Christians beware
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith.
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.”
1 Timothy 1:3-7
Time and time again throughout the Apostle Paul’s letters to the church he warns against false teachers. Today his warnings need to be heeded more than ever.
Christians are generally a trusting people. When someone say’s they are a Christian we believe them.
When someone speaks from the pulpit be that pulpit in a local church or in the media, and says they are a man or woman of God we believe them.
While I would say the majority of teachers, preachers and evangelist in the world today are honest men and women of God teaching what they believe, I know there are a lot of fakes out there. Men and women who would lead people astray or are trying to separate them from their money.
Sadly especially in the evangelical community in North America there is no real way of policing our faith for fakes.
I know of men and women calling themselves Christians who have threatened to take other Christians to court because they threatened to expose blatantly wrong teaching.
Christians should not be taking other Christians to court. Rather we should be willing to have any dispute we have with other fellow believes at the very least mediated by other believers to see if a solution can be reached.
The apostle Paul notes,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2Timothy 4:3,4.
As Christians we need to on guard against those who teach falsely. Men and women who use the Bible for their own gain or to deliberately deceive others and lead them away from the truth about God and Christ.
That is why I urge everyone who claims to be a believer to read the bible for themselves. To pray and ask God to show them the truth in the scriptures.
To question those evangelist, pastors and teachers they are listening to. Don’t be scared to look up the scriptures spoken on by those whom you listen to.
Ask yourself and God are those scriptures used in the right context or have they been misinterpreted.
If you feel there is a conflict talk to others about your suspicions. Even ask the person you were listening to, to explain themselves better.
If you’re not satisfied then stop listening to them, don’t support them.
I am a firm believer in questioning everything that a pastor, teacher or evangelist says or does.
Christian leaders should be held up to a very high standard. Higher than the person sitting in the pew.
Remember the words of Jesus,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:21-23
Remember also the words of the Apostle Paul who said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
So my advice to Christians in general is to guard against false teachers. Examine everything you are being taught or listening to.
Above all ask God to show you what is right so that you are not deceived or led astray.
Please think about it.
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