Deception of the Devoted? | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Deception of the Devoted? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Elaine Hemingway
08/19/21
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Cylindrical, leaning like a half-completed tower of Babel, with a cone-like lid balancing on top of its chocolate coloured midriff, the contraption slowly toppled to the floor, chequered towelling gathered in an unruly heap around its base. Jake crouched behind the upturned table watching in horror as fluid leaked from the sides of the floundering monstrosity, his back slumped against the overturned machine that had caused all the problem. It had stopped its mechanical whirring due to the electrical plug having been dragged from the wall in its fall. Sitting in the opposite corner with an amazed grin on his 10year old face was son Derek. “Wow, Dad! That was awesome.” Both collapsed on the floor of the bedroom, giggles, then paroxysms of mirth were brought to an abrupt end at the arrival of the lady of the house whose horror at the scene brought an immediate awareness of the consequences of their experiment.

The ingredients had all been simple household items not intended for the making of a tornado but the story gave me fuel for a counselling experience I have been working on.
Someone I had led to the Lord and whom I thought was a securely established student of scripture asked my opinion on a teacher she had found on Utube. Living on separate continents and with all the problems of lockdown due to the covid pandemic she had scrolled through different TV channels and come across this teacher who she claimed had taught her more about the Bible than she had known before. To my horror, I dug into his background and recognized him as a false teacher; one whose lies had drawn a substantial following even amongst the elite.
All my comments have been rebuffed and the brainwashing is frightening.

How can we identify one who claims to know the truth?

1. If anyone fails to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, “And God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) therein is a problem.

2. Is the fruit of his teaching legitimate?
For example: How recognisable is the fruit? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” (Galatians 5:22)

Does the fruit withstand scrutiny? I think of citrus fruit for example. Some are sweet and some are sour. It can grafted but is still recognizable as citrus.

Fruit of the Spirit cannot be disguised and comes with the Presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.

3. Is Grace evident in the teachings or is there a law to be practiced? Do the so-called truths check out with Scripture? “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” {Romans 8:1,2}

Here are only three examples of testing a teacher and there are many more but only Jesus can reclaim a confused spirit.

Cleaning the floor after the disguised tornado was simple compared with dealing with a case of disguised truth in a muddled mind.

Proverbs 2:12 – 15 Wisdom is needed to recognize the ways of the wicked.

Quotations taken from the NIV.

Initial chapter slightly fictionalized.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.