Giving to God - a testimony: Who loves Christ today?
Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
Jesse Morrell
I am not one
to see a legion in every pig or a snake in every garden. But through studying
the Word of God and observing many modern preachers I can boldly declare in the
full confidence and blessing of God that there are wolves disguised as sheep
amongst our flocks! Though there are many wolves in the woods and fields of
secularism and false religions, I am afraid that there are some who have
wandered out of those territories looking for food and have entered into our own
pastures.
False teachers can be distinctly defined because their characteristics are
obvious enough and are clearly outlined in scripture. Yet it seems that so few
believers recognize them in these modern times. The True Shepherd spoke much on
this issue, yet it seems to be a greatly neglected subject today as though our
generation is exempt and our Churches are not in any danger of false teachers.
Many Churches have let down the walls of discernment and thus become spiritually
broken down cities being trampled upon by the enemy. Our hearts must become as
Jeremiahs who said "My heart within me is broken because of the prophets". (Jer.
23:9).
Every single minister must be measured by the Word of God and not by their
degrees or popularity. No minister should be exempt from this. No other tool can
adequately measure a minister than the Holy Scriptures. We should be so familiar
with the truth that when false teaching and false teachers are seen and heard by
us they will stick out as black sheep and be automatically recognized. If we do
not know the Word of God we will not recognize the lies of Satan. Many modern
ministers would certainly be in big trouble if those in the pews actually
started reading their Bibles as they should.
Ezekiel's ministry was sure not to be a popular one when he was told to
"prophecy against the prophets…who prophesy out of their own hearts." (Ez 13:2).
It's time that we also risk our reputations and "prophecy against the prophets"
that appear to be helping the body of Christ, but when in actuality they are
gravely hurting the body of Christ. This is not a "naming names" article - there
would be too many names to name, but it clearly reveals scriptural
characteristics to equip every Christian to individually examine ministers.
While working on this message I awoke in the middle of the night after tossing,
turning, and even sweating under the fear and torment of the thought that I
myself was a heretic for writing a message such as this. Then I realized that
this overwhelming fear was the handiwork of the accuser. I began to rest in the
fact that all the points made are backed up by the truth of the Word. It is my
hope and prayer that this message hits the devil hard and that it becomes a
thorn in his side.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves." (Matt 7:15)
"Oh I'm not too worried about false prophets. I'm sure I'll recognize them when
I see them" someone might think to themselves. You don't know the nature of
deception. Recognizing false teachers is not easily done, considering that they
have the appearance of being sheep.
The mission of a deceiver is to deceive. Deceivers will not always appear
deceptive, or else they would never be able to deceive anyone. Their lies will
always be disguised as truth. Beware because their charm will be enticing and
their glamour blinding for those who refuse to be discerning.
The neighbors of caught serial killers always say "I just can't believe that he
could commit such a horrendous act. I knew him personally; he was such a nice
guy." Likewise when a nice, friendly, commercial smiley preacher teaches
doctrines which are contrary to the Word of God, his followers defend him by
saying "Oh but he's just so sincere and genuine." Be careful. Appearance can be
quite deceiving. "Never judge a book by its cover" and never judge a man by his
outward appearance. (John 7:24). He may look like a fellow believer outwardly,
but inwardly he is a wolf who is out for himself and not for the flock. Often
they will look better and more successful than everyone else, portraying the
image that everyone would want to be like. Their grass many look greener and
their water clearer, but they are poisoned with lies and seasoned with deceit.
"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the
false prophets." (Lu 6:26)
It would seem that the very ones that the earth respects and adores are the very
ones that Heaven rejects and abhors. You must always be cautious when you hear
men highly singing the praises of a certain minister and telling you how
wonderful he truly is. There is a problem if all men speak well of him. It seems
to be often that those whom everyone speaks nasty of are the ones that I find
uncompromisingly preaching the Word of God. The top concern of a false teacher
is to please man while the interest of a true and faithful witness is to please
God. Those who please man often do not please God, and those who please God
often do not please man. The popular minister is not like Christ who was thrown
out of the synagogues, who even foretold to those who follow Him "They will put
you out of the synagogues" as well. (John 16:2). All of God's greatest men have
been some of the most hated men. Martin Luther who started the Protestant
movement, John Wesley and George Whitefield who founded early Methodism and
sparked some of the great revivals of history, William & Catherine Booth who
formed and led the Salvation Army - were all people who were kicked out of the
established Church of their day. If a "good" name or a "good" reputation
automatically meant a good preacher, then what about the early Church that was
"spoken against everywhere"? (Ac 28:22) Consider the perception of the people
who observed both Jeremiah and the false prophets. While Jeremiah shouted
"violence and plunder" (Jer 20:8), the false prophets gently spoke of "peace,
peace". (Jer 6:14). How odd, how strange, how abrasive, Jeremiah must have
appeared to the onlookers. He was wrongly thought of as being negative,
condemning, and judgmental compared to the easy, tolerant, smooth talking
prophets of his day. Jeremiahs spoke the words that shattered like a hammer. The
false prophets spoke soft words that couldn't prick even the strongest
conscience. Their messages may drip honey and their words are smoother than oil
but their feet go down to death and their doctrines lay hold of hell. I am
thoroughly convinced that a minister will be rejected by Heaven if he is
accepted by the world, "for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? (2Co 6:14)
I can not think of a single minister of God in the New Testament that got along
with the world. Most of them ended up being martyred. Those who get along with
the world must not be getting along with the God who the world has rejected. A
false teacher will be allowed to preach even on the vilest of TV channels. You
can expect to find their books even in secular stores and hear their messages of
"How to never be hurt again" and "Walking in the anointing of wealth" on secular
channels like I have seen. A false teacher will have the stamp of approval of
the devil, the stamp of approval of the world, but will not have the stamp of
approval of Heaven. The only thing Heaven will stamp on them will be the words
"Depart".
The false teachers will reign high and lifted up on the mountains of acceptance
while the true and faithful are forced into the desert of rejection, soon to be
imprisoned and beheaded. Even the most bizarre "prophetic" words are being well
received while the foundational and biblical message of "repent" is entirely
neglected and largely ignored. Rather than being salt we have many candy-land
preachers who are serving the never-satisfied bellies of men. "The prophets
prophecy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and my people love to
have it so." (Jer 5:31).
"For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, Saying,
Peace, peace! When there is no peace" (Jer. 8:11,
Eze
13:16)
Jeremiah's message and the message of the other prophets stand in sharp
contrast. As Jeremiah shouted his message of "violence and plunder" for Israel
if they didn't repent and turn back to God, the other prophets came with a
message of peace and prosperity for the wicked and backslidden nation. They
became very popular.They gave false hope and false peace... They make those who
are in terrible danger of hell feel as though they were in secure safety on a
cruise ship to Heaven. The refreshment which they give is a delusion and the
comfort they give is imaginary. They will prophecy lies and deceit to sooth
those who are on their way to eternal destruction.
In
David Kirkwoods book called "The Great Gospel Deception" he wrote, "Of course,
no teacher in the church is going to stand up and declare that what he is
teaching is contrary to the New Testament. Rather, he will neglect certain
important scriptures and twist others to persuade his constituency that he is
teaching the truth."
The deceptive part is that they will appear to be preaching grace, but it's
another grace. They appear to be preaching the gospel, but it's another gospel.
They appear to be preaching Christ, but it's another Christ. The subtlety is so
deceptive that few are able to make the distinction.
A false teacher will tell his people whatever it is that they want to hear. They
will play the chameleon and will always be politically correct. They avoid any
truth, no matter how important, that could be controversial or could rock the
boat. They are peace-keepers, not peace-makers. Their messages keeps the peace
between themselves and men rather than creating peace between men and God. Their
messages are always pleasant and easy to swallow, intentionally avoiding the
heavy and hard Scriptures in the Bible. A false teacher goes with the crowd.
God's men, more often than not, go against it!
A
great preacher once said "heresy is highly exalting one biblical truth over the
rest, so that other biblical truths become neglected. "False teachers speak only
of blessing, prosperity, and the favor of God but will not touch on Gods
righteous wrath or His holy indignation. They promise an easy life, Christ
promises a crucified life. They serve the flesh as opposed to serving The
Spirit. They appeal to the greedy heart of man as opposed to the conscience. The
days in which Paul warned about are devastatingly upon us, though few seem to
recognize it. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,
but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will
heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the
truth, and be turned aside to fables. " (2 Ti 4:3-4).
Their messages will manipulate Scriptures to mean the exact opposite of what it
was originally for. "Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap" (Gal 6:7)
is often used when a preacher is begging for money. However in context this
particular scripture has nothing to do with money but everything to do with
death and life. The following verse says: "For he that sows to his flesh shall
of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit
reap life everlasting." (Gal 6:8). Whatever happened to freely giving and
expecting nothing back? Modern preachers will teach "give and expect your
blessing back!" Giving to get is greedy giving.
How many of these hot-shot prosperity preachers can say with the great Apostle
Paul, "To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed,
and beaten, and homeless"? (1 Cor 4:11)
So rather than preaching life eternal, many are preaching life enhancement.
Rather than preaching deliverance from sin and hell, they preach deliverance
from suffering and hurt. Ray Comfort wrote "The modern gospel has degenerated
into means of happiness, rather than one of righteousness."
"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." (Mt 24:11)
The pulpit-less street corner preachers are often viewed as being false
preachers while those with large mega churches are thought of as having "the
blessing and anointing of God". This again is judging by outward appearance and
by the worldly standard of success as opposed to judging the content of their
message by the Scriptures. If John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness,
or Jesus Christ came preaching on the hill top, or the Apostle Paul came
preaching in the market place, I wonder what modern Christianity would think of
them? It says that "many" false teachers will "deceive many". This means that
they will have many followers, even enough to fill a mega-Church. If we measure
a man's anointing or the blessing of God on a ministry by how many people
believe in the message and the messenger, then the false prophets in the Old
Testament would be from God and men like Jeremiah would be considered a liar.
"For false christ's and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to
deceive, if possible, even the elect." (Mt. 13:22) A false teacher will deceive
both the sinful and the uneducated. Their audience will be made up of both
sinners and saints. They appeal to the sinner because sinners never are made to
feel bad about their lifestyles, but rather are given false hope and false
peace. They appeal to the saint because they appear to be the real deal; they
are wearing sheep's clothing though they are wolves. "For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." (2
Cor 11:13-14) May this ring in our ears and sting in our hearts!
"Woe to the
shepherds of Israel who
feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?" (Ezekiel 34:2)
A false teacher has an eye on people's bank accounts while a true preacher has
his eyes on eternity. False teachers may have the appearance of loving people,
yet they are truly only concerned about themselves to further and enhance their
own processions and careers. They feed themselves when they need to be feeding
the flocks. They skin the sheep alive to clothe themselves, leaving the sheep
beaten, battered, and bloody to die. Paul was "poor, yet making many rich" (2 Co 6:10)
while these men are rich by making many poor! With their manipulating words and
twisting of scriptures they ransack and plunder the pockets of unsuspecting
people to line their own.
Leonard Ravenhill wrote:
"Preachers
who have homes and cottages by the lake, a boat on that lake, and a big bank
balance, still beg for more…These dear, doll-like preachers-boys no longer
change their suits once a day, but two or three times a day. They preach the
Jesus of the stables, but themselves live in swank hotels. For their own lusts
they bleed the audience financially in the name of the One who had to borrow a
penny to illustrate His sermon. They wear expensive Hollywood suits in honor of
One who wore a peasant's robe… How fearful will all this be in the judgment
morning?"
A true preacher speaks for God while a false preacher speaks for himself. "There
is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion
ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and
precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof." (Ezekiel
22:25). The ingredients that make up their ministries are: greed, covetousness,
jealousy, lies, and selfishness. Because they are self seeking and self serving,
their followers are the same.
A false teacher may preach a message saturated with truth, but it will be
seasoned with lies. They will use the Bible and speak the name of Christ. Their
Christian language will be the same as ours, and that is their deception. Even
the devil lies with half truths! These men may encourage people to go after God,
but will not convict people of their sin. A preacher is "to exhort and convict
those who contradict." (1 Tim 1:9). They never warn people that their sin is
destructive to their life, deadly to their soul, and disgusting to a Holy God. A
watchman that does not blow the trumpet when the sword is coming must either be
sleeping or not love the city!
"And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not
both fall into the ditch?" (Lu 6:39)
The sad truth is that many modern preachers are empty wells, spoiled milk, and
broken bridges. They are captives who promise freedom, slaves who guarantee
liberty. "Both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in my house I have found
their wickedness' says the Lord." (Jer 23:11) They have a reputation among men
for being alive but are just as dead in their sins as the worst of men in the
eyes of God.
If they were of God, they would be like God. If they walked with Jesus, they
would preach like Jesus. A false teacher will give birth to false converts. "But
if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then
they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their
doings." (Jer 23:22).
They will never, or rarely, speak on the anger and wrath of God because they
risks becoming unpopular, so those who sit under these men feel that God accepts
them just as they are, and that there is no need for repentance. Many today are
being sold forgiveness but not at the cost of repentance. They are promised
Heaven yet without holiness. Men need medicine but are receiving candy. "Because
with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made
sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn
from his wicked way to save his life." (Ezekiel 13:22).
A false teacher will turn the grace of God into licenciousness by teaching that
God came to save men in their sin, not from their sin. "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." (Jude 1:4). These men ultimately say
"Enjoy your sin and enjoy Jesus too". This is the old destructive lie which says
Jesus can be your Savior but doesn't have to be your Lord; God is pleased with
you even in disobedience. This truly is the modern heresy which has inebriated
many. This is the despicable message of freedom to sin rather than freedom from
sin. They speak death disguised as life. They lead to bondage cloaked as
freedom.
A true shepherd will lead the flock to the pastures of God's word for
nourishment, yet these shepherds lead the flock to the slaughter house of false
doctrine. A true preacher will lead people to rivers of eternal life to freely
drink. Martin Luther wrote: "Those who preach something else than the gospel...
may indeed praise themselves ten times with the name of the Apostles, adorn
themselves with the name and title of the Christian Church, and even raise the
dead. Actually they are horrible wolves and murderers that do not spare the
flock of Christ, but scatter, torture, and slaughter it."
"But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Tim 4:5).
It was as if Paul was saying "yes, men are preaching lies and will continue to
deceive the multitudes. But as for you, preach the truth". We can constantly
judge and condemn other ministries, or we can have ministries of our own. It is
the truth that will prevail against lies!
David Wilkerson said "We are in a famine in this land. A famine of hearing the
Word of the Lord and it's going to get worse, it's going to rage, and many are
going to starve spiritually and fall by the wayside on the right and on the
left…Name me one Jeremiah type preacher on television. Name me one man who
stands unashamedly, not afraid of his income, not afraid of anything! Name one
in the media now who's standing up like Jeremiah or John the Baptist! Where are
they? Where are the voices? ...The pulpit was meant to be a burning bush, where
a fire was never to go out. And the man who stood in that sacred pulpit is
suppose to be a man shut in with God, a man who waits on God, in God's presence
until he hears the Word of the Lord, until he hears from the throne of God. And
he comes out before the people with the mind of God. He's to speak with
plainness the Scriptures said, his speech not in the wisdom of man. He's to
speak with spiritual authority. He's to be absolutely fearless. He's to name
sin. He's to be the voice of the living God in these last days! This is a
burning bush!"
If you want to be a true and faithful witness, you must seek to serve the glory
of God and not the glory of yourself. You must be out to expand the Kingdom of
God and not to expand your own wallet with earthly treasure that will perish
anyway. You must be a salty preacher causing mouths to thirst for righteousness
and cuts to burn with conviction.
Vance Havner said "God's preacher is not popular...The King sent Micaiah to
prison with hard fare prescribed, bread and water of affliction. True prophets
are not always rewarded with an increase in salary and a Church downtown. Many
of God's Micaiahs still eat his fare."
To answer the well known question of, "Can't we all just get along?" The answer
is no. The only way that the world will accept you is if you accept the world.
Christ came to cause division. (Matt 10:34). We must be completely for Christ,
we can not have any side loyalties to the world. If you want to follow in the
way of the Master, kiss the world good-bye!
Throw reputation out the window for the sake of the truth. Endure afflictions,
overcome any hardship; persevere through any tribulation to recover even one
sheep that has wandered off. Count it a blessing and a joy when you are hated,
rejected, spoken badly of, persecuted, and even killed. Live your life with your
heart for God's glory. Even if people do not care for you or your message, care
for people and their souls. So then, "Go into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature." (Mk 16:15)
Giving to God - a testimony: Who loves Christ today?
- Job Anbalagan
A young man,
namely, Nalla Thambi Selvaraj, is very poor and ekes out his living by driving a
three-wheeler taxi in Tamil Nadu, India. He is a supporter of the Indian
Missionary Society, a pioneer missionary movement in India. He regularly
participates in the worship services in his town. He has a great burden to
support the missionaries through his meager income.
He had a vision about the poor saints who do not have any churches in the
mission fields to worship God. He did not stop with praying for God to send
financial help to the missionary organization. He started saving money every
month out of his meager income. One day, as he counted the little savings he
made, it came to about Rs.40,000/- (equivalent to about $ 350). The Lord Himself
gave him a vision as to how he should donate this money to the missionary
organization. He saw a vision for donating this money to build a church for the
poor saints living in the State of Rajasthan who had no place of worship. He
immediately obeyed this heavenly vision.
This testimony, which was published in the monthly magazine of Indian Missionary
Society for June 2005, has stunned me. When there are many people like
businessmen, bureaucrats, executives, doctors, engineers, etc. in the Body of
Christ who support the missionary work out of their abundance, what made a young
boy who earns daily out of his hard labor and who finds it difficult to make
both the ends meet to save money by sacrificing his minimum needs of survival?
We should
emulate that young South Indian boy who earns his daily living. In India, the
people use to look down upon the drivers of three wheeler taxis because many of
them use to deceive and overcharge the passengers. But here is a young boy,
namely, Nalla Thambi Selvaraj, who saved a part of his hard-earned money for
building a church for the poor saints in a distant place like Rajasthan. The
name of this boy is Nalla Thambi which is interpreted in Tamil language as "a
good young boy". When the majority of the Christians worship God at the top of
their voices on every Sunday in their air-conditioned church buildings, here is
a young boy who wanted to provide a roof over some poor saints who have no place
of worship in a place where the poor saints are being persecuted for their
Christian faith. When the majority of the churches in the West are worshipping
God and conducting many seminars and conferences to "promote" the gospel of
Christ without the least concern for their poor brethren and sisters in nations
like India, Nepal, etc., a young boy who drives a three wheeler taxi, (and not
even a four wheeler taxi) comes forward to help build a church for the poor
saints!
When the Christian leaders think in terms of extending their church buildings
and adding comforts to their parishioners, a young and poor boy thinks in terms
of building a church for the poor saints whom he has never met before!
When the pastors and evangelists preach wonderful messages to the multitudes and
do not bother about the poor saints who have no place of worship, a young and
poor boy donates his life savings for building a church! The Christians all over
world, especially in India, should be proud of a small group of God's faithful
servants like this boy. These are the true servants of God. These people may not
give wonderful messages or may not have wonderful revelations from the Bible.
But they have a heart to love Christ and His Body.
Who loves the Christ of Nazareth today? Is it the multitudes who worship the
Christ of Nazareth on Sundays or this young boy who gave all the savings for the
cause of building a church for the poor saints? It is for you to judge..