"Take Heed That No Man Deceive You" Part 2

If you watched the videos (actually one program divided into two parts) then you probably saw the main "deception" that was being dealt with by this secular news program: the denial of a literal, eternal hell and the notion that EVERYONE will make it to heaven regardless of whether or not they belong to the Lord Jesus Christ or not.

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This is certainly not a new teaching and it is certainly not limited to this one individual. The basis of this teaching is what is called Universalism and has long been established as a cultic and anti-Biblical belief. The teaching relating to "no hell" is a common teaching among other cult groups including, the Jehovah's Witnesses (Watchtower Society), Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Scientology (L. Ron Hubbard), and shared by most of not all Eastern mind-religions.

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The thing that makes this interesting is the person who is promoting it: Carlton Pearson. Most of those who teach these things were brought up in them or have culural roots in these religions, or have come to these cults from secular backgrounds. Carlton Pearson came to this after "hearing an audible voice" following his watching a program describing the tragic hunger going on in Africa and being heartbroken over the death of his un-saved grandparents.

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You'll notice that he belief was not based upon a Biblical, but an emotional position. The greatest deception in the Church comes from people basing their beliefs on how they feel rather than what the Word of God has said!

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Proverbs 14:12 tells us, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." This "right" way is the Hebrew word yashar and it means "that which is convenient." WOW! Isn't that interesting that someone who is not serving the one true and living God (Jesus Christ) would conveniently find a way around His Word.

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I'll not discuss the teaching of Universalism in this discussing because, quite frankly, they are so eroneous and obvious to anyone who reads the Word that I need not expound further. What I want to look at is the portion of our text from Matthew 24 that says, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."

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There are (3) elements that I want to address in regards to this portion of scripture:

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1) He tells his disciples to "Take Heed." This literally means to "use great discernment and observe slosely that you might rightly percieve things." In other words, "Don't let your emotions govern your thoughts and decisions--but allow the Holy Spirit to heighten your awareness of the spiritual realm (discernment) so that you can make wise decisions.

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2) He tells His disciples "Let no man deceive you." He is establishing the source of this coming deception: it will come through the agency of men! He then uses the word planao (deceive) to describe what will be occuring. This word means "to be led away from the truth."

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3) He tells His disciples "many will say I am Christ." It is so very important to get understanding on this point because of the nature of it. He reveals the means in which they will promote their deception and to what level it will attain. The word translated "Christ" in this verse is Christos which is literally translated as anointed. It is used over 500 times in the New testament in describing Jesus as Messiah (The Anointed One). What is interesting is that it is derived from the root chrio whaich means to anoint or set apart. This word is only used (5) times in the New Testament and (3) of those times it is specifically speaking about Jesus.

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Why is that important? Think about what He said concerning this "leading away from the truth." He says the markings of it will be that they say, "I am anointed!" Whoa!! How many times have you heard someone hear a minister or hear a singer and say, "They are sure anointed!" It has become the buzz word of the modern church. It is a word that seems to validate whatever a person does because they are anointed and thus (presumably) off limits to criticism, correction or rebuke!

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The have an easy task in leading people away from the truth because they have attained this false sense of spiritual superiorty over the common (or less-anointed) Christian. But one must ask themselves the question: Are they anointed? Or are they just able to stir my emotions or challenge my intellect. Today the "anointing" is discerned through "chill bumps", racious displays, bizarre behavior or soulish manipulation--rather than through the standard of the Word of Truth.

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A word (anointed) that was used so seldom in describing individuals other than Jesus in the New Testament has certainly become widespread in these last days---just as He said it would!

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I remember years ago hearing people talk about, "How anointed Carlton Pearson was." I knew people that belonged to his "Azusa Conference" and believed it was the group to belong to. I wonder if they still feel that way now? Was he a very gifted orator? Yes, absolutely. Could he bring the house down with his singing with his Gospel choir? Oh yeah! But think about this for a moment:

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I John 2:18-19 "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us."

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I mentioned that there were (3) examples of this in the videos. The first was obviously Carlton Pearson. The second may have slipped past you because it was much more subtle. Do you recall where they shower Oral Roberts prophesying of this great revival taking place that would be led by the African-American community and then he said that specificall Carlton Pearson would be its leader! THAT was a totally false prophecy!

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I noticed that he never came out and repented for giving a false word...but I guess he is not required to repent for being a false prophet---because that say that he is anointed and thus exempt from being corrected. The third was probably obvious to anyone that watches the news. They had Ted Haggard, the recently exposed and disposed President of the National Association of Evangelicals, chiming in on the teaching of Carlton Pearson. He was quick to acknowledge the error of Pearson---but seeming left out his sin of homosexuality in the process.

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Each of these men have had huge followings. They each have pastored and deceived many in the process. "Take Heed" my friends, we are in the end times.

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PART (3) Tomorrow!