In Jesus’ lesson to the Pharisees in John 10 Jesus compares himself to a shepherd and to a gate. Notice what he tells the Pharisees in 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.” (TNIV).
In the context of what Jesus is saying in John 10 I cannot come away thinking anything short of this, Anyone who preaches a gospel other than the life giving message of Christ and fills their coffers with gain from skinning the sheep commits spiritual thievery. Like any robbery gone wrong the result is often spiritual murder. Let’s call it what it is. It is the worst kind of murder – murder of the soul. It is not just false teaching or incorrect doctrine. Such terms are necessary but they dull down the sense of what is actually happening as much as a doctor calling a fatal heart attack a myocardial infarction. It sounds fancy but it is just a nice way of saying “Heart attack.”
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I’ve always been enamored of this verse and the strong language that Jesus used. You are right about the destructive power of other gospels.
Matt,
Thanks for a thought provoking blog. I wish you had gone deeper, though- perhaps some examples? I believe many so-called leaders in many churches across this land are preaching a powerless gospel, a Christless Christianity and a mamsy pamsy Jesus as nothing more than a cosmic Santa. I agree with you, bro. Keep it up.
David
The thought of spiritual slayings truly are repulsive. It is almost like sitting in your bedroom at 8:35 pm and the sound of a spiritual disturbance in the force makes you realize that there are real killers out there who do not care about the spiritual safety of believers.
Call it whatever you want, I say it is injustice. It breaks the commandments of God.
Some call it retribution for injustices done to their foul culture, when in fact it is mass genocide.
The caliphate must go, and burn the whore with it too. This is sound judgement and true justice.
Be a true christian and stand up for what you believe in, speak out against manslaying and for taking of a life prematurely without allowing him/her to grow and develop into the angels they were meant to be. The kings of this earth need to be filled with wrath and destroy the great harlot. This is seriously G-d’s will for them.
Time to stand up and be real men, true christians, and believers.
We are at war with wickedness, who happen to be deaf.
When you are in a competition, if you are off sides or create a penalty, a flag goes up and either points are awarded or a free shot can be taken for the team that was affected.
Time for this whore to take a few shots, I am sick of spiritual murder.