Exposing False Teachers and Teaching
Should we name false teachers? This question is pretty easy to answer. Yes.
On several occasions, Paul named false teachers. One example is Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim 1:19-20). John named Diotrophes (3 John 9). Finally, though He didn’t name any one person specifically, Jesus named the Scribes and Pharisees as false teachers (Matt 23:15), and Jesus named “the woman Jezebel” (Rev 2:20). So yes, expose false teachers and their false teaching by name.
But is it always that simple? Yes. But let’s qualify that. The answer to the question is a simple, “yes,” if it is clear a person is a false teacher. The problem is it isn’t always clear when a person is a false teacher. Remember, they disguise themselves as one of us. To further complicate the problem, there are plenty of “heresy hunters” out there looking to name-drop on anyone who disagrees with their particular brand of Christian doctrine. If it is clear that someone is a false teacher, then name them as such. But, we should use discretion because to call someone a false teacher is to say that person is a “child of hell.”
When it is not clear if the person is a false teacher, you can still identify false teaching. Identifying false teaching is much easier. The criteria is pretty simple. Does the teaching align with the truth of Scripture? If the answer is yes, it is true. If the answer is no, well then it is false teaching.
The next step is determining whether the false teaching is error or heresy. If it is an error that doesn’t deny any essential Christian doctrine, then it doesn’t give you a reason to think the one who taught it is a false teacher. But, if it is heresy, then at a minimum, you know this teacher is not to be trusted, shouldn’t be teaching, you shouldn’t be listening, and you are right to warn others of the heresy. Even then, you should use discretion before you call someone a false teacher. Rather than being a false teacher, they could be a poorly informed brother or sister in Christ who needs to be corrected and called to repentance.
To illustrate the point, let’s consider millennial views and Jesus’ return. Throughout church history, there have been two over-arching categories: one sees the millennium as a time after Jesus’ return, and the other sees the millennium as ending with Jesus’ return. Within both of these overarching views, there are many variations and disagreements. Though they are all very different and can’t all be true, there is still agreement on the essential doctrines of the end. All orthodox Christians believe Jesus will return in bodily form to bring this world to its close and usher in the new Heavens and Earth.
So, as it pertains to teachers, there is a lot of room for error and disagreement on the details surrounding Jesus’ return and the millennium, but there are also some clear lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
When it is clear that a person is a false teacher, don’t hesitate to expose them (Eph 5:11) to protect your brothers and sisters in Christ. There is no shame in naming names to the glory of God and for the love of neighbor when a false teacher is teaching. There is no shame when someone teaches heresy to call it exactly what it is. It would be shameful to know someone is a false teacher and pretend they aren’t. It would be shameful to defend heresy.
But, before going public on a false teacher, do your best to test them against the biblical criteria. Do they teach a different Gospel? Have they been confronted and corrected and now continue in their lie? Can you see the fruit of their ministry or the fruit of their life? Do they produce holiness in the church (distinction from the world), or do they bring division and controversy to the church? If you can’t answer these questions, be careful in applying the label of false teacher. You might actually be sinning against your brother/sister. If we falsely accuse a teacher or a brother or sister in Christ, who then is creating undue division within the church? In an effort to do the right thing, ensure you do it in the right way; otherwise, you might be the one who is acting unjustly.
On several occasions, Paul named false teachers. One example is Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim 1:19-20). John named Diotrophes (3 John 9). Finally, though He didn’t name any one person specifically, Jesus named the Scribes and Pharisees as false teachers (Matt 23:15), and Jesus named “the woman Jezebel” (Rev 2:20). So yes, expose false teachers and their false teaching by name.
But is it always that simple? Yes. But let’s qualify that. The answer to the question is a simple, “yes,” if it is clear a person is a false teacher. The problem is it isn’t always clear when a person is a false teacher. Remember, they disguise themselves as one of us. To further complicate the problem, there are plenty of “heresy hunters” out there looking to name-drop on anyone who disagrees with their particular brand of Christian doctrine. If it is clear that someone is a false teacher, then name them as such. But, we should use discretion because to call someone a false teacher is to say that person is a “child of hell.”
When it is not clear if the person is a false teacher, you can still identify false teaching. Identifying false teaching is much easier. The criteria is pretty simple. Does the teaching align with the truth of Scripture? If the answer is yes, it is true. If the answer is no, well then it is false teaching.
The next step is determining whether the false teaching is error or heresy. If it is an error that doesn’t deny any essential Christian doctrine, then it doesn’t give you a reason to think the one who taught it is a false teacher. But, if it is heresy, then at a minimum, you know this teacher is not to be trusted, shouldn’t be teaching, you shouldn’t be listening, and you are right to warn others of the heresy. Even then, you should use discretion before you call someone a false teacher. Rather than being a false teacher, they could be a poorly informed brother or sister in Christ who needs to be corrected and called to repentance.
To illustrate the point, let’s consider millennial views and Jesus’ return. Throughout church history, there have been two over-arching categories: one sees the millennium as a time after Jesus’ return, and the other sees the millennium as ending with Jesus’ return. Within both of these overarching views, there are many variations and disagreements. Though they are all very different and can’t all be true, there is still agreement on the essential doctrines of the end. All orthodox Christians believe Jesus will return in bodily form to bring this world to its close and usher in the new Heavens and Earth.
So, as it pertains to teachers, there is a lot of room for error and disagreement on the details surrounding Jesus’ return and the millennium, but there are also some clear lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
- Error/Disagreement – A person’s view of the millennium is not an essential doctrine. Though a teacher’s view might be different from yours, that doesn’t make them more or less trustworthy, nor does it doesn’t disqualify them from teaching.
- Heresy – On the other hand, if a person denies that Jesus will return in bodily form or if a person teaches Jesus has already returned, they are teaching heresy. So, reject the teaching and tell others they should beware if they listen to this particular teacher. The question you can’t answer quite as neatly is if the person is a false teacher and, therefore, a false brother.
When it is clear that a person is a false teacher, don’t hesitate to expose them (Eph 5:11) to protect your brothers and sisters in Christ. There is no shame in naming names to the glory of God and for the love of neighbor when a false teacher is teaching. There is no shame when someone teaches heresy to call it exactly what it is. It would be shameful to know someone is a false teacher and pretend they aren’t. It would be shameful to defend heresy.
But, before going public on a false teacher, do your best to test them against the biblical criteria. Do they teach a different Gospel? Have they been confronted and corrected and now continue in their lie? Can you see the fruit of their ministry or the fruit of their life? Do they produce holiness in the church (distinction from the world), or do they bring division and controversy to the church? If you can’t answer these questions, be careful in applying the label of false teacher. You might actually be sinning against your brother/sister. If we falsely accuse a teacher or a brother or sister in Christ, who then is creating undue division within the church? In an effort to do the right thing, ensure you do it in the right way; otherwise, you might be the one who is acting unjustly.