Hi Roy,
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
All people first live in darkness and deception it is only when they receive the Holy Spirit/Comforter that their eyes are opened to the truth.
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
God gives us His Holy Spirit, but then He want us to really have a desire to know the truth and we have to dig for it like a "hidden treasure in a field" (Matt. 13). Notice the treasure is "hidden" and not out there for all to see and find. The only ones that can and will find it are those He has destined to, but there are only a few who will make it onto that narrow path. When He has brought those to the place where He wants them to be, then He will reveal Himself to them and teach them and they will know they are His sheep.
John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
v. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
v. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
v. 30 I and My Father are one."
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Once the Holy Spirit is indwelling then God will work through you to bear fruit and this is the way we can know someonr is a true believer, by their fruit.
There is nothing in a million years that could convince me to go back to the lies that the Pastor teaches.
This statement you made indicates that you can see the fruit of the pastor of the church, the lies and contradictions. But as you said;
They feel guilt and love and seek God and do all the same things that we do.
Yes they do look a lot like a believer, doesn't "Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." (2 Cor. 11:14), so too does these pastors appear as one of the sheep. But Jesus warns us about them...
Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
v. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
v. 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
v. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
v. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
v. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Paul also warns us.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
v. 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
v. 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
v. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
mercy, peace and love
Kat