How do Christians get deceived?

A lot of people want to know how Christians can be deceived. They also wonder about and even fear God speaking to them, fearing they will not hear from God, but the evil one. I have wondered about these things too, and have studied through the years, asking God many questions.

One of my questions was: “How can it be that you just spoke this to me, yet I haven’t heard this anywhere else, Father?” See, it was a very big concern to me. I do not wish to be deceived, I have no desire to twist the word to help myself feel better, and I really and truly do want “the truth that makes me free.” Now the Lord has said “the sheep know my voice” (John 10:27). This is a promise! As surely as God “really will save you,” He will make sure you also hear his voice.

There is also another problem, which is “big name” ministries, teaching something that is not entirely true How did they even get to a place they are allowed to deceive so many?

Jeremiah addresses this problem, in speaking of prophets who were not sent by God:

“And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.” Jeremiah 14:14

In First Kings 13:11-23, we find the story of a man (who was a prophet) who was persuaded by another prophet, to get off-course from what God had told him.

Because he did not do what God told him to do, he was killed, and the other prophet wept over him. There have been times if I did not do what God told me (even though some were zealous to share their “God thoughts’ with me) I might have been killed, & I might have been defeated. When it’s all said and done, we need to know that we heard from God, because that is the solid rock on which we stand. We have to know (we heard from him).

There are many ways Christians can get deceived, but if we are fearing “hearing from the Lord,” because of fear of deception, this is not a good thing. God wants to talk to us, share things with us, and reveal the meaning of his words to us, personally. He is a very personal God!

There are teachings out there that may not apply to you. Consider this: A young girl who is destined to be an Olympic gold-medal winner, must train in the area that will be her destiny. While other things, other sports, and other opportunities may seem good to her, if she does not train for her destiny, she will not win the prize.

In the same way, Christians are often distracted by Good things, but they are not the RIGHT things for them personally. We (like the prophet in the book of Kings) need to stick to What God told us, and not be concerning ourselves so much, with what ‘other people say.”

Another way Christians are deceived, is they have been taught something that seemed to be true, but it wasn’t entirely the truth of God.  It is true we are to gather with other believers, but it is not true we all have to attend the same church for the rest of our lives, come hell or high water.

This is a distortion of what God said in his word. Many teachings (and truths) get bent, twisted, and even blown out of proportion. We need these teachings to be rooted out, and if we ask the Lord by his Spirit to do this, he is up to the task!

God does not want us deceived, but we have to willingly surrender our hearts to him, and ask him to root out teachings (and lies) that are not of him. Remember: A lie cannot stand by itself, It has to attach itself to a truth, (and that’s just what the enemy often does!).

Some Christians are overly-zealous, taggng on their own thoughts, along with a God-revealed truth. it reminds me of little kids, who take a truth and just “run with it” Not waiting for the whole entire answer!

We all know this, but still wonder; “What is What.” Some will never come to a church, because they are aware of all the mixed-messages they are hearing from Christians!

Remember this, The Lord IS your Shepherd (Psalm 23). If he can guide a man (our Prophet in 1 Kings 13) before Jesus even came to earth, and before He literally redeemed us all from hell and death, he can certainly guide you my friend, if only you put your full and un-wavering trust in him. He will speak to you! When he does: Will we treat his words like Gold?

-Laura Grace, Author, Grace to Grow