False prophets can be very convincing. However, while claiming to represent God, they misrepresent His Word. Some may deliberately distort the truth. Others are instruments of Satan because of their ignorance of the truth. They present a form of religion but not the true faith; they bring people into bondage, not liberty; they exalt their ministry and not Christ; they smite the sheep rather than bring healing and still expect preferential treatment. Their teaching does not exalt God, giving Him all honor, glory and praise. Their message does not lead to reverent, joyous worship of God, who alone is worthy. To one extent or another, they direct attention away from God as the very Source of Living Water. False prophets obscure the clear distinction between the holiness of God and human sinfulness; the righteousness of God and human self-righteousness; the unconditional love of God and human conditional love; the One Mediator, Jesus Christ, and human mediators.
Gene & Grace Luxon, “Has the Truth Set You Free?,” pg. 273
2 comments:
Where on the spectrum of false prophet - to - true prophet would someone fall who claims that petitionary prayer is effectual even when it deals with events that are already in the past? Any thoughts on this out there?
One thing I have in mind is the claim of some Bible scholars that our modern scriptures have some errors built into them-- for instance errors by some copyist whose attention wandered for a moment. Could one pray, "Father, please make it be the case that there never were any errors introduced into Your holy word," and expect it to work centuries after the events in question?
Anonymous,
I'd say anyone who thinks that a prayer can change the past is certainly a false teacher/prophet. No one can change the past, and there is no biblical warrant to say that God will change the past (not sure if that is something He can do any more than He can make a round square.)
We know there are copyist errors in some manuscripts, but they don't affect anything important.
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