Prodigal: This is not warming up…

Me: I don’t think that is the real thing…

This is from the book Be Alert by Warren W. Wiersbe

Of all the cons we can fall prey to, one of the worst is being duped by a religious phony. Swindlers of this kind deal in counterfeit truth–something that looks and sounds right but is actually contrary to fact, an imitation meant to deceive the unsuspecting. These cons aren’t always done for the benefit of some leader whose name you can’t pronounce. No, every week, lies dressed up in their Sunday best receive nodding approval in mainline churches every where. Counterfeit truth is big business, and it’s still owned and operated by the same insidious proprietor who began it all years ago.

Warren Wiersbe in commenting on the religious counterfeits in 2 Peter 2:3 says: “Plastic words! Words that can be twisted to mean anything you want them to mean! The false teachers use our vocabulary, but they do not use our dictionary. They talk about “salvation,” “inspiration,” and great words of the Christian faith, but they do not mean what we mean.”

How can we avoid being hoodwinked by one of Satan’s workers of deceit?

Stop: Refuse to blindly accept someone else’s teaching just because others have been “blessed” by it. Stop long enough to make a serious study, comparing what is being taught with what the Scriptures teach.

Look: Take a careful look at the life of the main spokesperson. Is the fruit of the Spirit evident? Don’t be wowed because someone sounds intelligent or wooed because of someone’s charisma.

Listen: Pay attention to the terms a person uses and how they’re defined. Also listen to what’s not being said. Don’t judge truth just by how you feel; think, and make your judgements according to what the Scripture teach.

Psalms 121:3

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org