A friend whom I attended Bible School with in the ’80s is reading John Bevere’s book, Thus Saith The Lord: How to know when God is speaking to you through another. Thankfully, she recognized this paragraph as being so important that she transcribed it from chapter three, “The True Prophetic Ministry I”:

Many of the deceived even now attend church and feel they’re ready for Jesus’ return. Not unlike the multitude in John the Baptist’s time, they comfort themselves with their church attendance, tithing record, ability to speak in tongues, or ability to flow in other gifts. They feel certain God is obligated to accept them because they once prayed a sinner’s prayer, though they have yet to submit to the Lordship of Jesus. They only obey when it is convenient or doesn’t conflict with their schedule or agenda. If obedience to the Master interferes with their pleasure, they casually ignore His leading, claiming ‘the grace of God.’ They may believe they are justified, but are they? Could they be the lukewarm church Jesus confronts in Revelation, which finds confidence in a false grace (Rev. 3:14-22)? Unfortunately, this condition is further propagated by false prophets and teachers who tell them they are in right standing with God.

Telling people what they want to hear at the expense of what they need to hear weakens the church.