Identifying False Teachers & Teaching: Part 5
We've got just a couple more things to consider as it pertains to what the Bible has to say about false teachers/teaching. In the coming days, we'll deal with combatting and exposing false teachers. For now, here are the last two identifiers that will help, alongside the other biblical traits, to help us identify false teachers and teaching.
9. They Are Unrepentant Rebels Who Love Sin (2 Peter 2:10-14)
When Apollos was confronted with his false teaching by Priscilla and Aquilla, he demonstrated his repentance by conforming to the truth. But, Peter highlights in his second letter why false teachers will not repent of their false teaching. They love sin: "They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin" (2 Pet 2:11).
This identifier is central to how we previously defined a false teacher – A false prophet/teacher is someone who has been taught the truth and continues to live in unrepentance and teach false doctrines that lead people to reject the essentials of the Gospel, disobey God's Word, and create unnecessary division in the body of Christ.
Every teacher has the ability, maybe even the propensity, to say something false. If you say or write enough words, it is much more likely that you will say/write something false than to convey 100% truth. The question then isn't whether or not a teacher will communicate something false. The question is, how will that teacher respond when called to repent?
Lacking repentance doesn't stop at what false teachers will be teaching but can also be seen in their lifestyles. The questions then include but are not limited to communication.
If repentance is not evident in that teacher's life, it might be that they are disqualified from teaching and should stop. Or it could be they are a false teacher who loves his sin.
10. They Pretend to Be Like Christ But Are Servants of Satan (Matt 7:15; 2 Cor 11:13-15)
Wouldn't it be nice if false teachers would wear a name tag to identify themselves? "Hi, My Name Is – John Doe – False Teacher. Unfortunately for those of us looking out for them, being a false teacher isn't just about being deceiving as it pertains to doctrine. They seek to disguise their true identity as well. They strive to present themselves to Christians as a Christian. Jesus called them "wolves in sheep's clothing." Paul told the Corinthians this shouldn't surprise us because "even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."
False teachers weave real truth and true lies to present themselves as righteous servants and messengers of God. But in the end, their purposes serve Satan, the father of lies.
In service to and just like their father, the Devil, false teachers…
What makes these such serious issues is that false teachers aren't just spies seeking to know what's happening in the church. They are infiltrators sent to tear things down. We must be on guard. The greatest threats we face are not the cult leaders and other wackos that everyone knows are preaching a false gospel. The greater threat is the teacher who disguises himself as one of us, who uses the same Scripture as us, the same language we use, and follows the same practices we do but does it in service to Satan instead of Jesus’ fame.
9. They Are Unrepentant Rebels Who Love Sin (2 Peter 2:10-14)
When Apollos was confronted with his false teaching by Priscilla and Aquilla, he demonstrated his repentance by conforming to the truth. But, Peter highlights in his second letter why false teachers will not repent of their false teaching. They love sin: "They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin" (2 Pet 2:11).
This identifier is central to how we previously defined a false teacher – A false prophet/teacher is someone who has been taught the truth and continues to live in unrepentance and teach false doctrines that lead people to reject the essentials of the Gospel, disobey God's Word, and create unnecessary division in the body of Christ.
Every teacher has the ability, maybe even the propensity, to say something false. If you say or write enough words, it is much more likely that you will say/write something false than to convey 100% truth. The question then isn't whether or not a teacher will communicate something false. The question is, how will that teacher respond when called to repent?
Lacking repentance doesn't stop at what false teachers will be teaching but can also be seen in their lifestyles. The questions then include but are not limited to communication.
- Does faith in Christ and repentance from sin characterize the teacher's life and teaching?
- When caught in sin, whether in communication or activity, is he quick to repent and reorient his life to the Gospel?
- Or, is he quick to justify his actions and tell you why what he is doing or communicating is actually right according to how he reads Scripture?
If repentance is not evident in that teacher's life, it might be that they are disqualified from teaching and should stop. Or it could be they are a false teacher who loves his sin.
10. They Pretend to Be Like Christ But Are Servants of Satan (Matt 7:15; 2 Cor 11:13-15)
Wouldn't it be nice if false teachers would wear a name tag to identify themselves? "Hi, My Name Is – John Doe – False Teacher. Unfortunately for those of us looking out for them, being a false teacher isn't just about being deceiving as it pertains to doctrine. They seek to disguise their true identity as well. They strive to present themselves to Christians as a Christian. Jesus called them "wolves in sheep's clothing." Paul told the Corinthians this shouldn't surprise us because "even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."
False teachers weave real truth and true lies to present themselves as righteous servants and messengers of God. But in the end, their purposes serve Satan, the father of lies.
In service to and just like their father, the Devil, false teachers…
- Create Doubt in the Sufficiency of God's Word– Like their father, the Devil, they ask, “Did God really say?” They might do it by denying the truthfulness of God's Word. But it is just as likely to be accomplished by offering an alternative or twisted interpretation and bogus application to lead any who will listen astray.
- Contradict God's Word – it takes a bold person to call God a liar, but two contradictory truths can't both be true, and that is exactly what Satan has done toward God. And that is what false teachers do with their followers. Some of these are bold lies, like Satan told to Eve, "You won't die." Others are much more crafty, like, "Preach the Gospel, use words when necessary,” when they no full well the Gospel is a message that must be preached.
- Entice with Something God Hasn’t Promised/Provided– this carrot-dangling tactic engages the passions of the flesh. It causes those who listen to pursue a treasure God hasn't promised and may have purposefully withheld. It convinces people to commit themselves to some idolatrous pursuit with a perceived noble cause.
- Create Doubt in the Sufficiency of God's Work– the Bible is clear that God justifies not based on works but on faith. The enemy will always encourage us to trust more in what we do than what the Lord has done. The work of the Christian life is not in doing all the right things, it is trusting the right One (Jn 6:26-29).
What makes these such serious issues is that false teachers aren't just spies seeking to know what's happening in the church. They are infiltrators sent to tear things down. We must be on guard. The greatest threats we face are not the cult leaders and other wackos that everyone knows are preaching a false gospel. The greater threat is the teacher who disguises himself as one of us, who uses the same Scripture as us, the same language we use, and follows the same practices we do but does it in service to Satan instead of Jesus’ fame.