DON’T CONFUSE ME WITH THE FACTS, EITHER

In the last issue of this publication, Personal Freedom Outreach co-director Steve Cannon described the challenging endeavor of presenting Latter-day Saints with the hard facts of historical revisions, contradictory theology, failed prophecies and erroneous revelations of the LDS church and its leaders (see The Quarterly Journal, Vol. 18, No. 4, “Don’t Confuse Me With the Facts... I Have a Testimony,” pg. 1). Cannon described how the near-standard response from Mormons is that, despite all the condemning factual information presented, the LDS church and “prophets” are true because of their testimony (i.e., feelings).

There is no doubt that an important spiritual aspect is at work here. Paul told the church at Corinth, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). What is crystal clear and readily understood by believers, is restrained from those perishing (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Yet as I read through Cannon’s article, I was unsettled that the consistent pattern of “don’t confuse me with the facts,” is found not just within the kingdom of the cults (Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.), but tragically among the hyper-charismatics and pentecostals who look to their “anointed” superstars.

Let me say from the onset that I am not questioning the salvation of these Christians. Nor am I implying that anyone and everyone in some type of pentecostal and neo-pentecostal church has developed such a closed-minded attitude. But I will state, unapologetically, that the schemes and distractions of Satan are being effectively used upon these believers as well. And, it appears, the more outrageous and bizarre these “anointed” icons of the pentecostal world become, the more their devotees defend them to the hilt.

Recently I took a call from a man in New York state who had lost his wife to the Watchtower organization. (Actually she had grown up a Jehovah’s Witness and they were now divorced.) I conveyed to him some helpful suggestions as to the “do’s” and “don’ts” of sharing Christ with his wife in relation to her Jehovah’s Witness background and status. Early in the conversation I was aware of this man’s mystical frame of mind as he informed me that “God told me that I am going to get my wife back” and that “God has given me a Scripture which will get the Jehovah’s Witnesses saved — Isaiah 43:11.” To the latter, I responded that while we must use the Word of God in our witnessing efforts, no one single verse will repeatedly prevail against the “veiled and blinded minds” of the unbelieving. I wish it were just that simple to bring a Jehovah’s Witness to Christ but anyone who has witnessed to them knows that it is not.

Our conversation came to an abrupt conclusion when he mentioned, in passing, his devotion to Benny Hinn. I suggested to him that he needs to be very guarded to such a reverence for the controversial faith healer. “Hinn’s repertoire is comparable to those of Watchtower leaders: false prophecies, necromancy, and aberrant and heretical teaching,” I said. When I offered details to validate my statement, the man came unhinged. “Benny Hinn is anointed of God. I know where the spirit who is speaking through you is coming from and I will not listen to it and rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ!” he shrieked.

When I again asked him to allow me a few moments to present the facts for him to consider, he became even more agitated. “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm. No, I’m not going to listen to you!” he thundered. I told him that his reaction to what I had said is really no different than the reaction his wife will exhibit when she is told that Watchtower leaders are false prophets who teach unbiblical doctrines. I’ve had more Jehovah’s Witnesses than I care to number tell me, “No, I’m not going to listen to you. These men [i.e., their leaders] are anointed of God and speak for Jehovah.”

“No, that’s entirely different,” the caller from New York said as he hung up on me.

He has now begun to write to another PFO director, Joan Cetnar, and repeatedly offered to her the revelation that I have “brought the judgement [sic] of Almighty God” on myself. He asked her to sit me down and “restore” me “to an accurate knowledge of not judging.” Cetnar responded that we are allowed and even biblically instructed to judge or discern the words of men and their alleged divine declarations. She again offered him further documentation as to the false statements of Hinn. And in a second letter to her, he responded that he doesn’t “want to be fellowshiping with anyone who condemns anyone because I got enough of judgement [sic] from the Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

In other words, “Don’t confuse me with the facts...” Sadly, he wants his wife to consider the facts, but he himself will not. Additionally, this brother is willing to ignore the scriptural warnings to “test” and “discern,” because he has bought into Hinn’s well-crafted and orchestrated exhibitions. Or at least he is willing to forego such application to Hinn, but readily apply them to me.

Cannon further noted in his essay that for Latter-day Saints, “feelings” take precedence over “facts.” Regrettably, this same mindset is apparent among those who defend the charismatic superstars. One reader recently took issue with our evaluation of the doctrine and practice of word-faith teacher Joyce Meyer (The Quarterly Journal, Vol. 16, No. 1, pg. 4). He wrote and informed us that while he is “not a follower or supporter of Joyce,” “Jesus is coming back soon for his bride, hopefully soon but if not, I do hope there are teachers like Joyce Meyer still teaching the Word, even some of her life experiences, because in my spirit, I really sense that she is called of God...” (emphasis added).

Here, too, this brother has — whether knowingly or unknowingly — weakened the Word of God in his life. He is on mystical and dangerous ground when he wrote that “in my spirit, I sense that she is called of God.” He has allowed his senses and emotions to do something that the Word of God is to do. The Bible is the only standard by which we are to measure all teachers and their teachings, not our senses or emotions.

So then what’s an apologist to do? Well, the answer is obvious: Just keep on presenting the facts and remembering that unchecked doctrine can and does affect the lives of those following such teachers. And by God’s grace some will listen and consider the facts.

A lady from Ohio proves this beyond question. She first wrote to PFO to protest against our reports on Benny Hinn. She accused us of “jealousy” and labeled our writing as “disgusting.” We were told by her that we need to “get born-again.” I responded to her, reiterated the information in our articles, and asked her to please consider the Scriptural instruction and response for false teachers and false prophets (such as Romans 16:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Titus 1:9 and Jude 3).

This she did, and her harsh rebukes were immediately replaced by a kindhearted and positive attitude. “I must ask you to forgive me, I’m sorry, there are things I wrote that I shouldn’t have,” she said in a subsequent letter. And later wrote that, “After corresponding with you, I have been watching him [Benny Hinn] closer and as hard as it is for me to say, I don’t like some of the things I see.” She then acknowledged that she no longer sees PFO as “intent on getting at Benny Hinn, but honestly ... trying to protect the ‘body of Christ.’”

In one of her letters (which arrived just before this editorial was written), she asked me to “Please pray for me that I will grow in wisdom, knowledge and discernment.” What a humbling petition from a sister in Christ! Her prayer requests are some of the noblest for which Christian can petition God. In an arena where the devotees of televangelists are prompted to seek from God more money, better jobs, bigger homes, newer cars and other grandiose “blessings,” it’s exhilarating to hear someone search for the things that matter. I know God will honor her requests as she considers her conduct, character and spiritual growth more important than materialism.

Her prayer, too, is much more in line with the instruction of God’s Word: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Despite the accusations that we are “jealous,” “envious” or “just plain old stupid” by some, my colleagues and I will continue to hold fast and defend the faith. We will continue to evaluate and speak out against those who promote aberrant and heretical teachings. And by God’s grace there will be those who will be open to, ascertain, and become unconfused by the facts.

—MKG

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