Watered-Down Christianity: Misleading The Masses

The very idea of artificial intelligence (or AI) sends shivers down my spine, and yet also fascinates me at the same time.

Who ever thought we’d be in living in an era where self-driving cars are being tested?

And, check this out.

Recently, I prompted an AI generator to create a rhyming poem about flowers.

In a matter of a few seconds, this is what it came up with:

It’s not the best poem, but not the worst either, right?

But the fact remains, a machine wrote it.

My knowing ahead of time that this poem wasn’t written from the heart and creative mind of a human writer cheapens it for me.

I don’t know about you, but I like to know ahead of time if something is real, or just a clever imitation.

Likewise, in our Christian faith, discernment over what is the real gospel vs. watered-down Christianity is crucial.

Watered-down Christianity isn’t Christianity at all.

Watered Down Christianity: Are You Hearing the Real Deal?

Is what you’re listening to the real gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible – or is it just an imitation?

Is the message watered down to make it look and sound like the real thing, but it fails to mention sin, forgiveness, the Cross, the Resurrection, and salvation?

There’s a lot of false teaching in our world today – meant to tickle the ears and grow the congregation at the same time.

Does the Bible say:

You have to earn your way into Heaven?

That there are many ways to Heaven?

You can pray to whomever you would like?

That we all worship the same God?

No. it doesnt. But, those are just some of the counterfeit teachings leading the masses down a dangerous path.

The right thing to do is to teach people the truth.

The Enemy, working through modern day false teachers, will do anything to destroy the true gospel – that our salvation is through Christ alone.

We must be modern day Bereans.

The Bereans have long been seen as a positive example of how a person or community should respond to biblical teaching. We are called to eagerly learn from God’s Word and, no matter who the teacher is, to investigate new teaching in comparison with the Bible. The practice of the ancient Bereans is a model for all who desire to grow spiritually today. – Got Questions website.¹

Why is Biblical discernment so important?

The world, as prophesied in scripture, will continue to rebel against God.

The biblical term “fool” does not mean someone unintelligent or uneducated. It means someone who ignores godly wisdom and truth in favor of their own biases or preferences. – Bibleref website.²

People are looking for soft answers, and false teachers are providing what they want to hear.

We must beware of new revelations, mysticism, and biblical “adjustments” to appease modern sensitivities.

Test everything against Scripture.

Be discerning.

It is up to us as Christians, led by the Holy Spirit, to take the real gospel to the world, and expose what is fake.

# # #

¹Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “Who were the Bereans in the Bible?” n.d., para. 8. Web. Accessed March 6, 2023. Bereans in the Bible.

²Quotation from bibleref.com, from “What does Proverbs 14:33 mean?” n.d., para. 3. Web. Accessed March 6, 2023. Biblical definition of fool.

Our Exceptional God

Here’s Your Sign

Have you ever been to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?

Walks on Myrtle Beach

It’s a fun place to visit!

I am seriously missing those long walks on the beach right now.

Seriously . . . missing.

One morning, when we ventured out of our hotel to walk the property, we saw a very interesting sign.

Check it out.

warning up ahead

You know, I thought I saw something move by that bush over there.

“Here’s your sign,” as Bill Engvall used to say in his comedy routine.

It’s a good thing the hotel put out a warning, right?

danger up ahead

Venture too far out into that marsh and you could end up as appetizer for a real live alligator.

No thanks.

Another Warning Sign

Here’s another sign we need to be aware of.

Jesus Himself issued a warning to His disciples to beware of false teachers.

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. – Matthew 7:15. NASB.¹

Fortunately, there are still good Bible teachers out there.

Unfortunately, there are also false teachers (and book authors) who are teaching anything but sound doctrine.

Discernment is a must.

For instance, just because a popular book in the Christian category of a bookstore becomes a best seller – that doesn’t mean it’s biblically sound.

You’d be wise to read reviews from people who have actually purchased and read the book.

Going strictly by the endorsements isn’t always the best method (what if the endorser is also a false teacher?)

Beware of buying “Christian” books whose messages don’t line up with Scripture. If a teacher or author tells you they’ve received a “new revelation from God,” your red flags should be flying.

Jesus was the most loving person that ever lived and would say “neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” He did not judge in the condemnatory sense but He certainly made a judgment of discernment. And that’s where we get confused. When the Bible tells us not to be judgmental, it means we are not to have a spirit of condemnation towards fallen people. We are to love them, be concerned for them, pray for them—all of that. But we are still supposed to have discernment—to be able to distinguish between what is righteous and what is unrighteous. – R.C. Sproul, theologian, Founder of Ligonier Ministries.²

Let’s Get Equipped

If you’re not familiar with a teacher’s background, then what?

Here’s some good advice.

In summary:

What does this teacher say about Jesus?
Does this teacher preach the complete gospel? (including the Resurrection of Christ, repentance for our sins, and salvation by grace alone. Remember, helping the needy is not the entire gospel message.)
Does this teacher exhibit qualities that glorify the Lord?

I hope this is helpful to you.

God bless

# # #

² R.C. Sproul quotation, courtesy of Ligonier.org/blog. 23 November, 2016. para. 2. Web. Accessed 27 October, 2019. Retrieved from https://www.ligonier.org/blog/difference-between-being-judgmental-and-exercising-discernment/

Our Exceptional God

We Should Be Discerning False Teachers

Discerning false teachers

Have you ever heard the howling sounds of a pack of coyotes?

They’re fascinating, but also a little frightening.

Late one night, my husband and I heard some loud, high-pitched, noises outside. They were so loud we could hear them over the television.

We cracked open our back door and realized that we were hearing the yipping and barking of coyotes in the woods nearby.

It was pitch black dark and we couldn’t “see” anything, but we sure heard them, several yards behind our house.

From the sound of them, you could tell they had a fresh kill and were whipped into a frenzy.

Glad we didn’t go for a late-night walk.
They’re so close!

These coyotes creep in and devour their unsuspecting prey.

Kind of reminds me of what has happened in some churches across the United States.

If you do the research, you hear sad news such as this church or that church is compromising the Bible and teaching instead a counterfeit gospel.

These teachings slowly eat away at Scripture piece by piece so that His Word hardly resembles what God originally inspired.

Honoring God’s Word

Since when does God’s Word need to conform to the world because a majority don’t want to hear about sin anymore and their need for a Savior?

“Unfortunately, preachers who distort God’s Word are all too common today. Sometimes this springs from a sincere desire to soften hard hearts, but hearts aren’t changed by compromise.”

– Alistair Begg, Christian pastor, Truth For Life Teaching Ministry, and Author.

A Healthy Balance

Is your church still teaching about Sin, God’s forgiveness, grace, mercy, Heaven, Hell and the End Times?

If not, why not?

Is the emphasis in your church “only” on the love of God?

That may sound good initially, but there are important fundamental truths missing if the consequences of sin are never discussed.

Christianity-Lite bothers me because eternal lives are at stake.

God is a Loving Father and He is also our Righteous Judge.

The last thing churches need to do is compromise God’s Word and leave out the message that we desperately need Salvation through Jesus Christ.

Real Issues

need to be discerning

Do any of these concerning statements sound familiar?

The Bible is offensive.

The Bible is too hard.

God is Love. He will not judge unrepentant sinners.

If a person just believes hard enough, God will make them rich and prosperous.

Rich people don’t deserve God’s grace and mercy like the rest of us.

There are many paths to God, Christianity is too exclusive.

Universalism is the key to peace and unity in this world.

I heard a popular Christian artist say a few days ago at a concert that he believes “a revival is coming.”

We need a holy revival where people aren’t afraid to stand up for their faith, have the courage to love and care for others, but also teach people about their need for the Savior.

The apostle Paul never compromised the truths of the gospel to make them more palatable to the masses. He laid out the pure gospel message. A beautiful thing happened, churches spread throughout the Roman Empire.

###

*Pastor Alistair Begg quotation, as quoted from Christian quotes.info

Our Exceptional God

Ready For A Spiritual Battle?

April 5, 2017 Gracie

Getting Ready

I was a Girl Scout a long, long time ago.

Let’s not talk about how long. 😉

Our motto was to: “Be Prepared.”

Does that phrase sound familiar?

The direction to “be prepared” is also in the Bible – God’s Word.

Are You Ready For A Spiritual Battle?

It’s certainly easier to respond, “no thanks,” and just live your life without a care.

Easier maybe, but that’s not the right answer.

The Bible tells us, and as Peter reveals in 1 Peter 3:15-17:

¹⁵but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. – 1 Peter 3:15-17, ESV.

Contending For Your Faith

Always be prepared with confidence and complete reverence for God.

No one said it would be easy, especially when an unbeliever or false teacher is coming at you with all sorts of accusations. It can hurt, especially when the accuser is someone you know.

Have you ever heard anyone verbally attack the Bible and the Sovereignty of God?

I sure have.

It seems like the confrontations are happening everywhere – on college campuses, in the workplace, and elsewhere.

The most disturbing examples I’ve seen are on the internet and in social media comments.

attacking comment threads

It’s so bad that I only scan the headlines now, and skip over the comment threads where people are so awful to each other. There’s name-calling, threats, and twisting words of Scripture.

Do these folks realize what they’re saying, in a public forum, no less?

I once had a job where a coworker told me that a client we both knew was a “nice” person and would go to Heaven simply for that reason alone.

Our fallen human nature wants to believe that lie, but as Christians, we know that “Congeniality” is not a free ticket to Heaven.

That may sound harsh, but it’s reality. We must turn to the Bible for the answer, not Hollywood movies, or false teachers who add to or delete words of Scripture.

By our faith, we know better.

We are in great need of a Savior and a repentant heart. If being nice was all that was required to get to Heaven, Jesus would not have had to die.

The Gate Is Narrow

A very convicting Bible verse and a key reason why we, as Christians, should share our faith, comes from Matthew.

¹³“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matthew 7:13-14, ESV.

The way to eternal life is narrow. (Chilling, right?)

A very loving thing we can do for a lost person is telling them about salvation through Jesus Christ. We can also pray for them and, for the Holy Spirit to give us the right words when an opportunity comes up. I pray for this all the time.

We can’t let an intimidating person get us to back down about our personal faith in Jesus Christ and salvation through Him.

Are you ready for a spiritual battle

Are You Prepared?

You have to know why you believe.

What do athletes do before the big game?

They practice.

Practice talking about your faith, not because your beliefs are weak, but because it helps. This process isn’t the same as writing a rehearsed script and sounding like a robot. We need to examine our lives, our secular motives before we came to Christ, and the eternal perspective we gained after.

We’re not beating anyone over the head with it or trying to start fights. I take to heart what Paul said in Philippians.

²⁷Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, ³⁰engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. – Philippians 1:27-30, ESV.

Expecting Opposition

Not everyone will appreciate your testimony. If someone gets overly ugly with you, you can opt to say you’ll pray for this person and leave. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Not a Bible expert? It’s okay. You’re sharing your faith because you love others and don’t want them to go to hell.

Here’s a useful resource, Got Questions.

In this two-minute video, John MacArthur explains why readiness is so important. Feel free to share this with others who need encouragement. God bless.

###

*Begg, Alistair. “Declare Great Things.” Crosswalk.Com. 25 May 2016. Web Access 03 April 2017. Used with permission. http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/truth-for-life/truth-for-life-may-25-2016.html

Our Exceptional God

A Poem of Discernment

July 20, 2016 Gracie

poem of discernment Sometimes the beginning of a poem I could write just pops into my head, seemingly out of nowhere.

Usually, it’s when I don’t have a pen and a piece of paper!

My latest one, “A Poem of Discernment,” basically started writing itself when I was out on the back porch one evening.

Tares Among the Wheat

I was thinking about some of the false teachers out there. My husband and I get into some pretty long discussions about them. Unfortunately, in today’s world, there are many false teachers.

One example is the prosperity preachers and their promise of riches for tithes.

Another example is the increasing deception that there’s more than one path to God.

apostasy

I know you’ve heard of wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Bible is very clear on this matter.

Acceptance of “many paths to God” diminishes the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Man-made philosophies designed to make people feel good about their sins is apostasy.

The Good News

God has promised us so much more than the world as it is.

His glorious resurrection grants eternal life to all Christians. We have victory through the Cross!

A Poem of Discernment
Lord, give us discernment in the coming days,
false teachers on the rise who try to amaze,
with signs and wonders that don’t hold true,
the only real miracles come from You.

You taught us to test
every claim against Scripture.
It’s as simple as that,
why don’t some get the picture?

Your Word, absolute truth,
but some continue to deny,
they laugh and they scoff
bought into Satan’s lie.

Christians, stay strong
for temptations will come,
but rest in the knowing
that to Him you belong

Reading the Word
Thoughtful immersion,
Remember the enthusiasm
at your conversion?

Shine His light to the world
and tell of His love,
the Father will bless you
from Heaven above.

As for the Lost,
they do need our prayer.
It’s our true calling
to make them aware
to seek His forgiveness
because He truly does care.

Our Exceptional God