Watch Out, Don’t be Fooled by Bizarre Mega-Churches. Part One

Watch Out, Don’t be Fooled by Bizarre Mega-Churches

Earlier this year I had a dream that shed some light on a mega-church speaker. Now, as some time has passed, I see that it is a problem shared by more than just one mega-church or ministry. So I wanted to bring this dream back for others to see.

The Dream

I was in a big church. It was big enough for the sanctuary to hold a few hundred to a thousand people. I knew I was there to check out this church to see what it was all about. I was hoping for a seat in the back so I could observe how the service went but every seat was packed in the back. As I went toward the front I thought that all the comfy seats were filled, the ones in the back where no one got challenged.

Up near the front in contrast the seats were almost empty. Taking a seat in the middle of the second row I waited to see what would happen. A few other people were scattered nearby. Then the music started for worship. I stood ready to sing but the songs were not what I was expecting. The songs were essentially gibberish, one of them was simply saying the alphabet as fast as you could. The lady next to me was singing it so happily. I decided to give it a shot but it was ridiculous. They were saying it so fast you could not even hear the letters distinctly. It made me feel like a school kid messing around.

Then the leader came out on the stage. I recognized him immediately as he is a well-known name to most. He did not touch anyone as he greeted them but avoided them. It was like he was scared of germs. When I went close to him and said hello he made an odd reference to pornography being dirty. It felt like he was either accusing us or he was admitting to it and that we were dirty or he was but he didn’t want others to know.

Then he launched into the speech he had prepared for the teaching. “We are going to go up higher!” He declared over and over trying to get the crowd into it.
As he was talking I became aware that he kept looking up at the control panel in the sound both at the back. I got a strong feeling that he was being fed what to say.
Then when he was done I went up to talk with him. I tried to tell him some part of a powerful word and encounter I had had before but he interrupted me and wouldn’t let me talk about it. I was thinking how rude he was when he insisted that he had a word for me.

He leaned forward and to the side so that I could see he had a windup knob in the base of the back of his head. It was like one you would find in a child’s toy. He calmly waited, leaning forward for me to twist it before he would tell me the word he had. After I did he looked at me and declared. “Blue suitcase. Blue something. Blew up Church?” It was hard to understand him, he had to say it repeatedly before I could hear it and even when I did it did not make sense.

Then I became aware that people were moving all the chairs to the side of the room. I moved to help but he stopped me and said they were prepping to give out the upgraded crowns today. I said, “It was nice to have an upgrade.” Thinking that he meant the real crowns of glory. But then I saw what they were talking about. They were the most simple plastic cheap-looking crowns I have ever seen. I think they were too cheap to even have fake gems. They looked more fake than any you could buy at a dollar store and what was worse, everyone was excited for them. It was very sad and I looked at the crowns wondering how so many people had been deceived the dream ended.

Upon waking I looked up the name of the man. I do not think I have ever attended one of his meetings but he looked exactly like the man in the dream. Now, as to what I think the dream means. While this dream used one individual I do not believe that it was solely targeted at him, but the mega-church at large. One of the clearest things to me is that it is too easy to be swept up in these mega-churches without paying attention. I am not claiming that they are all bad but we need to take a long hard look at what is actually being taught.

The best way to know if something is amiss is to be well-versed in the Bible for yourself. If you know what it says then it is easier to detect what is fraudulent. And be sure to pay attention to the Holy Spirit’s guidance or warnings. Just because others act like it’s normal or even valuable doesn’t mean it is. Remember, man can not give you what God has promised. Here is what we find in 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Here is another verse Isaiah 62:3 You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, And a royal diadem in the hand of your God. And a pair of others for you to look up for yourself, James 1:12, 2 Timothy 4:8.

In the next post, we will take a more in-depth look at the dream and what it represents.

Ian Winslow

Read part Two.