Once I saw a movie, where a person took responsibility for someone else’s flock. The person took the sheep and went to a beautiful green piece of land, near the abyss. While the sheep were pastured, the person was reminded of other stuff he needed to do. He assumed that the sheep were fine and he didn’t have to guide and watch them the whole day. And so, he left the sheep and went his way. When he returned the sheep were gone. He looked around but saw no sheep. Suddenly his face looked concerned and anxious. He walked to the edge of the cliff and looked into the abyss and what he feared became reality. All the sheep were in the abyss, dead. Immediately, I thought about the many pastors, who are leading the sheep into the abyss instead of saving the the flock from the abyss.
How are pastors leading the sheep into the abyss according to the Bible?
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed My people; Ye have scattered My flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord (Jeremiah 23:1-2)
Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, My flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them (Ezekiel 34:2-6)
False doctrines, that encourage iniquities and ungodliness
There are many false pastors, who preach false doctrines that encourage pride, selfishness, rebellion against God, and approve of the lusts and desires of the flesh. They use the false love and grace of God and the freedom in Jesus Christ to make sin all right. Instead of being workers of the Kingdom of God and of righteousness, they are workers of the kingdom of darkness and iniquity. They encourage sin, iniquity, and ungodliness, which lead many Christians into spiritual bondage.
These pastors twist the words of God and make sure, that Christians keep walking in sins and iniquities and stay bound to the devil.
Through their lies and deceptions, many Christians don’t find out the truth, nor walk in the truth of God. As a result, they will never arrive at the place, where God wants them to be.
Many pastors focus on themselves and use the gospel for their own gain. They’re prideful and want to be rich and famous, liked, and exalted by the people.
Many pastors proclaim their own wisdom and philosophies, which derive from their carnal minds.
They preach their self-made gospel and motivational and self-help sermons.
They speak positive encouraging words into the lives of the people because that’s what the people love to hear. Meanwhile, they are leading the sheep into the abyss and destroying many precious souls through their deceptive lying words, vain philosophies, and false doctrines.
They’re just like the false shepherd and false prophets from the Old Covenant, who spoke after their own insights and for their own gain. They twisted the words of God, so that the words of God became pleasant to the flesh and fitted into their . They spoke lies and deceptions instead of the truth of God and led the flock astray.
Who appoints the pastors in the church?
There are several ways to become appointed to the pastor’s office. There are pastors, who are appointed by carnal people, because of their charismatic appearance, looks, and the way they talk. So that through their outward appearance and eloquent speech, they attract many people to the church, especially the youth and young adults.
There are pastors, who have inherited the role of a pastor from their dad, mom, uncle, aunt, or another family member.
And there are pastors, who have studied theology and got a Ph.D., and therefore have been given authority to lead and pasture the sheep of God.
There are many more ways, through which someone can be appointed as a pastor in the church. But which pastors are appointed by God? How many pastors stand in the service of the Lord and speak His words according to His will? Instead of standing in the service of the people and speaking according to their will?
Many pastors are not born again in Christ
Unfortunately, many pastors and theologians, who preach from the pulpit are not born again in Christ. They might believe that Jesus Christ exists, but they are not born again in Him. They don’t walk as sons of God after the Spirit in the will of God. Instead, they’re carnal and walk like the world after their flesh as sons of the devil in his will
They are still the old creation. Therefore they preach carnal sermons from their carnal mind that revolve around people, instead of Jesus, and focus on the flesh and the world instead of the Spirit and the Kingdom.
Through their carnal walk and words, the spirit of this world that resides in them comes over the congregation and affects the lives of Christians. As a result, Christians become lukewarm, passive, selfish, rebellious against the words of God, lawless, and indifferent toward sin.
When you are a graduated theologian, the piece of paper doesn’t prove that you are a born-again believer and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Knowing someone by name doesn’t mean that you know the person. Many pastors know Jesus of the Bible, but they don’t know Him personally.
A Ph.D. or any other certificate doesn’t scare the devil. It doesn’t mean anything in the spirit world. A Ph.D. or any other certificate doesn’t give you any spiritual authority.
The only thing that counts is whether you are cleansed of all your sins and iniquities with the blood of Jesus Christ and are circumcised in Christ. This means that you’ve laid down your flesh, in which the sinful nature dwells, in Christ, and your spirit is raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit and that you have become a new creation (born of water and the Spirit).
The new creation has all authority in Jesus Christ
When you become a new creation, you are seated in Christ in the Heavenly Places. You have been given all authority and power in Jesus Christ to rule over every power, might, dominion, and principality of darkness.
Only that will scare the devil, but not a title, a Ph.D., or any other certificate. A Ph.D. might be valuable in the natural realm, but not in the spirit realm.
Many theologians expand the kingdom of darkness
There have been a lot of famous theologians and preachers, who have had a big influence in expanding the kingdom of darkness in the church. They have deceived many Christians and persuaded them to believe and accept their lies and led them astray.
Many have combined the Bible with science. Take for example Darwin and his evolution theory. What happened on his deathbed; whether he renounced his theory or not, is not important. His lie of evolution still exists and influences many lives.
Not only does the world believe this lie of evolution but also many Christians, including pastors.
Many Christians believe in evolution and combine this doctrine with the Bible. Which is an evil thing, because you cannot mix God’s truth with the lies of the world. When you mix the Bible with the lies of the world, it is no longer the truth, but a lie.
You either believe God’s Word or you believe the words of the world. You cannot believe in both.
And so many pastors are leading the sheep into the abyss by using the knowledge, wisdom, theories, and strategies of this world. Instead of leading the sheep by the Word and the Spirit to heaven. (Read also: Do the Bible and science go together?).
What is the task of a pastor in the church?
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13)
A pastor is a shepherd and overseer of the body of Christ; the church. A pastor should guard and shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the flock. The task of a pastor, who is also a teacher, is to equip and perfect the saints, together with the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers, for the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ. So that the saints mature and know the will of God and grow up in the image of Jesus Christ and walk as sons of God (this applies to both males and females).
The instructions, that Jesus gave to Peter are still valid for every pastor.
Pastors must feed His lambs (to pasture, by extension to, fodder; reflexively, to graze:—feed, keep), shepherd His sheep (to tend as shepherd of (figuratively, supervisor):— feed (cattle), rule), and to feed His sheep (to pasture, by extension to, fodder; reflexively, to graze:—feed, keep (John 21:15-18)).
To pasture and keep the sheep doesn’t mean to speak nice, gentle, and encouraging words, while giving pats on the head. But it means to instruct, correct, and discipline the saints.
People reject instructions and corrections
When people hear the words reproof and corrections, they immediately think of legalism. As a result, they reject it and call it religious behavior. But according to the Bible, there is nothing wrong with correction and reproof. On the contrary, it only helps the believers to mature and walk in the will of the Father.
When parents raise their children without teaching them moral principles, rules, and values, and correcting them, but approve of their behavior and spoil, eulogize, and honor them, they become selfish, prideful, and rebellious. The children shall do their will and not respect their parents, obey them, and do their will. They will become unguided missiles and won’t be able to function in society.
Their children shall have difficulties in obeying instructions, keeping laws, and submitting to authorities. They shall not respect other people but shall be selfish, prideful, and only do what pleases them.
It’s the same thing in many churches. When the sheep, the believers, are not discipled correctly and are not corrected and disciplined, they become prideful, rebellious, and unguided missiles.
We already see this behavior in many churches. Because of the many lies that have been preached in these last decades, Christians have been driven so far away from the truth of the gospel and the Word of God, that their ears have become itchy and they only want to hear, what pleases them.
They don’t want to be instructed or corrected. They don’t want to be bothered by others, but they want to live the way, they choose to live. Because of this behavior, many live in lawlessness and walk as enemies of the cross. That is the fruit of all the lies that are preached from the pulpit.
Grievous wolves in sheep’s clothing
What has been written in the previous article, How do you recognize false prophets in the end time? also applies to the pastors; the shepherds.
There are many pastors, who look pious and upright, but their deeds, and their walk don’t line up with the words they preach and don’t correspond with the Word.
These false teachers are ferocious wolves, who enter the body of Christ and arise from among the believers, and won’t spare the flock. At first, they look alright, but when you spend more time with them, their true nature and works will be revealed. (Read also: ‘The wolves in sheep’s clothing who wreak havoc‘).
The Bible warns about false teachers
God the Father and Jesus Christ; the Word warned about false teachers. Even the apostles Paul, Peter, etc. warned about false pastors; and teachers, who would try to enter the body of Christ and defile the body with evil, through their false doctrines.
They are blemishes and spots. And they shall deprave deviations of the true gospel and with their words. They shall encourage ungodliness and promote sin. (Read also: Is Jesus a Promoter of sin?).
Many preachers will draw the disciples away from Jesus Christ. So that they become their followers instead of followers of Jesus Christ.
For I know this, that after My departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears (Acts 20:29-31)
We already see this happening around us. People exalt, honor, and worship pastors and put them on a pedestal in the church.
Many Christians believe everything the pastor says, without searching and investigating the Bible by themselves. Because they think that everything that the pastor says is the truth. And so they blindly follow the words of the pastor. Instead of searching the Scriptures and following the words of Jesus Christ.
Many wonderful promises are spoken by the mouth of the pastors, while God’s Word says something else. (Read also: I will give you the riches of this world).
The warnings for the Church Today
Many pastors and teachers are carnal and walk after the flesh. They don’t have any awareness or insights into the spirit realm and the Kingdom of God. But as long as people stay carnal and walk after the flesh, they will be enslaved and influenced by the spirit of this world.
And so the spirit of this world, the spirit of the antichrist rules in many people’s lives.
What does the Bible say about pastors, false teachers, and people in the end of times?
- They shall speak unholy and arrogant words of vanity
- Their profane and vain babblings will increase ungodliness
- Their word will eat as does a canker
- They beguile and lure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness
- While they promise the believers liberty, they are the servants of corruption
- They shall subtly introduce destructive heresies
- They shall deny the Lord Jesus Christ; the Word and they shall bring upon themselves swift destruction
- They shall walk in shame, and many shall follow their shameful ways
- Because they are pernicious and walk in shameful ways, the way of truth will be maligned
- They shall be greedy, and they shall exploit you with false arguments and twisted doctrine. Yes they shall treat you as merchandise (and get as much money from you, for themselves, as possible)
- They’ve eyes full of adultery, constantly looking for sin, enticing and luring away unstable souls
- They left the straight road, and have gone astray. They have entered the road of Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness
In the end times, the people will be:
- Lovers of self (narcissistic, self-focused)
- Lovers of money (impelled by greed), covetous
- Boastful (bragging), a cause for pride
- Arrogant, haughty, proud, appearing above others
- Revilers, blasphemers, scurrilous, i.e. calumnious (against men), or (especially) impious (against God), railing
- Disobedient to parents
- Ungrateful, unthankful
- Unholy and profane, wicked
- Unloving (devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane), hard-hearted towards kindred: without natural affection
- Truce breakers, irreconcilable, without libation, truce less, implacable
- Malicious gossip,
- False accusers, a traducer; especially, satan, devil, slanderer
- Incontinent, powerless, without self-control (intemperate, immoral)
- Fierce, brutal, savage
- Despiser of those that are good, haters of good
- Traitors, (in the sense of giving forward into another’s (the enemy’s) hands) a surrender, betrayer
heady, reckless - High-minded, conceited, inflated with self-conceit, lifted with pride, proud
- Lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God
- Having a form of (outward) godliness, religion, but denying the power thereof (for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith)
- They’ll worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually dwarfed women weighed down by the burden of their sins, easily swayed by various impulses, always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- They oppose the truth
- They’re men of corrupt minds
- Reprobate (unqualified and worthless (as teachers)) concerning the faith
- Their folly (meaningless nonsense) shall be manifest unto all men
- They indulge in the corrupt passions of the sinful nature
- They despise authority
(2 Timothy 2:16,17, 2 Timothy 3, 2 Peter 2:10. These are not the only chapters, that warn about false doctrines, pastors, teachers etc. There are many more scriptures, that warns about pastors, and false teachers, false doctrines in the end times)
Be aware of pastors, who are leading the sheep into the abyss!
Be aware of such pastors, preachers, and teachers, who are carnal and live like the world and tolerate and accept everything, including sin. Pastors, who do the works of the flesh and walk in unrighteousness in sin.
You have to be careful for pastors, who do the works of the flesh and approve of those things, which are an abomination to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Because these pastors are leading the sheep into the abyss.
Stay faithful to the Word. Stay in His Word and keep His instructions. Only the Word reveals the truth and discerns fake from real.
But if you don’t read and study the bible and don’t stay in the Word, you will be misled and seduced.
Throughout the years, many false teachings have entered the body of Jesus Christ and caused many churches to become like the world. Many churches are seated in darkness instead of the light and have no or little power.
The devil has taken his place and built his throne in many churches. And so the church is being prepared to receive the antichrist.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
