[metmom]

You know, when I hear about the lifestyles of those faith healers, their lavish lifestyles, their immoral escapades, and some of the completely whacked out things they teach and write, I don’t know why on earth anyone would follow them, signs notwithstanding.

The signs don’t negate all the rest of their unscriptural lifestyle and teachings. Their fruit should disqualify their gifts as being authentic, as opposed to their gifts disqualifying their fruit. IOW, you ignore the gifts if the fruit is rotten, not ignore the fruit if the gifts are there.

After all, we’re told that by their fruits we will know them, not by their gifts we will know them.

[smvoice]

..because it FEELS SO GOOD to be "slain in the spirit", to be part of "God's inner circle of tongues and prophecying". I think it's that simple. Who wants to study God's Word when one can "communicate directly" with God through a "heavenly prayer language" He has bestowed on you, and perhaps get a "new revelation" from Him?

To those in the congregation, the lavish lifestyles of their ministers are PROOF to them that God is blessing them and is leading them.... It's a rare person who looks around and says "Wait a minute. SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. WHERE is the Gospel and why isn't it being preached?" You were one. Cynical Bear was one. I was one. I'm sure there are others here, and God Bless each one who got into His Word and realized that INDEED SOMETHING IS WRONG.