Doctrine is "a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true." Biblical doctrine refers to teachings that align with the bible. False doctrine is any idea that adds to, takes away from, contradicts, or nullifies the doctrine given in the bible. Many things from the early church have been carried into today that completely go against the bible.
The heretic is someone who teaches counter to the faith. Peter warned against them in his second letter. "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Peter 2:1). The heretic is the person who teaches what blatantly contradicts an essential teaching of the Christian faith.
From the church's earliest days, she has been afflicted by the heretic in his various forms. It continues to work today, sometimes by contradicting the truth and sometimes by adding to it. Like Jehovah's Witnesses, they may alter God's word, or like Mormons, he may add to it. They may teach doctrines that are the polar opposite of what the bible actually says. How many Christians on the right actually follow/teach the teachings of Jesus?
There are those who use Christianity as a means of personal enrichment. Every megachurch and politician fits here. "If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain" (1 Timothy 6:3-5). These people are only interested in the Christian faith to the extent that it can fill their wallet. They leadership positions to benefit from others' wealth. Constantly asking for money. Sound familiar?
Then modern "prophets" claim to be gifted by God to speak fresh revelation outside of the bible with new authoritative words of prediction, teaching, rebuke, or encouragement. I'm sure it's coincidence that it just so happens to agree with a political ideology or a personal interest. In the New Testament, John offered an urgent warning about them. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). Seems not many tests are being given anymore.
The abuser uses their position of leadership to take advantage of other people. Usually, to feed sexual lust (Catholic Church anyone?), though they may also desire power.
Another false doctrine is PROSPERITY GOSPELProsperity Gospel teaches that we are saved to be rich, healthy, happy, and whole. That if we give our lives to Jesus then we will live a blessed, prosperous, and happy life. But in order to receive these blessings financially first we must give financially so that God can bless us (mega church, Paula White, and every politician). If their logic is to hold out, that means not even Jesus was saved, because he was homeless, a Palestinian Jew who couldn't pay his taxes got betrayed by his best friends, oh and that whole thing about being murdered on a cross... If your definition of a gospel is too small to include Jesus, is it really valid?
In short, with the syncretism from the Gnostics forward to today, and the blatant behavior of the church that is contradictory to the bible, most (not all; legitimate Christians do exist) that claim Christianity and wear the cross are not in fact Christians, and it has been that way for well over a millennia. Christianity is named after Jesus (Pronounced Yeshua) Christ (the word Christ was a title or office ("the Christ"), not a given name. It derives from the Greek Î Ï Î Ï'Ï"Ï'Ï" (Christos), a translation of the Hebrew mashiakh (--ž-- -- --"") meaning "anointed" and is usually transliterated into English as "messiah"), so one would assume that his teachings would be first, foremost, and primary. As history has shown, most people that have taken up the cross are liars. Even into modern day. They even attack legitimate Christians.
The reason why people who claim to be Christians yet do not follow Jesus' teachings is because it is counterculture to them. In other words, the cost to follow Jesus Christ is too high for many people to unlearn their political leanings and personal opinions. It is easier to love/hate the world and the things of this world on one hand and say that I also love God on the other. It is not either or for many Christians, but the idea of both and in their world view. 1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. And: James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
The word "Christian" does not mean "admirer of Christ," nor "recipient of Christ's blessings," nor even "one who believes in Christ." "Christian" means "follower of Christ."
Because the church that everyone sees on the news is false, and the people of said church are false, the Church/Christianity that we have known/seen for the last almost 2000 years is a false church with fake followers. But, legitimate Christians do exist, and most people don't even know it.
I spoke with John Norris III, lay minister (non-ordained because he views being ordained as man-made and non-biblical) about this topic/article. He has seen the "corporate" (as he labels it) church firsthand. Most churches don't care about people outside of the congregation. Has faced discrimination from pagans, atheists, and the church itself.
The fact that he doesn't need a building to practice faith (says the word 'religion' is manmade), Prochoice (not pro-abortion), has friends that are LGBTQ, other faiths" he has been labeled a heretic by the "corporate" church for "following the teaching of Jesus".
He believes syncretism hasn't completely falsified true belief, just veiled the actual message, and caused the church to act counter to the teachings of Jesus. Per John, "The teaching of Jesus views all others as human beings first, a view 'corporate' Christians do not have."
He had said to me that "legitimate Christians have no voice". Due to the media, the "corporate" church is the face of the faith, which is why all Christians are lumped together by everyone else. He views people lumping legitimate Christians in with "corporate" Christians is simply "acting like the 'corporate' Christians they condemn and in turn makes them hypocrites and just as hateful".
When asked if syncretism from the early church created the right-wing/evangelical/"corporate" church we see today, responded with "Absolutely". He views it as syncretism has eroded and diminished the church and turned it into nothing more than a "self-help group".
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