False teaching is not a new thing. There have always been people who distorted truth. Interestingly, even the first generation church dealt with false teachings. To be sure there was much in issues of theology that had not been settled in any kind of technical, systematic, or even thorough way at that point in history.
And yet the false hood was quick to come. Even in a persecuted church where people were risking imprisonment or even death, false teaching began to take root. The false teachers rarely refuted every orthodox belief and rarely encouraged sin in every conceivable way. Those spreading their falsehood would often embrace partial truth with a significant departing from only one area of truth. They would often advocate strongly for some sense of morality on some issues, but then dismiss other significant moral tenets of Christian lifestyle.
While we understand that in nonessentials we should have unity, false teachers like to reorganize biblical truth by their own cultural standards to place historic essentials or salvific essentials in the unessential category. Many do so with the homosexual practice claiming that it is unessential and "many Christians disagree on the subject." That however does not make is an unessential. Sexual morality is, in fact, an essential component to our salvation. Paul even warns us not to be deceived in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, stating that those who practice homosexuality and those who are sexually immoral will not inherit the kingdom of God. That certainly sounds essential and salvific!
Some falsehood is borne of ignorance or misunderstanding. Some distortion of truth is borne of sensuality or lawlessness. Some is intentional and some unintentional. But the goal of the enemy is ultimately the same: to lead people astray.
So how serious is false teaching & preaching? Serious enough that almost every book in the bible deals with it in some manner. Jesus repeatedly spoke to the issue, Paul challenged churches to reject false teaching, God rebukes churches over it, and the Old Testament prophets constantly opposed false prophets.
Below are some references to false teaching (with commentary).
Jesus warns us that there will be false christs and false prophets. They may even be accompanied by "signs and wonders." Matt 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect."
Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees. These were religious leaders who were confronted by Jesus over both orthodox and orthopraxis issues. Matthew 23
Jesus warns about the "leaven" that so easily spreads. The teachings of religious leaders is impactful to people and spreads quickly. It is important that it be true. Matt 16:12 "Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
False teachers often receive praise from others. Luke 6:26 " “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets."
Who are the wolves who will come to harm the flock (church)? Those who speak twisted things. Acts 20:28-30 "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. [29] I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; [30] and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them."
The mind, untethered to the revealed word of God, is prone to philosophy and empty deceit. It will follow, not Christ, but the elemental spirits of this world. Colossians 2:8 "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."
The job of a prophet, teacher, professor, or leader in the church is to teach the doctrine passed down to them, not whatever wind of cultural philosophy is blowing. If anyone teaches a different doctrine that does not agree with the word of God, they are prideful and more. 1 Timothy 6:3-5 "If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, [4] he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, [5] and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain."
Some people will not be able to endure sound teachings. They will crave for false teachings that permit the lusts of their flesh to rule and reign without repentance. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 "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, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
We must hold to the word we have been taught and promote the truth as found in the word of God. Those who do not, must be rebuked sharply. Titus 1:9-14 "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. [10] For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. [11] They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. [12] One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” [13] This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, [14] not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth."
Many false prophets will bring their destructive heresies, borne of sensuality, which will blaspheme the truth. 2 Peter 2:1-3 "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. [2] And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. [3] And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
The ignorant and unstable will twist to their own destruction the words of Paul in his letters. 2 Peter 3:15-17 "And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, [16] as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. [17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability."
We need the ability to discern and test the spirit of those who are false prophets. Their charisma is not sufficient authority to repeal God's word. 1 John 4:1 "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."
Is it important to walk in the truth? Yes it is! 3 John 1:3-4 "For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. [4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
We are even challenged to contend for the faith because there are people who pervert the grace of God into sensuality! Wow. Jude 1:3-4 "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. [4] For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."
God rebukes churches over adopting false teachings surrounding, among other things, sexual immorality. Revelation 2:14-16 "But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. [15] So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. [16] Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth."
God even rebukes a church for tolerating a false prophetess who is teaching and seducing resulting in the practice of sexual immorality among other things. Judgement is coming for her and the church that tolerates what she is doing. Revelation 2:20-25 "But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. [21] I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. [22] Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into
What about the Old Testament?
A pretty serious punishment for those who claim to speak for God, but have not heard from Him. Deuteronomy 18:20 "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’"
God is against those who are false prophets. Ezekiel 13:9 "My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God."
Even priests are rebuked because they made no distinction between the holy and the common. Ezekiel 22:26 "Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them."
Ezekiel 44:23 "They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean."
There are plenty of false prophets and teachers who will tell you exactly what you wish to be true. But they are vain hopes and not from the mouth of the Lord. Jeremiah 23:16 "Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord."
Falsehood is rampant and people seem to love it Jeremiah warns. Jeremiah 5:30-31 "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: [31] the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?"
There are certainly more passages that I have listed about false teaching and prophets.
So why is this taken so seriously?
1. Because speaking for God can bring salvific life or death borne of manipulation to those who listen. If it is true, it will lead to life (Jesus said he was the truth). If it is false, it will lead to death.
2. If our faith isn't grounded in what is true, then it is of no real substance. The literal death and resurrection of Jesus is necessary because if it is not an actual historic event, how can it effect actual transformation in the life of a believer? Our faith is not just an encouraging idea, it is the bedrock of eternal life in Jesus Christ!
3. The truth sets people free. Love is the motive for God extending salvation, and the ultimate response he desires of us. But His love untethered to the truth devolves into sentimentality and cultural expressions of twisted morality. Truth without love leaves us with no compelling interest from God toward us. Love and truth cannot be separated!
4. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We don't need more philosophical discourses. We need men and women who have been with God in the holy place. We need people who have been radically transformed and set free by the truth of the Gospel and power of God to share with us this same Good News! That message cannot be lost, ignored, twisted, or edited.
You cannot improve upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But there are many who are detracting from it.
"Unsatisfied hearts are easy prey to heresies of the mind. But when the ideal of the soul is reached in the grace and blessing of a pure heart, there is not much for false doctrine to feed upon. The truly sanctified are like well-fed people: not easy to entice." J. B. Chapman
Check out these other articles:
When Did Holiness Theology Shift to Calvinism?
20 Signs You Are in a Dying Church
"Progressive" Christianity is the Real Problem
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