Apostasy is such a strong word; however at its core it simply means a defection from the faith.
So the first thing we must do is define the term “the faith”. The faith is used repeatedly in the New Testament to reference what we believe. The faith is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Christ’s atoning work on the cross, His burial and subsequent resurrection from the dead is in totality -the Gospel.
The Lord Jesus Christ (being the Second Person of the Thrice Holy God was virgin born) lived a sinless life and accomplished His foreordained purpose....which was to be the sinless substituted sacrifice of which the entirety of the Old Testament spoke of and unmistakably pointed to. On the cross, Jesus said "It is finished" at which time the veil in the temple was torn top to bottom. On the cross the price was paid and God’s justice was thoroughly and unequivocally satisfied. It is of utmost doctrinal importance to understand where and when the price was paid. The work was totally finished at the cross. If one does not believe it was finished at the cross and teaches otherwise, they’re flirting with apostasy.
The Lord Jesus Christ didn’t enter hell and fight demons before His resurrection to secure redemption. Neither was He held by Satan and tortured in hell for three days to pay for our sin. He wasn’t suffering in the torments of the underworld waiting until the Father spoke a word of faith to release Him. These statements are actual teachings concerning where and when Christ paid the price for our sin. They are unscriptural and thus are to be considered false doctrine. The proponents of such teachings are some of the most popular teachers i.e. Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Fredrick K.C. Price, it is called the "Jesus Died Spiritually doctrine" and it is a doctrine of demons. To teach that Jesus Christ needed to do more than the cross is flat out false, it’s heresy. The problem is for twenty years all anyone’s cared about was me, me, me. The itching ears of the people have been satisfied by the strong delusion of false teachers -who appear as angels of light and are transformed right before our eyes into ministers of righteousness. The modern church sells books, vitamins, herbs and spices, food, anointing oil, jewelry, candles, etc. etc. but has virtually abandoned the preaching of the cross.
Our pastors are now "life coaches", our evangelists have become "motivational speakers", and our prophets are nothing more than "entrepreneurs" who’ve gone the way of Balaam. It’s rare to hear full expository preaching on justification, sanctification, atonement, imputed righteousness, and other foundational doctrines in the modern church. Instead you hear it’s time for your harvest, a new level, a higher dimension, greater anointing, prosperity, wealth and to this self help cesspool I say puke, puke, and more puke! These ear candy sermons are a symptom of the apostasy, the outright defection from truth. But, it keeps the ca$h (seed) flowing.
*Are they staying in context?
*Are they promoting a new revelation?
*Are they using scripture to interpret scripture?
If you’re involved in a charismatic/word of faith style church, you already understand that your "submission to the vision and the man of God" trumps all sound judgment and thus ALLOWS you to dismiss all the clear truth -you’ll discover as you pray and study the Bible. In such churches those who question are "Pharisees" or sons of "Korah". In reality those who question are exercising I John 4:1.
I’m NOT advocating questioning whether the pastor should wear a suit or other trivial matters -I’m speaking of looking into the teachings as to whether they’re scripturally accurate or not. Having attended a 12,000+ member charismatic church and graduating from Bible College 16 years ago, I’ve had to examine all I was ever taught. The experience has been freeing to say the least. As you begin to study, just simply keep your faith in Christ and Him crucified.
Your salvation and your everyday living for God isn’t based on your performance and it’s not based on your submission to a vision or a leader -it’s based on Christ and His great love for you. Much of the modern church is adrift in the sea of apostasy and is no longer holding fast to right doctrine. If you’re involved, I encourage you to jump ship and swim to shore.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" 1 Timothy 4:1
GREAT post! I am completely baffled that for so long I was actually blinded to this and sought after these things. Now that I'm out of Cornerstone, it seems so clear. How did I not see it for so long??
ReplyDeletePraise God things are clear for you now! But you are not alone in trying to understand the "how” and “why" of it all. I don't know when you first attended, but cstone use to be a very powerful church. Back in the early 90’s, there were very few churches in the area that had such a vision for diversity, growth, “excellence” and revelatory teaching. It is without debate that the young and charismatic Michael Pitts (along with the church) quickly took off and grew for several years. However, over time it became increasingly ran like a business and developed into a spiritually abusive religious system. I guess it's subtle at first...then you accept...then less subtle...but you learn to justify...then not subtle at all...but hard to make that decision to “walk out the door” due to all the time and devotion invested over the years of your life. BUT GOD...He is faithful and always in control. Keep pressing forward friend!
ReplyDelete"submission to the vision and the man of God"
ReplyDeleteI can still see Michael holding up the spiral notebook. He told us that in that notebook was his vision for the church. It is HIS church. It is HIS vision.
I paid no heed to the fact that HIS meant Michael's and not God's.
The Stone is like any other dysfunctional family. We are blessed to have achieved a healthy detachment to see the dynamics of it all. That, however, does not mean it doesn't hurt like living hell.
Speaking of which, I never heard that Jesus fought demons, was tormented, or what have you, in his three days of Sheol. I learned he released the souls there. They rose with him. The poor towns people must have been scared witless.
The BIBLE verse for the day, you know the BIBLE?
ReplyDeleteJeremiah 23:16: This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
Good post and well said. Jeremiah 5:30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; 31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
ReplyDeleteSounds like MP's apostate is swollen
To Jehu,
ReplyDeleteYes a swollen apostate is a painful thing.
I do believe though that it's exposure may be the fix.
Otherwise, those who love to have it so will be left with not only a swollen apostate, but an entire body that is sick and need of much healing.
The things that are hidden in secret will be brought into the light and then those who sit under the false prophecy will be left to make a choice as to what to believe and will have to seek God's voice for themselves rather than lean on an "anointed" man to hear God for them.