Church Hurt And Red Flags: Why It's Creating A Mediocre Church Environment

Church hurt is a real thing and is experienced by so many born again believers who serve the Lord with an open heart. I know, because I've experienced it many times, and I'm living with the consequences. When you're a new born again believer, you may suffer the disappointment, discouragement, and pain resulting from the way others treat you, but then you bounce back, do your best to forgive whoever hurt you, and move on. Unfortunately, when you're deeply wounded often enough... when you become so weary of grieving so deeply in your heart... you tend to create defenses to protect yourself emotionally so you can prevent yourself from ever being hurt that deeply in the future. That means you begin limiting how emotionally close you get to someone and you begin pulling back on how much of your personal life that you actually reveal to others. You may start questioning people's motives and second guessing their commitment to developing a true friendship with you. You may unintentionally start distancing yourself emotionally and physically from the church body as a way of limiting your own pain and suffering. That's when "church hurt" starts affecting your relationships and your participation in ministry work. Your church attendance suffers because you begin asking yourself why you're attending church if, when you walk through the doors, you automatically start grieving inside instead of walking in with a joyful heart. At this point, the joy of serving the Lord in a church setting seems to drain from you. Personally, it was at this point when I stopped attending church services.

Many Christians will say that none of us are perfect. "We're all patients in need of a hospital," they'll say. "Church is for the wounded and the hurt." "If you're looking for a perfect church, you won't find it because we all fall short of perfection." "Those who are 'church hurt' need to grow up and realize that things like this happen, and they need to deal with it." 

You know what I say? I say that settling for less brings a mediocracy to the the church experience and is what's leading to the decline of church participation by those who are striving to serve the Lord with their whole heart. It's easy to excuse away the sins of others in order to deflect the opinions of those who may have a less than favorable view of the church, but it's not benefitting the church. Excusing sin for the sole reason that "we're not perfect" isn't helping anyone. Many churches are in their own bubble and refuse any criticism or genuine concern from those in the congregation who are having issues "getting on board" with the way things are done, even if what's being done is not biblical.

Many "church hurt" Christians want to serve the Lord with their whole heart, but they find themselves hindered in a church setting because so many people are satisfied with having their physical and emotional needs met by a music ministry that feeds their fleshly desires rather than truly worshiping God. I've recently been listening to Christian music from the 70's and 80's, and it is so different from what we hear today. Much of Christian music back then was focused on truly praising and worshiping God. It wasn't about feeding our flesh with feel-good songs that put the main focus on us while pretending to be singing about the Lord. Back then, we didn't need the colorful stage lights, the fog machines, a huge band, stage props, etc... all the things they use now to attract people. You know what we had? White stage lights. A cross, a small music ministry, and lights on in the sanctuary so we could actually see each other. What we didn't have was a worldly concert-like atmosphere that reflected more of the world than heaven. The more complex and worldly the worship service becomes, the more you turn off the true worshipers of God. The more the music is focused on me, myself, and I, the less the congregation comes humbly before God and, instead, becomes focused on a church experience that feeds their flesh. If it looks like a worldly concert, then it's most likely a crowd-centered worship service and not a Christ-centered one. 

Christians not only have to deal with churches who offer up a concert-like worship service, they also experience other things that push them out of the church. When you have cliques that exclude others, when people are told that if they don't participate in a particular church activity, that they can't truly consider themselves a part of the church family, when the pastor is more concerned about statistics and having their ego stroked instead of meeting the needs of their congregation, when other Christians stab you in the back, marginalize you, lie to your face, break their word, leave you high and dry without an ounce of regret, violate their promise of confidentiality, etc... there's a major problem. To explain that away by just saying that none of us is perfect and that we should just overlook it because we have our own flaws, means that we should be quiet, settle for the status quo, and be happy with it. So I guess that means...

• You broke confidentiality? You told others what I specifically, more than once, asked you not to repeat? That's okay. None of us are perfect. That definitely won't stop me from confiding in you in the future. 
• We were supposed to meet at the coffee shop for fellowship and you left me hanging for two hours without ever showing up? You didn't answer my texts? You didn't bother to call to apologize or at least attempt to give me a valid excuse? No worries. In fact, I want you to continue to disappoint me by breaking every single plan we make without any prior notice. I'll just show up and waste my time and effort while I wait for someone who will never show up. That definitely won't create trust issues and won't negatively affect my relationship with you.
• You marginalize me when we're around your clique and treat me like I'm a third wheel? Like I'm just an afterthought? Sure, I'll be your beta male and not complain. After all, I'm blessed to even have your attention every once in a while.
• You aggressively argue with me over spiritual matters instead of discussing them calmly? You're exactly the person with whom I eagerly desire to sharpen swords. I enjoy it when you scream at me all the time and attempt to belittle me, or when you twist and misquote scripture to agree with your own world view. That'll strengthen our friendship.
• You want to come to church and have an open discussion with your children about your after service plans while we're all in the middle of worship while they're busy focusing on their electronic devices instead of participating? Don't worry about affecting my worship with your discussion. Sure, I could move. Why inconvenience you? Don't trouble yourself to act appropriately or require you to display some sense of reverence when worshiping the Creator of the universe. Your discussion is obviously more important than everyone else's worship time, so please, carry on.
• You want to be the social butterfly who's distracting everyone by constantly turning around to see who's entering the service? Your animated arm waves, bible waves, mouthing words with facial expressions... they don't distract of disturb anyone. Keep doing it. We know how you like to be the center of attention, and we're all imperfect after all, so we can just overlook your attention seeking behavior.
• Hey, you gossiped about me without first talking with me and getting all the facts? You passed around a story based on one side of the discussion and developed preconceived conclusions without first knowing if what you were thinking and saying was fact? No problem. You're a flawed individual, and I can overlook that, even if it negatively affects my reputation and the church's perception of me. They now all believe in a lie... a distorted version of who I truly am. I'm chill with that. 

I once knew a pastor who, when I told him I was leaving his church because I had gone as far as I could there, and I needed more meat in order to grow, replied to me by saying that he had been praying for the Lord to remove the dead branches from the church. Yep. Because I wanted to grow and mature in my walk with the Lord and draw closer to him, I was a dead branch to this pastor. He wounded me deeply, and it took years to heal that wound. It's one of those experiences that you don't forget, and that can lead to the "church hurt" mentality if it occurs often enough.

I had another pastor that I called on the phone, desperately requesting to meet with him to talk and pray, because the enemy was attacking me, and I knew I wasn't strong enough to fend him off, knowing that I was going to fall to great sin. I thought that the counsel and prayer of another brother, my pastor, would help encourage and strengthen me, but the pastor's response was that he had a lot to deal with at the moment. He promised to get back to me, but he never called. I fell into sin that affected me for years afterwards. Years later, when I mentioned this situation to that very same pastor in an email, he said he didn't remember the incident and then invited me back to his church. How can you forget someone calling you, telling you he's about to fall into sin, practically begging to talk with you, and then not remember that? It's mind boggling. Then to suggest I go back to his church??? Talk about a double whammy! His situational awareness gave me pause. He showed no remorse about dropping the ball. He failed me miserably, and I knew I could never trust him again. 

I had another pastor who told the congregation that if they didn't participate in bi-weekly groups, they couldn't truly consider themselves part of that church family. What does that sound like to you? Coercion? Someone focused on numbers instead of the needs of the congregation? The next week, obviously after one or more people had complained, the pastor sent someone out to explain that it wasn't coercion (yes, he used that word), but just a strong encouragement to join in the bi-weekly groups. That walk-back to his original comment, and the fact that he didn't have the strength of character to personally address it himself in front of the congregation, but instead sent someone else out to walk-back that comment, was a major red flag and was the final red flag that made me walk away from that church. 

I had another pastor who preached a sermon on not having one foot in heaven and one on earth. How we shouldn't be double minded, living our lives seeking God and seeking the pleasures of this world as well. Normally you would think, that's a great message! Well, I had left the church for a while, but thought I'd return. It was my first visit to the church, at a midweek service (which tends to be less formal), and I didn't feel it was my place, as someone new, to say anything when they began discussing the planning of a Trunk or Treat event. One of the church leaders mentioned the church's lack of participation and asked people to sign up for it because he was bewildered as to why they weren't getting many volunteers. That should have been a hint to the church leadership that many in the church weren't onboard with this, and it was the perfect opportunity for a regular member, in this less formal setting, to raise their hand and express their objection to holding such an event, but no one said anything. Talk about not practicing what they preach!!!

At one point, I opted to try a home church instead of a corporate church, but all the "officers" of the home church were the members of that family. The family dynamics were strange as well, with tension that was palatable throughout the entire "service" every week. My daughter left the home church first, because it eventually made her too uncomfortable to continue. I left shortly after that. I guess a huge red flag for me was when the mother of the pastor couldn't attend home service that Sunday, so church was cancelled. Why? Because she didn't want to miss anything exciting that was going to happen. That logic didn't make any sense to me. He's cancelling service because his mother didn't want to miss any huge moving of God, which, if you think this through, is like saying, "I'm going to prevent God performing a miracle in someone's life during a service unless I'm there to see it." She would rather rob someone of a blessing rather than miss out on witnessing the moving of the Holy Spirit. Someone help me make sense of this. 

So you see, it's not just church hurt, it's also churches that raise a red flag with their actions (or lack of action). It's not one or two things that occur over the course of many years. It's the constant hurt and red flags that happen on a regular basis. When your heart is open, you can be deeply wounded. So what happens to the "church hurt" individuals when it comes to church attendance? All I can do it answer that from my own experience. 

I don't view church the same way I used to. I don't throw myself into the mix and try to become part of the crowd, because many in the crowd are living in the flesh and not in the spirit. That includes church leadership. So what does that mean? 

• When I visit a church, my first instinct is to sit there and observe for the first service. 
• Are they engaged with one another? 
• Are they engaged in worship? 
• How does the congregation respond to the sermon? 
• What is the sermon about? Is it biblically accurate? 
• How does the usher staff treat me when I walk in the door? Note: I was both an usher and head usher in a church, so I know how we used to treat new visitors (handshakes, hugs, warm welcome, offering support if they had any questions, offering printed materials, sit where you're most comfortable, etc...).
• How does the members of the congregation treat first time visitors? Do they avoid eye contact and shy away from "first contact," or do they welcome them warmly?
• Is the worship service more like a concert and centered on giving the individual a good show, feeding their flesh, so that they'll show up again next week, or is it worship service that honors and is solely focused on praising and worshiping the Lord (which will most likely draw them back)?
• Etc...

That's how I get the "vibe" of a church. The second option is just not attending church at all, which a huge and growing part of the Christian community is opting for nowadays. They'll attend a church service here or there, but they don't become part of that church. That doesn't mean they're turning their back on God, it just means that the current corporate church system is broken and doesn't truly offer support for those who are seeking a closer relationship with God, while holding the congregation accountable for their behavior. 

How many times can someone be hurt by others and submit to faulty church leadership and constant red flags before they say they've had enough? If my church experience is more negative than positive, how can I force myself to stay there? The churches I attended decades ago aren't the same as the churches today. Churches today pander to those who "invest" in the church. I guess the big thing today is asking whether someone's a "contributor or a consumer," as if that should define them. The church doesn't want to chase the contributors away, because they see them as the ones who are keeping the church doors open and functioning in ministry, so they acquiesce to their requests, whether it's good for the body or not. What does that say about a church that depends on the contributors instead of God to keep the doors open? I'd rather be a member of a small, poor church that truly seeks the Lord than a large church with coffee bars, snack bars, book stores, clothing lines, colorful stage lights with a concert-like atmosphere, a media center, etc... Those larger churches may have more members, but numbers don't equal quality. Look at Joel Osteen. He has the numbers, but are you willing to sit under his teachings? Are the members of his congregation true born again believers in Christ, or are they Christians in name only? Numbers don't mean anything. A heretical church can have the numbers, but not the blessing of God or the moving of the Holy Spirit. I don't want to be a member of a church that panders to the basic fleshly desires of the members so that the church can boast about numbers and live good on the income they're bringing in. I'd rather serve in a humble church that puts God above all else. 

I'm not looking for the perfect church or the perfect Christians. I'm looking for a church whose whole focus is on serving God, ministering and encouraging it's members, and evangelizing the community. I'm looking for a membership that supports and encourages one another and who's sole focus is on growing in the Lord and becoming more like Him. Not putting on a fake Christian mask for church and then once they go out the door, they revert back to their worldly selves. 

There are so many born again believers who have become disillusioned with the current church system and who are seeking a more "early church" experience. Unfortunately, there aren't many churches out there that meet that requirement, so they're difficult to find. I'm still waiting for the Lord to point me in the right direction. I'm willing to wait until that moment arrives, if ever. Until then, it's prayer, home bible study, and singing praise and worship to the Lord at home. My money is shared with Christian organizations that evangelize, not any local church. 

Church hurt is a real thing, and you can't just tell someone to just buck up and deal with it. It's a constant and continual deep wounding of the heart, which causes it to create defenses to protect itself. It usually causes you to withdraw from people emotionally. I know that I don't offer friendship to anyone. The word "friend" means something deeper to me now, and I don't use it haphazardly, as some do. Someone can know me for 15 minutes, and introduce me as his "friend." That's not me. I can't do that. I can be pleasant, loving, and seem like I enjoy your presence in my life, but inside I'm cautious, untrusting, and keeping you at arm's length until I can determine the content of your character. That's just the result of a lot of "church hurt" and red flags. I'm definitely not where I want to be when it comes to interacting with other Christians, but until I can find a church and a group of people where I can let my guard down, this is who I am for now. 

Church hurt... it's real. I understand. You're not alone. There are plenty of others out there who are dealing with the same thing, and when people try to marginalize your feelings and heartfelt concerns, don't let it affect you. They see things on the surface and don't understand what church hurt is really about. They see only what they want to see and don't understand the deeper side of the issue. 

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET

It's Easy To Be A Cotton Candy Christian

Have you ever noticed how easy some people think it is to be a Christian. The word "Christian" has been hijacked and twisted by many who think it simply means that you acknowledge that Jesus existed. There are two different types of "belief" as far as Christianity is concerned.

Type 1: You can believe in (have a knowledge of) God's existence.

Many people think that just having the belief that God exists is enough. Even Satan and the demons believe that God exists. These are usually the ones who have created a 'god' of their own making. It's a 'god' that loves everyone and calls everyone his children. This 'god' seems to line up with each individual's personal and subjective morality. That means there's a 'god' specifically created for every individual who believes in a 'god' that hates what they hate, and loves what they love. It's a 'god' that has no issues with lust, greed, personal vengeance, lying, cheating, and doing whatever it takes to get what you want because the end justifies the means. And they do this all the while calling themselves "Christian," following their personal 'god's' version of love. They pick and choose the scripture they like to live by, you know, the cotton candy, rainbow, pie in the sky version of the bible. Scripture that doesn't offend or convict them. The rest they turn a blind eye to because it doesn't align with their "God is love," theology.

Type 2: You can believe and have a faithful independent trust in God. 

This type of belief is an act of developing a relationship with Jesus and depending solely upon His sacrifice on the cross for your salvation. This type of "belief" results in a deeper relationship with God as you draw closer to Him through reading and studying scripture, and as you spend time with Him in prayer. To truly "believe" in God is to submit your life to Him and to be proactive in developing a closer, more obedient relationship with Him. It's not a pick-and-choose type of Christianity, it's a belief that 100% of the bible is God breathed and inspired. It's the understanding that it's not cotton candy and rainbows, but that we've been called into a spiritual battle in which we need to be active participants on a day by day, moment by moment basis. It's a faith that understands that God is love, but He's also righteous, and will judge those who sin against Him. 

REPENT, AND BEFORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET

Evangelizing: Some Common Questions Part 1

"Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. 13We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one. 16For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ." 1Corinthians 2:12-16 (NASB 1995) (underline and bold mine)

These verses confirm that unbelievers can't spiritually discern scripture. They're blinded by the 'god' of this age, Satan, who is blinding them to the light of the gospel, because he knows that if they see, then they'll be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Unbelievers can't understand the deeper meaning of scripture, because the words are dead to them. To them, it's just, at best, a religious book of rules, at worst, a bad fairytale. It's the Holy Spirit that breathes life into scripture, making it come alive in our spirit. 

Philippians 4:13 is a great example: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." How many unsaved individuals have ridiculed born again believers over this one? They come up with a list of ridiculous tasks for believers to perform if they can truly do "all things." What they've done is they've taken this scripture out of context, understanding it with their own limited human mind, and are using it to try to belittle and embarrass believers. That's when the education begins. We can say, "This scripture, in context, means that through Christ's empowering presence, we can face trials, hardships, and suffering with perseverance and peace. We can do all things through his strength. It has nothing to do with Jesus being a genie in a bottle that will grant us our every wish. It's a statement of faith about our reliance on God providing the strength to endure life's challenges and maintain peace and contentment in any circumstance."

Another example of an unbeliever's limited understanding of the word is when they ask why God, who's supposed to be all loving, sends people to hell if we can't help but sin. There are two major flaws in this argument, but I'll address the "God is love" issue further on. The issue I'm discussing here doesn't pertain to one particular scripture about judgment as much as it is about this person's error of omitting scripture that explains God's plan for salvation, and how it's the rejection of this plan that determines someone's eternal condition. We could respond by saying, "Through Adam, sin entered the world and one of the consequences was that the human race became spiritually dead. We lost that precious spiritual connection with God, and the human race had to deal with living in a body with a sin nature. That's why God created the sacrificial system for the Jews, so that the blood of innocent animals could temporarily cover their sin in God's eyes. Eventually, that temporary system was replaced with a permanent sacrifice, providing a perfect and everlasting payment for our sin when Jesus offered Himself as an offering for our sin. He became the sacrificial Lamb, taking the full force of God's punishment that was meant for us. His blood doesn't just cover our sin, it obliterates it, never to be remembered. God's perfect solution was offered to mankind. Repent, believe, and have your dead spirit be resurrected by His blood and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. By His Spirit, your spirit is made alive again. That's what makes us a child of God and heals our relationship with Him. That's where the term "born again" comes from. True, we will continue sinning, but we sin less and less as we grow closer to God. What sends us to hell? Rejecting that solution, rejecting that free gift of salvation, rejecting that covering for our sin. That's what sends us to hell. It's actually a decision we all make. Who have you chosen? God or yourself? Heaven or the Lake of Fire? If you're going to lay blame on anyone, lay blame on the one making that decision, and that decision is yours. It's that simple."

Some unbelievers will bring up the fact that the bible mentions the existence of unicorns. Again, they're speaking out of ignorance. "The word unicorn didn't mean the same then as it does now. Over a few millennia, the definition as changed. When we mention unicorns today, we're thinking of a more modern day creature that looks like a horse with a spiraling horn planted right in it's forehead. The modern interpretation of the word isn't what the scripture is referring to. In fact, it's only the KJV that uses the word 'unicorn.' The 1828 edition of Noah Webster’s dictionary defined 'unicorn' as 'an animal with one horn, the monoceros. This name could be used to describe any one horned animal, but it's often applied to the rhinoceros,' indicating that the term was historically used to describe real animals, not mythical ones. So when you hear or read the word 'unicorn' in the KJV bible, it's actually from a Latin translation and it's referring to a one horned rhinoceros, a monoceros."

Another method of attack is to reject the deity of Jesus. They'll say that Jesus never declared himself to be God. Many born again believers don't know how to answer this attack on the gospel, but with a little preparation, and a few scripture references, it won't be difficult to respond to. Here are my thoughts:

"Although Jesus never said, 'I'm God, worship Me,' it does say this in scripture: "And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” Matthew 16:63-64 (NASB) "So Jesus is saying He is the Son of Man, and admitting He's the Christ, which means Messiah, and that he's going to be sitting in a co-equal place of authority and power in heaven with the Father, and that he's going to return on the clouds of heaven. He's essentially made himself equal with God (because He is God). 

Scripture also shows that Thomas worshipped Jesus as God: "After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst ("So Jesus doesn't use the door, but miraculously and instantaneously appears in their presence") and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” ("So here Thomas is calling Jesus "Lord" and "God" and Jesus doesn't make any effort to correct him.") 29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” John 20:26-29 

Then there's Luke chapter 5, where it states, "Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” 21The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24“But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” 25Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Luke 5:20-26 (NASB) (bold and underline mine) "So Jesus is proclaiming he is God by forgiving sin and to prove that authority, He heals the paralytic man. 

Just in these three examples alone, Jesus has made Himself equal with God and has accepted the title of 'Lord' and has accepted worship as God and has claimed that he can forgive sins, something only God can do."

Here's the part that I mentioned earlier and promised to get to. People will often say that God is love... period. That's always a go-to for those who want to serve a generic universal 'god' of love that doesn't expect too much from anyone. Just be good (in your own eyes) and you're fine. "It's true that one of God's divine attributes is love, but scripture tells us that He has other divine attributes. He's holy, He's righteous, He's just, and scripture talks of His judgment and wrath. A 'god' whose only attribute is love is no real 'god' at all, because he's a 'god' that people create in order to avoid the more negative aspects of sin. They want love, but not accountability. They want love, but not obedience. They want love, but not feel compelled to live by God's objective standards, which is perfection. People don't want to give up self in order to become more like God, so they create a different 'god' in their head that agrees with own subjective moral standard. He's love, so it doesn't matter. As long as they live the life that they subjectively label as 'good,' then they're okay with that. What they're doing is building up for themselves a false sense of peace and a false belief that they're living a life that's pleasing to 'god' because they find no fault with how they're living. As long as they're good, for the most part, then they have a ticket to whatever heaven they've created for themselves in their own mind. What they lack is the understanding that they're actually following a false 'god' of their own making, and therefore have no covering for their sin. The hard truth for them is that sin cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

These are just a few of the things you may hear from people when talking with them about Jesus. They all have questions. Believe me, the more you talk with people about Jesus, the easier it gets. Sure, they'll be some tough questions that you may not know the answer to, but just be honest... "I don't know. That's an interesting question. That'll make for an interesting bible study." God doesn't expect you to know all the answers. If that's what's holding you back, you may want to rethink that. I honestly admit that there are a whole host of people who are way smarter than me. They use words I don't understand and talk about people who I don't know, but you know what? I know the most important person, Jesus, and He's sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and to guide and help us when we're out in the world telling others about Jesus. 

I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, because the blessings and benefits are great. Even if you aren't great at sharing the salvation message, maybe someone will see a little bit of themselves in you and your "imperfection." People are often intimidated by "professionals," and your simple way of sharing Jesus may be just what they need to feel comfortable and willing to open up to you. So, take your imperfect self out there and talk to people about the perfect Jesus. If God didn't want you there, He wouldn't put you there. Start now, and then when you look back 6 months down the road, you'll realize how much you've grown in your evangelizing skills, and that will encourage you to keep sharing the good news!!!

"But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance." Luke 8:15 (NASB)

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET

Cemeteries: Joy In Spirit And Grief Of Heart

I don't know if you've ever felt it before, but there's a mild fascination I experience when visiting a cemetery. I stand there looking across the vast expanse of the land and take in the sight of thousands of headstones that contain tens of thousands of names. There are people buried in unmarked pauper's graves, children's graves, single graves, family lots, and those who are buried in above ground and walk-in mausoleums. There are those whose engraved grave marker is worn and impossible to read, and those whose flat marker will soon be completely covered up and forgotten, like those that have already disappeared with time. The names and dates on these grave markers or crypts give us only the most basic information for those buried there. Name, date of birth, date of death, and maybe a short inscription. They come from all backgrounds; from business owners and entrepreneurs to factory workers and the indigent. The rich, the poor, the successful and the ones who had to struggle their whole life to make ends meet.

God gave most of them a life filled with personal experiences; joy and laughter, sadness and grief, amazement and love, praise and worship, incredible faith, etc... Some, like a cousin of mine, was stillborn and was ushered immediately into heaven. Others had a tragic ending to their life, through their own actions, the actions of others, or though an unforeseen tragedy. Still, others lived a long life, living into their 80's, 90's and 100's. 

I think of some of their stories... a spouse grieving as their wife or husband passed on before them. A child whose life was cut short, as was the case with Louise Cambra, whose headstone appears here. They each had a life story that was buried with them. The stories of their life remain in the memories of those who knew and loved them, but those life stories last only one or two generations before they're lost to time, as those who knew them pass away as well, taking those beautiful memories with them. Their graves, once lovingly attended to by family, now stand cold and bare as those family members get too old to visit the cemetery, or who pass on into eternity themselves, leaving no one to remember the loved one that they cared so much about. Their long lost loves become nothing more than a name on a family tree. 

It makes me wonder how much of my personal story will live on beyond my years. I'm realistic enough to know that whatever those memories are, they'll die within one generation, and then I'll be like everyone else at the cemetery... lost to history... a name and a date on cold grave marker with no story to go with it. I guess that's why I've added so many memorials to the Find A Grave website. I feel that everyone should be remembered, and I do my small part to make sure people aren't forgotten... that they aren't just remembered as a name and date. But that's the limit of those of us here on earth. We can document a person's life, but it's impossible to really experience someone else's life. There's only One who can do that.

When my story on earth eventually ends, there's One who will know exactly what I was thinking, feeling, battling with, straining to accomplish, etc... He knows all the stories from birth to death; He knows my personal struggles; He knows my deepest and most intimate thoughts and feelings; He knows the intent of my heart; He knows those things that I longed for deep in my heart... God will have been with me from conception to death, experiencing everything with me, from beginning to end. He's laughed with me, cried with me, mourned with me, joked with me, sustained me through my darkest days, carried me when I had no strength, protected me from those things I was unaware of, walked by my side in the struggle and in the pain. He's been with me through it all.

As I scan the cemetery, I'm reminded that God gives everyone multiple opportunities to seek Him, to know Him, and to receive the gift of salvation that is found in no one but Jesus. I often wonder, "How many of those who are sleeping in the ground under my feet actually repented of their sin and lived their life faithfully for Jesus? How many were true born again believers?" It gives me joy in my spirit to know that those who truly repented and lived their life for God are in His presence right now. I am truly thankful to God for them. I'm overjoyed knowing that I'll be living and fellowshipping with them throughout eternity!!! But my joy turns to grief when I understand that there is a greater number of those who have died without repenting and without having a true relationship Jesus. I grieve for those who have gone before me and who have chosen to reject Jesus and what He did for them. I'm helpless to help them, because they've already stepped into eternity. They chose the wide and easy road through life, living their life in the flesh and doing what they wanted to do, which eventually lead to their destruction.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it, for the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 17:13-14 

I think the saddest thing is having a family member or friend who rejects God or who has created their own personal 'god' in their own head that gives them permission to live their life as they see fit and still make it to heaven, and who will argue to the point of division, but it's expected. Jesus said...

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and man's enemies will be the members of his household." Matthew 10:34-36

My own experience is evidence of that. My own mother told me on more than one occasion that I was "too religious," and when I tried explaining the salvation message to her, she'd wave me off and say, "You believe in God your way and I'll believe in Him my way." She wasn't a devout Catholic (hardly ever went to Mass), but she still considered herself Catholic. Even at the end of her life as she was dying of pancreatic cancer, she still rebuffed my efforts to explain the salvation message. She chose to reject my words in favor of trusting in the watered down teachings of Joel Osteen, while trusting in her own personal interpretation of Catholic religiosity. I'm not disrespecting or shaming her. No, I'm using her as a warning to others. There are many who have died with a "belief" in Jesus, but to whom Jesus will say...

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" Matthew 7:21-23 (bold and underline mine)

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. The worldly reaction to death is to say Rest In Peace (R.I.P.), but that's not scriptural, because there is no rest or peace for those who have died in their sin. The only way anyone can rest in peace, is to make the choice in this life to repent of their sin and to believe, in faith, that Jesus lived and died for them, and shed His blood for the remission of their sin, and they need to do that before they breathe their last breath and pass into eternity. Anyone can say they believe in God, but do you have a faith that actively seeks a daily relationship with Him and that leads to obedience? We're told that it's by our fruits that we'll be judged. What kind of fruit are you producing?

"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits." Matthew 7:17-20

Is my mother resting in peace? I don't know. That judgment is above my paygrade. All I can say is that she refused to accept the message of salvation before she stepped into eternity, and that thought sometimes bothers me, but I have to remember that we all live a life that God has given us, and we all have the same opportunities to surrender our life to Him. I understand that there will be those who will act upon faith, and those who will not, family included. 

So as you can see, it's important to make that decision now, because we're not promised another day on this earth. If you look at the number of people who are killed or die unexpectedly every day (just look at the headlines), remember, that you could also meet that same fate. Everyone likes to believe that it can't happen to them, but I'm sure that those who died unexpectedly were thinking the same thing and living their life oblivious to what was about to take them from this world and instantaneously thrust them into eternity. 

If you want to know what salvation means and what it means to be born again, CLICK HERE and you'll be taken to another page on this website that explains it to you in easily understandable terms.

Even though this world will eventually forget my name and my grave will blend in and stand quietly among the thousands of others, I'll be living my best life in heaven with the One who knows everything about me, down to the smallest detail. 

I'm reminded of song lyrics that say, 

To everyone who's lost someone they love, long before it was their time, you feel like the days you had were not enough when you said goodbye. 

And to all of the people with burdens and pain, keeping you back from your life, you believe that there's nothing and there is no one who can make it right. 

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart. There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing, He'll meet you wherever you are... cry out to Jesus!

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on, they've lost all their faith and love. And they've done all they can to make it right again, still it's not enough. 

For the ones who can't break the addiction and chains, you try to give up, but you come back again, just remember that you're not alone in your pain and your suffering.  

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart. There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing, He'll meet you wherever you are... cry out to Jesus!

When you're lonely, and you feel like the whole world is falling on you, you just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus! Cry to Jesus!

To the widow who suffers from being alone, wiping the tears from her eyes. 

For the children around the world without a home, say a prayer tonight. 

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart. There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing, He'll meet you wherever you are... cry out to Jesus! 

CLICK HERE to watch the music video.

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET

The Desire To Seek An Eclectic Type Of Christianity

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Romans 8:14

There are those who like a specific style of music. Some prefer pop music, some like light rock. They tend to gravitate to one style or another. Now, what if someone were to tell you that they had an eclectic taste in music? What would that mean to you? Personally, it would convey to me that they like all types of music, from country to rap, from heavy metal to classical. Now think of the different ways that God uses you to advance His kingdom. Do you tend to gravitate to a specific gift or ministry, or do you have a more eclectic approach to serving the Lord? You may find yourself thinking, "If only I could have the gift of (insert spiritual gift here) or be a part of (insert church ministry here), and really make an impact on those around me. I could do great things for the Lord." 

Too often we unknowingly pigeon hole ourselves in what we're willing to do for the Lord, and therefore limit the Holy Spirit's work in our life. We're more concerned with operating in our comfort zone... in one or two areas of church service, sort of like being a physician who specializes in a particular field. You're good at it, but you refrain from going beyond the boundaries you've set for yourself, because everything outside of that is an "unknown risk." Being able to use our talents and spiritual gifts in certain areas of the church is certainly a righteous desire, and if that's where you choose to serve, praise God for you. We often forget that God is so much more than our human understanding, with all of it's limitations. Ask yourself... "What if I could have a relationship with the Lord where He could put me anywhere and in any situation... would I step out in faith for that kind of relationship?"  

"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:5

There are those born again believers who aren't content to limit themselves, and, by extension, limit God in their life. I've lived for more than 60 years, and I'm hoping I can remain in good health until the Rapture, because one of the things I've learned is that I shouldn't limit God... that I should expect more than what I could possibly imagine. I confess that I've desired specific spiritual gifts in the past, but what I've learned is that the closer your relationship becomes with God... the more you're submitted to Him... the more confidence you have in Him (and not your own abilities), then the more He can use you in ways you've never even imagined. That's why the righteous desire of my heart isn't for one particular gift or ministry... it's to be used by God in however He chooses to use me, in good times and bad, in comfort and discomfort, because I know His desire is to increase my prosperity, not bring me to ruin.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have an eclectic type of Christianity, meaning that I'm open to the Lord using me wherever and however He chooses. Yes, sometimes I naively ask, "Me, Lord? You want me to do that? Go there? Do what?" But most of the time I find myself in the midst of doing something that I never expected, realizing later that the Holy Spirit drew me into a situation that I didn't even recognize was of Him at the moment. At other times, I've felt the power of the Holy Spirit working, and I just kept going with it, because I knew He was in the midst of the situation. Those are unexpectedly rewarding experiences.  

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7

We can often forget that the Holy Spirit isn't looking for our abilities, but for our availability. God has used me in so many different situations where I was definitely not qualified or experienced to act on my own, and if I had limited God to working in just those things in which I was comfortable... if I had limited myself to a specialty, I never would have had the opportunity to experience so much, and that would have limited the strengthening of my faith and the growth in our relationship. 

If you're like me, you don't desire a title. Your ego doesn't desire a recognized place in a church structure. You don't need the special attention, the official church t-shirt and a badge, being seen as part of the inner circle at church, etc. No, you're humble, and your only desire is to serve the Lord in whatever capacity He deems fit for the moment. I once served as a head usher in a church, so I've had the "prestige" and authority of a position, a title and a badge, and it could all have gone to my head, but the Lord had taught me to always remain humble. I've worked in businesses (white collar and blue collar) where I needed to wear an ID, but when I walked out the door of the building, humility caused me to put that badge straight into my pocket, because I knew that my importance didn't come from a badge, but from my relationship with the Lord. In my lifetime, I've received official titles and I've received recognition by way of certificates, awards, and a plaque, but they're not displayed on my walls and I don't boast about them. They're all at the city dump...lol. I've been on local cable shows and the local news. None of that means anything to me. Why? Because my ego doesn't need them, and I haven't provided detailed information about that aspect of my life because humility won't allow me to discuss them in detail. As far as I'm concerned, displaying awards and discussing details about my television appearances would do nothing but tempt me to grow prideful again. 

My strengths are administration, organization, planning, and my uncompromising faith. My weakness is that I sometimes throw caution to the wind and just act upon impulse, which, I admit, can be a strength at times. It helps me when God says go...lol. My skills help me to create these blog articles, create tracts, and produce YouTube videos. Do I limit myself to these gifts? These talents? No. If I did, I'd be living a very limited Christian life and I'd be purposely limiting those things for which I allow God to use me. 

Here are a few example of what I'm talking about:

Example 1: Friends of mine had a marital spat, and his wife was worried because he left the house and was gone for hours (this was before cell phones were a thing). I could have chosen to sit and console her, but I offered to go out and help find him. She told me that he sometimes hung out at a particular local bar. Everyone knew the reputation of how seedy and full of corruption that bar was. I had never been in that type of environment, and I was immediately resistant to going there, but instead of shifting the responsibility to someone else, I trusted in the Lord and entered unfamiliar territory. The bar was dark, and the whole place glowed an eerie red from the neon lights. I was definitely out of my element. After I took the first few steps into the bar, I suddenly felt an invisible spiritual bubble of protection envelope me as I started walking through the bar. No one really looked up at me as I walked around the entire bar. It's as though they didn't see me. I was on a mission, and it wasn't until I left the bar that I was able to reflect on what just happened. It's something I had never felt before, and something I haven't felt since. It was one of those one-time experiences that the Holy Spirit allowed me to taste. If I had not walked into that seedy bar, I never would have experienced the powerful moving of the Holy Spirit. I stepped out in faith, and the Lord gave me an awesome, unexpected experience which I still carry with me to this day.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" Psalm 56: 3-4

Example 2: I was ministering to a friend, and I noticed that the words of knowledge and wisdom coming from my lips couldn't possibly be my own. I kept ministering to him until I felt the Holy Spirit pull back, causing me to start stumbling over my words. That's when I gently ended the conversation, telling my friend that the Holy Spirit was done conveying to him what He wanted him to know. Once again, it was an experience I've only had a couple of other times, and it gave me more of a working understanding of how the Holy Spirit can work through me to convey a message to someone with whom He needs to speak. It wasn't a, "Thus saith the Lord" type of thing. The Holy Spirit spoke with Him, through me, in a normal one on one conversation that I would have with anyone (except they were His words, not mine). If I had decided to shy away from talking face to face with my friend, instead of attempting to minister to him, I never would have been the vessel though which the Holy Spirit spoke with him. 

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." 1 Cor. 12:4-11 (underline mine)

Example 3: I was house sitting for a former pastor who had moved out of the city and was selling the house. I allowed a friend to stay overnight while I was at work, and I received a panicked call from him. He was experiencing unbelievable activity that I thought was either demonic or associated with substance abuse. The following morning, I asked him to leave the house, not knowing if it was a substance abuse problem or demonic activity. That evening, I went room by room casting out any demons that may be present in the house, sealing every window and doorway room by room. The next day, upon arriving at the side gate of the house, I felt a demon latch on to me. The demons had been cast out, but at least one of them stayed in the general area or returned. His front claws were in my shoulders, and his back claws were clutching my back. I was immediately filled with fear, so I knew it was a spirit of fear. I walked down the pathway into the back yard, but before I went up the stairs and into the house, I declared the doorframe covered in the blood of Jesus and declared that no demon could pass through it. I stepped forward, and because the demon couldn't go past the threshold, it released me. I never had an issue with demons again while house sitting. This was a powerful example of Jesus' authority over the demonic realm. Why did it return in the first place? Perhaps because it thought I'd freak out and it could gain access to the house again, and thus bring in many more demons than had been cast out to begin with. This is why it's important to read your bible and grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God and His word. I knew what to do because God trained me, through scripture and other experiences, beforehand.

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, “I will return to the house I left”' 25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first (Luke 11:24-26).Luke 11:24-26

I've had other experiences with demons, which has taught me that they're not to be feared, because rebuking them in the name of Jesus is all you need to do. We speak the words, and Jesus does everything else. In Jesus' name, they have to flee. There's no discussion, just a quick rebuke in Jesus' name is all you need. If you're having a discussion with them, then you're doing it wrong. If I hadn't had those experiences with demons, I couldn't stand firm when we're face to face. They know that have no authority over me. I am a child of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. The Lamb of God who shed His precious blood to redeem me as His own. I've been bought and paid for. I belong to Jesus. No demon can steal me out of His hand. Praise God!!!

I've had other personal experiences and spiritual dreams that God has used to make me who I am. They haven't all been easy. In fact, I've been a broken man more than once, but the growth that came from it has been invaluable. 

So, maybe, instead of asking for specific spiritual gifts with your own goals in mind, you should humbly open yourself up to following the leading of the Holy Spirit, building that relationship, building that faith and trust, because I can guarantee you, you'll be given the opportunity to be the vessel through which the Holy Spirit will exhibit many of His gifts. I'm not saying you shouldn't pray for the righteous desire of your heart if you feel called into a particular ministry, I'm just saying that you shouldn't limit yourself to that one thing. If you limit yourself, you may find yourself missing out on a lot of great things that the Lord wants to accomplish in your life to His glory.

So step out in faith in areas to which you wouldn't normally gravitate. Lead a home bible study; hand out tracts on the street; start a Christian blog or vlog; pray face to face with others; evangelize your friends and family; utilize Christian outerwear (t-shirts, hats, tote bags, etc...) to "brand" Jesus; give to, or participate in, Christian organizations that not only help those in need, but share the word of God with them at the same time. Be open to ministering to those in need, scoot over in church and sit near someone who's sitting by themselves and introduce yourself. You never know what even the smallest gesture could lead to. Allow yourself to be used by God in different ways, and watch what He does. 

Having a goal of living an eclectic type of Christianity means opening yourself up to God's will to use you whenever, however, and wherever He needs someone to fill the gap. You'll find out that God often uses you right where you are. He has a way of creating opportunities in your own backyard (so to speak). You may be the answer God sends in response to a stranger's desperate plea, so I encourage you to answer, "Here I am, Lord, send me," the next time God asks, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" When you pray, don't forget to ask God to use you to fill in the gap at church, in your neighborhood, at work, or elsewhere... to use you as only He can, regardless of your own physical and intellectual talents. He knows your anxiety and fear about stepping out in faith in areas in which you're not comfortable, but the fact that, despite of all that, you still willingly offered to step into what we consider to be the unknown, is a sign of faith that God will honor, and God doesn't disappoint. He knows you'll have opposition from the enemy, who is a great influence in the lives of the unsaved, but He has already created provision for you... God has your back. He doesn't set you up for failure. We also have a set of spiritual armor to help with that, and God has our back. 

We're here fighting a war to rescue as many souls as possible and to plant as many seeds as possible before Jesus returns. That's why He's given us a spiritual armor. 

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Eph. 6:13

You have no idea what God can do through you. It's an exciting adventure built on faith, love, and trust in the Lord God Almighty. The benefits far outweigh any negative experiences you may face. An eclectic type of Christianity gives you many more opportunities for a teaching moment... one that stretches your faith and deepens your intimate relationship with Him and brings Him glory.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13

Don't just quote this scripture... live it out in faith!!! 

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

  

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET

   

There Are Wolves Hiding Amongst The Sheep

Matthew 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

If you think there aren't any wolves among the sheep, you'd be sorely mistaken and very naïve. There are people who take utter joy in entering a church with the specific intent of sowing discord and to twist the message of the cross. They can appear as mature and knowledgeable people, or appear as innocent new believers who have a lot of questions, but beware, because these wolves are there to to shake the faith of believers and make them question God Himself, which leads to a false gospel.

Many years ago, I had an interaction with someone online. I'll call him the "wolf." He was offering up a type of Christianity, but there was something a little "off" about him. He wasn't quite speaking the truth, and he questioned everything in a way that would seem innocent, but to him, would cause doubt in someone's mind if they didn't have a firm grasp of scripture. He would voice his "confusion" about what some would consider contradictory portions of scripture (but we all know there are no contradictions in the bible). 

It reminds me of what Satan did to Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan, by way of the serpent, spoke with Eve, not in a threatening way, but in a subtle, sly, and intellectual way that made her question what God had actually told Adam ("Did God really say???") Satan caused her to doubt what God had said. In fact, she even added her own spin to what God had told Adam, which made her easier to manipulate because she already had a false understanding of what God had truly said. By the end of this short conversation between the snake and Eve, she was convinced that eating the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil would be beneficial, not harmful. After eating it and not dying, she then offered it to Adam (See? You misunderstood God. Listen to the snake.), and Adam, as we all know, ate of the fruit, and thus, through him, sin entered the world and resulted in the death of their spirit and the beginning of the sin nature in mankind, and so it would be for them and all of their descendants.

Getting back on topic, I called the wolf out on a few things, and even accused him of not being genuine. He laughingly admitted that he wasn't a true Christian, and that I had caught him. He was so brazen that he even admitted that he was a member of a Christian chat room (when chat rooms were popular back in the day...lol) and said that he was portraying himself as a new naïve Christian in order to gain the trust of the Christians in the chat room, so he could ask questions that were specifically designed to cause confusion and division in the chat room, and even cause some weaker Christians to doubt their new faith in Christ. He was masquerading as a young sheep in order to keep everyone's guard down while he sowed discord and doubt among the fold.

Acts 20:29-30 "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them."

After his confession, I went looking for the chat room in which he was a member. There were very few Christian chat rooms back in the day, and it didn't take me long to find the one in which he was participating (he used the same profile name that he had used in our conversation). I became a member and entered the chat room. I watched, in real time, as he asked his manipulative questions, and instigated conversations and disagreements among the other members while he sat back and watched the chat room blow up. I watched for a while, but then I started messaging each individual in the group personally, letting them know who this wolf was and what he was doing. Unfortunately, that went against the chat room rules, and I was essentially kicked out of the group. Imagine that, it was ME who was kicked out of the group for exposing a fraud. A short time later, the wolf contacted me and, with disingenuous disappointment, said that I had spoiled the whole thing for him. He confessed that it just meant that he'd have to make the effort to find another Christian group to infiltrate and disrupt. 

I walked away from the situation being taught a lesson... that not all unbelievers are loud and in your face, especially online. There are those out there who have learned subtle ways of causing disruption, discourse, and doubt; those who will shroud themselves in sheep's clothing and infiltrate the fold; those who will take their fleshly understanding of the bible and attempt to cause weaker Christians to doubt their own understanding of scripture. Wolves like to start a fire and watch while everything burns down. They take joy in it, they laugh about it, and they take great care to make sure they're not discovered so that they can keep attacking the fold. This wolf created the perfect cover... a young and inexperienced "Christian" who was confused and had a lot of questions. People don't expect you to know too much, so the questions seem natural. All wolves need to do is throw out some controversial subjects among the sheep, sprinkle in what some would consider contradictory scripture or false logic, and then stand back and watch them argue. How simple is that? It's as simple as Satan sowing doubt in Eve's mind. It only took a few words and a simple question. How easy is that? Wolves utilize this method, and that's why they're dangerous to young born again believers.

Matthew 24:24 "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."

How can we spot them? Pray for discernment, continually read and study scripture, meditate on the word, and live in the spirit, being led by the Holy Spirit, so when an enemy slithers it's way into the fold, we'll be able to spot them, call them out, and warn the rest of the flock to the danger within. 

In this day and age, wolves have even more opportunity to infiltrate the church. They can infiltrate physical churches, online chat rooms, bible studies, Christian events, social media, Christian apps, etc... Infiltration can be physical or digital. Always be on guard and never ignore something that just doesn't seem right. Look for the red flags, even yellow "caution" flags, and don't ignore your instincts. If your spirit or the Holy Spirit is telling you something's just not right, stop, pray that your eyes would be opened, and be vigilant. You may just be the one God will use to save an unsuspecting believer who may be weak and susceptible to the one who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy... the one who roams as a lion, seeking whom he can destroy. Have no fear in calling out one who seems determined to sow discord among the church, but be sure to use wisdom in doing so. Always judge with a righteous judgment, never out of ignorance.

2 Peter 3:15-18 "Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

Read all of 2 Peter, Chapter 2.

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET