Recently there was a case of mistaken identity with a passenger on a flight from New Jersey to Colombia. He was thought to be someone on the government’s “no fly list” so the plane was diverted to Florida for further investigation. But as it turns out, the passenger merely had the same name as someone on the list. He was cleared and the flight continued on its way. In this case it was a good man mistaken for a bad one. But often in life there are cases of mistaken identity where bad men are perceived as good. It can happen anywhere, including churches.

People will profess and promise many things even profound life changes that can happen in a short amount of time, or how you can gain rapid health and wealth but you should use discernment when it comes to claims such as these. God addresses this in scripture.

Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!’ declares the LORD. 2 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.”

Jeremiah 23:16 “…Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’”

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

Be on the lookout for wolves in sheep’s clothing. It’s easy to get lost in someone’s eloquence and colorful speech and miss that what they’re teaching is false.