It's a fantastic Sunday and another day of the gift of life. Hopefully the first words coming from your lips when you were awakened were words of thanksgiving to God who made it all possible.
Opposition
From time to time we see some false teaching and preaching of God's word on this wonderful platform. In fact, a lot of times.
This is because not all those who supposedly believe are meant to be teachers or preachers. And those who do believe simply are new in the faith and/or have not learned proper theology - the study of doctrines (critical teachings) in God's word.
As with any teacher or preacher, we should always compare what they say from God's word, like the Bereans did: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11, NIV).
This includes anything I write or comment on. Check me out with what the Bible says. Check everyone out.
We read in James, the brother of Jesus: "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly" (James 3:1, NLT).
Jeremiah
The prophet Jeremiah had a ministry that lasted 32 years, from 627 B.C until 598 B.C. He was called of God and commissioned by God by the touching of his lips: "Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant" (Jeremiah 1:9-10, NIV).
Talk about a guy who faced a lot of opposition! Whoa, man! The government of Judah was always on his case. The priests of his day were opposed to him because he upset their comfortable lifestyle. King Jehoiakim was also displeased with him, and even the people of Judah were unhappy with his preaching of repentance. But Jeremiah kept preaching anyway.
But Jeremiah did not lose hope or his faith, because he was pleasing God. We observe something similar throughout the Bible, but here is one example: "But Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than any human authority'" (Acts 5:29, NLT).
Rebukes
Rebukes are not always popular. In God's everlasting word we believers are commanded to rebuke and correct a fellow sinning brother or sister when they divert from the truth. We read:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:15-17, NIV).
The New Living Translation, which is a paraphrase, captures the verses more easier to understand: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT).
Unfortunately, people are stubborn and don't like to be wrong. As a young Christian 20 years ago I was wrong on a lot of things. Like a newborn baby I was feeding on the milk of God's word. When corrected by peers in the faith I listened, and then searched the Bible to find out if it was true or not. We should all do this.
The stubborn will always be among us. Get used to it. In like manner, false teachers will always be among us. We must learn to discern what they say and teach and correct them in a spirit of love ir avoid them entirely.
Types of false religions and prophets
It's important that we who follow the teachings of the true living God to be aware of the many false religions in the world today. It would take hours to list them all.
Some of the more well known cults and false religions consists of Universalism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Islam, Inglesia de Christo, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christian Science, Freemasonry, many Seventh Day Adventists. and many, many more.
One of several ways to spot a false religion is by noting any church or religion that denies Jesus is God and that the Bible is God's inerrant word.
Another way is to be on the lookout for syncretism - the mixing of different beliefs.
For example, we do not mix God's word with Eastern mysticism - the mind consciousness, the name it and claim it gospel, etc. We do not mix pagan beliefs of psychology with God's word. We do not mix Islamic beliefs with Christian doctrines.
Doctrines
There are a multitude of churches that espouse the name of the Savior, Jesus the Christ; however, many of them disagree about who He is. Is He God? He is! He claims to be numerous times throughout the Scriptures. If any church or religion denies Jesus is God, get away - they are false teachers.
Was he born of a virgin? He was! Isaiah predicted it in 7:14, some 700 years before Jesus was born. If anyone teaches otherwise - leave with a quickness!
Will Jesus really return a second time? Indeed, He will! If they say he won't or has already come again, do not believe it. Leave!
Various religions, even those who purport to be Christian, will answer the above-mentioned questions quite differently depending on a church's belief about the Bible.
We believe there is absolute truth found in the Bible. And Jesus said: "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32).
Belief, that is, faith in Christ is also improperly taught. Just because you raised your hand one Sunday and said, "I believe" does not make you a Christian. Being born into a Christian family doesn't make you a Christian, either. Believers are those who realize they are sinners, repent of their sins, believe on Jesus as God who was crucified and rose from the dead, are baptized as they confess their belief publicly, who obey God's commands, and who endure until their last breath.
The remedy
The remedy for every heretical or false teaching is the proper view of who Jesus is - the Man who alone is God, the Messiah preached from the beginning in Genesis until Revelation, the Savior of the world for all who will believe, and the Great High Priest who existed before the world was created and who lives forever. Again, we must regard His word and study it to disclose God's truths. My prayer is that you will heed these words and beware of false prophets and teachers. Do check out what I have written as it lines up with the Bible and have a blessed and fruitful Sunday.
It seems to me a topic of great relevance for these last times where the proliferation of the ravening wolves as the Apostle Paul said have nested in many congregations, but it is our duty every day as believers of deep faith to deepen and to sail as Jesus said into the deep sea in the study of the word of God. As an evangelist said in the XIIX century: do not worry about who goes in and out of the church, worry about what comes out of your pulpits.