The church across the street is full of false doctrines, what to do? by alan ballou
We are in the last days, and in the last days people are supposed to be following false teachers, and false doctrines, because it is written that they will (1 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Peter 2:1-3), and they will not put up with sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
Everything is happening just as it is written that it will happen. So the first thing to do is not let it shock you. There is no fixing what God has already said is going to happen in His Word. It’s going to happen (1 Peter 1:25). Just don’t let it happen to you!
Read the following passage of scripture and know that God is still in control.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. NKJV
If God sends them a strong delusion because they do not love the truth, who is going to stop God (verse 11 above)? The only way for it to change is for the people to repent, and accept the Word of God as truth, to the point of loving the truth.
The second thing to do is to make sure that your church loves the truth before you look across the street to judge that church, since with the same measure we use, we will be judged (Matthew 7:1-2).
Matthew 7:1-2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. NKJV
Also, before you set out to help them know that we have to get the plank out of our eye before we can help our Brother with his speck (Matthew 7:3-5). Until then, our instructions are, “don’t look.”
Matthew 7:3-5 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. NKJV
Check the verses below from your version of the Bible to make sure that your church is not filled with false teachers too before you judge the church across the street.
What would be the difference in one church ignoring certain passages of scripture, and a church across the street that ignores a different set of scriptures? Nothing, except the one that judges the other is full of hypocrites. So, read the following scriptures to make sure that you won’t be a hypocrite when you judge them.
If God’s Word isn’t welcomed at either church, how is God welcome in either of them? If God’s Word isn’t welcomed, how is His Holy Spirit welcome? The Word is Spirit (John 6:63). If God’s Word isn’t welcomed, how is His Son welcome?
John 15:1-6 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. NKJV
That’s the doctrine of abiding in Jesus Christ. Our instructions tell us that if someone comes to us and does not bring that doctrine, we should not even welcome them according to 2 John 1:9-11. Those who welcome them share in their wicked work.
Someone has led us to believe that if Jesus Himself was the guest speaker this Sunday morning that He would not mention His own doctrine of abiding (John 15:1-6), for the sake of those who would walk out if we preached it. However, did Jesus run after those who walked off in John 6:60-69? No, He turned to those remaining and asked if they wanted to go too!
Is God’s Word welcome in your church, or is the wickedness of others welcomed above God? If God’s Word is welcomed, go ahead and warn the church across the street in keeping with Colossians 3:16. The Apostle Paul warned every man (Colossians 1:28).
2 Thessalonians 3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. NKJV
2 Thessalonians 3:13-15 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. NKJV
Are those verses welcomed in your church? If so, go ahead and warn the church across the street in keeping with Colossians 3:16. However, if you support those who suppress the truth, how can you judge those who suppress the truth?
Ephesians 5:3-11 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. NKJV
I’m not asking you if people attend your church, who violate those verses. I’m asking if the Word of God is being preached, or suppressed and ignored at your church? If the Word is being preached at your church, go ahead and warn the church across the street in keeping with Colossians 3:16.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” NKJV
Is God’s Word welcome in your church? If God’s Word isn’t welcomed, how is God welcome? If Jesus showed up unexpectedly, can He preach the verses above? Now you can see why Jesus said that out of all those who seek to enter the Kingdom of God, few will be able (Luke 13:22-28). The sons of the Kingdom will be cast out (Matthew 8:12)!
Somehow we Christians are thinking that if God showed up this Sunday morning, He would preach a different message than what His Word declares. We have been deceived.
Somebody has led us to believe that if John the Baptist came again, he would not baptize anyone, but tell us that baptism is an outward expression of what is going on inside. We don’t even preach what is supposed to be going on inside, so how would anyone know it?
I’m telling you, we have not only eaten the apple of Eve, but we’re telling everybody else how good it was, in God’s face. We need to repent or we will perish (Luke 13:3, 5)!
Listen to the following passage of scripture and know what to do in these last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! NKJV
Most Christians are willing to walk in some form of personal godliness. For example they may be sure to pray before every meal, but very few take God at His Word, and say “As it is written, so let it be for me and my house!” We refuse to suppress the truth in order to fit in with world friendly Christians who will perish!
I’m alan ballou; a servant
