Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing?

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing?
Monday, July 12, 2021 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Awhile ago, I was doing some shopping at the local grocery store. As I was coming out a couple people called out to me. It turned out they had a display table in a corner outside the store. As they were beyond my visual range, had they not called, I’d never have known they were there.

We started up a conversation, and it turned out they were part of a ministry that specialized in treating people addicted to drugs, with a heavy emphasis on the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and God’s ability to change people’s lives. While a couple things that were said struck me as just a bit odd, overall, their program looked intriguing. Could it be a ministry that our little church could support?

When I got home, I started to research the group. When it came to what their statement of faith said, I found: <the rest of this sentence deliberately left blank>. I did find a reference to a church they were associated with, and for their statement of faith I found: <the rest of this sentence deliberately left blank>. There was yet a third reference to a Bible school, and their beliefs were: <the rest of this sentence deliberately left blank>. Are you noticing a pattern here?

So did I find anything at all? Yes. I uncovered that they appear to be part of ARM, the Apostles Renewal Movement, a group that believes that the ministries of apostles and prophets are being restored. For them, all churches must come under the direct authority of an apostle, who must also listen to the movement’s restored prophets. In addition, they teach that while an apostle might speak prophetically, that role usually belongs to the prophets. As for pastors/teachers, according to this group, they specifically do NOT hear directly from God, hence the need for them to come under direct authority of the movement’s apostles and prophets, who do.

Does this sound a lot like a cult group? It sure does. Portray your ministry as being broadly “Christian,” but have no statement of faith. Keep your core beliefs mostly hidden. Have all authority vested in only a few individuals. Nowhere in the Scriptures do you find all authority resting in the hands of only a couple people. The pastoral epistles make it clear that leadership rests at the local church level in the hands of male elders (elders: plural).

The net result: what looked to be an organization our church potentially could support, is instead one we absolutely cannot partner with. Underneath what looked to be a sheep had instead a resemblance to a wolf.

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Comments

Linda From Washington State At 7/28/2021 10:56:22 PM

What a blessing that you could discern their true nature. As Christians, we must learn to grow in the discernment of good and evil "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:14 (NIV)

Reply by: James W. Walraven

Agreed. My second book: "One in Christ: Growing toward Christian Maturity" deals very specifically with why we need to mature as Christians. It is a book I wish far more people would read.