Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The Ones That Slipped Through the Cracks: False Converts - Part 1/2

 "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. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
2 Cor. 11:13-15

It amazes me when I see people who claim the name of Christ, yet are able to do abominable acts, and knowingly lead many astray with teaching that coincide with that of the world. I'm sure many of you have felt the same way while reading the Fanatic for Jesus blog. Some so-called Christians work simultaneously as prominent teachers and a CIA agent within the institutionalized Church. Others are like a sign post pointing Christians toward a Socialist/globalist agenda - both instrumental in setting-up the system of Antichrist. There must be something they all have in common. It is possible that some aren't able to see the big picture, while others may do it maliciously? Could it be that some of them are actually false converts?

The institutionalized Church is full of them. Jesus taught us how to recognize them, and He warned us that  false converts would be rejected by Him. The Lord knew that some who claim the name of Christ would not realize that they aren't His, making themselves quite deceived. There's more to being a Christian than just our words and deeds. Satan works to deceive the Church by mingling his children with God’s children, often times making it difficult for believers to discern the true from the false. They look, act, and sound just like us, but they are counterfeits. They make their outward appearance look good, but their hearts are fixed on the things of this world - making them a candidate to fulfill the institutionalized Church's misguided agenda.
 "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept [rules, principles] of men." Isa.29:13 (and Matt. 15:8)
How is it possible that many hear the Gospel, but few receive it? Perhaps it's...
  1. ...from their hardness of heart, which makes them unable to properly respond. Matt. 13:14-15 says,"By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."
  2. Or from blindness: "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Cor. 4:4 
  3. They may have responded to the Gospel, but it never took root. Without renewing their mind in the Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers, they'll never escape the stronghold the world has over them. The world's human fish hook  is ready to reel them in. 1 John 2:16 says, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." The world and what it offers is a constant distraction.
  4. Could it be that the Word does not leave an abiding impression upon them in order to transform their life? Since the Gospel is a message of the heart, a change of heart will cause the born-again believer to please God in all ways. A changed heart helps us to stay on the narrow path, since the Holy Spirit warns us from the path of destruction. The simple message of Christ transforms lives.
Example: David was an adulterer and murderer,
but he modeled a broken and contrite heart (Psa 51:17; Isa. 57:15), repentance, and a heart toward God.

False converts belong to Satan's world. They are unbelievers. They may have heard the Gospel, but their transformation is superficial. They've made a great effort to transform themselves to look like born-again believers. One example of this modern phenomena can be seen in the power of positive thinking - ironically similar to a New Age/occult teaching.

Many seekers in today's institutionalized Church are pursuing Christ for what they can get from Him. They believe that if they transform their life through positive thinking/words, then the Lord will transform their life, and more importantly give them the desires of their heart. This change says more about a selfish recipe for success, and an unwillingness to have someone reign over them. When it comes down to it,  the foolish person tries to establish their own righteousness. They should know that:
"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." Rom. 10:3
Then there is this verse:
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2:13
If the message of the Bible had been received with heartfelt belief, God does the work of the heart - not us.
 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10
"Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Phil. 3:21

Those who have transformed themselves to look and sound like messengers of Light, aren't the real deal. If you get a chance to know a false convert, you'd find no evidence of the Fruits of the Spirit. It is reasonable to say that the purposes of the Enemy work through them. It is possible that entire congregations are false converts - along with entire denominations.

It is the intent of the Enemy to remove Christ from His throne, as to place himself there. Through the workings of their unrepentant hearts, false converts misguide and work toward creating the system of Antichrist. We can see this in the ecumenical movement, which promotes cooperation/common ground among denominations, and whose goal it is to create universal Christian unity. It can also be seen in the Socialist missions objective to become the hands and feet of Christ; meaning that Christians serve the needs of the world for the "common good" (a phrase found in the NIV, but not the KJV). It could only be a false convert that would encourage such a thing.

In the next post, find out how modern movements couldn't possibly come from those in the faith. If you believe any of these movements are genuine moves of God, you ought to determine if His kingdom is within you.

 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Cor. 13:5