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NASB | Revelation 2:14 'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 2:14 'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some [among you] who are holding to the [corrupt] teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [enticing them] to eat things that had been sacrificed to idols and to commit [acts of sexual] immorality. [Num 25:1, 2; 31:16] |
Bible Question: In what ways does the modern American church follow in the way of Balaam? What teachings are equivilent to teaching someone to eat things sacrificed to idols and/or to commit acts of immorality? How can we recognize these teachings and avoid being trapped by them? |
Bible Answer: Hi Bows44, By "modern American Church", I understand you to mean not the true church, but rather the "apparent church", those who attend church, who claim "Christian", but in vain. How do these follow in the way of Balaam? Balaam was greedy. Peter described him as "Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness," (2 Peter 2:15). His teaching was, (Rev. 2:14), "Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel." Balaam exploited his knowledge of God's people for gain, not caring that he was damaging their relationship with their God. He received a profit from enticing the people of God into worldliness and sin. The modern "teaching of Balaam"? Here are a couple that occur to me. The "Word of Faith / Prosperity for all" teaching. Many play on the hopes of people to be healed, to be materially prosperous, if they will just send in their money to prove their faith. So what when someone is not healed, or is not materially prosperous. So what that they have grossly misrepresented God, so long as they got rich in the process! The children of God are offered cheap hope at a steep price, without regard towards God, or His plan for His children. They are led to think in terms of personal gain, rather than thinking of themselves as the servants of all, which is what the Scriptures teach. So they are brought into a worldly mind-set. Another is this glut of so-called "Christian music". There are so many bands out there that call themselves Christian, and use "Christianese" in their lyrics, but that do not edify, do not exemplify Godliness, and are not separated from the world. They claim Christianity, but they draw their audience into worldliness. But for their claims, one would never know that there was anything different about them. I've seen good Christian bands pulled off course as well, as they follow along, toning down their gospel message, hiding it, so that they can get that studio contract. "Once we land the contract," they say, "then we'll put the gospel back into the music." But so many times they don't. The modern day Balaams have taught the studios to lure Christian bands with money, and then to trap them with their greed. There are many other ways. How do we recognize these teachings? We have to be committed to holiness, and submitted to God. If we do these things, God will teach us, and guide us. Not all in Israel stumbled before the stumbling block. Examine the lives and teachings of those who would teach us, to see if both conform to the Bible. Test everything against Scripture. Simply resist against the temtations that come against us every day, no matter where they come from. Live according to holiness. When someone demonstrates that they are unscriptural, believe them the first time! Don't go back for more! Matthew 18:3-9 (3) And He said, Truly I say to you, Unless you convert and become as the little children, not at all can you enter into the kingdom of Heaven. (4) Then whoever will humble himself as this little child, this one is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven. (5) And whoever will receive one such little child in My name receives Me. (6) But whoever causes one of these little ones believing in Me to offend, it is better for him that a millstone turned by an ass be hung on his neck, and he be sunk in the depth of the sea. (7) Woe to the world from its offenses! It is a necessity for the offenses to come, yet woe to that man through whom the offense comes! (8) And if your hand or your foot offends you, cut it off and throw it from you; it is good for you to enter into life lame or maimed, than having two hands or two feet to be thrown into the everlasting fire. (9) And if your eye offends you, pluck it out and throw it from you; for it is good for you to enter into life one-eyed, than having two eyes to be thrown into the Hell of fire. If we are truly of this mind we will be safe. Am I filled with pride, thinking about my own stature, and what a great man of God that I am, or am I small, needing to taught, needing for someone to feed me, take care of me, provide for me? Isaiah 57:14-15 (14) And he shall say, Raise up! Raise up! Clear the way! Make the stumbling block rise from the way of My people. (15) For so says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, and His name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, even with the contrite and humble of spirit; to make live the spirit of the humble and to make live the heart of the contrite ones. Are we truly willing to separate ourselves from anything that leads us into sin? From every appearance of evil? From everything that is not of faith? The world has it's way, and God has His way. God calls us to "come out, and be separate." I hope this helps to answer your question. I will be happy to discuss this with you further if you wish. Love in Christ, Mark |