But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NIV
While most of you know what today’s title means, I will translate for anyone who may not. It means, let the good times roll. It is a phrase that you often hear in New Orleans, or the Big Easy as it is called, especially in and around the French quarter where it’s all about having a good time. Now sadly, the crime rate in New Orleans is extremely high, so while you would love to “let the good times roll”, you have to be on guard. The same is true when we accept Christ as our savior. It would be great to think that once we are saved that we can just coast, but this is not the case.
Life is stressful enough, right? So we go to church and we are told that we must do this and not do that (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5). We are told unrepentant sin leads to death (1 John 5:16-17). We are told that if we want eternal life that we must be saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). But then we hear someone say that we just have to be a good person to get into heaven or we just have to do right by others. Now you will notice that the last two sentences have no biblical references listed. This is because they are not biblically correct. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that by simply being a good person or doing right by others we get into heaven. But there are evangelists that will try to convince you of this. They offer “dessert” or “feel good” ministries. These “so called” ministers are not pastors, they are motivational speakers. We must be wise enough to know the difference. We know that our bodies need a balance of fruit, vegetables, and protein. If we eat nothing but sugar it causes problems. Our souls also need a balance. There are many wonderful things about being a Christian, but we need to be prepared for things like temptation, trials, and tribulations. We need to know the teachings of the Bible that help us to stand strong and steady.
In this scripture passage Paul is writing to the Corinthians prior to his third visit there. He is expressing concern over their listening to false apostles. When it comes to serving God, we must not have an attitude of indifference. We must be willing to take the time to verify what we are being told. Make sure that when you listen to a teaching or a preaching that it lines up with what is in the Bible. Be sure that it doesn’t go against the word of God. We want to hear these wonderful things that tickle our ears, but we need to hear the truth according to God’s word.
Beware the evangelist that does not line up with the Bible. Don’t be easily swayed. The Bible tells us that in the end times, there will be many false prophets. Be careful not to just follow along because someone tells you what you want to hear. We must be wise and discerning. Pray for wisdom and discernment.
Last but not least, in this scripture passage Paul tells the Corinthians, “you put up with it easily enough”. We must learn to not be tolerant of preaching or teaching that goes against God’s word. We must be bold enough to speak out to others when they are being led astray.
So I caution you to be very wise and discerning. Many of these evangelists are just out to get your money. If you are looking for a church, of course you want one that feels warm and inviting, but be sure that the teaching and preaching there lines up with God’s word. Check the word you are hearing in the class and from the pulpit. Be sure that it is accurate according to what is in your Bible. This sounds like a lot of work and fact checking, but I find that if I pray to God for wisdom and discernment that he gently guides me where I need to go. Oh and another thing, if you read your Bible and pray regularly then you are more apt to know what is in the Bible. This means that fact checking requires a lot less work.
Have a great day!