ERROR, DECEPTIONS, SEDUCTIONS, COMPROMISE, EVEN APOSTASY

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EXAMINATION OF ERROR, DECEPTIONS, SEDUCTIONS, COMPROMISE AND EVEN APOSTASY NOW FOUND IN THE GREATER EVANGELICAL CHURCH


Godly preachers and teachers always appreciate being questioned about anything that they have said that might be in error. It gives them an even greater platform to delineate what they teach or to even repent if their teaching was in error. God does not want us to blindly follow leadership. Leaders deserve respect, but they are not above  respectful and loving correction. Idolatry of Christian leaders is rampant in the Evangelical church today. An elder of one leading Evangelical church responded to my writings by angrily telling me: "you have to EARN the right to say those things." He didn't disagree with anything I had said but then revealed his true belief system, which was a 'bowing to the powers that be' (political correctness). He was simultaneously offended and convicted but was too spiritually proud to admit to being convicted. His true orientation became glaringly obvious at that point, which was a worldly, politically correct one. It was one concerned with the keeping up of "appearances" and "image" (make no graven image) and maintaining the 'good 'ol boy network' that has co-opted and defused godly leadership in most churches. His reaction was to "circle" the wagons and "protect" the church at all costs. That isn't Biblical Christianity at all but rather what some discerners now call "churchianity." It is the idolization and protection of man-made institutions rather than the true edification of the Body of Christ. Many of God's innocent children are being hurt, degraded, and mis-served, by churchmen with selfish agendas. I obviously disagree with that old churchman who doesn't understand how God calls, gifts and reveals to individuals exactly what He wants us to know. Many of us pay dearly for obeying God and proclaiming the discernments that He gives us a passion to share.

Many leaders today operate in a dangerous spirit of control (domination) and constantly manipulate what the flock hears by dismissing or demonizing the messengers that God sends to wake them up. Charismatic Witchcraft is what many "ministries" are now operating in, and it is not limited to the hyper-Pentecostal, Faith Movement circus. Denying the true transforming, spiritual power of the Gospel has become pandemic in the greater Evangelical church in reaction to the hyper-Pentecostal Movement. They react to it by keeping the Holy Spirit at arm's length for fear that they may become like the "charismaniacs." In so doing, they often quench the Spirit of God and preclude His work in their lives as they errantly proclaim that the "gifts of the Spirit have ceased," as they cherry pick the scriptures. They are playing right into the devil's hands as they react to the counterfeit by outlawing the authentic work and power of God's Spirit. The gifts never ceased but rather men and women selfishly seeking "power," idolized certain gifts over others and became prey for Satan's counterfeits. Jesus is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow! However, Jesus cannot not be used to validate some phony minister, much the way the magician Simon in the book of Acts sought God's power for ungodly reasons. Instead, Jesus hands over modern day Simons who are merely seeking "power"- to the devil, and he is more than happy to provide the counterfeit power that they are seeking. Such "power" can be seen in counterfeit ministries like Benny Hinn. That doesn't mean that God doesn't still give the gift of healing, prophecy, tongues etc. He certainly does. The gift that Paul says to desire the most is to prophesy, which means to reveal the meaning of God's Word to His people and to apply it to what is happening today, which is what we are doing right here!

Most of the leadership in the modern Evangelical church seem to be heavily representative of worldly- successful, 'self-made men' and women. Many church "board members" (where does that spiritual office appear in the Bible?) have been thoroughly molded and groomed within godless, worldly, corporate businesses and then seek to apply that ungodly model in the church!. Pagan leadership styles and ideologies now plague most of our churches from the top down! It reflects a pronounced deference and homage (idolization) paid to some who have mastery in certain worldly orientations, as opposed to a Christ-centered orientation, (though it certainly is possible to both know Jesus and be good in business). Just like the buying of our political representatives, those with worldly clout and money, seem to have the upper hand in manipulating and controlling the inner workings of many churches. Biblically and spiritually shallow sheep tend to respect leaders who project the right polished "image." The vast majority of the flock today doesn't have spiritual discernment that can even recognize God's calling and gifting found in His obedient servants whom these worldly oriented, immature Christians mostly reject. Most of them no longer want to hear the truth- they want an easy message that makes them "feel good" about themselves! Wake up sleepers- the Day of the Lord is surely at hand!

Spiritual discernment and prophetic understanding (revealing and applying God's Word for today's church) have become rare commodities in these last of the last days. Much of what now identifies itself as evangelical Christianity is plagued with various levels of compromise and apostasy. Many have fallen away from their first love for Jesus and from Biblical orthodoxy. It seems that many are merely pretenders who parrot most of the right behaviors and lingo but have never been born again. The tremendous preacher, Dr. Michael Youssef calls them "pigeon Christians." The truth preaching classic Evangelical, Allistair Begg calls such believers "chameleon Christians," who change their behaviors and attitudes to blend into whatever group they are in at the time. Too many "Christian" leaders have actually become apostate wolves who prey upon the flock, and whom the Apostle Paul warned us about in tears! Jesus is calling His Bride to repentance and revival so that He can restore and purify us. Jesus is revealing the evil doctrines and fruits of unrighteousness that now plague various ministries and movements, to those with ears to hear, and eyes to see. In some of the worst movements, doctrines inspired by demons have become cornerstone institutions, which is prophesied in the Bible.

Our calling and heart's desire is to see all Christians at peace in Christ and resting in the truth of His word, but false peace and false "unity," constructed on lies and deceptions must be exposed. It is not a pleasant thing to have your "sacred cow" gored, but God wants us all to repent of, and tear down the idols in our lives so that Jesus may fully dwell IN us. I believe that God is revealing all of the "sacred cows" (idols) that are assaulting His church and presently dominate many organizations that claim to be "Christian." The Apostle Paul prophesied that great apostasy would come to the church in the last days. Many evangelicals idolize popular leaders and don't dare to question them, let alone examine their teachings for fear of being ostracized. No ministry is above godly, Bible-based correction. No evangelist or preacher is above anyone else or beyond having his or her doctrine and fruits examined. The Bible commands us to adhere to the Word of God and to make sure that all teaching that we listen and adhere to lines up with God's Word. Much of the preaching in evangelical churches today is Spirit-less, uninspired, non-convicting, and thus unfit for the body. Much of Evangelical leadership today is really Neo-evangelical. In the place of godly headship, an ungodly spirit of control is oppressing many churches and movements in these last days. A dangerously errant camp in evangelicalism is preaching a type of hyper-faith that is dangerously ungodly theater designed to enrich themselves. Though many have either departed from or have never had true FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, they unfortunately have not departed from the church, but instead are now dominating the church:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron 1 Timothy 4:1,2

Many who initially receive Jesus as Savior but who are never discipled by a devout follower, nor have sought true relationship with Jesus, usually backslide back into whatever orientation or belief system they originally had. Others simply create a religion of their own making that may revolve around self-sacrifice, strict discipline, and self-piety. Though discipline and self-sacrifice can be necessary and good, that which is done according to our OWN inner directives and not according to God's directives is of no benefit to God. Many have created a designer religion that is much more of a "mind-over-matter," self-help philosophy than a trusting and intimate relationship with Jesus. They take pride in having what they think is vast Biblical knowledge, which in reality is quite shallow, and like "Christian" Gnostics believe that merely knowing the right concepts of Christianity makes them a Christian. It is not having vast knowledge about Jesus, but actually RECEIVING, KNOWING, and WALKING WITH Jesus that really matters for eternity. Surrendering to Jesus and that spiritual simplicity escapes the sophisticated that get embarrassed, and feel queasy at the thought of actually "knowing Jesus." Child-like love and faith in Jesus actually offends this type. They much prefer to create a complicated systems of works that they deem as necessary to please God, but which are really crafted for the purpose of maintaining control of their own lives. Most of this is highly unconscious on their part (vain imaginations). They just can't take God at His Word.

The greatest struggle of the modern western church to date is because of the blinding effect of gross affluence. Many have forsaken the ways of God and esteem their worldly pursuits (lust for money, influence, power, personal peace and happiness) far above the things of God and His Word. Many "Christian" movements have built their entire movements upon the greed of the populace. A self-deserving evil spirit rests upon much of the church that smacks of the same self-righteousness that plagued earlier Calvinists - many who deemed themselves to be worthy of wealth and higher station in life because "they were chosen by God." Guess what... none of us are better or more worthy than any one else!

The Faith Movement and more subtly Shuller's "possibility thinking" reflect this carnal type of neo-Calvinism. Charismatic witchcraft is rampant in Faith Movement churches and is destroying many formerly devout churches. Many now tout doctrines of demons that people just love to listen to because they appeal and seduce the flesh. Their teachings validate and encourage personal "success, happiness, and wealth," if certain formulas or beliefs are adhered to. These two major apostasies have infected the entire church to varying degrees. "Affluenza" (COVETOUSNESS) is epidemic in the church!

Beware lest anyone cheat (seduce) you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

Many neo-Evangelicals are watering down the Gospel and are making dangerous compromises. Many "Evangelical" leaders, (really neo-evangelical) are espousing all sorts of unscriptural notions based more on reprobate, modern psychology than on Biblical Truth. Some of what used to be truly Evangelical have lost their ability to know and preach Biblical truth and should really be called "pseudo-evangelical" (phony evangelicals). The Willow Creek "seeker" movement has propelled watered-down evangelicalism down a swift torrent of compromise. At the very heart of this movement is the desire to appeal to the lowest common denominator by so watering down the Gospel as to be nearly irrelevant for true salvation (though miraculously some are saved). The seeker movement is built upon worldly marketing techniques that reduce church to a glitzy performance that appeals to the flesh. It is also plagued by the Schuler School of "positive gospelism" only, that doesn't "offend" people and thereby push them and their money away. The authentic Gospel does offend the flesh and convicts people of their sins- it doesn't coddle them, and falsely inflate their "self-worth" like Willow Creek seekerism does. Not everyone could follow Jesus... MANY turned away from Him. Many people are seeking a real relationship with God. To give them watered down milk instead is shear cruelty. This false movement helps to create shallow believers. When superficial, half-baked religion is joined with a self-agendized, materialistic (yuppie-like) orientation still intact, it creates what I call MUPPYS, or modern urban Pharisees! They are proof that a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. There are many now dabbling in Christianity who have not truly been born-again in the Spirit who pursue Christianity as if it were some kind of self-help infomercial! They cling to maintaining control of their own lives and shudder at the thought of some truly spiritual experience whereby they give God the complete reigns of their hearts and lives. Instead, they propagate a type of Gnostic Christianity, which is one where superficial "knowledge" is the major key to being a Christian, when mere knowledge is only a small step toward total surrender and spiritual rebirth. The spiritual food in God's Word is only revealed to those who desire Jesus above all- in Spirit and in Truth. True Christians who have the Spirit and have been regenerated offend the Gnostic type of “Christian”. They are afraid of losing control and becoming "fanatical." It is absolute idolatry to create your own version of Christianity (designer religion). God's presence and power will not be found in or around people who do this- Jesus can only be found where the true and complete Gospel is preached in SPIRIT and in TRUTH! (I'm not talking here about "style of worship," I'm talking about sincere love and devotion to Jesus, and obedience to His Word!) This kind of love and devotion is quite simple, and to those who worship Jesus through His indwelling Spirit- it is deeper than any ocean, and is not merely some "style" that can be imitated. I have seen worship leaders in churches who don't have the Spirit but merely try to imitate the popular charismatic style of worship and who sing the new songs, but can't even begin to connect to God because they are not sincere in their worship whatsoever. Many in these spiritless congregations begin to complain about how "the songs are too simple and silly" because they understand only with their minds and have not the child-like Spirit within that desperately cries out to Jesus; ABBA FATHER! (I love you dear Father) And any such person who does this, to them is some kind of "embarrassing, emotional basket-case."

The worst thing that these neo-Evangelicals now espouse is recognition of, agreements with, and (some) even "unity" with the Roman Catholic Church, which Protestants have long kept official separation from for good reason. DOCTRINES OF DEMONS, SPEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY, HAVING THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE SEARED WITH A HOT IRON..."
(1 Tim. 4: 1-3)

Most Christians don't want to hear the harder, convicting messages in God's Word because many are leading extremely compromised lives. Many have fallen into various deceptions, and sins and systematically reject God's Word and any preaching that "makes them feel bad." They have been fooled into believing that any word that sounds "negative" or "critical," must not be from God. The "positive only gospel" has led to an epidemic of ungodly divorce and remarriage in evangelical churches because preachers are afraid to preach the truth that angers many people. Though there are viable grounds for divorce, many Christian divorces do not meet the Biblical requirement (adultery, battering, perpetual abuse, abandonment). "Falling out of love," or losing interest in your spouse, isn't a legitimate reason for Christians to divorce. God can correct ALL of that if people really want Him to (if they are truly Christians). One "Christian" couple that I know had both committed adultery in their prior marriages and gotten divorced. They then attended Willow Creek Community Church where they met. He was asked to leave because he had been a prominent leader of another church prior to that time (where he had had an affair with the church secretary) that brought a serious charge against him to Willow Creek. His children all allege ritualistic abuse as well and to this date have nothing to do with him. While going to Willow Creek, (known as a "meet market" by many divorced and single attendees) they committed fornication (and openly brag about it!) and then got married (adulterous marriage). They presently lead a young couples group at a pseudo-evangelical church that doesn't "make any judgments" about their parishioner’s lives. This couple is extremely toxic to the body because they know all of the right "Christian" things to say. He knows the Word and even proper doctrine but led a completely double life that completely violates what he knew to be right! Their mere presence in the church and acceptance of their adulterous marriage by the leadership sets an ungodly example for other couples. The worst thing about them is that they are "discipling" new Christian couples! Many of these kinds of people enter into adulterous marriages and remain within the church! Wake up God's people- God is NOT pleased with this evil in His church! God is angry at many churches that openly accept and perform adulterous marriages and accommodate sin!

Most of the Evangelical church has bought the devil's perversion of scripture that we "must not judge others," and many modern "Christians" have built an entire religion around it, which has caused great harm to the church. Jesus said that we must JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY! When a church doesn't preach the real Gospel that strongly condemns such behaviors (not the people) in the church, such perversion is bound to take place. It doesn't amaze me that this same church chose to wink and nod when their star, idolized pianist/ accompanist committed fornication and got pregnant. She wasn't even silently disciplined or asked to step down for a while. Her idolatrous following in the church prevented the pastor from openly disciplining her. She told me that she was even angry with him for telling her "he forgave her." She said to me: "for what!" The worst thing is when we merely wink at such perversions and then "Christianize" their lifestyles and accept them into the church. Though a person can be forgiven for anything- there are temporal ramifications and consequences to our sin. That particular church joined the Willow Creek seeker umbrella because it is now so popular. There are born-again Christians in these movements but most in this movement are primarily oriented around their station in life and associating with the same. Many shallow ‘seekers’ are merely going through the motions and parroting what seems to be expected in that culture. Many dryly sing praise and worship songs that very few really feel in their heart. The Spirit is grieved that they could go through the motions without having an inkling of how insincere and unacceptable their "worship" was to God.

For I know this, that after my departure SAVAGE WOLVES will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. Acts 20:29-31

"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." Ezekiel 33:31

The mind over matter/ positive gospel crowd as represented by Robert Schuller is also preaching a dangerous "gospel." All of these different camps are heavy into idolizing and following certain ministers with blind devotion. If you have found these statements to be "judgmental, critical, or condemning," you are at the least, partially blinded to the truth. Please read on and give me a chance to prove to you what the Bible says about why they are so dangerously wrong.

" For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 4:3,4

We are presently plagued with a numbers oriented easy-believism that equates a "decision" for Christ with actually becoming a Christian. Deciding to follow Jesus does begin with a decision, but many ministries practically stop there and aren't obedient to the Word of the Lord who commands us to MAKE DISCIPLES. Jesus never said anything about getting people to merely believe or to "make a decision for Christ." His commandment is much more demanding than our modern, simplified notions about how to become a true Christian, which is to be a FOLLOWER of Jesus. We love to skip the "take up your cross daily" part. Perhaps the greatest damage to the Kingdom has been done by famous evangelists who preach the basic Gospel, but then reduce becoming a Chrisitan down to "making a decision" rather than becoming a true disciple of Jesus. Many vulnerable souls will raise their hands to make an emotional decision due to the artful persuasion of an evangelist, BUT if that person is not embraced, and discipled by another disciple, that convert is nothing but a notch on an evangelist's pulpit. The late Keith Green realized the pitfall of "easy-believism" and would not allow altar calls at his meetings. Trusting and following Jesus is a much more profound experience than cheap "decisions" indicate. Evangelical churches are now filled with these kinds of "converts" who may believe all of the expected theology, but have no real conversion taking place in their hearts and daily lives. Though they accept the new religious paradigm, they never really connect with Jesus and become devoted to Him.

Far too many today have created a “christianity” of their own concoction (really a “designer religion“ of their own making- a mixture). Many who call themselves followers of Jesus, have never really known Him- nor do they have the desire to worship Jesus in Spirit and in Truth. Instead, they persist in their own private interpretations and ideas just as Paul warned about the last generation: “Having a form (gr. morphosis = appearance) of godliness (a skin deep religion of their own making) but denying it’s power” (2 Timothy 3:5). Most Christians today eagerly dismiss the part of the following verse in which the Apostle Paul strongly commands us that we are to "turn away" ... from such dangerous phonies. This rampant type of counterfeit Christian is responsible for the current compromise and dilution (spiritual dumbing down) of the Gospel message in much of what calls itself the Evangelical church. Their ungodly motive is to make the Gospel more "palatable" (more acceptable, thus more $profitable$) to a greater number (utilizing marketing techniques instead of discipleship) of people. The masses eagerly bow to popular movements that tickle their ears and entertain them rather than convict and minister to them. Jesus and His true servants never water down His message in order to appeal to the least common denominator. True followers seek to worship and exalt Jesus, not indulge their own flesh. Jesus proclaimed the arrival of His Kingdom- He called everyone to repentance, and spoke of the deepest spiritual things that most could not even understand at the time, until He sent believers His indwelling Holy Spirit.

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