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In this New Age era of Christianity, it seems our theology is more diverse and disunited than ever before. There are more new denominations or “churches of what’s happening now” than you can shake a theological stick at. No wonder the world is more confused about the fundamental Christian faith than ever. I can’t help but point out some factors that are fractionalizing the faith and leading some to false hope based on false faith.

One of the biggest heresies I see attacking core theology is the “signs and wonders“ movement…you know, the various personalities promising great rewards if you “produce enough faith”. Based on their new teachings we can demand manifestations of a Holy Spirit that is apparently at our beck and call for divine healing and instant prosperity in this world. God’s purpose is now to reward believers in THIS life with abundance and blessings and avoidance of suffering.

While I don’t doubt God’s abilities to heal or bless people with abundance in this life, it is obvious to me that is not the core of the Gospel of Christ. Jesus’ teachings were never about the causes of this physical world, but more about how sharing the sufferings of Christ in this world leads to the NEXT world and eternal life. Where do we come up with these expectations that the signs of believing faith were about miracles and escaping the perils and heartaches of this world? Where do these charlatans come up with scriptures to back up their pleas for more and bigger mansions, jets, and bank accounts in order to “spread the gospel”? And if you get sick and die, is that because you didn’t have enough faith?

When our faith becomes dependent on new miracles or revelations from newly called “apostles “ who have their own unique visions of grandeur, you can throw true theology or purpose of the Gospel right out of the window.

If your faith is built on future demands you make on God instead of understanding the true provisions He has already made for you, you are sincerely mistaken.

Having been lost a few decades in my life pursuing secular humanist ideals, I basically see these new age theologies as humanist centered ideals. We think God’s purpose is to serve us and our needs and we errantly think He needs US to fulfill His will in this world. Rather, it is only by His grace and mercy that He has called us to faith in Him to do HIS good will, not our own. He allows us to be part of His plan. Not because He needs us, but because He loves us. Don’t get that twisted or combined with man centered humanism and faith in ourselves. Your plans aren’t necessarily HIS. “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Jesus came to provide SPIRITUAL revelation and a pathway to eternal life with Him AFTER this life. He was very clear when stating that to follow Him would require suffering, self sacrifice, and blind trust when we have no proof or miracles to go by. The only necessary miracle in this life is the spiritual regeneration by faith provided by God to be OVER-COMERS of the sin and obstacles of this present world through simple faith in Him. He spent his whole ministry to twelve disciples trying to get their focus off present kingdoms or powers and to see all of this life is preparation for the next. After 2000 years Christians still can’t get this.

I have many friends and family who are falling into some of these traps of pseudo theology. Can we be healed? Absolutely and it happens often, but not necessarily at our beck and call. Does God rescue us from disasters? Sometimes but not always. The rain falls on the just and unjust alike…as do blessings. God allows us to participate in our blessings by using sound judgment in daily lifestyles and hard work SOMETIMES leading to prosperity, but He never promised His followers a “rose garden “ in this life. You can have all the roses you want in the next.

I also have some dear brothers and sisters in faith who feel called into various levels of “deliverance” ministry. For some there seems to be a special sensitivity and recognition of “evil spirits” or witchcraft in most anything that ails us. In the last four years since my return to faith, I have had a strong recognition of evil and darkness in the world. I have a scriptural basis of understanding where I stand between those forces of good and evil that do exist. I don’t believe a Christian regenerated by true faith and indwelled by the Holy Spirit can be possessed by evil spirits. Surely we are periodically oppressed or tempted by our sinful natures to pursue forbidden pleasures or attitudes, but this alone does not make one “possessed by the devil”.

Yes, I have seen people I believe were/are inhabited by evil spirits or demons. This is a Biblical concept. I think all believers should be solid Biblically about recognizing and labeling evil when it appears in people or the events in life and history that are obviously evil, yet if you believe the Book of Job and other confrontations with spirits and temptation in the Bible they are usually dealt with by “running from evil” or simply waiting for God’s deliverance by prayer and supplication. It’s not something we take on with our own “hands”. The Bible tells us “Resist the Devil and He will flee from you” (James 4:7), but the prerequisite of that is “submit ourselves to God”. We are not to depend on or think WE or any other human has the power to heal or deliver people from evil. That is clearly the Holy Spirit’s job in this world, and He does not need US as a conduit for His power. We wait on Him in faith believing, and He does HIS will…not ours. Surely it is good to pray for the sick and believe in deliverance from evil…but that does not mean we don’t experience illness or oppression of evil. It is very clear in various scriptures that we will suffer and have “tribulations” in this life. God has a purpose even in our suffering and tribulation.

In suffering and weakness, we find ourselves totally at the mercy and dependence on God to sustain us. The purpose of suffering we have seen many times as showing God’s deliverance in time…and that deliverance sometimes IS physical death. The Spirit filled believer is not fearful of death…not even suffering. “We REJOICE in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us”. (Romans 5:3-5) So forgive me if I am confused about these modern movements that deny me the “opportunity” of learning and yearning through pain and suffering. I will hope in the Holy Spirit rather than the false hopes of carnal desire for healing promised by a man. I will believe whether I am healed, or not, in this life.

The promise of God based on sound doctrine is that “He is always with us and will never forsake us” (Matthew 28:20). It is actually IN our suffering and failures that we find His presence more real and meaningful. Yes, there are times our pain is so great that we find it impossible to sense, know, or see the spiritual path pain is leading us to. Only faith in Christ leads us to the purpose and meaning of suffering and sacrifice. It takes pain to turn over EVERYTHING in this life to HIS will, not ours. It often takes giving up of ourselves and OUR pursuits of pleasure in life in order to see His way and purposes for our short lives on this earth.

I can’t help but recall the famous speech by John F Kennedy when it came to serving your country. “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country”. I believe this is MORE true in spiritual theology…

Ask not what God can do for you. Ask what YOU can do for GOD, even in your weakness! We are HIS servants, not the other way around. His greatest miracles are often what He does through weak, imperfect vessels (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The good thing is, God’s demands are very simple and basic…not complicated. Believe in and trust HIM. Only serve HIM, not yourself or others. When you do this through the calling and power of His Holy Spirit, you WILL find healing for your soul and purpose for your life. You will be in want of nothing because “you have counted it all as loss for the sake of knowing HIM“ (Philippians 3:8-10)

To know and be assured of Gods purpose for your life through faith is all the prosperity, signs, or wonders you need in this life. Everything else is an added bonus. Be thankful in your blessings…and in your losses.

(For full Biblical reference of this blog, please review the whole of Philippians, chapter 3)