'Ware the Wolves

I received an astonishing message from an American FACEBOOK friend this week. He wanted me to know that he and his wife were in support of Canada against Trump and his unsavoury friends. Further conversation revealed that they were seriously considering moving to Mexico because of the situation in their own country, despite how much they love their homeland. They feared an economic crash and rising prices that would make it difficult to live on their pensions and savings.

There is no doubt that these times are challenging, and will continue to be for some time to come. And as much as I am concerned as a Canadian about what the future holds, my mind has constantly gone beyond, and behind, the faces of the people we like to blame for the chaos, to a segment of those who share the responsibility for that chaos.

Much of the support for Republicans, and consequently for Trump, comes from the so-called "religious right" who somehow have bought into the delusion that Trump is some kind of "saviour" a "messiah."

These are the people I am most concerned about. These are those who have been, and are, being deceived. These are the ones who are blinded to the fact that those who have perpetrated the myth of saviour Trump are wolves disguised as sheep, whose own greed and lust for power are fueling, not the building of the kingdom of God, but the building of their own "kingdoms." And in the course of their activities they are doing damage to the name of Christ, vilifying His true church, and setting back the cause of the Gospel.

In the famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: "Beware of false prophets They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you; depart fro Me, you workers of lawlessness!'" (Matthew 7:15-23, emphasis mine))

Before His death, Jesus warned His audience about false prophets who would appear and deceive many. His words? "At this time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many. Because of the multitlication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold." (Matthew 24:10-12)

Paul picks up the theme in 2 Corinthians 11 when he writes, "I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning your mind may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. For if someones comes and proclaims a Jesus rather than the One we proclaim, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily." (vss 3, 4)

In this particular case these false apostles were demanding money and lining their pockets in the name of the gospel. But the warning remains to beware of those who claim one thing and demonstrate another—the fruit they produce is a sign of the "god" they really serve. Paul continues by saying, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions." (vss 13-15, emphasis mine)

False prophets are many. They prey on those who do not know their Bibles, who do not understand the spirit of Jesus, who have strayed from His mission to the world which is redemption through faith and reconcilation through the cross, whose banner is love, not hate.

If you, the reader, are a follower of Jesus and truly concerned about winning your friends and neighbours to Christ and seeing positive change for the glory of God: Be a student of the Word,. Pray. Live like Jesus. Look for the fruit. Watch for the wolves.