The nature of Joyner’s spiritual warfare is looked at in more detail
later on in this chapter.
5 i) A Christian civil war: Joyner‘s own summary informs us that his
central message is a call by Jesus for a “Christian Civil War,” (p.
22), a “spiritual civil war,” (p.37 ), between “Christians,” (p.
25, 129). He tells us that whilst in a visionary state “I fired off
a few arrows, as did some of the others. Almost all of them hit Christians,” (p.
25), and that “I started to wonder if the next battle would be against
our own brothers again,” (p. 129), “We did wound many of our own
brethren”, (p. 129). However would Gods Holy Spirit ever wound other
Christians with “spiritual warfare”? Is focussing on fighting
against other Christian ever God’s will? And is such Christian infighting
really “the battle of the last days” (p.115, 148), in the end
times as Joyner claims? It appears to me that this all contradicts Jesus’ own
prayer for unity amongst believers?
“ I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe
in Me... that they all may be one... that the world may believe that You sent
Me,”(Jn 17; 20, 21).
5 ii) How Joyner’s vision depicts Christians who disagree with him: All the believers who disagree with Joyner are seen by him as part of Satan’s
army described as “the horde from hell,” (p. 16). Joyner claims
that these Christians are in league with tens of thousands of demons. Joyner
writes the “most shocking part of this vision was that this horde was
not riding on horses, but primarily on Christians”, (p.17), and that “demons
were urinating and defecating upon the Christians” who “actually
thought this slime was the anointing of the Holy Spirit”, (p.21). Joyner
admits that these are genuine Christian believers who oppose him but would
God ever portray any Christian in such an unpleasant and insulting way? Are
these visions really coming from Gods Holy Spirit or a deceiving spirit? Joyner
even claims that these Christians will actually form the most formidable part
of Satan’s entire end time’s army. He also states that “non – Christians” “were
not a part of either of these armies,” (p.31), so there are no unbelievers
seen here in Satan’s army only demons and those Christians who won’t
accept Joyner’s new revelations.
1 Cor 3: 3 “for you are still carnal. For where there are… divisions
among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”
5 iii) Contradictions: Joyner informs us that his side in this spiritual
civil war should fight “without demonizing,” (p. 36), the opposing
Christians, however his own visions contradict this by depicting those very
same believers as being “transformed into the contorted image of the
demons themselves,” (p.26). Joyner states that the Lord has told him “Satan’s
...ultimate power of destruction is released when he uses Christians to attack
one another,” (p. 21), but then also claims that the “Lord is
now preparing a leadership that will be willing to fight a spiritual civil
war,” (p.37). Can such contradictory messages really be coming from
God and why is it these don’t line up with the teachings of scripture?
Joyner believes that Jesus told him back in 1996 that “You must now
stand and fight, because there is no longer any place to hide from this war” (p.
21), but that was fifteen years ago, was a Christian civil war really inevitable
back in 1996? And why does Joyner still think that Jesus is still calling
him to pursue this today?
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions
and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them,” (Rms
16:17).
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without
hypocrisy,” (Jms 3: 17).
5 iv) Joyner’s sees other
ordinary Christians as the enemy: Joyner’s
visions depict the Christians who disagree with him as the enemy, (those
who refuse to move away from a bible based form of spirituality). This is
reflected in the names he sees on the banners flying over the divisions
of Satan’s army, i.e. “Accusation, Gossip, Slander and Faultfinding,” (p.16), “Pride,
Self –righteousness, Respectability, Selfish Ambition, Unrighteous
Judgement, and Jealousy,” (p. 16). These are all words someone may
use to describe Christians they were in opposition to, not a description
of the overall forces of darkness. There is no mention, for example, of
any banners of immorality, murder, wickedness, idolatry, false religions,
deception or the occult in Satan’s army as one may expect. And as
stated by Joyner “non – Christians” “were not a
part of either of these armies,” (p. 31), instead Joyner claims that
it is the “well – dressed, respectable... refined and educated...
these people professed Christian truths,” (p. 17), who the demons
use. Joyner believes that “the battle of the last days” (p.115), “the
last battle,” (p. 148), is an internal conflict against these other
ordinary Christians. He claims that when his side eventually gain control
of the whole church, “Gods government is about to be demonstrated
as greater than any human government,” (p. 38) and unbelievers will
automatically flock into this new church. However Joyner also tells us that
this civil war will be so damaging that it will “appear as if it will
be the end of the church,” (p.37), even the “meltdown of Christianity
itself,” (p.29). This reveals just how intense he believes the spiritual
civil war against these other Christians should be.
Now I urge you, brethren,
note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which
you learned, and avoid them,” (Rms
16:17).
5 v) Who are likely to be seen as the future judges of the church? So who did Joyner believe were the leading “dreaded champions” that
he saw in his vision back in 1995, those who he expected to rule as judges
over the church with him in the future? Surely it must have be the people
who had been seeking after the same type of new revelations and spiritual
experiences as he had for many years, in a way that paralleled the ascent
up the spiritual Mountain in his visions? As most of the rest body of Christ
had not been seeking after such things it must therefore have been Joyner’s
closest compatriots from the Kansas City Prophetic stream. Bob Jones and
Paul Cain were the two leading “prophets” within this movement
along with Joyner prior to that time. Bob Jones, however, had been forced
to step down from ministry a year earlier, in 1994, after he admitted using
his “spiritual gifts” to solicit sexual favours from women in
his congregation. Several years later, in 2006, it also emerged that Paul
Cain had been living a secret lifestyle of homosexuality, alcoholism and
illicit drug use. A third person with the same practices and beliefs as
Joyner, Todd Bentley, became very influential across the church two years
later, in 2008, until emerged that he had been having an adulterous affair
and had lied about thirty three people being raised from the dead during
his revival meetings that year. Nonetheless to this day these are still
the people who appear to best fit the criteria of becoming the leading prophet
judges alongside Joyner in the future. Perhaps this is why Joyner was so
keen to reinstate Bentley back into the ministry in the shortest possible
time despite the fact that Peter Wagner, who had become Bentley’s
apostle just prior to this, wrote, “Todd Bentley now carries the label
of a liar and a deceiver. I'm sorry to mention it, but I felt personally
deceived... All of this was skillfully concealed by lying,” Peter
Wagner, August 25, 2008. http://www.thevoicemagazine.com/blog/breaking-news/peter-wagner-expounds-on-todd-bentley-fiasco/
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes
or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a
bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,” (Matt
7.16 - 18).
5 vi) A third group: One of main Christian streams
that Joyner’s
side recruit followers from in these visions are described by him as being
initially “overly happy, as if intoxicated... playing games...singing
songs and feasting... this reminded me of Woodstock,” (p. 23). This
sounds to me very much like Christians involved in Toronto style meetings
to me. As Joyner saw this vision in 1995 he would have been aware of the
Toronto Movement which had swept the church a year earlier in 1994. It appears
to me that Joyner believes he is directed to get many of these types of
people to join him in the spiritual attacks on the other Christians in particular,
perhaps because they are more open than most believers to new spiritual
experiences that are not necessarily recorded in the scriptures? Perhaps
the Toronto phenomena even re-ignited Joyner’s belief that that his
own unconventional form of spirituality could one day become popular and
dominate the church after perhaps doubting this when the Kansas City prophets
movement had fallen into disrepute some years earlier due to so much false
prophecy and sexual immorality? Could Toronto have reignited Joyner’s
hope of triumph in a Christian spiritual civil war in his lifetime as his
visions had foreseen?
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
by those who make peace. Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do
they not come from your
desires,” (Jms 3: 18 to 4; 1).
5 vii) The reasons given by
Joyner’s for a Christian civil
war: Joyner
claims that there are two main issues to be fought over, the first he describes
as “slavery v freedom,” (p. 37), there is no more description
given of it than that. How can such a vague reason justify a damaging Christian
civil war? The second issue which Joyner says will “be the primary
issue for some will be money,” (p. 37). However we should each be
trusting God for the money we need in ministry not resorting to a spiritual
civil war to gain control of other Christian’s resource. As we have
already seen in Ch 2i) one of Joyner’s main agendas is to enable a
group of prophet “judges,” (p.128), to gain control of the church
and change its doctrines and spiritual practices in the future, surely this
is really the main issue that motivates Joyner towards such a civil war?
“You lust and do not have. You... covet and cannot obtain. You fight
and war,” (Jms 4. 2).
5 viii) The occult nature of Joyner’s
spiritual warfare: Pentecostal
and charismatic readers may at first believe that Joyner’s sides spiritual
warfare is legitimate because they target many different types of demons,
(there is a huge amount of symbolic imagery relating to this with hardly
any useful down to earth interpretation given). However as Joyner himself
writes the “whole battle was for people,” (p. 95), it is the
spiritual warfare aimed towards the other Christians that is most important
and why this entire battle is described by him as a Christian spiritual
civil war. Joyner claims that his side’s newly discovered revelations
double up as spiritual weapons which become increasingly powerful as he
ascends higher up the spiritual mountain. These are fired towards the opposing
Christians through the spiritual realms as “arrows of truth”,
(p. 158). His side attempt to force their new revelations upon the opposing
Christians in this way, i.e. against their will. As many will know this
is known in Christian circles as “spiritistic prayer,” it is
extremely manipulative and controlling and is definitely not of God. Joyner,
however, see’s this is a way of liberating the opposing Christians
from the demons he thinks are controlling them and stopping them from adopting
the same spiritual practices and beliefs as himself. However even Jesus
Christ didn’t try to spiritually force His message and ways upon people
like this. Furthermore even Joyner’s own visions predict that this
warfare will be unfruitful which begs the question as to why Joyner is prepared
to engage in it regardless of the harmful effects he sees it will have on
the Christians who disagree with him.
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love
the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death,” (1
Jn 3; 14).
5 ix) Witchcraft/sorcery: The type of spiritistic
prayer described by Joyner is identical to that used by unbelievers engaged
in
the occult. Many of
those who practice white magic already send their spells, (their words
and revelations), upon churches and individual Christians just as Joyner
does
his new revelations. Like Joyner they also believe that they have superior
revelatory knowledge and are liberating Christians from the limitations
of their bible based spirituality. Whether or not it is intentional such
activity is witchcraft /sorcery even if it is undertaken by “Christians.” White
magic, unlike black magic, is not intended to harm but that is nonetheless
the effect it has. This is why Joyner sees his own spiritual warfare unintentionally
harming the Christians he aims, “We did wound many of our own brethren”,
(p. 129). However the Holy Spirit never accidentally wounds other Christians
like this; the “demons easily dodged the arrows and let them hit the
Christians,” (p. 26). Those who engage in this practice of spiritistic
prayer will end up moving in line with the unbelievers who already practice
witchcraft against Christians. This could harm those targeted and could
also weaken the faith of those who engage in this unless they relent and
repent.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident... sorcery... selfish ambitions...
heresies... those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom
of God,” (Gal 5; 19 – 21).
5 x) The spiritual warfare used by the opposing Christians: This
is very different. Joyner claims that the Christians who oppose his views
will fire “arrows
of slander,” (p. 24), at his side. Slander is either recorded or shared
verbally so, unlike Joyner’s side, these Christians are not seen engaging
in spiritual warfare at all. Slander also involves making false accusations
against someone. Speaking out against someone’s doctrine or their
spiritual practice is not slander, nor is exposing another Christian’s
immoral behaviour if this has really taken place. It is very unlikely that
huge numbers of Christians will make up false accusations against Joyner’s
compatriots in the future as his visions depict, (the flood of arrows of
slander seen reigning down upon them in these visions). There is every chance
though that a flood of biblically based criticism will be aimed at Joyner’s
side as more people become aware of the unscriptural nature of his beliefs.
Joyner is misusing the word “slander” here when what he really
means is “criticism.” We saw this back in the early 1990’s
when Joyner claimed that the Prophetic Movement (referring to the Kansas
City based Prophetic Movement ), was being “persecuted” when
in fact they were actually being held to account for their many failed predictions
and immorality. John Wimber, who had only just taken their base, the Kansas
City Fellowship, into the Vineyard Movement, had no choice but to bring
godly discipline to bear. This occurred after many of these “prophets” were
found to be involved in serious sexual sin, even homosexuality. This became
such an embarrassment that their pastor, Mike Bickle, renamed their church
the “Metro Christian Fellowship” in order to avoid some of the
controversy. From Joyner’s comments it would appear that he saw this
as an unjustified persecution of his companion “prophets.” It
is therefore likely that if similar criticisms are levelled at Joyner’s
compatriots in the future, whether justified or not, he could misinterpret
this as the hordes of hell firing arrows of slander at them. We could then
see Joyner and his followers retaliate against this with harmful occult
spiritual warfare according to the directions contained in Joyner’s
visions. “you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and
have found them to be liars,” (Rev 2. 2).
5 xi) Joyner’s
failed spiritual strategies: At this
point I felt the Lord wanted me to examine the various spiritual warfare
strategies that
Joyner saw his side persuing. Surprisingly Joyner claims that he saw every
one of these strategies failing and doing nothing but harm to the opposing
Christians with hardly any of them converting to his ways. Presumably the
devil was using these visions to prepare Joyner for this failure so he would
persevere with his attacks in the real world later on even when it became
obvious that this wasn’t working. The motivation appears to be that
this will ultimately lead to a strategy that will work, (once Joyner reaches
the very top of the mountain), by removing these other Christians from the
body of Christ altogether.
“fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being
of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition
or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself,” (Phil 2; 2,3).
5 xii) These failed strategies and their effect
on other Christians:
For
prophecies which relate to this and other issues try www.propheciesfortoday.uk.com
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