Sounding the alarm is not popular, but when Christians run from this like the plague, the church ends up being overrun with those who use the gospel for their nefarious agenda. Both the person giving the rebuke and the rebuked equally feel bad and no wonder most people avoid this biblical mandate (1 Timothy 5:20, Titus 2:15).
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders on their hypocrisy (Matthew 23:27-28). The world has utter disdain for hypocrites. How much worse when blatant hypocrisy comes from professing Christians. They only add to the scorn. Prosperity Gospel preachers say, “Lord, Lord,” but they make sure to fill their gospel posts with money schemes and all kinds of merchandise. Every time I see this from someone who claims to be deep in God’s Word, it always brings me to Jesus overturning the tables at the temple,
“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Matthew 21:12-13
I have been denied the opportunity to personally confront her about an unbiblical assertion on one of her posts because my comment was not allowed. I am led to believe that she did not want to engage with the particular comment since just a few minutes later, other commenters flooded in. This is one reason I address some questionable assertions which does not line up with Scripture on a general post.
The assertion: We are the Holy Spirit’s “habitat.” Very subtle, but has a weighty implication.
What the Word of God says,
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
1) Not every person has the Holy Spirit.
2) Habitat is a dwelling place for animals. There is nothing holy about it unless you’re into pantheism.
3) She is not bothered that the temple for which you are, is being defiled as you read posts talking about Jesus, and alongside is merchandise.
She contradicts Scripture in the way that the holiness of the temple is reduced to an unholy habitat. 83 professing Christians we’re led to believe this heresy.
“Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.”
Proverbs 30:6
We are given a similar warning concerning any revelation that is added or taken away,
“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Revelation 22:18-19
The assertion: Those who follow Jesus are “groupies”
Jesus performed a lot of miracles which made people follow Him and some genuinely followed Him and some, only for the miracles.
“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.”
John 6:26
Jesus is clear about those who are His true followers. They are far from being groupies. Groupies only follow someone at the height of fame and will abandon you the moment you’re in trouble.
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”
Matthew 19:29
As a true follower of Christ, would you consider yourself a groupie?
She promotes a false teacher who is mentored by a famous wolf, Kenneth Copeland.
Whether or not you heed to this warning, that is entirely up to you. It is every Christian’s duty to sound the alarm and contend for the faith whenever the situation arises (Jude 3). My hope is that you would look at the evidence. Do not gauge someone’s “Christianity” and soundness by popularity (Ezekiel 2:7, Jeremiah 7:27, 2 Timothy 4:3).
“Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets.”
Luke 6:26
“They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”
1 John 4:5-6
DO NOT BE DECEIVED!
Related read: Oil For Your Lamp