Deception In The Church..."The Extreme Danger False Teachers Pose To The Church."

Let's examine the wisdom of Paul concerning his warning to the church about false teachers. In Acts 20:28-30 Paul, in speaking to pastors/elders, said these words, "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." 29) "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;" 30)" and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." Let's notice several things about the apostle's words to the church. He uses the phrase "savage wolves" in describing these false teachers. This is the same metaphor that Jesus used in Matthew 7:17 and 10:15 when describing false teachers. This metaphor stresses the extreme danger false teachers pose to the church! Paul, when talking about these savage wolves, uses the phrase "from among your own selves." He's telling us that even more deadly than attacks from outside the church are the defections of those (especially leaders) within the church (1 Tim 1:20; 2 Tim 1:15; Jude 3, 4, 10-13). Paul also uses the term "perverse things." The Greek word means "distorted," or "twisted!" In other words, false teachers twist and distort God's Word for their own evil ends (13:10, 2 Pet 3:16). Now, let's examine a sampling of quotes made to the church by some false teachers. "You don't have a god in you, you are one." Kenneth Copeland, "The Force Of Love" tape # 02-0028 "Pray to yourself, because I'm in your self and you're in My self. We are one Spirit, saith the Lord." Kenneth Copeland, "Believer's Voice of Victory" Feb. 1987, pg. 9 "How can you glorify God in your body, when it doesn't function right?...What makes you think the Holy Ghost wants to live inside of a body where He can't see out through the windows, and He can't hear out of the ears?" Fred Price, "Is God Glorified Through Sickness?" tape # FP605 This insulting and insensitive comment regarding those who are crippled and handicapped should stir up anger in even the most hardened of consciences! "God is the biggest failure in the Bible...the reason you've never thought that is because He never said He was one." Kenneth Copeland, "Praise-a-thon", broadcast on TBN, recorded 1988. "Jesus wore designer clothes" "Jesus had a nice big house" John Avanzini, "Believer's Voice of Victory" broadcast on TBN, recorded 1/20/91.

These as well as others (Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Leroy Thompson, Jesse Duplantis, Jerry Savelle, Charles Capps, Marilyn Hickey) are well-known personalities within the Word-Faith movement. The doctrines they teach are full of error and pose extreme danger to the church! It's not only their teachings but teachers who follow their beliefs as well. As Christ followers, we must address the serious issue of how long those who seek God's truth will walk in brotherhood with those who've deviated from God's truth. Let the true Christ followers discern truth from error and take heed to the words spoken by apostle Paul in Acts 20:28-30. Your move. Be encouraged!