Predators on the pulpit – Part 1: “Covering the nakedness”

Early 2008, the news came as a shock for most of us when Senator John Edwards publicly owned up to fathering baby Frances Hunter. After many months of denial, Sen. Edwards finally admitted having an affair with Rielle Hunter, a staff member of his campaign team to the White House. The confession didn’t come after some deep introspection on his part but rather after the media uncovered and exposed the lies the world were previously told.

When Hunter became pregnant, Sen. Edwards persuaded a loyal close associate, Andrew Young, to claim he was the father. Shortly afterwards, Young put his own life on hold and went into hiding with his wife, their three children – and Hunter.

Let’s imagine for a moment Young was a spiritual son of Sen. Edwards, according to the lexicon used by the current church mainstream, that stupid stunt would have been lauded and justified as an act of “covering the nakedness” of his “dad”.

As a matter of fact, blind loyalty is what’s expected from spiritual sons and daughters. When a spiritual son happens to witness his dad in a sinful act, he needs to treat the incident as a divine test of his own loyalty and must promptly cover dad’s nakedness. As the teaching goes, the most Holy God is able to overlook outright lies of spiritual sons and the deception of their dads if they are committed in an attempt to cover a spiritual dad’s nakedness.

If you think this is some farfetched fiction or perhaps a figment of my imagination, keep on reading.

I’m writing this article in the wake of Bishop Eddie Long alleged sexual scandal. Bishop Long pastors a 25,000 membership church and is considered to be a spiritual father to many spiritual sons. So far, four of his close sons have sued him for coercing them into sexual acts. As the lawsuits hit the courts, CNN announced them on breaking news and media frenzy ensued.

Not only the lawsuits describe in graphic details the sexual claims, they also state that the leadership of the New Birth church knew about the Bishop’s alleged double life but covered his nakedness. On the onset of disease, a medical doctor can predict the stages of symptoms. Likewise, some of us who have been there, seen that and got the T-shirt knew exactly what would happen next.

I came across the spiritual jargon of covering one’s father nakedness in my last church. Renowned ministers endorsed it and proofed texted it with scriptures. When those of us who rebelled later found out that the pastor has been having affairs, we were astounded to hear that his immoral life was just an open secret to his spiritual sons. The matter was treated as a gossip or spiritual warfare to the rest of the church, as mere allegations to the outside world or just as propaganda blamed on us, the defectors.

Of course, the pastor denied our reports, turned to his church for sympathy and reacted by teaching to his devotees a crash course on loyalty. Those who covered his nakedness were promoted in ministry. Some faithful sons have now their own churches, teaching, I’m sure, the principle of “covering the nakedness”.

Bishop Long hired attorneys who released on his behalf a statement of denial. Last Sunday, the bishop convened his loyal parishioners and announced to his compassionate audience that he was at the center of a spiritual warfare. The bishop likened himself to David with only five stones against the giant Goliath. But who exactly is Goliath in this story?

The “Goliaths” are four males in their early twenties who are accusing bishop “David” of coercing them into sex when they were in their teens. They are still referring to the bishop as daddy, although one of them on a recent TV interview portrays him as a monster and a predator.

Conversely, David in this case is the owner of a multi-million dollars church empire, lives in a mansion and drives a convertible Bentley in his leisure time, wears bling-bling and tailored suits, flies private jet, has an entourage of bodyguards and assistants and entertains politicians and celebrities. Compared to David, the “Goliaths” really look like grasshoppers waiting to be crushed under the huge foot of a giant.

Christians have called for prayers for the bishop, 20 pastors in the Atlanta area will be gathering every Tuesdays to pray for the bishop. Bishop “David” is on the pole position while the “Goliaths” are running for cover. Only the media still mentions the Goliaths by name. For the bishop and the rest of the church, they represent a disgrace that shouldn’t be even called by name. They are rebels, Judases, ungrateful sons, disloyal and cursed.

Bishop Long is not just a father to spiritual sons; he also has spiritual fathers. It has been reported that he was a spiritual son to the late Bishop Earl Paulk, alongside with Bishops Ted Haggard and Carlton Pearson, to name just a few. Bishop Paulk had himself a sex scandal of his own when a court ordered DNA test proved that he was not as reported the uncle of his senior pastor, Donnie Earl Paulk, but rather his biological father. Bishop Paulk had in fact fathered Donnie with his sister-in-law. Curiously, most megachurches bishops have opted to keep a low media profile in the Long saga, at the exception of Ted Haggard. In 2009, Haggard also admitted of a relationship with a male prostitute and of using drugs.

One can only wonder how much nakedness of his father bishop Long and the other spiritual sons had to witness and cover.

Whatever the outcome of the pending court case, I applaud the courage of the “Goliaths” against the giant mighty “David”. Goliath’s head will be cut off. The church will sing about David’s prowess and his audacity to confront the giant. Sin will prevail. The loyal spiritual sons will perpetuate the legend and will become anointed predators on their own rights. And the Holy God will absolve them of any wrong doing for the sake of “covering the nakedness” of their dads. Halleluiah!

Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. - Blaise Pascal

Truth and Lies

Following my last posting on this blog, I lost my impetus for militancy against spiritual abuses. Once I glanced at the bigger picture, I realized that selfish men have tarnished the beauty of Christ. The ravages of their egoistical minds were overwhelming. It is a daunting task that will take a divine hand to repair. I pulled away in despair…

I ignored calls from friends who wanted to know why I stop writing. Who am I, I thought, to even attempt to challenge this mutant virus that eats away even the love of Christ amongst us? The wicked seem to prosper by extorting the poor and the ignorant, in the name of God. Fortunately, some voices of those victimized and abused in the name of Christ are beginning to be heard but not yet loud enough.

Last week a single event shook me to the core and I decided to come out of mutism and to resume my writings. The editor of a magazine in France initiated a petition to stop the abuse on children, mainly in Central Africa, who are accused of witchcraft. These kids, some even younger than 3 years old, are disowned by their parents and left to fend on their own on the street, after being accused of practicing sorcery.

When I inquired from the reporter what would make a mother to ostracize her own baby, he told me, to my horror, that they were simply heeding the voice of God relayed by pastors and prophets. When hard luck hit a family, parents run to men of God for answers only to be told that their own children are possessed with the devil. These poor kids are then put into violent rituals to exorcise the evil spirit. Those who fail to pass the test – comprising of fasting, sleep deprivation, beating and burning - are paraded on the street and are forced to confess that they are sorcerers. For fear of “contagion”, the communities will then force out from among them these evil beings.

Needless to say that I signed the petition… That reporter is putting together a documentary that will expose these practices of “men of God” and asked for my contribution.

A dear friend of mine recently also shared with me the findings of a TV documentary which exposed similar practices in South Africa. In an attempt to justify these horrors, many point out to the manifest works of the devil in their communities. Since people expect God to explain misfortunes by speaking through some prophets - whose words are then equated to the very same word of God - why doubt His voice? Believers are taught in church that faith – blind faith – is God’s prerequisite to find favor on His sight.

Should we now use reason to argue for faith, risking to be branded rebels or backsliders by fellow Christians? Or perhaps we should just choose irrationality over rationality, and justify the bizarre with articles of faith.

“A growing number of people are now leaving the institutionalized church for a new reason. They are not leaving because they have lost their faith. They are leaving to preserve their faith… The problem is that when people come to church, expecting to find God, they often encounter a religious club holding a meeting where God is conspicuously absent.” Reggie McNeal – The Present Future

Whatever happened to our faith in Christ? We have a system founded on a truth and lies. The truth of the gospel of Christ has been corrupted with lies of mere men. We have consented to a system which enrich only a very few at the expense of many. The charismatic and evangelical movements have become a melting pot of religious faith, superstition and magical thinking. All of these are foreign elements to the tenets of the Christian faith.

Perhaps, all of these are just a matter of self-deception? Homo vult decipi; decipiatur. Man wishes to be deceived; deceive him.

We are misleading ourselves to accept as true what is false or a plain lie, in a vain attempt to justify our beliefs. Our desire to see favorable results where none exists is mind-blogging. Our need to believe and gullibility make us to tolerate all kinds of half-truths, hyperbole, selective reporting and outright lies.

Man’s capacity for self-delusion is infinite. Dr. Elie A. Shneour

Judgment has come!

Last year, I broke away from church as I knew it or as I thought it was. When I finally regrouped, I began a slow journey back to God. My first steps were like on a shallow ground until I discovered that the truth is really a very narrow path. If it was just a straight line, I would have moved much faster. But I quickly discovered that the road to God is a meander through my soul, my set of beliefs, my notion of faith and my image of God. I have not yet reached my destination nor do I even know what to expect when I get there.

Trust! I’m learning afresh to trust in God. Trusting and resting in Him seem to be all He’s requiring of me: one step at a time, morning after morning, night after night. He is not rushing me though. In the process, I’m loosing the set of routine I was told to observe if I had to be a successful Christian. It has been weeks since I paced the floor of my house “praying” in tongues, chanting in the spirit or confessing scriptures as I used to do. Based on the standard of the church I left behind, I’m no longer a prayerful person. Yet, I hear His voice now and then in the stillness of my soul and He graciously answers my silent prayers.

For the sake of the multitude of believers who are breaking away with church, I began to journal my findings on this blog. About four months ago, the Lord moved me to write a word of warning to the persecutors of His sheep (click here to read). This morning again, the same phenomenon occurred to me.

For 2010, prophets of God are prophesying bliss and prosperity for the faithful. However, I heard His voice this morning in the words of Jeremiah (Jer. 14:13-15):

“Then I said: "Ah, Lord GOD, behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.'"
And the LORD said to me: "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.
Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not come upon this land': By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.”

Then again, He led me to the book of Malachi. The prophet Malachi wrote a message of judgment to a corrupt priesthood, filled with evil practices and a false sense of security in their anointing to serve. Though they have rebuilt the temple, the times of prosperity had not come. Famine and drought was the portion of the people. Yet, these priests kept on treating God with dishonour and great contempt.

"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, 'How have we despised your name?' - Mal 1:6 –

The priests elevated their offices above the name of God. They profaned the name of God and defiled His table. The judgment of God against them was pronounced as follow:
"I'm going to punish your descendants. I'm going to spread excrement on your faces, the excrement from your festival sacrifices. You will be discarded with it.” - Mal 2:3

The priesthood became synonymous with divorce, arrogance, adultery, perjury and oppression of the poor. And God said:
"I will come to judge you. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, lying witnesses, and those who cheat workers out of their wages and oppress widows and orphans. I will also testify against those who deprive foreigners of their rights. None of them fear me," says the LORD of Armies.” - Mal 3:5

The priests invented new ways of getting people to give more and to bring regularly their tithes to the temple. The people of God were coerced to propitiate sacrificially with their disparaging resources to appease God. In spite of that, they were no evidence of God’s blessing upon the people. On the contrary, the people were plagued with scarcity and famine. The only display of “material prosperity” was found on the priests in their outrageous array of status symbols (Bling-Bling in contemporary terms). Since, these priests were keeping the best for themselves and offered the useless for God:
"You say, 'Oh what a nuisance it is,' and you sniff at it in disgust," says the LORD of Armies. "You bring stolen, lame, and sick animals. When you bring such offerings, should I accept them from you?" asks the LORD.” - Mal 1:13

“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.” - Mal 3:8

Does it sound familiar? The prophecy of Malachi is dated around 430 B.C., but I can’t help but notice the striking parallels with the church of the 21st Century.

In my research on abusive churches and leadership, I wrote previously: “Perhaps, the most alarming aspect is the chain of unexplained tragedies that seem to plague [the priests] lives and those of their members. Beneath the veneer of glamour lie untold stories of marital troubles, divorces, sexual perversions and other addictions, financial bankruptcies, business collapses, incurable diseases and accidents.”

Early this morning, the Lord impressed in my heart that He has lifted His protective hedge on the church to bring in His judgment. Here’s what the future holds for us:

Ø Judgment has started in the house of God.
Ø There is a rogue wave that will soon hit the pleasure boat of the corrupt priests. There will be great destruction and havoc.
Ø The church will be rocked with scandals of financial embezzlement and sexual misconducts. In the process, the sheep will be scattered.
Ø There will be an escalation of unexpected misfortunes and tragedies that will plague those who are found in the midst of those shady churches.
Ø Financial bankruptcies, diseases, accident and deaths will hit the sheep and the shepherds alike.

As Jeremiah wrote in Jer 28:9: “As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet."

However, if I truly heard His voice, then God’s judgment has come. But the Lord will preserve those who fear His name:
“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.
"They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” - Mal 3:16 -17

“Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.” - Mal 3:18

It is a terrible thing to be found on God’s way when His judgment comes. All over the world, God has been raising many voices to call His people out of those corrosive churches. I echoed those voices by writing a series of articles calling people to defiance and providing the readers with some compelling reasons to act swiftly.

Time has now run out! We need to jump out now in His merciful hands or we’ll perish with the rest.
.
.
“Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.” – Willis Whitney

Breaking Free From the Spirit of Control

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 03:22 PM EST J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Here are six ways to identify an unhealthy leadership style in a church or ministry.

My world was shaken 20 years ago this week. On Nov. 10, 1989, one day after German protesters tore down the Berlin Wall, a Christian ministry I had been a part of for 11 years also fell apart.

Maranatha Campus Ministries was a vibrant outreach to college campuses. It was founded in Kentucky during the Jesus movement by a passionate charismatic couple, Bob and Rose Weiner, who eventually started churches on more than 50 American universities. In its heyday in the Reagan era, students from Maranatha took the gospel around the world.

"Authoritarian leaders know how to control people through manipulation ... In such a church no one is allowed to ask questions."

But with all our good intentions and youthful zeal for evangelism, the ministry did not survive. We had a flawed, authoritarian leadership model, which was made worse by a lack of mature advisers. When Maranatha's young pastors grew up and realized the ministry had an unhealthy and oppressive structure, they voted to disband. The churches either went independent, merged with other groups or closed.

Meanwhile, the many young people who had been discipled in Maranatha had to deal with their own unique form of post-traumatic stress disorder. They woke up and realized that Maranatha had been influenced by the Shepherding Movement, which taught that all Christians should be submitted to personal shepherds who dispense advice and approve all decisions.

The Shepherding movement, which had broad influence in many charismatic churches, collapsed around the same time. Because I lived through that era, I am hypersensitive to the way a spirit of control works in a church. And I can assure you that controlling attitudes will destroy a ministry.

Here are six obvious signs that a spirit of control is at work:

1. Little or no accountability. There is safety in the multitude of counselors (see Prov. 11:14). There is much less safety—perhaps even danger—when a leader does not bother to seek counsel from a diverse group of his peers, as well as from gray-haired men and women who have the wisdom that comes with age.

If a pastor or church leader isn't open to correction, he is headed for a train wreck.

2. Spiritual elitism. If there is a spirit of control in a church, people are usually told that their group is superior. Supposedly they have special spiritual privileges from God, along with "exclusive" revelation. If people choose to leave, they are shunned or branded as renegades. Sometimes, in extreme cases, people are even cursed if they leave. (Last week when I was in Hungary I learned of a charismatic church that publicly curses people when they quit the congregation.)

This cultic behavior inflicts unimaginable emotional suffering and also divides families.

3. An oppressive atmosphere. Authoritarian leaders know how to control people through manipulation. In some cases, this control may simply take the form of subtle suggestions and persuasion. In the most abusive situations, it may come in the form of threats, legalistic demands, unreasonable requirements or false doctrines.

In some cases, especially in charismatic circles, it can come through misguided personal prophecies or mystical visions. In such a church no one is allowed to ask questions.

Spiritual heaviness lies like a thick cloud over the congregation, and few believers manifest genuine joy because they are overburdened by feelings of guilt and fear.

4. Angry domination. Tyrants are surprisingly similar. Because they want to control their surroundings, they often blow up when people do not conform to their demands. Yet the Apostle Paul taught that church leaders should not be "violent" or "quarrelsome" but "self-controlled" and "gentle" (see 1 Timothy 3:2-3). Later he instructed Timothy that the Lord's servant "must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone" (2 Timothy 2:24).

You will always find lots of anger wherever there is a controlling spirit.

5. Individual guidance is discouraged. The Bible teaches that every Christian has direct access to God through one mediator, Jesus Christ. Every believer can hear God's voice personally and should expect to receive God's guidance.

In authoritarian church situations, however, members are not encouraged to seek God's guidance themselves. Rather, they are urged to conform to the preferences of the leader or the group. In some cases, leaders have actually taught their congregations to seek counsel and specific approval from a pastor before making major decisions. Thus church members develop an unhealthy dependence on a man in order to function spiritually, and their ability to trust God is diminished.

This kind of control is emotionally crippling. For many who submitted to the philosophy behind the Shepherding movement, it took years to recover from the loss of decision-making ability.

They relinquished their wills and lost their identities because they viewed absolute obedience to their spiritual leaders as a Christian virtue.

6. Women viewed as inferior. Some churches today permit the ordination of women, even as senior pastors or bishops, while others maintain that Scripture does not permit women to hold these positions. Apart from these differences of opinion on biblical interpretation, it should be noted that authoritarian churches usually discourage women from pursuing any genuine role in ministry. Women are viewed as useful only in their functions as wives and mothers, and they are not encouraged to step beyond these confines to pursue ministry opportunities.

Such a low view of women leads men to treat them as God-ordained sex objects or drones equipped to perform only menial tasks. Women who have leadership gifts are branded rebels or "Jezebels."

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, similar walls of communist control fell in rapid succession until the entire Soviet Union broke apart. Yet walls of spiritual bondage still exist today in so many parts of the church—and the ghosts of the Shepherding movement still haunt us. We are called to be emancipators, not enslavers.

As we seek to build healthy churches, let's remember these words from Galatians 5:1: "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery" (NASB).

J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma. You can find him on Twitter at leegrady.

Copyright 2009 Strang Communications; all rights reserved. Used with permission.
http://charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones/23911-breaking-free-from-the-spirit-of-control#readmore
.
.

Defiance! – Pt 18 – Profiling the persecutor – Exhibit D: “The Cultist”

In these times of uncertainty, it will take both the faculties of an absolute trust in the Word of God and the discernment of truth from error to be able to navigate. “But let God be true, and every man a liar.” -Rom 3:4- The faculty of discernment is simply exercising a critical knowledge of things that are under consideration. The one who possessed the gift of “discerning of spirits” is able to make distinction between the one who speaks by the Spirit of God and the one who is moved by a false spirit. – ISBE.

Being a Bible student has always been on top of my life priorities; hence I’ve invested years in formal education, in training, in seminars and in reading countless books in Christian literature and church history. I thought I was enough equipped to discern a cult, a heretic doctrine or a false prophet when I meet one. Yet, it had never occurred to me that I could be unaware actively involved with anything that was spiritually corrosive.

About five years ago, I found myself in a state of spiritual stupor. I thought perhaps the cure would be to find a new vibrant and progressive church. I found one and quickly joined it. Initially, my experiences were somewhat meaningful. Over time though, I began to pay more attention to the emphasis on some doctrines which I struggled to reconcile with the tenets of my Christian faith. It took me more than four years to decide whether I had to stay and modify my beliefs in order to conform or to leave. I opted for leaving for the reasons I elaborate below.

The statement of faith of my newly found church was identical to the other charismatic or evangelical churches. We also had the same format of services as other charismatic churches in town, though we believed ours were more potent than the rest. After some time, my wife and I began to spot recurring phrases from the pulpit; phrases that were coming down like slogans. First, they were subtle, covertly dropped in good sermons but after a while they become the center pieces of the main doctrines that were taught. It was another gospel filled with overemphasized words like: Covering, Set man, Obedience, Apostolic Mandate, Taking care of your man of God, Headship, Financial anointing, Sons and Daughters, Loyalty, Submission, Rebellion.

Though the pastor was a young minister, he claimed he accepted God’s calling in his teens and God has been using him ever since. We gave him the benefit of the doubt and trusted his ministerial experiences to guide us. But just after a few weeks in his church, I thought I should bring to his attention a couple of things which I believed could be disastrous to his ministry in the long run.

Among other things, I wrote to him about his extensive usage of sensitive information gathered in counseling sessions in his sermons. I argued that the church being in its infancy with people getting to know each other, it was easy to guess whom he was talking about. In my naivety, I attributed this unethical behavior to mere slips of tongue. Later, it occurred to me that it was a deliberate action to break the spirit, retaliate, humiliate or spiritually injure the concerned person.

“Everything that happens has happened before; nothing is new, nothing under the sun.” -Ecc 1:9-

When all my attempts to get some Biblical grounds to these new doctrines failed, I resorted to the recent church history to seek some answers. I came across the debacle and the controversies of the “Shepherding-Discipleship Movement” in the mid-seventies. The similarities of the doctrines that were preached in my church with those of the Shepherding movement were clear and undeniable. The main doctrines that define this movement were: Authority (Kingdom authority & Delegated authority),Kingdom taxes(tithes), Spiritual covering, Unity of believers, Submission, Covenant loyalty and a hierarchical church government with an “apostle” being the ruler of the Five fold ministries.

The impressive ascension of this movement was brutally interrupted when stories of cult like practices such as mind control, abuses, exploitation, manipulation and domination began to emerge. At the same time, their controversial doctrines and practices come under scrutiny from some prominent church leaders and theologians of that time. All of these happened in a highly publicized environment, serious allegations of abuses were exposed and the movement went into disarray.

Bob Mumford, one of the founders of the Shepherding, is quoted in Ministries Today, Jan-Feb 1990 as follow: “Discipleship was wrong, I repent. I ask for forgiveness… discipleship resulted in unhealthy submission resulting in perverse and unbiblical obedience to human leaders … for the injury and shame, I repent with sorrow and ask for your forgiveness.” In a Charisma & Christian Life article published in February, 1990, it was reported that Bob Mumford decided that he needed to publicly ‘repent’ of his responsibility in setting up a system where so many people were hurt by misuses of authority. “Some families were split up and lives turned upside down,” says Mumford. “Some of these families are still not back together.”

However, it soon appeared that these apologies were just a tactical move to diffuse the general public outcry. Still, the main leaders remained consistent with their beliefs and practices. Some of the founders refuse to apologize directly to the multitude of believers they have misled and wronged. On the contrary, they argued that there was nothing wrong with their doctrines (orthodoxy) but rather with their specific applications thereof (orthopraxis). Just like at the trial of the Nazis leaders at Nuremberg in 1948, their main line of defense remained the same: the holocaust resulted simply in the wrong interpretation of Nazism by others. Yet, millions of Jews lost their lives to say the least.

The most comprehensive books I read on the subject of Shepherding/Discipleship Movement are Charismatic Captivation, by Steven Lambert, Twisted Scriptures, by Mary Alice Chrnalogar and Damaged Disciples, by Ron & Vicki Burks. In his important book, Dr. Steven Lambert has this to say:
“So what are the consequences and effects we are talking about here, a scant few slightly disillusioned people with their feelings a little hurt? FAR FROM IT! We are talking about an immense number of broken and destroyed families, marriages, and friendships, multitudes of unpretentious, formerly trusting people who are now psychologically traumatized and marred, and spiritually shipwrecked, potentially for life. Added to that are substantial numbers of failed businesses, bankruptcies, lost fortunes, nervous breakdowns, contracted health maladies, suicides, and premature deaths by various related causes, and the like, just to name some of the consequences experienced by victims. Indeed, the details of the havoc and decimation wreaked upon victims' lives is far too extensive and, frankly, morose to possibly be able to relate here, but suffice it to say it is sweeping, mind-boggling, and, sadly, in some cases, barring the miraculous, irreversible.” – Stephen Lambert. Charismatic Captivation (Real Truth Publications, 2003) p.6 -

A victim of that cultish system, Tom Yoder, an eight-year former member of the Shepherding movement, uses the following points among others to describe the result of his involvement: “… militancy, control, elitism, hierarchicalism, black and white interpretations, pressure to perform, loss of identity, loss of freedom-spirit and soul, suppression of the “created” self, dependency, loss of personal initiative, extreme negative world view, extreme sex role differentiation, extreme loyalty.” – Mary Alice Chrnalogar. Twisted Scriptures (Zondervan Publishing House, 2000) p.268 –

After the demise and the public rejection of this cultish movement in the USA, a non-repentant group went underground and regrouped. Unfortunately, the waves of that debacle reached the African shores unnoticed by the many thousands of the Shepherding adherents. By that time, many African church leaders who were part of that movement chose to recuperate for themselves the movement by patching up the loopholes. They also began to offer to those of the same movement, whose ministries were at the brink of collapse, a platform for a resurrection.

West Africa became the main bastion of the African Shepherding movement, mainly in Nigeria and Ghana. But an endemic competition among the leaders plagued their unity but failed to slow their progress. Overnight, pastors turned into self-ordained “apostles” and “bishops” which titles and positions became the casus belli of many fratricide wars and church splits. There were also bitter fight among these bishops and apostles over territory or “anointing” recognition. Shepherding Mega churches and Bible schools were getting erected at different locations in Nigeria and Ghana. From these, a systematic recruitment in other part of our continent was launched. Up to date, a considerable number of pastors in Africa are still trained and launched from these Shepherding churches and schools.

Ingeniously, a lethal ingredient was added into the main doctrines of the African version of Shepherding: the “Son & Daughter” element. The issue of “Sons and Daughters” turned out to be the core of the ideology. All the leaders were recruiting “loyal” adherents with whom they insisted on “covenant” relationship. The more “sons and daughters” the visionaries were able to rise, the more powerful they were portrayed. Because of the culture of enslavement that is still prevalent in West Africa, these “sons and daughters” become the sole property of the “set men” with the resulting abuses.
In my opinion, the sincerity of the believers who submit themselves unto their leaders is not questionable. However, they ought to be “SONS of God, not SLAVES of men” (1 Cor. 7:23). (For more on the subject, please refer to my article on this blog: Defiance pt4: The persecutor’s umbrella or the myth of spiritual covering)

Sadly, this new “revelation” of “sons and daughters” by West African church leaders turned out to be an export commodity. Churches all over our continent and as far as America were buying into that pagan practice and making it an integral part of their ministries. Consequently, ministers are now more interested in recruiting “loyal” devotees unto themselves than evangelizing the world unto Christ. “Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth. They will do this to lure disciples into following them.” - Act 20:30

Recently, I came across a well researched and informed website, Cult Watch_Super Apostles, which gives a name to this new hybrid of the Shepherding movement. It calls it the “Super Apostles” and it offers the reader an accurate description of this movement and ample proof of its cultish and demonic links. I took the “Super Apostle detector” (test yourself by clicking here ) that it provides and my result was without surprise “off the scale”.

In our continent, South Africa seems to be the new destination of choice for these “Super Apostles”. In my opinion, the reason behind this could be the lure of money that the economic status of the new emergent Black middle class is presenting. With only a few exceptions, the target of the super apostles in SA seem to be the Black communities rather than the Caucasian or other racial groups.

A number of ministers in my town I spoke to were rather uninformed about this controversial matter. Though some even seem to be aware of the heretical teachings and ungodly practices that were en vogue, only a few could weigh seriously the dangers ahead of us. Amazingly, the pastors who have espoused the Shepherding doctrines could still not discern its demonic and cultic origins. That alone is evidence enough that the proponents of this movement have successfully achieve a makeover of their errors by camouflaging their motives behind a more “charismatic” language.

Some have argued that we should rather let God be the final judge and at the end He will separate those who were in the truth from those who were not. Some even suggested that I was on a vendetta to discredit some “men of God”. My answer to them was a two fold question: first, why is God requiring from us discernment if He could just fix the mess we are in with some magical wand? Secondly, what purpose will I achieve to disparage men made of flesh and blood when our real and common enemy is Satan and his minions?

As I said before, the aim of my articles is to expose the devil schemes in our midst and to shield ourselves under the saving Grace of our Lord. Unless those of us who profess to be ministers of the Gospel of Christ are informed of this satanic offensive against the church and decide to go on the offensive by exposing it, the sheep will be decimated if not already as we are silently standing by and observing.

The solution for those who desire to be free from the devil’s snare is to leave these churches and to leave them immediately. However, I know by experience that it is easier said than done. Here are some practical suggestions:

Ask God to give you a spirit of discernment

It’s a mind battle, especially for those who have been in church for a while, to accept the fact that they are in a cult and that they have been deceived. It’s like a satanic grip, a stronghold that erects itself against the knowledge of Christ in the mind of believers that are trapped in this setting. However, it can not stand against the power of the cross and the prayer of the believer.

Regain control of your time

In a church environment controlled by a “super apostle”, the high demand on the people’s time is almost ridiculous. Meetings after hours, on week ends, after church, on public holidays rob the devotees of the precious time that should have been allocated to family, friends, social networking and relaxation.
Take a break on purpose, should your request be vehemently opposed by your pastor or leader, take it as a clear evidence of control on your life. A time off will give you perspective and clarity of mind to assess your current situation with pragmatism.

Regain control of your money

In my next article, I will expose in details the money trail of these “super apostles”. The testimonies and the evidence I gathered is indicative enough that serious class actions are needed and I will not be surprised if the media or the courts of law begin to be inundated with claims of embezzlement in a near future.
But for now, suffice it to say that believers should stop sponsoring the works of iniquities with their God’s given resources. (Read also on this blog: Defiance pt6: The persecutor’s power: You & Your money )

Get informed

There is a censure on the flow of information that is allowed to reach the congregation. Apart from the internet and various publications that are readily available, another valid source of information remains those who have already left. Without exception, these churches leave behind a trail of wounded and dejected believers. “A gullible person believes anything, but a sensible person watches his step.” - Pro 14:15 -

Leave!

Some decide to stay and effect changes from within, but from experience it is an almost impossible task to challenge a corrupt system from inside. The sooner one leaves a cultish church, the better off his/her chances of recovery are. The only regret the people who have left voluntary have is the sad feeling of wasting precious years in that environment. “Come close to God, and he will come close to you.” - Jas 4:8-

When we take our focus away of the works of the cross of Christ we put in jeopardy our commission to reach the lost. Those who have chosen to compromise our mission have to be exposed. “Now I urge you, brothers, to mark or watch out for those who create divisions and sinful enticements in opposition to the teaching you have learned. Stay away from them! For such people are not serving Christ our Lord but their own desires. By their smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” - Rom 16:17-18

For those “men of God” who have strayed away, I pray “so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will.” - 2Ti 2:26 –
.
.

Defiance! – Pt 17 – Profiling the persecutor – Exhibit C: “The Power Seeker”

Nowadays, the marketing mix in some revival churches is anchored deeply in the sensationalism of the miraculous rather than in the teaching of the fundamentals of Christian faith. Some church leaders tend to be the absolute end, looked to as “prophets” of God, specially "anointed" apostles or evangelists and endowed with special “powers” from God.

On the other hand, our hunger for the supernatural coupled with a wondering amazement of this phenomenon called “anointing” have set us up to be exploited by a new breed of spiritual charlatans, which I’d like to categorize as “Power seeker”.

By reason of a general lack of self-knowledge, power seeker leaders cleverly exploit the human weaknesses and insecurities and learn to arouse some basic emotional soft spots. On top of that, power seeker pastors have exercised psychic abilities; they often seem to know people better than they know themselves. To hook believers, they dish out generic phrases such as “I see that you had a difficult childhood” or “I see that you were wounded by a relationship in the past”, and so on.

Then again, power seeker individuals are not a new phenomenon in the church. It is not strange to find the works of God colluding with magicians, diviners and other sorcerers, Is 3:3; Dan 2:10, 27; Acts 13:6, 8 are some examples, just to name a few. Equally, the early Christian community also encountered such persons who pretended to possess supernatural powers by which they endeavored to deceive men. Among them was a notorious magician named Simon - as related in Acts 8:9-25.

Conversely, when the influence of these magicians presented an obstacle to the progress of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit arrested the people’s attention with supernatural works in order to bring them out of the bewilderment and deception in which they were involved, and to impress their hearts with the true anointing of Christ.

In the aftermath of the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:59), Philip went down to Samaria to preach the gospel in the midst of an outpouring of the Spirit with many miraculous manifestations, sick persons were healed and demons were cast out. Many believed in the Lord and were baptized. Even Simon, a famous magician who had made a name for himself and had won adherents by posturing himself as the “great power of God”, also got converted.

But on a latter stage, it became evident that Simon’s conversion was not the result of inner conviction of faith in the Lord, but rather from selfish motives. He hoped to increase his influence by adding the power of the pure anointing of the Spirit on his magical crafts. When Peter and John, the Apostles, came to Samaria to lay hands on the new converts to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Simon offered them money to receive that power. But, Peter rebuked him very sharply: “You and your money will both end up in hell if you think you can buy God's gift! - Act 8:20”

It is crucial to note that the Bible does not deny the validity of the wonders performed by Simon or other enchanters but it rather clearly point to the source of their powers. It is clear in the Scriptures that God is NOT the originator of all signs and wonders. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” [1Jn 4:1]

Primarily, the inner motives of power seeker leaders are self-centered and greed. But much more obviously, the following characteristics are easily discernible:

“Anointing” and power seeking

Power seeker pastors indulge regularly in long and intensive prayer with prolonged fasting to seek an “increased anointing” and more power for their ministries. In seeking an extraordinary aura, they often indulge in practices such as all-night prayers on some mountains, prayers of anguish in a crooked position, abstaining from sex with their spouses for an extended period, putting their families on a silence “diet”, etc…

Occultism

Owing to the fact that God is not an entity subject to be influenced by spiritual stunts and cannot be ordered on demand, sooner or later, the power seeker leaders are met with the insanity of their expectations. Hence, they habitually resort to gimmicks and occult practices in order to keep their devotees in bewilderment. By so doing, they surrender to the control of the spirit of divination by which they usually prophecy. With the help of spirit guides and familiar spirits, they are then able to provide oblivious believers with hidden or secret information concerning the past, present or future.

Channeling

When someone purportedly subdues his body over to a spirit to speak through him, it is called “channeling”. Power seeker pastors claim to hear “clearly” God’s voice; as a result they even profess to be God’s mouthpiece. But in reality, once they cross in the “spirit” they come in contact with spirit beings, demons and departed souls and an occult communication line is linked with them. Frequently, they see visions and dreams, masquerading as divine communication, but that are actually Satan-induced hallucinations.

Mysticism

Power seeker pastors add elements of mysticism into the casual routine of any Christian practices. For instance, when the Bible suggests an anointing with oil in the praying for the sick (Jas 5:14), a power seeker will turn it into some rituals with the pretense of a special “anointing service”; A casting out of demons (Lk 9:1) turns out to be a special “deliverance service” with exorcism; Tithing and offering to the Lord (Mal. 3:10) develops into special “seeds” to break financial strongholds service; Praying for one another (Jas 5:16) is converted into “breaking generational curses” service; Operating in the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:8-10) are displayed in special “revelation or power” service, miracle online, divine impartation service; etc…

Fetishism

A fetish is an object, a word, a symbol, a charm or an amulet that is believed to contain special powers which is worn or carried as protection against misfortune. Power seeker pastors also confer some special “anointing” to objects such as prayer cloths, holy water, anointing oil, anointed handkerchief, super charged pictures, and so on. These objects are often held with religious reverence by their members.

Enemies of the cross

Power seeker pastors do not teach the finished works of Christ at the cross. The name of Jesus is simply used like a magic mantra in their rituals. They promote salvation by works and not by grace, to keep exploiting their adherents. Of them, the Bible speaks in Php 3:18-19: “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

“Deep” insights

Instead of accurately dividing the Scriptures, power seeker pastors preach so-called “deep” revelations that recurrently are out of context and defy the basic rules of biblical interpretation. They claim it takes a special insight and time to decipher the “deep” things of God. By so doing, they keep their followers spiritual dependent on them, wanting and confused. This tactic makes their gullible followers much more vulnerable to an even great extent of control.

Controlling and manipulative personality

Power seeker pastors personify themselves with a “messianic” authority. They want to be looked on as God’s appointed agent, hence obeying them and heeding their teachings equal to obeying God Himself. They exercise rigid control over their follower’s time, finances, activities, possessions and relationships. They expect every one to attend all church events and activities often scheduled after hours, on weekends and on public holidays. Consequently, their members are frequently drained physically and emotionally and have no or little time for family, friends, social, privacy and reflection.

Covert intimidation

Power seeker pastors’ sermons are a mix of subtle manipulation and unconcealed ordering. Their teachings are filled with indirect or implied threats which keep their members anxious, apprehensive and submissive. Since they posture as God’s “set men”, they demand loyalty to them, rather than to Christ. To maintain the loyalty and devotion of their adherents, they frequently project on them guilt, fear, threat of curses and intimidation.

Lack of ministerial ethics

Power seeker pastors insist on being privy of intimate details of their adherents’ private lives. They gather sensitive information about their members during counseling sessions. With subtle sarcasm, they use this information as a blackmailing device to trip guilt or induce shame on the potential dissidents. This tactic keeps the rest of the congregation in self-doubt and in fear of leaving the group.

Labeling

Power seeker pastors discourage any critical or rational thought and questions that may challenge their authority. Any independent or rational thinking is treated as rebellion, pride, sinful or a manifestation of some satanic spirit and the initiator is labeled accordingly and shame publicly. This serves as a ploy to foster in the congregation a feeling of inadequacy, unworthiness and therefore allowing the power seeker to maintain a position of dominance over God’s flock.

Double life and string of misfortunes

Power seeker pastors live a secret life of sin and shame, they work very hard to conceal it but the light of God always finds ways to expose the works of darkness. Sadly, all their efforts towards a spiritual enlightenment often fail to generate corresponding fruits in their lives: “Therefore by their fruits you shall know them." - Mat 7:20”

Perhaps, the most alarming aspect of this is the chain of unexplained tragedies that seem to plague their lives and those of their members. Beneath the veneer of glamour lie untold stories of marital troubles, divorces, sexual perversions and other addictions, financial bankruptcies, business collapses, incurable diseases and accidents.


Power seeker pastors run worship services like a carnival sideshow. Their modus operandi is directly borrowed from hypnotists, magicians and other occultists. Power seeker pastors maintain the following steps to perpetuate a sense of bewilderment on the worshippers:

Altered States of consciousness (ASC)

Given that the pure anointing of the Spirit is a gift from God, it cannot be manufactured, manipulated or coerced. But it can be faked, counterfeited or forged. To fabricate an atmosphere that simulate the anointing, power seeker pastors rely on mind-altering and mind numbing techniques that generate an ASC. As outlined in my previous article, the most used methods in some charismatic churches are repetitive chanting, ecstatic dancing or movement, intensive collective prayers, prolonged fasting, etc…

When an ambience of ASC is established: trances or light hypnosis are brought about; the mind becomes highly suggestible to both outer and inner influences; critical judgment and thinking are suspended; and the symptoms of some psychosomatic and psychological conditions such as asthma, migraines, ulcers, chronic pain, anxieties, depression, and the like disappear which give the impression that “miracles” are happening.

But more often than not, the effects of these healings are short lived and relapses are the norms. Since the ASC generates a collective euphoria and hysteria, worshippers that are subjected to it often feel a high and are extremely vulnerable to "Peer pressure."

Peer pressure

Another potent tool in the hands of power seeker pastor use is the cunning manipulation of testimonies. Power seeker pastors are adept at charming, praising, flattering or overtly supporting their loyal disciples in order to get them to lower their defenses and surrender their trust and loyalty. These disciples are often put on the spot to share with the congregation the “marvelous” blessings that God has bestowed upon them ever since they join that particular ministry.

Since the person chosen to give the testimony has been caught off guard, but feels at the same time valued and needed, he or she will endeavor to embellish the story and will not even hesitate to lie under oath. Not only, this scheme is used as an instrument to recruit new converts but also it serves to raise the level of expectations of the assembly.

Expectations

When the “faith” of the congregation is at its peak, the attendants are set up to believe that great things will happen in their midst. Since the collective mind is by now altered, many people can even see, ear or feel things that do not actually exist.

Suggestions

As the Spirit’s “show-down” is expected momentarily, any suggestion is perceived as divine. At this stage, virtually anything goes; the devotees cannot differentiate between truth and error or make sound judgments. To test the collective mind suggestibility, power seeker pastors instruct their congregation to scream, to jump, to clap with their hands, to stomp with their feet, to shout “Jesus” seven times, to repeat silly phrases to each other, and so on.

Commonly, the power seeker pastors will at the end demand the congregation to connect with God in that atmosphere of “anointing” with a special offering or a specified seed. ASC induced believers will rush in to give or pledge important lump sum of finances, matured investment policies, bonuses payout, bonds, vacation funds or even valuable possessions such as cars, houses, jewelries, shoes, appliances, etc… In their sober and rational mind, these “generous” believers would have thought twice before acting, only if they knew!


Life is not fair, it can change suddenly its course when we expect it the least. A tragedy, a failure, an incurable condition or even death of loved ones can strike all of us at any given time. Wars, crime, rape, theft or any form abuse can befall us without warning. Out of the blue, the flow of our happiness can be disrupted. Because of that, we end up blaming ourselves and/or God and we seek for ways to soothe our pain. Power seeker pastors specialize in offering solutions and promises to life’s complex predicaments but they cannot deliver.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [Joh 8:32]

Life becomes much more bearable when it is lived in humble dependence upon the faithfulness of God.


"Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us."— Stephen Covey
.
.

Defiance! – Pt 16 – the dangers of altered states of consciousness (ASC)

The apostle Paul prophesied of a time that will come when people will not put up with healthy doctrine but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their own needs. They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths. [2Ti 4:3-4].

Pagan rituals, Humanism, Secularism, Occultism and other new age teachings are now intertwined with the tenets of our Christian faith. And unless, we confront them with the light of the Word of God, it is possible to perpetuate errors that some are now teaching as doctrines. The devil has infiltrated our faith with some astute counterfeits that looks like sound biblical truths. “Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1Pe 5:8).”

First and foremost, we need to reestablish our boundaries in the Word of God. Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live (2Ti 3:16).

In the previous post, I’ve introduced the altered states of consciousness (ASC) and its applications in some churches. The altered state of consciousness (ASC) is defined as any state of awareness that differs from the normal awareness of a conscious person, or deviating from one’s normal mental state.

In the occult, the altered states of consciousness (ASC) are an integral part of magical rituals. They can be defined as any mental state recognized by the individual as different from his or her normal waking consciousness. In this state, the mind is highly suggestible to both outer and inner influences; critical judgment and thinking are suspended; and the person often feels a “high”. In deep experiences of this state, the person may hallucinate or hear voices.

I argued that God does not induce on His children a state of mind that is below conscience or reason in order to perform His Will. Further, the Bible stipulates in 1Pe 1:13: “Therefore, your minds must be clear and ready for action.” It goes further to in Eph 5:14: “Be awake, you who are sleeping” and in Eph 5:18: “Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life.”

When one enters in an ASC (Altered States of Consciousness), the mind leaves behind its ability to distinguish between truth and error, facts and fantasies. It crosses into a perilous zone where invasion of evil spirits become possible. We cannot afford the devil to have even a portion of control over our mind or to mould our thinking. “Someone may say, "I'm allowed to do anything," but not everything is helpful. I'm allowed to do anything, but I won't allow anything to gain control over my life (1Co 6:12).”

“Anointing” has become the craze of preachers and believers alike. Those preachers whose motive is self-aggrandizement have developed a wide variety of techniques to simulate the “anointing” or a so-called divine glory. They do so that by inducing their followers in an ASC. ASC methods among many used comprise: prolonged fasting, deliverance services, singing one song over and over again until the people disconnect with reality, fear charged sermons, long periods of intense prayer (especially in tongues) and loud music with a repetitive beat, ecstatic dance and trances.

God is not obligated to perform beyond His Word beyond of what it is written. Our safety is found in His Word, and in Christ through the Holy Spirit. One may argue that the validity of these techniques is biblical. However, the Bible admonishes us to stay within the confines of His Word: “You should learn from us not to go beyond what is written in Scripture.” [1Co 4:6b]

Let us examine, in the light of the Scriptures some of these ASC techniques:

Fasting

In the Bible, fasting has been observed by various group of people on occasions such as public calamities (2Sa 1:12), afflictions (Ps 35:13), approaching danger (Est 4:16), ordination of ministers (Act 13:3), in times of grief (2Sa 1:12), in time of invasion (2 Ch 20:3), and in other related circumstances. Invariably, fasting is accompanied by prayer (Dan 9:3), confession of sin (1Sa 7:6) and/or humiliation (Deu 9:18)

Some people were practicing fasting habitually like the disciples of John (Mt 9:14), Anna (Luk 2:37), the Pharisees (Mar 2:18), Cornelius (Act 10:30) and Paul (2 Cor 11:27).

In the lapse of time the practice of fasting was grossly abused (Isa 58:4). The Lord rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocritical pretenses in fasting (Mat 6:16). He himself appointed no fast. The early Christians, however, observed the ordinary fasts according to the law of their fathers (Act 13:3; Act 14:23; 2Co 6:5).

As for the duration of fasting, the common trend in the Bible seems to indicate a day, from sunrise to sunset. However, five exceptional instances of a longer period were recorded. The first was a seven days period (1 Sa 31:13), the second exception took place while Daniel abstained from “pleasant bread,” flesh, wine and anointing for three weeks (Dan 10:3).

Then there was an exceptional and miraculous 40 days period of Moses (Exo 34:28) who was with God, Elijah (1Ki 19:8) whom God gave a special food and drink that sustained Him for 40 days and Jesus Himself (Lk 4:2) who was led by the Spirit. Scholars agree that 40 days were significant of punishment for sin, confession, or affliction. Christ, the true Israel, denied Himself for 40 days, as Israel indulged the flesh 40 years. They tempted God that time; He overcame the tempter all the 40 days.

It’s crucial to note here that these exceptional 40 days fasting happened just once in the lifetime of these great men and that all that Christ accomplished was entirely for our benefit, and need not to be remake.

Fasting has benefits that are universally recognized. It affects all our being, spirit, soul and body.

Conversely, it is advisable to observe fasting within a short period of time. Some couples even abstain from sex during a long fasting period, but this is not wise, Peter writes in 1Co 7:5: “So don't refuse sex to each other, unless you agree not to have sex for a little while, in order to spend time in prayer. Then Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

Some pastors engage continuously in a prolonged fasting in the pursuit of a greater “anointing”, but it is for their detriment. Not only, they are going beyond what is written but also they are violating God’s natural laws concerning their physical bodies.

Likewise, it is also highly irresponsible to take an entire congregation into a prolonged fasting period because people react differently. Medical experts agree that a prolonged fast/diet can lead to anemia, impairment of liver function, kidney stones, mineral imbalances, and other undesirable side effects. These side effects include a drop in blood pressure, a persistent cold, and acute emotional distress. Still, depriving the body of the vitamins and minerals may weaken the body’s ability to fight infections and inflammation.

We must not tempt God thinking that our faith is stronger than our health. People that have diabetes, high blood pressure, mental conditions, AIDS, and other similar conditions should abstain from fasting altogether.

Exorcism vs Deliverance

Exorcism is very different from the deliverance that our Lord taught and practiced. Exorcism derives its roots in ancient pagan cultures; it consists of a satanic, magical ritual and has been adopted mainly by the Catholic Church. Exorcism can actually cause a person to be more demonized.

The methods of these so-called deliverance services in certain churches have shocking similarities with the exorcism and have nothing to do with the gospel. They have become a show where demons manifest in people, and believers are told to sing or pray in “tongues” while some “anointed” ministers perform the cleansing. Not only these practices are aberrant but they also subject innocent and oblivious people to a possible demonic infestation.

Anointing vs laughing in the spirit, slain in the spirit and trances

Jesus Christ, the anointed one, performed His earthly ministry without having people laughing in the spirit, slain in the spirit or put in trances. The Bible declares in Act 10:38: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.”

Though there is an anointing for service or to function in a particular office, the Bible clearly indicates in 1Jn 2:27: “And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains within you, and there is no need for any one to teach you. But since His anointing gives you instruction in all things--and is true and is no falsehood--you are continuing in union with Him even as it has taught you to do.”

Prophets & Prophecies

The Bible warns us in 1Jn 4:1: “Dear friends, stop believing every spirit. Instead, test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

For so long, we have been fooled into believing in anyone who could spell the name of Jesus. However, the Bible gives us an acid test to prove prophets in Deu 18:22: “ If a prophet speaks in the LORD'S name and what he says doesn't happen or come true, then it didn't come from the LORD. That prophet has spoken on his own authority. Never be afraid of him.” Also they need to produce fruit that is consistent with repentance (Mat 3:8).

Music & Dances

Music is indisputably a tremendous tool in worshipping and praising our God. And dances are naturally the expression of our bodies to the same effects. However, we must never loose track that Lucifer, the devil, was also a musician in heaven before his fall. The Bible speaks of him in Isa 14:11: “Your pride has gone down into the underworld, and the noise of your instruments of music; the worms are under you, and your body is covered with them.”

When a tune of music is played over and over again in a service, people are detached from reality, resulting in an atmosphere of ASC (altered states of consciousness) induced on people. An expansion of consciousness naturally takes place. The physical and psychic bodies become more and more sensitive and susceptible to wrong spirits.

When music is used in a loud and repetitive beat, not only the body gets into a trance consciousness, but also it opens up to hypersuggestibility and concentrated attention on one stimulus to the exclusion of all others. Ecstatic dances may ensue in the manner of primitive dances that are generated in the chanting and drumming of pagan rituals.

These dances have nothing to do with dancing in the Spirit or for the Lord; on the contrary, they stimulate the flesh and its passions. That could be the reason why some believers struggle with fornication, pornography and other sexual perversions.

More often than not, an ASC can trigger what is known as an abreaction in someone. An abreaction arises when the line between the conscious mind and a traumatic experience is crossed. As a result the person suddenly goes through the experience again, bursting into tears, yelling with anger, shivering with fear, and so on. Those who are suffering of epilepsy are likely to get seizures; and the mentally disabled may lapse into severe psychosis.

It is not uncommon for preachers, experts in generating an ASC mode on their followers under the false pretense of “anointing”, to take advantage of the ASC so induced to collect an offering. Their motives are solely greed, and they will not care less about the welfare of the people. It is simply a spiritual extortion.

ASC is dangerous for a number of reasons not the least being that it opens the mind to believe almost anything. In fact, cases of temporary and permanent insanity, spirit contact, occult transformation and spirit possession have been reported.

A part from opening up people’s mind to spirit from hell, ASC also disturbs the body’s natural balance and rhythm putting the heart at high risk, damaging the nervous system with a general deterioration of the brain’s frontal lobe. In the long run, the system eventually collapses.

In our walk with God, we need to remain pragmatic and use our conscience. The conscience being our mind faculty that tells right from wrong, by which we should also judge the moral character of those who claim to lead us in the name of the Lord.

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” - Galileo




Bibliography

The following materials and web sites were consulted in researching this article and the precedent:

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Zondervan
Nave’s Topical Bible, Zondervan
John Darby’s Synopsis, Zondervan
Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, Harvest House, 1996
Stripes, Nails, Thorns and the Blood, D. Bree Keyton, ISBN 1-58275-076-9 (Segen books and Black Forest Press 2002)
Counterfeit Revival, Hank Hanegraaff, ISBN 0-8499-3892-9 (Word Publishing, Nashville, TN 1997)
Testing the Spirits, Elizabeth L. Hillstrom (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995)

http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/Mysteries-of-the-Mind/Altered-States-of-Consciousness.html
http://www.bu.edu/anthrop/faculty/lindholm/ASCCharisma.html
http://www.paganlibrary.com/reference/altered_states.php
http://www.logosresourcepages.org/Occult/hypnosis.htm
http://www.allaboutspirituality.org/dangers-of-meditation-faq.htm
http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/path/oc-sbddg.htm
http://kundalini.se/eng/fallgrop.html
http://www.rense.com/general81/dangers.htm