Romans 16:18 - For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
The above Bible verse is only one of many that speak about false teachers and prophets. The Bible gives all believers warning after warning about those who use the words of Jesus for their own gain or agenda, yet are not working for God’s purpose. I remember several years ago, Steve Martin made a movie about a phony healer who used fake healings to fleece those who came to his revivals. Being a Bible believing Christian, I believe we must always be on the alert for people who distort the Gospel for their own personal agenda and gain.
It has been said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and that is truth. Anyone can take certain words or phrases out of the Bible and turn the meaning to fit a purpose for which they weren’t intended; as we have said in Sunday school, there are few Christians who can quote the Bible as well as Satan. The Bible also says a man should be judged by his fruit, the works that exhibit his faith and does it follow God’s intention.
I have been an elder in church for several years, and I had to model the biblical role that describes that position. I am not “holier” than anyone else; I am just given certain abilities to employ God’s work in that position. A major qualification is “wisdom and discernment”, and this can only be attained through the study of God’s word and prayer. If you don’t know your Bible, you shouldn’t be on this job! I have seen many professing Christians during my life, and the true Christian “lives it out” in word and deed.
Recently, I read an article written by a college professor, John Fea, from Messiah College, who said “Barack Obama may be the most explicitly Christian President in American History”. He went on in his article to say ”If we analyze his language in the same way that historians examine the religious language of the Founding Fathers, or even George W. Bush, we will find that Obama’s PIETY, use of the Bible, and references to Christian faith and theology put most other American Presidents to shame on this front.” Now I’m not Billy Graham or Charles Stanley, but I can’t understand where this man draws his conclusions from. Mr. Fea believes Obama’s conflicts with Bible believing Christians is a political matter, when I, as a dedicated Bible reader and follower, must differ with this conclusion. Mr. Obama’s fruit doesn’t reflect Christian value. He is a proponent of abortion. Even before his election, Obama said he wouldn’t want his daughters “punished” with a baby for one mistake. A true Christian would never look at a child as “punishment”; each child is a gift from God! He said he is reconsidering his position on gay marriage, and the Bible specifically says a marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Deviance from the Bible is rampant throughout Obama’s view of Christian faith. This is like saying Heinrich Himler could have been a Rabbi! Obama has exhibited much more belief toward Islam than Christianity over the last 37 months. I think Messiah College should take a hard look at Professor Fea; maybe they should see if he actually has a Bible in his office!
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