Cults Part 2
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
(Acts 20:29-31 NKJV) "For I know this, that after my departure savage
wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. {30} "Also from
among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw
away the disciples after themselves. {31} "Therefore watch, and
remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night
and day with tears.
Like Jesus, Paul took cults seriously and saw them as an enormous
danger to the church. Here Paul warns the Ephesian elders of cults
arising in their midst and describes the cult leaders as "savage
wolves". Paul's intense concern about cults is evident in that he
says "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not
cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.". Paul told them to
be alert to this tragic danger that he had never stopped warning them
about.
This danger is both external "savage wolves will come in among
you..." and internal "from amongst yourselves men will rise up
speaking perverse things..". The threat will come from both fronts
and the guard needs to be set in both directions. Some denominations
are very orthodox within their ranks and keep a tight rein on the
doctrine of their ministers but fail to guard against false teaching
from outside. Others are very vigilant against cults and even other
denominations but have heretical or liberal teaching in their own
ranks. Good churches guard the flock from both forms of assault.
This idea of "guarding the flock" may seem rather quaint and
condescending. Surely people should be free to make up their own
minds about doctrine? Not at all! The main doctrines of the faith are
not up for negotiation or compromise. Also intellectual and
theological sophistication and the ability to see through clever and
deceptive arguments are fairly rare traits. Con-men and internet
scams and way out claimants to special knowledge still make a healthy
living in this supposedly educated and sophisticated world! The
servants of God who can spot the wolves have a duty to warn the flock
and to beat off the intruders. Guarding the flock is part of every
pastors duty.
Prayer:
Lord help us to guard your people from harm. Make us wise and alert
to cults and ism's that would lead people away from Christ. Give us
wisdom through the Holy Spirit and a glimpse of Your glory so that we
may sense the urgency of this task just as Jesus and Paul did.
---------------------------------------------------------------
These devotionals may be freely used in your bible studies
and sermons and passed around by email providing there is proper
acknowledgement.
Questions and comments on this devotional can be sent to:
[email protected]
John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternity-magazine.org/
Cults, exegesis, bible teaching, Christian life and leadership.
For the thinking Christian!