Why Impostors Love the Church
— Thursday, March 8th, 2012 —
Recently I read a book that kept me awake a couple of nights. It was about “Clark Rockefeller,” and the scare quotes are important. The man was neither “Clark” nor “Rockefeller.” He was a German immigrant who crafted an identity as an heir of one of America’s wealthiest dynasties. He married, fathered a child, and was involved in fraud, theft, and maybe even murder. And no one ever knew, until the very end.
What made me squirm was that fact that the fake Rockefeller’s inroad to all his deception were churches and relationships, particularly with women. He would make the connections he needed in local congregations, and he would charm the women there. At the same time, he would parasitically imitate the men, watching and mirroring back to them their convictions and opinions, even the inflections of their voices. But, behind all of that, there was nothing real but a predatory appetite.
The New Testament warns us, of course, about spiritual impostors. Sometimes these “wolves” are there to introduce subtly false doctrine. But, just as often, it seems, these spiritual carnivores hold to true doctrine, at least on the surface. But they use this doctrine and service for predatory ends. The sons of Eli, for instance, use their priestly calling to co-opt the fat of the offering and to lay with the women at the altar (1 Sam. 2).Virtually every New Testament letter warns us about the same phenomenon (e.g., 2 Pet. 2; Jude).
But why, when there is so much opportunity for debauchery out there in the world around us, do such people choose the church?
First of all, I think its because deception can look a lot like discipleship. A disciple is like a son learning from his father, Jesus tells us. The student resembles his teacher. That’s good, and right. But the satanic powers turn all good things for evil. A spiritual impostor can mimic such discipleship when he’s, in fact, just “casing the joint,” watching the mores, learning the phrases, mimicking the convictions. It can seem like the passing down of the faith when, in reality, it’s an almost vampiric taking on of another identity, all for the sake of some appetite or other.
Second, I think it’s because these impostors are looking for something they can’t find in bars and strip clubs. Many of them “feed” off of innocence itself. The Apostle Paul, therefore, warns of those who “creep into households, taking captive weak women burdened down with sins” (2 Tim. 3:6). The impostors are able to gain power over the weak not only by deceiving them but by morally compromising them.
Often these victims are drawn, for reasons good and bad, to spiritual authority. The impostor mimics this authority, sometimes with a precision almost to the point of identity theft. But he uses it to defile, sapping away what seems to them to be innocence as a vampire would lap up blood.
Finally, the church often draws such impostors because of a perversion of the Christian doctrine of grace. The Christian gospel offers a complete forgiveness of sin, and not only that, a fresh start as a new creation. But both Jesus and the apostles warn us that this can easily be perverted into a kind of anti-christ license. Faith is not real without repentance, and faith is not like that of the demons, simply assenting to truth claims. Faith works itself out in love. Faith follows after the lordship of King Jesus. Faith takes up a cross.
But a notion of “grace” apart from lordship can provide excellent cover for spiritual impostors. That’s why virtually every sex predator I’ve heard of compares himself, or is compared by one of those on whom he’s preying, as a latter-day King David. This is often the case even while this person continues to run rampant in his sin against the Body of Christ. Those who seek to hold accountable, or even just to warn the flock, are then presented as “unmerciful” or “graceless” or unwilling to help along the “struggling.”
This often leads to a church that then loses its ability to be the presence of Christ. The church, desiring to be seen to be merciful, loses any aspect of the merciful ministry of Christ because we don’t do what he called us to do: to tend the flock of God. Or, we are so burned over by the presence of predators among us that we lose the ability to trust anyone. Yes, there is Demas, and yes, there is Alexander the Coppersmith. But there’s Timothy and Titus too.
Moreover, the presence of impostors can cause us to lose confidence in the church itself. But how can that be when Jesus warns us from the very beginning that we must be watchful of this. The apostolic Word gives us confidence that spiritual predators, like Pharaoh’s magicians, “will not get very far” (2 Tim. 3:9).
There’s nothing more enraging than the sound of a lamb bleating in a wolf’s mouth. But the Shepherd is coming.
33 Responses to “Why Impostors Love the Church”
Trackbacks
- Trevin’s Seven – Trevin Wax
- Weekly Links (3/9/2012) « The Beacon
- Morning Roundup « Light the City
- Why imposters love the church at Roger Pearse
- Bits & Pieces (3/9/12) | Better Things Ahead
- Why Impostors Love the Church: A form of Christian Entryism? | eChurch Blog
- A little of this and a little of that, what should I wear to church? | The Bible Christian / Proclaiming the Word of God
- Shepherd Links – 3/10 | Pastoralized
- Concierge #18 | FrankGantz.com
- This Week on Trans·formed (3/10)
- Let Me Direct You Elsewhere… | hisgracemygrowth
- Treading Grain » Post Topic » Why Impostors Love the Church
- Moore to the Point – Why Impostors Love the Church | Kaet Johnson
- Why Impostors Love the Church | For Christ and Culture
- thumb licks [3.14.12] | spreading the fame
- Why Impostors Love the Church | Bob Pittenger
- Weekly Commentary (March 9, 2012) | A Modern Exile...
- this went thru my mind |
Dr. Moore, I apologize for the length of this link but I can’t find a shorter one. If you’re able to post the image, please do. It’s quite appropriate:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=wolf+among+the+sheep&um=1&hl=en&biw=1045&bih=477&tbm=isch&tbnid=9-fqHFw6od3hHM:&imgrefurl=http://www.antsports.com/ffl/Franchise.asp%3FLID%3D0422%26T%3D4&docid=9bL_Na6uZ9XC_M&imgurl=http://www.antsports.com/ffl/A_Images/LOGOL0422T04.JPG&w=500&h=385&ei=v-RYT6CCD8avsQLypLnkDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=90&vpy=145&dur=62&hovh=197&hovw=256&tx=157&ty=124&sig=115780675419200795640&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=160&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
@Andy,
bit.ly is a good site to shorten those unwieldy links. Very helpful. :)
Something that’s always bothered me about Mark 1:21-25. What is that guy doing in the synagogue? Sadly, they are everywhere. The church won’t be destroyed from the outside, it will implode from the inside.
It might well be that genuine Christians, including those in pastoral authority, rely too much upon their ability to discern, and not enough on the Holy Spirit’s ability to reveal … which they may not be able to “explain”.
Dr. Moore,
great article! That picture of the wolf in sheep’s clothing is freaky! As a pastor I am scared of false prophets making merchandise of God’s people. And I frequently examine myself to make sure that when I say, “Thus says the LORD” it is really what the Bible says.
I think the photo that Andy provided is more correct. The wolf in sheeps clothing is not frightening outwardly but inwardly. They were not of us is the Scripture that comes to mind.
Thank you for the focus of this article. It is badly needed among Church leaders! When one considers the amount of NT attention given to what is “false” - (psuedo- prohpets, teachers, Christs, apostles, brethren, teaching….), it is a reminder of our need to be alert and discerning. We are forthrightly warned to watch out for these people (Romans 16:17-18).
In the OT we have a sobering revelation: “God hates the person who stirs up conflict in the community”? (Proverbs 6:16-19). Jude identified such people as “grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage” (v. 16).
Thus this repeated call to pursue and protect unity:
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace …” (Romans 14:19).
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy …” (Hebrews 12:14).
A very helpful book on this is “Antagonists in the Church” by Kenneth Haughk. I summarize some key points from the book here: http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/watch-out-for-antagonists/
this is a sobering post that should be heeded by every congregation.
along with false doctrine and other wicked ideas, another evil influence that churches should guard against is homosexuality.
i live in a major city where homosexuality is generally accepted as just another lifestyle choice, and it’s unfortunate to see how that cultural trend has crept into the church. like many other works of satan, the way that the homosexual “spirit” operates is very subtle. in my congregation, it hasn’t manifested through people being very vocal or flamboyant about their sexuality; rather, it has manifested through lots of people (men in particular) knowing that they struggle with same-sex attraction but choosing not to seek help or heart change through pastoral counseling, biblical counseling or through other resources. essentially, many of those who struggle don’t want God’s guidance on how to live with same-sex attraction (whether it’s at the attraction level, the orientation level, or, most troublesome, the identity level).
at my church, this has created a sub-culture of men who have extremely unhealthy relationships with both men and women. there are groups of men who, although they aren’t explicit about their sexuality, carry themselves in a way that is clearly trying to make a statement - through speaking with a strong lisp or by acting in an exaggerated effeminate way. these men tend to flock together and silently affirm their secret desires. another issue is that is has essentially become normal to be in your 30’s or 40’s and to be single. this creates a church culture in which the value of marriage is diminished. and sadly, some of these men who keep this struggle secret also recklessly enter into relationships with women and even marry before they’re ready, the results often being disastrous.
to be blunt, in my town, you have to be discerning when dealing with older, single men in the church who seem to have no interest in pursuing a wife. sure, there are sincere men who have the gift of singleness like Paul, or men who are walking with God in their sexual struggle, but at the same time, there are many men who have hardened hearts, have an agenda, and are bringing other people down.
i’m not saying that the sin of homosexual lust or fornication is worse than another other sin. genuine believers who struggle with same-sex attraction should be prayed for and loved just like anyone else, and they can live a godly life as long as they are truly willing to submit that part of their life to God. the problem is that too many people in the church know that they struggle but don’t want to bring that struggle before God.
obviously the church can do better with ministering to those who struggle with same-sex attraction too. part of that involves teaching the truth that one’s identity is defined by Christ and not by any sexual impulses or feelings.
the point is: every genuine believer needs to submit their whole heart to the Lord. Jesus is either Lord of *all* or not Lord at all.
One of the most important articles I’ve ever read.
This is an uncanny description of a situation in my home city - including the comparison with David and the sheltering of exploration under a cloak of grace. I would commend readers of this post to listen to this sermon: http://www.gtycanada.org/resources/sermons/61-17
A description of the events I am referring to is posted here: http://www.benedictionblogson.com/2012/02/01/the-truth-about-afshin-javid/
Good article. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
After eighteen years in ministry it is still difficult to tell the difference between a predator and a struggling Christian. Judas seemed to be someone truly on fire for Christ; while Peter’s public denial of Christ would have led people to believe he wasn’t a true believer.
These difficulties in recognizing the tree’s fruit demonstrates why we must be faithful in discipling those within our care. It is through this process that we are better able to determine if the fruit, as well as the whole tree is good.
Great article. You have underscored a real vulnerability of the body of Christ. That’s because in the local church we have people with varying degress of spiritual maturity, or the lack thereof. Also, we have the spiritually ill who need to meet the Physician. And the list goes on. This mix makes the local church an ideal place for predators. Leaders must not be naive about the reality of this vulnerability.
#7
//another issue is that is has essentially become normal to be in your 30’s or 40’s and to be single. this creates a church culture in which the value of marriage is diminished …. to be blunt, in my town, you have to be discerning when dealing with older, single men in the church who seem to have no interest in pursuing a wife//.
Look closer. Before you write off those single men as being ‘closet gays’, which is how you are coming across, could you please remember that many of them are single men who would love to be married, but past bad experiences are getting in the way - because to admit to a desire to marry is to risk all sorts of sharp personal criticism.
Now - In terms of imposters, there’s little to top the case in Australia a few years ago, where the son of one big-name Pentecostal pastor was eventually discovered to have been faking terminal cancer. This one was inside the house to start with!