"If Balaam lived among today’s evangelicals, he would be considered a great man. His public
sayings would be widely known, and his “ministry” would have great impact (Numbers 22:6). In his day, Balaam was also known for his “prayer power.” That is, when he spoke to the Lord, Balaam usually got an answer (Numbers 22:8, 18, etc.). He certainly would have been at home among many of today’s televangelists. How can we be exposing error?
Balaam had an appetite for monetary success and a desire for secular recognition (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11). He willfully embraced error in spite of the Lord’s warnings and with clear knowledge beforehand that he was doing wrong (Numbers 22–24). In so doing, he foreshadowed the likes of the foolish teachings of Harold Camping, the damnable writings of Rob Bell and the fellows of BioLogos.
Of the many passages in the Bible that contain information or warnings about false teaching, there are four key New Testament passages that will help answer that question. In 2 Peter 2:1-3, the apostle Peter lists five characteristics of the leaders of false teaching:
led by such notorious characters as Reverend Ike, Benny Hinn, Jim Bakker, Robert Tilton, Oral Roberts, and many others whose behavior is so bizarre and unethical that even secular media has aired their hypocrisy for all to see.
John amplifies this error to include anyone who “transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God” (2 John 9). Not only is it blasphemous to deny the deity of Jesus Christ, but also to deny that which He has taught.
Surely you are aware of the anti-Trinitarian teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who view Jesus as a created individual, second in power, but never equal to Jehovah.
The public position of the Mormons is more subtle. Mormons pray in Jesus’ name, call Him the Son of God, and talk about His death on the cross, His resurrection, and His second coming. What they do not talk openly about is their own belief that Jesus is the son of Elohim and Mary, brother to Satan, and approved as Savior only after a vote of the Council of gods.
The Christian Scientists are today not often taken seriously except by the New Age intelligentsia, but this cult was a major force of division and schism in the early part of the 20th century. They did not deny the deity directly; they just changed the meaning of the word." H3
Balaam had an appetite for monetary success and a desire for secular recognition (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11). He willfully embraced error in spite of the Lord’s warnings and with clear knowledge beforehand that he was doing wrong (Numbers 22–24). In so doing, he foreshadowed the likes of the foolish teachings of Harold Camping, the damnable writings of Rob Bell and the fellows of BioLogos.
Of the many passages in the Bible that contain information or warnings about false teaching, there are four key New Testament passages that will help answer that question. In 2 Peter 2:1-3, the apostle Peter lists five characteristics of the leaders of false teaching:
- They will come from “Christian” churches or backgrounds.
- They will deny the Lord Jesus in some way.
- They will become very popular.
- They will cause shame to the ideals of Scripture.
- They will use human greed and hidden meanings to deceive.
- Jim Jones, famous for leading the Guyana mass suicide, was a Baptist preacher in California for many years.
- Joseph Smith, who has never been known for being “biblical,” founded what has become the largest “Christian” cult movement in the world, the Mormons.
- Charles T. Russell, founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, became disenchanted with orthodox Christianity and began issuing prophetic predictions in light of special signs and mysteries he found in the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
John amplifies this error to include anyone who “transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God” (2 John 9). Not only is it blasphemous to deny the deity of Jesus Christ, but also to deny that which He has taught.
Surely you are aware of the anti-Trinitarian teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who view Jesus as a created individual, second in power, but never equal to Jehovah.
The public position of the Mormons is more subtle. Mormons pray in Jesus’ name, call Him the Son of God, and talk about His death on the cross, His resurrection, and His second coming. What they do not talk openly about is their own belief that Jesus is the son of Elohim and Mary, brother to Satan, and approved as Savior only after a vote of the Council of gods.
The Christian Scientists are today not often taken seriously except by the New Age intelligentsia, but this cult was a major force of division and schism in the early part of the 20th century. They did not deny the deity directly; they just changed the meaning of the word." H3