HF115 - Heresies, Schisms, Winds, and Movements
To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Fri Apr 2, 2004
Subject: Bible Study HF115 - Heresies, Schisms, Winds, and Movements
Hebraics,
To introduce this next study I am including a devotion that Jim Ross provided on the CCI-Devo site. The devotion is entitled 'Snake Oil Salesmen.' (Jim is a member of HF. Feel free to draw him into any discussion.) : )
I want to mention up front that this study may be a little uncomfortable to some, since it may come too close to home. However, no offense is intended. In any event, we encourage discussion. Simply keep everything within the realm of respectfulness.
As a background for this study members may also wish to view earlier studies such as HF037 - The Spirit of Babylon (Magical Practices and Sorcery); HF039 - Appraising All Things, and, HF059 - An Allurement of the Forbidden. These studies are available at:
http://www.christianchallenge.org/hebraic-foundations/index.html
This is Bible Study HF115 - Heresies, Schisms, Winds and Movements.
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First Jim Ross and his 'Snake Oil Salesmen.' (Minimal adjustments provided.)
2 Timothy 3:5: Holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these." (NASB)
I just finished reading a book that was one of three I elected to read in a class I'm taking taught by my pastor. The book, "The Seduction of Christianity" by Dave Hunt and T. A. McMahon, does an excellent job of pointing out some of the so-called "teachings" out there that purport to be Biblically-based, but aren't.
What prompted me to read that book was the studying I did in my younger days, which pretty much paralleled what Hunt and McMahon were calling attention to in their book. They even named some of the authors I studied back then.
Some of these "teachers" use some Bible verses to launch into what their real message is ... sometimes it's targeted at those who want to reach the god that is within them ... to visualize this being so that it can then lead us to our own godhood.
Of course, that's precisely what tactic the enemy used on Eve in the Garden to get her to eat of the [fruit of the tree] and then have Adam take a bite ... take a bit of scriptural fact ... twist it a little ... and make it say what you want it to say. The enemy even tried the tactic on Jesus himself when he was fasting for forty days in the desert ... the Lord didn't fall for it though.
The authors take great care to point out these inconsistencies ... and the title of the book is right on the mark ... these "teachers" are trying to seduce others away from Biblically-based teaching into all manner of man-centered exercises which explore the human potential. They speak to me that the realization of my 'full potential' is there if only I struggle hard enough trying to seek the inner me.
Well, I've got news for all of them ... the inner me has already been spoken for by the Lord Jesus Christ. He occupies that place I have reserved for Him in my Heart. He's the only reality I seek anymore ... and I can find Him within the pages of His Word. I *know* He resides there.
I'm through believing in the words of these modern-day snake oil salesmen ... I know the snake that the oil came from very well when he deceived my mother, Eve ... and with the Lord's help I won't fall for it again.
..... Thank you Jim for your interesting observations ......
Now for my Part ---
From the beginning of Christianity the major battlefronts have been with heresies, schisms, and even to the issue of false prophets. The reason these are major fronts is because that while persecutions are from outside the church, these battlefronts take place from within. And according to Paul these battlefronts are going to intensify with the coming of antichrist.
Here are some questions to consider. Is it possible to worship a Jesus who is not the true Jesus of the Bible?" "Is it possible to preach a gospel in the name of Jesus that is not the true gospel of Jesus Christ?" "Is it possible to receive a spirit into your life that is not the Holy Spirit?"
According to Paul it is quite possible to worship a false Jesus, to preach an unholy gospel, and to receive a spirit that is not the Holy Spirit. It seems these were the very things taking place in the Corinthian Church. Follow carefully:
"But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully." (2Co11:3,4)
Some believers are afraid of crossing over the line in making judgments against others. When dealing with spiritual issues it is very important to be discerning. And discernment alone needs to be buttressed by what is true Christian doctrine against what is masquerading as Christian doctrine.
The apostle said that the time would come when people would not endure sound doctrine, "but wanting to have their tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires." (Cf. 2Tim4:1-5)
Note: For members who wish to do some research on various ministers who are providing misleading teachings today, a good place to begin is this site.
For film clips, etc., go to:
http://www.bible.ca/tongues-audio-video-documentation.htm
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As we move ahead in the study I want to zoom in on one issue in particular. Is it possible for a true Christian to come under spiritual influences that are not of God? The answer has to be yes. If it were not possible then why all the Biblical warnings for believers to maintain a guard against corruptible influences?
Paul gave a charge to the elders of Ephesus. He said, "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has made your overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchases by His own blood."
He goes on to say, "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and FROM AMONG YOUR OWN SELVES men will arise, SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS, to draw disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert..." (Cf. Acts 20:28-31. Caps for emphasis only.)
Notice how Paul tells the elders to be on guard for themselves as well as for the flock. When an elder (generally a pastor) comes under the influence of a false teaching, the danger for the flock increases. And, believe me, it is not difficult for some pastors to get carried away with what the apostle calls 'wind[s] of doctrine, by trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.' (Eph4:14)
The apostle Peter gives a very solemn warning. He said, "But false prophets also arose among the people, JUST AS THERE WILL BE FALSE TEACHERS AMONG YOU, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies ... in their GREED will exploit you with false words ... forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam [a man after money], the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness..." (Cf. 2 Peter 2. Caps for emphasis only.]
Peter's warning may seem to exceed what we are seeing and hearing from certain teachers today, but it is only a matter of time. Some teachers are getting bolder and bolder with their 'we are gods' messages, and, 'we can create with our words' messages, and. 'here is how to accumulate much gold' messages, and 'buy my tape and book and God will bless you with awesome understanding on how to work with spiritual powers,' messages, and such like.
Perhaps a point should be made in that most movements actually begin with underlying idea of a return to true Christianity, that is, to the Christianity of the early Church. But what happens is that these movement tend to use Scripture deceitfully. They provide swelling promises of freedom, of prosperity, and of unusual power. The underlying premise is that believers can have god-like powers. (This was the line that Satan fed to Eve, which, by the way, is what the Bible means when it speaks of 'the' lie.)
Spiritually deceptive movements have a strong appeal to the flesh. All the while they are undermining the Lordship of Jesus in the lives of the peoples. At the center of the movement you usually find a strong prophetic under girding. So when gullible people began to hear, 'Thus saith the Lord,' it creates a euphoric sense of, 'this really has to be of God. After all I heard Him say it was Him.' What they don't realize is that they are being played like a fiddle. The player is a master at what he is doing.
The way God's people get in trouble is by placing certain teachers on a level of trust they should never be placed. This is a dangerous place to be. We are instructed by the apostles to try both the spirits and the doctrines of teachers.
The Lord gave the warning through Jeremiah the prophet, in saying, "For wicked men are found among My people, they watch like fowlers lying wait; they set a trap, they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich."
Then God says, "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?" (Cf. Jer5:26-31)
Most of the time you can follow the money trail to the false prophet. Peter said that they are trained in greed. But since I've covered some of this in prior studies, let me simply provide a short list of warnings found in the Scriptures that have to do with things that are not from the Lord. (Caps are for emphasis only).
"... IN THE LAST DAYS YOU WILL CLEARLY UNDERSTAND IT. I did not send these prophets, but they ran. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied. But if they had stood in My council then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds." (Jer23:20-22)
"But the Spirit explicitly says that in LATER TIMES some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons..." (1Tim4:1)
"But realize this, that IN THE LAST DAYS difficult times will come ... But evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2Tim3:1,12)
"For the TIME WILL COME when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires." (2Tim4:3 - Quoted earlier in study.)
"For this reason God will send upon them A DELUDING INFLUENCE so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." (2Th2:11,12. Wickedness speaks of that which is not in accordance with truth, or that which is wrong.)
"...that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth ... the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness ... because they did not receive a love of the truth so as to be saved." (Cf. 2Th2:8-12)
In discussing this study it will be important to stay with the Scriptures. Offer any insights you feel will be of benefit to others. If you have some background with something that you now know was not of God, it will be alright to share your findings.
Finally, let's be sure to make a distinction between someone who from all appearances is actually a false prophet, from the someone who may be being misled, and needs a turning point in his or her life. Some of God's people have been caught up in things that are not of the Lord, and when they come to their senses, they saw where the thing that caught them was not of the Lord. It was a deception. (A deception can have all the appearances of being true, yet it is a destroying work of the enemy.)
The study is open.
Blessings,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.christianchallenge.org/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)