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"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires." (2 Timothy 4:3)
Notice that the onus of the act is on the people, NOT the teachers (not that I am saying the teachers escape culpability). But the people who have passions search out and look for false teachers that match those passions, and "accumulate for themselves" these teachers. And the teachers are only too happy to comply, because there is money in it, the usual reason false teachers want to be false teachers. (2 Peter 2:3). Paul Washer said someone like an Osteen is not making victims of the people he IS the JUDGMENT upon the people! In other words, they asked for him, they got him!
So people who want affirmation of their emotions in mystical visions, seek out a Beth Moore. People who seek prosperity and are greedy at heart seek out a Joel Osteen. People who are focused on the body and healing seek out a Benny Hinn. And so on. Prideful people who want to think they are earning their own salvation seek out the Pope. They accumulate for themselves the false teacher...
Here is Washer, explaining the verse:
"False teachers are God’s judgment on people who don’t want God, but in the name of religion plan on getting everything their carnal heart desires. That’s why a Joel Osteen is raised up. Those people who sit under him are not victims of him but he is the judgment of God upon them. And they want exactly what he wants, and it’s not God." ~ Paul WasherWe often think that the verse means that people who sit under a Joel Osteen or a Beth Moore are hapless victims, fallen prey to the insidious destruction of the prowling false teacher. No. The verse clearly shows us that people are the agitators, they are their own catalysts for false teachers being raised up. The people "accumulate for themselves" teachers who match their passions.
Notice that the onus of the act is on the people, NOT the teachers (not that I am saying the teachers escape culpability). But the people who have passions search out and look for false teachers that match those passions, and "accumulate for themselves" these teachers. And the teachers are only too happy to comply, because there is money in it, the usual reason false teachers want to be false teachers. (2 Peter 2:3). Paul Washer said someone like an Osteen is not making victims of the people he IS the JUDGMENT upon the people! In other words, they asked for him, they got him!
So people who want affirmation of their emotions in mystical visions, seek out a Beth Moore. People who seek prosperity and are greedy at heart seek out a Joel Osteen. People who are focused on the body and healing seek out a Benny Hinn. And so on. Prideful people who want to think they are earning their own salvation seek out the Pope. They accumulate for themselves the false teacher...
Here is Washer, explaining the verse:
Comments
Great quote!
ReplyDeleteHi Glenn,
ReplyDeleteYes, it is, isn't it! I used to worry mightily about those people in churches sitting under false teachers. Some know they are false teachers but choose to stay because they say they are too old to change, or their family goes there, or they think it'll blow over. I worry for them a lot, making that dangerous choice.
I used to worry more for the ones who are under a false pastor's teaching but don't know it. I used to think they were victims. But after reading this quote it helped me clarify what God is doing. I see more clearly now that the Holy Spirit opens all eyes, everyone who is saved has an equal chance to discern the teaching if they are prayerfully studious and submissive to His leading. If they stay, knowingly or unknowingly, they are judged.
Thank you for sharing the Paul Washer clip linked in your post. I had never heard of Paul Washer, but I am definitely interested in watching more of his sermons!
ReplyDeleteHi Lydia,
ReplyDeletePaul Washer is a great preacher. He is a missionary and an itinerant preacher when he is in the States. He preaches in the same vein as Jonathan Edwards the old Puritan, on topics such as the reality of hell, the blasphemy of "say a prayer and you're saved", what the Gospel really is...he gets fiery on those topics especially because he spent so much of his adult ministerial life abroad in third world countries and hates to see the waste of American easy-beliefism and crass consumerism creep in & corrupt the Faith. He can be found at I'll Be Honest.com and also sermoaudio.com, plus youtube. One of my favorite sermons of his is "Ten indictments against the modern church," and any sermon having to do with sin, because he is so convicting.
THANK YOU for going tot he link and watching! I'm thrilled to have shared him with a sister. I hope his preaching continues to bless you
Please explain to me: How are false teachers God's judgment?
ReplyDeleteYou don't think they are?
DeleteYou back up Paul Washer's quote with this scripture,..."For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.” 2 Timothy 4:3
ReplyDelete... but this scripture doesn't say that it's God's judgement. It simply says that people follow after what appeals to their desires. False teachers are a result of sin and the enemy's deception. It's simply sin and deception. God is not sending judgement on people by making them follow wayward leaders. He doesn't devise ways to lead people astray, The enemy does that.
Hi Laurie,
DeleteThanks for the comment. I think we're on the same page. I meant that the time of unsound doctrine is ever increasing and so is the judgement that accompanies it.
It's a symbiotic relationship between false believers and false teachers. No, I agree, God does not send judgment on people by making them follow false leaders, It was not my intent to say that. But He does send judgment on them because they followed them. Jeremiah 14:16.
We do know that God raises up each leader, so He does raise up false leaders. He allows it. In my opinion, false teachers are a chastening stick to the true believer, because if they follow a false teacher for a while and then repent, they are chastened but are more in love with Jesus than ever.
Alternately, false teachers are a rod of judgment to the unbeliever, who will have their own evil for following them poured out on them. (Jer 14:16 again).
It's like in Ezekiel 2:5, God said, "And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them."
In addition, judgment begins in the church. 1 Peter 4:17. So God raises up a false teacher, or allows the teacher to become popular, and it is a test for believers and a judgment on unbelievers. That's how I see it.
Osteen is wrong but this doesn't make Paul Washer right.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
DeleteCan you be more specific abut where or why you think Paul Washer is wrong on this topic? If you use scripture that would be great also. Thanks!