Even the JW's are calling themselves Christian now to muddy the waters. When we hear someone say "I am a Christian" we need to ask what they mean by that and what church they attend.
Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons and others all call themselves "Christian" now, and their lives appear wholesome, making people believe they are actually Christian when in fact they have never been born again.
BE sure to ask anyone new that you meet, "what do you mean by Christian" and "which church do you attend."
Flattery and confusion were the first tactics used by Satan in the Garden of Eden.
Proverbs 29:5 "A man who flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps."
Genesis 3:5 ""For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
The devil asked Eve a question to make her doubt what God had told her. Then he corrected her with lies, telling her God never said what He told them.
Satan comes as an angel of light, a friendly, kind and loving personage pretending to bring more happiness to his victims. In the process he appeals to the flesh and feelings rather than with reasoning according to God's Word.
The devil uses ungodly people to do this, they will attempt to cause doubt about the convictions we have in our heart based on God's Word, even subverting our resolve to obey God by demeaning us, maligning our character and turning others against us.. These are tactics used to cause feelings to emerge that produce confusion, weakening our walk while negating truth.
Satan's purpose is to negate God's Word while devaluing His children.
Genesis 3:1-6
"The Fall of Man
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from [a]any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate."
Titus 1:10-14
"10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11 who must be silenced because they are subverting whole families (every person in the family), teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth"
No where here does it say to "just love them" or "bless them", it is clear that they are to be removed, they have ruined entire extended family members.
1 Timothy 4:1
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,"
Matthew 23:27
"“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness."
God never tells us to have fellowship with these people, rather we are to rebuke them sharply and then have nothing to do with them if they will not listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhffT7iWwNU
How many of us are seeing this attitude in most of the people that surround us?
I see many who are acting arrogant and superior, becoming enraged when corrected or instructed, as though the one who corrected them is worthy of contempt. These people are described in God's Word in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 and in the passages below, Romans 1.
Romans 1:28-32
"28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
When we speak delicately about the Word of God to others, we are minimizing the truth to make it sound like a suggestion. God commands us to be bold and authoritative. The fear of man drives our resolve to make sure humanly that no one is offended. God never told us to be careful about offending, we are to speak truth and leave all the results to Him.
Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted."
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
When we fear that man will hate us, that is not love for those who are hearing, but love for self. Those who need to hear, must hear truth and boldness, otherwise they will think what we speak is merely another idea among all ideas in the world.
Titus 2:15 "These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
Hebrews 4:12 "12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Acts 28:31 "31 [a]preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered."
Ephesians 3:12 "12 in whom we have boldness and [a]confident access through faith [b]in Him."
2 Corinthians 3:12 "12 Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,"
Acts 4:31 "31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness."
Acts 4:29 "29 And [a]now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,"
2 Timothy 1:6-7 "6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of [a]timidity, but of power and love and [b]discipline."
Hebrews 13:6 "6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me."
The only reason to soften our delivery is to avoid being hated by those listening.
