I don’t recall if I ever posted this or not but I am compelled to share this testimony.
In 1999 I came across a website of a man who seemed to have a new fresh understanding of Scripture. He was quite wordy and had no clue about grammar or properly formatted paragraphing, but I admit something in his wall of words attracted me. I guess it was partly timing. I was hungry for higher understanding and weary of religiosity and he seemed to have a handle on a simpler interpretation. Although, once he was able to garner a following his interpretations went far afield of ‘simple’.
Long story short - I ended up volunteering to edit for him his many many words and helped him publish a book. Since I lived several states away I wasn’t involved in the day to day business of his growing ‘ministry’ so I like to believe I might have bailed sooner than I did if I had been able to see the truth about this little big man. When I jumped ship ten years later, after he had built himself a small empire and his true self-righteous Napoleonic nature was revealed to me, I repented and asked for forgiveness for being an instrument in helping this man deceive so many.
It’s been ten years since I left - and over this decade many others eyes were opened and they left his now fully established cult as well. But I admit, for the tough experience I had by being a part of the rise of this example of how many ways satan can manipulate what seems so good, I can say that I am well trained to spot this kind of wolf in sheep clothing. Whenever I see the signs I feel compelled to speak out.
Even though satan has all sorts of tricks, the most common being the delusion of self-righteousness, there are repeating formulas, if you know what to look for. Although there are many other signs, I think the most important can be identified in eight particular attributes:
- Call to perfection as a condition that can only be defined by him
- Demand to be seen as ultimate translator of Scripture
- Uses Scripture like a weapon
- Perceives himself to be holy
- Cannot be corrected or accept that he could be wrong
- Believes he alone hears from God
- Believes all thoughts he has are from God
- Adroit and skilled at the art of gently rebuking any challenger
For Him, Meema