Is This Snake Real? Part 5: What Does a False Teacher Look Like?

You ever Googled “pictures of false teachers”? I did the other day, and it’s amazing who shows up. You may think it just shows pictures related to people like Jim Jones or David Koresh. You know, the obvious people.

You would be surprised at who shows up. The faces of many popular mainstream ministers, male and female, smiled back at me as I looked at my computer screen. It’s not only outright adding to and taking away from of the Bible that falls into the “false teachers” category.

It’s the folks who use the Bible for their own purposes. Who manipulate what is written into their own interpretation.

“Did God really say?”

Remember, the serpent was subtle.

Paul addressed in his letter to Timothy:

2Timothy 4:2-4  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 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;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

People are so desperate for answers, for material possessions, for the things that this world has to offer that they listen to preachers and teachers who have manipulated Scripture to offer worldly things in the name of Jesus Christ.

They hear what they want to hear to get the things that they want to get.

And it’s really sad to see people’s reactions when we measure these teachers against Scripture. I had a pastor’s wife blast me, accuse me of being judgmental, and unfriend me on Facebook because I called out an unBiblical teaching from a popular television evangelist.

What did Paul say to Timothy?

“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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”.

It amazes me that these false teachers can fill auditoriums with people who drive hundreds or thousands of miles to see them,  pay good money to listen to them, buy every book they write, can quote them to the letter, and live according to their teachings; but they don’t know Scripture and what God really meant in His Word.

Stadiums are overflowing, mega churches are filled; yet our local, Bible preaching/teaching churches are practically empty on Sundays and mid week services. Sunday mornings might even draw a good crowd, but when the rubber meets the road, the sanctuary is empty.

Fun days, church carnivals, Christian concerts, and food events draw hundreds into the local church; but when The Bread of Life reaches out to them to come and be filled, they walk away.

Christians can be blamed for some of this. I read this quote the other day on Twitter:

“Most people don’t go to church because they have met someone who does”

What does this say for God’s people? I believe that the world is so easily being reached by these false teachings because we as Christians are failing to follow Christ’s command to go into the world and spread the Gospel.

I have a friend who participates in the Mormon religion. We had lunch together one day a few years ago and she wanted to share her faith with me in hopes of converting me to Mormonism. I shared my faith with her as well, and then I asked her why she chose the Mormon faith. She explained to me that she had attended a Baptist church in the area and that when her mother passed away, no one at her church shared any concern, support or caring over her loss. Soon after this, she was visited by someone of the Mormon faith who was very sympathetic to her, and provided to her what her previous church family should have provided but didn’t.

Can you see the confusion that people might experience and how easy it is to fall into false teachings? We as Christians preach Christ, but we don’t do a good job at living Christ. Some lost people or misguided people know enough about Jesus to know that we talk about Him, but we don’t look like Him at all.

So, they see someone who has the outer appearance of Jesus, and they are drawn to them (remember, Satan can appear as an angel of light; and can quote Scripture); they are drawn to their church, and soon indoctrinated with these false teachings.

I recently have been learning more about how active the Jehovah’s Witnesses are in this area. How? I started visiting people and asking about their faith, and their relationship with Christ. I was told by people how the Jehovah’s Witnesses visit them, and offer and provide weekly one on one “Bible study” right in their homes.

To think how powerful it would be if the True Church did the same thing!

Instead, we sit back and wait for the lost to come to us; and instead of accepting them where they are and sharing the Gospel and discipling them, we get angry about how they are living. Why do Christians get mad when the lost act lost?

It’s our job to show them another way. What is the best way to do that? By living it.

By walking the talk.

God has some powerful words for those who manipulate His Word:

Jeremiah 23:29-31  Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
Jesus warns of false prophets:

Matthew 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
So, what can we do when we hear a preacher or teacher to make sure we are not being deceived?

1John 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

We must try each teaching against the Word of God. Don’t just read Scripture; study Scripture.

If it’s a particular denomination or religion, research their beliefs and compare them to true Christianity; measure what they teach against God’s Holy Word.

Know what God really said so you’ll know what He didn‘t say.

Another approach I have encountered lately is this statement:

“Well, Jesus never said anything about (fill in the blank: homosexuality, abortion, etc)”

Oh, the lengths we will go to justify our sin.

Join me next time as we discuss this further.

Is That Snake Real? Part 4: False Teachers, Prophets, and Cults, Oh My!

 

You know the familiar story. The car pulls in the driveway. Three or four well dressed people get out with books in their hands. They start toward your door…

And you hide. Turn off the television. Pull the curtains. Pretend you aren’t home.

What’s funny is that we never even think they might be from a local Christian church. Our minds immediately jump to those two words:

Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Why do we immediately assume this? Well, we will talk about this later on, but first…

I used to run from them. I knew I didn’t want to hear what they had to say. I knew enough to know that they were not right, but I didn’t know enough to know why they were wrong. After I began studying Scripture more and learning more about other religions, I began to see how the beliefs of other religions were so different from Christianity - The True Journey.

So, one day a few years ago, I was out mowing the grass and weed eating, and I stopped to take a break. I sat down on the steps outside with some water and cooled off.

Then I heard it. The gravel in the driveway began popping. A car was pulling in. I didn’t recognize it. Then I realized who it was. I couldn’t hide; they had already seen me! So, I smiled as the two women exited the car. They were very friendly and told me that they had some good news to share with me. I told them I liked good news, so go ahead. They read to me from Psalms and Revelation, and asked me some questions. I thought I knew enough to effectively counter what they were saying; but I didn’t. I listened.

When they were done, I thanked them for telling me their good news. Then I told them I had some Good News for them, too. I asked them to wait right there while I went to get my Bible. I ran in the house, grabbed my Bible, and ran back out on the deck.

There was nothing but dust in my driveway. They were GONE. Those ladies must have run to the car as fast as I ran to get my Bible.

I missed an opportunity because I wasn’t prepared.

It was after that day, I realized I still didn’t know enough about Scripture to deal with anyone who was teaching a false doctrine.

I encountered more JW’s during a local outreach and realized how prevalent they are in this community. And I learned more about how they outreach to people.

I began reading up on Jehovah’s Witnesses and learned more about what they believe and how it differs from the True Word of God: The Holy Bible.

The other day, as I was writing about how Satan distorts Scripture, I looked out of the window and saw a car next door. Two well dressed men and a well dressed lady…carrying books…and the lady was coming this way.

On a Thursday? Don’t they come on Saturday? Is it really them?

I got so stinking excited! I yelled out loud, “Wooo Hooo! The Jehovah’s Witnesses are coming!” Up the steps I went!

But this time I didn’t close the curtains, or hide.

This time I ran. But not away from them. I ran to them.

I think I scared that little lady at the door with how excited I was to see her. She asked me if I ever wondered why God allowed so much suffering. She read to me from Revelation 22:18-19. I told her that I believe  in Jesus Christ and that He has saved me from my sins. I quoted her John 3:16; and told her that I know that Jesus Christ is THE Son of God and I am saved from my sins through His sacrifice on the cross. I told her that I know that I am going to spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus because He promises me that. Because He is God. (I encourage you to read more about what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe, or email me with your questions. I am working on the blog to include a section about false teachings.)

She didn’t seem like she knew quite what to say after all of that. She offered me some Watchtower magazines and I thanked her and told her no, that I had my Bible and that was all I needed.  I asked her what her name was, and I told her mine. She was moving away from me as we had this exchange. So I told her to have a nice day and she told me the same.

As they went down the road, they pulled over in the end of my driveway and the man was looking toward the house and writing something down.

Probably my house number so they could warn the others.

But I hope they come back. I want to share Jesus with them. The real one.

I jokingly tell you this story, but the sad part is that she still didn’t stay long enough to hear the Truth. They are taught not to listen. They are deceived.

How important is it that we know what we believe? How important is it that we share this Truth with others?

Because there are people out there sharing false teachings. People are believing these false teachings. They are being deceived.

And they are going to Hell.

The Bible has a lot to say about false teachers; and how we can guard ourselves and others against these teachings:

Matthew Henry defines a false teacher as this: “those who preach false doctrine in those things that are essential to religion; who teach that which is contrary to the truth as it is in Jesus, to the truth which is accordingly to godliness“.

Matthew 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mark 13:22  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

2Co 11:12-15  But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2Peter 2:1-4  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

2Timothy 4:2-4  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 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;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Many of these groups that exist today are considered “Christian” groups, but they are not. This includes JW’s and Mormons. They use enough of the Bible, or their own translation of the Bible that they have changed to suit their own purposes, to make people think that they are a Christian group. Typically, they have additional teachings, such as the Watchtower magazine and other JW publications, and the Book of Mormon.

Do I know enough about what I believe to know the difference between true Christianity and man made religion?

The Bible is divinely inspired and complete. It needs no additions and no subtractions. And people try to manipulate Scripture in many ways, including continuing to publish many watered down translations that distort what God really said.

God has something to say about that:

Rev 22:18-19  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.


Eve added to and took away from God’s command. Certain organizations have publications that “add to” God’s Word. Certain translations water it down, or take away the true meaning of God’s Word.

Even in our mainstream Christian churches, there are certain things being preached that are not Scriptural.

More and more preachers, teachers and cults are asking, “Did God really say?”

Join me again as we look into some of these in more detail!

Is That Snake Real? Part 3: Eve and Jesus

Have you ever misquoted Scripture?

I have; and I know that before I began to study the Word more, it didn’t seem to really matter much. I mean, as long as I got the general meaning of it out there, I didn’t have to quote it exactly, did I? I didn’t need to have the reference, either, I mean, someone could go home and look it up for themselves.

I believe it is important for us to be able to quote verses as they are written, and know the reference for them. Now, don’t think I know the whole Bible by heart and I don’t think I ever will, but if I can’t quote it, I should at least be able to look it up and read it.

It’s really funny that I remember saying that I just couldn’t remember Scripture, and I was okay with that. But then I realized I could quote movies line for line, remember conversations word for word that I had with other people, and quote other books. Why? Because this is where I spent my time.

When I spend my time in the Word, I remember the Word. As I study more and more, I remember more and more. I am reading things that I never realized were in Scripture! And I am also finding out that a lot of popular sayings that people attribute to the Bible just aren’t there (but that’s a post for another day).

There are verses that we misquote a lot, and I am digging into that more. But one that comes to mind right now is John 14:6.

Fill in the blank:

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the _______: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me“.

What did you say? Did you say Light? I remember sitting in church one Sunday morning a few years ago, listening to a children’s sermon regarding Advent. We always let the kids light the candles on the Advent wreath, and the person doing the message this particular morning said something to the effect of that lighting the candle reminded us that in John 14:6, Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the light.

Well, Jesus didn’t say that.

For years, I thought He did. I asked my mom about it and she said growing up, that she always heard that verse quoted that way and said it that way herself. I said it that way.

What did Jesus say?

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This can be an innocent mistake, but one that changes the meaning of the verse.

I think that when we are quoting Scripture, we have a responsibility to be right.

I think we have a responsibility to use Scripture correctly, not out of context, and not to suit our own desires.

Why?

Because Satan looked at Eve and said, “Did God really say?”

Have you ever been misquoted? Had something you said taken out of context? How did that make you feel?

How do you think God feels when we do this to Him?

Satan is going to look at us and say, “Did God really say?” And we need to be able to answer correctly.

This is the command that God gave Adam:

Genesis 2:16-17  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
He has given them a Garden full of food to consume; except one tree. Eat from it, and die.

Let’s look at the exchange between Eve and the serpent:

Genesis 3:1-4  Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.


Satan attacked God’s instructions; Eve misquoted what God said. She took away from it and added to it.

What were Eve’s three mistakes here?

1. She is careless with her wording of Genesis 2:16, as she disparages the privileges of God by leaving out the word that conveys the sense of “freely eat” of all of the trees;

2. Neither shall ye touch it: by adding to His command Eve exaggerates the limitations God had set forth;

3.  Lest ye die: this reveals Eve’s third error, toning down the penalty and certainty of death for eating. “Lest” expresses a fear of possibly dying when God had already expressed the certainty of it in Genesis 2:17.  (The King James Study Bible, 1988)

See the importance of knowing Scripture?

Satan tried this same thing with Jesus. We see this account:

Matthew 4:1-11  Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Deut. 8:3). Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone (Psalm 91:11-12). Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God (Deut. 6:16). Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve (Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Joshua 24:14). Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Satan tempted Jesus, and he used Scripture to do it. But Jesus had an answer for each temptation; He used the Word to fight the temptation. Jesus shows us the importance of using the Word of God to defeat the enemy. It is the only way to do it.

We must hide the Word in our hearts, so when temptations come, the Word is what comes from our mouths.

Next time, we will look at the ways Satan uses some people to distort God’s Word.

Is That Snake Real - Part 2: Who Is Right?

The other day, I was looking up a word for my mom in the American Heritage Dictionary. As I closed the book to place it back on the shelf, I noticed this statement at the top of the dust jacket:

“The single source for people who need to be right”

Well now, that just hit me right in the funny bone, and I laughed, because I thought about everyone I have ever known (including me) that has had that disease: the need to be right.

I laughed because I thought of how stupid I have looked, arguing with someone to prove I am right and then being proven wrong. I thought of others I have watched doing the same thing, and it’s kinda funny to think of the lengths we will go to prove we are right. And the reactions we have when we are proven wrong are even funnier - when pride slides into humiliation and the certainty we were just speaking with crumbles into a red-faced, spitting, mumbling sort of spasm-like conniption fit.

It soon moved from my funny bone and punched me in the gut, because I have experienced the ravages of this affliction, and it’s dangerous, destructive, and deadly to relationships.

I have argued with people over the smallest of things, and had friendships end over the need to be right. Sometimes I was right, sometimes I was wrong. But pride kept both parties from meeting in the middle.

The sad thing now is that this is a disease that has invaded the church. The need to be right has superseded even the Word of God and is causing a great divide among God’s people.

But this shouldn’t surprise us at all: Remember the last post? How did Satan approach Eve?

Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?


Hath God said? Has God indeed said? Did God really say?

Remember, that snake is real. Satan attacks by distorting God’s Word.

Maybe the cover of our Bibles should look like this:

Holy Bible
KJV
The Single Source For People Who Need To Be Right

As Christians, we need to know the Word of God. We need to be right. God reveals Himself in His Word, and it is our responsibility not only to read the Word of God, but to study the Word of God, to feast on it and live it.

God tells us in His Word how we should look at His Word:

Psalm 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

We have already talked about the heart - what comes out of our mouths is what resides in our hearts. So, doesn’t it make sense that if we hide God’s Word in our hearts, then our mouths and our lives will show it? We hide His Word in our hearts so that we might not sin against Him.


Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

There’s that heart thing again. The Word of God seeps into our minds and flows like a river to the heart to know our every thought and intent. Our inner secrets. We are unable to hide.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says:

This sword divides between the joints and the marrow, the most secret, close, and intimate parts of the body; this sword can cut off the lusts of the flesh as well as the lusts of the mind, and make men willing to undergo the sharpest operation for the mortifying of sin. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, even the most secret and remote thoughts and designs. It will discover to men the variety of their thoughts and purposes, the vileness of them, the bad principles they are actuated by, the sinister and sinful ends they act to. The word will turn the inside of a sinner out, and let him see all that is in his heart. Now such a word as this must needs be a great help to our faith and obedience.


God’s Word is the final authority on everything.

2Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Remember the previous post? What did I need to deal with the snake in the Laundromat? A professional and the proper tools. The Professional is God and His Word is our tool. We must know it.

We have looked today at the powerful tool of Scripture. When quoting Scripture, we need to be right. When living a Godly life, we need to be right. When teaching others, we need to be right.

We need to know how to apply Scripture to our own lives and allow God to cleanse our hearts and minds and live a life fully devoted to Him.

Satan is gonna look at us and say, “Did God really say?” We need to be able to look back at him and say, “Yes He did”.

I want to be able to make Satan have one of those red-faced, spitting, mumbling sort of spasm-like conniption fits we talked about at the beginning of this post.

Join me tomorrow…let’s look at Eve’s response to Satan; and how Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness.