“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15
Now listen to me, in the case of the sheep’s clothing, what you have here is not some guy crawling on all fours into the flock with a sheep’s head hanging over his head. Shepherds for the most part, wore cloaks made of the wool of the sheep,’ do you see? The wool of the sheep when it was sheared was made into cloth for garments, the mark of a shepherd was he wore a wool cloak. Israel is much like California the evenings are very cold, even in the summer it cools down, and they needed that. The idea is not that he comes dressed like a sheep, the idea is that he comes dressed like a what? Shepherd, wearing the garment made from the sheep, sheep’s clothing is just another term for wool, And so as the false prophet wore the garment of the prophet, the false shepherd wears the garment of the shepherd. It isn’t that we’re dealing with a sheep who’s infiltrated,
Read the rest over at DefendingContending…click HERE.
For a while now, I have been uncomfortable with a particular area of teaching in the modern Church. It is a sacred area, an area off-limits to criticism by anyone who wants to maintain any respectability. For whatever reason, I seem to lack the desire for respectability (And it is a good thing, too! I would be utterly depressed for lack of any). So without further delay, here is my problem. I have a problem with the Dave Ramsey money management program, classes and books. A big problem. I have thought about it for over a year, but today listening to his call-in radio program I was able to put into clear thought what was bothering me. The problem is that his advice and methods do not take into account the full teachings of Scripture. I know, I know. I can practically hear the furious typing already as his defenders give reference to verses concerning faithful stewardship and the scattering on many waters. But as the call I heard today was a perfect example of what bothers me, I will simply discuss that. (more…)
Ever wish you had more meat in your spiritual diet? Have you felt as though the ultra light go-get-em’-tiger sermons at your regular church might be wearing on you? HERE is an article you might identify with. Check it out… for the love of meat.
The article linked HERE is absolutely amazing (in a bad way). The new doctrinal statements and clarifications being considered by the Roman Catholic church are so incredibly un-Biblical, heretical and in outright defiance of the Word of God that I truly wouldn’t know where to start in giving a Biblical refutation. Now the real question….are those of you out there in the Roman Catholic church paying attention? Is anyone opening their Bibles anymore? Anyone?????
I feel as though I have spent a fair amount of time lately posting warnings concerning the Emergent movement. These warnings to the flock of God are absolutely necessary, but at the same time I feel it is not healthy to focus on false teaching for too long. I don’t know how to explain quite why, but it begins to feel “dirty” to study such heresy at length. In re-focusing once again on the pursuit of Christ and His holiness, I thought it fitting to post one more link concerning Emergent activity because the subject matter seems fitting. Apparently, an insider has left the Emergent Church and has begun to openly question what they are teaching, and what the end result of their teachings really is (click HERE for the article). I pray that God would lead more people away from this heresy and to the Cross of the one true God. Christ died for the sins of all, including Emergent’s, and forgiveness is offered to them through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Pray that more would see the truth!
“Love God and love others.” It is a modern english summary of the greatest commandment found in Mark Chapter 12. But let’s take a quick look at exactly what the Scripture really says: “One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” When Jesus taught we should love God and love others, it was in response to the question “What is the greatest commandment?” So in Jesus own words, this is a summary of the commandments, or the moral law of Moses. So now the puzzling part; Why are so many American churches telling us that the Gospel message is “Love God and love others”? Paul made it very clear in Romans Chapter 3 that ”No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are” So if following the law doesn’t save us, why is it being taught as the Gospel that brings salvation? It may sound good, it may sound loving, but all this message really teaches is salvation comes through your obedience to the law, and that is NOT the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ suffered in our place on the Cross and lived the perfect life that we are unable to live ourselves. Go ahead and try to fulfill the “Love God, love others” commandment. You will fail, and fail big. The law was designedby God to expose your sin and drive you to Christ. To try earning salvation on your own is to rebel against God’s call of repentance, and to spit in the face of Jesus, the one who cared enough to die for you. The only way to actually fill the commandment of “Love God, love others” is to be made into a new creature with a new heart and the indwelling spirit of Christ. This comes only through the salvation offered by our savior. Think about it.
If you are not familiar with the Emergent Church, you need to be. This movement is an outright attack on the Bible and Jesus Christ. It is usually presented very artistically with real life issues being addressed. The NOOMA videos produced by Rob Bell (one of the leaders of this movement) is one of their most popular methods of teaching. Many, many (I mean a lot) of youth groups and college groups are showing these videos in their meetings. These videos are in virtually every American town in one or more youth groups (maybe yours). They are so artistic that it is difficult to find clarity on exactly what they are teaching. But, Rob Bell has now published several books (one of which is entitled “Velvet Elvis”), and they state what his positions are a little more clearly. These teachings flat-out deny the authority and inspiration of the Bible. They deny the clearly taught Biblical doctrine of Heaven and Hell stating that there are no such places. They accept all lifestyles, sexualities, and religions as having great merit. Their teachings have much, much more in common with humanism and universalism then any teachings in the Bible. But be warned: If you call out your Pastor for allowing these teachings there is a great possibility that it will be you that is asked to leave rather than the videos. They are usually violently defended. Why? As with all liberalism, all viewpoints are welcome except that of true Biblical Christianity. Watch this video below for a short teaching on some of Rob Bell’s teachings (the same teachings cleverly disguised in the NOOMA videos.)
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15
