One tough Arab lady!!!
This is going around and needs to be heard by everyone.Contrary to what anyone might tell you, this is IT(!) in a nut shell and what separates authentic Biblical faith from all of the other impostors.
Name any RELIGIOUS SYSTEM you like, Islam, Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and they have one thing in common, a person is saved through their particular doctrines, practices, dogmas and/or officials. People are turned into slaves.They place their hope in a human organization. Any real Christian never depends upon his pastor, priest, sacrament, religious affiliation or church to obtain for him acceptance with God. This is why no Christian is afraid of men and what they might do to him. Religion despises Jesus and the Bible believer because they will not play their idiotic Pharisaical games.
“Totemism” Chronically American
The reader will immediately recognize that I have only a cursory knowledge of what I am writing about. I am good at bluffing but privately I make no pretence to being a credible intellectual. I have met a few of these folks here or there so I know what they are. I hear something once and I’m off and running with it.
Perhaps twenty years ago I heard preacher, sociologist and “comedian” Dr. Tony Campolo discuss the concept of “totemism.” I had taken both cultural anthropology and sociology in university and had heard the term but paid little attention to the concept at that time. Campolo referred to anthropologist Margaret Mead as one of those who studied the phenomena and went on to explain some of her observations.
Though the word seemed ponderous the concept did not. Campolo handily explained that the idea came from the totem. He went on to use the totem pole as a way of unraveling how the concept works.
Mead, pointed out that almost all cultures, though centuries and miles apart, are notable in that they are incurably religious and have totems of one kind or another as a way of expressing their mystical beliefs. Whether it happens to be the enormous stone and lava heads of the Easter Islands in Rapa Nui National Park or the totem poles of the northwestern American aboriginals, the Nootka, Haida, T’simshian, Tlingit to name but a few, totems appear almost everywhere in the world. Sometimes they show up as glyphs rather than something made of stone or wood. Nevertheless, various mascots universally occur.
Campolo made the following application: every culture adopts totems of one kind or another. It might be, as in the case of American Indians, a Thunderbird. This bird doesn’t exist in reality, but the idea sums up all of the cultural values of the tribe(s) so they build a tribute to it. What existentially follows is the interesting idea. They worship or pay homage to the pole. We might refer to this practice as idolatry.
In primitive societies this plays itself out in thousand ways throughout the history of man. The image might have been a scarab, owl, cat, cow, frog or turtle. In more sophisticated cultures these might be a bear, lion, dragon, beaver, eagle but you get the idea. The animal or some other thing, whether real or imagined, embodies the qualities the culture wants to project regarding its own perceived strengths, character and qualities. Of course, we should expect this from primitive societies. What should we expect? They don’t know any better until we reach them with the Mustang, Cougar, Viper, Ram, or the gospel, right?
About a year ago I happened to be in an American denominational church in the south on Independence Day. They made quite a thing out of this special national holiday by recognizing those who had served in the military, to which there was much-deserved applause. Next, however, they struck out to sing “America the Beautiful,” a song to which, without prompting, people all around began to stand to their feet with hands over their hearts and sang at the top of their lungs. In fact, I made note that I had not heard this sort of worship all the while I have attended there. I’m afraid that in the same way, the Jesus of Roman Catholicism plays second fiddle to Mary. While “American Jesus” plays second fiddle to Caesar and his agenda. It was theologian, Francis Schaeffer who said, “Caesar and God cannot both be God. One must make up his or her mind.”
Are we guilty of pagan “Totemism?”
It occurred to me, have we dressed Jesus up to look like us so we might actually worship ourselves? I think so. This isn’t just true of Americans. It’s equally true of the Chinese, Guatemalans, Kenyans, Tutsi, and Massai, Southern Baptists or members of the Assembly of God. In some circles we have imagined a “Reformed,” holiness, charismatic or Pentecostal Jesus. The great challenge of every believer is coming to terms with the authentic Jesus. This becomes a lifetime of re-calibration. Whatever we have gathered up about Jesus probably isn’t Him.
It’s election time again and some Americans are trying to figure out how they might turn Jesus into a Republican. In many minds he’s certainly not a Democrat! Jesus doesn’t live downtown. He’s not black. You won’t find him with “nappy” hair, low pants or sporting a tattoo. He lives in the suburbs. He graduated from university, drives a SUV and several other late model cars. He has a Jacuzzi and a hot tub. For some he might be a cool Jesus or a “Gap Jesus” in the same way Central America had fashioned a “Liberation” Jesus with a bandoleer and Uzi machine gun.
You see, we have all done this to Him. We have invented a Jesus that embraces our cultural values so that we can indirectly worship ourselves and our values. This is classic narcissism. We fail to honestly examine Him and take Him as He really is. We have laid our grid over Him rather than His grid over us. We have turned Jesus into the culture learner.
“Okay, Jesus, we’ll let you be God but only our terms.”
“In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.”
William Booth (1829-1916), Founder of the Salvation Army
The chickens have come home to roost.
I recently made this statement on my Facebook wall, “Deism is not Christianity.” It was simple enough but some people wanted to know why I would post such a cryptic comment. What did I mean by the statement? Who is it for? I admit to having a motive. I am addressing folks that I know so this is no accident. A nod of the hat toward Jesus will not do in the day of judgment. One does not have to be blasphemous to be a Christ rejector. You may go to church every Sunday and still reject Him. All one has to do is say at heart, “I will not have this man to rule over me. He won’t ell me what to do. I will think and do as I please.”
As usual, I just say what I mean to say. Both churches and hell are full of Deists and Humanists masquerading as Christians. Let me remind the reader of James 2:19, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” At least the demons go farther than the impostor. They have a fear of God. They know the authority of Jesus. Deists have no special place for Christ. He is simply one among many.
There is most probably a God but He has taken His hands off of human affairs. He does not interact with history or time and man is left to his own devices. Because of this, there is in fact, a direct link between Deism and Humanism as ideologies. Since God is not involved then man must do his best to go it alone. Humanism puts man at the center.
I am always suspicious of those who claim to be Christians but Jesus’ name never comes up in their life story. They will talk about God well enough but have no place of affection for Jesus Himself. As a Bible teacher I see this far to often expressed or should I say, not expressed by members of the student body. Some do not hold him dear. Many who do not find Jesus attractive – all together lovely. He is not in any sense precious. People absolutely will not come outside of the camp and bear his reproach. We will gladly bear a cross as long as it is not brutal and blood stained.
Jesus is central to what it means to be Christian and there is no Christian faith, no saving faith, without Him. He is the unique manifestation of the only One, true and living God in the flesh. Again, here is support for what I have to say, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 1:9
It is critical for people to get this right.
When foolish minds are darkened…
Ultimate Questions
Sometimes I have said from the pulpit, “Some people just aren’t smart enough to get saved.” Of course I say this to shock the ambivalent back to their senses but I mean what I say. I don’t mean they aren’t intelligent I just mean they never think about anything very large. They don’t think about the main questions of life-like,
1. Where did I come from?
2. Why am I here?
3. Where am I going?
4. Does it make any difference?
5. What went wrong?
6. What if I’m wrong?
7. What makes a human being incredibly different from all of the animal world?
I can tell you. We have only five shared senses.We have an additional two. We are made with two senses they apparently do not have. Perhaps we should ask ourselves, “Why?” We have reason (the ability to plan and reflect) and conscience (the ought of right and wrong). Where did these intellectual attributes come from? Evolution will not account for either.
They prefer rather to whistle through the graveyard of life, living unconsciously – being occupied by stupid trivialities and momentary amusements like the Oscars, the Golden Globes, American Idol, Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan, et al. There is nothing wrong with any of these trendy things when kept in the cellar rather than allowing them to take over the living room. Most (even Christians) have elevated the small things and from those (albeit shallow) they find existence rather than purpose. Socrates was right, “An unexamined life isn’t worth the living.” We used to say of people who would not face the facts as those who “played the Ostrich.”
Please, to see why this is all such myopic nonsense read my blogs on Calvinism. They honestly believe that they have the “full counsel of God” and the only one’s who are preaching it.
May I also refer you to the small booklet entitled, “The Larger Place, Detecting Spiritual Imbalance in Christian Groups.” Calvinism (Reform by its proper name) is something but it is not everything. Election has to do with God’s prerogative not His practice.
How many readers… do harm to themselves?
By Philipp Jacob Spener
1635-1705
“If… they read the Scriptures without sincere prayer and the purpose to obey God, but only to get knowledge, to make a show, and to exercise their curiosity upon them…
If they do not observe what is useful for their edification, but only what they can use for their glory and against others…
If they despise what the Scriptures simply stated and what is easy to comprehend.
If, on the contrary, they take up only difficult passages, about which, about which there is much dispute, in order to discover in them something unusual and to make a show before others.
If they use what they have learned with pride and for their own glory…
If they think they alone are wise, obstinately refuse better instruction, love to quarrel, and receive nothing from others with modesty.”
Taken from…
“The Life You’ve Always Wanted”
John Ortberg
ZONDERVAN
Part 2
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
John 6:63
In Part 1, “A Prophetic Warning to the Prophetic Movement,” I addressed the danger of giving too much attention to and placing too much confidence in just anyone who says they are prophesying in the name of the Lord. Without discrediting prophesy all together, I called for believers to be discerning. I further encouraged leaders to take more responsibility for what takes place in the prophetic settings.
An Evangelical Priesthood
Now, here in Part 2, I am making a similar call against placing too much confidence in our current evangelical priests. Yes, we have an evangelical priesthood. In both cases we are doing what we should never do. In both cases we have adopted intermediaries.
It is easy to take shots at people who say and do flaky things. On the contrary, it is more difficult to call into question those who, in every respect, appear to be well-educated, well-groomed, refined in manners and level-headed.
For instance, Mormons appear refined and level-headed. Millions of otherwise intelligent, thoughtful people follow Mormon teaching. In Mormonism perception becomes the reality. Regrettably, many evangelicals are falling for the same thing and lining up in a similar fashion. They buy the glossy promotional cover without carefully thinking about the content. Mormonism simply has better packaging than Scientology. Take it from me, Mormonism is “crackers” – as “crackers” as Scientology but somehow they get a free pass.
In order to justify their legitimacy, Mormons go so far as to point to their apparent success – prominent nationally recognized personalities, sophisticated universities and institutions, wealth, numerical growth, etc., as clear evidence that what they teach is the product of divine revelation. Of course, this is no evidence at all and to prove my point, I ask them how many people managed to get onto the ark? Thousands, even millions of adherents is no guarantee of truth. In fact, according to scripture, success may indicate the exact opposite ( “wide is the gate”). Perhaps we should be suspicious of some evangelical success stories? Are we enamored by the packaging or the content?
“Churches with the word GRACE in their names are often the most legalistic.”
Harry Hedrick
Here’s a case in point. I grew up in a very prominent evangelical denomination. If I mention the name, everyone would immediately recognize it. They made the claim that they were, without doubt, the most biblical denomination in the world. Since people I greatly admired made this claim I never questioned the truthfulness of it. I believed this until I left home and discovered that there were countless ways in which they failed to teach the “full counsel of God.” While there were many good things about this group, there were many ways in which other churches and denominations held to truths they had either ignored or missed entirely. I should have had this mind, the whole truth belongs to the whole church and no prophesy of scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). We have come outside of the camp, bearing His reproach (Hebrews 13:13) and here we have no continuing city (Hebrews 13:14). Our preachers, theologians and denominations belong to us. We do not belong to them (1 Corinthians 3:21-22).
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”
1 Timothy 2:5
“Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.”
1 Corinthians 4:6
Understanding the following may take an exercise of making very fine distinctions – or a high level of discernment.
In the whole of the Bible the word “flesh” is mentioned four hundred twenty times in about four different ways. The earliest and most often use has to do with all living men and animals, re: the body itself. It continues to be used in the same way in the New Testament but predominately we now have the introduction of the idea of the human nature without divine influence and prone to sin. Flesh (sarx) in this sense is called carnality.
Paul gives us a nice, tidy list of carnality in Galatians 5:18-21. You know what these fleshly acts are. Perhaps you have memorized the list. In case you have forgotten, here it is…
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like;”
Galatians 5:19-21
This sums it up. Or does it? The text indicates that it is not as exhaustive as it could be. Look at how it concludes, “…and the like.” We do however get the idea of what the “and the like” is, don’t we? We are left to fill this in for ourselves. Add to this list all of the nasty business you can think of and that constitutes what we may call, “the works of the flesh.” The text seems to indicate that carnality (fleshliness) is the out working of the ego or the assertion of self. The assertion of self always results in the sins of the flesh. Bad behavior and the out working of evil activity are rather easy to identify so we don’t have to analyze this reference to the flesh hardly at all. We all get it.
This is what disturbs me! “Flesh”, as Paul understands it “flesh” moves beyond this list and shows up in other, less identifiable ways. I have friends involved in religion of the flesh and they don’t have a clue. When I read scripture and survey the present spiritual landscape, I see “flesh” as something more pervasive. It shows up in the most polished settings – even among the most groomed spokespersons for the Christian faith.
Theological elitists are the masters of a carnal faith.
When Paul says in Philippians 3:3, “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh…,”
Here, Paul is not referring to either the human body or acts of unethical or immoral behavior.
“Our virtues are but splendid sins.”
St. Augustine
What do you think Augustine meant? He meant the same thing that Paul meant. Paul had already explained his philosophy by renouncing confidence in human ancestry, national legacy, social position, religious devotion, physical strength, intellectual skill, eloquence, ability, educational achievement or professional notoriety. All of this influence becomes meaningless when facing the cross of Christ. As tricky as it is, this confidence in status is as much the flesh and carnality as is bad behavior and the out working of evil activity. Here in Paul’s own words, is what he calls flesh and carnality.
“…though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisees, concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:4-11
What makes God mad?
I have often thought, “What were those occurrences that seem to have aggravated God the most?” I haven’t compiled a thorough list and in the interest of time I will provide just a couple of incidences of the many and all of them was of a similar kind. God was clearly annoyed when Israel complained and murmured, particularly when they questioned his ability to provide meat in the wilderness. Again, he wasn’t pleased with the Tower of Babel or when David numbered Israel. Many incidents of God’s displeasure had to do with God’s people doubting him and taking things upon themselves. God is displeased when any man thinks he can go it alone.
Unfortunately, this is American evangelicalism. Along with the Pharisees, western evangelicals have made the claim, “We have Abraham as our father.” Here’s a bit of news for you, God “can raise up children of Abraham from stones,” so we dare not make the same mistake of thinking too much of ourselves as the Pharisees did.
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”
Hebrews 11:6a
Early in scripture we see God admonishing His people for putting confidence in the “arm of the flesh” or trusting in the strength of horses or chariots rather than the power of the living God.
We see this surface again in the New Testament, when in Paul’s First Epistle to Corinth he warns them about trusting in human wisdom or philosophy. Paul is not telling them to be stupid. He does say that “Knowledge puffs up” – makes folks self-confident – arrogant. God always resists the proud. Human cleverness, intellect or eloquence will not be the means by which the kingdom advances so, dear brethren, as good as it is, don’t put too much confidence in it. After all, “The kingdom does not come in word (intellectual gymnastics and philosophical speculation) but in power.” Though we know this, there is a part of the western church that doesn’t seem to believe it. They have seemingly come to the conclusion that God moves through intellectual refinement.
A friend of mine who has an earned Ph.D. once said this to me, “A Ph.D. doesn’t prove how intelligent anybody is. It just lets us know how long they’ve spent in school.” May I add that a Ph.D. – for that matter, all theological education – doesn’t certify a persons’ spirituality, orthodoxy or ministry effectiveness either. In fact, it has often been the case that just the opposite proves to be true. The more education a person has had results in them being less spiritual, orthodox or capable of ministry. We are immediately suspicious of those who do not have formal theological training. Why? Why shouldn’t it be the other way around?
Another friend, a career missionary added this, “I have never seen a Ph.D. cast out a demon.” This may not be one hundred percent true but I can concur that often class attendance or academic achievement does not seem to enhance one’s spiritual authority when real power encounters are required.
These then are two equally dangerous errors. There is on one side of the church an over spiritualization and anti-intellectual mood and in the other over confidence in academic skill, formal ministry preparation and this posture often spawns a suspicion of the spiritual.
I might call this mood, “Evangelical Gnosticism.” This is the notion that spiritual sensitivity cannot be trusted. “The heart is deceitful above all things and who can know it?” For this side of the church, the kingdom does come in words. The more a person knows about Greek, theology, scripture – the more books they have read, written or names they can drop, etc. – the more spiritual he or she becomes. Friends, this is just christening the Gnostic heresy and making it acceptable. Knowledge may enhance spirituality but it is not the means of gaining it.
We clearly see that Paul ran up against this same spirit in Corinth.
“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
It is this writers’ view that seminaries are responsible for more heresy, speculation and theological confusion than all of the amassed, uneducated country bumpkins combined. Those preachers who make up sentences with double negatives can be easily dismissed but not so when someone has a masterful command of language and academic credentials to go with it.
Recently, I have been reading in Joshua and referring to James Montgomery Boice’s little commentary by the same name. He points out that, in strictly human and/or as military strategy, Joshua did a foolish thing when, as soon as he crossed the Jordan, he commanded the circumcision of all of his men. God had a good reason for disabling, immobilizing and leaving the troops defenseless for at least three to five days. He wanted them to clearly understand that the battle was the Lord’s and that confidence in human strength would only end in defeat as it did when they went up against Ai.
The quest to gain acceptance with the secular world?
Perhaps this is why the American church with all of its seminaries, PhD’s., billions of dollars invested in buildings, technology and so forth is so pathetically weak and ineffective. With all of their knowing I doubt if our theological halls have figured this much out. Those who write most of the books we read have never fought a skirmish in their spiritual lives. They are as, John the Baptist called them, “those that wear fine raiment and live in King’s palaces.” Rarely will we find a hair or a comma out-of-place.
Then there are the followers who think to themselves, “Oh, if I just claim this truth, I will be a spiritual giant like Dr. This ‘n That.” I personally tire of the constant reference to this author or that pastor. In many respects some of these people have been elevated to almost demigod status. Perhaps it is only in America that we have this luxury of having our own personality cults. I have friends who hang upon these priests to breath or type their next word. See there, just like the world, we have our celebrities too. Is this a form of idolatry?
How they love their scrolls and books. This was the problem with the Pharisee’s and the scribes. They were masters of academic detail. In fact, they were so fastidious regarding the Torah and zealous toward academic excellence they adopted the rabbinical commentaries (Talmud) with the same vigor. These were the seminarians, the PhD’s. They were devoted to jot and tittle. They had it figured out how things must be. As we say, “They had their ducks all lined up in a neat row.” Everything was measured by rightly dividing the word of God. It all boils down to an accurate exegete of the past. “Does any prophet come out of Galilee?” They built their houses of cards, sat back in admiration but then God blew it down. He (Jesus) arrived as a surprise package. Is this why the last to recognize a move of God are those in seminaries and church hierarchies?
It didn’t take long before the emerging infant church had their minds made up as well. In less than a decade they had it figured out how things ought to go. That was until Cornelius’ house when God blew all of the neatly stacked cards across the gentile world.
We have placed too much confidence in this form of flesh and thus have established a new evangelical priesthood
This same attitude has found its’ way into the twenty-first century. There is a side of the western evangelical church that thinks this way. Without ample evidence, they have decided that the gifts are not for today. These have all ended with the Apostles. We no longer need the gifts because we now have the completed canon and we can rely on our exegetical skills. Leave this business to the professionals.
These folks, like the Pharisee’s admire academic certainty. They don’t like any coloring outside of the lines.
For me, this represents a carnality of another kind.
It reeks of the high-mindedness of Corinth, doesn’t it? Does this surprise you that someone might call this carnality? Nevertheless, for me it amounts to a sinful trust in the flesh. The flesh will prevail and save the day. We don’t need power when accurate exegete will suffice. Well, let’s see if exegesis bears this out. I ask you, what is Paul saying here in these passages? What constitutes and who were the “puffed up?”
“Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.”
1 Corinthians 4:19-20
This is the same Paul who was touted as one of the greatest intellects of the ancient world. This is the Paul who also wrote, “Study to show thyself approved.” Study all you like but avoid placing any confidence in it. This is one of the prevalent contemporary errors that we must be on guard against. I am not being anti-intellectual. After all, I am a Bible teacher and apologists so not opposed to learning all that we can. What I am opposing here is the carnal pride that comes with anyone claiming they or their group have arrived at the full council of God. “We see but through a glass darkly.”
Vance Havner, that great country preacher from Jugtown, North Carolina (I’m serious, it was Jugtown) said, “I have never yet heard a sermon that I got nothing out of it. But, I’ve had some mighty close calls.”
I will not be as charitable as Havner. I have sat through some sermons that were down-right content less in one of two different respects. Some were so eisogetic, esoteric and ethereal I gave up on the premise right early. There were others so impressively intellectual, academic and ponderous that I didn’t want to encourage the speaker in his powerless, self infatuation.
Whether apocryphal or not, it has been often told that somebody once told John Bunyan that he had preached a delightful sermon.
“You are too late,” said John, “the devil told me that before I left the pulpit.”
The problem is not education or those who have it. The problem for me is the false assumption that those who do have it are somehow more insightful, spiritual or gifted than the rest of the church. There is evidenced far too much false humility. I am afraid that too many popular evangelicals have been too busy with self promotion and pretending that all they do is for the glory of God. Perhaps they would do well (as would their followers) if they took leave off the reading of their press clippings and cease from seeking the media limelight.
“Beware lest anyone cheat 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. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
Colossians 2:8-10
Part 1
“I believe in marriage. I have been married three times.”
I wasn’t there to hear but apparently this statement was made by a “Christian” television host and personality in Norway. When hearing this, most Norwegian believers that I spoke to were shocked and annoyed (aghast comes to mind) that anyone claiming to be a Christian should have the gall to make such an utterance in public and do so on national television. Those reporting this to me were pretty clear in their minds that this statement was not made in jest. This fellow was serious, meant what he said and didn’t recognize the ethical conflict.
The point was made, that if anyone else would have said this they would not have been so readily excused for it. Some people, because of their notoriety, can say almost anything and get by with it. They somehow get a free pass from that which the rest of us are held accountable.
It may seem strange to you that I begin this OPINION piece with an illustration of this nature. Yet, the identical thing is happening all around us with increasing frequency and hardly anyone says a word about it. How dare anyone touch the Lord’s anointed – the man of God – the prophet of Lord?
“I believe in prophesy and because I do, I will endure any blithering idiot’s asinine proclamations.”
The truth is, we are nowhere instructed to do such a thing! In fact, we are commanded to do just the opposite. We are commanded to put the prophet and the prophetic to the test. We are to protect the office and integrity of the prophet.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 John 4:1
“But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.”
1 Corinthians 14:28-29
Let me attempt to clear this up. I believe in the prophetic. I believe that God speaks today.
Now, the truth is, we all hope that He does. We attest to such a thing when we say, “The Lord told me this or that,” or “God called me into the ministry.” Even the most conservative (Cessationist) believers will often make public comment about the present, active voice of God. Further, none of us want our preachers to rise to the pulpit on Sunday morning and not have a revelation. Doctrine is one thing and revelation is another. We pay our preachers to go up to the mountain, get something from the mouth of God and come back to us with it. In this respect, we all believe that our preachers should be prophets and not just talking heads. We believe there is a fresh, off of the altar living Word to be had.
“Scholars can interpret the past. It takes prophets to interpret the present.”
A. W. Tozer
Historically, preachers and prophets were called to capture the mind of God and deliver it. Regrettably, many contemporary parishioners are subjected to preachers who have to say something rather than have something to say. This may be the distinguishing feature that separates the good preachers from the dull. If we were all honest we would admit to preferring the prophetic preacher over an academic one.
“Preachers can be turned out of seminaries like cars off of an assembly line; but prophets are only made by God.”
We want, even expect preachers to gain God’s angle on a thing and powerfully bring it down to earth. When it comes to “telling forth” we are all comfortable with the prophetic. Our anxiety comes when people step this up to some form of “forth telling.”
We are seemingly presently besieged by scores of people who call themselves Prophets in the more notorious sense. These are those who say they have the ability to see what cannot be seen, pull back the veil, look into the future and so forth. This is where the rub comes and this is what I have my problem with.
“Despise not prophesying.”
1 Thessalonians 5:20
When one reads the most extensive treatment of prophesy in the New Testament, First Corinthians chapters 12 and 14, they could right away become confused when they begin separating the telling forth from the forth telling forms of prophesy. The divisions and distinctions between the two ideas are not always transparently clear. It winds up being a tangled mess which may take some sorting out.
There was, after all, the New Testament office of the prophet (Ephesians 4:11). There were those individuals, both men and women, specifically gifted to foretell events to come. They, through the gift of discernment (words of wisdom and words of knowledge) were enabled to somehow know things that could not otherwise be known without divine aid. They were so accurate at seeing into things that the church recognized their propensity for this gift and relied upon them for this purpose. The most notable of these were Agabus and the four daughters of Philip who lived in Caesarea Philippi. For a lack of a better word, and as occult as it might sound, these people were seers and were considered gifts to the church.
But it was not always or only these people who prophetic insight. Apparently Peter had the gift in his dealings with Sapphira and Ananias when they lied to the Holy Spirit by conspiring to keep back a portion of the monies from the sale of land. Peter had a “word of knowledge” about it all. He saw into the business for what it was. The scripture goes on to say this event so frightened everyone that people did not want to join up though they held the believers in awe for what had taken place. They didn’t want to come near such a thing.
Paul had many prophetic incidences occur in his ministry. The most frequently mentioned is what we have come to call the “Macedonian Call” when he was prevented from going into Asia and re-directed by a vision in the night to go to Philippi.
There is simply no shortage of first century events of this nature but we needn’t stop there. History is full of similar testimonies of the prophetic at work especially among reformers, revivalists and missionaries. A fitly spoken word or vision has made the difference in gospel advancement. Even the most theologically conservative, while they may reject the office of the prophet in the church today, have made decisions on the basis of the prophetic impression either within themselves or from some other influence. Not everything has been determined on the basis of an accurate “jot” and “tittle” textual exegete. The conservative believer who may not want to admit to a present gifting for the prophetic might prefer to call this a hunch, impression, influence but it all amounts to the same thing.
Again, in Corinthians when having to choose between tongues and interpretation, it is well stated that prophesy is the more important of the two. Sadly, some groups make more out of tongues than they should in the public meeting. They should know better but have not rightly divided the word here and have placed all of the emphasis on ecstatic utterance when the scripture is crystal clear in 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 that this should not be so. People will come in and think you are all crazy. Well, that’s what it says, now doesn’t it? The utterance of the tongue serves as a bell so that God may get a word in edge ways and the entire group be edified (exhortation and comforted) as well as sinners convicted of sin and converted. No one needs to be a Greek scholar to figure this out. Prophesy and interpretation are more universally useful than tongues.
The important thing here is that prophesy was an integral part of the first century worship service. There were two prophetic expressions, preaching (doctrine and revelation) and the other, an immediate word which provided encouragement, exhortation and comfort. This was all done for the purpose of edification.
What about the other prophetic utterances that we are accustomed to read about in the Old Testament? There we read about warning, exposure and rebuke.
The Old Testament prophets were a vital part in the functional history of Israel. There was nothing soft about these men of God. They were both disturbing and disturbers. John the Baptist typified the others like Elijah and Elisha, but the many others as well. When it came to the prophetic, people preferred to stand clear of them. These characters struck fear in the hearts of kings and false prophets. They were not pleasant to be with personalities. Not at all. John, a rugged man himself rebuked the refinement of those in fine raiment and in king’s palaces.
Perhaps we should all in a fresh way ask ourselves what the prophetic and anointing should look like? How should an authentic “man sent from God” appear to us? What should we expect based upon the biblical imprint left by them? Would we invite Elijah to be the keynote speaker at next Thursday evening’s prophetic meeting? Would he arrive in by jet to enthusiastic crowds and popular acclaim? What about Paul who could see through person like he was a pane of cut glass? If they were to expose everything and bare the earth in front of us, I doubt anyone of would be as anxious to be a part of that congregation.
This is what disturbs me about the more contemporary fascination with prophets and the prophetic. It just doesn’t always look right to me. When people are brought great distances and touted as anointed, I wonder what should be expected in the wake of their visit? Should I expect a revival or a riot? It was always one or the other or both when Samuel, Elijah or John the Baptist came onto the scene. The event was characterized as unpredictable and perhaps even frightening. People did not gaily leave after having their fortunes told.
With all of this said, I am surprised by the favorable reactions people have toward prophesy. I work out of the prophetic and I will tell you right now, for the most part, I don’t like it. While the prophetic has proven to be a great aid to me in knowing what and what not to do , who to partner with and who not to partner with – it helps get things done with the least amount of personal and kingdom expense – it is also a disturbing gift to have to contend with. Being able to see into something is not all it’s cracked up to be and can prove to be downright troublesome. Uncovering fraud before others do is not a pleasant insight to live with. Having a word from the Lord when others are not yet ready or willing to hear it is a burden grievous to be born. I have no idea how people can be so jolly about it all.
For me, I have wrestled night after night with a stinging rebuke that needs to be delivered to good friends that are misdirected or have cut the corners with personal and corporate integrity. It was difficult for me in 2003, when I, in front of five-hundred onlookers, publicly rebuked the popular, charismatic Pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs and Executive Director of the National Evangelical Association, Ted Haggard. I felt that my sanity was about to be called into question and my job put on the line.
After warning those who had his ear to intervene before it might be too late, I was ignored and passed off as a loose cannon. In less than two years the warning came back to haunt them. None of this was fun for anyone. This wasn’t provided as a form of amusement and cheap entertainment. It was no Christian substitute for the Psychic Fair.
On a number of other occasions, I have also been prompted to write and privately deliver letters written in the middle of the night. I have delivered my soul to other leaders, warning them of what might be on their doorstep if the fail to take heed. They did not always want to hear it and have reaped the consequences. They rebuffed the warning and in so doing, I can name a number of people who have met their fate. This was not delivered to people in party hats. Prophesy is often a hard word and not always pleasant to hear.
I am not trying to commend myself. The prophetic rises up and the prophet may have no predilection that any such thing is on its way. He may not be able to predict that he will be a prophet this Thursday night at seven in the evening. Yes, there have been other times when in a classroom the Lord will call on me to speak over the students’ a word of recognition and encouragement but this is likewise unpredictable.
This is why I am left baffled. To me the current movement neither looks like the scriptural pattern nor matches up with my experience with it. I am disturbed by what I see. I feel compelled to speak this solemn warning. Perhaps this is a prophetic word. It has come to me in this way.
Do I believe in prophesy? Of course, I do. I admit to having interacted with the spirit of prophesy. Here, let me name for you my concerns.
First, I am concerned that a prophesy enamored culture is looking for spiritual short cuts. They don’t want to take the long way ’round as others have done. The fact is this, the Bible demands that we go the long route – we must run according to the rules. It is hard work to study and apply the scriptures through interaction and experience. It is much easier and quicker to be spoken over by a prophet. “Surely, they know the will of God for my life.” I should remind the reader that this is not new, mediums and clairvoyants provide the same service for a small fee.
Don’t misunderstand my point here. This sort of thing of providing direction when you need it most may and does happen on occasion but it is not the way to live. One word at just the precise time may be spoken which will alter all of the direction of one’s life. Nevertheless, this is not the way to move from faith to faith. We should not rely upon these things. We should not run from one prophet to the next and leaders should be more responsible than to promote such an idea or opportunity. For some believers the prophetic meeting has become an obsession and an unhealthy way to direct or manage one’s spiritual life.
Well meaning people have had their entire lives destroyed by the words of a prophet. Should anyone care to know, most American cults began in a prophetic movement. This writer can provide the reader with twenty disastrous cults that began through the words of a prophet. When people place their trust in the voice of a man their security is misplaced and the prophet takes on the role of a priest (a mediary). This is a dangerous route to take and it will not wind you up in spiritual maturity. It is a common concern that this generation of believers are turning out to be the most spiritually immature of all of those in the last two centuries. This is being attributed to the low value being placed upon scripture and doctrinal convictions.
Next, I am worried with respect to the firm warnings we have in the scriptures concerning false prophets, false doctrine, heresy, lying signs and wonders. One of the evidences of the end of the age is the seduction and falling away of many from the faith (apostasy). If I were to take the time it could easily be shown that we must guard against being taken hostage. In the interest of time let me provide the reader with just two such references.
“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
“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
Here is where leadership is failing us. They have shirked their responsibilities. They are not only called to feed and lead the flock of God, they are called to protect it at the peril of their own lives. To do otherwise is to prove one’s own self to be a false prophet (the hireling). Many advocates of the prophetic movement have seen the wolf coming and have run away.
This writer has witnessed the most incredulous (downright stupid) things spoken with a “Thus saith the Lord, “and no one offers a rebuke or caution at the end. In a world of mass communication where prophets can be discovered, popularized then whisked in by jet from the other side of the planet, “hands are laid on men suddenly,” people are not sufficiently examined. Holy ground is surrendered to imbeciles. Leaders that have a biblical responsibility play the ostrich, renege on their biblical responsibility to test the spirits as not all spirits are from God.
In my view this what has been missing in certain “revival” movements. Leaders have failed to explain or debrief the people and thus have tacitly endorsed ridiculous antics (kicking, blowing, hacking… the more bizarre the better) and /or people who neither enhance the gospel nor edify the people. People are left to sort out for themselves what might be truth and what might be error. In the process immature, undiscerning believers have been thrown to the wolves and left to fend for themselves. Furthermore, because leadership shrinks from calling a spade a spade for fear of incidentally touching the Lord’s anointed, they propagate and spread a false notion throughout the globe. Instead of encouraging confidence in the prophetic they manage to do the exact opposite. They turn a holy thing into a laughing-stock.
This is my prophetic word on the matter. Before he passed away, a friend of mine advised me to conclude such essays and messages with this brief line, “Do whatever you want with this, you will anyway.”
So now, I warn my friends who believe that “the kingdom comes in power not in word” and want to preserve this truth. If we continue to promote the bizarre simply because it is bizarre we will succeed in driving people from the very thing we hope to attract them to – life in the Spirit. False fire will not cause people to pursue real fire. It will cause them to rush to the false security of no fire at all. This is the reason that some earnest believers have moved from “Spirit-filled” life to the traditional evangelical, Reform or have left the church entirely.
A bondage of another kind
Intellectual Legalism
“Walking in the light of men rather than the light of God.”
Strong doctrinal opinion can be as seductive and dangerous as heresy. When we think of legalism, what comes to mind are certain extra-biblical restrictions concerning dress, form or behavior. There is, however, another less identifiable but perhaps more acceptable form of legalism. Many people have been promised liberty (a special truth or experience) only to find that they have been brought into the bondage of men.
There are certain doctrinal persuasions that are so strongly held that though they are not cultic they have managed to essentially accomplish the same thing – mind control.
Cults restrict exposure and association. Cults must separate and isolate their adherents from materials and all others who think differently. The fact is, there are some Christian groups which operate in a similar way.
This is one of my present concerns. There is a term which describes this sort of isolationism. This is called “theological provincialism.” The idea of “provincialism” concerns itself with a lack of perspective. The cultural application has to do with those who might live on an island or inhabit a region in a remote area of the world. These people are cut off from everyone but their own kind. Geographic circumstances forces everyone to think the same. People in these situations are forced to inbreed. In very real terms this is what happened to groups like the Quakers, Shakers and Amish. They moved onto their islands, destroyed their bridges and boats then established religious enclaves of a solitary nature. These groups, as well as others, have separated themselves but one does not have to become a monk, move into a monastery or take a vow of silence. One need not move to a rural area, grow beards, dress in black and dispense with motorized vehicles to accomplish the same purpose.
There are many identifiable groups which already do this. They are restricted from association and exposure from all theological perspectives but one. Let me name a few so the reader can see more clearly what I mean, The Church of Christ, certain Plymouth Brethren, Independent Baptists, Seventh Day Adventists, United Pentecostals. All of these groups, and I could name more, are elitists in their theological ideologies.
“The problem with seduction is it seduces.”
This statement may sound rather trite until one thinks about it. The entire point of seduction is that one does not know they have been seduced. In saying this, I doubt if those readers who need to hear this the most will even hear it. They will suppose that this must be about someone else. They might take offence at the suggestion that they have tacitly surrendered their minds and souls to the safe keeping of others. They will say, “Well, certainly this is not me. I am free to read, consider and think as I want. I am not involved in a mind control group! I can leave anytime that I like!” A seduced person – a person who has misplaced their security -cannot leave anytime they like. Let me correct myself, they can, but they won’t. Like cultists they are not free as they have given themselves to others as their prophets and priests. They no longer rely on the Holy Spirit and Scripture but upon others as interpreters of truth.
Cults formally describe for their adherents what they can and cannot read, should and should not believe. Cultists are emphatically told that views contrary to or oppose their doctrinal interpretations are devil inspired and are heretical. Every cult separates itself from all other groups by claiming orthodoxy. They assure their followers that they have come into a deeper light through the promise of a greater truth or experience. In fact, while being in complete error, Jehovah’s Witnesses refer to faithfulness as, “walking in the truth.” Within a cult there is not the subtlety one might find in Christian groups.
With this in mind, I am seeing many others, even Christians that should know better by now, unwittingly overcome by the same spirit of seduction. In their desperation for spiritual reality some have gone after almost anything that glitters. For some it has been outrageous Pentecostalism, prophets that kick, giggle or jerk and for others they have been seduced by clever words and lofty intellectualism, but it is all the same.
Years ago, a Christian friend went off to Ohio to visit the “Glory Barn” in Ohio. It only took him one weekend to be seduced by the teaching of Hobart Freeman. He was so convinced that he bought three-hundred sixty audio tapes and brought them back to Canada. Weekend after weekend he drove off with his family to Ohio. He soon disassociated himself from other believers, pulled together a little group from a variety of area churches and in a short time would only hear Hobart Freeman and his associate teachers. Most interestingly, while Hobart Freeman was a cult leader himself, he had written one of the standard books on cults entitled, “Every Wind of Doctrine.” “The problem with seduction is, it seduces.”
This, to the reader might seem extreme. They might even say, “I would never fall for that!” Yet, everyday, many have and are. Though, unlike the cults which limit exposure and thereby determine what one can read or hear, other mind control groups accomplish the same thing in more sophisticated ways. They slowly, but just as effectively, move their adherents onto the island through endorsements. Once a person becomes convinced that certain preachers, academics, writers of books and blogs have a theological edge on truth – once they give themselves over to certain philosophical perspectives - they begin to clear their book shelves of all other views which might conflict with this or that particular theology. There are certain writers and thinkers that are acceptable and others that are not. Ask any one of these folks for a list of books they might recommend and one can predict the titles and authors. When I read these authors (and I do), I know who they will quote. They will quote one another and thus we are shipped off to the theological provincialism of “circular reasoning.” The eye does say to the hand I have no need of thee. I can be almost certain and have rarely been disappointed in my expectations. They will only reference those in their own stream of thought. This is legalism and theological provincialism.
While my friends have been promised greater truth and liberty they are in reality brought into a smaller world where their thoughts are controlled and it is no wonder that they cannot (will not) leave as their prophets have spoken. Every opinion is constantly and emphatically supported by everything they come into contact with.
This is seduction and those who have succumbed to it have no means by which to see it. They have slipped into a prophetic movement whereby the prophet(s) speaks the only truth there is. Making it even more convincing are the amassed degrees, the media exposure, books they have authored, the conferences where-in they were keynote speakers, the smoothness of speech, the flawless grammar, spelling and punctuation. In spite of these handsome credentials it amounts to nothing more than mind-control and theological legalism. Every thought has been taken captive by men rather than Christ.
In this sense, people can depart from the faith and not even be aware of it.
Take time to read this small book on detecting spiritual imbalance in Christian groups. Read ”A Larger Place” by Jeanne Hedrick by clicking the link below… http://alargerplace.wordpress.com/
