Fellowship with deceived friends?

[Luv2pray]

I have friends in my church who are following Word faith, false revivals, etc, even though I have shared that they are not Biblical. I lead a corporate prayer meeting and half of my attendees are these friends. Does anyone have an article or study that pulls Scripture together regarding fellowship with those who refuse to see the truth? Do I continue to pray with them? Do I continue to meet with them socially? I'm tired of hearing the latest Kim Clement prophecies and receiving articles from the Elijah list! But I need help to know how to love them with agape love, and in obedience to the Word! HELP! Thanks and God bless!

[Sing4Him]

http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=52486

and

Kim Clement on Salvation: Release the Power Within!

Kim Clement is one of the most active (and most heretical) of the modern-day "prophets" setting up a Global Church. I use the word heretical because in the strict sense of that word, Kim Clement does deviate from the correct interpretation of the scriptures on the foundational elements of our faith.

On Kim Clement's own website, he denies the born-again experience of John Chapter 3. He also states that evangelists are scaring people to commit to Jesus by telling them they are going to hell, rather than opening them up to their inner potential.

He believes (as do the Gnostics) that each person is born with a hidden treasure in their spirit, which can be unlocked and developed if he/she sees the possibilities. You should read his entire article to get an understanding of his teaching as a whole, but here are some extracts:

Many have questioned my doctrine and what I believe because of my strong feeling of disgust toward the escapism teaching. [The Rapture] ...The book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ, not the revelation of Satan...

After an extensive study on the life of Jesus, I found that the way He reached people was to unveil their spiritual eyes to see the potential beauty that could be released if they followed Him. For example, after Jesus spoke life to Nathaniel he fell down and worshiped Him. Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God opening and angels ascending and descending hereafter. The Kingdom of God was inside of Nathaniel; therefore Jesus had unlocked the spirit of that man and given him access to the Kingdom within.

In Luke 5, ... Peter fell on his knees and repented saying, "Depart from me for I am a sinful man". Not once did Jesus mention Peter’s sin, nor did He try to coax him into following Him based on his going to Hell or being eternally damned.

I know how a sinner feels because I have been one. ... Only when I was introduced to Jesus did I become aware of the fact that I had something precious in my spirit. When I met Him, I felt good about myself. I was aware of the fact that I had to change, but what was fascinating was that I felt like I could become a new creation when I met Him. My spirit was dead unto sin, but once I was alive in Christ, I had access to the treasure within me. What is this treasure within me? The treasure within me is my pre-ordained destiny and my inheritance. This was the inheritance that Jesus granted to me at the cross, based upon my acceptance of His sacrifice.

I do not believe that you must be born again to obtain salvation. ...The Bible clearly tells us that "whosoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved" and "whosoever believes on Him shall have everlasting life." When Nicodemus approached Jesus, he came with a hungry heart declaring that "no one could do these signs that You do unless God is with Him". Jesus was a demonstration of dominion that no one else had, and Nicodemus was inquiring about it. Nicodemus was not asking how to be saved.

BEFORE Jesus died on the cross, He told Nicodemus, who was saved according to the law [at that time]; " Unless one is born again, he cannot SEE the KINGDOM OF GOD." Jesus was not speaking about the salvation that would come because of His sacrifice on the cross. He was referring to seeing and inheriting the Kingdom of God.

I believe that only after salvation do you qualify to see, inherit and possess the Kingdom of God, which is inside of you [his emphasis]. ...The Kingdom within is simply the domain of God demonstrated through us. There is no physical place to enter the Kingdom of God. You SEEK the Kingdom; you SEE the Kingdom; you ENTER, you POSSESS and you INHERIT.

... The sinner wants something that he does not have. To approach them on the basis of their sin and condemning them to Hell, will only increase their contempt or else it will manipulate them into making a decision in order to survive the flames of Hell. ... the way Jesus approached the sinner was through His perception of their need and the potential that was inside of them. ...

In a meeting that is packed with a prophetic people who prophesy [or unveil truth and who have vision], an unbeliever will discover that he is a treasure in God’s eyes. He will suddenly discover, and keenly be aware of the fact, that there is something beautiful that could come out of him.

I hope that I do not need to spell out why the above doctrine is heretical. Kim Clement's teachings should be avoided at all costs.
http://www.intotruth.org/news/Flash-archive2.html

http://www.intotruth.org/news/Flash-archive2.html

[broken]

Here's a good article that explains how true believers should not fellowship with unbelievers NOR carnal christians (which, IMO, includes those who believe and follow the false prophets).
http://www.biblestudymanuals.net/fellowship_w_unbelievers.htm

We are struggling with the same issue. Some of our best friends continue to follow the false teachers, and we find ourselves sadly not wanting to associate with them anymore.

[BornAgain123]

I have friends in my church who are following Word faith, false revivals, etc, even though I have shared that they are not Biblical. I lead a corporate prayer meeting and half of my attendees are these friends. Does anyone have an article or study that pulls Scripture together regarding fellowship with those who refuse to see the truth? Do I continue to pray with them? Do I continue to meet with them socially? I'm tired of hearing the latest Kim Clement prophecies and receiving articles from the Elijah list! But I need help to know how to love them with agape love, and in obedience to the Word! HELP! Thanks and God bless!

The bible did say don't yoke with unbelievers.

I have this same problem myself-thinking that if I continue to hang out with them, at the very best, I could help change them, and at the very worst, I'm Christ like enough to shield myself away from their beliefs. But ultimately, it's a TRAP and likely will get sucked into their world. Charles Stanley once said don't get into a marriage with an ungodly woman.

I would stay away from them.

[Final Trumpet]

Tit 3:10 A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
Tit 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

[Meezerluvr]

Charles Stanley has also said that you can not mix arsenic with cornmeal, as after awhile it will rub off on you! I understand how you feel. I have been in your shoes over and over again with other Christians. They have disobeyed the Lord's command in 1Corinthians 4:6
to "not exceed or go beyond what is written". They listen to deceiving spirits, so therefore they are not following the "Jesus" of our Holy Bible. I have had to keep away from folks like these while still praying for them. I know how badly this hurts, but we have to be faithful to our Lord and loyal to Him above our earthly friendships. I will pray the Lord continue to give you strength at this time. Such perilous times we are in!!
"Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues" Rev. 18:4

[Grace78]

I have friends that follow some of these false prophets also. What makes my particular situation pretty bad is that they base their own outreach ministries on teachings presented by Word of Faith televangelists.

I constantly pray that the Lord opens their eyes because they are in a sense, "the blind leading the blind." However, I feel that there's something thats pulling me away and saying that I must cut my ties with them until they straighten up and follow Biblical teachings. They are very nice people with big hearts and I feel bad about my decision to pull away from them. I just can't get with concepts like "speaking things into existence (only Adonai can do that)" and being "slain in the spirit." That last one doesn't even sound legit, IMHO.

[BornAgain123]

Charles Stanley has also said that you can not mix arsenic with cornmeal, as after awhile it will rub off on you! I understand how you feel. I have been in your shoes over and over again with other Christians. They have disobeyed the Lord's command in 1Corinthians 4:6
to "not exceed or go beyond what is written". They listen to deceiving spirits, so therefore they are not following the "Jesus" of our Holy Bible. I have had to keep away from folks like these while still praying for them. I know how badly this hurts, but we have to be faithful to our Lord and loyal to Him above our earthly friendships. I will pray the Lord continue to give you strength at this time. Such perilous times we are in!!
"Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues" Rev. 18:4

Also remember what Jesus said to the rich man-give away all your possessions and follow me. Of course, Jesus didn't exactly mean make yourself dirt poor and homeless if you want to follow me.

And Jesus also said how if your right eye makes you sin, cut it off b/c it's a heck of alot better to go into the Kingdom of Heaven with 1 eye, than get throw into the lake of fire with both eyes. Of course, it doesn't LITERALLY mean cut out your eye and make yourself miserable. But this teaching nonetheless applies to hanging out with the wrong crowd as described in this thread.

Nonetheless, these are REASONABLE to do, especially if you want to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

[sunshine2777]

I have friends in my church who are following Word faith, false revivals, etc, even though I have shared that they are not Biblical. I lead a corporate prayer meeting and half of my attendees are these friends. Does anyone have an article or study that pulls Scripture together regarding fellowship with those who refuse to see the truth? Do I continue to pray with them? Do I continue to meet with them socially? I'm tired of hearing the latest Kim Clement prophecies and receiving articles from the Elijah list! But I need help to know how to love them with agape love, and in obedience to the Word! HELP! Thanks and God bless!


From what you said, all of you attend the same church. What does your church teach? If it is the truth of the gospel, then you might get the counsel of a pastor on this one. But if your church's doctrines lines up w/ what your friends are following, then it's time to change churches and friends. I"m doubting that your church teaches the Word Faith stuff based upon the way you put it. So I would encourage you to enlist the help of another strong Godly woman and/or a pastor to find out the best way to handle it. If this stuff isnt taught by your church, they they are bringing it in and that is dangerous. False teachings have a way of growing legs and taking off in a church many times. The Lord will show you what to do! :)

[Luv2pray]

Wow! Thank you all for your thoughts, and prayers! I am inclining toward what you have advised... to distance myself. My pastors don't teach most of this stuff, but just the fact that it is tolerated makes me think it is time to move on. My husband and I are praying about it now; we truly want to be where God wants us to be. Thanks again for responding!