Wolves In Sheep's Covering
Matthew 7:15
There are thousands of Christian organizations in the world these days who all claim to be the one congregation of God. It is clear however that most, if not all, are not. The question one must ask is who to trust? And because there are thousands to choose from, one would be overwhelmed with trying to look at them all. Our master teaches that a congregation's fruits will revel what they truly are. If the fruit they produce is rotten then they are clearly rotten, and to be avoided, if their fruits are fine and produce the fruits of the spirit then they are good? Let us identify the two kinds of fruits:
Rotten Fruit
What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; 20 in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups; 21 they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God.Galatians 5:19-21 GNB
Good Fruit
But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these.Galatians 5:22-23 GNB
Now suppose some of their fruit is good and some rotten? The best thing to do is simply get out, but by first attempting to correct the problem in a Christian way. Generally if one part of a tree is rotten and those rotten parts get cut off, that tree will recover health. If the rotten parts do not get cut away the entire tree will eventually become infected. We must ask if there is a way in which we can find the tree that produces this good fruit without having to circumvent the globe. One thing we can do is keep asking God to help us find the correct congregation out there, and along with that we must read our Bible along with one or two neighbors. We must also follow the Word's commandments found in "the Sermon on the Mount", and those commandments in the remaining gospel of Matthew along with the other three gospels of Mark Luke and John. If one can do this then before one knows it one will have his very own Christian congregation. Also realize that the bigger a congregation gets, the more difficult it is to manage and keep pure, so it is wise to always keep it simple and small.
For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them."Matthew 18:20 GNB
If you are content on attending your local large congregation, then you must take this warning from the Messiah:
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples. 2 "The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees are the authorized interpreters of Moses' Law. 3 So you must obey and follow everything they tell you to do; do not, however, imitate their actions, because they don't practice what they preach. 4 They tie onto people's backs loads that are heavy and hard to carry, yet they aren't willing even to lift a finger to help them carry those loads. 5 They do everything so that people will see them. Look at the straps with scripture verses on them which they wear on their foreheads and arms, and notice how large they are! Notice also how long are the tassels on their cloaks! 6 They love the best places at feasts and the reserved seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them 'Teacher.' 8 You must not be called 'Teacher,' because you are all equal and have only one Teacher. 9 And you must not call anyone here on earth 'Father,' because you have only the one Father in heaven. 10 Nor should you be called 'Leader,' because your one and only leader is the Messiah. 11 The greatest one among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great.Matthew 23:1-12 GNB