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The Ongoing Assault on Religion by Hyper-Spiritualism

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This is problem when you engage in proof texting and it is the practice of too many of the new breed of preachers these days. Did David dance before the Lord? Yes. Does this mean that churches today should encourage rolling around on the floor, animal noises and uncontrolled body spasms? Of course not. Self-control beloved. Self-control. David's wife Michal was not a "lion tamer." That assertion is ridiculous. The issue she was complaining about was not the removal of clothing per se but the removal of David's "kingly" garments. She was not upset that David was dancing. Michal came from aristocracy. She was the daughter of King Saul. She apparently did not like the fact that David "lowered" himself to the level of "common" servants. I agree that God desires us to learn something from David but dancing is not one of those lessons. I am going to show you why from the very same story

And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songsand lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. -- 2Samuel 6: 5-7 (ESV)

Wait a minute! They were celebrating and dancing and just as undignified as the later story! The Yet God was clearly more concerned with the manner of worship than the act itself. You see Uzzah was not supposed to touch the ark. God had ordained that only the Kohathites were allowed to transport the ark and Uzzah was not a Kohathite. Additionally, it was not meant to be transported on a cart but rather on the shoulders of the Kohathites by using poles. You may be saying what's the big deal? Uzzah was ordered by his king to do this and was only trying to prevent the ark from spilling onto the ground. Why couldn't God just be happy with the worship that was being offered? That seems to be the logic today as well with lion tamer teachings. They think that God should be happy with the authenticity of the person regardless of the manner in which they present themselves before the Lord. They think that their zeal or sincerity makes up for their blatant disobedience to the Word of God. They are dancing spiritually naked before the Lord and like Uzzah before them; they have no idea how offensive they are to God. Hill would continue:

"The lion tamers are ever present within the body of Christ, manifesting in different ways. Truthfully, we all have an issue wanting to tame the lion. Many step into a three-ring circus every week, taking their chair of dignity and complacency, content to keep the lion at bay. There is no passion for God or His presence. You may be wondering what chairs have to do with this. Chairs were used to tame natural lions. The chair legs caused a loss of focus. When we have no desire to press beyond our comfort zone, we lose focus of the One we are to adore." -- Dawn Hill

The fifth hallmark is that normal is labeled as regressive and the new normal is absurdity. Notice that Hill has now determined that dignity and complacency are synonyms. They most certainly are not. The implication is clear. To avoid complacency one must lose their dignity. This is of course supported by zero biblical texts but bringing the Bible into this discussion means I suffer from a religious spirit. The irony of the key verse is delicious here as Dawn Hill never considered that the image of the lion has not only been used positively. The enemy is depicted in the key verse as a roaring lion seeking the Dawn Hills of the world to devour. We see this in the silly notions proffered here. That if one remains in self-control that there is no passion for God or His presence and that we do not wish to leave our "comfort zone." No beloved. We do not wish to leave the confines of scripture because we know we can trust Scripture. We cannot trust the wickedly deceitful heart of Dawn Hill, or anyone else and that includes ourselves. What shows greater adoration for God? Lying on the ground shouting Jesus or studying His own Word to ensure we are being obedient? Let's allow Jesus Himself to answer:

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will bein you."I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. -- John 14: 15-24 (ESV)

Hmm; it doesn't seem that Jesus is teaching "radical worship" or enhanced theatrics. If you love me you will obey me. That seems pretty straightforward and what I love about these verses is the direct reference to the yet to come Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of Truth -- not the spirit of indignity. He will guide us into all truth contained in God's Word -- not drive us into the carpet at the local church building. Hill continues:

"Lion tamers also used whips in their circus acts, but it was all for theatrics. The Lord spoke to me about the whip and related it to our mouths. He showed me that many of us use our mouths like this whip. Our mouth should serve a purpose for Him, but many times, it is used for theatrics, a show. I am reminded of Matthew 15:8, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." What good is it to crack a whip when there is no heartbeat for God? The ultimate point of control and dominance in lion taming is in the act of placing one's head in the lion's mouth unharmed. This I believe is the pinnacle of a religious spirit. Jesus is the head of the church, and yet there are those who want to domesticate the lion, dominate Him and place their head in His mouth so that they can be the mouthpiece for the body. Without the leading of the Holy Spirit and the true head of the church, there is no power, and there is no revival. I want to challenge you today, do not fall into this trap." -- Dawn Hill

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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 (more...)
 
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