What Has Straw in Common with Wheat?

There are many authoritarian religions in the modern world. Whether they are large movements or local ones, they are each still under the domination of one man. It is not long before such movements are off concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ; and then they become immoral. Let me share a word from the prophet Jeremiah concerning this:

“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams which they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat?” says the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” says the Lord, “and like a hammer which breaks the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who steal my words from one another. Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘Says the Lord.’ Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams,” says the Lord, “and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them; so they do not profit this people at all,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:25-32 RSV)

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Roots by the River

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