Will the Real Gospel Please Stand up

“To Tell the Truth” was a 1950’s game show in which 3 contestants claim to be the same person—2 of whom, of course, are impostors. A panel of celebrities asked questions to determine who was telling the truth. After making their guesses, the emcee would say “will the real [Joe Smith] please stand up.”

The Apostle Paul warned of imposters who would come in to the church preaching a “different Gospel” (2 Cor. 11:4). One such imposter, for example, is the “Therapeutic” gospel, which promises personal fulfillment and self actualization. Or, another of today’s imposters is the “Liberation” gospel which claims that Jesus meant to liberate the masses from unjust economic, political, or social conditions. And then there are “Prosperity” and “Dominion” gospels, focusing followers on the things of earth and the interests of men.

Jesus warned that many would be taken in by the imposters in the end times: “On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.'  But I will reply, 'I never knew you.'”(Mat 7:22-23).  Can we discern the imposters or will we be surprised when the real gospel stands up!