Brain Stoppers
What is one of Satan’s greatest tools?
Brain stoppers.
That’s the term I made up for a variety of tactics Satan uses to get people to shut off their minds so they don’t critically evaluate teachings. Leaders in the apostolic-prophetic movement use them all the time.
I’m not talking about brainwashing. The media often accuses cult leaders, like David Koresh, of “brainwashing” their followers so the leader can gain complete control over people. Yet, I don’t believe true brainwashing is possible because every person ultimately retains control of his or her own thoughts.
But I do believe religious leaders can discourage their followers from using their minds — which keeps them from detecting the error in what’s being taught.
Name Calling
One popular brain stopper is what I’ve labeled “name calling.” This happens when the teachings of an “apostle” or “prophet” are challenged. Instead of responding to the challenges, “apostles” or “prophets” often resort to calling their critics names.
The names they’ve given their critics are numerous: mean-spirited, judgmental, Jezebel, unspiritual, unanointed and old wineskins — to name a few.
This tactic is effective because their followers start to believe that everyone who questions an “apostle” or “prophet” is evil or unspiritual. So, the followers quickly dismiss any criticism of their leader, without ever determining if it is true or not.
“Prophet” Kim Clement often uses this tactic. In his book Call Me Crazy But I’m Hearing God (Destiny Image, 2007), he calls his critics names that are associated with death — “undertakers” and “caretakers.” Clement says “undertakers are the ‘naysayers’ of this world who seek to bury what God is doing.” And he has an even harsher description of “caretakers”:
The caretakers are always poking their noses into your business. They are trying to take care of things that no one ever asked them to take care of. They are the judges who declare what they believe is wrong in the church and the world. They determine who the false prophets are and what is heretical. They don’t change the world; they criticize the world. They never take a risk. They live in the comfort of their own high towers (page 156).
Yet, he has a flattering name for his faithful followers — “risktakers.” He calls them the “pioneers” and the ones who “will make history.” He says, “God loves risktakers!”
Like Clement, “apostle” C. Peter Wagner calls his critics names. He says they’re the “unanointed leaders of the old wineskin,” and he claims they’re motivated by a high-ranking demon he calls the “corporate spirit of religion” [See his book Changing Church (Regal, 2004), pages 18-22].
I could give countless examples. Many followers of “apostles” and “prophets” have responded to my articles in this way. One comment I’ve often received is that I’m just “jealous” of the success of the ministries I’ve critiqued. This is classic name calling.
If someone’s favorite teacher is challenged, a better response is to show the critics where they are wrong — not to just call them names.
I’m the former managing editor of Biola University’s magazine, Biola Magazine, and a former contributing writer to the Christian Research Journal. I have a master’s degree in Christian apologetics from Biola. I also operate the site www.fulfilledprophecy.com.
Loading ...
January 13th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Brain Stoppers! Love it! What an accurate description of a childish strategy that unfortunately all too often is successful in convincing some that they cannot discern error when confronted with it.
Eph 5:6
Another great commentary, Holly!
Let no one deceive you with empty words,…..
January 15th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
It’s interesting that you would be called “jealous” over the success of these movements. I would be interested in knowing if they can show any long term success, read: fruit, of any of them. There is destruction all around for many reasons in the Church, not just from these guys, that comes from different kinds of false teachings. However, these “apostles” seem to lack any movement that results in sustainable mission, spiritual growth or lasting fruit, at least from what I’ve seen. I am working with churches who have gotten involved with these guys several years ago and had “revivals”, yet shortly afterward, the church implodes into random accusation of sins, usually through some kind of gossip, often through public false accusation. Then bad prophecies, false healings, and practices of divination – one bad teaching after another. It is taking years for these churches, the ones who haven’t closed completely, to recover. The people are wounded for years and often will have nothing to do with any church. Of course, these apostles simply justify the destruction in these churches for rejecting God’s revelation, and they move on to introduce their heresy elsewhere.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Holly,
I just ran across this blog today.
I’m shocked there are only 2 replies to this post.
Anyway, I say: Right On!
April 23rd, 2010 at 9:53 am
I have been reading your articles for awhile now and truly appreciate the way you approach the issues. These false teachings must be exposed in the hope of rescuing some from the grip of deception. Jude 3 urges believers to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” It is interesting that many of the false teachers pray for the fire to come upon those who come to them for ministry, when in fact they need to be “snatched from the fire” (Jude 23).
I am all too familiar with many of the issues you discuss because I had the great misfortune of becoming involved with the prophetic movement and the New Apostolic Reformation for a number of years. I was a sincere Christian who was not looking to be deceived. If I had had a true understanding of what I was becoming involved with, I would have run for dear life! But the leaders of the flock taught false doctrine because they themselves were disconnected from Christ, the head of the body, and in their own deceived state they taught, affirmed, and encouraged what was false. I have seen the faith of many shipwrecked because of these things, and my own heart was broken because of the road I had been down. Thanks be to God that there are obedient Christians on the internet who expose this apostasy and counteract it with truth from God’s word. It is because of their ministry that my eyes were opened, providing a way of escape. I have spent the last few years delving deeply into God’s word, researching the NAR, and receiving solid teaching from a Bible church. And I also take advantage of every opportunity to warn others
about the dangers of pursuing what is false, and pointing them back to Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).
April 29th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Thank you Holly for your faithfull service!
In our little town the NAR taechings are evident everywhere. I have started to tech at a little private Christian school and it is compulsory for the staff to attend an `Ancient Paths` course-or whatever for a week plus a full Saturday. I probably will `fire` myself from my position but I have no intention to submit to complete strangers. I do not worship at the school`s church and do not know the `elders` (mostly women) from a bar of soap.
Holley, do you have more info in this `Ancient Paths`?