the floor.  "I touched him on the shoulder.  He stood up.  We silently embraced, weeping in each other's arms.  We apologised for the hard things we had thought of each other.
    Then we went on stage and made our apologies publicly.  There was a tumultuous response.  People praised the Lord, many were getting right with each other, and with God. It was a late night before the Holy Spirit let us go."
    Hill spent hours the folowing day speaking with Allen about what they should do next. Unsurprisingly, they were both concerned about how their respective 'camps' would view this incident.  "We were each afraid of rumours which would get back to our constituencies.  We resolved to prepare reports for those in leadership who are close to us which we would first fax to each other.  We would then simply wait upon the Lord to show us the next step, convinced that he was planting a seed which he wanted to grow, and which we had to handle with holy hands not seeking to impose our own will or timetable."
    Hill goes on to relate that they had a 'wonderfully positive response' from leaders who were close to each of them.  In particular, there was a warm response from John Wimber whereup Hill and colleague Peter Fenwick accepted an invitation to meet with John Wimber and senior Vineyard leaders at the earliest possible date.      He ends, "I have chosen to use this personal testimony as an introduction to our series of articles on evangelism because I have said so many times that the greatest stumbling block to evangelism is disunity within the church.  I don't know what the future holds and I am not without my fears, but I am still hearing the Lord say, 'Trust me!'

A number of features of this testimony should immediately appear significant to all Bible-believing observers.  First, and absolutely critical is this: Hill's change of heart is not based on a new understanding of the Scriptures, it is first and last a change based on a subjective personal experience.  This is the very thing that critics of the Vineyard psychobabble philosophy (for it is not theology), the false prophets, and it has to be said, the charismatic movement as a whole, have been consistently warned about by those more Biblically minded. 
    Also vitally important is that, as Hill himself points out, the senior Vineyard leader is part of a ministry team that has 'brought great division and suffering into many churches in Britain'.  Instead of keeping this singular indication of wickedness at the forefront of his mind, however, Hill instead appears to have lapsed into 'selective memory syndrome' or full amnesia.  So much for contending for the truth with those who would abuse it.         
          We must remember that many of the fiercest critics of Toronto and the new movements have been charismatics who have had a personal insight into exactly where their theology naturally leads - the triumph of personal experience over Biblical doctrine (the teachings of our Lord and the Apostles).  Those of us on the Reformed side of the fence have always been concerned that charismatics who also oppose the new pseudo-Christian movements, have not fully grasped the implications of their own 'theology'.  It is the realisation that they are indeed still on the same path - though they may well have retreated up it much nearer to the point where it departs from Biblical orthodoxy.  Clearly Hill's retreat was not far enough. 
          The article gives us real insight into a man already struggling with a Biblically unclear position before he got to the conference.  Driving through the Welsh countryside Hill found himself in a 'hand-wringing' state knowing that he would, once again, be supporting a critical view at the conference.  Hill appears to believe that a voice speaking to him is automatically that of the Lord - one of the core errors of the charismatic movement.
          At the meeting itself he is dreading making his address and giving his carefully prepared notes (how many of us preachers would rather have been tempted to get out of giving a difficult Scriptural message if we could?).  Interestingly, Hill finds himself sitting next to a senior Vineyard leader  (though, very possibly, an innocent arrangement, the emotional screw is turned further).  Just before Hill stands to read from his carefully prepared notes the Vineyard leader gives him (a man already in a highly emotional state) a hug, and prays for him.  The instant resultant experience is: 'My heart melted'.  Does not the Bible teach that 'the heart is deceptive above all things' (Jeremiah 17:9)?  In the very next verse, Jeremiah warns 'I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind'.  Where was Clifford Hill's mind when all this emotional turmoil was going on? 
          In the stomach-churning minute which followed, Hill mounted the stage... only to abandon his notes.  No doubt to be 'led by the spirit'.  Suffice to say that in the event everybody 'loved' everybody else.  Another triumph for experience over doctrine.  Is not this the very essence of Vineyard practice in overcoming all opposition to its heresies?  CRN has little doubt that Hill's influence will cause yet more despondency among the vociferous anti-Toronto charismatic lobby (which CRN recognises has done much sterling work in opposing error).
          Note also a very key statement Hill makes in the final paragraph.  He suggests that 'the greatest stumbling block to evangelism is disunity in the church'.  Whatever we believe about evangelism one thing is crystal clear: the revivalist/charismatic/pentecostal/restorationist/ signs & wonders movement is a proven pathway to ecumenism.  Ecumenism is unity based on love and relationships - but at the expense of Biblical truth.  The Bible is equally crystal clear that a unity based on anything other than Scriptural truth is a false/worthless unity.  Hill's apparent defection raises the spectre of an even less visible UK opposition to the ecumenical unity train that so many in the church have already boarded.
          Hill and Fenwick were subsequently due to meet with Wimber and the senior Vineyard leadership. No doubt the demise of the gnostic Wimber may mean a change of plan.  The eternal optimists will no doubt all hope that Hill and Fenwick can succeed (where the rest of the church has failed) the Vineyard's new leader, Tod Hunter, and the rest of  theVineyard to relocate their understanding in the Scriptures and not in their experiences.  But the reality is this would mean jettisoning the Vineyard's entire theology built around signs and wonders practice, closing the Anaheim delusion factory, disbanding Promise Keepers and a host of other movements and, en-bloc, return to preaching the Word with TRUE power?