Right, here we go...
1. If you sin or continue to sin you will become demonized or unclean and may miss out of heaven or lose your salvation.
2. If you criticize the leadership of the church you are criticizing God and will be punished, even die.
3. If you have an occult object in your home or anything that is classed as “unclean” your home will not be blessed by God and could be cursed.
4. If you do not tithe you will not have money and the devil or the devourer will to steal your money.
5. If you speak anything “negative” about yourself or others you release negative forces upon yourself and others.
6. If you go into another place of worship or take part in any ceremony that is not Christian you will get a demon or become cursed.
7. The reason that you are sick or poor is because of your lack of faith in God.
8. If you mix with the wrong people you are disobeying God and will become like the wrong people you mix with and dragged back into the sinful world.
9. If you walk away from the church you are in you will walk away from your destiny and be out of the will of God, thus meaning strife in your life.
10. If you do anything that is not a “God idea” it is doomed to failure.
This breed of Christianity boasts that its followers are free. Well I seriously beg to differ. It has created superstitions that bind people rather then free them. It has at least ten superstitions that bind it’s people in fear. Let’s take a look at them:
If you sin or continue to sin you will become demonized or unclean and may miss out of heaven or lose your salvation.
This was a standard teaching in both my second and fourth church. With these two houses very much swayed by the Word of Faith, spiritual warfare doctrine and jargon it became a steady means of controlling the “flock” and ensuring that the reputation of the church and its pastor is kept intact. “The soul that sins will surely die” was the of pet scriptures plus many more which just happened to be repeated many times over periods of time to make sure that the “flock” either behaved themselves or if they did not, they would come running back screaming for forgiveness and then a good dose of casting out of them demons they had picked up on the sin quest…all in front of the flock of course to set an example.
The fear of losing your salvation is also something that the church is divided on. There are the “Calvinists” who insist that “once saved; always saved” and there were many who claimed that the bible taught that not only can salvation be lost by the believer, but they will be punished even more on the day of reckoning. This was a teaching that was exploited in my second and fourth churches. Not only did it work but it also crippled the struggling believer with feelings of guilt and of not being of any use in the church. It is no mistake that these people would often be found sitting at the back of the church every Sunday.
The people’s fear of becoming demonized was exploited also.
“If you have sex with a woman other than your wife, the demons in her with be transferred into you as the word says that you become one flesh. God’s word forbids this union and this gives the demons the legal right to enter you through your sin”
This was a quote from my second pastor during a counseling session with a young man who was struggling with sexual urges. It was also alleged during this session that he had a “spirit of homosexuality” because he dressed too well and he has picked this demon up through one of the many women he had confessed to having sex with. After a deliverance session which had no lasting effect he left feeling bewildered and not long after left the church, never to return.
I have known women who have in the past had abortions still struggling with the guilt because of some of the teachings of the movement. Oh yes, they say God will forgive you, but the poor women still spends the rest of her life in the movement struggling with the guilt and no matter how many times they are “ministered” to they never get free from these crippling feelings.
As you will find on many occasions the blame is always put on the individual and not the leadership. Your sin becomes the focal point for all the sermons these preachers preach and sin also becomes the prison you soon find yourself in and it is a bitch to get out of because even though the God of this belief system forgives, you are the stuck with the sometimes terrible consequences.
If you criticize the leadership of the church you are criticizing God and you will be punished, even die
“Touch not the Lord’s anointed”
“If you criticize the leadership of the church, you are telling God that he does not know what he is doing by putting us here to lead you”
“I place a curse on anyone who comes against this ministry…I place a curse on anyone who speaks against this anointing”
“I have known men and women who have gone against those whom the Lord has put in leadership die…”
“If you go against the leader, you go against God and make an enemy of him”
“You have a rebellious spirit”
These are just a few of the remarks I have heard down the years through many of the leaders and a few famous names within the movement.
Once again the gun is turned on you. If you are quiet, responsive and agree with everything they teach then church can be an easy place to be in. However; if you begin to question, if you begin to say “Hold on, something wrong here”, then you can be assured that you will be taken aside and “encouraged” to do one of two things…conform or leave. It can be argued that the good book is one the leader’s side when it comes to what they term as “rebellion” but this is very clearly abused. The “rebel” is often told he or she has a rebellious spirit and any hope that you have of climbing up the church ladder are gone. Believe me they are watching you all the time for any type of rebellion and it rarely goes unpunished.
From the leader’s point of view, it’s a potentially easy gig. You have people all following you and what you teach, you have the instruction manual to back you up and any form of rebellion can be easily snuffed out.
On the other side of the coin I have seen a church torn apart by rebellion and it is not nice, but you can only suppress feelings for so long and on this occasion it was very ugly. Instead of discussions, Pastor B was always right, God was leading him, he had a mandate and nothing was going to move him away from it even if it meant that people were suffering.
It is quite something when men and women used a fictitious deity to exert power over another, but it is happening all over the world. This is one of the reasons that this movement is nothing more than money generating businesses run by many a power hungry man or woman. The other word and a familiar one is a cult…easy to walk into but a bitch to get out of.
If you have an occult object in your home or anything that is classed as “unclean”, your home will not be blessed by God and could be cursed.
I remember an incident going back to 1992. There was a book circulating at the time called “Pigs in the Parlour” by Frank and Ida Hammond. It was a book of the “hip” subject at the time “demons and spiritual warfare”. I have never read the book despite reading a lot of books on the subject of demons and spiritual warfare so I am not going to judge the book but one thing is for certain it did do, like a lot of books on the same subject, create some strange behaviour in people.
My wife at the time and myself were visited by one of the more “Senior” members of church B. She was the wife of a man who was a bank manager, property owner and former Word of Faith church leader. In other words, you could say a successful couple. You could not mention anything negative around there people lest you were very quickly put in your place. They were that kind of couple. Incidentally he ended up running off with his secretary and she ended up having a number of breakdowns and had to leave the country at one stage…anyways back to the story.
We went though the motions of having a cup of tea and a chat about all things “godly”. She happened to mention that she had just finished reading the book and what an eye opener it was to her about all things “demonic”. As she was leaving she noted the amount of pig ornaments that my ex wife had on display in the front room, “you know you are going to have to get rig of these abominations” she bleated out with a firmness that was disguised behind the humour.
We took the remark with a pinch of salt until Pastor B came to the house and saw them. He must of read the book as he and his wife had been to our home on a number of occasions and never said a word. I cannot remember exactly what was said by the pair of them but it went along the line of that these objects were blocking the blessing of God on the house. We got a little teaching on the old testament principle of not having any “unclean” or “abominable” object in your home and how you can be cursed and allow demons to legally enter your home. Up to that time I had been cruising on the crest of the spiritual warfare wave for three years, it was one of the reasons I parted company with Pastor A and I had read an believed a lot of weird teachings on the subject, but I, for the first time realized that something was not right. You could say that this was the first, even though a tiny one, nail in the coffin of my faith. By the way, she did not remove the pigs! This is a fine example of inducing a superstition.
In 1989 I remember converting a former witch and after hours of casting out demons telling him that he had to destroy all of his occult objects and books, which he did so. I told him that the devil would come and take him back if he had those objects and books in his house. Those articles must have cost him a lot of money and now I look back wondering what the hell I was thinking. My only defence was that it was what I was told to do, not by Pastor A but a very influential figure during that time, my late mother in law.
If you do not tithe you will not have money and the devil or the devourer will to steal your money
If you received a knock on your door and you opened that door to find two very well dressed men who told you that they represented a Baron who wanted 10 percent of everything you had plus many generous gifts in return for protection from gangs and if you refused he would let the gangs come and destroy your money, family and home…what would be the first two words that would spring to mind?
Yes you guessed right…Protection Racket.
Also seeing that the God of this belief system is regarded as a “loving father”, what kind of father would do this to his kids?
The Book of Malachi is often used as the benchmark for this evil scam, plus plenty of Old Testament examples of “giving to receive” which has always worried me as I have read the New Testament God knows how many times and all I find is references to putting money into the church according to what is in your heart and not a rigid ten percent. There are many of this scams proponents who are living in luxury on the financial misery of others. Feeding them dreams of giving in order to receiving, preying on people’s own greedy ambitions in order to line their own pocket and then hiding behind loopholes in the laws of their land.
“I was in my car one day when I saw a sticker on the back saying “Honk if you love Jesus” and I though “Tithe if you love Jesus”
“If you do not tithe, you have no right of say in the church.”
“The reason you broke is because you do not tithe”
“How can you say that you love God when you cannot give him ten percent?”
“Your level of spirituality is measured by the amount that you give”
“I tell you that money is a very spiritual thing”
This account is not about naming names so I won’t but you have only got to look and research some of these famous names in the Pentecostal/charismatic world to note that questions, allegations of corruption or abuse of power, fraud and sexual scandals are not too far away. However; it is the money thing that people most associate with televangelists.
It was money or absolute lack of it that was the reason given for the demise of church 4 in 2006. slightly off the beaten track but considering that God had told these two to come over from what appeared to be a lucrative and lavish existence and set up churches, he did not think it a good idea to finance them, but then the blame goes on to? Yes, you guessed it…the people. They did not tithe or give enough. It may not be the fact that the leadership that is including myself, failed to “inspire” the people to give into the mission to save these lost souls, but no it is the people’s fault.
In fact church 4 happened to be a place with the whole regions collection of lazy, ignorant, apathetic and stingy people. So as leaders we tried to set an example of giving. We tithed everything we had and gave a monthly sum to the leaders. No-one else seemed to go with it and to be honest looking back now I am glad as I think that collective monster would still be around today.
So, the tithing and offering scam is the thing that keeps this movement afloat. Without it, who knows? Maybe these well lived pastors will have slum it a bit and live like the rest of us. They will have to forfeit their big houses, the nice holidays and two cars and the ministry or eldership they are setting up for their children to make sure that they are set up for life and keep the business in the family.
Still with the spin that they spin about what will happen to your money and possessions if you don’t pay into the club is proclaimed as often as possible without coming across as pimping. It is done is subtle ways, though in church 4 it was a compulsory thing that a short teaching was given prior to the offering bag going around. Something that I began to do but as time went by I would just skim past it when I was asked to officiate at the meetings.
If you speak anything “negative” about yourself or others you release negative forces upon yourself and others
The Word of Faith movement must hold its hands up and take responsibility for this evil superstition. It has for many years taught about the power of the words that you say and how they can bring good or evil to you. You may think that it all sounds innocent and they don’t mean every word, but no, they do mean every word.
In the early 90’s I was working with a colleague who happen to also be in the same church as me, My second church which because of it’s Word of Faith inspired teaching seemed to attract these “name it and claim it” crazies. We were having lunch in my little and rather grim office and he just happened to sneeze. He muttered something out and then got back into ripping into his lunch. I was a little curious about what he had said, so I asked him.
“I am healed by the stripes of Jesus” he said to me. “My body is a temple of the Lord and disease has no place in it”.
I was amazed. I had heard a few of the pet doctrines of this WOF crowd but this was a new one. I asked him to elaborate on why he had said it. He told me that if he was to accept even a sneeze without counteracting it with speaking the word of God, he would be invaded but not only a cold or flu, but the demon behind it.
The Pressure on these people not to get sick is immense. When I was involved in assisting in my second church I picked up the Shingles which is a nasty virus which is known as a grown up Chickenpox which put me in bed for two weeks. I did not receive a pastoral visit during that time and when I was back in the church after missing two weeks I was taken to one side and reprimanded for not praying enough otherwise I would of not been away from church, plus I set a bad example to the rest of the people.
I remember one couple in the church correcting me on my use of the word “take care” when saying goodbye to them.
“We don’t take care; we only take blessings” is what she came out with to my shock, but this is an example of how much to have to be careful about what you say.
“Don’t say “it is my arthritis” it is not yours, it is an invading force. It has no place in the temple of the holy spirit…Don’t dare say that it is yours”
The term “I am dying to get there” or “I am dying for a drink” is a no-no with these people as they say the term “I am dying” is you proclaiming your own death and allowing the spirit of death to attack you.
If this is not a superstition, then what is?
If you go into another place of worship or take part in any ceremony that is not Christian you will get a demon or become cursed
This can even go as far as “If you watch this TV programme” or “If you read this book”. The church do not like you “mixing it” with anything that is not bible based. Halloween is counteracted with “anti-Halloween” parties for the children to keep them away from the evils of that day and I have known some Christians given a serious telling off for taking part in a trick or treat, which means many Christians have their door locked and lights out in fear of having to deal with trick or treaters. We were one of them people. Halloween was a time of dread and in our minds it was a time of witches, devils, evil spirits and all things bad.
Entering temples that are not Christian can land you into trouble. The spirits that reside in those temples (which are leading the people astray of course!) will attach themselves to you if you enter these places and you will be possessed with “religious spirits”.
Although they won’t say it directly, they want to keep you away from anything that takes your eye “off the ball”, to make you think or consider “other options”, ideologies, paths and directions in life.
This can also be said of who “hang around with” with the “heathen”. The writings of Paul forbid you hanging with such people and the church ham it up saying that if you do associate with such people you will become corrupted by them. Well I would prefer the word enlightened not corrupted.
The reason that you are sick or poor is because of your lack of faith in God.
This has to be the absolute master stroke of these crooks and insecure Pastors.
The believe must always feel that he or she is the one whom is responsible for everything in life…everything from financial and social success to health and inner wellbeing.
The movement is always trying to promote a God that just loves to heal the sick, make you happy, give you money and make you shine like the sun. However; the question remains is, how many of God’s people inside the movement flourish in the way that the church boasts?
During my time in all four churches and my associations with other churches, I have come into contact with good people, who are trying to live the “kingdom” dream who are clearly struggling and in some case very depressed and frustrated with their inability to be financially secure, have good relationships, good health or a decent relationship with their Jesus. When they confront their pastor, preacher, evangelist, prophet, they are always hit with the same old evil, bullshit excuse. The ywill say it is because of your lack of faith or the second sick excuse of there is “unconfessed sin” in their lives. No way will they admit it is the fact that the Pentecostal God does not exist and all their hypnosis, suggestion and spin just does not produce the goods. However; the people strive on, going to meeting after meeting, playing spiritual groupies to the big name preachers in search of the “breakthrough” that will never come with their state of mind. Putting your trust in a God that is not there is a bit like riding your bicycle down a very, very steep hill with no breaks on and are hoping that the bike will stop before you hit the wall.
Another excuse they may give to you is your lack of “commitment” to God. This commitment covers many things but they will point out at least one of the flowing reasons:
You have not given God your tithe, your 10% and this is at the very least. (They would like you to give offering too)
You don’t pray enough
You are rebellious towards your “god-given” leadership
You are not giving God your 110% aka you have not given your all to Christ
You lack the faith in God for him to work on your behalf
So it is your fault…never the pastor, the preacher or even the god of this belief system…it is always YOU.
If you mix with the wrong people you are disobeying God and will become like the wrong people you mix with and dragged back into the sinful world
I have just touched on this but this is a serious issue and places this belief system over into “cult” status.
I have heard of believers be separated from their families, their friends and so on. Even in my own time in their all the friends that I grew up with or got to know prior to my entry into this circus I turned away from and the ones that did hang around must of thought I had gone mad or been brainwashed. The fact is they were right.
The church does not want to lose you. You are precious to them. Alright…the truth is your use to them is based upon:
Your ability to do work form them without having to pay you
Your ability to fund to pizza dream of the pastors and also that nice house on the hill away from the town God called them to.
Your presence also gives the ego of your pastor a real boost as he or she can boast of the numbers when they meet up with their peers during leadership conventions and you never know, if the numbers keep going up they may be elevated to one of those big named preachers with their own entourage and all the shit that goes with it.
The more you hang with people on the outside, the more the chance is that you may listen to reason. Someone may challenge your attempts to evangelize them and thus making you reconsider your place in this circus.
If you just happen to find someone who is able to talk you down and you leave. The leadership always come out with the same old spin, “They have been taken away and corrupted by the devil, if they don’t come back to Christ, they will be judged by God and will be punished in hell”…Lovely !!
From my own personal experience I found myself “removed” from my friends, from my Sunday league football team and eventually away from reality. This is obviously not the case in other churches with in the Christian sphere. However; within this movement there is a tendency in many of its divisions, to display this type of this cult like behaviour
If you walk away from the church you are in you will walk away from your destiny and be out of the will of God, thus meaning strife in your life.
It is this teaching, ideology, train of thought that not only puts this movement in the cult section but also just goes to show what a complete protection racket this movement is.
I have heard this evil bullshit many, many times down the years and boy does it work. From my own experience it worked, it produced enough fear to stop me leaving pastors who where clearly taking the piss but it was engrained in my that if I walked away I would fall into that dark place where:
I have left the protection (or cover, the word they like to use) of my God-given leadership
I would be open to attacks from the devil on my health, my money, my mind and my family
I would lose my sense of purpose in life as without the Pentecostal God, I have no purpose
I could incur the wrath of God for turning my back on him
Leaving a Pentecostal or evangelical church either for good or to move on to another is a traumatic experience. I have only done this once and bloody hell it is not easy. The guilt you feel is terrible and you feel like you have let God down, then however you convince yourself that you have obey God by leaving and justify that decision by finding a treasure chest full of faults with the former church and then all is hunky dory!
In March 2007, I was informed by my senior pastors that the church in my old hometown of Flint Canada
So despite “encouragement” from my now former senior pastors to find another church, I resisted. My relationship with my Jenni was becoming more and more moving down the “love” line. She was very instrumental in me having the courage to face up to the incredible fear and guilt that was eating away at me during the first six months of me leaving “Bethel
For those who are thinking of saying “no” to this protection racket masquerading as a holy belief system, I encourage you to walk away, to leave, to take that step and see what is out there. You will experience the fear and the guilt I felt but you will get through it and if you can find someone to help you with your walking away that is even better. You will get your ex-peers trying to such you back in but keep firm and you will eventually experience a freedom you will not believe. Then you will be free to find God for yourself or whatever path you set your mind to.
If you do anything that is not a “God idea” it is doomed to failure.
Right…Let’s get this straight…
There you are…a born-again Christian…you think…you do.
However; according to this belief system, your thoughts, your ideas, your plans and the plans that become substance are worth nothing unless God dropped the idea into your head.
What is the point of even existing?
This is madness!
Does God have to do everything for you? Why does he just not get off his bloody throne and do it all himself? I
It appears to me and correct me if I am wrong, but is not the whole ethos of this religion to create robots whom become possessed by this deity and do his will and his will alone?
That is frightening!
The focus of the teachings, the praise and the worship is for you to die and Christ to live in you. If you really think about this concept, the more open to manipulation this is.
In the dream world that these people live in. God gives ideas, via a number of mediums (dreams, visions, impressions) but the harsh truth is that these ideas are from you and you alone. I have found it almost funny down the years in the movement that people who just happen to have these “God” ideas, it just happens to be something that they really deep, deep down want to do. I know this from my own time in the movement as I have on a good number of occasions have used this to get my own way. The will of God can be a convenient way of getting things done to suit your own agenda.
The more disturbing feature of this superstition is that you are not allowed to enjoy your moment of victory; you have to give the credit to a deity that actually did not physically do anything to assist you in your triumph. You have to give it to him. It is very much like a slave driver who makes you build his house then he tells all his peers that he built it or people that get the credit because of their position for a project where all the work was done by someone else of less importance.
So in conclusion, life in the movement is very difficult and very oppressive. When you look at these superstitions you can appreciate how forced in you really are and how much your world view is so closed in. Despite the boasts made by the movement of the freedom of its followers, the reality is far different. If the believers in the movement are really honest with themselves they will see what I mean.
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