BEWARE OF THE FALSE THEOLOGY OF THE DAY
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ (Colossians 2:8)
Most folks alive today have an absolute wrong notion of heaven, hell and how a person gets to either future permanent residence. The ignorance concerning these two critical life matters is astounding. People will pay more attention to what they wear, eat, drive and watch on TV than the condition of their eternal soul…that is, until they wake up on the wrong side of this life. They do not comprehend that God is serious about His Word, His Truth and just about who He lets into His Heavenly Kingdom. For over a decade of street and other evangelism and speaking in depth with lost souls, I do not need George Barna or Pew Research to tell me that only about 12-15% of people calling themselves Christians are actually born again, or heaven-bound Christians.This is such an important paradigm for the people of God that Jesus Himself used His own chosen vessel – the Apostle Paul – to warn all Christians for all time, via his (Paul’s) instructions to the Colossians. Jesus loves His followers and disciples so much that He sent these warnings, for all time, which we will do well to heed, until He returns!
In part 1 of this short series, we looked at two of the most dangerous cultural fads, which are attracting a certain amount of younger Christians for many reasons. First, who is against stress relief, fitness and good health….while dressing cool and listening to mysterious sounds, so you can sound spiritual? Except that these now acceptable western habits are completely anti-Biblical and their adherents will be held to account for them.
Today, we look at the application to 21st century meaning for verse 8, next, of Colossians 2. Today, we look at the application to 21st century meaning of this verse. Moving on from the mystic (Contemplative “prayer” and “Mindfulness”, we take a glance at two major strains in the Christian world about which we need to be on guard.
SOCIAL GOSPEL:
Many recent in-depth surveys of millennials who call themselves Christians care more about “social gospel”….than the actual real gospel itself. This is more of a testimony to the socialist and godless indoctrination they received in public schools and colleges than anything else. While they are correct to care about what happens to the less fortunate and those who need a helping hand, they learned to do it from the viewpoint of a system which is anti-God and anti-Biblical worldviews. Again, to emphasize, there is absolutely nothing wrong with medical missions, caring for the hungry and thirsty and cold. This is Christian Compassion. When it is mandated by a central authority AND when there is NO sharing of the Love of God in Christ, it is just that - good works and nothing else.
James tells us that Faith without Works is dead (James 2:17). But the so-called “Social Gospel” is a whole other creation, where certain quotations from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount are not only taken out of context but are the only portions of God’s Word, which the leftists use from the Bible. It would be amusing to see and hear people who do not believe in God, the Bible and Jesus as Lord and Savior.
WATCH THIS TWO MINUTE VIDEO ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL "GOSPEL" AND WHO JESUS REALLY IS:
"Name It And Claim It"
Along with the godless “Social Gospel”, comes another
corruption of the Truth of Christ, which the Lord is warning about in the
Scriptures. The Bible is the living Word of God, sharper than any two edged
sword and for all time, until He returns. Some practitioners of the
equally as ungodly Prosperity Gospel are so worldly, devoid of any Godly wisdom
that they are just as dangerous to the eternal souls of their followers as the
social gospel people.
The faulty Prosperity Gospel Theology used to be also called the “Health and Wealth” Theology, until people realized that you can’t “sow a seed” to some flim-flam crooked TV preacher wearing a $5000 suit and your terminal disease, from 40 years of smoking would go away. The Word Faith movement, led by some of the most popular people you will see on Christian Television, survives but they have mastered the art of making some of it sound Biblical.
The faulty Prosperity Gospel Theology used to be also called the “Health and Wealth” Theology, until people realized that you can’t “sow a seed” to some flim-flam crooked TV preacher wearing a $5000 suit and your terminal disease, from 40 years of smoking would go away. The Word Faith movement, led by some of the most popular people you will see on Christian Television, survives but they have mastered the art of making some of it sound Biblical.
Let’s say up front that it is
easy to fall prey, via sheer human emotions, to the claims of the health and
wealth charlatans when a person is down and out for a long period of time, and
it seems like everything is falling apart. Not- withstanding the plight
of our persecuted brothers and sisters in other lands, comfort and life at the
ready are staples of the Western Christian. When finances, fortune and fine
health go south, who would not be concerned, even to the extreme, about
making the next payment or providing meals next week for the family.
Here is where Trust in the
Goodness, Grace and Provision of God comes in. When the Prosperity Proponents
proclaim potential wealth if we do “x, y and/or z”, and sometimes appropriate
the Name of God or Jesus onto it, people in despair ears may perk on…that is,
people who are not FIRMLY grounded in Biblical Truth. In good times and
in bad, the only way to stay in the Will and Wonder of God is to be fully aware
of His manifest presence in our lives, through the Holy Spirit embedded in the
believer, and then His Word. We MUST know the Bible and how it applies to our
lives, if we are to stay true to Him and remain faithful at all times.
Remember just Who the Savior
was, in His brief 33 years on earth and remember the fact that we are supposed
to model Him. The Creator and Sustainer of ALL things – Jesus, Yahweh, the
Alpha and Omega…the Beginning and the End, lived as an ordinary man on earth.
He had no palace, no 40 bedroom house with gold fittings, private jet and BMW’s
or Mercedes Benz chariots like Copeland, Creflo Dollar or Benny Hinn. The Lord
Jesus had no home of His own, no place to sleep on a regular basis and depended
on His best friends in Bethany (Mary, Martha and Lazarus) for their kindness
and welcoming hospitality.
This is the Jesus we should
follow, not the fiction of the prosperity gospel charlatans which will eventually
land them and all their followers in hot water one day, before God. This is one
of the warnings the Apostle Paul gives us, in Colossians 2:8.
WATCH THIS BRIEF VIDEO FOR MORE ON THIS UNBIBLICAL THEOLOGY:
