christian ministries Iowa

  • Organizations that Do Not believe in or profess the Word of God False Teachers

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    Window To Christian Ministries
    Copyright 2001
    By Cathy Orrick Luders
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    All Rights Reserved


    NLT: Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION Copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188

    • False Teachers
    False Prophets
    False Witness
    Does it agree with the teachings of Jesus Christ? Does it agree with the teachings of Godliness? Is it consistent with what the Bible says? Is Jesus exalted and is His kingdom strengthened? Is the intended result God-honoring?

  • "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world." (1 John 4:1-3)

  • "Beware of false prophets; who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.'' (Matthew 7:15-16)

  • "How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me And sworn by those that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, then they committed adultery..." (Jeremiah 5:7)

  • "And it will be when you say, 'Why does the Lord our God do all these things to us?' then you shall answer them, 'Just as you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve aliens in a land that is not yours." (Jeremiah 5:19)

  • "Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life. Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don't tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich. Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth." (1 Timothy 6:3-6)

  • "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

    Characteristics of False Teachers ... cults, etc.

    • New interpretations of Scripture
    • Non-Biblical source of authority
    • Another Messiah
    • Rejection of orthodox Christianity
    • Double-talk
    • Non-Biblical teaching on the nature of God (Trinity)
    • Changing theology
    • Strong leadership
    • Salvation by works
    • False prophecy
    • Members are isolated from family and former friends
    • Leaders believes he/she knows what is best for individual members
    • Tend to be emotionally and sometimes, physically and sexually abusive

    False Teachers
    All religions who believe salvation is earned, that an individual's job is to earn it, that it is a wage based on deeds done.

    When you believe in legalism -- the supreme force behind salvation is yourself. If we look right, speak right, belong to the right segment of the right group, we will be saved. Legalism is rigid, mechanical. Legalism doesn't need God. It is the search for innocence, not forgiveness. It is a systematic process of defending self, explaining self, exalting self, justifying self. Legalists are obsessed with self - not God.

    Jesus says in John 3:5, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

    Spiritual life comes from God, not from ourselves. Salvation is a gift from God. Our only job is to accept it.

    John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish (be lost forever) but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it."

    Everyone who believes. Not everyone who achieves, who conquers, who succeeds, who agrees. But ALL WHO BELIEVE.

    To read more about salvation, go to Reflections and God's Promises

    Who are they?
    Some are listed here. Some profess to be Christian, but are not.