The Charismatic Church Shrine

Money and power are perhaps the two most ubiquitous corrupting influences. Of course, it is not them by themselves which are the corrupters, but the way they are sought, used, or desired.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim 6:10).

The lust for power is equally ruinous. Where men (and sometimes women) love to hold power over others, they are spiritually corrupt.

Both are widely to be seen in churches. The 'charismatic church' is no exception.

On 24th August 2002, God portrayed this problem to Helena in a dream. So vast and deep is it, that individuals will now have to come out of organised churches if they are to be purified from the wrong spiritual influences -- demonic influences -- that this system has now spawned.

Here is that dream:

24th August 2003. H. Money making venture in factory.

I saw a big factory disappear into a huge water spring which sprang up underneath the factory. After the factory had gone, the managers built a new factory on top of the water springs, and opened up its doors to people to show them inside.

They charged money for the spectacle. The directors were like shrewd businessmen. They saw this wonder as an opportunity to make money.

One of the directors befriended me. I came to see him but he turned up late and left quickly, as if he wasn't bothered about me. He didn't care for me or what I had to do. He left me stranded far away from home.

Idolatrous Structure

What this dream depicts is the wrong motive behind the modern structure that has developed as an outgrowth of what is dubbed conveniently as the 'charismatic church'.

Pursuit of money is not a valid motive behind ministry. True, godly ministry is to bring God into the lives of others; to reveal and expound His truth that sets people free when accepted and practiced (Jn 8:32); and to promote the love of Christ.

Any physical pursuits that replace these divine purposes are idolatrous substitutes. They are usurpers, as are the men who promote them.

Yet, we see church structures, programmes, ministers, teachings, worship services and way of doing things all lifted up on an idolatrous platform. They have taken the place of the pure and simple purpose of the gospel and the faith once delivered.

The Holy Spirit was poured out to bring people into an individual freedom with Christ, so they can hear from Him directly and be led by Him into all truth (Jn 16:13). But many men who call themselves 'ministers' have usurped those divine prerogatives and enslaved people to a system that has made a shrine out of what God has given.

Here is the meaning of the various parts of the dream:

A big factory: This represents the Church under human direction. It has lost its true identity and has become distorted or perverted into an edifice for human production. 'Saving souls' has become like a business with high pressure salesmen trying to bring many into churches.

Huge water spring: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit which has generated massive spiritual changes and renewal throughout the Church.

After the factory had gone: The former outpouring of the Spirit has had its heyday, and with that wane, the part of the Church which benefited from that has also waned.

The managers built a new factory: The contemporary state of the 'charismatic church' which is developing all the while to accommodate people and use what it can exploit to appeal to them and bring them through its doors.

...and opened up its doors to people to show them inside: Today, various sectors of the Church make merchandise out of the gifts of the Spirit and other spiritual manifestations (many of which are actually demonic counterfeits of the true -- these are easily seen at places like the Toronto Airport (formerly Vineyard) church. This is a fleshly attempt to capitalise on spiritual manifestations -- a totally wrong motivation. It is experience-based, not centred on truth and a repentance which is based on the acceptance of more of God's truth.

They charged money for the spectacle: This reveals the motive behind the behaviour. It is unseen until God reveals it. Hence this dream!

When ministers have cleverly appealed to converts to lure them into their churches, it is commonplace to find strong emphasis on giving financially to their church to support its structure.

Besides that, the 'charismatic church' also markets its publications, tapes and videos for profit -- invariably with slick and attractive presentation for maximum human appeal, as in any worldly marketing approach.

Thus, this dream portrays how this part of the Church has turned the outpouring of the Spirit into a money-making enterprise. They have used spiritual manifestations to bring in money to them.

They are more concerned about money than people!

This sad fact was amply demonstrated when someone I know wrote to one of these charismatic ministries and requested some tapes they were offering on prayer. He was hard up at the time and could not afford the amount they were asking for the two audio tapes. So he sent them £5. It was all he could afford. He received a letter saying that he had not sent enough money, and that the £5 would be considered a donation unless he sent in the full price -- which was high for just two tapes! (I think it was about £10.)

Our friend replied, explaining his difficult financial circumstances, but the ministry policy was apparently more important to them than the person writing! He asked if he could have just one tape, but was not granted his request. The ministry didn't return his £5. Not only did they keep his money, they denied him any tape! They added insult to his injury.

That's not feeding the poor. It's abusing them! In Jesus' day the gospel was preached to the poor (Matt 11:5). It's just as well Jesus didn't charge for it, or we would not be able to afford to be saved!

Those who are in control (ministers and church leaders) have merchandised -- for selfish reasons -- what came from God. It has created a system to fleece people and provide entertainment for them, while the leaders make an excellent living from it. How disgraceful and vile!

God hates it!!

The word of the Lord came to me saying: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds ... prophesy and say to them 'Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds... who feed themselves. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks...?' (Ezek 34:1,2).

This prophecy, which is highly appropriate in this context, goes on to lament on the poor spiritual state of the people whom the shepherds are meant to nourish. Because of their wrong motivation and approach, God's people languish in spiritual impoverishment.

God's contemporary witness through dreams which He has given to us, confirms this tragic state:

5th December 2002 H. Preparing the apartment.

I was trying to get the apartment ready for the next job. Tonya tried to wash the carpets and they needed to dry. I was aware of a big building next door which looked like a hospital, full of sick people.

Meaning: The sick people in the hospital represent the Christian people in the churches. We have teaching materials which will help people to receive healing, both physical and spiritual, and they are waiting for the miracles God is about to perform to get their attention!

26th March 2003 H. Boastful woman.

A woman was boasting continually about how happy she was and how pleased she was with herself. She was proud of herself and everything was going well for her. I said to her, “All this happiness means nothing if we won’t allow the Holy Spirit to work with us. When the Holy Spirit works with us we have to be sensitive and obedient. We have to make changes to be in the will of God. We should accept those that God is using to bring fresh revelation for the Church.”

I went into a big building to take something in. The ground floor hall was cold and icy.

Meaning: This represents the Church which is cold towards us because of the truth God has commissioned us to bring. The boasting is symptomatic of the pride which is endemic within the 'charismatic church' and of its spiritual complacency. 

29th April 2003 H.

1) God was showing me how it is impossible to change the structure of the churches, how they are based on human leadership. The churches have to be shaken up to release people who belong to God.

2) God portrayed the Revelation Channel like a spreading grey plant. It was lying across the ground and nothing could be done with it.

Meaning: People are not being fed spiritually and God is unable to use such people for much. Although God is doing a new thing elsewhere, these people do not respond. (We wrote to this TV station, sending them some of our literature also, but there wasn't even an acknowledgement! They are all so tied up in what they are doing, that they are blind to the Work God is doing outside their door.)

God is doing a work outside the churches and the existing evangelistic set-ups.

2nd May 2003 H. Spiritual Porn.

Pornography and sexually explicit films are promoted by the media, where men and women prostitute themselves and promote immorality and sexual perversions. These undermine family values. God showed me that, likewise, the Church is prostituting itself spiritually by worshipping idols and pagan gods through false teachings. The Church is playing the harlot and is not ready to be the Bride for Jesus. 

These, and many other dreams which God has given to us, reveal the sorry spiritual state of the Church. There is a desperate need for change and radical reform! God has also re-revealed the truth which they need to accept to do so. But how many will be prepared to jump ship?

Malcolm B Heap, September 2003

Further Reading:
A Message To The 'Charismatic Church' (£2.00).
The Faith Once Delivered To The Saints (£1.00).
(These are suggested donations only, not prices.)