TEACHING

Don Atkin

BEWARE OF FALSE TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES

I would say, “Beware of false prophets.”  But, not everyone with false teachings and practices is inwardly a ravenous wolf.  We cannot always equate false doctrine with false prophets.  While some are false prophets indeed, others are simply espousing dangerous error out of their ignorance and/or ambition.  God reserves the right to judge the thoughts, intents and motives of men’s hearts.  We can judge the fruit of their lives.  We can also judge teachings and practices by the Word and Spirit.

My purpose herein is not to bring men under judgment.  Rather, I wish to bring some current trends to your attention for the sake of God’s people and purpose.  The authentic will expose the counterfeit.  Light will expose darkness.  I pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, and that grace will attend our conclusions.

Immaturity, ambition, deception, etc., can cause sincere people to play right into the devil’s hand.  Spiritual dryness often sets people up for being deceived and then deceiving others.  An ungoverned quest for a supernatural kingdom creates desires in our natural faculties that can push us to extremes in violation of our cognitive faculties.  Many are simply unaware, uninformed, uninitiated, untrained.  Spiritually speaking, they are like kids who raise themselves on the streets and are vulnerable to the elements.

I am concerned for those who are satisfied with cut-and-dried religious systems where there is no flow of the River.  I am equally concerned for those whose dissatisfaction with spiritual dryness causes them to yield to a false mysticism.

BEWARE (BE AWARE) OF FALSE MYSTICISM

History is laced with Christian mystics.  But, to my knowledge, most were not grandstanding and attempting to market their experiences.  There is a difference between being a mystic and promoting mysticism.  The dangers are multiplied in our day by the availability of multi-media venues.  We must keep wide awake [alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard] (I Thess. 5:6 AMP). 

Those who are not in accountable relationships with others are especially vulnerable targets.  Paul exhorts us: get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them] (I Thess. 5:12-13 AMP).

Abuses do not render all authority illegitimate.  Our usefulness and fruitfulness depend upon being in the right place in Father’s family, Jesus’ body.  Being surrounded by loved ones, who will both live and die for us, is key to maturing in a safe environment and atmosphere.

God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.  And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. – I Cor. 12:18,28.

Paul goes on in verse 31, Earnestly desire the best gifts.  And yet I will show you a more excellent way.  He then launches into what we have come to know as “the love chapter.”  We will not be such sitting ducks for today’s false teachings and practices when our earnest desires are biblically ordered and prioritized. 

THERE IS A LUST OF THE FLESH FOR RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES

Christians are not immune from lusts of the flesh.  Neither are they immune from religious lusts for the supernatural. Much that calls itself “Christian” is really rooted in other religious philosophies, teachings and practices, and must be recognized and resisted in the same way that we resist temptations that lead to physical and mental immorality.  Both have their roots in the same jezebel spirit.  This spirit’s intent is to deceive us into the worship of false Gods, angels, etc., which is called idolatry. 

God initiated biblical accounts of visitations.  He still does.  He also initiates miracles and healings, sometimes through words of knowledge or prophecy, and sometimes as a sovereign act.  He initiates all that is life in the new creation.  The Spirit gives life!

Seeking supernatural phenomenon should not be our first priority.  We are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  God’s priority was to appoint miracles, then healings, only after setting in order first apostles, second prophets, third teachers.  I want Jesus’ lordship and righteousness to rule me more than any eventful experience, even physical healing.  I want miracles and healings to come forth out of a life of consecrated obedience.  And they do!

Paul’s third heaven experience was not his way of life.  He was awed by it, but did not initiate it.  He certainly did not try to exploit or export it!  Let’s look at his epistle to the baby Christians in Corinth.

THE REVELATION OF THE SPIRIT

Paul wrote from a posture of weakness and trembling.  There should be immediate cause for concern when we see arrogance in one who is trying to take us to realms beyond the normal and the natural.  Paul was not trying to do this.  In fact, he did the opposite.  He acknowledged that the deep things of God are spiritually discerned and judged by those who are spiritual.  But, the Corinthian Christians were yet carnal, babes, and he could not speak to them as spiritual.

We speak (hidden) wisdom among those who are mature, ordained for our glory, prepared for those who love Him, and revealed to us through His Spirit.  (Read I Cor. 2:6 – 3:3.)

Fathers care!  Fathers do not want to see children lured, captured and kidnapped by mystical candy.  Fathers want to see children grow in an orderly fashion into all that God has for them, including the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.  Fathers want children to see what eye has not seen, hear what ear has not heard, and have their hearts filled with what has not entered into the heart of man.  These things God has prepared for those who love Him.

THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SPIRIT

It is wisdom, not weirdness, which God has prepared for our glory.  The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).  The fruit with which Father wants to fill our hearts will not cause weirdness.

The power of the Spirit was given to us so that we might be witnesses of Jesus, that we might manifest His life as many brothers of the Firstborn Son.  The Gospels testify to His life.  Acts testifies to the life of the early church.  The Epistles instruct us in conduct.  I don’t see weirdness in His life.  I don’t see weirdness in the life of the early church.  I don’t see a call to weirdness in apostolic teaching.  I see the fruit of the Spirit.  I see sound minds that are being renewed.  I see lives being transformed from glory to glory – not mystical weirdness.

In requesting prayer from the Colossians, Paul (who was in chains) asked for open doors to speak the mystery of Christ, that I may make it (the mystery of Christ) manifest, as I ought to speak.  He then instructs them accordingly:

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. – Col. 4:5-6.

The mystery of Christ is wisely communicated with a grace that makes it acceptable to those who are outside.  So much of that which is purported to be spiritual in these days is truly a turn-off, both within and outside the house.

THE WAYS OF THE SPIRIT

Jesus:  “If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.” – Matt. 24:23-26.

(I do realize that this is set in the context of prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70.  But, the same principles and possibilities are in effect in our day.) 

Jesus has come to abide within and among us.  We don’t need to go looking for Him.  The kingdom of heaven is within us.  We don’t need an out-of-body experience.  Check the written record.  Inquire of trusted elders.  Be a good Berean.  Don’t be deceived.  You don’t need to put your mind in neutral.  (You don’t need to be out of your mind!)  The indwelling Christ can give you His mind through your cognitive faculties.  Resurrection life comes through embracing the cross, not floating on some mystical cloud. 

I can rationalize, make excuses, and extend grace and mercy.  But, when my “knower” continues to go “zing, zing, zing,” I must pay attention.  I try to bend over backward, forward, sideward.  But, I know in my “knower” that these are dangerous days.  People may not lose their salvation.  But, we are at least being distracted.  Our effectiveness in God’s purpose is being compromised.

THE ORDER OF THE SPIRIT

Gatherings that are open to the public and/or exposed to the world through cyberspace and mass media carry with them a solemn responsibility for conduct that does not offend the uninformed or unbelievers.  Will they not say that you are out of your mind (I Cor. 14:23)?

The early church continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching.  The apostles were in relationship and accountable to one another, seeking correction and correcting one another, as they feared the possibility of running in vain.  Today’s church, including the apostles, needs to continue steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching.  Here is a sound apostolic directive:

You are sons of light, and sons of the day; we do not belong either to the night or to darkness.  Accordingly then, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect).

Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]—your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you. 

And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work.  Be at peace among yourselves. – I Thess. 5:5,6,12,13 AMP.

Be at peace among yourselves.