[An excerpt from a new book titled “Basically Evil” coming this fall]
In today’s working of ministry you can find evidence of worldly mannerisms present all over the place in the body of Christ, one of these is the manner of cloning one another’s ministry. As many see Hillsong Church Australia as the ultimate in praise and worship leaders try to mimic their ministerial venue, however, Hillsong’s sphere of ministry is unique to its call to ministry and nothing in the word indicates it’s OK to mimic this Holy Spirit mandate. This kind of effort is evil in its purpose seen in the fact that the devil will even appear as an angel of light mimicking many aspects of the Lord’s fleshly ministry.
2 Cor 11:13-15 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Ministerial achievements are always wrapped in an appointed work, never in gaining glory by copying another ministry’s anointing. Since every work of ministry is founded in the call of God and purposed to fulfill His will, leaderships seeking peer praise for stroking a so-called ministerial ego, is actual plagiarism. 2 Cor 10:12-18 12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us–a sphere which especially includes you.
The word boasting as used in the next verse can readily be rendered to mean either glory or glorying. 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Ministry was never meant to be about a plagiarizing of one another’s efforts in order to glory in testimony of saving those who are lost. 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
This cloning as I call it is nothing more than a subtle work of evil winding its way into the methods historically used by ministries and churches for an emotional response. Revealed in the fact that when glory isn’t of the Spirit of God, mimicking the efforts of another ministry appears to be. 17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
There’s always ministerial works common to all by the Spirit of God as He moves among the efforts of churches and ministries, but mannerisms of cloning another’s ministry presently in the church is not a work He endorses. We’ve been told this kind of thing is going to occur, and sadly enough they’ll be successful because of individuals clamoring to be a part of the action who willingly dole along
2 Peter 2:1-3 (MSG) 1 But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, 2 but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong. They give the way of truth a bad name.
Nothing in what these religious leaders do is aligned to bringing about good tidings of truth for any spiritual prosperity of others. 3 They’re only out for themselves. They’ll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you. They won’t, of course, get by with it. They’ll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on. The sooner, the better I say.
Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thank you
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