There is absolutely no doubt that we are living in a God-hating, Christ-rejecting sinful world that is filled with greed, lies, dishonesty, depravity, deception, and corruption. The likes of which have not been seen heretofore. The Bible declares, “While evil men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). “Deceiving and being deceived” applies even to those who claim they are preaching God’s word. Disgracefully, some “so-called” religious leaders fall into some or all of these categories. God speaks to the issues.
Utilizing their pulpits, some church leaders present a “health, wealth and prosperity” gospel under the pretext “you name it, you claim it” and “If you give, God will compensate you (materially).” Today, we are “swamped” with false teachers and imposters, pretending to be “God’s servants or God’s messengers.” Nothing could be further from the truth, that is, the truth of the Holy Scriptures. The Bible says, “Constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:5-8). Does this ring true? Absolutely!
The pastor of a very large church once said “Men have the power in themselves to change their lives.” This is totally false. Man is not the true measure all things. The Bible clearly states, “All have sinned and come short of God’s glory” (Romans 3:23). Also, “There is none righteous, not even one” (Roman 3:10). So then, how can mortal, sinful men have the power to change their own lives? If this was possible, we wouldn’t need a Savior who is Jesus Christ. Preaching like this is misleading, confusing. Thats why some just don’t know who or what to believe.
False teachers take a Biblical text out of its context and use it for a pretext to support and promote their erroneous preaching. For example, Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). “Abundant life” here means when a person receives Jesus as Savior, that person receives Jesus into his or own life, and Jesus is allowed to live His life in and through that individual. The christian life is the “outliving of the indwelling Christ.” Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live, I live by faith, in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” That is the abundant life Jesus is talking about, and nothing else.
God has a stern warning for church pastors and leaders who deceive their congregations and others by deliberately preaching and writing books that are contrary to the teachings of God’s Holy Word. The Bible states, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
One can only conclude that false preachers use the church of the Lord Jesus Christ to “feather their own nests” by soliciting tithes and offerings from their members under false pretenses. In his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote, “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
Paul explains the only true gospel, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The true gospel is intended to “convict people of their sin” and be right with the God of the scriptures. Sadly, so many are being led astray and on their way to a “Christ-less eternity.”
The undeniable truth behind false preachers is that they are men and women of means, because some are extremely wealthy, owing expensive private jets, top-of-the-line cars, luxury yachts, mansions for homes ‘fit for a king’, on top of lavish lifestyles. How can they live like this? Those who believe their lies and erroneous doctrine are brainwashed into donating to their causes and buying their books, telling you how to be “a better you by believing in yourself” rather than believing in God. The question remains, “who do you believe – God or man?”