Don’t ignore red flags…
When you’re part of a church that operates in manipulation and control, there will always be red flags. I ignored so many red flags because I didn’t want to “hinder revival”, I didn’t want to accuse anyone, I didn’t want to be a gossip or slanderer. I knew that things I was seeing, hearing, observing and discerning were off but I ignored it. I began to question myself rather than follow discernment that I now believe was from the Lord.
In these settings, church members are often taught or it’s subtlety communicated that the enemy is always attacking and seeking to divide and create disunity. There is huge emphasis on the enemy and on spiritual warfare. It is said that because the church has such a great mandate or call or because they are actually battling and doing things for God that the enemy is going to try to stop them.
Although there is a real enemy, to live under the impression that your church is doing something special that no one else is doing or when there are genuine questions or concerns then it’s the enemy influencing people, is a problem. This type of environment makes it difficult to bring forth questions or concerns because “it’s just the enemy”, “that person is a Jezebel”, or “they have a spirit of religion”.
This type of environment breeds spiritual elitism and pride. People become convinced that they are God’s remnant and that other Christians outside are lukewarm and other churches are “dead”. I’m not just saying this because it’s what I think. This happened to me.
People naturally want to be a part of something and they desire to have influence and importance. It doesn’t take long for things to get carnal when there is spiritual mixture present and folks veer from scripture. This is why understanding the gospel is so crucial. All who are in Christ are the same, we are His body. We don’t need anyone else to hear God for us. There are no special anointings or mantles this side of the cross. There is no special knowledge or secrets in the New Covenant. We may have different gifts and callings, but no one is elite and no one is to lord over another person. We humbly submit one to another in the Lord.
When I didn’t understand the gospel, the New Covenant or my identity in Christ, I fell for a lot of teachings that were not anchored in truth. I fell for doctrinal error, Gnosticism and legalistic mixture. Understanding the gospel and the New Covenant has literally changed every aspect of my life.
The gospel is so much more than a message about Jesus dying on the cross and that’s how we get saved. The New Covenant that we now have because of His finished work changed everything. It’s so important for us to know what we have in Christ because it safeguards us from being led astray. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Don’t ignore red flags. Don’t be afraid to ask your questions. People are free to change churches or leave a ministry at any time, if you feel like you can’t do that without guilt, backlash, being accused of being in rebellion, being accused of walking away from God, being slandered, or losing friends then you’re likely in a controlling church.
