Don't Fall for Every Warning that Calls Someone a False Prophet

 May 15, 2024

Wednesday

Our faith has some fundamentals that we should never deviate from. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is completely true with miracles, parables, history and commands. It teaches, rebukes, corrects and trains the disciple in righteousness. Jesus is the only way to salvation. Jesus death on the cross paid the penalty of our sins. Salvation is free and no works will ever attain it. Faith in Christ is the means of receiving salvation. The Godhead is composed of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are three persons in perfect harmony. Jesus is coming back for His own someday. These are fundamental. Changing these will cause a deviation from our faith. We must guard these things carefully.

However, there are people on the internet pointing out the differences between how they have interpreted the Bible without any regard of the above principles being violated. They are saying that these preachers are false prophets because they do not agree with them. I don't think this is healthy for God's kingdom.

For example, some churches believe that babies should be baptized. They understand that baptism is now the sign of the covenant with God and note that circumcision was the former sign. Boys were circumcised on the eighth day after birth and could not have made any decision to follow the faith. These churches believe that baptism should follow this same pattern. I disagree but I am not calling those pastors who baptize babies false prophets. We differ in our understanding. We don't necessarily differ on the gospel.

But that's not the issue today. We now have those who will not want to fellowship with churches who have women pastors. Again, I don't see how this is fundamental to our faith. Each passage that seems to say that women can't be pastors is easier to explain than manipulating passages that would give them permission. It appears that women pastors are threatening some long held beliefs. I would say to those who want to believe one way or the other that each should take a careful look beyond their own traditions to see what the Bible actually says. They should look at the context of the scripture in the Bible and the culture to which it is written. They should look at the practices of those who appear to have prohibited women pastors. Each may maintain their position but they shouldn't be divisive over it.

It was the Pharisees who strained at the gnats and swallowed the camels.

Matthew 23:23–24 (NASB 2020) ²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. ²⁴ You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

Are we like them when we point out non-fundamental practices of each other? Are we trying to claim a higher righteousness as they did? This will neither give salvation nor deny salvation from anyone. We must ask what advantage it is to point out the flaws in others. It only makes us more blind to our own flaws.

I realize that some people are proud of their churches and pastors. They should be. But that pride cannot be a source of superiority. That is when pride gets in the way rather than shows appreciation. Some will speak in a tone of superiority to you. I hope that none of my church members would do that about our church. I would rather we appreciated our church and those who preach the gospel around us.

Yes, there are false prophets. They certainly violate the fundamentals of our faith and lead people astray. They keep people from the gospel. They should be identified and called out for their false preaching. Their character should not be attacked simply because they have a large ministry or they are very persuasive. Their false teaching should be pointed out by revealing the truth of the scriptures.

Please be discerning when someone says that a church is not a real church or that the preacher is a false prophet. Ask why. Don't allow them to be general about this. There need to be specifics to identify a false prophet. Discern whether this is a fundamental error, a means of manipulation or a difference in scriptural interpretation. If it is the latter, don't stop having fellowship. And don't be a scribe or Pharisee either. Ask what they believe about salvation, the Bible and God.