Written by Dawn Rutan
I read a few interesting passages this week:
- Jude 4 (ESV) – “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
- 1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have done out into the world.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:13 – “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”
As I read these verses, I realized that I had previously assumed that the deceivers mentioned were people who knew they were propagating lies and were intentionally leading others astray. But given what I see happening in the church today, I believe there are many who genuinely believe they are correct and don’t realize the error they’ve fallen into. And it’s not always clearly delineated as in the past, such as with cults like Jehovah’s Witness, Mormons, Jim Jones, etc. Instead they are people who outwardly appear to be evangelical Christians, but they are interpreting Scripture in ways that are wrong and will lead many astray (for example Jen Hatmaker, Glennon Doyle Melton, and the like). They do not see the truth of the Word, no matter how much they study it, and they don’t even realize they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie.
I have come to the point of questioning the salvation of many who claim to be Christians. Yes, God’s mercy is great, but it is limited. Some people will find that they are saved “only as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:15). Many others will hear “Depart from Me, I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23). I am alarmed by the direction of our “Christian” culture in which moral relativism is commonplace. Truth is being redefined and the Bible reinterpreted by anyone who is uncomfortable with its message. There is no longer any fear of God’s judgment or eternal damnation. Many seem to be more afraid of offending unbelievers than they are of offending God.
Michael Yaconelli wrote in Dangerous Wonder (110-111):
“I am beginning to wonder if we modern followers of Christ are capable of being terrified of God. No fear of God. No fear of Jesus. No fear of the Holy Spirit. As a result, we have ended up with a feel-good gospel that attracts thousands… but transforms no one… The nice, nonthreatening God needs to be replaced by the God whose very presence smashes our egos into dust, burns our sin into ashes, and strips us naked to reveal the real person within…”
This leads me to pray for a couple specific things: 1) That those who have been deceived and are deceiving others will be led by God to understand and accept the Truth and repudiate their own lies (such as happened with Rosaria Butterfield); and 2) That believers will be strengthened to proclaim the Truth no matter what the consequences may be from society or from other so-called Christians. One day God’s elect will be rewarded and all others will see the error of their ways.
Psalm 25:5 – “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long.”
James 3:1 – “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”
© 2016 Dawn Rutan. The views stated may or may not reflect the beliefs of the pastor or leadership of Dulin’s Grove Church.
