Beware False Prophets...

Do not be deceived by the wolf in sheep's clothing:

Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name saying, 'I am he,' and they will deceive many." -Mark 13:5-6, NAB

When most people think of this verse, they feel that a false prophet would be easy to recognize; it would be obvious that they are not who they said they were.  They would come proclaiming that they are God or the risen Christ, and we would not be deceived.  But how well do we really spot false prophets?

False prophets in today's age rarely claim to be Christ.  Instead, they claim to be the great masters of modern thought.  They teach us to let go of "archaic" religious values and grasp the full potential of our own worth.  We are taught that money, power, fame, and self-satisfaction are the keys to happiness.

All of their teachings are very appealing.  Pride is embraced and no longer seen as a sin.  What they are doing, in essence, is teaching us to make gods of ourselves - becoming the masters of our own destiny. 

Freedom is often their rallying cry, but we actually become slaves to sin.  We are deceived into thinking that we have more control of our lives, but the reality is that we have completely given up control.  Now, our attempts to have a better life lead us deeper and deeper into a cave of sinfulness that we may not escape.

The modern world grows darker everyday.  Wealth is equated with happiness.  Many seek the power that comes from their career over their families.  We idolize famous people in our culture, who are often corrupted by their fame.  Our own interests become more important than the needs of our families, friends, and loved ones.

Modern Western thought has disguised sin as simply pursuing our own interests, but we must recognize these false teachings for what they really are.  Our society is in need of some major changes, and it begins by overcoming the deceptions of modern false prophets.