Exposing the Illusion: Confronting False Prophets and Celebrity Christianity

Ezekiel 13-14; 2 Corinthians 12; Proverbs 20

I don’t know if it’s just me or the season I’m in, but every time I open the Word, the Lord speaks about a false movement—a false prophetic system that drove His people away from His heart. In the New Testament, Jesus stands against a false religious system. Paul continues this theme, confronting celebrity Christianity. Regardless of the testament, there has always been a false movement contending against simple devotion.

But friends, it’s everywhere. These warnings permeate the scriptures. And yet, I had somehow forgotten. I thought I was safe. I believed I would be able to spot the difference. I assumed I would recognize the red flags.

So, it’s humbling to see it all in the pages. Ezekiel wrote about this false movement in his day, and it feels as though no time has passed at all.

Ezekiel 13 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ 3 Thus says the Lord God, ‘Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. 5 You have not gone up into the breaches or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect Him to fulfill their word. 7 Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the Lord,’ although I have not spoken?”

In an age where phrases like: “This is the year of acceleration…” “This is the season of the open door…” “The beginning of the beginnings has begun…” pass for the prophetic, does it take the gift of discernment to see we are in trouble?

First of all, it’s always the year of acceleration: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” (Matthew 11:12)

Secondly, the door is always open: “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.'” (Revelation 4:1)

And thirdly, what in the world is “the beginning of the beginnings has begun” even supposed to mean?

The true prophetic, just like this passage in Ezekiel says, is not about lofty (or weird) phrases. The prophetic man or woman is apprehended to fill in the breach and build up the wall. The apprehended man or woman carrying the heart of the Lord for a region or a nation is delivering a message that demands a response. They don’t come to deliver “food for thought.”

How are we still falling for this stuff?

I wonder if the extent to which we have been duped is the extent of our own complicity in the false. Could it be that we are duped because we wanted to be?

It’s probably a good thing I don’t have much of a circulation. I don’t know how encouraging it is to wrestle through these questions. Encouraging or not, I pray the Lord would continue to sift me. And if you’ll let Him, to sift you too.

Let’s keep reading the Word. As it turns out, the prophetic words recorded from all those years ago still do their good work. As I read, I just keep responding to the Lord’s call to come back to my first love, back to the things I did at the first. I pray you keep coming home too.

Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts

1. Identifying False Movements: Reflect on a time when you encountered teachings or movements that seemed at odds with the simplicity of the Gospel. What were the red flags? How did you discern the truth?
2. First Love Reflection: Consider what it means to return to your “first love” in your faith journey. What were the foundational acts of faith and devotion that drew you closer to God initially? How can you incorporate those practices into your life now?
3. The Danger of Celebrity Christianity: Write about your thoughts on “celebrity Christianity” and its impact on modern faith practices. How does this compare to the humility and simplicity that Jesus modeled?
4. Ezekiel’s Warning Today: Ezekiel spoke against false prophets in his time. How do you see his warnings being relevant in today’s spiritual landscape? Are there specific “false visions” or “lying divinations” that you feel the church is contending with today?
5. Personal Response to God’s Call: Reflect on your own response to God’s call to come back to simplicity and pure devotion. What specific steps can you take to deepen your communion with Jesus through practices like communing intercession?

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