One of the biggest and most widespread false teachings and beliefs in the church is the idea that if someone says with their mouth they believe in Jesus, they are a Christian, they are saved, and no one must EVER question that! How did we ever get to this point of buying into such nonsense? All that mere words qualify a person to be is a demon:
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe–and shudder! James 2:19
This is the reason why the wicked, including abusers, are able to carry on their masquerade in our churches. And it is the reason why so many abuse victims are put through so much doubt, fog, misery, and grief. “But he is a Christian, isn’t he?” No. Somehow like the black plague this lie has been spread by the false teachings of rats for a long, long time. Think of the devastation it causes, the faith of the weak it extinguishes, the distortions of God’s own character it promotes. A wicked person is not a Christian!
“If you confess with your mouth….”. Yes, but don’t stop there. “And believe in your heart…” (Romans 10). A transformed heart, you see. A heart that evidences it’s changed nature by the fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control. That is a Christian.
Over and over and over again we get validated reports of churches insisting that the wicked, including abusers, are indeed children of God. The thing is preposterous. It denies the Cross and tramples underfoot the blood of the Son of God shed for us. It adds even more wicked ones to our churches where they hide as “hidden reefs” (Jude 1:12).
Jesus did not regard the Pharisees and scribes as children of God. Why do we?
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)
no one down here
Right doctrine, holy living, and love for the brethren—1 John
They may have right doctrine, but they shot both the holy living and the love clear out of the picture. Failed 2 of the 3 tests.
Unfortunately, so much has been taught opposite of this… that even in reading it black and white in Scripture itself… still have a struggle saying the words
“He is unregenerate.”
“He is not a christian.”
“He is evil.”
“He is apostate”
“He is wicked”
“He lies like his father, the devil.”
OfTim
Unfortunately they seem to honestly believe they are loving and living holy. They think oppressing victims is “loving” and “godly”. They believe their own lies.
no one down here
This hits at what puzzles me most. The church thinks they are loving the victim by doing the best possible thing … in working to get the victim to forgive and restore whatever relationship… I kinda get that. I would maybe have agreed had I not personally experienced the nightmare of continuous abuse… So, I do understand where they are coming from, and why it is so hard for the church to just throw someone out. Plus, they desperately want to take credit for a success story haha!
Two things
1) To barely scratch the surface of the abuse that happened (not ready or able to publicly tell this story… ) I don’t understand how a person can control every aspect of your life and also look you straight in the eye and say “I don’t wish to control you.” Or how a person can constantly tear you down and also say “I have loved you as best as possible.” I don’t understand how a person can be caught in lie after lie after lie, and then say “I am not lying” and have the church believe that.
2) I don’t understand how the abuser can get away with perpetuating the “I am righteous” attitude after being brought to the church. I still am all the time puzzled, because I tend to think that SURELY they will see… I mean, the abuse is documented. Admitted to. And now everything is suddenly turned upside down and a different story is being perpetuated… and I don’t understand how that happens.
Why does truth not win?