The Elephant in the Room - Part 1
In view of the most recent fall from grace, of yet another celebrity Christian, I have finally, by God’s grace, been able to write:
So, why are so few Christians speaking out in defense of the victims here? Why are so few offering prayers, support and condolences to them and their families? Why are we still partying and “having revival” instead of weeping, mourning and crying out to God, because of the state of the Church? We are all the same Body. Why is it that whenever yet another Christian celebrity, who has ascended beyond the radar of accountability, is caught in grievous sin, the Church as a whole seem to either bury their heads in the sand - or cluster around that celebrity, offering prayer, support and condolences, with NOTHING said about their victims? Caring more about his rehabilitation, only so we can put him back on the platform - that the euphoria and impression of revival will not be interrupted? (Just a honest question) This is akin to how politicians and the super elites of this world behave! (And, of course I am not saying we shouldn’t pray for those who have fallen!) But, do we not realize that the world is looking on here? Do we not see what a terrible reproach is being brought on the Name of Christ because of the mountain of celebrities we have built in the House of God? We are not supposed to look ANYTHING like this world - but more and more, we are mirroring their culture and mentality EXACTLY.
Celebrity after celebrity is falling; and more and more people - some, whistle blowers from within…others, victims of their abuse - are now, through people like Mike Winger, attempting to pull back the curtain of this “Wizard of Oz” charade, that these Christian elites don’t want us to pay any attention to: And yet, in the main branches of media Christianity, they still continue to prop up this house of cards.
{Stop twisting Romans 11:29 out of its original context! We are given clear instructions in the Epistles, as to how, in the Ecclesia, such sin is to be dealt with.}
I speak from experience here: As one who fell victim to the bullying, manipulation and humiliation of “apostles” and “deliverance ministers”…I have watched with my own eyes, as shattered, damaged, broken human beings, searching for answers, end up fleeing the Church - and Christianity - because of so called “deliverance ministry”; I have seen bullying, overbearing and heavy handed tactics…unable to discern the difference between a demon and a person’s soul, they trample all over these precious ones…like stampeding bulls in a china shop! And I have witnessed these same “ministers” close ranks, when I attempted to confront them on this issue. I still grieve over this…
Do we honestly believe that the Lord will return to his Church in this state of hubris, greed and self centeredness..? That any kind of global awakening will happen in the midst of this celebration of idolatry? Because this is what it is. There will be pockets of revival - as there always has been - because the Lord is merciful: But if we think this house of cards, that most of us - including me - have helped to build, will stand through the time of testing that is coming upon this Land, we are deceiving ourselves.
O Lord, how long shall the wicked,
how long shall the wicked exult?
They pour out their arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.
They crush your people, O Lord,
and afflict your heritage.
They kill the widow and the sojourner,
and murder the fatherless;
and they say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
Understand, O dullest of the people!
Fools, when will you be wise?
He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?
He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He who teaches man knowledge—
the Lord—knows the thoughts of man,
that they are but a breath.
It is time to get honest with the Lord; and with each other. It is time to stop trying to “manufacture revival”…time to stop following and supporting these so called pillars of the Church, who are forever promising, yet never producing - except for themselves.
It is time to start honestly and earnestly “humbling ourselves in prayer…seeking his face…turning from our wicked ways (we are almost all guilty of idolatry) …so that, by some chance, the Lord will hear from Heaven - and heal our Land.
Scripture:
“Many people want a seat at the table Jesus would have overturned.” Missionary Spencer Smith.
May God have mercy on us all
{As always, here is a disclaimer: Obviously I am not talking about every charismatic leader, every prophet, healing minister, deliverance minister, singer, musician or everyone who has any kind of media platform. People who know me, will hopefully realize this, at this point. I have many friends who are anointed in healing and deliverance and who glorify the Lord in their work for him: My prayer is that the Lord will use them yet more and more!}
“I simply assert that a simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed more than a pope or council without it.” Martin Luther, Protestant Reformer - from the Leipzig debate, 1519
But we could easily bring this into the present day…because almost the exact same thing is happening: We could assert that anyone: a congressman, teacher, factory or restaurant worker, doctor, nurse, cleaner, care giver, mother, father, etc, who is armed with the accurate version of Scripture, is to be believed more than any so called “apostle” or “prophet” who isn’t. Why do we in our culture, follow so much the words of people - which are constantly evolving, who prophesy ambiguously and after the fact and who are forever moving the goalposts of their own predictions - instead of following the Word of God?
{If these people were truly armed with Scripture, they would understand the ecclesiastical order for the Church, as laid out by Paul and the other Apostles; and adhere to it.}
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
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