When I lived in Springfield I was involved with a "ministry" that produced internet videos and held "services" and did some small outreach like collecting food for the hungry.  I had initially thought they were people of God who were seeking to truly live a life of faith but the more I became involved with them the more I realized the "leader" of the group was just using his wife's abilities to promote a false doctrine.  He was in absolute power over this "ministry" and refused accountability from anyone else for any "ministry" decision.  This "leader" actually tried to control the things I said and did...and when I refused to allow him to do that I was "banned" from being a part of that ministry.  Yes...it's basically a small cult masquerading as a Christian ministry. 

I have often wrestled with exposing the things that I saw during my time with that ministry because they're still today soliciting money and support from people via the internet.  I've never felt as if I'm supposed to be the one to expose them and a quick search of YouTube is showing many people calling this "ministry" out for the things they've said over the last few years.  I'm glad to see it happening because it might bring them to the point where they're convicted of the things that they're doing.  Having been intimately involved with them in the past, I'm doubtful...but I know God can do anything.

As I was reading today's chapter of Proverbs, they immediately came to mind when I read verses 5-6:

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

This ministry is currently under fire for making some proclaimations regarding the Holy Spirit that just aren't in God's word.  (Yes, I'm being vague because I don't want to promote their false teachings.)  The feedback to them from other ministries...some who called for people to stop supporting the ministry in question...was based solely on the distortions and additions to Scripture that were in the video.  It was clearly an example of Proverbs 30:5-6 in our current time. 

I began to think about the times where I was tempted to add something to scripture just because I didn't like what God was telling me to do in living my life.  When I first became a follower of Christ, it was easy to do.  You'd just say "well, Jesus never actually said..." or "the Scripture doesn't specifically say..." as a way to get what you want into the "word of God."  You would become your best junior lawyer trying to punch holes in God's perfect word.  The more I grow in Christ, however, the more I find I just can't do that.  I feel disgusted at the idea of God's word being twisted and perverted with "additional" things to try and justify some sinful part of our nature.  It used to be people used God's word as a billy-club to beat people down.  Now...we have the other side using his Word with their additions to try and avoid accountability for sinful behavior.  The end result is that the power of God's message is muted under a sea of misinformation.

What about you?  Do you like to throw in your own verses or create the chapter of 1 Makeitupikins just to justify your behavior? 

(BTW...this is the last time I plan to mention anything regarding the ministry I referenced in this piece.  I really don't feel it's my place to out them so this will be the final word on that.  However, they're not alone...and you should always examine the teachings of ministries you support to see how well it stacks up to the actual Word of God.)