Subtle Deceptions in the Church

"But it seems so beautiful..." "I have such peace about it..." "I know that I heard the voice of God..."

There is a very fine line between truth and deception, so fine that at times we teeter back and forth for some time before we are able to discern between the two.

It is deception in itself to even think that a child of God cannot be deceived. Our Lord has warned us too many times in His Word to think differently. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). "Beware of false prophets..." (Matthew 7:15). "Let no man deceive you with vain words" (Ephesians 5:6). "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith..." (II Corinthians 13:5). "Take heed, brethren, lest there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12). "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God" (I John 4:1). "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation..." (Mark 14:38).

The wiles of Satan come in many shapes and forms, with various names. The tricks and tactics he uses to foil the children of God are shrewd and deceitful, always flavored with a touch of truth and righteousness and appearing to be from God Himself. "And no marvel; for 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..." (II Corinthians 11:14-15).

False prophets come with their false doctrines, consisting of ninety-five per cent truth and five per cent fatal poison. They beguile the unstable soul, corrupting his mind and drawing him from the simplicity that is in Christ (II Corinthians 11:3). Paul said, "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein" (Hebrews 13:9). These are men with spiritual ambitions, religious ideas "which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray," out to save the world. But as Balaam, the son of Bosor, loving the wages of unrighteousness—becoming gods to themselves (II Peter 2:14, 15, 19).

Deception may come wearing a cloak of love—the spirit of false love so prevalent in the world today that has infested the church and may touch even the sons of God if they but yield to it. This love claims to be divine, and at the same time eats away like a cancer and becomes just as deadly to one's spiritual life. It was to the church that these statements were made—"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands..." (Ephesians 5:22). And, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind... shall inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9).

There are other forms of deception, such as self-righteousness, works without faith, haughtiness, pride, sinless perfection and lethargy (false peace). They are encountered down every avenue of the believer's life, secretly waiting at every turn. And if they are yielded to, the deception will draw its victim subtly into a snare, and when securely bound will drop the veil from its hideous, ugly face. He no longer needs to appear as an angel of light, for he knows that there is as much bondage in fear and torment as there is in deception.

It is spiritual warfare with Satan trying to deceive the very elect, nipping at our heels until we step into the gates of heaven. He will do anything to keep a soul from going on with God, making him lukewarm, blinding him to his inheritance in Christ. Jesus asked, "...when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8). He will find works galore, but souls in bondage and saints that have faded back into the world—beyond recognition. It was a minority that He spoke to when He said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).

As dark as it appears, God's light penetrates it all. He has given us in His Word all the whys and the wherefores by which we are deceived—that we may take heed. He has given the key to the deceived, whereby he can be set free. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:32, 36). Every preparation has been made for us to stay free from this life-destroyer. God's Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. He has set His Holy Spirit to convict and to guide us. Our weapons in this warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God. We are able, as Paul said, to put on the whole armour of God, being protected from head to toe.

There is no reality in deception. It is like grabbing at the out-going tide; even that which you hold in your hand disappears. But "to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son" (Revelation 3:21; 21:7).