Deception Inside and Outside the Church – Articles and Analyses
This page gathers writings in which I examine apostasy within the church, distorted doctrines, and societal trends that influence the church and lead it further away from the teachings of Scripture. Many modern movements challenge the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith, and therefore it is important to evaluate them both theologically and spiritually. In addition, this page examines the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, which differ significantly from the core truths of Christianity.
The goal is to help the reader:
• understand how various doctrines and phenomena relate to the Bible
• see how societal changes influence the church’s teaching
• recognize teachings that lead away from apostolic faith
• be strengthened in what the Christian faith teaches about salvation, sexuality, and knowing God
• find clarity and confidence in spiritual matters
Deceptions Within the Church
Yogis in church
Read the article: Yogis in church. This writing warns about the spiritual background of yoga and emphasizes that yoga is not a neutral relaxation method but a religious practice rooted in Hinduism. It exposes practitioners to demonic influences. Every yoga practitioner and church worker should first consider whether they are truly born again or have merely adopted an outward religious shell.
Church leaders and God
Read the article: Church leaders and God. This article discusses liberal church leaders who have rejected central doctrines of Christianity, such as creation, the deity of Jesus, and the resurrection. They have adopted a naturalistic worldview that is not based on science but on beliefs about matter arising by itself. Such development shows that pastors and bishops have drifted outside the Christian faith.
Misled priests
Read the article: Misled priests. This writing describes how modern pastors and theologians have adopted a new “religion” based on atheistic and naturalistic assumptions. It criticizes thinkers like John Shelby Spong, who reject creation, the fall, and atonement, replacing them with evolutionary theory and psychological interpretations. Such theology leads pastors far from the teachings of the New Testament.
The ideology of the "Tulkaa kaikki" (in English "All Are Welcome") - movement
Read the article: The ideology of the "All Are Wellcome" movement in review.. This article examines the ideology of the "Tulkaa kaikki" - movement and argues that it is part of a broader societal shift that began with the sexual revolution of the 1960s. The movement rejects the Bible’s teachings on sexuality, promotes moral relativism, and restricts religious freedom in a manner similar to totalitarian ideologies. The central claim is that the movement seeks to reshape the church’s teaching according to societal opinions, leading to the erosion of the church’s spiritual foundation.
A message to a Church employee – what are you marching for?
Read the article: A message to a Church employee - what are you marching for? This writing is directed at church workers who support same‑sex marriage ceremonies. It argues that homosexuality should not be viewed as an innate trait but often as the result of difficult childhood experiences, and that defending it indirectly affirms those negative experiences. The article emphasizes that according to Scripture, sex belongs only within the marriage of a man and a woman, and that current developments in churches were foretold in earlier prophecies.
Discussion About the Church and Society
Letters to the editor – same‑Sex weddings and the Church
Read the article: Letters to the editor; i.e., a discussion of rainbow weddings in Churches. This writing addresses the debate about same‑sex weddings in the church and responds to accusations of Phariseeism and lovelessness. It emphasizes that the issue is not about feeling superior but about shifting the boundary between right and wrong away from the teachings of Scripture. Furthermore, if the Bible’s teachings are true, then genuine love is to warn people not to enter areas that are clearly against God’s will and lead a person away from God and to damnation.
Deception Outside the Church – Religious Movements
Jehovah’s Witnesses in the light of the Bible
Read the article: Jehovah's Witnesses in the light of the Bible. This writing reviews the key doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses and compares them with the teachings of Scripture. Special attention is given to their denial of Jesus’ deity, the personhood of the Holy Spirit, and the bodily resurrection—claims said to contradict biblical texts. The article also shows how the Watchtower Society’s translation work has been altered to support their doctrine, and highlights failed prophecies and the claim that the Society is God’s only channel. The conclusion is that the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses differ essentially from historic Christianity.
Mormonism
Read the article: Mormons. This article critically examines the sacred writings of the Mormons, Joseph Smith’s claims, and the core doctrines of Mormonism. It highlights problems in the origin, language, archaeology, and eyewitness testimony of the Book of Mormon, and shows contradictions between Mormon doctrine and the teachings of Scripture. The foundations of Mormonism are historically and theologically weak, and its doctrines differ significantly from the Christian faith.
About salvation – the salvation doctrine of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses
Read the article: About salvation. This writing compares the salvation teachings of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses with the Bible. Both groups are said to emphasize the necessity of their organization for salvation and to mix law and grace. The article stresses that according to Scripture, salvation is a gift received by faith in Christ alone—not a process or a cooperative effort between God and man. These teachings lead away from assurance of salvation and resemble the heresies rejected by the early church.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Spiritual Phenomena, Deception, and Church Teaching
🧘 Yoga and Christianity
Is yoga a neutral relaxation method for a Christian? Yoga is not a neutral practice but the religious core of Hinduism. It exposes practitioners to foreign spiritual influences, which is incompatible with the Christian faith.
🌐 Naturalism in the Church
How does naturalism influence modern theology and church leaders? Many liberal theologians have adopted a naturalistic worldview that rejects Jesus’ resurrection and creation. This is based not on scientific evidence but on belief in matter arising by itself, leading far from biblical revelation.
🏳️🌈 The Ideology of the “All Are Welcome” Movement
What does this movement represent according to the author? It is seen as part of the sexual revolution beginning in the 1960s. It seeks to reshape the church’s teaching toward moral relativism, undermining the church’s spiritual foundation and rejecting biblical teaching on sexuality.
💒 Same‑Sex Marriage Ceremonies
How should one view same‑sex marriage in the light of Scripture? According to the Bible, sex belongs only within the marriage of a man and a woman. Opposing same‑sex ceremonies is not lovelessness; genuine love warns about things that lead a person away from God’s will.
📚 Doctrinal Deviations of Jehovah’s Witnesses
What are the key doctrinal deviations compared to Christianity? Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the deity of Jesus, the personhood of the Holy Spirit, and the bodily resurrection. Their Bible translations have been altered to support these doctrines.
🗺️ Historical Problems in Mormonism
What are the major issues in Mormon historical claims? The Book of Mormon faces serious linguistic and archaeological problems. Its historical claims and Joseph Smith’s testimonies contradict known facts and the Bible.
✝️ Differences in Salvation Teachings
How do Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness salvation doctrines differ from the Bible? Both groups emphasize their organization’s necessity and mix law with grace. Scripture teaches salvation as a free gift received by faith in Christ alone.
📖 Rejecting Biblical Authority
Why does rejecting biblical authority lead astray? Replacing Scripture with evolutionary theory or psychological interpretations abandons the foundations of Christianity—creation, the fall, and atonement—leading to a new atheistic “religion” within the church.
🛡️ Assurance of Faith Amid Confusion
How can one maintain assurance of faith amid spiritual confusion? By returning to apostolic faith and holding firmly to the Word of God, regardless of societal opinions or the direction of liberal church leadership.
❤️ True Love in Spiritual Matters
What is true love in spiritual questions? True love is telling the truth. It is loving to warn about false paths and doctrines that can lead a person into eternal separation from God.
About the Author – Jari Iivanainen
I have written numerous theological and historical articles dealing with the Christian faith, salvation, evolution theory, religions, worldviews, everyday life and ethical questions. My goal is to offer readers clear, well‑reasoned and respectful perspectives on spiritual and other topics. Above all, I hope that my writings will lead people toward salvation and the forgiveness of sins.
You can find more articles on the Writings page.