Tested and True

An acquaintance sent me an email with a brightly colored attachment. It was “The Sayings of. . . .” a well-known, self-proclaimed prophet. I glanced at it and pressed the ‘delete’ key.

My devotional book seems stuck on false prophets right now. I’ve thought that they are not a problem, but the ‘To:’ line in that email was filled with names. Will those people know that this person is teaching anti-biblical stuff? The person that sent it claims to be a Christian. Obviously she doesn’t have any idea that what she is promoting falls into the category of what Jesus calls “bad fruit.”

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 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. (Matthew 7:15-20)

The early church was particularly vulnerable. They had the Old Testament, but the New Testament was still in the form of letters being circulated to each congregation. They didn’t have the full book of God’s guidelines as we do today. Still, they needed to watch out for false prophets.

As happens today, some people seized on Christianity as a way to make money. The early churches were wary of those who made excessive appeals for money. Paul, who preached the truth, was content with basic support and set a good example. He even engaged in part-time tent-making to provide his own needs. As for his ministry, he wrote, “For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17).

In those days, the church was also wary of those who hung around too long. In other words, a true prophet didn’t wear out his welcome. His ministry and mission were more important so he kept moving. Those with false teaching were more interested in serving themselves and staying where the gravy flowed.

Then as now, those who taught the truth also lived it. While false teachers can mask their inner lives and fool others, they often teach one thing and practice another. I know a man that teaches anger management, but he himself easily flies into a rage. He does not have the Spirit of God so he cannot practice what he preaches.

Because Jesus lived what He taught and because He was totally selfless, Jesus could say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). He is the true prophet, and only those who teach what He taught and strive to live as He lived have a message I want to hear. No one else measures up.