Let the Good Speak Evil
In 1988, Geraldo Rivera televised a program that focused on Christian Cults, with the subtitle “Zombies for Christ.” Interviews are held with people who underwent deprogramming from the influence of charismatic, fundamentalist leaders and churches. The major problem that I had with this process, is that those who are doing the “deprogramming” are not born again Christians themselves, and may be deprogramming people completely away from Jesus, which of course is the subtle, underhanded strategy of the devil, using professing Christians against themselves. Worst yet is that they are programming people toward the fake Jesus by telling them to “ask Jesus to come into your hearts.”
People are watching Christian television and reading Christian books, who themselves need to be deprogrammed from error that is causing them to be vulnerable to demonic oppression of a very serious nature. In fact, when I have tried to counsel those who have come to me to seek deliverance from the torment of demons, the mixture and error in their spiritual foundation is extremely deep. Therefore, deliverance is severely hindered by the amount of error that these captives have anchored their faith to by watching Christian television or reading the books of various mega preachers.
The problem of today is similar to what Rivera explored in 1988. Evil spirits know it is fruitless to urge the righteous toward sins of the flesh, so demons use another tactic called DECEPTION. The Satanic strategy is planned in the form of teachings and doctrines that appear “good”. The biggest deception is to receive counsel solely based upon the godly life and character of the counselor or teacher. Most false prophets are clean living, righteous, upstanding folk. So to receive their teachings based on their “good character” is what the enemy is after.
Therefore, it is important for you to know that every thing that the enemy does is not always evil as he works under the cover of light. So the strategy of deception is to get the righteous or good person to accept a wrong idea and then to pass it off to others “as truth.”
Certainly, the bible should be the foundation of every Christian. However, it is important to point out that scripture is also used as the basis of false teaching. The enemy has very skillfully woven into a web certain scriptures that will ultimately entrap a child of God like the prosperity gospel, praying in the spirit, tongues, slain in the spirit—I could go on and on!. With each false doctrine and practice, the method is to pull single texts out of their original context. In my work with professing Christians in torment or bondage, the following scripture from the book of James rings true:
WE ARE DECEIVED BY SEEMING TO BE RELIGIOUS, WHEN AN UNBRIDLED TONGUE REVEALS OUR TRUE CONDITION.(James1:26)
I train ministers in our deliverance mentoring program to listen to the unbridled tongue so as to expose the nature of the deception. Also, Paul wrote to Christians that we are deceived when we think ourselves to be wise with the wisdom of this world.(I Corinthians 3:15) Deliverance Mentoring is certainly a humbling process, for very often, Christians in torment must resist the devil by admitting that they have been deceived not only by well-meaning Christian teachers, family and friends, but also by their own heart. (Jer 17:9, Isaiah 64:20)
- Trained ministers serve as mentors to those who have left the organized church.
At Sheppard’s Counseling Center, we de-program the deceived through our deliverance mentoring program. Trained online ministers are available. Call 518-477-5759
Any questions or comments you may have, you are welcome to do so in this post. Or contact me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pamela.sheppard911
