Just the crap he has been able bamboozle so many people who I thought were reasonably smart people has given me pause about a spiritual force.
First a preface: I say everything below as a bible believing Christian.
I’ve noticed that for many, many people, the church culture is a place where you can basically switch off your intellect and trust any claim allowed to enter through the door. I’ve seen claims made in a church by visiting preachers and authors that are utter and complete nonsense. Some of it I even believed at the time.
And con men have figured this out. It is nothing new. Look at the old time travelling “bible salesmen”. What is interesting about this is that we are instructed, “...be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves...”.
It is a HUGE mistake to believe the claims of another man just because he claims to come in the name of God. We are to study the scriptures and pray to honor our responsibilities to ensure and nurture a personal relationship with Christ.
The rest will be revealed to us as we have need, as it was to Stephen.