Don't Drink The Kool-Aid

Don't Drink The Kool-Aid
Many of you have heard me using the term “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid” a lot lately. It’s become a modern day proverb to me. So what does don’t drink the kool-aid mean? One of the lasting legacies of the Jonestown tragedy(description to follow) is the saying, “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.” This basically means, "Whatever they tell you, don't believe it too strongly or " Of course, you would have to know of Kool-Aid’s connection to Jim Jones to understand the proverb.

Here’s what happened: [Copied from Wikipedia]
In November of 1978, the world was shocked by the suicide deaths of 913 members of the People's Temple cult. Jim Jones, the leader of the group, convinced his followers to move to Jonestown, Guyana, a remote community that Jones carved out of the South American jungle and named after himself. Jones constantly feared losing control of his followers. His paranoia was the main reason he moved the cult to Guyana.

The mass suicide occurred after U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan of California and a team of reporters visited the compound to investigate reports of abuse. After some members tried to leave with the congressman’s group, Jim Jones had Ryan and his entourage ambushed at the nearby airstrip. He then ordered his flock to commit suicide by drinking grape-flavored Kool-Aid laced with potassium cyanide.

The mass suicide wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. During the weeks that preceded the dreadful event, Jones had conducted a series of suicide drills, according to survivors. An alarm call would sound and every person in the camp would line up to receive a fatal dosage. These exercises in insanity proved that all of the adults at the compound knew what would be the result of their actions.

The People’s Temple did not start off as your average mind-controlling cult. It initially gained much respect as an interracial mission for the sick, homeless and jobless. Jim Jones did not manifest his darker side until near the end.

Here’s a thought

For the most part we don’t have to worry about committing physical suicide – It’s actually quite rare for religious groups to commit mass suicide. Most cults are quite peaceful, and they typically try to maintain a low profile. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are one such example. They have never been known to carry out any violent acts – but they’re “Kool-Aid” is very deadly.

The most dangerous feature of cults is the erroneous doctrine they propagate. The falsehood that causes a soul to be eternally lost is far more deadly than any earthly poison. In all cases of doctrinal error, the poison itself is not really what we should be worried about. False teachings always will contaminate the thinking of men. The root of the problem is what leads people to consuming this falsehood. The members of People's Temple knew that drinking poison is bad for you. Their better judgment was overcome by their blind trust in a mortal man.

As Christians, we shouldn’t be suspicious of everything we hear from the pulpit. We just need to use Bible-based common sense. We should all ‘Be like the Bereans’, never taking any new teaching at the word of the speaker, but rather using Scripture to verify anything that seems to conflict with sound biblical doctrine.

That’s our golden rule for scripture and our faith – but what about everyday decisions and actions? The “proverb” still applies.

I have to admit – today’s Kool-Aid can be very appetizing, however like always, the drink is sweet to the taste but lethal to the soul.

Some of today’s social flavors would be:
The Secret, Oprah Winfrey, Affordable Housing, Universal Healthcare, Re-Distribution of Wealth, The Economic Bail-Out(s), rumors of Hyper-Inflation, (((GLOBAL WARMING))); to name a few.

Some of today’s religiously disguised flavors include but are not limited to:
The Prosperity Gospel, The Church becoming seeker friendly, getting slain in the spirit or ‘slaying’ someone, holy laughter, the books on the shelves of your local ‘Christian’ bookstore that tell how to live your best life now -become a better you and/or find Purpose, The 500.00 “Prayer Cloth”, the $500.00 healing line, and the likes.

Basically if you don’t see it in The Script don’t trust it..
While walking through a local Christian Bookstore today my dear brother Chris and I stumbled upon this kool-aid… Make sure you listen intently to the prayer toward the end... remember people --- the idea is to pose as an "Angel of Light"

Have you tasted it?