Here are some warning signs your church, pastor, or spiritual leaders are leading you down the wrong path:
1. Dismissive of Scripture's Authority. Those who would so quickly be dismissive of the divine inspiration of the Bible and its ability to inerrantly reveal everything we need for our salvation must find the basis for their faith somewhere else. Often the discrediting of Scripture must take place in order for them to assert their own morality in place of biblical morality. This is a red flag! 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
2. Downplaying the problem of sin. Sin is the only thing hindering us from having a relationship with a holy God. To ignore the reality and penalty of sin is to intentionally put people in spiritual danger. Many are seeking to dismiss the problem of sin because they are pushing for an old heresy of universalism (which insists that everyone ultimately makes it to heaven regardless of their relationship with God). 1 Cor 6:9-10.
3. Rejecting biblical truths that clash with culture. A half-truth is a full lie. It is deceitful when only part of the character of God is revealed. When some leaders choose only the culturally palatable characteristics and reject those aspects of God's character that would not be perceived as appealing, we deceive and distort the very nature of God. The same is true of difficult subjects the Bible addresses. God's Wrath. The existence of Hell. Judgement. These are but a few things we must not hide from the people to which we are ministering. If they are being denied or hidden, there is danger ahead! Romans 12:2.
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4. Diminishing the importance of good works. While works do not save us, it is evident throughout scripture, that good works are an outflow of a life surrendered to Christ. We are called, encouraged, and even commanded to do good works. We have responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission, visit the sick, minister in the prisons, work among the poor, and actively love our neighbors. Don't let the threat of being called a legalistic person stop you from doing good works! James 2:14-26
5. Trying to spiritualize their political leanings. The push to attempt to spiritually justify abortion rights, gay marriage, and/or Marxist ideology is really a desire to justify their political affiliations. They have been driven by their political party's ideology to capitulate a biblical worldview in favor of what they already believe. (Ironically, they will claim that those with biblical viewpoints on political issues are Christian Nationalists, a term used by secular media.) Such things are not spiritual values or principles. Actually, they are the opposite.
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
Check out these articles:
Biblical Authority and Accuracy
How to Lead Your Church into Apostacy
Progressive Christianity is the Real Problem
This is excellent Jared! I would only balance #4 with a caution toward the opposite extreme - I find the over-emphasis of good works to be more common in some ministry settings, and it is equally dangerous. Thank you for the boldness of #5. Spot-on!
ReplyDeleteThe observations are absolutely spot on!
ReplyDeleteWhat about over-zealous Trumpites who dominate so-called Evangelical pulpits? Isn’t their idolatry as bad or worse than Marxism?
ReplyDeleteI’m not so sure “Trumpites dominate Evangelical pulpits”. Since Trump’s opposition are the ones who “justify abortion rights, gay marriage, and/or Marxist ideology”, the issues listed in item 5, it is only logical that most Evangelicals will disagree with Trump’s opposition. Whether they actually “like” Trump as a person, or even as a politician, he is currently the only option they have to avoid all of these problems. This stance is not idolatry, but rather a logical move toward the laws of the land matching closer to Biblical morals.
DeleteWake up and smell the coffee! Trump has brainwashed the majority of evangelicals today! Read the news. Read Tim Alberta’s books on the dilemma of American Evangelicals today!
Delete"Signs your pastor or church are leading you down the wrong path" Do you have any idea how paranoid that sounds? You may need a mental health check, or at least a vacation, stress and over work can produce extreme paranoia. If you can't trust your pastor and the elders in your church who can you trust? Pastors are supervised by a DS, ordained and vetted by elders in your denomination, isn't it arrogant to think you need to , keep a watchful (paranoid) eye on them for some sort of slip up? You maybe should cut back on the coffee and get some rest.
ReplyDeleteA complete dung heap. You don't seek to protect the church you seek to control it. I'm not drinking your kool-aid and am warning others away from your brand of cult following.
ReplyDeleteSome of these "anonymous" commenters are "brave"... and hateful.
ReplyDeleteWhen you throw a stone into a pack of dogs, the one who is struck is the one who yelps!
ReplyDeleteI thought I heard some yelps!