A snake in sheep's clothing

Just because someone claims to be a Christian doesn't mean they are. An obvious statement, perhaps, but not one fully acknowledge. There are plenty of snakes in sheep's clothing. Plenty of people who have adopted the Christain lifestyle because they can achieve the perceived acceptance they've always desired or the respect for their intellect they've always desired or the higher status they've always desired. It is true the church provides a possible road to success which the flesh can relish in. Only Jesus Christ can provide the road to eternal success.

You know what really concerns me? It's not homosexuals pushing their immoral agenda, though I am concerned. Neither is it Hollywood or liberal politicians pushing their immoral agendas, though I am concerned. These folks warrant some action, more love and lots of prayer, however, their agendas are fairly obvious. What really concerns me are these snakes in sheeps clothing. What concerns me is that they might be sitting next to me in church, leading me in worship or even folks I pray or break bread with.

John 5:39-43
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. “I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive

If you're not treating others with love, if you're not encouraging others towards good works in Jesus Christ, if you're not putting others above yourself, if you're not sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, then what are you doing? Are you studying the scripture for the same reason some people crash planes into buildings? Are you looking for a reason or purpose for our suffering and eventual death? Are you seeking this outside of Jesus Christ?

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Titus 1:15-16
To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

2 Peter 2:1-3
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Jude 1:4
For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Living in the bliss of America, it might be difficult to see this, but we are in the end days.

Case in point: Abdul Rahman, the Christian convert from Islam in Afghanistan. He has been sentenced to death for his conversion to Christianity. His wife, and possibly other friends and family turned him in.

Luke 12:51-53
"Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. "They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Matthew 10:16-17
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

Somthing to chew on: "None of us are good people who occassionally do bad things. We are all bad people who occassionally do good things" Andy Stanley.