Could you have a false prophet for a Pastor?

We are going to let the different versions of the Bible do the explaining.

We are going to start with Ezekiel 13: verses 1-9

Verse 1.

New Living Translation
Then this message came to me from the LORD:
Berean Study Bible
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
King James Bible
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,


God is talking to Ezekiel and Ezekiel is writing it down word for word for us. So lets see just what God has to say here.



Verse 2.

New Living Translation
“Son of man, prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who are inventing their own prophecies. Say to them, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD.
Berean Study Bible
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!
King James Bible
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;



Verse 3.

New Living Translation
“Son of man, prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who are inventing their own prophecies. Say to them, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD.
Berean Study Bible
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!
King James Bible
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;


Cross References


Jeremiah 23:1
"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:28
Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?" declares the LORD.


Verse 4.

New Living Translation
“O people of Israel, these prophets of yours are like jackals digging in the ruins.
Berean Study Bible
Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.
King James Bible
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.



Cross Reference

Song of Solomon 2:15
Catch for us the foxes--the little foxes that ruin the vineyards--for our vineyards are in bloom.



These prophets are not Good prophets



Verse 5

New Living Translation
They have done nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation. They have not helped it to stand firm in battle on the day of the LORD.
Berean Study Bible
You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD.
King James Bible
Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.



Cross References

Isaiah 13:6
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Isaiah 13:9
Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming--cruel, with fury and burning anger--to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it.



Verse 6

New Living Translation
Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the LORD,’ even though the LORD never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies!
Berean Study Bible
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.
King James Bible
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.



God is using some very harsh words here, you would do well to pay close attention to Him.



Verse 7.

New Living Translation
Can your visions be anything but false if you claim, ‘This message is from the LORD,’ when I have not even spoken to you?
Berean Study Bible
Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?
King James Bible
Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?


Cross References

Isaiah 30:10
They say to the seers, "Stop seeing visions!" and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.

Ezekiel 22:28
Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, 'This is what the Lord GOD says,' when the LORD has not spoken.



Verse 8.

New Living Translation
“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because what you say is false and your visions are a lie, I will stand against you, says the Sovereign LORD.
Berean Study Bible
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.
King James Bible
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.



Cross References
1 Kings 13:18
Then the prophet replied, "I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.'" The old prophet was lying to him,
Jeremiah 21:13
Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau--declares the LORD--you who say, "Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?"
Jeremiah 23:30
"Therefore behold," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me."



Verse 9.

New Living Translation
I will raise my fist against all the prophets who see false visions and make lying predictions, and they will be banished from the community of Israel. I will blot their names from Israel’s record books, and they will never again set foot in their own land. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.
Berean Study Bible
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.
King James Bible
And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.



Cross Reference

Jeremiah 17:13
O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away will be written in the dust, for they have abandoned the LORD, the fountain of living water.

There could be, and very likely there are false teachers and pastors.

Two great examples of 'false prophets/pastors' that destroyed the Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Bishop John Shelby Spong. Both mislead the Episcopal Church down the road of progressive anti-Biblical/Christian teaching.

Read about Bishop Schori's antibiblical newage teachings: GC2012: The False Theology of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori | VirtueOnline – The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism

Read about Bishop Spong's heresies: The Episcopal Church's Fruits of Heresy - American Thinker

False prophtes/pastors in the Church??????? YOU BETCHA!!!!!!!!!! Satan is actively at work in all the different denominations promoting. You can see him and his minion pastors promoting the LGBT agenda, abortion, and other evils in the sanctuary of God.

Ooops, I almost forgot Bishop Gene Robinson. He was a twice married (to women), a self admitted alcoholic, and active homosexual. He claimed that God was doing something new and blessing homosexual love.

It seems that the Episcopalian Church goes out of it's way to select liberal anti-Christian progressives as their pastors and leaders. Don't know why. The good news is that their church/movement is dying out, won't be around in a couple of decades. And that's a shame because The Episcopal Church used to be a conservative foundation/bedrock for Christian teaching.

I knew a nice Christian couple a number of years ago. They were active Episcopalian church goers. I asked them how they could remain in a church that performed LGBT wedding rites and had strayed so far from Christ and Biblical teachings. They said they enjoyed singing in the choir. Hmmmmmmmmm???????

In my church? No. Could there be some in other Churches? Sure.

Only 43% of pastors hold Biblical worldview on Salvation

Published on Thursday, the nationwide study was carried out by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University and polled around 1000 pastors.

The study found that more than six out of ten pastors (62%) do not hold to a New Testament view on salvation, but rather ascribe to a hybrid worldview known as Syncretism, CP reports.

Syncretism is the combining of different beliefs, the merging of several ways of thinking.

I was in behavioral health for 23 years. Over that time I saw a number of "pastors" who admitted to being in the ministry just as a job. They didn't actually believe what they were preaching. So, yeah: I believe false teachers are rampant. But that's what happens when they are chosen because of their degree, pedigree, or influence and not by the fruit of the Spirit.

I was curious about the study you cited, so I found some information and here is a paragraph quote from an article in Worthy News:

The survey of 2,000 American adults conducted by the Cultural Research Center at ACU showed that just one in three Americans now agrees with the statement: “You consider yourself to be a Christian; and when you die you will go to Heaven only because you have confessed your sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior.” The poll also found that 52% of people who identify as Christian believe “works” can be a means to obtain God’s salvation.

Surveys can be extremely deceptive and misleading depending how the questions are asked. Do we go to heaven "only because we have confessed our sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour"? I think that statement is very incomplete. It does not mention the cross, the blood, nor the resurrection. I uses the word "accept" when a much better word would be "believe". And though confession and repentance is very much a part of being saved, to word it simply as "confess your sins" is very shallow. If I was asked that question I might very well say it is false because of the above issues. It seems then that this survey would class me as a pastor who has a "hybrid worldview". It is best to be skeptical with such surveys till one researchs them. (My opinion!)

Are there false prophets pastoring churches in America? (and worldwide for that matter!)

Sure! There are lots of them; and as already noted a lot of times it is for money. Other times it may be blatantly purposeful false teaching. Other times it is "sincere", but highly deceived men (and women for that matter!)!

The Bible clearly warns about an epidemic of false teachers in the end times. It is here.

To all that have replied I am glad to see that you all see this for what it is and you seam to have a grasp on this. Chester I am surprised that they would admit to just being in it for the money.

Ezekiel 13:19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? God's word proves to be true again and again.

Aaron Sorry it was you that said you had pastors tell you they were in it only for the money.

No worries.

These were men who were seen as spiritual leaders by the community. I believe they were hired to 1) increase church membership and 2) raise funds. Two particular "pastors" I remember had two of the largest congregations in the area. (different denominations).

Not the same today as it was in the OT.. then it was as one said "when did the spirit leave me to you". Today that same spirit the prophet has we have. So all a prophet can do today is like one did with our brother Paul. Never told him what to do just what would happen to the one waring that belt. Now for me false is nothing more then they speak something and can many times get it right but in truth "God never told them". They can still point to Christ just off in other areas. Some doctrines can be wrong but when it does not effect salvation.. yeah we tend to go nuts and all the bells and whistle's go off "WARNING WARNING WILL ROBINSON"...haha.... when lol its just a doctrine is off. There are those that are wolfs.. praise God.

I live out in the country in Arkansas and we have several churches within 20 miles or so of us some larger some smaler. I have not been to all of them but I have made it to most and none of them preach the True Gospel. You get 1 or 2 verses and a story about good ol Uncle ? I have a good KJV Study bible, my Strong's and my Smith's Bible Dictonary and my collage dictionary, the leading og the Holy Spitit and my wifes uncle. I thank I do OK for and old man.

What do you think the problem is? Can it be reversed?

What do you mean not the same today as in the O.T. God is the same yesterday as today and will be the same tomarrow. What does Revelation 22 say?
Nothing May Be Added

18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. {THE END.}
Jesus and The Apostles tought from the Old Testament.

No they are to set in the doctron of the church and the traditions of men. I hve been asked to leave one church for asking to many questions

went to my mom's little country church in north georgia with her a while back.

the pastor said " i wish you all would learn the Bible better.

then proceeds to spend about 2 minutes in the Bible and about 20 minutes talking about....... stuff.
just like you said, a verse or 2, then stories.

Beckie,
you know from the thread this was taken from it was referenced to why Paul did everything you're supposed to do according to what we read in the Bible and still God chose not to heal Trophimus. nice try, Deceiver!