Cords that bind: Complex challenges that keep Christians in erroneous ways of the faith

This article will provide a list of fleshly and wrong-spirited motivations that may be found in followers of Christ – be they true Christians or just think they are. The list will give God-guided, Spirit-filled Christian workers a grasp of what they are up against. It is quite a lot! Before getting to that, some explanation is in order.

There is one faith of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:4-6). There are, however, thousands of divisions in what is called the “Church” – loosely and imperfectly defined as all who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. In John 17 Jesus called for the church to be as one, but they are not one. They are a house divided.

As prior articles have shown, this is attributed to human subjectivity – or as God terms it in the New Testament – the flesh. The religious flesh of humans is their mental capabilities – their intellect, feelings, biases, sensibilities, critical thinking ability – apart from God. It is human cognition of the things of God untethered and independent from the Holy Spirit of God. It is practice of the faith by the natural quite-fallible mind, and not according to the Spirit (Gal 5:16). The New Testament shows the human mind is well able to contemplate, seek to understand, and practice the faith independently from God (Gal 3:3, Eph 4:17-18, etc.). The Jews of the gospels who were always confronting Jesus were the first to broadly demonstrate service of God by the flesh.

Christians have a fleshly side as well – even if they are born again, or have never been regenerated. This explains a plethora of “Christian” understandings that disagree with one another, compete with one another, undermine one another, and cancel each other out – all over the same short book, the New Testament.

There appears to be no limit to the human mind’s tendency to come up with new interpretations of the Bible, and resultant sects that develop around private interpretations. Estimates are as many as 30-40,000 subgroups. Whatever the actual number of sub-sects, there are at least dozens if not hundreds of major branches. Each of these groups thinks it is practicing the true faith. Each has set their stake and is standing their ground in what they say is the service of Christ, be they true or false.

Like the Tower of Babel all over again 

How do the wise who know God reach people who are bound in a system that upholds falsehoods?

It has been said those in outright false sects and Christian cults are tough to reach because when they hear words and terms from the Bible, they mean something different to them than they do to the speaker. So if a Christian worker seeks to teach or correct them from the Bible, the person being ministered to hears meanings different than the worker meant.

In fact, this is not just true of outright false sects and cults with obvious heresies. This same conundrum applies to ordinary Christians in “respectable” and “mainstream” branches or denominations.

People in different Christian groups are following different narratives and slants on the Bible’s words. They often parrot their thought leaders, or otherwise base their understanding on what they have perceived of God’s words. The New Testament writings may have meant one thing to the writer, but they register some different understanding to the hearer.

True Light

To contrast false light, one must first know what true light is. Jesus said of the Old Testament Jews the light in them could be darkness. He then turned around and warned His followers.

Luke 11 – ³⁴ The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵ Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. ³⁶ If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

Jesus said in verse 35 – “Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.” 

The true light – the true way of Jesus Christ – is knowing God (Jn 17:3) to the full degree that Jesus meant when He called for it in John 17. It is abiding in Christ as a living branch to the full degree that He meant it when He called for it in John 15. It is walking according to the Spirit and not fulfilling the desires of the flesh to the full degree that Paul called for on behalf of Jesus in Galatians 5, Romans 8, and in other references such as in Romans 6 and Ephesians 5. The true way of Christ entails being one who can discern, recognize, confirm and obey the voice of Jesus as spoken of in John 10. They simultaneously can discern and “flee” from “strangers” Jesus said. Being a fruitful follower of Christ involves entering into these realities as God meant them, and not according to misinterpreted explanations men may attempt. Being a follower of the true way of Christ means Jesus Christ is your Teacher above all other human teachers as Jesus meant in Matthew 23:8 and 10 and as Paul references in 1 Corinthians 2:12 and surrounding verses and as John referenced about the anointing that teaches in 1 John 2.

Impediments to Discovering the True Way of Christ

Jesus said in Matthew 7 the true way is a narrow and difficult way and few find it. The New Testament says test the spirits. It says in 1 John that evil spirits were ruining lives of people who sought Christ from the beginning. Paul warned of seducing spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Tim 4:1) and prophesied saying the Holy Spirit said they will infiltrate the church. Other verses warning of degradation of the church include: Matt 7:21-23, 2 Tim 3:1-7, and vs 13, 2 Tim 4:3-4; 2 Pet 2:1-2; Acts 20:29-31, Matt 24:4-5, 11-12, Luke 18:8.

There are so many impediments making what started out as a narrow way exceedingly narrow. Where to begin? In order to name as many impediments as possible and not write thousands of words explaining each one, following are bullet lists. These are not a comprehensive listing. They hit some of the high spots, each of which could be elaborated upon.

Together, there are many cords that bind a person into a false way they will believe and base their life on and also defend and take meaning from. Let the reader understand:

A Random List of Factors

• People are baked in the ways of this world that the Bible says is under the influence of Satan (Eph 2:1-3).
• Their thoughts, biases, and sensibilities are soaked in the way of Satan’s children.
• Their ways and means are the ways and means of Satan’s people.
• They may not truly “renew” their mind in the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit (Rom 12:2).
• Their consecration may be incomplete as they follow indoctrination of humans who misspeak for God.
• They may just as likely fold in Satan’s ways to their practice of the faith.
• Those who seek Christ are already like a “glass full” of their own understandings, some of which they believe are true when they are not.
• Jesus warned take heed that the light in you is not darkness.
• Many will come to the faith for wrong, soulish, self-serving fleshly reasons.
• Many teach the faith from a wrong, soulish, fleshly and demonic platform.

Humans who come to Christ are first brought in to the faith to serve their immediate needs of self.

• They want to “flee the wrath to come” as John the Baptist chided the Jews in Matt 3:7-8.
• They want to escape hell; they want blessings as they perceive they are being offered.
• Many may not receive the baptism of the Spirit but assume they are in the faith.
• With the flesh they attempt to live a Christian life as they understand it.
• Many are taught false ways by presumed authorities and these ways are accepted as light.
• Humans are naturally followers and they submit to those they perceive should be listened to.
• The clergy has long played on this by naming people with titles of respect.
• Humans are often more comfortable knowing a wiser stronger human is in charge.
• Humans in the flesh cannot discern God’s truth.
• It is only a grace of God to discern the sound of truth.
• God alone can give peace for a teaching or take peace away.
• Flesh is well able to approve or disapprove what it hears based on its jaundiced eye.
• Flesh is also well able to create a false “peace” when it hears things that it agrees with, regardless if they are not God’s truth.

Those of the flesh are often limited in intellect. The Bible itself states the faith is revealed, and true understanding comes from God.

• Many have poor critical thinking skills.
• Many are lazy minded or simply not adept at deep thinking.
• Many are not logical, reasonable, rational.
• Many jump to conclusions.
• Many elevate theories to fact in their minds.
• Many elevate a hypothesis to a conclusion.
• Many will accept a teaching in God’s name that does not hold water as long as they do not feel pain.
• If they are rewarded in a system of man’s contrivance, they are woven in.

Humans like to believe they are in control.

• They like to believe they have found the right way.

FOR THOSE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES COMMITTED, THE GOSPEL AS THEY PERCEIVE IT IS THEIR LIFE!

IT TAKES AN ACT OF GOD TO DISABUSE A PERSON IN FALSE RELIGION.

THEIR WHOLE LIFE AND SECURITY AND SO MUCH MORE ARE TIED TO THEIR HOLDING ONTO THEIR UNDERSTANDINGS.

If a person latches onto a false way of Christ, many natural reactions follow.

These may be conscious but are just as likely NOT conscious. They may be in the back of a person’s mind so they would never say these things out loud. In either case, these are factors that are often present:

• They may be relieved feeling they have found God and are no longer lost.
• They may take pleasure in teachings as they hear them.
• They may be gratified they feel they have discovered God.
• They may have pride they have found what most others have not.
• They may have pride as though on a superior team; it’s as though they are on the winning team, and others are not.
• They may feel like they now have a valid purpose for their life.
• They may feel like their life is more valuable as they are part of something of God and greater than themselves.
• They may work as evangelists to convince others they are right.
• They may work as evangelists to persuade others to join them.
• They may be gratified and feel validated when others join them.
• They may satisfy man’s need for US vs THEM (opposition).
• They may oppose others who stand against them.
• They may overtly or secretly enjoy the conflict as man is a brutal warlike beast.
• They may enjoy invalidating other believers they think are false.
• Every perceived victory fortifies them as in the right, or so they may feel.
• They may have contempt for opponents just as the Pharisees did for Jesus.
• They may mask their contempt as good motives like standing for Christ, exposing bad teaching, correcting the blind, even exercising feigned love and false compassion.
• They remember Ephesians 4:15 to speak “the truth in love,” and God’s call for compassion, but they can only fake it.
• They seek to correct without the love of Christ.
• They are those Jesus warned against in Matt 5:46-47 who only love you if you agree and join with them. They love their own.
• They may be personally dishonest in their argumentation.
• They may overlook truth given by opponents if it serves to undermine their position.
• They may mischaracterize the opponent’s words or arguments or positions.
• They may be as disingenuous as lawyers in the world whose mandate is to prove the case and win regardless of ultimate truth.
• They are capable of all bias, prejudice, and so many other undesirable traits.

There are reasons in the fallen psyche of humans to carry on in a false way and resist the true way.

• They may be paid to teach and preach a false way.
• They may get other benefits from the false way.
• They may have married their spouse who they found within the false way and to leave the false way would stress or break the marriage.
• Indeed they may have other family members who all reinforce the false way, and to defy them would have consequences.
• They might lose friends if they abandoned the old way and declared it false.
• They may have sold books or media advocating a false way.
• They may lose their reputation if they abandon a false way.
• They would have to admit they were wrong and followed a false way.
• They would have to start all over again.
• It would be like a person who has gone through many years of schooling being told he deserves to be demoted to kindergarten.
• They would have to admit they led others astray.

These may or may not be impediments. Certainly countless people have switched theological affiliation and let the chips fall where they may. These are just factors that may or may not apply.

A worse factor is they do not love God and in God’s eyes they resist and hate Him.

• They do not truly want God, they only want what He promises the saints.
• They may want the benefits but not the responsibilities.
• Or they may want the benefits but have redefined the responsibilities.
• They may want to be satisfied they are a saint so they get their rewards.
• They may not want to submit and serve God; they want to be in control.
• They may have redefined submission to a way they are comfortable with.
• Casting one’s life into God’s hand to the degree He may call for may be unwanted.
• Casting one’s life into God’s hand to the degree He may call for may be frightening.
• They do not know God and the fear of losing control or God making them give up what they want is undesirable.
• They may have a repulsion for following Jesus as God calls for.
• They may be afraid of a life without the boundaries of their theological walls in which they live.

In the worst-possible scenario, they are purely bound by Satan.

Jesus called it from the beginning when He prophesied goats, tares, false prophets, wolves, and false disciples. These are they who practice the faith as they understand it in Satan, not in Christ.

There are “Christians” who are in bondage to evil spirits of false religion. They comprehend what they believe is their security with all the motives of the Scribes and Pharisees who opposed Jesus.

John 5 – ³⁹ You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

John 8 – ⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

Jesus said: “ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.”

In false Christians, their desires are to get all the benefits but be their own lords while declaring Jesus Lord. The light in them is darkness. Evil spirits of false religion are in back of so much that goes on in the practice of the Christian faith.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven …” (from Matt 7:21)

If a person believes they are following the faith and they satisfy all its requirements they are as their own god, their own judge. If they do not hear the voice of Jesus, all they can hear is the voice of fellow humans.

Jesus speaking – John 5 – ⁴¹ “I do not receive honor from men. ⁴² But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. ⁴³ I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

It is an age-old tendency for the natural person in this place to take counsel and approval or disapproval from one another

Those bound in false Christianity cannot have the love of Christ because they do not have Christ. Or, if they ever were born from above, those bound in false Christianity cannot have the love of Christ because they have quenched the Holy Spirit and follow men, not Christ

Jesus to falsely religious – John 5:42 – But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.

They do not have the love of the Holy Spirit even if they can show you the scripture verse and explain it and claim they have it.

Romans 5:5 – Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 Flesh only does what flesh can do.

 Jesus speaking – John 3:6 – That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

The religious flesh does what is in the nature of flesh. It acts out from the flesh.

It does not draw Living Water from a river of living water.

It lives for and serves self in the name of Christ just as did the Jews who opposed Jesus in the gospels. It thus seeks its own glory.

 Jesus speaking – first clause of John 7:18 – He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; 

Man seeks his own glory. Those who are in this place practice false religion in the name of Christ. They will go through all the motions of the religious Jews who snarled at Jesus, chafed at Him, and felt justified in one maddening stroke.

The test of these things is FRUIT – the results and outcomes.

Jesus said in Matthew 7 by their fruit you will know them. Are the results and achievements of so many faith systems, denominations, and teaching perspectives producing all the fruit of God the New Testament calls for? Or does one merely say so? God promises to back His true followers all the way. He is not a respecter of persons. He is a giver of good gifts. He initiates the relationship with a covenant-keeping child of His. He has a vested interest in seeing fruit.

John 15 – ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

God paid the highest price to make fruit possible. Like so many other aspects of the faith however, a false believer may not know God’s truth in these matters. They may not know what fruit is if they see it. If fruit of the Spirit is absent or very sparse they may not notice that either. Their thought leaders may have ready excuses for lack of fruit. They may explain away what God would call shortcomings to the mysterious will of God – who they do not know in spirit and truth. They may chalk it up to God’s “timing,” when it is deceived peoples’ disobedience and being in the wrong place of spirit and mind that is the real culprit.

James 3 – ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

So many in the Christian faith are accustomed to so little that the absence of much is no cause for alarm. Worse, the deceived may just as well like it that way. False religion in the name of Christ is a stronghold of perversity. It is a counterfeit way masquerading often with full bravado that it is the right way.

2 Corinthians 10 – ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

These are ancient problems. They were dealing with them in the first century. 

2 Timothy 2 – ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Arguing with many a fleshly spiritually bound “Christian” will only get you a rebuke and the same kinds of responses Jesus got in the backlash of the reprobate Jews whose “faith” was an abomination in the sight of God.

First clause of Jesus speaking in Matthew 23 – ³⁴ Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? … 

Fleshly spiritually bound “Christians” may have similar tendencies or be utterly the same in spirt as the brood of vipers Jesus faced, with poison in their mouth, ready to inject it in a worker of God. Take care!

Like the Jews before them, those who follow a broad way of false Christianity are subject to a menu of faulty ways common to the flesh. Like the Jews who resisted Jesus they speak from and think and practice the faith by the flesh.

The New Testament shows this was a phenomenon under the noses of the infant church led by the apostles. We would not have some of the New Testament epistles if not for the writers attempting to deal with flesh and the works of Satan through flesh.

Let the reader take heed. Seek the true Jesus!