Zeal without Knowledge

I recently discovered Voddie Baucham. He has a great teaching on Zeal without Knowledge that I highly recommend that you listen to: Click on link below for popup (Make sure to have it pop up in new window!)

http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=53111240487

The original is located here along with other teachings he did.

When I was in the cult the Way International, I learned many strange doctrines. All the doctrines that the Way taught were all found in the bible – clear as day. Their doctrines ranged from some fairly innocuous ones like, that Peter denied Christ six times and that there was four crucified with Christ, to some more elaborate and blasphemous ones. Dr. Victor Paul Weirwille, who founded the cult, wrote several books, one of which was called, “Jesus Christ is NOT God.” I read that book, and even believed what was written therein. I read all their books and believed all their doctrines. Why wouldn’t I? How could I, as a baby believer, know that they were leading me astray?

Well, I couldn’t know it. They all believed the same as me. They were all astray themselves even as they were led. Dr. Weirwille claimed a special anointing from the Lord to teach these “truths” out of the bible. He claimed several confirmations from the Lord, that what he was teaching was the ONLY truth. That all those people who didn’t believe like we did, were out from under the protection of God, and especially those who may reject our specific teachings. Those that left the “ministry” were doubly damned because having had the truth, then rejecting it, well, there was no more sacrifice for sin for them, was there? Woe to those who reject the ONE TRUE MINISTRY.

Did you know that you can prove abortion is not a sin out of the bible? Well, they did it in the Way International. You’re not alive until you take your first breath – nephesh kai – or something like that, I don’t remember now. Adam wasn’t alive until God breathed into him the breath of life. It also says that holy “thing” when referring to Mary’s pregnancy. Look it up. It’s there. They just sort of glossed over the fact that John was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. Or the fact that the life of the flesh is in the blood. But all that doesn’t matter. To the undiscerning and in my case, unstable, if it’s in the bible like that, it must be true.

Someone recently wrote an article and I truly apologize because I cannot remember where I read this, that God chooses people’s delusions, and that He will use wrongly dividing the Word to do it. Like homosexual’s who try to prove that homosexuality is not a sin or who (I hate it when they do this) try to teach that David and Johnathan were gay or even Jesus. No. Sorry. The Word doesn’t say those things, yet they will try to prove their false doctrines out of the Word.

In these last days, false prophets and false teachers will abound. I don’t believe that a person has to have evil motives or even be a wolf in sheep’s clothing to be a false teacher. They just have to zealously believe that their false doctrines arrived by wrongly dividing God’s Word, is the absolute truth. Deceiving and being deceived. When I was in the Way – I was filled with false doctrines that I believed wholeheartedly. I loved to go out witnessing and I took several new believers under my wing because I loved God and loved His Word. It wasn’t until later that I found out that what I believed was false. Just like when I believed in a Pre-Trib Rapture. Oh what a sad day of cognitive dissonance that was to learn that Jesus wasn’t going to come take me away from all this before everything turned to crap.

Don’t just be willing to take someone’s word for it, when it comes to knowledge from God’s Word. The Holy Spirit Himself will teach you from the Word. Don’t doubt yourself if you feel like something does not line up with the Word. It probably doesn’t. But unless you make the every single day commitment to study God’s Word for yourself, you are on the edge of being deceived. This whole world is SATURATED in false doctrine, lies and propaganda. Unless you have a solid relationship with the Lord for yourself and are rooted and grounded in the truths of God’s Word – you will be led astray. Your adversary, as a roaring lion, is wandering about seeking whom he may devour and if you are a serious student of the bible and have a tender close relationship with God, well, my friend, you have a target on your head. The adversary will now use every weapon in his arsenal against you and especially your own weaknesses.

Pray that the Lord will protect you from false doctrines and deception. Draw close to the Father, because He is the only safe place to be.

Blessings in Christ
Linda