Deceptive MOGs (Man Of God) will rip verses in and out of context throughout sermons—enough to give you whiplash! Within these mishandlings of Scripture, you’ll inevitably hear shouted opinions, judgment, and condemnation interwoven with biblical passages. This effectively creates an “appearance of biblical authority” for these man-made precepts, leading listeners to equate the MOG’s opinions with what Scripture truly says. The implication is that the MOG is so proficient in the Word that his preaching is fully biblical and perfectly cohesive in God’s word.
Furthermore, It is again inferred that the MOG has searched the word front to back 1,000 times and you could not possibly dedicate as much of your own time to be as knowledgeable - so you inadvertently choose to blindly trust that this MOG must know what he is talking about.
It makes perfect sense in our modern society—why wouldn’t it? We embrace specialization in virtually every field because we know it produces the best, most convenient outcomes for us. This logic naturally extends to our “spiritual leader” whom countless others follow, with consistent “amens” and vocal agreements lending him credibility in each service. Even if you did not want to relinquish your own responsibility to study the Word, how could you possibly fact-check claims made by someone who, as it were, practically lives in his Bible?
This tactic is difficult to detect early on, because you’ll frequently hear, “Search the Word for yourself! Don’t just take my word for it!” Yet, when you really consider it, that challenge is akin to an able adult challenging a child to a race. From the moment we sat under a MOG’s instruction, we were never equipped to mature in the Word (see Ephesians 4, as discussed earlier).
This is by design—the majority of “study” classes were never intended to teach you how to grow independently. Quite often, the individuals leading these study groups have been deceived by the same biblical falsehoods (often as a child) from MOGs past. These systems quickly teach that the only correct way to be ‘fed’ is through the church—thereby never learning how to feed yourself. Recall back to our discussion on how Experience, Emotion, and Expectations are a “reset” button used to keep you from maturing properly.
Furthermore, it is often stated that “God doesn’t change” and “His Word is eternal.” Both are, of course, true! However, these Godly concepts are twisted to support the UPCI doctrine rather than reflecting what is actually written in the Bible. Since the MOG subscribes entirely to this “truth” (UPCI), questioning this “truth” is equivalent to questioning God in a blasphemous manner. This mindset that is instilled into congregants directly contradicts God’s instruction to test the teachings we receive from men.
The Jews embraced this “our version of truth doesn’t change” mindset as well, an attitude that ultimately contributed to the crucifixion of Christ.
What’s the bible actually say?
Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
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This entire chapter is beautiful and covers the simplicity of Christ’s salvation in the face of ritualistic legalism. This excerpt in particular instructs us how our faith actually comes; by hearing the word of Christ (hint: hearing is not limited to just a MOG screaming into a microphone)
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Hebrews 4:11-13
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
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God’s word is living and active; able to discern your thoughts & intentions <- meaning, it’s alive for us today AND able to correct us on its own (no MOG needed to ‘step in’ on its behalf with guilt!)
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
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Not going to give you the usual guilt trip on how “if there’s a right way, that means there’s also a wrong way!
The more important point—and the context of this verse—is that Paul was giving specific guidance to Timothy to ensure he handled the Word correctly. This wasn’t a command meant to scare us from studying Scripture or to justify dismissal of non-UPCI doctrines; rather, it serves as an example of what it means to be a good worker in contrast to the false teachers Paul warned against within this chapter.
The next time the spirit of MOG tries to instill fear and doubt about your ability to search the Word of God correctly, ask yourself: Why would God require a man to teach His truth to you? He doesn’t.
God has provided everything we need! As we previously examined, while God has indeed sent proper elders and teachers, they should never be considered mandatory for understanding His Word (even if those individuals were completely blameless).
This post is part of the “Law To Grace” series, a multi-part exploration of how man-made authority and false doctrine has shaped our faith—and how God’s grace and truth can overcome these man-made shackles. Whether you’re reading in order or joining the conversation midway, each article provides insights to help you discern truth from deception and embrace the unconditional love of Christ.
This work represents my personal views and interpretations and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of any organization, including the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) or any other religious institution. The content is intended for discussion and personal reflection. Any references to organizations, doctrines, or teachings are made for informational and analytical purposes.