Devotional: False Prophets

[RGW00]

We live in an age now where simplicity is often recognized as authenticity. However, is simplicity always authentic? The simplistic ways I'm referring to are life hacks, encouraging quotes, Instagram influencers, YouTubers, and so much more to "brighten up your day!" While not all influencers give sinful advice and want to bring ill will to others, anything with the absence of God is sinful. Culture is surrounded by this idea that simple thoughts ease the mind.

Matthew 7:15 (NLT) states: Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.

Why include this verse? Notice the keyword here is false prophets. While some of the advice given by the examples provided above is actual godly advice and very helpful information, notice the common denominator of all of them is that they all exclude God!

You might wonder if any of this information is excluding God if all of it is based on biblical principles. If it's biblically based information and claims to be not self-serving it should come from the Bible directly. While God can use anyone and anything to accomplish His purposes, make sure to always beware that you aren't reading into false prophets for your daily wisdom.

The term false prophets refers to anyone who claims to speak for God, yet is actually speaking "false truths" There are a lot more false prophets out there than you think, and I believe this includes anyone who tries to satisfy that purpose and lead people on their side.

The danger in excluding God in any work can lead to consequences shown later in life or even in the short term. It's very important to remember this fact.

Next time you look at people that have incredible new advice to give you that's never been heard of from anywhere else:

Remember that the Bible is Holy and self-help allows for false prophets to invade!

EDIT: Let me just clarify that I did not mean all influencers were sinful (also remember that just because you have sin that doesn’t make you any less of a Christian because you are cleansed). I meant ones that state that they did all this themselves and do not include God in their work. We are all guilty of this at times. This devotional was written as a reminder not as a personal attack on influencers.

 

[AlexDTX]

We live in an age now where simplicity is often recognized as authenticity. However, is simplicity always authentic? The simplistic ways I'm referring to are life hacks, encouraging quotes, Instagram influencers, YouTubers, and so much more to "brighten up your day!" While not all influencers give sinful advice and want to bring ill will to others, anything with the absence of God is sinful. Culture is surrounded by this idea that simple thoughts ease the mind.

Matthew 7:15 (NLT) states: Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.

Why include this verse? Notice the keyword here is false prophets. While some of the advice given by the examples provided above is actual godly advice and very helpful information, notice the common denominator of all of them is that they all exclude God!

You might wonder if any of this information is excluding God if all of it is based on biblical principles. If it's biblically based information and claims to be not self-serving it should come from the Bible directly. While God can use anyone and anything to accomplish His purposes, make sure to always beware that you aren't reading into false prophets for your daily wisdom.

The danger in excluding God in any work can lead to consequences shown later in life or even in the short term. It's very important to remember this fact.

Next time you look at people that have incredible new advice to give you that's never been heard of from anywhere else:

Remember that the Bible is Holy and self-help allows for false prophets to invade!

I think I understand your point, but I think you are using the term "false prophet" incorrectly. A false prophet is someone who says he is speaking on behalf of God, but does not in truth.

Self help advise, philosophies, etc, may be worldly or godly depending on the content.

 

[RGW00]

I think I understand your point, but I think you are using the term "false prophet" incorrectly. A false prophet is someone who says he is speaking on behalf of God, but does not in truth.

Self help advise, philosophies, etc, may be worldly or godly depending on the content.

Yes, and I actually was about to edit that in to include your information before you posted it.

I believe that false prophets mainly means what you are saying and that's what God's purpose was in including the term in the Bible. However, I think that false prophets can also distort truth (while they are meaning to give correct information) and bend it to satisfy their own purposes. Sometimes this means to leave God out of simplistic truths and lead people to believe that only they can fix themselves.

 

[AlexDTX]

Yes, and I actually was about to edit that in to include your information before you posted it.

I believe that false prophets mainly means what you are saying and that's what God's purpose was in including the term in the Bible. However, I think that false prophets can also distort truth (while they are meaning to give correct information) and bend it to satisfy their own purposes. Sometimes this means to leave God out of simplistic truths and lead people to believe that only they can fix themselves.

Yes, and to the reader or listener they may regard what they read or hear as prophetic when it is not, even tho the writer or speaker makes no claim to being a prophet.

It becomes a matter of idolatry. And an idol is any substitute for God.

 

[bèlla]

As a member of that group I’m going to disagree. The bible states:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

This is what I steep my mind in. I’m in a good mood every day. My daily bread is joy and peace. And that is the reality for many others.

Most of the people you’re referencing have devoted time and energy to learning a craft, building a business, and diligently pursuing their interests and passions. They’re reaping the results of their hard work.

It doesn’t mean we’re deceived, lost, or touting a different philosophy. Our choices contribute to our happiness. And they chose a path that didn’t include the past-times most enjoy.

We earn that label. It isn’t based on popularity. If Christians applied themselves in the same measure with consistency they could experience similar results.

Its easy to post an opinion on a forum.

It is another matter to build a website, write an opinion piece on a weekly basis, promote it, respond to comments and scrutiny, and maintain the site without pay while working full-time. Trusting in yourself and the message to build an audience that will provide the sustenance for your exodus from the workforce.

I think you’re asking the wrong question. I think you should be wondering why there isn’t a greater measure of Christian influence on the Internet.

You have the same 24 hours as the next person. I know it and so does God. Food for thought.

 

[topher694]

I have found when trying to expose what is false it is far more effective to demonstrate what is true as opposed to obsessing over what is not.

 

[Nicholina]

I am convinced the self-help/psych industrial complex is a work of satan. We are increasingly being told to focus on our SELF, our own personal happiness, problems, "disorders", personal wellbeing rather than focusing forever on Him and glorifying God. We are told to turn to self-help gurus for guidance rather than God. It is all deceivingly positive in nature to conceal the true nature of evil.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

 

[RGW00]

As a member of that group I’m going to disagree. The bible states:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

This is what I steep my mind in. I’m in a good mood every day. My daily bread is joy and peace. And that is the reality for many others.

Most of the people you’re referencing have devoted time and energy to learning a craft, building a business, and diligently pursuing their interests and passions. They’re reaping the results of their hard work.

It doesn’t mean we’re deceived, lost, or touting a different philosophy. Our choices contribute to our happiness. And they chose a path that didn’t include the past-times most enjoy.

We earn that label. It isn’t based on popularity. If Christians applied themselves in the same measure with consistency they could experience similar results.

Its easy to post an opinion on a forum.

It is another matter to build a website, write an opinion piece on a weekly basis, promote it, respond to comments and scrutiny, and maintain the site without pay while working full-time. Trusting in yourself and the message to build an audience that will provide the sustenance for your exodus from the workforce.

I think you’re asking the wrong question. I think you should be wondering why there isn’t a greater measure of Christian influence on the Internet.

You have the same 24 hours as the next person. I know it and so does God. Food for thought.

Thanks for your opinion! This is good. I think I need to make my point a little more clear also. I’ll have to be better about how I word these in the future.

Yes, building up your craft and influence is a good thing. I don’t mean to say that this in itself is a sin. You want to make sure that anything you’re doing when it comes to building influence that you live by God’s example and not make people think that you can do it all on your own.

God created us as human beings to live by that. He also created us in His own image so he expects us to create. The mindset needs to be godly.

The main reason I wrote this wasn’t to single anyone out and quite frankly I am terrible at times of following that devotional I put out. I honestly put that out because I had come to that realization.

He would much rather us focus on what is good than what is bad. You are right about that. I think the people responding in this thread missed my point. I wrote in extremes rather than balancing it out.

I do agree with your statement and I honestly feel as if we are both right. I need to get better at wording my posts. Thanks!

 

[RGW00]

I have found when trying to expose what is false it is far more effective to demonstrate what is true as opposed to obsessing over what is not.

I agree completely. If you obsess over what’s false and try to demonstrate its falseness it reveals that you aren’t focused on what is true.

 

[bèlla]

Thanks for your opinion! This is good.

Thank you for the compliment. My comment aligns with yours. Most digital entrepreneurs aren’t Christians. Yet there’s a large Christian presence on the Internet.

Believers aren’t leading, creating, or influencing. They’re consuming content made by the people you’re referencing. And complaining later about the quality of this or that while overlooking their unwillingness to provide a difference.

Because that requires work and sacrifice. Most would prefer to spend their time relaxing than creating content with a kingdom outlook. They would rather play on Facebook than build the next one.

Influencers are a tight knit group as are most digital entrepreneurs. We share tips, advice, practices and products we love.

Most of the things you encounter were created by novices. We weren’t professional writers, photographers, videographers, marketers, or social media managers. We started at the bottom and learned most of it over time.

It is not enough to say we believe. We’re supposed to be doers of the word. We could be positively impacting all echelons of society. But we don’t and I think its shameful.

You needn’t apologize.