Miscellaneous information and videos
Miscellaneous Information and Videos
Dealing with manipulative people (an excerpt from the book written by George K. Simon "In Sheeps Clothing"). This is an excellent resource on spiritual abuse prevention:
Two Basic Types of Aggression
There are two basic types of aggression: overt-aggression and covert-aggression. When you're determined to have something and you're open, direct and obvious in your manner of fighting, your behavior is best labeled overtly aggressive. When you're out to "win," dominate or control, but are subtle, underhanded or deceptive enough to hide your true intentions, your behavior is most appropriately labeled covertly aggressive. Now, avoiding any overt display of aggression while simultaneously intimidating others into giving you what you want is a powerfully manipulative maneuver. That's why covert-aggression is most often the vehicle for interpersonal manipulation.
Acts of Covert-Aggression vs. Covert-Aggressive Personalities
Most of us have engaged in some sort of covertly aggressive behavior from time to time. Periodically trying to manipulate a person or a situation doesn't make someone a covert-aggressive personality. Personality can be defined by the way a person habitually perceives, relates to and interacts with others and the world at large.
The tactics of deceit, manipulation and control are a steady diet for covert-aggressive personality. It's the way they prefer to deal with others and to get the things they want in life.
The Process of Victimization
For a long time, I wondered why manipulation victims have a hard time seeing what really goes on in manipulative interactions. At first, I was tempted to fault them. But I've learned that they get hoodwinked for some very good reasons:
- A manipulator's aggression is not obvious. Our gut may tell us that they're fighting for something, struggling to overcome us, gain power, or have their way, and we find ourselves unconsciously on the defensive. But because we can't point to clear, objective evidence they're aggressing against us, we can't readily validate our feelings.
- The tactics manipulators use can make it seem like they're hurting, caring, defending, ..., almost anything but fighting. These tactics are hard to recognize as merely clever ploys. They always make just enough sense to make a person doubt their gut hunch that they're being taken advantage of or abused. Besides, the tactics not only make it hard for you to consciously and objectively tell that a manipulator is fighting, but they also simultaneously keep you or consciously on the defensive. These features make them highly effective psychological weapons to which anyone can be vulnerable. It's hard to think clearly when someone has you emotionally on the run.
- All of us have weaknesses and insecurities that a clever manipulator might exploit. Sometimes, we're aware of these weaknesses and how someone might use them to take advantage of us. For example, I hear parents say things like: "Yeah, I know I have a big guilt button." – But at the time their manipulative child is busily pushing that button, they can easily forget what's really going on. Besides, sometimes we're unaware of our biggest vulnerabilities. Manipulators often know us better than we know ourselves. They know what buttons to push, when and how hard. Our lack of self-knowledge sets us up to be exploited.
- What our gut tells us a manipulator is like, challenges everything we've been taught to believe about human nature. We've been inundated with a psychology that has us seeing everybody, at least to some degree, as afraid, insecure or "hung-up." So, while our gut tells us we're dealing with a ruthless conniver, our head tells us they must be really frightened or wounded "underneath." What's more, most of us generally hate to think of ourselves as callous and insensitive people. We hesitate to make harsh or seemingly negative judgments about others. We want to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they don't really harbor the malevolent intentions we suspect. We're more apt to doubt and blame ourselves for daring to believe what our gut tells us about our manipulator's character.
Recognizing Aggressive Agendas
Accepting how fundamental it is for people to fight for the things they want and becoming more aware of the subtle, underhanded ways people can and do fight in their daily endeavors and relationships can be very consciousness expanding. Learning to recognize an aggressive move when somebody makes one and learning how to handle oneself in any of life's many battles, has turned out to be the most empowering experience for the manipulation victims with whom I've worked. It's how they eventually freed themselves from their manipulator's dominance and control and gained a much needed boost to their own sense of self esteem. Recognizing the inherent aggression in manipulative behavior and becoming more aware of the slick, surreptitious ways that manipulative people prefer to aggress against us is extremely important. Not recognizing and accurately labeling their subtly aggressive moves causes most people to misinterpret the behavior of manipulators and, therefore, fail to respond to them in an appropriate fashion. Recognizing when and how manipulators are fighting with covertly aggressive tactics is essential.
Defense Mechanisms and Offensive Tactics
Almost everyone is familiar with the term defense mechanism. Defense mechanisms are the "automatic" (i.e. unconscious) mental behaviors all of us employ to protect or defend ourselves from the "threat" of some emotional pain. More specifically, ego defense mechanisms are mental behaviors we use to "defend" our self-images from "invitations" to feel ashamed or guilty about something. There are many different kinds of ego defenses and the more traditional (psychodynamic) theories of personality have always tended to distinguish the various personality types, at least in part, by the types of ego defenses they prefer to use. One of the problems with psychodynamic approaches to understanding human behavior is that they tend to depict people as most always afraid of something and defending or protecting themselves in some way; even when they're in the act of aggressing. Covert-aggressive personalities (indeed all aggressive personalities) use a variety of mental behaviors and interpersonal maneuvers to help ensure they get what they want. Some of these behaviors have been traditionally thought of as defense mechanisms.
While, from a certain perspective we might say someone engaging in these behaviors is defending their ego from any sense of shame or guilt, it's important to realize that at the time the aggressor is exhibiting these behaviors, he is not primarily defending (i.e. attempting to prevent some internally painful event from occurring), but rather fighting to maintain position, gain power and to remove any obstacles (both internal and external) in the way of getting what he wants. Seeing the aggressor as on the defensive in any sense is a set-up for victimization. Recognizing that they're primarily on the offensive, mentally prepares a person for the decisive action they need to take in order to avoid being run over. Therefore, I think it's best to conceptualize many of the mental behaviors (no matter how "automatic" or "unconscious" they may appear) we often think of as defense mechanisms, as offensive power tactics, because aggressive personalities employ them primarily to manipulate, control and achieve dominance over others. Rather than trying to prevent something emotionally painful or dreadful from happening, anyone using these tactics is primarily trying to ensure that something they want to happen does indeed happen. Using the vignettes presented in the previous chapters for illustration, let's take a look at the principal tactics covert-aggressive personalities use to ensure they get their way and maintain a position of power over their victims:
Denial – This is when the aggressor refuses to admit that they've done something harmful or hurtful when they clearly have. It's a way they lie (to themselves as well as to others) about their aggressive intentions. This "Who... Me?" tactic is a way of "playing innocent," and invites the victim to feel unjustified in confronting the aggressor about the inappropriateness of a behavior. It's also the way the aggressor gives him/herself permission to keep right on doing what they want to do. This denial is not the same kind of denial that a person who has just lost a loved one and can't quite bear to accept the pain and reality of the loss engages in. That type of denial really is mostly a "defense" against unbearable hurt and anxiety. Rather, this type of denial is not primarily a "defense" but a maneuver the aggressor uses to get others to back off, back down or maybe even feel guilty themselves for insinuating he's doing something wrong.
In the story of James the minister, James' denial of his ruthless ambition is massive. He denied he was hurting and neglecting his family. He especially denied he was aggressively pursuing any personal agenda. On the contrary, he cast himself as the humble servant to a honorable cause. He managed to convince several people (and maybe even himself) of the nobility and purity of his intentions. But underneath it all, James knew he was being dishonest: This fact is borne out in his reaction to the threat of not getting a seat on the Elders' Council if his marital problems worsened. When James learned he might not get what he was so aggressively pursuing after all, he had an interesting "conversion" experience. All of a sudden, he decided he could put aside the Lord's bidding for a weekend and he might really need to devote more time to his marriage and family. James' eyes weren't opened by the pastor's words. He always kept his awareness high about what might hinder or advance his cause. He knew if he didn't tend to his marriage he might lose what he really wanted. So, he chose (at least temporarily) to alter course.
In the story of Joe and Mary, Mary confronted Joe several times about what she felt was insensitivity and ruthlessness on his part in his treatment of Lisa. Joe denied his aggressiveness. He also successfully convinced Mary that what she felt in her gut was his aggressiveness was really conscientiousness, loyalty, and passionate fatherly concern. Joe wanted a daughter who got all A's. Mary stood in the way. Joe's denial was the tactic he used to remove Mary as an obstacle to what he wanted.
Selective Inattention – This tactic is similar to and sometimes mistaken for denial It's when the aggressor "plays dumb," or acts oblivious. When engaging in this tactic, the aggressor actively ignores the warnings, pleas or wishes of others, and in general, refuses to pay attention to everything and anything that might distract them from pursuing their own agenda. Often, the aggressor knows full well what you want from him when he starts to exhibit this "I don't want to hear it!" behavior. By using this tactic, the aggressor actively resists submitting himself to the tasks of paying attention to or refraining from the behavior you want him to change. In the story of Jenny and Amanda, Jenny tried to tell Amanda she was losing privileges because she was behaving irresponsibly. But Amanda wouldn't listen. Her teachers tried to tell her what she needed to do to improve her grade: but she didn't listen to them either. Actively listening to and heeding the suggestions of someone else are, among other things, acts of submission. And, as you may remember from the story, Amanda is not a girl who submits easily. Determined to let nothing stand in her way and convinced she could eventually "win" most of her power struggles with authority figures through manipulation, Amanda closed her ears. She didn't see any need to listen. From her point of view, she would only have lost some power and control if she submitted herself to the guidance and direction offered by those whom she views as less powerful, clever and capable as herself.
Rationalization – A rationalization is the excuse an aggressor tries to offer for engaging in an inappropriate or harmful behavior. It can be an effective tactic, especially when the explanation or justification the aggressor offers makes just enough sense that any reasonably conscientious person is likely to fall for it. It's a powerful tactic because it not only serves to remove any internal resistance the aggressor might have about doing what he wants to do (quieting any qualms of conscience he might have) but also to keep others off his back. If the aggressor can convince you he's justified in whatever he's doing, then he's freer to pursue his goals without interference.
In the story of little Lisa, Mary felt uneasy about the relentlessness with which Joe pursued his quest to make his daughter an obedient, all-A student once again. And, she was aware of Lisa's expressed desire to pursue counseling as a means of addressing and perhaps solving some of her problems. Although Mary felt uneasy about Joe's forcefulness and sensed the impact on her daughter, she allowed herself to become persuaded by his rationalizations that any concerned parent ought to know his daughter better than some relatively dispassionate outsider and that he was only doing his duty by doing as much as he possibly could to "help" his "little girl." When a manipulator really wants to make headway with their rationalizations they'll be sure their excuses are combined with other effective tactics. For example, when Joe was "selling" Mary on the justification for shoving his agenda down everyone's throat he was also sending out subtle invitations for her to feel ashamed (shaming her for not being as "concerned" a parent as he was) as well as making her feel guilty (guilt-tripping her) for not being as conscientious as he was pretending to be.
Diversion – A moving target is hard to hit. When we try to pin a manipulator down or try to keep a discussion focused on a single issue or behavior we don't like, he's expert at knowing how to change the subject, dodge the issue or in some way throw us a curve. Manipulators use distraction and diversion techniques to keep the focus off their behavior, move us off-track, and keep themselves free to promote their self-serving hidden agendas.
Rather than respond directly to the issue being addressed, Amanda diverted attention to her teacher's and classmates' treatment of her. Jenny allowed Amanda to steer her off track. She never got a straight answer to the question.
Another example of a diversion tactic can be found in the story of Don and Al. Al changed the subject when Don asked him if he had any plans to replace him. He focused on whether he was unhappy or not with Don's sales performance – as if that's what Don had asked him about in the first place. He never gave Don a straight answer to a straight question (manipulators are notorious for this). He told him what he thought would make Don feel less anxious and would steer him away from pursuing the matter any further. Al left feeling like he'd gotten an answer but all he really got was the "runaround."
Early in the current school year, I found it necessary to address my son's irresponsibility about doing his homework by making a rule that he bring his books home every night. One time I asked: "Did you bring your books home today?" His response was: "Guess what, Dad. Instead of tomorrow, we're not going to have our test – until Friday." My question was simple and direct. His answer was deliberately evasive and diversionary. He knew that if he answered the question directly and honestly, he would have received a consequence for failing to bring his books home. By using diversion (and also offering a rationalization) he was already fighting with me to avoid that consequence. Whenever someone is not responding directly to an issue, you can safely assume that for some reason, they're trying to give you the slip.
Lying – It's often hard to tell when a person is lying at the time he's doing it. Fortunately, there are times when the truth will out because circumstances don't bear out somebody's story. But there are also times when you don't know you've been deceived until it's too late. One way to minimize the chances that someone will put one over on you is to remember that because aggressive personalities of all types will generally stop at nothing to get what they want, you can expect them to lie and cheat. Another thing to remember is that manipulators – covert-aggressive personalities that they are – are prone to lie in subtle, covert ways. Courts are well aware of the many ways that people lie, as they require that court oaths charge that testifiers tell "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Manipulators often lie by withholding a significant amount of the truth from you or by distorting the truth. They are adept at being vague when you ask them direct questions. This is an especially slick way of lying' omission. Keep this in mind when dealing with a suspected wolf in sheep's clothing. Always seek and obtain specific, confirmable information.
Covert Intimidation – Aggressors frequently threaten their victims to keep them anxious, apprehensive and in a one-down position. Covert-aggressives intimidate their victims by making veiled (subtle, indirect or implied) threats. Guilt-tripping and shaming are two of the covert-aggressive's favourite weapons. Both are special intimidation tactics.
Guilt-tripping – One thing that aggressive personalities know well is that other types of persons have very different consciences than they do. Manipulators are often skilled at using what they know to be the greater conscientiousness of their victims as a means of keeping them in a self-doubting, anxious, and submissive position. The more conscientious the potential victim, the more effective guilt is as a weapon. Aggressive personalities of all types use guilt-tripping so frequently and effectively as a manipulative tactic, that I believe it illustrates how fundamentally different in character they are compared to other (especially neurotic) personalities. All a manipulator has to do is suggest to the conscientious person that they don't care enough, are too selfish, etc., and that person immediately starts to feel bad. On the contrary, a conscientious person might try until they're blue in the face to get a manipulator (or any other aggressive personality) to feel badly about a hurtful behavior, acknowledge responsibility, or admit wrongdoing, to absolutely no avail.
Shaming – This is the technique of using subtle sarcasm and put-downs as a means of increasing fear and self-doubt in others. Covert-aggressives use this tactic to make others feel inadequate or unworthy, and therefore, defer to them. It's an effective way to foster a continued sense of personal inadequacy in the weaker party, thereby allowing an aggressor to maintain a position of dominance.
When Joe loudly proclaimed any "good" parent would do just as he was doing to help Lisa, he subtly implied Mary would be a "bad" parent if she didn't attempt to do the same. He "invited" her to feel ashamed of herself. The tactic was effective. Mary eventually felt ashamed for taking a position that made it appear she didn't care enough about her own daughter. Even more doubtful of her worth as a person and a parent, Mary deferred to Joe, thus enabling him to rein a position of dominance over her. Covert-aggressives are expert at using shaming tactics in the most subtle ways. Sometimes it can just be in the glances they give or the tone of voice they use. Using rhetorical comments, subtle sarcasm and other techniques, they can invite you to feel ashamed of yourself for even daring to challenge them. Joe tried to shame Mary when I considered accepting the educational assessment performed by Lisa's school. He said something like: "I'm not sure what kind of doctor you are or just what kind of credentials you have, but I'm sure you'd agree that a youngster's grades wouldn't slip as much as Lisa's for no reason. You couldn't be entirely certain she didn't have a learning disability unless you did some testing, could you?' With those words, he "invited" Mary to feel ashamed of herself for not at least considering doing just as he asked. If Mary didn't have a suspicion about what he was up to, she might have accepted this invitation without a second thought.
Playing the Victim Role – This tactic involves portraying oneself as an innocent victim of circumstances or someone else's behavior in order to gain sympathy, evoke compassion and thereby get something from another. One thing that covert-aggressive personalities count on is the fact that less calloused and less hostile personalities usually can't stand to see anyone suffering. Therefore, the tactic is simple. Convince your victim you're suffering in some way, and they'll try to relieve your distress.
In the story of Amanda and Jenny, Amanda was good at playing the victim role too. She had her mother believing that she (Amanda) was the victim of extremely unfair treatment and the target of unwarranted hostility. I remember Jenny telling me: "Sometimes I think Amanda's wrong when she says her teacher hates her and I hate her. But what if that's what she really believes? Can I afford to be so firm with her if she believes in her heart that I hate her?" I remember telling Jenny: "Whether Amanda has come to believe her own distortions is almost irrelevant. She manipulates you because you believe that she believes it and allow that supposed belief to serve as an excuse for her undisciplined aggression."
Vilifying the Victim – This tactic is frequently used in conjunction with the tactic of playing the victim role. The aggressor uses this tactic to make it appear he is only responding (i.e. defending himself against) aggression on the part of the victim. It enables the aggressor to better put the victim on the defensive.
Returning again to the story of Jenny and Amanda, when Amanda accuses her mother of "hating" her and "always saying mean things" to her, she not only invites Jenny to feel the "bully," but simultaneously succeeds in "bullying" Jenny into backing off. More than any other, the tactic of vilifying the victim is a powerful means of putting someone unconsciously on the defensive while simultaneously masking the aggressive intent and behavior of the person using the tactic.
Playing the Servant Role – Covert-aggressives use this tactic to cloak their self-serving agendas in the guise of service to a more noble cause. It's a common tactic but difficult to recognize. By pretending to be working hard on someone else's behalf, covert-aggressives conceal their own ambition, desire for power, and quest for a position of dominance over others. In the story of James (the minister) and Sean, James appeared to many to be the tireless servant. He attended more activities than he needed to attend and did so eagerly. But if devoted service to those who needed him was his aim, how does one explain the degree to which James habitually neglected his family? As an aggressive personality, James submits himself to no one. The only master he serves is his own ambition. Not only was playing the servant role an effective tactic for James, but also it's the cornerstone upon which corrupt ministerial empires of all types are built. A good example comes to mind in the recent true story of a well-known tele-evangelist who locked himself up in a room in a purported display of "obedience" and "service" to God. He even portrayed himself' a willing sacrificial lamb who was prepared to be "taken by God" if he didn't do the Almighty's bidding and raise eight million dollars. He claimed he was a humble servant, merely heeding the Lord's will. He was really fighting to save his substantial material empire.
Another recent scandal involving a tele-evangelist resulted in his church's governance body censuring him for one year. But he told his congregation he couldn't stop his ministry because he had to be faithful to the Lord's will (God supposedly talked to him and told him not to quit). This minister was clearly being defiant of his church's established authority. Yet, he presented himself as a person being humbly submissive to the "highest" authority. One hallmark characteristic of covert-aggressive personalities is loudly professing subservience while fighting for dominance.
Seduction – Covert-aggressive personalities are adept at charming, praising, flattering or overtly supporting others in order to get them to lower their defenses and surrender their trust and loyalty. Covert-aggressives are also particularly aware that people who are to some extent emotionally needy and dependent (and that includes most people who aren't character-disordered) want approval, reassurance, and a sense of being valued and needed more than anything. Appearing to be attentive to these needs can be a manipulator's ticket to incredible power over others. Shady "gurus" like Jim Jones and David Koresh seemed to have refined this tactic to an art. In the story of Al and Don, Al is the consummate seducer. He melts any resistance you might have to giving him your loyalty and confidence. He does this by giving you what he knows you need most. He knows you want to feel valued and important. So, he often tells you that you are. You don't find out how unimportant you really are to him until you turn out to be in his way.
Projecting the blame (blaming others) – Aggressive personalities are always looking for a way to shift the blame for their aggressive behavior. Covert-aggressives are not only skilled at finding scapegoats, they're expert at doing so in subtle, hard to detect ways.
Minimization – This tactic is a unique kind of denial coupled with rationalization. When using this maneuver, the aggressor is attempting to assert that his abusive behavior isn't really as harmful or irresponsible as someone else may be claiming. It's the aggressor's attempt to make a molehill out of a mountain.
I've presented the principal tactics that covert-aggressives use to manipulate and control others. They are not always easy to recognize. Although all aggressive personalities tend to use these tactics, covert-aggressives generally use them slickly, subtly and adeptly. Anyone dealing with a covertly aggressive person will need to heighten gut-level sensitivity to the use of these tactics if they're to avoid being taken in by them.
Why pastors lie written by James Russell:
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Pastors lie because they have been lied to when they obtained their Divinity Degree from the School of Prostitution - the typical apostate bible-teaching college. When the pastor graduates he too is tricked into thinking, believing, acting and operating a church that is not at all like the Early Church of the New Testament. The Bible warned they would be deceived and go about deceiving others, didn't it? Well, welcome to the world. Satan has tricked the pastors and they in turn trick the flock. The system works like a charm. It tricked you! It tricked me! It fools most everyone, especially all those churchgoers who choose to ignore apostasy.
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Pastors lie because they are Purpose-Driven Liars! Strong words, yes they are. Jesus had strong insulting words to those posing to be religiously righteous while all along they were snakes, hypocrites, liars, cheats, deceivers, haters, burdensome and sons of the devil. Go read what Jesus said to those who deceive the flock of God.
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The prophets of the Old Testament spoke boldly against the false prophets deceiving the people. They were watchman! The fact is today Christians are horrifically shy, scared, terrified and frightened to upset their pastor! They go along with false teachings for fear of being excommunicated from their church or being criticized by other churchgoers. This is the hellish formula pastors have implemented inside their churches to remove all resistance to him.
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The apostate pastor wants you to obey him, not Jesus. Shocking! That is correct. You will notice that pastors never to rarely ever give sermons about obeying the commands of Jesus. Even the entire chapter of James is never preached! To witness and bear much good fruit for the Lord is avoided. Pastors preach fables, stories, lies and blend it together with excerpts from the true Gospel to add credibility to their false speeches and teachings.
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If you dare speak out against an apostate pastor and his apostate church and his apostate operating system he will boldly declare you an enemy of the church and the enemy of God. This lie is believed by churchgoers that the pastor has special God-given power and authority over the flock of God. Jesus said a pastor would be a servant, but the pastors lie and have become masters of the flock! None dare speak out against him.
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Pastors lie to promote their own agenda, over and beyond God's agenda. Most every program promoted by a pastor serves his own personal purpose. Money is collected and spent on all sorts of things. When was the last time your pastor purchased thousands of tracts and gave them to the congregation to pass out? You see, reaching the lost is not the pastor's agenda. But it is God's will, desire and commandment to us to obey it.
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Attending church today is like attending a "museum of tolerance" where the pastor tolerates every sort of sin inside his church. The Early Church never tolerated sinners to attend their meetings! They even had discipline and evicted those who persisted in sin. When did your pastor evict a sinner from his church? Your pastor lies teaches "church is for sinners" but the Apostles scream loudly it is not so! Pastors lie for the sole purpose to increase their church membership and they do so accusing the Apostles to also be liars. Your pastor advertises for new church members and thieves, murderers, con-artist, rapists, etc., arrive and sit near you casing you and your family out for their next crime. Read the newspapers of their crimes against church members! Your pastor does not not guard, warn or protect the flock. In fact, he is dangerous!
Pastors lie to enrich themselves by taking your tithe money. That is the dominating reason pastors create lies. They crave and desire to make merchandise of you, just as the Bible warned you of them!
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Pastors create a lie by creating a church building that they personally own and operate then claiming God lives in that house and you should come inside to worship God. This is a total and complete lie. The Bible says and God says He does not live inside any building made by man. it's and old trick and you need to stop falling for it.
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Most pastors live better than the members attending their church. Many are very wealthy living in gated communities and driving expensive cars, boats, aircraft, etc. These pastors steal tithe money for themselves! You should cut these pastors off from those funds. The Bible never says to give money to a pastor or to support him 100% in all his financial needs and dealings. The pastor lies because he is a leach, bleeding the financial life-blood from his subjects. He has no Biblical (or moral) right to collect a tithe. He is not a priest and he has no temple. Go read your Bible.
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Pastors make you think you know the Bible, but most Christians don't know how to read their own Bible. Pastors interpret it falsely and then divide the Word of God in error with great deception.
Any Christian could see the Great Apostasy if they only read their Bibles and compared what is Biblical to what they see and experience today inside their church!
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Pastors lie to keep you off balance and to prevent you from going forth to proclaim the Gospel to the lost. He will never teach you how to go save the lost. He will only teach you how to get another person to come to his church! You don't see pastors working the streets trying to share the Gospel of Jesus to the lost. They hide inside their churches preaching bold things behind closed doors. The world never hears their voice beyond those church doors and even television broadcasts follow the same "church formula." Only Christians watch Christian TV so the great majority of the lost stay lost. Why? Because pastors do not care to reach the lost.
There are few pastors today who actually take the Great Commission seriously. For those who do, a big THANK YOU to you for remaining faithful - James Russell
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Pastors lie because they refuse to tell the truth. Pastors lie because they do not know the truth. Pastors lie because they are blinded to he truth and Jesus said if you follow the blind leader he will lead you to a pit and you will fall down with him. This is exactly what is going on today. Millions of churchgoers are following their pastor, not Jesus. They follow and obey their pastor blindly. The pit awaits them. They were warned, but they choose to honor their lying pastor and worship him instead of the living God. They have religion, but it is not Biblical so it is all in vain.
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The pastor lies to get you side-tracked away from the Biblical God, the Biblical Jesus, the Bible period. He will even use a lying Bible and call it the true Bible. Many pastors never use the King James Version, and even those that do distort it.
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Pastors lie because if they don't lie they will be reprimanded, transferred and yes, even fired. They are hirelings! Even those who own their own churches must appease their flock or they will leave him, so he compromises constantly the true Gospel to preach a counterfeit gospel. This fake gospel is a gospel that uses the true Gospel, but never entirely teaches all of what the true Gospel teaches or commands Christians to do. It's like tearing the pages out of the true Gospel to make a new crippled, fake gospel. Pastors are professional liars!
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A pastor lies in every sermon. If you had Apostate Eyes you would fall over hearing the blasphemies being preached in the pulpit, on TV and in books written by pastors. The swirling lies are like tornadoes enveloping the entire so-called Christian churches sweeping up everyone in the whirlwind of destruction. Few are going to heaven, very few. Only those who obey God. Today, to obey God, you must disobey your pastor. The lie is that pastors make you believe you are going to heaven when you are actually going to hell. It is a satanic trick. Don't fall for it.
Seven Satanic Deceptions written By Richard F. Ames:
Human nature is filled with vanity, jealousy, greed, and lust. Satan can take advantage of that tendency and weakness in all of us. He sends temptation through the media—movies, television, magazines and the Internet—and through carnal and covetous individuals.
The Apostle Paul warned married couples not to deprive one another from sexual relations. Otherwise, Satan could take advantage of our carnal nature. "Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control" (1 Corinthians 7:5).
In our modern age, sexual temptations are all around us. So, the Apostle Paul advised those who might lack self-control, "Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband" (1 Corinthians 7:2).
We need to understand that lust, greed and covetousness are sin. The tenth commandment states: "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s" (Exodus 20:17).
Instead of coveting, be thankful for all the blessings God has given you. After all, God promises to provide all your godly needs. That promise is in Philippians 4:19. We need to understand that covetousness is a form of idolatry. We can desire a person, position or possession so strongly that it becomes an idol to us. Remember this admonition: "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5).
We need to pray, as Jesus taught us, "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (Matthew 6:13).
Deception 3: Pride, Vanity and Arrogance
Selfishness and egotism are part and parcel of human nature. We like to feel important. That desire can lead to deception. The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy concerning the ordination of a bishop, or an overseer. He wrote that such a candidate should be "not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:6–7).
Do you let pride and vanity guide your thinking and behavior? If so, you can be deceived. You can be snared by the devil. How do you counteract self-centeredness and vanity? The Apostle James wrote: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:10).
Remember the biblical examples of those who cultivated pride, and did not give glory to God? King Herod allowed himself to be worshipped as a god! He cultivated vanity and arrogance. And what happened to him? "So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied" (Acts 12:21–24).
Another king, who had to learn lessons the hard way, was King Nebuchadnezzar. When he neglected to take the prophet Daniel’s advice to repent, God took Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom away from him. And King Nebuchadnezzar lived like an animal for seven years, until he learned his lesson. You can read about that in Daniel 4.
We need to be on guard against pride. When God blesses you, give Him the glory. As Paul wrote, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31).
There is a classic example of lying in the New Testament. Members of the early Christian Church donated property and funds to help fellow Christians. However, one individual named Ananias, committed fraud. He claimed to have given all of the proceeds to the Church, but held back some of the funds. He lied to the Apostle Peter. We read: "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’ Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things" (Acts 5:1–5).
Sapphira came to Peter later. She lied, and she experienced the same judgment as her husband. She died on the spot! We need to understand. Satan is the father of lies, as it states in John 8:44. So, examine yourself. Monitor your communications. Do you shade the truth? Or, do you simply lie? Do not let Satan take advantage of you, as he did with Ananias and Sapphira. Remember the ninth commandment states: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). And we must also realize that we can live a lie. Too many professing Christians are doing just that! As Scripture warns us, "He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:4).
Ask God to help you speak the truth and live the truth!
Deception 5: False Dreams, Visions and "Miracles"
How many times have individuals told me about dreams or visions that were obviously Satan-inspired? Some thought they had seen Jesus. He supposedly appeared to them wearing the long hair with which He is commonly pictured in our society. But the Jesus of the Bible did not have long hair. Paul wrote: "Doth not even nature itself teach you that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" (1 Corinthians 11:14, KJV). Jesus escaped out of crowds on several occasions because He looked like the average Jew of His day. Do not be deceived by dreams, visions, or appealing messages. The Apostle John wrote: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
The occult appeals to many people. Some try to contact their deceased relatives through mediums. Children read Harry Potter books and become fascinated with the occult. Satanic video games are popular. You need to educate your children on the dangers of the occult, satanic activities and other demonic influences. God Almighty condemns witchcraft and sorcery. He tells us, "For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord" (Deuteronomy 18:12). Be sure to read Deuteronomy 18:9–14 and Galatians 5:20 in this regard.
Satan will use dreams, visions and "miracles" to deceive people. The book of Revelation describes the great false prophet who will soon rise on the world scene. Be sure to read this in your own Bible. "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb [a counterfeit of Christ] and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived" (Revelation 13:11–14).
Do not be deceived! False religious leaders will perform great signs and miracles. Be sure that you test all such leaders with the Bible, the word of God. That is why we say in Tomorrow’s World magazine, and on the Tomorrow’s World telecast, "Don’t believe us; believe your Bible!" As Scripture says, "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).
We can all look forward to the day when Satan the Devil will be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. You can read about that in Revelation 20. In the meantime, we must remain watchful and on guard.
If we are not careful to watch our feelings, we can become bitter. Perhaps someone offends us. Then the hurt feeling turns into a grudge. Then we start thinking about revenge. If such feelings are nursed and encouraged, they can turn into hate. Then, that hate can turn into bitterness. Christians need to identify and overcome any feelings of hate and bitterness. Notice this instruction: "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled" (Hebrews 12:14–15).
Such bitterness can even lead to the unpardonable sin. How can we counteract those feelings? Simply by following Jesus Christ’s instructions! He taught us: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:44–45).
Even professing Christians sometimes fall into the trap of plotting revenge for some offense or injustice. God warns us against that attitude: "Do not say, ‘I will recompense evil’; wait for the Lord, and He will save you" (Proverbs 20:22). Our Lord and Savior set the example, that "when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:23).
Pray for God’s intervention—that He will execute His righteous judgment. He will execute vengeance, if it is divinely warranted. Christians should not take vengeance into their own hands and succumb to Satan’s attitude of hate. Scripture warns us: "For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:30–31).
Christians need to pray for their enemies. Bless those who curse you. That is the Christian way! That is how we can overcome Satan’s infectious attitude of hate and bitterness.
Deception 7: Lack of Faith
When Satan attacked him, the patriarch Job remained faithful to God—and learned vital spiritual lessons. At one point, Job said: "For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me" (Job 3:25). In our modern language, we might call Job’s experience a "self-fulfilling prophecy."
As Christians, we must face our fears with faith, and must pray for God’s protection and intervention. When we study the Bible, and we believe God’s promises, He gives us faith. Scripture reminds us, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
Lack of faith opens us to Satanic deceptions. The book of Hebrews recounts the faithlessness of those ancient Israelites who lacked faith and trust in God. We need to learn from their hardness of heart, and avoid it in our own lives. "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:12–13).
Those who lack faith in Christ, and who persist in trusting Satan, will ultimately be destroyed. "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerors, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). Thankfully, there is also good news for those who have faith and avoid Satan’s deceptions. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (v. 7).
God wants you to be His faithful and trusting son or daughter, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. He will give you His faith, if you turn to Him with your whole heart. In the meantime, arm yourself with spiritual knowledge. Avoid self-deception. Avoid the world’s deceptions. And avoid Satan’s deceptions. As the Apostle Paul reminded us, Christians are not ignorant of Satan’s devices. As regular readers of this magazine know, Bible prophecy foretells of a great future false religious system, inspired by Satan, that will influence billions of people all over the earth. By staying close to the true God, you can avoid Satanic deception. Do not let yourself be deceived
Identifying False Teachers
"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, . . ." (2 Peter 2:1)
To begin with, if the teacher is caught within the prevailing false Christianity that is described in "You Think You're Saved, But You're Not!" you can know they are not in the truth based on that alone. Being on the broad way leads to nowhere but hell (Matthew 7:13-14).
Moreover, the following is not exhaustive, because, no doubt, other factors may come into play that would clearly identify a person as a false teacher (like a homosexual teacher, or an adulterer who is a teacher, or a female pastor, 1 Timothy 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 14:34-37; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). But, here are seven identifying marks from Scripture. If any one of these points can honestly describe a man, that they are characteristic of his life, any one of these alone marks him as false. This is not to say that these marks stand alone, that is, that a man would have only one mark and not any others. But, for the sake of simplicity and to help in identification, one mark is all it takes.
I. False Teaching
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9)
Since Christ is the Word of God (i.e. the Scriptures, John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 4:12-13; Revelation 19:13), the doctrine of Christ is not just His teaching found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but rather, His teaching is the entirety of Scripture. Therefore, a teacher can be found to be true or false based on the simple fact as to whether he abides within the confines of the word of God, or does not (John 8:47; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 John 9).
Jesus said,
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:15-20)
What are the fruits that Jesus speaks of by which we may identify false prophets? Matthew 7 doesn't tell us what the fruit is, but Luke does.
For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:39-45)
So, what is the "fruit?" The fruit is what comes out of the mouth.
Now, even though Jesus speaks specifically of false prophets in Matthew 7:15-20, in Luke 6:39-45 he speaks in more general terms ("man"). Therefore, Christ's words about knowing them by their fruit is applicable to both prophet and teacher, or anyone else for that matter. You can know a person by what comes out of their mouth (Proverbs 20:11). Yet, this is so often missed.
When the false teaching of highly respected men in the Christian community gets exposed, it is amazing some of the arguments we hear. People will see the false doctrine, and still they say, "But do you know the man? Have you ever talked to him? Have you spent some time with him?" Jesus didn't say, "You shall know them by spending time with them." If what is coming out of their mouths is deceit, bad fruit, on a consistent basis, then you know the man is false! It's that simple! You don't have to personally know the man.
If we were to follow some of the folly we have heard, then we could never study a man's teaching (his fruit) and know if he's a false teacher or not, because we have not called him first, made an appointment with him, sat down with him, and really gotten to know him. We could not take to heart Christ's words, ". . . by their fruits you will know them."
Typically, people seem to think the fruit (good fruit) is the big ministry, like the ministries of someone like Billy Graham, or Promise Keepers, or James Dobson, or John MacArthur or Chuck Swindoll. Or, they might think the fruit is all the masses of people following them, as if this was good fruit. The problem with this kind of thinking is that these very things (a big ministry with many following them) expose them for what they are, ungodly men (Jude 14-15)! Besides Luke 6:26, 2 Peter 2:2 says,
And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
In these last days (2 Timothy 3:1; 4:3; Luke 18:8) a following of many is a sign of a false teacher, not a true teacher. Few follow truth. Many (2 Peter 2:2) follow lies (Mt. 7:13-14). And, even in this, the context of many and few is within the context of the "people of God" (2 Peter 2:1-2). Jesus' warning in Matthew 7:13-14 is to those who are called "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-14). His warning is in the context of the correct religion, as is exemplified by the following verses (Matthew 7:15-27).
So, how much false doctrine makes a man a false teacher? It doesn't take very much. 1 Timothy 1:3 says, "teach no other doctrine." What is the standard? It is "no other doctrine." It is not, "Well, you can be off on some things," as if to say, you can continue in false doctrine. Scripture says no such thing. 1 Timothy 6:3 says,
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words [Genesis to Revelation has very wholesome words], even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, . . .
If anyone teaches other than the Word of God, it is false teaching. Those who have the Holy Spirit in them will hear God's Words (John 8:47). They will consent to wholesome words. Those who do not know God, will not consent (John 8:47).
Now, what about confrontation? What about giving a man an opportunity to consent to wholesome words? If there are no other signs of him being a false teacher (like those mentioned below), then Scripture gives both instruction and a warning to safeguard the believer.
1 Timothy 5:19-21 gives instruction in how to confront an elder (pastor) who is sinning. False teaching is sin, therefore it should be dealt with publicly ("in the presence of all," 1 Timothy 5:20). If the man has an identifying mark of a false teacher, Jesus warns not to confront him privately (Matthew 7:3-6). False teachers are to be dealt with publicly. Jesus did this in both Matthew 23 and Luke 11.
Now, if you suspect someone is a false teacher and you want to confront them on false teaching, do it Biblically. Do it publicly. If he is simply a sinning elder, then he should be confronted "in the presence of all" (i.e. publicly, in the presence of the assembly of believers, 1 Timothy 3:15; 5:19-20). If he turns out to be a man who simply was in error (like Peter, Galatians 2:11-21), then he will consent to wholesome words (1 Timothy 6:3). If he turns out to actually be a false teacher, he will not consent (1 Timothy 6:3-5) and you should flee such a man (John 10:5; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:20-21). Don't privately rebuke (correct) a pastor who has taught false doctrine. This is against 1 Timothy 5:19-20. If you privately rebuke a pastor, and if he turns out to be a false teacher, you will be torn in pieces (Matthew 7:6).
2 Peter 2:1 speaks of destructive heresies. How do you determine what's destructive and what's not? The bottom line is this: anything contrary to the Word of God has the potential to be destructive, because it diverts the trust away from the Word of God.
For example, in Romans 14:1 Paul tells us not to dispute over doubtful things. He gives as an example the eating of meat. Paul tells us flat out, don't contend for this. You don't contend over doubtful things. What is the realm he's talking about? It is the realm of the conscience, one's own personal conviction (Romans 14:22-23). If it's left in the realm of personal conscience, it's a doubtful thing. It's not to be disputed over (Romans 14:2-4). But, if someone takes this beyond personal conviction, then we have a problem. If they say something to the effect, "We cannot eat meat. We are not pleasing in the sight of God if we eat meat." as if this is what the Bible teaches, they've gone from a doubtful thing to a demonic teaching (1Timothy 4:1-5). The same issue, if left in the realm of personal conviction, is a doubtful matter not to be disputed over. Yet, if it is taught as a doctrine, this becomes a destructive heresy (1 Timothy 4:1-5), and should be contended against (Jude 3). [For more, see Unity of the Saints.]
II. Appeal To Tradition
When it comes to a proper understanding of the Word of God, the Holy Spirit is all the believer needs (1 John 2:27). The believer does not need the "church fathers" (who were Catholic, see The Early Church Fathers), or the supposed great men of God in the past, or church history, or commentaries, or Bible scholars, or some particular man (like Darwin Fish), etc.. Any appeal otherwise is an appeal to the tradition of men. In Colossians 2:8 Paul warned,
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
We do not need the "teaching of the ages" (the tradition of men) to understand the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is all we need to understand the Word of God. 1 John 2:26-27 says,
These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
Do we need to have the "oaring" or the anchor of church tradition to keep us from wandering from the truth? No. We need the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (1 John 2:20-21)
Found in the context of these verses (1 John 2:20-21, 26-27) are verses about antichrists (1 John 2:18-19). 1 John 4:1-6 says,
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Likewise, 2 John 7 says,
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
What is it to "not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh"? Basically, it is to deny the truth of 2 Peter 1:3 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17, or to deny what is seen in 1 John 2:26-27 - that all you need is Christ, His Word and His Spirit. If someone comes along and says you need the traditions of men to properly understand the Word of God and/or to live this life as we ought - that is antichrist. If someone comes along with empty deceit, swaying you away from following the Word of Christ - that is antichrist. If someone persuades you toward philosophy or pragmatism (basic principles of the world) - that is antichrist.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. [Why?] For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:8-10) [because]
In other words, you don't need philosophy. You don't need the tradition of men. You don't need basic principles that work in this world. You need Christ, and Him alone. Because "in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily". In other words, God is in the flesh in Christ. God, Jesus Christ, has come in the flesh. Believers are complete in Christ and need nothing else for living out this life in godliness, holiness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23; Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14-16). You don't need psychology, or traditions (handed down teachings other than the Word of God) or "what works" (basic principles of the world), etc.. 2 Peter. 1:2-3 says,
. . . as His divine power has given to us all things [we are not lacking anything] that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
The believer has all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ (the Word, Revelation 19:13; Hebrews 4:12-13). We don't need anything else. To say we do is to deny Christ has come in the flesh, and is antichrist (against Christ). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,
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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Word of God is all you need to make you "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." When teachers or anyone comes along and says, "You need commentaries or the early church fathers or the understanding of the studies of the supposed men of God of the past, in order to properly understand the Word of God," this is antichrist. Some may refer you to "the historic Christian faith" or "Orthodox Christianity." These terms point to the traditions of men (Colossians 2:8). This appeal is antichrist. What is the true standard for truth? It is the Word of God, not "historic Christianity." Such an appeal to tradition exposes a man to be a false teacher, whose trust is not in God, who is in the flesh (Jesus Christ, John 1:14, Colossians 2:9), but rather in the tradition of men (Colossians 2:8-10; 2 John 7).
III. Worldly Wisdom
Akin to the above, in 1 Corinthians 2:2 Paul wrote,
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
What did Paul mean by this statement? That he didn't teach on other matters of Scripture other than the character and actions of Christ (like what is found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the fact of His crucifixion? No. Paul taught the whole counsel of God (Acts. 20:27). In 1 Corinthians 2:2 Paul is not saying that he didn't teach the whole council of God. Actually, his statement means that he did teach the whole counsel of God, because Christ (the Word, John 1:1, 14; Revelation 19:14; Hebrews 4:12-13) is the whole counsel of God. He is the Word of the living God. So, what Paul was basically pointing out here is that the knowledge he let out of his lips was the knowledge of the Scripture (Christ), and Him crucified. The wisdom of this world he determined not to know (1 Corinthians 3:19).
Paul didn't come along with a bunch of great worldly wisdom. He says, "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Appeals to the wisdom of this world (like psychology) or wanting to bring any worldly wisdom in to help out on how to deal with living this life before God and ways that please Him, or how to deal with sin, or demented minds (Romans 1:28), etc., identifies a man as a false teacher, as antichrist (Colossians 2:8-10; 2 John 7). Because, Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (2 John 9). He took on the same kind of flesh as we have (Hebrews 2:14). He suffered in this flesh and was tempted as we are (Hebrews 2:18). He learned obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8). He even feared God as we ought (Hebrews 5:7).
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
Jesus Christ is in the flesh, even today (1 Timothy 2:5), and He is the God of all flesh. Is there anything too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:27)? No.
IV. Lewdness
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness . . . (Jude 3-4)
A common identifying mark of a false teacher is someone who turns the grace of our God into lewdness. Another description of lewdness can be found in 2 Timothy 3:5 which says, "having a form of godliness but denying its power." They have a form of Christianity (godliness), but deny the power of true Christianity (true godliness). They deny the power that is manifest in a true conversion where the grace of God has saved a soul (Ephesians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). How do false teachers deny the power of godliness? How is this "lewdness" seen?
A. Practical lewdness
There are many who turn the grace of God into lewdness and basically teach that a person can actually know Christ, be saved, be on their way to heaven, and live in and practice sin without repentance. This concept goes against much of the word of God (e.g. Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; 6:7-8; Ephesians 5:5-6; 1 John 1:5-6; 2:3-5; 1 John 3:6-10; Revelation 21:8; 22:15).
To say that a person can live in sin unrepentantly and still be saved (i.e. on their way to heaven) is turning the grace of God into lewdness (a license to sin). 1 John. 2:4 deals with this issue very clearly.
He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
If a teacher teaches that you can practice sin without repentance and live in that state and still know God, they are a liar. They are among those who turn the grace of our God into lewdness. This alone shows them to be a false teacher. Scripture says that the sexually immoral, idolaters, effeminate, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, cowards, liars, murderers, sorcerers, whisperers, backbiters, violent, proud, disobedient to parents, untrustworthy, undiscerning, unloving, unforgiving, hypocrites, rebellious, unholy, kidnappers, perjurers, or any other who are contrary to sound doctrine, all who live unrighteously will go to hell if they die in such a state (Ezekiel 33:12-19; Romans 1:29-31; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; Revelation 21:8; 22:15).
B. Doctrinal lewdness
2 John 9 states,
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
The "doctrine of Christ" is the teaching of Christ. If you understand that Christ is the Word (John 1:1, 14; Revelation 19:13; Hebrews 4:12-13), then you will understand that Genesis to Revelation is the "doctrine of Christ." So, verse nine establishes that those who have God are faithful to the Word of God. They "abide in the doctrine of Christ". Those who don't stay in the bounds of Holy Scripture, don't have God. That's what is established in verse nine. Then in verse ten it says,
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [i.e. what he just laid out in verse nine], do not receive him into your house nor greet him; (2 John 10)
In other words, if someone comes to you and doesn't teach that if you go outside of the bounds of the Word of God, characteristically ("abide") teaching contrary to the Word of God, you therefore, don't know God; if they don't bring that doctrine, don't have anything to do with them. Don't even greet them.
If you greet him, you share in his evil deeds (verse 11). Why? If he comes to you with that mind-set and that teaching, and you say, "Hey brother!" (or something of that nature) and you greet him and bring him into your house, what are you doing? You are basically saying the same kind of thing he is. You aren't in opposition to him. You are bringing him in saying, "We all have God. I mean, you have your falsehood and I guess I have mine. But we're all brothers in the Lord. We're all learning and growing." If you receive him into your house, you're rejecting 2 John 9 just like he does, at least in practice, if not in precept, by your very actions.
What 2 John 9 teaches is basically the truth that Jesus points out in John 10:4-5 & 10:27-28.
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. [i.e., they won't follow false teachers] (John 10:4-5)
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:27-28)
In other words, those who have God take heed to the Words of God. Jesus said in John 8:47, "He who is of God hears God's words." If you don't take heed to the Words of God (no matter what the issue is) you don't have God (2 John 9; 1 Timothy 6:3-5).
Therefore, to maintain that "we are all Christians, we just have our doctrinal differences," or to maintain some "essentials/fundamentals of the faith" (in which there are supposedly secondary, non-essential doctrines that are not necessary for salvation) is doctrinal lewdness. It is lewd to teach any form of ecumenism. It basically writes a license for error.
Ecumenism characterizes a false teacher. It turns the grace of God into lewdness. Because, contrary to any ecumenical mindset, God's people are one (John 17:17-21), and those born of God do walk in truth (2 John 9; 1 John 1:7; 2:3-5), both practically in daily living, and doctrinally in what they believe (Romans 8:14, see also our report entitled, The Unity Of The Saints and/or You Think You're Saved, But You're Not!).
V. Silence
John 10:11-13 states,
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
The hireling (the one who is there to make money, the wage earner) does nothing about the wolves. Wolves are those that propagate falsehood (e.g. Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29). The hireling does nothing about other false teachers.
When you see a man who does not warn (by name), you are looking at a false teacher himself, a hireling. And when we say "warn", we are talking about the kind of warning the Word of God gives in regards to false teachers. Some "Christian" leaders may give the appearance that they expose false teachers, but do they really expose them for what they are? False teachers lead people to hell (Matthew 7:13-14; 15:12-14; 23:15; Luke 6:39; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 2:10; 2 Peter 2:18-22; Revelation 21:8; 22:15), because they deceitfully divert people's trust away from the Word of God. False teachers lead people to hell, and they themselves are on their way to hell (2 Peter 2:17; Jude 4,13). Any Biblical exposure of a false teacher is with this understanding. There is no such thing as a saved (i.e. on his way to heaven) wolf. False teachers destroy souls, and they themselves will be destroyed (2 Peter 2:3). Cowards (Revelation 21:8) would be fearful of making such a distinction and exposure.
God says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." (Ephesians 5:11) If some pastor/teacher or "Christian" leader refuses to expose works of darkness [By the way, false teachers are workers of darkness, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15] they are;
1.) Refusing to obey the Word of God (Ephesians 5:11).
2.) Not hating evil (Proverbs 8:13), thus showing they don't fear God.
3.) Displaying the actions of a hireling, one who does not care about the sheep. They give the appearance that they care about the flock (Matthew 23:28), but the very fact that they're not warning about the false teachers of our day and exposing them shows they really don't care about the sheep. And this alone identifies them as a false teacher (a hireling, a wage earner, someone who is in it for the money, 1 Timothy 6:5; 2 Peter 2:15).
Typically, not only do false teachers not expose, they also give hearty approval to many of the teachers of our day who are well spoken of (Luke 6:26). They not only refuse to expose the unfruitful works of darkness, but they also have fellowship with them by exalting them as godly men. Book endorsements often document this well.
Jack Hayford's book, Pastors of Promise (copyright 1997) epitomizes this with the first six pages of the book entitled "Praise for Pastors of Promise." For six pages one false teacher after the other praises Hayford and/or his book. Thirty "Christian" leaders praise a man (and/or his book) who turns the grace of God into lewdness (Jude 4, see our report on Hayford). Actually, only three out of the thirty quotes are praise only for the book. Twenty seven of the quotes praise Hayford himself. The false Christian leaders quoted are, Joe C. Aldrich (President, Multnomah College and Biblical Seminary, Portland, Oregon), Leith Anderson (Pastor, Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, Minnesota), Neil Anderson (Founder and President, Freedom in Christ Ministries, La Habra, California), Sonny Arguinzoni (Pastor and Founder, Victory Outreach Ministries International, La Puente, California), Bishop Charles E. Blake (Senior Pastor, West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Los Angeles, California), Bill Bright (Founder and President, Campus Crusade for Christ International, Orlando, Florida), Dr. James B. Buskirk (Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma), Paul A. Cedar (President, Evangelical Free Church of America, Minneapolis, Minnesota), Charles W. Colson (Founder, Prison Fellowship Ministries, Washington, D.C.), Dr. Stephen Paul Goold (Senior Pastor, Crystal Evangelical Free Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota), Stephen Green (Senior Pastor, First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena, Pasadena, California), Ted Haggard (Pastor, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado), Dr. John Holland (President, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, Los Angeles, California), Dr. John A. Huffman, Jr. (Senior Minister, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, California), Bill Hybels (Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Illinois), Greg Laurie (Pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, California), John MacArthur (Pastor-Teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California), John C. Maxwell (Founder, Injoy, San Diego, California), Bob Moorehead (Senior Pastor, Overlake Christian Church, Kirkland, Washington), Doug Murren (Pastor, Eastside Foursquare Church, Kirkland, Washington), Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie (Chaplain, United States Senate, Washington, D.C.), James Ryle (Pastor, Boulder Valley Vineyard, Longmont, Colorado), Dale Schlafer (Vice President/Renewal and Revival, Promise Keepers, Denver, Colorado), Dr. Robert Schuller (The Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California), Dr. Morris Sheats (Senior Pastor, Hillcrest Church, Dallas, Texas), Vinson Synan (Dean, School of Divinity, Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia), B. E. Underwood (Pastor, The Pentecostal Holiness Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Dr. Paul Walker (Pastor, Mount Paran Church of God, Atlanta, Georgia), John Wimber (International Director, Association of Vineyard Churches, Anaheim, California), and Ed Young (Pastor, Fellowship of Las Colinas, Irving, Texas). The titles and locations of these leaders was taken from Hayford's book. John Wimber has since died (2 Peter 2:17).
Now, compare this praise and the silence mentioned in John 10 with the law of God, God Himself, and men of God in the past. When compared, it should become blazingly obvious that someone who does not expose false teachers, the false teachers of our day who are "among" us (2 Peter 2:1), does not have God (2 John 9)!
A. The law
If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, "Let us go after other gods"- which you have not known - "and let us serve them," you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God . . . (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)
The law is not silent about false prophets and how to deal with them. The law is not silent when a false prophet comes along. God's law says that he is to be put to death. We have here serious opposition! How could the law be opposed any stronger than that? In the law of God, exposure, opposition, and destruction are reserved for those who speak falsely in the name of God.
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, "How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?" - when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22)
In other words, don't be afraid of him, kill him (Deuteronomy 18:20). The law commanded death to those who, on their own accord, presumed to speak in the Lord's name, and it commanded death to those who might speak in order to turn the people away from the Lord God. This is what false teachers do. They speak in the name of the Lord falsely, and they speak so as to turn people away from God (being deceived themselves, 2 Timothy 3:13). [By the way, we are not instructed today to kill anyone, Romans 10:4; 13:1-2; Galatians 5:18; unless you are a peace officer, or soldier ,doing so in the line of duty, Romans 13:4.]
B. God Himself
An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: [God calls it an astonishing and horrible thing. And what is it?] The prophets prophesy falsely [This is not a small matter.], and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:30-31)
False prophesying, which is equivalent to false teaching, is counted by God as an "astonishing and horrible thing."
Then the Lord said to me, "Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence." Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.' And the Lord said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land' - by sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!" (Jeremiah 14:11-15)
God is seriously against those who speak lies! Note also verse sixteen.
And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; they will have no one to bury them - them nor their wives, their sons nor their daughters - for I will pour their wickedness on them. (Jeremiah 14:16)
This is why lies spoken in the name of God are so horrible. It brings to destruction, eternal destruction, to those who follow the lies. In fact, in Jeremiah 23:22 the Lord indicates that, at least in this context, if truth would have been spoken by these men, people would have taken heed.
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. (Jeremiah 23:22)
People are being led to be disobedient to the true word of God. So the Lord says to these prophets who prophesied falsely,
"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-2)
How does He attend to them?
And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten. (Jeremiah 23:40)
What is He talking about? Hell (Daniel 12:2). Read through Jeremiah 23:9-40 and Ezekiel 13:1-8 and you should see God is severely against those who speak falsely in His name. God is seriously opposed to false teachers (see also 2 Peter 2:3-9; Jude 5-7,11). Therefore, it is absolutely ludicrous not to expose them (Ephesians 5:11).
Some false teacher might say, "We preach the Word of God to our people. It is up to them to figure out who the false teachers are." That is ludicrous! Are we to preach the Word and turn right around and not obey it? God says, "expose" them (Eph. 5:11). "Beware" of them (Matthew 7:15). "Note" them (Romans 16:17).
C. Men of God
Just as God is against those who speak falsely in His name, so are His sons against those who speak falsely in God's name (Romans 8:14). If you do not see this in a man, if you do not see in a man a holy anger and hatred for those who speak falsehood, you are not looking at a man who has the Spirit of God in him.
Paul
Paul had the Spirit of God in him, and he seriously opposed those who would lead someone astray. In Acts 13:6-12 Paul opposes Elymas. In Philippians 3:1-2 this warning is given:
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
Paul is speaking here of human beings, and he calls them "dogs" and "the mutilation." The mutilation is a very not-so-smooth non-flattering way to talk about the Jews (Philippians 3:3). Paul is not fond of people who would lead believers astray! In Galatians Paul's words for those who propagated circumcision to those believers in Galatia are as follows:
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9)
I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! (Galatians 5:12)
In Acts 20:25-31 Paul exemplifies the kind of shepherd he was and the concerns that were continually upon his heart.
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20:29-31)
What about naming names? Did Paul name names? Yes indeed! Paul saw no problem specifically exposing people in his day. In 2 Timothy 4:14 Paul names Alexander the coppersmith. He not only gives his name and gives the trade he was in, but prays that God would judge him for what he did!
Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. (2 Timothy 4:14)
In 1 Timothy 1:18-20 Paul names Hymenaeus and Alexander. In 2 Timothy 1:15 Paul names Phygellus and Hermogenes. In 2 Timothy 2:17-19 Paul names Hymenaeus and Phyletus. In 2 Timothy 3:8 Paul names Jannes and Jambres; although they were dead, he still names them. In 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul names Demas, mentions that he had forsaken him, and notes how he "loved this present world" pointing out that the man was hell bound (1 John 2:15). In Galatians 2:11-21 Paul even publicly confronts Peter, who was not a false teacher, and calls him to account for his hypocrisy.
Christians are told to "note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them." (Romans 16:17) Paul practiced what he preached.
Jesus
God in the flesh (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16) opposed and warned about the false teachers of His day.
Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? - but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:6-12)
Jesus wasn't talking about an obscure group that didn't exist. He spoke of the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were in the right religion of the day, Judaism (Romans 3:1-2; John 4:22). The disciples knew about these two groups of religious leaders. He notes them and warns the disciples of the "doctrine [teaching] of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
It's interesting that He uses the term "leaven." Leaven is a small amount of yeast (or some other leavening agent) that goes into bread and has a permeating effect, and it affects the entire loaf. This is the same picture 2 Peter 2:1 gives of the teaching of false teachers. They secretly bring in destructive heresies. Secret destructive heresies permeate through an assembly of people in a hidden way and cause destruction, soul destruction.
Besides warning about the teaching, Jesus even mentions other matters than just their teaching.
Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the Scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." (Mark 12:38-40)
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known." (Luke 12:1-2)
Here, in Luke 12:1-2, Jesus warns that they will say one thing and do another (hypocrisy). They might say the right thing but not live it. That's typically how hypocrisy is lived.
In Matthew 23:13-33 Jesus graphically opposes the false teachers of His day. He calls them "snakes." Another perfect example of serious opposition and exposure of those who propagate lies in the name of God is found in Luke 11:37-54. Here, over the dinner table, Jesus rebukes them right to their face.
And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them." Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, "Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also." And He said, "Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,' that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered." And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him. (Luke 11:37-54)
Jesus is in serious, to-the-face, hard core opposition to those who lead people astray. Jesus says, "Woe" to them. What is the woe? Here is the woe.
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! (Matthew 18:6-7)
Christ is talking about believers (Matthew 18:3) who are caused to stumble. That's exactly what false teachers do; they cause the little ones to stumble (2 Peter 2:18). That woe is still effective today as Jesus' words are still true.
The false teachers of today typically give the false appearance (Matthew 23:28) that they are opposed to those who speak falsehood. They will speak of false teachers in general. They'll say, "Watch out for the false prophets." They will in general say "Watch out for false teachers" and they typically play it safe. "Watch out for Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons, or some false religion like Islam." But they fail to expose those who are "among" "God's people," who have "crept in unnoticed" (Jude 4). What we have just seen through a lot of these Scriptures is not only general warning, but specific exposure and opposition to specific people and specific groups. These are named and identified and even to their face opposed. There is not behind-closed doors kind of stuff going on here. This is out in the open, in the face, serious, hard-core opposition.
So, when you see a man who is silent about the wolves of our day, it is because he's a hireling. He's in it for the money. Thus, he is a false teacher himself and does not care about the sheep (John 10:12-13). This one identifying mark condemns him. That is all you need to know about a man. The Holy Spirit is in opposition to him.
VI. Covetousness
2 Peter 2:3 states, speaking of false teachers, "by covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words." In the second part of verse fourteen of 2 Peter 2 it says, "They have a heart trained in covetous practices . . . ." This is core to false teachers. They are covetous. This is where their heart resides, in covetousness. This is something that is hard to prove to those who are blind (i.e. those who do not walk in truth, 2 Corinthians 4:4). Nonetheless, it is an identifying mark for those who have eyes to see. [You may also want to read the article on Debt.]
1 Peter 5:1-2 says,
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.
What is contrasted to dishonest gain? Eagerness. When false teachers sell their teachings, tapes, books, etc., for profit, are they being eager about getting it out there? What are they being eager for? They're being eager for money. It is "dishonest gain" to put a price tag on the word of God and profit from it. Some churches have seminars or classes in which they charge for their teaching. Seminaries and Bible Colleges epitomize dishonest gain. Class after class requires dollar after dollar in order to be taught, supposedly, the word of God. For many, "godliness" is for the rich! Paul said,
For we are not, as so many, [It was already a prevalent practice in Paul's day.] peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:17).
Now, the above is not typically acknowledged. But, perhaps some of the letters these false teachers send out might be a little more help in exposing their covetous hearts (2 Peter 2:14).
Ken Ham, executive director for Answers in Genesis, writes in his December 1998 newsletter,
. . . so as we end another year and look forward to this second millennium, I plead with you to carefully consider the real nature of the spiritual battle being waged in America. My desire is to remain in the spiritual fight at the foundational level and to do that, Answers in Genesis needs your financial help. We want to end 1998 in the black, as we have every year. We need your support in order to make that happen.
Just by the statement, "we need your support" what does he reveal? He has no faith in God. Where's the faith in the statement, "we need your support in order to make that happen." If it's of God, he wouldn't need anybody's support but God's support, and God would provide as He saw fit (be it through people or otherwise) without having to beg for money.
Ken writes further in the next paragraph, "we have a number of projects that need to be funded if they are going to have an impact on lives." In the next paragraph, he says, ". . . through your generous gift (or gifts) to the great opportunities below you can take an active role in the battle with us." And in the last paragraph he writes,
. . . we are going to stand our ground and fight for what is clearly a right zoning decision. This fight will be very expensive and we need your special financial help to cover these legal costs during the next few months. Costs have already exceeded $10,000. It is an extra financial burden that I wish I didn't have to mention, but after much godly council, the AiG board of directors and I believe it is absolutely the right thing to do! Please consider an extra special gift to help us in this fight! (emphasis in original)
In other words, he's saying, "Please give me your money!" Using the kind of argument Ken Ham uses here, anybody could ask for your money. "I need a barn, and I need your money to build my barn so I can use it to God's glory." You can always talk like that, no matter what your agenda is.
Another example of wanting your money (covetousness) is found in a November 23, 1998 letter written by Dr. Sydney DeWall, president of the Jerusalem University College in Israel. He says at the end of the letter,
This Christmas, please consider a gift of $500, $250, $100, $50 or more as your way of furthering the knowledge of our future Christian leaders about the one who is our Savior Jesus Christ.
In other words, "Please give me your money."
Some get unashamedly anxious for people's money. Noah W. Hutchings writes at the end of his Southwest Radio Church, July 1998 letter,
". . . and remember, I need your prayers and financial support NOW!" (emphasis in original).
In other words, "I want your money and I want it NOW!" When men start talking about how they need your money, you can know they want your money and they are covetous (2 Peter 2:3).
Covetousness, this mark alone shows that their trust is not in God, as Ephesians 5:5 and Luke 16:13 declare,
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:5)
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)
VII. Well Spoken Of
Jesus said,
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:26)
The Majority Text of Greek manuscripts has no "all". The NKJV footnotes this. According to the Majority Text it reads, "Woe to you when men speak well of you . . . ."
Jesus likens anyone who is "well spoken of" to the false prophets of old. This is not to say that this verse does not apply if there is a teacher who has someone speak against them in some form or fashion. In the past, false prophets had people speak against them. Elijah spoke against the false prophets of his day (1 Kings 18:27-40). Micaiah spoke against the false prophets of his day (1Kings 22:23f). Jeremiah spoke against the false prophets of his day (e.g. Jeremiah 23 & 28). In Luke 6:26 Christ wasn't saying that if everybody speaks well of you and no one speaks against you, then woe to you. Christ is saying "Woe" to those who, like the false prophets of old, give people what they want to hear (Isaiah 30:8-10; Romans 16:17-18; Galatians 1:10) and are therefore well spoken of.
If you understand that people are wicked (Psalm 14:1-3), then you should understand Jesus' words in Luke 6:26. The masses are wicked, and they desire evil teachers (2 Timothy 4:3-4). As it was in the days of Isaiah, so it is today.
Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and note it on a scroll, that it may be for time to come, forever and ever: that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord; who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." (Isaiah 30:8-11)
Israel, in this example, was very blatant in their rejection of God. Those who pretend submission to God are also those who desire "smooth things" and "deceits" (2 Timothy 3:4; 4:3; Titus 1:16). Therefore, the haters of God, both the pretenders of submission and the not so stealthy, speak well of those teachers who give them what they want to hear.
If they are well spoken of within the "Christian" community (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-4), as the false prophets of old were well spoken of within the Jewish community (Luke 6:26), they fit the mold of a false teacher. The "Christian" community have "itching ears" (2 Timothy 4:3), and false teachers accommodate this desire by scratching their ears with great sounding sermons.
For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. (2 Peter 2:18)
False teachers scratch ears, speak great swelling words, and they speak smooth words.
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)
False teachers flatter, as the end of verse eighteen says, and you could note also Jude 16.
...they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
When a teacher spends most of his time talking about love, God's grace, etc., all the "nice" stuff, these indeed are "smooth words" (Romans 16:18). This is so missed by people, it's amazing. False teachers don't come along and say, "I'm a false teacher." They don't come with horns on their head and a red suit. They don't come and say, "I'm here to deceive you. Watch out!" Note what Jesus said in Matthew 23:27-28.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees [Scribes, by the way, were the "scholars" of the day.], hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
It's amazing how people are taken in by the outward appearance of godliness. If a man puts on a good appearance of looking righteous, people are hoodwinked. They just don't see through the facade. 2 Peter 2:1 says they "secretly bring in destructive heresies" and Jude 4 says they creep in "unnoticed." People don't notice. They creep in. It's not so blazingly obvious. But one thing is obvious. If you have a case where a man is well spoken of, that condemns him. According to Luke 6:26 that condemns him. "Woe to you when men speak well of you." (Luke 6:26, Majority Text)
An example of being "well spoken of" can be found in John MacArthur's book Successful Christian Parenting (copyright 1998). On the inside back dust jacket this boast is written.
John MacArthur is the pastor/teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley California. He is one of the most popular Bible expositors and Bible conference speakers in the country.
One of the ways this "well spoken of" is manifested is by the sheer popularity of the false teacher. The "Christian" masses (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3; 2 Peter 2:2) speak well of false teachers, just as the "Jewish" masses spoke well of the false prophets of old (Luke 6:26).
Another graphic example of this is Billy Graham. Graham is "Hailed as the world's preacher" and "one of the world's most beloved and respected leaders" (Just As I Am, copyright 1997, inside back dust jacket). If he were a man of God, he would be hated, not loved. Jesus said,
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
Jesus says, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own." When you see a man loved by the world, you can know for certain that he is of the world, thus of the Devil (1 John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 11:15).
A man of God is not going to be well spoken of, especially in our evil days (Ephesians 5:16) where false Christianity abounds (2 Timothy 3:1-5 & 4:3; Luke 18:8). The false teachers are the "well spoken of" ones, and because of them the true man of God is blasphemed.
And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. (2 Peter 2:2)
Finally,
VIII. How Do False Teachers Deny The Lord?
2 Peter 2:1 and Jude 4 say that false teachers deny the Lord. How do they do this? It should be obvious that they are not going to come right out and say, "Don't believe in Christ." or "Jesus isn't Lord." or something to that effect. Jude 4 says they have "crept in unnoticed" and 2 Peter 2:1 says they "secretly" bring in destructive heresies. Titus 1:16 has the answer to how they deny the Lord who bought them.
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
IX. Conclusion
Paul says at the end of his life, "I have fought the good fight . . ." (2 Timothy 4:7). Besides fighting this sinful flesh that we're in, what's the "good fight?" Contending (fighting) for the faith is the good fight (Jude 3). Paul wrote,
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Casting down falsehood and lies is part of the war. It is good, extremely good, to contend for the faith (Jude 3), to fight the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7), to cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), and to expose the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). It is good to expose false teachers. Those who are caught in lies and in the darkness of this age hate this exposure (John 3:19-20), because they do not love the truth, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
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OUR DESIRE IS TO WHERE GOD WILL HAVE YOU BE AND TO RETURN THE BLESSING AND PRAISE BACK TO GOD AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
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Our world is filled with con artists, liars and thieves who seek to defraud us. But the Bible warns us about the greatest deceiver of all—Satan the Devil. Are you aware of his tactics? Are you prepared to avoid his schemes, or could you fall victim to his deceptions?
We have all heard stories about crooked salesmen who do their best to defraud senior citizens and rob them of their life’s savings. We know about corrupt businessmen who use false accounting to cheat investors and avoid taxes. You may have experienced thieves breaking into your home and robbing you of your possessions.
But did you know that there is a thief who wants to rob you of the most valuable possession of all—your eternal life and your future as a child of God? This thief works through deceptive practices, from selfish vanity to pride to dangerous occultism, seeking to turn people away from the truth and from the way of life that will bring true happiness—God’s way.
Your Bible warns of a great spirit war that will take place in the future—actually in the very near future. Many of you reading this article will be alive during that traumatic time. But notice this amazing statement: "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:9).
Read that carefully. Satan, the devil, deceives the whole world! That means the people of every nation. That means you and me. I have been deceived. You have been deceived. But, thankfully, God calls us out of this world’s deception, through the true Jesus Christ of the Bible!
Do you think that because you are a religious person, you cannot be deceived? Jesus revealed that one of the most pervasive forms of deception is found in religious practice. And the Bible reveals who is behind many religious deceptions. Do you know who? The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthians against false ministers: "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. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).
Yes, Satan has many strategies, schemes, and devices to deceive us. Some unknowingly worship him as an "angel of light" while others look to him through séances, tarot cards, channeling and astrology. Millions of people dabble in the occult and seek answers from soothsayers and mystics. These dark practices are deceptive, and most who call themselves Christians can recognize blatant Satanic influence. But Satan also has many other more subtle schemes.
The Apostle Paul, encouraging forgiveness for a repentant sinner, went on to say, "lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Corinthians 2:11). Or, as the NIV puts it: "For we are not unaware of his schemes."
How can you tell the difference between truth and error? The Bible gives us the answers. Jesus prayed, concerning His disciples, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17). Yes, the word of God, the Bible, is truth! Yet Satan can even deceive religious people. He often appears deceptively as an angel of light. He uses counterfeit ministers who appear genuine, but are actually fraudulent deceivers.
As Christians, we need to be aware of Satan’s schemes, or devices. In this article, we will briefly discuss seven of his most serious deceptions, which he uses to ruin people and draw them away from God.
Deception 1: False Doctrine
Where do we find godly doctrine or teaching? Jesus said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Truth is revealed in the Bible, but we must also practice the truth. Jesus said in the previous verse, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" (v. 31).
Sadly, the majority will not practice the truth. The Apostle Paul prophesied that some "religious" people would seek teachers to preach what they want to hear, rather than the truth of the Bible. The Apostle Paul exhorted the young evangelist Timothy: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 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 Timothy 4:2–4).
Are you willing to be guided and corrected by the Bible? Or will you be turned aside to fables? One of the major errors of professing Christianity is the practice, by some, of pagan traditions. For more on this vital topic, read Douglas S. Winnail’s article "The Pagan Revival" on page 22 of this issue.
Many do not realize that Easter eggs are a pagan symbol of fertility. Decorated trees, holly wreaths, and mistletoe were pagan traditions. December 25 was celebrated as the birth of Mithras, the sun god; it was not the date of Jesus’ birth. Should Christians observe Valentine’s Day? In 496ad, Pope Gelasius I established the Feast of St. Valentine on February 14. Previously, since the days of ancient Rome, young lovers had often observed the Lupercalia—the feast of Lupercus, a fertility god—on February 15. Even in ancient Greece, mid-February was associated with love and fertility; the Greek month of Gamelion, ending in mid-February, was associated with the marriage of the gods Zeus and Hera.
The historian Will Durant gave this analysis: "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. The Greek mind, dying, came to a transmigrated life in the theology and liturgy of the church; the Greek language, having reigned for centuries over philosophy, became the vehicle of Christian literature and ritual; the Greek mysteries passed down into the impressive mystery of the Mass. Other pagan cultures contributed to the syncretist result.… Christianity was the last creation of the ancient pagan world" (The Story of Civilization, pp. 595, 599).
Are you practicing pagan traditions in the name of Christianity? Remember Jesus’ warning to the Pharisees and scribes concerning certain religious customs. He warned them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition" (Mark 7:9).
The book of Revelation warns us about one of the most pervasive deceptions. The Apostle John saw in vision the famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse. He wrote: "And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (Revelation 6:2). As we have pointed out in previous articles, the true Revelator is Jesus Christ. He reveals the meaning of this white horse and its rider. Jesus described that the white horse symbolizes false religion—including those who falsely claim to come in Christ’s name: "And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will deceive many’" (Matthew 24:4–5).
Yes, Jesus predicted that many would use His name and "deceive many." In verse 24, Jesus states that "false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Will you be deceived?
The Devil, Satan, has deceived the whole world. Those whom he deceives he holds captive. You can read about that in 2 Timothy 2:26. We must all be on guard against the devil’s deceptions; like the Apostle Paul, we must not be unaware of his schemes.
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Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.
Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.
Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Sloth, Greed