Tags
ANTIFA, BLM, Christian persecution, Christian values, Critical Race Theory, deliverance, oppression, progressive socialist cult, Riots of 2020
As a Bishop whose small ecclesiastical jurisdiction is grouped with other such Episcopal Sees in what is commonly referred to as the Independent Sacramental Movement; my peers (other clergy of the ISM) and I generally tend to look at other branches of the “Vine” (John 15:5), metaphorically speaking, for inspiration and insight. Personally, I watch not just other catholic type denominations or ministries but I also keep a keen eye on our Protestant brothers and sisters.
Like many “neo” catholic and even Protestant leaders, I harbor a certain degree of skepticism regarding the candidness of some charismatic acts; in particular prophetic dreams and or reports of having been “spoken” to by God or one of his emissaries. I often find myself being suspicious of an individual’s testimony (or confession depending on your religious background) when they relate that an important message has been given them through spiritual acts. Case in point the writer of the opinions I share today, contends the information was revealed to her in a dream; which may be absolutely true. But even if she used a analogy of a dream as the inspiration for her opinion/editorial, the contents of her message is none the less still valid and worthy of our consideration.
Ms. Alger [see #1 below] makes two points, the first appears to be an opinion in which she warns us of spiritual attack and the second is a warning in which she relates a dream she reportedly had a few nights before she published the op-ed.
First she writes:
This is a warning to those who feel victimized, oppressed or disenfranchised. Be careful what you give your allegiance to and where you put your focus. Your quest for justice is opening the door to seducing spirits.
Charismatic Protestants often refer to anomalous “ideas” that seemingly pop into your head from out of the blue as “spirits.” Of course Protestants are not alone in making this connection; St. Ignatius of Loyola pioneered discernment of Spirits [2] as a means to contemplate the nature and validity of these anomalous mental constructs. Therefore we can assume that this otherwise charismatic belief is not just a Protestant phenomenon but a Catholic one as well. However, I reiterate, even if we are skeptical of the inspiration for Ms. Alger’s message, the core of her warning is none the less very important and worthy of our considerations. She goes on to write;
Our culture is screaming at you to voice your pain. If you have felt victimized, you are being told that justice will be only found by pouring out the wrongs you have suffered and the inequalities endured by the sins of others. Whether it’s racial discrimination, gender bias, financial disproportion or some other personal disappointment, your constant declaration of injustice is supposed to somehow set you free. Instead, this misguided devotion to your pain is leading you into a trap. Any bitter offense against others and any need for validation has made you easy prey for seducing spirits. In focusing on your wounds and recounting the wrongs done, you are only feeding demons and nullifying the cross.
“Now the Spirit clearly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith and pay attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their consciences seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4:1-2).
If you are paying attention, not just to the “pasteurized” news as reported by the main stream media but the alternative media as well, your senses have been assaulted by videos of people screaming out their pain. In some cases theirs is a very real pain from severe loss or physical assault, but the vast majority of those screaming out is somewhat reminiscent of an unruly child having a temper tantrum.
Watch this while trying to ignore the young lady’s less than ladylike language as she shows her frustation with the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1307181505572212736
Of course there are hundreds of similar videos and rants out on the internet, which leaves us wondering what causes these people to loose any sense of decorum and record (for posterity) a video illustrating their total lack of emotional control. Could it be that an anomalous mental construct has entered into her consciousness and convinced her in some way out there, hyperbolic rant that the passing of Justice Ginsburg will lead to a future in which she (the lady screaming) will be somehow victimized? Could Ms. Alger be correct in her claim that spiritual entities are seducing people on a wholesale basis, wrongly convincing them that they are somehow oppressed and under attack although these people live in the United States; the country that is the envy of the world for its freedoms and liberties?
Lets move on to Ms. Alger’s prophetic dream.
In a dream a few nights ago, I was approached by a seducing spirit. But it was not coming through some rebel on the street—it was coming through a pastor. As he stood beside me and looked me in the eyes, I felt the pull as he was giving me his undivided attention and admiration. He then said, “Just say it! You know you want to.”
[…]
So, I said, “I love you” and repeated it as if on cue. Eventually, this seducing spirit led me into a dark place where I only felt shame and remorse with no way out. Declaring my allegiance to him did not bring the freedom I hoped for. It merely put me in greater bondage and separated from the power of Christ. Upon waking, I knew this was a word for believers to recognize the seducing spirits among us and renounce their hold.
This prophetic dream exposes those church leaders who are being influenced by seducing spirits and leading their flocks into bondage. They may sound spiritual and pious, but they are seeking a reputation among men instead of laying down their lives for the gospel. In hopes of gaining an audience, they are taking up social issues instead of taking up their cross. In hopes of becoming saviors to the disenfranchised, they are supporting the riots instead of praying for deliverance.
Ms. Alger’s words; “…they are seeking a reputation among men instead of laying down their lives for the gospel. In hopes of gaining an audience, they are taking up social issues instead of taking up their cross. In hopes of becoming saviors to the disenfranchised, they are supporting the riots instead of praying for deliverance…” are astounding. This is the same observation that many of us in the Christian movements—outside of the traditional main stream churches—have been making. An observation that—in our opinion(s)—too many Evangelical, main stream protestants, and even Catholic leaders are embracing and promoting the seducing ideas of the far left just to garner attention and power for themselves. Most of these ideas are like candy, they attract the masses (spiritual children) but have no “spiritual” nourishment. My age group was taught as children, that consuming too much candy will be unhealthy and even rot your teeth out, this spiritual candy dispensed by these power hungry ministers will be detrimental to your soul, a rot eating at your core.
These counterfeit champions may appeal to our flesh, but they are destroying our faith. For those who are being drawn into this trap, it’s time to recognize the demonic source and refuse to give it our attention and devotion.
Ms. Algers words, no matter how she dispenses them are absolutely worthy and must be carefully considered by anyone concerned about the state of the Christian Church today.
Please read the entirety of Ms. Alger’s warning at [1] below:
[2] Discernment of Spirits, IgnatianSpritiuality.com Loyola Press