| False Prophets in the Church | ||
| Jesus warned,
"Watch out
for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they
are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."
We have an abundance of these 'false prophets' among us
today, from those proclaiming racial hatred in the name of Jesus and "God
dam America' from their pulpits to those preaching a message of 'sloppy
agape' and 'greasy grace'. Thankfully, we can tell who they are by their
fruit. For example, we know God created all mankind of every color and we
know He has but one Church - the Church of the 'firstborn' (Hebrews 12:23).
He doesn't have a 'black' church, a 'red' church, a 'yellow' church, or a
'white' church! Those who emphasize such things are preaching division, not
unity. False prophets are teaching there is more than one way to the Father. Whereas, Jesus Himself declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6). They say, the Jews have their own way, or the Moslems have their own way, or the Catholics have their own way, or any other so-called 'spiritual' way. But, Jesus proclaimed there is only one way, and He is it! Pastor John Haggee declares that the Jews don't need to be converted to Jesus; Pastor Robert Schuller declares Moslems are serving the same God as Christians; Chuck Colson declares we should not try to lead Catholics to Jesus because they were all baptized as infants. Some declare Ophra Winfrey as a 'spiritual' leader because she does 'good works'. Many others calling themselves Christian are proclaiming new doctrines given by the 'Spirit', as though that exempts them from keeping the Word of God, yet Paul writes, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16). Paul writes, "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, ..." (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The 'falling away' has begun! In church after church numbers are the important issue, not righteous living. Programs have taken the place of repentance. Thousands are falling for Oprah Winfrey as she teaches 'A Course in Miracles', in which she substitutes a New Age Worldview in place of the Biblical Worldview. She teaches there is no sin, no evil, and no devil telling her followers to 'rethink' everything they believed about God. Robert Schuller recently sponsored the 'Rethink Conference' in CA in which Christian and non-Christian leaders joined together to promote 'spiritual mysticism'. The list of so-called Christian leaders attending and speaking is very revealing. Baptists recently held a conference called 'Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant' in Atlanta, GA. former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore led the speaking, which included topics about global warming, poverty, the Iraq War, education funding, religious diversity, and environmentalism, but none about evangelism. We may not understand everything God has revealed in His word, but nothing but the truth is revealed there. When some other Jesus is presented than the One presented there - beware! Use the Word of God as your compass and turn your life over to the Holy Spirit's guidance and you will not be deceived. Pastor Charles Cooley
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