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Thread: Thoughts on Spiritual Deception

  1. #1

    Thoughts on Spiritual Deception

    In these last days, we know there's a lot of spiritual deception going around. And it's only going to get worse. The problem with someone being deceived spiritually is that they rarely keep it to themselves. Deception likes to find followers. Leaders who are deceived are usually quick to spread their deception to their followers as they also seek to attract new followers.

    We can't be surprised when our favorite radio/TV preacher goes off base. It happens. I regret to say that many years ago I tuned into one radio preacher I liked. Nothing he said sounded remotely deceptive. His name was Jim Jones. Later, some of you know I also got caught up in the shepherding movement...also a deception. I like to think these experiences have wised me up a bit about deception.

    Every time God reveals something to me, I take it to the Word for verification. But not just the Word. Many deceivers can find a way to justify their deception in the Bible. I also take it to trusted elders in the faith. Usually, though, it never goes that far as I realize early on that this idea is bogus.

    I was thinking about this as I was remembering a man who headed up a large national ministry (I've written about him before here) and then, buying into the hyper-grace teaching, ended the ministry, sending many believers into chaos as they sorted it all out. I've watched this guy since then and it's my opinion he's even farther down the road than before. That's the thing about deception. Once you're in its clutches, you'll be led like sheep to the slaughter as you find yourself open to even more deception.

    Be wise, brethren. Sniff out deception and when you find it, move away. Fast. Never become a spiritual lone ranger. Be part of a good, stable fellowship with responsible elders. Never get caught up in the "we've got the only truth" mindset where you think your church or fellowship is "special." That's how cults start.

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  3. #2
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Bookman, I agree...but also realize I am agreeing with someone who holds some differing interpretations of scripture from myself...so my logical response is, how willing are we, all of us, to admit there is a good chance we ourselves embrace some deception, some false belief, or another?

    And how willing are we, really, to have them snatched out from under us....

    I am reminded years ago while in worship the Spirit clearly moving me to give God a gift...love overwhelmed me and I wanted to express it in a deeper way...but realized nothing I had He had not given me...so I asked, 'What can I give'. He said, 'Give me your theology'. Now for some that may sound like an easy thing but for me in that very real moment I knew He was asking me to surrender my very foundation for life..I instantly aw myself clinging to monkey bars and Him asking me to release...and at that moment I had to become willing to embrace TRUTH no matter how hard it would be on my mind, my will, my emotions, and my life choices...to KNOW HIM no matter how offended I was by what I saw..to trust HE is GOD and if I wanted to really KNOW HIM at a deeper level I had to become willing to face persecution within my church, to teach what I saw and heard no matter how offended they would be...to be truly peculiar and singled out from the world in and outside of the 'church'...all this was revealed in an instant...

    Does that mean all my beliefs are totally accurate? No..but it means if we/I are/am going to progress toward that place we have to be willing to release any beliefs we hold dear...to truly be open to HIS rearranging the chairs in our brain..no mater the cost..

    It's hard because many of us invested a lot of time and study and prayer, ministry, into building that theology...as a matter of fact I pointed out that fact to HIM at the above mentioned moment..asking Him, have I wasted all these years of study? I fully expected Him to really scrap everything....He said what I just said in other words...He said He needed to rewire some connections and that this and this does not necessarily equal this....we often get some revelation and do what the disciples did when Jesus appeared to them...formulate the wrong conclusion...they saw Jesus and believed Him to be a 'spirit'. We do this because it makes sense to our human reasoning. So they were partially right but wrong enough to be deadly...

    And I am convinced some of the 'hard passages' of scripture are key issues in deception as they are often used to read in a conclusion we already have rather than warn us both our human reasoning conclusions are probably wrong and we need revelation beyond our human comprehension to gasp the truth they hold.

    The greatest danger to deception is that it never remains singular but will always build and distort and twist to protect itself...I am convinced some level of deception is the root of DENOMINATIONALISM...and that the purpose of the Charismatic movement was to begin to pull down those walls...sadly many have been re-erected..because they are familiar and comfortable..

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  5. #3
    * Toxic Troll - Negative Nancy Farm Truck's Avatar
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    the purpose of the Charismatic movement was to begin to pull down those walls
    Yes, and satan is very slick as he is now using the so-called charismatic movement (it was really just normal, biblical Christianity) to bring in truck loads of deception. The are charismatic people now receiving false teaching now hook, line, and sinker!

    Ultimately rather than arguing, fussing, cussing, and discussing... we will just have to wait and see who ends up where

  6. #4
    Thanks, Quest. Great thoughts.

    Sometimes I think "theology" is like a big jigsaw puzzle. All the pieces are in the Word. We put them together as we go along, but sometimes we put a piece in the wrong place. So we take it out and search for the right place to put it. I worry about Christians who keep trying to shove the wrong puzzle piece into a place it doesn't belong. They'll never get the true picture the puzzle represents by doing that.

    I also worry about Christians who have never changed any portion of their theology over the course of their spiritual life. That would mean everything they learned from day one was accurate. I find that highly unlikely.

    Yes, denominationalism is a problem...or can be. There are some fine denominational churches. What often happens, though, is that God restores a truth to the church and a couple of generations later a denomination has formed around that one truth, to the neglect of other truths.

    In fact, that reminds me to point out that many deceptions start with a measure of truth, but by neglecting other truth, soon becomes deception. From my viewpoint a great example was the shepherding movement. Frankly, I took away from that experience the fact that more Christians DO need authority in their lives--usually eldership authority (with GODLY elders). There are too many suffering Christians who could be helped by learning to submit to godly authority. It's too bad that the deception that came with that teaching led many Christians to throw out the baby with the bath water.

    Even the charismatic movement is an example. There is way more to the Christian life than the charismatic experience. But denominations have been formed around nothing but being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Again, often to the neglect of other truths.

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  8. #5
    I also realize being teachable is very important.

    The things we disagree on (less than what we agree on) is, none of it, "dealbreaker" stuff.

    I can live with that.. it makes for interesting, thought provoking conversation.

  9. #6
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Bookman, yes the zigsaw puzzle analogy is good..

    Also a great point about growth...In my own walk I have 'passed through' denominations and movements...gleaning. In the past I when God moved us and a new church was to be found we did not seek denominationally so have attended Baptist, Church of God, APC, WOF, and non-denominational..but never gave any of the LORDSHIP over my beliefs...to continue in growth we cannot...I never assumed while in any of them that God put me there because they were theologically correct...this has kept me open and kept my relational commitment within the bounds they should be; we re family but you don't dictate my beliefs..you teach, you lead, I listen, I pray and I read..if the Holy Spirit affirms it I take ownership but if He does not I leave it alone...

    I do believe in submission as the Lord leads...especially on daily life decisions it is good to have someone else who might see more clearly the snares of the enemy in making decisions. My son who has just recommitted his life a year ago but has not been in a good fellowship just made two bad choices that had he consulted with strong Christians, he might have recognized the trap he was about to step into...I am not an elder 'per se' but even I could see those a mile away...were they sin? No..but they were part of his old life pattern...and if he does not fin a fellowship and submit to some Godly men he will likely make more unnecessary mistakes...this is especially true for young believers..young in growth not age...

    Man has always, always, always tried to package and sell revelation and IMHO most denominations started out with revelations, splits, pkg and selling...the charismatic movement was no different...but knowing this and being careful not to let it set those boundaries that stop our growth is the answer...

    Again deception does creepe in from many avenues and denominational walls are breeding grounds for that...

    So the essentials for avoiding deception are...

    1. Spiritual laziness..little prayer and little Bible reading
    2. A desire for truth at any cost, even denomination, family, friends, pride, self will(love anything more than ME)
    3. A realization that no organization or group has perfect theology (pride or cult)
    4. Being led by the Spirit where we gather instead of what is just familiar and comfortable...carnal reasoning is dangerous spiritually.

    Sadly when it comes to deception that is a personal thing...others may recognize it but when someone is deceived they have allowed it...and if one of these key decisions has been made by them that makes that belief a stronghold, only they can let that down..and likely one of the 4 key issues above is supporting it...

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  11. #7
    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    Was Jim Jones ever saved.....what about Carlton Pearson

  12. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Cardinal TT View Post
    Was Jim Jones ever saved.....what about Carlton Pearson
    Don't know much about Carlton. Doubtful about Jim. By their fruits, ye shall know them.

  13. #9
    * Toxic Troll - Negative Nancy Farm Truck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cardinal TT View Post
    Was Jim Jones ever saved.....what about Carlton Pearson
    You would have to ask the Lord... according to what Jesus taught in Mark 4:14-20 it's entirely possible for a person to get born again... and then allow things to enter in that choke the Word so it becomes unfruitful.

    Those that claim people who backslide were never saved in the first place... need to study their Bible a little more and accept all of God's Word instead of Cherry-Pickers-R-Us

  14. #10
    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Farm Truck View Post
    You would have to ask the Lord... according to what Jesus taught in Mark 4:14-20 it's entirely possible for a person to get born again... and then allow things to enter in that choke the Word so it becomes unfruitful.

    Those that claim people who backslide were never saved in the first place... need to study their Bible a little more and accept all of God's Word instead of Cherry-Pickers-R-Us

    Agree with you that OSAS is a terrible deception

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