Archive for October 4th, 2008
Today Ardith Keef is telling her followers “those who follow the Lord must follow one step at a time.” She quotes the familiar verse, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Then she adds, “Soldier, one of the most dangerous traps that awaits the Christian is the longing to know what lies several steps ahead.”
When coming from a healthy church leader this is of course good advice and true teaching. However when those who are doing the leading are on a wrong and deadly course for all concerned it can lead followers away from the Kingdom of God into the enemy’s kingdom. There have been many kinds of marches we can look back on for some wisdom.
There were those innocent souls who marched one step at a time to the gas chambers. There were those 900 who followed Jim Jones who marched one step at a time in the name of Jesus to drink the koolaid that was laced with arsenic. There was a march called the Bataan Death March in the Philipines in 1942. General McArthur was against it but someone made a deal with Japan to let them march 75,000 troops , I suppose to prison camps. 11,000 were American soldiers. The enemy who were Japanese said “We are not barbarians!” We were tricked and deceived. It was a brutal march with rapes, beheadings, and worse and only 50,000 men made it to the destination. Men who tried to help others when they fell down were murdered. The brutality was so severe over the one week in tropical heat without food and water, many dead bodies were strewed along the way.
The above is an example of how the enemy does his work. He is a deceiver, a liar and a fraud. Can he get a little group to follow him “one step at a time” to a dead end by telling them lots of good even true things about Jesus? Of course he can! Especially when leaders are proud and arrogant and think themselves too wise to be deceived! The truth is always found in examining the fruit, and testing the spirit.
The Japanese Army Commander said “We are not barbarians!” He deceived someone into trusting him, and many lives were lost. If the enemy can deceive leaders of cults and abusive churches into following him, and marching the wrong way, then he can apply all the Bible scripture verses he wants and the followers will simply believe him and move forward in the wrong direction.
If you want to know whether or not a church is going in the right direction or if they are going away from the Truth “one step at a time”, look at the fruit! Are there broken homes, divorces, divided churches, children divided from their parents, whole families shunned and slandered? Look back upon the church history> How many times has the name been changed? How many people have been left strewn in the path behind the marching “Soldiers?”How many marriages have bit the dust? Talk to someone who has left or has been abandoned and shunned by the leadership for speaking up or questioning. Listen to their story of abuse. You might be surprised!
In the Anchor Missionary Fellowship Church, there is one person who must be in control. She must be in control of everyone, everything, in the church and around her. Anyone who will not bow in fear is history. And so whoever follows her is following another Jesus and another spirit. You will find just what spirit it is in Rev 2: 20-24. Deceived herself, she is deceptively leading a whole group of people to a dead end. But God! He has rescued many from dark places and strongholds such as hers before, and he will continue to be Righteous, Faithful, and True to His own.
Moral of the Story: “Follow one step at a time”, but be sure you are following the True Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Many have been strewn along the wayside, left in the wake of false leaders and shepherds who were wolves in sheeps clothing. Following pretty and smooth sayings can be deceiving and lead to spiritual death. Beware, the enemy is like a roaring lion seeking to devour someone!