John Chapter Three: The false churches we attend

Documentation Published on Monday, 25 March 2024

Part Four: It is time to study the Word and identify false churches in our midst

The ecumenical movement strives to bring unity in the Church, or so they claim. However, this is mostly a false effort to bring all denominations under one umbrella so that they can all be infiltrated by a system that is far removed from the original intention God had for the Church of Jesus Christ. For the ecumenical movement it is not about proclaiming the gospel of salvation, but to deceive people and lead them astray, in the name of the gospel. In this article we are going to touch on some of the things that happen in the church that you should be aware of.

Index of themes

When the church’s presentation rivals that of a circus
When there is no mention of sin, repentance, hell, or damnation
When the focus is on money
When the church is run by “apostles” and “prophets”
When God is doing a new thing, outside of the Word
When the focus is on miracles, signs, and wonders
When the focus is on entertainment
When the church allows a female pastor
When there is clearly poor teaching
When a false gospel is taught
When the focus is no longer on prayer
When inclusivity becomes the norm
When the music played and sung takes the focus

We have already dealt with false apostles, false prophets, and false teachers, and why you should carefully discern what these people do. However, they all use churches as their basis for spreading a false gospel and deceive people. Today we look at signs that you may be in a false church. If even one of the points given below are prevalent in the church you attend, leave. Where there is one problem, it often goes along with some of the others. [ Back... ]

When the church’s presentation rivals that of a circus

I look at what goes on in some churches I see online, and even ones I attend or have attended, and the signs of deception are clear. The lavish “programmes” are planned to the last second. There is nothing wrong with good organisation, but surely the focus of the sermon should be on God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They do not need a live concert or a lightshow. Instead, Jesus IS the light of the world! When a pastor makes a grand and theatrical entrance, beware. He is not supposed to be a showman, merely the one who brings God’s Word.

It is appreciated that the presentation is professional, but making the presentation the focus is plain wrong when it is more important than teaching sound doctrine. Special events should never take the place of scripture-based teaching. If you lead the church, you are the pastor and teacher, not the master of ceremonies. If only some preachers spent the same time preparing their messages than they do preparing the show, more people would be saved. See our article on the demise of the church for more information. [ Back... ]

When there is no mention of sin, repentance, hell, or damnation

While it is true that Jesus paid the full price for our sins, that does not mean that we do not sin anymore. In any case, someone who is not a believer and visits you church does not know of the saving grace of the completed work of Jesus, and thus the full consequence of sin should be explained, including the final punishment. If speaking the truth hurts the ears of guilty ones (2 Timothy 4:3), they are the ones who should repent. If they then decide not to come to church because of their guilt, or because they are upset, that is fine.

We believe that Jesus has paid the price for our sins and that having accepted Him as Lord and Saviour you are a new man. However, the completed work of Christ means nothing if you are not going to constantly strive to abide in Him. This is not works; it is spiritual growth. If you find that there is no focus on sin, repentance, and the effects thereof, leave for your own good. [ Back... ]

When the focus is on money

When a church asks for us to give money in six different ways because it has to maintain a lavish programme and a building that resembles a university campus, the focus is wrong. Yes, money is required to keep the system going, but not at the expense of individuals who have need. I hear of managerial members of churches who, when individuals have financial difficulties through no fault of their own, the church board will tell them to “trust God to provide”. Yet these same managerial members do not do this when they need money so that their salaries can be paid. They bluntly ask you to give. [ See It is all about money. ] [ Back... ]

We are not part of the Old Testament, and we are not part of Israel. As such, tithing does not apply to the church. At best we are to contribute as our hearts tell us to (2 Corinthians 9:7). Of course, pastors who cannot rightly divide the Word will maintain that the church is a continuation of Israel. This is false teaching. We cannot quote Malachi 3:10 as an example to tithe, as this was meant for Israel, not the church. Thus, the lack of knowledge of the Word on the part of most members in the church lead them to be exploited. Had they known the truth, they would have challenged the system. Of course, we also see that when individuals do challenge the system, they are often ostracised. If this happens, then good. You can leave without feeling guilty.

I ask myself why attending any programme provided by the church should require an entrance fee. Many that cannot afford these fees, are denied the opportunity to learn anything meaningful. Then again, many of these programmes are not really focused on the proclamation of the gospel, but rather focus on the individuals to improve themselves in areas that they would have excelled in if they followed the teaching of the Word. I am waiting for the day when we are going to have to pay an entrance fee just to attend a morning or evening service.

Paul states that he and his fellow servants were not like many others who use the Word of God to trade for profit (2 Cor 2:17) but he preaches because of a genuine desire to make God known and speak Jesus Christ. Seek this attitude in the church you attend. Is this not how church should be? If it is not there, there is no place for you. [ Back... ]

When the church is run by “apostles” and “prophets”

The church should be run by pastors and elders (1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Peter 5:2). Any “apostle” is a false one. Anyone who claims to be a “prophet”, is a false one. The positions of apostles and prophets as they operated in the church ceased at the end of the first century, when the apostle John passed away. I cringe even more when I hear that some woman in the church calls herself an apostle or prophet. Man or woman, who appointed you to this non-existent position? The problem is that these false apostles and prophets often form smaller breakaway groups, attended by people that have left the larger church because of the problems there. It is in these smaller breakaway groups, under the guise of “home churches” that these false apostles and prophets thrive. See our articles on [ false apostles ] and [ false prophets ] for an exposé on why they should be avoided.

I once had the unfortunate experience of getting to know a person who said he was both a prophet and an apostle. He claimed that a fellow “apostle” told him that God told him that he had to be anointed as an apostle. His entire demeanour was arrogant and that he was infinitely better qualified than the pastor of the church he attended. I happen to know that pastor as I used to be in his church years ago. Here comes this “apostle” and “prophet” who has no theological education but believes that he holds a higher rank than the pastor and expects the church council to take instructions from him. I wanted to ask him to show me the soles of his shoes as I was sure they would be as good as new, as this false teacher clearly floats above the ground as he could not possibly be human. Telling me that he has a new message from God, outside of the Bible, was just the worst, and it was the end of my association with this person. [ Back... ]

When God is doing a new thing, outside of the Word

No, God is not doing a new thing. You can refer me to Isaiah 43:13, but that was written long before the final canon of the Bible was put together. God does what is already contained in the Word and never operates outside of it. The Bible is the complete revelation of God, and nothing is added to the Word. Telling people that “God told me to tell you to…” is a false message. God speaks to me through the Word only, and the church is taught by a God-fearing pastor with a solid reputation. That God may have a message for you or me is true, and this message may come through a God-fearing pastor, but the message will always be in line with the Word, never outside or contrary to it. Of course, the rise of false prophets is an example of how individuals claim that God has spoken to them and even if it is not in line with Scripture. [ Back... ]

When the focus is on miracles, signs, and wonders

Jesus was very clear that signs, miracles, and wonders are sought by a wicked and adulterous generation (Matthew 16:4). If God decides to heal someone, we rejoice in that. This may serve to convince an unbeliever of God’s power, but for the church in general, this is not a prerequisite. If you are truly saved, you do not need to witness any miracle, sign, or wonder to affirm your faith.

Countless false teachers make a spectacle of how people are healed on stage. In most cases it tuns out to be fake. Falling, laughing uncontrollably, shaking, and being “slain in the Spirit” are examples of demonic manifestation. I remember someone telling me how he would have to stay for hours after the service had ended, to take care of members who were still lying on the floor in a trance after they had been “slain in the spirit” and had to use specially made small blankets to cover the women in case they were lying on the ground in an immodest fashion. Anyone touched by God, would have fallen on their faces in worship, never backwards. [ Back... ]

When the focus is on entertainment

The focus of the sermon should be on the saving grace of Jesus Christ and the work He has done in our lives. We do not need shows to form the central theme of any sermon. A pastor running around on stage, screaming, and performing tricks like a madman, is tricked by the devil. The sermon must be orderly, and the focus must be on the Word. Steven Furtick is well-known for his antics on stage. The sad thing is to see how many millions of followers these false teachers have on social media platforms. These people have all been deceived. [ Back... ]

When the church allows a female pastor

I respect women, but they are never to teach in church, and this was not God’s design for the Church. No wonder that so many false teachers happen to be women. Just look at Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Beth Moore, and others. If they assume authority in church, there is no way they will be subordinate to their husbands at home, thus going against the Word of God. God is very clear that women should keep quiet in church and ask their husbands at home to teach them. Of course, this requires of the husband to know the Word, and attend the service.

It does not matter how well the female “pastor” presents herself or how good the message is. God decided in his wisdom that men should lead the church, and this is how it must stay. Citing examples of female leaders in the Old Testament, such as Deborah, does not count as this was in the old dispensation before the church was founded. Citing the examples of women who were prominent in the New Testament church of the first century does not count either. God never said women cannot assist and support the system. [ Just look at how Paul ends his letter to the Romans ] by thanking the large group that supported his ministry. However, he was still the men are still the ones who preach and teach. [ Back... ]

When there is clearly poor teaching

I cringe when a pastor starts with a long story, makes jokes, and at some point pulls in a Bible text from the side, often totally irrelevant, just to make it sound like a sermon. Poor homiletics (the art of preaching) and hermeneutics (Bible knowledge and proper interpretation of text) are a sure sign the pastor is not doing what he was called for, if indeed he was really “called”.

Teaching the Word should be organised, God-focused, and with the intention of letting members learn how to grow in their faith. Good pastors are not just called by God, they are also well-trained in the art of preaching. There are only a few Bible teachers that can be trusted today. Start with John Barnett, David Guzik, Gary Hamrick, and Justin Peters. These are men who focus on the Word, proper exegesis, and practical life application. Forget about false teachers such as Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, TD Jakes, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, Todd White, and Christine Caine, along with many others. The frightening thing is that these people are so deceived, they will never admit it, and have little ability to escape their situation. When deciding if a particular person teaches in line with the Word of God, also look what groups they are affiliated with. You cannot claim to teach the truth but associate with the wrong crowd. [ Back... ]

When a false gospel is taught

There is only one gospel, as explained by Paul. Anything that in any way deviates from this is false. Note how he scolds the churches in Galatia (Gal 1:6ff) that they have started following “another gospel”. The Word of Faith Movement preaches a false gospel where, among other things, you can name something and claim it as yours; amass great wealth at the expense of others, and then claim that God has blessed you; and that we are little gods. Add to this the false teaching by Joel Osteen that “99.9%” of people are essentially good, contrary to the teaching of Romans 3:10-18.

How do you know the gospel taught is false? By knowing the true gospel as it is contained in God’s Word. By “God’s Word” I mean a proper Bible translation, accepted by Godly preachers, because they have studied and evaluated many translations. Watch out for the modern “translations” that are really only paraphrasing God’s Word, in a way to be more “inclusive”, and add their own opinion in the text. [ Back... ]

When the focus is no longer on prayer

I just shudder when I hear that “we cannot have a prayer meeting because our programme is already filled to the brim each night of the week”. If your church does not have time for a prayer meeting, you are in the wrong church. Chuck out the unnecessary programmes, no matter how well they are meant to be but are all man-centred. Instead, pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17) as a church. Praying together as a church edifies the church and it will be blessed as a result. Ceasing to pray leads to the demise of the church.

The same applies to the start of the sermon. If there is no prayer to start with, it just feels so empty. There seems to be a drive towards change, and modern churches want to break with traditional methods of preaching. If these methods do not work, then by all means change. Unfortunately, most churches are rotting from the inside, and change for change’s sake. [ See our article on the demise of the church that starts from the inside. ] [ Back... ]

When inclusivity becomes the norm

The church is often accused of not accommodating those who feel, speak, or act differently. The church should not in any way accommodate behaviour that is contrary to the teaching of the Word. In fact, the church should become even less inclusive and tolerant by not allowing what is clearly sin, to be accommodated. You should allow a sinner in your church, but then definitely and clearly engage with them to repent and leave their sins at the foot of the cross, where it stays. Paul encouraged Timothy to stay away from those who bring heresies into the church (1 Timothy 6:3-5). Wrong actions are never to be entertained. [ Back... ]

When the music played and sung takes the focus

This one goes along with some of the others mentioned – the entertainment and presentation. Just stand back for a moment and listen to the music. Is it a show being presented, with lights and a stage show? What do the lyrics say? A lot of the music sung today does not really elevate God, and the theology on which the lyrics are based is often suspect. In fact, most of the music used in church is purely secular as there is no differentiation between this and the world’s music.

As a pastor, your worship leader is probably one of the most important personnel on your staff. He must be of impeccable character and have sound knowledge of the Word so that he can ensure the music chosen is in line with the Word. Christian believers are being attacked through music. After all, Satan was probably involved with music in heaven. Being cast out, he would now use every opportunity to allow a demonic spirit to operate through music, especially in the church. Be very careful what you listen to and sing. If it cannot be sung along with, then it was never composed to be used in church. [ Back... ]

Summary

The deception we see today was predicted by Jesus in Matthew 24, and later by Paul and Peter. It is becoming worse every day as we are speeding towards the end of the church age. When I see these things, I know that our redemption is close, at least for those who are born again and have placed their trust in Jesus Christ. Next time you watch a sermon online, or in church, look out for these signs of deception. If even one of the examples given above are present, chances are good there will be some of the others too. You must get out as soon as possible.

The false churches we attend, and should get out of