Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
August 14, 2016

False Teachers:
The Lowest Element of Society
by Bill Hall
What class of people constitutes the lowest element of society? Drug pushers? Pornographers? Child abusers? Freeloaders?
According to Isaiah it’s none of these: “Therefore the LORD will cut off head and tail from Israel (“from the highest to the lowest,” we would say-BH), “palm branch and bulrush in one day” (Isaiah 9:14). Then in the next verse he identifies “the tail,” the lowest of the people: “The elder and honorable, he is the head; the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.”
There is no lower element of society than false teachers. They claim to be guides to heaven, but they point the way to hell. Their victims are not those who seek wickedness; they are those who seek salvation. The spiritually blind come to them for guidance, only to be led over a precipice. The spiritually sick come for healing, only to be given poison. The lost come for soul-saving truth, only to be given soul-damning error.
True teachers of the word suffer because of them. They approach the lost with the pure gospel, only to find them already “turned off’ from religion because of false teachers. Then when they do find the earnest seeker, their two or three hours per week with him are counteracted by hours and hours of exposure to the false promises, dramatic testimonials, and deceitful tactics of the present-day television evangelists. The final product is not a convert to the Lord, but a disillusioned victim who is prepared to condemn all religion as hypocrisy and fraud. No wonder Isaiah brands them as the lowest of the low.
Some are intentional deceivers while others are unintentional. The intentional deceivers are motivated by greed, selfish ambition, and, in some cases, sensuality (2 Peter 2:1-3). They make merchandise of their victims. They beg money, grieving over their “dire straits,” when in reality they have huge amounts of money invested in stocks and bonds. They claim to be lovers of God when in reality they are lovers of self. On the outside they appear to be “angels of light,” but on the inside they are “false apostles” and “deceitful workers” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Others are false teachers unintentionally. They themselves are victims of deceit, and they go out deceiving others. They do so thinking they are rendering service to God (John 16:2). They are sincere, but they are also guilty, guilty of leading others to hell. For this very reason James wrote: “My brethren, let not many of become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). The warning is clear: Eagerness to share the gospel with others is admirable, but woe to that man who rushes into the work without due consideration of the responsibilities and judgment that go with it.
False teachers are not good people. They are the lowest element of society. What a fearful thing if I am one—or am deceived by one—or lend support to one!
In Bryan’s Absence:
August 21, a.m.: Lamar Smith
August 21, p.m.: Kyle Gibson
August 28, a.m.: Andrew Smith
August 28, p.m.: Joshua Carter

Contact Information
	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 365-5887 / (334) 868-0801
	prattmont@knology.net / prattmontchurchofchrist.org

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

TIMES OF SERVICES:
Sunday
Bible Study 9:00 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Training Class 5:00 P.M.
Worship 6:00 P.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.