Written by Mike Gendron – Intro by Day Ashton
Jesus Himself warns us a number of times, “Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you“(Matt 24:4) and in Mark 13:5-6 “Jesus began to say to them, “Be careful and see to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name [misusing My name or claiming to be the Messiah], saying, ‘I am He!’ and will deceive and mislead many”. This deception is happening before our very eyes both within the church and secular society as a whole. This excellent article by Mike Gendron shows clearly the deception in the church and the downward spiral to apostasy. This is a must-read …
rough a process that can be categorized into four steps.
supreme authority for faith and practice.
- Man’s words and wisdom become as important as God’s Word.
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Traditions and movements of men cause confusion and divided loyalties.
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People start following “Christian” personalities instead of the Word of God.
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Pastors discard the Lord’s blue print for building His church and create their own strategy.
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Pastors win the approval of men for the size of their church, rather than their faithfulness and fidelity to God’s Word.
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The power of the Gospel is weakened by compromise and made more inclusive to gain a larger following.
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Biblical evangelism is replaced by man’s methods of conversion.
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Churches give people what they want instead of what they need.
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The pursuit of sanctification is neglected.
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Biblical warnings to expose false teachers are ignored. A little leaven in the form of heresy is allowed to circulate.
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Contenders for the faith are labeled as divisive and intolerant.
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Women are allowed to teach men.
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Truth becomes subjective and relative.
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Doctrinal error and sin are tolerated by pastors who neglect their responsibility to protect the sheep.
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Satan sows his tares with little resistance.
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Pastors become more determined to build their own church rather than the Lord’s church.
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The Gospel becomes more inclusive to attract more people.
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Expository preaching is replaced by topical messages.
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Biblical ignorance in the pew provides fertile ground for false teachers to prosper.
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Trials and persecution expose dead and spurious faith.
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The exhortation to contend earnestly for the faith is ignored.
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People honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him.
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“Infallible” men claim to be successors of the apostles and are embraced as brothers-in-Christ.
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Ungodly men creep in and turn the grace of our God into licentiousness.
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Contenders for the faith are asked to leave.
replaced the Lord Jesus from the central focus of worship.
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Pastors are more interested in entertaining the goats than feeding the sheep.
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Ear-tickling messages give people what they want instead of what they need.
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Sound doctrine and truth is suppressed for the sake of ecumenical unity.
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Hearts become hardened and love for God grows cold.
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Doctrinal error flourishes and is embraced with stubborn pride.
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There is no love for the truth and no discernment.
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People stand for nothing and fall for everything.
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A form of godliness exists, but it’s void of power.
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Idolatry is practiced and encouraged.
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Sin and immoral lifestyles are tolerated.
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Women are ordained as pastors.
Jesus has been removed from the church. Deception is full-blown.
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Lying signs and wonders, including apparitions, are embraced as messages from God or Mary.
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Idolatry and prayers to the dead are encouraged.
- Those who proclaim the Gospel truth are condemned with anathema or put to death.
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Grace is turned into a license to sin.
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There is no longer any evidence of the fruit of the Spirit.
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God’s grace and forgiveness are sold for a price.
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The church’s lamp stand has been removed, and a certain terrifying judgment is now unavoidable.