u/CheeseLoving88

Dr Doug Geivett, 67, co author of Counterfeit Kingdom, A New Apostolic Reformation?, and Reckless Christianity amongst ton of other helpful books on other christian subjects has passed away unexpectedly. He was a very well respected and credentialed professor at Biola University and helped lend spotlight to a broader audience that was unconcerned with the NAR rise.
Please pray for his family (if you are into prayer regularly) his wife of 43 years Dianne and his daughters Kaitlyn and Erin, who are both only in their 30s

This is a tough hit for me personally (despite never meeting) because I’ve gleaned so much off his work for understanding what was wrong with my views on Christianity and why the NAR was really as bad as it seemed. Why I wasn’t crazy. It is in fact a cult and not Christian.

Dawn Hill (Lovesick Scribe Podcast) and Dave Jenkins (servants of grace.) talk about their journeys sifting through grief and healthy grief management

About 3 minute. Pastor Loren Livingston of Central Church in Charlotte NC area. One of a handful of Pentecostal pastors with a spine enough to call things out

So cool! Listening now as I post this . Jake Nelson, from RE3 channel and Steve Kozar from Messed Up Church talk about getting out of the NAR and Jakes own amazing testimony of coming to Christ and coming clean from alcohol, drugs, and cult theology. 1:04 long

A brief article by a fellow laborer and Facebook friend Dan Ortiz

THE NAR IS BUILDING A SYSTEM OF SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT DOES NOT TEACH 🚨

One of the most dangerous aspects of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is not simply its fascination with prophecy, miracles, and supernatural experiences. It is the system of authority being constructed around modern “apostles,” “prophets,” “spiritual fathers,” “apostolic covering,” and a supposedly restored “Five-Fold Ministry.”

Christians should ask one simple question:

WHERE IS THIS SYSTEM TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE?

The NAR frequently teaches that God is restoring apostles and prophets to positions of governing authority over the church. Ephesians 4:11 is cited:

📖 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.”

But that verse does NOT say that every generation must have governing apostles exercising authority over pastors and churches. Paul says the church is:

📖 “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” — Ephesians 2:20

You do not continually rebuild a foundation.

The apostles were uniquely commissioned witnesses of the risen Christ and foundational servants through whom God delivered authoritative revelation to His church.

Then comes “apostolic covering.”

Christians are told they need to be “under” an apostle or specially anointed leader for spiritual protection, authority, blessing, or legitimacy.

Show me the verse.

Our spiritual security is in CHRIST, not underneath somebody’s apostolic organization.

📖 “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 2:5

Then there is the growing obsession with “spiritual fathers.” Paul occasionally used fatherhood language to describe his relationship to believers he had brought the gospel to. But that is a massive distance from creating a hierarchy in which Christians must submit to modern spiritual fathers for covering, impartation, or spiritual advancement.

Jesus warned:

📖 “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” — Matthew 23:9

And what happens when these modern prophets repeatedly make predictions that fail?

The excuses begin.
“The prophecy was delayed.”
“The church didn’t pray enough.”
“The prophet is still learning.”

No.

If you publicly declare “THE LORD TOLD ME”, you have claimed divine authority for your words.

📖 “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass… the prophet has spoken it presumptuously.” — Deuteronomy 18:22

The church does not need celebrity apostles dispensing mantles, prophets announcing personal destinies, spiritual fathers demanding submission, or leaders claiming supernatural “covering.”

We already have a Shepherd.
We already have a Mediator.
We already have a Head of the Church.
HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST.

Pastors and elders are commanded to shepherd God’s people—not dominate them.

📖 “nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” — 1 Peter 5:3

Open your Bible.
Test every prophecy.
Test every “apostle”
Test every doctrine.
And when someone says “God told me,” demand that his teaching withstand the written Word of God.

📖 “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21

CHRIST IS ENOUGH. HIS WORD IS ENOUGH.
-Dan Ortiz

A ex-mormon gave an excellent argument why is the trinity is the only correct way

As a ex-mormon Christian, I never saw this, until a fellow ex-mormon (who is not a Christian by the way) brought up that the trinity the correct. The person showed that is the only way that Christians can have a personal relationship with Jesus. I would say that Christianity gives a much more coherent account of how Jesus can be personally present with, indwell, hear, comfort, and commune with believers while remaining distinct from the Father and Spirit.

Mormonism rejects the trinity, they claim that is a later invention and they claim that Mormonism is the restored Christianity. Instead they falsely teach that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are distinct personages, together in a council which they call 'The godhead'. Although the Book of Mormon contains modalism.

The poster claims that Mormonism makes it impossible to have personal relationship with Jesus because:

Mormons are directed to pray to Heavenly Father, not Jesus.

According their theology the Holy Ghost provides answers, sometimes in the form of comfort, to our prayers.

And Jesus is their advocate with the Father, which doesn't necessarily mean he needs to interact with us, just needs to advocate for us)

The ex-mormon states that if we look at the distinct roles of the godhead, it becomes clear that Jesus is just the guy "behind the scenes" and the Holy Ghost is the only one that interacts with us directly. How does one create a "close and personal" relationship with Jesus under such theology? Mormons rationalize it:

• Jesus answers their prayer (when it really was the Holy Ghost, or some person directed by the Holy Ghost)
• Jesus comforted me (again, that is the Holy Ghost)
• Jesus enabled me to overcome. It is an external catalyst that invokes the an internal response. Which again implies the Holy Ghost directs others to say the right thing, the Holy Ghost "nudges" someone along, Holy Ghost changing someone's heart. So really Jesus is just directing the Holy Ghost behind the scenes but you don't get that directly from Jesus)
• Jesus helped me feel clean after repenting (again, Holy Ghost does that).

The person likens this to a long distance relationship with a rich ruler. The letters are written to the ruler, who passed the letter off to their head servant, who organizes the other servants to answer our request. We never interact with the head servant directly but are supposed to develop a "close and personal" relationship.

He/she argues that developing a "close and personal" relationship with Jesus is very easy under trinitarian theology. Jesus is there every step of the way!

2 Corinthians 13:14, Eph 3:17, Gal 2:20 and especially Matt 28:20 refutes the Mormon view and confirm that Christians can have a personal relationship with both the Holy Spirit and Christ. John 14–16 also discredites the Mormon idea of a council like the Godhead:

>I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever

And John 14:10:

>I am in the Father and the Father is in me

Examples:

• Stephen prays directly to Jesus: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59).
• Paul describes Christians as those who “call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:2).
• Paul himself appeals directly to Christ regarding his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:8–9).
• Revelation depicts the church calling directly upon Christ: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20).
• Jesus promises: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20).

What do you think?

Freedom Has to Be Walked In

“The chair was never strong enough.

But walking away is still a choice.”

I have been thinking about the distinction between being set free and actually learning to live as a free person.

Romans 6 develops that distinction remarkably well.

Paul first establishes what Christ has accomplished. Through our identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the old person has been crucified and we have been raised to walk in newness of life.

Then Paul begins describing our response:

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
— Romans 6:11 (NKJV)

The word reckon matters.

Paul is not telling Christians to pretend they are free or manufacture enough confidence to feel free. He is telling them to regard as settled what Christ has already made true.

Sin is no longer their rightful master.

Their former life is no longer their permanent identity.

They are alive to God through Jesus Christ.

But Paul does not stop with what believers should believe. He moves into how that belief must affect the way they live:

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.”
— Romans 6:12 (NKJV)

Paul does not say that sin will never speak again, that temptation will disappear, or that old desires will never return.

He says not to let sin reign.

That suggests sin may still attempt to issue commands, but it no longer possesses the legitimate authority to rule.

The old master may still have a familiar voice. That does not mean we are still required to obey it.

Familiarity is not authority.

Then Paul says that we should no longer present ourselves as instruments of unrighteousness. Instead, we are to present ourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead.

This is where freedom becomes active.

We do not walk free so Christ will release us.

We walk free because He already has.

Our obedience does not purchase freedom. It is our response to freedom.

That distinction matters because Christians still stumble. If our freedom rests upon flawless performance, every failure becomes evidence that nothing truly changed. Temptation feels like bondage. A fall feels like the chains have returned.

But if freedom rests upon the finished work of Christ, failure does not have to become identity.

We can repent.

We can stand again.

We can keep walking.

A stumble does not restore the old master’s authority. It reminds us of our continued dependence upon grace.

Paul concludes this section with a promise:

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
— Romans 6:14 (NKJV)

Grace does more than pardon us while leaving us under the same ruler. Grace changes our relationship to the power that once controlled us.

That does not mean every old habit immediately disappears.

Some restraints leave marks after they are removed. Some lies have been repeated so often that truth sounds unfamiliar. Some patterns have been reinforced for years, and learning a new way of living requires prayer, discipline, accountability, and repeated surrender.

But difficult is not the same as impossible.

Slow progress is not the same as continued bondage.

Learning to walk does not mean we are still chained to the chair.

We may still hear the old voice.

We may still feel the pull of familiar patterns.

We may still bear scars from where we were once held.

But through Christ, sin no longer has the right to decide where we remain.

How do you understand the relationship between the freedom Christ has already accomplished and the daily decision to walk in that freedom?

Do you know who you really are?

Too many believers spend their lives seeing themselves through the lens of their failures, fears, weaknesses, and past.

But how does God see you in Christ?

Are you nothing more than a weak worm in the dust, constantly waiting for the enemy to defeat you?

Or has God actually made you something new?

Scripture says you are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. You are a new creation. You have been made alive with Christ, brought into His family, and given His Spirit.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
1 John 4:4

Think about that.

The Holy Spirit who dwells in you is not a lesser spirit. He is the Spirit of God.

You have been called to stand against the devil, not bow before him.

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7

You have been given spiritual armor. You have been given authority to stand firm. You have been called an ambassador for Christ.

But don’t confuse confidence in Christ with confidence in yourself.

Your strength isn’t found in how powerful you feel. Your victory isn’t based on your personality, your willpower, or your ability to fight spiritual battles in your own strength.

Your strength is found in Christ.

Paul didn’t say, “Be strong in yourself.”

He said:
“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
Ephesians 6:10

That’s the difference.

You don’t have to live like a spiritual victim when Christ has called you to stand.

You don’t have to spend your life terrified of the enemy when Scripture tells you to resist him.

You don’t have to define yourself by your past when God has made you new in Christ.

So stop asking only, “What is wrong with me?”

Start asking, “What has God made me in Christ?”

You are not your sin.

You are not your failures.

You are not your fears.

You are not the accusations of the enemy.

If you belong to Christ, your identity begins with Him.

Know who you are.

Know whose you are.

Stand in what Christ has accomplished.
-Map Journey

GUILT - THE ENEMY’S POTENT WEAPON

When you cling to guilt, you punish yourself for what heaven has forgiven and undermine the power of the finished work of Christ. Let go of any guilt, trust that you are completely forgiven, justified and accepted.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1, NIV)

1:08 video! Shows how completely STUPID and careless the stars of the Deliverance Movement are getting with their teaching
Vlad does not know how to teach the Bible if his life depended on it!

Numbers do lie.

We are far too impressed by numbers.

Thousands attended. Hundreds were baptized. People came forward. People supposedly “receive the Holy Ghost all day long” And somehow the size of the crowd becomes their evidence that God must be in it.

But numbers do not prove truth.

There are more than a billion Muslims and more than a billion Hindus. Hundreds of millions follow forms of Buddhism.

A billion people believing something does not make it true.

The largest church in my town is an actual cult.

Sincerity is not truth. Popularity is not truth. Experience is not truth.

God’s Word is truth.

A packed church proves nothing. A long baptism line proves nothing. Emotional experiences and supposed spiritual manifestations prove nothing. Speaking in ecstatic, unintelligible speech and calling it the filling of the Holy Spirit does not make it the work of God.

EVERYTHING must be tested by Scripture.

And Jesus gave us a warning that should destroy our obsession with numbers:

“For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” Matthew 7:13

Many.

Jesus never said the crowd was evidence that you were on the right road. He warned that the crowd may actually be traveling the wrong one.

Even more sobering, some will stand before Christ saying, “Lord, Lord,” pointing to the extraordinary things they did in His name, only to hear: “I never knew you.” Matthew 7:23

So stop asking, “How can this many people be wrong?”

Ask, “What does the Word of God say?”

A church can have thousands and preach a false gospel. A religion can have a billion followers and still be false. Millions can sincerely believe a lie.

Paul said even if an angel from heaven preached another gospel, reject it.
(Galatians 1:8)

That is the standard. Not crowds, baptisms, experiences, signs and wonders.

And especially not church growth.

Scripture is the only sure standard.

The road to destruction is wide. The road to true life is narrow.

The crowd does not determine truth.

God does, and He has spoken in His Word.

Thankful that this community doesn’t have much to report! Things were pretty hectic for a bit behind the scenes with people reaching out for help. But if anyone you know is struggling to deconstruct from Deliverance teaching or is currently bewitched by it please, please refer them to this subreddit or tó me! Feel free to DM and I’d be more than happy to try to help long distance however I may

I myself am not a counselor to be clear. But Ive had my own share of experience in this field and have studied this harmful occult teaching for several years. I’m currently pursuing a degree towards ordination

I myself am still a practicing Christian but it’s okay if you’re not! I will help who I can despite your beliefs system. What’s important is saving people from this cult influenced system

What’s something that makes you thankful this week? Any particular event or blessing from this week?

This was written by a Facebook friend of mine! Really well thought out. Sad this needs to be a promoted idea still within Christianity in the 21 century but here it is

The Bible does not teach two different ways of salvation, one for Old Testament saints and another for New Testament believers. From beginning to end, sinners are saved by the grace of God through faith in His promise, and that promise finds its fulfilment in Jesus Christ.

Abraham was not justified by works, law keeping, circumcision, or nationality. Scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Paul goes even further and says that the gospel was preached beforehand to Abraham (Galatians 3:8). David likewise described the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works (Romans 4:6–8).

The Old Testament believer looked forward to what God had promised. We look back upon what Christ has accomplished. They did not possess the same fullness of revelation that we now have, but the object of saving faith was never human merit. Hebrews 11 shows generation after generation living and dying by faith, trusting promises whose ultimate fulfilment was still ahead.

Habakkuk had already declared, “The righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4), and Paul takes that same truth directly into the heart of the gospel in Romans 1:17.

So there is not an Old Testament salvation by law and a New Testament salvation by grace. There has always been one saving grace, one righteousness received by faith, and ultimately one Saviour.

Christ did not introduce a second road to God. He is the fulfilment of the only road God ever promised.

Jeremiah Knight