The Prophet Killers

Paul the great New Testament writer gave some brilliant Godly advice to the younger Timothy, encouraging him to "watch his life & doctrine closely". His words are just as much needed today as they were 2000 years ago.. There are still con men around who are out to rip off or control sincere believers, and there are many who push heretical doctrines that can deeply warp our relationship with God or even cause us to make ship wreck of our faith. We need to examine our conscience on a regular basis, to repent of sin in our lives & after that to rest in His amazing Grace. When we hear a teaching we need to go, like the noble Bereans, and search the scriptures for ourselves, to see if what was said is true. In other words to"test all things". All of this is good and part of the normal Christian life. But some just keep on going and don't know where to stop. They cross a line from testing to constantly attacking. Taking on the garb of the Pharisees they are just like them. Jesus cried out against them in Matthew 23 saying "Woe to you Pharisees & hypocrites...direct descendants of those who murdered the prophets....whom you kill or flog or pursue from town to town".

In their eyes and hearts there is always a threat and a danger and somehow they are the ones God has called to put the rest of the church right. They are the ones who are protectors of the "truth". Anyone who disagrees with them is in league with the devil. Only they, and perhaps a tiny number of others (it's always a very small group) can keep the rest of us from certain disaster. They have inherited the mantle of "tithing mint & cumin & garden spices yet neglecting justice and the love of God" Luke 11:42

At Grace we have thankfully been spared this type of constant judgment for the most part. We have only had the odd brief encounter with the Prophet Killers, who usually moved on into wonderful isolation where they kept themselves "holy" and uncontaminated from the rest of the Body of Christ. But I have seen the destruction they have left behind in other churches and movements. Vicious! In my experience the Prophet Killer has a lot of turmoil going on in their own lives and as a coping mechanism they turn their focus to projecting their frustrations on others. As it's not acceptable in Christian circles to simply slander and attack in a raw and naked way, these people disguise their carnality in "Christian" clothes and become instead a self styled "watchman on the walls".

When you see someone cross the line from Biblical Follower to Prophet Killer, here's what Paul said to Titus in chapter 3. "Avoid foolish controversies & quarrels because they are unprofitable and useless. Warn the divisive man twice. You may be sure such a man is warped & sinful. After that have nothing to do with him." Biblical wisdom or what!