False teaching was as much an issue in the early church as it is today. This is made evident in books of the Bible such as Acts, Colossians, and 2 Timothy, to name a few. The same struggles and deceptions that plagued the early church continue to plague modern-day believers. It can feel somewhat intimidating to realize what we’re truly up against as Christians—and how easy it is to fall prey to deception.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 ESV)
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV)
The most difficult part about false teaching is that it can often sound like truth. You’ve heard it said “even a broken clock is accurate twice a day.” False teachers often start with sound doctrine and then subtly add to or subtract from the truth to get a more appetizing soundbite with which to lure their listeners. The more you hear something, the more you absorb it, and the more plausible it begins to sound. It’s important as believers to ground ourselves in solid doctrine and in Christian community within the church, so that we can help each other stay on guard.
Paul warned the elders at Ephesus to be on high alert, knowing that after he left, false teachers would try to change the Gospel message.
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. (Acts 20: 28-31 ESV)
Paul predicted that these false teachers would arise from within the church. Yikes! We have to be careful as believers not to blindly accept what is taught from a pulpit, but rather, search the Scriptures for ourselves and constantly check for Biblical truth.
The same principal applies not just to church pastors and their sermons, but to any type of Bible teaching, podcast, book, or devotional. Be mindful of what you put into your mind.
Here are 4 questions to ask in order to help recognize false teaching.
1. Does the teaching make you feel better about your sin?
I attended a conference many years ago featuring several well-known speakers. At the time, I was a believer living in a sinful situation, fighting conviction every day. One pastor preached, and I felt deeply convicted about my sin, to the point that I could barely stay in my chair. The next pastor got up, and when he was done, I felt better about my sin. Not in a repentant, grateful-for-grace type of way, but in a “it’s not so bad after all” type of false relief.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:15-20 ESV)
The fruit of that last sermon wasn’t to give God glory or to present the Gospel message, but rather, offered an excuse for Christians to live like the world. Talk about one rotten apple.
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2. Does the teaching press for money or emphasize testing God?
The word of faith movement is prevalent in churches today, which teaches if you simply believe hard enough or pray long enough or give enough money, you’ll get what you want. Women will get pregnant, marriages will be healed, and prodigal children returned—if you just believe and write that check! We know by experience, however, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes infertility lingers, regardless of faithful tithing. Sometimes divorce papers are served, despite passionate prayers. Unfortunately, this isn’t a new tactic by false teachers. Peter even warned the church about false prophets twisting the Gospel in order to earn money.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. (2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV)
There’s obviously nothing wrong with tithing or sending money to a beloved ministry—but the moment a speaker or pastor puts a condition on or connects a promise to your “investment,” it’s false teaching.
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3. Does the teaching contradict Gods word?
The Bible is inerrant and is our final authority as believers. It gets the last say. If something contradicts God’s word, it’s a false teaching. Period. When pastors or teachers claim that they received a divine revelation or vision, it must be thoroughly checked against the Bible. The Holy Spirit will never contradict God’s word. Because of the triune nature of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), that would be impossible.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
If someone specifically teaches that the Holy Spirit gave them a particular word that is opposite to Scripture, you can immediately assume this is a false teacher and beware.
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4. Does the teaching discredit who Jesus truly is?
One of the most obvious signs of false teaching is when the teaching diminishes the role and identity of Jesus Christ.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:1-3 ESV)
If someone is professing that Jesus wasn’t God’s son, or that he wasn’t perfect, or that he didn’t rise from the dead after three days, or anything else outside of Biblical truth, it must be dismissed as false teaching. There are various teachings today attempting to claim that Satan and Jesus were brothers, or that Jesus was just a good man we can learn from but wasn’t divine. On the flip side, there’s also a movement to convince believers that Jesus was only divine, and not also fully man. False teachers will continue to get creative and tickle more ears in their deception, but we can choose to refuse to listen and immerse ourselves in the word of God.
If there’s ever a teaching that isn’t clearly against the word of God and seems questionable, run it past a trusted, godly mentor, pastor, or friend, and see if they can advise. Also, pray! As believers, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us to lead us in all truth and discernment.
Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of fourteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her newlywed hubby, two story-telling young daughters, a collection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash of Pickle Pringles. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored in Christ. When she's not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white-chocolate mocha. Look for her latest novel with HarperCollins, LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES, and POCKET PRAYERS FOR FRIENDS with Max Lucado. Visit her at http://www.betsystamant.
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Originally published Tuesday, 28 January 2020.
