Category: Article History

Copyright 2018 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Read Part I: The Critical Importance of Your Tribe 
Read Part II: The Authority of Your Tribe

In the Christian faith, a cult is generally defined as a group whose members are a part of a manipulative and controlling leadership that demands total trust, exclusivity, secrecy and unquestioned loyalty. Generally, the type of commitment required places the leaders of these organizations and its members above all other relationships including family.

Cults can exist in any area of society – not just in religious contexts. However, the behavior of cults often mimic religious contexts through its devotion and practices; and as such becomes a religion. As such, some groups that start off right – if not careful – can enter cult-like behavior and practices. We must be mindful of this, especially within our Christ-centered faith. Cultish assimilation “of any kind” completely contradicts the message of the Gospel, the intent of fellowship, the call for brotherhood and the lifestyle of Christ we are urged to imitate.

What separates Christ-centered tribes from ANY type of cultic groups is the central focus on Christ after the pattern of New Covenant fellowship. Tribes, from biblical patterns, focus on strong, spiritual family units, the building of spiritual maturity, encouragement in the heart of God and the building of the collective Kingdom. They are never self-serving, personality-driven or selfishly focused. Please understand: ANY TYPE OF GROUP CAN BECOME A CULT WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPPING!

Cults are detrimental! But the idea of “finding your tribe” or “connecting with your tribe” from a Christ perspective is LIFE GIVING AND COMPLETELY BIBLICAL!

Copyright 2018 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Read Part I: The Critical Importance of Your Tribe
Read Part III: When tribes become cults

Deuteronomy 1:15 says, “So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and of hundreds, of fifties and of tens, and officers for your tribes.”

Don’t panic.

I am using this passage of scripture as an illustration concerning “how” the Lord sets people apart in groups, not to talk about hierarchical groupings or the specific situation taking place in this passage. There is a universal concept conveyed here that we see throughout every element of our society today: The separating of individual groups, clans or tribes for a specific work or a specific purpose.

Copyright 2018 Theresa Harvard Johnson

Prophetic scribes MUST teach if the material released to them is instructional in nature. As we teach extensively in The School of the Scribe, the ancient anointing of the prophetic scribe is often rooted in the calling of a teacher.

As many know, teachers are OCD concerning helping others understand. The prophetic teacher, however, is driven in this area especially if they have developed their own curriculum, bible studies, or specific prophetic messages through blogs, books, etc. If you are beginning in ministry or stand on the cusps of your next level, teaching live or in person becomes an oil to The Scribal Anointing upon your life.

Today, I heard Father say: “Do not rely on podcasts, video messages, or other digital recording messages or methods as the SOLE way to reach your audience. In doing so, teacher’s shut off or limit the spontaneous prophetic flow from their lives and the messages become stagnant. Rather, continue to build by teaching live on your subject matter as often as possible. In doing so, the prophetic gifts are continuing to stir at a rapid pace and new wine is imparted… expanding the subject matter to expand with each prophetic teaching. Do not fall in the record and forget it trap… the archiving mentality too soon.”

Copyright 2018 Theresa Harvard Johnson
(Read Part II: The Authority of Your Tribe)

Every army has companies – specialized divisions set in place to perfect a designated group and perform specific, necessary functions. Of all the excellent reasons to find your company or your tribe within the congregation, this one is, perhaps, the most critical.

Why? Because tribes and companies perfect the work we see in God’s end-game: One body, same spirit but different parts and functions (1 Corinthians 12). Each God-ordained division (elbows, hands, feet, knees, etc.) is set to assemble the troops assigned to that company for the work of the ministry.

It is this concept that has driven God’s Kingdom in the earth from the time of the nomadic people following the Law of Moses, the 12 Tribes of Israel, the 12 disciples of Christ, the divisions of the churches planted in the New Covenant… to the break out of specialty ministries in the marketplace today.

Mature apostles often find themselves confronting mistaken identity in their intimate relationships and ministries, and then realigning those who have been misnamed or operating in a mistaken identity. It is a part of the apostolic call to set things in order and equip the Body. For clarity, mistaken identity can be defined as (1) the…