Raising Awareness: Southern Churches’ Struggles with Heretical Teachings and Leadership

If you have not seen “Hillsong Exposed,” you must watch it. (Seriously, there’s nothing on TV anyway). Not only does it reveal the atrocities found in that diabolical cult – (abuse, infidelity, sexual assault, harassment, bullying, malice, threats… and, of course, unconverted heretics) – But If you’re honest – you’ll see how this documentary mirrors the state of the church – almost everywhere – but especially here in the “Bible-belt.”

Because we service a wide variety of counties throughout Middle Tennessee, we travel to many churches so that we might establish a network of referral sources where we can send our families to be discipled. Biblically discipled, that is.

But what we have found is a sea of heretical teachings—On one side, you have those who are so ignorantly legalistic that they make the Pharisees look like actual disciples. On the other side, you have those who are so hyper-Calvinistic that they think they don’t have to be obedient to Scripture because they are elect… and… well, apparently, that’s where their theology stops.

Secondly, we’ve noticed that worship is like being at a funeral service or a rock concert.

Strike two.

Churches have established themselves without following the basic guidelines found in Timothy and Titus – specifically putting leaders in place who are “Above Reproach” a/k/a: Blameless, upright, holy, and disciplined, not arrogant, able to hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught.

Well, there goes ¾ of the uneducated, condescending, legalistic, undisciplined, porn-addicted, alcoholic, gluttons standing in the pulpit.

And where are the elders?  

Oh yeah – the South doesn’t practice that biblical mandate either…

The Scripture also states that their wives must model Christian behavior – not the sing-song, sappy, condescending words –

And we are not called to lead people into sin, so quit with the low-cut, skimpy, and skin-tight outfits. They need to go – Face it, honey – gravity has come, and that body you think you have is long gone.

And just to be crystal clear: Part of that “managing your home” statement made in Scripture includes raising modest, God-fearing young men and women. Therefore, your children – specifically your daughters – need to lose the hooker prom dresses that you so “proudly” post on your social media and quit showing up to the youth events in their short shorts and cut-off T-shirts – and your young men need to be taught to stay away from the Potiphar’s wife and Delilah’s of our day.

As a harmless catchphrase, Pinterest boards are callously named shoe porn, decor porn, etc. Even if a girl has been lucky enough to have escaped such innocuous influence, the fact still remains 70% of 18-24-year-old men visit porn sites in a typical month. And we think this isn’t influencing our girls!? (National Center on Sexual Exploitation).

So set the example for both and cover your private self when you wear those yoga pants. And just so you know, just because they stretch over your body doesn’t mean they actually fit.

See Titus, Timothy, Ephesians, Proverbs, Genesis, and Ruth…. To start.

Southern hospitality? … Bless your heart.

That too is a façade’ – well, unless you’re part of the extended family. Other than that, you’ll get a warm, friendly – although insincere and condescending, greeting as they hug your neck and tell you how nice it is to see you… And when they’re done – make sure to wipe off that blood that is dripping down your back… It will stain.

Most of these churches don’t have discipleship programs – because they themselves have never been properly – Biblically – discipled.

Strike three.

Remember—God made Samuel wait 12 years, David had to wait until he was 30, the disciples went through three years of training – and never went out without a band of accountability brothers, and even the Hebrew of Hebrews, Paul, went through an additional ten years of discipleship before being sent out with Barney.  

Sometimes, you have to “unlearn” your garbage theology… But then again, you’d have to be humble to understand… But, there again, that is another missing element of modern-day preachers.

“And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God…” (Heb 5:4).

We hire self-appointed “preachers” who don’t know what they believe (doctrine) or why they believe it (theology). There is no “proving” because there is no biblical leadership (elders) to hold them accountable! Nor do they have anyone among themselves who has had proper exegetical teaching, Biblical training, discipleship ministering, or the courage to call these men into account!

Frankly, using the very word “men” is a stretch…

They are rarely “above reproach,” we have met men standing in the pulpit, Bible study teachers, youth leaders, etc., who have a history of DUIs, fights, arrests, domestic violence, and the all-to-common sexual sins (nearly 54-56% pastors are viewing port according to the NCOSE). Yet, they are in the pulpit.

As the pitiable loser Tony Evans puts it: [They] are making decisions that are not made with “righteous judgment.”

What a pathetic heap of skubalon – both the person and the explanation for his “non-criminal” fall from grace.

I’m sorry, bud. You’re disqualified. And for the record, you’re not a victim. You’re the poster child for false teachers.

“They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” (1 Tim 3:9).

 And because they have never been discipled – they have produced deaf and dumb congregations, heading for the gold on a bobsled straight for hell. They keep these morons in the pulpit because “They are really good men… with a really good heart…”

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves” (Matt 23:15).

So, instead of honoring God, we honor man.

These churches are filled to the brim with “yes-men” who, much like the Pharisees that Jesus called out in Matthew 23, and the false teachers teaching for “shameful gain” who are called worthless in Titus.

“They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work” (Titus 1:16).

Dave has preached and taught in some of these churches where men have legitimate theological questions that they don’t dare ask while their “beloved” pastor is present – They are so afraid of the pastor’s reaction that they wait until later and send David an email or contact him through social media.  

And if you think “false teachers” only refer to heretics – then once again, you are making my point – and you have probably been sitting under one of these false teachers… wolves in sheep’s clothing…

These self-appointed glory hounds surround themselves with “yes” men and take their place “in the highest positions at the altar” (James 2:3), yet they never actually equip the saints for service (Eph 4:12) – and that too is a false teacher, because it takes away from Scripture’s ordained duties for Shepherds.

False teachers are those who add to the gospel of Jesus Christ with stupid legalistic rules and regulations not found or supported by Scripture – or they twist Scripture to fit their own personal agenda or desire.

Just a note from my professional training and experience – We call that projection. Listen carefully and understand they are, in a very twisted but psychologically revealing way – divulging their own personal sins that they struggle with.

Offenders do it all the time. And they do it because they do not understand redemption – because they have never experienced redemption.  

These “wolves in sheep’s clothing” prey on those who are burdened with sins (2 Tim 3:6) and then groom them into believing whatever they say is “gospel.”

When found out or challenged, they forge a defense – usually passive-aggressively, by bearing false witness, spreading malicious gossip, and using intimidation tactics against those who call them out—And always portraying themselves as the victims.

Classic offender tactics.

The lies, deceptions, and false doctrines have produced a mealy-mouse house of cards that is about to all come crashing down—which is good—“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God…” (1 Peter 4:17).  

So, when God burns it to the ground, let’s ensure we don’t bring these wolves back into the fold.

We must follow God’s design for His Bride and the laws and commands He has laid down for His men, women, church, community, and government. It will take godly men—real men who follow after Jesus—who have the courage to teach truth and disciple men who disciple men and build up the Kingdom of God.

We need godly women who encourage and support them while they work to rebuild this dilapidated body of Christ and teach the younger women to do the same.  

The stakes have never been higher.

How many people will die in their sins, following a mere man rather than the Jesus of the Bible, that they have never heard preached?

How many more families will be destroyed because sin was swept under the rug so as not to embarrass the church? Or the church being complacent by allowing the government to rule over marriage, adoption, foster care, parenting, health, housing, and education.

Caring for widows and orphans? … maybe I read that somewhere else.

 How many more babies will die? Because we laid down our God-given right to fight for life and take down those who mutilate or murder the unborn child.

How much more will the bride of Christ be beaten and bruised, maligned, and shamed by these modern-day Pharisees – Forget the religious cults and agnostics! We provide them with the ammunition! 

How much longer will the bride of Christ be prostituted for profit?

How much longer will we allow the government to do what the church has been commissioned to do?  

How long will the church disgrace, dishonor, defame, and degrade the ministries that fight for God’s command to take dominion?

Many shake their heads and wag their fingers – yet come to us in the “dark of night” to pat us on the backs and say, “Great job! We’re with you!” But they quickly disappear in the light of day, afraid of who might see them…

Then we have the insincere brood of vipers who make haste to find us in the crowd just to shake our hands while simultaneously stabbing us in the back with their malicious gossip and unfounded insinuations – That’s the genuine “Southern Hospitality” that permeates the south.

These spineless cowards preach mindless talking points to their unfed, starving flocks – only to feed their egos with their self-exhorting stories of how they saved the world – followed by demands of “Can I get an amen!”

Then there are the weak little boys who can shave, who are content to remain silent, stand in the back and blend into the background, or sit on the bench—too fearful to actually take a stand. The only words they speak are: “Jesus can’t come soon enough!”

To them, I say: You better hope not, coward!

Your complacency—your fear — and your desire to maintain your status in the community, be re-elected, sit at the highest seat in the assembly, and be “liked by everyone” pride – is your fruit, and the only thing it demonstrates LOUD AND PROUD is your lack of salvation.

Repent and believe

And let’s all be ZEALOUS for the House of the Lord!

Now, let’s get this party started!

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Holly T. Ashley has a Master’s degree in forensic psychology and is a domestic and sexual assault advocate for R3: Redemption. Restoration. Recovery. A subsidiary of Cross Strength Ministry. She is a published author, researcher, writer, and speaker and is under the authority of her husband, Pastor David Ashley, a/k/a: The Pastor of Pump©. http://www.CrossStrengthMinistries.org – http://www.Redemption3.com