U.S. minister and author J. Lee Grady is the latest in a chourus of voices within the Christian community being raised against Sri Lankan minister Kirby De Lanerolle.
In an article entitled 'Beware Of The Latest New Age Deception' Grady warns of Sri Lankan 'guru' Kirby De Lanerolle, who 'mixes Christian faith, the Lord’s supper and prophetic revelation with bizarre New Age teachings'.
The article points to some of Kirby's most un-Bibilican teachings—'Breatherianism”—the belief that humans do not need food to exist but can live off sunlight and energy vibrations, an idea based on ancient Eastern philosophy, and not the Bible, although Kirby misquotes the Bible, saying “Jesus said man does not live by bread alone but by every vibration frequency of God."[The Bible verse in question reads, in its original iteration,' ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’]
Furthermore, troublsome, un-Bibilical teachings such as 'immortality on Earth' (the belief that his followers will be the first generation of Christians to physically live on Earth and not die until Jesus returns), 'evolving into being God' (the belief that his followers are in the process of evolving into being God Himself) and other popular 'miracles' such as instant weight loss, gray hair turning black, gold dust and cash appearing supernaturally in wallets have been cited as methods by which De Lanerolle, who claims God sent angels to reset his DNA, uses to gain followers.
The warning from the U.S. minister comes as De Lanerolle plans an excursion in the U.S., ostensibly to lead a five-day retreat, but also as part of a mission to expand his reach globally. It also follows a warning from Indian pastors after De Lanerolle visited Bangalore and Chennai in 2015 that 'Kirby’s teachings are clearly not in line with the word of truth'.
De Lanerolle's teachings, although strange, are no different from the deceptions employed by many such self-styled gurus in the past: Pastor Jim Jones who orchestrated the mass suicides of his followers in a commune at Jonestown, Guyana, and Shree Rajneesh, or 'Osho' as he was more popularly known, who set up a commune in Oregon in the U.S. Both 'cult leaders' were known for attracting vulnerable people looking for some form of spiritual kinship and social alliances.
People who have had encounters with the WOW (Works of Wonder) Church that De Lanerolle heads, have claimed that while the Church attracts a mix of followers, it is known in particular for its followers with 'deep pockets' who often 'gift' De Lanerolle and his wife expensive items that include vehicles and property—a feature prominent in the cults of Jim Jones, Osho and many others.
Others cite a cult of secrecy, a casual 'vetting process' before new adherents are brought into the church and the tight hold the 'church' has on its followers.
De Lanerolle was a known 'party boy' in his youth, and in his adolosence was reportedly part of a 'cult' known as 'KISS' (Kids in Satan's Service). The group received notoriety after a member, and close friend of De Lanerolle murdered his parents, although the case was quickly covered up when it occured in the 70s.
The letter writen by preacher J. Lee Grady is reproduced in part below:
Beware of the Latest New Age Deception
A Sri Lankan Minister Is Spreading Bizarre Teachings To Naïve American Christians.
By J. Lee Grady
It’s not surprising to find a New Age guru in the nation of Sri Lanka. But when that same guru mixes Christian faith, the Lord’s supper and prophetic revelation with bizarre New Age teachings, you can understand why church leaders around the world are concerned.
The man at the center of this controversy is Kirby de Lanerolle, 44, a Sri Lankan who says he was raised in the Methodist Church. Today he leads WOW Life Church in the capital city of Colombo. (WOW stands for “Works of Wonder.”) His growing crowd of followers say his ministry is accompanied by unusual miracles including instant weight loss, gray hair turning black, gold dust and cash appearing supernaturally in wallets.
But de Lanerolle’s trademark is his revelation of “breatherianism”—the belief that humans don’t need food to exist. Basing his ideas on ancient Eastern philosophy, de Lanerolle believes he receives most of his nutrition from vibrations of energy as well as sunlight. He also takes daily communion, and claims that Jesus was a breatharian because He fasted for 40 days.
De Lanerolle’s teachings obviously appeal to people who struggle with their weight—and this may explain why he’s gaining popularity in the United States. De Lanerolle claims to be able to “impart” to others the ability to tap into spiritual vibrations so they lose their appetite for food.
“Jesus said man does not live by bread alone,” de Lanerolle says in one of his video teachings on YouTube, “but by every vibration frequency of God.” He calls holy communion a “superfood” and claims that he once ran a half marathon after fasting for two months.
Making things even weirder, de Lanerolle teaches what is known as “immortality on earth,” the belief that humans can live forever. He claims to have secret revelation about this concept, and he draws his inspiration from the teachings of a controversial charismatic preacher named Kobus van Rensburg of South Africa. (Ironically, van Rensburg died of cancer in 2013. He was directly tied to the controversial Nigerian minister T.B. Joshua.)
De Lanerolle does not expect to keep his unusual brand of spirituality in Sri Lanka. He is spreading it abroad, and he will lead a five-day retreat on breatherianism in Missouri in September. He is now also linked to some leaders in the charismatic revival stream, including Patricia King of Arizona, and he is scheduled to speak at a charismatic conference in Pennsylvania this fall.
Some Christian leaders in India issued a warning about de Lanerolle back in 2015 after he visited Bangalore and Chennai. “We are of the opinion that since Kirby’s teachings are clearly not in line with the word of truth; he … has to be evaluated not on the basis of the signs and wonders but on the basis of the doctrine he believes in and teaches,” said Jeyakaran Emmanuel, a spokesman for a coalition of Indian pastors known as the Grace and Truth Coalition.
“Kirby may be a sincere follower of Christ, but he is sincerely wrong in such unbiblical teachings such as immortality on earth and breatharianism,” Emmanuel said.
Most thinking people would agree it’s dangerous to teach that food isn’t necessary. That alone could be the foundation for a Jim Jones-style cult. But de Lannerole also teaches universalism (“All religions point to one place,” he has said) and that human beings are evolving into gods. In one of his recorded messages he says: “We are all in the process of evolution. I believe in evolution. We are all in the process of evolution into being God Himself.”
Pastor Ivor Poobalan of the Kollupitiya Methodist Church preached a bold message in July 2019 about the spread of heresy in the modern church. In a message posted online, he warns his members about de Lanerolle’s strange teachings and laments that pastors of 500 churches have come under the “covering” of WOW Life Church, which now claims to be the largest denomination in the country.
“Some years ago, Kirby claimed that God sent angels to reset his DNA and made his body capable of living without food,” Pastor Poobalan says. “This has now led to the most reckless teaching that is central to WOW Life, the promise of immortality on earth. The followers are now promised that they are the first generation of Christians that will physically live on and not die until Jesus returns in the future.”
How can someone with such strange, unbiblical beliefs be welcomed into a Christian conference? It’s obvious that discernment in the church today is at a low-point. In many charismatic circles today, we chase after anyone who can perform miracles—no matter how bizarre. We’ve lost the ability to spot an imposter.
The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians about “false apostles” and “deceitful workers” who “disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (see 2 Cor. 11:13,15). Paul was willing to mark such men as dangerous instruments of Satan. Today we are too nice to judge. We give the false prophets a microphone and pay them an honorarium.
