One of my friends had a good post on the reasons for discernment in the faith….it is true anyone who enters into this realm or discussion is at risk of being attacked.
”Political Correctness consists of compromise in order to preserve a false unity. That is not what we are called to do. Instead, we must be discerning as we confront, rebuke, and expose those who teach what is false because that is what God has commanded us to do.”
Mike is 75 years old, almost my age, and his faith history is similar, although he leans towards the Baptist side. His discussion though is right in line with the Westminster Confessions description of the Visible and Invisible Church. And in this aspect, we see the heart of the problem.
WCF CHAPTER 25
Of the Church
1. The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
2. The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.
3. Unto this catholic visible church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth, by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto.
4. This catholic church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.
5. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will.
6. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.
Not everybody out there is a true deceiver, most are at best just deceived and have good intentions. But there are true false teachers, who know it, or worse people who pray on others, or profit off of them.
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
Also pragmatism is rampant. It’s easy to fall into the trap that numbers, success, large churches mean one is into the truth. Just read the history of the Roman Catholic Church(RCC), i.e. the largest “denomination” or as they say the “true” church. Or about Islam which even out ranks the RCC in numbers. Then again maybe it was the Reformation that got it wrong. Mike doesn’t discuss those aspects. What he says mostly applies to the smaller Evangelical, Charismatic, Prophesy, or Word of Faith, Prosperity Gospel, New Apostolic Reformation side of the Visible Church….with it’s many forms.
I wanted to capture Mike’s verses in my KJV. But the message is clear in the LSB.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
1Th 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
There are of course many more….
I was going to add a comment but could not add images…
I’ve found two other similar posts on this recently…
The article below has this quote:
And this was an excellent read on Syncretism, also worth reading.. it’s a new site for me.
Read the 2 page article and the others in the original site.
Article on syncretism was first published
in Gospel Fellowship Association’smagazine, Sowing & Reaping, the Winter/Spring 2026 issue entitled,
The Pure Gospel or Another Gospel?
It’s interesting that the words about seeds and agriculture are quite popular at least in our local church and the long time kids mission we support. Seeds to Sower, Rooted and Reaching.
Rainbow Trout 