Darren Wilson is pimping his new television series and revealing how deep his heresy runs...part two

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Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. -- James 1: 27 (ESV)

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/behind-the-lens/67089-why-religion-is-wrong

Beloved we are always in a great spiritual war. There is an enemy to our souls. The Bible is very clear on this. He is our adversary and we are called to resist. We are not called to bind, decree, or declare anything except our total dependency upon our Savior. As part of our resistance, the Bible says we should not be ignorant of the schemes used by the devil. We should never lose sight of what is at stake. It is not your best life now. It is not being destined to reign on this earth. It is not conquering seven mountains or finding your divine purpose. Once we are saved in fact, it is no longer about us. It is about those that remain on the outside looking in. That's the whole ball game. There is a hell to shun and a heaven gain. This earth is passing away and Christ is coming back. We know that few are those who will find the narrow path to life but the few still count. They still matter. That is why heaven rejoices when a single soul repents.

God has chosen a vehicle for proclaiming His Gospel to the lost. That vehicle is the church -- His Bride. Much of the New Testament is outlining how church is to be done. Who speaks when, what qualifications are needed for certain callings, and orderly expression of the gifts of the Spirit. It stands to reason then while we are individually the enemy of Satan the church is as well overall. The church has three primary responsibilities. It is to make disciples who follow Christ. It is to proclaim the Gospel for the feeding of the sheep and the supernatural salvation of the lost. It is to glorify God Almighty. One of the obvious schemes the enemy has is to make the church as impotent as possible in achieving these goals. By introducing demonic doctrines of devils into the body, Satan has been very successful in his schemes so far. Most churches pay lip service to God while they cultivate a cult of personality charismatic leader paradigm. We just saw this last week when a devastating natural disaster was followed by the largest "church" in America finding every reason in the world why it couldn't help. What was worse was the Christians who came alongside to defend the indefensible while the unbelieving world watched in renewed disbelief. There is little glory brought to God anymore by a deceived and narcissistic church. The purpose driven heresies have changed the church goals from feeding the sheep to entertaining the goats. People are no longer saved and therefore never discipled. You cannot be saved without the preached Gospel.

Behind these machinations however has been a more insidious and grander scheme. Satan has worked overtime to try and steal the next generation of Christ followers by making them hate the church. Ecclesiastes teaches us that we are not meant to be alone but that is exactly what the devil wants. Alone we are more vulnerable to his temptations and false teachings. We have less people to rely upon. We are weaker. For decades the enemy has worked on creating entire denominations that would essentially teach that church is somehow the enemy. They did it by declaring filthy a word that God Himself ordained and that word is religion. We have all heard the cries of relationship not religion. I must admit that it is often framed in a way that sounds pious and makes sense but when you peel aside the subterfuge you realize the scheme that is going on is simply to denigrate the church in favor of a personalized religiosity. A state of being where you do not have to be beholden to rules, commandments, or doctrine. A place where your wickedly deceitful heart can tell you what you want to hear and declare that it was from God Himself. At the forefront of this deception are churches such as Bethel and IHOP. One of the chief proponents of this heresy is Darren Wilson. I have written about him recently because he keeps publishing very dangerous articles that require a biblical response (latest linked above). Darren is on a mission to tear down the church so he can further his market share in the false religion he actually defends. Let us once again reason together against the schemes of the enemy:

"In episode 12 of my new series, Questions With God, I ask the question, "What is the difference between religion and a relationship with God?" This, maybe more than anything, has become my life's purpose--to show the world a God who doesn't desire their decision, but rather their heart. Of course, this is easier said than done, because a decision is easy. Relationship is hard.

Religion, as I mean it here, is the antithesis of discipleship. Jesus never asked for converts; He asked for disciples. But of course, disciples are difficult to quantify, and religion has become big business. We like things neat and tidy and properly labeled. This isn't a bad thing in most areas, but when you're dealing with real people and the messiness of faith journeys, it's a recipe for misunderstanding and disaster. I can't tell you how many people we've met or filmed around the world who think being a Christian means saying a few words of affirmation to Jesus or simply going to church." -- Darren Wilson

How pious sounding yet biblically vacuous. Now the actual answer to the difference between these two is only one is found in the Bible and it is not relationship. At least not as Wilson and his cohorts teach it. Religion on the other hand is clearly stated in the key verse. God goes out of His way to show us what worthless religion is and what pure religion is. That should end the discussion right there. Now, if you want to rail against the "decision" theology where the work of salvation is somehow transferred from God to man, I am on board but that is not what Wilson is really railing against. Secondly here, God most certainly desires repentance and last time I checked that was a decision. Discipleship is a product of religion, not a separate and opposing force. The word games Wilson engages in are childish. You cannot become a disciple of Jesus Christ if you have not first converted. Now, if Wilson is making the argument that the purpose driven models of church growth care only about the conversion and not the discipleship than again we would agree but that is not his end game here at all. He works with and promotes some of the most purpose driven churches in existence today. Disciples are not difficult to quantify at all, in fact, Jesus defines them for us:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." -- Matthew 28: 19-20 (ESV)

Undoubtedly, Wilson himself would refer to these verses to claim the discipleship angle he is playing up but it is attached to a definition that undercuts his entire argument. A disciple is someone who is baptized -- you know -- a religious ceremony. A disciple is someone who is taught to be obedient to all Christ taught -- you know -- religious rules. Odd that this doesn't say a disciple is someone who seeks an intimate relationship with God. Except it is not odd at all. What is so interesting next is the usage of the unbiblical term "messy faith journeys." Do you know why Darren Wilson believes in messy faith journeys? Because he refuses to adhere to the Bible. You see beloved relationships are messy, as I am sure we can all attest to. The Bible actually cleans up any messes but we have to believe it and know it. He is right that being a Christian is not reciting a prayer or only attending church but that does not mean that prayer and church are out. It does not mean that you replace the safe confines of Scripture for this experiential and emotionally based messy faith journey. Wilson continues:

"I lived much of my life steeped in religion, and I didn't mind it at all. In fact, I liked it. I think that's why religious people tend to fight so hard against the concept of true relationship with God. Religion is a warm blanket of rules, regulations, the knowable and the "normal." It's so attractive because it's so attainable. Do this, do that, believe this, believe that and you're in. Never once did I stop to ask myself this question, though: Into what?" -- Darren Wilson

Beloved let's deal with the first false narrative mentioned here. "Religious" people do not fight against a relationship with Christ. We are already in one. But it is a proper relationship based upon the assurance and verity of Scripture not what our hearts are telling us this day or that. So what then is the proper relationship? Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. The first relationship is one of servant and Lord. He is the Master. I am the servant. That means I try to obey what He has taught and commanded. Not out of duty but out of a reverent relationship. His yoke may be light but it is still a yoke. Secondly as Savior that means I am the wretch. I am the one who was in desperate need of being saved. The point here is that my relationship should constantly remind me where Christ found me so that I will not become conceited in my position in Christ. If someone wishes to preach this relationship theology I would line up for a front row seat and write how biblically spot on they were. That is not however the relationship Darren Wilson preaches. He believes the Bible oppresses relationship. He was raised on the friend of God theology. Jesus is his wingman you see. The truly sad part is he fancies himself a risk taker for casting his theological nets outside of the "warm blanket of rules, regulations and the knowable" that is the Bible. He is not. He is just foolish.

"The easy answer would be heaven. Religion likes to focus on either a destination or on consequences. Now I can't wait to experience heaven, but that isn't my focus while I'm here. My focus in this life has turned from getting to a destination to understanding my Father's heart in the here and now. Religion is always looking forward or backward, but a relationship is firmly rooted in the present. What are You saying right now? What are You thinking? How would You like me to react in this instance?" -- Darren Wilson

The beauty of false teachers is they do not realize that the longer they speak or write the more transparent their heresies become. Darren Wilson is being completely honest when he says heaven is not his focus. Therein lies the problem. Darren Wilson loves this fallen world and has chosen it over the eternal life that we will have in heaven. Religion does not focus on a destination or consequences Darren. We just admit they exist. Religion does not turn a blind eye to any part of the truth -- even the parts that might make us cringe a bit. The focus of religion is Jesus Christ and His Gospel. His Gospel however, included teachings on the destinations of heaven or hell. It discussed at length the consequences we all face apart from Christ. That is why the first word uttered in the ministry of Jesus Christ was -- repent! It wasn't love or relationship. It was repent.

"If I had to identify what I was most scared of in my past life, it would probably be the untethering of the knowable and the embrace of the possible. The knowable is safe. The possible could be anything. You're telling me God can speak to me, I can hear Him, and we can actually have a conversation? To someone who loves relationship, this is a basic truth. But to the religious camp, this carries the real possibility of disaster. What if you hear wrong and mess things up worse? What if people get hurt from your mistaken conversation with God? How are we supposed to police you if you're giving us the answer that "God told you" to do something?

I get it. I get the fears and the concerns. And I've made all the mistakes I used to be afraid of. I've heard Him wrong. I've hurt others as a result. But I've also actually heard Him for myself. I've encountered Him in ways so powerful that one moment in His presence changed me forever. I've heard Him correctly many times and .. .well, if I hadn't listened, I never would have made any of my films, millions around the world wouldn't have been able to see Him on display that way, and I would probably still be wallowing in my own religious misery." -- Darren Wilson

Wow, is that fist line revealing of the deception that sits in Darren Wilson's heart or what? It is the core of most false teachings beloved. The knowable is the Bible. God has already provided us with all we need to know to survive this life. He did not forget anything nor keep anything from us. I do not need an extra-biblical revelation from my pastor or Darren Wilson. I can receive a prophetic word but if it is not confirmed in Scripture it is dismissed. Why would you want to leave such surety and confidence? Because you don't like what God has said! So instead you seek something more malleable. You pursue something more flexible and yielding to your deceitful heart. You embrace the possible because the possible can be anything! Yes and that is the problem Darren. It can be anything. It could be God or it could be angel of darkness masquerading as an angel of light. It could be demonic spirits but you'd never know because you cast aside the only thing that could help you discern such when you walked away from Scripture! Just look at the example he gives!

"You're telling me God can speak to me, I can hear Him, and we can actually have a conversation? To someone who loves relationship, this is a basic truth. But to the religious camp, this carries the real possibility of disaster."- Darren Wilson

Yes Darren. It is fraught with danger because you are relying upon your heart to determine if you are really having a conversation with God or not. That is the entire point. Does God speak audibly to people in the Bible? Sure but not often if you consider the scope. So the disaster is this. You allow your feelings to dictate whether or not you are hearing from the Lord but the Bible expressly warns us that our hearts are wickedly deceitful above all things! Deceitful! It lies to us beloved. Let me give you a clear example so we understand this principle at work. Kim Walker-Smith is the worship leader for the heretical Jesus Culture group out of Bethel Church. She was raised on the same false teachings that Darren Wilson was. She has a testimony of a waking visitation from Jesus who whisked her away to the throne room where she met the Father face to face and He ripped out a piece of His heart to mold a miniature version of Kim to dance and sing for Him. Now as disturbing as this image is, we KNOW it cannot be true if we stay in the warm and comfy confines of Scripture because God told Moses no man may see me and live. Assuming she is not lying about her encounter, Walker-Smith was visited by demons and she could no longer tell the difference because she believed in this squishy relationship theology that allows her to rely upon her deceitful heart instead of what God has already said. The truly telling admission here for us as discerning believers is that Wilson admits that if he had not followed his wickedly deceitful heart he never would have made is wickedly deceitful and heretical movies. The two Holy Ghost movies make a complete mockery of God and the Bible. This is why we need to stick to Scripture. Better to wallow in perceived religious misery out of ignorance than stand before Christ and say "Lord Lord." Wilson concludes:

"Religion is easy; relationship is hard. It's often messy. It requires something of us beyond simple actions or disciplines. It requires our vulnerability. God is the most fearless person in the universe because He offers Himself up in the most vulnerable way possible. Love must always be chosen freely and honestly, with no coercion, pressure or even expectations. God has done everything in His power to show us that He loves us, yet He still leaves the ultimate decision to love Him back in our hands. He is the author of relationship, and when we turn that relationship into religion, we dishonor both God and the love He is offering." -- Darren Wilson

God never demanded anything beyond our actions and disciplines. We are never more vulnerable than when we admit we are not God, repent of our sins, and pick up our cross to follow Him in obedience. The conclusion Wilson reaches here that turning relationship into religion is dishonoring God is so biblically absurd it should frighten us that anyone might believe it. The key verse expressly shows that God ordained religion so Darren Wilson is calling God a liar and saying he knows better. God is the author of everything beloved but the Bible does not specify relationship when dealing with the authorship of God. It says that He is the author and finisher of our faith. It is faith that is a central lynchpin of religion. It also sets the parameters for what is a proper relationship with God. It is not this messy faith journey of sloppy agape love and experiential self-deception. Do not be deceived beloved and stay far far away from wolves selling you thirty pieces of love in exchange for the surety and safety of Scripture.

Reverend Anthony Wade -- August 31, 2017

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.