Shepherds That Lead the Sheep Astray

Here we have the Good Shepherd coming back again and again to teach in the temple. Why? Simply to reach and redeem His creation through [H]is complete sacrifice on the cross and resurrection. In this particular instance, the Light of the World (Jesus) came to the temple during the “festivity of Lights”, also known as Hanukkah. Sadly, once again the religious leaders (the ones who were supposed to direct people to know God) were the most blind of all people. Why? Because they despised the fact that Jesus would not only heal the sick on the Sabbath but easily defended Himself with the authority of the Word. In contrast, these men could only fight back with their own man-made commentaries known as the Mishnah. Like these religious leaders, today many have made their decision to stand on Man’s word versus the powerful simplicity of God’s Word (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Finally in v. 26, after so many chapters of patience and teaching, Jesus tells them plainly what their problem is – “You do not believe ….”.

26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.[b]27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”

You see, at the core of this encounter with God Himself all men (no matter how much or how little education) must make a decision to either choose the worship of pride (like Lucifer and his fallen angels) or acknowledge our need to repent of sin and believe on the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15).

It just so happened, that a leader in that denomination happened to visit the church and hear this sermon. After the service, this denominational leader talked to this friend of AiG who had just spoken. He wrote down an account of how the conversation proceeded with her:

She and a pastor started talking about hermeneutics after the service saying that scripture is open for interpretation. Here are a few quotes and my responses:

Dr: “Many believe that even John 14:6 can be interpreted to mean something different … it all depends on your education and training. That is why we value education in the PCUSA”

Me: "So does this mean there are no absolutes in God’s Word and I make the choices for God’s [W]ord?"

Dr: “Homosexual ordination should not be the main subject but Christ” (in light of them now allowing homosexual pastors)

Me: "So where does repentance work in this equation? Mark 1:15 Jesus Himself said repent and believe. As a church should we not point people to turn from sin?"

(she quickly changed the subject)

Dr.: “I’m not going to argue. I’m . . . supposed to listen to everyone and not sway either way. You cannot judge a gay couple that is committed to a relationship. We need to wake up and be conscious of the times even in this country – gay people are not going away …What we need to do is teach people how to defend their faith because few know how to.”

Me: "The reason few know how to defend “the faith” [is] that there is too much confusion in the church if you are telling people that God’s Word is open to anyone’s interpretation."

Dr.: "The most important thing is my faith and how I believe . . . Plus, Jesus never spoke against Homosexuality"

Me: "Jesus spoke clearly about marriage being between one man and one woman – I quoted “Have you not read” in Matthew 19:4? This comes from Genesis as He instituted this . . . God judges sin. Especially to the unrepentant man or woman. We simply need to read Genesis about two cities Sodom and Gomorrah which is also echoed in Jude, Romans 1, 1 Cor. 6, etc. I have parents asking me for God’s Word because their kids are confused. Should we not show them God’s Word or would it be best to send them to the Homosexual club nearby?"

Dr.: "That’s where we can argue about interpretation …Are you also going to tell me that the Heavens and Earth was made in 6 days?"

Me: "Did God not tell us in His Word there was evening and there was morning?"

Dr. "So you believe in a literal 24 hour period in Genesis?"

Me: "God Himself tells us in Ex. 20:11:For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day."

Each time I used Scripture she would change the subject. All she would rely on was “it depends which seminary and education you have been through” (Man’s [w]ord).

Lastly, she promoted how tolerant she is and those like her. Yet I covered the fact how intolerant such tolerant people are when someone has another view that comes verbatim from Scripture. I knew I could not misrepresent our Lord and His Word even with a high-level executive. I recalled Jesus’ words “if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my father.” I felt so passionate about “defending the hope within me” and can clearly see how all these denominations are rotting away because of compromise and false interpretation of God’s Word.

1 Tim 6 3 "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ , and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words , from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings[a] of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth , who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself."

It is interesting to me that when this church leader heard the AiG supporter quoting Scripture and standing on biblical authority (and defending marriage as a man and a woman), she then brought up the issue of the six days of creation.

I believe this church leader knows that once you take God at his Word concerning marriage, then you have to take God at His Word concerning what is written in Genesis. But of course, if you reject Genesis as literal history, ultimately to be consistent, you will reject the biblical teaching on marriage being between a man and a woman (which Genesis teaches) and instead defend the unbiblical position of “gay” marriage!

Sadly, the conversation above reflects the position of so many church leaders in America today! Pray the Lord will convict the “shepherds” to stop leading the “sheep” astray.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken