Are false prophets born or made? It's doubtful that false prophecy is primarily a genetic issue, although we do inherit a nature that easily stretches a truth into a lie. Nor is it just a matter of educational training. No institution, to my knowledge, specifically states their mission as 'to matriculate a generation of false prophets', although I'm sure many institutions produce more false prophets than true. Neither is it the result of pure ambition. I've never heard a child say, "I want to be a false prophet when I grow up."

How did false prophets get that way? Perhaps they started with an honest desire to know and serve God. But somewhere along the line they were turned in tiny increments by a compelling love for the world (Demas), greed (Balaam), power (Simon Magus) vainglory or prestige. Some give way to licentiousness or sensuality. Others are pressed into the world's way of thinking. They often end up loving their ministry more than God, His Word, and their families.

There are accounts of prophets being turned aside by their lust or greed. (Notice the record of Balaam in Numbers 22-25; 2 Peter 2:14-15; Revelation 2:14). A gifted minister I knew, when wanting to switch wives, switched denominations. First he changed his life style and made allowances for sin. His doctrinal beliefs changed to justify his lovelessness towards his wife. His waywardness has cost him two marriages, a fractured family, confused churches, and broken health. He got off track when he broke covenant with God and his wife. He rationalized separation, divorce, remarriage, and lost sight of any need for accountability until it was too late. This is why Paul warns us "Watch your life and doctrine closely." (Notice that he mentions 'life' first. When our lives go astray, our doctrine tends to follow). "Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1Timothy 4:16).

Another danger that turns people into false prophets is the pitfall of exaggeration. We can overstate what we believe God is doing in an honest attempt to encourage others. We tell people what they want to hear. We end up with Christian 'hype'. As if God is not glorious enough, we try to glorify Him further by embellished or fabricated accounts of what He is doing. Instead of speaking evangelistically, we speak evang-elastic-ally - stretching the truth into a lie. Too many Christian workers end up believing their own publicity. Accounts of healings, revivals, blessings, conversions, when examined prove to be inaccurate or fraudulent. They bring "the truth into disrepute." (2Peter 2:2).

Jesus said: "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:22-23).

Notice that Jesus indicated that many people will prove that they are more alive to what they have done for God than what God has done for them. There is no mention of their experience of His grace. In another instance, Jesus warned His disciples who returned from a mission boasting that demons were subject to their use of His name, "Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20).

Jesus never boasted that He could do anything for God. He said the words that He spoke were the Father's. The works He did were the Father's. (Contrast Matthew 7:22 with Acts 2:22, John 5:19,30; 7:16; 14:24).

False prophets proclaim a false peace. They sabotage the work of the kingdom by detaining people from entering the small gate and walking the narrow way. The small gate speaks of the one way of salvation through Christ's work on the cross. The Cross repudiates the human pride and self-sufficiency that claims that a person can be 'in the right' with God without Christ dying for them and living in them. The narrow way speaks of the only way to experience victory which is to walk daily in faith, in the Spirit, in truth, holiness, love, obedience, child-like trust and in the light. Because false prophets do not enter into the gate of life themselves, they do not bear the fruit of Christ's life (Matthew 7:20).

It is no wonder that Jesus ends his Sermon on the Mount with this warning: "Watch out for false prophets" and a strong call to authenticity (Matthew 7:13-27).

Only by Grace,