A new word entered our vocabulary in the '70's that says a lot about social tolerance. The word is "shock jock" and it refers to radio or entertainment personalities that deliberately offend the audience. They revel in the fact that many of their listeners don't like them, which is an irony. But we listen to people who openly discuss taboo subjects.

The other day a listener called a talk show on a Cincinnati radio station. The caller complained about the crude talk on the station. He didn't like hearing it and he certainly didn't want his young children to hear it. Surprisingly the talk-show host, who is frequently crude, agreed with the caller. "Who is to blame for this talk?" he asked. The host went on to explain that the radio station plays to the audience. "It's all about ratings" he explained. Larger audiences draw higher advertising revenue. "The problem is caused by the public," he said. "We play what they demand."

Winston Churchill quoted Julius Caesar when he said "In a democracy people deserve the kind of leaders they get." He believed leaders reflect the values of the citizens. In other words when people say that a man's morals are his private business, they are saying they will accept a leader with low morals. Churchill believed a leader without morals could not be trusted to uphold the values of the nation. Germany, for example, supported Hitler who enslaved and murdered the Jews. Churchill correctly reasoned that Germany had voluntarily chosen a tyrant who was willing to destroy his own nation to achieve personal success.

The same rule applies to false prophets. Jesus warned us that a time would come when "there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and...if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matt. 24:24 KJV) Jesus warned us so we would NOT follow false prophets. One of the fundamental truths of religion is that false prophets cannot exist without an audience. It requires money to support a false prophet, in some cases a small fortune, and it takes a lot of people to accumulate that much money.

I was shocked recently to read that a self-deluded man who believes he is the Apostle of the End Time receives over $1 million annually. Several others have appointed themselves, without an ounce of justification, one of the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11. In spite of such preposterous claims gullible people flock to their web sites and send money. Recently when the prophecies of one such man failed donors began demanding refunds of their donations, some as much as $50,000. That any person would give so much is proof of the axiom that "a fool and his money are soon parted."

The Apostle John was inspired to write, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1 NKV) Later John quotes Jesus who praises the Church at Ephesus because "you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars:" (Rev. 2:2 NKV)

It is significant that John is writing to a congregation. It was a free assembly of people who were accountable for themselves and John addresses them as responsible adult believers.

Why is a Free Church so important? Because members of a free church practice making righteous judgments the Apostle Paul directed Christians to make (1 Cor. 6:2). Free people aren't so easily deceived by false leaders.

Until next time,