False Teachers, False Ministers: Don't put People on a Pedestal

Don’t put any human minister on a pedestal

People really need to keep the titles, roles, and responsibilities of God and his ministers separate. You are not to call anyone on earth father or teacher. Yet how many people run around in religious circles today with these very such titles. No believer is either superior or inferior to any other believer; we are all one in Christ Jesus. God ordains some to be teachers, but a good teacher always refers people to the ultimate teacher, Jesus Christ. A person can never rise above their own understanding. While beneficial at times, Human teachers always have limits to what they can teach others. So Jesus Christ should be every Christian’s ultimate teacher. God may have you render to people in positions of authority your cooperation, but God would forbid you to bow down or worship these people. The hazards of not following such advice are explained below.

The Differences between a Hireling and the good Shepherd

People need to always understand the difference between hirelings and the real shepherd. Hirelings never really love and care for the flock like the Good Shepherd. Only the real shepherd lays his life down for the sheep. Hirelings care nothing for the sheep. Hirelings may provide an important service to the body, but understand their paycheck is what really motivates their service. The interests that drive a person must always be kept in perspective by Christians. When hirelings are off the clock, the personal counseling or prayers sessions are usually over and it is time for them to go home. In time of crisis, if it came down to you or them; it will always be them saving their own skin. Should this surprise you? There is only one Good Shepherd. You become expendable to hirelings once the danger becomes too great for them. Can they really be referred to as your pastor when they don’t even know your name? Always remember who the real shepherd is. God does ordain teachers and ministers to help feed the flock. Good ministers feed the flock out of their love for God and the sheep. This is the highest motive a person can have for ministering. They try to set an example for the flock and they do not make themselves out to be more than what they really are- fellow servants of Christ. Good teachers and ministers do not try to take the place of Jesus Christ. He who is greatest among you will actually do the serving not the lording. Jesus strictly forbids disciples from lording and exercising authority over fellow believers.

How to recognize a wolf in Sheep’s clothing

False teachers and prophets do attempt to take the place of God in both subtle and not so subtle ways. God will punish any human minister that tries to step outside these bounds. In Acts 12, when Herod declared himself “the voice of a God and not a man”, He was struck down by worms and died. The church of Pergamos held to the doctrine of the Nicolatians. The Word for this doctrine derives from two words, Nikao (to conquer) and Laos (People). It held the concept that the Clergy held sway over the laity. They were people who wanted to put individuals between God and people. Jesus absolutely hated this doctrine. Anyone who takes the place of Christ is an Anti-Christ by definition. Like Balaam’s doctrine, they will attempt to beat you by joining you; be weary of a smiling face. Anyone who tries to come in the place of Christ is really a thief and a robber; this is without an exception. Their motive for replacing God is always to exploit the unsuspecting. You always know a wolf in sheep’s clothing by their actions. They do not practice what they preach. They burden men with tasks they themselves will not help to shoulder. Everything they outwardly do is just for show and pretense. They only seek notoriety and title for themselves. They want to make you zealous for them for their own personal benefit. They do not like being held accountable for anything they do. Most of their financial activities lack transparency to cloak what they are actually doing. They do not care to feed the flock. So they will lead you astray. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Follow the money and you will always see where their real heart lies. For where a man’s treasure is, there his heart will be also. Does the pastor spend his resources on caring for the poor or do they invest their resources on building their kingdom here on earth? Do they emphasize helping the needy or do they deploy their resources on personal trips, acquiring luxury items, or buying the latest accessories for the building? You will always recognize them by their actions. Be shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves.

Love the truth more than being right and you will not be deceived.

They cannot take advantage of you, if you are awake to their intentions. Opportunists can only exploit the spiritually blind. Spiritual death is what provides the vultures their opportunity. Why do false teachers abound? Because they simply tell people what their itching ears want to hear. Deceived people only want to be told what they want to hear. They allow themselves to be deceived because they do not really want to hear the truth. Many women only want to be told how great they look. Many men only want to be told how great there are; and many religious people only want to be told that they are saved, when they may not be. They are deceived because they want to be. Deceived people do not love the truth and are willing to turn aside to fables. Do you want to be right or do you want to know the truth? Many people are simply happy with feeling their right regardless of whether it is true or not. Post modern society tells us it does not matter what you believe in provided it only makes you feel good inside? If you believe this, you are a vulnerable to being exploited. God permits Anti-Christs to abound to remove the spiritually blind. The blind will eventually lead the blind into a ditch. People should not look to other people to deliver them from their problems. At the end of the day, Human beings really can’t do very much. God is the only one who can fix our problems. And He will show up when no one else can. You may not like everything God tells you, but the Good Shepherd will tell it to you straight and this is what you really want. Love the truth more than being right and you will not be deceived.