Today I want to focus on the irrelevance of mans words and the lack of power that follows those words. They think that God’s words have become irrelevant in the day we live in and decides that God’s word no longer has the power to reach the lost. They may never say this but they replace God’s enduring words with are empty ways, which are powerless to change lives. By making this change they bring the wrath of God upon themselves and they themselves become irrelevant before God. This has been happening in the church for a long time. As I was writing yesterdays blog and reading a few of the false teachings by Andy Stanley, I came away feeling even more adamant that the word of God is under assault from within the church. He’s not the first to do this. Daniel 8:12 “Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” You’d expect this assault on God’s word to come from the world, which it does but it shouldn’t be coming from within the church. Stanley is not the only one who belittles, distorts and nullifies the word of God with their teaching. Jeremiah describes this distortion. Jeremiah 23:36 “But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God.” They think the word of God is to much, too offensive, too confrontational so it needs to be changed, softened and made more palatable for those in the church and those outside the church. Today’s church are not seekers of truth. These leaders, teachers and preachers change God’s word, it shows that they don’t understand the power of the words of the bible. As Moses said these are not idle words, they are your life; there is power in the words of God. 2 Peter 3:5 “But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Matthew 8:16 “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” That word is the word that has been rejected.
From mega churches to small churches, God’s word is changed at the whim of those using it to make a point or a name for themselves. There is no fear of God. Changing God’s word to win souls really came to the surface from the likes of Bill Hybels, where in their desire to reach the unchurched, they set the word of God aside, thus making those who listen worse off than they were before. Ministers say they want to get a point across but it is not their words to get across. By altering the words of God 2 Peter 2:17 “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.” They don’t want to offend the lost so they set the bible aside along with sin and repentance as they don’t want to come off as offensive. Did it work, sure they get people into a building but that is not what church is about. Seeker sensitive added to the destruction of the church. It is not just about having a service that is seeker sensitive, which actually means void of the Holy Spirit and the word of God, people also follow this thinking when they set aside the enduring word of God because they think God’s word is too much for them and not useful for winning souls. Yes there is a hell but let’s not talk about it because it might be offensive. They forget that God’s word does not return void. Isaiah 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” The result will either be judgment or salvation. Man’s word can do neither. Even though God’s word does not return void, they think they can help God out with His wording. Christians do this as well as the leaders who taught them this empty way.
That word has been set aside as Andy Stanley says “the bible tells me so” isn’t enough. I find it interesting that Stanley took a children’s song that says, “Jesus love me this I know, for the bible tells me so and says “This is where our trouble began.” He also said “If the Bible is the foundation of our faith, Christianity becomes a fragile house of cards. If the whole Bible isn’t true, Christianity isn’t true.” He says he believes the bible as truth but doesn’t preach the truth. Luke 6:45 “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” This little song says it all. Jesus said Matthew 18:2 “He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” The bible has the answer to everything. Why, because Jesus is the bible. The bible is not a book; it is the living word of God. In a video I saw Stanley say that Jesus did not write the bible. I think sometimes satan thinks I wonder if I can get men who want to be something special say ridiculous things over and over and then see if people will follow them. I guess its true. Jesus is the bible. Jesus is the way the truth and the life, he is the word of God. The bible is not a book like other books. 2 Peter 1:20 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.‘ I’ll talk more about the relevant words of God tomorrow.
We are told to hold on and stand firm on God’s word. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
As I read and listened to some of Stanley’s teaching, it was easy to see his understanding of God is very limited. That is scary seeing that he is on the list of influential preachers. He doesn’t seem to know the God he is trying to promote to the unchurched or those who have turned away from the church. When you listen to him you could tell he doesn’t understand the very book he tells people they cannot stand on. 2 Timothy 3:7 “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 1:7 “They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” These teachers are perfect for this time we are in. 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” People want to hear pleasant things so they find someone who will tickle their ears. This perpetuates false teaching. Finally someone who doesn’t let the bible get in the way of their preaching. Isaiah 30:10 “They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” So then people flock to someone who seems to have a way around the truth. The leader then thinks I am on to something and this cycle keeps going as others copy and buy what he is selling. But what will you do in the end? Where is the power? That person will be responsible for leading those followers astray. When they crossed the Jordon into the Promised Land, they were to pronounce curses. One of them was Deuteronomy 27:18 “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road. Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” Jesus then says, Matthew 13:23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” He then says woe to you blind guides, blind fools and blind men.
We were warned over and over about this. 2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” Malachi 2:9 “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.” Isaiah 3:12 “My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.” Isaiah 9:16 “Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.” Jeremiah 23:32 “Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 50:6 “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.” Ezekiel 13:10 “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?” Hosea 4:12 “My people consult a wooden idol, and a diviner’s rod speaks to them. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.” Hebrews 3:10 “That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.” Revelation 12:9 “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or satan, who leads the whole world astray.” Revelation 18:23 “By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.”
If teachers and preachers like Stanley truly believed in the word of God, they would not be trying to set God’s words aside to win souls. Their teaching shows no authority and no power. They are trying to win souls with their own words and ideas and have been very successful with their methods but what will these leaders and all the people who have listened do in the end? They have used a model of success based on the world, not the word of God. These irrelevant words are not the words you want to be listening to. Jeremiah makes it very clear what is happening. Jeremiah 5:31 “The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” If they were truly listening to God’s word, their words would be few and God’s enduring word would be many and lifted high. Ecclesiastes 5:1 “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
