Continued from our series,

“18 Areas the American Church has been Deceived – part VI”

“18 Areas the American Church has been Deceived – part V”

“18 Areas the American Church has been Deceived – part IV”

“18 Areas the American Church has been Deceived – part III”

“18 Areas the American Church has been Deceived – part II”

“18 Areas the American Church has been Deceived – part I”

Proof Number 17: False Teachers Socialize in the Same Circle of Like Minded Associates

The logic that we should all fellowship since we will in Heaven is gravely dangerous. The “do-gooder” unity-seekers redefine and reduce the scriptures until little of substance is left.

Godly New Testament believers resisted all pressure to patronize false teachers, seek association, accept their sponsorship, increase their numbers, send them converts, add to their prestige, follow them around, invite them to open in prayer, or obliterate all important distinctions!

When does anyone involved with the great ecumenical conferences, crusades, or marches rebuke false teachers according to (Titus 1:13)?

Be faithful! Too many “follow Jesus” for the sensational; but when it comes to His unpopular teachings, they are not supportive (John 6:60)!

As Bob Ketchum once said, “Find out where Jesus Christ stands on any issue; then go there and stand with Him!”

Proof Number 18:

Non-Charismatics are not total strangers to a sovereign God who performs miracles. For years they stood back, not impressed with what is passed off as tongues and other sign-gifts for this period of the Church. Far too many Charismatics totally disregard the clear instructions for the functioning of gifts!

Charismatic friend; clearly no church, family, or Christian will function with perfection on this side of Heaven.

hflogo Thankfully, you can find bodies of true believers that are very intent on glorifying God by obedience to His written Word. They are often small; but they are faithful and firm. Is God’s concern first of all for purity or for size? It is for purity (Rev. 2-3)!

Size does not assure God’s approval. The danger for dishonor is greater with size (2 Timothy 2:20).

You may have been saved in a Charismatic Church or been a member for years. You have found help there. I do not write to dishearten you. I write with love and concern.

“Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Pro. 27:5-6).

The charismatic role-model, the Corinthian Church, was guilty of tolerating quarrelsomeness, carnality, immorality, improper lawsuits, the violation of Christian liberty, insubordination of women, abuse of the Lord’s Supper, indecency, pride, divisiveness, ignorance of spirituality, confusion about spiritual gifts, and disorder.

Pentecostalism started through a group with very serious doctrinal perversions in 1901. Pentecostalism gave birth to the Charismatic Movement – coming into full bloom in the 1960’s. The grand-children are the Signs and Wonders and the Word-Faith Movements of today. The Oneness Pentecostal cult came from a Pentecostal revelation.

The Pentecostal and Charismatic movements are young but large. The twisted and extreme theology is where the radical growth appears to be taking place.

The movement is in trouble when the ones held in such high esteem leave the TRUTH. It follows that someone is a deceiver and someone is being deceived. As demonstrated, this movement is easy prey for Satan’s LIES. Why shouldn’t Christians ask,

“What could possibly be next?” Beyond all of the religious excitement is alarming evidence of great theological poison!

Can we rationalize that it is acceptable to remain in a church, as the Roman Catholic Church, because some Protestant churches turned from the TRUTH? No! We know the Mormon god has problems with changing his mind! The Bible’s God is very clear and He has not changed His mind; you get out of every church that abandons the TRUTH!

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8).

I urge you to prayerfully read The Charismatics, by John MacArthur. Search the Scriptures, and think through your whole theological background. I pray God will help you find the way.

In a day when the Church and the New Age are steadily merging into one force, beware! Everyone of us needs to recognize the danger of drift. Many  of today’s churches have lost their doctrinal moorings! Any kind of church that has left the TRUTH is to be avoided.

Sadly, many discouraged victims of a shallow Christianity have left the Church to join the cults!

Let’s pause and ask ourselves, “What kind of a conclusion awaits at the end of life’s journey?” Do we want to hear Jesus say, “Well done!” or “Well, you’re done”?

“The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19)

A very special “Thank you!” to Moriel Ministries and their faithfulness in following hard after God’s infallible Word – exposing heresy within the Pentecostal/Charismatic movements.

Linknotes:

  1. Dager, ibid. p. 2. ‡
  2. Cloud, Special Issue, p. 38. ‡
  3. Dager, ibid. p. 4,5. ‡
  4. Dager, ibid. p. 3. ‡
  5. T. Tillian, ibid. ‡
  6. Fisher, ibid., p. 14. ‡
  7. Dager, ibid. p. 5. ‡
  8. Dager, ibid., p. 12. ‡
  9. Tricia Tillin, “The Toronto Phenomenon: Is it of God? How Can Christians Decide?” Discernment, [July-Sep. 1994], p. 4. ‡
  10. David W. Cloud, “Happy Hunters Ministering Holy Laughter, O TIMOTHY, 1994, p. 3. ‡
  11. Joseph R. McAuliffe, “Dominion Work,” Chalcedon Report, Dec. 1994, p. 15. ‡
  12. Tricia Tillin, Discernment, p. 1. ‡
  13. Dager, ibid., p. 1. ‡
  14. Tillin, Mainstream; Dager, p. 16. ‡
  15. Tillin, Discernment, p. 2; Tillin, Mainstream. ‡
  16. Cloud, Special Issue, p. 20. ‡
  17. Cloud, Special Issue, p. 10. ‡
  18. Cloud, Special Issue, p. 8. ‡
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