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

selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains… Philippians 1:15-16

False ministries can also be fueled by a spirit of covetousness (1 Tim. 6:5-10; Tit. 1:11; 2 Peter 2:3). In other words…they want your money and your possessions. They use their gifts to manipulate people into giving money directly to them. Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don't tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich. 6 Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. 7 After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:4-10, NLT Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of them, Christ and his true way will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction is on the way. 2 Peter 2:2-3, NLT

Finally, false ministries can be fueled by a desire for a following (Acts 20:29-30).

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