wolves in sheep's clothing

Preach the Word!  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (2 Tim.. 4:2)

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Tim. 2:5) 

I recently had a back-and-forth with someone who claims to be a Christian but is, in fact, a heretic and not unlike the man who would be better off if he tied a millstone around his neck and hurled himself into the depths of the sea.(Mk. 9:42)  Why?  He leads people astray by boldly corrupting the Word of God, and advocates a false & blasphemous doctrine.   Not only is he dragging himself to hell, but he is taking with him his children and anyone else over whom he may have the slightest influence.  Further, those who support or cling to this particular person's "theology" and philosophy are accurately described in the latter part of this passage:

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world that He might comdemn the world , but that the world might be saved through Him.  Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.  For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed." (John 3:16-20)

So, I imagine you can guess what type of folks side with a heretic:  those who don't want their actions exposed for the evil that they really are.

We must involve ourselves in a Bible-teaching church.  Are they teaching the whole Word of God or twisting the parts that aren't politically correct so that everyone can feel accepted and uncondemned? This isn't a buffet.  God doesn't make it when we order it.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, the will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. (2 Tim. 2: 3-4)

Eternal.
As far back as forever ago and as far forward as infinitude.  God is unchanging as is His instruction book for how we must live.

As my beloved Chuck Smith (Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa) once said (and I paraphrase):  "If you want to feel good about your sin and attend a church that helps you to feel good about your sin, then you'll feel good all the way to hell." (Emphasis mine.)

Just 'cause it sounds nice and welcoming doesn't mean it is.

For all the heretics and "tolerance" police who may be reading this:  I'm sure you are ready to accuse me of bigotry and narrow-mindedness.

"Enter through the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.  How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves."  (Matthew 7:13-15) 

I'll stick to the narrow path.  Because life is a vapor and not worthy to be compared to eternity, and so my soul is firmly set on an eternal perspective and not on pleasing the whims of the latest philosophical craze.

And I'll battle wolves in the meantime.