The Deception of Movements

In my last blog, Are You a Movement Junkie?  I discussed how to tell if you are addicted to movements within the Christian context.  Since then, I have had much further insight into the deception of movements that I feel compelled to share.  Please read it through and consider sharing it with your friends and contacts, or anyone else you know that is caught up in a movement that is not God-centered, or soundly Biblical. 

I decided to research a little deeper about current movements, and found one that I was particularly drawn to.  This one kept using the word "unity."  I shuddered when I read this because all the years I witnessed to friends, co-workers, and many others God had placed in my path who were involved in a false cult or worldly religion always used that same word.  And it was never used properly within the context intended in the Bible back then, and, not surprisingly, it is not used properly now within this movement.  Look at the following: 

Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  

In this context, notice the words walk worthy (conduct ourselves befitting of the sacred Gospel and holiness - honor God and His Word).  Lowliness and meekness (consider that we are unworthy, weak, and apt to fall), longsuffering - be patient with one another.  In verse 3, keep the unity in the bond of peace means that when disagreements occur, resolve it until peace is restored. It does not mean to break away in a spirit of bitterness and unforgiveness.  These verses that speak of unity are hardly within a context of breaking up a fellowship and starting up a movement independent of the local church. 

Jesus said He came to bring a sword, and His truth will actually divide us when we properly use it.  Even and especially, families will be at variance. 

Mat 10:34    Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Mat 10:35    For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Mat 10:36    And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Mat 10:37    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

 That sword that Jesus is referring to in verse 34 is the Truth, the Word of God, and the Bible.  In Scripture it is referred to as a two-edged Sword. 

Heb 4:12    For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

There are many hardships in being a follower of Jesus, and it is never easy.  Yet movements seem to try and find an easy way out of these hardships, without counting the cost.  Jesus talks about the cost of being His disciple. We must forsake all to follow Him.   

Mat 10:38    And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 

What does it mean to take up our cross and follow Him?  Where did Jesus go?  He went to the cross, was beaten and crucified, mocked and hated, and finally He died in our place.  He rose again three days later.  Then He ministered to those in need and did so in a pure spirit of truth, humility, love and obedience.  We must do the same, die to self.  Jesus was not ever popular and for the majority of the world, He is not popular today.  Neither should we expect to be. When we are sincerely following Him and our heart's desire is to serve Him and minister to others, we will be under a constant attack and we should expect this.  When we are experiencing rejection and hardship, we know we are on the right track, because this is what Jesus experienced. 

This is in stark contrast to the goal of movements that many times, are looking for the supernatural experience, and the pie in the sky religion that makes them feel good.  As I read this one particular movement's beliefs and posts, I couldn't help but notice that it was all centered on exactly what I talked about in the last blog, "What can I get from this?” rather than having a humble servanthood attitude of, "What can I humbly offer God, and how can I be used to serve Him in whatever capacity is needed?"  

John 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease. 

Our attitude should be, What can I give God that is pleasing to Him?  The Bible says that the sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart.  

Psa 51:16    For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

Psa 51:17    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 

Isa 57:15    For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

We think of the word obedience and the story of Saul and his disobedience.  Samuel rebuked him for disobeying God and said:   

1Sa 15:23    For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." 

 As soon as we want things our way, we are in rebellion against God. 

Also, as I researched, I noticed that the words "repentance" and "salvation" were not once mentioned.  Also void was the word "outreach."  There was absolutely no mention of any plan to go out and witness to the lost.  The only inference I noticed was that if you go to enough of these meetings and "soak" up the presence of God, you will be happy and smiley and people will notice you are different. And we all know how short-lived that temporary feeling is! Although it does command it in the Bible that we should love one another, and others will know you by the love you have for one another, that love is a costly one, not a touchy-feely one. 

Joh 13:34    A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Joh 13:35    By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

Notice that there is stipulation to the kind of love He expects:  Jesus said that we should love one other as He has loved us.  How is this done? Does He mask the truth? You will not find this in Scripture.  Agape love means to lay down your life for one another.  It is not self-serving (see I Corinthians 13), it rejoices in the truth (yes, this means you also rebuke your brother or sister in The Lord when they err).  It means a deliberate and visible dying to self.  There is nothing artificial about it - it all ties in with the unity mumbo-jumbo they talk about.  We are only one in a spiritual sense (positionally), but this must be worked out on a case-by-case basis - repentance and forgiveness.  It is not a cover-up for our sin, but true love exposes our sin.  

Pro 27:5    Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Pro 27:6    Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 

How are other ways we discern truth from error? You shall know them by their fruits. 

Mat 7:16    Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17    Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18    A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19    Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

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

When people come into your church and create a stir and a discontentment, then try to draw you away and then split the church, beware.  They are wolves in sheep's clothing.  Then in the next breath they talk about unity.  If it was really unity, why would they split up the church? They would have stayed and humbly tried to work it out according to the methods outlined in Scripture.  Without repentance and humility, there is no unity and never will be.  Nor do they really love you as Christ loves you, because they have not laid down their life for you in a Christ-like way.  So if a movement is started as a result of a break-off from a church, then the seeds of that movement are rebellion and witchcraft.  Nothing good can ever come from that, and God will never endorse it or bless it. 

Today if you are involved in a movement that you have even the tiniest doubt about, please pray and ask God to reveal His Word to you and open up His truth in ways to you that will clearly show you the next step you need to take. And like I requested earlier, please do not be shy about sharing this blog with your circle of contacts.  We must keep Jesus front, center and our all-in-all.