The global invasion of a priesthood of beguilers have put a modern face on historical heresies. Men and women posing as pastors, prophets, evangelists, and apostles make millions preying on the biblically-illiterate, sick, poor, and emotionally fragile. Behind a veil of glamour, many self-proclaimed pastors mask their spiritual abuse with claims of special position and power from the Holy Spirit. The Original Gospel pulls back the curtain to reveal the truth behind this lucrative industry.
“For we are not as many, which corrupt (pervert, twist, misuse) the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
WHEN you get into God’s Word for yourself, honestly, your eyes are going to be opened to the great prophetic apostasy transpiring (2 Thessalonians 2, etc.). Most pastors today are nothing more than greedy scammers who are building their own kingdom using the name of Jesus and you (Philippians 3:18-21). Nothing has changed (Ecclesiastes 1:9; Isaiah 9:16; 56:10-12; Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 24:11; 2 Timothy 3:1-13; 2 John 7-11, etc.).
Most in “ministry” today are using God’s Word for their own self-serving agenda, building their own empire, not Christ’s kingdom! Beware (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Philippians 3:18-19).
The person not crucified with Christ will communicate using only things that will bring accolades to himself. They do not want the heat, the persecutions that come with preaching the original Gospel Jesus and His apostles preached. These are the self-serving cross-less wolves Paul warned us about specifically (Philippians 3:18-19). Jesus warns: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).
THE self-serving lightweights, seminarian scammers, many call “pastor” don’t get YOU INTO THE WORD for yourself because they simply want you to continue to patronize their church busine$$! Get a clue! This is completely contrary to Christ’s apostle Paul (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2-4). ANY so-called “preacher” who won’t offend you is a self-serving wolf! RUN NOW!
HAVE you noticed how these new lightweight “churches” brag about their “Top 10 Core Values”? What a joke! In other words they pick out 10 socially acceptable things most people will like and that’s their top 10. And they do this instead of simply announcing that they endeavor to adhere to the whole of the Bible. KJB. Lame.
In order to sell books, some modern authors seek to make our life with Christ appear flowery and romantic. This is why they intentionally, carefully selectively sprinkle a few Bible verses as to not spoil the plot and plan of their own book, written with their personal goal and agenda of selling many of them. Yet God’s Word doesn’t romanticize our walk with Him. No, to the contrary, it warns of severe sufferings for walking with Christ. Loving God is spoken of in terms of worshiping and obeying the LORD and not experiencing some romantic thrill. Anyone who has been saved for a few years knows Jesus’ words to be true – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). True disciples of Jesus, as opposed to wolves in sheep’s clothing in our midst, give full disclosure to prepare, protect and set expectations. But “tribulation” doesn’t sell books now does it. In their unrealistic, fairy tale writings, these authors conveniently fail to mention the “much tribulation,” “divers temptations” and “perils” we face as a result of serving the LORD in this fallen world (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 11:26; James 1:2).
“In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;” (2 Corinthians 11:26) ……Jesus promises those who walk with Him will be “hated of all men for my name’s sake” (Matthew 10:22). Does this sound glamorous to you? The smooth handed beguilers paint a picture completely inconsistent with what we read in God’s Word. While Jesus and His holy apostles came straight forward with warnings, in order to prepare the hearts of His people, modern wolves hide these severe threats and warnings.
Today, annually there are more than 60 million books sold in the Christian genre.
Modern “Christian” authors have and are capturing an enormous audience. Using a unique, captivating writing style in and of itself is not a sin. Yet, painting a picture foreign to the setting of God’s Word is sin.
Couching the truth in a setting that varies from what Holy Scripture presents is dangerous at best and can mislead the reader. Beware of many modern “Christian” writers who do just this.
DOES the gathering you call “church” align with the order seen in the early church records in the New Testament Scriptures? How do you know either way if you aren’t diligently searching the Holy Scriptures daily? Acts 2:42-47 is a good place to begin.
When you read Acts 2:42-47, stop and think of the simplicity of worship and how it all centered on Christ and resulted in the edification of His body. So much in our modern “churches” has been added, commercializing the gospel for the self-serving purposes of those doing such. It has been said that “Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication” and such applies to the order of God when His saints gather to worship HIM! Would Jesus not again cleanse the temple if He were here in the flesh today?
Rule of thumb for every disciple of Christ: Read God’s Word, the King James Bible, at least 3 times as much as the reading of any other book. This includes the time we spend listening to preachers. Bible study is primary. The importance of knowing God’s Word for ourselves cannot be overstated (2 Timothy 2:15). There’s simply no way to discern truth from error unless we are deeply grounded in the truth, God’s Word, for ourselves. Our time in the study of God’s Word is the most important thing we do upon this earth.
The man who presents a partial gospel is a poison peddler (Acts 20:20, 27, etc.).
SAINTS, we must not be like most “pastors” who pick and choose what they want to teach from God’s Word for personal advantage, personal gain. NO! Rather, we must endeavor like Paul to disclose the whole counsel of Holy Scripture (Acts 20:20, 27).
It is intentionally misleading people to neglect to warn them and prepare them for difficult times to come. As is on record in Colossians 1:28, Christ’s apostle Paul did the following three things to prepare Christ’s body for the return of Heaven’s King:
Preach
WARN
Teach
To inaccurately portray is to betray.
PWT = Preach, WARN, Teach
“Whom we PREACH, WARNING every man, and TEACHING every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:28
Did you catch what the apostle Paul did to prepare the church to meet Christ?
Evil wolves are known in that they do not warn their prey (their audience) of the reality of the rigorous sufferings every disciple of Jesus must “endure” (Matthew 10:22; 24:13). Christ and His apostles gave full disclosure of the sufferings, afflictions, persecutions every true follower of Jesus must endure. They hid nothing and to do so is deceit.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. … And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22; 24:10-13
Does this sound glamorous to you?
Are you learning the real, original Gospel of Christ through daily, diligent study of the Scriptures for yourself, OR, are you being sold a glamorized, commercialized, sensationalized false gospel?
Saints of Christ, “Holy Scripture” is given to God’s people to make us “wise” and fully “furnish” us in this life (2 Timothy 3:15-17). As you read through Holy Scripture, watch for the divine warnings. The Bible verses posted here in this section are but a taste of the full unveiling of the realities of the Christian life. Ask: WHAT did Jesus warn us of and WHY would the Great Shepherd of His sheep have done so?
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
“Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:11-12
Whether via the pulpit or pen, to pervert the original Gospel of our LORD by presenting it for self-serving purposes and therefore rearranging or giving partial disclosure, is to betray the LORD and reveal oneself to be a wolf, the very enemy of Christ.
Reprehensible Reciprocal Relationship
God’s Word clues us in to the reciprocal relationship between wolves and those they mislead. Of God’s own professing people, the prophet Jeremiah told us that “My people love to have it so” (Jeremiah 5:31).
“The (false) prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah 5:31
Unrepentant mere professors will only patronize and support that which does not call for them to truly repent, deny self, live the crucified life, and walk with Jesus for real. Like the professing believers Isaiah addressed, they want “smooth things.”
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:” Isaiah 30:9-10
Peddling the gospel for money is nothing new. To do so, one must present a partial gospel which is a false gospel. When Jesus was cleansing the temple He stated:
“And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” John 2:16
By the Holy Ghost, the LORD’s apostle Peter specifically warns us of those who use “feigned words” to make a dollar off of God’s people:
“And through covetousne($$) shall they with feigned (fictitious) words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:3
The Spirit of the LORD would expose the wolves in our midst who are making a fortune as they spring board off of false premises, using psychobabble. John Eldredge for example builds the whole message of his book “Wild at Heart” off of the false premise that “men have become soft.” While this may be true, and if it’s true that all the more means that those men need the Word of God. The reason they have been softened is due to the previous false leaders who didn’t get them into the Word for themselves whereby full masculinity would have taken its rightful place. So John Eldredge is perpetrating the error by giving men his own philosophy instead of God’s Word. Yet the fact that men have become softer is no premise for a message in a book supposedly representing the LORD. Instead of simply preaching the Word and thereby establishing divine truth and seeing God build His kingdom in the lives of His men, John Eldredge begins on a faulty foundation. In that lie, he catches, snares, lures, and puts the hook in gullible, un-grounded novices and counterfeits.
The Gospel is not a fairy tale. No, it’s for true disciples. Books that seek to glamorize the Gospel are for unrepentant lazy, refuse-to-get-into-God’s-Word-for-themselves counterfeits.
Laurie Cox writes:
“I threw out a lot of of books from the beginning of my walk [in Christ] that were error, this (John Eldredge book) was one of them. The Word of God is the Greatest Book that we should be in to.”
In case you need more evidence of the threat of human authors, here is a specific warning from Christ. Jesus specifically warned us about the writers, the scribes.
“Beware of the scribes (writers).” Mark 12:38; Luke 20:46
Paul spoke of denouncing all deceit and presenting God’s Word just as it’s written:
“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:2
Some modern “Christian” writers couch things in such a way as to appeal to the sensual nature, the uncircumcised hearts of the unrepentant. In doing so they become wealthy in this fleeting world as they mislead their readers. These who will give full account before a holy God, fulfill the prophetic utterance found in 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
“Fables” here means stories. And that’s exactly what the glamorized “Christian” books are – fairy tale stories. They are not according to Scripture but rather a romanced version full of psychology and half-truths that deliberately leave out the severe judgment coming on all rebels, all who die in sin.
To tickle ears, one must remove the essential doctrines of the original Gospel, thereby removing the “threat” of convicting ones audience. You know, the doctrines of repentance, bringing forth good fruit to prove you are truly in Christ, personal holiness, the holiness of God, judgment to come, eternal damnation for all who die in sin, the crucified life (cross), brokenness, fearing God, the the soon return of Christ, etc.
The cross is the divine power generator of the Gospel. There is no victory outside the crucified life (Galatians 2:20). It’s all surface level wasted words if there’s no cross! (2 Corinthians 4:10-12)
SAINTS, if there’s no CROSS in his message, he’s a wolf! 100%
YOU know when you are right with God when you are running TO the cross message and not AWAY from it! “Enemies of the cross” of Christ “mind earthly things” and not the things the LORD commanded (Philippians 3:18-19).
Their very book titles give away the deceit contained therein: Titles such as Sacred Romance, Wild at Heart, and Ragamuffin Gospel are designed to sell books and deceive readers. These titles alone do not align with the picture Jesus’ followers gain from reading the pure Word of God, the King James Bible. This would mean that the authors of such books are “accursed” for preaching another, a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
“For ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.” Jeremiah 23:36
Misrepresenting the LORD is not limited to failing to declare the full contents of Holy Writ (Acts 20:20, 27). Unlike Scripture, in these fairy tale volumes, there are no convicting or direct statements. This is intentional so as to cater to the unrepentant. The demands of the original Gospel repel those who are rebels at heart against the LORD. For example:
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26
“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33
Is your favorite minister giving you verses like these above or is the wolf intentionally avoiding them in order to beguile you into a false gospel?
At all cost, the divine message of Holy Scripture must be tainted, toned down, and glamorized in order to sell books that mislead readers.
Sometimes perhaps we limit the “false prophets” and “false teachers” we’re so often warned about in Scripture to those who stand in pulpits on Sunday morning. Not. As someone has aptly stated: “The pen is mightier than the pulpit.” Unknown
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3
Misrepresenting the LORD is the identifying work of the wolves we are warned about in God’s Word. This deception includes both the refusal to preach the whole Word and also in painting a dishonest, misleading picture of the Christian life that is not seen in the Bible. Some modern authors project a lightness, frivolity, a novelty, which is never so seen or experienced on the pages of Holy Scripture. For example, while they deceitfully claim to be Christian writers, you will never hear a false leader, writer, etc., dare mention Bible truth such as:
“And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:42-50
One of the reasons you will never hear the above passage mentioned by modern wolves, the lame pulpiteers or literary liars of our day, is that the vast majority of them read and use modern fake news “bibles” which removed the above passage and many others. Fake New “Bibles” Exposed
This misrepresentation breeds false hope and ultimately leads to great discouragement. Glamorizing the Gospel is dangerous to souls. Women are especially susceptible to this lure and snare. This glamorization of the Gospel, void of any of the warnings or the convicting truths found in Scripture, is misleading at best and out of the context of God’s Word. When you take a step back to consider the words of some modern authors, you will discover that in their plot and subject matter, they position you and not Christ at center stage. In doing this they are setting up the reader for failure. | Modern Church Exposed
Dear reader: So you listen to a man you think is a true preacher for Christ who never speaks BIBLE words, truths such as the holiness of God, the holiness of true saints, repentance, the eternal damnation of all who die in sin, the essential crucified life of every true disciple of Jesus, or the return of Christ for a bride who is without spot or the stain of sin but rather holy? (See Ephesians 5:25-27.) And you still think he’s of God?
Identifying those who Mislead
Such men who present a false gospel are “accursed” and to be marked in order to warn and protect the people of God (Galatians 1:6-9).
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
We must beware of those who are marketing, branding, and building their own name and “by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” They have lured in and captured the heart affection of the people, intercepting them from Christ! These are antichrists or those who’ve replaced Christ with themselves. Anti means in place of.
WHILE MOST of the men people call “pastor” today are presenting fancy, stylish messages to draw attention to themselves, to their “church” or ministry, the great apostle wrote:
“That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:29-31; 2:1-5
Real ministry that glorifies God comes through crucified vessels and brings attention and glory to Christ alone and not to the mere human messenger (2 Corinthians 3:5; 4:5, etc.).
Many modern authors who pen “Christian” books carry the minds of people away in an unrealistic phenomenon unlike what is produced from reading pure Scripture from the King James Bible. Think about this in light of how the Holy Ghost through Paul warns us of those who “by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18).
Two authors who present an unrealistic portrait of the life of an authentic follower of Jesus are John Eldredge (Wild at Heart) and Brennan Manning (Ragamuffin Gospel) specifically come to mind. It should also be noted that Brennan Manning is a full blown Calvinist heretic. | Calvinism Exposed
Prayer: Holy Father in Heaven, I come to You in the name of my LORD Jesus Christ. LORD, please circumcise my heart and grant the deepest repentance for my sin of rebellion, for self-idolatry. Please forgive me of my sin of forsaking You, for not studying Your pure Word and therefore glorying in the writings of mere sinful men who falsely pose as Your servants, Your scribes. Jesus, please break me to the deepest parts as only You can do. I return to You now LORD Jesus as the first love of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Concerning one of John Eldredge’s books, one former reader notes:
“I threw away this book when in the 5th or 6th chapter he references & praises the work of Agnes Sanford. Agnes Sanford was a heretic. She believed the world was saved by the breath of Jesus upon his death, that the world is saved even today by his “vibrations and energy” in the world, that we have a spirit body, she leaned towards both Gnosticism & Modalism all at once, & that’s just scraping the surface. It would be one thing had he used her as a reference, then said she had other teachings he would encourage the reader to shy away from, but XYZ was a good point she was right about, but he didn’t do that. He used her as a great reference on spiritual healing, and that is dangerous. He doesn’t tell the reader anything else about her, not only leading the reader to believe she was a woman of God, but also deceiving the reader to believe he himself is a man of God, when in reality he likely espouses some of the same teachings, or at best isn’t aware of them; though, that is doubtful if he knows who she is to be referencing her to begin with. I won’t waste my timewith people who 1. Use teachings of heretics to back up his/her own teachings or arguments. 2. Lead others to follow the teachings of heretics. 3. Who espouse the teachings of heretics. Please do your research on Agnes Sanford, and realize that if this man is an admirer of her teachings then he should not be given any of your time or attention.” SM
Parenting and the Eternal Destiny of Your Child [podcast]
There’s no such thing as a Christian who is a parent and isn’t teaching their child(ren) God’s Word. So you programmed and indoctrinated your own child to “go get an education” from a commie university, with nothing but antichrist’s as “professors”, who merely read and teach marxist textbooks full of every evil known to mankind. And yet you still wonder why they turned from Christ? – if you even taught them the Bible in the first place. Time for you to get saved. God holds you personally accountable for allowing and inviting evil upon the minds and hearts of the […]
One Boy's Miracle Faith - Tissue Required [podcast]
“Phew! You were right about the tissues! The faith of a child! He had more faith than his father. I guess that’s why Jesus says in Matt 18: 1-4. You want to be the greatest? His requirement is you must be converted and humble yourself and be like a little child or ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. This is how you enter into the kingdom of heaven become like a little child. This little boy didn’t care if he was cold and soak and wet. He was going to do what God told him. And he was […]
To Walk in Love is of the Highest Priority to the LORD [podcast]
If we die without His love we will not be with Him above. Jesus loved us and all His enemies, even under to death – for our, for the redemption of the world. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth (displayed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 Our promised we, His people, will be persecuted […]
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" [podcast]
What’s Heaven going to look like? “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” Revelation 5:9 “These are the redeemed! From every tribe and nation all seated together in heavenly places in Christ! All barriers torn down through redemption! Believers gathered together in unity to worship God! What a chorus of praise that will go right into the Lord’s ears! Hallelujah!” Karen Cochran HOW did […]
Spiritual Formation—A Dangerous Substitute for the Life of Christ [podcast]
Sometimes we think of spiritual formation as formation by the Holy Spirit. Once again. That’s essential. . . . But now I have to say something that may be challenging for you to think about: Spiritual formation is not all by the Holy Spirit. . . . We have to recognize that spiritual formation in us is something that is also done to us by those around us, by ourselves, and by activities which we voluntarily undertake . . .There has to be method.1—Dallas Willard
Aside from the fact that Spiritual Formation incorporates mystical practices into its infrastructure (remove the contemplative aspect and you don’t have “Spiritual Formation” anymore), Spiritual Formation is a works-based substitute for biblical Christianity. Let us explain.
When one becomes born again (“that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9-10), having given his or her life and heart over to Christ as Savior, Jesus Christ says He will come in and live in that surrendered heart:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)
If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11; emphasis added)
When God, through Jesus Christ, is living in us, He begins to do a transforming work in our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:18). Not only does He change us, He also communes with us. In other words, we have fellowship with Him, and He promises never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
This life of God in the believer’s heart is not something we need to conjure up through meditative practices. But if a person does not have this relationship with the Lord, he may seek out ways to feel close to God. This is where Spiritual Formation comes into play. Rather than a surrendered life to Christ (through repentance and faith), the seeking person begins practicing the spiritual disciplines (e.g., prayer, fasting, good works, etc.) with the promise that if he practices these disciplines, he will become more Christ-like.
But merely doing these acts fails to make one feel close to God—something is still missing. And thus, he begins practicing the discipline of silence (or solitude), and now in these altered states of silence, he finally feels connected to God. He now feels complete. What he does not understand is that he has substituted the indwelling of Christ in his heart for a works-based methodology that endangers his spiritual life. Dangerous because these mystical experiences he now engages in appear to be good because they make him feel close to God, but in reality he is being drawn into demonic realms no different than what happens to someone who is practicing transcendental meditation or eastern meditation. Even mystics themselves acknowledge that the contemplative realm is no different than the realm reached by occultists. To understand this more fully, please read Ray Yungen’s book A Time of Departing.
Bottom line, it is not possible to be truly Christ-like without having Christ inside of us because it is His righteousness that is able to change our hearts—we cannot do it without Him. It is His righteousness we need:
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. (Romans 3:22)
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Philippians 3:9)
It is interesting to note that virtually every contemplative teacher has a common theme—they feel dry and empty and want to go “deeper” with God or “become more intimate” with God. But if we have Christ living in us, how can we go any deeper than that? How can we become more intimate than that? And if going deeper and becoming intimate were so important, why is it that none of the disciples or Jesus Himself ever told us to do this? As Larry DeBruyn states:
Why are Christians seeking a divine presence that Jesus promised would abundantly flow in them? . . . Why do they need another voice, another visitation, or another vision? Why are some people unthankfully desirous of “something more” than what God has already given to us? Why is it that some Christians, in the depth of their souls, are not seemingly at rest?2
Is There a “Good” Spiritual Formation?
One of the most common arguments we hear defending Spiritual Formation is that there is a “good” Spiritual Formation done without contemplative prayer. To that we say, we have never yet seen a Spiritual Formation program in a school or a church that doesn’t in some way point people to the contemplative mystics. It might be indirectly, but in every case, if you follow the trail, it will lead you right into the arms of Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and other contemplative teachers.
Think about this common scenario: A Christian college decides to begin a Spiritual Formation course. The instructor has heard some negative things about Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, and Brennan Manning, and he figures he will teach the class “good Spiritual Formation” and leave those teachers completely out. But he’s going to need a textbook. He turns to a respected institution, Dallas Theological Seminary, and finds a book written by Paul Pettit, Professor in Pastoral and Education Ministries. The book is titled Foundations of Spiritual Formation. The instructor who has found this book to use in his own class may never mention Richard Foster or Dallas Willard, but the textbook he is using does. Within the pages of Pettit’s book is Richard Foster, Philip Yancey, N.T. Wright, Dallas Willard, Thomas Aquinas, Lectio Divina, Ayn Rand, Parker Palmer, Eugene Peterson, J.P. Moreland, Klaus Issler, Bruce Demarerst, Jim Burns, Kenneth Boa and Brother Lawrence’s “practicing God’s presence.” You may not have heard of all these names, but they are all associated with the mystical contemplative prayer movement and the emerging church.
Another example of this is Donald Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Whitney is former Associate Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While his book does not promote contemplative mysticism, he says that Richard Foster has “done much good”3 in the area of Christian spirituality (which we believe is blatantly untrue).
Our point is that even if there is a sincere attempt to teach Spiritual Formation and stay away from the mystical side, we contend that it cannot be successfully accomplished because it will always lead back to the ones who have brought it to the church in the first place.
Spiritual formation is sweeping throughout Christianity today. It’s no wonder when the majority of Christian leaders have either endorsed the movement or given it a silent pass. For instance, in Chuck Swindoll’s book So You Want to Be Like Christ: 8 Essential Disciplines to Get You There, Swindoll favorably quotes Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Swindoll calls Celebration of Discipline a “meaningful work”4 and Willard’s book The Spirit of the Disciplines “excellent work.”5 In chapter three, ”Silence and Solitude,” Swindoll talks about “digging for secrets . . . that will deepen our intimacy with God.”6 Quoting the contemplative poster-verse Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God,” Swindoll says the verse is a call to the “discipline of silence.”7 As other contemplative proponents have done, he has taken this verse very much out of context.
Roger Oakland sums it up:
The Spiritual Formation movement . . . teaches people that this is how they can become more intimate with God and truly hear His voice. Even Christian leaders with longstanding reputations of teaching God’s word seem to be succumbing. . . .
We are reconciled to God only through his “death” (the atonement for sin), and we are presented “holy and unblameable and unreproveable” when we belong to Him through rebirth. It has nothing to do with works, rituals, or mystical experiences. It is Christ’s life in the converted believer that transforms him.8
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10
What Christians need is not a method or program or ritual or practice that will supposedly connect them to God. What we need is to be “in Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30) and Christ in us. And He has promised His Spirit “will guide [us] into all truth” (John 16:13).
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” 1 Corinthians 1:30
In Colossians 1:9, the apostle Paul tells the saints that he was praying for them that they “might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” He was praying that they would have discernment (“spiritual understanding”). He said that God, the Father, has made us “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (vs 12) and had “delivered us from the power of darkness [i.e., power of deception]” (vs. 13). But what was the key to having this wisdom and spiritual understanding and being delivered from the power of darkness? Paul tells us in that same chapter. He calls it “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints” (vs. 26). What is that mystery? Verse 27 says: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (emphasis added).
For those wanting to get involved with the Spiritual Formation movement (i.e., contemplative, spiritual direction), consider the “direction” you will actually be going.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. (Colossians 1:21-23)
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2: 8-10)
This article is an extract from the Lighthouse Trails booklet, Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why They Shouldn’t). To order this booklet, click here.
Endnotes:
1. Dallas Willard, “Spiritual Formation: What it is, and How it is Done” (https://dwillard.org/resources/articles/spiritual-formation-what-it-is-and-how-it-is-done).
2. Larry DeBruyn, “God’s Present of His Presence” (https://www.guardinghisflock.org/gods-present-of-his-presence/ ).
3. Donald Whitney, “Doctrine and Devotion: A Reunion Devoutly to be Desired” (http://web.archive.org/web/20080828052145/http://biblicalspirituality.org/devotion.html).
4. Chuck Swindoll, So You Want to Be Like Christ: 8 Essential Disciplines to Get You There (Nashville, TN:W Publishing Group, a div. of Thomas Nelson, 2005), p. 15.
5. Ibid., p. 13.
6. Ibid., p. 55.
7. Ibid.
8. Roger Oakland, Faith Undone (Eureka, MT: Lighthouse Trails Publishing, 2007), pp. 91-92.
This has been an extract from our booklet Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why It Shouldn’t). To order this booklet, click here.
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