There will always be a false gospel preached until the Lord returns. That’s a no brainer. The hard part {or not so hard part} is identifying it. Unfortunately, in today’s evangelical culture, we equate big crowds with God’s blessings, or if a lot of people are showing up, we assume that they must be doing something or preaching something right. But this may not necessarily be the case. Sometimes we even think that if someone is preaching the Bible, {even from a “conservative” church}, and people are showing up by the droves, then it must be biblical.
How wrong we may be if we come to such conclusions. This is why a working knowledge of church history comes in handy. For instance, Marcion {110-160 A.D.} taught that God requires nothing of us, but gives freely, and doesn’t expect obedience. Marcion’s view of God was a God strictly of grace and forgiveness, and never judgment or wrath. A god that only wants to be loved and not obeyed. Where did Marcion get his views? FROM THE BIBLE, albeit wrongly, but this is where he based his opinions. This is why we MUST read Scripture in community: both historically and communally with our local church. Privatized Bible reading can lead to Marcionism where you make the text say what you want it to say. This is why we need community, particularly because we can make the Bible justify any of our own personal beliefs.
So, Marcion threw out the Old Testament with its God of wrath and judgment, and he compliled his own version of the Bible which consisted mainly of Paul’s letters and the gospel of Luke. And yet the crowds flocked to hear Marcion preaching the Bible in a bible church. So what can we learn from this today? I offer several applications:
1} Just because a crowd shows up does not make it biblical. Even Hitler had crowds flock to hear his message and certainly we would say that he was far from biblical! So, think about those on T.V. who use the Bible {like Marcion} but who are probably preaching a false gospel {Read Joel Osteen, liberalism, some ‘emerging’ churches here}.
2} Have you read much of the Old Testament lately? It, too, is God’s inspired word! All of the bloody passages about slaughtering pagan nations, people reaching out to keep the ark from hitting the ground and being struck dead, etc, etc.
{I was an OT major at seminary so I make plugs when I can!}
3} Remember the CROSS. Too much of today’s preaching is all about making you feel good about yourself and aimed at giving you a healthy self-esteem. I don’t find that message in the Bible. In fact, I find just the opposite: Remember the poor. Take up your cross and follow me. Repent. Do not love the world. Etc. Etc. Too much of today’s preaching is centered around preaching “felt needs.” I like what John Piper has to say about this: “I don’t preach felt needs. I preach ‘needs’ and make people ‘feel’ them. You need to repent because God is holy!”
The true Gospel will cost you. Perhaps money, clothing, house, job, security, goods, family, etc. And your life.
