Beware Of Bumper Sticker Religion
By Assistant Pastor Dr. Jaden Fitzpatrick | November 24, 2024
Open your Bibles to 1 John 4:1-6. I’m thankful for the singing, the youth, the baptisms—God’s moving! Here’s the text: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” Let’s pray: Father, thank You for Your goodness, grace, mercy, the singing, and baptisms. As we preach Your Word, work in hearts. Give me unction, hide me behind the cross. If anyone doesn’t know Jesus, may they settle it today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The Danger of Deception
I love hunting—deer’s fine, but bird hunting, like ducks, takes skill. At 2 a.m., we set decoys—plastic ducks that look real, bobbing in water with a jerk rig. We use duck calls—mine’s a Phil Robertson classic—to mimic safety and food. Ducks fly in, drop their guard, and bam—12-gauge time! John warns us similarly: “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits.” Not alcohol—spiritual voices! Podcasts, preachers, influencers—they look and sound familiar, but danger waits. A girl I warned about a Bible college went anyway—same songs, suits, Bible—came back a hyper-Calvinist. Looks good, sounds good, but test it! Not everything with “Jesus” is of God.
Four Bumper Sticker Lies
Here’s four bumper sticker theologies—sound good, but unbiblical. First, “Follow Your Heart.” Hallmark loves it—“Just follow your heart!” Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Jesus never said follow your heart—He said, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19). My heart says fish on Sunday—I can’t, it’s church! Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself… in the Lord,” means a surrendered heart. Second, “You Deserve to Be Happy.” If unhappy, leave your spouse, job, kids? Nope. The Bible never promises constant happiness—trials hit (Matthew 5:45)—but calls us to holiness (1 Peter 1:16). Joy’s from God, not self (Nehemiah 8:10). Third, “You Get What You Deserve.” Karma? No—grace! The adulteress (John 8) deserved stoning—Jesus gave grace, saying, “Go, and sin no more.” Zacchaeus, a thief, got supper with Jesus (Luke 19). Psalm 34:6—“This poor man cried, and the Lord… saved him.” Fourth, “Only God Can Judge Me.” Matthew 7:1’s context isn’t “never judge”—it’s hypocrisy. We’re fruit inspectors (Matthew 7:20), accountable, not excusing sin. Jesus, full of grace and truth (John 1:14), whipped temple merchants (John 2)—holy, not a pushover.
Testing the Spirits
Young folks, be cautious who you hear—famous preachers can deny Jesus’ blood. Ask Pastor Bill if unsure—he’s here for your soul. Voices tempt—“Skip church, doubt God”—but good deeds don’t save; only the cross does. John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice… they follow me.” God never contradicts His Word. “What would Jesus do?” bracelets are fine, but the Bible shows what He did—bled for us, not goats (Hebrews 9:12). Test every spirit against scripture—self-focus blinds; Christ-focus saves.
A Call to Salvation
Romans 3:23—“All have sinned… fallen short.” Hell’s real, for the devil (Matthew 25:41), but Jesus—born sinless, crucified—loves whosoever (John 3:16). Drug addict, liar, perfect (ha!)—He loves you. Not our job to clean up—He’s the Fisher, we’re the catch. Romans 10:13: “Whosoever shall call… shall be saved.” God’s promise—same-day delivery! If you’re here, online, and don’t know Christ, admit you’re a sinner, trust His cross—come forward now. He’s knocking—let Him in!