But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.
Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
(2 Peter 2:1-9 NIV)
Though the world may have turned from God that is understandable. What is harder to see is those who take scripture and faith and the concept of church and twist it. Like Peter says they ( the leaders and originators) are doing all of this in their greed. They are small and large groups from Mormonism to the church of God to the local church that turns from the word of God as we God revealed in in scripture. My heart breaks to see them preaching their false truths and their ways in the name of Jesus. But we will be known by our love and by the fruit of our faith. I am often angry and want to tell at these people and rebuke them. But instead Jesus calls me to love them and in as far as I have authority speak the truth of the gospel in opposition to their message. God loves them and calls me to pray for them. For they truly are my enemies who turn innocents away from the way of The Lord and give the way of truth a bad name. God change my heart to love like you do and to pray for them. My heart cries out that you would protect those that follow these false teachers. They are raised in families knowing only part of your truth God. They even become preachers of a twisted "church". God you can work miracles and you can save anyone. Please help all of those who do not know the depth of your love and grace please help them to know the real you. Please God help them to know that they are saved by your grace through faith and not by works. I pray your Holy Spirit would reveal the truth of who you are and your gospel and scripture to them. Help them to change their hearts and protect them to leave their groups that do not know you. I pray that not my words would offend but whatever is true and holy of you God would stand in contrast to any lies in my heart or the hearts of any people or religion or "church".
God humble me in this. For I do not claim to know the fullness of your glory and truth. If I am like these gals teachers and the churches I attend teach anything false then convict us by your Holy Spirit. I speak and pray these things not to be proud over other sects and religions, but only in the desperation for all people and myself to come to know you more fully and truthfully and that by faith believe in your Son Jesus and his death and resurrection that I might dwell with you and walk in your ways now and in eternity.
Amen
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