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Social Gospel or Salvation Gospel?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

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WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here. 
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

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Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

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Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, June 13, 2022, and this is Episode #24 of Series 2022. This episode is titled “Social Gospel or Salvation Gospel?”

Are you wondering what has happened to the Church? It seems to have gone crazy, like the rest of the world. 

But, let me assure you, the true Church of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is alive and strong. It still adheres to the true Gospel. It still proclaims the true Gospel. It is called the Remnant Church.

And it will never go away! As Scripture promises in Matthew 16: 18, “The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”

At the moment, you may not be able to see much of the true Church, but I assure you, it is active and moving and powerful and strong!

So, what’s going on? Isn’t what the world knows as the “Christian Church” the true Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Tragically, no. What the world sees as the Christian Church is, in reality, the Apostate Church. I call it the “Church of the Great Falling Away,” described as follows in the Book of Second Thessalonians, chapter 2, verses 1 through 3:

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had
come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition . . . .”

This extensive “falling away ” is what we are witnessing now in the so-called Christian Church–the Apostate Church. I am specifically referring to the following teachings that the Apostate Church is promoting:

1__Abortion is a woman’s right and is okay. In fact, some apostate churches are even calling abortion “sacred.” Talk about perverse thinking! These so-called “justice-oriented people of faith” are calling murder sacred. 

One such organization is the Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity (or SACRed). This organization promotes abortion as sacred to human dignity. No mention of or thought given to the sacred dignity of the child in the womb. The innocent victim of murder. Such deceptive thinking is what the Bible means when it says that in the last days, people will call evil good and good evil. 

2__Homosexual marriage. Apostate churches are sanctioning and blessing marriages between two people of the same gender. This is an abomination in God’s sight and clear defiance of His Word. Listen to what God Himself says about it in Leviticus 18: 22 NCV:  “You must not have sexual relations with a man as you would a woman. That is a hateful sin.” 

In 1 Corinthians 6: 9, the Bible warns that those who practice homosexuality will not enter Heaven but will go to Hell: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,”

These are sobering words, but the Apostate Church takes them lightly, interpreting them to suit their own evil desires and agendas.

3- Social Justice. The concept of social justice has been grossly distorted by the Apostate Church. The term “social justice” as used by the Apostate Church presents an erroneous view of the God of the Bible. Yes, God is Love, but God is also Justice. We cannot consider one side of God without the other, or we will have a wrong understanding of the nature of God.

In promoting social justice, the Apostate Church misinterprets God’s love–as expressed through His grace–to mean God’s acceptance of sin. But this is a lie straight from the pit of Hell. God loves all people, but He never condones sin. For God to condone sin would be contrary to His nature, which is pure and holy and good. 

No sin can stand in the Presence of God. This is the reason we need our Savior Jesus Christ. He alone can cleanse us from sin and make us worthy to stand in the Father’s Presence. 

God’s grace is the expression of His love. God’s wrath is the expression of His justice. Both are facets of God’s nature. The Apostate Church emphasizes the love of God as expressed through His grace and disregards the justice of God as expressed through His wrath. What the Apostate Church fails to recognize is that, if we do not repent of our sin and turn away from. it, we will experience the wrath or judgment of God. Only if we repent of our sin will we experience His grace.

So, why has the Apostate Church become the so-called public standard for Christianity? Here are a few reasons:

!) Pastors have not preached the full counsel of God, meaning that they have not preached the entire Bible, and they have misinterpreted it. Instead, pastors have preached feeling over truth, relativism over absolute truth.

2) People have not taken responsibility for working out their own salvation by studying the Bible for themselves.

3) God has been removed from our educational system, to the point that even our seminaries are teaching lies. Seminary graduates are then assuming pastorates and promulgating those same lies to unwitting congregations.

4) People are being willingly sucked into a culture that is self-centered and rebellious. They are choosing the flesh over the spirit. They have chosen self over God. They have rebelled against God and His Word and have chosen to go their own way and do their own thing.

The Bible says that when people willfully and deliberately rebel against God and continue in their sin, He will turn them over to a “reprobate mind.” A reprobate mind is a depraved mind, a mind that can no longer think logically. It is a mind that embraces deception and calls it truth. It is the kind of delusional mind with which most people are trying to reason today. 

So, what can we do? If you, like me, are a true follower of Jesus Christ–a member of the Remnant Church–we must do the following:

1. Preach the true Gospel wherever we go and in spite of the consequences. Most will scoff and ridicule. Some will hear, believe, and be saved. 

2. Walk in love toward all people. This means speaking the truth to them. Scripture commands us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4: 15). Truth and love go hand-in-hand. Truth without love is legalism. Love without truth is license. The Apostate Church has chosen love without truth. Therefore, the Apostate Church is giving license to sin. 

3. Saturate yourself with the Word of God in order to be preserved from deception. When you know the Truth, you will instantly recognize the Lie.

4. Stay in close fellowship with other members of the Remnant Church. We will need one another more than ever as the days grow darker before the glorious return of our Lord in the Rapture.

If there is anyone reading this who has not yet accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, I urge you to do so now.  Repent of your sin. This means turning away from your sin. Turn to Jesus Who loves you and who died and rose from the dead for you. Welcome Him into your life now. He is the only way you can be saved, no matter what anyone else tells you. He is your only ticket to Heaven. There is no other way. So, accept Him now. Pray this prayer with me:

Lord Jesus, I need You to save me. I repent of my sin, and I ask You to forgive me. I receive You as my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for saving me. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, welcome to God’s family! Please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet, titled After You’re Born Again. This booklet will help you to get started in your walk with Jesus.

I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to a true Remnant Church where you can learn Truth and experience fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.

If you need help to move forward in your relationship with Jesus, consider hiring me as your personal life coach. Contact me at drmaryann@celebrationlifecoaching.com to set up an appointment. Also, visit my website at CelebrationLifeCoaching.com for answers to many of your questions about coaching and for testimonials from some of the clients I have already helped.

For example, Tracy said this; “Personal coaching was like having a personal trainer for the mind.”
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Also, visit my bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table for outstanding books that I have written that will bless you.

If this podcast has helped you in any way, please consider supporting it by becoming one of my valued patrons. Just go to patreon.com/winningwiththeword to join my wonderful Team. Patrons receive numerous benefits in appreciation for their support. 

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
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Copyright 2000-2022 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

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Copyright 2000-2022 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD. All Rights Reserved.

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Progressive Christianity: The Hoax of the Century

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

by

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here. 
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

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Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

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Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, May 9, 2022, and this is Episode #19 of Series 2022. This episode is titled “Progressive Christianity: The Hoax of the Century.”
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It has been said that the most dangerous place in the world is inside a church.

Why?

Because one would never expect to find Satan inside a church.

But, not only is he there; he is hidden and camouflaged to the point that we view him as a light when he is actually the same old, evil deceiver. 

So, how has Satan infiltrated the Church today? What am I talking about specifically?

I’m talking about Progressive Christianity.

You may have heard the term. It sounds so innocuous, doesn’t it? So cool, even. After all, progress is a good thing, right?

Not always. In fact, Progressive Christianity is not progress at all but, rather, a falling away from the essential truths of Christianity. It is the most dangerous heresy–or conglomeration of heresies–to have infiltrated the Church in this century.

Progressive Christianity now has a strong but sinister presence in our seminaries and pulpits. It has even found its way into the media that is unashamedly propagating its tenets in order to undermine the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When the Apostle Paul was on earth, he warned of heresies that would enter the Church. He called these heresies “another Gospel”. He warned in Galatians 1: 9 that “if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”  Pretty strong words!

Progressive Christianity is “another Gospel” — not the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not the Gospel we received from the Word of God.

So, what is Progressive Christianity? In what ways is it a false Gospel?

Progressive Christianity grew out of the Emergent Church Movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s. As its name implies, Progressive Christianity considers it progress to re-examine, re-define, and, if necessary, reject the historic doctrines of the Christian faith. 

Here are some of the problems with the teachings of Progressing Christianity:

1__It denies that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God and absolute Truth. 

2__It denies the doctrine of original sin, the Biblical teaching that every human being is born into this world spiritually separated from God by sin. 

3__It ignores the concept of sin altogether and does not teach about the need for repentance from sin and accepting Christ as Savior and Lord.

4__It denies the Blood of Christ, His substitutionary Atonement on the Cross, and the Resurrection. 

5__It denies the existence of Hell, a very real place where those who reject Christ will spend eternity.

6__It aligns itself with anti-Biblical, cultural trends like abortion, same-sex marriage, and gender identity.

7__It preaches a gospel of social justice and universal salvation instead of the true Gospel of repentance from personal sin, personal salvation, and personal redemption. 

8__It places undue emphasis on saving planet Earth, worshipping the earth more than the Creator of the earth.

So, what can we who are followers of the true Gospel do to stem the tide of Progressive Christianity:

1. Know the Truth. We must saturate ourselves with the Word of God so that we will instantly recognize any teaching contrary to the Word of God. Just as a bank teller-in-training never handles counterfeit money but gets to know real money so well in order instantly to be able to recognize counterfeit money, so must we study God’s Word, the real Truth, in order to be able to recognize a counterfeit.

2. Be bold. We must speak out against the lies of the enemy and replace those lies with the Truth as found in the Bible. We must resist the fear of man–worrying about what people think–and fear God instead. We will be persecuted for speaking the Truth, but we must speak it anyway. Jesus warned us that we would be hated by the world. He said this in John 15: 18: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” It is a great honor and privilege to be hated for the cause of Christ.

3. Stand up for life from its beginning to its end. Speak out against abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia. The sacredness of human life is the core issue of our day. Unless we hold life sacred in all its stages, nothing else matters.

4. Uphold Absolute Truth and speak out against relativism.  Progressive Christianity espouses the lie that truth cannot be known, so each person must create his own truth. Progressive Christianity teaches that your truth is your truth, and my truth is my truth. This is called Relativism.

Truth is not what we decide it is. Truth is what God decides it is, and He has already decided what Truth is and has declared it in the Bible, His Holy Word. 

If you have been attending a church that espouses Progressive Christianity, run away from it as fast as you can. Be sure that your pastor teaches the full counsel of God without compromise. That full counsel is found only in the Holy Bible. The Bible is the final authority and standard of living for the true Christ-Follower.

If you do not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I urge you to establish one now. All you need to do is to repent of your sin, ask Jesus to forgive you, and invite him into your life. Please pray this simple prayer after me:

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I acknowledge my sin before You. I recognize that my sin put You on that Cross where You died for me. So, I repent of my sin, and I ask You to forgive me. I invite You into my life now. I receive You now as my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for saving me. Make me what You created me to be, O God. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer, welcome to God’s family! Please write down today’s date. It is your spiritual birthday. And please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free PDF booklet titled After You’re Born Again. This booklet will help you to get started in your walk with Jesus.

I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He teaches you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers. It is critically important in these last days to fellowship with other believers who are mature in Christ and who can guide you as you grow in Him.

If you did not pray this prayer with me, please reconsider. Jesus Christ is coming back soon to remove from the world all those who follow Him. The rest of the world’s population will be left behind and will face the most horrific time in human history under the dictatorship of the AntiChrist. If you do not believe me, do your own research. 

Thousands of years ago, the Bible predicted exactly what is happening in our world today. Everything is coming to pass exactly as the Bible predicted. The Bible has never been wrong. I have been following Jesus for 52 years, and He has never failed me. Nor will he ever fail you if you choose to follow Him. 

I urge you: Follow Jesus Christ. Accept Him into your life. He is the only way to be saved.

If this podcast has helped you in any way, please consider supporting it by becoming one of my valued patrons. Just go to patreon.com/winningwiththeword to join my wonderful Team. Winning with the Word now reaches 70 countries throughout the world because of the help of patrons like you. Patrons receive numerous benefits in appreciation for their support. 

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
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Join my wonderful Team of Readers by subscribing to my Author Newsletter at
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Copyright 2000-2022 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

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Is Your Church Apostate or Apostolic?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

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Check out my 2018 Christmas Catalogue to Simply Your Christmas Shopping

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here.  

If this blog has blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

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In case you haven’t noticed, there’s been a major shift in the direction of the Church in recent years. The Body of Christ as a whole has moved from the original church founded by Christ to a “seeker-sensitive” church founded by man. The result is a spiritual and cultural phenomenon known as the “Emergent Church” — a phenomenon fraught with deception and heresy and jeopardizing the spiritual destiny of Christians throughout the world. 

So, what is all the ruckus about, and why should we be concerned?

We should be concerned for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that the emergent church is fast turning into the Apostate Church that will lead to the one-world religion of the end days. We are already witnessing the formation of this one-world religion. 

How can we know, then, if our church is an apostate church and not an apostolic one? First of all, let’s define our terms. An apostolic church is a church that adheres to the doctrines of the early, first-century Church as founded by the Apostles. These doctrines are explained in the New Testament, and their application is found primarily in the Book of Acts.

The Apostate Church, on the other hand, has moved away from these foundational doctrines to an experience-based theology that deifies feelings. This new way of “doing church” promotes experience over truth by shifting the focus of its members from the Cross of Christ to personal experience. 

“What fellowship has light with darkness?” ~ 2 Corinthians 6: 14 NASB

So, what questions should you ask to determine if you are in an apostate church or an apostolic church? (By the way, it is critically important to ask these questions).  Here are some extremely important ones:

1__Does your church teach that Absolute Truth exists, or does your church teach that everyone has his own truth? The Apostate Church teaches relativism: what’s true for you doesn’t necessarily have to be true for me, and vice versa. The true Church teaches that there is such a thing as Absolute Truth and that relativism is a doctrine of devils.

2__Does your Church teach that the Bible is the final authority in life, or does it teach that Scripture evolves with the times? The Apostate Church teaches that the Church must adapt to today’s culture. It attempts to build the Church according to the world’s ways, hiring consultants from corporate America to build the Church like a corporation. We now have offices like Executive Pastor, Pastor of Communications, Pastor of Church Growth, etc. Moreover, we now see churches employing worldly methods of growth that utilize marketing gimmicks instead of teaching its members how to receive the power available through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit–the power that ignited the stunning growth of the early Church. 

3__Does your church minimize sin, repentance, and hell and talk instead of love and peace? Does it teach that a good God would not send people to Hell?

4__Does your church use the methods of the world to draw people? For example, does your church use gimmicks like strobe lights, darkened sanctuaries, artificial smoke, and other worldly means to attract the younger generation? To my utter surprise, churches are now offering ear plugs to older folks who complain about the loud music. In my opinion, this is ridiculous and a terrible waste of God’s money when all they would have to do is turn down the volume button. My physician husband mentioned to me that many young people have partial hearing loss because of their frequent attendance at blaring rock concerts. So now church music must blare to accommodate their hearing loss.

5__Does your church approve of yoga, contemplative prayer, and walking the labyrinth as methods of drawing closer to God? Does your church teach goddess worship and adoration of the Queen of Heaven? These are practices associated with Eastern Mysticism, a philosophy that has infiltrated the Apostate Church.  

6__Does your church teach “dominionism,” the false doctrine that man can make the world a better place through promoting a social Gospel? Does your church place more emphasis on social injustice than on issues like the imminent return of Christ in the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, and the final judgment of Christ?

7__Does your church teach that people are born homosexual and that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle? That transgenderism is acceptable? These teachings are in direct contradiction to God’s Word.

8__Does your church teach that there are many ways to Heaven besides Jesus? That all religions lead to God? Yes, all people will eventually face God, but only Christians will face His mercy. The rest will face His wrath. 

9__Does your church teach that abortion is all right in some cases, like rape or incest? Or does it teach that abortion is murder in every case? Shockingly, some churches today are calling abortion “sacred!”

10__Does your church teach that the Church has replaced Israel? This false teaching is called “replacement theology” and has also infiltrated the Church. Beware of teachers who say that Israel has now been replaced by the Church.   

We must ask these hard questions if we do not want to be sucked in by the Apostate Church. Pastors, in particular, must carefully examine the messages they are preaching to be certain they align with God’s Word. Also, pastors must review the videos they show to their congregations. Many of these videos are taught by prominent pastors and teachers who call themselves “evangelicals” but who are preaching a false doctrine to congregations all over the country. In reality, they are promoting apostate teachings that are undermining the Church. 

The Bible teaches that each person must work out his own salvation in fear and trembling. This means that each of us is responsible for the teaching we listen to and the teaching we make our own. Measure everything—and I mean EVERYTHING–you hear and read by the standard of the Word of God. If it agrees with God’s Word, it is truth. If it does not agree with God’s Word, then reject it.

Jesus warned us that deception would run rampant in the last days. It is now upon us, so we must guard our hearts against it. It will only get worse until the return of our Lord at the Rapture. If you are in an apostate church, get out of it as fast as you can. To remain is to open yourself up to the possibility of losing your salvation.

Now, it’s YOUR turn: Please share your questions and insights in the Comments box below. Thank you!

TWEETABLE:  “Is Your Church Apostate or Apostolic?” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio (Click to Tweet)


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If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“How to Destroy Mental Strongholds”

“Convergence: Clear Sign of the End Times”

“The Rise of Wicca, Witches, and Warlocks” 

“Don’t Let Satan Play Your Pipes!”

“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”

“Sex and Soul Ties”

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

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Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

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Copyright 2018 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

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The Rise of Wicca, Witches, and Warlocks

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

by

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here.  

________________________________________________

Witchcraft is on the rise in the United States and in the world.

And you need to be aware of its dangerous and destructive plans for you and your family!

As the approach of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ draws near in the amazing event called the Rapture, Satan and his demons are hard at work to deceive people everywhere and to draw them away from the truth. One such deception is the current craze and interest in witchcraft, a deception that particularly abounds during this month of October with its celebration and glorification of Halloween. 

Jesus prophesied that such deception would occur in the last days before His return: “‘TAKE HEED, lest any man deceive you … For false christs and false prophets shall arise and shall show signs and wonders to seduce, if possible, even the elect” – Mark 13:5,22 (Emphasis mine).

We are seeing this take place before our very eyes today. Occult practices abound in the form of astrology (horoscopes, tarot cards, palmistry), yoga, and the martial arts. Shockingly, even Christians are participating in them, unaware that such participation gives demons and other seducing spirits access to their lives.

Occult “religions”–such as Wicca, Satanism, Kaballah, and Goddess Worship–are on the rise as well and have their roots in the very pit of hell.  We Christians need to be aware of these deceptions and warn others about them. Many in the Church are being led astray by practices such as so-called “Christian yoga” and “Christian Martial Arts.” These practices are not Christian at all. They have their roots in Satan and are dangerous! 

“The root determines the fruit.” – Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

It is important to understand that Satan presents evil as good. The Bible tells us that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” ( 2 Corinthians 11: 14). To masquerade–or wear a mask–means that one is pretending to be what one is not.

Satan wears a mask of light to pretend he is light when, in truth, he is the essence of darkness itself.

Satan’s goal is to counterfeit Truth. He presents as truth, that which is false, and as false, that which is true. He does this by presenting evil as good. By presenting darkness as light. By presenting wrong as right.

Consider this: For every counterfeit, there is a genuine. For every counterfeit $50 bill, there is a genuine $50 bill. Have you ever seen a counterfeit $70 bill? No. Why not? Because there is no such thing as a $70 bill.

Likewise, for every truth in the Bible, there is a counterfeit. So, when we see a counterfeit gospel–one that is rooted in anything other than Jesus Christ–know that this is a false gospel counterfeiting the genuine Gospel. It doesn’t matter if this counterfeit gospel produces miracles, signs, and wonders. Remember: Satan still has supernatural power, although his power has no teeth since Jesus defeated him by His death and resurrection. But, unless one is aware of Satan’s deception, one can easily think that Satanic power is the greatest power when, in truth, it is not.

Satan’s only power is the lie.  And even the power of the lie has no effect on us if we don’t believe his lies. For this reason, we must saturate our minds and hearts with the Word of God. Only the Word of God will enable us to discern between the truth and the lie.

A huge lie of our day is the lie of the occult. This Satanic movement seeks to demonstrate supernatural power in order to deceive and to draw people into death and destruction.  It is an alluring movement, and unless one is born again and grounded in the Word of God, one will easily be deceived into believing that the power of the occult is the only supernatural power there is.

But the power of God is far greater than the power of Satan (See 1 John 4: 4). 

Remember: Satan is a created being. He was created by God as Lucifer, the Chief Worship Angel in Heaven. He fell from great heights when Jesus Christ defeated him on Calvary. But Satan has not given up on his desire to be God. Of course, he never can be nor ever will be God. But because of his intense anger at God, Satan is still trying to steal people from God in order to destroy those whom God loves.

If you are finding it difficult to discern truth from evil, I urge you to do two things:

1–Dig into God’s Word daily. Memorize it. Meditate on it. Make it your final authority.

2–Examine the root of popular practices, such as yoga, the martial arts, etc. Is the root Jesus Christ, or is the root something outside of Jesus Christ? Remember this: the root will determine the fruit. You cannot have an unholy root and expect holy fruit. 

The Word of God gives us this warning about the last days: “But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.” – 2 Timothy 3: 13

Do not allow yourself to be deceived. Stay close to Jesus and be continually in His Word. Pray in the Spirit, and be aware of what is going on around you.

Prayer for Today: Lord God, we ask that You would keep us from all deception in these last days. As we seek Your Face, we trust that You will protect our minds and hearts from the lies of the enemy. We thank You for the gift of discernment. In Jesus’ Name we pray and receive by faith. Amen.

Now, it’s YOUR turn: Please share your questions and insights in the Comments box below. Thank you!

TWEETABLE:  “The Rise of Wicca, Witches, and Warlocks ” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio (CLICK TO TWEET).

For further study, you may wish to read this article “Growing Number Of Witches & The Upcoming Hex On Justice Kavanaugh” at http://prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=2644#ywYDxLgkPItfM7k8.99 http://prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=2644.

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If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“Don’t Let Satan Play Your Pipes!”

“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”

“Sex and Soul Ties”

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

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Copyright 2018 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

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ENDURING TO THE END

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

by

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

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NOTE TO MY READERS:  This will be my last blog post for the time being. I am seeking God as to what direction to take in the future and will notify you if I resume writing this blog. Thank you for your prayers.

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In Matthew 24: 13, Jesus said this: “…the one who endures to the end will be saved.” What did Jesus mean by these words? How should we apply them to our lives today?

The word “endure” comes from the Latin word “indurare” which means “to harden.” What Jesus was saying here is that the one who hardens himself against difficulties and stands firm in the midst of them, that one will be saved.

This verse is part of what is called Christ’s Olivet Discourse, the famous sermon He gave on the Mount of Olives in which He explained to His disciples details about the end times.  Jesus was warning that persecution would arise and many so-called professing Christians would turn away from the faith, thereby revealing the true condition of their hearts. 

So, what does it mean to endure to the end? Here are some considerations:


1–To endure to the end means to stand firmly for the Bible in the face of false teaching. Apostasy is alive and well in our country and throughout the world. Many denominations that were once bulwarks of Christianity have now turned traitor to the Bible and its inerrancy and have subscribed to false doctrines straight from the pit of hell.

2–To endure to the end means to stand firmly for Christ in the face of a brazenly sinful society.  What was once considered shameful is now brazenly practiced openly as our world falls ever more deeply into depravity. He who endures to the end will remain pure in a culture that reeks with sin.

3–To endure to the end means to stand firmly for Christ in the face of ridicule, hatred, and persecution. Day by day, we are witnessing increasing opposition to Christianity and Christians. Whether it be in our governmental system, our educational system, or our societal system, Christians are being marginalized at an alarming rate. Many have been persecuted to the point of death. 

In these last days, Satan is pulling out all the stops in his vicious attempt to get Christ-Followers to give up and quit. DON’T DO IT!  Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Let me encourage you with these words from Galatians 5: 1: “Stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”  How do we stand firm? Ephesians 6: 10 tells us how: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

It is only by the Lord’s power that we will be able to endure to the end. Remain in Him. This is His promise to us in 1 Corinthians 1; 8: “He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Maranatha!  Come, Lord Jesus! Come soon!

Now, it’s YOUR turn: What struggles are you facing in your journey to endure to the end? Please leave your valued comments in the box below.

TWEETABLE:  “Enduring to the End” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET).

NEW YOU-TUBE SERIES:  Check out my new You-Tube series, YOU WERE MADE FOR GREATNESS!, based on my popular book by the same title.  


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The Italian Chronicles Trilogy is now available in its entirety. Will Maria Landro Tonetta allow God to turn the horrific sorrows of her life into great joy? Read this page-turning series to find out! Makes a great gift for any occasion!

 Book 1: The Madonna of Pisano    Book 2: A Sicilian Farewell    Book 3: Return to Bella Terra

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If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“Sex and Soul Ties”

“Don’t Let Satan Play Your Pipes”

“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

___________________________________________

Copyright 2018 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

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