Thursday, July 03, 2008

"The Voice of the Stranger"

"And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." John 10:5

Is it possible for a believer to follow after false teachers? This verse, spoken by Jesus, is a comfort to us and an admonition as well. We know the voice of our Shepherd by His Words to us. If we don't know the Word, then how will we know if someone is speaking truth, partial truths, or outright lies? It all boils down to God's Word and if you don't know what God says, you can't make right comparisons to what's coming out the mouths of myriads of merry minstrals (false teachers) welcoming every unchurched Harry, biblically ignorant Joe, and hate doctrine Sally.

But what about false prophets who come in unaware into churches? I believe that it's the poison of the most miniscule amount that Christians miss. And that poison, among all the great truths the guy proclaims, is the poison that disturbs the flock, fattens them up for the kill, then kills. But we are told how to rid the church of the false prophets...only, it's not "loving" and therefore many churches grow cold and dry because they don't have the spine to call a goat a goat. So false teachers stick around, the congregation grows dull of hearing, new people flock in who are undiscerning or unsaved, and there you have a building with people, but not a church.

What about the thousands flocking to hear the likes of Todd Bentley (Lakeland Revival), Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, etc? I believe if you are a true Christian you won't listen for long. It's impossible. You have the Spirit of God in you, you have the Word to check out what's said, and You have a measure of discernment to protect you.

I know, I know, I hear you. "My friend's a really strong Christian and she just loves Joyce Meyer!" "My friend knows the bible back and forth and loves (fill in the name of some false teacher)." In our country, the standard of true Christianity is so low that we have lost perspective.

1 John 3:10 "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious..."

If you know people following after these false teachers, then pray for their salvation. Jesus said His sheep will not follow the voice of a stranger, but will flee. I believe Him.


Winslowlady

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