Burt Lancaster depicted the warped preacherBE CAREFUL OUT THERE
As anyone who has tuned in to religious tv can testify there is a colourful diversity of men and women preaching from the pulpit at this time. Sometimes the words of the gospel can seem a million light years away from anything that is being shared these days as 'the Word of the Lord'. Fortunately Jesus anticipated this time and left us this explicit warning that we should recognise the 'fly-by-nights' from the genuine man or woman of God. I've chosen the parahrase of the Message which gives the words a contemporary edge and relevance,I think...
Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity.
Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other.
Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character.
Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say.
A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook.
These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me.
What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills.
I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.'
And do you know what I am going to say?
'You missed the boat.
All you did was use me to make yourselves important.
You don't impress me one bit.
You're out of here.'
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