Point: Contrary to the spirit of our age, the New Testament has a lot to say about false teaching and false teachers. Believers are to be on the alert for them, to resist false doctrines , refute them, warn others about it and not to fellowship with false teachers. Sometimes Christians today lack discernment and often will just let false teachers go because they use Christian vocabulary with different meanings; that is, false teachers have a pass among some Christians because their false teachings are “sprinkled” with a little bit of Christianese even though the true meaning of their contents are not Christian at all. There is a level of deception by false teachers that Christians be discerning and alert for. It might be appropriate to get the idea across that Christians must be aware of false teachers (be it in the form of a cult leader, compromiser, Liberal or secularists) with the following illustration.
Picture: The large blue butterfly is different than most butterflies in that when it is young as a caterpillar it eats insects!
According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_blue):
The large blue butterfly is well known in behavioural ecology as it is a brood parasite of a single species of red ant, Myrmica sabuleti
Here’s a fascinating video:
This is analogous to the tactics of false teachers equivocating Christian terminology in order to gain acceptance: Deception, “sweetness,” preying on others, etc.
Conclusion
As Christians we must be careful to discern, warn and refute false teachers and their false teaching that comes into our midst and wishes to take over.
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Excellent post, Pastor Jim.
Your conclusion is so true:
“As Christians we must be careful to discern, warn and refute false teachers and their false teaching that comes into our midst and wishes to take over.”
There are so many wolves in sheep’s clothing these days that we need to be on the alert.
BTW…I’m a big butterfly fan. I grow cone flowers every year just to see the butterflies.
I pray that all is well with you and your family.
God’s blessings…
Is your picture of the same type of butterfly???
I’m not sure, Pastor Jim. We do, however, have butterflies here that look a bit like the one in your picture.
Good point about the need for discernment. Identifying “the true meaning of their contents” and making it clear may be the best way to help others understand what the problem is.
Thanks for reading this
Thanks for this good post and the very illustrative analogy. You hit the nail on the head. Pseudo-(c)hristian groups use the same Biblical parlance as Gospel Christians, but preach false gospels of justification by works and other heresies. Christians embrace and defend these groups and muddy the genuine Gospel.
I was actually thinking of Romanism and the cults and was thinking about your reaction to this post! Have you had posts in general on general discernment? I think that would be a great series on you blog like maybe on Jude?
I do appreciate your good efforts with this post. Ecumenism with error and lack of discernment in this regard is now so deep and widespread that some would/will “Amen” this post while incongruently embracing the RCC.
But that shouldn’t mean that we should keep silent. I appreciate your good effort here. May the Lord wake some up through this post for the Gospel’s sake.
I don’t know if I’ve ever written a general post on discernment. I’ll have to ponder that one. Thanks for the suggestion!
Excellent brother. We do need the gift of the Holy Spirit devoted to “the distinguishing of spirits.”
Blessings.
Amen to that amen
Amen! Treasure and value the Word of God, abide in the Spirit, test the spirit by the Spirit…thank You, Lord, for Your protection.
Amen sister amen!
I agree. Believers are to be alert for false doctrines.
However, the litmus test many Christian’s use is faulty and a bit out of order. One litmus tester, a supposed Christian, asked me if I believed in a certain doctrine. I said no, and from the tone of his reply, if he had the power, I would have been burned at the stake.
Of course, he wouldn’t read anything I wrote dealing with that teaching. He didn’t care that I believe every specification found in Scripture, and have followed every requirement needed for salvation.
He didn’t care that my confession of faith is identical to Peter’s, Martha, the jailor in the city of Philippi, the official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and each verse of Scripture I listed. I have obeyed the words of Peter in Acts 2:38; Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
And if that were not sufficient, I believe the five solas of the Reformation. Sola is a Latin word that means only or alone. All five Solas are an all or nothing proposal. You either believe in scripture as a sole authority or you do not. The five solas of the Reformation are: sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone).
Here are the basic, essential, and necessary requirements we must confess, to have a saving faith in Christ. If I have missed anything, please state what that is.
• We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God;
• We must believe in God, that raised Christ from the dead, and gave him glory;
• We must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father;
• We must believe with all our heart, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God which should come into the world;
• We must confess Christ before men;
• We must believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
• We must believe the gospel, which is the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus;
• We must believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Besides that, adhering to the five solas of the Reformation, is there anything in the list, any other belief or necessary requirement for salvation found in Scripture, I have left out of that list?
And yet, I was considered a heretic, because I did not adhere to a confession of faith, not found in Scripture, he thought I needed to believe. And if I mentioned what that teaching is, I know there are a few that read these posts, that would also side with him.
That, I believe is a real problem at times, knowing who is, and who is not a false teacher.
Keeping ones nose in His Word often with much Prayer for Holy Spirit’s Wisdom…..Is the best chance for a cure to all the tom foolery.
Amen sister amen
good material!
Thanks
you are welcome!
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