Random Thoughts on Those Who Focus On and Believe in the Bizarre

The garbage that people believe never ceases to amaze me. Extreme superstition, spiritism, angel worship, humanism, and self-idolatry has crept into the Church in huge ways and tends to prey on the uneducated, the poor, and the naive. Out of the fear of offending and losing large numbers in their churches, pastors can tend to turn a blind eye to such heresy. But confronting heresy and departures from the centeredness of Christ is what leaders have been put in place to do.

People can become obsessed about strange apparent spiritual manifestations like gold dust falling from the sky; faith-induced prosperity; and bizarre explanations for naturally occurring phenomena without ever thinking about Jesus- unless they’re using His Name as some magical incantation to get their desired effect.

But after decades of crazy-amazing ministry, the Apostle Paul “resolved to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified”. If the Church today kept it’s focus on Christ alone; everything else in life would fall into place! Anything and everything else that God wants to happen to you WILL happen if your focus is on the proper object of worship: Jesus Christ.

We are to focus on Him and His Word. And where His Word does not speak; we have no need to over speculate or obsess over non-Biblical concepts and phenomenon.

I like to use the ‘Jesus Test’ with most people I meet who claim Christianity. I’ll listen to them speak, and take notice of where their train of thought tends to go when speaking of “Christian things”. If that train of thought tends to travel towards the non-essential or the bizarre or extreme things of the faith way more than the foundational essentials; there’s probably a problem. Listen and see how often the Name of Jesus comes up and concepts like the holiness of God, the sin of man, grace, love, repentance, and hope. People who tend to gravitate towards the fringe issues will rarely talk of these essential things. Often times there faith is in the unexplainable supernatural, new age spirituality, and humanism; not in the Jesus Christ.

Recognize such behavior immediately, always turn the conversation back to Jesus, share the Gospel (even if the person claims to be a Christian), and invite them to put their trust in Christ alone (if you feel as though it is not). If they rebuke you or refuse to listen; be nice to that person, but cut close ties with them because they will always want to bring up their pet issue rather than focusing on Christ. And if you’re in leadership, recognize those who are taken captive by such philosophies and activities, and do not put them in any type of leadership role- who cares if their feelings are hurt! Don’t do it! They’ll take all sorts of people with them down their bizarre rabbit trails if allowed.