Anchored in Christ

If the devil had a church…

…he would have a big one, because there are many itching ears to scratch (2 Timothy 4:3).

…he would outwardly look like a great and compassionate Christian (Matthew 7:15).

…he would quote from the Bible for his evil purposes (if he quoted the Bible at all), but never encourage people to actually read (and understand) what it says (Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:3; 2 Peter 3:16).

…he would shy away from teaching biblical doctrine, but rather tell feel good stories and preach “peace” when there is no peace (Titus 2:1; Micah 3:5-8).

…he would leave churchgoers feeling very hopeful…with false hope (Jeremiah 23:16).

…he would make people feel empowered and self-sufficient, not limited and God-reliant (Genesis 3:4-5).

…he would not announce his true identity, but secretly bring in destructive heresies, masquerading as an angel of light (2 Peter 2:1; 2 Corinthians 11:4).

…he would be able to do amazing signs and wonders, and deceive some to think that he is from God (Matthew 24:24).

…he would avoid anything that has to do with preaching the true gospel, the cross of Christ, the glory of Jesus Christ, or anything that would encourage pure devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:3; Romans 1:16).

…he would avoid preaching the law, because that would give people the knowledge of sin and show them their utter dependence on Christ alone for salvation (Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 3:24; Romans 7:7).

…he would lure his flock away from humbly petitioning God in prayer and entice them to name and claim blessings from God not promised them.

…he would encourage sin but not call it sin (he is more clever than that) by labeling it differently, stressing the action’s positive aspects and tickling the flesh (1 John 3:8; 1 Timothy 6:3).

…he would demonize opponents as “hateful” or “judgmental”, and then glory in his “persecution” before his congregation.

…he would speak well of other faiths and belittle “intolerant” thinking that Jesus Christ could be the only way.

…he would focus on the blessings we can receive in this life; not speaking on the life to come.

…he would claim the doctrine of hell is outdated and not consistent with a God of love.

…he would make people have faith in faith itself and never think of their object of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

 

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