Length: 5 minutes

You may see someone going to church, hear them speak about God or Jesus and think, “Well, they may not be hearing the best teaching at their church, but at least it’s better than nothing.” But that’s not necessarily true.

It’s true, you don’t have to know everything to be a Christian. It’s true, a church doesn’t need to be teaching everything correctly in order to be genuinely helping people grow. Otherwise, where would that leave us? But we also can’t be fooled into thinking that just because someone is going to a so-called “Christian church” that it’s better than nothing. Sometimes, going to church is actually worse than nothing. Sometimes, it would have been better to never have gone to that church, than to have gone and heard what they’re teaching

The Bible says that in the last days there would be religion that would teach what it calls “doctrine of demons.” That means that there would be genuinely religious people whose teaching would be from the devil. 

1 Timothy 4:1-3 (NKJV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

This is a prophecy that in the last days (in which we live) that there would be religious people that forbid certain people to marry and say that you need to abstain from eating certain foods. He says this is “doctrine of demons.” So, if you go to that church, is that better than nothing? No, that’s worse than nothing. Before, maybe you didn’t know God, but now, you’ve got a whole bunch of wrong ideas about God that you need to unlearn. Not only so, but you’ve been associated directly with demons. That’s not better than nothing.

It’s so important that we don’t simply encourage people to “go to church” and “listen to Christian teaching.” It matters what church you go to. It matters what kind of teaching you’re hearing. I’ve heard of many stories of pastors of “Christian denominations” that are straight up demon possessed, and I believe it. Demons teach religion. We just read that from 1 Timothy 4. The Bible even says that the devil blinds people’s minds to the new covenant, by directing them to the old covenant (2 Corinthians 3:14, 4:4). 

There are some people that label themselves Christian ministries, but what they’re teaching is more like the Old Testament than the new. Some of those may be misled Christians, but some of those could be guided by the devil — even while they’re teaching from the Bible, saying the name Jesus, talking about submission, obedience, etc.

The devil doesn’t mind people going to church. He just doesn’t want them to know what Jesus provided. The devil doesn’t mind people listening to so-called “Christian teaching.” He just doesn’t want people to know that they receive through faith alone. The devil doesn’t mind you striving to be a better person. He just doesn’t want you to know that Jesus makes you right as a free gift. The Devil likes a lot of churches. He just doesn’t like the knowledge of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Sometimes, you take the good and leave the little bit of bad. It just depends on how much bad there is. If the vast majority of it is directing people’s eyes to what Jesus provided, with a few misfires, that’s a part of growing. But when there’s a heavy emphasis on your performance, mere positivity, spiritual warfare against a powerful devil, or anything else that doesn’t acknowledge the victory and provision of the cross, run the other way. It’s not better than nothing.

I’m not telling you to call every church that you disagree with “a demonic church.” People do love throwing around the, “You’re of the devil” line when they disagree. But I am telling you that demons are not only involved when you see someone ranting, raving, and foaming at the mouth. Sometimes, they’re behind a pulpit, forbidding certain people to marry, telling people they need to give up certain foods to please God, or directing them to keep the Old Testament rather than the New.

The thing that distinguishes helpful teaching from potentially demonic teaching is the knowledge of what Jesus provided for people at the cross — what He accomplished in His flesh. 

We can’t be impressed by church attendance. On one hand, because most people don’t continue, even when they’re hearing the truth (John 8:31-32). But also, many churches are more akin to what the Devil would teach, than the Lord. The only thing we should be impressed with is when people are continuing long in the true message of Jesus’ finished work. That kind of message is something you’ll never hear from a demon. 

1 John 4:1-3 (NKJV) 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. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist…

So, is going to church better than not going? Depends on the church. Just make sure they’re getting the message right. 

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