Throwing Out the Ministry of the Apostle Paul?

In a time when the church is being overrun with unbiblical teachings and off-the-wall opinions and recommendations by so many of today’s pastors and leaders, we have been puzzled at Lighthouse Trails why even the “good” pastors and teachers rarely talk about what’s going on in the church with regard to these teachings; and it’s even more rare to hear a pastor actually identify those (naming the names) who are bringing in false teachings and opinions.

While the pastors and teachers who are preaching the Gospel and teaching the Word will often (and rightly) identify the cultural issues that are affecting both the world and the church today (e.g., wokeism, transgenderism, the LGBTQ movement, and abortion), many of these same pastors and teachers won’t talk about serious and dangerous practices going on in the church. Harry Ironside made a profound statement about this in his day, and we fear today it is even more so:

Objection is often raised—even by some sound in the faith—regarding the exposure of error as being entirely negative and of no real edification. Of late, the hue and cry has been against any and all negative teaching. But the brethren who assume this attitude forget that a large part of the New Testament, both of the teaching of our blessed Lord Himself and the writings of the apostles, is made up of this very character of ministry—namely, showing the Satanic origin and, therefore, the unsettling results of the propagation of erroneous systems which Peter, in his second epistle, so definitely refers to as “damnable heresies.”

If we look to the ministry of the apostle Paul as an example of how a Christian pastor or leader should be, Paul rarely talked about the oppressive Roman government (particularly oppressive to the Jewish people of that day) and its cultural deficits except to say things such as we should pray and intercede for them (and even “give thanks” for them) (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

What we are trying to say here is this: While there is a place for a pastor or leader to warn his flock about the extremely harmful practices and beliefs that today’s culture is glorifying and even influencing Christians, why won’t they talk about harmful and dangerous practices and beliefs that are birthed and embraced right in the church when frankly, that is the bulk of what the apostle Paul’s ministry entailed. His mission was to edify, exhort (e.g., warn), and encourage the body of Christ so that her members (believers) could be discipled into strong, discerning, loving missionaries to a lost and dying world. Consider, for example, Paul’s candid statement to young pastor Timothy to “be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2) It can’t really get more clear than that. Here Paul is speaking of what is happening within the church (see verses 3 and 4).

Here are just a few, but important, examples of issues within the church that most pastors and Christian leaders are ignoring. These examples have direct connections to either the occult or false christs (or both). In other words, these are not frivolous issues but are ones with serious implications:

1. Jesus Calling. Lighthouse Trails and other ministries have provided ample documentation and biblical backup to show that the Jesus of Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling is a false christ that presents unbiblical views. And yet, countless Christian women read Jesus Calling on a regular basis, often as a substitute for Bible reading and study; and their pastors say nothing about it. It’s almost as if these pastors don’t believe in such a thing as a “false christ.”
2. The Chosen. Lighthouse Trails and other ministries have also provided ample documentation and biblical backup to show that the Jesus of The Chosen TV series is also a false christ (certainly not the “authentic Jesus” that is boasted about by Dallas Jenkins). And yet, millions of Christians watch The Chosen, and not only do few pastors warn about this deconstruction of the true Jesus Christ, many of them (even some of the “good” ones) promote it and praise it.
3. Yoga. This is a practice that has become all too commonplace within churches. Unlike the first two examples, it did not originate within the church, but much of the church has now embraced it. We’ll never forget a phone call we received a number of years ago from a pastor. He told us that his wife had brought in Yoga classes for the women of his church. He said he knew it was wrong to practice Yoga. We asked him why he allowed it, and he said he didn’t want to rock the boat at home. Is this why pastors don’t say anything about deception within the church? They don’t want to rock the boat (upset and anger) in their congregations.
4. Spiritual Formation. Lighthouse Trails has spent over 22 years now trying to warn the church and its pastors and leaders of the dangers and unbiblicalness of contemplative spirituality and the Spiritual Formation movement. We have well documented and proven that the roots of this mystical spirituality is both panenetheistic (God is in all) and interspiritual (all paths lead to God). And yet, to this day, you will rarely hear a pastor or leader talk about it (except to promote it) even though the basis of it is about as antichrist as you can get—for if God is in all people and if all paths lead to God, then Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross to save sinners would have been in vain and unneeded.

Now let us briefly look at the ministry of the apostle Paul, and let us see where today’s pastors line up when it comes to warning the church, not about cultural issues (which does have its place) but about deception right in the church and brought about by those who profess to be members of the church:

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 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 20:28-31)

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (Romans 13:12)

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17) [Note that Paul is saying here it is false doctrine, not the exposure of it, that causes divisions.]

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11: 13-14)

. . . that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. (Ephesians 4:14-15)

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:8-11)

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-10)

In addition to the admonishments of the apostle Paul, the Bible is filled from beginning to end with warnings about being spiritually deceived. In fact, we would say that one of the main themes in the Bible is that of spiritual deception, from Eve who was deceived in the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation where it says the day will come when Satan will deceive the whole world (Revelation 12:9). And the prophets of the Old Testament and all the apostles (and Jesus Himself) of the New Testament warned of spiritual deception.

With these things in mind, surely pastors who love God’s Word and who preach the Gospel of salvation, can see the immense importance of warning the church of the spiritual deception that is right in their midst. May pride or fear not stand in the way of speaking the truth no matter the cost. And may pastors not be the reason that Christians are seduced by today’s false christs and false teachings. In warning the flock, they will be embracing the ministry of the apostle Paul and not throwing it out.

And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.—Jesus (Mark 13:21-23)

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)

These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (1 John 2:26)

We close this article of exhortation with lines from a hymn written in 1831:

Oh, for a faith that will not shrink,
Though pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe!

(photo from istockphoto.com; used with permission)