I used to think today’s version of the Scripture’s “false prophets” were just shyster preachers. But the Devil is more subtle. Think about it. Who do we watch, and to whom do we listen? Who are the most influential purveyors of false ideas in American culture today?
Hi, I’m Rex Rogers and this is episode #5 of Discerning What Is Best, a podcast applying unchanging biblical principles in a rapidly changing world, and a Christian worldview to current issues and everyday life.
Every day, present-day “false prophets” intentionally and effectively attack the core beliefs and values of the Christian Church and American culture.
This is a growing existential threat, for Judeo-Christian values no longer provide a “sacred canopy” over American culture. Historic, foundational biblical values are no longer ascendant, respected, or even referenced by a vast cross-section of society.
So false prophets now practice their craft with little resistance.
The New Testament contains many admonishments about individuals who (2 Peter 2), motivated by greed or arrogance, attempt to speak for God, (Jude 4).
The Apostle Peter also cites “false teachers,” who propagate “destructive heresies.” Peter warned us these are people who ‘will bring the way of truth into disrepute and…will exploit you with stories they have made up” (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Scripture says, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves,” (Matthew 7:15-16)
False prophets are people who speak untruth while at times claiming they speak for God and his Word.
Present-day false prophets—wolves in sheep’s clothing—are thriving. They promote ideas, philosophies, and ideologies contradictory to biblical teaching, antithetical to Christianity, subversive to the Church, and destructive to a free culture.
Present-day false prophets are exercising considerable influence
--in public schools --on university campuses
--on political stages
--in media entertainment
–through social media
--via bestsellers
--in corporate training sessions
--in government
--even in the US military.
Some false prophets are what’s now called, “online influencers,” people operating lucrative websites, video channels, or social media sites, marketing lies, especially to young people.
Who are these false prophets? Well, they can be intellectuals/professors, politicians, activists, or celebrities.
Present-day false prophets market political correctness, woke cancel culture, open hostility to a biblical worldview of law, order, and justice. They tout grand nihilistic ideologies and economic or racial determinism. They celebrate rebellion in the name of absolute freedom. They promote tribalistic identity politics and a culture of fear, and they sow chaos, madness, division, and discord, for these conditions are their path to power.
Present-day false prophets are active every day in the nation’s schools from kindergarten through graduate university, promoting anti-biblical views of human sexuality, sharing ideas with grade schoolers that are so perverse I haven’t stated them in this podcast.
Present-day false prophets use critical race theory to teach reductionist racial division, animosity, and victimhood. Some promote racism in the name of “anti-racism.”
Among entertainment celebrities, false prophets present selfie-dominated hedonism, i.e., wear fewer clothes with each Instagram picture, hop in and out of intimate relationships, and live for self-gratification, as demonstrated in their latest TikTok video.
The message many celebrity-false prophets offer is the sexual revolution and materialism writ large. It’s Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
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False prophets believe in no truth, no right and wrong. But their “no truth” philosophy has practical consequences:
- If no truth > no life-changing Word,
- No truth > no Holy God,
- No truth > no law and order, no justice = only lawless riots, crime,
- No truth > no sin = only a non-judgmental anything goes, all problems are psychological, therapeutic, So there is no forgiveness, no remedy, no hope,
- No truth > no freedom = no inalienable human rights…that leaves only power.
The battle today is not between Republicans and Democrats.
Neither Democrats nor Republicans are ultimately or sufficiently committed to lasting objective ideals. They are about power too.
Consequently, neither Party’s politicians—at least most of them—are positioned to put up much resistance, so neither Party is going to slow the influence of present-day false prophets.
In fact, our challenge today is spiritual not political, and there are no political solutions to spiritual problems.
The battle today is between a morally relativistic, humanistic vision of society that acknowledges no truth versus an historic Judeo-Christian vision of society that acknowledges the Sovereign Creator God of the Bible.
I don’t know if we are yet in the “end times” the Bible talks about, though some believers, including my Mother, believe that we are and she may be correct.
But either way, these are dark days, and our days are likely to get darker, but we need not despair.
God is not surprised by 21st Century issues any more than he was surprised when Lincoln prayed in the White House during the Civil War.
Present-day false prophets—celebrities, influencers, ideologues—may challenge the Church, they may enjoy a season of cultural success, but the end of their false ideas is certain, for God is still God.
Pastor John Piper said, “The shape of error is always changing. You can’t preach enough negative sermons to stay ahead of it. And you don’t have to. The best protection against the darkness of error is the light of truth.”
The best way to respond to untruth is with the truth that sets us free (John 8:32):
How do we do this?
- Discerning truth from error (Phil. 1:8-9).
- Speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
- Being ready always to give an answer (1 Pet. 3:15).
- Participating in a ministry of reconciliation (1 Cor. 15:11-21).
- Praying for grace and unity in the Church (Eph 4:1-16).
Well, we’ll see you again soon. For more Christian commentary, be sure to subscribe to this podcast, Discerning What Is Best, or check my website, r-e-x-m as in Martin, that’s rexmrogers.com. And remember, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm.
© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved, 2022
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