What’s In a Name?

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.  Romans 16:17-18 (NIV)

Well, friends, it appears we have people in this world trying to make people believe they are true reverends when in fact, what they preach is as far from the word of God as the north is from the south.  I am not denying them the right to call themselves whatever they want.  However, just because they call themselves reverends does not make it so.  I could stand in the garage and call myself a car but would that make it true?   The danger in these people calling themselves men of God is the number of people that is totally taken in by these false claims. This type of deceit is spiritually and morally wrong.  I, for one, would not want to bear the responsibility of the lives and souls of the vulnerable and, dare I say, gullible people that subscribe to that line of thinking.

Three decades ago, a man called Jim Jones in a place he called Jonestown in Guyana, led hundreds of people in a mass suicide.  He convinced his followers that he was God’s prophet and at times he was God.  Years later, a man named David Koresh led many to their deaths in Waco, Texas.  He also convinced his followers he was God.  These are only two examples of the devastation that men have caused when they proclaim to be true men of God.  Many lives were lost and families destroyed by these egomaniacal self proclaimed men of God.

God has warned us to “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15.  In today’s news we see this happening now.  We see blacks being pitted against whites because these ravening wolves are deceiving many.  We see violence being perpetuated against innocent people because of the color of their skin.  This violence is being encouraged by these “so called” reverends.  They teach that only certain people matter.  But friend, God made us all in His image.  He loves each and everyone of us.  What these deceitful people are teaching do not line up with the Bible.  We are taught that we must test the spirits to see if their teachings are in line with what God teaches.  We must be able to discern the true teachings from the false teachers that claim to be of God but will be destroyed by God.  Not everyone that professes to love God and profess to teach in His name will be recognized by Him.

Don’t misunderstand me.  I am not judging anyone. If these people want to call themselves reverends to elevate themselves in their own minds, they must be prepared to answer for the lives and souls they are ruining.  I could call myself a doctor.  It might make me feel important but would you honestly want me to operate on you or a member of your family?  I thought not.

Now my disclaimer:  IF YOU EXPECT AN APOLOGY FROM ME YOU WON’T GET ONE.