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2 Timothy 3:13
Keith Green was a man known for his uncompromising Christian stance. He gave his life to Jesus in 1975 and was sold out for the Lord right from the very start. Keith's energy and passion for reaching people through music and ministry was unprecedented, and lives around the world are still being changed as his ministry continues to go forth. Last Days Ministries was born in 1977 as Keith and his wife Melody began reaching out to others with the Gospel and taking needy people into their home.
On July 28, 1982, at the age of 28, Keith and two of their young children, Josiah and Bethany, were in a small plane crash and went to be with Jesus. Although Keith was one of America's best-selling Christian musicians and songwriters, recording 5 albums in his lifetime with over 1.5 million in distribution, Keith considered himself first and foremost a servant of Jesus. He often said that when he died he only wanted to be remembered as having been worthy to bear the name of "Christian". (The Last Days Collection, copyright 1995, p. 13; Last Days Ministries, P. O. Box 2680, Hayden Lake, ID 83835; 1-800-2BUY-LDM; www.lastdaysministries.org)
Those caught in the present day false Christian world (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3; 2 Peter 2:1-3) might well believe Keith Green was indeed "worthy to bear the name of 'Christian.'" After all, he was well-spoken of among "believers" (Luke 6:26). But, before the Word of God, Keith is found to be one who professed to know God, but by his deeds, he denied Him (Titus 1:16).
I. Ecumenical
Although Keith had a "form of godliness" (2 Timothy 3:5) and gave an appearance of being non-ecumenical (e.g. see No Compromise, The Life Story of Keith Green, by Melody Green, copyright 1989, p. 243-244), he was nonetheless a believer and promoter of the broad way (Matthew 7:13-14). In the Last Days Newsletter, in the forward of his series entitled, "The Catholic Chronicles," Keith wrote,
I want to make it completely understood that neither I nor anyone else at Last Days Ministries have anything at all personally against Catholics. We know of many loving, committed and sincere believers among their ranks. In fact, there are quite a few who receive our newsletter, even a priest in New England who corresponds with me regularly (and if you're reading this now - I love you!) [No Compromise, p. 236, bold added]
By saying, "We know of many loving, committed and sincere believers among" Catholics, Keith reveals that his way is broad, so broad it includes idolatrous Catholics, which is contrary to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Including Catholics on the supposedly narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14) makes for a very broad way. God reveals that Catholics are among those who have departed from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1-3). In other words, they are not believers. If a person can be a Catholic, even a Catholic priest, and still be on their way to heaven, this belittles the Truth, Jesus (John 14:6), and makes for a massively wide theological way to heaven, which, in reality, leads to hell (destruction, Matthew 7:13-14).
So, even though Keith taught against Catholic theology ("The Catholic Chronicles"), he proved himself a hypocrite by calling them fellow believers in Christ.
Finally, Keith's words of "I love you!" to the idolatrous Catholic priest, ought to be compared with God's words found in Psalm 31:6.
I have hated those who regard useless idols; but I trust in the Lord.
Keith did not trust in the Lord. If he had, he would have hated Catholics, especially the priests, who regard useless idols. Mr. Green was unlike the kind of man who goes to heaven. For the man who may abide in His tabernacle is one "in whose eyes a vile person is despised" (Psalm 15:4; see also Psalm 119:104, 128; 139:21-22; Galatians 1:8-9; 5:12, and our report on Catholicism).
II. Blasphemed The Way Of Truth (2 Peter 2:2)
Although Keith gave the appearance of loving the truth, in hypocrisy Keith actually blasphemed the way of truth. For example, Keith taught,
We must learn to take the high road of faith and reject false teachings. Even when it's not popular, we must hold onto the truth. (If You Love The Lord, uncompromising devotions from the heart of Keith Green, copyright 2000, p. 17)
Yet, when it came to living out a love for the truth and contending for the faith (Jude 3), Keith turned away from this and called it "Godless chatter" and "sinful" (ibid., p. 99-100).
When I was a new Christian I spent many useless hours (weeks, even months!) wrangling over words. I'd argue over anything and everything: Can a Christian be possessed by demons? Do you have to be sprinkled or immersed to be truly baptized? Should you be baptized in the name of Jesus only or in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
In some ways I set myself up for this. After concerts people came up to me and said, "You know, I don't agree with your position on this or that." I'd sit at the edge of the stage, a crowd would gather, and I'd throw out Scripture with the other person lobbing back different verses. We'd have a great time with our "flesh" exposed for all to see. I loved it!
Then after calling this "Godless chatter" from 2 Timothy 2:16-17 and quoting Titus 3:9-11 he writes,
You see, a contentious spirit is not true zeal for God. Immature Christians may think they know all the right answers and that everyone has to see things their way, but that's warped thinking, sinful, and even self-condemning.
What Keith called "warped thinking, sinful, and even self-condemning" is what God calls "the way of truth" (2 Peter 2:2).
Indeed, "a servant of the Lord must not quarrel" (2 Timothy 2:24), but he must contend (Jude 3). True believers are contenders. They fight for the faith (Jude 3; 2 Timothy 4:7; Galatians 2:11-21; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). To "argue over anything and everything" that is a matter of Biblical truth is godly. To "argue over anything and everything" of which the Bible does not address, or Scripture explicitly says to avoid, is "foolish" (Titus 3:9).
The three examples of "wrangling over words" which Keith gave are all questions that the Bible answers, and to contend over these questions is in no way "wrangling about with words." Keith said, "Can a Christian be possessed by demons?" The answer is, no (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 5:18). But they may be tormented (2 Corinthians 12:7). Keith said, "Do you have to be sprinkled or immersed to be truly baptized?" The answer is, "baptized" means "immersed" and this is what Scripture teaches (Matthew 3:6; Mark 1:9-10; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-4). Keith said, "Should you be baptized in the name of Jesus only or in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?" The answer is, both are Biblical (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38).
It is not "quarreling about words" to "sit at the edge of the stage" have a crowd gather, and "throw out Scripture with the other person lobbing back different verses" on issues such as these. If it is done in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Timothy 2:24-26), it is contending for the faith (Jude 3) and it is loving the truth (John 14:6; Hebrews 4:12-13). Keith misuses Scripture (see below), and calls this sinful. Actually, it is sinful not to live this way, because God commands us to "contend earnestly for the faith" (Jude 3).
Now, in contending for the faith, we ought not "wrangle about words" (2 Timothy 2:14, NKJV "strive about words to no profit") as the wicked do (1 Timothy 6:4). We should speak plainly and Biblically (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) and not play word games.
In the above quote, Keith degraded "the way of truth" (2 Peter 2:2) by calling it "warped thinking" and "sinful" when someone, in the context of "Scripture debates" (ibid., p. 100), has the perspective "that everyone has to see things their way." The problem with this is, this was Jesus' "warped thinking."
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Along with Christ, Paul exemplifies his share of "sinful" "warped thinking."
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia-remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, (1 Timothy 1:3)
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:23-26)
Likewise, along with Christ and Paul, this is every true believer's "sinful" "warped thinking."
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6)
Those who follow Christ, have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), and the mind of Christ says, "that everyone has to see things [His] way" (Matthew 7:24-27; John 12:48; 14:23-24). As Christ said, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Likewise, believers say "He who knows God hears us" (1 John 4:6), because "He who is of God hears God's words" (John 8:47). The Word is the standard (Hebrews 4:12-13), and believers stand in this Word (1 Peter 1:22-23; 5:12) calling out to a lost world that they are deceived, and had better repent and "see things their way." Because, "their way" is the only way (John 14:6), and true Christians are the only ones who will not be tormented in hell (Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 21:8). Keith did not stand in this "way" (John 14:6), but rather in the broad way (Matthew 7:13-14) which led to his destruction.
Keith's comment on the tape What's Wrong With The Gospel? further illustrates this fact.
Now, we do not think that we have a corner on the market of truth. God forbid. I don't want that corner, thank you. I just want to be a Christian. I don't wanna be a prophet. I don't want to be even an evangelist. I just wanna be a Christian. That's all I wanna be. (Audio #3079-4, side 1)
It is evident that Keith's idea of being a Christian is not the same as Scripture's. A Christian loves the truth (Mark 12:30; John 14:6) and would want "a corner on the market of truth" (Proverbs 2:1-13; Psalm 119:80); and indeed has "a corner on the market of truth" (1 John 2:20-21, 27). Yet, Keith said, "God forbid. I don't want that corner". It is evident Keith did not receive the "love of the truth, that [he] might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). He didn't want "a corner on the market of truth," unlike the Psalmist who wrote,
Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, that I may not be ashamed. (Psalm 119:80)
Being "blameless" and found unashamed before the word of God is one serious "corner on the market of truth"! The Psalmist continues,
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:98-104; see also verse 128)
Because of his "corner on the market of truth" this writer was wiser than his enemies and understood more than his teachers and the ancients, and he therefore hated every false way. "Fools hate knowledge" (Proverbs 1:22), and Keith's comment illustrates the words of a fool.
Going back to the quote about "warped thinking," to justify his position, Keith used 2 Timothy 2:16-17 to call the "Scripture debates" he was speaking of "Godless chatter" (If You Love The Lord, p. 100). This is a misuse of Scripture.
The reason Paul calls it "godless chatter" is because it was "chatter" that did not rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15), but was contrary to the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:17-18). Hymenaeus and Philetus are used as an example of those who were involved in "godless chatter" ("idle babblings" NKJV). They were "saying that the resurrection is already past" (2 Timothy 2:18). Paul says to shun such things (2 Timothy 2:16), as all false doctrine ought to be shunned (Psalm 119:104, 128).
Now, in light of the command to "shun," someone might contend that this means the subject matter should just be shunned and not even discussed. Yet, Scripture says,
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
The false doctrine ought to be cast down (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), in hopes "that they may know the truth" (2 Timothy 2:25).
III. Marks Of A Hireling (John 10:12-13)
Did Keith Green expose (Ephesians 5:11) any of the false teachers of our day? To our knowledge, he did not expose a single one who "had crept in unnoticed" (Jude 4) or was "among us" (2 Peter 2:1). Was he ignorant of the wolves? No, on the contrary, he claimed to know about them.
Nowadays it isn't Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It's Jesus Christ and what He can do for you. You cannot have more exact opposites than the Bible's Christ centered gospel and our modern crossless me centered gospel. Today, if anyone preaches self-denial as a condition for discipleship, you can hear the comments afterwards, "old fashioned," "harsh," "legalistic." I dare say that our Lord would have as much trouble finding acceptance among our preachers, as He had among the religious leaders of His own day." (cassette tape, What's Wrong With The Gospel?, Audio #3079-1, side 1)
Did Keith give any examples of such godless preachers? No, not one. He said they are out there, but didn't give a single name to warn people. Even when he did have a name in mind, Keith refused to expose him.
There's a story of this preacher, he's a famous preacher in many circles today. I'm not guna mention his name or give ya any hints. And the guy has been recently preaching what's called "ultimate reconciliation." It's a heretical doctrine that teaches that eventually everyone will go to heaven. It's kind of like a Protestant purgatory. That at the judgment, people will go to heaven and people will go to hell, but hell will burn away their sins, purge and purge (sic) them away, and eventually (cause a loving God would never send people to hell forever, according to this series of doctrines) then they will go to heaven. OK. It is (sic) just come out in the past six months, and this guy has bothered alot of people. He's a loving living guy [italics hard to make out from tape], and he's bothered awful lot (sic) of people with this doctrine. What just came out (sic) that he's been having homosexual encounters with some of the young students that studies under him. For twenty years he's been having them. He's hated it. He's confessed it to his wife. He's, He's, He's, tried to repent and get over it, but he's still in conducting (sic) in it. He's just been asked to step down from the ministry.
Of course he believes in ultimate reconciliation! Of course he believes that hell wouldn't be forever, because he needed a hell like that, cause he was living in hell now! And he couldn't bear to believe in a hell that the Bible taught about that would last for eternity. So, he in his, in his sickness and his sin was turned over to a deceptive mind to believe deluding influences and wrong doctrine, and found a doctrine that would give him comfort in his sin . . . (cassette tape, What's Wrong With The Gospel?, Audio #3079-2, side 1)
He spoke of a man who had been teaching heresy and living in serious hypocrisy, yet Keith kept a lid on who he was speaking about. This is walking in darkness (1 John 1:5-6; Ephesians 5:8-13), and exemplifies the actions of a hireling (John 10:12-13).
This darkness comes to light when Keith's lewdness is revealed. Tape four of What's Wrong With The Gospel? begins with these words:
I believe we shall see in that great day, oh heavy, this is heavy, I believe we shall see in that great day when God spreads out the lives of men in judgment how many were truly converted by the efforts of these ministries and how many were turned aside from the path of righteousness being led to believe the pleasant half-truths contained in these shallow and false epistles that have been printed to the ends of the earth by people with the best intentions and the highest integrity.
"False epistles" containing "half-truths" that turn people "aside from the path of righteousness" written by people of the "highest integrity"? This is ludicrous and lewdness! Those who turn people "aside from the path of righteousness" are those who "deceive the hearts of the simple" and are those who do "not serve our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 16:18). They are people without integrity.
A little later Keith said,
. . . they are perpetrating a deception that I think's even more dangerous than the cults. Ya know why? Because the most dangerous counterfeit is the one that's hardest to tell that it's a counterfeit. The worst lie is the one that's closest to the truth.
Amen. Satan's ministers come as ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15).
A little later, Keith said,
But when I hear stuff like this, that, that Christians, believers, people that I know believe and love and know Jesus, present a gospel that's so close, that has alot of Scripture, but yet presents the exact opposite view that Jesus presents. That just burns me up, and I bet it breaks God's heart, and should break ours; and we shouldn't go and start picketing those ministries. We should just try ta be a good example and go forth. And I love these people. And I have some friends that that work within these ministries, and I pray for them and hope the best for them, and would pray that God would lead them to make the changes.
It is evident from the above quote that Keith believed a person can "believe and love and know Jesus" and yet propagate a gospel that is "the exact opposite" of Christ's. This is radically lewd (Jude 4), and extremely broad (Matthew 7:13-14). Compare Keith's words to Paul's.
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9)
I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! (Galatians 5:12)
IV. A False God
At the very end of the first cassette tape entitled, What's Wrong With The Gospel?, Keith said,
But the church, which doesn't have a millionth of the compassion that God has, has turned around and created a God in its own image and likeness. (Audio #3079-1)
Keith did some of his own creating. On this same tape, he said,
Do you realize that God has done everything that He possibly can to save the whole world? . . . and there's nothing more God can do except woo us.
This is a lie. Scripture nowhere says this, and this does not describe the God of the Bible. Contrary to the impotent god Keith described, the God of the Bible has not only not done "everything that He possibly can to save the whole world," but He has actively acted so as to make sure many do not get saved. As Romans 11:8 says,
"God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day."
This is actually part of God's ways. Although He "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4), the Lord does not do "everything that He possibly can to save the whole world." The cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom are a graphic example of this.
In Matthew 11:21-23 Jesus said,
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
If the Lord had performed these same mighty works in Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, the people in these cities would not have been destroyed. Yet, instead of choosing to do this, which would have saved many souls, God decided not to do "everything that He possibly can." Why? Because He chose to make them vessels of wrath (Romans 9:21-22), and to use Sodom as "an example to those who afterward would live ungodly" (2 Peter 2:6), as Jude 7 says that they "are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire".
On this same tape, Keith further described not the God of the Bible.
Who does God love more than anybody else? Nobody. God doesn't love anybody more than He loves anybody else. He's no respecter of persons.
Keith's words are a lie in light of Romans 9:13, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." Some pervert this and water it down to "the Lord liked Jacob more than Esau" (Contemporary English Version, CEV). Nevertheless, whether you call it hate or loved less, God clearly loved Jacob more than Esau.
Moreover, God, who is love (1 John 4:8, 16), hates the wicked (Psalm 5:5-6; 11:5), but He loves the righteous (Psalm 146:8; Proverbs 15:9). This is the true God. The god Keith described is not the God of the Bible.
Moreover, Keith further believed that,
God did not create people for the purpose of destroying them. (If You Love The Lord, p. 122)
This is the exact opposite of the teaching of the Word of God.
The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. (Proverbs 16:4)
O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this. When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever. (Psalm 92:5-7; see also Romans 9:11-22)
God not only makes "people for the purpose of destroying them," He also makes animals "to be caught and destroyed," and then likens false teachers to them (2 Peter 2:12), false teachers, who were "long ago marked out for this condemnation" (Jude 4).
Furthermore, akin with this perverted view of God, Keith taught,
There's only one thing God could not have before he created us: friends. There was nobody to be his friend. Nobody to truly know him and in turn be known.
So God created us to share his heart, his thoughts, and his joy. (If You Love The Lord, p. 11)
Scripture nowhere teaches this. God could not, or did not, have "friends" before we were created? What about the angels (Job 38:4-7)? Moreover, God had Himself, for He Is Holy Gods. He had the Three Men of Genesis 18, The Horses of Zechariah 1, the Seven Spirits (Revelation 1:4-5), Jerusalem, the Throne, Heaven, and the entire Kingdom. Jesus said,
And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (John 17:5)
Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)
The Father and the Son had a good relationship and were "friends" before we ever came along.
Another example of Keith's impotent god can be found in the book, If You Love The Lord, on page 63-64.
Our will is the only thing in the universe God does not own. In this area, and this area only, he has allowed his creation to make decisions that affect him. Notice how many times in the Bible it's recorded that God felt anger, disappointment, regret, and sorrow - all because he gave people the choice of how to live.
Yet, God won't take control of our wills by force. If we want him to have control of our lives, we must give that control to him. If we choose to go it alone, we're doomed to failure. We need God's help. But when we lay our lives and will upon God's alter, we free God to be our partner. (bold added)
This is grossly perverted! God owns everything (Exodus 19:5; Job 41:11; Psalm 24:1; Ezekiel 18:4; Colossians 1:16), including the will of man. Romans 9:16 says, "it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." And Romans 9:18 says, "He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens." God does take control of our wills, either for good or for evil, as John 1:13 and Isaiah 63:17 illustrate.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
O Lord, why have You made us stray from Your ways, and hardened our heart from Your fear? (Isaiah 63:17)
Further insight to Keith's false concept of God can be seen where he pitted the knowledge of God against God Himself, and foolishly calls the worship of the Bible idolatry.
Even Bible reading can become idolatry if I'm doing it simply to get theological information instead of getting to know God better. In fact, there are some people who don't know Jesus at all but are enrolled in seminaries all over the country. They are people who have made the Bible their God. They worship the knowledge of God, rather than God Himself. But God alone has the right to the supreme places in our hearts. (If You Love The Lord, p. 187-188)
By saying, "they are people who have made the Bible their God," it is manifest that Keith did not know who God is. God is the Bible (i.e. Scripture, the Word of God, John 1:1, 14; Galatians 3:8; Romans 9:17; Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 19:13), and those who follow God, worship His Word (Psalm 56:4, 10; Psalm 119:1-176; Psalm 138:2, 4).
Moreover, worshipping the knowledge of God and God Himself is one and the same. In fact, the knowledge of God is what believers should be diligently pursuing (Proverbs 2:1-5; 9:10), and it is the knowledge of God in which the Lord desires us to be engaged (Hosea 6:6).
V. Demons, Make Believe, Or Both
Since Keith didn't know God, it would fit that he did not know His voice (John 10:4). Yet, Keith claimed to be able to discern when the devil was talking and when the Holy Spirit spoke.
See, the devil wants to demoralize you and ultimately destroy you. The Holy Spirit wants to convict you so you can repent and be restored. The difference is simple: The Holy Spirit is always specific. He says, "Quit yelling at your kids," or "Pray more." The devil is general in his accusations: "You're a terrible parent and a lousy, prayerless Christian. Why don't you just give up?"
Once you know who's talking, you can give the right response - and be free. (If You Love The Lord, p. 49)
This is pitiful! So, all Satan had to do was be specific, and he had Keith and those who followed him hoodwinked! Keith's foolish "discernment" is found nowhere in Scripture (Proverbs 30:5-6).
For another example, Keith recounted Rees Howell's "meeting with the Holy Spirit," and in this, Keith exposed further folly concerning God's voice. Howell said,
I saw Him as a person apart from the flesh and blood and He said to me, "As the Savior had a body, so I dwell in the cleansed temple of the believer. I am God and I come to ask you to give your body to Me, that I may work through you. I need a body for my temple. But it must belong to me without reserve, for two persons with different wills can never live in the same body. Will you give Me yours? You must go out. I shall not mix Myself with yourself." (If You Love The Lord, p. 23, bold added)
We can know this account is a lie and was not the Words of the Holy Spirit, because God, the Holy Spirit, needs nothing (Romans 11:36). Plus, this spirit lies by saying "two persons with different wills can never live in the same body." Christ had the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28) and the Father (John 14:11) in Him, and He had a different will (Matthew 26:39).
In the book, No Compromise, it is recorded that Keith himself questioned whether or not God had talked to him, even after he had concluded that He had. In the context of a "revival" at Oral Roberts University, it is written that,
. . . Keith felt he had to be on-target with God. He said, "If God didn't really tell me to come here, then I'm not a Christian and I've never heard God's voice at all." So, he paced and took long walks, wondering out loud, "Did I really hear God's voice?" (p. 187)
With this kind of subjective "hearing God's voice," "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) has all kinds of room to delude those who live this way (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). God has called believers to "walk by faith" (2 Corinthians 5:7), that is, faith in the Word of God (i.e. God's voice, John 8:47). Anything else welcomes deceit (e.g. Colossians 2:8-9, 18).
VI. Back To The Vomit
In 2 Peter 2:20-22 Peter writes,
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
In the book, If You Love The Lord, Keith is recorded as having said,
When I was a new Christian I opened up my Bible, then set myself up as judge. I'd go into ministries and get loud about their need for correction. Worse, within six months of my conversion, I was on-stage performing - and judging things publicly. Thousands of people came to hear me, and I really got into letting them know what I thought.
One day God grabbed me by the collar and showed me that judgment comes out of spiritual immaturity. (p. 95, bold added)
It sounds like Keith started out right by holding up the Word of God as the standard and holding others to it. He was acting like a spiritual man (1 Corinthians 2:15). Yet, by some means, he was deluded away from this, back to the vomit and quagmire of not loving the truth (John 14:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:10).
In light of the above, Keith's words sometime before his death are fearful.
There have been times when I've doubted whether I was saved. I've thought: Maybe I am not really a Christian. Maybe I'm only fooling myself. What if I get to the judgment and God says, "Sorry, I never knew you" - because he will judge in righteousness, according to what we've done?
I've read about the surprised people who will be at the final judgment. The Father will look at them and ask, "Who are you?"
They'll say: "C'mon, Lord, you know us. We did lots of incredible things in your name. We said to demons, "We cast you out in the name of Jesus,' and they left. In your name we prophesied, proclaiming the Word - and now you're saying you don't recognize us? There must be some mistake!"
The Father will say, "Sorry, I never knew you. It's too late. Leave my presence forever."
Knowing this, are my fears so unfounded? (If You Love The Lord, p. 121)
His fears were not unfounded (2 Peter 2:17). He had a zeal for God, but it was not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2; Hosea 4:6).
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