Characteristics of Heretics and the Spirit of Antichrist
Reading Scripture: 2 Peter 2:2-3
Verse to Memorize: 1 Peter 5:8
Reference: 1 John 4:1-6 Goal: To help believers clearly understand the characteristics of heretical theories and the spirit of the antichrist so that they will not be deceived by them and lead powerful Christian lives. Today in Korea there are many occasions where some Christian churches condemn other churches as being heretical sects just because of minor discrepancies in doctrines.
Even though the churches they condemn do not deny the Lord and they profess their faith through the Apostle's Creed and share the core doctrines of the Bible, they incautiously pronounce judgment against the churches. But we must not denounce other Christians as being heretical if they preach that Jesus is our Savior, teach the Lord's resurrection, His Second Coming, and the Final Judgment, and admit the existence of God the Trinity. Then, how can a heretical faction be discerned?
- 1. Characteristics of Heresy
Let me give an example. In the Early Church time, there was a heretical idea called Gnosticism. People who held this idea claimed, "Men will receive salvation as long as they have the knowledge of God. They will be saved even though they do not lead a moral life and commit sins because our soul and body are independent respectively."
They also denied that Jesus is the Son of God and came to the earth in the flesh and that He had provided for salvation of men by dying on the cross and becoming resurrected. Just as explained above, heretics deny Jesus Christ. Here is another trait of them. As written in 2 Peter 2:2-3, they follow their sensuality and pervert the way of the truth, namely, the Word of God is maligned. Many of them make up a lie out of greed and try to make unfair profits. Some others even deny Heaven, and still others assert that Jesus is just a man and He is not one with God, and thereby denying God the Trinity. Such an example is Jehovah's Witnesses.
They deny that Jesus is One of God the Trinity and that He came to the earth in the flesh. They do not believe Jesus is their Savior and believe in only God Jehovah. They insist that our spirit and soul will disappear after death and there is no Hell. They also say that Jesus' body perished after the crucifixion and only His spirit was resurrected. Next, there is a so-called "The Unification Church"?The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity".
They insist that Jesus failed to save mankind because He was crucified and died. So they claim that they need another savior, who is their sect leader. They run many kinds of corporate businesses and have their own scripture, Exposition of the Divine Principle (also called Wonli Ganglon). As exemplified above, heretical theories generally distort the truth of the Bible to support their opinion or have another form of scriptures. But true believers cannot have any other scripture except for the 66 books of the Bible. There is no other way but the salvation of the cross for us to be forgiven of our sins and reach salvation. Thus, we must not accept the false gospel that opposes the Lord.
- 2. Not to be tempted by heretics
Titus 3:10 says, "Reject a factious man after a first and second warning." If a factious man does not listen to your constant warnings, it is of no use to keep arguing. Moreover, one with little faith should be heedful because he himself might be misled by a factious man while talking with him. 2 John 1:10 tells us, "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting." So as not to be misguided by heretical ideas, we must shun being arrogant and stand steadfastly on the Word of God.
We must not think that we will break their thoughts and dogma they persist in propagating in a single attempt. The thing to do is that we have to stand securely on the Word and boldly proclaim the Word of God without turning aside to the right or to the left. Above all, we need to solidly depend on the Holy Spirit. When a heretic comes to you, you should dispel him not with your experience but in the complete reliance on the Spirit. You must clarify where you belong to first, saying, "I am a child of God the Almighty. I belong to Him." Then, the enemy devil and Satan have no choice but to be chased away.
- 3. The spirit of antichrist
Apostle John, who received divine revelation and made a record of the time to come, said in the first half of 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God." This is because in the Early Church time many false prophets had already arisen and misled God's children. There are two kinds of spirit: good spirits that belong to God, who guide men to salvation; and, there are evil spirits that lead people to destruction.
The yardstick to distinguish the spirits of God from the spirits of the antichrist is whether they confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh or not as presented in 1 John 4:2-3. Those who follow the Spirit of God should not only confess Jesus came to this earth in the flesh but also understand the reason that He had to come in the flesh and believe the providence of salvation through His crucifixion. Thus, men who belong to God confess that Jesus the Son of God came to the earth in the flesh and redeemed us from all our sins by dying on the cross and believe that He is our only Savior. Furthermore, they believe One Deity in Three Persons, God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit and practice the truth in the guidance of the Spirit. On the other hand, men who side with the antichrist are defiant towards Jesus Christ and reject the way of salvation opened by Jesus Christ.
They deceive people in subtle ways saying that they call themselves believers in the Lord, so you have to be able to tell them apart. No matter what the case, if someone does not profess that Jesus is the Christ, it is in direct opposition to God who sent the Lord to the earth (2 John 1:7). There are two kinds of the works of the spirit of the antichrist. One is where the spirit of antichrist possesses men and the other is that the spirit of the antichrist misleads men through manipulation of the course of thinking. In the former case, the spirits of the antichrist possess and gain control over people so that they go the opposite direction to the Word of God. And in the latter case they deceive people through fleshly thoughts (1 John 4:5-6).
These days, there are people who misguide believers among men who say they believe God and Jesus Christ and have received the Spirit. When you meet such people you have to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. That is to say, you must check if their words and actions are proper in light of the Word of God.
- 4. To discern between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error
The latter part of 1 John 3:7 reads, "Little children, make sure no one deceives you." The deceitful spirit, that is, the spirit of delusion refers to the spirit of the world and it confuses the hearts of men so that they wander away from the faith. Even if someone says they believe, if they plot deception to destroy the kingdom of God, it shows that they are controlled by the deceitful spirit or the spirit of error.
On the contrary, the Spirit of truth, namely, the Holy Spirit, dwells in the hearts of God's children. He testifies to Jesus Christ, and guides people into the truth. He does not speak on His own initiative, but He speaks whatever He hears and He discloses to us what is to come. Thus, when we receive the Spirit of truth we will be delighted in listening to the Word, obeying it, accomplishing His righteousness, and extending the kingdom of God. But some people who attend church saying they believe are not delighted in the Word of God and do not actually have faith. This is because they still belong to the world and love the world. If one does not receive the Spirit of the truth, he will be led astray by the spirits of delusion and end up leaving God (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
If someone slanders or spreads malicious gossip about brothers in faith and hinders the kingdom of God from being expanded out of jealousy or envy, even though they profess their faith, it is the works of the spirit of error. No matter how faithful he looks in deeds, he ends up bearing evil fruits or fruits of lawlessness such as hatred, jealousy, and envy; so we should understand that he does not belong to the Spirit of the truth. But it does not mean that every person is of the antichrist just because they dwell outside of the truth. If they believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and profess the way of salvation through the cross, we cannot say that they are of the antichrist.
Those who receive the spirit of antichrist distort the Bible on purpose and oppose the Spirit directly and intentionally by blaspheming, speaking against, and opposing the Spirit. Therefore, I hope you will stand firmly on the truth, distinguish spirits and by doing so you will not be led astray.
Sifa za Wazushi na Roho ya Mpinga Kristo
Usomaji wa Maandiko: 2 Petro 2:2–3
Mstari wa Kukariri: 1 Petro 5:8
Rejea: 1 Yohana 4:1–6. Lengo: kuwasaidia waumini kuelewa wazi sifa za mafundisho ya uzushi na roho ya mpinga Kristo ili wasidanganywe nazo na waishi maisha ya Kikristo yenye nguvu. Leo nchini Korea kuna matukio mengi ambamo makanisa fulani ya Kikristo huyahukumu makanisa mengine kuwa madhehebu ya uzushi kwa sababu tu ya tofauti ndogo za mafundisho.
Hata kama makanisa hayo hayamkatai Bwana, yanakiri imani yao kupitia Kanuni ya Imani ya Mitume na kushiriki mafundisho ya msingi ya Biblia, baadhi ya watu huyahukumu bila tahadhari. Hatupaswi kuyaita Wakristo wengine wazushi ikiwa wanahubiri kwamba Yesu ndiye Mwokozi wetu, wanafundisha ufufuo Wake, Kuja Kwake Mara ya Pili na Hukumu ya Mwisho, na kukiri kuwapo kwa Mungu wa Utatu. Basi tunawezaje kutambua dhehebu la uzushi?
- 1. Sifa za uzushi
Nitoe mfano. Wakati wa kanisa la kwanza, kulikuwa na wazo la uzushi lililoitwa Gnosticism. Watu waliolifuata walidai, “Wanadamu wataokolewa mradi tu wawe na maarifa kuhusu Mungu. Wataokolewa hata wasipoishi maisha ya maadili na wakitenda dhambi, kwa sababu roho na mwili ni vitu tofauti.”
Pia walikana kwamba Yesu ni Mwana wa Mungu aliyekuja duniani katika mwili, na kwamba alitoa wokovu kwa wanadamu kwa kufa msalabani na kufufuka. Kama ilivyoelezwa, wazushi humkana Yesu Kristo. Hii hapa sifa nyingine yao. Kama 2 Petro 2:2–3 inavyosema, hufuata uasherati na kuipotosha njia ya kweli, yaani Neno la Mungu husemwa vibaya. Wengi wao hubuni uongo kwa sababu ya tamaa na kutafuta faida isiyo halali. Wengine hata hukana Mbinguni; wengine hudai kwamba Yesu ni mwanadamu tu, si mmoja na Mungu, na hivyo kuukana Utatu wa Mungu. Mashahidi wa Yehova ni mfano mmoja.
Wanakana kwamba Yesu ni mmoja wa nafsi za Utatu wa Mungu na kwamba alikuja duniani katika mwili. Hawamwamini Yesu kuwa Mwokozi wao na humwamini Yehova Mungu pekee. Wanadai kwamba roho na nafsi zetu hutoweka baada ya kifo na kwamba hakuna Motoni. Pia husema kwamba mwili wa Yesu uliangamia baada ya kusulubiwa na kwamba roho Yake pekee ndiyo iliyofufuka. Kisha kuna dhehebu linaloitwa “Kanisa la Muungano,” yaani “Shirika la Roho Mtakatifu kwa Muungano wa Ukristo wa Dunia.”
Wafuasi wake hudai kwamba Yesu alishindwa kuwaokoa wanadamu kwa sababu alisulubiwa na kufa. Kwa hiyo husema wanahitaji mwokozi mwingine, ambaye ni kiongozi wa dhehebu lao. Wanaendesha biashara nyingi na wana maandiko yao wenyewe, Ufafanuzi wa Kanuni ya Kimungu (unaotajwa pia kama Wonli Ganglon). Kama mifano hii inavyoonyesha, mafundisho ya uzushi kwa kawaida hupotosha kweli ya Biblia ili kuunga mkono maoni yao au huwa na maandiko mengine. Waumini wa kweli hawawezi kuwa na maandiko mengine isipokuwa vitabu 66 vya Biblia. Hakuna njia nyingine ya kusamehewa dhambi na kuokolewa isipokuwa wokovu wa msalaba. Kwa hiyo, tusikubali injili ya uongo inayompinga Bwana.
- 2. Tusishawishiwe na wazushi
Tito 3:10 yasema, “Mtu aliye mzushi, baada ya kumwonya mara ya kwanza na mara ya pili, mkatae.” Mzushi asiposikiliza maonyo yako ya mara kwa mara, hakuna faida ya kuendelea kubishana naye. Zaidi ya hayo, mtu mwenye imani ndogo anapaswa kuwa mwangalifu, kwa sababu yeye mwenyewe anaweza kupotoshwa anapozungumza na mzushi. 2 Yohana 1:10 inatuambia, “Mtu ye yote akiwajia ninyi, naye haleti mafundisho hayo, msimkaribishe nyumbani mwenu, wala msimpe salamu.” Ili tusipotoshwe na mawazo ya uzushi, tuepuke kiburi na kusimama imara katika Neno la Mungu.
Tusidhanie kwamba tutaweza kuvunja kwa mara moja mawazo na mafundisho wanayoendelea kueneza. Tunachopaswa kufanya ni kusimama imara katika Neno na kulitangaza kwa ujasiri bila kugeuka kulia wala kushoto. Zaidi ya yote, tumtegemee Roho Mtakatifu kabisa. Mzushi anapokujia, mpinge si kwa kutegemea uzoefu wako, bali kwa kumtegemea Roho kikamilifu. Kwanza eleza wazi wewe ni wa nani ukisema, “Mimi ni mtoto wa Mungu Mwenyezi. Mimi ni Wake.” Ndipo adui Ibilisi na Shetani atalazimika kukimbia.
- 3. Roho ya mpinga Kristo
Mtume Yohana, aliyepokea ufunuo wa Mungu na kuandika mambo yatakayotokea, alisema mwanzoni mwa 1 Yohana 4:1, “Wapenzi, msiiamini kila roho, bali zijaribuni hizo roho, kwamba zimetokana na Mungu.” Hii ni kwa sababu wakati wa kanisa la kwanza manabii wengi wa uongo walikuwa wameinuka na kuwapotosha watoto wa Mungu. Kuna aina mbili za roho: roho njema za Mungu, zinazowaongoza watu kwenye wokovu, na roho mbaya zinazowaongoza kwenye uharibifu.
Kipimo cha kutofautisha roho za Mungu na roho za mpinga Kristo ni kama zinakiri kwamba Yesu Kristo alikuja katika mwili, kama 1 Yohana 4:2–3 inavyoeleza. Wanaomfuata Roho wa Mungu hawapaswi kukiri tu kwamba Yesu alikuja duniani katika mwili, bali pia kuelewa sababu ya kuja Kwake katika mwili na kuamini mpango wa wokovu kupitia kusulubiwa Kwake. Kwa hiyo, walio wa Mungu hukiri kwamba Yesu, Mwana wa Mungu, alikuja duniani katika mwili na kutukomboa dhambi zetu zote kwa kufa msalabani, na huamini kwamba ndiye Mwokozi wetu pekee. Pia huamini Mungu mmoja aliye katika nafsi tatu: Mungu, Yesu Kristo na Roho Mtakatifu, na hutenda kweli kwa mwongozo wa Roho. Kinyume chake, walio upande wa mpinga Kristo humpinga Yesu Kristo na kukataa njia ya wokovu aliyofungua.
Watu hao huwadanganya wengine kwa ujanja na kujifanya kuwa waumini wa Bwana, kwa hiyo tunapaswa kuwatambua. Kwa hali yoyote, mtu asipokiri kwamba Yesu ndiye Kristo, anampinga moja kwa moja Mungu aliyemtuma Bwana duniani (2 Yohana 1:7). Kazi za roho ya mpinga Kristo huwa za namna mbili. Aina moja ni roho ya mpinga Kristo kuwapagaa watu; nyingine ni kuwapotosha kwa kuchanganya mawazo yao. Katika hali ya kwanza, roho za mpinga Kristo huwamiliki na kuwatawala watu, nao huenda kinyume na Neno la Mungu. Katika hali ya pili, huwadanganya kupitia mawazo ya mwili (1 Yohana 4:5–6).
Leo kuna watu wanaowapotosha waumini miongoni mwa wale wanaosema wanamwamini Mungu na Yesu Kristo na wamepokea Roho. Tukikutana na watu wa namna hiyo, tunapaswa kuzijaribu roho ili kuona kama zimetoka kwa Mungu. Yaani, tuchunguze ikiwa maneno na matendo yao yanalingana na Neno la Mungu.
- 4. Kutofautisha Roho wa kweli na roho ya upotovu
Sehemu ya mwisho ya 1 Yohana 3:7 yasema, “Watoto wadogo, mtu asiwadanganye.” Roho mdanganyifu, yaani roho ya upotovu, ni roho ya dunia inayochanganya mioyo ya watu na kuwafanya waache imani. Hata mtu akisema anaamini, akipanga hila za kuuharibu ufalme wa Mungu, inaonyesha kwamba anatawaliwa na roho ya udanganyifu au upotovu.
Kinyume chake, Roho wa kweli, yaani Roho Mtakatifu, anakaa mioyoni mwa watoto wa Mungu. Humshuhudia Yesu Kristo na kuwaongoza watu katika kweli. Hasemi kwa mamlaka Yake mwenyewe, bali husema anayoyasikia na kutufunulia yatakayokuja. Kwa hiyo, tunapompokea Roho wa kweli tunafurahia kusikiliza Neno, kulitii, kutenda haki Yake na kuupanua ufalme wa Mungu. Lakini baadhi ya watu wanaohudhuria kanisa na kusema wanaamini hawalifurahii Neno la Mungu na kwa kweli hawana imani. Hii ni kwa sababu bado ni wa dunia na wanaipenda dunia. Asipopokea Roho wa kweli, mtu ataongozwa na roho za upotovu na mwishowe kumwacha Mungu (1 Timotheo 4:1–2).
Mtu akiwasingizia au kuwaenezea ndugu wa imani maneno mabaya na kuzuia ufalme wa Mungu usipanuke kwa sababu ya wivu, hata kama anakiri imani, matendo yake yanatokana na roho ya upotovu. Hata aonekane mwaminifu kiasi gani kwa matendo, huzaa matunda mabaya au ya uasi, kama chuki, wivu na husuda. Kwa hiyo tunapaswa kuelewa kwamba hamfuati Roho wa kweli. Hata hivyo, haimaanishi kwamba kila mtu aliye nje ya kweli ni wa mpinga Kristo. Ikiwa anaamini kwamba Yesu alitungwa mimba kwa uwezo wa Roho Mtakatifu na anakiri njia ya wokovu kupitia msalaba, hatuwezi kusema kwamba ni wa mpinga Kristo.
Wale wanaopokea roho ya mpinga Kristo hupotosha Biblia kwa makusudi na kumpinga Roho moja kwa moja na kimakusudi kwa kumkufuru, kusema dhidi Yake na kumpinga. Kwa hiyo, natumaini mtasimama imara katika kweli, mtazijaribu roho na hivyo hamtapotoshwa.