Thread: The Church:Home to wolves and or den of theives.
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The Church:Home to wolves and or den of theives.
Posted : 11 Dec, 2010 05:49 AM
@ Everyone:
Does this look familiar to you in the assembly where you fellowship?
Are Churches The Home Of Wolves?
by Van Robison
Many wolves (Matthew 7:15) have made their home in the world of churchianity. They prey upon the unsuspecting, the naive and the undiscerning.
They devour their prey on the pretense that they are "ministers" of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:5).
They don't prance around as if they are wolves, but on the other hand, they come in sheep's clothing.
Wolves come in many different disguises using flattering titles to make their prey think they are legitimate.
Some wolves are pastors, some are senior pastors, some are pastors of megachurches, some are youth pastors, some are pastors of cults, some are pastors of whatever group they supposedly have power over; while others are so-called prophets (Matthew 7:15), and some call themselves "apostles" (2 Corinthians 11:13), while others are book authors, some are musicians and singers, and others are in different categories.
Some wolves are infiltrators for political cause or other reasons. Some wolves are money hungry, power hungry, control hungry and love the praise of men.
Some wolves are even classified as "scholars" and "translate" the Bible into their own biased version. Wolves in churchianity have different ministries and they are often very persuasive public speakers.
Many wolves love to be called "Doctor" (of theology) because that title gives them credibility.
Jesus said of false prophets in Matthew 7:16 "You shall know them by their fruits." And again in verse 20, "Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them."
The teachings and life of every leader of men must be weighed against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Christians have to be fruit detectors, discerning (1 John 4:1), prove all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21), take nothing for granted, and search the scriptures as did the Bereans to see if what is spoken is scripturally accurate and truthful (Acts 17:11).
A great key way to know if a leader is a wolf, is if they seek personal followers instead of pointing people to Jesus Christ, or if they are money oriented as many are, or if they focus your attention on anything other than Jesus Christ and His Lordship.
Wolves love to focus your attention on their supposed "authority" over your life.
Wolves love to make you think that by sowing seed money into their ministries, you will be blessed by God. No where did Jesus Christ ever say to "take up your cross and follow human pastors or church denominations." Wolves come as "angels of light" (2 Corinthians 11:13-14), but are in fact--deceivers. No wolf calls himself a wolf, instead they proclaim they are "ministers" of Jesus Christ--2 Corinthians 11:15 "Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers (that is, Satan--verse 14) also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
Discernment is a vital necessity in a world of great deception and propaganda.
There is a great deal of propaganda in the world of churchianity, and in fact so much so that the church world is drowning in an ocean of deceptions from many sources. Hearing the voice of Jesus Christ through His teachings in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and also through the Holy Spirit is vital to not being deceived. Great signs and wonders are not a key to truth as Jesus Himself stated at Matthew 24:24: "For there shall arise FALSE Christs, and FALSE prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Have you been looking for a rapture? Here is what Jesus said in His own words at John 17:15 "I PRAY NOT that you should take them OUT OF THE WORLD, but that you should keep them from the evil." Did Jesus Christ appoint us to "escape" the world, or to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16)?
What is it about wolves that cause people to believe that wolves represent Jesus Christ? Here are some clues:
Wolves come as innocent sheep.
Wolves come as angels of light.
Wolves seem friendly.
Wolves smile.
Wolves often have flattering titles.
Wolves focus on their "authority."
Wolves focus on giving them money.
Wolves use the name of Jesus Christ falsely.
Wolves often are obsessed with issues other than Jesus Christ.
Wolves take scriptures out of context.
Wolves twist scriptures to fit their purpose.
Wolves sometimes are very strong personalities.
Wolves sometimes claim to be healers.
Wolves sometimes claim to be apostles.
Wolves sometimes claim to be prophets.
Wolves sometimes claim to be pastors.
Wolves love control and power over your life.
Wolves are sometimes obsessed with your pocketbook.
Wolves are often legalistic.
Wolves cause people to live in fear of their authority.
Wolves cause people to fear for their salvation if they don't yield to their authority and teachings.
Wolves sometimes act as if they are infallible in spiritual knowledge.
Wolves lead astray and away from the truth in Jesus Christ.
Wolves (at least some of them) focus on the Old Testament, instead of Jesus Christ.
Wolves sometimes focus on issues in the Old Testament that have long been fulfilled in Christ.
Wolves love the praise of men.
Wolves often brag about their charitable deeds (Jesus said to do your alms in secret--Matthew 6:1-4).
Wolves love to build great temples, cathedrals, church buildings and monuments that glorify themselves (God does not dwell in temples made with hands--Acts 17:24).
Wolves deceive even themselves as well as others.
Wolves are often very forceful in their personality.
Wolves do your thinking for you and expect you to follow them.
Wolves tell you that they represent the will of Jesus Christ.
Wolves often tell you they have a special anointing.
Wolves are obsessed with themselves and their self importance.
Wolves will tell you that you are obeying God if you sow "seed" money into their ministry.
Wolves promise you healing, financial blessings, and spiritual rewards that they have no power to give.
Wolves may be spiritually abusive.
Wolves are often very defensive when others point out their false teachings.
Wolves never cease to prey upon others.
No doubt there are many more points that could be listed about spiritual wolves. Anyone can be fooled by frauds, charlatans, fakes and imposter's--unless they are discerning and are deeply rooted in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Sadly, many wolves are themselves deceived by their own false beliefs, and some wolves are simply money hungry con-artists who use the name of Jesus Christ for monetary gain. When sheep follow anyone other than Jesus Christ, they are following the wrong voice (John 10:27 states, "My sheep hear MY VOICE, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME.").
True representatives of Jesus Christ only POINT others to Jesus Christ and not to themselves.
True representatives of Jesus Christ do not seek personal followers, nor are they obsessed with your pocketbook, nor do they control your life, or pretend that they have "authority" over you as if they are your Lord and Master. There is ONLY ONE MASTER--JESUS CHRIST (Matthew 23:8-10), and any human leader who proclaims that they are your "head or master or spiritual father" is a liar and a wolf--1 Corinthians 11:3 "But I would have you know, that THE HEAD OF EVERY MAN IS CHRIST... ."
#George your hatred for the church and authority are ever increasing, where is your emphasis on the lordship of Jesus? I believe it is obvious you have a problem with tithing! It is reflected in your actions and words you reject the lordship of JESUS, HE REQUIRES YOU TO GIVE HIM DOMINION OVER YOUR HEART AND THEN YOU ARE TO PUT YOUR BODY AND MIND IN SUBJECTION TO YOU! By the way that was not the word of knowledge but knowledge of the word.
Please show me in the Word of GOD where this is located.
It is reflected in your actions and words you reject the lordship of JESUS, HE REQUIRES YOU TO GIVE HIM DOMINION OVER YOUR HEART AND THEN YOU ARE TO PUT YOUR BODY AND MIND IN SUBJECTION TO YOU.
Where does Yehsua/Jesus require that I make Him Lord of my life.
Yeshua/Jesus is LORD,by Himself He is LORD.
No man,woman or child has the capability of making Yeshua/Jesus something that He already is,which is LORD.
Yeshua is LORD whether we believe or not believe.
Yeshua/Jesus is the Shepherd of His sheep,even if He has no sheep,Yeshua/Jesus is still the Good Shepehrd.
Yeshua/Jesus is what He is (LORD,Good SHepherd,Master,Creator,Sustainer of all ceation,etc),because of WHo He is.
My question to you PJ,is
'Who Is Yeshua/Jesus"
Agape' and Charis:
ps:
I thought you were against me using and subjecting my mind to Yeshua/Jesus.
@PJ Where do you get the idea that the Lord-ship of Jesus is related to one's opinion of the Church or Christianity altogether? I believe the two are only related by association but they are certainly not family. If we assume that the church is a reflection of the nature of Christ then we would have to believe that He is confused, blind and lame.
I agree with Trucker. I can not MAKE Jesus the Lord of my life. This is another false teaching regarding the preaching of the Gospel. I must submit myself to the fact that He is Lord and therefore I serve him with obedience and worship. I believe we all can agree that He has a name tag now that says King of kings and Lord of lords on His robe and on His thigh. His title is nothing else but that and He is nothing in all of creation but that. It has nothing to do with any decision I make.
* God has created nature and nature reveals where there are sheep there will always be wolves.
* CAUTION! : Archimedes is proselytizing Again.... *sigh*
* The phrase,"making Jesus the Lord of my life" does not mean you make Him anything, rather it is a saying meaning you willing submit to his Lordship, ie: you pick up your cross and follow Him. It is like the saying,"he has made money his god". Making money your god does not make money God any more than making Jesus, Lord, makes Him Lord, as we know Jesus is already Lord and money is not God.
George Jesus is only lord to those tht allow him to be, that come from 5th Grade english level, knowledge of english, you seem to have problem understand english read my response.
I don�t �make� Jesus anything, nor is he waiting for me to �accept� him like he needs my favor. It is the opposite. I need Him desperately, and He gives me even the faith I need to accept Him.
False teachers are everything you said, trucker. They are hurtful and misleading and it angers me.
�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 int ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. - 2 Corthin 11:13-15
We give not just because Christ told us to, or to expect blessings or all the confounded things that false teachers tell us we'll receive, but we do so out of love and gratitude to God.
�So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work.� - 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
Hi TS! :hearts: You are right and a good observation.
The earth is the Lord�s, and all its fullness. (Psalm 21:1)
Thank you Two Sparrows, that is exactly what that means to me, the same one that saved me twenty five years ago would never be in agreement with such a post in any form,
