Many churches claim to love truth but what they really love is man-centered Christianity that helps them obtain success. Success in their marriage, finances, family, careers. Building bigger and bigger congregations while fostering a positive attitude that produces health and a successful personal life without the pain of dying to self, picking up the Cross of Christ, sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world or being persecuted for standing for The Truth of the Word of God.
II Timothy 4:3 tells us that many Christians will only want to hear what makes them feel good and appeals to their flesh:
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears."
Warning the church, family or friends of emerging dangerous, unbiblical trends, false teachers, a false gospel, unbiblical theology is never popular nor is it easy. Yet, we are not called to please the world, we are called to please our Lord. We are expected to act as Bereans - checking out all we hear with The Truth, The Word of God, but if we do not know the Word...
Exposing error has become negative in the eyes of many today. Many consider it to be judgmental - even cruel to expose in public what has been spoken in public. Yet, Jesus Himself told us we would see those who would claim to be shepherds, pastors, [evangelist, prophets and apostles] that really have little or no concern for the sheep but care more for their own pocketbooks and positions, twisting the Word of God to benefit self.
Paul, writing in I Corinthians 4:9-13 while in prison:
"For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored. To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the off scouring of all things until now."
Notice the last examples: condemned to death, weak, poor, hungry, beaten and homeless. Its obvious we don’t see those who claim these positions today living in such a manner. The messages proclaimed by most of today's profiteers who live in mansions, travel in private jets, live like royalty, practice necromancy and cheat on their income tax and their wives is G-D wants you wealthy, lacking in nothing, trials and tribulations are from the devil, and if you are sick it is because you lack faith, so just name it and claim it.
In John 10:11-13 we read:
"I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and not concerned about the sheep."
One reason why God would allow false teachers among us may be to test those who call themselves 'Christian" - will they be faithful in their Biblical mandate to expose false teachers and thus protect the sheep from the spiritual poison of wolves in sheep's clothing, will they be faithful to study to show themselves approved, a watchman who need not be ashamed or will they choose instead to swallow and follow those who teach and preach the gospel they find most appealing.
Ephesians 5:11 makes it clear we are to expose false teachers:
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."Jude 3:1-4 commands all believers to contend for the faith that is under attack from false teachers:
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ".
The Truth is never negative to those who seek to serve it.
II Timothy 4:3 tells us that many Christians will only want to hear what makes them feel good and appeals to their flesh:
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears."
Warning the church, family or friends of emerging dangerous, unbiblical trends, false teachers, a false gospel, unbiblical theology is never popular nor is it easy. Yet, we are not called to please the world, we are called to please our Lord. We are expected to act as Bereans - checking out all we hear with The Truth, The Word of God, but if we do not know the Word...
Exposing error has become negative in the eyes of many today. Many consider it to be judgmental - even cruel to expose in public what has been spoken in public. Yet, Jesus Himself told us we would see those who would claim to be shepherds, pastors, [evangelist, prophets and apostles] that really have little or no concern for the sheep but care more for their own pocketbooks and positions, twisting the Word of God to benefit self.
Paul, writing in I Corinthians 4:9-13 while in prison:
"For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored. To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the off scouring of all things until now."
Notice the last examples: condemned to death, weak, poor, hungry, beaten and homeless. Its obvious we don’t see those who claim these positions today living in such a manner. The messages proclaimed by most of today's profiteers who live in mansions, travel in private jets, live like royalty, practice necromancy and cheat on their income tax and their wives is G-D wants you wealthy, lacking in nothing, trials and tribulations are from the devil, and if you are sick it is because you lack faith, so just name it and claim it.
In John 10:11-13 we read:
"I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and not concerned about the sheep."
One reason why God would allow false teachers among us may be to test those who call themselves 'Christian" - will they be faithful in their Biblical mandate to expose false teachers and thus protect the sheep from the spiritual poison of wolves in sheep's clothing, will they be faithful to study to show themselves approved, a watchman who need not be ashamed or will they choose instead to swallow and follow those who teach and preach the gospel they find most appealing.
Ephesians 5:11 makes it clear we are to expose false teachers:
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."Jude 3:1-4 commands all believers to contend for the faith that is under attack from false teachers:
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ".
The Truth is never negative to those who seek to serve it.
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