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Deception in Religion

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Have you ever played that childhood game where someone whispers something in your ear and you pass it on to the next person beside you and by the time it gets to the last person in line it’s altogether different then what was originally said? This is the same way in many Churches as how the word of God is being taught. The word was spoken by God for what he has already said and by the time it reaches our ears we are hearing something totally different then what he spoke in the first place. Has this become the deception we now find in religion with each one teaching a different gospel?

Many people love to dictate to you what you can and cannot do according to what they have been taught through mans doctrines and carnal interpretations and this only brings one into a deceptive bondage that can damage our very soul and cause us to fall away from God because we cannot meet the standards of the church to be that perfect person they say we need to be before we can even accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and not only before, but even after.

Many churches go as far as shutting the doors on those who do not meet their criteria as they deem certain people as unworthy of God and misfits of society that need to clean themselves up first before they can come to church as they would be a bad influence on the youth of the church. I would say let the youth of the church be a good influence on those who need Jesus in their lives as Jesus said to come as you are and he will change anything that needs changing beginning with the condition of our hearts.

Satan has such a foothold on religion by using those unaware to teach his twisted word as Satan knows this word better than we ever could. Those who lack the knowledge of truth will perish along with the deceptive word they teach. Our English language produces many different definitions for a singular word that has caused a misinterpretation from the teachings of the original manuscripts that were written by the Disciples of Christ. The carnal mind can not perceive the teachings of the Holy Spirit and if we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us then we will fall prey to those deceptions and be devoured by the wicked one who seeks to destroy our faith.

God confounded the babble of language and separated the nations to make unto himself a nation that is worthy of His name. Nation can mean an actual land mass or a gathering together of those who are called by God all over the world. Be careful for what you learn as only the Holy Spirit can bring us into all truths as he uses those around us to teach us. Satan is very clever as he presents a gospel that is contradicting to the word of God as he deceives and confuses those who lack Spiritual knowledge.
 
There is a serious spirit of religion that puts people under bondage and her name is Jezebel who kills the Prophets (Teachers) of God, 1 Kings 18:4-13. When I first came to the truth of God's word she attacked me hard as I wrestled against her, but God gave me that victory over her, praise His name.

Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
 
Satan has such a foothold on religion by using those unaware to teach his twisted word as Satan knows this word better than we ever could.
The antidote to deception is a "knowledge of the truth". God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4).

This truth is found in the written Word of God. Therefore every teaching from any source must be examined in the light of Scripture. Unfortunately even the evangelical and fundamental churches are not teaching their members properly as to how Christians should "rightly divide the Word of Truth". Too many have assumed that all their doctrines and practices are biblical, when they may not be so. So constant vigilance is a must.
 
Nathan12 Ya know what gets stuck in my crawl is when you show someone the scripture, make them read it out loud, then they look you right in the face and say "Well, my Pastor doesn't teach it this way" meaning even though they read it for themselves they would rather believe the one who is teaching them. They just do not know how to rightly divide the word.
 
Growing up in Idaho you learn that the rodeo was a big thing.
Everyone wants a chance at it...
Most kids worked on the farms and with the livestock... even the girls. They had to rope cattle and horses too. It really wasn't strength as much as working and training your horse to work with you to get it done.

But when it came time for the rodeo they wouldn't let these "tough girls" to have a chance to compete in roping calves...instead they let them rope goats.

Goats are a different critter than calves. They weigh a fraction of a calf. And adult goats are trainable... stubborn but trainable.

Now roping is a matter of timing too...
Sooo
When they put a goat in a chute and smack it and let it loose the cowgirl would get her horse in position and practice and pretty much rope that goat in the same spot every time.
Problem was that the goat would get trained...it would race out of the chute and when it got to the same spot it's head would jerk and it would fall over whether the girl roped it or not.

People would like to believe that they are better than goats...the truth is something different.
They become "trained" way too often in things that aren't good but believing they are. That they must behave in this fashion if they are to be "good'.

Question everything...test everything.

This morning we were studying Mark...the story of Gadarenes came up and then the ruler of the synagogue...and it was a comparison story of the two choices.
The pigs didn't belong in Israel...they weren't there for a bar b que contest later. But they asked Jesus to leave because they would rather have their sin than Jesus. The Synagogue ruler Jaris wanted his little girl and was putting his career up for grabs in asking Jesus to help. He was gambling everything on Jesus being able to help.

Huge contrast.
Giving up on a career in tradition for something good. Vx hanging on to wealth from sinful persuits instead of gaining righteousness.
When we give up our lives we are supposed to mean just that...in every way possible.
Some do and some don't.
The people in Gadarenes area thought that simply being Jewish was enough...it wasn't. The ruler of the synagogue begging for Jesus...considered to be one of the most up right men in the area because he followed the Law (his colleagues weren't amused in the least by his behavior with Jesus) begging Jesus could have been the end of his career...shot down in flames.

Huge difference in attitudes. Huge difference in results.
 
Nathan12 Ya know what gets stuck in my crawl is when you show someone the scripture, make them read it out loud, then they look you right in the face and say "Well, my Pastor doesn't teach it this way" meaning even though they read it for themselves they would rather believe the one who is teaching them. They just do not know how to rightly divide the word.
I agree that this is a real problem, and may be at the root of all the spiritual confusion that is in the churches (and on Christian forums). Few (if any) pastors have sat down with their people and showed them the nuts-and-bolts of Bible study (using all legitimate tools), so that they can personally interpret the Word, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. Few have seen that their function is to equip their people for effective ministry. But that is why God places evangelists, pastors and teachers within the churches:

Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
 
Growing up in Idaho you learn that the rodeo was a big thing.
Everyone wants a chance at it...
Most kids worked on the farms and with the livestock... even the girls. They had to rope cattle and horses too. It really wasn't strength as much as working and training your horse to work with you to get it done.

But when it came time for the rodeo they wouldn't let these "tough girls" to have a chance to compete in roping calves...instead they let them rope goats.

Goats are a different critter than calves. They weigh a fraction of a calf. And adult goats are trainable... stubborn but trainable.

Now roping is a matter of timing too...
Sooo
When they put a goat in a chute and smack it and let it loose the cowgirl would get her horse in position and practice and pretty much rope that goat in the same spot every time.
Problem was that the goat would get trained...it would race out of the chute and when it got to the same spot it's head would jerk and it would fall over whether the girl roped it or not.

People would like to believe that they are better than goats...the truth is something different.
They become "trained" way too often in things that aren't good but believing they are. That they must behave in this fashion if they are to be "good'.

Question everything...test everything.

This morning we were studying Mark...the story of Gadarenes came up and then the ruler of the synagogue...and it was a comparison story of the two choices.
The pigs didn't belong in Israel...they weren't there for a bar b que contest later. But they asked Jesus to leave because they would rather have their sin than Jesus. The Synagogue ruler Jaris wanted his little girl and was putting his career up for grabs in asking Jesus to help. He was gambling everything on Jesus being able to help.

Huge contrast.
Giving up on a career in tradition for something good. Vx hanging on to wealth from sinful persuits instead of gaining righteousness.
When we give up our lives we are supposed to mean just that...in every way possible.
Some do and some don't.
The people in Gadarenes area thought that simply being Jewish was enough...it wasn't. The ruler of the synagogue begging for Jesus...considered to be one of the most up right men in the area because he followed the Law (his colleagues weren't amused in the least by his behavior with Jesus) begging Jesus could have been the end of his career...shot down in flames.

Huge difference in attitudes. Huge difference in results.

John this a great post. I think after that morning study the Holy Spirit has guided your words. Many who read this and have not previously understood this will without doubt be convicted. You have made it so clear.
 
Nathan12 Ya know what gets stuck in my crawl is when you show someone the scripture, make them read it out loud, then they look you right in the face and say "Well, my Pastor doesn't teach it this way" meaning even though they read it for themselves they would rather believe the one who is teaching them. They just do not know how to rightly divide the word.
I agree with most of what you're saying but I have to ask. Do you think said pastor would likely say the same thing regarding your doctrine? We all read the same Bible but we don't all agree on its interpretation, right? So what makes your interpretation accurate and others' inaccurate?
 
I agree with most of what you're saying but I have to ask. Do you think said pastor would likely say the same thing regarding your doctrine? We all read the same Bible but we don't all agree on its interpretation, right? So what makes your interpretation accurate and others' inaccurate?

I've been called out a few times by others that I am wrong with what I teach because it comes against the traditional doctrine of their church. There is only one doctrine and that is of Christ Jesus as what He taught and sent down the Holy Spirit to teach us all. One doctrine of Christ, but many interpretations by how another allows themselves to be taught as the spirit of Jezebel resides in many churches and we need to learn to rightly divide the word of God and test the spirits that are teaching us.

There have been times in the past where I was wrong and had my error corrected by the Holy Spirit using others more learner than myself as we shared and discussed the scripture I was in error with and I appreciate correction when needed as we all should as we are ever learning and could never exhaust all the teachings contained in the scriptures.

I would never tell anyone to believe what I teach, but to go study the scriptures I give and study them for themselves praying first and asking the Holy Spirit teach them. If my interpretations of scripture is wrong, then it is I alone who will stand before Christ and give an account for what I have taught others.
 
I agree that this is a real problem, and may be at the root of all the spiritual confusion that is in the churches (and on Christian forums). Few (if any) pastors have sat down with their people and showed them the nuts-and-bolts of Bible study (using all legitimate tools), so that they can personally interpret the Word, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. Few have seen that their function is to equip their people for effective ministry. But that is why God places evangelists, pastors and teachers within the churches:

Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Yes, God does set those in the church as Evangelist, Pastors and teachers, but not all Evangelist, Pastors and teachers have been called by God. Some won't even take time to sit and discuss any questions you have because they are not Spiritually equipped to answer them and just don't want to be bothered. It goes as far as some Pastors are given written sermons by the bishops of the church as to what they are allowed to preach.
 
Can you elaborate more on this.

The parable of the 4 soils is found in Mathew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:1-15.

In the parable Jesus teaches about a farmer who scatters seed on 4 different types of ground. One is a hard path probably like a dirt road. A second is rocky soil. The third is full of weeds. And the forth is good soil. After Jesus gives the parable His disciples ask Him about it and Jesus explains the meaning and symbolism behind it. The seed that the farmer sows is the message about the kingdom of Heaven. And the first three soils are hurdles for receiving the message. The forth soil is the good soil where there is a crop from the seed that is abundant and produces more them what was planted in it.

What I mean that this thread is about the first soil, is because that soil is the hard path. The soil (the person) that hears the message and doesn't understand it or rejects it, and Satan comes and takes the message from them. This is essentially what I thought of when I heard you say that you teach someone some scripture and have them read it for themselves and they still reject it. It made me think of the first hurdle in hearing the message and not understanding it, and rejecting that message (or at least for Christians, not understanding and rejecting that part of the message).

Usually I think of the hard path as being non-Christians I've seen who hear the gospel and the teachings and reject it. However the hard path can be any of us who have trouble understanding what's being said and either don't consider it because we don't know how to understand and apply something in the bible, or because we were taught differently and reject what's said from the bible.

That's all I meant by it. This topic reminded me of the first soil, (the first hurdle) in hearing the messages from God. Honesly I would say that this is a hurdle for all of us, not just some Christians who are taught wrongly. But it's just some things are easier to understand from the the bible and other parts we might not get right away or have trouble with applying what was said.
 
-sigh-

i do not like it when i talk to seasoned, mature Christians...and then they start talking all this political jibber jabber, using Bible verses to prop up whatever end of the spectrum they're on. and...

the brainwashing doesn't stop at the church doors, no ma'am. more so on the (very) right wing, there's all kindsa tv stations, magazines, websites, seminars, classes...to thoroughly and completely misuse Scripture to prop up the hard right. I've seen it on the left, but...its not as bad, honestly...more like a bunch of well intentioned, lukewarm believers wringing their hands over gay rights or global warming, then going home in their Prius and watching Bravo. not sound doctrine either way, but...the left wing end strikes me as fairly harmless.

now, the hard right? holy moly! they've gotten to people I thought were just work a day believers...and now, i hear Christians hating on poor people, minorities, immigrants, refugees, "liberals" (however they define it), on and on and on, and...

wow. such...vitriol. even sometimes, when they talk, they'll say "...those welfare queens, having a baby every 9 months for food stamps, welfare, medicaid...that's -our tax dollars they're livin' on...-" and I'm thinking...

Jesus fed poor people. remember the 2 fish and the loaves feeding the multitude? Jesus didn't have much. he had a trade, but he wasn't affluent.

there's other stuff that gets to me, too...probably because ive been through some low quality "mental health treatment..."

stuff like 12-steps to whatever, versions of Christian doctrine that really seem a lot like the power of positive thinking (to the point of denial of reality) plus carefully selected Bible verses...

--not-- that I'm super duper, 110% The Ultimate True Christian. I'm still knocking on that door, Jesus seems to opening it...guiding me towards a better, more complete, less self-serving view of Him. 1 Corinthians 13:12 ...applies to all of us, I think. I try to reflect on that, even when I feel exasperated with the latest megachurch scandal or fed investigation into ministries or petty cruelty from 'church people'...

we're all fallen, frail, imperfect. Look to Jesus, don't let the hypocrites get in your way and...beyond the fundamentals, I think I'm learning to be a little more humble about the whole thing. OSAS OSNAS RCC view...

"how many angels can dance on the head of this pin?"

Matthew 22:37 Micah 6:8
 
The parable of the 4 soils is found in Mathew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:1-15.

In the parable Jesus teaches about a farmer who scatters seed on 4 different types of ground. One is a hard path probably like a dirt road. A second is rocky soil. The third is full of weeds. And the forth is good soil. After Jesus gives the parable His disciples ask Him about it and Jesus explains the meaning and symbolism behind it. The seed that the farmer sows is the message about the kingdom of Heaven. And the first three soils are hurdles for receiving the message. The forth soil is the good soil where there is a crop from the seed that is abundant and produces more them what was planted in it.

What I mean that this thread is about the first soil, is because that soil is the hard path. The soil (the person) that hears the message and doesn't understand it or rejects it, and Satan comes and takes the message from them. This is essentially what I thought of when I heard you say that you teach someone some scripture and have them read it for themselves and they still reject it. It made me think of the first hurdle in hearing the message and not understanding it, and rejecting that message (or at least for Christians, not understanding and rejecting that part of the message).

Usually I think of the hard path as being non-Christians I've seen who hear the gospel and the teachings and reject it. However the hard path can be any of us who have trouble understanding what's being said and either don't consider it because we don't know how to understand and apply something in the bible, or because we were taught differently and reject what's said from the bible.

That's all I meant by it. This topic reminded me of the first soil, (the first hurdle) in hearing the messages from God. Honesly I would say that this is a hurdle for all of us, not just some Christians who are taught wrongly. But it's just some things are easier to understand from the the bible and other parts we might not get right away or have trouble with applying what was said.

I agree and thank you for explaining this. Many parts we do not understand until the Holy Spirit or the Holy Spirit using others to bring light to it that we then begin to understand.
 
-sigh-

i do not like it when i talk to seasoned, mature Christians...and then they start talking all this political jibber jabber, using Bible verses to prop up whatever end of the spectrum they're on. and...

the brainwashing doesn't stop at the church doors, no ma'am. more so on the (very) right wing, there's all kindsa tv stations, magazines, websites, seminars, classes...to thoroughly and completely misuse Scripture to prop up the hard right. I've seen it on the left, but...its not as bad, honestly...more like a bunch of well intentioned, lukewarm believers wringing their hands over gay rights or global warming, then going home in their Prius and watching Bravo. not sound doctrine either way, but...the left wing end strikes me as fairly harmless.

now, the hard right? holy moly! they've gotten to people I thought were just work a day believers...and now, i hear Christians hating on poor people, minorities, immigrants, refugees, "liberals" (however they define it), on and on and on, and...

wow. such...vitriol. even sometimes, when they talk, they'll say "...those welfare queens, having a baby every 9 months for food stamps, welfare, medicaid...that's -our tax dollars they're livin' on...-" and I'm thinking...

Jesus fed poor people. remember the 2 fish and the loaves feeding the multitude? Jesus didn't have much. he had a trade, but he wasn't affluent.

there's other stuff that gets to me, too...probably because ive been through some low quality "mental health treatment..."

stuff like 12-steps to whatever, versions of Christian doctrine that really seem a lot like the power of positive thinking (to the point of denial of reality) plus carefully selected Bible verses...

--not-- that I'm super duper, 110% The Ultimate True Christian. I'm still knocking on that door, Jesus seems to opening it...guiding me towards a better, more complete, less self-serving view of Him. 1 Corinthians 13:12 ...applies to all of us, I think. I try to reflect on that, even when I feel exasperated with the latest megachurch scandal or fed investigation into ministries or petty cruelty from 'church people'...

we're all fallen, frail, imperfect. Look to Jesus, don't let the hypocrites get in your way and...beyond the fundamentals, I think I'm learning to be a little more humble about the whole thing. OSAS OSNAS RCC view...

"how many angels can dance on the head of this pin?"

Matthew 22:37 Micah 6:8

There's a lot in the teachings from Jesus. And there's a lot from the old Testiment and the letters in the New Testiment. It is easy to get side tracked on a few of the lessons and forget about the love we are suppose to hold and to and to share. In Revelation 2-3 Jesus sends out a dictated message to seven churches in seven cities. The first is to Ephesus, which Jesus spotlights what they are doing well to reject wickedness, but then goes on to give them their weakness. That they have lost their love. I think each church shows how common issues while being a Christian and trying to be good.

Christ_empowered the message to Ephesus remind me of what your talking about with the vitrol. There's something about standing against wickedness without succumbing into the battle and being wicked and unloving ourselves.
 
I'm still knocking on that door

You don't have to keep knocking as Jesus already received you unto Him. Love is the greatest commandment and it is sad when you see self proclaiming Christians not walking in love. They are no different then the Pharisees Jesus chastised.

Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
 
This topic reminded me of the first soil, (the first hurdle) in hearing the messages from God.
I'm not sure if the first soil would apply to Christians, since there would no understanding of the Gospel message, followed by Satan's action to take away even that which was heard.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. (Mt 13:19)
 
I'm not sure if the first soil would apply to Christians, since there would no understanding of the Gospel message, followed by Satan's action to take away even that which was heard.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. (Mt 13:19)

I agree as t would be the good ground where true Christians have taken root and grow in the knowledge of the Lord. But lest we be aware of Satan's devices to try and steal it from us.
 
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