Christian Living

DISCERNMENT DONE DISAPPEARED

by Jeff Van Hatten
10/05/25
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During the first three centuries the church was fulfilling Yeshua’s prophecy that it would do greater works than he himself had done. But in the ages since the church has become silent – failing to discern the many Satanic ploys that have come against it and church and have left it powerless and irrelevant to today’s people.

The First Bribe – Allowing Government And Church To Be Melded
John 14:12 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
In the fourth century AD council was taken and the church took its first bribe. That bribe involved divorcing Yahweh and marrying world government. The state and church were melded into one and the church prostituted itself for the sake of governmental control. This began a slippery slide into powerlessness. Up until this time, the church had turned the world upside down and healings were numerous; the church was fulfilling Yeshua’s prophecy that it would do greater works then he himself had done. The Dark Ages began. For the bribe of governmental control, the church became silent – it failed to discern this Satanic ploy.

The Second Bribe - A Tax Exemption
Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13 – “No one can serve two masters . . . You cannot serve Yahweh and money.”
The 1900s came along and by the end of that century, another bribe was offered the church and it readily took it. That bribe was an exemption from taxes. Taking a 501(c)3 exemption from the government is just another way for the church to rely on both Yahweh and the government, another way for the church to stay tied to Egypt instead of leaving it completely. Or, in other words, to trust in both money and God. It is a way of saying to Yahweh, “We don’t fully trust you to meet our financial needs.” For the bribe of monetary settlement, the church became silent – it failed to discern this Satanic ploy.

The Burden Of The Tax Exemption
Acts 4:19 – “You must judge whether it is right to listen to you rather than Yahweh.”
Acts 5:29 – ““We must obey Yahweh, not men.”
The 501(c)3 tax exemption allows government and outside influences to determine what teaching is appropriate or allowed, whether or not they choose to exercise this right. This bit of legalese is from the pit of hell and actually gives Satan a “legal right” to interfere in Yahweh’s agenda. At any time, Satan’s enforcement agent, the government agency overseeing the tax exemption can over-ride the ability of a pastor or teacher to teach Yahweh’s word rightly and force them to teach the doctrines of demons or lose their exemption. A truly discerning church will not allow itself to be placed in a position that would even remotely allow Satan or an outside agency to legally interfere in such a manner. Just as Peter and John told the governing authorities of their time, the Sanhedrin, that they would not be silent, so too will the true church only listen to Yahweh and will not be silent!

Books and Movies
1 Corinthians 15:34 – “There are people who lack knowledge. Come to your senses; Live righteously; Stop sinning!”
Discernment in the “church” these days is lacking in so many ways. Occult teaching and practices have been allowed to come into church teachings and people’s thinking via “Christian” Yoga or Taro Cards, New Age Spirituality, Christ Consciousness, Guided Meditation, Crystal Therapy, Ascended Masters, Charkas, Ancient Aliens shows, Science Fiction stories or movies, and others. One of the most virulent intrusions is through books people read and movies that people watch that are said to be Christian in nature. Let’s look at some examples of these false teachings:

Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent
Matthew 24:4 – “Watch out! Don’t let anyone fool you!”
This book, which has sold over one million copies, and its accompanying movie was hailed by many as “an authentic, astounding, supernatural look at the other side of the veil from the trusted voice of a young boy.” But its theology is unscriptural. In almost every instance either Colton or his dad, Todd, get it wrong. Others claim that the movie is primarily for those that already believe that heaven is real and its inconsistencies with scripture are easily dismissed – that its central message of contact with the dead is okay. Unbelievable!

The Shack by William P. Young
John 5:43 – “I came in my Father’s name, and you did not accept me, but when someone else comes in their own name, you accept them.”
This book, which has sold over twenty million copies, has also been hailed as being Christian in nature. Likewise, the movie based on this book. It is anything but. The Shack teaches Universalism and Pantheism. Both the Father and the Spirit are personified as female—not as male. Its theology is totally heretical in nature.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Leviticus 19:31 – “Do not turn to spirit-mediums or sorcerers; don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them.”
One would think that a series of books or movies that promote sorcery, alchemy, how to be a successful wizard or witch, and how to avoid death itself by making oneself immortal would never be labeled as fit reading by Christians. But they have because they appear to be a great moral story of good overcoming evil. Bah! The Harry Potter series is filled with unbiblical practices.

Chronicles of Narnia and Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Matthew 7:15 – “Beware of false teachers, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but are really just wolves.”
The Chronicles of Narnia series is filled with Hybrid beings that scripture calls abominations (Genesis 1:1-11 6:11-12; Leviticus 19:19). The Screwtape Letters are written from the viewpoint of Satan and his demons. Learning these things goes against what the Bible says we are to learn (Proverbs 7:2).

Noah The Movie
Noah. Noah, the movie, is by no means about the Biblical Noah. In fact, there is nothing scriptural about the film. From only one of Noah’s sons being married, to watcher angels released and reconciled to Yahweh as they ascend to heaven, to the stowaway Tubal Cain, to Noah being a homicidal maniac, the movie is a complete departure from scripture and the message of Genesis chapters five through nine. This movie is so blatantly evil in nature that even the least discerning have not misjudged its message and intent. However, some Christian critics have recommended that believers watch the movie, one calling it the “Biblical Epic Christians deserve”, and another a “four star” movie. Unbelievable.

The Silence is Deafening
The slippery slope into silence and powerlessness did not happen overnight. It took years. Below are just a few of the many steps taken by Satan and his minions to silence the church, to which the true church acceded with barely a whimper, as its discernment levels were already in decline:
• The Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicea conspired to remove the Moedim from worship and the Bible from access to the people. The church took the control bribe, became a state institution, and the true church was silent.
• The Tax Exemption was passed, prayer and Biblical teaching were removed from schools. The church took the monetary bribe, and the true church was silent.
• Darwin came along, schools began teaching that human beings evolve from pond scum and apes, and the true church was silent.
• Roe vs. Wade was passed and Planned Parenthood initiated, legalizing the murder of children, and the true church was silent.
• Free sex, Hippies, and Homosexuality began to be normalized, and the true church was silent.
• The government began to replace the church as primary defender and provider, and the true church was silent.
• Gaia, or Mother Earth, (i.e. the created) began to be worshipped in place of Yahweh the Creator, and the true church was silent.
Sadly to say, the true church is still predominantly silent. Sadly to say, the church is still failing to do greater works than Yeshua. Sadly to say, the church still has little to no discernment.

Conclusions
1 John 4:1 – “Don’t trust a teacher but test them to see whether they are from Yahweh; because many false teachers have gone out into the world.”
1 Peter 5:8 – “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
The deceptive inroads by many antichrists have taken their toll on the church and have left it powerless and irrelevant to today’s people.

A truly discerning church will not continue to trust Yahweh and at the same time expect or claim a tax exemption from taxes. A church that is not discerning will straddle the fence – and shows a distinct lack of trust in Yahweh’s ability to provide for all of its financial needs. It is time for the true church to stop sitting on the fence, instead to rely solely on Yahweh for financial stability, and drop the 501(c)3 tax exempt status. This bit of legalese from the pit of hell should have no place in the house of Yahweh. I pray that the church will abandon the tax exemption

A mature Christian may be able to read the fiction books or watch the movies based on these books without being compromised, but Yahweh warns us time and time again not to have any other gods before him, or to study or learn their ways. Doing so actually gives an opening to Satan and his demons which is never acceptable. Remember, Satan wants to destroy you and he always asks: “Did God really say. . . .”

Will the church repent and return to Yahweh’s way of worshipping and serving, once again becoming set apart from worldly pursuits and bribes? Will the church repent, remove the yolks that have been placed on its neck, be once again set apart and Holy? Will the church become more discerning? I pray that it will.

Final Thought for 2025
• Prophecy continues to unfold as foretold by the Hebrew prophets.
• History is moving extremely quickly towards the prophesied one world government, the one world financial system, and the rise of both the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
• The escalation of wars and rumors of wars continues to unfold, both in the Middle East and around the globe.
• Time is incredibly short – The birth pangs are just over the horizon.
• The great day of Yahweh is getting really near, even at the door. It hastens forth and will not delay.
• Be sure you are believing The Truth, not The Lie, and maintain an attitude of thanksgiving.
• Be sure Yeshua is your Redeemer, King, and High Priest, and your sins are forgiven.