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I had a whole post typed up here and then decided to delete it all. Rather than talk about my thoughts about this video, I’d like to read yours. It’s pretty obvious from the title of this article that I have some issues.
I think this is important to do this from time to time because so many of us were spoon-fed in our churches and we bought what our pastors said without questioning.
A big special thanks goes to the behind-the-scenes elf who volunteered to transcribe this video. It’s helpful to see the words and hear them. Thank you!
* * *Persecution or a Great Awakening, Transcribed from Video
By Paul Washer
The church in America is going to suffer so terribly. And we laugh now, but they will come after us and they will come after our children. They will close the net around us while we are playing soccer mom and soccer dad. While we are arguing over so many little things and mesmerized by so many trinkets. The net, even now is closing around you and your children and your grandchildren and it does not cause you to fear.
You will be isolated from society as has already happened. Anyone who tries to run for office who actually believes the Bible will be considered a lunatic until finally we are silenced. We will be called things that we’re not and persecuted not for being followers of Christ, but for being radical fundamentalists who do not know the true way of Christ, which of course is love and tolerance.
You’ll go down as the greatest bigots and haters of mankind in history. They’ve already come after your children, and for most of you, they have already gotten them. They got them through the public schools and indoctrination and in the university and indoctrination and then you wonder why your children come out not serving the Lord. It’s because you fed them right into the devil’s mouth. So little by little, the net is closing around and then it’s not little by little – look how fast things are going down hill in a matter of weeks, matter of weeks. But at the same time know this: persecution is always meant for evil, but God always means it for good. And is it not better to suffer in this life, to have an extra weight of glory in heaven?
You must settle this in your mind, this is the one thing I want to say over and over: do not believe, down through history you have a wrong idea of martyrdom and persecution, you think that these men were persecuted and martyred for their sincere faith in Jesus Christ, that was the real reason, but no one heard that publicly. They were martyred and they were persecuted as enemies of the state, as child molesters, as bigots, as narrow-minded stupid people who had fallen for a ruse and can contribute nothing to society.
Your suffering will not be noble. So your mind must be filled with Word of God when all people persecute you and turn on you. And when the spirit of God and common grace pulls back and you see even your children and grandchildren tossing in the lot that you should die, this is no game.
You want revival and awakening, but know this: for the most part, great awakenings only come preceding great national catastrophes of the persecution of the church. I believe God is bringing a great awakening but I believe that He is raising up young men who are strong in trust in the providence of God to be able to wade through the hell that is going to break loose on us, and it will be on us before we even recognize it, unless – unless in God’s providence He is not done, He is not done. And note, this is not silly talk. Apart from the great awakening, these things are going to come upon you, be ready to lose your homes, your cars, everything……………..
Learn to Discern: Persecution or Hype or Agenda?
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Spiritual Sounding Board 
…I still think he gives the impression of living in a cave.
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I wasn’t speaking about this site; I was referring to those that declare their interpretation of the Bible to be the only correct one, and I was speaking generally, not necessarily about this post in particular.
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Believe me; I have not declared judgment on this site, That was B4B.
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He’s more likely referring to first century Christian martyrs who were accused eating children during communion. I mean, I don’t know that for sure, it’s just a more likely reference to me.
I’m sorry, you’re making this about what now? Yeah, no. First of all, the only reference I know of to that actually happening is 2nd century, not 1st. Secondly, a similar accusation was actually widespread in persecution of Jews BY Christians, commonly known as blood libel, and suggesting that it is in any way ‘likely’ that someone who specifically stated ‘child molesting’ was somehow talking about cannibalism because you are uncomfortable with the most obvious interpretation is gross misappropriation. IF he were somehow unaware enough to not know about this particular lawsuit (SGM), that is uninformed to the point of irresponsibility, and while I have no way of judging his level of informedness, it does not matter – even if that were so, the way that it was phrased does not in any way support the idea that he is talking about anything other than the general hysteria about ‘false accusations’ which is a typical response used to silence victims of abuse – suggesting otherwise just so you can give him the benefit of the doubt or appear magnanimous or whatever it is you think you are doing is also irresponsible. If not this particular case, he is most definitely referring to the fact that patriarchal power structures fear accusations of abuse more than abuse itself, and prefer to discount and disbelieve ACTUAL victims so that they can maintain their own pretension to victimisation.
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(Sorry, JA, I know you made a followup post which I have not read yet but the grasping at straws for alternative interpretations in that particular comment was not okay.)
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I’m with Seth and B4B. If one has ever truly followed Paul Washer, then they know this is clearly his eschatology and whether you agree with his eschatology or not is not the issue here. Fear mongering implies something intentional. PW is not doing that. Good grief. This is what he and a lot of others truly, from the heart believe based on their understanding of Scripture – again, that’s the case whether you agree with his interpretation or not.
There is no need to just hunt stuff down to harp on. I could hardly believe it when I read this was uploaded in 2008! Seriously? PW is premill. Period. All premills preach this.
It discredits a good cause (like understanding an environment that breeds abuse) when people will connect almost anything to the cause. I see it so much and its so unfortunate.
Btw, B4B likely just had no time left. We can’t all devote countless hours to following threads and so forth. Honestly, when we are mean spirited on these blogs it does no one any favors. I dismiss everyone’s comments when they are mean spirited. All they show me is that they are being reactionary, angry and not level headed.
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Arclight said:
I respectfully disagree with you, Arclight. Why else is he saying it? I’ve listened to him long enough to know that this is how he preaches. I get his drive for holiness. I get his frustration about false conversions. But Washer does indeed intentionally preach this way. His most popular sermon is “Shocking Youth Message.” How can anyone miss it with that kind of title? You better believe he is fear-mongering and it is intentional. He wants the youth to wake up and in the video above he wants us to wake up – – because our children are being snatched right before our eyes – lol.
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I like Paul Washer primarily because of his personal interviews, not his preaching style. Like John MacArthur, he’s very different than how he preaches (as Seth said). But I believe this really stems from his eschatology. He’s very passionate about it, but I think if you were to ask him he might likely say that he is only basing his passion and concern on what he understands from God’s Word and his love for the listening audience. I’ve also seen interviews where Washer clearly has changed his perspective on things he has preached about and admits it. He seems to be very open to correction.
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Yes Caren, that’s been my experience with Washer too. I met him in 2003, and he spoke like this back then; sensationalized when preaching, soft spoken and very kind in person. It’s wrong to link him to the church child abuse cover up crowd.
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JA, to answer your question, he’s likely saying it because he’s a more extreme pre mill, and that necessitates seeing the world as worse and worse. I’m not sure what the question was that led to his answer (that was conveniently left out of the video by whoever made it). If child abuse was an accusation in the first century by the Romans who didn’t understand communion, Washer certainly thinks the world is worse today; he s grasping for shocking terminology to demonstrate what he thinks is going to happen. He s recalling some of the worst persecution in church history and trying to make futuristic comparisons.
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JA, also wanted to note that his message you called “Shocking Youth Message” was titled that by whoever uploaded it to sermon audio. He didn’t stand up and tell ppl what he was calling his own sermon. But you’re correct, he preaches like that for as long as I’ve known him. Most of his sermons I’ve heard we’re long before that one was popular and they all were like it.
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Thanks Seth and Arclight for adding balance to this thread. The sermons I have heard by PW are all very passionate which does not equal fear mongering any more than a person who believes that a fire in the building threatens the lives of the people in the building SCREAMING FIRE!!! I don’t think you have to live in a cave to not be aware of the SGM situation. Until I stumbled upon this site I was unaware of any details concerning SGM on any level.
I think we sometimes forget that God uses all kinds of people and all kinds of deliveries because people are different and situations are different. I am sure that Paul, Apollos, and Peter did not have the same presentation. I would imagine that some of the Corinthians would have thought Apollos was “putting on airs” while Peter was “too course”, and Paul was legalistic “harping on sin, sin, sin…” Their failure to accept all three speakers as equally inspired by God regardless of their style may have been what caused Paul to call them immature crybabies.
Perhaps we as Christians should show a little grace to victims of the sins of others and those who are not victims or not victimizers as well.
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Okay, I’m confused. Wouldn’t it ALL “God’s Will,” either way?
My mom taught me to be unconditionally respectful and courteous of other people’s religious stuff, even if it’s utter whackarooni. But Mom’s not here and I’m only willing to go so far.
They don’t get to have it both ways.
If Paul Washer’s theology is true, then faith healing is illogical and can’t work.
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I know this is years after the initial discussion thread, but i have to comment. I almost couldn’t finish reading this. I was fed this kind of horror movie eschatology for so long, and it has been so crippling and traumatizing. How is that good fruit? How is the xenophobia and victim mindset this promotes flowing from a spirit of love, power and a sound mind? I am so grateful that I found my way to be free of the weight of this kind of emotionally manipulative talk, and that is why it is so hard to even finish reading. Its just one more way these so called leaders induce fear based self-isolation in their victims, and fill up the Christian ghetto. Horrifying.
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BlueMonster, I’m glad you are free, too. Isn’t it interesting that years after a discussion, the feelings are just as relevant today as they were when we originally felt them. Be in peace! Merry Christmas!
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