Heresies and Cults

Heresies

A heresy is a doctrine or teaching that differs from orthodox or accepted Christian beliefs. Heresies often involve adding to or subtracting from Christianity and include beliefs that contradict the core tenets of Christianity in a way that destroys the truth of the message of the Gospel.

Nicolaitans

It appears that Nicolas had been appointed as a deacon – Acts 6:5, and that this heresy was names after him. In Revelation 2 we read what the angel of the Lord told the apostle John about the church in Ephesus:

Revelation 2:6 But this is in your favour: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.

And then to the church in Pergamum:

Revelation 2:15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

According to the writings of the Early Church leaders, Nicolas taught a doctrine of compromise, implying that total separation between Christianity and the practice of occult paganism was not essential. From Early Church records, it seems apparent that this Nicolas of Antioch was so immersed in occultism, Judaism, and Christianity that he had a stomach for all of it. He had no problem intermingling these belief systems in various concoctions and saw no reason why believers couldn’t continue to fellowship with those still immersed in the black magic of the Roman empire and its countless mystery cults. (Rick Renner).

Gnostics

Gnosticism was a second-century religious movement claiming that salvation could be gained through a special form of secret knowledge. Early Christian church fathers such as Origen, Tertullian, Justin Martyr and Eusebius of Caesarea condemned gnostic teachers and beliefs as heretical. Gnostic writings often describe God as incomprehensible and unknowable.

Arianism

A doctrine that denied the divinity and eternity of Christ. A priest named Arius argued that Jesus Christ was not an eternal being and that He was created at a certain point in time by the Father.

The Council of Nicea (a council of about 300 Church leaders) in 325 AD affirmed the orthodox belief in the trinity and the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, and that Christ was eternal and one with God (See e.g. John 1:1-4). The council produced the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith that played a pivotal role in the early church and directly impacted the doctrine Christian churches uphold today, and which many churches around the world still use as their statement of faith.

Jezebel and the spirit of immorality

Ahab, king of Israel, married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians (Phoenicians) who led him to bow down to worship Baal, to build a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria, and to set up an Asherah pole (1 Kings 16:29-33). She harassed and killed God’s prophets and arranged for an innocent man to be falsely charged and executed. Jehu, a later king of Israel, said Jezebel was guilty of idolatry and witchcraft (2 Kings 9:22). The ‘Jezebel spirit’ is a name given today to a demonic hierarchy that seeks to attack, dominate or manipulate especially male authority, to seduce and lead people into immorality, and to cause fear and discouragement.

The decline in morality, the breakdown of the family unit and the acceptance of homosexuality has been said to be a clear indication of the impending fall of every civilization through the ages.

Revelation 2:20 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman – that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet – to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.

To the Church in Pergamum

Revelation 2:14-15 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

To the Church in Thyatira

Revelation 2:20 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman – that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet – to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.

Witchcraft

Witchcraft, in any of its forms, has always been detestable to God. Witchcraft was practiced by the different nations from the earliest of times, and the Hebrews were explicitly forbidden by God from having anything to do with these practices, on pain of death. To protect their nation from these practices, they were prohibited from inter-marrying with foreigners – to prevent the Israelites from adopting their pagan religions and cultures. Moses gave them strict instructions not to intermarry with anyone from the 7 tribes in the promised land they were to enter, ‘for they will lead your children away from Me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you’ (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). This was the very sin that both Samson and King Solomon committed. In the New Testament we are also instructed not to ‘team up’ or to be ‘unequally yoked’ with unbelievers but rather to ‘separate yourselves from them’ (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Exodus 22:18 “You must not allow a sorceress to live. “Do not eat meat that has not been drained of its blood. “Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft.

Leviticus 20:6 “I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community.

Leviticus 20:27 “Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense.”

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.

Isaiah 8:19 Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?

Necromancy

Necromancy, sometimes referred to as a form of ‘black’ magic, is a term used to describe communication and dealings with the dead performed by powerful wizards or sorcerers. Unlike most modern mediums whose goal is simply to communicate with the dead, necromancy may be intended to foretell the future, to uncover secrets, or to kill or cause harm to some living person.

Necromancy has existed throughout history, from the earliest civilizations, and is still practiced today. It was practiced in ancient civilizations in Egypt, Babylonia, Rome, Greece, Persia, and Chaldea. It has also been linked to ancestor worship. Recorded stories of necromancy in ancient times come from Homer’s Odyssey, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and the Bible. (1 Samuel 28:7-25).

Modern Spiritual Apostacism

Apostacism: a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith (gotquestions.org).

1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

Choosing your own Ethical and Moral Standards

When we stop studying an applying the Word, and allowing it to correct us, we can come up with some strange and un-Christian beliefs. This is typically how cults start. Here are two examples:

‘God is love, and therefore there cannot be anything wrong with homosexual relationships’.

‘God is spirit and man is spirit, therefore it does not matter what we do in the flesh’.

This is clearly not what the Bible teaches us. We read in 1 Corinthians 6:18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

Situational ethics

Situational ethics is a particular worldview view that holds that the morality of an act is determined by its context. Hence whether any act is right or wrong is merely determined by the desired outcome of the situation. Situational ethics says that meeting the needs of each situation determines what is right or wrong. Situational ethics is different from moral relativism in that moral relativism states that there is no right or wrong at all.

Moral Relativism

Moral relativism is the idea that morality is not absolute, but depends on one’s culture, situation, feelings, or beliefs. It is the belief that are no universal absolute rules or moral principles to determine whether something is right or wrong. Whether something is considered right or wrong can change depending on opinion, social context, culture or a number of other factors. Whether something is good or bad is simply a relative concept.

This belief system holds that there can never be a single moral standard by which contentious matters can be decided – such as whether suicide or assisted suicide is permissible, if revenge is ever justified, or whether loyalty to leaders, friends or family could ever justify lying or ignoring another moral standard.

Modern Heresies

Dispensationalism

A theological system of interpreting the Bible that maintains that history is divided into multiple ages or “dispensations” in which God acts with humanity in different ways. The number of dispensations vary amongst their supporters, typically from three to eight. It is accused of having an “escapist” outlook on life and a pessimistic view of the future. Dispensationalists are said to embrace shallow Christianity, only focusing on “getting people saved” without seeing any need for growth.

Cessationism

This is a view in Christian theology that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, healing and prophetic revelation, only operated during the apostolic era. They believe that these gifts were only given for the purpose of establishing the early church and ceased with the passing of the last of the 12 apostles, while the gifts such as teaching, evangelism, mercy, service and giving were given by God to continue until the end of the current age. This doctrine was developed in the Reformation and is particularly associated with the Calvinists. Continuationalism is the opposite of this – the belief that the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit are available for all Christians in the present age (See 1 Corinthians 13:10).

Cessationists typically also hold there that there were only and ever will be only the 12 original apostles. But according to the New Testament there were several apostles besides the twelve. In addition to the 12 apostles Jesus appointed (see Matthew 10:2-4) who He sent out (Luke 9:1-2), and in the next chapter (see Luke 10:1-2) the 72 He also appointed, still 11 more are identified:

Paul: He was not one of the original twelve, but he is called an apostle in several Scriptures.

Barnabas: A companion of Paul and is also referred to as an apostle.

James (the Lord’s brother): He was not one of the original 12 but he was deemed an apostle.

Some Greek (non-Jewish) apostles: Apollos, Epaphroditus, Andonicus, Junia (a female name), Silas and Timothy.

Matthias: who replaced Judas as one of the Twelve.

Furthermore, in this the ‘church age’, God has specifically given us the 5-fold ministry, headed by the apostles, to equip all Gods people to do His work and to build up His body (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Narrative Theology

Narrative theologians believe that the underlying theology cannot always be known. They reject the objective truth of the Bible. The implication is that the lessons of narratives can be understood apart from the worldviews of the original writers or authors of the text itself. Narrative theology appeals to postmodernists who like to shape their religion and their “God” based upon how they feel on a given day or about a certain passage of Scripture. Narrative theology appeals to postmodernists who like to shape their religion and their “God” based upon how they feel on a given day or about a certain passage of Scripture. Their experiences and feelings are the focal point, not the Word of God.

Law of Attraction

Notice how faith in God becomes positive thinking, and then a source of positive energy, from the ‘creative power of the universe’! “The law of attraction is a philosophy that suggests positive thoughts bring positive results into a person’s life, while negative thoughts bring negative outcomes. It is based on the belief that thoughts are a form of energy and that positive energy attracts success in all areas of life, including health, finances, and relationships. The law of attraction is the relationship between your thoughts and how they create your reality. It is part of the creative power of the universe and attracts thoughts, ideas, people, situations, circumstances, and the things you think about.” (Wikipedia).

Replacement Theology

Supersessionism, also called Replacement Theology or Fulfilment Theology, is a Christian theology which describes the theological conviction that the Christian Church has superseded the nation of Israel and assuming their role as God’s covenanted people, thus asserting that the New Covenant through Jesus Christ has superseded or replaced the Mosaic covenant exclusive to Jews. Supersessionist theology also holds that the universal Christian Church has succeeded ancient Israel as God’s true Israel and that Christians have succeeded the ancient Israelites as the people of God.

Progressive Christianity

This is a recent movement in Protestantism that is characterized by a willingness to question traditional views and interpretations of scripture, the acceptance of human diversity, and with a strong focus on social justice and environmentalism. Progressive Christianity focuses on promoting values such as compassion, justice, mercy, and tolerance, often through political activism. Inclusiveness and acceptance are the basic posture of progressive Christianity.

It draws influence from multiple theological streams, including liberal Christianity, postmodern theology, and liberation theology. These influences have led this movement to the promotion of the ideals of gender and social equality – which has led some to adopt feminism and the adoption of Marxism – a theory of economics and politics developed by an atheist (Karl Marx) from unbiblical assumptions. Since the movement entails a number of different beliefs and views on various topics, it is difficult to label the whole movement decisively as “biblical” or “unbiblical.” Each claim and belief of any movement should be filtered through the Word of God, and whatever does not line up with Scripture should be rejected. (gotquestions; Wikipedia).

Prosperity Theology

Prosperity theology (or ‘prosperity gospel’) is a religious belief among some Charismatic Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will result in an increase one’s material wealth. Material and especially financial success is seen as a sign of divine favour.

Prosperity theology has been criticized by leaders from various Christian denominations, including within some Pentecostal and charismatic movements, who maintain that it is irresponsible, it exploits the poor, promotes idolatry, and is contrary to the Bible.

Prominent leaders in the development of prosperity theology are said to include Todd White, Benny Hinn, E. W. Kenyon, Oral Roberts, A. A. Allen, Robert Tilton, T. L. Osborn, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, Reverend Ike, Kenneth Hagin, and Joseph Prince.

Note: Our focus as Christians needs to be our service to the Lord, not our personal wealth and comfort. This can be clearly seen in the following two scriptures:

Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

2 Corinthians 9:11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

Cults

The term ‘cult’ typically refers to a religious or social movement whose beliefs and practices are deemed unorthodox and contrary to accepted religious and cultural norms and practices. They range in size from a few members to international movements with millions of members. ‘Christian Cults’ are groups that have a Christian background, and claim to be Christian, but are considered to be theologically deviant. Examples are The Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Science.

Cult leaders typically have some religious background and claim to have a personal higher revelation, which their members accept and slavishly follow without questioning. The leaders stand alone and are not accountable to any other religious leader, and typically defy all governmental authority and laws. People who join cults are often recruited when they are emotionally vulnerable, and are promised companionship and the security of identity and belonging. This emotional bondage, and I have little doubt spiritual bondage as well, has on several occasions resulted in the members willingness to join their leaders in committing suicide when their organisation has been challenged by the authorities.

Cults are characterised by some or all of the following:

• a charismatic leader who exercises total control – the authoritarian leader expects total loyalty and absolute obedience;
• access to a higher spiritual enlightenment – they claim to be the only ones with the truth;
• they are authoritarian – rigid rules govern their members’ behaviour;
• they are secretive – secret teachings, rituals, and initiation ceremonies not available to outsiders, and an isolation from society; and
• the exploitation of their members – which may be sexually and / or financially.

There are several different types of cults – here are some of the categories:

Destructive cults: their members injure or kill members of their own group or outsiders.

E.g. The Peoples Temple headed by Jim Jones. 900 of its members died at their compound, Jonestown, in Guyana, in a massive act of murder-suicide on November 18, 1978. The church had been accused in the press of financial fraud, physical mistreatment of members and abuse of children in its care. Temple members were reportedly regularly humiliated, beaten, and blackmailed, and many were coerced or brainwashed into signing over their possessions, including their homes, to the church. Family members were kept apart and encouraged to inform on one another (brittanica.com).

Doomsday cults

Some of these predict world disaster, others attempt to bring it about.

E.g. the Manson Family, which was led by Charles Manson. His followers carried out several notorious murders in the late 1960s. His eccentric religious teachings were drawn from science fiction as well as the occult and fringe psychology. He preached the coming of an apocalyptic race war that would devastate the United States and leave the Family in a position of dominant power (brittanica.com).

Another was the Aum Shinrikyo, who were involved in several murders, and in 1995 their members murdered a number of people during a sarin (poison gas) attack on the Tokyo subway.

Polygamist cults

Polygamist cults teach and practice polygamy – marriage between more than two people, most often as polygyny with one man having multiple wives, or polyandry where a woman has more than one husband.

E.g. From the 1830s to 1904 members of Mormonism’s largest denomination, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), performed polygamous marriages.

Timothy Omotoso, senior pastor of the Durban-based church ‘Jesus Dominion International’ is currently on trial in Port Elizabeth on charges of rape and human trafficking, and is alleged to have groomed and molested his victims from when they were 14.

Racist cults

Cults that are based on racial prejudices, such as the Ku Klux Klan which arose in the American South after the Civil War as a heretical Christian cult, and the Nation of Islam, a political and religious organisation from the 1930s led by Louis Farrakhan, which was accused of using black nationalism and religious dogma to exploit black people for personal and political gain. It preached black supremacy, claimed that that its founder Wallace Fard Muhammad was a messiah and that white people were a race of devils to be overthrown apocalyptically.

Secretive Cults

See Freemasonry.

Signs of a Cult Church

There is no such thing as a perfect church, simply because we are all imperfect – leaders included. We are all ‘works in progress’. Even the apostle Paul admitted that he still had a way to go.

Philippians 3:12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

Jesus said the He would build His church on the revelation of who He is (Matthew 16:16-18), and He gave the gift of the five-fold ministry leaders to the church to help equip all the believers in the church (Ephesians 4:11-12) so we should not abandon the church, or underestimate the benefits of being a member of a Jesus-focused church.

Ephesians 4:11-12 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

So we should not allow ourselves to become embittered by the churches we attend, or used to attend, and rather be grateful that ‘iron sharpens iron’ and the opportunity to rub off some of our own rough corners. The Bible encourages us all not to give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:25), and so we should not allow past hurts, perceived lack of recognition, personality differences or minor theological disagreements or any other issue to drive us away from a true body of genuine believers and into the arms of a cult church.

Having said this, there are several signs that we need to be aware of that each serve as a warning, and far more so when several are present, that such church is a cult church, and one which we should get out of and leave well alone.

• They reject the authority of the Bible and the orthodox teaching of it

The first sign of a cult church is the rejection of the Bible – cults invariable reject the Bible as the authoritative Word of God and attempt to add other books or material to it (e.g. Mormons and Catholics) or at the least to interpret what it says in a completely unorthodox way (e.g. Jehovah’s witnesses).

The defence against false teaching therefore is to both be firmly convinced of the authority of the Bible as God’s word to us (i.e. that it was inspired by God, accurately preserved and is complete) and secondly that we to know what it says. In the Bible we read that the author of Acts records that Paul complimented the Bereans by saying that they were open minded (or more noble), they eagerly listened to Pauls message (i.e. to sound teaching) and that they searched the scriptures day after day to see if they were being taught the truth (Acts 17:11).

Paul warned us that people would stop listening to sound preaching and instead chase after leaders who tell them whatever they wanted to hear.

2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound .and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

• The cult leader claims a new revelation

They promote a doctrine or teaching as the basis for their beliefs that is not found in the Bible. This is often based on a claimed angelic visit, a divinely inspired dream, or some other revelation. Cults see themselves as the selected or enlightened ones, given the task of transforming the world by following their beliefs.

• Additional Rules

Cults typically add additional rules and conditions – strict compliance is required for their members to be deemed righteous. In contrast, the Bible says that we should not let anyone disqualify us by adding additional requirements to our faith in Jesus, even if they claim to have ‘had visions about these things’. In Colossians 2:16-22 examples are given of rules being made about what one may eat or drink, which days to celebrate or not to, so-called acts of pious self-denial, the worship of angels, or what one may touch or not touch.

• The group is paranoid about the outside world

They promote theories about the “end of the world” and deliverance from the evil world which is intent on their destruction. The charismatic leader fosters his theories and ideological system to transcend the “imperfections of life outside”.

• The leader is the ultimate authority

Cult leaders glorify themselves as divinely appointed, in one way or another, and consider themselves infallible. They demand that their followers recognise them as the ultimate authority. These kinds of leaders are often charismatic, authoritarian and narcissistic (extremely self-centred with an exaggerated sense of self-importance). Members of the group are not permitted to question the leader, even if he is wrong, or in any way to challenge the beliefs or the authority of the leader, or to think or reason for themselves.

• The group is elitist

They claim to be the correct and only true way to enlightenment and salvation, and all other religions are false and diabolical. They claim that everyone who believes something else is wrong and destined to for eternal judgment and hell. Cults see themselves as selected enlightened ones given the task of transforming the world. Everyone in the group is encouraged to consider themselves superior to everyone who is not in the cult. This creates a sense of greater unity and purpose. Members are required to cut all relationships with family, friends, or any other contacts who do not agree with the teachings of the cult leader. Members are not permitted to question or to discuss the leader’s doctrines, and members are discourage, or even prohibited, from fellowshipping with believers from other churches and ministries.

• The group suppresses scepticism and forbids criticism.

To maintain “spiritual purity,” the members must avoid contact and conversations with “outside persons” and no one in the group is permitted to think or reason for themselves. They are also forbidden to read any outside material – in in order to achieve so called spiritual harmony within the group. For this level of domination, cult leaders utilize manipulative and authoritarian mind-control techniques over the members.

• The leader considers himself above the law and moral standards

This idea allows the leader(s) to exploit the members economically and sexually without repercussions. Sexual grooming is common and members must simply “ignore and/or justify” their leader’s immoral behaviour. In some instances the leaders have several ‘wives’.

• The group performs secret ceremonies or rituals

This is usually discovered only after becoming a member and is used to solidify a member’s loyalty to the group. Their loyalty to the “inner circle” is affirmed through shameful proceedings which make the initiate more susceptible to manipulation.

• The leader uses different methods of mind control

They will use constant lecturing, obsessive praying, physical work and the lack of sleep to maintain the people’s minds in a constant weakened state. The leader keeps the devotees constantly tired, and deprived of any outside input. The group uses “thought reform” methods to correct each other. “Brainwashing” is used to break down a person’s sense of individual identity. Short cliches such as “just follow your leaders” or “doubt your doubts” are used constantly so that the followers don’t critically analyse complex issues.

• The group relies on “shame” tactics to maintain conformity

The leader imposes strict codes of conduct, making members feel guilty for any shortcomings. They are made to feel unworthy of love and acceptance unless they conform to the rules and confess their failings. The leader’s objective is to replace every individual’s personal identity through gradual and accumulative sessions of indoctrination, which furthers the goal of total mind-control over all the members.

• The group discredits former members.

Cult members must shun defectors to prevent being infected with their “so-called truth”. To leave the cult would result in eternal damnation and spiritual suicide. The members are encouraged to “tell on” anyone who has negative thoughts or doubts about the cult or its leaders.

• There is no financial transparency

Members are required to make great sacrifices and are not allowed to know where their money goes. The financial affairs of the cult are kept strictly secret, while the leader/s typically often live in luxury.

(Acknowledgement: Vlad Savchuk)

Protecting your Church Members

Jesus spent much of his time teaching the people, and instructs us all to ‘go and make disciples’ and to ‘trach these new disciples’ (Matthew 28:19-20). Paul warned us in in 2 Timothy 4:3 that a time will come when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching (KJV ‘sound doctrine’), but instead they will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. And again in 2 Timothy 2:2 he instructs; You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. So the church has a clear mandate to teach their members ‘sound doctrine’ to help protect them against false doctrines.

One of the qualification of an elder in the church is that he have a strong faith in the gospel, and that he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and to correct others where they are wrong.

Titus 1:9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.

We also all need to be aware of the fact that wolves go after the stragglers in a herd of sheep. In any congregation or group of people there will be both the theologically and spiritually stronger, and the weaker. The pastors’ responsibility, as the leader of a ‘pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father’ is to protect the ‘orphans and the widows’ (James 1:27), or more generally the stragglers, the single, the divorced, those who feel they are the outcasts, excluded from the ‘inner-circles’, unworthy and unloved – all who are lonely who may crave some form of companionship, recognition and appreciation. People who recruit new members to cults look for hurting people who are just like this, and promise them a new life, a new identity with a new family’, and a new hope when really, it’s only a demonically inspired deception. So I urge every reader, don’t let the devil steal the sheep that the Lord has given you, as the pastor, and given you the privilege and the responsibility to protect.

Dr Brian Drury