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Beware of False Preachers

by Bob Butler  
10/17/2010 / Church Life

As time comes to an end we will experience all that we want, not because we deserve it, but because the world wants it. This sounds good but in the end it will be wrong, oh so wrong. Let me explain.

The Bible talks of a time just before the end that is full of peace, a peace that makes everyone relax and enjoy life as never before. "When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape" 1 Thess 5:3 (ASV)

Most concentrate on the last part of this verse but I want to draw your attention to the first part. "When they are saying, Peace and safety..." There is a time when the one thing we want is ours, 'Peace'. Remember that it is only when we feel confident that peace and safety has been achieved that we will let our guard down and the end will come. It begins with a removal of all that stands in the way: sound moral preaching of God's Word. Jesus said: "Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." Matt 10:34 (ASV) This is why progressive liberals want to do way with all Christian freedom's of expression. This may be strange to your thinking but if you stop a minute, it will make sense.

The one dominating theme of Christianity is the statement: "Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life and no one comes to the Father but though Him". This is a moral absolute that must not be watered down. But until it is not a part of life it will be a sword between those who believe it and those that don't. That one statement has caused a division between the different religions. Many preachers have begun to skate around that moral absolute and are drawing many to their churches. Joel Osteen is a good example; he would not stand firmly on this point when interviewed by Larry King:

KING: Because we've had ministers on who said, your record don't count. You either believe in Christ or you don't. If you believe in Christ, you are, you are going to heaven. And if you don't no matter what you've done in your life, you ain't.

OSTEEN: Yeah, I don't know. There's probably a balance between. I believe you have to know Christ. But I think that if you know Christ, if you're a believer in God, you're going to have some good works. I think it's a cop-out to say I'm a Christian but I don't ever do anything ...

KING: What if you're Jewish or Muslim, you don't accept Christ at all?

OSTEEN: You know, I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know ...

KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They're wrong, aren't they?

OSTEEN: Well, I don't know if I believe they're wrong. I believe here's what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God with judge a person's heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don't know. I've seen their sincerity. So I don't know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus. (To see the whole transcript go to: CNN and look up transcripts with Osteen.)

Now grant it he did change the statement of faith for the church, but that is not a personal declaration of the fact. We begin to see the problem, to get people to listen to you, you have to water down the truth.

For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 2 Tim 4:3 (ASV)

I am a laymen with an advanced degree in Biblical Lit. I use the internet to speak of those things that touch my heart. You can freely use this article if my name and web site appears on document. www.letters4thelastdays.com.

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