Heresies abound today.

Consider Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda; his followers call him everything from apostle to Dad, or simply Jesus Christ Man. One follower of his believes “he is God, he is God.” She also lavishes him with money and gifts. "I don’t have one Rolex,” de Jesus Miranda said, “I have 3 because they want to give it to me. I think they’re great!”This self-proclaimed Son of God is a 60-year old former heroin addict and convict. The divorced father of four was born in Puerto Rico and now lives in South Florida with his second wife. Recently asked if he was able to do some of the things Jesus Christ did like performing miracles, healing the sick and walking on water. De Jesus said not necessarily. “My life is my church and what I’m doing worldwide,” he said.What De Jesus is doing at more than 300 centers in Central and South America, Cuba and the U.S. is preaching a message of "freedom to indulge" because according to this modern messiah, there is no sin, no devil and no hell to pay. de Jesus says, “It doesn’t exist. The devil was destroyed two thousand years ago." The real Jesus had something to say people preach this kind of heresy in Revelation 2:18.

This would be humorous if it wasn’t so sad. It’s sad because hundreds, no, thousands of Hispanic-speaking people are following de Jesus. He fits into the typical mold of a cult leader because he demands complete submission to his authority. Cultists come in a variety of shapes, sizes, genders, etc. However, they all have the same basic message, “Ignore what God said and listen to me.”

Another version of this heresy is a recent Time Magazine article stating that 61 percent of adult Christians in America agree that "God wants people to be financially prosperous.” This gospel is championed by Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston. “I think God wants us to be prosperous,” he stated. Other influential megachurch pastors including Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potter's House in Dallas and Creflo Dollar of World Changers in Atlanta embrace the message of prosperity. The problem with the “prosperity gospel” is that it only works in the United States. Such a message doesn’t in Third-World countries. Furthermore, it’s all about creating a false idol. Christians don't measure their self-worth by their net worth. History is full of millions of faithful followers of Christ who lived in poverty.

The prosperity theology wants the positive but not the negative. The problem is, we live on this side of Eden.