Reminder:
This Thursday night is the Digging Deep Live Podcast. If you are doing this challenging Facebook study, or if you just want to learn more about it, be sure to tune in Thursday night at 7 o’clock. Click the link below:
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/112808
Guess It’s the Costume Time of Year…
Did anybody see that amazing moment in the Arizona/UCLA game last Thursday night? Take a look at this clip:
I’ve never seen anything like that in a football game. It’s just unbelievable how that guy was able to walk right out onto the field, stop the play, suspend the game, and deprive UCLA of the opportunity to snap the ball and take the final four seconds of the half to try and make some badly needed points. A few observations about this incident and the Monday edition of Bless Your Heart is yours.
1. A disguise is often very effective. This guy looked like a referee. He carried himself through the people on the sidelines like a referee. He acted with authority on the field like a referee. But he was not facilitating the progress of the game. He was hindering that progress. In Matthew 7: 15, Jesus warned about some people in disguise who can make their way into the body of Christ and get in the way of progress:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
2. The real referees were caught off-guard. They were not expecting this to happen. They trusted one another. They had confidence in one another and that’s a really good thing, until someone who is dishonest enters the playing arena. Leaders in the body of Christ, while loving each other and working together to feed the flock, must constantly be aware of the possibility that a false prophet could put on a disguise and lead the sheep astray (Acts 20:28,29).
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
3. The fake referee was able to stop the game. Sometimes the “fake” Christian in the body is able to stop the progress of the Lord’s people. In the case of UCLA, movement toward the goal was badly needed. Sometimes the false teacher can enter the body when it is weak, malnourished, or discouraged and just succeed in stopping any progress that might have occurred. This happened when Miriam lost her focus and stopped the people of God for seven entire days in Numbers 12.
4. Any possible points were forfeited. Now this was a pretty big deal to the UCLA team at that moment, but not such a big deal in the grand eternal scheme. But the interference of a false prophet may result in the forfeiture (loss) of eternal souls. The flock will often not be spared. That’s a tragic deal.
5. The real referee came extremely close to handing the impostor the ball. Sometimes this happens in the Lord’s church. Sometimes leaders hand over authority to the false teacher before checking out his background or taking time to know him or understand his motives. God excluded novices from those qualified to be elders (I Timothy 3:6). Congregations should be very careful to make sure prospective elders are seasoned in the faith and worthy of wearing the “uniform.” It becomes more complicated once an unqualified man has been “handed the ball.”
6. Mayhem resulted. The playing field erupted into fighting and chaos. Have you seen a congregation erupt into spiritual mayhem because of the entry of false teachers? I have. It’s not any prettier than what occurred on this field in Arizona. May we work in the body of Christ to be aware of those who may not be about facilitating spiritual progress, but may have agendas of self promotion or, worse, stopping the progress toward the goal.
