Have you seen those reels about the hyper-realistic cakes? Dazzling! I’m awed by the talent, inspiration, dedication, and skill involved. These can-you-even-call-them-bakers reproduce reality in cake.
Here’s one video that will knock your socks off.
Amazing, eh? This “peach” looks good enough to eat and is probably delicious, but it’s not a peach. It’s something else. That’s not too troubling with fruit, but it’s a mega-problem with God’s truth.
True and False Prophets
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Jesus, Matthew 7:16-20 (NKJV)
Jesus, Paul, and many other Bible authors vocally warned of false prophets and teachers. Indeed, there's a Gold Rush of imposter prospectors these Last Days.
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Jesus, Matthew 24:11
Predators go where the prey is. With sheepish, self-soothing human tendencies, AI, unctuous unctions, and enough followers to populate a small nation, it’s getting harder to tell who’s who and what’s what.
God’s Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit are our touchstones.
There are at least four broad categories of teachers and prophets, fake and true:
Godless, evil wolves, in or out of sheep- wear, who are knowingly, outright deceiving for personal gain, power, money, control, or otherwise. (History and headlines suggest a once-true person can become morally corrupt to the point of idolatrous narcissistic apostasy. Scary.)
"In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed." 2 Peter 2:3 (NLT)
(See also Jude)
Sincere but truly clueless or misguided teachers who suffer well-meaning distortions, causing fractures and moral failure. This is sometimes a denominational issue, where iterations of doctrine gradually or radically depart from scripture. Even truth-seeking pastors can be in a bona fide bind.
We can be sincerely wrong all day long. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Once faithful teachers who have become somewhat lukewarm or downright cold and compromised for many reasons. Mind you, Jesus says he'll spit 'em out.
Fallible humans who aren’t 100% right 100% of the time but earnestly seek to honor Truth in Christ.
Significant Sidenote: I'm not calling out openly fallible saved-by-grace sinners. I'm talking wanton waywardness, usually hidden. BTW, let’s all self-check as we go.
Only God knows for sure, but there are some obvious clues.
"Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him." And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.” 1 John 3:19-24 (NLT)
Categories aside, here are three types of non-abiding tree branches and fruits and how to handle them.
1. Good in a Bad Way
Tony Robbins seems like a wonderful, mission-focused man who touches lives with his motivational messages. He’s not pretending to share the Gospel or save souls—he’s motivating. If your pastor is more like Tony, it’s time for a double-take. When it comes to the gospel, if it’s good, but it’s not God, it’s not good.
A pastor’s job is to preach the whole Word of Truth, not just the fun bits. Dilution is not only not the solution, it’s destructive and even deadly. It’s like treating cancer with an aspirin.
Remember: Peaches are far healthier than cake.
Dilution is not the solution.
God warns that in the last days, there will be many false prophets who will lure people away from saving Truth with all kinds of heresies and sexy sermons that appeal to our egos and carnal nature.
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)
Hell has a zip code.
Please don’t think for a minute that this is only glitzy televangelists with rockstar cache. Any pastor who minimizes or skips sin altogether is doing us, them, and the Holy Triune God of the Universe a disservice. Even if it enrages us hurts our feelings.
Paul said:
“Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (NIV)
2. Just Plain Fake
When I was a kid, my mom had a cluster of grapes that looked pretty darn real from across the room, spilling over the edge of an elegant, sterling silver bowl. They were decidedly less believable from a couple of feet; the grapes looked rubbery, and the grape leaves were obviously molded plastic. When you got close enough to touch, they were undoubtedly Rubbermaid.
For a while, I had some more artistic papier-mâché fruit that was fake. It wasn’t trying to fool anybody. It was just wanting to look pretty.
This is all well and good when it comes to produce. It’s a disaster when it comes to pastors and prophets.
“These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.'” 2 Peter 2:17-22 (NIV)
3.Lookin’ Good but Lousy Inside
I live in Florida and can get some citrus year-round, but it’s not always as tasty as it looks. It’s mandarin season, and I bought a big bag at Costco, bracing myself for the taste test. This is primetime, so my hopes were high. Sampling the first of six I ate last night, I can say they’re delicious.
Sometimes, a big bag of fruit looks good, but the moldy or mushy ones are mixed in. We can’t tell until we open the bag, peel, and eat. It’s so disappointing when you’re full of anticipation and pop a wedge into your mouth to discover it’s bland, dry, or downright rotten.
Jesus put it this way:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness." Matthew 23:27 (ESV)
Preachers can look and sound superficially great or do lots of good works to mask watered-down mixtures of truth or outright corruption tucked just under the surface.
Many of us have experienced the heartbreak or horror at the disconnects that make headlines more each day.
A Word About “Prophets”
Not all preachers are prophets. First, let me clarify what a prophet is. Simply put, a prophet speaks for God. I could go deep on the subject, but that’s not my audience or objective. They may have different missions and messages, all of which must align with scripture.
Some may think of prophets as wild-haired, wild-eyed cloaked figures wandering in the wilderness ranting, “Repent, for the kingdom is at hand.” Yes. John the Baptist and others fit the bill. They have probably updated their wardrobe, but it’s a legit job.
Prophets can issue words of warning, rebuke, or correction--like Jesus, John the Baptist, John the Apostle, or Paul, most clearly in his letters to the churches. Prophets can also comfort, encourage, or exhort, a key job.
Some prophetic voices uphold God’s truth in their unique cultural context, like the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, whom we just celebrated.
Social media promulgates prophets, both pure and predatory. Just remember that Jesus tore the temple veil so we could go to God ourselves. God wants us to turn to him first and foremost, always and more than ever.
Significant Sidenote: These principles also apply for leaders in other faiths, society, corporate, and global settings (wink).
Red Flags & Remedies
Here are some common red flags to spot synthetics and tips on how to handle them:
Red Flags
If it looks good but “tastes” off, bring it to God and see what he says. Even in the moment, ask God, “Is this you? Is this true? What do you want me to do?” Obey.
·Likewise, feelings aren’t facts, but they’re information:
If you routinely feel puffed up, self-righteous, entitled, unique, superior, or "us and them," it’s a bad sign. We’re all sinners in need of rescue.
Excessive emotionalism and over the top “signs and wonders” can signal something fishy. I once attended a service where people were falling out, weeping, and laughing as the prophet laid hands. She tried to shove me down repeatedly. No.
On the other hand, feeling terrified, ashamed, bullied, or dejected can also signal a problem typical to legalistic settings. Just know that healthy fear, shame, and godly sorrow can also signal we’re acting out of line with God or our conscience. Confessing and stopping behavior that leads to those feelings is the solution, i.e., repentance.
Leveraging fear, need, greed, or vanity to draw crowds and cash is a flare. Monetizing spiritual gifts like healing is a criminal offense called “simony,” based on the bracing and gripping tale of Simon the Sorcerer.
Lots of adoring fans, followers, and full pews can be a red flag. Jesus, the apostles, and believers through the ages have been persecuted, rejected, and killed by majorities. Cultish devotion spells cult.
“Woe to you, when everyone speaks well of you, for that, is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.” Jesus, Luke 6:26 (NIV)
Likewise, too good to be true is fair warning, too. Jesus said the way is "narrow and hard." It’s not 24/7 feel-good fun, though we can have surpassing joy, peace, and unparalleled eternal perks. If you’re hearing false doctrines that make following Christ a self-actualizing series of delights, and you're not carrying any crosses and denying yourself, you may be more a foolish fan than follower.
Cultish cliques, “elite” inner circles, and exclusive mutual admiration societies that have a decidedly different vibe than consecrated for Christ are anathema.
Elevating self—either by self-righteous rule-following or justifying self-indulgence and sin—particularly greed, lying, and sexual sin—is a major problem. Check modern society for proof.
Some in this category are saccharine sweet, who Paul said were disguised as angels of light and love that conceal evil, sometimes new-agey sects with an la carte Jesus. Beware.
Likewise, they're deadly fake if they point to anyone or anything as the source of salvation. Idolatry is one of God’s least favorite things, and we’re warned against it repeatedly. Elevating and idolizing people or superstitious practices as vehicles for rescue all violate Christ and his ethos.
Too much certainty over negotiables is ego.
They may over-emphasize appearance, celebrity status, and money—yours and theirs. Jesus preached on dusty hillsides with a ragamuffin band. Of course we want to honor God with our appearance and excellence, but what’s the priority? As they say, is the "emPHAsis" on the wrong syLLAble? Drinking this Kool-Aid can kill you! This doesn’t have to be a Lear jet or too much gilding and plastic surgery. The Acts church is our revealing yardstick:
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:32-35 (NIV)
Skipping scriptures and sin warnings that don’t feel good is a mighty bad plan. Who's qualified to make cuts and edits for God? These editorial liberties often lead to either a law-keeping or hyper-grace “love” message that minimizes Christ’s view of all sin and misrepresents unconditional love. Hell has a zip code!
“I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 4:1 (NLT)
God does love us unconditionally but repeatedly asserts that unrepentantly violating his loving guardrails reveals a spiritual condition apart from Christ.
“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” Hebrews 6:4-6 (ESV)
OUCH! If you’ve tasted freedom and continue to sin unrepentantly, you’re subject to God’s disciplinary action up to and including hell. This is not God’s doing; it’s ours. He’s heartbroken when we choose the broad "highway to hell."
Significant Sidenote: Friend, if this scares You, great. Get on your knees right now and cry out to the Lord for forgiveness. He’s waiting for you with open arms.
“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you...Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will go to them and make our home with them. A person who doesn’t love me doesn’t do what I say. I don’t make up what you hear me say. What I say comes from the Father who sent me. Jesus, John 14:15-17,23-24. (GWT)
Unorthodox, even outlandish teachings with scant or selective biblical backing.
I've emphasized a lot of money-grab, sleazy apostasy that's off the charts these days. The other form is every bit as deadly: self-righteous, self-propelled works-based non-faith that emphasizes sin-scoring, pseudo-humility, extreme asceticism, or empty religious practices as an end to themselves, often to earn “grace.” If it’s not drawing you closer to the Lord, it’s no good.
SELF is often the damning common denominator.
Other dangerously narcissistic symptoms are demanding unquestioning loyalty, exploitation and abuse of power, cultivating dependence, condemning real or perceived threats, nepotism, secret knowledge, demonizing truthtellers, dishonesty or secrecy, weaponizing scripture as a means of control, and unchecked addiction, including religion.
Basically, any kind of deceit or moral disconnect is of grave concern. For instance, a private life that does not match their public persona, secret or not so secret sins…Read more from an expert here.
If any of this strikes a nerve, don't stick your head in the sand.
You could suffocate.
Repent! Simple, not easy.
Beloveds, these are potential pitfalls for all of us, which I know I've repeated ad nauseum these last four years. They lead to
Remedy
Pray for wisdom and discernment and use them.
Don’t dismiss your misgivings, which may be the Holy Spirit inside you saying, “Danger!” Pray and obey God’s promptings.
We’re told to “test the spirits,” summarizing what I’ve shared here.
Prayerfully step away from the person or place and see how you feel? Closer to God? More grounded? Safer? Signposts!
“Pull the plank” before judging others, self assess your own fruit first. Repent accordingly.
Read the Bible yourself! Cross-check sketchy directives.
If you’re indeed led to confront it, there’s a protocol to follow and bracing consequences if they don’t repent.
"Prophetic voices” who claim to foretell the future should have a track record of accurate predictions.
Many of the 45,000 purportedly Christian denominations may need to evaluate their true allegiances. However, we don’t necessarily have to toss the baby out with the bathwater, even if our affiliation is off track. Many denominations reflect sincerely on different aspects of God’s infinite truth. None are 100% right. While doctrine and denomination matter, the bottom line is our personal standing in Christ. The Nicene Creed is core.
Still, if red flags outrank truth, run. Too many red flags and risks don’t bode well. Bad company can indeed corrupt you, like a frog in the pot. You can sit in a pew and listen to pap that will deceive you to death.Your calling it out may not change it, but it may change you.
Wayward sheep prone to wander, we may not be well equipped to judge. Yet Jesus will judge us. Of course, we have a Good Shepherd who knows our hearts better than we do.
If you’ve been wondering about your pastor, prophet, or your own heart, now is a fine time to evaluate…before it’s too late. It matters! Jesus said,
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
Denial & Da'Nile
Please, don’t deny facts or feelings because you fear the truth. As they say, denial is more than just a river in Egypt. Swimming in the Nile is dangerous due to the high pollution risk of bacteria like E-Coli, Salmonella, Vibrio cholerae, parasites, and crocodiles. Don’t swim in denial! If you had an easily treatable cancer, would you want to know? Of course!
Take heart! There's...
Good News!
If you're duping others or you've been duped by fake fruit, get real. Our loving, longsuffering, merciful Jesus will forgive you and enable you to turn it around.
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