"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man,
and maketh flesh his arm,
and whose heart departeth from the LORD."
(Jeremiah 17:5)
and maketh flesh his arm,
and whose heart departeth from the LORD."
(Jeremiah 17:5)
I would normally very carefully avoid making public comment here on this blog about happenings in the political arena. Ordinarily I'd see such commentary to be quite outside my remit, a departure from what I am called to do in the way of earnest contention for the Faith once and for all time delivered. But there has to be an exception for every rule, does there not?
We who believe may be IN the world, but we are not OF the world. And politics are the world's way; always have been, and always will be. To cut to the chase, it is the nomination of one particular Welsh Brexit candidate in the forthcoming General Election that very unfortunately causes me to make this little piece my own blogging rule's exception.
I must emphasize - and want to be completely clear and understood on this point - that this is not about the Brexit Party's policies, or any other Party's for that matter. It is not in any way about 'Leave' or 'Remain' or any other presenting polling issues. It is completely and utterly solely to do with that single personality who is standing for Brexit in the Blaenau Gwent constituency, namely Richard Taylor.
This is a man who I've found it needful to write about time and again for his all-too-notable disservices to the Gospel, in fact ever since the very first article to appear on this site back in May, 2013. Richard Taylor was the egocentric, Rolex-flashing and Porsche-driving counterfeit revivalist who, after founding his own "church" in Cwmbran and parading as its Lead Pastor, presided over the carefully contrived and hyped so-called 'Welsh Outpouring' there in April, 2013.
(Please refer to the relevant articles in the 'Topics' column alongside)
A man thoroughly and disturbingly versed in the ways of deception, in both his public and his private life, Victory Church's integrity-devoid chief hireling actually came to be discharged from his duties by his Elim overseers for committing adultery. Though banned from the pulpit, his arrogant refusal to accept proper Church discipline was evidenced by him then taking up a Lead Pastorship position in Merthyr Tydfil, subsequently further showing his complete unsoundness by joining that church to the Word of Faith/Prosperity gospel 'New Beginnings' operation of Benny Hinn's friend Jonathan Miller in Florida, USA, becoming in turn their European Director. (Ironically, he doesn't seem so keen on Europe any more!)
For reasons best - and perhaps only - known to himself, Mr. Taylor then decided to re-invent himself as a political animal, in the process proving his apostate nature beyond all shadow of a doubt by jettisoning all reference to his supposed faith in Jesus and joining himself instead with superglue gel to the machinations of men.
I would like to think - and hope for his sake - that Mr. Taylor did once make a genuine decision for Christ, and that his Christian career, if I might call it that, was not all just a conman's convenient masquerade, just a cynical means to an end. Trouble is that all the evidence, everything about his long-time modus operandi, points only to him being an unprincipled...
noun
INFORMAL•BRITISH
- a person who exploits any opportunity to further their own ends.
... with a chameleon's adapting skin, a manipulative man who loves the limelight and craves adulation, power and position, not to mention the material trappings of worldly "success." He has continually demonstrated that he considers himself to be something special, but as the Scriptures that he now so obviously shuns declare of such as he:
"For if a man thinks himself to be something,
when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
(Galatians 6:3)
In laying down these few thoughts, the bottom line is my hope that people who'd thought that the 'Welsh Outpouring' was for real, in witnessing Mr. Taylor's latest launch of himself and this time in such a completely secular fashion, will come to carefully re-assess their positive opinion of that circus and its ringmaster. Let us all soberly remember what the Word has to say concerning "Christian" charlatans:
"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption:
for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb,
The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed
to her wallowing in the mire."
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb,
The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed
to her wallowing in the mire."
(2 Peter 2:19-22)
