Don't Drink the Juice!

The story of Jonestown is infamous in that many followers drank a poisoned beverage as a result of brainwashing cloaked under the guise of religion. With the explosion of information, knowledge, and teaching today, we have to be more studious than ever regarding the Word. Popularity in dance ministry is often sought through affiliations, networks, institutions, ordinations, licenses, and titles. Although is it wonderful to desire to know more about what we do, it is not good to drink from every cup.

We need deliverance from preying teachers, desiring to build a brood for fame and fortune. Dancers need to be freed from thinking that we cannot make one step without the approval or sanctioning of others. Clean hands and pure hearts will reign and rule. We need to pray to be connected with whomever the Lord desires to pour into our lives along the way. Movement ministers and worship leaders can be great models to glean from, but we cannot allow idolatry to enter into our hearts as a result of these relationships.

Cynicism cannot be allowed to make us paranoid, questioning the motives of everyone. If we maintain a lifestyle of prayer and submission to the Lord, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to warn us of impending or certain danger. Along with that, we can also pray for wisdom concerning how to be released from toxic ministry relationships. We must be careful who we allow to "curse" or "bless" us with swelling words. If we are seeking approval of men over the approval of God, we may find ourselves left with a bitter taste in our mouths.

Psalm 140:1-4 (NKJV)
Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their hearts; They continually gather together for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble.

Acts 8:22-23 (NKJV)
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.

Acts 14:2 (NKJV)
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.

James 3:8 (NKJV)
But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.