3:328 – False Prophets

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God is perfect. Jesus is perfect. Faith is beautiful. Religion is complicated. When I was younger, I thought Judaism was easy because you were orthodox, conservative, or reform. That was it. As an adult, I realize that had a naïve understanding of it, and have since learned. As a child, I was very confused by Christianity. With all of its branches and divisions, I didn’t understand why. As an adult, I am still confused by it. I am a Christian and a member of the Lutheran Church. Every day, I struggle, wrestle, and try to grow my faith with the help of God.

I have seen Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” and similar verses, used over and over when someone is not a member of their denomination when their politics don’t align with what someone believes, or when they disagree with someone. So who are the false prophets? How do we recognize when we are being duped? How do we ensure that we are following what Jesus wants us to?

Scripture

• 2 Peter 2:1 – But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
• 1 John 4:1-6 – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. ⁴ Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Reflection

How do we know if someone is a false prophet? 1 John tells us to test them. If something sounds too good to be true, maybe it is. Maybe who you are listening too may have other motives at hand. Here are some things to be on the look out for:

• Do they believe in Jesus Christ as flesh has come from God?
• Do they speak form God’s word about his Grace and for the advancement of all God’s people?

Often I see people using God’s word to advance their personal church or their personal beliefs. This to me is a false prophet. Those who go outside of God’s word are false prophets. God’s Word has been used to kill, maim, and destroy as long as it has been around. This is not from God. This is us as sinners using his Word to our advantage.

I am not perfect. I have used God’s word to try to prove a point. Do I think it was Biblical? Yes. Do I think I did it out of the need to feel right? Yes. That is a sin and I apologize.

As we live our lives, we need to look at why someone is using God’s Word. What is their purpose? It’s not easy to unmask a false prophet as they can be very very convincing. This is when we need to go to God and ask for his love, discernment, and help.

Challenge

Are you unwittingly listening to false prophets? Have you unwittingly been a false prophet? If you have, ask for forgiveness and turn not towards man for answers, but to the Lord. He will open your eyes, your heart, and your spirit for an understanding of the truth.

Prayer

Father God, your church on Earth is divided just like humankind. We tend to follow people who agree with us and support our worldview. Help us to see you as the only truth. Guide us past what we feel is comfortable towards understanding the truth and the light which is you. It will be a challenge to be uncomfortable but we know that following you is in contrast to the world and not comfortable. Your rewards are greater than anything we can see on this earth.

Lord, guide us and nurture us. Forgive us when we fail. We love you and pray all of these things in your name, Amen.