Many leaders have large numbers of followers, including cultists and other religious “gurus”. In fact some of the most popular leaders, who have the most followers, are not Christian. Numbers of followers is not a good test of the authenticity of a leader or his ministry.
Category: Spiritual Help
Church size
Church size means nothing in the realm of discernment. God looks for quality over quantity, regardless of what “apostles” like C. Peter Wagner claim:
“… we ought to see clearly that the end DOES justify the means. What else possible could justify the means? If the method I am using accomplishes the goal I am aiming at, it is for that reason a good method. If, on the other hand, my method is not accomplishing the goal, how can I be justified in continuing to use it?” (C. Peter Wagner, “Your Church Can Grow – Seven Vital Signs Of A Healthy Church”, 1976, pg. 137. – emphasis in original)
Quantitative judgments are of men. The size of a church could be due to God blessing a ministry and people being truly saved or due to the oratorical skills of a preacher. Big clubs are not necessarily good clubs. Church size is no way to test a ministry.
Numbers claiming salvation
Ultimately, only God knows who is saved. Believers can certainly tell if people are false prophets and heretics and must be rejected, but we are not the ultimate judge of their salvation. One fact is certain. When someone claims to be saved they will evidence the fruit of the Spirit, believe in and teach sound doctrine, and not make false prophesies.
Subjective testimonies
Testimonies are nice and can even be an inspiration (if they are true), but they are also inherently subjective. In other words, they are hard, if not impossible, to prove objectively, unless incontrovertible proof exists. Don’t allow testimonies, uplifting as they may be, to get in the way of biblical methods of testing. Don’t rely on testimonies to shape your belief system. Just as you would test a cake to see if it is done by manually inserting a toothpick, instead of relying on the good smell of the cake and the feelings you get from it’s aroma, don’t use subjective methods to test stories–use the objective Word of God.
God Has Given Us Everything We Need
By His divine power, God has already given us everything we need for living a godly life.
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. ” (2 Peter 1:3)
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” (Psalm 138:2)
Whether you realize it or not: God has already given you everything you need to live the life He’s called you to. You don’t need to feel stressed out, worried or afraid. You don’t have to wonder if you are ‘good enough’ to receive from God because God’s blessing has nothing to do with your performance. He has already blessed you and given you everything you need by His divine power!
The next time you start thinking “I can’t…”, or “I don’t have what it takes…”, attack those negative thoughts with the truth by declaring, “According to His will, God can give me what it takes; my faith will enable me; and I am equipped by His divine power at work in me!”
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing [which includes fears, depression, etc.] that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
You say: I’m always worried and frustrated.
God says: “Cast all your cares on Me.” (I Peter 5:7)
You say: I don’t know what to do.
God says: “And I will direct your steps.” (Pro 3:6)
You say: I don’t have enough faith.
God says: “I have given everyone a measure of faith.” (Rom 12:3)
You say: I’m too tired.
God says: “I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28-30)
You say: I can’t do it.
God says: “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” (Phil 4:13)
You say: I can’t make ends meet.
God says: “I will supply all your needs.” (Phil 4:19)
You say: I can’t handle this.
God says: “Cast your cares on Me and I will sustain you.” (Psa 55:22)
You say: I can’t go on.
God says: “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Cor 12:9)
You say: I’m exhausted.
God says: “Those who wait on Me shall renew their strength.” (Isa 40:31)
You say: I’m all alone.
God says: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb 13:5)
You say: I am not able.
God says: “I am able.” (2 Cor 9:8)
You say: I’m not smart enough.
God says: “If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask Me for it.” (James 1:5)
You say: It’s impossible.
God says: “What is impossible with men is possible with Me.” (Luke 18:27)
You say: I am afraid.
God says: “I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
(2 Tim 1:7)
You say: It’s not worth it.
God says: “You will reap a harvest if you do not give up.” (Gal 6:9)
You say: I can’t forgive myself.
God says: “In Christ, I forgave you.” (Eph 4:32)
You say: Nobody loves me.
God says: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jer 31.3)
“Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed, save me and I shall be healed.” (Jer 17.14)
How to Discern, Test and Judge Rightly
In running a web site with over 900+ articles, thousands of hits per month from all over the world, and hundreds of e-mails per week, I have come to realize, with time, that there is a terrible problem in Christendom today. The problem stems from an existential subjective view of the world that has filtered into the church from secular society, but also from the teachings of heretical wolves who have taught an entire generation of churchgoers completely unbiblical methods of discernment or to get rid of any discernment altogether.
Let me start out this chapter by telling you what methods are being used for “discernment” today that don’t have biblical support, then I will move on to the ways in which the Bible does tell us to test teaching, prophecy and actions.
The following criteria are what many people who call themselves Christians are using to test reality and truth today:
(1) Experiences, manifestations
(2) Feelings, emotions
(3) Numbers of followers
(4) Numbers of people who claim to be saved
(5) The size of a church or movement
(6) Signs and wonders, purported miracles (whether real or false)
(7) Subjective testimonies
(8) Hearsay and rumors
(9) How successful and rich a teacher is
(10) If a person speaks with authority
(11) The atmosphere of a meeting
None of the above criteria being used by many churchgoers today are cited in the Bible as ways we are to test, discern and judge rightly.
Returning Home
Ben wanted to say something, but no words came. This conversation had gone wildly different from the ones he’d rehearsed.
Judah wasn’t quite done though. “Now look at us, you and me. How fitting: two prodigals standing here on Prodigal’s Point. But how ironic: the wandering prodigal has come home, while the homebound prodigal has not. That’s why you found me here, Ben. I’ve been trying to get up the nerve to return home.”
Ben, simultaneously laughing and crying, said, “Well, Jude, if you’re looking for an experienced guide, I’m your man — having recently become something of an expert in returning home. But I should warn you: when you speak to Dad, you won’t get more than a few words out before you find yourself swept away in a current of fatherly affection.”
“Yeah, I know,” Judah said, smiling. “Our father and his prodigal sons. But before you so expertly guide me home, I need to say something to you, and I’m probably not going to say it right. But forgive me, Ben, for what I’ve done to you through my terrible, sinful selfishness.”
Ben’s wordless bear hug was all the response Judah needed.
Adult Life Patterns Indicating More Severe or Sustained Childhood Trauma:
- Attraction to or attracting dangerous situations or people
- Frequent illness or accidents
- Estrangement from family, sibling issues, bitterness, unforgiveness
- Anger towards opposite sex, anger towards self
- Denial of the past, denial of pain, inability to cry, dissociation from emotions
- Addictive behaviors, eating disorders, isolation, introversion, existential depression
- Avoidance behavior, avoiding foods, places, activities, memories, situations or people
- An exaggerated sense of responsibility for the underdog
- Giving more than receiving, personal gains always followed by losses, over-functioning, overworking, under-rewarded
- Unwanted supernatural or spirit presences, inexplicably sensitive, large antennas for sensing danger
- Excessive introspection, thinking, contemplating, worrying, working to figure things out, survival strategies
Physical or Medical Symptoms Correlating With Histories of Trauma
- Bothersome or worrisome health issues that don’t show up as positives in lab tests (no medical validation)
- Neck, spine and back problems
- Muscle weakness, muscle pain
- Digestive problems, e.g. IBS
- Immune system problems
- Skin disorders
- Myofacsial pain syndrome
- Environmental sensitivities
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Neuralgia
Potential Effects on the Brain for Children Who Experienced Sustained Trauma
- A decrease in the size of the hippocampus, which is important in learning and memory
- A decrease in the size of the corpus callosum, which functions for emotion, impulses, and arousal, as well as communicating between the right and left brain hemispheres
- A decrease in the size of the cerebellum, which can affect motor skills and coordination
- A decrease in the volume of the prefrontal cortex, which affects behavior, balancing emotions and perception
- Too much activity in the amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions and determining reactions to potentially stressful or dangerous situations
- Cortisol level becomes unregulated, leading to high anxiety from stress or depression
Persecution Live 