False Pastor and church.
As a congregation member, you place an immense amount of trust in your pastor. You believe they are leading you on the right path, spiritually and morally.
But what happens when that trust is broken?
Unfortunately, there are individuals who enter the ministry with ill intentions.
They put on the facade of a pastor but are nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
They use their position of power to manipulate and deceive their congregation, leading them astray from the true word of God.
So, how can you tell if your pastor is a true follower of Christ or a fake? In this post , we will provide you with the tools necessary to unmask the wolf and protect yourself and your congregation from false teaching.
Stay vigilant and informed to ensure you are being led by a true shepherd, not a wolf. Let’s dive into the signs of a fake pastor and how to spot them.
It’s a sobering thought, but it’s possible that your pastor, the person you trust to guide you spiritually, could be deceiving you.
Whether it’s intentional or not, false teaching can have devastating consequences.
It is sadly obvious that there are many wolves in sheep clothing among leaders in the Church today.
Genuine believers should not be shocked by this but should be ready to identify them and not to fall victim to the manipulation of these fake ministers.
They are in every city and nation in the world.
Christ warned us in the past: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
These fake pastors are agents of darkness who use manipulation as a tool to psychologically brainwash God’s people for their selfish gains.
In Nigeria, these groups of followers do not listen to anyone except their “Papa and Daddy” who are master manipulators.
Their intentions outwardly look harmless, but a closer look at all the subtle gestures and messages display an undertone of selfish aggrandizement.
When a pastor tells his followers not to make any major decisions without consulting him first, what does that mean?
It is a way of assuming absolute control over the lives of his sheep.
Many of these pastors manipulate people to donate to them at the expense of their own families.
Women are the major victims of this brainwashing.
I have seen a woman who donated her only car to her pastor who has an entire collection.
A widow gave the only house, which the husband left for her and her children, to one of her pastors.
There is nothing wrong in giving for the work of God, but giving under manipulative and coercive persuasions is demonic.
Christians should give willingly and not out of coercion.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:17).
The worst part is even when some of them begin to realize that they are being manipulated and are disgusted about what their pastors are doing, they find it difficult to express their feelings.
They wake up in the morning on Sabbaths and drag their feet to their churches. They are afraid to leave the Church for fear of the unknown.
I have been in a church where our pastor regularly announced that anyone who leaves that church will be under a curse.
Fake pastors use threats as a tool to keep people in perpetual bondage.
People, out of fear, do whatever they are told even when it negates the explicit commands in the Word of God.
It is important to note that fake pastors also preach from the same Bible that genuine pastor preaches.
They talk about Jesus but quote the Bible out of context.
Their interpretations of the Word always tilt towards earthly gains and the cross of Christ is completely sidelined in their messages.
Salvation and the coming Kingdom are seldom mentioned by these fake pastors.
If you know of some other ways we can identify a false teacher, pastor, or even a self-proclaimed prophet, let us know in the comment section.
This problem is bad; it is growing worse; and it will get even worse in the near future.
The child of God, abiding in the Word of God, can be led by the Spirit of God, to know the truth of God.
The more you read the Word of God, the more you read between the lines of false teachers, and the easier it is to spot a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
You’ll know the truth so well that you can spot a counterfeit, even a hundred yards away!
Paul predicted that these false teachers would arise from within the church.
Yikes! We have to be careful as believers not to blindly accept what is taught from a pulpit, but rather, search the Scriptures for ourselves and constantly check for Biblical truth.
The same principal applies not just to church pastors and their sermons, but to any type of Bible teaching, podcast, book, or devotional.
Be mindful of what you put into your mind.
Believers should be as wise as serpents in a perilous time like this.
Let us be careful not to develop itching ears.
When Christians are not grounded in the Word, they can easily be swayed by every wind of doctrine.
Christ prophetically informed us that in the last days, many false prophets will preach false christs. Be warned!
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