Spiritual forces are constantly transforming us into holiness or wickedness. (Part 1 is here, and Part 2 is here.) Please read them as a foundation for Part 3.
The place we find ourselves in
Today, the goal of just about 100% of all newscasts and all denominations, both liberal and conservative, is to tell you a partial, slanted, accusative story that causes you to take up a reproach (Ps. 15:1-3) against those outside their camp. The result is division, animosity, and separation, which lines up with the names of satan: the accuser, liar, and deceiver (Jn. 10:10; Rev. 12:10).
The Greek word for “reproach”: oneidismos G3680, taken from oneidezō G3679 with the meaning of “denounce, insult, upbraid, revile”.
A story of accusation being aimed at me
While on X, a one-minute video of me teaching popped up. In that video, I am saying, “I trust my heart.” The accusers who created the video then came on with the clear Scripture verse: "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick" (Jer. 17:9). They called me a false Pentecostal teacher and encouraged people to avoid me. They told a partial, slanted, accusatory story to cause the viewer to take up a reproach against me.
Anyone who knows me or the Bible will instantly come back with the New Covenant reality: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you" (Ezek. 36:26). Plus, the Holy Spirit is within us, informing our hearts/spirits (Rom 8:16). He is "the Spirit of truth and… will guide you into all the truth" (Jn. 16:13). Informed people who know the full story will not take up a reproach (Ps. 15:1-3). Uninformed people will take up reproach.
I consider videos like that demonic, accusative, portraying lies, and causing division, even though they believe they are doing God a favor by stoning the prophets (Matt. 23:30-39; Acts 7:52).
The original accusation invited Eve to take up a reproach against God.
Satan shows up with a partial story: “Eat this and you will become like God.” Satan doesn’t mention that there is much more to the story: You will become separated from God, enter a death spiral, experience sickness and pain, etc. In addition, satan insinuates that God can’t be trusted because He is holding out on Eve. Total slander. She succumbs and finds that taking up a reproach destroys her life and the life of her husband, as she passes the reproach on to him.
Evaluating news articles
I sense that probably 98% or so of news articles written by both conservatives and liberals are designed to make the reader take up a reproach. That is why it is poisonous to your soul and spirit to spend much time with them, and if you do, realize they are probably partial stories, slanted, demonic, and defiling. For example, simply watch some newscasters' live interviews of leading politicians, and then read some of the headlines that come out the following day, and see how they have distorted what was said.
Evaluating denominations
Do denominations only tell you parts of what other denominations believe, to make you take up a reproach against them? Absolutely. I was initially taught our denomination was the only group going to heaven. I was told that John Wesley believed that you could reach a point of “entire sanctification” where you would never again sin, and that such a teaching was foolishness and wrong. When I was a student at Roberts Wesleyan College, I went to the college library and read Wesley’s book A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. I found that what he actually believed was that you could love God perfectly and completely and that while in that posture, you would not be engaging in sin. He also believed that you could step out of that perfect love, and sin.
So I was initially taught a lie by my spiritual leaders, and I took up a reproach (Ps. 15:1-3). I separated, judged, and looked down upon the Wesleyan Methodist movement UNTIL I researched them in depth, got to meet them and found out they were nice people. Then I became a Youth Pastor at Avon Wesleyan Church.
I was taught and believed that the Pope was the antichrist, and Catholics weren’t saved. I took up a reproach against the Catholic church, until I met some Spirit-filled Catholic leaders, Dennis and Matt Lynn, who gave me some of the four keys to hearing God’s voice. When I met them personally, I discovered that they exuded Christ, love, and peace more than I did. I repented for taking up a reproach and now find practicing Catholics coming to my seminars and learning the four keys and sharing beautiful journaling from the Lord in my seminars.
I was taught the Mormons didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God (i.e., just a son of God), nor that they were saved by accepting His redeeming sacrifice and letting His blood alone bring them redemption. Then I had a chance to sit next to a couple of Mormons on a plane trip. I struck up a conversation with them and asked them if they believed Jesus was a son of God or the Son of God. They said, “The Son of God.” I then asked if salvation was by Jesus’ blood alone or did it take works also. They said Jesus’ blood alone. OK, so this is contrary to what I have been taught Mormons believe. Do I believe what people have told me Mormons believe, or do I believe the words from the lips of the two Mormons I am sitting next to? I gave up my reproach against the Mormon church, and decided to accept them and their testimony as it was my testimony also.
And then there are those liberals who don’t believe the Bible is the Word of God. I had taken up a reproach against them (Ps. 15:1-3). And yet God led me to one of these theologians who transformed my thinking as I read 15 of his books. Since I DO believe the Bible is the Word of God, I disagree with him on this point, but he did teach me a lot that helped undergird my emerging belief that I could have a living encounter with Jesus today. So I have laid down my reproach against what I had considered “filthy liberals.”
But these groups and people have messed up theology!
Of course they do. So do I. My theology changes every single year, and I write a new book describing how it has changed. If we need perfect theology to get into heaven, we are all in trouble. I believe that it is not what church you belong to or the theology of your group or denomination that determines your salvation, but rather your relationship with Jesus. That is the core and the only thing that matters. What we need is hearts sold out to Jesus, and receiving His love for the truth, and walking in the light He has revealed to us, while understanding that we are still seeing through a veil dimly, but in heaven it will be face to face (1 Cor. 13:12). I expect it is likely that even when I arrive in heaven, it will still take me a while to understand all God knows and has to offer me. Who knows, it may take an eternity!
If my hurt hasn’t been healed from the pain I experienced from a group or trauma I experienced earlier in my life, and if I have not allowed God to show me how He worked good into my life through the experience (Rom. 8:28), then I will probably hate the group (or person). In addition, if anyone suggests that I shouldn’t hate and separate from the group or person, I may reject them also. So the unhealed heart continues to pour out death and destruction, year after year, in my life. Lord, heal our hearts. Show us the gift in everything that has touched us. Only You are big enough to cause all things to work together for our good (Rom. 8:28). I come into Your presence and ask that the eyes of my heart be enlightened (Eph. 1:17,18). Let me be transformed while I look not at things seen but at You in the unseen world (2 Cor. 3:17,18; 4:17,18).
Journaling assignment
- Lord, have I taken up a reproach (Ps. 15:1-3) against any person or group or denomination?
- Lord, what would You say to me that could allow me to lay down this reproach?
- Lord, what are the gifts You have woven into my life through the past hurtful experiences You have allowed me to walk through?
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