Apart from the obvious double standards already mentioned I would suggest tat any church leadership that does not respond well to questions about their theology, management practices or spending of church cash.
That these are signs of bad leadership and if they won’t change, one should leave.
How to Recognize A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
2Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
There are those who are strident and contentious who push a particular doctrine or other requirement that are said to be in a “snare” of the devil. They do not even know that they are in error.
Jesus alerts us to “watch out for false prophets” in Matthew 7:15. He compares these false prophets to wolves in sheep’s clothing. Jesus also tells us how to identify these false prophets: we will recognize them by their fruit (Matthew 7:20).
Throughout the Bible, people are warned about false prophets (Ezekiel 13, Matthew 24:23–27, 2 Peter 3:3). False prophets claim to speak for God, but they speak falsehood. To gain a hearing, they come to people “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). No matter how innocent and harmless these teachers appear on the outside, they have the nature of wolves—they are intent on destroying faith, causing spiritual carnage in the church, and enriching themselves. They “secretly introduce destructive heresies,” “bring the way of truth into disrepute,” and “exploit you with fabricated stories” (2 Peter 2:1–3).
The false teachers wear “sheep’s clothing” so they can mingle with the sheep without arousing suspicion. They usually are not up front about what they believe; rather, they mix in some truth with their falsehood and carefully choose their words to sound orthodox. In reality, they “follow their own ungodly desires” (Jude 1:17–18), and “they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed” (2 Peter 2:14).
By contrast, a true prophet teaches God’s Word fully (Deuteronomy 18:20). Wolves in sheep’s clothing twist God’s Word to deceive or influence the audience for their own purposes. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15).
The best way to guard against wolves in sheep’s clothing is to heed the warnings of Scripture and know the truth. A believer who “correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and carefully studies the Bible will be able to identify false prophets. Christians must judge all teaching against what Scripture says. Believers will also be able to identify false prophets by their fruit—their words, actions, and lifestyles. Jesus said, “A tree is recognized by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33; cf. Matthew 7:20). Peter described false teachers as having “depraved conduct” and who “carouse” as “slaves of depravity” (2 Peter 2:2, 13, 19). If a teacher in the church does not live according to God’s Word, he is one of those wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Here are three specific questions to identify false prophets, or wolves in sheep’s clothing:
What does the teacher say about Jesus? In John 10:30, Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” The Jews understood Jesus’ statement as a claim to be God and wanted to stone him (John 10:33). Anyone who denies Jesus as Lord (1 John 4:1–3) is a false prophet.
Does the teacher preach the biblical gospel? Anyone who teaches an incomplete or unbiblical gospel is to be eternally condemned (Galatians 1:9). Any gospel apart from what the Bible tells us (1 Corinthians 15:1–4) is not the true good news.
Does this teacher exhibit godly character qualities? Jesus said to beware of teachers whose moral behavior does not match what the Bible says. He says we will know wolves in sheep’s clothing by their fruits (Matthew 7:15–20)
It doesn’t matter how large a church a preacher has, how many books he has sold, or how many people applaud him. If he “teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,” then he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing (1 Timothy 6:3).
J.
Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:15… “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
The test He gives us in the very next verse is extra important…“You will recognize them by their fruits.”
That means their character, not just their charisma.
False teachers often twist Scripture or ignore parts of it, especially anything about sin or repentance. If their message always comforts but never convicts…red flag.
I also look at how they live. Do they serve quietly or seek attention?
Do they lead with humility or manipulate with fear or flattery?
HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND MEET FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS
V. 15-20
“Beware of false prophets,” (prosechete apo ton pseudopropheton) “You all beware (be cautious or careful) of or from the influence of the false prophets;” For these prophets were proclaimers, dreamers who claimed to be true, but whose testimony was not in harmony with the Word of God, by which they must be recognized and avoided, Deu_13:1-5; 2Co_11:13-15; Rev_13:11-17; Rev_19:20.
“Which come to you in sheep’s clothing,” (ortines erchontai pros humas en endumasi probaton) “Who continually come to you of their own accord in clothes of sheep;” Mic_3:5. If you value your souls and lives be cautious about becoming followers of “New light” prophets or teachers, who clothe themselves like the Lord’s flock, but are heretical, whose lives and doctrines contradict His; Col_2:8.
“But inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (esothen de eisin lukoi harpages) “Yet within they are (exist as) greedy, ravaging wolves;” They are covetous, selfish ravagers of God’s flock, “blind leaders-of the blind,” Luk_6:39. They are enemies of sheep, rapacious, insincere, mischievous. They are bent on devouring the flock, 2Co_1:2-3; 2Co_1:13-15; Joh_10:24-27; Act_20:29-31; 2Pe_2:1-3; Pro_23:7.
J.
I think anyone who inspires violence, hate, lawlessness, and corruption walks in the spirit of the AntiChrist. And like the Father of Lies, the truth is not in them. They never take responsibility, always blame others, they betray time and time again when the mood suits them. You can never feel safe with them because at any time they are likely to turn around and retaliate for the slightest offense.
Any leader who withholds care and pits people against each other, who attacks children and the most vulnerable, who values money over virtue, anyone for whom ethics have no hold or restraint, who puts themselves next to Christ in greatness and glory becauae no star can shine brighter than them, these are wolves leading sheep to be slaughtered.
They weasle themselves into positions of power by lying, cheating and stealing, by using charisma and speaking flattering words and making all sorts of promises that will never be kept to itching ears that crave to hear it, by creating scapegoats to blame for all the troubles, by pointing fingers, making false accusations against others, and by never ever taking any sort of personal responsibility, never owning or admitting to any wrong, and never seeking forgiveness for any of it, but always by casting blame on to others, turning innocent people into human sacrifices, because murder and destroying life, the lives of the weak and the vulnerable and the helpless, is always the easy way out.
Eventually they take total control so that no one can hold them accountable, using fear tacrics, they bully, badger, lie, and threaten harm. They remove law and order and tip the scales so justice always favors them. And they make it so that all people live in complete terror, in submission, to them. They use terror to make sure people never feel empowered to question again the Wolves’ Authority or the evil that is being done.
And after having disarmed the sheep and leading them away from the Good Shepherd, after taking complete control, Wolves remove all the protection that kept the sheep safe so the slaughter can truly begin in earnest. They fiddle while Rome burns, rejoice and dance to the bloodshed, and hide in fallout shelters when the bombs begin to fall from the flames of war they stoked. They become untouchable so that Only God can hold them accountable.
But that day does eventually come. Every cult lead by unstable men unravels in terror and horror for all those who support the Wolf, because we reap what we sow. And the Wolf will usually kill himself rather than be subjected to a court of Law to be held to account. History shows this time and time again.
And the beauty of recorded observation, such as what is found in the Bible, historical record, psychology and science, is that we can clearly see patterns of destructive behavior emerge in the midst of all the chaos, patterns that reveal themselves time and time again. Patterns that reveal who the Wolves are because Wolves rarely deviate in behavior. It is the same spirit every time.
Wolves may distract from the truth, or attempt to retell the story. But those who pay attention will know and remember and be ready because they will know what is coming. Or if they are wise, they will look at the observations and come to their own conclusions especially when the Wolf says, “Ignore this, pay no attention to that, it is all lies, and there is nothing of significance hiding behind the curtain.”
Yes, there is something hidden. Yes, look closer. Come to your own conclusions. Before the Reverend Jim Jones brings the refreshments out on his private island. Take your children and run before your only choice is to drink the poison or be shot. Wolves devour all and leave nothing good in their wake.
I suppose they “growl” when they should “Baaaaa”..KP
Do they lead with humility or manipulate with fear or flattery?
jennylynne asked an important question. One might look at such a disguised wold and determine motives. Those of the flesh like pride, lust, combativeness, self-righteousness, and selfishness can be obvious and should be a red flag.
Jesus did not mince words, and neither should we. A false teacher is not someone who misspeaks or stumbles. A false teacher is someone who does not teach what God has said and replaces it with what he wants said. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets” ~Matthew 7:15. He did not say admire them. He did not say tolerate them. He said beware, because they are dangerous.
These people are not confused. They are intentional. Peter said they “privily shall bring in damnable heresies” ~2 Peter 2:1. They sneak error in under biblical language. They quote Scripture and then twist it until it says what God never said. They push theories, speculations, and personal revelations because plain truth does not satisfy their pride.
Paul told Timothy the reason they thrive is because people want it that way. They do not want sound doctrine. They want teachers who tell them what they already want to believe ~2 Timothy 4:3–4. So the false teacher scratches itching ears and calls it ministry. He avoids repentance, softens sin, and turns grace into permission ~Jude 4.
Here is the test. Does the man stay inside the boundaries of Scripture or does he keep stepping beyond it. Does he submit to correction or fight to protect his ideas. Does he point people back to the text or gather followers around himself. Jesus said a corrupt tree brings forth corrupt fruit ~Matthew 7:17. False doctrine is rotten fruit, no matter how polite it sounds.
The Bible is sufficient ~2 Timothy 3:16–17. God did not stutter. He did not forget to include anything necessary for life and godliness. When a teacher adds to it, he is not helping God. He is challenging Him.
So yes, beware. Not with fear, but with discernment. Test everything by Scripture. If it is not taught in the Bible, do not believe it. Eternity is too long to gamble on a man’s imagination.
The irony here is thick enough to choke on. You frame this as an explanation of Matthew 7:15–20, but you never let Jesus Himself define what the fruit actually is. You lean hard on Greek terms, cross references, and labels, yet you stop short of where Christ finishes His own warning. Jesus does not say wolves are known by greed alone, personality flaws, or external behavior. He defines them by lawlessness cloaked in religious language ~Matthew 7:21–23.
That is where your explanation dodges the blade. Jesus says many will prophesy, do works, and speak in His name, yet still be cast off because they do not do the will of the Father. That means the danger is not simply that they look like sheep, but that they teach while refusing submission to what God has actually said. The fruit is not style. It is doctrine and direction.
You warn against “new light,” yet Scripture already tells us what that looks like. Paul says men speak perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves ~Acts 20:30. Peter says they privately introduce destructive heresies ~2 Peter 2:1. Jude says they turn grace into license ~Jude 4. In every case, the problem is not sincerity. It is adding, twisting, or pushing ideas God never revealed.
Here is the question you have not answered. When a man consistently goes beyond Scripture, defends his theories when corrected, and pressures others to accept interpretations the Bible never teaches, what fruit is that producing. Fear of God, or confidence in man. Submission to Christ, or loyalty to a teacher.
Jesus said a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit ~Matthew 7:18. Corrupt doctrine is corrupt fruit, no matter how many verses are cited. The Bible is sufficient ~2 Timothy 3:16–17. Anything added to it competes with God’s authority.
So beware indeed. Not of wolves defined vaguely, but of teachers who refuse to stay inside the boundaries of Scripture while claiming to guard it. That is the very danger Jesus warned about.
Mat_7:15 “Beware of the false prophets” This is a present imperative. Jesus often spoke of false prophets (cf. Mat_24:4-5; Mat_24:11; Mat_24:23-24; Mar_13:22). It is always difficult to identify false proclaimers because they usually have an element of truth in their message, and one is not always certain of their motives. Therefore, it becomes a crucial question as to how believers ascertain who are false proclaimers. There are several elements which must be brought into the evaluation.
Do you know me @bdavidc ?
J.
Good question. And it’s true we all sin and there’s a big difference (hopefully) between a newborn Christian and someone who’s been walking with the Lord for 30 years. We need to be careful when looking at someone’s behavior because we’re all a work in progress. The fruit of the Spirit is the Spirit’s fruit and geminates in the heart of Christians. It may not be fully ripe or evident because it takes time to grow.
So how do you recognize the wolf? A wolf is someone who pretends to be a Christian, but they’re purpose in the fellowship is to lead the sheep astray and devour them. They will mix lies in with the truth - deception. They will question God’s commands - Did God really say? There will be something in what they say or what they do that is off and they will justify it well.
Satan masquerades as an angel of light and so do his followers. 2 Cor 11:13-15 They can appear sincere and good. They can have great charisma, but as you get to know them warning bells begin to sound. Their fruit doesn’t speak truth. The outcome of their actions is suspect. This is what we’re to watch out for and not be led astray.
Here’s an example. I went to the same church for 10 years before the leadership changed. It was a small, godly, Baptist church. Things began to change under the new leadership. It was a gradual change. Communion was for those who professed Christ and then became open to everyone. Baptism by immersion was no longer necessary. If you were sprinkled as a baby, it was fine. They changed the name of the church from Baptist to Community. The Elders went through a year long study and ended up changing the church to being totally inclusive of the lgbt+ community. From a pastoral position to a Sunday school teacher, the lgbt+ people were welcome in those positions. Leaders began identifying themselves with their pronouns along with their name.
By then I had left. The deciding factor was the Pastor saying, “I’ve never thought of the Bible as a how-to book on how to live your life.”
Only by your posts where you are always trying to change the meaning of the text to your opinion and not what the bible actually says. This is exactly the problem you keep repeating. You quote Scripture correctly, then import non-biblical categories to steer the conclusion away from the true meaning.
Scripture does not define salvation as an undefined “personal relationship” separated from obedience. Jesus defines knowing Him as obedience to His words ~John 14:15, and John says plainly, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar” ~1 John 2:4. That settles how Scripture itself defines knowing God.
Matthew 7 does not present two saved groups. It presents false professors exposed by fruit. Jesus does not say they once knew Him and lost it. He says, “I never knew you” ~Matthew 7:23. That aligns perfectly with “They went out from us, but they were not of us” ~1 John 2:19.
You keep creating tension Scripture does not create. Grace is free, but it produces obedience ~Ephesians 2:8–10. Fruit does not justify, but lack of fruit exposes false profession. Scripture is consistent. The problem is not the text. It is the added language used to soften its conclusions.
I am happy you picked up on that and am glad you were not entangled in their distortions. That indicates a maturing and a discernment that is rooted in the Word rather than personalities and slick vocabulary.
You have identified the real issue. It is not the quoting of Scripture, but the twisting of its intent by bringing in concepts that the Bible does not. When Scripture plainly teaches that knowing God is defined by obedience ~John 14:15 and that false profession is exposed by fruit ~Matthew 7:16, ~1 John 2:4, that is the end of the discussion. We cannot redefine terms to make it more palatable.
When Scripture is allowed to stand on its own, error will eventually reveal itself. Thanks for the thought-provoking post.
Good ? I would say family. If I could only only know what my mom knew.
I don’t see any errors here of which you are accsing me with @bdavidc
So I want to respond clearly and carefully to the charge that speaking of a personal relationship with Jesus is unbiblical, because Scripture itself defines the nature of that relationship and it does so with precision, depth, and restraint.
The New Testament consistently speaks of knowing Christ using explicit relational language, not modern sentiment, but covenantal participation grounded in the gospel. Jesus Himself defines eternal life as knowing the Father and the Son in ~John 17:3, where the verb ginōskō denotes ongoing relational knowledge, not mere intellectual awareness, and this knowledge is inseparable from the mission that leads Him to the cross.
Paul anchors relationship with Christ in union language rather than emotional experience, as stated in ~Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” where συνεσταύρωμαι is perfect passive indicative, describing a completed co-crucifixion with continuing effect, meaning the believer’s life is now defined by participation in Christ’s death and resurrection, not subjective spirituality.
Scripture repeatedly uses the language of being in Christ and Christ in us ~Romans 8:1, ~Colossians 1:27, language that communicates shared life, shared allegiance, and shared destiny, all purchased by the cross and mediated by the Spirit, and this relationship is personal without ever being private or individualistic, since it places the believer within the redeemed body ~1 Corinthians 12:12–27.
Jesus further defines relationship with Him by obedience flowing from love, not vague intimacy, as He states in ~John 14:21, “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me,” where the present participle tērō expresses continual faithfulness, showing that relational knowledge is tested by allegiance to His word, the word of the One who humbled Himself to death on a cross ~Philippians 2:8.
The apostolic witness explicitly guards against self defined spirituality by rooting fellowship in the historical, crucified Christ proclaimed by the apostles ~1 John 1:1–3, where koinōnia is grounded in what was seen, heard, and handled, not inner impressions detached from doctrine or obedience.
For these reasons, the phrase personal relationship with Jesus is biblical in substance when it is governed by Scripture’s own categories of knowing, abiding, obeying, and being united with Christ, and nowhere does Scripture permit a relational claim that bypasses repentance, submission, the cross, or the authority of Christ’s words, for not one text presents Jesus as merely a personal comforter apart from His lordship and crucifixion ~Luke 9:23, ~1 Corinthians 1:18, ~2 Corinthians 5:14–15.
If the objection is to modern sentimental misuse of the phrase, your concern is valid, but rejecting the language entirely goes beyond the text, because Scripture itself presents Christ as personally known, personally obeyed, and personally participated in, through faith in the crucified and risen Lord.
Furthermore, I don’t advocate for “two saved groups”
and scripture is replete with paradoxical, tension filled pairs.
Original inspired authors chose to record their messages in different forms (e.g., historical narrative, historical drama, poetry, prophecy, gospel [parable], letter, apocalyptic). These different forms have special keys to interpretation (see Gordon Fee and Doug Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, D. Brent Sandy and Ronald L. Giese, Jr., Cracking Old Testament Codes, or Robert Stein, Palying by the Rules).
This Textbook offers a quick way for the student to check his interpretations. It is not meant to be definitive, but rather informative and thought-provoking. Often, other possible interpretations help us not be so parochial, dogmatic, and denominational. Interpreters need to have a larger range of interpretive options to recognize how ambiguous the ancient text can be. It is shocking how little agreement there is among Christians who claim the Bible as their source of truth.
These principles have helped me to overcome much of my historical conditioning by forcing me to struggle with the ancient text. My hope is that it will be a blessing to you as well.
Correct me whenever you can demonstrate actual errors in my handling or proclamation of the Scriptures, because I welcome biblical correction, but in this case I see no textual, grammatical, or contextual errors that support your accusation being made.
Shalom.
J.
The fog clears the moment we ask the only question Scripture keeps asking. Who is this about, God or man? You spend great effort defending language, frameworks, and interpretive range, but Scripture is relentless about motive. Jesus never asked whether men felt rightly related to Him. He asked why they called Him Lord while refusing to do what He said ~Luke 6:46. That question still stands, and it cuts through every appeal to vocabulary and method.
Yes, Scripture speaks of knowing Christ, but it never treats that knowledge as neutral or comforting to the flesh. “Adam knew Eve” is not sentimental language. It is total claim and consequence. When Jesus says eternal life is knowing God ~John 17:3, He defines that knowledge by obedience, submission, and completion of the Father’s will. Paul does not say Christ lives in me so that I may flourish. He says he was crucified ~Galatians 2:20. Crucifixion leaves no room for self-definition, self-protection, or interpretive escape hatches. If Christ lives in a man, that man is gone.
You defend the phrase “personal relationship with Jesus” as biblically allowable, yet Scripture repeatedly warns that relationship claims are the very refuge of the self-deceived. “Lord, Lord” is relational language. It did not save them ~Matthew 7:21–23. Why does Scripture warn so fiercely at that point if the danger is merely misuse? Why does Jesus not correct their wording, but indict their lawlessness? Could it be that the flesh prefers language that sounds right while resisting the authority that language implies?
Then you appeal to ambiguity, plurality, and interpretive range. Scripture never does this when confronting sin, repentance, judgment, or obedience. “God now commandeth all men every where to repent” ~Acts 17:30 is not ambiguous. “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” ~Luke 13:3 leaves no interpretive wiggle room. Ambiguity delays repentance. Delay protects self. That is why men love it. But the Word of God was not given to broaden options. It was given to close them.
You say you welcome correction, yet the posture of your argument is defensive, not repentant. Scripture says the Word discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart ~Hebrews 4:12. It does not wait for academic approval. When God speaks, the question is never whether the text allows another option. The question is whether the heart will bow.
The gospel is not that God wants a relationship with man on man’s terms. The gospel is that God demands repentance for His glory, that Christ died to purchase a people who belong to Him, and that knowing Him means obedience flowing from a surrendered life ~John 14:15. Any framing that leaves man intact, comfortable, or safely uncrucified may sound biblical, but it does not preach the Christ who said, “Follow me,” and walked straight to the cross.
I considered responding to you, but on reflection that would only turn into an exercise in redefining meanings, because once again you are misrepresenting what I have actually said.
You have a good day.
J.
Johann, nothing you wrote was misrepresented. Your position was addressed directly by opening Scripture and letting it define the issue on its own terms. That is not redefining meanings. That is refusing to replace God’s words with preferred categories.
When Scripture is quoted in context and the response is to disengage rather than show where the text was mishandled, the problem is not misrepresentation. It is resistance to what the Word actually presses. Jesus did not debate definitions with those who objected to Him. He exposed hearts. “Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word” ~John 8:43.
This is not a new pattern. Scripture itself warns that some “wrest… the scriptures, unto their own destruction” ~2 Peter 3:16. That does not require bad intentions. It requires a refusal to submit when the text closes the door on interpretive escape.
The Scriptures cited stand as written. If they are wrong, show it from the text. If not, stepping away does not make the answer unsatisfactory. It only confirms that the issue is not clarity, but willingness to believe what God has said.
Context?
You really think this is what I’m doing?
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
**2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; **
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
I’m stepping away for your own good @bdavidc and while we are “at” it, please show me my errors so I can correct it.
I simply cannot believe this is coming from a grown up man, quoting proof-texts, unable to exegete, or, rightly cutting straight the word of truth.
There is nothing wrong with the Scriptures, it is your constant, nagging, accusations I find tiresome as if I “refuse” to obey the Imperatives recorded in the Scripture.
And my so-called refusal to submit to Christ Jesus?
Each of us will give an account of ourselves before Christ Jesus, not before one another, as Paul states plainly, “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” ~Romans 14:12, and again, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad” ~2 Corinthians 5:10, which places responsibility for word, thought, and deed squarely before the Lord, not before Joe, Frank, or any other brother.
What concerns me is that Scripture is being wielded against a fellow brother in Christ rather than used for edification, even though Paul warns that knowledge without love puffs up ~1 Corinthians 8:1, and that servants stand or fall before their own Master, not another’s scrutiny ~Romans 14:4.
Scripture itself teaches that each believer must work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure ~Philippians 2:12 to 13, which means that responsibility before God is personal and cannot be outsourced or supervised by another believer.
So I do not give an account to you in this matter, but to God alone, and while I recognize that your approach is shaped by a KJV only position, which explains the angle you are coming from, that perspective does not grant authority over my conscience, since Paul is clear that “Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God” ~Romans 14:10.
Clear enough?
J.