In Perils Among False Brethren

By Ken Parks, February 9, 2013

"... in journeys often, in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren." - 2 Corinthians 11:23

We, the members of Ecclesia, may not experience the same perils of the Apostle Paul.  He had many challenges and tolerated many accusations so as to put him in a bad light with the unbelievers and believers alike.  He even named names of those who left him and forsaken him for the glory of the false light. 

And there are many false brethren in this world.  Jesus warned us:

"Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day , Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" - Matthew 7:21-23

These are the same who have castigated the true prophets of God, calling them devils for revealing the truth about their secret goals.  These are the same who speak as if they are righteous, appearing to doing good.  These are the same who have shown to others that they have provided a small portion of their entirety to the poor, the homeless, and the hungry as a means of approval.  And these are the same, the many, that Jesus declared to be false brethren.

Sure they have amassed large amounts of money by means of the "tithe doctrine."  They have purchased wonderful things for their church business and spent large sums to show that their god is working wonders, such as a $3.4 million pipe organ, made in Italy and installed directly into the construction of their new sanctuary.  Did anyone question this?

Many followers of church businesses go along with the piped music, and never question the reasons.  Jesus told us:

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?... Therefore, by their fruits you shall know them." - Matthew 7:15-16 and 20

The blind, church business leaders, have a knack of leading the blind.  They don't accept the truth whenever a prophet reveals the results of their actions.  They reveal their fruits.  The Apostle Paul had written:

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" - Ephesians 5:11

The purpose is to show the difference between the false brethren and the true brethren, the works of darkness as compared to the works of light, and make those who are asleep and arise from the dead so that Christ may provide you His wonderful light.

The false brethren, whether by sleepiness, accident, or by knowingly accept the unfruitful works of darkness, have no light of Christ.  And they have an ultimate destiny with the outer depths of darkness.  Their high-leader is the prince of darkness, the pied piper, who leads them into a flaming death, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of  teeth.  Not a very good place to end.

The true believers of Christ, those who have been selected to be members of Ecclesia, recognize the false brethren and their unfruitful works of lawlessness.  The Elect have witnessed how these so-called churches have fleeced their own with prodding and intimidation in their desire for more money, "Come on people!  This is a business!"

Pointing his finger at these religious organizations, Chip Brogden had often stated, "It’s hard to see the truth when one’s livelihood depends on NOT seeing it." 

The leaders of these church businesses spend on their own lavishness.  They even claim, "Our church maintains your salvation.," fooling their followers into the doctrine of attendance is mandatory, often employing the misinterpretation of Hebrews 10:25.  The main reason for the misinterpretation of this sacred cow scripture is to ensure that there will be more wallets and purses to contribute to their goal, the bottom line.

The church businesses (organized religion) use Hebrews 10:25 to maintain control of their members, mostly false brethren, ensure that their members abide by their doctrines, traditions, and fables of men which nullify the word of God,  The false brethren are encapsulated into the attendance doctrine, the tithe doctrine, so-called stewardship doctrine, and undeniable faithfulness to the church business.  Jesus has been given the right foot of fellowship. 

The Apostle John knew about the perils of false brethren.  He knew that they put on a facade of righteousness with the desire to pull you into their works of darkness and their practice of lawlessness. 

For the true believers of Christ Jesus:  "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets (includes false brethren) have gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1

The only means of testing the spirits is to know the Word, and the Word knows you.  Without the wisdom of Christ, one is inept and incapable to distinguish the false light from that of the true light.  And then the false brethren is subject to becoming further deceived.  The Apostle Paul viewed this as one of his perils or we, the true believers, may know this as cause of alarm.

Much more can be said about false brethren and their actions of darkness...