While I do not trust psychology because it is largely based upon the precepts of men and not on the Word of God, I find certain repetitive principles in that realm that have bearing on prophetic truth. Not being educated in the study of the human mind, I am unaware of any clinical term for the pattern I would like to expose here. The unfortunate people that have been caught in this deception may be called, for lack of a better term, the victims of validation.

    The human mind is a wonderful thing. It is also a dreadfully vulnerable component to our being in that the Devil knows and understands our weaknesses better than we do. The Bible instructs us to "trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). Colossians further cautions us that we can be destroyed through "vain deceit" and a worldly mindset that functions in accordance with "the tradition of men [and] the rudiments of the world." (Colossians 2:8).

    The Bible also informs us that when we are deceived, we become deceivers as well. II Timothy demonstrates this progressive decline when it says "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (II Timothy 3:13). Indeed, this passage is placed in the context of the last days, when the conditions that have been working to bring about the inevitable desolation of mankind, will become extreme.

    Over the years I've found an intellectual device that people use to help bolster their own decisions. This process is a convoluted mechanism that people seem to involuntarily utilize to justify a choice they have found to be uncomfortable. I'm certain the principle has wide application, but I've repeatedly encountered it in the context of acceptance or rejection of various prophetic statements that I've issued. There are many variations on this theme, but the scenario usually goes something like this:

     A new listener of our radio broadcasts contacts me with a sincere enthusiasm for the prophetic message Christian Media is putting forth. They are frequently very excited to find someone of like mind, and the joy of their salvation seems to be rekindled as they pursue the various teachings and predictive revelations that God has given us. All is well for a time.

     Eventually, everyone's 'sacred cow' gets gored at Christian Media. It can be almost anything, but it's usually a deep-seated doctrinal position that is held by our new found friend. While they are disturbed at the discovery that we don't agree with them on _________ (fill in the blank), they keep that consternation at a low profile and continue to absorb our radio teachings, as they study the various printed publications the ministry produces. But something has changed.

     The new convert to our cause eventually becomes disillusioned and disturbed, because the very thing that attracted them to me has now become an irritation - and that is the authority with which I teach prophecy. Because the doctrinal stumblingblock is simply non-negotiable in our friend's spiritual makeup, he (or she) begins to generate a resentment that will manifest itself on a different issue.

     It may take almost any form, but the pattern is consistent. They muster up the courage to pick a fight and initiate a conflict over another issue - and that issue is never the true source of their antagonism. Usually it starts with a disarming letter, or an email. The communiqué can be innocuous. What do you think about this, they query. Suddenly, the person is outraged at your answer in a response that is completely disproportionate to the importance of the interaction.

     Many people have experienced this veritable storm of pent up emotions in a similar fashion. What seemed to be a minor disagreement suddenly mushrooms into a crisis that completely threatens the stability of the relationship.

     I first noticed the pattern in the myriad of dealings I've had with adherents to the pre-tribulation Rapture doctrine. The Rapturists are frequently attracted to my intensity as many of them desire a closer relationship with God, and many of them are indeed troubled by the signs of the times. They sense the power in the prophetic mantle I have, and they are drawn to it. Then they find I am not only an adamant opponent of their central doctrine, but that I am willing to authoritatively tell them they are going to the Lake of Fire if they continue to cling to the lying spirit that has inspired what I've referred to as the theological charade of the century.

     Now offended, they are scripturally cornered because they've unexpectedly encountered someone that speaks with prophetic authority that has claimed the power of God in no uncertain terms. While this is not dissimilar to the prophetic gifts that are seen throughout the Scriptures, modern man is commonly taken aback when he encounters someone that is willing to actually stand up and say 'thus saith the Lord.' In a sea of "scholars" and prophecy "authors" putting forth dozens of toothless theories, the spiritual power manifested by a genuine prophet is daunting. And it demands a response.

     Thus, the subject has become seriously conflicted in that they while they initially welcomed that spiritual power, the voice they heard has now come into conflict with their tradition - the domain of intellect and emotional familiarity. Something's got to give, and in the Rapturist's case, because they cannot produce a viable Scriptural argument in favor of their false doctrine, they routinely pick a fight on more mundane grounds.

     I have now seen this same scenario repeated dozens of times. Actually the issue itself is incidental, as I've seen the formula re-manifest itself in post-tribulationists as well. Indeed, the Scriptures poignantly speak of those that mistake the traditions of men for the pure Word of God - and subsequently refuse to de-construct the strongholds that their carnal minds have erected.

     For example, a repetitious reasoning that I've seen in those that reject our doctrine is commonly said to be a lack of love on my part. So called "Christians" say 'where's your love, brother?' - postulating that love is the primary ingredient in a relationship with JESUS CHRIST. While love sounds like the scriptural essential, the fact is that truth is the indispensable item if one wants to be in the family of God.

     The passage I mentioned earlier in Colossians even deals with this form of subterfuge where the individual misdirects their criticism to another issue other than the one where the conflict has actually been generated. In this instance, the text actually speaks of those that retreat to LOVE as a substitute in their vain effort to resist the TRUTH. This is an unconscious effort at internally validating a difficult decision that involves resisting the truth. Paul writes

     "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8).

     The word "spoil" actually means to destroy, so this warning is about as serious as a heart attack. The word philosophy is related to phileo - meaning brotherly love - and sophia, which means knowledge. In other words, philosophy is the knowledge of brother love. Indeed, the Nephilim associated goddess Sophia was the goddess of knowledge. The statement is completed when it refers to "vain deceit" - a reference to the intellectual vanity that is a requisite component of self deception.

     What this incredible verse actually states is profound, and it directly addresses the present subject. Paul is saying we should be wary lest we are destroyed by self-deception concerning brotherly love. In this instance, we see that people can be deceived from recognizing the TRUTH, and they validate their refusal to hear that truth by side-stepping the issue and focusing on their own version of how the one telling them the truth is deficient in the area of their love of the brethren.

     This formula has been, and continues to be, a stronghold for those in the corporate churches that refuse to receive the truth. I can't even count how many times people have told me I don't have enough love. A variation on the theme is the accusation that I have a root of bitterness - essentially the same attack. The simple truth is, the individual utilizing such arguments have demonstrated that their weapons are derived from the carnal mind, and thus they are demonstrating the fruit that identifies whose child they are.

     Paul's statement in II Corinthians concludes the thought rather succinctly. He tells us:

"...though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds), Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ...." (II Corinthians 10:4,5)

     Because JESUS CHRIST IS the truth, this passage says we must bring every thought captive, and cast down "every high thing" until all things [read doctrines] in our lives are conformed to the truth - a process referred to here as bringing all things into "the obedience of Christ." If we wish to obey Christ, we must love the truth. False doctrines are strongholds of the enemy. Thus, we have to be willing to pull down the strongholds and remove the stumblingblocks that keep us from receiving that truth - and love is never a substitute for the truth.

February 17, 2003 - James Lloyd

Copyright © 2003 Christian Media Network

See Also

Christianized Psychology

Deceit And The Dialectic

Dragonspeak: The Language Of Lucifer