False Teachers of the Gospel:
Eliminating Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). From the beginning of time, Christians have been easily deceived. Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent and this was the start of a chain reaction in the human race that still manifests heavily in today’s church. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul was very worried about the fact that the Corinthians had begun to believe false teachings instead of the simple teachings of Christ they already knew. He is quoted in the Bible as saying, “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The same deception still happens to Christians today. The majority of this deception is at the hands of false teachers preying on the trusting, emotional members of the church. Although the deceivers are at fault, so is the church. These money and power hungry leaders can be eliminated from the church simply through careful study of God’s word and use of discernment.
Discernment is something that all people have. The masses use natural discernment multiple times in any given day. This natural, God-given gift can and should be used in the church when being taught. There are many leaders in the church today who are grossly successful in enticing their congregations to give massive amounts of money in the name of God, when they actually want the money for themselves. There is nothing wrong with a Christian being prosperous, but when one’s pastor is stirring up the emotions of the congregation in order to prosper financially, something is wrong. While he or she is driving a Bentley, the spiritual needs of the congregation are not being met. Many are so busy idolizing the preacher rather than God, that they are easily led astray. For example, much of Bishop Eddie Long’s church... [continues]
Eliminating Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). From the beginning of time, Christians have been easily deceived. Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent and this was the start of a chain reaction in the human race that still manifests heavily in today’s church. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul was very worried about the fact that the Corinthians had begun to believe false teachings instead of the simple teachings of Christ they already knew. He is quoted in the Bible as saying, “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The same deception still happens to Christians today. The majority of this deception is at the hands of false teachers preying on the trusting, emotional members of the church. Although the deceivers are at fault, so is the church. These money and power hungry leaders can be eliminated from the church simply through careful study of God’s word and use of discernment.
Discernment is something that all people have. The masses use natural discernment multiple times in any given day. This natural, God-given gift can and should be used in the church when being taught. There are many leaders in the church today who are grossly successful in enticing their congregations to give massive amounts of money in the name of God, when they actually want the money for themselves. There is nothing wrong with a Christian being prosperous, but when one’s pastor is stirring up the emotions of the congregation in order to prosper financially, something is wrong. While he or she is driving a Bentley, the spiritual needs of the congregation are not being met. Many are so busy idolizing the preacher rather than God, that they are easily led astray. For example, much of Bishop Eddie Long’s church... [continues]
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