Truth and the Word of God

This morning my spiritual heart broke. 

The sheer volume of non-biblical "Christian" teaching out in the world today hit me like a ton of bricks. The comments are always flooded with Christians and non-Christians praising this "brave" stance or exclaiming how much better a watered down version of the truth makes them feel. They're accepting a teaching that is 100% contrary to scripture, because it's an easier pill to swallow than the actual truth. Because their questionable actions are somehow justified when God is viewed through this particular rose-colored lens. Friends, this is what we've been warned about.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ - Matthew 7:15-23 

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. - Matthew 24:24 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. - Romans 16:17-18

With the rise of social media, "preachers" and "teachers" are coming out of the wood work.  False teachers will capitalize on a lack of biblical knowledge and the laziness of current day Christians to seek the truth. They'll couch cherry picked scripture and misinformation or trigger words in a very reasonable and logical (worldly) argument. The arguments sound rational and "make you feel better", but they are lies. If you aren't filtering the teaching back through the actual word of God, you will be misled.

We're told to be discerning about what is taught. It doesn't matter who it is. It doesn't matter how well you know them, or how much you respect their walk - do not just swallow biblical teaching that you hear. That includes what you hear from me. Go to the Bible yourself. Pray and submit what you've been taught directly to God, and allow the Holy Spirit to convict you. It's more important now than ever that you are discerning about what teaching you hold in your heart.

The Bible isn't meant to make you feel good all the time, there are hard truths within its pages. Our God is love and grace and mercy - but he is also a God of justice. Walk carefully, or when you are called to account you will hear "I never knew you, depart from me." (Matthew 7:23)

That's my heart today. 💜