Name three "tares" sown among the early churches. Are these still operative today? BIB 547-1-4-6

“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Matthew 13:25 …….“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matthew 13:30So rather than tearing out the tares and pulling out some of the wheat with them, the tares were allowed to grow alongside the wheat until the time of harvest. At that time the tares would be burnt and the wheat gathered into the barn. This is prophetic of the judgment of the sheep and the goats.
According to CM the following “tares” were sown in early Church;
1. Legalism: denial of Christ’s completed work.
2. Gnosticism: denial of Christ’s humanity.
3. Caesar worship: denial of Christ’s Lordship.

Legalism started very early in the church. Even as Paul was teaching the Judaizers were sowing the tares of legalism. Although the Judaizers confirmed the teachings of Jesus, they taught that some Jewish religious practices must be adhered to; most notably circumcision. To the Judaizers justification by faith alone was not sufficient, rather justification by faith combined with works.

Today the Judaizers are alive and well in many of today’s denominations, most notably the Catholic Church. As Jesus hung on the cross He said “It is finished.” The gift of salvation provided by Jesus’ work on the cross was not enough for the Nicolaitans of the Catholic Church. They teach that one must add works to keep that salvation.

Rather than a denial of Christ’s humanity, today there seems to be a greater denial of His divinity. The validity of the Bible is being questioned in the emerging churches. While not a church there’s a group of scholars involved in “The Jesus Seminar” who asserted that the Gospel of Thomas may have more authentic material than the Gospel of John. Perhaps the scholars should check its hepatic structure.

“And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” Matthew 22:20-22. Today we live in a materialistic world where many either worship money or covet the money belonging to others. Many church leaders also worship the almighty dollar. Some of the televangelists are little better than snake oil salesman. Send them money and you can expect to receive a seven-fold increase or some such nonsense.

And someday soon, the judgment of the sheep and the goats.