Identifying False Teachers & Teaching: Part 2

This is really the 4th post in this series, but it is the second in which we are looking at a list of ways in which we can identify false teachers and teaching. In this post, we'll look more closely at the first 3 identifiers.

1. Their Power Is Real, But It's Not of God (Deut 13:1-5)

One clear test of a prophet's status among the Israelites was whether or not their works of power were used to draw people closer to God or away from Him. One example of this can be found within the story of the Exodus (Exodus 7-8).

God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh to tell him to release the Israelites. Pharaoh demanded a sign. God knew this would happen and gave them power to turn Moses' staff into a snake and to take that snake up and become a staff again. Pharoah summoned his wise men and sorcerers; they were able to replicate the sign. But the magician's power wasn't used to affirm God's greatness but to deny it.

We often ignore it, but there is a real power of darkness at work in our world. Many will try to explain it away. But pulling the sheets up over our heads doesn't make it less real. We discern whether power is from God or not by who is given credit. Is God exalted or thanked, or does that go to those doing works of power or some other god? I listened to a man tell me the story of a Maribou blessing him so that the coals of his blacksmith's forge would not burn him. The man picked up a coal and held it in his hand as he talked about this. The power seemed to protect him from having his skin burned. But, he was so committed to it and the god behind it that he rejected Jesus as the Son of God. Not only that, the blessing would wear off so he had to continue to return to the Maribou, becoming dependent on him. That power is real, but it is not of God.

2. They Say "Thus Says the Lord" When God Didn't Speak (Deut 18:15-22)
Another indicator of a prophet's status in Israel was whether or not what he said was true. If he proclaimed what would happen in the future, but it didn't happen, he was a liar. If what he said was false in accordance with the testimony of God, the prophet was a liar. Though Jesus has now filled the office of prophet, and there is no office still to be filled, there are still prophecies offered in the New Testament (Acts 2:17-18; 1 Cor 14:1-3).

In those days, the teaching of the Apostles and the Scriptures were the litmus test against which authoritative teaching (prophecy) was tested. The Judaizers were constantly striving to undo Paul's work by preaching a false gospel. He told the Galatians (Gal 1:6-9) that his teaching of the Gospel was their standard. Notice he didn't refer to the Old Testament. He referred to the message he had been given, which was tested by the other Apostles and would be why he confronted Peter. In other places, the Bereans are a good example (Acts 17:10-12); Paul's message was tested against the Scriptures.

Today, we don't have capital "A" apostles running around. Their teaching is summarized in the New Testament. So now we test every word proclaimed against whether it is in step with the Bible or not. Here are some examples to consider…

• When a teacher says a Christian must do a particular thing to be counted a "good" Christian or to "live worthy of the call" but the Bible is silent – we can reject it.
• When teachers call something sinful (unclean) when God has not called it sin – we can reject it.
• When teachers say you are free to do something the Bible identifies as sinful – we can reject it.
• When teachers elevate secondary or tertiary matters to primary matters – we can reject it.
• When teachers speak with authority on any issue but base their position on anything other than Scripture, we can reject them.

At best, these are good teachers mistakenly, unintentionally, or ignorantly offering false teaching. But they may also be the false teaching of a false teacher, so use caution.

3. They Cover Their Lies With A Veneer of Truth (Matt 24:11; 24:24; Mark 13:21-23; Acts 13:6-12)
This identifier is closely related to the previous point. But, it must be highlighted, because not every false teacher or teaching is a straight-up lie. In fact, the most insidious lies are twisted and intertwined with truth, making the lies much harder to identify. It's like covering worm medicine with peanut butter so that a dog will take it.

The examples from Matthew and Mark above depend on the teaching that Christ is returning. But Jesus points out they are not to be trusted. Paul and Barnabus encountered Bar-Jesus (Elymas), a Jewish false prophet. He certainly would have used the Scripture to deny the teaching of Paul and Barnabus, but they saw right through him. The point is what a teacher says is important. How he handles the truth is important. Does he twist it? Does he emphasize only portions of it to fit an agenda other than the Lord's?

Maybe you have heard, in recent years, the Bible has been used to affirm that God created more than two genders. Jesus has also been said to be transgender. Those are horrific and blasphemous lies twisted together with a bit of truth. The twisted and distorted truth from the likes of Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, and the Bethel Church movement is serious and clearly deceptive based on their large following. But these two examples aren't the only type of false teaching. The truth is that God's Word can be twisted together or distorted in a multitude of ways. The truth is that though these false teachings deceive many they may not be the false teaching you are susceptible to. So, we would be wise to take Paul's advice in 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 – Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.