ramadan 9--false prophets

Dear Friends,

 

I am setting up a blog, as I am receiving some complaints about the volume of emails sent out.  I'll let you know when it can be visited.  Meanwhile, I continue to watch with amazement as the socalled "Christian" right uses every dirty trick imaginable to undermine the voting process, and smear the opposition with lies and innuendos.  I don't understand how they can rationalize the immoral actions of the Bush presidency and Bush campaign with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

 

The rationalizers are the false prophets of the rapture cult, people like Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, and Franklin Graham.  They preach that Bush is anointed and above the law, that to be wealthy is a sign of God's favor, that America is anointed to dominate the world by force, and that the biosphere is doomed to destruction, while Bush voters will be raptured up to everlasting glory.  It is a set of beliefs fostered cynically, I believe, in order that the rapacious pirates of the new world order can mislead the American people. strip us of our assets, and use our tax money to plunder the rest of the world.   Those who accept these rationales set aside their own reason and act like infants.

 

...so that we may no longer be infants,

tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching
arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.
Rather, living the truth in love,

we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ...

Ephesians 4: 14-15

http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/102304.htm

 

Christ is about the truth.  The following is from my forthcoming book, A PEACEMAKER'S BIBLE STUDY:

 

FALSE PROPHETS

Not everyone who claims to speak for God actually does.

Matthew 7: 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The Bible repeatedly warns against false prophets. After Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, Jeremiah wailed,

Lamentations 2:14 The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The oracles they gave you were false and misleading.

Ezekiel railed the spin masters of his day, who covered up for the politicians.

Ezekiel 22: ²⁷ Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. 28 Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says'_when the LORD has not spoken.

Jesus was very concerned about false prophets:

Mt 7:15 Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing,but underneath are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 24: ⁴Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many. ¹⁰At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

How do we tell who is a false prophet? Jesus tells us to look at the fruit:

Matthew 7: 16-20 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them."

False prophets enjoy the trappings of respectability, whereas true prophets tend to be impoverished, and scorned, as Jesus was.

Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.