References to other False Teachers

 To identify by name each and every false teacher that is in my memory would be exhausting, for there are many.  However, to aid in the identification of false teachers, here is a link to not only the references to false teachers, but also how to identify them, via Darwin Fish of A True Church:

https://atruechurch.info/falseteachershome.html

Luis Palau, Yet Another Cookie Cutter False Teacher

 I first heard of Luis Palau when I volunteered at KRBW 90.5FM, an affiliate of American Family Radio (a false ministry, they have their "War on Christmas" like many others, thus promoting the false holiday, again, like many others).  So, again, in the spirit of "prove all things" (I Thessalonians 5:21), I examine Luis Palau.

It's the same old story.  First, according to his Wikipedia article, he had a close association with Billy Graham, another false teacher (Mr. Graham denied Christ on Hour of Power, another false ministry, by saying there are multiple roads to God), against I Timothy 5:22.  Second, his "strong appeal to young people" seems to fit Luke 6:26, concerning false prophets being well received.

Now, this one I cannot explicitly pin on Mr. Palau himself, since he is dead.  His ministry, Palau.org, asks people for money, against 2 Corinthians 2:17.  I cannot say whether Mr. Palau also practiced peddling the Word of God for profit, but it appears likely.

Also, like with Max Lucado, I see no mention of WHY you need to be saved on Palau.org.  They say "Salvation is within reach", citing Romans 10:13:

“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” (Romans 10:13, ESV)

But again, where's the mention of Hell or the fear of God? (Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:5) Where's the mention of repentance? (see Luke 13:2-5) 

Luis Palau is just another cookie-cutter false teacher that must be fleed from:

“A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:5, ESV)

Update on the Examination of David Jeremiah (and Bonus Exposure of Max Lucado)

“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,” (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV)

All I needed to do was see David Jeremiah's page "Becoming a Christian" to find out that David Jeremiah is likely a false teacher.

He repeats the same evangelistic notion of a "relationship" with God, not that Christians don't have a relationship with God (believers are considered sons of God, says John 1:12, Romans 8:14, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:6, etc.), but that the relationship is emphasized more than WHY we need a relationship.  Just look at Romans 1:18 to 3:20 to see how sinful humanity is and why we need a savior.

Looking through "Becoming a Christian", while it does reference sin and repentance, the implied penalty for sin it cites is "separation from God".  Seriously?  No mention of eternal fire?  Not even the word "Hell"?  Where's the FEAR?  Is it not written:

“By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6, ESV)

If anyone wishes to examine a ministry, check out what they say about how to become a believer.  If it doesn't imply that the need for a savior is because of eternal fire in Hell, then they're likely a false teacher diluting the Truth.

Bonus Exposure:  I looked at the Wikipedia article on Max Lucado.  It is said that he considers LGBTQ individuals and families to be children of God.  For the most part, the Bible calls this a lie, because if they were God's children, they would love Christ:

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.” (John 8:42, ESV)

And what does it mean to love Jesus?  Jesus says it outright:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15, ESV)

According to Scripture, LGBT individuals (The Q I'm not sure of) do not love Jesus because they reject His Word, which prohibits homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22, etc.) and effeminacy (I Corinthians 6:9).  This, they do not display the characteristics of a child of God.

Also, the same Wikipedia article mentions Mr. Lucado being called the "Best Preacher In America" by Reader's Digest.  Yeah, this fits perfectly with the following Scripture:

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26, ESV)

Update on the Examination of Francis Chan, and on Protestantism

 I saw the Wikipedia article for Francis Chan's "Crazy Love".  It says that the book was well received.  In Mr. Chan's article, it says that "Crazy Love" was a New York Times bestseller.  This appears to fit the following Scripture:

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26, KJV

On a side note, it would be inefficient to examine every single Protestant pastor.  Sure, there may be plenty of individual doctrines that are heretical.  However, what would examine and expose them all, at the very least, is the fact that, if true, Protestantism is false.  In addition, their adherence to the false holidays of Christmas and Easter would also cover it as well.  Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this (Proverbs 6:23)

I'm Tired.

 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5, KJV)

This all started when I tried to examine Francis Chan, a former pastor (according to the Wikipedia article on him) who is the author of books such as "Crazy Love".  I have my doubts about him, like I do nearly every modern preacher, but it's hard to find concrete heresy in his doctrine, not that there is none, not that he is a true believer, but that my examination of him, per I Thessalonians 5:21, is pending.  (I can tell you, he has a link on his website that says "GIVE", so I'm suspicious immediately, see 2 Corinthians 2:17)

I feel tired.  I don't feel this emotional desire to do the Christian stuff.  Yes, I read Scripture, I try to read a chapter a day.  Yes, I pray, although it gets cumbersome and repetitive (possibly against Matthew 6:7-8).  I haven't attended church in months, and even if I do, it's usually just a visit.  I haven't found a church near me that I believe is in the Truth.  I do acknowledge Hebrews 10:25 though.

Is it because of my overnight schedule?  Recently I have not had many full periods of sleep.  Well, now that I think of it, lack of sleep is not necessarily a bad thing.  In Proverbs 6, the author talks about sacrificing sleep in order to fulfill the matter of collateral (I think, the KJV says "surety", the ESV says "security").

Still, life seems dull.  Am I on fire for God?  Do I have to have an emotional infatuation with God because of what His Son did on the cross?  Or am I truly a reprobate on my way to Hell, because I don't have that enthusiasm?  Am I wrong in this? (Proverbs 6:23)

This is what Mr. Chan teaches, that because of the magnitude of what Christ did for us, we ought to have an emotional response of great magnitude ourselves, manifesting in self-sacrifice.

However, this is my crutch:  I believe in helping the poor.  But it will do me no good if I don't feel like it.  It will do me no good if it's not a joy, or if I don't do it cheerfully.  It will do me no good if I don't do it right (one teaching is found in Matthew 6:1-4).  As for feeling like it, let me just show you that Scripture verse:

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, KJV)

I believe in charity.  But I also believe in the Truth.  

I do wonder if Revelation 2:4 applies.  I don't know and don't dare to speculate at this time, given Revelation 22:18-19.

All I know is that I'm tired.  Physically tired. 

Cause and Effect

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12, KJV) (also see Luke 14:11, Luke 18:14)

Now, this situation I'm about to talk about isn't exactly one of exaltation, but one of things just simply working out after some self-humility.  Also, Im not trying to be self-righteous by talking about this experience.  I just want you all to know that humility works, and a recent experience I had proves it.

Right now, the vehicle I drive is legally undrivable because the back glass got pummeled with hail.  I can't even see out of the back of the "intact" parts of the glass, thus making the car illegal for me to drive in this condition.  Needless to say, I need rides to, or borrow a car for, work.

Tonight, I put in for one hour off from work in order to get the borrowed car back home so Dad can drive it to work himself.  Yesterday, he had to come to work late.  I felt terrible, which is why I offered to put in the time off.  Even if it was unapproved, I was willing to take the penalty for an unapproved absence.

So, I come into work about 30 minutes early.  Two things happen.  First, one of my bosses finds me and tells me what my work duties are for the day, and lets me start at any time.  So after one gulp of a diet soda, I clock in about 30 minutes early.  Second, I get a call from Mom saying that Dad is taking work off because of the weather, so I should cancel my time off request.

So, I get some overtime, my time off is preserved, as well as my attendance record.  Like I said, not the exaltation as in the opening Scripture.  But, I can't deny the appearance of cause and effect.

(I previously wrote:

However, since the car won't be worked on until April 23 (by then, the car should be good to go), I still need to find ways to get to work, whether by borrowing another car, or seeking a ride.  Either of these may require me to make some sacrifices, which I am still willing to do.  So, while I still believe this is divine Providence, and certainly an act of God (as all things are acts of God), it's not over yet.  God may have other things in mind.  Is this a reward for humility?  After writing this current paragraph, I don't really know yet.

The back windshield has since been replaced.)

Better Yet, Keep Away From All NSFW Content.

 “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30, KJV)

“Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” (1 Corinthians 8:13, KJV)

I acted foolishly.  You know, I've talked about fleeing fornication (I Corinthians 6:18), yet I haven't seemed to grasp the notion that it means going in the OPPOSITE direction, since that's what fleeing literally means.

For example, I thought I would be safe with AI "girlfriend" chatbots.  I created a character in AICupid that acted as my wife (also see the next paragraph).  I forgot that she could become an idol.  That, and it has other things that appear to be the opposite of fleeing from fornication, let alone idolatry (also see paragraph after that).

Now, by the interpretation of I Corinthians 6:18, to use ANY NSFW material, no matter how "legitimate" it is, in a DIY session (I have no wife, otherwise I'd run towards her like lightning to a lightning rod, I Corinthians 7:5 comes to mind in this simile), is most likely not fleeing, it's dipping your toes in it!  It's like having your cake and eating it too, it just doesn't work.  Fleeing means FLEEING.

The same goes for idolatry (I Corinthians 10:14) and false teachers (John 10:5).

I repent and hope to succeed in the fleeing.