False Prophets 

   “Beware of false prophets, who come among you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.  By their fruits you will know them.” (Matt 7: 15) 

   When we hear religious leaders speaking of changing the word of God to accommodate man’s propensity to sin, we are hearing false prophets.  God’s word is unchangeable, what was a sin from the beginning remains a sin today.  Redefining sin to placate a sick and sinful society is an abomination.

   But what can the average Christian do to identify and confront such false prophets?  As the scripture says, “by their fruits you will know them.”  If what they are saying and doing conflicts with the word of God we must reject them and their teachings.  We must pray that they will experience a spiritual renewal and return to the truth.

   Jesus said, “The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses.  You must, therefore, do what they tell you and listen to what they say, but do not be guided by what they do; since they do not practice what they preach.” (Matt 23: 2 – 3).  We are to listen to church leaders and prayerfully consider what they say,  However, if they are not teaching and living the world of God they are pawns of Satan and must be ignored.

   To the false prophets I would say Beware!  Remember the words of our Lord concerning you, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur.  It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” (Luke 17: 1 – 2)