Unholy Charade - Jeff Crippen

Unmasking the Domestic Abuser in the Church

Author: Jeff Crippen Page 32 of 88

Easy-Believism Introduces Evil into the Church

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On September 12, 2022

In Biblical Teaching, Evil

Jas 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

I noticed this past week, since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, how quickly and easily certain Christian leaders are to pronounce someone a “fine Christian.” Franklin Graham did so in regard to the Queen. Franklin’s son was interviewed and quite a thing was made about how the new King, Charles III, mentioned “Almighty God” in one of his first addresses as King.

Now, obviously I don’t mix it up familiarly with royalty. I never had a chat with Queen Elizabeth about the gospel. But I do know that Billy Graham and his association very quickly and easily labeled people as “Christians” who in no way held to the gospel of Christ. Martyn Lloyd-Jones confronted Graham on this point when Graham asked MLJ to support a series of evangelistic meetings in England. MLJ responded by telling Graham that if he would stop having leaders in false churches (Rome and some portions of the Church of England) on the platform with him, MLJ could support the meetings. Graham would not comply.

The Queen/King of England holds the position of being the head of the Church of England (a duality of office which the Bible does not endorse) and, ever since the days of wicked King Henry VIII, the English monarch has held the title “Defender of the Faith.”

Now, why should we be thrilled that King Charles III bears this “Defender of the Faith” title? Because there have been few, if any, English monarchs who have defended the faith! Just what faith is it that is to be defended? Biblically, it would be the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the doctrines Christ declared, as recorded in Holy Scripture. But this certainly is not the “faith” England’s royalty are known to defend.

What would true “defending of the faith” look like? Well, something like this:

Gal 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— (7) not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (8) But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (9) As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

But is it not fair to question that the English “Defenders of the Faith” ever spoke as the Apostle Paul did here? The Church of England is only a half-step away from the apostate “church” of Rome – and in the case of some of its theologians and clergy, not even a half-step. Where is the monarch? Have you ever heard of the King or Queen of England insisting that false teachers and ministers be expelled from the church? I haven’t.

Here is the point I am getting at. This business of pronouncing people to be Christians so readily and easily introduces evil into Christ’s church. The same spirit is what pronounces the abusers of so many of you to be fine saints and leaves them in the church to keep right on wearing their disguise. English Royalty does not enjoy a stellar reputation for Christian holiness. Scandals are no stranger to Buckingham Palace. And yet I have very little doubt that just because they were baptized as infants and are members of the Church of England, many people would be quite irate at any implication that such people are not true Christians.

One final point suggested here for your consideration. Think biblically. Think about how Moses, the OT prophets, Jesus, and the Apostles related to Kings and Queens of their day. Were they popular and well-respected by royalty? In a few cases, I think so (Isaiah and King Uzziah for instance. David and Samuel). But for the largest part, these godly ones, including and especially the Son of God, were hated by the rulers of the age. Why, then, was Billy Graham so popular with so many world rulers? It is a fair question and is asked as a result of comparing what we see with what the Word of God says. After all, the Scripture does say this:

1Co 2:7-8 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. (8) None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Getting the Log Out First

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On September 7, 2022

In Counseling

Mat 7:3-4 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (4) Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?

The Lord Jesus addressed these words (as verse 5 will show) to hypocrites who judged others in a condemning spirit all the while having huge sin in their own lives. They projected to others a speck of the very sin that they themselves were walking in.

I am not applying these verses to hypocrites as such, but I cite them to illustrate how vital it is that we look to ourselves before rushing off to instruct others. Let me explain.

With some frequency, survivors of abuse or of some other kind of evil will tell me, with great enthusiasm, that they have a great desire to help others who are victims of the same wickedness that they have been through. This happened to me recently when a lady came up to me (I didn’t know her and I am not sure why she picked me out) and began telling me how she had started a podcast with the mission of exposing child abuse hiding in churches. She said that her husband had molested her children (she had 3 and another on the way). And she went on and on (preaching, you could say) about this evil that is pervasive, how it is demonic….and she focused on the subject of spiritual warfare, tearing down fortresses, and so on. I literally could not get a word in.

Now, I don’t question her sincerity, but I do question her ability. I could tell that her understanding of this subject was flawed and that the advice she would be giving others would also necessarily be flawed. I finally was able to respond (I actually had to interrupt her in order to speak). I told her that her husband was not going to change (she objected to that idea) and that most probably she was going to end up going back to him. He would then, after convincing her that he had had a “spiritual awakening” and was now healed by the Lord…he would then molest the children again. She would not have that and objected to my counsel.

But here is my point. It takes time for us to grow wise. To get the log out of our own eye. And until we gain the Lord’s wisdom, we are not ready to launch out in some ministry of instructing others. Just think about how deceptive evil is. How your abuser had you duped for so long. How he (or she) convinced you of so many lies and how coming to see these things took a long time.

What I am saying I suppose is this: Until we are healed ourselves, we are not ready to help others. The physician who has not yet seen his own disease should not be opening up his own clinic.

When a person, like the lady who approached me, when such a person launches out and starts to instruct others – no matter how sincere their intent might be – when they do this while still having the log in their own eye, inevitably their “ministry to others” is really about themselves. You will see it in the online articles they write. You can hear it in their words. And while thinking that their goal is to help others, the fact is that they end up focusing largely upon themselves. This is not helpful to them or to anyone else.

It is true that the Lord most typically uses people who have been through the fire to help others who are still in that same fire. But, as he did with Moses, He first takes us into the wilderness until in His time and in His way, He is ready to use us.

What Goes on in the Mind of the Wicked?

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On September 5, 2022

In Abusers

Pro 23:7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.

Thoughts are rather easy to conceal. To some extent, that is a good thing. You would not want to know everything that goes on in my head, nor I yours. But the discrepancy between the inner thoughts of a wicked person and his outward persona is a favorite tool of evil.

2Co 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

As a person thinks…that is who the person really is. What goes on in the mind of the person who wears an “eminent, holy, Christian” mask? What is he or she thinking? The remarkable thing is that such a person probably doesn’t fully know their own thoughts! I doubt that Mr. Domestic Abuser walks into church on Sunday actively thinking, “I will act and speak in such and such a manner in order to dupe these people and hide who I really am.” Nevertheless, his thought machine is still operating. He knows that his holy front will bring him rewards.

I suspect that this “thinking” I am speaking of is a kind of automatic, sub-conscious thing. As the Proverb says, it is who he is. His thoughts are always about himself. How he can be praised. How he can benefit. How he can put others down. How he will get revenge. His sin is a program that constantly runs in his mind and it is always about self, self, self.

Certainly we all are born into this world as sinners and our minds at that time were pre-programed to think in such a way that our words and actions always sought to benefit, ME. When Christ grabbed hold of us, showed us our sin and terrified us with the demands of His Law, He put us to death with Him on the cross. He erased, you might say, that original program of sin and made us new creations. While we still battle the sin that strives to reclaim us, the fact is that our new minds have new thoughts. As a Christian thinks in his heart, so is he. Self is no longer on the throne. Christ is. We love others rather than use and abuse them. And when we sin, we are cut to the core and we repent.

Not so the evil man. Confront him with his hypocrisy. Show him his sin. Expose his wicked thoughts. What will be the result? Gnashing of teeth. Murderous hatred. It is who he is. A child of the evil one.

More Thoughts on Alexander

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On September 2, 2022

In Supporting Victims

I have written before on the following scripture and would like to share some more thoughts which I believe will be helpful:

2Ti 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. (15) Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.

Many of you have experienced additional suffering when one of your friends (questionable) or family continued to associate with the evil person who abused you. Perhaps you left the wicked one and various acquaintances expressed their sympathy, but then you learn that they are remaining on good terms with your oppressor.

Now, think about Paul and Alexander and Timothy. We don’t know exactly what Alexander had done to do Paul great harm. But it was great harm and Alexander did it zealously (he “strongly opposed” the gospel Paul preached). In fact his evil was so deep that Paul says that the Lord is going to pay him for what he has done on the Day when Christ comes again.

So, after that warning to Timothy (so that Timothy isn’t taken in by Alexander and harmed himself) what if….

…what if Timothy decided he could do better than Paul and so he sets out to go pay Alexander a friendly visit and see if he could work things out? Or what if Timothy simply decided that he wanted to stay on good terms with Alexander himself? For whatever reason, ask yourself this – how would such behavior by Timothy have affected Paul? Not only would he have been angry with Timothy for disregarding him, he would have been just plain hurt that Timothy had seen fit to keep associating with a man who had done so much evil toward Paul.

So, anyone out there who is choosing to keep right on associating with someone who harmed or abused a person who you claim is a friend of yours, you had better just put on the brakes, blow the puffed up air out of your pride, and consider just what your actions are doing to this person you claim is your friend, or brother, or daughter…. Just maybe you will realize that you are socializing with Alexander the Coppersmith.

Bunyan Agrees – These Kind do not Repent

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On August 31, 2022

In Abusers, Evil

I have been reading through John Bunyan’s great sermon/article entitled “The Barren Fig Tree.” As you probably know, I maintain that the domestic abuser/sociopath who puts on wool to disguise himself/herself as a Christian, never repents. Never. I have had, on occasion, victims of such people get quite angry with me, insisting that “their God” is big enough to save anyone. But there are some things that even God cannot and will not do – like saving the devil. God will not and cannot save a person who refuses to repent – like Pharaoh.

Bunyan agrees. Listen to what he says as he addresses the Barren Fig Tree – ie, the fruitless “Christian” who has crowded into Christ’s church:

Barren fig tree, can it be imagined that those that paint themselves did ever repent of their pride? Or that those who pursue this world did ever repent of their covetousness? Or that those who walk with wanton eyes did ever repent of their fleshly lusts? Where, Barren Fig Tree, is the fruit of these people’s repentance? No, do they not rather declare to the world that they have repented of their profession (of Christ)? Their pride says they have repented of their humility. Their covetousness declares that they are weary of depending upon God? Where is your fruit, Barren Fig Tree?

The barren fig tree, john bunyan

It is one thing for a sinner to repent, by God’s gracious working and calling, who never played the hypocrite in Christ’s church. It is quite another species of sinner who, for years, play-acts the appearance of a Christian but, like the Pharisees, is a mere whitewashed tomb full of stinking decaying bones.

This kind, this abuser, this sociopath who wears the disguise of eminent saint, never repents. Unlike Saul of Tarsus, the once-Pharisee who became the Apostle Paul, these wicked ones are “holy” only when it benefits them to wear the disguise. But behind the scenes, that mask comes off and they are who they really are – evil and wicked. Paul lived “ignorantly in unbelief” before Christ grabbed him and saved him. Paul was never a mask-wearing hypocrite.

Hypocrites Brazenly Enter Christ’s Church – fearlessly

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On August 29, 2022

In Abusers, Evil

The following is taken from a sermon-article written by John Bunyan way back in the 1600’s. Nothing has changed. Hypocrites, counterfeits – people like abusers and other evil ones – evidence a remarkable and shocking boldness in making a profession of Christ and creeping into His church with no fear of God at all.

This sermon of Bunyan’s was entitled “The Barren Fig Tree” and the following is taken from it. Read it carefully and thoughtfully – and be encouraged that the devil’s tactics are not new and have been discovered by Christ’s true people for centuries. Bunyan’s Scripture text was this:

Luk 13:6-9 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. (7) And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ (8) And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. (9) Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

In HIS vineyard. Hypocrites, with rotten hearts, are not afraid to come before God in Sion. These words therefore suggest unto us a prodigious [remarkably gross] kind of boldness and hardened fearlessness. For what presumption higher, and what attempt more desperate, than for a man that lacks [saving] grace, and the true knowledge of God, to crowd himself, in that condition, into the house or church of God; or to make profession of, and desire that the name of God should be called upon him?

For the man that makes a profession of the religion of Jesus Christ, that man has, as it were, put the name of God upon himself, and is called and reckoned now, however fruitless before God or men, the man that has to do with God, the man that God owns, and will stand for. This man, I say, by his profession, suggests this to all that know him to be such a professor[ie, one who professes to be a Christian].

Men who are merely natural [ie, the typical unsaved man], I mean men that have not got the devilish art of hypocrisy, are afraid to think of doing thus. ‘And of the rest durst no man join himself to them; but the people magnified them’ (Acts 5:13).

And, indeed, it displeases God. ‘Ye have brought,’ saith he, ‘men uncircumcised into my sanctuary’ (Eze 44:7). And again, ‘When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?’ saith God (Isa 1:12).

They [these counterfeits] have therefore learned this boldness of no one in the visible world, they only learned it of the devil, for he, and he only, with these his disciples, attempt to present themselves in the church before God. ‘The tares are the children of the wicked one.’ The tares, that is, the hypocrites, that are Satan’s brood, the generation of vipers, that cannot escape the damnation of hell.

Bunyan, Bunyan. The Works of John Bunyan, complete, including 58 books . B&R Samizdat Express. Kindle Edition.

Wolves in Wool

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On August 28, 2022

In Abusers, Biblical Teaching, Evil

This is a true truth quote from John Bunyan that I just wanted to share with you:

You have some professors [ie, people who profess to be Christians] that are only saints before men when they are abroad [in public] but are devils and vipers at home; saints by profession, but devils by practice; saints in word, but sinners in heart and life. These men may have the profession, but they lack the fruits that adorn true repentance.

The Barren Fig Tree, John Bunyan

Faith is the Key

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On August 24, 2022

In Biblical Teaching, Getting Free

1Jn 5:4-5 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (5) Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

We are reminded here once more that victory over the enemy of our souls – Satan and his world kingdom – is faith. Faith in Christ. Believing that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. BUT, note that this faith only comes to us when we have been born of God. You must be born again. Examine yourself carefully and honestly. There are myriads of people who claim to be Christians, who simply assume that they are and that therefore all is well between them and God. But few are really saved. Jesus said so. The gate is narrow that leads to life and few are they who find it.

The faith which the Lord gives His people as a gift by His grace, is a key. It is the very thing by which we overcome the world and enjoy victory. Faith in Christ. Faith in His promises. It is that shield of faith by which we extinguish all the lies and other assaults thrown at us by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Believing the Lord’s Word. Believing His truth and His promises.

Those of you who have read The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan will recall that Christian and Hopeful, through a moment’s carelessness, got off the Way and ended up in the Giant Despair’s dungeon. His assaults and those of his wife (Diffidence) so worked on their minds that they almost gave up hope and Christian in particular entertained the idea of suicide – planted in his thinking by the Giant.

And then, just when things were darkest, Christian realized he had been quite foolish. Why? Because he remembered that all along he had a key. The key that would open up all the doors of the prison and lead to freedom. Sure enough, he used that key and out they went.

The key was faith. Faith in the Word and Promises of the Lord. Faith, as John says, is the victory by which we overcome the world. The issue, you see, is not even so much the particular evils assaulting us, but whether or not we have this key (whether we are really born again or not), and if we have it, will we remember and use it? Is God’s Word to us true? Are His promises certain and reliable? The enemy whispers, “no.”

Faith answers with YES!

Faith is the Victory

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On August 23, 2022

In Biblical Teaching, Evil

Mat 8:24-27 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. (25) And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” (26) And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (27) And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Why are we afraid? No doubt that was the disciples’ initial reaction to Jesus’ question. “Can’t you see? Look around! The boat is about to go down and us with it!”

They had gone and awakened him and asked him, “Save us, Lord.” But apparently their faith in Him did not extend to the ability to command the winds and the sea! They were about to witness the Creator of the universe do something they could not imagine. “Be still!” And there was immediately a great calm.

“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” You have these storms in your life, often brought on by wicked people. For all appearances, the storm is winning and you are perishing. But if you know Christ, if you are in Him, if you have been born again by faith in Him, then the fact is that He is the Sovereign over that storm. In reality, you are not perishing. Christ is in the boat with you and all He need do is speak, and evil must obey Him.

Our problem is not so much our circumstances, it is rather, our little faith. Christ has promised us. Not a single one of us will perish. He won’t lose us. He loves and cares for us. His promises to us are sure and certain. He will provide for us. He will preserve our faith, though it be little, right up to our time of departure from this world. He has effected our justification by His own righteousness imputed to us so that the real storm of God’s wrath will pass us by.

Look at how Mark tells it:

Mar 4:35-41 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” (36) And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. (37) And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. (38) But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (39) And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (40) He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (41) And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Isn’t that the question you often ask? Does Jesus care? Here you are, sinking in evil at the hands of the wicked, and is Jesus taking a nap? Does He know? And if He does, does He care?

His answer – “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Faith, you see, faith in Christ, is how we overcome the storms that for all appearances seem ready to destroy us. His promises are true. He does care. The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. A GREAT calm. Ocean as flat as a lake. Not even a breeze. And one day He is coming again. He will speak, and the raging of sin in this wicked world is going to halt forever.

Why are you so afraid?

You are a Pilgrim on a Journey

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On August 17, 2022

In Biblical Teaching

Heb 11:13-14 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (14) For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

It is vital that we clearly understand the nature of this present life. If we fail to do so, we open ourselves up to all kinds of attacks and discouragements. We are going somewhere. We are on a pilgrimage. For the Christian, the destination is Heaven, the Kingdom of God, the New Heavens and Earth.

Listen to this introduction to The Pilgrim’s Progress, written by the editor of the 3-Volume set of John Bunyan’s works: [I have edited the wording a bit to help us better get through some old English language] –

The pilgrimage of life is a deeply-interesting subject…every individual of our race is on pilgrimage, from the cradle to the grave. It is the progress of our soul through time to the entrance to eternity. And it is beset on all sides and at every moment with spiritual foes of the deepest cunning. We travel through enemy country, all the while uncertain of how many years the journey will take, only certain that it must terminate and usher us into eternity – either of exquisite happiness, or awful misery. How natural then that every person’s life be called by this appropriate name – a pilgimage.

1Pe 2:11-12 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (12) Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

These are instructions to every Christian throughout the world; all are warned of the necessity of sobriety and vigilant watchfulness, ‘because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour….He shall cast some of you into prison, so that you might be tested; be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.’

All mankind are pilgrims; all are pressing through this world: the Christian willingly considers that his life is a journey, because he is seeking a better country. But the majority of human beings are very anxious to suppress any thought that this present time is a preparation for eternity, and, in consequence of this neglect, they shudder when approaching the brink of the grave, into which they irresistibly plunge.

Although this world is filled with examples that warn them that suddenly, in a moment when they least expect the fatal catastrophe that may befall them, still they behave as if they were intoxicated and make no inquiry at all into the Holy Scriptures to find how they might escape the second death. Instead, they take and accept the miserable advice of some “worldly-wise man” and seek a refuge in lies, all of which death will one day sweep away.

Every person is traveling and advancing. Time hurries on those who insist on remaining in the foul, fascinating and alluring streets of the ‘city of destruction’ (this present world)…and they do so to their eternal doom.

Every person, except…those whose anxious prayers lead them to Christ. These press on in that narrow and difficult way that leads to the heavenly Jerusalem.

George Offor, 1861

This pilgrimage is very difficult and hard many times for Christ’s people. If you know Christ and He knows you, then you know at least some of this difficulty. Numbers of you are in it now, dealing with the persecutions from some evil person – a spouse, a family member, or just people of this world in general. But here is the point I want to direct you to – this pilgrimage has a termination point. It has a destination. The trip doesn’t last forever. Christ is waiting for us and in fact, He has promised to travel with us the whole way. There may be no present quick remedy for the trials you are in right now, but there is One who can enable you to press on and make it through. Ultimately, Jesus Christ is our strength and our hope and life. By faith in Him, we overcome…and we will surely get to that Celestial City Bunyan’s Christian pilgrim had his eyes set upon.

One final note: Satan wants to convince you that your pilgrimage has no destination. That it is itself eternal. That there is no end to your troubles. This is a lie from the Father of Lies. In fact, the truth is that our earthly lives are but a vapor that soon passes away. A few years or perhaps even a few more days, and we will have arrived. Believe these promises from the Lord and take comfort in them.

1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

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