More on the series of faith healing deaths of babies and small children done “in the name of God”.
See our other post on faith healing death here:
https://spiritualabusesanctuary.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/faith-healing-cults/
Monthly Archives: May 2012
Faith Healing Cults
Followers of Christ Cult and the Church of the First Born Cult are faith healing splinter sects that have left a cruel and bloody trail of suffering, and now dead victims in their wake. Many of these victims are helpless babies and small children who have no voice or decision about receiving life saving medical care or relief from pain and suffering.
Many, if not most of these victims could have been saved. In this case, the victim was a teen age boy who happened to be the victim of his parents aberrant spiritual beliefs, that going to a doctor is showing a lack of faith in God.The poor boy must have been influenced by his parents and his church’s beliefs. These cult members then lay the blame on God, that “it must have been God’s will not to heal”. This of course is a form of fatalism, but you’ll never get these brainwashed, doctrinally “indoctrinated” cult members to understand this. They get away with murder literally, hiding behind the religious freedom clause of the Constitution.
http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=518&Itemid=8
This Topix forum link shows an ongoing debate with some of the Church of the First Born people. You would have a hard time comprehending some of the arguments they give trying to justify allowing babies and small children to suffer and die with horrible and painful conditions. Another one of this churches legalistic and cruel “doctrines” is that of shunning, or “disfellowshipping), and casting out members who disagree with their doctrines or over some “sin”. This may also include being cast out of one’s own family and be considered “dead” to family members for the rest of the “offenders” life. You would not think this sort of thing goes on in churches called by the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, but this cult abuses that to the limits. In many of these so called churches it appears to have been taken over by Satan, not Jesus. I’m not kidding. I’ve studied them for years, and the stories that come out of this cult are heartbreaking.
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/watts-ok/TOJCMMD52KHNKCL6I/p67
These cult churches are scattered all across the United States from Indiana to Washington state. Thankfully, convictions are finally being handed out to these cult members, but too late to save the victims laying in small graves, their cries of pain now silenced by death.
Three Judgments Prophesied to Come to America for her Sinfulness and Rebellion
Video song by Jason Bellard: REPENT
(For your discernment. As for me, I feel these coming judgments prophesied by Steven Crowder, (below), are in the making, due to the organized churches complacency, worldliness, and selfish disregard for God, combined with the sinfulness, unbelief and ungodliness of America.
America and the lukewarm mainstream apostate church have become like unto Sodom and Gomora. The sins of Sodom and Gomora were pride, idleness, fullness of bread, and they didn’t take care of the needy.)
-Scarlett
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Prophecy:
Brother Steven Crowder
Seeing Through The Eyes Of A Child
“On the 26th day of February in the year 2001, the Lord spoke to me and said, “Write down what I speak to you!The first of three judgments is soon to be upon this country.”
“For weeks I have been stirring your spirit and showing you things that you must tell My people.I’ve shown you My anger and my anguish over their deeds and their lives, and I’ve caused you to feel these very things in your own heart, have I not?”
And I said, “Yes, Lord.With all of my heart I know this.”
And the Lord said to me, “You must record what I’ve shown you and what I will show you, and you must share it amongst the people, even if it brings forth unbelief and dissention, and even persecution from those who call themselves your brethren”
And I said, “Lord, help me to bear this burden, for the weight of it is enormous.How great and how terrible this message is, and how will it be received?”
And the Lord said to me, “Do not concern yourself how it is received by those hearing it—only be faithful and deliver all of the words that I speak to you, and do not hold back anything I tell you—this is very important, and this you must do.”
“The first of three judgments is soon to be upon this country.With each judgment I will reveal people’s hearts and their motives, and although many will cry out to Me, few will actually repent and turn to me with all of their heart.Those who do repent will know in their hearts that it took judgment in order to bring them to repentance, this being due to the stubbornness of their hearts.”
“A strong blow will occur in the economic sector in this country, and it will cause a deterioration that will progress slowly but steadily, causing the abandonment of grandiose plans and ideas.Economic woes will pave the way to great sorrow and suffering, and as things escalate and grow worse, there will be those who will say, ‘Behold, the Great Depression has returned!What has become of our prosperity?’ Depression and sorrow are one and the same—behold, the time of sorrows that has come upon your nation.”
“I prospered the people of this country with great abundance, but what did they do with their wealth?They built monuments unto themselves, they grew fat and slothful, and they forgot the poor, and their trust increasingly grew upon their wealth, and they forgot about Me, says the Lord!They deceived themselves into thinking that it was their own righteousness that brought forth this wealth, not knowing that the seeds of their prosperity had long before been planted by their forefathers.Is it not true that first comes the planting of the seed, followed many years later by an abundance of fruit?In this people’s pride and arrogance, they have deceived themselves, and in a short time I shall strike them and take away their sustenance and all they have come to trust in, for I am the Lord, and vengeance is Mine!And when the infrastructure of this country begins to crumble, violence and turmoil will become the norm, and after a time the people will become used to it and will accept the latest strategies that will be implemented in order to try to heal this incurable affliction.”
“There are those who built great ministries and flaunted their wealth before the eyes of many, misrepresenting Christ, while at the same time claiming to be His ministers.A grand hypocrisy this is, living in such luxury as rivals the greatest kings who have ever lived, says the Lord.And O how My people love to have it so!When the economic abundance that the people have become so accustomed to begins to fade, and the propagators of such “prosperity faith” continue their efforts to milk the flock of their dwindling riches, see then how successful their “faith” messages will be.Will the people send in their money on that day to extend the life of luxury that these deceitful hirelings require?I say to you that there will be a small percentage of those whose eyes will have been opened concerning these tricks, and they will say, ‘How foolish we were to believe these tales told by those who say they represent the Lord!Forgive us for our mistakes and heal our deception O God!’And the Lord will hear their cries in that day, and He will heal them.But, the majority; the many, will continue to put their trust in these heresies, believing that God will pay them back many fold for all that they “donate” to His cause.I say to you that such giving does not emanate from a pure heart, but is done due to selfish motives.When one gives out of love, nothing is expected in return, but see how these people charge Me to return their money many times over?If your riches are your security instead of the Lord, then they have become a snare and an idol to you.Woe be unto you!Woe be unto you!”
“Your elected officials shall scramble to fix the problems in that day, yet they will only be so many fingers in a dam which is breaking, and no amount of programs will be able to mend what’s happening.The nation whose currency says, ‘In God We Trust’ has forgotten the Lord, and the majority of its officials have become corrupted!Many of your leaders use the name of the Lord as a tool, while they secretly engage in sinful, demonic behavior, thinking that the Lord does not see.But, the Lord does see, and He does not honor those who do not honor Him, nor will He honor their programs that they will attempt to implement to no avail.No government can stand when it is divided against itself, and no one can renew the blessings of God when they’re standing arm-in-arm with the devil.”
I said, “Lord, how can we as a people be so blind, and what has become of us?How can we be spared from eternal judgment?”
And the Lord said, “People do not get corrupted in a day, but through subtle deception their eyes become clouded so that they can not see and discern between good and evil.If they are not shown the error of their ways so that they can repent of this evil, then they will die in it and then have to give account for their actions on the day of accountability when they stand before Me.”
And I said, “Lord, how did this happen?”
And the Lord said, “Much of the damage has occurred through the idol you call television.At first it was innocent, with shows that promoted morals and family values, but like everything else that man can touch, it became corrupted by man’s desires, and in time it became the holding place of every foul spirit.What used to be entertainment withcowboys and horses paved the way for policemen and violence, and with each passing season the savagery grew worse, until the people became shock-proofed and addicted to this sort of blood and violence.And then it became the norm for people to see men; who were created in the image of God, cursing and killing other men—all in the name of ‘entertainment.’And as people grew more accustomed to this type of perversion, they merely passed it off as being normal—the average, routine entertainment of the day—not realizing at all what it was doing to them.This is to be compared to a rebellious child who pushes the limit of what he can get away with, until at last the outrageous becomes the acceptable—this is how the people of this country became so corrupted, until at last they call evil good and they have lost the ability to discern good from evil.It was mainly through the entertainment industry that this door was opened, allowing all of this demonic intrusion into the lives and hearts of the people.Music and television both became so corrupted that they destroyed the moral fiber of the youth, and in time those children grew up and became the adults of the next generation—a generation empty of understanding and void of moral direction—a preoccupied generation that had lost the ability to know right from wrong.And if this wasn’t enough, then came the computer, where everything can be found, although none of it is real.As if this country wasn’t already shock-proofed, easy access to computers paved the way to even greater perversions—all in the name of man’s progress.From cursing to murder to lewd acts and perversions, televisions and computers opened the door to the demonic and caused people to adulterate themselves through what they saw—all in the form of ‘entertainment.’Children need to be entertained, and it was through the door of their ‘entertainment’ that the people of this nation were adulterated with the iniquities of the world.Children—perpetual children—children who refuse to grow up and take responsibility—this is what has become of the people of this country.”
“When My judgments come, says the Lord, who will shake themselves loose from the great deception that has covered this country like a death shroud—who is it that will repent?
As I pondered this, the Lord spoke to me again, speaking of a second judgment.He said to me, “After their riches become as dust, I shall bring forth a famine so as to make their food scarce and their delicacies no more.”
And I said, “Lord, how will this affect the country, and who will be spared this judgment?”
The Lord said, “Many have lived their lives never knowing what it is to be hungry.Many have forgotten the poor and the destitute and the hungry, choosing to turn their heads away from such ones as these, and to shut out that part of the world from their eyes.In their pride, they considered themselves better than the others because of their prosperity and their lack of want.You will see how depraved these people will become when they will consider it a blessing to receive a mere one meal a day!Where will their pride be then?”
“As the economic woes worsen, great turmoil will occur overseas, and your country will be pulled into a frightening war.Because it is a fact that ‘war’ helps to revive the economy, there will be many who will rejoice because of this, saying, ‘Behold, our prosperity is soon to return!—it is worth the sacrifice of these young men and women.’But this war will be a great trap, and many men and women will leave the homeland, never to return, as the jaws of this trap will clamp down upon them without mercy.Your country has become very proud of its great technologies, and the people of your country entertained themselves by watching their televisions, viewing the wholesale slaughter meted out in your last war.Unbeknownst to you, these ‘smart weapons’ will not be so effective this time around, and when your troops walk confidently into battle they will not be prepared for what they will encounter.The tactics of the last war have deceived your people into a false sense of security, and it will be to your horror when a seemingly weaker enemy unleashes the terror that they are holding in store for your young men and women when they enter into the prepared battle grounds.”
“Although everyone will be affected by the lack of abundant food, there will be those who will have an adequate supply, those who have been wise and who have heard the voice of the Lord and who have actually done something with what He has spoken to them.These people will be blessed in that day, and their wise planning they will become a lifeline for many people to avoid starvation.These pockets of people will be few, and they will be scattered in many places, says the Lord.It will be by My assistance that these people will be blessed, and they will take no credit unto themselves for their blessings.”
“The government will attempt to remedy the problem of feeding the masses of hungry people, and their food distribution programs will at times become violent, plagued by people who know of no other way than to break in and steal that which they desire.This will pave the way for very strict regulations and the marking of people within a godless system.Although this country has always had an abundance of food and grain to send to other countries, it will be hard-pressed to feed its own people in that soon-coming day, and the famine will only grow worse and worse, with natural disasters leading to the destruction of much-hoped-for food.A once-proud nation will be brought to its knees, and people’s health will decline to proportions unheard of for this country.Many will lose hope, and few will repent and return to Me, says the Lord.”
“There will still be ministries that will attempt to pilfer the people in that day, offering promises to them and misleading many with false signs and wonders.And there will be so many in that day who will cry long and loud to be raptured out of the world and into the Paradise of God, but to no avail.It will be said to their leaders in that day, ‘How long must we suffer this affliction?’ and ‘Children of the King shouldn’t suffer like this, should they?’And many will fall away from the faith in that day, abandoning all hope and the possibility of being removed from their suffering.And I will have mercy on My people in that day, says the Lord, upon those who will face reality and who will come to Me with their broken hearts.And they shall know in that day that I am the Lord who loves them, and that they’ve been tricked and deceived by those who fashion themselves in religious garb, yet who are not truly the Lord’s shepherds.This is the second judgment that I shall pour out upon this country”
And as I sat and pondered this, the Lord brought my attention to a group of people who were standing around and talking amongst themselves.The Lord said to me, “Behold how they talk and how this sort of speech does not sit right within your spirit.”
And I said, “Lord, why is this so, and what does it mean?”
And the Lord said, “They speak as though they were babes and little children, not knowing that from the abundance of their hearts their mouths speak.They speak as babes and children because within their hearts this is who and what they really are—a generation that has refused to grow up, a generation that has deceived themselves and in turn I have deceived them.Education and wealth have no affect on peoples’ maturity, and yet they have been deceived into thinking that this is the case.People think that because a person has this much education or because they own great possessions, or because they have great charm or a golden tongue that they are somehow above others.Men see the outside and judge accordingly, but the Lord looks upon the heart.”
At these words my heart sank within me, and I wanted to turn and weep for these people.I could not speak, nor could I eat, for my heart was so heavy within me.I began to melt like wax and my strength left me.For hours I walked around in a daze, and I felt as though I had just seen all of those around me slain in an unknown way.And as I pondered this, the Lord began to speak to me again.
“Children—perpetual children, this is how I refer to this generation.They see through the eyes of a child, for this is what they wanted, and this is what I gave them over to.A child’s reality is seeing things the way they want to see them.They pretend into reality the things they wish to see, like a Christian walk without the cross and the suffering that is necessary for spiritual growth.They refuse to see the truth, for they’ve blinded themselves through their rebellion, says the Lord.Although they see reality and have heard the truth of the gospel, they choose rather; like little children, to believe something else—purposely deceiving themselves rather than having to face reality.Seeing, followed by believing, which means putting into action what they’ve seen, would prove that they are at least attempting to mature, and it is this type of religion that is pleasing to your heavenly Father.[James 1:21ff, Matthew 7:24-27]Have I not said in My Word that to those who choose to love a lie over the truth that I will give them over to believing these lies?That I will even send a deluding influence upon them so that they will believe that which is false and be judged accordingly?[2 Thessalonians 2:10,11]Do they not take the Lord at His word and believe it?”
When I heard this, I was deeply disturbed and troubled at the thought of this.“Lord, this is your wrath, and it is an awful thing to see!I always thought that the wrath of God was fire and brimstone and cataclysmic judgment, but now I see Your wrath in a much different way!I see your judgment upon people happening right now, and we don’t even see it!How do I warn them of this?”
And the Lord said to me, “You must show them all that I’ve spoken to you here, and despite whether they pay heed to you or not, you must tell them, for your Lord is merciful and full of compassion and I desire to heal their iniquity and their backsliding.I am a just and true God, and I will render unto each person accordingly.Judgment is coming upon your nation, and it is not My will that any man should perish, therefore I send My watchmen to those who call themselves My people.I send My watchmen forth with a message from the throne of the Most High God in hopes that there will be those who will listen and take to heed concerning the blindness that they’ve been given over to.It is My desire to heal them and forgive them so that I can save them.Do you not know that the Lord loves these people and that He grieves over them with great anguish?”
And I shook my head and said, “I do not understand that kind of love, Lord—it is too great for me.Forgive my shallowness and lack of understanding, please.Forgive my hardness of heart toward those who are perishing O God, and give me Your compassion, that I may speak to them from my heart and not just out of obedience”
And the Lord said, “My ways are not man’s ways.My ways are higher than man’s ways, therefore you must tell the people all that I have spoken to you, because it is for their benefit.Tell them that I love them and do not desire to lose them when I bring My judgment down upon your country.Tell them that I desire to show them the error of their ways so that they might repent and I would in turn heal them of their sins and their backsliding.Tell them that I desire to save them and to be with them in the Paradise of God, for they are My creation, made in My own image, and I My desire is that none of them would be lost.Tell them all that I have spoken to you, for this is the word of the Lord!”
“When the first two judgments come upon your country, they will drive many to their knees.There will be those who will indeed repent, but the vast majority will harden their hearts toward Me and many will curse Me in that day.And in their weakened state I shall bring forth terrors upon them such as they have never known before!This shall be the third judgment upon your country.”
“And what will this judgment be, Lord?” I asked.
“I have shown pieces of this judgment to many people over the years, the signs of terror that will come upon America at the time of her end.Mists, vapors, powders and stars falling from the heavens upon her cities, pestilence and foreign troops and terror of every conceivable fashion shall come upon her when the third wave of judgment passes over her.Imprisonment andmartyrdom shall be the norm in that day, and many will flee for their lives in order to escape the terrors that await the living.The great cataclysmic judgments that men have seen and written about shall all descend upon her during her final days, and the government will be powerless to do anything to stop them, says the Lord.The economy will no longer be an issue in that day, as there will be nothing left to buy and sell, and America as a nation will be in ruins, never to rise up again.Her soldiers will have been spread out in every direction upon the globe, tending to the various duties abroad, and they will never see their homeland again.So sobering will things be at that time that no one will be preaching the gospel for money, and those who would attempt to do so will be captured and killed.And for this reason, many will abandon Me in that day, denying Me before men in their attempt to merely live one more day.And the word ‘Rapture’ will be forgotten in that day, and the people will know that they’ve been taught wrongly concerning this doctrine.”
“But, I will have a people, says the Lord—a people who will walk through this coming fire, a people who will miraculously survive, despite all of the odds which will be stacked up against them.This will be due to My divine protection upon them, the sealing of these servants by My angels as is written in My Word.”[Revelation 7, Ezekiel 9]
“Have I not shown Myself to be faithful in protecting My people in days past? says the Lord.Have you not read in My Word how I spared Daniel in the lion’s den, how I kept the three young men in the furnace of fire, how I kept My people when I struck their oppressors?And do you still not believe that I will spare My people even when judgments are falling all around them?”
“Ten times did I strike the oppressors of My people, declares the Lord, and each time that judgment fell upon them, My people were kept safe from harm.Ten times did I strike them—with boils and with blood and darkness, with hail and locusts and frogs and swarms of insects, and I struck their cattle and their firstborn.And did I not spare My own in that day?When the judgments fell upon the Egyptians, were not My own people exempt? says the Lord.And when I parted the Red Sea and made safe passage for My people, what did the oppressors of My people do?They sought to destroy My people, using the same miraculous passage that I had provided for them.And did I not destroy them all because of this? says the Lord.And so shall it be now, as you will see many who are soon to be plagued, and few who will be spared.And let it be known beforehand that there will be a definite distinction between those whom the Lord spares and those who He does not spare, for the Lord knows those who are truly His and He will make it well-known before men in that day.Many are called, and yet few are chosen, and is it not written that at the time of the end that the love of the many shall grow cold? [Matthew 24:12]Therefore, know beforehand that he Lord will make a definite distinction, which will be visible to all in that day concerning those who are truly His people and those who are not.It is when the many seek to pillage and destroy those whom I have protected so that they might live—when they seek to devour that which I have spared, then you shall see Mine hand strike without mercy, and many shall be the slain in that day.”
“And just who are the oppressors of My people? you would ask.Are they not children[Isaiah 3:12]—those who refuse to grow up and face the responsibility of maturing and growing up? says the Lord.
“Tell the people of this coming terror” the Lord said to me.“Tell them that I love them and I am heartbroken over the things I see being committed in My name.Tell them that if they desire to remain as children and to deceive themselves into believing only what they want to believe, then I have no other option but to give them over to these lies, and that it will cost them everything! says the Lord.Tell them that if they continue to see as through the eyes of a child that they will never mature into that which I would desire of them, and that in the end I will indeed label them as children—children of disobedience, whom I take no pleasure in.”
“The United States of America has become a nation of children, a nation that thrives upon watching boys grow up to play boys’ games—giving great honor, prestige and riches to those who refuse to grow up, to those who choose youth over wisdom and maturity.And so much time and money and effort is put into the vanity of looking young and not having to face the reality of growing old!It is time to put away your vanity, My people—it is time to humble yourselves and to be done with it. It is time to grow up My people!Do you think that I will warn you of this many more times before it’s too late to escape the coming terror upon your country?This is the word of the Lord!”
There are those who have asked me, “When do you think that this economic crisis is going to begin?”All I can tell them what the Lord told me concerning this.In June of 2000 the Lord spoke to me and said, “On the sixth day of the sixth month of the new millennium, the evil powers in charge have an evil plan devised.”The Lord did not tell me what this evil plan was, nor what it pertained to, but it seemed to point to a judgment upon the American economy.
He also told me that we’re to watch the country’s reaction to the execution of Timothy McVeigh—especially the reaction in Oklahoma City where the bombing took place.He is scheduled to die in May of 2001, and if the people rejoice over his death I feel that this will be a sign that our nation is about to fall under the judgment of God.I cannot with surety say “thus saith the Lord” concerning that, but I have a very strong feeling about it.I was led to move to Oklahoma three weeks before the bombing occurred, and below you will read what the Lord showed me concerning the bombing and the court’s verdict upon Mr. McVeigh.I felt that the Lord was telling me recently that because people in this country have refused His meat and chose instead to live on milk, that He will one day not far hence bring a plague upon our livestock, taking away the abundance of meat and milk that we’ve become so used to—and this will have a devastating affect upon our economy.
I know that there have been many “date setters” that have come up short on their “predictions,” and it’s not my desire to be one of them.Predictions come from men, whereas prophecy comes from the Lord.If these words are truly of the Lord, then they will come to pass, and if they are only vain imaginings from my carnal mind, then they will not come to pass.I ask each of you be the judge of this.Please read about what the Lord says concerning the Oklahoma City bombing and how it affects us as a nation.
The bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995 made national headlines for weeks.Anyone who turned on the TV during that time saw the continual news reports on the bombing.Across the screen would flash the central theme, “Terror in the Heartland.”The Lord told me to watch what happened after this was all over, for a sign would be shown that would expose the heart of something concerning the whole nation.After a period of time, the bombing became old news, and then there was the trial which was held in Denver.When the verdict was about to be read, the Lord reminded me again to pay attention, for it would be a sign that would show the heart of something concerning the whole country.I asked the Lord, “What do I do?”and He replied that I needed to buy a newspaper and that I would find the answer in it.As you well know, the jury found Mr. McVeigh guilty, and sentenced him to die by lethal injection.The day after the death penalty was handed down, the answer came.In Oklahoma City, the people rejoiced over the sentence, and the newspaper stated that “The churches were ringing their bells every half hour, rejoicing.”The churches in the heartland were rejoicing when they saw their enemy judged, and in doing so they set themselves up to receive their own judgment at the hand of the Lord.”
The Word of God says:
“Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown; lest the Lord see it, and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [to expend it upon you, the worse offender].” PROVERBS 24:17,18 Amplified Version
Church Leadership or New World Order Change Agent?
This is another warning on ecumenism that’s becoming so prevalent in the organized church.
I love REAL CHRISTIAN BLOGGERS like Evelyn who blogs at:
“In Christ and Unchurched”, http://inchristandunchurched.wordpress.com/about/, because you won’t hear these warnings in the apostate organized churches. Even in “evangelical” churches nowadays, the world is intruding in the form of “political correctness”, and ecumenism. The pure gospel is not going to be popular. But Jesus said you can’t serve two masters. It won’t work. Christians are going to have to make a choice, and they are not going to be able to straddle the fence.
The Body of Christ or a Hospital for Sinners?
The Church is not a hospital for sinners. It’s not an outreach or a place for evangelism.
(Evangelism has it’s place and Christian outreaches ministering to the unsaved are good things and in God’s will, but not intended to be in the assembly of believers, as the scriptures clearly show. )
As I was web surfing for grist for the blog mill tonight my eyes fastened on this heading, “Is the Church a Hospital?” I instantly recognized this cliche from way back in my own churchianity days, when the blinders were still on. It was another one of those many cliches the church had to cover up their own failures, sins and the reason nothing ever changed. The church had become home to those who had “bloomed where they were planted”, and faded there, and kept there for fear of leaving due to various threats such as the accusation of being a “church hopper”, if you dared to check out other local churches in the area because just maybe you were sick of the one you were in. Well, except for the all too frequent new comer, dysfunctional sinner, someone had invited to church,(the hospital), where they were supposed to get fixed, but usually didn’t.
Anyways, I was thrilled when I saw this heading because I just knew it was right up my alley. I’ve been saying for a long time now, the church is NOT the place for sinners, but yet, as you drive down the streets and highways, you will often see billboards inviting sinners into the church with an advertisement saying, “Sinners Welcome”, or something similar.
Folks, this is one of the biggies why I left the church. I was literally attacked by the church leadership for not being more “accepting”, “loving” and “tolerant” of downright sin and perversion going on in the church, right under their nose. I had become the problem, not the grinning sinners waving bye bye to me from the front door of the church as I beat my final exit.
The most blatant and cruel form of spiritual abuse goes on inside the church walls. The church is “supposed to be” by all scriptural accounts the spotless, holy BODY OF CHRIST, Jesus Christ’s representatives in a sinful world, the Bride of Christ without spot, wrinkle or blemish. If you are presently going to a church, can you honestly say this describes your church?
Friends, most mainstream churches bear no resemblance whatever to the early church, the church Jesus set up in the book of Acts. What’s more, please….if you are struggling with the inward feeling that you are in one of these pseudo-churches, pray for guidance that Jesus would help you leave this Babylonian harlot and find a godly fellowship.
I hope Evelyn, of http://exitchurchianity.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/the-church-is-a-hospital/won’t mind my copy and pasting this to the blog. Click on the Title, (above) to go directly to her wordpress blog. Awesome stuff!
ALL credit goes to her and Jesus for her brilliant and insightful writing. I hope to lean on her often for more of her genius and experience in warning innocent travelers about the pitfalls of “doing church”.
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“There’s this cliche (popular saying) in the organized church that “the church is a hospital”, but I’ve been thinking about this cliche lately. I wonder if it’s true. Is it Biblical? God symbolizes His ppl in many ways in Scripture, such as a flock of sheep, a Body, a Temple, a House, a Bride, a Vineyard, & an army. But did He ever symbolize us as a hospital??
People in the organized church say that “the church is a hospital” because it’s a place where the sick can come & be healed. Well…sorry to say, but I don’t see sick ppl coming into the organized church & being healed of sin. I see sick ppl TAKING OVER the pews & the pulpit, & spreading their sickness everywhere. I see sheep trying to get well, only to be led BACK INTO their sickness by sick shepherds & sick goats. I see ppl getting sicker than they were when they came. Is the church a hospital?? If so…I would have to liken the organized church to a hospital that practices conventional medicine, & here is why…
The ‘conventional’ medicine industry is controlled by the ruling elites. Therefore, it is the predominant (most popular) medical industry. Many ppl assume that conventional medicine is the best option because it’s popular…but it’s only popular because it has a powerful propaganda machine behind it that is fueled by the richest families in the world. Their goal is to use human beings as cash cows, encourage sickness, KEEP ppl sick, & reduce the population (especially unwanted groups such as minorities, poor whites, the mentally ill, the elderly, & the disabled) thru sickness & poisonous ‘treatments’ that create additional health problems.
Most hospitals practice ‘conventional’ medicine. Not because it’s the most effective, but because many years ago, the Rockefellers punked Western medical schools & hospitals from teaching & practicing natural medicine. The Rockefellers threatened to take away their license, fine them, shut them down, & imprison them if need be. So medical schools & hospitals quickly succumbed to the Rockefellers, who controlled the ‘conventional’ medicine industry at that time, & did not want any sort of competition.
Once again, the goal of the ‘conventional’ medicine industry is to use human beings as cash cows, encourage sickness, KEEP ppl sick, & reduce the population thru sickness & poisonous ‘treatments’ that create additional health problems or flat-out kill ppl. There are a # of ways that this is accomplished…
They do not treat the ROOT CAUSE of sickness, they only treat the symptoms. They claim that they do not know the root cause of sickness, in order to justify why they haven’t discovered or created a cure yet. This conditions the sick not to expect a cure…but to be a repeat patient. They keep coming back to the hospital for pills, surgery, chemotherapy, & radiology to treat their symptoms. For this reason, hospitals are not full of ppl who are healed. They are full of repeat patients that are not being healed. Their symptoms temporarily disappear then return, just like a weed temporarily disappears when its branches are trimmed…but eventually grows back because it wasn’t pulled up by its roots. Even many of the nurses & doctors are sick, but ppl trust them with their lives because they have been indoctrinated at “medical schools” to practice ‘conventional’ medicine. Their patients provide a residual income for the ‘conventional’ medicine industry.
This reminds me of the organized church. The root cause of sin (a sinful heart) is not being treated. People are only dealing with the symptoms. This is why there are so many books, tapes, & dvd’s on the 7-laws of this & the 5 steps to that. People want a quick fix that can trim the branches of their sins, but it’s only behavior modification. Behavior modification sounds & looks nice OUTWARDLY…but it’s only for a season. Since the sinful heart is not being dealt with by the Holy Spirit, ppl eventually return to their vomit. This reveals that they only had a FORM of godliness, but denied the power that could make them godly on the inside.
Just like ppl in hospitals say that they’re “waiting on a cure”, ppl in the organized church say “I’m waiting on God to deliver me from that” or “God hasn’t delivered me from that yet”, but the problem isn’t that God hasn’t arrived to deliver folks from sin yet. IF God is in you, then He is ever-present to deliver. The problem is a lack of repentance & a lack of perseverance/endurance. How dare we return to our vomit & then blame it on God by saying that He hasn’t delivered us from that yet. Freedom from sin is always available IF we abide in Christ’s Word…but do we want to??
The Word says that by Jesus’ stripes we are healed from our sins, but many ppl only misuse that verse to name & claim physical healing. They don’t apply it to being healed from sin (which is the proper context of it). The organized church is not full of ppl who are healed. It’s full of ppl who are groveling in their vomit & making up excuses why they commit adultery against God. Instead of abiding in God’s Word to be set free from sin, they misuse His Word as a sin-crutch…to coddle themselves in their sins & make themselves feel comfortable living in darkness. Are ppl profiting from misusing the Scriptures in that manner?? 2 Tim 3:16 says that the Scriptures are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” *reads it again* NOPE, I don’t see anything in this verse that says the Scriptures are profitable to coddle us in our sins.
There are SO many cliches in the organized church that condition ppl NOT to expect a cure for their sin. They are programmed to DIS-believe God’s promise to heal us & set us free from sin. They say “we’re all just sinners, no one’s perfect, we’ve all fallen short of God’s glory, God knows my heart, you can’t judge me, God looks past my faults & sees my need, etc.” All of these cliches that ppl use to condition themselves to REMAIN in sin & live below God’s New Covenant standard make me want to scream. I am tired of hearing them. I am tired of the “woe is me. I’ll never be set free from sin, so I might as well get comfortable in my vomit” mentality. I am tired of the “I’m glad that God’s grace covers my sins, because I’ll never overcome them” mindset. Is that what being a Christian is about? Being saved from hell, but not saved from sin??? Being forgiven, but not being delivered?? Being translated into the Kingdom of God, but not being transformed by the renewing of our mind?? Did Jesus call us out of the world, to add us to a so-called “hospital” that doesn’t heal folks?? I think I’m going to create some cliches about deliverance from sin & living holy! Will they catch on like wildfire?? Probably not…
People ignore the parts of the Bible that talk about deliverance from sin, then they cling to the parts of the Bible where God promised material prosperity to His Old Covenant ppl, even though that promise was NOT made to the New Covenant saints. Is that what being a Christian has been reduced to?? Getting rich, but not getting well??
False shepherds in the organized church have a lot of explaining to do, because they are not being healed either. They spread their sickness across the congregation by committing adultery, watching porno, financially soliciting the poor, lording it over the sheep, stealing, teaching doctrines of demons & false traditions, binding heavy requirements on men’s shoulders, making disciples that are twice the sons of hell as themselves, & doing everything else that Jesus forbid in Matthew 23. Peter wrote about these false shepherds in 2 Peter 2: ” 17 These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, THEY LURE BACK INTO SIN THOSE WHO HAVE BARELY ESCAPED FROM A LIFESTYLE OF DECEPTION. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.” Godly elders are supposed to train up the saints in righteousness…not lead them back to their vomit. It’s almost like ppl are being saved out of the world by Jesus, only for some false shepherd to lead them right back into the world.
These false shepherds are exact opposite of God’s standard for elders in Titus 1:6-9, yet ppl trust them with their soul. How can they teach anyone how to live holy, when they themselves are unholy? How can someone who is unclean teach others how to be clean??? Romans 2:21-24 – “Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.” & in another place it says “Many will follow their evil teaching & shameful immorality. And BECAUSE OF THESE TEACHERS, THE WAY OF TRUTH WILL BE SLANDERED.” (2 Pet 2:2)
Jesus said that He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Those who are well do not need a doctor, but those who are sick. But no one who comes to Christ for healing/salvation from sin STAYS sick. The Gospels show that when ppl sought Jesus for healing, they were made every whit WHOLE, they were HEALED. The ppl that Peter shared the Gospel with in Acts 2 didn’t stay the same, they experienced a CONVERSION/CHANGE of heart. Their fellowship was truly unleavened (pure & healthy). This is the way that the Body of Christ should be. So how do we deal with those who are sick? We share the Gospel with them, we lovingly rebuke them, and correct them…but if they are unrepentant they do not belong in fellowship with the saints. “Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.
When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.” (1 Cor 5:6-13)Apparently, Paul didn’t view the Body of Christ as a hospital full of sick ppl. He viewed us as a fresh batch of dough made without yeast (unleavened bread). The Body of Christ should be an assembly of saints who are living in the experience of healing from sin…not dwelling in sickness. The nature of sin is that it spreads…it is unwise to let strangers in the sanctuary, or tolerate ppl who call themselves Believers that are living in sin. Their sins will spread like a plague among those who have just escaped from the pollutions of the world. They will lay stumbling blocks before those who are striving to walk upright in the Spirit. Jesus said “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)
I truly believe that the organized church operates much like modern-day hospitals that practice ‘conventional’ medicine. They talk about deliverance, freedom, & healing, but they’re not really interested in ppl being set free from sin, because that’s not in their best interest. If ppl begin abiding in Christ’s Word, they will become HIS disciples, & then they will KNOW THE TRUTH, & the Truth WILL SET THEM FREE. The organized church wants ppl to be disciples of their organizations & false shepherds. They want ppl to abide in their word & false traditions. The organized church want ppl to stay bound in sin, so that they will continue seeking “a word from the Lord” thru the false shepherds who themselves are bound in sin. The more repeat patients the organized church has, the more ppl there are in the pews, putting their money in the collection plate to fund salaries & more buildings to house MORE repeat patients. & the vicious cycle continues…
The Pharisees operated the same way in the Gospels. They burdened ppl who were already in sin, by laying false traditions and man-made teachings on their shoulders. This kept the ppl bound in sin, so they had to keep coming to the Jewish Temple to buy expensive animal sacrifices which were offered up for their sins & ceremonial cleansing. These expensive sacrifices NEVER made them CLEAN/HEALED. It only put money in the pockets of those who sold the animal sacrifices, & the Pharisees who ran the Temple. Jesus messed up the Pharisee’s cash flow & corrupt religious system, because He taught the TRUE WORD of GOD with authority from the Father & told ppl to FOLLOW HIM. As ppl began following Christ, they were set free, & the Pharisees began to lose control of the ppl.
Today, I see the Bride of Christ waking up & beginning to follow her True Shepherd–Jesus Christ. She is leaving the false shepherds who tried to make merchandise of Her & burden her with man-made rules, & she is rejoicing in her blood-bought freedom & the healing hand of the Master’s touch. I believe that this passage is prophetic of the Church in this hour: “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity! & He laid His hands on her, & immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” (Luke 13:12-13). God is loosing us from our infirmities & making our crooked places straight. We are leaving the way that seems right to man, and following the way of Christ. Since the false shepherds did not have a heart to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring back what was driven away, nor seek what was lost…God Himself is delivering His flock from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. He is breaking the bands of Babylon’s yoke from the necks of His sheep and delivering them from the hand of those who enslaved them. Modern-day John the Baptists see the Bride of Christ awakening & preparing to receive her Bridegroom, & rejoice: “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:29-30) But the modern-day Pharisees are angry, embittered, & threatened: “The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!” (John 12:19)
The Pharisee’s livelihood depended on sick, repeat patients…& so does the organized church. I don’t think this will change because of what I see in Revelations 17-18. Nor am I interested in trying to reform a Babylonian Harlot that is hell-bent on sleeping with every Tom, Dick, & Harry, & silencing anyone who speaks against her abominations. In Revelations 18, God said to come out of Babylon…He didn’t say to reform her. If you’re in a Babylonian ‘church’ where ppl are sick & folks aren’t being healed from sin, get out of there & follow Jesus. Fellowship with like-minded Christians who are being healed & set free from sin. You will know them by their good fruit (love). Beware of folks who say that “the church is a hospital” but they’re not getting well or being made whole. Paul warned us about these impostors in 2 Timothy 3:1-9.
-In Christ
Evelyn”
Porn Bondage~Defiling the Soul and the Marriage Bed
Talk to any Christian wife who’s become aware of her husband’s bondage to porn, and you will encounter a woman who is cut to the core knowing that when she is intimate with her husband, there are “unseen” others in the marriage bed with them. A husband’s porn addiction is spiritually abusive to his wife, no two ways about it!
Husbands may not realize just how emotionally and spiritually damaging this is to the bond between the two of them. You see, fantasizing during sexual intimacy with your wife is the same as adultery! Husbands may not realize that this action breaks the intimate bond between the two of them. It’s adultery, and adultery is a deal breaker.
Christian men…if you are laboring under the bondage of being addicted to pornography, I urge you to take steps immediately to get set free. However, you must want to be free. Cry out to the LORD JESUS for the “want to” …if need be. If men even half way realized how damaging porn is to their spiritual lives…as well as their marriages, they would RUN to the LORD for deliverance!
http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/2012/05/02/pull-the-plug-on-p0rn-comments/
PULL THE PLUG ON PORN – Comments?
-extracts by J. Lee Grady.
If you or someone you love is struggling with a porn addiction, take these steps to freedom…
1. Spill your guts. The first step toward repentance is honesty,
and it must be brutal. To repent means to turn 180 degrees, so
this decision cannot be half-hearted. It’s not enough to whisper a
quiet prayer under your breath. To break free from a life-controlling
habit as powerful as porn, you must talk to someone else. And
you should do it sooner, not later.James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for
one another so that you may be healed” (NASB). I have prayed
with many guys about their porn addictions, and they have testified
that the power of their sin broke the moment they admitted it. Sit
down with someone (preferably a more mature Christian you know
and trust) and put all your cards on the table. If you humble yourself,
God will give you grace to change.2. Get ruthless. Sin is deceitful. It loves to make up excuses such
as, “No one knows about your habit, so it’s not hurting anyone,” “I
deserve this little treat” or “I can play with fire and not get burned.”
Don’t believe the lies. Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup,
and many men today forfeit their relationship with God by
compromising with porn.You can’t break free from sexual sin by slowly backing away from
it or taming it like a pet. The Bible tells us to “flee” from immorality
(2 Tim. 2:22). You must lay the axe to the root of your problem.
Cut off all access to porn. Say goodbye and slam the door in its
face. And if you can’t stop looking at it on your phone or computer,
get rid of your phone and computer.3. Keep no secrets. Guys addicted to porn struggle with constant
shame. They can’t enjoy prayer or worship because they feel
condemned. They can’t share their faith with others because they
feel like hypocrites. And many Christian men are so full of guilt
they turn to alcohol or drugs to numb their pain.It’s not enough to confess your sin to a brother once. You must
stay in relationship with people who love you enough to confront
you. Find one or two accountability partners and make a covenant
with them to live transparently. And don’t wait until you fall to call
for counsel. Contact them whenever you feel tempted. Send up
a flare and ask for help before it’s too late.4. Refocus your life on others. Lust is ultimately about self-
gratification. When a young man gets hooked on porn, he can’t
grow up emotionally. This is why some adult men in their 50s and
60s act like 13-year-olds when it comes to sex. They are stuck
in perpetual puberty.You will never break free from the bondage of sexual sin simply by
gritting your teeth and trying to forget the images you saw in
magazines or videos. You must totally redirect your energies toward
serving others: your spouse, your children, your church and the
needy people around you. Throw yourself into selfless ministry and
starve your illegal urges.5. Stay filled with the Spirit. None of these previous steps are
possible without the Holy Spirit, who is our promised Helper (see
John 14:16). Self-help is not the answer. Ask the Spirit to fill your
life with His refining fire. He will go to the root of your unholy desires,
burn up your lust and give you supernatural ability to resist temptation.
-READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE BY J. LEE GRADY-
http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones/32697-pull-the-plug-on-porn
Posted in Uncategorized by Andrew on May 2nd, 2012 at 6:34 pm.
VOM and the Tom White Suicide-Sexual Molestation Scandal-the Silence is Deafening
Pope Benedict still pushing “unity” of all religions…(ecumenism) Apparently VOM is sympathetic to Catholicism from all indications!
Friends, I have to agree with Lighthouse Trails Research take on this. There is still a hushed atmosphere in the VOM camp about this mess, in what seems to be an obvious attempt to sort of sweep this scandal under the carpet and hope the whole sordid event will blow over. What really upsets me is the unwillingness of the Christian admirers and supporters of VOM to believe that Tom White was capable of either committing suicide…or, sexually victimizing this young, innocent girl.
Also, as Lighthouse Trails reports below, the way VOM couched their PR statements with carefully constructed words to soften the truth is very disturbing and disappointing. I would have expected more from them.
It’s far past time for the church to clean up their act and stop being in denial about the fact that all too often, the church has been as guilty as sin of the cover up and collusion in sexual and spiritual abuses in the church.
Scarlett~
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletters/2012/newsletters20120508.htm#22
“As many of you know, Voice of the Martyrs long-time Executive Director, Tom White is suspected of committing suicide last month. On Wednesday, April 25th, 2012, Voice of the Martyrs president, Jim Dau, issued a statement titled: “Heartfelt Letter from VOM’s President on Tom White.” The letter expressed deep sorrow for the untimely suicide death of Tom White. The letter did mention that White took his life after allegations came forth that White “had inappropriate contact with a young girl.” While the letter said that White loved his wife and children and that personnel at VOM were heartbroken, virtually nothing was noted in the letter to express the deep sorrow that should be felt for the alleged 10- year-old victim. When a child is molested, it is a scar he or she will live with the rest of his or her life.
While we can understand that VOM staff and leaders are most likely in a state of shock and despair over Tom White’s apparent suicide and the circumstances surrounding his death, they need to understand that they are being watched right now by millions around the world to see how they will handle this tragic situation. God forbid that they would try to white wash and minimize what Tom White allegedly did. When you have organizations such as the American Psychological Association stating that sexual contact with children is OK as long as the child is consenting, and when you have a fallen society, such as America, that says homosexuality is normal and abortion is acceptable, and when you have a society that is filled with pornography from grocery stores to the Internet, Christian believers cannot fall into such a demoralizing evil trap that by its very nature denies God.
Even referring to White’s alleged child abuse as “inappropriate contact with” somehow minimizes such a crime. Using the word “with” can give the impression that there is some sort of mutual agreement. Rather than stating “inappropriate contact with,” it would be better to state “immoral contact against” the girl. We don’t mean to sound picky, but VOM should choose their words very carefully right now, for the sake of their ministry, for the sake of child abuse victims everywhere, and yes, for the sake of the Gospel.
We are not trying to say that the work Tom White participated in for many years at VOM to help persecuted people should be negated. But please, VOM, do not try to make this less than it is. Take this opportunity to humbly apologize to the body of Christ, to the little girl and her family, and to God.
Perhaps, Jim Dau left out feelings of remorse for the little girl in order to protect VOM financially or legally. But if VOM thinks they will help their organization maintain its integrity and financial strength by writing letters like the one Jim Dau wrote, they are terribly mistaken. Humility, repentance, restitution (to the girl and other possible victims), biblical integrity, honesty – these are the qualities that their donors and supporters will be looking for.
Voice of the Martyrs has, as have most mainstream Christian organizations, been promoting contemplative spirituality and showing signs of being sympathetic toward Catholicism. Wouldn’t this tragedy be a perfect time to get right with God, and in so doing, point the world to the One Who came to save whosoever shall believe on Him?”
Calvinist Confusion~ Twisting the Word of God
When Satan sets out to entrap people’s minds and souls, he uses cleverly designed lies to pull the wool over people’s eyes……….the same devices he has used so effectively from the very beginning there in the garden. However, God had made it very clear to the first couple what He expected them to do. From the beginning, God gave man a CHOICE. Very simply, He told them to obey Him, and gave them a choice, to either obey, or not. According to Calvinist doctrine, God “set the couple up deliberately” so that they would sin. Rather than to have created them to have a choice to serve Him willingly, Calvinists believe God made people into robot like creatures, like puppets, with God pulling their strings.
I have seen the destructive outcome in Christians lives from exposing themselves consistently over a period of time to Calvinist teachings and doctrines. One of the horrors of Calvinism taking root in a person’s life, is that it keeps them in bondage, never really getting victory over the flesh, never reaching maturity in their Christian walk. Why is this?Because they misrepresent the sovereignty of God, and teach that man can’t exercise his own will to choose not to sin. So, then man tends to remain in his sinful state, helplessly waiting for God to “sanctify” him….which never seems to happen. This man has believed the lie, and will live and die in his sins, because God gave him a choice to repent and turn from sin, and the power to lay hold of the cross and put to death the deeds of the flesh, but he never did. Again, this man has believed the lie of Satan and Satan’s weapon, Calvinism.
This is an over simplification of the hideous tangle the Calvinists dogmatically try to instill in people’s minds, and corrupt their converts into being twice the son’s of confusion that they are. But there are many, many other snares and dangers that Christians need to study so they may escape the danger and snare of this doctrine of demons.
Warning~ Message to Babylon America
Message to the Heartland~
Prophesied by Steven Crowder
In his own words, Steven Crowder… said the LORD gave him this vision/prophetic word in 1994.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=650_1248241511
Warning Message To Babylon-America
A powerful prophecy received by Steven Crowder in the heartland of America in 1998, regarding the dark future of America if the people do not repent (including Christians), much of which is coming true in this hour.
From The Heartland Of America
Steven Crowder
In the autumn of 1994, the Lord spoke audibly to me, and He told me to go into the heartland of America, into a city that means the end, and He spoke to me a name and county. So I came to the heartland, into the city that means the end, and I dwelt there. And the Lord said to me, I will make you invisible among the people. What do you see?
A door opened, and I entered in. And I saw the poor from all different races of people, both men and women. And I saw them laboring under the harsh rule of their taskmasters. And they were driven as fast as they could go, under harsh conditions, and for little pay. And as I pondered this, another door opened. Inside this place were the leaders, saying,
Welcome let us teach you about our kingdom. And they boasted in their accomplishments, even giving large figures concerning their income. And one of them said, This year our projected sales will top eighty million dollars! We are on the rise, with much more prosperity to come. And I looked back and saw the poor, and my heart was puzzled. On one side I saw great wealth and boasting, and on the other side I saw hard labor and low pay, and the two did not match up. I asked the Lord about this, and He said, Slave labor, except this time its legal under their law. The nature of man changes only by the hand of the Lord. The rich still lord it over the poor. And then the door closed behind me.
Another door was opened for me, and I entered in. And I saw the helpless, and those stricken with all forms of diseases of body and of mind hopelessly stricken and helpless. And I saw them oppressed and tormented by those who for pay took care of them. Although they were there to help these pitiful ones, many of them were concerned about other matters, and they spoke to these poor ones worse than they would speak to dogs. And I said to myself, Where is mercy? There were dark spirits all around, and various ones were afflicted and made ill by them. I beheld a young girl, and a demon stared through her eyes. When it saw someone watching it, immediately it went more deeply into the girl so as not to be detected. Gossip, slander and drunkenness were thick, and many who hated the Lord were given authority there. The Lord’s name was mentioned often, but only by those who held to a form of godliness, although they had denied its power. When one of the Lords watchmen came, they cried, Foul! Crazy! A violent man! Better to hear diviners who call themselves prophets.
And I told the people that the spirit of Elijah was at work, calling men to repentance and to a proper relationship with God. And that after Elijah would come Elisha with a double portion and fullness of the Spirit of God. And the Lord said to me, Behold the number I will show you. And I looked and I saw the number 144,144. And I spoke to the people and told them to hearken and to prepare their hearts, for in the days of Elisha the two bears would again be called down as a curse ”these being the bear of Wall Street and the great Russian bear. And behold, the bull will run while the bulls are champions. And when the Jordan is finally removed, the bear will devour that which the bull has taken, for the Jordan is a necessity if one is to succeed the Jordan and the cross are the necessary provisions for one to enter into the Promised Land.
And I looked and beheld a vision. I saw the Red Sea parted, and God’s people passing through on dry land. And I saw an army of angry men on horseback coming behind them with murder in their eyes. And I said to myself, Surely they will die, those who attempt to destroy Gods people. And the Lord said, Behold, just as I did to Pharaoh have I done to the leaders their hearts are hardened and your labors shall be increased. Behold, the sealing of God’s true servants has begun.
And I heard the thundering voice of the Lord, and with trembling hands I wrote down that which He spoke to me. And He said, Woe be to you all you enemies of the cross! To all ye who say, We do not want this man to rule over us, woe be to you! Woe be to you who merely take My name to cover your sins, yet who refuse My cross, My bread, My robes of righteousness yes, even Me, says the Lord! Woe be to you who embrace covetousness and refuse correction who turn My house into a social order and not a house of worship.
Woe to you who have drawn My watchmen near to merely tickle your ears! When the strong messages come, instead of contrition, you embrace murder to protect your idolatrous hearts. And how you murder My servants though they come to you in love and in a spirit of hope. Instead of repentance, you have opted for murder you sons of Cain! My wrath is even now being kindled against you, you who take My name and bring reproach upon yourselves in sight of all and for all to see.
And behold, here is your judgment, even now because you have chosen to make My house a social order and not a house of worship and prayer, and because you have chosen to shout and not bow down before Me “behold, your prophets shall hear a mixed word, for none draws close enough to hear with clarity My still, small voice amid the din and uproar of your congregation. It is true that the gifts are without repentance, but a leavened, mixed word does not bring the life you think it does; it only leads to lukewarmness and that I shall not tolerate. A contrite heart and a broken spirit I shall not despise, but shouting, lukewarmness and pride I shall reject, says the Lord!
Behold, the day is coming when you shall look, and behold, the righteous man shall not be found among you, and only partial words mixed with vain imaginings from your lukewarm prophets shall be heard; words that do not bring life.
Woe to you who are at ease in Zion! Woe be to those who say, Rapture! Rapture! and refuse to pay the price of bearing their cross you who refuse to lift a finger, yet lay heavy loads for others to bear. The spirit of the Pharisee is upon you, and you likewise will perish if you do not repent! Woe to you who have assumed charge of My household, yet who beat My messengers who come to you for your correction. Do you not know that I will come upon you in an hour you know not of, and will cut you to pieces and assign you a place with the unbelievers as your reward? Peace and safety, you shout, and in so doing deceive yourselves from any preparation.
Woe to you who seek the deeper things, and embrace Jezebel and not Me, says the Lord! My paths will lead you to the cross. The true treasures of the Living Word lie through and beyond Jordan, that place of death to self. Jezebel will lead you to circumvent the cross and not go through it. Have I not said that I am the door to the sheepfold, and all who enter in must enter in through Me? And anyone who does not enter in through Me is a thief and a robber? There is no other way whereby you can partake of the true heavenly treasures but through Me and through the cross of death; wherein you will indeed find life. Pray that you will understand this! But woe to you who have twisted the cross and made it a dainty thing, for it is not a dainty thing, but an instrument of death! In the very spirit of Rome, you have carelessly romanticized the cross and taken away its use. Woe be to you!
My people, it is not My desire that any man should perish, and therefore I have made provisions for you, but you must accept the path that I have chosen. My paths lead to life, but that life only comes through death. When you let the cross do its work in your life, you shall then know the power and the life that is hidden from the proud. Won’t you hear My voice? Draw near to Me and I shall draw near to you. Look therefore to Me, and not to any man. Draw near to Me and hear My still, small voice. Behold, the day is coming when the proud shall be swept away, therefore humble yourself before Me, and in My time I will exalt you, says the Lord.
continued…
(Note: The words to this prophecy in text are rare and hard to find on the Internet. It’s amazing I found the text to this one on Live Leak, of all places. If anyone has more information to another link with all the words, please contact me via the comment section on this blog. Thanks, Scarlett))
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Another prophecy by Steve Crowder. This one was apparently given to him in 1997.
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Spiritual Abuse-What are the Signs You may be in an Abusive Church?
Who gave these churches the right to change the way God set up the church? Back then, as a newbie, I tried to make excuses, such as, “Well, they’re doing some things right”…and, “these are different times we’re living in now, and after all it looks like they do love the LORD”.
When I first came out of the spiritually abusive church, I felt I must surely be the only one in the world that had ever experienced such abuse and betrayal in the “house of God”. Some day soon, I hope to get around to posting about what happened there in the “full, unedited version”. But not just yet, …at this time I just feel led to tell a few incidents that happened during that time period, as a new believer, I realize I was being groomed to be conformed…not into the image of the Beloved, Jesus Christ, but being groomed to be conformed into a counterfeit, an apostate, a Pharisee.
There’s a lot to tell from the very beginning that should have been warning signals. Yes, I do believe very early on the Holy Spirit was showing me in the Word,…….that the church I was involved in at that time, was controlling, biblically “off”, legalistic, and trying to get me to conform to their system, their “ways” of doing church, and it was a controlling man made system full of man made doctrines and traditions of men that really had little to do with the pure worship of God.
I had gone into this church as a new spirit-filled believer, wanting to serve Jesus with all my heart and ability. I was studying the Word of God, and was like a sponge to learn more. I started wondering why this church didn’t bear any resemblance to the early church in the bible in the book of Acts.
As you can see, those are the excuses a novice might come up with who has little or no experience in how things work in the apostate, organized church system. Jesus doesn’t change by the whims and times of man, He, is the same, yesterday, today and forever. That’s one of the awesome things to admire, thank and love Jesus for, He’s not capricious.
Anyway, after the initial love bombing was over at this small church I had joined, the grooming and subtle controlling began. You know it’s amazing….no matter how small the church, there seems to be a set of unspoken “rules” that as if by magic, become operable. You can count on it……
With me, I was in this to be real, to love and serve the LORD, but I had a lot to learn about the way the “church did church” and expected its members to “do church”. Meanwhile, I was getting little memo’s in my study time in the bible from the Holy Spirit, concerning these issues in the church. For example, this one…
12As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”Galatians 6
Now, see, it’s pretty plain- in the context of what the Spirit was showing me, that even modern-day churches don’t demand their congregants to get physically circumcised, but they do try to bring them back under the law, and into the bondage and conformity to legalism. They want you to conform to their pattern, so “they can GLORY IN YOUR FLESH”. So, that in your outward appearance, you’ll look and act JUST LIKE THEM! The problem here is that it’s all superficial, like Jesus accused the Pharisees, of looking like whitened sepulchres, only inside they were full of dead mens bones.
Something else the Holy Spirit was showing me in the Word of God about that time was this, that went along the same lines and was confirming the other scripture………..
14But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil not taken away in the reading of the old covenant; which veil is done away in Christ.
15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their hearts.
16Nevertheless when one shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2nd Corinthians 3.
Legalism! Being practiced in the household of God! And the LORD was trying to show me in His Word that this was not His way…that I was free in Him and showing me not to allow myself to be brought under the bondage of their system. You see, if “your veil is taken away”, you be able to see clearly, and have the “eyes to see, and ears to hear” that Jesus has provided for those who love and obey Him and His Word.
You would be surprised how many churches are doing this in one form or another, and believe me, they will not take kindly to a new member who comes in expecting to remain uncontaminated by their system and doctrines.
If you’ve come to this page, I’m assuming that you may be in a church situation that doesn’t seem right, and in fact may be an abusive church. You see, what I’ve described IS spiritual abuse, but inevitably, if a new member doesn’t conform, it’s not going to be a matter of if, but when, the spiritual abuse becomes very up front and personal, and directed toward you. That’s when decisions have to be made…and you either succumb to the manipulation and fear, or…you leave.
I pray for each and every person who comes here with such a burden on your heart, that you will be set free and healed from all legalistic, man-made bondages. Jesus loves you and wants you to be FREE to love and serve Him in the Spirit, free of the shackles of Nicolaitanism.
As I said before, when I came out of the apostate church I felt so alone, and like there was no one in the world to talk to that understood. Just know that here, you will find brothers and sisters that care, and you CAN talk to and share your experiences, and you will not be ostracized, or condemned. Talking, sharing, and praying together about the spiritual abuse we’ve suffered is very cathartic and healing, and this is basically what this blog is all about.
May Jesus bless you~
Scarlett
Spiritual Abuse Sanctuary 