Beware of False Prophets
Living in a society in which truth has become relative has surely made life difficult. It seems we can no longer dare to assert any truth as universal without universal endorsement. Expressions like ‘your truth is your truth’ are only exasperated by sayings like, ‘we’ll just agree to disagree’. If we buy into the notion there is no objective truth, then we no longer believe in God because God is truth.
The early Church struggled to fully understand how God had revealed Himself to us through His Church. As time went by, it became obvious that some would refuse to believe truth was no relative. Heresy after heresy bubbled to the surface each sharing one thing in common. They each altered the truth. Since God is truth, that means they altered God, and that is just not possible.
Brethren, grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel – not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel of heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1.3-10
If the early Church struggled to weed out heresy and false prophets, what makes us think today we don’t also share in the same struggle? Within the ‘Christian Movement’ (those who call themselves Christians) there exists more than 50,000 independent denominations. It is remarkable to me that so many different ‘gospels’ would exist when Saint Paul warned against the trend so long ago.
As we draw closer to Christmas, please beware of the coming false prophets. They arrive every year before Christmas and Pascha to suggest the ancient Church ‘got it wrong’ and THEY are the ONLY ones who understood the truth of God. They will be on TV and all over the social media working to “pervert the Gospel” just as they have always done.
I admit that it is not popular in our society to dare assert an unbreakable truth. That doesn’t make the Church wrong. The Church has been guided by the Holy Spirit since the beginning, as promised by Christ Himself. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” (John 16.13)
When Saint Paul commanded that the Galatians remain loyal to the truth as received from the Holy Apostles, he did so knowing the Holy Spirit was the one in charge. God is truth as He said to many centuries ago. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John14.6) When you change the truth, you change God. Since God cannot be changed, truth cannot change. Anyone who suggest otherwise is a false prophet and should be avoided at all costs.
