Spellbound! #2

Sunday, August 20, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

A Christian lady once related to me her innumerable ridiculous experiences in religion. One such particular disappointment involved her bedridden husband who had a terminal illness. This dear woman hated seeing him suffer, so she desperately sought the “services” of someone who took advantage of her. She asked a certain local preacher to come and minister to him. Standing by the dying man, the pastor pronounced that God would heal him, that he would recover and leave his sickbed. It took her some time before she finally realized just what a charlatan this so-called “man of God” really was. Her husband’s condition worsened, and he soon died and moved to Heaven!

Many years later, I talked with that “healing” pastor (he works at a nearby funeral home!), and though he was friendly, he had no interest in sound Bible doctrine. After being a professional denominationalist for several decades, he was too comfortable with his delusions and staunchly refused to forsake his traditions! Our only conclusion is that this man in ministry is one of countless people who have no business being in ministry at all. False religious hope leads to wallets, purses, and souls taken!

Re-read today’s Scripture: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Paul the Apostle here describes individuals who split up believers (local grace churches) by introducing false teaching. Instead of all Christians united around the truth, they now go their separate ways because each has found someone who promotes a special view that appeals to them but not to others. The result is just another cult, sect, or denomination. It all starts with something that sounds pleasant, lovely, wonderful….