ListenDaily - 21 April 2009; Truth
I am going to change gears here, in response to this question I received:
"Someone I work with told me they are a Christian, but that they don't believe in Satan or Hell, that they are metaphors for evil, not a real being or a real place. What do you think?"
Well, I am not surprised. According to a recent poll by George Barna, most Americans do not believe in Satan or the Holy Spirit. ( http://www.barna.org/ ) The short answer is, that they are falling for one of Satan's slickest schemes.
However, the answer to this is not short, nor is it simple. Satan works wherever he can, to influence people to not believe he exists, or that God exists. Among people, there are those outside the church with a variety of flawed thinking. Then there are those with whom I have the most difficulty, those teachers and preachers inside the church with not only false, but dangerous teaching.
"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil."
(Romans 17:17-190) (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people..."
From the charlatan I heard preaching on television last night, who was twisting Scriptures to convince people to send him money, to those in pulpits who twist God's Word, intentionally or not, in order to move people to a view of God that is man-made, false teaching is rampant.
For a few days, we will look at the types of lies that are being fed to believers today, and how to stand up to them.
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Questions:
1.What do you think of the Satan question? 2.Have you ever heard false teaching in your church? 3. What did you do?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
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