False Teachings vs. False Teachers

The other day as I was browsing the internet for some new bible study material and I typed in the words "Beth Moore".  Immediately pages of links popped up and near the top was one that said "Beth Moore's Dangerous Bible Twisting".  So, I had to go in and read this.  Now, I have to admit that I admire and respect Beth Moore as a teacher of the bible, however, I have not always agreed with everything she has stated and have at times felt that she has made a stretch to draw certain conclusions.  That said, as I read this it came to my mind that if she is getting publicity as a false teacher who else is?

So this began a hunt to see if I could find any respected theologian, bible teacher, preacher, book author that I could think of to see if there were any who did not get labeled as a false teacher in some way, shape or form.  Interestingly, enough there were none.  Each name I searched had an article or more that said they were teaching falsely.  That might not surprise some of you but it actually took me off guard for a bit.

Is there no one that we can trust implicitly?  Can we not listen to messages and trust that they are speaking truth?  How do we know what teachings we can hold on to and what we have to throw away?  I know that I have been guilty in the past of just listening to a message and accepting it as "gospel".  What lies have I been told?  Maybe none, but maybe some. 

The bible says...

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
“Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”

Matthew 24:4-5

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. Matthew 24:4-5

Hebrews 13:8-9

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings."

A heretic is defined by Peter as one who lays error alongside of truth, secretly introducing destructive heresies.

2 Peter 2:1 

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Christians are to reject those who preach a false gospel because they are condemned by the Lord.

Galatians 1:8-9 

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 

Even Paul, a foundational Apostle, encouraged his listeners to test his teaching against the written Word of God, and he stated that those who teach must not "go beyond what is written.".

Acts 17:11 

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

1 Corinthians 4:6 

Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 

Believers are to be discerning.

Philomen 1:9-11 

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-- to the glory and praise of God.

Proverbs 15:14 

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Proverbs 17:24 

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 18:15 

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

Proverbs 28:7 

He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father

Proverbs 3:21 

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; 

Why do we test teaching against the Scriptures? Because we are commanded to remain in sound doctrine, to keep the faith, to follow the teachings of the prophets, Apostles and Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 4:3 

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Titus 1:9 

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 2:1 

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. False teachers are liars and do not remain in sound doctrine.

We can also look for and test their fruits.

Matthew 7:15-20 

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 

I also want to say that we have to be careful not to be too critical, especially if it is a teacher that we have personal issues with.  It is easy then, because we do not appreciate them personally that we critique everything they say and label it as false.  This may not be so.  We may be looking through tainted eyes and so we then have to be willing to look and search out what is in our own hearts first.

That all said, I would not want to be quick to label someone a false teacher.  So what do we do with teachers that say things that we find do not line up with scripture...are they a false teacher?  Not necessarily.  I personally think that the decision can be made only after we have approached them with what we believe to be false or in error and ask them to expand, clarify, or prove what they are saying with the Word of God.  If they willing accept the challenge and are willing to dialogue and discuss and study the scripture together with you, genuinely hearing your side and considering that they may have been wrong, then in my opinion we will either then ourselves have been corrected or the teacher will have been corrected.  If found to be in error a true teacher will then be willing to admit that they made a mistake.  They will also be willing to fix and clarify that with the audience to whom they stated it.  If the teacher is NOT willing to dialogue or discuss and is unwilling to search scripture and show what is being stated thoroughly, we need to be very careful.  Not only do we need to be very careful but we may have to completely separate ourselves from them and their teachings.

Romans 16:17 

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Ephesians 5:11 

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh DISORDERLY, and not after the tradition which ye received of us.

2 Tim. 3:1-9

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

2 John 1:10-11 

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

2 Corinthians 6:17 

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Jude 1:12 

These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm-- shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted-- twice dead.

Here is a link that summarizes this quite nicely as well...


http://www.gotquestions.org/judge-teachings-leaders.html