Sunday, February 12, 2012

False Prophets

Thanks to Right Minded for the inspiration on this one.

Several months ago, in Sunday School, Right Minded asked the question: what is a prophet?
I had always held that a prophet was one who had been given divine inspiration of events that would come to pass - events in the future. This was an incorrect position to hold. As was pointed out, a prophet is: "A person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God." (Definition #1 at this link)

A False Prophet is, therefore, by definition: one who is either not inspired by God, or is not proclaiming the will of God. Included herein would be proclaiming something that is not God's will.

Similar to this is heresy: "Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (esp. Christian) doctrine." OR "Opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted" (Definition from this link). The singular difference in the terms revolves around whether the concept is against God's will, or against generally accepted doctrine. There exists the possibility that accepted doctrine might be contrary to God's will.

A false prophet would include anyone who teaches something in direct contrast to God's will, as found in the Bible. This would include those who teach:
- Islam (Jesus said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."), and other false religions.
- Calvinism (Jesus said: "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. ... He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day."), and other false doctrines and teachings not supported by the Bible.  
- Atheism (Jesus said:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.")
- Agnosticism (Jesus said:  "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."), specifically agnostic theism
- Christians or those claiming to be, that teach things contrary to scripture. 

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