Churches of 2 or 3

 I promised VCC folks that I would post notes on how to do a C23 group (church of 2 or 3) on my blog. The notes are self-explanatory, I think. C23 groups give all believers a way to disciple others while also being discipled. I have borrowed considerably from Neil Cole, John White, and others in creating these groups, but this model is distinctly my own rendition and is deliberately very simple and easy to use. See what you think. 

C23 Groups (Church of 2 or 3)

What is a C23 Group?

It’s a group of 2-3 believers of the same gender who meet regularly and check in regularly with one another to strengthen and encourage one another. It’s the church at its smallest (Matthew 18:20) and discipleship at its simplest (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:2).

How Does It Work?

It’s easy! You find one or two other people who commit to meeting weekly (preferred) or bi-weekly for just an hour. You meet to encourage one another and ask one another a few simple growth questions. We also recommend that you consider doing “heart checks” at least once per day via texting, email or other means. A heart check involves asking “How’s your heart?” and “How can I pray for you today?”

When You Meet…

Option 1: Select a book of the Bible to work through together (or a portion of a longer book in the Bible). For example, you could spend a month (or longer) in Philippians or Ephesians or take several months to work through Romans or Genesis or other longer books.

Then, when you meet, in addition sharing insights from your Scripture reading, ask one another the following questions, making sure that you listen carefully to one another.

·       “How’s your heart?”

·       “What’s God been saying to you (in His Word and by His Spirit to your spirit)?”

·       “What are you believing?” 

·       “How has God been growing you lately? What evidence of this are you and others seeing?”

·       “How can we pray for you?”

·       “How can we give this away?”

That’s it! Try it, and you will grow to trust one another deeply and care for one another as well as grow as a disciple of Jesus.

Option 2: Use one of the Discovery Bible Study apps like the Discover App or the Waha App. They contain their own set of helpful and similar questions. See https://discoverybiblestudy.org or https://waha.app

The daily check in …

The daily check-in is an essential part of these groups. Texting usually works best, but a quick call can work as well. The one who initiates the check-in asks or texts a quick report about how their heart is doing and then asks the other person the same plus prayer requests, etc. Examples: “I am joyful today because my son came home.” “I am sad because…please pray for…” “How’s your heart today?” etc.

When a fourth person wants to join you…

Congratulations! It’s time to multiply! You can do this either by splitting your current group (which you may not want to do) or by one or more of you agreeing to add a second meeting with the newcomer (this is better because it leaves the original relationships intact). Note that no one should try to do, nor have to do, more than two of these groups if they multiply correctly. 

Disciple-making? What is a disciple? 

A disciple is simply a “learner,” but in the Bible, “learning” always involves learning by experience in relationship with others in a way that results in a changing life, not just the acquisition of knowledge. In the Bible, a disciple of Jesus is one who is learning a lifestyle that makes him/her more a mature and healthy follower of Jesus in relationship with others. 

Who can start one of these groups? 

Just about anyone! There are few leadership requirements. The “leader” needs only to be a facilitator who helps the group select the book of the Bible and ensures that the questions are asked. The role of facilitator can be rotated. If you are interested in becoming part of one of these groups, all you need to do is approach one or two others who share your interest and match up your schedules.

What are the requirements to be part of a group?

Three things: a very strong desire to become the person God wants you to become, a firm commitment to the weekly or bi-weekly meetings and a willingness to keep confidential what the others share. 

Some of the One Another Passages in the New Testament

John 13:14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 

John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 15:12-13 My command is this: Love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 12:5 we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. NKJ 

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 

Galatians 6:2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 

Eph. 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

Eph. 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

Eph. 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 

Eph. 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

Phil. 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Col. 3:9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 

Col. 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 

1 Th. 4:9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another

1 Th. 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 

1 Th. 5:11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 

1 Th. 5:13b  Live in peace with one another. 

1 Th. 5:15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. 

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Hebrews 13:1 Keep on loving each other as brothers. 

James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. 

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 

1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 

1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 

1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

1 Peter 5:5 All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 

Thoughts On New Covenant Leadership

The Bible is filled with examples of great and not-so-great leaders and there are powerful leadership principles in both the Old and New Testaments. In this document, however, I focus mainly on New Testament Leadership because it is so radically different from secular leadership. Much of the leadership discussion in today’s church is based more upon secular ideas rather than the New Testament, and this needs to be corrected by a careful look at God’s Word!

Before we look at characteristics specific to New Covenant leadership, let’s view some leadership principles found in both the Old and New Testaments:

·     Leading is a matter of the heart. It starts with the heart (1 Samuel 13:14/Acts 13:22, 1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 78:72, etc., and is marked by obedience from the heart (Acts 13:22).

·     Leading is the result of God’s call and is accomplished through the Holy Spirit’s anointing.

·     Leading is always done in community with other leaders. This principle is much clearer and more prominent in the New Testament, but it’s still present in the Old Testament. Despite our tendency to think of OT leaders as “loners,” Moses had Aaron, Miriam, and Joshua and the 70 elders leading with him; Elijah and Elisha had schools of prophets around them, David had Nathan and other counselors, etc. It’s best to think of biblical leadership in terms of a leading from within a community of people in mutual submission to one another rather than a “one man/woman show.” 

The Bible records a huge shift in how leaders lead with the beginning of the New Covenant. 

·     The nature of the people being led was radically changed by the New Covenant. 

·     New Covenant leaders are leading people who have the same relationship with God that the leader has. They lead people who can hear God in the same way they do. 

·     Nowhere in the New Testament are God’s people told to follow anyone except Jesus or the Holy Spirit. The leaders and people are to follow God together as a listening, loving community. 

This doesn’t mean that New Testament leaders don’t “lead” in some way, but their goal and how they lead is radically different from secular leadership. Let’s look at some of these key differences via some of the key leadership passages in the New Testament. 

Love Above All Else

John 13:34-35 (Wuest Translation) A commandment, a new one, I am giving you, that you should be constantly loving one another with a divine and self-sacrificial love; even as I loved you, you also be loving one another. In this all shall know that you are my disciples, if you constantly have love for one another. (Consider, too, the Apostle Paul’s many outpourings of love for his readers….)

We may forget that this is the most important characteristic of a New Testament leader. Those who lead must, above all else, truly love those they lead. Leaders in the church must constantly be asking themselves, “Do those I serve know by experience that I love them as Christ loves them?” One of the best ways to get accurate answers to this question is to ask this question of those you lead and those who lead with you. Willingness to deeply listen and to receive feedback, even hard-to-hear feedback, is one of the most important marks of a New Testament leader.

Serving Most of All

Mark 9:33-35 (NIV) They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Mark 10:42-45 (NIV) Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” See also Matt. 20:25-28 & 23:8-12, Luke 22:24-27, John 13:1-17.

2 Corinthians 4:5 (NRSV) For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. See also Peter’s similar words in 1 Peter 5:1-4.

Jesus draws a very clear, impossible-to-miss, distinction between New Covenant leaders and leaders in this world. NT leaders are servants (Greek = “slaves”) above all else. They are not the boss, the top dog, the master, etc., but the servant. A good question for a leader to ask those s/he leads is, “How can I serve you?” or “How well am I serving those who have been entrusted to me?” 

Character not Charisma or Charisms (gifting)

Acts 6:3 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them. (Note that “full of the Spirit” refers as much to the fruit of the Spirit—character—as it does to the gifts of the Spirit).

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NIV) Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. (See also 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Titus 1:6-8)

In the New Testament, proven character is the primary qualifier for leaders. This is because NT leaders were called to lead by modeling and by the influence of their proven character. Paul pointed to his character and his example many times. He would say with confidence, “All of you know…” (my character, and my good example, my hard work, etc.). Consider his words in Acts 20:18-19 (NIV) “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.” (See also, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 1 Timothy 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:10-15) Paul also said confidently, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1). We could list many more Scriptures, of course, but the bottom line is that New Covenant leaders are those who are able to say with confidence, “Come, hang out with me, get to know me. Treat your spouse the way I treat mine. Treat others the way I treat them. Handle your finances the way I handle mine. Imitate my life as I imitate Jesus.” 

Marked by Humility, Kindness and Gentleness

Matthew 23:1-12 (NIV) Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NRSV) Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV) And the Lord's servant (slave) must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Humility may be a given in the light of what we have said about being a servant and about character, but I highlight it because Jesus highlighted it. In the passage from Matthew, Jesus draws a sharp contrast between His followers and those “leaders” who craved human attention and respect. The Apostle Paul echoes this thought in Philippians where he urges all followers of Jesus to live with the same attitude of humility that Jesus displayed. Then, in his later letter to Timothy, Paul fleshes out what humble, servant leadership looks like: It is marked by kindness to everyone and gentleness even to those who oppose the leader. 

Humility, gentleness and kindness, however, do not preclude our leading with confidence nor the proper exercise of authority. Let’s look at New Testament authority.

The Authority of A Parent for the Purpose of Building Up

2 Corinthians 10:7-11 (NIV) You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority (ἐξουσία) the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

2 Corinthians 13:10 (NRSV) So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority (ἐξουσία) that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

Philemon 1:8-9 (NIV) Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order (ἐπιτάσσειν) you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. (Paul puts deliberately lays aside his authority because he knew that coercion never serves Kingdom purposes nor helps relationships.)

Titus 2:15 (NIV) These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority (ἐπιταγή—"strong command”)  Do not let anyone despise you.

Paul doesn’t mention authority very often in his letters, but when he does, he is remarkably consistent in referring to authority as given by the Lord for the purpose of building others up. (Even the strong words to Titus to exercise the authority Paul had delegated to him are in the context of building others up). Paul’s authority was rooted in his calling, his integrity and in his relationship as a spiritual parent. Consider:

1 Thessalonians 2:1-13 (NIV) You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority (βάρος). Instead, we were like young children among you. [NET: “although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you.”] Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Like leadership, authority is rarely mentioned in the New Testament. This may seem remarkable to those who live in human cultures built on hierarchy and coercive authority. But the New Covenant is about family, about relationships, about serving together and submitting to one another. This means that no matter what word is used for authority in the New Testament, the purpose for its exercise is always to build up and serve. It is rooted, of course, in the servant mindset Jesus described for those who lead in His Kingdom. NT authority is mostly hidden in the background, is based on character and love for others and is exercised in order to serve. 

Leading from within the Community

Acts 13:1-3 (NIV 1984) In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Because a New Covenant leader is hearing God with the people, not for the people, leaders lead from within a listening community. One the goals of New Testament leaders is to raise up those who are indeed led by the Spirit, who are internally motivated, guided by the Spirit rather than controlled by men. Leading as a part of listening community is one of the ways that NT leaders model and teach these things.  

 

As we noted in the beginning, Old Testament leaders also led from within a community but in the New Testament leading as part of a community was a given. Jesus sent the disciples out two-by-two (as a small community). Paul felt it odd to be alone in Athens (Acts 17). Paul always traveled with an apostolic band. Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were sent out as a community by the community (Acts 13 referenced above). Later, in Acts 15 we see Paul and Barnabas submitting their teaching to the community of leaders in Jerusalem. Leading from a community as a community seems to fly in the face of the individualistic leadership models so common in the US church, doesn’t it? I wonder how you and I can help shift our church culture to better match New Testament leading from/as a community….

A Summary of Some New Testament Leadership Truths

Here are a few truths about NT Leadership. New Testament leading is about…

·     Being a servant more than a supervisor and certainly not ever as merely a “boss.”

·     Leading from among and “below,” not from above.

·     Leading a family, not a flock of sheep (the shepherd passages in the NT are about how we care for folks not about leading a bunch of helpless, mindless animals).

·     Being a brother, sister, father, or mother not being a CEO. Submission in the New Testament is mutual and is based on a family paradigm.

·     Empowering, not controlling.

·     Releasing, not restricting.

·     Equipping more than accomplishing.

·     Invitation not coercion or compulsion. 

·     Influencing by means of character, trustworthiness and serving, not position (“positions” don’t exist in His Kingdom except the position of all believers as God’s beloved children and servants of God and one another J). 

 

 

  

Conspiracies, Deception and the Mark of the Beast!

     The following, a post on FB generated quite a response: "Why I never pay attention to conspiracy theories or worry about The Mark of the Beast:

• It’s not my job to protect myself (that kind of thinking comes from an orphan mindset). The Lord is my shepherd and He is committed to protecting His sheep. My responsibility is to follow Him, listen for and trust His voice, etc., not anxiously make sure I am not deceived. I am to focus on Him, not what the enemy is up to.
• If I stay humble and in community with other healthy believers, I won’t be deceived. John 10:2-5 (NIV) 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.”

      When I made the FB post, I promised to write more about this here on my blog, so I will write a few thoughts here and also post links to earlier blogs on this subject.

     The point of my original statement is that fears about being deceived or fearful fascination with conspiracies, etc., are  unnecessary and even harmful for believers. Fear itself can be a doorway to deception! That doesn't mean, however that we are to live in la-la land! I gave hints as to how we can stay safe in the original post: humility, community, intimacy with Jesus, etc. When I first started hearing God's voice clearly and moving in the supernatural, I asked Him how I could be sure I wouldn't be deceived by these "subjective experiences." Here's what He said to me:

• Humility: His first answer was "Humility." It's proud people who are vulnerable to deception, not humble ones. Pride is what caused, the devil, our adversary to be deceived into thinking he could be equal to God. Pride is now one of our enemy's favorite landing zones. :-) But God gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5-6) and that grace keeps us deep within His shalom and shelter.
• Community: God's second answer to my question (after humility) was community. People who allow mature and trustworthy others to speak into their lives won't be deceived. I have heard more than one wise leader say, "The way to be sure you aren't deceived is to trust someone more than you trust yourself." We need to be wise in whom we trust, but having community around us is essential. Isolation is often a first step down the path of deception.
• Scripture: The third thing Papa mentioned was, of course, His Word. Why is it listed third? Not because it's not the most important, but because it needs to be interpreted in community from a place of humility. And when I speak of Scripture I am speaking of the whole of Scripture and especially of the nature and character of God as revealed in Scripture. Psalm 119:104 is one of many passages that remind us of this: "From your precepts I gain understanding; this is why I hate every false way." (CJB 2016) 
• Intimacy: God's fourth answer to me was, "Stay close to me, remain intimate with me." After many years of living close to Him, I know a bit more about what He meant. I have learned that I can trust Holy Spirit to give me little nudges when I start to wander from living aware of Papa's presence. I have learned that He will also alert me to the temptation to pride, to any tendency to rationalize, etc. When we pray, "Lead us not into temptation" we are affirming that God will for sure lead us, dear ones! And our surrendered hearts that follow Him wherever He leads and our sensitivity to any movement away from Him will keep us secure and safe in the midst of His love and protection.
• Authenticity: God added this one to my list just recently. I have come to realize that most people who wander off track choose, at some point, to stop being honest with God, themselves and others. Community won't help us if we hide, and intimacy with God isn't possible if we are not fully honest with Him and with ourselves. Being alert to the slightest movement towards rationalization or compromise will help to keep us far from the big D.
• I could write more, of course, but perhaps my other blog entries will cover most of that! The links are at the bottom.

     But what about conspiracies? I am sure there are some conspiracies out there, but I know I can trust God to alert me to anything I need to know, especially if I live as described above. The same goes for  "The Mark of the Beast" and anything else that may come my way. The point of my original post on FB is to live focused on God and pay attention to what He is doing, trusting Him and others who know Him well (as evidenced by the fruit of their lives) to guide you and protect you as you live intimately with Him and join Him in advancing His Kingdom. 

     Here are the links to earlier thoughts: 

• Avoiding the Big D(deception)
• The Discerning Community, Part One
• The Discerning Community, Part Two

Stay lost in His love, safe in His arms,

Tom, one of Abba's sons

Avoiding the Big D (deception)

     This is an update of an earlier post (February 28, 2008). For many reasons, it is a good time to update it.
     As you probably know, the Internet has just about every kind of warning you can imagine about being deceived. Many of these websites generate a lot of fear with their self-appointed "ministries of warning" as they "inform" people about the dangers of being deceived in "the Last Days."
     Now the problem with being deceived, of course, is that you don't know you are deceived! So we do need to be wise and cautious about what we read, hear and allow into our minds and hearts. But we aren't left on our own in terms of being wise. The Bible offers some wonderful help (and assurances) to those of us who are born-from-above followers of Jesus. Here are a few of those biblical helps that will help you evaluate not only these "warnings" but the websites themselves and the things they warn about.
     First, the Apostle John supplies us with a way to check out various "spirits" and teachings. In 1 John 4:1-3 he tells us the test of any teaching/spirit is whether or not it confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. When John first wrote those words, many false teachers were going around teaching something called "Gnosticism" which taught that "the Christ" never really became flesh (because of the Platonic view that all material things were corrupt). We can still use his test, though, because it's a good one: anything that lessens or diminishes either Jesus' humanity or His divinity or questions the mystery and miracle of Him being fully God and fully man should be thrown out. 
     Another helpful passage is Matthew 7:15-23. In this passage Jesus makes it clear that He expected His followers to be able to identify false teachers. We are able to detect false teachers/teaching by their "fruit." This means that we will be able to detect deception by determining whether a person's ministry is characterized by (and produces things) like increasing love for God and others, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, humility, generosity, etc. A second "test" Jesus gives is that those who are true and good will be obviously committed to knowing Jesus and His Father more and more intimately and clearly committed to obeying Him, etc., (as it implies in verses 21-23).
     The Apostle Paul also gives some keys to detecting things in his discussions about those who would try to deceive others. I won't list the passages for these, but some of the things Paul gave as indicators of deceivers are: they will be self-promoting and draw people to themselves more than to Jesus, they will be self-indulgent and self-oriented, they will proud and arrogant, focused more on earthly things than on the things of God, etc.
    Based on these "clues" and others in Scripture, it will prove helpful for you to ask questions like the following as you seek to discern truth and error.

• Does this (book, ministry, person, etc.) lead me closer to God as Father, Jesus as Lord, and help me to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit?
• How does this person treat others, especially the "unimportant," the unnoticed, the poor, the disadvantaged, etc.? For me, how people treat the "least" is a huge indicator about whether or not I should trust them.
• Does this website (book, message) cause faith or fear to rise up in me? Many of the websites out there that warn people about deception literally exude fear and cause fear to in those who read their stuff. Does that sound like God to you? Isn't He the one who is able to keep us from falling? (Jude v.23).
• Does it build people up, really?
• Does it respect those with other viewpoints even while correcting them? (See 2 Timothy 2:24-26)
• Does it "feel humble"? Pride and deception go hand in hand.
• Does it go against most of the rest of the Body of Christ? Many websites out there attack very well known leaders who are known by many to be godly, trustworthy people.
• Does this person who is warning me have a faulty view of Scripture? Many of the websites out there that warn people about everything under the sun are written by those who are stuck in a non-Biblical understanding of the supernatural (they are deeply afraid of it). They hold this faulty view because they are trapped in a western,  highly rationalistic worldview that is no more biblical than paganism. 
• I think you get the picture. Ask questions that relate to things like humility, love, kindness, etc. That will help on both sides of any issue. It will keep you from being filled with fear from those deceived people who are warning us about deception, and it will keep you from following someone or some teaching that may truly be deceptive.

     That's enough for now. And for the record, The Shack, as you know, has been used by God to bring untold numbers of people into a wonderfully close relationship with the God of Scripture, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Any who would suggest that it's a deception are simply missing its message, a message that reveals the loving and redemptive heart of Papa God.

Stay lost in His love!

Tom, the least of Abba's children