True and False Prophets
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:16-20 (NKJV)
Jesus, Paul, and many other Old and New Testament authors warned of false prophets and teachers. Indeed, there's a gold rush of imposters in the last days.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Jesus, Matthew 24:11
Coupled with our sheepish self-soothing human tendencies, AI, unctuous unctions, and enough likes and 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 categories of teachers and prophets, fake and true:
Godless evil wolves, in or out of costume, who are knowingly, outright deceiving for personal gain, power, money, control, or otherwise. (History and headlines suggest a once-true teacher can become morally corrupt to the point of idolatrous narcissistic apostasy. Scary.)
3 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)
Sincere but truly clueless or misguided teachers who themselves have incorrect beliefs based on distortion of sound doctrine. This is often a denominational issue, where iterations of doctrine gradually or radically depart from scripture.
We can be sincerely wrong all day long.
Once faithful teachers who have become somewhat lukewarm or compromised for many reasons. Mind you, Jesus says he'll spit out the lukewarm.
Fallible humans who aren’t 100% right 100% of the time but earnestly seek to honor Truth.
Only God knows for sure, but there are some obvious knock-offs.
"19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him." 1 John 3:19-22 (NLT)
Categories aside, here are some types of fakes and how to handle them.
1. Good in a Bad Way
Have you seen those reels about the hyper-realistic cakes? I am awed by these artists' talent, inspiration, dedication, and skill. These can-you-even-call-them-bakers reproduce a piece of fruit in cake form. Here’s one video that will knock your socks off. Amazing, eh?
This peach looks good enough to eat and probably is delicious, but it’s not a peach. It’s something else. It’s not a big issue with fruit—it’s a big problem with God’s truth.
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[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)
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.
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.
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. It was decidedly less believable from a couple of feet; the grapes looked rubbery, and the grape leaves were obviously plastic. When you got close enough to touch, there was no doubt they were fake.
For a while, I had some more artistic papier-mâché fruit that was obviously 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.
17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 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. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 20 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. 21 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. 22 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 finally 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, they are more delicious than I can say.
Sometimes, a big bag of fruit looks good, but the mushy ones are moldy and 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 and messages can look and sound great on the surface but betray watered-down mixtures of truth to utterly corrupt lies. Many of us have experienced the heartbreak or horror at the disconnect, making 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. Prophets have different missions and messages, all of which must align with scripture.
Some may think prophets as wild-haired, wild-eyed cloaked figures wandering in the wilderness ranting, “Repent, for the kingdom is at hand.” Yep. 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 epistles to some churches.
Some prophetic voices uphold God’s truth in their unique cultural context, like the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, whom we just celebrated.
Prophets can comfort, encourage, or exhort their key New Testament job description.
Again, Prophets abound. Be alert and 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.
Red Flags & Remedies
In all these examples, here are some common red flags and tips on how to handle them:
Red Flags
If it looks good but “tastes” off in any way, 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, or superior, it’s a bad sign. We’re all sinners in need of rescue.
Excessive emotionalism and “signs and wonders” can signal something fishy. I briefly followed a somewhat glitzy lady prophet who seemed insightful, finally attending one of her conferences in South Florida. It was my first time in that kind setting, but I prayed and kept an open mind. People were falling out, getting healed, convulsing, and laughing out loud. Sure, this can be an actual manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and I was willing to suspend judgment. Only God knows for sure, but my skepticism grew when she approached me and tried hard to push me down “in the Spirit,” then got surly when I didn’t fall at her feet.
On the other hand, feeling terrified, ashamed, bullied, or dejected can signal a problem, too. Just know that healthy fear, shame, and godly sorrow can signal that we’re acting out of alignment with God or even our conscience. Confessing and stopping behavior that leads to those feelings is the solution.
Monetizing spiritual gifts like healing is a criminal offense called “simony,” based on a bracing and gripping tale of Simon the Sorcerer.
Lots of adoring fans, followers, and full pews can be a red flag. Jesus was abandoned, and the apostles and believers through the ages have been persecuted, rejected, and kills by majorities.
26 Woe to you, when everyone speaks well of you, for that, is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. Luke 6:26 (NIV)
Likewise, too good to be true is fair warning, too. Jesus said the way is "narrow and difficult." It’s not feel good and fun, though we can experience surpassing joy and peace along with the unparalleled promises of eternal perks. But if you’re not carrying any crosses and denying yourself, you may be a lemming, not a disciple.
Elevating self, justifying self-indulgence and sin—particularly greed, lying, and sexual sin--is a major problem. Check modern society for evidence.
Fear-based, shame-based, and works-based legalism emphasize rule-following or rigid, empty religious practices as a means of salvation or earning “grace” rather than spirit-filled obedience that demonstrates our love.
15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. 17 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. John 14:15-17 (GWT)
They put inordinate emphasis on money, yours and theirs. This doesn’t have to be a Lear jet or too much gilding and plastic surgery. The Acts church lived simply and communally.
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. Superstitious practices, empty religious rituals as evidence or vehicles for rescue, elevating and idolizing people…all violate Christ and His ethos.
Other Narcissistic symptoms: Dishonesty, demanding unquestioning loyalty, cultish allegiance, demonizing truthtellers, weaponizing scripture as a means of control, and unchecked addiction (including religious), which signals "a form of godliness" that denies the transformative power of Christ in us.
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 a hyper-grace “love” message that minimizes Christ’s view of sin and misrepresents unconditional love. God does love us unconditionally, but repeatedly asserts that unrepentantly violating his loving guardrails reveals a spiritual condition apart from Christ.
4 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, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 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)
If you’ve tasted salvation and have been washed clean 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."
Some in this category are saccharine sweet, that Paul said disguised as angels of light and love that conceal evil. You'll often find this in New Age sects that invoke an a la carte Jesus.
If they look fake, sound fake, and act fake, there’s a good chance they’re fake. Of course, given the abundance of overdone, over-rich preachers and prophets that fall into this category, these red flags don’t warn away many professing Christians. They are lemmings heading off a cliff to oblivion. If this is you, know that drinking this Kool-Aid can kill you!
Overly image-conscious celebrity culture. Jesus preached on dusty hillsides with a ragamuffin band. We want to honor God with our appearance and excellence, but what’s the priority? As they say, is "emPHAsis" on the wrong syllable?
They leverage fear, greed, or vanity to draw crowds and cash.
You and/or your life are falling apart. While well-documented challenges mark the Christian life itself, and suffering is involved, unchecked sin has spiritual and practical consequences.
Conversely, if you live on easy street, with little hardship or spiritual growth, this may signal you’re being lulled by false doctrines that make following Christ a fun-filled, self-actualizing series of delights. NOT.
Remedy
Pray for wisdom and discernment and use it.
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.
Read the Bible yourself! Cross-check sketchy directives.
If you’re indeed led to confront it, there’s a protocol to follow and 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, but we don’t necessarily have to toss the baby out with the bathwater even if our affiliation is off track. While doctrine and denomination matter, the bottom line is our personal standing in Christ. Many denominations reflect sincerely on different aspects of God’s infinite truth. None are 100% right.
Still, if the red flags outrank truth, run. Too many red flags and risks don’t bode well. Bad company can indeed corrupt you. Your calling out won’t change it, but it may change you. You can sit in a pew and listen to pap that will deceive you to death.
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 even 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 in 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. If you had an easily treatable cancer, would you want to know? Of course!
Take heart! There's...
Good News!
If you've been duped by fake fruit, get real. Our loving, longsuffering, merciful Jesus will forgive you and enable you to turn it around. Hurry home.
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