This first section is written by brother Stacy Strother
“The concept of “making disciples of men” is most clearly found in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible in Matthew 28:19-20, known as the Great Commission. In this passage, Jesus instructs his followers: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV). The word translated as “teach” in the KJV comes from the Greek verb “mathēteusate,” which literally means, “make disciples.” This command, given after Jesus’ resurrection, serves as the explicit biblical foundation for disciple-making, signaling it as an ongoing project for all Christians—not just the first apostles.
To understand the term further, “disciple” has deep linguistic and cultural roots. The English word traces back to the Latin “discipulus,” meaning “student” or “learner,” which itself was adopted into Old English as “discipul.” In the New Testament, the term is formed from the Koine Greek “mathētēs,” meaning “learner” or “pupil.” But unlike merely being a student, a disciple in the biblical sense is someone who follows both the teaching and life of their master. In the time of Jesus, the expectation for disciples was to mold their character, worldview, and actions after their teacher—imitating both words and deeds (Etymonline, Wikipedia, EBSCO).
The Greek verb used in Matthew 28:19—mathēteusate (μαθητεύσατε)—reveals even more. This word derives from the noun “mathētēs” (disciple, learner) and the verb “mathēteuō” (to be or make a disciple). Specifically, “mathēteusate” is an aorist active imperative, meaning it’s a forceful command directed at a group: “make disciples!” Notably, the Greek has other verbs for “teach” (like “didaskō”), but “mathēteusate” means to actively form someone into a committed follower and imitator, not just a student in the academic sense. Etymologically, the root “math-” means “learn,” and the word carries the sense of mentoring, apprenticing, and shaping someone’s life. In the Great Commission, the directive is holistic: go, make followers, immerse them in the way of Jesus, and teach them to embody those teachings in daily life. This makes clear that, at its root and in its explicit New Testament expression, the Bible teaches and commands making disciples in the fullest possible sense (Etymonline, Wikipedia).
Obviously— the ultimate “MAKING of DISCIPLES” begins with leading them to Jesus to be saved! That- is only a work that the HOLY SPIRIT can do!”
As seems clear from brother Strother’s description above, though the LORD Jesus didn’t expressly say “God make disciples”, His Great Commission declaration here in Matthew’s Gospel does teach us to teach men to be students of Jesus Christ in doctrine and life, living, lifestyle – to truly follow Jesus in the way we live.
Could it be that the divine import, in context with the whole of Scripture, would be to help Christ’s saints follow HIM, not us? And inasmuch as we follow Christ, imitate us as unto Him (Colossians 3:17).
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
“As” I follow Christ, follow Him also. Only “as” I follow Him. Perhaps Paul is instructing the body of disciples at Corinth to follow him only inasmuch as he, Paul, is following Jesus.
“(Paul) he tells the Corinthians to imitate him, just as he also copied Christ.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
“For we preach not ourselves” – this is not about us, mere men, but Christ. Follow, imitate Him, your LORD and Savior.
“For we preach …. Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
Concerning the different wording used in the different Bible versions at the end of Matthew 28, one source notes:
“Make disciples/Teach: The dominant verb in the original Greek is “make disciples,” which is reflected in modern versions like the English Standard Version (ESV) and the New International Version (NIV). The KJV uses “teach”.”
It is this writer’s opinion that the King James Bible is the preserved Word of God for the English speaking peoples and that as usual it’s rendering is correct is superior (Psalms 12:6-7). Involved in this wording, “teaching” instead of “making disciples” seems to hold a protection from those who would make disciples after themselves instead of Christ.
The issue seems to be with the modern making of followers of a false Jesus, a false gospel, discipling people according to “another gospel” by those who’ve espoused such, and not discipling them after the original Gospel “once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 4)
In the absolute sense, YOU cannot make a disciple – of another person. Only Christ saves. Only Christ sanctifies. ONLY the Savior can do that! Preach the Word and let God do the rest! Rest in Him! Jesus says to go teach His Word (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 4:2-4, etc.). The LORD never, not once instructed His people to “Go make disciples” after “another Jesus” or themselves or their church and its ideas, or after any false gospel which is errant from the original Gospel. After someone repents and receives Jesus, is now saved, God has to do the rest – accordingly as the individual hearer chooses to yield to, to trust and obey Him.
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4
Friends in Christ, as is rendered by the English, Jesus never told us to “Go make disciples.” Compare the KJB (the real Bible) with the fake “bibles.” See Matthew 28:18-20. The WORD, King James Bible, does not say “Go make disciples.” There’s a divine reason for such.
“Different Bible versions render Matthew 28:18–20 in similar ways, though they vary in phrasing. All versions state that Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, and he commissions his disciples to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”. Key differences lie in words like “power” versus “authority” and “teach” versus “make disciples”.”
SEARCH THIS TERM: “make disciples.” It appears ZERO times in the King James Bible.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
“GO … TEACH all nations” – give them the Word but THEY have to decide to repent and follow Jesus, each step of the way. That’s a huge difference from supposedly MAKING disciples. YOU can’t MAKE anyone a disciple -except your own self. THEY must choose to obey God.
We cannot “make” a disciple out of anyone except ourselves. Such a notion has opened the door to much abuse.
“The notion that WE ‘make disciples’ puts the power in their (man’s) hands instead of God’s hands. He alone makes the disciples. We can’t. And we can’t grow the seeds. All we do is plant them (1 Cor 3:6-9).” Karen Cochran
Are we beginning to see just how such destruction comes from perverting the words of the LORD?
“for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.” Jeremiah 23:36
CONSIDER: Jesus never said “Go make disciples.” That’s HIS work, not ours. As the individual hears and obeys His Word, Jesus makes them HIS disciple. It’s a “false burden,” a false obligation to think that you have to make disciples (Lamentation 2:14). “Go make disciples” is just another vatican corruption of God’s Word in the new versions. In this passage the new versions pervert, the real Bible says:
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and TEACH all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 TEACHING them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20 King James Bible
Jesus sent His disciples to teach the full counsel of His Word, and as it’s heard by individuals, some will receive and obey and others will rebel (Acts 20:20-32; Isaiah 1:18-20; Deuteronomy 20:19; Joshua 24:15, etc.).
“Go make disciples”? No. Jesus said Go baptize and teach My Word to all men and not “Go make disciples.” Read Matthew 28:18-20 here and notice that Jesus does NOT say “Go make disciples.”
You cannot make a disciple. Only Christ can do such! You can only choose to be Christ’s disciple individually by obeying Him, following Him for yourself.
That “Go make disciples” false translation from the new fake “bibles” has led to people becoming obsessed and trying to “make disciples” in the flesh instead of simply teaching God’s Word in His wisdom and love and letting God do a work in them as they choose to submit their lives to Him.
On that note, recently a good brother in Christ sent this following message:
“I listened to your recent message and I never heard that we don’t make disciples – That only Jesus makes Disciples duh… I have been killing myself to make disciples and I went and read Matthew 28:18-20 again in the KJB and low and behold boom there it was… anyway I am grateful for your message today. God bless.” Will
It’s up to individuals to hear God’s Word with humble a heart, to repent and to obey God and follow Jesus from that point forward. This truth also prevents wolves from making disciples of themselves.
In His all-encompassing wisdom, the LORD foresaw all these things and if we obey His Word/wisdom, He protects us. Could this come under the “false burdens” Jeremiah the prophet spoke of? – “Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment” (Lamentations 2:14). Seems to me that we simply teach His Word and He brings the fish into His boat and cleans them up and makes them HIS disciples.
Perhaps this boils down to the flesh vs the cross (Galatians 3:3).
In modern church circles we often hear the push, the coercion it seems, to “make disciples,” follow up, etc.
Following up gently yes but feeling obligated to force ourselves into the life of that new believer? No.
Case in point: Phillip didn’t make a disciple of the Ethiopian eunuch. He just helped him get saved and water baptized. Then God took him immediately to another town 40 miles away (Acts 8:40). And the eunuch went back to Ethiopia on the chariot with the queen.
One writer notes:
“‘And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me cannot be my disciple.’ Luke 14:27.
So the way to make disciples is to teach and exemplify the self-sacrificial love of the cross. Loving enemies, absorbing blows, and loving those who don’t deserve it. This kind of love, especially toward those do not deserve it, captures people and makes them disciples for Christ. God does it. We just take up the cross in faith. Witnessing is a taking up of the cross.
‘Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 11:1
So yes making disciples cannot be done by human effort. It is by God’s effort, resurrection power. This is done by teaching people to accept hardship and suffering, especially undeserved suffering, in faith, faithing it thru the cross.”
Think about this: Controlling religionists like the “go make disciples” version because in some cases it fuels their desire to make you THEIR disciple instead of prayerfully helping you learn to be CHRIST’s disciple.
“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
Upon hearing this message, brother Jason Owens replied with:
“I love this! Certainly takes away false pressure that I have been putting on myself all these years.”
Christ’s apostle Paul writes: “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)
Paul told the Corinthians believers to follow him AS he followed Christ, right? So, he was an example to them yet not burdened with the responsibility to make anyone follow Jesus.
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” Philippians 3:17
“Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:9
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
Jesus says that we are to allow HIS light to shine through our lives and as that transpires, others will see the good works of God and be inspired to know and follow Christ.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
It’s not that Christ’s disciples aren’t to help feed, nourish, and assist other believers in growing in the grace of Christ. We are to do such and yet, also keeping in mind that GOD is working in them and that they are personally responsible to “work out” their “own salvation with fear and trembling” before the LORD.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
Daniel Kim writes:
“Making disciples and teaching the nations are two totally different meaning….the discipleship of an individual is confirmed once he or she chooses to obey God. It’s the individual’s choice that opens the door for Christ to dine in with him. Paul even makes this clear distinction when the gifts of the Holy Spirit were distributed by God upon the saints. Making disciples wasn’t even one of the gifts distributed by the Lord. We are just messengers that are sent from The Lord. But the Lord is both the life giver and the life changer. If people reject us, they don’t just go away, they also reject the Son and internally reject the Father.Many have felt guilty being rejected for Him but have forgotten that they aren’t the only ones who were rejected.”
When John the Baptist preached, unlike so many pastors today, he was not coddling people but rather putting the responsibility to walk with Jesus on them. Listen to John the Baptist preach to the religious counterfeits of his day:
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew 3:7-10
How about the example of when Jesus preached to the rich young ruler? After delivering His Word to this man, who then walked away from Jesus sorrowful, did Jesus chase him down? No! Did Jesus alter the message to accommodate this man? No! Let’s get a glimpse of this interaction and notice that the Son of God simply, unapologetically gave this man the Word and let him walk away. God doesn’t need man, man needs God. Though He desires “all men to be saved,” the LORD will never force anyone (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). The LORD is no sap as many seem to make Him out to be. He gave all men free will – to love or reject Him:
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:21-24
Jesus called the man to follow Him and the man openly rejected Christ, walking away – choosing his temporal riches over Heaven’s KING. Not only did Christ not accommodate this man’s sin, He doubled down on His teaching, His warning. Jesus spring boarded off this man’s rejection of Him by warning His disciples of the danger of serving mammon/riches instead of the LORD (Matthew 6:19-24; 10:23-25; 1 Timothy 6:6-12; Proverbs 23:4-5, etc.).
Also, in further understanding Christ’s kingdom, please pour prayerfully over our LORD’s teaching of the seed and heart soil in Luke 8:11-15 (KJB).
Anthony E Terry writes:
“Many today are trying to ‘make’ disciples, as it was my understanding in my youth to do the same, for I was taught the Lord said to ‘go, preach and make disciples,’ when the Scripture actually says: ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost’ (Matthew 28:19 KJB). The obedience unto the Holy Spirit truly is what ‘makes’ disciples, and our role is to teach God’s doctrine, and then all depending on the ground that the seed falls upon will be the evidence of shown fruit. I see John when he said, ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us’(1 John 2:19), as referencing disciplined followers. Many have professed belief in the gospel of Christ, yet many are not obedient through their lifestyle, for they have man’s doctrine instead of relying on the Word of God accompanied with the Holy Spirit for their guidance. The resulting fruit is easily seen—either they will become disciples, or they will not.”
The Bible never says to “Go make disciples”
Only the fake “bibles” say such
Here’s the KJB which is as usual correct…. Think the cross…. How can we, mere men, MAKE disciples? The connotation is off, seems contrary to the import of the cross in Scripture. Only an individual person can decide and obey God to become Christ’s disciples. We can’t MAKE anyone do so. And meditate on the posture that puts into our own minds if we think we are going to go out and “make disciples.” That puts us into the mode of holding that responsibility which is actually God’s and the individual’s. Has this not also led to men making disciples after themselves and fostered, procured the energies and resources of people to their own ministries? How can flesh make a disciple other than to itself, to its programs and organizations? Note that Jesus commanded us to go and teach His Word, not make anyone obey it. He works with men individually and they make the choice once God’s Word is taught.
Recently, to a few close friends who are ministers of the Gospel, I wrote ….
Can we actually MAKE a disciple?
I don’t think so…..
The Bible never says to “Go make disciples”
Only the fake “bibles” say such.
Here below is the King James Bible which is as usual correct…. Think the cross…. How can we, mere men, MAKE disciples? The connotation is off, seems contrary to the import of the cross in Scripture. Only an individual person can decide and obey God to become Christ’s disciples. We can’t MAKE anyone do so. And meditate on the posture that puts into our own minds if we think we are going to go out and “make disciples.” That puts us into the mode of holding that responsibility which is actually God’s and the individuals. Has this not also led to men making disciples after themselves and fostered, procured the energies and resources of people to their own ministries? How can flesh make a disciple other than to itself, to its programs and organizations? Note that Jesus commanded us to go and teach His Word, not make anyone obey it. He works with men individually and they make the choice once God’s Word is taught.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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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.
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 […]
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.
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. […]
“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]
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“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 […]
