No one ever expected it would happen the first time. Especially with this church. It was the model congregation. A heated swimming pool was made available for underprivileged kids.

Horses were provided for inner city children to ride. The church gave scholarships and provided housing for senior citizens. It even had an animal shelter and medical facility,

an out-patient care facility, and a drug rehabilitation program.

Walter Mondale wrote that the pastor was an “inspiration to us all.” The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare cited the pastor’s outstanding contribution.

We are told “he knew how to inspire hope. He was committed to people in need, he counseled prisoners and juvenile delinquents. He started a job placement center;

he opened rest homes and homes for the retarded; he had a health clinic; he organized a vocational training center; he provided free legal aid; he founded a community center;

he preached about God. He even claimed to cast out demons, do miracles, and heal.”2

Lofty words. A lengthy resume for what appeared to be a mighty spiritual leader and his church. Where is that congregation today? What is she doing now?

The church is dead... literally.

Death occurred the day the pastor called the members to the pavilion. They heard his hypnotic voice over the speaker system and from all corners of the farm they came.

He sat in his large chair and spoke into a hand-held microphone about the beauty of death and the certainty that they would meet again.

The people were surrounded by armed guards. A vat of cyanide-laced Kool-Aid was brought out. Most of the cult members drank the poison with no resistance.

Those who did resist were forced to drink.

First, the babies and children---about eighty---were given the fatal drink.

Then the adults---women and men, leaders and followers, and finally the pastor.

Everything was calm for a few minutes, then the convulsions began, screams filled the Guyana sky, mass confusion broke out.

In a few minutes, it was over. The members of the Peoples Temple Christian Church were all dead. All 780 of them.

And so was their leader, Jim Jones.

Max Lucado’s book “And the Angels were Silent,” published in 1992 by Multnomah Press, Oregon.

The time has come to tolerate religious hucksters no longer. These seekers of “sancti-money” have stained the reputation of Christianity.

They have muddied the altars and shattered the stained glass. They manipulate the easily deceived. They are not governed by God; they are governed by greed.

They are not led by the Spirit; they are propelled by pride. They are marshmallow phonies who excel in emotion and fail in doctrine.

They strip-mine faith to get a dollar and rape the pew to get a payment. Our master unveiled their scams and so must we.

How? By recognizing them. Two trademarks give them away. One, they emphasize their profit more than the Prophet.

In the church in Crete some people made a living off the gullible souls in the church. Paul had strong words about them.

“They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.” (Titus 1:11 NIV)

Listen carefully to the television evangelist. Analyze the words of the radio preacher. Note the emphasis of the message.

What is the burden? Your salvation or your donation? Monitor what is said. Is money always needed yesterday?

Are you promised health if you give and hell if you don’t? If so, ignore him.

A second characteristic of ecclesiastical con men: they build more fences than they build faith.

Medicine men tell you to stay out of the pharmacy. They don’t want you trying other treatments. Neither do hucksters.

They present themselves as pioneers that the mainline church couldn’t stomach, but, in reality, they are lone wolves on the prowl.

They have franchised an approach and want to protect it. Their bread and butter is the uniqueness of their faith. Only they can give you what you need.

Their cure-all kit is the solution to your aches. Just as the dove-sellers were intolerant of imported birds, the hucksters are wary of imported faith.

Their aim is to cultivate a clientele of loyal checkbooks.

“Look out for those who cause people to be against each other and who upset other people’s faith. They are against the true teaching you learned, so stay away from them. Such people are not serving our Lord Christ but are only doing what pleases themselves. They use fancy talk and fine words to fool the minds of those who do not know about evil.”(Romans 16:17-18 NCV)

Christ’s passion on Monday is indignant. For that reason I make no apology about challenging you to call the cards on these guys. God has been calling a halt to babblers building towers for centuries. So should we.

If not, it could happen again.

Max Lucado’s book “And the Angels were Silent,” published in 1992 by Multnomah Press, Oregon.

I think the words of Martin Luther are worth reading!

I think the words of John Wesley are worth reading!

I share my words and thoughts with others daily!

But concerning real Christianity, true Christians follow Christ not men.

Not a single word of popular church leaders or famous preachers are essential to Salvation!

They can be encouraging, helpful and provide guidance, and we definitely need that. But Christ and his word are central, not secondary to real faith.

This differentiates Christlike churches from Christian like church cults.

Pastor Mike