Deception in the church

[FreedomBeacon]

I am noticing that a lot of new age has crept into the church

Absolutely. In fact, while I said I would never write another book, I actually have one in the works on this very subject. An entire section is devoted to the New Age infiltration (literal doctrines of demons), but I am also addressing other false teachings I've encountered and "woke"/social justice/seeker-sensitive churches. My ministry has always been countering cult doctrines, but I have now found it necessary to confront falsehood within what would otherwise be regarded as mainstream Christianity. This is absolutely a sign of the end times. Deception is rampant and discernment is more and more scarce by the day.

 

[FreedomBeacon]

What the scariest thing is to me is how even when you put the truth squarely in front of someone's face they dig in all the harder. Instead of loving the truth they love lies. It's truly hard to comprehend.

It's what is known as "cognitive dissonance". I've dealt with it in my counter-cult ministry for years. It's very sad to now see it in the church.

 

[SilverFox7]

Much of the present day state of the Church is due to what they are cranking out of unbelieving seminaries these days.

2Ti 3:1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2Ti 3:9
But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.


2Ti 3:13
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Secularism seems to trump our Christian calling in some universities that claim they are following Christ. We have lost our true foundation for education--Jesus and The Bible.

Without that foundation, we can so easily get swept away into the prevailing culture of Babylon that is rampant around the world, especially prosperous countries.

If our education (and lives on the whole) are not focused on our relationship with Jesus Christ, it will all ultimately be vanity as Paul highlights to Timothy above in the verses you cited.

 

[FreedomBeacon]

But yet the modern church wants the scholar over the fishermen, tax collector, zealot, etc.

This is true. Early on in my counter cult ministry, some of the churches that wanted me to come in to train their members on how to respond to the false doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses and others, wanted me to have a degree first. I already had a ton of experience doing what I was doing, including parents who were JWs, who had raised me in that cult, and I was an ordained minister who had already published a book on the subject. Eventually, I did go ahead and go to seminary to get a Masters degree and I am working on my doctorate now. It's crazy, though. I never even had to have all of this to get a secular job.

 

[mailmandan]

Has anyone noticed the increase in deception these days? I know that the Bible talks about how many false prophets will arise in the end times and how satan deceives the word through his sorceries (pharmakeia) but have you noticed a very sharp spike in deception (especially in churches) in the last couple of years? Thank God for discernment and His grace is enough to ensure that true believers are not deceived but it seems like it's getting so much harder to distinguish the sheep from the wolves. Satan is so so crafty these days and it seems like a lot of the church have fallen victim to his schemes. I don't wanna be too specific and point the finger at particular ministries but I am noticing that a lot of new age has crept into the church and it's alarming to say the least. And don't get me started on the state of Christian music these days (just take a look at the "Christian" artists that performed at the Grammy's this year). It's so sad to see what the church looks like. Asleep and deceived. I know that there's a remnant of true believers out there and thank God for that but it seems like the "church" as a whole has been infiltrated. It makes finding a biblically sound local church very difficult.

It's interesting that you mentioned sorceries (pharmakeia).

In Revelation 9:21, we read - and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts. The Greek word for "sorceries" is - pharmakeía Strong's #5331 (from pharmakeuō, "administer drugs") – properly, drug-related sorcery, like the practice of magical-arts, etc. (A. T. Robertson).

 

[Roughsoul1991]

I understand the thinking behind the requirement as one who wants surgery feels more at ease knowing the surgeon has had the education and training to perform the task.

In the church we want the teacher to know the truth but the modern church has to remember 1. we are empowered, gifted, called, and equipped the Spirit. 2. This isn't brain surgery to read the Bible and apply the truth.

I understand that hermeneutics, ancient culture, and sometimes interlinear study can protect some interpretation from error but by majority a good thorough reading has been enough to get the message of salvation across to millions of people.

I wonder how many people who are gifted that the church looks over just because they are a farmer, mechanic, poor, etc and do not hold a degree?

 

[Fillan]

Has anyone noticed the increase in deception these days?

I agree! The bible gives an antidote to deception: Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you." (Matthew 24:4).
Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

We are to watch out, be careful and also examine the scriptures every day to see if what people are saying allegedly in God's name is true. God Bless You

 

[SilverFox7]

I agree! The bible gives an antidote to deception: Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you." (Matthew 24:4).
Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

We are to watch out, be careful and also examine the scriptures every day to see if what people are saying allegedly in God's name is true. God Bless You

As long as we have our roots firmly embedded in Jesus and His Word, false "messiahs" and "prophets" will be easily distinguishable with God on our side. We need to put on "the whole armor" every day and every moment in this crazy world.

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

Has anyone noticed the increase in deception these days? I know that the Bible talks about how many false prophets will arise in the end times and how satan deceives the word through his sorceries (pharmakeia) but have you noticed a very sharp spike in deception (especially in churches) in the last couple of years? Thank God for discernment and His grace is enough to ensure that true believers are not deceived but it seems like it's getting so much harder to distinguish the sheep from the wolves. Satan is so so crafty these days and it seems like a lot of the church have fallen victim to his schemes. I don't wanna be too specific and point the finger at particular ministries but I am noticing that a lot of new age has crept into the church and it's alarming to say the least. And don't get me started on the state of Christian music these days (just take a look at the "Christian" artists that performed at the Grammy's this year). It's so sad to see what the church looks like. Asleep and deceived. I know that there's a remnant of true believers out there and thank God for that but it seems like the "church" as a whole has been infiltrated. It makes finding a biblically sound local church very difficult.

I studied this subject as a new believer in HS. The best work on the subject was the following audio book. I still have the hard copy. This is something that you might find informative. The author died, but the channel has his sermons and books available for free.
If you like the book, you'll want to follow up with his more recent books. The author is Dave Hunt. He was a non-denominational evangelical.

Seduction of Christianity

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

I agree! The bible gives an antidote to deception: Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you." (Matthew 24:4).
Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

We are to watch out, be careful and also examine the scriptures every day to see if what people are saying allegedly in God's name is true. God Bless You

The previous post contains a book from the founder of The Berean Call, a ministry based upon that verse.

 

[Aussie52]

The thing that hooks people into error is the music. Bethel/Hillsong and others. The combination of music and bad theology in the song, entices many. It opens them up to false teaching.

 

[Lifted_by_the_word]

Churches that are basically daycares fall into this category.

 

[MsMediator]

I am actually having doubts on whether it is safe to raise kids. Kid are already exposed to so much nowadays (especially things related to sex, etc.), what about 10 years from now?

 

[Cameron143]

I am actually having doubts on whether it is safe to raise kids. Kid are already exposed to so much nowadays (especially things related to sex, etc.), what about 10 years from now?

The problem isn't raising kids. The problem comes in when you allow others to raise your kids.
Kids can be protected from most things until they are appropriate. It just takes a concerted effort on the parents part. But if parents are going to send their kids everyday to learn from heathens, they shouldn't be surprised by what their children learn.

 

[ResidentAlien]

The thing that hooks people into error is the music. Bethel/Hillsong and others. The combination of music and bad theology in the song, entices many. It opens them up to false teaching.

You're absolutely right. People get involved with these New Age groups because they love how the music makes them feel. Bill Johnson of Bethel once said the music can open people up to teaching they wouldn't normally accept otherwise. The quote has been scrubbed from Bethel Music's website but I located it with Wayback Machine and it was indeed there at one point.

 

[snowstreet]

What the scariest thing is to me is how even when you put the truth squarely in front of someone's face they dig in all the harder. Instead of loving the truth they love lies. It's truly hard to comprehend.

Problem is who has the Truth? Christianity is the most divided religion on earth. The only thing the reformation big shots agreed on was their hate toward Rome - they disagreed on everything else.

The Lutheran's, the Anglican's, the Calvinist, and the Anabaptist all went their own ways.

Whose truth do you put in front of them? John MacArthur's? Here's a guy who says that IF you believe in anything BUT a 6-day creation - you are not a Christian! He also teaches that at the end of the Millennium, God destroys the entire universe! What a counter-productive God!

It doesn't take a false prophet or new-ager to destroy Christianity - Christians are their own worst enemy!

 

[snowstreet]

It is getting extremely bad on the western front with New Age, Secular Humanism, Deconstructionism, and movements like the NAR, WOF, of Prosperity gospel. The Bethal type of doctrines are sweeping the hemisphere and it is so deceptive as in mixed with truth and much error that it seems cultish but many adopt these beliefs unknowingly while mixing them with sound doctrine.

I fear for these churches and those lost in mere emotionalism or unbiblical quests for healing, prosperity, or claiming to speak for God.

So fed up with it all.

So tell me - who has the truth?

Is it the Church of Christ - .3 miles away? Is it the Congregational Church - .7 miles away? Is it Faith Tabernacle - 1 mile away? Is it centerPoint - 2 miles away? Is it Trinity Baptist Church - 2.1 miles away? Is it the Kingdom Hall - 1.4 miles away? Is it the SDA church - 2.2 miles away? Is it the Christian science Church 1.1 miles away? Is it the methodist Church - 2.2 miles away? is it the Presbyterian church - 1.4 miles away? Is it the episcopal church - 3.5 miles away? Is it the Unitarian Universalist - 3 miles away? is it the Mormon Church - right across the street from the Unitarian church?

Tell me - who has the truth?

 

[Roughsoul1991]

So tell me - who has the truth?

Is it the Church of Christ - .3 miles away? Is it the Congregational Church - .7 miles away? Is it Faith Tabernacle - 1 mile away? Is it centerPoint - 2 miles away? Is it Trinity Baptist Church - 2.1 miles away? Is it the Kingdom Hall - 1.4 miles away? Is it the SDA church - 2.2 miles away? Is it the Christian science Church 1.1 miles away? Is it the methodist Church - 2.2 miles away? is it the Presbyterian church - 1.4 miles away? Is it the episcopal church - 3.5 miles away? Is it the Unitarian Universalist - 3 miles away? is it the Mormon Church - right across the street from the Unitarian church?

Tell me - who has the truth?

Who? You mean what. The Bible is the truth. If you stray away from it, you are in error. You would have to describe each denomination's core beliefs and then see what the Bible says.

 

[snowstreet]

Who? You mean what. The Bible is the truth. If you stray away from it, you are in error. You would have to describe each denomination's core beliefs and then see what the Bible says.

They all read the same bible, yet they all believe different. If it's the bible that has TRUTH - why is it Christians who read the same bible can hardly agree on anything?

 

[Cameron143]

They all read the same bible, yet they all believe different. If it's the bible that has TRUTH - why is it Christians who read the same bible can hardly agree on anything?

Because God hasn't made all things new yet.