Truth really can be stranger than fiction.

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Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.

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Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.

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Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.

Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?

The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!

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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried

Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.

Scripture of The Day - 1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world

Escritura del día - 1 Juan 4,1

Amados, no creáis a todo espíritu, sino probad los espíritus si son de Dios; porque muchos falsos profetas han salido por el mundo.

Bibelstelle des Tages - 1 Johannes 4,1

Geliebte, glaubet nicht jedem Geist, sondern prüfet die Geister, ob sie von Gott sind! Denn es sind viele falsche Propheten hinausgegangen in die Welt.

Is the Heartland Vineyard Church a Cult?

I recently came across a discussion that centered on the question of whether the Heartland Vineyard churches are a cult. I attended their Sunday worship services and small groups for a short period of time, but never decided to become a member. I no longer attend even occasionally. Nevertheless, this allowed me to personally experience the Vineyard--at least in the town in which I lived. I currently have no affiliation with them and do not seek to speak against or for them.

What caught my attention were some of the statements and conclusions made by others in the discussion regarding the accusations that Heartland Vineyard churches are a cult. I refer to the discussions at factnet.org/discus/messages/3/1987.html. While it's wise for a person to be careful to avoid involvement in cults, it's also wise for him to be very careful in what he labels as cultic. Isaiah 5:20 warns, "Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" True believers should not be confused about what is of God and what is of Satan.

Although contributors to the discussion, undoubtedly, meant well and sought to remind Christians that all teachings and behavior must be compared to the Bible, many of their comments were not in agreement with biblical scripture. One person who rejected the idea that the Vineyard churches could be a cult commented, "I totally trust that what I am being taught here is pure truth, and not in any way subjected to error." Someone responded, " Jason, it all sounded good until you used the phrase 'I totally trust that what I am being taught here is pure truth, and not in any way subjected to error.' All I can suggest to you is to never, NEVER, put total trust in man. On Earth there is only one place where you can be taught the pure truth and that is through the Holy Spirit, not talking to you through a man or woman."

Again, it's good to be careful and firm when it comes to following God's word, but it's easy to become so preoccupied with trying to drill in a point that unintentional erroneous statements are made. The statement, "...there is only one place where you can be taught the pure truth and that is through the Holy Spirit, not talking to you through a man or woman" leaves no room for obedience to the following scriptures.

The apostle Paul reminded, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers..." (KJV I Cor. 12:28). Many set themselves up as apostles, prophets and teachers in the church which is why there are many problems. However, some are truly set by God. Are they not still a man or a woman through whom the Holy Spirit speaks? Yes, they are, so to say that the Spirit doesn't talk through a man is not biblically accurate. II Peter 1:20 declares, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Again, God spoke through these prophets who were ordinary men set as prophets by the Lord. If the Holy Spirit doesn't speak through ordinary men, women and children of God then why did Jesus command His disciples saying, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations..." (Mat. 28:19)? The passage of Acts 8:26-40 plainly recounts when the Ethiopian eunuch sat reading the prophet Isaiah without understanding. Did the Holy Spirit materialize and teach him the scriptures? No, the scriptures say that the Spirit sent Philip to the eunuch to teach him. Yes, all credit and praise is due to God who taught. But, it must not be forgotten that He spoke through a man. Of course, God doesn't have to speak through a man, but biblical scripture clearly shows that this is the way He chooses to operate.

If anyone wants to be assured that He's being taught by someone who is teaching under the influence, moving and inspiration of the Spirit of God Himself, he has nothing to do but verify the teachings by scripture. Acts 17:11 reminds readers that this is what the Bereans did as they received the gospel through the men and women sent to them by the Lord as teachers.

This is only one of the statements made in the discussion regarding the Vineyard churches being a cult that did not prove to be biblical. One of the definitions for the word "cult" is a religious system or sect. Unnecessary Dogmatism and melodrama among Christians could pave the way for any church to be labeled as a cult. Perhaps this is why Jesus warned, "They shall put you out of the synagogues. Yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (St. John 16:2). Jesus was speaking to His own true disciples informing them that they would face death at the hands of others who also identified themselves as believers in Christ. What a great and fearful confusion He spoke of. According to I Cor. 14:33, God is not the author of any confusion in His genuine servants when it comes to righteousness.

Eye-Opening Bible Studies:

Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.

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