This post originally appeared at https://www.vcy.org/top-news/2025/04/14/from-the-director-19/
By Jim Schneider, Executive Director
VCY America
As time advances, religious deception is on the upsurge. Increasingly, individuals across the country are finding it difficult to locate sound Bible-preaching churches. Errant doctrine and compromise are running rampant. As such it is critical to remain spiritually vigilant!
Why is this happening? The Scriptures give direct warning about false teachers and those who teach “another gospel” which is truly not another.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” (Jeremiah 14:14)
Jesus in His sermon on the mount warned, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)
Matthew later quoted Jesus in the Olivet discourse, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24)
Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29-30)
Peter warned, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” He later wrote, “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” (II Peter 2:1; 3:17)
The apostle John warned, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1)
While many additional Scriptures provide warning, it is imperative that believers in Jesus Christ are alert in understanding the times that are impacting our society and leading many astray.
Recently an ELCA “Pastor” in Madison rebuked Jesus in his message. When giving his analysis of the story of Mary & Martha from Luke chapter 10, he totally misinterprets the Scriptures to bestow his anti-biblical worldview on the ears of the congregants, saying:
“If you already didn’t like Luke, hearing implicit criticism of housework, of domestic labor, of what still is way too often known as a woman’s place. Then let me go ahead and make it worse. And say that this may actually be trying further to diminish women’s roles. It comes from the mouth of Jesus. And I really hope that it was the writer Luke that just put it on Jesus’ lips…“So, here. If it really was Jesus telling Martha not to serve, not to be a deacon, then Jesus needed to learn his lesson and stand corrected.” After pontificating further he said, “Take that Luke, or Jesus or whoever.”
Rebuking Jesus? He is blaming Jesus for diminishing women? That is far from what Jesus was doing as recorded in this passage. Jesus does not need correction! This false teacher evidently has swallowed the DEI pill and misinterprets the Scriptures elevating himself over the Lord. He is following the very tactic Lucifer used when he declared himself over Jesus. Keep in mind “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)
While this comes as a recent example, keep in mind that there is a growing number of “pastors” who deny the existence of hell; who deny that Jesus is the only way of salvation; that deny the Trinity; that deny the virgin birth of Christ; and that deny that Jesus is God. It is imperative we heed the warnings of the writers of Scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!
Recently Alex Newman reported on Dr. George Barna who through his conducted survey and research revealed “that only 37% of Christian pastors have a working, robust biblical worldview.” No wonder, why so many are turning from the faith.
Recently on a nationally televised Christian TV program carried on Christian stations and networks across the country, speakers claimed “You received Messiah; therefore, you are entitled to healing, you are entitled to financial provision, you are entitled to be free. He set the captives free.” Yes, the prosperity gospel message has bit yet another program and continues to take captive those lacking spiritual discernment. This comes from a program that for at least four decades was faithful to the teachings of Scripture. However, new producers of the program decided to make Jesus dependent on man in one episode, and find it vogue to misquote the Scriptures to make their errant point. Just as the devil misquoted Scripture in an attempt to gain an edge, so also a once solid program has succumbed to biblical error. Sadly, while there are endless examples of spiritual deception and its encroachment into many a church, it behooves believers to bolster their discernment and stay faithful to the truths of Scripture. Satan doesn’t care if it’s the secular world system or a once-solid church that opens the door to error. As long as people are deceived and led astray, it makes no difference to him how it happens. We must stay alert as the Apostle Peter warned, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (I Peter 5:8)