Maybe see what sins people have that could contribute to the deception they might be under. Address the root causes that could lead to the deception.
That tends to make people think of the "big sins" that legalists always fall back on, while never recognizing the sins in themselves. Things like legalism, judgementalism, hypocrasy, self righteousness, pride, etc. Things like drinking, smoking (neither of which are declared sins by God. Drunkenness produces sin and sins, and so is not wise) women wearing pants, (also not declared sin by God) adultery, murder etc. Those things would not lead one into the
deception of "free will" or Word of Life. And it is a matter of being deceived.
What character flaws lead people to something like Word of Faith.
I would not say they are character flaws. Those who stand in the pulpit or ply their craft in the media---yeah that is a character flaw. Greed. (And greed may be at the heart of many of the followers also.) A willingness to prey upon the desperate for personal gain. But with a great many of the followers, they were introduced to these teachings, including the altar call salvation, from the beginning. It appealed to them, was made to sound biblical by using isolated scriptures with no exegesis or true searching for the meaning, either by the pastor or the individuals. It gets embedded in the psyche and that is how it becomes a stronghold. It is no different than deliberate brainwashing in cults. It becomes very difficult, and very frightening to dislodge it or to let it go.
It is easy to understand really. If for however many years you have believed that an altar call response or a prayer of invitation to Jesus, is what saved you; then someone comes along and says only the elect are saved and God does all of that, from new birth, to faith, to sanctification, to security, you are going to begin to fear for your salvation---being may. Why? They can never see the "repent" or the "believe and you will be saved" without their mind inserting "choose" in there. They are unable to dissociate the term "elect" and "God chooses who to save", from arrogance and bragging if a person says they believe because they are one of the elect. And they can't separate the "love of God" from the concept of being fair.
And if you are of the Word of Faith gang, to let go of all the mantras and promises and methods of manipulating your life, looks like a fearful doubt that could send you into poverty, and illness.
They feel helpless and powerless and allowed themselves to be deceived into trusting in themselves instead of in God. (Their words, their faith as opposed to God's words and a trust in His work).
Exactly. And no matter how many times you point out that they are trusting in themselves (free will and Word of Faith, as Word of Faith is always also free will) and not God, they will deny it. And they truly, probably, believe their own denial. They have self protective blinders on, and cannot see it. That Word of Life movement actually has its roots in Christian Science and the other metaphysical religions of the day. My sister hates CS, and rightly so. But to her if you attach Jesus' name to anything, no matter how similar it is to the original error, it is validated. With CS it was about healing and death that could be overcome by changing ones thinking and their words. With WOL it is also wealth. But it is witchcraft all the same. Attempting to manipulate circumstances and God through methods.
Is there anything like that - a sense of powerlessness in your sister or anything character-wise based on life circumstances that could have created a stronghold?
The stronghold was able to be erected because of personality traits, not flaws. Yes, she likes to be in control of her life. I was quite happy to relinquish that control to God. Breathed a huge sigh of relief when I realized he was in control not me. I am sure she would too, but she is unable to get there. Plus she raised three sons in the same false teachings. How do you turn around as a mother (or father) and say, I was wrong, lets start all over? And she actually believes what she is being taught, is comfortable in that place, no longer has the ability to read the word through any other lens, and does not want her boat rocked. Some people can't handle it, and maybe that is why God lets them stay in that deception even though it is a deception, and they belong to him. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and I honestly believe she is. It is just that in the end, everything that was built on the foundation with wood and straw instead of the precious stones, will be burned up, but the person will be saved.
We could see if there's a deeper root of some particular beliefs and learn to keep a way of addressing that in a non offensive way...
I would laugh, but it isn't funny. You of course do not know my sister. Any so much as a hint that a person is trying to change what she believes, or is in disagreement with it, is offensive. There is a family dynamic in play here as well. She is the oldest sibling, I am the middle child. She will accept no teaching from me. It is too upside down and backwards to her. She is the leader.
Only problem is, she is strong willed, and me even more so. Once it starts, I can find no place to back down. She will simply eventually walk away, but the grudge and personal dislike will never leave. She will alienate herself from the family so as not to be around me, and take her sons with her. It has happened before, and we got past it eventually, but there is only so much time left. She is in her eighties, me in my late seventies. And she is my double sister by blood. The blood of our parents, and the blood of Jesus.
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