WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: VICTORY CHURCH CWMBRAN THE WELSH OUTPOURING DECEPTION: SUSPECT QUALIFICATIONS AND INFLATED TITLES

CALL NO MAN YOUR FATHER - MATTHEW 23/9

“Rabbi” was a title given to eminent teachers within Judaism; the Scribes and Pharisees loved to be called by titles, but Jesus Christ condemned their hypocrisy and pride. It is also a Roman Catholic practice to call their priests “Father”. However the followers of Jesus Christ are not to imitate these wolves in sheep’s clothing. Jesus Christ instructed his disciples not to seek reward or reverence for their teaching, but to seek instead to be humble servants. In fact Christ’s apostles were simply known by their first names; any additional information about them or their function followed their name e.g Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ; Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1/1); James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 1/1). In the book of Revelation John refers to himself simply as: John your brother and partner..... (Revelation 1/9). The point is that they did not seek any glory for themselves, they always pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Many false ministers do the exact opposite of the clear teaching of Jesus Christ and the example of the apostles; they go beyond what is written (1 Corinthains 4/6-7).

Believers have One Teacher, One Father who is in heaven, and One instructor, the Christ.

We see many questionable ministers who like to be addressed by titles of religious authority such as Pastor, Rabbi, Teacher, Father, Evangelist, Apostle, Prophet, Bishop, Reverend etc. Jesus Christ condemned and prohibited the practice of bestowing titles of religious authority amongst His followers:

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23/5-12)

Very often usurpers bestow titles upon themselves because it gives them a sense of superiority and an opportunity to Lord it over others. The problem about being “important” is that it is based in pride and self, it is a form of self-aggrandisement and it leads to the oppression of those mere mortals underneath them. A title presumes entitlement - a belief that one should have special honour and usually a salary to go with it. However all believers are equal under the blood of Jesus Christ.

Taylor, Parsons and others promote themselves under the title of “Pastor” on the Victory Church website, and they insist that their congregation address them as “Pastor” as a prefix to their names. This is of course a way to elicit a sign of respect and set themselves apart from others as superior. Furthermore Taylor and Parsons insist that they are addressed as “Pastor” by the residents of the Victory Outreach homes. I notice that on the Victory Outreach Website that they do not use this title however (http://www.vouk.org.uk). Victory Outreach UK are a charitable organisation that support vulnerable adults - the homeless, ex drug addicts and those released from prison. VO UK says nothing on their webpage about their residents being obliged to conform to religious practices and yet the residents are obliged to attend the so called Welsh Outpouring at Cwmbran five evenings a week and to address these wolves by the reverential title of “Pastor”.

Apart from their obvious deviation from the Bible and their false humility in exalting themselves with the title of “Pastor”, Taylor's non existent theological qualifications and Parsons suspect theological qualifications make it unlikely that they have any grounds to call themselves by any kind of “clerical” title anyway. In the UK there is nothing to stop anyone from adding fake post-nominal letters to their name, whereas in other countries it is illegal. Taylor and Parsons have taken full advantage of this loophole in UK law and awarded themselves an impressive list of qualifications:

Rev. Richard Taylor Dip Th, HNC bus management

It is known that Taylor did not complete his course of study at the Birmingham Bible Institute. I could find no such qualification as Dip Th on a Google search. Whether he has a HNC in Business Management is also questionable.

http://victory-academy.co.uk/academic-leaders/

Pastor Andrew Parsons BA(Hon)Th, Dip AdCM, DipPCB, DipPCEd, CG Cert Ed

Parsons attended the Birmingham Bible Institute and it is reported that he did not complete his course of study. The Birmingham Bible Institute do not go up to degree level, they go up to Diploma level only. Parsons cannot even get this right - the correct way to put this is BA (Hons) in Theology, not BA(Hon)Th! The other qualifications he claims to have cannot be found on a Google search.

https://sites.google.com/a/victory-academy.co.uk/home/lecturers

Both Taylor, Founding Pastor VC and Executive Director VOUK, and Parsons, Executive Pastor VC and Executive Officer VOUK (he must be even more important than Taylor!) Taylor exalts himself to the lofty position of "Rev. Richard Taylor" on his Victory Academy website and also on the home webpage of the Gateway Foundation, the charity he founded in 2007. http://gatewayfoundation.org.uk The title “Reverend” appears only once in the Bible: He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. (Psalm 111/9 KJV) This title is related to the Name of God Himself and it means to be reverenced. Another translation is “awesome” which is related to the fear of the Lord: “to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten.” http://biblehub.com God is the only one who is worthy to be reverenced. Anyone using this title is usurping a title reserved for God alone and is committing an abomination.

The Teaching of The Nicolaitans

So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 2/15-17 also v 2)

The term "Nicolaitans" is derived from two Greek words..."Nikos" and "Laos".

Nikos is defined as: conquest; victory; triumph; to conquer; and by implication, dominancy over the defeated.

The word "nicao" literally means: to dominate-intimidate-manipulate.

The term "laos" means "the people" or the "laity".

The meaning of Nicolaitans is therefore to conquer (dominate-intimidate-manipulate-subdue) the people (laity).

The teaching of the Nicolaitans represents the hierarchy of a ruling class over the rest of the congregation, in other words a pecking order of fleshly leadership. This teaching is “hated” by Jesus Christ (v2). They are Hamans in the church, interlopers and usurpers masquerading as leaders but in reality they are enemies of God and lethal to the body of Christ, dominating through ungodly leadership.

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20/25-28)

.....whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4/11)