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Does standing behind the pulpit change the character of a man? Can one truly be a godly man when he is preaching, if his walk does not match his talk?
According to Matthew 7:15-23, the answer is no. A man is measured by whether he is producing godly fruit or not. In fact, Jesus warns us regarding the ungodly fruit of the false prophet and wolf in sheep’s clothing, and the need to detect them among us.
Recognition is vital to the welfare and safety of the sheep. A fold led by a wolf in sheep's clothing is a dangerous place for the sheep to reside. A shepherd’s job is to protect his flock from the wolves, so when wolves are tolerated among the sheep, this too presents a precarious environment for the sheep. Sheep must flee from the presence of leaders that are not only led by wolves, but from those that create a comfortable place for wolves to dwell.
How do we do decide whether church leadership is godly or not? We begin with the shepherd’s message. False prophets teach the requirement of some work along with faith for salvation in Jesus Christ. They avoid confrontation and the deadly effects of sin in the hearts and lives of themselves as well as those they lead. They want everyone to feel good and like them. They water down the gospel with a message that tickles the ears and does not convict the spirit within the individual. This is not a place where Jesus’ followers should seek worship.
We also need to pay attention to the shepherd’s walk. A false prophet will in time reveal how differently they live then what they preach. They become unwise in their choices and decisions. They do not avoid the appearance of evil, but justify and blame others when sin is suspected. They accuse others of the deeds they practice. They tend to be angry, divisive, slanderers, and deceitful when they are caught in sin.
A false prophet will not usually give of his time and energy toward others, but demands that others serve him. They are unkind, rude, and without compassion unless they are sure they will gain something from another individual. For a time, their message will seem biblical. However, for the seekers of truth, time will reveal how little the false prophet lives by the Words of Jesus.
It is our individual choice on the leaders we wish to follow. May we evaluate the tree and identify its value by its message and fruit.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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