"When ROCK-STAR PREACHERS SPEW a FALSE GOSPEL"
by Jennifer LeClaire
When preachers tour like rock stars, it's no wonder sinners flock to stadiums. Of course, preachers holding stadium-sized events packed out with lost souls is awesome - unless those preachers present a hyped-up, watered-down, seeker-friendly gospel that's giving the assurance of heaven while sending people to hell.
I am convinced that too many people who claim to be Christ-followers are not really saved, because too many false teachers and false prophets are propagating a "different gospel" centred on "another Jesus".
2 Corinthians 11:3 - 4: "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."
I am convinced that many self-professing saints are going to sit right next to sinners in hell when it´s all said and done - thanks, in part, to rock-star preachers presenting a hyped-up, watered-down, seeker-friendly gospel.
Especially in America, it's easy to say, "I believe in Jesus." It´s called mental assent. I believed in Jesus before I got saved, too, but I was still on my way to hell. Many who have "accepted Jesus into their hearts" have responded to a "different gospel" centred on a false Christ. This gospel is mixed with compromise. This gospel is impure and defiled religion. This gospel offers a humanistic, self-help message that taps New Age principles.
Indeed, these false teachers and false prophets are moving in a false anointing and presenting a false Christ. And it´s deadly.
Perverting the Gospel of Christ
This is not a new problem. The Apostle Paul was very concerned that Christians would be deceived. So was Jesus. They know what confronts the Church. They saw the wolves in sheep's clothing infiltrating the flock, seeking out the weak and convincing them of false doctrines to lead them away from the truth.
Church, why are we putting up with this false gospel? Why are we spending millions of dollars on books filled with heresy penned by false teachers? Why are people flocking to stadiums to worship another Jesus?
They have been deceived by the serpent´s craftiness. Their minds have been corrupted from the simplicity of Christ. The gospel is not difficult to understand, and it´s not difficult to recognize false doctrine if you are a student of the Word.
But members of the lukewarm, apathetic, bless-me-only church are too lazy to open their Bibles and read Scripture for themselves. Members of the lukewarm, apathetic, bless-me-only church want to be spoon-fed a feel-good 20-minute sermonette rather than be challenged to die to self, pick up their cross and walk the narrow road. They've turned away from the real Jesus to another Jesus. Paul felt the same angst in his spirit that I feel in mine.
Galatians 1 v 6 - 9: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
Fables and Fairy Tales
I´m also marveling at the masses that are paying to hear a different gospel, a perverted gospel - a gospel that will send them to hell if they embrace its doctrines. Some of those "gospels" insist there is no hell. Some of those "gospels" say we´re all going to heaven in the end. Some of those "gospels" give you a license to sin without penalty. False teachers are using familiar Scriptures to justify their stance, but they´ve essentially turned the Bible into a book of fables and fairy tales.
I don´t care who doesn't like it. I'm taking the Apostle Paul's advice:
2 Timothy 4 v 2 - 4: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
When the Lord called me into ministry, he gave me parallel Scriptures out of Ezekiel 3 and Ezekiel 33. I'm a watchman called to warn the church. If I don't open my mouth and people die in their iniquity - in their different gospel from another Jesus - some of the blood will be on my hands (Ezek. 3:17-19). I don't want any blood on my hands, and I'm not going to keep silent just because the false teachers - or anybody else - doesn't like it.
Does He Know You?
Here's the rub. Jesus is come back to separate the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:32). And I´m seeing too many goats sitting in the church saying amen to a false gospel centred on a false Christ.
Jesus put it this way: "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,´ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?´ And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!´" (Matt. 7:21-23)
They never knew Jesus, and Jesus never knew them. They were following another Jesus based on a different gospel that was more convenient to their humanistic lifestyle, tickled their ears and promised peace when there is no peace (Jer. 6:14).
I shudder to think of the horror on that day, when masses who rushed to the stadiums and megachurches to hear rock-star preachers (or even no-name preachers in small congregations) present a hyped-up, watered-down, seeker-friendly gospel realize they´ve been duped. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And there will be suffering for eternity. God forbid. Let us pray that these false teachers and false prophets will be exposed and that discernment will rise among believers and non-believers searching for the true hope of the real gospel. Amen.