Dangers in Christian Bookstores

Posted by

7

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Or listen/download the audio HERE.  Or read it online HERE.

Here is an introduction to the sermon:

Never have Christian books been so readily available to the average Christian and never has the spiritual danger associated with such books been so great. Sadly, the average member of a Bible-believing church does not know how to protect himself and his family from these dangers.

The following three crucial Bible truths can protect the child of God in these end times:

FIRST, THE LAST DAYS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY APOSTASY, NOT REVIVAL. Thus it is not surprising that we are confronted today with a vast amount of heresy and spiritual compromise. If ever there were a time when God’s people need to be knowledgeable and cautious it is today. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. … For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 3:13; 4:3-4).

SECOND, GOD WARNS HIS PEOPLE TO TEST EVERYTHING BY THE SCRIPTURES. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

THIRD, SPIRITUAL ERROR IS CLOTHED IN THE APPEARANCE OF TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is subtle and can deceive us if we are not well educated biblically and exceedingly careful. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15). “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2). “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

7 thoughts on “Dangers in Christian Bookstores”

  1. There is a christian book shop in Sydney and they have so much garbage in there regarding new age stuff its not even worth walking into.. I did go and buy a KJV bible from there and was shocked. They should call them self a religious book shop not a christian one in my opinion 🙂

    Like

  2. I agree with 90 of what this guy says – he rattles of the hit list of many of those that I consider to be heretical. On the other hand he bashes the particular statements on one point of some teachers I believe to be good bible teachers (C.S. Lewis I like but I acknowledge that he wasn’t really a very good theologian and made some real mistakes in what he wrote). I guess my point mirrors what I’d expect to hear from a Chuck Swindoll – we defend the bible as the only source of truth, but do we have go around and be all grumpy and angry about it all the time? I think it would suffice to warn about the huge heretics (this guys message seems to skip the modalists like TD Jakes and word faith heretics and the NAR (from my quick skim of the transcript, I could be wrong). Why is that? Those are among the most dangerous along with the Rob Bell’s and other spineless universalists.

    All other texts we read, save God’s word itself – are written by sinners and as a result will contain error, why don’t we presume that and get on with our lives? I think the point I’m making is that if the bulk of someone’s teaching is sound and biblical we should be willing to acknowledge that they are sinners like us and be able to extend some grace to them once in a while. My point is – I agree with the above, be very careful what you pick up in the Christian bookstore, but lets not immediately label every writer who isn’t perfectly in harmony with every interpretation we draw from the text immediately a heretic. Maybe this is a bad example, but I’m not in perfect harmony with the KJV only crowd (because I think it discourages somewhat textual analysis and going back to the original hebrew/greek for hard texts) but at the same time I don’t stand on a tree-stump pronouncing them heretics for elevating one particular translation of God’s word.

    Like

  3. Good answer Justasheep.

    I think there is a fine line between warning against false teachers and teachings and going out in a full blown witch hunt. There are clear indicators when something or someone is false. But if someone has a different theological understanding or interpretation of scripture, it does not make him a false teacher.

    I have done a quick Google search to find out when this sermon was preached to just find out that David Cloud is seen as a very dangerous preacher in some Christian circles. I don’t know the teachings of David Cloud that well, but what I have read about him he is surely not a false teacher. The point I am trying to make is that we must be careful not to think that we are doing God a favor by bashing His children for every “wrong” interpretation of the Word. If someone tells you to get slain in the Spirit, you can laugh at them as it is not biblical. But if someone believes for example in the pre-trib rapture, they are not false teachers but they have a different interpretation of the Bible. I have even been accused as a false teacher on other sites.

    So yes, eat the meat and spit out the bones, and in other cases, don’t even touch the meat as it is poison. Let the Bible be your guide. The Holy Spirit will lead you in all truth.

    Like

  4. “So yes, eat the meat and spit out the bones, and in other cases, don’t even touch the meat as it is poison. Let the Bible be your guide. The Holy Spirit will lead you in all truth.”

    Amen to what you’ve said above and especially how you sum it up. For the record – I think a pre-wrath interpretation of prophecy is most logical way to translate both the prophetic texts especially in light of texts like Isaiah 48:10 “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.”

    But if the pre-trib view is right, I’ll be thrilled to be snatched away and will gladly congratulate my brothers in the air as we are taken to the lord.

    Like

  5. so well said by both of you–thanks. there is a critical spirit in over-drive in some circles these days-much to the devil’s delight. plenty of false teachers to challenge and call out-yes much danger out there…the Word of God rightly divided is the proper answer to it all-we know-so we continue in the Word and in prayer. Truth and Grace together-john 1:14-17. i continue to need the challenges that i find faithfully ministered here and i praise God for the sanctifying work of His Spirit that He does using so many folks who frequent here. (have been a little out out of circulation lately–it has been a time of deep sorrow for my husband and i but i’m glad to come here and find that the Lord uses this site to keep things in perspective when the world feels like it is turned upside down. who is untouched by trials in this life? i know of no one. what the devil means for harm God uses for good amen?) it is a dangerous world-that’s not new-but the apostasy is looking full-blown to me and deception rampant–but–i praise the Lord that God’s people have the Truth to tell and to live out everyday-rain or shine-to expose every lie from the pit. i love all of you brothers and sisters here in Christ Jesus.

    Like

Leave a comment