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Apostasy and Deception

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November 17, 2007

Spiritual Pyromaniacs

By

Jackie Alnor

 

 

You’ve heard the saying, "If you play with fire you’re going to get burnt." Today’s "Christian" Gnostics seem to have an obsession with the elements of earth, wind, water, and fire. When we watch "Christian" television, be it Sky Angel, TBN, or the God Channel, we hear the televangelists and "prophetic" folks scream "Fire"! over people who react with wild jerking and flailing of limbs as they go down in a heap on the floor. What is this "fire" being thrown around on these platforms in such a showy fashion?

 

First of all from Scripture we can see where fire has symbolized God’s presence such as in the burning bush and in the pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites across the desert plain. Old Testament offerings were burned and the aroma of the smoke ascended to God in an acceptable sacrifice. Also, in the book of Hebrews it says "our God is a consuming fire." In its context, it is speaking of His attribute of wrath towards evil works.

 

"And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:27-29).

 

This "fire" is that of God’s judgment – a judgment that is not sleeping but is ready to be poured out upon a world that rejects God’s provision of a Messiah. This is the fire that is being kindled – the sort of fire that believers hope to escape by virtue of abiding in the Lamb – the Messiah.

 

And then the Bible speaks of hell’s fire – eternal fire that is also called "the lake burning with fire."

 

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8).

 

The modern day "prophets" who throw fire around like it is theirs to command attribute this fire to the Holy Spirit. Yet, if they are correct, what is their biblical justification for doing so? Do we really want to "catch the fire" that these men and women are trafficking in? Would you want anything to do with the sort of "fire" that Elijah’s List’s founder, Stephen Schulz is describing in this excerpt from his website?

 

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

 

"I would like to recommend a couple of our newer instrumental music CDs, Abide by Paul Ahn and El Olam: Ancient Echoes by John Belt and Barbara Grimshaw. These CDs are designed for times of reflection, meditation, and worship. Open the door and ENTER into an experience in the eternal King's Realm where the fire NEVER dies. Come to the streams of promise and wait until you encounter Him. Fire by Night delivers a powerful and intimate live, prophetic, worship experience that will thrill your spirit and invigorate your senses. This CD is one of our best-selling AND one of my personal favorites!"

 

Blessings,
Steve Shultz

 

Where have we read that before? -- "where the fire NEVER dies" – What is that describing? When we look that up in our concordance, what materializes?

 

"And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:47-48).

 

Or from the Living Bible, the paraphrase many of these televangelists so love to quote: Mark 9:48 – "where the worm never dies and the fire never goes out."

 

I don’t think I want to serve a "king" whose abode is there!

 

Other charismatic ministries use -- even over-use the "fire" symbol to describe their emphasis. We hear terms and slogans such as "Touch of Fire Ministries," John Arnott hosts the TV program Catch the Fire, "Fire Evangelism" a book by prophetic leader Che' Ahn , Sacred Fire, a music CD by John Belt, "Wild Fire Ministries", "Blaze of Glory ministry," etc. And then there are conferences called "Let the Fire Fall"—

 

Chuck Pierce and Wendy Alec’s "5768--A Year of Being HOT! and The WEST COAST OF America--I Am Pouring out the FEROCIOUS FIRE of My Spirit"; Larry Randolph, Doug Addison and Sharnael Wolverton’s conference -- "Mississippi AmpliFIRE: It's Time", Eff Jansen, Bob Jones, Joshua Mills, David Herzog and Bidal Torrez will be featured at the "Fire & Glory Conference." And Todd Bentley, Jill Austin and friends will "Ignite Fresh Fire in Michigan" at their conference. Another conference boasts, "ENTER into an Experience in the Eternal King's Realm where the Fire NEVER Dies!!"

 

Scary stuff, isn’t it?

 

But what fire are these people toying with? It is not a coincidence that the occult throws around the same "fire" term in much the same manner as the Charismatics. In the classic occult book, "The Secret Destiny of America," written by occult historian Manly P. Hall, he writes of the special initiates of the flame who pass on secret knowledge from Babylon all the way to modern day, on page 195:

 

"We are exploring into the mysteries of the atoms and the electrons, and have brought the heavenly fire, electricity, to be the servant of our purposes."

 

This fire of the occultists can also be shared with others.

 

Cindy Jacobs, at the 1999 Charisma Women’s conference in Daytona Beach spent quite a while throwing around the fire to the participants, sometimes speaking in a deep voice with a look of evil on her countenance. Over and over again, she waved her hand over the crowd of women shouting, Fire!

 

"Yes for the Lord says there’s a new wave of the spirit coming and the Lord is showing me that Daytona Beach is the gateway for the fire of God..... Church of Daytona, put your hands up. Yes, burn up those religious spirits. Here comes more fire!! Take it! More! Fire! Fire! Take it!!"

 

 She seemed to be emulating Benny Hinn, who has been using the "Fire!" shout for over a decade.

 

When this "fire-anointing" comes over him, he says even his children are afraid of him. On October 19, 1999 during a guest visit on the Praise the Lord program on TBN, he told a frightening story to host Paul Crouch.

 

Speaking of a perceived attack on his ministry by the secular media, Hinn says:

 

"Right before that happened, my dear sweet Suzanne (his wife) gets attacked...... 2 o’clock in the morning, I wake up and my wife is choking in bed. The devil trying to kill her. My wife wasn’t acting like my wife. I saw my own wife attacked. It was like the last thing I could handle, I think."

 

False prophet Kim Clement on the Praise the Lord program on July 5, 2007 described the spirit that he mistakes for the Holy Spirit in terms that can only describe an unholy spirit such as the ones taking control of these men and women.

 

He said to hosts Matt and Laurie Crouch, "The prophetic word opens up a whole new world out there for you to be enticed. God entices you with a future. That’s the glory of the future, he entices you. Remember something, he wants you there, he says he’s gonna get you there and he’s going to lure you there."

 

Who is this "he" that is going to "entice" and "lure" people to enter this "new world"? I believe this is the same "he" that entices the fire throwers to spread his false anointing. It is said in Scripture that in the last days (and I believe we are in those days) God will remove this evil spirit that masquerades as the Holy Spirit.

 

Zechariah wrote:

 

"It shall be in that day," says the Lord of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land" (Zechariah 13:2).

 

That same unclean spirit gets mentioned in the New Testament as well:

 

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none" (Matthew 12:43).

 

Benny Hinn used the same terms to describe the spirit that directs him – the one he passes around with the exclamation "Fire on you" to those who attend his crusades. 

 

Back when Charisma Magazine had its own program on TBN, host Stephen Strang interviewed Benny Hinn. The date was April 25, 1995.  Strang asked Benny what he thought of the current Toronto Blessing that was going on at John Arnott’s church.

 

"Well, where do you think this is leading?"

 

Benny responded,

 

"Well, I can tell you; it’s like a river. The minute it starts moving, it goes into dry places. . . I mean the Bible says that God will bring rivers in the wilderness."

 

Now where did we hear that before? Jesus spoke about the spirits that go into dry places:

 

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none" (Matthew 12:43).

 

And now in Toronto John Arnott’s young people are involved in some of the scariest spreading of this fire onto other young folks who come looking for a spiritual jolt. They call this ceremony "fire tunnels" in which two rows of young people line up while a group of blessing-seekers go single file down the middle. As they proceed into the tunnel, shouts of "Fire" and "Fire on you" come out of the mouths of the imparters as they touch the seekers’ heads and foreheads in order to spread the fire. As they do, the recipients of these fire spirits jolt and jump around with some pretty scary looks on their faces. (To see this in action – go to these links at TACF:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-4pyiYAlzg ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_ErxBdAm8M

 

I will end this look at the unholy fire of the unclean spirit with a testimony of one who has been burned by it. Her name is Amy and by the grace of God she and her husband were delivered out of the fiery pit.

 

"We had gone to Toronto Airport Fellowship twice and had experienced manifestations and we believe a Kundalini experience. We have never been the same since going through this experience. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia after having weird manifestations that happened to me. I have experienced jerking movements where my body had gone back and forth from rapid movement and also experienced a manifestation as if I was an eagle and had actually felt as if I had wings on my back. Also had been drunk in the spirit. I now believe none of this was God! My husband had actually been glued to the floor for 8 hours at White Horse Christian Fellowship in Lafayette, Indiana. He had visions and had seen heaven and hell. He has also had astral projection of flying over a city. He has also had muscle involuntary movements in his throat. Again we know this was not God! It has been a nightmare for us."

 

Amy and her husband were rescued from the clutches of this unclean spirit of fire. I do not think it is a mere coincidence that we’re told in Jude, the epistle right before the book of Revelation, to snatch people out of the fire, while today’s false prophets are telling people to jump into the fire. Those who follow these spiritual imposters do so at the risk of being burned beyond recognition.

 

Pray for the young people who are falling for the fiery bait.

 

Matthew 3:12 - "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

 

Matthew 13:40 - "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age."

 

Numbers 26:61 - "And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD."

 

Jude 1:23 – "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:  This, and many other insightful articles exposing the “Latter Days’ Great Apostasy” can be found at www.apostasyalert.org

 

 

October 1, 2007

Heresy by Proxy

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself [1 Timothy 6:1-5].

Pastors, teachers and ministry leaders with heretofore unblemished reputations enjoy positions of trust in ministries and churches and may have laid down a track record for the truth of the Lord for many years. They may have never preached or taught anything questionable or even remotely heretical from their venues of ministry yet they have started taking up with known wolves. They may lack any evil intent and could be unaware that they have been deceived and are in fact a detriment to the blood-bought Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. These double-minded individuals have a "form of godliness" but are in fact betraying the Lord they profess to love. They want the grass on both sides of the fence. They preach words of truth on the one hand, but abuse the trust that has been placed in them and mock God by their actions. Their error is obscured behind the skirts of truth and it is next to impossible to find a speck of error in their actual teaching. The old adage "Actions speak louder than words" describes this scenario perfectly. To coin a new phrase, "You are what you promote."

These teachers practice heresy by proxy. A proxy is someone who stands in for another. They consort with heretics and thereby encourage their followers to partake of their apostasy. They mix truth and error, a deadly concoction. They give the impression that the truth they speak is compatible with the falsehood they endorse. This is not ‘guilt by association," this is guilt by endorsement. Flirting with deluding spirits and doctrines of demons is dangerous business and they do so at great peril.

At least emergent leaders, apostolic types and most false teachers are upfront and honest about sharing their views and are in fact proud to proclaim their beliefs. But those who wear their evangelical fundamentalist hats one day and then buddy up to apostates and heretics the next pose a greater danger than the false teachers themselves!

WWPD?
(What Would Paul Do?)

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come [2 Thessalonians 2:1,2].

Certain people were putting out false teaching under the names of the apostles. In no uncertain terms, Paul made it clear that he and his fellow ministers had nothing to do with it. He knew his credibility was on the line and did not want his followers to be misled.

Another example is found in Acts 16:18-23 that tells of the slave girl who followed the apostles around saying "These men are the servants of the Most High God who proclaim to us the way of salvation." Now that sounds like an endorsement doesn’t it? The girl was viewed as a legitimate source of knowledge by the community and she made a good living for her masters with her psychic abilities. Paul and Silas could have saved themselves a ton of grief if they had just allowed her to follow them around and give them "credibility" with the people. He could have reasoned pragmatically that the means justified the ends, the mentality that is so prevalent in the Church today. No, Paul wanted nothing to do with this false representation of truth. He knew the source was demonic and he rebuked it. As a result the girl’s owners lost their meal ticket and this so enraged them that they brought Paul and Silas before the authorities where they were severely beaten and thrown into prison.

Aiding and Abetting the Enemy

What has happened to the courage to rebuke wickedness disguised as Christianity? The Church has fallen prey to "religious correctness," not wanting to confront and risk being accused of judging. The fear of offending man takes precedence over the fear of offending a holy God. Fraternizing with the enemy is tantamount to committing high treason. Treasonous acts against one’s country are serious offenses but they are nothing compared to giving a pass to the enemies of God!

Sharing a podium with an apostate or heretic is bringing reproach upon the reputation of our Lord. Recently a highly respected, prominent speaker in fundamental circles cozied up to false prophets of the rapidly growing Apostolic Reformation movement. Efforts were made by discerners to reason with him to cancel plans to speak at their event. Since then he has not skipped a beat and continues to enjoy popularity, a welcome guest in conferences and pulpits. One trustworthy ministry was alerted about this brother’s error but still shares the podium with him. The biggest favor that could be done for this straying, errant brother would be for those who value truth to sacrificially turn down opportunities offered to them to appear with him and then gently and respectfully state the reason. He should not be invited to speak until he has acknowledged and repented of his error. Those who are going down the wrong path are on dangerous ground and the last thing they need is for the brethren to go along as if nothing is amiss. When will those wearing the mantle of ministry question and even separate when necessary from those who have drifted from the moorings of doctrinal purity and biblical truth into dangerous waters on their way to being shipwrecked?

Those who present their hands as clean and yet share podiums with false teachers or those who choose to associate with them give the impression of endorsement. Guilt by association is downplayed too much. The Bible has much to say on the subject of the company we keep. For instance "Abstain from all appearance of evil" [1 Thessalonians 5:22]. Their actions also constitute a betrayal of the pastors and leaders who choose to follow the Apostles’ example and remain steadfast, often at great cost.

Passive Endorsement

Jeffrey Whittaker in his pastoral paper says it well: (Emphasis added)

"There has been an absolute orgy of endorsement and free association within the "Christian" worlds of publishing, speaking, and mass media.......It is my conviction that this "Passive Endorsement" (the giving of credibility through sharing convention platforms, book endorsements, ecumenical "unity coalitions", etc.) is doing much to confuse grass roots Christian believers, as well as creating an atmosphere where many historical heresies are being given a fresh hearing due to the lack of discernment, as well as courage amongst leaders who should be doing something about it."

Pastor Whittaker continues:

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ issues a very specific and absolute call for loyalty and worship to the entire human race, leaving no room for compromise or double-minded passivity. In his powerful letter, Jude exhorted the church to".....contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (v 3). If current Christian leaders do not have the stomach to take an absolute and public stand for foundational doctrine, and orthodoxy, we will see a continued degradation of truth that will eventually deposit the "post-modern/emergent? Church in the landfill of history or in the trophy case of hell (if you’re still "Old School" enough to believe that there is such a place). "Passive Endorsement" finds its roots in the political fear of men, wrapped in a false doctrine of tolerance that has permeated every area of American culture, as well as many churches and denominations. To take a stand for historic, Scriptural orthodoxy today is tantamount to professional suicide in many circles, labeling the one who dares ask questions as "closed-minded", ‘"contentious", "fault-finding" and so on. As in the favorite children’s fable, the emperor keeps parading himself around naked while the towns people simply smile and go along with the farce. It takes a simple child, one without fear or ambition, to finally blurt out the truth that "the Emperor has no clothes!" May we all be as simple and courageous as that young lad as we speak the truth in love to our "unity at all cost" generation."

Sloppy Agape and Greasy Grace

Any movement, denomination or fellowship that is going to emerge unscathed by Satan’s tactics must have discernment in its arsenal of defense and the courage to address heresy in the ranks. Unfortunately that is not currently happening due to what I call "greasy grace." The apostle Paul preached the doctrine of grace but he balanced it with strong doses of accountability and respect for God’s truth.

Pastor Whittaker echoes my sentiments:

"I am not advocating crusade/inquisition hate speech that alienates true spiritual pilgrims, but what I am calling for is a deeper examination of the true nature of the courage and strength that led the Apostles to call all men to the true Gospel of Christ without obstruction and confusion! If Paul would have "Passively Endorsed" the Philippian oracle through non—confrontation, he would have most certainly left a syncretistic swamp from which the Church may have never escaped."

Be Ever Mindful

There is one thing we must never forget. Those who are selling out the cause of Christ are not the enemy. They are accountable for their actions and we are accountable for exposing them, but ultimately the enemy of our souls is Satan, who seeks to destroy every work of God. Please understand the intent of this writer’s heart. I think I speak for those I call colleagues in the discernment ministries that we find no joy whatsoever in addressing these issues. We are grieved over the state of the Church today and we would rejoice if we never had to speak out again. We often feel we are either preaching to the choir or verbalizing into the wind. But if God uses our voice to touch only one compromising pastor/teacher/leader and rescue them from their error, or save one sheep from harm, it is worth it. We realize that as in any endeavor for the Lord, it is His work, not ours and we leave the results in His hands. We are subject to pitfalls just as much as those whom we address. If we are not careful we can operate with an arm of flesh and become like sounding brass. We must guard against becoming prideful in our God-given ability to discern and never fail to properly mourn when a leader falls into the devil’s snare. As we see the failings of others, we must look to ourselves and examine our own motives.

H.A. Ironside was a hero of the faith who stood for truth. He includes the following in one of his devotionals when he speaks about betraying our Master and issues this solemn warning to all who profess to be Christ’s disciples:

It may not be for silver
It may not be for gold,
But still by tens of thousands
Is this precious Savior sold.

Sold for a godless friendship,
Sold for a selfish aim,
Sold for a fleeting trifle,
Sold for an empty name.

Sold in the mart of Science,
Sold in the seat of Power,
Sold at the shrine of Fortune,
Sold in Pleasure’s bower.

Sold where the awful bargain
None but God’s eye can see!
Ponder, my soul, the question:
Shall He be sold by thee?

Wm. Blane

Sherry Neese:  The only child of an alcoholic father and abusive, mentally-ill mother who disowned her, Sherry received Christ through a radio broadcast as a child. He has been faithful to sustain her through many challenges in her walk of faith. She is a wife, mother and “Mimi” to her grandchildren. She is active in foreign missions and evangelism and has a special heart for those who are emotionally hurting, especially children. The Lord has given her a burden for the Church in these last days, to expose error and speak the truth in love to all with an ear to hear.

Sherry Neese can be reached at Truth_and_grace@yahoo.com