Welcome to another SURVEY SATURDAY. Thank you so very much to those of you who have taken the time to participate in some of my previous surveys! However, even though I now know that some of you are interested in seeing me write posts ‘exposing false teachers,’ and that some of you also desire to see ‘book reviews‘ here (Lord willing, one False Teacher Friday and one Book Review coming next month), I would truly appreciate it if you could please let me know who it is that you would like me to write about, and what books you would like me to review for you.
I still have not received any helpful suggestions from any of you, so I will just continue to pray and share with those of you who read this blog, whatever is of utmost importance so that you will not only become aware of these wolves in sheep’s clothing, but also so that you will become aware of the numerous Christian books that are appealing to many Christians and sadly leading many of them astray.
I am here not only to honor God and to share Biblical truth and to expose false teachings and spiritual deception through what I write, but also I am here with the desire to encourage and to help those of you who are searching for answers. With that being said, I would truly appreciate it if those of you who read this blog from time to time would please provide me with a little more information so that I can serve you better through what I write. It can be quite frustrating to me at times knowing what some of you are looking for, yet not knowing the false teachers that you would like me to write about, or the books that you would like to see me do reviews on. So please consider sending me a message with your concerns and suggestions using the Contact Form below. You can even send me a message without using your name, if that would encourage some of you to contact me in order to help you.
As I have mentioned in my previous SURVEY SATURDAY posts:
I will be presenting some type of survey to you usually once a month, (Lord willing) on the last Saturday of each month, to give those of you who read this blog from time to time, an opportunity to submit your requests to me as to what you would like to see me write about here on this blog in the future.
Concerning the survey for this month:
Would you like me to write more poems? Then please vote accordingly, and I would truly appreciate it if you would leave me a short comment as to what topic you’d like me to write one about, and I will consider writing on that topic which I will always write from a Christian perspective.
Do you have some concerns about your pastor or a certain pastor or teacher that you have been listening to, or something that they are teaching or something that they have taught in the past that has been troubling you, and you’re searching for some information and answers? Then please vote for the Category False Teacher Friday and send me a personal message using the ‘Contact Form‘ below –or you can leave a comment below. You can choose to remain anonymous, if you’d like, but please let me know who it is that you have concerns about, and why, and I will be happy to do some research on that pastor, teacher, or topic, and focus on that particular person or teaching in a main post, or if he clearly qualifies as a false teacher in some way, I will address his false teachings in the series of posts that, Lord willing, I will be continuing to write in 2016, under the Category entitled, ‘FALSE TEACHER FRIDAY- LEARN TO DISCERN – LEARNING THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A BEREAN.’ I may share an in depth report on that certain pastor or teacher, or I may simply write briefly about the person or teaching and then include links to some good posts addressing that person or teaching that have been written by other Christians who are well respected and trusted. However, I continue to urge you to always test everything you read and listen to against God’s Word to see if it is true or not (Acts 17:11) –including everything that I write.
Please always keep in mind that no matter how many years a pastor or teacher has been preaching or teaching, or how well respected they may be, we must always continue to examine the Scriptures daily to see if what is being said (and done by those who claim to speak for God) is true,’ (Acts 17:11) because God’s Word is filled with warnings about deception and false teachers! (Matthew 24:4-11, Acts 20:26-31, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:1-4, 2 Peter 2:1-3, to name just a few).
Maybe you have some concerns after reading a certain book that left you feeling very troubled, and you’re searching for some information on the author to see if what they are teaching is Biblical or not. If that’s you, then please feel free to add Book Reviews where it says Other, and place your vote for Book Reviews. Also, please consider sharing your concerns and the name of the author and book with me by using the Contact Form below, and I will do some research and write a post addressing the author and book in question. I am considering the possibility of reading some books later on this year — if time allows — and writing some book reviews, as well. I am not an expert on any certain topic, by any means, but I am definitely a Berean and a detective-at-heart and will gladly do all that I can — with God’s help — to give you some helpful Biblical information to put those troublesome thoughts to rest, and especially to encourage you through God’s Word in the process.
I post these surveys because it is my desire to help those of you who are searching for Biblical truth concerning what may be troubling you, so your participation is very important to me in order to help you.
In order to serve you better, this month’s survey will determine what Category of posts I should focus my time writing on. So all you have to do is vote for your favorite Category of posts, and I will write more of those, and less of other ones. Unless, of course, I see a serious need to write something in order to warn you. Because when it’s all said and done, I write to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 3) and to please God alone (Galatians 1:10); I do not write certain things in order to gain followers. Some of the posts that I will be writing later this year will prove that, because I am almost certain that I will sadly lose some of you who read this blog. If it turns out to be you, all I ask is that you would first please pray for discernment, and at least read my posts and test everything in light of Scripture regardless of what you presently believe, and please listen to the videos that I will be posting, as well, if you happen to find yourself thinking that you no longer want to continue reading this blog.
Before I get carried away, here now is this month’s survey. This poll remains active for a full week! Your participation will be greatly appreciated and very helpful to me in order to serve you better throughout this coming year! You can also choose a Category to vote for from the list at the top of my blog that I didn’t include in the poll below, or add an idea of your own for me to prayerfully consider writing about, by adding it to where it says “other.”
Thank you very much for stopping by and taking time out of your relaxing weekend (at least I hope it has been so far) to read some of my posts and poems –and for voting!
God Bless You
~Mary/Living4HisGlory
RELATED SCRIPTURES
“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)
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Mary/Living For His Glory
Hello Mary…I wrote to you this past Christmas to thank you for all your time and dedication that you put into your posts. They truly are a light in this dark time. I would like to share with you a little about me. I grew up in the assembly of God. I would consider myself Pentecostal and I have love to read God’s word. This will be my third time reading from Genesis to Revelation. I SAY THAT NOT TO BOAST BUT BECAUSE I TRULY FEEL WE NEED TO KNOW HIS WORD LIKE NEVER BEFORE, and to let you know I am not a “milk” christain. I want to share recent experience with a pretty large church in my area of Long Island. SMITHTOWN GOSPEL TABERNACLE. My husband and I and children had attended their for almost years, when God began showing me red flags. Some were from the senior pastor himself, Pastor Zarlengo. In one service he was speaking of the invisible enemy and was speaking of the enemy and how he hates that he cannot create but can only pervert creation..and then went in to say we are Co-creators with God. SOUNDED NEW AGEY TO ME. I went on to read Warren smith’s book explaining what cocreation was.
Another red flag was from the pulpit again .he shared a story of a gentleman who left a message on his answering machine requesting teaching for Revelation, with that the Pastor spewed ” if you want to change jobs with me..etc..”.
Then the big one..our previous worship team left and a new husband and wife team came. I knew.of them from a previous church and knew.of their affiliation with Bethel church under Bil Johnsons false doctrine. The husband even spoke at thier School of Supernatural Ministry, which a team from Bethel had previously came and established at this church. The worship from Bethel was also incorporated at their previous church. KNOWING WHAT I KNEW AND THEIR AFFILIATION WITH THIS “GARBAGE”. MY HUSBAND AND I MADE AN APPT. WITH ANOTHER PASTOR AT SMITHTOWN. That’s did not go well, he accused us of character assassination!. Even though we made.it clear we did not know them personally or was the false.doctrime we were concerned about coming to our church. I FAILED TO MENTION WE ALSO SEND OUR CHILDREN TO THE CHRISTAIN SCHOOL AT THIS CHURCH.
OK SO AFTER GETTING NOWHERE WE WERE TOLD TO LEAVE THE CHURCH NO QUESTION WE PUT FORTH WERE EVER ADDRESSED.
VERY SAD OUR CONCERN WAS SO TWISTED.
Well now my son who is in the 8th grade has chapel every Thurs and has to listen to this bethel music which is truly in my opinion dead demonic to the core. The superintendent is aware we do not like it, but even after we suggested if other worship music be brought in, it seems they are so bent on Bethel only.
I guess I am venting my frustration to you, and God has led me on some journey these pat 2 years never thought I would see and hear what is happening to the churches these days. I AM TRULY BURDENED. in one sense I am extremely thankful to out Lord and Savior for opening my eyes and giving me discernment bit at the same time burdened beyond at times with “what to do?”
We are probably going to end up homeschooling if there is no change. My daughter will be attending that chapel next year also.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?..I FEEL GOD HAS SHOWN US SO MUCH WITH THE HELP OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF AND YES I LOVE LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS TOO, AND MANY OTHERS. DO WE WARN PARENTS? DO WE JUST LEAVE? WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR AN ANSWER.
THANK YOU MARY FOR LETTING ME UNBURDEN SOME OF MY “STUFF”.
NOT SURE WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED OR IF YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PASTOR. Gary Zarlengo did attend Oral Roberts University, which I have found to be worrisome too. BILLY WILSON ORU DIRECTOR IS ALSO TIED TO EMPOWERED21. UGH…AND MANY OF WHO ARE involved with the New Apostolic Reformation.
Thank you for listening and please continental warning the body of Christ. We will be praying for you Mary. GOD Bless all you do.
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Hi Shelley,
So nice to hear from you again! Thank you for your encouraging words, and thank you so much for your prayers, as well!
Thank you also for sharing your very valid concerns here! I will definitely be praying God’s wisdom for you and your family concerning what God would have you to do next!
You are absolutely correct in saying how “we need to know His Word more than ever before”… as you probably know by now, I also stress the importance of knowing God’s Word well in many of my posts in light of the many false teachers today who are truly wolves in sheep’s clothing, hoping to warn the many Christians who are choosing to follow them.
One thing to keep in mind concerning if you should warn anyone at your church: Those in leadership at many churches today label Christians as being “divisive” if they tell people at their church why they are considering leaving their church. However, keep this passage of Scripture in mind as you pray:
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple..” (Romans 16:17,18) It was and is false teachings — “offences contrary to doctrine” — that were and are causing division.
Also examine your motives. This is for EVERYONE who may find themselves in this situation: Are you desiring to warn the people at your church out of love for them and the truth of God’s Word? (I truly believe that is your motive, Shelley). Or is there any anger or bitterness in your heart that is causing you to speak out as a way to somehow get back at them for disregarding the valid things that you shared with them?
Shelley, I cannot tell you what you should do. I have only offered you advise based on God’s Word and now by personal experience: I left my Assembly of God church mainly to protect my children. I left with a very heavy heart when a friend and I were informed by the assistant pastor that we could not tell anyone why we were leaving. However, within the years that followed, God brought some people from that church across my path and I was then able to share my reasons for leaving with them, hoping to expose the false teachings that were being promoted there and hoping, above all, to make them cautious so they would begin testing what was being said from the pulpit against the truth of God’s Word so they would not continue to be deceived.
The New Apostolic Reformation is very dangerous and completely unbiblical! I have addressed this here on my blog before by sharing videos, and links to articles, and I will continue to do so in upcoming posts –Lord willing.
Yes. To say we are “Co-creators with God” is definitely “New Agey.” So glad you are aware of Warren Smith and his excellent books and presentations that he has exposing the New Age and warning Christians of the many spiritually deceptive New Age teachings cloaked in somewhat Christian terminology that are coming into many churches these days and leading many Christians astray! (In case you didn’t see it, I announced in a previous post that Warren Smith will be a speaker at a Christian Conference in March, so be watching for updates on that as the time draws closer to this event!).
My pleasure to listen to your concerns, Shelley. 🙂 I will be praying for you and your family.
God Bless You And Your Family, Shelley
~Mary
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Shelley, I have never heard of Gary Zarlengo before, but after searching on YouTube I found the series of messages that he did that you must be talking about –The Invisible Enemy. So far I have listened to three of his sermons in this series and came across some problems in video #2. Still have not heard him say anything about us being “Co-creators with God,” so I’ll continue listening to the rest of his messages in this series when time allows.
I forgot to reply to a few other important things that you said… Concerning the new husband and wife worship team at your church and their affiliation with Bill Johnson’s Bethel Church: That is truly a huge red flag! Even though you felt that your valid concerns were rejected and your words were twisted, you and your husband went there and spoke the truth in love out of concern for what you rightly discerned would happen at your church. The leadership at your church will be held accountable for not being discerning enough to realize in light of Scripture that Bill Johnson is a false teacher. He will also be accountable to God for failing to protect his flock from those who are closely linked with false teachers and allowing worship songs filled with false doctrine and repetitive lyrics that do not glorify God and can alter a person’s mind and thinking to be presented to his people to sing!
God is well pleased with what you and your husband have done to warn them. If they reject your warnings and the warnings in Scripture about false teachers and spiritual deception, and the importance of testing the teachings of others in light of Scripture, they will have no excuse.
Homeschooling is a great idea and there are a lot of helpful Christian websites with information and programs to assist you if you decided to do it.
I will certainly pray for you and your family, Shelley. You are truly dealing with a lot of serious issues right now! But God will be faithful to give both of you His wisdom, His peace that surpasses all human understanding, and His grace that will prove to be sufficient. One day He will use all of this for His glory and use you and your husband to help others who will find themselves in a similar situation.
God Bless You And Comfort You With His Peace And Love
~Mary
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