The Deconstructed “Dones”

Done with Church

Done with church, done with Christianity?

Christians all over the world, including people I know, and probably others you know as well, are abandoning Christianity. They are fed up with God, or at least the way he's represented. In reality, their anger–which is often quite explosive–is directed at people, usually church leaders. They are deconstructing and they aren't hiding it. Many are loud and proud with their new found anti-faith.

Another sizable group wouldn't admit to full-blown deconstruction. They are, however, equally loud and proud when announcing they have joined the leaderless cult called the “dones.” They are done with church, and just like those who are deconstructing, the prime motive is due to disappointing leadership and unfulfilling church experiences.

All who deconstruct are “dones” but not all “dones” have fully deconstructed. These two movements are uniquely related, however.

PASTORS, LISTEN UP

Being deconstructed or done isn't an option and I implore those who have done so, or who are considering undergoing this faith-change operation in their lives, to fearfully reconsider. This decision is eternity crushing.

That being said, I absolutely understand some of the reasons people are frustrated enough to abandon the church.

Much of it is due to false expectations. People become jaded and disillusioned when leaders fail, when they feel rejected or when the church experience isn't what they hoped for. However, we can't abandon God or his glorious church due to this. I've had a front row seat to multiple national leaders dramatically and very publicly falling. It's heartbreaking, but it cannot negatively affect our zealous love for God or his church. 

While dealing with false expectations is the responsibility of the people, there is a good measure of responsibility that pastors have as well. Both need to do better.

Here are the bullet points from an article I wrote addressing this topic specifically:

Pastors, they are yearning for more. They can't handle another perfectly crafted, wonderfully produced, humanly orchestrated mess with just a sprinkle of supernatural flavor for good measure. They are done.

Specifically, I believe the remnant is fed up with a few things that should be fixed, like yesterday.

  • Boring preaching
  • Fear of man
  • Tired order of service
  • No revival emphasis
  • The prophetic is minimized
  • Focus on church growth
  • No supernatural activity
  • Restrictive and controlling leadership
  • No legitimate vision
  • Misplaced emphasis on worship

You can read that article in its entirety here.

DECONSTRUCTED OR CORRUPTED?

Let's start with those who are deconstructing. I'm perplexed by the radical religious shift of friends and acquaintances who were previously burning white hot for Jesus. My brain explodes when considering the possibility that people who were sharply prophetic, invested in fervent and powerful intercession and devoted radically to the truth of Scripture could end up fading away. Yet, it's happening. Over and over again.

Understand, I'm not talking about typical church goers. I'm referring to people who were transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Their every waking moment was consumed by a passionate love for Jesus. They were continually provoked to awaken the sleepers and sound the alarm. These were end-time messengers who had a powerful anointing and a critical call on their lives. 

Now they are done. Deconstructing. Fading. 

Of course, many would retort that they aren't done with God. They are deconstructing from what they've know as Christianity, and more specifically, the expression of it. 

The danger is very real, however. When we get fed up with the way God's leaders are leading or the direction the movement is headed, a golden calf is most often the result. While Moses, an imperfect man, was literally meeting with God in one of history's most critical moments, the people decided they had had enough. They didn't give up on God, per se, but they had given up on Moses' version of God.

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”” (Exodus 32:1, ESV)

So, what did they do? They deconstructed and redefined God to fit their personal desires.

When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” (Exodus 32:5–6, ESV)

They decided to focus on self and the experience that's more authentic, more trustworthy and more sensical to them. They planned a feast to the Lord, but it was the lord of self, the lord of Egypt and the lord of deconstruction. 

Then God said this to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.” (Exodus 32:7, ESV)

This is what we are seeing today. Previously liberated people have had enough and, as a result, they have corrupted themselves. 

TRADING “ORGANIZED RELIGION” FOR ORGANIC, RELATIONAL EXPERIENCES

One of the dones was interviewed by churchleaders.com and admitted, “I’m tired of being lectured to. I’m just done with having some guy tell me what to do.”

This is a prevailing complaint among those who have given up on church as we know it. Their idea of a New Testament church gathering looks more like an unmoderated circle of discussion and equalized interaction as opposed to primary leadership flowing through a single individual.

The problem? The church we see in Scripture is clearly led by God through specific individuals. We are supposed to be “lectured to and told what to do.” It's called preaching. If it's anointed, we should crave it and hate when it ends!

Five-fold leadership is non-negotiable. The church is less organic than many would like to believe. It's strategic, militaristic and advancing. Like it or not, there's rank and order. God calls individuals to gather holy soldiers to penetrate the darkness through intercession and Kingdom advance. 

While there are healthy house churches, and we are sure to see biblically validated small and house churches explode on the scene, there's a lot of wrong information on what is in fact biblical. 

Many complain about the “institutional church” as restrictive. They expect to have a role in the service, as if that's the ultimate platform for the expression of ministry. It's not. Most minister outside of the church. A few minister within.

SHOULD EVERYONE BE ALLOWED TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE AS THEY DESIRE IN A CHURCH SERVICE?

Many bring up 1 Corinthians 14 as proof that everyone should be doing everything and churches that don't allow it are out of order. The opposite is actually true.
 
No, everyone should not have a lesson, a hymn, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.
 
“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation…” (1 Corinthians 14:26, ESV)
 
The rallying cry for many in the house church movement is 1 Cor 14:26. Many believe it's the picture of the perfect Christian gathering. 
 
It doesn't take much study to see the problem with this.
 
This verse is smack in the middle of a lengthy passage about restrictions and prohibitions in church services. It's not the mantra of freedom or body ministry that many would presume it is.
 
The verse starts by saying, “What then, brothers?”
 
Another way we could say it is, “Say what, brothers?” 
 
There's some shock that they are doing what is not appropriate. “Say what? Are you really allowing everyone to have a tongue? Everyone is teaching? That's not allowed according to Scripture.”
 
In fact the inappropriate flow of the gathering is addressed specifically if you keep reading.
 
“…If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.” (1 Corinthians 14:26–28, ESV)
 
Verse 26 reveals that everyone had a tongue, but verse 27 reveals that only two or three should have a tongue…and then, only if there's someone to interpret. Otherwise, the instruction is to keep silent. Don't give a message in tongues.
 
Verse 26 highlights everyone having a revelation, but verse 27 allows only two or three.
 
Then, verse 33 brings it all together:
 
“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace…” (1 Corinthians 14:33, ESV)
 
Additionally, the Bible makes it clear that not all are to teach. Everyone bringing a lesson as addressed in 1 Cor 14:26 is inappropriate.
 
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1, ESV)
 
When operating biblically, house churches can be a healthy segment of the city church. However, it's easy to forsake some of the key purposes of church gatherings.
 
The church isn't supposed to be perpetual “family gatherings” where we focus mainly on relationships. Small groups can offer opportunities to connect relationally, but that is not the foundation nor the primary goal of the greater city church.
 
The Ekklesia is not a local body. It's the greater church in the city. It's a gathering under apostolic leadership. It's a governmental organization with a military level mission to accomplish. Simple prayer, worship and “Holy Spirit” small group gatherings are great, but nothing more than a small part of the greater picture.
 
Five-fold leadership is key in the city church. Not everybody has been selected to lead in this fashion. In fact, very few are. It's imperative that we understand rank, order, governmental roles and regional leadership if we hope to see the Kingdom advance.

A LEADERLESS MOVEMENT IS NOT BIBLICAL

Lastly, those who promote house churches as the only necessary expression of church fail to understand something else. God raises up leaders and he will call people to run specifically with them. 
 
What happens when the group becomes too big to fit in a house? Most would say they split into two houses. The problem? They lose their alliance with the five-fold leader God has called them to run with. They lose their pastor. They lose their apostle. 
 
On a practical level, if I'm serving an anointed man or woman of God, if I'm growing under their anointing and leadership, the last thing I'd want is to have that relationship severed. 
 
Simply, God raises up people and then raises up others to follow them. Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” 
 
The idea that we'd have to leave that body and start again elsewhere with someone who may or may not carry the same weighty anointing just doesn't make sense.
 
In fact, I've been in some house church meetings and small groups where I wanted to run away screaming. Some people just don't have the gift of leadership. Their teaching is weak and boring. It's critical that we have seasoned people giving leadership to the church. This is fully biblical.
 
The concept of organic ministry sounds appealing, but I can't see how it's supported in Scripture. God calls a person, gives them a mission, reveals a vision, anoints them and mandates they gather people to get equipped to labor for the cause.
 
The church is a military, not a family reunion. 
 
So, yes, when done right, house churches have a role. But, they are simply a small department of the greater church and never meant to be an entity unto themselves.

THE RIGHT RESPONSE

Simply, we need to passionately fall in love with Jesus again, radically commit to a vibrant, Spirit-filled, imperfect and often irritating local church and let go of inappropriate expectations. Extend grace. Love people, especially when they struggle and fail. Promote truth. Go low. Live, pray and burn night and day in the Spirit.
 
You'll never find a biblical church or movement that's devoid of bold, authoritative, anointed leadership. We shouldn't want to. 
 
And one final exhortation: to those who are deconstructing, you are in eternal danger. To those who are done, I understand the pain and frustration, but abandoning the church isn't the answer. (No, you aren't functioning as the church all by yourself or with a group of friends.) 
 
By definition, the Ekklesia requires governmental leadership, a regular gathering, apostolic instruction and intercession. We can't abandon the church. Not in this end-time hour.

 

Strategic Teaching Diagram

Strategic Teaching Diagram

STRATEGIC TEACHING DIAGRAM

Spiritual health demands that we are deliberate in focusing on three specific, strategic areas in our life: Known threats, unknown threats and our authentic identity in Christ.

  • KNOWN THREATS include truths that we are fully aware of, but have failed to respond rightly to. This may include habitual sin, calls to consecration that go unmet, partial or full disobedience to Scripture or anything else that we know we should do (or not do).
  • UNKNOWN THREATS often demand extra emphasis due to the fact that people are fully or mostly unaware. Teaching that results in revelation (the light bulb turning on) is critical if we are to live in victory. Unknown threats are different for everybody and can be quite diverse. The fact that they are unknown makes the threat, whether it's to a victorious life or to our salvation, quite dangerous.
  • AUTHENTIC IDENTITY is simply who we are in Christ because of what Christ did for us. Many don't understand their authority, God's love for them, their position in Christ or many other truths that relate to our born-again identity.

The diagram also highlights relationships between focuses:

  • Known Threats + Authentic Identity: If we fail to grow in our identity in Christ while also refusing to deal with known threats in our lives, our identity becomes compromised. We can't live according to our new nature because the old nature hasn't been crucified.
  • Authentic Identity + Unknown Threats: If we fail to grow in our identity in Christ while also not examining the unknown threats, confusion enters in. We can't understand why we aren't victorious, free, at peace, strong and living a supernatural life.
  • Known Threats + Unknown Threats: If we fail to deal with both known and unknown threats, we are in great danger indeed. Our very salvation is at risk as we refuse to live consecrated lives or allow the Spirit of God to search our hearts.

A healthy spiritual life comes when we deal with all three areas. It's important for pastors and ministers to deal with all three as well, though it won't often be in equal measure.

In addition to a minister's specific office, gift mix and vision which can dictate emphasis, the season the ministry is in will determine which focus is most timely and important to deal with.

We should all be reading books, listening to sermons and studying Scripture from the vantage point of all three perspectives. Majoring in one while neglecting another will result in delay or negative progress, or worse.
www.revivalx.tv

Revival-Style Churches vs Typical Churches

Spirit-filled churches are increasingly falling into the trap of becoming a "typical church."

I've given leadership to revival-style churches and ministries for decades. It's grieving how few Spirit-filled churches are truly taking people unapologetically into the depths of surrender to Jesus. Instead, the preference is to grow wide and shallow in the hopes that the seats stay full, the money keeps coming in and the programs are staffed.

Of course, the majority of churches, Charismatic included, aren't pretending to be concerned about revival at all. The pursuit of a wild-fire, other-worldly, supernatural habitation of the Spirit of God never even comes to mind.

The cost is too high. The chances are too slim.

To most, it's not worth it.

The truth is, revival churches don't see dramatic impact, big crowds and overwhelming wonders in the early stages. The wells of revival must be dug. The hours of prayer must be invested. Repentance, consecration and a radical devotion of time must be constant. Few are willing to buy in at this level, and pastors know it.

The preferred church growth method is to create a "healthy, vibrant" atmosphere that's focused on meeting needs and fulfilling expectations. The shock and awe of God's glory is traded for a more naturally familiar environment that's sprinkled with some worship, teaching and fellowship. Nothing too deep, expensive or disruptive.

Of course, not every church has descended into what I'm calling a typical church. And, not every church will have done so on every point. Some are hanging strong in some areas while slipping on others.

And, it should also be said that legitimate revival churches can fail on some points that typical churches are stronger in. However, I do believe the comparison is generally valid.

What follows are some differences between typical churches and revival churches in graphic form. I'll keep adding points as they come. Share one or all, or this entire article.

Let's contend for authentic revival in the cities of the earth!

What are some key differences between typical churches and revival churches?

How to contend in earth-shaking intercession without getting bored, tired and discouraged

Revelation Driven Prayer

Could you not pray for one hour? ~Jesus

Prayer doesn’t typically come naturally. Actually, it comes supernaturally, but even so, there is a learning curve.

At Revival X, I am excited about the opportunity to help train hungry people in the art and science of impactful, fiery, powerful and supernatural intercession. Once we are struck by the shock and awe of prophetic prayer, we will crave interacting with God night and day.

Could you not pray for one hour? The obvious answer is no. The couldn’t. Or, actually, they didn’t. They could have. They should have, but the impetus was not there. The passion had faded. The urgency was gone. Carrying the burden of another requires we are impacted by the Spirit of God at a pretty deep level. This is what makes an intercessor.

This isn’t an involved teaching on the matter (that will come on Tuesday nights at Revival X!), but these are some simple tips and truths that will help make intercession much more enjoyable and meaningful. We’ll want to pray, without ceasing, as Scripture directs.

Eleven tips: How to engage in impactful, supernatural, prophetic and addictive intercession

ONE: UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT

Burdens for intercession become weighty and tangible when we understand, adopt and own the assignment. What is the purpose of your intercession? Is that purpose captivating you? If not, go to battle over your mind and emotions and avail yourself to the Spirit of God. 

The assignment might be naturally obvious, like praying for someone to be healed. Or, it may be sudden and unexpected. There are times I’m awakened in the night with a celebrity on my heart. It’s typically someone I never spend time thinking about, and I know the Lord has asked me to stand in the gap for them. 

Understanding God’s assignments in prayer will also relieve us of other prayer focuses that aren’t as pressing or timely on God’s agenda. It takes some discipline to stop praying for what we want to focus on to make room for what God is doing. Doing so is the first step toward intercession that’s fueled by God’s supernatural grace.

When we become “assignment-driven” instead of “issue-driven” in our lives, our prayer lives tend to erupt.

TWO: UNDERSTAND YOUR AUTHORITY

Prayer becomes a frustrating exercise of futility if we don’t understand our authority. If we don’t know without question that we cause things to happen simply by declaring and decreeing, commanding and enforcing, then we’ll fizzle out after just a few minutes of tiring prayer.

However, when we acquire a revelation of just how potent and powerful our words are, and how atmospheres and enemies have no choice but to submit to our Spirit-revealed directives, everything changes! We become super-charged, supernatural agents of the King. 

We move mountains. We cast out demons. We war in the Spirit. We dictate breakthrough. We condition atmospheres. We truly are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

THREE: PRAY IN TONGUES

Bold tongues originating from the depths of our inner man should be erupting out of us from the beginning of the intercession session to the end. If I had to put a percentage on it, I’d say 95% tongues, 5% English. The Spirit knows exactly what needs to happen through our legislation. The most efficient way for him to move is praying in tongues. There is no comparison.

The Bible talks about groans “that can’t be uttered.” These are overwhelming spiritual unctions that overwhelm and overtake us as we take on the Holy Spirit’s burden. There is no need for words and there is no need for intellectual understanding when this occurs. We can rest easy knowing that God is actively, literally and immediately moving. Faith explodes through tongues and groans.

FOUR: DECLARE SCRIPTURE

The Bible is true. It’s mandatory that we absolutely, without any doubt or hesitation, fully and completely believe it. We must never condition Scripture with our experiences, disappointments or personal insights. The Word of God rules.

When we believe Scripture at this level, our minutes of prayer can easily launch into hours. 

Grab hold of a single scripture or a passage and decree it. Declare it. Enforce it. Meditate on it. If you aren’t seeing a particular biblical truth manifest in your life or in a situation, go to battle. Proclaim the truth to the enemy. Proclaim it to yourself. Command your mind and emotions to align with it. 

When you are done, find another scripture and do it again. Another hour will pass before you know it.

FIVE: KNOW WHAT GOD’S WILL IS

It’s safe to say that a lot of prayer that’s offered up every day, possibly the majority, is little more than asking God for stuff as we wonder if he’ll answer. This is a recipe for intercessory failure. Our faith plummets. Our hope fades. Our relationship with God is negatively affected because we don’t truly understand his desire for us.

The easiest way to know God’s will is through the Word of God. If he wrote it, he means it. Review the previous point and get excited about all of the promises in Scripture that are chiseled in stone. God means what he says.

In specific situations that the Bible may not cover (like what job to take or how to spend our money), the next point will help. Suffice it to say, intimacy with Jesus is key. As we learn to hear God’s voice, our prayer time will take a dramatic shift. No longer will we gaze up into heaven wondering where God is and what he wants. We’ll move right past that point and have great confidence in our prayer. It will shift direction from asking God to commanding situations. We will be a walking, breathing, supernatural command center, enforcing God’s will, not aimlessly wondering what it is.

And, during the “in between,” the times between our intercession and the clear revelation of God’s will, pray in tongues and declare Scripture. Enjoy Jesus. Develop intimacy. Correct wrong theology (like God is resisting you, or that he doesn’t love or like you). Simply know that Jesus is interceding for YOU nonstop!

SIX: DISCOVER THE PROPHETIC

Prayer that isn’t infused by the Spirit of prophecy is doomed. It really is. We must learn how to receive revelation. This is a massive topic that can’t be even summarized here. However, we need to know that God is talking and the things he’s saying are weighty. Our job is to receive the transmission and respond accordingly.

It’s critical to flow prophetically during intercession so we get the right job done the right way. We don’t want to pray for something that God is actually opposing. We don’t want to focus on a point that God says to put aside. This is where tongues helps (a lot). God will suddenly and overwhelmingly impact us with skyrocketing faith on a matter. He will tell us what to decree and how to contend. His will becomes obvious. What’s on his heart in the moment overtakes our heart. When the prophetic meets intercession, miracles happen. This is where the realm of wonders exists.

SEVEN: EXPECT SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

When we pray, and when the prophetic is hot, miracles, signs, wonders, healings, revelations and great faith result. They become quite normal. 

The key is that we must stimulate our faith and develop extreme expectancy. Tongues helps. Scripture helps. Prophecy helps. Embracing our assignment helps. When all of this is working with synergy, the Spirit of God will often manifest. 

A prayer-life without unwavering expectation of supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit is a prayer-life that’s truly on life-support. 

EIGHT: FIGHT THE ENEMY

When all of the above points are in play, they will ultimately expose the activity of the enemy. When that happens, we must fight!

Understanding our authority will make this an obvious next step. It becomes clear that the enemy has been working hard behind the scenes (and often right on stage) to steal, kill, destroy, disrupt, discourage and stop God’s activity in our life and situation.

The prophetic is an invaluable tool as it shines a bright light on the darkness. The enemy can no longer hide. However, it’s absolutely critical that we engage in serious warfare. The enemy doesn’t like the light, but he’ll gladly stand there exposed if he knows we aren’t going to do anything about him and his schemes.

NINE: COMMAND VS. PETITION

If there anything that will kill a life of prayer it’s petition. 

Yes, there are times to petition God. Scripture is clear about this. However, when we become petition-dominant in our prayer, our faith plummets. So much of what people petition God for has already been settled and revealed in Scripture.

So much more would be made known prophetically if we had fine-tuned that spiritual skill. Remember, part of our responsibility in prayer is to discover what God’s will is. Very often, his will is ready to be revealed, or at least the part that we need to know in the moment is. We just need to find it. Most often, petition is not the quickest way there.

TEN: FOCUS OUTWARD NOT INWARD

If I had to guess, nine times out of ten people pray about themselves or issues that directly impact them. There’s a time for this, but it’s certainly not ninety percent of the time.

Intercession demands we take on the issues on God’s heart. Keep in mind the assignment most usually will be mission oriented. Our call is to pray for souls, to contend for revival, to push back the enemy, to stand in the gap for others, to invade the darkness, to heal the sick, and on and on.

Intercession that’s focused outward is exponentially more potent than prayer for ourselves. Again, there’s a time to pray for our own situation. Even daily we can give time and energy to this. We can go to God with our desire for personal growth, concerns, questions and other such communication. We just need to know that staying in that place will drain us and weaken our faith. We were created to advance and to fight for others.

This is one reason why I personally feel prayer meetings at church shouldn’t focus much on their own church. Church growth, church needs, church challenges, etc. can be hit briefly in prayer, but don’t dwell there. Camp out on intercession for the city, for revival, for transformation and for regional and national issues.

ELEVEN: JUST DO IT

No matter the struggle, no matter how silent God seems to be and no matter how ineffective you feel your prayer is, do not stop. Go deeper. Go longer. Pray more deliberately. Intercede with passion. 

You have to practice prayer continually in order to break through into new realms, new experiences, new victories and new revelations of how God moves through our intercession.

Simply know, God absolutely, without question, hears you, is moving through you and is training you as a mighty warrior of atmosphere-shifting intercession!

REVELATION DRIVEN PRAYER

Game changer! The most incredible, instructive and distinctive reading on prayer I’ve experienced in a long time. The writing is simplistic, refreshing and applicable. Every faithful Christian should read this to be renewed and empowered! ~Walkbyfaith

If, throughout the Bible, God causes men and women to do things that defy human logic, why do we default to common sense when making decisions in our lives? If God told Gideon to secure only 1% of his army to go into battle, which obviously defies solid and time-tested military wisdom, why don’t we consider that God may also cause us to advance in our lives via nontraditional and even bizarre means?

Job 11:7 “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?”

The message of Revelation Driven Prayer will help launch you into the unusual and deep things of God that he has prepared specifically for you.

ORDER REVELATION DRIVEN PRAYER

Undesirables in our culture will be permanently cancelled

Those in society presenting a risk will first be marginalized and then eliminated.

I'll never forget the terror I felt watching A Thief in the Night, an apocalyptic movie from the 1970's seen by over 300 million people. Christians who refused to take the Mark of the Beast were led to the guillotine. No resister was spared, not even small children. (Regardless of the timing of the rapture, Christians can and will exist during the Tribulation period.)

We are living in the final moments leading up to times of great trouble in the world. It's true that difficult times are upon us now, but, especially in America, what we are experiencing is paradise compared to the horrors to come.

Many believe once the end-time progression has fully matured, those who resist the mandates of a coming global leader will be mercilessly executed. This certainly includes biblical Christians and others who rise up with guns a blazin' in opposition to tyranny. 

EVENTUALLY CHRISTIANS BE CANCELLED PERMANENTLY

Canadian pastor Artur Pawlowski who has resisted the mandates to wear masks and cancel church services was recently arrested on the tarmac at Calgary International Airport. 

“They came for me, be sure of it, they are coming for you as well,” he said warning U.S. audiences.

There will be consequences if Americans don't take a stand, he continued: “If you will not do it, you're next.”

This is where it gets interesting, and where we as Believers in Jesus must understand the larger picture. We must also use great wisdom when dealing with the spirit of the age.

News flash: When all is said and done we will lose this fight.

I'm not trying to demoralize anybody nor am I buying into any sort of defeatism. I've read the Book and I am fully aware that martyrdom is very much in the future for many of us. The final victory is not carnal or earthly. After the Great Tribulation period and then ultimately after the Millennial reign, Satan and his hordes will be eliminated. We win, they lose.

But in the not too distant future, we will be permanently cancelled. No type of right-wing rebellion against the tyranny will work. Resistance is futile. Scripture makes that clear. Does that mean we give up and give in? No. Contending for righteousness is always appropriate, and there certainly can and will be important short-term victories. We can and should fight the fight (again, with wisdom) by promoting righteous laws and challenging unrighteous norms. 

WE ARE BEING CONDITIONED

Today, social media and politics are the primary tools the enemy is using to force his agenda. Cancel culture is here to stay and it will get progressively more punitive, restrictive and threatening. This is why our strategies must go much further than ranting on Facebook and wearing MAGA hats. God is preparing his church for great persecution and he needs us to accurately discern the signs of the times.

Social media giants are conditioning us, muzzling us and attempting to force us into compliance. What we say, what we believe and what we do will result in affirmation or cancellation. Resisters will resist, but those who are Spirit-driven will be prepared to respond rightly to the evil end-time strategy. 

ELIMINATING THE UNDESIRABLES

Ultimately, the plan is for undesirables (you and me) to be fully eliminated. During the Tribulation that may come in the form of a guillotine. In the seasons leading up to that we'll see an increase in propaganda, conditioning, cancellation and shaming aimed at those who voice any measure of opposition to the societal norms.

Do we simply unleash the Ben Shapiro's and Donald Trump's of the world to rage against the machine, or is there another, better response? While I appreciate what Ben and President Trump have done, and I do believe God can and has used methods they have employed, we need to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. This isn't about saving America anymore. This is about preparing for an encounter with the greatest evil the world has ever known. 

How many churches are strategically preparing the people for trouble? I'm not talking about stocking up on toilet paper, fighting against liberal lawmakers or sharing the latest memes about Dr. Fauci. I mean, is the church praying, fasting and contending in tears for an outpouring of God's Spirit? Are pastors teaching on the end times? What is the spiritual response to today's crisis? 

The Bible makes it clear that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but that seems to be all the church is doing lately. Fighting politicians, fighting mandates, fighting Facebook. Satan is moving in the spiritual realm and manifesting in the natural. All too often, the church is a step behind, reacting in the natural, responding in the flesh and relying on human intuition with no grid for the supernatural. 

A Thief in the Night had me disturbed as a child and the truth it conveyed has me disturbed as a 52-year-old adult, though the reasons are very different. Then I was concerned for my own life. Today I'm grieved at the response of the church. In the near future, Christians who are rightfully prepared will stand against the threats and refuse to align with the anti-Christ, even if it means certain death. Those who are not will easily give in to the pressures of being permanently cancelled. No food, water, medical care, electricity or other necessities will be too great a price to pay for many.

SO, WHAT DO WE DO?

Our primary and constant response must be fervent prayer, radical consecration, holy living and devotion to the Word of God.

In the short term I believe it's important that we do engage culture. We can win some of the current battles and push back the agendas of the enemy. If we use supernatural wisdom, we can see laws changed, social media transformed and tyranny confronted. It's a valuable and appropriate fight anytime we push back on darkness, especially when it's attempting to destroy our nation.

We must understand, however, that any victory in this realm will be short lived. Ultimately, the enemy will rage with such strategic precision that all who resist will be eliminated. Are we prepared to die as martyrs? Are we truly living and praying and walking in the Spirit? Are our children ready for overwhelming and terrifying persecution? If not, that must be our focus. It's about to get very interesting in the world, and we must do all we can to be ready to respond.

Photo credit: “Guillotine (musée des Souvenirs de guerre, Hô Chi Minh Ville)” by dalbera is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The only hope for America? Churches that promote extreme Holy Spirit encounters

Churches that don't fan the flames of intense Holy Spirit activity need to go.

Like so many, I'm crying out for an earth-shocking move of God, an undeniable invasion of supernatural power that will drive us to our knees. The tears and the tremble that result will never leave us. Our very reason for existing will shift in an instant knowing we have just encountered Deity. 

The church has both the call and the authority to usher in such a holy visitation. Tragically, many have left the church with deep frustrations, giving up after holding out such high hope that revival would be the prime focus. Hosting the presence of God with the ultimate goal of igniting a regional outpouring is simply not the supreme motive of most churches today. Sure, many pastors and leaders would give a hearty head nod to the idea, but when it's time to contend, those who have refused to put down the weapons of warfare are few.

EMBRACE THE WEIRD

A pastor friend of mine recently mentioned the reason why so many in his Charismatic/Pentecostal denomination shy away from pursuing revival. They are “afraid of weird.” 

I've said often that as a leader, I refuse to tone down the activity of the Holy Spirit out of respect of those less hungry. I fully embrace the weird. We need pastors who no longer care very much about how many mortals they have in the pews and start crying out for our immortal, fearful and omnipotent God to come! Oh yes, it will get wonderfully, supernaturally weird! Revival is messy, otherworldly, hard to understand and impossible to contain.

This is actually the problem. Many of today's pastors and leaders prefer a controlled flame to a wildfire. God is yearning to blow the winds of the Spirit over fast spreading fire that threatens everything in its path. He wants to consume homes, businesses and all his fiery love can overcome. He doesn't want containment. This fire must be wild.

NO MORE (SPIRIT-FILLED) CHURCH AS USUAL

Many have been campaigning for an end of church as usual. We need to take it a step further. It's easy for the Spirit-filled crowd to presume they have it. They are open to the moving of the Spirit of God and, as a result, have somehow arrived. This couldn't be further from the truth.

If a church genuinely wants the fire, they can no longer shut up the tongues. Tongues of fire must be unleashed in our churches again!

How rare is it to find supposed Spirit-filled churches that are roaring from groans that can't be uttered? The explosive, guttural cries of supernatural fire erupting out of the mouths of desperate people is a rare experience today. After all, that's weird and many of today's Charismatic pastors avoid it like the plague. 

We are all familiar with a typical Spirit-filled church service. You'll get some extended, nicely polished worship along with some lifted hands, dancing and shouts. Sometimes people will fall over when prayed for which is a sure sign you are in a Charismatic church. A long, enthusiastic sermon comes next followed by quality time at the altars. You are with me, right? We've all been there, done that.

Of course, all of what I described, if authentic, is very good. Very, very good.

However, it's not nearly what is needed if we want God's supernatural presence to absolutely overwhelm us. Revival doesn't launch from such a predictable, controllable church strategy.

A FORMULA FOR FIRE

To take the church from tired, predictable services into the mission of revival requires a significant shift in strategy. Carefully crafting a smooth, vibrant, mildly supernatural Sunday church experience will never suffice. Churches that refuse to go into the depths in these end-times should go. They are standing in the way of legitimate revival in their city and are robbing God's people of the opportunity to experience an outpouring.

While churches may be exceptionally good at any number of things, including growth, outreach, teaching, encouraging and discipleship, if they aren't doing it in the fire, they have become a liability in the Kingdom. Pastors may be brilliant leaders with thousands of people showing up to hear what they have to say each week, but without the knee-bending wind of the Spirit of God howling through the church, what's the point?

Here are some of the key steps for promoting a wildfire revival.

A REMNANT MINDSET

In order for revival to become job one in the church today, the seeker mindset of old must go. We have to be ready and willing to allow the majority to exit our churches never to return if that is, in fact, the required cost of revival. Pastors, find your remnant and burn hot with them. Until we realize the church is more about ministering to God than it is ministering to people we'll never even take the first step toward an outpouring. Pastors need an army of locked-in people who aren't showing up for themselves, but rather as sacrificial warriors who are ready to pierce the darkness as a single unit.

TONGUES AND GROANS

From my article, The Tone of the Groan:

Throughout scripture we see groans preceding a great deliverance—and this deep groan of the Spirit must erupt in our churches and in our cities now. The days of quiet, sedate church services built upon human order must come to an end—Sunday mornings must resound with a prophetic shock and a new sound of trembling people exploding in groans of the Spirit.

We need Azusa-level reports to shoot around the planet as we explode in supernatural cries!

In a skeptical front-page story titled “Weird Babel of Tongues”,[17] a Los Angeles Times reporter attempted to describe what would soon be known as the Azusa Street Revival. “Breathing strange utterances and mouthing a creed which it would seem no sane mortal could understand”, the story began, “the newest religious sect has started in Los Angeles”.[20] Another local paper reporter in September 1906 described the happenings with the following words:

…disgraceful intermingling of the races…they cry and make howling noises all day and into the night. They run, jump, shake all over, shout to the top of their voice, spin around in circles, fall out on the sawdust blanketed floor jerking, kicking and rolling all over it. Some of them pass out and do not move for hours as though they were dead. These people appear to be mad, mentally deranged or under a spell. They claim to be filled with the spirit. They have a one eyed, illiterate, Negro as their preacher who stays on his knees much of the time with his head hidden between the wooden milk crates. He doesn't talk very much but at times he can be heard shouting, ‘Repent,' and he's supposed to be running the thing… They repeatedly sing the same song, ‘The Comforter Has Come.'

This is the most important and most effective step, by far, in promoting a wildfire atmosphere. Instead of nice, catchy worship and other typical church elements, introduce the raging glory and power of groans and tongues. Literally, when stepping into the sanctuary on Sunday mornings, the atmosphere will radiate with supernatural power as everybody is engaging in aggressive, expressive and booming groans and tongues! 

When pastors lead the way by engaging everybody in 30-60 minutes (or more) of continual, intense intercession at this level, literally everything in the church will change. It will shift from a low-level, mildly spiritual atmosphere that is mostly dependent on coercing people to tithe more, serve more and attend more to one that has people lined up outside the doors for hours waiting to get in.

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

I'm not talking about worldly vision or an entrepreneur spirit. I mean pastors and leaders must be living their lives saturated in prayer and the Word to such a degree that God exploded supernatural vision into their spirits. Dreams, visions and encounters will rock and shock them to such a degree that little else matters than running toward the fulfillment of what God has revealed to them. 

Happy sing-a-longs, tepid prayer times, powerless sermons and a nice little family environment will give way to a vibrant, anointed, fearful and weighty atmosphere. Joshuas, Gideons and other bold, relentless biblically-modeled men and women of God will lead the charge into the great unknown. They know that only a remnant can get them where they need to go. Most will need to be released into the deserts of their own makings as they identify the few who have the courage to advance into the land of promise.

A PROPHETIC CULTURE

If authentic prophecy isn't predominant in each and every gathering, the advance toward a glorious revival will be stunted. 

While low-level, carnal, fake and invented “prophecy” must be rejected wholesale, true prophetic revelation must be embraced. Decrees and declarations based on the timely insight that God has revealed to that local body will shock the atmosphere with authority. The people, the remnant soldiers, should be trained and empowered to prophesy, and the entire body must be ready to shift and redirect as the winds of the Spirit move them. 

HOLINESS

Fire and brimstone preaching will have to make an appearance in such a revival-focused environment. Unapologetic calls to radical consecration are absolutely mandatory. Holiness and repentance must be a common thread through everything in the ministry. While an atmosphere of grace is key, allowing people to authentically reveal their struggles in a loving atmosphere, the severity of the fear of the Lord must also be felt.

THE WORD OF GOD

The Word of God must be read and fully believed, proclaimed and boldly decreed if revival is to be had. The mission must be based on extreme adherence to the challenging truths of Scripture. Those who know God will be strong and do great exploits, and the revelation of the Word along with an atmosphere of fervent prayer will result in a people who know their God.

Simply, Sunday School style Bible teaching won't cut it. We need faith-filled, vision-driven and fearless proclamations of Scripture that rips apart strongholds and shatters the teeth of the enemy. We need biblical revelation that strikes us, marks us and wrecks us. We need the Word of God to pierce our hearts, captivate our minds and overwhelm our intellect.

THE SURRENDER OF CHURCH GROWTH

The pursuit of revival is a regional and national pursuit, not a local one. What I mean is, the end goal is not local church growth. It's beyond time to forever surrender the annual goals of more people, more small groups, more offerings, new buildings and any focus on local. 

If God starts moving powerfully in another local church in the city, pastor, you must shut your thing down for a season and support what God is doing on the other side of town. The goal is regional outpouring. The vision is much greater than four walls.

The moment the goal is the development of a single local church is the moment that church has been disqualified from the pursuit of regional revival.

INTERCESSION

I covered this mostly in the section about tongues and groans, but felt it necessary to doubly impress upon you the need for constant, fervent and powerful intercession. This is not a separate, side ministry that takes place before a service or on an off night. It's not to be relegated to a side room or to be led by anybody other than the senior leader. It's the most important, most powerful and most neglected ministry of the church.

The church isn't a house of preaching, a house of relationships, a house of evangelism or a house of anything other than a house of prayer. That's it.

Sunday services should be mostly vibrant prayer meetings. The cookie-cutter model we've become so used to must go. The worship, announcements, preaching, altar time paradigm must cease. The new wine skin is bathed in intercession, and every member of the remnant church must deliberately give themselves to it night and day.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We are far from revival. I hear prophets and preachers talking about how near we are, and I just have to shake my head and wonder what exactly they are discerning. In terms of timing, can revival break out sooner than later? Sure. But in terms of distance, in terms of where we are now and were we must be as a church to see revival hit, we are far.

The church must experience a reformation that will shock it to its core. It's this shock and awe of God's supernatural invasion that will never let us do church as usual again, Spirit-filled or otherwise. Every goal will change. Board and staff meetings will never be the same. Strategies and how money is spent will morph over night. When God visits, nothing else matters. The result will be a church on fire that prays night and day with ferocity. 

AOC accuses Christians as extremists for promoting “forced birth laws”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggests alternatives to end the life of your child.

President Biden recently admitted that he doesn't agree with the teachings of his church regarding the belief that life begins at conception.

“I respect those who believe life begins at the moment of conception,” Biden said. “I don’t agree, but I respect that. I’m not going to impose that on people.”

In a Tweet apparently responding to the new anti-abortion law in Texas, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez targets supposed “Christian extremists” for attempting to preserve the lives of pre-born children. She suggests laws and movements to force the birth (as she calls it) of a fully human, God-breathed person (as God calls them) are extreme. I would think dismembering and discarding unborn babies to be extreme.

She then shares options to destroy your unborn child through pills that can be discreetly mailed to your home.

LIFE BEGINS BEFORE CONCEPTION

The goalposts continue to move on the start date for children born into this world. The Bible clearly reveals that it's before conception.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5, ESV)

In fact, John the Baptist was already filled with the Holy Spirit before he was ever born.

“for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.” (Luke 1:15, ESV)

Tragically, most of today's activists and politicians are not filled with the Holy Spirit. Their worldview is radically, drastically and disastrously different than those who strive to promote godly agendas.

Today many believe children aren't full persons even in the moments right after birth. Killing children right after they are born (or partially born, whatever that is) is acceptable to a growing number of people. Don't be shocked when it becomes acceptable and legal to kill children under the age of two for no other reason than inconvenience.

Just as King Herod was threatened by a baby and ordered the death of all children under two years of age, these unwanted children threaten the dreams and plans of mom and dad. Exterminating them will very possibly be a viable option.

Extermination is a prime weapon in Satan's arsenal as we have learned in the Holocaust and other murderous movements. Any who oppose the killing? Extremists. Resisters.

The same accusations will be launched against all who refuse to take the Mark of the Beast as well. The propaganda and the overarching message is similar. Comply or else.

CHRISTIAN EXTREMISTS

The narrative that AOC is promoting is not only shocking to Christians in America, it's terrifying. If I understood her Tweet correctly, that efforts to “force the birth” of pre-born life equates to Christian extremism is dangerous beyond measure. Her message is being received and her influence can't be denied.

Crediting her Catholic upbringing, AOC said, “We do know that the Earth is sacred. We do know it is a sacred gift. We have a responsibility to steward it and protect it.”

Many pro-Earth activists are also pro-abortion. They would agree with AOC that dirt and rocks are a sacred gift. Babies, however, can be dismembered and discarded. Somebody convince me full-blown delusion hasn't overtaken the far-left.

Ironically, in the same breath she said, “Are we willing to make changes to our present lives to protect a future for our children and life on Earth?”

Changes that include most anything except protecting the very pre-born children the future is waiting for, I suppose.

Alexandria must know that her accusation of extremism targets millions of Christians and Catholics. In fact, she grew up Catholic herself.

“I consider myself Catholic,” she said, adding that she “grew up in the Catholic faith.” Her mother, Blanca Ocasio-Cortez, is an evangelical Christian born in Puerto Rico, and her late father, Sergio Ocasio, was a Catholic and religious education teacher, Bronx-born from a Puerto Rican family.

WE MUST PRAY FOR OUR NATION'S INFLUENCERS

I earnestly contend for God to radically move in Alexandria's life. I envision a dramatic encounter with our holy, fiery God that will transform her in a moment.

There is no way to debate the issue of abortion successfully without introducing God into the scenario. In fact, I contend that it's nearly impossible to win this debate without people having an authentic, life-altering, supernatural visitation of God himself in their lives. A Damascus Road experience is needed for Alexandria and others who are aggressively fighting against God's truth.

While Alexandria is keeping her fight in the realm of activism and legislation (which is legal and protected), Paul (then Saul) took his fight against his own “Christian extremists” to another level when God suddenly overwhelmed him.

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”” (Acts 9:1–4, ESV)

After his encounter, everything changed. Read the rest of the passage below and pray for Alexandria. I can see her transformed, standing behind a pulpit in a fiery church preaching the truth of Jesus. Can you?

“For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.” (Acts 9:19–22, ESV)

Photos credit: “IMG_3990” by cornstalker is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The rise of the middle finger—the normalizing of foul language in our culture

I remember the shock I'd feel decades ago at the sudden explosion of an F-bomb.

I've ventured into many caves over the years, and an extremely disorienting moment comes when all the lights are turned off. Perfect darkness. Your brain thinks it's seeing your hand waving in front of your wide-open eyes, but it's not. It's an illusion. The darkness is blinding. This type of darkness is altogether different than what we would experience walking through a dark alley or when we turn off the lights to go to bed at night. It's all encompassing. This is the ink-like blackness that's overshadowing the earth today. The world is getting more wicked, and, sadly, it's sucking much of the church into its black hole of immorality. Foul language in movies and media is routinely ignored as insignificant by many professing Christians today. A Born-Again Believer might very well feel singled out by the smirks and rolled eyes when they make their decision to live consecrated lives. Their devotion to holiness is worthy of mocking by their brothers and sisters in Christ it seems. Until the church finally washes its mouth out with the soap of the refining Word of God, we can't expect to see a move of righteous living in our nation. The F-bombs will keep detonating as if they were mere firecrackers. The truth is, a culture that has become defiled in this manner will embrace all sorts of fleshly, repulsive behavior. Just the other day I was eating with some friends in a nice, family restaurant. I was shocked when a song playing quietly in the background filled the air with F's and other foul words. How can this be okay? Normal? Unconcerning? A common irritant can be found in seemingly innocuous online news articles that for some unknown reason have to drop the F word into it. One moment I'm reading about a new cell phone on a tech website and the next I'm attacked by unnecessary and offensive vulgarities. For now, evil language has gone mainstream. Our world needs Jesus so very badly.

BEING TRUE TO OUR AUTHENTIC SELF?

I watched a TikTok video of a woman asking a popular motivational speaker, “Why do you find it necessary to use foul language in your speeches?” As if prepared in advance, the raw, abrasive yet skilled orator immediately retorted his defense. For him, it's more important to be true to his authentic self than to abide by arbitrary rules and norms. He genuinely believes his success is directly related to his authenticity. He admitted to cussing in front of his children and not being concerned that they do the same at school. Of course, the F's flew in his crafty, unapologetic response, unconcerned about defiling the souls around him. Another video from a family of social media influencers featured children repeatedly thrusting their middle fingers in the air, all with their dad encouraging their behavior. I suppose this father-of-the-year candidate is supporting his little one's venture to be true to their authentic selves. How tragic that people define who they are by that which is vile, immoral and repugnant. This is the state of our cave-dark world.

IMMORAL NORMS IN MEDIA

Many years ago, I worked in a video rental store. Back in the day your local video store was frequented by all, often ending in frustration as the person in front of you in line rented the last copy of the latest, greatest movie. One particular family visited our store regularly. However, they were unlike any of our regular customers. They never walked past the new releases or down the aisles filled with dramas, comedies, thrillers and horror movies. Each time they marched through the door they immediately strolled, as a uniquely awkward family, to the family section. They would choose an old, probably boring yet crispy clean movie to watch together as a family. One day I asked them if they had seen one of the mega-popular new movies (that was most likely rated PG). Their answer has stuck with me to this very day. “No, we don't watch any movie that's not rated G.” Not one unholy word would ever be intentionally consumed nor casually ignored in the name of entertainment. Years later I was in a packed church for a special multimedia-driven sermon. The guest speaker brought up the movie The Karate Kid on the giant screen. He asked for a show of hands of those who have seen the movie. Hundreds of hands shot up into the air representing nearly 100% of those in attendance. He then asked one of the youth workers, an authentically righteous lover of Jesus, what he thought of the movie. He carefully replied, knowing that he was being set up. “Well, I think it had good life lessons, and good moral principles. It was clean and wholesome.” At that moment the preacher hit play on the remote. The church was filled with gasps of horror as the cranked-up speakers boomed the words of the main character in the movie, Daniel. He aggressively hurled the obscenity God **** over and over in a moment of ferocious venting toward Mr. Miyagi. Understand, this was happening in a church that was known for its fervent pursuit of holiness. To say that what happened stunned everyone would be a severe understatement. People were aghast. Offended. What the man of God said next remains with me to this day. “So, you casually and eagerly admitted that you have watched this movie. What I just played, and more, filled your homes and your spirits, yet you are somehow offended that you heard it in the church?” His point was clear. Hypocrisy was exposed.

WE NEED A HOLINESS MOVEMENT IN OUR NATION

The cursing and defilement of our culture will only get worse. The darkness is thick and the light is despised. The church's hypocrisy is clear as Christians are filling their souls with evil by devouring inappropriate movies, articles, music and videos. The only hope is for widespread repentance and a refusal to allow ourselves to be tainted by the deadly curses (cursings) that our culture has adopted as benign. Let's contend for revival in a spirit of holiness as we take a stand against the darkness in our nation. The entertainment we so love isn't worth the degrading of our souls. Photo credit: www.depositphotos.com Image ID: 86198726 Copyright: stuartmiles Originally published by The Stream.

Morality police arise: Porn returns to OnlyFans

It's time for the morality police to return to our modern world.

After reversing their decision to ban pornography on their platform, the OnlyFans Twitter account celebrated with a Tweet: “Thank you to everyone for making your voices heard.”

Founded in 2016, the site claims to have more than 130 million registered users and over 2 million creators. The voices of 130 million people crying out will most certainly be heard, and it's a further indication of how wicked, lost and debased our society has become.

If it were only the lost who were shouting their demands for erotic media, that would be one thing. Tragically the porn pandemic has long since infiltrated the church, members and clergy alike.

Countless pastor's voices have been heard. Innumerable Christian's voices have been heard. The cry for porn is loud, clear and persistent. 

We are in the middle of a spiritual crisis that shrouds our culture with the stench of death. Instead of God's people embracing a deeply consecrated life of holiness, intercession and radical surrender, too many have plunged deep into the pit of wickedness. The vice-grip of pure evil is suffocating the very life out of the children of God.

WHERE ARE THE MORALITY POLICE?

My wife was sharing with me about a mystery series she watches that features someone in the role of morality police. Her duties included enforcing dress codes, reporting illegal alcohol consumption (the setting is during prohibition) and calling out behaviors that violated a common code of ethics.

I've lived most of my adult life being inundated with teachings, theologies and church cultures that decry any hint of so-called legalism. Messages of holiness, consecration, taking up our cross and anything that smells of works has been called out as legalistic. While inviting all sorts of religious accusation, I've said many times over the decades that I'd rather be a holiness preacher contending for revival than a spiritualized freedom-fighter who celebrates free-will and minimizes the power of sin.

As a result of these false-grace messages, we are watching the world plummet into hell at warp speed. 

We need the morality police, preachers of righteousness who have a backbone of steel and fire in their eyes as they call out debauchery.

Today's moral collapse shouldn't be shocking, but in a way it still is. How can sites that promote pornography be allowed to exist? I'm not talking about legalities. I'm not talking about freedom of speech or expression. I'm talking about the lack of horror among the people that such immorality can find a place to call home. 

JUDGMENT BEGINS AT THE HOUSE OF GOD

On the other hand, it shouldn't surprise us when the lost choose to live as the lost. They do lost type things. Sexual pleasure is one of the most powerful forces known to man and if one doesn't subscribe to a religious ideology or another ethical code that forbids certain expressions of it, then what reason would they have to resist? Outside of the conviction of the Holy Spirit, abstaining from many biblical sins makes no sense. Sex, drunkenness, witchcraft, foul language and other ungodly current day realities are enjoyed without guilt or restriction.

Yet, within the construct of the church, the moral code absolutely does exist. 

I've known pastors who thought it was nothing to share from the pulpit about R rated movies and immoral television shows. I've walked in on pastors in their homes watching movies containing foul language and nudity. 

Years ago, rock music was obviously rejected by the church as worldly.

Wikipedia reports, “Most traditional and fundamentalist Christians did not view rock music favorably when it became popular with young people from the 1950s.”

The Pentecostal youth pastor and author of the Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson, called it “Satan’s Pentecost” and portrayed rock ‘n’ roll concerts as a kind of inverted Pentecostal worship, with demonic speaking in tongues.

Today? Pastors and Christians fill their lives with it along with other immoral genres. In fact, as a youth pastor in the 1990's I regularly preached against the emergence of “Christian rock” music while promoting a lifestyle of soaking in deeply anointed worship music. 

David Wilkerson said, “Oh how God's people need discernment. Great deceptions abound every where, not only regarding the rock and punk music of the young, but also in regard to new forms of worship and praise being promoted. Some of it is born of the Holy Spirit, but much is born of the flesh – and only those who walk in the light know the difference.”

Yes, we need holiness preachers to arise again. The world will do what the world does. It will grow much darker as hell grows larger. This is a fact that causes my stomach to turn and my heart to grieve. More than any time in history we need a church on fire, a consecrated bride who lives a separated, surrendered, repentant and passionate existence. We must have a movement of remnant Christians who tremble in the fear of the Lord, who abhor wickedness and who will call out lukewarm, apathetic religiosity. 

It's easy to presume judgment is coming to our dark planet. What we need to do is capture God's heart for the church, for his bride, for you and me. Judgment starts here. The terror of the Lord is a very real thing and it must consume us just as much as his intense love does. 

FREEDOM CAN BE YOURS

If you are bound by pornography, you need to grasp both God's love and his terror. He is zealously drawing you to himself and there is dramatic, supernatural and miraculous freedom to be found. The grip of the enemy is nowhere near strong enough to keep you. One moment in the immeasurable presence of the Holy Spirit will set you free forever. You simply must repent, reject unrighteousness, flee lust and sexual temptation and fall desperately in love with Jesus. Eliminate most movies, television and other media. Shut off the music. Consecrate yourself and flood your life with worship, intercession and the Word of God. When you do, revival will ignite in your heart.

I pray God's fear and his love capture every one of us. The times are going to become much more difficult. Temptations will feel nearly impossible to resist. The darkness will only grow darker. We need a company of firebrands who reject the allure of the enemy and who go deep into the heart and plan of God for their lives. We need revival.

Photo credit: “Hands Typing on Laptop Keyboard” by Image Catalog is marked with CC0 1.0

Originally published by The Stream.

There’s no reason to go to Facebook jail.

Treading foolishly on social media will cost the church it's voice.

NEWSMAX reports, “Last month, the former president brought class-action lawsuits against the three big Tech giants requesting unspecified damages for alleged First Amendment violations.”

It's commonly believed that social media giants have censored, banned and caused all sorts of trouble for conservatives. This includes Christians who find themselves in so-called Facebook jail after expressing forbidden viewpoints. 

This truly feels like David versus the giants who are determined to taunt, minimize and cast aside any who would threaten their narratives.

SHOULD WE NOT RUN TO THE BATTLE?

Yes, we absolutely should fearlessly fight against the spirits of the age. The real question, however, is exactly how should we fight? 

God is known to give unusual, supernatural wisdom to those who are advancing toward wicked adversaries. Gideon was told to eliminate most of his army and to bang jars together. Joseph and Mary were instructed to avoid Egypt. Paul was warned against going to certain cities. Elijah brought the fire. Every situation is different, and might I suggest, brashly breaking the rules of Facebook, YouTube and other social media companies is foolish beyond measure.

Lawsuits like the one President Trump brought very well may be a wise, effective step toward protecting First Amendment rights of all US citizens. I agree that we are rushing quickly toward the reality of very real persecution of Christians who preach the truth of Scripture. We cannot shrink back. We must run to the battle, but with divine wisdom, not fleshly rebellion.

Everything starts with strategic intercession. The fight against principalities and powers is a deadly game to play if we aren't prepared. Our enemies aren't the CEO's and thought police. It's very smart, organized and vile evil spirits who are bent on destruction of the church. They are absolutely determined to muzzle all who preach the power of the Gospel.

WE MUST BE WISE AS SERPENTS AND GENTLE AS DOVES

““Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,” (Matthew 10:16–17, ESV)

I've always found it interesting that we are instructed to be as wise as serpents. Satan is both a snake and a brilliant and shrewd military strategist. He is not haphazard or careless in his schemes. We should not be either.

The Hill reports, “And despite the Taliban's brutality and dishonesty, two Taliban spokesmen have Twitter accounts, including Zabihullah Mujahid, who boasts nearly 320,000 followers. Mujahid has posted dozens of videos that have been viewed millions of times. Quite a platform for the Taliban to have, and it doesn't cost them a dime.”

Read this next segment analyzing Donald Trump's ban and the Taliban's get out of jail free card from the article on The Hill carefully:

“The answer, analysts said, may simply be that Trump’s posts for years challenged platform rules against hate speech and inciting violence,” the piece adds. “Today’s Taliban, by and large, does not.” 

Of course, we know of the brutality the Taliban unashamedly promotes and it seems they should in no way be provided a platform on social media, especially when these companies are based in the United States. I agree with most by saying it's madness. 

Additionally, it's beyond belief that the President of the United States could be banned. Like you, I'm flabbergasted. This isn't the America I've grown to love. We are living in very different, dangerous and wicked times.

With all of that being said, consider the wisdom of the Taliban. They are careful on social media. They don't post anything that would put them in Facebook jail or ban them from Twitter (at least that's what appears to be the case to date).

Here is the point of this article: be wise. 

Flipping a bombastic, rebellious, spiritualized middle finger to the decision makers of the very platforms the church must have a voice on is utter foolishness. We receive no badge of honor by spouting off at the mouth in a way that breaks the rules (yes, unfair rules) and challenges the social media powers. It's childish at best, foolish and destructive to the church's mission at worst.

IF WE BREAK THE RULES WE LOSE OUR VOICE

I, for one, want to keep influencing people on social media with the life and power of Jesus. I can't afford for that message to be banned.

I've yet to be locked out of any social media account. I've not been shadow banned or jailed. I'm not saying it will never happen and I'm not patting myself on the back. I simply understand I must be extremely careful if I want to continue to be heard (even by my very small sphere of influence). There are things that are absolutely unnecessary to say, or that can be said in a way that doesn't poke the bear. We can be smart. We can be led of the Spirit of God. We can use divine wisdom.

This is not a matter of having a backbone or proudly shouting with fervor at our oppressors. It would be extremely easy to state the obvious and call out every anti-Christ spirit we come across on a daily basis. We can shout loud in all caps and presume we are mighty champions of God by refusing to be silent on the matters of the day. Well, yes, you can do that and you can lose your voice. You will lose your platform. You will surrender your privilege to communicate on a private forum.

Chinese Christians know this all too well, except they aren't risking a Facebook account being closed. They are risking their lives. They are faced with beatings and prison. We can only imagine the divine wisdom necessary to survive such an ungodly regime. Yet, the underground church is thriving and China is on pace to host the largest number of Christians in the world in the next couple of decades

Standing on a street corner in Beijing and preaching the Gospel isn't an option for Chinese Christians. They must be wise. They understand the rules of their particular forum. They are Spirit-led instead of naturally aggressive. 

The voice of Chinese Christians has been preserved because they have adapted to their situation. The church is thriving in that restrictive and dangerous environment because of godly wisdom.

If we as American Christians can't figure out how to keep our voice on Facebook, how do we think we will survive when we are forced underground? Brash, bombastic fist-waving won't work then, even if we do it in the name of Jesus.

Photo Credit: “China Flag and Dome” by jamiejohndavies is licensed under CC BY 2.0