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Religious con artists are constantly at work across our land. Making their
hearers feel "really good," they regale deluded victims with psychological
theories, pervert Bible doctrine, promise heaven for nothing, provide
drama, concerts, and other entertainment, then laugh all the way to the
bank with their victims' money.
Chances are good that you have at one time been victimized by one of these hucksters. He's your "Pastor," and, as such, he's a member of one of the largest groups of legal snake oil salesmen in the world—the hireling clergy. He's also Satan's most valuable ally in deceiving and destroying men's souls. These religious con men are able to practice their nefarious trade unhindered and live opulent lifestyles because their victims support them. While they may give lip service to your salvation, their real agenda is to pick your pockets for their 30 pieces of weekly silver. But let the New Testament describe them: "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water; carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever...and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." (Jude 11-13, 16). Devoid of spiritual substance and following in the steps of Judas, these leeches in the denominational industry are more than willing to sell the Son of God to the highest bidder. They dare not preach the Truth lest the cash flow from those whose ears they tickle be dried up. They are spiritual Copperheads who strike with deadly doctrines, then slither away seeking more victims who love to be tranquilized with their deadly venom. Pretending to preach Christ who said, "The Son of man hath not where to lay his head," (Matthew 8:19-20), many of these religious phonies live in 4-bedroom splendor. With their IRAs, 401Ks, inflated salaries and free medical and life insurance, they dare not tell their hearers the Truth. Instead, most of them preach Universalism, denying the existence of hell and the punishment of the wicked and disobedient. Their message is one of ease—that all will at last be saved and one has absolutely nothing to do to enter heaven. That damnable doctrine will probably send more people to hell than any other since Satan's lie to Eve in the garden of Eden. And why do they do it? To paraphrase a political line from recent years, "It's the money, stupid!" Pursuing the lifestyle of the Religious Rich, some "pastors" even work on a commission basis, receiving a large percentage of the weekly collection. Like barkers at carnival sideshows, they provide what people want instead of the Truth, and their greed for money forbids them to do anything else. They are religious deceivers changing the truth of God into a lie at the expense of their deluded followers. Their god is their own belly and their damnation is sure. "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." (2 Peter 2:2-3). These hucksters dare not tell their followers the Truth about righteous living. People just don't like to hear that God doesn't approve those things that satisfy the lusts of the flesh. Just listen to the verbal sewage spewing from the mouths of your co-workers who claim to be religious folks. They'll tell you they've been "born again," but their "Pastor" wouldn't touch the subject of the works of the flesh with a ten-foot-pole. Instead, he tells them that "God accepts you just as you are. He doesn't demand any change in the way you live because his grace covers it all." That's exactly what they want to hear, so they dig a little deeper to make that "Pastor" a little richer. But God doesn't accept anyone "just the way you are." That's why Jesus used the word "converted" in Matthew 18:3, when he said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." The word "converted" means to be changed. God doesn't accept a sodomite who continues to be a sodomite, a drunkard who continues to be a drunkard, or a thief who continues to steal. He demands a change of conduct. But that Truth doesn't appeal to the masses, so religious hucksters deny God's word and allow their followers to wallow in a cesspool of sin so the cash will keep rolling in. The apostle Paul—whose motives and conduct were light years removed from modern denominational preachers—suffered unspeakable privation and physical punishment just to preach Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:23-30). But you won't find Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, or Assembly of God hirelings preaching like that today. If they did, they'd be tarred and feathered by hedonistic parishioners who don't want to hear that Christ allows divorce only for the cause of fornication, (Matt. 19:9), that dancing is lasciviousness, that shacking up without marriage is sin, that drunkenness will send them to hell, that filthy language is a mark of the devil's child or that they have to obey the gospel to go to heaven. (Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9). Masquerading as preachers of righteousness, denominational hirelings are wolves in sheep's clothing. They not only fleece their flocks each week, but spiritually devour their souls while doing service to Satan. It shouldn't come as any surprise if the welcome mat at the door of hell is made from the hides of denominational preachers. |