Watchout For WOLVES: Keys To Discerning Authentic Ministries & Evaluating Doctrinal Trends

2. Watch out for anything that requi res “private interpretation” (2 Pet. 1:20 ).

Paul wrote this in 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 (NLT):

I hope you will be patient with me as I keep on talking like a fool. Please bear with me. I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ. But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent. You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. People love to tell you about truths that they uncovered through deep prayer or study — or worse yet, from a vision, dream or angelic visitation. How many cults have originated by the appear ance of an “angel of light?” (2 Cor. 11:14). The word of God is still the standard. God’s path and plan are not complex and God has no delight in concealing Himself or His truth from His people. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Philippians 3:1 The Gospel and the way to salvation is basically simple as opposed to complex. God has designed His plan for man in such a way that it is readily open to all who are born of the Spirit (2 Cor. 4:3). There are some ministries who are filled with pride who would seek you make their followers overly dependent upon them. In this way they can control them though their deeper understanding.

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