Posted: 22 August 2025

There are some, even though they know better, will choose to follow after deception and false teaching and reject the truth. Why you may ask, especially knowing the truth? They chose to for various reasons as a way to justify it to themselves. Even though their reasoning may make no sense to us.

I witnessed this very thing nearly three decades ago. He knew what was wrong with the teachings of many of these groups. Then one day he got a card in the mail advertising a "Book of Revelation" seminary free and open to the public. The card didn't say what church or denomination they are but I already knew. I told him that this is from the Seventh-day Adventists and told him what they believe and teach and at these seminars to lure your mind into a sense of accepting whatever they tell you. He asked me, "How do you mean?" I explained to him that at these seminars maybe 90% plus of what they give you is true Biblical and historical fact. They are conditioning your mind to where if everything they have given you so far is true and correct then everything else they tell you must be as well. It is the last couple of days of these seminars when they slip in their lies and false teachings. Your mind has accepted what you have been getting told and now that you are properly conditioned, most people will accept the rest as well. It is a very simple and subtle brainwashing technique.

I didn’t see him for about a week. Then he told me he went to it. I asked him "Why?" He said because he wanted to see what it was all about. Then he told me that this last week he joined them and was baptized into their church. I just looked at him and said "Why? You know what they are all about and that their teachings are false." He immediately got so defensive and started out with, "They were nice to me and why are you attacking my church? You have no idea what you are talking about. They are the one and they are the only true church and you are standing against it!" I told him I am not attacking that church and then pointed out many of the contradictions in their own writings and those of the Bible and he goes on with "You just don't understand and you are taking things out of context. You're just jealous."

I looked at him and said "Jealous of what? That you have chosen to follow after a false church and their false teachings?" He then just turned around and walked off without saying a thing.

A week later I ran into him again and we started talking about the church he is going to and why they worship on Saturday and condemn going to church on Sunday (one of their main core beliefs). I told him that nine of the Ten Commandments are mentioned in the New Testament for us to follow. The only one not included was to follow the Sabbath. He then started saying it is too in there and he knows people who know where it is. I asked him, "If it is in there then show me where? Why can't you show me? Why does someone else have to show me?" He didn't say anything so I finally said, "Ok have the people you know who knows where it is show me."

He never got back to me on that. Since then, he has separated himself from everyone who will not listen or agree with him and what his church believes and teaches. If they start to question him about what he believes and his church, he accuses them of "attacking" his church.

This was three decades ago. Since then, he has lost so many of his friends and things have not been going good for him. He believes this is because Satan is attacking him and trying to get him to leave the "one and only true church."

This is what happens when you let choose and let deception come into your life and take over and control it for you.

If you are not properly spiritual prepared, you can easily be deceived. If someone or a group is telling you things that are contrary to Biblical teaching, don't be afraid speak up and ask questions. Don't let their kindness and friendliness lure you in. All groups will do this if they think it will get you in. The Word of God tells us:

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
(1 Thessalonians 5:21)

....and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
(Acts 17:11)