APPLE CARTS FLYING: THE TRADITION AND DECEPTION OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

Church Membership and Money (below)

Is Church Membership Biblical? (below)

BEWARE! INCESTUOUS

This eye-opening message will give you an increased discernment concerning the operation of modern wolves. All are invited to invite Todd on for a public debate on this topic or any other. email todd: info@safeguardyoursoul.com

EXPLOSIVE EXPOSE’ OF “CHURCHIANITY”

Where does it begin? Where is the inception of the undue control, the intercepting of the LORD’s children by usurping the Headship due only to Christ? Where do the “roaring lion(s)” claws begin to sink into the prey? – Church membership.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8

“No more membership of man’s fellowship club.
God is the Savior of all men, especially
those who believe. God has ushered in by holy blood fellowship
in the Spirit and there is only one way to enter.
John 14:6” David Taylor, pastor

Never allow anyone to coerce you to believe that your commitment to Christ is equal to your commitment to a local church. Such is heretical nonsense and not seen done in the New Testament. Each and every born again disciple of Christ is a member of the one universal body of Christ, the one Church Jesus has (Ephesians 2, 4; 1 Corinthians 12, etc.).

The churches that coercively perpetrate the “church membership” on their prey push the notion that Christ requires His saints to be a member of some self-appointed local church. The victim is supposed to assume that God is the Author of that local fellowship and that they are conducting themselves in doctrinal truth in the practice of the Christian faith.

Christ only has one Church and membership into it is by Him alone – by being born again, washed in His blood (John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Timothy 2:5, etc.). Those who cast doubt on your “commitment” to Christ when you resist signing up to be their member, are dangerous. Blending making a decision to join some church with commitment to Christ is something no where found in Scripture. In some cases these days, the church membership churches grossly overuse and misuse the word “commitment” and love to use this to guilt trip manipulate people to join their church club. Personally, I prefer and am led to live an organic life in Christ, as His disciple, free from the toxins usually found in today’s church world.

Recently, I left a local church due to the false doctrine. And, guess how many of the several people I had been fellowshipping with stayed in touch? You guessed it – zero. Why? Because being members of the one body of Christ isn’t important in most local churches today. No, the membership of that local church is what matters and such is clear in that they hold no integrity of relationship in Christ’s kingdom. Their allegiance is that that local church organization. Sound cultish? It does to me.

Church membership today is nothing more than the ploy of wolves to corral and exploit the people! There’s no biblical justification for it.

It is my experience and opinion, that an evil spirit is given place to those who submit to “church membership.” And it makes biblical sense that this would be allowed by God – because to sign on a dotted line to be a member of a “church” instead of honoring the truth that the blood of Jesus made you part of the one church, one body of Christ, is to sin, to transgress, to err. Your thoughts welcome here saints.

“They want you to become members so you will be obligated to give to tithe to pay the pastor’s mortgage.” Darrel Moore

Church membership is a tool to run a scam on the people – to number them as Satan led David to do (1 Chronicles 21). The LORD judged David for doing this and is judging the wolves today who coercively promulgate their church membership scam. God’s people belong to HIM and no other (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 7:23, etc.).

Church membership is designed to make you loyal to their church club, not Christ.

History of Church Membership: The history of church membership in Protestant and Evangelical churches begins with the Catholic Church, which implements its discipline over all the baptized (christened, water sprinkled), through a tradition-based sacramental system, governing the lives of their captors from cradle to grave. Essentially, in this way the Roman cult corrals and coerces the insistence of membership upon every initiated, water-sprinkled/christened catholic child. Without that cult-initiation rite, that membership to the Roman religion, that person is considered outside of salvation, outside of the “one true church.” Through church membership in the Catholic church, the completely un-biblical sacramental system is enforced. The Catholic sacramental system is the creation, the strategy of devils, designed to strengthen the piety of the Catholic faithful throughout their lives, guiding them safely into the bowels of eternal damnation. Jesus died and rose again that He alone might have preeminence over His true worldwide body. Church membership to a local church or church organization is perpetrated by cross-less wolves and is a direct affront to the Headship of the one, nail-scarred Savior (Colossians 1:18; 2:18-19, etc.).

Jesus Christ didn’t come and die for you so that you could be somebody’s good church member. Jesus saved you to be His disciple, His ambassador – to follow Him! (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

Church membership is a tool to run a scam on the people – to number them as Satan led David to do (1 Chronicles 21). The LORD judged David for doing this. God’s people belong to HIM and no other (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 7:23, etc.).

Can anyone find church membership in God’s Word among the earliest followers of Jesus? No. If someone is concerned about you becoming a member of their church, that’s a red flag. Make no mistake: They are corralling you in order to control you. Think about it: WHY can’t they just love you as a member of the one blood bought body of Christ? (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4) Church membership as it’s done by the 501(C)(3) government churches is against Holy Scripture and is a device of evil men, wolves. Run.

Like cattlemen do with their cattle when they corral and brand them, today, local church pastors gather and require their prey to make a horizontal covenant in lieu (in place of) a vertical identity. This they do in order to make you become a member of their church club! Beware. Jesus wants the gatherings of his people cleansed from the hireling wolves who monetize his name and his church!

Church Membership and Money [podcast]

SACRED COW SLAM!

Church organizations, perpetrating church membership, are throwing their lasso around God’s people! Beware.

Through Christ’s apostle Peter, the Holy Ghost addresses those who will SERVANT-lead the flock of God – “God’s heritage” – and warns us in the process.

“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:3

Is not church membership an over stepping, a control tactic, a lording it over the very blood-bought heritage, flock of God?

The body of Christ and it’s members are “GOD’s heritage” – paid for with the highest price. ANY man who dares usurp HIS place will be judged both now and eternally.

Is it time to take the hands off “God’s heritage”?

LIKE Jesus, truly God-fearing men today, speak forth with His divine authority, flipping the tables of the modern greed-driven charlatans of the modern church world! (Matthew 7:29)

MAN didn’t die for you and man didn’t call you! GOD did! You are beholden to HIM – only!

What does Jesus’ cleansing of the temple mean to us today?

We are to keep our own hearts purified of wickedness and also the gatherings of His saints to worship Christ in Spirit and in truth.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4

The above passage clearly reveals that one of the things to be cleansed is the grace-perverting false doctrines of eternal security/OSAS/calvinism. These are peddled by “ungodly men.”

“knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.” Philippians 1:17

Is Church Membership Biblical?

Is Paul or Peter or John ever once seen signing people up to be church members of a certain organization in the cities they ministered in? Not once.

We as men can find Scripture to justify nearly anything. This is called “proof texting” where people find verses to “prove” something instead of simply reading the Bible thoroughly and letting it speak for itself. We must ask: Did Christ and His apostles and the early church teach or practice _________?

Extrapolating (lifting) something from Scripture and seeing the apostles actually doing it in the Bible are 2 different things. Obviously seeing Christ’s apostles doing something or teaching something, takes precedence in the highest authority and is what the Bible terms “the apostles doctrine.” (Acts 2:42)

Most people have no clue what’s behind the system of local churches. Trace the Root, the Foundations – Lineage: Satan – Headquarters – Seminaries/seminarians. What goes behind the establishing of these franchises escapes the innocent. These church clubs are set up to corrupt the image of Christ and the pure worship of Him all while claiming to be His representation. This is exactly how “the spirit of antichrist” works – while claiming to represent Jesus Christ they subvert Him, His truth (1 John 2:18).

ATTN: Hireling “pastor’: No one needs your little church organization or you to worship, serve, and obey God! Repent sinner.

Paul told us that there are “many” and not a few who use God’s Word deceitfully, twisting it for their own self-serving purposes.

“For we are not as MANY, which corrupt (twist) 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

Men can make the Bible say whatever THEY want it to say in order to manipulate people but that doesn’t make it biblical. It must be directly communicated in God’s Word, expressly taught by “two or three witnesses.” (Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1)

Concerning church membership, the question is: Did or did not the LORD’s apostles, the earliest followers of Jesus, ever sign people up as members of a church, as we do today? Chapters and verses? Church Membership Exposed

Church membership produces church members with no good fruit. Being truly born again and humbly abiding obedient in Christ produces the good fruit that clearly proves one is in truly Christ (John 15).

The church system, including church membership, has produced horrible fruit, counterfeits, backsliders. Fellowship and seeking God is limited to their so-called “church attendance.” Instead of being the church (people of God), they replace it with “going to church” or “service.” It becomes what people trust in. Their “worship” is simply going to church. This is completely un-scriptural. Jesus says “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 7:6) Modern Church Exposed

The student of Christ, studies God’s Word, and, begins to see that not only are these clubs many call “church” not officially church, they are officially apostate!

Anna L. writes:

“When a person becomes a member of a man-made religious organization… that membership is a FAKE membership to the FAKE body of Christ… and it gives a FAKE appearance of having a relationship with God and a FAKE appearance of holiness!

Also, most churches are 501(c)3 organizations under the government, so the government is their head, NOT God. They have betrayed God and are Judases!”

Organized religion includes these sham local churches which perpetrate a membership which diverts believers from Christ and the purity of knowing Him and loving His body due to their relationship with Him.

FLASH POINT: There is no biblical precedence of church membership in the New Testament canon. There is no teaching or example of church membership the way its perpetrated by modern hirelings. They have their hands all over God’s people. Not one instance. The membership of Christ’s saints is bought with the price of His blood. Their names are written in Heaven! The Great Shepherd of the sheep doesn’t need mere men to feed and organize His people. What modern wolves have developed and done is far outside the scope of His instruction to elders (Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.).

OBSERVATION: Jesus, the prophets, and Christ’s apostles never sought to change or reform the false leaders. They rebuked and exposed them and went about the Father’s kingdom business. Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 23; Acts; 2 Peter 2; Jude 1
For the most part, It’s a futile endeavor, a waste of the precious resources of our time and energy.

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:14

“Den of Thieves”

To establish His zeal for holiness, at the beginning and at the end of His ministry, Jesus cleared His gatherings of “thieves.” But who are these robbers today? (Matthew 21; John 2) The false leaders who were cheating the people, robbing them, were operating in the system that was handed down to them, a system all truth-seekers then and now will escape (John 8:31-32).

The hireling thieves many call pastor are robbing Christ of the glory due His holy name alone! This is just what false teachers do and He promises them “damnation.”

“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

The perpetrators of this system, the hirelings who make their living using it, functioning within it, insist that you need their system to carry out the instructions of Scripture such as church discipline, making disciples, tithing, etc. But the Bible says no such thing. The only religious systems in the Bible are seen being exposed as false, antichrist. We need CHRIST to obey any and all parts of God’s Word – not man or man’s organizations. Stolen glory (Colossians 2:18-19).

WE are “looking unto JESUS” not mere men. Hebrews 12:1-2

“I am not a member of the church that I worship and serve in because I’ve NEVER had the conviction to join!” Kina King

Enterprising, unrepentant hirelings have systematized and monetized their church operation and thereby corrupted it from God’s plan for His people.

There are many books written by the system hirelings which teach the sheeple how to be good students, pawns of the system.

Hint: Today’s pastors, most of them, are franchise owners. Think about that: If you purchased the rights of a national restaurant franchise in your town, do you realize you’d have to follow their strict guidelines on everything in that operation? When you paid them, you’d be signing a contract to follow their exact pattern and also purchasing all products from them. Now, is this not what goes on behind the scenes with these local churches? Yes, the pastors are following the men who are above them in the hierarchy of that church organization – the franchiser. That’s just how it works. The doctrines they teach, true or untrue, are part of the franchise agreement.

Note: A secular business franchise is simply a proven business system that works. It makes money if done like the parent company prescribes. It’s a busine$$ model. So, the franchisee who bought in, simply operates the system according to franchise guidelines, and a desired result is produced. That’s all well and good for secular business and yet, is not at all the way Christ’s true church is to operate.

The goal of a secular business model is to make the people happy and to keep the people happy – return customers! This is exactly and intentionally why the “eternal security” teaching is at the center of the vast majority of evangelical churches. It’s the golden calf teaching producing mere “form of godliness,” the “at ease in Zion,” the “will not endure sound doctrine,” counterfeits. This “once saved always saved” message that has produced a “lukewarm,” hell bound generation to Satan’s glory (Amos 6:1; 2 Timothy 3:5; Revelation 3:15-16).

What could possibly be the purpose or intention of signing people up for church membership other than leadership’s desire to indoctrinate, control and use them? Am I missing something here? If leadership was truly trusting in God, being among the saints to merely serve them as unto the LORD, why would they be corralling, unduly over-organizing? Do they not honor the fact that each individual believer at their gatherings are already members of the one blood-bought Body of Christ? Isn’t that the only membership that matters? Why do God’s people and their gatherings need to be corporatized? Who seeks to capitalize on the gatherings of God’s people? Is this not the very thing Jesus was furious about when He overthrew the tables of the money changers because they had made His gatherings a “den of thieves”? (Matthew 21; John 2)

“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves (robbers).” Matthew 21:13

“Den” here means cave, hiding place, cavern, den. This also seems to add to the idea of corralling like the sheep of His pasture are being herded, gathered, and exploited for the purposes of hirelings.

God made us and found and saved us to worship Him, for His good pleasure, and not to allow the quenching or hindrance of any kind to that relationship (Exodus 25:8; John 17:3; Revelation 4:11).

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11

God is calling out the Pharoah’s who’ve used the devices of Egypt, the world, to entrap His people, to “Let my people go.” (Exodus 5-10) Will plagues come upon the hirelings who refuse?

Here below is but one of the LORD’s scathing rebukes to false shepherds and citing how they operate. Read this passage closely and note how the LORD points out and exposes them for using HIS sheep for their own selfish purposes – “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”

Ezekiel 34

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. 7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; 9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.”

Many pastors today have taken too large a role in the lives of God’s people. Instead of being “overseers”, guiding and helping His saints to grow in His grace, many of them have become nicolaitan over-lords! (1 Peter 5:1-6; Revelation 2:6, 15) Nico-laitan = Conquer the laity (the people)!

“with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” Ezekiel 34:4

Remember saints, you were purchased by the very blood of the Son of God – for HIS purpose, not man’s.

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

Using the Name of the LORD in Vain

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

The LORD commanded His people never to use His holy name in vain – which means to never use His name for anything except pure worship to Him and never for our own self-serving purposes. Modern church membership is used to “make merchandise” of the people – to make money off of them (2 Peter 2:1-3). In this passage, the context is “false teachers” and “false prophets” and the divine promise for them is “damnation.”

Christ’s saints are to love one another for their common relationship with the Savior and not because they go to a certain so-called “church” building on Sunday mornings. Many modern pastors show “love” to people with dollar signs in their eyes! Beware. This is exactly what the Holy Ghost is pointing out and warning us to beware of in 2 Peter 2:1-3. Motives!

Dear hireling, true disciples don’t need your little church building and organization to richly exist in Christ. Their lives are not dependent upon little ole you. They are saved, sanctified, and upheld by the only “HEAD” of His body – Christ (Colossians 2:18-19). Jesus died for and keeps HIS abiding sheep, not you.

Beware of the agenda saints. Discern. Church membership is a corralling of God’s people for the self-serving purposes of hirelings. It’s a control tactic used by enterprising Nicolaitan pastors.

Notice who it was who was behind David’s sin of numbering Israel:

“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” 1 Chronicles 21:1

If you read this chapter (1 Chronicles 21), you will see that God severely judged king David for this sin.

Is the modern practice of pastors in pushing church membership not a type of numbering the people so as to coral and use, exploit the people?

God made all men and despises when mere human leaders usurp the position reserved for the Creator alone and begin to exercise controlling dominion over His people for their own self-serving purposes. Jesus says He hates this when He addresses the Nicolaitan hirelings in Revelation 2.

Stolen Glory

Colossians 2:18-19

The worship of Christ has clearly been intercepted.

Believers are exhorted to become established in CHRIST and to beware of the Nicolaitan leaders who steal the glory of Christ by robbing Him of the glory due to His holy name alone. After all, Jesus Christ alone bled to purchased His church.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 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. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:6-10

False leaders make up virtually the whole visible organized modern church world, Their measures and schemes are all we’ve ever known. They sell us on the false notion that they are need – that individual Christian need THEM to grow and function as Christ’s people. But the Bible says differently.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrew 12:1-2

Is church membership not like spiritual incest? Does it not facilitate a type of spiritual in-breeding?

Church members or prospective will hear message after message concerning their membership in that local organization and yet hear little or nothing about the blood of Jesus that makes His true people members of His one body, whose names are written in Heaven.

The supremacy of Christ is what Scripture reveals.

‘God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Hebrews 1:1-3

Ephesians 2

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Stolen Liberty

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

“Church membership” as it’s carried out in the modern church world, quenches the Holy Spirit in my opinion. It ruins the organic, spontaneous, pure fellowship true believers enjoy due to being in Christ. Church membership seems to be a learned device to coral believers in order to exploit them. Think about it: Seminarian pastors are taught this scheme to build their church busine$$.

The church membership tool is a device, is part of a system of control. It creates an environment of coerced fellowship where the now falsely obligated members feel guilty if they miss a meeting or don’t agree with something being said or done. They are no longer free. Their individuality is stolen. They signed it away unknowingly. Obligation now rules and spontaneity is robbed.

Maintaining ones good standing in the church club requires perpetuating, or ‘keeping the party line’ as Mary Beth articulates:

“If the spirit in you prompts you that something is wrong, and you do or say something contrary to what is ‘accepted’ one is ostracized! Been there done that!!!” Mary Beth

Hirelings love church membership because it procures to them people who won’t question or hold them accountable to the Word of God. They are building their church business and don’t want to be questioned. The glory of God is not their aim. This was never God’s design. Notice how the Berean Christians questioned the apostle Paul.

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:10-11

These individual saints were not afraid to test Paul. In fact they were bold and assertive to do so. Also, the apostle didn’t balk at their testing him. In fact, we know it pleased him because he said “Prove (test) all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) The Holy Ghost also divinely inspired Paul to pen these words:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

The going to church habit makes people put God aside till Sunday mornings. Following Christ is the crucified life – “daily.” (Luke 9:23-24)

Stolen Allegiance

Church membership classes for new prospective members is designed to indoctrinate the new visitors into that church organizations ways as they explain the plan. The plan is usually not God’s. Very little Scripture is given unless it’s being used to promulgate something they want to perpetrate. Scripture is not being following strictly but rather sprinkled in as coinciding with and confirming what the plan of that church is.

In most local churches in this apostate era, there’s little to no celebration of the only membership that matters – that which is purchased by the blood of Jesus and makes all of His people, worldwide, one body.

Think about when your family gets together: Just as siblings rejoice to be from the same parents, so should individual members of the LORD’s body celebrate as they share in the uniqueness of being children of God, purchased with the highest price ever.

By signing up for church membership, you are signing up to shut up. Your input, biblical or not, is not welcomed. You are never to dare question the pastor(s). The leader(s) are the final authority and anyone who dares question them or their doctrine is scorned, shunned, or removed.

Dear reader: Are you part of a church club or are you a kingdom disciple?

It’s like contract law. When you lay aside your blood bought relationship with Christ to become someone’s church member, you actually sign up for and covenant, agree to obey that church organizations by laws which means you’ve checked your brain at the door and don’t discern or question what’s being taught. Instead, now that you signed up, you have to simply go along with everything taught and done like herded cattle.

Instead of simply teaching what God’s Word teaches about the need for regular fellowship and letting the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of the people, hirelings seduce the people to sign up to be a member of their church business, club. This they do instead of prayerfully teaching the whole of Scripture to foster in individual believers an abiding relationship with Christ. They now patronize that church business. Those who sign the roll to be a member now feel obligated to be faithful to the organization, not Christ and His body. They also agree to the bylaws of that organization, not the Word.

Stolen Purity

The purity of worship has been robbed from the dens of thieves churches of today. This does not include fellowships that are doing things God’s way – keeping Christ first, keeping things organic, simple.

In Matthew 21 and John 2 we read of Jesus flipping the carts of the false leaders who’d made the gatherings of God’s people a den of thieves as they extorted from the people, exploiting them for their own self-serving gain.

Systems in religion have been around for thousands of years. The prophets were called out and quickened of God to expose the false leaders, false systems, and sin of God’s people. Have you read and apprehended the words of the Old Testament Scriptures?

In Matthew 23, we have Jesus on record, lambasting the false priesthood of His day for the evil they perpetrated on the people. In this discourse, we observe Christ referring to the system they used. Here’s an example:

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Matthew 23:15

In the modern churches, the system created and operated by the hirelings has been passed down. That system’s function and purpose is to enable to church business to function, to prosper. Not the kingdom of Christ but rather the church system of mere men. Intruders. Infiltrators.

Of this generational system of deception, Debbie Lord writes:

“We’ve been brainwashed by our ‘church culture’ and so we have the young men who aspire to become ‘pastors’ thinking what they have seen modeled as ‘pastor’ or ‘leader’ is the way to serve God and His church. That is a noble calling and needs to be lived out according to God’s ways — not man’s ways. We all should be immersed in God’s Word, just as the Bereans took on that individual responsibility and didn’t allow any man (or institution) to be their ‘funnel’ for the Truth — but God and His Word alone. Yes, we are to be in fellowship with the saints, but not by ‘quenching the Spirit’ who will guide us into all truth. God’s Word is truth.”

Denominations or church organizations reinforce this business scheme in order to secure people and therefore their funds. It’s a business model. No such thing as church membership in the Bible except that membership Christ alone procured by His own blood. ALL of His saints’ names are written in Heaven (Luke 10:20). Jesus says that this is what we rejoice in!

“Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

We are Christ’s kingdom disciples. We belong to HIM.

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

Local level “church membership” diverts the heart affections of those corralled into it by hireling wolves! Beware.

Ever notice how this Bible verse is used to preach Sunday morning church? No such content!

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Did you see “Sunday morning in an apostate ‘church'” in that verse?

Does church membership not divide the body of Christ?

Father, in the name of my LORD Jesus, please fulfill Your perfect will in my life concerning true fellowship with Your saints. I love You LORD Jesus.

Is Church Membership Biblical? [podcast]

Churchianity vs Christianity Many use the term “very involved in church” instead of deeply rooted and in love with Jesus Christ. See the difference? Beware. Christ Jesus is your identity. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 What is your idenity? Why have you chosen such to be that which you identity with? Most pastors make a big deal out of belonging to some organization, church, or group – because this puts them in charge […]

501(C)(3) Churches Exposed [video]

HERE’S 100% PROOF THAT THE 501(C)(3) SO-CALLED “CHURCH” YOU GO TO IS NOT OF GOD – BUT RATHER IS COMMANDEERED BY A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING (2 Peter 2:1-3). The 501(C)(3) scam is a deal with the devil that silenced the self-serving greedy devils many call “pastors” today in America (Isaiah 56:8-12; Philippians 3:18-19). “And why does the church want to make you a member? I guarantee that there is a $nickel attached to these 501c’s from the state. And, just remember that Planned Parenthood is a 501c, as well as the church of Satan, should we be in confederacy […]

The Purpose of Elders in Christ's Body [podcast]

There is no more important work transpiring in the earth today than the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 9:35-38; 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.). “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 In short, the authentic under-shepherd ordained of Jesus […]

Apostasy

DOES THE BIBLE SAY TO PRAY FOR FALSE TEACHERS? The Answer May Surprise You.

DOES THE BIBLE SAY TO PRAY FOR OR DOES IT MANDATE THAT WE EXPOSE FALSE TEACHERS?

No, it’s not a sin to pray for the deceived. Yet, isn’t it time we obeying the command of God and stopped giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the LORD and cease caring for them more than the many they are deceiving?

A DIVINE COMMAND: “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

Wolf worshippers are first and foremost self-worshipping counterfeits who could care less how many souls their celebrity wolf is leading to hell. All they care about is the sensual thrill they feel in worshipping their demon-possessed false prophet who tells them what they like to hear!

NEVER apologize for exposing false teachings and false teachers. You do such in obedience to the LORD and it results in the protection of the Great Shepherd’s sheep for whom He died (Matthew 10; Hebrews 13:20).

Did Jesus or His apostles ever pray for a wolf? No.

To the false leaders of his day, Jesus says this:

“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers (snakes), how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Matthew 23:33

Do nothing to “bid God speed” to the enemies of the LORD lest you be judged with those enemies of God (2 John 10-11). Bidding God speed means to condone, to support, or in any way to further the cause of the enemies of God, namely human agents who are teaching contrary to the Scripture.

So he’s not calling out the wolves and you still sit under that devil? You want to go to hell with him? (2 John 10-11) Repent and run now! (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; Romans 16:17-18; Jude 3, etc.)

Of the false teachers at Galatia, Paul says he wishes they, the false prophets, were “cut off.” Make not mistake, this is violent language.

“I would they were even cut off which trouble you.” Galatians 5:12

To “cut off” means to castrate, to mutilate, to amputate and so Paul is either saying that his God fearing desire is for false teachers to be castrated or taken out completely. There’s no getting around this appropriately violent language. It’s fitting for this situation because the eternal souls of men, the sheep of Christ’s pasture are at stake.

Many self-deceived people today have more compassion for Satan’s hell bound false leaders than they do for the beloved sheep who are being being misled by those wolves in sheep’s clothing! Repent now.

Beware of misplaced compassion. Compassion without discernment, compassion while ignorant, is dangerous.

The the false prophet Elymas, the apostle says:

“And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” Acts 13:10

Can anyone find in this Acts 13 text where Christ’s apostle Paul pray for this Elymas, this named false prophet? I’m sorry, perhaps I missed something here.

There seems to be no end to the novices, perhaps well meaning, who argue out of their own ignorance to defend wolves who are devouring Jesus’ sheep. They come off as if they are highly superior in approaching, dealing with wolves with “love” and accuse those who expose as not doing so. Let’s take a look at who’s walking in true love, and who isn’t.

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

Hebrew word for “secret” …..

סָתַר
sâthar
saw-thar’
A primitive root; to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively: – be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret, X surely.

As you will see below, it seems accurate to observe that we’ve never seen “love” like the love of prey for the wolf that’s tickled their ears and told them what their unrepentant hearts wish to hear (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).

Most wolf protecting enemies of Christ simply don’t know and don’t want to know what God says about this topic. They are under the control of Satan himself, covering for his agents and will be judged with them (2 John 10-11). God doesn’t like cowards (1 Corinthians 16:13; Revelation 21:8). The “fearful” are the first class listed as going to the lake of fire.

Those who defend Jesus’ enemy’s will be judged, damned with them (2 Pet 2:1-3; 2 Jn 10-11).

TYPICAL DEFENSE OF A WOLF BY HIS PREY:

“But wait, he’s led many thousands to the Lord!”

REPLY:

Jesus saves all by Himself, even using wolves at times. That is a front, intentionally taught to you by the wolf to cover, to keep himself from being detected, like sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). After witnessing the “ministry” of this false teacher for years, I highly doubt most of those people truly were saved. He doesn’t even speak of the chasm their sin has caused so how can they truly be convicted and repent? They can’t in most cases. Luke 13:3…. If God truly did save some of them, it was in spite of White, not because of him.

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“I do applaud your zeal for truth! I personally just think it is wise exercising prudence about knowing the hearts of men or women, only God knows. He will separate the wheat from the chaff.”

REPLY:

Jesus commanded us to “KNOW (Gr. discern) by their fruits” and told us that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 15-16, 20; 12:34) ALL men are known by the fruit of what they teach – either sound or false doctrine (Titus 2:1). Why would the Son of God told us to “KNOW” people by the fruit of their lives if He didn’t want us to discern, to “Judge righteous judgment”? (John 7:24)

God knows all men’s hearts yes and yet GOD commanded us to know people also. How? Jesus says to “know (discern) them BY THEIR FRUITS” and thereby we know that anyone teaching “another gospel” is “accursed” and is the very enemy of Christ and to be “earnestly” contended against and marked, scoped out and identified – so as to protect the body of Christ (Matthew 7:16, 20; Romans 16:17-18; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 3-4).

HOW DID JESUS tell us to know/discern others? The FRUIT of their lives (Matt 7:16,20) THE FACT that JESUS told us to “know” (discern) people means He wants us to do so! (Matt 7:16,20) Same chapter as “judge not” v1-5 When Jesus taught us to “judge not” He is speaking in that context of hypocritical judgment and wrongly assigned condemnation. The JUDGE has spoken in a book called THE BIBLE. He’s calling us to pay attention when we read it. His written WORD records for us HIS judgments – the judgments of the Judge. So when a man preaches the Word, he is preaching GOD’s judgments, warnings, and not his own.

MESSAGE TO ME FROM A MAN ATTEMPTING TO CURTAIL THE MARKING OF A KNOWN WOLF:

“Dear Lord Jesus Please show Todd White your Holy Truth. May Todd White find peace and assurance in your wisdom and may he become a light upon a hill guiding others to Christ. Help him to leave behind his old self and ignite in him a desire to unashamedly make known Your Truth and disown and depart from the untruths he has held onto. In Jesus Mighty name we ask, Amen. Matthew chapter 5 verse 44’ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

REPLY:

Can you give chapters and verses where Jesus or His holy apostles specifically prayed for a wolf? Ever read Matthew 23?

Interesting that you seem to hate all those precious many souls Todd White is misleading. Interesting. Why don’t all those precious souls matter to you? If you aren’t defending Todd White, why do you seem to care more for him than those many people he’s misleading?

How intense was Jesus’ apostle Paul about protecting Christ’s flock?

“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” Acts 20:27-31

In Matthew 5:38-45 Christ is speaking of not retaliating against OUR enemies. Jesus is speaking of how we are to react to OUR ENEMIES, not HIS enemies in Matt 5:44. HIS enemies in specific are those who are misleading HIS people, the sheep for which HE bled to save on that cross. You are misguided and taking Scripture out of context. What did He mandate that His disciple do?

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4

GOD TOLD YOU TO “MARK THEM” – WOLVES – AND NOT DEFEND THEM! (ROMANS 16:17-18) YOU GOING TO OBEY GOD OR REBEL?

“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

Todd White is being marked, scoped out (Gr. skopeo) and named, identified as an enemy of Christ, a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15) so His people can be aware and escape being deceived…. no different than warning your children not to go near the street. Danger.

MESSAGE FROM WOLF JUSTIFIER:

“I believe we can still learn from (false) preachers and pastors biblical teaching, but we must test the spirits. Bring what is taught back to the word. Paul Washer, MacArthur, Spurgeon all preachers. Even today’s motivational speakers. I use what the Holy Spirit blessed me with, discernment, knowledge, wisdom.”

REPLY:

Good morning. Yes and yet, the LORD mandates that we separate ourselves from His enemies who pose as His ministers yet Paul says they are actually the ministers of Satan (2 Cor 11:12-15). Jude 3; Rom 16:17-18 …. we know all men, beginning with ourselves by the fruit…. false doctrine is bad fruit which means the root and tree is cursed. Matt 7:15-21; 12:33

Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Paul Washer, MacArthur, Spurgeon are all calvinist heretics. Everything they say, teach is poisoned with this calvinistic system, a doctrine of devils.

The Holy Spirit blessed you with the Word and so why do you need to even listen to known false teachers? Why would you? (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.)

How would you feel if your own husband communed with a sworn enemy of yours? How does Jesus feel by what you’ve just said?

SETTING THE BIBLICAL RECORD STRAIGHT

Jesus commanded HIS people to “JUDGE righteous judgment” (John 7:24) And, He commanded us to know/discern others “BY THEIR FRUITS” and that’s exactly what we’re doing under the command of KING JESUS (Matthew 7:16, 20). Dare you interfere with HIS work and become His enemy? You are bidding Godspeed to evil doers, satan’s wolves in sheep’s clothing, and you will be judged with those enemies of Christ if you don’t repent (2 John 10-11).

Jesus and each of His apostles on record in the New Testament canon warned the flock of wolves who would devour! There is no instance where they prayed for an enemy of Christ, a wolf who was misleading the flock of God.

Here is the list of the 8 evil doers the great apostle was divinely inspired to justifiably identify by name in 2 Timothy – in order to protect God’s people:

1) Phygellus 1:15

2) Hermogenes 1:15

3) Hymenaeus 2:17

4) Philetus 2:17

5) Jannes 3:8

6) Jambres 3:8

7) Demas 4:10 (apostate)

8) Alexander the coppersmith 4:14

Read the book of 2 Timothy and underline these deceivers that the apostle was marking.

Naming Names, Marking Wolves | Beware of those who Defend Christ’s Enemy’s instead of Expose them | Exposure Dialogue | Apostasy Dialogues | Warning

How to Pray Effectively for Your Friends and Family! [podcast]

Someone has wisely stated that “We are never more like Jesus than when we are praying for others.” Which of God’s people are on your prayer list? No greater way to serve another than to lift them up to the Father in the name of Jesus! “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5 […]

"Warn them from Me": The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God's People [podcast]

The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast] Jesus and His holy apostles often rebuked and exposed false leaders and false doctrine (Matthew 23; Acts 13:10; 20:29-31; Galatians 5:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2; 2 John 7-11; Revelation 2:6, 15, etc.). Therefore we know that part of following Jesus includes doing the same. In fact, the body of Christ is mandated to do just that (Romans 16:17-18; Philippians 1:17; Jude 3-4). 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 […]

SATAN'S SEMINARIANS [podcast]

Seminaries are the Invention of Satan WHEN Jesus declared “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16), …. was Jesus speaking here of men who “earned” and paid big money for a degree, a piece of paper from a “higher learning” institution of mere men? No. Read John 15:1-16 and you will see that Jesus alone can choose, call, prepare, and ordain a […]

Apostasy

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.

Spiritual Formation Exposed |

The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines

The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines A Critique of Dallas Willard and The Spirit of the Disciplines by Bob DeWaayPractices called “spiritual disciplines” that are deemed necessary for “spiritual formation” have entered evangelicalism. Recent encounters with this teaching narrated to me by friends caused me to investigate these practices. The first experience involved my friend and co-worker Ryan Habbena who went back to seminary to finish his masters degree. Here is his experience in his own words: I recently took a seminary course on the book of Luke. It was a summer intensive and was one of only […]

SHOCKING List of Spiritual Formation Ministries

More Catholic Witchcraft Infiltrating the Apostate Seminaries, Ministries, and Churches “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2 WHAT is spiritual formation / contemplative prayer or centering prayer? Spiritual formation/contemplative prayer/spirituality is just another self-centered, Christ-denying, self-righteous, works-based, occultic, pagan lie from hell! Seminaries teach it and now many churches today are practicing new age witchcraft called contemplative prayer, or centering Prayer which is part of spiritual formation. […]

Articles

Chosen for Holiness [podcast]

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:4

Holiness comes by the Savior in self denial (death and burial – the cross), not by self will or effort. Surrender is the cross – “NOT my will but thine be done” (Lk. 22:42) and “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). We surrender to Christ by saying “Not my will but thine be done” dear Lord, by Your grace and the deliberate act of my own will I submit to the cross, the crucified life – where You alone reign supreme in this vessel (Luke 22:42; Galatians 2:20, etc.). I love You LORD Jesus! You must increase but I must decrease! (John 3:30)

Holiness, not happiness, is the divine command, the chief purpose and end of Christ’s salvation.

Of holiness, one disciple writes:

“Holiness speaks more to nature than it does conduct. Good conduct is the spontaneous byproduct of the new nature of the new creation man thru the cross and death to the old nature. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18). To preach holiness as conduct without the new nature thru the cross understanding is legalism. Holiness is actually derived from ‘wholeness’ meaning the thorough transformation of the whole tripartite man (1 Thess 5:23). So many of these ‘holiness’ preachers are preaching nothing but conduct under law. Law arouses sinful passions and causes sin to increase and was given in order to provoke transgressions (Rom 7:5; 5:20; Gal 3:21). They are enemies of the cross!”

Holiness comes by way of the cross, not by way of the flesh. Just as sin was conquered by the cross of Christ, so sin in the life of the saint is conquered by the daily cross – the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). It’s time to stop trying harder and to simply die deeper.

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

The Glorious Church Jesus is Returning for [video]

WHAT church/people is Jesus returning for? “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27 “a glorious church” “not having spot (no sin)“ No “wrinkle” “or any such thing” “but that it should be holy and without blemish” WHAT’s the use of talking about end times […]

Can a True Believer Overcome All Sin? [podcast]

Yes. In the church world, there’s an abundance of talk about sin and it comes with the notion, the inflection, the false assumption that somehow, born again believers are relegated to sinning, as if there’s no other choice. Is that true? Is this the biblical perspective? What I want us to do is make sure we are looking at the whole of Scripture and be blessed to gain a godly confidence that our Savior provided a perfect salvation that includes more than just the initial washing away of our sins. This “great grace” that He provided in His “so […]

The Truth about Holiness [podcast]

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 As we just read, divine “holiness” is “glorious.” Holiness is not what most of us think it is. Holiness in the divine economy is something of great “beauty” and utterly refreshing (Psalms 96:9). It seems that holiness is not merely a divine attribute but rather the divine nature of the Almighty. Are we ready to allow our LORD, who alone is “Holy, holy, holy,” to define what holiness truly is and how He brings it […]