Pastor's Perspective - Wool-Covered Fangs

Dear FCC Family & Treasured Friends,

Recently I read a couple of troubling news stories proving the troubling modern-day spiritual gullibility of countless thousands.

First I read about a cyber movement challenging young people to renounce their faith and deliberately blaspheme the Holy Spirit in an attempt to literally lose their souls. People who want a dvd copy of the pro-atheist film ‘The God Who Wasn’t There’ are encouraged to take the ‘Blasphemy Challenge’. They video record themselves renouncing Christ and particularly blaspheming the Holy Spirit – an unpardonable sin introduced in Mark 3:29. Then they post their video on Youtube.com for the entire globe to see. All for a dvd! As a praise report and counter-measure I endorse the website www.challengeblasphemy.com – a pro-Christ response to this disturbing movement.

Secondly I just read about a 61-year-old “pastor” in Miami named Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, who unashamedly calls himself God. The former prisoner and heroin addict, known to his followers as “Daddy”, has thousands of followers in more than thirty countries. Sporting a “666” tattoo, four diamond-encrusted Rolex watches, and a fleet of armored Lexuses and BMws, de Jesus claims that he learned that he was Jesus incarnate when he was instructed by angels in a dream. His followers in Miami and Latin America disrupt evangelical worship services and smash crosses. De Jesus preaches that there is no devil and no sin. He also teaches that the Antichrist is the best person in the world! “Antichrist means don’t put your eyes on Jesus because Jesus of Nazareth wasn’t a Christian. Antichrist means do not put your eyes on Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Put it on Jesus after the cross” – de Jesus.

Although these are recent news stories, they aren’t new news! Jesus lovingly forewarned us a long time ago, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” – Matthew 7:15. Likewise the Apostle Paul in Acts 20 while addressing elders of his day instructed, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”

Friends, we live in a wooly-wolf-friendly world, filled with overt and veiled rebellious plots against Christ and the salvation He alone provides. As believers we must be alert at all times and measure those who represent Christ via teaching and leadership by their fruit – yes including me. Jesus told us all that good trees produce good fruit, and bad trees bad. Personally, I want to always pass inspection through sound teaching, continued education and accountability.

At FCC our desire is to provide a doctrinally sound, wolf-free environment for you and your family and friends; while simultaneously teaching you how to identify and expose wool-covered fangs all around us. In times like this, aren’t you glad you have a good and mighty shepherd named Jesus Christ?! Why not let Him know that today in words and deeds?

This Sunday I will be presenting part six of our message series ‘The Road to Recovery’. This weekend we’ll be discussing God’s way to repair and rebuild torn relationships. Invite your family and friends today to accompany you at 9:00 or 11:00 A.M. While you’re at it, throw in a lunch invitation!

INVISION 3:31

I love you!

In the Fight,

Steve