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... ."
"Where in scripture does it require us to make Jesus the Lord of our lives?"
Rom10:9 ~ " ....confess that Jesus is Lord..."
Rom14:11 ~ " It is written : As surely as I live says the lord Every knee will bow before me Every time well and fast to God."
Phlp2:10-11 ~ " that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Rom 12:1 ~ " Therefore, I urge you brothers, in the view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God---- this is your spiritual act of worship."
PJ, once again your response to me is as clear as mud. Please tell me what you mean and make it make sense this time.
I don't understand why so many Christians can't hear the errors they are taught. Well, actually I do. They don't bother to study the Word themselves. They depend on others to interpret it for them and they believe whatever they are told by one who claims to be an authority. I find that most of the teaching in Christian seminaries are full of errors. I also find that I usually hear error in every sermon I hear or read. When the Bible is clear about the position of Jesus as Lord it is also crystal clear that His Lordship has nothing to do with any decision I make. He was Lord before I was born and will be Lord after I die.
How can you claim you believe that Jesus is Lord if He doesn't become Lord until you decide to make Him so?
I hear people tell me all the time that I am hung up on semantics and that I should know what they mean and I say, " I am hung up on semantics because everything you say to anyone about Jesus effects the way they think about Him. When you tell blatant lies about how they can become saved by making Him the Lord of their lives you are twisting the Truth and destroying the life you intend to help."
PJ, I think you should spend some time counseling the people who's lives have been destroyed by the false teachings they put their faith in and stake their lives on only to see themselves destroyed in the process as I have done. Maybe then you'd be a little more careful about what you say and you'd stop being so vague and ambiguous with your comments.
I was thinking if you read the parable of the tenants and landowner in Matt 21 then you could grasp the saying. If you don't have time to read it perhaps you can ponder the nation of Israel, they had a chance to make Jesus their Lord and King, but refused, you know what happened in 70 AD. It is the same for us, every person has a choice to make the enemy, others, themselves or Jesus ...Lord and there are consequences for each choice. If you are going to engage PJ, it would be more fruitful to do so on something more meaningful than semantics.
