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Heresies
Cults
Recruits of
Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer
a psychologist at the
Cults
Response to
When the FBI trains staff
members to identify counterfeit bills
they are not required to study fake
money. Instead they undergo a thorough study of genuine currency as the best preparation
to identify counterfeit money. Believers should approach cults in the same way.
If they do
they will experience similar results. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Doctrine
False
I once saw a card that
said: “Old fishermen never die—thy only smell that way.”
That surely describes false
Christianity. It never dies—it only smells that way. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Doctrine
False
Fire ants have virtually
taken over the southern United States since they were accidentally transported
here a few decades ago. They are amazingly adaptable
fiercely aggressive
and
multiply seemingly overnight. Worst of all
insecticide sprays generally can’t
destroy the mound’s inhabitants. Like a mighty army they have marched in
impervious to brute force.
Scientists have now found a
rather crafty way to wipe out whole colonies. Pellets of the ants’ favorite
food are tainted with a special tasteless
odorless poison and sprinkled around
the mound. The worker ants immediately begin gathering up the tainted treasure
and take it down into the heart of the colony. Then they unwittingly feed the
poisoned pellets to their queen
slowly killing her! When the queen dies
no
more workers are produced
and so in a couple of weeks the entire colony
starves to death. How ironic! Food that looked so good caused their starvation.
That is how it is with
false doctrine. Those who lack discernment import it into the heart of the
church
thinking it is harmless and in fact quite good. If any wise “ant”
smells the poison and protests
he is ridiculed! And in the end the next
generation starves to death spiritually. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Doctrine
False
In an examination at a
Christian school
the teacher asked the following question: “What is false
doctrine?”
Up went a little boy’s
hand
and there came this answer: “It’s when the doctor gives the wrong stuff
to people who are sick.”
Although the little boy had
obviously confused doctrine with ‘doctorin’
he arrived at the correct
definition. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Doctrine
False
The seriousness of errant
doctrine can be compared to a missile aimed a mere one degree off target. The
difference seems slight and negligible at first
yet the results of the error
increase dramatically throughout the flight of the missile
until it totally
misses its intended target.
So it is with false
doctrine. At first it may seem to be a tolerable mistake
a little error—but
not that serious. But
as with all errors
the effects compound over time until
they become so serious that they may not be correctable. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Refutation of Astrology
Martin Luther said to P. Melanchthon
when the
latter showed him the nativity of
The same is true spiritually. The changeover from
truth to error is sometimes a slow process
and the people don’t always know
the difference. But
before you know it
they are dead.
Cults
Recruits of
Dr.
Margaret Thaler Singer
a psychologist at the
Cults
Response to
When
the FBI trains staff members to identify counterfeit bills
they are not
required to study fake money. Instead they undergo a thorough study of genuine
currency as the best preparation to identify counterfeit money. Believers
should approach cults in the same way. If they do
they will experience similar
results.
Doctrine
False
I
once saw a card that said: “Old fishermen never die—thy only smell that way.”
That surely describes
false Christianity. It never dies—it only smells that way.
Doctrine
False
Fire
ants have virtually taken over the southern United States since they were accidentally
transported here a few decades ago. They are amazingly adaptable
fiercely
aggressive
and multiply seemingly overnight. Worst of all
insecticide sprays
generally can’t destroy the mound’s inhabitants. Like a mighty army they have
marched in
impervious to brute force.
Scientists
have now found a rather crafty way to wipe out whole colonies. Pellets of the
ants’ favorite food are tainted with a special tasteless
odorless poison and
sprinkled around the mound. The worker ants immediately begin gathering up the
tainted treasure and take it down into the heart of the colony. Then they
unwittingly feed the poisoned pellets to their queen
slowly killing her! When
the queen dies
no more workers are produced
and so in a couple of weeks the
entire colony starves to death. How ironic! Food that looked so good caused
their starvation.
That
is how it is with false doctrine. Those who lack discernment import it into the
heart of the church
thinking it is harmless and in fact quite good. If any
wise “ant” smells the poison and protests
he is ridiculed! And in the end the
next generation starves to death spiritually.
Doctrine
False
In
an examination at a Christian school
the teacher asked the following question:
“What is false doctrine?”
Up went a little boy’s
hand
and there came this answer: “It’s when the doctor gives the wrong stuff
to people who are sick.”
Although the little boy
had obviously confused doctrine with ‘doctorin’
he arrived at the correct
definition.
Doctrine
False
The
seriousness of errant doctrine can be compared to a missile aimed a mere one
degree off target. The difference seems slight and negligible at first
yet the
results of the error increase dramatically throughout the flight of the
missile
until it totally misses its intended target.
So it is with false
doctrine. At first it may seem to be a tolerable mistake
a little error—but
not that serious. But
as with all errors
the effects compound over time until
they become so serious that they may not be correctable.
Refutation of Astrology
Martin
Luther said to P. Melanchthon
when the latter showed him the nativity of
No illustrations yet.
Marks of a Cult:
Authoritarian: There is
almost always a central
charismatic
living human leader who commands total
loyalty and allegiance.
Oppositional: Their beliefs
practices and values are counter to those of the
dominant culture.
Exclusivistic: They are the only group that possesses the "truth."
Legalistic: Rules and regulations abound governing spiritual matters and the
details of everyday living.
Subjective: They emphasize the experiential
the feelings and the emotions.
This is usually accompanied by an anti- intellectualism.
Persecution-conscious: The groups feel they are being singled out by mainstream
Christians
the press
parents
and the government.
Sanction-oriented: They require conformity in practice and belief
and exercise
sanctions against the wayward.
Esoteric: They promote a religion of secrecy and concealment. Truth is taught
on two levels
inner truth and outer truth.
Anti-sacerdotal: There are no paid clergy or professional religious
functionaries.
Source Unknown.
One of the earliest and
most potent threats to early Christianity came from the heretical group known
as the Gnostics. Blending elements of Christianity
Greek philosophy
and
oriental mysticism
the Gnostics denied the orthodox view of God
man
and the
world
and Christ. The apostle John included them in the camp of the
Antichrist.
The Gnostics were so
called because of their view of revelation. The word gnosis is the Greek word
for "knowledge." In many cases the Gnostic heretics did not make a
frontal assault against the apostles or against the apostolic teaching of
Scripture. In fact
many of them insisted that they were genuine
Bible-believing Christians. It wasn't that they rejected the Bible; they just
claimed an additional source of knowledge or insight that was superior to or at
least beyond the knowledge of Scripture. The "Gnostikoi" were
"those in the know." Their knowledge was not derived from
intellectual comprehension of the Scripture or by empirical research
but was
mystical
direct
and immediate. God "revealed" private
intuitive
insights to them that carried nothing less than divine authority.
Here is a typical Gnostic
statement: "We cannot communicate with God mentally
for He is a Spirit.
But we can reach Him with our Spirit
and it is through our Spirit that we come
to know God . . .This is one reason God put teachers (those who are really
called to teach) in the church -- to renew our minds. Many times those who
teach do so with only a natural knowledge that they have gained from the Bible
and other sources. But I am referring here to one of the ministry gifts. Those
who are called and anointed by the Spirit to teach. God has given us His Word
and we can feed upon that Word. This will renew our minds. But He also puts
teachers in the church to renew our minds and to bring us the revelation of the
knowledge of God's Word." (Kenneth E. Hagin
Man on Three Dimensions
(Tulsa
Okla.: Faith Library
1985)
1:8
13.)
Notice that this quotation
does not include a direct assault on the Bible. The Bible is recognized as
God's word. But in order to understand the Bible we need something beyond our
natural mental ability. We need the Spirit-anointed teachers to "bring us
the revelation of the knowledge of God's Word." This is a typically
Gnostic statement
but the quote is not fromValentinus or any of the other
early Gnostics. It is from the pen of a modern missionary of Gnosticism
Kenneth E. Hagin. It is from Hagin's Man on Three Dimensions. Hagin's theology
echoes the tripartite epistemology of early Gnosticism (man as having three
separate entities: body
soul
and spirit).
Robert Tilton also claims
a direct pipeline to divine revelation: "God showed me a vision that
almost took my breath away. I was sucked into the Spirit . . .
caught away . .
. and I found myself standing in the very presence of Almighty God. It
just echoed into my being. And he said these words to me. . . exactly these
words . . ."Many of my ministers pray for my people
but I want you to
pray the Prayer of Agreement with them" . . . I have never seen the
presence of God so powerful. This same anointing flooded my Spirit-man . . .
It's inside of me now
and I have supernatural faith to agree with you. From
that day forth
as I have been faithful to that heavenly vision
I've seem
every kind of miracle imaginable happen when I pray the Prayer of Agreement
with God'speople." (Robert tilton
newsletter from Robert Tilton
Ministries
Word of Faith World Outreach Center
Box 819000
Dallas
TX75381.
It seems that in Robert
Tilton the church is blessed with a twentieth-century apostle whose visions of
revelation exceed that of the apostle John and whose miracle powers surpass
that of the apostle Paul. If we are to believe Tilton's astonishing claims
there is no reason we should not include his writings in the next edition of
the New Testament.
Paul Crouch of the Trinity
Broadcasting Network (TBN)
has revelatory dreams and has warmly embraced the
neo-Gnostic dogma. His network has become a prime distribution center for the
growing movement. Kenneth Copeland also receives phrases from God in "his
spirit."
Michael Horton Editor
The
Agony of Deceit
Moody Press 1990
pp. 38-40.
The Perverted Gospel - Its Message
INTRODUCTION
1. The Bible is filled with grave warnings against tampering with the Word of God... a. There is the warning given through Moses - Deu 4:2 b. There is the warning given through John - Re 22:18-19 2. Perhaps the strongest warning is that given by Paul - Ga 1:6-10 a. Some had "perverted" (metastrepho
to turn around
turn about) the gospel of Christ b. Like a belt that starts out right
but becomes twisted at some point c. Such perversions were to be rejected
even if it taught by angels or apostles! 3. Since the gospel was first preached
it has often been perverted to teach something different than that proclaimed by the apostles... a. Some taught that we must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses to be saved - Ac 15:1
6 b. Others later stressed a similar doctrine of salvation through meritorious works 4. Today
many present a perverted gospel of Christ... a. Often in reaction to the extreme doctrine of salvation by meritorious works b. Proclaiming a doctrine of salvation by faith "only" c. Denying any need of obedience in order to be saved [In this lesson we shall consider this "perverted gospel" as oftenpresented today
and note its contrast to the gospel as preached byJesus and His apostles...] I. THE MESSAGE OF THE PERVERTED GOSPEL
A. IT BEGINS WITH THE TRUTH... 1. Most commonly presented as "The Four Spiritual Laws" a. Formulated and heavily propagated by the Campus Crusade For Christ b. Though it begins with truth
it does eventually pervert the gospel 2. Note the truth that is presented in "The Four Spiritual Laws" a. Law One - God loves you
and has a wonderful plan for your life - Jn 3:16; 10:10 b. Law Two - Man is sinful and separated from God. As such he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life - Ro 3:23; 6:23 c. Law Three - Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life - Ro 5:6-9; Jn 14:6 d. Law Four - We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives - Jn 1:12; Ep 2:8-9 -- Up to this point
"The Four Spiritual Laws" does a fine job in presenting the gospel message; but then the gospel is"perverted" (twisted)
B. THE ERROR IS IN TELLING ONE HOW TO RECEIVE CHRIST... 1. E.g.
"We receive Christ by personal invitation
cf. Re 3:20" a. It is true that Christ personally invites us to Him - cf. Mt11:28-30
b. But Re 3:20 is an invitation to wayward Christians
not alien sinners - Re 3:22 c. Failure to note the context leads to a perversion of the gospel! 2. E.g.
"You can receive Christ right now through prayer" a. "Then receive Him into your life by a simple act of faith. In prayer you can tell God that you know you are a sinner
and that you are sorry for your sins. Tell him that you want to turn from your old way of living
and you invite Jesus Christ to come into your life to be your Lord and Savior." - Billy Graham (Writes On Religion) b. People are often told to pray
"Lord Jesus
I need you. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be." 3. While this sounds innocent
is saying "the sinner's prayer" how we are to receive Jesus into our lives? a. The Bible nowhere mentions "the sinner's prayer" b. Those who are taught to pray for forgiveness are already Christians 1) E.g.
Simon - Ac 8:13
22 2) E.g.
those to whom John writes - 1 Jn 1:6-10 c. Again
Re 3:20 (often used to support the idea of receiving Jesus through prayer) was an invitation to erring Christians 4. To receive Christ so that we come to know Him
one must keep certain commandments! a. As expressed by Jesus - cf. Jn 14:21
23 b. As written by John - cf. 1 Jn 2:3-6 [The gospel message becomes perverted at the point when a person desiresto receive Christ and is told to simply say "the sinner's prayer."Jesus and His apostles never taught that. What did they teach...?] II. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
A. IT INCLUDES THE BASIC CONTENT OF "THE FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS"... 1. Law One - God loves you
and has a wonderful plan for your life - Jn 3:16; 10:10 2. Law Two - Man is sinful and separated from God. As such he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life - Ro 3:23; 6:23 3. Law Three - Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life - Ro 5:6-9; Jn 14:6 4. Law Four - We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives - Jn 1:12; Ep 2:8-9 -- This is a fine presentation of the gospel thus far B. YET NOTE WHAT JESUS HIMSELF TAUGHT... 1. We must do the will of His Father in heaven - Mt 7:21-23 2. We must do what He Himself has said - Lk 6:46; cf. Mt 28:20 3. Certainly we believe that He is the Christ
the Son of God - Jn8:24
4. We must also repent of our sins - Lk 13:3; cf. 24:46-47 5. We must be willing to confess Him before others - Mt 10:32-33 6. We must be baptized to be saved - Mk 16:15-16; cf. Mt 28:19-20;Jn 3:5
7. We must keep His commandments to receive Him and the Father - Jn 14:21
23 -- Jesus therefore taught obedience is necessary
as expressed infaith repentance confession and baptism!
C. NOTE ALSO WHAT HIS APOSTLES TAUGHT... 1. Christ is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him - He 5:9 2. Therefore we must believe in Jesus and His words - e.g.
Ac 16:30-33
a. Many stop with verse 31
concluding faith only saves b. But the context reveals much more was taught
including the importance of baptism immediately 3. We must repent of our sins - Ac 2:38; 17:30 4. We must confess Jesus as Lord - Ro 10:9-10; e.g.
Ac 8:35-38 5. We must be baptized for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38; e.g.
22:16 6. Having thus obeyed the Lord
we receive Jesus into our lives and begin enjoying the blessings of an abundant life - cf. Ga3:26-27
a. How do we become children of God by faith? By putting Christ on in baptism! b. How do we receive Jesus into our lives? By clothing ourselves with Christ in baptism! -- As the apostles proclaimed the gospel
they stressed the sameneed of an obedient faith as did their Lord!
CONCLUSION
1. Some think stressing an obedient faith involving repentance and baptism is teaching salvation by works... a. But repentance and baptism are acts of faith to receive salvation
not works of merit to earn salvation b. Baptism in particular involves the working of God
to which man humbly submits - Co 2:11-12 -- A simple illustration of how a boy receives his uncle's inheritance by fulfilling a simple condition demonstrates howobedience does not nullify faith and grace
2. Where does "The Perverted Gospel" stumble in its message...? a. At the point of how one receives Christ and thereby enjoys forgiveness b. In telling people to say "the sinner's prayer" to receive Christ 1) Which is nowhere taught in the Scriptures 2) Which neglects to tell people what Jesus and His apostles commanded c. In failing to consider the context of passages used to support the concept of receiving Christ through a simple prayer When one is ready to receive Christ into their life
they do well toheed the words of Jesus and His apostles themselves
and not those whothrough TV and other media have perverted the simple gospel of Christ! Have you received Christ through faith and putting Him on in baptism (Ga3:26-27)...?
Note: For a short history on the development of "the sinner's prayer" in
evangelical religion
visit the following web site:http://www.bible.ca/g-sinners-prayer.htm
－－《Executable
Outlines》
The Perverted Gospel - Its Witness
INTRODUCTION
1. In another study
we examined the message of "The PervertedGospel"...
a. A popular presentation of the gospel that begins with truth b. Yet in telling the sinner what to do to receive Christ
perverts (turns around) the gospel c. Calling for the sinner to respond with "the sinner's prayer" instead of repentance and baptism 2. Another concern is the evidence that often accompanies "The PervertedGospel"...
a. Not only have many changed the content of the gospel as to how to receive Christ b. They also changed the type of evidence used to prove the gospel to be true! [In this study
we shall consider the evidence or witness oftenpresented along with "The Perverted Gospel"
and its potentiallydangerous consequences...] I. THE EVIDENCE FOR "THE PERVERTED GOSPEL"
A. COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS "WITNESSING"... 1. E.g.
after explaining how one receives Christ
one is encouraged to do so by telling them of other people's experiences in "accepting Christ" a. This sharing of experiences of others' conversion is called "witnessing" b. It is used to convince one of the power of the gospel to transform lives 2. New converts are often encouraged to quickly develop their own "witness" a. I.e.
a testimony proclaiming how their lives were changed b. E.g.
their testimony or "witness" might describe: 1) Their actions and attitudes before they "accepted Christ" 2) Circumstances that surrounded their "conversion" 3) Changes that took place in life after "receiving Christ" -- The more remarkable one's story (witness)
the better B. THE JUSTIFICATION OFFERED FOR SUCH "WITNESSING"... 1. The New Testament speaks of people being witnesses a. E.g.
"you shall be witnesses to Me" - Ac 1:8 b. This passage taken to mean that all Christians were to "witness" for Christ 2. Yet one should consider these questions: a. Are the "witnesses" in this passages referring to all Christians
or a select few? b. What were they to bear witness to? Their own conversion
or something else? -- Does this passage imply that all Christians to be "witnesses"? [To help answer this question
let's take a moment and examine...] II. WITNESSING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. WHO WERE TO BE WITNESSES FOR CHRIST...? 1. The context of Ac 1:8 reveals it was the apostles - Ac 1:1-11 a. They are specifically mentioned in verse 2 b. Note the pronouns used throughout the text (to whom
them
they
you) c. They were "Men of Galilee" (i.e.
not all the disciples
from other regions as well) 2. To be such a witness required very specific qualifications - cf. Ac 1:21-16 a. One had to have been with the apostles b. From the time of Jesus' baptism until His ascension to heaven c. Because of what they were to bear witness -- With one exception (Antipas
Re 2:13) the term "witness" was restricted to the apostles
who could bear witness because theyhad been with Christ - cf. Jn 15:27)
B. WHAT WAS THEIR WITNESS FOR CHRIST...? 1. They bore witness to Jesus' resurrection - cf. Ac 1:22; 2:32;3:15; 5:30-32; 13:30-31
2. They also bore witness to His life - Ac 10:38-42 3. The apostle Paul was a special witness - Ac 22:14-15; 26:16
22 -- The focal point of the apostolic witness related to theresurrection of Jesus from the dead!
[One may wonder what difference any of this makes. Does it matter
along as Jesus is glorified...?] III. APPRECIATING THE DISTINCTION
A. BETWEEN THE CONTENT OF THE WITNESS... 1. The perverted witness: provides testimony involving one's own conversion a. Personal testimony that describes the change in one's life b. The more dramatic
the better 1) Very prone to exaggeration
even fabrication 2) Especially if one can "sell" their testimony through appearances
videos
books 2. The apostolic witness: provides testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus a. Eyewitness accounts based on empirical evidence - e.g.
1 Jn1:1-2; Ac 10:40-41
b. Evidence confirmed by: 1) The number of witnesses 2) The credibility of the witnesses (their life
teachings
sufferings
even death) -- The former is very subjective evidence
the latter providesobjective evidence
B. BETWEEN THE PURPOSE OF THE WITNESS... 1. The perverted witness: to have you place your faith in Jesus on the basis of their conversion experience and manner of life 2. The apostolic witness: to have you place your faith in Jesus on the basis of historical facts that Jesus was raised from the dead and thereby declared to be the Son of God -- The former produces faith based on emotional appeals
thelatter produces faith based on historical evidence
C. BETWEEN THE STRENGTH OF THE WITNESS... 1. The perverted witness: what if those upon whose testimony we came to believe later disappoint us? a. Whose "conversion" proves to be less than real or short-term? b. Will not our faith be shaken? 2. The apostolic witness: their testimony forever remains unchanged a. Sealed by their manner of life
their exemplary teachings
their own blood b. Faith based on their testimony is more durable -- The former leaves one open to great disappointment
the latter provides the foundation for a long life of strong faith inChrist
CONCLUSION
1. Jesus acknowledged people would come to believe in Him through the words of His apostles... a. As He mentioned in His prayer - cf. Jn 17:20 b. Therefore He equipped them with infallible proofs and the power of the Spirit - Ac 1:2-3
8 2. As impressive as many modern day testimonies may sound... a. Beware of those who may be improperly motivated to "enhance" their story b. Realize that remarkable transformations take place in many different religions Place your faith in the witness Christ Himself has given to you and all:the testimony of His specially chosen witnesses
the apostles! Have you heeded what they proclaimed...? - cf. Ac 2:36-39
－－《Executable
Outlines》