Isn’t it amazing what passes for Christianity Today? In Matthew 24, Jesus warns us not to be deceived by doomsday peddlers. But if you spend any time monitoring the mainstream media, you would think that those very peddlers represent the entire Christian Church. 
Unfortunately, the media and the followers of these clearly self-serving false prophets, consistently miss the obvious truth. We, as believers, can’t count on the media or our peers to filter these or the next big tent watchmen of a false gospel. We have to personally, and prayerfully, compare their actions and rhetoric with the Bible. This isn't my opinion, or advise. Read for yourself!
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1 NIV) "
While the media seems more than happy to paint all committed Christians as overly legalistic hate mongers that completely misrepresent Gods inspired text, they are also happy to under report Church activity that equally deceive and separate people from God.
June 24, 2011 – WND reported Dozens of Christian churches, from Park Hill Congregational in Denver to Hillview United Methodist in Boise, Idaho, and First United Lutheran in San Francisco to St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Honolulu, are planning to send "a message both here at home and to the Arab and Muslim world about our respect for Islam" with a time to read the Quran during worship this Sunday.Read the Story here
July 16, 2011 – OneNewsNow reported a group of Omaha pastors has issued a proclamation that states homosexuality is not a sin. More than 100 ordained Christian ministers have signed the proclamation, including leaders from Lutheran, Episcopalian, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches. Read the story here
June 29, 2011 – OneNewsNow reported that the World Council of Churches, which had 348 Member Churches and claimed 592 million Christian members in 120 countries in 2005, is telling their people serving in the missionary field to accept what other religions consider to be true and holy. Read the story here
Warnings have many forms – Lights, signs, sights, sounds, smells, feelings, and written words. With varied focus, their purpose is the same – to advise alertness and caution because of imminent danger. In Matthew 24, Jesus warns us to avoid being deceived by doomsday peddlers. Second Peter is a letter of warning – from an authority none other than the courageous, experienced, and faithful apostle. Listen to Peter’s message and heed his warning.
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” (2 Peter 2 1-3 NIV)
Satan deceives people by offering a clever imitation of the real thing. All teachings and ideologies must be filtered through the bible. If the teachings contradict the Bible, the teacher and the message are false and cannot be trusted. The Apostle Paul writes of this,
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV)
The signs of the time; through the filter of Scripture
Throughout the bible, we see clearly defined systems being established, adulterated and ultimately self-destructing. We know that God the father personally established these systems. Under the direction and deception of Satan, these systems have been adulterated. Because of our inability or unwillingness to turn from sin and make peace with God the father through Christ Jesus, these systems will self-destruct as prophesized in the Bible.
In Matthew 24, Jesus warns us not to be deceived and caught up with the Natural world events, Wars and rumors of wars; Ethnic or racial strife; World leaders posturing against world leaders; Famine and Natural disasters. Jesus tells us that these things are not the signs of His return, but rather the symptoms of an ever deteriorating relationship with our creator.
What can we do?
Daily re-commit our lives to the service of God. Jesus defines service this way, “Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].” (John 6:29 AMP)
Read your own Bible. Many only open their Bible during Sunday service, and then only half-heartedly follow along with whatever the Pastor says. NO! In the words of Ronald Reagan, “Trust but Verify”… God the Father can speak to you directly through his Word. “Faith comes from hearing…” And it’s important to have an anointed spiritual leader to encourage and guide your growth. However, the enemy (Satan) can and will use anything to distract us from God, Yes even your well-intentioned Pastor. No spiritual leader is above having their words verified through scripture, and this isn’t new, read the book of Acts, “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11 NIV)
Pray and when you say Amen, Pray again. As Paul exhorts the Church of Ephesus, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)
June 24, 2011 – WND reported Dozens of Christian churches, from Park Hill Congregational in Denver to Hillview United Methodist in Boise, Idaho, and First United Lutheran in San Francisco to St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Honolulu, are planning to send "a message both here at home and to the Arab and Muslim world about our respect for Islam" with a time to read the Quran during worship this Sunday.Read the Story hereJuly 16, 2011 – OneNewsNow reported a group of Omaha pastors has issued a proclamation that states homosexuality is not a sin. More than 100 ordained Christian ministers have signed the proclamation, including leaders from Lutheran, Episcopalian, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches. Read the story here
June 29, 2011 – OneNewsNow reported that the World Council of Churches, which had 348 Member Churches and claimed 592 million Christian members in 120 countries in 2005, is telling their people serving in the missionary field to accept what other religions consider to be true and holy. Read the story here
Warnings have many forms – Lights, signs, sights, sounds, smells, feelings, and written words. With varied focus, their purpose is the same – to advise alertness and caution because of imminent danger. In Matthew 24, Jesus warns us to avoid being deceived by doomsday peddlers. Second Peter is a letter of warning – from an authority none other than the courageous, experienced, and faithful apostle. Listen to Peter’s message and heed his warning.
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” (2 Peter 2 1-3 NIV)
Satan deceives people by offering a clever imitation of the real thing. All teachings and ideologies must be filtered through the bible. If the teachings contradict the Bible, the teacher and the message are false and cannot be trusted. The Apostle Paul writes of this,
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV)
The signs of the time; through the filter of Scripture
Throughout the bible, we see clearly defined systems being established, adulterated and ultimately self-destructing. We know that God the father personally established these systems. Under the direction and deception of Satan, these systems have been adulterated. Because of our inability or unwillingness to turn from sin and make peace with God the father through Christ Jesus, these systems will self-destruct as prophesized in the Bible.
In Matthew 24, Jesus warns us not to be deceived and caught up with the Natural world events, Wars and rumors of wars; Ethnic or racial strife; World leaders posturing against world leaders; Famine and Natural disasters. Jesus tells us that these things are not the signs of His return, but rather the symptoms of an ever deteriorating relationship with our creator.
What can we do?
Daily re-commit our lives to the service of God. Jesus defines service this way, “Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].” (John 6:29 AMP)
Read your own Bible. Many only open their Bible during Sunday service, and then only half-heartedly follow along with whatever the Pastor says. NO! In the words of Ronald Reagan, “Trust but Verify”… God the Father can speak to you directly through his Word. “Faith comes from hearing…” And it’s important to have an anointed spiritual leader to encourage and guide your growth. However, the enemy (Satan) can and will use anything to distract us from God, Yes even your well-intentioned Pastor. No spiritual leader is above having their words verified through scripture, and this isn’t new, read the book of Acts, “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11 NIV)
Pray and when you say Amen, Pray again. As Paul exhorts the Church of Ephesus, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)
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