Church Membership, Manipulation, and Money [podcast]
Is there a connection between church membership and money?
“Her princes (leaders) in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27
There is no evidence in the New Testament of what we see today perpetrated as “church membership.” Church membership is merely a tool in the arsenal of modern pastors to capture the souls and the money of those ensnared by it.
“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24
In the above verse, we see how Jesus’ apostle Paul expressly states that His calling from God is to help the joy, to bless the saints of Christ and never to control or manipulate them – as we see being done through the wolves who operate the church system today.
Church membership today is nothing more than a device of wolves to corral and exploit the people! There’s no biblical justification for it.
Corralling people using weekly “services” in a physical building doesn’t make any man a true prophet unto the LORD. The only thing this ascertains is that such a man is a real estate manager who is conducting a business.
Those with an agenda prove they are not “crucified with Christ” and will only use you! Beware. This is 99% of those in ministry today! Run.
Men who are truly serving the LORD do not seek to control or exploit GOD’s people (2 Corinthians 1:24).
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)
Yes God ordained that there be elders in His body to feed and equip His the members of the one church and yet, not as is many times positioned and performed in the modern church world (1 Peter 5:1-6).
CHECK THE FRUIT: What have the local churches with their church membership corralling ever produced other than a bunch of church goers who are part of a church club? Where are the voices for Jesus is the market places? Look at the fruit of today’s modern churches. It is not reconcilable with the authentic New Testament disciples we see on the pages of the New Testament canon. Acts 1:8; 4:29-31, and 8:4 anyone?
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.). They’ve discovered that “membership” into something causes people to believe they belong and therefore they are more willing to pay due$.
THINK: Let’s follow the money for a moment. In many cases, seminaries are connected to church denominations, right? Okay, so this incentivizes those seminaries to teach “church membership” to the future pastors because that sets the flow of money in motion. When the pastors teach, coerce, and obtain church membership, the money follows. Members feel obligated to give and support what they join, signed up for, and are participating in. There are now part of the club. Real simple business plan.
“Listening to your podcast about church membership. Really good message and I have left my church membership as I think it’s not biblical. The reason I went to this was because I was lonely and it was all for the wrong reasons. I find churches today are like a social club and lack of teaching. Thank you Todd and God bless you.” Penny
Can anyone find church membership in God’s Word among the earliest followers of Jesus? No. If someone is concerned about you becoming a member of their church, that’s a red flag. WHY can’t they just love you as a member of the one blood bought body of Christ? Church membership as it’s done by the 501(C)(3) government churches is against Holy Scripture. Run.
These church membership beguilers know that if they get the member$, the money follows! It’s a busine$$ to them!
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP SCAM BUSTED! Regrettably, millions have signed up to serve and fund a “church”, a false ministry which has as its initiation rite, the scam of “church membership” – something never taught nor enacted by Christ and His apostles. Once you agree to it, an evil spirit follows. This is the deeds and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which Jesus says He hated! (Revelation 2:6, 15) Nico-Lains; Nico means to conquer and laitans means the people. Nicolaitans means – conquer the people. Beware. Anyone who wishes to debate me on this topic public, come forward. email Todd at: info@safeguardyoursoul.com
Church membership is for nobody’s good except those peddling it. Church membership is designed to make you loyal to their church club, not Christ.
THINK: Let’s follow the money for a moment. In many cases, seminaries are connected to church denominations, right? Okay, so this incentivizes those seminaries to teach “church membership” to the future pastors because that sets the flow of money in motion. When the pastors teach, coerce, and obtain church membership, the money follows. Real simpe business plan.
“They want you to become members so you will be obligated to give to tithe to pay the pastor’s mortgage.” Darrel Moore
Many of today’s pastors are con men, marketers, salesmen. Seminaries today are heavy on marketing classes. These greed-driven nicolatain wolves use flattery to set the trap, to spread a net under the feet of their prey in order to snare them. They flatter their prey in order to get them to sign up for their church club where they are expected to participate by giving to fund the club.
“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” Proverbs 29:5
If you’ve seen what I’ve repeatedly witnessed, you have observed in some instances, that after the honeymoon period, after they’ve gotten you to sign up for their club, to become a member, the flattery subsides, unless they are dealing with the rich of this world.
The church system, including church membership, has produced horrible fruit, counterfeits, backsliders. Where are the soul winners? No where to be found in the modern church. Satan has succeeded through our rebellion. 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
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).
“Church” attendance was never ordained by God to displace, to replace the personal study of His Word and the natural, daily, organic fellowship of individual saints. Church membership endears the people, the prey, to the organization and it’s leaders and members and not to the LORD Himself. This has displaced the individual priesthood and fellowship God ordained for each and every individual believer. Lots of people replace personally diligently seeking the LORD with going to “church.” They either merely dabble with or don’t even personally study God’s Word for themselves and yet are members in good standing at these local entertainment centers many call “church.” The pastors have sold them on this lifestyle by promoting and emphasizing church membership and not discipleship.
“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:3
If the members of Christ’s body are “GOD’s heritage”, what can be added? What did Jesus leave undone? Why do some insist upon getting them to sign up for something else, some club? Is this not a clear example of lording it over “God’s heritage”? Perhaps much evil can be traced back to this trap, this cursed root, practice.
You are bought by the blood of Jesus and the property of God, not man! Get off the roll call of church membership now! Sever the yoke of bondage! By doing this you are denouncing trust in the flesh, in mere men, and declaring that you are Christ’s! You belong to He who bought You with His blood on the cross!
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23
“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
Do God’s People Need to Join a “Church” in Order to “Love One Another”?
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35
Have these words of our LORD and Savior been hi-jacked? Recently I read the subtitle of a pro-church membership pastor’s book which read: “How the world knows who represents Jesus.” These words seem designed to convince people that they must join his or a local church organization to walk in God’s love toward His people. Nonsense.
It’s interesting that some of the proponents of formal church membership to their local “church” are now teaching that the world knows God’s people by their connection to what they call “church”, local church membership. Being knowing of Christ, purchased by His precious blood and therefore in His one church isn’t enough so they say. Loving one another doesn’t seem to apply to those who aren’t signed up on their church roll call.
In the above verse, did Jesus say anything the the blood-bought members of His body about signing up to be a member of a local church? Did you read that in John 13:35 or anywhere in the New Testament? No. It’s not there.
In the teaching, the theology of these enterprising wolves, somehow being purchased by the very blood of Jesus is not enough if one doesn’t join a local “church.” They take what Jesus plainly taught a step further by adding to what He taught. Where is church membership as the false church promotes found in John 13:35 or any part of the Scriptures? Nowhere. They say that church membership is required in order to show the world how much love Christians have “one to another.” (John 13:34-35) This is clearly an example of adding to the Word of God (Revelation 22:18-19). Dangerous. Erroneous. Since when was Jesus’ cross not enough to save then unite His people who are full of His love for Him and each other? I’d ask them to use Scripture to demonstrate that Christ’s cross wasn’t enough and how being a part, a formal member of their “church” club is somehow even important, much less necessary. This is trickery being used by greedy, self-serving wolves who are making merchandise of God’s people for their own self-serving purposes (2 Peter 2:1-3). Are these pastors not using the name of the LORD in vain by using His holy name, His holy Word in vain, to coercively manipulate people to believe they have to join their local church?
Fellowship with the people of God is commanded and a necessity for every born again saint. Yet, such doesn’t require being a roll call member of a local church club. There’s no end to the number of ways many pastors manipulate the minds of the people, convincing them that going to their church club is a necessity and that fellowship is defined as being a part of that group. Utter nonsense.
The salesmen we call “pastors” today have to sell you on the notion that you need them. But the Bible informs us that we need 1. Jesus, and, 2. His true body, not those who are practicing the witchcraft of making you a member of their “church” instead of honoring the truth that when God saved you, through the blood of Jesus, He already made you a member of His one true body/church (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 2, 4). 11 times the New Testament uses the term “one body.” And, the apostle Paul severely rebuked the Corinthians for sectarianism – “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:11-13)
FLASH POINT: You were purchased at the highest price – the very precious blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). You are first and foremost the servant of the Most High, who paid the highest price to purchase you to Himself. You are accountable to Your Maker, Your Redeemer, not mere men who deceitfully pose as His elders and yet act outside of His stated will, His Word. Church membership into a local body, becoming a member, is not of God, period. There is not one instance of Jesus or His apostles practicing church membership into a local church group as is done today.
PLEASE SHARE THIS POST: Church membership in a local gathering is a huge sacred cow that must be exposed for the tyrannical device that it is. It’s Satan whom Jesus says has come “to steal, to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10)
Church membership is nothing more or less than a device to control, manipulate, and exploit people.
Modern church leaders claim to be the LORD’s elders and yet they’re doing something Christ and His apostles, the original New Testament elders, never once did – church membership tyranny.
Modern wolves often use Hebrews 13:7, 17 to convince their prey to submit to them. Yet, a close reading of those verses, when you see the conditions, disqualifies most would-be elders as frauds. Why? Because they’re not truly leading you in the Word nor honestly overseeing your soul. If they were, they wouldn’t be practicing church membership to exploit you.
Modern church leaders sell people on how they have to have their membership into the church club in order to give them (the people) the benefits of THEIR leadership, to train them, to oversee them, to teach them. But did Jesus or His apostles practice “church membership”? No. What further price needs to be paid on top of the already shed precious blood of Jesus for God’s people to be His church and to function as His church? Are you beginning to smell a rat? There’s more….
SEEMS to me that God wants His people, first and foremost, to operate as individual disciples of HIS …. read this closely saints….
“For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” 1 Corinthians 7:22-24
WHY can’t they just let you be your own person? WHY do they feel the need to bring you under their leadership? Did the LORD address this in His Word? He sure did. Take a close look at this verse and capture it for your knowledge, safety, and liberty in Christ:
“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19
It’s through the lie that they teach you that you need to become a member of their church that they bring you into bondage. This is how they operate. The lie is the bait to get you to take it, to join, and then the hook is set. They throw the net to catch your feet as they set the hook in you to bring you into their boat.
Memorize this, meditate on this nugget of divine truth. The LORD told on His enemies by showing how they operate: “of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19
How are people “overcome”, that is, how are they brought under the rulership of other mere men? How are they brought into servitude to other men? Via church membership, initiation and indoctrination into a system that is not the kingdom and doesn’t come with the blessing of Jesus Christ, the only “Head” of the true church.
Greek for “Overcome” in 2 Peter 2:19:
to make worse, that is, vanquish (literally or figuratively); by implication to rate lower: – be inferior, overcome.
QUESTION: Why do cattle ranchers capture, corral, and brand their cattle?
ANSWER: To exercise control over them. To make money off of them. Right? Yes.
QUESTION: Are you cattle, an animal or are you created in the very image of God? Why then do you allow yourself to be under the bondage of sinful men instead of directly submitted to the only “Head” of the true church?
Wolf Lies Leads to Wasted Lives
Also, have you ever stood back and wondered by the modern church system is not producing true disciples? What is the issue? There’s lots of church-membership, church attendance transpiring. So why so little kingdom fruit is being produced?
Case in point:
How many people do you know who are good church members and also astute biblical students who can earnestly defend and contend for the faith?
Do we really think that what we see, the wasted lives whose life is sucked out via the modern local church experience, is what God intended for His New Testament saints? What God had in mind when He sent His only begotten Son, looks much different than what the apostate modern church world is producing – which is basically perpetual church goers.
ARE you seeking to get people to your “church” or to JESUS?
What is the fruit of your life? Are you merely a church member who attends a so-called church “service” weekly? Are you truly a disciple who is bearing the fruit consistent with true repentance and kingdom living?
Churchianity vs Biblical Christianity-a real walk with Jesus. Which do you have?
Have you read the books of Acts lately? THAT’s God’s will for His New Testament church. It would do us well to studiously read and pour prayerfully over this great book of Acts. Among other things, the book of Acts is a historical record of the earliest followers of Christ after Pentecost which marks the beginning of the New Testament church.
Hint: The only reason someone would want you to sign up as their church member is because they have an agenda. Plain and simple.
Paul said he didn’t exercise dominion over the faith of others. So, why do nearly all local churches today seek to do so by conquering their prey via the right of passage, through church membership into their system? Let’s read again the words of Christ’s apostle Paul who insisted that individual saints be left autonomous:
“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24
It’s through church membership that the people are brought into the system so the wolves can exercise “dominion” over Christ’s sheep. Then it by the system that they exercise dominion over the people. The system is the oppression. This is why the earliest saints operated autonomously – outside of the system. They system we see in the New Testament Scripture were the worse enemies of our LORD and we know that because they received the hardest rebukes from Him (Matthew 23).
The initiation is the obtaining of membership. Then, under that deceiving spirit, people are fearful to go against the system, the church rules and regulations and the leaders. So, they’ve surrendered their rights if you will. They’ve surrendered to the system and dropped their God-given ability and responsibility of reasoning. Remember how the Berean believers took Paul to task as they weighed all he spoke against the final authority of the Scriptures? (Acts 17:10-11) Now, when the captor is under the system, he’s now a yes man, a man who won’t go against the grain and like every good cult, when someone questions the system, they have to be disciplined and excommunicated if necessary.
Further evidence of the cultic nature of this scenario where leaders indoctrinate and put a spell on the people, is that even good men who are biblical are prone to fall into this heresy, to be led into it, and say nothing as they simply go with the flow (Exodus 23:2). This is proof of an evil spirit at work, just as it happened to the Galatians who were “bewitched.” (Galatians 3:1)
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” Galatians 3:1
Modern wolves who perpetrate the practice “church membership”, which is never seen in Holy Scripture, do so because they want you to check your discernment, your God-given reasoning faculties at the door. Why? They want to control you and they don’t want to be questioned or exposed.
Now, WHY do we think they call their meetings a “service”? The Bible never calls the gatherings, the assemblies of God’s people a “service.” WHO are the people really SERVING? Under whose servitude have they submitted? See 2 Peter 2:19.
Did the Early Church Practice Church Membership as it’s Practiced Today?
Nearly anything can be extrapolated using Scripture out of context and yet, the test is whether or not Jesus and His apostles and the early church practiced such. And, they didn’t practice it. Church membership, as we see it in the modern church world, began with the roman catholic church and is not biblical. Also, it causes sectarianism which Jesus rebuked (Luke 9:49-50). Church membership is all about corralling and controlling the sheep of Christ’s pasture.
Let’s not deceive ourselves – most churches, church organizations are a business and operate according to a busine$$ model:
- Membership = Money
- Connection = Coin
“Once all the apostles were killed off, this system, including church membership, was set up, denying the headship of Christ.” David Taylor (pastor)
Obtaining new members, church membership, new members classes are a part of the church busine$$ $ystem to corral, control, and con the members and most diabolically, to intercept their reasoning, their resources, and their rightful place with Christ, the only “Head” of His body (Colossians 1:18; 2:18-19).
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3
Most modern local churches are busine$$e$ for the profit of men, not God.
The church membership push is the push perpetrated by greed-driven beguilers to corral, to unduly leverage, to wield ungodly control over God’s people and their resources – time and money. Beware. Run.
Here’s a pitch I ran across on a church website:
“Being a member is your way of saying, ‘I’m all in with the _______ Church Family.’ Membership at _______ Church is a commitment to our family, and a commitment from our family to you.”
Note that the basis, the measure of being “all in” is being sold as joining that local church. And so it’s all about that church family and not the whole body of Christ. It’s about that so-called church “family” instead of “the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” (Ephesians 3:15)
The assembling of God’s people is to be for fellowshipping with God and His people (Acts 2:42). Since the early church, a whole system of antichrist interceptions has been perpetrated by a priesthood of wolves. Anti means in place of. Notice the origins of this system of pushing Christ out. ……. Colossians 3:1-4. Putting ANYTHING in place of Christ is antichrist.
Church membership = control. They want control of you so they can control your resources, your money. Satan has a much larger plan – to control your mind, to quench the work of the Holy Spirit of God in your life.
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.).
Church membership, as Satan would have it, produces the fruit of wasted lives who bid Godspeed to the wolves Christ and His apostles often warned us about (2 John 7-11). So many “Christians” today are not kingdom disciples who are bearing fruit daily for the glory of God. They’ve pigeonhole themselves into a local so-called church and spend all our resources and energy on a self-perpetuating religious club. Some call it churchianity as opposed to biblical Christianity.
Church membership inevitably leads to idolatry, where the allegiance is to the local church which becomes an idol. The church organization begins to take precedence, preeminence.
When someone signs up to be a member of the “church” club, inevitably, they begin to trust the club, to rely on their leaders and the organization, and their attendance at its “services.” Their trust in God, their reliance, their desperate crying out to Him, their dependency upon the LORD wanes.
“My walk got even stronger with Christ when I stopped submitting to local churches, because I looked for HIM to give me the answers instead of going to a man.” Veronica
The gathering of the saints of Christ to worship Him together is never to be monetized – used for the self-serving purposes of wolves. This is exactly what we see in the modern church business, just as it was when Jesus cleared the temple (Matthew 21; John 2).
Everything becomes about the church activities, curriculum, people, and leaders, instead of Christ (Colossians 2:18-19; 3:1-4, etc.). The curriculum of weekly church services, a program, a system, causes people to trust in that and not in Christ, daily, moment by moment. Individual accountability and participation in an abiding oneness with Christ is the biblical mandate (Luke 21:34-36; John 15, etc.). Inevitably, church membership and participation in that groups activities becomes the thing people become enthralled in and not Christ. The spontaneity is lost.
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:42-47
Only the LORD Himself can add to His blood-bought church in the earth. Notice “THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH daily such as should be saved” in contrast to false leaders building their own nickels, noses, and numbers via church membership, etc. (Acts 2:47) Mere men who seek to “church the unchurched” are self-willed rebels operating under their own self-serving greedy agenda, using the name of the LORD in vain to build their own empires – void of essential biblical truths such as the virgin birth and divinity of Jesus Christ, hell, judgment to come, the imperative of repentance, holiness, etc. Only Christ, the Head of His body, can add to HIS church which He promised He would “build.” … “I will build MY church.” (Matthew 16:18) While enterprising antichrist’s build their own “churches”, Christ is building His one remnant body, organically!
Read Colossians chapters 1 and 2 closely. Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding as you begin.
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Articles
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 Himself (John 15:16), will give up his life in this fleeting world for the sheep of Christ – just as the Great Shepherd of the sheep did on the cross. Such a divinely called-out man, will teach only God’s pure Word and watch for the souls of the LORD’s people (Hebrews 13:7, 17). He will take up the cross – live the crucified life – and therefore ministry will not be about them but rather about Jesus and His beloved sheep for whom He shed His blood and is soon returning (Philippians 3:17-21).
Also in Hebrews 13 …. The true elder of Christ will, according to Hebrews 13, do two things:
- Speak the pure Word of God to you and get you into it:
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation (their way of life).” Hebrews 13:7
2. Will in the fear of God pray for and “watch for your soul.”
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17
In review, just WHAT are the earmark fruits of true under-shepherds as opposed to the many wolves among us?
- True under shepherds relentlessly teach God’s Word – “who have spoken unto you the word of God.” (Hebrews 13:7)
- They are there for you! – “they watch for your souls.” (Hebrews 13:7)
IF they aren’t preaching God’s pure Word to you, fearing God, not you…. and watching for your eternal soul, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Repent and run to Jesus beloved.
Let me add that if they are using a fake “bible” instead of the King James Bible, that should be a clue to the darkness they walk in (Matthew 7:16, 20).
Elders are ordained of God and yet never to take His place nor to negate our own personal responsibility to seek God daily for ourselves. Yet, we do not need a preacher. Why? – because we each have a Bible. Read it. We don’t need a preacher to tell us what the Bible says! Read it for yourself, learning of the LORD yourself. Today is your day to take personal responsibility to seek God for yourself! Stop depending on a preacher or preachers. Devour God’s Word daily. Jesus taught personal responsibility and the essential nature of it when He said “Take heed to yourselves” (Luke 21:34-36) …… Paul instructed Timothy to “Study” the Word (2 Timothy 2:15).
Today we have all around us church-goers who are not possessed with a heart after God, do not diligently study and read and live out Christ’s Word. This lukewarm, world-loving fruit clearly reveals the prophesied priesthood of wolves (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 27:4, 8; Matthew 24:11; Acts 13:22; 2 Timothy 3:13; 1 John 4:1, etc.). Until a pastor has provoke you to get into God’s Word for yourself, to seeking His holy face daily in prayer, he has failed. If has has diligently, biblically sought to do these essentials, and people have refused God’s Word, refused to seek His holy face continually, the blood is off of his hands (Ezekiel 3:18-20).
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Ezekiel 3:18-20
When you check the fruit of a fellowship, check, discern if the individual saints are vibrant in Christ, diligently seeking His holy face, in His Word, living a life of prayer, denying self, taking up the cross daily, and following Jesus. This sounds like what we see of the earliest saints in the book of Acts, right? Boom. Remember how Peter preached and 8,000 were saved and how the Berean believers put Paul’s teaching to the Scriptural test? (Acts 2-4; 17:10-11, etc.).
Sadly, usually you see a bunch of people who are proud to be a member of a church with none of the biblical fruit list above.
The apostle Paul kept a close watch on those he oversaw.
“For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” 1 Thessalonians 3:5
Having a physical “church” building makes no mere man, no supposed elder, an official representative of Heaven. Feeding the sheep of Christ with His pure Word and equipping them “for the work of the ministry” is the mark of a true under-shepherd of Christ (John 21:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-12, etc.). Discern. Beware. Inspect the fruit. Jesus nor any of His holy apostles collected a penny to build a building called “church.” No, they went to the people – to serve them instead of having the people come to them.
Let’s test that…. How many people do you personally know who are good church members, Sunday morning church attenders, and ALSO true, daily disciples whom God is using everywhere they go? Think about that…. How many true disciples of Jesus do you know who are involved in a Sunday morning church program? If you personally know even one true disciple, that’s a miracle and in spite of his attendance at the Sunday morning circus called “church.”
Unlike Christ’s apostle Paul, most in leadership today foster in their prey a dependence on THEM and their church business instead of prayerfully, biblically exhorting people to depend on Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5).
Like Christ’s apostle Paul, the true elder labors relentlessly to see you grounded in Christ – not in him or his ministry or church, but in CHRIST! Listen closely:
“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.” Colossians 2:6-7
It simply doesn’t matter what else he’s doing, if any minister is not prayerfully, biblically, perpetually rooting and grounding you in Christ, he’s a fraud. Run.
Like Jesus and His holy apostle Paul, part of grounding you ever more deeper in Christ, is warning you to “beware” of the “many false prophets.” (Matthew 24:11)
“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 2:8-10
SO, he’s not exhorting and admonishing you to seek and know the LORD in an ever deepening fashion? He’s not equipping, maturing you “for the work of the ministry” and yet you still consider him one of the LORD’s under-shepherds? He’s not getting YOU into the Word (2 Timothy 2:15) for yourself? That’s a false leader who is entertaining the goats instead of feeding and equipping the saints! Run! (See Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.)
False leaders divert the attention, the heart affections, the resources, and the energy of God’s people away from Christ and simple obedience to His Great Commission mandate. YOU are personally responsible! Waste is rampant! If you support, “bid God speed” (2 John 7-11) to a false leader, false ministry, then you will perish with them!
The divine purpose for elders is not to dominate nor entertain the LORD’s sheep but rather to help their joy in Christ! Get to know this verse saints:
“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24
There is the citing of elders in the Word and their divine purpose – to humbly serve God by helping His sheep grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:1-6).
Christ’s apostle Paul desired the “perfection” (maturity in Christ) of the people of God (Ephesians 4:11-15).
“For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.” 2 Corinthians 13:9
Like Apollos, Elders among God’s people must remain teachable to God’s Word and simply and only teach and preach his word (Proverbs 9:9; Acts 18:26). Elders true to the LORD act on his behalf and never out of a personal agenda for self gain (2 Corinthians 3:5; 4:5, etc.). They live the crucified life (Galatians 2:20).
We are to humble ourselves like Apollos did and learn the way of our God more perfectly from each other, via God’s Word – as Apollos learned it more fully from Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-28).
Beloved Apollos was a very effective, anointed communicator of God’s Word and yet, was in need of maturing, of being perfected. So, God sent to him an elder and his wife, Aquila and Priscilla. Apollos humbly received the LORD’s elders and His grace to grow in Christ:
“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” Acts 18:24-26
The vast majority of “churches” that meet in “church buildings” are simply and merely conducting “church services” where they entertain their prey. They are not equipping the saints for the work of the ministry and therefore discerned as being counterfeit (Ephesians 4:11-13). If they were, there would be salty disciples in their midst who go forth to minister Christ’s kingdom blessings wherever they go. Not even a trace of this transpiring in the apostate modern church world. Run. Run. Run.
The Purpose of Kingdom Elders:
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12
Philip Lye writes: “Paul says in Ephesians 4, that he gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. He expressly says these people are given to mature the saints, to equip them for their ministry and growth in Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that many false prophets and messiahs will arise deceiving many. They are simply functions that God has given and not titles which the proud use to strut about like a peacock. Most of these people that I have met (and I have seen a lot of famous ones) are false, proud and arrogant and not servants of the the Lord Jesus Christ. I have seen humble genuine ones who move mightily in truth, calling people to repentance and right relationship with Jesus and a demonstration of genuine miracles and wonders. They are to be genuine servants to God’s people.”
VIEW this following verse from Solomon’s day in light of our calling and work till Christ returns:
“Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.” 2 Chronicles 8:16
Let’s read a larger portion of this important passage in Ephesians 4. God fearing under-shepherds must prayerfully labor for and be intent upon seeing God’s people grow in the grace of Christ to the full stature of maturity He has ordained!
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-15
The Error of Using Titles in the Modern Church World
God sovereignly and exclusively ordained MEN to feed, lead, and equip His saints (Ephesians 4:8-11). Women are called to and seen doing many ministry functions in the New Testament but never as a leader in a position specifically designated in Scripture for men.
Repent. The American “church” is a catastrophe of spineless moral-coward Ahabs who’ve allowed, suffered women to lead, and the fall out is incalculable (Revelation 2:20-24).
GOD’s men must never allow women to lead where they (men) are called to lead (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2; Revelation 2:20-24).
To put yourself under the ministry of a woman who is acting as an elder among God’s people, is to defy Christ, and to agree with Christ’s arch enemy and his Jezebels and to bring severe destruction on the people of God (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2; Revelation 2:20-24).
JUST because a woman can run her mouth and even genuinely have a gift of the Spirit DOES NOT mean she’s an elder in the body of Christ – which is divinely reserved non-negotiably for men, male elders (1 Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2). | Beware of Scripture-Twisting Jezebels
We must humbly confess before our LORD and God that we have nothing and are nothing without Him!
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
God can use us in spite of having a seminary or Bible college background…. If we will truly denounce it, lay it all down, and truly submit to Him – just like Paul did (Philippians 3). Otherwise we will join the epidemic of false prophets who build their own kingdoms in this fleeting life and spend eternity in hell (2 Peter 2:1-3). Paul counted his “higher education” as “dung” to know and serve Christ (Philippians 3).
BIBLICALLY SPEAKING, BY DEFINITION, ELDERS ARE NOT SEMINARIANS (UNLESS THEY’VE DENOUNCED SUCH) BUT RATHER PROVEN MEN OF GOD WHO HAVE WALKED WITH CHRIST FOR SOME TIME AND ARE SEASONED IN DOCTRINE AND GODLY CHARACTER AND ABLE TO HELP ASSIST OTHER BELIEVERS GROW IN GRACE (Philippians 3).
In part, we can be transformed in our thinking/perspective of what leaders are seen to be in the apostate modern church vs the biblical definition of an elder which is a humble servant with sound doctrine and a godly life (1 Timothy 3; 2 Timothy 3:10; Titus 1-2, etc.).
Christ’s kingdom ordination is not like the ordinations of many denominations….. To ordain seems to mean to recognize the work of GOD in a man’s life and to set him forth into ministry as by the leading of the Spirit of God.
“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
ORDAIN
G5087
τίθημι
tithēmi
tith’-ay-mee
A prolonged form of a primary word θέω theō (which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses); to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from G2476, which properly denotes an upright and active position, while G2749 is properly reflexive and utterly prostrate): – + advise, appoint, bow, commit, conceive, give, X kneel down, lay (aside, down, up), make, ordain, purpose, put, set (forth), settle, sink down.
Total KJV occurrences: 96
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” Acts 13:1-3
Denominations of mere men set their elders forth to do THEIR bidding, to perpetuate their own cause and existence, to build their false church businesse$. God fearing assemblies of the saints simply recognize Christ’s work in a man and prayerfully send him forth to do GOD’s work. They worship and exalt Christ whole heartedly!
MINISTRY is about feeding sheep, not entertaining goats (John 21:15-17). So, when you see a “minister” entertaining, you know he himself is a goat (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5).
What True Elders Teach
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
THERE is nothing good in us except Christ. We are not featured but JESUS is. “We preach CHRIST crucified” (1 Cor 1:23). All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags and HE is the One and only righteous Redeemer whom we communicate to others (1 Cor 9:16; Rom 7:18 etc.).
Jesus’ true disciples are crucified vessels who preach with His authority, unlike the lame leaders we have today (Matthew 7:28-29). True Gospel preaching rocks the world of those who hear it – it never coddles people in their sin. That’s the work of wolves! Beware!
Godly Elders Teach God’s People to Discern
“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23
Why don’t some leaders teach discernment?
“Anyone that profits off of you being blind, will never teach you or inspire you to see.” unknown
Any man in leadership who doesn’t warn you of false prophets as did Christ and His apostles, is a wolf who does not want you to see who he truly is.
God’s people are to continue to learn to discern – to test, to weigh all things against Holy Scripture. Ungodly elders have the “I said it so it’s true” notion. Or the “We’ve always taught that” or “That’s what we believe” philosophy. Not. What saith the Scriptures is what every true follower of Jesus asks, as he searches God’s Word to ascertain truth. Every student of Christ should become extremely familiar with Acts 17:10-11.
QUESTION RECEIVED:
“I am curious as to how one man is considered the other’s elder? Do they attend the same church gathering thus, he is a church elder or is it through willful submission of the younger as an understudy or simply due to the fact that one man is older?”
REPLY:
Great question brother. Elder, biblically seems to mean older and more seasoned in God’s Word, having walked with the LORD longer. Two views come to mind: 1. The organic body of Christ, the kingdom relationships we have, where there appear men in our lives who are seasoned and there’s an automatic elder/young relationship (that’s how it is here)… and 2. Where a person attends a church group and they have their elder in a more organized fashion as you mentioned…. that help?
Nothing brings definition to this like God’s Word as you know…. and notice how it begins with “The elders which are AMONG you”….
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” 1 Peter 5:1-6
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Articles
NLT New Living Translation EXPOSED
CALLING OUT THE GUTLESS COWARDS WHO ARE NOT BOTHERED THAT SATAN HAS CORRUPTED THE WORDS AND DOCTRINES OF THE LORD THEY FALSELY CLAIM TO SERVE.
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19
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Apostasy
Sorcery, Pharmakeia
Originally written by Allegra Spaulding (edited)
This is the Devil’s COUNTERFEIT of the natural healing herbs that the Lord has provided for us.
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Genesis 1:29
We choose what tree we will eat from……
If we eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, then we are receiving demonic knowledge. This is the knowledge from the fallen angels. This is the source of Pharmakeia.
“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:15
Babylon is the epicenter of this witchcraft.
“And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee (Babylon); and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries (Pharmakeia), were all nations deceived.” Revelation 18:23
Babylon is introducing the Beast System of Medicine. The trial run was the Covid 19 agenda which has killed millions of people through blood clots, turbo cancers, and heart failure. It was SORCERY against the nations conducted through the spirit of Pharmakeia, which includes the witchcraft spirits of Control and Intimidation. People were forced to take a vac-c-ine in order to keep their jobs to feed their families. With devastating consequences. The third leading cause of death in the United States is medical procedures and pharmeseuticals (pharmakeia).
The Lord is calling us out of the system of Pharmakeia. He wants us to repent and separate ourselves.
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
There is a judgment coming upon the spirit of Pharmakeia and we do not want to be entangled with it.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
PHARMAKEUS translates to: a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion; a druggist (“pharmacist”) or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician:—sorcerer.
We have better promises. We can feast on the Tree of Life for our medicine.
“And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” Ezekiel 47:12
It’s time to get healthy and come out of the Babylonian Medical System. Shall we begin with prayer?
Lord Jesus, I repent for seeking the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil for knowledge about my health. I know that You have supplied for all of my needs through natural herbs and the leaves of the Tree of Life. You are the Tree of Life. In Jesus’ name.
May the ungodly soul-ties between myself and the spirit of Pharmakeia be broken now in Jesus’ name. May all the ungodly soul-ties between myself and the medical system, hospitals, doctors, and nurses be broken now in Jesus’ name.
May every curse spoken over this life You gave regarding sickness be broken and cancelled with every medical diagnosis, in Jesus’ name.
Thank You LORD Jesus that according to the Word of God, by Your stripes I am healed! And as I seek Your wisdom and Your knowledge that comes from Heaven.
Lord, please give me wisdom about food intake, about my lifestyle, and about these choices so that I can receive divine health. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:1-2
“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” 1 Corinthians 10:21
“And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.” 2 Kings 1:16
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