Beth Moore: a type of false prophetess of the church at Thyatira?

I want to explore several concepts from scripture as they relate to prophecy and the church today. The main word to take from this essay is "TYPE."

The first concept is the type of churches depicted in the seven letters to seven churches as we read in Revelation 2-3.

These were actual churches that actually existed, had actual congregations and actual praise and condemnation from Jesus. These churches are each also a type of church that existed and still exists throughout the Church Age. The letters are included in Revelation to reveal seven different types of individuals/churches throughout history to today and instruct us in God's truth. I do not believe that we can accurately and solidly match each church to an "age" throughout the Church Age. The type of churches depicted in the Letters are each individually kinds of churches that could and did exist at any time in this present age, including now. Ultimately, we can learn from each of the letters.

The second type I want to focus on is a historic type that is depicted in the bible. Each of these types have an actual person who will actually fulfill what is laid down in the bible, but also give rise to a type or forerunner. An example is Antiochus, who was a type of Antichrist. There will be one man who will fulfill the prophesies regarding what is written, but until is time arrives, there have been forerunners, or types of antichrists throughout the ages, men who were like an antichrist but not THE antichrist. Hitler was another antichrist-type.

John the Baptist was a type of Elijah the Prophet. There was an Elijah, and there will be an actual man Elijah again (I propose he is one of the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11), but John was a type of Elijah.

And now the main theme of this essay, the type of False Prophetess of Thyatira. There was an actual woman Jesus condemned who was corrupting the church at Thyatira. However we know from the previous bible examples that though there was an actual false prophetess corrupting the church at Thyatira, there will be again a type of false prophetess who corrupts the church.

Jesus's letter regarding Thyatira was the longest of the seven. It enumerates a number of issues with that church, however I'll focus on the teachings of the false prophetess who was corrupting the sheep.

Church at Thyatira

Thomas Allom's "Constantinople and the Scenery of the Seven Churches of Asia"

Here is the text: “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

This church was tolerating sin and idolatry (also sexual immorality). Worse, it was tolerating a woman teacher who was promoting idolatry and not only were they tolerating it, but she had risen to such a point of prominence so that Jesus called her "Jezebel" (who was a queen who led the people into idolatry and immorality). Now, it should be noted that this corruption was coming from a woman who was teaching the brethren, not from an outside influence. She was regarded as a sister in the faith. A prominent sister. So much so that she was given to teach and had gathered quite a few around her who were followers of her false teaching. And the rest were tolerating it.

God wants a pure church. He wants Jesus to have a holy and virginal bride, and toleration of idolatry and false teaching is the opposite of that. This church at Thyatira was mightily besmirched.

Charles Eerdman (1866-1960) wrote a summary of the churches in The Revelation of John: an exposition. Speaking of "the case of the church at Thyatira, as of the churches in Sardis and Laodicea, the situation was far more serious. Here not merely a small minority was indifferent but large numbers had actually yielded to the demoralizing influence of false teaching, and I might add of sin."

However, to complicate matters, the verse in Rev. 2:19 says "as for your works, the last are more than the first." They were loving, working and doing more that they had at the first. This makes it incredibly hard to separate the sinful idolatry from the loving works. They were not loveless, but they were tolerating sin, which would eventually eat them up. It did. By the second century there was no church at Thyatira any more. It had died. So obviously loving works alone are not enough to carry a church through. There must be solid doctrine and discerning elders properly addressing false doctrine.

In Thyatira, they were tolerating a false teaching. They were accepting of a woman who had taken a place of leadership in teaching, she was even preaching and prophesying. The church congregation was tolerating the evils of idolatry. Though the verse above calls them out for eating foods sacrificed to idols, nowadays, we do not sacrifice food to idols. However the notion there was of spiritual adultery, and spiritual adultery is certainly an issue today.

Let's take a moment to discuss modern idolatry. Idol worship in the Bible days was worshiping a cut piece of wood or stone, imbuing it with certain godly properties etc. Nowadays because the law is written in our hearts and the Spirit dwells in the body as its temple, idolatry is more geared to the self. All the various forms of modern idolatry (not biblical idolatry of calf or statue) have one thing at their core: self. We don't bow down to idols and images these days. Instead we worship at the altar of the god of self. The current preaching of the false teachers in the church teach and preach not the bible through exegesis which is to take from the Word based on the Spirit's truths, but instead read one’s own life experiences into the text of Scripture, called eisegesis. Instead of drawing out Jesus from the text, we read ourselves into it. False teachers teach the need to make the Bible all about ourselves.

There are many kids of self-worship today. The word-faith crowd believes we have so much power that we bind God into doing something by the power of our voices and words. Others of a more mystical bent believe that we have the power to be as gods ourselves by emptying our minds and becoming one with the universe. Still others preach we have the ability to prosper ourselves with our intentions and imaginations. No matter what kind of false teaching it is, it always comes back to self: our money, our faith, our abilities, our "pits", our emotions, our ability to get ourselves out of pits, our contemplations...me, me, me.

Webster defines idol worship as “the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.”

With all of the above said, and with the idea that a type of false prophetess will become prominent and corrupt the such into spiritual adultery, can you think of one woman who perhaps fits the type that is described in the Letter to Thyatira?

Beth Moore?

I think we can see that in Beth Moore's fans, they exhibit what Webster calls the idol worshiping excessive devotion to her that goes beyond a simple preference for one teacher over another.

John MacArthur, in his sermon The Pathology of False Teachers, defines what false teaching IS: "It could be error about Christ, error about His lineage, error about His virgin birth. Someone who teaches contrary to the sinless perfection of Christ, contrary to His substitutionary atoning death on the cross, contrary to His resurrection, contrary to His miraculous life and works, His perfect teaching, His Second Coming, His high priestly ministry of intercession, His eternal reign, any of that. Anyone who teaches differently than that. It could be a denial of the authenticity of Scripture, the inspiration of Scripture, the authority of Scripture, the inerrancy of Scripture. It could be a denial of the work and ministry and person of the Holy Spirit as revealed on the pages of holy Scripture."

In Mrs Moore's case her falsity comes in "a denial of the authenticity of Scripture, the inspiration of Scripture, the authority of Scripture, the inerrancy of Scripture." If you are just reading for the first time that there are concerns with Mrs Moore's teachings, please note that I have many examples of these concerns on the sidebar to your right. Other bloggers have also listed their concerns here, here, here, and here. Personally, I state unequivocally that through spirit-led study and discernment that my proposal is she is currently Christianity's greatest counterfeit.

Her teaching denies the inspiration of Scripture, the authority of Scripture, the inerrancy of Scripture by inserting herself as another Authority by reception of divine revelation outside the bible. She has been subtle. However, her false teaching is rapidly becoming more bold. She says that she hears God personally telling her to do things or to teach things, this is a denial of the authority of scripture when you receive direct revelation and teach it as authoritative. She said recently she was lifted up to another dimension to see the church from Jesus's perspective through Jesus's eyes and returned to tell what she saw. This is prophetess. She says a book was delivered to her heart in toto by God with a force as compelled to put ink on paper. This is spirit writing, an idolatry that consorts with the devil. More here.

All false teachers gather to themselves followers who exhibit excessive devotion. These followers defend their favored teacher almost violently. Many call themselves a "Beth Moore groupie." Traditionally, "A groupie is a person who seeks emotional and sexual intimacy with a musician or other celebrity or public figure. "Groupie" is derived from group in reference to a musical group, but the word is also used in a more general sense, especially in casual conversation. The word "groupie" is ... a derisive term used to describe a particular kind of female fan assumed to be more interested in sex with rock stars than in their music." In Mrs Moore's case it is the emotional intimacy they seek, because Mrs Moore is a self-help guru using the bible as a platform from which to read ourselves into the text for temporal help with astray emotions, rather than a sacred text to discern more about Jesus. In the groupie's mind they seek more intimacy with the false teacher than with Jesus. Any person who has become the substitution of adoration aside from Jesus is worshiping an idol.

Many female fans are more interested in following this false teacher than the One whom they are supposed to be learning about. Like this lady who titled her blog entry "Confessions of a Beth Moore groupie". Or this lady, who calls herself a BM groupie and says that if Mrs Moore is anywhere within driving distance, she goes to see her. Or this lady who made tank tops and took a photo of the self-admitted groupies in her group to send to the object of their adoration. Or this lady who calls herself a groupie and jokes that she amazingly strayed once from Mrs Moore to take a study under someone else (Priscilla Shirer, another false teacher). This lady calls herself not only a Beth Moore groupie, but a Beth Moore addict. I can go on with the myriad of ladies online who self-profess excessive devotion to a person who is not Jesus, but you get the idea.

The verse from 2 Timothy 4:3 applies best here: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears..." Let's unpack this phrase by phrase.

First, these ladies do not want sound doctrine. They have already rejected it.

Second, they want to suit their own desires. There is nothing in the universe more powerful than satisfying our own fleshly desires. It got Eve, then Adam. 1 John 2:16 applies here: "For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world." It is one reason for the vehement defense of Mrs Moore and the violently verbal rejection of anyone sharing concerns about Mrs Moore.

Third, they 'heap up teachers.' This part of the verse always reminded me of a child at the beach, heaping up sand next to themselves, or a child at Christmas, heaping up toys.

Fourth, their ears itch. An itch MUST be satisfied. The Greek word for itch here is knéthó, itch, rub, tickle, or from a late word meaning 'scrape.' This brings to mind the extreme scene of itching Job experienced when he had boils, and used a pot sherd to scrape them. He didn't care if his very skin was scraped off, he had to satisfy that tickle so badly, even if it hurt him. (Job 2:8).

It is not simply a difference of opinion in one bible teacher over another. Where satan has successfully installed a false teacher who is drawing many away from sound doctrine, he will fight to the death to keep it that way. Here is a great short essay in Why Idolatry is so Attractive. If you read it, you will see why the ladies react the way they do, and why it is so hard to get a Beth Moore lover away from her teaching.

No, she does not call herself a prophetess, but she acts in the prophetess role when she says she received a word from God audibly, directly, or through a vision and was 'told' to go out and speak it to the people. Defenders of Mrs Moore pick at points such as the aforementioned, but in looking at false teachers and the type of false prophetess described in the letter to Thyatira, we look at what they do, not just at what they say. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's a duck.

I have shared with you an interpretation specific to Thyatira of what Jesus warned, and of which we discern also will happen to the churches throughout the age. I applied an understanding of how Mrs Moore may be filling a type of role Jesus prophesied will occur. I ask you to ponder it, pray, and decide for yourself. I believe that Beth Moore is a type of false prophetess so deeply embedded in the body of the true church that her deep things of satan are corrupting it. That is my opinion, based on research, discernment, and prayer.

Meanwhile, Jesus said to those who do NOT hold to this false prophetess's teaching, this or any false teaching, I remind us of Jesus's words, "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come."

Hold fast to the truth! He knows who does not fall to the deep things of satan, and has their reward in mind. One stays fast to the truth by continually studying the real thing, praying, and submitting to the Spirit's generous leading into discernment. If you know the real thing, then you can spot the counterfeit. Watch out for popular false prophetesses, Thyatira, and hold fast, Jesus is coming!

If you have concerns about The Daniel Fast...

Here are scriptures that address the issue. In my opinion, the verses clearly show that The Daniel Fast cannot be supported by Scripture. Information about the Daniel Fast here & here.

Comparing The Daniel Fast to Scripture:

Matthew 6:16-18
"Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

Jesus taught us to go out of our way to conceal the fast. he said to keep it secret. How much clearer can it be?

Colossians 2:23 says:
"These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence."

Mark 7:19 all foods are declared clean.

1 Corinthians 8:8: "Food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat."

Therefore, food is neither spiritually good nor bad. So the more a teacher insists on imposing fasting on me the more concerned I become. Fasting is a private, Holy Spirit inspired activity usually and traditionally associated with grief, repentance, or for a specific purpose that Jesus relegates to a private matter between a believer and God, vertically. A fast is never presented as a spiritual activity in and of itself. There is no scripture in the NT that I have found that supports fasting as a church activity used as a mechanism for growth.

In churches that take up this fad, there is often a public contract to sign to declare one's intention to maintain the fast for the three week period. It is legalistic to me to sign a public contract. To consult a man-made list of foods deemed acceptable or unacceptable is a doctrine of men. The Daniel Fast promoters and Jentezen Franklin have made it an activity on some name it-claim it spiritual check-off list, a horizontal display of public piety laden with potentials for hypocrisy and pride, exactly what Jesus said not to do.

1 Cor 8:9-13 goes on to say be careful you do not cause a brother to stumble, (in being careless with the new liberty to eat all foods). I believe the principle is the same in its opposite sense, do not set the new brother up on a legalistic restriction of foods by artificial means because his new conscience can’t take that either.

Verse 9: “And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.”

Eating one kind of food, and abstaining from another, have nothing in them to recommend a person to God. So Paul cautions against putting a stumbling-block in the way of the weak by entangling them in guilt. Presenting a list of approved or non-approved foods that the weaker brethren may partake in is a recipe for causing a brother to stumble when/if he fails this artificial food fasting test. The verse says doing this to the weaker brothers not only causes injury to the brother but is a sin against Jesus. Put simply,

Don't force on a brother what God is not forcing on him by his conscience!

1 Timothy 4:1-5 says in part:
"But the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer."

That verse says clearly that men in the latter times who advocate abstaining from foods are following a doctrine of demons.

Romans 14:17 says:
"The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Colossians 2:20-22
"Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?”

The Scriptures are clear. So when a leader belabors fasting to me, it’s time to stand up and using the scriptures, say STOP! Shame is on the teacher or pastor who falsely claims any biblical authority whatsoever to restrain my diet. I reject efforts to impose non-biblical standards on my conscience. No man has permission to go beyond what is written in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 4:6). God is specific in His will. We cannot presume that we can take the smallest detail and ignore it. This fasting program ignores the clear scriptures and I reject it for that reason.

FALSE DOCTRINE

Protecting the Gospel from false doctrine is the theme of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus and issues regarding it appears in Jude, Ephesians, Colossians, Acts...suffice it to say the NT is permeated with warnings of false doctrines and instructions on what to do about it throughout much of the NT.

2 Tim. 4:2-3 "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine".

2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires:"

Hebrews 13:9 "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with foods, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."

Therefore, if I interpret rightly, what is my duty to Jesus and His Word if my church promotes this legalistic and worldly fad?

THE DUTY TO POINT OUT FALSITY

The main thing that Paul has in mind in the writing of 1Timothy 1:7-11 is to encourage Timothy to bring the church to a place of sound doctrine and godly living. He is concerned about the impact to the brethren of false teachers, as we all should be.

1 Timothy 5:20: "Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning."

Titus 1:13: "This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith."

Titus 2:15: "These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you."

There are many more verses related to the duty of the Christian in pointing out false teaching. Paul rebuked Peter at Antioch. This shows us that anyone can fall under a false teaching, even Peter, and that anyone can and should oppose it to their face, as Paul did. (Gal 2, Acts 15).

In many cases when a false teaching is pointed out, the reaction will be of anger, but always remain calm, and insist that the scriptures be shown that supports their opinion. We are all responsible to Jesus for what we believe and for what we allow to occur in His name. Be strong and kind when pointing out that your understanding of the scriptures does not support the Daniel Fast, but do not hesitate to do so if that is your understanding and if led by the Holy Spirit. Be a Berean!
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Why we name false teachers

Christians are called to love one another. However foremost and primarily we are called to live in truth and protect the truth. So many times John rejoices over the new Christians walking in the truth, in 1 John, 2 John, 3 John... Do not mix up loving the brethren with remaining silent when false teaching comes for the sake of peace. If you love them you will speak up.

The Word is a precious gift, bought with the blood of our own Savior so that it could be inspired by the Spirit to men whom God loves so dearly. It is God's own revelation of Himself to us for Godly living and proper worship. 2 Timothy 4:2 tells us to --

"preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."

I submit to you that the Word is out of season at this present time. It is very hard today to cut through the accumulated baggage that is American Christianity. There are fads, books, ridiculous doctrines, liberalism, and attacks on the very foundations of the most basic truths of the faith. Under most attack today are the notions of hell as a place for eternal punishment of the unrighteous, that Jesus died for sins and rose again on the third day, and that Jesus is the only way to heaven. One out of season approach to the Word that particularly grieves me is when people say "take God out of the box" we have put Him in and they stay away from conviction of their convictions. No, God is not in a box, He is infinite. But He purposely revealed  Himself in the 66 books of the bible and that is the God He wants us to know at this time. He didn't make Himself uninterpretable and He didn't make Himself unclear in that revelation. There is more to God, but for now, we work with what we have, and that is the God in the bible. Which ironically often comes in a box.

Paul warned that a major end times sign is that they will not endure sound doctrine. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires:" (2 Timothy 4:3).  It doesn't say that they will not endure doctrine, but sound doctrine. The Greek word "sound" in the part of the verse 'sound doctrine' means healthy, pure, well as in not-sick. It means as opposed to a debilitating sickness. And that is what unsound doctrine is, sickness.

It reminds me of the verse in 2 Timothy 2:17. Paul urged the workers in the faith to remain strong, refuting the words of false teachers such as Hymenaeus and Philetus, and Paul said something interesting here. He said that their teachings will spread like gangrene. The Greek word used here gangraina means gangrene, just as we know it today. A cankerous, spreading, oozing sore sickness. The US National Library of Medicine defines gangrene as "the death of tissue in part of the body." The church is the body of Christ. Does that resonate with you, or what?

Paul is saying that false teachings kill off parts of  the body in oozing, putrid, destructive manner. Worse, the method of death of this tissue is defined as happening "when a body part loses its blood supply." Jesus paid for the body with His blood so when we are cut off from the blood of Jesus by false teachings we are in very severe danger! That is what false teaching does, causes destruction to a part of the Body. The Holy Spirit was so apt in using gangrene as a metaphor! How wonderful He is!

So how do doctors treat gangrene? If it is caught before the infection goes too far, it is removed through a medical term called debridement, a medical word meaning the precise removal in an exact surgical procedure excising just the infected tissue. (I don't want to get carried away with stretching metaphors too widely, but the body of the church is called the Bride...) However, if gangrene is left untreated for too long, a larger part of the body may need to be amputated. Finally, if left untreated for too, too long, the whole organism dies.

As far as the Word goes, I submit to you that failure to correct false teaching in firm manner over the last few decades has led us to the very brink of this apostate time, when Jesus said asked if, when He returns in His second coming, will He find faith upon the earth? (Luke 18:8.) One can almost imagine the gangrenous, disgusting thing that religion will have become by then, left untreated. And the pure parts that are left will have been amputated do deeply there may only be one finger or one toe remaining in light and in truth. Sorry for the gross images, but Paul started it!

So what are we to do when coming across a false teaching? Now I admit it is easier to point to a false teaching when finding a false teaching like Jentezen Franklin or Joel Osteen, or Beth Moore or Billy Graham because they are far away and we can simply turn the channel, walk by their table at the book store without purchasing, or say no to taking up their simulcast. But what happens when the false teaching comes to your church and you have to endure it week after week? Now there is a problem and I tell you up front is the hardest thing in the world to handle. Many, many people won't, can't, or don't. And that is why we are in this apostate situation. Brothers and Sisters, you have to point it out!

But before you do, make sure that you have prayed, loved, walked, studied, waited, watched, and prayed some more. Then and only then when the Spirit assures you the time is right, go public. Be ready for blowback of satanic proportions!

People will question your authority to point out a false teaching, especially if your pastor is promoting it. This is very good, we should be questioned when we say a church leader or pastor is promoting a false teaching. (That is why you have to be very sure that the Spirit led you to the right conclusion). Read these following verses but be sure to read them in the context of the chapters later so you have a thorough understanding of the mandate and burden to publicly exhort against a false teaching.

1 Timothy 5:20: Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.

Titus 1:13: This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith

Titus 2:15: These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

But am I sure we are to do this to a brother? Yes. When Peter went off the rails in Antioch, Paul opposed Peter to his face. "But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned." (Galatians 2:11-14). What? Wasn't Peter saved? Not condemned? Well John 3:18 says we condemn ourselves by what we believe and Peter had condemned himself by accepting a false teaching. It also could mean that the Gentile believers at Antioch were condemning Peter already. There was a ruckus and it was known that a division was happening in the church there because of the divisive nature of the Judaizers' false teaching.

It was particularly hard because the co-pastor at Antioch, Barnabas, Paul's beloved Barnabas! was now also being carried away too. Gangrene spreads, and Paul must have been grieved to see he was losing Barnabas to the hypocrisy dividing the church there. Peter was the most highly thought of in all of Christendom. But that didn't stop Paul, because Jesus is even higher than that and it is His name we defend. He got to the point in Gal 2:14 where when he "saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel." Paul waded in, knowing that the truth was more important than keeping peace. He opposed Peter to his face. The Spirit saw fit to include that in the record so we must use that as a pattern for today. When public sin against the Gospel encroaches on the church, there must be immediate and unequivocal church discipline to rectify it. Otherwise when we preach holiness and purity but don't get rid of unholiness and impurity, we destroy our own credibility.

Now to the other point. Many people say not to name names. However, throughout the New Testament, we are told who was sinning and why. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, Saducees, Scribes and Herodians. (Matthew 16:6-12 and Matthew 23:15). Paul rebuked Peter in Gal 2. Paul dealt with Hymenaeus, Philetus (1 Tim 1:20), and Demas (2 Tim 4:9-10). Peter dealt with Simon the Sorcerer and Ananaias/Sapphira (though these last two were not false teachers bringing false doctrine, but liars bringing hypocrisy to the tithe or grieving the Spirit). Names were named.

We know the names of the false doctrines too, not just the people perpretrating them. There were the  Judaizers/Legalists, (Acts 15:1), Gnosticism (1 Timothy 6:20-21, and likely was what Paul was dealing with in 1 Cor 8),  Asceticism (Colossians 2:18-23), Antinomianism (2 Timothy 3:2-9). There are other false doctrines, but suffice to say, why do we know the names of these false doctrines now? Names were named.

Most of these false doctrines are still around today, and indeed it is a blessing that they were named, so we can identify them and combat them in same manner as the forefathers of the faith did.

I have tried to show you that false doctrines and teachings are a gangrenous cancer that must be opposed and excised. It is uncomfortable to do this and it seems excessive to name names. But let me put it to you this way. Knowing now that false teaching kills the body, let us think of false teaching as a runaway train hurtling toward your town and potentially crashing into the houses and businesses lining the track.

The first thing to decide is, IS there a runaway train, and is it on our track? Have we heard the report correctly? Paul saw that they were not straighforward, and to me this means he had examined the issue up close and had proof. It doesn't say "Paul heard..." or, "Paul wondered..."If it is a true report of a runaway train, would you stand by and say nothing? Would you say, "Well, the people in the houses are asleep, they will get mad at me if I call them at this hour. I better stay quiet for the sake of peace." Of course not! But that is what people expect us to do when we spot a false teaching.

Secondly, do you make the call to the house owners in the path of destruction and say this:

"Get out! there is a runaway train coming!"
"Where is it?"
"I can't tell you that."
Well, from what direction is it coming?"
"I can't tell you that either."
"What is the name of the train? Which train?"
"Sorry, I can't tell you."
"What time will it get here?"
"I can't tell you that as well."
"Why can't you tell me the specifics???"
"Because I don't want to offend the train."

What good is sounding the alarm if you won't go into specifics? Failure to be specific on behalf of not wanting to cause trouble for the perpetrators of false teaching is actually saying you prefer to besmirch the name of Jesus because you don't want to offend satan!

It is not easy to do this though. It is not easy to discern false teaching, it takes prayer and study. It is not easy to stand up to the spiritual leaders and say they are wrong. It is not easy to maintain your convictions in the face of blowback. They will make you quail and they will make you doubt.

But look at our gracious God:

Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 1:7). He was true to Jeremiah and He will be with you as well,

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20). We are to go forth teaching and protecting the sound doctrines of the Gospel in the disciples and He will be with us to the end.
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Two options: heaven, or hell

It is pretty simple. There are only two options, accept the Lord's offer of pardon for sins by repenting and gain heaven, or refuse it and gain hell and eternal judgment. Stay strong. I have observed that the longer people go in Christianity the wobblier they get on the basics. Some of them. For example, here are three quotes from people in their unscriptural beliefs which you may not be aware. Who said it? None of these are from Rob Bell or Joel Osteen or 'May 21, 2011 rapture guy' Harold Camping. The answers may surprise you.

This first quote speaks of Annihilationist doctrine, the doctrine that Hell is not eternal and punishment does not happen-
1. "Scripture points in the direction of annihilation, and that 'eternal conscious torment' is a tradition which has to yield to the supreme authority of Scripture."

2. "All who live a just life will be saved even if they do not believe in Jesus Christ ... “The gospel teaches us that those who live in accordance with the Beatitudes… ‘the poor in spirit, the pure of heart, those who bear lovingly the sufferings of life’ will enter God’s kingdom.”

3. "...there's the Body of Christ. This comes from all the Christian groups around the world, outside the Christian groups. I think everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ ... And that's what God is doing today, He's calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ, because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven."

These are the people who said it:
1. Prominent and influential Evangelist John R.W. Stott, in the book, Essentials pp. 306-326, discussed here.
2. Pope John Paul II, the pope everyone liked.
3.Billy Graham, American evangelist

Are you surprised that Billy Graham, the world's most famous evangelist, thinks that Muslims who don't know Christ are in the body of Christ? That people who live a good life with a longing heart knowing they vaguely 'need something they don't have', will meet Jesus as his friend? I listened to the interview where Graham said that. He went on to say that his 'views had softened with age', that he 'used to be more fiery and brimstone-like', but he'd 'mellowed'. I think that his statement and his mellowing are a good example of "familiarity breeds contempt" - contempt for God's holiness, that is! If there is no hell, there is no justice. If there is acceptance of one and all into the Kingdom it means Christ died for nothing!

People who enter the kingdom not knowing Jesus as Graham stated, makes a lie of this verse: "“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" (Mt 7:21-23). You HAVE to know Jesus.

It also means, if you believe as Graham does, when Jesus says "I am THE way, THE truth and THE life," He lied. He did not say that 'I am the way among many other ways that you can try,' No, there is no possibility of this position being true. Jesus does not lie. Thank God that there IS a way! It is a good way, bought at a tremendous price, but He extends it to us at only the cost of our repentance.

People who believe that hell isn't eternal and that there is a way to heaven aside from Jesus suffer from one problem: a high view of sin and a low view of His holiness. It is simple. It all boils down to sin, holiness, repentance and eternal justice for the unrepentant. It began with sin in Genesis 3, it ends with sin in Revelation 20:11-15 at the Great White Throne judgment of sinners for all time. Sin-judgment-repentance-salvation, that is the foundation of His work in the world. Period.

Be careful of incremental chipping away of your faith and belief in the foundational doctrines Jesus taught us in the bible. There is one way to heaven. It is narrow. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Stay praying and stay in the Word and stay being built up by brethren at regular worship services! It is a dangerous time for us all, spiritually.

"The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.... He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Rev 22:17, 20)

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Happy Friday! Are you happier than you were on Thursday?

Joel Osteen, leader of Lakewood Church in Houston has written another book. The title is, "Every Day a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week." It stems from research that says people are happier on Friday. Osteen wants to ensure that people can know they could be happy say, on Wednesday too.

I saw the title and I thought it was a spoof book someone else wrote who was making fun of his doctrine light and fresh toothpaste smile. Unfortunately the title nor the book is not a spoof nor a joke.

He was interviewed by ABC News and what follows are excerpts and quotes from what Osteen said during the interview. It is such a shame that he has become the face of Christianity, because what he espouses isn't Christianity. I hate when that happens. But we were foretold that it would.

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Timothy 4:3) If Osteen and many others like him is any indication, that time is now.

"They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions." (Isaiah 30:10)

"For many years, people have heard that God's mad at them -- they can't live up to the standards. But our message is about the goodness of God,..."

I've heard Osteen say that before, about the Law. It is a straw man argument. The Law is fulfilled. Of course we cannot live up to the standards. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and release us from ritual and ceremony, from the futility of attempting to maintain external standards that elevate our sin nature to anything more than what it is, craven and debased. But Osteen says that kill-joy old Law, you forget about that and listen to me, and be happy.

Here is another quote:
Osteen said: "I think it goes back to tradition, how we were raised. Jesus talked about everyday life, not just doctrine but how do we live? How do we forgive? How do we keep a good attitude when the economy is down?"

Yeah, that's why Jesus suffered and died on the cross, to keep us happy when the economy is down.

Osteen continued: "I challenge you to let every day be a Friday. Give yourself permission to be happy every day. Not just on the weekends. Not just when you have a special event. Not just when you're on vacation. If you have the right mind set, you can be just as happy on Monday as you are on Friday. The Scripture doesn't say, "Friday is the day the Lord has made." It says, "This is the day the Lord has made" (Psalm 118:24; emphasis added). This means Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and every other day of the week. You can be happy even when it's raining, when you have to work late, or when you have to do the dishes."

Again, how great that our Holy God lived and died on earth so we can be happy doing the dishes.

"It's part of making the Church relevant to the modern world, he said. "I think in some other countries that's why the church has dried up. They are having church like they had 50 years ago, and you know, the message doesn't change, but the times change. The music, the production, the lights: I believe if Jesus were here today he would have good production. He would have the best of things."

Yeah, that Word of God is sooo outdated, and worship in a creaky old church is so last century.

Well, enough with the sarcasm, deserved as it is. It's terrible to see the reduction of a sterling word from Our Holy God to watered down pabulum such as Osteen utters. Forget what I say. What does the bible say?

"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called." (1 Timothy 6:20)

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" (Ephesians 4:14)

"Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:30)

But wait a minute, you say! Osteen isn't speaking evil things! He isn't pernicious nor spreading overtly false doctrine!

No, but his kind of falsity is the most devastating. Can you think of a more devastating moment than this one? "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23)

First, we see that the people who are pleading 'Lord, Lord' are not doing the will of the Father. Second, He says that there will be many like that, people who thought they were doing the will of the Father, who pretended to be doing the will of the Father, but not really doing His will. Many. Third, they were doing things that were religion-ish, like prophesying, doing wonders but all along they were not believing. The father's will is this: "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." ' (John 6:40). They did not believe, and they will not be raised up.

So the ones who will be turned away are the ones who seemed real religious, but they were not really believers. We could not tell, because they said the right things and acted the right way. But the Lord knew. Worse, the Lord says, "'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."

The Lord prefers the hot, zealous, fervent believers, and the the ones who are at least completely true to satan and are cold to the Lord. But the ones in the middle, they are the worst of all. He will vomit them out.

You can see the Lord feels most strongly about the pretenders. That is because they are so poisonous to the body. Their benign misdirection, their subtle watering down of the truth, their apathy, all are deadly contaminants to the church.

Happiness is not on Friday because it is the start of the weekend. Happiness is not doing dishes. Happy is not maintaining equilibrium in a slow economy. Happiness is "if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;" (1 Peter 3:14). Happiness is finding wisdom. (Proverbs 3:13). Happiness is trusting the LORD. (Proverbs 16:20). Happiness is fearing the LORD. (Psalms 128:1-2). I could go on here, but the bible says not to cling to the things of this world, because they cannot make us happy. We can choose happiness every day of the week, but unless we have the Lord as Redeemer in our hearts and believe on His name, we are going to be very UNhappy in hell.
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