Signs of Counterfeit Churches and Wolves in Shepherd’s Clothing
Scripture teaches us that in the days of Paul the Apostle there were teachers who taught the people what they wanted to hear, turning them away from the truth. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus commended the Ephesian church for testing those who claimed to be apostles but were not and found them to be liars (Rev. 2:2). Jesus even called some congregations synagogues of Satan (Rev. 2:9)!
With so many self-ordained pastors, apostles and bishops today—as well as the false priests assigned to Roman and Protestant parishes—we must have litmus tests for ministers again!
In this day of postmodernism (the belief that we cannot know truth in this world), the definition of Christianity and church have been negatively affected because many have shifted their focus from centering everything on the Christ of the Scriptures to the murky value judgments of the surrounding culture. As a result there is a Christian syncretism, or a mixture of truth and error, which compels us to go back to the Scriptures to see how God expects Christ-followers to behave, believe and act.
This has become egregious in some settings. There are presently thousands of clergy who actually preach and propagate practices that the Bible expressly condemns! For example, the New York Post has reported that 700 Christian and Jewish clergy petitioned the New York State Assembly and Senate on behalf of same-sex marriage. These clergy members have been exposed to their peers in our state as wolves in shepherd’s clothing!
The following are only some of the most prominent signs of false shepherds and churches. There are many other areas we could touch upon.
First, true churches and shepherds must confess and preach that Jesus is Lord. John 8:58 records that if we do not believe that Jesus is the “I AM” (Jehovah; read Exodus 3:14) we will die unredeemed in our sins! Romans 10:9-10 teaches that we have to confess Jesus is our Lord in order to be saved.
The church is not the church and the gospel is not the gospel which denies the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. (For example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses is a false cult and not part of the church because of this.) John’s Gospel begins by calling Jesus God (John 1:1). This is the main point that gives His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-38), incarnation (John 1:14) and crucifixion any validity in regards to His ability to restore humanity and creation. Those denominations and ministers who deny any of these truths are false churches and messengers of Satan!
Second, the gospel as handed down by the apostles regarding the vicarious life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven for the full redemption and salvation of those who believe must be preached without compromise. (Read the Apostles’ Creed for a fuller expression of the true gospel.)
I once heard a Protestant minister preaching on the radio that the bodily resurrection of Jesus was not essential to believe in order to be a Christian. He taught the resurrection is only symbolic of the new life God wants to bring to all humanity and that it did not literally happen!
Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 15:1-7, Philippians 2:5-11 and Romans 6:2-9 are essential to our understanding of the essence of the gospel message. The gospel of Jesus cannot be watered down to accommodate other religions and religious leaders in this day of political-correctness and multiculturalism. If we preach any other gospel we will be eternally condemned (Galatians 1:8-9)!
Furthermore, Scripture is clear that Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Those who preach that all people will eventually be saved irrespective if they come to Christ or not are misleading those under their influence! John 3:18 teaches that those who do not believe stand condemned already because they do not believe in God’s one and only Son.
Third, there is the issue of lifestyle. There are entire denominations, like the Episcopal Church of the United States, that ordain practicing homosexual priests and bishops. This is in spite of the Bible’s teachings that those who practice sexual immorality (which is any sexual relation outside of the marriage of one man and one woman; read Matthew 19:4-6 and Hebrews 13:4) cannot enter the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)!
These denominations prove they do not represent or are part of the true church since they trample upon the plain teachings of Scripture with these audacious acts of ordaining people who flagrantly violate holy living. This shows they are approving and promoting that which God hates (Romans 1:32)! The church in Thyatira was rebuked for tolerating sexual immorality among their ranks (Rev 2:20-23); these churches approve and ordain it! It is no wonder these liberal Protestant churches are dwindling in attendance and probably won’t even exist in many communities in the next generation!
Fourth, a shepherd can preach the truth yet do it for the wrong reasons. Paul recognized there are some who preach the gospel out of envy and strife (Philippians 1:15) implying there are some who minister mainly for money and material profit (Acts 20:33). Paul also brings strong correction to those whose main motive for living godly is for financial gain (1 Timothy 6:5)!
In Ezekiel 34:1-7, God declares judgment upon those shepherds who only care for their own needs and neglect the hurting flock of God. I have seen phony preachers like Rev. Ike who only speak about money and false prophets, and prophesy commensurate to the amount of money given to them! One person in particular even has a prophecy hotline in which users pay for a person to get on the line and “give them a word”!
Finally, the Book of James makes it clear that “true religion” which God the Father honors is that which cares and advocates for the helpless, the poor, and the disenfranchised of society, as well as keeping themselves unaffected and separated from the value systems of the world (James 1:27).
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The author twisted what Revelation 2:9 clearly says. In the verse Jesus identifies those who say they are Jews but lie as being the synagogue of Satan, not errant pastors/leaders.
For your correction :
This make sense, if we are Gods Church and also His dwelling place, why should we go and insult Him (GOD) by going to another counterfeit Church Temple, Tabernacle, TV evangelists or any place of worship ??? Is this a treason ?
*The most deadly danger facing anyone today is to insult the Spirit of God by refusing obedience to His conviction.
*I’ll tell you why: because the Holy Spirit is the only way God can reach an individual. There is no other way for God to save a person except through the Holy Spirit.
The Scripture is very bold and emphatic in attributing to Christ’s followers likeness to Him, in nature, in character, in relation to the world, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 3:16-20 and 1 Corinthians 14:33 because all genuine believers have the Spirit of God who dwell in them; and Christ has promised to be always in the midst even of two or three who are gathered together in his name.
Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
[and number two] ; 1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with Gods household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed Gods words? Gods judgment rest upon all the corporate and local churches temples, tabernacles, TV evangelists, ministries and congregations ever for all their false teachings and deeds, and God does not want any of His people to suffer the spiritual plagues which are being brought upon them.
Revelation 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: Come out of her, my people so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues. for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.”
2 Peter 2:2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.
Matthew 15:14 Let them alone; they are blind guides.
And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Revelation 11:7 bottomless pit that is.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.
* James 1:22 But don’t just listen to Gods word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves
Hebrew 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Make yourself understand that these are things God says HE will do.
Notice: how many times God uses the word “I” to declare what HE will bring to pass. The reader is left to decide whether he believes God, or the ministers of any religion.
* Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Proverbs 28:9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
And this is not my opinion. AMEN