If you have spent any time at all in churches (all denominations) you may have noticed that they seem to be in disarray or prospering beyond belief. The first one you might think is a problem church and not doing what the LORD would have them to be doing and the prosperous church you might think is going gang busters for the LORD; you would probably be wrong on both counts.
The LORD was well aware of what was going to happen almost from the moment that HE ascended back into Heaven, because HE had much to say about it especially through Paul, Peter and Jude but also in other Books of the Bible. Wolves in sheep's clothing, wolves in the pulpits, false teachers, apostates of every kind were warned about right from the beginning of the infant church straight through today and beyond.
Many denying the Deity of CHRIST, the blood of CHRIST, Salvation through CHRIST alone, the Gospel, the WORD of GOD; all being used by the great deceiver and accuser of the brethren, the devil / Satan and his demons. These people tout the same lie that the serpent told Eve in the Garden of Eden, " did GOD really say ? " Doubt of GOD's love, doubt of GOD's SON, doubt, doubt, doubt ! ! !
2nd.Peter Chapter 2 speaks much about the False Teachers and the LORD calls them: Unjust, Presumptuous, Self-Willed, like natural Brute Beasts, Corrupted, Spots and Blemishes, Adulterers (spiritual), Beguilers, Covetous, Accursed children, Wells without water, Slaves of Corruption, a Dog who returns to its own vomit, a Sow wallowing in the mire. 2nd.Peter 2:1-3 says, " But there were also false prophets among the people even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the LORD WHO bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. " Please read the rest of 2nd. Peter Chapter 2 for more help in identifying these False Teachers.
The Book of Jude uses nearly the same terminology and descriptions for Apostates. Jude 3-4,12-13,16 " Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common Salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our GOD into licentiousness and deny the only LORD GOD and our LORD JESUS CHRIST."
" These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves; they are clouds without water carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. "
" These are murmurers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. "
Read the entire Book of Jude to get the full word on Apostates. CHRIST warned the people about those " who were as white washed tombs full of dead men's bones. " These wolves in sheep's clothing are not only in the pulpits of many churches but they are prevalent within the congregations. Most congregants are ignorant of what the WORD of GOD says and they are easily lead into error by False Teachers and Apostates in the pulpit. But also, the congregation can have among them, those who have come from other churches with error galore ! It is like a little leaven leavening the whole lump little by little until the soft spoken, compliant Pastor no longer has control of those who he once ministered unto and he finds himself outside wondering what happened.
I did this blog because I have seen much apostasy being relayed on the Internet, false teachers of all sorts, those who want to rewrite the Bible, those who want people to get saved then throw the Bible away,those who misinterpret the WORD of GOD for their own egos, those who deny that JESUS is GOD, and deny the blood of CHRIST as payment for our sins, and so on and so forth adnausium. So if it is this bad on the Internet our churches cannot be that far behind. So the next time you move or are out there checking into churches to become part of a local assembly for the service of CHRIST and the brethren; be careful, be wise, check them out 6 ways from Sunday and then some. Check out their Statement of Faith word by word and ask questions; do not be afraid to ask questions. If you get an attitude by asking questions then a flag is being raised as to whether they are on the up and up. Don't just look at the size of their congregation and assume that all is well. Many of the largest congregations in the U.S. are suspect at best and totally Apostate at worst.
Just be careful and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you into the congregation that is a right fit for you and your family. GOD wants us to assemble together to do the work of the ministry; to care for and encourage one another; especially as we see the Day approaching. We are not to be hermits, alone. Our love for CHRIST is only to be first above our love and care for the brethren; and you cannot care for the brethren if you are not part of a local assembly of like minded believers. So go out and do your research to find the one place that GOD has for you to be of service to HIM and to HIS children.
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
