mislead the sheep
http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/in-the-line-of-fire/52827-a-warning-to-shepherds-who-mislead-the-sheep
Some of the strongest warnings in the Bible are directed to leaders who mislead God's people, to prophets and priests and pastors and teachers who by their example or their doctrine lead the sheep into sinful conduct and destructive beliefs.
Recently, I was speaking to a pastor about a major church in his city that had just announced its support for committed homosexual unions, sending shockwaves throughout the region, since it is a highly influential church that claims to be "evangelical."
I said to him, "There are obviously other areas of compromise in their midst," to which he replied, "When we met with the one of their key pastors, he explained that he was now 'inclusive' when it came to salvation"—meaning that people of all religions are saved through Jesus, even if they don't believe in Him, as long as they don't willfully opt out. The pastor also told me that, "The leader I was speaking with dropped (expletives) during our interaction and then lit up a cigarette as soon as we went outside."
Is it any surprise that this pastor has now changed his beliefs about homosexuality?
Some of the strongest warnings in the Bible are directed to leaders who mislead God's people, to prophets and priests and pastors and teachers who by their example or their doctrine lead the sheep into sinful conduct and destructive beliefs.
Recently, I was speaking to a pastor about a major church in his city that had just announced its support for committed homosexual unions, sending shockwaves throughout the region, since it is a highly influential church that claims to be "evangelical."
I said to him, "There are obviously other areas of compromise in their midst," to which he replied, "When we met with the one of their key pastors, he explained that he was now 'inclusive' when it came to salvation"—meaning that people of all religions are saved through Jesus, even if they don't believe in Him, as long as they don't willfully opt out. The pastor also told me that, "The leader I was speaking with dropped (expletives) during our interaction and then lit up a cigarette as soon as we went outside."
Is it any surprise that this pastor has now changed his beliefs about homosexuality?
When God spoke to Jeremiah about the sins of the false prophets, he was devastated: "My heart is broken within me, because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD, and because of His holy words" (Jeremiah 23:9; I once heard a preacher use this verse to justify getting "drunk in the Spirit"; what an abuse of the Word!).
The prophets of Samaria had been guilty of prophesying in the name of Baal, misleading the nation. But what the prophets of Jerusalem did was even worse, "I have seen also among the prophets of Jerusalem a horrible thing. They commit adultery and walk in lies. They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one repents from his wickedness. All of them are as Sodom to Me and her inhabitants as Gomorrah" (Jeremiah 23:14).
