Be diligent to
present yourself
Approved to God, a
worker
Who does not need to
be ashamed,
rightly dividing the
word of truth.
But shun profane and
idle babblings,
for they will
increase to more ungodliness.
And their message
will spread like cancer.
Hymenaeus and
Philetus are of this sort,
Who have strayed
concerning the truth,
Saying that the
resurrection is already past;
And they overthrow
the faith of some.
Nevertheless the
solid foundation of God stands,
Having this seal:
‘The Lord knows those who are his,’
And, ‘Let everyone
who names the name of Christ
Depart from
iniquity.’
2Timothy 2:15-19
Before
venturing into more historicity of men and women who in some way have
affected Christianity I must deal with what these men who have “strayed” from
the faith preach and teach falsely and error in some Churches today, not just in some small out
of the way unnoticed Churches, but also those that are large and have thousands
of people coming to hear what is being preached. We are called to be “diligent”
and this is the purpose of this blog, to call men and women back to study, to
show themselves approved by God for if this is not done then those who preach
and teach a Doctrine that is not Scriptural will only increase and “spread like
cancer”, the Greek word translated "cancer" is the word for gangrene. This has been the case for
the Liberalization of Christianity many are being mislead into error believing
that what they do is of God when it is not. The good news though, and this has
been the thrust of these blogs, is that the “Lord knows who are his.” Not
because a person has done something to be recognized by God and to be chosen
due to their goodness, rather that God did elect some to salvation and those
who are elected are His, and will never be let go by God. Further, we are commanded to “depart from iniquity”
therefore to stay where error is taught is to blaspheme God by not obeying what
He has commanded and to continue in error, teaching error, preaching error,
living a life of error. As believers in Jesus Christ we are to be ready to give
a defense for our faith (1Peter 2:15) and to be ready to give an answer when
asked, and to do it in meekness and in fear. (1Peter 2:15), Why fear? It is an
awesome thing to stand before anyone who has iniquity in their heart who is
being led by the lies and deception of Satan, and when we are in fear, we then
have our senses heightened so that we may not be taken unaware. We will be ready to defend our faith.
One such
movement that has been birthed by Arminianism and liberal theology is the Sozo
movement. Sozo is a Greek word that is used in the New Testament 110 times; 93
times as save, i.e., deliver or protect; make whole 9 times; 3 to heal, 2 times
be whole, 3 times miscellaneous as to preserve, or do well. Due to the
infiltration of the Enlightenment and its emphasis on the person and on
experience, that man can by his own goodness either accept or reject salvation,
many Churches use this ideology to become a major part of their theology.
From this type of theology has come much emphasis on signs and wonders and those miraculous signs used by Jesus and his apostles and that they are the norm for
Christians today. People of these Churches go around speaking of visions that
they have received from God and attempt to give those visions as if from God to
others. Or they attempt healings, and many other miraculous things even to say
that they can raise the dead. I will not attempt to address each of these
issues, rather to focus on the Sozo movement.
Taken from the website of Bethel Church, Redding,
California, where Sozo is practiced, and sold, touted as a better way to have a life
changing experience with God: (I guess just to be an elected soul with eternity before with our Savior who paid your debt of sin, for you is not enough).
SO, WHAT IS SOZO?
The Sozo ministry is a unique inner healing and deliverance ministry
in which the main aim is to get to the root of those things hindering your
personal connection with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus with a healed
connection with Father, Son and Holy Spirit you can walk in the destiny to
which you have been called.
1.Sozo is an inner
healing/deliverance ministry
2.Sozo is simple, fast, Spirit led
and effective
3.Sozo finds issues in minutes
instead of years
4.Sozo helps heal your relationship
with God to enable you to fulfill your destiny: (Makes me wonder, Jesus did not use, or taught His followers to use such methods, Hmmm!).
Several testimonies are
listed such as:
I have been directly involved with the
SOZO Ministry of Bethel Church for four years. During that time I have
personally benefited from SOZO Ministry and have had the opportunity to hear of
hundreds of testimonies... - Barry Byrne, MFT
I cannot recommend strongly enough the Sozo Ministry...
Having been in youth and young adult
ministry for over 12 years, I cannot recommend strongly enough the Sozo
Ministry coming out of Bethel Church. I have experienced first hand the impact
this ministry has had on not only my own life but many of those I know closely.
When renewal first hit our church... » - Banning Liebscher; Jesus
Culture
Promises made by the Sozo team:
The SOZO ministry is a unique inner healing and deliverance
ministry in which the main aim is to get to the root of those things hindering
your personal connection with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are six
tools that the SOZO team uses:
Father Ladder
Four Doors
Presenting Jesus
The Wall
Trigger Mechanisms (Advanced Tool)
Divine Editing (Advanced Tool)
By using these tools and following the Holy Spirit, wounds
are healed, strongholds broken, truth revealed, and “doors” closed. (I can't find any Scriptural admonition for any of those methods; maybe they are not in Scripture, or a person must twist Scripture to fit their theology).
There is a cost, and these men and women use the admonition
that a worker is worth his hire, and this is true and it is right to support
the one who teaches truth. Teaching the supernatural, and to use Christian
terminology to give credence to a lie is wrong on every level. In fact, Simon
the Magician tried to buy from Peter the ability to do miracles and was rebuked
by Peter and in fact Simon the Magician had to be rebuffed and rebuked because
he became a heretic. Is there a cost: Yes!
Cost:
$750 PER CHURCH GROUP/TEAM (up to five per group)
$150 per person after five
$200 per person not connected to a group
$300 per married couple
There is a 20% cancellation fee.
$150 per person after five
$200 per person not connected to a group
$300 per married couple
There is a 20% cancellation fee.
If the team or person travels to perform some Sozo function
there are additional costs:
We are asking for a fee of $75 for each personal ministry
time during these five time slots on Thursday and Friday.
Travel expenses including lodging and meals, are the
responsibility of the requesting organization or person
OK, I get it! Sounds like a way to make money
by preying on the emotions and needs of those who need Jesus Christ. Not in
some manner that is totally outside of Scripture as those who espouse Sozo and
other theologies that are in error do use Christian terminology, but to paint
their actions in any way, other than by the truth of Scripture, then they are
not doing what God has commanded us to do, that is, to make disciples, to live
our lives according to God’s commandments. Jesus never charged for His
services; in fact His healing was instant and complete yet the Sozo movement
speaks about how to handle those who are not completely healed. What a caveat,
to use other means, means that are not Scriptural, to aid a person in their failure to be instantly healed. I wonder, would they allow
someone(s) to come to their functions free? Would they travel to someone, free?
I doubt this, but Jesus did, the Apostles did, so why not them, why do they
charge? Money!
There
are advanced courses, training so that others may institute Sozo meetings, and
functions, and then the Shabar training that have:
Goal:
To bring knowledge, hope, and wholeness to a “shattered”
individual.
There are 3 different approaches:
1. Using Shabar
techniques with individuals who need aid in other areas
2.Using Shabar
techniques with individuals who are unaware they are shattered
3.Using Shabar
techniques with individuals who know they are shattered
When
a person leaves behind the Doctrines of truth that from the beginning of
Christianity that are the foundations for the lives of Christians, then they
are, in the least, in error, it is false teaching and heresy takes the place
for truth. This is why this study is important because men and women are
mislead into thinking that what they have accepted as truth, is not, it is
error and is displeasing to God. My question is: Why does not the Church that
professes to teach truth address openly these problems, informing their
congregants of the errors that surround them by others who claim to be
“Christian?” Why don’t those who come to know that what they have sat under is
a lie, then why don’t they leave and find a Church that teaches the truth? We
are attacked from all sides, secular and within the Church and we must come to
know the truth according to the Bible, not what a person says the Bible means,
rather to say exactly what the Bible means. To know a problem is to have at
hand the solution. Keep studying, God will bless and use you.
Why are we studying Doctrine? Because Doctrine, true foundational Doctrine is Christianity, and is our guide for life. It takes time and effort, but it is either that or go on living a lie. I don't thing that is what you want, I believe you want your faith and life based on truth.
That He would grant you,
according to the riches
of His glory, to be strengthened
with might through His Spirit
in the inner man, that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through
faith; that you, being rooted and
grounded in love, may be able
to comprehend with all the saints
what is the width and length
and depth and height--to know the
love of Christ which passes knowledge;
that you may be filled with all the
fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19
We have Christ's gift of grace
Richard L. Crumb
No comments:
Post a Comment