Our new Christianity Matters course - Contemporary Issues in Christian Theology, a.k.a Hot Topics - started a couple of weeks ago. There has been one theme come up briefly in both the “Introduction” that I taught and “Emergent Theology: The Gospel” which Greg taught yesterday. And I think it’s worth mentioning here: False gospels come really well-marketed and well-packaged. Those that knowingly or, because of sin’s deceptive power, unknowingly seek to change, deny, pervert, or revolutionize ” the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) sell their false teaching with attractive and creative marketing ploys. They use commonly shared and agreed upon language and tag lines. Their doctrine is presented as having timeless, biblical fidelity coupled with contemporary contextualization. They seem to be genuinely concerned for their targeted audience’s life-questions and well-being.

And yet we shouldn’t be surprised by such deceptive means because Scripture forewarns us of their secretive nature in promoting false teaching and ungodly behavior. For example, 2 Peter 2:1 says, “But false prophets…will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying the Master who brought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” Similarly, Jude wrote, “For certain people have crept in unnoticed…ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 4). Paul exhorted Timothy to “Keep a close watch on your (life) and on the teaching” (1 Tim. 4:12) and to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12) because false teachers were teaching a “different doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:3, 6:3). Furthermore, Christ is the good Shepherd and we are his sheep, but Jesus warned that “false prophets (will) come in sheep’s clothing” (Matt. 7:15). And on the “Last Day…many will come in (Jesus’) name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray” (Matt. 24:5).

In summary, they come cleverly disguised as God’s people. They are easily mistaken as being in the church. They don’t have obnoxious neon lights and sing corny jingles announcing their false identity. Furthermore, they come under the pretense of teaching God’s true revelation. Their doctrine has vague undefined similarity to the truth. And yet when it’s all stripped away you find something completely different. You find wolves leading themselves and their hearers to certain destruction. So what do you do? How do you equip yourself and your church to not be deceived and lured away by well-marketed and well-packaged false gospels? That’s what I’ll answer next.

Posted in Church Life |