Preaching and teaching is a calling, NOT A BUSINESS. Beware of those who try to make it a business, and therefore, effectively pilfer your bank account and possibly your soul, making merchandise of you.
Beware of these guys! So-called “Discernment Ministries” who’ve sprouted up all over the place since the advent of the Internet. The first thing to ask yourself when drawn into one of these blogs or sites, is how do you know this person has discernment? That’s pretty bottom-line, right?I mean, just because they say they have discernment doesn’t make it truth does it? Who exactly has made them the dispensers of God’s Word and Truth? The way it looks, if you think about it, THEY DID. Isn’t that what they’re saying when they advertise their blog, or website?
Look, I’m not saying that all online ministry sites are evil, or that they are perverting the Word of God, but think about it honestly….there is a great possibility that they just might be.What do you actually know about these types of “ministries”, since you can’t look them in the eye, face to face, to be able to examine the spiritual fruits in their lives? Would you make a serious business deal with a stranger, that you couldn’t meet and see eye to eye with the person? Of course not. Folks, where it comes to our spiritual walk down the Christian road, the most important issue in our entire lives, it’s of vital importance to know who and what we are dealing with. The choices we make in this will determine our complete life’s destiny.
If these, what I call Mystery Meat “discernment ministries” or “Watchmen” so-called, are dishing out material based on their view of doctrine, then we’d better be doubly cautious. We’re admonished by scripture time and time again, and by the Lord Jesus Christ’s own words to beware of false doctrine, false teachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing, deception, merchandisers of the Word of God, thinking godliness is gain. We need to be sure that what we are hearing and taking into our spirits lines up with the Word of God, as led by the Holy Spirit.
And beware of that PayPal acct, and donations page on their sites. This could be a sign they have a vested interest in gathering disciples unto themselves. Jesus warned that “The love of money is the root of ALL EVIL”. Why? Simply because money has the potential to have a corrupting influence in a person’s life.
I was checking out some of these sites on the Internet, and came across a site warning about such discernment ministries and heresy hunters. This was one that I felt was right on in line with scriptural warning to avoid them: http://www.templebuilders.com/anointing/16.htm What it had to say is what has been bugging me for a long time now. Christians have been watching the movie instead of reading the BOOK!
Study the Word of God, and pray over it, asking the Holy Spirit, your teacher to teach you from scripture.Like the Bereans!
Acts 17:11
In that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
These things may be of God, but the word may contain leaven. There was a big problem with false doctrine at the church at Corinth and the first chapters of Corinthians deal with it. The church at Berea on the other hand, only received truth and searched it out. It did not matter if it came from Paul or Peter, or if someone was healed prior to the word, or if the fellowship was in love, THEY SEARCHED and so must you search as well, daily whether those things are so in scripture.
This word I am speaking to you may be 99% pure unadulterated word that produces the life of The Anointed One – Jesus, and 1% of that which is tainted by my soulish, natural man. We must discern and receive that which relates to Him only. Sometimes you may have to hear “99%” of that which pertains to the soul and God will change you with the “1%”, like the pearl of great price, you searched it out and rejected all but that one pearl. Jesus is that Pearl; He Who is the Word of God.
Some good sheep chow to chew on!
Spiritual Abuse Sanctuary 
I’m happy whenever I hear a Christian using their God given discernment on any issue where wolves are donning sheep’s clothing and fleecing those who’ve bailed out of the apostate church system.
This is my position exactly…where money is involved, watch out. It’s a red flag! Unfortunately, there are those like you’ve described, who started out in house churches, and then figured that it wasn’t working out “largely” enough for them when they had to minister face to face, and be accountable to seasoned elders who could recognize them and their nefarious tricks. These are the ones who saw what looked like some easy money to set up a mom and pop Internet “ministries” complete with a little website, put their name on Face Book, started a PayPal account, and who deliberately have zero accountability to anyone, start linking to like minded buddies on the web, and watch the money come rolling in.
So, it works both ways. Some of these you mention move on into these “online discernment ministries”, thinking it will be a bigger and better deal with a lot less effort than working for a living. I have a real problem with the one’s I’ve seen so far because none of them are actually qualified to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ, in my opinion, but instead, apparently think godliness is gain.
It’s sad that not all Christians are as spiritually savvy as you, and end up get taken by these charlatans. I’ve actually seen Christians being habitually discouraged and scared by these men, apparently to ward them away from visiting or participating in any church, so they’d be locked into their online ministry in order to keep the donations rolling in. My spirit has been so grieved over this I can’t even begin to tell you.
Indeed, just because someone sets up a “house church” doesn’t mean it’s going to be operated according to scripture. It may be just as bad as the worst of any apostate name brand church out there. Maybe worse. The only remedy in my opinion is for Christians to study their bibles for themselves, and pray for wisdom and discernment. In due time, if they are obedient, the LORD will bring them into fellowship with Christians who are sincere about following the LORD in spirit and truth.
You know, a few years ago, I called a house church in my area that was advertising on the Internet, and talked to the “leaders” wife for awhile, and come to find out, they were hosting a pervert that had gone to the apostate church I’d left the year before. When I told the “leaders” wife about this perverts track record she became angry with me, and said in a hateful and sarcastic tone, “:What do you think,,,he’s going to attack you?” I was shocked that any right thinking person that was in a leadership position, (supposedly), as this woman was, could even entertain the idea that a woman should have to endure participating in a home fellowship with an outright idolater, and fornicator. So, that was the end of that. Unfortunately, a good house church, or Christian fellowship is getting as scarce as hen’s teeth. Christians should be very open to loving their brethren but at the same time be as wise as serpents, along with the “gentle as doves” part. If not, they surely will be deceived. Like the saying goes, “Follow the money”…with any of them. Truly, Jesus said, “The LOVE of money is the root of ALL evil”. Beware of those with their hand out. If they were truly serving Jesus would they have to ask for it? I always found when serving the LORD, he will hold good His promise to supply all our needs without having to go to man for it. There would clearly be no need in my book to fork over money to a “house” preacher, OR an internet teacher.
Mine was a long response, sorry, but I’ve had a lot on my heart about this.
Thanks for your comment, it was surely very timely and right on target. I was glad to hear your views on the subject. It needs to be said and the brethren need to be warned about this.
Grace and peace be to you~
Scarlett
I have never been a victim of online discernment ministries myself, but I have personally known men who start “home churches” because they hate working and there is a pattern known in the community that this person can not keep a job. They want to get a free ride from a working class of Christians. Every time some one is “leading” or heading up a house church it is good to inquire whether or not they are preaching for filthy lucre. Yes, the laborer is worthy of his hire, but when men want free money from mature, seasoned Christians, they are not obeying the Lord. Online people are easily avoided, but I find it is harder to resist the enticements of a no-strings-attached house church or home Bible study down the street.
I think people need to be warned about Online Discernment Ministries, (ODM’s), as being potentially harmful. But I have seen what happens to those that call them out…they end up getting attacked by them. That shouldn’t surprise anyone because the ODM’s are going to try to protect their vested interest, (their Pay Pal Acct), It’s disgusting…in my opinion there is nothing more despicable than those that exploit wounded and bleeding sheep, pretending to “minister” to them for their own selfish purposes and financial gain. Like I said before, teaching and preaching is a calling, not a business.
http://huntingheresyhunters.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/odm-update-another-apologist-speaks-out-against-the-odms/
Reblogged this on spiritualabusesanctuary.