Editorial: “They Shall Deceive the Very Elect”
For there shall arise false christs and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24
I remember as a child reading about false christs and prophets. That last phrase, “They shall deceive the very elect” stuck in my brain. I was so committed to my faith that I would think about that phrase and what it meant, and recommit myself to my faith regularly so as to avoid being one of the ones who was deceived.
Later, when I was struggling with my faith, that verse haunted me. I was convinced that by doubting my faith I was going to become one of those who were deceived! After all, I was among the very elect. I was deadly serious about my faith. And when I started having doubts I was worried I was falling under the sway of these false christs and prophets.
It wasn’t until much later that I realized that it is unlikely that the false christs and prophets would arise outside the church to lure people away. Most people would be suspicious of false prophets outside the church! What makes more sense is that a false christ or prophet will arise from inside the church, and the very elect will be those with a sincere faith who will be misled by a charlatan.
For some reason, that idea seems relevant to me in our current church climate.
I hope that whether you find yourself inside or outside the church, or somewhere in between, you will be wary of anyone in power who preaches a message that goes counter to the message of Jesus.
If the person you are following isn’t preaching humility, generosity, radical love, and caring for the vulnerable, you might want to pause and ask yourself if you find yourself among the very elect. And I will do the same.
Lindsey Abston Painter
Editor & Writer, Adventist Today
7 June 2024
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