My artwork has gotten a lot of attention lately (mostly DeviantArt) with the messages I have put in. Mostly positive. So lately I've been thinking of going into a new project: exposing False Teachers/Preachers, founders of cults, con men/women, etc.
I would try draw a picture of one each week, sometimes in a comical way, which shows what they are known for, kind of like a title card and include links to videos and articles to prove that what they have said, wrote and done is true and shows that they are false. Now I know that some people that I plan to expose would offend people. With the claims of "How dare you criticize him! He's a great man of God! Don't judge God's annoited!" Are they sure? Do they know about things they taught? Things they wrote in their books? How well do they know their Bible?
Of course, I thought some of those preachers were harmless until I did the research and found that they really didn't teach like a man/woman of God should. Everyone should keep an open mind to them according to what Paul wrote:
2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
Jesus also warned us: Matthew 7:15-16 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits."
Also Peter: 2 Peter: 2:1-3 "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber."
False preachers appear to look like real Christians, but by studying the Bible and noticing what they say and do, you can easily tell who are the false ones. They twist Bible verses to change their meaning. They take verses out of context of the chapter or even the book they come from. They preach messages that have nothing to do with what the Bible teaches. They can be hypocrites. Some have become liars and tricked people just to get rich, and become con men. Some have said prophecies that have not come to pass. Some even say things so blasphomus against God or even say things that claim we are equal to Him that one wonders how they can be preachers, or how even God allows them to keep preaching. Some of these people have founded cults that completely ruin the message of salvation and can't be called Christian. Or they even deny certain things God was very clear about, such as Sin and Hell and have their own strange interpretation on them.
Sometimes we can't tell what goes on in their hearts. Only God knows them. But some have done some very wicked things that one has to wonder.
I want to wake people up and show that following those preachers is a big mistake and that we have to be careful with who's church we attend and who we choose to follow. Many Christians don't read their Bible carefully to know the true teachings.
Think it's a good idea? I would give me something to do, to keep me busy. Btw, I'll be having the first pages of the newest Modern Christians chapter very soon. Sorry to take so long with them, I had a tough time and it was hard to focus on my art. But I am just about all better now. :)
Comments
Of course I won't attack their personality. Though certain pastors have made big outbursts that might make you question their relationship with Jesus, some of these pastors do look like nice people and they do nice things. And they appear to be nice in person but their teachings are what matter and how much they take their teachings seriously to this day.
Thanks for the suggestions Martin. The quotes I plan to use will have the sources shown on them. And the videos I will put up will have them either saying or doing whats wrong and I'll have links to articles too.
As for my last comic, it was done mostly in photoshop. I probably should have drawn the word balloons myself, but I worry if I make them too big or small, there will either be too much space left over or not enough. And the text in the middle of that page was handwritten.
David - you might be something. Just when you do do your projects, you may wish to keep the following in mind:
1. Make absolutely 100% sure you have your facts straight as to what the person has or has not said.
2. Possibly focus more on the content of what is said, than the person themself.
3. Do, as you suggest, help people see truth vs. lie/distortion
4. When stating your case - rather than attacking the person directly - dissect the content of their statements, and then show the correction alongside.
5. At the end of each, perhaps ask people to consider "If this is what is taught, and this is how it is contrary to scripture, do you really want to listen to people who make these types of statements.
6. Make sure you do it with professional comic fonts, and keep it neat and tidy. Though one of your most recent comics - the one about tithing is perhaps your crispest work to date, You still need to work with your word balloons and the way text fits into them. (Though your getting there!)
Don't forget - how you judge will be how you will be judged. This of course doesn't meant that we shouldn't make judgement calls on certain issues, but we should be very careful in how we frame our case.
I wholeheartedly agree with you that those folks are out there, and the content of what they say does need to be addressed (many have done exposés on Youtube and on blogs) - but the comic format is possibly a new place for this type of exposition.
I think this fits right in where you are going as comicker - and if you need some tips or insights, I'd be willing to help. At least pass off your first one or two so you can get a second pair of eyes on it to make sure that it doesn't go off the deep end. (If not me, then someone else).
I really like where you've been going with your stuff, and it's neat to see the improvement of your work over time. Your last few pages of Modern Christians have been a jump forward for you - especially in staging, and making things cleaner and easier to look at.
Martin