15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 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 in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Dear God, these two passages are separated in the NIV by subtitles “True and False Prophets” and “True and False Disciples”. I would say that the concepts of false prophets are probably closer to false disciples than we might think. Sure, there are people out there who are simply manipulative, consciously misleading people for personal gain. But I think that is the minority. I think there are probably a greater number of false prophets who started out as false disciples.

I am thinking about one television evangelist, in particular, in my mind whom I judge to be a false prophet. His message isn’t about humility and decreasing as you increase. His message is about what I am owed by you and what you will give me. While this message has resulted in personal wealth for him, I don’t think he set out to intentionally mislead people. I think that somewhere along the way he became a false disciple and that lead to him being a false prophet.

The question is, How do I protect myself from becoming a false disciple? I think one of the best ways is through submitted community, meaning I need to have at least one other disciple outside of my home who has a chance to look at my life and critically evaluate me and speak your truth in my life. I need someone who can look at me and call me on things. At the same time, I need to be willing to call the other person on things. It is my responsibility to them to not let them become a false disciple.

Father, I want you to look at me one day and say, “I am so glad you are here. Yes, I know you.” I want to lead people into a place in their lives where they will one day be known by you as well, if they are not already. What I really want is to lead my children into a place where they are known by you. Please help me to be known by you and let my children (and my wife) be known by you as well.