

### RED FLAG CHURCHES

Learning to Distinguish Protection from Control

by

Marion Wiley

Red Flag Churches: Learning to Distinguish Protection from Control

Copyright 2012 by Marion Wiley

Smashwords Edition

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Cover Design Copyright 2016 by http://www.viladesign.net  
Digital edition by GoPublished, www.gopublished.com

_Authority, Accountability, and the Apostolic Movement_ by Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. Copyright 2006. Pleasant Word Publishing a Division of Winepress Publishing, Enumclaw, WA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.stevecrosby.org.

_Breaking Unhealthy Soul Ties_ by Bill and Sue Banks. Copyright February 2000. Impact Christian Books (www.impactchristianbooks.com), Kirkwood, MO. Used by permission.

_Charismatic Captivation_ by Steven Lambert, ThD. Copyright 2003. Real Truth Publications, Chapel Hill, NC. Used by permission.

_The Culture of Cults_ by Kip Keith. <http://pastorkip.blogspot.com/2009/10/culture-of-cults.html>. Used by permission.

_Exposing Witchcraft in the Church_ by Rick Godwin. Copyright 1997. Creation House, Lake Mary, FL. Used by permission.

_Jezebel, Seducing Goddess of War_ by Jonas Clark. Copyright 1998, revised 2004. Spirit of Life Publishing, Hallandale Beach, Florida. Used by permission.

_Spiritual Abuse_ by David Henke. <http://www.watchman.org/profile/abusepro.htm>. Used by permission.

_The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse_ by David Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderen. Copyright 1991. Bethany House Publishers, Bloomington, MN. Used by permission.

_Warning Signs of Spiritual Abuse_ by Mike Fehlauer.  http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/biblestudyandtheology/discipleship/spiritual_abuse1.aspx Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.

Scripture quotations marked (GNB) are taken from the Good News Bible Second Edition. Copyright 1992. American Bible Society. Used by permission. www.americanbible.org.

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are taken from the Contemporary English Version copyright 1995. American Bible Society. Used by permission. www.americanbible.org.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The Holy Bible English Standard Version copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

King James Version and Bible in Basic English are public domain.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter One- A Frog in a Pan- The Process of Seduction

The Early Years

The Bait

Tripping the Trap

Gifts vs. Fruit

Blindsided

Chapter Two- History

Mid-century Movements

The Ft. Lauderdale Five

Watchman Nee

The Nicolaitans

Chapter Three- Absolute Authority

Definitions

Who Is in Control?

Control 101- Submission Training

It Takes Two

The Psychological Point of View

Biblical Submission

Chapter Four- Absolute Authority Part Two

Delegate? What's That?

Accountability

Spiritual Covering Doctrine, Mediators and Another Gospel

Red Flag Number One

Chapter Five- Religion, the Stumbling Block

Acceptance by Performance

Having Begun in the Spirit, Are You Now Made Perfect by the Flesh?

The Wide Gate

Who Hath Bewitched You?

The Stumbling Block of Works

Red Flag Number Two

Chapter Six- Idolatry- Worshiping Men and Money

Apostle?

Titles

The Set Man and HIS Vision

Promotion by Loyalty

Loyalty or Idolatry?

Covetousness Which Is Idolatry

Idolatry Defined

The End of Idolatry

Red Flag Number Three

Chapter Seven- Secrecy

Information Control

The Code of Silence

Red Flag Number Four

Chapter Eight- Mind Numbed Robots

First Church of the Brain-Dead

Drunk on Power

The True Rest- the Holy Spirit

Red Flag Number Five

Chapter Nine- Is It a Cult?

Cult Defined

Heresy, Sects and Division

Seduced by Jezebel

Seduction through "Love"

Jezebel- the Quintessential Controller

The Depths of Satan

Seduction Exposed

Chapter Ten- Seek My Face

What You Don't Know Can Destroy You

Abide in the Vine

The Laodicean Church

Clue Phone

Chapter Eleven – Learning to Test the Spirits

The Love Walk

Love of the World

The Antichrist Test

Peace- the Final Test

A Church of Peace

The Fruit of God's Righteousness Is Peace

Peace Is Our Protection

God's Covenant of Peace

Simple No More

Chapter Twelve- Conclusion: The Diagnosis and the Decision

Checklist of Characteristics

Heart Motives

Making the Decision to Leave

The Bottom Line

Endnotes

Appendix

Bibliography

" _Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people."_

– _Isaiah 57:14 KJV_

INTRODUCTION

Except the Lord build the house,  
they labour in vain that build it. Psa. 127:1 KJV

My church experience over the past thirty plus years has been an education if nothing else, having attended several different denominational churches as well as a couple non-denominational ones. After quite a few years of various churches and corresponding messes, you learn that in most of them people are just simply doing the best they know to do. No church is perfect and no church is run just the way you think it should be, so I learned over the years to accept the fact that my notion of how things should be done will never agree with anyone else. Beyond that, I learned that problems are inevitable, given the fact that churches are full of people, and people make mistakes.

But as it turned out, those other churches absolutely pale in comparison to the last mess I attended, and you could not have convinced me it was a mess for years. I stayed in there for 12 years, mostly because I was sick of church hopping, but also because I continually thought that things would change because I considered the pastor to be a nice guy with the best of intentions. Once out, it became patently obvious that the church was way over the edge in respect to its teachings and seemed also to be heading into full-fledged cult status. I have learned since leaving that this church had fallen victim to a deception that is quite common in American full-gospel churches, one that results in a church that practices what is now referred to as spiritual abuse. But at the time, I just continued to make excuses for the leadership and tried to stay, hoping for better things in the future which simply never materialized.

Abusive churches are never obvious. Such churches have a very slick veneer of spirituality that subtly deceives those who attend into thinking they are in a solid fellowship while leaving them with a vague sense that something is wrong. The truth doesn't really become apparent until a person has been attending for awhile and begins to see what goes on beneath the surface of what's falsely presented. Scripture is twisted to meet the requirements of the assumed authority of the leadership, but just enough truth is preached to keep people hooked. The doctrines promoted in these churches place huge stumbling blocks in the paths of those earnestly seeking the truth, deceptive doctrines that essentially lure people into seeking the honor of men rather than the honor of God, and therein lays the snare.

The spirits that operate in these churches succeed in building such strongholds in the minds of the people being subjected to their teachings and influences there that the situation makes it nearly impossible for some to consider leaving. Controlling spirits are the same in church and out, and a similar scenario is seen existing in an abusive household where an abused wife refuses to leave. Even if she does manage to leave, the draw back into that environment can be very strong and may take a great deal of time to overcome.

When I first began to look into this concept of spiritual abuse, I really didn't think that "abuse" would be an appropriate term; it just seemed too harsh. The term "cult" was another I kept running across and at first just dismissed from my thinking for the same reason. I also balked at labeling the leadership of these churches as false apostles and false prophets, mostly because God knows their true anointings and God is the only one that really knows their hearts. As Steven Lambert, author of _Charismatic Captivation_ put it, the problem with being deceived is that you are deceived. [1] Nevertheless, when you begin to step back and really look at how these churches are run and why, the labels seem to fit.

The particular church that I had attended was being run according to the tenets of the shepherding/discipleship form of church government, something I discovered in my research after leaving. This is a system that is a complete perversion of what God intends for His Church, and a system that seems to be very pervasive in the body of Christ right now. In the following pages, I will try to explain how these churches are run, why the leadership falls into the deception themselves, and the process of seduction that draws in others. The gravity of the deception is huge, and the weight of it hit me not long after leaving the place, thereby driving my attempt to present my own version of what I have experienced. After spending all those years in a church that seemed to slowly go downhill and left me dreading the thought of another Sunday, it became important to me to share what I've since found out about this controlling form of church government. My motive is not to judge but to inform by presenting what I have found, thus equipping the reader to judge the fruit of his/her own church and make an informed decision from there.

Previous to attending services at this place, I had for several years amassed a tremendous amount of notes consisting of scriptures describing false prophets, false shepherds, false apostles and related verses that warn the believer about deception in the last days. At the time, I really didn't understand why I was so drawn to these passages, but now that I've experienced the operation of this deception first-hand, it's pretty obvious. All those notes I'd taken all those years ago now make sense to me.

False Christs (Messiahs) and false prophets will arise and show signs and [work] miracles to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (those God has chosen out for Himself). 23 But look to yourselves and be on your guard; I have told you everything beforehand. Mark 13:22-23 AMP

There are discourses with warnings about false prophets and false shepherds throughout the books of the prophets, and the New Testament is replete with them as well. After experiencing an abusive church, these verses tend to leap off the page with new meaning. For example, Jeremiah 23 is a chapter devoted to exposing false shepherds and false prophets with one verse in particular- verse 20- grabbing my attention: "In the latter days, you shall consider and understand it perfectly" (AMP). My understanding may not be perfect by any means, but it surely is much better than it was 12 years ago. But out of all those Bible verses that the Lord brought to my attention over the years, there is one verse in particular, the verse quoted at the beginning of this book, that has been literally in my face all this time:

Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people. Isa. 57:14 KJV

I felt like this verse was something God had given me as a mission, so to speak, but didn't understand what it really meant or how to go about removing stumbling blocks. Once I really began to get a handle on the kind of church I'd just left and how the deception works, this verse began to speak to my spirit fully. This book is at least one way I can help fulfill this verse; by making my experience available to others, I can help bring light into someone else's darkness that may be caught up in this deception.

Much of my information was taken from three books- _The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse_ by David Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderen, _Authority, Accountability and the Apostolic Movement_ by Stephen Crosby, and _Charismatic Captivation_ by Steven Lambert, ThD. I highly recommend all these books to get an in-depth explanation of what the shepherding/discipleship form of church government is and why it is unbiblical. They all go into great detail in terms of Greek word studies and such, dissecting doctrine according to the Word to fully expose the error these churches promote. A couple of these books, due to the fact that they are rather complicated and long, may not be something your average person would either be able to or care to work through. So I have chosen to present my experience and what I've learned from these books in a simpler, easier-to-read version that will give the reader a quicker overview of how this deception can play out in abusive churches and what it does to your mind.

Quite a few of the phrases and expressions that are used in articles and books on spiritual abuse will appear in this one; where they came from originally I'm not sure, but all my references are listed in the bibliography at the end and there are footnotes for all direct quotes. There is an appendix at the end with several lists of scriptures including one on false apostles, false prophets, false teachers, and other scriptures exhorting the believer to beware of deception in the last days. Bible references are from the King James Version (KJV), Amplified (AMP), Good News Bible (GNB), Contemporary English Version (CEV) and English Standard Version (ESV).

The Truth will make you free.  
John 8:32 KJV

CHAPTER ONE

A FROG IN A PAN- THE PROCESS OF SEDUCTION

Deception is sneaky because it has to be. It works on you gradually, a little at a time so that you don't argue too much about each small step that takes you more deeply into it. Trust has to be built first in order to snare the unsuspecting victim into the trap, then the ground rules are laid that will dictate how things will be done. Assuming the people continue to trust the leadership and truly believe they hear from God and have the right motives, the process begins, pulling people more and more deeply into a controlled environment. It's a process of seduction, a process that gradually pulls you away from independent thinking and dependence on God, and into dependence on someone else by luring you into a relationship that you are assured is for your protection.

**The Early Years**

Within the parade of churches I attended throughout the preceding twenty years or so, one of the issues I continually ran into involved the way in which people are anointed. Three of these churches I attended were led by, technically speaking, five-fold ministry gift teachers as opposed to those who are specifically gifted as pastors. Tradition dictates that the head person be called "pastor", but that doesn't necessarily mean that he/she is gifted as such. Any information I found on the five-fold ministry tended to lump together both the pastor and teacher anointings as being pretty much the same thing, while, as time passed, experience was teaching me otherwise.

Several years of confusion on my part with that issue was finally resolved when I found a tape series called _Apostolic Church Government_ by Rick Godwin and Dennis Davis (apparently not available anymore) that went into detail on the differences in all of the five-fold ministry gifts. Teachers primarily ground the church body in the Word of God while pastors primarily guard sheep. This explained a lot of the church messes I experienced early on as these churches themselves always had excellent teaching from the pulpit, but the "people problems" abounded because teachers simply don't have the anointing or grace to guard their sheep and, as one pastor put it, put out fires. They didn't have the gifting or the desire to deal with "people problems"; they wanted to bury themselves in the Word all week then bring to the congregation what God had shown them in a five-point sermon.

Personnel problems abounded in these churches, so the first twenty-plus years of my church life consisted of jumping from one church to another. These churches all had pastors that were actually teachers who were very good at teaching and frankly did a great job of grounding us in the Word, but just didn't understand how to deal with the problems that arise whenever there are more than two people in a room. The issues that resulted from this kind of leadership weren't just insignificant ones; a couple of them actually were problems that could not be brushed off and one in particular contributed to a church split. Another, if the problem had been dealt with, should have led to a split, but it was swept under the rug instead specifically to keep that from happening.

By the time I left that church and started attending this last one, I was burned out, hurt, wounded, and practically desperate for a stable, sound place of worship which is precisely what made me so gullible. Being naive anyway and preferring to assume the best of everyone led to my falling for deception very readily. So when we found out that this new church was starting up in the area, a group of us having similar church backgrounds all showed up with high hopes.

**The Bait**

For us, part of the premise upon which our trust was built was the assertion that the church was a safe environment. They claimed they had been sent out by their home church in another state which theoretically made this new church one that was founded correctly, and not on a church split. This became one of the factors used to condemn other churches later, but in the beginning, the safe environment pitch was very appealing for me simply because of my church history up until then, and, moreover, because this one sounded like it held so much promise. We were acquainted with this pastor from previous meetings that he had held in the area and knew that he preached the Word. With that experience in mind, we felt secure in going to this newly-founded church, hoping that we'd found one that would be run correctly and would allow the Holy Spirit to minister according to the will of God.

The other part of the basic premise that drew us into this place initially was that they claimed to be accountable to their home pastor thus making them legitimate authorities for us to submit to. This is a principle taken directly from their handbook on how to run an authoritarian church- _Spiritual Authority_ by Watchman Nee. According to Nee, you must be submitted to authority to have authority; therefore because they claimed to be submitted to their home pastor, we in turn could safely submit to them as our pastors. Then with that submission we would eventually be qualified to have authority ourselves- theoretically.

A two-pronged hook existed on the package that served to keep us in that church for a long time, the first being the way the gifts of the Spirit seemed to move through the leadership. We were quite impressed with their spirituality, thus beginning the process of seduction. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance (Rom. 11:29), so the gifts were probably legitimate to start with, but when heart motives become corrupted, so do the gifts. In looking for another word for "impressed", I found all these synonyms in the thesaurus: beguiled, bewitched, enchanted, fascinated, intoxicated and seduced. All these words very effectively describe what was happening to us. The operation of the gifts of the Spirit was one of the lures that served to pull us in and keep us in there, and this became one of the justifications I used for staying, as well as a reason to make excuses for all the things that I knew were wrong.

The second prong of the hook was that they did preach truth from the Word regularly. This was my main rationalization for staying there and putting up with the rest of the problems for so long. Add to the mix the fact that the pastor was a "nice guy" and truly seemed sincere in his efforts, and it became very easy to justify staying. But as with spiritual gifts, when heart motives get out of whack, so does the preaching. Even though the Word was being preached, it was compromised because of corrupted motives, though we were oblivious to this for years. So with our checkered church history, the trust already built between the pastor and us, with the Word preached and the gifts flowing, and finally the premise that the church was a "safe" one, the trap was set.

**Tripping the Trap**

We were introduced to the ground rules almost immediately. Rule number one- thou shalt submit to leadership authority in all things. This was our first exposure to the tenets of the shepherding/discipleship form of church government, though at the time, none of us had any clue about this concept. It was well after leaving 12 long years later that we began to understand any of this. Submission to authority was drilled home constantly by means of sermons with the favorite theme of the church soon becoming "Don't cross me". Then there were what they called "leadership training" classes that required going through Watchman Nee's book, _Spiritual Authority_ and included three hours of videos that further reinforced the indoctrination into blind submission to authority. All of this will be covered in more detail later.

This training in submission and obedience left members with the fear that something horrible would happen if they challenged the leadership in any way, specifically, fear of saying anything against them, and fear of doing anything without their express approval. Obviously, an atmosphere of fear is not of God, but at the time, we honestly didn't recognize all this as fear; we were conforming to the required mold for the privilege of being a part of a "safe" church.

The other primary ground rule was that nothing was to be spoken against leadership. Ever. To say anything against them or to question anything they did was essentially questioning God and completely unacceptable. You did not talk about them or how they did things to anyone else and you surely never crossed them or you would be labeled "rebellious". This rule of silence and secrecy will also be dealt with in a later chapter.

Next came the introduction to their works program, required performance to gain their approval, though the push to attend every service and serve in the church was a gradual one. When we first started going there, they made it clear that our priorities should be God first, then your family, then the church on down the list somewhere. But over time those priorities shifted drastically to where church became the required number one priority in our lives. It got to the point that those who didn't attend and participate to the extent demanded would be ignored and made to feel inadequate to serve God on any level. Loyalty became suspect if you did not conform fully to their expectations.

**Gifts vs Fruit**

I made the mistake of not testing the spirits. As I said, I was duly impressed by the so-called gifts operating through these people, being essentially bewitched and seduced by the spiritual show. I unfortunately forgot for years the warning Jesus gave that we would know false prophets by their fruit, not by their gifts:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Mat. 7:15-23 KJV

We should have tested the spirits, and looked at the fruit much more closely. Obviously, the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, etc.- is the first and primary test; and in this place, there was a blatant lack of gentleness, kindness and meekness on the part of those in leadership. We all knew better than to challenge them; people had been maligned in so doing, and that's bad fruit, no matter how you look at it. There is never an excuse for treating people like dirt. This way of dealing with people should have been a huge red flag by itself, apart from any other concerns.

As well as looking for the fruit of the Spirit, I began to notice years into the ordeal that the fruit of the ministry began to suffer. As increasing numbers of people left the church, it became more closed and self-absorbed, demonstrating no community outreach in any capacity as far as I could determine. It appeared to be evolving ever more closely to truly becoming a cult when I finally left.

Another angle on fruit inspection involves looking at how the church affects the members. The place left me thoroughly frustrated while growing angrier and angrier with each passing week. Why I ignored all of this is beyond my comprehension because my own fruit was suffering greatly by staying there. In contrast, a healthy church will promote good fruit by leaving its members lifted up, encouraged, and more hopeful and joyful than when they first came in. This was most definitely not the case for many of us in this church.

**Blindsided**

My mistake was in ignoring the still, small voice that would bug me, telling me something was wrong. The leadership always had a way of justifying their interpretation of scriptures, their actions and their demands for submission. Their justification for this way of running the church continued to seem so reasonable and so very logical, consistently claiming that everything was for our protection. If they hadn't done such a successful job of convincing the congregation that the church was "safe", I doubt that many of us would have endured such a negative environment for as long as we did. Consequently, we became the proverbial frog in the pan; while we were slowly cooking for years, we had no idea what hit us. I just praise God for His grace in opening our eyes and in bringing us out with much more wisdom than when we went in all those years before.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  
Mat. 7:20 KJV

CHAPTER TWO

HISTORY OF THE DECEPTION

Understanding the origins of the shepherding/discipleship system of church government sheds light on the true nature of the beast and helps in understanding how corrupt it actually is. A large part of this information is taken from the book _Charismatic Captivation_ by Stephen Lambert, along with several websites I found on the subject; this is a very abbreviated version of what I have read. References are located at the back of the book if you're interested in following up on any of this.

**Mid-Century Movements**

The beginnings of this in recent years started about mid-twentieth century. If you're old enough, you'll remember the hippie movement of the 60's. This was a trend wherein young people rejected the "establishment" and embraced a lifestyle that involved a great deal of recreational drugs and so-called "free love" along with protests against the Viet Nam War, and involvement with civil rights. When the toll from this lifestyle became evident, many turned to Jesus which led to the Jesus Movement that continued on into the 70's. Communal living was typical with the groups that sprang up during this time attempting to duplicate what they perceived as a New Testament style of living.

Along with the Jesus Movement, the charismatic movement also had its beginnings at around the same time, a movement that centered around the manifestation of spiritual gifts. Technically, the charismatic renewal began at the turn of the century with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a group of believers in Topeka, Kansas, an event that triggered the Pentecostal Movement. By the 50's, this movement had gained acceptance in most denominations, including the Catholic church. As the hippie movement developed into the Jesus Movement, the charismatic renewal swept through and gained a great deal of momentum into the 70's, giving rise to a number of Christian groups that were characterized by a free style of worship, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, the key word here being "free". I would assume that the leanings of those years toward an anti-establishment mentality promoted church gatherings with little structure and little semblance to traditional denominational church services.

This new movement was spontaneous, independent and free-flowing for quite awhile. But not too long into its development, a group of men decided they needed to commandeer and organize the movement on the premise that organization would establish it and protect it from dwindling and fading from the scene. This is what began the slide down the slippery slope of vain imaginations and the wisdom of men.

**The Ft. Lauderdale Five**

Overbearing, controlling leadership eventually became a key feature of many of the communal-style groups of Jesus people as well as groups in the Charismatic Movement. The self-proclaimed leaders of these groups exercised a very authoritarian form of leadership that often extended into the participants' personal lives. I am uncertain to what degree overlapping existed between the Jesus, Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, but since they were going on at the same time it seems logical to assume they intermingled and affected one another.

Originally there were five men who put their heads together and worked out a plan to organize and structure the Charismatic groups that were formed during this time. The intentions may have been good, but in implementation, they became toxic. Several men that some refer to as the Ft. Lauderdale Five decided to set themselves up as the ultimate authority of these new churches and out of their seminars came what is now known as the shepherding/discipleship movement which promotes extreme submission to authority in a pyramid, chain-of-command-type format. There was additional influence by Juan Carlos Ortiz from Argentina who also promoted hierarchical authority structure for churches.

The premise is that everyone is accountable to someone else in a pyramid fashion with the poor, unenlightened and unlearned dumb sheep at the bottom of the pile, and of course, the Ft. Lauderdale Five at the top. In theory, these five were accountable to one another; church pastors were to be under them, associate pastors under them, cell group leaders under them, etc., each level thus being accountable to the one over it. The whole spiritual covering doctrine came out of this, the doctrine that essentially sets up the pastor or apostle of a church as the mediator between God and the people under him/her. I believe it could be stated that the shepherding/discipleship movement came out of a merging of ideas from Watchman Nee, Juan Carlos Ortiz and the Ft. Lauderdale Five, but this is just my speculation.

The emphasis that came out of this attempt to structure the charismatic renewal was on discipleship, which, itself is biblical. But "discipleship" took on a whole new meaning in the context of this movement. Under the guise of shepherding the flock, practices were employed that were very invasive of privacy. Those being discipled were required to consult with their shepherd regarding everything including issues in their personal lives. Out of this came the concept of "spiritual fathers" and "spiritual mothers" along with the whole "mentoring" principle. There may be a positive side to these ideas, but in the shepherding/discipleship context, they become perverted and a method of control. Complete, unquestioned submission to the authority of the shepherd is the doctrine of this movement in a nutshell, a doctrine that essentially promotes idolatry.

The Fort Lauderdale Five formed an organization called Christian Growth Ministries and published a magazine called New Wine, along with books, tapes, etc. The fallout from their teaching resulted in the original five men eventually distancing themselves from the controversy that ensued, but the damage had already been done. The purpose here is not to trash the Charismatic or Pentecostal Movements at all. The purpose in stating these facts is only to expose the abuses that resulted from the attempt to organize and structure them. Even though this movement has been thoroughly discredited for years, the principles have very tenaciously lived on and have gained much ground again in many churches. Generally found in non-denominational churches, these teachings are beginning to be found in denominational ones as well, damaging many unsuspecting souls.

**Watchman Nee**

In the church I attended, leadership training was a requirement for any kind of position in the church. That training was based on a book by Watchman Nee called _Spiritual Authority_. According to Nee, to have authority you must submit to authority and this is the whole basis for the submission to authority doctrine that was promoted in that church. Once I left the church and started doing online searches for more information, I found a website by Charles Fowler that explains how Nee was a minister in the Far East and was influenced by Confucianism (or "Confusionism", as he puts it). He says:

_Watchman Nee learned this concept of delegated authority from the ethics of Confucianism. Confucius taught that parents should always be obeyed, that they were never wrong, but if they were they should still be obeyed. In Confucianism (Charismatic Confusionism) loyalty is one of the greatest virtues and can lead to the blind loyalty described in Nee's teachings. Let me quote Frank Viola from "Who is Your Covering"- "Spiritual Authority" is one of the most abused pieces of literature ever to be written in this century. Virtually every recent authoritarian movement has gotten mileage out of this book to support the heavy handed leadership. While the book does contain some precious insights, its weaknesses render it dangerous in the wrong hands. Regrettably, Nee's book blurs the distinction between the Old and New Testament concept of authority and fails to distinguish between the way it works among dignitaries versus the church. In Nee's defense, this book was never intended for a general audience. It is merely a transcription of messages that he gave to his apostolic co-workers in China. — Frank Viola_ [1]

Fowler is careful to state that Watchman Nee was doing what he knew to do and no doubt is in heaven today, but that his teachings have taken on a status that has become dangerous. This book has become the handbook and license for authoritarian leadership to run over people with impunity. Interesting, isn't it, that the basis for authoritarian leadership comes from a book written years ago by a Chinese leader and author and not from the Word of God?

**The Nicolaitans**

Yet you have this [in your favor and to your credit]: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans [what they are doing as corrupters of the people], which I Myself also detest . . . You also have some who in a similar way are clinging to the teaching of the Nicolaitans [those corrupters of the people] which thing I hate. Rev. 2:6,10 AMP

This type of authority structure can be traced as far back as the Nicolaitans, a group denounced by Jesus in the Book of Revelation. The meaning of the word "Nicolaitan" is literally "to conquer or to lord it over the laity". [2] This is a description of leadership that sets itself as lords over God's people, the pyramid, chain-of-command type structure of authority that was introduced into the church in the first century. Because it was allowed to spread, it gave rise to the system of church government used in the Catholic church today, a system that took the church into the Dark Ages for hundreds of years.

The parallels between the Nicolaitan practices and the shepherding/discipleship form of church government are clear in that both promote an elite class of leaders that lord it over the laity. This heretical false teaching has never been truly eradicated, the deception still being played out in churches across this country.

In looking at Revelation 2 in the letter to the church at Ephesus, we learn that those believers were on their toes. They recognized the heresy and did not accept it. The interesting part of this story is that they rejected the people that came to them claiming to be apostles, while trying to entangle them in their Nicolaitan teachings. They recognized them as false apostles and were not deceived.

In Matthew 23, Jesus denounces the scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, those spiritual leaders of the day who loved the places of honor, who devoured widow's houses, and who looked so very spiritual on the outside but inside were full of extortion and excess. Jesus calls those leaders blind no less than five times and calls them fools twice.

The perverted spiritual leadership structure of that day is no different than what we are seeing today, with leadership lording it over God's heritage for its own benefit. This doctrine is truly a doctrine of demons. It has been the same doctrine for centuries, the same teachings that have deceived countless believers throughout the history of the Church. In all the reading I have done, it has amazed me that the characteristics of these churches are all the same; they all use the same catch-phrases, the same leadership structures, they all have the same perverted characteristics, all because it's all the same heresy and all the same demonic doctrine. There is truly nothing new under the sun. These are the deeds and the teachings of the Nicolaitans, and God hates it.

And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? Luke 6:39 KJV

CHAPTER THREE

ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 3:10-11 KJV

To establish a church with an authoritarian system of leadership, there has to be a very convincing sales pitch to draw people in. Many of us were what I considered seasoned Christians, born again and Spirit-filled for years before making the decision to join, but most of us were coming out of other church messes that served to make us prime targets. They saw hurting, wounded people that would be easy to control and dominate, and we saw a church that on the surface looked very appealing because it was supposed to be a safe environment. When I first left this church, I really didn't understand that the place merely presented the illusion of freedom and peace. It was an online article by Mike Fehlauer that began to open our eyes to what was really going on in the spirit. A piece of that article had been sent to a friend, and an online search turned up the entire text. Here's the first quote we saw:

_When we pursue the honor of men, we do so at the expense of our relationship with God. If we continue to do so, gradually men will take the place of God in our lives. An unhealthy soul tie is created, and our sense of confidence is determined by our standing with those in leadership. This kind of control will destroy people spiritually!_ [1]

For me, this summed up the situation and began to bring light into my thinking. What really jarred me, though, was the title of the article- _The Warning Signs of Spiritual Abuse_. Spiritual abuse? Was it really that bad? Unfortunately, it was. As I began to read more and more about the subject, and as more and more stories began to surface about things that transpired there, it became painfully clear that the church was indeed an abusive one.

**Definitions**

I thought it would be helpful to submit a couple definitions of spiritual abuse; the first one I found online in an article written by David Henke:

_Spiritual abuse is the misuse of a position of power, leadership, or influence to further the selfish interests of someone other than the individual who needs help. Sometimes abuse arises out of a doctrinal position. At other times it occurs because of legitimate personal needs of a leader that are being met by illegitimate means. Spiritually abusive religious systems are sometimes described as legalistic, mind controlling, religiously addictive, and authoritarian._ [2]

The second one is from the book _The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse_ :

_Spiritual abuse is the mistreatment of a person who is in need of help, support or greater spiritual empowerment, with the result of weakening, undermining or decreasing that person's spiritual empowerment . . . Spiritual abuse can occur when a leader uses his or her spiritual position to control or dominate another person . . . Spiritual abuse can also occur when spirituality is used to make others live up to a 'spiritual standard.' This promotes external "spiritual performance," also without regard to an individual's actual well-being, or is used as a means of 'proving' a person's spirituality._ [3]

Spiritual abuse occurs when the people in leadership have unresolved problems from their past and attempt to get their fulfillment through the control of those who submit to their authority. With dysfunctional people at the helm and a church-load of needy people, abuse is inevitable.

**Who Is in Control?**

Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Col. 1:12-13 AMP

Walking in darkness leaves you walking under the influence of control- controlled by the devil, and often also controlled by other people. Only by walking in the light can a person be free from demonic control. The move of the devil from the beginning has been to control the earth and control man. His wish is to be the supreme dictator, the ultimate controller of creation. And so in every move he makes to gain authority, it is by control. He will move to control people through other people to usurp legitimate authority, the authority ordained by God in the earth.

One of the techniques the devil uses to exert control is through the use of ungodly soul-ties, personal relationships in which one person dominates another. Bill and Sue Banks authored a book called _Breaking Unhealthy Soul-Ties_ in which the concept is thoroughly explained. This is their definition:

_A soul-tie is a cleaving together, a relationship whereby two souls are joined or knitted together, and in a sense become as one . . . Thus, to be linked to another person by means of a soul-tie, is to cling to or be closely attached to that person. It is as if one were stuck or glued to them, as being lovingly devoted to someone._ [4]

Our primary healthy soul-tie is to be with God. We were created with that need in our souls for a tie to our Maker, so this is the primary soul-tie everyone should have. Then there are several scriptures that refer to Christians being knit together, demonstrating God's intention for healthy soul-ties between believers. As Banks explains, God-ordained soul-ties are characterized by a mutual expression of love between the parties. Of course, marriage produces healthy, godly soul-ties in families, and the kinds of relationships we all have with good friends could also be considered healthy ties.

But when relationships become corrupted, they become a very one-way situation in which one person dominates another. It is through corrupted soul-ties that the devil uses his influence to gain control through people dominating others. These ungodly soul-ties, if allowed to run unchecked, can take over the victim's life by entangling him in a web of guilt, self-condemnation, false responsibility and emotions that work to drain the life out of him. These ties are formed when one person seeks to dominate another to get his emotional, psychological needs met.

In our everyday lives, our battles will often revolve around dealing with control issues. In a church context, the devil will lead hurt, wounded people (or just very gullible believers) into a relationship with controlling leadership, pulling them into a master/slave mentality that serves to meet the psychological needs of the leadership. The soul-ties formed in this kind of environment enslave people to the leaders, creating a sense of obligation to them so that pulling away becomes a major battle. The way these churches are set up lend themselves very readily to the formation of ungodly soul-ties, relationships that are very one-way with the "controllee" at the mercy of the controllers, and the possibility of leaving greatly hindered.

However, in order to be controlled, you have to first be seduced, and it's the seduction that serves to anesthetize and blind the victim to the process. Jesus died to give us freedom from the control of the devil, but if we are not aware of the devil's tactics, we can become prey very easily. Learning to first recognize that control is indeed an issue, then learning to deal with it requires basic human skills that must be mastered in order to live free as Jesus intended.

**Control 101- Submission Training**

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Php. 2:3 KJV

The first thing we were hit with when we started attending this church was indoctrination into submission to authority. They preached it constantly and what they called "leadership training" classes, classes simply reinforcing all of that same preaching, were mandatory for anyone wanting any kind of position in the church. Basically they train you to believe that the leadership has full, unquestioned authority over everything that goes on in the name of that church. No one challenges anything; to do so is completely unacceptable and the equivalent of questioning God.

Doing anything without express permission was to offer "strange fire," a reference to an Old Testament story in Leviticus ten about two sons of Aaron that disobeyed and were consumed by fire from the Lord. This was a very "in-your-face" illustration to bring home the fact that no one did anything there without express permission. A couple more scriptures used to enforce this authority over the people were from Numbers chapters 12 and 16, the stories of Korah and Miriam and their challenges to Moses' authority. There were constant references to these scriptures, instilling the belief that if you spoke anything against the leadership, the ground might swallow you up like Korah or you could contract leprosy like Miriam. This method of church government is based on Old Testament theology, a system in which the people of God would go back under the curse of the law if they were disobedient. Most of the preaching was taken from the Old Testament with the express intent of reinforcing the threat of the curse if the congregation wasn't completely submissive to their authority.

There was absolutely no question that nothing was to be spoken in opposition to anything the leaders did. The "R" word was regularly invoked- questioning leadership made you "rebellious" and thus in danger of attack by Satan. If you leave the church without permission you are in rebellion. If you even visit other services or events without permission, you are in rebellion. If you talk about the leadership critically, you are in rebellion; but of course, this is all for your protection. This whole package of submission to authority became the source of fear instead of faith. When people are manipulated, intimidated and dominated by this kind of preaching, fear becomes the motivating factor, undermining faith as it pulls people into bondage.

The leadership occasionally made reference to a catch-phrase which is apparently often used in these types of churches- the "two-headed monster". They claimed that they were to be the only legitimate authority in the church, the "two-headed monster" being any church run by more than one "head". This was just another tactic to justify their claim to full, unquestioned authority. Scripturally speaking, since Jesus is the true Head of the Church, this kind of authoritarian leadership actually becomes the real two-headed monster with men taking the position of second head over other believers.

One of the mind-bending twists in this whole process was that the pastor would admit regularly that yes, he was controlling, but it was for our good. And he was so incredibly sincere about what he said that we bought his reasoning for years. This attitude was all part of the whole "dumb sheep" concept also foisted onto the congregation regularly which implied that each individual was too stupid to know how to run his/her own life and, subsequently, desperately needed their oversight to keep from falling into evil. In other words, they needed to be controlling for our protection.

**It Takes Two**

As I was working on this chapter, the Lord gave me the following:

Assumed authority would rob people of their relationship with Me. It teaches and promotes a spirit of laziness in the people, a spirit that works in minds to bring those that submit to it into a stupor, a dumb, irresponsible mindset that allows the devil to rob them of their rewards they could have had from Me. It is truly a seducing spirit that causes My people to err.

America has taken on an attitude of irresponsibility. People want to blame someone else for their problems and pass the buck. Authoritarian leadership plays into this mindset by allowing its victims to sit in services year after year like the dumb sheep they are continually told they are, waiting to be spoon-fed and never growing up. I have heard the sheep analogy for years and that accomplishes nothing but reinforcing the lie of the devil proposing that we are too stupid to do anything for ourselves. Once we have received Jesus into our lives, we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16), and we can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Php. 4:13). But if we choose to be lazy, expecting the controllers in charge of our church to do it all and take responsibility for us, they will be happy to oblige. This leads directly into the psychological reasons behind this kind of behavior.

**The Psychological Point of View**

This system of church government is the spiritual expression of the psychological phenomenon that has become known as codependence, a behavior that takes two- the controller who is someone who has an unhealthy dependence on someone else, needing to be needed, and the enabler or the co-dependent, the one who allows it, becoming mentally dependent on the controller for whatever reason.

In the authoritarian church structure, the analogy is obvious- the controlling leadership more than likely has psychological issues creating their need to be needed, so they create a structure that demands dependence on them. Then you have the hurt, wounded Christians looking for a protected environment, and are more than happy to submit to the controlling leadership. The first issue becomes recognizing that the place is indeed controlling and abusive. In a home with a substance abuser, the control is obvious, but in a church the control is masked as protection and becomes harder to discern.

It seems to be general consensus that these leaders often were abused one way or another, so they gravitate toward controlling others as a psychological mechanism to deal with the hurt that was never healed. As Joyce Meyer has often stated, "hurting people hurt people." The resulting psychological behaviors are expressed through controlling leadership that demands submission, obedience and dependence on the leaders to ensure their followers' spiritual growth. People that end up in such churches are often hurt and wounded themselves so the system becomes self-perpetuating. These leaders will train up others with similar psychological issues to take leadership positions in satellite churches later on, just multiplying the mess. Stephen Crosby, in _Authority, Accountability and the Apostolic Movement_ , states:

_A leader's unresolved psychological issues of insecurity or control, or personality flaws add a toxic quality to what otherwise may be legitimate material. The toxicity flows from pulpit to pew . . . If damage exists in both pulpit and pew, there is no flow- just a toxic, religious swamp with everybody scrambling for psychological survival._ [5]

The entire book, _The_ _Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse_ , is written from this point of view; the co-author, Jeff Van Vonderen, is a counselor and contributes insight into the psychological aspects of abusive leadership throughout the book. The book _Codependent No More_ by Melody Beattie is the ultimate text for information on the whole concept of codependence; she goes into a thorough explanation of the behaviors that exist on both sides- both the controller and the controllee, mostly dealing with people involved with substance abuse. Another book that deals with the phenomenon of addiction to religion is _Toxic Faith_ by Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton. _Boundaries_ by Cloud and Townsend, is another wonderful text that gives the reader an understanding of when to say yes and when to say no, as the subtitle to the book says, all from a Christian perspective. And of course _Breaking_ _Unhealthy Soul-Ties_ is another good text as quoted earlier. Each of these books essentially gives you information on how to deal with controlling people.

**Biblical Submission**

There is one scripture in particular used in authoritarian churches to establish this doctrine of complete submission to authority. I don't want to get into detailed word studies since these other authors have already done them very well, but anyone reading this who has had experience with this kind of church is going to immediately go to this verse; therefore, an explanation is in order. The verse generally quoted is:

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Heb. 13:17 KJV

The Greek word used for "obey" refers to an attitude that is a willing choice to yield to another out of a trust that is earned; it is not a fear-filled servitude that is demanded. [6] Ministry should be to serve, to lift up others, and to help bring out Jesus in other believers, not to demand obedience. Power has a corrupting influence and legitimate authority ordained by God will never be given to a person who insists on enforcing his or her will onto others. We choose to submit and obey those we trust and trust must be earned; legitimate authority is never forced on anyone.

A side note- the method these kinds of churches use to justify their positions from scripture is called "proof-texting", or taking a scripture, always out of context and twisted, to rationalize their beliefs. Both Stephen Lambert in _Charismatic Captivation_ , and Steven Crosby in _Authority, Accountability and the Apostolic Movement_ , have done a very thorough job of taking the reader through authoritarian doctrines and the scriptures quoted to justify them, working through the context as well as the Greek to completely blow these doctrines out of the water. Here, I will simply refer you to their books which are an absolute must-read for the complete, well-made case that they make.

But also [in those days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (destructive heresies), even denying and disowning the Master Who bought them, . . . 3 And in their covetousness (lust, greed) they will exploit you with false (cunning) arguments . . . 2 Pet. 2:1-3 AMP

CHAPTER FOUR

ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY PART 2

In this chapter, three specific characteristics of the authority structure of authoritarian churches will be discussed. The first two I noticed early on and didn't seem to be all that important at the time; it wasn't until much later that it became evident how they play into the establishment of an authoritarian church. But the last one is the primary tenet of shepherding/discipleship churches and by far the most dangerous of the three.

**Delegate? What's That?**

But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 1 Cor. 12:20-21 KJV

In this verse, note that Paul states that the Head (Jesus) will never tell any other member of the Body that there is no need for them. God created every person with a purpose, and that purpose is found as a relationship with God is developed. But in authoritarian churches, that relationship with God is undermined, and the purpose of the individual is subordinate to the perceived purpose of the leadership. People are kept dependent on the leaders for everything, and are never given any decision-making power, so authority is never actually delegated. Everything goes through the leadership, period. They may confer titles and positions, but there is no real authority that goes with them. Those in leadership are completely in control with everyone else subservient to them because in their estimation, no one else is ever really "ready". They and their handful of trainees are the only ones who have the spiritual qualifications for leadership while the rest of us are just not mature enough yet, and, surprise, surprise, never will be. In an abusive church you will never fulfill your destiny in God because the leadership won't allow it.

It seemed that in every service there would be an altar call for one thing or another, and people would go forward for prayer, which normally would be a good thing. But in this church, it was always the "set man" or rather the "set couple" that would do all the praying. They never delegated, never allowed anyone else to pray for others in there. So everyone would stand there waiting for the only true anointing in the house to make its way down the prayer line. That way, if anyone should actually receive anything by faith in God and not in man, their position as the "set couple" would be validated. And of course this also reinforced dependence on them to receive from God.

When I started attending a different church, the first thing that grabbed my attention was that the pastor never does any of the actual praying for people who go forward for prayer. They first call up their prayer team who will do the praying. And often they will want you to pray for people seated around you. There are services where other people conduct the entire service- the women, the youth, etc., which is something that doesn't occur in an abusive church. This new church actually encourages people to step out into ministry, while abusive churches put constraints on you and convince you that you aren't gifted where you thought you were and/or you're not ready for real ministry.

My former church's refusal to delegate was one of the things that I noted early on, but I excused them for several years figuring they had never run a church alone before and just needed time to work out the process. But after ten years had passed and there was no change in this department, I began to wake up and realize it was exactly what they intended and no change would be forthcoming. It frankly became a bit of a joke that absolutely everything had to be cleared with the pastor's wife. No one did anything without her direct permission, which was on the verge of being ridiculous.

Because this kind of leadership insists on doing it all and having supreme control over everything, the chances of ever developing in your own ministry are completely non-existent. Here's an excerpt from a young lady's story who also attended this church for quite a few years. She explains how frustrated she had become at not receiving any training as promised:

I stayed thinking it was training and preparation for ministry. I was waiting to get the "approval" that I was now able to minister and be used of God to minister to people which is my desire. Any time I thought about stepping out and going to Bible school I was told either (1) it's not the timing yet or (2) why do you need to go when there is good training here? . . . After a couple of years of that and still not really being able to step out in ministry I was getting frustrated. I would look at other options and then get the responses I previously mentioned. I thought this church was established right when I first came so in my heart I wanted to be sent out from that church and never saw myself leaving. I thought it would always be my home base. I believe this hindered me from hearing God because I never prayed about going to another church; I always prayed to be sent overseas. I think with [the pastors] knowing my heart for missions I would get tidbits to whet my appetite thinking it was training . . . I started seeing more clearly as I was at a point of desperation and hunger to be in God's will no matter what. I still desired training and desired someone to mentor me. I looked around and realized only ["Richard"] was starting to get trained and he was an elder. It didn't seem like even the elders' wives were getting trained. It hit me that it was taking forever for people to finally be trained and they still weren't officially released yet! I knew by the time they got through the elders and then those in leadership it would be after Jesus came back before they got around to me . . . I am convinced that if I was still there I would still be behind the computer, maybe helping in youth or the Bible college they started again, maybe a few mission trips, but not doing nearly the amount of ministry I have been able to do here [at another Christian ministry in another state].

This kind of leadership won't allow others to grow and develop in any kind of ministry; that might threaten their position as the ultimate authority in their members' lives. This young lady learned after many years that promotion was not coming in that church because, like everyone else, she was just never "ready" in the estimation of the leaders.

**Accountability**

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Eph. 5:21 KJV

As stated earlier, one of the main deceptions in this church that got people hooked in the first place was the premise that the leadership was accountable back to their own pastors in the home church that sent them out. This was touted as a mechanism by which they were supposedly held in check, and we thus were protected and "safe". The whole "safe environment" pitch was very slick and convincing, offering us their protection from the evils outside their doors. Because this pastor was supposed to be accountable to his pastor back in his home church, we were then secure from the possibility of their getting off track and of course also secure in our complete submission to them.

Unfortunately, this accountability proved to be bogus for two reasons. First of all, these other church leaders were never there, only coming in once a year for a special series of meetings. Therefore, they never actually saw how things were run on a day-to-day basis. As the years went on and things began to increasingly bother me, I would pray that this other pastor would see some of the problems and deal with them when he came, but nothing ever changed.

As it turned out, the reason things never changed was because of the second reason their accountability was worthless- their home church was deceived as well. It finally came out after I left that it was indeed the leadership's home church that trained them in the shepherding/discipleship style of church government in the first place. Hence our leadership was deceived by yet more people who were also deceived into thinking that this kind of church government is scriptural.

The slick job of selling the place as a safe environment coupled with the indoctrination of the people into submission to authority resulted in the establishment of a leadership structure that no one could challenge and leaders that were completely unaccountable to anyone. In my estimation, this is the main foundation upon which the rest of the deception is built in such churches- they seek to establish themselves as untouchable, unteachable and above any scrutiny or criticism of any kind. They answer to no one.

One particular verse quoted to establish themselves as bulletproof shows up twice, first in 1 Chronicles 16:22 and again in Psalm 105:15- "Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm." Authoritarian leadership will use this verse freely to create the impression that they are indeed The Untouchables, Agents of God, and to mess with them in any capacity is to cross God Himself. We were continually reminded of the so-called prophet status of the pastor's wife, thus her constant use of this verse to keep detractors at bay.

Without accountability in-house, the place will go haywire sooner or later, just because people are people, and people get out of line without checks and balances. Abusive churches may tell you they are accountable and probably will since that's the basis of the shepherding/discipleship form of church government- accountability to your covering pastor or apostle. So it takes more than just asking about accountability; judge the fruit over a period of time, watch to see how things are actually run, but primarily, listen to the still, small voice of God that will warn you if something is wrong.

**Spiritual Covering Doctrine, Mediators and Another Gospel**

Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah. Jer. 17:5 KJV

The spiritual covering doctrine is the primary foundational doctrine of authoritarian churches. The assumed authority of the leadership gave them the status of providing us with this spiritual covering, a system of accountability that places the leaders at the top of the pack leaving the rest of the church accountable to them. They set themselves up as mediators between the people and God; they will hear from God for you since you're nowhere near their level of spirituality, and they are accountable before God for you. With this package comes the implication that you must not leave this spiritual protection or evil could come into your life. A tactic used to manipulate people into staying was the use of the verse in Hebrews 10:5 about not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together. This verse was typically used to produce guilt if services were missed. In addition, we were regularly taught that you must "grow where you're planted" and that to change churches would be deadly. You can't expect a tree to live if you keep uprooting it!

The whole spiritual covering doctrine promotes a dependence on the leadership for your protection, for your understanding in the Word, and for your hearing from God. And along with this dependence, a sense of fear creeps in, fear of the curse, fear of being in rebellion, fear of rejection if you even think about coming out from under this covering.

This doctrine is supported by the primary handbook used by these churches, _Spiritual_ _Authority_ by Watchman Nee, as covered in Chapter Two. In this book, Nee states that to have authority, one must be submitted to authority, a premise that, according to Charles Fowler, is influenced by Confucianism and not the Bible. [1] In the church I had attended, this book was used as the primary text in their yearly leadership training classes in which I had participated. This was one of the primary tools used to indoctrinate us into blind submission to authority.

Several years into this, we became aware that most of their preaching revolved around scriptures taken from the Old Testament rather than the New. We knew there was something wrong with this, but it wasn't until I read Stephen Crosby, in his book _Authority, Accountability and the Apostolic Movement_ that I began to see the implications. He goes into great detail about how Old Testament ways are not transferable into the Church, into the New Covenant way of doing things. One of his main points that really hit home with me is this principle of coverings and veils in the Old Testament that are later done away with in the New:

_The reestablishment of a governmental order based on covering is not new apostolic revelation, it is regression into the covenant of bondage, and the fruit of the doctrine will be bondage, not safety, blessing, and divine order._ [2]

The teachings promoted in abusive churches are truly another gospel, seducing people away from true devotion to Jesus Christ. The doctrines of spiritual covering and of absolute submission to authority that are taught in these places are merely traditions of men that make the Word of none effect (Mat. 15:6; Mark. 7:13). The whole concept of allowing a man to act as a mediator between the people and God is completely contrary to the Gospel. The whole point of the Gospel is that we now have free access to the throne of grace- no priest standing between us, no curtain, no veil:

But their minds were made hard: for to this very day at the reading of the old agreement the same veil is still unlifted; though it is taken away in Christ. 15 But to this day, at the reading of the law of Moses, a veil is over their heart. 16 But when it is turned to the Lord, the veil will be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there the heart is free. 18 But we all, with unveiled face giving back as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:14-18 BBE

We are responsible before God for our own lives. Paul said to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Php. 2:12). Your leaders can't do that for you, as much as they may like to think they can. We were told for years that they, as the leadership, would be accountable to God for us, but that's so much drivel. Paul said that we will all give account of ourselves to God, not to our covering apostle or pastor (Rom. 14:12). No man is accountable for me; I will stand before God with no man but with Jesus, my Savior and the Mediator of the New Covenant:

And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy]. . . Heb 12:24 AMP (Heb. 8:6; 9:15)

He has been and always will be the only Mediator, and to suggest that any man would assume this position as a go-between is error at best and truly blasphemy, counting the blood Jesus shed to give us free access to the Father as insufficient. This spiritual covering doctrine is heresy and a doctrine of demons. It is this whole concept that creates the web that entangles those it traps through the use of soul-ties, pulling people out of a relationship with God and into covenants with men that amount to idolatry. In submitting to this doctrine, people are conned into putting their trust in men rather than God for their spiritual welfare and are pulled off the narrow path of faith and grace and seduced into the wide path of works and seeking the honor of men.

**Red Flag Number One**

Control is the most obvious marker of an abusive church- watch for constant preaching on submission to authority, and watch to see if anyone else in the church is actually allowed to minister in any capacity at all (that is, outside the chosen few that are being "mentored"). Is any authority delegated, or are they doing it all? Does everything have to be cleared through them? Will they listen to any suggestions or are they quick to dismiss any input from the congregation? Does your leadership promote the spiritual covering doctrine? If your leadership insists on complete, unquestioned submission to their authority, beware; you are probably in an abusive church.

If anyone does hurt to God's temple or corrupts it [with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [the believing church and its individual believers] are. 1 Cor. 3:17 AMP

CHAPTER FIVE

RELIGION, THE STUMBLING BLOCK

O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom - right before your very eyes - Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] 3 Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? Gal 3:1-3 AMP

In an authoritarian church, people are constantly required to seek the approval of the leadership, and that approval is gained through works, in other words, always doing something, but that something is never enough. Religious performance and attendance are stressed and expected, and if you don't measure up, you aren't loyal. Your commitment to the system is all-important and that commitment is measured by your fulfillment of whatever activities or tasks the leaders have decided are required. Even though the Word is preached, it is used as a guide to measure performance according to the expectations of the leadership, and this is how they receive their fulfillment- through the performance of others. As people strive to please, the leadership feels validated as the ultimate authority in their lives. With dysfunctional people leading the way, the whole system turns into the so-called performance trap that drains all those caught in it.

**Acceptance by Performance**

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," 8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 1 Pet. 2:7-8 ESV

The stumbling stone always has been and always will be the pursuit of righteousness by works and not by faith. As it has been said countless times, religion is man reaching out to God, attempting to attain righteousness by self-effort; Christianity is God reaching out to man and offering righteousness as a free gift. It seems that people lose that revelation so easily, though. The deception that the enemy would perpetrate on the Church boils down to this every time- deceiving Christians into thinking that they need more than just the sacrifice of Jesus for their acceptance by God. It is this deception that is played out fully in the shepherding/discipleship theory of church structure.

People who receive their sense of acceptance by God through religious performance expect others around them to be the same way. Authoritarian leaders more than likely are caught in the performance trap, and for their own sense of security demand the same of the people they control. This same dynamic works in any area- for example, people who drink want others to drink with them so they don't feel condemned; people who lie, cheat and steal their way through life expect others to be the same way. In the church context, it manifests as a works-based system that requires approval by performance to make the leaders feel validated. Paul dealt with the same dynamic when he addresses the Christians in Galatia:

As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. Gal. 6:12-13 KJV

Religion fosters a church full of tired, discouraged, frustrated, guilt-ridden, used people. Grace goes out the window in an abusive church, and people begin to put their trust in religious performance and in seeking the favor and honor of the leadership by essentially signing their lives over to the church, spending all their resources on promoting men rather than promoting the Kingdom of God. When religion takes over, joy leaves. This can be a good indicator as to the spiritual health of the church you attend. If everything looks good on the surface, people seem to be entering into the presence of God, and things seem to be right, but inside you feel joy-less and unsettled, it could well be because there is an underlying, deceiving spirit of religion that has taken over, placing demands on the people for performance to earn acceptance by the leadership.

Some of the required reading in this church I attended were a couple books about being "armor bearers" to the leaders, books that served to increasingly entrench members in a slave mentality. Stephen Crosby compares the required performance in an abusive church to a master-slave relationship in the old South. After serving faithfully for years, you may actually get that promised promotion, but you are still just a slave. "You just get to bring him his slippers in the cool of the night instead of pick his cotton during the heat of the day." [1]

**Having Begun in the Spirit, Are You Now Made Perfect by the Flesh?**

The entire book of Galatians is devoted to correcting a church that began in grace and in the Spirit, but eventually got off track when they headed down the path of works which required doing something more than simply believing in Jesus for righteousness. Depending on works for your right-standing with God will take you out of grace and put you back under the curse, and it will take you captive:

And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction . . . Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Gal. 3:10 AMP; 5:4 KJV

Paul puts it very well in the book of Romans:

What shall we say then? That Gentiles who did not follow after righteousness [who did not seek salvation by right relationship to God] have attained it by faith [a righteousness imputed by God, based on and produced by faith], 31 Whereas Israel, though ever in pursuit of a law [for the securing] of righteousness (right standing with God), actually did not succeed in fulfilling the Law. 32 For what reason? Because [they pursued it] not through faith, relying [instead] on the merit of their works [they did not depend on faith but on what they could do]. They have stumbled over the Stumbling Stone. 33 As it is written, Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone that will make men stumble, a Rock that will make them fall; but he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations. Rom. 9:30-33 AMP

An understanding of salvation by grace is pretty basic. People seem to understand that the born-again experience is strictly by grace through faith, not of works. But it's when you've been in the church for awhile that the works mentality seems to slide back in there, making you think that you have to conform to some set of rules to retain your righteousness. People tend to get caught up in "spiritual" projects so easily, always doing, doing, doing, and never understanding the true rest God intended for His people. Christians start out in faith, but somehow tend to get pulled off into works somewhere down the road, trying to gain perfection by the flesh.

**The Wide Gate**

Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. 14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves . . . Mat. 7:13-15 AMP

The effect of a religious spirit on people is a seducing one. Religious works seem very spiritual, logical and reasonable, but there's no faith in works. It takes faith to please God (Heb. 11:6). The problem is the flesh- the flesh always wants a program, a formula, a list of things to do to make it feel spiritual; so when a church begins to load on the works, the people get dragged off the narrow path of righteousness by grace through faith and into the wide path of works that leads to destruction.

Religion, as stated above, is Jesus plus something more to win God's approval. The "something more" in the authoritarian churches is Jesus plus your covering apostle or pastor and all the works done to gain their approval that go with it. Note that the context of the "devouring wolves" discourse is of the narrow and wide gates. According to David Johnson in _The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse_ , this wide gate is the gate of religious performance that false prophets promote. [2] The narrow gate requires that all self effort be laid aside and dropped before entering, opening up into a life where you will find rest for your soul. All that baggage of works just won't fit through that narrow gate.

On the other hand, the system of church government that will take you through the wide gate is one that requires, under the pressure of heavy-handed leadership, that you bring through that gate all your own efforts, all your own righteousness, all your own works, and the result of that system is a bunch of frustrated, worn out believers. When you buy into this, you're headed down that broad road that leads to destruction, and as you allow such thinking to take over, the bewitching begins.

**Who Hath Bewitched You?**

The word "bewitch" is the Greek word _baskaino_ which means to malign or to fascinate by false representations ( _Strong's Concordance_ ). _Vine's Dictionary_ adds, ". . . primarily, 'to slander, to prate about anyone'; then 'to bring evil on a person by feigned praise, or mislead by an evil eye, and so to charm, bewitch' (Eng., 'fascinate' is connected), is used figuratively in Gal 3:1, of leading into evil doctrine." [3]

The "spiritual covering" doctrine is a bewitching influence; it places a veil over your heart, separating you from God as the leadership continually leaves you feeling like you can't hear from God for yourself. These churches are a curious mix of works and laziness. The religious aspect is manifested in constantly working for the leadership's approval, while the whole atmosphere saps the believer of any drive to hear from God for himself. And of course, the sheep are told that they are never spiritually ready to do anything, so they just sit and receive indoctrination which is meted out in sermons and classes. The believer is drained mentally and spiritually since approval is constantly sought but never really achieved, leaving the victims of this deception confused and even thinking they're crazy.

Bewitching in these churches is also done with the "feigned praise" as quoted above. The leaders will slather on the praise in order to manipulate people into doing what they want them to do. They will heap on the compliments to further drag people into the system, giving them positions in the church and thus making it harder for those people to leave. Flattery is used to retain a hold over those they are grooming as future leaders. The entire spiritual atmosphere of the place prevents clear thinking and therefore works to keep you trapped in a system of works and legalism. This is the very reason it is hard to get through to people still caught in the system- their minds are dull and they've essentially given themselves over to the leadership to do their thinking for them. As spiritual laziness develops, depending on leadership to do it all, a spirit of slumber moves in:

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Prov. 19:15 KJV

Awake [from your drunken stupor and return] to sober sense and your right minds, and sin no more. For some of you have not the knowledge of God [you are utterly and willfully and disgracefully ignorant, and continue to be so, lacking the sense of God's presence and all true knowledge of Him]. I say this to your shame. 1 Cor. 15:34 AMP

The Greek word for "awake" in the above verse is _eknepho_ ". . . to return to one's sense from drunkenness, to become sober . . . suggesting a return to soberness of mind from the stupor consequent upon the influence of evil doctrine." [4] Evil doctrine will seduce you into spiritual slumber, a drunken stupor that lulls the believer into sin- sin in this case being essentially idolatry where people are pushed into exalting the leadership, honoring men rather than God. Jesus came against this kind of thing in both Matthew 23 and Luke 11 where the issue of works is addressed:

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men . . . 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Mat. 23:4,5,13 KJV

Woe to you, lawyers (experts in the Mosaic Law)! For you have taken away the key to knowledge; you did not go in yourselves, and you hindered and prevented those who were entering. Luke 11:52 AMP

Applying these kinds of verses to what I experienced has been hard for me, but this just really clinches it. I don't want to be judgmental in that God knows the motives of their hearts, but in looking at how the church was run and what it did to the people I know, it seems obvious that this is a proper application of these verses. The pressure to perform was indeed heavy, and loyalty was demanded. It was a bewitching atmosphere that clouded my thinking for as long as I remained within it, but as soon as I made the decision to leave, that cloud began to lift.

**The Stumbling Block of Works**

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Rom. 9:31-33 KJV

A spirit of religion operates through traditions of men (works), through control, through a spirit of slumber and with tremendous pride. Religion kills. "The letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life." (2 Cor. 3:6). "By works shall no flesh be justified" (Gal. 2:16). Abusive churches load on the works that they require for acceptance by the leadership, subtly leading people out of the narrow path of grace and God's favor and into the wide path of error and deception. Paul asked the Galatians in 5:7, "Who hath hindered you?" The word "hinder", according to _Vine's Dictionary_ , means ". . . to break up the road and place obstacles sharply in the path." The verse could be translated, "Who broke up the road along which you were traveling so well?" [5] Requiring works breaks up the road, places obstacles in the path and causes people to err. This is the main goal of the spirit behind the whole shepherding/discipleship heresy- to pull people out of faith, away from the cross, away from the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, and back into the flesh and into trusting in man rather than God. Religion leaves you empty, confused, angry and frustrated. Only relationship with Jesus brings fulfillment and satisfaction.

If the Church had a real revelation of grace, this deception would never stand a chance. The flesh finds it so easy to fall back into formulas, rules, etc., because the flesh wants to earn favor with God rather than receive it as a free gift. Fully understanding what Jesus did for us is something few Christians have really grasped. To walk in grace, the flesh has to die; it must admit that it is incapable of doing anything that is worthy of God's righteousness, and the flesh just doesn't want to die. So people tend to gravitate toward works, activities, tasks that make the flesh feel good about itself, without actually understanding that we are already accepted by God through His grace, and only through His grace, and that completely apart from any works we can do.

Abusive churches play right into this mindset by giving people something to work for- the approval of the leadership and an earned position in the church. These leaders feel like they need to earn God's approval so they require the same of the people they are leading. The master/slave system thus created gives the leaders the psychological validation they are craving, with their churches turning into religious systems of control and abuse very quickly.

. . . whatever is not of faith is sin. Rom. 14:23 KJV

**Red Flag Number Two**

The second marker of an abusive church is a works program. Is your joy gone? Are people constantly working for the leadership's approval? Is church attendance mandatory? Are you made to feel less than adequate if you don't perform as expected? Is the possibility of ministry dangled in front of you to insure your performance and thus your loyalty? If you feel like you are caught in the "performance trap", you could be in an abusive church.

In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]. Gal. 4:30 AMP

CHAPTER SIX

IDOLATRY: WORSHIPING MEN AND MONEY

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:43 KJV

"Pursuing the honor of men" is the rephrasing of a quote I referenced earlier from the first online article we found that explains how abusive churches work. This article, _Warning Signs of Spiritual Abuse_ by Mike Fehlauer [1], provided the first real light for me, revealing what was really going on in that particular congregation. That phrase specifically- "pursuing the honor of men"- absolutely jarred me; I felt a giant "YES" come up in my spirit when I realized that most of the people in that church were busy trying to gain the leadership's approval rather than God's. This is the real snare of the whole system, for this leads to idolatry, plain and simple.

**Apostle?**

I receive not glory from men [I crave no human honor, I look for no mortal fame . . . 44 How is it possible for you to believe [how can you learn to believe], you who [are content to seek and] receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which comes from Him Who alone is God? John 5:41-44 AMP

I don't know about other churches dealing with abusive leadership, but in this one the leaders claimed to be gifted as apostle and prophet. After reading several books on this subject, it appears that this is a rather common phenomenon lately (there is apparently an "apostolic movement"), and one that should raise a red flag. In churches that are structured according to shepherding/discipleship principles, one of the goals of those deceiving spirits is to undermine the true five-fold ministry. By placing false apostles and false prophets in the body, those with the genuine giftings are held back and cannot function at all in such churches. As Jezebel killed the prophets, so these false apostles and prophets silence the voice of the true five-fold ministers.

These so-called apostles seem to be more concerned about their reputation and their agendas than with the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their claim to offices of apostle and prophet were regularly alluded to in the church I attended to evoke respect and honor from the people, though it seemed to me that this actually created an atmosphere of intimidation more than anything else. Paul referred to what he called "super apostles" that were negatively influencing the Christians at Corinth:

But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For [you seem readily to endure it] if a man comes and preaches another Jesus than the One we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the [Spirit] you [once] received or a different gospel from the one you [then] received and welcomed; you tolerate [all that] well enough! 5 Yet I consider myself as in no way inferior to these [precious] extra-super [false] apostles. 2 Cor. 11:3-5 AMP

Apparently things haven't changed a whole lot over the centuries. The devil is still trying to pull the same deception on the Church that he always has. Anyone that boasts in an office like apostle or prophet, coming across as super-spiritual and expecting the honor of men on that basis is operating in his/her flesh and not by the anointing of God. Paul speaks of "us apostles" that are last, not first:

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 1 Cor. 4:9-10 KJV

Self-proclaimed apostles act presumptuously in that they set themselves over other men as their spiritual superiors and demand submission. Anyone claiming to be an apostle who requires unconditional obedience from their followers is not one. True apostles are last, not first, being first in order of time but not in position. True apostles will come in first to lay the foundation, but then they should allow the other gifts to build on it.

The issue here then is to distinguish the true apostolic anointing from the false. The true apostle will walk in genuine humility with a servant's heart, in contrast to the false apostle who will be all-consumed with his image and his authority. The true apostle will allow the gifts and anointings in the people around him to grow and become established while the false apostle will not allow others to develop spiritually. The true apostle will get out of the way when the foundation is laid; the false apostle will create his own little kingdom with its own support system to maintain it.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 2 Cor. 11:13 KJV

**Titles**

Jesus pulled no punches when he exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 23. This is a loaded passage, but right here note in particular verses 8 through 12 (I included the preceding verses for context):

The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat . . . 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men . . . 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Mat. 23:2-12 KJV

Leaders in abusive churches love titles and the honor they get from them, and this is in direct opposition to Jesus' exhortation to take no titles for yourself. This passage clearly lays out the relationship Christians are to have with one another- we are to serve one another, not demand honor by demanding that a title be used.

This was the first thing that really sat sideways with me when we started attending that church- the man insisted that he be addressed as Pastor (even though he claimed to walk in the office of apostle). Not Pastor "Ralph", or "the pastor"; it had to be "Pastor". He emphasized it to such a degree that it just seemed odd to me, but I filed it away in the back of my mind and didn't think too much about it for years. Now I can see how this plays into the promotion of seeking the honor of men. Paul never referred to himself as The Apostle Paul. He always called himself Paul, an apostle, referring to "apostle" as a job description, not an office or title. People called him by his first name.

The abusive leader is all-consumed with image- to them perception is everything. One of the former elders' wives confided in me that they were told in no uncertain terms that the elders were there specifically to make the leaders look good. They were to offer no suggestions because they would not be received. When I heard this I was completely floored, this being one of the first revelations I had into the true nature of that leadership. It rather reminds me of the verses in the Old and New Testaments both about whitewashed walls- people that look good on the outside but inside are full of hypocrisy and iniquity:

Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, 'Peace,' when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, 11 say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. Eze. 13:10-11 ESV (See also Mat. 23:28)

**The Set Man and HIS Vision**

False apostles are also consumed with their own "vision of the house" which translates into their own agenda. We were continually reminded that we were to align ourselves with their vision, never a word about fulfilling the vision God had given us as individuals. As the "set man" of the church (another catch-phrase), his vision was all-important and everything done in this church was to support that vision at the expense of everyone else's. Once again, I quote Stephen Crosby: "One's role as pastor is not to sit as executive and chief visionary but chief servant and equipper! Equipping others is the vision . . . not getting his/her own vision and making others submit to it." [2]

The concept of an entire church fulfilling one man's vision is completely contrary to what the Body of Christ should be doing. The pastor of a church should be underneath the rest of the church, holding them up to God, helping them find their places in the Body and helping to fulfill their visions, not the other way around. Where the shepherding/discipleship form of church government is a pyramid, the ideal form is just the opposite- an inverted pyramid with the pastor at the bottom lifting up the people to God.

None of this really registered with me until I read Crosby's book when I realized our callings had been all but non-existent in their thinking, while their vision was all that mattered. We were to be obedient to their vision, period. All our time and of course our tithe was destined to fulfill their perceived calling, not ours. This played into the demand for loyalty.

**Promotion by Loyalty**

In authoritarian churches, loyalty to the system is expected and even demanded. People, especially those who seek any position in the system, are expected to show up at every service and they are expected to be one hundred percent loyal at all times, never questioning or second-guessing the leadership, and never doing anything without prior approval from on high. Loyalty statements or oaths are common in these systems, oftentimes in the form of documents the people are required to sign in which they pledge their loyalty to the organization, with nothing mentioned about loyalty to God. This fosters the concept that "we alone are right" while no other church preaches the Word properly.

Intimidation can be overwhelming when it comes to the demand for loyalty. If you have any position in the church, any lapse is pounced on and cast up to you as a lack of loyalty, making you feel lower than dirt if you miss a service or even think about questioning anything done by those in charge. These people will even go so far as to threaten to expose past sins to insure your loyalty, manipulating people into staying just to avoid humiliation. This is spiritual blackmail.

Those that have proven their loyalty are those that are most apt to be promoted in the system, while those that don't conform completely to their expectations are ignored or disciplined because their loyalty is seen as lacking. These promotions are on the basis of loyalty alone, and not on gifting or ability, resulting in an inner circle of "yes men" (and women) that will simply rubber-stamp whatever the leaders want. This plays into the ambition of those who seek positions of authority as Steven Lambert states in _Charismatic_ _Captivation_ : "Cunning leaders exploit the selfish-ambition of members who desire ascendancy and authority over fellows by dangling in front of them the carrot of prospective leadership appointment and advancement." [3]

A friend of mine noticed that it seemed to regularly be women with strong personalities that tended to fall into this category. These women had married men characterized by more passive personalities, allowing their wives to pursue positions in the church by jumping through the hoops of submission and obedience to prove their loyalty. As a result, those with true giftings get shoved to the sidelines, and the church suffers the lack of those anointings in the body while those who perform and prove themselves completely loyal are the ones that get to function in one capacity or another whether they are truly qualified or not.

**Loyalty or Idolatry?**

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other . . . Mat. 6:24 AMP

When a person chooses to give complete loyalty to this degree, an unhealthy soul-tie is formed. Add a signed loyalty statement and you have a covenant. The process that pulls people into these covenants is a package of seduction that seems reasonable on the surface, especially to those who have controlling leanings to start with. But making covenants with men is a dangerous business, and I didn't realize how dangerous until I read these quotes in _Charismatic Captivation_ :

_. . . anyone who makes a spiritual covenant with anyone other than God, covenants with demons, whether they intend to or not . . . this] is tantamount to pagan demon worship. The Bible explicitly constrains us against making such "covenants" with anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself._ [[4]

_. . . whenever anyone submits his will and surrenders his freedom to someone else, he is committing idolatry and literally submitting himself to demons . . . this spirit] begins to exert influence upon the person that he or she is powerless to resist . . . this is witchcraft of the highest order . . ._ [[5]

Pledging loyalty to authoritarian leadership leads to a spirit of strife and division like Paul dealt with in the church at Corinth:

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 1 Cor. 3:3-4 KJV

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:15-16 KJV

Notice how these verses overlap- aligning yourself with a man creates a carnal mindset, and of course to be carnally minded is death (Rom. 8:6). Paul says this mentality creates envy, strife and divisions, and according to James, walking in strife and divisions opens the door to every evil work. Pursuing the honor of men is a dangerous place to be- it leads to strife and divisions, it causes people to be carnally minded, it is idolatry, it creates ungodly soul-ties, and it opens the door to all evil, specifically spirits of bondage and slavery. Once you step over that threshold, you are in very dangerous and vulnerable territory where the devil can devour you.

Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)? Rom. 6:16 AMP

**Covetousness Which Is Idolatry**

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD. 17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness . . . Jer. 22:17 KJV

The support system developed by authoritarian leadership to maintain their own kingdoms is built on an abuse of the prosperity message. This becomes a breeding ground for covetousness which, according to the Bible, is idolatry (Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:3). In these kinds of churches, the tithe is demanded with plenty of time devoted to sermons on giving, all of it designed to create a guilt trip if disobeyed. The threat of the curse of the law is regularly alluded to in order to insure large offerings, leaving the congregation under constant pressure to conform or be rebellious. What these churches are essentially preaching is that your blessing is dependent on your giving, turning the blessing into works, when it should be the other way around. You give because you are blessed; your are not blessed because of what you've given. The leadership in the church I attended also employed another twist on the prosperity preaching that I'd never heard before called the "first-fruits offering", a once-a-year money-grab that was supposed to guarantee your prosperity for the rest of the year.

Their ever-more-luxurious houses and cars were said to be as a result of the "blessing of God" that afforded them this lifestyle. Their image was all-important to them, so to their way of thinking, "walking in the blessing" with all the trappings of prosperity was a physical demonstration of their spirituality. They claimed that the blessing would flow from the "head" (the leadership) down to the rest of us, so as we gave into the church, their prosperity obviously increased, and ours was consequently supposed to increase as well. By using such verses as "He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly" (2 Cor. 9:6), they justified the pressure to give.

The congregation was actively encouraged to use their faith for bigger houses and better cars, but this did nothing except to encourage covetousness. What was portrayed as the "blessing" being passed down was actually nothing more than the love of money being propagated in our midst with the flow being a very one-way flow of money into the church coffers. There were a couple of years when it seemed several families in the congregation were getting their bigger, better houses, a trend that only "blessed" a few families with no benefit to the rest of the world outside their doors. And there is no way to know how much debt these people may have accrued to emulate this "prosperity". Paul warned the believers in Philippi to beware of the dogs:

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. Php. 3:2 KJV

You stupid leaders are a pack of hungry and greedy dogs that never get enough. You are shepherds who mistreat your own sheep for selfish gain. Isa. 56:11 CEV

The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10), so as a covetous mind-set begins to take over, the door is, once again, opened to all evil. Covetousness is just another facet of the idolatry that ensnares those who are pulled into these churches. True knowledge of God is found in giving, according to Jeremiah 22:16 as quoted above. Those who truly know God are those who love, and those who love give to those in need. Jesus separates the sheep from the goats on that basis:

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Mat. 25:34-36 KJV

As money comes into the hands of the believer, the test is in how the believer uses those resources. Is it spent on the lusts of the flesh, or is it used to promote the Kingdom of God by helping those in need? People in these churches honestly believe that the money they give into these systems is actually being used to promote the Kingdom, so the burden of guilt lies with the leadership and their misuse of funds. There is truth in the prosperity message but the abuse of this message for personal gain is reprehensible.

For if the [eager] readiness to give is there, then it is acceptable and welcomed in proportion to what a person has, not according to what he does not have . . . Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving]. 2 Cor. 8:12; 9:7 AMP

New Testament giving is to be done willingly according to ability and not under compulsion. Biblical prosperity dictates that our resources be used as God directs us individually, and not as our fleshly desires direct, and certainly not as someone else might try to compel us. As God prospers His people, He expects us to listen for His direction in determining whom to bless. Giving under compulsion is unbiblical; and tithing is between you and God, and frankly, no one else's business. Each believer is responsible to hear from God for themselves to determine where and how much to give.

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Luke 16:10-13 KJV

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. James 2:13 KJV

**Idolatry Defined**

Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. Isa. 2:8 KJV

Idolatry is very simply worshiping the works of men's hands. Men create gods out of other people, then worship and bow down to them, sacrificing their time, money, vision, purpose, their entire lives to them. The Word speaks of idols made of wood that are laid over with gold and silver, rather like whitewash:

What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. Hab. 2:18 KJV

The word "breath" is the Hebrew word _ruwach_ , the same word consistently used in the Old Testament for the word "spirit", also specifically referring to the Holy Spirit. There is no Spirit in an idol. Men who have been set up as idols over a congregation no longer function by the Holy Spirit- their teachings, their programs, their services are all Spirit-less, moving out of Christianity and into religion.

Idolatry is essentially spiritual adultery that brings its victims into captivity (Amos 5:26-27) with no knowledge of God (Hos. 5:4). Religion consists of works; idolatry is religion, worshiping the works of men's hands. This whole system revolves around worshiping what men do, not what God has done. The King James version uses words such as "harlotry" and "whoredoms" to describe idolatry, words that very glaringly depict what actually goes on in the spirit in such churches:

My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. Hos. 4:12 KJV

I had never looked at Old Testament scriptures about idolatry from this point of view before until I began researching abusive churches; now all these verses take on a whole new meaning for me. The seduction of God's people into idolatry is so subtle, so devious and so very effective that not only young believers are deceived:

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. Mark 13:22 KJV

**The End of Idolatry**

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Rom. 1:21 22 KJV

In the above verse, the word "vain" is _mataioo_ meaning "to render (passively become) foolish, that is, (morally) wicked or (specifically) idolatrous: - become vain" ( _Strong's Concordance_ ). Thought processes shift into darkness as idolatry takes over with the result being foolishness. Failure to acknowledge God and give God glory is foolishness to start with. As the pursuit of the honor of men and the pursuit of the things of this world take over, a deceived, foolish heart will no longer walk in light but in darkness, not realizing what has happened. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:8), without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6), and it also becomes impossible to receive from God:

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14 KJV

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Gal. 5:17 KJV

Idolatry leaves believers in a blind, deaf, foolish state worshiping men and money rather than God. People who have been pulled into the deception of idolatry literally cannot please God, receive from God, do what they know they should or deliver themselves:

He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Isa. 44:20 KJV It makes as much sense as eating ashes. His foolish ideas have so misled him that he is beyond help. He won't admit to himself that the idol he holds in his hand is not a god at all. Isa. 44:20 GNB

**Red Flag Number Three**

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Eze. 14:3 KJV

Idolatry is, technically, the primary red flag in abusive churches, but it is not as readily recognized as the first two. When the people of a church find themselves in the position of constantly seeking for the approval of the leadership, this not only turns into religion, it turns into idolatry. Watch out for any church in which people seem to be consumed with pleasing the leaders to gain acceptance and position, gushing over them with undue honor and attention. Watch for churches that require the signing of loyalty statements, and beware of leaders who love titles and expect you to subordinate your own God-given vison to the "vision of the house".

Then judge the message the church presents to its members through preaching and example where prosperity is concerned. Do they preach that your blessing is dependent on your giving? Do they promote bigger houses and better cars, fueling the drive for conspicuous consumption? Is the tithe demanded? (Bear in mind that the tithe is a doctrine that most churches promote, so be careful not to condemn a church on that basis alone; it is the use of that doctrine for personal gain that indicates corrupted heart motives.) Is prosperity a large part of the teaching? Do they claim that their prosperity will flow from the "head" to the rest of the congregation? If a church's books are open to the members to see how their funds are being spent, that is a very good sign that there is nothing to hide. Another good guide is to look at ministry done by the church to the community- is there any? If not, the church may not be a healthy environment. Included in the appendix is a list of scriptures on covetousness.

To boil it down, is it God who is actually being worshiped in your church or are men and money on the throne instead?

Their doings will not permit them to return to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is within them and they know not the Lord [they do not recognize, appreciate, give heed to, or cherish the Lord]. Hos. 5:4 AMP

CHAPTER SEVEN

SECRECY

But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light. 14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. Eph. 5:13-14 AMP

One of the more aggravating aspects of authoritarian churches is the atmosphere of secrecy that surrounds everything. The "can't talk" rule (more on this in a minute) and the seeming lack of communication both contribute to the sense of confusion and frustration that permeate these places. To quote Bill and Sue Banks, "The Devil, like the spider, seeks to trap his victims in a snare of sin so that he might the more easily devour them. One of the most insidious ways of creating bondage is to establish a bond of secrecy." [1]

This secrecy can work in a couple different ways. First, authoritarian churches promote the idea that they are the only ones with "truth", leading to a sort of secret society-type mentality. Then there is the secrecy that is established among those in leadership within the church itself, knowledge about church activities, etc., that is kept from the rest of the members in order to exert superiority. Both of these promote the formation of soul-ties to the leadership, bonds that further entangle unsuspecting followers in the deception.

**Information Control**

It was nearly impossible to find out anything in that church. No one seemed to know anything, and at first I attributed it to the tendency I'd seen in other non-denominational churches toward not being very organized. But the longer this went on and the more resistant the whole thing seemed to be to any prayer, it became obvious that this was not attributable to a personality failing of someone in charge or a matter of learning how to run a church; but rather, there just simply wasn't going to be any change in how things were done. They and those they were training were the only people that had a clue about anything, and if you wanted to find out about any programs or plans of any kind, you'd have to find out from one of them. Even a call to the secretary of the church would prove to be a waste of time since she didn't know anything either. It became evident over time that they wanted everyone guessing, and no amount of prayer was going to change that.

One incident illustrates the frustration. I had joined the choir, and we had been practicing for an Easter program for several weeks. It wasn't until the printed announcements came out shortly before that Sunday that we all found out at the same time that it was to be a three-time production, not just once on Easter Sunday. You would normally assume the choir would be aware of this information from the start, but not in that environment! To me this appeared to be another method used to retain complete control of everything and everyone. Being kept in the dark will keep people a little off balance all the time and dependent on the inner circle for information.

This was one of those things that really annoyed me, contributing to the whole feeling of frustration with the place and the vague sense something was amiss. These control techniques are kept undercover for a reason- if a person knew what was really going on, no one in their right mind would put up with it. The devil operates in the dark, and all the little tricks to keep people under control are very subtle and devious.

It was a very one-way system in which the people were never allowed to know anything more than they absolutely had to, but on the other hand, the leadership had to know everything. And I mean, they literally had to know everything. They insisted on final say on everything, nothing was done without their approval, and they would even go so far as to send in spies, their hand-picked servants, to gatherings of people from the church to collect "intel" on what was going on. Another great technique was the information pumping that went on in the office- demands for information, demands to know who said what, all leading to confrontations that had the potential to turn people against each other. Mike Fehlauer takes this a step further:

_Once a church member surrenders to a system of control, the leader gives limited information to each individual, carefully monitoring each relationship. As a result, each member is only able to relate to other members based on the information he receives from the leader. In this way, if the church staff or pastor determines that one of the members has become a "threat," they have a strategy in place to maintain the control they believe is required. Consequently the church can sever relationships when necessary and keep this process cloaked behind a veil of secrecy._ [2]

Abusive leadership feels the need to control the free flow of information much like a communist country does. The determination to keep everyone in the dark has a very effective way of keeping people off-balance and dependent on the leadership for direction. It reinforces the whole "dumb sheep" concept, keeping the people "stupid" and leaving themselves as the only voice of direction and authority, thus justifying their position as leaders. After all, you're not smart enough to know what to do, and you're certainly not ready to assume any kind of decision-making role in the church.

**The Code of Silence**

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph 4:14-15 KJV

Unspoken rules permeate these places. Behavior is dictated by these rules, and to break them will bring either the cold shoulder or open rebuke. Open communication and open challenges to anything is forbidden, so secrecy is the rule of the house. The premier unspoken rule is what David Johnson in _The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse_ calls the "can't talk" rule. [3] In my opinion, this is a major tenet of hyper-authoritarian churches, allowing the excesses of control to run completely unchallenged. As Johnson and Van Vonderen so very aptly point out in their book, to expose a problem makes you the problem. [4] The devil is very good at taking the offensive when challenged, and this is precisely what happens. If you challenge anything no matter how small, you have broken the "can't talk" rule and you just became the problem and thus the bad guy. It turns the tables on you to take the heat off them.

This unspoken rule results in a very oppressive atmosphere, a place where nothing is questioned, authority is not challenged, and the threat of discipline in one form or another is always hanging over your head if you open your mouth. This whole code of silence was so overwhelming that it permeated everything in there. And this was the main undercurrent of frustration and discontent that ran under the whole façade of the false peace and spirituality that they tried to convey.

In _The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse_ , the authors quote verses from the prophets that express the condition of "peace, peace, when there is no peace" (Jer. 6:14; 8:11; Eze. 13:10), and with these verses, the authors clearly nailed it. [5] The rule of silence creates a clear example of those verses where the illusion of peace is maintained, everything looking very slick and spiritual with the people all conform to that illusion with their happy faces, oh-so-wonderful worship, and the right things coming out of their mouths. But underneath is the dissatisfaction and discontent that cannot be brought out into the open for fear of reprisal. The "can't talk" rule enforces the silence, leaving the illusion of peace when the reality is otherwise- frustration, weariness and a complete lack of joy.

As long as people feel like they can't question anything, fear becomes a factor and that undermines faith. Then frustration sets in, leaving you feeling like there's no one that you can talk to, and if you do try to talk to someone, the guilt trip begins. I have also seen familiar spirits at work with this. Two of us discussed issues in the church at a restaurant, and both of us were absolutely positive no one else was around that could have overheard. The following Sunday I got dirty looks from the pastor's wife; she knew we'd been talking, something that was absolutely forbidden in there, and I later decided that it was probably familiar spirits that told her as much. In a church with this kind of spiritual oppression, freedom goes out the window along with grace and you essentially become a slave of the system.

Lying becomes typical to cover up anything that might make the leaders look bad. To cover up why people leave, they will lie to maintain their image of authority and spirituality, which subsequently can cause a problem with people who just show up for the services and don't see what goes on behind the scenes. They are fed lies regularly from the pulpit and of course don't have a clue, and they will not hear anything you say because to them it's gossip and a sin to question anything, so it's pointless to try to reach them. The deception grows deeper every day, and the "can't talk" rule creates a convenient arrangement for those in charge, very effectively insulating them from any challenge to their authority, and the "dumb sheep" from ever finding out the truth.

It is not a sin to question authority. Taking your misgivings or questions to the leadership is normal and expected assuming you take them in love. No one is infallible, and any leader worth his salt will be more than happy to listen and consider your point of view; this is a manifestation of the fruit of love. In fact, it is the responsibility of every believer to test everything against the Word to determine what is of God and what isn't, and if there is something that seems wrong, the believer is obligated to question, pray, and determine what the truth is for him/herself.

**Red Flag Number Four**

Secrecy is one of the main hallmarks of abusive churches. Is discussion concerning the leadership or how things are done considered gossip and thus forbidden? Does the "can't talk" rule enforce silence in your church? Is information is tightly controlled? Are there only a few that know what is going on, leaving the rest of the congregation in the dark and in frustration? If you notice any of these things in your church, a spirit of control is probably behind it.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:20-21 KJV

CHAPTER EIGHT

MIND-NUMBED ROBOTS

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 2 Pet. 2:19 KJV

Abusive churches expect their people to come to them for everything to the point that independent thinking is severely undermined. The longer you stay in a place like this, the less confident you become in your ability to hear from God and make your own decisions. As the brainwashing progresses- continually told you are a dumb sheep, never knowing what's going on and never allowed to do anything- more and more of your thought processes are given over to the controllers who want to do all your thinking for you.

A website [1] that was created by people that left one of these systems brought up an interesting point. These churches generally have their own schools, theoretically to keep the young ones protected from the worldly influences of public schools, which should be a good thing. But in these places, the schools extend their dependency doctrines to the children, leaving them completely incapable of thinking for themselves. They are taught to ask permission to do almost anything, and like the adults, are told they aren't ready to do any kind of real ministry, being instructed to clear everything with their teachers before proceeding.

I was told of a young girl in a fast food place that saw someone her age that was visibly upset. She wanted to pray with her and minister to her, but like a good, submitted sheep, she called her teacher first to ask permission. And of course she didn't receive permission, being told that she wasn't ready to do that kind of ministry. A real opportunity to minister love and peace to someone needing it and an opportunity to help the young Christian woman gain confidence in ministry was thrown away because of controlling spirits that won't allow others to do anything. This training leaves young people completely unprepared to function as adults.

**First Church of the Brain-Dead**

They are drunk, but not from wine; they stagger, but not from strong drink [but from spiritual stupor]. 10 For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep . . . 13 And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips but remove their hearts and minds far from Me, and their fear and reverence for Me are a commandment of men that is learned by repetition [without any thought as to the meaning]. Isa. 29:9-13 AMP

In abusive churches the leadership is so overwhelmingly controlling, your mind checks out. Because of all the brainwashing that convinces you that you aren't capable of thinking for yourself, you begin to fall into a spiritual slumber. This is a bewitching influence that will convince you that you don't hear the voice of God as you should and you begin to rely on the leadership for all direction. Some of the oft-heard questions I remember other people asking were, "Did you clear that with the pastor? Did you get permission?" The leadership did a very good job of convincing a large part of the congregation that they were unable to think for themselves and needed their sanction for everything.

The goal of controlling leadership is to keep the congregation dependent on them, keep the people from even trying to hear from God for themselves and as a result from ever growing up spiritually. Certainly those devils who perpetrate this deception in the first place don't want those under their control to ever obtain enough revelation in the Word to gain freedom from their influence. So they create a system in which everything- the teaching, conversations, off-hand comments- all leave you with the impression that those in leadership are super-spiritual and you just don't measure up. Of course they never put that in so many words, but the implication is clear, leaving you feeling like you aren't hearing from God at all and questioning your own spirituality. And they surely don't want you finding out the truth from anyone else, so they move to close in and prevent any contact with other ministries, always giving seemingly reasonable excuses as to why you should not expose yourself to these other people. The whole object is to shut down the voice of God in your life.

After being in this church for a few years, I realized I wasn't functioning like I used to- praying for the leadership, praying over the services and hearing from God. So I tried to pray for the leadership as I felt like I should, but the one time I felt like I'd heard from God and took it to them, I was told in no uncertain terms that I was wrong, and that without a second thought on their part. It was a knee-jerk reaction that to me should have been a giant red flag.

We need to test everything our leadership preaches, but it also goes the other way- they should test what we take to them. They didn't even pretend to test what I felt like I'd heard from God; it was simply and immediately rejected. Some thought should have been given to the matter first before just slamming the door shut on what I said, but because their motivation was out of maintaining control rather than actually ministering grace and life, those deceiving spirits would have nothing to do with any challenge to their little domain, thus the instant rejection. That kind of rapid-fire reaction should always be suspect. Of course this left me further questioning my ability to hear from God.

Convinced this church was a safe place, I just shelved what I thought I heard, really knowing down inside that something was rotten in the state of Denmark, but I just didn't want to believe it. After coming out from under the influence of this situation, it has taken time to trust my spiritual senses again, much less feel confident in them. Always test what your leadership preaches, and always expect them to test what you bring to them. Test and prove all things, and that takes time and effort.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thess. 5:21 KJV

**Drunk on Power**

But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. Isa. 28:7 KJV

Isaiah called the spiritual leaders of his day onto the carpet much like Jesus did with the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes when He was here. These priests and prophets "erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way. . . " This is a passage that has intrigued me for years because of the verse that appears twice that refers to "line upon line and precept upon precept" (vs. 10 & 13). I have heard verse ten preached for years, always with the assumption that this is the way we receive from God; this is the way understanding comes to us, just a little at a time. But the second time this verse shows up in verse thirteen, it reads this way:

But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isa. 28:13 KJV

Notice how repetitive this is, and of course how the verse ends- broken, snared and taken. Not good. So I wondered for years which way to interpret these verses; was "line upon line" a good thing or a bad thing? Not long ago, the Lord drew my attention to the footnote in the King James version in verse ten attached to the words "must be" which gives an alternate reading of "hath been". So you put the alternate reading in there, and you get this:

For precept hath been upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isa. 28:10 KJV

So what "hath been"? Look back up in verse seven quoted above to find out- the prophets and priests had erred in vision and stumbled in judgment through strong drink. To me, this whole passage looks like a contrast between hearing from God through the religious leaders and hearing from God by the Holy Spirit through "stammering lips and another tongue". These leaders were the voice of God; the people were completely dependent on them to hear from God for them. So in the controlling fashion typical of authoritarian leadership, they would dole out the Word of the Lord a little at a time, just enough Word to keep the people snared, just enough truth to keep the deception going.

Then they would load them up with precept upon precept upon line upon line . . . The word "line" there means "rule" and that's how it's translated in the Amplified version. The little bit of truth the people heard pulled them into thinking that the leaders were hearing from God, but all the rules, precepts and religion that came with it caused the people to be broken, fall backward and be snared and taken into a system that taught people to depend on their obedience to the rules for their right standing with God. By their conformity, they worked to receive the approval of the priests and prophets, leaving them worn out by a system of religious control.

Gary Carpenter explains the story of the widow's mite in a way I've not heard before. [2] He believes that the religious leaders in Jesus' day operated the same way in that they demanded obedience to rules and regulations, preaching that their blessing was dependent on their giving. That poor widow gave all she had out of pressure from the leadership, those scribes and Pharisees that would "devour widow's houses". The Old and New Testaments are both loaded with references to overbearing, demanding religious leaders that demonstrated no care for the sheep whatsoever. (I have included a list in the appendix.)

As the quote goes, ". . . absolute power corrupts absolutely." Stephen Crosby, in his book _Authority, Accountability and the Apostolic Movement_ , says "Authority is intoxicating. Even for the most conscientious, well-meaning, and servant-spirited person, it is two-hundred-proof hooch." [3] Could this be the "strong drink" referred to in Isaiah 28:7? The more I look at this passage, the more I think it is. An interesting side note- I had taken this interpretation of Isaiah 28 to the leadership of that church to get their opinion, and one never came. I tried twice, and both times I was ignored, again reinforcing the impression that I was not hearing from God.

The load of religion and the accompanying guilt that was placed on those who labored under the heavy-handed authority of priests and prophets that were erring was a soul-destroying burden that we have no business carrying now. Leadership that is intoxicated on authority and delights in lording it over the people will create burdens of rules and expectations that cannot be borne without much damage to those attempting to conform.

**The True Rest- the Holy Spirit**

Right in the middle of this passage in Isaiah, God gives the answer to the religious system of overreaching authority, rules and control:

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Isa. 28:11-12 KJV

Isaiah must have been seeing prophetically to the day of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit was made available to every believer. That day we were given a Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Stand-by (John 14:26 AMP) to communicate God to us. With His Word and His Spirit, we have all we need to approach God on our own, to hear from God on our own and to receive from God on our own, no other mediator required. It is by the Holy Spirit that He speaks to His people, and it is by the Holy Spirit that the believer hears His voice. No more dependence on someone else to hear from God for you, and no more religion, no more rules, no more precepts to gain right standing with God and the approval of leadership. This is the true rest, and this is the true refreshing, a rest that comes when you are free from religious bondage and rules, a freedom that comes with hearing from God for yourself. The Lord wants to speak to His people directly via His Holy Spirit. Only in this is there rest and refreshing. Works bring weariness and frustration, but the Spirit ministers life. Note that Jesus did not say, "Come to your pastor or your covering apostle; He said, Come to Me!

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. Mat. 11:28-30 AMP

Wisdom has been hidden for us, not from us (Prov. 2:7). The knowledge of God is available to every believer for every circumstance of life by the Holy Spirit, and it is our job to meditate the Word and learn to listen to that still, small voice without depending on someone else to do it for us. The Holy Spirit was given to make all things known to us (John 14:26). No human can take on the role of teacher of the Church; that job belongs to the Holy Spirit alone. Under the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was only given to a select few leaders- the prophet, the priest and the king, unlike the New Covenant in which every believer has access and thus responsibility to hear from God for themselves. We can have a relationship with God personally. Learning to hear from God by the Holy Spirit is a part of growing into maturity.

Paul dealt with the influence of false teachers and apostles in several letters- 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Timothy and Hebrews, indicating that he had to continually bring believers back into faith and out of the religious influence of false teachers. Hebrews is loaded with exhortations to take heed, beware, hold fast, to stay on that narrow path of grace and faith. Likewise, John dealt with a seducing influence in all three of his letters, and in the first, he reminds them that they have the Holy Spirit as a teacher:

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth . . . But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John 2:20,21,27 KJV

The people in these churches did not need others to think for them; in these letters these believers were all reminded that they had the Holy Spirit as a teacher; they were told to beware of those that would seduce with their "knowledge". In essence, Paul and John both exhorted believers to listen to the Holy Spirit and not to man.

According to Gary Carpenter in his series, _The God of Hope_ [4], the purpose of religion is to keep the believer separated from communication with the Holy Spirit, our Counselor. If the devil can keep us from hearing the voice of God through the use of seducers who would foist religion onto a congregation, he will keep the believer deaf, deceived and in bondage to controlling spirits. As you learn to hear from God for yourself and quit expecting other people to hear for you, you grow into maturity learning to distinguish between good and evil. Then true peace and rest can minister to your soul, and in this is your protection from deception.

. . . we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16 KJV

**Red Flag Number Five**

The fifth marker of an abusive church is leadership that wants to do your thinking for you. They will regularly compare the people to dumb sheep that just aren't ready to do any ministry. Do you feel like you don't hear from God accurately? Do you feel like you aren't as "spiritual" as your leaders? Do your leaders convey a condescending attitude toward the members? If you have come to believe that your leaders are more spiritual than you, that they can hear from God better than you can, and that you need to clear everything with them first, beware.

Also beware of knee-jerk, immediate reactions to anything you might bring that you believe is from God. This has happened to me several times over the years, and I've learned that this kind of reaction just about has to have a spirit behind it that is trying to keep the truth hidden. Obviously, no one is infallible, and everyone will miss it from time to time; this is one of the reasons we need to know how to test the spirits and expect others to do the same for us. Included in the appendix is a list of scriptures on how all knowledge and wisdom are available to the believer, scriptures have done and are still doing a work in me to deliver me from The First Church of the Brain-Dead. I encourage you to use some of these scriptures every day, declaring them over yourself if you have been under the deception that you can't hear from God. The Word will not return void; as you use the Word as the sword of the Spirit, it will do a work in you to set you free.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13 KJV

CHAPTER NINE

IS IT A CULT?

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Pet. 2:1 KJV

When I first left this church, I really didn't have a good understanding as to why it wasn't a healthy atmosphere. It has taken months to get my mind wrapped around all the information I've read and to reconcile all that with my experiences. Coming to grips with the fact that this was truly a horribly perverted system has been hard, but they were deceived themselves and more than likely had no clue that they had created a monster.

" **Cult" Defined**

Labeling a church a cult can leave people with an incorrect impression, so I have looked for definitions to quote so that there won't be misunderstandings as to what I mean. According to a blog I found written by Pastor Keith Kip, a sociological definition looks at behavior. He says, ". . . a group or a church can be orthodox in its doctrine, but still exhibit cultish tendencies in the way it handles criticism, demands loyalty, or manipulates decision-making processes." [1] This definition indicates that a church can preach the Word and still qualify as a cult on the basis of how it is run.

At a website called _Cult FAQ_ , Robert Bowman is quoted as defining a cult theologically as ". . . a religious group originating as a heretical sect and maintaining fervent commitment to heresy. Source: Robert Bowman, _A Biblical Guide to Orthodoxy and Heresy_." [2] Considering the first definition, the system I left could truly be considered a cult in that they subscribed to authoritarian leadership, they demanded loyalty, criticism was not allowed, etc. So sociologically speaking, it qualified as a cult according to that definition. It's that second definition I find interesting because of the use of the word "heresy" which now also needs to be defined. According to _Vine's Dictionary_ , "heresy" is ". . . a self-willed opinion, which is substituted for submission to the power of truth, and leads to division and the formation of sects, Gal. 5:20; such erroneous opinions are frequently the outcome of personal preference or the prospect of advantage; see 2 Pet. 2:1, where 'destructive' (RV) signifies leading to ruin." [3]

**Heresy, Sects, Divisions**

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Rom. 16:17-18 KJV

Heresy, then, is an opinion, not truth, that lends itself to the formation of groups, sects, parties, etc., and are often formed because the people who start them see some opportunity for personal advantage. 1 Corinthians 11:19 in the KJV says, "For there must be also heresies among you . . ." Instead of the word "heresies", Amplified uses "factions or parties". These churches that subscribe to the shepherding/discipleship form of church government all go this direction in that they promote allegiance to a man and not to God, creating a party spirit as Paul explains in the first several chapters of 1 Corinthians. A spirit of division is also promoted in that eventually these churches become very closed and secretive. They foster the notion that they have the truth and other churches don't; no other place is as safe and enlightened as they are, and in later stages, they will prohibit contact with other ministries. This attitude pulls its members away from the rest of the Church into isolation and thus qualifies as heresy.

Understanding the gravity of the situation is imperative. The church I was in presented such a good case for their form of church government that it became difficult to get my mind to switch gears and accept the fact that it was indeed a complete perversion of the Word. And the more I read, the more evident it became that the shepherding/discipleship and spiritual covering doctrines are indeed actually witchcraft and doctrines of demons, these doctrines being the stuff of cults. This has been a hard one to swallow, but it is an inescapable conclusion.

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron. 1 Tim. 4:1,2 AMP

**Seduced by Jezebel**

When I first started reading books on spiritual abuse, I tended to avoid anything that dealt with witchcraft or Jezebel, just because I didn't really think they would apply to what I had experienced. But once again, like coming to terms with the fact that the church was indeed headed toward becoming a cult, I realized that witchcraft was being manifested in there, and we had been dealing with someone under the influence of a Jezebel spirit. Rick Godwin provides a good definition of witchcraft in his book, _Exposing Witchcraft in the Church_. He says, "When someone asserts authority not given by God it is called witchcraft; it is rebellion against delegated, legitimate authority. With such illegitimate authority, one resorts to manipulating, dominating or intimidating in order to rule over other people." [4]

According to Godwin, when you see manipulation, domination and intimidation, know that an evil spirit is at work, getting people to do what they otherwise would not do [5], and this is the way Jezebel operates. She is a seducer; she knows how to put on the right front to pull people into dependence on her by coming across as very spiritual, operating in what appear to be legitimate gifts of the Spirit, and using flattery to draw in her victims. She will use personal prophecy to her own advantage as a method of flattery, singling out certain people to prophesy over in order to manipulate them into staying and serving her. She is expert at forming soul-ties that foster dependence on her and that are very difficult to break. In _Jezebel, Seducing Goddess of War_ , Jonas Clark says of Jezebel, "She knows how to probe your soul, looking for any and every weakness and insecurity you may have. She uses these insecurities to masterfully form soul ties that she will later use to pull you back to her when you begin to turn toward the truth." [6]

**Seduction Through "Love"**

. . . Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; so it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness . . . 2 Cor. 11:14-15 AMP

Satan presents himself to those he is attempting to deceive as truth and light. Deception will appear packaged as a wonderful, anointed ministry come to bring nothing but the best God has for you and will seduce with plausible, persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech (Col. 2:4 AMP), all designed to pull you out of the truth and into error. Seduction is the name of the game, with feigned praise, flattery, false spiritual gifts, tangible physical gifts and twisted truth as the methods used to pull in the unsuspecting. These appeal to the flesh and have a bewitching influence that ultimately will blind the victim to the truth.

The "we care about you" pitch is one of the primary tools used to work the seduction. A technique Steven Lambert calls "love bombing" [7] is a process that makes new people feel accepted by gushing over them with a show of "love", and continues to work on the other members with the whole "protection" ploy. This "you're loved" tactic works as a sedative that allows the leadership to exert control unchallenged. I find this observation very interesting since this church I attended was indeed what I would consider quite friendly, though perhaps not to the extreme as Lambert describes. Considering the fact that it is the same spirit behind all these places that promote this form of church government, I'm sure the intention was indeed to anesthetize those under their control to what was really going on in there. In retrospect, the feeling that the leadership truly cared about us contributed to my state of denial and my delay in facing the facts. I just kept telling myself that they preached the Word and they meant well, and I'm sure they did, having been beguiled themselves. It is all the same package of deception- everything they do is for your good and the "love bombing" masks the whole process.

Jezebel appeals to your emotions, making you feel good, luring you with flattery and this false love. As stated before, the _Vine's Dictionary_ definition of the word "bewitched" in Galatians 3:1 means to bring evil on a person by feigned praise, and this seems to be quite descriptive of how this spirit operates to keep people under her control. Jonas Clark describes how she operates:

_The Jezebel spirit operates initially through seduction . . . Jezebel cannot control a person who has not first been seduced. It's only after the seduction that control and manipulation become effective . . . Beware of vain flattery, smooth prophetic sayings and seducing tears from this spirit . . . Self-serving interests, however, always motivate Jezebel's flattery. She is interested in gaining entrance to your soul._ [8]

Naiveté and the willingness to believe the best of everyone plays in Jezebel's favor. No one wants to be suspicious and skeptical, but where this spirit is concerned, it is vital to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and not to emotions or physical senses. This means being spiritually minded, not carnally minded, learning to test the spirits. Of course, walking in love with everyone is a priority, but at the same time we must be aware of the spirits operating around us. The false love that is exhibited through people under the influence of Jezebel can be very seductive, but that still, small voice is what will let you know when someone's display of love has some other motive behind it.

**Jezebel- the Quintessential Controller**

Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry "Peace" when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. Mic. 3:5 ESV

Once seduced, the manipulation, intimidation and domination can begin. Jezebel has to know everything and she will use any information she can get to manipulate people to her advantage; Rick Godwin calls her "nosy". [9] She demands loyalty and will not tolerate any exposure to the truth- she wants to be the only voice speaking into your life. Of course her objective is to be in complete control. So the next play is one to create an atmosphere of isolation to prevent any contact with anyone that might expose the deception:

These men [the Judaizing teachers] are zealously trying to dazzle you [paying court to you, making much of you], but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is to isolate you [from us who oppose them], so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their favor. Gal. 4:17 AMP

It is a divisive ploy to pull people away from God and to themselves. Paul warned believers in the book of Acts to be ready for this kind of attack on their fellowship.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Acts 20:28-31 KJV

When the devil makes a move in a church to deceive those he can, he will pull as many away as possible by creating a spirit of strife and division that may eventually cause a group of people to leave at the same time. The ring leader will seduce as many as possible into lining up with them against the leadership (assuming the leadership is godly). But when it's the entire church leadership that is deceived, they will move to isolate the members from contact with other ministries. One way or another, the devil isolates his prey from any exposure to the truth.

This explains why our leadership regularly maligned other ministries in the area. There was always some reason for avoiding contact with other ministries and at the time their reasons seemed fairly plausible. I remember the first time this came up- for years previous to joining this church, I would attend local Bible studies through the week; but after joining, we were advised not to participate because they claimed it could be dangerous. As it turned out, the only reason it was "dangerous" was because they weren't the ones supervising and in control. They expected us to listen to their teachings only- they wanted to be our sole source of spiritual food. I would listen to other ministry teachings regularly anyway over the years, but felt like I had to justify it in my own thinking, feeling a bit like a traitor. Of course now it's obvious why they did this.

Jezebel can be very intimidating, threatening and abusive when crossed, as several people I know can attest. When called into the office, it was immediately assumed that some "correction" was about to take place which essentially amounted to being unceremoniously chewed out. And several that attempted to reason with them when they left the church saw their aggresive side in no uncertain terms. Godwin describes her reaction when challenged:

_When she is challenged, Jezebel becomes defensive and reacts with hostility. She lashes back with guilt-ridden accusations such as, "You're not praying enough. You're not submitted to authority. You're in rebellion . . ." With aggression, she will intimidate, quote Scripture, and try to make those who challenge her feel inferior._ [10]

This is a typical strategy of the devil. Rick Godwin says she becomes defensive; I see it more as going on the offensive by accusing her detractors of something to redirect attention from her and onto her challenger. And she will always degrade her opponents to establish her superiority. You can see this tactic in politics all the time, and it's normal operating procedure for Jezebel. A favorite sermon topic preached at least once a year was on taking offense; they regularly drove home the idea that we should never take offense, but they would cause offense themselves regularly. This was just another way they had to reinforce their hold over the congregation- Jezebel can be very offensive, but woe to anyone that takes offense!

**The Depths of Satan**

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols . . . 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. Rev. 2:20-24 KJV

According to Jesus in his letter to the church at Thyatira, submitting to a Jezebel spirit puts you in the position of falling into the depths of Satan. Tolerating Jezebel has profound consequences; she will pull her victims into perversions of all kinds affecting all areas of a person's life. In my research I kept coming across references demonstrating how those leaders often fall into all kinds of sin, but this was something I hadn't seen for myself right away. It wasn't until recently that some of these things have begun to come out. The more I read about this, the more I see that it is practically inevitable, once the spirit of Jezebel has taken over.

In addition to the works of darkness that are apt to manifest, financial problems and even disasters as well as mental and physical illnesses are common as all this develops in a church. Charles Fowler states that "serious mental illness" can result from being entangled with this kind of warped theology [11]. And Bill Banks in _Breaking Unhealthy Soul-Ties_ has observed that ". . . people who are bound by anger, fear, anxiety, and other emotional dysfunctions resulting from being inordinately controlled, become susceptible to disease." [12] As the leaders go, so goes the rest of the congregation. If the leaders are in error, it will just get passed down the line, multiplying the deception and all the bad fruit that goes with it. According to Banks, the spirit of error travels right on through the whole crowd:

_When the head becomes involved in evil, there is a spirit of confusion loosed that affects those under his headship, and they are not sure what to do or to think . . . Likewise, when a man in a position of spiritual authority deviates from the truth of Scripture, he opens the door for his flock to be exposed to the same types of error he experiences . . ._ [13]

Having anything to do with this theology is extremely dangerous for all concerned. Once seduced into submitting to a controlling spirit, the door is opened to the devil to bring to pass all manner of evil. All types of sin have the potential to come into manifestation, and the consequences thereof. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Of course, the more deeply the person is involved with this kind of leadership, the more apt they are to fall prey to more and more sin and the resulting fruit.

Personally, I was not a part of leadership, I had not put myself into a position to be mentored by them, and even after 12 years of involvement, had formed no real soul-ties to any of them. The only loyalty statement that was presented to me was one pledging loyalty to the choir which I did not sign. As a result, I was able to pull away much more easily than some of the others. Those that have given themselves over to these controlling spirits are much more susceptible to manifest some of these more drastic consequences like physical disease, mental disease, financial disaster, etc., and will experience a much stronger draw back to the controller and into the controlled environment if they do leave.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Gal. 6:7 KJV

**Seduction Exposed**

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess . . . 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Mat. 23:25-28 KJV

These churches are all dressed up, looking good, sounding good, but covered with whitewash. They are essentially hypocrites that cover up the corruption within. Notice Jesus says they are full of all uncleanness. Once again, this goes back to the fact that participation with Jezebel will pull her victims into the depths of Satan, opening the door to all evil. The seduction in an authoritarian church all revolves around convincing its members that there is peace in the place when there really is no true peace. Paul said to let peace rule in your heart (Col. 3:15); this is the determining factor for any decision. So it only makes sense that the devil would counterfeit that peace and sell it as legitimate to ensnare people into a religion-laden, dead, controlled system that robs its victims of any real intimacy with God through the Holy Spirit. The storm is coming, the foundations of these churches will be exposed, and truth will come out; it's only a matter of time.

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish. 19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth . . . 22 Cease ye from man . . . Isa. 2:17-22 KJV

CHAPTER TEN

SEEK MY FACE

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Psa. 27:8 KJV

God has told us in His Word over and over to seek His face, dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide in the Vine. The answer to everything is found in God's presence. Christianity is about relationship, and relationships require time in one another's presence. Knowledge of God comes as you spend time with Him, and that knowledge will bring maturity and an ability to discern good and evil (Heb. 5:14). The answer to the problem of heresy and false teaching in the church is simply to know God, to know His voice and to be led by His Spirit.

**What You Don't Know Can Destroy You**

Therefore my people go into captivity [to their enemies] without knowing it, and because they have no knowledge of God . . . Isa. 5:13 AMP

. . . the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land . . . My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . . Hos. 4:1,6 KJV

Abusive churches not only take people out of relationship with God and away from true knowledge of God, but also into a works-based relationship with the leadership that results in the so-called "performance trap". Religion and accompanying idolatry are the stumbling blocks that hinder your walk, working to keep those enslaved by it distracted from true relationship with God where truth and freedom are found. It's only in that relationship that you learn to know God, that you hear from God for your direction and encouragement; and it's in that relationship that you experience true peace and rest.

David said, "One thing have I desired . . ." (Ps. 27:4,8) and that one thing is to dwell in God's presence. "In His presence is fullness of joy" (Psa. 16:11), and when your mind is stayed on Him, perfect peace will keep and guard you (Isa. 26:3). The wide path of religion and performance may be easier on the flesh, but it is laden with obstacles that will trip you up, take you captive and ultimately destroy you, or as Isaiah said, leave you "broken, and snared, and taken" (28:13).

For I desired mercy and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hos. 6:6 KJV

**Abide in the Vine**

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 KJV

It is so easy to forget that every good gift comes from above. If it's good, it's God; it's not you. If the grace of God were to lift from you, you wouldn't be able to do anything. Religion creates a mindset that makes you believe you can do enough to gain God's approval so that you are no longer dependent on the grace of God but on your own abilities. This type of thinking is quite ironic because those abilities all come from God and operate by the grace of God in the first place; they are not your own. Apart from Him we can truly do nothing. Spending time with God to wait on His direction will make you a good steward of God's gifts and grace by using what He has given you where He tells you to use it.

Psalm 1 says that the man who spends time with God will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth fruit. It is in God's presence that good fruit will develop. Jesus said there will be many that claim to have done "many wonderful works", their own works, but He says He will tell them, "I never knew you" (Mat. 7:23). Knowledge of God is everything, and that only comes by spending time with Him, learning to hear His voice.

Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. 5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Prov. 8:1-5 KJV

Wisdom is crying out every day, the voice of God speaking to us in our spirits wanting to lead and guide, but if we don't have ears to hear, if we are deaf to the voice of God, we will fall into whatever traps the devil lays as he seeks to devour us. Religious busy-ness will distract us from hearing the voice of God who wants to take us down the narrow path and instead, lead us down the path of catering to the flesh. As true knowledge of God develops, so does discernment, and this is absolutely vital in these last days as the devil tries to undermine the authority and power of the Church. The Word states that many will come in the last days claiming to be from God, and it will take the ability to hear God's voice to tell the true from the false.

**The Laodicean Church and Traditions of Men**

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev. 3:15-19 KJV

The Laodicean church is a biblical example of a complacent, lazy and self-satisfied church. This, unfortunately, describes too many churches in America today, churches that just play at Christianity but don't really do anything for the Kingdom. They may hear the Word every time they attend a service, but Christians that don't ultimately incorporate the Word into their daily lives are doing nothing but deceiving themselves. It is this kind of church that is ripe for deception because the people are spiritually lazy and have no real relationship with God.

We, as a church, have been immersed in Bible teachings on tape, cd, mp3, tv, radio, books, services, conferences, etc. to the point that we are overloaded. If that teaching never manifests in any actual ministry, if the only thing we do is go to services and live carnal, fruitless lives the rest of the time, we are simply deceiving ourselves. It is this kind of deception that is an open invitation to seduction. The typical American attitudes of laziness, passing the buck and expecting other people to cater to our needs is the perfect set-up that allows abusive churches to thrive in this country.

At least part of the problem can be traced to the authority structure of the traditional Protestant church and the nature of the typical weekly service as documented in _Pagan_ _Christianity_ by Frank Viola [1]. The hierarchy of modern churches lends itself very readily to both passivity and a vulnerability to deception. There is a built-in leadership structure in Protestant churches inherited from centuries of tradition that can play into the shepherding/discipleship heresy by implementing the pyramid-type hierarchy form of authority taken from the world. It is characterized by the clergy/laity division of believers that was implemented into the church centuries ago. Typical church services are mostly spectator events that include a central head figure- the pastor- and a passive audience. With church buildings laid out in a theater-type setting with a platform and rows of chairs facing it, there is no interaction between members and no opportunity for contributions from them to the meeting. The bulk of the congregation is not encouraged to operate in their giftings in typical church services. Members then can become docile, uninvolved spectators for whom complete submission to authoritarian leadership may only be a step away. With most churches already set up this way, it might not take much convincing to get at least some members, particularly the hurt and wounded, to accept abusive, heavy-handed leadership.

Add to this the inevitable problem the clergy will face in dealing with at least some degree of celebrity status, and you have a recipe for disaster. Here is where the money factor plays in- giving to whatever ministry you are involved in funds the coffers of the leaders, fueling the temptation to greed. Many, many television ministries as well as local ministries have fallen and will fall because of the love of money. There are perfectly honest, legitimate ministries available in every town with leaders that have managed to overcome this temptation. But leadership in an authoritarian-type church in particular will be more than willing to part you from your money for their own sense of control over you and to fuel their greed.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you . . .2 Pet. 2:3 KJV

Centuries of traditions have robbed the contemporary church of its vitality and potential. Churches in general have become programmed, tradition-laden, mechanical rituals, whether they are Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, even Charismatic and Pentecostal. Most churches seem to follow a similar format inherited by tradition that inhibits the free expression of individual gifts, and also inhibits spiritual growth. People grow by doing, not by sitting and listening. The "sitting and listening" format invites a passive, lazy mind-set, and thus control. Traditional church can be an open invitation to deceiving spirits and devouring wolves. It is churches that encourage individual gifts and ministry to the community often in a small group format that are more apt to avoid the snares of the devil.

Keep your foot- give your mind to what you are doing- when you go . . . to the house of God; for to draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools [carelessly, irreverently], too ignorant to know that they are doing evil. Eccl. 5:1 AMP

. . .Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mat. 15:6-9 KJV

**Clue Phone**

_Clue phone: An imaginary phone whose futile hope is to alert the terminally oblivious to reality._ [2]

The Laodicean-type church is oblivious by nature, being blind, deaf, irresponsible and in a state of denial and thus a prime target for deception. After being in an abusive church and not finding out the truth until 12 years later, I felt like I had been the next best thing to terminally oblivious. The seducing effects of that environment proved to drain me of any sense I may have had before joining the church. The reality of what these churches really are still leaves me completely appalled, amazed that people can be so easily deceived by them. It would be better by far to be forewarned and thus forearmed. And to be forearmed, it takes effort and a healthy dose of skepticism.

Most people tend to be very naive and trusting because we want to think the best of everyone and just don't expect people to be devious, especially in the church. As a result, we become easy targets for the devil's con jobs, easily duped and pulled into controlling relationships that leave us powerless in the Kingdom of God. And it's not that all of those being deceptive are consciously setting out to do so since they are more than likely deceived as well, and may be motivated by good intentions. But just because leadership means well, that doesn't make their doctrines any less dangerous.

We can no longer afford to be ignorant of the devil's devices and no longer afford to be lazy. It just doesn't pay to be blindly trusting of anyone who claims to be a Christian, regardless of their alleged ministry. The deception in these churches, as I have stated repeatedly, is putting trust in men rather than in God. It is imperative to hold fast to the Head (Col. 2:19), looking unto Jesus and not the pastor. Then we must prove all things by listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and hold fast to that which is good (1 Thess. 5:21).

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Mat. 10:16 KJV

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LEARNING TO TEST THE SPIRITS

Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. 1 John 4:1 AMP

We are exhorted throughout the Word to take heed and beware of false prophets, false apostles, false shepherds, etc. that would seduce and lead astray the Church, but distinguishing between genuine Christians and imposters isn't easy in that wolves are often wolves without realizing it themselves. When deceived people fall into pride, greed and control, it may be a gradual process that isn't readily evident to those who are around them. Sincerity becomes a convenient reason to excuse questionable behavior, something I did for years.

Testing spirits can seem like a cold, impersonal process that most people aren't going to want to work through. But the devil absolutely never plays by the rules; there is no such thing as "playing fair" with him. We can know full well that he masquerades as an angel of light but still look at someone and ignore the still, small voice telling us that something is wrong, simply because we don't want to believe the worst of anyone.

It is absolutely imperative that we train ourselves to be skeptical by testing doctrines, testing fruit, and then listening to the voice of the Spirit of God in the inner man to determine what is of God and what is not. The book of 1 John contains several verses that deal with this concept, verses that highlight at least some of the processes we need to master to protect ourselves from deception. All through this little book, John exhorts his fellow believers to watch for those who would deceive them and pull them away from true faith in Christ. He states that the purpose of this letter to these people was specifically to warn them about those who would seduce them and lead them astray (2:26), so the whole letter could be taken in this context.

The word "test" or "try" in King James is _dokimazo_ (1381)- to test or approve. _Vine's_ _Dictionary_ adds "with the expectation of approving," and under the word "approve" it adds "the power to make a deliberate choice . . . approves of after having put the matter to the test." [1] In Acts 17:10-11 there is reference to the Bereans who received the Word with all readiness of mind but didn't just swallow it, they tested it first. They searched the scriptures to check to see "whether those things were so". John gives us a few ways to determine whether or not a doctrine and the people that teach it are of God. First, does the person consistently walk in love? Second, are they consumed with the love the world? And third, is the teaching an "antichrist" teaching?

**The Love Walk**

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 1 John 2:9-10 KJV

The premier test, the primary criterion in judging someone's fruit is the test of love. The one command Jesus left us is to love one another (1 John 3:23), and John reiterates throughout his letter the connection between walking in love and knowing God. Those who walk in love are those who truly know God, making the love walk a test of Christian character and heart motive:

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:3-6 KJV

Anyone who disdains other Christians for whatever reason has a fruit issue. When people are treated with disrespect and even contempt by other Christians and especially by leaders, they just failed the primary test John gave us in his first letter. Heart motives should immediately become suspect if someone consistently fails the test of love. Of course, we all are working on our love walk; it is in consistency that the true nature of someone's heart is seen. This is brought out in the Amplified version of another passage in 1 John:

No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him--deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him]. 7 Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous. 1 John 3:6-7 AMP

This is where the abusive church I attended failed the test- the heavy-handed leadership of this church would regularly castigate and denigrate members in the name of discipline and "growing up". Members were routinely belittled and made to feel inadequate year after year, though the process was masked in the whole "we care about you" façade. This was consistent behavior over the course of many years; and this was intimidation, plain and simple, and a direct violation of the command to love. The love test is essentially the fruit test, and this should be the first thing you check.

**Love of the World**

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17 KJV

It seems that churches that get caught up in this deception are often those that take the prosperity message and turn it into greed, as discussed in Chapter Six. The will of God is to love, and love cannot be expressed to those in the community if a large portion of the church's money is diverted into the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Churches that emphasize the prosperity message along with bigger houses and better cars are more than likely comsumed with the love of the world, not the love of God.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things . . . 1 Tim. 6:8-11 KJV

**The Antichrist Test**

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 1 John 2:18-24 KJV

I have pondered over this particular test for years, wondering about what it means to deny that Jesus is the Christ. Maybe this, literally, was the primary opposition to the truth in John's time- those that came against the Church claiming that Jesus was not the Messiah. Those people would fit the description of antichrist in that they would have denied that Jesus was the Christ. The first churches no doubt would have dealt with that particular challenge to the truth on a regular basis.

But in attempting to apply this passage to today and giving it a broader application, I have a couple lines of thought. Perhaps any teaching that would take away from the lordship of Jesus in a believer's life could be classified as an antichrist doctrine. Shepherding/discipleship teaching and the spiritual covering doctrine in particular would most definitely fall into this category in that they pull their adherents away from Jesus and into idolatrous soul-ties with leaders that demand complete obedience. Their followers no longer acknowledge Jesus as Lord; with submission to these doctrines, they are acknowledging their covering pastor or apostle as their lord instead, whether they realize it or not.

Another way to look at this passage is as simply a general doctrine test, checking someone's teachings against scripture. In this passage, John very clearly explains how to test a doctrine- check it against the Spirit within you. You have the Spirit, you have the anointing, and He is your teacher, as covered in Chapter Eight. It is the witness of the Spirit within you that will give you confirmation as to what is of Him and what isn't. You have no need that anyone teach you. The Spirit test could also be considered the "peace test", this one really being the final test for anything.

**Peace- the Final Test**

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Col 3:15 AMP

Distinguishing between real peace and the false peace in an abusive church doesn't seem like it would be difficult, but when you're immersed in the deception, it might not be readily evident. Abusive churches present the illusion of peace when there is no peace (Jer. 6:14; 8:11; Eze. 13:10,16), making it an absolute necessity to learn to hear the voice of God to distinguish the real from the fake. It is important to remember to let peace be the decision-maker in your heart, not what you see, hear and feel.

To be perfectly honest, I'd have to say that I was seeking goose bumps more than I was seeking peace while attending that church. In spite of the fact that the Word was preached and the gifts of the Spirit were operating, over the course of a few years, what peace there was in that church early on was gradually replaced with frustration. It was very easy to be distracted by the "glitter"- the whole aura of spirituality in the place that served to blind us to the reality that the peace left years before I did. The Word exhorts over and over to seek peace:

Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] 1 Pet. 3:11 AMP

**A Church of Peace**

The most overridingly important characteristic of a godly church is peace. There will be no confusion in a church of peace, and its members will leave services built up and edified rather than frustrated and feeling empty. Peace is an indication that the leaders of that church are operating according to the wisdom of God. Psalm 29:11 says the Lord blesses His people with peace; a peaceful church is a blessed church.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Mat. 5:9 KJV

. . . to the counsellors of peace is joy. Prov 12:20 KJV

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Cor 14:33 KJV

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Rom 14:19 KJV

. . . Her [Wisdom's] ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Prov 3:17 AMP

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:17-18 KJV

It is Wisdom that builds the house (Prov. 9:1), and that Wisdom is characterized by peace. A church built on Wisdom will be a church that is first of all pure, then peaceable. Are these fruits in your church? Judge the fruit, and let the peace of God rule in your heart, deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds.

**God's Righteousness Produces the Fruit of Peace**

And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction . . . Now it is evident that no person is justified (declared righteous and brought into right standing with God) through the Law, for the Scripture says, The man in right standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith . . . Gal. 3:10-11 AMP

In a works-based system, there is no real righteousness according to the Word of God, and so no peace. In an authoritarian church, the people are forever running on the treadmill of works to gain acceptance and promotion with a spirit of slavery taking over, pushing people into more and more performance, more and more works. Righteousness before God is by grace through faith, not of works (Eph. 2:9). Resting in the grace of God, not relying on the works demanded by authoritarian leadership, is the way God intended for us to receive the gift of righteousness, and the fruit of that righteousness is peace:

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Isa. 32:17 KJV

. . . the peaceable fruit of righteousness . . . Heb. 12:11 KJV

**Peace is Our Protection**

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27 AMP

Jesus left us with a command to stay in peace. He told us to not allow ourselves to become fearful, intimidated, cowardly and unsettled. Note in particular the word "intimidated"; authoritarian leadership is very intimidating. When you make the decision to stay in an environment that produces these things, you are opening yourself up to spiritual attack of the enemy:

And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Php. 4:7 AMP

It is peace that guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, so when you choose to stay where you have no peace, you leave your mind and heart defenseless. It is up to you to choose peace. If your mind is in a turmoil over church, you will allow yourself to slip into a carnal mindset, the mind of the flesh, that the Word says is death:

Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. Rom. 8:6 AMP

Note that the mind of the flesh (death) is portrayed as the direct opposite of the mind of the Spirit (peace). If you are not in peace, you are not in the Spirit and in life. That only leaves one other option- you are in the flesh, in carnality and in death. No wonder it is a command to stay in peace.

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. Isa. 26:3 AMP

**God's Covenant of Peace**

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isa. 52:7 KJV

Churches that publish peace, that promote peace, and that leave their members in peace are godly churches that have been built on the wisdom of God. Churches built on the wisdom of man promote man's agenda and demand sacrifices of obedience, financial support and unending loyalty on the altars of idolatry. They function on a works-based system in which promotion only comes by complete surrender to the "vision of the house" and all the demands made by the leadership; these are churches that are built on the sands of pride and deception.

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Isa. 54:10 KJV

God's covenant with His people is a covenant of peace: Jesus came to bring peace, peace between God and man. The Gospel is the Gospel of peace. The Christian life is meant to be a lifestyle of peace; the Word exhorts over and over to live in peace with one another, for blessed are the peacemakers (Mt. 5:9). We are to live in peace and we are to minister peace one to another. Peace should be our direction as well as our protection, guarding our hearts and minds from the upsets and fears of life. It is faith in God that produces peace, not faith in a man; fear is a result of unbelief that comes when trust is placed in the flesh. When controlling people pull others into ungodly soul-ties created through covenants with men, faith in God is undermined, fear takes its place and peace is destroyed. Those ungodly soul-ties need to be broken to begin the healing process that will ultimately restore peace in your soul. I recommend the book _Breaking Unhealthy Soul-Ties_ by Bill and Sue Banks to work through that process.

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. Hag. 2:9 KJV

**Simple No More**

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov. 14:15 KJV

Determine that you will never allow yourself to be deceived out of gullibility. Test the spirits, test the doctrine, test the fruit. And above all, listen to the Spirit within you; you have no need that any man teach you. Take what is offered, test it against the Word, and just as importantly, test it against the Spirit that abides in you to see if it or they produce peace in you. Let peace rule in your heart, remembering that if a teaching or a person leaves you uneasy and without peace, don't ignore the warning. Just because someone seems on the surface to be "spiritual" and seems to know what they're doing, and even if everyone else seems to think everything is fine, assume nothing. Listen to your own heart, listen to the still, small voice inside that will warn you with an uneasy feeling when something is wrong. Even if a teaching sounds biblical, that doesn't mean the person delivering that teaching has sound heart motives.

Over the years there have been several times I have ignored that inner witness that something was wrong. I failed to listen to that warning where one person in particular was concerned, a woman that attended another church prior to the abusive one. That person didn't sit right with me from the start; she grated on my nerves but I couldn't figure out why. She projected a very "spiritual" presence and it seemed that a lot of us had trouble with her, but the leadership didn't seem to think there was anything amiss, allowing her to have influence in the music and children's ministries. That left us blaming ourselves for not "walking in love", reasoning that if the leadership didn't see any problem, then the problem must have been with us. It became evident several years after the fact that she was under the influence of spirits that eventually contributed to a church split, something the Holy Spirit was trying to warn us about.

Likewise, in this last abusive church, the pastor's wife left me with the same misgivings from the start which I completely ignored because she seemed so very "spiritual". I was blinded by her spiritual show, and by the fact that most of the other ladies in the church were completely enamored with her. Of course 12 years later it became evident that she was under the influence of a Jezebel spirit. Those of us that have left of course see the truth now, but those still in the church defend her vehemently, being bewitched by her seducing influence.

Be wise as serpents; take heed and beware of those who would deceive. Gullible people want to believe anyone who proclaims to have a ministry and allegedly speaks for God, but not everyone that claims to be "Christian" actually is! It isn't easy to go against the tide of prevailing opinion so heeding the warning of that still, small voice may leave you alienated from those around you. Controlling spirits count on you not wanting to make waves, take a stand or be willing to leave. It takes determination to guard your heart in spite of what others think.

We tend to put complete trust in anyone that is a member of the clergy, simply because we assume they are both educationally and spiritually qualified and thus completely trustworthy and above reproach. This has placed those in full-time ministry under unreasonable pressure to be all things to their members, something that is quite unrealistic. No one is built to carry that kind of responsibility, and no one is above temptation and/or doctrinal error. All teaching must be tested by the Word and by the unction- the Spirit- within the believer regardless of how "spiritual" a person seems to be. Never assume that just because someone is in full-time ministry, they must be right.

When a person or doctrine passes the first three tests from the book of 1 John, peace then is the final test. Follow peace; let the peace of Christ rule, deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds. That peace will then become your protection, guarding your heart and your mind.

So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. Php. 1:10 AMP

CHAPTER TWELVE

CONCLUSION: THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE DECISION

What has amazed me in reading so many books on the subject of abusive churches is that the characteristics are all the same, making it seem like the authors had been to the same church I had attended. It's the same deception from the same spirits, creating a very definable, obvious pattern that allows for fairly easy identification. There are several basic trademark attributes to watch for in determining if a church is in trouble. You may not see them all, but the presence of even one of these may be a sign that your church could be getting off track. If you see most of these, it could be headed straight into the ditch. Don't forget that once the door is opened to any of this, the potential to manifest all kinds of evil is there. On the other hand, there is a balance between being careful and splitting hairs. so keep in mind that no church is or ever will be perfect and as I keep saying, people make mistakes. It is churches that consistently adhere to these characteristics that, in my opinion, should be avoided.

**Checklist of Characteristics**

The following is a list of things to watch for to determine if you are indeed in an abusive system. I have seen several lists of abusive church characteristics, many of them very long; therefore I constructed a much more condensed version that I hope will be a quick guide in enabling the reader decide if a church might be heading down the wrong path. I have highlighted in bold print some of the commonly used catch words and phrases that are regularly tossed around in these churches.

**1.** _Extreme Authoritarian Leadership_ **\- Submission to authority** is constantly preached and demanded. You are to submit to authority for your protection because you're just a **dumb** **sheep** that needs their oversight to survive. They are the only authority, no one else will be acknowledged because to have two leaders would be like the proverbial **two-headed monster**. "Don't cross me" becomes the favorite topic of sermons. Leadership has the **vision** **of the house** , and everyone is expected to come into alignment with it. No one fulfills their own God-given visions, the vision of the set man is the only one that matters. **To have authority, you must be submitted to authority** , a principle influenced by Confucianism and taken from the book _Spiritual Authority_ by Watchman Nee. Beware of any church that uses this book as required reading. Submission is the law, and the bait of possible ministry opportunity is always dangled out there to keep you in line. No one operates in any real authority; they never delegate. Ministry opportunities rarely if ever come along, and if they do they will probably be in areas in which you have no anointing or gifting. You may get title and position but no real authority ever comes with it because everything goes through the leadership, period; and they will fully justify this position if challenged. The **spiritual** **covering** doctrine is promoted; they become your **spiritual father** and/or **spiritual mother** , and you the spiritual son or daughter that is in covenant relationship with them, not with God. They take on the role of **mentor** and mediator between you and God because you can't hear accurately from God for yourself and you're just not as spiritual as they are. They will offer you protection in the form of spiritual covering from which you must never leave or evil will come into your life. Their image is all-important, and they love the titles- addressing them by their title reinforces their perceived superiority and their control over you.

**2.** _Religion_ \- A works-based system that uses rules, spoken and unspoken, is established to control all those who choose to submit to it, creating a "performance trap" that requires complete conformity to all demands to prove loyalty and possibly gain a position in the system. Religion bewitches those under its influence, clouding thinking and leaving its victims in a spiritual stupor, believing they can't hear from God for themselves.

**3.** _Idolatry_ \- worshiping men and money- **Loyalty** is measured by performance, so the people become consumed with seeking the approval of the leadership, not the approval of God, while the leaders are consumed with promoting their image and their agenda. **Apostle** and **prophet** are the most common offices these kinds of leaders claim to hold. Being self-proclaimed apostles and prophets creates an atmosphere of intimidation. Loyalty is demanded, and promotion is on the basis of that loyalty alone, not on gifting or ability. Loyalty statements or oaths may be required; pledging this kind of allegiance to a man creates ungodly soul-ties, strife and divisions, it is idolatry, and it opens the door to every evil work. It is these covenant relationships that create ungodly soul-ties making leaving much more difficult. Covetousness is manifested by a preoccupation with bigger houses and better cars; prosperity is preached often, the tithe is demanded, and members are encouraged to use their faith for the things of the world. Conspicuous consumption is acceptable and encouraged with this prosperity considered the "blessing of God" that will flow from the "head" to the rest of the body. The congregation is told that their blessing is dependent on their giving, turning giving into works and religion.

**4.** _Silence, Secrecy and Information Control_ \- You are taught to never talk about leadership, never question leadership, and never do anything without express, specific approval, for that would be offering **strange fire**. You are trained through intimidation to never speak about anything you don't agree with. Secrecy permeates the entire atmosphere, and information is tightly controlled so that you can't find out anything without going directly to the leadership. Outside ministries are regularly maligned; permission is never granted to visit other churches or events for whatever seemingly logical reasons they may offer, which, in turn, transforms the church into a very closed system that experiences little or no contact with other Christians. A sense of frustration runs high when there is this kind of secrecy.

**5.** _Independent Thinking Undermined_ \- The system is constructed to inhibit any rational thinking. The leaders portray themselves as more spiritual than the dumb sheep that aren't capable of thinking for themselves. Your ability to hear from God is consistently undermined while you turn more and more of your thought processes over to the leadership, expecting them to think for you.

There are quite a few other signs you can look for; just do an internet search for "spiritual abuse" and you can find a world of information for yourself, or purchase the books that are listed in the bibliography at the back. I cannot recommend these book highly enough; they have all done an excellent job of shining light into the darkness of this deception. The characteristics I have chosen to highlight are the most prominent ones that seem to be basic operating procedure in churches subscribing to the shepherding/discipleship form of church government, and they are also the most recognizable.

**Heart Motives**

In the church I now attend, I have heard some of these things mentioned in passing which would make it very easy to run screaming for the door after experiencing what I have at the mention of anything vaguely similar to this stuff. The main criterion seems to be in heart motive. What is the motive of the heart in the leadership of the church you are in? What is the agenda? You have to attend for awhile to determine that, and with prayer and seeking peace in the inner man, it will become evident over time whether or not the motives of the leadership are honorable.

The trick is to see past the things employed by the devil to seduce. Even though biblical truth is preached, that doesn't mean the church is a healthy one. I have to credit a friend of mine for coming up with this one- truth preached out of the wrong heart motive will be perverted; it will come out twisted just enough to sound good but have no real life in it. This is why you can attend a so-called Word church and still leave feeling empty. Likewise, if the heart motive is wrong, then the "love" they seem to exhibit will also be false and used to manipulate, and any personal prophecy will also be used to control rather than minister life. The only way to discern the motives of the heart is by the Spirit and with much prayer. Once again, seek peace, and don't allow yourself to be lured in by people that are out to build their own kingdom.

In my current church, I have never heard submission to authority preached, nor have I heard any mention of Watchman Nee. Everyone in this church calls the pastor "Pastor" but it's not something that is demanded; it's just tradition. After explaining to him what I had experienced, he seems to have no problem with me calling him simply by his first name which is what I was looking for. I've heard occasional references to things I'd take exception to, and I've heard some songs I personally would take issue with, but overall, this church seems to be on the right track. They have many outreaches going, they actively support missionaries, and they encourage their members to minister in their own gifting. Additionally, I've never heard them malign other ministries; in fact, to the contrary, they pray for the other churches in the area. Most importantly, the place leaves me in peace. I believe the heart motive of the leadership is to promote Jesus and not themselves.

**To Leave or Not to Leave?**

As you look at the church you are in, it is important to remember that no church will line up exactly with what you expect and they are all full of imperfect people. Most churches are just simply doing the best they know how to do, so it's important to keep from being "nit-picky" and looking for fault.

However, if you have found that the church you are in is not a healthy environment, and you feel that perhaps you have been under the influence of controlling spirits, you need to make a couple decisions concerning how to proceed, the first being whether to try to stay in hopes of changing things or to leave. In my opinion, staying isn't really an option unless you have clear leading of the Holy Spirit to do so. The environment will do nothing but continue to pull you down and drain you, and it certainly is no place to leave children.

That said, leaving a church that is abusive can be a very daunting decision to make. Human nature resists change, and no one wants to have to start over somewhere else. However, the longer you delay leaving, the harder it becomes to actually get out for the simple reason that you don't want to feel like you've wasted the time (and money) you have invested there. It's very easy to keep your head in the sand and hope for better things even though you may know full well they aren't coming. I am speaking from experience here- I just kept thinking that surely with enough prayer the leadership would change. When I realized that things were actually getting worse rather than better and I did finally leave, I left behind all of my friends to start over from scratch in a completely unfamiliar church in another town, and that has been very difficult.

Assuming you choose to leave, you next need to decide whether to just disappear or to try to go to the leadership to explain. Because the leaders of abusive churches have unresolved issues from their past that make them controlling, they are not going to want to allow anyone out from under their influence, and a fight is essentially inevitable. And don't forget how Jezebel reacts when confronted. If that spirit is operating in your church, don't even try to tangle with her- she will go on the offensive and become very offensive!

The controlling spirits that operate through the leadership will often have very convincing arguments as to why other people are leaving, and why you can't- why you can't leave their spiritual covering, and why you can't go anywhere else. They'll tell you that other churches are bad influences, and they'll always have a plausible reason why. We found out some time later that some of the people that had left the church long before we did hadn't left for the reasons we were led to believe. It was a sad day when it became very evident that the leaders were lying regularly to protect their image, and unknown to any of us, the lying had apparently gone on for years. They didn't want anyone knowing the true reasons why others had left which, of course, makes it virtually impossible to talk to people who are still in attendance since they will just believe the lies perpetrated by the leadership as we did for so long.

Because offense (on their part) is practically inevitable, it's probably best to just quietly disappear rather than try to work things out or explain yourself, unless of course God specifically leads you to do so. Mike Fehlauer uses the phrase "the painful exit"; here's what he says:

_In a controlling church, it is impossible to leave on good terms. Because the pastor's sense of worth is usually based on the control he is able to exert over the congregation, when someone leaves, this insecure leader considers it an affront to his leadership. Therefore he often takes it personally. As a result, when people do leave, they are labeled rebellious, or the rest of the congregation is given the explanation that they left because they had become offended._ [1]

Once again, it would be wise to let peace rule in your heart where this decision is concerned. In my opinion, seeking peace would dictate that you leave without any confrontation, since there's probably no way to avoid the "painful exit" if you attempt to go to the leadership and speak face-to-face with them. It will just stir up the spirits that try to control you and make it that much more difficult to get out. Emotions will flare, and that is completely nonproductive. The chances of actually convincing them of the truth by either staying or confronting before leaving is minuscule and probably not worth the effort. Prayer for them is the best bet. Apparently very few of these kinds of leaders ever actually repent and get free.

As far as the recovery aspect is concerned, just understanding how seducing spirits operate is key to getting your freedom back. As light begins to come into your thinking and reveals the operation of these spirits in a church, you will begin to get free in your mind. This will then make cutting the ties and leaving much easier. Once you're actually out from under their influence every week, truth and light will begin to increase your sense of freedom so that healing and restoration can truly begin.

**The Bottom Line**

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked . . . Rev. 2:17 KJV

The fairy tale _The Emperor's New Clothes_ comes to mind. The authority that leaders in abusive churches claim is assumed and illegitimate; it doesn't actually exist. These leaders clothe themselves in a façade of spiritual authority and superiority; and because it's illegitimate, they have to use manipulation, intimidation and domination to maintain it. As people begin to wake up and realize how wrong the whole system is, it becomes obvious to all but the most deceived in the group that the emperor truly has no clothes.

Abusive church services often seem to be very spiritual, with people that appear to be entering into the presence of God, but there is no joy and you subsequently dread the thought of another Sunday because you only want out. This should be the number one red flag- this is the still, small voice telling you something is wrong. Don't ignore it, listen to it! Judge the fruit, not the gifts. Don't get enamored with the gifts and quit making excuses for the leadership! If the fruit is bad, get out. There is no reason to go through the "painful exit"; just exit silently, knowing that they are the way they want to be, they believe what they want to believe, and trying to "rescue" others is pointless. It will take God to get through to them. You are responsible for you and you can only change yourself; you can't change someone else.

Just making the first move to try some other church, even an evening service, is a very liberating experience. Once out from under the influence of those bewitching, controlling spirits, you will be surprised at how your thinking clears up, the veil lifts, and you begin to see things as they really are.

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten . . . Joel 2:25 KJV

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Gen. 50:20 KJV

It was so easy for me to hit myself over the head after leaving because I allowed myself to be deceived for so long, but that was completely nonproductive. Another completely nonproductive debate is whether or not it was God's leading to attend a church like that. God or not, it is now officially history and can't be undone, so I have learned to consider the time spent in there a very good education. All of us who have left have become much wiser as a result, and are now equipped to minister to others who may need healing from the abuse sustained in similar churches.

God will redeem the time, He will restore what the locust has eaten, and He will take you where He wants you to go. It's also helpful to remember that everything is for a season, and seasons change. Praise God that your eyes are open, you've been delivered from deception, and you are much wiser than before! There really is life outside an abusive church.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:21 KJV

ENDNOTES

– **Introduction –**

1 Lambert, Steven, ThD. _Charismatic Captivation_. Chapel Hill, NC: Real Truth Publications, 2003, p. 6.

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– **Chapter Two –  
History**

1 Fowler, Charles. Watchman Nee, _Confucianism_ _and Unconditional Submission_.  http://charlesfowler.com/2009/10/03/watchman-nee-confucianism-and-unconditional-submission.aspx. This website has since been taken offline.

2 Biblestudy.org. _Who Were the Nicolaitans?_  http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/why-does-god-hate-practices-of-the-nicolaitans.html.

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– **Chapter Three –  
Absolute Authority**

1 Fehlauer, Mike. _The Warning Signs of Spiritual Abuse_.  http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/biblestudyandtheology/discipleship/spiritual_abuse1.aspx.

2 Henke, David. _Spiritual Abuse_. <http://www.watchman.org/profile/abusepro.htm>.

3 Johnson, David and Van Vonderen, Jeff. _The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse_. Bloomington, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 1991, pp. 20-21.

4 Banks, Bill and Sue. _Breaking Unhealthy Soul Ties_. Kirkwood, MO: Impact Christian Books, 2011, p. 16.

5 Crosby, Dr. Stephen. _Authority, Accountability and the Apostolic Movement_. Enumclaw, WA: Pleasant Word, 2006, p. xxx.

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– **Chapter Four –  
Absolute Authority Part 2**

1 Fowler.

2 Crosby 125.

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– **Chapter Five –  
Religion**

1 Crosby 44.

2 Johnson 34-35.

3 Vine, W.E., M.A.; Unger, Merrill F., Th.M., Th.D., Ph.D.; and White, William Jr., Th.M., Ph.D. _Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words_. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1985, p. 65.

4 Vine 47.

5 Vine 305.

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– **Chapter Six –  
Idolatry- Worshipping Men and Money**

1 Fehlauer.

2 Crosby 63.

3 Lambert 250.

4 Lambert 32-33.

5 Lambert 284-287.

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– **Chapter Seven –  
Secrecy**

1 Banks 77.

2 Fehlauer.

3 Johnson 68-69.

4 Johnson 68.

5 Johnson 68.

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– **Chapter Eight –  
Mind Control**

1 http://ex-scc.omgforum.net.

2 <http://www.garycarpenter.org/KingdomFinances.html>, _The Widow's Mite_. All of Gary Carpenter's teachings are available as free downloads.

3 Crosby 162.

4 <http://www.garycarpenter.org/ChristianFoundations.html>.

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– **Chapter Nine –  
Is It a Cult?**

1 <http://pastorkip.blogspot.com/2009/10/culture-of-cults.html>.

2 <http://www.cultfaq.org/cultfaq-perspectives.html#Subject2>.

3 Vine 303.

4 Godwin, Rick. _Exposing Witchcraft in the Church_. Lake Mary, FL: Creation House, 1997, p. 7.

5 Godwin 6.

6 Clark, Jonas. _Jezebel, Seducing Goddess of War_. Hallandale Beach, Florida: Spirit of Life Publishing, 1998, revised 2004, p. 21.

7 Lambert 248-249.

8 Clark 9,10.

9 Godwin 28.

10 Godwin 27.

11 Fowler.

12 Banks 115.

13 Banks 53-54.

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– **Chapter Ten –  
Seek My Face**

1 Viola, Frank and Barna, George. _Pagan Christianity? Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices._ BarnaBooks, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2012.

2 _Urban Dictionary_. <http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=clue+phone>.

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– **Chapter Eleven –  
Testing the Spirits**

1 Vine 495.

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– **Chapter Twelve –  
Conclusion: The Diagnosis and the Decision**

1 Fehlauer.

APPENDIX

SCRIPTURE LISTS

FALSE PROPHET, FALSE SHEPHERDS, FALSE APOSTLES

Isa. 56:11-12- Yes, the dogs are greedy . . . And such are the shepherds who cannot understand; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his own gain . . . AMP

Jer. 5:26-28- For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. 28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. KJV

Jer. 10:21- For the shepherds [of the people] have become like brutes, irrational and stupid, and have not sought the Lord . . . and all their flocks are scattered. AMP

Jer. 14:14- . . The [false] prophets prophesy lies in My name. I sent them not . . . They prophesy to you a false or pretended vision, . . . and the deceit of their own minds. AMP

Jer. 23- WOE TO the shepherds (the civil leaders) who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasturing! . . . You have scattered My flock and driven them away and have not visited and attended to them; . . . For both [false] prophet and priest are ungodly and profane; . . . and caused My people Israel to err and go astray . . . In the latter days you shall consider and understand it perfectly. AMP

Eze. 13:1-16- AND THE word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own mind and heart, Hear the word of the Lord! 3 Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit [and things they have not seen] and have seen nothing! . . . Because, even because they have seduced My people, saying, Peace, when there is no peace, and because when one builds a [flimsy] wall, behold, [these prophets] daub it over with whitewash, 11 Say to them who daub it with whitewash that it shall fall! AMP

Eze. 34:2-10- Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them, even to the [spiritual] shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the sheep? . . . 4 The diseased and weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the hurt and crippled you have not bandaged, those gone astray you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought to find, but with force and hardhearted harshness you have ruled them. 5 And they were scattered because there was no shepherd . . . AMP

Mat. 7:15-23- Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. 16 You will fully recognize them by their fruits . . . Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. AMP

Mat. 23:1-35- THEN JESUS said to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat [of authority]. 3 So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy loads, hard to bear, and place them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to help bear them. 5 They do all their works to be seen of men . . . 13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; for you neither enter yourselves, nor do you allow those who are about to go in to do so. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you swallow up widows' houses and for a pretense to cover it up make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation and the heavier sentence. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are . . . AMP (See also Luke 11:39-52)

Luke 12:1-2- Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. KJV

Acts 20:28-30- Take heed therefore unto yourselves, . . . 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. KJV

Rom. 16:17-18- Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. KJV

2 Cor 11:2-28- . . . 3 But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ. [Gen 3:4.] 4 For [you seem readily to endure it] if a man comes and preaches another Jesus than the One we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the [Spirit] you [once] received or a different gospel from the one you [then] received and welcomed; you tolerate [all that] well enough! 5 Yet I consider myself as in no way inferior to these [precious] extra-super [false] apostles . . . 13 For such men are false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah). 14 And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; 15 So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end will correspond with their deeds . . . 20 For you endure it if a man assumes control of your souls and makes slaves of you, or devours [your substance, spends your money] and preys upon you, or deceives and takes advantage of you, or is arrogant and puts on airs, or strikes you in the face . . . AMP

Gal. 4:17- These men [the Judaizing teachers] are zealously trying to dazzle you [paying court to you, making much of you], but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is to isolate you [from us who oppose them], so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their favor. AMP

Eph. 4:14- That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; KJV

Php. 3:2- Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. KJV

Col 2:8- Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. KJV

Col. 2:18-19- Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. KJV

1 Tim. 4:1-2- But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron. AMP

2 Tim. 3:1-5- This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. KJV

2 Tim. 3:13- But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. KJV

Titus 1:10-16- For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake . . . Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. KJV

2 Pet. 2:1-3- BUT ALSO [in those days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (destructive heresies), even denying and disowning the Master Who bought them, . . . 3 And in their covetousness (lust, greed) they will exploit you with false (cunning) arguments . . . AMP

2 Pet. 2:18- For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. KJV

1 John 2:26- These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. KJV

1 John 4:1- BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. AMP

2 John 7- For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. KJV

ALL KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM  
IS AVAILABLE TO THE BELIEVER

Prov. 1:23- If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you. AMP

Prov. 28:5- Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. KJV

Jer. 33:3- Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand). AMP

Mark 4:22- [Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation.] For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything [temporarily] kept secret except in order that it may be made known. AMP (Matt. 10:26; Luke 8:17; 12:2)

John 14:26- But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. AMP

John 16:13- But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. AMP

1 Cor 1:5- [So] that in Him in every respect you were enriched, in full power and readiness of speech [to speak of your faith] and complete knowledge and illumination [to give you full insight into its meaning]. AMP

1 Cor 2:6-16- Yet when we are among the full-grown (spiritually mature Christians who are ripe in understanding), we do impart a [higher] wisdom (the knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden); but it is indeed not a wisdom of this present age or of this world nor of the leaders and rulers of this age, who are being brought to nothing and are doomed to pass away. 7 But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God --[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence]. 8 None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. [Isa 64:4; 65:17.] 10 Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny] . . .16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. [Isa 40:13.] AMP

2 Cor 4:6-7- For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [Gen 1:3.] 7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. AMP

Eph 1:8-9- Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), 9 Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). AMP

1 John 2:20- But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. KJV

1 John 2:27- But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. KJV

SEEK AND PURSUE THE WAY OF PEACE

Prov. 3:17: Her [wisdom's] ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. KJV

1 Cor. 7:15- . . . God hath called us to peace. KJV

Eph. 4:3- Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace. AMP

Col. 3:15- And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. AMP

2 Tim. 2:22- Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. AMP

Heb. 12:14- Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. AMP

1 Pet. 3:11- Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] AMP

SEDUCE, BEGUILE, DECEIVE

Eze. 13:10- Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter. KJV

Mark. 13:22- For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. KJV

Rom. 16:18- For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. KJV

1 Cor. 3:18- Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. KJV

2 Cor. 11:3- But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. KJV

Gal. 6:7- Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. KJV

Eph. 4:14- That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. KJV

Col. 2:4- And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. KJV

Col. 2:18-19- Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. KJV

1 Tim. 4:1- 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. KJV

2 Tim. 3:13- But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. KJV

Jas. 1:14- But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. KJV

2 Pet. 2:14,18- Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children . . . For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. KJV

1 John. 2:26- These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. KJV

Rev. 2:20- Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. KJV

TRADITIONS OF MEN

Isa. 29:13- Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men . . . KJV

Jer. 9:14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them. KJV

Hos. 10:13- Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. KJV

Mat. 15:6-9- . . . Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. KJV

Mark. 7:6-13- He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death; 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered; and many such like things do ye. KJV

Col. 2:8- Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. KJV

Col. 2:23- Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh- the lower nature. [Instead, they do not honor God] but serve only to indulge the flesh. AMP

Titus 1:14-16-Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. KJV

GET WISDOM

Psa. 19:7- The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. AMP

Prov. 1:20-23- Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. KJV

Prov. 4:7- Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. KJV

Prov. 8 (all)- v. 5- O you simple and thoughtless ones, understand prudence; you [self-confident] fools, be of an understanding heart. AMP

Prov. 9:4-6- Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. KJV

Isa. 5:13- Therefore My people go into captivity [to their enemies] without knowing it and because they have no knowledge [of God]. And their honorable men [their glory] are famished, and their common people are parched with thirst. AMP

Hos. 4:1- . . . the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. KJV

Hos. 4:6- My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. AMP

Hos. 6:6- For I desire and delight in dutiful steadfast love and goodness, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of and acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings. AMP

Mat. 10:16- Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be wary and wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless, guileless, and without falsity) as doves. AMP

Mat. 22:29- Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. KJV

Acts 17:10-11- And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. KJV

Rom. 16:19- For while your loyalty and obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you well versed and wise as to what is good and innocent and guileless as to what is evil. AMP

1 Cor. 10:1- For I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under and protected by the cloud [in which God's Presence went before them], and every one of them passed safely through the [Red] Sea. AMP

1 Cor. 12:1- Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. KJV

1 Cor. 14:29- Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. KJV

1 Cor. 15:34- Awake [from your drunken stupor and return] to sober sense and your right minds, and sin no more. For some of you have not the knowledge of God [you are utterly and willfully and disgracefully ignorant, and continue to be so, lacking the sense of God's presence and all true knowledge of Him]. I say this to your shame. AMP

2 Cor. 2:11- To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. AMP

Eph. 5:10- Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. KJV

Eph. 5:15-17- Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), 16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. AMP

1 Thess. 5:21- Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. KJV

1 Pet. 5:8-9- Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same ( identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. AMP

1 John 4:1- Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. KJV

Rev. 2:2- I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. KJV

COVETOUSNESS

Ex. 20:17- Thou shalt not covet. KJV

Prov. 21:6- Securing treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor driven to and fro; those who seek them seek death. KJV

Prov. 22:16- He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself, and he who gives to the rich will surely come to want. AMP

Prov. 28:16- . . . he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. KJV

Mark. 4:19- And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. KJV

Mark. 7:21-23- For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. KJV

Luke. 12:15-34- And he said unto them, Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth . . .22 Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat . . .24 Consider the ravens . . .27 Consider the lilies . . .29 Neither be ye of doubtful mind . . .31 Seek ye the kingdom of God . . .32 Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom . . .34 Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. KJV

Eph. 4:19- Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. KJV

Eph. 5:3, 5- . . . covetous man, who is an idolater . . . KJV

Col. 3:5- . . . and covetousness which is idolatry. KJV (I Sam. 15:23)

1 Thess. 2:5- For neither . . . used we . . . a cloak of covetousness . . . KJV

1 Tim. 6:6-19- But godliness with contentment is great gain . . .10 For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows . . .17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. . .19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. KJV

2 Tim. 3:1-5- This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be . . . covetous . . . 5 Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. KJV

Heb. 13:5- let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have . . . KJV

2 Pet. 2:3- And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. . . . KJV

The iniquity of covetousness: Isa. 57:17; Jer. 6:13; 8:10; 22:17; 51:13; Micah 2:2; Hab. 2:9.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Banks, Bill and Sue. _Breaking Unhealthy Soul Ties_. Kirkwood, MO: Impact Christian Books, 2011.

Beattie, Melody. _Codependent No More_. Center City, MN: Hazelden, 1992.

Clark, Jonas. _Jezebel, Seducing Goddess of War_. Hallandale Beach, Florida: Spirit of Life Publishing, 1998, revised 2004.

Cloud, Dr. Henry, and Townsend, Dr. John. _Boundaries_. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992.

Crosby, Dr. Stephen. _Authority, Accountability and the Apostolic Movement_. Enumclaw, WA: Pleasant Word Publishing, a Division of Winepress Publishing, 2006.

Godwin, Rick. _Exposing Witchcraft in the Church_. Lake Mary, FL: Creation House, 1997.

Johnson, David and Van Vonderen, Jeff. _The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse_. Bloomington, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 1991.

Lambert, Steven, ThD. _Charismatic Captivation_. Chapel Hill, NC: Real Truth Publications, 2003.

Strong, James, S.T.D., LL.D. _The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible._ McLean, VA: MacDonald Publishing Co.

Vine, W.E., M.A.; Unger, Merrill F., Th.M., Th.D., Ph.D.; and White, William Jr., Th.M., Ph.D. _Vine's_ _Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words_. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1985.

Viola, Frank, Barna, George. _Pagan Christianity? Exploring the Roots of Our Christian Practices._ BarnaBooks, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2012.

Online articles

Carpenter, Gary. _The Widow's Mite_. <http://www.garycarpenter.org/KingdomFinances.html>

Carpenter, Gary. _The God of Hope_. <http://www.garycarpenter.org/ChristianFoundations.html>

_Cult FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Cults, Sects and Related Issues._ <http://www.cultfaq.org/cultfaq-perspectives.html>

Fehlauer, Mike. _The Warning Signs of Spiritual Abuse_.  http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/biblestudyandtheology/discipleship/spiritual_abuse1.aspx

Fowler, Charles. _Watchman Nee, Confucianism and Unconditional Submission_.  http://charlesfowler.com/2009/10/03/watchman-nee-confucianism-and-unconditional-submission.aspx. This website has since been taken offline.

Henke, David. _Spiritual Abuse_. <http://www.watchman.org/profile/abusepro.htm>.

Keith, Kip. _The Culture of Cults_. <http://pastorkip.blogspot.com/2009/10/culture-of-cults.html>

_Urban Dictionary_. <http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=clue+phone>

_Who Were the Nicolaitans?._  http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/why-does-god-hate-practices-of-the-nicolaitans.html

