The Counterfeit Gospel is Real!

By Pastor R.L. Beasley

There is a considerable amount of Scripture warning us about religious deception and the ministers of it. There are obvious phony religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Scientology, Mormonism and a host of others. However, in the midst of this is a counterfeit of Christianity, which is just as damning as the false religions I mentioned.

The Prophets of the Old Testament, Jesus and the Apostles in the New Testament each addressed this most serious subject, and so should anyone else led by the Holy Spirit. Yet, in our day, there seems to be a shortage of teaching about this topic.

The Word & Discernment

Exposing bogus religion and false teachings is a biblical mandate to every Christian including ministers. The Book of Jude warns Christians to “earnestly contend [fight] for the Faith.” We are to stand up for the true faith. This is not a passive action and it requires us to be focused and energized by the Holy Spirit.

We have this warning from Jude because there are those who use the Bible to mislead people into false doctrines and half-truths that undermine the true faith. This little epistle of Jude speaks about false Apostles who “crept in unawares [secretly].” Where did they creep? They crept into the true Church, and the people were unaware of it.

The book of Titus is a guide for ministers called of God. As ministers of righteousness, we should be blameless stewards of God, holding fast to His Word. Scripture commands us to use sound doctrine to expose the vain talkers and deceivers who mislead entire households by teaching things forbidden, for ill-gotten money. Ministers are instructed to rebuke them sharply with a purpose of making them sound in the faith.

A counterfeit gospel looks like the real thing, and it takes the Word of God and discernment from the Holy Spirit to comprehend the difference. There are many aspects and people involved in spurious gospel teachings, and most who are caught up in this do not realize it – however Satan is behind it all.

Satan attempts to lure people away from the solid truth of Scripture. He tried it with Jesus, but failed in his attempt to twist the truth of God. This was an old trick he used on Adam and Eve, and he still uses it today. First Timothy 4:1 warns Christians about “seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” Because of many false prophets, I John 4 tells us not to believe “every spirit, but to try the spirits whether they are of God…”

The Apostle Paul addressed the counterfeits of Christianity in II Corinthians 11:4 when he warned us about another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel. Verses 14 and 15 tell us, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.” He was referring to false apostles pretending to be apostles of Christ, who in reality were not sent by God.

The Lord intended for Christians, in all generations, to realize that He has not called everyone who teaches and preaches from the Bible! As I have stated, Christians need discernment from the Holy Spirit, to spot preachers who teach false doctrines. This is something every Christian should know, however, some have no idea this is in the Bible. When was the last time you heard a message on this subject? I hope it has not been long.

None of us are above being fooled. If we are not grounded in Scripture and in touch with our Lord through prayer, and open to the discernment of the Holy Spirit, we can be duped by an imitation gospel.

I believe there are people who have no idea whether they are following God or the devil. If we seek the Lord, our Heavenly Father will show us who our Father really is – the devil or God!

In John 8, Jesus told the Jewish religious leaders that their father was the devil. They had plenty of religion, but their heart was wrong. They tithed, prayed, studied Scripture and were in the Temple at the appointed times – however, they had no idea their religion was false and inspired by Satan. He has a supernatural power and he uses it to deceive people in the Church. A growing number of people who say they are Christian, do not even believe the devil is real.

The devil attempts to deceive people into following him rather than God. Isaiah 14 tells us that the devil views himself as being above God. He said, “I will be like the most High.” To be like something is not the same as being something. He is a counterfeit and uses any minister possible to promote his false teachings or a false religion.

In II Timothy 3, the Apostle Paul speaks to false Christianity when he describes the perilous last days. I believe this is speaking of the days we are living in. In verses 5 and 6, he tells us that people will have “a form of godliness,” and to “turn away” from it. A form of something can look like the real thing, like counterfeit money, which is often difficult to detect. We are to ditch any false teaching, even if our favorite preacher promotes it.

The subject of a “form of godliness” continues in verse 13, as the apostle writes, “But evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” As I have stated, only discernment from the Holy Spirit can reveal these things to us.

Some people are prime victims of false doctrines and false teachers. They love the feel good, sugarcoated gospel, which may sound correct, but in reality, it does not bring them to a proper repentance, self-denial or a truthful submission to Jesus Christ. Their belief is in vain. They may go to church, worship and praise God, study the Bible, and may even call Jesus Lord, but Jesus does not know them!

Jesus Must Be The Object of Our Faith

In Matthew 7:15, Jesus warns us about false prophets, and their fruit. In verses 21-23 He warns us that, “Not everyone that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works?’ Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”

These are shocking words spoken by our Lord. It does not matter what we say or do unless Jesus truly becomes our Lord through repentance and a heartfelt belief of His Gospel. The Holy Spirit bears witness with us whether or not we are a true believer.

The Apostle Paul says this in II Corinthians 13, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Nice sounding words mean nothing if they come from a heart far from the Lord. An example of this is the religious Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 15:7-9. Jesus called them hypocrites who drew close to Him with their mouth, and honored Him with their lips; but their heart was far from Him and they taught doctrines and commandments of men. Their words were right, but their worship was wrong.

In spite of how great the message may sound, if it takes us away from the cross of Christ and complete faith in what Jesus did there, it is not the true Gospel! Jesus, and obedience to Him, must be the object of our faith. To focus on our human ability and will power frustrates (voids) the grace of God, yet many people trust in themselves.

Counterfeit Ministry

Much of evangelical America is big business today. Christ is preached and professed from multitudes of pulpits, however, He is denied in various ways! There are too many churches where Jesus is not permitted to be the head. Ministers do not let Him lead them in preaching. Too many people run churches rather than lean to the Holy Spirit for direction.

Some ministers are drunk with the lust for fame or power and they compromise to get it. Others love money and compromise the message because they are afraid of losing that “good giver.”

Still others work to build large ministries to feed their ego. Some of them are like corporate CEO’s who use business techniques to build crowds – sometimes even into huge mega-churches. There is lots of glitz and glamour with few or no true conversions. Compromising the Word of God to please people is the order of the day in a growing number of churches. There is a multitude of ungodly motives in our pulpits today and those who support this foolishness need to wake up!

Many churches select a pastor based on education, success at another church; or how charming they are! Many pulpit committees take a carnal approach in selecting a pastor. They rarely shut themselves up with God for prayer and direction, because they want that good-looking resume. What do they get? They get the spirit of the world. Social clubs with prayer-less ministers who refuse to seek the Lord for guidance in their preaching or any aspect of the church. They get preachers who take polls in the community to see what people want to hear. They get ministers who constantly scan the Internet for clever sermon ideas or they will preach something from their favorite TV preacher. Much of the time, the church gets deceptive false doctrines and a counterfeit faith.

There is no anointing from the Holy Spirit in many of our churches today. However, the spirit of the world is rampant, and many people love to have it so! As a result, the music and message in many churches and media ministries, has become so watered down, it offends no one. It is a counterfeit gospel of sugarcoated, up-lifting messages adapted to fit the sinful needs of the fallen sinful nature of mankind. The clever messages in most churches entertain; promote a positive mental attitude, worldly success, how to get rich, and many other flesh pleasing topics. It’s the wisdom of man and sounds good to the self-centered sin nature, but it is all bogus!

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught:”

That is an example of how we are to preach, given to us by the Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 2:1-5.

The Name Christian is Tossed Around a Lot

Have you noticed? We have so-called Christian ventriloquists, Christian magicians, Christian comedians, Christian tattoos, Christian nightclubs, Christian youth centers full of rebellion and the spirit of the world. Were these methods used to reach the world when the church began in the books of Acts? The answer is no.

There are many Christian movements today. God’s people need Holy Spirit discernment to know the ones sent by God, and the ones that are of the devil! Recently, Newsweek Magazine reported about a new Christian men’s movement, called the “GodMen.” Their story featured a gathering of men in a Nashville warehouse. There were strobe lights and rebellious Christian rock music blaring through thumping speakers. A huge video screen showed people doing stupid stunts. Then it quieted down a little when a Christian comedian took the stage and shouted, “Are you ready to be a man? Are you ready to kick a_ _?” The article said the crowd loved it.

Deceived preachers need to repent and ditch the foolishness we see so much of today, and preach the Word of God without fear!

Second Timothy 4:1-4 is a charge, from the Apostle Paul to Timothy and to every minister the Lord would call thereafter. It says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove; rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Preaching the entire Word of God exposes sin, which often does not set well with people. However, we are to do so even in the face of rejection. We are not to compromise the doctrines of Scripture to comfort those who have ears that itch to hear fleshly things that stroke their egos and make them feel good.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. A person must have the will to let the Word work in their heart. Many refuse it and like our text says, turn away from the truth to lies.

While words proclaim the cross of Christ in many churches, actions proclaim something different – the cross is not the object of the faith and Jesus is not the way. Many Christians have left their first love, Jesus! Like wolves in sheep’s clothing, predators in the pulpit are preying on lukewarm sheep in the pews. The blind are leading the blind.

It’s not common to attend church and see folks weeping and begging God for forgiveness of their sins. There is no pleading with God to create a clean heart and a right spirit within them.

The Holy Spirit is whispering to the Church to come out of the world, repent and return to their first love. However, heartfelt cries of repentance are rare in comparison to the lust for self-indulgence. Growing numbers of churches have no tears at the altar, but they are saturated with the spirit of the world and proud flesh.

Revival!

I hope you are praying for revival. Our churches need the touch of God – a Heaven sent, pride busting, soul trembling, hell shaking revival! One that produces broken spirits and contrite hearts – the real sacrifices of God!

R.L. is a pastor/evangelist and president of R.L. Beasley Ministries, based in Joplin, Missouri. He conducts “Crusades for Christ Revivals;” and is the editor of the “Beacon,” a monthly ministry and news publication. He is in demand as a speaker for Christian conferences and is the former state director for the American Family Association of Missouri. R.L. lives in Joplin with his wife Marilyn. For more information visit his website: rlbeasleyministries.com or write to R. L. Beasley Ministries, P.O. Box 2862, Joplin, MO 64803-2862. You can also call him or e-mail him at (417) 781-5059 or rlbeasley@ipa.net