Confronting Darkness

Discern the Lie

Do not come under the condemnation of the writer of this article if you have been led by God and your conscience to refrain from voting in this coming election. The author seems to think that the only reasons that Christians do not vote are either because of their own selfishness, or because of hopelessness and disillusionment. While these excuses may be true for some believers, they are definitely not true for all, and this simplistic stereotyping fails to take into account God's reasons for not voting or casting one's lot with the wicked.

The Church has no business depending on any worldly political system for the solutions to the world's problems. The world is the way it is because the Church has failed to be the demonstration of the manifold wisdom of God in the earth as outlined in the New Testament. Electing the lesser of two evils to govern the land will not solve anything. Getting on our faces before God in humiliation, repentance, and prayer will. And when we get up, we won't hear God say "Rise up! Get up and vote..." as the author assumes. We will rather hear that we should bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; that we should stop depending on the world to solve our problems; that we should be holy and separate from the world unto Him; that we should become the Church that we called to be as demonstrated in the New Testament where believers were in the world and not of it.

The author rightly points to the institutionalized church as a source of the problem, but the solution is certainly not in worldly politics. The Scriptures are clear that it is God Who sets up rulers, not men, and it is not our business to choose who we want to lead. May God choose the leader we deserve who will accomplish His purposes in the earth.

It is manipulation at best to compare the exploits of Joshua and Israel at Ai to a Christian's involvement in worldly politics. Contrary to what the author assumes, the United States is NOT God's chosen nation as was Israel in the days of Joshua. Neither is it a "Christian" nation, nor a godly nation. It is a wicked, corrupt, rebellious nation with a government that is controlled by the principalities and powers in high places. To heap accusations and condemnation on believers who refuse for conscience sake to choose between two wicked, ungodly, and deceitful men to lead it is both irresponsible and shameful. Is it not Satan who is the accuser of the brethren?

So, if you do not vote in this next election, you are NOT sinning as the author says. You are one step closer to utter dependence on and obedience to God which is where we all need to be in the first place. Keep on crying out to God because as always, this IS the time to pray!

Know the Truth

This article challenges a recent story in a well-known "Christian" magazine in which false prophets and those who support them in the institutional apostate church were given a platform to cry and whine about the criticism they receive due to the fact that what they prophesy does not come to pass and to voice their opinion about why discerning believers who "test the spirits" should cut them some slack. They claim that "Just as biblical prophets often went unappreciated, many modern-day prophets face disregard and outright criticism -- both inside and outside the church." One proponent went so far as to caution against "...labeling prophets as 'false,' even when their predictions do not come to pass." How foolish is that in light of Jesus' words in Matthew 7:15-20 and Matthew 24:11,24 and John's admonition in 1 John 4:1.

In this response, the writer accurately sums up what is being communicated here: "The modern prophetic movement thinks prophets can be 30-60% on their way to becoming more accurate. They are more wrong then (sic) they are right and we are supposed to listen to them as balanced voice on how treat those who are inaccurate in their prophecies and teaching!" The fact of the matter is that,"False prophecy that leads to apostasy is taking place without any challenge. With so many who side with the false prophets, disallowing the church to judge, they have compounded the problem to astronomical proportions."

I agree wholeheartedly that "It's time for the church to speak up; not be silent." They are reaping what they are sowing and if they do not repent, they will answer to the One they are misrepresenting (Jeremiah 14:14, Jeremiah 23:31-32, Jeremiah 29:8-9) and give account for the blood of those who are being misled by their deception.

Know the Truth

What an insightful commentary on the state of the religious institutions masquerading as the "church" in America that exposes the all too common practice of the wolves in sheep's clothing who build their own personal kingdoms at the expense of God's truth, holiness and glory. The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is certainly not being preached because it defeats their self-serving purpose. "The truth is; one cannot faithfully preach the gospel to the lost while coveting their favor and approval. It endangers the relationship and costs you 'customers'... It is a price... leaders of the church growth movement are clearly unwilling to pay."

The sobering words of Jesus Christ in the "Sermon on the Mount" regarding the broad way the leads to destruction is a clear warning to beware of crowd-pleasing movements, gimmicks, and methods that are popular to the masses. "No wonder the Purpose Driven movement has become so popular; there's not enough truth in it to offend anyone!"

It's obvious that the "purpose" that is driving these "purpose driven churches" is not God's eternal purpose, but a self-serving, truth-denying, humanistic "purpose" that is leading it's undiscerning followers to a complacent spiritual condition where they will be found wanting on Judgment Day. "Now, if you wish to remain in good standing with a sodomized society of self-esteem slaves and salt-free saints; go ahead and water down the Word of God with your tepid thoughts and opinions to win friends and influence people and not only will the world NOT hold it against you, you'll dramatically increase the chance that they'll give your church a try. But, what kind of church will they be trying; certainly not one that demonstrates any fear of God or regard for His Word."

Here is a first hand testimony from a believer who "was new to the Christian faith and looking for a church and everyone seemed to be going to that church" (i.e. the "Purpose Driven Church - Saddleback"), who "quickly left that church in disgust."

Judgment is surely coming to the apostate church in America!

Know the Truth

One of the greatest problems among followers of Jesus Christ in modern Christendom is the inability and unwillingness to rightly judge and exercise discernment when it comes to that which is being promoted by teachers and preachers both from the pulpit at institutionalized religious meetings each week and on the airwaves of radio and television broadcasts. There is also a careless and irresponsible attitude prevailing in the"church" that belittles, condemns and censures anyone bringing an exhortation to exercise discernment towards those who are promoting as truth that which is false. Those who bring the warnings are usually accused of being "self-appointed heresy hunters" who lack a "spirit of love" and "divide the Body of Christ." God's people must learn to"beware of false prophets" and "try the spirits whether they are of God" especially in light of the warnings in Scripture regarding the deception, the "damnable heresies" and "falling away" that will mark the last days.

Here are some links to good articles on the neglected subjects of discernment and righteous judgment emphasizing their importance and utter necessity to the Body of Christ in these perilous times:

• "Losing my Discernment" or "I left my mind and Bible outside the door of the church"


• "How To Discern, Test & Judge Rightly"


• "Is It Right to Judge?"

These Things Ought Not To Be

Believers in Jesus Christ have no business looking to anyone or anything other than God and His revealed Word in the Scriptures for revelation about life, conduct, and doctrine. In this post a believer is condoning and directing others to the demonic visions of Fatima for enlightenment about coming events and here the same believer is giving credence to the clairvoyant prediction of a false prophet who claims that "...Something unusual shall take place during a second debate that shall cause this nation to begin to fear and tremble..." tonight in Missouri. Anyone with any amount of Biblical discernment or knowledge of Scripture knows that the Marian visions promoted and worshipped by the Roman Catholic Church are of demonic origin and that predicting the future using specific dates and events is not condoned by God, but rather condemned in no uncertain terms by His Word (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Leviticus 19:31; 20:6). These things should not even be taken into consideration by believers (Jeremiah 14:14 Ezekiel 13:6-7 Matthew 24:24 2 Peter 2:1-3 1 John 4:1). Doing so makes one a ready candidate for deception since their fulfillment could lead to the assumption that they are from God when they are not. Stick to the Word of God and the witness of the Holy Spirit for all revelation and you will not easily be led astray.

Discern the Lie

Do not believe for one moment the lie that is being promoted through this post. Jesus Christ is not returning to "rapture" a self-serving, cross-avoiding "church" from the suffering and persecution that is fast approaching on the horizon. Contrary to what this Five Doves poster states or believes, Jesus Christ will be presented with a "glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle" (Ephesians 5:27), and if the Author and Finisher of our faith "learned obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8), what makes us think we can take shortcuts? Read Foxe's Book of Martyrs, and explain to me the rationale behind our expectation for a "free ticket" in light of the what saints throughout all other times have suffered for His name's sake.

This "Rapture" teaching is false doctrine that is not found in the Scriptures. It was concocted by the prince of deception himself in order to prevent God's eternal purpose from being established in and through the Church which is supposed to demonstrate the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in heavenly places (Ephesians 3:10-11). Instead we have become lazy, greedy, superstitious sign-watchers, who twist and mangle the Scriptures so we can have our cake and eat it too. May God have mercy on us for exchanging His eternal purpose for our own personal safety and comfort. We have become like Esau who sold his birthright for a "morsel of meat" (Hebrews 12:16).

These self-appointed false prophets and teachers in proclaiming this new "wake-up call" had better wake up themselves to the reality of the One Who is coming to "judge the world in righteousness" (Acts 17:30-31), Who will spew these out of His own mouth who say they are rich and have need of nothing, yet are wretched, miserable, and poor to His Ways (Revelation 3:15-18). Without doubt, His judgment will fall first (1 Peter 4:17-18) on their wicked kingdoms which they build in His name to satisfy their own lust and greed while sacrificing truth, righteousness, and the message of the Cross. The Scriptures clearly warn of these "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15-23, 2 Peter 2). They are raping the Body of Christ in order to line their own pockets while they promote their heretical "seed-faith - give to get - use God to make you rich" gospel. They will not go unpunished (Mark 9:42) - the Judge is coming!!!