Discernment Dave "Cult" Busters

 The Pharisees did not go away; they formed “cult” revealing groups, organizations, podcasts and churches of their own watered-down gospels. 

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Transcript

Discernment Culture And Mockers

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Discernment Dave The Pharisees did not go away. They formed cult revealing groups, organizations, podcasts, and churches of their own watered down gospels. Though Sound Doctrine Church is no longer in existence, it was, and Timothy Williams continued to be blessed with false accusations, lying assertions and twisted storytelling of events. As Jesus promised, is it a one of his jumping for joy promises for anyone seeking to follow him? In short, anyone deeply desiring Jesus will need to learn also to jump for joy and sing right past the discernment ministries, and support groups, or any church labeled controlling, and so on. Luke chapter six verses twenty two through twenty three. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven, for that is how their fathers treated the prophets. These discernment folks fill their seats with mockers, repeating key words, emotional points while ignoring a vast number of scriptures, let alone not living in obedience to Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Godly, holy love is labeled love bombing. Self discipline is called controlling, while any rebukes, correction, or admonishment to obey the holy God never is deserved, and their unfaithfulness is never their fault, and so it goes. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. These so called discernment circles often fill their gatherings with mockers. They repeat catchy keywords and emotional talking points, while ignoring large portions of Scripture, and, more importantly, failing to live in obedient surrender to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. What Scripture describes as godly, holy love is hotly dismissed as love bombing. Biblical self discipline and accountability are labeled controlling or manipulating, while any rebuke, correction, or call to obey a holy God is portrayed as unfair or unloving. In their view, their own unfaithfulness is never truly their fault, and so the pattern continues. Psalm one verse one Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers. Blessed will be those who do not walk in such counselors, stand with such sinners, nor sit and listen to mockers, for they will find a merciful, loving, and holy, demanding Son of God that really sets men free from such wickedness.

Controversy Currency And Itching Ears

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In these darkening days, the floodwaters of slander, deliberate lies, and cunningly twisted events surge without restraint. The Internet has become a vast echo chamber where accusations multiply unchecked, amplified by so called leaders who dilute the offense of the cross, soften its sharp edges, and eagerly court the complainers, the offended, and the discontented. They do not seek truth, they hunt for validation. Controversy now functions as currency. It draws clicks, attention, followers, and adulation. As the apostle Paul warned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, for the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. Second Timothy chapter four verses three through four. These individuals and groups thrive on what Scripture calls evil suspicions. They nurse an unhealthy obsession with controversies and quarrels about words, and they assume the worst when judging the actions of others. Conceited in understanding nothing, they presume to judge what they have never truly examined, their foregone conclusions become sacred cows, and anyone who challenges their narrative is branded dangerous. In this toxic climate, any faithful presentation of the cross, its demands, its cost, its call to radical discipleship becomes fuel for their fire. You can be assured that the descriptions hurled at Sound Doctrine Church and Pastor Timothy Williams land squarely in the realm of the absurd. They bear little resemblance to the reality of lives transformed by the love of Christ, the rigorous pursuit of holiness, and the unyielding commitment to Scripture over cultural approval. Many who level these charges have turned aside from the narrow way. To justify their departure and ease the gnawing guilt of their own unfaithfulness, they must slander those who continue to walk in obedience. Rewriting history in the most unflattering light possible becomes their only defense against the Holy Spirit's conviction. For deeper insight into this dynamic, the fragrance of authentic New Testament church life contrasted with its counterfeits, consider the book Ode Cult, The Fragrance of Love in the First Church by Timothy Williams. It cuts through the noise and returns the reader to the aroma of Christ that should mark every true assembly of believers. It will equip and arm any sincere believer to see through today's cult busters, Pharisees and Sadducees.

Discernment Dave And Modern Witch Hunts

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The following is from a tract published decades ago entitled Discernment Dave. Experts on the errors of churches and ministries now overwhelm today's Christian world, like the black plague once engulfed Europe. Millions languish and die spiritually because these modern day witch hunters multiply as the pride of the world increases. They find fertile ground because the church as a whole increasingly refuses the offensive message of the cross. The fruit of such ministries is strife, malicious talk, and evil suspicions. We based the discernment Dave cartoon in this publication on a real life event. Someone who dislikes something our ministry lives and preaches made an inquiry to a large, well known discernment group. At the mere mention of Jesus' words in Luke chapter sixteen verse thirteen, alarms sounded. A message went out that assumed the worst and actively looked for evil. They broke the law of love that Jesus commanded us to keep, and thought evil of others in their hearts. Zechariah seven ten. Romans chapter thirteen eight. Like the witch hunters of old who tied suspected witches to ropes and threw them into the river, innocent if they sank and drowned, guilty if they floated. These groups slander regardless of the outcome. Either way, the person is destroyed. The Pharisees did not die off after the resurrection of Jesus. They simply reinvented themselves as discernment ministries. Today, groups and individuals who consider it their duty to point out error in others overrun Christianity. What a masterful trick of Satan. He floods the church with experts on everyone else's supposed faults, with the result that people become afraid to obey Jesus. Christ, however, taught us not to fear such men. So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. Matthew tense twenty six. The last thing the church needs is another discernment ministry, cult busting group, or self proclaimed expert. What the church desperately needs is more wholehearted obedience by grace to the Word of God. It needs believers who live out the gospel so powerfully that falsehood and error are silenced. When we look to discernment groups or experts for acceptable doctrine, we die spiritually. Each of us must look fully and only to God. Proper doctrine and a holy life will then flow naturally. These cult exposing groups stand in the way of Jesus. They set their own standards and immediately label those who fall short as dangerous or false. It never occurs to them that their own Christian walk might be defective. The constant focus on others' faults convinces them they are sound in the faith, while they play the tune of evil suspicions and many willingly dance to it. As a result, countless individuals and churches become paralyzed, afraid to let Jesus lead them forward into greater righteousness for fear of receiving a label.

Stop Outsourcing Doctrine And Courage

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Let those who love the Lord cast aside every discernment group and self appointed expert on cults. Let us seek the face of the living God instead. Let us refuse to fear them, but press on in obedience to him who died for our sins. Then the true church will experience revival and the purity it longs for. Let us pray that we never use the findings of a discernment group or expert as an excuse for avoiding obedience to the living Jesus. A church that is not falsely labeled a cult is simply not obeying God enough by the power of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because to follow closely behind Jesus is to be equated with the devil in the eyes of many. As Jesus warned, a student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household? Matthew chapter ten verses twenty four through twenty five.

Jesus Paul And Poisoned Minds

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Who called Jesus Beelzebub? The worldly Roman leaders did not initiate the attack. The religious leaders, the Bible studying, self enlightened ones, handed him over. In their self righteousness they brazenly accused the Son of God of being demon possessed. Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon possessed? Later, the same spirit pursued Paul from town to town, hoping that enough slander would poison people's minds against him. Poison paralyzes and prevents action. Once injected, no matter what Paul did or said, he was viewed as negative and satanic. Many today belong to the first church of the poisoned mind, and can no longer fellowship with the true church of Jesus. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against their brothers. But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against the sect Acts twenty eight twenty two. How eerily this resembles modern Christianity filled with cult experts. Paul, the cult leader? These men are grumblers and fault finders. They follow their own evil desires. They boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. Jude sixteen Stand especially on guard against those whose primary occupation is fault finding within the church. Always ask yourself two questions. Is their main focus pointing out the faults of others? What do they preach and live that could even be mistaken as error or cultish on their part? If the answer to the first question is yes, avoid them like the plague. They are merely fault finders. As for the second, if they do not live enough of the Bible to be mistaken for a cult, they are at best lukewarm, and Jesus will soon spit them out. We see this clearly in the New Testament. It would have been easy to paint Paul as unloving, violent, controlling, and power hungry. Consider his words in Corinthians. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit? twenty one. A modern discernment group would pounce. See how Paul threatens them with a whip. His demands must be met if they want his love. He brainwashes and manipulates his followers. Everyone should avoid Paul at all costs. See how easy it is to find fault when operating in worldly wisdom. Those who listen to the experts rather than the Holy Spirit may end up with a safe church and preacher, but one utterly void of the saltiness of Christ. The book Oda Cult Love in the First Church devotes a section to how today's discernment ministries would label the first church a cult. If we live the Bible by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we too will be falsely

Leap For Joy And Final Charge

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labeled. Should that happen to you in your church, leap for joy. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you, and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven, for that is how their fathers treated the prophets. Luke six verses twenty two through twenty-three. The Consider Podcast, examining today's wisdom, folly, and madness. www.consider.