Spit out the Lure!

I recently ran across an article at The Berean Call, written by T.A. McMahon.  It is entitled “Weaning Evangelicals Off The Word” and is worth reading in its entirety.  This portion seemed particularily pungent.

Experientialism (what feels right to man) is a leaven working its way through the entire church as it undermines biblical truth. Today there are many infectious manifestations, with heavy emphasis upon the following: signs and wonders, faith-healing and prosperity, logos vs. rhema, the new apostles and prophets, kingdom-dominion, redeeming-the-culture missions, strategic spiritual warfare, inner-healing, 12-steps, Christian psychology, evangelical social-activism; ecumenism, church growth, purpose-driven, emerging church, contemplative/mysticism, church entertainment, contemporary worship, culturally accommodating Bible versions, and visually translated Bibles. All of these movements are in opposition to the clear teaching of God’s Word, yet multitudes follow them eagerly.

While I am no McMahon, Hunt, or Cloud, I can testify to the pervasive influence of these doctrines across our land.  In my town alone, I have witnessed most of these at work, to say nothing of the thousands of example on the internet.  And while my anger burns hotly at the various false teachers, I am DISGUSTED with the jellyfish response of the majority of professing Christianity.  It sometimes appears that many have completely lost the ability to discern between truth and error!

While fishing last week, I tried out a new lure, a #6 spoon.  To my untrained eye, the 15cm piece of yellow metal was more suited to bailing my boat than fishing, and it did nothing to hide the giant hooks trailing behind it. However, I had read that to catch big fish, you need a big lure.  So I began to fish with a lure almost as big as my anchor, and feeling rather ridiculous.  On my third cast, a sizable pike grabbed the bait, but quickly spit it out.  Several casts later, another fish hit the bait and before I could set the hook, spit it out also.  This happened FOUR times under my astonished eyes.  (I finally did catch a fish, a walley from the “Special Education” class in fish school…)

Watching those pike spit out something that was obviously NOT good for them got me thinking about the discernment of many of today’s believers.  It is no surprise to find false teachers, but it does suprise me that they have followers.  The “Christian” spectrum is full of modern SNAKE-OIL salesmen who are after nothing but money, and millions appear to be shelling out their coins to be part of the action.  I mean, I understand the attraction of apparent success, but ask yourself, “Is there a hook?”  What is the catch? It is sad that many Christians are more concerned with organic food than with pure doctrine.  As a collective group we have chased with increasing vigor the flashy imitation of Christianity, and are now firmly hooked on the treble hook of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.  They tell me Northern Pike will bite anything if they are hungry.  Perhaps so many are hungry for truth that they fall for anything, or perhaps we have less discernment than the Pike in Ethel Lake.

Read your Bible, and spit out the lure!

Hebrews 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.