Any Other Gospel

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you then what you have received, let him be accursed."
Galatians 1:6-9

Beloved, there are many out there today, who, for their own foolish gain, preach another gospel. There are a lot of them on television. There is a handful of them being investigated by a United States Senator. If God had wanted us to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous, then Jesus would have set that example for us. The early church would have been brimming in it, and Paul would have talked incessantly about it in his writings. But the gospel is not about the creature comforts of this world. The gospel is about Jesus Christ, and His dying on the cross for our sins, His body placed in a borrowed tomb, and then raising from the dead on the third day. And the reason He came? Because we are sinners and could not bridge the chasm between us and God because of that sin. Jesus came to reconcile sinners unto God. And that is what He preached/taught while He was here. It is what the early church in the book of Acts was founded upon, and it is what Paul talks incessantly about in his writings. Beloved, any other gospel is not the gospel at all. It is a perversion. And there are good, misguided men preaching this perverted gospel all over our world.

The Galatians were allowing men to come in and teach a gospel that was different than what Paul had taught them. Of course it sounded good to them, and perhaps had elements of what Paul had taught them, but then, that is what makes the lie so believable: an element of truth in the mix. If they had just kept their focus on Jesus, and had been like the Bereans were, who searched the Scriptures to make sure even what Paul told them was true, then the Galatians would not have started to be swayed.

There is a movement in the Church today, that is as dangerous as it is popular. It is the "emerging" or "Emergent" movement. It has its roots in Eastern mysticism and Roman Catholicism. It is "any other gospel." Yes, it has an element of truth in the mix. Yes it is being propelled by some of the "big names" of the Church. But beloved, it is poison. Beware. Beware. Beware. It is the next "wind" or fad that is blowing through the Church, and it is deceiving millions. It involves a push for unity with other world religions. It involves using techniques from Eastern religions. Don't be deceived, and don't fall prey, beloved. Stay in the Word. Read the words of our Christ. Read the foundations of the early church in the book of Acts. Read what Paul writes about over and over again. It isn't about social gospel, or the kingdom of heaven on earth right now. It is all about Jesus Christ. So be a Berean, beloved. Check it out for yourselves. Be sober. Be vigilant. Be a Berean. Amen.