4 False Jesuses the Church Worships Today
Throughout history there have been false gods, idols and religions but today we see False Jesuses. What do I mean? In the church world today we see people worshipping a version of who Jesus is that is not biblical.
Before we begin, let me give you my definition of heresy: Heresy is a grain of truth taken to an extreme. You will see this in the false Jesuses I outline in this post. I will endeavor to give the grain of truth to balance the false but the goal of this post is for us to examine ourselves and see if we are worshipping a false Jesus.
Here are the 4 most common False Jesuses in the American Church today.
1. The Prepper Jesus
Look there is nothing wrong with being prepared. If you think the dollar may tank or another quarantine may bring back a toilet paper shortage, then by all means prep. The False Jesus is the one who says the end is here. You know…those obsessed with end-time prophesies. “Stock pile now because the ant-christ is coming!” God has not give us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Any teaching that is born out of fear will have you worshipping a False Jesus.
Here’s the balance, preparation isn’t bad, fear is. There will be a rise in persecution of Christians, there will be an anti-christ at some point but it isn’t today. As soon as someone says they know the end is here, they’re wrong because Jesus said no one would know the exact time (Matthew 24:36). Are there some signs of end times? Sure, but no more than during Roman times and the last sign is the great end time harvest which we haven’t seen yet. (Revelation 14)
2. The Patriotic Jesus
I am patriotic. I love the United States. Having said that Jesus is NOT American. Many preachers wrap the cross in an American flag until you can’t distinguish them! Our nation will be blessed if we honor God, destroyed if we don’t. God does not have a special plan for the United States more than any other country. If you think He does, you’re worshipping a False Jesus.
If someone doesn’t like the USA, that doesn’t make them evil. I’m not particularly fond France. I’m not going to go into details here as to why because it’s irrelevant. I’m sure there are many great believers in Christ there and God will bless them if the serve Him. Not likely France doesn’t make me evil and neither does not liking the USA. Right now the church is divided along political lines and on love of the nation. We must stay united in making the Kingdom of God our highest priority.
The cross is eternal, the flag is not.
3. The Prosperity Jesus
This is the version of Jesus that is like a get-rich-quick scheme. If you believe that somehow you’re giving to the church or a certain preacher’s ministry, you will become rich, you’re worshipping a False Jesus. Jesus never promised that.
The grain of truth is that Jesus will take care of needs as we serve Him (Philippians 4:19) and will generously provide all our needs with enough to share with others (2 Corinthians 9:8). The error comes when we give with wrong motives of greed or demanding God to bless us with opulence.
I have heard many preachers hold people hostage to a False Jesus. One example fro the late 1980s was a televangelist & christian college leader claimed that God was going to kill him if he receive $8 million by a certain date for his school. The crazy thing he received $9 million before the date so we will never know if God would have killed him!
Yes, there are promises to obeying God’s word (Malachi 3) but the same verse that Jesus wants us to give offerings cheerfully also tells us not to give under pressure (2 Corinthians 9:7).
4. The Pius Jesus
This is the most insidious of all the False Jesuses. The false piety, the religious, dutiful Jesus is rules based. This false messiah has long plagued the church and is alive and well in the American Church today. This falsehood says, **“It’s Jesus and…anything.” ** It’s Jesus and baptism. It’s Jesus and church attendance. It’s Jesus and being a good person. It’s Jesus and keeping their Sabbath. It’s Jesus and serving others.
If it’s Jesus and any good work, you’re worshipping a False Jesus!
Some churches teach that if you leave their church, God can never bless you. Others say if you worship on the wrong day you’re damned. What does the Bible teach? Believe and confess that Jesus is the risen savior (Romans 10:9) to get to heaven. People worshipping the Pius Jesus hate that! It’s too easy! Where is the good works?
The real Gospel is about what Jesus did for us, not what we do for God. Yes, faith without works is dead (James 2:14) but if you read that passage our works are not to make us right with God but to reach others with His goodness. Belief in the real Jesus should change our lives, to want to do good works (James 2:17-20) but not to gain anything from God, certainly no heaven.