ACE #81: Beware of False Teachers and Wolves

2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Don't believe everything that you hear or what other people tell you. As Christians, we must diligently seek to study the Word of God, to know the truth about the Word, and to speak the truth about the Word. Don't make the excuse that you don't have the time. Make the time! Don't just go on what you've been taught or what so and so said. It's about personal responsibility and accountability. That way you won't get caught off guard or receive the wrong information from false teachers because you know the Word for yourself!

I wrote this note on May 24, 2011.  And, oh, how the landscape of ministry, especially televangelism, has shifted since then.  We've heard the phrase, "a wolf in sheep's clothing" referring to the person who pretends to be something they are not.  Matthew 7:15 says, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves".  Here's the problem - people can only pretend to be what they are permitted to be by way of support.  Here's the solution - study the word of God for yourself so that you can know better when you are told something that is just a straight up lie.  Just because people are mega-church pastors does not mean that everything that comes out of their mouths is the truth or even Bible-based.  Just because we were raised in certain churches and have known certain pastors our entire lives does not mean that what they are saying or doing is the right thing.

Harold Camping predicted the end of the world would come on May 21, 2011.  People were mesmerized and watched closely - even when it didn't happen.  Some had the nerve to be shocked.  The problem from the very beginning was something so simple, a Word that was so available and accessible, a Scripture that had been preached in countless numbers of sermons all over the world:

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36).

Yet, thousands of people believed Mr. Camping...and gave him their money.  He's not the only one though, there are many others who profess to know the key to the kingdom that doesn't actually line up with the Word of God.  Well...that "magical" and mysterious key to the kingdom is in Bible...it's right there.  You just have to study the Bible and then believe it.

Study Link:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+4&version=PHILLIPS

 

 

 

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