The introduction below is very heavy, as we would say, but I felt it needed at this time. Please use your own discretion.
As per the introduction to the Posts webpage, a few pieces of the content below are modified by ChatGPT slightly differently to my original writing, but it is okay to go with it as it is.

"we did not submit to them even for a moment" – Galatians 2:5 [NRSV]
"even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!" – Galatians 1:9 [NRSV]
Persons of false and unsound doctrine who teach a false Gospel are not entertained for a moment.

This is perhaps the most difficult article to present. It potentially causes strong conflict, as many people have diverse views, and may even be mentored by people with teachings not in line with scripture and faith. Terminology is always subject to "re-defining" which is no longer our core beliefs and experience. It is also difficult to present strong content while trying to assure readers this is not slander or bad judgement.

Introduction

Christianity does not have several alternatives or more palatable belief systems. The attempts to blur this, to twist it, to re-dress it in other apparently appealing or clever ways and doctrines is not Christianity.

God does not accept idolatry. The "new" in the New Testament is the permanent imparting of the Holy Spirit to the heart of the believer through faith as the way God has provisioned in His Son, whereby the Holy Spirit grieves with no acceptance of worshiping (and following) other Gods.

Salvation is not achieved by "good works" or lost by "bad works". It IS. It is being born of the Spirit and entering into a life with God henceforth regardless of the mistakes and achievements made during that victorious journey to eternal life, inclusive of forgiveness of all sins.

Deception is what it is and needs to be called out for what it is. It is in opposition to the fundamentals of Christianity. Christ in the Cross was not a myth or idealistic idea as some form of example. It was Christ on the Cross to die and overcome death and sins completely by the wounds of his body and the shedding of his innocent blood on an accursed cross,  an atonement for us who believe in Him and his salvation, as the full and complete plan determined by God the Father, the Son, and the eternal Holy Spirit long ago before we were created in this universe, and to reclaim and restore Christ's authority over ALL,  with us who believe being a permanent part of that outcome.

The Church needs to say what is IS, and refuse obfuscation and compromise of what IS. The weakness of mens' minds demands God explains and tells them all, the created to the creator, rather than admiration and trusting God's timing to reveal His purposes through His love as we know he offers so simply through an evidential faith.

While various deceptive people carefully "redefine" Christianity, they are extreme cowards as they do not stand up and say they are not Christians and are not born of the Holy Spirit, or that in truth they reject salvation.

How can we be clearer? As time moves along, there will be demands that by necessity require this clarity. This has no diminution of Christ's love and our love to others. It is a matter of critical positioning.

The question then is, who do I trust for salvation? This is in a sense your one act of righteousness. All else that follows is subsequent. If salvation was dependent on your intellect and questions, logically, it would not be possible to have permanent salvation.  Salvation has been provided by someone else (God) on His terms, not yours, through the operation of your free will. There are those who in contrast to this gift of life tell God to get lost by virtue of their acts, and secrecy of their decisions. This does not mean there are not people looking to honour God and find out what that is. We all started searching somewhere at some time. What is abusive and despicable is willful deception, dragging others into false claims of being Christian when they are not. This additionally leads Churches into distracting activities made of straw, deflecting from the reality of God.

Our Backgrounds and Vulnerability to Deception

Everyone comes from different backgrounds, which means we each have certain vulnerabilities. These can affect how we seek and understand the Truth, especially in spiritual matters.

If Church leadership is being mentored by someone behind the scenes who is not publicly stated or tested by the Elders or Council of the Church, there is a severe caution. For instance, if such a person is followed and looked up to but who is not a Christian, it is unacceptable for their teachings and activities to be groomed into the Church, or pushed onto the congregation.

There are extremists who have changed the definition of salvation and the work of Christ, who then use Christian or scriptural terminology with a different meaning to what we know – this is a deception because we think they must be Christian if using our terminology.

These people will not know the witness of the Holy Spirit to their spirit, so will not understand if our reaction to them is one of deep spiritual sorrow. Their own justification will be based by other means, which of course support followers and therefore make us think we must be incorrect.

Recognizing Warning Signs of Extremism

1. Extreme and Isolated Views

• Taking extreme stances, like anarchism, can be a sign that something is wrong.

• If someone adopts views that most Spirit-filled, mature Christians do not hold, they might begin to:

  • Criticize the Church heavily.

  • Claim their group is the only "true" Church.

  • Disconnect from wider Christian fellowship.

2. Flawed Use of History

• While history contains real atrocities, some use it selectively or with questionable motives.

• Arguments may be based on poor understanding, contradictions, or extreme interpretations.

• This often leads to a harmful focus on isolated grievances.

Influence of False Teachers

1. Distorting the Gospel

• Some people claim to be Christian but redefine the Gospel in dangerous ways.

• For example, saying Jesus' death was just a metaphor, not literal salvation from sin, is a major red flag.

• These individuals may seem kind, wise, or spiritual but ultimately deny the true identity and mission of Christ.

2. Lack of the Holy Spirit's Influence

• Such individuals won't speak clearly about the Holy Spirit or demonstrate the kind of spiritual insights that even young believers would recognize.

• Instead, they often focus on creating a lifestyle or movement that others are expected to follow.

Common Red Flags in False Teachings

Spiritual Issues and Consequences

• Twisting the definition of the Gospel.

• Little to no genuine Christian teaching (especially on the Holy Spirit).

• Promoting extreme lifestyle rules or ideologies.

• Excluding or attacking other churches.

• Developing spiritual blindness – believing false things as if they were true.

• Contradictions in their teachings or misalignment with Scripture.

• Often connected to a past negative reaction or decision.

Examples of Abnormal or Extremist Teachings

• Everyone must live in shared communities and give up personal assets.

• Total, unquestioning submission to leaders, claiming only they hear from God.

• Claiming non-pacifists are in sin.

• Forbidding music entirely.

• Teaching that people who don't observe Sabbath on Saturday are going to hell.

• Denying that Jesus is the Son of God, instead calling Him a created being or angel.

• Permitting occult practices like Freemasonry, fortune-telling, astral travel, etc.

• Overemphasis on food, diet, or health as part of spirituality.

• "Sudden" or strange ideas – such as who is the anti-Christ when they clearly are not.

• Focusing more on "works" than faith, twisting the biblical balance.

• Expressed hatred or rejection of Israel as God's chosen people.

• Creating exclusive church groups with narrow views – e.g., "We're the only true Church," or, "If you don't oppose Israel, you're not one of us."

• Obvious/dubious doctrines

A Special Note About Israel

• Some groups openly reject Israel and ignore Scripture about God's covenant with them.

• They may dismiss verses on blessings and curses related to Israel, and neglect the biblical command to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

• This kind of hostility is often a spiritual warning sign.

• This is not a negation of the conflicts and wars in the world, the mistakes, and the severe stress and questions, but about an anti-Jewish position.
• We sometimes see denial of Christ as presented in the Old Testament. This may, as well, relate to His authority of the nations.

what blocks us from hearing?

Learning the voice of the Lord, trusting our inner connection to the Holy Spirit, is a life-time pursuit. There are various methods for evaluating content, so it is not just one way. We may see more information come to light over time. We may immediately know something is false. We may see logic but find our spirit is saying no. It is not simplistic, but truth will not conflict with the inner confirmation of the Lord. Some things are not learnt until another time, or when we have suffered loss or had other critical experiences.

If people lack this development, there is an increased need to develop a questionable "literal" interpretation of the scriptures excluding revelation. Some may alternatively say scripture is not literal but a representation of certain principles. This may seem reasonable, but not if this idea is coupled to a belief in the scriptures being poetic, myth, only targeted to the Jews of the day and so on.

We are usually not in a position to challenge or change other people who are impacting others with false teaching. The Lord may however open up an avenue where we speak the truth in challenge to a lie. These are tough situations.

A false teacher or false prophet will not hear the word in their heart, rather have conflict and even hatred towards God unless Christ is interpreted their own way to remove that conflict.

When we face issues of conscience we look to our heart to see what we hold or may not, and as Christians hopefully in the presence of the Lord as opposed to the presence of our ego, stubbornness and so on. This can be troubling for serious issues.

A huge problem is when others use methods to change others to their way of belief or thinking through coercion, preparing the ground work so that people think they are going to be upset and challenged, that they are meant to experience this upset as they adjust to new truths and unlearn old beliefs. It is like saying I am going to inject you with a needle, and it will hurt. The needle is then injected, it does hurt, so you agree with the original statement.

This is extremely dangerous if the work in not sure and true or supported by the Holy Spirit and Scripture. There will be other signs that things are not right.

These methods are never engaged by genuine Spiritual people. We will have times of upset where the Lord leads us to remove prominent positions of the flesh or soul, under the work of the Cross, not man's proposition of what the work of the Cross is.

A.W. Tozer suggest unbelief in God and His ways, from his years of experience, is a direct cause of men wanting honour from each other.

The Need for Discernment

Growing in Christ

Our devotion to the Lord is genuine, but we all experience ups and downs in understanding what is true. Jesus is building us up like a house under construction—He never abandons us. Some parts of our foundation are strong, while others are less certain. When we recognize what is truly real in Him, it becomes a sure foundation we can lean on, like a lamppost that either supports us or does not. This is important because life brings challenges that shake us and make us question or fear.

Truth vs. Knowledge

There is much material in the world that mixes truth with error or presents partial truth without full context. Some things are offered as "knowledge," but our focus must be on Jesus and our relationship with Him. Knowledge alone does not make us righteous or holy—only the Holy Spirit does. If He uses knowledge to teach us, then it becomes life-giving.

For example, communion is good in itself, but when the Spirit reveals its deeper meaning—how much Jesus has done for us—then it becomes powerful. Without revelation, it risks being just a ritual. Christianity is not about endless rules or burdens; it is about living under the covenant of Christ, not the Old Testament system of laws.

Real vs. False Growth

What we learn from the Lord is real. Foggy ideas and imaginations prove false over time. Yet real challenges can still push us into deeper growth. Watchman Nee described the "normal Christian life" not as plain, but as the true way we should live. Fellowship with others brings cleansing and growth through the blood of Jesus. If fellowship is unhealthy, growth will be hindered.

Waiting on the Lord

Discernment often requires patience. We should not rush into decisions but wait on the Lord. Sometimes He allows big steps; at other times He says "yes, but slowly." At other times, we face temptations that could lead to disaster.

I once nearly invested in bonds at the wrong time. Something within me said "No." Years later, after learning more, the opportunity returned under better conditions. This taught me that patience and waiting are often safer than rushing.

Learning from Confusion

Confusion often signals danger. At times, I faced two choices—such as when choosing an apartment. The larger one seemed appealing but turned out terrible. The smaller one was quieter and better suited. Similarly, I once stayed in a bad job instead of waiting for the right one. These mistakes showed me that waiting helps avoid confusion.

Confusion also increases when others bring ungodly influences. A friend once introduced a psychic reading into my job situation, which only worsened matters. Such practices are lies and lead to harm. Jesus calls us into co-operative decision-making with Him—this is how discernment grows.

Awareness and Growth

When we cannot agree with a teaching or idea, it is wise to pause, pray, or set it aside. Jesus does not condemn us for this. Over time, He helps us understand. I experienced this with Watchman Nee's writings—what once seemed wrong later made sense as my faith matured.

Dangers of Judgment

Some people speak judgment over others in God's name, firing arrows of condemnation. This is dangerous and not from Christ. Our walk is not destroyed by such words. Instead, we hold to our past experiences with the Lord and His consistency.

Sadly, some believers refuse to grow, cling to personal issues, or even start their own groups in pride and judgment. This damages others and drives some away from the Church. Yet, the Lord is able to restore.

Discernment in Practice

Discernment is not one sudden voice from heaven, but a composition of experiences, guidance, scripture, and witness of the Spirit. It allows us to consider matters without fear. When condemnation or fear is present, we must be careful, for much in the world and Christian media is misleading.

Discernment is real and trustworthy. From the day we received Christ, His Spirit was placed within us. Just as we grow in faith, we also grow in discernment—it is part of our spiritual DNA.

Genuine Growth in Christ

Jesus knows each of us fully and teaches us in ways consistent with His past work in our lives. Other people may help, but our ultimate foundation is in Christ. If we are challenged, we must process it with Him until we find rest and trust in His leading.

Those who fail to grow in the fruits of the Spirit fall into error. Watchman Nee also warned that deeper spiritual maturity brings greater temptations. Spirit recognizes spirit—when we meet another who is truly led by God, it brings joy. Yet others may misjudge, slander, or condemn. In such cases, the Lord may lead us away from those people.

Patience and Maturity

Without growth, people confuse discernment with imagination. Patience helps us avoid rushing into mistakes. Over time, our actions become more rightly grounded.

Life is full of challenges, but Christ remains our lampstand, our foundation. Even when we sin, our hearts are set toward Him, and He honours that daily. Though others—even great people—may say hurtful things, we must remember that everyone is responsible before God for their own words and actions.

Younger believers especially need care, not rejection. As King David, Paul, and Jesus showed, guiding the young with patience and humility is vital. We too once made the same mistakes. Humility equips us for the next stage of the journey.

Examples of Faulty Thinking

1. "If other Christians don't agree with me, they are not spiritual."

• This is a sweeping and arrogant view.

• It assumes others must disprove me, while I never have to prove myself.

• Endless arguments show something unhealthy.

• Claiming "my way is right" while dismissing others ignores the Spirit's witness in them.

2. "I am spiritual because the Holy Spirit is with me."

• Salvation is the start, not the end of growth.

• Pride, arrogance, or unaddressed sin block maturity.

• God develops us through consistency and unity in His Spirit.

3. "My church is the only true church."

• Scripture gives no basis for a "remnant church."

• All believers in Christ form one Body, sealed by the Spirit.

• Inventing exclusivity leads to cult-like thinking.

4. "Confidence proves truth."

• Speaking fast and confidently does not make something true.

• False ideas are often presented without explanation and built on shaky foundations.

• Scripture commands us to test all things.

5. "The first church is the only model."

• We do not live in the first century; God works in every age.

• Churches today should reflect Christ's qualities, not simply copy the past.

• Failing to adapt shows shallow thinking.

6. "Technology defines humanity."

• Comparing humans to machines or nanotech diminishes God's creation.

• Such thinking is deception—a mimicry of life, not life itself.

• Confusion in media and information flow shows the need to focus on Jesus, who gives true clarity.

7. "Authority makes me right."

• Some claim authority just to gain power, not serve God.

• Tactics include threats, guilt, or recruiting allies.

• True authority is seen in Christ—power matched with godly character.

8. "What worked in the past must be right."

• Each generation faces different issues, but the same unhealthy patterns appear: pride, division, false authority.

• Over time, research and experience expose false premises.

👉 Key Point:
Faulty thinking often arises from pride, power-seeking, or clinging to incomplete truths. Discernment, testing all things, and keeping our focus on Jesus protects us from deception.