Sunday, January 30, 2011

Deception produces denial

How do we recognize an unhealthy church?
Churches can be ‘spiritually abusive’ with a range of mildly abusive to severe cases of control and manipulation.
Jezebelian pastors resist admission of failure or that such a problem could exist in their church.
In order for a genuine change of heart, pastors must first acknowledge the problem and repent.
In most cases the pastor will focus the blame on others. Those who speak out or leave the church were “not committed” or have “lost their passion!”
Unfortunately, it is often useless to point out the problem of abuse because an unhealthy church lives in a world of denial.  Many of the pastors are deceived therefore so is their members.
Although they may be sincere in their efforts, they may have no idea their leadership style is unhealthy and harmful.
They are usually so narcissistic that they don’t notice the wounds they are inflicting on their members. These types of people often twist Scripture to justify their narcissistic behavior.  Hence, this is the opening door for the Anti-Christ spirit to enter in.
Most people will go along with this behavior because they assume their pastor knows the Bible better than they do, or they don’t want to deal with the retaliation of their anger or they choose to live in denial because it is easier.
NO change is required for a state of denial!
We’ve come back to a lukewarm condition that so many churches are in today.
There is nothing more disgusting or nauseating than ‘tepid’ water. So there is nothing more repugnant to Christ than a ‘tepid’ church.
There is very little warm hearted spirituality in an unhealthy church.  The cause of this ‘lukewarmness’ is self-deception.
This deception enslaves the church in a state of denial whereby the Anti-Christ spirit helps us justify our actions by twisting God’s word to fit our fleshly desires.
Denial makes most of us refuse to believe Rev. 3:17’s description of how Jesus may see us when He said, “….you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
Deception produces denial powered by the Anti-Christ spirit!
This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
   ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand.
   When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.
  For the hearts of these people are hardened,
      and their ears cannot hear,
   and they have closed their eyes—
      so their eyes cannot see,
   and their ears cannot hear,
      and their hearts cannot understand,
   and they cannot turn to me
      and let me heal them.’          Matt. 13:14-15  (NLT)

Praise God for His patience! 
He still loves the Church in this apostate condition.  “As many as I love, I rebuke.”   If the Lord has rebuked you, then be thankful, He loves you.  If the Lord chastens you, be thankful, you are His child and He loves you.

Jesus Loves Me!

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