PASTOR GETS ATTACKED AFTER PREACHING

Part 1

Part 1

Toxic churches: Classic warning signs

Visitors or new church members often cannot see the problems within a church, because they haven't gotten beyond surface relationships. The new member may be caught up in the enthusiasm of the pastors vision, or focused on the preaching or worship. It's just like visiting a family for an evening and not discern that there might be some abuse, so it can be hard to know a church family until you have lived with them for awhile...Members are usually not being abused until they have invested too much time and money to back out  easily. And those who are really involved but also recognize the problems, are scared of being labeled a "jezebel" from the leadership. This is why it is so neccessary to pray about where the Lord would have you fellowship. The same healthy attitude you would have in dating someone should apply to joining a church...
1. Elitism and or Isolation:  When a leader calls for isolation from other christians or the Body of Christ, "be suspicious". when the isolation is a distancing from other Gospel preaching, Bible-teaching churches, there could be a problem such as "pride" or even worse "witchcraft". When the leader begin to say things such as; "we are the only church with true revelation" or  "ain't nothing happening at that church" or "be careful of who you sit under" usually that leader has an agenda!!  The Bible is filled with instructions for having a loving regard for everyone who truly confesses Jesus Christ is Lord. In fact, Jesus said; that it is only in unity that the Body of christ will come into the fullness of God's will (John 17:23). When members are told to cut off all relationships outside of his church including your very own family, that should be considered a very serious warning, and you are looked upon as a infidel in the sight of God (1Tim 5:8). Isolation is a form of witchcraft to dominate and control the individual or individuals lives. We have pastors today who are practicing this in their churches, dividing  the church, "member against member", "husband against wives", and "family against family" etc.
2. Another bad fruit from leaders is called "Elitism". The attitude of a person with this spirit is a different standard. A standard between themselves and the people of the church. When this reaches an extreme, leaders will even think that they have a "special license" from God to do what they want even if it is contrary to Bible standards. I call this the "us-them" mentality!! leaders who refer to themselves as "God's anointed" leave you with the impression that- they are the only one called in the church. This church structure can soon have a hierarchy and pecking order, the same as in the secular world, based on world values, "the closer you get to the top of the pyramid the more spiritual you are". Those lower down (members) are basically just there to support the ministry of the "anointed one". This spirit of "Elitism" is at odds with Paul's statement in Eph 4:11-13. Paul states, that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor/teachers are there to train and equip the church--the people--so that the members can do the work of ministry. These Elite pastors, bishops, prophets, and evangelists who have this spirit of elitism will be angered if others do not refer to them by their title's. "Jesus warned against afixation on titles", read Matt 23: 9-10.  "Anyone who is in God is called of God to serve Him" not the pastor!!  "And remember this, God is no respector of person"...Be blessed!!

   

Be The Church!

TOXIC CHURCHES

The term "Toxic Faith" obviously means a faith that is poisonous and dangerous to one's health. There is a point in the life of a church when if God's love, compassion and mercy are not focused on, then the good news can become bad news. Jesus rebuked religious leaders of His day regarding new converts. "He said; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are"(Matt 23:15). Those leaders were very focused on the outer sacrifices but had neglected the issues of the heart. Jesus liken them to cups, clean on the outside but filthy on the inside.Because God is love, His first priority is our relationship with Him. In toxic faith churches the emphasis is first on performance and second on the fellowship with God. In John 15:8 Jesus said that the Father was glorified by us bearing much fruit(spiritual growth). But the way of becoming fruitful was to "abide in Him". The process of fulfilling the greatest commandment(Mark 12:30) is to first love the Lord with all your "heart". After that comes our "mind" and then our "strength".
When a leader begins using people to build his or her empire, ministry changes from a sacrifice of joy to slavery. God loves us deeply for a multitude of reasons. He loves us because we are His creation. He loves us because He knows and understands our weaknesses and frailties. He loves us because we are made in His image. He loves us because Jesus has made us presentable to Him. He loves us because, if we have given Him our lives, we are now His Spirit-filled sons and daughters. But in toxic faith churches, all those reasons are left behind and we become valued solely on the basis of how much we contribute and how hard we work. This type of legalism, or a performance-based relationship with God, affects not only our relationship with Him but with other people. Just like poison spreads, this toxic influence can effect any christian who is not covered by the blood of Jesus.  In another post I will be sharing classic warning signs of these toxic, abusive churches to help other believers know what to look for. Now is the time to seek the Lord like never before. "Do not be decieved", God is not mocked; for what ever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he who sows to his flesh, will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life(Gal 6:7)... 

The Prosperity Gospel

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