Beware of the Counterfeit

This is a modified version of the reply I gave to a person who needed some clarification on how we can keep ourselves safe from being not deceived by those who pretend to be the Lord’s workers:

I’ve seen through these years after I have come to faith that many of those who take Christ’s name are counterfeit! So, we have to be ‘shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves’ (Matthew 10: 16).

I have heard of a book circulated by apostles in the early centuries mentioning as to how to discern a false teacher! What they say is that whoever comes to you and asks you for money for themselves in Jesus’ name would be a false teacher, whatever else he says! In those times when there was no printing, and written manuscripts of the Bibles were not so much available as we have today, that principle was very useful to those early Christians! But I’ve to say that it is equally or rather more beneficial to today’s Christians also as they can write off vast majority of so-called ‘pastors’ today with this single test!!

So, if some money-loving counterfeit preacher approaches me for money, I do not want to give him even a single paise! As somebody said: “What these people are doing in Jesus’ name, is what Jesus Himself would never have done!” We are accountable for each rupee God has entrusted us! So we need to ask Him before we “help” others! I also have made many mistakes in the past in helping others without discernment!

Lord Jesus said in Luke 16:13: “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

True gospel frees you from the love of money. Lord Jesus is with a whip today too, against those who are cheating people and extracting their money in His name!

The Lord has called only a few people to full-time Christian work and has given them the faith to trust Him for their daily needs! But the tragedy is that so many have ventured to do His work as a means of gain! (1 Timothy 6: 5). The Word of God clearly commands us to “avoid those who hold to form of godliness and deny its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). I never wish to be part of a church which is led by such covetous persons, because otherwise I’ll be disobeying His Word! Jesus told many things to people IN LOVE (Ephesians 4: 15) without caring whether they would get offended and leave Him. We have to follow His example.

The commandment in the Scripture is: “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” (Ephesians 5: 11).

At the same time, we need to be sensitive and generous to the needs of those who are sacrificially and selflessly serving the Lord and those who are really poor! Only the Lord can give us wisdom concerning these! So, though we have to be strict against sin and hypocrisy, we have to be loving and compassionate as well, because that’s the balance we see in our Lord Jesus.