Getting Harder to Discern

It has become harder to discern those with false doctrines when they mix a little truth with a whole lot of error. Just recently I witnessed a facebook friend going from a sweet demeanor to a vitriolic tone when she was led astray by false teaching.

There are preachers who preach to convince others of doctrine and then there are preachers who rant to intimidate.

Just recently I was astonished at a couple of preachers who seemed very good in their preaching saying things that were correct, but held beliefs that are clearly unbiblical. I have even posted videos of some of their preaching, now I will avoid them and even warn others about them .

Jacob Prasch is one and John Haller is another. These are people who hold to the post trib position and that one can lose their salvation.

These two beliefs "loss of salvation if one does not live perfectly" and that believers will go through the tribulation before they are raptured, seem to often go hand in hand.

A difference of opinion on the timing of the rapture is less problematic than preaching that someone can lose their salvation. Can one understand the gospel message and the cross if they believe we must "be good enough" to maintain our salvation? I do not think so!

If one believes we can lose our salvation if we are not working hard enough to be good enough, then those who think they are saved must be "good enough" in their own minds.

But then again, how do those who think they can lose their salvation know if they will lose it tomorrow until tomorrow comes.

I continue to be disappointed at how many people listen to preachers for their truth far more than they seek Christ. I confess that I listen to lots of preachers and I have made mistakes in sharing videos when they sounded good only to find out over time that they do not hold to the sound doctrines on other things that are important.

I found that when I listen to "moral issues" far more than doctrines of Christ I am more likely to get off track.

I also have learned that when we find someone to be unsound in their doctrine, confronting it and speaking against it we will run into those who are dedicated to the false preachers, ready to defend them irrationally with personal attacks to us rather than staying on topic to prove a point.

I have had to stop listening to several preaches on the internet lately because they bring division, using more mockery and demeaning than they do facts to support their false doctrine.

We must all be ready to move on when someone is promoting doctrine that is heretical or deeply in error.

1 Thessalonians 5:21
"21 Test all things; hold fast what is good."