MAN FOLLOWERS led astray while Ears tickled!
by Alan Yusko

What do I mean by MAN FOLLOWERS? Well a very real danger for Christians is to follow a man and his ministry over and above the Word of God. Here are real examples of man following:

Alberto Rieveria:
Several years ago a man came on the scene pushed to some degree of fame by Jack Chick. Alberto claimed to be a ex-Jesuit priest. He claimed to have all kinds of 'inside' information and presented his 'stories' in many of Chick's comic books. I knew some people who became followers of Alberto. They got to the point that whatever Alberto said was accepted as truth without question. Later I refered to this process as sponge heads. Their heads were like a dry sponge. Then they would hear some more garbage from Alberto and soak up everything he said like water to a dry sponge. The danger is that people blindly acepted what Alberto was saying and became followers of the man rather than followers of Jesus and His word. There was no discernment, no testing, just believing and following the man, Alberto. As time passed Alberto faded away as his stories became repetitive and old news.

Another example is a person called Jim:

Jim claims to be a Christian but I have never seen any evidence of that. Jim used to follow a man called pastor Stair. Pastor Stair would talk (or scream) his sermons on the radio and Jim would always tune in. Jim didn't go to church as he was convinced they were all corrupt. Whatever pastor Stair said was law with Jim. Then came the day when pastor Stair was arrested for abusing children or something like that. Jim realized there was a problem and backed away from pastor Stair. Did Jim turn to Jesus and His Word for guidance? Nope, instead he found another MAN to follow. The man he chose was Mr Gagnon from Montreal. Again all churches are corrupt and should be condemned, which Jim does faithfully. Jim is now following Mr Gagnon who doesn't believe God is a God of love. The problem is not Mr Gagnon as he is just another of the many false teachers out there. The problem is with Jim who is a MAN FOLLOWER...instead of following and walking with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Another example
This is to all the people who were following Jim and Tammy Bakker for years. In the late 70's and early 80's I watched their show and it was a blessing. However I watched the show go from PTL to the Jim and Tammy show. Worldliness and money begging became more prominent and I was not suprised when the ministry fell in the late 1980's. Many people who were MAN followers were wounded by that event.

Then there was Jimmy Swaggart. He was preaching against sin right up until the time he was caught with a prostitute. He was caught twice. How many people were wounded after that situation?

I'm not saying it is wrong to listen to a person teach the Word. There are some good teachers out there but everything should be tested with the Word of God and not blindly accepted. If that teacher contradicts the Bible and brings in exciting, ear-tickling, but false teaching, then that MAN should be rejected along with his teaching. Unfortunately this is not done by a MAN FOLLOWER.

It is very dangerous to be a MAN FOLLOWER. A man follower attaches themselves to that person's ministry. Whatever the MAN says is taken without question. If he contradicts Scripture then it is ignored because the MAN probably knows the Scriptures better than the follower anyway (it is assumed). If anyone points out the errors and false teaching then the MAN FOLLOWERS get very angry. That person is considered divisive and unloving because they would dare to test the teachings of that MAN with Scriptures!

We have several teachers today preaching heresy and have many MAN FOLLOWERS attached to their ministry. Hinn, Copeland, Hagin, Crouch, Mainse, and others have many MAN FOLLOWERS. These people (and a multitude of other people) can put on a good show and tickle the ear. Few people who follow them consider the possibility that they could be teaching heresy. Their followers get mad when false teaching is confronted and tested with Scriptures.

Rather then respond in obedience and faith to God's word, the teachings of the MAN has authority. As time goes on new false teachers will rise up within and without the Church. They will get many MAN FOLLOWERS to blindly follow them. It is easy to be a MAN FOLLOWER because you can just turn off your brain and ride....that must be why so many people do it. They certainly don't do it because they are obedient and love God.

In fact after the rapture a MAN will come to power. He will be very Charismatic and will be loved by many. People will be amazed at him and blindly follow his lead. In the Bible he will be known as the antichrist.

MAN FOLLOWING is an extreme danger in these last days before the return of the Lord Jesus! Set your heart on Jesus and test things with the Word of God and you will not be deceived. Watch the teachings of the 'preachers' today as many (not all) are wolves.

WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS:

There are many warnings of deceivers in the Scriptures in the last days. Christians are constantly warned about the danger of deception. Why would God warn if there was no threat?

1 Timothy 4:1
1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

2 Timothy 4:1
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;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
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;

These days are here right now! Many MAN FOLLOWERS will listen to their fearless leader deny the Trinity, or claim that everyone is a little god, or that you can visualize wealth and prosperity! Doctrine is not an important thing with a MAN FOLLOWER. They have become disobedient to God and unteachable! Notice that Scriptures state that they will not endure sound doctrine. This means that they will hear sound doctrine and the warnings about their MAN and still reject it (as well as those who stand up for the truth). The goal of a MAN FOLLOWER is to itch the ear and to satisfy their lusts for fleshly experiences. This is exactly what the MAN FOLLOWERS offer these gullible, misguided people.

Here are some more warnings about false teachers that should be heeded by those who are obedient and love God:

2 Peter 2:1
1. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Matthew 7:15
15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Romans 16
17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Matthew 24:11
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:24
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Acts 20:29
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

2 Corinthians 11:13
13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Thessalonians 2:3
3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The above verse is very interesting. It indicates a great falling away (from Christianity) before the rise of the antichrist. Since the antichrist is near it is apparent that by the current trend of rejecting sound Biblical doctrine...a falling away is in progress!

1 John 2:18
18. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1 John 4:1
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Peter 2
1. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3. 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.

Christians have many warnings in the Scriptures about deceivers and false prophets. Few people today seem to care. Few people today check things out with the Scriptures like the Bereans did. As a result deception is everywhere inside and outside the church.

What would the Bereans do in the book of Acts?

Acts 17
10. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

BEREANS TESTED WITH THE WORD OF GOD

Notice what the Bereans did after hearing the Apostle Paul teach. Did they blindly receive everything he said? No, verse 11 states that they searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. What they did was to listen to Paul and then go the the Bible to check him out. They checked what God had already revealed with what the Apostle Paul was saying. Now did Paul get angry because they didn't take everything he said blindly? Today the MEN who have blind followers get very angry when their teachings are compared with the Scriptures. All the MAN FOLLOWERS get angry also. However Paul didn't get angry.... have a look at verse 11. Scripture says that they were 'more noble' than those in Thessalonica because they took the time to 'check out Paul' with the Word of God. It is a good, noble, and Christ honoring thing do to by checking things out by the Scriptures!

Are people doing that today? Who is turning to the Word of God to see if what is being taught by all these 'super teachers' lines up with Scriptures? Are people putting teaching to the test OR are they just blindly soaking every wind of doctrine into their brains like a dry sponge looking for water? Unfortunately the latter seems to be true.

As you finish reading this tract ask yourself the question:

ARE YOU A BEREAN????


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