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This is a very interesting post.
About 33 yrs ago I found myself at odds with the Baptist denomination on the whole, that I had grown up in, and was actually kicked out of a Baptist boarding school I was attending as a senior. I made the move over to the 'Dark side' as they called it, pentacostal, and have been there for years. Recently I have recognized the deception in those circles, and the 'cultic' tendencies that have permeated them.
I am not a church 'stalker or accuser' in any way. God forbid that I am an accuser of the saints.
In my seeking I came across an article written some years ago, that I can't post here in order to comply with the site rules, by a man who was entrenched in the 'Latter Rain' movement, and the cult known as 'The Walk'. I lost two very dear friends to 'The Walk' years ago in South Africa.
The article had nothing to do with denominational differences of beliefs at all, but 'cultic' tendencies and deceptions in the church today. ANY church.
It was an absolute eye opener for me. I found many of the 'cultic' mind sets in both the leadership and the followers of the Chrismatic church i have been attending, from many different angles and perceptions.
This is definitely not a denominational thing at all. It is a Demonic thing.
The human condition is very susceptible to this.
I could post it as a blog, but it would have to be in multiple posts since I cannot afford a premier membership. That would be tough to read.
All I can say is that the lies of the enemy are being revealed today, just as much as Satan is gearing up for a last assault on the church of God in these final days. It does not matter if you are Catholic, Baptist, fundamentalist, charismatic, or somewhere in between.
I have become very aware that we cannot EVER allow any man or teaching of man, or institute of man, to super-cede the Word of God, and His Spirit in us teaching and guiding.
Our teacher, the Holy Spirit of God works individually by the heart, and is the only teacher that can bring understanding of the scriptures.
Man's knowledge is incomplete (Corinthians) and can only give man's partial, institutionalized information. Understanding is a whole different thing from knowledge, and comes from God alone.
I had to stand up, publicly, to denominational leaders that knew so much more than me, 33 yrs ago, and say to them (as a 17 yr old teen) "I don't know what the whole truth is, but I know that what YOU are teaching is not it"
Privately I was told I could believe whatever I wanted and I could stay in school and finish, so long as I denied it and did not speak of it. I refused to deny anything my Lord had taught me which I believed in my heart, and was kicked out of school 10,000 miles away from home with nowhere to go. (My parents were missionaries in South Africa and this school was in Maine, USA)
Interesting that at least half the Baptists I talk to now believe what I did way back then.
Cultic mindsets and deceptions have nothing to do with denominational beliefs. It is a relational issue. The relationship the leaders have with the followers, and how the followers believe what they are taught based on WHO teaches it, no matter what. Wish I could write the whole article up.
Nathan
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Posted 03/17/2009 02:57pm
Author: goodnews
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Thanks for sharing your similar experiences. Truly sobering and convicting how low we can go sometimes as Christians. Was the Jack Hyles comment a joke or what about it did you enjoy? I'm just curious because I have a relative that was really manipulated by those conferences.
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Posted 03/17/2009 03:53pm
Author: biblealone
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I can definitely relate to your experiences and completely agree with your conclusions. I would really enjoy getting your whole article if you ever get the chance. Thanks for sharing.
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Posted 03/17/2009 03:57pm
Author: biblealone
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I have it in PDF form but we can't give out contact info so I can't send it, plus as a blog it would be very long. Wish I could. I emailed it to my own list of contacts because I think it that important. I got some very favorable replies, along with some folk who think I have left the faith and am doomed.
Lets just say you are right to be aware of this 'cultic' mentality.
Here are some points made, in brief, about some things to be aware of. A sort of 'red flag' as it were: (obviously they are not all true all the time, but any of these areas can be indicators of deception creaping in)
Loyalty to leadership over Scripture.
Believing what's said based on WHO says it.
An unwillingness to question leaders.
Fear of disapproval by the group.
Dismissive attitude towards those outside the group.
Lack of tolerance for dissent.
The superior ends of the group justify the means.
Group leaders determine how followers should think and what is true'.
Cultic persons gravitate towards dependence upon a priesthood' for their contact with God.
Disdain for Berean spirited searching of the scriptures.
An inability in leadership to separate Godly criticism of their words from personal attack.
Lack of accountability in leadership.
Discernment primarily the prerogative of leadership.
Heightened interest with spiritual levels and rankings.
Heightened interest in dreams, visions, new revelations and novel insights.
An increase in subjectivity.
'New thingism.'
An excited interest in peripheral subjects not central to the gospel.
May talk unity, but bring division along lines of gender, age, race or nationality.
Leaders who love to surround themselves with minions who affirm their special anointing.
More interest in breaking through to new levels and remaking the church along new lines rather than reaching the lost with the good news of Jesus Christ.
False spirits love to show off and love center stage.
Conference chasing.
The anointed' leader has a privileged access, a hot relationship, with God that the rest have yet to attain.
The Holy Spirit is seen more as coming to bring an experience rather than a greater understanding of the Scripture.
A tendency to distinguish between people who accept their movement as a true move of God and those who don't.
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Posted 03/18/2009 02:04am
Author: goodnews
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WOW, I can so relate. I, too, have spent too many years living under the oppression to the point I had become legalistic and instead of being filled with the love of Christ for people I was full of pride and condemnation. God literally crushed me so that my eyes could be opened! Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! After years of searching I am in a church that I feel I am at home, and it is a church that preaches GRACE every day and lives it out, that preaches the Word of God and the pastor displays humility instead of pride. The masks are removed and it is OK to be a work in progress and not a Masterpiece.
God has given me "But for the grace of God there go I." to keep my pride in check, I am nothing without Him. "without Him I am a cold, hard stone, with no light of my own." I need Him so that I may reflect Him accurately to those God brings along my path.
Blessings!
Andrea
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Posted 03/18/2009 04:52am
Author: allforhim
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"I was nodding my head through that entire list. Thanks and maybe someday somehow I'll be able to read your entire article!"
Wish I could get it to you. We can't send out personal contact info though. I respect the rules of the site and will live by them, but I hope one day we can somehow contact each other, as adult Christians, using wisdom and discernment for our own safety as with everything else we face in this life. Maybe one day.
I encourage you to keep seeking. I found what I needed to after spending time in the Word, on-line searches, and reading. ALLWAYS in the Word as the base-line for all truth. God says if we seek Him we will find Him, which means finding His truth and averything you need to know to get to a place of understanding of God and His ways.
The cultic-mindset article was an eye-opener for me. I now move on and do not dwell on it, but keep it always as part of my armour. I will not allow these deceptive tendencies to ever fool me or rule me again.
Nathan
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Posted 03/18/2009 04:46pm
Author: goodnews
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