What is Covering Theology?

<

What is covering Theology?
Have you ever been asked who your covering was?  What do people mean by covering and where does this doctrine come from.  Today were going to start a new series looking at a doctrine called covering theology.

What is covering theology?  Covering theology started as the shepherding movement.  At first the shepherding movement started with a noble cause.  The Shepherding movement was an attempt to ensure all new converts were discipled.  All new converts were encouraged to pray and find someone that they would willingly submit themselves to.  They were told that they had to do whatever their covering told them, whether their covering was correct or not.  As time went on, the Shepherding movement evolved into the Covering theology movement.

Covering Theology explained

I personally have been a participant in a congregation that subscribed to covering theology and can tell you first hand, what it looks like.  First, everyone must blindly submit to a covering.  They must adhere to 100% of what their covering tells them.  Questioning your covering will often get you “pushed outside the camp”.  Strong emphasis is put on following the commands of your covering even if they are wrong.  It doesn’t matter if your covering leads you into sin or doctrinal error.  What matters is if you have submitted yourself to your covering and are you obeying everything they tell you.  In return the covering provides you with spiritual protection and in many cases, a covering for sins.  If you do not submit to your covering, you will leave yourself exposed to demonic attacks.  These attacks manifest in many different ways.  Demons may attack your family, relationships, health, wealth etc.

What you will learn in this series

1. The history of the Covering theology.
2. The beliefs of the Covering theology movement.
3. How Covering Theology has affected the Church.
   1. How Covering theology affects church leadership.
   2. How covering theology affects those who are “under cover”.
   3. What the bible says about covering theology (Hint: it’s a false doctrine).

Bringing biblical balance to this subject

On the one hand we have scriptures like the following that seem to teach covering theology.

Hebrews 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. (conduct)

We also have scriptures that seem to refute Covering theology.

Mark 10:42-44  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.  (43)  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:  (44)  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

1 Peter 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

My intention is to bring a biblical balance to this subject.  I’m not teaching that everyone should disrespect or disobey their pastor.  I am saying that to blindly follow a “covering” is not biblical.  Furthermore, we are not protected from spiritual attacks because we submit to authority.  If we are protected from spiritual attacks, it is because of the grace and love of our Father.  He alone protects us from the attacks of Satan.  Lastly, following and submitting to a covering does not cover ones sins.

Covering Theology Refuted

My intention in covering the Covering Theology is to set the captives free.  I to, was bound up in this nonsense and I wish to see all of you set free from this bondage.  The Bible is clear.  There are no good examples in the scriptures of covering theology.  In fact, there are many examples of believers who clearly had no “covering”.  Furthermore there are many scriptures that flat out deny covering theology.  Take comfort.  By the end of this series, covering theology will be thoroughly refuted.

For more information about Covering Theology check out the most informative site I have found on the subject here.

http://coveringandauthority.com/

The post What is Covering Theology? appeared first on Youth Apologetics Training.