But refuse profane and old wives fables,
and exercise thyself rather unto
godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth
little: but godliness is profitable unto
all things, having promise of the life
that now is, and of that which is to come.
this is a faithful saying and worthy of all
acceptance. For therefore we both
labour and suffer reproach, because
we trust in the living God, who is the
Savior of all men, specially of those
that believe. These things command
and teach.
1Timothy 4:7-11
The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. Do you want insight into what Jesus Christ teaches? You can only get it by obedience. It is not wrong to have and use intellect, we are designed and built to use our intellect, and intellectual darkness comes by ignorance and spiritual darkness comes because of something we do not intend to obey. When you receive a word from God you are instantly put to the test over it. We disobey when we do not follow what God has brought to our attention that needs and deserves our action according to God's word. When Jesus Christ brings a thing home to you by His word, don't shrink from it or shirk it. Are you willing to risk it all, being though fanatical? You must obey what God tells you. God's purpose is that you and I are to depend on Him, on His power, now! God's training is for now, not presently. His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. We must come to the realization that obedience is the end, therefore each moment is precious.
The Apostle Peter writes: "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to you faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge" (2Peter 1:5). Peter then adds: "But there were false prophets also among he people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even deny the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" (2Peter 2:1-3).
I shall continue with another heresy that has infected the Church causing delusion among many professing Christians. You may not hear of these heresies but they are present and often under names: i.e., Dominion Doctrine, New Revelation Doctrine, Watchman Doctrine, Second Baptism, Supernatural Doctrine, and more. Here is one that you may not have heard of and yet is present in some Churches and denominations: The Soso Doctrine, or Movement. Soso is the English Word for the Greek word: σώ̣ζω: to save, to deliver, or to protect. Sounds innocent enough, but is it? These new names: i.e., The Emergent Church, the Five Fold Ministries, and more and nothing more than heresy, even more than just liberal Christianity, even though that philosophy is part and parcel of these heresies.
Background is always necessary to be able to understand whether or not a particular doctrine being promoted has Scriptural warrant or not. These New Mystics as they are known are the authors of their heretical views and it is necessary to be warned of them and to be able to avoid them and to understand them, and to defend you faith against them. The Azusa Street Revival may be the beginning in modern times but the 60's, and 70's and the Jesus Movement may be the results of that earlier teaching. Followers of Chuck Smith and John Wimber were leaders and in the forefront of this Movement. Furthermore, if one remembers, the Viet Nam war and the hippies who were and are a confused generation reacted against government and even long established Church Doctrine and this spilled over into the long established denominations. God doses at His Will cause miracles to occur, wrought forth by the Holy Spirit, and yet miracles can be counterfeited convincing those who are not grounded in the Word of god to learn and do these miraculous things by following some method(s) or formulas. They teach that Supernatural gifts can be taught. There is an attack against righteousness which is Satan's method to destroy the works of God (2Corinthians 11:13-15). In time Chuck Smith of the Calvary Chapel separated from John Wimber because he focused on doing things orderly and John Wimber on the Supernatural miracles and what he called: "doing stuff." John Wimber and the Miracles of Toronto, (a study of good importance), aligned with the Vineyard movement where no limitation were put upon any metaphysical manifestations, no matter how unruly. After this so-called outpouring of the Holy Spirit the former hippies grew up with families of their own, should they continue to follow the "old" doctrines of the Church, or, should they continue in the metaphysical experience? One way, as they thought, would lead them to a dead orthodoxy, and the other would lead them to a nerver-ending quest for power.
For Authentic Christians walk a narrow balanced road to keep in Authentic Christian Faith once delivered by inspiration to the Church. These New Mystics do not hold to the final inspiration of the Word of God and look for a new revelation, that is, the Bible is not the finished work of God for His church. These New Mystics do not follow the pattern set forth in God's word and sets forth for Satan to form a guide that tickle peoples ears and hold to a psuedo doctrine about the Holy Spirit.
I will give more in the next blogs so that you can prepare to defend you faith once delivered to the saints.
If my people, which are called
by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek
my face, and turn from their
wicked ways; then will I hear
from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and will heal their land.
2Chronicles 7:14
Turn, today turn, from all heresy
Richard L. Crumb
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