The Ballestero Blog

If My Pastor Went Charismatic

Most Apostolics have been blessed with a wonderful pastor whom we think is the best in the world. We love our church family and feel safe in our knowledge of God’s word.

Every now and then we hear unsettling news of a pastor somewhere who has led the flock astray from the old paths. We shake our heads in dismay and our hearts ache.

That kind of news makes good saints pray for their pastor even more and thank God for him. It makes them feel a greater thankfulness for their own church and for truth.

We pray to God that we will never have to live through something like that. But, God forbid, what if it happened in the church we attend? What would we do? How would we react? I cannot speak for anyone but myself, so for what its worth, here’s what I would do.

After carefully listening to him preach and promote his approval of things that the Bible disapproves of, the things we have been taught, and things he used to preach against.

I Would…

• Not agree with him.
• Be horrified.
• Recognize his doctrine as false.
• Be disappointed in my pastor.
• Be fearful for my family and myself.
• Pray for him.
• Ask to meet with him.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.

I Would…

• In a humble spirit question the direction he was taking the church.
• Express my concern and fears.
• Respectfully remind him of what he used to preach.
• Remind him of what our elders taught us.
• Try to reason with him.
• Show a good spirit.

If That Meeting Didn’t End Well…

I Would…

• Take other members with me for a second talk.

Matt. 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

If That Meeting Didn’t End Well Either…

I Would…

• Pray for him.
• Pray for the safety of the souls of my family.
• Realize God had given him a delusion because he didn’t receive a love for the Truth.

2Thess. 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2Thess. 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I Would Understand…

• Just because he is compromising, doesn’t mean I have to go with him.
• Just because he’s convince of a damnable lie doesn’t mean I am.
• Just because he is preaching false doctrine, doesn’t mean I have to let my family be indoctrinated and cursed too.
• He was in false doctrine.
• He was wresting the scriptures to his own destruction.
• If I stayed, I would be lost, just like him.
• That in the Old Testament God always cursed the kings that led Israel astray.
• He is a heretic, and I reject him.

Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

G141 (Thayer) heretick

“schismatic, factious, a follower of a false doctrine”

I Would Recognize…

• Like God lifted his anointing from Saul, God was lifting it from my pastor too.
• That when men lose their revelation of Holiness, the revelation of the Godhead always seems to be next.
• Immorality may be the next monster to surface in that environment. It almost always has.

I Would…

• Leave!
• I would NOT be disrespectful.
• Understand this is not a normal transfer, this is life or death.
• Realize I don’t need his permission or blessing to go, the Bible gives it to me.
• Encourage all my family and friends to go with me, “pulling them from the fire.”
• Plead the Blood over my family against the seducing spirits.
• Find a church that was truly Apostolic in doctrine, worship and holiness.
• I would go there and be grateful that Truth was being preached.
• I would do my best to be the best saint in my new church.
• I would pray daily that God keep my new pastor in truth and support him.

May God Keep Us All Safe From False Doctrine!

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Additional References:

Mark Them And Don’t Fellowship Them

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

 

False Prophets Are Among You

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Some Pervert The Gospel

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.