for such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. [2 corinthians 11:13]
deception.
deliberate deception.
devious deliberate deception.
deadly devious deliberate deception.
i’m not trying to be clever with the alliteration. but, i am trying hard to make a point. those who are masquerading as leaders of Christ’s church when in truth they are deceiving his body, deliberately, and deviously, are deadly.
- this is not a case of bad teachers or leaders. they are deceiving the body with falsehoods.
- this is no accident. they are willfully manipulating the truth.
- this is not amateur hour. they are cunning. they have been trained by the father of all deception.
- this is not a game or a matter of luring people to another church. this is deadly. souls are at stake, marriages are at stake, lives are at stake.
what do we do?
we don’t sit back and watch as sheep are devoured. we don’t sit idly by while our friends, our children, our parents, our brothers and sisters in Christ are deceived and led astray from Life to death.
- we ask for a hunger and passion for the love and truth of Jesus and his gospel like never before. a hunger to be with God – not just know about God – will most affectively help us discern lies from truth.
- we ask God to give us a passion to pray for our leaders as they lead the charge in protecting us from those who are deliberately bringing death into our midst.
- finally, we ask God to give us humility to seek out his Spirit’s discernment and our leaders wisdom to help us know truth.
[17] but you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. [18] they said to you, “in the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” [19] it is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. [20] but you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, [21] keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. [22] and have mercy on those who doubt; [23] save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. [jude 17-23]
~ john ryan