Be Careful Who You’re Fighting: You May Be Fighting Against God

Religious people need to be careful about attacking the REAL Church of Jesus Christ—the kind of Church we see in the Book of Acts. Spreading lies, making false accusations against true spiritual leaders, sowing discord, instigating trouble, and creating church divisions are serious matters. Calling it “defending the truth” does not make it righteous.

Everybody who claims to defend God is not working with God. Some are resisting the very work He is doing.

The Book of Acts shows us a Church filled with the Holy Ghost, preaching truth, healing the sick, making disciples, and establishing congregations. It also shows us people who opposed that work. Some used religious arguments. Others used deception, manipulation, and false accusations. God does not treat those actions lightly.

God Takes Deception Seriously

In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira agreed to misrepresent their offering. They were free to keep their property or decide how much to give. The issue was their deliberate deception.

Peter told Ananias:

“Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost…? …thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” — Acts 5:3–4, KJV

Both Ananias and Sapphira died, and Acts 5:11 says, “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”

We cannot read this account and conclude that deception in the Church is harmless. God knows the difference between an honest mistake and a calculated lie. He sees what people agree to privately, even when they present something different publicly.

When They Could Not Resist the Truth, They Started Lying

Acts 6 describes opposition against Stephen:

“And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” — Acts 6:10, KJV

What did they do when they could not overcome the wisdom he spoke? They persuaded men to make accusations, stirred up the people, and brought forward false witnesses.

“And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law.” — Acts 6:13, KJV

Their accusations sounded truthful, but their methods were dishonest. They claimed to protect what was holy while lying against a man serving God.

A religious vocabulary does not sanctify a lie. If you have to misrepresent someone, stir up a crowd, or manufacture an accusation to win your argument, examine what spirit is influencing your actions.

Trying to Turn People Away From the Faith

In Acts 13, Sergius Paulus, a government official, wanted to hear the Word of God. Elymas opposed Paul and Barnabas, “seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith” (Acts 13:8).

Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, confronted him:

“O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” — Acts 13:10, KJV

Paul then declared that Elymas would be blind for a season. Immediately, darkness came upon him, and he needed someone to lead him by the hand.

Elymas was deliberately interfering with someone’s opportunity to hear and believe the gospel. That should sober anyone who uses influence to turn people away from biblical truth.

People’s faith is not something to manipulate. Their spiritual growth is not something to sabotage because you are offended, jealous, or determined to control the situation.

Division Is Not a Small Matter

Paul warned the Church:

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” — Romans 16:17, KJV

Notice the standard: the doctrine they had received. The issue was division contrary to apostolic teaching.

There is a difference between correcting error through Scripture and gathering people around an accusation. There is a difference between addressing wrongdoing and feeding a campaign of discord. Truth must govern both what we say and how we act.

Paul also wrote:

“He that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.” — Galatians 5:10, KJV

In that passage, Paul was confronting teaching that was drawing believers away from the truth of the gospel. Influence does not remove accountability. Whoever troubles God’s people is still answerable to God.

Spiritual Authority Comes With Accountability

We must also recognize that leaders can participate in this behavior. In 3 John, Diotrephes loved having preeminence, spoke maliciously against the apostolic ministry, refused to receive believers, and put others out of the church.

A title does not make manipulation righteous.

Scripture protects elders from unsupported accusations, but it also requires accountability:

“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” — 1 Timothy 5:19–20, KJV

We must refuse false accusations and address proven sin. Both are biblical responsibilities. No one gets permission to lie, and no one gets exemption from correction.

Examine What You Are Opposing

In Acts 5, Gamaliel gave a warning concerning the apostles:

“But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” — Acts 5:39, KJV

Before you join the accusation, repeat the story, or help create the division, examine the facts and the Scriptures. Are you defending biblical truth? Are you addressing something honestly? Or are you helping someone fight a personal battle against God’s work?

Every disagreement with a leader is not rebellion. Every claim of spiritual authority is not proof that God approves. We must test teaching and conduct by the Word of God and the real revelation of the Word of God. Sometimes people try to test people by what they THINK the Word is saying and totally miss it.

But when people knowingly lie, manipulate, sow discord, and resist the gospel, they need to repent. God’s patience should never be mistaken for His approval. The accounts in Acts show that judgment is real; its timing and form belong to Him.

If you have spread a lie, correct it. If you have stirred up division, stop feeding it. If you have falsely accused someone, take responsibility. Repentance requires more than changing the subject.

Be careful who you are fighting. You may be fighting against God.

Apsotle Doc Murphy