-Strength for Today - "The Pied Pipers in Our Churches Today." -2 Timothy 4: 3-4
The Pied Piper was supposed to be a savior of sorts to the people of Hamelin. He would rid the town of its rat infestation once and charged only one-thousand guilders, or in US dollars, $597.97, for doing the job. But the “two-legged rats” that ran the town council cheated him of his pay. And he being bent on revenge:
· Lured all of the children away, and
· They never returned.
This was easily accomplished because he had previously told the council, “I’m able, by means of a secret charm, to draw all creatures living beneath the sun that creep or swim or fly or run after me so as you never saw” This tale is an excellent metaphor of how easy God’s children are led astray. Our adversary, the devil, used that same mindset when selfishly seeking his self-perceived greatness, (Isaiah 14:12-14), but God refused –verses 15-16.
Angry, and bent on revenge, that old devil sought to lead God’s children away from Him forever. Like the pied piper, he arrogantly believes that he is able, by means of deception, to draw all creatures living beneath the sun. The devil knows quite well how to appeal to mankind’s carnal natures. His deceptions often come:
· Wrapped in religiosity, that
· Appears to be the Light of God.
Paul in writing to Timothy said, “For the time will come when they, (men and Women), will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lust shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they will turn their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” – 2 Timothy 4:4-5.
Many people earnestly seek truth, but fail to discern unsound doctrine simply because they trust in the undeserved “credibility” of those false teachers, rather than seeking truth for themselves. Certainly I’m not speaking against any of God’s truly appointed ministers, but I do want to encourage you to make sure that those
· ‘Big shot’ ministers, from
· Whose tables you’re dining, are
· Truly called men and women of God!
The Bible says, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light”. It then is no great thing that his ministers also are transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” -2 Corinthians 11:14, 15. We’ve been warned that there are pied pipers, (wolves) wearing sheep clothing, who are leading people astray. It is easy to follow these kinds of leaders because they are very charismatic. Furthermore, most of their teachings are biblically based; which explains why these ‘ministers’ gain such popularity despite their spiritual corruption.
Being deceived is certainly no sin, because it can happen to all of us at some time or another. How, then, do we guard against the deception of these false “ministers of righteousness” You must, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” -2 Timothy 2:15). Because if you know the truth, you won’t be easily deceived by that which isn’t!
Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr., PhD