People don’t have a “mental health” problem, they have a SIN problem and sin is what gives way, gives full access to Satan!
“When people hear voices telling them to harm themselves or others, that’s not a chemical imbalance, it’s demon possession.” Rachel Gould
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Jesus taught us that man’s sin comes out of his “desperately wicked” heart (Jer17:9; Mark 7:20-23).
The devil and his agents have created a million ways to divert us from stopping our lives, getting honest, taking personal responsibility, humbling ourselves, admitting our sins against God, and repenting.
“When David took his sin to God in Psalm 51 he took 100 percent responsibility! He did not blame Bathsheba and did not seek therapy or medications. He took his heart to God. Repented and pleaded with the Lord to forgive and cleanse him. And the Lord restored to him the joy of his salvation. David was truly broken before God. And the only answer he sought was the Lord.” Karen Cochran
“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:20-23
Mankind’s core dilemma is sin (Romans 1-3). Jesus Christ came and died to “save his people from their sins,“ to “taketh away the sin of the world,“ and not to merely deal with fallen man on a surface level as on a mental level (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29). God doesn’t band aid broken things, He heals and makes them whole to the root because the root determines the fruit (Matthew 12:33; Luke 4:18, etc.). Christ’s salvation is perfect. Evil is in our hearts and proceeds forth from that wicked heart until Christ regenerates us (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:3, 7; Titus 3:5-7). This is why the sinner must of divine necessity be born again, must be made completely new “by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5-7). Then and not before then, the born again saint of Christ is made a “a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. … 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:3, 7
Our alienated spiritual state while in sin, is not a mental health issue (Ephesians 2:1-3). Rather, sin is the spiritual state all men are in, separated from the life of God and under condemnation, until they are born again in Christ Jesus (John 3:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18; Titus 3:5-7, etc.).
Anyone attributing sin to “mental health” issues is a blinded false teacher who is preaching “another gospel” and is “accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9). Mental dysfunction is only coming from sin, it’s a mere symptom, not the root cause. Fallen man needs God – he needs the change of heart, a divine miracle at the core of his being – something the LORD alone can and will do when the individual repents and receives Christ (Acts 3:19; John 1:12-13, etc.).
Did Jesus come to die for sin or “mental health issues”?
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
SIN is man’s core issue. Seems like “mental health” gets blamed for much more than is fair. And, mental health issues emanate from man’s sin which only Jesus can cure. WE have ALL sinned against our Maker and yet He is so loving that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us while we were yet sinners (John 3:16; Romans 3:10, 23; 5:6-8). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31).
Human reasoning is debunked by the Word of God. Read Colossians 2:8-10. Those who walk with God, who truly love God and people, give the people HIS Word which plainly states “Ye MUST be born again” (John 3).
Anything else is a lie from a hateful counterfeit, a deceiver (Proverbs 27:5-6). Only Jesus can forgive sin and eradicate demons (Matthew 9:6; 26:28). Read Mark 5 concerning the demon possessed man who after Jesus set him free was “in his right mind” (Mark 5:15). Also, memorize James 4:7 and learn that there is no getting rid of Satan until there is true repentance through which God forgives the sin that previously gave Satan access, control over that person.
The “old man“ otherwise called “the flesh” in Scripture, must be “put off” or crucified by way of the daily cross – the crucified life (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:8-10). So many who pretend to represent Christ today in the apostate modern church world often speak in terms of finding out things about ones self. This they do instead of citing and reading and teaching from God’s Word what the testimony of Scripture is about fallen mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3, 7, etc.). The focus is on self whom they do not identify as “desperately wicked” and in need of the miracle of regeneration (John 3:3, 7; Titus 3:5-7). God’s only answer is the cross of Christ and when He saves a man, that man is to be crucified with Christ. When you do not hear these original Gospel essentials, identify such as a false ministry. None of these things are ever mentioned in the messages we hear coming from the false priesthood of wolves who have and are commandeering the apostate modern church world further into deception and disillusionment (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). As was foretold, the great falling away has been on us for a while now (Amos 8:11; Matthew 7:15; 24:3-5, 11; 2 Thessalonians 2; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:13, etc..
The no sin nature people are missing the cross. The Mike Desario’s, the Charles Finney’s, and the Jesse Morrell’s of the world peddle the no-sin-nature heresy and also do not preach the cross, the crucified life. They rag on endlessly about “stopping all sin” but never mention the crucified life which is the only divine prescription for overcoming sin (Romans 6, etc.). That alone makes them false, peddlers of “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9) This is why they can’t understand this. They do not realize that God gave us the solution to this sin bent (iniquity), this inherent in fallen man sin – and that answer is the crucified life which is at the heart of the original Gospel.
Christ alone is the cure FOR the curse of sin.
PSYCHO-BABBLE, PSYCHOTHERAPY IS A LIE THAT PROMISES ANSWERS WHILE ALLOWING ITS FALSE PROPHETS TO MILK THE VICTIMS OF ITS LIES (2 Peter 2:1-3).
No one needs psychology to notice and understand the flaws of the fallen man, of fallen in sin mankind. Psychology is a cheap imitation that offers zero solutions. The fathers of modern psychology were all unrepentant and vile and sinfully perverted men, children of satan. Jesus alone can forgive sin and make a man whole (Matthew 9:6; Luke 4:18, etc.). That’s why Heaven’s King came. Every other promise is a lie. The world has no answer for the sin that is the root cause of all of man’s ailments (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1-3; 6-7, etc.). Jesus saves. Jesus forgives. Jesus makes whole – from the inside out – all the way to the root of the issue! Christ alone is the cure to the cancer of sin!
Clue: Mental health issues are merely the result of SIN! Christ’s solution to sin grants men to be in their “right mind” just like it did the demon possessed maniac at Gadara. After Jesus cast out the devils that had possessed him, and made this man whole (salvation), then it says this:
“And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.” Mark 5:15
“Mental illness” has taken center stage as the primary excuse for SIN and for justifying evil. Psychology is a lie. There is no solution in it. Only Jesus can cure the curse of sin! He died to do just that! Reject Him and you are Satan’s property!
The source of sin AND evil is rooted in Satan and is in the hearts of men. Christ alone can cure this curse.
Jesus came to raise men from their dead spiritual state. He alone can do such. He says “Ye must be born again” (John 3:3, 7).
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:18
Any person who is not genuinely born again, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, IS the property of Satan and under his evil control.
“He that is not with me is against me…” Matthew 12:30
Reducing sin to “mental health issues” is an antichrist attack on Christ and His Gospel!
The increasing violence and evil we see erupting across our nation and world was foretold in God’s Word and is a manifestation of the evil, the wicked hearts of fallen men, unsaved men.
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13
Anyone not pointing out that you are a sinner separated from your Maker, and not pointing you to the salvation that is in Christ Jesus alone, is misleading you. Sinful man has no solution in and of himself. Only God Himself can make you whole. And, He desires to do just that! Today is your day to turn your life to God, to confess what He already knows – that you are a vile sinner. And to receive the salvation, the forgiveness of all your sins by receiving the perfect Lamb of God who was slain for your sins – to bring you to God! (John 1:12-13, 29)
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. … 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:12-13, 29
Those in sin are blind and can’t see this. They vainly believe that “reforms” can turn this tide of evil. But only God can solve this problem of sin and He will only do that where there is repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 20:21). Spiritual bankruptcy is only solved by repentance and being washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, who is the only answer to man’s sin problem. “What must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30-31).
Those without God look within for reform when all there is is sin within. Reform is not what’s needed. Change is needed and only God can make that change in a man and He calls it “regeneration” and being “born again” (Titus 3:5-6; John 3:3, 7). Only the LORD can solve man’s sin problem and He did just that when He sent His only begotten Son for the sins of the world.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Sin is man’s problem. Sin is at the root of man’s dilemma, not a “mental disorder” or disease (Colossians 2:8). Sin is man’s core problem from which all his ailments emanate (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1 and 3, etc.).
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31
The Bible never says “know thyself”!!! God’s Word commands all men to “repent,“ to submit to God (Acts 17:30; James 4:7). The Word says “DENY,“ crucify your evil self! Read Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6, etc.. When we look within the Bible we find that mankind is fallen and full of sin within. That sin must be forgiven at initial salvation and crucified for the remainder of the life of that disciple while on earth (Romans 6).
After Christ saves us, we don’t evolve into being a better “Christian.” No. There will always be that sinful, iniquitous nature called “the old man,“ which must be daily crucified as we “put on the new man.”
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” Colossians 3:9-10
The SINNER, the vile wretch I must first and foremost confront and continually crucify, is myself! (Read Rom 7:18, 24; Ps 39:4-5; Eccl 7:20.) It’s essential to begin to understand the flesh, the fallen man, the iniquitous old man, in order to realize what we’ve been saved from and what must be crucified daily. The cross is God’s solution, prescription to “put off the old man with his deeds.”
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” Ephesians 4:22
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” Colossians 3:9
What about this evil nature we all have….. what does Scripture reveal? Let’s talk about how the only solution is the cross, to X it out, to cancel, to crucify it to nothing, that Christ might reign – the Gospel reenacted in our daily lives – death, burial, resurrection. Saints, this truth must be explored, studied, and learned from God’s Word.
That evil, that iniquity working in us perhaps hastens us to His cross for forgiveness, mercy, and to put it off, crucify it. Have you noticed, like Paul, that it’s nothing but ugliness? Romans 7. One disciple writes:
“We want to TRY against evil (law and human effort) but the only way is to DIE to evil and be raised up with new life (grace).”
We must see the sin in our own evil hearts and repent, confess, and cry out to God to cleanse us (Psalms 51; 139:23-24; Matthew 5:8, etc.). Then, take up the cross and follow your Savior.
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” Ezekiel 18:30
The Bible says to examine yourself but it never says to look within yourself for any virtue or anything good at all because the heart is deceitful “above all things and desperately wicked”! (Read 2 Corinthians 13:5; Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3, etc..)
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
Judge yourself in order to avoid damnation with the world:
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
Beware of the false prophets preaching that you must look within – as if there’s anything good there! (Read Romans 3:10; 7:18, 24; and Genesis 6:5, 12.)
God Himself is good and perfect and just and we are continually told to be “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
Now read Hebrews 12:1-12 and know that God’s correction is simply the clear proof that He loves us – that we are HIS! Rejoice! Then read Revelation 3:19.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
GOD WILL NOT WORK IN OUR LIVES UNTIL WE OPENLY ADMIT AND ANNOUNCE OUR OWN UTTER DEPRAVITY, OUR POVERTY OF SPIRIT, AND CRY OUT TO HIM TO SAVE, DELIVER, AND MAKE US WHOLE – AS HE ALONE CAN DO!
Paramount to your understanding of divine redemption of the fallen race via the cross of Christ is your recognition, your understanding of the utter depravity of fallen mankind.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
Note, “poor in spirit.” Not poor financially or religiously. The Greek word translated into English as “poor” is PTOCHOS. It means pauper, beggar, poor…..desperate and spiritually impoverished. Christ looks to desperate, hungry and thirsty people who want more of Him (Is. 66:2). Their hearts pant for more of Him (Ps. 42:1-2). They deeply desire more of His presence and Word.
ALL who seek to hide/cover their sins instead of repenting and forsaking them, will perish (Proverbs 28:13).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
“Repentance is to TAKE SIDES with God against yourself. It is a CHANGE of attitude toward SELF, toward SIN, toward GOD, toward CHRIST that is so REAL that it RESULTS in a changed life. It is raising the WHITE FLAG in SURRENDER to God and turning to Christ as your only LORD and Savior. Repentance is NOT a work … works are the fruit of repentance (Ephesians 2:8-10).” Trent Austin
The Truth about Fallen Mankind – That Includes You!
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5
“And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Genesis 6:12
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24
Defusing the iniquity of self-righteousness increases exponentially when we begin learning the biblical doctrine of fallen mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18; Psalms 39:4-5).
Don’t trust yourself, trust God and deny self! “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Proverbs 26:28).
Only Satan and his children live by the diabolical edict of “be true to yourself.” Knowing how wretched they are of themselves, without Christ, those who are known of God live by “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans 3:19
There’s a difference between justifying sin and honestly admitting the truth – that we are nothing and in utter need of an abiding felloship and union with Jesus! There is no justifying the sin Jesus died to forgive and deliver us FROM! (See Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Romans 6:1-2.) One of those sins is self-reliance/pride/self-righteousness – self idolatry – which leads us to not admit our utter present and perpetual need for divine mercy and grace! (Read Matthew 5:3; Romans 7:18.) You are nothing and do nothing to please God without Jesus, even in your “best state” (Psalms 39:4-5; John 15:5).
Satan is not only the king of self-love and the result of being alienated from God, but also “he is a king over all the children of pride.” (Job 41:34)
Anyone living in the sin of pride instead of humility is in the grip of Satan himself!
“They are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:9-10
Why was there the judgment of the Noahic flood? Why will there be judgment in the future?
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5
Man is by nature and therefore in deeds sinful. After the first man and woman the LORD created sinned, death (spiritual separation) passed upon all men born after them (Rom. 5:12).
“Repent” is the very first word of the Gospel (Matt. 3:2; 4:17) and men cannot and will not realize the need to repent and believe in Jesus Christ if they aren’t first shown that their core problem is the sin that separates them from their beloved Creator.
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
It is the false teacher/leader who refuses to hold up this foundational truth since the realization of it doesn’t make people feel good about themselves and that is what the deceiver aims for in order to position people to support his ministry.
“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
According to what the Holy Spirit reveals to us here in Lamentations 2:14 concerning false leaders, we should discern those we listen to very closely. He tells us here that false prophets do not discover or uncover and deal with what God calls sin. Paul did (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21, etc.). Jesus did (Mk. 7:20-23; 9:43-49, etc.). The apostle John dealt with the issue of sin (1 Jn. 1-2:2; 3:1-10; Rev. 21:8, 27, etc.).
Laughably, false teacher James Dobson says that lack of self esteem is man’s root problem. Total diabolical lie!
Instead of tending to the things that matter to the LORD, counterfeit leaders today deal with surface issues – “vain and foolish things…false burdens.” Any man in leadership who refuses to deal with sin by name and head on, is false. He is so very puffed up in his own fleshly mind that he thinks he is wiser than the Almighty and vainly believes and reasons out that he knows more about what men need than the infinite One who made man. Regardless of his reasoning, any person in leadership who does not address sin and the holiness of God, is completely false. Please allow this writer to encourage you to do an inventory on those leaders you are currently listening to and run for your life if any of them are not addressing what the LORD told us violates His holiness.
NEVER EVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT MANKIND IS FALLEN. IT STARTED WHEN THE VERY FIRST MAN AND WOMAN CHOSE TO REBEL AGAINST OUR MAKER. SIN IS MAN’S CORE PROBLEM, NEED, AND ISSUE. ONLY CHRIST CAN CURE THE CURSE OF SIN AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHY HE CAME.
The heart of the “wise virgin” believer is flooded with the light of God through daily diligent study of His Word (Psalms 119:130). What most don’t realize is that darkness immediately descends upon the heart left unattended – the heart not daily receiving the light of divine truth through diligent study of the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15). The heart left without the bright shining light of God’s Word shining into it daily, WILL revert back to type – darkness, iniquity, “desperately wicked,” “only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9, etc.).
The ministerial beguiler, whose goal is not to fear and please God but rather to build a bigger church congregation, has to remove Bible doctrines that sting the conscience (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). God’s desire is to prick or sting the conscience of man in order to bring to him conviction of his sin and repentance. Yet the wolf who hides in sheep garb must entertain and only speak of smooth things that do not interrupt the lifestyles of those he seeks to gain and keep the support of (Matthew 7:15). Regrettably and yet in fulfillment of prophecy, the landscape of the visible church world is littered with such false teachers (2 Timothy 3:13).
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” Isaiah 30:9-10
Sinful man betrays his own eternal soul in seeking to console himself in order that he might continue to enjoy his temporary pleasures. Beguilers in leadership refuse to interrupt this death march of the wicked (many who believe they are saved). There is no end to the false prophets who have risen to accommodate such a state of depravity. Oh, just think of the light fanfare messages and book titles that entice men to experience the self life to the fullest. “Your Best Life Now” is one that comes to mind. If the premise of this book by Joel Osteen were biblical, it would have been titled “Your Best Life THEN.” Why do I state this? Jesus guaranteed that those who truly follow Him would “be hated of all men for my name’s sake” and that many would be killed for following Him and promised that His Father was preparing “mansions” in Heaven for those who endured to the end (Matt. 10:22; 24:10-13; Jn. 14:1-6). In direct contrast to Osteen, we see that Jesus Christ taught that the best life for His true followers would be then not now. Suffering with joy and grace to sustain us now (in this short life) and eternal bliss then is the consistent message of Scripture (2 Cor. 4:16-18; Phil. 1:29). Do you remember that the prodigal (apostate) son departed from his father only when he demanded his best life now? See Luke 15.
“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” Luke 21:16-17
Below is an example of the most obvious false teacher in America and yet there are “many,” “many,” other false teachers as Jesus repeatedly told us there would be in this late hour (Matthew 7:15; 24:4-5, 11, 24):
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24
Jesus Christ or Osteen? Who’s False?
BEWARE of the message of the many self-exalting, Christ-demoting Luciferic Wolves of this late hour! Isaiah 14:12-15 says it all! The 5 “I”‘s of Lucifer!
Joel Osteen / Lakewood Church have as their slogan “Discover the Champion in You.” That’s because it’s all about YOU (idol) in their luciferic theology/mythology! But what champion? WHO is the true Champion? Who is the mere depraved pauper utterly unworthy to be forgiven and saved?
Did Jesus, Paul, or any of the apostles use any such language as “discover the champion in you”? No! Does the Bible teach that we are to discover JESUS or something in our own depraved, wicked nature?
“The only champion in me is God! And last I checked I didn’t need to unlock him!” Ray Zeitler
This spineless moral coward, Joel Osteen, who deceitfully poses as a Christian leader, holds up a Bible in his services and has everyone repeat these words with him: “This is my Bible, I am what it says I am…” BUT does Joel even begin to believe this? Do those he is leading astray believe this?
When is the last time your favorite author brought forth these divinely-inspired words spoken by the very Son of God? When is the last time Joel Osteen preached on suffering (a major theme of Holy Scripture)?
Stop for a moment and ask yourself 2 simple and important questions:
1) Why won’t Joel Osteen and other deceivers communicate these words of Jesus?
2) Why do they pick and choose and always come up with easy things to say that won’t offend people?
Osteen says:
“I don’t get deep and theological.” Joel Osteen, New York Times July 18,2005
An internet search using key words “Osteen quotes” will turn up mostly new age, positive thinking sites. Why? Because the world of sinners gladly receives those who will not communicate the biblical truth that they are sinners and need to be born again. It seems from observing the above quote and Joel’s ministry, that Osteen only gets as “theological” as is necessary to draw the “Christian” crowd and support. As you will see in his many self-actualization type positive thinking quotes, Osteen has enough wherewithal to invent these self-sayings and yet chooses not to “get deep and theological.” How telling.
When speaking before a lost sea of human souls on national television, Osteen openly denies Bible truth and Jesus Christ (see Joel Osteen Exposed). He never hints that sin is man’s core problem and that the blood of Christ’s cross is the only solution. Like it or not – This alone makes Joel Osteen a bona fide false prophet.
Contrast this: Joel makes people feel good about themselves while living in their sins, while Jesus Christ identifies then cleanses the sins of men, giving them the deep peace He alone shed His own life blood to give them.
Do men need a band-aid or the only real solution that gets to the root of their dilemma?
Who will you believe? – the mere sinner Joel Osteen, or Jesus Christ, the nail-scarred risen Savior and LORD who died for all your sins? Is sin an offense against the one true holy God or did Jesus come in vain to the earth to pay for the sins of the whole world? Who is the liar in your mind and heart?
So you think Joel Osteen is a nice guy? Does he make you feel good? Does Osteen have nail-scarred hands and feet? Did Joel die for your sins? Did Osteen rise from the dead to justify you before a holy God and Judge? Is Joel Osteen coming back from Heaven for you?
What about Jesus Christ? Is He a nice guy? What did He do for you? Do you believe in Him? You sure? If so, you completely embrace every single thing He gave you in His Word and it takes complete and superior precedence over the words of any other mere man or men – “yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:4)
Is Jesus Christ the only way to God and Heaven or did Christ lie to us all? Discern for yourself: Below is a partial transcript from the “Larry King Live” (CNN), Monday, June 20th, 2005 Interview with Pastor Joel Osteen:
KING: What if you’re Jewish or Muslim, you don’t accept Christ at all?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know …
KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They’re wrong, aren’t they?
JOEL OSTEEN: Well, I don’t know if I believe they’re wrong….But I just think that only God will judge a person’s heart.
KING: You don’t call them sinners?
JOEL OSTEEN: I don’t.
KING: Is that a word you don’t use?
JOEL OSTEEN: I don’t use it.
CALLER: I’m wondering, though, why you side-stepped Larry’s earlier question about how we get to heaven? The bible clearly tells us that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light and the only way to the father is through him. That’s not really a message of condemnation but of truth.
KING: So then a Jew is not going to heaven?
JOEL OSTEEN: No. Here’s my thing, Larry, is I can’t judge somebody’s heart. You know? Only God can look at somebody’s heart, and so — I don’t know. To me, it’s not my business to say, you know, this one is or this one isn’t. And I just I think it’s wrong when you go around saying, you’re saying you’re not going, you’re not going, you’re not going, because it’s not exactly my way.
I’m just…
KING: What about atheists?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know what, I’m going to let someone — I’m going to let God be the judge of who goes to heaven and hell.
The Son of God asks:
“Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Matthew 16:13
Who shall you believe? Does Osteen have a Bible? Has he read it and believed it or is he simply using certain parts of it for his own advantage and calling Jesus Christ, the very Son of God a liar? Weigh the following quotes from Jesus Christ against what Osteen told the world on Larry King Live. Christ stated:
“I am THE way (not a way)…no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (Jn. 14:6)
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mk. 16:16)
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (Jn. 3:36)
Is Jesus Christ a liar or is Joel Osteen a deceiver and a liar? Hint: Can’t be both. You must choose. Jesus said “He that is not with me IS against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” (Matt. 12:30)
Osteen clearly denies Jesus Christ and His words and is therefore under the judgment of God (Mk. 8:38). Why would any authentic, born again believer want to support his ministry? Why would any caring believer not warn others of such falsity in order to protect them in the truth?
When the smooth talking false leader goes into the Bible to pick and choose what he wants to say to the people, he has to intentionally ignore and dodge volumes of statements/Scriptures like this that the Son of God spoke. This is because he is doing ministry for himself and not truly for Christ. If he were truly serving the LORD, He would openly and without shame proclaim the full counsel of His precious Word/truth (Ps. 119:104, 128; Prov. 30:5; Mk. 8:38; Jn. 8:47; Acts 20:20, 27). What did Jesus tell us was going to happen to those who denied Him?
“Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9
The forever fires of eternal damnation await these vast audiences, but do you think the slew of self-serving entertainers care? Are they not likened to the preying “brood of vipers” Jesus cited in Matthew 23?
In the 5th chapter of Jeremiah, the Holy Spirit gives some detailed insight into the world of religion and how it all works as an industry. He speaks of the false leadership, giving earmark, identifying characteristics and how the people (those who support the deceivers) gladly participate in this treason against the LORD.
“Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. 26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. 28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. 29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? 30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah 5:25-31
While their sins were holding back good blessings from them, the false prophets were catering to the people and telling the people what they wanted to hear and not what God wanted to tell them. This is the first thing to learn in discerning a false leader – they don’t preach the naked truth from God’s Word. Nothing has changed. There is no new thing under the sun friends (Eccl. 1:7; 1 Cor. 10:13). Were we not warned of this same scenario transpiring in the very last days of this age? – a mutual mutiny (rebellion) against the LORD involving false prophets and the people who make their reign of treason and deceit possible by supporting them? (Read 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-7, 13; 4:1-5.) Both parties are equally guilty before God and impending judgment awaits all who do not repent and begin exposing false prophets instead of supporting them – “what will ye do in the end thereof?” (See Jeremiah 5:31.) It is a biblical mandate to mark (not cover for) false teachers and teachings (Rom. 16:17-18; Eph. 5:11; Jude 3-4).
Let’s look closer at Jeremiah 5:31 above. Note that there are 3 players mentioned by God here – prophet, priest, and people:
“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means” – the leaders were working together (prophets & priests) to bring mutually satisfying returns to their own coffers.
“my people love to have it so” – those who claimed to know the LORD loved hearing things that made them feel good in the now, so they could enjoy their best life now. These people are not valiant for the truth and do not want to deal with what God says is sin against His holiness. They had no thought of eternity and what was ahead in the fierce and horrible Judgment of the God they would soon stand before to give account. Like those today, the false prophets in Israel had intentionally ignored and removed from the people the doctrines of judgment to come, the essential of personal holiness, sin, eternal damnation, etc..
“what will ye do in the end thereof?” – what will be the end of those who were led astray by these deceivers? What will be the end of those who support such falsehood and false prophets? Without repentance (before it’s too late) these people truly are experiencing their best life now – because damnation awaits both parties.
The Intoxicating Effect of Self-Serving Reciprocal Falsity
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Speaking of the facilitation of false prophets by His people, the LORD said “my people love to have it so” (Jer. 5:31). Of all the deceivers peddling their wares today, warring against the LORD Almighty, none seem to have made inroads into the hearts of people like Joel Osteen. I have talked to dozens of people who believe they are truly following Christ, who have bought into Osteen’s new age feel-good message sprinkled with a few Scriptures. Like the days of Jeremiah, there seems to be a soul-tie between false prophet and people. From what I hear coming from those who listen to Osteen, it seems that Joel makes people feel so good about themselves (with no need to change-repentance) that they have been intoxicated by that feeling and lost track of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. These people are truly not enduring “sound doctrine; but after their own lusts” are heaping “to themselves teachers, having itching ears (unpurged sinful lusts).” They have turned away their ears from the truth, and been turned unto fables.
Concerning the Lost
Sin is mankind’s root dilemma and Jesus is the only Solution.
Be not deceived: the Bible informs us that man’s core problem is the sin that separates him from his holy Maker. How can one aggrandize the preciousness of the Savior if he doesn’t first realize the depth of his own depravity and need for God’s forgiveness? He simply cannot. So, give the lost the law (Ten Commandments) and let the LORD convict and break them, bringing them to repentance and into His glorious salvation (Gal. 3:24).
“The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.” unknown
The only SOULution to man’s sin dilemma is the blood of the sole soul Savior.
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
“But God commendeth (displayed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:8-9
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15
Beloved, this fundamental biblical truth (above) is utterly essential to memorize in these last days where the enemy’s lies are going to increase yet more and more, deceiving those who are not soundly standing and rooted and grounded in the love and truth of the LORD Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 2:10-12; 2 Tim. 3:13-4:5). Hordes of deceivers (as clearly foretold) operate feverishly in the ministry, psychologizing the faith and leading millions astray (Acts 20:20, 27-32). Don’t be a casualty. Devour His precious precepts that you might fully love and please the One who bled and rose again for your sins and endure to the end as we await His soon return from Heaven (Matt. 10:22, 24:10-13; 1 Thess. 1:10).
MAN’S GREATEST IGNORANCE IS OF HIMSELF…….YOU ARE CREATED WITH UNLIMITED POTENTIAL…..
Reply:
Brother, the first thing man must receive the knowledge of is His depraved, sinful state. Gen. 6:5, 12; Jer. 17:9, Rom. 7:18, 24, etc. This is a luciferic myth that is leading millions astray who think they know Christ. Delusion! Man cannot possibly appreciate and glorify God until they begin to realize the depth of their own depravity! We have to be brought to the lowest depths of the realization of our utter depravity before Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” before we can be anything in God.
WHY WOULD YOU THINK SOMEONE ELSE’S SIN IS WORSE THAN YOURS – IN THE EYES OF A HOLY GOD? NOT. IF THAT’S YOUR CARNAL THINKING, YOU ARE Uncircumcised IN HEART AND DON’T YET HAVE A GOSPEL CLUE! REPENT NOW – BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. YOUR HEART IS NOT RIGHT WITH GOD. Think about the foolishness and utter futility of a hand cuffed violent robbery suspect and a rapist judging each other in the lobby of the court they’re getting ready to go in to stand before the judge to be sentenced. The point? God calls us to get our […]
"He that Loveth Pureness of Heart" [podcast]
IS YOUR HEART PURE BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY BELOVED? TODAY is our day, it’s your day, to throw up those hands and that heart to the LORD who made you, and cry out to Him to grant you a pure heart, one that is innocent, clean, washed, delighting in Him. “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4 When the LORD is truly working in a man, that man is learning to love “pureness of heart.” “He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall […]
Keep Thy Heart with all Diligence [podcast]
That which we choose to allow in our hearts determines who we are and the outcome of our lives… “… out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34 What’s in our hearts, our source, proceeds from our lives, our mouths, our words, That which comes out of our mouths, our lives, the output, comes from within, from our hearts. Not only do we discern, know others by their fruit, we can know ourselves, the present state of our hearts by our words, the output of our lives. Jesus speaks of “That which cometh OUT of a […]
The Old Man Must be Put Down [podcast]
The correct preaching of the full counsel of God’s WORD creates in us the desire to be set apart to our LORD (holy) and to cease the things, the sins that defile such purity necessary to abide in vital union with our Maker who is our Savior! Colossians 3:1-10 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. […]
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.
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“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:
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